King Maker Solo

[Eonn]

You don't see anything immediately apparent as you circle the tree. It's only when you expand your search radius that you do find something. You nearly stumble into a shallow ditch, though your time at the statue has taught you to be more perceptive. The ditch seems to have been used as the smallest mass grave in existence with a number of kobold and mite corpses tossed in carelessly. It's only now that the smell of rot crosses your nose. Before you back away, you notice that all of the bodies bear lethal injuries and have been stripped of all their possessions. It's likely that the two factions had a battle here, maybe several. It may be worth spending some time to observe this location more, to see what is so important about it.

[Pyrophilios]

"Seems like the kobold-mite war was fought close by..."
Vindariel looks around and tries to find any tracks that would indicate where whoever dumped the bodies in there has gone to.

Spoiler

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Survival (Tracking)
(1d20)[20]+1

[Eonn]

While you are not an expert survivalist, locating and following the tracks are only made difficult by the sheer number of them. While the kobold tracks seem to come from an number of ways, all of the mite tracks either come from or lead to a knot at the root of the trees. Now that you know where to look, you find an opening leading down into a hollow. While on the surface, you also make out that several somethings have been drug down there recently.

[Pyrophilios]

"The mite's home. This could get interesting."
Vindariel has recently modified his suit to allow him to climb like an insect and so he carefully climbs down, his armor providing him with the necessary night vision.

Spoiler

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Astral Suit has Climb Speed 10ft and Darkvision

[Eonn]

The darkvision is great here, as you'd be blind without it. The climbing ability is useful, though the plentiful roots and such would make scaling the chimney easy either way. You descend 10 feet into the earth. You now stand in a passageway that goes to the east, the west, and back up. This area was clearly made for smaller creatures in mind. The ceiling is about 5 feet high at best, but had roots and rocks hanging from it. You have to bend over partly to keep from hitting your head.

Spoiler: OOC

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Because of the ceiling height, you have a -2 penalty to attack rolls unless mentioned otherwise..

[Pyrophilios]

A swift thought made the suit recede to form it's clear sheath form. Another thought made his form shrink and gave him the appearance of a mite.
With this cunning disguise enacted, he moved west first - now a lot quicker and more silent since his bulky armor was replaced by the looted studded leather. This diminished his physical capability, but increased his maneuverability quite a bit - a fair trade off in such a confined environment.

Spoiler

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Change Suit to Astral Skin and Metamorphosis to change size to small, looking like a mite.
New stats:
STR 14 DEX 18, AC 20
Adding Cleave through Augment

[Eonn]

You move through the tunnel to the west until the passage opens up into a room. You can hear activity inside, along with the chatter of mites. They speak in a language you don't know. What do you do?

Spoiler: OOC

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Could you give me a disguise roll at +10 from your magic, and any other roll relevant to what you do?

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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(1d20)[16]+10 Disguise
(1d20)[20]+2 Stealth
(1d20)[5]+3 Perception

Keeping to the shadows and avoiding attention, Vindariel entered the room, looking around for other entries, counting the number of mites inside and noting any potential hazards.

[Eonn]

The room is small, even by mite standards. It dimensions are roughly 15'x15', though the rough hewn walls are not completely square. Three crude, wooden workbenches occupy the center of the room, strewn with various wood and metal pieces and a number of tools. Two mites occupy this space, standing by opposite walls. It seems they made some kind of contraption like a small catapult and are taking turns hurling caltrops into each other's mouth. When a hit is scored, the shooting mite cheers while the target mite swallows the steel. Surprisingly, they seem unbothered by doing so. The mites attention seem to be on their game, so they don't notice you lurking in the entrance. That being said, there's now way currently to sneak through the room without walking through both mites line of sight. It's simply too cramped. In the far corner (to the southwest) is a shaft leading deeper into the lair. You currently stand in a sloped path leading down into the room from the northeast.

[Pyrophilios]

If in doubt, attack. Two mites taken by surprise should be no problem - even with his diminished size.
A quick charge and slashing of his blade is all he needs to solve this...

Spoiler

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Alright, Charge and Cleave in the surprise round
To maximize the chance of success I'll also use Silver Strike for double roll

(1d20)[7]+9
or
(1d20)[9]+9

Damage:
(1d10)[4]+4

If successful, Cleave:
(1d20)[12]+9
Damage:
(1d10)[7]+4

[Eonn]

In a whirl of blades and blood, you end the fight before it can even begin. The two mites lie dead before you without getting a chance to react.

[Pyrophilios]

Vindariel quickly stuffs the two dead bodies somewhere out of sight in the chaos and continues his way through the warrens, taking a moment to regain his fighting abilities.

Once again he sneaks forward.

Spoiler

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(1d20)[13]+3 Sneak (just noticed, Studded Leather has only a -1 penalty)
Perception:
(1d20)[4]+3
(1d20)[8]+6

[Eonn]

As you climb down the shaft, you hear a high pitched cry of terror followed by a round of laughter from a group of mites. As your feet meet solid ground once again, you get a better view of what's going on. The walls of this egg-shaped cavern are covered in pale roots. A small group of half a dozen mite stand clustered around a kobold ties to said roots, taking turns jabbing at him with sharpened sticks and laughing as he shrieks in pain. The mites don't notice your arrival.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception (1d20+2)[13]

Spoiler: Map

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[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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I'm moving a step to the south-east and one east, I'll set a 15ft. cone (Swarm of Crystals) set at the north eastern enemy. That should take out 5 mites without killing the kobold

(3d4)[8] piercing damage

Ini: (1d20)[8]+8
5ft step to the north
Attack remaining enemy
(1d20)[10]+7
Silver Strike (better of the two)
(1d20)[1]+7

(1d10)[5]+4 damage

Vindariel, realized that he now would have to act decisively. He stepped into the room before anyone could notice him and unleashed a hail of crystal shards. That done he stepped towards the one enemy he hadn't hit and hit him hard with his pointy stick.

[Eonn]

Spoiler: OOC

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Initiative: (1d20+3)[7]

"Don't want to die!" Shouts the kobold as the chaos begins. A hailstorm of crystal shards tear up the majority of the mites, and the survivor is promptly cut down by your sword. After a few moments of silence, the kobold opens his eyes (though one is mostly swollen shut). He sees the group that had been tormenting him dead, and a new mite standing over their corpses.

"Don't hurt Mikmek! Mikmek not know anything!" He desperately pleads. You recognize the name, this is the same kobold you met in the radish patch days prior. Now, however, he's beaten and bloodied and has had all of his possessions stripped from him. Despite that he's faring better than his friends, who hang limp on the wall beside him.

[Pyrophilios]

Vindariel releases his form back to its original and says: "Pssst. I am your friend. My name is Vindariel."
He releases the Kobold and tells him: "Can you walk? The way out there should be free."

[Eonn]

Mikmek clutches his injuries, whimpering. Now free from torture, he forces himself to swallow his pride again and grovel at your feet. "But dey have Ol' Sharptooth! Need ta get back Ol' Sharptooth! Please! Many treasure if'n you bring Ol' Sharptooth to Tartuk!" The reptilian being wails pathetically.

[Pyrophilios]

"Don't worry. I'll find Sharptooth and bring him out." Vindariel gives the little Kobold a simple healing potion. "Just wait outside and hide. You can lead me to your tribe once I'm back out."

Vindariel readies himself to explore the next part of the cave system.

[Eonn]

Mikmek greedily imbibes the potion, but you notice he follows you as you walk towards the chasm. It a few yards wide, and twice as deep. A series of knotted loops have been tied overhead to make it easy for the mites to cross over.

Spoiler: OOC

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Roll perception for me, please.

(1d20+9)[20]

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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Perception
(1d20)[1]+3
(1d20)[3]+6

Vindariel takes a careful look around before moving on.

[Eonn]

You see that the chasm is deep and dark. Just before you go to cross on the rope monkey bars, Mikmek tugs on pants (armor?) to get your attention. "Wait," He says, pointing up. "Trap. Bad knots."

Spoiler: Map

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[Pyrophilios]

"Thanks. That could have been nasty. Hold on to me, we go the long way."
Vindariel accepts that he can't stop the little guy from following him, so he lets him ride on his shoulders and begins climbing down the chasm and up the other side again.

[Eonn]

With Mikmek pointing out all the bad handholds, you are able to get across the ravine without problem. The kobold, who rode your rucksack over, drops back to the ground as you peer into this new area. Rows of wooden pegs line the earthen walls, some hung with tiny, filthy cloaks. In the center of the room stands a rickety table held together with twine, covered with a filthy red checked tablecloth and heaped with mounds of dirt and twigs and gravel, apparently arranged to form some sort of map. Sitting at the edge of the map, weighing down a scrap of paper, is a bloodstained ivory statuette of what looks like a crouching reptilian devil. A bulging burlap sack sits under the table.

At the table stands a particularly well armed (and ugly) mite, along with an assortment of advisors plotting their next attack against the Sootscale. Next to the table is a tick the size of a pony. The mite leader seems to use this creature as his mount. Mikmek looks like he's about to exclaim something, but has enough sense to keep his mouth shut.

Spoiler: Map

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Red-> Mite; Orange-> Mite Leader; Black->Giant Tick

If you want to sneak in, roll stealth. Otherwise, initiative.

[Pyrophilios]

Vindariel assesses the situation. First he uses his ability to create an adaptive camouflage effect around him. Also, this seems to be a good time to use that protective potion he has been hoarding.
Quietly he imbibes it and hands the empty vial to the Kobold. A moments concentration conjures up the protective force field.
After that he tries to suborn the mind of the leader and prepares for attack:

Spoiler

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Psi Points: 24/28

Camouflage Power: +10 to Stealth (3 Psi Points)
Stealth check:
(1d20)[14]+9

Drink Potion (Shield of Faith): +2 Deflection (AC 23)
Force Screen Power: +4 Shield (AC 27) (1 Psi Point)
Emphatic Connection: Try to befriend the leader (Augmented 3 Psi Points) Will save DC 15

Ini: (1d20)[17]+7

Psi Points remaining: 17

[Eonn]

Spoiler: OOC

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Mites are Fey, so you'll have to spend another 2 points to use the empathy thing. Still want to do it?

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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Sure, it will be just DC 14 then

[Eonn]

Spoiler: OOC

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Will Save: (1d20+4)[11]

The leader of the mites fall under the influence of your magics. He still stands at the table and plots, wholly unaware of your presence or you magic.

[Pyrophilios]

Vindariel steps around the corner and says: "Look out friend, they want to kill you. Please keep your tick under control."

With that he unleashes another hail of crystals on the other five mites.

Spoiler

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Another Swarm of Crystal attack, hitting all red marked mites
14 Psi remaining
(3d4)[7]

[Eonn]

The mites fare the attack much better in the previous room. You note that they seem to be better equipped, and likely better trained as well. The leader mounts his tick as the others draw their blades and prepare to attack. From his position on his mount, the leader speaks something in a deep, guttural language and the others stop, glaring at you. Just before you begin to wonder if he even knows common, he address you in a deep, gravely voice.

"You come into my house and warn of treachery, but immediately attack? You have better got a good explanation for your actions." He says, pointing his lance at you. The others stand between you and the leader, ready to fight at a moment's notice.

[Pyrophilios]

"Yes my friend. You saw how quick they pulled out their weapons. I just learned that they intend to slay you. They have been bribed by the kobolds. Trust me."

Spoiler

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Bluff
(1d20)[19]-1