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"Well, if we can figure out what to do with our new buddy here, I suggest we knock off and head for the surface. I don't know about you, but I can think of a few things that don't involve catacombs that could occupy my time until we make another trip."
Beppo points at Ivo. "Beppo can use that one's cloak to disguise himself as halfling," he says. "Then Beppo can follow you out of the tunnels."
Kelindra gently rests a hand on Pavel's arm. "You're right, he did help us." She pauses as if for the first time considering that the little creature has thoughts and feelings. "But we need more of a plan than just sneaking him into the City and turning him loose. Even if he's harmless, he'll be killed in a few seconds as soon as someone sees through his disguise."
Either way, Gal distributes the loot among whomever is willing to help carry it.
Kelindra will be happy to help.
(Assuming the fight is over? If not please ignore this)
As the quick yet brutal fight reaches it's gory end, Gal, seeing his grievously wounded companion Soll fall, reverts to half-elf from and transfers the energy form one of his spells into healing energy. As this is the extent of his healing abilities at the moment though he looks to Kelindra for more aid growling "Girl, they need your help, and fast! Is there ought you can do?"
Seeing that he's right, Kelindra will channel positive energy as soon as she is done talking to Pavel. [I'm out of healing spells proper, but I assume the 1 hp/round for 3 rounds is the channeling of energy? Sorry, I still don't have the Beta rules down pat yet.]
Kelindra gently rests a hand on Pavel's arm. "You're right, he did help us." She pauses as if for the first time considering that the little creature has thoughts and feelings. "But we need more of a plan than just sneaking him into the City and turning him loose. Even if he's harmless, he'll be killed in a few seconds as soon as someone sees through his disguise."
"Aye, you're in the right on that. As long as Ivo's willing to part with his cloak, it's a start. To be honest, Beppo, I can't think of much beyond, well.... keeping you around for the time being. Did you come here from outside the city? Do you still have kin somewheres?"
Pavel frowns, the turns to Kelindra.
"I don't feel great about smuggling him around under Mithril's nose. Do you... think your superiors would listen if we spoke up for him? At least enough not to execute him?"
"One way or another, let's get closer to the surface before talking more. And let's move these bodies a bit. I think if we get 'em closer to the trap Ivo pointed out for us, we may be able to confuse the trail a bit for whoever might miss 'em. We bring 'em over, set them up a little and then trigger the trap from afar. That way, the trap goes off, maybe whoever's left will underestimate us when we come back if they think we scarpered."
"Hmmm, well I guess I could give up my cloak, though I'm rather fond of it." "I hope it dosen't get as dirty as the rest of his clothes though". "I'd never be able to get it clean again". "Still, we do owe him for helpiing us out, and I guess I've made enough coin to purchase a new one"..."Sure here Beppo. consider this a gift".
Ivo then spends the next couple of minutes removing small bits of wire, notes written on parchment, spent quills, empty bottles, several smaller pouches, a ball of twine, and several other things that are unrecognizable from the pockets sewn into the cloak, and places them is one of his sacks.
"OK lets go".
"I can't go along with the idea of hiding 'it'. It would be my duty to make sure 'it' was brought straight to Temple as soon as we hit the surface." Gin looks at the kobold.
"Plus I can't let the fact go that 'its' kin kidnapped and sacrificed Mithril's own. I think that make 'it' as guilty as the others. I say we bring him in, and let the higher ranks deal with it." Gin walks ahead of the others.
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"Beppo is not an "it."" he growls at Gin. "Beppo is a kobold. Decended from dragons kobolds are." Turning to Ivo, Beppo takes the cloak. "Beppo thanks you, Beppo will return it in good condition." Finally he turns to Pavel. "Beppo has no family to return to. Beppo's people come from far to the south. Sent here by our glorious leader Ea-Aauterix to find the remains of the last dragon emperor, Beppo's clan was. Dog boys have powerful magic and force the kobolds to do horrible things. Beppo did not help kill smoothskins, Beppo is a maker, please do not harm Beppo."
Always mercurial in his emotions, yet also always passionate about them, Gal's heart suddenly goes out to the creature. For he suddenly realizes the truth that the kobold is simply another one of Nature's creatures and it does not seem to be one with sny evil intent. Further, Gal himself is well aware, being a half-elf and a Druid, both considered 'Titan Spawn' by many, of how hurtful the prejudices and pre-conceived notions of others can be.
Suddenly switching camps from his earlier stance, Gal moves over to stand protectively beside the small being placing a large hand on Beppo's shoulder and says "Do not worry small one, you shall not come to any harm while Gal stands ready to protect you". The wild druid stares defiantly and daringly at Gin as he ends his short speech. He continues then to Beppo "What is this 'Maker' you speak of?"
"Thanks, Ivo. Always a big help."
"Okay, these are all good concerns. We're not going to sneak Beppo around too much: too much room for misunderstanding, right? We'll keep all our cards on the table: Ms. Sarera will be notified of what we found, we introduce her to Beppo, explain he's going to help us out and we'll be keeping an eye on him. He may have been mixed up in this (willing or otherwise) but his aid should hopefully go a long way toward getting him on the straight and narrow. Everyone agreed so we can get out of this stinking hallway of dead people?"
"Yurr."
'Sounds fine parvel I have little understanding of your city. He was helpful and should not be discarded based on your peoples misunderstanding and prejudice "
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Following the winding tunnels back to the entrance, you wait while the guards unlock the gate for you. "Wait a minute, wasn't there just one of the wee folk with you when you went in?" one of the guards asks. His superior shoots him a dirty look and he quickly adds, "Thanks for the help, Barconius is waiting for you at the temple. He says he wishes to speak with you."
"Oh, yeah... he was in my backpack. Honestly, I'm as surprised as you are."
"Probably best if we don't keep Mithril's most famous hero waiting." Pavel clears his throat, embarrassed. "So, Kelindra, Gin? Um... how do we get to the temple from here?"
"There's a road not too far from here. It'll take us right to Temple"
"A bath and a change of clothes. That will make me fill better" Gin thinks to himself on the trek back to Temple.
He occasionally looks back and eyes the kobold. "I can't believe we brought this 'thing' with us", he whispers.
Still reeling a bit from the damage he sustained in the catacombs, Soll lurches off down a side road mumbling, "Urrr... Hungry. Want get food..."
DM
Hmm... looking back, he also mentioned something about payment up front and twice that afterwards. How much did I get the first time around?
Now fully caught up in his roll of 'Protector', Gal stays near Beppo and keeps a wary eye on Gin.
As they walk, he asks the small creature "So what you make? These things, they move? But they are not Alive??"
Note to David
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Now fully caught up in his roll of 'Protector', Gal stays near Beppo and keeps a wary eye on Gin.
As they walk, he asks the small creature "So what you make? These things, they move? But they are not Alive??"
"Not things that move, better makers than Beppo do that. Beppo makes simple iteam, spears mostly, but blessed with great power. Beppo is not sure how Beppo does it, he just touches things and they become powerful," Beppo tells Gal.
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Soll
Everyone Else
Pavel clears his throat, hands behind his back like a kid called on at school.
"Well sir, the basic story is this: we found a group of kobolds performing a ritual around a pillar of shadows (which apparently attracts blood) using abducted Mithril residents. We put a stop to it, but it must have been partly successful at least: two of the captives unfortunately, ah... spawned... some snake monster. Out their guts. When we put those down, the pillar spoke, asking us what we wanted from it. We didn't really want anything, but it put an image of Mullis Town in our heads and said something cryptic about things coming to an end?
From there, we continued and found Beppo and his late comrade Turpik. They told us they were forced to work for some Dog Boys that were behind the whole thing. We ran into the Dog Boys, fought them and lost Turpik. They were fairly tough, so we retreated, intending to return at full strength.
I probably left something out; I'm sure any one of my comrades can correct me where my memory fails or give you a more in-depth idea of that gods-damned he colors a bit, realizing he's cursed in a temple, in front of Mithril's foremost paladin (beg your pardon, sir) pillar."
"Sir, if I may" Gin asks hesitantly.
"What Pavel said is true. I ask that we do something about it. We have no proof that the tunnels are clear of danger. For all we know there are more of these monsters ready to strike."
"I know our position when it comes to Harbor City, but if we do nothing it could be the end of all of Mithril. I humbly ask that we seal the tunnels. Temporarily of course. I also ask that for permission to travel to Mullis, too find more information on what is going on."
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"Of course you may go to Mullis Town," Barconius says. "In fact I wouldhave suggested if yo had not brought it up. However, your new companion should stay here. Not everyone is as understanding as I am. As for sealing of the tunels, that is a matter I must discuss with the other city leaders. They are the cities chief burial ground after all."
"Thank you, Sir"
DM
As his ale arrives, Soll takes a large pull from the mug and pauses a moment.
"That's when the guy splits open and turned into this snake... 'thing'. It was... bad. Anyways, we killed the snake things as well, but I think some blood splashed on that pillar during the fight or somethin' cause I heard someone say later that it was like it, the pillar I mean, ate the blood. I heard a voice askin' what we wanted, and I don't really remember much after that, but for a moment I saw a town. Like I was seein' through someone else's eyes. I think it was the town Southwest of Mithril, Mullis Town. That's pretty much it. Oh yeah, we also got into a scrap with these guys, looked like big wild dogs on two legs. One of 'em got me good with his sword, and if the holy lady hadn't been there, I'd probably be dog food by now. Yeah, I dunno what they were... I know I've never seen anything like 'em before, but the kobold the group captured mentioned they were from the South? I dunno. Anyways, I'd like to say it's been a pleasure, but the gapin' wound in my side disagrees"
Soll rises to leave, bag of money in tow.
"I'll be there, assuming my superiors don't consider me too valuable a groom to lose; I passed through the Corridor before and I'm committed to this business. I'll also apprise the Behjuran Vigil of the situation, see if I can get word to the Mullis Town Vigil ahead of us. Won't hurt to have them on the look out, just in case."
Branomnrik will remain silent and stand off to himself as the other talk, when it is time he will bring up what he has learned of the ones behind the plot and what little he knows of the shadow device
"Mullis town"..."Hmm, yes Mullis Town" "I think I should like to go there, as I've never been before, and I like to go places that I have never seen, and it might be exciting, and... oh! I do go on so." "count me in. When do we leave?"
Kelindra releases the breath she had been holding since they met the little kobald. If she had more time to think about it, she would have wondered why just last week, she would have killed the creature before asking a single question and now she was overwhelmed with relief that he was safe with Barconius.
"Sir, with all due respect, I must discuss my next course of action with Brother Merling. But, if I am allowed my choice, I go wherever Pavel and Gin go, if they will have my company."
Gal merely nods his head in response to the priests question. He is uncomfortable and it shows.
But he does turn to Beppo and asks the small creature he now considers a friend "This good for you Beppo? You want stay... you want To stay here?"
"Right. Well, sir, I hate to ask but would it be possible to borrow some horses and supplies for the trip? Ivo and someone else could likely ride double and I doubt that Gal much prefers anything but his own two or four feet, so that leaves... five horses and sets of gear. I can probably get one from my own people, so four should do it."
Assuming Barconius agrees or at least gives a good reason not to, Pavel, unsure of the proper protocol, gives a quick bow and heads to Titanslayer Citadel to make his report and gather supplies for the road.
To the party: "I'll meet you shortly at the gate; glad to work with you again."
After offering his thanks, Pavel makes his report at the fortress and heads to the quartermaster, grabbing just the bare essentials: 5 light horses, saddles, bits and bridles, 2 tents, saddlebags and enough feed and rations to cover the trip to Mullis Town, with a day or two extra in case of delays. He'll pack them himself, keeping one load a bit lighter to accommodate Ivo and one other person.
Then he'll lead them to the gate and wait for the others to finish with their own arrangements.
DM
DM
Soll pauses for a moment, then sits back on his stool with a smirk on his face. "Aw, what the hey? Now I'm kinda curious. What is it that the "gods" have in store for me?"
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Soll
DM
If I want to know more, I should go with them, huh? More like I should go with them because you want to know more... But I'll play your game Mr. Shadow... If only because I can probably make some decent money followin' these guys around...
Taking his time to bathe, and change into his uniform. Gin makes his way to the quartermaster.
Gin greets Pavel as he enters. "Good day", he greets the quartermaster. "I require the following for my trip to Mullis..."