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Story Hour
Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5729041" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Despite whatever time it was outside the mountain, the party easily fell into deep sleep, when their watch wasn’t up. Two at a time, just to be sure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan flinched seeing something disturb the surface of the water of the lake.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Thankfully, for all on watch, there was no further piercer attack, not did the roper or its young return. Coerraine confirmed this with his god-given sight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The company slowly made their way back up the way they’d come. Erevan and Festus assured them they were following their own trail.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Sure enough, the dwarves’ supposition had been correct. The passage sat there, open and free of debris as if they had just passed through it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Shall we explore this passage?” Haelan asked, pointing out the side passageway that was just inside the entrance way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Again, against her will, Alaria was put in the “command” position. She made a mental note to have the charter from Bridgetower changed as soon as they got back. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“No, I think not, Haelan.” Alaria said. “We go straight back to Chief Barper’s throne room. You know the way, Kordun?” The dwarf miner/warrior nodded.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“And, we take no prisoners along the way.” Said the wizard angrily.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Fen raised an eyebrow toward Erevan.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The elf seemed not to notice. He simply nocked an arrow in his bow. “<em>The less kobolds we have to deal with, kiili, the better.” <translated from elvin</em>></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Alaria heard Erevan’s remark and smirked approval. She had “geared up” for the day. She looked forward to again experiencing that magickal ecstasy she’d felt the previous day when casting at the roper.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Fen nodded an agreement at Erevan. The rest of the party already had weapons ready.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">They moved quickly, following Kordun’s sure lead. The dwarf warrior with his white-glowing broadsword was eager to expunge the double-crossing creatures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Still, it was an hour before that arrived at Chief Barper’s outer chamber. The kobold soldiers there were shocked to see anything come up through the passage to the Hargak, let alone humans and elves and dwarves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">With quick slashes of blades and stabs of spears, the sentries were put down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Between Coerraine and Kordun, they easily shoved the large wooden doors open, to Chief Barper’s horror.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The kobold chief leapt up onto his throne, as he had at their initial meeting, and began barking and yapping at the top of his lungs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The six guards around the chamber took up a position around the “dais” of the chief’s throne. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The “next-shaman” came scurrying into the room…he paused mid-scurry to look at the party in disbelief before taking a position on the dais beside the throne.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The chief, again, whispered into his intermediary’s ear.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Chiefest Barper bids you good welcome you lived for the Hargak.” The next shaman said shaking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan called out to Faerantha to slay these creatures affronting Her hills.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“<em>Este nonclim everus shuduntae, Deisa Faerantha!”<cleric spell: Spiritual Weapon, “ Holy Faerantha, bring your justice down upon these creatures!”></em> the Hilltender shouted with amazing, to his companions, presence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The appearance of a glowing golden bough of pine, sporting needles along its length, and tipped with a huge pinecone sped across the large chamber and struck three of the guard kobolds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The creatures, completely fearful of the magic before them broke formation. The “next-shaman”, Kiff, glowered and began chanting, even as his chief was barking orders at him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“Everx imberil rex</em>” Alaria said plainly. The magic flowed up and through her outstretched arms.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Violet and blue flames shot forth and pummelled remaining guards. Their cries buried in the crackling of magical flame. The burst of magical power had disrupted the kobold would-be shaman’s attempted invocation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“You tricked us.” Alaria said firmly. Kurn translated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“I…no, I…Yarp…he…him fault…” <translated from kobold</em></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">> bumbled the King of Kobolds of This-Here-Rocks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Two more kobold guards entered the room and immediately charged the party.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">With a wave of his hand and an inaudible phrase, vines shot up out of the ground and completely entangled the attacking kobolds. They yipped and yapped their displeasure before the vines sealed their canine snouts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">They thrashed for a moment and the kobold chief barked his disapproval, relayed by the thoroughly concerned “next-shaman.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Yous nots attack us. We’s alliedances.” Kiff protested.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Like hell!” Duor shouted in response before sending a crossbow dart into one of the more stalwart un-charrred guard’s throat. The creature dropped immediately.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“No’s. No’s! We has deal!” Kiff relayed from the obviously scared chief.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“’We has deal’<em> that you broke!</em>” Alaria shouted across the hall before summoning her power again and sending two violet-red shards of energy into the chief.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Gah!” shouted the eldritch stricken chief and pounced off his seat to land behind his throne.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Kiff, utterly at a loss as to what to do, made a dash for the other passage. Erevan and Festus took him down in a hail of arrows.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The kobolds entangled by Fen struggled and tried to cut the vines and roots with their spear tips. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The carrot-topped half-elf clenched his fist and the vegetation contracted, completely snuffing the life out of the creatures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Five more guards entered the chamber led by Cap’n Yarp. Yarp slid to a standstill, but only for a moment, as his guards slammed into him and the three front-runners fell to the floor on top of each other. The last two, seeing the humans and elves and dwarves, went running away, yipping and howling as they went.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Haelan flung his magic shield and knocked both of the deserters unconscious, the shield clanging off one then the other before returning to the daelvar’s waiting hand.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Chief Barper!” Alaria proclaimed, not knowing or caring if the chief was still in the room to hear, “We have defeated the Hargak. You have no more reason to stay here. I suggest you gather your people and return to your former lair.” She slammed the iron shod end of her staff down on the floor to reinforce the command. It “clattered” loudly throughout the chamber.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">There were only two shaking guards near the throne and Cap’n Yarp with two if his soliders near the passage from which the party had originally entered the throne room.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">A crossbow bolt from Kurn and another arrow from Festus’ short bow left Cap’n Yarp standing by himself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“No’s hurts! No’s hurts! Make deals!” Yarp yelled. He threw his short sword to the floor and held up his small clawed hands in an “I give up” pose.</span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“<em>You’s lousy cap’n Yarp! No more’s cap’n!”</em> came Barper’s barking voice from behind the crudely crafted stone throne.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“And you’s lousy chief, chiefiest chiefs of kobolds!”</em></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> retorted the obviously vexed Yarp.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Give us yer treasure an’ get OUT!” hollered Duor through the chamber.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">There was the sound of sliding stone. Yarp closed his eyes and bowed his head.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Erevan and Duor raced behind the throne to find Barper was not there. It was a simple thing for the elf and dwarf to locate the “secret”door. Simpler, still, to figure out how to open it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">With Coerraine and Fen, their spears at the ready, the dwarf thief opened the sliding stone panel and quickly moved aside. Behind the slab was a small, crudely crafted alcove, Chief Barper was huddling in a shaking ball of fear…surrounded by coffers and sacks and chests spilling over with gold and silver coins, gemstones, potion bottles, a couple of hilts sticking out of the bags. The chief had had the foresight to grab one of the blades from his trove and made a swipe at…well…nothing, covering his eyes to no see to heroes before him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine raised an eyebrow at the druid. Fen burst into laughter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Then there was a series of howls and barks as ten more kobolds raced into the chamber.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“I think not.” Alaria said, plainly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Her fingers immediately began “weaving” her magic again and a simple phrase later, the lot of the charging creatures, including the unfortunate Cap’n Yarp were trapped beneath a layer of iridescent webbing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Festus began skipping around the trapped kobolds, firing randomly into the mass of bodies and webs. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“One little, <pfft> two little, three little kobolds <pfft>…four little, five little <pfft> six little kobolds…” the satyr gleefully canted as he clip-clopped around the trapped creatures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Alaria?” Haelan practically whined at the wizard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Enough, Festus.” The magess proclaimed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Awwww.” The satyr leaned in close to one of the kobolds still alive, “and I was just starting to get my groove on. You should thank the nice lady.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Thanks lady! Thanks you’s! Thanks lady!” cries went up from all of the surviving kobolds within the magical web. Only Yarp’s, of course, were understood in the Common tongue.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Coerraine unceremoniously dragged Barper out by his blue caped collar and tossed him in front of Alaria.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The chief cowered before the magess. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“What you’s want? What you’s want?! </em></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">” the chief sputtered. “<em>Give you’s Yarp?” </em>he said with a smile. Kurn translated in between chuckles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“Hey!” </em></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">protested Yarp from within the webbing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“The Hargak,” Alaria repeated, “is gone. You will take what people you have. You will leave this mine. You will NEVER come here again nor EVER harass the people of Shafton again. If you do…WE will come back and NONE will stay our wrath. Do you understand?” Alaria said imperiously.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Kurn translated, again trying to feign fear in the face of the great wizard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“What’s a Shafton</em></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">?” Barper questioned innocently.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Feorn’s Beard! Can I just kill him now!?!” Duor roared.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Go! NOW!” commanded Alaria.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Barper barked and yipped at his guards who were thanking whatever gods kobolds have as the magical webbing faded. The guards initially ran to the secret treasure room only to find a large red-tabbarded human and green-cloaked man, both with spears pointed at them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“Oh, I don’t think so.” Duor said with all of the smug-ness he could muster. The dwarf crossed his arms and sneered at the canine-reptilian creatures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">They darted away, passed Yarp, passed Barper and ran as fast as their little clawed feet could carry them down the passage that led to the cavern with the lake.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“I suggest you follow them.” Alaria nodded to Barper. The chief held his silver crown close to his head and slunk toward the passage.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“And what, Barper?” Alaria called over her shoulder.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><em>“Nevers comes back</em></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">.” The kobold chief said under his scarred snout. Kurn translated and Alaria smiled and nodded to show the chief she agreed with what he’d said.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"></span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Duor turned his attention to counting the surprising amount of loot these kobolds had…with Coerraine over his shoulder and, eventually, Haelan and Kordun also helping.</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5729041, member: 92511"] [FONT=Verdana]Despite whatever time it was outside the mountain, the party easily fell into deep sleep, when their watch wasn’t up. Two at a time, just to be sure. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan flinched seeing something disturb the surface of the water of the lake. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Thankfully, for all on watch, there was no further piercer attack, not did the roper or its young return. Coerraine confirmed this with his god-given sight. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The company slowly made their way back up the way they’d come. Erevan and Festus assured them they were following their own trail. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Sure enough, the dwarves’ supposition had been correct. The passage sat there, open and free of debris as if they had just passed through it. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Shall we explore this passage?” Haelan asked, pointing out the side passageway that was just inside the entrance way. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Again, against her will, Alaria was put in the “command” position. She made a mental note to have the charter from Bridgetower changed as soon as they got back. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“No, I think not, Haelan.” Alaria said. “We go straight back to Chief Barper’s throne room. You know the way, Kordun?” The dwarf miner/warrior nodded. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“And, we take no prisoners along the way.” Said the wizard angrily. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Fen raised an eyebrow toward Erevan. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The elf seemed not to notice. He simply nocked an arrow in his bow. “[I]The less kobolds we have to deal with, kiili, the better.” <translated from elvin[/I]> [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Alaria heard Erevan’s remark and smirked approval. She had “geared up” for the day. She looked forward to again experiencing that magickal ecstasy she’d felt the previous day when casting at the roper. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Fen nodded an agreement at Erevan. The rest of the party already had weapons ready. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]They moved quickly, following Kordun’s sure lead. The dwarf warrior with his white-glowing broadsword was eager to expunge the double-crossing creatures. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Still, it was an hour before that arrived at Chief Barper’s outer chamber. The kobold soldiers there were shocked to see anything come up through the passage to the Hargak, let alone humans and elves and dwarves. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]With quick slashes of blades and stabs of spears, the sentries were put down. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] Between Coerraine and Kordun, they easily shoved the large wooden doors open, to Chief Barper’s horror. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The kobold chief leapt up onto his throne, as he had at their initial meeting, and began barking and yapping at the top of his lungs. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana] The six guards around the chamber took up a position around the “dais” of the chief’s throne. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The “next-shaman” came scurrying into the room…he paused mid-scurry to look at the party in disbelief before taking a position on the dais beside the throne. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The chief, again, whispered into his intermediary’s ear. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Chiefest Barper bids you good welcome you lived for the Hargak.” The next shaman said shaking. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan called out to Faerantha to slay these creatures affronting Her hills. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“[I]Este nonclim everus shuduntae, Deisa Faerantha!”<cleric spell: Spiritual Weapon, “ Holy Faerantha, bring your justice down upon these creatures!”>[/I] the Hilltender shouted with amazing, to his companions, presence. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The appearance of a glowing golden bough of pine, sporting needles along its length, and tipped with a huge pinecone sped across the large chamber and struck three of the guard kobolds. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The creatures, completely fearful of the magic before them broke formation. The “next-shaman”, Kiff, glowered and began chanting, even as his chief was barking orders at him. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana][I]“Everx imberil rex[/I]” Alaria said plainly. The magic flowed up and through her outstretched arms. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Violet and blue flames shot forth and pummelled remaining guards. Their cries buried in the crackling of magical flame. The burst of magical power had disrupted the kobold would-be shaman’s attempted invocation. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“You tricked us.” Alaria said firmly. Kurn translated. [I]“I…no, I…Yarp…he…him fault…” <translated from kobold[/I][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]> bumbled the King of Kobolds of This-Here-Rocks. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Two more kobold guards entered the room and immediately charged the party. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]With a wave of his hand and an inaudible phrase, vines shot up out of the ground and completely entangled the attacking kobolds. They yipped and yapped their displeasure before the vines sealed their canine snouts. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]They thrashed for a moment and the kobold chief barked his disapproval, relayed by the thoroughly concerned “next-shaman.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Yous nots attack us. We’s alliedances.” Kiff protested. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Like hell!” Duor shouted in response before sending a crossbow dart into one of the more stalwart un-charrred guard’s throat. The creature dropped immediately. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“No’s. No’s! We has deal!” Kiff relayed from the obviously scared chief. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“’We has deal’[I] that you broke![/I]” Alaria shouted across the hall before summoning her power again and sending two violet-red shards of energy into the chief. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Gah!” shouted the eldritch stricken chief and pounced off his seat to land behind his throne. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Kiff, utterly at a loss as to what to do, made a dash for the other passage. Erevan and Festus took him down in a hail of arrows. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The kobolds entangled by Fen struggled and tried to cut the vines and roots with their spear tips. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The carrot-topped half-elf clenched his fist and the vegetation contracted, completely snuffing the life out of the creatures. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Five more guards entered the chamber led by Cap’n Yarp. Yarp slid to a standstill, but only for a moment, as his guards slammed into him and the three front-runners fell to the floor on top of each other. The last two, seeing the humans and elves and dwarves, went running away, yipping and howling as they went. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Haelan flung his magic shield and knocked both of the deserters unconscious, the shield clanging off one then the other before returning to the daelvar’s waiting hand. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Chief Barper!” Alaria proclaimed, not knowing or caring if the chief was still in the room to hear, “We have defeated the Hargak. You have no more reason to stay here. I suggest you gather your people and return to your former lair.” She slammed the iron shod end of her staff down on the floor to reinforce the command. It “clattered” loudly throughout the chamber. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]There were only two shaking guards near the throne and Cap’n Yarp with two if his soliders near the passage from which the party had originally entered the throne room. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]A crossbow bolt from Kurn and another arrow from Festus’ short bow left Cap’n Yarp standing by himself. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“No’s hurts! No’s hurts! Make deals!” Yarp yelled. He threw his short sword to the floor and held up his small clawed hands in an “I give up” pose.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“[I]You’s lousy cap’n Yarp! No more’s cap’n!”[/I] came Barper’s barking voice from behind the crudely crafted stone throne. [I]“And you’s lousy chief, chiefiest chiefs of kobolds!”[/I][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana] retorted the obviously vexed Yarp. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Give us yer treasure an’ get OUT!” hollered Duor through the chamber. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]There was the sound of sliding stone. Yarp closed his eyes and bowed his head. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Erevan and Duor raced behind the throne to find Barper was not there. It was a simple thing for the elf and dwarf to locate the “secret”door. Simpler, still, to figure out how to open it. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]With Coerraine and Fen, their spears at the ready, the dwarf thief opened the sliding stone panel and quickly moved aside. Behind the slab was a small, crudely crafted alcove, Chief Barper was huddling in a shaking ball of fear…surrounded by coffers and sacks and chests spilling over with gold and silver coins, gemstones, potion bottles, a couple of hilts sticking out of the bags. The chief had had the foresight to grab one of the blades from his trove and made a swipe at…well…nothing, covering his eyes to no see to heroes before him. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine raised an eyebrow at the druid. Fen burst into laughter. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Then there was a series of howls and barks as ten more kobolds raced into the chamber. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“I think not.” Alaria said, plainly. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Her fingers immediately began “weaving” her magic again and a simple phrase later, the lot of the charging creatures, including the unfortunate Cap’n Yarp were trapped beneath a layer of iridescent webbing. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Festus began skipping around the trapped kobolds, firing randomly into the mass of bodies and webs. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“One little, <pfft> two little, three little kobolds <pfft>…four little, five little <pfft> six little kobolds…” the satyr gleefully canted as he clip-clopped around the trapped creatures. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Alaria?” Haelan practically whined at the wizard. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Enough, Festus.” The magess proclaimed. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Awwww.” The satyr leaned in close to one of the kobolds still alive, “and I was just starting to get my groove on. You should thank the nice lady.” [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Thanks lady! Thanks you’s! Thanks lady!” cries went up from all of the surviving kobolds within the magical web. Only Yarp’s, of course, were understood in the Common tongue. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Coerraine unceremoniously dragged Barper out by his blue caped collar and tossed him in front of Alaria. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The chief cowered before the magess. [I]“What you’s want? What you’s want?! [/I][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]” the chief sputtered. “[I]Give you’s Yarp?” [/I]he said with a smile. Kurn translated in between chuckles. [I]“Hey!” [/I][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]protested Yarp from within the webbing. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“The Hargak,” Alaria repeated, “is gone. You will take what people you have. You will leave this mine. You will NEVER come here again nor EVER harass the people of Shafton again. If you do…WE will come back and NONE will stay our wrath. Do you understand?” Alaria said imperiously. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Kurn translated, again trying to feign fear in the face of the great wizard. [I]“What’s a Shafton[/I][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]?” Barper questioned innocently. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Feorn’s Beard! Can I just kill him now!?!” Duor roared. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Go! NOW!” commanded Alaria. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Barper barked and yipped at his guards who were thanking whatever gods kobolds have as the magical webbing faded. The guards initially ran to the secret treasure room only to find a large red-tabbarded human and green-cloaked man, both with spears pointed at them. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“Oh, I don’t think so.” Duor said with all of the smug-ness he could muster. The dwarf crossed his arms and sneered at the canine-reptilian creatures. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]They darted away, passed Yarp, passed Barper and ran as fast as their little clawed feet could carry them down the passage that led to the cavern with the lake. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“I suggest you follow them.” Alaria nodded to Barper. The chief held his silver crown close to his head and slunk toward the passage. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“And what, Barper?” Alaria called over her shoulder. [I]“Nevers comes back[/I][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana].” The kobold chief said under his scarred snout. Kurn translated and Alaria smiled and nodded to show the chief she agreed with what he’d said. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Duor turned his attention to counting the surprising amount of loot these kobolds had…with Coerraine over his shoulder and, eventually, Haelan and Kordun also helping.[/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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