Round 3
The audience of mice (which of course have been following the group) look on nervously (but mostly forced) at the tremendously entertaining shenanigans of "Three Girls and a Tree Fairy:"
Once again, Leo calls upon his occult magic to hurl the trusted Everburning Torch at the Trapmaster. The Torch bounces harmlessly off the stone column with a ping, a pong, an atari 2600 state of reference!
Sansaárë skips joyfully to the door to cut off any retreat plans that the Trapmaster may (most likely did) had had hadded....
The rogue then strikes out at her, but also misses.
Nyswyn decides to get a bit better seating for the upcoming finale!
Tannakin (being quite swashbucklerly) decides to skillfully skip, dance, tumple and slide baby slide over to neatly place her rapier into the Trapmaster's right eye!
The Trapmaster then suddenly decides to retire from villainy and perhaps return as a rapier in the hands of a swashbuckler next life!
The kobold trapmaster is wearing a special necklace: a simple copper chain and a cracked piece of a large eggshell. The shell is ivory in color, but it has strange green veins running through it. This piece is only about 3 inches across, but the egg it came from must have been at least 2 feet wide.
The heroes won’t find other treasure in the room, but there’s another exit: the spiral staircase in the back of the room descends even deeper into the earth....
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Grimacing as Tannakin pins the kobold through the eye, Leo turns towards Sansaárë his mouth a gap, "Forget yon torch? I'll have thou know young lady, that sprites have the memory of Heffalumps, we forgetest not."
Carefully retracing his steps, he walks over to the torch, picking it up. Gesturing towards the Kobold, he adds, "Well done dealing with yon mighty dragons." Kneeling beside the last standing kobold, he checked it for any snacks for Ambrose.
Tannakin, panting with excitement and exertion, wipes the sweat from her face with the back of her hand... leaving a blood smear on her forehead. It's a little eerie to see her smiling awkwardly with gore and possibly the last, most persistent and adventurous crumbs of cheese on her face.
"We win again!"
She then casts an eye over the carnage and feels a sudden pang of regret. She wonders if she's been too reckless, too bloodthirsty. Where is this even coming from? She's had conversations with kobolds in the big city--she knows that they are kinda weird, definitely over-proud, but not always all bad. Suddenly, she grumbles in draconic, "These are just kobolds, stop worrying so much."
Where is that even coming from?
She decides not to worry about it for now. She's still smiling. In Common, she says:
"We've discovered a secret kobold invasion of Otari. I think we should keep going and crush it ourselves! I'm ready to go down the spooky stairs."
Seeing Ambrose run in from the other room, Leo stopped searching the kobold. Concerned that the dog might run into the trap, Leo points, "I shalt return, I fear Ambrose may runnest out onto yon trap, so I shalt go turn it off."
Going back into the other room Leo throws the switch on the chest. Then returns to the chamber. Waiving the blue torch around, causing it to make figure-eights in blue, he adds, "I am also ready' to explore yon spooky stairs."
Nys. Do you need to replenish the berries that have been used? Or are you fine with what you have?
We don't want to run out of those. We may need them like we already have.
But if you are good, I'm ready to go further down.
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Ness nodded at the swift job Tann had done to dispatch the remaining kobold. "If you feel there's more of these lizard folk, then best we keeping on searching, Tann."
At Leo's question, Ness eyes moved to the spiral staircase and she marvelled at his description of spooky. Strange pixie man, then chuckling softly, having recollected that she was often described as strange by most of her kin folk.
Airi's question brought her back to her senses and the druidess replied, "I've six juicy berries in my pouch, Airi. If there's need for more, then best we go up and find some. If you say they're enough, then let's continue."
The Heroes of Otari look at the spooky darkness that the stair seem to spiral down into and.....
They are thankful for the ever-presence of the Everburning Torch that Leo is carrying!
Second Level
The stairs spiral down deep into the earth before ending in a chamber that looks like it’s been prepared specifically to defend against intruders. On one side of the room, a table has been turned on its side to provide cover, while on the other, crates and barrels have been piled up to create a second barrier.
As they descend, Leo is most certain that something(s) are in this room.....somewhere....
Second Level
As they descend, Leo is most certain that something(s) are in this room.....somewhere....
Moving down the stairs, Leo pauses, "doest thou hear that?"
Waiving the blue torch about as they head down the steps, Leo pauses, getting the sense that something was there. He tells the others, "I believe yon room doest hide inhabitants." Holding the torch very still he looks and looks again.
Ambush!
Leo proceeds to enter beside Tannakin for a better look into the room. The barrels and overturned tables hamper his initial attempt, but the sprite's persistence pays off! He sees two kobolds hiding behind the barrels and tables, oh my!
His eyes widening as he realizes there are Kobolds in the room waiting to attack, Leo, louder than he intended calls out a warning.
Turning to the one behind the barrels, speaking in Sylvan "မကောင်းသောမျက်စိ." he uses his 'Evil Eye' Telling the kobold, "Thou doest not want to do what thou has treacherously planned in thine heart to do."
Kobolds and Traps
Round 1
As the newly made heroes descend down, down, down into the darkness (Leo's Everburning Torch steals that spookiness!) to see the entrance to another chamber. This chamber is filled with random junk; turned over tables, barrels stacked two high, a rocking chair with carefully stack playing cards towering 3 feet high!
Leo enters the chamber, eyes darting about with suspicion.
A rocking chair? Looks antique!
The tallest of sprite's eyes nearly bulged bigger than even his current human ones as he sees 2 Kobolds aiming crossbows at them from behind the overturned tables!
Leo quickly gives Kobold #2 his Evil Eye!
The same kobold aims his nasty crossbow at Leo!
Kobold #1 aims at Tannakin!
Tannakin flinches as the crossbow bolt pierces her armor and digs into her shoulder.
She ◆ moves to the left, ◆ tumbles through the kobold, and ◆ stabs.
If successful, she uses Confident Finisher on the first kobold. Assuming she doesn't step in a big ol' trap.
She yells in draconic, "BOW TO US, mere kobolds! We know the difference between you and the real thing!"
Sansaárë ◆◆ moves 45 ft' behind the kobold that just attacked her sister.
Good job. Let's see how I do?
Tannakin and Sansaárë each skip happily around the overturned table.
The surprised faced kobold cries
Hey! Dat bees da bestest ov barricades!
Both Tann and her sister shrug and send the now silent kobold to rest!
The other kobold just stares wide-eyed at them!
With Leo's prior warning, Ness (◆) moved through the entrance so she could get a better view of what was occurring within.
(◆◆) Gesturing/weaving with her hand and speaking the strong words of power, Ness began to cast. Pointing to Kobold 2, the druidess released an icy ray.
Seeing the two elves put down the kobold on the left, Leo laughs at the kobold he had used the 'Evil Eye' on. "Ha Dragons? You should have ran away!" Having now practiced, speaking in sylvan "ကျည်ဆန်." using telekinetic projectile. He turns the palm of his hand up releasing the blue-flamed torch, sending it on it's way, handle-end towards the kobold, blue flame wooshing behind.
Realizing the kobold was unaffected by his laughter, Leo steps back so he was less visible to the crossbowmankobold.
Round 1
The lone kobold stares eyes wide at the sisters, when it gets smacked in the side of the face with a ray of frost!
Cover
The icy faced kobold yelps in surprise!
Ouches! Dat bees colds!
Leo decides to fling the Everburning Torch at the kobold, but it bounces back off the table.
The kobold glares over the masterful barricade at the dwarf with cold in his eyes (and his ears, his nose, his cheek)!
The #2 kobold (he was number 2 but a sudden opening for the 1 spot has recently developed!) decides that bravery is over rated and attempts to Hide behind and around the masterful barricade!
(◆) Raising her shield against a possible attack (the kobold was cornered and that meant he could be dangerous), Ness leaned a little to see the crouching creature and began casting her cantrip (using gesture and voice) and pointing her finger at the kobold, realising another burst of ice.
Tannakin dashes forward, sword flashing, insults flying (in draconic)...
"You're not a dragon, you're a drag. A drag-on my patience."
She lunges with her rapier:
With a grin and a flourish, she kicks the kobold off her rapier and shrugs at her companions, beaming. "Well, well. Well well well well."
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Sansaárë winks at Tann.
Hey sis. If you can do it, I can do it better.
◆The rogue strides over to the barrels. Leaping on top of them.
Now flanking the swashbuckler she strikes out at the tiny dragon.
[s] [s]
The not so smiling rogue falls on her ass to the ground.
◆The sheepish rogue stands up.
Well that's never happened before.
Seeing the two elves pursue the second Kobold, Leo moves closer speaking in sylvan "ကျည်ဆန်." he again uses telekinetic projectile. Lifting the palm of his hand, he makes a fist and gestures towards the kobold. The blue-flamed torch lifts off the ground and swings at the kobold again.
Round 2
Nyswyn raises her shield, points a cold finger at the not-so-hidden kobold, but the masterful barricade gets in her way!
Tannakin dashes forward, sword flashing, insults flying (in draconic)...
She lunges with her rapier!
Sansaárë strides, leaps, falls, and stands. She looks extremely graceful the entire time (well, except for the falling part).
Leo lifts the trusty Everburning Torch high and over the masterful barricade and f+*&ing bashes the snot s+$@ out of the not-really-that-hidden kobold!
The new #1 kobold dutifully falls to the floor!
There seem to be 2 exits from this ambush chamber, but the Northern one is barricaded even better and more masterful than this room was for the kobolds....
There is a makeshift barricade in the back of this room. If the heroes examine this barricade, ask for a Perception check. If the total is 10 or higher, they notice a foul stench coming from the passage behind the barricade—like rotten fish and sweat.
The hissing tongue used by the lizard folk and two of her companions began to grate as she did not understand the tongue and no one was translating. When the last kobold fell under Leo's flying torch, the druidess was satisfied. "Not all of us understand the kobold's tongue. A quick translation would be useful," she chided Tann and Leo in her usual manner.
Ness moved and turned her attention to the two exits.
"There's a stench much like rotten fish and sweat coming from the passage behind the barrel barricade. There's also the sound of dripping water coming from somewhere further back."
Verdi poked her head out of the side coat pocket and her leaves rustled at the smell in the air. Ness gave the leshy a gentle pat before she returned deeper into the pocket.
Sansaárë looks around and listens to everything around her.
I can smell something very fishy. But I can't hear anything. Thanks Nys for the information.
Should we move these crates and see what's back here?
Picking up his trusty torch, Leo resists the urge to wave it around. When Sansaárë indicates they should move the crates, he dutifully tucks his flaming weapon into his belt and begins to help moving the crates.
Tannakin shrugs at Ness, "I've been saying mean things to the kobolds to try to throw them off their game. Spook 'em, stab 'em."
She looks at Leo with a torch shoved into his belt, the eerie blue flames flickering on his garments. "That would make me pretty nervous."
To Airi, "Yeah, let's get through! But first, we loot."
She searches the korpsebolds and then starts working on the barricade.
"Wait, this is gross..." Tann closes her eyes as she rummages through the kobolds' belongings.
Soggy Crossroads
Beyond the barricade, the passageway meanders briefly. The floor descends slightly and soon becomes flooded by a shallow pool of water. The water appears to be flowing out of a passageway to the right, and a shimmering blue light in that direction reflects off of the water there. The main passageway continues to the left, over the slight depression in the floor where the water has pooled. An overpowering stench drifts from around a bend.
Source Core Rulebook pg. 475 2.0
Difficult terrain is any terrain that impedes your movement, ranging from particularly rough or unstable surfaces to thick ground cover and countless other impediments. Moving into a square of difficult terrain (or moving 5 feet into or within an area of difficult terrain, if you’re not using a grid) costs an extra 5 feet of movement. Moving into a square of greater difficult terrain instead costs 10 additional feet of movement. This additional cost is not increased when moving diagonally. You can’t Step into difficult terrain.
Movement you make while you are jumping ignores the terrain you’re jumping over. Some abilities (such as flight or being incorporeal) allow you to avoid the movement reduction from some types of difficult terrain. Certain other abilities let you ignore difficult terrain on foot; such an ability also allows you to move through greater difficult terrain at the normal movement cost as for difficult terrain, though it wouldn’t let you ignore greater difficult terrain unless the ability specifies otherwise.
Source Core Rulebook pg. 512 2.0
Ocean currents, flowing rivers, and similar moving water are difficult terrain or greater difficult terrain (depending on the speed of the water) for a creature Swimming against the current. At the end of a creature’s turn, it moves a certain distance depending on the current’s speed. For instance, a 10-foot current moves a creature 10 feet in the current’s direction at the end of that creature’s turn.
Tannakin and Leo seems to have gotten some blood on the barricade as they were helping remove it....
Tannakin opens her eyes and sees something--flickering lights reflected in the water. She hears the growling. "There's something shining over there, and something growling over there. Let's go check out... the lights first, I think?"
She splooshes into the water, gasping as the cold flows into her boots. "Gonna be squishy footed for the rest of the day."
Looking from Tannakin to Sansaárë as the swashbuckler explains what she sees, as she heads into the water Leo calls for his familiar. "Ambrose, come." Picking up the corgi under his left arm, he held the blue flamed torch in his right hand. Smiling, "This shoulds't keep his paws from getting wet."
Tann, before we go into the tunnels. You and Leo needs to be healed first. We don't know what we are walking into. So both of you come back here!
I see the flickering lights and hear the growling also. Let's take it slow and be careful after you two are healed.
Pausing Leo looks from Tannakin to Sansaárë and back again. Looking a little sheepish, he steps out of the water back to where Sansaárë indicated.
Tan groans. "Good thinking, Airi. I'll try to be patient."
Thank you guy's. We don't want anyone of us to die.
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Ness helped Verdi out of the coat pocket and sat down on the stone floor. Taking out two plump, ripe blueberries from her leather pouch, Ness began to undertake the magical casting to convert each berry into healing, sustaining bounty. Verdi communed with her mistress, providing a natural conduit. When she was ready, Ness handed a berry to each of her wounded companions (Tann & Leo). Between each casting and then after, Ness refocused and communed with the nature spirits all around her; replenishing what she had lost. Once she was done, Ness rose with Verdi, and, giving the sacred leshy a little kiss, Ness returned her to the safety of the coat pocket.
"Tann, there's a small wound remaining. But, otherwise, you are fine. Leo, you're all healed up."
Sitting down near Nyswyn, Leo continues holding Ambrose so his corgi did not run ahead and eat anything someone else could use. When the berries were ready Loe accepts it from his friend. Popping it in his mouth, talking as he chews. "For medicine, yon berries are delicious."
Smiling as Nyswyn returns the leshy to her pocket, Leo jumps to his feet, corgi in one hand torch in the other. Moving back to the rear he's ready to proceed.
Elements of Chaos
On the far side of the puddle of water is a strange chamber, crackling with magical energy. Pulsing orbs float in three of the four corners of this room. The orb in the southwest is made of brown earth and stone, whereas the one in the northeast looks to be made of glass and is filled with a swirling cloud. The orb in the far corner holds a roaring flame; opposite that orb are shattered remains and the water that flows down the passageway to the northwest.
Cinder rats are oversized rodents made of smoldering charcoal and elemental fire. Noxious fumes continually bellow from their flaming flesh. Much like terrestrial rats, cinder rats seek out secluded dens and can quickly multiply in number if left unchecked.
Whatever will our Heros do.....
Smiling to himself, Leo was pleased that in this form he didn't have to stand on his tippytoes to see over people. Looking at the three orbs of elements in the corners. Realizing where they were standing, he looks down at the water and then asks. "Pray tell, does't anyone else believe something mayhaps have happened to the water orb causing the pool we are't standing in?" He frowns, "We should'st probably insure nothing happens to yon orbs. Especially the one encasing fire."
Sansaárë looks around.
Let's be careful by all of the orbs. We don't want to break any. They could be dangerous if they are broken.
So, what seems to be happening is a staring contest between Sansaárë, Tannakin, Nyswyn and Leo, as to whom will be the first to explore the Orb chamber.....
The tiny family of mice that have been watching and enjoying the show seem to be holding their breath in anticipation of what's to come....
...a staring contest between Sansaárë, Tannakin, Nyswyn and Leo,
Tannakin takes a look around:
"That fire orb has something inside of it. Think how nice it would be to have a fire orb in bed on a cold winter night... I kinda want to take it home and use it as a warming pan"
She walks over and holds out a hand to see if it is warm, but she doesn't touch it yet...
"Pray tell, does't anyone else believe something mayhaps have happened to the water orb causing the pool we are't standing in?"
Looking at the three remaining orbs and then down at her boots in the puddle of water, Ness shrugged and then answered the male, "That's a good as an explanation as any, Leo."
Ness noticed nothing noteworthy regarding the orbs, so it was good when Tann pointed out something inside the fire orb.
"Fire burns, so probably not the best idea to take it home and into yer bed, Tann."
Smillng at Nyswyn's response, Leo follows Tannakin into the cave, wondering about the nature of the orbs themselves.