Cool and/or Explanatory Names Are Overrated - In Character

[drack]

"Why do you get to make up both what you call us and what we call you?" Hellen asks, pointing out how clearly one sided the statement was. So your name is monster then? I'm Hellen.

[rweird]

"I tell you what you've called us, and what we call you, as you pretend not to know. You choose to call us monsters. I don't know what you call yourselves. Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs, apparently." He seems to ignore the second part of the question.

[Archmage1]

Reeling from the impact, Aeris gets up, and staggers off a bit, leaning heavily on the tree, before drawing his longbow.

[Tjallen]

"I personally like invaders, we should keep that as a name 'Sperr the invader'. Besides who cares about WHAT race of you invaded and ruined yet another part of untouched nature? It's not like it matters. Besides he is in a cult judging from the mark on this forehead."

[drack]

"I personally like invaders, we should keep that as a name 'Sperr the invader'. Besides who cares about WHAT race of you invaded and ruined yet another part of untouched nature? It's not like it matters. Besides he is in a cult judging from the mark on this forehead."

"Yeah, I suppose so. Guess it's just business." Hellen agrees somewhat reluctantly.

[ben-zayb]

"But what do you call yourselves? And what's wrong with being called a monster? Some people call me like that, out of awe and fear, and that's good!"

Magnus grows impatient with each wasted second, but tries to compose himself and sound polite to get the information that he needs.

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The heck, maybe knowledge checks will work to identify him after all.. Whichever works:
Arcana: (1d20+5)[24]
Religion: (1d20+5)[24]
History: (1d20+5)[20]
the Planes: (1d20+5)[19]

[rweird]

"We call ourselves 'people.'" It speaks the last word as if it expects you not to know it. "We do not know what monster means, we don't know what is wrong with it."

Magnus:

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Historically, in many societies, warriors were distinguished by their weapons, and the loss of one's weapon was considered to be like losing part of oneself. This string might represent the bond between warrior and weapon, and/or serve to keep it close.

The mark is very well a status symbol, showing that he could survive such a thing being torn into his forehead, and possibly distinguish his role or family within whatever society he comes from.

You guess he is a humanoid or, perhaps a monstrous humanoid, from his appearance, and how these things are common in humanoid/monstrous humanoid societies.

[Tjallen]

"This is almost priceless. So being the third side of this conflict I vote we recruit this guy and have him show us to the lighthouse and in return we help them wipe out the other invaders before leaving, I want that title just for us."

Looking around at the group Sperr adds:
"Also I am just about out of spells."

[drack]

"Why are we trying to kill anything? We came here to explore the magic of the lighthouse shouldn't that be enough?"
She did have problems of her own after all, and the sooner they finished with this the sooner they could... or might this be able to help... "On second thought, if we help you flush out these 'invaders', then would you be making us all the richer for it?"

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That's what we're missing, someone to demand money from the one side for killing the other!

[rweird]

He looks around confusedly. "How can you back up your claim? What makes you invaders unlike other invaders?"

[drack]

Hellen shrugs. "How can you back up your claim that you aren't they either? You're alive and we're talking, isn't that enough?"

[rweird]

He looks even more confused by Helen's continued speech, not seeming to understand its rhetorical nature. "If we were invaders, we wouldn't be fighting ourselves. I am alive, two of my kinsmen are dead. You are talking to me, and about me, determining how you'll use me. You have weapons ready. What makes this different that an attempt at sabotage?"

[Tjallen]

"That it's directed at the 'invaders'? Hell, we might go to them with the exact same offer if you manage to annoy our leader too much." Sperr motions towards Aeris. "Hell, if not for him you would be as dead as your monster friends."

[rweird]

"This is-" He stops himself and thinks for a moment. "Very well then, you will wipe out the invaders if we do… what exactly?"

[Tjallen]

"I think you misheard, I said we would HELP you wipe out the invaders, after all fighting from ambush seems to be our strong point and not yours. And this all hinges on Aeris agreeing. And whatever terms the rest of the group sees fit to place." Sperr is wearing the same amused smile he wore most of the evening before.

Spoiler: Sense motive!

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Sense motive to see if he plans on actually going to make a deal with us.
(1d20+6)[26]

[rweird]

"Help us how?"

Sperr:

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You don't think he trusts you, but is willing to make a deal, assuming it is a good one. He is wary of you, and not sure whether he should trust you to keep your end.

Switching those skills next IG day is fine.

[Tjallen]

"Well leading us to where ever they are at night and making sure we are allowed to do what we do. Slitting throats and calling animals in would be what we do. Your job would depend on how well you see in the dark, picking out targets who are using torches is pretty easy after all. And chasing a druid through a forest is not something easily done."

[rweird]

"So we show you where they are, and you'll attack them?"

[Tjallen]

"In a way that makes sure we are not the target of their counter attack hopefully. And you and your people will be there making sure we all get out of it alive on the off chance someone is less stealthy than we thought. But of course we will need more information on how they live, burning down their houses will be hard if they live in caves for example. And if it turns out they are dwarves or orcs we might have to ambush them just after sunrise instead of in the middle of the night. After all defending against a small group willing to target support structures is harder than actually fighting the group. But yes kinda."

[rweird]

"How does your 'leader' feel about this, and what do you want in return?"

[drack]

Hellen shakes her head, confused. "We have no real leader. Why are you telling the people man that we do? Trust is built on truth, everyone knows this, so let us share it freely in the hopes that we can all avoid being eaten my a giant centipede together." Hellen shivers at the thought.

[Tjallen]

"Our leader is Aeris over there and since Hellen seem to think otherwise, there is a chance she will be going towards the lighthouse, probably through your territory, by her lonesome. But as for what we want it's quite simple actually: We want to go to the lighthouse, big tower or something that emits light. So if you could lead us there without murdering us that would be great."

[drack]

Hellen, rather offended, turns to the small man. "If you wish to enslave yourself to another then that is your own business, but you should not think to speak fro a group in such an instance, else that would make you an oppressive and stifling little man. Something I would never to presume until it is proven."

[Archmage1]

Listening in on all of this, Aeris looks to the others, seeing which way the wind was blowing.
"If we manage to ge rid of the invaders, are you willing to guide us to the lighthouse, and tell us of your history, your traditions? Nothing secret, but such things are interesting."

[Tjallen]

Sperr just waves at her dismissively: "I really don't see how you earned the rights to be heard, after all you didn't do much did you? Hell, Sper and Rocinante are more deserving at this point. So before you continue yapping, consider how to make yourself useful."

[rweird]

"I would be willing to do so, if you don't murder any more of us, and the murderer makes restitution."

[Tjallen]

"What do you mean with 'Restitution'"

[drack]

Sperr just waves at her dismissively: "I really don't see how you earned the rights to be heard, after all you didn't do much did you? Hell, Sper and Rocinante are more deserving at this point. So before you continue yapping, consider how to make yourself useful."

Agreeing Hellen replies "I'm not sure why he should think he'd be head either, but that's no reason to put the man down. Apologize."

"I would be willing to do so, if you don't murder any more of us, and the murderer makes restitution."

Hellen grimaces. She may not have entered this with the intent to take anything away from it, but she had merchants blood and could feel when an opportunity was there to be had. Towering over the man she added And these reparations. I think we'd also like something of value for our efforts as well. Naturally if some people are in it purely for the knowledge they seek they may choose to forgo such a reward, but for the rest of us, exterminating a whole peoples is a dangerous business and one best compensated well, especially when commissioned by another such peoples.

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Whichever Cha based scocial skill check fits best. (1d20+4)[11]

[rweird]

"That, you would have to discuss with the families of those you slew. If you cannot come to an agreement, your life would be forfeit." Turning to Helen, his eyes narrow, and for a moment he tenses. Then he relaxes. "It already appears you aren't part of this deal, as you don't follow the others leader, and the deal is with him. We won't promise you payment, but you can take whatever you find on the invaders. If you don't want a part in this, leave, and have no part in this."

[Tjallen]

"And suddenly I don't really care much for your people. I am not sure I can think of a single reason for me to stand trial for defending myself in a lethal way."