Mr. Barlau and the Heroes of NIMH

Game Master chavamana

Kobold Barrier - End of Round 1
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░ = floor passage to lower level
K = kobold (k for dead/dying)

A = Aka
B = Bakuu
W = Willem (above downed kobold)
G = Faf
F = Farmer
X = Fenyx
M = Medge
P = Pasara
S = Sigrit

N = Nighttail on Hak
V = former kobold hostages (Bophre Malak, Carlo & Sela Bellathi)

Shield Wall not so shield-y - Round 2

Aka again moves up and leans around the wall to find her target past her furry companion. She fires two arrows which find their mark in the kobold at the end of the hall. "Good shooting." she murmurs as she surveys the row of downed scaly humanoids.

Pasara moves into the gallery and up to the first gap in the shield wall she finds. She points her hand, fingers spread, into the gap. A murmurred mystic phrase, and a jet of fire leaps forth to burninate the kobolds. The downed kobolds turn into burning hulks while the last kobold falls, smoldering.

None of the group is injured and it seems most likely that Bakuu's long familiarity with Willem has kept her disease-free from the rodents. So far.

Grumbling but with more confidence than the group saw at the first vertical passage, Hak jumps down, stumbling as he lands, leaving Nighttail to coo and check over him until she is absolutely certain there is nothing wrong with the baby dinosaur - giving the group the time they need to carefully climb (assisted by Sigrit's harness tying) down. Although the room directly below is empty, a number of the group can pick up a commanding voice. The draconic words hammering down as though cudgels.

Perception dc15: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
Akatsuki's head jerks towards Nighttail, "Someone else trying to take over?" she asks questioningly, then quickly translates for those not versed in Draconic. Then pauses, "No. Wait. That must be Roaghaz, right?"

Bakuu tilts her head, listening to the Draconic rolling in from elsewhere.

"This dragon speaking has a lovely cadence and flow. I like his words." A pause. "বজ্রধ্বনি মত একটি কণ্ঠস্বর.তিনি একটি দেবতা মত কথা বলে."

Nighttail pauses, listening. "Nope. Female voice. Not Roggie." A intake of breath through sharp teeth, "I don't know this voice..." Concern darkening the huntresses demeanor.

"Ah, so someone else trying to take over then." Akatsuki smiles apparently not overly concerned with this sudden change of events. "Doesn't sound to friendly though. Lesser cousins? Another kobold tribe or something else?" She looks to Bakuu and the others to see if someone wants to scout it out or if they are going to proceed forward.

"or do you think we should see if they go, then follow at a distance to see where this proper lair is?"

"I think learning the most we can before we act is the best course," muses Pasara. "So I'd rather go with your 'follow at a distance' plan."

"Learning is good, but we have a time limit. We've not been subtle in our entrance. Someone will report the trail we've left behind us, and there will be a massing of fighters against the invaders. We might have more luck just dealing with these folk arguing up ahead. At the very least, we'll have to kill fewer of Nighttail's nestmates."

"I vote in favor of this plan of Sigrit's which is not requiring patience or comprehension," says Medge.

"I'm with them," Farmer shrugs, gesturing to Sigrit and Medge. A statement of fact more than decision.

Willem, who had been industriously reloading his weapon, finally looks up, squints, and pops out an earplug. "Eh?" He shrugs and wanders over to stand by Bakuu.

"My uncle said that wizards and sorcerers were to cultivate the image of being subtle and quick to anger," Pasara says quietly. "But since I'm not so quick to anger, maybe subtlety isn't my bag either." She smiles briefly. "I'm ok with either plan, but I should point out I'm low on magical oomph for today."

"Sounds like we're mostly in favor of the direct approach." she motions still for the stealthier members to proceed, if they so choose. "Shall we introduce ourselves?"

"Hello My name is "Missus with Arrows". What is yours?"
"Oh wait, you mean to the ...."
Fenyx sheepishly slinks to the shadows in the back of the party.

Nighttail directs the group in the most direct path out of the many small twisting passages available. As they continue on, the voice gets closer, louder, but no less preachy.

[Draconic]"All you have to do, lesser cousins, is leave this filthy, human-dug coal pit and come to proper lair. The Hangtooths will accept you. Vapula will be pleased at your return to his proper beloved gaze."[/Draconic]

Eventually the tunnel opens up ahead into a large cave with a 12-foot-high ceiling. In the center of the cave is a crudely carved devilish idol, decorated with grisly strips of dried viscera.

Standing before the idol, flanked and protected by medium-sized skeletons, is a red scaled kobold carrying a staff carved with infernal symbols. She continues to browbeat the small collection of green-scaled kobolds in the room - some who just look ashamed and some who are starting to nod along.

Akatsuki silently nocks an arrow with a blunted metal head and smoothly draws the string back to her anchor point. She breathes slowly and easily, waiting for the others to get in position or make their presence known to the intruder from the Hangtooth tribe.

Willem removes his pack, hiding it behind some rocks before preparing to move in.

The red-scaled kobold looks up towards the entrance as the group moves close enough to be seen the the blackness of the caves. She looks at the members of the Blood Vow tribe near her with digust. [Draconic]"You can't even keep humans out of this sorry excuse for a lair."[/Draconic]

To the group, [Draconic]"I am Churgri, priest of Vapula, here to lead my sad, lesser cousins back to his good graces. For what vile, chaotic purpose have you come to this coal pit?"[/Draconic] Her right hand tightens on her staff as she studies the drawn weapons.

Bakuu agrees with the more direct approach.
"There's a time and place for subtle and sneaky, and like the Mother says, we've not done such a good job of that."

Bakuu will translate, ostensibly along with Pasara, for any Draconic that's spoken.

"I can think of many reasons we've come here; which would you like to tell them?" She asks the group, prepared to translate for Churgri. After a pause, she then turns to Willem: "And apparently we are now considered human." She says this in a less business-like tone.

After a pause, she then turns to Willem: "And apparently we are now considered human." She says this in a less business-like tone.

Willem scowls and cocks his gun.

"You are definitely more human than some I have met." Akatsuki says with a smile playing just beneath the surface. She turns to Nighttail. "What would you have done with this intruder into your realm who is apparently attempting to steal members of your clan?" She continues after the briefest of pauses, "I am not much in favor of those who force the dead to serve their will." Aka's bow has relaxed, so as not to tax her strength, but is still ready to fire at a moments notice.

"Of all the many reasons why we have come here, the only vile and chaotic one is to help you make a flower garden. But you might need sunlight to do that and that is in short supply here."
Fenyx ponders a bit. "Well, the short version of the long story is that the human township want peace between you and they, and we found out that there is an issue with a Roahgaz that would hinder that."
He looks around for Makroo. "We have tried to spare as many as we could. The others that live I think remain tied up somewhere behind us. And we did free some of your captive brethren."

"Peace might be an overstatement." Sigrit steps forward. "The human town is unhappy with actions of this lair of late. Seems to be since Roaghaz took over. We are here to... negotiate an agreement that is acceptable to both sides."

There is a tight smile on her face at the word "negotiate" which makes it clear that negotiations can go beyond words and into blows, if necessary.

She addressed the priestess directly, rather than the room as a whole. "Seems like you are also an outsider with ideas about what the future of the lair might be."

After a pause, she then turns to Willem: "And apparently we are now considered human." She says this in a less business-like tone.

While Sigrit parleys with the Priest of Vapula, Pasara whispers to Bakuu. "你看，我們都知道我們都是鳥，但給他們休息。它的黑暗中在這裡，他們還沒有好好看看我們呢," she jokes, grinning teasingly at Bakuu.

Bakuu chortles at Pasara's comment. Caw caw caw. She rummages around in her pockets and pulls out a shiny stone, handing it to Pasara. "們都知道我們都是鳥，但給, 暗中在這裡他們還沒有好好看".

"I can think of many reasons we've come here; which would you like to tell them?" She asks the group, prepared to translate for Churgri.

"Of all the many reasons why we have come here, the only vile and chaotic one is to help you make a flower garden. But you might need sunlight to do that and that is in short supply here."

Fenyx ponders a bit. "Well, the short version of the long story is that the human township want peace between you and they, and we found out that there is an issue with a Roahgaz that would hinder that."

He looks around for Makroo. "We have tried to spare as many as we could. The others that live I think remain tied up somewhere behind us. And we did free some of your captive brethren."

Looking around for Makroo reveals that he left the group shortly after Nighttail was freed.

"Peace might be an overstatement." Sigrit steps forward. "The human town is unhappy with actions of this lair of late. Seems to be since Roaghaz took over. We are here to... negotiate an agreement that is acceptable to both sides."

There is a tight smile on her face at the word "negotiate" which makes it clear that negotiations can go beyond words and into blows, if necessary.

She addressed the priestess directly, rather than the room as a whole. "Seems like you are also an outsider with ideas about what the future of the lair might be."

Churgri eyes flash towards people as they speak, always returning to Bakuu as she translates the group's words into draconic. [Draconic]"Then it would seem that we have no argument here."[/Draconic] Her smile shows a long snout of sharp teeth, [Draconic]"Roaghaz has gone insane, lost sight of his tribe and his god and is leading them to ruin. Truly, Vapula protects and guards those in his sight."[/Draconic] The last said with the emphasis of a prayer, and the thud of the carved staff to the ground.

[Draconic]"How should we proceed?"[/Draconic]

Pasara will whisper to her teammates, "She just cast Protection From Good on herself."

Bakuu chortles at Pasara's comment. Caw caw caw. She rummages around in her pockets and pulls out a shiny stone, handing it to Pasara. "們都知道我們都是鳥，但給, 暗中在這裡他們還沒有好好看".

Pasara looks at the stone before putting it safely in a pocket. "那麼，你肯定我最喜歡的鳥。"

Nighttail's eyes move from the red-scaled kobold to the skeletons. Working hard to keep her voice very calm and very quiet, "The Hangtooth's are on the aggressive side."

And more pointedly, "And she has placed herself with a bony bony not-alive meat shields."

She looks down at the ground, "Do you want to bargain your way past her or do you want me to get as many of the noncombatants out of the way as quickly as I can?"

"We don't have a lot to offer," Farmer says.

"I would prefer the noncombatants were moved aside. I am not very much in favor of bargaining with those who show disdain in the eyes of the Lady of Graves." Akatsuki says, glaring meaningfully at the skeletons, her blunt arrow still not fully drawn, but very much ready to fire at a moments notice. "And yet, if she were to renounce her use of the unliving, perhaps something could yet be worked out." She says with a smile that somehow conveys her doubt of that likelihood, but just a ray of hope within as well.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Bakuu squints at the priest, hears Pasara's comment, then turns to the group to whisper; "It seems to me that we should not be bargaining with someone who is protecting themselves from good." She pauses, contemplating. "Am I good? Hrmm." Another pause. "But if we can get rid of the bad lizards, and the other bad lizards move away from the town, and maybe we get some shinies, I'm in favor of that approach, personally."

Sense Motive DC 20: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"I wouldn't mind talking to stall for time for us to get into a better tactical position," whispers Pasara as she looks for a good place to put herself in case of mêlée and brouhaha.

That really sounds like Initiative, please to me.... :)
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☻ = Statue of Vapula
C = Churgri
T = Skeletons
K = Kobold

A = Aka
B = Bakuu
W = Willem
G = Faf
F = Farmer
X = Fenyx
M = Medge
P = Pasara
S = Sigrit
N = Nighttail (on Hak)
* = rescuees

"I am disinclined to bargain with one who disturbs the sanctity of the grave, even if we share a common enemy. Some offenses cannot be overlooked. If you would get the non-combatants out of the way, I would be grateful." Sigrit's anger is cold, and carries a sense of dark pools in deep caverns, untouched by sunlight and unseen by mortal eyes.

Sense Motive dc20: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

White Cleric vs Red Cleric (when White Cleric has much better Allies)

Willem advances so as to catch the most enemies in his cone of death before firing. His cone of fire-hued metal encompasses the red-scaled kobold and all of her skeletal minions. Pellets ripping through scale and bone.

At a draconic hiss laced with pain, the skeletons advance, forming a wall of bone between the ratfolk gunslinger and Churgri. Their claws lash out at Willem. Although the nimble gunslinger is able to dodge almost all of the undead, one manages to claw deeply into Willem's forearm. (Willem takes 5 hit points of damage.)

Farmer pulls out his flask, which not coincidentally is a holy symbol of Pharasma.

Churgri hisses something vile at Willem, but in Draconic so it means nothing to the gunslinger. Her eyes flash between Sigrit and Aka, trying to make the correct decision. [Draconic]"From the vaults of Erebus to the hold of the clan, you shall not move a muscle as those you care for are slain before you."[/Draconic]

Aka Will Save DC 16: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 3 = 18

For a brief moment there is an overlay of the golden chain encompassing Aka's form, but it wisps into mist as it comes into contact with the divine warrior.

[Draconic]"If you lay down and make yourself obviously non-combatants, they most likely won't hurt you. Attack them and Hak will add reptile to his diet. Which I would prefer to not do."[/Draconic] Nighttail's voice is cold, far harsher, intentionally more vicious.

"May you find your way to the light in the next life." Akatsuki breathes, then fires, trusting her friends to keep the skeletons and any other foes at bay while she focuses on the greater evil. An iridescent light begins to build and glow from the metal head, then completely engulfs it in brilliance as the arrow leaps forward from the bow and flies unerringly true, piercing the darkness of the Priestess cowl. There is the sickening sound of blunt metal popping soft ocular material and shattering hard bone as the skeleton before her is splattered with wet brain matter.

Akatsuki allows herself half a moment to view the results with satisfaction. "And that is why the bow is not yet obsolete. At least not quite yet." She says the last with a glance toward the whiskered gun rat almost shyly.

Sigrit's energy channels through her symbol of Pharasma, the skeletons around Willem turning to dust as they are washed with positive energy.

All of the kobolds drop to the ground - as if that had been their plan all along.

Nighttail whistles low under her breath, "You just made a nice legend to spread to the Hangtooths."

Willem is down 5 hit points.

"Yeah," Akatsuki pants, definitely breathing more heavily then firing a single arrow should warrant, "but that one was supposed to be for Roagy baby. Don't think I can summon another like that today." She approaches the injured rat folk, her face turning to Sigrid, "by your leave, we might need your powers more in the near future. Please allow me." and unless he resists or Sigrit objects She summons a little of the energy remaining within her, breathing deeply. Her hands begin to emit a soothing blue glow, not hot, but warm and inviting. Her face showing the concentration and concern she has for her friend as her hands cup around Willem's injured forearm, not touching the wound, but close enough for the healing magic to take effect.
Lay on Hands: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"There." she says relaxing moments later as the wound closes, skin heals, and she takes a step back with just a smile and twinkle in her eye for Willem. "So," she looks up and around, getting a handle on her surroundings and the other kobolds in the room once again, "shall we continue?"