Serpent's Skull: City of Seven Spears [IC]

[BuckGodot]

Book explains to Amivor what they are trying to accomplish following up with Xhanfaerds suggestion. "I'm really unsure of the best way to proceed. We need a way to demonstrate to the Simians that we don't wish to harm them but that we are not to be trifled with... If you have a suggestion, I would appreciate it."

[lostsole31]

Amivor nods. "That isn't something you can do with diplomacy. That is intimidation - the art of power projection. That is the next step, and if you can't cow them, be ready for a fight with a flying force that shoots from altitude. Or, leave them alone for now and concentrate elsewhere."

[BuckGodot]

Book nods and replies, "I think perhaps we should circle back to them and perhaps during our other pursuits we will gain a trophy worth showing our strength." He looks at the others and asks, "Are we in agreement on that?"

[lostsole31]

Amivor will let the group continue to give their thoughts on Book's idea but says, "The next problem area is the undead in the water-filled sunken tower."

[silphael]

Xhanfaerd nods.

"That's what I was suggesting, yes. Still, we should list what we have that could work underwater. Sadly, I only have 2 options, and both only apply to myself. If we had some scrolls of more appropriate spells I could learn them, but right now we're too far away from any place where we could find it. Maybe the other expeditions could have some ? But that would mean warning them of our plans in some ways."

[lostsole31]

Amivor takes this in and says, "No, with the dwarf cleric's death, if you don't feel comfortable against a combined underwater and undead assault. There is another option, one I don't like because that means we haven't pacified our backyard, but also keeps us/you from a form of action paralysis....... ignore these and the idea of pacifying the mercantile district, and start exploring the rest of Saventh-Yhi, instead."

[BuckGodot]

"Truth be told, I'm more in favour of that idea. You brought me in for my skills as an architect and researcher, not to be a combatant." Book replies. He looks around the group before asking, "Who agrees this should be our course of action? Perhaps during that time, we may encounter someone who can help us against the water ghost, or find some way to pacify the simians..."

[silphael]

Not having realized this was a possibility, Xhanfaerd shrugs.

"Yes, of course we should go that way. That sounds better. It seems like we are far enough from both the undeads and the simians to not have them try to attack our base, so we should be fine, at least for a while."

[lostsole31]

Amivor laughs heartily after Book's first sentence, but then listens to the rest. "You were chosen, Doctor Booker, because - where everyone here is some level of researcher - you are a very capable swordsman and shooter. All of you, even those that weren't part of the vanguard originally ... such as yourself, Sersheelda ... have proven again and again that if anyone is a highly skilled combatant, or at the very least capable of a strong offering in combat, then it would be you. All of these Pathfinders you see here? Sure, they earned their stripes as Pathfinders, having gone through the three years at the Grand Lodge of study and training, including at least baseline combat.

"But rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, you most definitely are combatants.

"Yet, this doesn't mean that you send yourselves headlong into fights you don't think you can win. At this time, it seems that discretion and your current group's combination of skills means that you are better off avoiding the kech - that's the flying simians, by the way - and the spooky undead water tower."

"Book, take a looks at previously explored areas, and let me know where you want your group to pick up next."