Nightttail The Glib NPC's page

He turns to Nighttail and bows his head in respect. "I hope it is more than an agreement, Chief. We have bled together." He walks over and presents his hand. "I commit to being an emissary and ambassador for you and your tribe to the town of Belhaim should you agree to it. I ask that you avoid the evil practices of the former leader. I think the town could grow to be a trade partner with your tribe once they see that you are a noble leader."

The Half-Elf knew how to show respect and Nighttail liked that. When he presented his hand, the female kobold looked at it - These people enjoyed touching hands when agreements were struck. She once again grasped it with her smaller, taloned hand. "You may be our emisssary. Unlike Roaghaz, I won't be taking people from your town or harming them. Your lady leader hassn't agreed to the tribe sstaying on the outsskirtss of her town. Firsst there comess talk, agreement, then maybe trade." Nighttail nodded and then lounged back in the throne chair, delighting in her triumph over Roaghaz.

"My gear is in that chest over there. Do you think I will be allowed to retrieve it?"

Nighttail waved her taloned hand. "Yess. Take that which is yourss and go, be free."

Nighttail briskly asked the healer to turn off the bright light on her spear. Rhia apologised and dismissed the spell, returning the light in the cave only to that provided by the four dancing orbs. Nighttail drew a breath and smiled, "Better, thank you."

Nighttail moved to the throne chair and without care to the dying chieftain on the ground by her feet, sat down and formally claimed it as her own. Calling to the remaining kobold guard, she declared in Draconic, "I'm Chief of the Blood Vows. My word is law. If you don't follow my word, then you'll be put to death by my allies, as Roaghaz was put to death. Go, let what remains of the tribe know that Roaghaz is dead and Nighttail is Chieftain. Then report to me. If you raise the tribe against me, you will be put to death. If you stand by my rule, you'll be the leader of my new guards. Go, now!"

The kobold guard pondered the word of the one Roaghaz had labelled traitor. She had taken the throne and was their leader now. He bowed before her in obedience (and upon offer of lead guard) and picking up his spear, rushed out the cave and into the tunnel to spread the word that Roaghaz was dead and Nighttail was Chief of the Blood Vows.

Looking to the human named Braylee, she switched to the Common tongue for not all in her group understood the language of dragons. "I've taken rule of this tribe and they sshall heed me well enough. That iss our way."

"Ass to our agreement, you helped me kill Roaghaz, and my promisse sstands - I won't attack or kill the people of Belhaim, if we are left in peace."

Nighttail glanced at her allosaurus and smiled wide, her sharp teeth readily on display. Hak made some happy *roar* sound and using his strong jaw took hold of the dead kobold by his feet as well as the two by the entrance and then dragged them back into the tunnel and out of sight.

Standing, Nighttail moved to the dying Roaghaz (his possessions already claimed by the adventurers) and using her masterwork spear delivered a coup de grace, piercing the heart of her predecessor and killing the kobold elder in one swift thrust. "His boness will make a good addition to the wall of boness, for all to ssee." The female kobold left the dead, late chieftain on the floor by her throne chair for the tribe to see when they came to swear their fealty to her.

She addressed the party in the cave, "Do what you musst and return to your town with the treassuress you've claimed and no more."

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Have no fear Nighttail, none will harm your young.

Nighttail nodded and accepted the catman's word. "Good." If they broke their promise and tried to harm the eggs, then her alliance with them would come to a swift end.

Nighttail looks up from her place in the back and replies, pointing to the tunnel with the barricade, "Our dire ratss nesst in there. Besst not to enter."

Pointing southward, she continues, "If you follow the tunnel around, you will return to the ssnapper'ss pool. There'ss another cave along that tunnel that will lead uss down to the lower cavess. It'ss the only way down."

A the back of the group, Nighttail cringed as the old priest mentioned the name Aeteperax. When the woman with the bombs turned and asked her to explain, Nighttail sighed and then answered simply, "The Blood Vow tribe once worsshipped the infernal duke Vapula. Jakkol was one of Vapula'ss priestss. Now the tribe worsship Aeteperax, the dragon. That'ss why Jakkol was left here to die, for he wouldn't worship Aeteperax. Being held in chainss mysself, I know nothing about any batss. Perhapss an old kobold's dwindling mind playing trickss for he'ss been left in here, on his own, for too long," and then says no more.

(Know. History or Know. Local (both DC 20) can give you more info on Aeteperax, or you can try asking someone (a local historian) back in town if they know anything about Aeteperax.)

"the Glib iss what the Blood Vowss call me, sso go ahead. Ass to Hak, he'ss a right beauty, resscued him ass a hatchling from a travelling menagerie near Maheto." Nighttail reaches out and playfully scratches the allosaurus' neck.

"Only wound's to my pride. That will dissappear ssoon enough. I joined the Blood Vow tribe a year ago and am not privy to all of Roaghaz'ss magic. I'm no casster and can't tell you which sspellss he hass. Hiss cloak is made of fangss - it can bite. He carriess sscrollss, dagger and wand. The resst you will learn for yoursself when you meet. He'll fight to the death."

Looking at the group, "My friend, Hak, iss held in another chamber. It hass a direct path to the lower chamberss. I musst resscue him before we move on. My gear iss there on the refusse mound. If you help me get my friend, whatever treassure you find along the way iss yourss to keep as payment for your aid. I would go now."

The female kobold moves to the mound and takes the leather sack atop the pile and hefts it to her shoulder. She pushes some of the rotten food and excrement away to uncover her masterwork spear, retrieves it (wiping away any filth stuck to it) and moves to the high gate by Emarthine.

"It iss thiss way. Firsst we break the gate open."

The kobold moves to the latch and placing the metal tip of her fine spear beneath, attempts to breaks it. Emarthine, using her scythe, attempts to give aid. It takes some effort to break the latch but between them they manage to.

Nighttail swings open the gate and looks over her shoulder at the group, "I musst enter firsst or you'll frighten my friend if he sseess you firsst."

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Nighttail turns her attention to the unnamed female. "Roaghaz hass four personal guards to aid him. They carry sspears and sslingss. They are more of a diverssion than true warriorss. Sstill, Roaghaz won't back down."

Nighttail gazes at the red-haired human woman named Braylee, "He'ss no warrior - hiss bodyguardss will fight for him. Roaghaz iss a ssorcerer and he will usse his magic againsst uss."

Image of Nighttail

"Sspinelesss cowardss will follow a sstronger leader. When Roaghaz diess, they will follow me. I will teach them to be better!"

The Half-Elf's manner intrigued her but she merely accepted his aid in standing once he had removed all her bonds. She felt the strain in all her muscles but it felt good to stand, unfettered. Nighttail was conscious of the filth upon her person - the refuse being thrown at her daily while she was chained and displayed. But there was nothing she could do at the present time to clean herself.

"The Blood Vowss are a bunch of sspineless cowardss who'll just do whatever their idiot chieftain Roaghaz ssays. No, I didn't help with the Tower. I expresssed grave resservationss about getting involved with the wizard. Live and let live is my motto. The reward for my warningss were thosse chainss!"

The female kobold lifted her deep green eyes and looked at each of the invaders. "I'll aid you in reaching Roaghaz, but I assk a ssmall favour in return. If you help me kill him, I'll take over the Blood Vow tribe and I sswear we'll never bother the humanss again. You have my word on it."

Riley has a feeling the female kobold is a gifted liar, as her epithet suggests, but in this regard he feels she can be trusted to keep her word, if they help her.

Once the tight bonds were released from around her snout, the female kobold drew in a breath and opened and closed her mouth, feeling the strain of the muscles in her jaw held in place too long.

"I won't attack you, if you free me. They call me Nighttail, the Glib." The female kobold spoke their Common tongue but with a thick, velvety cadence.

"If you're insside the lair, then you're looking to change thingss 'round here. I've ssuffered long enough at the sstupid whimss of Chief Roaghaz. If you free me, I'll help you."

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Felix and Rhia, in particular, assure the party that they strongly believe the kobold is speaking the truth. Riley and Emarthine are inclined to believe the kobold's assurance that she will not attack if released from her bonds and will help them. Rhialtyra has moved closer to look at the kobold, but shies away from the stench of the nearby refuse pile.

Braylee was, however, unsure and remained vigilant with arrow nocked in bow and watchful of the other tunnels. Emarthine listened to the kobold but maintained her place by the high gate, still wondering what lay beyond.

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