[IC] Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia indeed follows Skinwalker out to the training ground, and she was willing to listen to Skinwalker when she mentioned that she wanted to teach her and Shortfang how to use ammunition as melee weapons if they needed. Sylvia thought that would be a useful thing to know, especially if they find themselves in dire straights without any other weapons at hand. Sylvia took the lesson to heart and practiced the technique until she had mastered it. After doing so, she thanked Skinwalker for teaching her.

After that lesson was finished, she would try to get herself acclimated to the horrible stench coming from the troglodytes bodies.

[Lucius Cypher]

The stretch was gag inducing. You're not sure if better dead or alive, but either way you were barely able to resist the urge to vomit your breakfast burger. Shortfang and Buddy seem to feel dizzy but otherwise survive, but poor Pylia had to run off to the side to vomit, requiring the shamans to use their magic to help her feel better. Regardless, eventually you all would be able to get over the sickening aspect of trog stench, and it was around this time that Shor and his guardsmen were about to head out. As planned, they will be attacking the Black Claw tribe and securing weapons and intel. You will need to head to the Jabrani Tribe, taking out their leadership to ensure they can't provide any aid to the other tribes or otherwise hinder the kobolds. If possible, try and go for the Toxin Croak tribe as well.

In addition, a kobold scouting party will be sent out to provide some aid and intel, lead by Skinwalker. As someone who knows these sewers well she and her small team could easily avoid any danger in the sewers, and they will do their best to keep you up to date about any strange going on. Since you'll be attacking the Jabrani, they will keep and eye on the Toxin Croak so they can update you once you're done. They will leave behind markings to communicate safe spots or dangers ahead, which Shortfang would know how to translate when he sees them. It was finally time to go.

"Gotta save family, and city! If trogs take over sewers, whole town in danger!" Shortfang loaded his crossbow with a heavy bone tipped bolt, holding an extra arrow in his off-hand to reload or in an emergency.

"I can't say I was expecting anything like this when we got to Gransys, but I'll admit, this feels better than talking to stuffy priests." Pylia says with a smirk as she straps on her shield and draws out her warclub. She added a leather strap to the hilt to securely keep it close at hand.

Buddy simply took out his axe, wiped off some dust, and nods to you, ready to go when you are.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia groaned as she just barely was able to resist losing her breakfast. She couldn't help but regret having a burger for breakfast as she covered her mouth with her hand, but she got herself used to the smell. She felt bad for Pylia when she ran off to the side and lost her breakfast. Soon enough, when they were done, Shor and his team were heading out. She also noticed that Skinwalker was leading the team of kobold scouts and would be keeping an eye on Toxin Croak.

With everything planned out, it was time to take action.

After her three friends made their comments and prepared their weapons, she pulled out her tonfas from their sheath, and twirled them in her hands to get used to the weapons and their weight in her hands. She answered her friends, with a confident smile on her face, "Alright guys! Let's end this war!"

She then led the way to where the Jebrani tribe is supposed to be.

[Lucius Cypher]

The three parties split up in their separate directions. Your group was heading east, pass Red Stain's fortress to try and take on the Jabrani tribe. There were heavy evidence of a lot of movement recently, mostly in the form of bloodstains. It was hard to tell who's blood it was, but hopefully it was the enemy. Moving swiftly, eventually you get out from kobold controlled sewers into trog controlled, and from here you move much more carefully. Shortfang notes a few signs left by kobold scouts that allow you to quickly arrive to the edge Jabrani territory, though even without kobold expertise you could easily tell this was trog turf.

Displayed upon wooden poles were dead trogs and dead kobolds, their bodies mutilated into sickening effigies, a warning to invaders about what fate would lie in store for them if they come. From here, Shortfang suggests stealth. Sending Syfr ahead to look around, he notes that he doesn't see anyone in the Jabrani camp. No trogs, no children, not even prisoners. There didn't seem to be any sign whatsoever that they were here at all. Pylia however speaks quietly. "It has to be a trap. If they're the survivors from the battle, they know the kobolds use range weapons the best and that they'll be sitting ducks if they just wait out in the open. They must be hiding somehow." Shortfang does confirm the presence of nests and refuse piles, though he isn't sure if the trogs are small enough to hide in those. Uncertain, the party looks to you for the next course of action.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia quietly gasped at the sight of the wooden poles with the dead bodies of trog and kobold on them. She couldn't help but feel anger towards the trogs now. They had to be stopped. She continued stealthily with her friends. She thought it was weird that there seemed to be no one in the camp, and she silently agreed with Pylia that this could be a trap. She noticed that her friends were looking to her for direction and she quickly thought on it.

They couldn't just rush in for melee, they'd be ready for them. And they couldn't fire arrows or crossbow bolts at them either with them hiding.

She then realized something. There might be something they could do to put the fight to their advantage. Something that the Jebrani might not be ready for...

She whispered to Shortfang, "Call Syfr back. I have an idea,"

As Syfr returns, Sylvia pulls out the last Alchemist's Fire from her backpack and she asks Shortfang, "Think Syfr can carry this?" She then explained to her friends, "Simply charging in isn't a good idea, and since we can't fire at them with crossbow bolts or other long distance attacks, then maybe we can try and smoke them out of hiding. Have this land on the most flammable thing or a hiding place in the camp and maybe they'll be forced to come out into the open..." She just hoped that the fire would actually spread for this idea to work.

[Lucius Cypher]

Following your advice Shortfang called Syfr back, sitting on his hand. “Oh yeah, good idea!” Syfr was able to easily lift the alchemist fire, flying off to find a good spot to drop it. Pylia took out some cloth for you, herself, and Shortfang, dousing then in water. “Expect a lot of smoke, this should help with the breathing.” Pylia wrapped it around her face as Syfr dropped his payload.

He aimed for one of the bigger nests, making sure to hit it square into the center to catch the most fuel. The alchemical mixture quickly burned through the twigs and tinder that made up the best and began to rapidly spread to other nearby nests, the embers flickering off to catch more flammable material. Only certain damp parts of the nest didn’t catch flame but it did produce a thick amount of smoke, and it was due to this smoke that the party could hear a beastly screaming.

“Shortfang see Trogs! Big and little ones!” Through Syfr’s Eyes Shortfang confirms trogs who have been hidden underneath the stonework, nests, and refuse piles getting smoked out by the fire, some even burning when the flames reached their hiding spots. This sent a vast majority of the trogs here scattering as a three in particular, in the blind panic ran in the direction of the group. Buddy and Pylia took up a fighting stance as the Cleric readied her Weapon.

“Prepare for battle!”

Rolls and Info

Shortfang (28/28) | Syfr (1/1) = 18
Pylia (24/24) = 17
Buddy (31/31) = 10
Trog 1 (A 13/13) (B 13/13) (C 13/13) = 8
Sylvia (21/21) = 5

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia accepted the cloth from Pylia with a quick “Thank you,” before wrapping it around her face. Once that’s was done she heard the beastly screams of the trogs, and watched as their hideouts burned. Shortfang confirmed her suspicion that they had been hiding in those nests and refuse piles, just as she thought.

It wasn’t long before three of them were heading towards her and her friends. She knew it wouldn’t be long before they were in melee with her, so she prepared her tonfas. Once they were close enough she attempted to strike at one with the bone tonfa before striking the same trog with the back of her hand.

Sylvia’s turn

Once in melee range, Sylvia will attack with her tonfas and then bonus action for an unarmed strike.

Tonfa: 8
Unarmed: 14

Unarmed damage:5

[Lucius Cypher]

As the trog's closed in, the beast ducked low to avoid your tonfa. However like a trained boxer, you simply retracted your strike back and jabbed with a swift backhand which caught the monster off guard and knocked a few teeth out from his face. Pylia stepped up alongside you and brought her club down onto the trog's skull, leaving him flatten on the ground before you. Meanwhile Shortfang lined up a shot and managed to cut one of the troglodyte's in the leg, causing him to stumble as he got into Buddy's reach. This allowed the big robot warrior to bring his axe down onto the trog, cleaving him from shoulder to hip. The last trog tried to take a lunge at Pylia, however Buddy stepped forward and stabbed the spiked end of his axe into the trog's neck. It barely was able to dodge at the last second, managing to survive the potentially fatal blow as it redirected it's attention to Buddy, leaping onto him and trashing at his armored skin. Buddy withstood, though he was taking a bit of a beating as he tossed the trog away. The monster remained on his feet but was now surrounded.

In the distance there was more sounds of the trog's panicked screeching, but from the flames you could make out one large lumbering figure among the ruins. Though you had an enemy to deal with in front of you, you were almost certain that the larger shape in the shadows of the smoke may be the chieftain of the tribe.

Rolls and Info

Shortfang (28/28) | Syfr (1/1) = 18
Pylia (24/24) = 17
Buddy (22/31) = 10
Trog 1 (A Dead) (B Dead) (C 7/13) = 8
Sylvia (21/21) = 5

Shortfang's Light Crossbow vs Trog 1A = 11
Crossbow Damage = 4

Pylia's Warclub vs Trog 1B = 24
Warclub Damage = 9

Buddy's Urgrosh vs Trog 1A = 12
Urgrosh Damage = 9
Buddy's Urgrosh Stab vs Trog 1C = Nat 20
Crit Stab = 6

Trog 1C Claw vs Buddy = 8
Trog 1C Claw vs Buddy = 23
Claw Damage = 5
Trog 1C Bite vs Buddy = 22
Bite Damage = 4

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia watched as her friends took care of two of the three trogs. She was a little concerned for Buddy, but other than the blows dealt him, he looked like he was okay for now. She took a moment to look from the battle and towards the screams to see a larger figure approaching. She called to her friends in warning, “Look alive guys! Their leader is coming!”

After that, she finished off the last trog with a tonfa hit to the head and a kick to push the trog backwards.

Sylvia’s turn

Tonfa for action and unarmed strike for bonus action!

Tonfa: 19
Damage: 9

Unarmed Strike: 20
Damage: 4

[Lucius Cypher]

A swift strike with your tonfa snapped the trog's neck as you kicked him a few yards away from Buddy, clearing the space as you see the chief trog appear with three more cronies. This chief was armed with a large club, a sort of totem made of bones and wood as he roared towards you all in some foul language it knew. Shortfang wasted no time commanding Syfr to distract him while he fired an arrow into the chief, striking him right in the eye. "Ha ha! Stupid trogs! You not so sneaky smart!" Shortfang shouts as he loads another bolt into his crossbow. Pylia summons a bolt of fire to strike down the trogs, though they manage to avoid it, scrambling out of the way as the leader charges right into the group. Buddy stood forth to intercept the chief as the big brute of a trog slammed his greatclub at him, though thanks to his metal skin Buddy is able to deflect and parry his attacks. Even when the monster tried to bite Buddy, he nearly got a mouthful of spike for his trouble. Between the chief's attacks, Buddy managed to cut the chief across the gut with his blade, though the monster of a man continued to fight despite his heavy wounds.

The other three trogs go around Buddy and their Chief, though they seem to be readying for the party to approach. They seem somewhat smarter than the usual trogs, getting ready to attack anyone that gets near them. Pylia looked towards you with a stern look. "I don't know if they're fools or actually smart, but don't fall for their feint! Use ranged attacks!"

Rolls and Info

Shortfang (28/28) | Syfr (1/1) = 18
Pylia (24/24) = 17
Trog Chief (34/59) = 15
Buddy (22/31) = 10
Trog 2 (A 13/13) (B 13/13) (C 13/13) = 8
Sylvia (21/21) = 5

Shortfang's Light Crossbow = 24/Nat 20
Crit Crossbow = 15

Trog 2A Dex save vs Pylia's Sacred Flame DC 13 = 14

Trog Chief's Greatclub vs Buddy = 12
Trog Chief's Greatclub vs Buddy = 16
Trog Chief's Bite vs Buddy = 12

Buddy's Urgrosh vs Trog Chief = 18
Urgrosh Damage = 10
Buddy's Urgrosh Stab vs Trog Chief = 11

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia wanted to help Buddy take on the leader, but with the other trogs going around the leader and facing them, she knew that wasn’t the smart option right now. She heard Pylia’s advice and she answered her, “You got it!” She remembered the last time she charged up to a trog that was ready for her. So she channeled the divine magic once again, and tapped into her ki. She fired three bolts of light. The second Bolt was stronger than the others, so she fired the last Bolt at a second trog that stood in the way.

Sylvia’s turn

Action: Use the Radiant Sun Bolt to attack a trog.
Spending a ki point to fire two more bolts.

Sun Bolt 1: 13
Damage: 4

Sun Bolt 2: Nat 20
Damage: 10

Sun Bolt 3: 20
Damage: 4

[Lucius Cypher]

The first sun bolt struck the arms of the trog who recoiled from the bright light. The second one however was much bigger and brighter, and was so hot it seared the trog’s arms off, causing him to flail around in plain before dying. Your third bolt struck a trog in the arms as he tried to block it, but that made him blind to Shortfang who fired a bolt right into the trog’s throat. Foolishly the creature pulled the bolt out and fell over bleeding to death. Finally, Pylia summoned a orb of fire, batting it right into one of the waiting trog’s who got some serious burns for his troubles.

As the party was picking off the trogs, the Chief continued to battle Buddy. The mechanical warrior managed to deflect the first blow, but then got caught but the backswing which resulted in Buddy and the Chief in a deadlock. That’s when the chief’s snapped out with his grotesque maw, biting into Buddy’s face. He cracked Buddy’s heavy plate face, trying to bite the robot’s face off before Syfr flew into the chief’s, screaming and scratching at him. This managed to get Buddy enough room to slash the Chief across the chest, forcing the monster back. Buddy tried to follow up with another stab, however while his spike cut the trog’s flesh, it was a superficial wound that only scratched him.

That was when the last surviving trog, seeing an opportunity, leapt onto Buddy’s back, ripping at his damaged armored parts with his claws and bitting Buddy’s head with his fanged jaws. “Shit! Buddy needs our help!” Pylia shouts as Shortfang loads another bolt into his weapon.

Rolls and Info

Shortfang (28/28) | Syfr (1/1) = 18
Pylia (24/24) = 17
Trog Chief (24/59) = 15
Buddy (1/31) = 10
Trog 2 (A 5/13) (B Dead) (C Dead) = 8
Sylvia (21/21) = 5

Shortfang’s Light Crossbow vs Trog 2B = 25/22
Crossbow Damage = 11

Pylia’s Fire Orb vs Trog 2A = 19
Fire Orb Damage = 8

Trog Chief Greatclub vs Buddy = 16
Trog Chief Greatclub vs Buddy = 19
Greatclub Damage = 7
Trog Chief Greatclub vs Buddy = 22
Bite Damage = 6

Buddy’s Urgrosh vs Trog Chief = 18/23
Urgrosh Damage = 10
Buddy’s Urgrosh Stan vs Trog Chief = 13

Trog 2A Claw vs Buddy = 19
Claw Damage = 5
Trog 2A Claw vs Buddy = 8
Trog 2A Bite vs Buddy = 18
Bite Damage = 3

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia turned her attention to Buddy when Pylia pointed out that he needed help. She wasted no time as she hurried into melee and she shouted “GET OFF OF BUDDY!” She then struck at the smaller trog with the Tonfa first, hoping to knock it off of Buddy, before going to the larger trog and directing a sweeping kick at the ankles.

Sylvia’s turn

Action: Tonfa attack on small trog. Bonus action: Unarmed Strike in Big Trog if possible.

Tonfa: 11
Damage: 9

Unarmed Strike: 22
Damage: 7

[Lucius Cypher]

You crack your tonfa across the neck of trog, causing his limp body to fall off the back of Buddy to falted onto one knee. You could hear his body groan under the stress of all of the damage he's taken so far, barely capable of staying on his feet. In that moment as the larger trog think he could finish Buddy off, you drive your heel right into the ankle of the big lizard monster, causing an audible crack as you shatter bone. He hissed at you as two bolts sank into his chest thank to Shortfang rapidly shooting off his crossbow, charging closer as he draws his shortsword so he can help in the melee, sending Syfr to distract the beast as well. That's when Pylia charged, trying to smash the trog's leg with her warclub. However the chief wasn't going to be that easy to take down.

Pylia's warclub was intercepted by the trog chief's own. He then swung hard at Pylia, knocking her back though she was unharmed thanks to blocking it with her shield. The same could not quite be said the same for you, as the trog batted you with his greatclub. This allowed him to take a big bite out of Buddy's body, his teeth crushing his metal flesh and crushing whatever bones or organs might be underneath. Buddy weakly lifted his urgrosh and tried to cut the chief, however the chief simply pushed Buddy's weak attack away. Your friend's body began to crumple and break underneath the force of the monster's maw. However it was around that time you might've noticed a divine light surrounding Buddy's body, and if you glanced at Pylia you could see that she was using her magic to pray, healing Buddy to allow his flesh to mend underneath the stress of the Trog's teeth. The green light from Buddy's eyes and core flickered, but continued to shine as he twisted his arm full-circle around like a windmill, stabbing the end of his weapon into the monster's eye. The chief roared in pain as Buddy reached out and grabbed the chief by the neck, crushing the beast's throat as she dug the axe even deeper into the trog's head, until he pierced the chief's brain.

Running over to Buddy, Pylia produced some goodberries in her hand. "Here buddy, eat these. You too Sylvia. Let's look through the trog camp and see if we can't find anything that might help us, but let's be careful too. Who knows if the trogs might still be around just waiting attack us." Shortfang came up and shook his head, his eyes scanning the area. "Nah. Shortfang saw lotta young trog. We kill their adults. Little ones, old ones, they run off now. Too weak to fight. Will die now, to other beasties or trogs. You okay buddy?" Buddy took a handful of the berries (seven total) and tossed them into the strange spot where his "mouth" would be. It seemed to work as the magic in the berries began to repair the damage done to his body as he reattached the armored plates to where they fell or were torn off. Pylia looked over to you. "What about you Sylvia? I think I saw you take a pretty nasty blow there too."

Rolls and Info

Shortfang (28/28) | Syfr (1/1) = 18
Pylia (24/24) = 17
Trog Chief (Dead) = 15
Buddy (3/31) = 10
Trog 2 (A Dead) (B Dead) (C Dead) = 8
Sylvia (21/21) = 5

Shortfang's Light Crossbow vs Trog Chief = 26/12
Crossbow Damage = 6
Shortfang's Light Crossbow vs Trog Chief = 13/24
Crossbow Damage = 8

Pylia's Warclub vs Trog Chief = 9/9
Pylia's Healing Word on Buddy = 10

Trog Chief's Greatclub vs Pylia = 7
Trog Chief's Greatclub vs Sylvia = 18
Greatclub Damage = 6
Trog Chief's Bite vs Buddy = 22
Bite Damage = 8

Buddy's Urgrosh vs Trog Chief = Nat 1
Buddy's Urgrosh Stab vs Trog Chief = 22
Stab Damage = 7

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia let out a "Hrk!" as she was hit by the club and sent flying backwards. Thankfully, she was able to catch herself on her feet. She looked up to see the fight between Buddy and the chieftain, and thanks to Pylia's healing, he was able to finish the beast off. Once it was all over, Sylvia made her way back to the others and she accepted the goodberries from Pylia with a quick thank you. She ate only two of the berries. She listened to her friends as they spoke, but she was glad to see that Buddy was recovering. She answered Pylia, "I'm ok. I think the blow looked worse than it actually was,"

She then continued, "Let's take a look around the camp. There may be clues, and while we're at it, we can take a short rest to give ourselves a chance to recover,"

[Lucius Cypher]

There was no arguement as the party cleared the rest of the area of trogs. Indeed as Shortfang pointed out, most were young or very old, and would flee at the sight of the group. The smoke caused the most damage as the trogs had no ways to avoid it, though at the same time it also made this location inhospitable for resting. The flames didn’t seem to show any sign of dying even though they stopped spreading. “If were going to rest up, we can’t do it here. Let’s just look around and head somewhere safer.”

With Shortfang and Syfr keeping watch, the rest looked around for any clues. Buddy didn’t find much but corpses and Pylia only found a few items left behind by the kobolds unfortunate enough to have been caught, which mostly consisted of tattered slings and broken daggers. As you were looking around, you’d find something much more interesting.

It was a corpse, sickening enough, but not a trog or kobold corpse. A human corpse, wearing dark clothing and covering his face with a strange black mask. The mask had four horns; two curled upwards and two pointed downwards. Aside from the rough texture on the face and the eye slots, there weren’t any other features. A quick check of this person would reveal a small bounty of items: a belt pouch with seven gold coins, a strange wavy dagger, two potions, and a scroll. One of the potions was red while the other potion appeared to be cloudy green and has a jellyfish-like bubble floating in it.

Buddy walked over to you, his shoulders heaving as if he was tired. And perhaps he was considering the beating he took. He then motioned towards the corpse and the items as if asking about what you’ve found.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia looked around until she found something. A human corpse...
Judging from the dark clothes, the mask, and the wavy dagger, she had a pretty strong feeling that this guy is a member of the cultists. She noted the treasure lying nearby, before Buddy came over. She noted how tired Buddy seemed and she couldn’t blame him. He did take a beating.

She answered Buddy, guessing what his question was, “I think I found a dead cultist, and some treasures of his,” She then started putting the treasures in the Handy Haversack, and she told Buddy, “The Haversack will be our loot bag that we can split among ourselves when we get back to somewhere safe,” She left the dagger and mask out.

She then looked at the body that once was a human cultist before looking back to Buddy, and she asked, “Hey Buddy. I’m thinking we take the body back to the Kobolds. It’s undeniable proof of the cultists’ interference, and Shor and the guards may be able to identify who this cultist was and who are his associates. Could you carry the body? If you’re too tired, Pylia and I can carry it instead. Don’t push yourself if you don’t think you can right now,”

[Lucius Cypher]

Buddy nods, easily lifting the body onto his shoulder. Pylia and Shortfang soon arrive as the smoke starts getting thicker. "We gotta go!" Shortfang says. With nothing else to find here, the party would leave Jabrani territory and try to head back to the kobold town with loot and body. Along the way, Shortfang finds a kobold sign signifying safe passage, allowing the party to avoid danger between Jabrani territory and Underhaven. Without having to worry about enemies, the party would be able to arrive to Underhaven in about half an hour.

Upon arriving to Underhaven, it doesn't seem like there has been any action so far, though everyone is still on edge. The three giant crocodiles are prowling the area while Kobolds are either standing watch or setting up fortifications, including flooding the area to make it more difficult for the enemy to move. Only via thick wooden planks could one traverse the water easily, allowing the party to reach the gate. A couple of guards look at you strangely as you bring the body to the gates. "Who that?"

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia nodded in agreement, and hurried out of the camp with the others. Soon they were back at the camp. And of course, the guards just asked about the corpse. She answered the guards in a straightforward manner, "It's the dead body of a cultist. We brought it back as evidence from the remnants of the Jabani tribe territory," She hoped that the guards will still let them in to rest.

[Lucius Cypher]

The kobolds were confused, but allowed you inside. There was a certain tension in the air. The air of uncertainty, doubt and worry. Many shamans were still working on conditioning their warriors while also singing songs to sooth the nerves of the warriors and commoners. Most didn't pay you any mind as you headed inside. Incidentally, you'd actually run into Longstrider, one of the younger Greyscale elders, as she was in the town handing out food supplies. Seems like even the Grey Scales try and take a hands on approach. Upon seeing you the two kobold guards armed with tonfas seem defensive, especially seeing Buddy carrying a corpse. However she simply motioned them to calm down as she looked towards you. "Welcome back. I assume that there's a reason you came back with a dead body, one who smells rather ripe? I understand that the Sewer Dragons are used to living in squalor and disease, however we're not a crypt to sore corpses."