Surrounding himself with guards that owe him something, smart. Not likely to turn on him.
Darvan does nothing special early in the evening, taking some time to spar with any guard or party member that's willing. But later he gets the itch to move, so he goes out to scout their meeting point ahead of time.
Kern makes no special preparations. He'll remain professional in his discussions with the guards, without discussing Ser Jory at all one way or the other.
0-Acid Splash, Arcane Mark, Mending, Prestidigitation
1-Mage Armor, Magic Missile (Toppling), Shield (Specialized: Gravity Bow)
Her meditations finished, and her resolve firm, the young Tian Xian lady prepared for the afternoon's skirmish in the wilderness. She'd tested the weight and edge of the blade gifted to her for her service, and was ready to meet her companions at the meeting point, unsavory and unpleasant though they may be.
*Explicit things*
Darvan motions for the party to get down, but after a moment of thought he motions Faore forward. "Little hothead here and I are going to check this out. Stay down, don't make yourselves targets." With Faore as backup he moves forward on quiet feet to scout the party.
"If you must"
Kern crouches behind the nearest bit of terrain.
His tone didn't satisfy her one bit, but Faore would comply, realizing that she was the newcomer. If she need prove herself by showing up Jullies, so be it. Faore follows Darvans lead, nimbly scouting with the older man.
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Their attempts to approach silently are foiled when the young monk steps on the tail of the only howler monkey in all of the Greenbelt.
Truly, a 1 in a million chance.
Alerted to the the stealthy approach of two of the party's members a group of the Kobold party lowers spears and marches toward your position. They quickly come into view and recognize Darvan.
"Lady Longshanks is as quiet as wounded dire boar. Stop skulking meet chief with honor."
It is Makon and his men, they raise their spears and hold their position.
Darvan gives Faore an annoyed glance, turning to the Kobold. "Why so many armed fighters? Thought this was a diplomatic meeting."
Kern walks up to join Darvan and Faore. He nods to Makon, but says nothing at this point.
Of course. Even the most skilled and adept of warriors could be foiled by the rabid and ferocious monster known as fate. She let out a sigh whiles ignoring Darvan's gaze.
She remains silent, allowing others to speak for her. For now.
"I think we may want to finish negotiations here before we engage Ser Jory in any way."
Kern stands to attention and returns the salute, addressing the space between Makon and the Chief:
Kern then takes a step to the side, "I've greeted the Chief and Makon. I'll relay anything you wish to say and the responses"
"Yeah, why such a big force?"
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As Kern translates, Chief Sootscale, a larger Kobold with a small pot belly, yet thick arms and a keen eye steps forward.
"I have been Chief of Sootscales for 10 years, longest reign of any Chief in tribe history. I have ruled here even as Stagmen and other Longshanks come and fight. I have learned many things. One, Longshanks are stalwart warriors, against Kobold's best, the weakest Longshanks fighter can still handle 3 or 4 of my bravest. So Sootscales always arrive en masse, to give Longshanks pause should they wish to prove themselves. Two, Longshanks are fools to think that it is only Northmen and Stagmen that fight for control of Green lands. Sootscales have enemies more active than Stagmen, who pay little heed to those with small scales. But the traitor and his foul fey allies, they are ever present, looking for weakness and opportunity to drive Sootscales from our homes." The Chief pauses for a moment and looks over to Makon. "When Makon, my most stalwart of warriors, tells me of Longshanks warriors looking to drive Stagmen from the land, to bring peace and prosperity for Greenlands, I think, here are allies we can serve to not only drive Stagmen from Greenland, but the traitor and his foul fey as well."
Kern nods, "Trust may not be swift between kobold and human; your caution makes sense. That trust can be built with action. We seek your aid against the Stag Men, and I presume you seek our aid against the 'Traitor'. What can you tell us of him and his fey?"
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Chief Sootscales nods.
"The purple-scaled worm came to us a year ago, proclaiming the word of Draghignazzo to the Sootscales. Our own Blessed Scales rebuked the Traitor and his worship of the Devil Dragon in the name of Apsu. But that foul worm called forth the curses of Draghignazzo and smote Blessed Scales with dark fire. The tribe was fearful of his power and we yielded to his foul God." Chief Sootscales spits in disgust. "At first, the traitor only asked that we pay alms for his dark God and that we allow him a place to build a shrine for worship. But soon, he started demanding more. Sacrifices, first the old Kobolds, too weak to war. The weaker of our tribe yielded to him quickly, eager for his God's blessings, willing to sacrifice their own elders for more power. Soon, they began accusing others of heresy, and the worm demanded those who did not worship Draghignazzo be cast into the flames along with their hatchlings and even UNHATCHED!"
Sootscales trembles with rage as he tells this part of the story.
"It was then that my courage returned to me and I took up my spear and my shield against the Traitor. But that was his plan all along, he had turned my own brother against me and when I attempted to cast the traitor out of the tribe, my own flesh challenged me for rule. During our duel, the foul worm attempted to interfere, but that was his mistake. The tribe, seeing our traditions and codes being broken rose en masse against him. I slew my false brother, and pursued this damned worm. But he collapsed a tunnel behind him, securing his retreat. Weeks later, he returned at the head of small army of fey, 30 mites! And attacked our caves. We were nearly overrun, when brave Makon and his shieldscales crashed upon the rear of our foes and routed them. Still, the traitor escapes and raids us with his Mites from time to time. Each time we drive them away, but a few more brave Sootscales die each time. I fear I will run out of warriors before the traitor runs out of his cursed allies."
After translating, Kern turns to the others, "Personally, I'd say we agree to deal with this devil-worshipper and his mites. It cleans out a promximate danger, and puts a good seal on an alliance."
"Any objections?"
A pious one, who knew? Still, he feels the anger. Abusing faith is an easy way to manipulate good men. Darvan nods to him. "I understand your position. Come, let us go and talk at a table and break bread together. I'm sure our boss would like to hear this."
(Hope nobody was waiting on me!)
They were desperate. They were ruled by fear, their need to survive causing them to break their traditional closed minds and forcing them to ally themselves with the more civilized races. Excellent. Faore concluded. They were already paranoid and angry, having only just throw off the collar of their previous master. It would be not hard to convince them to wear one of human-make, if it kept their purple-scaled enemy from returning.
"I agree. These lizard folk seem bound to some sense of honor, enough that I doubt we shall need to fear them, at least until their true enemy is silenced." Faore spoke up.
"I'd say leave Ser Jory out of this. We make a decision, and go with it."
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The Chief grunts.
"I am not looking for Longshanks to fight my people's battles, but for allies to drive the forces of Chaos from these lands. If Longshanks will stand besides Scalyfolk to defend our land, Scalyfolk will stand besides longshanks to drive out stamen."
Faore notices movement to the south of their position. Slow and quiet, but she can see the heads of several small creatures approaching. They are not Kobolds. The rest of the party does not seem to notice, nor the Kobolds.
Suddenly, a volley of crossbow bolts spring forth from the tall grass.
Hit
Miss
Hit
Hit
Miss
Miss
Hit
Crit Threat!
Miss
Hit
Miss
Crit Threat!
Miss
Miss
Crit Threat
All but Faore are flat-footed. Faore, there are 15 mites and 1 Kobold 80 yards straight south of your position. You have a move or a standard action to respond before Round 1 Starts.
Initiatives
Mites (will operate as 2 units)
Kobolds 12 including the Chief.
Unit 1 Makon and his spear band.
Unit 2 Chief and his Guards
Party Initiative
Initiative Order
Tartuk
Chief's Unit
Kern
Darvan
Makon's Unit
Brok
Mite Unit 3
Mite Unit 1
Faore
Kobold Unit 1
Mite Unit 2
Dealing Damage for normal hits.
Resolving Crit Threats
Does not confirm
Confirmed
Miss
Faore has taken 8 damage, Kern has taken 3, Kyra has taken 6.
Round 1
A fat purple Kobold stands and begins casting a spell.
Suddenly a large spider appears 40 feet behind the party.
The Chielf's guards close in around their leader and pull javelins, before advancing 20 feet.
I'll have a simple map up by eod.
Kern and Darvan may go.
Darvan curses, drawing his bow and loosing a shaft at the nearest enemy.
Kern casts Shield, and moves to cover.
Kyra had been mostly quiet, following along meekly. Almost unnoticeable in the background. It was like, in some ways, her guiding force had just gone out of her... but now, hit by a crossbow bolt, that force came guiding back. Suddenly, she went from a background decoration to being alive, pulling out her bow to return fire, aiming at the nearest foe.
"Bring it, you cowards!"
Okay, how did I get here again?
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Cool. Brok's arrow flies wide. Kyra's arrow strikes true against a Mite, but the creature does not seem to take all the damage.
Makon's unit charges forward 30 feet before launching a volley of Javelin's back at the mites.
Crit Threat
Miss
Hit
Hit
Confirmed
Makon's Javelin perforates a mite, killing it where it stands.
This javelin strikes the Mite, but seems to just graze him.
This javelin sinks into the Mite's shoulder that Kyra already struck, hurting him but he doesn't take all the damage and is still living.
Two of the Mite Unit's reload and open fire on the on-rushing unit of Makon and the other Kobold Unit.
Crit Threat
Miss
Crit Threat
Crit Threat
Miss
Miss
Hit
Hit
Hit
Does not confirm
Does not confirm
Does not confirm
Damage
Makon is still standing but he's in really bad shape.
Kobold 2 falls.
Kobold 3 is still in good shape
The Chief howls in pain, but it's only a flesh wound.
Faore's up!