The squeakiness in your voice is just good enough to deceive the kobold, and it enthusiastically calls back, "Hail Tiamat!!!" It then walks back over to join the ring of cultists and mercenaries around the keep.
Thank Tymora! As soon as the coast is clear, Cale will leg it back to the others!
Cale returns, panting from his exertions: "There are a LOT of bad people at the Keep, no way we're getting back in that way and not much chance of thinning the crowd. What did I miss?"
Kirari looks up, happy to see Cale approach. "Upon entering the tunnel to head back I ran into Beatrice. She said that there is a dragonborn at the front gate, and he has demanded to see our champion. He wants to square off against one of the heroes who have been taking out the cultists and kobolds behind enemy lines. He has hostages, including a family, and he says he will release them if someone can best him in one-on-one combat. Escobert and Nighthill both made the request of Beatrice to find us. Beatrice has Tommy and I returned to find you all." Then to the others. "The tunnel seems the only way. Off we go then?"
"Woah" says Cale to Kiari's comprehensive update "I didn't realise I'd napped that long"
He gives Travis a look that seems like a mix of 'You got this' and 'You are so dead', places a hand on the warrior's armoured shoulder and says, in a voice that sounds like a father speaking to his young child: "Do you want me to shoot him from the bushes?"
“Well then, our choice is clear. We should move quickly before this Dragonborn gets impatient and starts executing hostages.” Thaddeus begins moving towards the door assuming everyone will be moving towards the port gate.
Kirari nods and moves to follow the route back to the Gate to the tunnel and through the Sally Port attempting to set a quick pace. "We should speak with Escobert and Nighthill about any adjustments in gear too once we reach them. Perhaps they have access to enchanted items that they might be willing to share for a brief time for battle?"
Inglenook follows the others back to the keep and whispers to himself and shakes his head. "I wish I could do more. Sooooo need a rest. Yes a little shut eye, that will get my energy levels up. If only I could provide some protection to the big man, but we've just had one thing after another coming to this town. Damn dragons. And damn kobolds and cultists...." he trails off murmuring to himself.....
Kiari and the others would make it back to the sally port safe and sound. Assuming Kiari unlocks the gate, and everyone chooses to enter, you would be able to make it single file through the tunnel. As before, the tunnel is fairly dark, but only spiderwebs and the occasional puddle stand in your way back to the keep. As you make it back to the door to the keep's cellar, you see Beatrice and Escobert, with weapons drawn, standing in the doorway. "Ah, thank the gods ye've come!" shouts Escobert. "I better take you up to Nighthill. Last one in must latch the door."
Travis raises an eyebrow at Cale's question. "I am not sure if there will be bushes near the field of battle,"he says. It's not clear if he's being serious or a bit sarcastic.
Travis seems to be taking a "business as usual" approach to the imminent fight. One on one combat is tricky, he knows, especially when you have essentially zero knowledge of your opponent's skill, experience, strength, speed, etc., etc. He does recall one thing about dragonborns though. As the group makes its way through the tunnel, he says "Do you suppose this dragonborn will breathe fire on me? That does not seem fair."
When they arrive at the keep, Travis says to Beatrice and Escobert: "Yes, we should see Nighthill quickly. I am going to fight the dragonborn warrior who has issued the challenge."
The professor makes sure the gate and door are locked behind them before going down the tunnel and then upstairs to speak with Nighthill. He mutters to himself as he walks with the others “Maybe we can interrogate that cultist we captured and get some more information about this Dragonborn.”
Once with Nighthill, he waits patiently for Nighthill to fill the group in on the situation.
Beatrice and Escobert thank the party and both pat Travis on the shoulder. The professor knows the way, and folks following him may fall in behind him. Nighthill's office is on the second level, and he is standing in front of a window. He beckons the group to join him and whispers to the group, "Well met, and thank you all for coming. He has hailed us twice now, and here he goes again..." He points to an area just outside his window at ground level (a good 30 feet down).
From the darkness, a creature strides into the dim light of the dying fires around the keep. Although it is shaped roughly like a human, it is at least seven feet tall, its skin is covered in blue scales, its fingers bear wicked claws, and its face has the muzzle and reptilian eyes of a dragon. The creature stops a few yards from the main gate of the keep and scans the walls. A line of kobolds fans out behind it. With their spears, they prod four human prisoners into the dim light. You can make out a woman, a man in a blood-soaked tunic, and a little girl. Then the half-dragon creature hails the keep.
“Defenders of Greenest! This has been a successful night, and I am feeling generous. Do you see these four pitiful, useless prisoners? We have no need for them, so I will trade them back to you. Send out your best warrior to fight me, and you can have these three in exchange. This is the third and final time I will ask!”
One of the defenders in the keep, and Nighthill's personal guard, Sergeant Markguth, recognizes the prisoners as his sister, brother-in-law and one of her children, and he is ready to rush out into battle with the half-dragon. "If they won't go, send me! I am begging, Nighthill! That is my sister Lillian and her family!" Escobert the Red and a few other defenders restrain him while Nighthill approaches the party.
“My friends, you’ve demonstrated your prowess all through this frightful night. I realize this is an awful burden to ask you to bear, but any of you has a better chance to defeat that horror than my militia have.”
Thaddeus looks up from the display on the field below and turns to Nighthill. “Captain, did that cultist we capture provide any useful information? Travis here says he will accept, and he is our best chance in a head to head fight, but any information about this Dragonborn might mean the difference between winning and losing.”
Kirari speaks up quickly after Thaddeus, "Any gear improvements are also welcome. Anything magical the Keep my be willing to spare for the battle? Our friend here is competent, but defeating the Dragonborn mightily may go further in deterring additional attacks. I also heard him say 'these' have no use to us, so there are likely others. Perhaps the interrogation could reveal where later?"
Travis moves over to the window and looks down as the dragonborn warrior comes forward and calls out, sharing his terms for release of the prisoner. He stares down for a long moment after the foe stops talking.
"He appears to be neither small nor weak," Travis says, stating the obvious as he turns away from the window.
He steps over to the militia sergeant and meets the man's gaze squarely with his own. "I will fight the dragonborn. Let us hope he will keep his word."
Turning last to Nighthill, Travis nods at Kirari's request. "If there is a fine blade or shield that I might take into combat, it would be a help. My armor and weapons are fine, but I expect I will need all the advantages I can find."
Cale takes in the magnificent dragonborn warrior and whistles with a mixture of wonder and regret. "Good luck Trav, I reckon you can take him. I'll find a good firing position though, just in case. Y'know?"
As Thaddeus mentions the captured cultist, Cale throws in "Wrangled to order, m'lud, just as...contracted"
Inglenook drops his backpack to the ground and digs his hand inside for something purposefully, snaring an object quickly in his hand. Whilst the fighter finishes addressing Nighthill he turns his back and whispers some unrecognisable words into his cupped hands. He then drags over a stool in front of Travis and climbs up on top, so that he is now closer to the human's chest height. He then pins a small brooch onto the material of the man's breast, close to his chainmail. "Erm........ So this is something that I hope will bring you an edge. Not that you need it huh? Oh no. And I don't think this is cheating either. No-one is helping you during the fight, it's merely using the tools available to you whilst you're in combat, which I'm sure is no more than the dragonborn below is planning to implement."
He fixes the brooch in place and steps down from the stool. "All you need to do my warrior friend is to whisper the word 'blinding' and it will emit a burst of light, hopefully enough to give you advantage, or the dragonborn a disadvantage on an attack. You can just say 'dusk' if you want it to go dim again"
"You don't need luck, that's just an excuse for those not capable. And I truly believe that you are a capable man. Fight well." And the gnome nods his head and shuffles away, dragging the stool to over to an area where he can get a good view of the contest.
OOC - DM - It's just magic tinkering and 5ft radius of light - so your call if there's any advantage/disadvantage in that - just thought it worth the try and not much else I can do without a decent rest!
Thaddeus turns to Nighthill and says, "We learned that the dragonborn's name is Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, and the cultist claims he is a half dragon with a blue dragon for one of his parents. He also has his own guard of 16 kobolds. It seems he is in command on this raid." He nods at Cale's words and says, "Indeed, you have my thanks as I am hopeful that any moment now the mercenaries and cultist will tell us the location of their camp." Nighthill turns to Kiari next and says, "As the champions of Greenest tonight, you have my thanks, and it would be an honor for Travis to carry the town shield, which legend tells has the power to make foes miss their attacks entirely." Nighthill points to the elaborately painted metal shield hanging over the fireplace in his office. The shield actually looks similar to the decorated mug the party found earlier with an artful representation of the town of Greenest painted on it.
(Does anyone want to check out the shield? Is Travis ready to head to the field of battle as Greenest's champion?)
@Jameshargrave, That sounds good to me, and we can see how it plays out in the upcoming battle.
Travis eyes the shield, using his knowledge of armor to determine as best he can if it is indeed any better than his own trusty shield. He straps it onto his arm to get a better feel for it. If it just seems normal (or inferior to his own) he will thank Nighthill but opt to stick to his own. Should someone else be able to see if it is enchanted, he would appreciate that.
Once that is done, he says simply. "I am ready to take the field. Let us not tarry any longer." He doesn't look frightened, nor does he look excited or particularly confident. He is just there, more or less expressionless and ready to go.
“How far away will we be in case they cheat or try some dirty tricks? If we stand on the walls above the fighting area... how tall are those walls?” Thaddeus asks Nighthill with an intense look in his eyes.
Kirari waits until just before Travis leaves for the battle and places one hand on his shoulder and hands him a light hammer with the other. guidance "May Selune bless you" (out of slots so can't actually do bless at the moment, but Guidance will last a minute - might not be long enough, but possible)."The hammer probably isn't much use, but should you be without the shield at any time, you are swift enough to throw both your axe and this hammer. Remember he's a dragon and might have terrible breath."
If she could get close enough to hear conversation between the Dragonborn and the Kobolds in case they do so in Draconic, she might be able to help alert to a sneaky move. At least to the party. She looks for a likely location where she could overhear.
@Cale
The squeakiness in your voice is just good enough to deceive the kobold, and it enthusiastically calls back, "Hail Tiamat!!!" It then walks back over to join the ring of cultists and mercenaries around the keep.
@DM:
Thank Tymora! As soon as the coast is clear, Cale will leg it back to the others!
Cale returns, panting from his exertions: "There are a LOT of bad people at the Keep, no way we're getting back in that way and not much chance of thinning the crowd. What did I miss?"
Kirari looks up, happy to see Cale approach. "Upon entering the tunnel to head back I ran into Beatrice. She said that there is a dragonborn at the front gate, and he has demanded to see our champion. He wants to square off against one of the heroes who have been taking out the cultists and kobolds behind enemy lines. He has hostages, including a family, and he says he will release them if someone can best him in one-on-one combat. Escobert and Nighthill both made the request of Beatrice to find us. Beatrice has Tommy and I returned to find you all." Then to the others. "The tunnel seems the only way. Off we go then?"
"Woah" says Cale to Kiari's comprehensive update "I didn't realise I'd napped that long"
He gives Travis a look that seems like a mix of 'You got this' and 'You are so dead', places a hand on the warrior's armoured shoulder and says, in a voice that sounds like a father speaking to his young child: "Do you want me to shoot him from the bushes?"
“Well then, our choice is clear. We should move quickly before this Dragonborn gets impatient and starts executing hostages.” Thaddeus begins moving towards the door assuming everyone will be moving towards the port gate.
Noob
Kirari nods and moves to follow the route back to the Gate to the tunnel and through the Sally Port attempting to set a quick pace. "We should speak with Escobert and Nighthill about any adjustments in gear too once we reach them. Perhaps they have access to enchanted items that they might be willing to share for a brief time for battle?"
Inglenook follows the others back to the keep and whispers to himself and shakes his head. "I wish I could do more. Sooooo need a rest. Yes a little shut eye, that will get my energy levels up. If only I could provide some protection to the big man, but we've just had one thing after another coming to this town. Damn dragons. And damn kobolds and cultists...." he trails off murmuring to himself.....
Kiari and the others would make it back to the sally port safe and sound. Assuming Kiari unlocks the gate, and everyone chooses to enter, you would be able to make it single file through the tunnel. As before, the tunnel is fairly dark, but only spiderwebs and the occasional puddle stand in your way back to the keep. As you make it back to the door to the keep's cellar, you see Beatrice and Escobert, with weapons drawn, standing in the doorway. "Ah, thank the gods ye've come!" shouts Escobert. "I better take you up to Nighthill. Last one in must latch the door."
Travis raises an eyebrow at Cale's question. "I am not sure if there will be bushes near the field of battle," he says. It's not clear if he's being serious or a bit sarcastic.
Travis seems to be taking a "business as usual" approach to the imminent fight. One on one combat is tricky, he knows, especially when you have essentially zero knowledge of your opponent's skill, experience, strength, speed, etc., etc. He does recall one thing about dragonborns though. As the group makes its way through the tunnel, he says "Do you suppose this dragonborn will breathe fire on me? That does not seem fair."
When they arrive at the keep, Travis says to Beatrice and Escobert: "Yes, we should see Nighthill quickly. I am going to fight the dragonborn warrior who has issued the challenge."
The professor makes sure the gate and door are locked behind them before going down the tunnel and then upstairs to speak with Nighthill. He mutters to himself as he walks with the others “Maybe we can interrogate that cultist we captured and get some more information about this Dragonborn.”
Once with Nighthill, he waits patiently for Nighthill to fill the group in on the situation.
Noob
Beatrice and Escobert thank the party and both pat Travis on the shoulder. The professor knows the way, and folks following him may fall in behind him. Nighthill's office is on the second level, and he is standing in front of a window. He beckons the group to join him and whispers to the group, "Well met, and thank you all for coming. He has hailed us twice now, and here he goes again..." He points to an area just outside his window at ground level (a good 30 feet down).
From the darkness, a creature strides into the dim light of the dying fires around the keep. Although it is shaped roughly like a human, it is at least seven feet tall, its skin is covered in blue scales, its fingers bear wicked claws, and its face has the muzzle and reptilian eyes of a dragon. The creature stops a few yards from the main gate of the keep and scans the walls. A line of kobolds fans out behind it. With their spears, they prod four human prisoners into the dim light. You can make out a woman, a man in a blood-soaked tunic, and a little girl. Then the half-dragon creature hails the keep.
“Defenders of Greenest! This has been a successful night, and I am feeling generous. Do you see these four pitiful, useless prisoners? We have no need for them, so I will trade them back to you. Send out your best warrior to fight me, and you can have these three in exchange. This is the third and final time I will ask!”
One of the defenders in the keep, and Nighthill's personal guard, Sergeant Markguth, recognizes the prisoners as his sister, brother-in-law and one of her children, and he is ready to rush out into battle with the half-dragon. "If they won't go, send me! I am begging, Nighthill! That is my sister Lillian and her family!" Escobert the Red and a few other defenders restrain him while Nighthill approaches the party.
“My friends, you’ve demonstrated your prowess all through this frightful night. I realize this is an awful burden to ask you to bear, but any of you has a better chance to defeat that horror than my militia have.”
Thaddeus looks up from the display on the field below and turns to Nighthill. “Captain, did that cultist we capture provide any useful information? Travis here says he will accept, and he is our best chance in a head to head fight, but any information about this Dragonborn might mean the difference between winning and losing.”
Noob
Kirari speaks up quickly after Thaddeus, "Any gear improvements are also welcome. Anything magical the Keep my be willing to spare for the battle? Our friend here is competent, but defeating the Dragonborn mightily may go further in deterring additional attacks. I also heard him say 'these' have no use to us, so there are likely others. Perhaps the interrogation could reveal where later?"
Travis moves over to the window and looks down as the dragonborn warrior comes forward and calls out, sharing his terms for release of the prisoner. He stares down for a long moment after the foe stops talking.
"He appears to be neither small nor weak," Travis says, stating the obvious as he turns away from the window.
He steps over to the militia sergeant and meets the man's gaze squarely with his own. "I will fight the dragonborn. Let us hope he will keep his word."
Turning last to Nighthill, Travis nods at Kirari's request. "If there is a fine blade or shield that I might take into combat, it would be a help. My armor and weapons are fine, but I expect I will need all the advantages I can find."
Cale takes in the magnificent dragonborn warrior and whistles with a mixture of wonder and regret. "Good luck Trav, I reckon you can take him. I'll find a good firing position though, just in case. Y'know?"
As Thaddeus mentions the captured cultist, Cale throws in "Wrangled to order, m'lud, just as...contracted"
Inglenook drops his backpack to the ground and digs his hand inside for something purposefully, snaring an object quickly in his hand. Whilst the fighter finishes addressing Nighthill he turns his back and whispers some unrecognisable words into his cupped hands. He then drags over a stool in front of Travis and climbs up on top, so that he is now closer to the human's chest height. He then pins a small brooch onto the material of the man's breast, close to his chainmail. "Erm........ So this is something that I hope will bring you an edge. Not that you need it huh? Oh no. And I don't think this is cheating either. No-one is helping you during the fight, it's merely using the tools available to you whilst you're in combat, which I'm sure is no more than the dragonborn below is planning to implement."
He fixes the brooch in place and steps down from the stool. "All you need to do my warrior friend is to whisper the word 'blinding' and it will emit a burst of light, hopefully enough to give you advantage, or the dragonborn a disadvantage on an attack. You can just say 'dusk' if you want it to go dim again"
"You don't need luck, that's just an excuse for those not capable. And I truly believe that you are a capable man. Fight well." And the gnome nods his head and shuffles away, dragging the stool to over to an area where he can get a good view of the contest.
OOC - DM - It's just magic tinkering and 5ft radius of light - so your call if there's any advantage/disadvantage in that - just thought it worth the try and not much else I can do without a decent rest!
Thaddeus turns to Nighthill and says, "We learned that the dragonborn's name is Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, and the cultist claims he is a half dragon with a blue dragon for one of his parents. He also has his own guard of 16 kobolds. It seems he is in command on this raid." He nods at Cale's words and says, "Indeed, you have my thanks as I am hopeful that any moment now the mercenaries and cultist will tell us the location of their camp." Nighthill turns to Kiari next and says, "As the champions of Greenest tonight, you have my thanks, and it would be an honor for Travis to carry the town shield, which legend tells has the power to make foes miss their attacks entirely." Nighthill points to the elaborately painted metal shield hanging over the fireplace in his office. The shield actually looks similar to the decorated mug the party found earlier with an artful representation of the town of Greenest painted on it.
(Does anyone want to check out the shield? Is Travis ready to head to the field of battle as Greenest's champion?)
@Jameshargrave, That sounds good to me, and we can see how it plays out in the upcoming battle.
Travis eyes the shield, using his knowledge of armor to determine as best he can if it is indeed any better than his own trusty shield. He straps it onto his arm to get a better feel for it. If it just seems normal (or inferior to his own) he will thank Nighthill but opt to stick to his own. Should someone else be able to see if it is enchanted, he would appreciate that.
Once that is done, he says simply. "I am ready to take the field. Let us not tarry any longer." He doesn't look frightened, nor does he look excited or particularly confident. He is just there, more or less expressionless and ready to go.
“How far away will we be in case they cheat or try some dirty tricks? If we stand on the walls above the fighting area... how tall are those walls?” Thaddeus asks Nighthill with an intense look in his eyes.
Noob
Kirari waits until just before Travis leaves for the battle and places one hand on his shoulder and hands him a light hammer with the other. guidance "May Selune bless you" (out of slots so can't actually do bless at the moment, but Guidance will last a minute - might not be long enough, but possible). "The hammer probably isn't much use, but should you be without the shield at any time, you are swift enough to throw both your axe and this hammer. Remember he's a dragon and might have terrible breath."
If she could get close enough to hear conversation between the Dragonborn and the Kobolds in case they do so in Draconic, she might be able to help alert to a sneaky move. At least to the party. She looks for a likely location where she could overhear.