J'lact of Nirik-Tohr converses

[DM Bob]

Enemy's Slumber, 4th of Dominary - Mid Day

Current Locations: Kreen Empire, Nirik

It was relatively fresh in the party's collective head that they had been instructed to seek out larger towns and make contact with the J'ez. But at no point was the Emperor mentioned to be contacted specifically. And this is even more important to the tone that J'lact replied before and currently holds in his tone as he replies once more.

"I stress that meeting the Emperor would likely be the End. Of. Your. Hunt."

"Tying your clutch to ours or another stronger clutch? That might soften such a response."

After hearing you mention the possibility of a mobat in the area, he looks intrigued.

"This is not a common hunt, or common thing for the night flyers to do. Rest on the ground? During the day? The wee ones," He motions to Eslyk - implying halflings, "generally do not use them as mounts or pets. And the cold bloods ride other beasts of their blood. I will send some of our clutch to investigate."

[Attilius]

The half giant nods "Understood J'lact. Then perhaps YOU would like to have our Emperor's gift of friendship and life extension?" Asks HurK via translation

[DM Bob]

"Life extension? What do you exactly mean by this? I'm afraid that I did not understand, earlier. We, *I*, just think that you need to learn more of the tohr before you make decisions that could hurt you and your own. I must say that I've been too curious myself. Keep your mounts here, you may tie them to those trees and let us have more of this meeting away from the eyes and ears of the others."

He motions for you to follow him into the larger dome to his right.

[Attilius]

HurK nods and follows his instructions then follows him to the dome...

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Keeping in mind the first reactions between the speaker and Chat'cho in the first encounter, Eslyk tries to assess if the reaction of his antennae are similar in some kind of pattern following also how his head moves, taking in consideration how a humanoid head and arms should react to someone revealing something interesting.
Looking forward to learn from body language if not from vocal one

[OOC: Not sure if I have to roll Animal Lore and/or Observation - or none - to match the thoughts about other species to the patterns seen now]

[Niachi]

Niachi motions to Chat'cho to huddle close to their animals, almost whispering to avoid hearing by J'lact:

"By now, they can see that I am translating. Would my addressing our host directly be unwise? I would  only give my name and role as a hunter and speak of my current -temporary- ability as a communicator with his people, if only to add to our diplomatic strengths. Communication without error many be of the essence. I defer to your understanding, of course."

He makes sure the erdu carrying most of his weapons is closest to the large dome of their private meeting. 

[DM Bob]

The room steps down about 2-3 feet, sloping down. From inside you can see sandy earth being held in eternal stasis by the amber colored secretions of the z'ock'n. Thinner areas seem to let in more light and the chamber glows softly from above. It is noticeably cooler here, much like a root cellar. Clay urns, with pictographs similar to J'lact's markings ordain these vessels.

A stone table or block, cylinder shaped, sits to the right of the room.

Oddly enough, the J'ez Tohr-Kreen shuffles about the pottery and produces a full set of quartz-like cup ware.

He pours a bit of something into each and gestures to drink. A look of bliss briefly crosses his visage, as he sips & speaks.

"You have much to learn. As do I. I feel I must be honest, as granting you hospitality might even harm me and my clutch. Not everyone agrees with the G'lathuk's current expansionist views. Least of all myself. While my position is not enough to challenge the Haazi (tohr word for emperor), other J'ez might be able to do so."

"Challenges are an important part of our culture here. Do you know anything of them?"

[Deleted]

[Tohr'Kreen] "Nothing, sir, nothing."

She bows her head humbly.

[Tohr'Kreen] "Forgive me, but your language was quite difficult to learn alone."

[Attilius]

The half giant makes sure to duck his head so as not to smash his noggin or shoulders upon the inside amber dome. Once sitting he accepts the drink and drinks with his host… After finishing the liquid

“Our thanks for the hospitality thus far J'lact. My apologies but is this G'lathuk the name of the Haazi?

As to challenges, life is a challenge everyday, but no, I do not know anything of the Tohr challenges you speak of."

He pauses a moment

"To better explain the gift of longevity and a longer life we wish to give you and your clutch…

[HurK puts his cup down in the sand and points to it]

"You are born… a tiny Tohr."

[he then drags the cup 1 foot acorss in the sand making a shallow 12” path. He points to the path as he slowly drags the cup]

"Your life, your experiences, your learned knowledge."

[he then stops the cup and let’s go, gently putting it on it's side, pointing to it]

"The end of your life, action and consciousness: Death"

[he then picks up the cup and repeats the process several inches below the first line but stops about three quarters through]

"The gift we offer, EXENDS your life, EXTENDS your actions and thoughts…"

[he continues to drag the cup to double the line's length (24") in the sand below the first one]

"Understand J'lact?" He asks patiently 

[Deleted]

Chat'cho briefly turns to watch Hurk's display. As it goes on, she shifts her weight and grows more and more uneasy as she observes. Sizzling with frustration at what she sees as an overly patronizing display from someone that the Tohr'Kreen are already predisposed against, the druid sees this action as highly likely to invoke the wrath of the party's benefactor. For now, however, she refrains from acting, but ensures she makes no sign of support or association toward Hurk. She hopes her earlier pleas for patience and mercy will do something to avoid this situation from descending into open hostility.

[Tohr'Kreen] "You treat him as if he is a child. I will not stand for this folly."

[AthasianLaborer]

Ande rouses enough to notice that she's been left alone with the mounts and pings Quila "I've no patience for interiors at the moment, I will 'sleep' here upon the inix and keep an eye on our stuff"  She rustles some but does her level best to remain awake while pretending to be asleep after the all-nighter and brief nap.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Eslyk looks the display without understand if HurK is unbalanced or if it's a display of power not to be subjugated, but she doesn't say a word, she just drink from the cup and the liquid poured in as Chat'cho speaks

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila followed J'lact and Chat'cho on their heels, keeping Niachi close for translating help.
The minute Quila notices the conversation picks up again, and the kreen seems to be divulging information or anything indicating position or values (OOC: basically the moment this thread started), she activates Truthear.)
Quila enters the domed structure and helps herself to a drink and sits down for the conversation that follows, intent on all participants for now.

(OOC: this makes Quila able to tell whether others intentionally lie. Mind you, area of effect is hearing, so this makes her able to see whether anyone she can hear believes they are lying. So PCs that intentionally lie while this power is active can send me a PM lol.)
(OOC: Truthear activates, due to the high adjusted power scores, I have a power score result on 17-20. I rolled a 20. This even means that I recognize falsehoods even when the speaker themselves aren't aware they are lying. PSP: 4 init, 2/rd upkeep.)

[Niachi]

Niachi takes the offered beverage and sips. If it's not completely intolerable, he sips as their host does, encouraging the others if there's any hesitation.

He observes the room while translating HurK's interactions, wondering:


Is there any other exit?

Is the stone block adorned or marked in any way?

Does the drink remind him of anything?



As the big psiologist finishes, he notes the absence of reactions from Chat'cho. He clears his throat for attention and motions to HurK to pause. His words and inflections are precise to their host:



"Strong hunter J'lact, please allow my interruption to begin fresh with introductions. This large one is named HurK, or Xh'rk in closer approximation to the Thri Kreen tongue which I can speak; Our Small One is Eslyk, or Zh'lk; the tall female is Quila, or Khh'lh, The sturdy human is Coden, or Kh't'hz, The aarakocra outside is Ande, or Hxhh'te, our communer with nature is the wise and humble Chat'cho, and I am Niachi, or Hhy'hchi.



"We thank you for the refreshment and private dialogue. We mean no disrespect in any spoken or nonverbal signals. We each bring different strengths to function as an agile pack together.



Xh'rk understands your great intellect and rank. He only tries to describe the gift our Emperor offers the J'ez people to broach alliance and trade among our tribes: the means to extend your shorter lifespans with enchanted fruits. This is a treasured and rare opportunity! If this is the most sacred and secure shelter you offer, we have one such fruit sapling to present for your divinations. With your wise earth and water-speakers, you may have means to grow this as a crop. Or this may be the trade item we can supply. We understand your dilemma to expand or face starvation. We would invite you, or who would be the wisest emissaries, to meet with our council in our city and form details of whatever alliance we can share with the J'ez.

In urgency, the dead lands to the south present a mutual threat. Our alliance is crucial in this matter.



As for Challenges, each of us have abilities to supplement your scouting, identification, interrogation, and/or eradication of these mobat riders."

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Eslyk gets closer to HurK and taps in his ankle and with serious grumpy and full of curiosity face - "Is everything okay? I don't have any ailments if you have tummy ache but you are a big boy. Talk to me and leave them to discuss" - offering a small hand to reassure him and a big smile, without grumpiness at all