Legacy of Old Sharptooth (Inactive)

Game Master T.A.U.

Old Sharptooth replies first to Oozulla:
"In time you will learn to embrace more of mine Shadow Patronage, mine dear Oozulla, and beyond hexes and spells things you could never understand now. I've no doubt you will serve me as well as you served me in all your life."

Answering to Yighuk the shadow said:
"I have chosen you as mine legacy, not someone else.
The time of the prophets is over. In the centuries I've inspired many of them. Their mission was to move their own seal as near as they can to the others ones and near to you, blood of mine blood.
But now their time is over.
When some of you will touch one of the seals you will be able to recognize it. It's mere external form it's not the matter, it has changed many times in the centuries. Freeing the draconic essence contained inside is the focal point, and this must be your goal."

Then to all the presents he adds:
"From scattered eggs and different tribes you will make a whole. To unify all the kobolds under a unique rulership.
To form something the others races have never seen since a long time, a Kingdom of dragon-kin, so numerous and so powerful to be feared. An Empire that can't be scattered away. Mine draconic blood flows in your veins, and in all the veins of all the kobolds, it's time for the rest of the world to definitely recognize it!

Ryzztyl shakes off the awe at encountering this deific presence as the talk continues, smiling at the last statement. "Yess! A united force of dragon-kin can overcome any obstacles to create our own empire with your holy guidance once you are free from your prison... It shall be so!"

"You speak well Ryzztyl, although you always preferred to worship mine old brother over me, you embody both mine storming rage and the draconic pride of our blood. You and your chosen mates will became a paragon for the future of all our kind!"

"By your leave then Great Shadow, we will return to the Sootscale so that they may have the honor of being the first to bend knee to your Chosen and form the start of your army."

"Don't hurry, mine champion. I know is your imperious blood speaking for you. But I foreseen a perilous return to your home lair for you mine legacy. I spent centuries in dreams and planning, to mislead the ones who trapped me. The blood of dragons never need to rush. And we still have few moments before mine connection will fade away."

Unless some of you is going to take the "Commune with Power" Universal Path Ability, you will have a few chances of speaking directly with Old Sharptooth in this part of the campaign. So I'll leave you up to 4 questions, one other question for each of the four PC. Use it wisely :)

As the others ask questions Szzlax simply asks "Where we go smash more enemy of tribe?"

"Under the ruins of an old temple, on the shores of the lake, and more southern to them. In the far east and west.

After a pause the shadow also adds:

but first you will have to fight the fool gnome who hides inside your tribe!

Yighukiskar's eyes burn with rage at the mention of the gnome infiltrator. "Fey trickster spy! We will find this deceiver and hang his corpse upon our gate!" Settling himself a bit he asks, "Great One you have told us of our enemies and so I ask of possible allies. The red tribe has come to the area in pursuit of your divine will. Are there other dragonkin whom your glorious call has brought to the area?"

Ahh. Wasn't aware that Sharptooth and Dahak weren't the same, the former being a koboldization of the latter.

"A brother to Dahak is worthy of reverence all the same."

"Perhaps my question will be in the detail behind the response to Szzlax's question. How can we discover this gnome who dares hide inside our tribe?"

Oozulla waited for a moment, before asking her question. She wanted to hear other answers and then take a decision.
I have question in mind, but I'd like to hear the answers first

@ Ryz: When I adjusted the AP's story-line from the koboldish point of view I also decided to have "Old Sharptooth" (a simple idolatry in the original version of the AP) being a real divine entity and your Mythic Patron. So I created a story for him, having him being part of the Golarion's Myth of the dragon gods family: Apsu, Tiamath and Dahak.
I also assigned him some fitting Domains for his worshipers with divine class, and decided for him being the Patron of eventual witch's PC (like Oozulla). I also was very happy when you choose the Stormborn bloodline for your PC 'cause it was fitting very well his Air and Wind domains :)

Answering Yighukiskar Old Sharptooth says:
"In the centuries I gathered different kobold tribes to this region, not all of them survived the test of time. Your tribe was the one more successful, so I choose you, the hero of the most prominent one, to carry the spark of mine divinity. You probably will have to fight the redscales current leadership, their mission in mine hidden scheme was to bring here one of the seals, luckily the succeeded in doing so. The rest of their tribe and their eggs will surely help you increasing the numbers of our glorious empire. In this lands you will be able probably to find some others draconic creatures and the few remnants of others kobold tribe who didn't survive in time. Unify them with the powers I gifted you, submitting their ranks or instead crush those so fools to refuse joining the new kobold kingdom."

Replying Ryzztyl instead he says:
"It will be not so difficult finding him, if you think of your tribe's mates. All but One were eggs who hatched in your tribal lair. He was the fool who brought the war to your lair, proclaiming himself as mine prophet, yet ignoring mine true divine nature. His mere evocation resembled mine aspect, yet it's not mine true avatar. He planned of deceiving you to the extinction with war and false superstitions, but instead he also became a tool for mine plane too by bringing to you mine first seal. Yet he is a menace to the tribe and must perish. Such is Mine will!"
The shadow starts to disappear during the last speech, marking that the connection time it's running out, and there is probably time for only one question left...

"As we know, there are tatzlwyrms that are living south from here, at the lake. I believe they might become our allies. But Your Divinity, mentioned that there are fey of the Green Order, who are our enemy. Could you share about other sides, that might swing and help us in pursuing a noble goal of raising a Great Kobold Empire?"
Oozulla tried to speak as quickly as possible to get question in time, before Shadow dissapear.

"Hers agents are not only fey themselves, her current major threat to you is a human bandit lord. You will meet others local populations: lizardfolks, trolls and so on, and of course all the others not local races such as humans, elves, dwarfs and so on. I trust only dragon blood for our future empire, individuals could be voted to our cause and bonded to us, like what you are planning to do with your human slave. About any alliances with other sides you will have to value how much it will serve Our cause."
saying the last words the shadow completely disappears from the room leaving you four with Mikmek, now free to move again, and the unconscious Oozulla's slave only.

Szzlax motions to some hiding spots before moving to gather what is inside. "We go smash gnome. Take things to make tribe strong!"

Pride evident in his every gesture and movement Yighukiskar preens and paces with visions of conquering armies and growing empires in his mind. Willfully putting aside such future glories the warrior refocuses on the here and now. "My kin we are choosen! Greatness awaits us but as the Great Shadow councils we must pursue it with the coldness of our blood. Let us gather up what stores these fey had and return to the clan. Give no sign that we know of the false prophets true self. When he comes to collect the holy vessel we shall set upon him."

"Mikmek! You stand as witness to that which has happened, blessed to have been in the presence of the Great Shadow, Old Sharptooth! Now you shall be honored again as the first to bend knee to His chosen." Yighukiskar takes the gear marked with the kobolds initials and awaits his answer.

Mikmek is now visibly in better conditions then before, all his removed scales are now back on his body.

"I owe you four mine own life for rescuing me, and I owe to Old Sharptooth mine draconic pride who is back, and mine soul too. You also recovered mine lost gear and the weapons and armors of mine fallen team mates. Mine things and me are at your complete disposal. But, before I may knee to you, let me say I'll be honored to share with you mine most precious treasure.

Saying so Mikmek moves to the table where he recovers 2 parchment sheet between the others. Those are 2 very accurate maps.

"This are the results of mine entire life of exploration. Of course not of mine knowledge could be placed on a scroll, but with this maps you could ask me about places you never saw, and so I'll tell you all I discovered in many years. I swear eternal allegiance to you, chosen Legacy of Old Sharptooth."
Saying so Mikmek moves back to the team and kneels to you, offering the 2 maps.
Mikmek first Map
Mikmek second Map

I've updated the campaign info page with the url of the 2 maps too

Yighukiskar nods to the kneeling kobold. "Your offering of service and knowledge are accepted. Now see the tools of your trade returned to you by the four chosen of Old Sharptooth. Rise and be recognized as our warden. It will be your task to know our lands and those around them. To find the hidden ways, to know the beasts and briars, to find the lairs of our foes and see our lands protected. Rise now as Mikmek thrice Blessed for this day your life has been returned to you, you have been restored and you are the first to kneel in our service."

When the impromptu ceremony is complete he turns his attention to Oozullas slave. "This one served adequately. It has been in Old Sharptooths presence as well and is honored even if it is just a slave. You have plans for it?"

"Yes, Yighukiskar," said Oozulla, "I've heard humans can learn and adapt to everything. I'd like to let him live and serve as my bodyguard. As I walk Path of The Shadow, I will have more magic at my disposal, but someone need to be there to watch my back and carry my stuff along the way. Old Sharptooth read in my mind, what I plan to do for with this one and let him live. I think human slave might pass the ritual and earn his kobold name."

In case you missed it, the slave was knocked unconscious by the apparition of Old Sharptooth, but was left alive by his power.

Mikmek rises, and starts wearing his armor and gear.
Meanwhile Oozulla's slave slowly start being conscious again.

Yighuk nods. "It is time we returned home then. Our efforts here have brought success beyond measure and it is time our tribe learned of their new destiny. First we will see to our fallen kin."

With that Yighukiskar gathers up the skull of the mite king and ties it to his pack before leading the group back to where Mikmek had been tortured. Along the way he gathers up mite skulls and heads as grizzly trophies.

Anyone have a thought on how kobolds might honor their dead?

Edit : Yighuk had noted the slave was unconscious, he just didn't much care. The fact that he remained breathing was just enough to have the fighter take note of him :)

Thanks for outlining that, GM. I understood that he was able to see, what happening and then lost consciousness. I will fix my post to rephrase that.

@Yighuk, I do own Kobolds of Golarion, and I will check it for any hints

@ Ooz: when the shadow appeared he was able to see it, but then there was the "energy blast" who knocked him unconscious before any conversation toke place.

When you exit the Old Sycamore you find that the evening has left place to the darkness of the night. It will take to you about 8 hours to go back home, and you will probably arrive tired and at dawn.

On KoG I don't remember anything about deaths, burial and funeral rites, but I'm away from home in this day and don't have the book with me... so I may be wrong.

I have it and will do some looking in a bit.

Taking some time to pile the lesser skulls at the entrance to the warren beneath the great tree, but retaining the kings skull, Yighukiskar marks the entrance with the symbol of the Sootscale before they set out.

Tasting the early evening air he considers the journey before them. "It would not do for us to arrive at a disadvantage. Mikmek thrice Blessed, do you know of a place close to our tribe that we could find rest and safety for the day?"

Mikmek thinks for a moment before answering:
"There is a cleft between the hills, not so distant from our home. There are no reason for tribe's mates to go there, and it's bigger enough to allow all of us to camp unseen if we avoid using fire."

Yighukiskar Looks to his fellow Chosen to gauge their thoughts.

"I don't mind stopping there. My human is wounded (I don't think he was healed by Sharptooth manifestation). I hope we can get out of there to tribe caves before sun will shine brightly - it hurts my eyes when we outside."
Oozulla raised her bag: "This is what mites have stollen, except Sharptooth's. We need to check if there is something useful except coins"

As far as I understood, Statue of Old Sharptooth we were commanded to retrieve still exists? It doesn't dissapear.

Of course Old Sharptooth didn't healed the slave.
The statue still exist. The shadow came from inside it, but didn't destroy the item.

Ryzztyl chuckles at the response to his query. I had always thought he was a fool, but a fraud as well? Very rich!

"Yes, let us prepare ourselves and plan to deal with the gnome we know as Tartuk, false prophet of Old Sharptooth."

Following Mikmek's guide your team is able to reach the Cleft and camp there. The place is very hidden and ideal for camping: there is a small water spring and a cavern ideal for resting.

After you settle down, Mikmek thinks about Ryzztyl's last words and restarts the conversation:
"We need to have a proper plan in facing Tartuk. You all should remember how he was able to summon that Old-Sharptooth-ish shaped creature, the one we thought was an avatar of the god himself, but who evidently was only a false conjured creature. Although an heretical one, that creature is still a dangerous threat.
Also, mine lords, what are your plans for the tribe?
Do you intend to remove the current tribal leadership of Sootscale? Yighukiskar, are you going to remove your own master from his position? Maybe we can find a better solution. The tribe can't afford losing one of his best warriors, our numbers are so low after this war, and we still have to face the menace of the redscales tribe you were speaking about."

"Fear not Mikmek thrice Blessed. I have no intention of removing the Chief. He has led the tribe well and his strength and guile will be a boon to the kingdom to come. No, if my fellows agree, we will speak to the Chief and tell him of the glories to come. He will take his place as honored chief of the Sootscale and faithful servant of the Chosen. If he will accept this role he will remain and when we have gathered a great host he will be given the honor of sitting at our right hand both because it is from his tribe that we were chosen by the Great Shadow and because he was the first to acclaim our greatness. It may not be easy for him to accept this at first but it will happen. He has seen our guile when we captured the human slaves, our courage when we recovered the tribes young and our might when we struck down the entire tribe of mites that so vexed us. He is wise and will bend knee in the presence of Old Sharptooth's Chosen."

Having said this Yighukiskar pauses and looks about, considering the sounds of the night. Every sound and taste on the air seemed so much more vibrant now. The divine energies surged within him each time his thoughts turned to the grand warhost to come, the shades of it's endless numbers hovering just beyond his sight.

Turning to his fellow Chosen he then continued, "As for the gnome I suggest this. We return as we had sworn to do and seek the Chief first without announcement of our return to the tribe. It is my hope he will see wisdom and submit. Then we send word to Tartuk that we were successful and await him to return the relic in the chiefs throne room. There during the ceremony we will ambush him and strike him down. It would be best if he can be captured but we will do what we must. What say all of you? Oozulla, Ryzztyl what do you make of his shadow creature?"

Oozulla commented on tribes future a bit more:
"To build an empire of Dragon-blooded creatures, we should have a solid base. Fighting with Chief will bring chaos into tribe and we will need to spend our time to build a new order. Leaving him as a ruler, will give us solid base of operations for now. He will keep his position in Ruling Council later, when we will start forming that."

She was there, when Tartuk only appeared in the tribe, but she haven't seen his manifestation of Old Sharptooth, so could not comment much:
"Good plan! I can brew a sleeping booze, the one which makes eyes close and drinker becomes unresponsive. This will take couple hours to work in tribes kitchen. If we can trick Tartuk to drink that, he might fall asleep and do not have time to call for his creature. As for nature of the creature, I do believe its just an illusion - fey-kin are keen on such stuff. He might be a Summoner, but negotiations with other plane always take time - we should probably have our weapons ready to stop him if he starts to perform any ritual"

"Mine lady, you where not there, but I can assure you that the creature was not a mere illusion. The creature was strong and real, and his claws and bite pierced throw the body of the previous shaman killing him."

"It will find us more difficult prey. now we rest, at sunfall we will return to the clan."

I'm good to camp if everyone else is. Yighukiskar will take first watch if that works.

Yig, you posted with your other Avatar :)

You spent the rest of daylight time in the cleft, none of the watch turns have something to report.
At sunset you all are ready for the new adventure. Only Oozulla's slave is the one not fully in good form. (being 3/9 hp)

Doh must have mis-clicked it :)

Let's wand Oozulla's slave to full health on the way.

Yighukiskar rises and stretches away the days stiffness. Finding a convenient rock upon which the late day sun still shines he crouches, squinting, and absorbs the warmth from the dying light and stone while he awaits his companions.

Szzlax has a difficult time sleeping, use to being active during the day and resting at night, but eventually rests waking to the dieing light of the setting sun. He goes out to meet Yig "Plan is good, but I not want to mess it up. You tell Szzlax when to smash yes?"

Yighukiskar smiles at Szzlax's statement "Do not worry my friend, when the time comes you will know. Strike when I do and we will see our tribe purged of this fey trickster."

So, your plan is to go to the tribe and speak with Chief Sootscale before confronting Tartuk?

Mikmek wakes up, ready for what he suppose is going to be a new long night, an historical night for the future of the tribe...

"So, how are we going to move? If we approach the lair's entrance, all of us together, the news of our caming back could easily spread and reach the purple's ears."

"I had thought to enter through the front gate and speak with the guards so we might seek immediate audience with the chief. If you know of a more hidden way then let us take it."

If anyone has K:Local could they try and get a feel for how many of the clan might be fanatical supporters of the purple scaled prophet?

The majority of the tribe is not so fanatical, you don't need a knowledge check to know it. Old Sharptooth became the tribal patron only a few months ago, when Tartuk came and crushed the previous shaman summoning the "avatar" of the god.

"There is an hidden entrance, but from there you have to pass thought Tartuk's quarters to reach the Chief's room... unless you think of killing the purple fey first and then speaking with the Chief, that's not a way."

"What say the rest of you? Should we stick to the plan or use this entrance to seek out Tartuk directly?"

Szzlax shrugs "Szzlax think we smash the fake then you talk chief. Then fake not have any chance to prepare."

"I don't like us setting Chief after the fact, that prophet has been killed. But it's better to strike first and solve that later. Could you heal my slave, he doesn't look good and I'd like him to cover us during fight with Tartuk. And I'd like more time to watch the shadow dance of my snake, it might reveal something useful."

Changing spells to:
1st: Sleep, Silent Image, Mage Armor
0th: daze (DC 13), message, guidance, stabilize

"I'm sure that, even if the Chief will come into Tartuk's quarter during the fight, seeing you and me together will be enough for having him join us. He reluctantly accepted the purple one as Shaman seeing the power of that false avatar. The previous shaman was a good friend to Sootscale, Nakpik and me. With your new gifted powers from the real and true Old Sharptooth we can only prevail in our struggle and purge this fey trickster out of our tribe!"

"So be it then. We make for the hidden entrance."

"Right, I'll lead you to the secret entrance. But we will have to pass trough it in single file. Also your human slave Oozulla will have to crouch down until we reach the quarters. The tunnel is not for high pinkskinned."

Saying so, Mikmek starts leading the entire group up to another hill, and from there he opens a little rock, revealing the entrance

Alright, waiting for you all to be ready. Ryz can cure the slave using the wand and having him be fully healed at 9 hp, as Ooz asked, if he wish so.
I'll also need to know what will be your order into the tunnel.

If the way is clear from here Yighuk will take the lead. I know buffs don't last long at this level but now might be the time.

"Mikmek thrice Blessed, where will this tunnel exit in the lair?"

"In the northern part of the Shaman quarters, Yighukiskar. This way goes south-west and pass near the hatchery, but not so close, so that our approaching can't be noticed by the ones inside the eggs' chamber." answers Mikmek.

Szzlax follows close behind Yig ready for a fight.

Nodding in acknowledgement of the scouts statement Yighukiskar continues along the path as silently as possible.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24