Nedyr admires the symbols, but when he hears the hiss from Smallscale, he returns his focus. A confrontation, he's sure, is nigh.
His eyes played along the water interested in the underground warrens, the strange scale coloration on the kobold shamen made him pause as well. Do Kobolds have purple scales? He wondered until smallscales underbreath hiss caught his attention. Like Nedyr he couldnt help but feel this might go south and badly.
Mikmek runs forward excitedly, babbling in draconic. Smallscale pulls the statue from his pack triumphantly and glares defiantly at Tartuk.
You almost think you see the purple kobold pale before he schools his expression and begins orating.
Mikmek, "Tartuk, Tartuk, these tallones have recovered the statue and returned it to us!"
Tartuk: "Fool! You have brought the monsters into the nest, along with the traitor Smallscale. AND you've let them defile Old Sharptooth!"
A low growl behind you is in common, only low enough for you and Smallscale to hear. The speaker is dressed in crude scalemail and holds a suprisingly ornate longsword. His scales are polished to gleam and are midnight black and he holds himself with more dignity than most kobolds.
"If you cans rid the Sootscale clan of this leach we cans have words"
Smallscale grins and nods "Yes Chiefs Sootscales"
Aluxion freezes up. He'd hoped that they could talk the charlatan into leaving peacefully, but it seems that they had brought this conflict to a climax by their presence. He steps to the side and back, waiting for Tartuk to make a hostile move. "We're on yer side, Smallscale," he says.
Nedyr, of course, softly translated, with an added, "I believe we are standing in the center ring of this particular circus."
Hella hears the words and growls at Wolf.
"Attack." She points to the purple scaled one with no hesitation and her wolf lunges forward past everyone.
At Hella's motion the stealthy elf drew a dagger and threw it at the strange purple scaled kobold... drawing his short sword after with almost one deft motion
When he can, Nedyr casts his gaze towards Tartuk. The elf's eyes seem to grow even larger and more moonlike, a sinister gleam in them.
Nedyr's eyes flash as he glares at the offending kobold, causing it to flinch. But that flinch was enough, Cerian's dagger flies true and pierces the purple hide as the wolf charges. The savage jaws clamp onto it's throat and he falls from the force of the blow.
Round 2:
The purple shaman mutters words of power and disappears, becoming invisible.
Round 2, Initiative 7: Aluxion
Aluxion looks around wildly for where the shaman could have gone. He pulls out his bow and casts Bless. "Where'd ya go?"
Initiative order:
Shaman: 25
Nedyr: 16 *waiting*
Cerian: 12 *waiting*
Smallscale: 12
Hella: 9 *waiting*
Aluxion: 7
An elven curse erupts from Nedyr, and he turns to cast a spell on Cerian hoping to add their chances at striking an unseen foe
Hella curses softly and growls her fingers shaping the spell Fearie fire covering the entire area using the square she had seen the shaman in.
Wolf would attack him if revealed.
Rodric Charges forward, swinging his blade.
but meets with nothing but air.
Cerian moves forward and thrusts his blade at the place the false shaman was.
but also meets with nothing but air.
Daylight blossoms from a stone in Smallscale's hand and the rest of the kobolds yelp and cover their eyes, or flee.
Hella's spell covers the area in a soft light, revealing a glowing form standing next to wolf, who takes a piece out of him.
Feeling Aluxion's blessing, Arilyth moves forward and stabs at the glowing form.
Her blade strikes true, striking the kobold in the heart.
His glowing form slides to the ground, apparently unconcious.
Hella pauses as her wolf growls and she growls back and wolf backs up a step. "Littlefang, I believe you should end his life. Fitting for harming your tribe." Wolf let's Littlefang past as Hella turns to look at the black scaled Kobold.
"I am Hella Wolf. These are my companions and pack. We wish to speak with you."
"Nice spell, I thought we lost him for a moment there," He tells Hella
"when he is dead then we can rest." she waits to see if Little fang will finish him off.
she turns her attention to the collapsed form making sure he wasn't faking it.
He is doing a most convincing impersonation of a rug you have ever seen. The breathing is shallow and Littlefang grins as he moves forward and slits the unconcious figures throat.
The chief swallows a little and steps forward. "You have come here and murdered our shaman, this must be the curse of old sharptooth once again. What have you to say?
"We actually came to end this so called curse. From what we have heard from Littlefang Smallscale sounds more like your own shaman hurting the tribe rather than guiding it. We entered the mite lair got back the statue and came here with Littlefang. There is one thing I can not stand and it is someone harming their own pack or tribe. I can not speak your language but my companion Nedyr can. He would better be able to pass on the knowledge he knows."
She motions to Nedyr letting him come forward. Wolf moves to her side nuzzling her hand until she pet him.
Aluxion casts Comprehend Languages on himself (20 min duration). Even though it won't let him speak to the chief in Draconic, he can be aware of what's going on in the conversation.
In Common, he adds, "From what ah understan', y'all've been takin' in by this here charlatan. Nedyr speaks yer Draconic, Ah'll let 'im explain."
"No pressure," Nedyr says wryly, and then switches to the tongue of dragons,
He was lost in the going ons after the short fight, for a moment he thought they were about to be attacked by the other kobolds as well. He stayed quiest letting the others do the talking, he did his best to remain inconspicuous and kept a close watch in case things went awry.
The chief hesitates. "I have long suspected this." He responds in common, clearly. He turns to Littlefang still speaking in common, "You, you came wising your fathers place. and you will have it..."
"So what do you want from this then..."
Nedyr glances at the others inviting them to chime in, then adds to "We HOPE for many things, but peace between your people and ours chief among them."
Hella looks him over as he hesitates and smiles slightly.
He was an intelligent one. Not wanting to let the others know what was going on but also still protecting his tribe. She would give that to him and understands it well.
"We helped Littlefang with dealing with this problem in the hopes of showing we would make strong allies. As a pack we are new to the area and wish to carve out our own territory. An alliance with your tribe would be what we seek. I know there is some negotiations that we will have to talk about."
Do you folk mine this place? We are currently at a trading post, perhaps we can work out some sort of trading relationship. Also you have lived in this Area for some time, perhaps you can tell us more about the area." The young elf began finally putting his weapon away, stepping away from the shadows and joining the others.
Aluxion chimes in. "Just so y'all know, whether or not y'all decide ta work with us, lots a' humans will be movin' inta the area in the next couple years. Y'all would be the first allies of such a group."
Smallscale's tooth grin is unmistakable, He responds in draconic and repeats in common, "We can trust these one's, and the tribe is not strong enough to resist such a good offer. the silver tongued Elf and his friends have helped rid us of the Mites, and can help rid us of the Stag Lord. We should be their allies and accept their friendship."
He's clearly enjoying the situation a little too much and pressuring the weak chief.
Chief Sootscale listens to the arguments and looks somewhat relieved until Smallscale pipes up, then he frowns. He thinks quietly for a few minutes before shaking his head. "I cannot negotiate this, clearly I'm not going to be Chief much longer... I've failed once too many but please accept our friendship for now. If Smallscale support's one of my hatchlings as the new chief I am sure you will have your alliance."
Smallscale nods.
The chief relaxes a little, " Then we have much to settle but if you can be found at the trading post we will send a message once things here are resolved."
Hella nods. "We can accept your friendship and your tribes."
Hella looks between them and asks.
"I don't mean to be rude but as a stranger to your ways, may I ask what will happen? I know the ways of wolves and humans. May I learn why your...." She seemed to be searching for the right words.
"Why leadership of your pack may change? And how it happens?" It was clear that she really wanted to understand. After all understanding a friends culture and pack traditions were important. That way less growling when meet ups occur.
"If you don't wish to tell me I would understand."
The chief shrugs, "There are three ways a chief can be replaced. He is challenged, he dies, or he retires. If I don't choose to retire now it is very likely I will be challenged. Even if I prevail I will likely meet with an "accident". Too many see me as weak now, and maybe they are right." He looks much like a tired old man now and you wonder if maybe he knew all along that the shaman was false but had not the strength or bravery to challenge him.
Hella thinks on it for a long bit. "If you retire what will you do?"
He grins, "Take my place as an elder, father more hatchlings, eat, sleep, and tell lies of how things were 'back in my day'. It is not so bad a fate, far better than a series of challenges and death. Let the young bare the burden of responsibility."
Hella grins and nods. "Indeed. You are also welcome to visit the Trading post. We will tell them you and your tribe are welcome. That should make things a bit interesting." Grins and holds out her hand.
"Well, I wish you the best of luck. I would offer fresh meat for celebration but we didn't hunt on the way here. Do you want us to get rid of the purple one or anything of his when we leave?"
"Yes, we don't want anyone at the post to be unware of the nature of our new allies," Nedyr agrees, thinking of how some humans might shoot a kobold on sight if not advised otherwise.
He looks at the chief and Smallscale, and decides to try a bit of honesty on a whim "Something else occurs to me, two things actually...one, are you aware that this old mine might yet yield some precious metals to your tribe? It would give you something to trade, and strengthen the economy in the area. We'd happily act as your go between for a share of the profits in trade. It might take time, but it's something for the two of you and your new eventual chief to consider. The other thing is...well, do you have maps of the area, knowledge of other places in the Greenbelt you'd be willing to share? Forewarned is forearmed they say."
Aluxion is practically beaming at the progress made in acquiring new allies. "It's great to have y'all workin' with us. Chief, if you find yerself retired, Ah'm sure we can find somethin' useful for y'all to do. We've got some big plans."
"We'd also kindly appreciate any information y'all have about this Stag Lord fella."
Hella looked at Nedyr and Aluxion and felt her chest swell just a little bit at them thinking of all these things. Though they hadn't chosen an Alpha for this pack it worked well together and was going to last a long time as long as everyone covered the other's weaknesses.
Alpha would probably come up sooner or later but she would wait for now.
Turning to the king she remained silent for the moment not feeling a need to speak up.
Wolf moved up to the chief sniffing him and she remembered her idea. Kobold wolf riders. Or, if she could find lizards big enough. Lizard riders. Smiling at the thought as Wolf sniffed for meat hidden on the Kobold King.
Indeed, this so called Stag Lord has something coming for him for sure.
He said quietly his lips almost curling into a scowl for a moment.He paused and looked around at the cave.
If and when you step down Chief who will take your place? Do you have successors? games of strength or cunning to decide whom will be chief? Before we go I am sure we would like to meet your succesor for future...discussions and treaties.
He finished ofering a breif smile. He was trying to keep focused on the task at hand, not the search for his parents or the pretty maid at the trading post Neila.
The chief and Small scale exchange looks, "There are a number of candidates and it won't be decided over night. But I will send Mikmek with you. He has scouted the stag lords settlement and can help.
Hella chuckled lightly. "As you can tell we are over eager. Thank you for your patience. We will await word of when you successor is chosen. Then we can organize what deals are made and how."
Turning to the others. "Wasn't their a list in the Mite lair of items or something?" She turned back to the King. "I'll ask again is there anything of the old shaman's you want us to take with. I imagine you may want to keep the body." Remembering someone mentioning eating the dead.
"Ah, a list? Maybe... I don't recall..."
The cheif nods, "Only fair we give you some token to show our gratitude, hold a moment." he enters the false shamans hut and returns shortly. He hands over a heavy sack and a leather bound book with a lock. "We cannot read the book, it is in a tongue foreign to us, this silver is the fruits of the labor the shaman demanded as sacrifice to Sharptooth, best we be rid of it."
There is roughly 20 pounds of silver ingots. The book is clearly written in undercommon, as the list is.
Hella smiled and would take the bag and the book. "Thank you." She tried to remember who could read that language, if any one could, and would hand the book to Nedyr for him to carry.
"Thank you Chieftain. Is Mikmek coming with us now or will he be coming to us after the new chieftain is decided?"
Since this had all been in common she figured he didn't know what was going on.
It would seem there would be a lot for her to learn. The dragon's tongue would be nice but she also wanted to learn the tongue of the forest. It seems she would have to make a decision on that one sooner or later.
They would as a pack have to shore up each other.
"Once that is decided I think we can leave."
"I don't speak the language, but I can hold onto it until we find someone who does if none of us do," he takes the book and list carefully. Then he nods to the chief, "This is most generous. Our thanks." And the silver isn't bad either... it could give us quite the boost to make something of this land.
The chief nods, "He will leave with you now. He will represent our interests with you for now, though I cannot say if the new chief will wish someone else."
We look forward to it, and look forward to continued good relations. " He said glad enough this... was done. He hated to admit it, but with the threat apparently gone all he could think about was a pretty maid back at the trading post. He once more began running through lines of poetry in his head frowning at how bad it all sounded to him.
Hella would nod and ushers everyone out. She would smile as Mikmek was told and was sent with them.
Once back with the horses she would look at them. "Alright, since our group is a little smaller due to some staying back at the trading post we need to decide how we are going to help each other." She smiles and offers Mikmek to ride with her again if he wants.
"But for now back to the trading post."
"Indeed, I look forward to Swetlana's cooking," Nedyr says with a smile as the group mounts up, "If she's willing."
"Oh I am sure she would be willing. I think she likes having a pack to cook for again."
Chuckles and would stretch as she turned Blue Moon. "So Cerian, looking forward to heading back to the post?" She asked already knowing the answer. There was a female that had grabbed his attention and she could just see his tail wagging, if he had one that is.