Scene: Meet the Natives

[DinbinFanfoom]

New thread, same stuff as was at the end of the last one.

The party heads over to where the captive was last seen. She has hardly moved since combat began, and now lies in a half fetal position, bound hands covering her head. Her dark hair is pulled back in an intricate (though slightly disheveled now) knot with bamboo through it, and she wears what looks like a long, sleeveless linen tunic which is now rather muddy. Hearing Sigurd so close, she rolls over and scoots backwards away from the party, eyes wide in fear and a hint of defiance. She holds her hands out in front of her, palms open, as if to keep you away. She shouts something that you don't understand, wheezing. Her left eye is swelling a bit.

[Asharad]

Can I heal her at all?

Also, I'll check out the bodies of the ones (one?)we killed.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Can I heal her at all?You can try, sure. She looks wounded, but not mortally. Are you approaching her?
Also, I'll check out the bodies of the ones (one?)we killed.OK, guess not. :D

Crashing walks over to the dead clubber. The man was tall and athletic looking; his head shaved excepting a knot of hair tied up on the top. His heavy, carved club lies beside him. Bending closer, Crashing notes that the man's mouth looks... unusual. Pushing back an upper lip with a stick, the shaman sees that the dead man's teeth appear to be filed to wicked points.

[Shiz]

"Hey Crashing, is that a relative of yours?"

Is the captive bound in any way? Damelon will offer her his water skin, after demonstrating what it is.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Is she bound in any way? Damelon will offer her his water skin, after demonstrating what it is.Her feet are tied. Her wrists are tied. With animal sinew... maybe.
As Damelon approaches, she shrinks back and wails. She's clearly never seen your types before.

Entering Skill Challenge, Please Wait...

DM's Note: Trying a format that might streamline things... letting you know what skills are required beforehand...

Applicable skills: Diplomacy (calm), Arcana, Insight, History (understand), Intimidate (scare)

[DinbinFanfoom]

DM's Notes: Whoops, forgot this bit of flavour text...

Crashing also notices that the clubber has a bit of a gash on his head. Erik, closer to the stream, picks up the remains of a broken ceramic water jar. It has blood on it.

[Lycos]

Sigurd will surge up twice to full.

Sigurd addresses the group, "I hope we didn't screw up and ruin a perfectly good mating ritual." :D

We'll put our weapons away and show her that we mean no harm to her. Hopefully, backing away will help as well. We'll try to quiet her down. Anyone have a spare dagger that we can offer her (hilt first), so that she can remove her bindings?

[Asharad]

Lemme think..

OKay, pick up the pottery shards, show them to her,pantomime whacking myself over the head with it, smile and nod to show my approval. I'll see how she responds and use insight to judge her over all attitude towards us and determine how best to proceed.

[EricStratton]

Sorry, I was waiting for KT to get his diplo check out of the way.

Erik flashes his lady-killer smile and looks the girl in the eyes making sure she sees how beautiful his deep blue eyes are. He'll slowly take his staff and tuck it into the belt of his robe. Then he'll show her his empty hands and, even though he knows she probably doesn't understand, say calmly, "We're here to help. Are you ok?"

Diplo: 14+9=23

[Zyzzyx]

KT wanders over after seeing the gal still a bit scared. He can tell already she doesn't seem to understand us, so he goes for one his tunes that always mellowed out the ladies with a bit of fight in 'em.


- Words of Friendship; Minor, Gain +5 diplomacy bonus to end of next turn.

Diplo: 26

[DinbinFanfoom]

You can see now that the woman is somewhere between 25 and 30 years old, deeply tanned (as you will all be within a month or so...) and she looks at Erik with a certain amount of skepticism and reserve, almost as if she doesn't know what to make of him. She is still alarmed, but stops yelling, at least, and appears to feel less threatened. (Calm: Diplo 23: Success = Skill Challenge Success, +2 to next "understand" attempt).

She slowly leans left to look around Erik to get a better view of Crashing, who is gibbering and pantomiming in the background. (Understand: Insight 15+2: Success) She raises an eyebrow, and then points her hands towards him. "Ni etta?" She says. Crashing pauses in mid-gesture and thinks that she might mean, "Not eat?"

KT begins humming a comforting tune. (Calm: Diplo 26: Success = Skill Challenge Success, +2 to next "understand" attempt). She seems to relax a bit more and cranes her neck to the right, brown eyes wide with curiosity, trying to see where KT is.

Successes: 2
Failures: 0

[Lycos]

So here is my idea for the intimidation part of this challenge. It's not so much an attempt to get in her face and scream and all that. This is going to be more of a primal male/female intimidation. I'm going for a strong voice, but not loud. Sigurd will try to get her to understand, that he, being the big strong man is willing to protect her, and that she must listen and come with us before the others return. Do you know what I mean? And all the time, there is going to be flexing going on, and a friendly face with stern expressions when speaking about getting out of here away from the danger.

If this goes to crap, I will talk to KT before hand to back me up, and "save" her from me to keep her from running off. Which means that I will back off and let KT console her and be the hero.

Intimidation +7

[Shiz]

Good job guys!

[DinbinFanfoom]

Sigurd sweeps Erik aside authoritatively and strides forward. Smiling confidently, he performs a complex set of flexes while growling and stabbing his weapon towards the jungle in a dramatic gesture that he hopes will convey protectiveness and power. (Intimidate: 25) The still-tied victim stops struggling against her bonds for a moment and stares, transfixed. Her eyes go from Sigurd to Damelon to Togar to Crashing to Erik... the look on her face almost translates as: "Is he for real?" She covers her mouth with her hands, stifling a giggle. It's an ice-breaker, regardless... the party isn't sure that she feels more SAFE in their presence, but they're getting the feeling that she might not be as afraid of them anymore... (+2 to next "understand" attempt)

Crashing, ever the insightful one, thinks that maybe she's not as "primitive" as she looks.

DM's Notes: I was going to have intimidate attempts auto-fail, but your creative use of it and good roll leads me to do otherwise... in this particular case. I wouldn't push it, however. :D

[Asharad]

I'll make another attempt to understand her and what she is saying. I think I'm getting the hang of how she communicates.

Although with an 11, maybe not so much!

I'll also look around and see if there is any way I can heal her without freaking her out. I don't want to be aggressive towards her. If there is, I'll attempt to patch her up a bit.

jesus...a 10, which probably means I bit her ear off.

[Lycos]

Sigurd will motion whether she wants her bonds cut or not. And ask her, "Do you want us to cut your rope?"

[DinbinFanfoom]

Crashing sidles up an attempts to continue his efforts to converse ("understand" (insight), 2+9+2=13: failure). Sweeping his arms around to include his whole group he says "Greetings and salutations, lady! This fine group of adventurers is good and noble and means you no harm!" He rambles on for a few more sentences. In return, he gets a confused look. Maybe less syllables? "Maybe I should start with my name or something..." he thinks.

Switching gears, he moves closer and attempts to get a good look at her badly swelling eye. (Healing 1+9=10: failure) She cringes away as she gets a whiff of his morning-crab-breath.

DM's notes: You can't get a SC overall failure on an understand fail, so no worries. Bummer about the 2 and the 1, but cookie and crumblage and all that! Who's next? You've got a few more +2's saved up and in play for understand attempts too (I think you've generated at least one spare) so go nuts on that if you wish.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Sigurd will motion whether she wants her bonds cut or not. And ask her, "Do you want us to cut your rope?"
Give me an insight, arcana or history to understand/be understood.

[Lycos]

Give me an insight, arcana or history to understand/be understood.

History +0 = 12! HA! Take that teacher who told me I was no good at history!

[DinbinFanfoom]

Sigurd scratches his head and tries to make sense of what the strange girl said earlier. He doesn't get much. ("understand" insight 12+2 vs DC 15: failure, but barely) He thinks and thinks and finally just slaps his chest and grunts "Sigurd!". Faint recognition dawns in the woman's eyes. She slowly points to herself and says... "Lamsi".

DM's Notes: OK. So you were close. I gotta give you SOMETHING for trying. :D

[Lycos]

DM's Notes: OK. So you were close. I gotta give you SOMETHING for trying. :D

:rotflmao: As the DM shows pity upon the meathead.

Are we done with the challenge or are we still in it?

[DinbinFanfoom]

Are we done with the challenge or are we still in it?You're still at 2/0.

[EricStratton]

I assume we're not going in any sort of INIT order:

Erik kneels down slowly and says "Hi, Lamsi." Then, starting with himself he points at all of us and says each person's name.

I'm not going for a "trying to be understood" thing here, mostly a "try to calm her down further and get her to trust us" thing.

Diplo 2+9

Apparently I'm going for the "punch her in the face" kind of diplomacy.... /sigh.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Scowling at Sigurd's antics, Erik moves in again to try to be all smooth-like. A split second before he trips on his robe hem and stumbles onto his hands and knees in front of Lamsi, he utters "Hi Lamsi! URK!" ("Calm" [diplomacy], 2+9 vs DC 15: failure) The woman, confused, shakes her head and moves quickly aside as he hits the dirt next to her. She points to herself again with her bound palms and says, in frustrated tones "Ni 'hi'lamsi'... LAMSI!" She looks at Erik as if he were mildly... slow. (Skill Challenge Failure)

DM's notes: No, no kind of init order. No more than one type of check per character per turn though... IE: no single character doing 3 insights before someone else does anything, but no particular order, no. OMG, bad rolls, guys. Keep hammering!

Successes: 2
Failures: 1

[Lycos]

If it looks like she could cut herself free. I'll ask someone for a dagger, and hand her the dagger by holding the dagger with two fingers so that she knows I am not going to use it on her. If it doesn't look like she can cut the bindings herself. I will motion to her that I will cut her bindings. Point to the bindings, and make a small sawing motion with the knife. I'm assuming that the skill challenge is over, and we can do this without rolling.

[DinbinFanfoom]

If it looks like she could cut herself free. I'll ask someone for a dagger, and hand her the dagger by holding the dagger with two fingers so that she knows I am not going to use it on her. If it doesn't look like she can cut the bindings herself. I will motion to her that I will cut her bindings. Point to the bindings, and make a small sawing motion with the knife. I'm assuming that the skill challenge is over, and we can do this without rolling.
I need 3 "Calm" (Diplo) successes, so not yet, no. You could offer her the knife as part of a "calm" attempt, though...

The "calm" attempts determine the primary SC success/fail and can give a +2 to "understand" attempts.
The "understand" attempts are for gathering information only, which may be useful to "calm" attempts, at least in a RP fashion.

[Zyzzyx]

My mind is coming up blank for an RP action for KT doing his diplo thing... just completely blank. But... well, heck.


KT saunters over, moves Erik out of the way and sets down cross legged in front of... Lamsi? And he just smiles. Sits, smiles, and hums.

[DinbinFanfoom]

DM's Notes: There we go! Atta boy, KT!

KT glides over and sits down in front of Lamsi. Figuring that "music tames the savage beast", he smiles the most disarming smile ever ("calm" [diplomacy], 16+9=25: success, Skill challenge completed successfully!) and "Lamsi" seems to finally relax. As Sigurd approaches with a knife, she appears to understand his intent and holds her wrists up to him, her eyes never leaving KT as the barbarian cuts the bands that bind her hands and ankles. She rubs them a bit, and doesn't even flinch when the "scary" Crashing tends her swollen eye, though she yelps when he touches her bruised ribs, which don't appear to be broken, thankfully.

With some help, she stands, and you see that she is tall and graceful looking, clearly at home in the forest. KT introduces the party, slowly, and Lamsi (that is indeed her name) seems to understand. Suddenly, she seems alert, and looks off to the side of the clearing.

Perception rolls from all, please

[Asharad]

perception+9= 21

[EricStratton]

Perception 11-1 = 10

[Zyzzyx]

*looks around*

KT was apparently standing next to Lamsi and could tell right where she was looking.

[Lycos]

Perception +4 = 22

[Shiz]

Damelon Perception +5 = 16

[DinbinFanfoom]

Lamsi utters a short, but intricate whistle. Within seconds, a similar reply comes from somewhere in the surrounding bush. Crashing, KT and Sigurd note that the reply was slightly different, it's obviously a fairly complex form of communication. A moment later, and virtually without a sound, men and women emerge from the foliage from directions all around the clearing. They are tall and athletic, like Lamsi, and she seems to recognize them instantly and she smiles weakly when she sees them.

One older woman rushes over to Lamsi and checks her over quickly, brushing her hair back away from her eye and clucking like a mother hen at the bruises already forming. She and Lamsi speak in low tones, while the rest stand still at the forest edge, spears in hand, but not pointed at the party directly, for now... They eye you warily. Like Lamsi, they haven't seen your type before.

An elderly man steps towards you. He looks to be in his 70's or 80's, and wears a heavy necklace of black, shiny stones. He utters what sounds like an inquiry, in the language that Lamsi spoke.

Can someone give me a history or insight check?

[Lycos]

Sigurd will not make any quick movements, and his hands are open and in sight for them to see.

[EricStratton]

Erik looks at Crashing. "You're very insightful. Any idea what he might be trying to tell us?"

OMG, we're all history idiots. :lowlol:

[DinbinFanfoom]

OMG, we're all history idiots. :lowlol:And sadly, it looks as if Crashing is an atheist shaman or something. Your party's highest religion score is 3 (KT).

[Lycos]

And sadly, it looks as if Crashing is an atheist shaman or something. Your party's highest religion score is 3 (KT).

Who needs a god when you have solid steel in your hands and the gore of your enemies dripping from it? MUAHAHAHA

[Asharad]

Insight for the win!

or the tie (15)

[DinbinFanfoom]

Crashing (Insight: 15 vs DC ? = Failure) thinks the old man might be asking who they are, and appears to be waiting for a response. Lamsi notices the frustration on Crashing's face and gets the old man's attention. She speaks rapidly and excitedly to him, pointing into the jungle at intervals. She appears to be retelling the story of how the party came upon her.

When Erik speaks, asking Crashing what they're saying, the old man turns from Lamsi and looks at Erik, obviously interested. His eyes widen in recognition. He walks closer to Erik, Lamsi in tow.

"You speak..." he starts in Common, obviously thinking hard, "...the old tongue? Who are you?"

[Shiz]

"Well, this should make it easier."

[DinbinFanfoom]

"Well, this should make it easier."
"Make easier what? Why you here?" the old man demands.

[Zyzzyx]

KT looks around, speaking to no one in particular, "The old tongue?"

[EricStratton]

Erik's eyes widen in return. "Sir, we do speak what you call 'the old tongue'," he says slowly but not in a demeaning way. "Our ship hit a reef last night. We here were the only ones that survived, we believe. The people that attacked Lamsi also attacked and looted the ship."

(Just in case: Diplo 10+9)

[DinbinFanfoom]

The old man frowns a bit as he struggles to understand, but seems to get the gist of what Erik says.

"We see big wind make big-canoe on rocks, yes. Very sad. Lamsi say you help. For that we happy and... grateful. But we talk more. Come!" He gestures with a staff that he carries in his hand. "To village!"

The gaggle of people move onto the northern trail and begin to walk out of the clearing. A half-dozen remain and fill large water jars. It appears that that is what Lamsi was attempting to do when she was attacked.

Lamsi and a few others lag behind a bit to see if you follow. She seems to be curious about you and your strange clothing and gear.

[Shiz]

"Let's follow. We will need friends and friends we might have found."

[Lycos]

Agreed! Let's go. We're safer with larger numbers.

I think I speak for everyone, we all go with them.