Against the Demon Prince IC

[Obscuraphile]

Prologue:

The Blood Lord sat on his throne of bones and blood-oozing skulls, engulfed in darkness and the putrid stench of death and misery. Cries of pain and anguish played in the background of Orcus’ residence of Undeath. Nothing of this reached the dark lord. His blood-hazed eyes were lost into the distance, his mind stretching out to listen to the calls and prayers of his dark clergy and followers. Like buzzing flies, their requests and calls for favors left no impression on the Demon Price of Undeath – his schemes of power were on a level incomprehensible for his mortal followers. But suddenly his eye twitched, a prayer – no not a prayer – a whispered word that brought back memories of lost causes and unpaid depts. Orcus focused his divine attention towards the source, spanning his godlike awareness cross planes and dimensions.

“…Master of Undeath, Tear in the shroud of Death, listen to the words of your humble servant, a maggot in your godlike corpse. I have found out where the followers of Bahamut have hidden the Rod of Ruin! The paladin of Bahamut I defiled and brought back in your name knows of its hiding place, great Master.”

The Rod of Ruin – Found! The Blood Lord clenched his fist around the Wand of Orcus, blood dripping between his fingers. This opened up new possibilities, the chessboard had suddenly shifted, and things were tilting in his favor again. As Lord of the Undead, Orcus had the everlasting patience of the dead, a trait seldom seen among his demonic cohorts and enemies. But Orcus knew that if he waited long enough in the darkness, secrets held in life would resurface in the afterlife. It was just a matter of time, and that time was now. With the Rod of Ruin resurfacing he could send his pawns to collect it and complete the task once started but never finished – turning the living world into a realm of undeath and eternal darkness. His divine mind immediately identified the hundreds of actions needed for setting the plan in motion, but first – he poured a fraction of his essence into the world of the living. His aspect materialized in the crypt of his maggot, pulling darkness and the chill of the grave with it. The priest screamed in terror as his eyes started to bleed at the sight of his true Lord. There were still questions that needed answers and a dept of a soul to be paid…

Chapter 1: The Keep on the Shadowfell


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rUw-awR8-hY/TcdSmEvOjlI/AAAAAAAAAD8/TkPGjBvtWA4/s1600/Winterhaven.jpg

The rutted King's Road leads past several dozen small thatched homes to the foot of a broad hill upon which rest the walls of Winterhaven. The crenelations atop the walls have been weathered round by the icy winds that blow down from the Cairngorm Peaks just to the northwest. The farms that surround the town are small but relatively prosperous and well kept, but past these to the to the south and east lie the dark forests of the Gardbury Downs.

More and more lately, the peasants that live in the shadows of Winterhaven's walls, ostensibly under the protection of Lord Padraig, have taken to spending long hours in Wrafton's Inn, afraid to leave the shelter of the town after dark. By the same token, their lord grows more frustrated each day as he attempts to persuade, bluster, cajole, and more lately threaten his people into helping him and his few guards deal with the growing kobold threat which drives their fears. To date his efforts have been unsuccessful.

Fortunately, despite the situation's growing severity, it has yet to dramatically impact day to day life in the town. The gates remain open and lightly guarded by day. The market square, smithy, and town shoppe do their regular business. Valthrun the Prescient remains sequestered in his five story hermitage in the center of town, while the temple is only slightly bothered by an increase in penitents in need of healing services.

Everybody can roll a d6. The result is how many days you have been in Winterhaven. Alternatively you can declare that you were traveling with one of your fellow player characters and thus you arrived on the same day that they did. There are plenty of places to poke around town. If you'd like, you could seek an audience with the Lord of the village and offer to solve his kobold problem, or you could head off directly to explore the countryside, or of course something else entirely.

[JNAProductions]

[roll0]

Annette is currently in Wrafton's, in the form of a short and curvaceous young lady. She's not particularly keen to be drinking, but she does want to at least try to get a feel for the town's current mood, and maybe lighten it a little if she can.

[Obscuraphile]

With the sun past its peak and dipping back towards the horizon the local townsfolk begin to filter into the Inn. Having been around for the better part of a week Annette can recognize a few face and receives some friendly nods and waves as people claim their usual tables. Salvana Wrafton, the proprietor, is like a general with the voice of a song bird, singing out orders to the kitchen and service staff alike. Despite the good-natured chaos slowly building in the common room as people pack in her warm smile and friendly demeanor never falter.

As Annette watches, Salvana expertly navigates the room tending to her customers. She carefully extricates herself from an encounter with Eilian the Old, another face that Annette recognizes. Eilian means well, but he never in his long life passed up a chance at a long winded conversation, even if he really didn't have anything useful to say. Not that he never had anything important or interesting to talk about. Eilian is a wealth of local gossip and information alike.

Nearby Eilian the three individuals behind Winterhaven's economic infrastructure play loudly at dice. Two dwarves, Thair Coalstriker the smith and Bairwin Wildarson the shopkeep, are getting cleaned out by an elf, Delphina Moongem who runs the market square, when she isn't selling her wildflowers that is.

[ngilop]

[roll0]

Tarik had been on a few days travel when he met a young paladin of Torm, his quest of dealing with a death cult that may have set up base in Winterhaven piqued Tarik's curiosity, and so the warrior offered to join and help, provided of course the paladin assisted him on his own goal of dealing with the kobold threats to the small village.

After spending some time in the town getting to know the basics of who's who. Tarik is directed to seek an audience with lord Padraig to offer o deal with the kobolds.

[J-H]

Zacharias

Zacharias met Tarik on the road. After arriving in Winterhaven, he spent some time looking around the city, familiarizing himself with the guards and the surroundings, and searching for any sign of the death cultists. Keeping his findings in mind, he goes with Tarik to the audience. The kobolds are a problem, too.


Looking for Death Cultists:
Sense Motive is at a +4, DM roll privately as needed for any figures in town he'd have talked to, plus observing stuff around the tavern & temple. (temple to whom?)

Detect Evil at will, in the tavern at night and while walking around town and in the houses and buildings surrounded the walled area. The occasional evil person is just part of normal life, but DE should pick up any organized groups, as well as any hidden altars that aren't sufficiently obscured by thick walls.

Also, K: Nobility to know anything useful about Lord Padraig [roll0]

[Unavenger]

Esther Sylvari was not used to the city.

That was an understatement. She hadn't been here half her life. In fact, that was also an understatement, but it was true enough. Now she'd spent a whole three days doing very little but finding her way around. Fortunately no-one objected to her staying out on the streets - who would, when there were bigger problems to deal with? One guard had warned her that it was dangerous out after dark. She raised an eyebrow, and the guard realised that the woman who had a pet wolf and whose entire material wealth was in weapons might be used to danger. Even Aurora, the wolf, glistened with the points of multiple spears strapped to her side, not to mention a variety of daggers. It was almost all that Esther was allowed to carry; she might as well be armed to the teeth after all.

That said, it didn't help her stay anonymous. Quite the opposite: you don't wander around with a wolf and enough weapons to equip a small army - okay, on reflection, a very small army, but still - without getting a reputation. People avoided her: few would risk going near Esther, or perhaps more likely near Aurora.

She wandered about dejectedly, then, finding places where she could help people - when such people were willing to accept her aid - which mostly meant helping with general repairs since the last kobold attack - she would have helped with healing, but it had been long enough that the church had already seen to it. She supposed that she wouldn't do badly to help defend the town against this evil, but something bigger was on her mind.

She considered this matter idly while she helped a man repair his home as best she could. Unfortunately, her lack of skill at the task made this a harder prospect than she would have liked, and she was mostly running supplies back and forth to him and only occasionally taking up the hammer herself. It was a way of helping, though. That was what mattered.

[Obscuraphile]

Zacharius:

After his arrival in town, Zacharius quickly learns the names and faces of the Winterhaven Regulars, the ten full time guardsmen that Lord Padriag employs. The men and women are friendly enough and have nothing but genuine praise for their lord. Lord Padriag's line and right of rulership apparently extend back to the Nerathi Empire of old. Some years ago, when his father passed, the current Lord Padriag assumed his mantle. However the Lord of Winterhaven is not an absolute autocrat. Thus without an eminent threat he cannot force the villagers to do his bidding and eliminate the growing kobold threat. Several of the guards express disdain at what they see as the shortsightedness of the townsfolk, while others declare their understanding, if not wholehearted support, of the peasants' position.

In addition to the various hovels scattered around within the walls of Winterhaven, Zacharius visits the stables and wainwright's, the warrior guild, and the town's singular boarding house. The stables and wainwright's is owned and run by a married couple, a male elf and a female human. They produce about six wagons a year and make additional money horse trading with the surrounding population or the occasional wagons that come through from the nearby towns and villages, all about a week's journey away. The warrior guild is a very grand name for what amounts to little more than a barely utilized gym and a militia drill group. The place is run by Rond Kelfem, one-time adventurer and captain of the Winterhaven Regulars. The boarding house is run by a stocky old dwarf matron who brooks no nonsense under her roof. It is patronized by the various temporary workers, young couples who cannot yet afford a home of their own, and idlers that a town the size of Winterhaven generates.

The temple is one of a relative few stone structures in Winterhaven. The town is not nearly rich enough to afford a separate place of worship for each of the various faiths practiced in the area, so instead, Sister Linora and her two young acolytes maintain small shrines to most of the gods of good and offers three services a week, one to the gods of nature and the old faith, one to the gods of the common folk, Pelor and Avandra mostly, and one to the gods of idealism and valor, Torm, Bahamut, and St. Cuthbert. Sister Linora also has responsibility for the small graveyard the town keeps a short distance to the south.

While there is a faint whiff of evil lurking around the boarding house, it is likely the product of long habitation by lazy and resentful types who frequented its halls, often besotted, rather than anything worth worry about. None of the other places that Zacharius visited gave him even that vague feeling of dread. In the common room at Wrafton's, Zacharius picks out a few faces that his otherworldly senses indicate as less than savory, a couple of the poorest looking farmers, and also some of the richest, one of the trappers, who sits alone at the bar, and one of the two dwarves playing at dice with the elf.

Taking careful note of all this in his mind Zacharius accompanies Tarik to the audience with Lord Padriag.

Tarik & Zacharius:

Speaking to one of the guards at the inner wall secures a meeting with Lord Padriag within a few hours. As Tarik and Zacharius are lead through the secondary courtyard towards the manor house, a building far too grand to be explained by Winterhaven's humble condition, they see that Padriag's soldiers are billeted in the northeast corner and a warehouse stands to the west. At the head of a small flight of stairs stands a set of oaken double doors with a large knocker apparently made of gold. Turning, the guard says to Tarik and Zacharius, "There are no weapons allowed in the manor. I'll keep your arms safe with me and you can retrieve them on your way out." His tone brooks no argument.

Laying Tarik's sheathed blade across his shoulders the guardsman reaches out to the knocker and strikes it once, then, at the appearance of one who can only be the lord's steward, the young man bows to the steward, takes Zacharius' sword, hammer, and bow, and giving Tarik a quick nod turns smartly on his heel and trundles back to his post under the veritable armory of confiscated weapons. The steward instructs Tarik and Zacharius to follow him, closing the doors with a soft resonant boom. The adventurers are lead through several rather ostentatious rooms with wood paneling, gold filigree, and thick fur rugs, before the steward comes to a stop and knocks, with his gloved hand, on a second, smaller pair of double doors. "Enter!" comes the response from within.

The steward opens both doors, preceding Tarik into a small library stacked floor to ceiling with books and filled with piles more that won't fit on the shelves. A large bay window allows the sun to shine in over the shoulders of a middle aged man sitting behind a modestly sized but intricately caved desk made of some off-white material. "The adventurers Tarik Edoah and Zacharius Thompson to see you, lordship," the steward says with a deep bow.

"Thank you, Gareth." the man says with a dismissive gesture, not truly looking up from his reading. The steward rises and departs leaving the doors open. Tarik and Zacharius notice that despite the warmth of the rest of the mansion, this room has the feeling of some of the autumn chill that lurks outside, probably a result of the large window and the lack of a fireplace. Great velvet curtains stand ready to be drawn and plunge the room into darkness but Lord Padriag sits ensconced within a large fur cloak and doesn't seem to feel the nip in the room.

After a moment he marks his place and closes the book in front of him, rising and directing his visitors to a seat across the odd, cream colored desk. "I am told that you wish to speak with me concerning our kobold problem," he says appraising Tarik and Zacharius as he retakes his own seat. "They are growing bolder by the day, or I suppose they are growing bolder by the night. They still fear us enough that they will not operate under the light of the sun. The moon is another matter entirely. Storehouses are broken into almost nightly and encamped travelers are becoming more and more endangered." Lord Padriag stops and seems to come to a conclusion about the men sitting in front of him. "You seem up to the task, but I hope you have friends to aid you."

Esther:

Many of the people who dwell within Winterhaven's walls shun Esther, whether of mistrust for her or fear of her wolf it is not quite clear, but those that live in the surrounding countryside, primarily those that keep to the old faiths, generally recognize what she represents and while they are not always the most welcoming or at ease in her presence they do their best to treat her well. Esther learns from them that the kobold attacks have been slowly increasing in frequency and severity over the past year. It started with small thefts from traveling families on the King's Road, a stolen bit of grain here, a lost bit of jewelry there. Never were there any injuries and only the tracks of kobolds even indicated who was behind the acts.

Then, slowly as the creatures got bolder, people started getting hurt. Whole wagons got ransacked. As of yet there have been no kidnapped children or any of the other horrible things that such monsters are known for in bedtime stories, but it's really only a matter of time. This sentiment is rife throughout the countryside but paired with it is the commoners' insistence that the responsibility for dealing with the problem lies elsewhere. People say that Lord Padriag should do something, like send out his guards or hire some adventurers, or something. Maybe he could send to Fallcrest for aid. But everywhere Esther goes, nobody is willing to take up arms themselves.

[Schismatic]

Milana has been in town for... [roll0]

"Yep, just making my way out there in the world." She said to one off duty night sentry guard at Wrafton's Inn. Putting aside her tankard of ale. "I actually have no rutting idea what I'm supposed to do next. See, a good friend of mine is paying me like 6 months' worth of busking to do this thing. Locate some places, complete a topographical survey of the land. But, like, what in the Nine Hells do I personally know about cartography?" She noted in an excited tone to a less enthralled audience.

She had her father's characteristic silver blonde locks that flowed thick to the small of her back. The early greying human, aging the general conceit of any initial impressions of her by a good 7 years. Regardless of making her look older than she really was, any mythical idea of wisdom or insight fleeting as soon as she likely opened her mouth, and allowing all signs of never graduating the school of hard knocks. An unusually deep green pair of irises set in a soft tawney skin tone and rounded face gave a juxtaposing sweet affirmation of unblemished youth, at least when liberated of the dust of travelled roads when one could afford a bath--which fortunately her protracted stay in town allowed.

She wore a simple set of hardened leather armour. An armoured bodice, arm and shoulder guards, thigh pads, and reinforced boots worn on top of a utilitarian tunic and slacks. An aged, fuller-grooved longsword and simple partial scabbard containing her weapon of choice, and an oaken light shield hooked across her back tried to sell the look of an 'adventurer' but something looked remarkably off. Namely how she carried herself.

For the last three days she'd taken to wearing her armour in case of attacks against the town itself, due to the worsening situation. Plus, she figured, it would be a good idea to get used to it. If it wasn't for the friendly, charismatic mannerisms coupled with a 'big city' charm and appeasing tongue, she would look every bit the mountain brigandwaiting for her mark.

"But I don't even know where to start. Like I knew Cranewing way back when. He knows I never studied history when I was under tutelage at the College, y'know?" She said to an increasingly apathetic guard who likely wished he never asked how her day had been--"So is he like, giving me a job because I said in passing I wanted to do bigger things in life than playing a stage--or does he feel sorry for me--or is he just taking care of me and making sure I didn't just enlist with a mercenary band or something--or does he actually have faith in my abilities?" She droned without even the good graces of pausing for a drink. Something her companion had nothing but time for...

[ngilop]

Tarik bows slightly to Lord Padriag "I have dealt with kobolds enough, that I can speak their tongue, indeed tis why I made my way to Winterhaven. had an idea my skills could be put to good use. As for friends, I met this sturdy fellow on the way here, I am sure this Torm he follows will provide more." Tarik intentionally leaves out the part about the cultists, knowing tis better to remain silent on such until it is easier to glean who and who is not under sway of the organization.

[J-H]

Zacharias

"I agree with your assessment milord. Handiness with a blade is all well and good, but numbers, magic, and perhaps someone with lighter footsteps would all help us. I fought kobolds once or twice whilst squiring, and they are sneaky, tricky little creatures.

They are also greedy, so perhaps we could set a trap for them - but we'd need someone who could help track them back to whatever holes they hide in during the day."

Zacharias looks around at the books. An odd choice for a lord in a small frontier town.

Just looking for anything off. Sense motive or whatever. Detect Evil is a SLA, so I can't activate it without him noticing.

[Obscuraphile]

Milana:

The guardsman's eyes wander the room, as he begins to regret his decision to try and chat up the pretty new girl. Offering the occasional nod and polite smile he searches for any way to extricate himself from the situation without being too rude. Suddenly an opportunity presents itself when Eilian the Old totters up to the bar for more drink. "Oh wow!" the guardsman exclaims cutting Milana off. "A thousand pardons, miss, but this ale has gone right through me!" his face turns a faint shade of pink as he realizes what he just said to a lady. "Umm, apologies miss. I have lived among soldiers for too long," he mumbles. "I must go relieve myself but, Eilian! Eilian, come here good man!"

The old farmer turns and tilts his head at the young pair. "Ehh? What's that now?" he asks making his way over.

"Eilian, this is Milana. She's new in town, here to draw up some maps. You know all about the area. Why don't you two have a nice chat," he says the not quite so subtle implication being, without me! With introductions made the guardsman picks up his tankard and hurries back to the table of other off duty soldiers.

Eilian sits down with a sigh and creak of old bones. "So you're making a map, ehh? Have you heard about the old keep yet? It's a few hours up the road to the north. Or maybe you want to know about the dragon's graveyard in the Gardbury Downs? Oh oh oh, or maybe you'd like to hear the tale of the Winter King's Cairn up in the Cairngorm Peaks?" Once settled Eilian offers up stories with the enthusiasm of a child.

Tarik & Zacharius:

Lord Padriag nods and strokes his fine mustachios. "Trapping them might work. My charges, the good folk of this town, have proved singularly unhelpful in dealing with the situation. Perhaps one of the local huntsmen would be willing to assist you with some of their woodcraft. I'm sure you could find some of them down at Wrafton's. What's more knowledge of our predicament is spreading. It could be that others like yourselves have already arrived to render aid."

Zacharius notices that most of the piles of books and papers are recent productions, glancing at the top pages of a few reveals that they are reports and records of the town and its environs. On the shelves lining the walls are well made leather-bound tomes, all of which appear to be at least decades old. This causes Zacharius to realize something, all the wealth and splendor of the manor house is old money, from ages past. Anything newer is also of lesser quality, crude and homemade. Once, perhaps, this was a truly prosperous noble household, but its golden years are well past.

[Schismatic]

Milana:

The guardsman's eyes wander the room, as he begins to regret his decision to try and chat up the pretty new girl. Offering the occasional nod and polite smile he searches for any way to extricate himself from the situation without being too rude. Suddenly an opportunity presents itself when Eilian the Old totters up to the bar for more drink. "Oh wow!" the guardsman exclaims cutting Milana off. "A thousand pardons, miss, but this ale has gone right through me!" his face turns a faint shade of pink as he realizes what he just said to a lady. "Umm, apologies miss. I have lived among soldiers for too long," he mumbles. "I must go relieve myself but, Eilian! Eilian, come here good man!"

The old farmer turns and tilts his head at the young pair. "Ehh? What's that now?" he asks making his way over.

"Eilian, this is Milana. She's new in town, here to draw up some maps. You know all about the area. Why don't you two have a nice chat," he says the not quite so subtle implication being, without me! With introductions made the guardsman picks up his tankard and hurries back to the table of other off duty soldiers.

Eilian sits down with a sigh and creak of old bones. "So you're making a map, ehh? Have you heard about the old keep yet? It's a few hours up the road to the north. Or maybe you want to know about the dragon's graveyard in the Gardbury Downs? Oh oh oh, or maybe you'd like to hear the tale of the Winter King's Cairn up in the Cairngorm Peaks?" Once settled Eilian offers up stories with the enthusiasm of a child.


"Awww ... that's too bad. I thought we were really starting to get to know one another." She murmured before she perked up ad Eilian sat down. "Hello friend!" She listened enraptured by all the local legends he was speaking about with such passions. As a bard, she appreciated lively discussion even if the topic itself wasless than interesting--though the mythology and mysticism of the places he described and named did more than pique her interests.

"Okay, wow! See, as my father always said--'Books are great an all, but talk to a farmer or pastoralist if you want to get the real lay of the land. No people know local geography like the people that tend and graze it.'" She said exuberantly.

"Like, Cranewing and their stories and lore and all that stuff is interesting and all, and they were talking about these ancient Nerath empire keeps and paying me a pretty silver to go get hard information on them. But by the sounds of it all of these places are either relevant or a lot more interesting." She issued a hand over to the innkeeper to bring a pitcher of good ale. Retrieving a loose handdrawn copy of Cranewing's map, another piece of paper from her pack, and her inkwell, and feather pen. Gripping the latter in her right hand and dipping its nib to hover over a blank piece of yellowed page.

"I want to hear absolutely everything ... if you could help me out completing this map not only will it shorten the task and I can be doing something else, but maybe we could help eachother out!" She beamed at the old farmer. Though she tempered her mood slightly.

"I mean if you can help me fill out this map and its local conditions, and dot it with interesting sites--preferably the older the better, something-something Nerath like, though any sites of local interest also welcomed?--I would gladly compensate you for all of your wisdom once we nail down their geography as I go exploring. Might help bolster your reserves in the face of this kobold menace." She offered with a softer, kinder smile.

[JNAProductions]

Annette decides to test a small theory she has, based on some of the reactions she's gotten from people in the past. Due to having spent most her life first in an alchemical lab with people who are certifiably insane (AKA Adventurers) and the next large portion in a temple, she doesn't have too much experience with normal people's reactions to a form like she has now-curvy in all the right places.

She heads over to the gambling table, mostly towards Thair and Bairwin, and says I'm in-oops! as she throws silver coin on the table. It skitters a little too far, though, and she bends over to try to recover it. Sorry! Little clumsy, sometimes. But yeah, I'm in!

...

How do I play?

[J-H]

Zacharias

The paladin nods. "We will check to see if we can find anyone. Can we count on some of your guards to help as well?"

[Obscuraphile]

Zacharius:

Lord Padriag runs a hand over his face. "I cannot spare soldiers to go traipsing blindly through the woods and leave our walls undefended," he says in a resigned tone. "However," he continues, raising a finger to forestall any protests. "If you can find where the creatures are coming from I can lend you my captain and two hand-picked spears to bolster your numbers for a day. I imagine that this warren will have a good many of the vermin living there."

Annette:

Hands flash out protectively to steady drinks as Annette's coin goes bouncing across the table. The three gamblers laugh and Thair, the smith, reaches over to pull a chair out for the newcomer. Bairwin, the shopkeep, produces a fresh set of knucklebones with a mumbled comment of, "If you win enough I won't have to charge you for these." And Delphina explains the rules, "So you have four dice and you can score anywhere from four to thirty-six." She holds up one of the knucklebones and indicates what each side scores, one, three, four, and six respectively. "You ante to roll the hand. Then you peek and everybody takes a round of betting-"

"Bairwin's got a horrible tell!" Thair breaks in with an over loud whisper and a hoarse guffaw.

"I do not!" Bairwin bellows in mock outrage.

"Anyways!" Delphina says silencing the two dwarves with a pointed glare of her mirthful eyes. "After betting you can reroll all, some, or none of your bones. Then everybody bets again. Then you show. Highest score wins the pot."

Rather than actually trying to find rules for and figure out how to roll the games, you can attempt a Profession (Gambler; Int), Sense Motive (Wis), or Sleight of Hand (Dex) check to win. If you don't have any of these skills you may make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Dexterity check instead. Intelligence represents trying to play the odds. Wisdom represents trying to play the people. And Dexterity represents attempting to cheat, with all of the hazards that such an endeavor would entail.

Milana:

Eilian is no cartographer by any stretch of the imagination but he is able to ramble out enough details for Milana to sketch out the gist of the surrounding areas. A lot of his information seems to be tales he was told as a child and to which he has added his own twists and turns over the years with his own retellings and he also peppers in plenty of town gossip.

"You know, I'm not even convinced that these kobold attacks are kobolds? People are always describing them as short, red, and brown. They might actually be redcaps! Little fairy buggers escaped from the Feywild!"

You now have a solid grasp of the surrounding geography with specific directions on how to get to the grave site of a dragon, located about half a day's journey to the south, through the woods and a general description of the location and condition of the keep, about the same distance to the north. Eilian's story about the keep's history immediately strikes you as embellished to the point of implausibility.

You also have an understanding of both town gossip and politics. This will come in the form of spoilers as the situations arise. I'm doing it this way to avoid tipping my hand via poor story-telling ability. Sorry but it's the best fix I've got. I don't want to make it obvious which bits of gossip are world/story building and which are plot related.

[JNAProductions]

[roll0]

Straight Int check here.

Annette takes a seat and rolls the dice.

While she doesn't do too well for herself, she is willing to put down a few more silver, and while playing, talks to the men and woman. So, just making sure-it's Thair, Bairwin, and Delphina, right?

[Obscuraphile]

Annette:

"Aye, lass!" says Thair, who is stocky, even for a dwarf, with black lusterless hair that Annette can't quite tell if it is natural or dirtied by soot. "I am Thair Coalstriker and I run the smithy. That's Bairwin Wildarson, his is the only general store and adventuring shoppe in town." Thair points with his thumb and Bairwin tugs respectfully at a braided lock of his dark blonde beard, a traditional greeting for dwarves. "An' that harpy is Delphina Moonstone, queen o' the flowers!" Thair continues causing the elf in question to contort her striking, exotic features into a comical face.

"Gimme back my money!" Thair declares cheerfully revealing his winning hand and scooping the pot towards his own small mixed pile of coppers and silvers. The other two take long pulls of their drinks while Thair stacks up his winnings and everybody collects up their dice to roll again.

[Schismatic]

Milana:

Eilian is no cartographer by any stretch of the imagination but he is able to ramble out enough details for Milana to sketch out the gist of the surrounding areas. A lot of his information seems to be tales he was told as a child and to which he has added his own twists and turns over the years with his own retellings and he also peppers in plenty of town gossip.

"You know, I'm not even convinced that these kobold attacks are kobolds? People are always describing them as short, red, and brown. They might actually be redcaps! Little fairy buggers escaped from the Feywild!"

You now have a solid grasp of the surrounding geography with specific directions on how to get to the grave site of a dragon, located about half a day's journey to the south, through the woods and a general description of the location and condition of the keep, about the same distance to the north. Eilian's story about the keep's history immediately strikes you as embellished to the point of implausibility.

You also have an understanding of both town gossip and politics. This will come in the form of spoilers as the situations arise. I'm doing it this way to avoid tipping my hand via poor story-telling ability. Sorry but it's the best fix I've got. I don't want to make it obvious which bits of gossip are world/story building and which are plot related.

She poured herself and Eilian a drink from a pitcher of ale with her left hand as she put down a silver piece for the large vessel of the light golden brew, listening to his instructions and stories intently as she went through two large papers. One, making down visually on her loose topographical maps, and writing instructions , mythos, and stories about each locale in turn on another. She chimed in occasionally as they talked if only to lighten the mood, feign shock, or not feign at all if particularly suspenseful and horrifying his tales.

"You know ... I've never actually even seen a kobold before. Neither a redcap, either, to be honest. But from what I've heard the kobolds only now are causing you major strife, and redcap trickery and the legends of their cunning brutality and mercilessness may fit the bill..." Entertaining the thought for a second. She immediately shook her head at that dispelling her mental wanderings.

"I'll be finding out soon enough, regardless! I think I have enough here to keep me busy. To tell you the truth the map I'm making is more about this Nerath keep and its surrounds, but I have a feeling about this dragon place might hold more Nerath secrets given the extensive ruins about the locale. So I think I have multiple days of work ahead of me." She pauses at that and smiles.

"Tell you what ..." She stuck her left hand back to her inside her pack and retrieved five gold pieces from her concealed purse. Palming them over. "Given me and my partner will be pretty busy over the coming tenday with all of these locations and drawing up a final map for Cranewing, we'll probably not get a chance to meet again soon. Plus I figure that amount should allow you to buy a good deal of provisions while in the village before heading back to your farmstead. Thanks for all your help!" She beamed at him.

She lifted herself up, putting the stopper on the vial of ink and rolling the two pieces of paper up together, putting them in her pack. And lastly collecting her tankard. "Oh, and please. Enjoy the rest of the pitcher." Before taking a long drink of her tankard and wandering over to Annette.

"Five weights of gold, three silver down. But I got some information on our objective, as well as another place nearby we might want to look into." She said excitedly to her partner as she played her games, trying not to interrupt her and providing a friendly smile and nod to her gaming friends. Pointing at Annette with her index finger and mouthing 'With her, it's fine.' Excitement practically dripping off every body language. Clearly she was ager to give this whole 'adventuring biz' a shot.



15 pieces of paper down to 13.

+1 rough map of the surrounding countryside.
+1 instructions, local myths and 'history' of some of the locales.

-5GP, -3SP

[J-H]

Zacharius

"Thank you. Who would know the most about the kobold attacks? Can you suggest what woodsmen to talk to?

To set a trap, we'll need bait. If we tell someone to be obvious about moving food or valuables to a vulnerable warehouse, will you give instructions that they will listen to?"

[Buufreak]

[roll0]

Taking the -2 for the lateness. Figure that can help to even things out and not let me wanderlust too much.

Seamus arrives in town, perhaps a bit late, it would seem. Night has grown on and the town seems well deserted. Like before when leaving home for the first time, he sees the lights of a building and makes his way. Entering Wrafton's Inn, he sees the vastness that is the majority of the town. He finds a seet the best he can, and strikes up conversation with the nearest person he can find.

"Excuse me, miss, but I heard tale of a dragon grave coming up in my home town. Is this the town that was close to it, or did I travel in the wrong direction? I'm looking for Winterhaven."

[ngilop]

Tarik's impatient and eager personality breaks through "Well, Zacharius, you seem to have details to work out. Not my speciality by far. I head on to this Wrafton's and see if there are any there to take up the cause"

Tarik bows and takes his leave, getting his sword before he leaves and makes his way to the inn. As he arrives he boldly and with much gusto exclaims 'Who here wants to deal with these kobold vermin?" The solidly built man is most certainly a warrior of some sort, and a bit boisterous.

[Unavenger]

Esther had spent a while helping the people of the city, and wandered into the tavern to see if there was anything else to be found in this town, leaving Aurora to conceal herself as best she could outside. She hesitated, unsure of whom she should strike up a conversation with...

"Excuse me, miss, but I heard tale of a dragon grave coming up in my home town. Is this the town that was close to it, or did I travel in the wrong direction? I'm looking for Winterhaven."

She turned, startled. "Winterhaven this is, for sure. And I have heard much the same tale. Perhaps it's connected with the kobolds somehow, but otherwise I had hoped to treat it as a secondary issue."

"Who here wants to deal with these kobold vermin?"

She turned to another entrant. "Hmm, I'd say that's my cue. Esther Sylvari at your service". She extended a hand.

[J-H]

Zacharias

Zacharias politely bids Lord Padraig goodbye and goes with Tarik, once his question has been answered.

[ngilop]

Tarik looks down to the small woman who spoke to him and takes the offered hand, his own hand looking gigantic next to hers which makes his chuckle a few times.

"Well, cannot say that you look capable to me. But, an offer of help is an offer I shall not pass on. I will do my best to keep you safe. Tarik's the name Tarik Edoah" Tarik seems to be blunt, as well as a bit dangerous. But, you do seem to feel a bit safer with the large man standing next to you.

[Buufreak]

He meets her hand with a soft touch and a warm smile. "Seamus Horash, and no need for anyones who be servicing me. I prefer getting my hands dirty." He sits back into his chair, very relaxed given the situation. "What's all this about kobolds? Da' and I used to chase 'em off the farm when I was too young to draw a bow."

[Obscuraphile]

"Thank you. Who would know the most about the kobold attacks? Can you suggest what woodsmen to talk to?

To set a trap, we'll need bait. If we tell someone to be obvious about moving food or valuables to a vulnerable warehouse, will you give instructions that they will listen to?"

Lord Padriag raises an eyebrow at Tarik's sudden departure and rings a small bell that is sitting on the desk in front of him. The steward appears at the doors to the library and escorts Tarik to the doors of the manor. At the inner gate the young guardsman is warming himself by a brazier in a hollow place out of the wind. When Tarik appears the guardsman promptly hands over his blade and wishes him well.

Back in the library Lord Padriag focuses his attention on Zacharius. "Winterhaven is not a large town by any stretch of the imagination, so what one person knows one day everybody is likely to know the next. As for my recommendation regarding a forester, I would say that, despite her rather icy demeanor, the elf maid Ninaran is second to none in her craft."

Zacharius' second question gives the Lord a great deal more pause. "I am afraid I can no more order my charges to risk their property than I can order them to risk life or limb. But, I can offer you a portion of my house's wealth with which to bait your trap. Or I suppose it might be more accurate to say you may take what I would give you for solving this problem and use it for that same end." Lord Padriag rings his bell again, summoning the steward. Rising to his feet and addressing his manservant, Lord Padriag assumes the air of one used to being obeyed. "Gareth, Withdraw three hundred gold pieces from the treasury and make the siege supplies available to master Zacharius and his allies."

"Very good, sir," Gareth says with a deep bow.

Turning back to Zacharius Lord Padriag says, "I grant you, and your allies of course, have absolute rights to anything reclaimed from the Kobolds' warren, regardless of previous ownership. Please deal with the matter as swiftly as you are able." It is obvious from the Lord's tone and the steward beckoning gesture that Zacharius is dismissed.

The coins that Gareth acquires for Zacharius are all stamped with a profile remarkable similar, but not quite representative of the current Lord Padriag. Gareth explains that at some point many generations ago, after the fall of the Empire of Nerath, the monetary system began to fail and the House Padriag took to minting their own coins and keeping the economy afloat out of their personal coffers. When the current Lord Padriag was young, the elders of the town claimed he was the veritable image of his great sires. Thus it is almost his face on the coinage of Winterhaven.

Wrafton's:

Eilian thanks Milana for her generosity and her willingness to listen to his ramblings. "Few enough care what Eilian the Old has to say these days." He opines before saying his goodbye and taking the pitcher and his tankard over to a table where several younger children await him. There are shrill cries of "Story! Story!" as he eases his old bones onto the padded seat one of the oldest boys pulls out for him.

The last rays of the setting sun turn the sky beautiful shades of red, orange, and purple as Seamus enters the tavern. Inside the farmers are doing their best to make merry and forget the creeping threat and hardship of the last few months. The gamblers give Milana appraising glances but are more than happy to welcome her to the table and allow her to pester Annette. Bairwin makes a comment about hoping that the distraction will help his chances at getting some money out of the evening, even if it is only the sale of a gambling set. Thair and Delphina tell him to shut up and roll his bones.

The atmosphere becomes decidedly more sober when Tarik makes his entrance and brings everybody's delusions crashing down. There are a few uncomfortable mumbles from several of the tables where groups of farmers are drinking and talking, but Salvana Wrafton is able to recover and rekindle the jovial mood with a few well placed words, some kind, others teasing. She gives Tarik a serious, but not exactly annoyed, look and guides him along with his new acquaintances over to a corner table. "A pitcher and some seasoned potatoes on the house for you all. I thank you for your enthusiasm and desire to help us, young master, but would ask that you spare a thought for my business before you go ruining the evening."

So the party has been paid 300 gp in advance to deal with the kobolds. Lord Padriag has also offered you access to Winterhaven's siege supplies which is a collection of various mundane equipment as well as stock piles of food, water, and building materials. If you want to look through them for a specific item, feel free to ask. Depending on the type it might just be there or you might have to roll. Lord Padriag will be less than impressed if you take advantage of his generosity.

Also, just so that everyone is aware, the town of Winterhaven has a population of around 1000 individuals (approximately 200 families), spread out over the surrounding country side (i.e. those within about two day's ride on horse back). Wrafton's can hold, and is currently hosting, several dozen people.

[J-H]

Zacharias

Zacharias carefully places the coin within an inner pocket, safe from any sort of casual thievery. He walks into Wrafton's a couple of minutes behind Tarik, and looks around. It appears Tarik is making some new friends, perhaps ones who would be willing to help.

He walks over to Tarik and quietly says. "Recruiting? We need all the help we can get. I have a plan for the morrow."

Zacharias looks around to see if perhaps the elven woman named Ninaran is around. It sounds like this might not be her kind of place, but perhaps he can find someone who looks like a trapper or hunter who would know where to find her.

[Schismatic]

She gave a warm smile as the younglings made a spot for the kindly old farmer. It was enough to remind her about a local sage she and her friends used to harass for stories about the wider world as kids. Every village, town, and even city had a kindly Eilian and she counted herself fortunate to have run into Winterhaven's one.

When the crowd went silent she looked about herself, wandering exactly what was up. Her cursory investigation broken by Salvana's offer.

"Woo! Salvana is a saint! Charity and cheer so boundless!" She screamed out. Totally misreading the audience or any of its gravitas of the new arrival. She patted Annette on the shoulder softly just to let her know she were heading away and quietly left her to her game of dice.

"See... free ale, good company, amazing stories about dead dragons and kobolds, and possibly redcaps. Like zero qualms about coming here." She slowly wandered over to collect her free prize for simply existing in the room, but as if she were going to let a gift go untaken regardless of how little it was deserved. "If only so many places were this interesting..." As she await her turn to receive her prize of amber brew. Tapping on the nearest person's shoulder in line for the drinks and feed, and pointing to the newcomers.

"What's their story, friend?" She asked curiously, as if trying to get read on the situation.

[Obscuraphile]

Wrafton's:

Milana draws a few further glances with her outburst but most people have tumbled to the fact that adventurers are in town and are willing to let a bit of queerness fly. Thair glances around the gambling table as Milana goes off to pester food from the growing table of adventures. "Yer, friend..." he says the slightest bit of a slur creeping into his voice. The dwarf pauses and glares down the empty barrel of his tankard for a moment. Delphina leans over to fill him back up, dwarvish tradition being that the person sitting to one's right has the responsibility to keep their drink full. "She's a bit... touched? Aye?" he asks with a sympathetic expression while tapping the side of his head.

Meanwhile, Zacharius spots an elf woman who fits Lord Padriag's description of the trapper Ninaran sitting alone at one end of the bar.

There's no line for free drinks. Salvana was expressing her support for people who are willing to deal with the kobolds while at the same time taking Tarik aside and telling him not to bring down the mood. Only those at the table with him (i.e. the party members) heard or received anything on the house. Her comments to fill the awkward silence brought about by Tarik's grand entry were separate and directed at individual townsfolk. The tavern owner knows how to work a room.

[J-H]

Zacharias
Zacharias returns his bow and warhammer to his bedroom, not needing to be encumbered with them in this environment. He then goes and sits down next to Ninaran.

"Good evening. My name is Zacharias, and I have a plan to find the kobolds and end their threat. I've been told you're probably the person best able to help, and might be open to being hired."

[Obscuraphile]

Zacharius:

Zacharius can see that Ninaran is pretty enough, with dark eyes and hair that go well with her tanned skin. She wears functional leathers under a fur trimmed cloak that while not as grand as Lord Padriag's would certainly be warm enough to protect her from frostbite in the coming winter. Her face wrinkles into a mild scowl at the paladin's words "I'm what passes for a trapper in this back water, but I don't fight kobolds. Isn't that more a job for someone such as yourself?" she asks with a slight challenge in her voice and an up and down assessment of Zacharius. "I've heard of the problems on the road and in the wilds but haven't had any troubles myself, so I don't see why I need to get involved. Now please, I only came here to drink in peace."

You succeeded on a sense motive check!

Despite her dismissive attitude you can tell that Ninaran is trying to hide the fact that she is nervous. You caught a subtle tensing of her body and flick of her eyes when you mentioned the kobolds.

[JNAProductions]

Annette comes to sit at the table with the rest, seeing what all the fuss is about, and prepared to offer a helping hand.

I may have unsubbed from this by accident.

My apologies.

[J-H]

Zacharias

"For taking a blade to the foe and protecting the innocent, yes. Kobolds are greedy, but also cowardly. I hope to lure them into a trap - which you could help with - and then track the ones who escape back to their den so that they can be dealt with. If you choose not to fight, the pay would be less, but your skills would still be of help.

Have you had an encounter with them before? There's no shame in being wary."

[JNAProductions]

Wait, kobolds? What? Trap? Annette questions.

[Obscuraphile]

Zacharius & Annette:

Ninaran arches an eyebrow at Annette before addressing Zacharius. "I just told you that I haven't had any problems with the beasts, but regardless, I trap game. Kobolds are stupid little creatures but they are craftier by far than a rabbit or a deer. Though, it looks like you have the pick of the litter when it comes to companions. Ninaran sighs and quaffs her drink, a dark purple wine. "Still, I imagine your gold glitters brightly enough, and your friend over there seems to be gathering quite the collection of bumpkins. What would you have me do and how much would you pay me for it?"

[Buufreak]

Seamus can't help but overhear the conversations a few tables over. He mutters to himself, something about the kobolds being either too big or too bold to chase off with just his mother's broom. He doesn't approach, however. Da' always taught that it was rude to interrupt important men discussing important things, and he deemed this just that from the looks of the mass worry of the townsfolk.

[J-H]

Zacharias

"I've been told they're robbing travelers and outlying farmhouses almost nightly. Unless they're stealing at random, that means they have scouts watching - in some ways, they may be more organized than the town guard. We load up a wagon with barrels and crates that look full, then drive it out of town on whatever road is most visible to everything around. A couple of miles out, the axle "breaks". The drover driving the wagon gets out, fiddles with it and tries to work on it for a couple of hours, and then gives up in obvious exasperation and takes the horses back to town. We appeal to their greed with this, while hiding inside the wagon the whole time, where they can't see us.

Then we wait for them to take the bait. We kill any of them we can, but let a few get away. In their haste and fear, they will not cover their trail well, and you can help us track them back to wherever they are operating from so that we can put an end to their banditry.

They are cunning, but we will turn their base nature and greed against them. Five gold a night if they don't take the bait, and then another twenty gold for simply following the trail back for us, if you're successful. If you choose to fight, another five gold pieces per kobold you kill up to a maximum of twenty five gold. I bet it is more than you'd make trapping some skunks and beavers."

[JNAProductions]

I do need money... I can be bait! Annette volunteers.

[ngilop]

Tarik looks to Salvana quizzically as if he don't understand how what he said actually was uncouth. He smiles and lets the woman lead him to the corner table. "My friend here and myself are looking for a group to help us rid this town of those pesky kobolds' He indicates Zacharias. Hhe grins and lowers his head a bit before adding "Which he seems to have a most wonderful plan to get them"

[Obscuraphile]

Zacharius & Annette:

Ninaran's eyes glitter at the mention of what her cut could be, it would seem that Zacharius judged her income correctly. "Getting hurt is what you saps sign up for, not me," she says with a meaningful look at Annette. "But for that kind of money, I'll tag along and be your bloodhound. When does this plan of yours spring into action?"

Tarik and Company:

Salvana pats Tarik's hand in a grateful manner. "Believe me, I'm glad we finally have people willing to confront the problem for us. Our lordship is a kind and good man and the people he rules are too, but we are none of us proper soldiers or adventurers. It's good to have heroes in our midst once again."

[J-H]

Zacharias

"Tomorrow, if we can get enough people lined up. The morning to load and organize, and the afternoon to deploy the wagon. It'll need to break down late enough in the day to make leaving it there and loaded plausible."

[Obscuraphile]

"You're giving the lizards far too much credit when it comes to brains, but it's no skin off my back to track in the dark." Ninaran taps a long finger to the corner of one of her almond shaped eyes. "Same goes for the kobolds though. Not sure if you and your allies will be able to keep up...

[Schismatic]

"Speaking of the kobold attacks, how often did they used to menace your community before?" She asked Salvana. "I mean could it just be a coincidence of seemingly purposeful elevation of attacks? The inscruitability of their objective would be explained if it were simply that." She pondered to the innkeep aloud.

[Obscuraphile]

"Oh the wilds have always been dangerous," Salvana admits. "Even back when the roads were better traveled than they are these days. But in the past we always heard of attacks, when travelers did pass though, and lately we have been seeing them for ourselves. People I know personally have had sheep stolen from their pastures, or wheat from their granaries."

[Schismatic]

"Oh the wilds have always been dangerous," Salvana admits. "Even back when the roads were better traveled than they are these days. But in the past we always heard of attacks, when travelers did pass though, and lately we have been seeing them for ourselves. People I know personally have had sheep stolen from their pastures, or wheat from their granaries."


"Well if they are stepping up their thefts, that would suggest they're up to something. I mean it sounds like before they were just periodically stealing to eat. It sounds like the agenda is still the same, but with the increased activity that suggests their numbers have grown or they're preparing for something else." She paused to consider the situation. Looking to the table containing the various new arrivals and now, apparently, Annette.

"And you say that bunch over there are being paid by Lord Padraig to take care of it?" She queried to Salvana as she leant against the bar with her back against it, observing the room for a moment, taking a mental note of the people within, but her focus seems squared at their table. Trying to decide whether she should introduce herself.

[Obscuraphile]

"Neither bodes well for us," Salvana says in a tone that suggests she agrees with Milana's conclusions

Following the young woman's gaze to the table of adventurers she says, "I don't know what arrangement they came to with his lordship, but that one with the sword and that one with the armor had a meeting with him this afternoon." Salvana nods at Tarik across the room and Zacharius at the other end of the bar.

[Schismatic]

"Neither bodes well for us," Salvana says in a tone that suggests she agrees with Milana's conclusions

Following the young woman's gaze to the table of adventurers she says, "I don't know what arrangement they came to with his lordship, but that one with the sword and that one with the armor had a meeting with him this afternoon." Salvana nods at Tarik across the room and Zacharius at the other end of the bar.

"Thanks for the local chant! I think I'll introduce myself." She beamed at Salvana. As she looked at her two options and produced a silver coin. Leaving it to fate she flicked it into the air and caught it with her palm. Her index finger run across its face and without looking at the results directly, the rules and laws associated with the chaos of its results wouldn't be known.

She pushed herself off the bar and headed for Zacharias. She made her approach twiddling the coin before slipping it into a fold of her leather armour. She gave him a small wave.

"I hear you're dealing with the kobolds, mind if we talk? I have picked up a little intelligence on the local surrounds. I'm on assignment to map out a certain location, and given both the possibility of the kobolds using it as a storage and forward site of their operations, I thought maybe we could reach a mutual arrangement? I'm Milana, by the way." She offered diplomatically with a characteristically easy smile and extended her right hand in greetings.

[Unavenger]

Esther almost laughed at the idea that she might need protection. Whatever the case, interest had drifted to a group talking about material wealth and possessions, and she sighed and waited for them to finish. She took a seat and ran her fingers through her soft, messy brown hair as she considered the kobold problem, not bothering to speak up while all of the others chatted. Instead, she turned to Seamus. "Well, while the others are talking about exactly how many shinies who's getting for what, we might as well get to know each other. And compare this dragon rumour we've heard, too," she suggests.

[J-H]

Zacharias

"Absolutely. I don't know anything about dragon graves, but I suppose kobolds would be all over that sort of thing if they could find one. Are you willing to help catch and kill them?"

[Buufreak]

"Well, while the others are talking about exactly how many shinies who's getting for what, we might as well get to know each other. And compare this dragon rumour we've heard, too," she suggests.

"I don't suppose I have too much to compare. Was in the next town over, heard about a dragon grave being dug up. Gran'da' taught me better than to let a grave goin' messed with, 'specially something as big and noble a dragon."

[Schismatic]

Zacharias

"Absolutely. I don't know anything about dragon graves, but I suppose kobolds would be all over that sort of thing if they could find one. Are you willing to help catch and kill them?"

"Capture, yes. But kill? I suppose if I need to defend myself." She noted somewhat perturbed as she examined his features a bit, weighing up whether he could trusted before digging into her pack for the two rolled up pieces of paper. "There is a hypothetical dragon hoard that I have managed to record the location of, about half a day's trip from here. But the location I've been asked to map is a Nerath Keep half a day south in the other direction." She said. Pointing out both sites on her handdrawn map according to Eilian's instructions.

"These maps are loose physical representations as according to where we are and what the local stories, myths and lore is about town." She added, as if in throwaway excuses for their natural unscaled-ness or likely inaccuracy. "But note this Nerath Keep and this dragon tomb can be superficially travelled to over a course of two days of travel, though as a person who has been on the road for quite sometime until getting here, realistically speaking an expedition into both locations will require 2 days each at least, with one day of travelling inbetween." She began thinktanking their movements.

"The exact order of the expeditions are negligible of import to me, as both of thm may be used as forward logistical sites for any kobold activity to sally forth from in order to pilfer supplies from the surrounding farmsteads of Winterhaven." She explained.

"From the sounds of it the kobolds just want to eat. And while it might be noisome the occasional loss of some flour and sheep does not simply deserve their mass slaughter." She noted to Zacharias. "Their patterns and increased activity suggests they're still just trying to eat and perhaps preparing for something else, some greater evil to which they might feel threatened their supplies longterm, or to feed increased numbers. So I hope you also value understanding?" She explained her thoughts with growing reservations.

[J-H]

Zacharias

Zacharias responds to the Milana. "We'll see what we find out; They are not mere animals, and have the ability to make moral decisions. If they have chosen to prepare for something by killing innocent travelers and stealing the grain of farmers who need it to survive the winter, that is their choice, and they bring the consequences on their own heads. If a kobold or troll walked into the town gates tomorrow and said that it was being attacked by, say, drow slavers or a horde of undead and needed help - that earns a more benevolent response than murdering and stealing, does it not?

The trap I plan will specifically catch those currently carrying out such crimes, and we will trace them back to their den. What skills do you have to offer in helping with this, Milana? A map is useful, but I think this calls more for spell and sword."

[Schismatic]

Zacharias

Zacharias responds to the Milana. "We'll see what we find out; They are not mere animals, and have the ability to make moral decisions. If they have chosen to prepare for something by killing innocent travelers and stealing the grain of farmers who need it to survive the winter, that is their choice, and they bring the consequences on their own heads. If a kobold or troll walked into the town gates tomorrow and said that it was being attacked by, say, drow slavers or a horde of undead and needed help - that earns a more benevolent response than murdering and stealing, does it not?

The trap I plan will specifically catch those currently carrying out such crimes, and we will trace them back to their den. What skills do you have to offer in helping with this, Milana? A map is useful, but I think this calls more for spell and sword."

Milana & Zacharias

"That's true, but it would be dangerous to conflate murderous kobolds with 'kobold' in general. After all, prior these more recent attacks it seems they were just content with petty theft. There might be more than meets the eye, and consolidating our efforts against the prime architect of their sudden aggression might secure longterm solutions over simply temporary, yearly slaughers." She voices her concern to Zacharias.

She paused to consider her next thoughts as she rolled up her papers and put them back in her pack.

"As for skills... I have a silver tongue, and my song can bolser the fighting spirit of my compatriots. I have limited magical ability or skill with a blade on my own, but I have a scholarly understanding of magic and magical items. Fairly good handling horse and camel, in saddle or in tending. I'm also a fairly lucky soul... given my acumen working with people, I often pick up useful information everywhere I go. How would one call it? A storyteller's insight?" She extolled her virtues.

"Plus, most importantly, I'm eager to get started right away. I can leave this instance, and how many others here will you find also so willing to endanger themselves so quickly and with such little qualm?" She chortled.

[ngilop]

Tarik scratches his chin for a bit" "Dragon graveyard, hmm maybe that and the kobolds have some sort of relationship" Tarik pauses for a moment before continuing "It seems we are ready to start now, I say we get the wagon on the road, The sooner we deal with the kobold threat, the sooner the town can sleep easy."

[J-H]

Zacharias

If there are no further suggestions, Zacharias will suggest that all who are interested in participating meet for breakfast in the morning. From there, he explains, they'll go get the wagon and someone to drive it. "No need to rise early, as preparations will only take an hour or two. We may have a long night ahead of us."

[Obscuraphile]

Wrafton's:

As night falls properly over the small town the farmers and herdsmen depart in small groups to their homes. The gates are sealed and the chill of an autumn night settles over the countryside. The inn has plenty of room for all and despite being rather rustic the place is clean and well kept. The night passes uneventfully and the next morning preparations are easily made to enact Zacharius' plan.

The wagon, with faux cargo and adventurer's in tow, passes out of the town gates and turns southeast along the King's Road. About an hour later a spot is chosen to stage the ambush. With the help of all involved a wheel is removed from the front axle and the scene is made to look like a simple accident. Ninaran wastes no time in setting a few small traps around the wagon.

"The soil is dusty near the road," she explains taking out her water skin and laying a few short, sharpened stakes on the ground beside her. "I dig a small furrow that deepens to a hole at one end. Using a bit of water, I firm up the edges and lay the stake in point downwards. Then I pack the dirt back in on top of the stake, keeping the hole clear and making sure I use dry soil on the surface to avoid giving the game away. Now I take a strip of cloth, weight it with some pebbles at the corners and cover the hole with it, adding soil for camouflage. Anyone or anything that steps on the cloth will have their leg drop down into the hole. If they try to pull it out the spike dig in."

Ninaran makes three such traps taking care to point them out to everyone. "If you do blunder into one, don't struggle. You'll only make it worse. You have to dig the stake up before you can free your leg."

https://i.imgur.com/wpVol1P.jpg

The red markers are the locations of Ninaran's traps.

[J-H]

Zacharias

"Clever traps, thank you.

Anyone who can hide in a tree or out of sight nearby, please do so - but remember, the kobolds may try to hide in the same places you use, so choose carefully! Those of us who are less stealthy should wait out of sight in the wagon."

Putting action to words, Zacharias climbs into the wagon, leaving the rear gate unlatched and wedged just shut enough to stay in place, so that a gentle push would make it swing out. He finds a reasonably comfortable spot and wraps his cloak around him. It may be a long, chilly night...

[ngilop]

Tarik nods his head and searches for a place to hide, trying to fit his body as best he can in some shrubbery near the edge of the road.

[Buufreak]

Seamus takes a place amongst the thicker woods (shrubs?), buckles down and lays out a few arrows before him. He's ready to draw and fire on a moment's notice.

Digging the map, looks nice and official ;). I'm going for the thick greenery to the west of the northern most trap. 7 in, 7 down.

[Schismatic]

Milana looked a little perturbed by the nature of the scheme, though given she didn't trust to herself to not be detected outside the covered wagon she stayed within. That being said her general pertubations being that they were essentially sitting ducks against an unknown quantity with a foe that in legends passing were highly cunning ambushers.

When she felt safe she observed the construction of the spike traps and committing their location to memory, and pondered whether an enemy would detect them or not--and if so, just what exactly would that mean to the linen covered wagon? Perhaps it were just nerves, and given others seem to be hiding in the wagon with her maybe she were just being paranoid? Pre-battle jitters?

Basically her only knowledge of battle came from a handful of tavern brawls, even her trip over 140 days to the North and West was suspiciously quiet. So much so her wagon train merchant commander called Milana a 'good luck charm'--perfectly fine for the merchants and their guards, but hardly fine for a would be adventurer that in the end would need to meet violence with practical understanding of it in tow.

She gripped her longsword in her waking moments with an occasional white-knuckled grip, consciously trying to summon up memories of the more practical elements of her college's stage fighting techniques for the more thespian-minded of their number back in her homeland...

[JNAProductions]

Annette surveys the locations of the traps. Alright. I'm nervous... But we can do this!

[Obscuraphile]

The trap is set and the waiting begins. The autumn chill blows along the road rustling leaves and stirring the dirt of the road. Inside the wagon is fairly comfortable since the breeze is out of the northeast. Shortly before sundown as the sky begins to turn orange, leaves rustle against the wind rather than with it. Soft barking voices sound from the trees to the south between the two hills.

After a few minutes of waiting the leaves part and two small, reptilian creatures carrying small shields and short spears emerge. They argue quietly in their strange voices as they creep towards the wagon. A louder yipping comes from the trees behind them causing both to spin around and call back, even in a foreign tongue "Shut your stupid mouth" is clear.

As the pair creeps closer to the wagon and further from the woods without incident more kobolds begin to reveal themselves from the trees. The first two are not brawny by any definition of the word but the others are comically thin even by comparison. Each of the hangers back has a small bundle of crudely made javelins and a simple loin cloth. Everybody, kobolds and ambushers alike, holds their breath as the two shield-bearing kobolds get within reach of the wagon.

One goes to prod the side with its spear when its foot plunges into one of Ninaran's traps. Its screams of pain and fear shatter the quiet tension of the moment into full blown and immediate chaos.

Obligatory (https://imgur.com/IlMXZWQ) three (https://i.imgur.com/IlMXZWQ.jpg) image links (https://imgur.com/gallery/uROtYFv)

https://i.imgur.com/IlMXZWQ.jpg

Kobold Initiative: [roll0]

[J-H]

Zacharias

Bellowing a loud roar, Zacharias pushes off the wall of the wagon and leaps out the front, his sword and shield at the ready.


Move to the road square just to the right of the right-most of the two closest kobolds. Kobold is flat-footed and can't make AOOs yet.
Init [roll0]

[Buufreak]

Seamus

He didn't need more than the word go, and already the twine of his bow string was sliding through his fingers. Seamus let loose a single arrow, and it sailed towards his target like the hundreds of times he had done before. This must be it. What Gran'da' always spoke of. Finding a real purpose for my talent.

Letting loose the first of assumedly many arrows, sailing towards the furthest kobold in from where his eye can catch, 10 in and 15 down. 1d20++4 for [roll0] on a hit.

[Buufreak]

I'm apparently really bad at getting this to work right. Attack roll, [roll0]

[ngilop]

Tarik rushes towards the kobold just exiting from the woodline, holding a pack of javelins.In the same foreign tongue of the kobolds yells "Live and let die!" (5 in and 13 down)


[roll0]

[Schismatic]

She hefted her blade up and leapt out of the wagon. She began singing in her native draconic tongue used in the far East and South. A blitzing ballad that pierces and resonates in the soul as she fell into the fray of the battlefield. A crisp and stately adagietto.

"In'saga kor zama fuer adjuris!"

Pulling out to the left of the wagon and taking cover (if possible) against the rock.

"To the brave, the burden of battle!"
[roll0]

[Obscuraphile]

Esther points and with a word sends Aurora bounding out of the brush as a snarling missile of teeth and claws with the druid close on the wolf's heels. Annette remains in the wagon but the sharp thwack of a crossbow lets everybody know that she is by no means remaining out of the fight.

Esther's Initiative: [roll0]
Annette's Initiative: [roll1]
Annette's Attack: [roll2]
Crit Confirmation 19-20: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]
Crit Damage: [roll5]

[Obscuraphile]

The fight is truly begun! Seamus' arrow strikes true, while Annette's quarrel flies wide. The kobolds screech in surprise and alarm.

We will be handling initiative in groups so anyone who beat the kobold's roll may take their actions in whatever order you please.

Initiative:
Annette 21
Esther 15
Tarik 14
Zacharius 12
Kobolds 7
Seamus 6
Milana 1

M (https://imgur.com/gSBdaGq)-A (https://i.imgur.com/gSBdaGq.jpg)-P (https://imgur.com/gallery/CcwfZjN)

https://i.imgur.com/gSBdaGq.jpg

As you might be able to tell, we've had a slight art upgrade. Your characters are denoted by the ring in their speech color. If you have an image you would prefer I use in the future please provide it and I will be happy to do so.

[J-H]

Zacharias

Zacharias swings with his sword at the closest kobold, trying to kill it quickly enough to make the others run away. He successfully gouges the dirt, and raises his shield in a guard position while he pulls his blade out of the hard-packed soil of the road.


Attack [roll0] for [roll1]

[ngilop]

Tarik bears down on the kobold, dodging a quick jab, he brings his sword across at an upwards angle in a dangerous slash.


Standard Action
Att: [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]
Contingent Move Action
Move to the middle javelin Kobold

OOC: if this attack downs his current target add the Following:

Tarik sees his opponent laid low, and rushes to engage the kobold that is open on his right flank. "I got this one guys, no worries!" He says loudly with a bit more enthusiasm than he should.

[Unavenger]

Aurora will bite, with +2 for flanking, against the javelin kobold next to her. Esther will, if Aurora kills or trips that kobold, rush to attack javelin kobold 2 if that's still alive. If Aurora doesn't manage to kill or trip the kobold, Esther will thwack the same one.

Aurora bite: [roll0] [roll1]
Aurora trip: [roll2]
Esther spear: [roll3] (+2 if attacking the flanked kobold) [roll4]

Aurora growled at the kobold, then pounced on it, her jaws reaching up to bite the creature. Then it was Esther's turn to attack, striking forwards with her spear as hard as her slim frame would allow her. Her hair whipped around her back, and a scowl crossed her usually-calm face as she jabbed forwards.

[Obscuraphile]

Though their attacks miss, Zacharius' and Tarik's presences are menace enough to the frail kobolds. The fear in their eyes grows to absolute terror as Aurora rips one of their companions to bloody shreds. Esther almost glides over the grass towards the second javelineer who is still plucking at the wound inflicted by Seamus. It looks up a second too late as a much bigger point and shaft are driven into its body.

A loud clunking and chattering noise comes from inside the wagon. Annette is reloading her crossbow. The remaining javelineer dives back into the woods and sets the leaves and branches to rustling loudly in his panicked retreat. The free dragonshield takes a swipe at Milana trying to create an opening then flees back towards safety. The trapped dragonshield stabs frantically at Zacharius while holding his shield rather comically atop up head.

M (https://imgur.com/gallery/kvSRHqw)-A (https://i.imgur.com/oxpnwyp.jpg)-P (https://imgur.com/oxpnwyp)

https://imgur.com/oxpnwyp.jpg

Dragonshield 1 Attack vs Milana -
Attack: [roll0]
Crit Confirmation: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Crit Damage: [roll3]

Dragonshield 2 Attack vs Zacharius -
Attack: [roll4]
Crit Confirmation: [roll5]
Damage: [roll6]
Crit Damage: [roll7]

Dragonshield 1 provokes AoOs from Milana and Esther.
Javelineer 3 prokoves an AoO from Tarik. Tarik will need a successful Spot check to locate the kobold in the heavy brush.

Initiative:
Annette 21
Esther 15
Tarik 14
Zacharius 12
Kobolds 7
Seamus 6
Milana 1

Everybody can now take their actions.

[J-H]

Zacharias

Zacharias swings his blade at the kobold's smaller sword, hitting it with a loud clash, and knocking it out of the creature's small hands.


Disarm attempt!
Kobold's AOO [roll0] for [roll1] miss, AC 18
Opposed rolls [roll2] for Zacharias (+4 for size difference)
Kobold [roll3] and -4 additional if its sword is a light weapon.
success

[ngilop]

Tarik grunts as the kobold breaks and runs, angry at the cowardice..but more so by his horrible swing. "You will not escape coward!" He yells after it in Kobold.


Standard chase after the kobold and attack it.
AoO [roll0]
Dmg [roll1]
Spot [roll2]
Att [roll3]
Dmg[roll4]

Contigent action: if the AoO manages to drop the kobold he will move to support Milana and attack that kobold.

[Unavenger]

Esther saw Aurora bite down on the kobold, then swung her body around to strike down a second one, her hair and dress whipping around as she struck the creature with her spear. "Such are the wages of sin," she snarled. Another one ran by her and, quick as she dared, she whirled her spear back around once more, a manoeuvre which was at least twice as flashy as genuinely graceful, but it worked well enough.

Just taking the AoO for now; I'd like to see where things end up before declaring my actions for my actual turn.

[roll0], [roll1]

[Obscuraphile]

Tarik plunges off into the woods and catches up to his quarry. With a mighty swing he shears off several small branches, and cuts through the creature's pitiful javelin, raised in defense to bury his blade in its shoulder, almost cutting straight through its sternum.

[Obscuraphile]

Milana lunges with her sword as the kobold scurries away but a sinuous twist from the reptile allows it to slip off unscathed. Esther makes an attempt with her spear but only manages to gouge a chunk out of its shield.

Annette appears out of the wagon, crossbow trained on the kobold that Zacharius just disarmed. She speaks in their language but without the high pitched yipping sounds of their tiny throats. *Move and you die.* The kobold raises its shield trembling visibly.

The map is still accurate, as far as the two remain kobolds are concerned. The one Zacharius is fighting has been disarmed and is still stuck in the trap. Tarik is about 30 ft. into the forest and has killed his quarry. Everybody else (Esther, Milana, and Seamus) can take their actions as normal.

[Schismatic]

She staggered back, pressing the right side of her stomach as warm, red blood dribbled worryingly quick from where the kobold pierced her leather armour.

"Fe'h ferra dos meidre tura sou!" She continued her battlecry ballad in draconic as she moved to engage the kobold that struck her. Attempting to disable the kobold with her horizontal slashing strike across its back....

[roll0]+1
If crit...

[roll1]+1

if hit...

[roll2]+1

if crit con

[roll3]+1 additional damage...

[Unavenger]

Aurora bounded towards the last kobold that she could see, before snapping up at it with powerful jaws, as Esther rushed to dig her spear into the same creature.

Aurora bite: [roll0] [roll1]
Aurora trip: [roll2]
Esther spear: [roll3] [roll4]

[Buufreak]

Seamus wastes no time, knocking another arrow and letting it fly at the same kobold.

Wash, rince, repeat til dead.
[roll0]
[roll1]

[Obscuraphile]

The kobold flees in terror but its short legs cannot outrun Aurora's long, loping strides. It wards the beast and her master off for a brief moment, but then an arrow sprouts under its arm. It falls with a high pitched yipping cry, breaking the arrow beneath it. The kobold twitches a few times and its mouth fills with blood before its eyes go glassy and it lies still.

Everybody gets 63 XP for the encounter. Before anyone asks the kobolds only have their gear for loot and it is poorly made stuff. Spears that look like they were made from literal tree branches, rough wooden shields, no armor to speak of.

The remaining kobold twists and turns in the trap trying to put its small shield between itself and the whole world at once. Annette's hard mask cracks and she mutters to herself, "I'm not sure I'm cut out for this after all." But then she sets her jaw and tightens the stock of her crossbow against her shoulder.

Ninaran climbs out of the back of the wagon to stand behind Zacharius. "It looks like the plan worked."

[J-H]

Zacharias

Zacharias stabs his sword into the trap, moving the stick enough that the disarmed kobold can flee.

"Yes, almost too easily. There's no honor here fighting these pitiful creatures. Merely pest control." He sighs. "There's one more to follow."

He looks up at the moon to see if it's casting enough light, or if the group will need torches.

[Obscuraphile]

The sky is clear and the moon is near full. If it was a matter of following the road, Zacharius has no doubt that it could be done, but navigating the forest, even with the light of every silver bright star in the dark vault of the heavens, is another matter entirely. The orange light of the sun hasn't yet completely faded and the moon is just beginning to peek over the horizon opposite the great orb. The task might yet be doable with natural light, but only if the destination is nearby and the party is swift.

[ngilop]

Tarik makes his way back to the rest of the group, covered in small scratches from running heedlessly through the forest. he walks over to the surviving kobold, exaggeratedly, he thrust his sword point into the ground beside it. He looks at the kobold and with a matter of fact voice says on kobold"how close is your lair? Know that the more accurate you tell it, the less likely my sword is to come out of the ground and towards you."

[roll0]

[Obscuraphile]

The kobold carefully removes its leg from the hole. With both hands on its shield it shakes visibly and limps back a step. "C-c-cave home close. Not far. Not far. Small moon. Please not hurt more!"

You're not exactly sure what small moon means but you get the feeling that kobolds don't have very accurate measurements for time or distance.

[Unavenger]

Though I highly doubt this kobold is lying, can't hurt to...

[roll0]

Esther wiped blood off her spear, and Aurora bounded over to her. Esther looked over to Tarik, and recalled what he'd said to her. Well, cannot say that you look capable to me. I will do my best to keep you safe. "And you thought you would have to protect me," she said to Tarik, smirking. She pulled a drop of blood on her face down her cheek, and grinned. Her messy, partly-braided hair was also stained with a little kobold blood.

"C-c-cave home close. Not far. Not far. Small moon. Please not hurt more!"

She went over to the limping kobold and raised an eyebrow. "Small moon? You mean, the time it takes the moon to go through its smallest phase? What do you mean, hellspawn?"

[Schismatic]

She slid her longsword into its sheath, and gripped her still wounded right flank. She hobbled slightly over to the surviving kobold being interrogated.

"I think it's pointless asking whether you poison your weapons... I didn't even get through the first stanza of my battle-song." She paused to consider the terrified creature.

"I think they mean a short night's journey." She noted to her boisterous companion. "Which makes sense. We're currently fairly close to the dragon tomb if my source's information is accurate. I had suspected it to be one locale these kobolds are working from."

"Can I ask, what has compelled you to increase your raids against this unassuming village and its farmsteads? You're causing quite the consternation, and there has been a bounty placed on your heads to deal with your interruptions. We are merely amongst the first respondents, you see. Eventually there'll be more. Is there not a more amicable relationship that would see less of your people killed, or can we at least learn why your people have recently stepped up your thefts?" She asked in draconic, as if allowing the pains of her injury fleet from her passions.

[Obscuraphile]

"Small moon? You mean, the time it takes the moon to go through its smallest phase? What do you mean, hellspawn?"

"SMALL MOON! SMALL MOON!" the kobold shrieks in panic pointing at the moon and then pointing at a spot slightly higher in the sky.


"Can I ask, what has compelled you to increase your raids against this unassuming village and its farmsteads? You're causing quite the consternation, and there has been a bounty placed on your heads to deal with your interruptions. We are merely amongst the first respondents, you see. Eventually there'll be more. Is there not a more amicable relationship that would see less of your people killed, or can we at least learn why your people have recently stepped up your thefts?"

The kobold stares dumbly at Milana. It even stops shaking and lowers its shield slightly. "Humans breathes words like dragon-fire..."

[Schismatic]

The kobold stares dumbly at Milana. It even stops shaking and lowers its shield slightly. "Humans breathes words like dragon-fire..."

"My homeland was created by the Dawn Dragon. A mighty drake that took on human form and carved out a breathtaking empire many thousands of years ago... the Empire is gone, but my city remains." She explained her use of draconic, wincing as she knelt down and then sat upon the ground as to get a better view of the kobold's face.


"Is there another that speaks like me where you live?" She enquired as if attempting to reconcile their words to possible scenarios explaining the kobold's recent aggressions.

[Obscuraphile]

"Is there another that speaks like me where you live?"

The kobold shakes its head. "No... Maybe... Don't know. Maybe Irontooth. But he mostly curse kobolds. Call names. Kobolds knows what those words mean."

[Schismatic]

The kobold shakes its head. "No... Maybe... Don't know. Maybe Irontooth. But he mostly curse kobolds. Call names. Kobolds knows what those words mean."

She listened intently, as the kobold spoke. Still, she were getting names and painting a picture and that's what mattered.

"A tyrant amongst your kind? This 'Irontooth', how do most kobolds within your tribe feel about him?" She queried softly.

[Obscuraphile]

The kobold sits down rather than attempting to keep balanced on his good leg. His short tail curls around his body protectively and he keeps his shield propped against his knees. His dark beady eyes flash from person to person but he seems to think that continuing to talk is his best way to keep from getting killed. "What tee-rant? Irontooth boss. Not matter how kobolds feel about boss. He boss. Bigger, smarter. Says do."

[J-H]

Zacharias

If Milana is translating, Zacharias will butt in - "Ask it what Irontooth is. As far as I know, kobolds don't get "bigger."

[Schismatic]

The kobold sits down rather than attempting to keep balanced on his good leg. His short tail curls around his body protectively and he keeps his shield propped against his knees. His dark beady eyes flash from person to person but he seems to think that continuing to talk is his best way to keep from getting killed. "What tee-rant? Irontooth boss. Not matter how kobolds feel about boss. He boss. Bigger, smarter. Says do."

"I think we can work with this." She smiled and looked to her colleagues in arms. Nodding at Zacharias' suggestion. Returning her gaze to the kobold.

"If you could tell us about this Irontooth, I'm sure I can barter for your life." Trying to reassure the creature.

[Obscuraphile]

With a confused expression the kobold looks between Zacharius and Milana. "Irontooth is goblin... but big... and has iron teeth," the kobold says slowly as if explaining something very simple to a particularly dense child. One clawed hand comes off his shield and rises into the air to emphasize his point about Irontooth's size and then he points to his own teeth. The kobold seems to have settled down and is no longer in much fear of the group although he still keeps his shield ready in one hand.

[Schismatic]

With a confused expression the kobold looks between Zacharius and Milana. "Irontooth is goblin... but big... and has iron teeth," the kobold says slowly as if explaining something very simple to a particularly dense child. One clawed hand comes off his shield and rises into the air to emphasize his point about Irontooth's size and then he points to his own teeth. The kobold seems to have settled down and is no longer in much fear of the group although he still keeps his shield ready in one hand.

"I had assumed you meant a dragon. Not a goblin." She said in trade tongue for everyone's benefit. A part of her inexplicably disappointed. A dragon would have made a fine tale, though the pain in her flank reminded her that perhaps an all too short one she wouldn't personally survive to tell.

"Surely fine dragon-kin such as you wouldn't suffer a greenskin giving orders, right? I think you'd make a better tribal leader." She began to feed the kobold's ego, allowing him that sense of being their intellectual superior.

"Why... just imagine if you let us deal with this interloper in your tribal affairs... say you and your family and closest friends were out pretending to be raiding, only to return and find this Irontooth dead and leaving you an organized party of kobolds and ready to take control of the tribe as is your right?"

She might not have the skill to kill, but a right word in the right ear can lessen any obstacle and enemy.

[Obscuraphile]

The kobold is clearly too dense to catch Milana's meaning and just shakes his reptilian head. "Irontooth boss. Can't have two bosses. Can't be own boss. Irontooth says catch humans give kobolds shinies. No catch human yet but stole some shinies."

[Schismatic]

The kobold is clearly too dense to catch Milana's meaning and just shakes his reptilian head. "Irontooth boss. Can't have two bosses. Can't be own boss. Irontooth says catch humans give kobolds shinies. No catch human yet but stole some shinies."

She chuckles a moment.

"You're absolutely right. You can only have one boss. And kobolds should lead kobolds, right? Like what if adventurers like me were dead-set on paying Irontooth a visit? After all, you have two options... being taken prisoner by us and released after we and other adventurers engage your family and friends and killing your boss... or you could take everyone you care for and simply stay out of our way and wait for us to complete our objective." She tried to lead him to water, she earnestly didn't want to either kill him or drag him around in binds while murdering his family members.

She paused to consider for a moment.

"So what does Irontooth want with humans, anyways? He only has interest in captives?" As if tumbling to question.

[Obscuraphile]

And kobolds should lead kobolds, right?

The kobold shakes its head. "Big boss should be dragon," it states matter of factly.


Like what if adventurers like me were dead-set on paying Irontooth a visit? After all, you have two options... being taken prisoner by us and released after we and other adventurers engage your family and friends and killing your boss... or you could take everyone you care for and simply stay out of our way and wait for us to complete our objective.

"Where stay? Stay in cave home?"


So what does Irontooth want with humans, anyways? He only has interest in captives?

"Kobolds not ask what. Boss say do, so Kobolds do."

[Schismatic]

The kobold shakes its head. "Big boss should be dragon," it states matter of factly.



"Where stay? Stay in cave home?"



"Kobolds not ask what. Boss say do, so Kobolds do."

"Well, kobolds are dragon-kin, so I've heard. And I must confess I do occasionally wonder what it would mean for my homeland if the Dawn Dragon were reincarnated and returned. As for where you should stay I do believe we'll have time to determine the tactical nature of securing your and your family's safekeeping. My martial betters in my company are far better versed in the nature of armed conflict. I am Milana by the way." She noted before looking up at her companions.

"I do believe our good friend here can help us further. I think he understands the gravitas of the situation, and all that is left is to discuss the tactical situation and thus to find a way to honour my agreement that we won't injure him or his family. This certainly seems more your speed, regardless. That, and I really need to clean this wound..." She said to her companions, looking to them each in turn.

[Obscuraphile]

After trekking through the forest for a couple of hours following Ninaran and their captive the party hears the sounds of running water through the trees, specifically a fall. "Cave home behind water," the kobold says to Milana. He's been careful to stay close to her for the journey and to keep her between him and Tarik.

"Wait here. I'll go get a closer look," Ninaran says, slipping off into the brush before anyone can object. A few minutes later she returns, "I spotted a few along the banks of the river, but there's a screen of trees you could use to get inside their lair unseen."

[J-H]

Zacharias

The paladin turns to the elven trapper. "Will you come with us?"

[Obscuraphile]

"Not if you could make me richer than a dragon," Ninaran replies without a moment's hesitation. "I like living. And people in your line of work tend to die a lot."

Just gonna go with a gallery link (https://imgur.com/gallery/9876YDK) since everything else about my imgur account seems to be screwed up.

[J-H]

Zacharias

"As I expected, but I needed to ask." He gestures to their captive. "Are we taking this one with us, or leaving him here with her?"

[ngilop]

Tarik pulls his sword out of the ground and re-sheathes it after knocking some dirt off the blade. He nods to the tiny woman with a smile, maybe she isn't so defenseless after all.

He notices that Kobold does his best to stay away from him putting the wordy girl. When they stop near the kobold's hidden waterfal lair, he answers Zacharias' question. "Well... I guess we should leave him here. Taking the kobold with us will most likely lead to more problems."


OOC: Turning on Hunter's Stance, which grants me the Scent special ability

[Schismatic]

"Oh--undoubtedly," she said in confirmation to Tarik and in response to Zacharias, using the lull in movement to reclean her bandage with a prestidigitation spell. Right hand and the surrounding bandage, and liably the wound, glittering softly and removing possible infecting sources from the surrounds of the wound.

"Master Kobold, I would urge you to stay here... If you enter that cave after us I fear you might espy true ugliness and be met with certain death." She paused trying to gauge her fitness.

"I am still injured from the fight before, and general fatigue sullies my capacity to carry a note. So unfortunately I cannot assist directly in this engagement before long having to fade from the fore. So I do believe I will take close to the rear." She shuffled uncomfortably and drew her blade.

[Unavenger]

Esther nodded at Milana. "I would heal you, but I have only a single healing spell prepared today, and it is best used to spare the dying rather than to heal those still conscious."

She considered the waterfall. "Either we need to swim through the river, which doesn't seem deep enough - though I might be wrong - or we'll need to fight through. There doesn't seem to be a way in without a fight, unless we have some way of distracting them for long enough to get in."

"Personally I'm in favour of knocking them senseless and letting them wake up in their own time, but I can also try tangling them all up with a spell, or summoning a snake to distract them, and rushing into the waterfall while they're distracted. Still, it doesn't seem easy. I'm open to whatever suggestions anyone else has."

[Schismatic]

"I much agree. I would rather have a nasty wound than watch a colleague pass solely for my comfort." She scratches her cheek at that thought. "Particularly when I might be that individual." She looked at the tactical situation.

"Whatever we do, quiet or quick. We want the kobolds scrambling to their weapons in the cave rather than letting them prepare defences." She resolved herself for the attack.

"Either that or we could use our kobold friend here. I'm not going to be much use in the cave, and they want human captives. Not dead humans. I could distract the kobolds here while you assail. Between my distraction while trying to capture and restrain me, the waterfall, and naked distance you should have a shot at this Irontooth without this group being the wiser." She offered a solution.

[Buufreak]

A bow is fairly quiet, and nothing flies quicker than arrows. If we can see them before they see us, there isn't much to sailing arrows down a hall. 'A'course, more arrows means more stopping power, and I'm not sure anyone else is a sharp-shooter.

[ngilop]

Maybe a diversion will be most helpful?" Tarik ponders outloud pausing for a second before continuing " I could move close to the entrance through the trees, then you start with the ranged attacks. When the kobolds move to engage that is when I jump out and close in melee. That will not only cause a disruption.. but also force them to fight on different fronts."

[Unavenger]

"I also have another thought: it looks as though we can sneak past the kobolds on the North side of the river; if we fail to be stealthy then we can simply rush into the waterfall. It should block them from retaliating to full effect, and I know a spell that will keep them at bay for long enough that we can most likely get away from the sentries without issue."

[J-H]

Zacharias

"Simple, aggressive plans often work. When I was a squire, we saw some very fancy plans fall apart when someone mis-timed a diversion or missed a signal - and we are such a small group anyway."

[ngilop]

'Yeah.. that is why I suggested we attack this band that way, rather than have to fight on 2 fronts ourselves. We are a small group, but if you think that having to fight this group outside the waterfall then fight whoever and whatever is inside the waterfall cave at the same time is the best choice, then by all means lets do that. I still think getting this group away from the entrance then myself coming in to cut off their retreat back into it is the best shot we got. The initial volley should do enough damage to drop a couple of them, and with me suddenly appearing behind them, should cause their morale to break."

[Unavenger]

"If you're going to be outside, cause a distraction and help us get in. But I'll not be helping you murder people for no crime but defending their home. I'm going to sneak in by the waterfall with Aurora. Anyone who wants to help me cut off the head is welcome to come with me: if you want to put on a show to distract these guards, then by all means do that."

Esther's wild-worn features hardened into a snarl for just a moment, then relented, and beckoned Aurora - and anyone else who would come with her - around the North side of the waterfall, ready to make a move the moment the kobolds were distracted.

[Schismatic]

"So making a beeline towards this Irontooth, and hopefully the kobolds flee in the aftermath. It would mean less bloodshed. Plus it would make quite the tale..." She seemed in favour of the plan. She ducked low and would move up.

[ngilop]

Tarik looks to the small girl and sarcastically adds "yes.. assassination is so much better..no? I hope these kobolds completely understand that they are no supposed to attack us, or for that matter if I am even allowed to defend myself should I be attacked oh great and wonderful keeper of peace. For indeed, the kobolds have just lived a peaceful life not attacking outlying farms or people, or any such like that." Tarik thinks that idea of letting a group prevent their retreat incase things go bad is beyond stupid, and though not smart, he is intelligent enough to realize that he can take all of them on at once... yet. He unsheathes his greatsword and readies it, he is not viave enough to think that the world is full of puppies, rainbows, and that most of these kobolds are going to try to kill them, and then he relaize the small girl had no qualms about having her wolf tear the one kobold into pieces who were just trying to get some food.

He takes a few steps towards the cave entrance "well.. come on lets have this mission of peace moving along"

[Unavenger]

"Don't worry, big man. If they don't understand, I have ways to teach them.

And yeah, I prefer assassination. Only one person has to die, rather than legions of them. And like I said, we don't know how many of these kobolds are actually involved in the raids - and anyway, they seem to be incompetent enough that they just follow orders rather than moralising.

Now, do try to keep quiet," she noted as they approached.

[Buufreak]

This is an awful lot of discussin' over the lives of some scaley rats. They'll always make more, ya know? Seamus has wasted little time preparing, having arrow nocked and ready to draw at first notice. He stays low, close to the tree line, taking front point as they edge closer to the waterfront.