"Yes but the suspicion won't be on us. Your plan has us relying on the human prisoners. What would the chief say if he knew you put any amount of faith in humans? If we put the crazy one in the center they'll be none the wiser."
"We will not rely upon the slaves to be more than props. The woman we can leave unconscious by the fire pit along with perhaps one or two of the scouts we killed all of whom can be left seated. Another body we place in one of the towers. Only Oozullas slave will remain conscious and will be placed in the other tower so the returning humans can see movement. One of us can be left there to keep an eye on him. Even if the humans do suspect anything it will not be until after they have entered the camp and then it will be to late."
Ryzztyl snorts, his head bobbing from side to side in amusement. "Not that I care what the chief would say... and I'm surprised you would go to him, considering we're both in similar positions... but I never said I was putting my faith in a human. My faith only belongs to Dahak and myself."
"Yighuk is speaking along the lines I was meaning. And the slave man can be partially bound, gagged, as well as watched over to prevent signals. It allows us the opportunity, should we choose, to 'hide in plain sight' as a recently fallen raider or whatever may catch our fancy."
"You must couch a lie in what looks like the truth. Their compatriots becoming strange sacrificial cultists makes little sense. Their licking their wounds from repelling a force of kobolds, however, is easy to believe."
"Humans see better in daylight. We do not. We will already be at a disadvantage. I would rather not give them another by letting them know Kobolds were involved at all until we strike. And I don't get how you can miss the point do thoroughly. I want them confused. I want it to not make since. I want them on guard against they're own companions and not us. It doesn't have to be a false ritual. They could just be sitting in a circle by the fire. Or make circle from the tents and make strange noises from within. Draw their attention to something other than the real threat. Us. If you want to play dead and hope they don't stab the bodies again to make sure, be my guest. But I hope you will see the wisdom of my words by morning. I need rest to replenish spells and if we use your plan, I may need all of the." Fyrenmar effectively ends the conversation by walking away to prepare for bed. He retrieves his pack from the small cave they hid in that day and sets up his bed away from the camp human camp.
Meanwhile another question came to Oozulla's mind and she asked her slave:
The human replies to Oozulla's questions:
"He said, that other bandits probably might split without woman's guidance. Some might travel downstream the river to find their Staglord, others - might flee north or east", translated kobold.
"This might be last option on menu: we take our stuff and leave while they are away... We leave a track to lead them into ambush, just in case they want to follow us. If they follow - we confront and kill them. If not - we still have to deliver eggs to our tribe and we have another tribe to war with..."
This was not much of help, but Oozulla was putting everything she had to find a best solution.
"If they will split without their leader then I do not think they will pursue us. I care nothing for these men beyond the slaves they can make or message their deaths will send. However if they have eggs from another clan then we must claim them. I would also know why this Staglord desires our eggs. When it was just our tribe it seemed he merely sought to strike at us where he thought us weak but now he takes eggs from another tribe...one he knew of when we did not."
He pauses for a few moments and considers his own question.
"We have been to the fort of this Staglord in our own patrols. We will deal with him in time but for now let us finish this. Let our casters begin their rest while Blokpug, Szzlax and I set the bodies and trap the camp."
Ryzztyl bobs his head. "I do like that last option of leaving them to their own devices, but Yighuk has a point... If they have eggs from this other tribe, then we must have them. They could be of use when we encounter them, giving us a position of strength."
"Perhaps a mixture... We loot and leave the camp but stay close to witness what they do. If they leave the eggs and flee, we let them and take the eggs. If they move to take the eggs with them, we bring them down. They may have the light, but we have the numbers, the power, and the cunning."
Yighuk considers Ryzztyls thoughts, "As you say we must have the eggs. We have seen that these bandits greatly fear their Staglord leader and so I have no doubt they will take the eggs to him. If we could know which path they would take to his keep we could ambush them along the way but they are too wise to follow the same path twice. Perhaps one or two might choose to leave but all must suffer for their affront."
"Let the battle be here. We hold surprise and a place they believe safe. The towers give our casters advantage and some safety. These four will not stand long against us."
Seeing no further objection Yighuk recruited Szzlax to help him drag bodies about. Getting one of the dead into the far tower took a bit of work but in the end was successful. Leaning the body against the side of the tower his hope was it would be taken as a bored guard on duty. Turning to those on the ground the remaining dead were situated about the fire pit leaning on logs or in their chairs.
The central tower was left for Oozulla and her slave as well as any others who would prefer to be off the ground. Finally the woman he made sure was bond well and gagged before tying her to her chair.
Looking about and retrieving the javelin he dropped during the battle he then took up a position in the woodline to rest and wait.
In the morning everybody prepares himself for the ambush, Oozulla memorize new spells , meanwhile Fyrenmar and Ryzztyl are ready to use all their powers.
Szlaax has also fully recovered from his previous wound.
After a few hours of waiting... nothing seems to happen:
the forest is in a big natural silence with only few animal rumors sometime to time.
It's about 11 AM when some of you finally can see something happen.
First you almost not noticed him, but now you are able to see a red kobold stealthily moving in the bush. He is prone, in a studded leather, with a crossbow in one hand and a shortsword hanging on his hip.
You easily recognize him as some kind of scouting kobold, but also you are all absolutely sure that he is not one of the Sootscale's tribe.
your updated map
"Interloper! That one and his fellows will spoiler our plans." His eyes narrow as he considers the options. "If we attack he will flee and get the rest. Best to let him come to us and kill him quick or perhaps he will see the human and fall back to plot and plan. With luck the humans come before they can prepare."
Yighuk lets out a low angry hiss when something to the southwest catches his eye. Without leaving his position he indicates the direction with a slight toss of his head to any of his fellows who might be looking his way. Making sure his axe is at hand he continues to watch in that direction.
Yighuk hisses towards southwest, and with his aid everyone is able to locate a prone red kobold in a studded leather, with a crossbow in one hand and a shortsword hanging on his hip.
updated map for everybody
The red kobold answers towards Yighuk with a hiss of challenge too, and fire with his crossbow. Maybe due to his anger, o maybe because of a bad aim, the bolt missed the lucky Yighuk.
This event ignites a combat encounter.
Round 1
ENEMY KOBOLD:
With a surprisingly speed the first to act is the red kobold, still prone in his place he recharge his crossbow and fires another bolt towards Yiguk, missing him again.
GROUP A:
Yighuk and Bokpug
When the kobolds crossbow bolts begin flying past Yighuk breaks cover and moves boldly towards the red kobold. He bangs his axe upon his shield as he advances proudly displaying the Sootscale emblem upon it. His posture and manner unconsciously takes on a puffed up swagger as he instinctively attempts to impose his dominance upon the unknown rival.
"Fool! We come to kill humans but will warm our blades with your blood if you insist!"
Replaying towards Yighuk in a confused way:
"You are fools! Stop protecting those humans, we killed those thieves, and came to kill their mates too. The dragon wrath is upon you now! You traitors of your blood!Die!"
She whispered a short word, using magic:
"Yi! Let the stranger pass! He wants to kill humans. Say you let him fight with unarmed girl and prove he worth talking with."
She tried to stay hidden and whispered to Ryzztyl:
"Ready your weapons and hide. Lure him deeper into trap, so he could not warn others"
Bokpug was near Oozulla so could hear most of her words.
Hearing Oozulla Yighuk responds "Keep your eyes sharp, this is no foolish warmblood. His tribe may be preparing to strike even now."
"Ha! Then you are too late. The Sootscale have taken this place and all the humans are dead or claimed as slaves!" Yighuk proclaimes proudly.
Blokpug will stay hidden and whisper back to Oozulla "Keep an eye out, I doubt he is alone."
Updated Map
Ryzztyl remains hidden, listening to the banter between Yighuk and the red kobold. Prepared to strike should an incursion of enemy kobolds occur. So it seems this other clan is a little better at protecting our eggs than ours... And they follow 'the dragon'... I wonder if it is the worthy Dahak? Pity...
At first site Fyrenmar would have cautioned against drawing attention to their presence, preferring to let the interloper further in. But Yighuk's instinctive hiss at the foreigner revealed their presence. Now things were moving along at fast pace and they needed to catch up. So another tribe was attacked? And they seem to carry the traditional faith. This fool doesn't know his place and I need some answers.
Blokpug delays his action remaining hidden and ready.
GROUP A is over.
Literally flying out of the northern side of the forest, you all see a medium sized blue scaled creature... This female winged dragonlike humanoid shows its fangs while hissing his words in draconic:
"Don't touch our servant. Surrender now and we shall left you serve us, alive!"
You easily recognize the creature as a Wyvaran... some of the tribe's stories you all heard since hatchlings are about how her race is the result of magical draconic experiments at crossbreeding wyverns and kobolds!
As some tribes are leaded by a proper dragon god, others it's said are under the dominance of this kind of dragonkin.
GROUP B:
Ryzztyl
Fyrenmar
Fyrenmar stands up from behind the fallen log but keeps it between him and the trigger happy creature. "Cease your tongue's wagging before my companion rips it out," he says indicating the large, imposing kobold moving its way. "The humans here are already dead or captured, that much you can see. Yet we have no proof of what you say. So who here is the traitor hmm?"
Ryzztyl stays hidden in his place, meanwhile Fyrenmar goes on total defence speaking back to the creature.
Enemy:
A bolt hits Yighuk dealing 1 damage to the fighter, but nobody is able to locate the source of that bolt.
Then suddenly, another flying creature comes form the forest, this times from West.
This time the new female Wyvaran is Red-scaled and flying at above 30 ft from the ground, right upon the wagon; she also unleashes a powerful lighting arc of electricity that Fyrenmar barely is able to dodge due to his total defense.
GROUP C:
Szzlax
Oozulla & her slave
Oozulla saw, how deadly Szzlax and other warriors of her tribe could be. But they could not fly, so her idea was to deny opponent of his beneficial position. She whispered to prisoner:
After that, she let him go and started chanted something, whispering quetly.
Szzlax sprints toward the closest enemy, not concerned with the talk of the others. They come to attack and Szzlax will respond as he moves in toward the cart.
Szzlax double move in position, Oozulla stays hidden while commanding her prisoner to shot the flying one.
The prisoner uses his longbow shooting the red Wyvaran, and mabye because of his fear for what Oozulla told him, maybe simple luck, the hit is very powerful, knocking the red-scaled flying creature unconscious. Also the falling damage is enough to kill her when she crushed upon the wagon.
No more enemy comes to fight in this round.
Seeing Szzlax movement and the human's lucky strike Blokpug fires a bold directly to the other flying creature: the blue Wyvaran.
but the bolt missed her.
END OF ROUND 1
ROUND 2
Enemy 1:
The red kobold stands up, and fires another bolt towards Yighuk, but your fighter is able to avoid it. The red kobold drops his crossbow too.
Group A: Yighuk only
As he advances Yighuk reaches up and knocks away the crossbow bolt that had stuck in his armor. Initially intending to aid Szzlax with the red wyvaran he quickly changes targets when an arrow sends it plummeting from the sky.
Turning his attention to the first kobold they saw he attacks.
His opponent easily avoids the blow however.
Enemy 2: The blue Wyvaran continues to fly, turning her draconic rage to the human with a lighting arc, dealing 4 damage to him. Since he wasn't fully healed after the previous combat, the prisoner is knocked unconscious by the electricity damage.
GROUP B: Ryzztyl & Fyrenmar
Ryzztyl comes out of his hiding place and moves towards the flying creature. At the edge of the river he hisses a phrase, his eyes flashing, as he brings his magic to bear.
His magic released, the blue kobold grasps his longspear in both hands, threatening the wyvarn.
The Blue Wyvaran is now frightened by Ryzztyl's spell.
Fyrenmar casual moves next to Rysstyl and comments, "Now to gather the flies." He then calls upon his oracle powers and instills in his foe the need to kill his companion.
new map update
Fyrenmar moves and successfully cast his spell to the Blue Wyvaran.
Enemy 3: A bolt from the bushes hit Fyrenmar deling him 4 damage, but neither this time the red oracle or Ryzztyl are able to locate the source...
...Instead Oozulla, Szzlax, Yighuk and Blokpug are now finally able to notice another red kobold sniping from the forest.
map here
GROUP C: Szzlax, Oozulla & Blokpug!
Blokpug will load another bolt and look around for whatever is attacking Fyrenmar. If he sees anything he will call it out to the rest of the group and fire.
The one Wyvaran dieing on the cart now, Szzlax turns his attention to the red Kobold engaged with Yighuk. Taking a swign with his earthbreaker.
Blokpug points a direction to his team mates warning them, and even if his bolt badly missed the target, that aid is sufficient to reveal the other prone red kobold on the eyes of both Fyrenmar & Ryzztyl.
Szzlax moves and attacks the red kobold already engaged by Yighuk, dealing him 5 damage
Oozulla touched her slave, sending a shadow to fill him with some life force.
When she saw he had opened his eyes, she whispered: "You are not allowed to die now. Kill another one flying!"
The former bandit stands up and fires another arrow. He hits the Blue Wyvaran but this time the shot is not so critical as he did before. "only" 4 damage.
End of Round 2
ROUND 3
Enemy 1:
The red kobold engaged by Szzlax and Yighuk draws his shortsword and tries to attack the green barbarian, but Szzlax is able to avoid the blade.
GROUP A: Yighuk
With his tribemate near Yighuk begins circling around their opponent while lashing out with a flurry of attacks.
The first red kobold is able to avoid Yighuk's hand axe and his bite, but the fighter's tail instead hit him dealing 2 damage to him.
Enemy 2:
Following both the impulses of escaping from Ryzztyl and Fyrenmar's compulsion of attacking one of his ally, the Blue Wyvaran moves down and northward, directly charging the prone red-kobold and dealing him 3 damage with her unarmed strike.
The prone red-kobold squeaks "Mercy, mine lady, mercy!"
GROUP B: Ryzztyl and Fyrenmar
Ryzztyl crosses the river and launches a spark of electricity at the enemy, but the spark goes over their heads.
And Fyrenmar gets within 15ft of the pair and unleashes his draconic fury. It probably wouldn't hurt the red one to bad but it might scare him.
Not all the red kobolds are so strong in their draconic heritage...
Both the enemies took 4 damage from Fyrenmar's Fire Breath.
Enemy 3:
The red kobold stands up from his burned land and moves drawing his short-sword to menace Ryzztyl, but doing so he provokes an Attack of Opportunity from the blue Sorcerer's longspear.
GROUP C: Szzlax, Oozulla, Blokpug & Oozulla's slave.