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An (armed) delegation of hobgoblins forms and approaches Craddok's group, like a small, if battered, army on the march. Perhaps they are.
"I am Commander Gushek," the hobgoblin in the lead says. Tall for a hobgoblin, taller than most human men, his authoritative voice and hard eyes make it easy to see why he serves Bane. "I represent the 12th Legion of Goblin-King Greyav's Glorious Army. We will parley."
If you don't consider this a retcon, one of the Astral Reticulum will acompany Craddock's delegation, for a psychic communication channel back to the main force.
Craddock swallows nervously as he addresses the impressively tall hobgoblin. "Commander Gushek," he began, "I represent a coalition known as Aeternum Servans. We do battle with the Spider Queen, enemy of all. It is our intent to pass this way, seeking allies to strengthen our armies." Confronted with the military precision of Bane's army, Craddock finds himself stumbling through the introductions.
Though the shardmind standing the background of the delegation, the many sense the psychic energies swirling around this imposing figure. They attempt to determine his intentions. Is he speaking the truth? Is he surprised to see Aeternum Servans here? Is he holding something back or just stalling?
The hobgoblin's expression does not change at all. He seems... unimpressed.
"If you battle Lolth, then we are allies already. Don't need a treaty for that. What brings your coalition here?"
The shardmind standing in the back communicates to all present.
"We search for those who have yet to pick a side, for if you do not actively fight the spider, then she spins her web around you and feast on you at her pleasure. Are your kind actively fighting the spider? Or is this one of her webs?"
Assuming he denies the implication
"Then we are kindred and you have no reason to interfere with our search."
Wow, I've completely forgotten what I was planning to do here. Yeah, make a skill check, Alkey. Diplomacy or Intimidate it looks like, though you could be Bluffing if that was your intention.
"Who's interfering with you?" the Commander snarls, not taking his eyes off Craddock. "Your golem seems to have forgotten that you came to us. Now, I'm going to suggest you turn around. There's a nasty fight going on not far from here, 'tween snakes and dragons, that you don't want any part of. It'll be over in a few days, and soon there'll be nothing but Yuan-ti and slaves for leagues."
"Your posture implied you were baring passage through this pass. We were mistaken. We will march onward leaving you to fight the spiders in whatever way you see fit.
Do either the snakes or the dragons fight for the web spinners?"
"The dragons are just defending themselves--stupid, but expected. The Zehir's snakes want their resources and the lake they're sitting on; we think it connects to another lake in the heart of Drow territory. Securing that route would open up another front where the Drow least expect one."
"Then we are presented with an opportunity. We attack the Yuan-ti where they are blind to it. Grind them against these dragons. Then exact a price of passage from the dragons to strike a mortal blow to the spiders!"
The facets of the shardmind reflect the lights in an almost vibrating way. Those observing it might say it was excited, or epileptic.
How far can we trust a demonic army? This guy seems pratical enough, but we don't know his goals.
Craddock wipes the sweat from his brow. "This was our intent, favored of Bane. We wished to marshal additional allies against the Spider Queen and had hoped to persuade the dragons that it was in their interest to fight Lloth's army. Would Bane's chosen consent to allow us to engage the Zehirites toward this purpose?"
The hobgoblin looks... confused.
"You realize that Zehir is one of the biggest supporters of the war against Lolth, right? This is a big collection of his forces we're talking about; wiping them out could hurt us all in the long run. If you can convince the dragons to fight the Spider Queen, it might make up the difference, but the god of murder will still want your blood." The Captain sighs. "Look, our orders require we cross this river. Let us through your magic gate and we'll get out of your way."
"Would these dragons abandon thier lake if given the oppertunity?
Perhaps we could convince the slitherers to stay the murder until we can make a united attack against the spiders. Spiders are easier to enslave than dragons."
Can I take 10 on whatever for common knowledge on who has taken a side in the battle and who is on the sidelines?
Oh hey, we're back. And missing a post, apparently.
Astral Reticulum
If it's a divine power, it's sided against Lolth. The sole exception is Vecna, whose worshipers in the Shadowdark keep to themselves as much as possible. Of the gods, the Fey gods, (Avandra, Corellon,) the gods of Civilization, (Asmodeus, Bane, and Erathis,) and Lolth's fellow god of Darkness (Zehir) have all poured disproportionate amounts of resources into defeating the Spider Queen.
Many surface nations have chosen not to take a side. The Archfey of the Feywild send heroes and champions to fight Lolth below the earth, but otherwise offer little support. Most of their rivals in the Feydark have done less.
Most unaligned Underdark communities (such as the dragons) have tried to stay out of the war. Generally isolationist and paranoid, wartime has only made these traits harder to overcome. Many have been enslaved, absorbed, or conquered by one side or the other.
Craddock listens for a moment to nobody visible. His eyes lose focus as he concentrates on the unseen speaker, and he winces slightly. The put-upon mage clears his throat. "Honored of Bane, you are welcome to use our arcane gate. Thank you for the information."
Craddock looks at the nearby crystal constructs for approval, realizes how ridiculous that seems, and runs a hand through his hair nervously. "I suppose we should, ah, prepare a missive for the forces of Zehir and the dragons. Perhaps we should move the armies through the gate and then approach the battlefield?"
Mareka looks over from his troop of warforged, noticing that there's no need for battle preparations and rides out towards the gathered leaders, circling around restlessly as he tries to figure out what he should be doing.
"A missive! That's a start. Reptiles running about fighting bigger reptiles when there's drow wandering about. It ain't right. There's got to be a rule or something... The enemy has no friends of my enemy or uhh... People with big stone houses shouldn't make glass? Bah. Just make sure you put something in there about stopping being stupid"
Posts
"I am Commander Gushek," the hobgoblin in the lead says. Tall for a hobgoblin, taller than most human men, his authoritative voice and hard eyes make it easy to see why he serves Bane. "I represent the 12th Legion of Goblin-King Greyav's Glorious Army. We will parley."
Someone else history check Greyav
Diplomacy: 1d20+11=14, ouch!
Insight to Aid Diplomacy: 1d20+17 31
"If you battle Lolth, then we are allies already. Don't need a treaty for that. What brings your coalition here?"
"We search for those who have yet to pick a side, for if you do not actively fight the spider, then she spins her web around you and feast on you at her pleasure. Are your kind actively fighting the spider? Or is this one of her webs?"
Assuming he denies the implication
"Then we are kindred and you have no reason to interfere with our search."
Do I need to make a roll for any of this?
Not sure if the previous Aid helps me at all, since I did it.
Diplomacy with hobgoblin general: 1d20+5 24
Do either the snakes or the dragons fight for the web spinners?"
The facets of the shardmind reflect the lights in an almost vibrating way. Those observing it might say it was excited, or epileptic.
How far can we trust a demonic army? This guy seems pratical enough, but we don't know his goals.
"You realize that Zehir is one of the biggest supporters of the war against Lolth, right? This is a big collection of his forces we're talking about; wiping them out could hurt us all in the long run. If you can convince the dragons to fight the Spider Queen, it might make up the difference, but the god of murder will still want your blood." The Captain sighs. "Look, our orders require we cross this river. Let us through your magic gate and we'll get out of your way."
Perhaps we could convince the slitherers to stay the murder until we can make a united attack against the spiders. Spiders are easier to enslave than dragons."
Can I take 10 on whatever for common knowledge on who has taken a side in the battle and who is on the sidelines?
Astral Reticulum
Many surface nations have chosen not to take a side. The Archfey of the Feywild send heroes and champions to fight Lolth below the earth, but otherwise offer little support. Most of their rivals in the Feydark have done less.
Most unaligned Underdark communities (such as the dragons) have tried to stay out of the war. Generally isolationist and paranoid, wartime has only made these traits harder to overcome. Many have been enslaved, absorbed, or conquered by one side or the other.
Craddock looks at the nearby crystal constructs for approval, realizes how ridiculous that seems, and runs a hand through his hair nervously. "I suppose we should, ah, prepare a missive for the forces of Zehir and the dragons. Perhaps we should move the armies through the gate and then approach the battlefield?"
"A missive! That's a start. Reptiles running about fighting bigger reptiles when there's drow wandering about. It ain't right. There's got to be a rule or something... The enemy has no friends of my enemy or uhh... People with big stone houses shouldn't make glass? Bah. Just make sure you put something in there about stopping being stupid"
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