Roderick looks at the kobold bodies with annoyance as they have more or less ruined the best spot he'd found so far. He tramps out into the trees and continues searching for a good spot
After an hour or so, the young man returns to the clearing. Propping his loaded crossbow onto his shoulder, and his other hand on his hip above his short sword, he almost looks the part of the dashing adventurer...if one ignores the small pink flowers which seem to be tucked into locks of his hair which were not there before.
"I found another suitable location," he announces. "It's a bit of a surprise as well. Some kind of ancient ruin."
"An ancient ruin? Interesting. Means there was a time when this spot wasn't entirely wilderness, if people built something, right? Could explain the orderly placed trees and those semicircular hills with the flat stones, too."
She nods to Roderick with a smile, purposely avoiding to comment on the pink flowers in his hair. "Lead the way, then. Although I'd rather finish getting what we came here for first, before we try to explore the ruins."
"I've been trying to recall what I know about mites, which wasn't much. Small, although their fey ancestors were supposedly even smaller. And ugly too. Some say even the goblins mock them for their appearance. I believe they should speak Undercommon, like most denizens of the dark tunnels under the earth. It's not a language I know, though. Maybe they understand Common as well? They're supposedly cowardly, so we might be able to scare them if so."
"Slashing and piercing weapons killed them." Adela tells the group, "It happened within the last 24 hours as well."
"Malki has found several scent trails heading off in the direction of the Old Sycamore there, but the melee was enough of a mess that I've found nothing identifiable by way of tracks."
****
When Roderick returns, Erik looks over the boy's fashion choices...
2 rank +3 trained +1 wis+1 studied target
"Well, if it's a decent spot, let's set up there, and be about our business."
"We'll set up there for now, but I agree, we'll wait until we're done at the Sycamore before exploring the ruins properly." Rhiann says, grinning at Roderick's satisfaction with having found another spot. "Sounds like either the mites, or something else that calls the sycamore home, killed the kobolds, so we definitely need to anticipate a violent response as a possibility to us approaching."
"Well, it's not like a ruin to explore exactly. It's just a ruin of a single building possibly?" Roderick shakes his head. "You'll understand when we get there."
Roderick leads the way to the proposed campsite, using a hatchet to cut back some of the growth which would prevent the wagon's passing. A few faint stones appearing to have been cut and placed suggesting this may have been a paved path, if one squinted hard and imagined several more in a sequence.
The so-called ruin turns out to be the remains of a single building. Two connected stone walls at a right angle with a low wall several meters opposite one of them. It was most likely a part of the building this once was, but is no longer connected by the fallen stonework. A small triangular section is all that remains of a second floor about 3 meters off the ground in the right-angle's junction. Surprisingly, in the middle of the space between the walls is what appears to be a rather solid chimney, the fireplace is open on two sides and rounds down into a very solid base which is about twice a wide as the chute at the top. Roderick's instincts seems to be right on target for this to be a good defensible camping spot.
"I already checked the chimney. No evidence anything has been burned in it at all. Some of what may be ancient soot stains could just be dirt from weather or the soil of animals. It's possible the mites or kobolds or whatever else that lives around here doesn't even know what it is, so they aren't using it as such."
He waves his hand to indicate the side without any walls he's driving the wagon into. "I'll unhitch our draft horse and turn the wagon sideways to help block of this side which means we will pretty much have defenses on all sides with only a few approaches. From things that walk above the ground, of course. Things that fly or burrow are still threat." He points to the low wall. "I'll turn the horses loose outside the wall here. Plenty of space for them to move and rest, but they won't be in our way if we are attacked inside the space. They will have the freedom to force their way through the trees and foliage if the danger is too great."
He begins to setup the tents under the remnant of the second floor overhang. Roderick manages to use that to extend the coverage of the tent covers and tarps he has over top of them making it look as if the tents are inside a larger pavilion. He sets up a cooking fire on the opposite side of the space near the low wall, and also gets a blaze going in the chimney. Soon the entire area is warm taking the chill off the night air. The copses of surrounding trees and the stone walls buffer the area of the usually cool evening breeze.
"Excellent work, Roderick! Great recon, and a solid report." Rhiann remarks as she helps him prepare the camp. "I like the flowers by the way. Always nice to enjoy the beauty of nature around you when you can." she says with a smile.
"Looks a decent spot Roderick. Anybody object to the same watches as las night?"
Erik joins Roderic, working to set up the campsite "Let's get things set up, and dig a privy pit - yeah, it's more work now, but you'll appreciate the reduced smell when you're here tomorrow with the horses while we're going into the sycamore..."
***
Before settling down for the night, Erik takes a careful look around the site, looking for clues as to what happened here (and also for any surviving hidden compartments).
2 rank +3 trained +2 racial+1 wis
"Excellent work, Roderick! Great recon, and a solid report." Rhiann remarks as she helps him prepare the camp. "I like the flowers by the way. Always nice to enjoy the beauty of nature around you when you can." she says with a smile.
Roderick inflates slightly from the praise, but a quizzical look appears on his face.
"Flowers?" He glances around at where some wild flowers grow along the edge of the stone remains. "Yeah, I guess they do add...something." He gives Rhiann a sure-thing-boss glance and continues pouring dough onto a skillet for a journey bread not knowing what else to say.
Whatever this structure was, there doesn't appear to be anything left to hide. After tramping around a bit, Erik's pretty certain no cellar or other underground store room is hidden from view. The last place to look would be in the chute of the chimney itself, but as it starts to narrow, someone much smaller than standard humanoid would probably be needed to traverse the entire shaft to its top.
"I was referring to the ones in your hair actually, but those are nice too." Rhiann replies, her expression a bit more wary now.
"I agree with Rhiann, Roderick, this seems like a great spot for our camp. You're doing a great job, I'm glad to have you along." Alyssa gives Roderick a smile, before turning to Erik to answer his question about the watch.
"No objections on keeping the same watch order. I'll take first watch, then. Just hope this one turns out to be more peaceful than the last night. One pack of shadowy wolves is already one more than I'd like."
She glances worriedly around the camp, trying to make sure they are alone.
"I was referring to the ones in your hair actually, but those are nice too." Rhiann replies, her expression a bit more wary now.
Roderick is confused. "Wha...?" He reaches up to his hair and feels the flowers, plucking one and looking at it in shock.
"I didn't...huh?...I swear I..." the young man sputters while his face takes on a crimson hue. "I wasn't playing around, I swear!"
The campsite turns out to be very comfortable weather wise, even if the ground is little harder and less comfortable without padding. Most of the party ends up laying their blankets under them to add some cushion when sleeping.
The night watch goes uneventful except for one time when Malki barks at something unseen in the dark briefly, but the canine calms down quickly enough.
The morning comes, and the party readies for their foray into exploring the domain of the mites. First however, one must divine the means to enter it. According to the stories told by the bandits, the old sycamore should house some tunnels or caverns beneath it. There must be an entrance...
Fortunately, several of the party have some eagle eyes and space leading into the earth is discovered among several of the massive tree's large exposed roots. A few meters in is a shaft which drops down into the darkness below the trunk.
Adeala awakes and performs her morning routine. After dressing, bathing and preying she eats her breakfast and gets ready to enter the shaft.
Erik picks his gear carefully, leaving essentially all of his camping gear behind.
Weapons:
2 Chakrams, Cestus, Dagger, Rapier, Sap, Composite Long Bow (str +1), 40 arrows
Armor:
Buckler, Lamellar -Leather
Equipment:
Explorer’s outfit, backpack, 50 ft hemp rope (1gp), belt pouch(1 gp), chalk (1 cp), flint and steel (1 gp) Rice Notepaper in a scrollcase (2 gp) , pen(1 sp), ink (8 gp), Tracking Powder (30 gp, 10 uses), MW Thieves Tools (100 gp)
Before heading off to the Old Sycamore, he gives Malki a pat and a scritch behind the ears, and commands him "Stay here, guard!"
Then he turns to Roderick "Keep a sharp eye out. With you alone again, the fey might come a play... That's ok, they seem relatively friendly, so no need to make trouble that ain't there. If real trouble comes along, remember the gear ain't worth dying for... Keep one of the horses saddled in case you need to run."
Finding Roderick's response more than a little odd, Rhiann studies the flower for a moment before dismissing it with a shrug.
---------------------------------
Awakening in the morning and taking some time to stretch, Rhiann pares down to her essential weapons and gear, leaving the rest at camp.
Roderick's shock at the flowers surprises Alyssa and her smile fades into a thoughtful look as she considers what could be behind those flowers.
----
Alyssa is relieved as she wakes up, with the night passing by uneventfully. "Seems like this definitely was a good spot to camp out." She says with a smile as she gathers her equipment. She gently pats her horse, whispering "I'm sure Roderick here will take good care of you while we're gone."
Before the group is a root-lined shaft leading down into the darkness. The roots of the Old Sycamore are gnarled and thick; climbing down should be a very easy task for those with upper body strength. There are some faint noises coming up from the bottom, a mixture of possibly voices and the scrape of metal or stone every so often.
"We'll do our best to remain out of sight and as inconspicuous as possible. But if anything comes around looking for a fight, I'll keep everything safe unless there's just no chance." Roderick glances at his feet. "Honestly, if those owls show up again...I'll probably just run."
Erik gently drops prone beside the hole and listens carefully, trying to make sense of the noises coming from below, without giving away the party's presence...
2 rank +3 trained +3 dex -3 ACP
2 rank +3 trained +2 racial+1 wis
Adela studies Roderick for a moment before nodding. "It seems you've encountered Fey. It looks as if they like you Roderick. Just decorating you hair is nice by Fey standards."
She has her equipment ready, including her backpack and holds her crossbow in her hands. She is waiting for the party to move.
Rolling her shoulders, Rhiann waits for Erik to give the all-clear as she prepares to enter the confined space.
He looks around the small ruins and towards the trees beyond with apprehension. "I-I will try to stay on their good side, I g-guess."
He bends down to pat Malki's head gently. "Try not to be too mean if they come around, little Malki...who knows how they'll react to growls."
No obvious signs your approach has been noticed. The previous sounds continue to recur unabated. As best as Erik can determine, the scratching and clanking noises are often followed by excited utterances, but he cannot make out the words or if they are words at all and not some sort of grunting.
Erik reports in a whisper "I can't make out much, but I don't think they know we are here...I can see in the dark, I will take point. Try to keep the lights to a minimum - they are a pretty good giveaway that we are here... If Alyssa wants to try negotiating, she can be behind me. I won't initiate any bloodshed."
Erik begins to carefully descend into the shaft, taking his time to be as stealthy as possible...
2 rank +3 trained +3 dex -3 ACP
vs dc 5
+1 str -3 ACP
Once down he draws his rapier and looks around, readying his buckler.
2 rank +3 trained +2 racial+1 wis
assuming he spots nothing of interest, he heads down the left hand branch (R1) ...
Alyssa casts her Mage Armor spell on herself as they approach the Sycamore, and waits for Erik's report.
"I'll follow behind you, then. But I'm not too confident that I'll be able to do much without being able to speak their language. Maybe they understand Common? Regardless, I think we should all be ready in case things turn ugly."
Alyssa does her best to follow Erik, trying not to make much noise herself, and keeping some distance and stays alert for any noise that might indicate they were noticed.
Rhainn makes the climb down seem almost effortless, however, the fauchard slung across her back dislodges dirt and stone, triggering a noticeable crash.
"Well...at this point I doubt light will be the problem." she mutters, readying her weapon as they look around.
Adela gracelessly and noisily follows the others down.
She has her crossbow ready but looks around nervously as she can't see anything yet.
Despite the racket (or perhaps because of the complete lack of anything resembling an attempt to be quiet), when the party drops one by one into the low ceilinged chamber, the cavern's occupants (of which those with low-light vision can only just make out in the dark) seem to stop moving around and stare at the newcomers. After a few beats, eventually one of them says, in perfect, refined Common, "Pardon me, but do you happen to be kobolds?"
Alyssa and Erik can just make out some short shapes in the dim light coming in from the shaded opening above. Best guess, 2? Maybe 3?
This image has a lot of white as obviously it represents a camera flash on the surface of things in the dark. If you scale down the white, you're left with a whole of featureless shapes which make judging detail and distance/depth much more difficult. Please consider this how any description I give based on darkvision will operate going forward. Please let me know if you have any questions, but we can move it to Discussion.
The two creatures are very difficult to discern aside from their general small humanoid shape. Erik can see two pointy ears jutting horizontally from their heads, but their features are indistinct without light. They may have bulbous noses or snouts or just really big warts in the center of their faces, and there are definitely indents where most humanoids have eyes, but Erik cannot make out more than that.
After a few beats, eventually one of them says, in perfect, refined Common, "Pardon me, but do you happen to be kobolds?"
Erik decides to leave the diplomacy to someone temperamentally suited to it. Instead, he reports what he sees, speaking in elven,
"Two of them, no major threat."
Taken aback by the surprisingly refined voice in the dark, Rhiann turns to Alyssa, trusting her skill at communication more than her own.
"Thanks Erik. I'll try talking, see how far that gets us."
Alyssa is surprised to hear whatever it is speaking common, to say nothing about the respectful, refined way it's spoken. She takes a deep breath and tries to match their tone, smiling at he darkness, assuming they can see her.
"Greetings. We are not kobolds - they look quite a bit different from us. Here, perhaps this could help clear that up?" Alyssa draws one of her bolts and touches the tip while she whispers the required arcane words, making it light up. "I hope that is enough to convince you." She adds with a smile as she waves the light around, making sure everyone is illuminated long enough.
"I am sorry to interrupt what you were doing, but we came here looking for something that we believe might have been taken here. Maybe you could help us locate it?"
When Alyssa's magic light spreads throughout the space, the cavern's appearance is very earthen and moist. Packed earth laced with trace minerals and roots make the walls that surround the group, and more roots and stalactites and their matching stalagmites litter the space. The ceiling is low already, but the added dangling items make movement and visibility a bit of a challenge. Woe to those blessed with height. Shadows dance in all directions making the darkness at the edge of the light appear to be reaching tendrils across the space in all directions. There appear to be two exits in different directions leading into darkness past the lighted bolt's range.
The space between the party and the creatures is littered with caltrops. The greater density appear surrounding the creature which spoke. And...creature is certainly a word for it. It reminds the group of the wooden blocks everyone plays with as a child, often with colorful faces including letters and numbers. If those colors had all been shades of blue, and if someone had stacked thousands of these blocks the size of sugar cubes in the shape of a small humanoid that resembled a goblin or something and then put some kind of rags on it. Yes...that could explain its appearance.
The block creature regards Alyssa with what must be incredulity and scratches its head. Its finger brushes against the caltrop impaled in its forehead, and unsticks it with an audible pop! while trickles of blood continue to stream down the side of its enormous blocky nose. Examining the caltrop intensely, it speaks again. The perfectly crisp cadence and refined accent in Common no less startling now that its speaker has magical torchlight on its face.
"Not kobolds...it says kobolds are quite a bit different." It pops the caltrops in its mouth and swallow sit one gulp. "Didn't you claim to have seen a kobold once, Mu-223? What do you think of these not-kobolds?"
Mu-223 must be the other creature, and like its fellow, it is very unusual. While the first creature appears to be made up of small blue blocks, this one is melting. Yes, that is the best way to imagine it. If it was possible for a creature to simply turn into the depressing sight attributed to cold treats left out on a summer day or a wax figure exposed to heat and then frantically returned to the icebox, this would be Mu-223. While its blue skin doesn't actually appearing to be dripping off of its body, there's no mistaking it looks like several puddles got together to play humanoid.
"Hmm...hmm. Mayhap, Tau-75, mayhap." From its seated position, Mu-223 blinks its dripping eyes at the group barely visible behind the bulbous ice cream scoop of a nose. "I just remember that one they got locked up is shiny. That one's got some shine to it." It melts a finger in Rhiann's direction as Alyssa's light twinkles across the chain shirt she's wearing.
"If they can't tell the difference between us and kobolds on size alone, that might not be a kobold they've got 'locked up'.
Alyssa studies the strange creatures for a bit. Both their appearance and words are surprising enough that she can't really be sure how best to approach them. Figuring the 'shiny' angle might be the better option, she leads with it.
"Shiny, you say? Are you... collecting shiny things, perhaps? Like that shiny kobold you mentioned, or maybe a ring? A small shiny band that would fit around my finger? If so, maybe we could trade you something for them."
Adela is finding listening to a conversation she can't understand while in complete darkness rather frustrating. Hearing something she can follow does help her composure though.
Alyssa seems to have things in control so Adela bits her lip and waits to hopefully see what happens.
Tau-75 mouth hangs open grotesquely as its brow furrows in what might be confusion or maybe deep thought. Mu-223 strokes its chin, and the way its fingers move the nearly liquid skin causes weird ripples which are nauseating to watch.
"A finger shiny? Might have seen something like that, but really we're looking for kobolds. Do you have any? Assuming you aren't kobolds like you claim." Mu-223 drawls; its eyes moving in unfortunate ways as it squints at the party like egg yolks sliding through the whites.
Tau-75 snaps its mouth shut and then snaps it blocky fingers. "We should ask Dingletooth and Uurch. They know kobolds and the shinies."
Mu-223 grunts, "Bleh, you go on then. I don't want to get up." The creature lazily reaches for a caltrop from a pile next to him and places it into the toy catapult, and begins to wind back the mechanism.
Tau-75 begins walking towards the opening closest to him.
Alyssa gives the others a questioning look, wondering how they want to proceed. Unsure of what the strange creatures expect them to do, she figures she might as well ask.
"Should we follow your friend and meet with these Dingletooth and Uurch you mentioned? Or should we stay here? I imagine you could do without our distracting presence."
Mu-223 looks up from the catapult. "Oh, they're just napping in the hole over there. Tau-75 will be back right quick."
Rhiann looks between the leaving creature, and the one idly toying with his odd weapon, trying to determine if this was some trap.
Erik siddles closer to the one with the catapult, trying to seem harmless, while readying himself to explode into action... He too is wondering if these strange creatures are as gormless as they seem, or is it a dangerous facade...
2 rank +3 trained +1 wis+1 studied target
There is a squawk from the darkness where Tau-75 disappeared. Two rather normal—if ugly— blue-skinned creature with unfortunate noses and droopy pointed-ears holding weapons and stare at the party in shock and alarm.
One points at the group and yells something at Mu-223 in a tongue not currently understood. Mu-223's drooping face jerks up in surprise, and it replies in the same language more fumblingly. Then it's melting eyes swivel towards the everyone in horror, and it leaps to its feet. Tau-75 appears behind the two newcomers looking both annoyed and confused.
Then the two mites attack brandishing well-worn blades.
Movement in combat is reduced by 5ft while running distance is halved.
All combatants AC is increased by 1 point.
Erik promptly steps forward and stabs at Mu-223...
vs FF??
1 bab +3 dex (weapon finesse)+1 studied target -2 caverns penalty
+1 str +1 studied target +1d6 sneak
As the mites brandish weapons that they are clearly intent on using, Rhiann goes into action, quickly drawing her fauchard, and taking advantage of her weapon's reach to strike out at one of the enemies within reach, maneuvering as best as she can in the cramped space.
Adela shrugs, again she is at a loss for what is happening? But being attacked was something she could understand.
Raising her crossbow she takes a careful shot at the nearest Mite.
And hits the earthen wall. :(
Alyssa sighs as combat seems unavoidable. "That's more like the reaction I was expecting, if I'm honest."
Taking a step forward to be able to aim at the incoming motes while still being covered by Erik and Rhiann, Alyssa conjures a small orb of acid and tries to lob it at one of the mites.
Erik's strike on the strange melting Mu-223 has an almost expected unexpected affect. The creature cries out as it throws up its hands to ward the blow, but when's Erik's blade sinks into its flesh, its body suddenly loses cohesion and simply collapses in a rush of messy blue fluid. Aside from the strange puddle it leaves behind, all traces of its original appearance are gone.
Rhiann manages to slash one of the newcomers deeply, and it falls to the root and caltrop covered floor with a gurgle.
Adela and Alyssa's attacks unfortunately miss as they have trouble accounting for the cramped quarters and hanging obstacles.
Seeing its comrade killed so easily, the other newcomer turns and drops out of sight. Just beyond here is another root laced opening similar to the one the party entered to reach the caves. The mite swiftly begins to descend.
Tau-75 is horrified by the sight of Mu-223 liquifying and takes a step backward only to trip over a root and fall on its butt roughly. It covers its face with its hands and cowers in terror.
"Welp, a fight it is. I had no great faith in negotiating with these..."
Erik pick his way through the caltrops as quickly as he. can to the edge of the hole, tossing his rapier to his left (buckler hand) and drawing a chakram as he goes.
If he can still see the fleeing mite, he throws the chakram at it;
vs FF?? The mite if Flat footed if climbing, unless it has some sort of special
1 bab +3 dex +1 PBS
+1 str +1 pbs +1d6 sneak
if not, he starts clambering down the hole in pursuit...
vs dc ?
+1 str -3 ACP
"Well, if nothing else they definitely know we're coming now." Rhiann says with a sigh. Looking at the cowering bizarre mite, she points her weapon. "If you make any move to attack us from behind, you'll share the same fate."
She then leads the others down after Erik.