((Some beef, some mutton? Whatever would be locally available. Decent cuts, lmk how much it runs him.))

Ben checks with the others on the storage of the ingots.

"I'm not sure if it is wise to bring them with us and I'm loath to leave them."

---

Ben takes Anders advice on the fishing fleet with a smile and a nod.

"You must have worked hard putting that all together and maintaining it!"

To the lizardfolk advice he says,

"I have to say we are in total agreement there, thank you for your input."

---

To Hanna,

"Oh, my dear, I understand optics very well. I will endeavor to hurry back with good tidings! I doubt the lizardfolk are truly a threat, but it never hurts to be sure."

He will return her smile and give a slight bow before returning to the crowd and mingling.

---

((Power up Ess! Woo!))

---

((I think the plan is land route and just the shield. Maybe Eliander can teach us some phrases and write a few more phonetically for us as well. General greetings and take us to your queen, my name is, where is the library...you know, important stuff.))

Korrik, the council takes care of the cost of the food for the lizardfolk. They kind of shrug their shoulders at what you bring them, but they seem satiated.

With Eliander's help, the lizardfolk with their full bellies, respond. They say that they don't know what will happen should the 3 of them and the weapons not be brought back. The queen may act against Marshswamp, she may not. Either way though, it won't be good, they say.

Conversely, if you do bring the weapons and them back immediately, it will likely earn the queen's respect as it will likely be seen as an offer of goodwill.

They still will not tell you exact details of the weapons because they will not go against the tribe's hierarchy and orders they've been given, as well as potentially jeopardizing the entire operation, they say. The lizardfolk care not about the worries of the citizens of Marshswamp, and if you want to guarantee that the citizens of Marshswamp won't be in danger that you should being back the lizardfolk and weapons. 

Going against their queen's orders is much worse than anything that you could do to them, they say.

Let me know if this changes anything - otherwise it's land route, the next morning first thing, and just the shield. For sure Eliander will teach you some phrases, general greetings, etc. You would've had the entire night so he would've taught you the basics, which you can utilize once you get to the lizardfolk colony. 

And you guys are taking the horses, yes? Wagon too, or no?

((Probably no wagon, are the trails good enough for the horses?))

That is a good point. Scratch the horses. It is difficult terrain, 12 hour hike, and that's just to the ford which may not even be passable by horses. 

Sorry to have brought it up!

((If Korrik can make another Insight check on the lizardfolk?))

Insight: 16

Ash is happy with the plans as they stand. A diplomatic mission to the Lizardfolk camp. She’s had similar jobs before, (what seems like a lifetime ago now), but back then, she would have been the one who had to do all the talking, and the fighting if things went south. She’s pleased to finally have a crew with such distinct and complementary skill-sets that things like that are no longer just all ‘all on her’.

She would bathe, get a good night sleep, have a decent breakfast, then be ready to go.

((Ben would have definitely preferred to have had the horses but not if they were just going to be more hindrance than benefit!))

Based on the description of the route Ben would go and get some different pants and boots to where rather than his nice ones. He would also leave his disguise and forgery kits in his room at the Line, to keep them in good condition, and refresh his crossbow bolt supply. All of this on the council's dime.

He would also see if he could exchange some coin with merchants looking to convert all the copper to silver if possible and as much silver to gold as possible. He would also be open for exchanging gold to platinum as much as he could. He would be very charming about the exchanges.

((He isn't strong and over 30 lbs of coin is probably a bit cumbersome. He currently has 197 copper he'd like to convert, 450 silver and 750 gold. Let me know how much he could exchange!))

((Also, is it too late to try and negotiate up what the town was paying for this mission? It is looking less and less like a straight up and down ambassadorial mission and more like a last ditched attempt to stop a war! That's gotta be worth a couple hundred gold more, should the war part not happen anyhow.

Here is a persuasion roll as Ben would definitely give it a shot citing the reasons above: 24))

((Korrik went into dinner with the lizardfolk considering if there might be some sort of compromise to be had, not sure how trusting he'll be yet, but he was wondering if there might be a 'take one or two of them back and/or some of the weapons, if it goes over well and she's reasonable, return the rest, if she's not, gtfo'  might be doable.))

Korrik, given what you know about lizardfolk and their colonies and how these particular specimens are responding and acting, you get a sense they are being truthful, or at least somewhat. Lizardfolk are usually quite loyal and follow the hierarchy and chain of command quite religiously, so it makes sense they aren't going against their queen and divulging info they are not supposed to. This varies from tribe to tribe of course, but given that along with the fact that there hasn't been even a hint of a potential attack on Marshswamp until now, it seems these 3 may be telling the truth.

You get a sense that if it was different... if they were indeed planning an attack on Marshswamp, that these 3 would be acting... different somehow. 

You definitely aren't certain, though. 

The lizardfolk then reiterate again that they all want to be brought back, along with the weapons. It will just delay and complicate things should you bring one or two of them back and only some of the weapons. It will waste time, they say.

Ash, you indeed get a nice bath, a good night sleep and a decent breakfast before the party departs. 

Ben, yes the council will pay for the clothes as well as the crossbow bolts. 

Ben, the merchants are able to convert the following:

you get 15 sp for 150cp     /     you get 25gp for 250sp     /     you get 10pp for 100gp           

(they aren't banks so can't do all, especially the platinum, but they are happy to help the local hero!)

Ben, the council seems embarrassed now when you start negotiating up about the compensation that the town has originally laid out for this mission. They are now starting to realize what could be at stake here. Given the roll you've just made, along with the fact that the town is essentially sending the party blind and alone into a who knows how big lizardfolk colony and that the town could be in real danger, they agree to increase the amount.

Eliander says to Eda "Honestly Eda, if the lizardfolk are indeed planning an attack on us and we do nothing, we will be in a far worse situation than if we take from our reserves and give these heroes what they likely deserve for doing this in the first place. It is a big ask."

Eda sighs, and nods. She agrees, and says "Double it. And put it in writing."

Eliander nods and looks at Ben to see if he takes the deal.

They offer the party 1,400gp in hopes they will accept and find out what these lizardfolk are up to, and Eliander drafts up a contract and signs it. They likely won't be able to pay you much more after this as this is going to take a big chunk out of their coffers, but they see this now as a potentially dire situation.

Ess will sell his shortbow for 12gp to a merchant, and have council stock up his field rations as well as his longbow arrow. "Dudes... I'm starting to like this hero bit! Don't have to pay for anything anymore bros!" and he then pauses and then asks Korrik "Hey bro, did you get your tickets yet?"

Over to you! Soon I will set up the departure once we are 100% good to go.

Ben considers the upped payment and, after giving the others a look to see if there are any objections, he says,

"Agreed."

((Well, if sell that vessel they should be able to refill the coffers!Also, if Kay or Ash disagree to the amount he might push for more. Double was a good place to end up in his mind! ))

---

To the others,

"I am still not willing to take the lizardfolk with us. Even if they aren't hostile to Swampmarsh we handily defeated them and I am confident they are hostile to us."

The he ponders for a moment and gets an avaricious glint in his eye,

"If the lizardfolk aren't hostile, remind me to sell them the extra weapons we are packing around."

((Ben is ready to roll!))

Ash is more than happy with the new reward amount.

And she is happy to go with just the shield. At the very worst (from a Lizardfolk point of view) there will be a delay of a couple of days getting the Lizardfolk and weapons back to their camp. No harm in spending a day or two corroborating the story and checking out the camp first. She feels that a civilised species should understand and respect them for taking the effort to check before delivering the goods.

((OOC: I need to properly check Ash’s supplies but can I assume she can just top back up bolts and rations etc, for free from the town?))

((Ash is ready to roll too))

Korrik brings the others up to speed with what he gleaned from the dinner. He's not overly swayed.

To Korrik on the information from lizardfolk and to Ash's thoughts on the matter,

"I have to agree with Ash, it isn't reasonable to not check out their story first. We certainly aren't going to bring them and all their weapons simply because that is most convenient for them. I'm skeptical that they would have been nearly as accommodating as we and the council have given reversed roles."

He ponders out loud,

"They were purchasing weapons from pirates and smugglers rather than from Marshswamp. The only reasons to add that extra effort would be because it was cheaper or to keep it from Marshswamp."

He gives the party a knowing look,

"I did the math - it wasn't cheaper. They are definitely paying the black market premium."

"Yeah, bringing them only earns the Queen's goodwill if we could trust them to not turn on us, and I don't feel like we're there."

"I don't know if anyone in Marshswamp WOULD have sold them weapons, and could be the ship was easier because it brings the weapons to them, rather than them having to venture out. But yes, seems like they were trying to arm themselves on the down low."

Ash offers, “Maybe they are under threat, and the weapons are to defend themselves?… Maybe we can even help them?!… …We just need to understand the situation better so we can give the weapons over in good faith”. 

"We didn't get any sense that Marshswamp or any of the outlying communities had issues with them, did we? Miners, fisherfolk, etc.? Maybe that basilisk was captured locally, and they've got a infestation?"

Korrik shivers, not keen on facing another basilisk anytime soon.

"Well they clearly found someone here that'd sell to them, just turned out to be the smugglers. Wonder what brought them together."

Ben gives a half shrug to Kay's question,

"I haven't heard they were causing any trouble. It's possible they have a basilisk problem, though I would think they'd have asked for more ranged weaponry."

Ess blinks, and if he was a cartoon he would have dollar (or equivalent, lol) signs in his eyes. He almost can't hold back the excitement of the amount being doubled for this diplomacy mission, and almost blurts out something in excitement but manages to hold it back at the last second and just approvingly nods at Ben. Ess is fine with the plan to not bring any weapons or lizardfolk back for the first visit to the tribe, too. "No way bros." he shakes his head. "Way too dangerous. I don't trust 'em enough. We can always just come back with them and the weapons if they're legit homeboys." 

Ok, it is around 7:00 AM when you leave the next morning. Hanna ensures you all are well fed for the journey, again on council's dime, and you set out on the trail that was discussed at the council meeting. 

You knew the overland journey to the lizardfolk caves was going to be somewhat difficult terrain even with the trails which are 100-400 yards away from the coast. And you discussed the length of time the journey would take - approximately 12 hours (hence the early start time). As you set out and the hours progress, especially after you stop for lunch (let me know if you use any consumables for that lunch stop - Ess uses 1 ration) you find that the trails become less and less apparent and the marshland ecosystems of the region really start to become evident. Your footsteps start to make sloshing sounds, and you notice that there are more mosquitoes and blood sucking insects out and about as you progress deeper into the marshes. The trail is all but gone now, but you can still travel in the same direction because you're close enough to the coast to not go the wrong way. 

After 12 hours (including lunch and breaks/resting), you will arrive at point B on the 'Marshswamp Region' tab, the ford over the Dunwater River. From the ford, you can see in the distance the entrance to the cave of the lizardfolk, point C on the map.

Point D if you recall is that hidden entrance which you cannot see, you just know its vicinity.

It will be 7:00PM at this time.

To set the tone...

Mystery Check: 13

To be continued in the next post.