Listening carefully in the corridor, the sounds seem to be coming from the right hand side of the corridor.
"This way gents... QUIETLY!"
Taking a cue from our new companion, I lead the way, trying to sneak down the corridor to the right, the one that I remember leads towards the back room with the stairs.
Shortly after Klyndak speaks, the sound stops.
As we move towards the room, I prepare myself a flaming sphere spell.
Hru softly continues his litany to Gorum, "....None shall harm us, not their fire, iron or steel, for that which infuses us is of the selfsame iron, the mettle of the Iron Lord, Knight of Swords, Gorum aid thy servant !"
This is the map from their previous explorations, Kelborn.
Klyndak, Hru, and Kelborn move quickly through a side door and up the corridor behind a few of the rooms. Kelborn sees blood splattered here and there and realizes from the way Hru and Klyndak move that they've been up these tunnels before.
The tunnel opens up into a larger room . You find four kobold warriors and one whose necklaces of shiny twists of metal, coins, and odd scrap identify him as of a more arcane mindset. They have been chipping away at the large stone chest with an unmovable lid that Klyndak correctly deduced contained offerings to Torag.
As four kobolds threaten you with handaxes, the devious looking caster says in draconic:
"We claim the shiny inside. Drop hands furheads."
"Would you steal from the coffers of Torag?!"
I unleash my flaming sphere on the kobold who spoke, assuming from his appearance he is a spell caster and therefore the most dangerous.
"Torag aid me," I call out as I grip my warhammer.
Hru will follow the flaming sphere in and pounce on the nearest kobold (when applicable)
"You ruined my boots, and I warned you to flee from this place! Taste the steel of the Gorumgrag!! Goruum!!"
Kelborn will slowly sneak towards the kobold with all the bangles and arcane gadgets and, silent as a whisper, loose an arrow in his direction.
Initiative (1d20+7=27)
Stealth (1d20+8=18)
Attack and Damage (1d20+6=13, 1d6+3=6)
Sneak Attack (2d6=8)
The bangle wearing kobold shrugs off both attacks. The flaming sphere seems to amuse him and the arrow is deflected less than an inch away from his scaly hide.
In draconic he mocks:
"Flaming sphere? Spell choice fail! See draconic bloodline with DR 5 fire? I pwn your weak spell noob."
Three kobolds close in with handaxes in each hand, grinning mischievously. A few quick, coordinated slices and slashes and each of you has been scratched.
The sorcerer does not attack. A fourth kobold hangs back to protect him.
"Be cuttin' 'em down lads... In the Name of Torag!"
attck (blessed) and damage on kobold (1d20+6=14, 2d4+4=9)
Hru wheels his mighty sword around at the nearest foe
Attacking a kobold: (1d20+5=11)
I swing my hammer as I try to move around and through the kobolds that are surrounding us.
attack and damage (blessed) (1d20+6=17, 2d6+4=9)
With a laugh Hru brings the greatsword down on an unlucky kobold.
"Hooo-hooo!"
The kobold nimbly sidesteps Hru’s great sword with agility that is surprising even for these quick little lizards. They lash out again with axes in each hand.
The sorcerous one in the back calls out in common: “You big furry-faces stop.” By his hissing tone when he says this, you’re certain it sounds more insulting in draconic but loses something in the translation. “We make selling.”
In Draconic,... "Do you mean a bargain?"
Hru can't halt the greatsword quickly enough to prevent his next attack on the slippery skink
attack and damage (1d20+6=16, 2d6+4=8)
He shoots Klyndak a quick glance hearing him speaking in the skink language, secretly hoping Kelborn's silent assault strikes soon.
Hru can't halt the greatsword quickly enough to prevent his next attack on the slippery skink
attack and damage (1d20+6=16, 2d6+4=8)
He shoots Klyndak a quick glance hearing him speaking in the skink language, secretly hoping Kelborn's silent assault strikes soon.
Hru misses again as the nimble kobold steps in, beneath the half-orcs blade and then slides under the swing.
The fetish wearing kobold points to a large copper disc on a chain around his neck. "Furheads back. Kobolds leave. Sell keys for shiny," he says reasonably.
Kelborn will take time to hide in the shadows and aim his bow at the leader. Just before he looses his arrow, however, he hears the kobold speaking about some sort of bargain and he holds, ready to release it at a moment's notice.
"We don't bargain for the coin of Torag!"
I swing my hammer at one of the kobolds next to me...
Attacking a kobold: (1d20+5=11)
But its just a feint to distract it from the flaming sphere that rolls into it from behind.
In draconic, the sorceror mumbles with resignation:
"Then you will never claim what we could not."
The sorcerous kobold then hisses orders to the others and heads for the hallway accompanied by one of the kobolds. The three remaining kobolds block you from pursuing. With quick jabs and slices, the kobolds chip away at you with handaxes in each hand.
Kelborn drops his bow for now, quickly skirting the fray to find an opportune spot to strike at the reptile-dogs. He draws his longsword as he moves, and stabs at one of the creatures.
Acrobatics (tumble) (1d20 8=24)
Attack and Damage (1d20 6=23, 1d8 3=11)
Hru hoots in frustration as the spellslinger scoffers off and tries hard to crush the kobolds between himself and the spellskink.
Attack and damage (blessed) (1d20+6=19, 2d6+3=7)
Flanking, blessed attack with magical warhammer: (1d20+6+2+1=18)
Damage: (1d8+4=5)
Flaming Sphere Damage: (2d6=2)
"Cowardly gits!" I yell at the retreating kobolds as they turn tail and run.
Kelborn tumbles past one of the kobolds so quickly that the quick little dog-lizard doesn't have time to react. He draws his sword and stabs at a kobold that is now between Klyndak and him (at an angle). The surprised kobold falls to Kelborn's sword.
Hru, cheered by the changing tide of battle brings down the wrath of Gorum on another of the little skinks.
Klyndak, uses his flaming sphere, to flank the only unwounded kobold facing the warriors and smashes his hammer across the kobold's yapping jaw.
One of the kobolds turns on Kelborn, figuring him for the more dangerous enemy. With his first handaxe, he presses Kelborn back. His second slices up Kelborn's leg.
The second kobold still in the room and standing attacks Hru. Both handaxes find their mark.
Taking the advantage of flanking with a dwarf with a large hammer, Kelborn stabs at the kobold in front of him, realizing that if the creatures aren't stopped soon, it won't be long until he's overwhelmed.
Attack and Damage (1d20 9=11, 1d8 3=7)
After swinging wildly due to the pain in his leg, Kelborn begins thinking of a tactical retreat.
As Kelborn moves back, I swing once and then move the flaming sphere against the kobold.
Taking the advantage of flanking with a dwarf with a large hammer, Kelborn stabs at the kobold in front of him, realizing that if the creatures aren't stopped soon, it won't be long until he's overwhelmed.
Attack and Damage (1d20 9=11, 1d8 3=7)
After swinging wildly due to the pain in his leg, Kelborn begins thinking of a tactical retreat.
Orlan:
The last time you climbed up these stairs, only a couple of weeks ago, there was a cool wind coming down the tunnel from the southeast heart of the Mindspins. Today, they feel dusty and hot. Even with the prisoners carrying much of your purchases, you wonder what inspired your ancestors to build a tunnel with such poor ventilation. Of course, an invading army would probably surrender before reaching the top.
You are relieved, momentarily, to feel the fresh air as you exit the tunnel and onto the bridge to the spires. That relief is short-lived as the sun burns down on you. The Cinderlands two weeks of spring is over. Summer has begun.
Circling up and around the first spire, depositing the goods in a safe room along the way and lowering the portcullis to protect it, you make it to the bridge level. Your cousin has retracted the log bridge so you cannot cross to the Thronespire easily.
Someone has left a rope dangling from your side of the bridge. It looks like they intended to swing over to the other bridge. Looking at the precipice and the rope you come to one conclusion immediately. Whoever tried to swing across to the Thronespire lacked any common sense and was quite possibly insane. Definitely not a dwarf.
Orlan:
Spoiler:Circling up and around the first spire, depositing the goods in a safe room along the way and lowering the portcullis to protect it, you make it to the bridge level. Your cousin has retracted the log bridge so you cannot cross to the Thronespire easily.Someone has left a rope dangling from your side of the bridge. It looks like they intended to swing over to the other bridge. Looking at the precipice and the rope you come to one conclusion immediately. Whoever tried to swing across to the Thronespire lacked any common sense and was quite possibly insane. Definitely not a dwarf.
DM:
"Put that stuff down easy now," Orlan instructs the prisoners, "Yuh wouldn't be wantin' ta damage any o' King Klyndak's goods and further kindle his anger against yuh."
The surly dwarf frowns as he surveys the Thronespire. "Hunh!" he offers up his trademark grunt, wondering where the others have ventured off to...
"Alright yuh miscreants," he gestures towards the exit that will take them to the bridge level, "Let's go this way." Upon finding that the log bridge has been retracted, he's further stymied over how to contact his cousin and alert him to their return. Then, he spots the rope dangling from the precipice. "Sure'n that wouldn't be a smart way ta try crossin' the distance," he muses aloud. He looks around behind them and squints down into the valley below, imagining that some fool goblin or bugbear had returned and tried to pursue his cousin...only to fall to their death. Giving a shrug, he turns back to the bandits.
"We be needin' ta summon the King," he explains, "Announcin' our presence, so ta speak..." He remembers the signal horn he'd purchased at Kerrigan's Keep with the supplies. Tromping back to the Thronespire, he has the prisoners sit in a circle while he searches for it. "Ah...here we go!" he holds up the well-made warhorn, "This oughta do the trick." He ties it to his belt and then secures the prisoners with enough rope to ensure they'll stay tightly bound and incapable of leaving the throne room.
Then, Orlan secures the entry they used to enter the Thronespire...wanting to make sure that any blast from the horn didn't summon more goblins or bugbears to the Spire without a proper defense in place. Finishing with that task, he then returns to the bridge level. Bringing the horn to his lips, he sounds a mighty note in the tradition of his forefathers. He draws it out with a warble that Klyndak should interpret as dwarven-made. At the very least, he hopes his cousin will assume more dwarves from Janderhoff have arrived and come to find them.
Satisfied with his plan, he goes back to the throne room to await his cousin. He eyes the seat of power for a moment and then approaches it. In dwarven he asks: "I don't s'pose you'd be knowin' the state o' muh cousin and his friends, would yuh? When be the last time yuh laid eyes...uhm...I mean, yuh were aware o' their presence here?"
Hru attempts to take another of the wily skink-spawn out with a sweep of his deadly blade
attack, damage (1d20+6=21, 2d6+4=9)
"Blood and Souls for GORUMMM!! Aid Me!"
Hru has slain one of the two remaining kobolds. There is only one now, his face is flushed with fear but he is surrounded now and sees no hope but to die fighting for his people or surrender in shame. Of course, being a kobold he attempts to do both. He slashes at King Klyndak with his axes, hitting once, and then drops them and raises his hands in the air in a gesture of surrender. Cocking his head to the side he says in common "Guide? Trapsmith? Two shiny, all day help!"
In the distance, you hear a horn blaring ... or a auroch bellowing. You aren't sure which.
Spoiler:
"Put that stuff down easy now," Orlan instructs the prisoners, "Yuh wouldn't be wantin' ta damage any o' King Klyndak's goods and further kindle his anger against yuh."The surly dwarf frowns as he surveys the Thronespire. "Hunh!" he offers up his trademark grunt, wondering where the others have ventured off to...
"Alright yuh miscreants," he gestures towards the exit that will take them to the bridge level, "Let's go this way." Upon finding that the log bridge has been retracted, he's further stymied over how to contact his cousin and alert him to their return. Then, he spots the rope dangling from the precipice. "Sure'n that wouldn't be a smart way ta try crossin' the distance," he muses aloud. He looks around behind them and squints down into the valley below, imagining that some fool goblin or bugbear had returned and tried to pursue his cousin...only to fall to their death. Giving a shrug, he turns back to the bandits.
"We be needin' ta summon the King," he explains, "Announcin' our presence, so ta speak..." He remembers the signal horn he'd purchased at Kerrigan's Keep with the supplies. Tromping back to the Thronespire, he has the prisoners sit in a circle while he searches for it. "Ah...here we go!" he holds up the well-made warhorn, "This oughta do the trick." He ties it to his belt and then secures the prisoners with enough rope...
Orlan:
As you blast the horn, you hear:
"Lord Orlan who should be king, rightful heir to the spires, you have returned to claim your prize, me lord?" says a voice that you recognize all too well. "A kingdom or a cousin. You cannot have both."
Orlan:
Spoiler:"Lord Orlan who should be king, rightful heir to the spires, you have returned to claim your prize, me lord?" says a voice that you recognize all too well. "A kingdom or a cousin. You cannot have both."
DM:
"Hunh! Stuff it in yer ear!" Orlan mentally responds, "I'll be keepin' muh cousin alive and it's he that can have the kingdom." He glances around at the Spire once more. "But it's good that yuh reminded me yuh're still here. I gotta a fine hammer an' chisel I be plannin' ta use on yuh ta make sure'n yuh won't be influencin' any more would-be kings."
Orlan sits down to await his cousin's arrival.
Spoiler:
My bad. You know I get completely lost in these Spires. They all look the same to me! ;-)
Orlan:
Your getting lost is probably the bat-winged throne trying to disorient you. Maybe it hopes you'll forget where you are and end up sitting on it.
"This is the realm of King Hammerfoe now" says Hru blade still in hand, as he gazes menacingly at the surrendering kobold. The horn upsets his train of thought "What now?"
Orlan:
Spoiler:Your getting lost is probably the bat-winged throne trying to disorient you. Maybe it hopes you'll forget where you are and end up sitting on it.
DM:
Satisfied that his cousin couldn't possibly have ignored such a mighty horn, Orlan fancies keeping it tied to his belt in the event he needs it in the future as well. He then takes a seat opposite the bound bandits, clearing his throat after taking a swig of wine from his waterskin.
"So...hunh..." he begins, "The lot o' yuh feel like talkin' a bit more about yer reasons fer attackin' our caravan? Maybe if'n yuh share a bit more o' yer reasonin'...I might be able ta help convey yer story to the King."
Moving to flank around the surrendering kobold, Kelborn lets his blade do the talking. He strikes with his longsword, hoping to finish the beast before it changes its mind.
Hru, seeing Kelborn move in sides with him.
"For my boots...and Gorum....Gorum hates surrender!" he shouts with vigor.
Attack and damage on defenseless kobold (1d20+8=21, 2d6+4=12)
Then he cleanly takes off the little bugger's head.
The kobold is dead. No living kobolds in this room.
"I thought I was 'earin' a 'orn blast,... though its 'ard ta be sure... Maybe we are 'avin' some more company?"
Kelborn whispers: "I heard it as well." He does not sheathe his sword.
Well, it's agreed. You heard something. The blowing of the horn ... or the baying of the auroch ... came from the direction of Thronespire or Batspire. The kobold sorcerer fled towards the unexplored 'Marketspire'.
"Well lets be makin' sure o' who it is bein'. No good gettin' trapped atween two foes. But it was soundin' like a dwarf blast..."
We go to see who arrived.
Finding it to be Orlan, we will gladly help him across.
On the way back to the bridge Hru calls on Gorums power to aid in returning the group to the fight.
channel positive energy: (2d6=4)
Orlan has company. A few prisoners are tied up at his feet.
Orlan:
The prisoners will say little except that their captain told them you would be travelling with gold and goods and would be an easy target for the six of them.
"Orlan!," I say when I see the prisoners, "And who might these lads wit' ye be?"