Carnifex
First Post
Here's another little short story. This one concerns a band of kobolds who wander the oceans on an ancient artifact from before the fall of the meteors - an oil-powered paddle hulk. I saw in the main thread something about one of the old gods surviving - the fire goddess - and so these kobolds are followers of her, though they currently don't have much of an aim (ie I haven't had really good inspiration for their purpose 
). I had originally the idea that the ship was once the vessel of a demi-god or something, or maybe the personal ship of the fire goddess, and so its a powerful blend of magic and technology, and the kobolds really dont understand it very well. Also, in the story I developed the idea that the ship itself - the 'god-tech' as the kobolds call it - is actually sentient to some extent. Who knows? It may even be manipulating its passengers to its own ends
The kobolds themselves are using the knowledge and resources of the god-tech to become quite proficient alchemists, as demonstrated here. Apart from their somewhat destructive experiments, they generally just do a little bit of trading to get by - their vessel can easily withstand really bad weather so they can make the kinds of voyages that for most merchants just isn't viable at all.
Kramack, their sorcerer/cleric leader, plans to eventually use their growing alchemical expertise to set of some underwater volcanoes in a grand explosion, for two reasons; one to honour their goddess, and two to create some islands for the displaced kobolds to live on. There, I've just solved my own problem of not knowing what purpose they have
Without further ado, here's the story:
Looming darkly through the thick sea-mist that cloaked the surface of the water, the shape of the massive metal hulk slowly cruised forwards. Massive piston-engines growled and hammered, vents belching gouts of black, oily smoke into the atmosphere as diminuitive figures scurried around the huge ship. With a shuddering crunch the paddles reversed, slowing the beast of a vessel to a halt.
The engines continued to chuff deeply as Kramack peered out over the surface of the misty waters, the kobold's cloak not stirred by the faintest breeze. "The settlements under us now?" he asked doubtfully.
"Yes, definitely. Them traders maps say it is anyway, and the god-tech's telling us that there's a shape on the sea bed below us - it's gotta be them.
The kobolds had carefully acquired the maps that showed the location of a sahuagin raiders camp. And then, unlike any sensible person would do, they had sought the location out in the bellowing god-tech hulk, on a mission for their God.
Kramack was satisfied - if the god-tech said they were in the right place, then they must be. "Alright, push over the charges!" he called to the clustered kobolds who scurried round wooden supports holding up barrels. Wedges were pulled out and the barrels splashed into the ocean, sinking rapidly.
* * *
Sahuagin warriors swarmed upwards towards the dark shape above. The massive ship was incredibly noisy, attracting the warbands attention long before it had finally settled to a stop above their village, and the brutal savages had enough time to fully arm themselves. Now they shot through the water like arrows towards their prey above.
The one at the head faltered in surprise as he saw barrels sinking through the water towards them. Cautiously swimming forwards, he saw them to have been heavily caulked in tar - obviously to prevent water getting through - and that dozens of sharp fragments of coral or stone had been embedded in the tar. At one end, a little glass bell was stuck on, and he realised as he peered at it that within was a little piece of string, which was burning in its tiny enclosed air bubble.
He frowned, and the depth charge exploded.
* * *
Kramack watched with satisfaction as sahuagin floated to the surface. Those not killed by the scything fragments had been instead slain by the pressure blast.
He nodded appreciatively. "Impressive. Tell the alchemists to make more."
). I had originally the idea that the ship was once the vessel of a demi-god or something, or maybe the personal ship of the fire goddess, and so its a powerful blend of magic and technology, and the kobolds really dont understand it very well. Also, in the story I developed the idea that the ship itself - the 'god-tech' as the kobolds call it - is actually sentient to some extent. Who knows? It may even be manipulating its passengers to its own ends The kobolds themselves are using the knowledge and resources of the god-tech to become quite proficient alchemists, as demonstrated here. Apart from their somewhat destructive experiments, they generally just do a little bit of trading to get by - their vessel can easily withstand really bad weather so they can make the kinds of voyages that for most merchants just isn't viable at all.
Kramack, their sorcerer/cleric leader, plans to eventually use their growing alchemical expertise to set of some underwater volcanoes in a grand explosion, for two reasons; one to honour their goddess, and two to create some islands for the displaced kobolds to live on. There, I've just solved my own problem of not knowing what purpose they have
Without further ado, here's the story:
Looming darkly through the thick sea-mist that cloaked the surface of the water, the shape of the massive metal hulk slowly cruised forwards. Massive piston-engines growled and hammered, vents belching gouts of black, oily smoke into the atmosphere as diminuitive figures scurried around the huge ship. With a shuddering crunch the paddles reversed, slowing the beast of a vessel to a halt.
The engines continued to chuff deeply as Kramack peered out over the surface of the misty waters, the kobold's cloak not stirred by the faintest breeze. "The settlements under us now?" he asked doubtfully.
"Yes, definitely. Them traders maps say it is anyway, and the god-tech's telling us that there's a shape on the sea bed below us - it's gotta be them.
The kobolds had carefully acquired the maps that showed the location of a sahuagin raiders camp. And then, unlike any sensible person would do, they had sought the location out in the bellowing god-tech hulk, on a mission for their God.
Kramack was satisfied - if the god-tech said they were in the right place, then they must be. "Alright, push over the charges!" he called to the clustered kobolds who scurried round wooden supports holding up barrels. Wedges were pulled out and the barrels splashed into the ocean, sinking rapidly.
* * *
Sahuagin warriors swarmed upwards towards the dark shape above. The massive ship was incredibly noisy, attracting the warbands attention long before it had finally settled to a stop above their village, and the brutal savages had enough time to fully arm themselves. Now they shot through the water like arrows towards their prey above.
The one at the head faltered in surprise as he saw barrels sinking through the water towards them. Cautiously swimming forwards, he saw them to have been heavily caulked in tar - obviously to prevent water getting through - and that dozens of sharp fragments of coral or stone had been embedded in the tar. At one end, a little glass bell was stuck on, and he realised as he peered at it that within was a little piece of string, which was burning in its tiny enclosed air bubble.
He frowned, and the depth charge exploded.
* * *
Kramack watched with satisfaction as sahuagin floated to the surface. Those not killed by the scything fragments had been instead slain by the pressure blast.
He nodded appreciatively. "Impressive. Tell the alchemists to make more."
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