Revenge of the Kobold King (Inactive)

Game Master Seldlon the Swift

Once everyone has settled in and had their trail rations, Bill says "I got one for ya. I was helping a friend out at the local lodge. Three guys show up and I charge them 30 copper for a room. When my buddy gets back he says it was only 25 for the room. He gives me 5 copper for the guys. When I get to the room, I explain I over charged them and gave them a copper each, keeping 2 for myself cause I ain't good with the math. And then I think. They gave me 10 and I gave them each one back. So they paid 9 each times 3 and that makes 27. I have 2 that makes 29. Where did that last copper piece go? "

Niu smiles, seeing the fallacy of adding up a sum after change has been given. Assuming there is a punch line coming, he decides to make up one of his own.

Deadpanning as much as possible, he states, "It is a well known fact that Abadar takes a cut of all commercial transactions. The coin undoubtedly ended up in the First Vault"

Bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

It is a weak attempt, but Niu hopes that his reputation for strangeness will at least get a reaction.

----

Overnight, Niu attempts to teach spells to Neb-en-toti, burning two scrolls in a special ritual. As Neb-en-toti consumes the resulting ash, the knowledge for the two scrolls is absorbed and Niu feels confident that he can prepare the spells in the morning.

Spellcraft(Identify) DC 16: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Spellcraft(Muont) DC 16: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Bill laughs "You're joshin me Niu." He then gets a pensive look as if he has no clue as to what you just said.

Boss walks over to Niu's tent with a lit torch in his hand. He presses it into the ground. He sits down and offers Niu some of his blood-bark chew. "Not bad stuff. Can't find it nowhere else. Here, have some. Don't be swallerin now. Just spit, don't swaller."

Knowing that a joke that requires explanation is not actually funny, Niu instead attempts to double down. "Yes, Bill, I am joshing. Unlike you, I make no CENTS." Laughing lightly to himself, he nods to the others and heads off to his tent.

----

Later, sitting outside of his tent, gazing at the darkened forms of the trees around him and listening to the animals, Niu watches with some trepidation at Pay Day approaches.

He is startled when the man actually makes friendly overtures toward him, and wonders if the substance is harmful in some way. Well, he chews it all the time. It can't be too much of a trick

Accepting the bark, Niu attempts to imitate Pay Day, wondering if a blood red mouth with add or detract from his permanently sunburned skin and the cloud of sand that follows him everywhere.

"Blood bark? I assume it comes from some type of tree that grows around here?

Does it have any medicinal properties, or do you simply use it to make yourself look more fearsome?"

----

Spells prepared the next day: 0 - Detect Magic, Guidance, Mending, Touch of Fatigue; 1 - Burning Hands, Identify, Mount x3; 2 - Aggressive Thundercloud x2, Web; 3 - Dispel Magic x2

Taking out the crown again, Niu takes another shot at identifying its properties.

Identify(Crown): 1d20 + 12 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 10 = 27

Bill still looks confused.

Okay, Niu it is one minute after midnight.
Wearing the crown grants a +2 enhancement bonus to Charisma and a +2 natural armor bonus. You are immune to the frightful presence ability of all dragons. If you are a sorcerer you cast spells at +1 caster level.

"Only round heres as far as I knows. Nah, its just tastes good to me. Niu, are yuh gonna be surprised when I kills yuh in yer sleep tonight? Me an the boys finish you all off for the re-ward in yer weakened states? That gonna surprise yuh?"

Niu smiles oddly at what is probably a joke, though he fails to understand why it is funny. "It would be hard to be surprised after you told me what you intend."

The smile slips into an odd looking grimace, as Niu's tone becomes darker. "However, treachery would never surprise me. My last friend led me into the desert and abandoned me there to die. It was ten years and at least one death before I made it home and had a chance to thank him for the lesson."

His expression clears, and he starts to hum one of his favorite songs as we waits for Pay Day's response.

Boss looks pleased that Niu took his offering and actually tried it. "Well that ain't gonna be happnin. I couldn't believe my ears when I wuz told not to harm yuh. Seems Mr. Kreed is showin his thanks fer savin' his boy. He's been watching this group mighty close since then cause they done good things for the folks. Yeh might just fit in here if'n yuh keep it up and lives through it. Whatcha think of the chew? You like it?"

"Sweet dreams." Boss heads back to the campfire.

Boss raises his voice to address all of you. "Ye all had a hard one today. I's kinda proud of yeh. Me and the boys is takin our own watches like last time. Youze welcome tah get yer beauty rest. Ain't nuthin sneakin up on yuh with us around."

Niu giggles and cocks his head to the side. I think this man might be crazier than I am.

"We shall see. I do not set my own path, but for now I have not been sent in a different direction. There must be more to be gained here, or at least the time is not right to leave.

As for the bark.... I suppose it is an acquired taste. I thank you for allowing me the experience."

I just realized that I haven't used the Healing Hex on myself yet today. Might as well heal some of my wounds. Also, as it appears there might be more coming before morning, I'll leave off of discussion on what I will do in the morning.

Healing: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11

Ziera and Festia keep to themselves enjoying the comfort of the Pavilion as they practice singing and giggle and laugh. After that Festia begins to bind Zeiras wounds and they exchange weapons.

Ranok grumbles as everyone begins to prepare to bed down for the night. In response to the whispered plan of egress, Ranok whispers back "I think Teedum still wants you dead just because you're a kobold. Sleep away from the camp with me and Khonsu. It will be easier for you to slip away and we can set watches."

Ranok looks for a safe place outside of any campfire that may be lit. "Khonsu, I need you to keep watch so I can get some sleep. Tomorrow, you can have the day to yourself. Hunt. Heal." After preparing the sleeping area, Ranok asks Khonsu if he senses danger. I just looked and realized that I didn't give Khonsu the trick of guard. One of the downsides of not playing a character from first level is that there is quite literally no character growth.

Rhen finds a comfy stone to lay against, since he wants to keep up the persona that all Dwarves are made of stone and they love them..... Pulling out a whetstone Rhen gets to work on his short sword, evening out any nicks or dents it has.

After listening to the group talk for a bit Rhen looks at Ranok. "Where did ye find the cat? Seems that he really likes ye and will fight even them ol' undead."

"Oh, I didn't find him. He found me. Sometimes I think that the moon sent Khonsu to me, even though that doesn't make sense." As he answers Rhen's question, he continues cutting notches into his belt. Four of them. These four new notches are in line with many, many others. Some also seem to be rather new. Some are so faded to barely be seen. "I was by the shore of some lake or another. Thinking about the afterlife. The moon was shinning down on me hard enough to near blind me. After a cloud finally passed over it so I could see again, khonsu here was sitting beside me much like he is now."

After a short silence with his head down, Ranok looks back up to Niu.
"Niu, Will that magic mask help with your magic? I know that it would help with me. If it helps you too, I'd rather you have it. Your magic helps more than mine probably. You can keep the gem. You can use that better than me for sure."

I assume you mean the crown, I don't think we have a mask. It is of very little use to me, though I won't have identified it until the morning.

Niu gives Ranok an odd look, picturing him wearing a crown. "Thinking of declaring yourself king, Ranok? Hee Hee, that would be a picture." He rocks back and forth for a few seconds as he attempts to contain his mirth.

"I have no use for this trinket, Ranok. I had thought that it might be meant for either you or Zeira. The Gem... it's powers are limited, and not that powerful. I mostly held on to it to use as a light source. It is no better than a Light spell in that regard.

I don't desire it, but I will hang on to it for now. If we decide to sell it to pay for Restorations, that would be much more beneficial. This rod, though, is quite useful for me, and the stone.... it is a mystery that we need to unravel."

Perhaps this stone was what I was sent to find. It must be quite powerful

"Ziera, you're right. I bet it would help her too. Ziera?".

Maybe I could travel a little longer with these people. We seem to work well and getting along. Look at us sharing.

Festia comes out to put a tea kettle on the fire and smiles to the others.

"I see that the fighting was perilous below, My Mistress is quite battered" She says with a smile.

"Nothing that divine intervention won't cure" Niu giggles.

Niu looks around at the camp and the people lounging about and frowns. "We really need to be getting back to town to see about that healing. I feel the effects of that energy drain."

Rhen should wear the crown just cause haha, kidding

"Aye we should get ba ta town quickly get our wound healed then be heain' back." Rhen says in the morning getting up from his stone that he slept on. "Ye going ta crown yerself King there Niu?" Rhen says with s smirk

You all finally get some sleep as Boss and the boys take watch. Ranok is deep in slumberville after a day like that. Something brings him back. His eyes are closed. He feels what woke him. There is a sharp metal object pushing against his jugular. He opens his eyes to see kib at the other end of it. "Fare thee well, One Who Protect." The spear tip is removed from Ranok's throat and the two kobolds sneak off into the darkness.

5:00 am. Neth, Oathday. Three days past the First Quarter Moon.
Moonset: 1:33am, Sunrise: 6:11am, Moonrise: 2:42pm, Sunset: 4:51pm. High 70 low 53, rain beginning at 4:00am ending at noon.
Current Effects
Ziera str -1 penalty, 2 to stat
Con Damage Ranok=3, Ziera=2, Rhen=3
Niu, Ranok -1 level
Niu 30/30(35), Ranok 41/47(67), Ziera 41/50(60) Str 12/14, Rhen 33/39(54) Khonsu 45/45

You are awakened by light rain at 4:00am. Everyone is up by 5:00. You feel much better after the rest. Breaking down the pavilion is complete by 7:00. The rain is now coming down pretty hard as you head to town.

Niu, Ziera and Rhen. Your gums feel funny. As you inspect them, it seems like your teeth can be moved a tiny bit. Or, could you always wiggly them a tiny bit? Ah, it is nothing. You are just paranoid. You notice Steve and Bill are exploring their mouths with their fingers.

The rain stops at noon. Ranok DC 16 or your level drain is permanent. Niu, your DC is 14. This is fortitude, be sure to use your current conditions on the save.

I know you guys wrote a few pages on ability damage. What I think that I gleaned from it is that with 3 con damage my fort save goes down by one. If I'm wrong, feel free to fix.

fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Yikes! I would like to use my Second Chance trait (religion)

fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Oh...I don't feel any better at all. We need to go to town. Do they have a priest that can help? Hey, what's wrong with you guys' mouths? The Curse! We've been cursed! We need to get to town now!"

On the way back, one by one, Niu, Ziera, Rhen, Bill and Steve are shocked as their teeth fall out. You arrive at the edge of Falcon's Hollow at 3:00pm. You estimate two hours of daylight remain.

@GM Previously you had indicated that you had decided to override the permanency of the energy drain.

Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 15

"Mmph. Yesh, ish is mosh likely da curshe. I guesh da gem didn't help, neider did flying."

@GM, I planned to summon 3 Mounts to get us to town quicker

@GM Previously you had indicated that you had decided to override the permanency of the energy drain.

[dice=Fort]1d20

"Mmph. Yesh, ish is mosh likely da curshe. I guesh da gem didn't help, neider did flying."

@GM, I planned to summon 3 Mounts to get us to town quicker

lol!

Niu, since that time I posted

The con damage by the wraith is drain and cannot be repaired short of restoration as far as I can tell. We will find out soon enough if the level drain is permanent for Niu and Ranok. I have a solution to the restoration issue and will role play that when you get back to Falcon's Hollow.

You may summon the mounts to get there quicker.

After getting the chance to prepare his spells in the morning and identifying the crown, Niu waits until Ranok rises and places it on his head.

"I dub thee Ranok, King of the Truescales." Niu giggles, then thinks about what he said. "Based on the fates of the last three kings, I'm not sure that's a title you want. Hash it out with Zeira, if you like."

Having packed his tent up hours ago, Niu has been waiting impatiently for everyone else to get their rest. As he sees them awake, he calls out. "I think we need to return to town as quickly as possible. Come! Let's eat our breakfast on the road."

Finding a clear space, he begins casting and soon has summoned forth three Kelish horses, who stand calmly awaiting the order to move.

Now ready, he stares at Zeira and her pavilion. "Either get that thing torn down or leave it! We need to get healing as soon as possible."

Niu will be quite fine leaving Pay Day and the rest of the men to make it back to town on their own. They aren't the ones suffering energy drain, after all

Here is the way I see it:
24 miles to town
walk 3 mph 8 hours arrive 3 pm
pony 3 mph with load 8 hours arrive 3pm
horses 3.5 mph with load arrive 2 pm

How will you do this?

Horse sounds good to me. I'm pooped.

I stated that I was summoning horses. :)

I wanted to hustle, because who cares about summoned horses. Zeira won't be able to keep up though without killing her horses.

We could still hustle

1st hour 7 miles, no damage
2nd hour 7 miles (14 total), 1 hp damage
3rd hour 7 miles (21 total), 2 hp damage (3 total)
4th hour 3 miles (24 total)

I heal all of the horses at the end and dismiss the summoned ones. We get there at what 11am?

So, you and Ranok will head out and arrive at 11:00 with the others staying together and arriving at 3:00?

I summoned 3 horses, so Rhen gets one as well.

I suggest that Zeira also hustle and allow me to heal her horses at the end. Up to her, I think.

Careful how much you split up the party. You are in Darkmoon Wood. Three horses tear out in the pouring rain, mud flying everywhere. Niu, Rhen, and Ranok head out for Falcon's Hollow. Ranok, how is Khonsu going to handle this situation?

I will let Khonsu follow at a leisurely pace. He should have no trouble following our trail. He might even decide to take a rest or go hunting. He never follows me in town. Whenever I leave town I blow my whistle and wait for him.

The three riders arrive in Falcon's Hollow at 11:00 am. Your teeth went ahead and fell out on the ride. The rain has let up yet continues.
Current Effects
Ziera str -1 penalty, 2 to stat
Con Damage Ranok=3, Ziera=2, Rhen=3
Ranok -1 level
Niu, Rhen Ziera, Steve, and Bill have no teeth
Niu 30(35), Ranok 41/47(67), Ziera 41/50(60) Str 12/14, Rhen 33/39(54) Khonsu 45/45

Personally, I'm going to assume Zeira and Festia arrive at the same time. I don't see any reason that she would fall behind. If it is an issue, we should wait until she posts.

"Well, Rhen, what do you think? Should we go straight to the healer or stop for our reward money first?

We might need that money in order to pay for the healing, especially for Ranok, he doesn't look too good."

Personally, I'm going to assume Zeira and Festia...

Whatever. A few hours will affect nothing. I thought it was good drama. Let's do wait on her, though. Her horses should be pretty well weighted down. Running with that load does not seem realistic to me.

'Aye we should be seein' the healer lady first, lettin' her be knowin' we be needin' her services." Rhen says wheeling his horse around.

Is "the healer lady" Cirthana or Laurel?

Ziera follows and wonders what exactly is going on. AS they get to town Zeira nods."Yes lets I have felt quite weak"

Cirthana, because I never remember her name.

Jeva answers the door. She is small for her age of 12. She is wearing casual vestments with a small shortsword at her waist. She carries a small light steel shield. "Rhen!" she exclaims as she rushes to hug him. Looking up she says "I can't jump up on you anymore, Rhen. This dress won't let me and because I'm a lady now, anyways. But, I can still eat that hardtack. Got any?" She looks at his new group of friends with concern and a wrinkled brow. "Were is Bulgard and Zevon? Are they dead? Did something eat them? OHHHH!!! What happened to your Teeth Rhen? Your whole face looks funny now."

Festia remains with Rhen's pony and the men. Ziera offloads to her anything that could slow her down. Rhen leads you to the church. The large door to the church is locked. You pound the knocker against the door. After a minute or so, the door opens.

Rhen hugs the slight girl back. "Aye lass yer a lady now, but don't yer let thinkin' yer a lady stop ye from jumping on someone. Could mean ye live or die ye know." Rhen smiles at the girl. "They didn't get eaten no, they moved on, Bulgard found a wife and Zevon moved ta the city." Rhen rubs his hands along his gums. "Undead girl, they be curses and nasty. Ye stay well clear o' them till yer strong enough ta kill em in one blow." Rhen says leading everyone inside.

MAP

As Rhen leads the group out of the rain, Jeva casts a spell and then puts on her newly found professional face. "I will inform Lady Cirthana of Iomedae to your presence. Please remain in the foyer until I return." She gives Rhen a big innocent smile and heads out of sight. She returns a few minutes later. "Lady Cirthana will see you in the study. This way please." She leads you to the study room. When you arrive at the study room, she stands to the side and waves her arm towards the door, still smiling at Rhen.

Lady Cirthana stands from behind her desk as you enter the room. She is dressed in casual vestments. A longsword is on her waist. Her metal shield is propped against the wall behind her. Her beauty cannot be ignored and can be overwhelming to some at times. She carries herself with a perfect posture and smells of a pleasant unique perfume. If you saw her full plate, you would think it belongs in a museum just for the curves. This is not obvious when she is wearing vestments, though. She has a glowing smile and makes eye contact with each of you as you enter. "Welcome. Please, be seated. Rhen Vemsa, you have a new team. Please introduce us. Given and surnames, please. And, I must ask. Why are three of you missing teeth?" She waves her arm towards the chairs and sits in her chair behind the desk once you are all seated.