Victoria rides back fairly quickly, and offers her apologies for not being able to keep up with Sneeg. "I'm sorry, this just isn't my forte," she says, silently cursing his horse for resisting her hex. She catches most of what the little kobold is saying, though she's not entirely sure of the context. "Can someone fill me in on who the 'false scale smooth ones' are?"
Counting one less Sneeg then there were supposed to be, not that she really wanted him around, Illthir winced and turned her horse around. That one couldn't be allowed to run around free. "Someone come with me - we'll catch up later. Can't let him get too far away! Right?"
Zokon gladly translates
He also asks MikMek
"Wait Durgan. Kobolds are... confusing. Some of them here are our allies." Scarlet heads over to the Benzen children. "You kids okay? How are your parents?"
Zokon gladly translates
He also asks MikMek ** spoiler omitted ** "I'm asking who's commanding them to attack Olegs."
Mikmek barks his reply.
"Wait Durgan. Kobolds are... confusing. Some of them here are our allies." Scarlet heads over to the Benzen children. "You kids okay? How are your parents?"
"Our mom's been dead for a while, and dad lost his leg to a giant pig last Summer." says Hansel the little boy, obviously excited by the sudden rescue.
His twin Leta elbows him in the arm, and tells him "You shouldn't brag when people just rescued you."
Their older sister, Miriam seems not to notice Scarlet's question. She's looking past her, and at Zokon with a queer sort of expression. "He even speaks kobold." she says out loud to herself.
Byron, the eldest, comes into view and others with sudden recognition rush off to greet their long lost older brother. There follows a long happy reunion with many questions including Hansel asking Byron "Didja kill anyone?"
Counting one less Sneeg then there were supposed to be, not that she really wanted him around, Illthir winced and turned her horse around. That one couldn't be allowed to run around free. "Someone come with me - we'll catch up later. Can't let him get too far away! Right?"
"Chay'pen 'Iv Hoch ghu'vam Say'!?" barks one of the kobolds of the pit with the boulder at the bottom of it.
Mikmek barks his reply.Zokon gladly translates
He also asks MikMek ** spoiler omitted ** "I'm asking who's commanding them to attack Olegs."
The more heavily armored black kobold listens for a moment before interjecting.
"'TeHghISDen?'" the Kobold practically spits the word. "wej 'teH'. DuD tuq."
This kobold wears a wooden breastplate burned an appropriately ashen black. It is crudely carved with eyes to resemble some leering monster or demon's head. He wears fetish amulets and chars around his neck and arms carries a small, bent morningstar.
Serena, not able to follow the conversation, is extremely confused by what is going on. She sheathes her scimitar and returns to her horse, laying on hands.
Scarlet looks at Byron dead in the eye. "Your family needs you here, not with the camp."
Scarlet sighs. "So they want to claim the land, is it? I thought we had an agreement with 'em. We need to get there to stop whatever's going on there."
When she sees Illthir trying to catch up to Sneeg, Scarlet snorts. "Oh, leave the old man to die. If he tries to return to the camp, Akiros is gonna run him through. Besides, I'm not gonna let anyone get hurt at Oleg's. Never again."
Scarlet looks at Byron dead in the eye. "Your family needs you here, not with the camp."
Scarlet sighs. "So they want to claim the land, is it? I thought we had an agreement with 'em. We need to get there to stop whatever's going on there."
When she sees Illthir trying to catch up to Sneeg, Scarlet snorts. "Oh, leave the old man to die. If he tries to return to the camp, Akiros is gonna run him through. Besides, I'm not gonna let anyone get hurt at Oleg's. Never again."
Posh nods heavily in agreement, thinking back to the loss of Oleg.
"Hu, where's Sneeg?", Alia asks after returning to the others and having made sure her companions are ok. "For F%%%'s sake, why does this keep happening. If we catch him again, I'll break his legs and blindfold him.", she keeps cursing a bit, then points at the Kobolds she downed:<Draconic>"Those are probably fine, just out cold. May want to check on them to make sure, though."</Draconic>
Turning to Mikmek, she joins the conversation:
<Draconic>"If Merlokrep goes through with his attack, there will be terrible consequences. An army of Swordlords, Knights, and countless trained soldiers will come here, and cleanse these lands of all scaled ones. Even united you will not have the might to stand against them. Both sides only stand to lose. Chief Sootscale is wise - there must be a parley."</Draconic>
Scarlet looks at Byron dead in the eye. "Your family needs you here, not with the camp."
"I wasn't planning on going anywhere but home with Miriam and the twins if I can get them their safe that is. Miriam says that when they were kidnapped that Hal was with them, but that he got away."
I'll chase sneeg, he's only been gone a few minutes. Alia can translate"
If it's good he runs to his horse and chases leaving in the direction Sneeg went
I'll chase sneeg, he's only been gone a few minutes. Alia can translate"
If it's good he runs to his horse and chases leaving in the direction Sneeg went
"This Sneeg could have learned enough to cause problems for us. I will follow him with Zokon. I have spells and channeling to heal our mounts from the exertion of a forced march, so I think we should try to get to the Outpost tonight."
"I think this outpost sounds like a nice safe place to sleep if it's not too far." She has nothing against kobolds, per se, but these seem to be barely in accordance with each other, and she's not sure she'd trust them to 'guard' their rest.
The group splits up to cover more ground.
Before he leaves with the group pressing on to the outpost Mikmek introduces Alia to the two black kobolds seemingly in charge of the ambush, the wooden-armored male Chatchit, and the magical-blooded female Vexset the Chosen.
The Byron and his younger siblings remain behind with Alia at the ambush site, while Evevenywg rides on with Posh.
Mikmek mounts up with Scarlet .
"VaSvo', taj-teS wa', nob qech van Dun ilthuliac, chal ta'be' Daqelpu''a'?" says Chatchit to Alia as her companions ride off.
"IF YOU SEE HAL, LET HIM KNOW WE'RE SAFE!" shouts Miriam as the groups depart.
Tracking
Tracking
"Ok I shall," he shouts back to Miriam
Durgan tries to assist Zokon in tracking.
"Ok I shall," he shouts back to Miriam
"He is so gallant." gushes Miriam.
Meanwhile, the other team moves off toward outpost.
As they move along, Scarlet and Victoia note some movement in the tall grasses to the north of their trail.
At about the same time, a few miles away, Zokon leads another group through some low rolling hills to the south. Working quickly because it will be dark soon, Zokon notes the sudden southerly turn the bandit took no doubt hoping to throw off pursuit. The path leads to a small stream with a short waterfall.
Durgan listens for any sound of hooves across or down the stream, or any shouts of alarm from Sneeg.
If he doesn't hear anything, he will suggest crossing the stream and looking to pick up the track on the other side.
In addition to Aid Another, he will also cast Guidance on Zokon as the human attempts to find tracks.
As they move along, Scarlet and Victoia note some movement in the tall grasses to the north of their trail.
Scarlet hops off the horse and motions Mikmek to keep quiet. She lights a torch, hoping to draw attention to her and away from her allies.
And if that didn't do it...
"Oi! Show yourself!"
There's nothing to hear above the noise of the stream. The base of the fall offers what looks like a ford.
As they move along, Scarlet and Victoia note some movement in the tall grasses to the north of their trail.Scarlet hops off the horse and motions Mikmek to keep quiet. She lights a torch, hoping to draw attention to her and away from her allies.
Mikmek looks vaguely insulted at the idea that somehow he is making more noise than any of the big Smooth Ones. From his seat in the saddle, he crosses his arms and looks away in a huff.
And if that didn't do it...
"Oi! Show yourself!"
Suddenly five or six dozen kobolds appear from the grass or from behind trees or tall stones all around the party. In the light of her torch Scarlet can see that they are of a multitude of colors, and modes of dress. All seem armed and ready for battle. More than a few of the closer ones growl like angered territorial terriers.
Zokon will crack a sunrod and then start riding across the ford, looking for potential points of crossing back out of the river.
Illthir lit her bull's eye lantern and swept it around. Where would he go? She tried to put herself into his state of mind. I'm a slimey bandit looking to flee justice - what would I do? After running away of course...
Illthir lit her bull's eye lantern and swept it around. Where would he go? She tried to put herself into his state of mind. I'm a slimey bandit looking to flee justice - what would I do? After running away of course...
Zokon will crack a sunrod and then start riding across the ford, looking for potential points of crossing back out of the river.
The party's light shines upon a the opposite bank. What at first appeared to be rocks, gravel and bleached drift wood turns out to be bone. The whole shore is strewn several yards in with the skeletons of boars, deer, bears, and a few humans. The field of bones continues out past the party's light and range of vision.
Not sure if I can fight these many kobolds...
Suddenly five or six dozen kobolds appear from the grass or from behind trees or tall stones all around the party. In the light of her torch Scarlet can see that they are of a multitude of colors, and modes of dress. All seem armed and ready for battle. More than a few of the closer ones growl like angered territorial terriers.
"What's going on here, then?" Scarlet keeps screaming to keep their attention focused on her. "Looks like you're going to war."
Suddenly she pauses. I don't understand what they are saying... "Er, Mikmek, can you calm them down? At least explain to them raiding the Outpost is a bad idea?" She turns to her allies. "Anyone knows what they are doing?"
"Let's stay on this side of the river for now. I think he's trying to lure us to a predator's lair. He may have backtracked or gone parallel to the stream. Maybe under the waterfall?"
Durgan looks back on the side the party started on, trying to find tracks that indicate Sneeg doubled back or changed direction at the stream's edge.
Victoria was getting ready to dismount her 'horse' when the kobolds came forth. She sighed wondering how many more times they would have to go through this. She clears her throat and shouts in draconic:
She makes a mental note to try to improve her ability to recognize members of the different tribes.
Victoria was getting ready to dismount her 'horse' when the kobolds came forth. She sighed wondering how many more times they would have to go through this. She clears her throat and shouts in draconic:
She makes a mental note to try to improve her ability to recognize members of the different tribes.
The nearest kobold warrior cries "YIPE!" and rushes off into the grass. The others watch him run off, but then draw closer with weapons raised.
Not sure if I can fight these many kobolds...
From behind the ruins of a wagon step a group of a dozen or so impressively attired kobolds, no doubt the chiefs of the local kobold tribes. Each of these tribes according to Zokon can number into the tens! This group is a mix of colors predominately, green, black and red. Among them Scarlet makes out the impressive headdress of Chief Sootscale.
{Haughty reptilian glance}
Mikmek tumbles off Scarlet's horse and crawls up to the feet of the chiefs.
A one-eyed, red, kobold chieftain with a small animal's skull set over the presumably empty socket steps forward and points at the party. "Dalegh tlhIH'a'?! Hab wa'! Hab wa' luqem!"
"'Ej wa' ngaj!" shouts another kobold from behind the party pointing at Posh.
"'EJ WA' NGAJ JE! MAHVAD MAGH SOOTSCALES! CHAH HOH! HOH!" shouts the red kobold to the assemblage, raising his small serrated battle axe over his head.
"And a Garden One!" shouts another kobold from behind the party pointing at Posh.
"AND A GARDEN ONE TOO! THE SOOTSCALES HAVE BETRAYED US! KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!" shouts the red kobold to the assemblage, raising his small serrated battle axe over his head.
"Let's stay on this side of the river for now. I think he's trying to lure us to a predator's lair. He may have backtracked or gone parallel to the stream. Maybe under the waterfall?"
Durgan looks back on the side the party started on, trying to find tracks that indicate Sneeg doubled back or changed direction at the stream's edge.
The tracks you find seem to lead toward the ford, without any indication they turned back.
Durgan sighs.
"To the predator's field of bones, then. Maybe it ate Sneeg already."
He channels to heal (both Durgan and his horse were a bit wounded, will catch anybody else if they were).
He uses a wand charge on the horse.
Durgan casts Barkskin on himself.
Once across the stream, he begins looking for Sneeg's tracks again.
"Oh that's a sweet thought. He didn't have a light to attract it though - or see it ..." Illthir swallows hard and follows the dwarf.
Scarlet isn't sure what to make of it, but she does see Chief Sootscale. So she sheathes her sword, walks up to him and bends her knee.
If Victoria's right, we need to show we're under control here. That, or he orders me to do something. Ugh, I hate bowing down like this.