Summary
Daelius and Ruthsbaar caught up with the rest of the party resting outside of the kobold encampment. After Fizzwig showed off his kobold head trophies they are given the lay of the land and shown the prisoner, Meek. The fate of Meek was quickly set aside as the party decided on how best to attack the cave. They agreed on a three pronged attack with the main force of Baelfius, Pale Noon, Ruhsbaar and Rolen entering the northern entrance, Daelius and Galstaff going through the southern entrance and finally Vaunea and Fizzwig using the cover of the waterfall to make a surprise attack through the middle.

Vauenea tossed the little gnome up through cover of the waterfall and quietly followed him. The kobolds had heard the commotion outside and used the time that the party had rested and debated to make preparations of their own. Suspecting an attack on the northern entrance they had taken the jars of fire oil that the slingers used to attack caravans and piled them in a small passage off of the northern entrance. The goliath and gnome did not appreciate the danger their companions were in, and even if they did there was no way to warn them quietly.

Pale Noon scouted ahead and noticed the jars as well as some sticky looking substance across the floor. Upon hearing this, the tiefling Baelfius decided the best thing to do would be to lure the kobolds out, so he ran forward banging his shield and shouting out a challenge. This was the cue for Vaunea and Fizzwig to launch their surprise attack, and with a well placed javelin Vaunea sent a stalactite through the skull of the kobold poised to set off the trap of fire oil. Fizzwig conjured a voice down in the southern hallway, urging his companions to attack and confusing the kobolds that were waiting there in ambush. He then jumped down and ran for the other kobold by the pots, stopping the trap from being sprung.

The monk Ruhsbaar did an acrobatic leap over the sticky sections of the floor, landing gracefully in full view of seven kobolds and Irontooth, a hulking goblin in armor and wielding a wicked looking battleaxe. Irontooth shouted a string of obscenities in Common as he charged Ruhsbaar and nearly cleaved him in half with a single well placed blow. Only some quick healing from Pale Noon and Rolen combined with a Draconic shout confusing the weaker minded kobolds saved Ruhsbaar's life. The rest of the northern party rushed forward, avoiding the trapped floor as they could and engaged the enemy.

Daelius and Galstaff bottled up the southern corridor effectively with several scorching blasts that the tiefling's toughened skin barely felt. In the central room with the waterfall Vaunea ran back and forth along the ledge just inside of the waterfall, firing her longbow and summoning fungal spores to occupy several kobolds on her own. The ledge proved quite slippery and first a kobold and then Vaunea fell off of the ledge. The gnomish rogue who was supposed to be supporting Vaunea decided to run off to the north and help with Irontooth, or possibly get closer to the shiny treasures stored that direction. Thankfully Galstaff had pushed past Daelius and the remaining kobolds in the southern corridor to offer Vaunea some covering fire, sending one kobold flying dead out through the waterfall with a well placed magic missile.

The kobolds around Irontooth fell quickly before the ferocious attacks and organized healing of Pale Noon, Rolen, Ruhsbaar, Baelfius and Fizzwig. Soon only a wyrmpriest and Irontooth stood against the adventurers. Fizzwig darted in behind Irontooth and magicked one of the severed kobold heads above Irontooth before releasing it. The missile bounced off of the goblin's helmet before landing squarely on his battleaxe and blunting the very next strike that looked destined to kill the monk that had become the object of Irontooth's blood rage.

The wyrmpriest found himself facing the runepriest of Ogmha, but Shar was found to be stronger as Baelfius repeatedly dazed himself while the wyrmpriest rallied the remaining kobolds with a last burst of energy and shouted something in Draconic before letting loose a breath of acid coating the nearby adventurers. It was too little too late, and Irontooth's head was made another trophy of Fizzwig's as he struck him once more from behind. The final kobolds from the southern corridor were dispatched with a great cleave from Daelius and another bellowing shout from Rolen, proving once again that it his true talents lie in a less melodious calling than entertaining.

The intense noises of battle faded away, replaced with the rhythmic sound of the waterfall reverberating through the caves. The party found pieces of horse tack from unfortunate caravans along with some loose coin amounting to 8 gold pieces. A sturdy chest was also poked and prodded before Rolen searched Irontooth's headless corpse and found both a key and a note concealed on his person. The chest had a great store of gold coins and a magical piece of dwarven chainmail, and while some party members began deciding how best to split the loot a few gathered around the note and discussed its contents.

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Irontooth's Note
“My spy in Winterhaven suggests we keep an eye out for visitors to the area. It probably does not matter. In a few more days, I’ll completely open the rift. Then Winterhaven’s people will serve Shar or else feed Shadraxil's empty stomach.”
-Kalarel-

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OOC
Great sessions guys! I think we are all getting more comfortable with the rules and macros, so next week I am going to less forgiving with the retconning of actions. Keep an eye on those HP bars etc.

Feel free to RP the discussion about the loot dividing, the note, and the fate of Meek. He was not escaped during the battle and remains back in his original location. I am flexible on if you guys want to return to Winterhaven during the week and do some more RPing there, but it would have to be a consensus decision. Remember to give people opportunities to react to what you are saying on the forums, timezones etc etc. Cheers!

• 1400/8=175 experience for inside kobold cave

  • Vaunea, Pale Noon, Galstaff, Rolen, Baelfius, Fizzwig, Ruthsbaar, Daelius

OOC: Summarizing some spontaneous role-play Orb, Riot, and I did on roll20 today.

As the battle fades everyone talks of the gold and the chainmail. Daelius hears some fussing about in back by the horde of kobolds that lays fallen in the cavern. He discovers Fizzwig looting corpses and taking what he wants. A little while passes and he wanders outside and sits by the campfire that Fizzwig has prepared for himself and Meek. They begin to chat and Baelfius weary from striking the wall during battle decides to join them, still slightly dazed from the events before. The Tieflings convince Fizzwig that Gnome is a delicacy to Tieflings and maybe they should roast him up for a good strong meal. Daelius puts an end to their jest and the topic of cultists comes up. Their attention is on Fizzwig as he recounts the tale of stealing a relic from a group of cultists around Winterhaven and barely escaping "unscathed." After some idle chatter by the fire Daelius and Baelfius promise to help Fizzwig learn what these cultists may have done to him and Fizzwig decides to catch a little bit of rest.

As Daelius stands up to approach the rest of the group.....
Baelfius: We shall have a few words for these cultists brother Tiefling

In Character:

To Baelfius as I walk away, "Being a Tiefling does not make you my brother. That is something that must be earned."
I walk up to Rolen and the rest of the party, "Rolen, may I see the note for myself, I would like to read it again.
Everyone, I believe we must talk of this note that was found, rumors of Shar should not be taken lightly. Do any of you know anything of a cult of Shar in the area around Winterhaven that may aid us in this undertaking?"

IC:

Handing the note to Daelius, "You may. It is written in the common tongue and is, I agree, of great import. We must alert the people of Winterhaven of this traitor 'Kalarel'."

OOC:

I went to Roll20 to make a History check re: local cults of Shar and rolled a 24.

Rolen cannot recall any ballads or legends specific to Shar in the area around the Thunder Peaks, but the name "Shadraxil" sounds familiar. After a few moments fragments of an ancient legend from the very beginning of Corymr come to mind, something about a great dragon living in the Thunder Peaks and the tragic story of its vanquisher.

IC, continuing from last post:

"Though I have not heard much of any cults of Shar in this region, this talk of Shadraxil worries me. An ancient wyrm with a dark history, he was said to be defeated over 1,000 years ago, though at great cost. The story of his death is legend among my people. It is whispered that to even touch the beast brings the curse of madness.

If Shadraxil has returned, no one anywhere is safe."

Vaunea steps forward from the back of the group at the mention of bard's last words.

"This could be the spiritual unrest I seek.
I must investigate this further, and prevent the coming of this beast. The spirits have told of a great evil to be unleashed upon the world, and this wyrm could be the key."

She begins collecting her things, caring little for the consent of the group before her departure.

"I shall journey to Winterhaven and seek this minion of Shar."

OOC: Sorry, Vaunea has really low charisma She's not exactly the chatty sort!

IC- After hearing the possibility of dispatching a wyrm in their future, Pale Noon's eyes seem to glimmer with hope. "I've often heard of these wyrms in my battle strategy class, but one has not been seen for many many years. The training we received was all circumstantial. I'd love to get some first hand experience. We should regroup, gather supplies, information, and some rest before we decide to embark on this adventure!"

OOC:

Ok, I have to go out of town this evening, so I'd like to bring up the loot discussion. How about we split the found gold between everyone who didn't get the chainmail (Pale Noon?), but the person who got the chainmail still gets their portion of the bounty, etc. Extra money that can't be evenly divided - maybe set aside as a party fund? We are going to have to get information in Winterhaven. Possibly with a bribe?

OOC
I think Pale Noon would like to use the newly found piece of scalemail. The equipment he's wearing is quite large and doesn't quite fit in the right places. If the runepriest would like a friendly chest bump battle to see who gets it, he's willing to play the game.

I think we should still divide the gold as evenly as possible, and whatever is left over can go into a party fund. And if you get a piece of gear, you should still get your share- just be courteous and not hog gear if you recently got a drop.

If we gather all the gear that was dropped, pool it together, and sell it back to the vendors in Winterhaven, we could split proceeds, or put that in the party fund.

We should head back, rest for the night, regain powers and action points, do some recon/blackmailing/etc.

OOC

Yea the Runepriest would also like the chain, i think the Paladin may want in on it as well. roll for it? gotta be some Rho Sham Bo way of figuring out who gets it. I'm down for whatever. I also think a lesser share of the spoils to whoever gets the chain, but as we all contributed i think some would be fair. Not like anyone who gets it is gonna turn around and try to sell it. It would be worn for the betterment of the party me thinks.

<Galstaff> I think we could disperse the spoils through a system of accounts, wherein each individual is allotted an equal share of the total value of items and monies that we acquire. When we have an exquisite yet indivisible artefact such as this armor, which appears to be worth more than all the gold we have recovered so far, the individual who obtains it can run a negative balance for a time. This would very naturally reflect how that individual should not normally obtain the very next artefact that we find.

<Galstaff> Such a system would also permit us to easily make group purchases when we need to prepare for an excursion.

<Galstaff> If the individual who is allotted the armor is upset at not receiving a share of gold, perhaps they could inquire with the local blacksmith or butcher about a line of credit secured via the potential forfeiture of said armor, given that such a loan would likely grant them several hundred gold pieces of currency to work with, which is far more than anyone else will receive. For such an opportunity, I myself might lay claim to the armor and sell it outright for such an unequal share of the spoils.

<Galstaff> As to deciding specifically who gets the item, I think it should be decided by lot if the interested parties cannot agree. Most of our party appears to be quite proficient with heavier armor, yet few have made claim to it. We could also find a disinterested party in town to arbitrate.

<Galstaff> I have a further thought. It would probably be imprudent to weigh the value of the artefact as though we were to purchase it new from any merchant. Though the artefact would probably cost some 500 gold to acquire from a talented blacksmith, that same blacksmith is unlikely to purchase such a working at the same price. So, the armor does not truly have such a great value when dividing the spoils. That is, if I myself were to acquire this armor, I would merely sell it, and I would hardly expect to receive 100 gold, and would resent my 100 gold being valued so high.

<Galstaff> So, I think the armor should be valued by what we can trade it for, rather than what we can trade for it. In such a division, with the accounting I propose, I think the party that obtains the armor might still receive some gold after all the spoils are accounted for.

IC

Having noticed the Seeker heading back to town Baelfius leaves the campfire and moves to the rest of the party just as Galstaff finishes..


"Galstaff has a good thought me thinks. It seems the Wizard is good for more than igniting anyone and anything within eyesight. If all can agree, lets us back to Winterhaven, rest up and have some ale then get a count on the spoils and see what we could get for the chain. Since we all seem to have played a part in it's aquire , i would not be opposed to anyone of us making a claim to it, even if they choose to sell it, although, it would seem a waste of such a piece if some can utilize it. Let us get this out of the way, so we can discuss cults and wyrms and possible adventure"



Baelfius turns and leaves in the direction of town, on his way past the campfire he puts out the coals and picks up the sleeping gnome. He can be heard speaking to himself as he walks into the distance "can't be leaving the little one in the woods for more kobolds to find, i did make a promise"

Roused by the rhythm of Baelfius's footfalls as they trooped back to Winterhaven, the gnome blearily woke, and rubbing the sleep from his eyes clambered up onto the tiefling's shoulder. As the shook himself from dreamland, he looked around and asked where his pet dragon had gotten to.

"You don't own a dragon." came Vaunea's voice from the gloom. The gnome jumped with a start.

"Vaunea! I mistook you for a tree!" he exclaimed, clutching tightly onto Baelfius's horns.

"We're walking. Trees don't walk." Vaunea stated, matter-of-factly.

"They don't? But the men at the Tavern said that trees made faster mounts than horses! I was hoping to grow one and use it as enchanted armor and transportation. I was going to name him 'Root' and together we were going to go on adventures." he mused wistfully.

"The men at the tavern also told you that the four directions on a compass were North West East and Custard." said Baelfius.

"That is foolishness" said Vaunea. "It's North East South and West. Why would you believe such falsehoods?"

"I've just been... a little more bamboozled than usual lately... ever since that run-in with those cultists." said Fizzwig.

"What cultists?" asked Vaunea

"Yes, tell us again about those cultists" said Baelfius. "Perhaps it will shed some light on your predicament for our friends."

With a nod, the gnome recounted his tale:

"I used to live with my father in a city several days custard of Winterhaven. My mother ran away before I was born, leaving Dad to look after me. Dad was the town tinkerer, and was always manufacturing (or at least trying to manufacture) useful devices: The Clockwork Crossbow... the Steam-Powered Donkey Cart... the Solar Death Ray... Perhaps you've heard of some of them?"

Fizzwig looked around optimistically but was only greeted with shaken heads.

"Annnd perhaps not..." he continued "Dad's inventions had a habit of blowing themselves up. But I'd always be there to help... acquire him new parts from the things the townsfolk didn't... need. Dad's inventions never killed anyone though... at least... not until the day that he disappeared... How he disappeared, I don't know. I just came home one day to find the lab a mess after another explosion and my father missing. Maybe he blew himself up, but if he did there were no pieces left... Maybe he invented something AMAZING and got himself abducted by unseen forces... Maybe he blew a hole in reality and even now is having adventures on far-flung planes..."

"Anyway, since dad's disappearance I've bounced between my old home in the city, and my forest kin. Any time life in the forest gets too boring, I'll head back to the city. Aaand any time the attentions of the city grow too tiresome, (People can get so worked up when you borrow things without asking.) I'll head back to the country."

"It was on one of these trips back from the forest to the city that I ran across a number of shadowy figures out in the woods. It was the middle of the night, and a new moon, but we gnomes see pretty well in the dark, so I was able to get up close and take a look. They were clustered in a circle around some squat stone pillar which they'd carved sigils on. There were a few torches for them to see by, though that only made the shadows even deeper."

"There was some shiny relic that they were using as the focus for their ritual, I don't know if they were imbuing it with power or using it to summon some creature from the nether-realms, but it looked expensive!"

The gnome noticed that his expression, eyes gleaming with avarice at the memory of this relic, was not going unnoticed by the group.

"Not that the value of it mattered." he blustered, rallying:

"They were up to some dastardly deeds within a half hour walk of my forest kin, and I didn't want there to be any trouble, so I valiantly snuck in and snatched it whilst they were standing around with their eyes closed, chanting about how truly stupendous their dark chaos god was."

"No-one noticed my artful elegance... and I should *probably* have left at that point. I may have been congratulating myself on my cleverness though... and feeling a tad cocky, might have picked a pocket or two..."

"That wasn't really a problem either... but by the time I was getting to the fourth or fifth pocket, they realised that their relic had gone missing, and I was elbow deep in the robes of some cultists coin-purse at the time. Things get... confused after that. I know one of the cultists noticed me... I know I escaped, I know I didn't get any arms or legs blown off... but I must have been hit by some spell or curse or something, because once I'd made it out of the woods, I couldn't remember which way home was... or whether I was a gnome or a elven priestess... or how many days there were in a week."

"I wandered till I found a road, and followed it to Winterhaven. That's where I met the nice men at the tavern who told me that I could use the relic to buy everyone ale for days, and about custard being a compass direction, and trees that can walk, and the gnomes by the pond being cursed and about how Kobolds make fantastic adventuring companions if I needed someone to help me save my stone-turned brethren. I set out to find some friendly Kobolds, and the first group I found did seem pleased to see me... but they jumped me, tied me up and said they were going to sacrifice me! That's when you fine folk showed up, and well... I think you know the rest."

<Galstaff> Fizzwig sold a relic? (to Fizzwig) Did you sell it at this General Store in town?

<OOC> I'd like to appraise the necklace of Shar. I'd also like to manage to get to the Blacksmith to appraise the rest of our goods, including the Kobold swords, shields, scale armor, and the big battleaxe we recovered from Irontooth. Also, I'm missing all my inventory changes (mostly gold) from my roll20 character sheet, so I'm a little lost about how much gold we've recovered so far.

<Fizzwig>I think I sold it to one of the men in the tavern... or I swapped it for a round or two of drinks... I think I was rather drunk by this point... or the fellas in the tavern told me I was drunk... which seemed to amount to much the same thing.

<Fizzwig>I can't recall if it was this statue though... I'm sure I'd remember if it were me... handsome fellow isn't he? Though I'm not sure I like the fact that he's screaming...