"I have alchemist's fire, tindertwigs, torches, and some hemp rope, which is flammable, although I hope to keep it," says the little gnome. "Sadly, no throatburn whiskey."
"So we toss flames into their room. How do we keep from breathin' it all in?" He shrugs, and begins pulling cloth from his shirt up around his mouth, "I have some fiery stuff, too. If it's needed."
|
Arien cuts a pace length section from her hemp rope, splitting the weave to assemble a longer length of cord. Tying off a large bundle of straw with a long length of cord extending from the mass, she examines her handiwork. “I’m hoping most of the smoke will stay mostly confined to the chamber beyond. If not, we’ll likely have to either push through, or retreat back the way we came.”
Huc shrugs and whispers, "I'll trust ya."
And he helps with whatever preparations the team is making as he watches the other room. "So what's the play? We throw this in and what for them to come to us? Won't they just retreat back the other way?"
There is no sign that the kobolds are doing anything but waiting for you. Nighttail looks with interest at what the party is assembling. "I like that idea. It'll at least put them off balance."
Huc cuts a strip of cloth from his shirt as the team finishes up their fiery gift, wrapping it around his face for a makeshift air filter. Then, he hefts his shield and morningstar and gets ready.
Fynn watches curiously.
Temperance holds an alchemist's fire, ready to throw.
The bundle of straw falls neatly at the mouth of the tunnel, spewing dense smoke. It's hard to see through it at the moment, but you can hear the sound of at least one kobold gagging and choking.
Temperance creeps up behind Arien and lights a torch.
The gnome creeps forward.
Round 1:
Initiative order
Arien
Kobolds
Huc
Rowane
Turtles
Master Temperance
Round 1 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Arien-acted
Kobolds-acted
Huc
Rowane
Turtles
Master Temperance
Arien, you can see two kobolds, one on either side of the door. One is gagging and choking, while the other seems to be unaffected by the smoke. Both are holding guisarmes. The one who's still active is on the west side; you're able to close with it before it can react. Unfortunately, you miss it. It skips backward, chittering angrily, and knocks you to the ground with a lucky guisarme swing. The other kobold wipes its eyes and looks to be ready to get back into the fight.
Hearing the fight kick off in ernest, Huc rushes forward, trying to get between Arien and one of the threatening kobolds. He shouts out for Fynn to attack the one on Arien's other side.
The mutt rushes through the cave and smoke, splitting off towards the other side.
Temperance moves up and empties out the oil from his hooded lantern onto the waters.
Round 1 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Arien-acted
Kobolds-acted
Huc-acted
Rowane
Turtles
Master Temperance
As Huc and Fynn move up, the formerly-coughing kobold tries to knock the dog into the water, but Fynn is too quick for it.
Rowane catches up to the group.
Round 1 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Arien-acted
Kobolds-acted
Huc-acted
Rowane-acted
Turtles-acted
Master Temperance
Rowane hustles to catch up with the others. Three surly snapping turtles attack Arien, nipping painfully at the elf .
Temperance begins to recite a parable about a gnome clinging to a cliff, with a dire tiger pacing above her. And yet, next to her was a delectable strawberry plant...
Round 2:
Initiative order
Arien
Kobolds
Huc
Rowane
Turtles
Master Temperance
Round 2 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Arien-acted
Kobolds-acted
Huc
Rowane
Turtles
Master Temperance
The smoke has largely dissipated. Arien pulls herself out of the pool, but not before two of the turtles nip at her again . She's unable to find her footing for her attack, and the kobold ducks out of the way of the blade.
The kobolds try to rally. One steps back and attempts to hook Huc's legs out from under him, but fails and has to drop its weapon to avoid falling over itself. The one across the pool hits Arien with a sling stone , and the third steps back and chops at Arien .
Huc and Fynn press their attacks, trying to remove tiny kobold heads from tiny kobold bodies.
"Come on, ya little runts! Time ta give it up."
Rowane moves up and attempts to fire at one of the kobolds.
Round 2 (ongoing; rearranged):
Initiative order
Kobolds-acted
Huc-acted
Rowane-acted
Turtles-delaying
Master Temperance
Arien-
Huc misses his target, but Fynn tears out the kobold's throat. Rowane proves unable to hit his opposite number. The turtles, frustrated by their lack of an immediate target, delay.
Temperance moves up and tosses a shuriken at the kobold across the way.
The kobold is wounded by the good master's shuriken. As if that was a signal, the remaining two kobolds break off and flee deeper into the cavern.
"Let's follow them," suggests the diminutive monk. "But...not too closely." He pauses. "Where's Nighttail?"
"Agreed," mutters Huc as he watches them run. Arien's injuries get his attention, "Do we have any healin' for Arien before we go, though?"
Temperance nods at Huc's marching order plan.
Nighttail comes up behind. "I'm sorry--I couldn't fit Hak up into the fight. If you go down that branch--" She points to the east. "--you'll come to the armory. I don't think any of you but the du--the gnome can use the weapons, though."
Once the group gets away from the kobolds, Rowane says a small blessing as healing energy comes from his golden holy symbol.
Huc nods at Rowane's divine assistance, "Always good to have a holy man along." He steps over the highly-injured elf. "Hold still."
Once more he whispers old, rustic words, laying his gloved hands on Arien's injuries.
Happy with his own work, he steps back, dusting his hands. "Alright, here we go."
Arien and Fynn pad silently down the cramped tunnel after the fleeing kobolds. The tunnel quickly widens after a few feet, opening into a chamber filled with a faint but sour and unpleasant odor. A single small pallet heaped with furs sits against the south wall, and from it emanates a sound like quiet snoring.
Arien, as you approach you see that the ground around the pallet is littered with dulled green scales. The pallet's occupant is a wizend and ancient kobold that appears to have shed those scales. It is not asleep, but its eyes are a uniform milky white. It does not seem to have noticed you, but it calls out towards the entrance where Fynn waits. "Are you the ones the others were fleeing? Good, good...you bring the destruction I foretold."
Nighttail starts. "Jakkol? I thought you dead from Roaghaz' treachery!"
"Ah, hello. Jakkol. What destruction did you foretell?"
"Nighttail. I live..." The kobold coughs wetly, gasping for air, then continues. "...for now. My lord Vapula promised to scourge the tribe for their unfaithfulness. I had hoped to see our ruin before journeying to the afterworld, but I will settle for hearing you arrive. 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 may yet be your doom, as he...has been...ours."
The last few words Jakkol spoke were quieter and quieter, and as he finishes speaking he takes a few more weak breaths, then grows still, a knowing smile still on his face.