Anthony stealthily moves into the room after handing off his torch to Jansen, finding it to be an armory. Old cobweb covered racks and armor stands dominate much of this small chamber. What must have once been a well-tended armory is now devoid of arms and armor.
He finds a secret door in the northeast corner of the room.
He also finds four bolts with red fletching underneath a rack.
He does not find any bats.
Meanwhile, Adrac and Herral move through the woods with two of the mushrooms. It is dark out, but occasionally moonlight filters down through the darkwood trees to illuminate the way.
Herral moves confidently through the forest back towards Falcon's Hollow. He is in good spirits, hoping that the mushrooms will help save his sister.
They wander down the hill away from the monastery when they walk over a well-camouflaged pit trap.
They both fall into a thirty-foot-deep pit. Thud!
Herral falls unconscious from the fall. Adrac is still hanging on, barely.
Adrac looks over at Herral. The torch is laying beside him, illuminating a large head wound. Herral is dying.
You are hot on the trail of one Gurtlekep - a kobold scout employed by Dragon King Merlokrep. He is currently sitting in a tree, watching a pair of pink-skins fall in a giant pit trap of his own design. He doesn't know you are there.
Adrac is caught entirely offguard by the pit, but mid-fall, curses himself for not being more alert. Such traps were beginner mistakes.
Pulling himself up from the fall, he squints up through what little light the moon affords him, he quickly checks to see where Herral landed... and immediately moved to try and straighten him out on his back. "Herral! No, do not die now! We are so close to our success! Stay with me..."
Adrac laid him out and attempted to staunch the bleeding coming from his head wound. He only had one potion... Adrac knew he was in very poor condition as well... but Herral had to live. They both did. They all did. To return and see their loved ones.
But... how was he ever going to get out of this one? He kept thinking through options and discarding them. No chance of aid from town... it would be a while before the others came along... if they did at all... he could barely keep himself upright, much less climb out unassisted. Hope quickly started to fade. "Irori... anyone... please. Give me the strength and wisdom to escape... somehow..."
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Perhaps someone has heard Adrac's plea... the question is, did he understand it? Following closely along with the duo, a pair of yellow eyes have been observing them from the darkness, watching carefully and observing them.
Hope has chosen a new (and quite strange) traveling companion.
"Well done, Gurtlekep." he hissed, moving alongside the trap maker. "It sounds like at least one is alive... good. We can use him as a bargaining chip, if need be. Go and report to Merlokrep. I'm sure he'll be pleased... I'll take care of the other softskins."
Adrac manages to staunch Herral's bleeding, but it is not enough for the poor halfling to regain consciousness. He is still very, very weak.
Gurtlekep doesn't turn to look at Miirik, as he is focused on his own trap. "Hmm hmmm. Stooopid little softskins fall in big hole. Dragon King Merlokrep will be pleased."
"Indeed he will. Go inform him, collect your reward. I will ensure that they do not escape. If they try... I will roast them." Miirik replied, looking back at the hole Gurtlekep had dug.
Waste of a perfectly good trap. The softskins were already leaving... but I might be able turn this into an advantage. If his words with Greypelt earlier were sincere... damnable beast. No wonder "Merlo-crap" likes him; he's just as poor a leader as the dirty wolf.
Gurtlekep seems satisfied.
"Fine but now you get to wait for them to fall unconscious and drag them out," he grunts, tossing him a 50 ft length of frayed hemp rope. "Or knock them out yourself. I don't care. But the tribe will feast tonight." He grins and slinks off in the direction of the ruins.
"But be careful, there are many softskins moving about the temple tonight. Greypelt found himself quite the gullible dinner tonight - they're even doing chores for him!"
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Miirik nodded back, grinning himself and taking the rope. "If the Dragon King could not slay me, no scaleless surface walkers will either." Once Gurtlekep is out of sight, however, he grimaces a bit, looking back at the pit. Waiting a little bit, he checks the area before traipsing over and peering inside. The torch at the bottom made him squint a bit, but he could see the duo clearly down below.
Staring for a bit, his tail swished back and forth as the old one looked up at him, staring back up at the kobold. "...you've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" he asked in remarkably clear Taldane, his tail slapping the ground behind him. "My name is Miirik Dragonchord... why are you here?"
**************
Adrac stared silently back up at the kobold, both worried and impressed at his grasp of language. Those eyes... he thought he saw them earlier, in the same room Greypelt occupied. Was he watching them? And, while he appeared red from this distance, he thought he saw specks of gold here and there... perhaps a trick of the torchlight? "...my name is Adrac Rhaddyn. My companions and I are here for ingredients to a plague cure. Herral and I were trying to return to town with the ingredients we do have... please. I simply wish to return home and save my granddaughter. She is dying as we speak... please, if you have any mercy in you, help us."
**************
Miirik listened quietly as the old one pleaded for aid. Much as he enjoyed the begging, he knew his window of opportunity was small. But this old one... wanted to stop a plague? Were the humans suffering from something? It was hard to tell, given that his expression seems to remain notably neutral, but the mention of wanting to save one of his "hatchlings" seemed to soften him a little. "You're in luck... because I want you all to leave. But before you do, I want something in return for my aid."
Miirik stood up and walked to a nearby tree, tying the rope to a protruding root before walking back to the pit, dropping the rest down to Adrac. "Climb out... we have things to discuss."
Meanwhile, back at Droskar's Crucible...
"No bats." Anthony echoes. They'll be in the other room. But give me a minute with this one. He happens upon four bolts which he examines carefully, opening up his magical senses. Unfortunately he has relatively little idea of what magic they hold, but they are well made.
He finds a far more exciting discovery by chance: a hidden door. A smug feeling warms him as he knows that not many could have found this door. Especially not Graypelt. He tries the portal and holds his breath until he sees what's on the other side.
Soroza follows Anthony into the room as he is examining the bolts.
"Well, at least there's something worthwhile lying around this place. Bringing home a couple useful trinkets never hurt anyone."
Her gaze follows the tiefling as he approaches the wall and studies it.
"And what do we have there?"
The secret door swings open to reveal a short corridor with a wall of bars running down one side. The air is thick and musty - this is a room that has not been disturbed in a long time. Four rusted doors open in this wall into four cramped cells. Within the cells are the skeletal remains of dwarves. One is in each cell.
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Miirik looked back into the darkness, watching the sight of the old human and the halfling vanish even beyond his keen sight. Turning his attention back to his mace, he finished tying the tattered and bloodied sash to the end of his mace.
This should be convincing enough... he mused to himself, before looking back up to the monastery. The first step was completed... now for the next. Miirik started walking into the courtyard as the earlier conversation replayed in his mind.
Miirik knelt over the unconscious halfling as he placed a claw on his chest, exhaling as he channeled healing magics into his body. Adrac inhaled as he looked down at the cure potion, before opening it and drinking it. "If I may ask, why are you helping us?"
Miirik remained quiet as he worked, waiting for Herral to regain consciousness before replying. "...when our look-outs reported intruders to the ruins, I made it a point to get up and investigate. Our 'king' would be content to allow Greypelt to deal with you, but I do not trust him... and 'his majesty' is a fool for it as well. Merely one more thing he and I disagree on."
Adrac listened with a nod. "It sounds like you have some disdain for your chief." Miirik growled angrily at this. "He is an idiot. One disaster after another has befallen us since he wrested control. It is getting us killed... and I do not like it when someone destroys my stuff." The kobold stood up. "I've been watching since you returned to speak with Greypelt."
"I thought I saw someone nearby. That was you, wasn't it?" Miirik nodded. "I wanted to see what you were like. You and the female with the odd eyes seem reasonable enough... but the devil-spawn didn't surprise me." Adrac shook his head with a fervent hard stare. "Anthony has much to learn, but he is still a good spirit. I would trust him with my life."
"But can I?" Miirik quipped back. Adrac frowned, looking back towards the ruins. Miirik stared for a little while before speaking up again. "Regardless, you all seem strong and cooperative enough. I want your aid; I cannot match the dragon king head-on, so I must rely on other options, the best being the favor of my tribe. I need to earn their respect. And few things earn more of that than proof of your conquests against superior foes."
Adrac blinked a little, before looking back at Miirik. "I want something that would prove I have bested you in combat, but also be something your allies would recognize, so I can make them listen to me. I will help them crush Greypelt and you can have all the mushrooms you want. In exchange, they can help me set up an... illusion.
The old monk frowned at this, but Miirik held up his claw, as if anticipating his concern. "They'll be fine - if you all leave me and my tribe alone, you can return to save your own kin. No doubt, the sounds of battle will alert the scouts and other curious members of my tribe. After Greypelt's defeat, all they have to do is feign weakness before my power and flee to safety. You get your mushrooms... and I look like a champion to my tribe."
Adrac considered this plan for a little bit, before closing his eyes and sighing. "Much as I dislike such tactics... I suppose I am in your debt for saving our lives. And, consequently, the lives of those in Falcon's Hollow. Here." Adrac leaned forward and unfastened the sash around his waist, prominently displaying a fist at the ends. "This is the mark of my service to Irori. This is meant to remain with me at all times, a mark of my devotion to Irori... but this is an exceptional circumstance. I don't know about the others... but I wager Anthony will recognize it."
Miirik glowered a little at the mention that the tiefling would recognize it. "Wonderful... I hope he does not fly into a rage before I can explain the situation." Miirik took the sash and began dabbing it over Herral's wounds, smearing it with blood before starting to rip it up. Adrac seemed to wince a bit at the action, but made no effort to stop it.
Miirik stopped as he looked back at Adrac, frowning a bit. "...go now. I will take care of the rest. Your companions will be along soon."
I'll go ahead and expend two uses of CLW to get Herral on his feet... if that's enough. If not, I'll have Adrac give the potion to Herral as well, to get him conscious and walking.
Anthony wanders in carefully, looking for anything else well hidden. Booby traps and treasure tended to be treated similarly in installations such as this. He beckons the ranger inside, welcoming the others to follow as well. "Detention center?" The horned man scans the room bending over and leaning in close to inspect this and that, but carefully not touching anything.
Soroza follows Anthony and Jansen into the room. She grimaces at the sight of the desiccated Dwarven remains.
"What an awful way to die", she muses. Mostly to herself.
She scans the ancient jail with the others. "I hope, I really hope, there's something else to this room. The implications of hiding a prison behind a secret door are... Unpleasant."
Anthony nearly gasps as he notices the mushrooms. He asks Soroza in a hushed tone, as if speaking too loud would make the mushrooms vanish, "Do you think there might be more all over the place?" As he says so, he gingerly picks the ring from the corpse and looks at it in the light, murmuring a small spell to feel out whether or not it is magical.
Whispering: "Hard to say, but it is a good sign."
Then, with a slight frown, "I wish we'd found these before running into Angry Wolf King."
Finding mushrooms not in Greypelt's possession was a welcome fortune, but today had been a difficult day. For the first time since circumstances brought them together, Soroza felt the group's individual personalities truly straining against one another.
"I hope Adrac and Herral are okay..."
"The old human and the short one? They are gone now. You're welcome."
Soroza's ponder is answered by a small, scratchy voice coming from the darkness. The sound of pattering feet grows closer until it steps into the edge of the light, revealing itself to be a red kobold. The light reflects somewhat off his armor, which proves to be made of patchwork metal covered (or perhaps oddly decorated) in old burgundy scales. A silver mace hangs off his waist, nearly reaching the floor, and close inspection shows that a bloodied and tattered sash drapes off the handle, tied to the end like some kind of trophy.
"Now, if you've finished your tour, I expect your cooperation. You all recognize this, yes?" he asked, drawing his mace and holding it to show off the sash tied to it.
"Hold, Jansen. Let the creature speak." Soroza places a hand on his shoulder.
Soroza acknowledges the kobold. "Say your piece, but you should be very aware that if you have hurt our friends I will repay you the favor tenfold." While her demeanor is calm, her voice is like ice and her threat unambiguous.
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Davi's been quiet as the group's been exploring. But once they spot the mushrooms she moves over to Soroza and Anthony. "This may sound silly but...did Laurel say how many mushrooms we need? Maybe we can find enough to put off our bargain with Sir Wolf"
When the Kobold announces himself she watches him carefully. "No offense, but you really need to work on your diplomacy. Please explain how said friends are 'gone', where you got that sash and what you expect us to do. I, personally, don't agree to things I don't know about. Start doing that and suddenly you're in a hot pepper eating contest wondering where your life went wrong."
She shrugs. "Never trust your cook friend when he ask for a favor. Especially if he looks smug when you agree." Davi's tone has been casual, as if she's just talking to someone she met on the street, but she's edged herself in front of Soroza and Anthony.
Anthony's glower smolders from behind his companions upon seeing the kobold with Adrac's sash in hand. He rapidly unsheathes his rapier and says in a low, but very audible voice, "I will give you six seconds to explain how you came upon that."
Miirik snarls back at Jansen and Anthony at their hostility, baring his fangs at them. "Impudent softskins! I am Miirik Dragonchord! My voice is fire itself! You will not frighten me!" He eases back a little at Davi's comment, but still looks a little annoyed. Soroza, however, seems to calm him down, staring at her for a bit before holstering his mace again. "...I didn't have to save them from our trap, you know. A trap, I will add, was perfectly fine until they fell in it. I could've let the halfling die down there and the elderly human to rot until my tribe fished him out, but noooooo, I pulled his scaleless sorry hide out and fixed his head! Tried to be decent about this, but if we're just going to get mad, fine!"
Miirik spins around and folds his arms over his chest, huffing in aggravation and stewing on it for a bit. Growling a little, he taps his foot before inhaling, finally calming down. "Seems the old one was right, though. Glad to see his word wasn't for show. Makes it easier to keep mine." He turned around, still looking grumpy. "...as I said, my name is Miirik Dragonchord... and your intrusion has worked my tribe into a frenzy. We've got enough troubles to deal with and you running around up here isn't helping."
"...that said, it gives me an opportunity. The elder and the halfling fell into one of our pit traps. I pulled them out and made a deal with him: he leaves now, and this sash is proof of my conquest against him. He said you would recognize it... evidently, you do." He stares quietly at Anthony for a moment, before continuing.
"As I understand it, you want those mushrooms in Greypelt's room. I want you gone. You can either keep running around and doing his chores for him, or help me make a new cape out of his hide. Your choice."
Anthony looks over the ring on the dwarven skeleton. It has a large red gemstone set into it that sparkles with in inner fire, and a pair of warhammers - the holy symbol of Torag - inscribed along the band.
Meanwhile, Davi pockets the two mushrooms.
Soroza's deadly serious demeanor melts away uncomfortably quickly, and she smirks at Miirik.
"So, you rescued our friends - for which I assure you we are grateful - and deceived your own tribe in the process. All so we'd help you with Greypelt? But why us?"
Soroza interrupts herself with a sharp, slightly crazed laugh, which descends into a snort.
"Are you...", she chuckles, "Are you worried he'll just eat you all up? One bite a piece?"
She continues laughing, a bit too amused by her own joke.
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"...yes." Miirik replied bluntly, apparently not getting the joke. "...or, more accurately, eat up my tribe. I doubt he could kill the dragon king, and he certainly couldn't kill me. But I don't want him eating my tribe. Unlike our stupid king, I can actually get off my tail and protect them."
"Well. There's no way you got that symbol off the old man unwillingly; not without losing a few limbs. I've seen him punch death in the face"
Davi stares down at her boots while she thinks. Coming to a conclusion she heaves out a deep, disappointed sigh. "Oh hells. If the worg is eating people then that changes everything. What do the rest of you think?"
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Anthony softens his grip slightly, and shifts to a less aggressive stance. He stares relentlessly at the reptillian creature until Soroza makes a small joke. He shies warily away from Soroza during her fit of laughter, clearly very uncomfortable with her sense of humor.
Davi was so quickly swayed by him, and Soroza didn't seem to have a problem with how smoothly Miirik explained the situation. Jansen only seemed to be struggling with the idea of going back on his word. This kobold is cunning in a way that few of their species are. I'll have to keep an eye on him. Anthony thinks to himself. They trust him too readily
"'I am a protector of the roadways and keep travelers from harm. No matter their destinations or goals, if they are peaceable and legitimate travelers who harm no others on the road, I will ensure that they pass safely.' Those are the words of your order are they not Leftenant? How many hapless travelers have lost their lives to this featherless bastard and his wives? The Judge of the Gods may forgive you for going back on your word, but he would not allow for this oversight according to His tenets. Of course I'm not the paladin here, so you'll have to forgive me if my interpretation of that was incorrect." Anthony watches Jansen carefully as he measures his speech.
After that he shows the ring to Soroza and attempts to put it on her finger. He explains aloud, "This is a ring of Torag's. It will protect you from fire, though only small amounts each day. It could probably shield you from a single explosion or burst of flame at a time, so you should still be careful."
Davi turns so she can talk to the rest of the group. "I am....conflicted. We had a bargain with the wolf. Like Jansen I'm not ready to throw that away when sir wolf hasn't broken it. I, I understand that worgs are mostly evil but....I can't judge someone based on their race. I can't. I believe that everyone can rise above whoever or whatever they were born as. I can't condemn him for what he is."
"Now, condemning him for who he is, that's a different story. I'm not going to assume someone's eating travelers based on how pointy their teeth are. BUT. Our new friend says the wolf's been eating his family. Any court of law would agree that one, our contract should be on hold until facts are verified and two, if our business partner is eating people we have a right to stab him multiple times."
Davi turns her attention to the newcomer. "So. New scaly friend. Miirik. Please tell me more about what Greypelt's been doing. How many people has he hurt?"
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"And that is exactly what's going to get you eaten! No wonder you softskins never last so long..." Miirik quipped back to Jansen, shaking his head.
"I don't know how many he eats. I'm not his keeper. I just don't trust him. And frankly, neither should you." The kobold replied, folding his arms over his chest. "He reminds me too much of our 'dragon king'. And I hate him." Miirik's maw rose to show off his fangs again as he snarled angrily at the mention of this king. "But I can't just kill him myself. Doing so would be a direct show of force against the king, and I'm not ready to take him on just yet... no, I need the support of my tribe to overthrow him." The kobold looked up around at the others, cocking his head to one side. "And, as the old one mentioned, time isn't something you can afford. He mentioned that his own hatchlings are suffering while you waste time here doing Greypelt's work for him. Help me, and you'll have all the mushrooms you want, and be close behind your companions. And away from here. Which is all I want."
"Mine!" Miirik blurted out, pointing at the ring Anthony tried to give Soroza. "It should be mine! It's a ring of fire, and it suits my flames perfectly! Plus, it's in our territory, so it belongs to me!"
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Soroza gives Miirik a wry look, shifting demeanors once again to loose and flighty.
"Awfully demanding for someone who's just forcibly conscripted us into his elaborate plot."
She graciously accepts the ring from Anthony then holds her hand up, palm out and fingers spread, to make a show of admiring the ring.
"It is quite lovely, and being magical must be considerably more valuable than it appears to the unaided eye."
She looks to Miirik, "Perhaps valuable enough to convince Greypelt to move on. Specifically somewhere far from good, honest folk like your tribe?"
"You know worgs don't have fingers, right?" Miirik asked, looking grumpier and grumpier as he folded his arms back at Soroza's musings. "And when a dragon asks for something, you say 'Yes sir!' and give it to him!"
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[Ooc]*Whistles innocently*
"Sorry Scales. I'm going with the most ancient of laws; finders keepers. But you might get it from us in trade. More mushrooms prehaps? Indentured servitude?"
The chageling's expression turns serious. "He is right about one thing; we need to get back as soon as possible. I'm for going back and having a chat with Greypelt. Eating people changes the terms of our agreement"
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"I don't believe that does change our agreement. If we made an agreement when we were short on information, then that is our fault. Should Greypelt violate the agreement, then I will be with you in fighting him, otherwise, the foundation of civilization and interpersonal relationships is based on people being true to their word."
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Miirik glares daggers at Davi. "The fact I am not spit-roasting you for my tribe should be payment enough! It suits me the best, and I am a dragon, therefore, it belongs to me!" The kobold stares up at Jansen for a moment, before walking over and kicking him in the shin.
"You! You are a colossal idiot!" he piped up at the paladin, before folding his arms. "Being tricked in an agreement is natural. Not doing anything to get out of it when you can makes you a twit! He has no intentions of honoring your terms! Why do you think he has you running around clearing out the creatures of this area? Did he tell you about the darkmantles? Or the giant spider? Why do you think he's having you do that?"
Miirik offered a moment for them to think it over before answering it himself. "He's weakening you! You'll be exhausted after dealing with all these beasts and that is when he will strike and eat you! And I know that is what he's planning because that's what I would do! He's done this before, and you're the most gullible ones I have ever seen! I'm offering you the chance to get your mushrooms and go home, and you're still willingly marching right into his gaping maw!"
Miirik started kicking Jansen's shin, even if it did nothing. "This! Is! Why! I! Hate! Humans!!!"
"Enough! " Anthony roars.
The reptile is correct. Davi, Jansen, if you're not going to kill him then stay out of our way. The three of us are going to take him down, and I don't intend for it to be a fair fight."
He looks Davi in the eye and says, "You're in no position to be arguing for his safety. If anyone should be arguing for his second chance, it should be me." He tilts his head down so she can see the entirety of his Horns. Then he wraps his tail around the gourd and tosses it to Davi. He spits venomously, " But I'm not. Go kill some bats or something, but stay the hell out of my way. I'm going to get those F*cking mushrooms, and I'm going to get them without getting all of us killed."
"Miirik, this ranger, Soroza will be wearing the ring. If your affinity for fire is as great as you say, you have no purpose for it. My skin is naturally fire resistant, so I have little use for such a trinket. " He huddles close with Soroza and Miirik and whispers his strategy with them.
Davi shoves her way into the huddle. “When I said I wanted to go confront the worg I meant it. I am NOT going to work for someone who eats people. I am NOT defending someone who eats people. You and I-” she sticks a claw in Anthonys face “-are going to have a hell of a conversation when we get out of here, and I’ll probably shave your eyebrows off in the middle of the night but if you think I’m staying here and killing bats while you throw yourself into danger then you have another thing coming.”
Anthony grimaces, then looks away. "Fine but don't interrupt." he says.
He looks over his shoulder and calls out to Naran, "Leftenant, now would be the time to rejoin us if we're thinking to change your mind."