Harbinger of the Kobold Apocalypse

[Darth Ultron]

The Tribe of Karmuntxatek (''The Great Green Horns'') lives in a series of caves under the edge of the Dragonspine Mountains where the Quivering Forest climbs the rocky slopes. Rex (''king'') Dreemkong leads the tribe as subjects to the Great Green Dragon Cyanogentasiboraneynyss (Or or Cyanogenta).

Spoiler: OOC

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So we will start just after the attack....so have your character out doing something and coming home to find out what happened.

[Eonn]

It had been a hard day's work, with the blinding sun ever present over head. Still, it was done. Tak had just finished setting up a new series of traps in the local forests. Snares, pitfalls and the like dotted the region, each constructed in hopes of catching some of the local critters to feed the tribe. While Tak was by no means an artisan, it did not take much planning to make these traps and the clever kobold knew his talent would suffice. With the last of a series of his latest creations armed and ready, Tak quickly hurries home. After all, everyone knew the tales of the marauding humans who attacked when the sunlight was at it's most blinding. No one wanted to be caught alone by a human.

With the day's work done, Tak scurries back to the caves.

[Darth Ultron]

Ahead an outcropping of large boulders emerges from the weathered face of a nearby rocky and tree covered hillock. A narrow opening in the rock leads into darkness below.

Even as you get close, you get the feeling something is wrong. Five kobolds should guard this area, two always at the cave entrance and three hiding in the woods...but even as you walk up to the cave you see no one around.

Then right at the caves entrance you see a horrible sight: two dead kobold bodies. They each are quite dead, with lots of large cuts and wounds. The bodies are near naked, with only a light covering of what was once their clothing that has been chopped and cut off their bodies. The two kobold bodies are easy enough to identify as Yik and Yip, two brother warriors.

[Eonn]

With a shuddering breath, Tak draws his crossbow and peers around, hoping that whatever did this is long gone. Once he confirms that he himself is not in any immediate danger, he steels himself and ventures into the cave. He moves slowly, keeping a steady pace, knowing that the killers could be around any corner. Still, this is their warren, their sanctuary. If it has been compromised, then there's nowhere else to retreat to. With that thought in mind the kobold trudges forward. He smirks, telling himself that he's likely to find their dumb corpses clogging up one of the traps. It's better than the alternative, after all.

[Darth Ultron]

Once inside the cave it gets worse...

Kobold body parts...not just bodies are scattered around. All have weapons marks on them, cuts from bladed weapons and crushed parts from some type of blunt ones. Many kobold bodies are also mauled and clawed, as if some some type of animal. It is hard to even tell who the bodies were...

The traps are sprung....pits are wide open, nets lay on the ground, darts and spears litter the ground, and sharp rocks. No trap seems to have a victim in it...and does not seem to have stopped them.

[Eonn]

Tak gulps. This is his home, but the deeper he goes, the less safe he feels. Is this truly how the world is? Where noble souls, simply defending their homes and the families, can be cut down without reprisal? Despite the carnage, the kobold continues on, taking tally of every life cut short as he goes. He also thinks to keep track of every unique injury, hoping to identify the intruders by the way they kill- the only calling card they left for him at this point.

Spoiler

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I don't know if you want a roll for any of this. Just tell me if you do.

[Darth Ultron]

Up ahead the main tunnel is partly collapsed, with rubble filling most of it. There is a gap at the top of about a foot or two, and you can hear movement on the other side and some words in kobold, but it's hard to make out what they are saying other then ''rocks''.

Spoiler: OOC

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If you ever wonder, it is always safe to make a skill check. After all it only takes like ten seconds.

Knowing specific things will need a check....like to know what made the claw marks. Anyone can see it was done by a creature with claws and can guess cat or bear...but anyone who knows animals (or has ranks in knowledge nature or profession(hunter), for example) has a good chance of identifying the exact animal by the claw marks.

[Eonn]

Tak stops at the base of the rockfall. If there's one thing dwelling underground has taught him, it's to be cautious around cave ins. "Hello? Someone there?" He calls out in the language of his tribe.

Spoiler

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Alright, noted!

Does the tunnel and the loose rock seem to be stable?
Knowledge (dungeoneering) (1d20+6)[15]

[Darth Ultron]

The tunnel looks stable enough. The rockfall is not so bad, other then it mostly blocks the tunnel....and was likely done for that exact reason.

"Yes! Me here you? Who you? Me miner Gauk? " says the voice in kobold over the rocks.

[Eonn]

Tak, satisfied that the rocks aren't going anywhere, begins to scale the pile. If he tries, he should be able to squeeze through the gap at the top. Even if he can't, he could always just clear a few of the rocks off the top to widen the hole.

"Is Tak!" The kobold announces as he climbs. "Was snare-settin, then comin home, found... this. Is safe?"

[Darth Ultron]

There is enough of a gap at the top to wiggle through.

Gauk "Safe now, yes. Human's long gone. They just loot and leave, you know."

Gauk is a plain looking kobold in simple clothing with a knife, shovel and pick axe.

[Eonn]

Tak breathes a sigh of relief. It would seem he doesn't have to put his life on the line today after all.

"Good to know. How things deeper in?"

[Darth Ultron]

Gauk looks down and kicks a couple rocks "Bad. Not good. The humans were monsters. What is left of everyone is meeting in the Big Cave."

[Eonn]

What is left of everyone? That sounds foreboding. With a sigh, Tak continues down the tunnel towards the point where the tribe was meeting up at. "Going there then. Be seeing you!"

[Darth Ultron]

Heading further into the den you see more signs of damage and more set off traps...but at least no more bodies.

The Big Cave, is of course, the community gathering place with a large pool of water. About a dozen kobolds are here, male and female, in small groups.

Near the other side of the Big Cave are some small rockpile storage areas, pack lizard pens, and the sturdy Tribute Cart. Though you do note the Tribute Cart is empty...

[Eonn]

Tak enters the cavern, pausing by the pool for a few moments as he decides how to proceed. He ends up meandering through the crowd, trying to listen in on conversations about the recent attack while he waits for the leadership to address the group.

[Darth Ultron]

A female kobold, Akkora, see you and rushes over.

Akkora "You is alive! Thank the Great Egg! Glad you are here. It was horrible...humans came and attacked. They killed and looted and it was really bad. Glad they did not get you!

And worst of all they looted the tribute cart!

"

[Eonn]

Tak pales. He had hopes that the tribute had been stashed somewhere, but if it had indeed been stolen...

"But, what we going to do without it?" It would likely be much to late to fill it again, and it's not like there was gold just lying around to spare.

[Darth Ultron]

Rex Dreemkong climbs up onto a mushroom. "Everyone, everyone, hear me!"

All the kobolds in the room go quiet and turn and listen.

"We have been beset by a terrible tragedy, but all is not lost. Many are dead, but our tribe remains.

But, we lost the tribute due at the end of the season. Everything the tribe has left is not enough to replace what was lost. But we will not fail.

We don't have the loot...but others do, the humans, the dwarves, and even more so the gnomes. They all sit on piles of loot. And I say we take it from them! Raid them! Get the Loot!

And re fill the tribute cart!

But with many of our best warriors gone and best travelers gone...someone must do this task, step forward and lead, someone..."

Each of the kobolds listening look around nervously, and most take at least a half step backward...

[Eonn]

Tak listens with rapt attention, ready for King to proclaim how they were to proceed... only to be sorely disappointed when the plan was actually announced. His tail droops as he, like the rest of the tribe, realized what was being called for. The tribes elite fighters had either been slain or were needed more than ever to guard the warren. Without a whole legion of these fighters, raids on this scale would be suicide. Tak had had his differences with Rex in the past, but this could destroy the already crippled tribe.

Still, he had to raise his voice, no matter how out of line he was. "Why not plead with Lord Cyanogenta?" He calls out over the hushed crowd. Tak knew well what the result of asking for the dragon's grace would be, however. The only variable being the magnitude of the backlash on the tribe. A best case scenario would see Rex dead and the tribe working extra hard to make up the difference next season. At least, that's what Tak assumed would happen, he didn't know the dragon Lord personally or anything. Still, even attempting to parlay with the dragon would be better than sending squads of kobolds off to their deaths when they were needed most.

[Darth Ultron]

Rex Dreemkong "What was that? Who spoke?"

All the nearby kobolds move away and take a couple steps back, leaving Tak standing alone and in front of the group.

Rex Dreemkong "Oh, you. And what would you have us plead? For mercy? Forgiveness? A second chance? The Great Green Dragon Cyanogentasiboraneynyss does not accept failure. She would kill us all, just for asking.

Maybe, you, Tak, would like to go ask her?"

[Eonn]

"Eh..." Tak starts, but finds himself at a loss for words. Though it may be for the greater good, Tak liked his chances more with the humans. Still, he was already in too deep to be cowed now. Mustering what courage he had, he speaks again.

"But you are brave king of all kobold! Only one as great as you speaks to Lord Cyanogentasiboraneynyss! You not fearful, is you?"

He hasn't finished speaking before he's looking for an out. Curse his big mouth...

[Darth Ultron]

Rex Dreemkong "I know no fear. It is not fear that I have.....it is wisdom. One does not ask a stormcloud why it rains! One does not ask a river why it flows! One does not ask why fire burns a tree! A wise kobold knows the answer to all them questions and need not ask!

We must have the tribute! That is the Way of Things!

Maybe Tak with his Big Mouth can Talk up some Tribute?"

Most kobolds in the room laugh.

[Eonn]

Tak shifts anxiously from foot to foot, peering around the cavern for some kind of help. Though there were faults in Rex's rebuttal, even Tak knows not to press it any further.

"Why humans take gold anyway." Tak mutters. "They have no dragon to pay tribute to."

The kobold ends up deciding to hopefully let this pass by... he has no intention of risking his life, so going unnoticed is likely the best option. Hopefully it's not already too late for that.

[Darth Ultron]

Rex Dreemkong "Why do humans do anything...no one knows.

But what matters is the Tribute! We must have it!

I ask all to give up anything of value we might add to the cart. What able kobolds we have left will try to dig for what we can.

But we will need more....more...from out there somewhere:



Tak! You are tasked with this! Find Tribute! Save the Tribe!"

[Eonn]

This was exactly what Tak didn't want to hear. "Me? Alone?" He says, flustered. Maybe if he were more tactful, he wouldn't be in this situation. Now that he is, however, he may as well double down. He plants his feet, narrows his eyes, and announces.

"Fine! Tak is smartest and bravest of kobold, and when Tak saves us all, all will agree!"

With that he turns and marches out of the cave. He has some planning to do before he sets out. He'd need information on targets, knowledge about those who would accompany him, maybe a map or two. He'll see what there is to drum up.

[Darth Ultron]

Rex Dreemkong just stands mostly still and smiles.

A couple of the kobolds in the cave tail slap the ground and you here a couple ''Go Tak!'' 's said.

[Eonn]

Yeah, yeah, laugh while you still can, Rex. Dispite his dislike of the leader, Tak focuses on more important things. Like trying to figure out how he was supposed to get enough gold to fill the whole tribute cart. There has to be someone who knows what humans do with all their gold, Tak figures. He'd ask around once he was sure he had all of his things gathered.

[Darth Ultron]

Like most of the tribe, you wear most of what you own...except for things you might have hidden somewhere, so it does not take long to gather your things.

[Eonn]

With all of his things in order, Tak storms back into the big cave.

"Tak will now be planning raid! Who here be ready to claim gold and glory? Tak wants only the boldest of the 'bold!"