From Citadel to Bastion: The Sunless Citadel

[GruTheWanderer]

"Clan's dragon. Clan's dragon. The wretched goblins stole Calcyrx, our dragon! Understand. Understand. Meepo doesn't understand either, but the leader does. Meepo take you to meet the leader, Yusdrayl, if you make nice. Grant you safe passage, if you promise not to hurt Meepo. May be if you promise to rescue dragon, leader make nice to you, answer your questions."

The party begins noticing more details about the room. The metallic cage is bent out of shape, but there are small droppings inside. Small bits of bone and armor are visible anong the ashes in the bonfire pit. The wooden bench beside Meepo is set up like a tiny altar and holds containers of green dye, a paintbrush, and four small jade figurines of dragons.

 

[StalkingBlue]

Moon, still distrustful, hangs back and motions to his friends behind Meepo's back. "More of them in there," he mouthes, pointing to the north door on the west wall.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Ashrem stared at the kobold before him. "I do not trust this creature. It may be leading us into a trap."

With that, he closed his eyes. He reached out with his mind just far enough to sense the consciouse mind of Meepo.

Ash found himself on the mindscape once more. He saw the kobold in two worlds. In the real world he simply stood staring at the creature. In his mind, he and the glowing mental essence of the kobold where the only things to be found in the barren wastes of Ashrem's mind.

An eerie feeling swept over everyone as Ashrem suddenly seized at the kobold's mind.

OOC: Charm Person, DC: +5

PSIONICS
Talents: 3
Power Points: 2

 

[GruTheWanderer]

*clatter of dice* Latching on to Meepo's mind, Ashrem finds it resistant to his impulses. Although not exceedingly willful, the kobold appears to have focused its thoughts to an unexpected degree, and is not swayed by Ashrem's manipulations.

"Do not trust. Do not trust. What you do? Not dragon magic like Yusdrayl, but mind magic like the blue goblin. Into a trap. Into a trap. You want to trap Meepo." With a small shriek it begins backing toward the room containing the other voices.

 

[StalkingBlue]

A visible shiver runs through Moon as the wave from Ashrem's power sweeps over him.

At Meepo's words he shakes his head as if to clear it, and starts slinking sideways to keep between the kobold and the door with the voices, trying to avoid all noise but keeping his dagger hand behind his back, just in case.

His eyes flick back and forth between the kobold's back and Ashrem's face.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Ashrem looked at the little kobold before him. "Interesting... it resisted.", he thought.

He seized at the creature's mind again.

OOC: Charm Person again.


PSIONICS
Talents: 3
Power Points: 1

 

[Vargo]

"ASHREM! Leave that creature alone!" Khaira yells. "Can't you see it's already scared half to death?"

Then, in Draconic to Meepo, "Meepo, we will make not-cruel and not hurt you, if you make not-cruel and not try to hurt us. Agreed?"

(OOC: Diplomacy +6, Sense Motive +4)
(OOC take 2: I can't see Draconic having a word for "nice"... And note the positioning of the word "try".)

 

[novyet]

Lowering her crossbow, and throwing a sidelong glare at Ashrem, Farah speaks to the little scared creature in Draconic "Please forgive our friend Meepo, but what Khaira says is the truth. If you don't hurt us, maybe we can help you."

OOC --> My login issue to the boards seems to be gone. Thanks for the cover Gru!

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Distracted by the various Draconic speakers and the movement of Moon in the corner, the kobold's mind drops its guard and succumbs to Ashrem's influence. It relaxes visibly.

"Not cruel. Not hurt. Meepo forgive friend. Your friend. My friend." Meepo scampers over to Ashrem and pats him on the leg. He looks up at Farah and Khaira imploringly.

"Help me. Help me. Help me bring back the dragon. Please come and see Yusdrayl. She is a wise leader, and she will surely answer your questions." With that, he pushes slightly on Ashrem's leg and points towards the hallway across the room.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Success!

Ashrem looked at the others and let slip a sly grin. He then turned his attention back to the kobold. "Yes... friend. But first, I have some questions for you."

He knelt down so that he was eye level with Meepo. "How many of your kind are in this place and why are you here?"