"Meeting their chief might be a good idea, but let us proceed with care. They will be more dangerous in numbers. Let us be wary of traps."
"Smart thinking. A flame is best quenched before it turns into a full-fledged fire" the half-elf paladin states pensively. "We'll watch your backs" she adds, nodding towards Castor.
Crak seems confused by Rufus's request and then seems to brighten to the idea. "Crak take you. You tell Crak's Chief of Crak's battle prowess, yes?"
The group gathers their equipment and sets off, with Crak giving guidance(He doesn't seem to care much for his compatriots that left him behind). You head south east, across the plains of the Stolen Lands for some time. After about 6 hours of riding, you can see off into the distance(maybe 5-6 miles away), atop a large hill, a single tree. The tree is visible due to nothing but flat lands around and the probable enormity of it. As you travel, you realize that Crak is guiding you so that you are taking a wide route around the tree, it is obvious that the kobold does not want to go anywhere near it. If asked, the kobold replies, "Tree is home of Sootscale's vilest enemies! Little blue %$#@#$ attack Sootscales, even though Sootscales do nothing to them." A little more proding has Crak describing the inhabitants and Korinne is easily able to identify them as mites, small ugly fey that are known for being just plainly hateful little creatures.
Eventually, the tree is avoided and you continue a bit of ways to the southeast. As you continue to move, you see a few old corpses on the ground. One is of a kobold, grey scaled like Crak, and a couple of small blueish creatures that Korinne confirms as mites. Crak seems to curse at the mites as you pass.
Eventually, dusk settles and you spot a large rocky outcropping and you can just barely make out a sort of opening that goes deeper into probably some sort of cave system. Crak says, pointing to the opening, "That Sootscale cave! Come, we go now!" The kobold moves to jump off the horse he was riding on and head toward the cave.
It actually ?!
"That is one evil looking tree." At Korrine's description of Mites as Fey creatures, Rufus expression manages an even grimmer cast.
As the company finally closes with the Sootscale 'mine'/'burrow'/what-have-you, he turns to the others. "We will need to be on our guard. These little buggers are said to be feindishly clever trapsmiths, so pay especial attention to both how we go in and any 'oddities' we might notice. They may be prepared traps to make it that much more difficult to leave if they decide to keep us there. I don't believe this one is being duplicitous, but better to remain cautious."
"By the stars, I have a bad feeling about these mites as well."
Then, at Rufus's warning about the kobolds, Castor nods. "Very well. I'll be on full alert for traps."
"So this is the mites' hive. And there is Svetlana's ring presumably buried, too. Perhaps we can still turn this enmity to our advantage... or at the very worst, catch two birds with one stone" Xelani muses addressing her companions.
***********************************************************************
"I'll keep my eyes open. Let's hope Crak here is more representative of his people's acumen rather than pugnacity."
As the others affirm their readiness, Rufus nods to Crak to lead them within.
The kobold nods in agreement to Rufus and leads you into the cave. No more than a few moments into the cave to your left, you spot what appears to be a large wooden board, with words in common reading "Oaktop Silver Mines".
To the right, you see a crude wooden cage. Inside of the cage, a small blue figure sits, somewhat pitiful. Korinne instantly knows it as a Mite and most of the rest of you have an idea. Crak makes a noise at it, a combination of a hateful hiss and a diabolical laugh.
It was either Crak's noise or the simple sight of you lot, but you hear a yelp a little further in the cave, beyond a small rock outcropping. A kobold steps out, one with darker scales than Crak. He yelps out, "Wait! Wait! I wanna talk!" Crak calls out, "Nakpik?" The kobold spots Crak and says, apparently forgetting about the well armed group of adventurers in the cave, "What you doing here? Chief banish you for rebelling against Old Sharptooth and our shaman." Crak hisses, "I bring great help to clan! I beat them, now they loyal to Crak. We kill off blue men then don't need no stupid shaman." Nakpik seems upset a little by Crak's words, replying "Ah, you no understand. The great statue was stolen by them! Now we are doomed," the kobold then turns more directly to the group, "...unless your...friends help us. Come, we go in deeper, you talk to great shaman about reward from our great god." He seems to beckon further into the cave, moving ahead of you.
"Oh s@@%." "We just got suckered into backing a powerplay..."
Shaking his head in rueful admiration for the diminutive reptile's duplicity, Rufus follows.
"Being outnumbered I can stomach", Xelani mutters "but being outsmarted just adds insult to injury."
"Wonderful..." Korinne groans softly. "Maybe we can still make this work our advantage though, depending on what sort of 'reward' they have in mind?" she murmurs as she follows after Rufus and the others.
"Agreed. Since we were bound to pay those mites a visit anyway, we might as well see if we can retrieve this 'statue', too. And see if we can tip this power struggle in a direction which is the most favorable to us. Or... least unfavorable" she hastens to add as she gives their reptilian escorts an assessing glance.
Nakpik leads the group deeper into the caves. The kobold unexpectedly turns back and says to the group, "You follow me close now. There are traps for the blue men ahead. It take a long while to get your body out and reset trap." The kobold skirts the left side of the wall and Castor can see what appears to be the aforementioned depression where the traps should be.
The group moves further within the cave, all of you having to kneel to make it through the tight corridors. You pass by an alcove and you see a couple of kobolds inside. They hiss at you before noticing Nakpik and lower their arms, a confused look on their face as they see the large beings moving (difficultly) through the corridors.
Nakpik takes a left at a fork in the cave system and it opens up into a larger cave. The walls of this cave have been smeared with what appears to be charcoal and blood to depict multiple representations in red and black of a looming, sharp-toothed reptilian devil. Two low stone tables sit in the middle of the room, one of which is stained with blood.
The kobold moves the group through an exit to the east of the cave and shortly after you arrive at a much larger cave. The air in this large cave feels warm and close, thick with a reptilian stink mixed with smoke and burnt meat. Numerous beds of furs lie 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 many birds and small animals, all smeared with ash.
This cave is filled with 6 kobolds. All of them have dark scales, black or dark grey. One of them wears a bone headdress and "fine" accouterments. The group of kobolds gets up from their lounging at the sound of your group. The one with the headdress steps up and says to Nakpik, "What is this? Why you bring such outsiders to here, Nakpik?" He looks over the group and spots Crak, and immediately says, "And why Crak here?! I told him he die if he come back here and endanger tribe!" Nakpik says, "But Chief! I think they can help us. They big ones, they strong...I think. They help us...I think." The chief looks a little uncertain, looking over the group, wary. "That so? You come to help?" He has a fine bone club with metal additions to it in his right hand, ready to use it if needed.
Quickly muttering a translation for the others, Rufus steps forward. "Έχω ακούσει πολλά από τη δύναμη και την ανδρεία τους ανθρώπους σας. Αν υπάρχει κάποιο μικρό τρόπο με τον οποίο εγώ και οι σύντροφοί μου θα μπορούσε να είναι της βοήθειας, παρακαλούμε να μας πείτε τι θα μπορούσε να είναι."
The chief eyes Rufus warily and says, "Δεν χρειαζόμαστε καμία μεγάλα μας βοηθήσει" The kobold known as Nakpik quips up, "Αλλά Αρχηγός , Παλιά Sharptooth μας σκοτώσουν αν δεν το πάρει πίσω . Δεν μου αρέσει το κίτρινο. Δεν θέλω να πεθάνω ." The other kobolds, seeming worried, nod in agreement. "Δεν μπορεί να μπει σε δέντρο χωρίς βοήθεια."
The chief hisses a bit at Nakpik, cowing the kobold, but seems to let down on his aggression, his eyes flickering with worry. Whatever is going on is obviously weighing on the Chieftain. "Θα πάω να δω Tartuk . Έχει λάβει απόφαση αφού ακούσει Shaptooth." The chief points to a exit in this cave to the southwest. He leads the group around the bend and after a few minutes of moving through dank tunnels you arrive at another tunnel.
The walls of this cavern are decorated by a rickety wooden frame formed from clean-cut branches lashed together with
gut and twine. Banners cut from two-foot-wide strips of old blankets and horsehide hang from floor to ceiling, covering much of the walls. The sloppily painted banners bear dozens of primitive icons and mystic symbols. A large cauldron filled with bubbling red liquid boils in the center of the room. Next to the cauldron is a strange sight.
A purple kobold is looking over the cauldron, adding a few more ingedients that turn the liquid a bright orange. It looks up, narrowing it's eyes as it sees the group enter. "Ποιοι είναι αυτοί οι άνθρωποι , Sootscale ; Γιατί θα τους φέρει σε αυτό το ιερό μέρος; Sharptooth θα σας τιμωρήσει αν χάνω τον χρόνο μου ."
The chief replies, " Αυτοί οι άνθρωποι λένε ότι είναι εδώ για να βοηθήσουμε . Θέλουν να μας βοηθήσει να πάρει το είδωλο του Sharptooth πίσω ." The strange kobold looks at you, the raven on it's shoulder cawing a bit. He says, "Έτσι , ο μικρός αρχηγός δεν μπορεί να πάρει το είδωλο πίσω στο δικό του ." He laughs a bit and the Chief narrows his eyes at the laugh. "Λοιπόν , τι σκοπεύετε να κάνετε ; Ο αριθμός των ακάρεων σε εκατοντάδες , τι νομίζετε ότι μπορείτε να κάνετε εναντίον τους?"
Chief's first line: "We don't need any big ones helping us."
Nakpik's Lines: "But Chief, Old Sharptooth kill us if we don't get it back. I don't like yellow. I don't want to die." The other kobolds, seeming worried, nod in agreement. "We can't get into tree without help."
Chief's Second Line: "We go see Tartuk. He make decision since he hear Shaptooth."
Shaman's first Line: "Who are these people, Sootscale? Why do you bring them to this holy place? Sharptooth will punish you if you are wasting my time."
Chief's Third Line: "These people say they are here to help. They wish to help us get the idol of Sharptooth back."
Shaman's Second Line: "So, the little chief can't get the idol back on his own." He laughs a bit and the Chief narrows his eyes at the laugh. "Well, what are you planning on doing? The mites number in the hundreds, what do you think you can do against them?"
"Πρόκειται για νε-
Είναι γείτονες, ναι? Έχουμε σιδήρου και μπορούμε να αποκτήσουμε περισσότερο, πιο εύκολα από ό, τι φυλή σας, ενδεχομένως." Rufus replies to the Shaman's interrogative.
Turning once more to the chief, he continues, "Αν και είμαι βέβαιος δικούς σας ανθρώπους θα μπορούσε να αφαιρέσει αυτό...
μόλυνση με το πλήρωμα του χρόνου, αν θα μας επιτρέψει να κάνουμε αυτό για σας, ως ένδειξη σεβασμού μας για τη φυλή σας, ίσως θα αποδείξει την καλή μας θέληση?"
They are neighbors, yes? We have Iron and we can acquire more, more easily than your tribe, possibly."
"While I am certain your own people could remove this...
infestation in the fullness of time, if you would allow us to do this for you, as a sign of our respect for your tribe, perhaps it would prove our goodwill?"
Xelani listens tacitly to the exchange between Rufus and the chief, instinctively trying (and failing) to discern a meaning in the words uttered in an alien tongue. At Korinne's mention of 'playing to the ego', she cannot help but raise an eyebrow in puzzlement: it's not like they're the ones asking for help, or that we've come here after thoroughly beating and dispersing four of their numbers. Still, if it gets the job done. I only hope it won't give them strange ideas.
She knows better than to voice her thoughts out loud, though; as long as the negotiation's proceeding smoothly, it would be foolish to potentially jeopardize it by chiming in. As they make their way into the shaman's alcove, she eyes both the chieftain and his purple counterpart intently. "So these two must be the ones jousting for power, correct?" she whispers to Korinne. Who knows? Perhaps backing the right party might go a long way to earning ourselves a grateful ally.
"Πρόστιμο , ανθρώπινη . Αν θέλετε να σκοτώσει τον εαυτό σας , μην διστάσετε να . Πηγαίνετε στα ακάρεα , βρείτε Sharptooth και ίσως αυτός θα σας συγχωρήσει για να τον αγγίζει , αν τον φέρει πίσω σε μένα," the shaman says. The rest of the kobolds seem relieved to hear the shamans words. Even the chief seems to relax a little.
The chief nips at Nakpik and the kobold makes a motion toward the exit. "Θα σας οδηγήσει έξω . Στη συνέχεια, οι φύλακες δεν σας σκοτώσει."
Shaman: "Fine, human. If you want to kill youself, go find mites. Find sharptooh and perhaps he will forgive you for touching him if you bring him back to me."
Nakpik: "I lead you out. Then guard no kill you."
"Je crois qu'il à compris ce que tu viens de dire," Castor whispers to Korinne, then whispering a similar message to Xelani.
[spoiler=Elven]"I think he understood what you just said."[/b]
"Donc, nous avons trouvé une puce?" Xelani whispers in an amused tone.
The shaman seems incredulous at Korinne's comment. "Sharptooth είναι μια μεγάλη και τρομερή άρχοντας . Fanged και φρικτό σε continence . Απαιτεί τον σεβασμό και θα τιμωρεί όσους δεν τον αντιμετωπίζει ως του αξίζει ." As he says this, some of the other kobolds seem to recoil back with a bit of fear. "Αυτός θα σας σκοτώσει αν δεν αντιμετωπίζουν το είδωλό του με προσοχή . Ένα μικρό ολίσθησης και θα σας ρίξει κάτω , το σώμα σας μετατρέποντας τα χρώματα από την κατάρα του !"
"Sharptooth is a great and terrible lord. Fanged and horrible in contenence. He demands respect and punishes those who do not treat him as he deserves."
"He will kill you if you do not treat his idol with care. One small slip and he will strike you down, your body turning colors from his curse!"
Rufus' features are a picture of solemn contemplation at the Shaman's words. Turning to the others, he arcs his brow questioningly.
The conversation seeming at an end, the group is lead out of the kobold lair by Nakpik, who waves at you as you leave. The party moves to the northwest, where the old tree is. It is dark out but in the moon light, you can make out the large tree even from the miles away from it that you are.
"It may be best to try and be prepared for anything," Castor replies, pondering the stars in the sky. "We don't truly know what to expect from these mites, and it may be wisest not to put all of our eggs in the same basket. I'll pray for the gift of tongues; understanding the mites' language might prove useful."
"Knowing what the enemy is saying to each other is almost always useful." Rufus ads, nodding distractedly in agreement with Castor's suggestion.
"And mayhaps trying to reason with them? Though since it looks like we've cast our lot with the kobolds, that seems to get more and more unlikely by the hour. Let's hope our intrusion won't have unforeseen consequences; between the fear of a vengeful god and that of an enemy 'numbering in the hundreds', the shaman surely knows how to keep his tribe in check" Xelani says.
"In any event, my mother taught me the tongue of the sylvan feys – though I don't know if those... mites share it" she adds almost as an afterthought, before retiring for the night. As usual, she would volunteer to take last watch, and recite her daily devotions to Erastil while watching the sun rise, praying for aid in their endeavor.
"It's a shame the kobolds only knew tall tales about the mites. Knowing what we're getting into would have been nice, for once."
Castor will volunteer for the second-to-last watch, intending to be up at the very crack of dawn, for his own prayers and devotions.
The night, while slightly tense, passes without incident.
The group heads towards the tree. As you all ride closer, the tree starts to get larger and larger until you are right near it. It looms over you, standing more than a hundred feet tall. While it is true you have probably seen trees just as large in the forest, the age of this tree and the simple fact that no other tree can be spotted for miles around seems to magnify it's size.
As the group inspects the tree, Castor notices on the west side of the tree, amid a jumble of branches, leaves and other pieces of nature, a relatively small hatch, one that seems to be capable of going further into the earth.
"Let us proceed with extreme caution. Who knows just what awaits us down there..."
"Dark fey, most likely vermin. Those little blue bastards frequently make common cause with such." Rufus answers, "I would be happier if we could have returned to Oleg's to procure some Cold Iron daggers & arrow heads at least, even traveled to Restov if necessary."
"I strongly suspect we may only get one chance at this. They may not number in the hundreds, but enough mites to give an entire tribe of kobolds pause is enough mites to potentially repel and follow us if we try to retreat." Turning to Castor & Korrine, "Hold your spells in reserve for as long as possible, I think."
Staring at the entry with an expression of resigned contemplation, he adds, "We should stay together, but not too close, I've heard they are almost as fond of traps as Kobolds are. I will lead. Castor, you and Korrine should stay to the center, Xelani, maintain our rear." Focusing on Korrine, "Once we engage, you will have a better idea of what you are capable of than, I, but we might be better aided by your senses & your wits than your spells down there."
Nodding at Rufus' words, Xelani silently takes place in the rearguard, wielding her bow in her hands. She gives her eyes some time to adjust to the dim light of the underground tunnel – once they do, she does her best to make good use of them, trying to penetrate the surrounding darkness with her elven sight as she looks for traps and ambushes alike.
"Very well." Castor nods, before touching the holy symbol hanging around his neck and murmuring a prayer in Celestial, which begins emitting a bright light.
As the party progresses down the tunnel, he makes sure to be very wary of potential traps and ambushes, concentrating on a Detect Magic spell all the while.
The group slowly moves in through the hatch and into the tunnels beyond. The tunnels here are small, barely larger than 5 feet. The roots from the giant tree above seep into the group in the tunnels, providing hand holds to easily navigate down.
About 30 feet in, Xelani hears some sort of sound. There is a high pitched giggling and she can somewhat hear a "twing" sound every so often. Keeping to the wall, the tunnel opens into a small room.
Three crude, wooden workbenches occupy the center of this room, their tops strewn with various tiny tools, metal and wooden hardware, and blocks of wood. You now spot the source of the sound: A pair of Mites are playing with some sort of tiny catapult. You see one of them load what looks like a caltrop into the small device and then launch it into the waiting mouth of the other mite. The hit on target, both seem to laugh with devilish glee.
Past the mites, you see the cavern slopping down slighty and further into the ground and , probably, the rest of the cave system.
Castor draws his bow, struggling with its size due to the low ceiling. He nocks an arrow and waits for the signal, taking aim at the other mite.
Silently nodding towards Korinne and Castor, Xelani nocks an arrow and shoots at the same mite her fellow half-elf is aiming at.
Seeing his comrades prepared, Rufus advances upon the mites, swerving around to block the only other exit before he closes with them.
Korinne pulls her cross bow and the bolt flings out. However, due to the awkwardness of shooting, she misjudged where a low hanging piece of dirt was and the bolt hits the dirt, flinging it just barely off course and missing the mite.
Castor's bow aims true at the the other one, the one with the catapult and it hisses a bit as the arrow sinks in. The hiss is cut short as Xelani's arrow plunges deep into mites head, obviously killing it.
Castor nocks a second arrow, aiming for the Mite to push forth the advantage of surprise.