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

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Lake

While Svetlana complained that Aywin only loved her for her expendable body, Guldred explained to Shade-9 that Muragh was a lizardfolk who was occupying a cavern nearby to the northwest. He had a dozen or so lizardfolk with him, two of which were his personal bodyguards. Guldred had scouted the place, being familiar with the mountains.

"The fissh once easier to catch! Blind. Did not bite back." he lamented, "Before men come."

While they were talking, Svetlana (who no one could see or hear other than Aywin, so it appeared to the others like Aywin was making animated facial expressions while distracted) had agreed to go into the structure and try its magic. It seemed likely that it would activate upon entry, unless you knew how to stop it.

OOC: Are you sending her in?

 

[Hriston]

Watching the game's progress in the other room, Terrin gets an idea and speaks over his shoulder to the ox handler as one brooding over an injustice.

"You think that's fair," he asks, "that they sit on their arses and play games, lording it over us while we do all the hard work and provide the security?"

"I mean, they just work here," he says, hoping to stir up division between the mercenaries and the cultists, "same as we do. They ain't no better. We should get our turn at the table next, and if they won't give it to us, we oughta make them!"

OOC: Charisma (Persuasion): 1D20+3 = [20]+3 = 23 Or 21 if you want to make it Deception

 

[Steve Gorak]

Team Lake

OOC: Are you sending her in?

OOC: absolutely! The plan is to check the area and come back to report. 1 minute max

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves

The Kobold chief went on a long, likely embellished rant about the glory days of serving Dretchroyaster in his prime as the Dragon laid waste to the area, vanquishing his enemies and cowing the 'civilized' folk. What was true of his story had been over a hundred years ago, and it was likely a generational story, passed orally from chiefs before him.

He spoke bitterly of the day that the Cult came. Conniving back-stabbers that stole the Dragon's favor and convinced him to seek the power of Undeath as a Lich. As addled as these kobolds were when it came to dragon-worship, they had enough sense to loathe undead. But still, they remained loyal to their Dragon-Lord (who at any rate had always spent many years gathering power through dragon-sleep). The Cultists would come and go, but the kobolds remained. They even followed the Dragon when he changed lairs, like when they had travelled to this place.

The way the Kobold Chief told it, the dragon had 'made the mountain' to house the kobolds, and to store his horde.

But then, the Cultists came again, and the kobolds had been pushed to the side-caves. It had been many years since any Kobold had spoken directly with their Lord and Master. They were certain he was there, though - the Kobold Chief said that they could 'feel it when he shifted his tail'. He was sleeping, and plotting his next Great Destruction, where he would terrorize the land once more.

Chief Urbone the Magnificent did not like the Cult of the Dragon. But he believed that they had the current favor of the Monarch Reborn, Dretchroyaster the Green. And they would not betray their master, not for anything. But... the idea of a third, outside party, disrupting the Cult's activities appealed to him.

"You must not reveal that we Kobolds had any part of it," Chief Urbone concluded.

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Darius nods to Arwyin and explains what he has figured out about the structure and it's workings.

OOC: Hey sorry for the delays in posting. Work has just been a pain. I work for higher ed and summer tends to be when upgrades and stuff happen. I've been on three huge projects that have been sucking up all my brain capacity for the past month or more. If you are waiting on something from me just ping me and I will try to make a point to post.

 

[MetaVoid]

Torhak puta an arrow, feathers first into his spy hole, moving it slowly in 3 circles before pulling it back, hoping that others from the group will notice. And understand.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

OOC: @MetaVoid Torhak can send a 25 word, whispered message to Merrick.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Shamal listens carefully to the Kobold Chief, while pulling out some papyrus and a quill and beginning to write. When Urbone is finished, Shamal replies.

Great Sheikh, your perseverance in the face of the betrayers is an honor to your tribe. I pledge my blades, the Saif al-Bedawi, to your righteous cause, and pledge to strike down with great vengeance and furious anger those who have sought to poison and destroy the Glory of Dretchoroyaster! I have drawn upon this parchment the words of the Faisan, and offer you first, this gift of fealty as a sign of our service to your just cause.

Shamal hands the parchment to Urbone, covered in beautiful flowing script in an ancient primordial dialect.

This is but a humble retelling of the esteem that you are held in by all, and of your allegiance to Dretchroyaster, may he bring upon the lands another Great Destruction with you as his faithful servant. We ... Shamal sweeps his arms around to include the rest of the party ... we are truly lucky that you would allow us to serve you and to strike out against your enemies, and to bring you again to your rightful place at the side of the Dragon Who Shall Rule All.

Shamal looks at Urbone. We shall do what must be done. My people, the Faisan, seal our bargains in a way that will be approved by al-Raml, and shall bind our blades to your cause. First, we must exchange gifts. Then, I will seal our bargain by performing the Dance of Pledged Swords.
Shamal looks around the room. But great Sheikh, you have given us so much of your gracious hospitality already! I cannot ask that you give much to seal the bargain. Your gold and your gems are too precious by far. Shamal looks around the room some more, as if in deep thought. And yet, there must be some exchange. Something small, something that would not be missed. Perhaps that book ... Shamal points at the book, and then stops ... No, great Sheikh! Even that would be too much to ask. That little thing next to the book, as a reminder of the Betrayers that we must kill. Shamal glances in the direction of the stone statute holding up the book.

And for you? We offer you our blades for your vengeance, and a barrel of food for your feast to seal our deal and bring our blades to your cause, oh mighty Sheikh!

OOC: Provides parchment with beautiful calligraphy to Urbone to soften him up (to get advantage on persuasion check ... if not, take first roll) Uses persuasion to try to trade "service" and barrel of food for statue. Persuasion: 1D20+5 = [16]+5 = 21 1D20+5 = [20]+5 = 25 Boom! I swear, I roll terrible at combat and great when it comes to making a fool of myself. I guess Urbone will get a sword dance, too?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Lake

Aywin sent Svetlana into the structure. The same pattern of runes that had glowed when he'd thrown in a rock, glowed once again, but this time, there was a snapping noise. Though Aywin was the only one who could see it, Svetlana had disappeared. He could sense that she was alive, and on this plane of existence, but she was far enough away that they could not communicate psychically. He would have to either wait for her to find her way back to him, or summon her.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Infiltrate

The mercenary hissed at Terrin, saying, "You shut it! Above half of them are madder than a crane-fly! The Beast will have your hide if you do anythin' that could make them turn on us. The money this job pays is tops, an' you'll see your share soon enough. You'll be able to play all the games you like by then, you wait and see. Now lift that crate of yams and keep your gob shut."

He'd been rebuked, but Terrin could tell that his words had had an effect of the mercenary, who looked down the hallway that separated the rooms, eyeing those at the card table with a look of both fear and hatred.

Lifting the yam-crate, Terrin followed his gaze. Lorent had introduced himself as equal in rank to the highest cultist at the table, and he had the Driver's cult emblem to "prove" it. The two senior-most players welcomed him as an important arrival, and because there were only four chairs, they made one of the others give up his seat to allow "Lozant" to join their game.

Though Copper was a lowly "scale" (a new recruit), they reluctantly allowed him to join in standing, with one of them saying, "Fair warning: If you lose your tribute, the Gods won't be able to help you. You'll be devoured for sure, and I for one can't wait to watch it happen."

OOC: It will be difficult to get the mercs and cultists to turn on each other here, but it's a decent set up for now, I suppose.