Zuni stepped towards the woman and gave an intricate flourish of a greeting.  She'd seen something similar before and as silly as it might have looked to her at the time, maybe it wouldn't be out of place here.

Putting on her most gracious airs, Zuni addressed the rider. "Greetings, Afada.  We do indeed come in peace for such a beautiful night as this should not be stained with the marks of violence.  My companions and I are in search of the Moon Clan.  During our travels we came across a lost item bearing their sigil and we are of a mind to return it.  Perhaps you could assist us?"

Selvin gave a small bow to them. "May the Moon light your way and keep your secrets when needed." He spoke it formally. While he didn't know if that was a good saying or not, he really hoped it wasn't something that would offend them.

"We're glad t'have found you." He closed his mouth then, waiting. He bit his tongue to keep from saying more or about the dead barbarians and the tracks from previously for the moment.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 9):

She smiles at Selvin's courtesy and then glances west, in the direction of the tower. It is best if we not speak here. Follow us to our camp.

The camp has obviously seen better days. The Moon Clan is not attempting to hude the fact they have been attacked. Some of the Clan are gathering wreckage from yurts and wagons that have been torn apart. You see the signs of blood and dried gore spread hither and yon. Beyond the camp, a heap of bodies have been piled on a pyre. The Clan appears to have lost twenty people and at least as many horses.

Afada dismounts and gestures for you to follow her in to a large tent. Chandanar presents the robe to her and she studies it. Yes. This is a remnant of our former guide Rhana. My gratitude for its return. But... She gestures in the direction of the pyre, </Goldenrod>...we are a bit distracted at the moment. Otherwise we would welcome you warmly.

Our camp was attacked yesterday by a Wyrm. But not a variety we are accustomed to. It has taken up residence within one of our sacred sites. I think it is encouraging us to find a new sacred site. Or it is hungry. I am not sure which is the case. But I can at least offer you some supplies. We have fewer mouths to feed after all.</Goldenrod> She smiles wryly. Forgive my funerary humor. It has been difficult. Two days ago, I was just the chief teller for the Clan. Today I am chief. It is quite a step up.

(Swore I checked this over the weekend but guess I didn't - Izzy did indeed get a Moon Tat that increased his Charisma by 1)

He let the formalities fall to his companions as he looked each of the tribe over - or at least who remained as it became more obvious that there had been far more than a single bout of losses. He stayed skeptical for a bit, given the growing number of ambushes and enemies, and watched as the robe was passed along, which seemed to give him an answer he was satisfied with. Their tale certainly was not a happy one. "It is terrible. Lately it seems that loss is all we actually hear about."

Both in the city and outside of it, the whole world seemed damned right now. Briefly his mind humored if he should have joined up with one of the doomsday crying cults back there, but more jokingly than anything. "It seems inappropriate to ask now, but we were seeking an honor from your people. More than your resources, I'd truly hate wasting your time when it is so dangerous here." He paused, hesitating on whether or not it would be too insulting to simply ask, before stating, "We seek membership into the Sun Clan. Their ritual requires a Truth-Teller of your people." He did not explain more, she likely knew the danger the Truth-Teller would be in, but a small part of his brain prayed to the Dawnflower that she did not. "We know we ask a great deal, but be assured we do so in hopes of saving a great number of our own."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 11):

She raises an eyebrow. That is...to the point. The Sun Clan? They hate all outside their own. Why would you need...oooooohhhh. You mean to be tasted by the Worm. Yes. You would need a Teller for that. Well. Poko is recognized as honest by all. You notice she says this with a bit of a chuckle. He is also one of my finer warriors. Not a resource I can spare at the moment. Unless...of course...

We take care of this other Wyrm for you? Chandanar offers.

She smiles. I appreciate people who come to the point. Yes. If we could secure our Tower, I could spare Poko for your...er...errand.

Selvin watched as Izzick jumped right in. He smothered a smile. He had been going to let others be more diplomatic, but apparently such was not the case. He listened and then frowned slightly. "Is...the worm at the tower or whatever...is that a purple worm, like what we need?" He glanced at his companions. "Just wond'rin' if we can kill 2 birds with 1 stone or not, y'know?"

He gave a shrug. "Regardless, we can likely help. What exactly's up there?"

Izzick was hoping that wouldn't be the offer, but he supposed they had plenty of other problems on their plate, what was a little more. "Hopefully we can handle that. We don't exactly have a better option, and it seems like you don't either." If they were all in acceptance, than Izzick waited for any details she could give them about whatever had taken residence up there, maybe he could figure something out. He wished Tarrov was here for this part.

16:50, Today: Izzick rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Knowledge Arcana on the Wurm/Wyrm/Worm.

What it is / what it does / etc.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:54, Thu 24 May 2018.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 14):

I say wyrm because it is the most apt thing I can think of. It is snake like...reptilian...except her head is that of a beautiful maiden. She is powerrful. She was able to counter our priestess with magic and destroyed our troo0s with powerful spells.

It sounds like a naga. Thoguh they cpme in various shapes and sizes. This one sounds like its taken up magical researches.

She retired to the tower. It has three levels: the roof, a ceremonial hall below that, and the main chapel on the ground. I was contemplating trying to send a force in through the roof in hopes the wyrm had set up camp in the lower levels.

"Snake-like with a beautiful womans face, eh?"  Zuni thought back to when she had encountered any snake-like creatures in Korvosa, but other than actual snakes she couldn't think of any.  Definitely not any that had a snake-like body and a womans head.  That would be memorable indeed.

"Do you have any idea of what she wants?  Maybe an offering can convince her to leave your sacred site?"  She doubted that it would be that easy but it never hurt to ask.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 16):

Afada smiles wryly. She wasn't exactly the talkative type. We only come to the tower one month out of every six. So it's not uncommon for something or other to set up camp inside. But usually it's something wild. This time was different. Our advance scouts were killed and the wyrm had laid an ambush for us. It was as if she knew we were coming and wanted to give us plenty reason to avoid the tower.

"I'd need to see her to know specifics, but sounds like a Naga." They did know magic typically, but the amount of variables? Beautiful, ugly, dark, royal, aquatic - they were as various as the snakes that their bodies mimicked. "They are usually intelligent enough to speak with. Then again, so are most men and we've had trouble with them as well." He wasn't sure how the creature could predict scouts, but perhaps divination, scrying, or some other magic. Figuring that out or protecting against it was a bit more outside his field of expertise. "I'm neither a linguist nor a master of naga diplomacy but...we can try. Unless you seek repayment for your losses, Lady Afada."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 18):

I would be satisfied with just securing our sacred site. Revenge is a luxury at this point. Tomorrow night is the new moon. We have rituals we must enact.

Selvin nodded. He agreed with Izzick. He'd heard only a tiny bit about them, but it did indeed sound like a naga. He shook his head. Despite being likeable, he wasn't great nor terrible at diplomacy. He frowned slightly and then shrugged. "We can try an' talk, but if that don't work we'll have given up the potential advantage o'surprise, so...it's a trade-off. She seems pretty brutal an' ruthless from the results o'the attack we saw but..." He shrugged again, looking to his companions.

"Personally I'd rather put 'er down, sounds like she ain't a good person. Bein'. Creature? Whatever. But I'm willin' t'do the talkin', if no one else feels up to it, if that's what's decided."

Alright. I thank you. There are two ways in: an entrance on the roof or the front doors.If you wish to take the roof, I can provide magic to get you all up there.

Zuni tapped a finger on the hilt of her sword as she considered the routes of entry.  "...front door...roof..." she mused.  "splitting up might make sense.  Selvin can take the roof while the rest of us go through the front door.  Only...I don't like splitting us up when we don't know what the inside looks like."

"How about I take a quick look and see what I can see?  Just...get ready to come and save my backside if I wake up something unpleasant." Zuni moved off in the direction of the front door, sneaking as best as she could.

OOC:
Stealth -> 26

I'll give Zuni Invisibility then before she heads in

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 22):
Zuni is invisible

The front doors are large wooden affairs, once quite grandiose with finely carved details and bright paint. But the paint has flaked away except for patches and the carved details have worn smooth. The Moon Clan has only preserved one set of details: a set of circles that show the phases of the moon. Although they have them in the wrong order. The half moon phases are switched as are the new and full moon circles.

Zuni, you hear no noise as you slowly inch the door open far enough to slip inside.

The area beyond is a portico running the length of the building. Beyond a row of columns opposite the door, the space widens and becomes a large, open room with a high ceiling. The floor of the room beyond is covered in a mosaic that depicts the moon's cycle throughout an entire year. Near the center, one of the full moon depictions glows softly, providing most of the room's light.

On the western wall is a series of levers. Along the southern wall is a stairwell leading upwards. Between each column of row that divides the portico and temple area, a fine length of wire has been strung at about ankle height.

No sign of the naga.

Wire?  That was a curiousity.  Zuni went to take a closer look at the length of wire, thinking that it might be a tripwire for something.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 25):

Zuni, you glide across the floor like the gossamer wisp that you are, stealing right up to the edge of the column row.

It is a single wire, wrapped around the base of each column and connected to a balista set on one side and hidden from view of the entrance by the western most pillar. To say it is an obvious trap is an understatement. You aren't wven sure it would fire if someone did blunder into it.

Zuni took a few moments to examine the wire and made a note to mention it to the others before moving into the larger room.  The Naga had to be in somewhere.  Could it blend in to its surroundings?  And what was with the levers?

Zuni made her way along the edge of the large room, looking to check out the stairs to see where they lead.  She wasn't sure how long this invisibility was going to last so she would have avoid wasting time.  Finding the Nagas location was her primary goal.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 27):

You step over the wire znd into the chamber beyond...

Reflex save DC 20 please Zuni

OOC:
Not sure what the effect is but Zuni rolled a 23 to save

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 29):

You step over the wire and freeze, the toe of your boot a fingers breadth off the floor on the other side.

So that's why the trip wire was so obvious. To make people focus on it and not the floor beyond. If you had finished that step...

Inscribed into the floor in such a way as it blends with the mosiacs is a rune of some type. There is one on the floor between each set of pillars, all along the length of the portico entry. What the rune does...maybe something good. Maybe something bad. No. It's probably just bad. Awful really. No one ever lays down runes that materializes cute puppies after all. This one probably just blows you up.

Slowly, Zuni pulls her foot back and lets out a relieved sigh.  That was a close call.  A rookie mistake resulting in a close call.  So much for this sacred place being safe.  Did the Naga rig this up?

Zuni looked over the floor and decided that it was too dangerous for her to continue.  She headed back outside to let the others know what she had found.

"Bottom floor looks clear.  No sign of the Naga.  There's a rune of some sort, a trap, inscribed in the floor.  I don't know if I want to try disarming it with a Naga on the loose.  Maybe we should check the upper floors."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 31):

Upper floors then?