"Kobolds and mites." Vorik says. "And from the evidence, in numbers." He runs his hand down his beard a few times as he thinks and then continues. "It seems odd that we didn't come under attack. Especially since they likely outnumbered us and could have had the element of surprise. That is if they were allies."
"If the mites were prisoners, that would explain why they avoided a fight. The kobolds probably couldn't have handled both us and the mites."
With a shrug he says, "Either way it proves a tribe of fairly well led Kobolds are in the area. Smart or powerful enough to ally with another group or capture and eliminate a sizable foe."
He looks in the general direction of Oleg's. "We had planned to return to Oleg's today. But in light of this development, I think we should pursue these creatures to learn more while the trail is still warm. What do you all think?"
"I am sure Hrafen would enjoy a nice night back at Oleg's." Vladimir says with wink toward the stout halfling.
"That being said, given the numbers and the fact that the kobolds are a known threat in the region, I agree with Vorik. We should at least look into it and the sooner the better."
Hrafen smiles at Vladimir, and looks longingly in the general direction of Oleg's.
"I can't deny, I certainly am looking forward to getting back there... That said, we *know* that the Fey are being... shall we say... 'problematic', so if the Kobolds are truly aligned against them, it might be worth following up on that; after all, they could make useful allies of convenience..."
I look around to my companions and back at the tracks, "Mites are vile creatures even for Fey-beings, I don't think we will be able to sort them out with words alone, but the Kobolds on the other hand, if they are organised then we should be able to settle matters with them peacefully."
You follow the tracks southeast. While the hills do not increase in size, they do become more rocky the further you go.
You come to one of the many blocky outcroppings of rock just before noon. There are a few trees and a tiny shaded pond. Though the tracks leading to this watering hole were easy to follow - due to the amount of various animal tracks, Jaestra is unable to find where to pick up the trail from here.
It takes a while to pick out the trail leading away from here. It looks like they went single file out the direction most difficult to track, then gradually arced back to the direction they had been traveling.
You continue through lushly grassed low hill and gentle valley area. You still see these outcroppings of rock. The somewhat rectangular blocks scattered around make it look like some large cathedral had long ago exploded in the valley - sending large rubble all round for miles.
You start to see tracks leading all around. They are mostly continuing the same direction, but they split off, then back to the group... some standing around...
Looking around the valley, Vladimir notes, "These tracks are all over the place. Some going off, some standing around. Seems to me like this area might still be being used as some sort of gathering place."
I follow Vlad to the point where he stops and looks around some more, I also look around, this time being able to see the tracks now that I know where to look. "I agree, I wonder where they went after the meeting though? For there to be this many impressions, it must be close by."
The trail curves a bit at the crest of a hill. When you look in that direction, you see an outcropping of rock a little larger than most. It is about four to five hundred feet away.
When you see the trail turn towards the large rocks, you realize the offshooting trails were scouts looking for a place to camp for the day.
It is very likely they turned toward the big rocks once they crested the hill.
You see a tiny dark blob near the top of the large outcropping. After a second looking, you see it is a small hunched figure... probably perched as a sentry.
I notice the trail and go to follow it when I see something in the distance. I hold my arm out to stop anyone else from moving, including Vlad; who I have noticed has also realised the rocks were the camping place, "We should move quietly from here ... and on foot. There is a sentry standing guard over there, can you see it? I suggest we move in from the this side ..." I wave my hand around indicating we approach on the sentries blind-side.[/b]"...and work out whether it is will be best to use Diplomacy or to use force to enter."[/b]
Vladimir nods, and follows Jaestra's lead.
When Jaestra signals a stop, Vorik reins in his horse and dismounts. With the need for quiet, he concentrates on helping keep the mounts secure and quiet rather than attempting to sneak forward with the others.
"There's no way I'll be able to sneak up on them in this terrain." He whispers to the others. "I'll stay back and be ready to charge in if things turn bad."
Hrafen shrugs.
"In this terrain, I think it would be difficult for most people to sneak-up on them; they have the advantage of elevation, after all..."
He then grins impishly.
"...that said, I agree that you would probably have more difficulty than most; the armor [i]does[i/] tend to clank a bit..."
I look to Vorik and nod, "We shall send a signal when it is safe to come over ... or if you want to assist more, you could act as a distraction from the other direction so that we could pincer them if they are hostile. If they are not they won't attack us first."
Vladimir dismounts, handing Shadow's reins to Vorik. "Right behind you, Jaestra." the swordsman says keeping a ten foot distance between himself and the nimble ranger.
The shallow vale - southeast of the ridge upon which Vorik waits, has plenty of cover for more than half the distance to the crag-perching kobold. There are other smaller boulders, and copses of a few trees. Once Jaestra and Vladimir get within 150 feet, the opportunities for concealment become scarce.
Jaestra waits. She informs Vladimir when he arrives to where she is crouched that in order to reach the next chance for cover before the sentry turns this way they will need to run. Running will be loud. She then stops, thinks, and asks "How close do we want to get? Should we signal to the others? They should be able to make this far unseen... most likely."
Vladimir contemplates Jaestra's question briefly before answering, "We should have the others come up to at least this point. If things go poorly, I do not want them to be too far away." he says motioning for Vorik and Hrafen to come closer.
"As to how close do we get? That depends are we intending a diplomatic meeting with these kobolds, or a more...aggresive meeting? Given their numbers and the presence of mite prisoners, I think I would prefer a diplomatic solution, as kobolds can be bargained with, not so much with the mites as you said earlier."
Wincing slightly at each snapping twig, metallic bump or other noise made by himself or the animals, Vorik attempts to carefully makes his way with the horses up to where Vlad and Jaestra wait.
I look behind me as Vorik and Hrafen advance and wince everytime Vorik takes a noisy step. Once we are all together again I look around them and speak in a quiet tone, "I would rather settle this with words rather than violence, they seem to share the same distrust of the Fey blooded as I, so we may be able to come to an agreement too." I look around my friends again to see if they are happy with the result that both Vlad and myself have to come to.
When you peer around the concealment, you see no change in the behavior of the kobold sentry. You are all gathered roughly 150 feet from the rocky crag on which the sentry is perched. There is only one closer spot - a bush-ringed boulder large enough to concealment one person, but it is over half the distance.
I hold my hand up and point to the boulder, "I will go that way and signal you if there is anything else we need to do." With that I start to quietly walk over to the boulder.
As I get closer to the boulder I see the cave and head towards it, once there I will then signal the others to quietly come over, if there is enough room for us all without giving away our location.
Vladimir nods in acknowledgement of Jaestra's plan. "Hold on just a moment, Jaestra." he says casting a spell. "This will allow you speak in a whisper and I will still be able to hear you over by the boulder."
As you start to creep to the next opportunity for cover, you realize you will need to move quickly in order to get to the concealment of the boulder before the sentry looks this way.
You can see there is no way she will make it to the boulder before the sentry turns at her slow pace.
Vladimir whispers as he points toward Jaestra, the sound of his voice magically audible to the ranger. "Jaestra, for better or worse you need to move faster, else you will still be in the open when the sentry turns your direction again."
I pick up the pace a bit once I hear Vlad's warning, but saying nothing in return. Focusing completely on moving quietly and quickly.
Keeping an eye on both Jaestra and the sentry, Vorik tenses as he realizes she might not make it to cover soon enough. When Vlad urges her to move faster, he watches as she picks up the pace.
"Get ready to move quickly. I'm not sure she's going to make it. If that guard catches her trying to sneak up who knows how it'll react." Whispers Vorik to the others as he readies his hammer and shield for a charge across the open space if it becomes necessary.
As Jaestra makes her way to the smaller outcropping of rock, she sees another sentry seated just inside the cave-like entrance. Neither kobold appears to have spotted her.
I look back at Vlad and whisper to him, "There's another sentry in the cave, they both look bored or tired. I could try moving forwards again with your help, or we could send Sir Vorik in to talk to them and try to arrange a peaceful negotiation. Maybe Master Vormenghast to go with him too, while we stay hidden and if things turn sour we can protect them from out hidden positions? Or you travel up with Sir Vorik and Master Vormenghast stays back with me?"
Vladimir relays Jaestra's thoughts to Vorik and Hrafen, "Well, what do you think, gentlemen? Who goes forward and who stays back with Jaestra?"
Hrafen eyes the boulder behind which Jaestra is hiding, thoughtfully.
"Well, it only looks big enough to hide one person, so if any of us go forward, we won't be being stealthy."
Vorik nods quietly as Vlad shares Jaestra's thoughts. Hooking a thumb around his belt he smiles and says quietly, "I'll go see if these creatures are willing to talk or fight. Might be best for all of you to stay hidden. Kobolds are notorious for traps and surprises. I think it would be better to only have one of us in the immediate line of fire should things go poorly."
Vladimir nods in agreement with Vorik's plan. "Good luck." the swordsman says, recasting his message spell to include all three of his companions.
Seeing Vorik about to walk into view, I take "GoldFire" and nock an arrow to her string, then get ready to draw it back and loose it at the first Kobold that refuses negotiations or when Vorik draws his blade to attack them.
With everyone ready, Vorik carefully circles back and around so that he approached the cave entrance about midway between where Jaestra, Vlad, and Hrafen are hidden.
Striding forward with confidence and an air of friendly authority, Vorik gets within about fifty paces when he waves toward the sentry and says loudly, "Hail there on the rock! I wish to parley!"
Trying to keep an outward appearance that is non-threatening, the big knight can't help but keep one hand poised to draw his weapon, should things go bad quickly.
The sentry on the perch nearly stumbles, and the one just inside the entrance comes into view. It barks into the cave. "Big in armor.. looks human... wants... something."
Another - slightly larger, kobold comes from the entrance... out beside the one who just spoke. He is adorned with tribal piercings and painted stole vest.
"What want human?"
Keeping one hand raised and the other near his side Vorik says, "I wish to talk to your chief. No trouble. But to bring peace and perhaps trade between your people and mine."
"You merchant? Dressed for war... I dressed for war. No chief here. Not kobold home here. No trade. We at-war party. Just war on the mites until Old Sharptooth is back to kobolds. I chief son three Runguhduk Sootscale. We chase and grab dirty mites who steal Sootscale god. We rest here until sun dies. You want friends? Kill mites you see and get statue of mighty god Old Sharptooth."
I whisper to Vorik, "Ask them if we kill all the filthy Mites and return their statue, will they be willing to parley further?"
"You should also ask where the mites are."
Vorik listens carefully, trying to make sure he understands the kobolds rough common. He spends a few moments to run his hand along his beard as if in thought, while he nods understanding at Jaestra and Hrafen's messages.
"Aye, mites can be dirty and no good creatures, and they can't be dealt with on equal terms like a proud clan such as yourselves." He turns to look in all four directions briefly and then says, "But I've seen no mite nests around here. If you would tell me how to get to their hiding hole, perhaps I could find your lost god. If I was able to do that would you and your father be willing to talk more?"
"Mites all around... under every tree. Found two, and poked until talked. They tell me where Old Sharptooth is not. Nimrip the Mateless said they lie, and went there with few kobolds... (he points southeast) thinks I don't torture good. They say after I poke them Old Sharptooth is not at giant sycamore, it is not there."
"If you find mites and find Old Sharptooth Chief Sootscale will not thumb you down... Take to field of little yellow grass around cracks in ground - two night walk, and burn big fire... we find you." He points southeast again.
"To the southeast, at a giant sycamore." Vorik nods his understanding. "I will see what can be done about returning your god. To maintain our good faith, I would propose a truce between our two kinds. Our two people will not bring harm to each other as long as we search together to return your stolen statue? What say you?"
The kobold eyes Vorik warily, exaggerated body language and whispered protestations of a reluctant sentry next to him steels his decision. "Agree. I will speak of red-bearded human's truce. If your allies walk not among you, tell them to speak my name Runguhduk." He nods and backs away a step as if to say "meeting adjourned".
Vorik waves his agreement. "Until we meet next then"
He then turns and walks back the way he came whispering to the others as he goes, "Did you all hear that? It looks like we have an inroad as long as we can find their stature for them. It looks like we are heading southeast.