Kobasratha shook the offered hand, and replied "My name is Kola. I'm here for academic purposes with my colleague, Mallen Jex. We're headed for Doch Mol, an old dwarven ruin in the wastes, and this is our last stop before we plan to arrive there. The first time, though, we faced danger. Undead, mostly. Nothing we couldn't either defeat or avoid, but it meant that we couldn't get very far into the ruins, which is why we're back. It made sense to visit the oracle, and if we got a bad reading, perhaps hire some bodyguards to ensure things go more smoothly this time. In fact, you seem like you know how to swing a sword. If you're not busy, and if you're willing to do that kind of work, perhaps you could help us out."

Kobasratha had learned from centuries of experience how to lie convincingly, though a large part of what he had said was true, just true for Kola and Mallen rather than himself. The only difficulty was the aura that demons, especially relatively powerful ones like himself, emanated. While the untrained might dismiss this feeling, those accustomed to its effects could catch on very quickly, though it would be difficult to blame an attempt on Kobasratha's life on "a funny feeling" if they couldn't prove his species. In any case, a contingent of bodyguards would definitely be useful in dealing with the undead residing in Doch Mol, though Kobasratha would have to find a way to get to Karnarouri first, and resurrect him in secret. With so many creatures present, it didn't seem too difficult.