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Ike pauses as Brokk'r put a hand on his shoulder. Perhaps... perhaps he was right. They didn't seem to like kobolds... and he wasn't sure he could manage another change at the moment... and it seemed like Diceros was willing to play the diplomacy card. He would leave it to them. "You're right... maybe we should go back and check the other end of the tunnel?" He nodded, helping to hold the rope so the others could climb down.
Ike wrestles with the mite, keeping him in line until the group gets there. He lets the others speak to him before standing up and nodding, retracting his wing hands and folding them over his chest, before going to inspect the hole the other one jumped down, peering into the dark with his night vision.
Ike's body immediately retracts inward at the jab from the little mite, forming a hole where the knife SHOULD have gone, but completely missed. Truth be told, though, this whole affair frustrated Ike. "WHY!? Why does everyone in this stupid place always resort to fighting!? Why can't anyone talk before they start trying to kill each other!?!?!" Ike's wings remold themselves into long, slender hands, before snapping forward and aiming to seize the mite in their grasp! "No more fighting! You go in time out! NOW!"
Ike frezzes just in time for the metal... thing to go right past his shoulder! "MITES!" Ike called back through the tunnel, before turning back and raising his claws. "Hold it! I'm not here to fight! The kobolds don't want to fight anymore! Here to make friends with mites!"
Ike nods, thanking Arlen for her support before clambering down and looking both ways. "It's dark down here... the tunnel seems to go both ways. I'll start to the west, I think, than come back and check the east." Ike called back up, before venturing further to the west and trying to keep his eyes peeled for anything unusual.
Nodding, Ike descends into the hole under the tree, looking around with his nightvision as he investigates the hole, and following the tunnel until he comes to some kind of fork in the tunnel.
Ike is feeling a bit more... enthusiastic after his brawl with the troll. It wasn't how he hoped, but it turned out to be a good ego booster! Maybe he should try that again in the future...
The sight of the big tree doesn't really catch his eyes at first, but when someone mentions that a long shaft seems to drop into a tunnel below it, Ike morphs into his kobold form and inspects the place. "You want me to check it out? Maybe it'll lead to some treasure! ...or more kobolds!"
Ike finally managed to regain his senses and overcome the sudden fear that had gripped him... what was that!? There was nothing that really scared him, per se... but he suddenly had this uncontrollable urge to flee the battle! That... was embarrassing. Especially considering he had been trying to convince them that he was their god! Returning to the field of battle, and seeing that everyone had taken care of the purple kobold usurper, he felt even worse... but tried to save at least SOME face for his inexcusable cowardice. "Erm... excellent! I see that my minions have dealt with the, er, false prophet! The large imposter, uhm, teleported away, and I had to... leave... and deal with him before he, er, cause more trouble in my name!" Approaching the fallen kobold shaman, Ike looked at the others trying to... stabilize the monster? "Erm... why... why are we trying to save him? Also, erm... you might try some hegra wheat crossed with lemon leaves and crushed salt... that helps... not sure why, I thought he was trying to kill us, but... that might help..."
You guys go ahead! I'm just gonna keep running away from the fray. ._.
Ike was pleased... this was going quite well! In fact... strikingly well! He'd never felt such adoration before! And then that stupid little purple kobold had to go and ruin it! With the arrival of the giant kobold, Ike, just based on gut instinct, suspected it had to be a trick. Some illusion of the eyes... some trick of the mind! Roaring a battle cry, Ike charged through the foray of kobolds, taking what blows might come from it, to confront this new threat! It was bigger, but he was Ichorius! King of the Red Scales! No lousy imposter would lay claim to what he had! He would show it who was boss! ...perhaps he had gotten a bit too into character... reaching up a massive claw, he took a swipe at the big kobold, if only to grab its attention and away from the others!
Ike watched the two kobold leaders verbally duke it out. It seemed poor Sootscale was at a loss on how to control his tribe... and poor Sigurd, try as he might, didn't sound like he was making a strong case. Which meant he was going to have to step up and do what he did best. He was going to have to lie. Big time. "Play along!" he whispered to the others, before stepping forward and unfurling his wings, reshaping his claws into massive serrated weapons before he shouted to gain the tribe's attention. Waiting for all eyes to be on him, he raised a now massive claw. "I am Ichorius... King of the Red Scales... and the one you know as Old Sharptooth! The statue you speak of is a false idol... and I have come to destroy it! No mere stone depiction can... capture my true majesty! I will NOT have a needless war waged in my glorious name! That is why I have come to personally end this, and have brought my finest... warriors to bring it back! There will be no war... I shall end it before it can begin!"
Ike followed the kobolds in, before finally getting to meet the infamous Chief Sootscale! Just from the interaction alone, it was clear there was a modicum of disagreement between him and Tartuk. "...what's wrong with being yellow?" he asked, before realizing that he was supposed to be the big tough kobold "champion" and folding his arms, clearing his throat. "Erm, I mean... who is Tartuk? What makes him so certain that there is a curse? I fear no such thing!"
Ike nodded and followed after the kobolds into the cave. Sootscale might be the one to make deals with... Tartuk sounded like a jerk. "You mentioned the mites took a statue... what makes it so important?" he asked as he followed along.
"...they are my... underlings." Ike finally replied, nodding towards the others. He needed these kobolds to believe that, for the moment, he was in charge. Perhaps if they believed he was in command... it was time to... act again! "So... Tartuk started this war, did he? And what does this Chief Sootscale think?" It sounded as if these two kobolds were vying for power. "Nevermind. I will find out myself. Take me to speak with these two... Tartuk and Sootscale. I will determine what to do from there." Ike nodded at the others, waving for them to approach. "Minions! You may approach. I will speak with this... Sootscale and Tartuk, and decide what I want to do afterwards!" he announced... and trying veeeeeery subtly to nod at the mite in the cage and see if they could get anything out of him while he was speaking.
Ike paused in his approach, seeing two kobolds pop out! Finally... a chance to settle thing peacefully! He was prepared for a fight - it seemed inevitable in this land - but he WANTED to resolve things without fighting, if he could. Even if he couldn't... he would try. "I am not here to fight. I'm just a simple kobold... but I want to know why you are torturing that mite. Can't you see he's in pain? Who is your leader... I wish to speak with him."
He looked up at the cage, studying the mite. Even if they weren't good creatures, this was cruel... he spoke again, but this time addressing the fey creature in a language he actually wasn't fully aware he was speaking. To him, it was just normal speak, but as the words came out, they were in... Sylvan! ...where did he learn that!? Sylvan: What's going on... why are you here? What have you done to anger these kobolds?
As Arlen points out the location of the cage, Ike looks over and sees the little creature crying in its cell... and he felt pity for the poor thing. He wasn't exactly sure what it was doing in there, if the kobolds put it in the cell or not, but it certainly seemed sad in there. Sinking into a puddle, Ike reformed into his winged kobold form, before stepping up. "Let me go investigate... I'll see if I can't get closer and get an idea of what's going on."
Ike retreats a little further under the brush at Sigurd's approach, compressing himself tightly and huddling a bit. He considers Sigurd's words a moment, before a bulbous green head pokes out from under the foliage. Ike's opted to take a goblin form this time. "...all monsters get destroyed in the end. They have it coming. They're not allowed." He stares at the ground for a minute, before speaking again. "...I'm a monster. Just like the kobolds. Just like the plant monster. There is no place for monsters. They have to go." Ike squirms a little bit, pulling his newly round head into the bush again, before speaking from inside its branches again. "I'll keep helping... but I know I'll need to be destroyed in the end. There some things you cannot stand or allow... that's just the way it is..."
"WAIT!" Ike quickly transforms into his kobold form, looking to try and speak with them peacefully, if possible, but before he could finish, Rai had chucked his bomb and melted the kobolds before he could even get out a word. Ike stands there silently for a moment, a collection of thoughts running through his mind as he approached the scattered remains of the little fiends. Why was everyone in these lands so violent? Why was fighting always what everyone resorted to? Even his own friends. Was it because they were monsters? ...but he was too, technically. Yes, they were talking about ambushing him and the others, but... what if he could've talked them out of it? If he didn't look like his companions... would they've attacked him too? ... they would, wouldn't they? It happened in the villages he tried to blend into. Whenever he melted, they always grabbed their weapons to run him off. And that was all his life was going to be, wasn't it? Trying, in vain, to look like others, to fit with the whole, to find a place he could finally call home. He was a monster. There was no home for him. Ike didn't look back at the others. He didn't say anything. He didn't even look up. He just started to sift through the shattered remains of the kobolds, looking to see if anything useful turned up. Though those in the group who took notice might see that as he moves, cracks in his form start to appear around the joints. Ike was hardening himself to this new realization. Literally and figuratively.
Ike seems to blink a bit as "Arlen" turns into "Arlena", but doesn't really find the process itself strange. More the fact that he didn't know Arlen could do that too! Though he is a bit perplexed by his companions reactions. "...what's so weird?" Says the kobold who can turn into a blob at will and then into any other race he wishes.
Ike slops along after the group, but when Diceros starts to dance and run wild with his rhino across the open plains, Ike decides to metaphorically join in and stretches out and out and out and out into a large, thin puddle, enjoying the sun as it shined. When you spend three years in a bottle on the shelf, chances like this are good for you! Take the opportunity to stretch out and sunbathe!
Ike climbs back out of the pit, embarrassed and a little sad. He was really hoping if he could just talk to them... unfortunately, it was becoming more and more evident that many of these beings didn't want to talk... and every time, it felt more and more jarring. He was so used to blending in peacefully... "...maybe... but would that ruin the gold? And... do we have enough water to do that?" he asked, before looking around and moving further into the darkness, hoping his night vision would illuminate things for him... and keeping his scaly frills open for danger.
Ike blinked as the gremlins suddenly emerged and attacked! Why!? Why was everyone so hostile in these parts!? But... they were in the midst of the gremlin home, weren't they? It was a misunderstanding! And fey could be reasoned with! ...right? Willing to let the attack go without much trouble, Ike put his guard up, but started to speak to them... but it wasn't in common. It was Sylvan! He recalled his master muttering these "fairy words" as he worked. Maybe... just maybe... Sylvan:
"Wait! Wait minute! No fight! F..frieeeend! Good! Us nice! Talk! Please?" As he continued to speak, guard at the ready, he moved further into the darkness after the gremlins, wanting to get them in his line of sight. If he could just get them to listen...!
Ike had to admit, he was getting a little excited! There was someone here! Maybe they'd be willing to talk with them and trade them some of these pockets of gold for something! Or help them out! Forging ahead, Ike kept a look out for trouble... but couldn't quite restrain the spring in his step.
Ike paused and stared at the pit, looking into it and trying to see if anything was down there. With his darkness piercing eyes, he hopefully wouldn't have much trouble seeing the bottom! Looking up and across the way, he paused and considered a minute, before clapping his hefty claws. "Oh! I bet there might be something to help get across on the other side! Like, an emergency plank or something!" Taking a few steps back and flexing his (useless) wings, Ike took a running leap to try and cross the pit, his wings flapping to give him some sort of lift-off in the process!
Ike paused for a moment as the others approached, before his eyes went wide at the veins of beautiful ores along the walls. It was... gorgeous! Enchanting! Oh, right, he needed to inform the others what he found! "Be careful, everyone! This place might be inhabited. I saw a larger cave ahead, and nearly stepped on a switch. This might be someone's home... but I didn't want to mess with it. I'm not good with traps..."
Ike suddenly halted as he came into the room, noting the switch on the floor. So he was right! This place WAS inhabited! Deciding it might be better to let the others handle this particular bit of trouble, Ike doubled back to try the tunnel on the left from before. He made a mental note of the location... Rai was good at those things, right?
Wow... this place was turning into a real labyrinth! Which make Ike suspect that this wasn't a natural formation. Animal or other creature, he couldn't be sure, but he was certain this place might be intentionally made. He forged ahead, curious to see what was hiding down here... and keeping his eyes peeled for danger!
Ike continues to roll and slosh along, until the group locates the cave in the hills! Almost immediately, he crushes himself down and slinks inside, thankful for the respite from the heat! He was starting to feel a little solid out there... and not intentionally! But boy was it dark! As he slunk inside, Ike made it a short distance before slushing into a wall... and immediately swirling up and changing shape into his kobold form. NOW he could finally see... and the place seemed quite well sized for him now! "I can take point!" he exclaimed, his claws forming into... much bigger claws as he moved ahead. "Lemme head down and see what's ahead. I can see perfectly in the dark now!"
Ike paused to breath for a moment, before turning around to kneel down and try to help Arlen regain his consciousness. "Uhm! O-okay! Lemme think... think think think... herbal remedies, how did it go? Ginseng, hard root, mix to paste, apply to wounds... or was it ingested? Come Ike, think!" Ike tried hard to recall how the old remedy his master used to mutter about, and apply it to poor Arlen. +2 from Rai
Ike turned back as the others seemed to have the animal problem under control, before looking down at his failed charge and kneeling down. He didn't have any healing magic... that was... Arlen... wait! Perhaps the little fey could? It was worth a shot... "Do either of you have any healing magic?! I don't have any, and he needs help!" he said, leaping over Arlen to the other side, hoping to put himself at least a little bit between the last thylacine and the elf... but... what if there were others! His eyes immediately scanned out to the darkness, picking out anything that might be looking back!
Oi... sorry guys, I'll try to actually contribute meaningfully to the battle when I get home and can see the battle map... :(
Ike panted a bit, angry at the grumpy little creatures and wondering what in the world has them all riled up! But the sound of the little grasshopper bounding in, along with the little dragon circling above, catches his attention! "Hey! Grasshopper! What's got these things so angry? How do we calm them down!?" The two little creatures seemed familiar with the area... maybe they knew the source! And if they knew the source, maybe they could quell it! In the meantime... Arlen needed help! He slid over to the thylacine chewing on his leg and brought up a pair of mighty, razor sharp wings, before slashing them down on the little brute!
Ike snarled at Thylacine 4 as it reared back to try and hurt his charge. Not today! Ike's wings extended up and over his head, before slicing down on the thylacine like big guillotines, hacking over and over to either grab its attention, or put it down!
Ike nodded at Arlen's request and opted to stick close to the old wizard, keeping a look out for anything that tried to come close to the elf. He flexed as his wings sharpened into serrated edges, ready to slash at anything that had the audacity to come even remotely close.
A change in dice makes sense. And d6 to d4 is logical, so... Sounds good to me!
Ike sloshes awake in his pouch, pouring out and immediately shaping up into his kobold form! He recalled Arlen mentioning that kobolds can see in the dark... that should help! "What is it!? More of those gremlin things!?"
Ike creeps out and starts to slowly tiptoe through the tangle of kobolds, finding that, surprisingly, his new tail helps him a great deal in keep his balance! Now he just hopped that none of the kobolds woke up as he gathered the radishes...
"Now wait just one slick second here!" Ike has been quiet and defaulting to letting the others take the lead, since they would know the region best. He has a hard enough time trying to fit in, much less make decisions for others. But perhaps it was the high of his finally seeing success in defeating those gremlins, or perhaps it was his natural wish to infiltrate and bond with groups rather than attack them, or perhaps just being a monster like them made him sympathetic, but treating these little guys as a threat when all they've done so far is sleep seemed... mean! To him, anyways. "Now... I know I'm not a leader or anything like that, and maybe since you guys might see me as a monster, my opinion might not mean much... but darn it, I want to talk!" Ike folded his little scaly arms over his chest and huffed. "...I might not know much about kobolds, or settling things, or any of that... but this is their home. I can understand fighting the bandits, because they're jerks and hurt people... but we're doing the same thing they are! This is their home, and we're just coming in, taking their stuff, and threatening to beat them up! We're supposed to be the good guys! Maybe that's why that strange lady was so angry with us a couple nights ago." Ike huffed again and grumbled a bit, before kicking at the dirt, like a little kid throwing a fit. "I will help get the radishes.. there seems to be a lot to spare. But if we go picking a fight with them without even trying to talk to them first... I won't help. I want to fit in with other creatures... not kill them."
Ike paused listened quietly to the group as they mentioned sleeping... kobolds? It sounded like they were intentionally guarding the moon radishes they were looking for... slinking over to the edge of the cover they had, Ike poked a tendril out and studied the strange creatures a bit, before ducking back in and shuddering into a puddle for a moment. Then, he began to reform into a solid figure. Much smaller than he usually took on. Trying to pack as much of his goop into a small space as possible, he started to stand upright and develop the usual arms and legs... but these were much slimmer. His hands and feet ended in sharp claws and a tail protruded down from the end of his spine. His head shaped into a reptilian form as his color shifted from the usual greenish gray to a deep red. He scrunched his snout up as spikes grew from the back of his head. His slick skin formed into sleek scales. "I'm veeling a bid stobbed ub." he said, sounding like his had a cold. Looking at his back, Ike hunched over for a moment, before a pair of pointed wings suddenly swirled out of his back, looking razor sharp along the edges. "Ahhhhh... much better! It gets hard to talk when you try to pack so much into so little space like that. Here! Now I'm a kobold! I'll just go ask them for the radishes and they'll never know!" |
