"The thing I am most worried about, my lady, is if I were to create problems for someone else." Cagrazod says, after a few moments have passed. "And once something like that happens, I'm worried I won't be able to fix it. That's my thoughts in a nutshell, my lady."

"If you're worried about my devotion to your cause, then know this: I have absolute faith in your judgment." He locks eyes with you for a moment. "And I believe in this case, what you want to do is the best option we have. Whatever comes after that, I'll deal with it as I would any other problem."

Ugon, the half-dragon son of Kresis who showed you into this place, pats you on the shoulder. "Actually, I may have a way for you to get heard in front of my father. Although, it does involve talking to a dragon. I understand you're not a great fan of them, so I won't be offended if you decline."

"Well, this could be just the sort of in you need, madam." Cagrazod says, seeming a great deal more chipper. "We can continue all of that less important jabber later." He seems noticable more relaxed, and turns away towards the now dispersing group of monitor lizards with a smile on his face. You had been in one of the pens, feeding a group of them. One in particular has taken a liking to you, though whether it was you or the food is a mystery to you for now.

He leaves you in quiet contemplation. At present, you honestly haven't had many positive interactions with dragonkind. You can think of a couple members of your group who might be better suited to the task than you:

Roster:
Tukon Reid, human duellist
Cagrazod, Marteau technologist/warrior
Marred Khess, Human Priest of Thunlin
Orpheus, Kapoacynth Spy/Shadowdancer
Ritter, Mandragon Dragonblooded Warrior
Jethar, Ripouse Artisan (And Family)
Rejek, Gnoll/Ripouse halfbreed (unknown skills)
Yumea, Ripouse Fighting Woman
Paima, Ripouse Fire Elementalist/Thief

Riposue Honor Guard: 5 
Nabur
(other names unknown)

Ripouse: 65

28 humans (3 injured)
11 gargoyles (1 injured)

Total: 119 (4 injured)

Important Possessions: Dominion's Memory
Aldinian Leather Talent

bump

"It is not all dragons I take offense to, only those whom chose the quick path to power. And even then, I am civil while circumstances allow. I take it you would have me speak to your blood father?"

I'll brb in 30, but feel free to toss other ideas around.

Finally caught this thread on a night where the board wasn't being a total cunt!

>>14873589

What this guy said.

"It is not all dragons I take offense to, only those whom chose the quick path to power. And even then, I am civil while circumstances allow. I take it you would have me speak to your blood father?" You ask him.

Ugon nods. "You are quick to catch on. As much as I do not wish to speak to that childish man, he is the easiest way to get my father's ear. As your human saying goes, the nail that sticks out is the one to be struck in. He demands enough attention that anything he asks, my father will do."

"Talk about your spoiled, uh, 125 year old kids." Tukon adds, chuckling a bit. "But I guess if my kid could spew acid I'd be more willing to listen as well."

"Maybe I could stick in an appeal as well." Karn adds, the small lizardman speaking for the first time in a while. You had almost forgotten he was there. At least, you think he was there...

"Rhyxantal is 126. And he disdains anyone thinking he is less." Ugon says, narrowing his eyes. "As I said, childish. He may also appreciate an offering."

"Lesse, black dragon, likes spicy food, pickled food, diamonds, scented wood and items that can survive being submerged." Karn rattles off.

"Wow, that's quite the bit of memorization." Paima remarks.

"Did deep cover as a kobold for a couple of months. Specific knowledge like that prevented a bad ending to the job a couple of times." Karn responds, grinning.

"If you'd like to get anything from your caravan, I can arrange for an escort out of town and back in." Ugon volunteers. "Confidential, if necessary."

bump, am back, staying for the foreseeable future.

>>14874356
>likes spicy food, pickled food, diamonds, scented wood and items that can survive being submerged

Let's check the caravan to see if we have any of these. And if so, bring it as an offering.

>>14874465

You make the quick trip back to the caravan, and look through your personal belongings. You do have some scented wood typically used for making shoes or bags in the southern city-states. It has a pleasant scent and is a light, creamy brown. You also have a bit of diamond dust that you have kept on hand just in case, roughly 250 gp's worth.

There is also Jethar if you want something custom made, though he works in accessories exclusively. Not necessarily metal, mostly bone.

Oh, and would you like to do anything else, while you're at it? You did come back with a group of four lizardman scouts, if it's of interest to you.

rebump

>>14872129
I'd post, but I'm procrastinating a term paper right now. To make up for it, a bump!

>>14874539

Acquire wood, and visit Jethar, see if he could make anything that a dragon might like out of bone.

Bring our healer with us to have him set up in town while we're here. As dangerous a place as this is, I bet they could use him.

See if Jethar has any wood pieces with images of dragons.

>>14874740

You take the wood and head over to Jethar, who is busily carving away at a small circular piece of bone.

"Jethar, I need a favor." You say as you come in.

"Yeah?" He responds, looking up at you for a moment before he puts down his current piece of work.

"I need some kind of ornamentation a dragon might like. Bone, woood, whichever." You say to him.

"And if wood, some of that nice smelling stuff you have in your pocket." He says, stroking his chin. "Mmm, I could do a horn ring. Best to have the subject there for that, from what I understand. Maybe-"

"Something a bit safer?" You interject.

"Yeah, like a ring piercing or something." He says, looking off at a number of the bones he has nearby. You can tell he is already imagining the possibilities. "How long you got?"

"Preferably as soon as possible." You say.

"Well, I'll see what I can whip up in a day or so?" The ripouse shrugs.

"Ah, that long, huh?" You say, hoping he can get it done more quickly.

"Hey, if I'm making a nice set, I'll need time to work on each piece. How big is he?" Jethar asks.

"He's an adult, probably a bit bigger than a horse, should get much larger over time." You explain.

"Huh, that's a lot more surface than I normally get to work with. OK, this should be fun. I'll have the daughter bring 'em to you when they're done." Jethar says, his eagerness seeping through into his voice.

Now, better question, do you stay here or go back into the town?

>>14874778

"If you have any wood with images of dragons, we could use those too." You offer.

Jethar shrugs. "Well, I typically went with imagery from before I started to lose my vision. I hadn't seen a dragon, but I made a few crappy ones 'cause they sell well. Son told me what the yellow he saw once looked like. Apparently they were good enough, but giving something like that to the real deal..."

"Don't think he'd like it?" You say.

"Well, call me old-fashioned, but dragons are stereotypically vain, and if that's true in this case I don't think he'd want pictures of the competition for affection lying around." He says. "Aside from that, they're bracelets. Maybe he could use them as rings when he's big enough."

"Food for thought then. I'll check back later." You say.

Jethar nods, looking up at you for a short instant before reaching into his crate of bones, looking for a suitable starting point.

You head over to the medical tent, finding Marred Khess, an older fellow with a slender, wrinkled face and short, curly white hair and a pair of small glasses resting on his nose. He looks over at you, nodding as you enter. "Good to see you, Melane. I believe someone left me a message for you, but it's been a hectic couple of days." He grimaces with a finger to his brow. "This brain used to be able to remember the names of a hundred patients, nowadays I'm lucky to remember fifty. Let alone trying to pronounce the ripouses' names."

"I think you're doing fine, Khess." You say, putting a hand on his shoulder. "But, if you have a problem with pronouncing the ripouse's names, I don't think you'll like what I'm about to ask you to do."

"I'd like you to set up shop in the village temporarily. As a token of good will. Considering the area, expect broken bones and cases of poisoning."

>>14875140

"I'd like you to set up shop in the village temporarily. As a token of good will. Considering the area, expect broken bones and cases of poisoning." You elaborate.

"Alright," He sighs. "Just don't expect me to pronounce any of their names correctly." He sighs. "I still remember living up near the swamps. Parents told us of days when the lizardmen numbered in the thousands. They were the Eastern theater troops, you know. My great grandfather could name every variety. He was convinced they'd attack us again. Got himself some dragon's blood after having my grandmother so he'd be around to take out his number, 'just in case' they decided to attack later on in life."

"Glad to hear it. Have your stuff ready for the move by tomorrow. We'll be heading back there then."

"Glad to hear it. Have your stuff ready for the move by tomorrow. We'll be heading back there then." You say. He nods, and puts a few open books away immediately.

"Personally, I always figured the old man was losing it." Khess looks over to a small medical journal he's kept throughout the years. "Nowadays I guess I can sympathize. 'Cept I don't have a family to worry about aside from this lot.

"So don't take my thoughts for granted: We and the lizards have a lot of bad blood between us. I'm sure they haven't forgotten about it one bit. If you feel even a hair out of place, err on the side of caution." He says, pressing a small vial into your hand, filled with a whitish powder.

"What is this?" You ask him, a bit surprised.

"My great grandfather called it 'cold blood sleepin' tea'. Less colloquially, it's a blood thinner that works much better on reptiles called Alnemera. Most effective if you put in in their water, apparently. Can work inhaled as well. Shouldn't kill any of them unless they're allergic to some of the local poisonous plants." He says.

"Should you be giving this to me?" You ask him, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I'm a doctor? I shouldn't be handing out what amounts to a powerful anesthetic, no. But, according to what my grandpa said, it should put down anything with cold blood running through its veins for a few days." Khess puts his hand on your shoulder, squeezing lightly. "I'm giving it to you because I'm growing paranoid in my old age, and it's something I'd wish I had given you if something-"

"I don't think Kresis would do anything like that." You say, a bit surprised at the normally quiet old man.

"But you don't know him well enough! He could be planning anything!" Khess' voice raises a bit. "I'm not saying you have to use it. Please, just keep it with you." He says, seeming just a little bit sad.

Hmmm. This gives me an idea. A dirty, filthy, sneaky idea. We could have someone sneak this shit into the drinking supply of the tribe with the hydras to make them easy targets. Sweep the tribe clean leaving only the hydras to deal with, assuming it hasn't drank the water. Assuming Kresis likes this plan, afterall.

>>14875512
I think I'd need someone else to agree with me, though.

Also, I'm totally about to crash early. Sorry, OP.

>>14875512

You set the vial down on your dresser that night, looking at it for a few scant moments as you remember the sad look in Khess' eyes. Your last thoughts as you drift off into unconsciousness is a half-serious berating that you're too soft with the old folks. Really have to stop letting them push you around like that...

(Disregard that if you have more you want to do the same day)

The following day, you awaken bright and chipper. You might be in a bit of trouble for running out on the place you were sleeping, but your mind is already filling with excuses you can feed Kresis or the guards.

Your small party consists of
Tukon
Paima
Cagrazod
Karn

Do you want to take anyone else with you as you head back, or leave anyone behind?

Ah well, my only reader for now is gone. I'll archive this and bump it in one fell swoop.