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Oh, I wouldnt worry so much about someone dodgy listening in, more like someone good listening in!

When Urrffrah starts speaking in her native tongue, Westian stops cold as he is walking back towards the wagon in front of her. Remember, up until he gave it to Sssil, he was wearing the pendant so heard everything you said in his native language. He turns around slowly, hand on his medallion. Farther up the line, a very very (almost skeletally thin) lizar with beige and black blotches and bright white stripes who is walking with Thessan also stops, whispering something to Thessan before turning around and putting a hand on a thin wooden wand.

Sssil is shocked at the look on Westian's face. He has never seen the generally genial and friendly elf look like this. The look on his face is cold, as if he could kill without any compunction or remorse. The skeletally thin lizar also steps back towards the goblin a white wand out and pointed directly at Urrffrah's face. Thessan runs towards Kass, whispering something, and Kass nods in return.

Within seconds, there is a group of angry lizar surrounding Sssil and the goblin. Some of the guards look confused, although they still have their weapons drawn. But Westian and the thin female (Sssil would know her as Kalisssa, Thessan's mate) look ready to slaughter Urrfrrah without remorse. Westian grips his holy symbol as he faces the goblin, turning the crescent so it catches the light, flashing silver spots in the eyes ofthe three who face him.

"Growlgra, Sssil. Step away from it, please. We have to know it hasnt corrupted you." the elf says, his voice like a razor. "So," he continues. "What are you, really? What is your purpose here, and who sent you!? Answer me now, spawn of Librasulus! Before I send you back to the Hell you came from!"

And on that note, im going outta town till mon! I'll try and update as much as possble, but I wont have access to anything besides my flash-drive. Not that it matters, cuz thats where everything *is* right now. Ok, and technically people arent supposed to know who Llibrasulus is! But the line was too good, I couldnt pass it up! Maybe Westian knows cuz hes a cleric who studies that stuff, i dunno.

Well that's just plain evil! :p

Sssssil is lost in weird mental images of a tiny goblin jumping up and down upon the head of a lizar and sticking them in the ground. He is just about to comment on the purpose of the caravan, and what hunting gets done, when he realises there seems to be a disturbance.

Sssssil looks very uncertainly at all the attention, and backs away slowly from the goblin, checking to make sure Growlgra is alright. However, then something occurs to him, that the timing is very co-incidental. He warns his new friend about strange behaviour and for the goblin to be a sneaky eye on the group, and sudden the goblin is being targetted by strange behaviour!

"No! wait! It trick! Someone controlling Westian! He not acting like friendly WEstian we know!" Sssssil looks nervously to Growlgra for confirmation, and to ensure the goblin isn't jumping on the furry hunter's head. Sssssil then notes Westian clutching a medallion. "Like rats! evil talisman on Westian's neck making him act like this! He not have that before!" Sssssil then looks to Growlgra. "Right? He...he not wear that before. Did he?"

Ssssil sudden;y feels very uncertain and uncomfortable. He hates being the centre of attention.

So, Sssil is wearing the translation amulet, which means Westian isn't, which means that whichever language he's speaking is one that at least one person here doesn't understand - if it's Common, the lizars won't understand (I presume, given that so far Westy has had to speak to them in their own language), but if it isn't, Urrffrah won't understand. Even if it is Common, she won't know what half the words mean. Hmm...but presumably he is speaking in Common, because he's not doing the "bad accent" thing right now, as he was when trying to speak Lizar. So Urrffrah will at least get some of what he's saying.

Urrffrah is thinking that things seem to be going well - even here, among these creatures, there is a chance to hunt someone who means the pack harm. Then, suddenly, things quickly change. Westy-an suddenly changes his behaviour abruptly, becoming hostile and looking at her as though she's some kind of terrible thing. She knows that look - it's the look pretty much everyone has ever given her. Except for Sssil. And Him. It's the look that says "I hate you and I want to kill you, just because you're there", but at the same time "I've never seen something like you before and I'm really scared". She's so tired of that look, and doesn't really understand what it is she does that attracts it. Exist, apparently.
Westy-an is already walking over, and one of the cold-no...one of the lizars is walking over too, pointing some kind of stick at her. Probably something magic. Had she known that there were those here who could use magic, she'd probably have stayed well away. Except Sssil has magic too - he has that magic neck-gem that makes them able to understand each other. She wonders if that's how he speaks with Hissssa, though they don't seem to use any words when they speak. Maybe they can speak silently, instead.
Westy-an, meanwhile, is using words she doesn't understand - caw-rup-ting, and lib-rass-oo...lib-rah-ss...something. And calling her a "spawn". And referring to her as "it".
Even Ssil starts to move away from her and she looks up at him - is he, the pack leader, just going to step away because someone else told him to? But no, not quite. He starts to speak up, still speaking in her language, though seeming less sure of himself with everything he says.
Urrffrah herself doesn't really understand what's going on - first they speak to her nicely, and let her stay. Suddenly they're scared and looking at her as though they want to kill her. All she was doing was speaking to Sssil! What did she do wrong?
Looking up at Westy-an, totally confused now, she tries to think of what she should say. Maybe she should ask them what they want, or what she's done wrong. Was she not supposed to be speaking to the pack leader? But he started the conversation, not her. And if she wasn't supposed to speak to him, he'd tell her, wouldn't he? Maybe she made some movement that she wasn't supposed to - different creatures seem to have different ways of telling each other things, after all, and maybe she didn't realise this, and made a stpe the wrong way, or something, though creatures like this seem to rely less on body language and more on talking to each other. Probably because their ears and things can't move around so much. But what is it Westy-an wants from her? And why now? Why not earlier, when she first approached the group? What did she do wrong, and what should she say to try and make it right? Will they just kill her?
She glances around at all those hostile faces looking down at her, and says the only thing she can think to say.
"What?"

Still speaking in Infernal there, since she was already doing so when speaking to Sssil. Not that she said a lot, but, you know...

Or it could be Westian is speaking bad lizar still, just Sssssil would understand him perfectly. Either way, of course Urrffrah would not

"Westian saying things about Lib...something, and heals, and saying you're corrupted..or corrupting. And not what you say you are. Evil people making him say thigns because I asked you to watch out for them. I...think...?" Again, Sssssil took a step away from Urrffrah, and looked to Growlgra for confirmation of Westian's odd behaviour.

Urrffrah frowns, not understanding what Sssil means.
"What is caw-tup-ting? And ee-vill? Someone said I was ee-vill once. They were shouting. It was like this. I was walking near some...how-zez. Where they live. I was sniffing to see what was there. I was going to leave and go hunting, but then one came and saw me. And shouted. There were others. All like Westy-an, but...I think ears a different shape. They picked up sharp things and were waving them at me. They were yelling about ee-vill and dee-mun. I just left. They are slow - they would never catch me. Is why I look like this..."
She gestures to indicate herself.
"This, or other shape. Not the one I use for eating. Unless I don't think first. If I am very hungry, or think I have to do things very fast and not think about which shape to use. But people say I am ee-vill. I don't know what that means. It sounds like a bad thing. But I never try hunting them. They are hunters too. But they shout and try to make me go away, when I am just watching. I don't know why they think I will hurt them. If they think that. MAybe He did something that makes everyone hate me."
She pauses, considering.
"But you don't. We hunted, and you weren't afraid of my other shapes. Neither was Hissssa."
She has been addressing Sssil the whole time, and pauses again, considering her words. Then a thought occurs and she glances up at Westy-an.
"But...you are a cold-no-fur. A lizar. Hissssa is a type of lizar too, I think. The other lizars were letting me stay. Westy-an did too. But then he changed, and now he hates me. Maybe it is creatures like him, with the fur only on top. Maybe it's only they who hate me. Maybe he was being like a lizar, because he was with your pack, but then because he is a top-fur creature, he remembered he should hate me. And so he does."
She rubs her head with one forepaw, mentally tired at the effort of having to work all that out. This kind of thinking isn't what she's good at. She'd rather just spend her time hunting, tracking, eating...the things she knows she can do well. She's just glad she doesn't have to actually think of which words to use when speaking in this language - she just thinks of what she wants to convey and the words seem to put themselves together for her.

Wheee, epic speech there . It'll be funny if someone actually has the ability to cast a "Detect Evil" spell or something, and then actually bothers to use it .

Well, I couldnt have you guys thinking I was a nice DM now, could I? Not a lot of people would know what Infernal is, beyond the fact that it sounds pretty freaky, all *deep echoing voice* "YOG-SOGOTH IA IA OOBLEK CTHULU FNORD!" But any clerics and mages who have studied the planes would know. But nessicarily speak it. And yes, the very bad-spelled words Westian speaks is him speaking Zaangaardian. He can speak it, but not well. And yeah, he speaks in Common when everything spelled right, Maybe we should do different colors for the different languages, I dunno. I just have a feeling its gonna get confusing.

Growlgra looks at Westian and shakes his head while backing away slowly fromn the goblin.(in Common) "This one thinks, that the elf-companion is aware of a darkness. The lizar Sssil should listen to Westian. The moon-sign he wears is the symbol of the Alpha of his pack. The darkness will not come upon that one. Only once has this one seen the elf like this before, when facing the ones of the Dark Order. And this one itself sensed that that the goblin is different than others this one has seen. The difference is clear, now, and it is not of the Packs of Life." he says to Sssil.

The bika backs into the circle of lizar, although he doesn't draw any weapons.

When Urrffrah speaks again, Westian says, "Stop speaking that cursed tongue, your words will not affect me. Show your true form, in the name of the High Corellon Larethian!"

Kass steps forward, and puts her hand on the elf's shoulder for a brief second, as if holding him back from a slaughter.

(in Zaangaardian)"Sssil, what is it saying? I really dont want some creature from the plane of Dark Order with us. And never have I seen a goblin that speaks Infernal, but I have seen many of that dark plane's creatures change shape. Most of them wear masks of flesh, to work their dark ways upon the plane of All." the pathfinder says quietly, seemingly unwilling to cold-heartedly slaughter a creature that has not proven itself evil..

Kalissa thinks for a second, then says(in Zaangaardian) "It seems confused, somehow. I dont speak that dark language, but know enough of it to understand that it isnt chanting curses and calling down the might of the Lords of Unrelenting Order on us. Strange, for one of those of the darkness. But perhaps Sssil's stone could provide a better translation."

Sorry for short update, Im at my dad's house 150 miles away (isnt the internet grand!?). I'll try and get on tomorrow,cuz this is greatly amusing me. Ameena, I'm sorry I didnt warn you that speaking Infernal could cause problems around those of a scholorly and "good" bent, although Kass is True Neutral and willing to not instantly go OOOO EEEEEVIL. I hope youre not mad. But it was way too good to pass up. And by the way, the Nine Hells is now called the Plane of Dark Order. The Abyss is the Abyss of Chaos.

I think Ssssil needs an extra beat with Ameena here just to clarify his confusion, and then he can answer the questions


Ssssil backed away again as the creature admitted it could, indeed, change shape and was what Westian was saying. It was especially worrying when Growlgra was also saying why Westian was like this. However, then slowly the creature's words came to his mind, and some things clicked together. "Oh," he said. "Oh!" he said. "Oh...." he finally said. He looked ot the rest, then to Urrffrah, then back again. "You talk!" he said, perhaps a little petulantly. "why you not tlak before! Why...why you not come with me earlier? I thought you'd gone! I...I not know you have different shapes! Can you be any shape?"

Lol why would I be annoyed that a Cleric (and whatever class Thessan's mate is) recognised Infernal tongue and reacted the way any such religious types would? I would have probably been rather annoyed if they'd then insta-killed my character, or something, but that would be a bit stupid given that as a GM you already knew I was playing a character that originates in another plane and whose species is usually of Evil alignment . So I'm guessing that my home plane is the Dark Order one? I'll give it the right title on my character sheet (where I have the Knowledge skill for it).

Urrffrah is a little confused at Sssil's reaction.
"You didn't know it was me?" she asks. "But...I told you my name before. When you didn't run. Or try to kill me. You saw my other shapes already - you knew I can change. I just didn't use this one. It's not so good for getting around. Or hunting. But...I thought, maybe, people might be less likely to try and kill me like this. Because I don't hunt in this shape. I thought they might think I was...weak. And then they wouldn't be scared. Or try to kill me."
She pauses, considering Sssil's other question.
"Didn't come with you before, because...I don't know. Was just watching. Watching you hunt with your pack. Then you left. It felt...wrong. I thought...I would come and see. Maybe we could hunt more. I thought maybe if your pack would let me stay, then I could...stay. Just been wandering around. Don't like this place. Hard to run properly, sometimes. Sticky ground."
She glances around at the others nearby, then back at Ssil.
"Will you tell your pack to not kill me?" she asks. "I don't think they want me here. If I stay, maybe they'll think you're a bad leader. If you let me stay. So maybe I should go."
As she says the words, Urrffrah gets a strange feeling. A bad feeling. She knows she should probably just go, before someone here tries to kill her. But she doesn't really want to. Then she'll have to wait until Sssil goes hunting again. And he's only just got back from a hunt, so she'll have to wait a long time.

"You speak these words before and you not go mand, shhhh!" said Sssssil to Westian with uncharacteristic anger, as he was frustrated b ythe odd things Urrffrah was saying, and Growlgra's worry, and Kass and the rest looking ot him for answers or to get out of the way.

Speaking to Urrffrah again, he said, "No, you not say name. Umm...I mean...not that I heard. Umm...I just thought...you'd swallowed bad bones or something. Not know you were speaking!" he said retchedly.

He turned t other rest, wondering how to actively speak common so everyone could understand him. He then realised that he could just speak common, of course. "She...umm, yes she has different shapes! True shape is like Growlgra..." he pointed to hunter, "but..." he then makes a gesture like walking on four legs. "She just hunter! She just hunts! She says ..umm...humans have yelled at her like this before, but she doens't hunt humans! Just hunts...well, what we hunt. I've seen her many times before in swamp, and we've hunted and share kills. she was in swamp earlier, didn't know she followed, didn't know she had this shape. She only took it because she thought you'd yell at her otherwise." Sssssil gave Westian a meaningful look. "She thought I knew it was her. She just wants to hunt with us. That's all she wants to do, join us. Offer to hunt."

Sssssil's voice trailed to a quiet stop and he backwed away another step from everyone. It wasall so complicated really, and he was feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Westian appears confused when the supposedly evil creature doesnt immediately leap to the attack due to its nature being found out. He still holds his medallion out in front of him, but seems a bit uncertain, the righteous anger leaving his face slowly. He listens to Sssil's words, then apparently comes to a decision.

"High Lord Larethian, grant me your divine sight! Those of the darkness cannot hide from your light! Reveal their nature to me! LO OH GOR SAR!" the elf chants, holding his medallion high overhead. The medallion glows silver, as if catching the light of Rasar, although the pale moon will not rise for a few more hours. However, the light comes from within the metal itself, slowly growing in intensity as the power of the High Lords infuses it. The elf's eyes glow with the same silver light as he gazes at the goblin. After about a half-minute, his brows draw together, and he glances sideways at the brown and black speckled lizar with the bad eye, or perhaps her fat companion standing next to her in the circle of lizar.

Whatever anger was left in the elf rushes out of him as he slowly brings the medallion down.

"I am sorry," he says quietly. "You do not carry the darkness within you. However, you are of that place. Although the darkness is not a part of you, you were made of it, only those made of that plane can speak that twisted language fully."

Thessan translates the gist of the elf's words in Zaangaardian for those who do not speak the mammal-common. After he finishes Kass nods and says (in Zaangaardian) "Sssill, please translate my words. Although Thessan speaks the mammal's language, he is not fluent in it, and I wish no misunderstandings."

She takes a deep breath, as if collecting her thoughts, then speaks "So, you are not evil. However, the safety of everyone and our goods is of prime importance to me as the leader of this caravan. If you are going to travel with us, I must know what you truly are. Also, as one of the followers of Unrelenting Order, how did you came to become one of Balance, and live on this plane? Although I am not a runescholar like Kalisssa, I have spoken to enough runescholars to know that the ones of Dark Order are born the way they are, and unlike those of us born on the plane of All Balance have no choice in their nature. So, how is it that your spirit is more in Balance than one of your Plane should be?"

Oh, dont worry about that. As I said somewhere (I think in either rules discussion or OOC), I will NEVER insta-kill. Especially not over something that could lead to some really good RP. Although it *did* occur to me that a goodly-type cleric or mage (Kalisssa is a "runescholar" Basically a Zaangaardian sorcerer, kind of) would kinda tweak at someone speaking Infernal. And I had Detect Evil's runes be OH GOR SAR. Basically "light-power-evil". As in "shine light on evil power". I havent worked out exactly how its going to work in the DM magic system yet, but basically the stronger the power rune the more range and amount of evil auras detected. You think thats good? I hesitate to add more spells than the DM ones, but I think some RP-useful spells rae needed due to the difference between a very-little-text-and-intereaction-between-PC/NPC CRPG and D&D Please drop any comments in OOC.

In a way Sssssil is glad that Westian has stood down, but in another way he is very sad. He'd been happier when Westian was a funny falling outsider, when Growlgra was the silent fellow hunter, when Urrffrah was an unknown and friendly fellow predator from the swamp and also a funny and friendly little goblin looking for shelter. All that speaking had seemed to accomplish was that everyone managed to get angry at each other jsut from their languahge choice, and then got to explain how they had lied to each other and how unfriendly they were.

It was a sad Sssssil that realised that Kass was speaking to him. He blinked as he realised what she had said. "have betetr idea," he said, taking the amulet, and handing it to Urrffrah. "It will let you hear Kass well," Ssssil said to her, "and they hear you in their own words, not in words that make them angry."

Ssssil realised that Urrffrah might not understand him as well with the amulet off, so gestured for her to take it and gestured between Urrffrah and Kass.

Urrffrah is pleasantly surprised once again at Sssil - not only does he share food, but he shares his speaking-magic neck-gem thing as well! She is glad she decided to approach him and join him in his hunts - it seems he's about the only person in this whole world who doesn't show fear or anger when he sees her. She accepts the neck-gem and puts it around her neck as she's seen Sssil and Westy-an do.
"So, are you still wanting to kill me?" she asks, aiming her question at Kass since she is aware that the talkative lizar is the Sssil's fellow pack-leader.

Kass blinks at the perfect Zaangaardian coming out of the goblin's mouth, and her forthrightness. "No. But like I said before you could understand me, the safety of this caravan is of prime importance to me as pathfinder. If you are going to be with us, I need to know what you truly are. Secrets out here can get you killed." The pathfinder frowns as if she realizes that could sound agressive, and that since she has no idea what the thing she is talking to actually is, perhaps she should rephrase it. "I dont mean by us. I mean that if you are not honest about your true nature and we are attacked, it could harm us all."

"And oly once before have I seen beings of your Plane. They were nothing like you. How is it that one of Dark Order ends up like you? Beings of your Plane have no choice in their nature, as they are made out of the stuff of the cosmos itself, an archtype if you will."

Urrffrah considers what Kass is saying about showing her true nature, then frowns at all the strange words that she starts using after that.
"Don't know "playne". Don't know "Dark Aw-duh". Don't know "cozz-moss". Don't know "arr-keh-type". Was somewhere, long time ago. Then was somewhere else. Ended up wandering around. Now I'm here. Haven't found other place yet. Place where I started. Don't know where it is. Can show you what I am, but..."
She pauses. She knows how people normally react. Except Sssil.
"What if you attack me anyway?" she says. "Creatures like him do when they see me."
She points at Westy-an.
"Nearly did now."

Sssssil lets Urrffrah speak for herself, more intent upon seeing how Growlgra and Westian - and to a lesser extent Thessian - react to the words. ]


While Ssssil is only looking to Growlgra and Westian and Thessian, rolled a spot/listen in case somethign else came to his attention. He rolled so poorly that understandably I don't think he's going to notice anyone else.

Spot 5, listen 9, http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3529631/

Oh, forgot to mention, yeah, your home plane is the Plane of Dark Order aka the plane of Unrelenting Order. Its not really a super cool name, but I came up with it on the spur of the moment. Ive also got an idea that fits canon a bit, and also explains why Librasulus and Chaos can be on those planes and also part of the Grey Lord. The Material Plane is the Plane of All Balance, btw. I'm not gonna post my idea here tho cuz itll clog up the story thread. I mght put em in OOC but I really dont want to write myself in a corner if I get a better idea later. So as of right now, theres a LE plane called Dark Order (or something cooler if I come up with it. Dark Order can be the coloquial name then), a CE evil plane The Chaotic Abyss, and the Material plane is true neutral and called The Plane of All Balance/the Plane of Harmony, as it has aspects of all the other planes. Prolly gonna make a LG and CG plane too, and maybe have a NE and NG plane thats kid of a mix of the two extremes of good and evil. I'm gonna repost this post in OOC, please post any comments there.

And LOL for some reason I heard Urrffrah sounding like Ted Kennedy when she said Aw-duh.

Also, since she is wearing the talisman, she can understand everything as it translates all words in ways she can understand, so she would be able to understand everything that was being said. THe only words that arent translated are words that have no concept in your most fluent language. LIke "fever" wasnt translated for Sssil cuz the races of Zaangaard have no concept of it due to their cold blood, so theres no word for it in Zaangaardian. So Infernal might not have words for concepts like altruism,unconditional love, friendship, forgiveness ect. But I will leave the words untranslated myself, so basically if its in English when shes wearing the talisman, its understandable. But its ok to assume due to the mage's messing with her, she might know the words, but not *really*know the words if you get my drift.

Westian looks affronted at the accusation, then sighs. "I am sorry for jumping to conclusions. However, given the circumstances, it was a reasonable assumption to make. As Kass said, he beings of your home plane are not like us of this plane. The beings of the Plane of Dark Order are born from the essence of the plane itself. They have no choice in their nature. But due to the Balance of this plane, all beings born on it are given a choice about how they want to be." He takes on an explaining tone, as if he wishes to teach Urrffrah.

"You see, the powers of the other planes are directly related to this one. The Grey Lord is charged with keeping the Balance, but it is the other Planes nature to want to push the plane of All towards the4 nature of said plane. The more people who follow a set Path on this plane, the stronger the Plane of that Path becomes. So, that is why the ones of LIght and Dark try to work their will on this plane."

He pauses again, then holds his medallion over his heart. "I swear on the name of the High Lord Larethian that if you are truly not evil, I will not raise arms against you, regardless of the form you take." he promises the goblin.

After Westian speaks, Kass steps forward. Although she doesnt understand Westain, the talisman allows her to understand the goblin.(in Zaangaardian, which Urrffrah hears as Infernal) As pathfinder, I swear to you that if you truly desire to join us, and are willing to show us what you are, those of the caravan will not attack you."

Growlgra looks to Sssil curiously and shrugs, shaking his head slightly with a look of distate.Goblins are worthless "This one shall not attack the not-goblin." he says bluntly and brusquely. Sssil notices the bika finds something about the whole event distasteful. Judging from his earlier comments about goblins, perhaps it is the concept of having to promise one he wouldnt hurt it, even if the thing in question isnt actually a goblin at all.

Again Ssssil felt sad that Growlgra seemed to be expressing distaste for a fellow hunter, especially when Urrffrah's true form was like GRowlgra's race, except walking on four legs and not two. At least the matter seemed to be settkled, perhaps. Ssssil looked to see what Urrffrah would say regarding staying.

Also, he hoped Urrffrah wouldn't mind a slight change on the deal - he realised that she could actually eat a while errloss, so the idea of keeping one of her kills wasn't quite the bargin it has seemed before as a goblin.

We've recently started playing a game of ADnd 2nd at club (omg the numbers! Aaargh!) in the Planescape setting, and it has planes like you describe - one in the middle, then one for each of the nine alignments...or maybe not one for each, but the further out to the edges of the planar arrangement you go, the nearer to the extremes of each alignment you get. So in the Plane of Law, it's a case of "Everyone must take two steps forward, then take one step left" 'cause that's the law and if you don't do that then you get arrested. I must play Planescape Torment at some point - we've got it but I haven't got around to playing it.
I have no idea who Ted Kennedy is, but I'm presuming he's some American bloke .
As for knowing words...I figured Urrffrah hears them right, but doesn't understand the meaning 'cause they're not words she's heard before. Unless you're saying that she'd hear the closest synonym which she does understand, but that might just confuse her even more, if it turns out that word makes no sense in the context. But I figure it's like talking to a small child, or someone else with a low vocabulary, and having them fail to understand the word "abyss" because they haven't come across it yet, and you'd need to use the words "a really deep hole" instead. Just using someone's native language doesn't mean they'll automatically understand every word you're saying, after all, unless the pendant translates that too. Urrffrah also isn't aware that she comes from another plane, nor what one of those actually is. She started off somewhere, then she was somewhere else. Then she left that place and has been wandering around ever since - there's no reason that I can see which would lead her to realise she's from what's basically another world.

Urrffrah stands there as Westy-an speaks for ages about...something. What are these "playns" that everyone seems to be talking about? Who's the Grey Lord? What's all this about balance? Is everyone in danger of falling over if too many bad creatures exist, or something? Who's High Lord Larr-ee-thee-an? What does Westy-an mean when he says he won't wave his arms, or whatever he said? Oh, maybe he means he won't use magic on her.
Then Kass steps forward and finally gets to the point, saying something that makes sense and bringing the conversation back to the relevant. Growlgra, too, says that he won't hurt her. Well, they've asked for it. If they attack her now, that makes them bad, right? Because they said something and then went back on it. Yes...that sounds right. So...she supposes she'd better change shape, then.
So she does. She first pulls the raggedy thingy off her, but leaves the neck-gem - it'll still be round her neck when she changes form and wont strangle her since there's enough room for it to still hang down. Then she takes her natural form, dropping forward onto her forepaws as she does so, Suddenly everyone seems much closer, since she now takes up more space than she did a moment ago.
"This is me." she says, looking up at Kass. "I got one other shape, but is smaller. My shape for run-fast-hide-good. You want to see that as well? I can help you hunt. If you not eat all of kill, I eat. Eat all dead things. All gone. None left. Not like other creatures, leave long white crunchy parts and hard part of head. I not waste."

Woohoo, and hopefully everyone (except Sssil) shits themselves, for the fun .

Planescape is the "great wheel" of the D&D cosmos that is also the planar setting of 3.5/3. It has *so many* planes. Theres the 4 elemental planes, Negative Energy and Positive Energy planes, the Transitive oplanes, (astral etheral and shadow) and the outer plnes, of which I think theres 14 or 16. So like both Hades and Gehenna are NE, but haveslight variations of them.

If you want to read abou it in 3, get the "manual of the planes". Its a fun read, not like reading a textbook. Its my fav 3(.5) book, cuz its written way closer to 2nd style of how the sourcebooks are written as more of an entertaining read with lots more description than mechanics. As far as "fun reading" for campaign ideas its one of the best 3.5 books.The Great Wheel planar cosmology is always what I use, but it doesnt fit the DM cosmology, since DM is way more about Neutrality and Law Chaos than good-evil. Oh, and the plane you are talking about is Mechanus, the plane of ultimate Lawful Neutrality.

As far as the pendant, yeah, it will translate it *the way you understand it*. So "Plane of Dark Order" would have the connotation of "place you were born" to Urrffrah if she didnt know the actual name of it, although she could still be confused as to why the place she was born was *called* "plane of dark order". Like I said before, the words owuld translate in the most fluent language, unless I rule that there is no concept at all in that language (ie "fever" to a lizar) then they are left untranslated. You are welcome to not have her understand anything you think she wouldnt know, although the pendant will try and switch the words to concepts you do understand as much as possible, which I dont type out so you can decide which parts would be affected.

There is a collective gasp from he assembled lizar, and Westian stumbles back a few feet as the goblin reveals its true nature. The lizar with the bad eye's grahhssk shrieks and kicks out in fear, tossing its long neck repeatedly as it tries to bolt and the lizar has to spend a minute getting her beast under control.

"A barghest!" says Westian, stunned. This comment is repeated by Kalissa in Zaangaardian to the curious and slightly nervous onlookers, and the lizar murmur the Zaangaardian name of the creature amongst themselves.

"So. You are a barghest," says Kass. "From what I know of your Kind, you also have another form, the form of a swamp-jackal like creature. Is this the same with you? You could be an asset to the caravan. I would recommend you stay in your swamp jackal form, though, if you have one. Goblins are not well liked here, and your natural form might scare people. But, you still havent answered my question. How is it that you are not like the others of your Kind? You must forgive my reluctance to let you come with us, but your kind is not known for good acts. I need to keep the caravan safe, and letting a...forgive me... monster... come with us, especially one of a type known to be from the Planes of Unrelenting Law seems like suicide.

Basically I want to know your not suddenly going to kill us all in our sleep."

A being cloaked in heavy brown robes steps towards Urrffrah. All that the barghest can see of it is a pair of glittering large yellow eyes in the depths of its head-cover and long slender forepaws with greenish-silver flecked scales trimmed in gold. Its forepaw toesfingers are incredibly long and narrow, and reminds Urrfrrah of jointed twigs, or the wing of a flying mouse she once saw, if it didnt have the skin streched between the bones. The creature also seems to have one extra bone in its forepaw-toes, right under the small gold colored curved claws. To the barghest's sensitive nose, for which she was grateful of when she got back in her natural form, the creature smells of hot yellow metal and the tiny tiny water drops that floats in the air around a place where the water tumbles off high rocks to fall through the air. Urrffrah can tell it is a female, but has never smelled anything like this being before. She doesnt smell like any of the lizars, or the hairless ones. Or even Growlgra.

"I am Vaathi." the being addresses Urrfrah. To Kass she says "If you are consscerned about it breaking a promisssse, I have a ssspell that will bind the promisssersss to their wordss. It only worksss with the consssent of both partiess, however."

Growlgra watches the barghest warily, then turns to Sssil. He points to the barghest, then to Kass then to the caravan, followed by an incredulous look.Is it coming with us??

Thessan waits until everyone is absobed in watching the conversation, then gives his mate a hand signsl and steps aside, motioning for Sssil to join him. He checks around to make sure no one is paying attention, but everyone is either staring at the barghest in horror, fear, or fascination as is their nature and the tracker and warrior have gone un-noticed.

"So, what to you think of all this? Kalissa says that Westian's casting was true and it has no evil in its soul. But, that doesnt mean taht it has the good of the group at heart, or that it will not act as it wants, just that its energy itself is not evil. Personally, I think that it could be a great aid in finding the.." he stops again and makes sure they arent being watched. "the *one* we're looking for. After all, if *they* act again, the barghest could be a great aid in protecting us. Also Kalisssa said the creature been changed somehow. She couldent explain it, just that its natural mana had been...altered magically." the warrior murmurs to the tracker. "Kacikhhss! Mages and their vague answers! I prefer a sword anyday."

Urrffrah takes note as both Westy-an and Kass use the same word when she takes her true form.
"Barghest." she repeats. "Is what I am? Did not know name. Know name of goblin, because met some and they say they goblins. Don't know name of other form, but is nothing to do with sticky-place. Seen other run-fast-hunt-good creatures, but never in sticky-place. Other places."
To the questions of Kass, she considers.
"Never met another...barghest...before." she says. "Well...were some there when I first born. But when I moved by magic, they not come. Just me. They probably still in Other Place. Where I came from. Didn't find out much what they like - not there long enough. Lots of eating, I think."
To Kass's last comment, she gives a simple answer.
"If wanted to try kill you," she says, "would have tried already. But why? I kill some of you, others attack me. Not good. I would get food, but then all others would be looking for me. Would have to go far. Start again to find food. Stay with you, help hunt, you not try kill me, I get food, you get food. Is good, yes? I like one kill for me, but I help hunt for you. Any food you not eat, I eat."
She then looks with uncertainty at the strange lizar, the one who suggests casting some sort of spell to make them do things.
"Not want magic spell." she says with a faint growl, though this is more an instinctive reaction than a deliberate attempt at aggression and she doesn't change her body language. "No more magic on me, no. Not want be changed. No more magic. Just want hunt and not be chased away."
She considers for several moments before addressing Kass again.
"I think...people met others like me before. Others were stupid - tried to kill. So people think all like me want only to kill. If that true, then they stupid. If people look at one and think that one is like all, then they make mistake because that never true - one is never like all. Well...I never found that, anyway. All are different. Even if all chase me away or try to kill. I watch, sometimes - look the same at first, but then see and smell differences. I not that stupid. Not know many things, but do know that kill pack members is bad - then rest of pack try to kill me. So I try to join pack, help hunt. Pack usually runs away or tries to kill anyway. Maybe they all met barghests too and think we all bad. Barghest...barghest...never knew name. Always just was being shouted at. Never used name like that. Wonder what name is for run-fast-hunt-good shape..."

Sssssil shifts uncomfortably as Urrffrah shows what she thinks of as her true form. Ssssil has assumed the smaller one was the true form, and she could simply...get bigger...when eating. It had somehow seemed logical. He again hated that everyone was having such a poor reaction to his friend. He noticed Growlgra's incredulous look, and felt even more dispondant. Yes. Hunter. he mimed, and then deliberately didn't look at the bika again.

Ssssil is almost thankful that Thessan wants to talk, although what he wants to talk about makes Ssssil nervous. Better than liostening to the back and forth of words though, it all just hurts his brain and soul. Ssssil is partially relieved that Thessan seems to be in favour of letting his friend stay. "She hunter in swamp. Never attacked me, was just curious. If we meet, we hunt together or share fire. Didn't know she could talk. Just thought noises were...noises. She normally look...smaller...just look like that when attacking or eating. She never hurt me, not attack anyone else I see. Just hunted and lived in swamp when I see her. I gave her bad meat and bones earlier form our kills, and invited her. Not know she follow, but different shape. I think she scared to follow me in case everyone react like this, or else she would have come with me when I invite her." He tried to think how to vouch for Urrffrah, then wasn't sure if he could. The fact she could talk meant she could lie. This wasn't some creature in the swamp who had no reason to hide their nature, this was a normal person...one who could pretend to be friendly, hiding the fact they would attack someone else at a moment's notice. Like whoever planted the disc. Or like Westian. He sighed. It was, in a way, his fault. She had apparently known better than him what people were really like.

Still, Thessan seemed make the effort. "Hissssa like her. And she like Hissssa," he said, struggling for evidence. He then felt sad. "But now if bad thigns happen, then person can just put blame on her, and everything will think it her." He sighed.

Growlgra blinks at the changed creature, and his black nose twitches a bit. Now that she is no longer a goblin, he seems to have warmed up to her a little, especially with all the talk of packs and hunting, obviously something the bika can understand. He comes to a descision and steps forward, placing his forepaw over the left side of his chest and pointing his muzzle to the sky as he speaks .

"This one welcomes the barghest as pack-mate." he says quietly to her(in common). "As long as the barghest is not really a goblin. Goblins have no concept of pack, no concept of the nature of one-as-many, of the joy in the pack, the hunt. Only the nature of consuming, like the bga-kac'grn." Realizing the barghest likely wouldnt know what he is talking about, he makes his forepaws into a small oval about orange sized. "It is a rodent, kind of like a large mouse, with very long legs. It lives on the Plains of my pack-home. The stupid creature, if it finds large amuonts of food will eat itself to death. It will not bring the grain back to its pack-home, to its pups, to share with others. Instead, it will let them starve while it gorges itself until it ruptures its insides, would rather die than make its pack strong. The goblin is like that."

He thinks for a second, then continues "And this one also understands what it is like to be far from one's pack, although this one is different in the sense that it knows of pack and home, someday to return and sing this one's song to the moon. Perhaps when the time comes to go join the pack again, the barghest will come with this one. For it seems to understand the pack, and the hunt. It would be welcome among the packs of bika, as a strong hunter."

Vaathi nods. "I too, underssstand what it isss like to be different than othersss. Perhapsss, as we travel, I ssshall teach you what I know of the place you were born and what your racssse iss. However, be prepared to be ssshocked or sssaddened. Let'sss jussst ssay, had you been a normal barghessst, that the actionsss of the elf would not be incorrect. Your dissslike of magic ssstrikesss me. Wasss it magic that made you what you were? In that cassse, it isss undersstandable. And no, I dont think you underssstand about other barghests. The other barghessstss werent ssstupid. They were barghesstss, acting the way barghessstss act. Asss Kasss sssaid, one of your plane hasss no choicssse in itsss nature. Therefore, you have been changed, that you do not carry the plane'sss evil within your ssspirit. You are the only barghesst I have *ever* heard of that wasnt of Dark Order. And as a ssskathn beriith, it is my duty to learn of all the planar races." Whatever she is claiming she is, the pendant can't translate it. And from the blank looks on the nearby lizar's face, the word meant nothing to them either. She does not explain what she meant, but just continues speaking, ignoring the glances and whispered comments. "I know of sssome magicsss that can do thisss. But they are very powerful, much more than I or Kalissssa iss capable of. Perhapsss ass we travel I will tell you more."

Kass chuckles to herself quietly. She seems amused by the simple equations of the barghest, athough she has no idea what the bika is saying, she seems to realize that he accepts Urrffrah as well. "Well, I guess that settles it, then. You can come with us, if you behave yourself. Just...be prepared for misunderstandings. I know barghests have another form, one closer to a swamp-jackal, a four legged hunting creature. I would suggest travelling in that one. Or perhaps the goblin. But in general, the beings of this plane do not like goblins. At least rom what ive seen, and as pathfinder I have travelled widely, even to the edges of mamma lands."

The pathfinder looks around and then at the sky, suddenly realizing that daylight is burning and between Urrffrah's arrival and the bringing back of the kills that Sssil made, the caravan has spent a few bells stopped on the road. "Well, what are you all gawking at! You can look at the barghest later! I dont want to be standing on this road 'till next cycle, lets get a move on!" she calls, while waving the caravan members back towards the wagons.

Thessan's nostrils widen in amusement as Sssil stumbles over his explanation of why the barghest is trustworthy. "Well, you have spent more time in the swamps than anyone else here. If you trust her, than I trust your judgement. If you feel up to it, might try pulling her aside and letting her know about whats going on. That *person* might think that she would be a good ally, ad she seems very naive and unfamiliar with our world, so could be easily duped or tricked into helping them. You should explain to her as much as you can, hopefully i they approach her she will be able to recognize them for the da'lasssk they are."

Kass' shout interrupts anything further the old warrior was going to say, and as lizar start walking close on their way back to the caravan, he nods at Sssil and says "We'll talk later" before going back to his grahhssk and mounting it to continue his outrider duties..

Growlgra and Westian see Sssil standing nearby and walk up to the tracker. Westian says "Aye zzhink Urrffrah zzhould rhyde wihth uzz. I hav tokked two Growlgra ahbout eet, ahnd hee ahgreez. Whee cud ehkzzpliain two heer ahbout mahmalzz, yoo cud ehkzzpliain ahbout lyzzaar and Zaangaard." The elf looks around again, to make sure he isnt being heard. But all the others are in little knots as they take their places on the caravan, obviously discussing the barghest amongst themselves. No few looks are cast at Urrffrah as the lizar walk by her. Most are just curious, although tinged with fear, and none of the lizar seem to want to get more than a few feet from her or offer for her to join them on their wagon.

"Ahlzzo, eef zzhe eez wihth uzz, zzhe trayter whud noht bee ahble two twezzt heer ahgainzzt uzz. Doo yoo zhink zhis izz gud? Lehtzz azzk heer eef zzhe wahntzz two rhyde wit uzz. Bhut, pehapzz eet whud bee behtter fhour yoo two ahhzzk heer. Zhee myte bee uhncomfortahble ahfter Aye ahkuzed heer."

The elf smiles, then lets his face fall before walking over to the wagon and climbing aboard

Growlgra points to Sssil, then to Urrffrah, then draws the same line down his muzzle he did when making a kill, something Sssil has come to understand is a bika hunt-ritual. We should all hunt, sometime. There is a stirring in Sssil's armor pouch as Hisssa pokes his head out, tongue flickering at the barghest. Sssil gets the image of himself killing a swamp-deer, and then the barghest comes up and swallows it in one gulp, like a snake. The image repeats three times, and then is replaced by a skinny-looking Sssil with all of his ribs sticking out. Growlgra steps back reflexively in alarm at the sudden appearance of the viper, but then steps forward again and holds his hand a few feet away, which Hisssa politely scents, while sending Sssil a mental image of mock-striking at the (in his vision) giant black claw tipped brown-furred hand. The bika points to Kass, who is supervising the final preparations with an impatient look, then to Urrffrah and the wagon.
Barghest on wagon, we go?

Ssssil is distracted once again from Thessan's talk by the wagon one by one - Growlgra included - start to accept Urrffrah. Ssssil feels an odd sensation in his eye and in his throat, and blinks rapidly. Perhaps everyone isn't as bad as he thoguht afetr all. He is about to tell Thessan how this bother interrupted Sssssil explainign the situation to Urrfrfrah, but it is too late, and Sssssil merely nods as the old warrior goes off.

He listens politely to Westian, nodding non-commitally. The elf seems friendly and apologetic again, but Ssssil is still a little hurt and frightened by Westian's change in attitude before. At least Growlgra had not been actively hostile, and Sssssil cannot stay mad at the furry hunter for long. Yes. All hunt nods Ssssi, indicating Urrffrah, Growlgra and himself. Hissssa's timing is possibly to the mention of hunting. Sssssil sends Hissssa a teasing messager of Sssssil attempting to eat the snake's prospective turtle shell helmet, and then Urrffrah burping up bones that Sssssil tried to chew on instead. When Hisssa sends the image of biting Growlgra, Sssssil imagines Growlgra leaping backwards in surprise, knocking Westian in to a pile of dung created by Urrffrah eating the whole swamp deer.

Ssssil nods to Growlgra at going forwards to the wagon, then gestures for the bika to go on first. Ssssil follows but delays enough to see if Urrffrah will come over. Ssssil sends Hissssa a happy mental image like the one earlier, of the three walking through the swamp together. He then widens the view to show Kass, Growlgra and Thessan also walkign along with them too. Westian is in the background, but trips over and falls once more in to dung created by Urrfrah. Sorry, Sssssil can't get enough of that image of Westian. Ssssil then imagines Urrffrah burping, and Lissssak's bones falling on to the ground unnoticed by anyone as they keep walking. Poor Sssssil doens't know what to think abotu the young hunter/warrior!