Prologue: The Jolly Wanderer

Melianne lights the torches and twirls them into her hands. She begins to turn while doing so.
As she turns faster and faster it looks as if a whirlwind of elemental fire is turning in the midst of the frog people.
She throws one torch high up into the air, catches it with the other torch as it falls down again, throws both of them up again and juggles them.
The frog people watch in awe and this is enough distraction for Annika to slip away. She ducks away behind one of the huts and manages to get away from the crowd. She is standing in the middle of the village and can faintly hear the rushing sound of Melianne's torches as she throws them into the air again.

How does Annika want to proceed?

While Annika is searching the village and the frog people are watching Melianne, Kruux calls out *Croax* You clearly are a master of fire. What else can you master? *Croax*?

Annika tries to figure out which buildings might serve as a jail - sturdy construction, bars on windows, guards, and so on - large enough to hold the remaining members of the expedition. The unfamiliar architecture is confusing, and she realises she has no idea where to start.

Instead, she resorts to simply going from one hut to the next, checking for any obvious signs of captives.

Shedinn see Anika ease her way into the compound, thanks to the delightful distraction cause by Melianne,

Melianne doesn't answer until she finishes her current trick, catches the torches safely in her hands and gives herself a moment to even out her breath. After which, she turns to Kruux with a cocky smile. "Why, o' respectable herald, is my performance boring you? Would you see me juggling rocks or commanding air instead?" She laughs teasingly, and twirls one of the torches. "I'm afraid fire is the only primal force for this bird; and I'd rather be an ace of one suit than a jack of every. But you got me curious now, dear Kruux! Your people must be the masters of water, are they not?"

Her eyes light up with mischief, and she looks up at the frog "emporer". "Perhaps some of your own talents would like to join my dance, Your Excellence? I am sure that we can learn from each other, and practice is the best teacher!" She tilts her head. "You yourself must be quite a dancer, I bet!"

At the conclusion of the performance, Rhys is momentarily stunned and he doesn't notice that his breath has stilled. The raucous croaking of the frog people's adulation for the dancer eventually restores his wits in full, puncturing his hypnotic-like state - for which he internally chides himself for getting caught up in the debacle.

Rhys becomes intensely aware of his surroundings, and of the reason they came to this so-called empire in the first place. Seizing the opportunity, he strides over to Phann and then tightly grabs the hapless chronist by the arm, dragging him in close for a whispered interrogation.

"Tell me everything that's happened since they took you. Quick before their attention turns to us."

Korrin is observing the frog people throughout Melianne's performance still trying to gauge the strength of their forces.

After talking with Rada, Solra checks on the regulars that Raskell has been in charge of to make sure they are still organized and ready should the situation degrade into a small battle. Reminding them that many of the frog folk are no more skilled at combat than they are and to work in pairs if necessary.

Annika takes a look at each hut that is accessible by her but she doesn't see any prisoner. As she looks around she doesn't see anything resembling a prison at all. The huts she searches seem to be too small to hold a significant number of people.
Melianne's performance seems still catch the attention of the frog people so she still has time to search around a bit.

---

As Rhys grabs Phann he let's out a tiny shreek but it is immediatly muffled by Rada who comes to your assistance and puts a hand over his mouth.
Phann's eyes grow large but he relaxes at Rhys' question.
The elf begins to whisper Well... as we came to the shore after this strange incident we were immediatly swarmed by those frog people. We had no time to form any kind of defence and so we were quickly overwhelmed. They led us here and we were put into a pit just behind this "palace". I was able to talk to some of the guards for an audience with the fat frog over there.
I was just trying to come to good terms with this "emporer" of those toads when you barged in...
Phann seems to be glad to see you all and hurt in his pride at the same time

---

Korrin looks around and notices about fourty frog people who watch the show, many of whom seem to bee children. A lot of the "grown-ups" seem to be hurt. They bear scars and wounds that are not so fresh that they could result from a fight with the crew of the Jolly Wanderer but they also don't look old enough that they are from some battle that took place a long time ago.
Even though they are more numerous than you not many of them bear any arms.
If a battle should break out he thinks that there would be about eight armed adversaries and (if they participate in combat) about ten additional unarmed fighters.

---

Solra looks at the "army" you have gathered and can only shake her head as they gawk like chicken at Melianne's performance. If battle should break out they surely aren't ready to fight immediatly but they still have their weapons on them so they'd be a distraction at least.

---

Melianne's proposal makes Kruux think. After a bit of anticipatory gazes from the emporer and the crowd Kruux bows down and says
Let me show you the dance and sound of my people
It jumps into a puddle and ribbits, making the water form beautiful wave patterns in the process. Then Kruux fills its mouth with water, rises its head into the air and spits the water out in a pattern that resembles juggling balls, that Kruux catches with its mouth again.
Kruux walks around, similiar to a rooster and "juggles" the water with its mouth while the crowd ribbits and croaxs with excitement

Sheedin watches this crazy dance, and he can help but to laugh, What is that He says to the emperor.

Annika is frustrated and angry, but she takes a deep breath and tries to think more carefully about where the frogs might hold their captives, if not in a building.

Not above ground - but surely not below ground? Almost everywhere below ground would also be underwater. Except for...

Her eyes are drawn to the frog-Emperor's 'palace', rising above the other buildings in the village. It's not only taller, it's higher. Cursing herself, she tries to find the quickest way to the other side of it.

Getting Inpatient sheedin steps forward, hand around the hilt of axe.OK, shows over, enough games, we have been patient, we have paid tribute, and we had to endure your...Dance! Now gives us back the folks you took or you and you kingdom will fall.Sheedin keeps pushing forward to show he mean bussiness

Melianne observes Kruux's performance with genuine interest, following him around with a focused gaze while lightly twirling her torches. His movement technique can use some work, but there is merit in good coordination needed to catch the water at correct intervals - with more practice, she thinks that the frog can make a good juggler. Also, he needs a change of attire. That monstrosity of scavenged items is neither practical nor appealing...

Caught in her thoughts, Melianne actually starts following the herald trying to match her own tricks to his rhythm - but she is quickly startled out of it by Shedinn's resolute demand. She moves herself to his side, settling a calming hand over the scales on his shoulders. "Darling, there is always time for merriment, why cut it short?" She winks, but then turns to look back at the frog leader. "But if we must, I believe that the great emporer has promised to negotiate the tribute for our people after the dance. I'm sure that we can come to an agreement without any unneeded violence!"

Having heard the Dragonborn, she becomes happy that someone has finally come to their senses. Then after Melianne's comment, so as not to lose the initial momentum, Solra chimes in with, "Yeah we can start the negotiations with how many of his people and how much of his tiny village we do not slaughter and destroy based on how many of our people he decides to return to us unharmed."

Rhys frowns as he considers Phann's report, and even more so when he spies Shedinn being foolhardy. Do they not understand that the frog has the upper hand? If the emporer says the word, the remaining prisoners could be slaughtered before seeing freedom. A black mood settles on the outlander as he steels himself for the inevitable.

"Reckon the fat frog won't take kindly to that. Are you of any use in a fight, Phann?"

He slowly reaches for his hand crossbow, ready to whip it out.

Annika swiftly navigates between the huts and finds a way to the back of the palace.
She finds a circular pit in the ground that is surrounded by a wicker work fence that reaches to her hip, giving the pit the look of a giant basket.
Carefully she sneaks to the fence and peaks into the pit. It is about 10 feet deep and at the ground of the pit are about twenty people, sitting around and chatting in a low voice. They all seem to have been stripped of their personal belongings. You can spot Captain Forsberg who is in conversation with one of the ship's crew members. Apparently his blue colored jacket was taken as he is only clothed in a grey shirt and matching trousers
A few feet beside Annika a rope is bound to a tree, probably there in order to put prisoners into or out of the pit.

---

Erm of any use... I haven't thouroughly tested wether I am capable of fighting. I mean I once got into a fist fight with a colleague and I managed to break his hand with my nose... which also broke Phann responds to Rhys' question
Rada just shakes her head and makes a dismissive gesture with her hand.

---

The emporer raises from its chair as it hears the threats hurled at it. It slams a fist against the throne.
You have danced well *Croax* and therefore I will forgive your *Croax* momentary display of disrespect but if you *Croax* threathen the great Emporer Cuurtinoax XVII once more my mighty army will make you true prisoners of the bullywug.
The emporer cracks its knuckles and continues
If you pay the tribute of fifteen gold coins your people may leave the mighty captial of my empire if.... IF they choose to leave. If they want to *Croax* continue to live here in the mightiest and safest town of the area they can certainly do so.
The emporer gazes down onto you. There is a short moment of silence until Kruux calls out *Croax* All hail to the wisdom and the might of the Emporer Cuurtinoax XVII and bows down

Don't be foolish, Your highness...You can not and will not win...Just give us what we came for; I will not ask you again..Sheedin raises his axe as eyes and breath start to grow cold, Sheedin hate these type of creatures, who pick on the helpless, well not today, and certinaly not why he was still breathing...What its gonna be?... Your move!

Annika breathes a sigh of relief. No guards, no restraints - that's a lucky break.

She gets the attention of the prisoners, and tosses the rope down to them. "Let's go! Able-bodied fighters first. The frogs won't take kindly to you escaping. Arm yourselves any way you can - they've left spears lying around, grab what you can."

Melianne's grip on her torches tightens, as frustration builds up in her mind. Just when she finally made some progress on getting into these frogs' good graces, her companions had to ruin it with their brutish ways. They could have fought the guards back at their first meeting and then snuck into the village, but no, back then they went along with the negotiations. Yet now, when they are among enemies and at a disadvantage, now is the time to battle?! She might not be a tactician, but something tells her that it's a waste for both sides.

All that said, the dancer doesn't know what more she can do. Shedinn seems absolutely set on scaring the emporer into accepting his terms, with Solra close behind, and even Rhys appears more or less ready to fight - if him reaching for his crossbow is any indication. And Melianne... she doesn't like the idea of fighting the frogs. At least not the civilians, not the ones who gathered here to merely watch her performance. Even if the emporer with a hard to remember name is a kidnapper and his guards attacked them back at the shore, the villagers - as with any monarchy, - are unlikely to have been involved.

So instead of trying to speak up again, to pointlessly try and convince the others to avoid bloodshed - as if any of them would agree to the price of fifteen golden coins, - she slowly steps back from the group. Not towards the mob of the ship's passengers, but instead towards Kruux. Once the attention is mostly on Shedinn and the emporer's stand-off, she leans towards the herald. "Kruux, dear, my friends aren't going to accept your ruler's demand," she whispers to him hastily, while simultaneously snuffing out and packing her torches. "As a fellow man... frog of art and diplomacy, surely you see that this is our last chance to prevent a bloodbath. You need to gather the civilians and hide, before the arrows start flying."

"That's...something," Rhys remarks, "Best if you joined up with Raskell's mob. Try to get in the middle if you can. Avoid any fighting, Phann."

He scrutinises the frog's guards as he waits for the monarch's reaction. If they dare to take a hostile action toward Shedinn, the outlander will fire the first shot at the fat frog. With their leadership dead, hopefully those strange folks will lose their fighting spirit.

Violence is the last answer for the outlander, but the self-styled emporer keeps making outrageous demands, and his instinct tells him that the frog will never be satisfied.