Loose threads What is Underneath the Dragon's Tail ? How many Guild Scouts are now Serpentfolk?
Participants Nimdra'th, Kae Bulsae, Lakade, Sablette, Bonabo Nest
Locations Wyrm's Cradle
Full Report
Weeks after one particular report was posted, we received an urgent message from The Watchers' Tribe's leader, Mother Imikh. New incursions from the expansionist Unknown have pushed south through the Dragon's Tail. But most concerning: kobold scouts speak of iron giants spearheading the attacks, and overwhelming any local resistance. Not only that, but the invaders are in the process of sieging the kobold Exiles residing in the mountains. Mother Imikh has decided to take action, sending her most trusted warriors in an attempt to lend aid to their comrades in peril. However, she recognizes the attacker's advantage, so she is asking the Guild to reinforce their troops. With luck, if the Guild joins forces they will not only repel the serpentfolk attack, but also pacify dangerous territory.
This announcement was posted on the Adventurer' Board, and I, the amazing Nimdra'th, master of air, saw it! How could we not help our Kobold friends against such awful enemies and attackers?
We traveled around the base of Dragonscale Peak , before climbing our way up through established paths carved by my Kobold Brethen. On our Second Day of travel, we came across a Kobold Caravan. The Caravan was not just Kobolds, but had some other individuals of other races such as a Half-Orc Woman. They were moving fast, scared for their lives. We saw there were more Kobolds behind, and went Northwest to guard the rear. As we did so , there was a Serpentfolk attack on the Caravan!We sprung into action, and fended the Serpentfolk off of the rearguard. No one died thankfully, but Mother Izin Ra was wounded and posioned. We went southeast, following the Exiles to their new location.
We take Mother Izin-Ra to see Goz , and after helping with Mother Izin-Ra, they ask us to help around the camp. We spend the new few days doing a variety of things:
- Bonabo helps train the Kobolds in a variety of physical exercises
- Kae scouted around the area
- Sablette went from group to group, fixing a wide variety of bad habits, and showed them how to truly fight together as a troop
- Bonabo prepares refreshing drinks for all the Kobolds
- I discovered their snares were in a atrocious state! I showed them the art of snare making , and placed quite a few myself.
- Sablette helped! She dug various holes, which were great for putting my snares in. I love Sablette, she's so useful!
Lakade did some healing - he asked me to use his description, so I've copied it down below, except for modifying it to be third person.
Lakade has never been one for words, and this is doubly true now that he doesn't speak the local language. Instead, he simply begins to work and lets that speak for him.
And so, once again, Lakade channels. The wood on the kobolds' defenses is rotting; it needs replacement. Reaching within himself, Lakade begins to generate his element. Indeed, his wood begins growing in his hands. It starts small, but then extends into a long shaft. Then it expands further, widening into a piece of lumber.
Then he gives his wood to a waiting kobold. And then the process starts again. Repeatedly, he grows his wood as quickly as he can and lays it in the hands of all the kobolds.
Then, once all the kobolds have wood, he starts nailing them. He puts them all in a row (the lumber) and starts hammering. The lumber becomes new fortifications, strengthening the kobold's defenses. No longer shall the kobolds go without protection.
Nearly exhausted from nailing and hammering, Lakade starts to channel again. Though he had been growing wood before, now his vitality throbs, begging to be released. In the hospital tent, Lakade does just that, releasing his vitality over the kobolds in a burst. It manifests as a thick coating of healing herbs. Once his vitality is thoroughly drained, he uses his hands to work on the kobolds. With his medical training, he knows exactly which spots need the most tending.
And after hours of this, Lakade lays down, fully spent, ready for a nap.
Finally , after all of that, we waited at the Gates. Figures approached , and conflict was nearing. We gave inspiring speeches. This would be a glorious battle, one we would win decisively.
Then it was Kae! And he brought friends! It was a group of Kobolds from the The Watchers' Tribe sent by Mother Imikh to help out! They seemed to be trying to restore old bonds. The leader of this group was a Kobold named Karok.
With that we rested for the night.....
But we didn't get far! Me and Sablette were woken up a few hours later by two Kobolds attempting to open the gate! I and Sablette, being the only ones awake, dropped down to ask what was going on. They gave us strange answers. I've transcribed the conversation below:
Nimdra'th: "Look, If you want to admire my snares just ask next time. I'm always happy to show off!"
Gate Kobold A: "What do you mean? We are letting them inside."
Gate Kobold B: "They should be arriving soon."
Nimdra'th: "Letting who inside?"
Gate Kobold A: "Hm... I... I don't know." - he seems to struggle to recall something. He scratches his chin.
Gate Kobold B: "Father Lightning's army, I think." - says the other.
Sablette: "Tell us more please... who tasked you to do this?"
Gate Kobold A: "Your people. Tall lady, with the tusks. You don't know?"
Sablette: "NO I do not... please come back with her or Mother Imikh, but do not open these gates without someone supervising it properly!"'
Gate Kobold A: The kobold shrugs. "But we have permission. I must open this gate." A brief shimmer crosses over his eyes
At this moment an ambush started , from the inside! Our defenses were useless as Guild Scouts around us revealed themselves to be Serpentfolk, including most notably the Half-Orc Woman earlier! The Serpentfolk set fire to the camp and slew innocent Kobolds as they walked about. The leader of them sent out a beacon as soon as she could. We slew them all as fast as possible, but 3 brave Kobolds lost their life, most attacked as they tried putting out the fires.
We did not have long to rest after the fight - no more than thiry minutes total, before another troop of Serpentfolk arrived outside the gates. THey were lead by two Iron GIants, and a priest who introduced himself as Voice of Atiu .
He asked for a Parlay - said he had no quarrel with us, and just wanted us to leave.
"We have no quarry with your people. And I'm sure your interests lie anywhere but here. So I offer you a harmless escape. Leave. Take some of those lesser beings with you, if you wish to keep them as pets. For as delicious they might be, we can can do without them. And leave these mountains in peace. No one else has to perish for what I consider an... unfortunate misunderstanding"
Lakade led the negotiations - and made it clear his terms were not acceptable. Divine Right or not.
Arrows flew seconds later. Me, Kae, Lakade all rushed past the fortifications, dealing with the Serpentfolk outside in an attempt to delay them. Still, the troops climbed, and some managed to get through. With the help of Karok, Sablette, and Bonabo, the troops were held back. It brings me small comfort that we traded two kobold for their 20+ troops, but the losses still anger me as I write about them now. The fight outside was also brutal - but eventually both of their Iron Giants fell. I should also mention that the Iron Giants didn't seem entirely robotic? They displayed emotion, and were actively reaction.
Eventually it was just Atiu left, and he made a run for it, and we all chased him down. Until he ran off a 200 foot cliff, and Kae didn't hesitate for a moment to keep following. They twisted and turned falling , tumbling for almost twenty seconds. Sablette was not far behind - and Lakade slowly climbed down. I regret to say I didn't follow due to earlier injuries - I'm too amazing to be afraid of heights, even when injured!
Kae burned the priest to a crisp, dealing with the problem.