The Last Paladin IC (Frosty)

[Maquise]

Berich shouts down at the kobolds. The only thing you hear is more scrabbling.

PERCEPTION: (d20-2)[8]

Your search is inconclusive.

[Frosty]

After searching, Karrin moves the group on once more. "Keep looking for tracks if possible. See where they dragged Lyanna off to." They continye to move slowly, taking the same precautions. As they pass the hole, they make sure to be careful not to get dragged down by any ambushes.

The group tries to navigate around the next two bends, assuming nothing else unusual or dangerous is detected.

[Maquise]

The tunnel before you forks into two different paths. Mirabelle says, "The south path seems colder, but there's a weird smell coming from the east path. Also, it looks like there are more traps in the south path. Look," she indicates some cleverly concealed holes in the ceiling above the south tunnel.

[Frosty]

"Let's take the eastern path then. They'll be shooting darts and crossgow bolts at us through the ceiling holes if we go through the southern path I bet. Stay sharp. Watch for anything suspicious." They move past the next 2 bends.

[Maquise]

You continue down the winding passage, arriving at a more open chamber. There are several holes in the walls, some blocked off by crude iron bars. Out of these holes crawl a trio of strange, twisted kobolds. Their appearance is primal; they are hunched over with long, crocodile-like snouts, and sharp claws. They appear feral, unreasoning.

INIT:
Karrin: (d20+1)[2]
Mirabelle:(d20+1)[14]
Grembler: (d20+1)[3]
Berich: (d20)[16]
Kobolds: (d20+1)[4]

[Maquise]

Berich guards the rear approach, making sure you can't get surrounded. Mirabelle steps forward, swinging her sword. The creatures move in closer, fighting with their claws. Grembler helps Mirabelle in defending her from attacks.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 56/60  AC: 20  Saves: 11F / 7R / 7W
Conditions:  LoH 6/6

Trombe
HP: 51/55  AC: 17  Saves: 11F / 10R / 6W
Conditions:  Outside

"Grembler, get behind me! Mirabell, move backwards a few steps to make them fight us one at a time!"

Spoiler

Show

Karrin:
Ready an action to use Lance at the first enemy that comes into range.
Attack: (1d20+9)[11]
Damage: (1d8+4)[5]

[Maquise]

Mirabelle moves back. The kobolds move up, and she cut it down.

[Frosty]

Karrin continues to hold her ground, ready to strike with her lance (both she can Mira can hit). "Let them come to us..."

[Maquise]

Mirabelle readies to attack. However, instead of charging, the kobold-thing opens its maw and spits a congealed ball of acid at Mirabelle. She hisses as it splashes onto her, causing mild burns.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 56/60  AC: 20  Saves: 11F / 7R / 7W
Conditions:  LoH 6/6

Trombe
HP: 51/55  AC: 17  Saves: 11F / 10R / 6W
Conditions:  Outside

Karrin hisses as acid splashes on her lover. "Aww damn! Alright,move forward and crush them! Mira, I'm right behind you."

Spoiler

Show

Karrin:
Wait for Mira to 5ft step forward to hit the kobold, then do the same herself with a lance.
Attack: (1d20+9)[20]
Damage: (1d8+4)[5]

[Maquise]

(For expedience, I skipped your turn. I hope you don't mind)
Mirabelle swings forward, growling. The kobold-beast crumples beneath her sword. She then continues out and cuts down the remaining kobold.

Grembler and Berich move up to look at the bodies. Grembler pokes one with his staff. "Grembler seen kobolds before. These uglies not normal. These uglies weirded."

Berich kneels down, taking a closer look. "The witch is right; I've seen this kind of thing before, during my studies at the spires. I'd lay three sovereigns on the table that these bastards were fleshwarped."

[Frosty]

Did the kobolds have anything on them?

"Spellwarped? Tell me more. I know nothing about the topic."

She examines the corpses for evil auras.

[Maquise]

The corpses have no lingering auras, nor any physical items on their persons.

"Its an arcane craft, branching off of transmutation and necromancy, I think. Understand I've only heard of this in passing, and a very long time ago."

"May I ask where you've heard of this?" says Mirabelle, a touch of suspicion coloring her voice.

"I make no effort to hide the fact I was a member of the Arcane Circle. I was just a novice at the time of the Incursion; I feel no blame for it. Anyway, fleshwarping is an arcane craft, but also an alchemical one. It alters the body of the, oh, subject according to the will of the practitioner if done correctly. It can cause all sorts of physical changes, but also mental changes if the practitioner is inexperienced or careless. I'd guess these kobolds were driven mad by the process."

[Frosty]

"Hmm...is it possible the White Dragon is behind all of this? In anycase, we should move on. Hor hurt are you, love?"

Karrin checks Mirabell before they move onto the next corridor.

[Maquise]

Mirabelle shakes her head. "Barely felt it."

Berich says, "I wouldn't say; this doesn't seem to be a dragon's style."

[Frosty]

"Well, let's get going then. Same marching orders. Berich, Grembler, can you remind me of what Wierdings...err...magics and otehr special abilities you know?"

They move on to the next corridor.

[Maquise]

Grembler says, "I can set things on fire, call beasts, and trick bad fellows up. I can also do a little healing."

Mirabelle looks into the next chamber. The room contains a pair of tables. In one corner sits a vat, out of which ooze a pair of slimey forms, in the shape of kobolds.

INIT:
Karrin:(d20+1)[10]
Mira:(d20+1)[10]
Grembler:(d20+1)[10]
Berich:(d20)[8]
Slimes: (d20+3)[12]

[Maquise]

The slimes ooze forward, moaning unsettlingly. The first one ducks under Mirabelle's swing and batters her with drooping, mucus-like appendages.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 56/60  AC: 20  Saves: 11F / 7R / 7W
Conditions:  LoH 6/6

Trombe
HP: 51/55  AC: 17  Saves: 11F / 10R / 6W
Conditions:  Outside

"Grembler, switch with me again!" She swings at a slime ooze.

Spoiler

Show

Karrin:
Attack: (1d20+9)[14]
Damage: (1d8+4)[12]

[Maquise]

Your blow bounces off the gelatinous body of the mutant kobold. Mirabelle swings her sword, splattering one of the monsters. Grembler aids Mirabelle in her defense, and Berich continues to protect the back passage.

The second ooze kobold lurches forward, slimy arms bouncing off Mirabelle's shield. Mirabelle hits back, but the creature nimbly slides to the side.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 56/60  AC: 20  Saves: 11F / 7R / 7W
Conditions:  LoH 6/6

Trombe
HP: 51/55  AC: 17  Saves: 11F / 10R / 6W
Conditions:  Outside

Upset that she's performing so badly this time, Karrin stabs forward with fervor! She can't let Mira have ALL the fun!

Spoiler

Show

Karrin:
Attack: (1d20+9)[17]
Damage: (1d8+4)[10]

[Maquise]

The kobold goes down, leaving a hissing puddle.

[Frosty]

Karrin listens. Does there appear to be any more hostiles nearby?

[Maquise]

PERCEPTION: (d20-2)[15]

You can hear noises coming from the south. A heavy wooden door closes off the other end of the room. The sounds are strange, bubbling liquid and a voice muttering.

[Frosty]

"Berich, can you summon some sort of critter to walk into the room and check things out for us?"

If not, Karrin finds a convenient rock to throw into the room.

[Maquise]

I'm no conjurer," says Berich.

"But I can," says Grembler. He makes a lengthy incantation, and an ugly, horrific-looking serpent appears. It slithers into the other room silently.

Grembler grins smugly, then a look of realization appears on his face. "Now what? Snake no can talk."

[Frosty]

"Well, it can at least spring traps or draw stupid enemies out into the open. And, it can probably help us fight. Let's head in."

The group heads in carefully. Mira in front, with Karrin right behind.

[Maquise]

You and Mira force open the doors. You find yourself in a high-ceilinged chamber, with several different tables, work benches, and alchemical apparatus. In the southwest corner, you see a figure bent over what looks like a gurney, with several tubes and strange devices hooked to it. The figure looks up as you enter. It appears to have once been a kobold, but is now much larger, standing as tall as a human. A pair of malformed wings are visible on its back, one seems to be used as a third arm, clutching a vial.

"More specimens? No, not specimens. Humans, boring. You are of no value to me, begone," he says with a dismissive flick of his wrist.

[Frosty]

"You...who are you? Why do you experiment on your own people like this? You made some of them mindless beasts that attacked us and had to be put down!"