Reijo looks the two drakes up and down, taking in and scrutinizing their sheer size as a greedy Sczarni merchant would when counting his coins. He withdraws his blade from the drake's neck, and gets his greedy eyes to work on examining the blond elf's ropework more carefully now.
"Right... they'd be werth more a pretty penny alive than dead. Well if ye speaks thar tongue, Naughty, ye best gives it a try." Scratching his goatee a moment, he adds, "We best gets'em ta reveal whar thar nest be... an' their treasures. Tells'em we be sparin' thar lives if they tells us. Then mebbe we takes'em ta town an' sells'em... but who be wantin' them, eh?"
Getting Reijo to apologize or to admit he's wrong is like waiting for the other eight hells to freeze over. But if you get him to change his mind, you've begun to earn his respect.
"I don't think I can rightly allow that, Reijo. That be slavery. Better dead than without ye freedom."
Suny frowns. "But... we dun't has ta' has they's freedom. We can all be comin' ta' an' accord..." She points out.
"Wait...? Who we's sellin' in't bein' slaves?" Suny looks around seemingly puzzled by some aspect of the conversation.
Ignoring Suny's question, Reijo responds to Viktorra with disgust. "Bah! Bloody beasts, ye really gives a barnacled bosun's buttocks abouts'em?! Keepin'emin a cage'll serve'em right. Be teachin'em who'sa boss round 'ere..." He proceeds to check that the ropes are tight enough for the drakes to not break free.
An' be linin' me pockets with more'an a few pieces o'platinum.
Unfortunately for Reijo's platinum-sighted vision these were not the waters of Katapesh, but those of the Shackles. And as Viktorra was so kind to remind the pirate, capturing these drakes was no different from slavery. Not only was slavery only a begrudgingly tolerated mercantile pursuit here (to plunder, most typically), but those who would actually be looking to purchase such exotic slaves don't exist. Not here in Lilywhite, certainly.
Ol' Salty surfaces from the water, dagger in hand.
"Tis freezin down there! .... Ah do we have a plan yet bout the drakes?"
Nhati says, "We're not going to sell them. I will be shocked if we even make friends with them and get them to do stuff for us, but I supposed we can try. Most likely, we may convince them to stop causing trouble, which is really what we came here for in the first place, and I'm dubious we'll even be able to do that. But, let's give it a try."
Nhati will wait until the discussion seems to have finished. Assuming we agree to talk to them, she'll ask some of the others to wake up the two drakes, and then she'll address them in Draconic.
"Surprised to wake up? Perhaps you should be. We've shown that we can outmatch you. You see, there's a problem here. You have been terrorizing the folk who work here in this wood. That has got to stop. Maybe you think this is your territory-- well, I hope we've shown you that it's under our protection. So, unless you want to come to some kind of accord with us, and work with us, you're going to have to move yourselves somewhere else, find some other territory somewhere where you aren't attacking, hurting, and killing people. We don't care if you hunt beasts of the wild, but we will not stand for you threatening the loggers here. Are we clear"
Reijo grumbles as it becomes clear Nhati is interested not in selling the drakes for profit, but in asking them to stop killing people.
Anger rising once more, "Ye ain't be askin' sharks not ta feed on whatev'r they be comin' across in tha blue waters! What be makin' ye think these beasties be any diff'rent?! 'Telligent er not, they be killers! It be thar nature."
"BAH!" he exclaims, exasperated as Suny seems likewise inclined. "Prob'ly nobody here be wantin' t'takes'em in anyways," he concedes.
He then voices his earlier plan again, "Methinks we best gets'em ta spill th'beans abouts their nests, whar they be collectin' booty. Then we slits thar throats good, an' grabs ar just rewards..."
Assuming, or hoping, that Nhati is speaking something along those lines, Reijo waits with barely sufficient patience as the lovely arcanist speaks the slithering and long-pronounced syllables of the dragons' tongue. One of the drakes sees the pirate standing over it, eying them both with a menacing glare as Nhati speaks, the sound of his cutlass blade and axe head grinding against each other echoing in their ears...
It takes a bit of effort to lug the massive beast from the riverbed up onto the banks beside the other, and the time spent double and triple checking the ropes certainly didn't help. After a good hour of fiddling about, it takes little effort to rouse the dragonkin from their slumber. Their eyes open with a slow curiosity that immediately shifts to rage and then panic as their wings struggle against their bonds. The ropes twist and stretch with the force of their muscles, but somehow hold.
After a moment of helpless struggle, the drakes cease their struggle and glance at one another. Slowly they turn to Nhati, listening intently. When they speak, their words are slow and carefully chosen; the harsh dragon-tongue barking back at Nhati. "Humans are weak. You are the exception. Why do you play at these games instead of ending us like a real hunter?"
Suny listens intently though she doesn't understand what t'is the drake's are saying.
"Here.. 'dye, p'rapse, be speakin' in'a way of tha' peoples?" She asks either of the two critter-folks.
Nhati looks back at the others. "Is being ended like real prey what you want?" she asks in Draconic. "You can be sure that some here...."
She nods up at the intimidating form of Reijo standing over them.
"...would be more than happy to grant you your wish... after you told us where your nest is, and any valuables you may have in it. If that is what you wish, that is what we will do. But I am also giving you the opportunity to live-- understanding that the humans work together, and because of us, the humans are not weak, and are not prey."
"Excuses masking weakness," snarls the nearer drake. It glances at Suny, but makes no motion to so much as justify her speech with a growl.
The other inclines its head in agreement. "Tricks and numbers. No real strength." It snaps its teeth at Nhati, as if punctuating its thoughts. "Release us."
"Woody humans not worth the effort," the other agrees. "Wood beasts tastier. But no treasures."
"Yes, no treasures. Only bones. Why do you wish our nest?"
Seeing the one drake snap its teeth at Nhati, Reijo asks, in a tone that suggests he's not surprised, "Parlayin' ain't goin' so well, eh Naughty?" He keeps up his threatening behavior towards the drakes.
Nhati shrugs, and says in Common, "They don't want to look like they're backing down. They say humans are weak, but we were different. Then they were surprised that we didn't just kill them, like 'hunters'. I offered that we might come to an accord and they didn't have to die. I suggested at the least that they should stop bothering the woodsmen here. The latest response is... well, it's hard to read. It suggests that they may agree to the deal, but need to do so in a way that saves face. 'Woody humans not worth the effort', they say. 'Wood beasts tastier.' I think this may mean that they've agreed to our terms, but are framing it in their terms."
"I'm not sure we can trust them, though."
"In any event, we're not going to recruit them, or whatever it is that Suny had in mind...."
Suny smiles back at Nhati, even as she absently reaches over and,
Scratches at one of the drake's heads like one would a dog or cat.
"Oh no. I were quite thinkin' of comin' to a accord wiff 'em. Makein' 'em see whut's so bad about eatin' peoples an' such. I were thinkin' of takein' 'em back t town where they can be lookin' after 'em an' shwoin' 'em how's best ta go about things. Tha' town might do with some more things defendin' it, like." Suny explains.
"They get fed fish an' othe things regular... An' then, when nastier types arrive.. maybe they get's ta' be finishin' them off?" (^_^)
The drake Suny approaches wastes no time in nearly taking off the elf's hand. It catches nothing but air, hurting its pride more than Suny... but the point is certainly clear through any language barrier.
Suny laughs brightly, glad that the drake still wants to play. (^_^)
"Aye... I'm thinkin we ain't gonna be able to make any deals with em' lads an lasses. It'd probably be best to send em to their maker."
Nhati says, "I will deliver the ultimatum."
She turns and says to the drakes in Draconic, "We will release you, but you must not trouble the humans here again. Hunt the beasts of the wild that are more worthy prey! If you do trouble the humans again, we will be back, and I can assure you, your death will not be worthy; it will be long, drawn-out, and we will make sure everybody knows how weak and prey-like you are!"
Although this sounds like intimidation, Nahti is trying to talk to the Drakes' way of thinking, and so I'm going to petition the DM to allow me to use Diplomacy for this... and hope that the dice do not betray me....
"I tire of this conversation. They are not sea monsters, Besmara does not watch over them. Therefore, I am allowed to kill them if necessary."
"Besides, we have no way of knowing they won't hurt these humans on this island, and they are under Besmara's protection, as they are free souls."
The drakes listen to Nhati's words carefully, offering soft growl-like vocalizations as they consider the options.
At last the more vocal of the two speaks. "Fair, human. We will live to hunt again." The other contorts its face into what could only be a scowl.
"This one has shamed us. Made weak by ones of flesh and not of scale. We should not suffer this!" Its displeasure is clear even to those who cannot understand the tongue. It snaps its teeth again, glaring at--no, through Nhati. Its cold eyes show nothing but quiet rage. "Death is preferable."
The former turns upon its companion, its own scowl now pointed at its kin. "For a foolish whelp. No, we will live and die in glory. Not to manflesh." It turns back to Nhati, leaning in dangerously close to the arcanist as its voice softens. "Our nest is behind the water. This one's clutchmate hides from you there."
Nhati turns to Viktorra and says in Common. "Let us give them one chance. I think they have agreed. Who knows; we may come back later, and be able to learn from them."
Turning back to the drakes, she says to the most vocal, "You are the dominant of the pack. You can control the others?"
The drake inclines its head slightly, as though confused by the assertion of its dominance. "They will listen," it says simply.
Suny claps happily, "Yay! We's gon'a be friends, like." (^_^) Then she looks to Reijo, Viktorra and the others.
"So, whut's next? Is we gon'a go lookin' fer more stuff?"
Nhati says, "We prepare ourselves for treachery, and then untie these drakes. Make sure they fly off. Head back to town, let them know that the problem is taken care of, and that if they have further trouble with the drakes, to come to us. If we ever have to come back and tangle with the drakes again, we kill them."
"You know as well as I that they will kill again. Why wait for them to eat more of our friends here? I still say we kill them now."
"That being said, I see the group choosing not to do so, and I will stand by that decision."
She sheathes her rapier, and sets her pistol back in its holster.
Impossible as it might seem, Reijo's intensity intensifies further as he sees his new mates deciding to set the wretched beasts free. An angry scowl upon his face, he wastes no further time in useless debate... drawing his cutlass to swiftly slice the nearest drake's throat!
Bellamy shook his head sadly.
"I hope you understand, Suny, that bringing these things back to town to live in cages might well be a fate worse than death..."
Noticing Reijo's impulsive action, he called out.
"Reijo. Reijo! Leave off boy! The girl's just bound and determined to put her hand on the stove, let her do it."
No-Eyes will wave at Reijo, but not otherwise interfere with his act.
Ol' Salty casts Calm Emotions on the entire group
"Oi! This 'ere be a crew. If'n we ain't workin t'gether, we ain't workin atall!!"
Sunnny quickly grabs Reijo's arm and attempts to thwart the deed.
"HEY! We's worked out they's peoples!" Suny declares. "Ye kaint jus' go about killin' peoples ye take a dislikin' too!"
"Now.. if'n every one be tellin' me more about's these critters... Is they like them nasty fish folks? They's jus' rilly bad an' nasty. Nuffin' good ever comes about with critters like that. Be these drakes tha' same? Or is there value ta'be had in makein' 'em walk back ta' town an' havin' tha' town try an' make of 'em somat worth livin' with." She tries to explain her thinking to every one else.
Nhati sees Suny grab Reijo's hand and says, "Reijo, no! Victorra, I hear what you say, but if we don't give them a chance, why do we give anybody a chance? Are we so sure of our own moral authority to be judge and executioner? It could work!"
"Come, let's untie them. If they cause any further trouble, we will be back, and we will deal with them in a final manner. But, for now, we discover if they can be trusted, and perhaps they will learn that we can be trusted."
The drakes look on in confusion and then rage as Reijo moves to strike and is quickly interrupted by Suny and Nhati. Ol' Salty takes the opportunity to send a wave of calm washing over everyone--including the drakes. They, however, do not look amused.
"Keep your whelp leashed," the vocal one hisses through bared teeth. The draconic syllables roll off its tongue, accentuating its fury. It flexes its wings against the bonds holding it, once more thwarted by Suny's rather impressive knot-tying skills.
"Should not have trusted fleshy weaklings!" bellows the other, itself straining against the ropes. It practically rolls onto its side, struggling to gain some traction on land or air. "They mean to skin us like wood beasts!"
The sailor with murderous intent suddenly feels a wave of calm come over him with Ol' Salty's words. He relaxes his grip on his cutlass and allows Suny to grab his arm... when the other drake begins to toss around. Firmly gripping his weapon once more, he seems hesitant still to cut the drake's throat, but releases himself from a momentary trance of odd tranquility.
He gives the old magician a dirty look... mild anger in his eyes. "Ye best not try yer sorc'ry on me 'gain, lest thar be cons'kwences t'pay..."
Looking at Nhati, his angry grimace is on the sedate side for him. "Chance? They's already had thar chance. A swift death be too good fer'em, me says."
Suny pats Reijo's arm affectionately and smiles. "See? Three be o need fer useless killin' of nobody." (^_^)
Looking to Nhati she asks. "Is we gon'a let 'em back in't wild? Or is we gon'a take 'em back ta' ton?"
Again the beasts rebel against their restraints. The more vocal of the two fixes its eyes upon Nhati, though it is unclear if the act is in anger or fear. The renewed debate over their fate appears to have stirred them to greater concern... and while Suny's rope-knotting skills are impressive, it is only hemp rope holding back these massive dragonkin...
Nahti says in Draconic to the vocal one, "My whelps are restrained. You'd better restrain yours, or it will end in ignominy for you."
She steps forward and begins untying the ropes, starting with the spokesdrake. She looks to Suny for help. In Common, she says, "Back to the wild. It is their home."
Suny nods and enthusiastically begins to untie the drakes, patting and rubbing them down as she down so.
The drakes appear displeased with Suny's excited rubbing, but they endure it long enough for the elf to loosen their bonds. As soon as they could stretch their wings, they burst from within--stopping only long enough to snap their teeth at Reijo in anger.
With powerful wings beating against the wind they rocket upstream, one of them vanishing into the waterfall while the other--the vocal one--perches atop a rocky bit at the waterfall's crest. It watches the group of humanoids with a cautious eye. After a moment, two drakes burst out from behind the waterfall, their wings stretched wide and sending gleaming droplets of water scattering through the sunlight. As they arc up and away from the group, headed further southeast into the jungles of Motaku Isle, a strange serenity falls over the riverside battleground. If not for the bloodied dirt where the drakes were restrained, there would be no signs they had ever been here.
"Now that busines' is done, let's go see wha' they gathered. It's about time we got some rewards for this trip, don't 'cha think?"
Vik wades into the river, and makes her way towards the waterfall cave.
"They didn' take nothing, did they?"
Ol' Salty's spell wears off, and the old man looks quite tired.
"I'm sorry for that, all of ye, but t'is best t'act as one. We cannot afford teh work against one another. Now, let's see if'n there be any treasure for us like, eh?"
He takes two steps, and then comes upon a realization
"Ah! I almost forgot, here enjoy this."
Ol' Salty channels energy for the whole group
Suny 'Ohhs' and 'Ahhs' at the pretty display of the waterfall that the drakes perform. She nods her head in agreement with Viktorra, adding, "Well.. not lest they done swallowed some... which would slow down they's flight a tad I reckon..."
At Salty's next casting of magic she shivers and giggles as it washes over herself.. then skips over and gives him a thanking hug in gratitude before skipping off to go explore behind the water fall and looking at what things lay their in to be discovered. (^_^)
The already damp elf has few qualms about plunging through a relatively sleepy waterfall and into the cavern behind it. Viktorra follows closely behind, careful to keep her gun well away from the falls.
Although behind the falls, wisps of scattered sunlight cast a dim glow through the small cave. Even the most uneducated individual would recognize this as the lair of some beast--scattered bones from meals, makeshift nests of palm branches and the most 'comfortable' rocks, and a small pile of glittering treasure secreted away at the furthest reaches.
Atop the pile sits a pair of finely crafted axes, their hafts well-worn with signs of battle. Beside them sits a ornate bow of elven make, tightly strung even after being taken from its previous owner by the drakes. A number of loose coins are scattered across the ground before them--the source apparently a damaged coin purse tossed to the side of the chamber. After a quick count, the party is 253 gold pieces richer.
The most unique piece of treasure, though, is something you never expected to find: an ornate wooden statue carved from a solid piece of wood depicting a mighty river drake. Apparently the drakes were quite vain. It's also quite heavy (much like a real drake!).
When the drakes snap at him, Reijo bares his teeth and glares right back at them.
A simmering rage rises in the angry man after the old man's enchantment wears off and the drakes depart. His mates receive a look that could kill. But he speaks not a word along the trek through the river to the fall.
Within, he casts a cold stare around. He accepts his share of the coin, and examines the wooden artifact up close.
Nhati looks at Reijo with concern. She knows he's not happy about how things ended with the Drakes, but she hopes that he'll come around and forgive her for letting them go.
She also hopes that he isn't proven right later.
Inside the cave, she casts Detect Magic, scanning everything that the Drakes have.
Looking at the wooden drake statue:
Suny looks around at all the stuff.
"Oooo! Shiny!" (^_^)
Is the wooden thing kind of what you'd put on the front of a boat?
The wooden carving is a bit bulky, but with a few modifications it would indeed be suitable as a masthead. As a trio of curious observers look it over, searching it for imperfections and potential secrets, you value the object at roughly 600 gold pieces. A particularly interested collector might offer more--but those would be hard to find in Lilywhite. Assuming, of course, you could even lug the massive thing back to town.
The rest of the treasure proves to be somewhat disappointing, as Nhati detects nary an ounce of magic upon the items. The axes are, however, of excellent make and show no signs of degradation from their use, capture, and subsequent 'vacation' inside a damp, drake-filled cave. Additionally, the bow proves to be extremely tightly strung, suitable for use by the strongest of bowmen.