Chris: OK, it sounds like they might go for the proposal that Caernak makes.
John: You have very good luck; I rolled ANOTHER 10 (too bad wasn't using blue as high). With roleplaying bonuses, that is easily a special Orate (and another check). Your mission is a raving success. They agree to all of the following with modifications listed below:
Chris: "I bring you an opponent for War to prevent Ruin... but I propose that the war be less bloody and more stylistic. Rather than fighting to the death on increasingly bitter and bloody raids and counterraids, combat between the Five Eyes and Ronegarth should be made more ritualistic and personal. Raids would continue, of course; neither side wants them to stop - they are wellmatched opponents, and each benefits from the experience of combat, and there is enmity between the two that can't be just washed away - but both suffer from the constant" strife.
John: [Minor note, Raus does seem to want the raids to stop but doesn't see an easy out; Daine is more warlike and Raus likely listens to him on this issue because he sees no better solution]
Chris: But in exchange for respecting the Five Eyes sacred precincts, if he gets to limit their raids to "designated danger zones" he'll be OK with continued limited raiding?
John: You think so but need to check with Raus when you return and hash out the final details with him.
Chris: "By counting coup, stealing symbolic items, and engaging in duels rather than merely slaughtering each others' warriors and non-combatants, the Five Eyes can have their war (with a more satisfying opponent than those weak Newtlings upriver) and Raus's men can hone their battle skills, without crippling both sides."
John: This is fine with the 5 eyes and BVoN offers to act as an intermediary who helps design and referee these "contests." The 5 eyes resist any plan that is structured or scheduled rigidly; what they agree to is focusing attacks on combatants. Men in armor and armed newtlings will be considered fair game at any time, but counting coup will be the normal procedure rather than drowning. A little sniping, a little symbolic theft and daring chases, and some outright duels (the 5 eyes aren't too keen on this part; dueling is not their way but some might try it) are all good options.
Chris: No rigidity implied. Tactics will be ritualized; strategy - where you hit and when - will be their decision. "Dueling" is suggested as a way to limit combat - it need not be one on one, but should be there to provide an outlet for those who don't find coup counting satisfactory.
John: They seem opposed to, or not planning to use, ritualization or similar formalities, but it's not as much an inflexible point, maybe there's hope.
Chris: "Each year, a feast will be held for both communities to honor the group that earned the most honor in the previous year."
John: The 5 eyes do not accept the feast idea. They have no desire to honor Raus. This is a sticking point that you sense is inflexible even with an 01 Orate roll. What they agree to is having a neutral party, or maybe 1 judge from each side and one impartial party from the River/Pavis, decide on who "wins" the year, at the end of Storm Season. The judges will announce their decision separately in a visit to each side on the last day of Storm Season. The 5 eyes might agree to some restrained social interaction with Raus's newtlings and Mru, but not the men of Raus or any other men.
Chris: That should work. The feast idea is kind of secondary. How about a trophy? Perhaps even something magical that both would find useful. It could be a combined effort - the "trophy" would be one specified item from each side, the winners retaining the use of both for a year.
John: They are interested in the trophy idea; obviously something battle or water-related would be of interest to both sides.
The intermediary judge needn't be permanently positioned downriver; he/she/it could just come down at the end of the year and hold a meeting with the judges. BVoN is suggested as the 5 eyes judge. You think Daryli Godspeaker the priest would make a fine judge for Raus's side. Caernak, Arcus (less preferrably; the 5 eyes are still suspicious of his Sun Dome ties although they respect him), or someone else could be the river intermediary. Each side should have the right to oppose any proposal for a judge that they do not find acceptable for some reason.
Chris: Caernak suggests that Daryli be Raus's judge, with "a representative of the River" (probably Mr. C) as third member. Rather than a feast, it could be a moot (or allthing, or whatever) where representatives of each side present their case for the year's honors. Best would be each side making the case for the other winning...
John: The 5 Eyes newtlings do not know Daryli but they might consider approving him as rep. They'd clearly love to have you as river rep. Getting both groups together for a moot/feast sounds like a bad idea in the present political climate and tension, but getting the reps together for a mini-moot or two would work.
Whitetail wishes to add the stipulation that neither side may set foot on the shore of the other's lands without permission. This applies to a restricted area around the newtling village and Raus fort, and the Five Eyes Rise immediate area. Contests should only be conducted in between and around these central zones. You sense the tension in his voice on this issue, and have heard stories of how Raus's men led a brutal assault into some forbidden parts of this land earlier this year. BVoN adds that they will agree to not using mercenaries of any kind or other intermediaries to help them in their contests -- e.g., no hiring tusk riders or other uncouth things for the 5 eyes, and no hiring nomads or Sun Domers for Raus. The fight should be restricted to between 5 Eyes' and Raus's domains.
Chris: Carnak will work on it. Likely this will be acceptible to Raus if he can mark off forbidden areas as well. The no-mercenary rule is a good idea and Caernak thinks Raus will go for it.
John: Good, they are quite pleased.
Chris: "The true enemy here is Chaos. The fight with Raus is helpful as long as it does not weaken the Five Eyes in the fight with Chaos. "
John: On this point you get the strongest agreement, and it wins huge points for you.
Chris: "Aside from this (hopefully extremely reasonable and acceptible) even trade - you keep fighting each other but stop crippling each other." Caernak has several other bargaining chips. He will get Raus to pledge not to eat tail (um, possibly unless it's paid for. I'm not sure how they'd feel about purchasing tails and regrowing them, or other non-slaughtering methods of getting tails)(and of course this may not be possible - how likely does Caernak think this is?)."
John: It's not a huge issue for Raus given that he uses newtlings and his people would rarely eat them, but it looks good and Raus would agree to it. And it is well received here at Five Eyes as a respectful, if token, gesture.
Chris: "Newtlings who wish to train with the River Voices are welcome - more than that sought after - they can train and fight for a time with the River Voices, and return to share their newfound skills with the rest of the Five Eyes (likely, the first thing trained will be stats - Con and Dex). Should they need assistance, Caernak and his band will be available to help them - though Caernak doubts that so fierce a people will require much aid from humans, and of course this is already true, sort of."
John: There is some interest expressed by BVoN; he has had this idea for a long time. Most newtlings will be resistant to the idea, but the few odd noncomformist ones that have a "wanderlust" would be good candidates and would get them out of the way so they don't cause trouble at home. So they agree to this but reply that no humans are welcome to train here at Five Eyes, in fact they wish to maintain (and publicize) that the pier at 5 Eyes is the only place that humans (of any kind) are allowed to set foot, and then only with permission. You River Voices are an exception; they may allow you to go further sometimes (like now) with permission.
Chris: Excellent! That can be arranged (the pier thing). No reciprocity required in this, just an opportunity to send some of their troublemakers away to return stronger and wiser.
John: Then they will send "volunteers" (conscripts? exiles?) to you/the RVs once per season on the Zola Fel HD once the deal is settled.
p> You arrange for symbols to be devised that allow important travelers, emissaries, etc. to pass through the "no-man's land" between 5 eyes and Raus's domains unharmed. BVoN says that if Raus's men come bearing these symbols, they will not be harmed. The signals do not apply to other beings, only Raus's and 5 Eyes' peoples. Whitetail explains that other non-Raus passersby heading through their realm are still open to attack if the 5 Eyes wish it. It is their right. Again, another inflexible point. There is an undercurrent here that you're not sure about; he drops some hints that he still holds a special grudge against all Lunars and Sun Domers.Chris: The only thing Caernak would add (if necessary) is that "ritual warriors" - those conforming to the deal - should be marked out as such, with unmarked warriors falling outside of the arrangement. This is only needed as a safety valve - if they're down with the whole limited damage thing, they may not feel the need.
John: They agree.
Chris: "That may not be enough - I can go into more detail if you wish, but I think that covers everything. Compliments on their fierce nature and past help, lots of focus on Chaos including the Festering Isle as insuring continued conflict for the Newtlings. Benefits of playing nice. Zola Fel's blessings. Lots of carrot, not much stick. "
John: This is enough detail for now. We should wrap this up soon and flesh it out as need arises.
Chris: Caernak will also spend much time talking to Ruupak as well; this big magic lizard impresses him, and probably posesses vast wisdom that Caernak can benefit from - and dealing with the slowness is good for Mr. C's patience :). He's pretty sure Brighteye would want him to do just that.
John: Ruupak is very friendly in an odd way, lacking much emotion but still being rather talkative if you stick around long enough to hear him finish a sentence (about 1 second in between words on average!). He is a wise old magisaur (duckbilled dinosaur, river creature/corrupted dragonewt) who is well liked along the river and has always lived here. Simple creature that just likes to worship the river, brand himself with magical tattoos, and have long chats while he sits on the riverbank in the sun and munches on plants. Steeped in wisdom on mythical aspects of River Lore and Zola Fel lore. Doesn't know much else. But if you ever had a question about the mythology of Zola Fel, this is probably one of the world's experts. (Zola Fel lore 150% or so! River Lore 120% roughly!) Sadly, training with him is an exhaustive exercise (takes 10x as long as regular training). He mostly trains very young initiates.
At the end of your stay, before you return to Raus to finish the deal, the newtlings hold a more private and subdued feast with you and BVoN and a few non-warrior newtlings, who are eager to speak with you. They hold you in high regard and kiss your palms, lavish you with river blessings, etc. Very kind newtlings. They ask about other newtlings you have known such as Blu, P'lish, Che'en, etc. None have ever travelled far from this land so they are just eager to chat and learn what the bigger world that the warrior 5 eyes see is like. It seems that they don't hear much from the warriors and are thirsty to learn more.
Chris: Caernak will regale them with tales of poor P'lish and his heroic end, Blu's whacky antics, and the noble Che'en and Sa'ar. He'll throw in some of the exploits of the Five as well. If they're interested in something that invovled no Newtlings, the Blue Moon expedition, with its odd setting and wierd aquatic foreigners, should go over well - high adventure, and a boat, but NO WATER! Whatever did you do, River Voice?
John: Ouch! 98 on the Orate, but with roleplaying bonuses it's not a fumble. although close. Your delivery is overzealous and confuses them with its human-mindset themes, reinforcing their conviction that you humans don't understand newtlings. They aren't bored and still give you much respect, but are quiet and frightened about the outside world now.
BVoN presents Caernak and Arcus with gifts from the 5 Eyes newtlings in honor of their help and respect. He says these are trophies taken from raids, and asks you not to ask more about them, but don't worry that they will be recognized by someone. With the presentation of each item a newtling speaks a blessing to you.
Caernak gets a bracelet made of bronze with a silver band in the middle, bearing the runes of Spirit and Storm. Inside is a spell spirit named Veil of Solace, INT 5 POW 10, which is relatively unintelligent and cannot speak, but will cast its single spell when the wearer rubs the bracelet (takes DEX SR); the spell is Protection 5 and it casts it with a 95% chance. Unfortunately it does not work in the water; it only works when it is exposed to air (very likely an Orlanthi item). Takes the user's DEX SR to command it, then 6 SR more for the spirit to cast it. The magic manifests as a sparkling rain of silver flecks that silently sprays from the band to surround you in a cloak of dancing glitter. Nice! "Wear this on your new Right Hand of Vengeance; when you seek vengeance it will block the wrath of your foes."
Arcus gets some very fancy leather leggings made from the hides of many sea beasts stitched together. Obviously not made here; an exotic item from afar (perhaps the southern continent, by way of traders at Corlfu?). The leggings are 7pt armor for medium size and only weigh 2 ENC total, on land or in water (i.e., not 5x ENC in water; just 1x). "May this armor protect you so you may travel to far away lands in safety on land or water."
The newtlings also bless Rup and Ssrussut, but bring no specific gifts; they see them as your servants and you are expected to gift them if you wish.
[These gifts may implant the idea into your heads that the 5 Eyes have many such treasures from centuries of raids... They aren't poor!]
Dave: At then end, upon being presented the armor leggings (sans Aluminum), Arcus gives his thanks for the gift, and says the following:
"My people in Sun County are stiff-necked and parochial minded, unable to see beyond the boundaries of their territories. Would that I could create a peace between you and the Sun Dome, so that we all could direct our energies against Chaos. Long have I tried to convince them of the errors of their ways, in the eating of newtling tails and their friction with you their neighbors; for the most part my words have fallen on deaf ears and my standing among them has diminished in part because of my efforts. Yet I remain convinced that you are a great people and will lead in the fight against Chaos.
I thank you for your gift, the armor will allow me to kill that many more broo and krarshti. Now I will not lose another leg soon."
John: Another 10 on Orate, geez you guys should have me roll all Orate rolls! :)
The newtlings are extremely impressed and say that they did not know that there were wise and kind folk in your land, but now they know that there is at least one. They tell your story to all the other newtlings who will listen, and by the time you depart you are no longer referred to as (a) Tail-Eater, but rather Honored River Voice Arcus, or more informally some call you The Gentle Sun.
One final thing to add, in private conversation with Arcus, BVoN, and Whitetail, the shaman reveals that he has heard of your band's exploits into the Puzzle Canal, and that the newtling Blu, formerly of this place, has gone with you. Whitetail thinks this would be a good place for 5 eyes newtlings to stay in when they come up north on visits, and his people would like to help the river make it a safe place. Therefore Whitetail has sent aid there which will help you in the canal. He doesn't clarify what that aid is and is rather obvious that he intends to be mysterious about it; some 5 Eyes secret cult mojo working?
[P.S. In talking with the 5 eyes warriors, it seems that they have entirely forgotten (or forgiven?) about Blu and their earlier vendetta against him. Some of them that saw him at Wyrmsjaw recently have taken to calling him pet names like Turtle-breath or Mudshark-Poo and making jokes at his expense.]