“Oh lots of them, but the strange thing is the kobolds have this big other drawing there that says they are turning the queen’s throne room into a giant hall bigger than the Dancing Dwarf with a huge pillar for the queen to sit on, really doesn’t look very kobolds like” He starts scratching in the dirt a basic diagram of what he saw on the blueprints. (Performance check 5). Unfortunately it’s little more than a shape with some numbers for distances written around it. “There’s like a foreman office, and a place for like 9 kobolds to sleep at the bottom of the ladder. A path that leads to the toilet, one that seems to be the main route, and the last ine towards the throne room place where it sounds like hundreds of people are working. Oh! and I found this but I think it’s all written in draconic. Anything interesting happen while I was gone?”
Sera’s eyes fell on the oldest kobold among the prisoners—his scales dull with age, his body battered from the fight. His breathing was shallow, and she knew the truth the moment she saw him: he wouldn’t recover on his own.
Her first instinct was to call upon Paladine, to channel his divine grace and heal the frail creature. But a nagging thought held her back—what if she needed that last bit of magic later? What if her friends needed it?
She clenched her jaw and turned on her heel, hurrying back toward the storage area where they had found the kobolds’ supplies. There had been potions among the crates—brews meant for healing, not for battle. Taking one to heal a dying kobold wasn’t stealing. She repeated that thought like a mantra as she grabbed a bottle and rushed back.
On her way, she spotted Merkas, who had just returned from his scouting. “Ah, nice to see you back,” she said in passing, " I be with you in a moment" offering a quick smile before continuing on. The others were likely discussing their next move, but she had already decided hers.
Kneeling beside the old kobold, she gently lifted him, careful not to cause more pain. His eyes fluttered open just barely as she pressed the vial to his lips. “Drink,” she urged softly. The thick, shimmering liquid slid past his fangs.
Kasi is focused on Merkas's map and doesn't really notice Sera for several moments. She doesn't know what to make of it. The whole thing looks ridiculous. Kobolds wouldn't even desire such a place unless every clan in Khur were to unite in one place, which seems impossible to her. Kobolds don't often fight amongst each other, but they don't actually get along either. Caution and suspicion keeps them insular, trusting in only their own blood. She looks up as Sera rushes to the storage room and her eyes follow Sera with sudden curiosity.
The liquid trickles onto Kobold Commoner Green's lips, and down the side of his maw, until instinct kicks in, and he starts to lap up the life-saving medicine. He coughs; it's a soft wheezing sound as his eyes begin to open and his wounds heal. Looking at you through blurry eyes, he whispers something in Yip-Yak. It sounds like a question, and the one word you kind of recognize is Chisluz, which sounds like Chislev, Goddess of nature and instinct.
Kasi steps toward the campsite deliberately, craning her neck to see what's going on. She can't hear the conversation, but she can see the old kobold's tail move again. Softly, she walks up to Sera's side, kneels down and places a gnarled hand on the side of the old one's face. "Master Sera heal old one," she says, a bit surprised. She doesn't want to question it, but she clearly doesn't understand.
Kasi's Loyalty has increased.
More of the other kobolds are beginning to stir, and Kobold Yellow sits up, dizzy-looking, and nearly falls back over.
Watching Sera go by with the potion, “Great to see you too, seems I’m rubbing off on you” Merkas grins back with a knowing smile. As he watches Sera administer aid to their former opponents he gets thinking about the whole situation and decides that trust is where their future lay.
“Hey Gramma, you wanna look through this please, the whole thing doesn’t seem right, and would like to know what happened to get the Letni Inhelk to this point. There’s gotta be some change recently.” The kender hands Kasi the worn journal as he talks. “And if you can remember the person that was told about the shipment might help cause I am thinking that with them killing the shipment drivers this whole thing changed since you talked with them.”
Merkas collects the other potions and brings them over. “If we’re starting this, best heal the worst wounds, any of the arrow holes, and maybe the heavy hits from Hastos” He starts moving among the wounded administering health potion to the worst of them, he hands yellow one of the kobold Jolt Colas. “Not sure but this might help you”
“Gramma, you share with them our help and that we want to stop the big project so they can have their home back”
Hastos joins the group as they administer the healing potions and tend to the injured. He stays well back from the group of injured kobolds. His back against the wall, he has complete view of the room and everything in it. The thumb of his right hand tucked into his belt just inches away from the handle of the scimitar should things turn violent.
Sharn joined Hastos on the wall. An honest smile was painted on the dwarf's face. He was simply glad for the showings of good his new companions did. No matter what awaited deep in the bowls of the Inhelk tunnels, they would face it.
Sharn took a deep breath. "I fear what might wait for us ahead. I suspect perhaps duergar or worse. All of this, its reminiscent of dwarven methods. I should probably look at those blueprints. Much as I dislike my people's practices, I still remember a bit from my youth."
Sera let out a slow breath as she finished tending the wounds of the old kobold. The frail creature mumbled something in his own tongue, Something about Chisev the god of nature but she could barely make out the meaning. Still, the gratitude in his tired eyes was unmistakable.
She spots Merkas giving out the healing potions and points to one with a very messed up face "please Merkas...I knocked out that ones teeths......he should get them back..can you give him one potion please?"
She sat back on her heels, glancing around at her friends. Kasi was watching them with a small, approving smile.
“This is complicated,” she admitted. “I wish we could get the kobolds to trust us somehow… It’s clear they’re being forced into this.”
She glanced at the crates stacked in the corner—not the ones they had been sent to retrieve. That was probably stored someplace nearby. For all the fighting, the mission itself hadn’t changed. But now it wasn’t just about stolen goods. Someone was abusing these kobolds, using them as pawns in a larger scheme.
“If we could convince them that we will save them. That they was beaten by a retribution party sent by Santech,” she said slowly, voicing the thought as it formed, “that we’re here to retrieve the crates, like we were sent to do—but that we’ll come back for them, to free them from whoever is forcing them into this…”
She hesitated, looking between Hastos, Merkas, and Sharn, searching for their thoughts. “Maybe if we get them to trust us, they can help us past the traps when we return. That they rebuild the traps as they masters undoubtful will insist. But build them with descreet giveaway. A dark pebble marking the location of traps that only we understand. And a signal to understand it is us returning—an owl’s call or something—they could guide us inside, take us straight to whoever is in charge.”
Her fingers curled into a fist against her knee. “I want to run in and free them right now,” she admitted, her voice tight. “But I’m afraid we’d be overwhelmed. And we’d fail the original mission too.” she looks at Sharn who share her conserns it might be very dangerous adversaries down there to face.
She sighed, then met their eyes. “What do you think? I really feel i stink at making plans”
“Doubtful. That plan to get us past those first set of crates was spot on, Sera.” Hastos says earnestly. “ Merkas, exactly how many Kobolds did you see down there?”
She spots Merkas giving out the healing potions and points to one with a very messed up face "please Merkas...I knocked out that ones teeths......he should get them back..can you give him one potion please?"
Nodding as he goes about the task that Sera asks."Yeah it's only fair that they get those back." Moving to the one with the missing teeth he pours a healing potion into its mouth. Watching as the teeth grow back and swelling go down in the kobold.
“If we could convince them that we will save them. That they was beaten by a retribution party sent by Santech,” she said slowly, voicing the thought as it formed, “that we’re here to retrieve the crates, like we were sent to do—but that we’ll come back for them, to free them from whoever is forcing them into this…”
"Don't think trying to convince them we are not the same people that hurt them is a good idea, We did knock em all out pretty fast but I want to be honest with them not start on lies. We did only attack after they were attacking, we also beat them which means we are stronger so maybe that counts for something." Merkas muses as he tends about the kobolds"Though if these guys can help us understand what's happening here, maybe get us the crates out so we can get them back to Santekh, get the gaes spell removed so we can act freely, and come back to storm this place seems to be our best bet. We have what 4 or 5 more days on the contract"
Doubtful. That plan to get us past those first set of crates was spot on, Sera.” Hastos says earnestly. “ Merkas, exactly how many Kobolds did you see down there?”
"Saw a couple pass by the room I was in but the place I was looked like a room for 9 or 10, BUT there were sounds of like hundreds working from the direction the big hall seemed to be in" Merkas thinks for a bit before he asks Kasi"Gramma you remember how many Letni Inhelk there are?"
Merkas collects the other potions and brings them over. “If we’re starting this, best heal the worst wounds, any of the arrow holes, and maybe the heavy hits from Hastos” He starts moving among the wounded administering health potion to the worst of them, he hands yellow one of the kobold Jolt Colas. “Not sure but this might help you”
“Gramma, you share with them our help and that we want to stop the big project so they can have their home back”
Kasi nods and, speaking softly, translates to the other kobolds. Most of them are too dazed to comprehend, but Kobold Commoner Green seems to be focused enough to get it. He speaks back to Kasi, replying with an embarrassed chuckle. Kasi looks at Sera, then back to Kobold Commoner Green, then points at Sera. Talking to Kobold Commoner Green, she asks a short question, then nods her head, then gestures to the party in general. You hear the word "Dawnbound" in Common. Kobold Commoner Green repeats the word and nods his head, then shrugs, and keeps talking. Kasi nods her head and responds in a sympathetic tone.
Sharn joined Hastos on the wall. An honest smile was painted on the dwarf's face. He was simply glad for the showings of good his new companions did. No matter what awaited deep in the bowls of the Inhelk tunnels, they would face it.
Sharn took a deep breath. "I fear what might wait for us ahead. I suspect perhaps duergar or worse. All of this, its reminiscent of dwarven methods. I should probably look at those blueprints. Much as I dislike my people's practices, I still remember a bit from my youth."
"Saw a couple pass by the room I was in but the place I was looked like a room for 9 or 10, BUT there were sounds of like hundreds working from the direction the big hall seemed to be in" Merkas thinks for a bit before he asks Kasi"Gramma you remember how many Letni Inhelk there are?"
Kasi snaps back to the main discussion and scratches her chin, thinking. "Lenti Inhelk not small clan, but not much big either." She turns to Kobold Commoner Green and begins speaking in Yip-Yak. Kobold Commoner Green responds slowly, like an old man.
Kasi's eyes pop open with surprise, then she nods. "About 100. Most workers, children, elderly. Some warriors and spellcasters. Not more than 25. Princess Harkail alive... so be queen." Kasi seems shocked by this revelation. "Princess much power. Sorcerer and warrior. Much smart." Kasi looks thoughtful for a moment. "Much much big than Kasi remember."
Sera watched as Merkas did his best to help, his usual mischief momentarily set aside. She felt a strange sense of relief when she saw that even the kobold whose teeth she had knocked loose was receiving a healing potion. At least there was some balance to all of this.
Hastos kept his eyes on the surroundings, ever watchful, while Sharn… well, Sharn just looked far too pleased with himself. His grin was so wide, she was half-convinced his mustache would soon poke into his own ears.
Meanwhile, Kasi knelt beside the old kobold, speaking in hushed tones, trying to convince him to talk. Sera strained to listen, catching only fragments of the conversation. Then, Kasi’s expression shifted—relief, surprise.
“... princess Harkail alive,” Kasi announced.
That was good news, but it wasn’t enough. Two vital answers were still missing. Sera’s patience was already thin.
“Kasi!” Her voice was firm, cutting through the hushed conversation. She stepped closer holding her energy blade high like a tourch. “Who commands them? And where are the twelve crates from the caravan?”
She swept a quick glance toward the tunnels. Time was running out. “We need to move. Now.”
Kasi's eyes snap to Sera as she speaks, then back to Kobold Commoner Yellow. And she translates some more. Kobold Commoner Yellow begins to speak, but Kobold Warrior Gray interrupts in a sharp tone.
Kasi turns to speak with Kobold Warrior Gray, standing as tall as she can and trying to use the kobold's matriarchal power-structure to get him to submit. Kobold Warrior Gray glares at Kasi, then utters something back slowly and menacingly.
"Queen commands. Twelve crates in main chamber. Big One says Letni Inhelk need 12 crates. Letni Inhelk rather die than give back. This strange, Master Sera. Kobold never rather die than keep supplies. Kobold always rather live."
Sharn paled as he anallized the blueprints. He swallowed hard as he walked up to the Gray Kobold Warrior. He locked eyes onto her, Sharn wasn't too much taller than her, but his gaze was that of wrathful towering giant. Yet, his words went to Kasi, gentle as ever. Disguised though that gentleness may have been.
"Kasi, how do you say dragon in yip yak?" He never broke eye contact with his recent foe. "Is that why they needed supplies, to feed something big? It is, is it not? Why you have so many pillars, and why you have one in the middle?" (Rolled an 11 to intimidate the gray kobold warrior ... what's with all the 11's today)
Kasi's head spins towards Sharn with shock. "Darastrix," she says, and suddenly the whole group of kobolds get quiet. Kasi fully translates what Sharn is saying, but the kobolds have completely shut down. They avert their eyes and clench their fists.
Kasi looks to Sharn, then Hastos. Does she dare ask someone who bares the mark of the Green Dragon Army if he knows anything about this? There hasn't been a metallic dragon in Khur since the war began, so the only obvious choice is a chromatic one. And that spells trouble for anyone who doesn't faithfully serve Takhisis. Either way... the presence of a dragon means war and death closely follow.
Kasi continued her yip-yap conversation with the kobolds, her face tense with concentration as she translated their frantic words. But it was Sharn who spoke first, his deep voice cutting through the dimly lit chamber.
“Dragon.”
The word hit like a hammer blow. Sera barely had time to process it before she saw the shift in the kobolds' demeanor—the way they straightened, the silent obedience, the sheer terror in their eyes.
A dragon. Not just any dragon—a chromatic one. A servant of Takhisis.
Her heart sank. This was far worse than a group of desperate raiders or a tyrannical warlord. If a chromatic dragon had taken residence here, then this was no mere hideout—it was the beginnings of a lair.
And the crates? No longer just stolen goods. They were a tribute. A food supply. The kobolds weren’t just scavengers; they were being worked to the bone, carving out a home for their monstrous master.
Sera forced herself to stand tall, gripping the hilt of her sunblade like an anchor. Her voice faltered slightly.
“...Well... then.”
She swallowed. Of course the kobolds wouldn’t betray their master. Not when that master was a dragon.
Her gaze flickered to Kasi, who looked equally shaken. But Sera needed answers, no matter how grim.
“Kasi…” she asked, keeping her tone steady. “What color is the dragon?”
She tried not to let the weight of the situation show. She tried not to look like she had already lost. Straightens up. If it was her time to face such a powerful servant of Thakisis...it would be so. With new resolve she face her friends.
"We need to warn Santech.....we must ....then if we going to have any hope defeating such a enemy. We must prepare better"
"Hmm, somethings not right. Gramma said the princess is still alive, as in the queen has died and the princess is left in her place. How did the queen die? The other thing is this construction isn't very old, they are starting not completing it, and the prints we found up here made it look like this area was to be made into a large passage way." Merkas starts pacing, mumbling through the different pieces of information they have (Insight 15). "It seems like this is preparation for something, like someone is making the build for a dragon that is coming here, or the threat of one coming..." Turning to Kasi and the group of Kobolds"Have they seen ore talked to this "dragon"? Or is there someone saying "The dragon said this, The dragon said that"? Is there a speaker for the dragon that is saying tell no one, or keep it secret? You said princess is a sorcerer, aren't they good a illusions, would a kobold princess try to deceive her people to keep her power? How does one get to be Queen in a Noachi?"
“Kasi…” she asked, keeping her tone steady. “What color is the dragon?”
Kasi shrugs, still flustered by all this, and translates, this time speaking to all the kobolds, doing her best to exert her status as elder female over the group. But they remain unwilling to answer. Kobold Warrior Gray finally responds after a long silence. His tone is gravelly and deliberate, like a rottweiler's grumble. Kasi stares deep into Kobold Warrior Gray's eyes for several long seconds, but unlike the others, he doesn't avert his gaze. She finally utters, "Hmm," as if deciding something, then turns to Sera to translate.
"Big One say no dragon. Big one say Dawnbound leave and never come back. Say Letni Inhelk no attack Santekh if Dawnbound leave. Letni Inhelk forget Dawnbound intrusion. Kasi say Big One lie about dragon. No lie about Letni Inhelk attack."
"Hmm, somethings not right. Gramma said the princess is still alive, as in the queen has died and the princess is left in her place. How did the queen die? The other thing is this construction isn't very old, they are starting not completing it, and the prints we found up here made it look like this area was to be made into a large passage way." Merkas starts pacing, mumbling through the different pieces of information they have (Insight 15).
Kasi shakes her head. "Queen alive, yes. Princes Harkail advise queen. Princess Harkail make first peace trade with Hachakee. Queen no like outsiders. But queen listen to daughter."
"Have they seen ore talked to this "dragon"? Or is there someone saying "The dragon said this, The dragon said that"? Is there a speaker for the dragon that is saying tell no one, or keep it secret?"
Kasi holds her hands out helplessly, gesturing to the kobolds who seem to have shut down. "Worker no say nothing. Kasi know nothing. But Kasi think Master Sharn smart good. This loyalty for dragon."
"You said princess is a sorcerer, aren't they good a illusions, would a kobold princess try to deceive her people to keep her power? How does one get to be Queen in a Noachi?"
Kasi chuckles and rubs her neck. Kobold politics is a long conversation, and not exactly her strong suit. "Much much strong female become queen in new tribe. But queen elder daughter become queen when queen too old to breed. Some kobold tribe, princess become queen when much strong to beat queen. Other kobold tribe have two, three, four queen elder female rule pack. Like uhhh..." she snaps her finger looking for the word, "council! Kasi tribe had queen and council. Much big tribe. Need much much leader."
“Sharn? You were in Santekh before we got there, and you has some of the hachakee markings so I think it’s best you take the lead on this.”Merkas says as he steps back, gathering the various potion bottles and rations so they are out of reach of the kobolds for the time being.
With 1 healing potion left as we used 2 on the Kobolds, the “teeth” potions and 6/7 of the jolt Kobola, Merkas tries to store some in his pack as he talks
Sleight of Hand = Nat 20 + 3 for 23
”That being said I say we make them take us to the queen. At the very least we can negotiate with her for our supplies, pretty sure we heard the Letni aren’t very warlike? At least they were willing to trade before.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Loyalty Begets Honour
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
“Oh lots of them, but the strange thing is the kobolds have this big other drawing there that says they are turning the queen’s throne room into a giant hall bigger than the Dancing Dwarf with a huge pillar for the queen to sit on, really doesn’t look very kobolds like” He starts scratching in the dirt a basic diagram of what he saw on the blueprints. (Performance check 5). Unfortunately it’s little more than a shape with some numbers for distances written around it. “There’s like a foreman office, and a place for like 9 kobolds to sleep at the bottom of the ladder. A path that leads to the toilet, one that seems to be the main route, and the last ine towards the throne room place where it sounds like hundreds of people are working. Oh! and I found this but I think it’s all written in draconic. Anything interesting happen while I was gone?”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Sera’s eyes fell on the oldest kobold among the prisoners—his scales dull with age, his body battered from the fight. His breathing was shallow, and she knew the truth the moment she saw him: he wouldn’t recover on his own.
Her first instinct was to call upon Paladine, to channel his divine grace and heal the frail creature. But a nagging thought held her back—what if she needed that last bit of magic later? What if her friends needed it?
She clenched her jaw and turned on her heel, hurrying back toward the storage area where they had found the kobolds’ supplies. There had been potions among the crates—brews meant for healing, not for battle. Taking one to heal a dying kobold wasn’t stealing. She repeated that thought like a mantra as she grabbed a bottle and rushed back.
On her way, she spotted Merkas, who had just returned from his scouting. “Ah, nice to see you back,” she said in passing, " I be with you in a moment" offering a quick smile before continuing on. The others were likely discussing their next move, but she had already decided hers.
Kneeling beside the old kobold, she gently lifted him, careful not to cause more pain. His eyes fluttered open just barely as she pressed the vial to his lips. “Drink,” she urged softly. The thick, shimmering liquid slid past his fangs.
Kasi is focused on Merkas's map and doesn't really notice Sera for several moments. She doesn't know what to make of it. The whole thing looks ridiculous. Kobolds wouldn't even desire such a place unless every clan in Khur were to unite in one place, which seems impossible to her. Kobolds don't often fight amongst each other, but they don't actually get along either. Caution and suspicion keeps them insular, trusting in only their own blood. She looks up as Sera rushes to the storage room and her eyes follow Sera with sudden curiosity.
The liquid trickles onto Kobold Commoner Green's lips, and down the side of his maw, until instinct kicks in, and he starts to lap up the life-saving medicine. He coughs; it's a soft wheezing sound as his eyes begin to open and his wounds heal. Looking at you through blurry eyes, he whispers something in Yip-Yak. It sounds like a question, and the one word you kind of recognize is Chisluz, which sounds like Chislev, Goddess of nature and instinct.
Kasi steps toward the campsite deliberately, craning her neck to see what's going on. She can't hear the conversation, but she can see the old kobold's tail move again. Softly, she walks up to Sera's side, kneels down and places a gnarled hand on the side of the old one's face. "Master Sera heal old one," she says, a bit surprised. She doesn't want to question it, but she clearly doesn't understand.
Kasi's Loyalty has increased.
More of the other kobolds are beginning to stir, and Kobold Yellow sits up, dizzy-looking, and nearly falls back over.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Watching Sera go by with the potion, “Great to see you too, seems I’m rubbing off on you” Merkas grins back with a knowing smile. As he watches Sera administer aid to their former opponents he gets thinking about the whole situation and decides that trust is where their future lay.
“Hey Gramma, you wanna look through this please, the whole thing doesn’t seem right, and would like to know what happened to get the Letni Inhelk to this point. There’s gotta be some change recently.” The kender hands Kasi the worn journal as he talks. “And if you can remember the person that was told about the shipment might help cause I am thinking that with them killing the shipment drivers this whole thing changed since you talked with them.”
Loyalty Begets Honour
The book barely brushes Kasi's hand as she walked towards Sera. She's lost focus to her interest in what's going on near that fireplace.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Merkas collects the other potions and brings them over. “If we’re starting this, best heal the worst wounds, any of the arrow holes, and maybe the heavy hits from Hastos” He starts moving among the wounded administering health potion to the worst of them, he hands yellow one of the kobold Jolt Colas. “Not sure but this might help you”
“Gramma, you share with them our help and that we want to stop the big project so they can have their home back”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Hastos joins the group as they administer the healing potions and tend to the injured. He stays well back from the group of injured kobolds. His back against the wall, he has complete view of the room and everything in it. The thumb of his right hand tucked into his belt just inches away from the handle of the scimitar should things turn violent.
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Sharn joined Hastos on the wall. An honest smile was painted on the dwarf's face. He was simply glad for the showings of good his new companions did. No matter what awaited deep in the bowls of the Inhelk tunnels, they would face it.
Sharn took a deep breath. "I fear what might wait for us ahead. I suspect perhaps duergar or worse. All of this, its reminiscent of dwarven methods. I should probably look at those blueprints. Much as I dislike my people's practices, I still remember a bit from my youth."
Sera let out a slow breath as she finished tending the wounds of the old kobold. The frail creature mumbled something in his own tongue, Something about Chisev the god of nature but she could barely make out the meaning. Still, the gratitude in his tired eyes was unmistakable.
She spots Merkas giving out the healing potions and points to one with a very messed up face "please Merkas...I knocked out that ones teeths......he should get them back..can you give him one potion please?"
She sat back on her heels, glancing around at her friends. Kasi was watching them with a small, approving smile.
“This is complicated,” she admitted. “I wish we could get the kobolds to trust us somehow… It’s clear they’re being forced into this.”
She glanced at the crates stacked in the corner—not the ones they had been sent to retrieve. That was probably stored someplace nearby. For all the fighting, the mission itself hadn’t changed. But now it wasn’t just about stolen goods. Someone was abusing these kobolds, using them as pawns in a larger scheme.
“If we could convince them that we will save them. That they was beaten by a retribution party sent by Santech,” she said slowly, voicing the thought as it formed, “that we’re here to retrieve the crates, like we were sent to do—but that we’ll come back for them, to free them from whoever is forcing them into this…”
She hesitated, looking between Hastos, Merkas, and Sharn, searching for their thoughts. “Maybe if we get them to trust us, they can help us past the traps when we return. That they rebuild the traps as they masters undoubtful will insist. But build them with descreet giveaway. A dark pebble marking the location of traps that only we understand. And a signal to understand it is us returning—an owl’s call or something—they could guide us inside, take us straight to whoever is in charge.”
Her fingers curled into a fist against her knee. “I want to run in and free them right now,” she admitted, her voice tight. “But I’m afraid we’d be overwhelmed. And we’d fail the original mission too.” she looks at Sharn who share her conserns it might be very dangerous adversaries down there to face.
She sighed, then met their eyes. “What do you think? I really feel i stink at making plans”
“Doubtful. That plan to get us past those first set of crates was spot on, Sera.” Hastos says earnestly. “ Merkas, exactly how many Kobolds did you see down there?”
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Nodding as he goes about the task that Sera asks. "Yeah it's only fair that they get those back."
Moving to the one with the missing teeth he pours a healing potion into its mouth. Watching as the teeth grow back and swelling go down in the kobold.
"Don't think trying to convince them we are not the same people that hurt them is a good idea, We did knock em all out pretty fast but I want to be honest with them not start on lies. We did only attack after they were attacking, we also beat them which means we are stronger so maybe that counts for something."
Merkas muses as he tends about the kobolds "Though if these guys can help us understand what's happening here, maybe get us the crates out so we can get them back to Santekh, get the gaes spell removed so we can act freely, and come back to storm this place seems to be our best bet. We have what 4 or 5 more days on the contract"
"Saw a couple pass by the room I was in but the place I was looked like a room for 9 or 10, BUT there were sounds of like hundreds working from the direction the big hall seemed to be in"
Merkas thinks for a bit before he asks Kasi "Gramma you remember how many Letni Inhelk there are?"
Loyalty Begets Honour
Kasi nods and, speaking softly, translates to the other kobolds. Most of them are too dazed to comprehend, but Kobold Commoner Green seems to be focused enough to get it. He speaks back to Kasi, replying with an embarrassed chuckle. Kasi looks at Sera, then back to Kobold Commoner Green, then points at Sera. Talking to Kobold Commoner Green, she asks a short question, then nods her head, then gestures to the party in general. You hear the word "Dawnbound" in Common. Kobold Commoner Green repeats the word and nods his head, then shrugs, and keeps talking. Kasi nods her head and responds in a sympathetic tone.
Please make a History check.
Kasi snaps back to the main discussion and scratches her chin, thinking. "Lenti Inhelk not small clan, but not much big either." She turns to Kobold Commoner Green and begins speaking in Yip-Yak. Kobold Commoner Green responds slowly, like an old man.
Kasi's eyes pop open with surprise, then she nods. "About 100. Most workers, children, elderly. Some warriors and spellcasters. Not more than 25. Princess Harkail alive... so be queen." Kasi seems shocked by this revelation. "Princess much power. Sorcerer and warrior. Much smart." Kasi looks thoughtful for a moment. "Much much big than Kasi remember."
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Sera watched as Merkas did his best to help, his usual mischief momentarily set aside. She felt a strange sense of relief when she saw that even the kobold whose teeth she had knocked loose was receiving a healing potion. At least there was some balance to all of this.
Hastos kept his eyes on the surroundings, ever watchful, while Sharn… well, Sharn just looked far too pleased with himself. His grin was so wide, she was half-convinced his mustache would soon poke into his own ears.
Meanwhile, Kasi knelt beside the old kobold, speaking in hushed tones, trying to convince him to talk. Sera strained to listen, catching only fragments of the conversation. Then, Kasi’s expression shifted—relief, surprise.
“... princess Harkail alive,” Kasi announced.
That was good news, but it wasn’t enough. Two vital answers were still missing. Sera’s patience was already thin.
“Kasi!” Her voice was firm, cutting through the hushed conversation. She stepped closer holding her energy blade high like a tourch. “Who commands them? And where are the twelve crates from the caravan?”
She swept a quick glance toward the tunnels. Time was running out. “We need to move. Now.”
Kasi's eyes snap to Sera as she speaks, then back to Kobold Commoner Yellow. And she translates some more. Kobold Commoner Yellow begins to speak, but Kobold Warrior Gray interrupts in a sharp tone.
Kasi turns to speak with Kobold Warrior Gray, standing as tall as she can and trying to use the kobold's matriarchal power-structure to get him to submit. Kobold Warrior Gray glares at Kasi, then utters something back slowly and menacingly.
"Queen commands. Twelve crates in main chamber. Big One says Letni Inhelk need 12 crates. Letni Inhelk rather die than give back. This strange, Master Sera. Kobold never rather die than keep supplies. Kobold always rather live."
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Sharn paled as he anallized the blueprints. He swallowed hard as he walked up to the Gray Kobold Warrior.
He locked eyes onto her, Sharn wasn't too much taller than her, but his gaze was that of wrathful towering giant. Yet, his words went to Kasi, gentle as ever. Disguised though that gentleness may have been.
"Kasi, how do you say dragon in yip yak?" He never broke eye contact with his recent foe. "Is that why they needed supplies, to feed something big? It is, is it not? Why you have so many pillars, and why you have one in the middle?" (Rolled an 11 to intimidate the gray kobold warrior ... what's with all the 11's today)
Kasi's head spins towards Sharn with shock. "Darastrix," she says, and suddenly the whole group of kobolds get quiet. Kasi fully translates what Sharn is saying, but the kobolds have completely shut down. They avert their eyes and clench their fists.
Kasi looks to Sharn, then Hastos. Does she dare ask someone who bares the mark of the Green Dragon Army if he knows anything about this? There hasn't been a metallic dragon in Khur since the war began, so the only obvious choice is a chromatic one. And that spells trouble for anyone who doesn't faithfully serve Takhisis. Either way... the presence of a dragon means war and death closely follow.
"Can't fight dragon. Can't sneak twelve pothoc crates. What masters do?"
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Kasi continued her yip-yap conversation with the kobolds, her face tense with concentration as she translated their frantic words. But it was Sharn who spoke first, his deep voice cutting through the dimly lit chamber.
“Dragon.”
The word hit like a hammer blow. Sera barely had time to process it before she saw the shift in the kobolds' demeanor—the way they straightened, the silent obedience, the sheer terror in their eyes.
A dragon. Not just any dragon—a chromatic one. A servant of Takhisis.
Her heart sank. This was far worse than a group of desperate raiders or a tyrannical warlord. If a chromatic dragon had taken residence here, then this was no mere hideout—it was the beginnings of a lair.
And the crates? No longer just stolen goods. They were a tribute. A food supply. The kobolds weren’t just scavengers; they were being worked to the bone, carving out a home for their monstrous master.
Sera forced herself to stand tall, gripping the hilt of her sunblade like an anchor. Her voice faltered slightly.
“...Well... then.”
She swallowed. Of course the kobolds wouldn’t betray their master. Not when that master was a dragon.
Her gaze flickered to Kasi, who looked equally shaken. But Sera needed answers, no matter how grim.
“Kasi…” she asked, keeping her tone steady. “What color is the dragon?”
She tried not to let the weight of the situation show. She tried not to look like she had already lost. Straightens up. If it was her time to face such a powerful servant of Thakisis...it would be so. With new resolve she face her friends.
"We need to warn Santech.....we must ....then if we going to have any hope defeating such a enemy. We must prepare better"
"Hmm, somethings not right. Gramma said the princess is still alive, as in the queen has died and the princess is left in her place. How did the queen die? The other thing is this construction isn't very old, they are starting not completing it, and the prints we found up here made it look like this area was to be made into a large passage way."
Merkas starts pacing, mumbling through the different pieces of information they have (Insight 15). "It seems like this is preparation for something, like someone is making the build for a dragon that is coming here, or the threat of one coming..." Turning to Kasi and the group of Kobolds "Have they seen ore talked to this "dragon"? Or is there someone saying "The dragon said this, The dragon said that"? Is there a speaker for the dragon that is saying tell no one, or keep it secret? You said princess is a sorcerer, aren't they good a illusions, would a kobold princess try to deceive her people to keep her power? How does one get to be Queen in a Noachi?"
Loyalty Begets Honour
Kasi shrugs, still flustered by all this, and translates, this time speaking to all the kobolds, doing her best to exert her status as elder female over the group. But they remain unwilling to answer. Kobold Warrior Gray finally responds after a long silence. His tone is gravelly and deliberate, like a rottweiler's grumble. Kasi stares deep into Kobold Warrior Gray's eyes for several long seconds, but unlike the others, he doesn't avert his gaze. She finally utters, "Hmm," as if deciding something, then turns to Sera to translate.
"Big One say no dragon. Big one say Dawnbound leave and never come back. Say Letni Inhelk no attack Santekh if Dawnbound leave. Letni Inhelk forget Dawnbound intrusion. Kasi say Big One lie about dragon. No lie about Letni Inhelk attack."
Kasi shakes her head. "Queen alive, yes. Princes Harkail advise queen. Princess Harkail make first peace trade with Hachakee. Queen no like outsiders. But queen listen to daughter."
Kasi holds her hands out helplessly, gesturing to the kobolds who seem to have shut down. "Worker no say nothing. Kasi know nothing. But Kasi think Master Sharn smart good. This loyalty for dragon."
Kasi chuckles and rubs her neck. Kobold politics is a long conversation, and not exactly her strong suit. "Much much strong female become queen in new tribe. But queen elder daughter become queen when queen too old to breed. Some kobold tribe, princess become queen when much strong to beat queen. Other kobold tribe have two, three, four queen elder female rule pack. Like uhhh..." she snaps her finger looking for the word, "council! Kasi tribe had queen and council. Much big tribe. Need much much leader."
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
“Sharn? You were in Santekh before we got there, and you has some of the hachakee markings so I think it’s best you take the lead on this.” Merkas says as he steps back, gathering the various potion bottles and rations so they are out of reach of the kobolds for the time being.
With 1 healing potion left as we used 2 on the Kobolds, the “teeth” potions and 6/7 of the jolt Kobola, Merkas tries to store some in his pack as he talks
Sleight of Hand = Nat 20 + 3 for 23
”That being said I say we make them take us to the queen. At the very least we can negotiate with her for our supplies, pretty sure we heard the Letni aren’t very warlike? At least they were willing to trade before.”
Loyalty Begets Honour