From Citadel to Bastion: The Sunless Citadel

[GruTheWanderer]

Meepo approaches the throne and speaks with his leader in hushed tones. Yusdrayl inclines her head to the party, "Greetings and welcomes. We are the people of the dragon. As the mightiest among my people, I led a brave few to this ancient holy site, where dragons were revered long ago."

"Meepo tells me you are willing to help recover our dragon, stolen by the putrid goblins. If you return the dragon to us, I shall grant you a reward." She gestures at the items on the altar above her head (the key, several scrolls, a flask, and a feather token).

"Do you have any questions?" Yusdrayl finishes with a small yip.

 

[StalkingBlue]

Moon doesn't feel he wants to be the one sticking his head out asking questions -- at least not yet.
He just slinks a little closer to the throne in the shadow of the columns, to have a closer look at the "rewards" Yusdrayl offers.
Go steal a white dragon ... I've done worse, I suppose. Though Quendros appeared worried, have to remember to ask him why. Why isn't Khaira saying anything?


OOC: I'm assuming that Yusdrayl speaks Common so Moon understands.

 

[novyet]

"Yusdrayl, why did the goblins take Calcryx from you? Also where might these goblins be?" Farah finishes addressing the kobold chief, and awaits her response.

 

[Vargo]

Khaira adresses the queen in Draconic, "Daughter of Dragons, we would be honored to aid you in your needs. We would be very grateful if you could provide for us a map of the area clearly showing where the goblins hide, so that we can find them in their lairs, and make them wail in defeat."

OOC: I got stuck the past two days pulling cabling - so I wasn't able to get to a computer Sorry!

 

[GruTheWanderer]

The kobold leader is speaking Common.

"Why did they steal our dragon? They knew we would overcome them in time. They are mostly cowards, but they have one or two strong warriors."

She goes on to explain the layout of the kobold forces. The columned hallway is the center of their territory, with the throne room at the west end and the communal living chamber at the east end. The larder, the prison, and several guard posts line the hallway.

There are two ways in to the goblin territory. The "front door" heads directly north from the hallway, and the kobolds have installed several traps. The "back door" leads east out of the dragon's chamber and circles around to approach the goblins from the side. This is also the route taken by the previous adventuring party.

The kobolds know little about the goblins' numbers or quarters, but the leader orders Meepo to travel with you to answer any other questions.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Ashrem stared at the creature before him. It pained him to have to offer humility to such a creature, but he knew that, in the end, it would be better for the group as a whole.

"Yusdrayl, might you have a room in which we may rest and regroup during our excursions into goblin territory? This may take a bit of time. Travel to and from our human settlement isn't practical and would only serve to prolong our time spent in your service and your dragon in goblin hands."

After a moments pause he added, "We give you our word that we will not cause trouble among your people."

 

[novyet]

To the group... "We should probably take the back route in, if only because the people we came to find went that way. Perhaps they were captured by goblins?" To Yusdrayl... "Can you tell us any more of the last group of people to come through here?"

 

[StalkingBlue]

Front door, back door, all the same to me. Doors are there to be opened ... preferably by me. Hope we get going soon.
Thinking such thoughts makes Moon feel better - well, slightly. He's hoping that he'll be able to slip in among the others once they start moving, to remain unnoticed if possible.


OOC: Low Wisdom, lack of experience in social situations - I see Moon as a character who regards negotiations as a business utterly beyond him; and that's not even starting to think about the wisdom of making alliances with evil beings, or promising to retrieve their evil secret super-weapon in the form of Calcryx for them (not that he'd know a dragon from a rabid rabbit anyway).
Please don't take this to mean that I (as Moon's player) am impatient with your negotiations. /OOC

 

[GruTheWanderer]

*clatter of dice* Yusdrayl does not appear impressed with Ashrem's attempt at humility. "You need our protection from counterattacks? Perhaps you are not so strong after all. Next you will be asking for food and water. We have some empty rooms, but we will not guard your rest for free. Shall we say ... 6gp per night? This should encourage you to act with due haste."

"Little do I remember the other people. They saw our dragon and wisely chose to seek spoils elsewhere. Perhaps they were captured by the goblins. Perhaps they were eaten by Guthash. It makes little difference to us."

 

[garyh]

"One question, wizened one?" Quendros asked. "What do you mean by 'one or two strong warriors'?"