Vazo'yn steps forward as well, not to take the spotlight from Jack, but to be close enough to support him. He extends a hand to touch Jack's back, a wave of confidence surging through him from Vazo'yn's encouraging touch.

In a quiet, hushed voice, he says, "I don't think we need their raft and we can get our horses across the river ourselves. Don't give them anything unnecessarily."

He then moves back a few paces.

OOC: Casting Enhance Ability to give Jack advantage on Charisma checks.

The horses are agitated by the sudden burst of light, some digging nervously into the dirt with their hooves and pacing in place with some grunts of protest, but they do not flee.

"Thanks..." The dark-haired man says quietly, briefly glancing back at the drow as he feels the other's enhancing magic course through him, almost making him burst with confidence now. "...now you make me curious about what trick you are about to pull to make that happen, but don't worry, I just want to know more about them for now, and if they are prepared to negotiate I'm confident we will reach an agreement that everyone will be happy with. If they don't want to talk at all perhaps you all should find better cover than my frail frame though." He adds with a concerned look at Vazo'yn and Randa.

"Joy, I understand your view point, but those people," white furred hand gesturing at the strangers "made plans to take our horses by force, by surprise, and without even thinking of negotiation." Ylis says.

"I applaud your views on peace, but I also don't believe they would have just stopped at taking the horses. They would have slit your throat in your sleep and walked away with no guilt. I don't want to be peacefully dead."

The little rabbit girl continues to charge her club with energy.

Joy can't hide her sadness at Ylis' viewpoint, but she can't refute it for sure either. "That may be the case, but...clearly not all of them are fighters." Her sympathetic gaze wanders to the civilians cowering a little past the offending group. "My Oath is my own; I don't expect everyone else to follow it. And have no doubt, I'll protect you all with my life. I just...killing people always hurts me, even when it's right."

As the Daylight spell illuminates the entire area, casting dim light on the party from where they stand, exposing them and the four others huddled in place, the party also is able to see that there was an additional person hiding in a tree on a hill to the west, shortbow trained on Randa. They are momentarily surprised by the burst of light, but the expertise in soldier’s work is evident here, as the person does not waver in their aim, nor do they loose their arrow in their surprise.

As Jack approaches, along with a few others, the others across the way also advance, with one taking point and gesturing for the others to spread out, while also waving the four in the back to retreat farther away. Those advancing have obvious weapons, some mundane, some impressive, and all well-maintained. These folk carry themselves like trained experienced warriors.

The one at the front is an orc female. Behind her is a male in gleaming armor. To his left is what may be an aasimar female, then a dragonborn. On the right, is an elven female, and in the tree on the hill to the south is a tiefling female.

They wisely stop just outside of what would be normal casting range. They wait.

Randa remained calm knowing her shafts would reach any of those before them.......but hoping it would not become necessary.....

Ylis tries hard to hold down the fidgets.

She's only ever been in one scuffle before and that was against Bertrum Hominy. That boy DARED to dip her tail in ink when she wasn't paying attention. They both ended up with black eyes. She still thinks she won that one. 

Sure there are other conflicts running about in her head but they don't feel as real. The fight with Bertrum was just two week ago!

She admits to herself that she's just talking big with regard to killing folks. The one time she caught and killed a mouse nibbling on her learner's journal almost made her vomit. But Gust! She promised to keep him safe! And if anything, Ylis is a girl of her word. Nobody gets the pony.

"Let me say something about us and then perhaps you can share something about you and I'm sure we can reach an agreement. You are clearly competent warriors doing a noble effort of protecting people less powerful than yourself and for that I commend you all." The dark-haired man calls out to the others with a polite and respectful tone. "You no doubt have been affected by the aging wind that came from the east as everyone else in the world, I know I was both scared and confused when the wind first came and I expect most others would be too. We were at a town called Trostenwald some six days to the west when the wind first came. An old woman there told us that the wind would consume the world in 13 days but that it could be stopped and the world could be saved if we went east. I admit I have no idea if this is how it is but we need to at least try to save the world from the wind." He says with an imploring tone now. "In the end, what we need is to cross the river and reach the source of the wind before it is too late. Now, ask if there is anything else you want to know about us and otherwise tell us about you and what you need and we will find a way to not have any bloodshed here." He finishes, standing in the light with his arms peacefully to his sides.

While Jack tries opening negotiations with the band of soldiers, Vazo'yn stands behind him, quietly and intently watching the orc woman, assuming that in the front she must be their leader. His eyes golden are trained on her, alert for any subtle shift or gesture that would reveal her intentions.

OOC: He's trying to tell whether she appears open to discussion or if she's intent on getting physical. Insight: 19.

The Arcane Eye is able to navigate to the fearful people crouching in the bushes and can see that two are elderly and weary, while the other two appear to be middle age. An orc male and a human female make up the elderly, a dragonborn female, also chromatic green and a human female make up the middle aged people. Their easily visible emotional state and mannerisms appear to be fearful and recognizable patterns of worry, their eyes fixed on those who have come out to meet you. 

OOC: Jack, please provide me with a persuasion roll to see how believable this story is to the warriors. 

Vazo'yn's keen eyes narrow and watch for any subtle shift in stance or twitch of muscle. He can see that this is a young woman, perhaps around 25 years of age. Given the effects of the wind, this might suggest she was around 5 years old a week ago. Her body language communicates some contradictory messages. She is a person of two minds. At once, she stands like an insecure child who wants to hide under her mother's dress rather than talk to handsome and strong looking people, but also, she stands as a hardened warrior who has seen more battlefields than can be counted. She is both powerful and vulnerable. She is open to discussion.

( Jack persuasion: 28 )

The orc woman looks to those behind and to her side and nods to communicate an accepting of Jack's words as truth. The others relax their stances somewhat, but keep their hands near their weapons. The tiefling in the tree, however, keeps her bow unfailingly trained on Randa. The orc woman turns back to the Fellowship and rolls her shoulders back, standing up straight and pressing the palms of her hands together, pointed down, undoubtedly emulating some official she likely saw as a child who made an impression on her. 

"Yes, we were changed by the Withering Wind. It is why we were fleeing the mountains... our home. We are all that is left. We know of Trostenwald." She hesitates "You... say this is affecting the entire world?"

This news seems to cause all hope to die in her heart as her eyes are drawn down to the ground in sorrow. She remembers that she is speaking for her people now and stands up again straight, face resolute. "We have to try to escape it anyway. We must try. We will head toward the burrows to the south that lead to the Underdark. Some of my people had trade agreements established with the Duergar freefolk there. But... some of my people can no longer travel at speed." She looks past Jack at the horses, longing easily visible in her eyes. 

Ylis notices the undue attention on Randa and decides, that a hop and skip might be in order to stand next the tree.

With one hand on her hip, and the other in her rock pouch, she enhances three of the stones with Magic Stone, then she sticks her tongue out at the "sniper".

Joy watches the orc woman’s posture shift, notes the weight of grief behind her eyes, and feels an immediate pull of empathy. She gently lays a hand on Milton’s thick neck as he steps forward beside her.

“My name is Joy,” she says gently, stepping forward beside Jack, voice warm and clear as she greets the Aasimar. “Paladin of Lathander, though I follow in the light of Pelor’s teachings as well. The Morninglord...the Dawnfather…they are kin in spirit. So I know—know—that your people must be trying to do what’s right, just as we are.”

She meets the orc woman’s gaze, a quiet smile on her lips. “Milton here has carried me a long way, but he’s always had a kind heart. I believe he would gladly help carry your elders to safety.” Her fingers brush her holy symbol. “And by the Light, I can call another for myself anyway."

Quote from Wysperra >>

OOC: Can the rest of the party hear the conversation?

Ylis notices the undue attention on Randa and decides, that a hop and skip might be in order to stand next to her friend.

Then she sticks her tongue out at the "sniper".

 OOC: They are the orc and Jack are projecting their voices loud enough to be heard at this distance. 

IC: The tiefling clearly sees the defiant display from Ylis and maintains her aim on Randa, whose own bow is trained on the orc woman. The tiefling does offer a silent sneer at Ylis, however. 

The aasimar woman looks to the orc woman. "Shara..." she says in a pleading tone, likely the orc woman's name. The orc woman holds up her hand to silence the aasimar, but also gives her a reassuring nod before turning her attention back to Jack.

"What would you demand in trade?" maybe-Shara asks the Fellowship.

The dark-haired man listens compassionately to the orc woman. As he notices what Ylis is up to he calmly motions for both Randa and her to stand down and deescalate as the tiefling is most likely aiming at Randa only because she is aiming at the orc woman that is entirely peaceful. He seems both pleased and relieved as Joy offers her steed, giving the hexblood a warm smile.

"You are doing what any sane and righteous people would do, trying to bring people to safety from this horror. We would likely have done the same thing if it weren't for what the old woman told us. I'm afraid she might be right though, that we 7 need stop this within 7 days from now and for that we would still need most of our horses. You can have my horse too though which will give you two horses to carry those of you who cannot travel at speed. Considering what is at stake here does that seem fair to you?" He calls back to the orc woman. "We do not demand anything in return, it might simply be that you need these two horses better than we do, but if you have anything you can part with that couls help us in our quest or any information about what we will find ahead then we will gratefully accept that."

[Giles is willing to part with his horse if they need three, but if not, he'll keep it in case the fellowship still needs to ride fast after the river]