Gitte looks terrified, gasping each time the fast-moving river sends a spray of water towards him.
It is Givma who speaks. "I am an alchemist. I have a process, that I call the Goldglit." You all notice that his common is much better than Gitte's. "This place has a mighty forge, built by dwarves a long ago. We use it to melt the coins, then add my Goldglit to melted metal. We then cover lesser coins with a thin coat of the more expensive coin. Now we have better coin" it says, clearly proud of its work.
"We only took 5 of your coins, that's our pay. Five coins melted now. Now we have 20 new gold coins and 20 less copper coins. The rest of your gold we left above ground in bag. Collector comes and takes them to village of Knott. That's all we know. Let us go, and you leave. Other kobolds know your here."
Tool stays silent as they process all of this new information. These kobolds are coin counterfeiters? Why? And who's this Collector
Tool places Gitte far away from the rushing waters, giving him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I won't hurt you any more." Tool turns to Givma. "But we still need answers. Where did you place the bag, who paid you, and who's this Collector? Could you give us a physical description?"
"Answer those, and we'll let you go. Won't we?" Tool asks their companions.
"I can go if you answer our questions," Stardust on Stone says, "but we will find you if you lie to us about the Collector or the location of the bag." He watches the doorway close to Siran as he says this.
The elf sighs, listening to the panicked, yet greedy Kobolds has grown tiresome. "We are not savages. I didn't come on this mission to kill anyone I didn't have to. I'm used to hunting out information and doing things quietly.." Sairn tucks his spear away and glares at the Kobolds in the room with them. "You give up the description of the man who has the rest of the gold and we'll be on our way. "
"We do not know who the collector is. We watch the road for carts and merchants who camp for the night. We sneak in, we steal coins, only coins, we come back. We take 5 coins, we Goldglit them, and put the rest in a bag and put them behind a stone, outside. Near the road, just down from where you camp. It's a good deal for Kobolds. We don't hurt anyone. Just want coins."
Givma is silent for a moment, as if contemplating what to say next. "Kobolds like this deal." It looks over at Gitte, still recovering from his ordeal. "We don't know who the collector is, but we made this deal with a dragonborn. A descendent of dragons, like us. He made the deal, he may know the collector."
As the alchemist looks around at you all, it's clear that you are not done listening. It sighs and continues. "We do not know dragonborn name. Never seen since first time deal made. I can show you where we put the bag, but only if you promise not to fight us anymore."
Looking over at Gitte for a second, it adds, "No lies about curses either! Escort you to exit. You go, leave us. Deal?"
"Dragonborn?-"Dorai. The dragonborn knight leading the mission. A traitor. It makes perfect sense.
Tool turns to their companions, and announces the traitor's name with spite. "Dorai. The one who's leading our mission. He's their dragonborn. I bet he knew he was sending us to a cave full of kobolds, too. Probably doesn't expect us to come back alive."
A smirk curls the elf's lips. "I never did trust him." Tapping my dagger with my fingers.. "But it also calls into question his boss.. or puts the boss in danger. Either way, now we know. Its time we turn this around to our side" I step up to the Tabaxi and Kenku, showing a rare smile. "I am sorry for showing any disrespect.. in my line of work, plus my genetics precludes me from trusting many. Lets get the gold back."
"Getting the gold back sounds like a good plan," Stardust on Stone says, "but what do we want to do with these two? Let them go?" He shrugs. "Let's find out when they left the gold behind the rock. We might be able to get there before Dorai." He steps back and looks at the kobolds. "Tell us everything we need to know to find this rock where you left the gold."
You untie the kobolds and tell them to lead you to the bag. "No tricks!" Givma says, "others are watching."
The kobolds lead you deeper into the hall. Shadows flicker at the edges of your vision, and though the halls seem empty, whispers drift from behind closed doors—each one opened just a crack, as if watching.
The first room you’re ushered into holds four nest-like beds, each fashioned from tattered cloth and straw.
Farther in, you step into what was once a grand chamber. A rotted carpet stretches across the cracked floor, dulled to the color of ash. Four pillars rise around the room’s center, each carved with scenes of dwarven warriors locked in battle with orcs, goblins, and towering giants. Faded but fierce, the engravings tell of ancient conflicts. The air smells faintly of wild animals, and you catch quick glimpses—small, twitching shapes darting between shadows: rodent-like creatures, watching, waiting.
At last, you ascend a narrow staircase and emerge through a pair of heavy double doors. Weather-worn and expertly concealed, they vanish into the surrounding stone and ivy swallowed long ago by nature’s quiet reclamation. The air is fresh and still.
A short distance ahead stands a moss-covered boulder, its rounded bulk perched on the fringe of the woods, no more than a hundred feet from the road.
When you arrive, the kobold says, "We put bag here. Bag is gone now. Collector took it" and he shrugs. "You go now" and he points to the left. "That way, short walk, you find your camp, around the bend."
With that, Gitte and Givma give you one last look and start to return towards the doors. You have no doubt that other kobolds have followed and are watching you from the brush near the door.
[The green line is your path. The red blocks are closed doors]
"I think we have to confront Dorai. And the two others with him," Stardust on Stone says. His stomach rumbles. "That's the only way we will end up with what we are owed." He signs. "We can carry the rest of the coin to the church without him if we need to."
"Let's go talk to the dragonborn, then," Stardust on Stone says. He squares his shoulders and nods to himself, convincing himself. "It's time we go." He steps to the left, around the bend, in the directions the kobolds pointed.
You follow the road in the direction the kobolds mentioned, and after10 minutes, the road curves and your camp site comes into view. The wagon and the horses are nowhere to be seen. Leaning against a tree trunk are the two Gnomes, Leo and Cleo.
As you approach, they jump to their feet. Leo pulls out a dagger and Cleo a small knife. Leo has a gash above his eye, dried blood on his cheek.
Tool raises their hands, palms forward, signalling that they mean no harm. "We're not here to fight. We know who took the missing coins." Tool glances at their companions, waiting for them to speak and fill in the blanks.
"We believe it was Dorai," Stardust on Stone, "though we only the word of two we held prisoner." Stardust pauses. "He would have had means and an opportunity. As, I suppose, the two of you would have . . ."
He watches the gnomes, trying to see if they plan to deceive. Insight: 21
Gitte looks terrified, gasping each time the fast-moving river sends a spray of water towards him.
It is Givma who speaks. "I am an alchemist. I have a process, that I call the Goldglit." You all notice that his common is much better than Gitte's. "This place has a mighty forge, built by dwarves a long ago. We use it to melt the coins, then add my Goldglit to melted metal. We then cover lesser coins with a thin coat of the more expensive coin. Now we have better coin" it says, clearly proud of its work.
"We only took 5 of your coins, that's our pay. Five coins melted now. Now we have 20 new gold coins and 20 less copper coins. The rest of your gold we left above ground in bag. Collector comes and takes them to village of Knott. That's all we know. Let us go, and you leave. Other kobolds know your here."
Tool stays silent as they process all of this new information. These kobolds are coin counterfeiters? Why? And who's this Collector
Tool places Gitte far away from the rushing waters, giving him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I won't hurt you any more." Tool turns to Givma. "But we still need answers. Where did you place the bag, who paid you, and who's this Collector? Could you give us a physical description?"
"Answer those, and we'll let you go. Won't we?" Tool asks their companions.
Tool, the Kenku Wizard
"I can go if you answer our questions," Stardust on Stone says, "but we will find you if you lie to us about the Collector or the location of the bag." He watches the doorway close to Siran as he says this.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
The elf sighs, listening to the panicked, yet greedy Kobolds has grown tiresome. "We are not savages. I didn't come on this mission to kill anyone I didn't have to. I'm used to hunting out information and doing things quietly.." Sairn tucks his spear away and glares at the Kobolds in the room with them. "You give up the description of the man who has the rest of the gold and we'll be on our way. "
"We do not know who the collector is. We watch the road for carts and merchants who camp for the night. We sneak in, we steal coins, only coins, we come back. We take 5 coins, we Goldglit them, and put the rest in a bag and put them behind a stone, outside. Near the road, just down from where you camp. It's a good deal for Kobolds. We don't hurt anyone. Just want coins."
Givma is silent for a moment, as if contemplating what to say next. "Kobolds like this deal." It looks over at Gitte, still recovering from his ordeal. "We don't know who the collector is, but we made this deal with a dragonborn. A descendent of dragons, like us. He made the deal, he may know the collector."
As the alchemist looks around at you all, it's clear that you are not done listening. It sighs and continues. "We do not know dragonborn name. Never seen since first time deal made. I can show you where we put the bag, but only if you promise not to fight us anymore."
Looking over at Gitte for a second, it adds, "No lies about curses either! Escort you to exit. You go, leave us. Deal?"
"Dragonborn?-" Dorai. The dragonborn knight leading the mission. A traitor. It makes perfect sense.
Tool turns to their companions, and announces the traitor's name with spite. "Dorai. The one who's leading our mission. He's their dragonborn. I bet he knew he was sending us to a cave full of kobolds, too. Probably doesn't expect us to come back alive."
Tool, the Kenku Wizard
A smirk curls the elf's lips. "I never did trust him." Tapping my dagger with my fingers.. "But it also calls into question his boss.. or puts the boss in danger. Either way, now we know. Its time we turn this around to our side" I step up to the Tabaxi and Kenku, showing a rare smile. "I am sorry for showing any disrespect.. in my line of work, plus my genetics precludes me from trusting many. Lets get the gold back."
"Getting the gold back sounds like a good plan," Stardust on Stone says, "but what do we want to do with these two? Let them go?" He shrugs. "Let's find out when they left the gold behind the rock. We might be able to get there before Dorai." He steps back and looks at the kobolds. "Tell us everything we need to know to find this rock where you left the gold."
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
You untie the kobolds and tell them to lead you to the bag. "No tricks!" Givma says, "others are watching."
The kobolds lead you deeper into the hall. Shadows flicker at the edges of your vision, and though the halls seem empty, whispers drift from behind closed doors—each one opened just a crack, as if watching.
The first room you’re ushered into holds four nest-like beds, each fashioned from tattered cloth and straw.
Farther in, you step into what was once a grand chamber. A rotted carpet stretches across the cracked floor, dulled to the color of ash. Four pillars rise around the room’s center, each carved with scenes of dwarven warriors locked in battle with orcs, goblins, and towering giants. Faded but fierce, the engravings tell of ancient conflicts. The air smells faintly of wild animals, and you catch quick glimpses—small, twitching shapes darting between shadows: rodent-like creatures, watching, waiting.
At last, you ascend a narrow staircase and emerge through a pair of heavy double doors. Weather-worn and expertly concealed, they vanish into the surrounding stone and ivy swallowed long ago by nature’s quiet reclamation. The air is fresh and still.
A short distance ahead stands a moss-covered boulder, its rounded bulk perched on the fringe of the woods, no more than a hundred feet from the road.
When you arrive, the kobold says, "We put bag here. Bag is gone now. Collector took it" and he shrugs. "You go now" and he points to the left. "That way, short walk, you find your camp, around the bend."
With that, Gitte and Givma give you one last look and start to return towards the doors. You have no doubt that other kobolds have followed and are watching you from the brush near the door.
[The green line is your path. The red blocks are closed doors]
What do you all want to do?
[FYI we are close to finishing this one shot!]
Before the kobolds leave, Tool gives them a grateful nod. "Thank you for being honest."
After they leave, Tool turns to Sairn and Stardust on Stone. "What now? Do we just confront Dorai? I doubt he'll give up the coins without a fight."
Tool, the Kenku Wizard
"I think we have to confront Dorai. And the two others with him," Stardust on Stone says. His stomach rumbles. "That's the only way we will end up with what we are owed." He signs. "We can carry the rest of the coin to the church without him if we need to."
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
"Let's go talk to the dragonborn, then," Stardust on Stone says. He squares his shoulders and nods to himself, convincing himself. "It's time we go." He steps to the left, around the bend, in the directions the kobolds pointed.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
You follow the road in the direction the kobolds mentioned, and after10 minutes, the road curves and your camp site comes into view. The wagon and the horses are nowhere to be seen. Leaning against a tree trunk are the two Gnomes, Leo and Cleo.
As you approach, they jump to their feet. Leo pulls out a dagger and Cleo a small knife. Leo has a gash above his eye, dried blood on his cheek.
They look at you wearily, unsure what to do.
Tool raises their hands, palms forward, signalling that they mean no harm. "We're not here to fight. We know who took the missing coins." Tool glances at their companions, waiting for them to speak and fill in the blanks.
Tool, the Kenku Wizard
"We believe it was Dorai," Stardust on Stone, "though we only the word of two we held prisoner." Stardust pauses. "He would have had means and an opportunity. As, I suppose, the two of you would have . . ."
He watches the gnomes, trying to see if they plan to deceive. Insight: 21
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard