The Great Druid Hunt (Jaela)

[Anastasia]

'This way," Maple says, "There's a ladder over here." Sure enough there's a support tree nearby with a ladder up it.

[Corwin]

"Nice!" Jaela lets Mirima go first, and intends to climb up after her.

[Anastasia]

The party climbs up. Soon enough you come up into the light and sunshine. Here is a city of dirt, wood and metal, all woven amid the trees. Sunshine and sunlight beams down from above, ever so bright and clear. The canopy provides just a bit of shade, cool spots mostly over houses. People in simple, homespun clothes are all about, toiling away at the day's labors.

[Corwin]

Jaela switches out to Brokion, looking expectantly at Maple. "Any insights to share before we meet the locals?"

[Anastasia]

"Be forthright," Maple says, before putting his fingers into his mouth and whistling loudly. This draws a crowd of people on over, looking over the two guests and murmuring amid themselves. As they do, "Everyone!" Maple shouts, "These are the guests that we were told about and they have a message and offer for us!"

[Corwin]

It goes without saying that you don't recruit loyal soldiers by lying to them. But how to tailor an offer right off the bat, without any information about them....

"Hey there!" she greets those gathered with a happy wave, deciding to stay casual. "Sorry about the form I'm wearing, but I don't travel to a Prime as myself anymore. You probably knew that already if you heard one of Aurora's generals was going to be stopping by, though?"

It's not a question, and Jaela doesn't wait for someone in the crowd to answer it. "Like I was telling Maple here while we traveled, the Aurora is the home base of our Crusade. Our goals are nothing less than spreading freedom across the planes. We fight the devils --fiends -- as we had ever since they conquered our home of Lifasa, and we stand against slavery and restrictions of free will. The heavens support our Crusade, their denizens making up a large part of our armies as one might expect from a Crusade, but our forces are the most varied across the planes. Elementals have joined our cause. Dragons fly under our banner. The fey hold court at Aurora, and their warriors shine brightly in our midst. Constructs and slaad fight shoulder to shoulder with mortals, covering for each other's weaknesses and becoming the other's strength."

Jaela pauses. "My friend Antenora has told me that brave warriors and mages are here, waiting for a worthy cause to join. Whether you choose to do so or not, there is none worthier amidst the planes! The devils must be stopped-- no, more than that, they must be driven back! Lifasa will be freed, and other worlds they have encroached upon will follow. They might be endless and powerful, but nothing less would teach these fiends that their powers have limits! That in a decent universe, their likes are not allowed to flourish!"

[Anastasia]

Make a diplo check, +5 circumstance bonus for mentioning Antenora, since they owe her a favor.

[Corwin]

<Tohsaka>
roll 1d20+55+5 (+2 if elves)

<Kobot>
Tohsaka rolled 1d20+55+5 (+2 if elves) --> [ 1d20=16 ]{76}

[Anastasia]

Your speech draws them in, words powerful and alluring many. As you go on, more and more listen intently, hanging on your every word as you gesture or speak. At the end, applause and cheers explode out, drowning out everything else.

[Corwin]

Jaela cheers herself, grinning at Mirima.

[Anastasia]

"I think we have them," Mirima tosses her hair, "What do you think?"

[Corwin]

Jaela nods her agreement, waiting to see if there would be any questions or introductions!

[Anastasia]

"We want to join. How do we?" Is the sort of question you get. Rather rapidly by the druids of Aeryholm, dozens of them stirred by your speech.

[Corwin]

"Great!" Jaela tells the volunteers. "Glad to hear it! Joining up with the Aurora is pretty simple. I'll open a Gate right here to the Plane of Water where we're currently based, Mirima here will go through and alert our patrols and defenses, and then all of you that want to join the Crusade just follow her! Even though it's Water, just take a deep breath and you'll be fine on the other end, inertia will handle that."

[Anastasia]

Thus the portal is opened. You see them go through - dozens of them, going into Water and into Aurora. Maple lingers behind, "My lady," he murmurs, "How...where did you learn to speak like that? Your words were not that of a human or elf."