Garren whispers to his companions. Kobolds. They're wily beasts... Do we approach them or attack? Not all are necessarily evil.
He's obviously not sure on this one and looking to see how the others feel.
Garion creeps over to Garren, keeping his voice low. "If you would like I can try and parle with them. Remember, I do know a bit of Draconic. But be ready to cover me, I've only ever traded with a select few of the Kobolds in the parts nearer the border where I lived. These might not be as receptive."
It depends entirely on who they are and who they worship. I've heard, on rare occasion, of societies of Kobolds dedicated to Law as opposed to Evil. If there's a dragon in the area, I think we'd like a bit of warning about it.
Garren quietly pleads with Erastil to assist Garion in the trial to come.
Stepping out into the clearing, Garion keep his hand in the air.
"Dostlar Hello! Necə bu gözəl gün var?"
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The alert Kobolt looks towards you and screams, in Draconic:
"Ana-yumurta!"
After alerting his companions he approaches you pointing with a spear, in a defensive posture, speaking in common:
"Go away! No coin! Go away!"
After a second he realizes you spoke draconic, and answers to you in kind:
"Siz danışmaq olar? Sən kimsən? Biz Haqq miqyaslı qəbiləsindən insanlardır. Biz delikateslər üçün gəldi, onlar bizim var. Bir oğru var?"
After you calm him down he, and his groggy friends, seems to take a liking of you, as you know how to "talk". They explain you they are on a mission to recollect Moon Radishes, and take them back to their lair. They are glad you are not thiefs, as they are a peril to them too, even if they do not get attacked much because of their lack of "valuables" while on the road. The name of the leader is Eepo. He is also glad you are nice "bigfeet".
Salereon stays back with the others, ready on Aithon with lance and shield should the creatures prove aggressive.
Seeing that this is not a time for bloodshed, Salereon asks Garion, This mention of thieves, could they mean our bandits? Perhaps they know where we might find a band? Pausing a moment, Ask if they know anything about the tree where the mites live.
Garion smiles big at Eepo "Thank you for your hospitality, and speaking our native tongue! If you would allow me I would like to speak to my comrades about your proposition."
Turning to Garren and speaking in hushed tones "They may be small but the Kobolts would be good allies. They know these woods better than any bandit would. I say we help them."
This is the second task that's called us to the tree. Perhaps we're receiving a sign that it's a source of unrest in the area.
He looks to the diminutive draconians in the clearing. Won't they just become a source of trouble if we remove their competition? I know little of Kobolds. Can they be redeemed?
Garion scratches his head, taking a look back over his shoulder at the Kobolds. "Redeemed...? It's hard to say. Maybe not in the same way you are thinking. They are not the most intelligent of races. At most I think that we can come to an agreement of sorts. I can't vouch for the longevity of such and agreement."
I agree Garren. Twice circumstances have pointed to the tree, let us finish mapping this area and work our way towards it. If the Kobolds prove treacherous we can deal with them when the time comes.
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The Kobolts part ways with you, and go out in their way under the cover of dusk, in SE direction.
You camp for the night, in the forest. Rupert has been foraging all day, and you find out you don't need to consume your daily rations as the food he managed to get is enough for all 5 of you.
He even got a couple Moon Radishes... Anyone wants to try them?
The next morning you get up and let him prepare breakfast and pack the camp, a nice change for what is worth, so you have a little more leisure time, to get ready for the day ahead.
He even takes some time to groom Aithon, Goat and Séreméla.
"Where to, my sires?" - he asks.
Garren wishes the Kobolds good day and safe travels.
Rupert, you are not a servant. You are still a free man. You do not need to bow and scrape to us. Garren tries to assure the man that service isn't necessary. His desire for restoration is all that Garren requires from him. The others may or may not disagree, but this behavior bothers the cleric.
Take us towards the tree then, Rupert.
As they ride on Garren looks to Salereon, I've thought about what you said yesterday and it's true. Kobolds have a history of betrayal. I need to understand that we cannot save everyone. Perhaps they will prove different than kith and kin, but I cannot depend on that...
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Rupert try to ease your worries. He tells you that he knows you have given him a new chance at life, and he wants to prove his worth to all of you.
"This makes me fell worthy of your forgiveness, Father."
So... You want to keep exploring the hexes you cross (1 day each, at least) or go fast to the old sycamore?
Of course, Rupert. Thank you for being patient with me. I'm still getting used to not being a hermit. He cracks a smile at their guide.
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Rupert rolls:
I'll give you a +2 in your rolls because of Rupert's Aid Another.
As you’re walking through this section of the Kamelands, you see something greyish caught on a shrub some distance away. Upon closer inspection, the greyish thing seems to be a section of the shed skin of a snake. The section is roughly three feet by four and appears to be just a fragment of the entire shed skin. As you continue on your explorations, you find five more pieces of the shed skin—all as large or larger than the one you found first—but no further sign of the giant snake.
A particularly rocky crag rises from the hills here. At the crag’s base is an overgrown 5-foot-wide crack, that leads down 20 feet to a 30-foot-diameter cave. The cave wall directly across from the entrance sparkles slightly.
Do you feel like exploring the cave?
BTW: I put the Map link in the "Main" campaign tab. I put the Map link here too.
Garren looks to the others, Anyone up for some spelunking?
Chances are we should mark this on the cave and ask one of our compatriots to explore the thing later. I'd say on to the tree and then back to Oleg's to ensure everything is well.
Veroca had stayed away from the lizards. She didn't appear overly fond of them, wrapping herself up in her cloak and staying to the back. Today, the changeling and her glossy rat ride in front, and she seems curious about the caves, "And relegate anything interesting to those that come after us?" Veroca nearly pouts.
"I'm up for either choice! The cave does seem interesting, but I'm eager to get on with our mission as well. What do you think Sal?"
Garren enters with Rupert keeping a wary eye about for any dangers. He considers the fact that this may be the kobold's warren. He looks at the wall of minerals with little idea of what he might be seeing.
Hmmm... This could be useful later...
Garren notes the cave's location on the map.
He takes a sample of the rock with him. I'm fairly sure this is auric ore... He doesn't want to hide the information from Rupert, and if the freshly minted man known the term, all the better.
If that's all that's in the hole in the ground, Garren will head back outside and stowe the sample. He'll spend a moment checking Goat's tack and allowing the others to speak up as need be.
Garion's eyes grew wide as he saw the vein of gold. "I agree, this could become very useful!" As an orphan and a common person he had never seen this much gold in his life. It was exciting for him!
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Well, the gold is not completely evident. The rocs have a certain yellow/brown color in them, but Garren has the idea that with the proper tools and labor this can be a source of good revenue.
Rupert, on the other hand, thinks it is not gold, but some kind of clay, but tells you it is a good idea to "mark" some kind of reclamation in the cave, just to be sure.
If you want to make some kind of marking or writing in the rock to reclaim the mine it will take a day, maybe more...
Rupert, do you think it likely someone will take the cave in the next few weeks if they haven't in the last few years? His tone isn't condescending. Rupert's suggestion was inspired by something and Garren truly want to know what that was.
Garion, what do you think our chances are of hiding the cave instead of just marking it as ours? I'm prety sure that, between the two of us, we can make a decent blind or mask...
Garion inspected the cave opening, thinking for a few minutes. "It's definitely possible, we could probably get something done in about a day. And besides, it doesn't appear that many people have been by here in quite some time. It wouldn't take much to make it seem as if there was nothing to see here."
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People has not been around here for many years. Maybe ever. But there are tracks of several types of animals.
You get to work in creating some king of camouflage. I'll imagine you take 20, spending there the rest of the day.
At the fall of the night you make camp and start to talk around the campfire.
Please roll perception.
Without a noise Garion points in the direction of the bear and her cubs, holding the party up. In a whisper he talks to the group. "We don't want her to think we're threatening her young. It appears they are just looking for shelter for the night."
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One of the cubs runs into the trees, and the mother and other cub seems not to notice it. A couple seconds later a cry for help is heard! The cub is calling her mother! The bear runs quickly into the trees, roaring as only a bear mother protecting her young can. Sounds of fighting and cries from the cubs (one of which is outside of the trees, unsure if to follow her mother) pierce the night.
Garion comes to full alert at the sound of the fight. He whips out his bow and notches an arrow, running towards the sounds without a word. He uses his low-light vision to look ahead and try and keep himself from getting entwined in the fight just yet, not before he could assess the situation for himself.
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On the moonlight Garion catches a shadow dropping from a big tree towards the mother bear, surrounding her and trying to constrict and bite her.
From the histories he has heard, he is seeing his first Tatzlwyrm.
Garren snatches up his bow and heads out of camp quickly on hearing the mother bear being attacked. He nocks an arrow and aims his bow at the wurm with a prayer on his lips. He glances to Garion and waits for a nod indicating he's ready. In the back of his mind he wonders, Now, where are Salereon and Veroca?
Veroca had fallen asleep as soon as she got there. She was tired and still a bit confused about the fixation on money. Once it became evident that the cave was not interesting in a magical or explory sort of way, she lost interest. And so she slept, still feeling uneasy, once back at the camp, only to be woken up by the roaring bear.
She startles awake, hair in a strange tangle around her head, scrambling for her rat. She looks grumpy. Casters need their rest! Sighing, though, the noise does not appear to be diminishing, and so she lugged herself out of her bedroll to look for the rest of the group near the source of the noise.
Garren concludes his prayer and Garion and Veroca feel Erastil's blessing shine on them like warm sun in a field of wildflowers.
Garion looks through the night at the beast he had only heard of in legend. Without hesitation he looses his arrow at it.
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As Veroca is looking for her companions Garren takes advantage that the Tatzlwyrm nor the bear has seen them, and cast Bless on his companions. A second later Garion approaches within 30' from the fight and let his arrow fly, missing both beasts.
They seems to involved in their combat, and not having realized you are closing by.
First round... Go!
Garren looses his arrow at the Tatzlwyrm, calling out to the others as he does. Leave the bear be.
Garion, frustrated with his miss, tries to take advantage of the Tatzlwyrms glance, and sends another arrow streaking in its direction.
Veroca scowls, whispering quietly to her rat. Then she points at the worm thing with one point finger, and whispers to it in a quiet sing song.
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The Tatzlwyrm start to lessen it's grip on the bear, as it starts to fall sleep!
The mother bear takes advantage of it and turns around, hugging powerfully at the reptile, and trying to crush it...
... But that awakes the Tatzlwyrm!
In its desperation, the Tatzlwyrm breaths something noxious in the face of the bear, that loses its grip and falls down on all fours, shaking it's head.
The Tatzlwyrm sees you, and hisses. It has found some new, more powerful enemies, but it seems weakened from the powerful bear hug...