Sheridan shrugs his beautifully sculpted shoulders and follows after Nighttail.
The half-orc waved his palm in the direction of the tunnel invitingly, urging the kobold to go ahead of them. "If you'll forgive my curiosity, could you bring us up to date with what the initial plan had entailed? I presume it hadn't gone as smooth as he desired."
Very casually and offhand, Nighttail replies as she heads into the tunnel, "Eh, most I ever knew was: Arrange a meeting with the wizard and strike a deal. We bring down the tower for him, he gives the tribe some books, I don't know. 'Course, the initial plan was always to crush the wizard under the tower too... lookie there, a second gate. First smart thing Roaghaz ever did. He definitely wouldn't want Hak to get out. Too bad, former chief. Too bad for you."
Global Condition: Inside Cave: Attack Rolls -2 |Global Condition:
Sheridan HP: 7/14 - AC: 17/13/14 Status:
Stone HP: 12/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Sheaorilis HP: 14/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: ? AC: ?
”We have incapacitated some of your companions above. Would you like to see if any of them are loyal to you? Or should we assume they are all currently allied with the Chief?”
”Also, before you unlatch that gate, what exactly is Hak? Another kobold loyal to you? Or?
”We aren’t interested in wiping your clan out if we can get you to leave and not trouble this village any further. Also, if you know of any human captives that are still alive, or where we can find their remains, things could go very well for you.”
"They'll be allied with the chieftain, whomever it may be a given time. Thank you for letting them live. They'll be fine where they are. When the tribe is mine, they shall be heroically rescued by their leader, Nighttail the Glib!"
She begins unlatching the gate and replies to the cleric's second question.
"Another kobold? She chuckles at that and through her next sentence.
"No. Hak's no kobold..."
The gate swings open. This large cave has a twelve-foot-high ceiling. Dozens of well-chewed deer bones lie scattered about.
"Hak is my pet allosaurus."
”now that . . . Is quite unexpected.”
The cleric can’t maintain his normal businesslike demeanor as his eyebrows shoot skyward.
”I thought sauropods were restricted to continents other than our own, one can buy them of course in the larger markets and ports.”
”How did you come to obtain Hak?”
While Stone seemed quite interested in the dinosaur before them, the inquisitor acted a bit more reserved and even grabbed the hilt of his axe with one hand.
"Nighttail, I hope the beast is tamed, for all our sake. There's a reason why it was locked behind two sets of doors."
He tries to catch a glimpse of what is dwelling inside the cave over the shoulders of his companions.
Without even looking back, Nighttail remarks, "Hak is only a beast to them that appears to be threatening t' me. If you're cordial, Hak is cordial."
She practically skips her way further into the cave.
"Hak! Buddy ol' pal! It's okay now, I'm here."
Into view comes an allosaurus, a medium sized creature, standing perhaps a little shorter than your average human. Nighttail happily hops on her friend and rubs the top of its head.
When Hak's eyes see the party standing there, it nearly growls, except Nighttail is quick to speak up on your behalf.
"No, Hak. These are my friends. Our friends. They're here to help. Okay?"
Hak tilts its head a moment, pondering the PC's, then makes a strange face that you interpret as a dinosaur smile.
"Everyone, meet Hak. Hak, everyone.
Hak an' I've been together for a long time. I rescued her when she was a hatchling from a traveling menagerie near Maheto."
The half-orc became more composed when noticing their companion's reaction to the dinosaur. He does not seem to be one that follows the path of evil. Yes, indeed, my senses have not dulled after all this time.
"It's not at all how I expected it to be. Much smaller, friendlier and has a tint of wit in its eyes."
Sheaorlis entered the cavern relaxing his sword arm but keeping it not far away from the hilt of the axe. He examines at the beast from its head to its back legs as an orc would check a possible contender right before a brawl but made no signs to provoke the beast. Once convinced that the allosaurus would not charge at the first sign of weakness he looked more closely at the chamber in which it was held making sure to not turn his back at either the kobold or his pet.
Where better to hide something from the rest of the tribe than in the den of this creature.
Your keen eye spots that this space isn't harboring any secrets.
Nighttail, happily reunited with her companion, gestures to the party,
"Alrighty, heroes. Y'all be the brawn. I'll be the brain. I'll lead you in the most direct path, telling you everything I know. And yous be the muscle. The tunnel directly next to this one will lead us down to the lower levels where Roaghaz awaits. Once I'm head honcho, Belhaim will never have to worry about this tribe again. Henceforth!"
The cleric can’t help but listen with a suspicious ear.
He crunches what was said and how it was said over and over in his mind attempting to sense her motives and intent.
"So we'll have to double back and take the other one? What is ahead on this route? " Sheaorlis said apparently unpleased for picking the wrong tunnel. "Yet if you say that's the most direct route... lead the way." The inquisitor will try to stay close to their guide while roaming through the caverns with the axe prepared for an attack.
"No no no... go back through this path, and turn right. The tunnel bends around to a straw-covered room. But there's usually some poison darts set up as a trap under the straw. So, stop once you see the straw."
Nighttail guides you towards the tunnel, and eventually the room, she described. A thick layer of straw covers the floor of this cave. The cave's northern end hooks around a corner to the east, and is out of
sight from the south.
"It should be right there...", the reptilian tourguide rasps, pointing a finger at the spot where the cave is at its narrowest and curves eastward. There's usually a trip line right there. Underneath the straw will be either springloaded spikes or darts, usually poisoned."[/b]
I have it cast on a coin in my off hand. I can control the light output that way, or drop it to the ground, etc.
”Yeah, I see it. Sheridan, please earn your keep.”
Sheorlis takes a step back letting Stone and Sheridan disable the trap."So many traps. How often does someone from the tribe trigger one of them accidentally?"
Stone uses his blade to trip the line and trigger the trap, sending three darts shooting up but not hitting the cleric. They arc and...
shatter when they hit the floor. The straw padding must have been thinner there.
Nighttail pipes up, "Not too often. It's how we train and practice. Gotta stay vigilant y'know. Best be careful. Greenblood oil. Good work...um...By the way, what do I call each of you?"
Finding the bodies in the pit has some visible effect on the usually hardened veteran.
"Dammit Sheridan. Had to go and get yourself killed didn't you. I knew we shouldn't have split the party. Thunderstick dwarf with the heart of soft cheese had to take prisoners and now she got you both dead."
Stone says a few prayers and sprinkles so holy water over the bodies.
"At least I remembered the water this time Yantri. . . I'll get your piece back to Bookworm if I get out of this place. Sheri, I'll lay you next to your gal."
"May your souls find their reward."
Stone uses his blade to trip the line and trigger the trap, sending three darts shooting up but not hitting the cleric. They arc and...shatter when they hit the floor.
His face lights up a little then Nighttail pipes up, "Not too often. It's how we train and practice. Gotta stay vigilant y'know. Best be careful. Greenblood oil. Good work...um...By the way, what do I call each of you?"
The cleric's face clouds over and his businesslike manner returns.
"You may call me Cleric Stone."
"Claire Ickstone. Lovely to meet you!" Nighttail winks at you. "Just around the bend you'll find a hole in the ground and a rope dropping into it. It leads to our Snacking Pools, and boy am I hungry!"
The half-orc does not appear to be shaken by seeing the lifeless bodies of his companions. He waits and stays silent until the cleric finishes the ritual for them.
"They knew full well what the risks of this mission were. I hope they find solace in the planes beyond that they've contributed to the establishment of order."
Sheaorlis looks with disdain at the green ooze in the corner. "Cowardly weapons."
Avoiding the remains of the trap he follows the kobold making no sign that would show that he would want to take the lead especially on climbing down the rope. "I am Sheaorlis, first son of Huuth, the Ashen blade. It looks like we've discovered another burden. Would Hak be able to enter the Snacking Pools?"
Nighttail looks at Sheaorlis during his formal presentation of name, and responds with, "Okay. 'Names' it is. We got Claire, Names n' Nighttail, warriors three! And Hak, o' course, who alone among the allosaurs, can jump down a hole between floors, ...sorry what was we talkin' about? Oh, right. Your concern is appreciated, Names, but once I'm in control, the tribe can easily make a ramp up to the surface, which makes vacating all the easier!"
”Wait. What is in these snacking pools? It’s not any of the towns people who have been kidnapped hopefully? We want to rescue, or at least recover them.”
"Ewww. No. Frogs. It's jus- wow... that's messed up- oh my- really?? We don't eat people! The pools have fr- I can't even look at you Claire."
Without looking at Stone, Nighttail adds, "The tribes slaves are kept healthy. You wouldn't want an unproductive slave would you? I don't deal in those matters, though. Alright, which of y'all is first? Be careful, 'cause there could be someone snacking. We definitely don't want them raising an alert."
"Let's send the Inquisitor down first, then you two, I will follow down last as you all can see more easily down here."
"Fine by me, but bear in mind, I have no desire to hurt my adoptive kinfolk. I understand it needs to happen in order take out Roaghaz, but I'm leaving the majority of it to you two. Except to save mine or Hak's life, I will not kill another kobold but Roaghaz."
”Well I don’t speak any kobold, so if we run into any you need to be spreading that message. If they lay down their arms and follow you, great. Otherwise we are carving our way to this Roaghaz. We don’t want any needless spilling of blood, but those dead-fast loyal to Roaghaz are going to get smote like sheep if they get in the way.”
"I am not in favour of mindless killing, however, keep in mind, cleric of Ragathiel, that for each kobold we're sparing we would be risking the alarm being sounded. So choose your strikes wisely."
After murmuring in protest as to why he should be the first to climb down the Inquisitor relented and grabbed the rope with one hand. Once he was sure the rope would hold Sheaorlis grabs it tightly with both of his hands and begins the descent.
"They're too afraid to turn against Roaghaz. Until his overdue defeat, they won't listen to me. Hey, 'Names': the snacking pools ceiling is low like this one, don't hit your head. There are two ways in and out, this hole being one of them. A tunnel will exit that room into another with a much larger pool. I wouldn't recommend drinking from that one, 'less you want your face bit by a snapping turtle."
Sheaorlis begins his descent down the rope.
Not long after Sheaorlis goes down the hole, Nighttail and Stone hear shouts echoing up from below
"Gati breshkën e kapur!"
Frowning at the soon to be chief kobold, Sheaorlis answers in a soft but guttural voice "Good to know."
The half-orc could not comprehend what the fleeing kobold was yelling but his instincts warned him it was likely not something good. He only wastes a second calling the others before giving chase:
"Get down quick! We've been spotted!"
During his odd run, with his head kept forward as not to hit the ceiling, he manages to redraw the axe.
The cleric comes as quickly as he can manage.
"Here we go I guess. Shall I cast Bless?"
"Might not be needed, there's just one of them. But if you hear an alarm..." the half-orc replied while running towards the frightened creature.
The creature continues fleeing, rounding the corner into a part of this tunnel that is covered in rubble
Nighttail pulls up the rope, but only so Hak can shimmy down. She then drops the rope back down and joins "Claire."
"He said, 'Ready the snappers.' 'Names,' be careful."
Not wanting to lose the chance of stopping the kobold dead in his tracks the half-orc swings his axe. After the strike he continues forward trying to avoid making any noise that would attract attention.
The kobold guard pays for his laziness as Sheaorlis takes him down with one swing.
Combat over!
Turning the corner, he tries to quietly cross the rubble filled tunnel
As Sheaorlis steps past the rubble-filled tunnel into the larger, but still low-ceilinged cave,
two kobolds attempt to trip him with guisarmes!
But the half-orc is too surefooted to be tripped so easily.
Combat is starting....again!
Bold may act:
Sheaorlis // Kobolds (Light Blue, Orange) // Stone // Nighttail
Global Condition: Inside Cave: Attack Rolls -2 |Global Condition:
Stone HP: 12/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Sheaorilis HP: 14/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: ? AC: ?
Hak (animal companion) hp: ? AC: ?
Kobold (light blue) hp: AC:
Kobold (orange) hp: AC:
Startled by the sudden appearance of two more kobold the inquisitor attempts to slice at one of them before backing into the tunnel.
Sheaorlis swings his ax but can't find any reptilian flesh to kiss with it.
Sheaorlis // Kobolds (Orange, Blue) // Stone // Nighttail
Blue steps in, swinging its guisarme, and landing a cut on the half-orc, dealing 2pts of damage.
Orange, actually... is hear high-tailing it out of there.
Bold may act:
Sheaorlis // Kobolds // Stone // Nighttail
Global Condition: Inside Cave: Attack Rolls -2 |Global Condition:
Stone HP: 12/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Sheaorilis HP: 12/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: ? AC: ?
Hak (animal companion) hp: ? AC: ?
Kobold (blue) hp: AC:
Kobold (orange) hp: AC:
The Cleric hears the sounds of conflict and moves to join his comrade.
When Nighttail makes it down, she gets back up on Hak and goes as far as she can without passing Stone.
"Your friend is quite the effective path clearer...well, except with rocks. 'Names,' just push 'em into the pond and let the turtles do the rest."
She then adds, "Sorry, bro."
Sheaorlis // Kobolds // Stone // Nighttail/Hak
Global Condition: Inside Cave: Attack Rolls -2 |Global Condition:
Stone HP: 12/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Sheaorilis HP: 12/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: ? AC: ?
Hak (animal companion) hp: ? AC: ?Kobold (blue) hp: AC:
Kobold (orange) hp: AC:
"Yeah, there is not much I can do here. I don't want to fire into combat behind him so I will stay ready in case one of these turtles try to eat us. It will get a bolt to the throat."
Stone thinks about it.
"Yeah! knock one in so they don't snack on us instead."
"Shouldn't you be trying to stop them instead of giving pointers on how to execute gruesomely killings?"
"And you, back off." the half-orc said to the remaining kobold before kicking him towards the pond.
Sheaorlis bull rushes the kobold, shoving it into the dark waters behind it. As it falls, it swings with its blade and nicks Sheaorlis' ear, dealing 1pt of damage.
As soon as the it hits the 5ft-deep water, though, three big cranky turtles emerge to snap at the kobold.
It would seem their first attempts were mere threats, as opposed to attacks...
Sheaorlis // Big Cranky Turtles // Kobolds // Stone // Nighttail/Hak
While the water is only 5 feet deep, the short kobold finds that swimming is faster than walking on its tiptoes, especially when a trio of turtles is ready to snack on it!
Blue escapes the water without getting chomped on, and stands on the opposite side of the pond, its weapon still drawn, ready to fight.
Sheaorlis // Big Cranky Turtles // Kobolds // Stone // Nighttail/Hak
Global Condition: Inside Cave: Attack Rolls -2 |Global Condition:
Stone HP: 12/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Sheaorlis HP: 11/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: ? AC: ?
Hak (animal companion) hp: ? AC: ?Kobold (blue) hp: AC: status:
Kobold (orange) hp: AC: status: ?
”Wow! That little guy can sure swim.”
”The other got away. Which tunnel do we take Nighttail?
The Cleric taps Sheaorlis.
Nighttail, riding on Hak squeeze by and quickly are on the other side of the pond, Hak's hot breath blowing in the face of the now terrified kobold.
With sudden ferocity, Nighttail takes her spear in both hands and jams it down on the fellow kobold's head.
The kobold crumples to the ground where it lay dying.
The allosaurus looks at its master, and Nighttail nods. Hak lowers its head and snaps the lizard's neck and claws out its eyes.
+ = 27
Global Condition: Inside Cave: Attack Rolls -2 |Global Condition:
Stone HP: 12/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Sheaorlis HP: 11/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: ? AC: ?
Hak (animal companion) hp: ? AC: ?Kobold (orange) hp: AC: status: ?
The inquisitor draws a small piece of paper from one of his pockets throws it above his head and with a verbal command, it turns to ash forming a glasslike field around him.
"One of them got away, I think he took the tunnel right in front of us. We must get to him before he sounds the alarm."
Following the allosaurus, the half-orc keeps close to the wall avoiding the water where the turtles reside. Once near the tribe leader claimant, he throws a resentful look at Nighttail and Hak: "Was that really necessary?"
Stone follows and laughs at the Inquisitor’s question.
”You were about to chuck him to the turtles or I was going to shoot him with my crossbow. I for one appreciate Night-tail’s help and besides, I’d rather Hak gnaws on it than me.”
”Let’s proceed. I will heal you if you take any more damage, but I don’t want to use my spells just yet.”