Yighuk is happy to see the entrance to the tribes warrens just ahead of them. Tension that had rested in his shoulders releases a bit a the successful completion of the teams mission. He greets Vrek and accepts the escort to see the chief.
Once in the chamber he nods in recognition to each of the three guards in turn though careful to convey via the nuances of kobold body language the sense of a superior acknowledging his juniors. Reaching the center of the room with the party he reverses the display bowing low to the chief as a subordinate.
He listens attentively to the chiefs response to Kirtyls and Isks reports. The warriors eyes narrow a bit at the mention of troubles involving the tribe but resolves to ask about the details of such troubles later. While Nakpik and Mikmek review the position of the fort with Blokpug he asks, "Great Chief what news from the other patrols? How stands the war?"
Mikmek nods to Blokpug while looking on his maps, showing appreciation for your scout's work.
"Mine Chief, it seems that those humans have installed their fort in the abbandoned ruin, south to the ford. If they are going to make some incursions in the northern part of the river, that could cause other troubles, indeed.
Chief Sootscale listen to Mikmek, then he starts replying to Yighuk, explaining in the same time the csituaurrent tion to everyone:
"Mine apprentice, of the 4 patrols only another one came back before you. We are still waiting news from the others two.
About the war, the assault wasn't a complete success . That was the first bad news: The Mites were waiting for us in a big number, and the fight was hard for both parts. Now we have to study a new strategy.
The second bad news was something we found when we came back at the lair. Some of our guards dead, and a lot of our eggs stolen! The evidences point to some humans, coming from north-west. I've already sent the other patrol team to take the eggs back and punish those bandits...
And now you say, you found this human fort south to the rivers, and that those humans were making some kind of torture to a dragon kin....
Yighuk listens as the Chief reviews current events. His entire body stiffens when the intrusion into the lair and loss of eggs is related.
"Great Chief, this is dire news indeed but all is not dark. As Isk has said the warm bloods we brought back will have information of the humans activities at the ruins and we have made good progress with allying with the River Wyrm. With your permission we should bring one of the humans back to it as a sacrifice."
Looking at his compatriots he continues, "We stand ready to serve. Set us against any of these foes and we shall see them cowed."
Even though he was an outcast, he still cared for the tribe, so the theft of the eggs was a blow to him. A gutteral growl rumbled up his throat, joined by a hiss of fury. "Thief bandits and kin torture bandits must be the same. These humans follow one they call the 'Stag Lord'. If these will not talk, perhaps there are some at the fort who will. While their 'lord' lives, I suspect the humans will continue to be an annoyance. Cut off the head and his followers can be fed to the hatchlings."
Do we have any that might know more of the human civilization? While I am capable of speaking the language, I know nothing of this Stag Lord. How large is his territory? Hopefully our prisoners can tell us something, but it is always useful to have some other source to verify the information...especially when our eggs are involved.
Mikmek, still looking at his maps, first listened carefully to you, but then he decides to say something too:
"What we know is that those human who have stolen our eggs went north-west, and not south towards this Stag Lord's fort. I personally tracked them, before leaving the task to the other patrol team.
We will have to discover if we have to fight two separated groups of humans, or if they are an unique big group spread in the vicinity of our lair, and maybe beyond our lands. I suggest to make some multiple scout recognition before planing any assault to their fort. We don't know how many humans are inside it, and if they are related to the eggs'robbers too."
The Chief seems to remain silent, pensively hearing whatever you have to say, before taking a decision.
Yighuk considers. "Perhaps there are tunnels to the old ruins we could use to enter the fort secretly. We can patrol the area both to gauge the strength of the humans and to seek such entrances."
Pausing again he looks about the room and then says, "Great Chief it seems an unlikely calamity that the mites would both know of our attack and that the humans would know just the time to come for our young. We should be wary of a spy or worse."
After his silence, finally the Chief decides to speak.
"We must evaluate the risks of this human invasion. If those 2 groups of humans are related, and if they are in some way related with our first enemies, the Mites.
Here are mine orders for now:
Kirtyl, you are a good tongue, as Nakpik always told me, perhaps you should gain some information from our new prisoners.
If not, our friend Ryzztyl and the reliable Yighuk can help you with some a bit of fear and intimidation.
If those humans will not cooperate, we shall send them to that Tazlwyrm as an offer. Perhaps even if they will cooperate.
Blokpug, I have another task for you, after the rest of the team have finished to gain the information, you will lead them to an exploration mission.
Mikmek will help you in planning this mission, while Nakpik will provide you the gears and provisions you should need. I must know where those humans are, if there are others new human settlements around here.
Isk, of course you will continue to provide the wise advice of the Mighty Old Shaptooth to your team, so he may protect you and all of us. Also, if you are able, you can go and ask our purple shaman if there is something else your team need to do to satisfy our divine Patron.
I'll continue to take care of the war against the mites, hopefully the others 3 teams will came back, especially the one sent to recover the eggs. If not, your next mission will probably be their one. But for now, I can't risk any other tribe member in such missions, and I need you to do mine orders first, 'cause you are a good team, one of the few I can count for such tasks.
For now, I want all of you to stay out of the Fort in the south, we can't risk more with this fortified edifice."
"It will be as you order Great Chief."
Yighuk bows low again and, once the party is ready, leaves the room to see to the prisoners.
Ryzztyl spins around to go to the prisoners. If they can't get them to talk playing nice, he would be happy to be... not so nice.
Kirtyl will head toward the captive humans and try to ensure that they are at least comfortable enough to serve as long-term workers for the tribe.
(Common) Now comes the time to decide your fates. We seek information about this "Stag Lord" and what human settlements might be nearby. Some humans just stole from us and it is important that they be punished.
He'll then cast Charm Person on the previously silent and collected human.
Whoever speaks first will be treated well. I cannot vouch for the safety...or even the quick death...of anyone without information. It would be quite a shame to lose good labor however so I do hope that you will cooperate.
The former archer openly smiles towards Kirtyl:
"I'll tell you all I know about him, but it will take some time...
The others two humans start muttering towards him:
"He will kill you, you can't!"
But the charmed man seems not to bother them, and continues to speak:
"He came to this lands only six months ago, but he quickly established himself as the ruling bandit lord over all this lands. He settled his fort-headquarter in the haunted ruin, near where you found us.
He united all local bandit bands together with strength. He is a really deadeye, I personally saw him piercing a fugitive with his longbow, the arrow entered his nape and exited from his left eye... and he was at about 200 ft of distance.
Some of them believe he is not entirely human, we never saw him without his stag-skull helm... Others think that the helm IS his face, I don't believe so.
I was one of his officers, we have silver stag amulets. Only the bests bandits became officers and some officers also lead others camps in other areas. They have to bring at the fort their robbery monthly. When someone tries to keep some loot or even a part of it for himself the Stag Lord always know it, and provides to kill the rebel. This happened twice in the last 3 months."
Thank you, Kirtyl says with a bit of a smirk.
(Draconic) Well it seems likely that the human that stole our eggs is one of these bandit officers that are doing so to please the Stag Lord. While we have a rough idea of where the Stag Lord himself resides, I don't think these humans know where the other officer is. Also of note, he says officers have a silver amulet and that the Stag Lord is an archer of great renown. I recommend that we leave in the direction the egg thief went with all possible haste. And other than the officer that spoke, it doesn't matter to me what we do with the humans. Him I'd like to keep alive and working.
You spent the rest of the night in interrogation, reporting, planification and so on.
In the morning you went to rest, no needs of watch turns since you are at home.
Some hours before the sunset your team is called by the Chief for a meeting.
There, in his room, you find other 2 red kobolds you recognize as Yolp and Yik Klik, and of course Mikmek.
Because of your numbers, the 3 guards of the Chief are now staying out of the room, near the entrance.
Kirtyl bows his head upon entering the chamber. He remains silent unless addressed, standing there and waiting for the Chief to address the group.
Ryzztyl remains silent, looking around at the other kobolds, wondering why so many were together at the meeting.
Yik Klik enters the room confidently, keeping his symbol of Old Sharptooth prominently displayed.
"Children of the Dragon! I great you all." Yik Klik says before finding somewhere to stand and wait for the chieftain.
Yighuk enters the room and looks with some surprise at the two red kobolds whom he thought to be off recovering the recently abducted eggs. He holds his tongue in respect to the Chief and gives a deep bow.