(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux

[Kobold Stew]

Team Caves. (Urgan).

Urgan follows in behind Merrick, and stands to one side. Scamp pants heavily and seems wearied by the obligation to come inside.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves: Chief Urbone's Hut

Urbone the Magnificent waved his gnarled staff, made from the desiccated leg of some giant insect, and his words shifted to sound as if it were a bold voice speaking the common tongue, with only a slight echo of the chirps of the kobold dialect of draconic.

"A grand show of magnificence!" he congratulated Merrick, "You are worthy of our company. Come in, sit, and I will have them fetch some giant grouse's eggs! I assume you like yours raw, as we do? I have heard that some cook them, but that is a terrible thing. Do you not agree?"

The hut was a rather large, circular pavilion, made from bone, mud, and animal skins. It had a central firepit, which only held half-burned embers, but the place was lit by a fire-beetle, trapped in a spherical cage that hung from the largest bone that supported the roof.

The kobold chief sat down on a bed of treasure - coins, plates, gems, and jewelry - that made up a very uncomfortable-looing mound. Around the hut were various oddities and sundries, collected from far and wide. On a teak bookshelf supported on one side (where its leg was broken) by the only book to be seen, was a smallish black stone statue:

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Spoiler: Shamal TEAM CAVE

AC 18 Pass Perc 14
HP 34/40 HD 3/4
SSdc13 3/3
Chan Div 2/2 Divine Smite 0/1 Lay 5/20 Insp 0/1

Shamal has not been enjoying the sojourn into the dark, punctuated by fits of some foul language he did not understand. However, his demeanor immediately improved when he followed Merrick into the hut of the kobold chief and beheld Urbone, sitting on his throne of treasures. Shamal may not know all the ways of these dragon-kin, but he had a keen understanding of the tribal bonds of loyalty and hospitality, and his ears were gladdened by Urbone's use of the common tongue.

Shamal immediately replied to Urbone.
Great sheikh! Your wisdom and hospitality are truly the seeds carried on the air; spread everywhere, yet the vision of them does no justice to what it represents- the fruit of your leadership. I am Shamal of the Faisan, and I humbly thank you for you beneficence in sharing a table with us, and for your gift of giant grouse's eggs. In return, I offer you a gift of my people; I shall sing a song of your greatness, Sheikh Urbone, the Magificent!

Shamal dons the khirkhash and grabs the mirwas, and begins a slow dance. The bells on the belt accompany the rhythmic movement, and his hands tap out a low beat, as he sings a traditional song of thanks to Urbone.

OOC: Shamal is using performance to persuade Urbone to look upon the group favorably. Performance (advantage, proficient): 1D20+5 = [15]+5 = 20 1D20+5 = [12]+5 = 17

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Merrick- Team CAVES!

Merrick Thorburn Race: Human	HP: 53/53 AC: 15/17(with shield)	Buffs:
Rage: 2/3	Inner Healing:1/4	HD: 3/3
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 16+3(+5) DEX: 13+1(+1) CON: 16+3(+5) INT: 8-1(+-1) WIS: 10+0(+0) CHA:11 +0(+0)	Spoiler: Skills Athletics+5 Intimidate: 2/5 Perception: 2/5 Performance 2 Stealth: 3/5 Survival: 2/5	Spoiler: Spells Daily: JUMP: 1/1 At will Thaumaturgy Message

Merrick got into the hut and laid down his heavy burden - the barrel was uncomfortable to carry. He wanted to use it for trade but he didn't want to give it away yet, as they might need it to barter.

Merrick did his best to translate Shamal's words - even though he didn't under stand exactly what some of them meant - he assumed Sheik meant chief or lord and translated it as so.

He didn't particularly like this chief, who seemed to be hording all the food and wealth for himself while his people seemed to live in squalor. But he supposed he couldn't expect much more from kobolds living in caves. Even his own people let greed and power take them. There was inequality everywhere. He wondered if dethroning this leader would lead to a better system for the tribe or if some other tyrannical leader would take over instead.

While Shamal did his song, Merrick used his subtelist sign language, using an excuse to translate something said by the chief to point out the statue of Bhaal.

If he was offered raw eggs, he ate them, not wanting to insult the chief. He usually only had raw eggs as a hangover cure. In return, he offered the flask of spirits to the Chief.1

Spoiler: OOC

1. Using the Flask taken from the wagon as a means to AID action anyone bartering with the chief and giving them advantage.

Diplomacy notes:

• We should exchange passage for vengeance on the people who killed the dragon (if that's what happened)
• We should save the the barrel of food to exchange for the statue!!!

- As an aside, we have the sending stones so we should send a report once we have an update.

[/SPOILER]

 

[Neurotic]

Earlier as the mercenary spoke about the dracolich and in his role as a cultist, Lorent didn't want to speak so as not to give away his unfamiliarity with the subject. But one part got his attention and he listened carefully about the hierarchy of the cult and assessed his own stolen insignia in order to find out where he fit in.

"Speak not of things you don't understand." was his only comment as they came before the stairs.

He ignored the armored lady, pretending to check stuff in the back of the cart in preparation for moving it. He didn't want to risk the recognition.

 

[Neurotic]

Once in the store-room, he got out of the cart and cracked his back
"Dam**d cart seat and the kobolds and the trip and the mercenaries." quiet litany of complaints telling the story of high rank that couldn't be bothered with basic needs of the dungeon and even less with the mercenaries, but what had to be done, had to be done.

At the mention of 3-dragon ante he perks up and snaps his fingers at Copper, Merrick and the mercenary
"Unload this stuff, ox-guy and new guys." as he pushes Saphirrion among the barrels opposite where the guy with oxen went. As he approaches the cultists, he pauses next to the cage, looking in and using the time to actually observe the card-players

OOC: what is the rank of the fanatics and cultists in comparison to his own? My next action might depend on whether I can sell myself as someone from outside such as "interogator" or "dragon-negotiator" or whatever from outside rather than one of them (in any case, illusion will be ready to block the exit and/or guiding bolt to drop one hopefully immediately - one can hope if combat comese out. Lorent has the skill at cards (yay!) and deception and charisma - we cheat!