Friends, someone or something is in need of our aid up ahead! Berenkor exclaims as he rushes towards the sound.
"I hear it too," Harther says as he follows after Berenkor at a slower pace, arrow nocked, but keeping a watchful eye out to make sure it is not another of the gnome's pranks.
Seeing his companions ready weapons, Karthas does likewise drawing his greatsword.
As the group cautiously makes their way into the clearing they are shocked to see...
...half a dozen kobolds rolling on the ground, clutching their bellies. Sitting in the grass near the small creatures are two handwoven baskets containing a dozen or so large radishes in each. The clearing at one point was a relatively large radish patch, but most of them have been picked, or as evidenced by the half eaten vegetables strewn on the ground around the stuffed kobolds, summarily eaten.
The creatures have not noticed the Chartered Six, creeping up from the woods, as they are lost in their self induced misery from stuffing their faces with the delicioius crop.
Karthas lowers his blade, obviously trying to hold back a laugh, and looks to his companions to see their reactions
"Why, those scaly little gluttons..."
Having held back the urge to laugh at the gluttonous little creatures, Karthas whispers to Rani, "I don't know for sure, but I think these might be the kobolds from poster at Oleg's."
She smiles, "Well, this lot doesn't seem all that riled up. Well fed, maybe. A thousand gold is a lot of money to bring them to heel. How shall we proceed? Do they even speak our language?"
Berenkor's eyes narrow as he sees the Kobold's, ancestral enemies of the Gnomes. He immediately begins casting a sleep spell upon them.
"Wait! Don't attack them. They haven't done anything to deserve it...yet."
Seeing Berenkor begin to cast his spell, Karthas brings his blade to a ready position.
Initiative (if needed):
Round 1
Attack:
Damage:
I speak several languages. What language do kobolds speak?
She tries "hello" in all her known languages: Common, Elven, Draconic, Giant, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan.
After hearing Eseldra greet them in common, the kobolds shriek and try to make it to their feet. The one closest to the group is wearing a fetish around his neck made from the skulls of birds. He calls to the group in a voice that sounds like a door creaking while the rest of the little gluttons struggle to their feet.
"What you want? You blackeyes kill us to take our food-food?"
They have not drawn weapons, but the creatures' reptilian faces are trying to scowl at the party. Most of the threat seems to be lost in translation.
"Berenkor! STOP!" Harther hisses to the gnome bard. The ranger lowers his bow, but still keeps the arrow nocked as he addresses the kobolds in Common.
"Wait, please!" he calls to the kobolds. "We do not wish to kill you or take your food! We are trying to find a band of mites that have stolen items from us. Have you seen any mites in this area? Do you know where they are?"
Four of the kobolds slump to the ground in a deep slumber.
"Ack!" cries the one wearing the bird skulls.
"Ack!" echoes the other kobold still standing.
"Snort!" say the four sleeping kobolds.
"Lazy eggsuckers!" bird skulls yells at the others. "You eat too much and it make you sleep-sleep!" He turns towards the party.
"You no kill Sootscales and you look for nasty, bad-bad mites? Maybe you talk to big chief name Chief Sootscale? We war with nasty mites. Chief have to give you chiefly permission before you allowed to make war with mites. They take from us and we want take back! It our big-big war unless Chief says you Sootscales, too. But our clubs and spears barely hurt the eggsuckers! Maybe you will do good where we do not so good." He shakes his head rapidly, as if trying to clear it. "Too many big-big thoughts! Chief smarter than me."
"Promise you no kill? Your word as bigfeet? Except little one. Gnomes are tricksies. Your word good as bigfeet word? Give us word and we take you to Chief Sootscale. Long walk from here."
Upon seeing the actions of his companions , Karthas cautiously lowers his blade and waits to follow the lead of his friends.
Harther glares at Berenkor as he answers the kobold. "You have MY WORD as a REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KINGDOM OF BREVOY," he stresses the words, "that we will not try to kill you, and that we wish to speak to Chief Sootscale to form an alliance against the mites plaguing your land." Harther continues to glare at Berenkor as he finishes his oath. "By the honor of my house, I do so swear."
After hearing Harther's vow, Karthas sheaths his blade and nods his head in acknowledgement of Harther's oath.
Suitably scolded, Berenkor decides to take a passive approach to these kobold's; they obviously didn't like him, and he didn't have to like them. He can't suppress a smirk at the four sleeping kobold's though.
Coming upon the scene of the group of 'stuffed' Kobolds, Tyr is also more apt to be holding in laughter than drawing his sword.
At Harthers' shout and call for parley to a helpless foe Tyr smiles at the way the grips actions have gone and at how these turn of events have unfolded.
As long as the party agrees, bird skulls, claps his hands once.
"Good-good! My name Eepo. Let's go see chief. Oh, you bigfeet can keep moon radishes. They make my strong braves weak and lazy."
The kobolds keep up a surprisingly quick pace. They make straight southeast, and as the day goes on the landscape changes from thick forests to grassy plains with rock outcroppings that jut from the ground at odd angles every now and then. Occasionally trees grow in groups of five or six, but most of the landscape is unbroken rolling grasslands as far as the eye can see.
It is an hour or so after dusk when Eepo turns to the group and declares happily, "Not too farther now! Eepo will be a hero for bringing bigfeet as pris...I mean as friends. You say you help, and Eepo believe you. Chief Sootscale be happy to get you help."
Up ahead, an outcropping of large boulders emerges from the weathered face of a hillock. A narrow opening in the rock leades into darkness below. A fallen sign leans against the side of the cave entrance. As the group approaches, they see that the sign bears a few faded words: "Oaktop Silver Mine." On the other side of the entrance sits a cage made of branches and sticks in which sits a small blue skinned figure with exceptionally large eyes and drooping ears, whining and crying to itself.
Eepo stops the group before they go in. "You go no further until Chief says you are friends of the Sootscales. I go get Chief and we talk out here."
After what seems like hours but was probably not much more than a few minutes, several kobolds come from the cave entrance. One can only be Chief Sootscale, standing near a half a foot taller than any other kobold there, with scales a gleaming black color instead of the rust red of the rest. He carries a club made from the femur of some large animal and wears what looks like a serpent skull as a helm. Bones and feathers adorn his large frame (for a kobold) and rattle as he walks. Along with him stand Eepo, a pair of guards armed with spears, and another odd looking kobold.
This one has vibrant purple scales and a very large raven perched on his shoulders, straddling his head. The strange looking kobold hisses at the party as he comes out.
"So," calls Chief Sootscale in a surprisingly deep voice, "Eepo says you help. Chief is listening."
Constitution Check:
Berenkor wastes no time in taking the baskets of radishes, happy to indulge the opportunity that it might irritate the Kobolds that he is the one who carries them
Constitution check
Knowledge (Nature)
Pointing at the creature in the cage Berenkor whispers
That's a mite right there, wretched little thing.
Tyr follows along, though a look of surprise and admiration might be seen as he looks on at the Kobolds quick pace as they traverse the lands.
Coming to the Kobold's 'home', Tyr will sit, so a to be ore accommodating to the parlay process, but he will let the more erudite members of the party speak first.
"Chief Sootscale," Harther addresses the kobold chieftain. "My name is Harther Medvyed. My companions and I are searching for a band of mites that has stolen from us. We wish to form an alliance with your tribe, and seek your permission to make war on the mites."
"Chief Sootscale," Harther addresses the kobold chieftain. "My name is Harther Medvyed. My companions and I are searching for a band of mites that has stolen from us. We wish to form an alliance with your tribe, and seek your permission to make war on the mites."
Diplomacy (Aid Harther):
Rani examines the creature in the cage closely, especially after Berenkor notes that it is a mite.
"Chief Sootscale," Harther addresses the kobold chieftain. "My name is Harther Medvyed. My companions and I are searching for a band of mites that has stolen from us. We wish to form an alliance with your tribe, and seek your permission to make war on the mites."
Once the group arrives at the old mine Rani notices how tired Karthas is after the forced march with their scaly new "friends". She says consolingly, "Wow. Those little guys sure can move can't they? I'm beat." With that she puts her hands on his shoulder and gives him a brief massage. "I think I'll sleep very well indeed after that little jog."
Rani examines the creature in the cage closely, especially after Berenkor notes that it is a mite.
As Rani get close to the cage holding the mite, he stop crying and says in pidgin common, "Whatchoo lukin' at? I eet yoor face off!"
"Chief Sootscale," Harther addresses the kobold chieftain. "My name is Harther Medvyed. My companions and I are searching for a band of mites that has stolen from us. We wish to form an alliance with your tribe, and seek your permission to make war on the mites."
Chief Sootscale nods slowly. "You speak good words. Mites steal from Sootscales also. They take our statue of our god, Old Sharptooth. Sootscales want back! Also, they capture one of Sootscale scouts name Mikmek. We want him back, too! He very good scout."
"You have Sootscale blessing to make war on mites. Sootscale's weapons not hurt mites like they should. Hope you can hurt them harder. You find mites few miles south and east of here under a giant old tree. We not strong enough. You be strong where we be weak, yes-yes?"
Once the group arrives at the old mine Rani notices how tired Karthas is after the forced march with their scaly new "friends". She says consolingly, "Wow. Those little guys sure can move can't they? I'm beat." With that she puts her hands on his shoulder and gives him a brief massage. "I think I'll sleep very well indeed after that little jog."
Karthas nods in complete agreement, "Sleep will be very welcome tonight. Hopefully this was worth the trip."
Sense Motive (Kobold):
As Rani get close to the cage holding the mite, he stop crying and says in pidgin common, "Whatchoo lukin' at? I eet yoor face off!"
"You vile little bug! I was only trying to help!"
Aside to Karthas: "If their weapons won't hurt them, why would ours be any better? They don't look so tough" She casts a glare at the mite in the cage. "Maybe we should poke it a little to see how our weapons fare?"
The purple kobold interjects, "My chief! You trust these bigfeet too much!"
"Too much trust," agrees the raven, squawking.
"Already you've given them the secret to the tribe's power," he goes on. "Now they will take it for themselves. Dirty eggsuckers, the lot of them."
"Not now, Tartuk!" bellows the chief. "You be silent!"
Tartuk's eyes narrow. "That was not a smart move, my chief," sneers the odd kobold before storming back into the mine.
"Not smart!" the raven says as the pair disappears.
"You vile little bug! I was only trying to help!"
"Rani, somethings can't be reasoned with. There are times when mercy is not the right path." As Karthas scowls at the mite.
Harther bows to the kobold chief. "Thank you for your blessing, Chief Sootscale. We will endeavor to defeat the mites and return your scout and the statue of your god."
The ranger pauses for a moment before adding, "Begging your pardon, but what does your statue look like?"
"You vile little bug! I was only trying to help!"
"Rani, somethings can't be reasoned with. There are times when mercy is not the right path." As Karthas scowls at the mite.
"Eek! I no eetchoo face! I keeding. No eet anee part o' joo." The vile little creature cowers in the corner of the cage.
Aside to Karthas: "If their weapons won't hurt them, why would ours be any better? They don't look so tough" She casts a glare at the mite in the cage. "Maybe we should poke it a little to see how our weapons fare?"
Quietly to Rani, "Look at their size" nodding in the kobold's direction "and weapons they carry. I suspect I could do more with the dagger in my boot."
1d20 + 3
Harther bows to the kobold chief. "Thank you for your blessing, Chief Sootscale. We will endeavor to defeat the mites and return your scout and the statue of your god."
The ranger pauses for a moment before adding, "Begging your pardon, but what does your statue look like?"
"Silly bigfeet! It looks like Old Sharptooth!" Eepo says, screeching in what must pass for a kobold laugh.
"Enough, Eepo," scolds Chief Sootscale, "the bigfeet do not know all our ways."
"Sorry, bigfeet," says Eepo, properly chastised.
The chief goes on, "The statue made of ivory and look like mighty winged creature. It this big," he holds his hands out to indicate about a foot tall, "and it very important. Our scout look probably like only kobold in mites' dirty lair. Understand?"
Quietly to Rani, "Look at their size" nodding in the kobold's direction "and weapons they carry. I suspect I could do more with the dagger in my boot."
"True, but look at the weapons I carry," she says, holding up an arrow, "Hardly anything compared to a dagger wielded with your brawn...let alone that thing." She motions to Karthas' sword. "I'm pretty sure I saw you cut a man in two with it the other day. You might hurt them but I doubt I'll do well with arrows if they're somehow tougher than they look, as suggested by chief scaly-bottom here."
Harther bows again to the kobold. "Yes, I understand. Thank you, mighty Chief Sootscale."
Harther turns to his companions. "I know it is after dusk, but perhaps we should travel a bit further before we make camp? We wouldn't want to impose on our new allies, or draw unwanted attention to their dwelling."
"Find statue, bring here," says Chief Sootscale, "and you will have thanks of Sootscales. Farewell for now."
The chief and his small entourage retreat into the mine, leaving the party out in the dark.
Or trust them well enough to sleep nearby. That raven gives me the creeps.
"True, but look at the weapons I carry," she says, holding up an arrow, "Hardly anything compared to a dagger wielded with your brawn...let alone that thing." She motions to Karthas' sword. "I'm pretty sure I saw you cut a man in two with it the other day. You might hurt them but I doubt I'll do well with arrows if they're somehow tougher than they look, as suggested by chief scaly-bottom here."
"When you remember to say your words to Erastil before you fire, your arrows strike true...true enough to fell a man in one shot from what I've seen." Karthas says with a grin. "You'll do just fine....just keep your face away from their mouths." says Karthas, followed by a small laugh.
Harther bows again to the kobold. "Yes, I understand. Thank you, mighty Chief Sootscale."
Harther turns to his companions. "I know it is after dusk, but perhaps we should travel a bit further before we make camp? We wouldn't want to impose on our new allies, or draw unwanted attention to their dwelling."
"I agree, let us travel back a bit from where we came. Then we should make camp for the night."
Once he is sure that the kobolds are out of earshot, Harther says to his companions, "Sootscale was holding something back. There's something bothering him that he didn't mention. Did you see how that strange purple kobold - Tartuk - acted toward him? I think Sootscale's position as chief may not be terribly secure."
"I agree, let us travel back a bit from where we came. Then we should make camp for the night."
"Agreed. And I think we should have two people keeping watch at all times."