This is for the subgroup led by Felix
Understood and dotted.
Right behind you.
Hello.
Here.
Pharast 2, Oleg's Trading Post After spending the morning talking with the soldiers both groups head out. Although initially going the same direction, Viktor's group quickly fades to the south, while your group does a detailed survey of the land immediately south of Olegs. It is plains with plenty of streams and water and would make good farmland. It snows throughout most of the day, never getting heavy. You camp that evening within sight of the Greenbelt. It gets very cold that night, dropping into single digits, but the clouds clear away.
Pharast 3, Hex 214 You head southwest in the forest and spend the entire day exploring the woods. Near the end of the day you happen upon a little arrow shaped clearing that has a large patch of radishes with silver flowers. As you ride up 4 kobolds sit up, obviously with some difficulty. They brandish spears menacingly as one of them snarls "You leave, and never come back. These ours."
"We are not going to leave and never come back. We want peace, good friends and trade. We make you a deal k. You keep the radishes as they are obvious yours and I have no use for them at the moment. You escort us to your leader and we negotiate good mutually beneficial deals. Maybe defense pacts and join tribes? Maybe help with problems?" Felix is careful not to startle the little dracanoids. Felix mutters a quick prayer to she I under his breath praying for a good first meeting.
Edit:Enhanced diplomacy.
In a whisper to Felix "These are definately the radishes that we were asked to aquire, and I'm not above clearing these buggers out. There is only four of them, and we'll have to get rid of them if we mean to settle this area. I don't want these little bastards harrassing settlers a year from now."
The kobold looks calmer as he is told that you aren't after the radishes. "If you want to help us in GREAT WAR, then I take you to mighty Tartuk. He decide your fate. I am Nakpik."
"Where there's four, there's alway more. My father used to say. Let's find out how much these guys know first. They may be able to help us learn about the surrounding areas." He speaks softly to Dante.
"Mighty warrior Nakpik! How many warriors do you command in this Great War? And who is your enemy that you are preparing to slay? Rowan asks, trying his best to keep his voice proud and respectful. "We are new to these lands, and would like to know what dangers there are around us. Perhaps your Mighty Tartuk would like to form an alliance. What would be a proper gift to bring to your great leader?"
Felix shoots Rowan a dirty look for bursting in as he did, but now is not the time to show dissension in the ranks and he did appreciate the man's enthusiasm. "Yes Nakpik, let us go talk to this Tartuk who leads you. See what he has to say."
Nakpik is very talkative and Rowan goads him into a conversation. The damned mites have killed many of my companions and friends but we are still many, and we have the holy Sharptooth on our side. Or we did before the despicable ones stole him from us. Now our chief suffers from Sharptooth's curse despite Tartuk's power." Suddenly Nakpik get very excited. "Of course! As a gift you could return Sharptooth."
Turning to Felix he continues "I can take you to Tartuk. It will be 2 and half days" he waves vaguely to the southeast. "and we will pass the 'Claw of Evil' on the way. If you think you can free Old Sharptooth then that will be a proper gift."
Whether you decide to go with the kobolds or not, once it becomes apparent you are not going to attack or take their moon radishes, one of them whirls a bull roarer and more come out the woods, making a total of 9 including Nakpik. It soon becomes apparent why moon radishes are so rare, the kobolds pick the patch clean. The kobold group has a total of 6 baskets of radishes and treat it like it were platinum. The kobolds are going to camp here tonight and set back for home tomorrow and home is obviously where Tartuk lives.
"If we do decide to go along with the mites we should tell Viktor before hand that we will be gone for a while. Or at least leave a message back at Oleg's."
"I look forward to meeting your leader."
Later as the group makes camp.
Felix will sit down with the rest of his squad for dinner. "I know some of you probably have misgivings about this, and trust me when I say I have a few of my own, but if we are going to tame this land we are going to need to know who the inhabitants are and if they can be reasoned with or must be squashed outright."
Edit: "Is your bird able to fly a message to Oleg's? Otherwise we will have to send riders with a missive."
Vors enjoyed the first day, crossing the snow-covered plain was close to the foot hills of home. It was a cold night but his cloak kept him warm and his watch was peacefully uneventful.
The next day he worries as they cross into forest land. As the kobolds make their presence known his hand quickly rests on his sword. He is fairly tense as Felix and the others speak to the little pests. Impressed by the skill of words of his companions, he frowns a little at the suggestions of a gift.
Chewing a piece of dried beef as Felix speaks during their evening meal, he adds: "Knowledge is always good, but I believe that we'll have to squash them at some point. Grand father always said they're up to no good."
Dante hands felix an inkpen and parchment.
"I can agree with that, Felix. I'm still wary of trusting these guys too much, but so far they seem reasonable. There's no reason to slaughter every creature that isn't elf or human. I've heard kobolds are pretty decent miners as well, perhaps we could set up a trade eventually."
Pharast 4, Hex 214 Moon Radish PatchMorning breaks without a cloud in the sky and the temperature is no where near where it was the previous night. Caelus is set off with message and returns before noon. Nakpik spends the morning begging you to hurry up and leave, he seems fixated on the dream that you will join with the kobolds and destroy the mites and he will be remembered as the one who engineered their defeat. As he attempts to hurry your progress he reveals the following 'facts'.
Their tribe is named the Sootscales and until recently their leader was a kobold called rather imaginatively Chief Sootscale.
Mighty Tartuk is a kobold shaman who joined the tribe several months ago. He brought with him a mighty idol, the embodiment of the Great God Old Sharptooth. Using his powers he began to bring great fortune to those who accepted his worship. He also began to root out the corruption that had secretly begun to fester at the heart of the tribe.
The Mites and Kobolds have never gotten along. But then they stole Old Sharptooth. Immediately the great fortune that had been theirs disappeared and began to get replaced by misery. As a punishment for letting the idol get stolen, Chief Sootscale has been cursed and now Tartuk is the head of the tribe and has declared a holy war against the mites.
Nakpik is convinced that your group can steal back Old Sharptooth, present it as a gift to Tartuk and thus your allegiance can be sealed.
Viktor,
I hope this missive finds you well and the bandit threat wiped from these lands. My men and I have made contact with the local Kobald tribe and are endeavoring to find a diplomatic solution that may open up trade and information. If we can not do this we will gather information on their strength and position so as to make it a short war. My hope is that either way this goes, we come out without a loss.
If we do not make it back by two weeks time assume the worst.
May your endurance overcome your duties,
Lord Felix Orlavsky
Felix smiles grimly as he seals the letter in wax with his ring. "A bird shall carry my missives high above the land. How appropriate."
"Not just any bird, a partner between man and beast, Felix."
You continue to the southeast for the rest of the day, travelling into hilly terrain. The temperature climbs into the mid 30's finally getting above freezing and the snow is beginning to melt. By the end of the day you have travelled through most of hex 414. The night is cool but not cold, the kobolds do not keep watch, although I assume you do. Around 1 am while
Rowan and Dante are on watch, Argos starts making growling and you see a large hulking shape moving in the dark. A shambling mound of animate plant matter seems to have just woken from it's hibernation. Unless attacked it stumbles off into the dark, still fighting to wake up.
As for Casimir leaving I'm going to make it retroactive with Majda. Evidently some sort of power play is occuring back home.
Sorry yes. 10 hours down time at night would be two hour shifts of Felix Dantalion Vorz Dante Rowan so casters can get full nap. Just for future reference after this event.
Pharast 5, Hex 414After the eventful night you and the kobold continue on into hex 513. The thaw continues and soon you spy a graying hulk of ancient sycamore tree looming over the hills. The tree is well over 100 feet tall and is visible for miles. Nakpik stops and points it out. "The 'Claw of Evil' he proclaims and you have to admit it does look vaguely like the claw of some enormous beast reaching for the sky. That is where our enemy dwells. If you wish to truly impress Mighty Tartuk then reclaiming Old Sharptooth would make the perfect gift."
Well the place doesn't seem too bad. Do you want some of us to scout it out or shall we all just storm the place and catch them off guard? Or would you like to start with the diplomatics again? Rowan says with a grin. It seemed to him that Felix's tongue was a stronger weapon than a sword, able to sway the minds of others to his way of thinking. He wondered how well this tactic will work with the malicious fey and their mindless vermin pets.
"I do not think it will last, but we will cross that stream when we get there," Vors responds to Rowan. He smiles a little when Dante finds the quill and paper.
Travelling into the hills improves Vors moot and he begins to hum quietly to himself.
Looking at the tree and the hills, Vors turns to Felix. "Are sure about this? There is still time to decide on another course of action," he asks smiling coldly.
"I prefer to try the diplomatic approach whenever possible. We give them a chance to join us peacefully and if they would rather fight, well at that point we unleash as much hell as is needed to make sure the next time we offer peace the alternative is remembered. I want as little bloodshed and life loss as we can afford."
Felix looks to his Kobold traveling companions. "Nakpik. If you would be so kind as to wait here while we go see about getting your god back." Felix smiles a little at the thought of a god needing rescued by mortals, it seemed a little silly to say the least.
"Ok boys, I don't want any bloodshed. If they remain civil we will too. If they attack us I want it to be over as quickly as possible, don't hold back. Vors and Dante flank me, I want you to be able to move forward and engage if this goes pear shaped. Dantalion and Rowan, keep those bows ready but do not knock an arrow until we are sure we are in a fight."
Felix will lead his group forward towards the tree. "Hello the Mites. We are here to talk. Come out peacefully and we will have no trouble."
Nodding at Felix Dante steps forward, remaining few feet behind and to the right of Felix. His hand casually rests on his sword pommel.
Dantalion stays at the rear with his bow ready.
As Felix approaches the tree, Argos begins to growl but since diplomacy rules the day Rowan keeps him in check. About when Felix says peacefully there is a loud bang, and from a small hole in the ground about 30' from Felix there is a flash of fire and smoke.
A small metal pellet embeds itself in Felix's Leather almost penetrating and although it hurts there is no lasting damage. Laughter is emanating from the hole and high pitched voices speaking Undercommon.
Voice 2:No you didn't, he's still standing.
Voice 1:No, I'm sure I hit him, put another magic cylinder in it and let's try again.
Barring anyone doing something that would make it impossible for me to take this action before I do.
Felix angrily raises his voice. "I SAID WE CAME IN PEACE! Felix crosses his charred hands a crossed his chest and then pushes outwards as he exclaims, "Shei, mother of wisdom, Send me your servant."
Felix motions for the rest of the squad to advance.
"Shall I fire a warning shot my lord?"
This is the part where we unleash hell, right? Rowan asks with a grin.
Taking a calming breath and guiding Sleip a few feet closer to the whole, Rowan takes aim at the nearest mite.
@ Felix: If they're knocked prone I think they take a penalty. I know it's -4 to AC and attack rolls via melee attacks, just not sure if it applies to CMD as well.
Dante swings his sword with expert skill at the nearest enemy.
Dante and Rowan move up to the hole in the roots. Very little light comes into the hole but they can see it goes about 5' back and then slopes steeply down. Two mites are present. The one closest to the entrance is armed with a dagger and some darts. The other is prone and holds a smoking version of the device that Venkar was showing off just a few days ago. The 'pistol' dwarfs him and he is lying next to a box that holds three round cylinders. The standing one is laughing at the prone one, at least until Rowan shoots him with an arrow. The arrow barely hurts him but he screams in pain. At which point Dante's swing almost takes his head off. Unfortunately now Dante now comletely blocks the hole from Dantalion. The standing mite scrambles back 5' and proclaims. You'll not be doing that again, fear the name of Uurch." and casts Doom on Dante. The prone one doesn't bother to stand but fumbles with the box and puts a cylinder into the gun. "Dingletooth, I don't think it goes in the way you fool" cries Uurch. At which point a glowing fire beetle flies into the hole, the glow lighting up the entire place. Dingletooth watches it advance. "Oooh, I've never seen one of those. I bet Quoogy would like to see it." At which point the fire beetle lands upon him and he start to scream. "Get it off! Get it off!" Desperately the mite tries to bring his weapon to bear upon the hapless insect but for right now he and the bug are rolling around on the ground.
"You will all die Dingletooth! Dante shouts at the horrid little creature. He then swings at Uurch.
"So much for peace," Vors grumbles as he follows Dante and Rowan, sword drawn ready to strike.
The embatteld mite manages to point his weapon at the fire beetle. "Don't make me hurt you" he pleads with the insect. Finally he closes his eyes and squeezes the trigger.
The gun goes off squarely hitting the beetle in the body. And the beetle fades away. The mite stands there stunned as Dante finishes him off.
The hole is very small, you could use a greatsword with difficulty but a long weapon like a pike or spear will have problems. The hole continues 10' straight down into the bowels of the earth. The sides of the hole are matted tree roots and looks to be a very easy climb (DC 5). There is a passageway directly beneath the hole. One mite has a small dagger and 6 small darts. The other mite has a battered pistol and a box with two cartidges left.
Dante warily steps up to the hole and peers down it. "Follow me down." he says, sheathing his sword. Dante grabs a hold of the roots and begins to make his way into the hole.
"Lead on sir Dante. We are in your territory now. Sadly our archers are going to be hampered in these tight confines... more is the pity." Felix looks a little purturbed at the dirt. "Oh well, nothing for it but to do it."
Edit:
Felix and Dante climb down into what appears to be a very rudimentary workshop. There is a dead gnome here on one of the tables who appears to have been vivesected. The workshop has no real value, most of the tools are chipped from stone or bone. To the east and west there are two pits that drop into darkness. Roots again make the pits look easy to climb but you can barely see in this room. Beyond here it looks like total darkness.
"Into the ground, I am not a dwarf," Vors says with a smile. Climbing down with a greatsword isn't the easiest of tasks but taking a little time Vors arrives safely at the bottom, in the small room. Looking around he shakes his head, "Do you want me to bring a torch down here?" he asks.