Of Kings and Commoners - Kingmaker AP

Game Master RPGGGM

Does Scarlet even have a horse? If yes, Mikmek can ride on hers.

Does Scarlet even have a horse? If yes, Mikmek can ride on hers.

At present no (because she insisted on traveling on her own too fast feet). There was a spare mount for Naleksa's things, but that's were the redistribution comes in.

I heared our Ranger likes Kobolds...
That said, I'll be as far away from the Fey Woman as possible in the marching formation.
Alternative: Gwyn rides Didymus and Numalar shares a horse with Mikmek - if she tries something funny Didymus could try and rip out her throat.

Alternative: Gwyn rides Didymus and Numalar shares a horse with Mikmek - if she tries something funny Didymus could try and rip out her throat.

You need to be a small creature to ride a riding dog. I think Erevenywg is medium, since at first we thought she could be human.

But if one rides with Celyne and the other rides with Zokon that would work.

My mistake...her appearance per profile picture seems to...small/tiny, I expected her to be gnome-sized. But I guess that could be just me.

I'ma just riding and watching..maybe occasionally whistling.

"Mikmek or Erev, either of you are welcome to ride with me..."

"Mikmek or Erev, either of you are welcome to ride with me..."

That would be Mikmek, as Erevenywg actually knows how to ride horses (though she's a bit confused as to were their horns have gone. As a side note, I would have to double check (I don't see Celyne's height listed), but I believe she is the tallest current party member at 6'4".

celyne is NOT 6'4"... she's more like 5'4"

Zokon is flat 6 ft.

After a long hard ride made quicker with Mikmek's knowledge of the land the party makes it to the meeting spot by late afternoon.

An outcropping of large boulders emerges from the weathered face of a forested hillock. A narrow opening in the rock leads into darkness below. A fallen sign leans against the side of the cave entrance, and a cage made of branches and sticks sits on the other side.

The sign reads: "OAKTOP SILVER MINE" in the common Taldane tongue.

The cage is occupied by a single, sobbing mite—his eyes squinted tightly shut against the day's light (see map folio).

Map updated.

"Hurr?" The squinty-eyed mite mutters up at the party from inside the little cage.

Zokon gets down and ties off the horse and then helps Mikmek down

"Hey Numalar, can you ask Mikmek to lead us in please? Wouldn't want the locals to think we are hostile."

Mikmek steps forward and barks: "'Etlh ghotI'."

Suddenly a black kobold with a spear pops its head up from around the boulder. "Grr, mikmek? wItI'nISmo'! ol' Ho'Du' jej tu' SoH?"

Both kobolds at this point stop, stand up straight, beat their little fists upon their chests and cry: "HOCH OL' HO'DU' JEJ RI'!"

Both kobolds return to their previous postures. The new kobold continues yipping as if nothing happened.

"nuqDaq 'oH latlhpu'? 'Iv Hab wa'" The new kobold takes a sudden breath and points at Numalar. "vaSvo' naH 'aqla'! bel tartuk je lo'taHvIS. mIv 'oH vaj tall. latlh lo'taHvIS wIghaj 'ach 'oH 'meh'. YAPP!"

By the way, folks are welcome to read my spoilers (otherwise I am just writing these for one or two people), but only so long as you keep two points in mind, one, the divide between player and character knowledge, and two, are not upset by learning 'spoilers'. There aren't really any big spoilers here.

"They seem well."

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

"And they seem happy to see you, Numalar! Wait a second..." Scarlet seems worried...

"tlhegh yISuq jIH." The kobold says.

Alia watches, silently...mostly in order to not draw the Fey Womans attention to herself...
First the Fey, now the Kobolds...Numalar seems awfully popular with all that is anathema to civilization and progress considering how insistent he was on seeing those bandits hang, per the letter of the law...was it all an act? Is he in league with forces that mean to undermine all we try to accomplish here?
Gazing over to the Fey, her thoughts continue: I do hope Posh manages to get the Cold Iron Manacles...

Elsewhere, Posh looks at the list of things he's supposed to order for the crew. "Manacles! --Kinky...."

"Well, this one thinks I am here as some kind of sacrifice. I imagine that's what this little blue creature is here for."

Numalar dismounts and with his back to the kobold, fishes the wand of enlarge person out of his saddlebag. He murmurs for a moment, and then grows to the height of a human.

Casting enlarge person on myself. Now my Strength has shot up to 8!

Numalar frowns at the new Kobold.

"laH qayajbe', DaSov."

Numalar pulls out the idol of Old Sharptooth from the saddlebag where it was stored. He holds it aloft.

"tlhong chenmoH maH SeHmo' nuvpu'. vaj naDev maH. bIquv chaq muS SoH 'ach tlhong ghob'e' batlh SoH. ram je. 'ay' dragon 'ej qul tlhuH. laH jIjawQo' mikmek."

"DaH... maHvaD SuD ra'wI' vaj chaq nob ghaH maH." Nuamalar indicates the idol.

intimidate +4 size: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

The kobold falls to his hands and knees at the combination of Numalar's terrible magic and his presentation of Ol Sharptooth. Mikmek seems affected as well though he maintains his footing.

Both cry out: "HOCH OL' HO'DU' JEJ RI'!"

Shaking the new kobold says: "YIP! majQa' yIteb wa' QI'yaH! DubelmoHchugh mach nakpik pab"

The cave entrance is narrow and dark.

Medium creatures will be squeezed down some of them, and the passage is unlit, though this time the characters (aside from Erevenywg) can at least stand upright, and the path seems more level.

Who all is going in?

1d6 ⇒ 1

"I'll just stay here then, shall I?"

"I'm curious about a kobold lair but i shall need light." Zokon says almost apologetically.

Erevenywg's breath catches and she points at the cave mouth.

"Noom-maul-are, corin rondo.... Tar na- valief tarsa tar, Noom-maul-are." Erevenywg says, her voice full of concern.

"I'm curious about a kobold lair but i shall need light." Zokon says almost apologetically.

"I'm sure I've got something for that." Naleksa says and smiles.

Alia, staring at Erevenywg, picks up a small stone, casts light on it and hands it to Zokon without looking at him:"She should stay with Naleksa. Wouldn't want to endanger her with any dark caves, right?"
Her blade drawn, Alia steps backward towards the cave entrance:"Seems like the sacrifice is post-poned, Numalar...anything we should know?"

Naleksa frowns at Alia's magical resourcefulness.

The kobold stands. He looks expectantly at the party.

Mikmek steps forward.

"Sacrifice?" Scarlet steps back, her suspicions surprisingly confirmed. Watching the kobolds fall to their knees cause her to calm down a bit.

"Yeah, you two should stay here." She turns Naleska. "Take care of her, alright? You can put it on my tab or somethin'."

"Nice trick, Numalar. I can grow big, too, but I need to focus. I'll try to remember next time."

Numalar listens to the fey woman with interest.

"She says this was the place she was warning us about. Which probably means it won't be so simple as handing over a statue and getting a bunch of radishes."

Numalar turns back to Erevenywg.

"Erevenywg, Mára tye an i quetta. Mal emme maure ana linne-on ar anta sina mornië. Osán-tye termáre-símen."

He looks at Zokon and Naleksa.

"It probably wouldn't hurt to have more than one light source."

"Nice trick, Numalar. I can grow big, too, but I need to focus. I'll try to remember next time."

Numalar smiles. "It's good for impressing kobolds."

I had actually forgotten I had the wand until recently. But if we can coordinate a bit more we really should use the wand on you during combats. The trick is that enlarge person has a full-round casting time, which makes it hard to use once combat has begun.

Numalar takes a few moments, murmuring and touching his hands to his ears and mouth.

Going to cast message three times. I can get everyone with just two castings but the third casting will include Celyne, Luna, and Sir Didymus. Obviously they can't talk but commands could be given that way. Message will last 1/2 hour.

"Ready to go. Sir Didymus, heel. Defend."

handle animal take 10: 10 + 6 = 16

Zokon slaps himself on the forehead.. "I also have sunrods but Alias light is better."

Zokon slaps himself on the forehead.. "I also have sunrods but Alias light is better."

Depends on what Zokon means by better. Sunrods have a 30' radius of bright light and last for 6 hours, while light has a 20' radius of bright light, a 10 minute/caster level duration and can usually be recast as many times as the caster likes. Neither is good for countering the effects of a darkness spell.

The mite whines piteously from its cage. The sound seems somehow ominous to the party's ears as they approach the cave entrance.

The kobold guarding the entrance turns and leads the in, with Zokon and Alia's magical light following, and the rest of the party following behind him. They have to move single file--it's too narrow for human-sized people to proceed any other way. The entrance passage opens a bit, but the kobolds both warn of numerous concealed dead falls hidden beneath the apparently solid floor. The pair carefully lead the party through and down a side passage that turns into a bend, passing hidden guard alcoves and side tunnels.

The guards here perk up at the sight of the outside door guard leading a procession of strange 'Smooth Ones' into their lair--one of whom is bearing the effigy of Ol' Sharptooth, the tribe's angry god. The kobold in the lead looks exceptionally pleased with himself.

They pass through one cave where a pair of hooded kobolds are sharpening knives. They line the blades up upon a bloodstained stone slab. A similar stone table sits empty nearby. The walls of the chamber are decorated with cave drawings depicting a hideous gargoyle-like being--Ol' Sharptooth--performing various destructive godly acts.

Just inside this cave entrance, off to the left, is small barred holding cell. The cell contains a single occupant an elf-touched woman (Illthir).

Map updated (slides 1 and 2).

@Enlarge Person: Aye, the reason you had it was that you can move via your Dog to maintain mobility, and spend a Full-Round Action casting - where us others would need to remain stationary, which is not a good thing for Melee Characters.

@Better light: It's better because it's Elfmade! Just kidding...the advantage is that a Sunrod takes up a hand to wield, which makes fighting with a Bow difficult. A small stone could arguably be fixed between fingers, or in his teeth, or anything else really that does leave his hands free! - Plus you can "shut it off" by covering it in your palm, or throw it forward and re-cast it if needed.

Alia keeps Erevenwyg in her sight until the tunnel blocks her vision, then turns towards the Kobolds in front...another underground tunnel, only those are a different kind of crazy...it may have been inapprobiate to walk through the tunnels with a drawn weapon, but it gave Alia a sense of - safety.

When the party passed the dead falls, Alia made sure to take note of their position, in case they needed to leave in a hurry. Passing guard alcoves and side tunnels, her ears perk up, nervously, trying to pinpoint the echos and noises. Elves are not made to be below the earth. Our cousins are testament to the corruption evident in all those who avoid the sun...

When they reach the holding cells, with a female form in one of the cells, Alia stops the instant she notices, taking a moment to look and see if the woman is still alive:"Numalar, it would seem you're not the only sacrifice they had planned. What do your dear Restov laws say about ritual murder?"
The elfs muscles are tensed up, ready to spring into action...they could well be walking into a trap here, with all of them supposed to provide blood for Old Sharptooth. The dark cave, the circle, the last bend... - the Fey's words came unbidden, but they came nonetheless.

@Enlarge Person: ...

Ah! Well, that makes sense. Like I said, I forgot all about it until recently.

"Numalar, it would seem you're not the only sacrifice they had planned. What do your dear Restov laws say about ritual murder?"

"Pretty sure they frown on it," Numalar whispers.

"But since they're not bandits, any action I might take would be strictly on a volunteer basis. I don't mind a bit of community service now and then, of course. Like any good citizen."

"I doubt that woman is here of her own free will. Kidnapping would seem a bandit-y thing to do...and if they took her possessions, well, that would settle it..."

Alia remains standing near the cell, disregarding the Kobolds reactions:"Tú. Sa chill. An bhfuil tú faoi dhíon?"

Scarlet doesn't mind the tight, dark tunnels. Reminds her of self-exile in caverns in the area. You find the right spot, an easy source of water, just big enough for you to fit without trouble.

Viewing the woman in the cage, Scarlet frowns. "Ugh, what is this, now? Numalar, can you also tell them to release the lady in the cage? The mites I don't care much about, they have their own problems. But her?"

"Maybe I'm just being a little racist here..."

"Lets see if we can't bargain for the lady first, we at least seem to have done them a service." Zokon says while keeping a weary eye out.

Did we get a full night's rest? The Boggard attack may have interrupted it.

Did we get a full night's rest? The Boggard attack may have interrupted it.

Before the attack, yes. Basically the attack happened first thing in the morning 7 hours and 56 minutes into the time that the the sleepers were resting--close enough to be being 'rested'. Folks relying on rest for recovery of spells and hp received it.

Alia (the only 'prepared' caster among you), would have been using her spells prepared from the day before, as she wouldn't prepare them until during/after breakfast. Any spell slots she used during the fight would be unavailable to her until after she got some rest.

Aye, and it's still stricken out. I assumed I had finished my 8 hours of rest already, considering I have third shift and then we're all up...it's basically the same result, only I assumed that my Arcane Point I spent is also gone for the day...which would possibly not be the case if a new "day" started after breakfast...
That said, I would assume that you at least got 1 or 2 more Wand Bobs from Celyne...in case SOMETHING goes wrong. I doubt we'd let our main frontliner go in more than 1/3rd dead

Correct. Spell preparation time and prayer time are different than rest time.

if anyone needed healing, Celyne would have taken care of it, first with spells the night before, followed by wand use if any more needed the next morning.

All the wounds, (Scarlet's morningstar to the face, the two horses) happened earlier this same day.

I'lll roll for Cure Light Wounds, then.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

then healing with the wand instead, I'll mark off the two charges

"I'll see what I can do. Obviously we can't just leave her there, but if we can get her out without a fight, so much the better."

Numalar turns to the Kobolds.

"jIH elf be'Hom jatlh qaStaHvIS mo'. qatlh tu'lu' ghaH? vaj 'e' Ho'Du' jej ngo' qej ghaH vaj vaj Ha' ghaH jISaHchugh naDev Ho'Du' jej ngo' DaH."

Numalar points to the two "executioners".

"ghaH laH 'avwI' cha' DaneHchugh. vaj yItlaHbe', ghaH laH qeng nuvpu' wa'."

Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Being imprisoned was draining. The nervous pacing back and forth, the constant worry and wondering if she'd ever see the sun again. The ominous sharpening of knives. She was fairly sure there couldn't be much left of them by now. Perhaps worst of all: the occasional, but far too frequent, off-tune chanting of the kobolds. So it was no small wonder that Illthir found herself drifting off onto better places, better times, her eyes fixed at nothing. She thought of home and warmth and her family. In fact she could almost her mother yelling at her over the ambient chatter ...

...Wait... That didn't *really* sound like her. For a brief moment she bitterly worried that even her hallucinations had languished in this cursed place before considering another possibility.

---

The half-elven woman - evident by her wild eyes - rose to her feet with a start, grabbing the bars and stared at the party in wonder. Her complexion was white as a sheet, no doubt helped out by her predicament, and her face was smudged with dirt - probably also somewhat related to the small cell where she was confined. Her mouth moves mechanically for a few seconds before blurting out a quick tirade in elven. With every word she looks more and more animated and at the end she gestures wildly towards the robed pair of kobolds.

"Níl, tá - is ciall liom! Le do thoil - caithfidh tú cabhrú liom! Is - is dóigh liom gur mhaith leo a ithe liom! *sob* Nó rud éigin. Inis dóibh a ligean amach!"