He nods in agreement to Talia as he edges the circle around Naralesh, trying to keep the one eyed elf away from the coming spears.
after recovering from the shock of the chief's actions. "I should stop le'in' yew talk me in'er deese fings." he grumbles back at Talia. [b]"Next time one ov us gon'a die ov a 'eart attack."
As the kobolds advanced, Naralesh drew his sword, adopting a defensive posture as he prepared himself to unleash his spell of blinding on as many as possible. The words of the spell were just about to leave his tongue when the chieftain sprang into action, felling the purple-scaled shaman with a single blow. Seeing the kobolds lower their weapons, Naralesh relaxed slightly, listening to the chief's declaration of thanks.
Gavriil begins to unsheathe his rapier as the kobolds close in around them. "We could have done without the whole 'kill them and their king will send more', Kaalib. I don't think they took that too well."
He steps between Talia and the Kobolds, expecting Dregan and Magna to cover the others. He leveled his rapier, waiting for them to make the first move
Then...
The head one smashed the totem they dragged back to the pack of gekkos and they all dogpiled the purple one.
Gavriil slowly lowered his rapier as the others began baraging the chief with questions and said, "Does someone want to tell me what the pit is going on?!?"
Chief Sootscale looks - as best as he can - as the conquering hero to his cowed subjects. Most of whom continue to stare at the pile of rubble that was once Sharptooth.
He raises his gory club high and shouts to his tribe.
He looks at the group, still circled amidst the kobolds. "Me thank you for help. You free to go. Now."
Uh oh.
Talia steps around Gavriil, putting her hand on his sword arm and lifts a bit, a gentle gesture to keep your weapons ready. Nakpik seemed to understand force when Dregan ran the mite through. Hopefully this Chief would as well.
Clearing her throat, one hand on her longsword's hilt, Talia speaks in an even tenor, her words growing more forcefull as she goes on.
"We brought you three gifts, and came to treat with you. One gift was the cursed statue. The second was your captured comrade. And the third was the complete of the mites. We killed most of them, their chief, their centipede, and scattered the rest to the four winds. In a matter of minutes, we accomplished what the Sootscales could not. We are powerful, kings among kings, chiefs among chiefs. And there are more of us to the north."
"Do not displease us with talk of raids. There will be no raiding us longlegs. That is the price of our gifts."
"We come to offer you peace, but are prepared to leave with your heads. It is your choice. Choose wisely."
When the disguised gnome fell, Kaalib was stunned to silence for quite a few long moments. It was definitely something he'd not suspected but it made total sense. Now they were going to be okay. That is, until the Chief made his triumphant proclamation to the rest of the kobolds.
This could go very poorly.
Suddenly Kaalib realized his error. The raids would continue. His people would die. In his zeal to see Tartuk dead, he had glossed over the stupid tendencies of the kobold to pride. It would be their undoing unless he could do something. Firehead tried to reason with the chief, but that wouldn't likely go well either. The best he could do right now was to see if he could help.
"Cheif, these few tore through mites like fire through paper. They are angry about the raids. They won't remain patient."
I should have suspected that was too easy, Naralesh thought, sensing that something was amiss after the chief's words in Draconic. Attempting to stay in the center of his allies, he prepared himself to use his magic if necessary, hoping to blind as many kobolds as possible, including the chief, if the creatures attacked.
Dregan points at the chief "Thee 'ave a choice, make friends or die. And YOU'll die, maybe a few ov yaaahr kin who choose t' run really far or drop there weapons'll survive but yew won't. I'll track yew t' ta ends ov ta earf rarfer van le'in' yew 'arm me kin.."
"There is much to gain from our friendship, mighty chief, and much to lose from our wrath," Naralesh cautioned. "We would be allies with the Sootscales, not foes."
Chief Sootscale pauses, lowering his club. "Who is your chief? I speak to that one. Not all." He puffs out his chest. "I am chief!"
Naralesh glances at Talia. I suppose if we have a leader, it's her, he thinks.
Dregan continues to eye off the kobold horde. I wonder why Magna hasn't ordered the attack yet, I would have thought that agressive move would have set he off. Maybe Talia or Gavriil can talk them down.
Talia gives a quick look around, and then steps forward. "You're speaking to her. I am chief. We... I gave my terms. Peace, and great things can happen for the Sootscales. No peace, no Sootscales. Do we have a deal, chief?"
"No Sootscales?" The Chief laughs - a hissing, rasping laugh. "You think you have enough weapons? Enough strength?"
He moves towards Talia, waving his mace in a menacing fashion.
Gavriil keeps his sword aimed up at the chief. Well, this is going sideways fast. He begins to start scaning the dozens of short lizards around them, searching for a quick escape route. If a fight broke out, Gavriil was heading straight for the door. There was no way he was dying in a hole in the ground to be good for some gekkos. He'd punch a hole to the exit for the others if he could, but no matter what, he was getting the pit out of there.
As the chief waved his mace towards Talia, Gavriil stepped forward between them, his rapier pointing steadily at the lizard. He flowered at the chief and growled, "The lady gave you the terms. We may not have enough to kill you all, but we have enough to make sure that the sootscales will be decimated. And if you attack, you better know that you'll be the first with three feet of steal through your chest. How will you protect your people if your head sits on our chief's mantle."
Talia steps forward, beside Gavriil, drawing her sword, her face flushing with anger. "Perhaps we just kill you, put someone more cooperative in your seat? Make no mistake - you swing that mace, you're not living through the day."
With a quick flourish of her sword, Talia adopts the marsh reed stance, ready to strike if the chief attacks. "Still time for you to save face, and not lose it. Literally."
Dregan swings his bow on the chief "I'm confused, was what an order t' shoot? Next time yew be'er be clearer or I might jus' shoot"
"We have powerful magic at our command as well, and we will not be felled so easily as the minor apprentice Tartuk."
The Chief appears to make a decision. He lowers his club and takes a step forward. "What in it for Sootscales? How much you pay?"
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Talia hesitated for a beat. Should have discussed with everyone just what exactly we did want. Still, she figured she had the basics of it.
"What is in it for the Sootscales? For one, Chief, your tribe's continued existence. For another, you are free to levy reasonable tariffs on those that travel through your territory, as confined to this mine and the immediate region surrounding it, say a mile on each side. We'll figure out what reasonable is later - something like a copper a head. If you build a road, more people will come this way, and you'll make more money!"
"If this mine is fully operational, we'd like to set up a partnership of sorts - get us the silver, and we'll give you gold."
"And lastly, for the Sootscale promises of safety and nonviolence towards all longshanks, I'll pay you a personal tribute of 300 gold pieces, for you to do with what you wish, from my own, er, noble treasury."
"But know this. Any brooch or break in this treaty will bring a swift change in Sootscale leadership. It seems as if this Tartuk fellow already wrestled control from you once. I'm my tougher, and my head is harder to reach, Chief."
Dregan looks at Talia in surprise. If Magna was negotiating she wouldn't be offering gold on top of everything else. On the other hand if they do anything to break the agreement it could act as a bounty of a sort.
Smiling he says half in jest "If I keep killing their leaders until we get one who agrees without the 300 gold pieces can I keep the gold?
"Let us hear the Chief's answer," Naralesh said simply.
Magna's eyes never leave the chief as she growls: "Leave the mine in the hands of these...snakes? Are you insane Talia? They are evil, make no mistake! I tried to tell you that! There is only one way to solve this..."
Chief Sootscale takes one look at the dwarf's face, and up comes his club. "Chief thought lady in charge! Who let dwarf speak? Who in charge here?" All around you, the kobolds grip their spears again and level them at you.
Talia blushes, red with anger, and turns her back on the chief, standing over Magna, her voice ice cold. "Our hammer doesn't like your kind, Chief, and wants to wipe your tribe from this world. Luckly, I'm in charge, and that won't happen. Today."
"Don't be dim, Magna! There will be time to see if the Chief's intents are true. If they aren't, then we have the causus belli to bring your hammer down, and I will personally lead from the front. But, we will see this out first - Kaalib has proven himself trustworthy. His people deserve the same chance."
Magna looks at Talia, eyes smoldering. "I don't recall putting you in charge, woman." She looks around Talia to take in the kobolds with their weapons, the Chief with his club. Then she looks at Naralesh, and Dregan, and Kaalib, and Gavriil, all surrounded by the tribe. She thinks better of it.
"We will talk later." The dwarf growls and pushes past Naralesh towards the tunnel to the surface. She shoves her way past the surprised kobolds, who don't do anything to stop her. The sound of her boots goes thumping up the tunnel around a corner, then they stop. Her voice comes echoing gruffly down the passage.
"Well, are you coming? Or do you have more 'negotiating' to do...my Lady.
Chief Sootscale looks at Talia. "You have the gold? Leave with me, then go!"
Talia blushes some more, crimson, and then exhales, deeply, shrugs, and digs into her pack, bringing out the gold a little at a time until she's got the full three hundred, counting slowly, pretending it is for the benefit of the kobolds, so everyone knows she's on the up and up. When Magna yells her pithy insult, Talia counts even slower. Impatient dwarf can wait.
When she's done dispensing the gold, Talia smirks a little as a thought occurs to her, one certain to annoy the Hammer of Torag even more.
"Kaalib, I'd very much like it if you could accompany us back to the trading post. It would be good to speak with you about your people's customs. Perhaps you can serve as an envoy to our people, while we continue to explore these lands?"
--------------
The ride away from the mine is tense. Talia grits her teeth, and won't make eye contact with anyone, especially that dwarf. Stewing, eventually it all boils over, and out, of the noblewoman.
"Magna, you impetuous dwarf-child! You put us in real danger back there! There were many of them, and we could have lost some, or all of us to their warriors! There's a time for hammers and there's a time for coin. That was not a time for hammers!"
Spurring Apple forward with a huff, Talia catches up with Dregan and helps the woodsman keep an eye out for danger.
Dregan smiles as Talia catches up. "Thee did well back there. If i' doesn't 'old then it'll be because ov their evil nature not what you did."
"Probably easier t' kill 'em all, but easier ain't right! Lets get finish up explorin' dis side ov ta river then get back t' Oleg's. OK?"
Magna doesn't even look at Talia while she vents. She continues to ride, eyes straight forward. When Talia is finally done, she speaks in an even tone.
"This isn't a play, Talia, where you write the ending for yourself. This is real, those kobolds are real, the danger is real. Better to die removing that evil from the world, then let them live and even..." she spits on the ground next to her horse, "pay them for it."
-----------------------------------
It's a long few days, first exploring the area around the kobold mine, then the ride back to Oleg's. Magna says nothing during the time in the field, and avoids any and all conversation.
Soon enough the familiar bells ring out from the tower, as you ride through the gate at the trading post.
"Welcome back! How did it go?"
Magna speaks the first words you've heard from her since the mine. "Ask Talia, she's in charge." The dwarf paladin says gruffly. "I'm sure it will be tale worth hearing." She hands the reins of her horse to a guard, then stomps off towards the barracks.
Talia throws her hands up in the air, very theatrically, raising her voice, her yells echoing into the wilderness. "Exactly! The danger is real! So don't put my life on the line for your damned rigid, unthinking, unbending, unremovable from your arse ideals!"
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A snorting, sarcastic laugh escapes the playwright. "It went fine. We have an agreement with the kobolds. They are to leave our people alone - no raids, no harassment. They can levee a small surcharge for passage through their territory, essentially a mile around the mine they live in."
Taking Kesten aside, Talia continues. "If they break our agreement, we move them out forcibly, or if the opportunity presents itself, put an ally in charge of their tribe."
Nodding her head in Kaalib's direction, she continues. "That one proved brave. He stood his ground with us in a subterranean fight to the death with little blue psychopaths. I'll not run his people through with the sword in return, without giving peace a chance first."
"Magna's upset. There's no nuance in her worldview. She'll get over it. And, she almost got us all killed to boot."
Not waiting for - or asking for - Kesten's opinion on the kobold matter, Talia storms off, to get a bath drawn. The truth was, she didn't value Kesten's opinion that much. Not like Magna's, and that troubled Talia greatly...
Dregan avoids the harsh words by getting to work straight away. He unpacks the horses, feeds and waters them while tidying away the tack. After he washes them before washing himself and heading off to find Oleg, "Did me new bow arrive? I love t' see it, Mr Gwerder's bows are mean' t' be fine."
Kesten looks at Talia, concern on his face, but he says nothing. Clearly he isn't sure about the agreement with the kobolds.
Inside, Oleg is bustling about, getting food made, baths warmed, etc. He pauses to answer Dregan. "Aye, it's here, and all of your other items as well." Svetlana rushes to serve you all, making sure all is satisfactory. She stops to apologize. "Sorry, I'll be away for a moment, Miss Magna requested her meal in her room."
During the tense negotiations, Kaalib was at one time ready to jump in and kill his stupid chief and at another time he was ready to defend his tribe against a headstrong dwarf looking to slaughter them all. Over all it was a confusing moment for him and he didn't quite know what to think.
What he did know was that he wanted to go with the longshanks. If he stayed with the chief the way he was, he'd probably end up challenging him too early. After that display of prowess he just pulled off with that mace, he'd need to do some training before he could take him out. Sootscale was agile too, so they often could dodge fire if they heard it coming, and his fire wasn't quiet.
The few odd days they spent in transit were quiet, and Kaalib spent a good chunk of it meditating. Orsheval came out and lectured him on magical theory, which he'd found ultimately boring but there were a few things that were worthwhile. Naralesh proved easy to talk to, and he had a look at his scroll making which seemed far too complicated to really be his style, but it definitely was useful.
After living in a temple for a couple of months, being in Oleg's fort seemed like he was living in a dump. He much preferred the opulence and gilded columns, and made a point to see what he could do in making that happen back in the cave. Kobolds were just as good of craftsman as anyone else, it's just they didn't really work together that well, but hopefully he'd be able to fix that little issue.
He was about to introduce himself to lord Kesten when Talia pulled him aside to whisper secrets. He felt pretty uncomfortable about the whole situation, and aside from the elf, he didn't feel comfortable around any of them. Perhaps this was a big mistake and they'd just end up killing him soon, but he still felt obligated to do what he could to help them, whatever they were up to.
The reaction of the men and women at Oleg's towards Kalib is mixed. Fear at best, outright anger at worst. You can't be sure, but it would seem Kesten has posted a guard to watch over the kobold sorceror at all hours. Never obtrusive, but also never out of sight, either.
Oleg flat out refuses to serve him. "Not here, not here. Those dirty vermin have caused more trouble in the Green Belt than I can hear in one evening."
Apparently, you have some work to do regarding your newest member.
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Talia gives Oleg, Kesten, and the others the night to stew, while she bathes and writes. It has been a long series of days and she's frankly not inclined to her have judgement questioned any more this evening.
When morning comes, the playwright calls everyone together in the morning. She adopts the sternest look she can, before sighing, and appearing resigned, begins telling a story - the group's story, since they last were at the post.
She sets the scene describing the amazing electrical storm that the group encountered, and then the risen soul at Nettle's Crossing, before talking in depth, of the horror and madness of the mite lair. Talia dwells on their chaotic and foreign appearance and nature, their proclivity of torture, and their breeding of a great threat; a brood of horrors, each giant centipede larger than a settler's wagon. Talia puts emphasis on the point that - if they are anything like spider eggs - the centipede eggs in the mite lair certainly contained hundreds, perhaps thousands of incubating terrors, enough to overrun Oleg's and all points between.
Then Talia switches gears, speaking of finding Kaalib alive in the mite lair, and how surprising a find it was. She speaks of his upbringing, his time at the temple of Abadar, and how she knows a priest he spoke of, for thus his words must be true. Talia speaks to the kobold's courage, jumping into the centipede pit in order to save her life. And then Talia brings her speech back around to the centipedes.
"Both Magna and Kaalib went into that pit, neither knowing for sure whether either would take advantage of being out of sight to do the other in - certainly, Kaalib had that to fear. As you can all see, Magna still has no love for him. And let's be honest here - who do you think would be victorious? A kobold or a paladin of Torag?"
"Neither Kaalib nor Magna also knew if the centipede in that cervasse still lived - perhaps it had retreated, not dead, and lay in wait to finish them off? They both showed great courage that day."
"Magna, despite her anger towards me now, knows we fight for the same thing - a safe border to Brevoy's south. And this, friends, is what Kaalib and his people were at war with the mites. For if the mites were successful in their breeding program, we'd all have no hope against hundreds or thousands of their vermin."
"And you repay Kaalib's bravery, his people's sacrifice, with fear and anger? Shame on you. You question my judgement? Was I wrong, Oleg, to slaughter the bandits that plagued your post? Was I wrong, Kesten, to trust the safety of those here to your care? Was I wrong, Nat, to offer you and your penitent friends a second chance, to give you my favored steed, to better your chances at redemption and success?"
Waving her hand in Nat's direction, Talia continues.
"Why is it a group of bandits can be pardoned, but a group of creatures that have shown just as much propensity for cooperation, just as much capacity, as Kaalib here shows, for self-improvement and devout worship and desire for peaceful living... why should they be treated differently?"
"Kesten, I understand your assigning guards to watch over Kaalib. You did it before, with Nat and the bandits. It is only prudent. But you must accept that we're going to try and coexist with our neighbors to the south. They've eared the right, through their blood, their bravery, their sacrifice."
Talia levels a look, eyes smoldering on Kesten, on Oleg, and lastly, on Magna. "If you don't trust my judgement, tell me now. It will say something that I've earned more faith from Kaalib's people."
In the morning Dregan join Magna for her early morning training then enjoys Talia retelling of the story.
When she is finishes he pipes up "Well we be'er get ready we 'ave a long way t' get today." His words are clearly out a desire to avoid an argument between Magna and Talia rather than any true desire to get started.
Magna's training session is short - and very curt. She doesn't say much, only snapping out orders when something goes wrong. Soon enough she cuts it off, reluctantly going to Talia's gathering.
She sits silently, smoking her pipe, eyes never leaving Talia as she weaves her tale. There is a long silence, broken only by Dregan's interjection. Then she stands up.
"A fine speech. I only hope we don't live to regret your choices," and she walks out.
Day 1
Dregan gives the party the morning to relax, and ready themselves for the week or more that they are likely to be out this time. He uses that time to pen a letter to Mary his wife and arrange for someone to deliver it. He then sells his old bow and armour to Oleg before putting on his shiny new gear.
Dregan leads them out as usual. He head back south along the route they took back from the kobolds. When he approaches the kobold territory he gives it a wide berth heading west into unexplored lands. Finding a nice camping site they rest for the exploring to come.
Day 2 4D
(+2 if in forest)
(+2 if in forest)
Day 3 4C
(+2 if in forest)
(+2 if in forest)
Day 4 4B
(+2 if in forest)
(+2 if in forest)
Talia saddles Apple up and rides after Dregan, making note of the surrounding countryside. She's getting more and more used to the country, and spends the day looking out for threats, though Talia doesn't expect to see any so close to Oleg's.
The relaxing atmosphere of the trading post had been replaced with a tension in the air that Naralesh found almost palpable following the group's arrival with one of the Greenbelt's hated kobolds. While normally the elf would have taken to studying his spellbook for long hours in the comfort of his room, he found himself plagued by a persistent headache the first night within the post. He leaves the post for a few hours to wander with Nora in the fields outside, keeping the walls in sight in case of any danger, returning just before supper with his head cleared, feeling much better for a few hours of solitude.
He pulls Kaalib aside after the meal, engaging him (and perhaps Orsheval) in discussion of their respective magical talents for a while.
In the morning, he listens with admiration to Talia's speech. I'm pleased to have her taking charge, he thinks. She may be manipulative at times, but she has a good heart and is a strong leader. I'm sure Magna will come around in time. Dwarves are as stout as stones and change their minds about as quick, as they always say.
When the group rides out, Naralesh is optimistic about the group's challenges. While he doesn't expect Magna to change right away, he feels certain the dwarf will come around in time as Kaalib proves himself.
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
The journey that morning begins with a light rain. The temperature is chilly, and being wet doesn't help. Eventually, the rain stops, but the clouds lay heavy on the hills of the Kamelands.
The hills are much the same as the rest in the region, rolling heights with sparse copses of trees scattered about. At some point you find the Thorn River where it passes through the area. A rickety bridge passes over a 20' gulch allowing passage over the river here. The bridge has clearly been here a while, and has seen better days. It's a simple matter to take care while crossing, and soon you are on your way.
The next sees you leaving the hills of the Kamelands and heading W/NW into the forest again. The line of trees begins gradually at the edge of the hills, but within a few miles is thick and green. The rain holds off, but the heavy clouds remain.
The forest makes exploration a bit slower, so it's late in the evening when you come upon a hollow under a large fallen pine. The branches of the massive tree have created a natural shelter which appears to be the den of some animal. Bones litter the area around the den, and there is no sign of whatever creature lives here.
"These tracks belong to a wild boar," remarks the elf, examining the trail on the ground. "A very large boar," he continues, noting the size of its hoofprints. "They're territorial animals and won't take kindly to a group wandering through its den, so if we're to camp, we may wish to do so farther on."
Talia recalls perusing the message board at Oleg's just two days ago, to see if any news from up north had arrived. While nothing of note had happened in Restov, there was a message posted there from a hunter by the name of Benzen regarding a particularly nasty boar, a local legend apparently.
Dismounting, Talia ties Apple to a nearby tree, and draws her scorpion whip. While Talia's always found hunting to be a bore, hunting this boar, and the chance to lay climb to a piece of a local legend - it is too good an opportunity to pass up.
There's a reward out for a large boar named Tuskgutter, that took a local hunter's leg - a guy by the name of Benzen. We should check the lair, and if it is not in there, lay a trap for it. It would be a good gesture to endear us to the local populace, if we bring this boar back to Oleg's."
The den under the branches of the pine tree isn't deep, the occupant is clearly not home.
"Very well," Naralesh remarked. He looked around at nearby trees, thinking that if they were to lay in wait for a boar, it would be wise to remain out of its reach.