OOC: From what I understand I'm still unconscious, right? I'm Desgoffe the dwarf.

OOC: Yes, unfortunately, none of us are healers, with the possible exception of the alchemist who's about to betray us.
Also, tell me when the minute's up.

The minute will be up soon. Also, Smirk doesn't speak Draconian so aside from his offer of paying more, he can't contribute without an interpreter.

Alastor crosses his arms and looks back towards his companions. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather do this without any more violence. Since this-here lizard is willing to pay us far more than the little guy and it means getting out of here without a fight, working with him seems the logical choice to me."

Alastor crosses his arms and looks back towards his companions. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather do this without any more violence. Since this-here lizard is willing to pay us far more than the little guy and it means getting out of here without a fight, working with him seems the logical choice to me."

"But, I hired you," the little gnome shouts angrily.

"So did he," the half-orc points out.

OOC: Going to try and make use of "talking is a free action" here to talk while still maintaining the ritual. Feel free to ignore my dialogue if it would interrupt the summons.

Gratianus opened one eye from where he sat. "Smirk happened to hire us first," he said in Common before turning to the lizardman. "I don't suppose you speak Common, do you? That would make things easier here. If you really want this done without bloodshed, I'm sure you can negotiate a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"I do not speak the tongues of the pink skins," the lizard says in its Draconian tongue. "What is this mutually beneficial offer to be had here? It's really quite simple. You can't be a part of both sides. You need to decide where your allegiances are."

Gratianus rolled his eyes, keeping most of his focus on the ritual. "You said these supplies are for your competitors, not your enemies. That implies you'd also have a use for them, no? Here's a mutually agreeable offer: we finish escorting Smirk and his supplies to Sandpoint or another town similarly close by of your choice; wherever 'Pillbug' would have otherwise 'taken care of the rest'. You then buy the supplies for a fair price, Smirk pays us for the escort, and then we are available to work for this 'Pillbug' fellow." Gratianus managed to keep the conceit out of his voice; those who saw the world in only black and white were an antithesis of him. "You not only deprive competitors of supplies, but gain them for yourself. Smirk gets to sell his supplies for close to what he was planning to. We get paid for the escort job, and have a promise of more profitable work in the future. And, of course, we all get to avoid any fighting." He switched over to Common for the benefit of the rest of the group. "Let's see if he'll take the counter-offer."

The lizardman purrs in thought. "You are a cunning mammal. Very well. I shall accompany you to Sandpoint."

Gratianus got up. "Good." He turned to Smirk and switched to Common. "New plan: This person's employer, whom I'm lead to believe goes by the name 'Pillbug,' is willing to buy your supplies on reaching Sandpoint. Seelah, could you please tend to Desgoffe or Arzhel?"

Seelah begins treating Desgoffe and Arzhel's wounds. Light emits from her hands and their wounds are healed at her touch. Desgoffe awakens from his slumber.

Arzhel rises to his feet, thanking Seelah for healing him before moving to check on Desgoffe.

Desgoffe attempts to stand, stumbles and then gets onto his feet. He rubs his temple and says, "I haven't felt this sick since last winter's ale shortage."

"Clever, clever," Alastor says to the summoner in Common. "Wish I could say I thought of that."

Gratianus tilted his head. "I've had a lot of practice trying to reconcile two opposed sides." Both of those sides being in my head doesn't make it any easier. He turned to Smirk. "I hope you won't get in too much trouble if you sell your wares to someone other than the original purchaser?"

"It's bad for business, renigging on a sale last minute, but I suppose I have no choice. Shall we leave now? I would rather not sleep now that this stranger will probably be tagging along." The little gnome begins hitching his mules to his wagon of supplies.

Gratianus shrugged. "Just give me a minute to call Nerva for the road and I'll be ready to go." With that, he restarted the ritual he had abandoned when the lizardman had agreed to the armistice.