CO-DM JonathanT - Moving on Sunday July 29th, 2012 9:35:24 PM
DM OOC: my fellow Rum-ites, this pretty much ends my turn at trying to push you to the limits. Stephen will take over on monday. There may be some lingering question. If the questions are story related, carry on in IC:
If the quetions are more related to the battle, strategy, some things that you may have put off for later, I'll be glad to hash them out with you. This was a tough one for you and me. When I first looked at it I was sure you were going to waltz through the kobolds. I was proven wrong. Goes to show why kobolds are so underrated.
Any way, I'm here to help, not kill you off. :) True. Believe me. It almost hurts me as much as it hurts your PCs when I get a hit. :}
JonathanT/Co-DM Rum
Barratore Steelwind (Dan K) AC: 17, CMD: 21; HP: 15/23Character Sheet Monday July 30th, 2012 8:31:44 AM
Barratore leads the humans out, if the kobolds decided to follow he didn't care. Coming down here was bad enough. Stupid tiny dirty unsafe musty unstable cramped dark passages. Did the passage actually get longer and more narrow. It did not take so long to get down here. Barratore issues a low deep growl followed by a snorting blast from his nostrils
Finally the passage opens and he climbs back into the sun light. Barratore hauls out the humans and calls for a runner to fetch a few guard. Barratore leaves the kobolds right where they are until backup arrives and he cAn more confidently assure thief near term safety
Harvest Moon (HP5/18; CMD 18 / AC17) - Al Monday July 30th, 2012 9:24:47 AM
Harvest Moon nods at Peza's assessment of the situation. It is time to return to Rum. They have discovered all that they can here.
The half-elfish girl waves the Small-eye younglings to her as she enters the first room of Small-eye Shield Warriors while still towing the Great Chair behind her. Through gesture, she enlists their aid in carrying the thing together down the passageway and back to the surface. Many hands make light work. She might gift this to the halfling Artus Morindim. It is of a size that he might make use of it should he wish such a thing.
Co-DM SteveK (The Blue Stone) Monday July 30th, 2012 10:07:39 AM
ooc: Hi everyone! Time to tie up just a few loose ends, and so I'm going to administratively stuff everyone into the first kobold guard room for a quick assessment before returning to the surface.
..................
The fighting has died down, the warren of the cramped kobold lair is quiet except for the Woldian League Heroes and the various persons now in thier charge. Before they make thier way past the pit and through the tunnels to the sunlight, a thought strikes each of the heroes to make an assessment of what they have...
Harvest makes a careful circuit of the main kobold room, the chief's lair, and his escape tunnel. Her bright eyes spot many things of interest besides the small 'throne' of the kobold. - There is an alcove in the chief's room that contains another heavy bag and then spaces where other equipment could have been stored before the chief and his sorcerer ran away. The bag, however, clinks nicely as it is dragged back to the guard room. - The pit that the centipede crawled from looks like it is very rough cut. While there are no stair or ladder, it wouldn't be hard to climb down. It is dark down there, and narrow, and the hollow echoey of its secret depths tell Harvest that it is very deep indeed. It is also unstable. As Harvest peers down, dust comes up and the tunnel collapses. Harvest is safe, but the way down is gone. - And Harvest also has the smaller bag the sorcerer dropped and probably spell-trapped tucked safely away as well. Harvest only Highlight to display spoiler: {Al, How many xp are you tracking for Harvest right now?}
Peza inspects the dead centipede and discovers a fist-sized glowing stone embedded in the centipede's forehead. It is unusual enough that the young woman pops it out and brings it to the guard room.
Bralin moves along with Peza.
Brom is trying to find out a new word for "done". As the rest of the adventurers arrive, he takes control of the two citizens of Rum and the four kobold kids.
Gerox pines after some good ale, which he pointedly reminds the others they can only get back at Rum... on the surface...
Lemick agrees with Gerox and asks if ALL passeges have been explored in the den. Harvest easily confirms that except for the loooong dark tight hole that the rather large and language-speaking centipede came out of, which is now collapsed.
Barratore is ready to lead the others out of this dark, dirty, and cramped warren. How can anyone live like this? Really!
Harvest enlists the kobold young to carry the chair. It seems to work out best, for the kobolds have thier hands full, Harvest get the chair, and Brom can easily see if one of them try and run because it takes all four of them to comfortably move it. Used to being bullied into any job the kobold adults didn't want to do, the kobold young don't complain either. .............
As the group is getting ready to leave and move over the pit trap, Peza's hand begins to glow. Wait, it's not her hand, it is the stone she carved from the centipede!
A pair of blue eyes look out from the Stone and asks in the language recognized as that the kobolds and centipede both used in an imperious tone. If know Draconic: Highlight to display spoiler: {"Why do you call? You will be punished for your insolence!"} The face then seems to see Peza and the others crowded around for the first time and changes to the Common tongue, still commanding. "Who are you? How have you the Stone?"
Harvest Moon (HP5/18; CMD 18 / AC17) - Al Monday July 30th, 2012 12:11:18 PM
Harvest Moon growls low at the voice that comes from the stone. Someday, she will have to learn more about magics, but that day is not now. She gestures to the younglings to crouch down and rest their burden. It is the best position that she has found to confront the unknown. From a crouching position one might more readily avoid missiles, thrown and fired. One might also, from this position, more readily hide.
Brom the Barbarian; AC: 18 (T 12, FF 16, Raged 14), CMD: 19 (21 Raged); HP: 13/21 (17/25 Raged); DR 1/- (2/- vs. non-lethal) Monday July 30th, 2012 2:02:49 PM
"Cover the stone!" Brom shouts hack to Peza. "No more words. Let others learn what can be learned."
Lemick 4-Leaf Sted/Anthony hp 12/16, ac 20/12/18 Monday July 30th, 2012 7:22:43 PM
Lemick isn't really sure he agrees with Brom 100% -- others are down in this tunnel risking their lives. Still there is a learning time, and tired, wounded and hundreds of feet underground ain't it.
Looking to see if the stone is covered, Lemick is ready to move on.
Peza d20+5=17 ; Monday July 30th, 2012 7:32:56 PM
inspecting the centiped ... Peza's eyes widen as she finds the blue stone ... " whoa " ... showing it to Bralin first then quickly pocketing the precious stone .... " we must show the others
Meeting up in the kjobold guard room ... the raven haired girl shows her find ...
Blazing bright blue in her hand Peza returns the the gaze of the blue eyed being .... taking in as many details as she can [ perception check d20+5=17 !! ]
Acting quickly reacting to Brom's shout .... she stuffs it into her pouch .... the warriors sound advice is indeed wise ...
Harvest Moon (HP5/18; CMD 18 / AC17) - Al Monday July 30th, 2012 7:50:52 PM
The initial shock is great. It is not every day that a voice speaks from a stone. However, after a moment, thoughts begin to come to Harvest Moon. She signals to the Small-eye younglings to remain where they are, then she creeps to Peza's side.
"Please, Peza," she whispers, "let me speak."
Upon her friend's approval, Harvest Moon opens the pouch and peers within. The stone that circles her head lights the interior of the pouch for her to see, as it lights her face for the blue eyes to see as well.
"How is it that you placed the stone upon the head of the Centipedekin," she asks, "and yet do not know how it is that it came to us? We are the League Adventurers," she continues. "We have come to this place from far away."
"I am Harvest Moon," she then says, revealing her name, the name of a small girl from the far distant Contested Kingdoms, a small girl of little importance. "Who are you, and how is it that you see and speak through this stone?"
Barratore Steelwind (Dan K) AC: 17, CMD: 21; HP: 15/23Character Sheet d20+3=22 ; d20=6 ; Monday July 30th, 2012 9:54:32 PM
The stone flashes and so does Barratore's hand, to his sword. His eyes narrow at the stone when it switches languages to one he knows. The earlier ones were familiar, the kobolds spoke the language and Barratore looks down at them to see if he can judge or tell some type of reaction [Perception 22 Sense motive 6]
Peza conceals the stone on Brom's suggestion and then Harvest moves to answer it and that is where Barratore stops her. His free hand plants itself firmly on her shoulder. He was not sure of all that transpired down in the tunnels, but he certainly heard enough to know that one of women was a cause of much grief to the others and Barratore had a good inkling on which of the women the shouts were about.
"No." He intones deeply and evenly. "We will not be speaking with the stone now or here." Barratore points in the direction of the exit that will take the group back to the surface. "Perhaps you should lead the way, the dwarves next, then Brom, Lemick the humans and gnome with me in the rear. We return and rest, the spell casters replenished and then we investigate the stone."
Gerox Shale Hps 8/16 Monday July 30th, 2012 11:35:04 PM
Gerox is torn but the stone. He knows it represents danger. Knowledge is danger and giving this powerful foe who commands such magic at his disposal information about them and the group could be very bad, still he might reveal something to them.
He casts a message spell targeting Harvest and says, "Use caution sister. Don't give him any information on us, our numbers and the colony. Try to find out who or what it is though."
Bralin the Stonesinger(AC 23, 3(4)/25 hp) True Strike, fighting defensively Tuesday July 31st, 2012 8:13:38 AM
Bralin agrees with Barratore and Brom.
"Patience. There is nothing to be learned now that cannot be learned in a few hours."
The dwarf keeps walking.
Co-DM SteveK (Rum Returning) Tuesday July 31st, 2012 10:23:01 AM
When the Blue Stone glows, a face appears, and begins to speak, the reactions of the adventurers range from scared through caution and then a dawning curiosity in the one called Harvest Moon.
Peza has already put the Stone away, and when Harvest attempts to cajole the crossbow-woman to reveal it again, Barratore moves his large hand inexoriably in the way. Bralin and Gerox echo the minotaur's words. The caution is not 'never', just 'not here'.
Barratore also takes a sharp glance at the young kobolds, who with the first flash of magic, have thrown themselves on the floor, grovelling against the stone.
..................
Still, the moment has passed, and all returns at it had been. There really is nothing else for the group to do other than lead the captives out of the tunnels and back to the budding City of Rum.
When the dirty, bloody, banged-up and victorious Adventurers of the Woldian League of Adventurers emerge, there is still a fairly large crowd in the street. Part is a contingent of citizens with weapons and armor headed by the Fixer, Torian Silverleaf. Torian smiles as he and the others extend hands to help up the adventurers, the saved townsmen, and takes the kobolds into custody.
Vicki Sweerit, the Plateau City newswoman is there as well, though right now she is paying no attention to the WLA adventurers, because Scully and his Heroes are above ground as well. Tarnwit the bard has center stage and is telling of the running fight the Heroes had down thier side of the tunnel, complete with having Scully stand proudly with his foot on the decapitated head of an orc wearing a battered crown.
Artus and the staff of the WLA Headquarters are also about, half of them patrolling thier compound, and half with Artus waiting to welcome the adventurers home. He takes in the return of the two hostages and the state of thier equipment and bodies with a practiced eye.
"So, Captain Sal would probably say 'Well Done' and ask you what would you want first; bath, food, public, or talking about what you found and learned?"
The small halfling with the sea-roughened voice waits with folded arms to see what the young heroes decide. ...........
Everyone gets 2,900xp for the running fights through the kobold lairs.
Each PC gets a Hero Point
The first bags (the one the sorcerer had only had a Magic Aura spell on it, a fake trap) contains - 1, 490gp = in disks (not coins) and raw nuggets of various metals
The second bag contains - 2,000gp in several disks of platnuim and bits of uncut gems from agates and quartz to flecks of jasper, jade, and one pea-sized amythyst - A Masterwork Quarterstaff - A quiver with 5 Javelins, masterwork
Harvest Moon (HP5/18; CMD 18 / AC17) - Al Tuesday July 31st, 2012 12:24:14 PM
Harvest Moon spends the trip back to Rum in silent contemplation. Her face, at first, had flushed a bright red at the rebuke from Barratore Steelwind. With her keen elf-born eyes, she steals glances at the face of each of the League Adventurers, assessing their unspoken thoughts. Did they not hear the surprise in the voice of the Blue Eyes? It is in such moments of surprise that it is best to find advantage. The Blue Eyes will now have time to think. Such a moment will not come again.
Or, perhaps, there is something else. Perhaps they have tired of her and no longer wish her to be among them. By the time that she and the other League Adventurers emerge once again into the sunlight, Harvest Moon is very quiet, and no longer certain whether or not it is a good idea to present the chair to Navigator Artus Morindim. And, when the halfling asks of the preference of the League Adventurers, Harvest Moon says nothing. Instead, she remains at the back of the group as though hidden by the bulk of the many larger Leaguers, and wishing little more than to walk the beach alone with none but her thoughts and the decisions that they present.
Brom the Barbarian; AC: 18 (T 12, FF 16, Raged 14), CMD: 19 (21 Raged); HP: 13/21 (17/25 Raged); DR 1/- (2/- vs. non-lethal) Tuesday July 31st, 2012 2:19:51 PM
Brom is glad to see the sky. Tunnels were not his favorite places to be. He emerges covered in a mix of dirt and blood, some his and some not.
Seeing Scully and his vagabonds gloating just made his blood boil. It wasn't that he wanted the spotlight, quite the opposite. That kind of attention always got him in some form of trouble. Let them have it. His people all came back and today that was good enough. For them, the mission had created more questions than answers.
For now, Brom only wanted to wash off the blood and wash down the dust with lots of drink.
"I'll take 'bath'."
CO-DM JonathanT - Rum Returning Tuesday July 31st, 2012 6:39:47 PM
Co-DM Jonathan Note: this would be a good time to have that wooden shield and the wand checked out too. Highlight to display spoiler: {After the appropriate magics used to determine the nature of the shield and wand, you find: wooden shield +1 Wand of Magic Missiles, 4 charges left.}
Barratore Steelwind (Dan K) AC: 17, CMD: 21; HP: 15/23Character Sheet Tuesday July 31st, 2012 7:09:10 PM
Sunlight and a space to stretch. Finally. Barratore glances over to the bard and to Scully and snorts. Turning back to Artus, "Bath...with a drink." Harvests withdrawl is completely lost on the minotaur. He is too wrapped up in the thought of washing the tunnels from his body and mind.
Peza Tuesday July 31st, 2012 8:29:10 PM
Trudging through the tunnels they finally reach the surface ... Peza climbs up and out ... the sun's warmth feels good ..... bringing a hugh smile to her face ... gratefully accepting the hands from the citizens
Noting Vicki focused on Scully's heroes ... " thats good ... Scully gets all the attention ... so we can work quietly doing good things "
But Peza's eyes do search out the cute ranger on Scully's group .... :-)
Hearing Artus mention Captain Theringer .... " i hope we did the Captain Proud and Wla too " her grin broadens " soo Sal is his first name " with a little giggle
" Aye ... Barratore got it right ... Bath with a drink .... then perhaps we can sit down with you and give a report while we eat .... and away from the braying " as she gives Vicki Sweerit a peek
The raven haired girl looks about for her friend ... spotting Hravest lurking in the back she waves her over " come on ... time to get cleaned up ... and relax " encourages the ranger with a smile
Lemick 4-Leaf Sted/Anthony hp 12/16, ac 20/12/18 Tuesday July 31st, 2012 10:31:28 PM
Squinting in the sunlight, Lemick likes the idea of the bath, but fears leaving the women alone with the rock. He hopes Peza has it right, and he's too tired to give any major objections or other ideas.
As the WLA's move to stay out of the lime light, Lemick does a quick head count of Scully's group -- did they all return?
"Peza's right, bath, drink, nd then we report -- nothing else until then" He looks to Peza and Harvest clearly indicating his thoughts to the stone. It's clear he has relayed his thoughts, it's unclear if they intend to follow them.
"Women be more trouble than dad use to say they were," are his last coherent thoughts for a solid 20 minutes as he soaks in the bath.
Gerox Shale Hps 8/16 d20+6=10 ; Tuesday July 31st, 2012 11:06:01 PM
OOC, I am not sure which experience point track we are using and if I missed some experience points. How much are we supposed to have? Also do we still get a hero point bonus in xp?
Gerox holds up the wand and says, "We need to get this identified? I know it is a wand of magic missiles but we don't know the activation word. I wonder if I could figure it out." (rolled a 10 on my arcane check or do you just take 10 in that situation since you have time to do it. 14 if that is the case)
Gerox shakes his head when he notices the other group. "Looks like we have all kinds of nasties on this island. Orcs, kobolds and some kind of nasty mixture of stuff being lead by some evil genius....Lets go get a bath, a beer, and a bed in that order."
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