Giovanni goes unnoticed for now, but can't see much without a light source.
Nighttail counters Yasmin's suggestion:
"Should I climb down and talk to guard? Get him to join us or not interfere at least? Could give us element of surprise farther on."
"Are you sure he will join you, Nighttail, or is there a risk he would raise the alarm?" Nat whispers to their new ally.
Nighttail turns to Nat:
"Could be risk, but many in tribe upset with chief Roaghaz. Up to you how we proceed, then."
"I think if you're willing to risk it, Nighttail, then we can take that chance," Nat says after some deliberation.
Nighttail nods and climbs down the rope. Giovanni hears the exchange between her and another kobold below. He doesn't catch it all since its in Draconic and quiet. But soon you hear her call for you to come down.
Three kobolds appear, and seem ready to obey Nighttail.
"These fighters leave us be. Agree that strongest should lead, so if we can beat chief, they follow me. They say there's an ambush later, just before hole to lowest level. We can try bargain with those fighters too. But most loyal stay close to chief. Those we must fight."
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"Yes, but that would involve making sounds that others might hear," Nat says.
Once the kobolds are brought under control, Nat smiles and nods at Nighttail, following her deeper into the Kobold tunnels.
Yasmin follows Nighttail, although she seems to be anxious to be having to rely on kobolds, her racial enemy. Probably the kobolds feel the same...
The team moves down to the lower level. After passing by the three kobold guards, they follow another narrow passage into a larger room with a shallow pool at the center. You notice two big snapping turtles in the water.
At the south end of the room, there are three passages. The eastern one has a locked door barring the way. The southern passage is open, and you can see the outline of some furniture in a cavern up ahead. The western passage is narrow an windy, with nothing obvious in sight.
Nighttail shares some information with you:
"Behind door is where we store our weapons. Most kobold size, but one sword in there was right for elf or human. Straight ahead is bed where old shaman rests. Other passage winds around to next level of caves. Straight path also gets us there."
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Giovanni approaches the weapons room. He waves his fingers and speaks an arcane phrase.
School divination; Level bard 0, cleric/oracle 0, druid 0, inquisitor 0, magus 0, sorcerer/wizard 0, summoner 0, witch 0
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Component: V, S
EFFECT
Range 60 ft.
Area cone-shaped emanation
Duration concentration, up to 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
You detect magical auras. The amount of information revealed depends on how long you study a particular area or subject.
1st Round: Presence or absence of magical auras.
2nd Round: Number of different magical auras and the power of the most potent aura.
3rd Round: The strength and location of each aura. If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make Knowledge (arcana) skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. (Make one check per aura: DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + 1/2 caster level for a nonspell effect.) If the aura emanates from a magic item, you can attempt to identify its properties (see Spellcraft).
Magical areas, multiple types of magic, or strong local magical emanations may distort or conceal weaker auras.
Aura Strength: An aura's power depends on a spell's functioning spell level or an item's caster level; see the accompanying table. If an aura falls into more than one category, detect magic indicates the stronger of the two.
Spell or Object Aura Power
Faint Moderate Strong Overwhelming
Functioning spell (spell level) 3rd or lower 4th-6th 7th-9th 10th+ (deity-level)
Magic item (caster level) 5th or lower 6th-11th 12th-20th 21st+ (artifact)
Lingering Aura: A magical aura lingers after its original source dissipates (in the case of a spell) or is destroyed (in the case of a magic item). If detect magic is cast and directed at such a location, the spell indicates an aura strength of dim (even weaker than a faint aura). How long the aura lingers at this dim level depends on its original power:
He also looks it over for any traps, grinning at the helpful kobold.
If locked, Giovanni will take out his thieves' tools(mw) and he will begin unlocking it.
"The old shaman? Is that the chief?"
Giovanni sees no magic, and no traps. He easily open the lock and_enters a cache of_weapons. A large number of spears and slings are here, all sized for kobolds. Also a great many sling stones. A single medium longsword is propped up against the wall. It is made of cold iron, and is of excellent workmanship (masterwork).
Nighttail speaks to Nat: "No, not our chief . Old kobold was holy man until Churgri take over job. Churgri and chief Roaghaz have places on lower floor"
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Giovanni waves his hand over the sword, viewing for any magical properties.
He then buckles it around his waist. He peers over the rest of the items, smirking as he walks out closing and locking the door behind him.
Standing in front of the door, he waves his hand slowly down it from the top.
Where his hands passes the door changes color to a bright yellow color.
This is my famous yellow sun affect. Any prolonged contact and you will slowly burn away from the inside out!
Giovanni turns around, looks at everybody, and smiles.
"Is he a holy man serving a god, or spirits, or something else?"
Nighttail's eyes widen a bit with Gio's spell, but she seems comfortable enough for now.
To Nat: "Yes, his name Jakkol. He a priest of infernal duke Vapula. Our tribe follow his teaching until Roaghaz have us swear to serve dragon Aeteperax."
Nighttail leads you over to the seer she's been talking about.
A single small palet heaped with furs sits against the south wall of this cave. An aged kobold, his green scales dull and his eyes shut tight, lies on the palette.
As the group entesr the cave, the aged kobold’s eyelids flutter open to reveal milky, blind orbs. In a raspy voice, he calls out in Common.
"I can tell by your scent that you are strangers here. If my nose tells the truth, you bring the destruction I foretold. Good... good. I had hoped to see our ruin before journeying to the afterworld, but I will settle for listening to it. Beware the great scaly beast, strangers. He seems to speak reason, but his words are poison. And his bats, the ones he called from the darkness... they are harbingers of lunacy and chaos... Dread Lord Aeteperax will surely be your doom as he has been ours."
As if the act of speaking was too much, after delivering this cryptic and ominous message the aged kobold dies.
Glancing over the body, you notice that Jakkol clutches a phylactery of faithfulness in his dead hands.
An infernal duke? Hmm... well, at least lawful evil can be reasoned and dealt with, Nat considers.
"Sir, I... sea and sky, he's dead! I had hoped... Well. Nighttail, can you tell us about what he was saying? The dragon Aeteperax you said? Is that who your chief worships now?"
Nighttail answers:
"Yes, Roaghaz has thrown in with a dragon calling himself Aeteperax. Many mobiles followed out of respect for our Dragon kinship. But now tribe sees fault in this plan. Errors in ways. Still, as you can see, many kobold fighter still aid chief."
"Nothing else on this level for us. Must go down to fight chief. Probably Churgri too. She priest of Vapula. Powerful."
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Vapula is an infernal duke, a very powerful devil. He inhabits Dis, and is Master of the Pyrite Vault. Which contains actual treasure despite its name.
Meanwhile Nighttail leads you to another hole with a knotted rope.
"We must go down. Make ready for fight."
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Definitely time to buff. And let me know your order.
Nighttail answers:
"Churgri may be alone. Sometimes keeps pet skeleton or two. Roaghaz will have guards. Maybe four or five?"
Nighttail leads the team down tot he lowest level and directs you up two narrow passageways. They open into a large room and there is a robed female kobold guarded by two human skeletons. They move as if to attack!
The kobold speaks:
"Nighttail! You traitor! I'll slay you and save the chief the trouble!"
Round One:
Darian <<
Natulcien <<
skeletons
Eilis
Churgri
Giovanni
Yasmin
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Nat sends one of her magically enhanced pebbles at the enemy kobold, then swings her spear into position.
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Nat misses with her sling. Darian catches the skelly flat footed, but hurts it just slightly.
The skeleton rakes its claws at him!
The other rushes at Nat and swipes a claw.
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Giovanni begins to explain about these creatures and how best to destroy them!
This ability replaces inspire courage.
He then looks--pointedly--at his rapier and shrugs his shoulders!
Nat tries to strike at the skeleton as it rushes her but it's just too fast.
Churgri casts a spell.
Gio recognizes the bony creatures as skeletons. Bludgeoning weapons work best against them.
Rest of party is up!
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Yasmin moves forward so that she can see the kobold and readies a spell. She will cast it as soon as the kobold starts to cast another spell, thereby trying to disrupt the spellcasting.
Yasmin readies her spell, and Eilis steps up to help Darian.
But her blow is a miss!
Round 2:
Darian <<
Natulcien <<
skeletons
Churgri
Giovanni
Yasmin
Eilis
Unable to back away from the Skeleton, Nat switches to her club to defend herself, and calls upon the power of nature to hold it still.
Darius shatters one of the skeletons with his well-struck blow! Nat entangles one...
But it somehow breaks free!
Now it swipes at her twice!
Gio is baffled by the spell.
The Churgri chants something, and several of the team are overcome by a sensation of pain!