Fleeing from the approaching floating, shimmering suit of armor, the three rush to the south and back into the room containing the dead kobolds.
As the ghostly dwarf continues its advance, the kobold points frantically to the exit to the west.
"We go around and behind! Around and behind!"
Fear seems to have improved the creatures command of the common tongue.
Fleeing from the approaching floating, shimmering suit of armor, the three rush to the south and back into the room containing the dead kobolds.
As the ghostly dwarf continues its advance, the kobold points frantically to the exit to the west.
"We go around and behind! Around and behind!"
Fear seems to have improved the creatures command of the common tongue.
Rall is quite willing to follow and does so.
Rall does, however, attempt to determine whether the kobold is tricking him.
'Damn, insrutable bastards,' he thinks to himself.
Bowen follows Rall and their guide watching for any more surprises holding his scimitar ever at the ready.
Moving quickly west, the kobold leads the three companions and their dog twenty feet to an intersection. A short ten foot hallway to the west ends at a set of double doors and a longer hallway goes north into the unknown darkness. The sound of the dwarf's passage can still be heard faintly to the north but that is the direction the kobold is pointing at the moment
Bowen moves forward but stops for a moment and kneels close to the kobold, "If you lead us in to a trap and any of us die the living one will make your death much more painful." He warns to the small thing and making sure the creature does not change its mind he begins moving down the corridor weapons ever at the ready.
Bowen senses that the kobold is at least as scared of the floating dwarf as he is of Bowen's threats.
"Hurry, hurry... before it comes back," hisses the little thing as it points frantically north.
Rall shrugs, "When did we become his henchmen?" and follows to the North.
Forty feet to the north there is another intersection, this one with hallways heading off in all four direction.
To the east, the hallway is filled with the constant and loud sound of crackling and hissing,... though the floating armor is hidden in darkness.
To the west, after ten feet there is an open doorway with a dark chamber beyond.
To the north, there is a long hallway. Interestingly enough, there is some shouting coming from this direction, it sounds somewhat like a fight, though the sound is strangely muffled.
The kobold, which had been intent on going north, pauses suddenly, confused.
Rall listens carefully and tries to identify the language of the creatures shouting and catch a little of what they are saying: 1d20+5=22
The sound is strangely muffled, as if it is coming from a long distance away.
The several voices sound like they are speaking both common and draconic but the words are impossible to make out due to some very strange accoustical affects that seem to be effecting the hallway.
Rall attempts to sneak up as close as he can while covered by the noise. Does he see any sources of light that suggest other rooms beyond this one?
The hallway continues seventy feet to the north.
Rall creeps ahead of the other two (and the kobold).
As he moves closer, he can see a light moving, it does not flicker like a torch but has a steady glow - like a magically created light.
The hallway seems to end at a chamber, Rall can just make out an overturned table within (still about forty feet away at the moment).
As Rall moves forward, one of the voices sounds clearly, almost as if the speaker was directly in front of Rall, "Run Mikra! Get out of here!"
The speaker sounds like a young girl. Rall also hears the barking voices of kobolds. Another foot forward and the voices become muted once more.
'Okay, well, that's odd,' thinks Rall. He steps back to where he was standing and quickly scans the floor, ceiling, and walls to either side for vents that would explain the strange acoustics. He licks his fingers and holds them close to the wall to detect a draft. He realizes he hasn't washed his hands in a few days.
Nothing Rall notices seems to explain the odd accoustics, except that perhaps some of the archeticture seems just a little... odd.
Meanwhile, another female voice, young and very human, shrieks and though the sound is muffled, there is no mistaking the terror in her voice.
Bowen begins getting worried and slowly moves up pulling the kobold with him scimitar ever at the ready.
As the group continues to crawl forward, there is a sound similar to breaking wood from the room ahead and another cry from what sounds like a very young female.
Bowen moves forward till he catches up with Rall.
"What is going on?"
Rall can't stand it anymore. The voice in his head returns: "No more dead children! No more dead children!"
"Kill the kobold," he says to Bowen and then he rushes into the room.
As Rall rushes ahead into the chamber, he sees a large room, dimly lit with arcane lights. There are three large stone tables spread across the room. The stone benches that once stood next to them have been knocked askew and overturned.
Directly in front of Rall are seven kobolds, crouching behind the easternmost table. On the other side of the room, crouching down, are what at first glance appear to be three children. Rall realizes, however that the male of the group is actually a halfling holding a rock in one hand and a worn dagger in the other.
The girl next to the halfling appears to be about twelve or thirteen and is a half elf. She is trying to throw rocks at the kobolds.
The third is also a girl and she is crouching, scared, under one of the tables.
The kobolds are in the progress of arranging themselves for a rush against the trio. They look up, startled, when Rall enters into the room.
As Rall rushes ahead into the chamber, he sees a large room, dimly lit with arcane lights. There are three large stone tables spread across the room. The stone benches that once stood next to them have been knocked askew and overturned.
Directly in front of Rall are seven kobolds, crouching behind the easternmost table. On the other side of the room, crouching down, are what at first glance appear to be three children. Rall realizes, however that the male of the group is actually a halfling holding a rock in one hand and a worn dagger in the other.
The girl next to the halfling appears to be about twelve or thirteen and is a half elf. She is trying to throw rocks at the kobolds.
The third is also a girl and she is crouching, scared, under one of the tables.
The kobolds are in the progress of arranging themselves for a rush against the trio. They look up, startled, when Rall enters into the room.
Rall strikes quickly at the closest kobold to him, hoping to kill at least one before they have a chance to react.
Not really sure what to do he drops the leash and warns the kobold that they wolf will eat him if he runs the rushes out to help Rall.
Rall's onslaught takes the kobolds by surprise and the kobold nearest the door is cut down by Rall's sword.
Round 1
Rall - Initiative: 19
Bowen - Initiative: 16
Kobolds - Initiative: 9
Halfling and Girl - Initiative: 10
Arla - Initiative: ?
As every eye in the room turns towards Rall, Rall (and then Bowen) has a chance to act again.
Rall, so surprised at actually hitting, is not so coordinated in his next attack: attack (1d20+3=10, 1d8+2=10).
Bowen seeing their mission so close to an end rushes in to the group of kobolds and lets his furry into his first blow swiping his scimitar at the nearest opponent.
Arla has remained quiet for some time, the unnatural inhabitants of this underground complex making her rather uneasy. The realisation that the children they have been seeking are just up ahead breaks her out of her thoughts, however, and she rushes into the room after Rall and Bowen, the dog bounding forward next to her.
Arla has remained quiet for some time, the unnatural inhabitants of this underground complex making her rather uneasy. The realisation that the children they have been seeking are just up ahead breaks her out of her thoughts, however, and she rushes into the room after Rall and Bowen, the dog bounding forward next to her.
Realising that Bowen's injuries may hinder him considerably in a fight against so many opponents, Arla moves over to the ranger, signalling Ash to defend Rall while she helps Bowen. "Healing your wounds, Bowen," she calls to the ranger so as not to surprise him before quickly casting a 'Cure Light Wounds' spell on him.
Ash moves closer to Rall, snarling viciously at the kobolds near him.
As two of the kobolds are cut down and as the Bowen, Rall and Arla form a skirmish line, the kobold who appears to be leading the others, (his armor is better, and painted a bright red) steps back and away from the dangerous newcomers even as he points and shrieks.
His four remaining followers move in, one dodging the teeth of the dog as he stabs with his spear.
Stabbing Attacks: (1d20+1=4, 1d20+1=6, 1d20+1=18, 1d20+1=5)
Damage: (1d6-1=4)
Meanwhile, the kobold leader appears to be quickly dipping the point of his spear in a clay jar of some sort.
On the other side of the room, the halfling bursts into song, and though the act seems out of place, the jaunty words (Oh we'll slay them in the halls, and decorate our walls!) lift the spirits of the fighters (Inspire courage +1).
Attacking with a thrown rock: (1d20+2=17)
Damage: (1d3=2)
A rock hits the kobold on the left, thrown by the half-elf girl.
Meanwhile, the kobold the party left to its rear, hands tied... runs away to the south, taking the rope with him.
Rall tries to sing along but can't quite catch the tune. His sword seems equally uncertain. attack with inspiration (1d20+4=8, 1d8+2=8)
Sliping forward till the creatures are in range Bowen slashes across with his scimitar and pulling back in a deffensive stance waiting for the next attack.
Bowen cuts down another of the kobolds. Their leader, eyeing the ranger warily moves to position himself to throw his javelin.
Arla gives an involuntary exclaimation of pain as the kobold strikes her with its spear. Fortunately receiving only a flesh wound, the druid turns her attention from Bowen to the kobold, striking back at the reptilian creature.
Attack: 1d20+2 = 18, Damage 1d8+1 = 4
Ash growls at the kobold attacking him, ducking to the side away from its attack before lunging back in to attack.
Arla and Ash bring down two more kobolds with tooth and spear. One of them, lying near Arla's feet, crawls weakly back and away from her.
The remaining Kobold in the skirmish line, attacking Rall, misses badly, nearly dropping his weapon.
"Die! Die!" shrieks their leader and he throws his Javelin at Bowen.
Javelin at Bowen: (1d20+4=16)
Damage: (1d3=1)
The javelin merely scratches Bowen, but the scratch burns.
"Yeah!" shouts the halfling and then he resumes his song, chucking a rock across the room for good measure.
"We're going to be alright," says the young half-elven girl to the other girl cowering under the table.
At the little girl's hopeful words, Rall lunges forward with his sword again at one of the kobolds still standing.
'No more dead children,' he thinks.
"Yes. You will be all right," he promises the girl.
Only the kobold's leader remains standing. He is a tough looking fellow with stuuded armor and several weapons.
Bowen is about fifteen feet from the kobold. Don't forget to make a fortitude save.
With a feral snarl Bowen charges the creature in armor slashing his scimitar at the last second letting his speed and Strength all flow into the swipe at the creature.
Bowen's blade bites into the kobold as he charges forward, but the little lizard man is too tough to be brought down with a single fell swoop.
Rall attempts to recover his sword in time to attack the last kobold standing but doesn't do so well.
Arla also moves towards the last standing kobold, stabbing her spear at the tougher-looking little reptile.