Kereek, not speaking Gnomish and clearly not understanding the body language, continues to send his rope across to the stranded wagon, while motioning for Prazil to tie the other end to his war-triceratops.
Prazil calls out in surprise when the gnomes splash into view, "Ack! Gnomeses! Do smelly gnomeses need help?"
Kereek pauses. "No! Smelly gnomeses need spices!" He then breaks into snorts of laughter, enjoying the old kobold joke.
Treshiell moves among the crowd, floating from party to party, often interjecting herself in the middle of conversation. Her contributions consists of a few nonsensical statements, one or two observations, but mostly probing questions way beyond the realm of small talk.
Treshiell picks the last thorn from her rose and weaves the flower back into her unkempt hair. She fastens the thorn to the jaw of strawman she's spent the last hour making, completing the row of fangs. The witch places her creation on the table infront of her. The figure immedietly tips to the ground, unbalanced by it's large snout and forwardtilting posture. She shifts her gaze from the strawdoll to Kereek. On her shoulder Thaal does the same. "What makes you think that?" she asks.
"Ponies", Treshiell says and dismounts. "You should help them."
Kereek looks somewhat confused. "Well. You is human. He is human. You is female. He is male. You is pretty. He is pretty. Kereek figure you mate, make many eggs. Besides, you only not-mated female human Kereek know."
"Doesn't anyone around here speak the Common tongue?" mutters Agnar. Since the river is shallow enough to be forded here, he'll ride his horse out to the wagon, attempting to calm the ponies and unharness them so they can get to shore.
In that case, let's revise the action. Agnar will wait until the rope is secure and see if the dinosaur can pull the wagon free. If not, he'll pull himself out to the wagon using the rope and try to calm and free the ponies.
Seeing the horses in distress Orin will swim out to them and try to calm them down enough so that they can be unhitched.
Swim check:
Kereek looks somewhat confused. "Well. You is human. He is human. You is female. He is male. You is pretty. He is pretty. Kereek figure you mate, make many eggs. Besides, you only not-mated female human Kereek know."
Treshiell tilts her head to one side. Thaal's tongue flicks in and out of his mouth as he mimics the witch movements. "Is that how it works?" she says to Kereek. "What about Agnar or Orin? Or Rupert? Or Kersten. Or the sirens?"
As Jon approaches...
Jon: 21
Kereek: 21
Orin: 15
Gnomes: 15
Prazil: 8
Agnar: 6
Treshiell: 5
Having not noticed the gnomes' frantic gestures changing at the sight of the kobolds, Jon begins shedding his armor as Kereek casts his spell and begins sending a rope across the river.
Orin dives in, but struggles against the current, not making any progress out toward the wagon and panicking ponies.
The gnomes pull their crossbows, opening fire at the two kobolds and Prazil's mount. Most of the bolts go wide -- the gnomes' haste making them poor shots -- but one hits Kereek and Prazil ; two hit Spike, though the first merely bounces off the young triceratops' tough hide .
A badly bruised gnome standing on a nearby hillock, his eye blackened and helmet askew, yells out "Back, kobolds! We beat you off once, we'll do it again!" He fires a bolt toward Kereek, far more accurately than his companions, taking the red-scaled sorcerer in the chest. "Help us," he calls out to the rest of the group.
"The kobolds are with us and trying to save your stunted behinds, you durned flamin' turnip-eaters! Shoot another bolt at Kereek or Prazil again and by the Horns of Erastil, I'll let Gozreh's flood carry you and your wagon downstream, and may it knock you into pieces against every rock along the way!"
Round 2
"Ouch! Hey! Prazil am not for hurting smelly gnomeses! Why am you shoot Prazil?! You am want wagon to drown?!"
--Prazil--
HP: 29/30
AC: 24 (14 T / 21 FF)
CMD: 19
F/R/W: +4/+5/+2
Cavalier's Challenge uses remaining: 2/2
Tactician uses remaining: 1/1
Ongoing Effects: none
--Spike--
HP: 26/28
AC: 21 (13T / 18 FF)
CMD: 17 (21 vs trip)
F/R/W: +5/+6(evasion)/+2
Kereek looks pensive. "Kereek pretty sure that how it work with humans. Kereek spend time watching humans mate. Humans no like this, so Kereek is very very sneaky. Is strange. Like kobolds mate, but longer with more ree-ligg-on. Lots of praying. Kereek figure you is female, Jon Jon is male. Jon Jon is big leader now, needs many eggs to fight and see who rules when Jon Jon is old. Agnar and Orin no make eggs. Jon Jon mate with Orin or Agnar, no eggs, no little Jon Jons. Jon Jon need female. You is female. You make eggs with Jon Jon?"
"OW! Why stupid gnomeses shoot Kereek? KEREEK HELP STUPID GNOMESES!" Kereek struggles to keep up his spell to send the rope out to the wagon, but seeing Orin valiantly leap into the water and begin to swim, sends it to him instead.
Round #2
Orin continues to struggle against the current in his attempt to reach the wagon as the gnomes appear on the far bank and fire at his companions.
Swim check:
Finally reaching the wagon Orin begins trying to calm the panicked horses so that he can unhitch them and lead the to safety.
Handle Animal check:
or
Wild Empathy:
Round 2
Yeah I'm not sure which one would be more appropriate, but I would definitely go with the higher roll as well.
Treshiell notices Orin's intent to help the horses and wades out into the water. She stops as the waters rise up to her waits and lowers her arm to the surface. Thaal slithers down her arm into the water and swims up to Orin and circles the ranger. Thaal's and Treshiell's eyes both catch fire simultaneously, and the witches magic is released onto Orin who starts to grow.
Kereek looks pensive. "Kereek pretty sure that how it work with humans. Kereek spend time watching humans mate. Humans no like this, so Kereek is very very sneaky. Is strange. Like kobolds mate, but longer with more ree-ligg-on. Lots of praying. Kereek figure you is female, Jon Jon is male. Jon Jon is big leader now, needs many eggs to fight and see who rules when Jon Jon is old. Agnar and Orin no make eggs. Jon Jon mate with Orin or Agnar, no eggs, no little Jon Jons. Jon Jon need female. You is female. You make eggs with Jon Jon?"
[dice=Concentration]1d20+13
Treshiell pulls up her legs and sits crosslegged on her stool. She turns to Kereek. "Why do you think I should choose Jon over any of the other males?" Because he has power? I already have power. Growing power", she says smoothly. "Thronehold is growing. There are other females that can act babymakers."
Kereek looks interested. "Ooo! Who? Jon Jon am needing many eggs if him be good leader! Kereek am looking for egg-layer. You is good big hero, speak proper language, much much power! You make good mate! But if you no want mate with Jon Jon, Kereek must find new egg-layer. Who is good egg-layer for Jon Jon?"
Jon continues the work of taking off his armor.
Round 2
The gnome leader seems startled by Agnar's outburst, but he calls out something in gnomish and the other gnomes put down their crossbows, though they keep a wary eye on Prazil and Kereek.
As Jon continues to doff his armor, Orin makes it to the wagon, where he suddenly grows as Treshiell's spell takes effect.
Round 3
Orin manages to calm the horses, though their eyes still roll nervously as the current continues to pull the wagon and, thus, them downstream.
Round 3
Prazil waits impatiently for someone to secure the rope to the wagon. Once the rope is tied off, he begins leading Spike away from the bank which hopefully will draw the wagon closer.
--Prazil--
HP: 29/30
AC: 24 (14 T / 21 FF)
CMD: 19
F/R/W: +4/+5/+2
Cavalier's Challenge uses remaining: 2/2
Tactician uses remaining: 1/1
Ongoing Effects: none
--Spike--
HP: 26/28
AC: 21 (13T / 18 FF)
CMD: 17 (21 vs trip)
F/R/W: +5/+6(evasion)/+2
"Orin! Tie rope to wagon! Big lizard pull wagon out!" Kereek calls out, straining to be heard over the rushing water.
Seeing Orin taking things well in hand, Agnar calls upon Erastil's power and slips into the tongue of beasts, belting out a series of whinnies to the ponies.
Treshiell stands waist deep in the stream. She holds her right arm like a bridge between the water and her body for Thaal as he comes swimming back and coils himself around the witch, halfway up the arm. Treshiell folds her knees and disappear under the surface. Within seconds she reemerges soaking wet with her long hair clinging to her head and torso like a dead octupus. She turns her back on the scene and wanders up on the bank.
Round 3, Init 21
Jon spends the round pulling off the last couple pieces of his full plate.
As the gnomes watch, Orin and Agnar are able to calm the horses somewhat.
"Neeeigh, neigh, whinnny!"
"The water is pulling us! Let us free!"
Round 4
What the...? Orin gets a little freaked out by the sudden growth spurt until he spots Thaal swimming in the water nearby. Scooping the little viper out of the raging river he pats it on the top of its head "Thank your mistress for me when you return. he tells him as he places him back into the water.
Orin garbs the mysteriously floating rope and using his knowledge of woodcraft secures the rope to the wagon to make sure that the cart and the horses are not swept downstream before he can loosen their harnesses and lead them to shore. "Agnar, tell the horses that I will lead them to shore as soon as I make sure that the wagon will not be lost before I can free them." he shouts above the sounds of the rushing water.
Survival (tie knot) check:
Round 4, Init 21
Finally out of his armor, Jon rushes into the water to aid Orin.
"Might want to hurry! They're pretty riled up!"
Kereek, finally free of his cantripping rope trick, makes sure that Prazil has tied the rope to his new big lizard thing and begins jumping up and down, cheering on the heroes.
Round 4
Prazil hops in front of Spike locking eyes and with one hand on the smallest horn, begins to walk backward coaxing Spike away from the river to secure the wagon. Once in position, he then waits for a signal from Orin that the horses are free before resuming their plodding walk in dragging the wagon to shore.
--Prazil--
HP: 29/30
AC: 24 (14 T / 21 FF)
CMD: 19
F/R/W: +4/+5/+2
Cavalier's Challenge uses remaining: 2/2
Tactician uses remaining: 1/1
Ongoing Effects: none
--Spike--
HP: 26/28
AC: 21 (13T / 18 FF)
CMD: 17 (21 vs trip)
F/R/W: +5/+6(evasion)/+2
Treshiell stands near the water line soaked to the bone and watching the rescue mission. "Are you at war with the gnomes?" she asks Kereek while she watches.
Kereek stops, tilting his head to one side. "Kereek is no at war. Gnomeses is stupid things, always falling into kobold pits. Silly gnomeses! When kobolds try let them out, gnomeses run onto kobold spears. Gack! Dead gnomeses. Kobolds eat gnomeses, because kobolds no want dead gnomeses go to waste. Kereek tell you secret," He leans in close to Treshiell, conspiratorially. "Gnomeses no taste good. Funny taste, like when meat go bad. Also, give you tummy ache, make you dream funny dreams. Turn tongue blue. Blech!"
Orin's able to tie the rope to the wagon and free the horses, who swim back to shore. At Prazil's command, Spike begins walking away from the river but can't make any headway with the heavy wagon.
"Agnar! Horsies need am for to help Spike! He am still baby!"
Agnar gives Prazil a nod, nickering at the ponies.
Agnar will lead the ponies over and fix the rope to their harnesses so they can add their strength to the towing.
The recently enlarged Orin will take advantage of his increased size and strength and help the horses and Spike move the wagon by getting behind it and pushing with all his might.
Strength (aid another) check:
Jon finally gets to his intended task of providing Orin with some backup.
Kereek looks interested. "Ooo! Who? Jon Jon am needing many eggs if him be good leader! Kereek am looking for egg-layer. You is good big hero, speak proper language, much much power! You make good mate! But if you no want mate with Jon Jon, Kereek must find new egg-layer. Who is good egg-layer for Jon Jon?"
"There are people in Thronehold. Have you looked there?"
Kereek stops, tilting his head to one side. "Kereek is no at war. Gnomeses is stupid things, always falling into kobold pits. Silly gnomeses! When kobolds try let them out, gnomeses run onto kobold spears. Gack! Dead gnomeses. Kobolds eat gnomeses, because kobolds no want dead gnomeses go to waste. Kereek tell you secret," He leans in close to Treshiell, conspiratorially. "Gnomeses no taste good. Funny taste, like when meat go bad. Also, give you tummy ache, make you dream funny dreams. Turn tongue blue. Blech!"
"Your shaman was a gnome. Did he eat his own kind?" Treshiell asks.
Kereek nods. "Kereek look for good egglayer. But you is big hero, have much power! You make powerful eggs! Is hard to find egg layer as good as Treshiell Who Talks Right."
"Hmm. Maybe he no eat gnomeses food. He say him stomach not good for gnomeses."
With the others' help, Spike's finally able to pull the wagon to shore to the cheers of most of the gnomes. Though the leader continues to eye you suspiciously, one of the others invites you to joing them: "We were just getting ready to eat when we were attacked."
Prazil pats Spike affectionately before reaching into his pack and producing a fistful of sweet grass as a reward for the dinosaur. He then strides over to help untie the harness, whistling triumphantly as he goes. His whistle suddenly shifts into a squeaking yelp as he sees Orin.
"Ack! Orin! You am biggerer now!" Prazil gasps then, looking around with a panicked expression. "Gah! Oh no! What if it am Prazil who am smallerer?! KE-REEEEEEK! What am happening?!" The grey scaled kobold begins to hop frantically from one foot to the other as if trying to run in three directions as once.
Kereek grins a wicked grin, then calls out to Prazil. "Quick quick! Only cure is river water! Prazil gets wet or Prazil shrinks to mouse size! Quick Quick!"
As Jon climbs ashore, the sun bounces off the water on his body at such a perfect reflection that it expresses a beauty that even the most experienced bards would have trouble putting into words.