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Xakroo keeps himself in a tree, making sure Zarvak is well hidden...as he snipes a few hobgoblins as effectively as he can.
Any that hit gives him a bigger and bigger grin. After having to swallow his tongue for a while, he's finally getting to vent out his bottled frustrations on these bastards.
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Trinket prances across the battlefield, inspiring her companions to greater heights of awesomeness, and making everyones weapons crackle with flames! When its time to fight the bad guys she pulls out some drums and pounds away on them, blasting the bad guys ears and knocking them on their butts!
Just before you begin to rain down death and destruction on the camp, you notice that there seems to be an endless supply of hobgoblin reinforcements coming from an unusual shiny black tower that appeared. Koserusk appears to be quite proud of the tower.
Your rain of destruction has cleared out all of her lieutenants and followers, but she turns a furious glare at you, ready to destroy you.
Alaka, happy to not have to pretend to be a bad guy anymore, casts a wall of fire between Koserusk and the group so that they don't get destroyed too quickly.
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correction: Kosseruk falls over dead from all the damage you deal.
The Legion then flees from the battlefield, with the commander you have come to respect gathering his troups in an orderly retreat to protect the other legion members.
The Legion seems to retreat from the area for now, giving Longshadow a chance to recuperate from the fight.
Soon after you return to your home, Aubrin comes to show you something. It appears that the Legion now has a bounty on your heads of 15,000 gold pieces for each of you.
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Kwiazy seems pleased at the outcome of the party's foray into undercover work, but also a little disappointed in his own inability to contribute much to the finale, seeing that it was all resolved with magic and archery.
He does seem happy to be back in Longshadow though and among the longshanks he's grown to admire and appreciate. He buys some candy and passes it out to the children, doffs his feathery hat to the ladies in the town as he wanders the streets and seems happy just to bask in the warmth of their acceptance of him and his non-longshanks friends.
When Aubrin shows him and his friends the bounty posters, Kwiazy has a hearty laugh. "I think we're worth more than that! Not sure whether to be amused or insulted."
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You return to your headquarters to rest and plan. While there, Aubrin and the other leaders of your allies meet you to talk. They ask you what you have discovered recently.
Alaka tells them all about their infiltration plan, and describes in detail all of the lovely fireballs at the end.
...it was a lot of bad guys that were trying to hurt people, so the fire was a good thing, not "crazy, murderous vandalism." I had a human say that to me about fire once, so just wanted to explain that it wasn't that kind of fire. It was the nice kind. Well, it wasn't nice, but it was the good kind, like Sarenrae.
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Kwiazy nods vigorously to Alaka's description. "So much fire. Hobgoblins don't seem to like fire much. Heh... Silly hobogobbos. Sent them packing. Well.. the few who didn't burn ran. But we need to do more, yes? Hobogobbos not smart enough to all this alone. We need to find big bosses and stop THEM."
Oooh, good idea. Let's burn the BIG bad guys.
Um, but where are they? Do we know that?
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"Yes, we need to bring your fire of Sunny-Ray to the big bad guys... finding them is our next problem... mebbe follow the trail of the ones that got away?"
Yeah, but those ones already know that we don't like them much... except for that one nice hobgoblin guy. I liked that one. That's why I didn't burn him to a crisp, or sic a skunk on him like the other guys... did we tell you guys that story? That was SOOOO funny... and then when he came to dinner he was so smelly. Ha ha ha ha!...
Oh, I forgot what I was saying. ... Oh yeah! So, we can't really be sneaky with those other ones anymore, so I don't know if following them is a good idea. But you're right, they would probably go back to the big bad guys, and then we would know where they were. Do you smart humans know a new place to go, or should we just go back where we were already and try to find them from there?
The mayor of Longshadow, who has come to join the conference as one of your allies, explains that they were not able to trace where the Legion soldiers went. He does know where they came from, though, and suggests that if you travel there, you may find out more about the Legion.
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"That's a great idea... can you show on a map please where they come from? That would be better than someone taking us there, as that would put one of your people at risk. We don't want that if it can be... not happening." He says that last after stumbling a moment over the word 'avoided'. He looks up at the mayor hopefully with a smile on his face and the feather in his hat slipping down over his face almost comically. He doesn't see the humor in it and tries a few times to blow it out of his eyes, then turns the hat around.
Yeah, show us the map. but can you also write down which way is east on the map, because I never remember, and don't start telling me which way north is. That doesn't help because you can't tell that by the sun. And then nobody ever remembers that one direction spell because of course nobody needs directions... oh, and do you have anymore guys for our team, because some of our guys left and we don't have a hero cheerleader person anymore, telling us how cool we are all the time, and giving us hats and stuff. So, maybe we need more people, but we probably have enough hats. But not hobgoblins though because they are too tall, and definitely not humans because they aren't very sneaky. Did anyone join up that is really short maybe?
The mayor answers, "My best trackers have followed the trails of the army that attacked us back to the Valley of Ailoy. They can take you to the point where the trail enters the valley."
Alaka shrugs and says okay.
She gathers up her stuff and makes sure she says hi to all her friends before she packs up and gets ready to leave.
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Largely aloof as befits a mighty dragonette Petrahk has been doing the best impression of a wallflower but not quite mentally at the briefing before a thought occurs to her and she nods.
"Not that it'd be important or anything, but any 'bolds or goblins we run into are probably going to be gently aimed in this direction. They're going to need help and protection -- our infiltration went too well and there's going to be some paranoid hobbies who will treat any of our people as spies, murderers, and thieves." Petrahk notes ominously.
The dragonette pauses then nods. "We really don't need anyone else, but if someone wants to tag along and can be sneaky like the rest of us like Alaka said, they can. No children, though. Definitely too dangerous."
Having exhausted for the moment her thoughts on the matter, Petrahk goes to see about acquiring extra provisions for the trip -- just in case.
Aubrin does mention to you that a few newcomers may be interested in helping you.
Stepping out from behind some blue (what are the odds?) pillows is a blue-scaled kobold. He wears dark blue wizard's robes; his hood covering his face a bit mysteriously. He doesn't quite step into the light of the lanterns about, keeping himself sheathed in shadows.
The Blue-scale smiles at the group.
My eyes have seen your strangeness, tom foolery and shenanigans while amongst the Hobgoblin army. I want in!
He formally bows to each of the group in turn.
I am Ahmose; the Blue Whisper. My blue dragon ancestors have empowered me with their blue magicks! I shall be your wizard!
He proudly crosses his hands across his chest; and nods.
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I don't know who that Tom guy is, but you'll do. You're short. Can you make fire?
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A goblin in a shiny breastplate, carrying a big sword (for Goblin standard) shows himself. He's got really big ears, and a monkey-like tail. "Hello!" he says in a raspy voice, waving his right hand. "I'm Floggy, the strongest Goblin in the world!" To back up his claim, he lifts his arm and shows his biceps, which actually seem quite well shaped. He then points at a bat that appears flying from behind him. "This is my friend Lurky. He's not food, you don't eat Lurky, okay?"
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"Not that it's important or anything Alaka, but 'Tom Foolery' is a noscale longshanks who runs around causing mischief and mayhem. So, 'Blue Whisper', I notice you prefer the shadows. Some of the things Alaka can do get pretty bright. That's not going to be a worry for you, is it? And you said you were in the hobgoblin army?" the dragonnette huffs as she then looks at the new goblin.
"No offense, Floggy, but Lurky doesn't look like they'd feed all of us, and it'd be rude to not share. Does Lurky have problems with bright things, too?"
Despite the slightly caustic tone, those who can recognize the facial tics of a trueblood can clearly see she's joking, and those who have traveled with the sometimes prickly sorceress can hear a tone of subdued mirth behind her words.
Oh, thanks Petrahk. Hi Floggy. Wow, you look really strong. Don't worry. I don't like the taste of bat anyway. Too much fur.
"Lurky is thankful that you are not going to try to eat him. He's a bit annoyed by bright light, but usually he's in my bag of a fight happens, so it shouldn't be a problem."
He then gives up to his curiosity.
"So I've heard you've been kicking some hogobbos' asses, am I right? I'm interested in that, I was at home meditating and they suddenly killed all animals, and friends, and made a lot of noise."
What's meditating?
...Whatever it is, though, sorry that those hobgoblins messed it up. We only kill the bad kind though, so you have to make sure not to kill nice ones if you come with us.
The blue-scale turns his blue draconian eyes to the girl goblin. He bows.
Were that I wasn't predisposed whilst you were muddling up those hobgoblins in their own camp; my magicks would have been a magnificent addition. But, alas, here we are about to embark on a terrible and wondrous journey to...
Ahmose stops in mid speech. The kobold looks to the female kobold.
He winks (using his left eye).
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Kwiazy walks in late to the party, having just woken from a nap...He blinks at all the newcomers, yawns, then smiles. "We have new friends?" His eyes grow hugely round as he sees Floggy. "You are gobbo? With a tail? You are a kitty-gobbo? He walks over and circles Floggy a few times finally stopping behind him and staring at his tail. "Fascinating!"
After his momentary fixation on the tail.. he licks his lips as he spots the batty-bat. "Not food? His voice drips with disappointment. He sighs...
"Hullo, Blue." He says, nodding a greeting at Ahmose. "Pretty scales. Do you breathe and do magic too?"
"Oh. Introductionisms. Sorry. I am Kwiazy, swordmaster and hobbogobbo slayer. Or I would be." He looks crestfallen for a moment. "Usually they burn before I can get to them...Can't argue with the power of SunnyRay" He looks at Petrahk and Alaka and gives them each a wink. "But I keep trying."
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"Meditating is trying to find a place where you have nothing better to do so you do nothing. And like it, because it's kind of neat if you can pull it off. Not that it's ever happened to me, but I am sure it'd be really bothersome for someone who'd be bothered by having total calm interrupted by sudden violence." the dragonette explains with a bit of a ramble then tilts her head at Ahmose, before offering a sibilant reply.
Petrahk points to Alaka. "Alaka uses the power of SearingRae. Not that it's important or anything, but I'm a dragon that prefers to watch my food and enemies melt under gouts of acid.... or fry from lightning if they're immune to acid. Also, dragon magick is environmentally friendly and completely not like that phony 'elf' magic that the hobbies are afraid of."
Aubrin appears happy at the reception of the newcomers.
"I'm a Monkey gobbo" Floggy replies. He climbs a tree just to show it.
Climbing back down, he tries to drive the subject back to more important things. "So, what's your plan? If you're gonna mess with the hogbobbos, I wanna help."
Ahmose nods to each of the Liars. The blue-scale grins.
My magicks do not make fire; but it does manifest as the most powerful of blue dragon lightning!
He turns to Petrahk.
Valley of Ailoy? How do we get there; and what is the goal?
I can climb trees too, but I don't have a tail... Alaka looks sad.
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"You may not have a tail, or make fancy hats... but you are an awesome um... condite.. condute... channel! for SunnyRay's power... Don't be sad. I can't climb much myself and I don't have a tail either... I've never heard of monkey goblins... it's so.. different! Where are monkey goblins from? and yes, where is this Valley of Ailoy? Show on map please?"
The mayor takes out a map to show you. He also mentions that the rangers from his town who will take you to where the tracks enter the valley are waiting outside.
Ahmose takes a good, long look at the map. The Blue even takes his own notes.
Well, how far is this Valley? We going by horse, wagon, carriage? Who is in charge of logistics around here?
The Blue-scale seems to be enjoying himself.
Let's go, let's go. Hey blue guy, you too. Let's go... Rangers are waiting. We'll figure out how far it was when we get there.
Alaka grabs her stuff and hurries out to meet the rangers.
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"Wow. You must be the first adventurer I've ever run into that's worried about 'logistics'. Not that that is refreshing or anything -- in fact, it's kind of boring if you ask me. Why worry about a cart when flying is an option?" Petrahk begins, then blinks.
"Oh, right. I forgot." she offers with a bit of a snarky grin before she heads out to meet the rangers.
"Rangers? What are you trying to do, are you pursuing the army?" That's quite a straightforward tactic, but those are Floggy's favourites. He'll gladly join.
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Kwiazy gives Floggy a little wink "Yup, we be pursuing the army.... gonna pick off the stragglers that aren't secretly good guys, until we can confront what's left. At least I think that's what we're doing."
He follows the kobolds out to meet the rangers after having studied the map and sketched out a quick version of his own in case he gets separated from the main group.
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Ahmose looks up at Alaka. The blue-scale than grins, as Kwaizy begins mimicking him.
Reliably we can get the lay of the land to be better informed as...
The Blue-scale quickly gathers up his supplies; still lecturing on his way out....
"Let's go!"
Xakroo mostly kept to himself, making sure that everything was ready-and that Zarvak was all ready to go. He did make sure to get the names of the newcomers.