Fort
I am almost out of spells and am not feeling well after being bitten by those rats. The Aghar tend to be cowards. We should find a place to stay that will provide protection from the undead and the swarms that these fearbringer are able to summon and control.
Elijayss says, "I can attempt to coax them out I suppose. Perhaps if we are kind they will be the same to us."
Elijayss approaches the building, his hands open with no weapons, "Hello in there. We mean you no harm little ones. We just want to know more about what is going on the the city."
Unfortunately Elijayss while he's probably good at coaxing animals, he's not too good at diplomacy. The only response he gets is more shuffling and crashing noises from inside the building. He looks through the window, looks back to the party and shrugs.
Offer the creatures some food. Aghar tend to be hungry most of the time, suggests the Black ROBE
Gabriel approaches as well with Elijayss
"Good kender we seek shelter and we are here to help. Will you speak with us."
Elijayss nods to Terevalis and takes out a food ration from his pack. "Umm... hello in there. We have food to give you if you are willing to talk to us."
Combined with Gabriel's words and the offer of food there is silence for a bit before a slightly braver looking Gully Dwarf slinks out of the pile of rubble he was hiding behind and sheepishly approaches the window bowing constantly. He seems to be draped in a tattered cloak that perhaps was once a noble cloth of some kind but now is torn in many places and covered in ash. He also wears on his head a rather beat up looking gold crown, probably a bit melted by the fire that burned out this ruin. Other than that he wears rags and is a filthy, scraggly looking Gully Dwarf with a fluffy greying beard.
He cautiously approaches the window says "Me friendly, please no hurt. I be High Grup the second, leader of people. You not look like Ogers or Gobbos. Not here to take us away like they did the Ken-dar?"
"No we are not here to take away. We are here to help you and the kender. May we come in and rest and talk?"
High Grup gives a smile with his dirty teeth and says, "Help Ken-dar? You nice then. Yes you can come into home. Come in, rest, talk, eat. Grup willing to help brave heroes."
He gestures allowing the party inside. You are forced to squeeze through the main doorway which has been partially blocked off by rubble. The inside of the building has very little of its upper floors and roof left, most having collapsed inward creating large piles of rubble. You're lead to the center area were a half-burned luxury chair is set up and a mix of different cots of salvaged bedding where you suspect the Gully Dwarves sleep. There are a few cooking pots over fires and piles of Rat Bones over the floor. You see also piles of other junk that was probably salvaged from this building or other surrounding ruins. The Gully Dwarves look at you uneasy and sheepishly keep their distance but are somewhat more accepting considering the "King" is leading you. There appears to around 20 in this area, including the "king" himself.
The king takes a seat in the chair and says, "You strange to come here. Lots of scary thingies out there. Must be brave to walk out there with so many scaries. We hide here and they don't take us away or kill us. Ogers and Drag-men take any they find away to big fiery mountain. They not be seen again."
"Is that where the kender are? Big fiery mountain? How often do you see these ogers and drag-men?"
Grup says, "Some Ken-dar in city, but many Ogers and some Drag-Men come and grab, put chains on them and take them away to burning mountain. Not know why they want to take peoples. Not want to go to burning mountain. Big Lizard there, Ogres and Drag-men."
"Big Lizard? What color is that Lizard King Grup?"
Grup scratches his head in confusion and says, "Don't remember, maybe someone else does."
He says something in Gullytalk to a few others there. They huddle with the king get into some big whispered discussion. They then break and slink off and then Grup looks back to the party and says, "The Big Lizard, it was Red, me thinks."
It makes sense that there would be red dragons in the area, even after Malystryx was killed by Mina and the Dragon Queen. However, that does not mean that we are necessarily prepared to fight a dragon, no matter how old it is.
It makes sense that there would be red dragons in the area, even after Malystryx was killed by Mina and the Dragon Queen. However, that does not mean that we are necessarily prepared to fight a dragon, no matter how old it is.
"Agreed, still I will pray to Zivilyn for guidance to give us means to protect ourselves from such a threat".
Hearing the news of ogres and draconians came in force to Kendermore to round up the remaining kender they could find, she became rather worried about her own family if they were amongst the captured.
"This is terrible. They came not to kill the kender but to capture. Something very evil is taking place at the mountain. We need to rest to get fully prepared to sneak our way up and into the mountain."
Gabriel looks to the wound on Terevalis.
"That is a nasty bite there elf. Allow me to clear the disease festering in it."
[ooc]Not sure if anyone else got diseased. Looks like only 2 may have worked stupid reduced CL. Gabriel will use all lay on hands to remove disease or to heal any injured. before resting.
"To truly help the kender we may have not other choice then to slay the dragon. I made a powerful ally before we left. The Dragon knows as Sandstorm, son of the Brass Dragon Lord Splendor. Kiri-Jolith came to Sandstorm in a dream. Sandstorm vision was of me mounting him and riding to battle against a dragon foe. This is destined and the will of Kiri-Jolith. We should march on the mountain and slay the beast to truly help the people of Kendermore."
Grup says to Gabriel, "You fight big Lizard? You brave but a fool. Big lizard burn you and eat you like cooked rattie. But if you can, very good. Big Lizard no longer eat people then."
Elijayss says to Grup, "Do you know where any survivors may be hiding King Grup?"
Grup claps his hands, looks to Elijayss and says, "More Ken-dar yes. Many hide at big-big building. Do not know if Ogers found them yet though. Let a few stay here before but they all leave now, afraid Ogers come looking for them here. No Ogers come here though. Maybe think we all dead dead. Good that they not come here, not want to be eaten by Ogers."
Elijayss asks, "How many Kender came through here? Where there many of them?"
Grup looks confused and then looks at his fingers and wiggles them and then gives a bewildered look and says, "Methinks more than two."
Athola blinks, "You going to ride a dragon!", speaking out excitedly at Gabriel.
A brass dragon? Interesting. While they would be immune to the fire breath of the red, the red would physically and magically dominate the smaller brass. Unless the brass was older and had access to potent magic, though among the dragon clans, even the most ancient of brass dragons are not known for their magical aptitude. Also interesting that the Bison of Heaven would not chose a gold, bronze or silver as his herald. states the elf.
Alathea looks a bit shocked at Gabriel, "Dreams of Huma my friend. We should be cautious in this endeavor. The Dragon is not alone up there/; Ogres, Draconians. This is a very dangerous endeavor. Our primary purpose here is to aid the Kender and find the Tears. If we can cripple the network bringing misery to this land we should but let us not become delusional about our chances of defeating a Dragon that has taken the place of Malys!"
Alathea turns to the King, "Where is the building that the Kender hide in? After we rest we should approach it tomorrow".
Grup says, "You want go there? Know where is but better if one lead you there. Bodunk!"
A black haired Gully Dwarf slinks out and approaches the king bowing with respect. Grup speaks in Gullytalk to him and he nods and responds appeasingly and stands near the king."[/i]
Grup says, "Bodunk show you where Big Big Building is. But ask you keep him safe for trip there. Many bad things in city. Also want food that was promised for help."
Elijayss nods and gives the ration to Grup. He picks it up, sniffs it, says something in Gullytalk to a female who takes it and tosses the ration into a cooking pot.
Grup claps his hands joyfully "Good food to have now. Will help brave heroes. Yes, rest now if wish but keep quiet. No want Orges or other bad things to find us."
Draconians would be the least of our worries up there. I believe that the Overlords were known to make use of dragon-spawn, abominiations, mixtures of humanoids and draconian essences. From what I understand, with the death of their Overlord creators, they may have ether been destroyed or been driven mad by the event. Of them all, those created by the Red Marauder are the most powerful.
Looking at the cleric May I make a suggestion? Perhaps you pray to the Tree of Wisdom for defensive spells while I study my books for more damaging spells. Fire may not be the best options right now if we are going to fight red dragons.
"Just letting it be known. I agree we should go to the building with the kender after we rest. Yes Athola, if the vision is true I will ride Sanstorm into battle against another dragon."
"Agreed Terevalis, you and I share many of the same sentiments when it comes to strategy. I shall have spells to ease the suffering of both Elijyass and Jor from the deep wounds inflicted by the evil Kender. I will also tale a spell which should make us undetectable to the Undead as we roam through the city tomorrow".
My power over the undead will also be of benefit to us IF others do not slay them until they have done what was necessary to be done.
So barring any other questions you're given an area to set up camp. So happens there is a stairway down into a basement and while most of the rooms are collapsed, it appears there are some passages into other underground areas although currently blocked off by rubble that has been purposely piled there. This provides the party with a safe place to rest and recover as long as they need to. Was anyone not cured of filth fever? Everyone also recovers 1 point of ability damage if you have it.
In the morning Alathea prays for her full complement of spells and uses the powers granted to her by Zivilyn to assist Jor and Elijayss who were struck by the undead powers of the cursed Kender.
Once they in the basement, she sorts through the items taken from the "noble" kender, and cleans the studded leather armour before trying the armour out.
To Alathea, "I not proficient in using shields, so this buckler is available to be sold for needed funds. I will give my old armour and shortbow to the kender resistance when we find them."
The next day you awaken and eat some of your rations as the Gully Dwarf food looks barely editable. You meet with Grup who says, "Good heroes, ready to go? Bodunk will show you to big building. Keep him safe. Good travels friends."
The group heads out back into the city. You are lead out into the city by Bodunk who shows you alleyways to slink through to avoid any potential wandering dangers it does make the journey longer than it should. Eventually you arrive at what was once the Palace of Kendermore.
This building was once one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Kendermore. Even now, with most of its grandeur destroyed, one can easily see its former glory.
Built along the lines of the onion-domed Palace of Khuri-Khan, its white marble edifice is now smeared with grime and covered by the everpresent soot that fills the air. The golden leaves that once decorated the domes atop the building have either been stolen or have _flaked away, while the stained glass windows have all been shattered. A long pool, surrounded by a garden, lies before the building, but the pool is now filled with ash and debris instead of water, and the garden is filled with the stunted, twisted plants that seem to thrive in this forsaken land.
As you get close make a perception check at a difficulty of to spot an ambush.
Perception
Ok Alathea, with your keen senses you're able to see shadows moving through the nearby ruins as well as the windows and rooftop of the palace. They appear to be armed with bows and slings and actively looking to hide themselves. Size wise they're Kender-sized which makes them even more difficult to spot. What do you do?
[Ooc] Can we just use the one in the setting? I think it gives better counting and position of the 3 moons. [/b]
Alathea pauses and calls the group to attention, she whispers, "We are being surrounded by the Kender, at least I hope it is living Kender, Athola can you call out to them?"