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Are we still having issues marking this inactive?
Vanarog, your commitment to being an ass is commendable. I'd have a hard time staying in character at that intensity.
"Yes, in fact one of these longshanks--sorry, they all look the same--was being led somewhere when we found them. Probably on their way to test another trap. It's good we found them when we did." Engashez puffs up a bit, both at the pride of saving the trap fodder, and at the prowess of kobolds. "I'm also not surprised the cave kobolds were able to capture a Duskwarden. Longshanks underestimate true dragons at their peril. Even these weaker tribes like this still have capability beyond your imagination."
Engashez marches into the room, the drums announcing her and Athrax's arrival, even as she starts singing on top of the drums. Letting the drums fall to her side, she continues her performance as a song. "We can't stand it, we know you planned it,
So while you stand there and wonder why,
She draws her sword and steps forward, opposite Pethjun, and strikes at the spellcaster as she continues to perform to the beat-oriented rhythm she'd established. Actions:
Yes, please issue that as a 500 gp chronicle for 1st level. Normal track. Thanks!
Engashez immediately takes up her drum and begins pounding out a rhythm to inspire the other Sewer Minions. The familiar rhythm, one she uses regularly in the Absalom sewers to mark the occasions when Chief Yiddlepodle fetes the tribe in celebration of the conquering of new territory, echoes loudly off the walls of the tunnels as Engashez beats the drums with extra fervor. She has to be loud, though, as she is beginning what appears to be a retreat! Actions:
Round 1 Round 2
Hey, I've had a houseguest all weekend and I'm beat now after they've left. I'll get back up to speed on Monday; please bot me if necessary!
"We're the Sewer Dragons of Absalom, and we're the truest of the true dragons." She steps forward as she speaks, rounding the corner and coming into view. "Maybe we can help you find other testing subjects--the goblins we met earlier come to mind--but these prisoners have to be returned with us."
Returning to the hallway with the magnetic wall, Engashez looks at the stairs on both sides. "We should be able to get up to that ledge if we're careful with how we approach the stairs." She approaches the far set. "Especially if we approach from this way."
Engashez moves up into the tunnel even as she continues to inspire her allies with primal drumming. She turns on the last derro, pointing a single finger to call on a minor magic, a light but bright flash briefly appears in front of the creature's eyes. Actions:
"Sewer Dragons, this is our time!" Engashez begins a drumming rhythm intended to inspire her allies, hearkening to ancient primal rhythms that have long been entrenched in their celebrations and war preparations.
Engashez looks at Vanarog with ire. "That... was where we were supposed to sneak up on them from. Very well. Back up, then, if we're going to draw them out this way instead." Once Vanarog has backed out of the way, and the other kobolds are ready for their ambush, she reads off her scroll of minor image. The entire party appears in front of them in perfect duplicate! Engashez has them enter the small tunnels walking right over Vanarog's glyph; the illusory party grumbles and gripes among themselves, making quite a bit of noise as they round the bend--almost all of the illusory bickering appears to be directed to and from the illusory Vanarog. Once the illusion is deep enough in the tunnels and has been seen, she has the illusory party 'notice' the ambushers, and hastily scramble over each other, rushing back over Vanarog's glyph to retreat back to the tunnels where the real party waits in ambush.
"I can use a simple spell to make a noise over at that end." Engashez points to the far entrance to this section of tunnels. "Maybe even use a scroll to add an image to the noise if we think it's needed. That should draw their attention to that end, and we can then ambush them from behind."
Engashez intercepts Pethjun's handoff to Vanarog, and studies the vials intently... but disappointingly has no idea what they might be. "Bah, probably nothing important," she offers as she completes the handoff to Vanarog. "I agree. Let Fagzyn have the other healing potion," she nods at Skyrahk.
Engashez studies the crack in the room. "Hmmm. This happened during an earthquake; I'm sure of that. But it's not natural. Somebody intervened. Used the earthquake for their own ends." She joins the others in investigating.
Engashez remains behind Pethjun as they advance through the caverns. With a withering glance towards Vanarog--the kind a mother might try to use to reign in her careless child--she urges caution as they continue. "No more traps! We know what we're up against now, so let's step light, step easy, and use our eyes, ears, and snouts!"
Since when do Sewer Dragons--the True Dragons of Absalom--let our enemies flee? That little runt attacked me! Perhaps distracted by the fleeing form of the goblin, Engashez fails to notice the trap. She also fails to notice anyone entering the room, and fails to enter the room herself, thus saving herself from Vanarog's flamboyant mistake. She turns around just as the fireball engulfs the room; surprise blossoms on her face, and she quickly suppresses any visible evidence of the schadenfreude that she She stays close--but behind Pethjun--as the kobolds continue to explore.
I think I agree with the majority here. I'm certainly open and willing to move if that's something we have to do, but my preference would be to stay here. HMM, are you seeing something from Paizo mgmt or IT support that makes you think this is something more than a temporary issue?
This is unfortunate timing with the revival of the forums, but I am heading into the woods for the weekend to go float down a river. I won't be back until Sun PM, so expect regular posting from me to resume again on Monday.
Wow, that's crazy. I'm glad to hear that you and your family are well. I wish the best for you as you move forward from here.
Jon Rooi is currently a pregen-baby, so he's not itching to go anywhere soon. I'm good with a hiatus.
"Lies! You call us great and powerful, and with the same tongue show that you think us stupid and weak." Engashez kneels down close to the goblin, pressing her snout close in until it almost touches the goblin's nose. It had been a long time since her ire had risen so high; sometimes it felt good to just be a dragon. "Start speaking the truth or die where you stand. Who are the lizards? Tell us everything."
Engashez is about to bring her short sword down on the pitiful goblin when Skyrahk's words ring out. Her arm pauses, she breathes, and silently admits that the cleric was right. Piss on Dahak she's right. Engashez drops her weapon to her side and addresses the little miscreant. "Very well. You can thank her for your reprieve, little man." She wiggles her hand vaguely in Skyrahk's direction. "But make no mistake; we are not kind lizards. We are the Sewer Dragons of Absalom and we are to be feared! Now talk!" She sheathes her sword as she begins pacing in front of the goblin, rattling off a chain of questions punctuated by a 180 degree turn with each new query.
Engashez gives the little goblin a look of shock, a Why me? look if you ever saw one. Two of our most potent fighters converge on you, and yet you target me, in the back row. Goblins. "Fine," she grumbles, drawing her sword as she moves forward. "It's like that, is it?!"
Muuuuch better! Engashez is visibly pleased by the new environs. The Duskwarden's admonishments had done much to quiet the petty bickering of her companions, and these sights were simply delightful. She marvels at the waterfalls, at the crystals, and at the quiet echoes that come from traveling in underground tunnels. This is living! Still, there was work to be done here; it was not a pleasure trip. She nods at Pethjun. Good kobold mind in that one. Petty though they all may be, that's still someone I want to have my back. Allowing Pethjun and Fazgyn to lead the way, she peers into the cavern when she has a chance.
Do you know a kobold that would find healing in a VEGETABLE broth?
Seeing her compatriots snacking on so many cookies, Engashez finally goes to the tray and gets one herself. She takes a careful nibble and immediately coughs it out. Are these sewer dragons? Why they eat so many of these sweet crackly crumbly things? I want meat!
"The troll said that it reaches far below the surface, and draws dangers from the darkest depths. That sounds like the Darklands to me. I suggest we try the Sparklegrim Passage." She's probably not still trying to escape the vision of the sunny estates at the top of the Bis neighborhood, but you can't quite be sure.
Though she is different from the other kobolds, Engashez doesn't necessarily see herself that way... or at least she doesn't savor having it pointed out, so she's a little unsure when James singles her out the way he does. She tries to give the other kobolds a nervous smile with a hidden shrug, as if to brush it off. Still, what needs to be done needs to be done, and she does seem to understand how to speak to outsiders in a way the rest of the Sewer Dragons just don't. She follows as James leads the way to Bis. Engashez is enthralled by the vertical arrangement of the strange neighborhood, though she gives Jabbering James an odd look when he speaks in reverence of the higher neighborhoods. Longshanks always get it wrong. Think sunny views are best views. Her eyes return to the deeper darkness at ground level and she sighs in comfort. When taken back into the Duskwardens den, she begins probing for more information after exchanging the necessary pleasantries. "Did you know this other Duskwarden? What can you tell us about them? Would you have any records, either of the assignment, or that this Duskwarden might have kept themself?"
"None of us can be the sacrifice, if that's what it is," Engashez eyes the Augur with curiosity.
"Six balances with six. She just said that." Though it was amusing to see Vanarog squirm.... She steps closer to the troll, still curious to see what this bloody price would be. "Pethjun--the warrior--is right, though. These traps sound like the clear work of other dragons like us. Not us, obviously, but this makes it far more interesting, and certainly must help narrow the forking paths you see. Does that help?"
It's a good think Skyrahk is here... the rest of these Sewer Dragons are no help at all! Engashez does her best to try to corral the kobolds and sooth the feelings of the locals as drunkenness and confusion threaten to derail her efforts.
Engashez is fascinated by the apparent contract the Duskwardens have with the city. They just get a blank check for supplies? We need to negotiate this arrangement with Absalom! Sewer Dragons can protect Absalom from threats from below, and we just take what we need to do the work!!! Her mind wanders, exploring this thought, imagining all the wonderful strange foods she could try in service to the city. Sewer Dragons must be well fed to protect city, yes. Must be well fed. When they get to the Warrens, she focuses on trying to learn more about other disappearances, to try to suss out a pattern if one exists. "Hello?" she asks softly of various people on the street, vendors, anyone she can get to listen. "You know of Halflight Path? We hear that people sometimes disappear. Has this ever happened to someone you know? Family, friends? Enemies, even?" she adds with a chuckle.
Engashez nods along with Vanarog. Nothing he said contradicted anything that she herself knew about Kaer Maga, which--honestly--surprised the bard a little bit. "Vanarog... is right," she says, mostly to the other Sewer Dragons. Only they would understand how unusual that was. Everything that they'd just learned about Kaer Maga... the Warrens, the Augurs, the Duskwardens, and all the various factions... was also backed up by the research she'd done before leaving Absalom. She doesn't speak up about it, but instead gives the other Sewer Dragons a poignant nod to indicate that they weren't being misled. It seems these Freemen can be trusted. For now.
"It is delicious!" Engashez exclaims. "Especially with this creamy paste. Marvelous; we'll have to learn these secrets." She scarfs down another slice of heavily buttered bread before continuing. "Skyrahk has good questions. What is this 'Halflight Path?' Remember, we are new to Kaer Maga; we don't know these things yet." Though it is a beautiful city... above ground, and yet still constructed mostly of tunnels and warrens. An excellent design that we should try to bring to Absalom; the surface there could be so much more comfortable without so much sky.
Engashez turns when she hears Vanarog's outburst. She eyes the wizard, trying to figure out what important task could be distracting him from their mission. Pie? He's arguing about pie? This is the one who styles himself our future leader. Whooooooooooooo. She shakes her head, shares a smile with Skyrahk at the latter's snicker, and turns her attention back to the task at hand. "The Freemen; they're supposed to be one of the... I don't know... clans? Tribes? How do you call them here in Kaer Maga?"
Engashez walks over to the prone man. "Mmmmm. Tread lightly, longlegs." She looks back to the Sewer Dragons, and nods at the apparent consensus. She looks back down at the man. She addresses him in an even and fair diplomatic tone, but it's still clear that she only sees James as the transgressor. Clapping Pethjun on the back? "CUTE?!?" He's lucky he was only tripped. "We do need a guide. We're obviously new here; our customs are quite different from yours. Maybe a little more calm from you will help us stay more calm as well. I'm sure we can make something work." She offers him a hand to help stand up. "So, tell us about Kaer Maga. Start with risks; what should we look out for while we're here?"
"Socks?!?" Engashez asks incredulously, looking down at her bare feet with their sharp claws. "Know your audience, dayrunner." When Jabberin' James begins selling his services to Pethjun, she begins to imagine the fighter negotiating with the guide and dozens of uncomfortable or expensive outcomes pop into mind in mere seconds. "We could use a guide, but how're we supposed to know you're any good, Jabberin' James? It's probably a lot smarter for us to go hire a guide from an agency in the city, no? Someone licensed and bonded?" she suggests, calling to mind some terms she'd heard longlegs use before, that she hoped she was using correctly. "Why are you such a good guide; why should we hire you?"
This is an early warning that I'll be away for Memorial Day weekend. I start traveling early Thursday AM and won't return until Monday PM. I will make sure that I have an updated "Bot Me" spoiler in my profile before I leave for the vacation, and I'll post again here Wed PM as a reminder.
True dragons always want to be first, always want to be chief. We now parlay with true true dragons and they still only think of who is best or strongest. The Sewer Dragons are already the mightiest; the Pathfinders now seek our aid because they don't have the cunning and power to complete their own missions, yet we still think of which of us is better! Engashez reflexively shakes her head--with a soft grin--as she basically ignores Athrax's interjection, awaiting the response from the enthusiastic halfling.
Engashez is happy to see that Hats would be venturing out with them. Still a little sore at having offended the otyugh the last time they'd had occasion to work together, she'd longed for an opportunity to repair that relationship. I can't give up the hattiest hat, of course; it was far too useful last time out for that. "Hats! I'm glad to see you here. Perhaps you and I could interview with Janira together. I too would love to learn more, and there's much she can learn from both of us, I bet!" She smiles up at the otyugh, hoping that Hats was comfortable with the otherwise discomfiting smile of a kobold by now. When Janira asks if there were questions, Engashez has one. "So we're going to make contact with these Freemen. The only good guys in Kaer Maga, I guess? So, what are the other factions that we might encounter? Who are the bad guys that we don't want to upset?"
What do we think she'll be having us be doing? It's explained in the letter, silly old man. Even Vanarog better leader than you, Yiddlepode, and Vanarog terrible leader. "It would be our blessed luck if we got to meet with another true, true dragon." These kobolds didn't need the emphasis... after all, they had been along when they met the true, true dragon, but Engashez had still not missed an opportunity to remind any of the tribe of their good fortune. "But I think this will be more of a long-legs kind of mission." "You know, talk and investigation. You know how these Pathfinders are. Still, it is good for the Sewer Dragons to work with these Pathfinders. Chief Yiddlepode, it shows your wisdom to bring this group back together. I will be honored to be your voice in this negotiation. The longlegs will long remember treating with the Sewer Dragons."
I am ready to go, but about to embark on a busy weekend, so a Monday start would be ideal.
Hmm, my chronicle doesn't have the Day Job $$ filled in.
I'm on board with the reunion; that sounds like a lot of fun!
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