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Retreat? No - Advance... Diplomatically

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 d20-2=18 ; d20+8=10 ;
Tuesday April 30th, 2024 9:42:42 PM
Grim moves quickly and as the door is being sloooowly closed to prevent noise, easily puts his foot in the way stopping the door closure.

He whispers rather gruffly, 'I'm not gonna run from this one. If this IS Maya out there, then she knows we are in here. Being that, maybe she did leave the Mr. Jaws asleep up there but I'm not going to put my tail, if I had one, between my legs and run for her entertainment. This tunnel is small enough and long enough to keep the Big One out, and the one at the end is easily enough to take down with our arrows and frontline muscle. But I've got to know if that is Maya or some other Montrologer. We need to know how many of them we are dealing with!'.

He then goes out the door, pushing his way if necessary, and starts down the corridor, he holds a small stone in one hand and a small pouch in the other. He's not stupid to go stomping down there, but it is a cavernous tunnel and although wearing leather boots, he may make some noise.

Stealth -2 = 18 (that would be a N20)

Perception +8 = 10 (for more noise coming down the corridor)

Obviously, any attempt to stop Grim will make a lot of noise.

OOC: need a map of the continuing corridor as Grim has 60' Darkvision

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31
Tuesday April 30th, 2024 9:54:01 PM
"I don't like the idea of staying here sandwiched between Maya and the Thunder Rex," says Ezekiel. "Low on spells as I am, I would rather attack first than have her catch us with our shirts down."

Siolo (Joe) - AC 15/13/13 ; HP 27/28 , NL 0
Tuesday April 30th, 2024 10:00:43 PM
"I agree, checking our exit options sounds like the smartest bet," Siolo agrees. "I don't know if we are strong enough to face Maya, let alone her plus another dino."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 d20+7=16 ; d20+7=18 ;
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 12:39:24 AM

Yofiel was immediately adjacent to the door closure, as her intent was to minimize the sound as the latching took place. Although I did not describe it, I pictured her as having her eyes right at the narrowing slit. So Grim will need to practically bowl her over to accomplish his task, and she will not make it easy for him.

"You're not a fool, Grim, so don't act like one. If this is your intent, then let me go first. We don't attack if it's Maya. We talk. And you're making a huge mistake, so let me make it with you. She does not know we are here - you will blow that advantage - so let's see if we can turn it to advantage - don't attack, unless she does. I'll handle the dinosaur, I hope." Then she rushes past him, and runs flat out down the corridor as fast as she can.

She gets to the door, knocks quickly three times, and says, poking her head in, "Maya, Maya, the spirits feel great compassion for you. I am Yofiel. My friends are with me. We need to talk! Can we talk? Are you well?"

If the dinosaur looks likely to attack, she says, "I don't want to hurt your dino-friend, Maya, nor you. Can we just talk?"

If the door opens toward her, the elf stands at the doorway, one arm and leg covering the outside of the door, the other touching the adjacent wall, so that Grim would have to pull her away to get past. She hopes he will be smart enough not to do so, but rather to be ready if things really go south. If the door opens into the next room, she has one hand on the edge of the door, the other on the adjoining wall.

===========
Stealth while running down the corridor: 16
Opening attempt at diplomacy (I understand she likely has not spent enough time to make a full diplomacy check, but let's call this her opening salvo): 18
[She's gotta be quick and glib under the circumstances to try to turn this into a conversation / negotiation rather than combat, I figure]

=============
Edit: Note - for light, Yofiel has her everburning torch resting in the bandolier across her chest. -Kim

Tactical Retreat - DM Jess- Maps and documents
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 10:14:00 AM
Dapple believes that they should check on the T-Rex; Marest agrees, as does Siolo, who notes that the party might not be strong enough to take on Maya.

Kaze thinks that the hay might be for Maya’s mount, some sort of herbivore. Colt thinks the hay might just be there to sustain the carnivores’ food. He doesn’t want to fight Maya, especially because the party’s casters are low on spells. Ezekiel would rather be proactive.

Yofiel attempts to quietly shut the door behind the group, but Grim prevents her, blocking the door’s closure. He tells her that he’s not going to run. He needs to know for certain if it’s Maya down there or someone else. Yofiel chides Grim, calling him a fool and telling him that he’s making a mistake, but she’ll make it with him.

Yofiel makes her way down the corridor, which opens into a very large room (see Slide 2). Another natural cave, there are several recessed areas that have been outfitted with bars and serve as enclosures for dinosaurs. Hay is spread across the bottom of each pen, and each is also equipped with a water trough. The room is lit with magical lights. It tapers into a large hallway.

Three of the pens are occupied with dinosaurs. Two contain a total of five creatures that look like velociraptors, but they are bright yellow in color. The other pen has one creature in it. It’s shame is deinonychus-like, but it is covered in dark blue--almost indigo depending on how the light hits it--fur.

Toward the north-east side of the room stands Maya, a T-Rex beside her, which lets out a terrible roar when in response to Yofiel .

Maya reaches up and puts her hand on the beast’s neck. She says to Yofiel, “I wouldn’t come any closer. He’s feeling a bit testy. He ate something that didn’t agree with him, poor dear.” [/b] She looks up at the T-Rex, “But I fixed you all up, didn’t I?”

She looks back at Yofiel as though suddenly remembering that she is here. [b] “What do you want? You shouldn’t be here.” [b]

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 11:23:26 AM

"Those are beautiful colors. Is that a deinonychus, but with indigo fur? Astounding!" Yofiel comments. Then looking at the T-Rex, she says, "I'm so sorry he got an upset tummy." Knowing that Grim is coming up behind her - she's not sure about what the rest of the group is doing, she repeats, "The spirits have a strong affection for you, Maya. We spoke with them, but now they have departed. Taim, Silvyr, Oznif, Shanaera, and Ellie Clayhangar, too. I believe they wanted us to reach out to you.

"My friends are with me. Could we talk? There is much we do not understand, and thought you might help us. Again, my name is Yofiel. We met once. No, I will not come closer unless you say."

As soon as Grim draws up behind her, she says over her shoulder, "Calm, friend. It is Maya, whom the spirits told us about, with some of her dinosaur friends," hoping he will take the clue not to start offensive action. "I've asked if we might talk."

Then she returns her attention to Maya. "This is one of my friends. Can we talk, and listen, and learn from you?"

As a message spell is active, Yofiel makes sure her friends can hear her words via that means as she speaks aloud with Maya.

============
Note regarding DM post: Yofiel said Grim is not a fool, and simply asked him not to act like one. She has a good deal of respect for him. She was afraid of doing something that would initiate combat when the party could ill afford it, along with losing the advantage of not letting Maya know of our presence. This way, we will meet Grim's desire to know if it is Maya, perhaps without losing our lives. Fingers crossed. And have fun, Jonathan!

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 12:36:55 PM
Ezekiel sees the number of dinos with Maya and says, "Nope!" before turning around and walking away.

Kaze (JonS) HP 27/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 2:46:31 PM
Kaze will stand ready to fight, but he is also entranced by the colors. Snapping out of his reverie, he'll ask, "DId you use magic or natural means? I know there are some things that magic just can't help with in animals. By the way, your creatures are beautiful. If they'll let me, I'd love to examine them closer."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 3:40:16 PM

As people arrive, Yofiel stands aside, but tells them, "Maya asked us not to move closer. The big fellow there is recovering from an upset stomach.

"Arms down, friends. This is Maya, and I've asked if we can talk. We have much to learn, and she, I trust, might help us with that." In keeping with that, she shoulders her bow, and returns the arrow to the quiver. "If she is willing, let's enjoy an amicable conversation together."

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 9:04:03 PM
Grim is stealthily moving down the tunnel but 'stealthily' only because he only gets a few feet down before Yofiel paniks and rushes pell-mell past him. He hears something about being a fool, or acting like a fool... don't attack Maya... bla bla bla..as she rushes by.

Grim stops and let's Yofiel's echoes follow her and resound all around him. She's followed by Kaze and Ezekiel.

He then follows but does NOT come into view of Maya, but rather stays back out of sight and listens. His Tanglefoot Bag and Thunderstone ready to toss.

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19
Wednesday May 1st, 2024 11:35:02 PM
This is not a good idea. But what can Colt do? The party leaders, Grim and Yofiel, slip through the door. Many of the others follow.

"Come on, Foggy. Maybe we'll all die together."

He slips through the door and trots easily after the others through the cave. He's not wowed by the pretty colors. The dinos in the cages have teeth and claws just as big as dun colored dinos.

He chooses to hang back with Grim. Too many people might spook Maya. He waits for her mood to swing back to murderous.

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy)
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 12:47:28 AM
Dapple edges closer to Yofiel, ready to bust out the "I'm just a dumb, inoffensive halfing" routine.

A dino of a different color - DM Jess- Maps and documents
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 9:11:19 AM
The party approaches the cavern; some venture in, others hang back, Ezekiel nopes out.

A few of the party members endeavor to talk with Maya. She scoffs at Yofiel’s and Kaze’s compliments about the beauty of the dinosaurs. “You’re as short sighted as the rest of them. All they saw were pretty pets that they could get petty gold for. It’s not about how they look. It’s about giving them the power to protect themselves from those that would try to hunt and capture and slaughter them.”

She looks at the t-rex and then the other creatures in the cage, a kind of wistful admiration crossing her face. “They were already superior to anything we could be. In fact, I have a theory that’s why so many seek to kill them. To look upon them is to face one’s own inferiority. It’s no wonder the so-called Noble Races,” she sneers, “call them monsters and wish them dead. They can’t face their own frailty, their own insignificance, so they kill. Even that self-righteous Selara and the others at the outpost were too small-minded to understand. But not me. I simply could not allow it. So I gave them aid, gave them power, it’s been more successful than I ever could have dreamed.”

Kaze (JonS) HP 27/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 12:59:59 PM
Kaze cocks his head at the 'crazy-lady', "Mam, I was brought up to respect nature, including the residents therein. Calling creatures we don't understand monsters and trying to kill them is for people who don't understand the nature of said creatures. They want to live their lives as we do, make a home, find a mate, have children. While they don't have jobs or occupations as we do, or as we understand them, they do have callings - protectors, raisers of the young, teachers, hunters and gatherers. I have only been here a short time, but I can understand why people are fearful of these beautiful creatures, it's their size. When people see something the size of a young dragon looking at them from across a clearing, it is in the nature of those who don't understand how 'Nature' this is spoken with reverence works, and therefore as many races do, kill what they do not understand. The only reason we are here, to my knowledge, is to determine why the city was destroyed, and to ensure it doesn't happen again."

Now remember, he's only 4' tall, so even the "smaller" dinos are probably bigger than he is

Siolo (Joe) - AC 15/13/13 ; HP 27/28 , NL 0 d20=2 ; d20=13 ;
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 2:18:43 PM
Maya's verbal manifesto catches Siolo's attention more than anything. He nods, "It is said that Maab put much care into the creation of the animals of the Wold. That is why I respect them so." He takes a step toward Maya. Placing a hand on his chest he continues, "I was educated by the druids of the Floating City. The Circle of Alder teaches harmony between the natural Wold and civilization. It does not need to be one or the other. Coexistence is possible. Though, it may look different in different places. This requires active respect." He takes another step and slowly spreads his arms wide, "We are not so different. What we want is not so different. We don't need to be enemies."

((Diplomacy vs Maya 2+5=7, Wild Empathy vs the rex 13+7=20))

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 2:59:12 PM
Ezekiel pops his head back in and raises a finger, "Uh, one question. If they were already superior, why did you feel the need to modify the thunda lizards?"

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 8:40:17 PM
Aside reprising the physical description of Maya, from DM post Tuesday October 3rd, 2023 7:46:35 AM:

The woman is even stranger. She looks like some kind of elf - probably a drow? But her skin and hair look nothing like any regular elf. Her skin is a deep glistening purple, as if wet. She’s wearing some kind of hide or leather that’s poorly maintained exposing many scars that crisscross her body and her weirdly green hair is in a braid that’s coming apart and full of loose twigs and dirt. Grim and Yofiel’s perception let them get a good enough look to notice…. Are those gills on her neck? And slight webbing to her hands?

The woman has her head tilted quizzically at the roof where the sentry banged his pot when the party arrives and she lowers her gaze to stare at them with too wide eyes. A low cackle seems to slowly build up and then escape from her, a mad, threatening sound as she grins at the party and says, ”You must be survivors. I was so sure my pets had killed everyone.”

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 d20+8=11 ; d20+13=21 ;
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 8:48:45 PM

"Does the big fellow here have a name?" Yofiel asks. Should a reply be given to this question, the bard, with trained ears, is keen to pick up if she gives a name that might be challenging to pronounce. Well, as keen as she can be.

She thinks her friends are offering perceptive perspectives, and for now, is content to see how the aquatic drow responds.

Linguistics: 11
Perception: 21

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:16 (T:12, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:3/R:8/W:8), HP:30/30
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 9:17:58 PM
Why Why Why enhance an already Superior Creature?

Marest takes in the sights sounds, smells, and surroundings in this place while standing between Colt & Yofiel. She is waiting for clarity from Monstrologer Maya of the questions asked by Ezek.

Giving consideration of how distance Maya is from the group, Marest puzzles out her options:

1) Maya is over 100 feet away from her companions,
2) There is a Thunder Dino Lizard also about 100 feet away, and
3) There is a Thunder Dino Lizard closer but in a pen - say 60 feet away,
4) Although I have dark vision and can see both Maya & the Thunder Lizard, its not much to work with,
5) out of Bloodwitch spells, and limited on what I can do...
6) hrm

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy)
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 10:05:20 PM
Dapple decides not to interrupt the villain when she's monologing.

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 10:15:58 PM
Colt listens to the various approaches to Maya and frowns. He whispers to Grim, "Are they making friends with her?"

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19
Thursday May 2nd, 2024 10:56:51 PM
Grim whispers back to Colt, 'Yofiel... umm...maybe. But mostly just trying to get as much information as possible.' He continues just to listen but whispers again, "She's twisting her own desires into something that sounds noble, but she's just another sort of hunter. The Great One keeps this jungle nearly impassable for the protection of those in his charge. He doesn't need ones like her to meddle. And my orc tribe does not tolerate the hunting just for sport of any of the animals here, a deal that was made with The Great One in exchange for permission to live here. Thus we thrive, and Cloudhaven does not."

A dino of a different color - DM Jess- Maps and documents
Friday May 3rd, 2024 9:42:00 AM
Kaze talk about Nature with reverence, and Maya nods as they speak. “Yes, percisely. They see a creature like this one,” she looks up at the t-rex and smiles softly, her face hardening as she turns back to the group, “and they are reminded how small, how insignificant, how inferior they are.”

Siolo talks about nature and civilization co-existing. Maya tenses as he takes a step forward, but the t-rex beside her seems calm. “You sound like Jothan,” her lips twist as she sneers around the name. “If you believe that compromise is possible, then we are enemies. Most creatures, they don’t try to control others. Hunt, kill, eat, survive, yes. But they don’t attempt to dominate. But not the “Noble Races.’ They seek to conquer, to bend all else to their will. You cannot compromise with that which seeks to destroy you.”

She visibly bristles at Ezekiel’s question. She then smiles at him, but there is no mirth in it, and she holds her arms wide. “Step into one of these pens without your steel and spells and see who is the superior beast.” She pauses, dramatically, before continuing. “Any of you? No? They are superior, but your kind has armed yourselves with magicks and steel teeth and claws. I am simply reinstating the natural order of things by giving them advantages the same way you have.”

To Yofiel she responds, “He has a name, but it is his own tongue. One that you and I could not hope to pronounce. I would not disgrace him with a name in any language but his own. That is the act of a conqueror.”

Dapple hangs back silently and watches the show. Marest does some mental math, trying to figure out what to do.

Colt questions what the others are doing. Grim accuses Maya of hypocrisy and meddling in what she shouldn’t and tells Colt a bit more about the practices of his people.

Siolo (Joe) - AC 15/13/13 ; HP 27/28 , NL 0
Friday May 3rd, 2024 2:19:58 PM
Siolo scoffs, "Dominate? Please. When a rex growls at another predator what is it doing? This is the natural order. Use of magic is natural." He shakes his head, "What you categorize as natural versus unnatural is subjective. You choose what you choose for the sake of your ends, the conclusions you start from and try and make everything else fit."

Siolo's body language is peaceful, at ease, all except his eyes. He looks at Maya with steel. "You sit upon a high horse of your own making. If you wish to reject how things are in favor of how you want them to appear, that is a choice you can make. But we are not under any obligation to share in your delusion. Justify your choices to yourself as you wish. I, personally, will choose the path of less pain, death, and destruction. The ones who committed the heinous experiments are no longer with us. Those that remain do not deserve blame for actions they did not commit. "

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31
Friday May 3rd, 2024 8:04:53 PM
"I think you misunderstood my question," says Ezekiel. "I was not questioning whether the dinos are superior or not, but rather why you felt the need to alter them. How can you, an inferior creature, improve a superior one? And wouldn't such alterations be unnatural? Or perhaps the council was right and you weren't behind their sudden increase in intelligence. They didn't seem to think such a feat was within your power, and even if it was, that you would be willing to go to such the lengths. They seemed quite found of you actually."

Kaze (JonS) HP 27/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7
Friday May 3rd, 2024 9:22:48 PM
Kaze is beginning to feel like this is going to turn bad. He'll step closer to Grim and whisper, "We should keep an eye on Maya. They way she looks I think she's looking for a fight with her shiny toy."

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:16 (T:12, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:3/R:8/W:8), HP:30/30
Friday May 3rd, 2024 10:59:55 PM
Showdown at the Dinos OK Corals

Marest slyly casts Message spell pointing to Yofiel, Kaze, Ezek, & Grim. She then whispers to them while pointing to each of them in turn:

She's dangerous. She has the upper hand here and I think she's delusional thinking Dinos need her help to survive.

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy)
Saturday May 4th, 2024 10:15:23 PM
Dapple still sees no reason to engage with the crazy lady. She remains silent and watchful.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29
Sunday May 5th, 2024 11:37:30 PM

"Maya, if someone wished to accomplish the sort of things you have," Yofiel asks, "what would be their first steps? What sort of training would they require? How would they gain the understandings you have arrived at?"

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19
Sunday May 5th, 2024 11:44:04 PM
OOC: reminder - Grim is not in line of sight to Maya, still in the tunnel. Depending on where everyone is, they might be able to see Grim, maybe not. Don't know the exact locations of everyone. But certainly a gesture form Marest pointing at him to cast the spell gives Maya the information that others are out of sight. Kase seemed to be up with Yofiel talking to Maya, now going back into the tunnel to join Grim and Colt...?

Grim whispers to Colt 'She doesn't understand her own delusions. She's enhanced herself to be part fish, for whatever warped reason. So, her sense of inferiority and self-preservation contradicts her own accusations against the noble races for doing the same, finding ways to survive and thrive. She's not going to change, once down that path she's chosen, there's no turning back.'

A dino of a different color - DM Jess- Maps and documents
Monday May 6th, 2024 8:48:03 AM
Maya glares at Siolo as he speaks. “I have no need for high horses. No matter how many hands tall they might be, they small and easy prey,” she says, a vicious grin slashing across her features as her gaze briefly turns to the t-rex beside her. “And if you believe that the council had anything to do with the success of my experiments, you are a greater fool than they were. The same is true if you can’t tell the difference between a t-rex roaring at a raptor and a person forcing a collar around its neck. There is a natural order that they, not I, have violated. I seek only to set the right balance.”

To Ezekiel, she responds, “And I will do so by any means necessary.” She sneers at his words about the council. “I don’t care about them. I’m not surprised that they were unable to see the truth of what I was able to accomplish. They were a means to an end, nothing more. Fools, with their insipid greed, who got what was coming to them. As you all will.”

As she speaks, the dinosaurs in the pens, who up until this point, have been rather docile, begin pacing and growling.

To Yofiel, she replies. “One need only open their eyes and truly look at the world to understand what the natural order ought to be. Understanding is easy to come by, but too few are willing to see truly. They are distracted by their small, petty existence, blind to the truth of things. In terms of training, it took me decades of studying nature, magic, alchemy, to learn all I have.”

She narrows her eyes and peers into the corridor, where the rest of the party is observing and conversing. “Have the rest of you nothing to say for yourselves?”

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31
Monday May 6th, 2024 10:10:40 AM
"I am not unsympathetic to council's mistreatment of the dinos," says Ezekiel. "They wanted to alter them for their own agenda. But how is that different from what you did? However noble you may perceive your ends to be, your means are the same as the council you so thoroughly detest. Did you even ask the dinos what they wanted? Speaking with animals should be within your power from what I have seen, but did you stop to do so?"

"And how did you come to open your eyes to your understanding of what 'nature ought to be?'"

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19
Monday May 6th, 2024 1:09:12 PM
When Maya calls out ' the rest of you', Colt freezes. He'd thought he and Grim were far enough back and out of sight. Had he carelessly drifted into sight? Or maybe she's only talking to Dapple and Kaze? His halfling friend had been quiet, and Kaze had stepped to the back of the party.

Behind him, Foggy growls softly.

[ooc] Willing to roll either way. (Seen or not.) I only said Colt was hanging back with Grim, didn't explicitly say he was hiding. Just let us know. [/ooc]

Kaze (JonS) HP 27/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7
Monday May 6th, 2024 3:32:08 PM
OOC: Kaze had stepped forward so he could see the dino's and talk to Maya.

Listening to what Maya's responses are, he comes to a conclusion and looks at Grim, quietly he says "I have a feeling that she doesn't care about humanity and only seeks to elevate these creatures to become super killers. We'd better keep a weather eye on those cages."

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy)
Monday May 6th, 2024 6:42:18 PM
"You and your companions have caused a great deal of death and suffering." Dapple says. "Do you care nothing for those who were slain and wounded? Because I think you may be right. The dinosaurs aren't monsters. You are."

Siolo (Joe) - AC 15/13/13 ; HP 27/28 , NL 0 d20=3 ;
Monday May 6th, 2024 11:38:01 PM
Siolo meanders closer to the dinos in the cages. "Good thing, you'd never do anything to restrict these guys... right guys?" He tries to calm the cage dinos.

((Wild Empathy 3+7=10))

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19
Monday May 6th, 2024 11:41:20 PM
It's not surprising to Grim that Maya perceives there are more in the tunnel. She's smart enough to at least remember all those who met her and Rotholorien at the outskirts of town that day.

He steps into clearer view and says accusingly in his gruff voice, "Me and my tribe are servants of The Great One and vow to maintain the balance in his domain as he directs us. We have fought and killed many of these Trophy Hunters you speak of, all under the guidance of The Great One, who's domain this is. You, on the other hand, reject The Great One, supplanting him with yourself, usurping his will with your own desires for power and dominion. You enhance the Thunder Gods but not to think and fight for themselves, but to obey you and do your will, as if you are a god yourself. Your pathetic accusation of the noble ones only reveals your own insecurity with yourself to the point to warp your own body in trying to be superior. Humble yourself in front of The Great One, turn to him and be his servant as me and my tribe did. Unless you think you are a god yourself and can beat The Great One."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 d20+7=16 ; d20+10=26 ;
Tuesday May 7th, 2024 1:25:34 AM

"We have seen what happened to the Council. And this you count as what they had coming.

"What is it you think we 'have coming' - and why?

"Also, know this - it was I who gave your friend here something to cause him to sleep," Yofiel says, not wanting to spread the blame to her friends, "though I did not realize it was he when I first saw him down here. We wanted to see what he was guarding. And we have seen. However, as he slept soundly, we did not take advantage of his slumber, and left him alive. Why hurt him?

"We learned means to not have to hurt him, and not have him hurt us, while still learning what came from this place.

"I am a traveler, stuck here now because you had the dinosaurs attack Cloudhaven. As I mentioned the first time we met, through your direction and action, my younger brother was slain, his leg bitten off, and his body tossed over the cliff. His name was Erodani. He was a sweet boy, a bit impish, clever, thoughtful. Because of what you have done, he is gone. Do you care?

"Tell me, Maya, why did my young brother, why did Erodani deserve to die?"

She pauses a moment. "If you had a message for the survivors of Cloudhaven, if you felt you could persuade them to understand your viewpoint, what would you tell them? What would you have us say to them?"

================
Diplomacy: 16 (giving Maya a chance to think about alternatives to simply siccing her dinos against the party - is she open to sending a message through them to Cloudhaven, by letting them leave without attacking?)
Sense Motive: 26 (Does she seem at all open to the alternative Yofiel is here suggesting? Is an attack from her imminent, or avertable?)

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