Whisper'wind introduces the elders one by one. All of them seem to have some sort of title or descriptor, such as Cloud'walker the Sky Dancer or Sunsoar the Hunter.

"I explained that you are... explorers. They also wish to know what it is that you desire to explore," Whisper'wind says. "Most of them understand that you cannot soar above the land and so you do not see things as we do. They also understand that you see things that we do not. Different worlds."

"So what do you explore?"

Sarah will  make sure to translate the names for everyone and will introduce each of the SG team in tern.   "Well, we would like to befriend you, learn from you, we seek to make allies and discover more of the universe."  She smiles, "And to be honest, we were also intrigued by the oddity of the metal construction where all your nests appear to be made of wood."

Sarah will translate her words for the other also and translate any further discussion or suggestions from her team to the elders and back.

"The Shrine of Hreidmar has been here as long as my people can remember," Whisper'wind replies.

"No strangers have ever asked to visit the shrine," one of the Elders says another in wonder.

"Only the People may visit the shrine!" protests another.

"What do they wish to do there? What do they think they will see?" asks a third.

"They must believe in the Sky God!" yet another says.


The rest of the elders all seem to chime in on one or more of those issues. It never quite reaches a cacophony of birdcalls but it starts to sound like that after a bit.

Hreidmar? Sarah quickly tries to analyse the name, referring to other languages to try and glean some knowledge as to the origins of the word before raising her voice amidst the noise intending calming and hopefully defusing the situation, "Elders, please.  We would not cause contention amongst you.  We are simply inquisitive explorers as the technology used to create the construction is far more similar to our own construction method than yours."  She smiles, "If you do not wish us to see it, then that is your prerogative.  We have come to share and learn, not take and steal."

She let's that sink in before attempting another tack, "Your words seem to imply that other strangers have visited your world?"

Once again, she translates for her fellows.

[18 on Diplomacy - if it is needed.]

Sarah's words serve to quiet the Elders even if they don't necessarily believe her, although she gathers from comments that it may not exactly that... perhaps more like a lack of understanding.

"Yes, Sarah'Morgan, travelers have come through the Magic Circle before. Some were rude and simply left after seeing where the Magic Circle was. Others wished to trade. We harvest moss from the k'tallah plant and some wish to trade for that, or for the t'dira which comes from the k'tallah moss."


Just as Sarah would be able to tell the difference between Japanese and Chinese if she heard them, even though she doesn't speak either of them yet, she is able to recognize the name as being decidely un-Latin. In fact, it sounds like a Scandinavian word, perhaps from Old Norse.

Linguistic drift has altered some of Latin words she's used to, usually shortening them or altering the gender, tense, case and conjugation. She estimates there's about an 80% similarity between the Latin she knows and the Latin the bird-folk speak. When a word crops up that she doesn't understand, she can generally pick up the meaning from the context.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:20, Thu 26 June 2014.

She nods, "I'm sure my people would be interested in learning the properties of this moss."  She looks to the others in her team as she translates.  While she can speak Asguardian, clearly these words weren't something she knew and maybe the others understood them?  "And in trading of course.  We have much to offer though we'd have to discuss what you might find useful."

"As to these people.  Where there any like us?"  They'd already discovered signs of the Goa'uld in this sector and forewarning would be useful.  "And is there regular trade?"  On a hunch she produces a bag of mixed nuts from 'somewhere' and idly nibbles on one while she's thinking and talking before taking on a surprised expression, "I'm sorry... how rude of me.  Would you like to try some of our food?"  She offers the bag to the others - it contains mixed 'raw' nuts.

Despite himself, Randall had to smile at Sarah's antics. He wasn't overly thrilled with civilians, but he'd read her file... and been impressed anyway.

What seemed like simple gestures were really meant to encourage trust and friendship, to win over potential hostiles.

He didn't have to understand her words to understand what she was doing. From what he'd seen of their equipment and tools, they didn't have any metalworking crafts. So tools would be useful to them... as long as they didn't get dependent on them.

They probably hadn't invented the wheel; of what use would it be to them?

"I think you're on the right track, Sarah. Trading food is a good idea. They don't look like they are starving, but good times are appreciated by all."

He continued to stand there and nod sagely when it seemed appropriate. He'd known this would be one of the problems he'd face... letting others handle the social and technical stuff.

When it was translated that Sarah had asked if any of the other travelers had been like "us", Del'noc tilted his head up a bit. On the one hand, not having his armor and staff-weapon were a bit disconcerting. On the other hand, however, he could see situations where carrying it to worlds that had been visited by the Goa'uld would cause problems. He stayed silent though as Sarah was deep in diplomatic talks with the bird folk.

James helps Sarah by translating for the others so she is free to talk to the elders

"There have been others like you," replies the Elder known as Crimson'wing. "Most did not stay long enough to converse. Without wings, they were not comfortable on the mountain top."

"We trade moss with the Cromar once a year. In return, they give us flint and nuts."

He is the first one to take up Sarah's offer of the nuts.

"I particularly like this one," he says as he holds up an almond after sampling them.

She smiles and offers him the bag, "We could trade for those if you like."  She then turns the conversation back to those who came through the Stargate, "Could you describe those similar to us who came through?  And what of the Cromar?  Could we meet these traders?"

"The Cromar have always come here; we have never gone to their world," Crimson'wing replies to Sarah. "They are small and furry."

"What is that you would wish to trade for?"


Before Sarah can reply, there is a loud whistle from outside. It is quickly picked up by a second whistle and then a third, and a dozen or more after that. Even a few of the Elders have whistles that they pull out and begin sounding as they all rush to the door.


"Raptors attack!" Whisper'wind manages to say before he runs out the door.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:13, Mon 30 June 2014.

Sarah is mid-conversation when the loud whistles can be heard.  After Whisper'wind's announcement though, she turns to her commander, "It's a 'Raptor' attack, Sir.  I don't know what this involves, but I'd suggest we be ready.  This could be another opportunity to show our hand and forge a bond with these people.  Just make sure there is no 'friendly' fire."

"We can't get involved in a fight we know nothing about," Kylie shouted over the whistles.  "We'd be picking sides based only on who we met first."

"Sir would you like me to scout and find out what or who is this raptor is?" James asks the Cpt.

Padraig was getting his weapons ready after admiring the structure and paring close atention to what was being said. He was still slow on the uptake but that's what he gets for not studying Latin as much as he should have.

At Kylie's comment Padge just looked at her said. "If they fire on me or any SG memeber I am firing back as far as I am concerned the matter of sides can be explained as self defense instead of alliance. I suggest you get your weapon ready either way."

OOC: forgot color will edit when I get home.

Marcus took up a defensive stance, having one of the few Zats he leaves his hand on its handle ready to pull if the need arrives.

He waited for some explanations or orders hoping that ting could resolved peacefully.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Tue 01 July 2014.

Del'noc was listening to the translations as they came, but it was interrupted by whistling. His brow furrowed. He didn't know what a raptor was but it sounded like it was a bad thing. He readied his weapon and took up a defensive position to cover his team, awaiting orders.

SG-X3 manages to stay out of the way as the bird-folk hastily exit the Great Nest. After that, it's easy enough to walk to the main opening and look out. The view is a sight to behold! The sky is filled with hundreds of winged creatures! After a few seconds, the ever-changing image resolves itself into an aerial dogfight of epic proportions!

The bird-folk are fighting a much larger... flying dinosaur! They look like pterodactyls, but have nasty-looking toothed beaks.

Archaeologists would classify them as pterosaurs, of an earlier period, and they aren't strictly dinosaurs, but lived at the same time.

The bird-folk are wielding only spears, and it often takes several stabs to take out a single pterosaur. In return, the pterosaurs are snapping off bird-folk wings with a single nasty bite. It's only a fight because the bird-folk are more maneuverable in the air.

As the team watches this amazing sight, there is a crash on the nest above them, and a toothy beak suddenly stabs inward and bites the major on the arm and starts pulling him out of the nest.

Cormac takes in the sights if the two groups fighting above the SG team. He has little knowledge of dinosaurs but he had for one reason or another read about the "raptors" before and the identifiers were there.

When the "raptor bites thorne's arm Cormac immediately snaps his weapon around and fires into the beak. Hoping to at least cause the beak to release thorne's arm. After the indecent in the pyramid he doesn't hesitate. For one this man Thorne had put his life on the line before and Cormac would repay him for that in any way he could and this was one of those times.


18:40, Thu 03 July 2014: Cormac McLane rolled 18 using 1d20+2 ((16)).
OOC I'm guessing I hit but please let me know and I will roll for damage if I indeed did hit.

Side note. Archaeology is more culture and objects. Paleontology is dinosaurs and fossils. No big deal just a heads up for future reference.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:17, Fri 04 July 2014.

The sight is magnificent even if deadly and she looked to the  others hoping that some of them at least might choose to side with the bird folk and help them.  It really would help them out.   It's about then that the raptor crashing into the nest and grabs the major and it's all she can do to not scream out in shocked fright as she turns to witness the attack.

James reacts by running and drawing his P-90(the medical bag hanging on his shoulder)then shoots into the hole where the break came from

07:53, Today: James Berten rolled 24 using 1d20+4. p-90. -1=23
07:59, Today: James Berten rolled 9 using 1d10+1 with rolls of 8. dmg. x2=18 dmg

Once the bird-folk Elders had all flown out the front door, SG-X3 had also moved forward to see what was happening, so everyone was standing at the front looking out through the open doorway. Randall was at the front.

The raptor had landed on the nest just above the door, so he was more or less upside down. That allowed him to reach down and through the doorway with his long beak and grab Major Thorne.

Cormac's quick reaction easily hit the creature's beak with a spray of bullets, causing it to let go of Randall. Not quite sure what just happened, the raptor is still perched on the nest when James cuts loose. He can't actually see it through the open doorway, and isn't about to step forward and lean out to get a clean shot, so he simple shoots through the nest. Made of sticks and some sort of mortar, it's not dense-packed--it does let air through, so shooting through it is reasonable.

James has no problem hitting the large creature, but it's hard to tell just how much damage he did. It is enough, at least, to chase the creature away.


FYI: The P-90 is designed to fire in a short 3-round burst in 'normal' mode, which is the setting the SG uses. It can be manually set to fire single round or long burst. Any time you want to use one of the other options, you'll need to state it; otherwise, it's firing in short burst.

With the creature gone and Thorne dropped to ground, Sarah will rush forward (expecting the others to cover her) and grab for Throne intending pulling him back into the nest and checking him over.

Del'noc was a bit slow to react. He had never seen such a combat or a dance in the air as it might be put by others. The death toll was high. All in all, it was a bit enthralling. Someone firing a P90 nearby snapped him out of his reverie. He pulled his own gun up and fired off a burst at the creature.

17:49, Today: Del'noc rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Wide Burst on dinosaur thing.
18:04, Today: Del'noc rolled 5 using 1d10+1. P90 damage.