They ride undisturbed, and when they begin to change direction to encircle the other lookout from the west, they spot a figure in the distance atop a horse, riding the dirt trail that links the lookout points, ambling slowly toward the outpost where they left the colonel earlier today.
I guide Fluffy over to the trail, in plain sight of the approaching figure. "Hi!" I call out. "My friend and I would like to ask you some questions, if we may?"
"Ambush? Apparate? What the Hells are you talk...hey, wait! Oh, for the..."This is not going to go well. "What's wrong with talking to the guy, you moron?" I mutter darkly. "Ah, sod it."I guide Fluffy over to the trail, in plain sight of the approaching figure. "Hi!" I call out. "My friend and I would like to ask you some questions, if we may?"[Diplomacy: 18 + 8 = 26]
Can still get off an incapacitating shot from here. I don't think he realizes I'm be ... HELLSssssss ...*grinding teeth**cough* "I ... we need to ... name ... ra ... er, No ..." I dart a look at Mari. [Diplomacy: 18+3 = 21] "HiCanwepleasegetyournamewhereyoucamefromwhatyouweredoingthereandwhatyouknowofanyothergroupsoftravelersthatmayhavecomethroughtheoutpostandheadedtowardsthemountainsinthelastthreemonths?"I remember to breath.*mental facepalm*I return to glaring at Mari.
"Relax, buddy," I say, smiling at him. "We're on the same side. General Dull...er, Dulinch sent us."
I pull off my leather helm cap and shake my pink hair free, "Hey. We're not here to hurt you. We can be friends, right?" I try to smile not menacingly awkwardly.[Diplomacy 12+3 = 15]
This is working?"I'm Pepper, Kellark. What's a big, strong soldier like you doing out here all by himself, hmm?"Is this how I stand to look alluring?[Diplomacy 12+3 = 15]
"I think what my friend is trying to say is that she'd like to know how often you're away on your own," I tell the dwarf. "She travels a lot. And she gets lonely, you see? Or do I need to draw you a diagram?"[Bluff: 20 + 15 = 35]
"Oh, that's no fun," I reply sympathetically. "You must get really bored, staying in one place all the time. Never meeting anyone new. Lucky we ran into each other, eh? Still, I'll bet you see lots of interesting people when you do get out and about. That's what Pepper loves about travel, you know. Meeting people, swapping stories, getting to know them..."[Bluff: 15 + 15 = 30]