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"Either way, I'll stay with you guys. I'm not really interested in scrambling around on my own or messing with a cave-in...but whatever TopDog is doing, it can't be good - I mean, how close to town are we?"
Brandon Bor
"Pretty far," he answered Petrilia.
"We are in a series of tunnels connected to a wood mill across the river, owned by Lord Bost. If the tunnels collapse, the mill might be damaged."
He looked around at the other party members. "I guess we've agreed to go after TopDog, then?"
Assuming everyone was in agreement and were ready to go with him, Brandon strode forward in the direction the little kobold captive indicated, glowing bug organ held before him, his sword in his other hand. He walked at a measured pace, so that he had a chance to see what he was walking into, or under, before taking the next step.
Sid grinned and winked at the kobold, and, since the guy really seemed as if he was being superly honest, he held a halting hand up at Brandon. "Wait a minute. The little guy isn't all that bad. You can understand. He was probably just following orders, you know? I say that we should let him go. He might want to get a few licks in on his old boss." He stamped a foot with finality. "Hey, a thief's gotta eat, and this one doesn't seem as nasty as plenty of human thieves!" He then shrugged and added, while gauging everyone's reactions to his request, "Or we can just leave him here and let him go, when we're done. But no turning him in to Bost. Or killing. Alright?"
Unless the group decides that they'd rather just kill him, he'll go along with whatever, then express his eagerness to deal with the kobold leader.
__________________
You're either an Outcast, or you're in denial.
Strength and stupidity in numbers.
- Myself
Free-Form Role-Playing Game Characters, because I got tired of sticking links in my posts --->
Jeanne stands watch in a corner, listening to Pretilia's story and shaking her head at the attempts to deal with the kobold. "Ms. Ilyanov, I pity you for spending even a minute among this filth and rancid smell. Kill the runt or set him free, let us decide quickly and not tortue you any further."
Petrillia looked from one person to another. Great, she thought, they're going to make me decide. I suppose no one here is interested in killing it in cold blood...except maybe the elf lady. I could see her doing it. But would I...?
"I can't honestly say it's harmless, and I don't want it anywhere near me, but I think there was enough of a split among the dogmen that it really would help us get TopDog. Why, I don't know. I suppose it has its own reasons. I don't trust it. But as long as it is kept away from me..."
"Do you hear me?" Petrillia turns on Creeper and points to Brandon. "Stay away from me or I'll have BigGuy here cut you down like Halav himself."
"Let us be about it, then." Nathros leads the way!
__________________ It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one’s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between.
– Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), Tsurezure-Gusa (1340)
The floor of the hallway seems well-trod and the breadth of the passage sufficiently wide for easy passage. It travels a goodly way with a subtle downward slope, though Nathros notices as it begins to slope upwards again in the last several feet.
At the edge of his light, Nathros spots what Creeper described - a kobold, a bit better dressed and slightly larger than the others, digging foolishly at the bottom of a cave-in that covers the entire tunnel ahead. He clearly doesn't hear the approach, but notices the light increase behind him.
Since the party seemed to have caught the well-dressed kobold by surprise, Brandon said quietly, "Shoot the little bugger, will you?"
In the meantime, he dropped the glowing bug organ on the floor of the cavern, took up his shield, and stepped forward, intercepting and striking TopDog if and when he ran at and attacked the party.
Spoiler
For this round, at least, Brandon will attack only if TopDog will come within melee range. His theory is that it is best if the other party members can subdue or kill him from afar.
Therefore, the following attack roll waits on TopDog's melee attack.
With the group's consensus to release Creeper, Sid untied him and handed Brandon his rope. He leaned in close to the guy before nodding him forward. "Glad to have you with us, buddy. Try to slip by me again, though, and I won't be so helpful." He stays to the rear of the group, keeping an eye on Creeper, until they arrive at the cave-in. He shot at it, as soon as it came into view, and only then registered that Brandon had said something. "Huh? Speak up! And look out!"
O. O. C. --->
Spoiler
HP: 4 AC: 6 Spells in effect: Nope. Thac0: 19
Attack ---> (1d20+2)[10] Damage ---> (1d6)[5]
__________________
You're either an Outcast, or you're in denial.
Strength and stupidity in numbers.
- Myself
Free-Form Role-Playing Game Characters, because I got tired of sticking links in my posts --->
Brandon's words get TopDog's attention and the little dog-man turns toward the group. Sid spies the kobold, but has no shot from his spot at the back of the group. The hallway would perhaps permit him to squeeze by the group, but it'd be a bit of a production.
Spoiler
You could all stand to one side, if you wanted, or march doublewide through the hallway.
Marching order? Width?
__________________
Fedoruman Roland Avatar by Chris the Pontifex
Now recruiting a replacement player for our long-time Rules Cyclopedia/BECMI game Old Ways.
Brandon looked annoyed to see that the kobold commander could not be shot safely from a distance.
Kicking the glowing bug organ before him as he went, he walked to the left of the narrow passage, shield in front of him and his sword ready to hack at TopDog.
Spoiler
If anyone wants to go in the front rank with Brandon, he will let the other do so on his right. If not, he will block the way so TopDog cannot attack the less-armored party members.
"I doubt this cur has the spirit to put up much of a fight," says Nathros, steeping forward with his short sword threateningly. "Nowhere left to flee; surrender yourself and we may yet be merciful!"
__________________ It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one’s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between.
– Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), Tsurezure-Gusa (1340)
What a pathetic sight... Seeing TopDog digging away at the cave-in just looked...sad to Petrillia. For a fleeting moment, she felt a bit thankful to the dogman for keeping her alive. Just as suddenly, suspicion kicked in. Why would he keep me alive? Why does Creeper oppose him? Why should I care? These things are barely more than animals.
As TopDog turned around at Brandon's voice and the others looked like they were preparing to kill it, Petrillia presses herself against the cave wall and tries to stay out of TopDog's view.
Brandon and Nathros stand side by side, blocking the width of the tunnel. Behind them stands Stefan, Petrillia, Jeanne, Sid, and trailing well behind, Creeper.
Brandon's swipe misses the kobold leader who turns and throws a rock in their direction. His throw catches Brandon on the sword arm and he barks triumphantly. "Go away!"
Spoiler
PCs turn, though obviously your movement is limited.
__________________
Fedoruman Roland Avatar by Chris the Pontifex
Now recruiting a replacement player for our long-time Rules Cyclopedia/BECMI game Old Ways.
Jeanne presses up against the tunnel. "Like a cat cornering a mouse. Will we play with it or just kill it?"
Brandon muttered over his shoulder to Jeanne, "Are you sure he's the mouse? He doesn't look scared at all of us."
Brandon sounded nervous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roland St. Jude
Brandon and Nathros stand side by side, blocking the width of the tunnel. Behind them stands Stefan, Petrillia, Jeanne, Sid, and trailing well behind, Creeper.
Brandon's swipe misses the kobold leader who turns and throws a rock in their direction. His throw catches Brandon on the sword arm and he barks triumphantly. "Go away!"
Spoiler
PCs turn, though obviously your movement is limited.
Brandon paused. He looked confused. Instead of continuing to attack, he withdrew a step, drawing in a breath that made his deep chest expand in its armored carapace before he yelled.
"You! Stop that! You're gonna make the cave crash down on us!"
He does not stop Nathros from attacking; he just seems temporarily unwilling to himself attack.
Petrillia follows Jeanne's lead and tries to press herself back further against the wall as Stefan shuffles back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeanne
"Like a cat cornering a mouse. Will we play with it or just kill it?"
Sparing a glance back to see how far away Creeper is, Petrillia whispers, "Aren't you at least a little interested in what it's trying to-"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon
"You! Stop that! You're gonna make the cave crash down on us!"
Petrilla stopped short and looked around wide-eyed at the tunnel walls and ceiling. No no no fresh air daylight don't trap me down here again please please. Unconciously, she held her breath and waited for the inevitable collapse - of the tunnel or her emotional state, she couldn't say.
"Try to stab me, would you?" Nathros attempts to slash the kobold's leg tendons.
Spoiler
THAC0: 19
Attack: (1d20+1)[19]
Damage: (1d6+1)[5]
__________________ It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one’s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between.
– Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), Tsurezure-Gusa (1340)
Nathros sweeps out the kobold's legs with his sword, dropping the dogman into a puddle of his own blood, perhaps another moment of life left in him, but not much. He's eyes show surprise but then fall shut.
Spoiler
Out of combat
You remain in a hallway-sized tunnel that terminates in a pile of rocks blocking the entire passageway.
__________________
Fedoruman Roland Avatar by Chris the Pontifex
Now recruiting a replacement player for our long-time Rules Cyclopedia/BECMI game Old Ways.
"Hmmn, don't know my own strength sometimes; I was just looking to disable the little blighter."
__________________ It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one’s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between.
– Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), Tsurezure-Gusa (1340)
"I think he's out, if not dead," Brandon called out to those behind him, who probably could not see effectively.
He wiped clean and sheathed his sword, then drew his dagger. Holding onto the weapon in case TopDog was shamming, he knelt and disarmed the kobold of his dagger and any other equipment or treasure on him.
"Sid, could you ask him what TopDog specifically was looking for? I mean, why was he digging here in the first place?"
Having mostly hopped up and down and switched back and forth between his sword and bow, during the fight, Sid nodded eagerly, then turned to lay an arm on Creeper's shoulder. "Did you see that, buddy? No more worrying about the boss, for you! So, did ya happen to catch wind of what he was digging for?" He rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, then leaned in to whisper, "These guys'll just say that he was digging an escape tunnel, but, naw, your boss was probably out for some hidden treasure, right? That's been lost for ages, yeah? Splitting that just between the two of us is a much better deal than whatever this guy would have given you!"
OOC --->
Spoiler
HP: 4 AC: 6 Spells in effect: Nope. Thac0: 19
Detect Deception ---> (1d20)[17] And Sid probably doesn't really believe what he's saying. He's just talking words casually, hoping that Creeper will do the same.
__________________
You're either an Outcast, or you're in denial.
Strength and stupidity in numbers.
- Myself
Free-Form Role-Playing Game Characters, because I got tired of sticking links in my posts --->
Following well-behind even the rear-guard, Creeper gathers the idea that TopDog is dead, but doesn't really see it happen. He responds quickly to his new friend, however, seemingly eager to be helpful.
"Out and stuff," he responds, earnestly as far as Sid can tell. "We came in that way and hid our stuff up there," he shakes his head and then pulls back toward the mill, "but out is this way."
__________________
Fedoruman Roland Avatar by Chris the Pontifex
Now recruiting a replacement player for our long-time Rules Cyclopedia/BECMI game Old Ways.
Stefan kneels near the fallen kobold. "Well, he'll be dead soon, anyway. I've seen men hurt like this before... it - he doesn't have long." Stefan soundlessly breathes some rites for the dying, mostly by instinct.
"Don't suppose he'd be much of a source of info, anyway..."
"Everyone else alright? Hopefully we're almost done down here."
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