PlanetADnD.com

Liri touches her left fist (with the darts in it) to her chest and gives a quick bow, her right arm with the sword hanging by her side.

"Greetings, Sir. I hope someone of our group speaks a language you understand."

She says that sentence first in Lingua, then in Elven.

"I know 'beer' and 'food' in dwarven, not much use here." Angel mutters, she does however follow Liri's lead, copying the Dwarfs actions.

"We don't want to hurt you." She says in merc talk, simple language made for any race, as she lowers her bow, "The Wagon?" She points to it, "The Wagon is important to you? We are looking for answers." She glances at Fraso, although he probably isn't where she expects him to be.

"Bastian my friend, perhaps you could help?" She asks, looking directly at the Priest.

Stik wrote:[OOC] Was waiting for Ruff to respond about the oranges. Can't wait any longer. [/OOC]

ooc: Oops - sorry. I was waiting for new posts too. Missed Jenara's post.

Kutz says nothing, merely watches the surrounding woods.

@Stik - you got response 100% correct.

[OOC] Waiting for Ish now.
And I'll probably be without internet access for the next two days.[/OOC]

((Oops! Sorry for my absence, guys. RL has been a bit hectic and on top of that my internet was out for a few days.))

Bastian replaces his flail with his staff and slowly strides forward, standing between the caravan and the dwarf. He repeats the dwarfs chest thump and adds a slight bow at the end in an attempt at courtesy. He holds the dwarf's gaze for a moment or two and finally asks, "Lingua"?

Conversation may be tricky, but the dwarf's appearance is intriguing. Especially the tattoos. Without turning his head, he asks over his shoulder, "Are we sure that we want to allow him in?"

"Do we have a choice?" Angel asks, looking straight at Fraso if she can find him.

"I don't think we have any other option, Sir." She frowns, giving the group a shrug.

Fraso, after Angel is able to find him by looking for someone else, does not respond. His face is white as a sheet, and his eyes are wide with fear. He has dropped his wine cup and has his back pressed against the wagon.

The dwarf's eyes narrow as he looks at Bastian and he again points to the wagon, but this time after pointing he turns his hand over, palm up, fingers spread open, and as he draws it back he closes his hand into a fist. The meaning of the gesture is clear: give that to me.
After the gesture he lets out a short, sharp whistle, and the sounds of movement in the woods resume. A large group of man-sized figures, barely visible in the sparse light, spreads out in a broad front among the trees, with a few much larger figures behind them. The newcomers stop just inside the treeline and stand waiting.

Dwarf repeats his "gimme" gesture and waits for a response.

"I do not object to the body being given to them" Liri says in Lingua, loud enough for everyone to hear. "All I want is answers, and if I can get them by following this group, it is fine with me."

Bastian makes his best effort to remove all expression from his face as he watches the dwarf. Carefully and wit great care he nods once slowly, extends one hand palm down and bobs it slowly up and down in a placating manner. Still without turning his head, he says the the group "Everyone stay calm and do not move, but be ready. When I raise my staff, I want any and all archers to fire upon the dwarf. Then be ready to get rushed."

With equally expressionless face and voice, Liri asks: "Are you sure about that? His claim to the body might be as good or even better than ours. Is it right to kill him if he wants it?"

Angel was in two minds, part of her didn't know quite what the creature was, what it wanted, yet the other clearly saw the fear on Fraso's face, he needed protecting, that was her job.

"I trust you know what you are doing Master Priest." Had Bastian given her any reason not to? Ok there was the incident with the Bard.. Blushing she shakes her head, no that was because she drunk too much of that.. What was it again?

Looking down at the four arrows in front of her, she figured she could get off two at the dwarf and another two before they were overwhelmed.

"Ok, Salia, stay behind me, Hiric cover Fraso. Do what the man says.." She glances quickly at Liri, "I am sorry, I have to guard my employer, he's scared, he doesn't get scared without reason."

Maybe he wants one of my oranges, says Kutz has he flips one out of some black bag ... it lands on the ground and kutz flip kicks it in the Dwarf's direction, rolling on the ground and coming to rest just a few short feet in front of him. While the orange is rolling, Kutz has quickly resumed his 'bow with arrow ready to fly' posture.

Liri is so deep in thought that she startles a little when Kutz's orange rolls past her. She tenses up, her darts ready. But what good would their arrows and darts be against so many foes?

Angel turns her head a fraction, seeing Liri's face she shifts her bow, tapping the Elf lightly with her hand.

"I trust him, he seems has done well so far." Returning her bow to its readied position she adds. "When this is done, for good or ill, we need to talk." She adds then waits for Bastian.

"Master Dwarf, for better or worse, you are going to get what you wish!" Bastian gives a big smile and a slight bow to the dwarf. He calmly turns as if leading the dwarf back to the wagon. He raises his staff and gestures, as if he is beckoning him to follow. Bastian's companions can see the expression on his face, though, and it clearly says NOW!

As the arrows fly, Bastian ducks and runs back to the non-combatants, shielding them with his own body in case of return fire.