There's enough of them. Let's try this again . . .. Josef begins twirling his blade, albeit in a cramped and limited fashion, performing a Dazzling Display in an attempt to increase the survivability of his companions . . ..
Seeing the enemies all bundled up, Aran decides that it is proper time to use his "magic". He reaches for the flask at his belt, tries to judge the proper distance to the center of the crowd and then throws it with a vicious smirk on his face.
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Gareth shields
Marlani inspires
All the mites are within range of Josef's dazzling display. Every single one of them is left shaken by what they have seen in the flashing of Josef's blade.
Aran tosses his flask of acid, and it does indeed hit the middle front mite, all five mites in the first two rows all take one acid damage they shriek in their foul tongue.
The three in the back begin to sputter and huff, their eyes bulge to freakish proportions, they (attempt) to lay Doom on Aran, Marlani and Valkus. Make a DC 10 will save, failure results in becoming shaken.
Group B is up
Standing behind Lorald, Valkus claps him on the shoulder. "Switch places with me!"
Lorald repositions himself with Valkus then fires at a mite in the back row.
Valkus trades places with Lorald, striking out at the mite's clutched dagger.
Josef finishes the flashy display and brings the sword across the mite directly in front of him.
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Lorald kills a mite in the back row.
Valkus disarms the mite directly in front him, it drop it's little dagger.
Josef kills the mite in front of him.
so now the map looks like this
The rest of group A is up.
Marlani will use a full round attack rapid shot to fire 2 arrows;
(-2 to attack for tight quarters, -2 for rapid shot, +1 for inspiration to attack/damage)
Second shot at same mite if it is still alive, otherwise at the other rear mite;
The inspiration ends.
Trying to shake off the fear that was slowly gripping his senses, Aran takes his short bow and shoots one of the mites in the back....
...but due to the effects of the unnatural fear, he misses horribly.
Gareth looses the bolt from his crossbow at the nearest foe but it flies off into the roots that protrude from the ceiling.
Attack
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Seeing so many of their number fall the remaining mites withdraw. As a full round action they run 40ft.
The chasm behind them is clogged with roots, they scramble across it like monkeys.
Seeing the mites go the kobold tied to the wall looks at you, one pitiful claw outstretched. "Please help," it croaks in barely recognizable common.
Group b.
Because of the change in level it is impossible to fire on the mites unless you move to the edge of the chasm.
I will update the map shortly.
Lorald reloads before taking out his dagger and swiping the bonds with it. Freeing the kobold if not scaring him in the process. Belting his dagger he goes back to cradling his crossbow.
"You would do well to explain."
Gareth adds to Loral's exhortation with an undertone of menace "Quickly. They will be back soon. This is your one chance to convince us you are worth the effort." Then he loads another bolt into his crossbow.
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Here's what the map looks like after the mites have fled
Cut free the kobold falls to the ground, he is weak and injured form being tortured by the mites. "Merka Mikmek thank you merk. Merka many treasures for you if rescue Old Sharptooth merk." he says.
If you should happen to move to the edge of the chasm here is what you see.
A deep and ominous chasm splits the passage. The chasm is a few yards wide, and twice as deep, but thick ropes of tangled roots fill the entire area. The passage continues on the far side of the chasm, and between the two ledges, numerous loops have been tied into the roots to serve as hand- and footholds.
The mites hanging off the ledge are clinging on to these knotted roots. From the other side of the chasm, beyond sight, you can hear more mites yelling, along with a peculiar whistling noise.
Lorald looks at the path ahead.
"We don't have much time. He can be our guide to the kobold lair. Having one with us can make any dealings easier."
Turning his full gaze on the kobold.
"I am sure it goes without saying but betraying us now or later will result in your death. If you deal with me fairly then I will do the same with you."
Addressing the others.
"I think our little friend is to fragile to be anywhere near the front. I will bring up the rear and keep him ahead of me."
Marlani will remain where she is and cover the chasm, ready to shoot anything that might approach.
"We don't have a way to burn these things out of here, do we?
Marlani will remain where she is and cover the chasm, ready to shoot anything that might approach.
"We don't have a way to burn these things out of here, do we?
"No, and we do not want that, that would destroy the Sycamore" - Aran responds, his hands visibly shaking while his body was still trying to fight off the remnants of the unnatural fear.
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You folks hear the angry cries and shouts of mites from beyond the chasm, which when you look at the side view map, you can't even see.
I'll end this initiative and re-launch another one should battle be joined again.
You are going to have to decide soon whether you are going to stay and fight or commit a (temporary) tactical retreat.
"Let's be gone. They will mass and surround us soon."
Marlani will start to climb up from the direction they came.
"What's this about Old Sharptooth, though? There must be other kobolds being held."
"Fine, if that's the immediate consensus, I'l take the back. You guys head on up and out. We can talk to the kobold and found out once we're in a little more open space." Josef waves the others back the way they had come in.
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You evac back up to the surface without much issue. All the climbs are DC 5 so there's no reason you should have any trouble.
Once on the surface you move a few hundred yards away from the sycamore, but maintain a sight line on the entrance.
The kobold throws himself at your feet and thanks you. He introduces himself as Mikmek and swears to kill mites for you, on the way up he snagged the mite dagger that Valkus disarmed and eagerly demonstrates his stabbing form.
Ever weary his crossbow still in his arms.
"Would you care to explain why the kobold tribe has been so active lately and what is the issue with the mites. We found some of their bodies but no kobold bodies."
Gareth listens intently to the kobold while occasionally checking back in the direction of the mites' lair. He also scans the surrounding ground in case the beasts erupt from other holes concealed in the brush nearby.
Perception
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Mikmek, bobs and hops as he speaks.
"Merka war with mites merk. Merka lots dead mites merk. Lots dead Sootscales too merk. Merka Chief Sootscales lead us to kill them all merk. Merka he say go to stikamore merk. Merka kill all mites, rescue old Sharptooth merk. Merka we go merk. Merka we try merk. Merka they catch us merk. Merka kill the rest merk. Merka kill Mikmek too merk. Merka but you come save merk. Merka you kill mites, rescue Old Sharptooth merk. Merka you get many treasures, lots of shiny good good merk."
"Wow, you must be a mighty little thing, to have survived that ordeal!"
"What is this Old Sharptooth thing you're talking about?"
Gareth looks at his companions with an expression that conveys his complete lack of comprehension. With a shrug of his shoulders he silently asks for a clarification, should one of them have the ability to translate this creature's rambling into intelligible discourse.
Valkus pauses in thought, rubbing his chin. Hitting upon an idea, he raises a propositional finger. "I fear I know little of kobolds and their ways, but it may be that this Old Sharptooth is a deific idol or something of the sort. Such things are common in the lore of less civilized cultures."
"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I really had no intention of letting those little blue menaces live. If we find their idol so much the better, another bargaining chip if the kobolds are so inclined to take a peaceful approach."
Marlani whispers to the others; "Have any of the other groups gone to the kobold camp? The kobolds might not be there anymore, if you know what I mean... finding this trinket might be fruitless."
"We have no way of knowing. If they have not, then there might be some gain in securing the idol or whatever it is."
"Should we move on or do something more about this nest of mites?"
"This nest is unsafe to this area, it should probably be dealt with. I say we try and clear out the infestation."
"We can not concern ourselves with what the other groups may or may not be doing. The mites must be dealt with regardless. We have a guide now, once we are done here we can go directly to the tribe. The Kamelands are vast, while not impossible it is unlikely anyone has made it there."
"One problem at a time, when you have the time. Since we can't solve a problem here and another someplace we haven't been, yet, at he same time, it should be easy enough to deal with these annoyances first. As Lorald says, our new-found guide should be able to take us straight to his home. I imagine he;ll want to get there, regardless."
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Sounds like you are all in agreement about what needs to be done. Are you going to take Mikmek back into the nest with you? He's eager to fight now that he has some big strong people to hide behind.
Once you are ready to return into the nest you know that after dropping down you know you can go east or west, so which way do you go? Also you'll probably want a marching order.
If you guys end up on a battle map I'll arrange your front rank as Valkus, Gareth and Josef. You back rank will be Lorald, Marlani and Aran.
Ready to go when everyone else is.
Marlani is ready!
"If we're going to mount an offensive, we'd best do it soon before they have much more time to get organized, while they still think we've retreated."
"Agreed. I would recommend going the other direction, though. They might not have got any alarm spread that way quite yet."
"I am ready"
Similar to Gareth, Aran did not understood a lot from kobold's babbling, so he was more than grateful for the clarifications provided by his comrades. Seeing that everyone was getting ready to return to the lair, he exclaims "Just a moment!", as he heads to retrieve his heavy crossbow. In the confines of mites lair, it was equally challenging to use both the short bow and the big, unwieldy crossbow. Since Aran was used to his contraption and was partial in using it, he makes sure that it is working properly, before nodding his readiness to proceed.