Vengeance of the Downtrodden (Inactive)

Game Master DM Mooshybooshy, "the Foolish"

Gameplay thread OPEN

Days, months, weeks. Thunk had followed those stupid adventurers. They had killed his God, then moved on and killed the next tribes God. Now he had finally caught them but he was wrong he only found more wreckage and death. So he had made his way to an abandoned building and there he let loose his fury, a whirlwind of smash he destroyed the doors and tables in the abandoned outpost as he howled his rage at missing them again

Spent he flopped down on a pile of smash and growled

A cacophony of splintering wood drove Sees awake with such force that she almost fell from her precarious perch in the rafters. Instead, she clutched her slingshot and funmbled in her bullet pouch for a rounded stone, inching back and forth atop the rafter. She prayed with every shudder of the walls that the shack would not cave in, though she was sure by now that Bahamut held no favor for her.

When Sees finally caught hold of a sufficiently heafty stone, and turned to see around to the floor of the shack, she was shocked to find Thunk throwing himself into a pile of wreckage. Another kobold?

The stone slipped from her claw and clattered to the floor.

Smoog crouched outside the collapsed archway of the main entrance to the Hall of the Great Gorlaug. He had found that his new goggles helped him see better at times when things were not clear but still he had found no way back into the great hall. The total collapse after the great dragon's death had sealed everything off. It would take months, years to unbury everything.

As he turned to look out across the devastated valley of the Moontower, Smoog saw a lone traveler heading towards an abandoned outpost watchtower. He knew most of the survivors, Fssst and Grick and a few others but this walked like none of them. "Better go see who this walker stalker is. Walker-stalker is… Walker… Stalker… hmmm.. hmm.. hmmmmm."

Thunk hears the stone and immediately leaps up and smashes the stone with his bone club.

Now you thump! he shouts at the stone

Abandoning her initial plan, Sees pulls the polished dragon's horn from her belt and lets loose a tremulous tone. The survivors had not managed to agree on any codes or cues, so Sees simply empties her lungs into the instrument, hoping someone was nearby.

A hesitant tone sounds from Sees-Death's dragonhorn. The sound reminds her of the great cacophonous noise that Gorlaug used to make when he was displeased, which was usually whenever he was awake. She feels a pang of loss for her extended family, and protective deity.

The sound can be heard by all the kobold players; you're all within earshot of the abandoned outpost watchtower. Within moments, you are all gathered there. With the exception of Thunk, who is a stranger to all of you, all of you recognize one another - even the bizarre druid-kobold from the swamps named Pork, that some of you have only seen once or twice in your lives. It seems that Gorlaug's death, along with the deaths of practically your entire tribe, has scattered the kobolds that used to dwell in this region, and they are only now beginning to regroup. Those around you are the only survivors you have found so far. The rest have been decapitated, melted by acid, brain-zonked from illusory magic, or eaten by zombie guardsmen. Kobold blood ran in rivers through Moontower Mountain last night. It took all of you the better part of the day to find each other.

As you assemble, you see that the volcanic eruption that occurred when Gorlaug was slain is still causing molten lava to flow down the mountainside and into the surrounding bogs. The sharp-eared among you can hear the calls of the animals as they flee the encroaching magma.

Your eyes follow the red-hot river of rock across the bog that marked Gorlaug's territory, west beyond toward the horizon. Off in the distance is the defiant city, the human border fortress of Bastion. The sun is setting behind it, casting the city's skyline in shadowy relief.

Thunk looks up and sees the kobold.

Me Thunk. He leans on his bone club. You need thump?

Then as others file in he raises his club.

Me Thunk? You need thump? Or help Thunk thump?

In trying to descipher the outsider's broken understanding of undercommon, Sees hits upon a particularly unlikely interpretation and she hiccups in indignation. A coy quirk in her lips is all to suggest the nature of the thought as she slides into a relaxed kneeling position. Taking a frank and matter of fact tone, Sees adresses the outsider "Thunk, is it? My name is Sees-Death; I witnessed the fall of Gorlaug. If you don't mind my asking: what do you desire most? What is good in life?"

Each of the others who answer the horn's call she acknowledges with a glance and a subtle gesture. Hopefully, none of them will startle the simpleton.

Asking a barbarian what is good best in life...hahaha, nice.

Thunk thinks long and hard then speaks

Thump!. He does not ask a question In return

Porkgasm, you mind creating a forum alias for your Kobold druid and attaching your character sheet to your profile for my reference?

Pork frowns as the distant cries of his swamp-kin reach him. He waddles over to the gathered Kobolds and grunts in way of greeting.

"Well, you lot are not dead, and dont seem mad like the rest..."

His gaze turns to Thunk as the Kobold introduces himself

"Perhaps I spoke to soon..."

Flung was lost and without hope, considering ending it all by throwing himself in the nearby flowing lava, when he heard salvation!

Upon hearing the call of the dragon horn, hope that there are other survivors of the massacre springs in his chest. He approaches the watchtower as the bard questions the big lunk.

As the familiar faces started peeking into the watchtower--the discarded remnants of a once sprawling tribe--a thought occurs to Sees.

Slipping into the simpler rasps and yips of Deep Draconic, she addressed Flung. "I know this sounds odd coming from me, Flung, but we may have found the hammer to your wedge. We could set out now, before the youngling rock overtakes us, and seek out that race-traitor paladin." With a hop, Sees dropped to the floor. "We may be a hopeless, Godless folk, but together we can get answers. Besides, I think I saw that rat Bolgir talking to the heroes as they left."

Sees-Death, as you land you see kobolds of your clan gathering at the watchtower. Strange allies, some of them, especially this outsider. He bore none of the markings that any of the surrounding tribes wore painted on his scales or horns.

Still, the kobold Bolgir survived - you saw him leaving the mountain just as you were, heading off in a different direction, deeper into the jungle. The bastard has threatened your life before, though the events of the adventurers' raid have prevented him from making good on his promises. Now that the tribe is scattered and Gorlaug dead, now was your chance to take your vengeance. Pinning the adventurers' attack on him would be just icing on the cake.

Besides, the heroes didn't have that big of a head start. After disposing of your Bolgir problem, the city of Bastion would be the logical place to look. It's the only stronghold strong enough to survive living so close to the Corruptor's land.

As for Bastion...well...when news of Gorlaug's death reaches them, you imagine they will be very pleased indeed. After all, it was only the threat of Gorlaug's wrath that allowed your tribe to collect periodic "gifts" from the Lord of Bastion in order to "maintain the peace and stability of the Great One's sleep."

Your days of collecting tribute from Bastion's people are gone forever, you fear. If you were one of the kobolds that has visited Bastion for this purpose in the past, say so; you're allowed some knowledge of the city from your visits, but this comes with the added risk of being recognized by someone there.

not i said the pig. Though isn't this the place where you ask me a question so i can try to earn the elusive XP?

I have no idea who these plebeians are...however perhaps they can assist me in my quest for vengeance myself. It is logical that the same monsters that killed my tribe destroyed theres...I must ask them if they will work with me. Thunk thinks, then he speaks...

So want help Thunk thump big legs?

thinking that Thunk still thinks he is smart, so what he just thought it was he thinks he just said. Perhaps some added hilarity

A white misty cloud fills the outpost doorway for a moment and then clears. Smoog stands in the entrance to the building, hands on hips trying to look tall.
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"I am here! Smoog the Fantastic has arrived."
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As all eyes stare at him, Smoog looses his bravado and smiles meekly. "Oh well, maybe it takes more time to become a clan hero."
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"Did you say Bolgir had something to do with this mess? Curious, he got himself on the last few tribute missions to Bastion. My cousin Mrix has been assigned to the tribute team for the last year or so and said when Bolgir took over he changed a bunch of the rules. Bolgir even slipped away for an hour or so while in town. Mrix said no other foreman had done that before. I never trusted that slime-sucking weasel hugger. First chance I get he wears my pick as a hat! "

are you thinking that or speaking that? General forum practice is spoken is in bold thought or other is italicized and out of character is in blue

Sees did what she could not to look surprised by Smoog's entry, positioning herself behind some rubble to hide her shaking knees. She tried to tell herself that the maneuver was also meant to join the circle and leave center stage for someone tough and gullible. In the meantime,she nodded noncommittaly, trying to agree with everyone at once.

"Bolgir would know where the longlegs went." She spoke slowly in unaccented undercommon, still probing for a dialect that might prove the outsider to be more than the dimwit he seemed to be. "If we head out now, do you think we would reach the jungle in time to search for campfires? If we don't find him, we might find some unsecured gold with wary owners. A few slit throats might fill this emptiness our God has left in our souls."

A few more nudges and she'd have them tripping over eachother to drag that poor shortsighted rat to her feet in chains. If he had spoken to the race-traitor, she might get her answers sooner.

I like the cogent thoughts, it is funny, and should help us understand the inflection of Thunk's "thunk".

sorry, yes I meant spoken if in quotes. I will bold speech from now on

i thought so Smoog, but I just wanted to be on the same page with everyone. Im happy to alter my own if that is preferred, hope i didnt come off...dickish

So it seems this Bolgir is a possible collaborator, or has made enemies of the others. Interesting. Seems like this Smoog might be familiar with the immediate surroundings. A little gold that sounds perfect. I think I shall throw my hat in with these like minded reptiles! After a long ponder, and perhaps far after the time to reply has passed

Thunk want thump bad Bulge rat.Thunk like shine. Can Thunk help all thump?

I hope someone is recording my glorious elocution, we could create songs to honor the dragon gods of old if someone just wrote it all down!

Thunk, your tribe practiced a type of tyranny all their own over their surrounding lands before this infernal paladin and his team struck down your God, the All-Eater. You didn't gather tribute from a city, though...how did your tribe oppress the surrounding lands in the All-Eater's name? Thanks for reminding me about the question, been a bit since I've played with a barbarian!

Pork snorts as he hears the word "Campfire"

She wants to build a campfire? Gorlaug help me, she'll attract every creature for miles around!.. But, she is grew up in these dark tunnels. If she would be foolish enough to try and build a fire in the swamp, then perhaps this Bolgir would as well..

Pork shakes his head and grumbles Making a campfire is..unwise. Many things can see. Swamp is dangerous place. But, maybe we can find this traitor if he builds one.

I dont think Pork would have visited Bastion, walking or skulking around, however, I feel that if Bastion is a human area surrounded by the Swampland, Pork would have flown over it. Also, Pork being the pig that he is, I can see his hunger getting the better of him and going to wherever hey throw their trash away outside the city and rummaging through to find something tasty. Pork hates cities, but the chance for eating something new would have lured him temporarily..

Listening to the plans to apprehend the traitorous Bolgir, Flung responds to the others: I, for one, would also like to 'thump' that backstabbing Bolgir, who doesn't deserve to be called one of the dragon -kin! Do any of you know which way he went?

Flung then begins shifting his weight from foot to foot, antsy to be on the move.

As you're all speaking, you feel a great rumbling beneath your feet. It stops after a few moments, but not before the earth's tremors knocked loose some of the naturally-occurring stone towers that surround Moontower Mountain's crown. The stone slabs shatter into pieces as they impact on the mountainside, making cracking and breaking sounds that echo into the surrounding marshes.

"Father spoke of the warning signs; Miners Death he called it. Said if the ground shook get out fast. That was a big shake. We SHOULD NOT stay here. I had ideas of trying to dig back in to our beloved homestead. It seems that if the Mountain can't house Gorlaug anymore, he wants none of us. We won't be coming back."
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Smoog visibly cries (or however kobolds show grief). He had shaped and cared for the stone of Moontower for as long as he could remember; as had his father; and his before him. The loss of Gorlaug was painful. The loss of Mountainhome was unbearable.

Kobolds are capable of tears. If there was ever a time for mourning, this was it. Your home is ruined by volcanic eruption, your Patron God is decapitated and his head carried off by adventurers as some kind of trophy. Let your sorrow deepen into hate and rage. Embrace the dark side and avenge your fallen dragon.

Thunk, your tribe practiced a type of tyranny all their own over their surrounding lands before this infernal paladin and his team struck down your God, the All-Eater. You didn't gather tribute from a city, though...how did your tribe oppress the surrounding lands in the All-Eater's name? Thanks for reminding me about the question, been a bit since I've played with a barbarian!

The All Eater was a very active dragon, he considered fear and terror to be the sweet sauce on top of the main course that was the flesh of those that lived in the surrounding area. In the vicinity there was a tribe of elves and clan of dwarves, which were supposed to send a sacrifice every other month, then the All-eater would toy with them for a few days before devouring them. Invariably however, they would stop sending these sacrifices , usually once a year. This would let the All-Eater take his true joy, he would burst out of his lair and lead his kobolds in the attack. He would strafe over head reveling in the fear he created, while the kobolds would lead the attack, once they were engaged, and invariably losing he would swoop down and devour them by the half dozen. Once the battle cooled, usually with the regrouping of the kobolds, the All-Eater would land in front of the defenders and give them a choice. They could send their greatest champion to fight him, or he would kill them all. Once e destroyed their champion he would let them know that he expected the sacrifices to resume. And he would add some sort of monetary demand to it as well.

hows that?

Thunk sees Smoog cry.

So puny, and foolish. Tears will not bring anyone back. This one will provide great amusement to watch survive! perfect with my bond

Smoog get thump? Need Thunk to thump back?

That's great Thunk, go ahead and mark an XP!

Smoog snaps out of his melancholy mood and tries to stand taller.
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This outsider can't possibly know what it is like to loose everything; your family; your home; your GOD; all in one day. If he thinks he can THUMP a few things for us and make it all better, he can suck a skunk's ass.
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"We of the Moontower Clan can thump for ourselves just fine. You may have stumbled upon us in our weekest hour but watch. When you wack a hornets nest with a stick be prepared to get stung."
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"I vow today, on the stones of my home, on the ashen corpse of Golaug, none responsible will survive. I will put the capstone on each of their graves!"

Build a fire? This Pork needed to clean the moss out of his ears. Sees opened her mouth, about to say as much, but then the ground started shaking. She braced herself against the debris which shifted and collapsed under her weight. When she finally righted herself and shook the dust and splinters from her colorful ceremonial garb, she had a different imperative to spout.

"You can all kneel here and weep for your loss, welcoming the flows to overtake your flesh and return your bones to Bahamut--we all deserve no less--but I for one will be braving this stark and miserable world a few days longer and chase Bolgir into the jungle. Thunk, the rat is in the big dark trees. He needs a thump. Let's go."

With that, Sees started for the widest opening with the most kobolds between herself and the jungle, making commiserative eye contact and touching shoulders as she passed. When she reached Flung she leaned in, "This is your time, if you wish to embrace it. You have the means to be a powerful leader, even a chief. Lead us in this venture. I-" she managed a believable choke and a coloring of the throat, "I need you."

A little fire! Ooooh I like this one. I don't think I have heard of this clan, but maybe they will let me join them to get vengeance, vengeance for the Moonwaters, would be vengeance for the Stone Breakers as well.

Moon clan? Not know moon clan. But Thunk like you! Thunk was Stone Smash Clan. Thunk is all stone smash clan now. Big Legs kill stone smash clan with big thump. Now Thunk want thump! We all thump big legs at same time! Then Thunk be done with need to thump big legs, cause big legs get their thump. Yes?

Pork wobbles a bit as the mountain shakes

Yes, we should leave this place, as soon as we can. You dont need to be able to talk to the spirits of the mountain to know that we will die if we linger here,

With a snort, Pork waddles along, following Sees-Death

Bah. I misread the campfire thing. It's what I get for getting too excited and not having my coffee first.

We all leave this place and go same place? Thunk want thump with you. Or Thunk need go thump by self?

"Bolgir, Holgir, Folgir, Goo. The wrath of Moontower comes for you."
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"Yes, Thump. We thump together it seems. Let's go."

Smoog is the last to leave. He scans the area to make sure nothing of value was left behind. A habit of the diggers. You never know when a cave-in will claim your tools... or lunch.

Grick watches the other kobolds interact in front of him as he absentmindedly taps on his ceremonial drum, hearing voices that are all screaming in rage from the spirit world.

"QUIET DRAGONKIN!!!". As the muttering of the living kobolds quiets, Grick continues in a more normal tone of voice..."The spirits of our ancestors are trying to tell me something so please let me hear them..."

Tap, tap, tap, ratatap, ratatap, tap, tap, tap Grick beats out the rhythm on his little drum. "Hear me my ancestors, who betrayed our clan and our God? Was a kobold a traitor?"

Use Murmur skill, like Discern Reality but with spirits.

2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 = 12

Grick, you feel a sharp pain that feels like a metal-clad fist is squeezing your heart to a pulp. An echoing scream that only you can hear rips through your mind as you open yourself to the wounded spirits of the land. The pain is fleeting, gone in an instant...mechanically, no actual damage, but the impression you get is clear.

There was treachery that led to Moontower Mountain's downfall. The one known as Bolgir has touched foulness with his claws, and they can be felt by the lingering essence of Gorlaug's wrath. But...there is more to the story than simple betrayal...

Sees holds her breath, the very real potential of being found out coiling her muscles into tension. Grick disgusted her, but as much as this was so, she knew the others would take whatever he said as the truth. The rotting skulls of the kobold elite granted him an inexplicable authority that she had no easy rebuttal for.

As Grick speaks Thunk watches and cocks his head to the side.

This is a strange one. Obviously a shamen of some sort. But the bit with the drum was strange, bizarre almost. His tribe never did such strangeness.

Rather than say anything Thunk copies the tapping with his bone club on the floor.

Grick is driven to his knees by the anger of the spirits but maintains the steady drumming rhythm. His eyes roll back in his head as he says back and forth.

"Betrayal, treachery, traitor...pain, anger, hatred...Bolgir's claws are dipped in foulness, the Spirit of The God itself calls out for revenge...if we severe Bolgir's grip on this existence his spirit will be a plaything to be tormented by The God forever!!!"

I guess Grick gets two more queries for the roll of 12, if so then 'what should Grick be on the lookout for?' and 'what here is useful or valuable to me?'

Pork watches as Grick falls to his knees after communing with the spirits. He grumbles as Bolgir is named once more.

Too many times has this named been mentioned. Where before I mearly had questions..now this Bolgir has worked up a great hunger in me. I wonder what was given that he would betray his own kind so..

I care little for Kobolds who died here..never have I been close to any of my own kin, ever since I was hatched. But, this fool has managed to not only cause the death of Great Gorlaug, but harmed the mountain, and has caused much suffering to the Swamplands! The fool must die, who knows what trouble he could cause still alive!

Grick: Keep in mind that there were those in the swamps surrounding Moontower Mountain that only grudgingly served Gorlaug's kobold tribe...

As for the "what here is useful or valuable to me" question - would spotting a furtive kobold down near the bottom of the mountainside, entering the treeline of the swamp, count as something useful or valuable to you? I think it does...

Sees starts a slow clap. "Yes, thank you. That is indeed what we have all been saying." The dirge had not known the definitive truth of the information, but she needed to take this ragamuffin down a peg in the pecking order. "What other previously disclosed information do we need your confirmation on? Are you going to tell us that Bolgir has fled down the mountain and into the deep jungles?" Her voice took on the melodic tones and careful meter of high draconic. "It is only to the service of the self-righteous to grant authority at their own convenience.

This chant will inspire Grick to be able to aid or interfere with a +/-2 instead of a +/-1 the next time they give aid or interfere.
Arcane Art: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

Flung was about to bolt out after the traitor following Sees-Death's plea to him, when Grick channeled the spirits. Knowing that these episodes can take awhile, Flung takes out his spear and begins polishing it.

Listening to the others squabble, Flung grows exasperated, stands up and says "If you are done arguing, we should be leaving, before the traitor's trail gets too cold."

Ah squabbles for leadership how droll. But this one looks quite martial, he and I could be a force to be reckoned with!

Thunk walks over to Flung and eyes his spear

Thunk think that good spear. Spear and thumper make best thump Thunk think!. He hefts his club and offers his claw to Flung in comradeship

working on the bond here

After Smoog steps outside he quickly scans the line of trees marking the jungle's border. He begins fiddling with his new eyewear, not quite used to the way they fit or function. His brief experimentation with the series of short levers and loops on one side seem to change the way things look. He now flipped a few randomly, hoping one would reveal something.
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Perception with gadget goggles: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 2 = 14