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

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves

The Kobold Chief was flattered by Shamal's presentation. Even with his spell that translated tongues, he didn't understand half of what Shamal was saying to him, and that made him feel very important. When Shamal presented him with a parchment, he smiled - a strange expression of his beak-like muzzle, that showed many tiny, often chipped, teeth, and said, "Yes, yes! Our secret alliance shall be glorious! No one will ever know, and we will again be first favored by the Great Dretchroyaster! This statue was given to use by the men-cultists! We were told to guard it 'for it is precious to the Dracolich' but they are liars, and our new friends are truth-speakers! We shall dance the Pledged Swords Dance!"

He hopped up and scooped the statue off of the shelf and said, "Come! We shall present our dance to the lowly masses! They will tremble before our magnificence!"

He want out of his tent, carrying the Idol, and he spoke to every kobold he saw saying, "Gather! Gather! Gather at the fighting pit!"

 

[Tonguez]

LAKE TEAM - SUBJECT: SHADE-9 - The Waiting Game

Shade-9 processed Guldred’s information, indexing the threat level and geographical data shared about Muragh and his followers. [ - Twelve combatants//two elite guards Position: northwest of current position. Threat Assessment: Moderate to High Hostility if allied with cultist - Elite guard may increase threat assessment]
[Status: Pending] "your knowledge is invaluable" He acknowledged the outcast lizardfolk "but tell me do you know anything of the dragon Dretchroyaster? Is Muragh known to the dragon?"

For a moment Shade-9's optics flicked to Aywin, observing the subtle gesture and facial shifts that indicated for communication between the genasi and the unseen spirit. He then noted the rune activation in the structure and the distinct snap of the spatial distortion.
[System Alert: Spatial Displacement Activated. Scanning for potential threat response]

The response was almost automatic and Shade-9 look to the preparedness of his allies, including the lizardfolk Guldred "Until the current status of Svetlana is confirmed" he stated to make sure everyone was informed "I Recommend we establish perimeter security and continued to scan for additional threats.
Aywin report... "

 

[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

Things were going swimmingly but the idea of celebrating in front of the entire host seemed like a recipe for disaster.

Merrick quietly says to Shamal and Urgan as they're being shuffled out the door,

"If it's a secret alliance, maybe we shouldn't advertise it to the masses?"

The truth of the matter was, subconsciously, Merrick was deathly afraid someone was going to make him dance.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Team Lake - Aywin

Aywin patiently waits for his familiar. The first minute passes, then a second, then a third. He sighs, and tells the others. "I'll need some time to call her back. Perhaps this is one way portal; but it is important information for us to know"

If no one objects, he then proceeds to invoke arcane words and burns incense.

OOC: if she doesn't come back, ritual cast find familiar. Aywin now has 4 remaining castings worth of incense

 

[Kobold Stew]

Urgan is astounded and pleased at Shamal's deception, and joins in the celebrations. To see an orc laugh with joy can be a fearsome thing, but in this group, his ebullience is hardly noticed. He follows the chief outside of his hut.

 

[Steve Gorak]

OOC: Sorry my bad, Pact of the chain allows casting find familiar as a magic action without expending a spell slot. The casting just takes a few seconds.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Lake

Aywin made the appropriate incantations, and Svetlana appeared in front of him, visible for a moment as she rejoined the physical world. She explained, out loud so that the others could hear her report without having to wait for Aywin to repeat it, "Well, yeah. It's a transporter. It took me to a chamber, still in this horrible mountain. There was another transporter like it, where I came out. There were a bunch of kobolds working to dig out some big wooden thing that was buried in the rock. They were being ordered about by some cultists, and there were a few mercs there, too. I meant to come back using the transporter, but it took me to a third transporter. That one was in a room with proper stone walls, and it had a well - or maybe it was a scrying pool. I was going to look, but there were a half-dozen cultists there, doing some kind of lesson."

She shook her red bat-like wings and continued, "In both places, they noticed that the transporter had activated. Both groups sent someone to investigate. Neither of them saw me, but we might have got them curious about the transporters. I was about to see if it would take me to a fourth place when you dismissed me."

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves

The kobolds gathered in the largest chamber to celebrate their new heroes, who would restore their status with their dragon. They came from everywhere, every tent, hole, and crack. There was over a hundred of them, though only a relative handful seemed like they would at all be capable of defending themselves. They ranged in size from as small as a chicken to half the size of a man. A few had wings, and some of those could use them, and occasionally fluttered above the others to see over the crowd.

As part of the celebration, they presented two large beetle-like insects, with markings that had been added to them so that they were easy to tell apart. The chief told the heroes that they could choose one that would represent them, and the other would represent their enemies, and they would set them to fight, to see which one would win. But once one was chosen, the kobolds injured the other before setting them against each other in the fighting pit - a pit that took up much of the western side of the chamber.

Ostensibly, there was a feast, but only the largest and healthiest kobolds ate of the offering. Urgan saw an incident when a particularly small and wretched kobold tried to sneak some food, only to be roughly shoved away by a larger one. In spite of the gross inequality, the crowd generally seemed to be enjoying themselves, with sharp, loud yips and a general din that made Merrick nervous while Shamal stepped up to perform his ritual dance.

During the celebration, it was no problem at all for Corrah to slip away, and she did so after catching Merrick's attention, and waving good-bye.

OOC: I'll leave it up to @Snarf Zagyg to post a performance, and then I'll move on. @MetaVoid I think Torhak can get away with going just about anywhere without getting caught. Let me know what you'd like him to do. The chief has the Idol, though.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Shamal went to the center of the area, a smile bright as the desert sun lighting up his face and his eyes alight with playfulness. Truly, there is not that much different when it comes to tribes.

He waits patiently, until his still form begins to gather the attention of the kobolds. Then he produces the long curved horn of the oryx, and blows a haunting battle cry on it so that the crowd stills and all eyes are upon him.

Habibi! Brothers! Shamal waits, letting Merrick translate for him. Let me offer our swords .... he pauses briefly ... and our tribute to you, our friends! He sweeps his arms around to the barrel of food, laughing. Now, let me tell you a story of the evil that was inflicted upon you by the Betrayers...

Shamal stops. He looks around, making eye contact with as many of the kobolds as possible, letting the possibilities of what is to come linger ....

First, there were the noble kobolds. The tribe of the earth. With this, the sands begin to swirl around him, forming diffuse images resembling kobolds raising swords and cheering. They were the blessed people, for they served the Dragon Who Shall Rule All, the Mighty Dretchoroyaster! Now, the fire in the firepit begins to rise, taking the shape of a mighty and fearsome dragon breathing flames. Together, the blessed people and Dretchoroyaster would unleash the Great Destruction on all those who sought to oppose you. The sand and the fire began to mix in a swirling and beautiful pattern.

But then? Shamal stops while the sand and fire swirl, seeking out the eyes of the kobolds again, waiting. After a short while, Shamal lowers his gaze and starts shaking his head sadly. Then came ... the Betrayers. First, they parted the blessed people from the Dragon Who Shall Rule All. The sand that swirled around with the fire separated back out.

Shamal lifted his face up and looked at the kobolds, his once happy visage replaced with stern anger as his voice boomed out forcefully. AND THEN THE BETRAYERS SOUGHT TO DESTROY ALL OF YOU! Water came from nowhere, putting out the fire and turning the sand into mud.

But we will not let that happen! Shamal begins to sway rhythmically, as bells ring out. At the same time, the fire begins to roar again. Come, my brothers, and join me in the battle dance of my people, as I pledge that you will take back what is yours! Shamal lifts one sword up and begins beating out a rhythm with the mirwas, shouting out war cries while grabbing kobolds and showing them how to express their hatred of the Betrayers.

OOC: Let's see; uses of elementalism (earth, fire, water) Getting some shock and awe in there to get advantage on performance Performance: 1D20+5 = [5]+5 = 10 1D20+5 = [17]+5 = 22 BTW, this is just straight performance without adding proficiency in instrument. Shouldn't matter.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Team Lake - Aywin

Aywin ponders the intelligence Svetlana brough. He thinks out loud and asks the others: "It may be wiser use the transporter and face those cultists and mercenaries. At least we know how many there are, contrary to us continuing through the caves. What say you all?"