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"No, no, No!" cry the kobolds.
"They are wicked and cruel."
Their apparent leader steps forward, and in poor Taldane says
"What is this? You put a curse on our Golden God with that trinket!
Wicked big people. The idiot human who collapsed the corridor was a friend of yours, wasn’t he?”
From behind you the kobolds you captured call out.
"And they murdered Stinkeye! They took our stuff too."
Another from the back adds in "They loook like the ones that attacked us a couple of weeks ago..."
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Seeing that he confused his own comrades with his draconic speech D'lack translate to his comrades what he says.
The only thing we took from you, is the sword with the mark of our Tribe. Our trap master even repaired some of your traps, especially the one with the dragon head and bolts.
He adds in Draconic then in common to his comrades.
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Iago staggers back from the blow, in a daze. Voices mic and mingle and by the time he has regained his wits, a conversation seems to have replaced the typical bloodshed. Groaning internally at Guillaume's words, he quickly butts in, as unsure as he may be about what all is being referred to.
"What the who? Idiot hu... Oh... That guy. Yeah, he's an idiot and he's ours but he got loose. So we've come to collect him. He's going to be going to bed without desert for the next few weeks. So if we could just pick him up on our way out, that would be nice."
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Accusation
Charming guardian - check (Las)
Idiot human - check (D'lack)
Group from before - check (D'lack)
Stealing stuff - check (D'lack)
Stinky. - TBD
The kobolds look on, not especially happy but not ready to attack yet either.
One goes to check on Stinky, and reports him gravely injured, but alive for the moment.
"So...Why you here?" says the leader, whose eyes you note are milky and probably blind.
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"Well, our people take great interest in ruins and things of old." answers Iago who gingerly assesses the depth of the wound the guardian inflicted when he rent his armor. "We explore these ruins, decipher the knowledge within, and share it with the rest of the world. Which is why our, uhm... Idiot human? Why he came here and did a whole lot of really bad things to you. Out of idiocy. Because he's an idiot. We would have done it better. Where is he anyway?" he concludes, looking around for traces of Sharrowsmith.
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Lasaraleen keeps her grip on the ancient token, wary of the golden creature and less concerned with the kobolds.
She calls out in support of Iago.
"We just want to recover the body and belongings of our missing human. The sooner we have both, the sooner we can leave.
You claim we attacked you but you were slaughtering innocent miners when we found your people. Enough of the killings.
Let us call a truce and we will depart with ours.
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Naktok, for that is the same of the kobold leader, relaxes a bit.
"You are wounded. Naktok sell you potions?"
After a bit of haggling, if you want them, you can purchase potions of cure light wounds, cure moderate wounds or a dose of basilisk extract (which would let you turn someone back into flesh.
The priest goes to check on Stinkeye, while the kobolds scatter around a bit.
The great golden guardian looks at you, perhaps a little suspiciously.
"You don't look like dwarves..."
He gestures to the great hammer - platform.
"If you are the rightful holder of the talisman, and didn't get it through dishonest means... you should be able to tell me what the murals up there depict."
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#1: The mural depicts a dwarf in a cave gazing up and shielding her eyes with a hand
History or Religion
#2:The mural depicts a fireball with long, trailing streaks descending from the sky.
History or Geography
#3: The mural depicts two dwarves locked in battle. One of them has long, braided hair while the other is bald.
Local or Dungeoneering
#4: The mural depicts four complex symbols arranged on the four points of a compass rose slanted slightly to the right.
Appraise or Perception.
Who am I kidding. Tophor realises that the symbol set on the south point of the compass rose is a stylized version of the symbol engraved on the piece of metal that you found inside the dwarven talisman.
#5: The mural depicts rolling hills with dark gray, rocky soil, punctuated with veins of gold. A vine covered in lavender flowers crushes a giant lizard like a constricting serpent
Geography or Nature
#6: The mural depicts a map with many rooms, some crude, others skillfully carved and rich in detail.
Engineering or Survival
#7: The mural depicts a dwarf with his eyes cast to the ground and his hand held against his chest
Heal or Sense Motive
#8: The mural depicts a demon-like creature with horns and wings
Engineering or Nature
#9: The mural depicts a humanoid with bulbous eyes and bowed legs.
Geography or local
#10: The mural depicts a dwarf whose weapons and armor are made of wood and stone rather than metal. His skin bears numerous simple tattoos, and several bright feathers adorn his beard
Geography or Local
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Oberon looks at the mural that depicts rolling hills with dark gray, rocky soil, punctuated with veins of gold.
He then sees the mural that depicts a demon-like creature with horns and wings.
Not knowing if he yet can recall or interpret the murals, Oberon tries another tactic.
"Selling potions, are you? I'll buy a potion of Cure Light Wounds from you if you don't mind. How much you looking for?"
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"Fifty pieces of gold. Really good. Tastes of Raspberry!" says the kobold.
Murals
Oberon checks out the murals, but can't puzzle them out, but thinks he is close on the demon-like creature one.
#1: The mural depicts a dwarf in a cave gazing up and shielding her eyes with a hand
History or Religion
#2:The mural depicts a fireball with long, trailing streaks descending from the sky.
History or Geography
#3: The mural depicts two dwarves locked in battle. One of them has long, braided hair while the other is bald.
Local or Dungeoneering
#4: The mural depicts four complex symbols arranged on the four points of a compass rose slanted slightly to the right.
Appraise or Perception.
#5: The mural depicts rolling hills with dark gray, rocky soil, punctuated with veins of gold. A vine covered in lavender flowers crushes a giant lizard like a constricting serpent
Geography or Nature
#6: The mural depicts a map with many rooms, some crude, others skillfully carved and rich in detail.
Engineering or Survival
#7: The mural depicts a dwarf with his eyes cast to the ground and his hand held against his chest
Heal or Sense Motive
#8: The mural depicts a demon-like creature with horns and wings
Engineering or Nature
#9: The mural depicts a humanoid with bulbous eyes and bowed legs.
Geography or local
#10: The mural depicts a dwarf whose weapons and armor are made of wood and stone rather than metal. His skin bears numerous simple tattoos, and several bright feathers adorn his beard
Geography or Local
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"No Human statue... starts the blind kobold then after a moment he adds
"oh, maybe Stinky save her for when he hungry?"
D'lack can tell a bit more about some of the picture-stories.
--Solved: 4
--Including One bluff used.
Solved#1: The mural depicts a dwarf in a cave gazing up and shielding her eyes with a hand.
Solved#2:The mural depicts a fireball with long, trailing streaks descending from the sky.
solved, bluff#3: The mural depicts two dwarves locked in battle. One of them has long, braided hair while the other is bald.
Local or Dungeoneering
solved#4: The mural depicts four complex symbols arranged on the four points of a compass rose slanted slightly to the right.
#5: The mural depicts rolling hills with dark gray, rocky soil, punctuated with veins of gold. A vine covered in lavender flowers crushes a giant lizard like a constricting serpent
Geography or Nature
Oberon 11
#6: The mural depicts a map with many rooms, some crude, others skillfully carved and rich in detail.
Engineering or Survival
D'lack 2
#7: The mural depicts a dwarf with his eyes cast to the ground and his hand held against his chest
Heal or Sense Motive
D'lack 7
#8: The mural depicts a demon-like creature with horns and wings
Engineering or Nature
Oberon 14
#9: The mural depicts a humanoid with bulbous eyes and bowed legs.
Geography or local
#10: The mural depicts a dwarf whose weapons and armor are made of wood and stone rather than metal. His skin bears numerous simple tattoos, and several bright feathers adorn his beard
Geography or Local
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Iago looks up and down at the murals with a smile that grows increasingly terse as he realizes he has no flaming clue what most of them could be.
Even the central one, despite seeming maybe... familiar? Is a complete mystery. "I'm sure we'll find something for Stinky. Salami or something cured like that." he says, trying vainly to steer the conversation away from the depictions of dwarves from the past. "In the meantime, I'll go rub that all over her. Maybe she'll be kind enough to perhaps help us retell the story depicted here. A story we know well, but lack the storytelling for retelling it. Of course."
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Between the team, you mange to puzzle out the fifth and sixth murals as well.
--Solved: 6
--Including One bluff used.
Solved#1: The mural depicts a dwarf in a cave gazing up and shielding her eyes with a hand.
The mural depicts the ancient dwarven migration to the surface known as the Quest for Sky. According to legend, Torag gave the dwarves a prophecy that prompted them to leave their original homes in the Darklands realm of Nar-Voth.
Solved#2:The mural depicts a fireball with long, trailing streaks descending from the sky.
The mural depicts a historical event called the Rain of Stars. Before recorded history, a fireball fell from the heavens and crashed into the land now called Numeria. Modern scholars believe the fireball was a vessel of some sort.
solved, bluff#3: The mural depicts two dwarves locked in battle. One of them has long, braided hair while the other is bald.
Local or Dungeoneering
Bluffed
solved#4: The mural depicts four complex symbols arranged on the four points of a compass rose slanted slightly to the right.
The symbol set on the south point of the compass rose is a stylized version of the symbol engraved on the piece of metal that you
found inside the dwarven talisman.
solved#5: The mural depicts rolling hills with dark gray, rocky soil, punctuated with veins of gold. A vine covered in lavender flowers crushes a giant lizard like a constricting serpent
This mural depicts the westernmost part of the Bandu Hills.
Solved#6: The mural depicts a map with many rooms, some crude, others skillfully carved and rich in detail.
This mural depicts a stylized version of Ashkurhall, the dwarven settlement whose ruins the PCs are exploring. The map quite accurately shows how the parts that were built later are architecturally more impressive.
#7: The mural depicts a dwarf with his eyes cast to the ground and his hand held against his chest
Heal or Sense Motive
D'lack 7
Las 12
#8: The mural depicts a demon-like creature with horns and wings
Engineering or Nature
Oberon 14
#9: The mural depicts a humanoid with bulbous eyes and bowed legs.
Geography or local
#10: The mural depicts a dwarf whose weapons and armor are made of wood and stone rather than metal. His skin bears numerous simple tattoos, and several bright feathers adorn his beard
Geography or Local
The kobolds only put up a token objection to Iago turning the woman back to flesh... if he buys the potion. Without it she will be far too heavy to cart around.
--=-=-=-=-=-=-=--
As you work your way through the murals the guardian looks on with interest. "A long time has passed and you have forgotten a lot."
But he shrugs after an internal debate with himself.
The Golden Guardian nods approvingly. “You truly are the worthy bearers of the talisman, so I shall tell you a story that Sigrin of Ashkurhall, the founder of this place, once told me."
“Long ago, when Sigrin’s father ruled as king, the dwarves rose from the depths and built a citadel so mighty that even a titan would gaze upon it in awe. Centuries later, a shower of stars rained upon a land not far from the dwarven hold. The dwarves marched to investigate. They found many wonderful things, the greatest of which was the mysterious artifact they named the Sky Key."
“But dark times soon followed, for their cousins from the underworld fell upon the dwarven citadel. Caught unprepared, the dwarves knew they could not hold off against the siege. The king ordered all but his most trusted guards to leave, and stayed behind to buy his people timed to escape. Before Sigrin and her three siblings left to lead the dwarves to safety, the king gave each of them a piece of the Sky Key, and kept one for himself. The dwarves traveled far and wide, but the dangerous journey across the unknown land caused rifts in their clan. One by one, the king’s children went their separate ways, each taking a piece of the key and a part of the clan. Sigrin’s dwarves made their way to this continent, and though they found it quite inhospitable, they pressed on. After much searching, they found gold and started building this place. Their prosperity grew with each passing decade.”
Grinning, the Guardian continues, “That’s when I entered the picture. We didn’t get along at first, but I came to realize they were decent people, who appreciated stone and gold as much as I did.
“Their luck did not last, however. A sickness came over the dwarves, and the survivors were too few in number to continue their lineage. Rather than slowly die out here, they chose to leave. However, they wanted someone to watch over this place. They chose me. Sigrin went to her grippli allies and gave them her piece of the key. Where the dwarves were going, they couldn’t hold onto their memories and traditions. I think Sigrin made up a monstrous story about me—I probably deserved it,” the Guardian says with a grin, “but the story was to protect this place and the piece of the key.”
The Guardian stares at the last mural for a long time. “The dwarves left to join their cousins who lived in the jungle to the east. They never came back.”
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D'lack says to his comrades Let's buy an elixir to get this woman back in flesh. May be she was with Sarrowsmith and could tell us more about his fate ?
D'lack listen carefully to the Golden Guardian and takes back the "weapon" they throw at it.
Thank you Gardian to share with us these stories. It's a sad story but I think the dwarfs couldn't have found a better guardian than you. But if I may, what are you ? I've never seen someone like you.
Asks D'lack
He turns to Oberon and says I think the "key" is the "weapon" we throw at the guardian, funny right ?
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"Yes, funny and strange. So do we know anything about this stoney woman? Was she hostile to the kobolds or traveling with Sharrowsmith?
We have the sword from our missing VC. What about anything else of his?
Once we gather everything we can, we can leave these kobolds alone with their guardian I guess."
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"I" says the guardian proudly "Am a Gargoyle. A Golden one to be precise." he smiles and then adds " We are rather special."
The conversation is disrupted by a pair of kobolds rushing into the room. You recognise them as the two from the first room that you captured.
"More intruders! They attacked us!"
The kobolds look angrily at the PCs, but more worriedly back over their shoulders.
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Iago nods his head sagely at the retelling of the story. "Wow. A guardian gargoyle." He then cracks a grin and quips: "Suck it Osirion with your overdone undead. Gotta love Dwarven ingenuity."
Then the alarm sounds and Iago facepalms, slowly, languidly even, massaging his eyelids. "And what brand of tri-generational retard is causing us trouble now?" He tests the blade of his axe, ponders using the magical blade and looks at Lasaraleen. "Soooo... About my wounds. Do you think you have a moment?"
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Oberon readies his blade in one hand and a wand (of Magic Missiles) in the other.
"Someone better tap Iago with some healing or he's going to need to buy some potions from the freaks in here, and quick, because we got trouble."
Oberon looks up to the guardian, "I assume you're going to help us out with this one, right?"
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"Of course..." smiles the guardian.
Round 1
You see a group approaching the main doors. Several have crossbow bolts in them. Even as you watch the one at the back, who was a bit behind the others starts to transform into stone.
Status, bold may post:
Iago 2 damage
Lassaraleen
Vengrim
Guillaume
D'lack
Oberon
Invaders
[round two starts]
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Iago Approaches the doorway, readying his greataxe the same way a Taldane noble might ready a racket in that fastidious game of theirs. "Hello intruders! I am Iago, and I will be hurting you today. Please form an orderly line, and be sure to talk plenty of smack" he offers with a smile that is anythign but comforting.
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Paralyzed by fear, Vengrim can't seem to pull himself together enough to attack.
The rest of the pathfinder team draw weapons and stand ready to receive a charge.
A hyena dashes forward from the back of the group, but is quickly put down by Guillaume. The others spread out.
The man in red throws a sticky bag at Guillaume
and he quickly finds himself entangled with goo.
The one in black drinks a potion.
The one in red appears to be a woman. Her weapon of choice is a nasty whip which snakes out at Guillaume
She messes up badly, barely avoiding taking out her own eye.
The golden guardian swoops down, savaging her with his horns before flapping back through the great doors.
Status, bold may post:
D'lack
Oberon
Iago 2 damage
Lassaraleen
Guillaume - entangled. Reflex DC 15 or stuck to the floor.
Invaders
black - 6 damage;
[round 3 starts]