Fenna hunches her shoulders uncomfortably as the kobolds crowd around, but refrains herself from returning thier scowls.
"If you believe that we can trust them to abide by the terms of any alliance," Fenna replies to Yelena once she translates, "then helping the chieftan in this matter would indeed be prudent."
I like this fellow. He has spirit. Now, lets deal with this shaman.
Sootscales leads you into another chamber, where a purple-skinned Kobold stands with his arms folded, two kobolds stood in front of him, spears pointed at the group.
The walls of this cavern are decorated by a rickety wooden frame formed from clean-cut branches lashed together with gut and twine. Banners cut from two-foot-wide strips of old blankets and horsehides hang from floor to ceiling, covering much of the walls. The sloppily painted banners bear dozens of primitive icons and mystic symbols. A large cauldron filled with bubbling red liquid boils in the center of the room.
So... Sootscales... The Kobold says menacingly- his deep and sinister voice belying his small form. You have brought these humans, their Infernal b$~~! and their pet Gnome to face me... Tartuk chuckles. No words, traitor. Old Sharptooth shall tear you asunder. Leave this tribe now and never return, or I shall slay both you and your newfound allies...
Init
Edric-
Fenna-
Malthir-
Yelena-
Casimir-
Mikmek-
Tartuk-
Sootscales-
Tartuk's Kobolds-
Round 1 Initiative-
Tartuk- 23
Edric- 17
Mikmek- 16
Casimir- 15
Yelena- 14
Fenna- 13
Sootscales- 10
Tartuk's Kobolds- 10
Malthir- 10
Before anyone can react, Tartuk reacts, his eyes flaring purple with magic as he makes the hand motions and muttered gestures of a trained spellcaster, and cackling in glee as Mikmek, Malthir, Edric and Yelana all drop to the ground unmoving. Casimir is able to resist the magic, barely. The others have apparently fallen asleep.
Deep Slumber.
Mikmek-
Malthir-
Edric-
Casimir-
Yelena-
Casimir retaliates against the Shaman's spellcasting, muttering Slippery Steps. as he casts his familiar Grease spell on the Shaman and one of his allies. He also moves a little further into the room, seeking to spread out in the face of Tartuk's enchantment. Tartuk easily keeps his footing, but his ally falls prone by the cauldron.
Fenna, wake our friends - I'll hold of these little twerps!
Fenna frowns at Tartuk's magic, and hurries forward to occupy the space opened up by Casimir and begins to shake Malthir's shoulders rapidly in an effort to wake him from his enchanted slumber.
Fenna frowns at Tartuk's magic, and hurries forward to occupy the space opened up by Casimir and begins to shake Malthir's shoulders rapidly in an effort to wake him from his enchanted slumber.
Fenna moves and wakes Malthir up. In the same heartbeat, Sootscales surges forward next to Casimir and strikes the prone kobold with his club, bludgeoning the kobold into instant unconciousness with a well placed blow to the temple..
Tartuk's other kobold scurries forward, raising his spear in preparation for a mighty downwards strike in an attempt to end Edric's life.
Round 1 Action
Malthir will stand as a move action, take a second move to AG 30 or AG28 depending upon where he casted grease so I a not in it and next to Tartuk. As I move I draw my longsword and finally as a Swift Action I activate my Smite Evil, Iomedae, grant me your boon to fight the evil that stands before me!
My AC is now 23 against tartuk (assuming he is evil :))
Round 2 Initiative-
Tartuk & Familiar- 23
Edric- 17
Mikmek- 16
Casimir- 15
Yelena- 14
Fenna- 13
Sootscales- 10
Tartuk's Kobolds- 10
Malthir- 10
The Shaman Tartuk takes a careful step backwards into the greased area and keeps his footing, forcing Malthir to choose another target or follow Tartuk into the grease, and then the Shaman begins spellcasting once more.
Deep Slumber.
From out of nowhere, a black Raven appears in front of Fenna, seemingly having appeared from the air itself. The Raven bites at the Gnome viciously, but its puny teeth provide more of a distraction and a discomfort than any real pain.
Edric and Mikmek are snoring happily. Casimir's up.
Round 2 Action
Oh, no you don't, you purple bastard!
Casimir quickly steps past the downed kobold to get into position to strike at the wicked shaman.
Round 2 Action
Move to flank AH29, fall down I am sure and attack from prone position
Fenna absently swipes a hand between herself and the raven to keep it at bay, but seeing the kobold preparing to strike the defenseless knight she lunges forward to grab at Edric's arm and tugs at it violently, "Move!"
The Raven strikes at Fenna once more, but without the advantage of Invisibility only serves as a black mess of feathered irritation.
Sootscales moves to attack Tartuk, but slips in the Grease and narrowly misses with his club (had to edit this in, rolled with real dice so I didn't mess up all my descriptions that came after).
Casimir moves to attack Tartuk, but his blade is blocked by an invisible force as solid as any shield or armour. Fenna wakes Edric (the Kobold with the spear raised overhead is on a delayed action) , and Malthir doggedly follows Tartuk, immediately falling over in his heavy armour. Although the Paladin falls over, his aim is true and he strikes Tartuk a stinging cut with his sword. Gritting his teeth against the pain of the blow, Tartuk manages to finish his spell.
Concentration: Success
Malthir
Casimir
Fenna
Edric
Casimir succumbs to the enchantment, as does the momentarily awake Edric. Malthir resists, and the Shaman sees that Malthir and Sootscales are still threatening him, and quickly casts again, being careful not to draw attacks as he does so. A wave of fear emanates from him towards Malthir.
Barely passes defensive casting.
Cause Fear.
DC16 Will save or become frightened. If you pass your shaken for the round.
Having hesitated when his target momentarily woke up, Tartuks last kobold raises his spear and plunges it down into Edric's once-again sleeping form- piercing the brave knight's heart and killing him almost instantly.
Round 3 Initiative-
Tartuk & Familiar (acted)- 23
Tartuk's Kobold (acted)
Edric- 17 (dead!)
Mikmek- 16 (sleeping)
Casimir- 15 (sleeping)
Yelena- 14 (sleeping)
Fenna- 13 (active)
Sootscales- 10 (active)
Malthir- 10 (active, possibly running)
Round 3 Action
Sootscales, wake the sleeping man next to you, we need his help!
attempt to stand: draws AOO and doesn't get up.
EDIT: Gotta get past these crummy rolls somehow...at least I am not running away...
Tartuk grins as Malthir attempts to stand, whispering arcane words as his sickle flares with power.
Miss
Sootscales groggily stands up once more, and steps over to the sleeping Casimir- lashing out at Tartuk with his club rather than wake the warrior up. Unfortunately, Tartuk's magic deflects Sootscales' club.
Seeing the life suddenly snuffed out of Edric, Fenna's eyes widen sightly and she locks gazes briefly with the kobold responsible. She does not act rashly though, and takes a step to one side before reaching out to the tiefling witch to lift her out of her magically induced sleep.
Round 4 Initiative-
Tartuk & Familiar- 23
Tartuk's Kobold- 20
Mikmek- 16 (sleeping)
Casimir- 15 (sleeping)
Yelena- 14 (awake, prone)
Fenna- 13 (active)
Sootscales- 10 (active)
Malthir- 10 (active, prone)
The Raven doggedly pursues Fenna and continues to harass the Fey-kin, once again failing to do any real harm to her. At the same time, an unseen force lifts up Casimir's duelling sword and moves it twenty feet away from him.
Raven miss
N/A
Tartuk takes a careful step away from the Greased area and Malthir (no AOO as he's not moving into difficult terrain), which still leaves him in melee with Sootscales. Sneering at the Chieftain, Tartuk arrogantly casts without taking measures to stop Sootscales attacking with his club- which once again glances off Tartuk's magical defences. Tartuk finishes his spellcasting and disappears from sight, cackling as he does so while Sootscales roars in frustration.
Invisibility.
Sootscales AOO miss
N/A
Tartuk's remaining minion, slayer of Sir Edric Orlovsky, moves to stab at the still-prone Malthir, attacking with the devotion of a religious fanatic. His spear pierces Malthir's half-plate but the head gets caught in the armour, robbing the blow of most of the force and only bruising the warrior.
Yelena, try to put him to sleep, we can't let him escape! Sootscales, wake up the man next to you or we will leave you now to your fate!
He has no idea if Yelena has anything else that might be useful.
Round 4 Action
Move action to crawl out of the Grease, draws an AOO from the Kobold. Stand up for my second move action in AH28 or AG28, whichever one the Kobold is not it.
As Malthir crawls across the floor, the kobold's spear once again strikes true, lancing through the Paladin's ribs and dealing him a severe wound.
Crit Threat
Critical Hit!
The surprisingly able kobold resists Yelena's hex.
Fenna sees the kobold shaman disappear from her sight, and with an annoyed glare at the raven that continues to pester her, she steps further into the room and intones an Azlanti prayer, "Blessed Hunter, I beg that you do not allow our prey to escape us, confound his escape with the sight of your truth."
With those words, a nimbus of starlight washes out from the gnome's now outstretched hands to fall over the area Tartuk was stood seconds earlier.
Fenna is unsure whether the spell affected the shaman or not. Sootscales once again ignores Malthir, hissing as he swings his club in the last place Tartuk was seen and moves to AG-32.
The chief's efforts are rewarded by a grunt of pain from Tartuk as the club catches something solid.
With him kicking my butt I think I will change my action and try to remove this threat once and for all if possible before I stand, hoping he has a low AC: Stay prone for the moment.
Malthir cuts the kobold across the abdomen from the ground, and the kobold falls to the ground in agony, his guts spilling out of his stomach.
Malthir cuts the kobold across the abdomen from the ground, and the kobold falls to the ground in agony, his guts spilling out of his stomach.
Round 5 Initiative-
Tartuk & Familiar- 23
Tartuk's Kobold- 20 (dead!)
Mikmek- 16 (sleeping)
Casimir- 15 (sleeping)
Yelena- 14 (active)
Fenna- 13 (active)
Sootscales- 10 (active)
Malthir- 10 (active, prone)
Tartuk suddenly appears in front of Fenna and Yelena, threatening them both with his sickle as he slashes at the Prophetess, narrowly missing her. The Raven seems to reveal its craven nature by rapidly fleeing via the north passageway.
Fenna- (12 at night)
Malthir-
Yelena-
Casimir-
Yelena takes a 5-foot step to the south and repeats her Slumber Hex, aiming at Tartuk.
Will DC 15, 2 rounds.
Tartuk lets out a small gasp as he collapses into a heap in front of Yelena.
You have arrived at Oleg's familiar trading post, having not been here for a few months. The small stockade seems to have become something of a small community- hunters are going back and forth continually, there are a dozen or so tents outside the main gates and a small section of military-style tents set up just to the east of the trading post, complete with a few men drilling in chainmail with longswords. As you approach Oleg's gate, you receive a smile from another grizzled hunter, but just before you pass through the gate someone clears their throat behind you, tapping you on the shoulder to gain your attention.
Malthir's sword rams into Tartuk's body, cutting deeply into the Shaman. To Malthir's surprise, Tartuk's head suddenly rears up and lets out an eerie scream of agony at the Paladin as the Shaman's body and possessions crumble into nothingness.
You feel no ill effects.
Just before he slew Tartuk, Tartuk, you have been judged guilty of inciting war, inciting murder, and evil deeds before Iomedae's light. I sentence you to death by the sword! After the judgement.
Malthir goes and sits down beside the body of Edric and places his hand on his head, Edric my friend, we have failed you. Together we were going to build a place of peace and safety, but we failed to protect our own. You gave your life for this dream and you will not be forgotten. We will return you to your family and let them know that your sacrifice will not be in vain and we will honor your ideals in the days to come. Yelena, what do you want us to do with him? I know we should take him back to Oleg's for the short term but we will help you with whatever arrangements are needed. an undertone of anger simmers in his voice.
He stands up and walks over to Sootscales and roughly grabs him by the vest and lifts him up into the air easily, he makes sure Sootscales can see Edric's body lying on the cave floor, This brave comrade of ours died for you and yours. His name was Edric, do not dare forget his name. Don't make his sacrifice a waste. You can treat with us, learn from us, work with us, and live side by side with us. You can have peace and security with us. Or you can have war with us. You know we have already defeated the Mites, you have seen what we are capable of. We would rather be friends with you and your people or you can leave the GreenBelt now and never return. You decide, but if you stay and go back on your word of peace and working with the humans, the full wrath of the Guardians will be among you, and there will be no more mercy! We will not leave until we have your answer. He lets Sootscales down softly and awaits his answer.
Sootscales hisses angrily as you lift him into the air, snarling at you in defiance.
We do not seek more war! All the war the Sootscales committed was the monster Tartuk's fault! You have earnt an alliance with the Sootscales, an alliance paid for in blood. We will not forget your friend or the deeds of this day, human.
** spoiler omitted **
Shaking his head, Kalev continues towards the gate, eager to greet the man, and possibly get a recount of events since he was last here.
He smiles back at the hunter and walks on, partially lost in his own thoughts, so he is slightly startled by the tap and the throat-clearing.
Yeah? What?, he says as he turns around.
You turn to see a sharply dressed military man in his late twenties, with medium length brown hair and grey eyes. He is wearing a breastplate over a leather jerkin, and clearly wears the colours of Restov. The man inclines his head respectfully.
I mean you no offense Sir, but you have the look of one who is familiar with this place; and i've never seen you here. Would you deign to tell me your name and purpose here at Oleg's Trading Post? My name is Kesten Garess, i'm in charge of the soldiers Restov sent to safeguard this stockade.
** spoiler omitted **
Kalev looks through the gate as if to catch a glimpse of Oleg.
As for my name, Kesten Garess, it is Kalev Lehola, and I've come to sell some skins, if trading is still undertaken here. Perhaps wash the dust of the roads down with an ale and taste Svetlana's fine cooking again.
He then lights up in half a smile, which doesn't do much to improve his look.
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
Indeed, Oleg and Svetlana are still in charge. You will have to forgive my questions, these are dangerous times. I wish you a pleasant evening, Sir. the man holds out his hand to shake yours.