>>6014166>>6014338>>6014363>>6013808>>6014018“I didn’t come here with any ulterior motive,” you insist, a little defensively. “This entire account is… it’s a total misrepresentation.”
“Is it?”
The Neme elder does not speak it like an accusation, yet still it burns like one. You adjust your hat and hold your tongue, taking a moment to cool your temper before you say something you’ll regret. Costella and Izirina look to you, the former in empathy for your plight, the latter in plain confusion as to how to proceed. You signal to Izirina to dismiss her elementals, and after a moment she does they crumble and scatter, the non-native earth fading away from whence it came without its animating extraplanar energies. The great, mosaic-tiled box which they hefted drops heavy upon the earth with a thump to make one jump; still, it remains intact.
“It doesn’t matter if you gift us anything in exchange,” you answer the assembled sand-elf elders, “ and if you choose to do so, it will not be because of blackmail, or coercion. We don’t take or trade in lives. I REMAIN a Disciple of the True Fey—of the Gods of Freedom.”
The elders regard the box warily and you with even greater care.
“We will help you, if you will have us… And ask nothing in return, but safe lodging and sustenance while we remain here, as your humble guests and servants.”
[Sociability check. DC would normally be 10 to win them over to a 'friendly disposition'; bringing Khankhe and the Elemental fey home is a -2 DC, the rumours flying about are a +5, the ignoring and disrespecting their culture is a +1, but gifting the box without preconditions is a -1. If you get a 14, they will be open to letting you stay; with a 17, they will be amenable to sharing their secrets.]
