Braylee takes the less diplomatic approach.
"וואָס די גענעם? ונטשאַין זיי און אַרויסגעבן אָדער שטאַרבן ווו איר שטיין !"
"What the hell? Unchain them now and surrender OR die where you stand!"
She lifts her bow and aims it at the one closest to the group.
"Explain yourselves!" She did not know whether they could understand her...
The four kobolds showed no understanding of her words and continued to watch the party, clearly agitated and ready to fight.
...but the humans, she thought, ought to. "Was there not an accord? Why are you here?"
The female prisoner closest to the party (up ahead and to the left of them), speaks up, her voice quietly husky, "My name's Bophre Malak and I'm the only one from Belhaim. I was taken a few months back. The other two, husband an' wife, travellin' merchants, left Belhaim and were taken from the Verduran Highway two months ago. We've been put to work, making their ropes, tannin' their hides, makin' anything they force us to. Please help us."
The male prisoner finds his voice, "I am Carlo Bellathi and my wife, Sela. Please free us."
"What the hell? Unchain them now and surrender OR die where you stand!"
She lifts her bow and aims it at the one closest to the group.
The kobold closest to the group meets Braylee's raised bow with a raised spear and replies in the Draconic tongue,
"Hesi siliti. Wux shilta ti clax. Yth slathalin ekess troth svabol ui hesini. Thric throdenilt ukris. Jaseve usv loreat."
Felix quickly casts a spell, a cloud of pure inky blackness begins to pour from his hands towards the Kobolds, surrounding them utterly.
It's an illusion. Try and see through it.
Seeing the raised spear from the rear of the line, Rhialtyra scowled. Though she did not understand the language being spoken, she well understood that these kobolds had no intention of releasing the humans they'd enslaved - and that they had even one of them was a transgression.
Seeing that her efforts at negotiation would have been for naught anyways, she said only, "We will do what we can!"
She considered the weapons in terms of their proximity to the humans, wary that the kobolds might take them hostage.
Black smoke rolled from Felix's hands and though she tried to see through the darkness, her vision was impeded.
"It's a convincing one," she replied to Felix, squinting to try and see them.
As it was, she touched her forehead and murmured, "Life guides you," and groped about for whoever was in front of her - Braylee, she thought - to bless them. If things fell to combat, it would be best that those before her were able to strike.
-----------------
When the dark, swirling clouds suddenly fill the chamber,
all three prisoners cry out in fear and confusion, babbling repeatedly, "What is happening?", "Please help us!", "Don't leave us in here!"
The human captives cannot see anything but black around them and try and move but the chains impede them with a heavy tug. They each grope (as much as they can with the limited give in their bindings) in the darkness, trying to pull at the chains and manacles. They shift their feet out and encounter (via touch) the rock their chains are secured to via iron spikes. The rock and chains were still there, they can hear the chains rattling and the density of the rock they are touching.
Only Sela manages to break through the illusion, seeing its outline atop the chamber as it always has been and cries out to her husband and friend, "It is not real. A magic trick to the eye. Look deeper!" as her friend and husband continue muttering in fear.
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Round 1
Hearing Felix and then Rhia's reply From her place in the very back in the tight passageway, Emarthine attempts to see past the swirling dark clouds which now filled the tunnel as well as up ahead.
She manages to see past the outline of the illusion - to be able to see her companions all before her in the tunnel. But she is at the very back and she cannot determine the location of the kobolds or the humans for she has no line of sight. So she holds until she can get closer or see more.
Riley steps back and readies and action to attack a Kobold if it comes out of the inky cloud.
Braylee sees through the illusion. She launches an arrow at the closest Kobold.
Riley's attempt to disbelieve the illusion cast by Felix unfortunately fails, but Braylee is able to see through it. Although her shot at the closest kobold falls short and it is left uninjured.
----------------------------
The dark clouds swirl about the lead kobold - engulfing everything. At first, the kobold grew anxious/fearful, but then he heard the spluttering torches in the wall niches beside him, even though he could not see them. Then the prisoners began to shout and cry from behind him. He reached back with his spear toward the place where the rock stood close to him (now obscured by blackness). The shaft connected with the hard stone. It was still there as were the torches and the slaves. He concentrated harder, trying to peer through the fluid/deep blackness swirling around him.
The surrounds began to clear - the kobold could see the outline of the illusion now ... but the chamber/cavern had cleared and he could see all within. He called out to his three companions,
"Coi ui vi riyit di asta whedab arcaniss. Vorq! Ocuir!"
"It is a trick of their dark magic. Look! See!"
The kobold (#1) moves up (takes a 5ft step) and attacks the first enemy (Riley).
But it misses as does Riley's readied attack against the kobold.
Each of the other kobolds heed the lead kobold's warning about the trickery of the darkness around them.
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Kobold Guard 2 moves up and attacks Riley,
but it too fails due to the stress of the trickery and Riley remains unscathed.
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The kobold (#3) flails about with his spear for a moment as his eyes cannot see past the enemy's trickery. He does not move, however, and takes a defensive stance, holding his ground close to the crying female slave.
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The kobold pushes its will through the darkness and it parts leaving only an outline and he sees all before and around him, again.
The kobold (#4) moves 5ft forward (diagonally) and holds his position in a defensive stance, still close enough to the male slave he is protecting.
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Riley tumbles behind the top Kobold. He waits for Felix to flank and attack before attacking himself.
Felix steps up 5ft and attacks the top/front Kobold with Riley.
Braylee steps into the square Felix had been in and attacks the bottom/front Kobold. She applies acid to her arrow.
"What do you know?" Rhialtyra muttered, squinting into the darkness. "I think I can see now."
She took a few steps forward to touch Emarthine who was closest and, seeing that her companions were still unharmed, she blessed the woman with her guidance.
Felix's rapier misses the kobold before him but Riley's masterwork blade finds quarry and rends the creature's side and the kobold falls to the ground in a pool of its own blood.
The bump in wall at the entrance provides Kobold 2 with partial cover and Braylee's arrow misses her intended target (kobold 2).
Rhialtyra finally manages to break through the illusion and casts Guidance on Emarthine.
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Round 2
Emarthine steps up to stand before the kobold 2 and strikes him with her scythe,
injuring it deeply, but not dropping it.
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Round 2: Kobolds
Kobold 2 attacks Emarthine with its spear.
and it misses.
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Kobold 3 once again tries to see past the trickery.
It fails to see past the dark, swilring clouds and remains put in a defensive stance.
-----------------
Kobold 4 moves forward to attack Emarthine.
but in his eagerness misses the druidess.
-----------------
Bophre only sees the dark, black clouds swirling all around her and she continues to whimper.
Carlo manages to see past the illusion now, like his wife had earlier. He is concerned, listening to Bophre's fearful whimpering.
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Round 3
Rhialtyra moves down the tunnel once again and casts her spell. Touching the side of Braylee's head, she speaks the words, "Life guides you".
Felix moves up and attacks the other kobold, thus dropping the illusion.
Round 3
Emarthine decides to attack the uninjured kobold (#4) in front of her,
and manages to cut it deep and it falls down, dying. Emarthine then takes a 5ft step to give her companions a chance to finish the other one at the entrance.
---------------------
Riley tries to manipulate his way through the narrow area In the north and get to where he is in front of the lady chained to the wall.
He attacks the uninjured Kobold.
Riley cleverly manoeuvres, via acrobatics, the narrow space between wall and rock to stand before the captive, Miss Bophre Malak. Even with the kobold's defensive stance, Riley manages to strike at the creature's side, wounding it, but the kobold (#3) remains standing.
Braylee fires an arrow at the closest Kobold.
Riley's arrow just misses the kobold standing by the side of the entrance.
Round 3: Kobolds!
Kobold #2 attacks Emarthine.
but fails miserably to bypass her armour and injure the druidess.
Then takes a 5ft step back from the entrance.
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Kobold #3 turns and attacks Riley for daring to take his slave.
but it cannot find a way past Riley's armour and takes a 5ft step to the side, to stand between the rocks.
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Once more the Oracle healer casts and reaches out to touch the side of Braylee's head, murmuring "Life guides you."
Felix steps forward 5 ft and attacks the injured Kobold (#2) with his Rapier.
but the strike goes awry and the kobold is not wounded anew.
Round 4
Emarthine attacks kobold #2.
but her swing isn't precise and she scrapes the rock instead.
She then moves down (10ft) diagonally to give Braylee a clearer path toward the kobold near Riley, but still be close enough that the druidess can help Riley next turn.
Braylee moves into the room and stands over the dead Kobold. She fires a shot at the Kobold by Felix.
Riley slashes at the injured Kobold again.
"Do not fear, lady. We will rescue you all."
Braylee's arrow goes off course and does not hit the Kobold nearest Felix.
Riley's blade swings true and injures the kobold (#3) again but not enough to down it.
Round 4: Kobolds!
Kobold #2 attacks Felix with its spear.
It manages to bypass the bard/swashbuckler's armour and injures Felix for 5 pts of damage.
---------------------------------
Kobold #3 attacks Riley with its spear.
Injuring the rogue deeply.
---------------------------------
Riley misses again.
Rhia steps forward and casts, reaching out to touch Braylee and bestowing divine guidance upon the alchemist, "Life guides you."
Round 5
Emarthine steps forward and ferociously attacks the kobold (#3) after its vicious attack on the Half-Elf scout.
and cuts deeply - through to the bone - and kobold (#3) drops to the ground, dying, in a large pool of blood.
Felix attacks again, hoping Desna favors his strike this time.
Felix's strike proves fatal for the kobold who falls down dead under the precise assault.
Cringing at the wounds that her companions had sustained, she spared a moment only to confirm that the prisoners they were in the process of rescuing weren't also harmed before stepping towards her friends to heal them.
Moving towards Felix, she said, "May light touch and bless you," before going through the gestures and touching him.
Having healed Felix, she turned to Riley and lay her hands upon him, transferring her healing energy to him.
That done, she took a deep breathe before turning to look at the prisoners.
"How came you to be here?" she asked gently. She could see they had suffered greatly, but there was little her healing would do to affect old wounds and the hurt of the heart.
Expended:
1st Level Spells 2/5
Lay on Hands 1/4
--------------------------------
Emarthine moves to search the lead kobold's body for a key to the chains and manacles that hold the three prisoners chained to the rocks.
She discovers a key on the dying kobold's belt, removes it and then moves non-threateningly/steadily toward Bophre Malak first, "I mean you no harm. I will try to free you of your bonds. Please hold still."
As she inserts the key into the lock, it turns and there's a *click* and the manacles open. Emarthine then moves to Carlo and Sela and uses the key to free them from their chains/manacles.
The Elven Druidess casts her gaze over the cavern and notes there is nothing of value or use.
"How came you to be here?" she asked gently.
Bophre Malak finds her voice first, "My family owns Malak Dairy Farm in Belhaim. I was walking up near the Witch Tower a few months back when I was captured and have been held ever since by the kobolds." The farmhand rubs at her sore wrists.
The husband and wife embrace each other before Carlo turns to their rescuers and speaks on behalf of his wife and himself, "We are the Bellathis. Two months ago, my wife and I were travelling east on the Verduran Highway after selling our religious charms in town. We were waylaid by the kobolds and brought here as their slaves. They have taken everything we have and now we are left with nothing but these torn clothes on our backs." A tear slides down Sela's cheek at their predicament and for all they have endured the past two months. With teary voice she adds, "We'd lost all hope we would be found alive and freed. So, thank you; thank you very much."
"Thank you Rhia." Riley cleans off his blade and follows Emarthine over to the humans. He watches as she takes off their manacles. Once they are freed, he takes out his waterskin. "Here. Have a drink. You are safe now."
Braylee watches on as the others help the captives. "You are welcome."
Once they are freed, he takes out his waterskin. "Here. Have a drink. You are safe now."
The three freed captives all stand together and each take small sips of water from the waterskin before returning it to the Half-Elven holder.
Emarthine takes one of the chains and manacles, its lock and the key and places them inside her pack. "For the Chieftain, if you mean to restrain him and make him see reason."
Looking to the three, released humans and then back to Riley, Emarthine asks the party's leader, "What do you mean to do with these folk? They cannot proceed with us because of the danger ahead and they cannot be left to traverse the kobold tunnel and Witch Tower on their own for they will surely stumble upon the traps and other obstacles. Shall they hide outside and wait for us among the brush of the ledge? If they remain in this cavern, other kobolds may come and discover them loose and their own brethren dead. It is not wise."
Felix nods and says I would say come out and hide in the brush. At least then, they may flee if something happens. In here they would be trapped like rats. Turning to Rhia he says Also, thank you my dear for the healing.
"I agree with Felix. We escort them out and then take them back to town with us when we finish."
Emarthine inclines her head in compliance. "I will show them the way out and find a safe place for them to wait. I will return shortly." The Elven druidess gestures for the three freed humans to follow her outside. As Bophre draws closer, Emarthine whispers, "Your mother will be elated at your return. She has been distraught these past months."
Emarthine leads the three out through the tunnels and past the dead kobold guards outside the entrance. She finds a place higher up, on the ledge/path, in the shade and thicker brush, for them to hide. She leaves them her spare canteen lest they grow thirsty beneath the afternoon sun. "Do not show yourselves until we return."
Emarthine returns to the party, still gathered in the pungent slave cavern.
"Rhia, could you heal the rest of my injuries before we continue on?"
"Of course," she smiled at him, placing her hand on his arm to press her healing energy into him.
1st Level Spells 2/5
Lay on Hands 2/4
The party move out of the slave's cavern, back down the narrow rock stairs to the open cavern with the kobold well at its centre. Riley takes point, Felix and Braylee behind him, followed by Rhialtyra and Emarthine. Using the lit blade to see into the the eastern tunnel, Riley can spy another set of narrow rock steps carved into the rock but no trap or other obstacle along the portion of the tunnel he can observe with the magical light. The only scent Felix picks up on is the prevailing kobold scent that fills every space inside the lair.
Riley asks Felix to cast the spell with the lights. "Will you cast them and send them to lead us by about twenty feet, mate?" After they are cast, Riley follows them cautiously.
Before the continued on, Rhialtyra took a moment to grant guidance to her companions, easily expressing, "Life guides you," with each blessing. She wanted to stack the odds, whatever they may be, as far in their favor as she could.