Amideo raises a fist in salute to the dragon and calls out as loud as he can, "Good day, noble dragon! We are but humble travelers, seeking to make our way through these lands. We have no quarrel with one such as you! If you wish to speak, let us speak. If not, then I humbly ask of you to let us be upon our way."
Djack is emboldened and raises his own voice, hoping to bolster Amideo's declaration.
Maybe we can even help each other! Now or later, after our return!?
The creature swoops up to an area near the party, and lands. A chill runs down the travelers' backs as they experience Dragon Fear for the first time. Some of the party might even consider running.
But Amideo's words (and to a lesser extent those of Djack) seem to have reached it, and it stands, considering.
The Dragon snorts. "Hrmf. It matters not to me where I get my food. There are other sources I might seek out."
"If I grant you your wish, what help you might render me...now or later, as you have said?"
I am new here, but I do get around.
Perhaps we find better hunting grounds or eliminate a rival or nuisance assuming they are not innocent people. Collaboration can come in so many forms.
For instance you might have a pest problem, are insects bothering you?
Have you seem more of them lately? He smiles shyly.
The dragon rumbles; at first Djack fears it might be preparing to shoot lightning at him, but as it opens its mouth, what comes out is laughter.
"Hahaha. Funny tiny footler. YOU are the insect! Ha! Those things you call insects I did not even notice until my 30th summer. No, I have no problem with them."
"But if you wish to help me kill my enemies, there is a clan of Kobolds in the mountains to the northwest. These creatures are under my protection. Recently, the very rocks that they mine in seem to have come alive and are killing the miners. I have tried to look into this, but their mines and caves are too small for me to enter. Perhaps your group could assist them."
Amideo smiles and nods. Dragons were an unpredictable sort, but to have a mission to protect some innocents was a good one to have. It could not be taken without some consideration first.
”Well met, great scaled one. I am Sir Amideo Caluzzo di Solva. May I have the privilege of knowing yours?”
He takes a moment to consider this bargain, what were the intentions behind it?
His motives are relatively pure regarding the Kobolds, as far as it goes. Amideo is unaware of these particular Kobolds; his circuit does not do trade with them, as it does with some others to the south. So he knows very little about them or their disposure vis-a-vie good-vs-evil. They could be simple miners, or they could be bandits and marauders of villages somewhere.
Amideo is keenly aware, however, that the Chromatic Dragons tend toward evil, though Blues are among those that respect order and honor, to an extent. If you treat with him, he will likely to be true to his word, though you shouldn't expect any mercy or clemency beyond the letter of the agreement.
"I am known, in your tongue, as Stormfang," the dragon replies.
What are they mining and what's it used for? Do your kobolds have relations with other nearby races, raid, trade or otherwise?
And, how will they accept ... us? He looks around, at all the non-draconics.
Ah, Spizz... where are you, sorcerer?! Hmm... on second thought, perhaps better you are not here, golden color and all.
"Bah! All these questions. They mine metals. I care not what they do related to others, and neither should you, footler. What they do is their business!" The Dragon stands up a little straighter as if to emphasize the point.
"They worship me as an ancestral god; they will accept you if I tell them to!"
A god? Djack nods approvingly.
Stormfang... does have a nice ring to it.
Amideo nods did not relish cooperating with evil, but he desired even less to bring death to a living being when it was not necessary. That he might be able to build ties with the kobolds in the process of that cooperation was certainly a bonus.
He places a hand over his heart, ”Well then, mighty Stormfang, I find your offer to be fair and just. I give my word I will work to see it done.”
"Stormfang agrees. I will find you if you have deceived me. I know whence you come." With that, Stormfang takes to the air, and flies off in search of other food. The subtle threat "I know where you live" is not lost on Amideo, but at the moment, the party has a rebellion to investigate.
Too bad we don't still have Spizz with us
After a few momments, her summoner spirit dissipates as it should. Yoltzin for her part is both confused yet relieved by the results. To face and Elder Wing, even a relatively 'young' one, is not something she's ever hoped to accomplish. If it would stave off her predetermined death, she would abide by its wishes. It's what many an elf would do in her place.
Finishing up your meal and cleaning the camp, you move on as the sun rides higher in the spring sky. The temperature is warming such that the sun feels hot; the first signs of what will be a long, hot, and mostly dry season.
You travel on until dinner time, meeting the occasional refuge along the way heading for Albarra. They all give you the same story; death, carnage, and chaos in Santa Merceda. No one seems to be about to point to who specifically was involved or any one reason. Indeed, there seem about a dozen different conspiracy theories that caused the rebellion, and all arose very quickly.
The sun begins to down as you eat, a sign that despite the warmth, it is merely spring, after all. The horses are tired and need rest. You could push them on and make it to Santa Merceda sometime after nightfall, after which they would be exhausted. Or you could rest here and finish the journey in the morning.
What's the right thing to do? Get there as soon as possible?
Save more lives? He seems a bit disheartened.
"Hand me a bunch o them packs and gear. If'n we all walk, them horses can go quite a bit further. One good night 'o rest is all I need."
"I do know a few roots and stuff that can give them horses back some perk."
Rocko is lucky enough to find a small quantity of ephedra trifurca, an olive-green shrub that grows throughout the area, in small volumes. It is used in small quantities with beans to limit flatulence, but when brewed into a tea, its stimulant properties are concentrated.
Hour 1, DC 4
Djack:
Rocko:
Yoltzin:
Amideo:
Zia:
DC 7
Mahouf:
Djill:
Hour 2, DC 6
Djack:
Rocko:
Yoltzin:
Amideo:
Zia:
DC 9
Mahouf:
Djill:
It is now fully dark; The moon is currently waxing crescent, so light conditions are low-light unless a light source is used.
After 2 hours, the group stumbles upon 3 giant ants that are unhappy to be interrupted, but the party dispatches them quickly (combat lasts 2 rounds, no PCs hit, CR 3 combat).
Hour 3, DC 8
Djack:
Rocko:
Yoltzin:
Amideo:
Zia:
DC 11
Mahouf:
Djill:
Hour 4, DC 10
Djack:
Rocko:
Yoltzin:
Amideo:
Zia:
DC 13
Mahouf:
Djill:
Hour 5, DC 12
Djack:
Rocko:
Yoltzin:
Amideo:
Zia:
DC 15
Mahouf:
Djill:
After about 5 hours of grueling night-time travel, including an unexpected but brief skirmish, the travelers reach the edges of Santa Merceda.
No lights are seen in the watchtowers, and a nearby farm sits abandoned. Fires blaze in the streets approaching the city, candles light some of the out-buildings' windows. Fire within the city has caused a thick smoke to lay over the area.
How would you like to prepare, and how to approach?
Djack seems grim. Should we go find some rooms?
The elf frowns as she looks out across the distant fire. Such rampant unchecked destruction, and not a soul in sight to lay claim to it. She found herself stroking the top of her bison's head as a dorm of comfort before they marched headlong into danger. "Yes, perhaps we should Before that however... It may be a good idea to have Rocko's friend, or a spirit, invesfigate from above."
Rocko thinks scouting would be a good idea. He calls over his raven friend.
"Kaki, if'n you please?"
Kaki fluffs his feathers, obviously uncomfortable about the situation.
"You lot sure about this? If they see me and that leads who knows what back to you all, would you be ready?"
Rocko thinks about it for a while before deciding,
"Better'n knowing none at all. And I trustin' you can be all quiet like."
Kaki bobs his head in agreement "Quiet it is" , then files off
Not sure in the least... 'bout anything. 'xcept that looks like Hell.
And, there are kids down there. Untypical for the young man, he looks like he wants to put a hurting on someone.
Someone's gotta pay. He's stark still, perhaps his eyes blink.
Yoltzin knows from her time here helping against the slavers that those guard towers beside the gate should be lit, the battlements between manned, even at this time of night. Whatever is happening in there, the city guard does not seem functional.
Kaki flies out over the outbuildings immediately ahead of the party, then into the city just a little way. Fortunately, a raven is very hard to perceive against a night sky by human eyes, and common enough that it would not be seen as unusual.
The bird returns within 20 minutes. It communicates to Rocko that a few men wander the streets ahead among the outbuildings. They appear armed, but not like official guards. However, given the time of night, they also appear tired. As for inside the gates, the raven can only indicate "It's bad."
The elf mentally goes over the incantations she knows as some form of preparation before the coming conflicts, tangentially relaying the obvious unusualness of the guard towers. "If it is at all possible, I wish for us to subdue one of these men alive. If these men are indeed acting without their own volition, there might be something I can learn from an examination."
Djack fingers the handle of his rapier. Hmm... anyone have a sap?
Amideo pinches the bridge of his nose, ”Friends, friends, here is another idea. No violence or magic control, just simple straightforward dialogue. I have been in their shoes, the thankless boots of a night watchman, and those do not change, no matter the regime. If I am correct in my assumptions, I know their type. Let us try to speak to them before resorting to other means.”
"During our rest in Albarra, I took some time to study the spell Sleep. We can attempt parley, as Sir Amideo suggests, and if a scuffle does occur, I can attempt to put at least some of them to sleep for later questioning."
The elf puts a hand of brief co.fort on Djack's shoulder, recognizing yet unable to provide help for his combat woes. "You are a skilled fighter, I'm sure you will do what you can." Turning then to Amideo, "While you seem capable of talking a dragon into trading away it's horde, or lunch at least, I am not sure what can be done in the face of malign influences. I am still willing to try however."
As he talks, Djack fumbles with some scrap leather, a small coin pouch, some rocks and twine. Just don't want to hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it...
Amideo at the lead, the party approaches the gates. About 75' before you reach the gates proper (which you can now see are damaged; one of the doors is hanging on a single hinge, allowing careful ingress or egress), you see a crowd of individuals milling about.
They appear to your group, all experienced combatants, to be spaced out in a most unprofessional way, not like trained guards of any sort. They're armed with peasant weapons: clubs, pitchforks, axes.
Still on horseback with his lance ready should the worst comes to pass, Amideo trots forward and raises a hand.
”Good day! I am Sir Amideo, circuit judge by the appointment of the Marques. I have heard of bloodshed and destruction here, and wish to offer any aid I can.”
The party hears some muffled grumbling as the men pull closer together. Sounds can be heard from windows as well, as others shuffle into waking.
Suddenly, a quarrel flies from upper story of the gray building, striking Amideo at a weak point in his armor.
Up ahead, the commoners begin running toward the party, as others shuffle out of doors or pop up in windows.
Initiative, please.
Commoners:
Leader (with the crossbow in an upper window):
Zia:
Initiative for Rocko:
"Just knock em out, yeah? Least for now."
Amideo Initiative:
Initiative Order:
Crossbowman
Rocko and Zia
Rest of the peasants
Rest of the party.
Combat map up top updated to show position of the crossbowman (partial cover leaning out window on FL 2), single move action by commoners pre-initiative, and dismounting of Yoltzin and Djack.
The man with the crossbow loads and fires off another round at Amideo, shouting "Down with the March!" (meaning the Marques' government).
Zia rides up behind Rocko and shouts "Puñuq Riy!" in Draconic.
{Sleep spell centered on the group clustered just north of Rocko)
Impressively, four of the five closest to Rocko falls to the ground asleep! The one most directly north of Rocko remains standing.
Rocko's action.
"Oi, that means you too!"
Rocko will step up to the one remaining standing and attempt to shield smash him into sleepy land as well. He'll put a hefty amount of strength behind it, but also try to avoid any really vital areas. Hopefully he isn't stretching too far with this.
hmmm, might have needed to make that a charge if it was one of the ones further back. That will leave Rocko at an AC disadvantage in addition to the lower AC from still being in hide armor from the forced march
(so 20 base AC with hide, dex, nat AC, and shield, and possibly down to 18 with the charge)
Rocko's shield smashes into the one that did not fall asleep, knocking him back off his feet. He does not get back up. (unconscious).
Several more peasants, similarly armed, rush out of the buildings to the left and right. Others move up to attack Rocko, Djack, and Amideo.
On Rocko:
On Djack:
On Amideo:
On Zia:
Additionally, rocks come flying out of the windows above at seemingly random targets:
On Yoltzin:
On Momozhuani:
On Mahouf:
On Djack:
This one fumbles her throw so badly, she loses his balance, falls out the window, and does not get back up after a loud crack.
On Zia: