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0640da.jpg
Mystic Twilight Flitter
0640da
rolled 10, 9, 1, 5, 1, 10, 1, 5, 9, 5, 9, 4, 7, 3, 2, 8, 1, 3, 7, 1, 5, 2, 9, 1, 3, 9, 1, 10, 1, 10, 2, 2, 9, 9, 4, 4, 10, 3, 1, 6, 4, 10, 6, 6, 3, 1, 7, 9, 5, 8, 5, 1, 1, 1, 2, 7, 5, 3, 7, 6 = 299
>>982602
>>982604
Sending your troops to patrol the perimeter is easy-- you'll know if someone is attempting to get in or out, as your hastily arranged (and perhaps deceived) scouts work their magic. I'll let you know if there's any intrusion or escape attempt.
Your athletics attempt succeeds, although by the skin of your teeth-- not very much success, and your side stings a little. Could have angled that graceful dive a little more... gracefully, or at least not stuck your leg out in the wrong way when you hit the water. You're not drowning, if that's any consolation prize, but that doesn't make your side sting less. Your peronelle would thank you not to let that happen again; thankfully, only one mechanically augmented dragon king, your solar mate and a few summoned demons saw the actual moment of impact. You might want to get a trip to the Rani day-spa to forget all about this embarrassing incident.
As for the mosok who snags her grimscythe, there is a brief flash of struggle before the flash dies out. She is, at least on the surface, 'obedient' in Doom's arms, although she felt for a moment something stroke her mind. Blood dribbles down the side of her jaw-- perhaps Doom is being a little rough handling her?
Cipactli casually waves and a water elemental shows its face to help organize the signing. "Thank you for arriving so quickly to help us, children of the Sun." He speaks in perfect Old Realm-- not a hint of fluctuation or accent, pronouncing words as a dictionary might suggest. Cipactli is a tall, religious man-- a large, feathered headdress, the jaws of a proud golden-and-black-scaled crocodile, and a prominent golden tooth. "I suppose I should also welcome a child of our former rulers. Your aid is appreciated... even if the relationship between our peoples is strained." He eyes Doom extra long, before deciding he values his life more than his old grudges.
Cipactli continues his monologue-- it's not exactly a surprise round of social combat, since you were all anticipating it, but he doesn't give much chance for others to speak. Something about his voice is authoritative and strong-- if it weren't for the fact he was clearly artifact free, save for that wooden, knobbly feathered staff he wielded, you might even think he was commanding you directly.
"Long has she sought to enter our borders, and today's incursion will not stop at this one. I know not of your circumstances, but if it would be possible, I'd like to invite you into my home, to have a discussion about the future of our people. If the Unconquered Sun would grant me a lifeboat, I would be a fool to refuse..." He points his staff at Cleaving, who snarls in rebuttal. "Candied words from one black as the moontide, you know for what reason we come. Trust not that which shines golden. Surface deep, skin thinner." Well, the use of a charm didn't make her words less understandable.
Alright, here's your chance to really win him over. As it stands, he's offered a simple proposal-- he wants to gain the protection of your circle to deal with the Abyssals plaguing his village. He doesn't outright admit why it is he needs the protection, and neither does Cleaving-- but both clearly know what the other is talking about.
Securing her in the aforementioned described facility, she spits on the paper to sign it, cackling all the way as she freely gives away the rights to the island. In her own words, "You free me of hindrances, and gratefulness cannot be expressed, for you sign your own death, and that brings great pain... to you." Despite threatening you at several occasions, she seems to be playing all bluster, no blight. She is willing to negotiate a 10 year long period where she will not 'do harm to the community'. More than willing, in fact, and she repeatedly asks in increasingly obsessive tones if she should be allowed 'a bit of meat and murder'. Psychopath.
Cipactli seems to have moved the negotiation venues nearby to her cell, because clearly she's involved, and his attendants-- flanked by a small array of heketa are already setting the stage. He's preparing a traditional feast, to reward his warriors for their efforts as well, and briefly mourn the fallen before they make their way to be born once again.
"I apologize for not letting you all near our eggs-- for the time being, we should refrain from intermingling in my wife's affairs." He sets the staff down, next to him. "I am afraid of the blackened child putting some sort of curse or disease on us..." With a glance at the cage, Cleaving smiles back, wide and toothy, before making a throat cutting motion and flashing 10 with her fingers-- or however long you negotiated her to, although she'll easily kill herself if you get too harsh-- at most, you can negotiate 2 decades, or she starts screaming and apologizing to the Neverborn in, unfortunately, understandable black profanities. The other artifacts you tried to disarm from her body turned out to be attached to her spine and other parts of her body, literally fused to her flesh. Removing the chain-kamas without a lot of time and surgery would kill her, so she's been chained up by her own artifact and hung from the ceiling for now. More precautions may be wise.
"She can handle herself. Do you want to mingle a little longer and get to know each other, or can we skip to business? What do you need from us, for your protection?" Cipactli tries to dive into the meat of the issue, and cut out the pleasantries and bullshit he doesn't have time for, right now.
Suuzen and Doom sit right next to the head of the negotiation table, followed by Baldy on Suuzen's left and John on Doom's right, although place settings are malleable. There's a few other minor figures in this discussion, but they're probably just here to observe.
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By this point, >>982629
A dragon-king woman has managed to embroil herself in interesting conversation with Maharani. She's fairly certain, by this point, the aid that Maharani is trying to offer is genuine, and she wants to learn a little bit more about this individual before signing away their progeny to an unknown force. She reveals herself-- openly-- as Broodsister River, one of the assistants to a woman named Broodmother Calli. She claims-- well, and who is there to dispute-- that the broodmother is with Cipactli, their powerful leader. In light of that, she's been tasked with watching the children until the battle is truly said and done.
"Are you used to raising children? The craftsmanship on your vessel seems perfectly tailored to carrying eggs... the Sun knows if we had such technology, it would make raising children quite simple." She smiles at the demonic infernal, letting her carry the conversation for a while. She'd like to do a Read Motive on Maharani-- any defenses?
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Everyone's healing thanks to your medical staff. Any details I missed?
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