Zillyanna recoils with the stone hitting her side, but brushes of the injury, pretending its nothing. "You guys throw like babys!", she screams, looking for some cover while taking aim at a new kobold (#8). "Also, you guys don't know when to give up!", and shooting.
Vorrak moves back to the kobold that basically surrendered and places a scaled hand on it. Then in draconic.
you will be coming with us, alive, you want to stay alive yes? I've got questions to ask. Hand over your weapons.
Ready/hold action until the rascal does anything other than drop the dagger to attack.
Hutch gives a quick glare to the Dragon born before spinning his Halberd at the Kobold he had hit previously. A few drops of blood flew off the arcing blade from the last hit, and Hutch completed the weapons spin, brining the butt end of the Halberd down to follow the blade.
Nodding his head in understanding to Vorrak, and moving around the kobold Vorrak is speaking to, Venali sets his sights on the kobold hiding beside the nearby house (#8). He traces a sigil in the air, frost coating his hand as he mumbles a quick incantation, he then throws his hand out towards the kobold. A rime quickly spreads along the kobold's body as the frost melts from Venali's hand.
Zilyana nocks another arrow aiming it for the jubilating kobold. The arrow flies past its cover and embeds itself deep in its chest, sending it flying backwards, where it comes to a stop, dead.
Hutch's halberd digs deep into the Kobold's skull, momentarily slowing its momentum, before hutch completes the spin and the already dying kobold gets forced to the ground. The butt end of the weapon smacks into the broken skull, crushing it compeletely in a shower of blood and brain matter.
Evendur moves forward at a run, drawing his sword and moving up to one of the kobolds.
Zilyana advances forward, taking aim at another kobold (#7) and firing. It was just down to two left... not a time to waste with unnecessary discussion.
Vorrak gives Hutch a rather crude look before sprinting towards the kobold the furthest away.
With most of their friends dead the two remaining Kobolds turn tail and run, one north, the other east.
Cowards! Hutch shouts at the Kobolds, planting the butt of his Halberd on the corpse he made.
You people, good job. You were out numbered five to one, with two liabilities. You made the right call. Where are you headed? I am a mercenary, willing to lend my services, especially if I get to kill these Kobolds. The weak should get to run around pretending to be strong. Hutch says and ask to the family. It's fr his town the children are the liabilities he is talking about.
"Let them run, I doubt they will bring more upon us than we already face this night." He moves toward the woman and her family, giving a disapproving look at Hutch's crassness. "You spoke of a keep, do you think you could lead us there? I'm sure my companions would be as willing as I to offer you and yours protection. As well as any we might find along the way." He gives a slight bow, "Venali Auondril of Evereska, and you are?"
Taking a look around him, remembering their exact circumstances likely override formalities, "Though perhaps we should talk as we move."
Vorrak chases after the kobold. Oh no you don't you little bugger. Comere, Just wanna ask you some questions. I won't hurt you if you answer honestly, and stop resisting. He yells to the kobold as he grabs at it.
Zilyana just watches Vorrak decide to run off after the kobold.
"And there goes the farmer, trying to catch the chicken," she commented amussedly. "How would we keep one of them prisoner anyway?"
Her eyes then turned to the family. "Are you alright? And how far is it to where we need to go?"
As the kobolds go on the run, Zillyanna runs after them along with Vorrak, trying to help in any way she can by cutting off their exits. “We’re not finished, little lizards!”
Lets get these people to safety, says the warrior priest, uninterested in showboating or trying to re-engage. The dragon attacks the city... do we try to get them at least away from these creatures, behind the fortifications and closer to the dragon or get them out of the area around town altogether?
And should we just tell them to flee town while we go looking for more survivors?, Evendur worries. Kelemvor forbid that this is even worse deeper in town and I fail to save others before their appointed hour!
Vorrak catches up with the kobold and puts an arm around its neck, it tries to escape the grip but gets simply lifted uoff the ground by the dragon born, feet kicking in the air.
The Kobold ceases it's struggling and squawking and speaks
"Linan. Linan Swift, this is my husband Cuth, and our children." the woman responds to Hutch, Venali, Zilyana and Evendur, the whole family is still out of breath from running. Cuth and the children are approaching behind her, the youngest son hiding behind her from the strangers "Cuth has been wounded, the rest of us are fine. Perhaps a bit frightened." she laughs nervously as she puts an arm around the boy.
"You should be able to see the keep past these houses.", Linan points to the group of smaller houses and sheds south east of the crossing. "I suspect there will be more raiders in the way, but I'm afraid if we try to leave town that monster will spot us and hunt us down. Such a flying creature would see us for miles in the open fields, and it does not seem to have breached the keep's walls."
Vorrak looks down at the kobold and starts leading/dragging him toward the others forcefully, but not aggressively or threateningly as long as he doesn't start acting up.
We could make for the keep... we would be the wedge that the enemy break upon and then you could follow once we dispatch our foes. Do you think there are any other survivors such as yourselves?
I could heal the lad but it doesn't look serious and there will be more severely wounded closer to the dragon who will need aid to stay from my Lords gray lands, he thinks, knotting his brow in worry over whether or not he is sinning against Kelemvors will.
Linan's eyes wander across the village "I think so. A lot of the raiders seem to focus on looting, there will surely be more people between here and the keep. We would be grateful if you helped us get to safety."
The Kobold keeps eagerly talking:
Zilyana frowned as she heard the words exchanged, before looking to Evendur.
"You are a man of the gods, right? Is there any way you can treat that man's injuries?"
She smiled at the idea of the fort. "I don't think we have the numbers to protect them in the wilderness anyway. We'll need the soldiers from that keep. If we can drive the attackers off, all the better."
About as much to be expected I suppose. But I did get a name..
The Kobold shakes its head.
I am indeed a servant of Kelemvor and have His Almighty Hand upon my weak and feeble shoulders but I feel it is His Will that I reserve such blessings as He provides to those who may be in more dire need.
I know that in the wake of the Dragons attack there will be many who need His Divine Power to avoid dying before their time... too many...
For the moment? The man can limp along and that means his wounds are not dire enough that Kelemvor direct me to a divine healing. Once we catch our breath I will use mundane means to clean and bind up his injuries.
He seems sure of himself as he delivers the proclamation as to the man's health... as sure as his hangdog and beaten down expression can convey at any rate.
Oh Lord Kelemvor I hope that my desire to save lives on the brink of premature departure to Your Throne of Judgement pleases You and that this man not die because of my weakness in not understanding Your Holy Will, he prays silently.
As they catch up to the rest of the party, Zillyanna watches Vorrak speaking to the scared Kobold, eying Vorrak with feigned suspicion.
"What are you two plotting?"
She gives a glance to the family and tries to give a comforting smile to the children.
"Its okay, the ugly bad lizards are gone now."
"Then it is decided, we shall accompany you to the keep." As Vorrak comes back with the squirming kobold, "What do you think? Dragon man and dragon lady? More of your people?"
Eyeing the kobold down,
"I understand. If Kelemvor grants you his healing touch, he surely trusts you to use it judiciously. I can still run, I'm sure with enough rest my wounds will mend." Cuth agrees.
The Kobold looks around itself, at the smouldering buildings in the distance, at a small group of raiders crossing a street some ways off, at the blue dragon circling lazily above the whole mayhem then back at Venali.
the little reptilian creature asks.
Quit talking to the weakling. We should just kill it and be done
Hutch looks to the keep. Let's get started. Hopefully I can wety Halberd more. Maybe get some money.
"Never underestimate the value of someone who knows your enemy more than you do." He glares at the bloodthirsty human, "If you ask me, your thirst for bloodshed makes you more dangerous an ally than this whimpering, kobold you called it?"
I give Vorrak a nod before turning to Zilyana and Zillyanna, "You two should lead the way, you both have keen eyes and a steady hand with your bows. Hopefully we can make our way to the keep with as little bloodshed as possible, on both sides." He gives Hutch a look with his last words.
"Linan, Cuth, you two should stay close to Vorrak and Hutch" he motions to the two as he says this. "Evendur and I will protect your children and watch our rear. Any opposed?"
He thinks for a moment, "Our new friend can stay in front, and if he tries to run or alert his former comrades..."
Good tactics friend, says Evendur giving Venali an approving nod. I'm with you.
The Kobold nods eagerly:
no, no objection I suppose. he glances towards Anna. oh, just the downfall of the elves you know. Normal dragon things and all that. he gives a half-smile, or at least you think it's a smile.
After he answers he lets the kobold go.
Cuth and Linan nod in agreement: "It sounds like a good plan, thank you so much for helping us!"
The Kobold drops to all fours and scrambles to get bakc on its feet. It looks Vorrak up and down and then points at Vorrak's lower body:
Vorrak turns to the others.
Well, the kobold says that he is under orders from a Cyanwrath, he refers to her as the "Dragon-Lady", their is another he refers to as the Dragon-man, however he hasn't given a name. Neither of which are the Great blue one here. That part, is what worries me...
It likely means that, that blue dragon here is either working with, or under those two. If under, that's quite the scary thought. Mother, I will protect these folk, even if it costs my life. Just as you did.
he turns to the people they saved. Okay, line up behind Anna and Villy, and keep between me and Hutch. We make for the keep, saving anyone we can along the way. He gestures towards the party members when he calls their name.
Zillyana nods, taking the lead.
"I suppose if we're already going a little slower because of Mr. Swift's injury, it would be better if we can spot any danger before it spots us." she says, taking her time to be alert and advance using whatever shadow and cover she can find to avoid detection.
Nothing in the Kobold's demeanor looks suspicious to Vorrak.
It shakes its head, "No Sy-en rath is dragon man, give orders to Vak. Dragon lady give orders to him.", its Common is even more heavily accented than its Draconic.
---------------
You don't have to move far before Zillyanna spots another group of enemies, you count five Kobolds, not much different from Vak and the others you killed before, four humans clad in grey hooded cloaks, vaguely resembling wings due to them being longer at the outer edges. They are busy trying to kick in a door, while a sixth Kobold watches from the roof of the building, this one however appears to have a pair of leathery wings drowing from its back. A reptilian beast with a predator's physique, a set of very small vestigial horns lining its head and a crest of spikes running along its back all the way to the tip of the tail, stalks around the group, its eyes occasiuonally scanning the surrounding.
The group haven't noticed you yet and you may be able to sneak around the enemies using other buildings as cover.
And here is my call to action... Kelemvor be praised!, Evendur thinks in elation, envisaging saving whatever people are within.
Evendur nudges the Elf working rear guard duty with him and points at the group of enemies assaulting the building.
"Some humans this time." she whispers, making a hand signal for the group to stop and see. "We should probably take them out first, we know the kobolds aren't a big deal already...That one on top of the building is strange, though", she looks at party waiting for some kind of strategy.
Vorrak approaches Anna as they walked, Here, let me see your wound. He holds her with his left hand and gently slides his other over the wound. His hand seems to wreath in a white flame as he does so and the wound appears to have almost healed entirely. He shrugs. Just something I've been able to do lately. Not sure why.
Well, If there are people in the house we can't just leave them...
"Wound? What wound? I'm not woun-Thank you." she blushes.
Venali gives a slight nod as Evendur nudges him. After hearing Vorrak speaking to Vak gives a slight smile. Before whispering, "I believe our large friend has a plan of his own, if we can use Vak to separate the group, we will have a better chance at taking them out with less fuss." He gives a stern look at Hutch, "Preferably keeping the humans alive to question, it would be nice to have a bit more information to go on about these attacks. And I'm sure the local Lord wouldn't mind questioning one or two of them himself."
I doubt the other kobolds will be as easy to turn as Vak.
Two of the robed men take turns kicking the door.
Zilyana frowned as she looks at the robes, and tried to think of if she had ever seen their design, or something like it, before.
Then, she stops to examine how they're kicking the door.
"I don't think the hooded ones are warriors. They don't seem to know how to kick in a door."
She turns to the others. "I think we should target the humans first. But uniforms like that make me think they may not be simple mercenaries like the kobolds. They may not be as easy to get information from."
Let them die by my blade. Hutch says.
Readying his Halberd, he gives a quick look at the others as a warning. Quickly, before anyone can stop him he moves towards the enemy, not at a full run, but just to get close.
"Whether or not it will be easy to get them to talk is not important now. We should attempt to take them from both sides, and while I agree the humans should get our attention before the kobolds..." He points to the large beast with them, "I'm more concerned about that." Now those scales look promising, and will be much easier to get than the dragon's.
He starts moving silently off towards the back of the nearest house, thinblade still drawn.
Zilyana decides to sneak closer toward the group, her bow drawn and ready so she can target them.
"We'll keep our heads down, come on, kids." Cuth says as he and Linan move into cover.
Vak dashes off and dives into the shadows between two buildings.
The bestial creature and a few of the kobolds seem to notice him but decide to ignore him.