06:12, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 4 using 1d20.  Mhari Initiative Roll. – 4
- 'sigh' for all the damn good it was.

03:20, Today: Zalbane rolled 17 using 1d20.  Initiative (1A).

As Alberic is taking cover behind Mhari, who is standing as an obvious target, Zalbane and Mhari spot a large, spider-like creature moving in their direction.  It has a some-what humanoid face, although the expression is unreadable at this distance.  It is moving at a steady pace, but doesn't seem to be rushing, per se.

OOC: Zalbane, you can act before the creature.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Thu 24 June 2021.

Zalbane has no idea if the creature is hostile or not, but it would foolish to assume otherwise!  She spreads her hands and creates a glowing barrier about two feet wide and six feet long with handles on the back of it.  She lifts it holds it sideways so that the barrier covers her torso and those next to her, but would allow people to attack over it with ranged weapons if they needed to.

"Hello?  Who are you?" she calls out, wanting to see how the creature will respond.

OOC: Using my sculpt light ability to make a sort of sideways tower shield. I just want to give to something else to think about and provide little cover to the group. Costs 4 Intellect, but I have an Edge of 4.

The creature slows and narrows its eyes at the brightness of Zalbane's barrier.  It holds up one humanoid hand to shade its vision.  But it does not retreat.  It seems to take a moment to assess the interlopers.

"Travelers, we are travelers, and we do not mean you harm," Zalbane says slowly, saying the phrase in Truth, as well as the dialect of her childhood home and the Yenth aldeia.  She wasn't sure if the creature could understand her at all, but she might as well make an effort to try.  But if it decided to be hostile, she was ready to dazzle it with light!

"Tell me of the bipeds below," it says in clear Truth, accented with a slight hissing, something that seems to derive from the multiple clawed ... appendages (?) around it's mouth.

Unhelpfully, Alberic chooses this moment to peer out from behind Mhari, his interest clealy piqued. "Bipeds? Below? As in below these ruins? We've not been below these ruins, so I don't think we can be much help. Unless you can describe them to us?"

Mhari relaxes just slightly, "Talk is good.. dialogue means hostilities potentially can be avoided. My companions speak true... we do not mean to trespass ~ we are not bandits or looters.  We seek dialogue with any who reside here... but we have met no one thus far in our exploration.  We are Explorers seeking any who would open dialogue with us in PEACE.  Are these structures.. YOUR Abode?"

The creature cocks their head a bit, assessing you all behind Zalbane's glowing shield.  "Sought refuge here, we did, after the metal mountain ground our nests to dust.  Many died trying to stop its progress.  Nothing here we took.  Nothing we asked.  0n the forest level we stayed."  They breathe in an awkward way, wheezing a bit, but without any visible expansion or contraction of their torso or abdomen.

"The blood-thirsties struck at night.  Ravenous.  Skinless.  Violent.  Killed our foragers in the trees.  Tried to root out our nests in these solid halls.  Battle there was.  Many killed of us and them."  There is a brief pause before the creature lowers their hands, eyes now adjusted to the light.  They lean forward just a bit.  "Fear me, they do.  With cause."  Their face, fangs, palps, so many eyes ... it is enough to drive most villagers to flee in terror.

Zalbane is no stranger to appearing hideous.  More than once villager or traveler had run from her, or shuddered at the sight of her.  A few times she'd even been attacked on sight, someone thinking she was an abhuman, a demon, or some kind of monster.  Ugliness did not shock her, though she could see why the creature was being cautious.

"I am sorry for your troubles, and your loss.  It must have been a terrible time," Zalbane said sincerely.  "We are new to this place.  These blood-thirsty creatures, when did they attack?  Did you flee here for protection?"

"They caught my people in the forest, hunted us down.  They tried to destroy us in these walls, but we fought better in the narrow halls, but not well enough.  We had fled here, seeking safety.  Only after the eggs were fixed and past the time of moving did we realize the dangers in this ruin.  I cannot leave the brood.  I will die soaked in blood first."  There is no doubt in your mind that the creature is deadly serious.

"Dangers in the ruins?" Alberic muses, he begins rooting carelessly around in his pockets for his pipe. "From these Bloodthirsties - the bipeds?" Finally finding the pipe he pushes it between his teeth. "They sound like dangerous fellows." At last, his pipe begins to emit a cloud of green, mint-scented smoke, and he puffs contentedly away, oblivious as to whether this is appropriate in the situation.

The creature takes a step back from a wisp of smoke, but does not retreat.  It has no nose to wrinkle.  It merely hisses.  "Yes, dangerous."

"What dangers in the ruin itself?  We could help you protect your brood; we are happy to make friends.  Is there some creature in the ruins, or something else that threatens you?" Zalbane asks.

The creature cocks its head.  "The bloodthirsty ones are the danger in the ruins below.  We did not delve.  There was no time, and then no safety, and then no one to go."

Alberic puffs thoughtfully on his pipe, his mind clearly abuzz with questions and curiosity, which he cheerfully voices. "How many of you are there left? And how many of these Bloodthirsties do you know of? You came to the ruins in search of safety, is that right? And they came in pursuit of you? Or were they trying to clear you out? There must be something down there of interest..."

Mhari listens to the creature and he is motivated by the story... anger building for any sentient seeking peace faced with naked aggression.

"Indeed, We are willing to help if it is within our power to aid your people against the violence of these bloodthirsty ones... as if they menace your people..it will not be too long before they may threaten our community also.  We seek peaceful coexistence with other sentients!"

The creature turns toward Alberic.  "Our numbers shall not be revealed.  I will not aid in the reconnoitering of others that may be used against us."

Turning to Mhari, the creature says, "Peaceful coexistence is desired.  If the bloodthirsty ones are eliminated by you, it is likely terms can be agreed upon with you and yours."

Addressing Alberic again, they say, "The motives of those below are unknown to us.  Only their violence is known, and that is enough."

With the creatures comment, Mhari removes his hand from the hilt of his weapon.

"Very well, Can you show us where these 'Blood-thirsty Ones' come from.. or at least give us directions to the area in the caves below they come from?  We cannot guarantee anything but we can investigate to find out if possible their numbers and maybe assess what we can do to end their threat."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:08, Sat 24 July 2021.

Alberic nods, gravely. "Though it would be good to know more about their threat before we enter their lair... You say they are biped? Are they like us, then?" He glances down at himself, then across at Zalbane. "Well, like any of us? Are they the same size? How many have you seen? You need not be exact - do they travel in ones and twos, or tens, or hundreds? Do they have claws and fangs? Do they use other weapons?"

"Your size, roughly.  They were in small groups, less than ten, armed with simple weapons.  But there was much chaos.  Not all the attacks had witness borne.  Their total population is unknown, but less than it was."  The creature's face contorts into some carapace-hindered cross between a snarl and smile.

"Possibly abhumans," Zalbane murmured.  That was a common enough threat, and one of the more common ones that came in small groups and worked in numbers to slaughter with simple weapons.  One did not want to assume, as the world was strange, but it helped to be prepared for the most obvious.  "Like Alberic said, we will investigate, and see what we can do to help.  If we run across more of your people, is there a word, symbol, gesture, or token we can use to show we are not enemies?  I don't want to frighten them any more than they already have."

The creature blinked several of its many eyes as it considered Zalbane's question.  It was silent far longer than seemed comfortable.  Eventually, it said, "Speak that you come with Stillissa's blessing."  It explained no further.

After a moment, it nodded ever so slightly.  "As your words are true, shall you now withdraw.  Seek as you have stated.  Return only with news of victory.  Wait here and call for the Last Watcher."  The creature makes a hand gesture toward themself and then backs up a few steps, pausing then to wait and observe.

Alberic frowns, slightly, then repeats Mhari's earlier question. "Before we go - where did you last see these Bloodthirsties? It would speed our search to know in which direction we should look."