"Draconic, language of kobolds..." Caitlin replied in a sharp whisper. "Keep your eyes open, kobolds usually don't come alone."

"But lizard people kobolds are, with horns. Unless... In disguise they are!" After all, he could do it himself.

Cover me, I'm calling their bluff! Quinlan sets off to the side and emerges some 15 feet off the position of his companions. He has put on his hat of disguises and transforms his features to that of a human with blond hair.
He bursts out of the undergrowth and calls to the halflings/kobolds:
Are you alright? I saw the smoke from the fire and feared the worst... by the gods! He's dead! he says pointing wide-eyed at the corpse.
He still carries his bow in hand.

OOC: 07:53, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Bluff.

Moving silent or hiding wasn't Loorn's stronger side. Instead he just stayed put trying not to move to much and as Caitlin hushed him he did without arguing. Readying his axe and shield he crouched, ready to spring out if needed.

Spot: 9
Listen: 23
Hide: 12
Move silently: 17

Caitlin had her bow ready but already considered casting a spell of her own, perhaps it would become necessary if more kobolds showed up. Inwardly she thought Quinlan was being stupid, making himself a target to forces unknown, but at the same time this was quite useful to her and she would be the last to complain.

ooc: Ready to shoot her bow if Quin is attacked by one of the 'halflings', cast sleep if more kobolds show up.

"Better you than me," the gnome muttered as Quinlan volunteered to meet the kobolds. Schnicklegulp carefully aimed his crossbow, ready to fire at a moment's notice.


OOC: Ready attack on one of the "halflings"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Tue 17 June 2008.

As you announce your presence to the halflings, they are completely surprised and yelp loudly. The one in leather armor actually falls off the overturned wagon and lands squarely on his butt. The well dressed fellow however, manages to maintain his composure.

As he tries to contain his surprise, the well dressed halfling says in common, "Oh, hi, well, hello there, um, how are you? Are you on your way to Muffin's Honor?" He is a little wary of you, since you clearly surprised him.

He has not made any offensive moves.

Yes I am, or was until I saw this accident... what has happened here? Quinlan is more than a little puzzled by their reactions.

"Hello sir, my name is Raspit, and this Chupo," Chupo sings out "Duke Chupo!" We are on a mission of great importance, this paper will explain everything, he rummages around in his tunic and produces the following document.


"Do you think you can help us?" he asks after he has given you a moment to look the paper over.

I'm Quinlan Fairfellow. Shall we let go of our disguises? He suggests, pulling of his hat and resuming his normal appearance.
This is a very unusual request. Where is your companion... Lumbie? that can lure the devil back and where is the box? The devil I assume has recently passed by here. Quinlan adds dryly, casting an eye on the dead.

Caitlin slapped her forehead when Quinlan let go of his disguise "D'oh!" there was nothing as good as fooling the enemy you were something other than you really were and that half-breed gave it up with no reason. She sighed, her mother would have killed her if she had done that. What was done, was done, there was no means to change it back.

Although curiosity was killing Caitlin, she decided to let Quinlan continue his discussion with the disguised kobolds or whatever they were. Patiently she waited for new developments.

"The ambush they still don't know about, at least." the svirf added. Schnickle was eager to find out what was going on.

Loorn couldn't really hear everything that was going on but so far no battle cries had been called and as Quinlan removed his disguise things didn't seem so bad... not that he left his hiding place... oh no...

"I apologize for the crude nature of the note, I tried to write it for him, but Chief Gnurka felt that this was too important of a note to trust to anyone but himself."

After just a casual inspection at this distance, you notice that both the halflings are really kobolds in mediocre disguises.

As you take your hat off, they both are startled and the other one yelps out again. He reaches for a katana on his belt, but Raspit restrains him with a stern glance.

"You'll have to excuse my companion here, Chupo. He is a bit jumpy. Certainly, you must not be travelling alone, a Drow on the surface with a magic hat of disguises... very peculiar," they both start scanning the area.

And so is this request for help! Kobolds are not known for their trustworthyness; how do I know this request is genuine? And you haven't answered my questions yet. Quinlan does his best to look stern.

"Don't know about the devil passing through here, we just happened across this big box of money, oh, and yes, we know where Lumbie is!" He pulls out a folded poster from his bag and presents it.



"Look, right there, its Lumbie!" he points excitedly at the reptile boy in the lower right.

Quinlan sighs deeply That is a drawing of something that could be your friend; are you sure this is Lumbie?
Looking at the devastation around him the rogue continnues: And you didn't just happen across anything here! There's a dead man over there, don't you think the money belonged to him?
Quinlan feels unsure on how to proceed, having no positive experience of dealing with kobolds in the past. He signals to his companions to join him, in an underhanded way, hoping Caitlin will pick up on his intention.

OOC: Take ten on sleight of hands (17)

"He is waving for why? Help does he need?" Schnickle whispered to the others.

Caitlin scrunched up her nose, she didn't like that. Not at all. Her hand wandered back to give Loorn a signal. Touching the large man to grab his attention, she felt his hardened muscles and some of her paranoia washed away. He would easily take care of a dozen kobolds or more. There was no need to worry. "He feels it is safe to go, Schnickle. - Loorn and I will go, you can wait here if you want." with that and a brief eye-contact with her lover, the sexy Illuskan left her hiding spot and strode towards Quin, her bow still at the ready.

"Stay I will not. Missing out is not for me." With that, he scuttled away through the undergrowth, almost turning invisible, such was his stealth.

The gnome dashed through the woods as he tried to get closer to Quinlan the kobold/halflings. He didn't know the former, and certainly didn't trust the latter.


OOC: Hide 28, Move Silently 20

Loorn almost flinched as Caitlin touched him and he met her eyes with his intense blue one. Giving her a reassuringly smile that he understood how she felt he rose as she did keeping himself at arms length behind her. There where two reason for this, one the obvious to easy be able to come to her aid if things got out of the hand and the other... well she did have a very nice behind to look at.

"Who is that!?!" says the jumpy halfling, he draws a katana at the approach of the female, immediately taking a defensive posture.

"Is that a friend of yours? How many of there are you?" Raspit asks, a little nervous.

PL

[Private to Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper: As you scuttle around the perimeter, you come across the body of a dwarf, he moans slightly but doesn't move much.]