a tiny invertebrate that promised, in exchange for a bit of sightseeing and a fine diet of earwax, to sniff out betrayl, secrets and guilt in the minds of others, and tell Sam about it.
((In other words, an empathic babel fish?))
"Why should we care about ther squabbles? Waste of our time."
Vote to press on.
Nope, not a Babel fish, it just senses betrayl, guilt, etc, and can read these. It can also smell nasty intentions generally, but more vaguely. I guess an incomplete Babel fish?
I'd probably put you at a standstill with a split vote, at this point, though it doesn't matter really right now.
"Thank you, [insert the name of the cockroach here]."
"If you bring all of the candidates together and allow them to explain why we should vote for them, we will vote. Otherwise, we will move on."
(Aren't you going to name it yourself?)
The figure immediately breaks off, looks shocked and starts talking again even faster.
"Harold Hrothulf would never agree to meet with idiots like Simeon Cyneheard! You know, that man catches ferrets and tames them! The very idea!"
By this point, the second figure has arrived, covered head to toe in mud, sloshing loudly about.
"Cyneheard, while not embodying the qualities of a leader present in the noble Edwin, is a fine man, and would make a fine underling for Cyneric! How dare you suggest otherwise? But it's quite true that neither would be seen dead with the fool Alfred Aethelwine."
"Cyneric? The man's an idiot! He's nearly as bad as Wilbur Oswine!"
A third figure, this one seemingly composed almost entirely of fog, dirt, mist, mud and water, approaches.
"Alfred Aethelwine for the true king of the marsh! Let all who say otherwise be outed as simpletons!"
The squabbling redoubles.
"It's clear you're not going to get a sensible answer out of that lot," comes the voice in Sam's ear.
Then a leopard breaks out of the dirty water about you, sending clods of sticky earth flying as it erupts. Muscled and graceful, the huge cat snarls as it seemingly appears from the ground. The greyed out pattern of black on brown disguises it perfectly against the fog and earth, seemingly a ripple through the air until it springs at you.
Mia and Sam notice it almost as soon as it touches the surface of the water, a screamed warning in Sam's ear setting him spinning desperately, as the beast flies foward, its teeth pulled back in a grimace. Kahn, however, is facing in completely the wrong direction, the leopard going striaght for his back.
The muddy figures jump in front of it heroically, slowing the creature down slightly as it stretches towards a hapless Kahn in midair and smashes into them, then dissolving into showers of earth and water, delaying it just long enough for Kahn to duck away. They did
look pretty muddy, and the puddles at the feet of the leopard seem to be trying to grab it. It tosses its head nonchalantly, apparently unfazed by the defeat, and springs back and away into the water and fog, suddenly undetectable again. Its growls can be heard as it circles, however, and the two pools of very dirty water struggle to form themselves into bodies again, swearing all the while.
((Right, actions will be in combat time, almost bullet time, but you can still use objects, abilities, whatever in this period, just no real dialogue or long tasks. Also, would you rather I show the rolls or not? Just wondered.))