Chronicles of the Accursed Campaign Thread (Group 1)

Yasmina is not pleased with having to go through the kobold tunnels but she puts on a smile as the kobolds looks her way. As the team reaches the cavern she looks around with awe before following Sulba on to his Elders. "So tell me more about your glorious master Glethegar." She asks Sulba with a curious smile. "Is he around often in his lair or is he out showing his power sometimes?"

Persuasion if needed: 27

Duwamilly does her best to memorize the route; she is therefore among the first to notice the evidence of the ancient structure... and she is fascinated by it! She takes a few moments to try to understand what era the original structure dates back to and what its purpose was (even briefly praying to her beloved Garl Glittergold for inspiration).

Duwamilly's History check (assuming it's History... if not, we keep the roll and adjust the bonuses): 20

Duwamilly:

Sulba puffs up his chest, clearly extremely proud of the powerful dragon that he serves.

"Of course the great and powerful Glethegar does not simply wait in his lair, he is always ready to show the world his icy splendor and his glorious wrath! Also... he gets hungry. It's best not to be near when he is hungry."

"I see..." The red-haired Half-Elf says, suppressing a laugh. "...so when is he typically hungry then and gets out to hunt, just so I won't be eaten." She adds with pleading eyes.

"Uhhh.. about twice every week he emerges to hunt the mightiest creatures of the tundra... and sometimes he will also go to find a snack between his two big meals," Sulba says as you continue towards the kobold city. "No way to know for sure exactly when he will decide to feed... Oh look, there's one of our elders right there! Great Wyrm Zolgu, pilgrims devoted to the dragons have come to do honor to our master!"

A white kobold turns to look at you as you enter the city, its eyes narrowing suspiciously as it regards the five outsiders who have entered the city. Though it doesn't look much different from others of its kind, you can almost sense that this kobold is both very old and far more powerful than the common kobolds.

"Pilgrims devoted to the dragons?" Zolgu says. "And one of them a gnome at that... most unusual that a gnome would dare to set foot in the realms of the kobolds. You are either very brave or very foolish, after what Garl Glittergold did to Kurtulmak."

"A little of both I would say..." Yasmina says with a playful smile, glancing over at Milly as she approaches the white kobold, giving him a graceful curtsy as she reaches him. "...we are indeed pilgrims here for a trial to make ourselves worthy of recieving a scale from the mighty Glethegar." She says with the most charming smile.

Persuasion/Deception: 18 Another roll if help action is provided: 24 + Guidance: 2

[[ OOC: Well... This time I think Guidance should be excluded... Duwamilly certainly can't cast nonchalantly while the kobold elder is watching her... ]]

"The affairs of the gods do not concern me..." the ex-Preceptor shurgs, trying to make the words of the desert half-elf more plausible "It is enough for me to take care of the affairs of the dragons and participate in their glory in this world! That's why that I put myself at the service of Yasmina, the adopted daughter of Firion, the Exalted of the Dragon! She is promoting the cult of dragons, so that these majestic creatures finally have the recognition they deserve - for this reason she would like to be able to display a scale of your lord Glethegar on the altar of the Dragon Cathedral, so that even white dragons are venerated not less than all the others. And what white dragon could be more worthy of veneration than the great Glethegar? Just help Firion with this small request and the fame of your master and you, his faithful servants, will expand without limits! We have been told that a trial awaits us to this end... and we are ready to face it. Firion the Exalted of the Dragon stops at nothing when he sets a goal and so do his followers - those who intend to stay alive, at least".

[[ OOC: Hoping to have provided Help... ]]

The kobold elder approaches, first looking up at Yasmina, then intently staring into Duwmilly's eyes for a moment. But eventually, he seems satisfied.

"So... you wish to undertake the Trial of the Warriors and prove yourselves worthy of a single scale from the great and mighty Glethegar?" Zolgu says, almost purring his words. "Very well... you will have your chance to prove yourselves. But be warned... the Trial is not for the faint of heart, and there is a rather high mortality rate. Just try to put on a good show. And be wary while you are here, gnome... I am sure you are aware of the ill-will between your people and mine. Though you may be devoted to the glory of the dragons, there are many who would not give you the chance to speak before sliding a knife between your ribs."

"No need for that I'm sure..." Yasmina says, stepping in between Milly and the kobold elder. "...we expect nothing less than a lethal trial if we are to be rewarded with something as precious as a scale from the mighty Glethegar. We will give you a show to remember Great Wyrm Zolgu." She says confidently but with a reverent bow.

"I already told you..." Duwamilly shrugs "Firion the Exalted of the Dragon stops at nothing when he sets a goal and so do his followers - those who intend to stay alive, at least. I am aware of what I risk, coming in here and I will pay close attention - but, believe me, I would risk even more by disappointing Firion or his daughter. And the fact that even a gnome was willing to come visit a kobold city should show you that we Dragon Cultists are not faint of heart. Tell us about the trial".

The ex-Preceptor, meanwhile, taking advantage of the fact that she is talking to Zolgu, carefully studies his features and clothing.

Regarding his appearance and clothing... everything about him says 'spellcaster.' And likely a powerful one at that, given the fact that he is referred to as a 'Great Wyrm,' a title usually used to refer to dragons that have achieved a semi-divine status. It's also worth noting that many pieces of his clothing are made from the bones of creatures that would normally see kobolds as little more than a convenient snack. This kobold must be a living legend amongst his people.

He gives you a scaly smile.

"Excellent... then come, the arena is always ready for fresh blood... and I think I have something perfect for you to test yourselves against."

If you follow the kobold elder, he leads you through the city. The new buildings are small and utilitarian in nature, bunched tightly together. Kobolds go about their business as you pass through the town. Some of them glance warily or even hiss at the outsiders, but quickly bow and step aside when they realize that Zolgu is leading you. After about a half-hour, you reach the edge of a massive pit that looks like it was dug out of the solid granite floor. The arena is ringed by large iron doors... and back on ground level, right above one of those iron doors is what looks like an extremely large shack.

"That is where you five can stay while I make the necessary preparations for the Trial of the Warriors," Zolgu says, pointing to the shack. "By nightfall we shall have the beast ready for battle. May you have Kurtulmak's favor in this glorious contest."

With that, it seems that he has grown bored of you and wanders off, presumably to speak to whomever is in charge of wrangling 'the beast' for the coming contest. As you look down into the pit, you can see the bones of many unfortunate kobolds who failed the Trial...

"Any regrets yet? We can still back out of this, but with two cursed blades on our team how can we fail?" Yasmina says quietly to the others with a wink and a smile as the Great Wyrm leaves them.

"Well, whatever beast they have in mind," Duwamilly murmurs to her companions "it can't be worse than the dragon itself. And it must still be a beast that they have managed to control, capture or befriend. And that some of their warriors are capable of beat. We should be able to do it too".

“Or, if you prefer, kids,” the ex-Preceptor adds “if one of us can find out where the dragon scales are kept, we can probably just steal one and go away. I just studied how Zolgu looks like; I can alter my appearance to look like him, have the scale delivered to me (since everyone seems to obey him without much questioning) and take us all away with a portal".

“I am more of a fighter than a thief. We can take on this beast.”

"I'm not sure I like our odds of finding the scale, stealing it, and then getting out without being spotted. By the way, how do we even know the scale is legitimate? It could just as easily come from our host."

Didi fidgets nervously with her Ring of Mind Shielding before turning to Yasmina and Duwamilly.

"I don't know how much help I'm going to be when it comes to fighting but, if the two of you stay behind me, I can keep you safe while you cast your spells."

"It'll be fine, Delvindra, honey!" Duwamilly approves, since it seems that the best choice this time is to fight. "If I am kept able to cast spells, I will do my best to protect and heal you all".

"Thanks Delvindra Honey..." Yasmina says, mimicking Milly's voice with a playful smirk. "...but unless they bring a flying beast I will be able to keep my distance I think. And while I'm sure the boys, or at least their cursed blades, would want to draw blood, I'm sure my master will help out too if need be." She says with a fairly confident smile.

Does anyone have anything they want to do before the Trial of the Warriors? You guys have around 5 hours.

Yasmina would look for a place to rest comfortably, bringing up a bottle of wine and a glass she brought from the fortress of the generous Lich that she would enjoy will awaiting the trial.