BEO's FUN FUN INTRO

[Ameena]

Urrffrah decides that if the creature decides to attack her or run away, she can easily bite off one of its legs or something. Slowly, and keeping her eyes on the lizar the whole time, she eases her weight backward off it but remains ready to spring forward again if it makes any sudden movements. She isn't sure about what Growlgra is saying that the lizar is saying, since she doesn't understand some of the words - she doesn't know what a "tray-da" is and isn't too sure about what "skard" or "warry-uh".
She looks at Growlgra, then back at the lizar, then at Growlgra again. The only way she's going to be able to do this is if she makes herself more able to actually speak to the furred one.
She shifts into her natural form, which at least gives her a slightly better ability to pronounce words.
"Taaayk...wiizzhh." she says to Growlgra, gesturing to the lizar with one of her forepaws.

Translation

Spoiler

"Take with." = "Let's take this guy back with us."

Urrffrah is gonna instantly leap back onto the lizar if she thinks he's trying anything.

[raixel]

Alright, but keep in mind if you want to leap on him agin you have to start the grapple process all over. And if you do it as a goblin you take a -4 penalty to the roll for being Small, unless you stay medium sized (we could do that, saying taht your size changes but your mass doesnt, kinda like how a dwarf is medium sized even though they should be small technically cuz they have enough mass. In which case you wouldnt get any size bonuses/penalties anywhere else either, so youneed to remove the dex +es and str -es for goblin form from your char sheet. And yeah I read your PMs but not emails. Ive been really busy. The tiefling idea is fine. He can be a tiefling of the planes of Order, that explains wh he wanted a creature frm there and waas full enough of himself to think he could pull it offm like you said.


Urrfrah steps off the lizar and the nearly-skeletal being stands up with a hiss of pain, clenching his jaws and holding his injured side. He looks around but makes no attempt to flee into the swamp.

When the barghest shifts form he jumps back, reaching for a dagger at his waist but stops when Growlgra steps forward and makes a threatening motion with his knife.

"This one would not recommend it." the bika says as he gestures towards the lizar's sheathed weapon.

Growlgra cocks his head at the goblin-barghest when she speaks, his triangular ears twitching. "The barghest wants to take the prey back to the travelling-pack? Very well, but perhaps we should make sure it cant flee to its den. It could warn others, send hunters out for the travelling pack if it was able to get free." he muses aloud.

"I gho quietly." the lizar says in response, even though Growlgra wasnt speaking directly to him. He holds his hands out togetther, as if he was waiting for them to be tied. "No hhhssarm, I mean. I prissssnor, if makkesss youu fffeel better hssss."

Growlgra narrows his eyes at the lizar's easy acceptance of his fate. Turning to Urrffrah, he makes a series of gestures and body-motions. The motions seems strangely familiar to Urrffrah, awakening some part of her mind that comes from her wolfish nature.

One of the racial abilities of bika is empathic communication with canines. However, since Urrffrah isnt a real canine, but an outsider, you need to roll a sense motive to be able to understand him. Roll and read *only* the appropriate entry.

Under 6:

Spoiler

Growlgra thinks the lizar would be a good ally and may know who hurt Thessan.

6-11:

Spoiler

Growlgra is uncertain about something.

12+:

Spoiler

Growlgra thinks the lizar is hiding something and should be watched carefully.

Nat 20:

Spoiler

Growlgra thinks that the lizar is a spy and if he is taken back to the caravan and then watched, it would be a good way to find out where the attacks are coming from.

After he makes a bunch of motins, which the lizar watches blankly, the bika says "Well, does the barghest have the knowledge to tie a rope, or even a rope to tie? This one has minimal skill, only that which all bika learn when setting up tents for denning. This one really thinks that the hunters should not leave the prey untied, however. It could run away."

The lizar shakes its head wildly at the bika's words. "Sss. No runn. I prrisssonerr. No run. You beassst-goblin fassster thssen me. It jump onn me, bit me, if run. Alrready hurrt, frrom warrriorr. Hsss. Ssso, no run away. I fsssollow. " it says earnestly.

"The prey speaks that it will not run. It speaks that the barghest is faster than it, will catch it if it does. This one still thinks it would be wise to tie it." the bika translates for Urrffrrah's benefit.

So, if you want to tie the lizar up, you have to find something to use for a rope. There are some rope-sized vines nearby. Then you need to roll a use rope. Growlgra will aid you for a +2, but the vine has a -1 so its a +1. If you dont have use rope its a straight dex. If you choose to do this, describe how you do it and what aparts you tie up Or you could just walk with him. Growlgra is following your lead here.

[Ameena]

About the size thing - no, I'm not "Small" in goblin form. We sorted that one out already . I just went through all those e-mails of yours that I've kept from our character discussion (since you've been back) and found the following to confirm - "And, I'm not sure about thesize mod thing. Lets just say "no", otherwise we're gonna have to constantly be altering AC, stats, damage, and skills whenever you shift and it'd be a giant pain. You also could only wear/wield small sized stuff. So you stay as "medium" even in goblin form. Narratively you could be as small as you wanna be, or even be on the tall end of goblin sized. Like 4 ft tall. Maybe its cuz you actually have the mass of a medium sized barghest in goblin form even though you're olny 3 1/2 ft tall, I dunno ". I suppose the mass thing would mean that I'm an unusually heavy goblin, should anyone try to pick me up for some reason . Anyway, she wouldn't be silly enough to try and attack something while in the form she's least familiar with (ie bipedal when she's used to being quadrupedal, as well as having dinky teeth and crappy claws that are little more than pointy fingernails) .
Anyway, straight Wis check in place of Sense Motive (since I don't have that skill, as mentioned a couple of posts back) = 10 (8+2). Meh. If I had Sense Motive as a skill, I'd've put some points into it, lol.
Incidentally, Urrffrah hasn't yet taken goblin form in front of this lizar (that she knows of), since she tracked him in wolf form and then took barghest form in order to speak to Growlgra. Was it an oversight on your part or is there a reason that this lizar knows Urrffrah can take goblin form? If so then presumably he's either met a barghest before, or maybe was around the caravan or something when Urrffrah arrived. In which case, all the more reason to get him back there .

Urrffrah growls at the lizar. She's followed it all this way and if it's the one that hurt Thessan, there's no way it deserves any sort of kind treatment. She'd have eaten the thing aleady if she hadn't thought that maybe Sssil might want to talk to it about why it hurt his packmate.
Keeping her eyes on the lizar, she backs away toward the nearest long-green-tangly-thing that's within reach. Then she reaches up and grasps it in the long claws of one forepaw, wrenching it so that it snaps and she comes away with a good length of the long-green-tangly-thing. Then she goes back over toward the lizar, pausing for a moment, to look between the creature's forepaws and the long-green-tangly-thing. Finally she decides that perhaps it would be easier to wrap the thing around him by using the smaller, mroe fiddly forepaws of her goblin form. So she changes shape into her goblin form and quickly attempts to wrap the long-green-tangly-thing around the lizar in such a way that it won't be able to attack or run away too easily. She decides that the best way to do this would be to wrap up both its forepaws and its hindpaws...but then it would have trouble walking and getting back to the pack would take far too long. So she decides to just wrap up its forepaws and keep hold of the end of the tangly-thing. She looks to Growlgra for some assistance, since she isn't too sure about how to make it stay wrapped around.
She also makes a suggestion to Growlgra as he helps her.
"Taayyyk...zzhaarp-fing." she says, looking meaningfully at the lizar's sharp-thing.

I'm hoping I don't need to provide a translation for that last part .
Anyway, attempting to tie the lizar's hands together and leave a trailing end of the vine which can be held onto in order to lead the guy back (Urrffrah intends to take barghest form and do this while Growlgra keeps an eye on things from the rear). I do have Use Rope but I haven't put any points into it yet, so it's just a Dex check anyway . Use Rope = 9 (4+4+1) . Oh well, if he tries to escape or hurt one of us, it looks like I'll just have to eat him anyway .

[raixel]

It was an error. I was under the impression you slipped into goblin form, not your barghest form to better speak to Growlgra. Sometimes I read these posts at odd hours when Im half asleep then think of the reply while I'm working and then post it later when I have time and access to my stats and stuff. I think I read that one at about 6 am, then came back and wrote the reply about 4 hours late, with only a cursory glance to refresh my mind.

To avoid this confusion, you wanna say your goblin form talks more normally, but extremely broken, and using "urrffrah-words", but without the accent, the barghest form is the heavily-accented extremely broken words, and the only thing the wolf can manage is growls and the like?

Just to let you know in case it ever comes up: although a barghest's front feet are kinda humanoid, you will take penalties for trying to do anything involving fine manual dexterity. You can grab stuff and do things that dont involve fine manipulation, but thats about it. Carrying stuff in a forefoot while walking could also case a bit of an issue. So switching to your goblin form was a good idea!

Growlgra seems surprised at the barghest's quick action, and he nods and reaches for the lizar's weapon. The lizar passively allows him to take it, and the bika tests the edge and examines it before hanging it off his leather loin cloth.

"Thhhsse beassst isss many sssstrrong runecassstterr." it remarks to Growlgra as Urrffrah goes of to search for vines. However, with her surperior hearing, she can clearly hear the two conversing. "Hhhssow you teach tto chhssange formsss? Orr isss common forr beassst, that it issss?"

In response, the bika just shakes his head and says "The prey should not ask the questions of the hunters."

Urrffrah looks around. She can see a few of the green hanging things that she noticed earlier, and woul be a good thing to put around the lizar's forepaws. She remembers seeing the magic-caller bringing hairless ones to his stone den with similar things around their forepaws, and sometimes even their walking paws. She didnt know why, but it seemed if you put things around the forepaws of some creatures, they became quiet and didnt fight as much. She really didnt understand that, because if someone wrapped some brown things like the magic-caller used around her paws, and she couldnt change form, she would just chew them off. But for some reason, the hairless ones didnt do that, even when the magic-caller left them alone, tied with brown things in a box in his lair, sometimes for days.

The box was shut with some wood pieces stuck together that opened and closed, with a long thin slot in it that was just at Urrfrah's eye level, that the magic-caller used to slide a metal round thing with plant-mush on it inside the room. She could see the hairless ones curled up in the corner, the brown things still on their forepaws and even sometimes their walking paws. The box was big enough that if the hairless ones got the brown things off their walking paws they could stand up and walk around. But even the ones with free walking paws didnt get up. THey just sat in the corner making wounded-prey noises and having water come out of their eyes.

So perhaps, if she got some of these green things and put them around the lizar's forepaws, it would be quiet and not try and attack. It is the work of a moment to cut them with her claws and bring them over.

The barghest switches form again, and the lizar jumps and hisses a startled breath, reaching for a dagger that is now firmly in GRowlgra's posession. Growlgra motions again with his greenstone knife, and the lizar calms somewhat, although Urrffrah can detect the scent of fear from him and he watches her warily.

It seems like it should be easy to tie the green things around the lizar's forepaws, but even in goblin form, Urrffrah has trouble making the knots tight and the loops strong enough the the long green things stay attached to the lizar's forepaws.

Growlgra realizes whst she is trying to do, and says "Here, this one will aid the barghest."

Between the both of them, they manage to tie up the lizar's arms, and Urrffrah is holding a sort of leash that is the end of the green thing, although weather the knots are good enough to hold if the lizar tries anything reamins to be seen.

[raixel]

Surprisingly, the way back to the caravan is uneventful. The prisoner juts marches stoicly along behind Urrffrah, and doesnt even try to test his "leash". Growlgra marches behind the prisoner, warily watching for any sort of attempt to escape or fight.

The small group hears the caravan before they see it, with much yelling in Zaangaardian. It appears Sssil, Thessan, and the others have just arrived shortly before, and the severly wounded warrior is being layed out for healing. As they get closer, Urrffrah can see that Thessan is layed out on a clean canvas cloth in the center of the circled wagons, the heavily-cloaked odd mage Vaathi and Westian crouched next to him, with Kass and Kalissa looking nervously on. Sssil is also there, peering outward from the circle, as if he is anxious for the two hunters to come back. The young tracker looks woozy, and also a little bit scared for his friend, or perhaps the hunters who left to track a particularlly dangerous enemy. The other carvan guards and drivers stand ringed around the circled carvan, the guards with their weapons and armor at the ready, the drivers with whatever makeshift weaponry that they could find.

Sssil

The treck through the swamp was harrowing, with the wounded and barely conscious Thessan hanging onto life by a thread. The field medicine, as well as Sssil's use of Hisssa's venom and unorthodox way of getting blood back in have kept the aged fighter on this side of the Door of DES, the door that all beings pass through when their life mana leaves their bodies, at least according to lizar tradition.

Although Sssil was concerned at the breakneck pace the group was moving, with Thessan bumping along strapped into his grahhssk's war-saddle and grunting in pain at every log or rock the beast had to clamber over, the tracker just kept his eyes on the path back to camp and cleared the way of the worst obstacles so Thessan's grahhssk wouldnt stumble and injure the worrior even worse.

It is hard for Sssil to keep focus, as he feels strangely thirsty and his vision swims in and out. He remembers hearing a story an old mercenary in the employ of his House told when he was young and snuck down to his House's guard barracks, something his father strictly forbade. But the kakkiss Sssil couldnt get enough of the guard's and tracker's colorful tales of life outside of the walled Noble's District. And againt his father's wishes, a few of the trackers and guards saw the unhappiness in the kakkiss' eyes, and sought to cheer him up with tales of battles and far away places. As Sssil runs, his mind overcome with worry and slightly woozy, his thoughts drift back to that day.

"The grizzled old veteran, Jhssnass, an older mercenary-tracker who sought the simple life of guarding a Noble House in his later years, sat at the rough-planked table in the Third House's barracks and canteen for off duty guards. He was sipping on ahssshallk, a strong alcoholic drink made of fermented plant nectar that could peel clay from the walls as he talked. "Well, there I was, just got a swamp lizar's wood-and-stone sword through my guts! That da'lasssk who stabbed me was dead, but that didnt do anythin to help my bleedin. I got back ta my unit, stumblin through the tangle o' bushes n' vines. Let me tell ya, kakkiss Sssil, that was sum tryin' times. The most I remember o' it was how my vision was swimmin', and I was so DES-blasted thirsty! And, young kakkiss, know what I learned? When I gots back ta camp, the cleric there had me drinkin gallons o water, after the healin'. Said that if ya ever lose lots o blood, for any reason, ya gotta put the VI mana back in yer body, cuz ya know, without the water, how can yer body make more VI mana for your blood to carry? At least thats what the cleric tol' me. Dunno if it was true, but I'm here talkin to ya now, aye?"

The vision fades and Sssil realizes he is back at the caravan. Kass sees the group coming and immediately calls everyone to help. Thessan is rushed off to be worked on, and Sssil is helped inside the circle as well.

A face swims into his vision, and he sees that it is the female with the odd bright face scales. "Do you need anything?", she asks him shyly.

He sits and wonders how Growlgra and Urrffrah are doing. Thessan is being worked on, and he is afraid he would just get in the way of the more-competant healers. Kass appears to be directing guards, although when she sees him sitting, she takes the time to walk up and whisper "Kalissa told me you saved Thessan with snake venom and something about a lo'ssah bush." She shakes her head. "You never cease to amaze me. My sire Hassta will be pleased as well. He has known THessan for many cycles." She looks around and realizes others might be watching.

"And I expect a full report tomorrow!" she continues in a loud, unfriendly tone, before flaring her nostrils to show she is only acting.

Eventually, Sssil sees Urrffrah and Growlgra come out of the bushes nearby. They appear to be leading a sickly-looking skinny swamp lizar who's forearms are bound with vines, the tail end of which is being held by Urrfrah. The lizar stumbles as he walks, and Sssil can see a large bleeding gash in his side, directly above the crude and filthy badly-tanned leather loincloth that makes up his only article of clothing.

[Ameena]

Goblin form is the best at speaking Common, because is mouth is best-shaped for it. Urrffrah has trouble pronouncing words anyway, of course, because she's not exactly had a lot of practice at it . She could probably eventually manage to speak decent Common in her natural form, but because the mouth isn't quite properly goblin-shaped, she'd have to move it slightly differently to get the same sounds. Wolf form, of course, wouldn't have the vocal structure to pronounce any human words that don't sound like wolf noises, so I figure that's out for verbal communication .
I changed to goblin form for the rope-tying 'cause that one has better Dex (due to having proper fingers and opposable thumbs, of course ). I think I saw in one of those e-mails yesterday that I'm at -5 for fine fingerwork in barghest form, but could double-check. Since wolves don't have fingers at all, it would be narratively rather stupid to try and use that shape for anything that requires grasping or fiddling with stuff.

Having been tugging the lizar along by holding the end of the tangly-thing in her teeth, Urrffrah lets it drop when they reach Sssil's pack. She turns so that she can see the lizar that she and Growlgra have just brought back, since she doesn't know what it might try to do, and then shifts into goblin form so that she can speak.
"Fffowwnnnd." she says. "Zzzhhmellllt...annd fffowwnnd. Whot...zzhhed?"
The question is aimed at Growlgra, though Urrffrah keeps an eye on the forepaw-wrapped-up lizar in case it tries anything.

Translation...

Spoiler

"Found. Smelt and found. What said?" = "We found this guy. I smelt (tracked) him and found him. What was it he said?" I'm using the pronoun "he" for ease of OOC reference, but note that Urrffrah hasn't got a clue as to whether this guy is male or female, hence her constantly thinking of him as "it". He's also fair prey, as far as she's concerned, so doesn't really deserve to be thought of as important in any way because she just wants to eat him .

[beowuuf]

Ssssil felt very strange walking along. The other Sssssil, glaring at him as Ssssil retreated with the others, didn't register as gone until Sssssil was back in the camp. Wait, where had thta Ssssil gone? To hunt with the rest? Ssssil then shook his head, realising he felt odd and woosy. He also felt thoroughly wretched for a different reason.

"Water," Sssssil said quietly to the shy face, wondering if he was hallucinating. Even Kass's happy and complimentary words - mentioning Hassta, her father too - didn't really register and lift his spirits, and Ssssil needed no acting to look miserable as Kass yelled at him again and moved off. Ssssil tried to stagger to his feet, wondering if he could go after the others still....

He was shocked, disbelieving, and then finally happy to see his friends return so soon, although the pang of guuilt felt greater he hadn't come with them. Their prisoner looked about how Ssssil felt, an odd, miserable wretch too. Sssssil shook his head to clear his vision and weird sleepy thoughts, and tried to focus on the wounds. Had his friends attacked this lizar? How would that go down. And really, was this creature the one that had attacked Thesssan?


Rolled a 23 for a Heal check to understand the lizar's wounds and demeanour. Hmm, let's throw in a sense motive to understand who this lizar mikght be - or rather, what his demeanour might suggest he is. Rolled 17 for that.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3562094/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3562096/

[Ameena]

Incidentally, the thought has occurred (when we first spotted this wounded lizar guy stumbling along) that this whole thing might be some big trick and it was some other creature who set everyone up - Thessan, the eviscerated trader, and this wounded fellow. So while we think (at least, IC) this is what we were following, it might be that the real culprit has long since legged it (or is a member of the caravan who's disguised themselves). I need to get Urrffrah to see if she can discern that "tainted" smell on this lizar, but right now she's waiting to see what everyone else will do...

[raixel]

sorry guys but Im not gonna get the post of tonight. ill do it ist thing tomorrow.

[raixel]

The shy female nods, averting her eyes from Sssil in response to his request. Sssil notices that her demeanor suggests a servant of one of the Ten Houses. She returns with a cooled waterskin and hands it to him saying "Here you are sa'ssshin" softly before scurrying away. The use of the noble-honorific is unusual. Sssil hasn't heard anyone refer to him by tha title since leaving Makan, although his status is obvious due to his bright scales and symmetrical patterns.

Urrffrah and Growlgra draw closer, and Sssil watches them carefully. He notices the wound the prisoner has is quite severe, about 6 inches long and angling across his side right above the hipbone. The wound is shallow, and the edges ragged as if the thing that made it was jagged, not a perfectly smooth blade. From the size, placement, and depth, Sssil surmises that it must have been a wild swing without much force behind it, not a controlled and powerful attack. It must have bled copiously and the lizar has blood smearing down his side, although now it is only oozing blood slightly. His hands are covered as well, and he stumbles as ihe walks, obviously affected by the injury. He also has a few minor wounds on his torso and arms, suggesting he fought for some time before fleeing.

The prisoner appears to be a young swamp lizar, barely old enough to have passed his hssir test, if the swamp lizar have such a thing. He is skinny, with his ribs and cheekbones very prominent, as if he was chronically underfed. He looks to be about 18 cycles, but with swamp lizar it can be kind of hard to tell, as they take on hssir responsibilies such as hunting even before they can take a mate.Lizar have pretty much the same lifespan and age-categories as humans, although they live a bit longer on average, usually to 90-100.. Sssil sees that he has some kind of bone talisman disk on a leather thong hanging around his neck, although he is aware that swamp lizar commonly make runic and fetish charms carved out of or onto bone and can range for anything from a magical healing charm to a ritual fertility or hunt-luck charm.

The young lizar seems exhausted, stumbing and hissing in pain as he walks, his face scales drawn and nostrils wide as he pants for breath. His alert eyes dart from side to side as if he is taking in everything around him as he walks, in contrast with his general exhausted demeanor. His muscles are tense, as if he expects to be attacked at any time, and Sssil gets the impression that he could easily escape the crude vines that are "trapping" his hands if he chose, but doesnt want to for some reason.

His chest is scarred in the raised bluish-black ritualistic patterns some swamp lizar tribes use to mark accomplishments and tribal affiliation, by cutting the skin and rubbing a mix of ash and certain plant juices that encourage scarring. The swirling patterns mean noting to Sssil, but he notices that compared to an elder hunter he once met in the swamp whose entire torso were covered in the marks, this lizar only has a small pattern right in the center of his abdomen. Around where a human's belly button would be

Kass sees the three approaching and walks over. Growlgra sees Sssil and waves. He walks over to the tired tracker and looks on concernedly, motioning to Sssil. You ok? He then points to the prisoner, then Urrffrah. Barghest tracked him from fight.

Kass yells "Westian? can you come here and ask them why on earth they are bringing a wounded swamp lizar back? And where is the grahhsskThessan was riding?".

Westian says something to Vaathi, who nods and takes the suturing needle that the cleric is stitching up Thessan with from the elf. He then stands up, wiping his bloody hands on a clean rag as he comes over.

"Kass wants to know who he is and where Thessan's grahhssk is." the elf says in common to Urrffrah. Kass goes over to where Sssil sits. "Sssil? You know more about swamp lizar than any of us here. He might feel more comfortable talking to you instead of having all of use shouting questions at him. Tell him we arent going to hurt him, but we need to know what he knows and why he was around there. And also where that gash on his side came from. " the pathfinder whispers. "If it turns out hes a Chaos worshipper, see if you can get any information about his group out of him."

[beowuuf]

Ssssil is happy to see the two, though a little embarrassed still at not following them. He wobbles his hands in a way he recalls seeing a humanoid do once, like it was shaking about its wrist - or like a see-saw. He thinks it means 'neither one thing nor the other', and hopes it communicates his odd feeling well. Or just his shakiness. Ok. Ish.

Ssssil gives a weak smile to Urrffrah, pointing to the swamp lizar and grinning as he had seen Westian do. He makes a motion as if of somehting very narrow and thin, points to his belly, then shakes his head.

When Kass comes over during the commotion of Westian#s question, Ssssil is a littel uncertain but nods. "Gash not deep. Like weak blow from unskilled hand. Jagged blade. Odd." Ssssil shrugged, and moved off to the swamp lizar before anyone else could see Kass speak to him. Although it was more to be near his friends than actually want to speak to the lizar. Still, having the three outsiders near gave Ssssil a little confidence. And he recalled the demeanour of the girl earlier. Maybe Ssssil would pass his test after all. Maybe it was just swamp lizars and...something, like bad weeds or spores that could confuse someone. After all, Sssssil felt weird just from a lack of blood. Ssssil, for the moment, seemed to choose to ignore the sight of the sword that had imbedded itself in a tree through Thesssan.

"You!" he said, trying to hide his bluster with emphatic gestures. "Who are you? Why did you get yourself injured and captured? Talk, I am a noble of one of the ten houses. You will be safe here if I say you can be safe."

Ssssil then realised that probably all the other guards could herar him, and he internally winced a little.


Did you want a roll this early for intimidate or the starts of diplomacy?

[raixel]

Yeah, If you want to be forceful do an intimidate, if you wanna try and talk to him nicely do diplomacy. I'm gonna wait to see if Ameena has anything to say/do before advancing

[Ameena]

Urrffrah watches as Sssil approaches. She looks up at him and points at the wounded lizar.
"Zzhhedd...attack...tray-duh...warr-uhh...rrr...whot zzheey?" She looks up at Growlgra. "Did...nnot...unnderrr-zzhtannd."
She looks back to Sssil.
"But...mmyyt...be im...imm...ovv youuuzzzh."
She remains in goblin form for now, in case there is any further need for her to speak, but she continues to watch the wounded lizar out fo the corner of her eyes, just in case.

Translation =

Spoiler

"Said attack...trader...warrior...rrr...what say?" = "He said something about attack...a trader, a warrior, err...what did he say?"
"Did not understand" = (fairly obviously) "I didn't understand."
"But might be im...im...of use." Probably don't need to translate this one. the word she failed to say was "important" .

Hopefully Growlgra can elaborate on Urrffrah's badly-phrased memory of words she mostly didn't understand, and tell everyone what the lizar guy said. Btw, did that wibbly blade belong to Thessan or does no-one recognise it? Presumably the same sword was used both to injure the swamp lizar and impale Thessan, but I don't recall anyone saying whether or not it belonged to anyone. I suppose they were a bit distracted at the time by trying to stop Thessan's guts leaking out all over the place .

[beowuuf]

Ssssil looked to Growlgra, confused by Urrffrah's speech. Still, he wiggled his brow area as if to indicate he was awaiting the swamp lizar's response with patience.


go with diplomacy, Ssssil is trying to look important rather than intimidate so it seems that he has some bargaining power to leverage over the swamp lizar. Not that he is going to do all that well unless the lizar is gulliable, of course

Anywya, middling 12 for a roll
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3564956/

[raixel]

Ive said it before, but just in case you guys forgot, you can try and understand each other by rolling sense motives as long as your narration includes gesture similar to Sssil and Growgra "talking". If you do it enough, you will be familiar with each other's body language that you wont need to roll anymore. I allow for this because out of all the PCs/NPCs you three are the ones most familiar with hunting/animal nature. I wish there would be an easy "if you hit DC *blank* you will understand if its less you wont" so the story gets moved along, but as its directly related to how complex what you are trying to say is Im gonna have to adjudicate it.

And yeah, Thessan carries a huge serrated sword. It was the one that he was impaled on, and Urrfrah smelled someone else's blood on it too.

Growlgra blinks at Urrffrah and his large ears rotate to face the barghest. The bika seems to be able to understand the barghest even though Westian just stares and mumbles "What did she just say?". In response to the elf's question, the bika shrugs.

"This one can barely understand the barghest's speaking. But the barghest instinctively uses hunt-speak when it makes words." the bika replies.

"Hunt speak? What?" asks Westian, frowning in confusion.

The bika chuffs and shrugs again. "The elf probably cannot understand it, for the elf is not in tune with the nature of the hunt. It takes this," here he moves his large mobile ears. "And this." he taps his damp black nose. "And also the sight. The *way* one speaks. Just not the mouth-noise. The elf sees this one speak to the lizar Sssil without making words?"

At Westian's nod, Growlgra continues "It is the same thing. Most living beings do not speak with words, but with hunt-speak. To speak it, one must be one with the ways of the hunt."

Apparently having answered the question to his own satisfaction, even though Westian still looks bemused, the bika turns to Sssil. He lays on the ground and makes a motion from his stomach outward, then a nearby wagon, then Thessan, then the lizar and his own eyes. After that, he stands and mimes a vicious attack. Lizar saw Thessan kill merchant.

He runs and pulls his dagger, then mimes a fight and taking a wound in the same location as the lizar's. Tried to help, got stabbed.

Putting a look of fear on his face, he backs away and then flees, then falls to the ground as if he got flattened by something. Ran away. We track, catch.

Then he looks at Sssil and shrugs. Thats what lizar says, anyway.

The lizar blinks at the strange display, but seems more interested in talking to Sssil.

"You be noble? Why does noble pay the humans to be causing the change of tribe? Humans be come to camp. Say they be cemin from noble. They be talking of the "New Way". Few of us, our old shaman, she be saying that the New Way is bad. A few of the hunters be agreeing. The humans give the chief much earth-shine, new mana. Shaman become disappeared, also the warriors who be agreeing. So, noble. What you be doing? You say I be safe. Safe like shaman Dssa?" the lizar says in his swamp-dialect. He seems slightly angry.

Urrffrah notices that the smell of wrongness is indeed coming from the blood leaking out of his side. But it wasnt as strong as the wrongness around where the battle happened.

[beowuuf]

Ssssil blanches as it is confirmed that Thesssan did attack the merchant. At least, by the swamp lizar's account. Ssssil pointed to the swamp lizar's wound, hopefully. "You saw powerful warrior attack merchant? But...you only get small gash. Not head cut off. Did...did warrior act strange? Try to resist hitting you?" Ssssil realised he was being a little too plaintive and hopefully, then stood straight and arrogant like his father usually did.

"Humans?" Ssssil said with odd interest. Despite himself, he'd actually been facinated by the humans as a small child. His father's derisive stories of course making Ssssil more interested. In his old years Ssssil had thought he'd outgrown the facination, but perhaps at the back of his mind he'd always imagined striking out to those lands to meet them. They seemed to be odd and everything lizars were not, including accepting of others. Certainly Westian - despite his occasional faults - facinated Ssssil no end. And as an outsider seemed in some ways more welcoming that many of the lizars back in Makan. Still, Sssssil recalled Westian's righteous anger with trepidation...

"Wait, nobles employing humans? Not...not my house! What they do after? Where are they now?" asked Sssssil. Umm, rolled a straight wisdom roll rather than intelligence to see if Ssssil has heard of humans being employed by lizars for anything. I forget if this isn't as strange as it sounds. Rolled a 9 or an 11 if favoured enemy can be used to boost the roll. http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3565927/ "You see humans here? We only have half human, and he is shaman. This not caravan of humans, this caravan of lizar. I hunt!" Ssssil actually managed some pride. "They my friends in hunt," he said, pointing to Urrffrah and Growlgra. "If I say you be safe, and you not act to hurt us, then you safe. " Sssssil then pointed to the swamp. "You go back out there, then you meet people that make you do what you not want to do, right? Warrior that attack you not want to do it, right?" Sssssil looked to the swamp lizar, to see if he knew something they didn't . Sense motive 9 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3565934/

[Ameena]

Pity I don't have Sense Motive as a skill - I'll be stuck making my lovely +2 Wis Mod rolls instead. Oh well, what do you expect from a basically alien creature who really knows sod all about the life forms of this world?

While Sssil is speaking to the injured lizar, Urrffrah goes to speak to Growlgra in a low voice, not wanting to disturb the pack leader in his discussion. She points a claw toward the wounded lizar, specifically toward the area that's leaking red-life-water.
"Zzzhmell...bad." she says, wrinkling her nose to show her meaning. "Zzhmell whozz...at playyzzhh...vv...wwhhwerrrre whozz...Zzzhhezzann hurrrrt."
She gestures toward where the injured Thessan is still being helped, then pauses, thinking this over.
"Annd...dedd wun. Mmaayy-beee izz...mm...madge-ick? Baad madge-ick? Mayyk...ffingzh...happun...not whont?"

Translation

Spoiler

"Smell bad. Smell was at place where was Thessan hurt." = "There's a bad smell. The same smell was at the place where Thessan got hurt."
"And dead one. Maybe is magic? Bad magic? Make things happen not want?" = "And that dead trader. Maybe it's some kind of magic - bad magic, that makes things happen/makes you do things that you don't want to happen?"

Poor Urrffrah is getting a right old brain strain trying to think up words and string them together in the right order and pronounce them in a way that can be understood . Since she's talking to Growlgra, I won't roll to try and understand what Sssil and the swamp dude are saying - she can't concentrate on making speech and trying to understand someone else's at the same time . Oh wait, they were speaking Lizardman anyway, weren't they? So she can't understand them anyway . Sounds like there's some kind of Chaos Cult thing going on, with people trying to convert the swamp lizar tribes. I hope that bone amulet thingy the injured guy has isn't some kind of Chaos charm he was forced to take, or something, which is causing Bad Shit to happen...

[beowuuf]

At least you have +2! I have sense motive as a class skill but didn't put points in to it, so I have -1 to all rolls there. I do get bonuses for 'favoured enemy' which, in Ssssil#s case, is manifesting as a facination about humans that is beginning to bloom again. The difference between the 8th level character I originall rolled, and the 3rd level one starting his career

[Ameena]

Hehe, well, I suppose Sssil isn't really known for his epic powers of empathic observation, is he? Sense Motive is a Rogue skill but I don't have all the Rogue skills, just the ones that were more relevant to my character. I can see why reading people wasn't included in that list - all she's needed to do with living things so far, really, is detect whether or not they're giving off the smell of fear .

[raixel]

Ameena. Just on a side note, I thought I should let you know you might want to come up with an in-game reason for Urrffrah to start learning to talk better, like maybe she starts taking Zaangaardian lessons from Sssil or something. She doesnt have to speak perfectly, I just dont want you to feel left out cuz my campaigns in general are very very dialogue heavy, and Ive been trying to find things for Urrffrah to do/comment on so you arent just sitting on your ass while everyone's talking. But there might be situations where that isnt feasable and I dont want you left out.

And if you want to discuss what you think's going on, do it ICly first and then if you need to clarify your chars assumptions, do it in OOC, please dont just announce your plot assumptions in OOC.

The favored enemy one is a tough call. The rules state that it is to be used "against enemies of that type". It doesnt say if it is used *directly* or just "you are more interested in this species, so look for more info about them". After all, for most rangers, why on earth would they actually talk to their favored enemy, since its usually taken as a kind of hatred/ Since you said that Sssil shows a fascination with humans, he would be interested in picking up any info about them, so it could technically fit this exact situation as he would be actively be interested in hearing any rumors about humans. I'm gonna allow it, this time. Only because it fits this exact situation.

The lizar nods at Sssil. "Yess. He be strange. Be like a snake-bit ssaaros." From Sssil's experience seeing Hissa bite his prey, he knows that the paralytic venom causes its victims to move jerkily as their muscles freeze up, kind of like a string-puppet show at the market.

"Yes, humans. They say noble be sending them. Be with a couple soft lizar, who be leaving later. Things be changing after they come. Traders be not stopping by anymore, either soft lizar or other tribes. Humans be spending time with chief, chief not be spendin time with hunters, not lead hunt." the lizar says. The word human floats into Sssil's brain, a race that always fascinated him. A few months ago, his father was talking about a council session where their nominal allies in he human city of Viborg offered to send mercenaries to the Zaangaardian border to help the Makan armies there drive out nests of bandits and Chaos-worshippers. The council had come to a decision a hand of suns before Sssil left on his hsssir test(what lizars call a week), but Sssil didnt know what came of it. Also, bandit groups have been known to be a mix of the dregs of all societies, whether Zaangaardian, human, elven, or even goblinoid or trolin.

"What be a "house"? And yes, I be seeing that the one human-looking one there be not full human. The ones that be in our camp be different, a bit. They be not having long things like that on their heads, but round ones. And I be knowing soft lizar cuz I be knowing the longer a lizar be living in the walls, the brighter they get. Mahchinahhsst be making lizar like me. But when lizar be living in a way that be not natural, His grace be leaving, so brighter they get. Nobles be living in walls the longest, so the brightest they be. Thats what my sire be saying, always. Before he be disappeared, too." He suddenly looks fearful and throws himself at Sssil's feet.

"Please, please. I be not meaning to speak of Mahchinahhsst, good noble. Please be not having me disappear!" the young lizar wails. "It just be so hard to stop, after I be saying his name for all of the 16 cycles I be living."

He looks even more frearful when Sssil mentions Urrffrah and Growlgra. "No! dont be telling that furry one to be having his demon jump on me and be eating me! I be not fighting your warrior! He be attacking me when I be trying to stop him from killing self-merchant! I not be saying Mahchinahhsst's name anymore!"

He calms down a little bit when Sssil mentions that people make him do things he doesnt want to. "Well. Kind of. I be sneaking away. I be not liking their New Way. Be not liking that we be have human shamans now, that we be not able to thank Mahchinahhsst for the hunt, for life. Everything. So I be leaving, be following that self-merchant cuz self-merchant had just be coming by tribe camp, be talking to humans. I be following cuz I be wanting to find where the humans, the nobles, be coming from. Be warning other tribes, too. That the New Way be bad. I be seeing your warrior kill self-merchant. I be going to help cuz if self-merchant be dead, I be not able to follow, be getting hurt, ran away. Then you furry thing and the demon be attacking me." He sighs and looks at his hands. "Be hurting, be wanting to find safe tribe, be taking me in as slave, but that be better than New Way. Questions be over?"

Sssil watches the lizar closely as he speaks. He really can't tell if the lizar is telling the truth, although he seems earnest.

Urrffrah notices that the smell of badness is coming directly from the lizar's blood, and also due to the wind she can smell it in the direction where Thessan lays with Kalissa and Vaathi frantically working over him. Growlgra cocks one ear at the barghest as she growls at him, although most of his attention is riveted on the body language of Sssil and the swamp lizar.

"How does the barghest say it is bad? The barghest smells the same smell from the lizar?" The bika twitches his ear as he thinks. "A magic smell. A bad magic smell. Hmm." He suddenly turns to Westian. "The elf Westian should tell this one and the barghest Urrffrah what the swamp lizar is speaking of! The barghest might know something! And this one is not sure of it enough to explain to it." he calls.

Westian glances at him "How many times do I have to tell you that you should just say Westian and not the elf" he chuckles at the bika. Growlgra looks confused, but doesnt say anything.

Westian sighs. "Alright, so basically the lizar is claiming that some humans have come, and have taken over his tribe with some "new way" on the advice of a or some lizar nobles. He claims he escaped to go look for missing members, as it seems anyone who speaks out against this new way vanishes. He says that he went to follow the merchant THessan killed. He found the merchant right sa Thessan was killing him and tried to help because he was worried about losing the trail. Thessan attacked him, and he ran. Then you guys found him." the elf explains slowly and simply to Urrffrah.

"So, what exactly is it you smell?" Westian asks.

[Ameena]

I was gonna have Urrffrah start to pick up Common as she goes, the more she talks to people. She's just not had very many conversations just yet, that's all . And her Int is only erm, 10 I think, so I figure she's not gonna insta-learn that kind of stuff. Besides, I'm the one who chose to play a character with shitty langauge skills - if that means I have trouble joining in with conversations, that's my problem . It's pretty much the opposite of what I played last game, really, isn't it? Last time I was a talkative pacifist - this time I'm a barely-verbal killing machine .
I was mentioning my thoughts on the plot OOC because most of it isn't exactly the kind of stuff Urrffrah would consider or even have any clue about, therefore there would be no other way for me to communicate my thoughts to the other player(s) - if there's something their character might have thought of but which they, as a player, didn't, then I don't see any problem with another player making the suggestion OOC. At least, I don't think that's too meta-gamey.

Urrffrah doesn't entirely understand everything that Westy-an explains to her - she doesn't know what "no-buls" are but she manages to understand basically what the sitation seems to be.
"Nnnot...lyk...nuu waayy? Kill...no-buls, zzzhhen. Zzhhenn...nno...moorrrr....nuu wayyy."
She looks a little blankly at Westy-an as she says this - surely that's the most obvious answer to the problem these lizar seem to be having, isn't it? Or is she missing something?
When Westy-an asks her about the smell, she perks up a little, since this is something she does understand.
"Zzhmell...inn...rrrred-llyyf---wwhhaar-tuh. Inn Zzhhezzhhann annd...annd..."
She looks to the injured lizar, whom it seems no-one wants to kill any more.
"Whhot izzhh naym?" she asks.

Translation

Spoiler

"Not like new way? Kill nobles, then. Then no more new way." - Don't think I need to elaborate on this translation . If Urrffrah was familiar with the concept of shrugging one's shoulders, she would have done so when she said this.
"Smell in red-life-water. In Thessan and...and..."
"What is name?"

[beowuuf]

Yeah, it made more sense in the 8th level character where I presumed he'd hunted humans then fey creatures for Petal's group. It's hard to translate it well for this earlier incarnation where he's on the start of that path. Still, he's a 'ranger' rather than a ranger, and I see the favoured enemy as a preference for hunting, rather than an anamosity in his case. Still, I'm happy for this interest to just be narrative, and the mechanics just to be applied in adversarial situaitons, co-inciding with any arrogance against human foes when he faces them. And, of course, we may well have a justification for some human hatred soon, for all I know!

" 'House' is when nobles group together in family, and make sure city run well. These 'soft' lizars may stay in city, but they not act noble, they not making city act well. Why bother people in swamp, how that help city? They get humans do do their dirty work then run away. That not what nobles do."

Ssssil felt a little put out by the swamp lizar daring to insult the city people - if he understood it. "Bah, I have shiny scales, and I know swamp. I live there better than I live in city. I makes friends with the swamp beings you scared of!" he said, lifting up his snout and pointing again to Urrffrah. lol, yes, I know, she isn't from the swamp. Some thigns will take a little bit of time to get in to Ssssil's skull. Plus, you know, he's posturing a little. Since it might not go well, he probably won't do it again

Ssssil looked nervously around to Kass and the rest, to make sure he had not been playing it too strongly and see if they have any question. He himself had one last one. "What is Mahchinahhsst? I not know thta word."


General intelligence check to see if he has actually heard of it - don't know if it's their name for the swamp or a swamp god, or something else. Rolled a 10 for a normal check, or 13/15 if it is geography/nature related.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3567508/

[raixel]

I'm a stickler when it comes to metagaming, so generally dont allow any OOC chat about something that hasnt been brought up ICly. In-story OOC is for chatting about rules, clarifying a characters actions or options, or making fun of someone who rolls 1s. . Stuff like that. I find it incredibly distracting to have a player announcing plots in OOC to the other players, who may have not thought of such a thing (or dont want to think of such a thing because theyre enjoying the story unfold- some of my home players get real pissed if a player talks about plot ideas that havent been openly revealed/talked about IC yet). And I'll most likely alter the plot if what was said is even close to what I had planned, so the point becomes moot anyway and just makes the DM do more work.

Its ok to have Urrffrah think of something taht she may not technically understand. Just phrase it in a way that fits her world view. For instance: She knows about magic, having seen the mage who caught her do stuff with it. And she knows about packs, that things hunt in packs. So if there was "bad magic" that made a pack do something it didnt want to do, that would be some way to explain what she thinks is happening.

Generally, playing a monster race is *hard*, for these type of reasons (altered wordview/lack of concepts, less/no speech) and really isnt recommended for people who dont know what theyre getting into/new players. But, I know you are creative and experienced enough (at least with the RP part if not the mechanics) that although there may be minor hiccups, you'll do just fine. If it becomes too much of an issue and you arent havng fun or feel too constrained by player knowledge vs Urrffrah knowledge, juts let me know and we'll work it out, like having her learn languages or learn about other cultures from Westian/Sssil or something.

Westian grins at Urrffrah's simple mindset. "Ahh. If everything were that simple, friend Urrffrah, we'd have a nice world to live in. Here, maybe it'd be better to explain like this. In a pack, there is a leader, right/ One who is bigger, hunts better, gets the best food. So, in a city of lizar or people there are osme like that too. They lead the others, just like a pack has a leader. But because there more people living in a city than in a pack, there are a lot of nobles, but much less than there is non-nobles."

He thinks for a second. "You have never seen a city, I'd imagine. It has many many families of mates and pups all living together, kind of like a huge huge pack. But its a pack so big that not every single being knows every other being in it. So, the nobles are there to lead the people in the city, they look and act a certain way so that others know they are a noble and to listen to them"

"But its a bit diffeent than in a pack. A noble lizar is born that way, and even if they leave the city, they were raised a certain way from the time they were ummm...pups. So, being a noble isnt something you can change. Just like Sssil. He was born a noble lizar, I was born a half-elf and you are a barghest."

He explains this very slowly, using simple words and looking at Urrffrah to make sure she understands, changing or explaining words she doesn't get as many times as needed.

Once he is sure she understands the concept of a noble at least somewhat, he continues. "Also, most creatures live together, in packs. So, if everyone in a pack listens to the laeder, but some people dont like it they could leave, right? But what if the leader makes it so the people who want to leave can't? Or even hurts them because they don't like what the leader is doing? Most types of creatures can't live by themselves. Well, they can, but it hurts them inside. They become unhappy. They miss their mayes, their pups."

"Does that make any sense? Do you have questions?"

He frowns as the barghest continues. "Whose name? Oh, the lizars? I don't know. He hasn't said. But you smelled something in his blood? Soething bad that was the same as Thessan? Hmmm." The elf paces as he thinks.

Turning to Sssil, he switches to Zangaardian and says "Urrffrah zzhayzz zzhee zzhmehhled zzomezhing een zee lihzzar'zz bluhhd. Zzzat wazz ahlzzo ahround Zhezzan. Aye whundher eef zeeezz hyumahnzz ahr dooing zzumzzhing two zee lihzzar."

Turning back to Urrffrah he says "That was good you noticed that! I think that might help! I told Sssil, maybe he can find something out."

AS Westian explains nobles to Urrfrah, Sssil talks tothe swamp lizar. The lizar blinks as Sssil mentions his swamp-savvy. Obviously the things pointed out to him by Sssil never have occured to him before. "But. You be travel with wooden things, like all nobles be doing in swamp. I see that you be carrying weapons, but I be seeing nobles carry weapons before. And the beast there be with the furry one, be minding the furry one, not you. Nobles never be going out by themselves. Mahchinahhsst be taking grace from them, made them be shiny for not be living natural way. If they be living in natural way, they be getting correct colors. So there be no way you not soft lizar. We be having a saying "Words can be catching a giant invisible red-flag(the swamp-lizar word for swamp deer- comes from their bright red tail), but the meat of a tiny one be actually feeding you" This be meaning that you can be saying you be catching the biggest swamp deer, but it wont be feeding you unless it actually be there. So, if you be natural living, and say you can be talking to animals, say you be not soft noble, how you be proving it?"

"And how I be knowing why noble be doing stuff in the swamps? YOu noble, you should be knowing. I not be knowing why noble be using humans too. I not be understanding soft lizar."

He shakes his head derisively at the question about the being's name he keeps mentioning. "Chak! Soft lizar so far gone they dont even know the name of Mahchinahhsst? Ma-chin-ahhsst. He be the Creator of all lizar. Be called a High Lord. He and his mate Ssarlhacha be watchin over us. Or at least they did, until those humans be coming and be saying They no longer be watching us, and we must be praying in the New Way." When the swamp-lizar says the name slower, along with the name of the High Lord's mate. Sssil realizes it is probably an odd pronounciation of Makanassht and his mate Sssslarhatha.

Beo, roll a straight WIS please.

[beowuuf]

Ah, interesting regarding IC versus OOC. I've never minded plot discussion as long as there's no vaule judgements put on the guesses. And I've been bad for it in another game as a player (whose GM seems to revel in people trying to guess what is going to occur). So noted for this game!

Ssssil suddenly felt wretched again. He knew, <i>knew</i> speaking was a bad idea. The swamp lizar was saying exactly what Ssssil felt, thaty he should have gone out with the others. Then something of his father - or of that other Ssssil - took over. This swamp lizar was getting <i>Ssssil</i> to justify what <i>him</i>self? Sssssil had killed an elder turtle and had made Thesssan live again.

Sssssil expanded his chest, lifted his squint snout high, and....deflated. He suddenly realised he couldn't take credit for any of those. Not if there were traitors. Not if this lizar was false. The plan. Why had he suggested the plan? Opening his mouth was such a bad idea...

"I...not have to justify myself... wagons important, carry goods. Others can go out," he said, not able to look at Growlgra and Urrffrah, and feeling torn between having a swamp lizar of all things insult him and his kind, and yet not being able to say anything, and feeling that in some ways it was justified.

"<i>Makan</i>assht," says Ssssil suddenly, realising what the swamp lizar meant. "Of course I know Makanassht. What foolish talk do you make? Why would nobles not let us say His name anymore? How would humans even <i>dare</i> demand such a thing in our land. No wonder I not understand you, you full of crazy speech!"

Westian timed that moment perfectly to tell Ssssil of the smell. Ssssil took a step back. "I knew it! You have bad blood! Whatever get in to Thesssan's blood and make him attack you like puppet is in you too! You either poisoned Thesssan then didn't run faster enough away, or what poisoned him got in your wound too! Your mind not there!"

Ssssil turned the the nearest guards. "Watch him!"

He looked back. "If you think you want to do things....don't do those things! You have bad blood!"

Rolled a 10 all told for Sssssil. What is it with these middling rolls right now! I guess the high and low ones only happen in combat, right?
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3568829/

[raixel]

Hey I'm not as bad as a GM I played with was. He wouldnt let the *players* say anything in combat unless it was their char's action. And speaking of combat, OOC clarification of strategy between chars is ok, although it would be much better if it was said ICly.

I'm going to be out of town all day I'll try and post if I get back early enough. But even if I do itll be like 4 am your time, so there wont be any posts today.

[Ameena]

After Westy-an's explanation, Urrffrah feels that she understands the concept of "no-buls" well enough. But something still doesn't quite make sense...
"Iff...lee-duh...no-bul...iff bad..." she says, "zzhhenn, kill annnd...mmayyk...nuu lee-duh. Bett-uh lee-duh."
She glances over at where Sssil is talking to the wounded lizar and wonders what they're discussing in that strange, hissing langauge of theirs.

Translation

Spoiler

"If leader...noble...if bad...then, kill and make new leader. Better leader" = "If the leader, or noble, ro whatever, is crap, then why not just kill him and make someone else the leader? Someone who'd be better at it/whom the pack wants in charge?"

[raixel]

The lizar looks angry. "I be not knowing why nobles be sending humans to be telling us we cannot be worshiping Mahchinahhsst! That be why I be following self-merchant to be finding where these humans and nobles be coming from. The merchant *your* insane friend be killing! So dont you be telling me I be talking crazy!" he almost shouts.

When Sssil mentions the bad blood he gets even angrier. "What? What you be going on about? I not be one of them! If I be one of them, why would I be telling you all of this!?" He reaches to his rudely-tanned kilt, as if for a weapon. Then he seems to remember that Growlgra took his short-sword. He calms down as the guards Sssil called step closer and put their hands on their weapon-hilts in a very obvious threat.

"I be wanting the answers, too. I be telling you everything I know. Want tribe back to normal. I be trying to not join the rituals, be trying to not drink potion humans be making us drink. But sometimes I be having to, or I be risking disappearing like shaman Dssha." he says a bit more calmly.

"Potion be making me feel weird, but Dssha be teaching me to control mind, before she be gone. Was going to be shaman after Dssha. I be throwing up potion as soon as I be able. Others, though, they be enjoying it. Also be having talismans. Like mine, but be having the power of the new way" he says as he fingers the small bone disk around his neck. Humans be making them, making us wear them. But before Dssha be disappearing, she be telling me that there is bad mana in those. I have one I be making, it be looking like theirs, but isnt. I be telling them I understand now, that the New Way be better. But I just be making this one out of an old erloss bone I be killing a few moon-growths ago."

Sssil gets a good look at the talisman. Compared to the one his House's servant Jassk gave him it looks nothing like a traditional swamp-lizar charm except for the size and general shape. In fact, if he was to say it resembled anything, it would be the talisman found in the wagon wherethe rats were.

Sssil feels Hisssa awake in his pouch, probably from all the shouting. A feeling of irritation at the vibrations caused by the yelling lizars wafts through Sssils mind. The snake sticks his head out of the pouch and yawns, long fangs unfolding and then retracting as the snake stretches his jaw. The lizar's eyes open wide at the snake's head appearing out of the flap near Sssil's collarbone, and he jumps back a few feet.

"Chak! Why you be not telling me you be sharing minds with a viper?" the young lizar asks, sounding slightly in awe. He kneels before Sssil and touches his snout to the mud of the road at Sssil's feet. "Blessed one, I be sorry for my words! I be sorry I be calling you soft, said that you be a non-knowing noble. I be thinking with your colors that you be like every other noble I ever be seeing. Even the one that be coming to camp with the humans. He be like the ones that ride on the road. Be all arrogant, like we be nothing but animals. He be leaving as soon as he be bringing gifts for chief, get chief to be following his New Way, like he be not being able to stand to be around us."

Something about the lizar talking about nobles in the swamps jogs Sssil's mind. Something...a conversation in the city. Something...

The lizar stands back up and gently holds his hands out to Hisssa, who scents it politely. "The ones who be sharing minds with the swamps were first to be disappearing. Dssha had a squeeze-snake, he be her companion since she be just the under-shaman. Fsssir had a viper, like yours but a bit bigger. Lothss a jewel-runner A brightly scaled blue and red poisonous iguana-like reptile.They all be gone first, when the noble and humans be coming." the lizar says, a far away look in his eyes.

Then he seems to come back to himself, and looks at Sssil's scales again. "But, my sire be telling me that if you be living in city, you lose swamp color. So how you know name of Mahchinahhsst, or however you be saying it, if you noble? But, if you noble, how you be having swamp-mind? And why you not be knowing anything of what other noble be doing?" He seems very confused.

Westian sighs at Urrfrah. "Alright, how do I explain this.." he muses.

Growlgra has been watching the converstaion with interest and says "The barghest Urrffrah knows about packs, yes? Now, what if the barghest thinks the leader of her pack is bad, the barghest sees the leader doing bad things, but the other pack members follow the leader? So if the barghest tries to hurt the leader, the other pack members will hurt you. The leader could be tricking the other pack members into believing the leader is a good leader. So if only the barghest knows the leader is bad, the barghest can't just kill the leader. That is what the lizar is speaking of. THe lizar is saying that the noble has become pack-leader. All the lizar that did not want the noble to be pack leader have vanished, without any of the oack knowing or caring where they have gone."

Westian smiles at Growlgras explanation, apparently happy he dodnt have to come up with something like that himself.

"Does the barghest know of fear? " Growlgra asks.

[Ameena]

Urrffrah is somewhat glad when Growlgra joins in the conversation - she doesn't feel entirely comfortable with Westy-an yet, given that he was apparently so willing to try and kill her before, even though she'd given him no reason and could probably have easily killed several members of this pack if she'd been stupid enough to want to do so. She wonders why the lizar who don't like the new pack leader don't just go and find a new pack, but then supposes that a new pack might not let them in, and finding a new pack in the first place might be somewhat difficult if there aren't any nearby, or if the way to other packs is blocked by dangerous creatures and other things that might injure or kill a lone pack member.
At Growlgra's question about something called "feer", she puts her head to one side, thinking.
"Feerrr? Rrr...finnk havv..herrrd...bef-aaww...but...nnnot nnno...whot...iz."
Meanwhile the nearby conversation between Sssil and the other lizar seems to have taken a rather strange turn, with the wounded lizar first shouting, then changing his body language completely and, as far as she can tell, becoming submissive, or something. At least, he's lowering himself before Sssil even if he isn't rolling onto his back.

Translation

Spoiler

Fear? Rrr...think have heard of before, but not no what is." = "Fear? Erm...I think I've heard of it before, but I dunno what it is..."

[beowuuf]

"Potions?" asked Ssssil, not understanding how bad potions and bad blood could transfer to Thesssan. Unlesss...they were all poisoned! No, that seemed madness. Didn't it? "Did you know how they tasted? Did they have a taste?" asked Ssssil, happy for the guards to be closer. "That charm...some bad man hid in plain sight in our caravan. Used a charm like that to make plague rats come and eat our food..." Sssssil suddenly realised that such a false charm could do the opposite, he realised. It could let someone pretend to be one of these charmed swamp lizars... Perhaps that alone, even if the lizar was false - and he seemed more and more genuine with each word - perhaps that was worth the risk. "Bad lizars everywhere. You stay with us, you find answers. We want to know who attacks us!"

Ssssil is surprised by the interruption of the swamp lizar bowing to him, and he quite breaks character, feeling embarrassed. "Get up..it...just Hissssa. Just my friend. Shhhh." He looks around worried at the other caravaners. He then realises he needs to pretend to be proud to the swamp lizar. "I mean...this Hissssa! He make errlosss fly with just the threat of his bite!" Despite his bluster, Ssssil was suddenly worried at the talk of the snakes disappearing. However, instead of being terrified for himself, he was angry. First someone tell lizars - no matter who they might be - they could not worship their own High Lord. And now they <i>dared</i> to target snakes like his friend and the snake friends. Something darker and uglier rankled in Sssssil. He cradled Hissssa to himself protectively, and his lip curled in to a snarl.

Thankfully, the swamp lizar started speaking about other things, things Ssssil knew more about. He waved away the swamp lizar's confusion. "Bah! all groups speak bad about other groups. We say you lose your colour because you are dirty and badly fed and so on. Not surprised you decide we too bright because not in the swamp." Ssssil tried to work out how to explain why all the nobles would not know things. "Eh, you swamp lizars have all swamp to live in, You spread out. You think alike but you not in same place. You can sprad out. That why things can happen to your village and people not know. With city, we all crammed together. But we still need our space. So we create it here." He poked his forehead. "All houses should act alike to help each other, but everyone needs their space. They not tell each other everthing." Sssssil nodded, sighing as he realised that the press of minds and opinions in the city was why he so much preferred to hunt outside of it. "I like swamp. You can get space in your head," he said simply.

Something had been stirring at the back of his mind for a while, and suddenly it clicks. "And some...some do bad things and try to hide it in the swamp." Sssssil scrambled in his backpack and pulled out the wanted poster he had showed to Urrffrah earlier. "You seen this lizar? He another noble that do bad thigns nobles not do."

I was was trying ot work out how to get aroudn to it Thanks for the prod!


Ssssil sensed that now might be the time to pull Kass into the mix and step back. "This caravan also run by one who know swamp. Called pathfinder. Journey between cities and know swamp." Sssssil tried to quickly fill her in on anything she might have missed, especially quickly voicing a concern over potions being used in swamp villages. "Maybe Westian need to check our water. Maybe we all turn like Thesssan if we attacked by these bad lizars..."

[raixel]

I was surprised you hadn't yet.

The lizar thinks. "Humans be making potions. They be tasting bad, like old blood. Every few suns, humans be doing big ritual. They be taking the blood of something, most of the time it just be erloss or red flag, but sometimes it be soft lizar or human. Even sometimes be lizar that be from other tribe. They be tying the animal or being to big sticks. Then be building fire, in ring around it. They be making us all stand around inside fire ring, chant praises to the New Way. Then they be cutting the neck of the sacrifice, take the blood. Use the blood to be making the potion.'

"If the potion be drank, it be making you strange feeling. Angry, and be like there is only one way. no one else be right but the New Way. Also, the talisman they be making us wear. It be having same effect, but less. Only it be for others. if you be attacked, you be using talisman. It be affecting living things. Be not knowing how, though or what it be doing. i never be wearing or using one. Most of the warriors who not be having swamp mind or see mana love to be drinking potion, wear talisman. Be making them feel strong. Not see the damage be done to tribe. Camp be filthy now, people be disappearing, anyone whp questions the new way. No shaman anymore, tribe thinks New Way be all we need. But now everyone be enemy. Be no trade, no joy, no family. Just be making war on enemy and be spreading New Way."

He stops and appears to contemplate Sssil's offfer. "I be stay with you, for a bit, if you be wanting me here. But I muts be going to be telling other tribes danger of New Way." he says after a bit of thought.

When Sssil loses his composure at the praise and then attempts to regain it by puffing himself up and making wild claims, he hears a strangled hiss from behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Kass close her nostrils to tiny slits with the effort of holding in her laughter at Sssil's claims about Hisssa. The male guard Dassrak alos looks amused, but the young hssir Lissak seems to look at Sssil in awe.

The swamp lizar lizar looks slightly skeptical, but Lissak steps forward and says "He did! Also killed a giant swamp turtle by himself!"

THe look of skepticism changes to one of amazement and the young swamp-lizar says says "Well, I be not surprised. You be having swamp-mind. Even if you be noble. I be not understand, but maybe my sire not be right bout everything. After all, he supposed to be leading tribe. But instead he be selling tribe for bit of earth-shine and mana." He listens to Sssil's explanation and still seems confused, but appears to have accepted the noble at face value due to the fact that trackers or naature worshippers who have the ability to bond with animals are apparently held as sacred among his people.

Sssil shows him the image of Hasskilirac he got from the guard at the Nobles Gate of Makan, and the young lizar's eyes grow wide. "That be him! That be the noble that be with the humans!" He peers closely at the piece of reed-paper. "But how you be getting him stuck in there? It be like charcoal drawing, but not. And what be these marks?" he asks, pointing to the Zaangaardian glyphs spelling out Hasskilirac's name and crimes.

The young lizar nods respectfully to the pathfinder when Sssil introduces her. "I be Nihss." he says. "I be not having hassiri name yet, just kikkissh name. Never be getting chance to be full shaman, get to be speaking to swamp." he says, sounding slightly embarrased. Sssil knows that for most swamp lizar tribes, when one passes their version of a hssir test, a new name is bestowed to welcome the individual to adulthood.

Kass listens as Sssil speaks, nodding or ocassionaly asking to clarify. "The one question I have about all this is 'where is Thessan's grahhssk'? You said you only saw one dead grahhssk, killed in the same brutal way as the self-merchant, correct? And you said there were grahhssk tracks around. So where did the grahssk go? Any ideas?" she asks Sssil.

Nihss looks confused "It be there when I be there. He be having it nearby. I be not taking it, be having no use. You be asking furry one, I be walking when they be catching me."

A few feet away, Westian, Growlgra and Urrffrah all stand, half watching the lizar talk. But as only Westian can understand what is being said, with Urrffrah and GRowlgra only picking up non-verbal body language and tone, the three are far more interested in their own conversation.

Growlgra scratches down his muzzle with a long black claw as he think son the best way to explain the concept of fear to Urrffrah.
"This one thinks the barghest knows what fear is, just that it does not have words for it. Has the barghest ever lost a fight? And then the barghest thinks the enemy will be hurting it? That is fear. Fear is the scent a prey makes right before you are taking its life mana away. See, so that is why the lizar can't just kill the leader. The lizar is afraid to do it alone. It needs the approval of the pack, but the pack is broken and likes the bad leader. If the lizar secretly goes around killing everyone so he can kill the leader, there will be no pack left and he will most likely die and then the pack will still be ruled by the bad leader. And perhaps the other lizar of the pack are afraid too. Because the lizar said that pack members disappear if the sya they do not lke the leader, the other pack members are afraid to do anything to the leader. Unfortunately, if the leader gets killed, the pack members that like the leader could make it much worse for the ones who dont."

He looks at Urrffrah. "Does the barghest understand? Fear is a very powerful feeling, and makes it easy to control beings who feel it. Just like when the prey becomes so afraid that it freezes up and doesnt move, making it easy for the hunt-pack to kill it even though it could outrun the hunt-pack if it wanted, the lizar's pack is like that."

Just then Thessan starts screaming over in the circled wagon. "Help me!" calls out Vaathi's strangely accented voice as she struggles to keep the convulsing warrior on his bedroll. "Ssssomeone hold him down!"