Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Your last comment just got a smirk from the both of them. "Oh honey... We're an orc and drow. Humans give us a hard time. We'll be fine." Yorik looked to the kobolds who seem quite intimidated by him. Even the ones riding the crocodiles seem to be hiding behind their mounts. "If dey got issues, I'd gladly listen to em! If dey got da guts ta speak ta me! Gha ha ha ha!" This just got another smack from Aisha. "Enough! Like it or not, we're here to help. Yorik, see if you can't teach them some combat basics. I'll work with who I can to prepare this place for battle. Oh, one more thing: Based off this information you gave us, there's a good possibility that if we can do enough damage to the trogs, their leader might have to make an appearance on the front line himself. Troglodytes respect nothing more than strength, but if they suffer heavy losses they will blame their leader, thinking he's hiding behind his fodder." Yorik gave you a bit grin that was half happy, half deranged. "Basically, leave no survivors! When dem nasties realize wot dere up against, dey either gunna break or make their boss get off his lazy arse and fight! Heh, if we're real lucky, maybe dey kill dere boss demselves!" Rolling her eyes, Aisha left to work with the remaining kobolds to fortify the base while Yorik left to train the militia.

Gathering their things Pylia made inventory and handed out some potions, one for her, two for Shortfang, one for Buddy, and two for you. Unfortunately the medicine on the cloth they used coming here was dried up now, so it wasn't going to be of much help against the smell. "Troglodytes radiate a wretched stench naturally. I'm sure you might've noticed it when you fought them. Their odor is so terrible it's sickening... I wish I had more antitoxins, but I'm only good for three more spells, so I need to save them for battle, and healing a distant second." Buddy hefted his axe into his hands, counting on his fingers before raising one finger up. He then wrote in his journal what he was trying to say. "1 smite" Shortfang loaded a bolt into his crossbow, as well as his light crossbow. "Shortfang fresh and ready for fightin! Let's go! Grey Scale says that tunnel to Green Eyes!" Shortfang pointed towards the south-most tunnel on the east side, the opposite from where they arrived.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The tension in the air was thicker than the foul sewer stench. Many kobolds could not sit still as they were doing their best to prepare for the worse when those troglodytes arrive. Many were trying to build fortifications or weapons, some practicing with mixed success. It was obvious that many of these kobolds were not trained in fighting. They constructed barriers and weapons well enough, but if they needed to defend themselves, it would not end well for them. Pylia focused intently on her potion making using the ingredients Skinwalker gave her. After a few experimental potions to test their potency, she was able to make four healing potions, thanks to the potency of the ingredients.

Skinwalker herself busied herself with her tanning and crafting herself. Surprisingly enough, it seemed like she also had access to dyes and other textiles than just hides; she had a whole other tent dedicated to those. What she was making was hard to see, but she was making some sort of white cloth... Before too long however there's a ruckus by the entrance as the doors open, and suddenly Syfr lands nearby and hoots at you. Pylia comes out with the potions as Buddy follows her. "Looks like they're here! Let's go Sylvia." Pylia says as she and Buddy heads out to the front.

When you arrive you see Yorik and Aisha. Yorik had a wide grin while Aisha had a cloth wrapped in front of her face, likely to mask the scent as well. "We got yer letter kid! Hah ha ha! Ain't even a day and ya already found trouble and hot on dem Elysium gits!" Aisha smacked Yorik's chest though he didn't seem to notice. "Silence you oaf! We don't have any definitive proof of their involvement yet. But yes, we have received your message, Sylvia. Shor sent us as we're the only ones with darkvision. He and the others have gone to castle to inform of the Seneschal of the troglodyte threat and to see if he can receive some reinforcements, but I doubt it will come quickly or today. If things are as bad as your letter implies, we may not even have time bring guardsmen down here before those vermin overrun this settlement and secure a stronger foothold into the docks." Yorik just spat and snorted, taking his warhammer off his belt and giving it a few testy swing. That's when the chain suddenly appeared and turns out his hammer is actually a flail. "Basically, she's saying we gotta go crush heads now, rather den later! Looks like ya got sum lads ere ready fer a scrap already. Leave it ta me an da elf 'ere ta fortify dis place, make it nice an ready fer da next fight. Ye do wot ye gotta do and we'll make sure dis place is ready fer ya when you come back!"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Let's see, I know she made three antitoxins for the waterfall altar. Then a potion or two while they were still in Cassari, and I think another potion at the base camp. So six total, three which were health potions, and I think you used one during the fight against Garruk, so two healing potions. Cool.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

You wouldn't happen to know how many potions we actually have? I really should keep inventory better...

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.