Boss Mite's roll to hop off without being crushed
Smezut continues singing and moves up to get a better look at the action.
With all of their might, the last 2 mites make their last stand. Both are satisfied by hitting their targets before their end.
Mite 3 on Rag-Mag = 1 damage
Boss Mite on Pygmy Flying Horse
The mites fall beneath your mighty blows. As you clean up - and more importantly, collect your winnings - you are unable to find Svetlana's wedding ring within the bag of coins under the table. The bandits had told you it was stolen by mites, but it appears the mites were robbed as well. At least the kobold's sacred statue is intact.
As you exit the old sycamore tree, the kobolds joyfully jump and scream. They tell you that their lair is not far, but they understand that even mighty adventurers such as yourselves must rest after such an heroic effort.
During your rest, Mikmet talks about how their more recently arrived shaman, Tartuk, has been really, really mean to the kobolds. Many have died since his arrival, though there is nothing they could do. The shaman has "powerful magics" that keep the clan in his sway. Mikmet believes if you were to return the sacred statue to Chief Sootscale, not only would you be greatly rewarded, but you could save the entire clan.
The day after the mite eradication, you arrive to Clan Sootscale's lair. An outcropping of large boulders emerges from the weathered face of a hillock. A narrow opening in the rock leads into darkness below. A fallen sign leans against the side of the cave entrance, and a cage made of branches and sticks sits on the other side.
The fallen sign is weathered and bears a few faded words: "Oaktop Silver Mine". The stick cage contains a single, sobbing mite - his eyes squinted tightly shut against the light of the sun. Your kobold escort mentions as you approach that this mite is the only prisoner they have managed to keep alive, and they've placed it here as a warning to any mites that might approach.
You are greeted by a lone kobold standing watch. He chirps loudly in surprise as you approach, then notices your kobold escort and cheers. Mikmet says, "Nakpik, we have returned. The mighty hero Smezut and his almost as mighty friends have saved us!"
Nakpik seems to about to faint from the news, then jumps up and down, "Please, please mighty heroes! You must see the chief!"
You are led into the caverns, passing several ingenious traps along the way. You reach the kobold's common room (Y4), the air of which feels warm and close, thick with a reptilian stink mixed with smoke and burnt meat. Numerous beds and furs like scattered throughout the room amid smoldering cookfires, while to the south, a ten foot wide alcove contains a large mound of furs framed by dozens of sticks on which are mounted the skulls of birds, small animals, and mites, all smeared with ash.
In the room currently reside 6 kobolds and what can only be their chief, judging by his headdress. He sees Mikmet, who calls out, "Chief, these brave heroes have saved us!" as he points out the statue.
Chief Sootscale's eyes shine with excitement and scurries forth to collect the statue. He deftly snatches it and holds it in his hands with a fierce look of concentration as if he were making a particularly difficult decision. Finally, he shrieks in triumph, holds the statue over his head, and then smashes it down onto the ground, shattering it. The other kobolds in the room freeze in shock while Chief Sootscale, a frantic grin on his snout, announces, "Mighty heroes, you have freed us from our curse! Before I can reward you as you deserve, there is a little matter of the usurper. See, he sort of has all of our treasure and has been really mean to us. But brave heroes such as you are more than a match for him and his evil magics, and anything he has collected will be yours as a reward!"
He points in the direction of the shaman's cavern as the other kobolds cheer you on, "Death to Tartuk!"
Though it should be obvious to Tartuk that someone is coming for him, you still creep stealthily along the cavern walls in hopes you might be able to use the screams to mask your foot steps.
The walls of Tartuk's quarters are decorated by a rickety wooden frame formed from clean cut branches lashed together with gut and twine. Banners cut from 2 foot wide strips of old blankets and horsehides hand from floor to ceiling, covering much of the walls. The sloppily painted banners bear dozens of primitive icons and mystic symbols.
As you round the corner, those in the lead (Rag-mag, Xzin, and Ramses) see what could only be Tartuk stirring a large cauldron filled with bubbling red liquid with a raven on his shoulder.
Ramses knows better, whispering to the party in goblin that what they can see is not real should be ignored. Xzin seems completely dumbfounded by this, but that's what happens when you let people mess with your brain - literally.
You continue to creep forward, as it's obvious there is something in this room besides the fake Tartuk. Given the cavern's structure, you are required to send someone in first to see around corners. Since Rag-mag has nothing better to do with his life but serve as cannon fodder, he steps in. Though he was moving incredibly quiet, the open cave lacks a place to hide when he steps in. As he does, a form becomes visible from behind a pillar as it casts a spell. The results are immediate, as Rag-mag soils himself.
Tartuk cackles madly from behind the pillar, "Mighty heroes, eh? Tremble before my power!"
Round 1
Tbenox
Smezut
Skaz (delayed for possible bard song)
Tartuk (omg, a not shit initiative)
Ramses
Xzin
Smezut
Ramses
Skaz
Xzin
Tbenox
Varg
Rag-mag
Ramses
Xzin
Rag-mag
Rag-mag
Smezut
Ramses
Skaz
Xzin
Tbenox
Tartuk
Tbenox smirks with glee as he begins to chant his next spell. He leans forward and spits a viscous liquid at Tartukm hoping to tangle him up.
Tartuk is now covered in goo, but doesn't seem glued to the floor.
Tartuk
Smezut begins his song as Skaz rides in. He goes for a position behind Tartuk to leave openings for others. As he rides by, Tartuk lashes out with his sickle, with only Skaz's armor saving him from having a kidney removed. To add insult to that injury, Skaz is also pecked by a raven sitting on Tartuk's shoulder, easily landing it's beak since it was invisible. Varg is only barely able to land his bite, and he failed to drag Tartuk to the ground.
Tartuk
Tickbiter
Fueled by rage and the luck of his attack, Tartuk presses his attack on Skaz. Not so lucky this time, he takes mild satisfaction that his pet raven can apparently hit anything with his vicious beak. He maintains his position behind the pillar, as it is still providing cover from pesky archers.
Tartuk
Tickbiter
Ramses steps into the illusion and shoots at the real Tartuk.
Watching as Rag-mag flees, Xzin just gives a chuckle as he summons his eagle to do it's duty.
;
;
;
Tbenox takes a blind shot at the kobold.
As the party moves in to surround Tartuk, Skaz and Varg continue their assault and trip him to the ground.
As Tartuk tries to stand up, those around him attack as if they were the Praetorian Guard being paid off to kill the latest Caesar.
And they seem surprisingly practiced in that, as Tartuk is ripped to shreds.
Varg
Skaz
With Tartuk's final death croak, the remainder of the Sootscale clan piles in, poking the corpse with their spears while cheering. Afterwards, a large party is held in your honor. Several delicacies such as rat on a stick and moon radish pie are served, all washed down with moon radish-shine. There are even kobold dancing girls - maybe not a goblin's definition of enticing, but certainly... a cultural experience. Chief Sootscale showers you with gifts, and makes you honorary members of the tribe.
At least you think that's what happened, as you wake up with a 5 alarm hangover in a pile of kobolds. Some of the kobolds help you load up your horses as you head back to Oleg's. As you leave, the entire clan manages to stumble out to wave goodbye.
On your second day back to exploring, you come across a a thick, sagging rope hanging across a river, all that remains of a bridge that once spanned it. A signpost at the end of the ruined bridge reads "Nettles' Crossing - 5 coppers - ring bell for service". A rusted bell hangs by the sign. On the southern bank of the river, the crumbled remains of a burnt-down wooden building are slowly being overgrown by encroaching vegetation.
Crossing the river without the help of the bridge is not difficult; however, as you approach the water, an obviously long dead man, flesh putrescent and dripping ranseur clutched in his hands, rises out of the river and calls out, "You are not my tormentors. Throw the Stag Lord's body into the river that I may look upon his death."
Two more days of exploring after the encounter with the water logged undead, you come across an old lightning struck oak tree atop a low hill - the only tree in a 2 mile radius. As you look around the tree, Varg begins digging at a disturbed section of earth. Needing to take a break for lunch anyway, you let Varg continue digging. 10 minutes later, Varg pulls a out a bundle wrapped in a heavy leather cloak. After wrestling away what Varg considers his share, you find what was apparently a hidden loot cache, using the tree as a landmark.
Three days of exploring after the loot cache, you come across Bokken's hut. Bokken, the eccentric potion maker that sells most of his wares at Oleg's, is capable of making 1st and 2nd level potions from the adept list. He will also give you a 25% on his wares for a month if you are able to find fangberries (as previously noticed on the Trading Post Bounty Board).
The next day, you come across a nearly 200 foot circle filled with the skeletons of humans, boars, deer, and bears. As you approach the center, you see a grisly death pose of a bandit and a giant trapdoor spider that died some days ago. It seems the bandit was ready for the spider with a spear, but the weight of the spider crushed the bandit. At least his loot is intact, considering the spider lair is devoid of anything of value.
16 days after leaving Oleg's Trading Post to begin your exploration, you return. You are warmly greeted with a hot meal... and rewards!
Svetlana
She cries as you return her ring, and plants a big sloppy kiss on Smezut's forehead. Oleg sighs in relief. Even though it wasn't his fault it was stolen by bandits, you get the feeling like he was taking the blame for it anyway. Svetlana makes her famous moon radish soup from the radishes that you collected (that apparently don't spoil when carried in a sack for 2 weeks). It is WAY better than the Sootscale moon radish pie.
Kesten
You report the effects of your dealings with the kobolds (in what ever manner you see fit). Kesten sends a carrier pigeon to Restov for your reward, and gives you your previous reward for solving the immediate bandit issue.
updated spell list
0 level:
Daze
Acid splash
Detect magic
Read magic
1st level:
Color spray
Shield
Setting things in order, you set out the next morning to resume exploration. Having explored the majority of the east, you head west.
You travel into the forest to find it littered with poaching traps. Those that are tripped have animals in various states of decay entrapped. It looks as if this area was thoroughly filled with traps, then left unattended for some time. Moving through the area requires some time to find and disable the traps, lest the horses stumble into one. Besides, something like this would cut into the local trapping market, making revenues at Oleg's Trading Post suffer.
After finishing the detrapping, you move out of the forest to explore for a day before looping around the head back to Oleg's. Upon reentering the forest, your exploration brings you upon a grisly scene. Apparently, the trapper was rigging a deadfall along the southern bank of the Thorn River but was pinned to the ground by several large logs when the half completed trap collapsed on him. A few feet from his outstretched arm is his hatchet, though it looks like he didn't have much of a chance to chop his way out.
Moving deeper into the forest, the thick tangle of brambles gives way into a large clearing, its border partially defined by ruined stone pillars. The western face of the clearing is dominated by a looming, upthrust ridge of rock, nearly 300 feet across and rising to a moss topped height of 100 feet at the center. The side of this towering boulder facing the clearing has been carved in the likeness of an immense elk, its antlers drooping down from its weathered face to frame a 50 foot wide cave entrance from the forest clearing, both the steps and elk face feel quite old and are thickly encrusted with layers of moss. A 50 foot long oval pool sits in the middle of the clearing, its waters thick with algae. This must be the lost temple of Erastil Jhod mentioned to you at Oleg's.
As you begin searching the lower levels, the sounds of your inane chatter must have carried into the cave. A grizzly bear rumbles out of the cave, issuing a bellowing roar.
Round 1
Xzin
Ramses
Grizzly Bear
Smezut
Tbenox
Skaz
Smezut
Ramses
Skaz
Xzin
Tbenox
Grizzly Bear
Move and shoot the fierce bear.
Seeing the frightful creature, Xzin decides it's time to bring forth a different kind of creature. Parting the aetheric mysts of reality, he summons a pony from the depths of hell itself to defeat this menace. "Come forth creature from beyond and destroy that which threatens my allies!"
Both arrow and fiendish pony lash out at the grizzly bear, and it roars in pain. The grizzly bear lashes out at the pony, completely tearing it apart.
Grizzly Bear
Smezut moves forward and draws his ever loaded crossbow. Taking a step in front of Ramses, Smezut licks his finger and holds it to the wind.
"Let me show you how this is done."
Aiming for the bear
Tbenox pews from afar.
Magic missiles fire at the darkness (of the bear), showing how things are really done. Skaz rides forward, attempting to close the distance.
Round 2
Ramses
Xzin
Grizzly Bear
Smezut
Tbenox
Skaz
Ramses chuckles and shakes his head at Smezut. He takes a five foot step and fires again.
Having bent the laws of reality a bit too far in his previous summons, Xzin closes on the bear to summon another fiendish pony. The pony's feeble attempts at hoofing the bear fail, after which, the bear claws the pony something fierce. Sadly, it misses the killing blow with its bite.
Pony
Bear
Somewhat embarrassed by his bravado crossbow shot, Smezut breaks into an inspiring lament.
Begin Inspire courage performance
Tbenox takes a shot sat the weakened bear.
Skaz is slowed down by the stairs as he tries to approach the bear.
Round 3
Ramses
Xzin (with Fiendish Pony)
Grizzly Bear
Smezut
Tbenox
Skaz
Firing again
Xzin summons up a pygmy pony, and with two ponies attacking, the bear falls unconscious.
Fiendish Pony
Fiendish Flying Pygmy Horse
As the grizzly bear falls unconscious, it's form begins to change. Shortly the bear is replaced by a man, a bit larger than most with his mouth and nose protruding a bit farther than your average human.
The temple itself seems to take on a brighter look; the sun comes out from behind the clouds and shines down over you, and the entire shrine seems to grow more vibrant and colorful. The water in the pool becomes crystal clear and delicious.
Upon recognizing his old friend, Smezut rushes forward.
"Hold your fire, hold back your ponies, I know this man!"
Smezut moves forward to the downed werebear's side
"I'm sorry? Why shouldn't we just kill this filth that attacked us?" Tbenox says, clearly being short sighted after the battle.
He continues to point his crossbow at the man and calms down momentarily. "Just tie him up."
Skaz points out, "Well, technically... all it did was come out of the cave and roar - we attacked it first."
"Well, it looks like he could still be saved! Maybe he is under a spell or something, either way we should get him back to Olegs!"
Hrmph
The werebear is patched up, but seems to have fallen into a coma. Every once in a while he twitches and mumbles incoherently, as if in a dream. Given Smezut's prior relationship, you manage to figure out a way for your less than strong group of midgets to throw his body over one of the pack horses.
Continuing on your way back to Oleg's, your next area of exploration seems... weird. Things keep happening as you search the area. Smezut's belt mysteriously becomes unbuckled, his pants fall to the ground, and he falls flat on his face. Ramses's bow turns into a trout and sings, horribly. Skaz and Varg swap heads. Xzin keeps seeing ponies everywhere, but no one else notices them. Tbenox seems to become a walking skeleton.
None of these effects last, but certainly are a bit disconcerting. Both Smezut and Ramses realize these happenings to be pranks caused by mischievous fey. No one is able to see them, even in mid prank. Smezut and Ramses know that it is possible to gain the fey's attention by offering gifts, and from there, get a chance to talk with them.
Smezut
Ramses
Smezut
Ramses
Skaz
Xzin
Tbenox
Varg
Smezut understanding the cause behind the strange occurrences stays quiet, hoping for more entertainment during the travel.
He is also more interested in making sure the rest of the party doesn't get any weird ideas about the werebear.
Being a grumpy unpersonable character, Ramses looks to others in the party for this exchange but does offer a bag of 10gp for help.
Having not voiced anything in a while he looks to Smezut "what's with that?" as he thumbs towards the unconscious body on the horse.
"He's the man that saved my clan, taught me the way of the land, and took me to the Swordlords. My clan, and I, owe him our lives."
Ramses shrugs "Good enough for me".
The pranks continue throughout the night, becoming progressively more irritating. Not violent, though definitely slap stick. At one point, a couple of the horses get spooked, causing Skaz to run them down and wrangle them up. Though you set your standard watch rotation for sleeping, and no one sees anything, you are all missing things in the morning - mainly articles of clothing. Smezut only has one boot. Ramses arrows are all missing a feather. Skaz and Varg are cuddled on top of a pile consisting of all of Xzin's items, clothes included. Tbenox's familiar is gone, though there is a tiny winged pony in its place.
Tbenox wakes up immediately noticing his familiar is gone and immediately goes into a fit of rage. "What in the hell is going on?"
He then closes his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to form a communicative bond between himself and the familiar, hoping to gain at least some understanding of the danger it, (as well as the party,) might be in.
"Xzin, if you could...go ahead and knock it off with this pony nonsense." Tbenox glares in his direction with murderous intent.
Xzin looks appalled at Tbenox's words. "Pony nonsense? Do you have any idea how our peoples have suffered at the hands of these beasts for generations!? It's down right mysterious how goblins and horses have never gotten along. The four legged monsters always kick us and bite us, even when we aren't trying to kill them. With my power I have bent them to my will, forced them to obey us! A new day is dawning for goblinkind and you call what I do nonsense?"
Xzin pauses as he finally remembers to take a breath during his rant, feeling a bit light headed from lack of air. He takes the moment to glimpse at Tbenox's familiar before turning back. "And I had nothing to do with taht."
Tbenox begins to mutter under his breath something to the effect of "subservient horse plane", Xzin forgetting he has a clear understanding of conjuration and mentioning drawing on the arcane having no relevance on the relationship between physical horse and goblin, but realizes his efforts are for naught.
"Let's just figure out what we need to do to get out of here. Have I mentioned I hate fey?"