Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

“Oh, better idea than Shortfang.” He took his bowl and happily ate his good. Pylia took a bowl and ate as well, hesitant about yeh meat ball. Seeing you trying to avoid them, Pylia takes one for the team and tries some. They weren’t... Bad. “Mhmm.... Somewhat gamey, but the bones give it a slight crunchy texture. And... There’s a hint of fish. Some sort of white fish?” Shortfang nods. “Meatballs made with all meat!”

Fortunately for you, Shortfang did a good job distracting his mother from noticing you avoiding the food. Additionally Buddy was also given some food which he “ate” by pouring it down a chute behind his gorget. When you finished the part of the soup that wasn’t meat, which was mostly mushrooms and sea weed, Buddy would take your food and eat it as well, leaving nothing behind.

After eating, Shortfang would send Syfr off with your letter. Pylia would stay at his place and try and make some potions. Buddy stayed nearby ready to assist. Shortfang himself went to help bolster the guards outside. This would allow you time to meditate at your leisure, and afterwards you’d still have time to do whatever it is you feel like doing, at least until help arrives.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Pylia nodded. "First, we'll need to find Green Eyes to secure the home front here. From the sounds of things, the trogs don't think the kobolds can survive much longer thanks to their sheer numbers, but they also don't know we're here. They must be sending all of their forces here, which means that they don't have many guarding whatever is their homebase. Once we shore up the defenses, we can then strike the heart of the trogs, their leader Red Stain, and find proof of the cults involvement there." Shortfang had a thought and raised his hand. "If we take break now, Shortfang can send Syfr to find dwarf guards? Maybe they help, if cult here." Pylia nods to this idea as well. "That would be the best for us. I'll continue making some potions for us while Shortfang tries to get the Shor and his men here. If they come on their own, the kobolds might think they're an enemy."

Shortfang nods and gives you and Pylia two thumbs up. "Believe in Shortfang! Shortfang go join kobnolds outside, send Syfr, get dwarf guards, then we get their help!" Just as he says this, Skinwalker steps over holding some wooden bowls. In the bowls were meatball soup. She smiles and looks at everyone. "Eat!"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Shortfang just smiled as you spoke. He seemed happy in a way, though also a bit forlorn. "Shortfang stronger, is true. Have magic now so... Can fight better too. Syfr help Shortfang fight. All help Shortfang fight." He smiles as he sits back up, his previous cheerfulness returning. "And with help, Shortfang will win! Trogs just stupid bad guys, do nothing but charge and claw bite. Sewer Dragon better than trogs!" He says with gusto.

Hearing you and Shortfang speak, Pylia had a thought. "What if... What if this might have something to do with that cult Shor told us about? Elysium? I mean, Shor did mention that they plan to sow destruction and such. If the kobolds live and maintain the sewers, but end up getting killed by the trogs, who may then end up invading the city from below... That certainly sounds chaotic and destructive." Pylia looked over to Shortfang as things started to click together. "And if Eyslium, who are supposedly a cult of that dragon, are helping the trogs kill the kobolds, well the kobolds wouldn't want to ally with them then wouldn't they? Why would they went to work for someone who did so much harm, right?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"Is good!" Shortfang said happily as he gave it to his mother, who seasoned it with some dried kept and sea salt, as well as mixing it with some more meat that she had prepared previously. There was no telling what meat that was. As Skinwalker was mixing up the meat Shortfang sat with the group and spoke somewhat quietly. "Shortfang know you no want eat rat. It is... Normal, for humie. For Kobold, eat rat is normal too. These... Little things. Make hard for humie and kobold to be at peace. Thing like... Shortfang mom and dad, not wife and husband. Kobold not do that. Kobold also no have home. Always go where safe, live there. Not like humies. Humies make city, stay forever. Kobold make home, go when home no safe. Go where safe. Sometimes, safe with humie, like here in Underhaven. Sometime..." Shortfang seemed sadden and said very quietly. "Sometime... Safe with monster. So kobold stay with, and help, monsters... Dragons... Bad, strong people." He sighed as he looked to you in particular. "That's why Shortfang no stay home. Shortfang want to be strong, so he not work with bad people. But sometime Shortfang... Shortfang stupid. Like at humie camp. Shortfang hunt for humie, say they give Shortfang shinies. One, big man, say he want to hunt. Tell Shortfang give him shiny spear, shield, other things. Says is his, needs for hunt, he help me. Shortfang... Stupid, so he help. Then, humie lady say Shortfang steal. He say not him, but they see him take, so they say Shortfang thief."

It seemed like Shortfang was talking about Garruk and how he ended up with that woman's spear, shield, and amulet. From what Shortfang was trying to explain, he did actually take it, albeit under a misunderstanding. As Shortfang poked the fire with a stick he tried to continue on. "Point. The point Shortfang say this... So, mom say kobold who betray Swamp Dragon, he Grey Scale too. He... He says Kalmeet, Calamity Dragon, want help Swamp Dragons. Give them power, fight back trogs. Grey Scales say no, Kobold no serve dragon. But Grey Scale he... He took many warriors of tribe. They stronger now. With wings, and magic. They left tribe, so no one left to fight but Sewer Dragons and riders. Trog come, big war. Now..." Shortfang sighed. "Now Swamp Dragons think maybe they fight for Kalmeet. They need be stronger now. Shortfang... Shortfang don't want that. No want mom or tribe to fight for bad dragon. So... I dunno." He said in a defeated tone.

"We fight trog, maybe we win. But Tribe still weak... Humie hate kobolds... Too many trogs... What... What tribe do? What... What Shortfang do, for tribe?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Pylia seemed very uneasy looking between you and Skinwalker. It seemed that unlike you, Pylia wasn't quite as calm at the kobold threatening her, but soon Shortfang came in bursting with enthusiasm. "Found it!" He held out what looked like two rats, completely skinned. Skinwalker nods and motions for him to put them onto a small wooden stump that would serve as a cutting board. "Mom make kobold rhygarmth, or meatball soup. We use rat meat, all meat, except bladder. Bladder bitter, mom save for tanning." Skinwalker took out a small curved knife made of what looked like some sort of long talon, and expertly used it to cut open the rat and extract the organs. She squeezed out the contents of the organs into a bowl, and in a separate bowl had some boiled water which she used to clean the organs. Meanwhile Shortfang was chopping up the rat, bones and all, with his own cleaned knife. "Rat bones small, very soft. Crush with knife, mix with meat, good taste! Chop chop chop!" Shortfang kept mincing the meat as his mother would add the organs to the mixture, letting Shortfang chop it up. Soon however he stopped, bring it over to the rest of you.

"In kobold tribe, everyone help make rhygarmth. Lot of chopping! Very tire. Help chop, make food taste good yeah!" Shortfang handed his knife to Pylia to chop, and though a bit nervous, she did so. "Good, good! Chop chop chop, you say! Go faster." With an awkward smile Pylia did as she was told. "C-Chop chop chop... Chop?" The rat was slowly starting to look like some sort of ground meat now, you almost couldn't tell it came from a rat. Soon it was Buddy's turn to chop which he did, though he wasn't able to say anything. So Shortfang said it for him. "Chop chop chop chop! Okay, boss turn now."

Pending Reboot...

I hope I did this right. Here's Shura's character sheet.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

She smiled a little as she said each of your names carefully, wanting to make sure she wouldn't mispronounce them. Seeing you and Pylia cover your noses though she realizes that you two wouldn't like the smell, and ushers you inside her hut. It was... Fairly small, considering kobolds. It was pretty much just one huge tent with a very small stone at the center with a stew boiling. She tossed a few herbs and oils into it causing a spark of smoke that filled the air with a somewhat more pleasant scent of hemp and butter, just like at the bigger stone house. She spoke quietly to Shortfang, who nods and looks to you. "Ah, mum says she no use to humies. Sorry not have more space. Also smell; she live here herself, away from kobolds, because tanning stinky work. And ah, says thanks again for fight trogs." Skinwalker nods and looks through some piles of junk, taking out box. Inside were more herbs and roots. She explained what these were to Shortfang who translated. "These medicine herb, Pylia! You make medicine with this. This one," Shortfang took out some wad of roots. "We need for Green Eyes. This make Green Eyes sleepy, easy to control if he angry. Make him eat, he goes dizzy, then can walk him back here!"

Pylia examined the root with interest. "I've never seen anything like this! And these ingredients... They're nothing I've seen before. But I'd be very interested in utilizing them, thank you." Pylia says respectfully. Then Skinwalker looked towards you and Buddy, makinjg a scooping motion towards her mouth. "Hungry?" Shortfang looked to you excitedly. "Mom make great ah, meatball soup! She actually already have soup right now, just need meatballs." Skinwalker nods and motions outside for Shortfang, who nods back and steps out. "Gunna get food! Have chat with mom!" After Shortfang leaves, Pylia looks nervously at you while Skinwalker seems a bit stiffer now. Like she was examining you both, as well as Buddy. Slowly, she spoke.

"You... Very strange... Not from here." Taking a paddle made of bone she stirs the soup. "My son... Dreams much. Like father. Always dreams great things. Like father... Leave home, chase dreams. When young, he says ah... Become... Hero. Like Pun-Pun. Unite Kobold, and humans." She smiled softly almost as if she was looking at a child who was saying something silly. "But... Humans, and Kobolds, always fight. No peace." She looks sadly into the fire before looking back at you and Pylia. She seemed serious now. "Shortfang... Stupid. But good heart. So... Don't hurt, my son. Or... I walk, in your skin."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"Okay!" Shortfang would lead the group deeper into the shanty town as he chats about the place as if he was a tour guide. The town is formally called Onurethrilark, or in the common tongue, Underhaven. Underhaven refers to the all of the sewers, and not just this particular location. The kobolds live down here for many reasons, mainly due to human's dislike of the kobolds due to the apocalypse dragon from sixty years ago. The one that Shortfang thinks is Kalmeet, though he admits that no one actually gave the dragon a real name, only that it's a black dragon. But once upon a time, they choose to live here, due to kobold's innate sensitivity to sunlight as well as their actual jobs of maintaining the sewers back when they were friends with the humans. Back then the kobolds wouldn't need to fight because they were friends with humans, but supposedly the kobolds betrayed the humans when Kalmeet promised them power. Shortfang insist this isn't true though; Kalmeet never liked the kobolds and it was just selfish humans trying to steal from the kobolds, who have always done well for themselves. This was when he started talking about his mother, Skinwalker, who is the best tanner and clothes maker he knows. She's also quite a hunter and taught him how to use a crossbow.

Soon enough Pylia gagged as she smelled the putrid scent of feces and other disgusting chemicals. "Ugh... Yeah... Smells like a tannery." She put her mask on as Shortfang excitedly heads over to a small hut with many animal hides being cured outside next to a vent. Hides of rats, lizards, and other giant animals you don't recognize. Shortfang said something in draconic which brought out another green kobold, just a little bit bigger than him. She seemed surprised and hugged Shortfang, wrapping her tail around him, as he did the same to her. He brought the kobold over to the group. "This my mom! Molikzhin, or Skinwalker!" The kobold woman smiled as best as she could and tried to speak. "H-Hi! Thank y-you for, take care, my son."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Longstrider nods and points back towards the entrance. "Rest here while you can. Perhaps you may find something of us while you're here. But know that if you try and harm any of our residents, we won't hesitate to end you. Even you, Shortfang." Longstrider gave him a stern glare as he gulped and nodded quickly. Afterwards you were dismissed to do what you must. Pylia took off her mask and took a whiff of the air. "Well, at least this part of the sewers isn't as rank as the other parts. Moldy and stale perhaps... In any case, I'll try and make a few more potions for us. We will certainly need them, as I'm out of my stronger level magics, and I think I'm good for about... Three more castings of spells, not including my orisons." She sighs as Shortfang seems oddly eager. "Let's go find mom! She strong, smart, no let trog kill her. Shortfang know her house by smell. Let's go!"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

After Pylia introduced herself, as well as Buddy, the Grey Scales chuckled hearing your words. "Prophesy? We've never had a missionary of all people come to us... Still, if you are willing to assist us against the troglodytes, I suppose we may humor you. But first and for most, we must rid ourselves of these enemies." Longstrider took a deep breath and blew towards the brazier, causing the smoke to take on shapes and pictures. It showed the troglodytes, and among them a larger, frog-like monster that stood well above them. "The Troglodytes have found a new, more powerful leader. We do not know what it is, but it calls itself The Red Stain. He has conquered the normally warring Troglodyte tribes under his banner, and has had them take over as much of the sewers as possible. Many creatures have been slain to feed his army, including kobolds. Once we had a thousand living here. Now we only have three hundred... Many of them simply workers or children. Even our beloved Sewer Dragons have been brought down to only two, due to the sheer number of trogs."

Longstrider took another breath and blew a new image into the smoke, this one taking the form of a large crocodile. "However, we believe at least one is still alive, but barely. He is younger than the one we have left, but nonetheless with him on our side we may be able to turn the tide of battle. He is the Green Eyes, and many months ago his rider was killed and he went into a violent frenzy, forcing our warriors to flee for their lives. We know he still fights against the trogs to this day, but without anyone to assist him his wounds will kill him sooner rather than later. And if it's already too late... Then at the very least, his skins and bones can be turned into weapons and armor we will need against the troglodytes." Longstrider waved her hand through the smoke to dismiss the image before looking at the group.

"You cannot hope to defeat The Red Stain on your own, nor his army. But we cannot spare the warriors to find Green Eyes and protect what is left of our home. So go, deeper into the sewers, and find Green Eyes. Bring him back, or whatever is left of him, so that we will have the strength to end this war once and for all." Longstrider took another deep breath and sighed, almost as if she's disappointed. "And forgive us for our hostility. Under normal circumstances we would welcome a scalekin. But we are in this terrible position due to treachery. One of our own Grey Scales betrayed us and now we cannot trust anyone, least of all outsiders. Even now I do not trust you. So do this quest for us and we shall give you what aid we can truly provide."