Back to draconic, Laknir speaks up.
What are you two doing? Don't tell me this is going where I think it is. Stigly, you follow Sarenrae? She teaches mercy man, not execution for attempted theft. Is this really how you want to hold up her teachings? And Rex, why not bring them to Chief Koba? He avoids looking at the tengu so as to avoid worrying the already scared guy.
The tengu starts squirming and crying, but does not put up a whole my of resistance. Resigning himself to the fact that he has no control he looks up at Torphrex with as much sorrow in his eyes as possible.
In Draconic Torphrex smiles.
"We need to keep the chase for the egg stealer. And we can't leave them behind us. If you want go ahead, I'll catch with you in a minute. I promise they won't suffer. We are not barbarians, after all."
With his blood sugar restored to acceptable levels Stigly, for the first time of the day, appears contemplative for a moment. Mean nasty birdmen are very violent. They attack snarl and stab at poor Stigly. The Divine one says justice must be swift for those beyond her redemption. Also Stigly not want to use bell to take bad birdmen to Chief. Chief just execute them for attacking snarl.
Stigly, as he says this, appears almost saddened by circumstance.
Cutting through the arguments and noise a pleasant strumming and whistling can be heard. coming into sight a white scaled winged kobold appears.
Dressed in blues and greens a small guitar in his hands and wearing a pendant with the symbol of Caydean Cailean.
the well kept reptile speaks in Draconic backed by some odd Taldan accent, Executing them could cause a political mess brothers, it is already hard work maintaining some kind of peace. Ah yes where are my manners? I am Draah'zhin from a brother clan nearby. The great Zam sent me to assist your clan in it's time of trouble He he bows quickly a confident smile on his face.
"Why a political mess? They came uninvited, they won't be returning home. That is all."
Exactly they won't be returning home or anywhere if you kill them. Most humans already see us as vermin or worse barbarians, killing this one gets you nothing but minor pleasure now which you will forget about as soon as people get angry that another of their kind is dead. Beside if you let them go they owe us favors, and that is far more useful don't you think?
"Owe us? I would be more worried to have them behind us, knowing things about us. As I said, go ahead, I will catch up with you in a minute. You don't need to worry about this."
Do me a favor and explain to me their exact crimes, as far i understand eggs were stolen or something. What is the tally at precisely? in terms of where we each stand on death.
They attack the snarl, murder and maim innocents, then steal money and precious eggs. The Divine mother tells Good Stigly, Lord of Fire, Divine Diviner or Divinations, Scorcher of bugs, and Maker of Lunch He holds up a pot containing the last bits of gruul as he says this last part, offering it to the newcomer. Birdmen be mean, aggressive and violent at the core. If kobold go to city and kidnap little humans, they be killing kobold. Birdmen steal eggs and shiny money and kill Stigly's kinfolk. It be right to have swift justice
Thank you for offering brother but i am not hungry at the moment, it would not be proper. Can they speak by chance i am curious to hear their side. As it stands with that knowledge i believe we should have them sent back to your chief, deciding what to do with prisoners of war falls on his shoulders. Draah'Zhin sighs walking over to the tengu speaking in almost perfect common,
Can you tell me why you did this? If for some reason you speak elven i know that as well if you are more proficient. I wish to help end this without bloodshed if possible, but unless you tell me the truth that may not be possible
I thought we were better than this.
New fellow. It seems to be that no matter what we do these poor fellows will be lost souls. The Chief of this snarl would either execute them anyway, or put them in a labor camp. They would suffer the least here and now.
The tengu stare at you Draah'Zhin from his bound position obviously not comprehending your words but understanding that the group is talking about him. You can see in his eyes he is resigned to his fate as his eyes are wet with tears.
If they are already bound, Torphrex will slit their throats.
"We don't have to lose. Let's find the eggs."
Y- Laknir stops talking when he hears the body thud on the floor.
Very well then. As you command, king. Laknir quietly follows. For the moment anyway.
Draah'zhin kneels before the corpse briefly muttering a prayer
May you find peace in the afterlife He begins following staying near the back writing in a small leather bound book. He quickly puts the book away, when finished and begins strumming his guitar again
Stigly grabs 4 coins from his purse and places them over the eyes of the birdmen.
perhaps they can be redeemed in death.
Lunch done, nasty bird men dead, Stigly is ready to continue. Torphrex those are some mighty big wounds you have. Let me fix that. Can't have us dieing out of order. He looks disappointedly at Laknir as he says this.
"Thanks. Let's go."
That's no way to think, who says any of us will die.
Torphrex takes the lead.
"Stigly does..."
"Think" is a very generous word for Stigly.
I believe proper introductions are in order. So as said my name is Draah'Zhin, storyteller, mage, and ambassador; Yours are?
Yes, yes. I apologize. My name is Ser Laknir Kii, Low Knight of the Order of the Eastern Star. May I ask why you are down here? He holds his fist to his heart as he says this, a light thump and the rattling of chainmail follows.
I was sent by my Father Big Zam, the dragon who leads my tribe as a sign of goodwill in hopes of helping yours in a time of need.
Me Stigly, Divine Diviner of divinations from the Divine Dawnflower, Lord of Fire, Burner of Bugs, Harbinger of Death, and Seeker of Eggs.
Toki will be so impressed by how much my tittle has changed since he last saw me. Maybe next time he be made to go on suicide mission....oh wait it is a suicide mission.
Um Stigly think you be second Draah'Zhin. Laknir obviously first, and Stigly pretty committed to 3rd. Maybe Torphrex willing to trade you 4th......nonono silly Stigly order can't be traded. 2nd will do just fine.
"Shhh!"
Torphrex keeps advancing...
Torphrex checks the statue.
As Torphrex approaches the alcove, he notices a strange statue of a half-snake, half-human creature. The lower body portraying a coiling serpent and the upper torso of a human woman. The statue has six wings and a disk containing a seven-pointed star in place of its head. It's crossed arms hold a quill and whip, the entire statue covered in verdigris. While studying it for traps, Torphrex almost misses a faint outline of runes beneath the patina coating the statue. The statue is definitely trapped.
The feather is a Feather Token(Whip)
Did you find something of note? Draah'Zhins asks looking upon the Statue
Torphrex signals the others to stay away.
"Careful, it is trapped."
As soon as the others are far away, he tries to disable the trap.
Torphrex aptly disables the trap leaving the statue free to touch.
"It is safe, you can examine it now."
What is there to examine it is a beautifully crafted statue... That happens to have a bit of magic i wonder what other beauties it holds? Draah'Zhin cast detect magic noticing the quill and picking it up continuing to examine the statue.
Well other than this quill i see can not make anything else of import out. Which direct shall we continue gents?
As the other are examining the statue, Stigly begins to absent mindedly wander down the hall. He stops at the first door on the right and draws a crude frowning face with some of the left over gruul he had for lunch. He then walks across the hall and draws another crude face.
he then begins to mutter to himself
Bad stupid nasty doors, try to kill good Torphrex first..nononono listen to Stigly, Laknir first, laknir first laknir first torphrex last laknir first torphrex last
"Stigly, I am not sure we should be leaving marks... we could be tracked with them."
As the other are examining the statue, Stigly begins to absent mindedly wander down the hall. He stops at the first door on the right and draws a crude frowning face with some of the left over gruul he had for lunch. He then walks across the hall and draws another crude face.
he then begins to mutter to himself
Bad stupid nasty doors, try to kill good Torphrex first..nononono listen to Stigly, Laknir first, laknir first laknir first torphrex last laknir first torphrex last
Do you ever talk about something helpful, my dear Asmodean? Draah'zhin, you know anything about that quill?
Down this hallway that Stigly is looking and marking, the 6 doors each bear symbols and markings but none are locked. Torphrex also carefully checks each and is fairly sure they are trap free.
Each of these doors have symbols relating to the rewards of rule, or sins, embraced by the seven runelords that eventually became the schools of magic known today. The western doors in order symbolize Pride, Lust, and Wrath. The eastern doors; Sloth, Gluttony, and Envy.
There are sounds coming from beyond some of the doors. From behind the middle eastern door you hear a low moaning sound. From the other side of the middle western door, you can hear the sound of something gnawing on a bone?
The end of the hallway ends with no other doors leading out.
Torphrex asks his companions...
"Which door first? I can trap the others, just in case."
Central West door? Be careful, I hear something from both it, and the door opposite to it. Laknir shrugs out. He's still somewhat preoccupied with thoughts about the Tengu.
Torphrex, as quietly as possible, opens the door just enough to peek inside.
As Torphrex creaks open the door, a pile of bones sitting on the other side is moved along with it. Before Torphrex can react, the entire group hears a loud shriek. Running to the door and flinging it open is a creature kobolds have heard horror stories of. A human-sized creature that has a female torso, but the very long arms end three wickedly curved talons. The creature's lower jaw splits into two monstrous halves lined with sharp teeth, below bulging red eyes.
This aberration is called a Lustspawn. A creature created eons ago by the runelords of Thassilon as shock troops in their army. They feed on flesh and their bite is said to cause their sinful nature to manifest in their victim often as a sickness
The foul creature acting with alarming speed reaches out at Torphrex, raking at him with both arms. As Torphrex easily dodges the first blow, he is caught buy surprise as the other hand digs into his arm leaving a nasty gash.
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Initiative
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Round 1
Stigly
Torphrex
Laknir
Draah'Zhinn
Round 2
Lustspawn
Torphrex will try to roll past the creature to flank her.
And once there will attack her.
I'm afraid all i know of this quill is that it is magic, With the creature jumping out suddenly Draah'zhin exclaims What in the nine hells is that thing He pulls out his instrument and begins strumming a beautiful tune, his foot tapping rhythmically.
Stigly will let torphrex move then he will rush in brandishing his morning-star
Laknir will charge if able, unsheathing and striking with his novelty sized toothpick in one motion.
Instead, he cleanly damages the door, vile trap that they are. Why do they close? What are they hiding?
Without even looking back, the creature doesn't seem to notice the ineffective attacks from Laknir or Stigly, instead looking down at the kobold who had sliced her leg as he rolled past. Screeching, the creature again renews her attacks against Torphrex, not noticing or caring of her vulnerable position.
Tearing into the clavicle, the claw leaves a nasty wound and blood starts to ooze out through Torphrex's armor.
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Initiative
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Round 2
Torphrex
Stigly
Laknir
Draah'Zhinn
Round 3
Lustspawn
Torphrex will wait for his companions to flank with him, before using his small rapier to attack again.