1)Tiichi qe ekess Ibahalii Vuthaternock, deevdru di Ibahalii Vuthaternock, mrith jacida opsola loex jaci ui jaka ith di wer, nomag jacida tuka qe malrak.
2)Ibahalii Vuthaternock ui vi maekrix, naeck jaci bihainwor ekik sari wer vur slew vi darastrix, jaci jaka coita aulkhor, tiichi qe jacida ominak.
3)Vi z'ar petisse naeck Tartuk, jacida ternocki re sililos ti vutha likes hesini. si tir ti hefoc jacion shar Ibahalii Vuthaternock says batobot shio petissei re aldoer onureth jacida.
4)Naeck vi di petissei xoal'si ekess svent hesi maekrix, Ibahalii Vuthaternock jahus throdenilt loupon vi apzig ihk astahi, tiichi qe jacida ominak. Pamon tepohaic rinov xoal'si ekess reject jacida kult ghoros, svabol ui gethrisjir shafaer.
5)Tartuk tepohaic vi persvek wer, creol yenta jaci jaka jalla qe maekrix wer ssifisv di udoka. Sjek ti ihk wer aryte shafaer wer malsvir Mites si mi jaunus Ibahalii Vuthaternock ornla mrith Tartuk.
6)Ibahalii Vuthaternock ve shafaer vi naeck mrith lyriki ekess ehtah creolnali ekess dronilnr spical ekess wer bekim zyak yth shilta klae coi seanf wer Mites vur sulta wer aryte. Tiichi qe jacida ominak.
1)Praise be to Chief Sootscale, son of Chief Sootscale, with his father dead he is now lord of the tribe, may his reign be forever.
2)Chief Sootscale is a glorious leader, today he went out into the wilds and slew a dragon, he now wears its skull, praise be his name.
3)A new Kobold arrived today named Tartuk, his scales are purple not black likes ours. I do not like him but Chief Sootscale says that all Kobolds are welcome under his dominion.
4)Today a score of Kobolds tried to kill our glorious leader, luckily Chief Sootscale was more than a match for them, praise be his name. Still no one has ever tried to reject his rule before, what is going on.
5)Tartuk has caused a rift in the tribe, some say he now should be leader while the rest of us remain loyal. If not for the war on the evil Mites I am sure Chief Sootscale would easily deal with Tartuk.
6)Chief Sootscale sent me on a mission today with others to find something dangerous to bring back to the den so we can use it against the Mites and hopefully end the war. Praise be his name.
While reading the journal Vladimir overhears Donovan's prayer and gives the priest an appreciative nod and smile.
Prior to heading out to explore a bit more, Vladimir gathers any of the others who might be interested in the contents of the journal. "Well, there are a few things of note in the journal. In particular the following:
1) 'Praise be to Chief Sootscale, son of Chief Sootscale, with his father dead he is now lord of the tribe, may his reign be forever.' Sounds like the current Chief Sootscale is fairly new to his throne.
2) 'Chief Sootscale is a glorious leader, today he went out into the wilds and slew a dragon, he now wears its skull, praise be his name.' Also sounds like he is a capable warrior, though there are many varieties of dragon and one who's skull would fit a kobold as a helm may not be as impressive as our author would lead us to believe.
3) 'A new Kobold arrived today named Tartuk, his scales are purple not black likes ours. I do not like him but Chief Sootscale says that all Kobolds are welcome under his dominion.' Again, here is the other side of the coin that we heard about yesterday.
4) 'Today a score of Kobolds tried to kill our glorious leader, luckily Chief Sootscale was more than a match for them, praise be his name. Still no one has ever tried to reject his rule before, what is going on.' It would be my guess that this Tartuk was actively trying to overthrow the chief and take his place.
5) 'Tartuk has caused a rift in the tribe, some say he now should be leader while the rest of us remain loyal. If not for the war on the evil Mites I am sure Chief Sootscale would easily deal with Tartuk.' We have the mites on our agenda of issues to deal with as well, perhaps we should try and make an alliance with Sootscale?
6) 'Chief Sootscale sent me on a mission today with others to find something dangerous to bring back to the den so we can use it against the Mites and hopefully end the war. Praise be his name.' This is the part I feel a bit bad about. I have a feeling we were to be the dangerous thing to be brought back to aid against the mites.
Thoughts?"
"Hell of an invite," Angor says scratching his wound from the day before.
Alphonse turns to Durielle "Tank you for your assistance milady, i amy again need your help, days in the wilds get these wings full of bugs and dirt and i prefer to clean them normally"
After Vlad recounts the notes in the journal Alphonse feels that their course is clearer "Based on those notes the Kobolds are split between their infighting and the "war" with the mites. We can either take on the mites and allow the kobolds to turn their forces inward and resolve their squabble or we attack the kobolds while their forces are divided. what say the others on these thoughts"
Khargol thinks about the reading of the journal for a moment before speaking up.
"My thoughts are thus: At least attempt to take the mites first. If we are successfully able to end the thread of the mites, we then have a bargaining chip that can be used with the kobolds, particularly Chief Sootscale. If he was willing to allow someone new into the tribe, he is clearly more accepting of outsiders than this 'Tartuk' trying to usurp him; he is the more likely to accept our presence here, especially if removing the threat of the mites would allow him to turn all his attention inward to his own tribe. Again, we may even be able to secure him and the rest of his tribe as allies in claiming the Stolen Lands."
Hearing Khargol's thoughts, Vladimir finds himself nodding in agreement as the inquisitor speaks.
"I am of a like mind on the subject, Khargol, with the understanding that we work our way to the mite's den and not try to travel straight there and leave ourselves without a relatively clear path back here."
"Just so. I am not advocating barging our way there to be sure. If Sootscale has been able to maintain his power thus far it would take an event of some significance to disrupt that. I would imagine he'd be able to keep his throne until we arrive."
Donovan rejoins the group for the planning meeting after he completes his ablutions.
"Good morning, companions," he says, and glances down at the map. He listens as Khargol and Vladimir discuss the situation, thinks for a moment, then chimes in, "The mites sound like a current situation for the kobolds. If we try to meet this Chief Sootscale or Tartuk, that gives us a card to play -- we can deal with the mites in exchange for considerations. If we deal with the mites first, we will no longer be in a position to use that as leverage in negotiations with the kobolds."
"Incidentally, what's the plan with regard to the kobold captive?"
Durielle had listened quietly as the others discussed direction, and Vladimir regaled them with the findings in the kobold diary.
"This is the part I feel a bit bad about. I have a feeling we were to be the dangerous thing to be brought back to aid against the mites."
Her eyes glitter mysteriously. "Indeed, 'tis a shame," is all she says.
Making their way southeast the party is able to do a great deal of mapping until evening falls.
When the party finds themselves being followed.
-Posted with Wayfinder
As has become something of a pattern, Donovan calls down a divine blessing to assist the group.
Seeing the number of wolves, Vladimir chooses to hold his ground, reading to strike one of their number as they undoubtedly come in for the attack.
(bless)
(bless)
(bless)
Realizing the foolishness of simply rushing forward to put himself in the middle of the beasts, Khargol takes a few steps forward, then readies his longsword, banging it once against his shield in a display meant to encourage an attack from the wolves.
Durielle gasps as the wolves approach. Trembling she draws her shortbow, nocks an arrow, and fires at the wolf closest to her on her left .
Angor steps forward a little forward to hold off Vladimir and Khargol. "De well not attack wit dese numbers but de well follow us back. Just toss some food and dey well leave. We have plenty after de bear and kobolds." To set an example Angor reaches into his pack for some jerky and tosses it next to the nearest wolf.
Sugua chuckles, " If they know better, they'll scram otherwise I'll solve their hunger real soon! This is the way of nature, you don't come to the battlefield expecting mercy when there is none to find! Now come show me your fangs! "
He points at one of the wolves and gives a wide grin. As soon as that one came within his reach either to run past him of two him, he'd step to his left 5ft and catch it with a vicious blade slash.
Tomas, not wishing to make the same mistake twice, casts Mage Armor on himself.
The wolves begin their charge, the majority of them focusing on Khargol.
However, Vladimir, and Durielle's readied action combine to bring one down, while the one hit by Sugua bites at him before passing out and Khargol injures one of his attackers.
The first wolf to make contact with Khargol bites him and trips him.
It seems nature is at opposition to our efforts here
Alphonse seems only mildly surprised by the attacks from the wolves, the primary emotion he feels is worry because Khargol is down and needs their aid, quickly Alphonse prepares his defenses with his magics and looks for openings to counter attack
Donovan responds by moving slightly to his right, thereby taking him too far from the furthest wolf to accidentally affect it with his channeling. He channels divine power to heal, immediately stabilizing Khargol.
Sugua grunted as he sees Khargol fall " When he wakes up he should remember not to step out unless you can take the pain. Hah its been a while since I've hunted with my blade! "
Sugua rushes around and buts at the haunches of one of the Wolves.
Tomas lands 2 magic missiles on one of the wounded wolves
Damage:
Vladimir and Shadow sidestep toward another wolf, attacking the beast with hooves and blade.
(bless)
(bless)
(bless)
Sugua and Vladimir both dispatch a wolf each and Tomas injures another badly.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Khargol lay on the ground unconscious, but the healing has clearly stopped his bleeding. It was clear from moments earlier that the second wolf's bite had hit a critical area on him, teeth finding purchase in his neck, just above where the armor ended and leaving a fair-sized chunk of flesh ripped from him.
Now, thanks to Donovan, the wound closed...though the amount of blood he'd already lost from it was likely the cause of him still being out of it.
Unfortunately nothing about the wolves indicate any information to Angor as to why they're attacking the party.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Durielle steps lightly to the right and takes another shot at one of the wilderness predators.
Durielle's shot catches the injured Wolf in the neck and it falls, leaving a sole Wolf.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sugua had cut down some wolves with relative ease and laughed the whole way through. If was afterward he thought that maybe the pelts kight sell for something. " Haha! It seems you all survived a swarm of little dogs! This time Khargol went down tthough, we have to work on that still. Need to get those spears. Lets see if these Pelts are worth anything. "
Sugua began skinning the Wolves for their pelts.
Durielle approaches the fallen inquisitor and whispers words of a time in which Khargol's wounds are but memory.
This seemed to go against what he knew about wolves but maybe this place was different. Everything seemed to want to kill them without regard to its own safety. He had suffered for his ignorance and lack of skill three times and now Khargol was too. He couldn't heal the Half-orc but he could help him off the ground. "Sorry. Should have acted first."
He then settles down to help Sugua with the skinning. "Bokken mentioned trading for pelts. Maybe dis time we can get potions not poisoned."
After he's put back on his feet, Khargol makes certain to thank those responsible for keeping him alive, then moves to help Sugua skin the wolves; when he gets to the one that tried to rip his throat out, he moves with particular gusto.
Alphonse prepared for combat, readied his defenses and the men with swards struck down the creatures before he even had an opportunity to strike "That was over before it hardly began, Is khargol alright there Durielle? I am skilled in the healing arts if you need none magical assistance. Otherwise i think i can help our orcish friends here prepare the wolf hides, there could be some value in these"
edit
Once Sugua had finished with the Wolves he chuckled and slung them over his shoulder looking to Alphonse, " You have to be quick and decisive just like when it comes to food. Those who wait are left to the fate of the slow! Now lets get back so we can get some trainin' in those Wolves hardly wet my palette! "
The burly half-orc starts moving in the direction of Olegs
" We've got alot of ground to cover, you all might live through this yet. Or maybe not!? You never know in the chaos of battle.. but that's what makes it FUN! "
"If nothing else, I certainly feel somewhat more resilient now that I've been beaten by both fauna AND flora..."
Seeing that everything is well in hand Alphonse takes a moment to contemplate the last few days of his life. He had gone from a semi simple life living on the edge of a small town working fields and helping local people that looked to him as a gift while dealing with the jealousy of those who hated that he got the attention.
But now he was with a group of people that he could work with on a more personal level. The half orcs were standoffish but he assumed that to be their nature, Durielle was kind, Vlad and Donovan motivated to help this region and Tomas a smart and well meaning man. If these people are to help start a kingdom together Alphonse held high hopes for them all.
"Seems we are done here, Shal we continue our explorations, it seems like we hardly used up any of our resources in that engagement and could handle some more time afield"
"De day is almost done but so is dis area. Let us continue until dusk," he says looking at the sky.
" Yeah you two have been getting your fair licks as of late! Well lets hurry along then I'm not carrying this all day! Eventually these pelts stack up. " Sugua motions to Wolf skins finishing the job.
" Eh, the meat is gamey but anything can be jerked! I'll feed it to the lizard.. "
"Just let the meat soak in brine for a day or two. That will pull the gamey-ness out of it."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sugua raised the brow over his white eye, " What's this?! You seem to know a bit about the wilderness when it it comes to food eh? Brine sure does work but ya need to have some around to do that normally I can make somethin' worth it from the meat when I'm hungry or heck use it to attract better game! "
"So what is it going to be, back to Oleg's or camp out? We're not that far from Oleg's, but we are going to have to get used to the idea eventually. Vladimir says.
"Speaking of the 'lizard', Sugua, what are your intentions for that one? If you intend to treat him like a thinking creature that is one thing, intending to treat him like your personal slave/punching bag is quite another."
Sugua grinned wide showing his tusks. " I have an idea or two, but what's it to you? If I remember correctly you soft-hands have the ability to be all hoity-toity BECAUSE you use slaves! He lost on the battlefield and the spoils go to the winner! " Sugua sheathed his greatsword and placed a fist on his hip.