Pyros rides along, oblivious to the guard. Even after Caerwyn points it out, he can't make it out.
"Just inside the cave entrance, hidden in the shadows." he tells everyone before asking Mikmek "Can you speak to them? Let them know we don't want any trouble."
There is a pause while the kobold on guard thinks about Autumn's proposal. Then the curtain of dried vines parts and a spear armed kobold steps out from under the stone outcropping.
"You have Old Sharptooth, Yesss?" The kobold guard looks nervously at you.
"If you have Old Sharptooth, I take you to Shaman Tartuk to speak of trades. He will be most happy to get Old Sharptooth back. Reward you good."
Autumn nodded to the kobold guard. "We have Old Sharptooth yes, however we wish to trade the statue for a ring you took from the mites. Mekmik said that either your Shaman or Chief has this ring. Is there a chance we could speak with both?" She asked as she dismounted her horse.
At confirmation that you do indeed have Old Shartooth, the kobold grows very excited. "To Tartuk I will take you. Old Sharptooth must go to Tartuk."
The kobold scurries down and around to the narrow cave entrance. "This way. These our caves." The creature beckons eagerly with it's free hand.
Caerwyn dismounts and begins to follow the little creature into the caverns, keeping a wary eye out for danger. "The lady asked you a question. We seek to trade the idol for the ring you took from the mites. Who do we need to speak with in order to get this ring back?"
Now will another ally finally at her side, Autumn follows the kobold into the cave. "It is a question I would like answered yes."
Pyros follows silently, but nods when the others speak and directs a hard glare at the kobold.
"I don't know about any rings. I take you to Tartuk. Tartuk will decide." The kobold cowers away from Pyros' angry glare, and menacing presence. He scurries deeper into the tunnel. "This way..."
"Very well..." Autumn muttered a bit annoyed that her question wasn't answered, but if he didn't know what could be done? Following the kobold, she turned her head every now and again to see that the others where following.
"Walk where I walk." The kobold cautions. He also doesn't have a light, and the sunlight fades quickly in the narrow tunnel.
Autumn gave a raised eyebrow to the small creature before she followed his path. Her aasimmar blood allowing her to move with ease in the dark.
"If you can't see well, stay close." Pyros says to the others as he follows Autumn.
Regina climbs down off her horse and timidly follows Pyros into the narrow cave. Herger takes the time to call on Erastil's power, casting a light spell on the outer surface of his shield. Then the cleric follows along, taking up the rear, behind the kobold, Mikmek.
The kobold leads the way, deeper into the bowels of the earth; he stays close to the wall, on the right. After ten paces or so, an even more narrow passage opens on the right, the kobold steps into this, continuing on.
Two small forms lurk in the shadows. Armed kobold guards, keeping watch.
The kobold does not pause, continuing on into the once again narrow tunnel.
"So, is Tartuk your main leader?" Autumn asked as she looked around. "I mainly ask because where I was from our leader was normally our elder and shaman in a sense. If you have two leaders doesn't that make is more difficult when making decisions?"
"Chief Sootscale is chief." Explains Nakpik. "Shaman Tartuk is shaman. This not good place to talk, c'mon."
"Perhaps their Shaman is more of an advisor."
He paused warily at the sight of the guards... not that he faulted them being there, he was just being as careful as the kobolds were.
"How long have you kobolds been down here?"
He asked trying to put their guide at ease by asking what he hoped were not sensitive questions.
Following their kobold guide Autumn gave a small nod to Herger's words. "But if that is a case, should we not ask to speak with their chief as well?" She asked.
"Kobolds always have been here." The kobold tells Herger with pride. He seems to mean; not just here in these caves but the world at large, as well.
The tunnel continues on past the alcoves with their guard contingent for a ways, then another passage splits away, and doubling back. It is a fork, but you have come down one of the legs.
The kobold ignores the passage leading strait ahead, taking the passage that doubles back. A left turn.
The new corridor makes an arcing turn to the right, and in a short distance, opens into a larger space. The area is dimly lit by two braziers of glowing coals. Herger's light illuminates to chamber for all to see. It is furnished with two low stone tables in the center of the room. One of these is stained with what looks a lot like dried blood.
The cavern walls here are decorated with crudely drawn figures of a fanged, horned, winged devil. The media for this artwork seems to be blood and charcoal.
He stayed silent studying the crudely drawn figures. He wasnt getting a good feeling about them, not one bit. He cleared his throat but managed to just avoid spitting his distaste on the ground. He was trying to be polite, after all they were new here, the kobolds had been settled here for a bit.
"You will lead us back out again after we speak with your Shaman yes?" Autumn asked as she looked around the cave. She hid it well but the look of the place set her on edge.
Herger doesn't really know much about the kobold pantheon. The drawings could be inspired by the statuette in Caerwyn's backpack though.
"Umm, yes." The kobold answers after some thought. "If you really have Old Sharptooth..."
The kobold leads the way out of the chamber with its garish art; entering another passageway. After only 20 feet or so, the tunnel opens up into another cave. The air is warm, thick with smoke, the smell of burnt meat, and a hint of reptilian odor.
The area is lit by low-burning cook fires. Kobolds huddle around the fires, or work at domestic tasks.
To the south, an alcove is decorated with a large mound of firs, framed by many sturdy sticks, with animal and bird skulls mounted on the tops. A rather larger kobold squats on the heap of firs, clutching a spear. When he sees you, the kobold leaps to his feet. He seems furious.
"What have you done Nakpik? Why have you brought these longshanks into our home?" He says in Taldan.
There is a stir throughout the room as other kobolds sieze up weapons to fight the perceived threat.
"You speak Taldan rather well." Autumn said as she stepped up. "We found one of your tribe captured by some mites. He said a statue they had belonged to you. We found this statue and are willing to return it for something you got from the mites. A ring." Autumn stated.
The larger kobold relaxes a bit at Autumn's explanation. "You have the idol of Old Sharptooth? Let's have a look at it." He demands.
Autumn turned her head and look to the others before nodding towards the larger kobold. "Go ahead and show it."
Caerwyn digs into his backpack, dragging the statue out.
As soon as the kobold chief sees the statue, his eyes gleam. "You give me the statue! Now!" He demands. His tail makes sweeps from side to side, as the kobold clinches his spear tightly.
Stepping up beside Autumn, Pyros puts his hands on his hips. "You give us the ring, we'll give you the statue. Both together."
"Tartuk has ring. You give me the statue, I'll get you the ring. You can come with me. We will get it together."
The kobold chief shifts from leg to leg, his tail sweeping faster, and faster. The spear in his clawed fist begins to tremble as he clinches his grip down harder still.
".... Alright, hand it over." Autumn agreed against her better judgment. They where on their terf so it would be best to keep them happy.
The kobold chieftain takes the statue. He concentrates, staring at the statuette in his hands. He does this for a long moment then, suddenly, he raises the idol above his head, and hurls it down, against the stony floor.
The fragile ivory shatters into shards.
"Curse is broken! You have done a good service for Sootscale."
The kobold retrieves his spear. He had stabbed the butt end it into a crack in the floor; so it stood upright.
"Come! We go see Tartuk, get your ring. Help me fight him, I will pay you well..."
The kobold leader heads off deeper into the cavern passages.
Autumn's eyes widened when the chieftain raised the statue over his head and slammed it down upon the ground. "Wait, so this Tartuk isn't actually your shaman? He cursed you?" She asked.
He startled and frowned. There was definitely more going on that what it seemed.
"Yes, explain why we must fight your shamen...please."
He added gruffly echoing Autumn's sentiments
Reluctantly, the kobold stops. He had been caught up in the moment. Curse is from Old Sharptooth. Old Sharptooth always angry. Always want kobold blood."
The weight of the world seems to settle on the the chief's shoulders; the small creature seems to crumple.
"When mites take Old Sharptooth, Tartuk declares: Sootscale Tribe under curse."
The kobold straightens back up to his full height. "You bring Old Sharptooth back. I break curse, now I go kill Tartuk. He brought Old Sharptooth to tribe. Old Sharptooth not friend of tribe. He curse tribe, always want kobold blood. Tartuk bring Old Sharptooth, Tartuk not friend of tribe.
The kobold chieftain shrugs. "Sootscale business. You only come because you want ring that Tartuk holds."
"If he's hurting your people than I'm willing to help." Autumn told the chief. "I will help you make him pay for pain he has caused."
"Then come." The kobold turns, and begins making his way into the tunnel system. Several of his warriors follow.
Autumn nods to the others before she fell in line behind the chief. "What can we expect from him?" She asked.
"He breaks the courage of those that face him. Many run away."
"We dont mean to interfere in your business, unless you want us too. We are new to the area, We plan on settling the area... Are you always at odds with your Shamen?"
He asked honestly confused something wasnt adding up to him.
"Well, he did say that the Shaman wasn't with them before." Autumn pointed out as the moved.
The kobold chief stops to explain. "Tartuk came to Sootscale. He claimed to be a great shaman of Old Sharptooth. He brought us the idol of Old Sharptooth. But Sootscale tribe only suffers from Old Sharptooth. People of Sootscale die, for Old Sharptooth... And for Tartuk. Sootscale is cursed. Never any good for tribe comes from Old Sharptooth. So Sootscale break idol, kill Tartuk. Drive away Old Sharptooth, and his curses."
The kobold chief shrugs. "Kobold business. You help because you want ring-band that Tartuk has. Or not. You decide. Soon, or Sootscale not able to surprize Tartuk."
"I will help you." Autumn said with a nod. "Not for the ring, but for your people! To bring them peace and justice." She told him. "The ring can be payment for bringing the statue to you. Helping free your people, that is free."
"False idols deserve to be destroyed."
He added making and giving the others a nod. He had a feeling this was going to be messier than just going in and demanding the shaman step down. But maybe they could have this happen in their favor the easy way.
"Come then, let the blood of vengeance flow." The kobold leader quickly heads down the tunnel out of the living quarters.
The room he goes to is decorated with wall hangings of skin, woven reeds and rough cloth in garish purple. A large cast iron pot sits on the floor in roughly the center of the room. Inside the pot a fire blazes brightly, lighting the room with whitish red flame.
A purple scaled kobold turns to face the intruders.
"What's this Sootscale? Have you brought me some sacrifices for Old Sharptooth? That might buy us some time..." The purple kobold's eyes narrow as he realizes that the chief's companions are armed, and not in bonds.
Then the kobold chief speaks: No more Old Sharptooth, Tartuk!"
At the sight of the pot Herger quietly casts detect magic starting with the iron pot with the fire inside it.
Autumn drew the axes she had before as she glared at the purple scaled kobold. "You've a lot to answer to." She told him. "Judgement has come."
The kobold chief doesn't wait, he rushes in lashing out with the sharp, leaf shaped blade of his small spear.
The attack misses however; the crafty purple kobold darts around the fire pot easily evading the attack.
Autumn is a little taken back at how fast the creature lept into action.
Despite trying to detect magic he had been expecting trouble. The moment the cheiftain moved forward he too lumbered past his allies. He tried to cut off the purple ones escape while at the same time bringing his morning star down hard trying to smash him down.
He swing was terribly high, The shaman was a kobold not a man. He cursed lowly adn glared at the purple scaled kobold.
The purple kobold ducks away from the kobold chief, then begins casting a spell.