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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7134976" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 42</p><p></p><p>Quellan recovered his <em>light</em> stone and used it to push back the gloom that lingered in the back part of the cavern. The spell’s glow revealed a total of four exits around the perimeter of the room, all of which were far back from the entrance and the chimney over the fire pit.</p><p></p><p>“The kobolds fled via those two,” Kosk said, indicating the two leftmost exits. “There’s probably another lair further back.”</p><p></p><p>“The creature that attacked me went that way,” Quellan said, pointing to the passage furthest to the right. “It seems pretty clear that he and the half-ogre were in charge here.”</p><p></p><p>“That was a half-ogre?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“Indeed,” the cleric replied. “An uncommon combination, but possessed of incredible physical strength and stamina, as you saw.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah,” Bredan said, with another look at his fallen foe.</p><p></p><p>“Did you check to see if he had anything on him?” Glori asked. She started to head over to the corpse, but Kosk said, “You can loot the bodies later. Every second we waste here is time for the kobolds to rally and set up another line of defense.”</p><p></p><p>“You think they’ll still put up a fight after what just happened here?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“They’re kobolds,” Kosk said. He made their decision by marching over to the leftmost exit, the one that the kobold ambushers had appeared from, though he waited for the others to follow before continuing ahead.</p><p></p><p>None of them spotted the dark figure that appeared from one of the other passages. The figure waited until they had headed into the dwarf’s chosen exit before he slipped through the room, making his way silently toward the tunnel that led outside. A large sack bulged under his cloak, but the extra weight gave him no difficulty. Within moments, he was gone.</p><p></p><p>The four adventurers came to a short flight of steps that deposited them on the edge of another cave. This one was maybe half the size of the main lair, but it seemed even smaller because of the low ceiling. A potent stink filled the air. A pool of water stood just off to their left. Beyond it the floor rose to meet the ceiling until the clearance between them was less than four feet.</p><p></p><p>Crowded into that space was a small horde of kobolds. It was difficult to count them all in the close confines but it looked like there were at least a few dozen of them. The creatures blinked and skittered back as the light in Quellan’s hand penetrated back into their hidey-hole.</p><p></p><p>“Time to finish this,” Kosk said.</p><p></p><p>“Wait a moment,” Quellan said. “Look at them, they’re no threat.”</p><p></p><p>A closer look at the survivors of the tribe seemed to bear out the cleric’s comment. Only a few of the kobolds carried weapons, and from the wounds they bore those were the survivors of the fight in the outer lair. The others ranged from slightly smaller than the warrior males to half their size. The females and young cringed back against the far wall of the cave.</p><p></p><p>“They’re terrified,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“They’re kobolds,” Kosk said, his voice thick with anger. “What do you think those little ones are going to do when they grow up?”</p><p></p><p>“We can’t even fit back there,” Bredan said. It was clear from the look on his face he shared the reluctance of the cleric and bard.</p><p></p><p>“That’s what the crossbow is for,” Kosk said. “If you don’t want to do it, give it to me.”</p><p></p><p>“We’re not murderers,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“Careful!” Bredan warned, as several of the kobolds shuffled forward. The kobolds flinched as the adventurers lifted their weapons, but after a moment continued their approach. They were carrying something that they put down near the edge of the pool before retreating back to the edge of the crowd. The object was a shallow copper bowl that was filled with an assortment of copper and silver coins.</p><p></p><p>“An offering?” Glori asked.</p><p></p><p>“A bribe,” Kosk said.</p><p></p><p>“Do any of you speak Common?” Quellan asked.</p><p></p><p>A stir went through the kobolds, accompanied by yapping in low voices that didn’t sound promising. “What language do they speak?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“Draconic,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“Which none of us understands,” Kosk pointed out.</p><p></p><p>After a moment one of the kobolds shuffled forward again, obviously reluctant. Smears of blood covered its face, suggesting it was the one who had survived Glori’s <em>thunderwave</em>. “I speaks some hooman,” it said.</p><p></p><p>“Ask them about the boy?” Glori prodded.</p><p></p><p>Quellan nodded. “Is there a boy here? A human boy?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, I’m sure he’s here and treated like royalty,” Kosk muttered.</p><p></p><p>The kobold looked between them, clearly not understanding. “The boy… a captive?” Quellan said. When the kobold just looked at him blankly he added, “Prisoners? Are there prisoners here?”</p><p></p><p>The kobold let out a sharp bark. “Prissner! Yes! Jargo and Cthel keep. In chief cave.”</p><p></p><p>“Jargo and Cthel, that would be our friends from back there, I expect,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“We killed the big one,” Quellan said. He made a ferocious expression and then mimed holding an axe, then pointed to Bredan and his sword. “Our warrior killed him.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, for the love of…” Kosk said.</p><p></p><p>The kobold let out an angry hiss that was echoed by those behind him. “Jargo bad, we hates Jargo!” the creature said. “Jargo kill chief, pull off head!”</p><p></p><p>“Is the boy alive?” Quellan asked. “Prissner alive?”</p><p></p><p>At the kobold’s eager nod Glori said, “We’d better find him before this ‘Cthel’ decides to use him as a bargaining chip.”</p><p></p><p>“What are we going to do with them?” Bredan asked, gesturing toward the kobold. “I may not agree fully with Kosk, but the fact remains that they most likely killed that hunter from the village, if not more people.”</p><p></p><p>“That could have been the leaders’ doing,” Quellan said.</p><p></p><p>“And even if they did, we’re not like them,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“You know what I bloody think,” Kosk said.</p><p></p><p>Quellan slipped forward into the low space of the cave. The kobolds drew back, but the half-orc only took hold of the bowl and slid it over to where Bredan waited. “You will turn over all of your weapons,” the cleric said, his voice heavy and low. “You will stay here until we leave, and then you will depart this place and never return. I do not care where you go, as long as it is away from the human lair beyond these hills.” As he spoke his voice deepened and the sound of it echoed off the walls, an effect similar to the one he’d created in their initial intrusion into the lair. Glori, seeing what he was doing, strummed her lyre and created a minor magical illusion. A softly-glowing radiance shimmered into being around the half-orc. Within it Quellan seemed to swell outward, his visage taking on an added ferocity and his eyes glowing red. “You must swear by your god Kurtulmak that you will not threaten any humans again, or I will come for you!”</p><p></p><p>The kobolds were now crawling over each other in a general panic, one that ebbed only fractionally as the cleric finished his declaration. They might not have understood everything he said, but the threat definitely got across. When Bredan stepped forward and said, “Weapons! Now!” there was a general stir and then a few knives and clubs were tossed forward to land at his feet. The smith swept them all up and tossed them into the bowl.</p><p></p><p>“You’re all bloody nuts,” Kosk said, but he remained with the others as they left the cave behind and returned to the outer lair.</p><p></p><p>With the knowledge that the mysterious and dangerous “Cthel” might still be lurking ahead the companions moved into the other part of the complex. Unlike most of the rest of the kobold lair this passage was large enough to accommodate all of them comfortably, making it obvious why the half-ogre and his confederate had chosen it for themselves. They passed a small chamber that was empty save for some scraps of wood and a few empty sacks of torn canvas. A passage in the back of the room led back to the main lair, while to their right a set of natural stone steps ascended a steep shaft to another cavern above.</p><p></p><p>“Supply room, maybe,” Bredan said, peering into the side-room.</p><p></p><p>“Nothing left,” Glori said. “Looks like our big friend was eating the kobolds out of house and home.”</p><p></p><p>Kosk just grunted and started up the stairs. Glori followed him, with Quellan and Bredan just a few steps behind.</p><p></p><p>The cleric’s stone revealed a long, irregular cavern that extended into darkness. This place had been left more or less as nature had created it, down to the stalagmites and stalactites that extended along the walls. The only compromise to comfort had been a cleared space in the center of the cave where a table and two chairs had been set up. The furnishings were obviously sized for creatures significantly larger than kobolds.</p><p></p><p>“Looks like someone left in a hurry,” Kosk said, pointing to an open chest along the wall to the left of the stairs. A few objects were scattered around the chest, and a bulky fur hung from the side of the container.</p><p></p><p>The dwarf found out that wasn’t all they’d left as he stepped forward and tripped a thin, almost invisible wire stretched across the top of the stairs. There was a loud click, followed by a deluge of rocks that plummeted down from above.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7134976, member: 143"] Chapter 42 Quellan recovered his [i]light[/i] stone and used it to push back the gloom that lingered in the back part of the cavern. The spell’s glow revealed a total of four exits around the perimeter of the room, all of which were far back from the entrance and the chimney over the fire pit. “The kobolds fled via those two,” Kosk said, indicating the two leftmost exits. “There’s probably another lair further back.” “The creature that attacked me went that way,” Quellan said, pointing to the passage furthest to the right. “It seems pretty clear that he and the half-ogre were in charge here.” “That was a half-ogre?” Bredan asked. “Indeed,” the cleric replied. “An uncommon combination, but possessed of incredible physical strength and stamina, as you saw.” “Yeah,” Bredan said, with another look at his fallen foe. “Did you check to see if he had anything on him?” Glori asked. She started to head over to the corpse, but Kosk said, “You can loot the bodies later. Every second we waste here is time for the kobolds to rally and set up another line of defense.” “You think they’ll still put up a fight after what just happened here?” Bredan asked. “They’re kobolds,” Kosk said. He made their decision by marching over to the leftmost exit, the one that the kobold ambushers had appeared from, though he waited for the others to follow before continuing ahead. None of them spotted the dark figure that appeared from one of the other passages. The figure waited until they had headed into the dwarf’s chosen exit before he slipped through the room, making his way silently toward the tunnel that led outside. A large sack bulged under his cloak, but the extra weight gave him no difficulty. Within moments, he was gone. The four adventurers came to a short flight of steps that deposited them on the edge of another cave. This one was maybe half the size of the main lair, but it seemed even smaller because of the low ceiling. A potent stink filled the air. A pool of water stood just off to their left. Beyond it the floor rose to meet the ceiling until the clearance between them was less than four feet. Crowded into that space was a small horde of kobolds. It was difficult to count them all in the close confines but it looked like there were at least a few dozen of them. The creatures blinked and skittered back as the light in Quellan’s hand penetrated back into their hidey-hole. “Time to finish this,” Kosk said. “Wait a moment,” Quellan said. “Look at them, they’re no threat.” A closer look at the survivors of the tribe seemed to bear out the cleric’s comment. Only a few of the kobolds carried weapons, and from the wounds they bore those were the survivors of the fight in the outer lair. The others ranged from slightly smaller than the warrior males to half their size. The females and young cringed back against the far wall of the cave. “They’re terrified,” Glori said. “They’re kobolds,” Kosk said, his voice thick with anger. “What do you think those little ones are going to do when they grow up?” “We can’t even fit back there,” Bredan said. It was clear from the look on his face he shared the reluctance of the cleric and bard. “That’s what the crossbow is for,” Kosk said. “If you don’t want to do it, give it to me.” “We’re not murderers,” Glori said. “Careful!” Bredan warned, as several of the kobolds shuffled forward. The kobolds flinched as the adventurers lifted their weapons, but after a moment continued their approach. They were carrying something that they put down near the edge of the pool before retreating back to the edge of the crowd. The object was a shallow copper bowl that was filled with an assortment of copper and silver coins. “An offering?” Glori asked. “A bribe,” Kosk said. “Do any of you speak Common?” Quellan asked. A stir went through the kobolds, accompanied by yapping in low voices that didn’t sound promising. “What language do they speak?” Bredan asked. “Draconic,” Glori said. “Which none of us understands,” Kosk pointed out. After a moment one of the kobolds shuffled forward again, obviously reluctant. Smears of blood covered its face, suggesting it was the one who had survived Glori’s [i]thunderwave[/i]. “I speaks some hooman,” it said. “Ask them about the boy?” Glori prodded. Quellan nodded. “Is there a boy here? A human boy?” “Yeah, I’m sure he’s here and treated like royalty,” Kosk muttered. The kobold looked between them, clearly not understanding. “The boy… a captive?” Quellan said. When the kobold just looked at him blankly he added, “Prisoners? Are there prisoners here?” The kobold let out a sharp bark. “Prissner! Yes! Jargo and Cthel keep. In chief cave.” “Jargo and Cthel, that would be our friends from back there, I expect,” Glori said. “We killed the big one,” Quellan said. He made a ferocious expression and then mimed holding an axe, then pointed to Bredan and his sword. “Our warrior killed him.” “Oh, for the love of…” Kosk said. The kobold let out an angry hiss that was echoed by those behind him. “Jargo bad, we hates Jargo!” the creature said. “Jargo kill chief, pull off head!” “Is the boy alive?” Quellan asked. “Prissner alive?” At the kobold’s eager nod Glori said, “We’d better find him before this ‘Cthel’ decides to use him as a bargaining chip.” “What are we going to do with them?” Bredan asked, gesturing toward the kobold. “I may not agree fully with Kosk, but the fact remains that they most likely killed that hunter from the village, if not more people.” “That could have been the leaders’ doing,” Quellan said. “And even if they did, we’re not like them,” Glori said. “You know what I bloody think,” Kosk said. Quellan slipped forward into the low space of the cave. The kobolds drew back, but the half-orc only took hold of the bowl and slid it over to where Bredan waited. “You will turn over all of your weapons,” the cleric said, his voice heavy and low. “You will stay here until we leave, and then you will depart this place and never return. I do not care where you go, as long as it is away from the human lair beyond these hills.” As he spoke his voice deepened and the sound of it echoed off the walls, an effect similar to the one he’d created in their initial intrusion into the lair. Glori, seeing what he was doing, strummed her lyre and created a minor magical illusion. A softly-glowing radiance shimmered into being around the half-orc. Within it Quellan seemed to swell outward, his visage taking on an added ferocity and his eyes glowing red. “You must swear by your god Kurtulmak that you will not threaten any humans again, or I will come for you!” The kobolds were now crawling over each other in a general panic, one that ebbed only fractionally as the cleric finished his declaration. They might not have understood everything he said, but the threat definitely got across. When Bredan stepped forward and said, “Weapons! Now!” there was a general stir and then a few knives and clubs were tossed forward to land at his feet. The smith swept them all up and tossed them into the bowl. “You’re all bloody nuts,” Kosk said, but he remained with the others as they left the cave behind and returned to the outer lair. With the knowledge that the mysterious and dangerous “Cthel” might still be lurking ahead the companions moved into the other part of the complex. Unlike most of the rest of the kobold lair this passage was large enough to accommodate all of them comfortably, making it obvious why the half-ogre and his confederate had chosen it for themselves. They passed a small chamber that was empty save for some scraps of wood and a few empty sacks of torn canvas. A passage in the back of the room led back to the main lair, while to their right a set of natural stone steps ascended a steep shaft to another cavern above. “Supply room, maybe,” Bredan said, peering into the side-room. “Nothing left,” Glori said. “Looks like our big friend was eating the kobolds out of house and home.” Kosk just grunted and started up the stairs. Glori followed him, with Quellan and Bredan just a few steps behind. The cleric’s stone revealed a long, irregular cavern that extended into darkness. This place had been left more or less as nature had created it, down to the stalagmites and stalactites that extended along the walls. The only compromise to comfort had been a cleared space in the center of the cave where a table and two chairs had been set up. The furnishings were obviously sized for creatures significantly larger than kobolds. “Looks like someone left in a hurry,” Kosk said, pointing to an open chest along the wall to the left of the stairs. A few objects were scattered around the chest, and a bulky fur hung from the side of the container. The dwarf found out that wasn’t all they’d left as he stepped forward and tripped a thin, almost invisible wire stretched across the top of the stairs. There was a loud click, followed by a deluge of rocks that plummeted down from above. [/QUOTE]
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