More Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [IC][2024 rules][1]

Pev will simply approach the statue and offer a small prayer. 

"Mm~ And these scents are so nice too." Lothia added immediately after Paddy's commentary with a dreamy expression on her face. Her focus sharpens a few seconds later as the weight of Valeria's claim finally hits her. But while her grip tightens upon the staff she'd been using as a walking stick (not that she needed one) up to then, she otherwise kept up a facade of ease. "Mmn~ Who's to say it couldn't be both, Paddy?" She asks with the ease of a friend talking to another. "I've known quite a few priest of Tyr with fullsized logs practically shoved up their butts. And don't get me started on Sune's little gaggle of empty headed dolls." The blonde shuddered at some unspoken memory, then sighed and mentally started a countdown waiting for someone to answer Valeria and Dev. But if none did within the next minute, she'd huff, shake her head, and then try to maneuver past the others as needed to start popping open doors.

Dev, as you lean against the cool stone for relief, you realise these are simple monastic cells. The first one seems to not have been occupied in a while, gathering dust. The next two feel lived in, holding modest personal belongings, while the fourth is cluttered with junk and gardening tools. The last two cells are strung with several small hammocks, designed for much smaller occupants than a human or a goliath.

Pev and Paddy, as you offer your prayers, you realise that this statue, unlike the one at the top of the cliff, doesn't depict the Platinum Dragon himself, but a Bronze Dragon - one of the noble metallic family known for their love of the sea and their sense of justice.

Val, your call for peace echoes off the cliffs. A few moments of silence pass before a small, scaly reptilian head pops out from around the corner rock. It’s a kobold, but its expression isn't one of malice, it rather looks quite curious and cheerful. You hear a loud, chirping giggle, and a small clawed hand beckons you enthusiastically to follow before the creature vanishes.

The frantic patter-patter-patter of small feet recedes as it dashes further up the path, leading towards the very top of the cliff where the temple you spotted even from the ship is located.

"Interesting, a kobold, I suppose it could be the servant the current dragon ruler of this isle, let's just hope it is one of the good ones, or our visit here might be a quite short one." She says in a serious tone, but she still starts to follow their small scaly greeter. "Wait up little one, we're coming." She calls out in draconic.

Insight to determine if the kobold is leading them into a trap: 23

Dev hears the word “kobold” and the small sleeping arrangements suddenly make sense.  He spends a few more seconds silently studying the cell he’s in, curiosity in these creatures spartan lifestyle holding him there.  Exiting the cell he notices the scampering kobold.  “Little dragons,” he says with a grin.  “Might be them little dragons sitting on a hoard, eh Paddy?”

The gnome chuckles.  “Ain’t no other choice than follow ‘em, I guess.  Only way is up’n all that.”  He looks over the edge of the cliff, then steps closer to the wall with the entrances.  

Lothia's commentary on the priggishness of the God of Justice's followers seems to tickle Paddy's funny bone. "Ah, ye've got yerself a colourful way with words, Lothia. Had my fair share o' scraps with Tyrrans... but ye can never get enough run-ins with the Sunites! Heh heh heh." A wet, rasping chuckle escapes the dragonborn's jaws.

When he notices Pev kneeling in prayer, he points out the error. "Thought the same myself at first, lad, but it's not Bahamut? ... Looks like some brass dragon, so it does."

As Dev re-ignites his interest in treasure, the Waterdhavian begins skittering forward, hobbling up the incline. "Now yer talkin' my language! What are we waitin' for? Let's be after the blighter! He's heading to that temple, oi'd say."

Perception: 16 ((OOC: Trying to maintain the kobold in his sights and generally keep an eye out for danger.))

Pev takes off his brass hat and compares it to the dragon in front of him. He chortles in embarassment. "Well, when you want to honour someone's great-grandfather, hard to be otherwise with their descendents too." Completely missing the kobold, he hurries to take a place in front of Lothia and hurry up the onward path.

Paddy's chuckling gets Lothia snickering as well. But by and large, her attention remained trained on where Val last spotted something. The goliath's eyes go a bit wide at the sight of a kobold. Instincts screamed at her as well to start checking the upper climbs for more peeking over ridges with slings in hand and basket full of critters! Yet, there'd been no malice or anger there in its expression, let alone a barked out demand, further both mesmerizing and confusing the goliath.

 "A kobold that doesn't immediately try to rob you. Now I've seen everything," Lothia muttered to herself with a smirk after watching the exchange. "Sounds good to me, Paddy. Just watch your steps." She forewarns while moving to follow after the others.

Val, when you call out again, a small head pops out from behind the rock one last time. The kobold looks at you wide-eyed, gives you a toothy grin, clearly delighted to be understood, and lets out another high-pitched chirping giggle before sprinting out of sight for good. Despite the reputation kobolds have as trap-makers and thieves, you are certain there isn't any malice in this one's actions and movements. It's behaving more like a curious child or a puppy than anything else.

Paddy, you keep your eyes open, but you see no real signs of danger. Instead, you notice how meticulously the path is maintained as it leads you higher. You pass a small, free-standing building with a peaked roof and a weathered wooden door; a sturdy wooden pallet wrapped with rope hangs beneath it on an iron chain, lying flat against the cliff face. Further on, you pass a doorway in the rock opening into a dining room with a long table, two benches, and a single chair at its head. Next to it is another doorway cut into the cliff, the only one you've seen with an actual door.

Finally, you reach the highest point of the cloister.

You find yourselves in front of the open-air temple that overhangs the cliff, supported by arched stone struts anchored to the cliff face. The north wall of the temple is carved directly into the rock, while the rest is open to the sea air. Heavy pillars mark the three open sides, supporting the wooden roof. At the centre of the temple stands the massive statue you saw from the ship: a wizened old man surrounded by seven soaring songbirds. A feeling of serenity suffuses the place.

The kobold you were following is there, bouncing on its heels next to a group of other kobolds who are busy with various chores - sweeping the stone floor or polishing brass censers.

Your arrival quickly draws the attention of the entire population of the place, which consists mostly of kobolds. These small, reptilian folk eye you curiously while a couple of humans watch from a distance. All the cloister's residents are dressed in simple clothes, and no one carries a visible weapon. The kobold you followed exclaims gleefully in Draconic that Val can speak their language.

Suddenly, the silence of the temple is shattered as the kobolds begin barraging you with questions:

"How do you know our language?" the one you followed asks Val.

“What’s your name?” one pipes up, standing right next to Paddy. “Where are you from?” another asks, looking up at Lothia with pure awe. “What’s that?” a third chimes in, pointing a tiny claw at Dev's massive axe. “Why are you here?” a fourth tilts its head like a puppy at Pev.

Tha flaming hot redhead is pleased to see the kobolds scurry around, and she realizes she feels calm and relaxed around them, almost like she belonged here. "Yes, somehow I do, I guess I always knew your tongue, as long as I can remember anyway." She answers truthfully, still in draconic. There hadn't been much reason to practice speaking the tongue of the dragons lately so she admittedly feels a bit rusty, but she quickly catches on to the local dialect. "Thanks for inviting us, I am Valeria and these are my companions, we just arrived to the isle and were hoping to speak to Runara." She explains with a friendly smile, still in draconic, although those not proficient in the language would of course still notice the names mentioned.

Dev chuckles at the kobold pointing at his axe.  “Do ye want to hold it?” and he holds it out to the tiny creature.  “It keeps me’n me friends safe.”

Paddy's amber-gold eyes flick over each feature they pass, weighing each residence with the old calculation of a man used to larceny among a number of other criminal ventures. A few months of attempting to better himself have not yet sanded down the sharp instincts formed by years of 'creative redistribution', and the temptation to go snooping around in the dining room, the building with the odd chained pallet, and whatever lies behind closed door is difficult to resist. Yet in the company of his new fellows from the Sailing Dragon, he heads up the path to the cloister. Upon arrival, the dragonborn is prickled by a sense of shame at such corrupt thoughts as he experiences the tranquility of the temple.

Nevertheless, he grins as the kobolds begin chattering and chirruping all at once, raising his club-like claws in an attempt to placate some of their enthusiasm as they pepper the party with questions.. "Whoa, whoa, whoa now... gods preserve us, will ye listen t' yerselves?" He chuckles in Common, before shifting to Draconic that is less colloquial than his rough, baseborn Waterdhavian. "I am called Padrionn Gilderglass, little one. And you? What name do you carry? Are you, perhaps... Runara?"

Lothia appeared as unnerve as she was infatuated with the animated nature of the kobolds. But if their excitement meant a whole lot of chattering away in their native tongue, she'd smile politely at the one focused on her, and even kneel down to try and pet them on the head with a surprising amount of gentleness for one of her size. On the other hand, a question asked in common leaves her appearing melancholy as she respond with but a, "Far, far to the north of here."

Ultimately, idle amusement could only go so far with or without a language barrier in place, so she'd soon turn her attention to the humans watching from a distance. "Be right back, little darling." She would then stride confidently over to them, the butt of her staff clacking away at the stone as she carried on her way. "Hey! Uhm, Hi? Or is it 'well met'? I always get that one mixed up, especially that last one -- But, that's neither or there! The name is Lothia, and, uhh... You lot do speak the common trade tongue here, yes?" 

As the tiny kobold tries to heft Devizes axe he glances over at Lothia and the humans.  His attention returns to the kobolds.  "Ain't ever seen little dragons actin' like this," and he puts out a hand to steady the axe before the kobold accidentally cleaves someone in two swinging it around.  "They seem pretty friendly.  They in charge, do ye reckon? Or their bigger friends over there?" and he nods towards Lothia and the humans.

"Careful now," he says as his axe swings uncontrolled through the air.  "Better if I take that back, little fella."  Reclaiming his axe, he follows Lothia and joins her with the humans.

“Warm gears and bright sparks to you, esteemed friends!" he greets them formally.  "May your day turn smoothly and your curiosities never dull.”

“Ahh, a philosopher,” says Pev to the kobold that addresses him. “Are you perchance Runara?”

Apart from the kobolds speaking to Valeria and Paddy in Draconic, everyone else here speaks in Common.

The kobold studying Valeria tilts her head thoughtfully. "Maybe your granny was a dragon? But you don't have scales…" she mutters, looking closer at the sorceress' face as if expecting them to sprout at any second.

Dev, the kobold named Blepp is absolutely delighted by the chance to hold the great axe. He squeals as his tiny clawed arms sag under the weight, attempting to swing it left and right while panting with the effort. When you reclaim the weapon, he doesn't seem disappointed. "It's too big for Blepp! Besides, Blepp already has something better." He proudly pulls a sheathed dagger from his clothes and holds it out like a holy relic. "It's magical! Blepp very lucky to have such magic!"

Meanwhile, the kobold speaking to Paddy chortles. "Me – Runara? Me no Runara. Me call Mumpo." He looks left and right to ensure no one is watching before sneakily flashing a single copper coin, his eyes glinting with mischief. "But Mumpo stole this from Runara… Runara no idea. Mumpo smart." He beams with pride at his heist.

Pev, the kobold interested in you, Laylee, shakes her head at your question. "No, no, this is Laylee. I help Myla. Runara is praying," she says, pointing a clawed finger toward the temple. "She be done soon. Are you a friend?"

The kobold that spoke to Lothia remains completely smitten, following like a shadow as you and Dev approach the two humans watching the scene.

The man is in his late middle age, his pale skin tanned dark and covered in freckles. He has auburn hair, a grey-streaked beard, and grey-blue eyes, with abstract tattoos peeking out from beneath his dirt-stained robes. The woman beside him is muscular with close-cropped black hair and skin marked by scars. Her left eye is milky and blind, and a prosthetic made of wood and metal replaces her right leg below the knee.

"We do speak the common tongue, yes," the woman says gruffly. Her one good eye scans Lothia from head to toe, her posture guarded.

"Come on, Varnoth, would it kill you to show a little hospitality?" the man chuckles softly. He offers a warm, calloused hand to Dev and Lothia.

"Forgive the little ones," he continues, gesturing to the kobolds still swirling around Pev and the others. "New faces are the most exciting thing to happen here since the last harvest. We don't get many visitors who aren't... well, looking for an end to their journey. My name is Tarak, and this is Varnoth. You look like you've had a long trip. What brings you all to the island?"

For some reason Valeria hadn't given her true heritage that much thought, always being quite content to live in the moment and never looking back. The little one had a point though, but she actually had some small patches of her skin that were red and scaly-like, although she had always kept them hidden when she could. "Oh yes, granny was probably a dragon." She says with a smile and a nod to the curious kobold, only half-joking about it.

The flaming hot redhead then notices the humans and follows the others to talk with them. "Greetings, I am Valeria, just arrived with the others, we don't want to intrude on your hospitality but we'd be happy to know a bit more about the isle. Is Runara the high priestess of this temple? And if we would be inclined to explore the isle, do you have any advice or even a map to share." She asks with a warm smile.

(Persuasion if relevant to make a first good impression: 8 :-P)

"Ah now, a man of industry, oi see." Paddy arches his brow-ridge and chuckles conspiratorially. He keeps his voice low and hushed, drawing Mumpo aside. "Clever lad! A divil for the sharp thinkin', so ye are. For now, do us a small favour and keep yer ear to the ground - let me know of any rumours or secrets ye hear. Things that most other folk don't really talk about. Hidden maps, secret arrivals to the island, books concealed under bedding. That sort o' thing. 'Specially secrets about dragon hoards or coin in general. Ye scratch my back, Mumpo, an' oi'll see ye're clinkin' a fair bit more o' that lovely, gleamin' copper in yer wee pockets."

He reaches into the leather satchel where he keeps his butchers' irons, and roots around for a coin purse at the bottom. He palms the little kobold another copper while appearing to clasp his hand in greeting, the big mitt practically swallowing the kobold's smaller claws. "How's that sound, hm?" 

When his business with Mumpo concludes, and he notices introductions being made, Paddy joins Lothia and Dev as they converse with Tarak and Varnoth. "Padrionn Gilderglass. Pleased to make yer acquaintance, oi'm sure." The golden dragonborn tips his hat in greeting. "A pilgrimage o' sorts, to honour the King o' Dragons himself!"

Persuasion: (20, 3).

((OOC: Rolled with advantage, just in case you felt the copper coin might make Mumpo more inclined to accept recruitment by Paddy. But the first roll was better anyway. :) )) 

Dev takes the offered hand and shakes it firmly.  "There ain't nothing to forgive."  Dev looks back towards the kobolds and smiles.  "They be curious about visitors to their home and they be right to ask questions of strangers.  Tell Blepp his knife be far better than this axe!"

He gives a small bow to Tarak and Varnoth.  "My name be Devizes.  Pleased to make yer acquaintance."  As he stands back upright he scratches his head.  "Must admit, I be here more in hope than expectation.  Looking for answers, I guess."  He shrugs.  "Here seems as likely a place to find 'em as any.  If not, I seen somewhere new and I keep lookin'." 

He addresses Tarak directly.  "I hope you ain't considering this question rude, but one warrior to another, would you tell me the story of yer hurts?"  He gestures to her prosthetic leg.  "Only if ye wish to, mind."

Persuasion check if needed: 3 (nat 1!)

Now that Lothia had a better look at the woman, she looked more impressed at the state of the scarred woman, more than offended over the gruff greeting. The goliath even started to stand a little straighter, and pulled back the head of her bear mantle to better regard the woman. "Mn! No worries!" She assures the tattooed man, yet her gaze remained affixed to Varnoth. She does eventually return the gesture after Dev, giving the an a firm handshake and a toothy grin. Once his last words began to settle in mind however, Lothia squinted and muttered the words, "Journey's end?"  

Soon after, there's a shudder and a brief look of distaste on the Lothia's face before she visibly shrugged off further thought on the matter. "Sorry, I just, uhm... Mn, it doesn't matter." She said, chiming as soon as an opportunity presented itself. "The name is Lothia, and thank you as well for you -- all of you--" She makes an offhanded, sweeping gesture towards all the locals about the area. "For your hospitality! Assuming... that is what I think it is." Lothia snorts and snickers. "And for what it matters, I'm not here for anything as lofty as some of my new friends here. Just stories! But of course, if there's anything I can help with in exchange for them, then know I'm me know!"

[skills]Persuasion[/skills]: 12 (for 1st impressions.)

(OOC: Ignore that animal handling check in Gamelog. D&D Beyond and Beyond20 extension was having issues, so I was testing a fix. Unfortunately, I don't believe my first 19 on persuasion went through.)