"Seems many of you have misplaced. I am tasked to find the little one who went missing in the orchard. I suspect kobolds and fear the worst."
Willem tastes the powder and spits it out, adjusting the mix. "Have a name, do you?"
At the mention of the kobolds her eyes flash west-ward, to the fallen tower and the miles of swamp beyond. A little smile when the keen-minded ratfolk asks her name, "Phedra." A pause, "I think my mother got it from a book about Iblydos." Another pause, "And she probably wanted a more feminine daughter than she got."
Lower, smaller, "Do you think the kobolds have been kidnapping people?"
Akatsuki smiles, "Each horse is different, but in general you want to give them as much hay or other forage as they will eat. You should be looking at about 2.5% of the weight you think they should be. So in other words, more if they're recovering from an illness, less if you think they're having health problems from being overweight. In Hana's case that would make it about 25lbs per day. You can mix in succulents like grass, fruit and vegetables, herbs or sugar beets as well. Which reminds me, I've been meaning to get some apples and maybe see if there aren't any carrots available." she says looking off in the distance with one hand to her mouth. She turns to look over at the other boy, "Billy? Do you take care of the other horses for travelers that stop at the Wise Piper?"
George listens to Aka's words with an intensity that would not normally be seemly for animal husbandry.
At her question, Billy gets pulled out of his pout a but, "Yes, ma'am." His eyes flash in the direction of the kitchen, making it clear that the responsibilities he has when not taking care of the horses are far less pleasant to him.
"Can someone deal with Grumpy over there? I don't want to waste a spell for four on just one guy!" she calls out.
"On it." Aka responds with quiet assurity.
Aka
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14. . (+4 armor,+4 Dex,)
hp 15 (1d10+0)
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +6 (+9 total vs. charm/compulsion effects)
Akatsuki ignores the feathered shaft sticking out of her. She glances again at Makroo, then Pasara and Farmer, before again sighting quickly and firing at the farther kobold. Her arrow flies as if on a rope, straight and true, nailing her target to the wall.
Aka
George listens to Aka's words with an intensity that would not normally be seemly for animal husbandry.
At her question, Billy gets pulled out of his pout a but, "Yes, ma'am." His eyes flash in the direction of the kitchen, making it clear that the responsibilities he has when not taking care of the horses are far less pleasant to him.
Akatsuki smiles fondly at the two boys. "George. If this is supposed to be Billy's job, at least while we're in town, I want you and he to work together, if you don't mind. We can always learn something from anyone we meet. Keep an open mind and try to see what you can learn from him. Even if I've told you how to do something, there's almost always other ways to do it. Learn those other ways then after you've given them a chance, decide for yourself which way is better." She looks up at Hana and Onyx, "And besides, at least in this case, I think Hana and Onyx would love the attention." she pauses for an instant, "and I think if you are willing and haven't been asked to do something else, if you wouldn't mind helping Billy with some of the things he needs to do he wouldn't mind the extra hands." she glances at Billy for confirmation, "Oh, one more thing. Would either of you boys be interested in learning to use a bow and arrow...or a sword? I wouldn't mind training you." her gaze fixes directly on Billy, "But only if your Mom says you can, okay?"
"Wish they'd come down here... harder to shoot when they can't stick me."
He grinds the powder carefully.
"I do indeed believe kobolds are the culprit of the disappearances. Though I have not the experience with them that I have with the goblin, what little evidence I could find points in their direction. Since I was descending into their lair regardless, I might as well keep an eye at service to the little one."
The other two kobold's above Willem's hiding spot aim for Farmer. One arrow is destroyed by the multi-hued shield, but the other zaps through hurting the oracle.
Farmer clutches at his arm. "Could be worse," he mutters.
Farmer repeats his movement and eldritch blast.
Sigrit takes a moment to assess the status of her friends, checking to see if any of them seem near to collapse. If they seem unlikely to be taken down by another hit, she will approach Makroo and try to stabilize him.
Option 1 - Longbow attack on unslept kobold.
Option 2 - Magic Missile attack on kobold around the corner.
Fenyx moves two steps in from the corner and casts MM on the last kobold that is standing. (spell resist only)
Bakuu looks over to Willem and clucks in amusement. "They do make it quite a bit harder to kill when they hide in the high, dark places."
She readies another arrow for the Kobold she can see across from her.
Quickly dodging across the narrow stone bridge, Willem angles his gun so as to only catch the conscious kobold in the spray. The spray of hot metal rips across the body of the fallen kobold and tears into the combatant on the back of the ledge he falls next to his companion, bleeding.
Akatsuki ignores the feathered shaft sticking out of her. She glances again at Makroo, then Pasara and Farmer, before again sighting quickly and firing at the farther kobold. Her arrow flies as if on a rope, straight and true, nailing her target to the wall.
Magic glows around Fenyx's hands, but as the Aka drops the final conscious kobold he drops the spell before he can cast it.
Seeing that there are enough people on her side to mop up the remaining kobolds, Pasara takes up a defensive stance. She prepares to burn any kobold that gets too close, but otherwise readies herself to dodge the slings and arrows of misfortune.
Bakuu looks over to Willem and clucks in amusement. "They do make it quite a bit harder to kill when they hide in the high, dark places."
Sigrit takes a moment to assess the status of her friends, checking to see if any of them seem near to collapse. If they seem unlikely to be taken down by another hit, she will approach Makroo and try to stabilize him.
Quietly, everyone is able to breath a quick sigh of relief. Although the four sleepers will need to be dealt with soon, the group is no longer at risk of perforation.
.
.
.
.
.
█████████████
○G○██████████
██○██░░k█████
██X██░k○○○○██
██S▓▓○○○○○*○█
██PF▓W○○○○○██
██M○○○○○○○k██
█&kA▓○○○○░&██
█&○B▓○○○░&░██
██○○▓○○██████
██r○▓○○██████
○○○██████████
█████████████
░ = ledges (10-ft up)
▓ = drop into oblivion
* = Previous post DC 15 perception
R = Makroo (down)
& = sleeping kobold, k = down/dead kobold
A = Aka
B = Bakuu
W = Willem
G = Faf
F = Farmer
X = Fenyx
M = Medge
P = Pasara
S = Sigrit
Then with curiosity, "What does that powder do?"
"And besides, at least in this case, I think Hana and Onyx would love the attention." she pauses for an instant, "and I think if you are willing and haven't been asked to do something else, if you wouldn't mind helping Billy with some of the things he needs to do he wouldn't mind the extra hands." she glances at Billy for confirmation, "Oh, one more thing. Would either of you boys be interested in learning to use a bow and arrow...or a sword? I wouldn't mind training you." her gaze fixes directly on Billy, "But only if your Mom says you can, okay?"
Quickly, too quickly really, Billy responds, "Mom would love for me to learn how to use a sword."
On the other hand (after a slightly grumpy look about having to share taking care of Hana) George actually thinks about the offer. "I'd like to know how to hunt." Although he actually seems worried about the marital weapons.
Holding the arrow in her side till someone with skills can attend to her--she's fairly certain she's only going to make it worse otherwise--Pasara calls out, "Those kobolds won't stay asleep for too much longer. We should get them bound quickly."
Willem grumpily reloads. "Would every one of these lizards array themselves properly, wait quietly, and go to the river, I'd scarcely be required," He remarks to Bakuu. "At least they refrain from dousing me in liquid fire."
"Their trap was baited with something that glitters as gold, yet is not. Raven's gold," he finishes, with something that might almost be a smile.
Farmer frowns at the sleeping kobolds. "Do we want to keep them alive?"
He looks over at Makroo. "And is that one dead? Because we do want to keep her alive."
Farmer frowns at the sleeping kobolds. "Do we want to keep them alive?"
"A quick death at our hands is likely more merciful than what they would face should they be returned to the town to stand trial or else given to their leaders post failure." Willem holsters his pistol and draws a handaxe, running a speculative claw over the blade.
"A quick death at our hands is likely more merciful than what they would face should they be returned to the town to stand trial or else given to their leaders post failure." Willem holsters his pistol and draws a handaxe, running a speculative claw over the blade.
"Alright," Farmer says, wincing as he pulls out his knife. "Can you get to the ones up high? I can pith the others."
Willem grumpily reloads. "Would every one of these lizards array themselves properly, wait quietly, and go to the river, I'd scarcely be required," He remarks to Bakuu. "At least they refrain from dousing me in liquid fire."
"Their trap was baited with something that glitters as gold, yet is not. Raven's gold," he finishes, with something that might almost be a smile.
** spoiler omitted **
If Bakuu had ears, they'd be perked. She puts her bow away, looking around excitedly, bodies (dead and sleeping alike) forgotten. "Raven's gold, eh? Good enough for me."
Quickly, too quickly really, Billy responds, "Mom would love for me to learn how to use a sword."
On the other hand (after a slightly grumpy look about having to share taking care of Hana) George actually thinks about the offer. "I'd like to know how to hunt." Although he actually seems worried about the marital weapons.
"Well," she says looking speculatively at the two boys, "What time do you normally have to start doing your chores in the morning, Billy? And do you have a good sized break at some time during the day?" If she noticed George's worried look, she does not let on as of yet.
Akatsuki looks over her companions, though her gaze rests most worriedly on Makroo before continuing on to the dwarven cleric. "Sigrit? Are you able to sooth our friends wounds or should I see what I can do?" She moves to the small kobold still grasping tenuously to life and studies the arrows to see if they may be removed without causing graver injury and if she thinks it safe, carefully picks her up and gently brings her for the more expert opinion of she who knows the Lady of Graves.
If Bakuu had ears, they'd be perked. She puts her bow away, looking around excitedly, bodies (dead and sleeping alike) forgotten. "Raven's gold, eh? Good enough for me."
The feathered woman's reaction causes Akatsuki to stop, blink, then slowly break out in a fond smile before turning her attention back to the wounded.
"Alright," Farmer says, wincing as he pulls out his knife. "Can you get to the ones up high? I can pith the others."
If Bakuu had ears, they'd be perked. She puts her bow away, looking around excitedly, bodies (dead and sleeping alike) forgotten. "Raven's gold, eh? Good enough for me."
Farmer satisfies himself that he can't reach any of the sleeping kobolds and sheaths his knife. "Their fate is out of my hands," he shrugs.
Sigrit nods in thanks to Aka as the paladin brings Makroo to her. As her hands work to keep the kobold from dying, she talks, almost as much to herself as to Aka, discussing possible outcomes, weighing the wisdom of possible actions.
If she judges it necessary, she will cast Cure Light Wounds in place of Shield of Faith to keep Makroo from dying.
Once all the enemy kobolds are dead, she will ask the wounded to gather around her, and she will channel Pharasma's power to heal the party members and Makroo's remaining damage. She will fuss over bandaging the remaining injuries, muttering about exactly what sort of much and mess might be lurking about and she's not leaving open wounds vulnerable to that sort of thing, indeed.
"A bit more," she says, and calls upon Pharasma again.
Willem, also unable (or possibly unwilling) to climb, puts his axe away, muttering up at the kobolds with a baleful look in his rat eyes, "May you forever rejoice in the day your paths crossed Black Willem and Farmer Odell, the terrestrial adventurers."
After Sigrit's healing energy flows through her and the arrow is removed, whether by magic or otherwise, Akatsuki favors her with a grateful smile and nod, then eyes the walls below the ledges. "They must get up there somehow." she mutters as much to herself as anyone else.
"Ow," says Medge.
"A bit more," she says, and calls upon Pharasma again.
"Ah, that is being much better, thanking you."
"They must get up there somehow." she mutters as much to herself as anyone else.
"I could perhaps be climbing up there," Medge offers.
Akatsuki admires Medge's lithe feline form and her ninja cat skills. Her mouth quirks to one side. "Not something I can do. Or not at least without a rope or better hand and foot holds." she says, again as much to herself as anyone else, then louder to Medge, "Do you want a rope to tie them up with or are you going to kill 'em and be done with it?"
She tosses a length of rope up before actually waiting for a response. "It's there for you if you need it."
"I could perhaps be climbing up there," Medge offers.
Medge, with ease, ascends to the top of the 10-ft high ledges.
There is look of admiration on Sigrit's face as she watches Medge ascend. She flushes a little as she catches herself woolgathering. "It falls to some of us to leap and flow like wind and water; and it falls to some of us plan and trudge and hold our ground." She sighs, and turns to the former slaves. "And hardest of all may be to wait with courage in a dark and frightening situation. Are the three of you well?"
She tosses a length of rope up before actually waiting for a response. "It's there for you if you need it."
"I would not be killing foes that are not moving," she says as she ties them up. "That would be, what is the word, the terrible thing."
Bakuu hugs the shiny stone to her chest and immediately slips it into her bag. If she catches Aka's gaze, she'll wink.
"Now that I've saved us from the lure..." she looks around the cavern, then looks up at Medge as she climbs the ledge. "Ah, wish I that I had my cousin's flying." She sighs wistfully.
To Sigrit; "Ah, but certainly there's room enough for poetry in the way you close wounds and give comfort. There's wind and water flowing, and then there's steady Earth to depend on." She wanders back to Willem's side after the random and possibly misplaced comforting.
If she judges it necessary, she will cast Cure Light Wounds in place of Shield of Faith to keep Makroo from dying.
Once all the enemy kobolds are dead , she will ask the wounded to gather around her, and she will channel Pharasma's power to heal the party members and Makroo's remaining damage. She will fuss over bandaging the remaining injuries, muttering about exactly what sort of much and mess might be lurking about and she's not leaving open wounds vulnerable to that sort of thing, indeed.
There is look of admiration on Sigrit's face as she watches Medge ascend. She flushes a little as she catches herself woolgathering. "It falls to some of us to leap and flow like wind and water; and it falls to some of us plan and trudge and hold our ground." She sighs, and turns to the former slaves. "And hardest of all may be to wait with courage in a dark and frightening situation. Are the three of you well?"
Bophre looks at the blood on the previously injured Willem, Farmer, Medge, and Pasara. "Mr. Badgerhand keep us well back." She bites her lower lip, her brow furrowed before forcing herself to take a deep breath. "But we are fine." The last said with forced confidence and a smile that is almost believable.
The husband and wife merchants, still safely using the ranger as a barrier to danger, briefly look at the young girl as if she is touched, but nod their general agreement with being 'ok'.
Near Sigrit, Makroo gasps back into consciousness, hands going to where the arrows bit deep into flesh. "না উপজাতি পাশের হচ্ছে ব্যাথা."
With an apologetic wince, "Forgot mention of possible ambush and traps. Sorry." The kobold pushes up to its feet, "Not too much further to Nighttail, though." Tentatively, as if expecting each step to hurt Makroo continues southward. The passage narrows again, squeezing in on everyone of average size, and intersects with another passage. The slight graying of the darkness to the right would indicate a means of leaving the kobold warren - but Makroo turns left.
A few more dips and turns, some scrambling over debris, and the tunnel widens with a limestone strewn alcove. Very carefully Makroo moves out of the main passage and instead picks his way over the stones, boulders, and debris. He motions for you all to follow.
... and the limestone bolders Makroo is picking across would probably follow.
Perception
"Be unwise of you to neglect mention of further hazards," Willem observes to Makroo.
At Willem's words, Akatsuki's brows furrow slightly and she eyes the movements of the more dexterous and observant of her companions as (and if) they pick their way across the debris. She will try to mimic their steps after they have made it across (or if the debris continues, give them some good distance, should she accidentally trigger something). "Give me a moment to get across and see what happens." she says softly to Sigrit, Farmer, Faf and the former prisoners.
After observing Makroo for a short time, Akatsuki will follow to see if she causes anything to go amiss.
Farmer waits for Akatsuki to cross the debris field.
Medge blithely follows along shortly after Akatsuki.
Sigrit nods, as though all the world is now in proper order, as Bakuu stows the shiny. "I don't know of poetry, but you can't build on the water nor brace yourself on the wind. True enough."
She takes in Bophre's body language and positioning of the merchant couple behind Faf's body, and accepts the words for what they are worth. "Right, then. Best pull out your lights, again."
"Careful, Aka! There's something wrong with the floor of the main passage. What are we not setting off, kobold?" The tone is not friendly.
"Careful, Aka! There's something wrong with the floor of the main passage. What are we not setting off, kobold?" The tone is not friendly.
Makroo pauses off balance on one of the limestone debris. Looking slightly confused the kobold points to the nice, clear passageway, "Trap."
Then to the difficult terrain he and some of the group is picking across, "Not trap."
A pause, then Makroo makes a whistle of something falling through the air, one fist impacting the other. "Not trap better, yes?"
"Yes. Not trap better." Akatsukis says, her face brightening. "Could you tell us so we know to avoid the trap next time, Makroo?" Her voice is far friendlier then her suspicious demeanor a short time ago.
"ooKay" Then continues to pick over the debris strewn alcove to the far side of the apparently trapped hallway.
Although he does look over his shoulder at the group of interlopers more often. Bophre continues to follow the group with confidence. The Belathis continue to follow, aided by those in the group staying closer, but are quiet and nervous at the continuing darkness (although the group is well-light by Farmer, Fenyx, and Pasara's lights).
After a few more tunnel turns, Makroo stops, pointing forward. "Nighttail there." And starts to move back towards the entrance. "Roaghaz say any who help be cast out and dead."
"Which not problem for you."
"Nope. No problem at all." Akatsuki says, moving forward to see what is ahead. "Anything else we should know about any more immediate dangers in helping her?"
Makroo pauses, head cocked towards the direction he pointed. After a moment, "Nope. Would hear if there was anyone there."
and Aka continues along, blithely unaware of whatever fearsome fate lies ahead.
"Rope against stone," Willem whispers, his parasol-like ears twitching.
"Your keen eyes would likely be better suited for whatever lies before us." she says apparently setting aside Maroo's reassurances. She does give the little kobold a smile and nod at his words, however.
Willem squeaks -- probably what passes for a grunt amongst ratfolk -- and heads to the front of the party, peering into the dark. He draws the pistol from his belt and thumbs back the hammer, keeping to the edge of the tunnel.