IndyPendant's Sunless Citadel

[Voadam]

Lehko grins wickedly. "I like your thinking. Okay. Only one of us is needed for that. Who goes? Maybe you should stay back with Terrek and the others, to keep camp."

"No, two. Both you and Ydir should go while Terrek and I remain with the wounded and our new ally. However, if the goblins are out in force then abort the plan immediately and return, we will need the advance warning and your aid to pull them farther back if we need to withdraw in a hurry and our comrades' lives are more important than prisoners or excess gear."

 

[IndyPendant]

Ydyr and Lehko cautiously return to the pit while Jair guards the unconscious bodies with Terrek, to find no additional goblins. After passing the second barricade, the door the other goblin fled through, leading to the smokey hall...is shut. And the goblins in the pit have just worked up the courage to begin shouting for help when you arrive--but they stop fearfully enough at your threatening gestures.

Getting the goblins up out of the pit and acting as porters is severely hampered by the lack of a common language between you, but eventually you get the idea accross to them. You're not sure humans would have understood so easily--but it seems slavery is an easy concept for the goblins to grasp.

The goblins don't make good porters. They're slow, clumsy, and stupid. You suspect in fact that much of that is an act, but they keep their act just short of punishment with an...impressive skill, noticeable even in the interminable minutes it takes them to bring the equipment back to the room.

Calcryx says not a word to Jair the entire time, but only waits and watches. Finally however, Ydyr and Lehko return--and you have all your equipment once more. As well as three unconscious bodies, three goblin prisoners, and a tiny dragon to deal with.

 

[Sorrow The Man Bear]

Fully aware that they have little no idea what he is saying, Lehko turns to the three prisoners in the corner. He points tword the floor, "Stay put," he puts his fingers to his lips, "And quiet," he then points at Calcryx and chomps his teeth loudly, "And I'll ask him not to eat you."

Regarding Jair and Ydyr now, "There's no other way of looking at it. You're the only one with any healing ability, and you need rest. And Ydyr, you're barely standing as it is. I can push through just to keep watch. It'll weigh on me later, but it wouldn't be the first time. I can set a trap, as Meepo showed me and borrow Jerek's bow for the night. If you'll help me bind the goblins, that is."

 

[Voadam]

"I need the rest for the healing magic, but the guard time can be split among you, Ydir, and Terrek. Once the other three are healed and can walk we will journey to Yusdrayl and make arrangements for Calcryx according to our given word."

Jair turns to the dragon and takes on his accustomed role of courteous druid diplomat.

"Noble Calcryx. The kobolds only told us of their reverence for you and told us you were kidnapped by the goblins as the missing humans were. The kobolds did not tell us of the cage or your exact past relationship with them however. The now dead keeper was most evasive on these points. When we deal with Yusdrayl, what more should we know in order to make arrangements on your behalf."

 

[IndyPendant]

Calcryx waits a while before speaking. "You must approach Yusdrayl from a position of strength. If she smells weakness in you, you will be doomed. Unless you can heal the near-death wounds from a dragon in one day, you must wait. I will allow you to heal yourselves into that strength, on two conditions. First, your companions, when they awaken, must swear their own vows not to let me be caged again, or they will die. Second, I am to receive the first and most powerful healing spell you have available, each day. Do not try to trick me, Jair Feyfriend. I will know."

 

[Voadam]

"Wise words noble Calcryx. It seems to me it would be best to assert a position of strength together. I propose an alliance between us beyond our current truce so that Yusdrayl knows that in dealing with either of us she is dealing with a greater force that is to be respected. In return for knowledge of the Citadel and its inhabitants as well as mutual support as allies I will heal you as one of our band with my first and more powerful spell each day while we all recover to deal with the kobolds. I will get the others to swear to the agreement and you will see for yourself whether you can trust my words. If Yusdrayl knows you have an alliance with all of us as we return with goblin prisoners she will see your position as strengthened."

 

[IndyPendant]

Once again, the interminable hours pass within this now-familiar room. Lehko spends much of the time setting up another trap in the first barricade room, to warn you of goblin incursions. As Lehko works on this, and as Jair works on a deal with Calcryx...the wounded party members, tended--as best he can--by Ydyr, gradually grow conscious. Battered, mortally wounded, agonized, and barely able to sit up--let alone fight--Kuma, Jerek, and Heirmund awaken to find themselves alive and (relatively) safe.

Calcryx rumbles chillingly. "Do not presume, human. I speak of no alliance. I have spared your lives, and in return you are to aid me in establishing my new position among the kobolds--as their leader. That is all I have offered. I merely told you to approach from a position of strength, and I am surprised you needed to hear that."

((Everyone is conscious! Finally! --I've recently been bending a lot of guidelines in your favour here, but if I didn't it would probably be weeks before the three of you could play again. : ) Note that Kuma, Heirmund, and Jerek are staggered until they reach positive HPs.))

 

[Mithran]

Heirmund slowly opens his eyes and slowly turns his head from side to side to look around. Heirmund stops on the sight of Calcryx and Jair "That was most uncomfortable, Jair, what has happened?"

 

[JimAde]

As Jerek slowly returns to consciousness, he keeps his eyes shut and his ears open, hoping to learn what's going on. As he hears the haughty but apparently not hostile words of the dragon he peers out from slitted eyes. Before saying anything he watches the dragon carefully for a few minutes, sizing the creature up.

More dangerous than I'd give him credit for, he thinks. I'll have to be fast if it comes down to it.

He then closes his eyes without a word to get some real sleep.

 

[Shayuri]

Kuma grunts and shifts position slightly, then opens his eyes. He carefully, painfully looks around the room. Having assessed the situation, he asks, "What do I owe for my life?"