<span style="font-style: italic">And now, we come to one of the many little twists I like to put on 4E gameplay: From time to time, NPCs can use social skills against the PCs in 'negotiation' skill challenges. Whereas a victory for the PCs will result in the NPC doing what they wish, if the PCs lose, they will only be afflicted by a minor penalty should they chose to violently resist.<br/><br/>For simplicity's sake, all powers and effects are 'on pause'. Those who are shifting will remain so, but won't regenerate any until/if combat recommences.<br/><br/>Your options are as follows: You can make diplomacy and/or intimidate checks against Goldie's Will defense. (Some NPCs you meet will be susceptible to one and resistant to the other, but Goldie can be swayed by either. Also note that in the future, I might keep this fact a secret.) Five successes worth of diplomacy or intimidate checks will convince Goldie either to leave you alone or to deal with you on a more equal footing.<br/><br/>Alternatively, three bluff-check successes against DC 16 (diplomacy can also be used for 'bluff' attempts, at a -2 penalty) will convince Goldie that you mean to be her new servants and don't intend to betray her (which you presumably do, unless you want to spend the rest of the campaign doing an obnoxious elemental's bidding).<br/><br/>OR, if you want to go a different route, you could try to convince Yula to side with you and take down the elemental, by the same system, if you think Goldie is a bigger threat. Getting Yula to side with you would require four successful social rolls of any type (bluff, intimidate, diplomacy) against her will def.</span><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"A Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Yula's people had you painted as a mere elemental, to be bound into service like an exotic pet."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>"Ha! I know, right? How to set them free is the last thing you should learn about an imprisoned spirit, not the first! This is, like, the third time I've been cast into the dreamless slumber of centuries, and every time, there's someone new around to let me out! It never works out well for them."<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"It is a delight to see a Genasi before me instead. My name is Saraphina, and my two associates are Salana and Marrok."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>"Lara... Larafina? No, I don't like it." Goldie waves her hand dismissively. "From now on, your name is just 'Fina'. Nice to meet you, Alaina and Mattock."<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"I find it odd that such barbaric people would seek to enlist the aid of one so civil as you. And though I would not want to sound ungrateful for such a generous offer, it is kind of important that we know what it is that we are signing up for, otherwise you end up with those annoying 'changes of heart' among your followers."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Goldie smiles and giggles musically. "Well, I'm afraid you've failed at not sounding ungrateful, sweetie! There's no way any of you could possibly hope to stand up to me, you're pretty much at my mercy. I'm<span style="font-style: italic">really</span>hungry after all those years bound by runes and enchanted into endless slumber. My body needs metal, but I could do with something a little more filling too. Quite possibly several somethings. What you're signing up for is whatever I say it is."<br/><br/>She throws her head back and poses with her arms behind her back, leaning forward slightly. "Hee hee! Don't worry, I don't take any offense. I'm sure you poor mortals are terrified. I treat all of my mortal pets very kindly."<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"And though I do not wish to bore you with our affairs, I think it worth saying that we were asked to stop the predations of the gullet. Their attacks have stopped all trade in this region, and among other factors, threaten to bring about a collapse of civilization in the local area."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>"What? This frightened little puppy's gang of loser friends?" Goldie casts the kneeling Yula a contemptuous glance. "Assuming they can 'collapse the civilization in the local area', which I doubt, I don't intend to bother hunting them down unless they interfere with my rise to power. Is the city of Saramati still around? I think I'll take that over, first. How many troops do you have? No, don't answer that, it doesn't matter. However many it is isn't enough, I'll need to raise more. I'll start with Korun the sorcerer, absorb his forces, that will be a start. I wonder if that old gold mine is still around here? Hmm..."<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"Speaking of which, what did you hope to accomplish with all this?" Saraphina displays an innocent smile if only to prod Yula a little more.</div></blockquote><br/><br/>All of the savage priestess's ardor is gone now. Her eyes are wavering and tearing up, and her arms are limp at her sides as she kneels upon the ground helplessly. "Hope..." She swallows heavily. "I hoped that these lands could be free. Free from the choking influence of greedy liars and swindlers, free from the nobility of Saramati who make the people here into beaten-down cowards who toil away, living long and miserable lives for the benefit of another! I... I know that some of the Silver Gullet are just gluttonous thugs and fools, but I think Rella understands."<br/><br/>Her ears droop heavily, but there is still a tremor of conviction in her voice. "We eat when we are hungry and take what we need to survive, yes, but among us, there is no deception! There are no debts, or landlords, or prisons!"<br/><br/>She glances at Goldie. "I thought the noble elementals were high-minded and enlightened. But this... this<span style="font-style: italic">creature</span>is the most contemptibly greedy, ambitious, arrogant being I have ever met, and I say this having known her for less than an hour! I thought there was some good in you, genasi, but you are as worthless as these cheap thugs!"