(A no from me. Depending on how long we’re walking, Alanis might just go ahead and drink her experimental elixir, because she’s never done that before and would rather not test it on someone else. So she might be enjoying 10 minutes of 10ft flying speed on a break or something… probably not right in front of Randrak’s nose though.)
(Hitticus will shamelessly take whatever he can find that would be useful during his investigation, and is always looking for safe mushrooms and other things to eat)
You all make your way back to the road and start the return trek eastward to Duragath.
Alanis you do indeed have time. Please describe your experiment with flight 😀
Hitticus you discover a large crop of edible mushrooms; enough for two days rations. You also manage to unhinge a nice looking bronze bell from above the monastery entrance when Reggarn isn’t t looking. (Worth about 150g).
Reggarn roll a persuasion check to see how open Grub is feeling toward you.
When the group settles down for a break, Alanis excuses herself for a bit.
She isn’t going far away, mindful of potential dangers despite the proximity to the road, but does make sure she has some privacy for her little test. No need to upset the more traditionally inclined members of her party.
Looking around one last time to make sure she isn’t being observed, she pulls out the flask that has absorbed her superfluous magical energy this very morning.
She can feel her magic in it, keeping it potent, but it is quite volatile. Alanis estimates that it will expire until the next morning, connected to the flow of her magic as many of her abilities are.
Now she thinks she knows what it should do, but that is the thing with experiments - they might go differently then you expect. There is no way she is going to risk someone else to suffer for a miscalculation on her part. Also, honestly - she is just that curious.
So, no time like the present. Before she can talk herself out of it, Alanis opens the flask and chugs its contents, closing her eyes and waiting for the effects to take hold. Which they do immediately.
She feels her feet leave the ground and when she looks down, she is very actually hovering in the air. A surprised and delighted giggle escapes the apprentice alchemist as she tentatively begins to move through the air. It is slow going, indicating the limits of her concoction‘s effects, but that really might be for the best, given that it is also very wonky and she finds herself head over heels or nearly crashing into obstacles or just the ground more often then she‘d like to admit. But she does get the hang of it pretty quick and can fully enjoy the experiment, flitting through the air and getting a nice overview over the landscape for the next minutes.
Eventually she can feel the effects fading and returns to the ground, a big smile on her face as her feet get rooted firmly to the ground again.
Sighing contently, she makes her way back to her companions.
"So, lemme gat all this straight in me head," Mercwi say. "Dark dwarves in league with dark elves, working for somebody in the Dwarven Council?, hires, or are working with/for 'Big Lutz', a blue-horned villian of unknown origins, to, what, destroy the Undercities? Enslave all the dragons? I'm not real clear on that part." He grimaces, frowns, "Am I missing more than a lot here?"
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Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
From a position away from the rest of the group, Randrak replies, "Aye. Seems that way. But Big Lutz is leading these goblins, and they attacked with the dragons. The goblins couldn't control the dragons, so I'm guessing Big Lutz did? Or was it the elves? We know that they can do magic. It feel like we're missing something, but I can't figure out what it is."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Alanis you get a warm glow of excitement from your experiment. However, as you enjoy the freedom of flight beneath the stone sky you do note one detail that concerns you. Away in the distance toward the City of Duragath you see a mass of flickering lights. Not the warm illumination of the burning ocean but the fitful dance of fire. It is too far to make out details but one thing is for sure. Trouble lies ahead.
Reggarn as you make your journey toward the city the goblin begins to open up. He talks of a great gathering of goblin kin on the surface. When one kind of goblinoid encounters another kind, the two groups don’t see one another as strangers or foes. Instead they know that by the fact of their meeting alone, their god Maglubiyet has commanded them to come together. They know the time has come to form a host... and so it passed that the creature he calls Big Lugz became leader of that host... when pressed on the identity of this leader he offers its true name Lugzaruk. He also confirms that the goblins have made a pact of sorts with the Drow though he knows little about it... neither does he know the reason for their fight with the Dwarves other than ancient hatred. When asked about the "Dark Dwarves" who took Freak he spits,
"Nuffin to do with goblins is them Dwarves. They be a problem all of your own."
Listening to the group talk Uldran comments, "I am increasingly concerned that we gave the dragon collar to the Lords advisors to study... if they are indeed embroiled on the wrong side of this conflict."
Mercwri, sifting through you pack to find your rations you discover a forgotten money pouch handed to you by the gnome Mender way back on the Stoneship. You remember that you were meant to deliver it to Menders cousin.
Mercrwi, as the ship draws in to the great stone wharf you watch as chains are thrown ashore and fixed by the waiting dockworkers to great iron bollards in the shape of sitting wolves. Mender sidles up to you with a nervous look and gives you a nod. "Might I ask a favour?" he asks, and then hands you a small money pouch containing perhaps twenty gold. "Would you take this to my cousin Fresik? You'll find him over at the Red Lodge south of the docklands. Tell him I am well and to send word to my mother inland." He absently touches the ruby amulet that sits beneath his tunic, "Not sure when I'll be back now..."
There was no warning. Baldenvelt, the proud Dwarven capital has been overwhelmed by a massive horde of goblins descending from the Upper Reaches. After decades of undisturbed peace the city was caught completely unprepared. To make matters worse the goblin army is supported by three green dragons, terrible beasts in their own right and devastating to the capitals defences. Baldenvelt is fallen, leaving the High Rock region defenceless against the tide of war. Why did the goblins attack and what dark force binds dragons to their service? Only time will tell!
Fleeing the goblin horde the party took refuge in a seemingly abandoned warehouse where they rescued Freak from a cage where he was being held prisoner and met the crew of the Firehook. An enchanted Stoneship, built to traverse the burning ocean. They escaped aboard the Firehook just in time as the goblins overwhelmed the city.Crossing the Ocean of lava the group fought off dragons, goblins and drow to make it safely to the shores of Guldroth. They even managed to wound one of the dragons; freeing it in the process from the control of the goblin host. They also learn that the Stoneship is powered through a soul bonding with an unhatched dragon egg and are sworn to keep the secret.
Arriving at the docks of Duragath the cleric Torvin left the company to report to the Temple. Taking lodgings at the Gelded Goblin the party made themselves known to the authorities at the Shield Hall and relate their experiences to Kriell, assistant ambassador to Duragath. In the meantime Hitticus meets a young gnome named Alanis who joins the party after discovering the import of their mission.
The next morning you are all summoned in short order to meet with High Shield Eldron Ironhand, a descendent of the last high king and as far as you know the last surviving member of the ruling council. He questions the party and offers them work to aid the war effort further. The party could either seek out the lost third regiment on their way back from the southern stronghold of Shard, or escort refugees back to the foothills to the north where “monsters” had invaded their homes. The group chose to help the refugees.
So the party travelled north where they met a wounded cleric making his way back to Duragath. He explained that an abandoned monastery to the north west had been overrun with goblins, and he and his companions had been attacked and overwhelmed.
The party arrived at the village first to find it overrun by Troglodytes. They cleared the village itself before moving on to clear the mines aided by two new companions and an army of friendly Flumphs.
Reggarn a cleric had tracked the party down upon discovering they had taken on the mission to clear the goblin infested monastery. He helped them clear the mines and joined them in the hopes he could find a peaceful resolution to the approaching war with the goblins. Dvori had been captured by the Troglodytes and was to be fed to they pet Gibbering Mouther before the party arrived to save him. His father owned the mines and he had been visiting on family business. So far he has remained with the party out of gratitude and proved himself to be a helpful ally.
Together the party cleared mines and the monastery, uncovering an unhatched dragon egg in the latter. The goblins had attempted to hatch it. While wiping out the goblin threat Freak left the party to accompany a dwarven prisoner to safety and was taken by strange dark Dwarves with connections to the High Lord of Duragath. Now, accompanied by a captured goblin and carrying a black dragon egg the party make their way back to the city. Fires burn on the horizon and the realisation of the danger ahead weighs heavy on their hearts...
The closer you all get to the west gate the more concerned you become. You clearly see now the light of numerous fires coming from the city. The smell of smoke begins to fill your nostrils, burned timbers and charred meat. Grub begins to get agitated as you grow closer to the City and the west gates will soon be in sight.
Reggarn will question Grub trying to find out why the goblin is so agitated. "Are these goblins you know or is this like you told me before, a fated meeting by your God Maglubiyet?"
Hitticus will survey the area "Any of you know a less direct route into the city? Small group like this could get through unnoticed quite easily"
Hitticus will activate his primeval awareness to sense whether any aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, or undead are within 6 miles ( obviously ignoring the dragon in the party)
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The description of Big Lugz does indeed seem unusual but none of you find it familiar.
is there anything else you want to cover before getting back on the road?
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
(A no from me. Depending on how long we’re walking, Alanis might just go ahead and drink her experimental elixir, because she’s never done that before and would rather not test it on someone else. So she might be enjoying 10 minutes of 10ft flying speed on a break or something… probably not right in front of Randrak’s nose though.)
Alanis |lvl 3| |gnome artificer| (Stonebound)
(Hitticus will shamelessly take whatever he can find that would be useful during his investigation, and is always looking for safe mushrooms and other things to eat)
(Reggarn will spend his time getting to know Grub and his goblin beliefs.)
(Randrak is going to keep to himself for the time being.)
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
You all make your way back to the road and start the return trek eastward to Duragath.
Alanis you do indeed have time. Please describe your experiment with flight 😀
Hitticus you discover a large crop of edible mushrooms; enough for two days rations. You also manage to unhinge a nice looking bronze bell from above the monastery entrance when Reggarn isn’t t looking. (Worth about 150g).
Reggarn roll a persuasion check to see how open Grub is feeling toward you.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
(Gladly - got a bit longer though - sorry 🙈)
When the group settles down for a break, Alanis excuses herself for a bit.
She isn’t going far away, mindful of potential dangers despite the proximity to the road, but does make sure she has some privacy for her little test. No need to upset the more traditionally inclined members of her party.
Looking around one last time to make sure she isn’t being observed, she pulls out the flask that has absorbed her superfluous magical energy this very morning.
She can feel her magic in it, keeping it potent, but it is quite volatile. Alanis estimates that it will expire until the next morning, connected to the flow of her magic as many of her abilities are.
Now she thinks she knows what it should do, but that is the thing with experiments - they might go differently then you expect. There is no way she is going to risk someone else to suffer for a miscalculation on her part. Also, honestly - she is just that curious.
So, no time like the present. Before she can talk herself out of it, Alanis opens the flask and chugs its contents, closing her eyes and waiting for the effects to take hold.
Which they do immediately.
She feels her feet leave the ground and when she looks down, she is very actually hovering in the air. A surprised and delighted giggle escapes the apprentice alchemist as she tentatively begins to move through the air. It is slow going, indicating the limits of her concoction‘s effects, but that really might be for the best, given that it is also very wonky and she finds herself head over heels or nearly crashing into obstacles or just the ground more often then she‘d like to admit. But she does get the hang of it pretty quick and can fully enjoy the experiment, flitting through the air and getting a nice overview over the landscape for the next minutes.
Eventually she can feel the effects fading and returns to the ground, a big smile on her face as her feet get rooted firmly to the ground again.
Sighing contently, she makes her way back to her companions.
Alanis |lvl 3| |gnome artificer| (Stonebound)
"So, lemme gat all this straight in me head," Mercwi say. "Dark dwarves in league with dark elves, working for somebody in the Dwarven Council?, hires, or are working with/for 'Big Lutz', a blue-horned villian of unknown origins, to, what, destroy the Undercities? Enslave all the dragons? I'm not real clear on that part." He grimaces, frowns, "Am I missing more than a lot here?"
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Reggarn rolls an 18 persuasion. (Rolled on character sheet since I am on mobile)
"Sounds like means and opportunity, just need motive now." Hitticus says to Meecwi
From a position away from the rest of the group, Randrak replies, "Aye. Seems that way. But Big Lutz is leading these goblins, and they attacked with the dragons. The goblins couldn't control the dragons, so I'm guessing Big Lutz did? Or was it the elves? We know that they can do magic. It feel like we're missing something, but I can't figure out what it is."
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Alanis you get a warm glow of excitement from your experiment. However, as you enjoy the freedom of flight beneath the stone sky you do note one detail that concerns you. Away in the distance toward the City of Duragath you see a mass of flickering lights. Not the warm illumination of the burning ocean but the fitful dance of fire. It is too far to make out details but one thing is for sure. Trouble lies ahead.
Reggarn as you make your journey toward the city the goblin begins to open up. He talks of a great gathering of goblin kin on the surface. When one kind of goblinoid encounters another kind, the two groups don’t see one another as strangers or foes. Instead they know that by the fact of their meeting alone, their god Maglubiyet has commanded them to come together. They know the time has come to form a host... and so it passed that the creature he calls Big Lugz became leader of that host... when pressed on the identity of this leader he offers its true name Lugzaruk. He also confirms that the goblins have made a pact of sorts with the Drow though he knows little about it... neither does he know the reason for their fight with the Dwarves other than ancient hatred. When asked about the "Dark Dwarves" who took Freak he spits,
"Nuffin to do with goblins is them Dwarves. They be a problem all of your own."
Listening to the group talk Uldran comments, "I am increasingly concerned that we gave the dragon collar to the Lords advisors to study... if they are indeed embroiled on the wrong side of this conflict."
Mercwri, sifting through you pack to find your rations you discover a forgotten money pouch handed to you by the gnome Mender way back on the Stoneship. You remember that you were meant to deliver it to Menders cousin.
Mercrwi, as the ship draws in to the great stone wharf you watch as chains are thrown ashore and fixed by the waiting dockworkers to great iron bollards in the shape of sitting wolves. Mender sidles up to you with a nervous look and gives you a nod. "Might I ask a favour?" he asks, and then hands you a small money pouch containing perhaps twenty gold. "Would you take this to my cousin Fresik? You'll find him over at the Red Lodge south of the docklands. Tell him I am well and to send word to my mother inland." He absently touches the ruby amulet that sits beneath his tunic, "Not sure when I'll be back now..."
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
(Well in that case that will be a more hasty and concerned return to the group)
Alanis returns to the group with a very worried look on her face.
„Guys, I got a look at Durgarath in the distance, and I think something is wrong. There was a mass of flickering lights that way, like fires!“
Alanis |lvl 3| |gnome artificer| (Stonebound)
"Double time it is then" Hitticus straps his pack on a little tighter "Let's move"
Reggarn will explain to Grub what Alanis has seen and ask if he might know what's going on.
Grub simply shakes his head as you pick up pace and walk on toward Duragath.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
THE STORY SO FAR...
There was no warning. Baldenvelt, the proud Dwarven capital has been overwhelmed by a massive horde of goblins descending from the Upper Reaches. After decades of undisturbed peace the city was caught completely unprepared. To make matters worse the goblin army is supported by three green dragons, terrible beasts in their own right and devastating to the capitals defences. Baldenvelt is fallen, leaving the High Rock region defenceless against the tide of war. Why did the goblins attack and what dark force binds dragons to their service? Only time will tell!
Fleeing the goblin horde the party took refuge in a seemingly abandoned warehouse where they rescued Freak from a cage where he was being held prisoner and met the crew of the Firehook. An enchanted Stoneship, built to traverse the burning ocean. They escaped aboard the Firehook just in time as the goblins overwhelmed the city. Crossing the Ocean of lava the group fought off dragons, goblins and drow to make it safely to the shores of Guldroth. They even managed to wound one of the dragons; freeing it in the process from the control of the goblin host. They also learn that the Stoneship is powered through a soul bonding with an unhatched dragon egg and are sworn to keep the secret.
Arriving at the docks of Duragath the cleric Torvin left the company to report to the Temple. Taking lodgings at the Gelded Goblin the party made themselves known to the authorities at the Shield Hall and relate their experiences to Kriell, assistant ambassador to Duragath. In the meantime Hitticus meets a young gnome named Alanis who joins the party after discovering the import of their mission.
The next morning you are all summoned in short order to meet with High Shield Eldron Ironhand, a descendent of the last high king and as far as you know the last surviving member of the ruling council. He questions the party and offers them work to aid the war effort further. The party could either seek out the lost third regiment on their way back from the southern stronghold of Shard, or escort refugees back to the foothills to the north where “monsters” had invaded their homes. The group chose to help the refugees.
So the party travelled north where they met a wounded cleric making his way back to Duragath. He explained that an abandoned monastery to the north west had been overrun with goblins, and he and his companions had been attacked and overwhelmed.
The party arrived at the village first to find it overrun by Troglodytes. They cleared the village itself before moving on to clear the mines aided by two new companions and an army of friendly Flumphs.
Reggarn a cleric had tracked the party down upon discovering they had taken on the mission to clear the goblin infested monastery. He helped them clear the mines and joined them in the hopes he could find a peaceful resolution to the approaching war with the goblins. Dvori had been captured by the Troglodytes and was to be fed to they pet Gibbering Mouther before the party arrived to save him. His father owned the mines and he had been visiting on family business. So far he has remained with the party out of gratitude and proved himself to be a helpful ally.
Together the party cleared mines and the monastery, uncovering an unhatched dragon egg in the latter. The goblins had attempted to hatch it. While wiping out the goblin threat Freak left the party to accompany a dwarven prisoner to safety and was taken by strange dark Dwarves with connections to the High Lord of Duragath. Now, accompanied by a captured goblin and carrying a black dragon egg the party make their way back to the city. Fires burn on the horizon and the realisation of the danger ahead weighs heavy on their hearts...
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
The closer you all get to the west gate the more concerned you become. You clearly see now the light of numerous fires coming from the city. The smell of smoke begins to fill your nostrils, burned timbers and charred meat. Grub begins to get agitated as you grow closer to the City and the west gates will soon be in sight.
How do you choose to approach?
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
Reggarn will question Grub trying to find out why the goblin is so agitated. "Are these goblins you know or is this like you told me before, a fated meeting by your God Maglubiyet?"
Hitticus will survey the area "Any of you know a less direct route into the city? Small group like this could get through unnoticed quite easily"
Hitticus will activate his primeval awareness to sense whether any aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, or undead are within 6 miles ( obviously ignoring the dragon in the party)