(5.24 PBP) Vault Redux (OOC) Fitz's Refresher

[FitzTheRuke]

Where we THINK they MIGHT be murdered. No guarantees, they (the kobolds) negotiated with us. As for abused...who cares? They abused kobolds...

And besides, you did your best, you tried to keep them both alive and out of your hair, it's not your fault that kobolds killed them..

We cannot make a deal with her because kobolds cannot free themselves and we can only benefit them. She, on the other hand, is highly intelligent (wizard), highly motivated (knowledge and her spellbook)...why would she trust us when she gains more (trust, influence, good-will) if she betrays us

She gains more (her life) by not crossing you. She never once crossed you. You crossed her. PCs tend to forget that they are the ones who kicked in the door and started knocking over the furniture.

I'm just speaking philosophically, and clarifying story details from an NPC's perspective. Please don't mistake this for me trying to influence what you choose to do. It doesn't bother me any which way you choose. It just means something to me about your character's actions. I judge characters, but I don't judge players.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

As for the MIGHT part, Fitz already pointed out that they WILL torture or kill Valenda and the merc unless we can somehow pay them not to. My original idea to get the kobolds to watch them was under the wrong assumption that the prisoners would be safe.

Well, he's right that you can't be 100% certain that it will happen, but it seems like the most likely scenario, given what you know about them, which is what I was trying to clarify, more than telling you "what the DM knows". There's definitely no likelihood that the Kobolds would treat them fairly.

But, yeah, if this is getting uncomfortable (or boring) we can just move along with whatever the first person who chooses wants to post as a final decision.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I think she gains the most by staying neutral and not betraying either side:

1. She gets to live
2. She gets to see if we succeed which will give her more freedom to research without the cult dictating what she’s allowed to do or where she’s allowed to go. Edit: my feeling is she’s not entirely happy with the status quo.
3. If we fail, she’s back to the status quo, working under the Cult

In all cases, she gets to research and gets her spell book back (because it’s currently out of her reach, in her footlocker)

Merrick would be fine with that but he wants her to go one step further: leave for a day, then come back. Preferably under a guard.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Merrick would be fine with that but he wants her to go one step further: leave for a day, then come back. Preferably under a guard.

She'd probably agree to that, but the only way out that you know of is through the Kobold Caves.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

She'd probably agree to that, but the only way out that you know of is through the Kobold Caves.

Well that’s why I thought we could hire a small party of kobolds to escort them out. I just thought it might be easier to get a few underfed kobolds to agree to getting food to lead them out of the caves. I just thought that might be easier than bribing the Chief.

 

[Neurotic]

Well that’s why I thought we could hire a small party of kobolds to escort them out. I just thought it might be easier to get a few underfed kobolds to agree to getting food to lead them out of the caves. I just thought that might be easier than bribing the Chief.

Not in the caves, but my 2c...don't waste time with going back to the kobolds, either you trust she will wait a day or not.

Giving kobolds something, even just food means they know something is up and they might betray something esp if pikki went back to the tribe and you have to return there.

Or not...in which case let Torhak kill them despite personal grievances or dislke.

I would go both ic and out as a player with trust, but I'm usually for negotiation rather than fighting

 

[MetaVoid]

For treating the kobolds, this was what we were told
"They come and take kobolds this way, to work at a dig-site. It is part of our peace agreement with them, but we do not like it."

Of course, this doesn't mean Valendra specifically mistreated them.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

For treating the kobolds, this was what we were told
"They come and take kobolds this way, to work at a dig-site. It is part of our peace agreement with them, but we do not like it."

Of course, this doesn't mean Valendra specifically mistreated them.

In the link below, she states that she wants to learn more about what the cult is unlocking. (The staff, I think. I need to go back and read the first post to remember what our mission is and what their goal is)

Edit: our mission

Spoiler: Mission link

Post in thread '(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux'

Jun 16, 2025

The halfling woman who had been sitting on the spiral staircase, hopped down and began to ring a bell, gathering everyone's attention. She didn't speak, however, and didn't need to. She simply looked up the stairs, as a man descended, clad in colourful robes:

"Hail, Heroes of the Realms!" called the Wizard Imani, Sage of Hap, using the stairs as a stage, so that he could be seen by all those gathering.

Seeing that he may have overblown his initial greeting, he cleared his throat and quickly moved to the point, "I have gathered you here today at great expense...

• FitzTheRuke

They’ve tasked her with finding out what the green rocks do in the meanwhile. She has no alliance with the kobolds, it’s the Cult that is aligning itself with everyone.

Post in thread '(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux'

Nov 3, 2025

Team Caves

Valendra sighed and said, "The Arcane Brotherhood seeks knowledge above all else. It is true that sometimes we must ally ourselves with... less than savory organizations. I know very little about the Wyrmspeaker and his 'pet', but I have heard tantalizing rumours that they are near to unlocking some great secret of the Uvarenni Lorekeepers. They have promised to share some tidbits, and I had hoped to gain their favour to learn more."

She paused for a moment, hoping that this had satisfied her captors, but when they pressed for more, she continued, "While I...

• FitzTheRuke

• 

In all my posts, I’ve purposely not mentioned our purpose. We could always tempt her by offering to let her see the staff when we find it or to tell her what information we find or anything like that to buy her loyalty. Turning the Cult’s allies into our allies seems like a better plan than keeping them as enemies.

Anyways, I’m clearly on the ‘be nice to her’ side.

I wonder if @Snarf Zagyg wants to pipe in. Surely, our characters have been debating for long enough that his ritual is done. I’ve made my case but I won’t post anything more IC about it. I’ll let you guys decide what we do.

@FitzTheRuke she offered to describe more of what’s along the way to the residences so we probably want those details - including traps and passwords if she has them.