Loose threads Affiliation of kobolds of Ryker's Crossing, Motive behind theft of Watcher's Tribe supplies.
Participants Amias, Warre Silverkin, Adzul, Zoltlik, Gabriel
Locations Watchers' Tribe Village, First Landing, Ryker's Crossing
Short summary:
Hopeful business venture hampered by theft. Following the trail to a kobold run gambling den ends poorly for the supposed thieves.Full Report
by Amias
The First Landing Company has expressed interest in making business connections outside of First Landing, and the kobolds of the Watcher's Tribe seemed a logical first choice. After gathering the rest of the participants in the venture we set out for Watcher's Tribe Village, passing a caravan along the way heading towards First Landing for the festival. Upon reaching the village, we discovered it to be in a fair bit of disarray as the result of a theft of some supplies. We were able to talk ourselves into a meeting with Mother Imikh and learned the culprit appeared to be a black-scaled kobold who had colored their scales with blue paint in order to infiltrate the tribe. Remembering that there was an individual fitting this description among the caravan that we passed en route, we hustled back to First Landing as fast as we could.
We arrived too late to catch the caravan and spent time gathering information as to this kobold's whereabouts. Adzul, Zoltik and I were able to confirm their presence at a local gambling den, where they had loudly proclaimed the superiority of another gambling den named The Gold Warren, located in Ryker's Crossing. The kobold had already left at this point so we set out once again on this lead.
Ryker's Crossing is a particularly small town, luckily small enough that locating this Gold Warren was no issue at all. I shall describe the town here as best I can, as I can find little reference to it outside of passing notes in other various reports. Ryker's Crossing appears to be a small town of little note, featuring a large number of inns but little permanent housing. This combined with high traffic on the main roads but the lack of people on the side roads leads me to conclude this town is mostly exists as respite from travel. There is a small market located near the bridge on the main road, and under said bridge is a cellar door through which The Gold Warren is located.
Upon our arrival outside The Gold Warren, we were stripped of our weapons by kobold guards and threatened with harm if we did not behave ourselves. Yet we barely had time to step through into the den proper before we were attacked by other kobold patrons, seemingly under the impression that we'd be clearing them of their coin as another group had previously. Our quarry was the instigator, declaring their name to be "Black Jack". We did our best to incapacitate the kobolds without killing them, but this Black Jack himself was slain by a particularly effective spell.
Upon the conclusion of combat, an elderly blue-scaled kobold emerged and demanded to know what was going on. We explained that we were assaulted upon entry by patrons and we were merely following a thief. After conferring with the guards outside he asked our forgiveness and returned our weapons to us, but also bid us leave. He assured us he would punish those responsible but also inquiring after the identity of who sent us. I told him Mother Imikh of the Watcher's Tribe had sent us and promptly left, wishing to maintain as cordial a relationship as possible given the circumstances. I do think these kobolds may be a better choice for a possible business venture with the Company, but it may be some time before we can approach them again.