He crawled up after his allies and moved to stand closer to Autumn. With a quick glance he focused his thoughts onto his holy symbol and channelled positive energy through it, focusing on keeping the mites that had been wounded out of it.
The warm, comforting light of Erastil fans out in a flash, passing around the two wounded mites, leaving them unhealed.
Autumn's cut closes, and the pain eases. When she inspects the wound later she finds barely even a scar.
The mites rally with a counter attack, screaming in their shrill hatful voices.
Empowered by pain and rage the one wounded by Pyros darts in, managing to score a wicked gouge.
Two more mites advance to circle around the ifrit, one manages to find flesh with his tiny dagger.
The remaining two mites concentrate on Autumn. She is easily able to parry the one in front, but the other sidles between the aasimar, and the cave wall; getting behind her. It's dagger stabs in, drawing blood once more.
Caerwyn moves to place the mite between himself and Pyros, opening himself up to attack as he goes by.
Caerwyn puts himself in harms way, but the mite is far too slow to catch him.
Caerwyn is a little more skilled, he manages a lethal blow; though he knows it was only because of the distraction caused by Pyros.
Autumn gave Herger a smile when he gave her healing, though it quickly left as she flinched from being cut once more.
"I really do hate mites." Autumn sighed before she tried to repay the wound she had been given.
Dropping the torch and drawing his morningstar he struck at the mite pressed against the wall. With a measured solid swing her grunted both from the effort and the amusement at the solid blow
Pyros swings his dark grey blade again at the mite he'd wounded before.
Herger's mace connects with a satisfying crunch. The mite flies back against the wall, then settles to the floor.
Pyros' cold iron slices into the flesh of the mite he'd wounded earlier. The already injured mite settles to the floor, unconscious, and dying.
Regina stabs at the mite nearest her.
Her attack is powerful, but the fey nature of the mite saves it's life. It doesn't prevent the creature from being badly wounded though. It squeals in pain.
The mite counters. Regina is able to avoid it's feeble attack.
The mite facing Pyros, and Caerwyn strikes at the half elf, hoping to prevent another flanking maneuver.
It misses, but only barely.
Caerwyn tumbles to his left, only to confirm the jaundiced looking mites worst fear as he springs past it to put it between himself and Pyros. Slashing with his sword he cuts the pitiful creature down.
Pyros steps forward and slashes at the mite that wounded Regina, hoping to split its attention.
Caerwyn and Pyros make short work of the remaining mites.
Which leaves only the kobold hanging in it's rack. Herger's channeled healing helped with the creature's wounds, but it seems to be playing dead.
Two other kobolds are likewise strung up for torture. They really are dead.
Now with the mites taken care of Autumn turned her attention to the kobold strung up upon the rack. "Herger, I need you here please." Autumn said softly as she began to take the kobold down. "I told you, you're alright. We're not going to hurt you."
Putting his morningstar away and once more picking up the torch he closed with Autumn and nodded leaning over just slightly to get a good look at the kobolds wounds to see the extent of the damage done to the scaley thing. Whether it was from the lack of good light, or just a general not having really dealt with kobolds he wasnt sure what was wrong.... By the gods it might actually have been dead already still... Autumn had asked him to help so he closed his eyes for a moment, sought clarity and then whispered the words to a healing spell clutching his holy symbol for a moment before reaching out and touching the kobold letting the divine heal its wounds.... if it were alive still of course.
"You heal Mikmek?" You no hurt Mikmek?" The kobold opens his yellow eyes. He had only been playing dead after being healed by Herger's channeling.
"You enemy of mites? Maybe you help Mikmek with quest?"
Pyros pus his sword away, not wanting to seem threatening to the Kobold.
Caerwyn turns the little kobold and hand him his waterskin "So Mikmek, what is this quest you are on?'
"I don't see why not. If it isn't a hindrance to what we're trying to do I don't mind helping." Autumn said.
"Nasty Old Sycamore Mites have stealed Old Sharptooth. Is bad juju for Sootscales. We go to get back Old Sharptooth, but mission failed. Got captured. Nasty mites have Old Sharptooth here in their caves, somewhere..."
"Old Sharptooth?" Autumn asked as she raised an eyebrow. "What or who is old sharptooth?"
"Old Sharptooth is god of Sootscale Tribe. Much bad happen unless Old Sharptooth happy. Mites capture Old Sharptooth. He's here in caves."
The kobold thinks for a moment, then adds: "Old Sharptooth is this tall." The kobold gestures to show the size of Old Sharptooth. "He is a winged and horned kobold monster. Shiny, bone colored, and heavy."
The size indicated by the kobold matches the size of the ivory statue that was found earlier.
"You help Mikmek find Old Sharptooth, Mikmek give you much treasure."
Pyros tries to decide if the kobold is being truthful.
Pyros can't really read the kobold too well. He seems earnest, perhaps overly enthusiastic about retrieving Old Sharptooth.
Caerwyn reaches into his backpack and pulls out the statue [b"]Is this your Sharptooth?"[/b]
Mikmek squeals with excitement, and almost lunges at the statue before remembering his surroundings. (Several large, well armed persons.)
"Yesss! It is Old Sharptooth. You let Mikmek take Old Sharptooth back home to Tartuk? Please? Please?"
The kobold is highly excited, hopping from one foot to the other in agitation.
"The mites noted that you stole a ring from them. We will go back with you and give you the statue, if we get the ring." Autumn bargained. "Also we can get you back faster."
"Maybe Shaman Tartuk has ring, maybe Chief Sootscale. They be happy to get back Old Sharptooth. Surely they give ring as reward."
The kobold quickly agrees.
Thought things like this only happened in stories? "That sounds perfectly reasonable."
"How many do you have at your home? Who is Tartuk?"
He asked the much smaller creature with a slight frown. He didnt mind eager, Despite healing the kobold he wasnt entirely sure he trusted them.
"Tartuk is Great Shaman of Old Sharptooth. He of the purple scales was sent to guide the Sootscale tribe by Old Sharptooth himself."
The kobold either doesn't understand, or is ignoring Herger's query about how many kobolds are in the tribe.
Caerwyn puts the statue back in his backpack "Like the lady says, we will escort you back to your tribe, like an honor guide if you will. Then we can meet with your chief and his shaman. You can present them with the statue, in exchange for the ring." Caerwyn tone indicates that it was not a request.
"How far away is your home?" Autumn asked the kobold before them. "And which way is it?"
"Yess boss" The kobold's demeanor shifts to a mix of sullen, and obsequious, as he answers Caerwyn. "As you say."
He gives Autumn what could be interpreted as a smile. A toothy smile. "Sootscale Caves is south, down by big river, near end of hills. Half a day to walk. If you not carry big load..."
"Than it will be even less." Autumn told him. "We have horses and can thus move faster."
Keeping quiet and listening. None of that seemed to hard. People always act like playing negotiator is hard work. "Well lets go then."
Pyros nods and leads the way back to the surface.
Once more picking up the torch, he slid his shield away and followed behind the group. Keeping a wary eye out for the kobold. He didnt think it would cause trouble, especially after they rescued it, but one never knew with the... well monsterous types.
Caerwyn returns to the cavern below, where he unties the captive mite. "All this" he waves his arm to encompass the underground lair "is yours, but your tribe has been wiped out. I'd suggest finding someplace else to live before the kobolds return to finish the job." with that he climbs back up to join the others.
The mite grimaces at Caerwyn, the expression on it's face making the creature even more ugly. If that were possible...
Then the mite scuttles away, down into the dank, damp cave.
. . . . . . .
Back on the surface, the air is fresh, actually windy. The breeze seems to have brought in a storm along with it. Sprinkles of cold rain spit from a dark sky. Worse, the sun is setting, though heavy clouds to the west mask the sinking orb completely.
Night is coming on, and it looks to be a chill one.
"Bah, bad luck to be sure, do we seek shelter here for the night or do you think we can find something a bit safer away from this horrible place?"
He asked out loud though he was glancing torwards Autumn. He was sure she would have the best answer comparitively.
"It's all flat." Autumn told him as she shook her head. "But if we take shelter here than we leave the horses out in the rain." She stated as she shook her head. "Let me ride around a bit and see if I can find a place better than this hallowed out tree?" She asked the group.
"Better not go alone" Caerwyn says with concern in his voice "Never know what may be lurking just over the next rise" he mounts Sundancer and rides out with Autumn, making small talk and pointing out areas where he thinks they might find shelter.
"Are we separating?" Shifting on her feet, "Wouldn't it take longer to have only you two look then come back?"
The ridge top proves to have little enough in the way of shelter; Caerwyn manages to find a roughly level spot, with some brush, and an abutment of stone to cut the wind.
With a fire to provide warmth, the campsite provides enough comfort for a decent night's sleep.
The storm passes in the night, and a new day dawns, clear and warming. A pleasant spring day, complete with bird song.
Mikmek made no attempt to escape, or to steal the statue in the night. In the morning he is eager to lead the way to his village.
"Mikmek lead you to Tartuk. Mikmek be big hero to his tribe. Let's go, lets go!
"Alright, alright." Autumn said as she finished packing everything up. "If no one has any objections lets get moving." She said to the others.
Caerwyn picks Mikmek up and puts him on his horse before mounting himself "Okay, little dragon. Show us the way."
The kobold shows the way, giving directions and pointing out the path.
It is a winding game trail that crosses a broad, rounded plateau, then descends down off the highland, toward the south. At the southern crest of the plateau, a wide river comes into view, still several miles away, and many feet below.
The path meanders, taking less steep ways, and avoiding outcroppings of stone.
Around mid morning, Mikmek announces: "We here." Ahead a small canyon runs back between two rocky outcroppings. At the back of the canyon is a dark cave opening. To one side of the opening, what looks like it once was a wooden sign and post lies face down in the shrubbery.
On a stony knoll at the left side of the entrance to the canyon sits a cage of crudely lashed together sticks. Inside the cage a mite huddles, trying to protect it's eyes from the bright sunlight.
Caerwyn keeps his head on a swivel as they approach the kobolds cave. Peering ahead into the darkness he spots whats ahead, turning to Autumn he says, in Sylvan "Don't look now, but we're being watched" as he points his chin towards the opening.
Listening to Caerwyn's words, Autumn turns her attention to the opening and spoke in Draconic "We have an idol that belongs to you all as Mikmek has stated. We've come to return it in exchange for something you all have."
He frowned following along quietly keeping his eyes peeled for trouble. Just because the little kobold they rescued was greatful didnt mean his kin would be so ... welcoming. Still He had a good feeling about this. When Caerwyn mentioned they were being watched he merely nodded.
" I would imagine so if this is there home and they have mite problems. Any idea where from?"
He asked in his deep grguff voice trying to look nonchelaunt.