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Vanarog raises an eyebrow (if he had one) as Jabber starts to get ornery "Hey now. Vanarog not your enemy here Softscale, he keep you from harm, feed you, and give you job. You best be nice to him, ok?" As they continue on the majestic one pulls out his papers and scribbles down the name Jabber, muttering something about no respect.
As they arrive at the next stop of their guided tour Vanarog speaks for the first time since the Troll. "Very fancy warren here. What are these 'bis' you speak of?" He straightens his regal looking cloak so it isn't ruffled or wrinkled, in case they meet someone important.
Once invited inside Vanarog is sure to lead the way, letting his minions follow in the wake of his cloak "As Skyrahk say, well sort of say, we are here about HALMON, not Haldron. We trying to find the free longshanks, they coming from far away place of Nidal." He picks out the largest and most comfortable chair, plopping himself down and taking the largest two cookies and a cup of tea.
Jabberin’ James still looks distrustful of Vanarog, but he can’t resist showing off his local knowledge. He takes the second most comfy chair. “Bis is the name o’ the neighborhood. All the neighborhoods o’ Kaer Maga got names.”
He points to a small map on the wall that shows all the Ring and Core districts of Kaer Maga. “As you can see... Although the map looks simple, traversing the actual city is anything but.” Not to be outdone by Vanarog, he grabs three cookies and a cup of tea.
As Vanarog speaks of Nidal again, the half-elf's expression darkens “As Duskwardens, we do our best to protect travelers. In the case you are referencing, we do not know exactly what happened. There was a Duskwarden assigned to watch over that group, but he never returned.”
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Though she is different from the other kobolds, Engashez doesn't necessarily see herself that way... or at least she doesn't savor having it pointed out, so she's a little unsure when James singles her out the way he does. She tries to give the other kobolds a nervous smile with a hidden shrug, as if to brush it off. Still, what needs to be done needs to be done, and she does seem to understand how to speak to outsiders in a way the rest of the Sewer Dragons just don't. She follows as James leads the way to Bis.
Engashez is enthralled by the vertical arrangement of the strange neighborhood, though she gives Jabbering James an odd look when he speaks in reverence of the higher neighborhoods. Longshanks always get it wrong. Think sunny views are best views. Her eyes return to the deeper darkness at ground level and she sighs in comfort.
When taken back into the Duskwardens den, she begins probing for more information after exchanging the necessary pleasantries. "Did you know this other Duskwarden? What can you tell us about them? Would you have any records, either of the assignment, or that this Duskwarden might have kept themself?"
Talben sighs. “His name was Drellis. He was a human man in his early thirties with black hair that always stuck up in the back in a funny cowlick.” She bows her head. “Finding him is our responsibility, not yours. That being said, if you do find him, we would be most grateful if you could return his body to us.”
“I don’t have records on the assignment other than he was bringing six people from Nidal.” She bites her lip. “There are a number of paths that he could have taken past any number of vaults. Along the path there usually isn't much beyond the usual danger in the form of treacherous terrain, and if you take it slowly you'll be fine. Once in a while, though, a creature creeps out of a vault and onto the path. That's where we step in. Since no one from that party has reported back, and we haven’t had alarms from their charms... We fear the worst.”
“We have over 300 vaults under the city. Most of them lie quiet most of the time.” She looks at all of you, and pulls out a yellowed list and puts it on the table where you all can gather around. “I have a list here of some vaults where we've noticed disturbances or unusual levels of activity. Maybe that will help narrow it down.”
She watches as you read the list. “Does anything here strike a bell?”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Based on the information we've gathered so far, the following vaults seem most likely to be the source of the problems.
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Pethjun scoffs at the actions of the small softscale. I can't help he can't take a joke. But at least he's shut up! The quiet from him is nice for once!
_________
Her reverie is broken once the rude one breaks into chatter again. With a grumbling heave, Pehtjun mutters out a "Nice well it lasted...", before mentally tuning out the jabbering again.
In the room, Pethjun immediately takes the largest chair, bored with the ramblings of everyone else. When the tea and cookies are brought out, she gets up and grabs a small clawful of them and a cup of tea and heads back to her seat to see it occupied by Vanarog. She levels a low gaze at the softscale and clears her throat. "I'd been sitting there."
The point is proved moot as the Duskwarden brings in the paper and Pethjun finds something to do other than yapping. She sets down her tea and while nibbling the cookies absent mindedly looks over the list.
"Hmmm, If we're looking for other true dragons, then Burrower's Dive, Frall's Wake and Shining Deep are unlikely. Our kind don't tend to make smooth passages, or like bright or well lit places. And personally I would hate being near a constant moaning, almsot as much as I hate constant chatter."
A sip of tea and a cookie later she continues "The Torturer's Pain might be the best. Sometimes our traps just look like strange devices to the untrained eye."
She then looks up from the paper and drains her cup of tea. "This is good, but I could go for something stronger. You have anything like that? Maybe some Throatburn?"
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"My chair." States Vanarog with an air of contempt, although the situation is quickly resolved as the list is brought out and Vanarog, being most important, needs to get a choice spot to view it. "Long list here. These far apart? Can we explore more than one?" He asks as he looks through, taking his claw and lightly crossing things off as they don't seem relevant.
"Pethjun speak true. Deeper and darker better. Anything with shiny crystals good. Magical metal things always good. Water... eh not so good." These places must have powerful magics.. or at least nice gems to trade for powerful magics! Must convince other to go here...
"That settles it then. We start with Torturer's Pain then go to Shining Deep and Scintillating Halls. That were Kobolds would be." He takes a step back and grabs up an unattended cookie, reclaiming his seat on his throne.
Jabberin’ James looks at both Vanarog and Pethjun. “This isn’t my quest, but you lot’s been the ones I been guidin’ so... Did you remember the exact words of what Nuregore said to you? If were you, and I spent gold on an Augurin’, I’d listen to what the troll had to say.”
"The troll said that it reaches far below the surface, and draws dangers from the darkest depths. That sounds like the Darklands to me. I suggest we try the Sparklegrim Passage."
She's probably not still trying to escape the vision of the sunny estates at the top of the Bis neighborhood, but you can't quite be sure.
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Vanarog looks up at Jabber with annoyance He starting to be less useful.. how is Vanarog going to find the big, magical treasures if we don't go where they will be! GAH! The eyes on his staff glow in red and Vanarog puts his tea cup down with a CLANK.
"Maybe you need less talking more walking! I thought you worked for us hrmm?" The annoyed majestic one sighs dramatically as he blurts out what he remembers from the Troll "Really deep and dark.. easy to get lost in. That really many places right? All deep and dark and deep stuff easy to get lost right?"
"Sparklegrim Passage or Blighted Well sound very dark and deep, and things seem to disappear right? They don't sound real good though for kobolds. Maybe these kobolds not near so smart as Sewer Dragon kobolds. They not know things we do." Vanarog continues to glare at Jabber as he retrieves his cup and dunks a cookie daintily into it.
Vanarog never even noticed he was speaking over Engashez the entire time.
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“I work for you lot, sure, but I’m not the one going down in those depths...” Jabberin’ James shudders. “From here on out, you’re on your own. No way am I goin’ down into those vaults.”
Talben looks thoughtful. “So your final consensus is Sparklegrim? Very well. I give you access to that vault and will take you down as soon as you’re ready.”
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Athrax having spent most of his time following along hacking a coughing and in an under daze over the whole events that have transpired. Was I seeing things again? I mean those checmicals that one time in my lab did give me funny thoughts. Ahtraz recalling his days of sitting in a not so venitlated lab he laughs loudly I mean Vanrog did look funny with the pink scales with the purple polka dots. "HAHaha... Hack.. Cough.. Wheez..."
Having laughed to hard Athrax doubles over as if in imense pain grabbing his chest. It feels like I am caught in another cave in again. pulling a small jar from his side he shakes it vigoursly and uncorcking the end he breathes in some of the fumes and sits down plainly in the center of the room.
Having caught his breath again he speaks "Whew that was crazy. I agree Sparklegrim does sound close to where me might find some Softscales. Though they are not True Dragons such as ourselves."
Athrax quiclly makes a cocpy of the list present by Talben and when no one is looking quickly pulls the honey pot from the plate "That might be good for something later." and also grabs as many cookies as will fit into his mouth.
"Weadwe wen oou ar." cookie bits falling form his mouth.
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Fazgyn follows along the others, tolerating the jabbering softscale but enjoying the effects he has on some of the other members of the party. As they reach the troll, he first grabs for his sword, then giggles at the "joke" on James, before reeling backwards in disgust and revulsion as she cuts her stomach.
That takes some guts.. he thinks wryly as she begins putting things back where they go.
At the office of the Duskwardens, he finally breaks his silence.
"I agree. The Auger said deep, dark, and dangerous. There is no place better that we belong!" he exclaims gripping his swords in glee. "We will find these slow fangs, and we will find your missing soft scales. Then we will show you who the best and truest dragons are!!"
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Pethjun narrows her eyes testily as she catches sight of the pompous one sitting in HER chair. She steps over to the place where all of the cookies are being kept, but in route she 'suddenly' is 'struck with a bought of coughing. 'Sadly' it happens to be right next to HER chair, and is so 'violent' it causes her to lose her balance and topple into the chair and Vanarog. After a second to 'catch her breath,' (involving several deep 'Throatburn-tinged' breaths right in Vanarog's face) she stands back up. "Oh, I must have what ever is plaguing Athrax! Vanarog, you might want to be careful you don't catch anything!"
She then proceeds to the cookie plate, while musing out loud slightly. "Right, forgot about what she had said. We probably want the Sparklegrim Passage then. It was my second choice!"
Another 3 cookies and weaker than what she'd want to be drinking tea in her belly, Pethjun turns to the group. "Okay, let's go grab some Throatburn and then head down there!"
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Seeing her compatriots snacking on so many cookies, Engashez finally goes to the tray and gets one herself. She takes a careful nibble and immediately coughs it out.
Are these sewer dragons? Why they eat so many of these sweet crackly crumbly things? I want meat!
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Talbren raises an eyebrow at the group bickering. “Alright, let’s go down. I do advise you to keep quiet for most of the two hour journey into the vaults. There are all sorts of monsters that lurk just beyond the Halflight path, and I don’t want to advertise our presence to everyone of them within a three mile radius.”
Jabberin’ James looks up from where he was noisily slurping his tea. “Yep, that’s my clue to leave!” Jabberin’ James takes his money and bows as he runs out the door. “Pleasure doin’ business with you! Look up ol’ James again for all your guidin’ needs if you’re ever above ground again!”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
She leads you into comfortable territory for dragons: the winding paths that lead underground. There are many sights to see on your way: waterfalls that seem to go on forever, breathtaking drops and chasms, crystalline formations and strange noises that skitter and scratch in the distance.
Talbren raises a hand and stops abruptly. Reaching in to her uniform pocket, she withdraws a handful of glowing crystals on leather cords. She whispers, “These crystals are called Halflight charms. Each of you should carry one with you. They provide a bit of light, but that is not their primary function. I’ve heard that dragons such as yourselves don’t need light to see, anyway.”
She pauses holding up one of the charms. “If you find yourself in dire straits, clutch the amulet and call for help. The nearest Duskwardens will learn your location and come to assist.” The Duskwarden leans closer. “Do not call for us lightly. The disturbance in this vault provides me and my fellow Duskwardens with an opportunity to see the mettle of the Pathfinder Society for ourselves. However, if your life is truly in danger, don't let pride get in the way of good sense. Activate the charm and flee.” She pauses for a moment before adding, “Normally, I would be able to guarantee that the signal would reach us, but given the circumstances, try to wait until you've fled the vault proper before activating the charm. Otherwise, we may have the same trouble finding you as we've had locating the other group.”
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Pethjun gives a good riddance glare and huff at the retreating form of the halfling. Finally some quiet!
_________________
Happy that most of the pointless prattling that had been all of the day is over and mostly absent for the two hours that it takes to get to the vault, Pethjun enjoys the darker lighting and majestic beauty of the place. [i]It's almost as beautiful as our sewers, almost.[/ooc]
At the end of the silence though she is almost glad to hear someone speaking for a moment, before she realizes the crystals are for if they FAIL. She almost reaches up to rip it off, offended, before realizing that it'd be more impressive if she had the chance but never took it. "Just so you know, I won't have need of this, ever. I'm the Personal Bodyguard to Chief Yiddlepode herself! It'd be a shame to my station and our tribe if i needed someone to come rescue me. It is pretty though, so I'll take one." With this she tucks the symbol away into her headdress.
Marching in at the head, or the head of the general party, Pethjun takes a look around. "Let's double cehck there's nothing off to our left , it might be a dead end but I want make sure of that first before we put our backs to it!"
Muuuuch better!
Engashez is visibly pleased by the new environs. The Duskwarden's admonishments had done much to quiet the petty bickering of her companions, and these sights were simply delightful. She marvels at the waterfalls, at the crystals, and at the quiet echoes that come from traveling in underground tunnels. This is living!
Still, there was work to be done here; it was not a pleasure trip. She nods at Pethjun. Good kobold mind in that one. Petty though they all may be, that's still someone I want to have my back.
Allowing Pethjun and Fazgyn to lead the way, she peers into the cavern when she has a chance.
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Vanarog doesn't bat an eye as Jabber Jaw leaves He is no longer of use to us, good ridden!
Vanarog takes his charm and returns a toothy smile "Sewer Dragons not usually need help, but if we do these will work very well." He takes it and goes about detecting its magic with his true dragon spells, turning it over a few times as he does.
"Oh yes, very powerful magic." He says, nodding with great enthusiasm.
"Yes, take that passage Pethjun, it is good to see you can hear my mind messages so well. I will guide you from back here, don't you worry." His majestic cape flowing behind him as he keeps his eyes peeled for powerful magic and overwhelming wealth.
Pethjun glances back at Vanarog, before snorting out a laugh. "Mind messages? I haven't understood a thing you think since we were hatchlings. It's just tactical common sense."
She jostles Fazgyn's elbow and whispers to him, "Mind messages! He's got 'mind messages'"
Pethjun scoffs, but stays silent. It'd be obvious to anyone watching that that'd been a lie to save face. No point in pointing out the obvious. She instead walks off to their left and explores the dead end.
Fazgyn takes on of the amulets, and after a sniff or two of it, hangs it around his neck. "Our thanks, Duskwarden. Lead on!"
Once in the tunnels, Fazgyn tries to fade into the shadows, moving ahead of the group to scout the path.
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Vanarog’s detect magic immediately finds something interesting buried in the dirt, part of its chain just barely showing.
Everyone in the group notices right away that they feel a bit more curious here, with an almost noticeable pull towards deeper into the vault. As you look around, you notice glimmers of crystal embedded in the rock, that make the walls look like they’ve been lightly glittered.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Meanwhile, as silent as the rock itself, Fazgyn dutifully scouts ahead to the first chamber. Part of him keeps feeling drawn in the opposite direction, towards the center of the Vault, but years of professional scouting serve him in good stead. He cannot bypass any room without making certain that he’s cleared it first. Besides, this first room is interesting, too. There’s a burbling pool, and glowing crystals that shimmer nearby. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.
After a few minutes of quiet, the rest of you walk forward to explore. Out from nowhere come shrieking goblins, with huge toothy grins and dogslicers or bows in hand! Only Athrax gets a moment’s warning, hearing a slight scraping against stone before they start moving in!
“What? More stinking lizards in our cave?
No! We need more room for goblin races!
Dance to the death! It’s a murder rave
Skin them, burn them, smash their scaly faces!’
Too late, Fazgyn realizes that he’s snuck right past goblins that were also hiding, and that both he and they were so busy sneaking around that they failed to see each other! Fazgyn, the goblins appear to have no idea that you are there.
The Green and Gold goblins attack!
Both goblins miss horribly!
Then Orange shoots Pethjun!
This shot is more successful! “Ha! I’m best shot!”
Finally Red charges Pethjun with a dogslicer in either hand!
“Slice your tail off, Lizard!”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round Surprise
Green and Gold
Orange and Red
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Athrax (surprise)
Round 1
Active conditions: None!
Vanagog
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Green and Gold
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Fazgyn
Skyrahk
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Orange and Red
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Athrax
Engashez
Pethjun (-15)
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Athrax, are you doing something in the surprise round? Vanarog, you are the top of the next round and may act now as well!
Seeing the green and gold goblin fire their weapons and horribly failing at hitting their intended targets Athrax laughs loudly.
"Ah Ha! Clearly you are not the best shot. Hahaha. Let me show you how it's done."
Cackling Manically Athrax tosses a bomb towards the unsuspecting victims.
DC15 for half
Should bomb miss
Athrax’s maniacal bomb hits Gold squarely!
Gold does not evade, and it hits him for full damage! “Uh oh. They got a boom bozo!”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1
Active conditions: None!
Vanagog
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Green (-5)
Gold (-8)
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Fazgyn
Skyrahk
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Orange and Red
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Athrax
Engashez
Pethjun (-15)
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Vanarog, you are up! It’s the regular round!
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Vanarog pulls a small charm from the dirt and looks around the cavern. He immediately sends Pethjun a mind message but gets annoyed that's he's being ignored. "Answer your mind messages Pethjun! Thanks to my incredibly powerful magics I have found one of those duskyman charms in the dirt. Maybe it one from our lost slaves?" He twirls it around his finger before putting it in his pocket.
"These sparkly cave walls all very strong magics. VERY strong. These charms not going to work here, too strong magic." With a flip of his cape he continues on, used to being ignored. Time will come when you need Vanarog the Majestic, ooo time is now! As bow strings twang and goblins charge.
He pulls out his stick of thick scales and applies it quickly "Protect your leader!" He squeels and the magic is activated.
An angry and smoking Gold drops his bow and pulls out both his dogslicers as he tries to attack Athrax. “No one bombs Gutslice the Gold!”
Not wanting to be left out, Green also drops his bow and draws both dogslicers, menacingly. However, Gold is blocking his way to Pethjun, so he attacks Engashez instread! “Yeah, stupid bombing lizards!”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1
Active conditions: None!
Vanagog
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Green (-5)
Gold (-8)
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Fazgyn
Skyrahk
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Orange and Red
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Athrax
Engashez (-4)
Pethjun (-15)
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BOLD is up!
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Green and Gold take full damage. Gold crumples to the ground. Red manages to shake off part of the damage.
Meanwhile....
Orange smirks at his teammate’s predicament, but does not fall down in gales of helpless laughter at it.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1
Active conditions: None!
Vanagog (need will save)
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Green (-14)
Gold (DEAD)
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Fazgyn (still sneaking)
Skyrahk
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Orange
Red (-4)
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Athrax (need will save)
Engashez (-4)
Pethjun (-15)
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BOLD is up!
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Vanarog watches the wave of unholy energy roll towards him, he gives the stinkiest of stink eyes to the source of such energy I will remember this day devil woman! He grits his fangs and leans into the force, his majestic cloak rippling and billowing behind him as he endures the (laughable at best) blast. "Vanarog far too powerful to be hurt by your baby magics!" He brushes himself off like it had no effect.
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Not paying much attention past the fiery explosion he just caused a moment ago enveloping the Golden Goblin, Athrax smiles clapping his hands as the wave of energy washes over the group taking the now bronzelooking goblin down.
As the last bit of negative energy crackles along his body you can see a visible fire building in the kobold bombers eyes. Crazily he looks about for his next intended victim.
Click. Whirr.
Fazgyn five foot steps into flank with Pethjun around the Red Goblin and then viciously attacks with both blades, slicing the goblin in half!
Orange watches in shock as Fazgyn shreds his partner.
Although it was funny to watch Red’s head get sliced off, he suddenly realizes the gravity of his own situation, and holds it together long enough to shoot! “This goblin turf! You lizards will pay for this!”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1 / 2
Active conditions: None!
Vanagog (-4)
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Green (-14)
Gold (DEAD)
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Fazgyn
Skyrahk
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Orange
Red (DEAD)
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Athrax (-4)
Engashez (-8)
Pethjun (-15)
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BOLD is up!
Vanarog’s powerful magics strike the green goblin and slay him on the spot!
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1 / 2
Active conditions: None!
Vanagog (-4)
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Green (DEAD)
Gold (DEAD)
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Fazgyn
Skyrahk
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Orange
Red (DEAD)
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Athrax (-4)
Engashez (-8)
Pethjun (-15)
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BOLD is up!
Fazgyn leaps from the darkness, shredding his foe into bits of stinking meat. "Goblins not even real fight!" he calls over the backs of the goblins and to his companions. "Thats why I let them in.. I knew you could fight them and I could hit from behind!!"
However, any idiot can see that the kobold is shaking a bit.. obviously unbalanced at having let the sneaky foe behind him.
I'm supposed to be the sneaky minion!! Now, they'll take my title away!! he thinks desperately and dejectedly! He puts on a good talk, but the idea that his friends are hurt because of him shakes him badly.
Engashez gives the little goblin a look of shock, a Why me? look if you ever saw one. Two of our most potent fighters converge on you, and yet you target me, in the back row. Goblins.
"Fine," she grumbles, drawing her sword as she moves forward. "It's like that, is it?!"
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Pethjun jolts in surprise when the goblins hop out, that she's completely not ready for their attacks. As she dodges the first arrow, she gives a hissing laugh. "Haha, you can't hit ME, Pethjun the..." Her boast is cut short though as Orange's arrow burries itself deep into her shoulder blade. Rounding on the Orange-soon-to-be-soup-stock, she completely misses the red one and its dogslicers until it tears into the flesh of her tail.
The resulting roar of pain dulls her reactions, making all the bombs, arrows, falshing blades, spells and waves of energy seem to come one after the other, flashing too fast for the kobold to readily process much less react to. She sees in dismay that one after the other the goblins are cut down, blown up, or degraded by magic. Her eyes finally settle on the Orange one, and her vision narrows to the one living enemy. With a ROAR of pain, animosity, and confusion burned into anger, she advances on the small thing. "YOU! WILL! DIE!" Tugging her rapier out, she stabs forward with the weapon.
Her blind rage, however, makes her blind enough she completely misses!
Engashez and Pethjun converge on the one standing goblin enemy. Alas, both the wounded warriors miss the archer!
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1 / 2
Active conditions: None!
Vanagog (-4)
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Green (DEAD)
Gold (DEAD)
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Fazgyn
Skyrahk
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Orange
Red (DEAD)
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Athrax (-4)
Engashez (-8)
Pethjun (-15)
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BOLD is up!