Alexander Orlovsky |
Alexander smiles and looks about the room. We'd be happy to rid you of these foul things.
Using Detect Magic and also looking around for anything otherwise useful.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Andrea1 |
Now that that troublemaker has been dealt with, we should bring up another situation. It seems that the kobolds and mites have been at war for quite some time. Now that the source of your troubles no longer has power over the tribe, perhaps we can arrange something where the mites and kobolds can agree to stay away from each other at least.
The Winds of Fate |
Tartuk has had the kobolds pile all of his treasure (plus any new treasures they gain from their war against the mites) in a heap in the eastern alcove of his den. This mound consists of a huge amount of worthless shiny objects, such as quartz and mica crystals, bits of metal, broken weapons and armor, and other garbage. In addition the pile contains 7,420 cp, 2,132 sp, 302 gp, a masterwork light metal shield, seven +1 flaming crossbow bolts, a pair of boots of elvenkind, and a soiled leather bag. Inside the bag are the treasures stolen from the mites (who stole from the bandits who stole from Oleg’s). The leather bag contains 321 sp, 249 gp, 13 pp, and a pouch containing a single dose of dust of illusion.
Laying out on the workspace/desk in the room is a wand of Magic Missile with 28 charges, Tartuk's personal journal written in Undercommon. Tucked into the back of the Journal is a single scroll of Fly.
Items taken off of Tartuk would have included Bracer's of Armor +1.
The Winds of Fate |
The chief responds to Andrea: "Bah, there will always be troubles between us and the Mites. We have no problem with keeping our distance from them, but those meddlesome little creatures are always searching around for the nearest creatures to play pranks upon. Oftentimes, that is us, but we were here first and refuse to move anyway just because of them!"
Radomir Shax |
Alexander curtly shakes his head as Radomir looks over.
Radomir shrugs and drops the kobold to the floor. His master spoke, and he must obey. He, however, places his bardiche on the shaman's shoulder, the blade just touching the scales of his neck.
intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Run. Run far, and never return, speck. If you do, you will know pain. And, no one shall spare you. Then, he kicks the shaman in the rump sending him sprawling towards the door. He doesn't turn away until Tartuk is well out of sight.
Seeing that there is nothing of interest to Radomir, the knight turns his eye to the room itself and the kobolds. They were suitably cowed, for now. But, things could change. He would not trust them until they had been firmly broken beneath his master's yoke and reshaped to is will and purpose. He fixes each lizard a fierce eye and growls, softly, at any who draw too near him, his companions, or, especially, his master. For those who draw to close to Alexander, he lowers his bardiche, and places the blade between the bard and the kobold.
intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Alexander Orlovsky |
Alexander shrugs, I've no objection to you taking the shield. And as for the coins, it seems like a lot to give back to people we're intending to subjugate, but you're right, it may be worth it.
Eduard Petrov |
Once outside, Eduard will smile at the shaman, So, friend, you seem to have a few choices. You can fend for yourself alone and with no assistance, or you can come work for us. While your ruse was clever, it inevitably failed. But we do like those with devious thoughts as long as they can find loyalty somewhere in their hearts.
He will offer his hand to the kobold, I think you'd find our offer of employment will lead to quite a few future gains. Assuming you remain trustworthy.
The Winds of Fate |
To Eduard: The little Kobold looks up at Eduard, speaking in Common to him. "Bah, you know nothing of my full ruse or how many times I have successfully infiltrated and destroyed other Kobold tribes. Despite the Chiefs suspicions, I am sure I would have gotten this one too without the interference of your group."
Tartuk seems to take a moment to think about Eduard's offer. "Tell me, would your offer of employment be compatible with my desire to wipe out any Kobold I come across? And is there any chance of coming across any wizards strong enough to cast a polymorph spell while I would be in your employ?"
Eduard Petrov |
Eduard chuckles, You want to destroy other kobolds? Before I answer your second question, can you give me the reasons for your first? We have no specific love for kobolds, but understanding your reasons for genocide may help me understand any potential partnership.
Alexander Orlovsky |
Alexander continues to speak with the chief, giving his compatriots time outside to deal with the shaman how they pleased.
So, Chief Sootscale, what will your tribe do now? As my friend mentioned, you could have peace with the Mites. I understand your concerns that the two tribes cannot coexist, but there are...ways...to fix that. Tell me about your tribe. How many are you? What are your goals? What do you dream for the future of your people?
Eduard Petrov |
Eduard can't help but laugh, Well, I suppose that makes some sense. But at least you aren't dead? Regardless, we have no specific interest in genocide, but as long as the killings don't harm our overall interests, I see no reason to prevent them. As for the second question, I will one day be a powerful enough spellcaster to turn you back into a gnome, but I am sure we will also attract quite a few others in our days. We have no interest in forcing you to remain in a form you dislike.
The Winds of Fate |
Chief Sootscale to Alexander: "My tribe numbers almost 40 and our current goal is for our tribe to thrive in this land and be populous and prosperous. I dream of looking around myself and seeing a full city of Kobolds, as big and as important as any one belonging to any of the big races."
Tartuk to Eduard: "If you can eventually assure my return to my true form, you and your group can have my loyalty."
Alexander Orlovsky |
Alexander laughs, Well, that is certainly a mighty dream. And a noble one. The man smiles, But perhaps one we can help with. You say you are forty, but how many soldiers, craftsmen? We can offer protection, counsel, and compensation...for good workers. And you can build your city as grand as you like.
Radomir Shax |
Radomir remains silent, although he pays more attention to the warriors. Could some of them be trained for war? They were small...
Alexander Orlovsky |
Alexander smiles, So, ten soldiers...or craftsmen. Small indeed. But proud. He nods as he continues, Perhaps we can work out a deal then after all. If you come work for us, helping our town grow, rebuilding a fort, and escorting our people, we will protect your tribe, and help you expand this settlement. He holds out his hand, What do you say, Chief?
Eduard Petrov |
Eduard nods, Don't kill our allies and you have a deal. We'll keep on the look out for a method of returning you to your original form. And keeping you that way should someone seek to raise you again for whatever reason.
Radomir Shax |
Radomir nods to himself. My Lord, I will set to training these kobolds in the arts of war. Perhaps, I can find someone who can train them in the arts of stealth.
Alexander Orlovsky |
With a nod, the man shakes the Chief's small claw. So be it. There is a fort west of here, on the lake. Send what workers you can spare and we will start on training and fixing the place up. I have a project as well, but we can discuss that...later.
Thaliar Medevin |
Thaliar had quietly followed the dealings once the shaman had been apprehended. It seemed all was going to plan, at least for now. With this deal sorted he'd need to contact the chief later, find out who his best and brightest were. Getting one of the scaly folk on his side could prove beneficial to him personally.
Ready
The Winds of Fate |
Having now finished off the eastern section of the map outlined in your charter, your group does a little bit of back tracking over some already explored territory in the south in order to get back to some western areas that you have yet to look at. The upside to that is that you all will camp for the night in already explored territory and manage to get a decent night's sleep without any interruptions.
You pass by the River Crossing, the Stag Lord's fort and some empty territory until you get back up to where the Tatzlwyrm's den was. You choose to camp there for the night to make sure you can start out fresh for some new exploration the next day.
After yet another uneventful night, your group heads off once again into uncharted territory.
The first thing you notice as you ride is the stink of moldering plants and a strange quiet in the sound of birdlife surrounds a somewhat sunken clearing in the woods here. At the center of the clearing, the soggy ground becomes an insect-infested, stagnant, swamp-like pond, and sprawled at the pond’s southern edge is what appears to be a dead horse. Further investigation reveals the creature to be a dead unicorn, its horn broken off at the brow and its body strangely untouched by insects or other necrophages. The stink of mold comes not from the body, which is weirdly odorless, but from the fouled water of the pond.
Alexander Orlovsky |
Heal: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Very curious. I wonder what killed this creature. Alexander looks around. What do you make of this place, Andrea? Cursed, or just foul? Alexander chuckles slightly, but his tone remains serious.
The Winds of Fate |
Alexander, your examination of the unicorn reveals no obvious cause of its death, though you notice the creature’s eyes are milky and sightless, indicating the creature was blind at the time of its death. You also realize that most of the unicorns horn is missing. You think that the unicorns’s horn was removed after its death, and that the lack of obvious wounds would indicate the unicorn was likely slain by some form of death effect, such as finger of death. The fact that the bugs and scavengers don’t seem interested in the body is still a mystery to you though.
Alexander Orlovsky |
The removal of the horn does seem to be the purpose for killing this creature. He sneers as he examines the body, A death spell of some sort, and powerful. It was blind when it died. That seems...odd. Thaliar, Eduard? What do you think? Any of it of use to either of you?
Radomir Shax |
Radomir patrols the clearing, making sure nothing comes from the forest or the bog.
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
I will stand watch, my lord. I do not trust this place.
The Winds of Fate |
After examining the deceased unicorn, you group continues onward, turning more northward as you go to hit all the missed areas from before. As you travel, you fail to see sign of anything that could have been responsible for the unicorn. In fact, you fail to see sign of much of anything until near evening time when you find some hot springs. In truth, you smelled the hot springs long before you actually saw them. The distinctive rotten egg smell of them has traveled far on the evening winds.
What is most interesting about the hot springs, is that is seems to be home to a pair of Giant Frogs that appear to be making the large, hot spring pond their home. They let out a menacing croak as they see your group.
Alexander Orlovsky |
Well, anyone for frog's legs tonight? Alexander hefts his spear and nods towards the creatures.
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Anything we should know about Giant Frogs? Oh...guess not.
Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
The Winds of Fate |
Radomir: The Frogs are currently in the pond, about 15 feet from the edge. Due to all the minerals and such in the bubbling hot spring, you cannot see further than an inch into the water and cannot judge how deep it is or what the bottom looks like. So you would not likely risk breaking your horses leg with a charge.