The blue and orange kobolds attack Stone and Guruthos but are unable to make contact.
Round 2
Hanzo, Thomas, Stone // Nighttail // Guruthos, Sheaorlis // Roaghaz // Kobolds // Joriannika, Hak
Global Condition: -2 penalty on attack rolls inside this cave |Stone HP: 9/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status: Light (continuous),
Sheaorlis HP: 0/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status: Disabled; fast healing 1
Thomas HP: 15/17 AC: 16/12/14 Status: Light (continuous), Divine Favor (+2 atk/dmg; 9 rds)
Guruthos HP: 2/14 (2nl) AC: 15/13/12 Status: Staggered
- Mori hp: 5/7 AC: 15/14/13
Joriannika HP: 12/12 AC: 17/13/14 Status:
Hanzo HP: 12/18 AC: 17/13/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: 25 AC: 15/11/15 Status:
Hak (animal companion) hp: 10 | AC: 17 Status:
Roaghaz: hp ? | AC ?
Kobold (green): hp: -11 | AC:15 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (red) hp: -8 | AC: 16 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (orange): hp -5 | Status: Disabled
Kobold (blue): hp -1
"Arrrrrrgh!" Jori screamed in frustration, the burning webbing getting closer and closer. She flung another bomb at the kobolds' leader, then tried to rip herself free...
4 fire splash, Ref DC14 for half
...But while the bomb struck better than last time, she simply couldn't free herself! She steeled her nerves for what would come next.
vs DC13
1-33 North, 34-66 East, 67-100 South
The chieftain screams in what is probably a mixture of pain and rage, as the lobbed bomb explodes against him. He quickly padded down his cloak of any lingering flames.
Hak, though receiving protection from the flames, gets himself even more stuck in the webbing.
Thomas is eyeing the boulders, and judges that since the cave itself is only about 5ft high, the boulder must be about 3ft, which doesn't leave much wiggle room.
The flames spread to the North, not quite touching the cleric Stone, and surely causing distress in Joriannika.
Round 3!
Hanzo, Thomas, Stone // Nighttail // Guruthos, Sheaorlis // Roaghaz // Kobolds // Joriannika, Hak
Global Condition: -2 penalty on attack rolls inside this cave |Stone HP: 9/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status: Light (continuous),
Sheaorlis HP: 0/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status: Disabled; fast healing 1
Thomas HP: 15/17 AC: 16/12/14 Status: Light (continuous), Divine Favor (+2 atk/dmg; 9 rds)
Guruthos HP: 2/14 (2nl) AC: 15/13/12 Status: Staggered
- Mori hp: 5/7 AC: 15/14/13
Joriannika HP: 12/12 AC: 17/13/14 Status:
Hanzo HP: 12/18 AC: 17/13/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: 25 AC: 15/11/15 Status:
Hak (animal companion) hp: 10 | AC: 17 Status:
Roaghaz: hp -5 | AC 21
Kobold (green): hp: -11 | AC:15 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (red) hp: -8 | AC: 16 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (orange): hp -5 | Status: Disabled
Kobold (blue): hp -1
Thinking that the others had the last two minions under control, Hanzo snuck up behind the boulder and slashed at Roaghaz.
The damnable kobold-on-fire wasn't where he expected it to be, unfortunately.
Thomas recklessly stomps across the battlefield, past the enemies, past Hanzo
and then attacks the shaman's feet to put him to the ground.
He carefully watches Roaghaz ignoring the rest of the battefield.
Thomas rushes through recklessly but remains unscathed as one of the guards takes the opportunity to try to stab the oracle with the glowing eyes. The guard misses and succumbs to its injuries, passing out on the floor, looking pale. As he goes past the sorcerer, he notices Roaghaz's cloak shiver as if small bursts of breezy air were traveling through it upwards. At the shoulders, two ornamental spikes grow into large fangs, and so do the sorcerer's teeth. As Thomas tries to trip the kobold chieftain, Roaghaz tries to bite the raging human, but to no avail. The reptile ends up...or rather down, on the ground.
Stone attempts to slice down the kobold bodyguard in front of him with his trusty sword. He succeeds to devastating effect, as the creature howls in pain and collapses. It seems to be unconscious, though it is breathing rapidly.
Round 3
Hanzo, Thomas, Stone // Nighttail // Guruthos, Sheaorlis // Roaghaz // Kobolds // Joriannika, Hak
Global Condition: -2 penalty on attack rolls inside this cave |Stone HP: 9/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status: Light (continuous),
Sheaorlis HP: 0/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status: Disabled; fast healing 1
Thomas HP: 15/17 AC: 16/12/14 Status: Light (continuous), Divine Favor (+2 atk/dmg; 8 rds)
Guruthos HP: 2/14 (2nl) AC: 15/13/12 Status: Staggered
- Mori hp: 5/7 AC: 15/14/13
Joriannika HP: 12/12 AC: 17/13/14 Status:
Hanzo HP: 12/18 AC: 17/13/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: 25 AC: 15/11/15 Status:
Hak (animal companion) hp: 10 | AC: 17 Status:
Roaghaz: hp -5 | AC 21 | Status: Prone
Kobold (green): hp: -11 | AC:15 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (red) hp: -8 | AC: 16 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (orange): hp -6 | Status: Unconscious; dying
Kobold (blue): hp -8 | AC:25 | Status: Unconscious; stable
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The masked elf wobbles, struggling to stand. The pain clouds his mind, filling his ears with the sounds of wings, beating, approaching him slowly from behind...
He doesn't bother to turn around. He knows Mori is back there, waiting for him. He needed to do something. Fool, you should have learned a healing spell.
Through his blurred vision, he sees the minion kobolds crumble. He looks to their leader, and sees the small beast fall. No, it thrashes about. It is still a threat.
Mustering the dark powers within him, he looks between the allies before him, holding a single finger to the slit that serves as the mouth of his mask, and whispers, "Shh!"
The sound of the beating wings closes in on him, and darkness pours over his vision before he can tell if his hex succeeded.
With his last powers, the inquisitor crawls towards the kobold dragging his huge axe behind him. Feeling a bit invigorated by the power of his god he attempts the same attack as before, hoping that the strike would connect this time. Instead of hitting the kobold leader the axe ricocheted on the bolder between them and almost hit the one called Hanzo.
Hanzo yelped, jumping into the air like a startled cat. "Hey! Not me, him!"
Roaghaz falls asleep for 1 round
The masked elf commits quite the brave act as he casts his hex at the chief Roaghaz. Guruthos falls unconscious, and the kobold, who had already fallen down, also falls unconscious.
Sheaorlis, still trying to muster his strength, can't even strike the sleeping reptile, though he nearly gives the rogue a haircut...and a shave, and an ax to the head. Thankfully, that doesn't happen.
Nighttail, confident in the protection she's given her companion, moves nimbly through the webbing, barely making it out without getting caught.
Joriannika, you're up!
Global Condition: -2 penalty on attack rolls inside this cave |Stone HP: 9/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status: Light (continuous),
Sheaorlis HP: 1/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status: ; fast healing 1
Thomas HP: 15/17 AC: 16/12/14 Status: Light (continuous), Divine Favor (+2 atk/dmg; 8 rds)
Guruthos HP: 2/14 (2nl) AC: 15/13/12 Status: Unconscious
- Mori hp: 5/7 AC: 15/14/13
Joriannika HP: 12/12 AC: 17/13/14 Status:
Hanzo HP: 12/18 AC: 17/13/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: 25 AC: 15/11/15 Status:
Hak (animal companion) hp: 10 | AC: 17 Status: fire resistance 5
Roaghaz: hp -5 | AC 21 | Status: Prone; Asleep for 1 rnd
Kobold (green): hp: -11 | AC:15 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (red) hp: -8 | AC: 16 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (orange): hp -7 | Status: Unconscious; dying
Kobold (blue): hp -8 | AC:25 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Jori made another desperate attempt to free herself before the fire got closer.
Defeated, she called out to Nighttail, who didn't seem stuck, "Get me out of here!"
Hak manages to get through a larger opening in the webs as connecting strands begin to sag due to the fire, which is spreading.
Nighttail shouts back, "Yeah sure thing. Just a sec! Hey, Claire! You still got my wand of healing, don'tcha! Do something about your new friend who looks like a wooden puppet!" She gestures towards Guruthos.
Round 4
Hanzo, Thomas, Stone // Nighttail // Guruthos, Sheaorlis // Roaghaz // Kobolds // Joriannika, Hak
Global Condition: -2 penalty on attack rolls inside this cave |Stone HP: 9/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status: Light (continuous),
Sheaorlis HP: 1/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status: ; fast healing 1
Thomas HP: 15/17 AC: 16/12/14 Status: Light (continuous), Divine Favor (+2 atk/dmg; 8 rds)
Guruthos HP: 2/14 (2nl) AC: 15/13/12 Status: Unconscious
- Mori hp: 5/7 AC: 15/14/13
Joriannika HP: 12/12 AC: 17/13/14 Status: Grappled
Hanzo HP: 12/18 AC: 17/13/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: 25 AC: 15/11/15 Status:
Hak (animal companion) hp: 10 | AC: 17 Status: fire resistance 5
Roaghaz: hp -5 | AC ? | Status: Prone; Asleep for 1 rnd
Kobold (green): hp: -11 | AC:15 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (red) hp: -8 | AC: 16 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Kobold (orange): hp -7 | Status: Unconscious; dying
Kobold (blue): hp -8 | AC:25 | Status: Unconscious; stable
Without thinking Thomas slices the head off.
"We could have questioned him about the misconduct of the tribe and more importantly this heathen cult of Aeteperax." Sheaorlis said coldly after seeing the chieftain's head rolling on the floor.
"Everyone please abstain from separating beheading any more kobolds. Now that their leader has passed away they will be directed on the right path and justice will be served according to their rules."
"Yes! Yes, I still have it!"
The cleric runs over and touches the strange masked elf.
"There we are and may the Wings of the General surround you!"
Combat over!
Guruthos wakens and rises just in time and looks on as Thomas, in his rage, slices off the head of the chieftain, which rolls back between the large rocks to an unexplored part of the cave. There is silence except for the sounds of the burning web and Joriannika's pleas for someone to help her.
"haHA! Alright! We did it... We actually did it! Claire, Names, you two were amazing! Now, first things first, I struck the killing blow to Roaghaz, as far as any Blood Vows are concerned. This is the only way they will accept me as their new chief. Secondly, I suppose we should help the human female. We don't want that fire to burn her clothes. Naked humans are... blech! - No offense."
"As promised, I shall have the tribe vacate this dank cave in favor of better and... further away... dwellings. We agreed that the payment for your help included any treasure found on the way, I believe. Roaghaz usually keeps a few chests around here somewhere..."
Global Condition: -2 penalty on attack rolls inside this cave |Stone HP: 9/18 - AC: 18/12/16 Status: Light (continuous),
Sheaorlis HP: 1/14 - AC: 16/12/14 Status: ; fast healing 1
Thomas HP: 15/17 AC: 16/12/14 Status: Light (continuous), Divine Favor (+2 atk/dmg; 7 rds)
Guruthos HP: 5/14 (2nl) AC: 15/13/12 Status:
- Mori hp: 5/7 AC: 15/14/13
Joriannika HP: 12/12 AC: 17/13/14 Status: Grappled
Hanzo HP: 12/18 AC: 17/13/14 Status:NPCs:
Nighttail the Glib (Ally) hp: 25 AC: 15/11/15 Status:
Hak (animal companion) hp: 10 | AC: 17 Status: fire resistance 5Kobold (orange): hp -7 | Status: Unconscious; dying
"Well Nighttail, I am not the best at cloak and dagger and story telling is not one of my strengths, but I am pretty sure Thomas has no interest in being the new chieftain. You were the last Kobold to strike him and he is now definitively dead."
"Take his head and make what claims you will."
The cleric creates water over and over as many times as needed to put out the fires.
"Here m'lady. May I offer you my dry outer garment to cover yourself with?"
The cleric averts his eyes from her soaking wet frame.
"I suppose our companion Hanzo would be most useful in locating any treasure for our troubles here?"
"Thank you, Mr. Stone!" Joriannika exclaimed, relieved not to be burnt to a crisp in the webs. Soaked to the skin, she was nevertheless cheery as she accepted the offered cloak.
Swinging it over her shoulders, she knelt by the elf Stone had healed. More quietly, she asked, "Are you all right, Guruthos?"
Hanzo gave Stone a friendly punch in the shoulder, and grinned at Thomas. "You guys crushed it! ...Thomas? You're okay now, right, Thomas?"
He gave both Thomas and Sheaorlis a wary look, not sure if either of them were golden in his book, but put away his knives and started looking for anything valuable on the chief and around the cave. Out of respect for Guru (and to not start trouble with the new kobold leader), he didn't handle the damned kobolds any more roughly than he had to.
Jori helped Hanzo search the cave, thinking about making a tithe to Shelyn and helping the poor people that had been slaves here with her share.
Thomas looked slightly confused at first, but now looks actually tired.
"I'm fine. Are we done here? Can we leave this cramped place?"
The half-orc nodded and one could almost discern a hint of a smile. "Our job is completed. We should head back to the town and report our success to the baroness."
"I think a proper search and detection of magic is in order before we clear out. I would also like to witness the transition to power for our ally Nighttail here. She is going to move the tribe from the area which will be beneficial for both of our peoples." Stone says diplomatically.
The masked elf sits up stiffly against the wall with a horse groan. His mask jostles a bit, giving a slight view of the twisted visage beneath. He quickly adjusts the mask and waves away Jori's concern as one would a pestering child. Perched on a nearby rock, the raven caws at him and cocks her head, to which he responds with a rough grumble in a and narrowed eyes. Once he regains his wits, he stands and begins moving the bodies to the side, motioning the spiral over his chest as he moves each.
On the late chieftain's corpse Hanzo and Jori find the wand of web he used at the battle's start, along with 2 scrolls, and 2 keys.
Thomas rises and removes the cloak from the kobold.
When they remove Roaghaz's things, Nighttail mounts the chief's head on her spear and Hak carries the corpse between its jaws.
"One of them keys goes to Roaghaz's chests back there, the other one to armory, on the floor above. Take whatever you want. I don't don't need any reminders of his reign."
"Claire, I give you my word, I shall move myself and remaining Blood Vows away from Belhaim, and we won't be taking any more slaves, either. That was all Roaghaz's doing. This will take a day or two to work out all the logistics."
Guruthos eyes the wand with curiosity.
The cleric nods and extends his hand.
”I am glad we met and were able to collaborate in this endeavor. We shall proceed to the chests you mentioned. Thank you for your assistance.”
He moves back over to Jorinnika with a genuinely warm smile and a look of respectful admiration in his eye.
”M’lady, now that we have earned a short respite from hostilities, I just wanted to say it is an honor and pleasure to serve with a devoted follower of The Eternal Rose. Your church showed me much kindness when I was young. I will never forget being told that Shelyn looks for the beauty in everyone and everything and the Hymnal “Beauty comes from Within”. If I had better upbringing I might have chosen your path, but the beauty of life was not revealed to me at that time.”
"We could have questioned him about... this heathen cult of Aeteperax." Sheaorlis said coldly after seeing the chieftain's head rolling on the floor.
During the thick of all the battling, it makes sense that someone might hear something, a name or odd fact, and stow it away in their subconscious until a later time. Now, with the fighting over, those thoughts might resurface to the forefronts of their mind.
The name Aeteperax has been mentioned quite a few times over the past few days. It suddenly dawns on you that Aeteperax is the name of a great dragon slain more than a thousand years ago by Belhaim's founder, Tula Belhaim.
Jori sighed in relief as Guru waved her off. "Looks like you're just fine," she grinned.
She listened to Nighttail's speech with hope rekindled that not all kobolds were terrible slavers. "Thank you, Nighttail," she said with earnest honesty. "And good luck with your tribe."
He moves back over to Jorinnika with a genuinely warm smile and a look of respectful admiration in his eye.
”M’lady, now that we have earned a short respite from hostilities, I just wanted to say it is an honor and pleasure to serve with a devoted follower of The Eternal Rose. Your church showed me much kindness when I was young. I will never forget being told that Shelyn looks for the beauty in everyone and everything and the Hymnal “Beauty comes from Within”. If I had better upbringing I might have chosen your path, but the beauty of life was not revealed to me at that time.”
"I'm tickled pink to meet you, too!" Jori beamed. "We all have different paths in life, but once you accept that life is beauty, everything becomes much clearer, doesn't it?" She hesitated a moment, then added more quietly, "Gosh, I sure sound like my mother at times." She turned away quickly, ostensibly to look for the chests Roaghaz had been hoarding, and pulled the donated dry cloak about her shoulders tightly.
Hanzo grimaced. "Oh great. Next I'll find religion, and we can all be fanatics together," he muttered to himself sardonically.
"Except you, big guy!" he said in a normal volume, slapping Thomas on the back. "You've got nothing weird going on... well, nothing like angels and devils, at least. Want to help me open the chests?" He held up the keys, grinning roguishly.
"Be careful Jori, thats no child's toy. That cloak bites."
Still sorting his thoughts and emotions, Thomas was interrupted by Hanzo. "Uh, I'm still feeling a little tired. But I guess even under worst circumstances I could take you." He smiles and makes on obvious arm-wrestling motion flexing his biceps.
Hanzo blinked without comprehension at that turn of conversation, and shook his head. "O... kay. No one's arguing that, big guy. But while you've got muscle, I've got quick fingers!" He knelt by the chests with a grin and swiftly checked and unlocked them, opening them to see what was within.
The western section of the cave seems to be Roaghaz's sleeping quarters. A large, soft pallet lies here, along with two locked chests. Hanzo uses the smaller of the keys to unlock both chests. The first is full of loose gold coins and the other has six large green scales and an even bigger black one.
Nighttail instructs Hak to remain down here for the time being, and to enjoy his snack. Nighttail leads the way back, stopping at one gated room. When she returns she informs you she was simply informing the guardians of the future generation of the change in leadership. Nighttail herself, for the first time since you've known her, leads the group on the trek to the surface. Upon reaching the second level, you're met with the six kobolds who, upon seeing Roaghaz's head on Nighttail's spear, bow their heads in acceptance. Eventually you make your way back to the large but low cave with the turtle infested lake in the middle. Nighttail points out the armory to you, on the right.
The armory, which is unlocked by the other key, holds Small weapons and armor, including 12 spears, 120 sling bullets, 4 slings, 3 suits of leather armor, 3 wooden shields, and 2 bows.
There's also a masterwork Medium cold iron longsword that Nighttail says was supposedly captured long ago but is too unwieldy for the kobolds.
"Take the sword, it's yours. But, if you don't mind, it'd be great if you could leave us our weapons. They're too small for you and we'll need to arm ourselves as we traverse across the terrain."
Not wishing to lay a finger on Roaghaz's corpse the inquisitor stays in the background watching how the humans help themselves to the kobold's bounty. With arms crossed, Sheaorlis seemed to have returned to his usual mood but does nothing to stop them. When he sees the scales in the chest his gazes flies straight to Nighttail: "And just when have you fought dragons?! Or are these as well the relics from a time long past?"
"I was hardly in Roaghaz's inner circle. Let me remind you I only joined the Blood Vows scarce more than a year ago. I highly doubt Roaghaz or the tribe as a whole ever fought a dragon, or else they wouldn't be here. He said they were a gift... He probably found them, or stole them. They're yours now, so who cares?"
While she is, in fact, stating...facts, Nighttail also definitely was NOT surprised they were in the chest. She knows more than she's letting on, and doesn't seem to want to share.
"Who would give such a valuable gift to one such as Roaghaz?" the inquisitor knitted his eyebrows, all his senses told him that something was off, but couldn't place what it was. Trying to avoid provoking the kobold he raises his palms up and murmurs the chant for a spell.
"Who would give such a valuable gift to one such as Roaghaz?" the inquisitor knitted his eyebrows, all his senses told him that something was off, but couldn't place what it was. Trying to avoid provoking the kobold he raises his palms up and murmurs the chant for a spell.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+9+1
"No one," Nighttail replies. "That's why I think it's more likely he found 'em or stole 'em."
Guruthos ignores the other weapons and examines the longsword. He takes it, hefts it and examines closely, then nods in approval and sets it down, then walks from the armory and shrugs.
”I am sure you can take the small weapons and armor, I don’t think we have any use for them and you will need them. I would like to look things over first though.”
Stone detects magic and looks to see if the black scale is large enough to turn into a shield.
”Guruthos, is the sword not to your liking? You appeared able to wield it.”
Thomas being a rather tall human ignores all the stuff in the armory. His mind seemed slightly absent as he watched his party go through the loot.
"Are you letting them go? Just like that? KILL the petty lizard like you did his predecessor!"
"Nooooo. I don't do anything. You're the one who beheaded that chieftain. I would never murder someone like that."
"Are you so sure?"
The masked elf simply shrugs at Stone's inquiry and seeks out whomever holds the wand.
The sword itself emits no magical auras that you detect. But you obviously are detecting others auras from the known magical items in your presence, like the wands, scrolls, and Cloak of Fangs.