Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

No battle map right now due to being mobile. Nice idea to smoke out the trogs! I was going to ambush you with twelve trogs.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

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

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

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.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

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.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Roll a constitution saving throw with advantage, as the shamans help you acclimate to the scent.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Cera was delightfully surprised to see you donate so much gold to the kobolds. She'll make sure it'll go straight to the Grey Scales so they'll know what to do with it. Meanwhile, though Shortfang is still grumbling about it, his mother nods in approval that you're supporting her. "Yeah I know but... Don't want ma to get hurt, is all." Shortfang says solemnly. However Skinwalker wasn't going to have any of it, booping him on the snout. "Mama not weak! You two, come with mama. Mama show you something." If you should follow Skinwalker out, she take you and Shortfang out to where the kobolds are training at. Skinwalker has a crossbow of her own, a small one that fits in her hand much like what Shortfang was using before he got the bandit's crossbows. With the help of Pylia to translate, Skinwalker wanted to teach you and Shortfang how to fight using just the bolts and arrows, using them akin to daggers. It was a simple concept, however as you might imagine the very light ammunition were prone to breaking and made poor daggers. However Skinwalker was intent on teaching the both of you how to do it, just in case you ever need to stab someone with some ammo.

Arrow/Bolt Dagger

Improvised Melee Weapon
.025 lbs
1d4 Piercing
Properties: Finesse, Fragile*

Fragile* - This weapon breaks on a Natural 1 when making an attack roll, rendering it useless as a weapon.

Most of the work was just getting your body used to the thrusting technique needed to hold and stab with the ammo, so that you won't break it so easily. You and Shortfang both would learn quickly considering your experiences using such weapons. Meanwhile, Pylia and Buddy found where the trogs were being kept to make everyone get used to their putrid stench. Granted they were dead trogs, but still quite foul. There were many kobolds nearby sicken by the smell, but with other kobold shamans nearby to help ease their stomachs and get them to recover, thus ensuring that they'll be ready for it in the coming battle. Of course they'll help your party as well.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Buddy nods, taking the four free javelins and supplementing them with six more, costing a total of 3 measly gold. They were a bit bulky in their makeshift bag, but for someone as big and burly as Buddy, it was hardly an issue. Pylia herself decided to take an extra stone dagger, just in case she'll need it, while Shortfang grabbed two nets. In total, another 3 gold. As you were paying for this and donating whatever gold you felt like donating, Skinwalker comes into the tent, dressed in armor and with weapons on her person. "Ma?" Shortfang says in surprise. Skinwalker seemed a bit surprised to see you all here too. "Oh! Hello." She says politely.

She and Shortfang jabber a little bit as Pylia stands nearby and translates the jist of the conversation to you in a whisper. "It seems like Shortfang's mother is going to help fight. She says she's not too old to fight and she knows how to handle herself better than the other kobolds. Shortfang, of course, doesn't want her anywhere near the danger and thinks she should at least stay and protect the village, but she doesn't care to do that. She thinks the old hunters should go first and let the younger ones live." That's when Skinwalker looked over to you and waved you over as Shortfang continued to try and talk to her in their native tongue. "You, Shortfang friend. Tell my son, stop worry. Mama strong!"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"Hmm. Knives and spears huh? I don't have knives, but perhaps these hunting darts will do." Cera leads you and the others to the armory, which was mostly just a tent being guarded by two kobolds armed with a sword and shield. inside was all the weapons they've made so far, stockpiled into one place. Cera looks around and hands you six stone darts, which looked a little like thicker crossbow bolts. "You basically throw these like you would a small spear. They don't do much damage, but they're by far one of the easiest and simplest range weapons the kobolds have. Even their slings take a little while to get a hang of, so we have plenty of them. As for spears, we have a few basic combat spears as well as javelins." Cera brought out both. The combat spears were much what you'd expect; five foot long shafts of wood with a sharpen stone tip. The javelins were shorter, only being three feet, thinner, and instead of stone either were just sharpened and charred wood or had bone tips. "Most of these spears have been repurposed from the kobold's fishing spears. They aren't as fancy as that harpoon you have there, but I think they'll be serviceable. I can spare you four for free, though the rest you'll need to pay for."

Pylia looked at the weapons, frankly somewhat concerned at how cheaply made they all were. "I don't mean to sound rude, but these weapons... They're rather primitive, don't you think?" Cera nods but kept her smile up. "That's why if possible, they'll be collecting money for any more if you want to use them. The kobolds have used up much of the stone and wood they had for their homes to make weapons and fortifications. War, as usual, hits the poor hardest. As you can imagine the kobolds don't have their own lumber down here so they've been using whatever wood they could forage or find, hording it so they can make their homes or fire. Now most of it are spears, bows, and other weapons. If they want to survive after the battle, they'll need the coin to pay for goods and services they'll normally never be able to afford."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Buddy nods, touching the spear on his backpack. He hasn't really used it at all, considering it's the only one he had. "Hmm, maybe Sewer Dragon give Buddy more spears?" Shortfang thought. Pylia cleared her throat as a wretched stench grew stronger. "Ugh, that smells disgusting..." Eventually the group would arrive to a training area overseen by Yorik and Kor. One group was doing basic melee drills, another archery. Though Yorik towered over the kobolds, often being three times the size and weight of even their largest kobold, he was oddly skilled at teaching them how to use their speed and size to protect themselves. Some of the kobolds took to it more easily than others of course, many of these kobolds were levied to assist in bolstering the tribe's dwindling forces. Kor was teaching the kobolds how to use bows. Though he was their size, he seemed far more strict and less forgiving for their mishaps. He was a harsh teacher but he was getting results. He was particularly cruel to kobolds to boasted about being good hunters, shouting and being rough with them to remind them that hunting beasts in the sewers is nothing like fighting a war against an enemy who isn't afraid to die.

Off to the side with presumably female kobolds was Cera, who was teaching them how to make weapons with what humble materials they had. It was mostly stone and wood, but she was getting a lot of mileage out of both. They were making blades, bows, arrowheads, spears, and even nets. Cera spotted the group approaching, passing off a net she was weaving to another and heading over to you. "Hello there! Long time no see. I'm Cera, in case you've forgotten. Is there something you all need?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Shor nods his head. "Alright, Jebrani it is. If you think you can take on the Toxin Croak, we'll leave them to you as well. The kobolds will remain here and repel any trog that might try and attack Underhaven, but once we deal with these tribes we'll mobilize them to take Red Stain's fortress. I should warn you though; the Jebrani may be weak, but they will be cunning and cruel. They'll use any trick they can to get you to lower their guard. Show them no mercy, because they'll give none to you." At your comment about the cult, Aisha also adds something in. "That does remind me, do keep an eye out for any evidence of the cult's involvement among the tribes. We suspect we'll find the strongest evidence at Black Claw and Red Stain, but there could possibly be proof elsewhere too. The more we find, the more evidence we'll have to show the duke about the kind of threat Elysium poses."

With nothing more to add, Shor steps away from the table to sling his massive greataxe onto his shoulder. "Leave as soon as you can, but make whatever preparations you may need now. Oh yes, I would recommend you head towards that area over there." Shor points towards a sort of makeshift training ground. "There isn't much, but perhaps you'll find a useful weapon there. If nothing else, there are live trogs over there we've captured in order to get the kobolds used to their sickening stench. Better that you deal with it now than later."