As the Kobolds began to swarm out from their hiding holes, Veldan immediately began pulling his vision back, leaving Twilight with the command to assist and protect Razz. He only barely opened his own eyes just in time to see the barrage of stones flung their way. "Huah!" The half-elf juked to the side as a stone whizzed past his head. He was then treated to the sight of their goliath being surrounded and stabbed from all directions. Veldan's eyes went wide, the severity of the situation sinking in.
Instinctively, the wizard drew his rapier, expression focused as he held it out horizontally before him.
And then he began to hum.
"Hnnnnnnnn."
Starting low, Veldan steadily raised the pitch of the sound until his blade reacted, vibrating as the perfect pitch was reached. A light wind kicked up around the wizard, billowing his robes. His already elegant stance grew taller, narrower, feet sliding into a new stance, seeming as if he was almost floating.
The humming stopped, but his blade continued to vibrate, a low buzz that echoed within the cavernous area. Taking a step forward, Veldan broke into an unnaturally fast walk, his steps practically leaps as he positioned himself in-between the group swarming Razz and some of the sling-wielding kobolds. He gave a sympathetic glance at Krenak as he subdued one of the Kobolds, then whirled to look at the creatures with a confident smile and a flourish of his blade.
"Over here, you miserable cretins!" He'd goad. "Let's see how badly you truly want to live!"
The kobold slingers jabber in draconic as they reload their slings and launching another volley at the adventurers. Tal is struck in chest by a stone but the other rocks clatter against the cavern wall, missing their targets.
Shaw heard a whistle, he looked up just in time to see the stone in the air before striking the side of his temple. Reaching up he already felt the wound start to bleed. "By Bahamut's breath!" He yelled, pulling back his hood. He pivoted looking down the tunnel in time to see Razz staggered by multiple blows. Excitement and fear ran through him at the same time, his skin reddened a deeper crimson as he summoned divine energies in his right hand. Shaw rushed between the two barbarians, attempting to take some cover between their larger forms. "This might feel a little......unpleasant.....", Shaw mutters to Razz. Shaw puts his hand on the wound on Razz's side, a mixture of yellow and red flame unleashes from his hand first cauterizing the wound, then healing the burn. Simultaneously the wound on Shaw's head begins to fizzle and steam from the magic healing himself as well, seems all that training at the temple has paid off...Shaw thinks to himself.
The two remaining kobolds land two more hits on Razz before running away. The goliath tries to strike at them as they run, but they’re just to quick. Krenak, on the other hand, manages to strike a second kobold with the side of his blade, knocking the creature unconscious as he shouts in draconic that he does not want to fight them.
The lead kobold holds up a claw and shouts at his compatriots to stand down. They still hold their weapons in defensive posture, but they are no longer attacking at least.
“Wes warn yous, big mens. Yous no leaves, but yous no wants fights too. Yous no kill kobolds. What yous wants?” The leader says, glaring at you suspiciously with serpentine eyes.
Veldan was still hissing and rubbing the bruise that the heavy stone left behind on his shoulder when the leader kobold began speaking again, scowling at the thick-headedness of the creatures.
"Justice for Erwin, you little fools! You just killed and robbed a man above ground not an hour ago, I won't stand by and have you acting indignant towards us!" He shouted, pointing his rapier at the inventive kobold.
The kobolds hiss at what they perceive to be an act of aggression, but their leader shouts at them once again, then turns to Veldan.
”Kobolds kills big mans because Highness and Skreeva makes do. Kobolds no wants kills, but Highness kills kobolds if kobolds no helps Highness gets shinies. So kobolds kills big mans in Ee-mon and takes shinies so Highness lets lives as... as... serves-ants when Highness takes Ee-mon from big mans,” the leader says, looking determined yet sorrowful at the same time. The kobolds behind them shudder visibly at the mention of “Highness.”
Krenak smiled as the kobolds stoped fighting, which quickly turned to a frown as the lead kobold told his tale. "Could you tell us more about your Highness andbthis Skreeva?" Krenak asked calmly, kneeling down to become more level with the small creatures. "We do not want to hurt your people, but we cannot allow these murders to continue."
Looking over to his companions, Krenak gave a reassuring smile. "Surely a peaceful resolution would be preferal to unnecessary violence, my friends. The Lady of the Paths always smiles down upon those who bring changes for the better to those who need it."
"Skreeva bes boss. Well, boss now that hers kills big boss. Skreeva haves magic, burny magic! Hers big mean, makes kobolds do works and hers talks to Highness bout Ee-mon. Highness bes big dragon. No big dragon like Cindy King, but big for kobold. Big likes yous. Skreeva meets Highness, promises serving. Skreeva brings Highness, Highness kills big boss and tells he be king for kobolds and kobolds finds he shinies for hoard. Wes scary of Skreeva and Highness and wes no wants dies, so wes servings to Highness."
Krenak's frown deepened as the kobold explained. "You said about my size? Is the dragon two legged like I am?" he questioned, thinking. If a draconian had delusions of grandeur, enough to take over a kobold tribe, then he would be having many violent words with them. "Is Skeeva a kobold like you?"
"No, no, Highness haves legs like giant lizards. Big as lizards! No big dragon mans like yous. Skreeva bes kobold, yes, but hers mean to kobolds. Wants bes like Highness. Powerful..."
The kobolds chatter in awe and fear in response to the fire magic from Razz. Surprisingly, about ten more kobolds appear from hiding places and gather around you. They look like the old, the sick, and the young. "Big mans haves fire magic! Fire magic!"
They all look to their leader pleadingly. The inventor nods and turns to you. "Big mans, I's names Erxuk, I's no likes Skreeva, no likes Highness. These bes my kobolds. Wes no wants hurts pee-poles no more. We no likes Skreeva, no likes Highness, no likes Skreeva friends... wes helps only so wes lives. Wes shows yous safer ways to Highness, to Skreeva, you beats, takes, kills, no matters. When dones, lets I leads kobolds. Wes bes good, no hurts Ee-mon big mans. Lets kobolds lives in tunnels under Ee-mon, wes helps keeps filth-rivers safer from bad creatures. Erxuk, nice kobolds, helps yous finds Highness, yous helps kobolds bes safer. Wes haves deal?"
"Hm." Veldan sheathed his weapon, the hum around him and it dying down. Hands on his hips, he stepped up beside Krenak to stare down their leader, gears turning in his head of what this creature was trying to describe. "So you're saying we have some sort of wyrmling and a sorcerous kobold to contend with?" He frowned, brow furrowed down at Erxuk, then looked back at the others with a grim look.
"Even if we cleared all the kobolds out, a wyrmling is a muchgraver problem. Can't be a 'kind' color if it's ordering tribute to be gotten by knifepoint, either."
"Indeed," Krenak agreed. "This is a problem that must be dealt with swiftly." He looked over to Erxuk and said, "I believe we can help your tribe to live in peace down here. If you tell us where this wyrmling and Skeeva, we can take care of them and free you from this tyranny. By the might of the Changebringer, we shall see this injustice stopped!" A holy fire blazed in his eyes as he said this, his long fingers tightening on his weapon. "Tell us where they are so this can end"
Razz opens his hand again, creating a small fire on the floor, sustained by its own magic energy, it radiates a gentle harmless warmth.
Giving a quick nod at his own work, Razz sits down next to the flame, motioning for his party and the Kobolds to join him, "I get the feeling this is gonna take a while."
Veldan watches Razz work, looking a little dubious as he glances back at Erxuk. "Do you think we have time to rest? Is there a chance that.... 'Highness', or that sorcerer would come to this part of your caves?"
"Is no knows..." Erxuk says, turning to one of his slingers. "Wes sends kobold to tells Highness big mans in-true-ding?"
"Uh... no, Is forgets to tells Ikkla to goes..." The slinger says, looking a bit disappointed in themselves.
"It bes good, Vark, big mans no tries kills. Theys no like other big mans, theys helps kobolds. No tells Highness, no tells Skreeva, no tells no ones.None of yous, gots it?" Erxuk announces to the kobolds with a menacing look. They chatter in agreement and begin cleaning up the area and rousing their unconscious allies.
Erxuk turns back to you all and says, "Highness, Skreeva, Skreeva-friends can no finds big mans here or kills us. Comes, big mans, Erxuk takes you to secret cave for resting. Skreeva no knows bout secret cave."
The little kobold waves a claw gesturing for you to follow. He takes you behind one of the squat huts into another tight passageway that leads to a roomy side-cavern with a tall ceiling. "Rests here for bits, big mans. You bes safer here. When yous better, helps kobolds beats Highness." He waddles away and leaves you to take a short rest.
As everybody started to rest, Krenak paced back and forth restlessly. This whole situation grated him, going against his beliefs. How could anybody force others to evil like this? "We must do everything we can to help these little cousins," he muttered loudly to himself. "Hopefully, we can see them better off than they are now."
Tal quickly follows the group's lead but quickly goes back to grab his arrow he missfired earlier. Quickly finding a place to sit he remembers how put out Veldan was by his earlier curt comment. Seeing as how at any moment everyone here could possibly die he didn't want to leave any loose ends.
He sits near the half elf and looks over and says in elvish, "I've never seen magic of that sort before," Tal gestures towards the rapier, "What was that humming from the blade?" Tal owed Veldan an introdution but it didn't hurt to know more about his party member first.
Being led into this alcove, Veldan's nose scrunched up as he surveyed the area. This is where we're supposed to rest? The ground was covered in dust and bugs and other things he didn't even want to identify. Picking out a spot, he at first attempted to kick away some of the filth off where he intended to sit, but all he managed to do was kick up a small cloud of dust. Waving it away, he resigned himself to sit cross-legged with a huff.
Calling Twilight to a raised finger, he transferred his sight to attempt a bit of grooming, but one look at himself made him pull back. "Ugh!" His hair was a mess (barely), his robes were practically destroyed (slightly dirty), and smelled like a literal sewer (accurate). There was no point, he realized, and with a wave of his hand shooed away the owl, who hooted indignantly before popping out of this plane with a poof and returning to its pocket dimension. With a sigh, Veldan merely laid his rapier across his chest and shut his eyes. He looked like he was meditating, but he was actually fantasizing about the bath house he'd be visiting as soon as he got paid.
His fantasy was interrupted by the familiar sound of Elvish. Opening his eyes, he gave a sideways glance at Tal, his expression stony at first. Oh, you want to talk now? He couldn't help but think bitterly, conflicting with the comforting feeling of hearing his mother tongue. This ranger was one of the People, but even so, he came off like an outsider. How much should he actually divulge, if anything?
It took a moment for Veldan to respond, but when he did, it was with a big smile, flashing teeth, and spoke Elvish in kind. "Oh, caught that, did you? It's not as simple a matter as merely humming a catchy tune, if you were hoping for some pointers." He tossed his long blonde hair over his shoulder, then looked down and ran a finger over the blade as he continued. "Now how to explain to a layman.... I'm sure you know that our realm is adjacent to the realms of the Gods, no? But did you know that each realm vibrates in their own distinct frequency? It's said that my song- my family's song- harmonizes with the Archeart themself. I draw great strength through that harmonization- as long as I'm beautiful while doing it. Without proper grace, technique, and knowing how to channel arcane energy through your body, no amount of humming will help." He winked.
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As the Kobolds began to swarm out from their hiding holes, Veldan immediately began pulling his vision back, leaving Twilight with the command to assist and protect Razz. He only barely opened his own eyes just in time to see the barrage of stones flung their way. "Huah!" The half-elf juked to the side as a stone whizzed past his head. He was then treated to the sight of their goliath being surrounded and stabbed from all directions. Veldan's eyes went wide, the severity of the situation sinking in.
Instinctively, the wizard drew his rapier, expression focused as he held it out horizontally before him.
And then he began to hum.
"Hnnnnnnnn."
Starting low, Veldan steadily raised the pitch of the sound until his blade reacted, vibrating as the perfect pitch was reached. A light wind kicked up around the wizard, billowing his robes. His already elegant stance grew taller, narrower, feet sliding into a new stance, seeming as if he was almost floating.
The humming stopped, but his blade continued to vibrate, a low buzz that echoed within the cavernous area. Taking a step forward, Veldan broke into an unnaturally fast walk, his steps practically leaps as he positioned himself in-between the group swarming Razz and some of the sling-wielding kobolds. He gave a sympathetic glance at Krenak as he subdued one of the Kobolds, then whirled to look at the creatures with a confident smile and a flourish of his blade.
"Over here, you miserable cretins!" He'd goad. "Let's see how badly you truly want to live!"
The kobold slingers jabber in draconic as they reload their slings and launching another volley at the adventurers. Tal is struck in chest by a stone but the other rocks clatter against the cavern wall, missing their targets.
Shaw heard a whistle, he looked up just in time to see the stone in the air before striking the side of his temple. Reaching up he already felt the wound start to bleed. "By Bahamut's breath!" He yelled, pulling back his hood. He pivoted looking down the tunnel in time to see Razz staggered by multiple blows. Excitement and fear ran through him at the same time, his skin reddened a deeper crimson as he summoned divine energies in his right hand. Shaw rushed between the two barbarians, attempting to take some cover between their larger forms. "This might feel a little......unpleasant.....", Shaw mutters to Razz. Shaw puts his hand on the wound on Razz's side, a mixture of yellow and red flame unleashes from his hand first cauterizing the wound, then healing the burn. Simultaneously the wound on Shaw's head begins to fizzle and steam from the magic healing himself as well, seems all that training at the temple has paid off...Shaw thinks to himself.
The two remaining kobolds land two more hits on Razz before running away. The goliath tries to strike at them as they run, but they’re just to quick. Krenak, on the other hand, manages to strike a second kobold with the side of his blade, knocking the creature unconscious as he shouts in draconic that he does not want to fight them.
The lead kobold holds up a claw and shouts at his compatriots to stand down. They still hold their weapons in defensive posture, but they are no longer attacking at least.
“Wes warn yous, big mens. Yous no leaves, but yous no wants fights too. Yous no kill kobolds. What yous wants?” The leader says, glaring at you suspiciously with serpentine eyes.
Veldan was still hissing and rubbing the bruise that the heavy stone left behind on his shoulder when the leader kobold began speaking again, scowling at the thick-headedness of the creatures.
"Justice for Erwin, you little fools! You just killed and robbed a man above ground not an hour ago, I won't stand by and have you acting indignant towards us!" He shouted, pointing his rapier at the inventive kobold.
The kobolds hiss at what they perceive to be an act of aggression, but their leader shouts at them once again, then turns to Veldan.
”Kobolds kills big mans because Highness and Skreeva makes do. Kobolds no wants kills, but Highness kills kobolds if kobolds no helps Highness gets shinies. So kobolds kills big mans in Ee-mon and takes shinies so Highness lets lives as... as... serves-ants when Highness takes Ee-mon from big mans,” the leader says, looking determined yet sorrowful at the same time. The kobolds behind them shudder visibly at the mention of “Highness.”
Krenak smiled as the kobolds stoped fighting, which quickly turned to a frown as the lead kobold told his tale. "Could you tell us more about your Highness andbthis Skreeva?" Krenak asked calmly, kneeling down to become more level with the small creatures. "We do not want to hurt your people, but we cannot allow these murders to continue."
Looking over to his companions, Krenak gave a reassuring smile. "Surely a peaceful resolution would be preferal to unnecessary violence, my friends. The Lady of the Paths always smiles down upon those who bring changes for the better to those who need it."
"Skreeva bes boss. Well, boss now that hers kills big boss. Skreeva haves magic, burny magic! Hers big mean, makes kobolds do works and hers talks to Highness bout Ee-mon. Highness bes big dragon. No big dragon like Cindy King, but big for kobold. Big likes yous. Skreeva meets Highness, promises serving. Skreeva brings Highness, Highness kills big boss and tells he be king for kobolds and kobolds finds he shinies for hoard. Wes scary of Skreeva and Highness and wes no wants dies, so wes servings to Highness."
Krenak's frown deepened as the kobold explained. "You said about my size? Is the dragon two legged like I am?" he questioned, thinking. If a draconian had delusions of grandeur, enough to take over a kobold tribe, then he would be having many violent words with them. "Is Skeeva a kobold like you?"
"No, no, Highness haves legs like giant lizards. Big as lizards! No big dragon mans like yous. Skreeva bes kobold, yes, but hers mean to kobolds. Wants bes like Highness. Powerful..."
Razz perks up at the word "Powerful", ignoring his previous injuries, he sticks out his chest a bit before pointing to him self.
"I'm pretty powerful me self. Plus..."
Razz motions to the party, "E've got a good bunch here, with 'um tricks on us."
Razz quickly demonstrates a quick [Produce Flame], before sniffing it out in a clenched fist.
The kobolds chatter in awe and fear in response to the fire magic from Razz. Surprisingly, about ten more kobolds appear from hiding places and gather around you. They look like the old, the sick, and the young. "Big mans haves fire magic! Fire magic!"
They all look to their leader pleadingly. The inventor nods and turns to you. "Big mans, I's names Erxuk, I's no likes Skreeva, no likes Highness. These bes my kobolds. Wes no wants hurts pee-poles no more. We no likes Skreeva, no likes Highness, no likes Skreeva friends... wes helps only so wes lives. Wes shows yous safer ways to Highness, to Skreeva, you beats, takes, kills, no matters. When dones, lets I leads kobolds. Wes bes good, no hurts Ee-mon big mans. Lets kobolds lives in tunnels under Ee-mon, wes helps keeps filth-rivers safer from bad creatures. Erxuk, nice kobolds, helps yous finds Highness, yous helps kobolds bes safer. Wes haves deal?"
"Hm." Veldan sheathed his weapon, the hum around him and it dying down. Hands on his hips, he stepped up beside Krenak to stare down their leader, gears turning in his head of what this creature was trying to describe. "So you're saying we have some sort of wyrmling and a sorcerous kobold to contend with?" He frowned, brow furrowed down at Erxuk, then looked back at the others with a grim look.
"Even if we cleared all the kobolds out, a wyrmling is a much graver problem. Can't be a 'kind' color if it's ordering tribute to be gotten by knifepoint, either."
"Indeed," Krenak agreed. "This is a problem that must be dealt with swiftly." He looked over to Erxuk and said, "I believe we can help your tribe to live in peace down here. If you tell us where this wyrmling and Skeeva, we can take care of them and free you from this tyranny. By the might of the Changebringer, we shall see this injustice stopped!" A holy fire blazed in his eyes as he said this, his long fingers tightening on his weapon. "Tell us where they are so this can end"
"Hold on a sec."
Razz opens his hand again, creating a small fire on the floor, sustained by its own magic energy, it radiates a gentle harmless warmth.
Giving a quick nod at his own work, Razz sits down next to the flame, motioning for his party and the Kobolds to join him, "I get the feeling this is gonna take a while."
Veldan watches Razz work, looking a little dubious as he glances back at Erxuk. "Do you think we have time to rest? Is there a chance that.... 'Highness', or that sorcerer would come to this part of your caves?"
"Is no knows..." Erxuk says, turning to one of his slingers. "Wes sends kobold to tells Highness big mans in-true-ding?"
"Uh... no, Is forgets to tells Ikkla to goes..." The slinger says, looking a bit disappointed in themselves.
"It bes good, Vark, big mans no tries kills. Theys no like other big mans, theys helps kobolds. No tells Highness, no tells Skreeva, no tells no ones.None of yous, gots it?" Erxuk announces to the kobolds with a menacing look. They chatter in agreement and begin cleaning up the area and rousing their unconscious allies.
Erxuk turns back to you all and says, "Highness, Skreeva, Skreeva-friends can no finds big mans here or kills us. Comes, big mans, Erxuk takes you to secret cave for resting. Skreeva no knows bout secret cave."
The little kobold waves a claw gesturing for you to follow. He takes you behind one of the squat huts into another tight passageway that leads to a roomy side-cavern with a tall ceiling. "Rests here for bits, big mans. You bes safer here. When yous better, helps kobolds beats Highness." He waddles away and leaves you to take a short rest.
As everybody started to rest, Krenak paced back and forth restlessly. This whole situation grated him, going against his beliefs. How could anybody force others to evil like this? "We must do everything we can to help these little cousins," he muttered loudly to himself. "Hopefully, we can see them better off than they are now."
Tal quickly follows the group's lead but quickly goes back to grab his arrow he missfired earlier. Quickly finding a place to sit he remembers how put out Veldan was by his earlier curt comment. Seeing as how at any moment everyone here could possibly die he didn't want to leave any loose ends.
He sits near the half elf and looks over and says in elvish, "I've never seen magic of that sort before," Tal gestures towards the rapier, "What was that humming from the blade?" Tal owed Veldan an introdution but it didn't hurt to know more about his party member first.
Being led into this alcove, Veldan's nose scrunched up as he surveyed the area. This is where we're supposed to rest? The ground was covered in dust and bugs and other things he didn't even want to identify. Picking out a spot, he at first attempted to kick away some of the filth off where he intended to sit, but all he managed to do was kick up a small cloud of dust. Waving it away, he resigned himself to sit cross-legged with a huff.
Calling Twilight to a raised finger, he transferred his sight to attempt a bit of grooming, but one look at himself made him pull back. "Ugh!" His hair was a mess (barely), his robes were practically destroyed (slightly dirty), and smelled like a literal sewer (accurate). There was no point, he realized, and with a wave of his hand shooed away the owl, who hooted indignantly before popping out of this plane with a poof and returning to its pocket dimension. With a sigh, Veldan merely laid his rapier across his chest and shut his eyes. He looked like he was meditating, but he was actually fantasizing about the bath house he'd be visiting as soon as he got paid.
His fantasy was interrupted by the familiar sound of Elvish. Opening his eyes, he gave a sideways glance at Tal, his expression stony at first. Oh, you want to talk now? He couldn't help but think bitterly, conflicting with the comforting feeling of hearing his mother tongue. This ranger was one of the People, but even so, he came off like an outsider. How much should he actually divulge, if anything?
It took a moment for Veldan to respond, but when he did, it was with a big smile, flashing teeth, and spoke Elvish in kind. "Oh, caught that, did you? It's not as simple a matter as merely humming a catchy tune, if you were hoping for some pointers." He tossed his long blonde hair over his shoulder, then looked down and ran a finger over the blade as he continued. "Now how to explain to a layman.... I'm sure you know that our realm is adjacent to the realms of the Gods, no? But did you know that each realm vibrates in their own distinct frequency? It's said that my song- my family's song- harmonizes with the Archeart themself. I draw great strength through that harmonization- as long as I'm beautiful while doing it. Without proper grace, technique, and knowing how to channel arcane energy through your body, no amount of humming will help." He winked.