Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 2 - Illusions)

[GlassEye]

Silas could argue the kobold's fate, further alienating Rix but one kobold weighed against the settlement of gnomes? If Rix wishes to take the time to mutilate the kobold I'll not be waiting for him, thinks Silas.

Later...
Exhaustion sapping his strength Silas says, "I think we should rest. Pushing on in this state..." He shakes his head. "It's too dangerous; especially with night coming on."

[sblock=OOC]
I'm assuming Rix did something with the kobold. Either killed it or left it behind and that it is no longer with us. Whatever the case Silas assumes it is beyond his control, especially with a threat to the gnomes looming.

Any spare time will be spent in rest/sleep or taking a turn at watch.
[/sblock]

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The group settles down to rest. Each group member takes a different shift and Dartis ties the kobold prisoner up near a tree while he takes the first watch. The night goes uneventfully and the group sleeps until Rix takes the last shift. Shortly before dawn the party wakes up to painful screams deep in the swamp. As the party grabs their weapons and prepares for an attack they notice that Rix isn't to be found in the camp. Soon they can hear a whistling tune as Rix emerges from the muddy ground, his hands by his side, and a pleased look on his face. It would appear the kobold prisoner is gone, also...

 

[Land Outcast]

Alexander spits, all this really disgusts him, he would have prefered to cleanly slice head from body of the kobold, but it was Rix's realm. Leaving a wounded wolf behind on purpose...

The half orc shakes his head. "Moving"

Ravil was right, this scoundrel is testing me

 

[Ferrix]

"Who's making breakfast?" Rix grins markedly amused at his companions.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas pulls a hard, dry biscuit from his store of rations and tosses it to Rix. "Consider it made." Rapidly packing up his gear and strapping his bedroll to the bottom of his pack he says, "Let's move on. We can eat on the trail." Keeping his face carefully blank he asks Rix, "Did you kill him?"

 

[Ferrix]

"I could stand to sit and eat breakfast, the trail is still going to be there. Maybe not the gnomes, but no real loss." He tosses the dry biscuit back, sitting down he'll open up some of his own rations.

When Silas asks him his question, he cocks his head to the side, "who?"

 

[Land Outcast]

"We are moving, Rix" Alexander says... his patience with the kobold is growing thin.

"We have no time to waste, even more, we will have to march at higher speed, we don't want to arrive at the gnome's place in midbattle" He's already taken his things and packed them.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas sighs, realizing he'll not get any information out of the wily kobold. He shrugs his pack up onto his back and grabs for the biscuit when Rix tosses it back. Looking at Alexander he says, "I'm ready." Breaking off a piece of the biscuit he pops it into his mouth and moves to follow Alexander.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The party moves on, though some of its members glance at Rix in suspicion or disgust. You travel for a few more hours when Kel notices a wisp of smoke in the direction of the gnome lands. Hurrying, the party travels another hour before the inescapable smell of smoke reaches your nose.

Walking over the final hill, the party sees the Laughphray Hills on fire, its defensive towers aflame or destroyed. Several siege engines lay still on the field, surrounded by the bodies of goblins, gnolls, and kobolds. The doors to the gnome home have been broken down and a recently dug tunnel opening covered with canvas can be seen between two large tents. This was likely dug by kobold sappers.

Three entrances into the hills can be seen from your vantage point, although there are likely others. The left entrance was closer to the residential areas of the gnome caves, while the right entrance was nearer the administrative. Both entrances have been burst open. The kobold tunnel is a third, new entrance, but where it leads to is unknown. You can hear the sounds of battle raging somewhere deep in the earth.

 

[Land Outcast]

Angered by Rix, angered by failure, angered by mind-slavers, angered by betrayal... plus, even if he didn't like the gnomes and their tunnels, they were good folk, he had slept under their roof.

"Coming?"

Leaving behind him an almost-tangible trace of fury, Alexander draws both his weapons as he races swiftly down the hill, towards the left entrance...