Urben's SKT

Nadia nibbles on her bottom lip in anxiousness at the plan being put into play, and she is able to calmly turn to look at just what had been following them for a time. A brow raises in question at the lizard folks words, looking to the others briefly to see if they understood anything. "Uh... We did kill the hag... We're... not trees?" She says, confused. "Anyone have a spell to understand them or...?" Had the result come up negative, she looks back to the one that speaks with a frown, and tries to speak in her native tongue to see if any one of them understood that, even switching into Undercommon to see if that worked.

"Tea-Trees?" Claire says, confused, wondering if the swamp is host to some kind of trees that grow tea leaves.  Her interest is piqued, but her eyes fall on the severed head; something that should probably be addressed first.  She answers Nadia.  "Unfortunately, such a spell is not within my repor... reportior....rep.... repertoire.  Ahm..."    Claire turns her horse around to face the Lizardfolk and nods.  "We killed."  She points at the head.  "Hag.  We killed hag."

Claire prepares to cast Plant Growth in case the Lizardfolk become violent.  She eyes them, gauging their reaction.

Rollo stands to the side, axe still held in two hands. "We killed the hag and the snake. Yes. We are warriors, headed to the tower. Do you know the tower?"

The leader of the group looks a bit frustrated and shakes his head no. No. No t-t-tree. You. You tr-tre-tres. The Lizard man snorts in frustration Swamp! Swamp ours. No yous. Nadia tries to speak in other languages hoping one of the Lizardfolk might understand her but the othera simply look even more confused. When Rollow mentions a tower the leader nods. T-t-tower. Yes. Yous tower. Ours not go. Our kill if t-t-tre-tree-hmmmf! The leader snorts again. He goes over to grab the head of the hag and tosses it to the feet of the horses. You kill. You kill more. Ours swamp, you can go.

Rollo looks at the speaker. "Do you mean that we trespass?" 

Claire looks upon the Lizardfolk with sympathy; she has a hard time with words as well, though the words she has trouble with are usually bigger.  Claire taps her own chest.  "We look for tower."  She then points to the Lizardfolk leader.  "You show us tower.  We go sooner, faster.  We leave swamp.  Good?"

Zack had turned around not long after everyone else did, and he was having a lot of trouble, at-least as much, if not more than everyone else in figuring out what exactly the Lizard people were trying to get across... his befuddlement clear across his face as one brow was raised way higher than the other. Arms crossing as he tried to puzzle out the possible meanings... Tree's? Treaties? Rollo chimed in and Zack tried to consider the likelyhood of trespass and thought it was pretty highly likely... The Lizards followup comments started to seem to make sense but then lost traction.....

Look guys.... We're havin' trouble understanding you so we're just kind of guessing here.... I think Rollo might have the right of it but .. who knows. So... I'm gonna try this.... We are here, looking for someone in the 'tower' we are here to he hesitates, considering they may actually be allied with the tower person and changes his words a bit talk to them, and make them leave swamp. We are not here for tree's or treaties, and if we're trespassing, sorry, but we have to. We don't want to fight you, or hurt you. So if you know where tower is, take us there.

Zack emphasizes almost every word with a relatable action such as putting his hand over his eyes and looking about when he says 'looking' as well as pointing at the lizard folk, making a punching action, then crossing his arms in an X and shaking his head 'no' when telling them he didn't want to fight them and so forth.

Performance: 4

The Lizardfolk loom especially confused at Zack as he says his part. It only dawns on him after that if they don't understand common that especially long speeches probably won't help. When Rollo brings up trespassing the leader nods his head excitedly. Yes! T-t-tre-trespast! He then points to claire and repears Yes tower! Ours know. Ours show tower. Yous kill more. Yous kill more ours show. The last bit said while pointing down at the dead hag.

Claire smiles and lifts her chin, pleased.  “Yes. You lead.  Show us trespassers,” Claire says as she points to the hag.  “We kill.  Then... we friends.”

Claire then turns to the others, “They lead?  Find tower.  More hags?”   Then she blinks a few times and her face turns red.  “Erm... I mean... I think if they can lead us to the tower, that should cut down on some travel time wandering around in this fog.  Do you think there’s more hags at this tower?  What exactly are we supposed to find there?”

(allowing Nadia/Rollo to post so i'm not dominating the thread - I always feel like i take up too much space and don't want others to feel like i'm taking the spotlight etc)

Rollo says nothing, answering Claire with a shrug. He does release one hand from his axe though and prop it on his shoulder before giving the lizard folk a 'lead on signal.

Zack waited to see if they were actually going to be led or not but otherwise didn't act hostile.

The lead lizardfolk nods and walks on ahead before turning to see if you're following, similar to what one might do to get a lost puppy to follow. He alone with his comrades lead you deeper into the swamp and mist with little explanation about where they are taking you. Still with a group this large you find it would be hard to get lost and easy to follow your tracks back. They lead you for about 40 minute before the Lizards start to slow down and start looking around warily. Their pace slows for the next 10 minutes before the leader halts the group and waves for you all to follow him alone, indicating for you to dismount. Must go. Must not noise. He waits to see if you all comply before moving ahead sstealthily. (If anyone wishes to remain mounted they will need to convince the lizardfolk leader. I'll give time for people to decide and make stealth rolls.)

Nadia complies with the lizardfolks directions, dismounting from her horse. She wasn't much of a horseback fighter anyways, and she was sure if they wanted to attack them, they would have done so a long time ago. The elf does, however, take out her bow and an arrow, but makes no hostile movements towards the lizardfolk. "Just in case," She whispers if they question her actions.

Stealth (if we're doing this): 10

Claire dismounts reluctantly, and pats her horse on the neck.  "We'll be back, don't worry," she says softly.  Then she takes the reins and walks to the nearest Lizardfolk that isn't the leader.  She stops her horse right in front of the scaly fellow and drops the reins.  She points at the Lizardman, and then at her horse.  "Keep safe.  Keep alive,"  she orders.  She gauges the lizardfolk's reaction, hoping to garner whether they intend harm on her horse, and perhaps therefore herself and her friends.  Barring that result, she then makes sure her lance is secure on the horse and takes her spear, strapping the small polearm to her back.  Shield in her offhand, she joins the others and attempts to move stealthily.

As they ride Rollo spends time in prayer and consultation, before his holy symbol pulses and his eyes flash green for a second. As they ride up and stop he leans down and whispers to his horse. "If they try to attack you bite them, hard." He then discounts and follows the others.

Stealth: 20

Zack had similar concerns as Claire, but since Claire seemed to handle talkign to them better than he did, and was already on it... he let her continue without interjecting. Dismounting from the horse, his hand went up in the air, straight, and within nearly an instant, his sword, the one that had had the note on it, appeared back in his hand, putting it into its strap-sheath on his back. Before he took a moment to carefully watch his first steps as he prepared to try to be as silent as possible. Whispering to Rillex keep an eye on the horses, and stay out of their reach, just in case. before taking his first, hopefully stealthy step.

ST: 9

The party moves as stealthily as they can as the Lizardfolk leads them deeper into the swamp. The horses are left behind, under the watchful eye of Rillex. The lizardfolk stayinf behind don't seem to fully understand Claires orders but don't make any aggressive actions to the horses amd instead regard them curiously.

The Leader takes you all deeper into the swamp for several minutes before going from a crouch into the a crawl. The Lizardman crawls over to a nearby tree and points ahead into the mist. You can see a faint glow in the mist, likely caused from firelight. You can just barely make out the silhouette of a small cabin or hut through the fog. Yous kill. You kill ours tower show. The Lizardfolk stares at you all to see if you understand.

Zack whispers to the other two, who weren't there before Rollo, Claire, I believe the woman here is named Baroness Cromm, atl-east if this isthe place I think it is. And the Duchess, the real Duchess, should be held captive in there. That's where all this plague chasing has gotten us. We already Killed the maker... We killed the one controlling the city, now rescuing the one that was replaced and putting it all back in order. After the real duchess is rescued I have the name of the final piece of the puzzle, whic hi forgot to tell you when we camped out - other things on the mind... But the mans name is Imarys. Either way.. Lets get this done.

Zack could easily tell they were basically asking them all to kill whoever was there. Might be a hag. he adds in at the last second, before starting to move forward, he considered several plans but for once felt the 'charge in through the front door' was the best option.

"I doubt this petty hut is the Tower you speak of... I believe the reptiles want us to fight whoever is here before showing us the tower."  Claire has a funny gut feeling, and it takes her a few moments to sort out what's bothering her.  "... If the lizardfolk are territorial... whoever lives here might not actually be bad... they might be too strong for the lizards to fight, but unless it's another hag we should hear them out... maybe we should stake the place out a bit longer."