Kingmaker - Taming the Stolen Lands by DM DoctorEvil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Alvis says, "Yes, we should make a record of all we have done here. That includes how we got here as well. As I said I do think we should return burdened with all that we can carry. On our return we should be able to take time to more closely examine the lands we pass through, noting any landmarks. It will aid us and others in the future."

Laden down with the bulky loot gathered from the bandit camp, the team starts on their way back toward Oleg's. It is still fairly early in the morning, so they have the whole day in front of them to do as they wish.

Do you take the same route that you came? Do I gather from the discussion about mapping that you plan to advance 1 hex per day and explore those hexes rather than just passing through them?

Teela, you can surely find map-making tools at the trading post when you get there. In the meantime, you can cobble something together and rely on memory to fill in the details as needed later.

Yes, I recommended that we go back the way we came and do some exploration this time, start getting the lay of the land.

Agreed. Take some time and also do the reconnoiter activity and map the place out.

Works for me as well.

As long as we're not on a major time crunch, sure.

The team explores the area around the bandit camp on both sides of the river, making detailed notes and spending as much time as it takes to reconnoiter the area. During the later part of the day, they are resting along a trail, when there is a clear sounds of speech coming from ahead of you. It sounds as if several voices are arguing amongst each other.

If you wish to Hide, provide your Stealth modifier. If you want to strain to hear what's being said, give your Perception modifier. You likely only have time for one or the other -- or another similar action.

Stealth is slightly better, but Graham is more likely to try and listen than hide, so...Perception +6.

Tessa inches closer to hear what is being said behind Graham, hand on his shoulder and staying behind him.+5

Teela stops Caramel and turns her head towards the source of the noise. Her stopping in place is less an attempt to be obfuscate her presence. Instead, she attempts to not make noise that could prevent her from hearing what is being said.

Perception +7

Alvis doesn't consider sneaking around a possibility. Holding his hand up, he brings Parable to a halt and listens quietly to the persons arguing.

Perception +7.

With the rest of the party staying put and trying to listen, Velas does the same. He reins in his horse and focuses on the nearby noises. +4 Perception

While you can make out words, only a few of you understand the language.

As you stay still on the path, through the clearing in front of you steps a handful of small reptilian humanoids of varying chromatic coloration.
They seem to be carrying heavy sacks, but freeze when they spy your group, looking at each of you nervously. One even hisses, sounding a bit like a small teakettle.

As Alvis looks them over he seems to think he might have been taught something about creatures like these.

Recall Knowledge DM secret roll Knowledge of Draconic may, if the DM is generous, give a circumstance bonus.

Alvis looks to Lady Quintessa on how she wishes to proceed, quietly saying, "They like the radishes, but seem to have had a dispute with some group called Sootscale, of course you may understand them yourself, milady."

Alvis knows this small scaled creatures are kobolds - small reptilian humanoids, who often build warrens in dark places, like caves or old ruins. They can be clever and devious, but are generally looking out for themselves and not into wanton violence or destruction.

While one of the kobolds hisses, it seems to be more out of fright than out of spite. None have made threatening moves so far, and one, wearing a leather thong collar with some sort of stone hanging from it says in broken Common"

"Let us pass? No harm. No hurt. Yes?" It points to itself and then to you as it speaks, as if to say - you don't hurt us, we don't intend to hurt you.

Graham has his hand on the pommel of his rapier but does not draw it. His inclination is to let the creatures pass, but if Tessa says otherwise with a compelling case he could be convinced to take the opposite side.

Alvis thoughtfully says, "These are kobolds, often cave dwellers, known, like many small folk, to be cunning and sly. However, while they look out for themselves mostly, they are not given to random violence or destruction for its own sake."

The kobolds drop their heavy sacks with a dull thud, and put their own hands on their weapons, not drawing them. They freeze as the leader, with the necklace on, hisses at them and stills them with a hand motion. She eyee your group warily, ready to fight if that's what this encounter calls for.

Teela leads Caramel to the edge of the path, making space for the scalies to move past. "That part I understood."

Quintessa raises one hand slowly, palm forward, her expression calm and composed. She doesn't put her hand to her weapon like the others, and moves to step to the front with an obvious display of neutrality. Her eyes drift over the kobolds, not with contempt, but with practiced observation. Her voice is steady, clear, and precise.

"You may pass unharmed, if you speak truth. But this is our land now, by charter and by blood. I would know who travels through it and why."

She gives the leader, clearly the one with the stone necklace, a nod of recognition. "You mentioned Sootscale. Speak plainly, if you can so all can hear."

Switching to Draconic she clarifies in a harsher tongue.