Trouble in New Nikston
Log Info
- Title: Trouble in New Nikston
- GM: Thoth
- Characters: Hilde, Theo, Tlanexhuani, Zerthos
- Place: The town of Winterton
The Adventurers, as they arrive to 'New Nikston', do so to a small tent-city of civilians. Most of them look, honestly, remarkably at ease about the situation. They spot a few children doing play-pretend, using wooden-swords as they take turns on who is the Kobold and who is the Adventurer coming to slay them.
A few elder folk explain the situation. Their town of Winterton is a quiet village. The local Kobolds now and again bug them, but nothing that the local guard can't take care of. But it would seem the inventive critters managed to create a sort of 'catapult' of sorts, and launched a small army of Kobolds over the walls overnight, and managed to invade the town and take it over.
Most of the villagers moved out, and there honestly weren't any casualties. Now and again, the Kobolds show up to threaten them, and they play ball. But it's been a week now, and the Kobolds have had their fun. And the villagers would like to get their village - which is called Winterton, not New Nikston - back now. Silly Kobolds, trying to rename the town.
They do warn of 'Flying Kobolds', and they are certain they are up to tricksy things. And to please be careful on the approach to the town-walls.
This brings the Adventurers to the wide open field right in front of the town. There's a nice deep river cutting off their direct approach, but there's a sturdy bridge they could just use to get over that. But as they get closer, they immediately hear it.
YIP
YIP
YIP YIP
YAP YAP
YIP YIP YIP!
"No approaching New Nikston! Not town for humies!" Goes the chitter-chatter of a Kobold standing behind what looks like some kind of awful makeshift 'Balista' positioned up on the wall. It is using some kind of tiny 'megaphone' to send its voice the distance.
"This is Kobold To~" A kobold next to it whispers into its ear.
"Yes, This is New Nikston now! They know that! I just said... ugh, be quiet Hott. Nobody like smart kobold!"
The kobold turns back to them. "Niks say, you must leave! Niks is smart Kobold!"
Whisper whisper yip yap.
"Niks is smartest Kobold!"
YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP!
GAME: Theo rolls Diplomacy: (19)+10: 29 GAME: Zerthos rolls Diplomacy: (6)+2: 8 GAME: Zerthos rolls Diplomacy: (3)+2: 5 (reroll)
Hilde loosens her long, slightly curved sword in its scabbard at her waist. She eyes the Kobold and the ballista. "We'd better keep an eye on that thing. There's no way they can aim at a moving target, but if we wander directly in front of it we could be seriously injured - or killed." She glances at the others and then back at what they can see of the city.
Theo eyes the battlements a fair bit himself and sighs, finally speaking up though he does wonder if Zero might be a better choice for this than himself. "Look here! This has gone on a fair bit long enough don't you think? It's time to go home." He eyes the kobold in charge and considers his little-used bow. He might be able to take out the leader here and be done with it. However, he'd feel more than a little guilty if he didn't at least give them a chance to turn the town over peacefully.
Well, there have been worse situations. Zerthos, bard extraordinaire (but sans peacock-regalia) is very, very close to Theo as the adventurers come into the town.
"They're just kobolds, my darling," Zero says to Theo rather cheerfully as he takes the man by the hand. "I mean, what can go wrong?"
He clears his throat and waves in an energetic fashion at the kobolds. "Hello kobolds! Do as my beloved partner says and do cede over the town at your earliest convenience!" he calls over to the kobolds.
That might be too many words. Or the waving might be interpreted as a threat. Anything's likely!
Tlanexhuani is uncertain what they will find in the town (well, aside from kobolds). The rather relaxed state of the tent camp and ... displaced(?) villagers is somewhat re-assuring. The children at play is further calming. Then it is on to the...
YIP YIP YIPPING
The old lizard blinks slowly at the far smaller ones. He can't help but think back to the children at play they only just passed. Tlanexhuani is a bit slow to find words in the best of times, and this is not. By the time his maw opens, others are already addressing the kobolds. "Is no need for threats, demands, this one thinks. Words much better."
As Hilde looks at the walls, not much of the town can be seen beyond it. The walls were erected to keep it from harm's way. So she can largely just see a few roofs!
Theo calls out, and the Kobolds quiet a bit, trying to hear him out. Literally. He's quite a distance away. Zerthos adding on to this.
This has gone on a fair bit enough!?
There's a few Kobolds quickly talking amongst eachother.
"Yip yip, adventurers! We can't beat adventurers!"
Followed by a loud shout from Niks, using its megaphone to shout at the Kobolds. "This is now New Nikston! It belongs to Kobolds. We must defend our town!"
"No!" A few other Kobolds on the roof shout, and jump off the roof. But other Kobolds remain, too afraid to run away from Niks the Kobold.
"Come no closer!" Niks shouts at the Adventurers once more!
Hilde stops where she is. She still has one hand on the hilt of her sword but the other hand is raised in an inconsistently non-threatening manner. "It belongs to you?" she repeats. "What about the villagers? Did you BUY it from them?"
Theo smiles in a warm - and admittedly somewhat sappy way - at Zero, his easy-going nature only slightly soothed by the reminder that these are 'just' kobold. They seem really very much like... well over-excited children after a fashion? He doesn't actually know terribly much about kobolds. He calls out more loudly. "YOU'LL FORCE US TO USE FORCE IF YOU DON'T COME ON OUT!"
Directness and firmness works on children.... right?
"Yes, my darling, good show!" Zero murmurs in a very supportive manner, squeezing the man's hand. "Bully them and intimidate them into submission."
He smiles benevolently. Maybe too benevolently for the situation. "Everything is under control!" he says. Or will be. He has the utmost faith in Theo for a reason. He even strokes the back of Theo's hand. "We'll be alright, my darling."
Tlanexhuani has no weapons in claws and spreads them empty and open towards the kobolds. "Why not be town for all? Softskin, scaled... all?" As he ponders more words, his tail twitches at the mentions to his side. "No," he suggests to the others near him. "No need force. No bully. Share words? Share town?" He stares a moment pointedly before looking from his peers, to the kobolds, and back and forth.
"Nnnnno!" Niks seems to almost throw a tantrum. Putting his foot down, quite literally, on the roof. With a kind of childish stomp. "Come at us! We will defeat stupid Adventurers! You are not clever enough to defeat Nikses! YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP!!" The other Kobolds cheer and Yip with Niks.
"Villagers were defeated and left, we now own village, fair and square! That is how it works!" Niks then shouts at Hilde.
"No! No share! This our town!" Niks demands!
Hilde looks at the other party members again. Particularly the ones that tried to parley. "It was a worthy attempt," she offers, keeping her voice low enough that hopefully only the party can hear her. "But clearly they're not going to give the town back without a fight."
Theo thinks for a moment. Zero's words have him flushing and not for any of the obvious reasons. He's not trying to bully the kobolds! "I'm not trying to bully them!" He says in shock and mild horror. He scrubs a hand over his hair and sighs in a long-suffering manner as he peers at Niks. "NIKS SMARTEST KOBOLD... BUT! IS NIKS BRAVE ENOUGHT TO FIGHT..." A momentary build up. His hand squeezes Zerthos's for good luck. "ME? FOR TOWN?"
GAME: Thoth rolls -1: (11)++-1: 10 GAME: Theo rolls Sense Motive: (6)+6: 12
As Theo challenges Niks, the Kobold considers this for a moment...
Then...
"Yes! You come forward! We fight one on one! Meet on bridge!" The kobold calls out.
Zero blinks... several times. Peering at Theo with red-pink eyes. He leans in and murmurs something into Theo's ear before leaning away and staring back at the kobold.
"May we approach the bridge so that we can determine it hasn't been... tampered with by external actors?" Zero calls over to the kobold. "To ensure it's a fair fight for all!"
He smiles politely. Zero still hasn't caught caught onto what his boyfriend has figured out: use small sentences, be loud.
GAME: Thoth rolls -1: (18)++-1: 17 GAME: Zerthos rolls Perform/Sing: (10)+10: 20 (Versatile Performance)
Niks grumps for a moment, as Zerthos plays into the matter of a one on one.
It considers this, then uses that megaphone; "Yes, you may approach! But only one approach to check for traps!" It calls out.
Tlanexhuani's tail flicks nervously as things start to shift towards a physical confrontation. His words are soft, for the group rather than the kobolds. "Would fight small ones? This one knows are not younglings at play, but... sound this way as much as look." His hunched posture hunches more, suggesting he wants to move closer, yet he doesn't want to escalate anything. So he settles for a step and watching the one who IS moving forward rather intently.
Hilde eyes the ballista distrustfully. "They're cunning," she says. "Giving themselves all the advantages they can." She sounds almost impressed. Almost. She takes a closer look and then glances back at the villagers. "Did any of you understand what they meant by...'flying' kobolds?"
Theo lowers his voice. "Don't worry, I don't intend to kill the kobold, I'll just show him that he doesn't want to play this game and the rest will realize that they don't either. Besides. He's lying. He doesn't intend to fight me at all. Probably a trap on the bridge." He hefts a sigh. "I'll go check it out - you guys stay here and back me up if and when necessary."
He hopes it won't be, but he takes a small step forward. "I'LL CHECK OUT THE BRIDGE MYSELF, AND MEET YOU THERE NIKS." He casts one last look at Zero, and then throws caution to the wind, pulling the other man in for a brief kiss. "For good luck." He murmurs and then steps away to hurry off toward the bridge. He doesn't head for the bridge itself though, intending to wade into the water and get a good look at the underside before he steps foot on the likely trapped bridge.
GAME: Theo rolls Perception: (20)+1: 21
Theo moves forward a bit hastily wanting to get this done and over with, and he quickly locates not just one trap, but several. "THIS WHOLE AREA IS BOOBYTRAPPED!" He yells, mostly to the kobolds, but hopefully his allies can hear him as well. And won't feel inclined to hazard their luck trying to cross as he had managed to do out of pure luck. Thank Serriel. "COME DOWN AND FACE ME NIKS! BUT I'LL CHOOSE OUR BATTLE GROUND!"
GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4-1: (3)+-1: 2 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (17)+1: 18 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4: (2): 2
Niks is looking very intently at Theo as he moves through the field. At times, his entire body moving and wiggling. When he walks onto a patch of flowers, he sticks his fingers into his large maw. Frustrated sounds escaping him!
And soon, Theo is standing in the water. "What!? You can stand in that water!"
"Stupid tall Adventurers! YIP YIP YIP YIP!"
"No! I will choose battleground! KOBOLDS! MAN THE CATAPULT!"
Followed by two Kobolds suddenly being launched from the Catapult. One of them flailing its arms, landing right onto one of the bombs - which explodes as it scrambles away! Then both of them grab hold of a flail and start aiming at Theo.
"Sekle wills defeat human!"
"No, Snav will beats them!"
GAME: Zerthos rolls Reflex: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4: (1): 1 GAME: Zerthos spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
"Yes, most certainly a trick, my darling--mph!" Zero's interrupted by the good luck kiss, but he most certainly doesn't mind, judging by his slightly dreamy expression on his face. He clears his throat as he watches the paladin walk off.
"Ahh--right then!" Zero says, regaining his wits somewhat. He steps forward and merrily goes along--
Except his foot catches on something explosive, and Zero rockets forward as he looks... a tiny bit singed? "I'll say!" he exclaims in a poor mood now. "Theo! My stalwart savior, I shall aid you!"
He starts up a beautiful song in Sildanyari, an impressively-delivered aria that inspires courage in all who hear it!
GAME: Hilde rolls perception: (12)+2: 14 GAME: Thoth rolls 3: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Hilde rolls reflex: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Hilde rolls reflex: (7)+3: 10
Hilde draws her sword, making it grate metallicly, and so loud that she must have practiced doing it that way. She falls into step behind Theo, although she inches her way slowly and gingerly, and stops while still on the shore. "Ugh!" She suddenly exclaims as she steps in...comething. Hilde flashes a dark look in the direction of the kobolds. "Children eh? In Blar, children are disciplined when they are out of line."
GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1-4: (15)+6+1+-4: 18 GAME: Theo rolls 1d8+4: (6)+4: 10 GAME: Theo rolls Intimidate: (10)+4: 14
Theo climbs out of the river, his face a little more grim than it had been before. "NIKS! YOU ARE IN VERY BIG TROUBLE!" His voice is low and commanding as his mace swings out and catches one of the little guys in front of him. He pulls the swing, he really does, and the little kobold is knocked clean out by the blow just the same. "COWARD! I'LL FACE YOU RIGHT HERE! RIGHT HERE!" He points to the spot where he's standing.
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls perception: (9)+9: 18
It is no longer any sort of single-combat. There are now two more kobolds having "flown" onto the field. As much as Tlanexhuani would prefer to avoid violence, that ALSO includes his compatriots. "Ssa!" he agrees firmly with Hilde. "Need discipline!" This last is hissed as much to the small ones as Hilde as he tromps forward directly... and then -slightly- less directly as he steps aside from some suspicious not-grass ahead of him on his way to the water.
GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4-1: (4)+-1: 3
Theo manages to knock one of the kobolds out cold, and the two at the gates to the wall kind of... freeze up. "YIP! Olpi will protect door! Not let Adventurers get to ladder!" Gulp. Zogne nods his head. "Ye-yipyes! Zogne guard door! Adventurers, stay far away! Or I will poke you with pokey stick!" Brandishing a small spear. Then, in a whisper; "Please?"
Niks cries out a warcry, and the balista is fired again. This time at Zerthos, who is clearly ruining the local ambiance with his fantastic music! Three kobolds sailing through the skies, upturning, then suddenly land right behind a set of traps. Lucky.
GAME: Thoth rolls 3-2: (2)+3+-2: 3 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (11)+1: 12
Snutt rushes towards Zerthos after landing, and yip-yips as it quickly dodges between a set of traps! "Kobolds will win! More and more of us will come! Then all Adventurers trampled by horde! YIIIIIIIIP!" It calls out. All while poor Snav tries to send a flail-stone right at Theo's head, but it goes way wide as it cowers.
GAME: Zerthos casts Grease. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (12)+1: 13 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (1)+1: 2 (EPIC FAIL)
He's still singing. Zero steps backwards and decides to do what's the best for his own survival.
He reaches into his pouches on his belt and throws out something that smells an awful lot like butter, his singing voice, enchanted with the Hymn, turning it into a sticky substance that makes the field all the slicker and more unstable. The two kobolds it hits go down!
GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (15)+1: 16 GAME: Thoth rolls 3: (8)+3: 11 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (11)+1: 12 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (10)+1: 11
The grease has Hott and Urta fall on their asses. They sprawl, grabbing at eachothers' tails to try and get up. Eventually managing to support eachother... though their scales sure are a lot more shiny and glistening now! They then angrily rush Zerthos and start using their flings on him, trying to knock a stone to his head. But they just can't get a good hit on him!
GAME: Hilde rolls weapon1-4: (5)+7+-4: 8
Hilde tugs her boot free with a grunt and a scowl. She moves up next to a Kobold, sword raised for a massive helm-splitting swing. At the last moment she seems to reconsider. And instead she angles the blow to use the flat of her blade. A moment later she curses. The blow is so slow that Snutt easily evades - perhaps without even trying.
GAME: Theo rolls Intimidate: (18)+4: 22
Theo can hear the sounds of combat behind him, from the corner of his eye he can see that Zero is nearly surrounded by kobolds. Now... There are a few things that really rile Theo up. And one of them is threatening the people he cares about. Theo silently picks up the kobold that he knocked unconscious and carries it into the river and yells as loudly as he can. "HEY!" His green eyes blaze with fury and coldness. He dangles the unconscious kobold over the river. "I AM YOUR ENEMY. ME. AND MY ISSUE IS WITH NIKS."
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls ranged: (20)+4: 24 (THREAT) GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls ranged: (11)+4: 15 GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls 2d6+5+1d6+5: (7)+5+(2)+5: 19
Tlanexhuani crosses the water, his crystal-tipped spear retrieved as she sloshes through. The tip is pointed at Niks... or rather the kobold flight-granting device he utilized. "Stop this!" A faint spark of his bloodline leaps from clawtip to spear haft. From there it travels up the copper wiring on the latter to the windings holding the crystal. It spirals around, gaining power, before it causes the crystal to glow a bright cerulean. A heatbear later, a lance of lightning leaps to land on the launching device. It does not destroy it, but maybe that wasn't the makari's intent?
GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4-1: (3)+-1: 2 GAME: Theo rolls Athletics: (8)+-2: 6 GAME: Thoth rolls -1: (3)++-1: 2 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (20)+1: 21 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (20)+1: 21 GAME: Thoth rolls 2d6: (9): 9 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (7)+1: 8 (forced reroll) GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (17)+1: 18 GAME: Thoth rolls 3: (4)+3: 7
Zigle rushes up to Theo, while Snav grabs onto Sekle's unconscious body -- in the hopes of pulling his 'fallen' ally out of the grasp of the; "Evil Adventurer! Let go of friend Sekle! Give him back! Hnn!" But he can't get a good footing on the edge of the water. And he doesn't want to fall in!
Snutt stabbies at Hilde, while Uhzu uses its Sling on Theo. But the armor of these Adventurers is just too good to be bothered by simple sticks and stones!
GAME: Zerthos casts Grease. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (5)+1: 6 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (9)+1: 10
Theo is in trouble! But, Zero realizes, so is he. So many kobolds--
They all get the grease.
Zero tosses out more of the sticky substance, magic coming out to turn it into grease to land onto Hott and Snutt. The two kobolds both slip and fall.
The bard might have a witty comeback, but he's still singing, although he's on the last bout of his aria. It sounds like it might end soon.
GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (12)+1: 13 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (19)+1: 20 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Zerthos rolls Reflex: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4: (1): 1
Whoop! Another grease spell! The Kobolds fall on their faces. "Graah! Stupid elf! I will get you for that! YIP YIP YIP!"
Hott manages to kind of 'roll' down the angle of the hill to get off of the grease and then grabs its pointy stick, rushing Hilde. All while Urta shows they are a smart Kobold. They grab one of the bomb traps laying around.
"Aha! I have you now!" They call out, before throwing the bomb straight onto Zerthos' hair and detonating it with the force of a kid's party-trick!
GAME: Theo rolls Diplomacy: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Theo rolls Sense Motive: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1: (1)+6+1: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1: (15)+6+1: 22 GAME: Theo rolls 1d8+4+1: (2)+4+1: 7
Theo narrows his eyes at the kobolds. "WAR IS DEATH." He's known it his whole life, and though he'd tried to spare the kobold's the reality of what they were up against... that time was running out. They are unshaken by the truth, and he realizes that they're not going to give up unless he gives them a wound they will not soon forget. He prays, that the soul of the kobold before him will go to where it belongs. His mace caves the poor thing's head in as his hand releases the body of the one he'd been holding. "IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR PEOPLE NIKS?"
His mace glints with blood.
GAME: Tlanexhuani activates his Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Str GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls cmb: (18)+8: 26
Seeing that Theo is getting rather overrun, Tlanexhuani moves to aid him. With his spear now just held in one claw, he steps forward and reaches for Snav's horns with the other. A grasp and a lift to try and keep that one off-balance. If nothing else, it forces him to pay mind to someone else.
Like Tlanexhuani, who is used to picking up younglings and plucking them out of things they shouldn't be doing. "Is enough. Stop thi-ssssssss!" The last is a hiss as he earns a sharp pointy stick between splints and scales for that.
GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4-1: (3)+-1: 2 GAME: Hilde rolls weapon1-4: (13)+7+-4: 16 GAME: Hilde rolls 2d4+4+3: (5)+4+3: 12
Hilde flinches as a tiny spear scrapes across her breastplate, lodges into her shoulder and draws blood. She rolls that arm slightly to ensure it still has full range of motion. Then she whirls and smacks Hott with the blunt side of her two-handed sword, clobbering him to the ground. "Enough!" she barks.
GAME: Thoth rolls -1: (20)++-1: 19 GAME: Thoth rolls -1: (5)++-1: 4 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (17)+1: 18 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Theo rolls Reflex: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4: (2): 2
More kobolds are fling into the air by Niks as Theo makes a show of killing Sekle. Snav tries to dive in after Sekle, but Tlanex manages to get his strong Sith-makar arms around it. So it struggles and grabs for its pointy stick and stabs Tlanex in the scales!
Eple rushes Theo's position as well and pokes him with his pointy-stick, and Uhzu grabs one of the bombs on the bridge, throwing it at Theo. Booom!
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Snutt fails to get up, shocked as Hott goes down so easily!
GAME: Zerthos spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
However, just as one might think that Zero's aria is done, the bard proves himself to be a man capable of going for the long haul. He takes only a breath, resists the urge to bow for an adoring audience, and begins again with another Sildanyari song of heroic bravery and dashing heroics.
Of course, he eyes Theo in particular the whole time!
GAME: Thoth rolls 1+2: (17)+1+2: 20 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d6: (4): 4 GAME: Hilde rolls weapon1-4: (16)+7+-4: 19 GAME: Hilde rolls 2d4+4+3: (5)+4+3: 12
Hilde jerks forward as another Kobold appears seemingly from nowhere, and stabs her in the back of the leg. They're not strong but they're like a swarm of insects. Only armed with (tiny) lethal weapons. Grimacing, Hilde turns the sword in her hand and smacks Urta with a vicious backhand to the head, that while it might not draw blood will surely leave a bruise, and possibly a mild concussion!
As the battle continues, Sekle's unconscious body continues to float downstream along the river. Glubglubyip.
GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1: (3)+6+1: 10 GAME: Theo rolls 1d6: (4): 4
Theo can't help but feel badly about having killed these tiny kobolds. They seem so... helpless really, but they're playing a deadly game and it's one that is played for keeps. Some lessons are hard won. He lays a hand on his chest and his wounds begin to knit together. His next blow is badly placed for it, but his heart feels heavy in the wake of the death he's wrought.
Green eyes flicker across the battlefield, finding the shock of white hair - now crispy at the ends - that he knows is Zero. He can't afford the emotion now. Not with Zero in danger. Not with his allies strewn across the battlefield. "Serriel." He murmurs, his voice a near whisper. "Guide me."
GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4-1: (4)+-1: 3 GAME: Thoth advances the initiative order. GAME: Theo rolls Reflex: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4: (3): 3 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (20)+1: 21 GAME: Hilde rolls reflex: (10)+3: 13 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4: (1): 1 GAME: Thoth rolls 5: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d4: (3): 3
The kobold cries fill the sky as they rush towards Theo's position. But since Theo is in the water, they instead end up landing roughly around Tlanex, and surround him!
Eple keeps trying to poke Theo, while Oli has taken on the role of throwing bombs along with Uhzu. Trying their best to protect their allies with explodies! Over near Hilde, Snutt has taken to throwing bombs as well! It seems they're the most effective weapon they have against the Adventurers!
More and more Kobolds!
"Get them! Get them! YIP YIP YIP!"
YIP YIP YIP YIP!
GAME: Zerthos casts Grease. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (11)+1: 12 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (13)+1: 14
Now that there's not quite as many kobolds trying to kill him, Zero advances forward to try and lighten Tlanexhuani's load. Tactically, he moves forward--just enough to be able to throw more of the sticky substance, empowered by a high note of his aria into something magical, onto Gable and Akru.
The kobolds, once again, do not withstand the greasy assault, falling prone, and Zero looks very smug with himself.
GAME: Hilde rolls weapon1-4+2: (11)+7+-4+2: 16 GAME: Hilde rolls 2d4+4: (2)+4: 6
Hilde looks between Snutt and Oli. She shoots an angry glare at Snutt, but Oli seems better positioned to bomb virtually anyone in the part. And also the route and terrain between Oli and herself is clear of grease, insensate Kobolds or traps (or so she hopes). Hilde croushes slightly and then dashes at Oli, reversing her sword as she goes. This lets her give them a sharp rap on the top of the head with the pommel of the sword, transferring all of her momentum to the other's cranium, smashing yet another down.
GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (6)+1: 7 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Thoth rolls 8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1: (8)+6+1: 15 GAME: Theo rolls 1d8+4+1: (2)+4+1: 7 GAME: Thoth rolls 8: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Thoth rolls 0-1: (8)+0+-1: 7
There's no light in Theo's eyes as he takes down yet another of the kobolds. If there were any other way... He turns toward the remaining kobolds, blood splattered across his chest, his face, his mace. "War is death." It's not said to them so much as he says it to himself. A reminder. A cold, hard reminder.
"More! More Kobolds!" Niks calls out, and turns around. The koboldapult is empty. It then looks down the roof at the fleeing remainder of Kobolds getting into their tunnels, getting the heck out of there!
"Come back cowards! YIP YIP!" Niks demands from the kobolds that are fleeing on the inside of the village...
Then turns to look at the field...
On the field, Tlanex still has Snav grappled, slowly choking them out. Theo has just cut up Epel, who now lays over the corpse of Zigle. Akru is having no luck against Tlanex, and neither is Gable - in fact - Gable just got knocked out by Tlanex. And Mavni is poking its stick into the Sith-makar, but failing to pierce its scales...
So Niks begins to back away from the roof and then calls out; "Wait for me! Yip Yip!" And dives down the roof, leaving the catapult unmanned.
GAME: Zerthos casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Zerthos rolls 1d8+3: (4)+3: 7
Things are turning in the tide. Zero walks along the shore of the river and finds a spot to reach out to Theo over the bodies of dead kobolds. He sees Theo's lost in the grim and despair...
But Zero sings even still. Sings of beauty to give his beloved some light, in the way that Theo's given him light. He reaches out to Theo and his touch blooms in healing magic, spreading into Theo's wounds and helping to mend them. He smiles tenderly at Theo.
GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (10)+1: 11 GAME: Thoth rolls 1: (17)+1: 18 GAME: Hilde rolls weapon1-4: (11)+7+-4: 14 GAME: Hilde rolls 2d4+4: (5)+4: 9
Hilde leaves Oli where they fell and wades across the small stream. She has to raise her hands high to keep it clear of the water, until she finally sloshes up onto the shore on the other side. As one of the Kobolds tries to run she takes a swing at it's unprotected legs, upending it and leaving it unconcious on the ground. Hilde flashes a grim smile and scans the field for remaining enemies. Her smile falters at the sight of several Kobolds that are clearly dead and not unconcious, but then her expression hardens. They drew blood first, she reminds herself.
GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1: (7)+6+1: 14
Theo can't help but smile at Zero. That touch doesn't just heal him, it reminds him what he's fighting for. Grimly he touches the other man's hand. Allowing a moment to steady himself before he pulls away and swings his weapon at yet another one of the kobolds. He misses, but the terrain is uncertain so that's not surprising.
"Wait for us!" Olpi and Zogne spot Niks retreating, and quickly chase him as the Adventurers continue to take down the remaining Kobolds who are near Theo and Tlanexhuani. They clearly know they're way outmatched, and are choosing the better part of valor.
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls cmb+5: (1)+8+5: 14 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls cmb+5: (15)+8+5: 28 GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls 1d4+strength: (1)+5: 6
Tlanexhuani's armor is strong, his scales are thick, but he still catches a sharp stick now and then. Still, he doesn't relinquish the kobold he clutches and struggles to subdue. Finally, Snav succumbs to coerced nappy time and the big blue makari releases him to the ground somewhat gingerly. Only now does he truly take in the others: the defeated or fallen kobolds, and wounded allies.
GAME: Zerthos rolls Intimidate: (6)+4: 10
Zero stops singing and clears his throat. "If I might make a suggestion, kobold?" he says, wading forward in the river to meet Theo and put his hand on the man's arm.
He smiles grimly.
"I suggest you turn tail and run. Or my darling Theo will turn you into red paint on the grass, too. Mm?"
Hilde lowers her sword until it's angled diagonally away from her, point towards the ground. Then she slides it back into it's scabbard, using the tips of her other hand to guide it. All this is so that she doesn't have to take her eyes off of Mavni, following the fleeing Kobold with her gaze and trying to note which direction they went.
Theo watches the last of the kobold's run, placing his hand on Zero's hand. It's a comfort to have the other man at his side. This fight... it had not been something he wants. He puts his mace where it belongs at his side and turns himself toward Zero. "I suppose we can tell the villagers that the village is theirs again." He hardly looks excited to do so though. He looks at the bodies of the fallen kobolds. "I hope that they learned something from all of this."
Tlanexhuani hunches a bbit more and leans upon his spear as the walking aid it usually serves to be. He exhales a long breath as he watches the last one scamper off. "This one hopes they learn. They not return, repeat. Is best for softskins and scaled, all."
"We can only hope, my darling," Zero replies gently to Theo, smiling softly at the taller man. There's warmth in his red-pink eyes as he leans in to almost prop up Theo a little bit, like he's reminding the paladin he's not alone. "We did what we had to do. What would all of those villagers have done otherwise? Starve to death outside of their homes? I don't think that would have been something you tolerated, either."
He sighs. "Nor would it have been a good ending to the story at all." That is what matters most to a bard.
Hilde turns her head towards the village walls. Then she tilts her head back to look at the ballista. "I hope the villagers learn as well. Walls are no substitute for a well-trained and well-armed militia. Theirs clearly wasn't up to the task." She gazes at a Kobold body. "Against Kobolds at least, they should be more effective. Or else how will they manage against more monstrous dangers...?"
Theo nods, wrapping his arm around Zero and pulling the other man close. He doesn't need - strictly speaking - anything to lean on, but that doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate it. "Lets go. I want a hot bath and to get the hells out of here."
"Then let's, my darling," Zero says with a bright smile, letting himself be enveloped in Theo's arms. "Besides, I think a bath sounds rather like an awful lot of fun to me."
Sometimes, there are dirty implications to getting clean.
"Ah, but, you know! Villagers first." Zero can occasionally remember how to be a proper adventurer.