In a manner of speaking

After a long and arduous journey into the bowels of the Underdark, the caravan finally reached the first sign of civilization: a guard checkpoint.

Hilda stepped out and tried to look professional, at least as much as she could wearing only the second best plate armor money could buy. The platinum metal had been shined to perfection, the emblem of House Brandt on the chest plate sparkling even in the Underdark. Her sword, a family heirloom passed down for generations, hung at her hip, and the proud knight thought nothing of the fact that weapons typically weren't allowed at She turned to face the guards stationed on either side of the closed gate and said, "I am Lady Hilda Brandt, envoy of Queen Belinda. I am here on a diplomatic mission to meet the Drow Queen and arrange for a mutual peace agreement. Open the gates at once!"

The guards looked at one another quizzically. Hilda had neglected to make her declaration in Undercommon, so the poor chaps had no idea what she had said. All they knew was there was a human standing before them who was armed to the teeth and yelling something, which usually meant war was afoot. Fortunately, Hilda's coachman did speak a fair bit of Undercommon, so before they could raise their silvery spears at his lady, he spoke up. "Ve've sila've dos natha rothe whol kl'ae a dosst ventash'ma. Qualla evagna ilta ser'lech, il zhah ves ssin'urn." He held out their official travel scroll, which the guards took and read with haste.

The guards nodded at the coachmen with a look of understanding. "Ah, xas. Bweal." The rightmost guard motioned with his hand for Hilda to follow him while the other one began to turn a crank to open the wooden gates.

"Now that's more like it," Hilda said, marching behind the guard. He gestured to a small footpath next to the gate, indicating where Hilda should walk. Realizing this must be the way to some VIP section, she called back to her caravan, "I'll follow my escort to the castle, you all meet me when you're finished with customs."

As Hilda marched proudly into the Underdark, the gate opened all the way for the caravan to follow. The guard motioned for them to proceed, which the coachman did with haste. One of Hilda's attendants asked him as they passed the threshold, "I didn't know you spoke Drow."

"I'm a little rusty, but I think I got the message across. I told them we had a noble with us to meet with the queen, and apologized for her lack of etiquette."

"I see. I guess they picked that up, then."

"They must have. I mean, we'd know if there was some communication error."

The attendant looked back nervously. "Will Lady Hilda be alright by herself?"

"Oh, definitely. These folks know how to treat nobility. And they know for sure the treatment she deserves."

The caravan rode on, not knowing the major mistake they'd just made in their opening declaration.