This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Garnet understands that Meepo doesn't want her to take any figurines. Instead she takes a few of the scales Ithelion stopped to show. Trying to see if she can identify the scales or gain any additional information from what Ithelion shared. Survival: 8 Nature: 10 A question came to her mind, while investigating. She addresses Meepo again.
" Is your Queen a Kobold too?" It may seem like a silly question but Garnet is curious. These creatures seem innocent enough but in this place they could be under the influence of someone or something not so friendly.
Krom chuckles at Garnet's question, "Being inside this place must be gettin' to ya lass. Ye've already asked that and the little lizard said their queen was a kobold." He swings his warhammer around to rest on his shoulder, "We ain't gonna be gettin' anywhere standin' around here. Lets be off to this queen and hope we ain't walkin' into an ambush."
(OOC: I'm assuming that either Meepo is speaking in some form of common, or that Ithelion is translating for everyone that doesn't speak draconic.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Garnet understands that Meepo doesn't want her to take any figurines. Instead she takes a few of the scales Ithelion stopped to show. Trying to see if she can identify the scales or gain any additional information from what Ithelion shared. Survival: 22 Nature: 23 A question came to her mind, while investigating. She addresses Meepo again.
" Is your Queen a Kobold too?" It may seem like a silly question but Garnet is curious. These creatures seem innocent enough but in this place they could be under the influence of someone or something not so friendly.
[you can just choose one, not both, so i'll go with the first one, which is enough!]
@garnet - you know these scales come from a white dragon wyrmling. You take the 5 or 6 scales that Ithelion found and place them in your backpack.
As you walk out the entrance to the west, looking to your left, you see some crude markings on the wall. Those of you who know Draconic can read it: "Here There Be Dragons." Meepo leads you immediately right up another hallway (far right on the map). Along the way, you are startled when Meepo shouts out (in Draconic). "Ticklecorn!" Meepo explains that it's a password and those who don't announce themselves will be attacked.
He leads you to the left at the end of the hallway and you spy a double row of relief-carved marble columns march the length of this long, large hall. The worn carvings depict entwining dragons. To your right, there is a heavy door guarded by 2 kobolds and they watch you keenly as you pass by. On that same wall a little further, there is a normal wooden door. As you pass, the smell of rot and decay, mixed with stale meat, assaults your senses. To your left, there are a couple of doors and room. The first door you pass, you hear moaning and whimpering coming from behind this door. With a questioning look to Meepo, his face darkens, "Thieves," he snarls.
A short throne stands near the west wall, constructed of fallen bits of masonry stacked against an old altar. On the top of the altar sit a variety of small items. The portion of the altar that serves as the throne's back features a carving of a rearing dragon. A metallic key is held firmly in the dragon's open jaws. Surrounding Yusdrayal are 3 vicious looking elite kobold guards. Normally, you suspect they'd be patrolling the area but with a group of you coming down the hallway, they have closed ranks. You see a shadowy kobold with a crossbow, a somewhat crazed looking kobold - face painted and a bit of froth at the corner of the mouth, and another with a mean-looking two handed sword. Yusdrayal herself is taller than most kobolds, and she exudes an air of confidence and magic. She has a glowing staff in one hand. Her voluminous robes sway and click as the bones and sticks decorating them hit together. The crown adorning her head is made from a hollowed out skull of what looks like a deer, complete with antlers. You all can tell, through your passives, that she is (like Meepo) different than the regular kobolds you have seen. She looks at you thoughtfully before saying (in clear common), "And what do we have here? What have you found, Keeper of Dragons?" Her gaze lingers on you, Daemyar, a bit longer than you'd like. You get the feeling she's a bit unsure about your reasons for being there..
"Queen, Meepo bring you maybe friends. They look for other hoomans but say to help find Calcryx too!" Meepo bows his head deferentially to Yusdrayal as he speaks.
Map - note - you can't see in the rooms but not sure how exactly to do a fog of war situation.
OK, multiple types of kobolds. Interesting. Ithelion glances around, trying to catalogue and understand the differences. Are they physical -- like the tall queen -- or just matters of adornment?
Her gaze settles back on the queen, and she bows, "Queen Yusdrayal, thank you for agreeing to see us."
"We come in search of missing people from the village of Oakhurst, and for understanding of the events that have been unfolding in the area these past years. Our discussion with Meepo...", she glances in his direction, "...suggests that there may be things of mutual benefit to discuss, and that with the help of your wisdom we may more easily achieve our goals."
[from Garnet's earlier roll, she knows enough about kobolds to ask her when you have the chance. Kobolds, despite having a reputation (most deserved) for being a weak and cowardly and haphazard, do have social structures and there are variations among them, much like other races. Ithelion and Lorell, you can tell Yusdrayal is some sort of magic user and Daemyar and Krom, you can tell that the 3 guards are different in quality than the other (red) guards].
@ithelion - Yusdrayal focuses on you as you talk, intelligent eyes soaking you in. She smiles and nods at your mention of her wisdom. "The trouble has become worse. The Outcast, he lives below. He grows the fruit and gives it to the goblins. Then they sell it to the humans. The dragon-thieving goblins are his servants! The twig monsters that emerge from below into your lands are the Outcast's pets.They are much more numerous below, in the Twilight Grove." She seems to purr at the mention of your help. "Mutual benefit, I like these words. They sound soft and nice. Yes, the goblins stole our dragon," she glares at Meepo angrily, who shudders and averts his eyes shamefully. "They stole our dragon, Calcryx! If you return her to us, I will give you great rewards. This one," she nods condescendingly at Meepo, "can accompany you if you desire." She thinks for a moment and then speaks, "These humans you speak of, they went to fight the goblins but never returned. That was about a month ago. If they came back they did so through the deep dark - you people call it The Underdark, if I recall your stories correctly."
She gazes at each of you, waiting. Her gaze settles on Deamyar and she cocks her head slightly. "You are a curious one for this group. Two others of your kind came here not long ago, nasty ones they were. They had lots of coins. They gave some to two of my warriors in exchange for finding this place." Her eyes turn cold. "Then they killed them and went off to The Outcast. It wasn't much longer when they lead a raid and stole the dragon." She sits back on her throne. "I wonder if you have the same intention...They were called Shamir and Noxxus." The 3 guards growl at the mention of their names. "They now lead the goblins."
Daemyar narrows his eyes. “They are known for treachery more than glory. I will have their heads for you so long as you promise to never utter their names again after it’s done.”
Ithelion nods at Daemyar's remark, then smiles at the queen, "Thank you for your honesty and frankness, majesty. I shall be equally honest in turn: I think it is safe to say that we are each here because we share a common goal: we would see an end to the corruption that this Outcast is propagating...the monsters, the deaths and the corruption. Anything you mght know of him would help us."
"I also think that -- beyond the defeat of the evil that lives here -- some of us have other, more personal, reasons for being here. And, while I do not know the details of Daemyar's motivation..." she nods at the hobgblin, "... I can say that I believe it to be one of honour."
She thinks for a moment, then nods to herself: It's up to the others what they choose to say.
"As to my own other interests...perhaps you may be able to help? I am, you see, a historian and a librarian. I have been told that once there was a great library here. Any news of such a place might also be of interest -- such places often contain important historical texts."
Edited to add "not" to "...do NOT know the details of Daemyar's..."
Ithelion nods at Daemyar's remark, then smiles at the queen, "Thank you for your honesty and frankness, majesty. I shall be equally honest in turn: I think it is safe to say that we are each here because we share a common goal: we would see an end to the corruption that this Outcast is propagating...the monsters, the deaths and the corruption. Anything you mght know of him would help us."
"I also think that -- beyond the defeat of the evil that lives here -- some of us have other, more personal, reasons for being here. And, while I do know know the details of Daemyar's motivation..." she nods at the hobgblin, "... I can say that I believe it to be one of honour."
She thinks for a moment, then nods to herself: It's up to the others what they choose to say.
"As to my own other interests...perhaps you may be able to help? I am, you see, a historian and a librarian. I have been told that once there was a great library here. Any news of such a place might also be of interest -- such places often contain important historical texts."
"The Outcast came here about ten years ago seeking a voice only he could hear. We led him down but left him at a certain point, a point where we were not willing to continue. We keep to our area here, to do otherwise is to invite danger. Thus, I know little of what awaits you beyond... We have not seen him since he arrived, only the pet goblin scum he keeps. Books? We have found one, which you might have if you find the dragon, though it is old and crumbling. It's the only one I have seen." She nods to the key in the dragon's mouth above her. "Perhaps if you return, you might borrow this key. It opens a door that has a dragon on it but we don't go there - we hear moaning and strange songlike sounds sometimes. It's clearly haunted or worse. The Outcast might have some, or you might find some further in. Goblins are stupid and may see such things useful for starting a fire." She looks at you coyly, strange given her reptilian visage, "but ones like us know how power can be stored in such things, don't we?"
She looks at the rest of you. "I have heard the elf and the taller one. What about the rest of you? Do you speak also? Or do they speak for you?"
Garnet steps forward a little to address the queen. "I speak for myself your highness. " She crosses her arms over her chest the chainmail crinkling together across her stonelike flesh. "However I know that when Ithelion speaks her words tend to be thought out and polite. Better for situations such as speaking with a Queen." Suddenly Garnet felt that may have sounded a bit rude and lowered her head into bowing gesture before straightening again to continue speaking.
" The reason I am here is not as interesting as the others." She pauses "I'm only here because action needs to be taken against the evil of this place, before it spreads."
Leaving out the fact that Adathar was basically dropping dead birds on people before the party couldn't ignore him any longer.
( I feel like this is a super generic paladin answer..lol Evil = kick it's butt)
Yusdrayal looks at you with some respect. “It isn’t often I see someone so honest. Thank you.” She looks you over again and seeing you have nothing more to add, she asks, “Meepo knows the way around here. If you would like him to join you, he is yours to command. He can explain where to go when you are ready, even if you would rather him not accompany you. Good luck, bring back our dragon.”
Before they depart, Ithelion pauses and clears her throat a little nervously.
"If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me anything of this 'Ashardalon'? We were unable to save Meepo's brother, but his last dying words mentioned this dragon, and the name is emblazoned on one of the doors...and you hold the key to that door..."
Before they depart, Ithelion pauses and clears her throat a little nervously.
"If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me anything of this 'Ashardalon'? We were unable to save Meepo's brother, but his last dying words mentioned this dragon, and the name is emblazoned on one of the doors...and you hold the key to that door..."
She nods at you appraisingly. "My, my. It has been a while since anyone with knowledge of this name has come. I myself learned this only from a passing traveler many years ago, when I led my people here from the caves. Ashardalon is the name of the dragon that was once worshipped here, long ago. Yes, you may have seen this name in the ruins. The truth is, most of my people believe her to be a god of some sort, which is not surprising since we are heir to dragons." She says this last part with a smile. "I do not know everything about this place, we stick to these levels and just try to limit what comes up from below."
Ithelion considers for a moment than nods, "Thank you, that explains a few things...one more matter if I may...what can you tell me of the red fruit? How might if be connected with Ashardalon do you think?"
I really hope they don't plan to revive it somehow. And that the kobolds are not part of that plan...
Ithelion considers for a moment than nods, "Thank you, that explains a few things...one more matter if I may...what can you tell me of the red fruit? How might if be connected with Ashardalon do you think?"
I really hope they don't plan to revive it somehow. And that the kobolds are not part of that plan...
"The Outcast, he lives below. He grows the fruit, which he gives to the goblins. The dragon-thieving goblins are his servants! I do not know if there is a connection to the great dragon, other than strange things happen when old magics and death come together."
Garnet understands that Meepo doesn't want her to take any figurines. Instead she takes a few of the scales Ithelion stopped to show. Trying to see if she can identify the scales or gain any additional information from what Ithelion shared.
Survival: 8
Nature: 10
A question came to her mind, while investigating. She addresses Meepo again.
" Is your Queen a Kobold too?"
It may seem like a silly question but Garnet is curious. These creatures seem innocent enough but in this place they could be under the influence of someone or something not so friendly.
Krom chuckles at Garnet's question, "Being inside this place must be gettin' to ya lass. Ye've already asked that and the little lizard said their queen was a kobold." He swings his warhammer around to rest on his shoulder, "We ain't gonna be gettin' anywhere standin' around here. Lets be off to this queen and hope we ain't walkin' into an ambush."
(OOC: I'm assuming that either Meepo is speaking in some form of common, or that Ithelion is translating for everyone that doesn't speak draconic.)
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
(wow I did didn't I? Lol)
Embarrassed Garnet nods at Krom and waves her question away. " Nevermind Meepo, I just got a little confused."
" I agree let's get going then."
[you can just choose one, not both, so i'll go with the first one, which is enough!]
@garnet - you know these scales come from a white dragon wyrmling. You take the 5 or 6 scales that Ithelion found and place them in your backpack.
As you walk out the entrance to the west, looking to your left, you see some crude markings on the wall. Those of you who know Draconic can read it: "Here There Be Dragons." Meepo leads you immediately right up another hallway (far right on the map). Along the way, you are startled when Meepo shouts out (in Draconic). "Ticklecorn!" Meepo explains that it's a password and those who don't announce themselves will be attacked.
He leads you to the left at the end of the hallway and you spy a double row of relief-carved marble columns march the length of this long, large hall. The worn carvings depict entwining dragons. To your right, there is a heavy door guarded by 2 kobolds and they watch you keenly as you pass by. On that same wall a little further, there is a normal wooden door. As you pass, the smell of rot and decay, mixed with stale meat, assaults your senses. To your left, there are a couple of doors and room. The first door you pass, you hear moaning and whimpering coming from behind this door. With a questioning look to Meepo, his face darkens, "Thieves," he snarls.
A short throne stands near the west wall, constructed of fallen bits of masonry stacked against an old altar. On the top of the altar sit a variety of small items. The portion of the altar that serves as the throne's back features a carving of a rearing dragon. A metallic key is held firmly in the dragon's open jaws. Surrounding Yusdrayal are 3 vicious looking elite kobold guards. Normally, you suspect they'd be patrolling the area but with a group of you coming down the hallway, they have closed ranks. You see a shadowy kobold with a crossbow, a somewhat crazed looking kobold - face painted and a bit of froth at the corner of the mouth, and another with a mean-looking two handed sword. Yusdrayal herself is taller than most kobolds, and she exudes an air of confidence and magic. She has a glowing staff in one hand. Her voluminous robes sway and click as the bones and sticks decorating them hit together. The crown adorning her head is made from a hollowed out skull of what looks like a deer, complete with antlers. You all can tell, through your passives, that she is (like Meepo) different than the regular kobolds you have seen. She looks at you thoughtfully before saying (in clear common), "And what do we have here? What have you found, Keeper of Dragons?" Her gaze lingers on you, Daemyar, a bit longer than you'd like. You get the feeling she's a bit unsure about your reasons for being there..
"Queen, Meepo bring you maybe friends. They look for other hoomans but say to help find Calcryx too!" Meepo bows his head deferentially to Yusdrayal as he speaks.
Map - note - you can't see in the rooms but not sure how exactly to do a fog of war situation.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Daemyar keeps a dagger in hand under his cloak, ready to throw in case anyone gets too hostile.
Paladin - warforged - orange
@daemyar - roll me a sleight of hand check please.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Daemyar sleight of hand 18
Paladin - warforged - orange
OK, multiple types of kobolds. Interesting. Ithelion glances around, trying to catalogue and understand the differences. Are they physical -- like the tall queen -- or just matters of adornment?
Her gaze settles back on the queen, and she bows, "Queen Yusdrayal, thank you for agreeing to see us."
"We come in search of missing people from the village of Oakhurst, and for understanding of the events that have been unfolding in the area these past years. Our discussion with Meepo...", she glances in his direction, "...suggests that there may be things of mutual benefit to discuss, and that with the help of your wisdom we may more easily achieve our goals."
She pauses, her focus on the queen.
[from Garnet's earlier roll, she knows enough about kobolds to ask her when you have the chance. Kobolds, despite having a reputation (most deserved) for being a weak and cowardly and haphazard, do have social structures and there are variations among them, much like other races. Ithelion and Lorell, you can tell Yusdrayal is some sort of magic user and Daemyar and Krom, you can tell that the 3 guards are different in quality than the other (red) guards].
@ithelion - Yusdrayal focuses on you as you talk, intelligent eyes soaking you in. She smiles and nods at your mention of her wisdom. "The trouble has become worse. The Outcast, he lives below. He grows the fruit and gives it to the goblins. Then they sell it to the humans. The dragon-thieving goblins are his servants! The twig monsters that emerge from below into your lands are the Outcast's pets.They are much more numerous below, in the Twilight Grove." She seems to purr at the mention of your help. "Mutual benefit, I like these words. They sound soft and nice. Yes, the goblins stole our dragon," she glares at Meepo angrily, who shudders and averts his eyes shamefully. "They stole our dragon, Calcryx! If you return her to us, I will give you great rewards. This one," she nods condescendingly at Meepo, "can accompany you if you desire." She thinks for a moment and then speaks, "These humans you speak of, they went to fight the goblins but never returned. That was about a month ago. If they came back they did so through the deep dark - you people call it The Underdark, if I recall your stories correctly."
She gazes at each of you, waiting. Her gaze settles on Deamyar and she cocks her head slightly. "You are a curious one for this group. Two others of your kind came here not long ago, nasty ones they were. They had lots of coins. They gave some to two of my warriors in exchange for finding this place." Her eyes turn cold. "Then they killed them and went off to The Outcast. It wasn't much longer when they lead a raid and stole the dragon." She sits back on her throne. "I wonder if you have the same intention...They were called Shamir and Noxxus." The 3 guards growl at the mention of their names. "They now lead the goblins."
She sits back and waits for your responses.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Daemyar narrows his eyes. “They are known for treachery more than glory. I will have their heads for you so long as you promise to never utter their names again after it’s done.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Ithelion nods at Daemyar's remark, then smiles at the queen, "Thank you for your honesty and frankness, majesty. I shall be equally honest in turn: I think it is safe to say that we are each here because we share a common goal: we would see an end to the corruption that this Outcast is propagating...the monsters, the deaths and the corruption. Anything you mght know of him would help us."
"I also think that -- beyond the defeat of the evil that lives here -- some of us have other, more personal, reasons for being here. And, while I do not know the details of Daemyar's motivation..." she nods at the hobgblin, "... I can say that I believe it to be one of honour."
She thinks for a moment, then nods to herself: It's up to the others what they choose to say.
"As to my own other interests...perhaps you may be able to help? I am, you see, a historian and a librarian. I have been told that once there was a great library here. Any news of such a place might also be of interest -- such places often contain important historical texts."
Edited to add "not" to "...do NOT know the details of Daemyar's..."
No one notices your subtle movement under your cloak...
"The Outcast came here about ten years ago seeking a voice only he could hear. We led him down but left him at a certain point, a point where we were not willing to continue. We keep to our area here, to do otherwise is to invite danger. Thus, I know little of what awaits you beyond... We have not seen him since he arrived, only the pet goblin scum he keeps. Books? We have found one, which you might have if you find the dragon, though it is old and crumbling. It's the only one I have seen." She nods to the key in the dragon's mouth above her. "Perhaps if you return, you might borrow this key. It opens a door that has a dragon on it but we don't go there - we hear moaning and strange songlike sounds sometimes. It's clearly haunted or worse. The Outcast might have some, or you might find some further in. Goblins are stupid and may see such things useful for starting a fire." She looks at you coyly, strange given her reptilian visage, "but ones like us know how power can be stored in such things, don't we?"
She looks at the rest of you. "I have heard the elf and the taller one. What about the rest of you? Do you speak also? Or do they speak for you?"
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion turns to her companions, curious as to their responses....
Krom shrugs, "The lass pretty much said it all."
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Garnet steps forward a little to address the queen.
"I speak for myself your highness. " She crosses her arms over her chest the chainmail crinkling together across her stonelike flesh. "However I know that when Ithelion speaks her words tend to be thought out and polite. Better for situations such as speaking with a Queen." Suddenly Garnet felt that may have sounded a bit rude and lowered her head into bowing gesture before straightening again to continue speaking.
" The reason I am here is not as interesting as the others." She pauses "I'm only here because action needs to be taken against the evil of this place, before it spreads."
Leaving out the fact that Adathar was basically dropping dead birds on people before the party couldn't ignore him any longer.
( I feel like this is a super generic paladin answer..lol Evil = kick it's butt)
Yusdrayal looks at you with some respect. “It isn’t often I see someone so honest. Thank you.”
She looks you over again and seeing you have nothing more to add, she asks, “Meepo knows the way around here. If you would like him to join you, he is yours to command. He can explain where to go when you are ready, even if you would rather him not accompany you. Good luck, bring back our dragon.”
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Before they depart, Ithelion pauses and clears her throat a little nervously.
"If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me anything of this 'Ashardalon'? We were unable to save Meepo's brother, but his last dying words mentioned this dragon, and the name is emblazoned on one of the doors...and you hold the key to that door..."
She nods at you appraisingly. "My, my. It has been a while since anyone with knowledge of this name has come. I myself learned this only from a passing traveler many years ago, when I led my people here from the caves. Ashardalon is the name of the dragon that was once worshipped here, long ago. Yes, you may have seen this name in the ruins. The truth is, most of my people believe her to be a god of some sort, which is not surprising since we are heir to dragons." She says this last part with a smile. "I do not know everything about this place, we stick to these levels and just try to limit what comes up from below."
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion considers for a moment than nods, "Thank you, that explains a few things...one more matter if I may...what can you tell me of the red fruit? How might if be connected with Ashardalon do you think?"
I really hope they don't plan to revive it somehow. And that the kobolds are not part of that plan...
"The Outcast, he lives below. He grows the fruit, which he gives to the goblins. The dragon-thieving goblins are his servants! I do not know if there is a connection to the great dragon, other than strange things happen when old magics and death come together."
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons