You are one of the four team of the Sootscale Tribe sent on patrol mission by Chief Sootscale, while the main force of the tribe continues his assalt at the Mite...
After a few days of boring patrol without seeing anything, you reported back to the tribal lair. Here you found Chief Sootscale in a very dark mood, surrounded by 3 of his personal guards (Kir, Nyd and Faz)
"So you are here, finally!"
Background addition to the previous post:
You patrolled the hills outside the tribe's lair, from home to north est. Your orders were to avoid going too close to the hills surrounding the Old Sycomore (the Mites'lair at north-west), and also to don't cross the river, always staying in its northern side.
You found nothing to report, and your journey ended when the hills became the big northern plain. Then you decided to go back to home.
A black cloaked figure approaches the dais of the chief. His head is wrapped several times in black fabric as well to provide a makeshift hood. The outfit is loose and airy, perfect for the lower caverns where the earth's magma heats floor to an almost scalding temperature. A mild nuisance to a kobold.
He moves slowly but with purpose towards the four. He makes sure to stay a respectable distance from the chief so as not to provoke the guards at his sides. Yes, this number seems appropriate. The chief is still weary around me it seems. Good to keep him on his toes. The figure smiles as he pulls the wrappings down around his neck, revealing the large horns, two on the back of his head and one on his nose. He smiles wider when he sees the guards' grips tighten around their weapons.
Indeed I am Chief Sootscale. I couldn't very well say no to a summons from the Chieftain, he says gesturing with one grotesquely blackened hand.
The other one followed was a kobold female, caring a big bag and cauldron on top. She was drapped in black cloak, but she wore no hood, because here, in tribe caverns nasty sun was not burning her eyes. Her outlook was pretty common for most kobolds in there, except tiny viper wrapped around her left hand and lots of cheap copper bracelets around another. She had small ring in her left ear.
"Chieftain, we are here to report about our mission. We came as soon as exploration was finished and we can report that we found no signs of nasty mites in designated area." She took a look on Fyrenmar, expecting party leader will talk further and turn simple "nothing found" into "we done great job".
A kobold of overbearing confidence and self importance steps up and bows his head towards the chieftain, using planting the butt of his spear firmly in the dirt. Spreading his draconic wings back with a flash of bright red scales to give a larger silhouette and importance to his frame as he gives a toothy smile to the chieftain.
"Chief Sootscale, it is as the other ones say. The Mites do not seem to be on the offensive for now. I do fear though they might be planning something. The disgusting creatures have always been tricky." Yik Klik says.
"Old Sharptooth would find it pleasing if we were to drive the creatures form our lands, I am sure." he continued after a moment, licking his scaled mouth, relishing the though.
Chief Sootscale starts looking in silence at everyone of you before starting to speak again.
"I'm sure you found no mites, because a lot of them died in a great battle at the Old Sycomore. But we didn't won the war this time, instead we lost 2 battles in the same day! his voice seems very angry
Sszlax, standing in the back, shifts his weight using the big tree club to lean on and speaks up to the Chiefs words "Sszlax smash the mites and win battles! You send Sszlax to win war. Scout and no fight not fun."
He kicks a bit of dirt with his bare feet in frustration.
When Yik Klik shows up, confident and wings expended, Fyrenmar lets out a tiny puff of smoke in annoyance. No reason to be proud of those flaps of skin. Can't even fly with them. Bet they can fall well though. And his smile returns at the thought.
That is very unfortunate to hear my chieftain. Maybe the wrong Kobolds were sent to do battle. As Oozulla said, we found nothing on our assigned route. But if we had, we would have made the mites pay for their transgressions upon our tribe. And I have to agree with Szzlax. Scouting is not fun. Allow us the honor of returning the bitter taste of defeat to our enemies. Let us attack them someplace soft, someplace weak, someplace devastating. Fyrenmar emphasizes the last word, letting a trickle of fire escape his lips.
Szzlax nods his head at Fyrenmar's words and flares his nostrils, lashing his tail against the ground "Smash the mites!"
Oozulla look surprised: "Lots of mites dead and we lost two battles at once? Might it be, that we facing new enemy. Is it treason and someone is plotting against us? Do we have allies who flipped sides?" she is very angry to hear, that our tribe is losing war, even if we kill mites many. Oozulla started thinking hard, trying to find way, how she could be helpful.
The Chief listens carefully at your words then he says something in a very different tone of voice, very calm and cold:
"We have not allies in this war, a part from our faith. But perhaps you are right, you need a new mission now. A more vital mission. You must recover our future who has been stolen."
After a few seconds of silence he adds:
"We lost the first battle at the Old Sycomore, their defenses were stronger than the last time we met them. But when we came back home, we found the lair itself profaned by some big human-kind.
I don't know why they did it, but they killed the 3 guards at the entrance, and 2 others members of the tribe in the hatchery. They took nothing else a part from the Eggs, no treasure, nothing else.
That was a more ignominious defeat for all our tribe, the second in the same day. Yes, you are the right team for this task.
Hunt them, find them, discover why they did it, and of course destroy them, but more important, recover the stolen eggs! This must be your priority."
Yik Klik's nostrils flared in fury at the desecration of the hatchery.
"We will bring the judgement of Old Sharptooth down on these human-kind, and destroy them for such an atrocity Chief!"
Stamping the butt of his spear down on the dirt angrily, "They will wish not to have crossed the Sootscale."
Sszlax licks his lips and gives a toothy grin "Yes Sszlax smash the humans. Then we can eat them! Sszlax always want to try smashed human."
He picks up his big tree club and lugs it over his shoulder and turns to leave so ready to fight he doesn't think to ask where they are supposed to go.
Using humans to fight for them? The mites have gotten smarter.
It will be done chieftain, is all he says and turns to head to after Sszlax. But when the big oaf heads in the wrong direction he says, This way fool. We shall start at the hatchery and work our way to the humans.
If the great chief wishes such a task to be done, nothing bad can come of it
A massive mountain of a kobold, clad in imposing scale armor and holding a sooty shield in his offhand, steps out from the back of the group.
Anything for the tribe, Great Chief, but doubly so if we get to gouge out the nasty human folk eyes and roast them over our fires.
Yolp seems to notice everyone for the first time, and seemingly sizes them up. His eyes stop over Fyrenmar, who seems best to know what he's doing.
Let the small, crusty brother lead the way!
Szzlax snarls at Fyrenmar for calling him a fool but shrugs and turns to follow him, more interested in smashing the humans and eating them then fighting with the puny red kobold.
Yik Klik waits for a moment so that he could be heard by the chieftan.
"Chief, do you know where the humans came from, or went to?"
Oozulla took her bag: "I'll hex their children, if they have those, to die in awful death. This is least thing could be done, for desecrating a hatchery. " She followed everyone, because she wasn't great in tracking someone, but she knew her way around with all the creepy stuff.
Before you left the Chief's room he replies to Yik Klik:
"Remember, I want to know why they did it. I already asked Mikmek to investigate about it, he and Nakpik are at the hatchery now. Tell them I sent you for this mission. Now go!"
You quickly exit the room and went to the hatchery, there you found the Scout leader and the Smith talking each others:
"...that could be interest.." Nakpik stops his words seeing your arrival, while Mikmek asks you directly:
[b]"What do you want? I told the others we are very busy now!""
Fyrenmar stops before the two hands behind his back. We're here to relieve you. Chief Sootscale has asked us to look into this invasion by the humans, he says to MikMek. He then turns to look Nakpik right in the eyes, What seems to be so interesting master scout?
to see if either lies to me.
"Fine, Chief is sending you to this rescue mission, I'll have more time for mine others duties. What I discovered is that those 6 humans came here, 2 of them by horse the others on foot, they arrived from north-west, but not from the path that leads to the Old Sycomore hill. They left their horses outside, entered crossing directly from the entrance to the hatchery, and then took the same way to north-west after they finished the raid. Mikmek says to you after Fyrenmar reply.
You are sure that Mikmek is not lying
Nakpik adds to the conversation
"I was saying that it was very interesting that their path is not directly from the Mites' lair, if they are related to our enemies. Also, if 4 of them are on foot, well, they can't have gone so far.
I says we follow the humans and eat their horses with our teeth!
And maybe they have some shinies!
Yolp strides over to the exitway, eager to test his suit against worthy foes.
Fyrenmar nods his head in agreement. Indeed this is interesting.
@Yolp: In due time Yolp. In due time. We must find the fools first. And a little more information could go a long way.
Turning back to the scout and smith. Can you tell us any more interesting tidbits, adding emphasis on interesting. Armor? Weapons? Any use magic? Do we have any Mites as prisoners? Maybe I could get one to talk.
If they brush him off or refuse to talk further.
Tell. Me. Now.
"We have no prisoners, so no Mites you can interrogate unless you find them out of the lair."
Says Nakpik replying to Fyrenmar, then Mikmek adds his own:
"About your others questions: they were wearing probably some kind of light armors from the trials they left or no armors at all, and from the dead bodies they are using both some kind of piercing weapons, I'll say shortswords or daggers, and arrows too.
The soon you go following the trial, the soon you will probably find them before the trail vanish. I'll show where you can begin tracking them."
After saying so the scout leader exits the hatchery and goes to the entrance and then out of the lair, to the top of the hill.
Fyrenmar seems to ponder over the revelations. The chief may have jumped to conclusions about the connection between the humans and the Mites. Or the Mites are smarter than we gave them credit for. Doubtful. I wonder if I could use this to may advantage. Either way the eggs need to come back. Our clan is too small to suffer that loss.
All of this happens within moments before he comes to a conclusion. Szzlax, see if you can find the trail and follow it, but stay out of sight if you find them. The rest of us will follow after an hour. If you find them and they are still moving wait for us. If they have stopped double back. Leave us a trail to follow. When we find them we can move on from there.
He then looks at Oozulla and Yik Klik. Might want to find something to cover your eyes. Its still sunny outside, he says with a smile.
Yik Klik huffs indignantly.
"Old Sharptooth protects us. It is but his trials. We should recover these eggs as soon as we can! He will protect us." Yik Klik says this rather matter of factually.
To think such kobolds are afraid of some sun. It is good I am here. He gathers his cloak and pack around him, and grips his spear.
"There is little time to waste."
Fyrenmar rounds on Yik Klik sharply and storms over to him, nostrils flaring with fire. "Quiet you fool. We will not fail this mission because of your ineptitude or your god."
He then backs away and circles the winged kobold, explaining in a calm yet forceful tone. "If you want to rush after 6 humans and get yourself killed, be my guest. I'd rather tackle this situation with a measure of intelligence. We are Kobolds. Our forte is ambushing, so we will use it. Also the humans attacked during the day, a time most of our kin are inactive. And they only stole the eggs, nothing more. That means they knew what they were after. So, the eggs are safe, for now. They most likely believe we won't come after them till night fall and the horses are probably for the eggs not riding. There were too many eggs for just six humans to handle. They'll be moving slowly. Sure they are half a day away already but we should still catch them by nightfall if Szzlax is as good as they say at tracking. That is when we will strike. On a battleground of our choosing, at a time of our choosing. Can you comprehend all that?" he asks condescendingly.
Oozulla put her cloak hood over her head, to completely cover her head and eyes.
"I think, I'll be fine now." she said and headed behind Yik Klik and Fyrenmar. But as Fyrenmar started speaking, she become a bit hypnotized by his words. "This kobold is clever one, I should keep up and let him to do his stuff. "
"Long-shanks are usually clumsy, if they carry heavy stuff. Probably, we can reach them during night if we keep on marching and not waste our time for small talk"
Yolp's massive frame is still turned to the exit, but gradually turns his frilled, armored head to the group.
Hexy one is correct! We must move our tails now! Szzlax may have keen eyes, but mine are more practiced.
Yolp seems to gaze down the tunnel for just a moment, then shrugs and sets off.
for tracking the filthy humansies.
This way, brothers and sister!
I have my work cut out for me keeping this group in line. As Yolp bounds towards the tunnel Fyrenmar stands still. As the others go to follow he stands still. Waiting. They turn to see what is taking him and eventually Yolp does too. He waits, they wait. The only indication that he is even moving his his brow slowly lowering in annoyance. Yolp, if you followed them what do you think would be the outcome? Let me tell you. So far you have shown little to no patience and even less intelligence. Though you are small, you have no skill in stealth. That is why Szzlax is going first. He can find them and not let them know we are coming. And you can follow him. You obviously have a lot of confidence in your fighting prowess but can you handle 6 humans alone. Cause that is what would happen. You would rush in and they would slaughter you. And we would watch and wait for the right time to strike. That is what we are going to do. Now find some way to occupy yourself or will roast the flesh from your bones.
Yolp considers what it might be like to roast when wearing an iron suit. He considers in a considerable manner considerably quicker when small snakes of flame begin kissing Fyrenmar's fingers.
Your words are true, crispy one. Forgive my haste. We shall wait for Szzlax to stop admiring the ground and let him lead the way.
Yolp says these words boldly, seemingly aided by the fact his metal helm obscures his face, but the drooping of his large tail belies his fear.
Besides. I wanted to see how hard Szzlax can smash anyways.
I've heard tales of his strength, but have never seen it. Could one really be stronger than I?
Your team starts following the trails of those humans, after half an hour of tracking Szzlax informs you that the 2 horsed human are riding more fast than the other 4, leaving the rest of their comrades behind in their journey.
After a full hour, Szzlax is able to estimate that the group on foot is moving very slowly, and the trail you are following is about only 5 hours old.
Yik Klik's nostrils flair in anger and he brings himself up to his greatest height, as he snaps sharply at the the burned kobold.
'Speak I'll of our god as you wish. Your death effects me very little. If you are so afraid of the sun, then you are welcome to wait until darkness. Perhaps if we track them during the day, we can come upon them at night. We do not know how fast they are going, if they are riding. We could wait till night and not catch them until the dawn breaks.'
Yik Klik narrows his eyes and grips his staff. 'I would rather find the enemies with time to plan against them than to chase them all through the night.'
The kobold snorts, 'Very well let us wait.'
Sszlax picks up the trail and notices the patterns in the tracks. "We not far behind. Ones with horse left walkers behind. Only 4, I think we can catch and kill. Get eggs back and help win war. Sszlax go first when ready and smash the humans."
He lugs the tree club over his shoulders, the weight looking like it should be unbearable, but he moves with no issues, even taking in the light with no apparent difficulties. It is aparent Sszlax has spent a great deal of time outside the lair.
After another hour of tracking the sun sets down, and it takes you an others 2 hours to reach the enemy campsite.
They have an evident campfire burning, with no tents or other structures.
Szzlax has no difficulties in reaching a reasonable distance in a stealthy way. Two humans are sleeping, covered only with simple blankets, the others two are cheating around the fire, nobody of them is aware of the green kobold.
Szzlax comes back to your position, and also he reports you that there are 4 big bags in the center of the campsite, between the 2 sleeping humans. Those are probably the ones used for carrying the eggs.
Fyrenmar takes a moment to ponder the situation, stroking his muzzle with one blackened appendage. It was habit now. His were always black as if they had been burned, yet heat didn't bother him, and very sensitive. He had hoped constant abrasion would toughen the skin like the callouses on a warriors hands. But to no avail, the skin stayed burnt and sensitive.
So the riders have run on? Not sure whether that is for better or worse. Could be to get reinforcements or merely to announce success. Doesn't matter. It changes nothing. The eggs come first and they are within our grasp, hopefully. Seems too easy but its a chance we have to take. Might as well increase the chances though. There may be four but they are still humans and we are still Kobolds.
Yolp, Szzlax. Find us a good place to ambush our unsuspecting prey. Someplace with a good high ground for us and places to hide. Then when we are ready, Szzlax I want you to get caught. Let them chase you to us and then we will strike. To emphasize his point he clenches his fist and smoke pours from his nostrils. Bring all four or just the two. It matters not. I just want one alive for questioning.
Szzlax looks at Fyrenmar with a questioning look for a moment then nods "Sszlax surprise them and they chase me back to you then Sszlax smash the rest of them! Sounds good."
Szzlax leads them to a point close enough he can run there in a short distance but far enough away the humans don't notice the others. He waits until the rest of his brethern are ready and then slinks off to get in close.
Szzlax is able to go back to the campsite in a stealthy mode without encountering any difficulties.
You can roll stealth for me. All I get is a +4 for being small. The intent though is to find a place advantageous for us. A tumble of boulders we can get high ground on. A low rise. A bramble of bushes we can maneuver under and preferably dry to make use of fire. Something along those lines. Someplace we can find cover until we can pounce.
Yolp crouches behind some bushes, as much as his armor lets him. He draws his pick and sits as still as he can.
I wonder if crispy brother will burn these plants. Might make the fight easier and harder at the same time. Will be less cooking either way.
Yolp hides himself as best as he can;
Fyrenmar hides himself too... ... as best as he can...
Oozulla and Yik Klik hides too, and probably nobody of you is now able to locate the witch at the moment.
"Go, kill sleeping ones!" Oozulla whispered with her lips, putting Myrkky on a ground. Than she put her heavy bag on ground and took a sickle with both hands. Nasty long shank must pass nearby, if he will, she'll cut his leg, so he fall down. Hearing couple of humanoids grunting, she decided: " I'll attack the second one, when he passes"
Fyrenmar leaves his pack on the ground and finds a spot on a tall, thin rock. He crouches down and wraps his robes around him so that, in the darkness, he will appear as part of the rock, though his horns make it a little obvious. When the first human comes with in 25 feet, preferably before Szzlax attacks, he throws it back and stands as tall as a kobold can.
"Bow before the Sootscale or meet your doom humans," he says mustering all of his innate, intimidating prowess.
: Boom
Sszlax runs toward the humans drawing his weapon as he moves. "Time to smash!" he hisses as he rushes toward them to attack.
Sszlax will bring down his weapon on the closest human.
Szzlax hisses towards them, the two awake humans run towards him, one of them is holding a dagger in his hand, but carries also a longbow with him, while the other one is holding a shortsword in his hand, but runs towards Szzlax without taking his bow from the ground.
Meanwhile an unnoticed Myrkky (Oozulla's familiar) bites one of the sleeping men 2 non lethal damage, who suffers from poison but survive the death attack, and wakes up screaming.
The other sleeping man is still sleeping.
Fyrenmar, jumping out of his hiding place successfully intimidates the 2 running humans
The dagger-man stops from running and tries to hit Fyrenmar, throwing his dagger to the red kobold, but is too shaken to hit him.
Meanwhile the shortsword-man continues to chase Szzlax, is tripped by Oozulla's sickle 1 damage
At this point even Szzlax stops from running and hits H2 10 damage.
H2 is now unconscious and dying...
Before the bitten man can act, Myrkky bites him again 1 non-lethal damage + poison effect.
"Old Sharptooth brings his vengeance on you humans! The Sootscales will not suffer this theft!"
Thrusting out his claw, Yik Klick lets loose a small arc of electricity at one of the further humans .
"Myrkky might need me" said Oozulla as she heard scream from the human camp. One of guards felt down on the ground, scraping himself with her sickle, and that was cool. Probably, she could not do more in that fight. Witch sneaked to where her familiar was, whistling and hissing something in low tone..