Vengeance of the Downtrodden (Inactive)

Game Master DM Mooshybooshy, "the Foolish"

Oadir can totally do that, so he does. His already fierce eye(s) are accompanied by a swirling tuft of unlight as he moves around the corner, now waiting, he whispers to Greas.

Would it be worth attempting to spook him some more by having you creep around the other corner and talking like you're in the back of his mind? Or is that something we keep for another time?

Also Oadir says this while observing the spectacle that is Hegh flying in the oddest of patterns just to be at the level of windows he can already see through clearly. As much as he respects the Kobold for his determination and in general, this... what can only be described as a dance has him stifling a chuckle.

At Oadir's comment, there is a large sigh. "Oadir, this is a round room. Meaning that there are no corners. I know you are short an eye, but this is not an excuse here. I understand what you are saying, but such a thing is more difficult in a room like this that has no cover. I would be seen without a significant distraction unless the pig is too caught up in its worries. I would also need to know how to throw my voice to achieve such an effect, and not sound like I am simply talking behind them. It is something I would learn, but I have never had the opportunity." He did like the idea, but it wasn't practical for him. But seeing Hegh comically bob his head above the various windows gave a way it could be adapted. He would just need to make some checks before he put it forth.

How high is the ceiling here?

I was referring to the corners of this here column, but if you don't feel you can do it with your voice anyway then there's no point. I'll just stand there menacingly then, and not open my mouth, you're better at talking to strangers, I suppose.

Which is funny, because he has CHA -1

Still though, look at Hegh going, that's... impressive. Should I go help him first?

Hegh was waiting until you had pacified the pigskin before making a fool of himself.

Hearing Greas' plan Kibra jumps at the opportunity to comply. Always the good student, Kibra knocks an arrow and hops over to the wall of the room. His dash to the wall places him into a position that is somewhat to the flank of the quivering sound.

Waiting for the action of another, Kibra remains at full draw, ready to release the arrow that will fly true into the target.

Covering!

Hundred-Claws join his tribe and kneeled, before bowing low onto the ground in supplication. Pride had been winnowed from the Kobold at a young age, and if Sees words were true, there was a chance that he could find purpose here..service to the hatchling dragon.

you talk lot for sneak thunk comments

Krish unhooks a totem from his belt and holds it out to Greas, "Greas, this is Joszinnnix. He is the Thorn Dragon. If you speak his name with the intent to release him, he will strike at your enemies when they strike you. Because of the agreement I have with the spirits, Joszinnnix will not serve me. He will only serve another that I choose. Take him, and use him wisely, for he will serve only once."

Greas smiles an uncharacteristic smile and retrieves the totem, stowing it on his bandoleer. "Understood, Krish. I shall make good use of him."

Naturally, the expression vanishes quickly as he flashes an irritated glare toward Thunk for his comment. "Firstly, Thunk? My name is Greas. I suggest you use it. Secondly, there is more to being a "Sneak" than sneaking. Skills in subterfuge and planning, for example. Things that require proper communication. Do I have to break it down into small words for you, with your feeble vocabulary? Sneak need talk, plan and lie as much as sneak and snikt. Understand? Then cooperate." The red kobold had a smart mouth on him for one less intelligent than the bricks here.

The moment Kibra starts moving, Greas begins issuing orders in Draconic. "Everybody, into position. Oadir, take the other flank. Freeze them if they try to run. Thunk, follow Oadir, and break the pig's legs if they try to get past. Krish, with me. You know what to do. Kibra, same goal - disabling shots if they try anything. And Hegh - watch which side they emerge from, and drop in behind them from overhead. If you can, make sure they only notice you as you land. If they won't move, force them to. Move!" Greas takes the same side as Kibra, and draws his rapier.

In position, he calls out in Common in his most menacing voice. "Show yourself. Leave your weaponry behind, and come out with your hands out where we can see them. You can cooperate and live longer, or die in agonising pain. Decide what you'd prefer."

Thunk not like be told what do by Sneak. You want Thunk help you ask. You not boss. Want be friend of Thunk that good. But friend not boss friend. You not want be friend that good to. But not friend not get boss Thunk.

Alright, alright, you lack social skills as much as he lacks vocabulary as much as I lack finesse, now we all have our peculiarities and you're both highly capable in your own rights. Let's just make our move already. I'd like to get whatever we're doing over quickly so I can start focusing on getting my eye back in my face.

I also instruct my seeing eyes frost elemental to try and look as menacing as possible, or at the very least devious and walk in tall strides around the side opposite to where Greas is going around.

Thunk turns to Oadir

Where eye go? It look good.

He says and he then moves off toward the sound

most likely as Greas says his threat to the hiding person

Sees-Death nods slowly, eyeing the female supplicant. The threads around them twisted and folded like a child's game of strings, and when the compulsion returned to her side of the exchange, she bowed into it gracefully. "S'been my job to keep this brood together and alive. What I need most is for each of you to know your place, follow directions as they are given, and, through doing so, keep this new dragon and her clan alive." It was surprisingly easy to express the sentiment of her desires without tipping her hand too steeply; although, she had been lucky about who asked which question. With the exchange complete, the threads dissipate like dust in a breeze.

Looking down at Tallest-Silver, the dirge could already see that they would have problems. She would have to keep this one close. "If I may ask, what service did you render under your... Trindag?" She tried not to spit the name of the wyrm that had taken valuable Kobold stock from the likes of real dragons. "Yours do not look like the claws of a laborer, Tallest-Silver. Your countenance suggests you are better accustomed to the costumed revelry of a courtier. Our new clan has not been large enough to hold court, but perhaps it has grown."

Tallest-Silver straightens up ever so slightly at Sees' words. "No courtier robes have we," she confesses, looking at the other kobold sidelong. "And I am unafraid of working for the clan however I am needed. And yet...you speak the truth at the heart of it. I was the daughter of...Trindag's high priest. I was thus sheltered from much of the day-to-day travails of the tribe." She turns to meet your gaze directly. "This was not by my choice. Had I been permitted, I would have been out scouting on that day, when..." she hangs her head a little. "when it all ended."

Hundred-Claws, you and Eats-Bugs remember well the day that Tallest is referring to. The details are for Hundred-Claws to develop. Eats-Bugs is not paying attention, instead sampling from the buffet that Retzack is offering. The kobold grins at the goblin widely, bugs still squirming a little bit between the kobold's sharp incisors.

Sees, you note that Tanard is watching Tallest-Silver with a keen interest, cocking her head slightly to the side as she listens to her speak.

------------------------------------

As Hegh moves from window to window by air, seeing mainly nondescript buildings in every direction at first, Greas calls out his warning in Common. The whimpering comes to an abrupt halt, and a cupboard door creaks open just as Hegh flies to land atop it and look out the window nearby. Hegh lands heavily on the cupboard, causing the occupant to stumble out of it. It's a human boy, early teens by the look, and grossly overweight. He looks to be at least 80 kilos. When he looks up at sees Hegh, he screams in fear and falls backward, landing heavily on the ground a few centimeters below and scrambling backward. He looks around behind him, and sees a brace of kobolds, each more menacing than the next, and a tiefling with shadow energy wreathed around him and a missing eye.

The boy's eyes roll up in his head and he passes out.

Smoog sits cross-legged and concentrates on his mental trip...

Your remote viewing is going far better than the first time you attempted to use this gadget, Smoog. With the help of its electromagnetic waves, your consciousness is carried from one mind to another, "surfing" from person to person as you hop throughout Estr. Fear, confusion, chaos - these are the sensations you get.

You encounter an area where a number of minds are gathered together, huddled in a room behind a closed door with the sounds of heavy breathing outside. You find a number of guards receiving orders about search priorities while they comb the streets for the Deathclaw. You find minds that are worried about losing their livelihoods, a few minds that are openly grieving for those already lost, and the minds of many slaves that simply hope they don't get killed in the crossfire.

What specifically are you looking for with this remote mapping you're doing? Some specific objective or just exploring the local mind network?

Smoog sweeps thru the city at a fairly swift clip.
He notes the locations of several important buildings; city hall, the city watch headquarters, an apothecary and a few blacksmith shops.
He is most concerned with finding the exact coordinates of the Time Temple they traveled to ESTR to discover.
Once these and any other serendipitous discoveries pop up he heads back to his own mind and starts sketching a complete map in the back of one of his manuals.

Kibra relieves pressure on the limbs of his bow, relaxing the string. He chooses to keep the arrow knocked...just in case. Never can be too careful, might be a trap. Kibra thinks as he looks around for any other threats.

Someone bind and gag the little pig. Be cautious for any traps. I'll keep over-watch, but it doesn't look like there is anything nefarious going on. Perhaps we can stuff some of their more palatable food stuffs into out sacks to replenish some of our provisions.

Is there anything else of use to us? He looks around at the mostly empty armory for any arrows or equipment that could prove useful.

Hegh did you see anything from the windows?

Moosh should I roll a discern realities, or did I just see buildings?

Seeing the boy's eyes roll into his head as he passes out, Greas can't help but laugh. It is unsettling to say the least, even considering what he's normally like. As he calms down once again, he nods as Kibra speaks. "Kibra has the right idea. I'll secure the piglet. Hegh, Oadir, Thunk - if we are to move this thing, at least one of you will need to do it. I don't doubt the weight of this pathetic creature, and it's best to have as many of us free as possible. Keep an eye out."

Greas retrieves some rope and sets to work with a malicious gleam in his eyes. This thing may bring him the most amusement he's had in a while.

Thunk nods and tosses the kid over his shoulder

Retzack turns and whispers, softly, into Sees-Death's ear. "Now that they have been brought into the fold, is there no minor task in which we might employ them? Perhaps if we made our back to the slave yard and collected a human head or two? Perhaps some booty left ill-guarded? We'll not attempt too much and will be back before the others return from their errands. What say you?"

After relaying what he saw through the windows, Hegh approaches the body lying across Thunk's shoulders.

We will not be slowed. Hegh draws his sword across the pig skin's throat. We move.

Hegh will be deterred from this course of action on 10+ on an interfere roll.

Oadir lashes out at Hegh, punching him broad across the face.
The fat shit was harmless, you say the humans are so cruel yet you slit the throat of their young because he could slow you down? I understand you have your greater purpose and everything, but this kind of senseless slaughter has nothing to do with vengeance or justice.

He rubs his hand, probably hurt himself more with that punch than he did Hegh.

Also you fail at any greater imagination. The prospect of having a 'domesticated' human, which you have to admit this one here looks more like livestock than any other, that prospect could have served your cause very well. But then I suppose you wouldn't know any of the Stockholm syndrome, nor would you care if you did.

Also this fulfils my condition of 'harm someone'.

Hegh regards Oadir with an icy glare. He spits blood onto the ground, which quickly freezes, forming a dark patch of ice.

I will slit all their throats for Gorlaug's memory and Tanard's glory. Will you chain every pig skin we find? Build yourself an army perhaps? If you must have a pet, there are a hundred more out there. He points towards the door exiting the circular room. Take your pick when our mission is through. We have bigger game.

Krish did not react in the slightest to Hegh slitting the pig's throat. The human is worthless to him.

When Oadir strikes Hegh for his action, Krish bares his teeth in silent snarl. Hegh needs no help to resolve the situation, though, and Krish does not interfere. Instead he watches the situation in case it becomes more violent.

Hegh, you mostly saw buildings, and roads leading further into the town while looking through the windows to the left and right of the main entrance. There's also a road you can see through the window just above the cabinet that you landed on. Down that road, you can see a large, ornate structure sitting on a hill. The rest of the town aside from that hill is pretty flat, so you can't see very far through the town past all the buildings at ground level.

Tensions flare between the Avengers of Gorlaug as the young boy's lifeblood gradually spreads across the floor, spilling quickly due to the rapid pulse leading to the jugular vein that Hegh severed. Off in the distance, you hear a faint roar, followed by the sound of an explosion.

Down in the sewers, meanwhile, Smoog is compiling a hastily-thrown-together map of Estr, trying to get his bearings so he can help to lead the group. It's very rough, but here is the map that I drew up based on the locational data you're able to acquire. It wound up looking really tiny when I uploaded it, so I hope it's legible to read. The key reads:

4 pointed star: the guardhouse where the Avengers are and where the entrance to the sewers is.

Diamond: Blacksmiths and guardhouses. It's difficult to judge which ones are which, but you know the three buildings marked on the map are one of the two.

Hexagon: The Mayoral Mansion

Lightning Bolt: The Time Temple

Oadir's punch earns him several shallow wounds in all the worst places from Greas's knife. They were only superficial, but that did not mean they wouldn't hurt. "Oadir, their kind have done far worse to the likes of us for far less. Just imagine for a moment, what would have happened to you if you had not escaped from captivity. Whatever came to mind, multiply the severity of it by the number of scales that we collectively bear. These creatures inflict horrific cruelties upon anyone not in their hypocritical collective, and then everyone who is once boredom sets in. This was a mercy, tiefling. I was to torture him after all had been dealt with. And it still would not be as bad as what their kin have done to us, and continue to do."

And then, his gaze turned to Hegh. "And you need not be so hasty. At the very least, any hostiles would have hesitated seeing one of their young in the door instead of a kobold. They could have had useful information, being a resident. Or, we could have broken the youngling's mind. Even as they clutch a bloodied knife, they are slow to doubt their hatchlings. As much as I loathe these creatures, they have their uses. Sparing a few temporarily will give us more bodies in the end."

Internally, Greas sighs. Hegh and Oadir are both narrow-minded, and Oadir too soft for his own good. "What's done is done. Toss the corpse down the stairs and close the door. Save the infighting for the pig-skins and work together."

Greas silently walks to the exit door, and peers through it carefully. His senses are set to determining if there are any surprises waiting for them.
Discern Realities: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 = 8 - What should I be on the lookout for?

Maybe Thunk use.. He moves along still holding the body

Oh, she will have plenty of opportunities to scout. At least no one else heard of her origin. Wouldn't want anyone putting it together that this Tallest-Silver might be a higher standing noble.

Sees-Death blinks slowly at Retzack. "I must lead by example. These hours are for preparation, mustering intelligence, and considering options. If I put myself in danger, I will have no ground to chastise my males when I discover what risks they've no doubt decided to take." She looks down at the tapped cask and her empty mug, but decides to set the mug down. "I also cannot permit you four to wander. I must watch over Smoog, and I would rather not do that alone. I did figure you had a use outside of intimidation, though. Do you have any bugs that we could use to mark out a map? I know some of the strongest pigments are found in insects. We will have at least two good sources of information to corroborate, and there are a few of our troupe who could use an illustration. I have fabric in many colors, what do you think would stand out?"

Krish comes to stand next to Greas, listening intently to lend his perception to the other Kobold.

Aid Another: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6) + 1 = 13.

As Krish approaches and joins in, Greas notices more...he wonders why, but he's not complaining. This will warrant examination later.

He needed an excuse to have a talk anyway.

Providing that sweet, sweet aid crit is enough, the revised question list is - What should I be on the lookout for? What happened here recently? What is about to happen?

Having successfully navigated the Mental Plane, Smoog reports what he found to Sees and helps collaborate on the map.
He identifies landmarks and calculates distances using shadow length and elevation comparisons.
Soon the group has a rough but accurate depiction of the city with which to plan and navigate.
-
"I am sure the 'Deathclaw Gang' can add special insight into this product when they return."
-
Once that is complete, he sits down to plan out his next gadget design; Glass Globe Grenades...

Hey Thunk, do you toss the kid's body down the stairs into the sewers as Greas suggested, or are you hauling him? If you're bringing him with, just bear in mind that he's 3 Weight, so your Load would be maxed out. You'd basically only be able to carry him.

The kobolds Krish and Greas peer intently out of the exit door, their scaled muzzles swinging slowly back and forth as they scan the streets. Suspiciously empty. This area of town seems as if it was cleared out. You hear another explosion in the distance. In front of you are two streets, one breaking left and one breaking right. You also know from Hegh's scanning that the road leading to the Time Temple is behind the building you're in, so you'd have to walk around the outside to get on that path (or exit through a window, your choice).

What should I be on the lookout for?

Soldiers. The entire town is in a state of either A) panic or B) high alert due to the invasion of the rogue Deathclaw. The single creature is causing immense levels of havoc within the town. A few streets over, you can hear clomping boots as human and dwarf guards rush to intercept the threat to their town, and shouting. None are heading in your direction.

What happened here recently?

This was probably a bustling area, by the looks of things, up until recently. There are scattered miscellaneous items here and there on the ground where they have been dropped, and unattended doors left open. It's deserted in this area. Must have been an evacuation recently.

What is about to happen?

By the sounds of things, the Deathclaw is inspiring the town's defenders to bring out their heaviest weaponry. Explosions are beginning to happen more frequently to the north, near the direction of the Deathclaw's roars.

Smoog, depending on what Thunk's doing with the kid, you may wind up hearing a body bumping and falling down the stairs into the sewers not far away from where you were studying your glass globe grenade schematics. If Thunk keeps the corpse on his person, it's quiet and still down in the sewers. Far removed from the chaos above. What do you all do while you rest and recuperate?

The spirits still tugging in the direction of the Deathclaw, Krish toward the road that would lead to it, "The Spirit-Eater is in that direction. That is the way that I need to go."

Thunk carries the kid, I figure there is a wonderful opportunity coming up to do something unconventional as my alignment requires!

Thunk moves along, at the edge of his carrying capacity but happy enough.

Not toss fat one. Thunk have big plan for fat one

...what is this kobold? Did he come with directions? Maybe Smoog has them. Or Scoops. ONE of them had to. How else was he supposed to figure the red scaled kobold out?

Even as he started to feel Krish's compulsion, he had to ask. "Thunk...just what do you intend to do with that body?"

He didn't understand him. He didn't know how to direct him. And now, he had PLANS.

Either the hulking kobold was smarter than he shows (and possibly screwing with him), or some supernatural force was guiding his actions. Either way, this kobold confused him and was starting to freak him out, and it had to stop.

This was not according to plan. Hell, it seemed plans were Thunk's favourite meal.

This was not according to plan. Hell, it seemed plans were Thunk's favourite meal.

Yeah...you get used to that...I recall Sees taking a much more active role in trying to guide Thunk's actions at first, now it's become more of a "Point him in the direction of the bad guys and let him go" kind of strategy.

Tallest-Silver approaches Sees-Death and tugs on her sleeve a little. "Miss? Pardon me, I don't mean to interrupt you...Is there food to be had? The slavers kept us barely above starving." she glances at her brother, who is still happily munching every bug that Retzack lets him eat. She turns back to look at you again, desperation slipping into her gaze.

Hundred-claws stands behind Tallest-Silver, silent. He watches as Eat-Bugs devours the various insects with a slight look of disapproval, before returning his attention to Sees.

How low we have fallen..

Thunk can't help it if he is just a leaf on the wind.

welcome to the mind of Thunk, who used to be a borderline genius before the dwarf punched him stupid. He does not actually know that though. So from time to time I post Thunk's thoughts that go behind his speeches.

Ah the small mind of those not blessed with my intellect. Of course he can only see the possibilities of something obvious. This corpse can be used to instill terror, it can be used to distract, it can be used as a weapon, it can be dissected into smaller pieces if we so desired, the best parts can be fed to Tanard. He will see as we continue.

He replies to Greas

Fat one like big rock. But squish. So Thunk have big squish rock. Think all things can do with rock. Now think all things can do with squish. Add all up. Now have lot things do with big squish rock. If no use for big squish rock then feed Red 'Nard.

Retzack pats Eats-bugs on the head and pulls his arms away. "Ah, ah. Not too much. We can not decimate the colony, lest it be too weak to answer our call. Also these are an acquired taste. Too much for your first meal can give you a tummy ache."

Retzack has more smiles for Eats-Bugs, and strokes his head softly a few more times, showing obvious approval.

One of the lessons Retzack picked up while serving Meatsnacks was to observe everything. The slightest glance at his "court" could mean trouble later. Of course the others learned this too, so he had to be careful. Most of Meatsnacks' favorites just sent their minions to murder their rivals.

Retzack glances sidelong at Hundred Claws. "Ah. You do not approve of this? And if I told you that among my people this is so great an honor that a king's weight in gold has changed hands for a tenth-part of the meal we now share? What if I told you that the protein he has ingested would foster massive hypertrophy, under the right conditions? And that the vitamins just now eaten surpass what your normal fare delivers in a year?

Remember where this has come from."

Retzack takes two rations from his pack and gives them to the kobolds. How they divy them up is on them.

Tallest-Silver stares at the goblin as she holds on to the rations she gave them, her expression veiled and hard to read...

Sees-Death looks up from the cloth map she and Smoog were working on. "Oh my dear, sweet child." she says this regardless what direction their age disperity may swing. "Of course. You need only ask. Others of the clan may have packed lean provisions, but please, my pack is in that tent, fix yourselves a meal. There should be a dagger as well, if you find you need something to protect yourself with. We can make some nicer clothes, or something of leather for you if we have time later."

This should be interesting. I'll have to see later what liberties she takes with my supplies. How I would love for her to try and assasinate me with Hegh's knife. I might even be able to get away with pleading on her behalf before she's executed.

As he thought about it, he realised...Thunk had out-thought him. Well, his impulse control and the like were terrible, but THUNK HAD OUT-THOUGHT HIM. Greas was simultaneously pleasantly surprised and utterly humiliated by this revelation. An idiot savant. Emphasis on idiot, generally.

There wasn't a way in the world this would have been expected, but it was true. No point debating it. Back to planning. He wasn't about to completely concede, though.

"Thunk...just remember that it generally isn't practical to carry corpses for any real distance. At least, that would be the case for most of us. Try and remember things like this."

"Krish, I would rather like to bind it before it is killed, so I shall follow you to the Deathclaw. If there are other objectives, state them now, so we may form into groups. While we do this, we ought prepare for the inevitable return of this place's tenants. Do recall that our entry point leads back to our camp. It would be ideal to prevent that being a concern."

Greas examines the area. What would work best here...? He etches the rune from the door into one of the racks, and ponders its activation. It was not unusual as traps go, and something like this surely would have been used by Moontower's kobolds in their defences. He tries to remember just how they were activated.
Spout Lore: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Hegh joins Greas silently as the black kobold contemplates. The prisoner pits had a similar mechanism, I think ...

Aid Greas: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2) + 1 = 9

Thunk nods to Greas, and makes himself ready to do what Thunk does best, he straps his club to his back and gets ready to make the best use of his "big squish rock"

I am thinking the Big Squish Rock has "Forceful, Messy and +1d6 damage? simply because its like getting his with a truck. Whatta ya think DM

As a barbarian, every single weapon you use has the Forceful and Messy tags already, Thunk. And I don't like the idea of a corpse dealing more flat damage than your dragonbone club. Still, I like the idea of making your weapon unique - we'll add the Horrifying and Disgusting tags to your Squish-Rock.

As a barbarian, every single weapon you use has the Forceful and Messy tags already, Thunk. And I don't like the idea of a corpse dealing more flat damage than your dragonbone club. Still, I like the idea of making your weapon unique - we'll add the Horrifying and Disgusting tags to your Squish-Rock.

I like it...I didnt see those tags in the list...that is way more fitting i think

I... I'm sorry, Hegh, Greas. I've been privileged to have been born into a race more feared by them then loathed. I'll leave my chances at a spy to be for a neutral party then, if there is such a thing...

Totally not doing a Spout Lore: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7 to check if Oadir knows any 'neutral' race, nothing to see here...

In the meantime, great thinking there Thunk. The boy will serve his purpose after all.

Oadir turns to Krish:
Now then, time for me to make amends for unleashing this awful creature on the spirits of this town. Lead the way, I am at your disposal.

Hundred-Claws remains silent as he listens to Retzacks words, his features impassive as he ponders.

He believes I am displeased Eats feasts on the insects. Perhaps he has not spent much time around our kind..

After Tallest receives the rations, he gives a slight bow to the goblin

We are thankful He says quietly, before turning his attention back to Eats.

He has displayed weakness in front of others while our situation remains delicate. His sister and I feel hunger, yet we do not fall upon the insects like animals without self-control. This must be corrected

Hundred-Claws reaches down and softly places a hand on Eats shoulder.

Strive to be better then you were, better then you are, and better then you hope to be. He says calmly, quietly.

To others, this scene would appear to be nothing of note. However, to a Yellowjacket, who has witnessed the discipline and abilities of those of the Way, the simple act of Hundred-Claws touching Eats would speak volumes. All Yellowjackets knew of the punishing regime those kobolds of the Way put themselves through. If they punish themselves so harshly to serve the dragon, how much worse then would they punish those they found failing?