<strong>The Wilds of Dra Sirdu - Confrontation and Caution</strong><br/><br/>"I am glad that we understand one-another, Aeryn," she said, head momentarily inclined towards the scholar in a nod. If anything, Aeryn's acknowledgement of her own shortcomings seemed to have taken the great, feathered lizard by surprise. Where before the group had been beheld with open amusement,<em>Cautious Regard</em>took its place. "You are both better informed and humbler than I anticipated. But as I said, this accomplishment, if it is even possible, would be a requirement for diplomacy, not an assurance of its success. Though you wear the same skins, you are not of the broken people who styled themselves lords of this place. Even if I ought to fear this Dominion of yours, I would spend my life, the lives of my children and subjects, and every other life at my disposal to deny you their secrets. Some things are better left hidden and cast down."<br/><br/>"I will offer you what little I know of how the island's curse, though I offer no promise that it will act against you in this fashion. It steadily erodes the mind and also, often enough, turns wildlife against foreigners. I have seen docile beasts turn against foreign guests and savage them without provocation. For this reason, I do not blame you for whatever it was that you slew. Likewise, the youths that died are Kelcis's and their own responsibilities, not yours. They chose to raise their claws against you, as I hear it.<br/><br/>"The trespassing and theft from Kelcis's gardens are of a little more concern, but I am sure that we will come to a reasonable agreement for the settling of that debt. But, out of generosity to the condemned, I will speak no more of it until one cycle of the moon hence. I assume that your Dominion has enough knowledge of the sky to measure such things?" Again, Rhiss tilted her head forward, this time inquisitively.<br/><br/>She looked about to say something more, but Eshalu and Reliyian instead filled the gap in the conversation. She simply settled back onto her haunches a bit, bringing the heigh gap between her and the three women from ridiculous to merely large. "You speak very well," she said, after a fruitful pause. "Well, daughter of the moon, while I am impressed that you noticed their presence, you need not worry overly much about my guard. They are more suited to fending off a Hashul war-host than dealing with three small females. But I am not the eldest of my kind because of my carelessness." Her eyes rested on the wood elf for a few moments longer, but ultimately, she discarded whatever she had been mulling over.<br/><br/>Now it was Reliyian's turn to receive the matriarch's full attention. "Our protection, such as I understand it, is innate. I will say no more of it." A blatant admission of omission, but Rhiss would, no doubt, be difficult to shift. She probably hadn't gotten old by easily changing her mind based on the whims of foreign nobodies, either. "The task we have sought to unravel, but have failed to address for those long years has been the removal of the curse. We may be immune from its direct effects, but our neighbors are enough to wish it gone. I can offer you no real assistance beyond a belief - not a certainty - that its source, or perhaps center, is somewhere on the eastern side of the island."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Intense Debating Action!</div><div class="spoiler_body">Rhissa's Rapport roll, directed at the group, but primarily targeting Reliyian: At 2013-05-05 20:48:22, Rhiss (uid: 13420) rolls: 4d3a-4 Result: 5 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=46163). <br/><br/>Rhissa's defensive Will roll against Aeryn's Rapport (from earlier). At 2013-05-05 21:01:16, Rhiss (uid: 13420) rolls: 4d3a-4 Result: 3 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=46164)<br/><br/>Rhissa's defensive Will roll against Reliyian's Rapport: At 2013-05-05 20:44:06, Rhiss (uid: 13420) rolls: 4d3a-4 Result: 3 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=46162). Produces <em>Fleeting Recognition</em> boost in Reliyian's favor.<br/><br/>I'm thinking that the contest ends when one side scores a cumulative ten successes, as social conflict is a little less-well covered than physical conflict (and the only mental stress skill, Intimidate/Provoke isn't being used here). Aeryn's currently scored three for the group, though both sides are sitting on a boost, now (<em>Fleeting Recognition</em> for the group and <em>Cautious Regard</em> for Rhiss). Said matriarch also now has an extra Fate Point.</div></div>