Kingmaker+Session+5


 * 5-30-15** **Tartuk's Defeat, Meeting Gahruum, Enter Elves from the Gray Cloak Hills and the Mysterious Man with the Large Feline Companion**

Weeks were passing in the late summer months. The adventurer teams had grown and they were swapping people to do more exploring while maintaining a constant presence at [|Oleg's Trading Post], wary of the possibility of a drop in from the [|Staglord] or his bandits. They'd managed to find a good place to fish and to hunt. With the trading post growing in population... the 6 guards from Bloodstone, the reformed Falgrim, the priest, [|Oleg] and his wife, and 7 or 8 adventurers... the guards and Falgrim have been working on expanding the area, building stairs to new 2nd levels to a couple of the buildings.

With one group coming back to tell the tale of the Emerald Spire and the frightening smart spiders that had sent them running for cover, the others listened on with interest. [|Svetlana] brought in bowls of hot fish stew, exclaiming about how Naahir had been able to find a nice fishing spot while the others gone, "He brought back quite a few trout and he really seems to like his fish, so we're having fish stew with fresh vegetables from the garden."

A new charter had arrived from Bloodstone to kill the stag lord for a rich reward, and bandit heads were still on a wanted list. Nettle still wanted his revenge on the Stag Lord as well... he wanted his body dropped into the river at his crossing. Having obtained the statue from the mites, things still needed to be resolved with the kobolds and get back Svetlanna's ring. There had been no sign yet of a tatzlwyrm or Tuskgutter. Bokken still wanted fangberries to make potions. No sign of Tiwaz (the mage from the Hooktongue adventurers) in the Emerald Spire yet. There was the spire transport to investigate and the mighty Klarkosh to kill. Aeonill, Lyssa, Thrice, and Lorwyn stayed behind to watch over the trading post as Naahir, Sen, Zura, and Vorst headed off to the kobold tree. An outcropping of large boulders emerged from the weathered face of a nearby hillock. A narrow crag lead down into the darkness below. A fallen sign reading Oak Top Silver Mine marked the entrance on the other side beside a cage of sticks where a single sobbing mite squinted his eyes tight from the light of day. Stepping out from behind a large rock, a short grayish black scaled kobold chirped and held up a hand, "Halt! Who goes there?" The catfolk stepped forward with a deep purring voice, "I am Naahir. Friend to kobolds." "Oh! I have heard of you. You're the tall legs... well except for you," the scaled kobold glance at the gnome, "You are short like us." Vorst nodded his agreement, "Yes." "We have heard of you from the radish gatherers, yes?" the kobold tilted his head. "Yes!" Naahir nodded. "What do you want with the sootscaled kobolds?" he peered at the catfolk. "We seek your leader," Naahir nodded. "You have statue?" the kobold tilted his head. "I have the statue," Naahir nodded, "and we have slain many mites." "Excellent, excellent!" the kobold cheered and led everyone down into the lair.

The group of four followed him into the cavern. There was soot all over, and the air felt warm and close, thick with reptilian stink mixed with smoke and burnt meat. Numerous beds of furs laid scattered throughout the room amid smoldering cooking fires. To the south, a large alcove housed a mound of furs framed by dozens of sticks mounting many skulls of birds and small animals that were all smeared with ash. Naahir looked around, the scent of ash and soot heaviest on him, "You are filthy creatures, yes? This place is filthy." "This place is beautiful," the kobold shook his head, looking around and gesturing to the room, "Soot is beautiful." Naahir looked back at the group, shaking his head, and reaffirmed quietly, "It is filthy." Sen giggled and nodded, agreeing.

Nakpik guided them along a strange path, avoiding a certain area of the room. Perhaps it was a tour? ...or avoiding a trap? A couple of other kobolds followed the parade of people, curious. He led them into the following hall where the walls were smeared with what appeared to be charcoal and blood depicting in multiple representations in red and black of a sharp toothed reptilian devil. Two low stoned candles sat in the middle of the room, one of them filled with blood. Chicken feathers were scattered about. In a chair was a larger kobold looking forlorn and dressed in sort of a feathery headdress. The cheiftan looked up, "Nakpik! Who are these tall ones you bring into our cave?" "These kobold friends," the kobold guide gestured to the group, "They help Malx and Yikyik, radish gatherers." "Oh," the chieftan nodded, his shoulders heavy, and he shook his head at the group, "You have come at a bad time. Our shaman [|Tartuk] has taken over the tribe. We lost the holy statue, and he says all of us are cursed and that we will all soon shrivel up and turn yellow." Grumbles were heard among the gathered kobolds.

Sen blinked, "That sounds like a pretty rough curse!" Naahir shook his head, "But we return with the idol." "You have?" the chieftain exclaimed, "Is it true? Can I see it?" Naahir nodded and nudged the oracle standing next to him, "Show them." Senathliel pulled the strange statue from her pack and held it up. "Ohhhh... the idol!" all of the kobolds looked at the statue in awe. "You must give it to me!" the chieftain exclaimed. Sen started to hand it over, and paused, "but we need a ring... a small shiny object that fits around a human finger." She held up her half-sylvan hand. "We were promised a ring," Naahir agreed. "Yes! I know this item," the chieftain nodded excitedly, and then crumpled as he remembered, "Tartuk took the ring." "Will this Tartuk not trade the statue for the ring?" Naahir tilted his head. "I do not think so... he may. He is ... //bad// kobold," the chieftan shook his head sadly. Vorst and Naahir exchanged a look. A kobold who was bad in the eyes of other kobolds? This guy must be really bad. "You are their rightful leader?" Sen tilted her head, looking over the cheiftan. "I am their rightful leader," the chieftain nodded, "And some still follow me, but he has swayed many with his charming purple scales and tongue... and of course all are afraid to act against him because of the curse of the statue." "And what if you were to walk in with the idol?" Vorst raised an eyebrow, "Surely you would become the leader again?" "If you give me back the idol... I can use it to break the curse and take back the people of the tribe," the chieftain nodded to him. "I could work with that plan," Sen shrugged at the others. "Of course we would still want the ring," Vorst raised an eyebrow of a possible offer to the kobold chief. "Yes. You can have ring. Doesn't fit any of our fingers anyway," the chieftain nodded. "And your word that you would stop raiding against the trading post to the north," Naahir added. "You've dealt with mites already. So we kobolds live in peace. We no bother tall legs," the chieftain agreed. "They have many goods we could trade with you," Vorst nodded. "Not many left. Many out hunting now, but would appreciate food and furs. Winter is coming," the kobold chief nodded. Naahir shivered, already cold compared to the climate he was used to... he was not looking forward to colder. "Both parties would benefit," Vorst nodded to the chief. Sen agreed, "A most welcome friendship." She handed the statue to the feather headdress wearing kobold leader. He held it high for all of the kobolds to see and then smashed it to the ground! Sen's jaw dropped open in shock. "You are all free now," the chieftain cheered to his people, "Free of the idol's curse! The statue has no more power over you!" "Well we could have done //that//," Zura glanced at the broken bits of statue on the ground and back to the group. The cheiftain took up his mace, "Now we take back the tribe from Tartuk!" He ran off down the passageway with Nakpik and the group of kobolds following after him. "I'm rather curious to see how this plays out," Zura looked after them down the passageway and back to the group, hefting her giant axe over her shoulder. "Well we still need the ring anyway," Naahir nodded to her and the two headed down the passage. Sen glanced back at the dull magic-less statue and shook her head, joining Vorst in following behind them, "I just don't get it." "They are kobolds," Naahir shrugged at her, "They will do as kobolds do." "They have strange rituals," Sen shook her head. At the end of the passageway was a large room full of kobolds around a large pool of water. Sitting on the chief's throne was a large purple-scaled kobold with a raven on his shoulder. Naahir stared at the strange kobold, "What kind of kobold has purple scales?" None of them had heard of such a thing and it seemed odd. Some of the kobold around the room appeared glassy eyed. The chieftain of the sootscales raised his mace, "We have broken your hold over us, Tartuk! I demand trial by combat to take back my tribe!" "In your dreams, stupid kobold!" Tartuk sneered at him, "And you've brought tall ones into our lair! For that I will kill you and all of those loyal to you. Kill those still loyal to him!" he pointed toward the chief of the sootscales, "...in the name of Old Sharptooth!" Naahir shot an arrow across the room, but missed his target. Zura skirted the pool of water, swinging her great axe with both hands at the glassy-eyed kobolds advancing toward them. Sen stayed in the hall, reaching through the door to pet Naahir on the back, putting divine guidance on the cat folk near her. One of the kobolds tried to pierce Zura with his spear, but it bounced off of her armor. 7 of the kobolds put rocks in their slings whipping them toward the cat-folk archer. Sen's eyes widened at the barrage of stones! Vorst nodded approvingly to him, "Way to go! You draw their fire so the rest of us can get past them." "I'm glad that you see silver lining in this," Naahir nodded to him, deftly trying to avoid all of the stones. Two of them manage to thump against him to the giggling delight of the kobolds. Tartuk took out a wand and waved it at the cat-folk, two magic missiles sailing across the room to impact Naahir! Chief of the sootscales clubbed into one of the advancing kobolds, "Get out of way!" Vorst sent a gnomish arrow from his short bow to pierce with a heavy thump into the purple scaled shaman that seemed shocked the arrow made it through. Naahir sent in another arrow that was deflected off of some sort of magic shield around the shaman. Zura chopped one of the glossy eyed kobolds in half and before the top half of his body could hit the ground, she cut that in half too. Sen reached back through the doorway to keep up the divine guidance on the dark furred slayer.

Nakpik charged around the pool to strike at one of his glassy-eyed kin. Several kobolds snapped their slingshots toward Vorst, hitting him with 3 rocks! Tartook sent two more magic missiles also into the gnome fighter! Vorst took a staggered step back, drinking a red healing potion. The chieftain slammed one of the kobolds out of his way with a mighty thump into the ground! "I'm coming for //you//, Tartuk!" Naahir leapt deftly across the room around the pool while Zura gave another mighty swing with both hands on her axe, sending another kobold across the room to splat against the ground, breaking all of his bones! Sen stepped from the shadows of the passageway into the room, pulsing out a cool burst of life energy, healing the gnome and catfolk around her. Two kobolds attacked their brethren while Tartuk pointed at Sen, shouting, "Heathen god! Kill it! Kill it! KILL ittt!" sending four more kobolds to surround the oracle. "He called me a god," Sen giggled at the catfolk beside her. A rock beamed her in the forehead from one of the kobolds. As her hand was on her head, she muttered, "ow," just as two hefty magic missiles impacted into her, staggering her steps. Vorst teamed up with one of the sootscale kobolds and used his mighty gnomish hook to gouge into one of the two glassy eyed kobolds attacking him. Naahir nimbly continued along the edge of the room, drawing his sword and striking across the purple kobold's chest, spattering out blood! "No kill Tartuk!" the purple scaled kobold cried out, stepping back from the catfolk. "Kill Tartuk!" Naahir nodded to him, "And take wand!" Zura smashed another kobold, obliterating him into red mist! "You are the carrier of red mist disease, yes?" Naahir grinned at her. She grinned and nodded. Sen sent out a strong pulse of life energy, healing her companions to full strength and most of her wounds. One of the kobolds charged Naahir while two others rushed Vorst and his kobold companion while another stabbed Zura in the arm with his spear! Tartuk waved his wand at Sen, sending two mighty magic missiles to rock her back and leave two bloodstains on the wall behind her, "You will die!" Vorst bashed into one of the kobold's face with the hook of his hammer, kicking the body back off of hooks into the pool! Naahir tumbled nimbly behind Tartuk, slicing off the arm that held the wand, tumbling the wand to the ground still in the now lifeless hand! The glassy-eyed kobolds shook their heads, coming back to their senses as the sootscales held them down until they were normal. The chieftain leapt onto the throne, "Chief sootscale chief again!" The kobolds cheered around him! Sen nodded to him, "Our congratulations, Chieftain." The purple scaled kobold's body twisted and changed form into a gnome with shocking purple hair. Naahir searched him, finding a journal telling Tartuk's sad story. He was born a gnome, killed in a fight against ogres who attacked his village. His noble sacrifice gave the villagers the chance they needed to defeat the ogres. The village, saddened by his death, used a scroll of reincarnate on Tartuk's body. In an ironic twist of fate, the poor gnome came back as a kobold. Scandalized, the villagers didn't know what to do. Tartuk hadn't meant to give his life for the village... he had intended to give the ogres any information they wanted to spare his life... but they had crushed him before he got his offer out. Now he was one of his most hated of monsters! The purple scales of his body mimicking the purple of his once hair only fueled Tartuk's shame. He fled to the woods, nursing a deep grudge. He eventually joined a tribe of kobolds, using his magic to manipulate and rally them into an army against his village. It was a furious battle. Only Tartuk had survived... that was fine with him. Since then the mad kobold drifted through the lands periodically hunting towns and murdering gnomes. He continued to join tribes, taking them over from within and manipulating them to extinction by forcing them into wars they couldn't possibly win. He kept these kobolds in line with weekly sacrifices, and used his illusions to making shrieking ghosts that scared kobolds dead, turning them yellow... allowing him to make up the lie about the statue. The passages went on to tell of his plan of once he had killed off these kobolds, he was going to use a scroll of flight to fly as high as he could until it ran out... when he would then plummet to the earth to end his suffering. He also had... A scroll of Flight A wand of Magic Missile - 20 charges A masterworked cold iron sickle Leather bracers of armor +1 Boots of Elvenkind 7 Crossbow Bolts +1 flaming a masterworked metal shield Svetlanna's Ring and a mound of gold, silver, and copper that equaled out to 840 gold.

The kobold hunters returned. There were maybe 20 kobolds total left in the tribe. They threw a celebrational feast, offering each of the group all sorts of disgusting things like a rotting bird carcass. Sen shook her head politely, "I couldn't possibly... I'm so full." Naahir wrinkled his nose, "You are filthy." Everyone said their farewells. "We will remember you, long legs. You send people. We give them warm welcome. Make trades.," The chieftain waved. The kobolds were good at making traps and snares and they did mining.

Sen wove a spell around herself, healing more of her wounds as they headed back into the woods. They explored the areas on the way to where the fey told them the fangberries were. A river crossing had been set up where the river was always shallow before it went into the lake. Zura glanced down at the gnome, "Need me to pick you up, good sir?" "Please," Vorst nodded up to her happily. She hoisted him up on to her shoulders to ride across the shallow waters, providing a good view to her ample green cleavage. A couple of days in, they found fangberries in a thicket of fangberry thorns in a narrow valley. It was slow going as the thorns were severely sharp, leaving deep lacerations... wounding everyone enough that Sen sent out a burst of life giving energy. Most of the thicket was draped in the white gossamer silk of spider webs. Agressive spiders about the size of a man's thumb had long sharp fangs. Sen continued to heal, watching over her companions as they gathered another batch. Together they got enough for the 7 batches that Bokken was requesting.

Moving on, they found a gulch with a rickety single person bridge. It supported each person, but it was noted that it needed repair. Everyone continued on toward [|Bokken's] hut. They were rewarded with a 25% discount on all potions for a month.

As they moved closer to Oleg's... Zura and Naahir felt like the group was being followed. There had been no practical jokes or any sign of the fey... Naahir stealthfully hooked out and fell back behind the group, finding a few boot tracks along with very large pawprints... a tiger perhaps? So a hunter... druid... ranger? Someone was following them with an animal companion with skills. The catfolk slayer lost the tracks and found no one. Naahir rejoined the group near the trading post. They were rewarded 1000 gold for Svetlana's wedding ring and 800 gold for the peaceful kobold solution.

 [|Oleg] approached Sen, "I thought you should know... some elven gentleman was looking for you." "An elven gentleman?" Sen tilted her head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Long silver hair and golden eyes... he came in to resupply and asked if there was a Sen-oth-lee-ell here." He pronounced her full name slowly, enunciating the syllables. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sen looked suddenly excited, "Where is he?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I told him you had traveled out with a group, but that you would be returning soon... and he just nodded and left without a word." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Thank you," Sen nodded to Oleg and hurried off out of the main house. She headed past the wood gate, pausing to scan the horizon. She saw no one out in the grasslands. She started heading back down the path they had come from.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lorwyn glanced out of the window of the house, "Um... guys? Sen is leaving on her own." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"She is big girl, yes?" Naahir raised an eyebrow. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Yes..." Lorwyn nodded, "but you know that girl's luck." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Naahir headed out of the gate, keeping his distance and watching her, letting her think she's alone. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">He noticed a group of 3 coming down the road toward the trading post. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sen sighed, her shoulders sinking. She flopped over to lay down in the grass and rolled around in it. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Naahir tilted his head watching her, more and more confused and intrigued by such strange behavior, "They aren't going to believe this..."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The three elves paused near Naahir, glancing out in the field at the aasimar rolling around in the grass and back to the catfolk. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The eldest of the three elves raised an eyebrow at Naahir, "Is there something wrong with her? She's ... rolling around in the grass." He had pale-blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tattoo on his face. Naahir recognized the [|Grey Cloak Hills] elven clothing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">He shook his head, replying, "Naahir is new to this place. It is perhaps elven custom that I do not understand." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Umm..." Lairesul glanced back out at Sen and back to Naahir, shaking his head, "Well... it's not an elven custom that I am familiar with." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I do not know... it is perhaps that she is crazy," Naahir shrugged.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Should we wait until she is finished?" the male dark-haired elf asked. He and the dark-haired woman with them bore a familial resemblance... likely siblings. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"No, no," Naahir shook his head, "I will watch over her... you go ahead." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"We are looking for a Lorwynelle?" the pale-blonde asked hopefully. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Ah, Lorwyn is companion of mine. You find her at Oleg's. Just up road there," he pointed up at the trading post. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Thank you," Lairesul bowed, "I've not seen a catfolk... well... ever... but I have heard of you." He shook Naahir's hand, "My name is Lairesul." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">He gestured at their clothing, "I too am from the Grey Cloak Hills. You are a ways from home." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Yes, we have traveled a long ways looking for our brethren. Lorwynelle was part of our circle of magic. We have news to bring her," Lairesul nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"She will be very happy to see you," Naahir nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The dark-haired woman, the youngest of the three, grinned, "And I'm sure that Lairesul will be very happy to see her as well." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"It is good to meet you. You are welcome at Oleg's. My name is Naahir of the Soft Foot Clan," he smiled at her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Pleased to meet you Naahir and the mysterious rolling in the grass elf," Lairesul bowed with the siblings following him up the path.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sen looked around, brushing the grass off of her, realizing she's been watched, "I am Senathliel." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," the dark-haired elven male stepped closer to her, "I am Minaun." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">She smiled, cheeks blushing a little pink, and brushed off more grass. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The three continued up to the trading post. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sen smiled up at the catfolk, "Naahir! I didn't know you came out... I was just..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Rolling around," he nodded, "I saw. I did not want to interrupt." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">She laughed, "I was just leaving my scent for Fate so they could find me easier... just in case." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Naahir is going back now... you have fun with your scent," he nodded to her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Well we used to play hide and seek and... never mind," she shook her head, blushing, and walked up the path with him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Admittedly he had taken note of the strange oracle's scent before... she looked elven, but she certainly didn't smell elven. She smelled like candy... and fresh baked cookies. Like a little slice of heaven.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The two came into the common room filled with people, "It is getting crowded." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lorwyn was sitting at a table talking with the three elves. Lairesul's chair had been scooted very close to the red-haired arcanist. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Naahir nodded toward them, "She is apparently in some kind of coven." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"That sounds ominous," Vorst piped up, joining the two at the doorway. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sen nodded, peering at them curiously. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"He said she was part of their magic circle," Naahir nodded, lifting his nose to the wind as he noted the two sitting close, "She must be in season." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sen blinked in surprise at him, "You can smell that from here?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Of course," he nodded to her, "We all can." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">She sniffed the air, "I smell... stew." She giggled.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Zura sat down at the table, telling the tale to the others about the kobolds and crazed gnome kobold. She warned the group about the spiders and thorns about the fangberries as loot was distributed. Naahir nodded, "And we have discount at potion house." The elven sorcerers and Lorwyn helped them identify the things they found. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> 2640 gold total = 660 gold each for Naahir, Senathliel, Tauzura, and Vorst. Selling the sickle for 20 gold... 10 each extra to Zura and Vorst. The scroll, wand, and bracers were given to Lorwyn. The shield went to Sen. The boots went to Naahir. The crossbow bolts were given to Thrice.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> [|Kesten] stepped in, "We're sending a couple back to Bloodstone if there is anything anyone wants to put in an order for." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Naahir wrote up an order for custom masterworked cat claws that fit over his own claws. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Zura was measured for a masterworked breastplate. Vorst ordered new armor as well as some adventuring gear. Sen put in an order for a masterworked long spear.

The next morning Sen went back out to find the spot she had rolled in and found 3 long white hairs. She looked around, sighing. Naahir glanced out to see her, raising an eyebrow, "Yesterday she roll around, today she go out to cry... such strange custom." The aasimar got up, leaving her shoes, and took off barefoot through the plains, running at full speed, her voice sing-songish as she called out in elven, "Amin sinome, Fate!" (I am here, Fate) Naahir sighed, seeing her take off, and followed behind to keep an eye on her. She tripped, falling into a ditch, but dusted herself off and walked on, spinning and scanning the horizon until finally flopping on the ground in a sigh, whispering, "Amin sinome, Lethis..."

The group rested for a week or two at the trading post and all of their new items came in before going back out into the wilds. As they explored, Sen and Naahir found large bear traps, and before they could say a word of warning, both Zura and Vorst stepped into two more! It took both the catfolk and the oracle to pry them off of their companions. The four carefully spent the day disarming several more. Eventually they found a dead trapper, pinned by several large logs. It appeared that the trapper was arming a swinging log trap and the straps were cut prematurely, catching the trapper in his own trap... on further investigation, it seemed like sharp tiny teeth, perhaps that of a fey dragon. The found a masterworked handaxe. They drug the body out of the logs and buried him deep in the earth. The group continued on to the south in the woods where the border of their territory became marshy. Some ruined buildings were in the distance. Bubbling hot springs gave off a sulfur smell. Some of them were muddy and others were clearer. Frog sounds could be heard as they grew closer. A frog man creature hopped out with his hands up, croaking, "Trrrruce, trrrrruce." "Truce?" Sen tilted her head. He nodded with his hands still up. "Who are you?" Naahir inquired. "Gahruum," he nodded. The others introduced themselves to him, "Sen," "I am Naahir," "Vorst," "Zura." "I mean you no harm. Me and friend live here. Warm water," Gahruum motioned toward the ruined buildings where large frogs hopped around, "Warm water feels good on skin." He nodded, saying his name a couple of times as he croaked. "We are not interested in taking you away from your water," Naahir told them. Gahruum nodded, sharing his fish and berries, "Hunt west of here. Good fish." He gestured to the slough. He went on to tell the story of how his tribesmen were cruel and him being unlike them, he was eventually exiled and he came to live here in peace. Several large frogs croaked in the warm waters around him. He said that he avoided the west where the other [|boggards] lived. To the southwest is a statue of some sort of deer headed man... likely Silvanus, human god of nature. To the southeast is a large pond with large frogs. Good fishing in the pond. East of the pond is a big nasty [|boar] ... I stay away from him. Also tatzlwyrms are along the coastline. Sen stared into one of the deep mud hot springs, "It looks awfully tempting..." Naahir made a terrible face and shook his head. Sen leapt in, lathering mud over her skin... it was warm and soothing and she sighed happily. "I guess I'll just have to get in with the ladies... you can hold our stuff," Vorst winked at the catfolk, joining the oracle in the mud bath. Naahir huffed at him, and worked a bit on the ruined building hut, muttering about how it would take a week to get the mud out of his fur. 900xp each!