"Hope, let Shadow sit on your shoulder. If you need her to come and get us, tap her on her head, and she will return to me."

[Sylvan: "If she taps you on the head, or if she starts fighting, come back to me immediately."]

If Hope allows it, the little bat will settle onto her shoulder.

hope nods and lets the bat sit on her shoulder as she leaves

"Ohyouhaveabat!" breathes Orafina excitedly, her eyes widening in awe and a smile once again spreading across her face as she spies the animal.  "You take good care of Hope, little lady!"  She gives her friend - and the bat, for good measure - a thumbs up, and mouths the words be careful to the two of them (really, mostly Hope).

Hope and Shadow make their way across the country side as quietly as they can.

The terrain this far from town has begun to turn into rolling hills, and the numbers and size of the boulders around are increasing.

It takes roughly thirty minutes to cover the distance to the column of smoke.

Hope and Shadow's journey ends at a low spot between three hills, in the center of the depression surrounded by ten foot boulders are four cultists and eight kobolds. The cultists have their rapier's stacked lazily against one of the boulders nearest them. While it appears all the kobolds keep their weapons upon them.

Three of the cultists are seated near a camp fire with a makeshift rotisserie constructed around it; while the fourth cultist tends to a hen cooking on the rotisserie, all talking amongst themselves.

All but one of the kobolds is huddled together roughly fifteen feet from the cultists and their campfire, one however is cautiously making his way toward the campfire while the others watch on with anticipation.

o.o.c. I will need a stealth check. And if you want to hear what is being said I will need a perception check.

Your vantage point is forty feet away up a hill behind one of the many boulders.

Hope pulled all her skill to remain silent, and even though it wasn’t a town like she was used to, her skills proved good enough for the suituation. She moved slowly, toes touching the ground before her heel, her ears as much a sense as her eyes. She eventually came to the light, sighing, and found an outcropping, crouching low she strained to hear what was being said.

<OOC: ‘Hope' rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Perception check.
'Hope' rolled 18 using 1d20+7.  Stealth check.>

 

Hope's keen half elven ears pick up what is being said as she watches on unnoticed.

"Yeah, and then he screamed like a little girl when I gutted him!" One of the sitting raiders says, causing all of them to burst out laughing.

"Man, you guys had all the luck, I only found some old couple. Too easy; and they were apparently poor as hell, cuz their house had nothing of any value in it, stupid old farts." The man tending the cooking hen says, cutting his story short as he notices the brave kobold reaching for a piece of the cooking bird.

The raider turns and kicks the kobold hard, his foot landing square under the jaw of the poor creature, sending it backwards and flat on it's back. "HEY! This is for people! You filthy lizards go catch your own food!" He shouts to the creature sprawled on it's back, the other raiders laughing even harder now.

The kobold groans and stands, skulking his way back to the other kobolds, grumbling to himself as he leaves.

[Language unknown: "Ichndemen enol eenprolar, Ticesspre os pralfi... re Comeveast ove telawh ma, she yinyinare tistwi sacon....]

Hope smiled at the scene that unfolded, finding an idea in her mind. She backed away slowly and ran in the night towards her friends.

Returning to her friends, she smiled. “Four cultists, look human, and eight kobolds. Looks like the kobolds are treated pretty bad by them so if we focus on the humans, and we give the kobolds food, they may run.”

"It's a plan that involves food.  What could go wrong!"  The halfling rubbed her belly in anticipation, and pulled some rations from her pack and into her belt pouch for easier access.  "Even better, maybe they'll give us information too - stuff they overheard when the humans thought they weren't listening."

Korym listens intently as the rogue describes what she saw. "I am not keen to show mercy to the kobolds after what they did to Greenest, but sometimes the lesser of two evils is the right choice.

I might be able to pull off a trick...any chance you would recognise the kobold that called himself Skimble?"

As he feeds some dried fruit to Shadow, his head pops up. "Hope, could you tell why this small group was sitting in the middle of the plains on their own? Did they have a wagon of stolen goods and they had to rest the horses? Or are they keeping watch?"

Hope shook her head. “Not totally sure, but the humans were bragging about raids and loot - made me want to gut them there and then. They’re either a raiding party returning or a background guard.” She rubbed her hands. “As for their haul, I saw none of it. I think they may be a rear guard. It’s clear the humans think themselves better than the kobolds, even though they outnumber them two to one. They’re hungry and fear them - maybe we should put some fear in the humans.”

Grune nodded along with Hope. His voice came forth like a great rumbling purr; "Yes, I think I like the sound of that. Perhaps exploited some friction between the two groups.'
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Wed 04 Aug 2021.

B = Boulders all over 6ft tall, and can provide full cover.
G = Gravel - Requires stealth check (DC 13) for every square moved through.
F = the camp fire
C = Cultist
K = Kobold

E = Einar
H = Hope
K = Korym
Gr = Grune
O = Oraphina

Following Hope's lead the group makes their way toward the column of smoke, the last hour or so of twilight on the horizon as they arrive.

The site is a hollow between three hills; large boulders and gravel dot the area. In the middle of the depression lies our heroes' foes. The cultists seem to have made themselves comfortable in Hope's absence and have settled in for dinner, all are sitting around the camp fire eating on some sort of fowl, their weapons stacked lazily by one of the boulders nearby.

While almost fifteen feet away from the fire a group of kobolds are huddled up, each one has a large bone, they are gnawing on.

O.O.C. I know I normally roll the initiative, but even if you don't act against the enemies in your next post, go ahead and throw your initiative roll in the post as well, I will get all that done tomorrow, had another long day today. Colored your icons, so they are more easily picked out of the mess on the grid.

Korym whispers, "Do you want me to try to get the kobolds to leave? It will take me a few seconds at most."

---

It will take 3 rounds:

1. conjure a small statue of a red dragon in H12;
   
2. cast Mage Hand to move it closer to the kobolds (K11);
   
3. cast Message and tell the kobold who picks it up, "The humans have displeased me. Take me and leave immediately."

Korym Nightstar rolled 14 for initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:12, Wed 04 Aug 2021.

Einar will stay behind the bolder and get ready to charge in should things get hairy but he makes sure to give everyone a chance to try any ideas they might have to make the fight easier on them ll.


I got a 12 for init

Hope looks at the elf and nods, taking out her hand crossbow ready to fire. She takes a breath and covers the human cultists while Korym does his thing, waiting

---

OOC: 'Hope' rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  Iniative.

Hold action - attack human cultists until kobolds leave or the cultist spot them

'Hope' rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Attack - hand crossbow.
'Hope rolled 8 using 1d6+3.  Damage - hand crossbow.
'Hope' rolled 2 using 1d6.  Sneak attack.>

Fina wrinkles her nose and sticks out her tongue at the smell of the clearly overcooked meat, but says nothing - the look on her face speaks a thousand words.  She slowly pulls a javelin from her pack, hefting it in her hand, and nods to the others to let them know she's ready.

---

20:22, Today: Oraphina Weatherbee rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Grune nodded once as he looked over his comrades. He prepared to call down divine fire on the head of the cultist as the elf deployed his plan.


Grune Darkhammer rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.

B = Boulders all over 6ft tall, and can provide full cover.
G = Gravel - Requires stealth check (DC 13) for every square moved through.
F = the camp fire
C = Cultist
K = Kobold
s = Statue

E = Einar
H = Hope
K = Korym
Gr = Grune
O = Oraphina

Initiative:
Cultist 17
Grune 16
Korym 14
Einar 12
Kobold 7
Hope 6
Oraphina 4


As the kobolds gnaw away at their pitiful dinner, a golden statue floats up to them. It takes a moment for them to realize it's presence, but when they do, most go slack jawed, dropping their bones, as the monument floats there and then speaks, commanding them to leave.

O.O.C. I will need a Charisma (Deception) check from you Korym. There is no advantage, as the statue is allowing the farce in the first place. But if you would like advantage, you can use the Inspiration you all gained as reward for completing Greenest in Flames.

[Language unknown: "Un a houhasforthu, ha a and ast p ri venionson sall houineive. Ratoutati estthecom wer adinee'heee i. O unal adilli ess wa ac entstaven mema. Ainesspre di ate, ckove tr ilur lo, naol Ai lo tiowiless ni derhi A eveomeion t an som."]

---

I did not have the Inspiration marked on my character sheet, but I will take it and use it!
Korym Nightstar rolled 13 using 2d20, dropping the lowest, for Persuasion (Charisma).

Grune looks over to Korym and narrows his eyes. The dwarf cast Guidance on Korym, attempting to be as quiet as possible as he casts his cantrip.


OOC: Cast Cantrip: Guidance on Korym if it is not already too late for Grune's first round action.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Fri 06 Aug 2021.

B = Boulders all over 6ft tall, and can provide full cover.
G = Gravel - Requires stealth check (DC 13) for every square moved through.
F = the camp fire
C = Cultist
K = Kobold
s = Statue

E = Einar
H = Hope
K = Korym
Gr = Grune
O = Oraphina

Initiative:
Cultist 17
Grune 16
Korym 14
Einar 12
Kobold 7
Hope 6
Oraphina 4


The kobolds stand slack jawed at the golden statue, until one steps forward. [Language unknown: Ne Iorier? Ionepe ai il iontou o, men era sill Shedayart, wer ateme ant adriatdi wice.] The kobold then drops to the ground in prostration. [Language unknown: Ereicarat anus unul ect ie, Lieiou si event era Eauanddin tastr.]

~Just go you damned kobold!~ Korym thinks to himself. He holds up his hand to his companions, indicating they should wait a moment.


"Nuntius."

[Language unknown: "Hatlatame. Thu p, een sa wa ilio e ch thoicanceund der rewe uremo. Tifo nt ol traingnot artiv atiwe moei a witthoter. Pees voroulsti pe heheng chho ame atul ul we. Llfo ma nt saonee ek day ncame P le whiresare dinom sehope."]

---

Cast Message again.
I'm assuming it's between 7:30 and 8:00 pm (6pm saw the column of smoke, 30 mins for Hope to scout, 30 mins to return, 30 mins for group to get to camp, plus talking time) If the kobolds walk until the sun is down that should be at least 30 mins.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Fri 06 Aug 2021.

B = Boulders all over 6ft tall, and can provide full cover.
G = Gravel - Requires stealth check (DC 13) for every square moved through.
F = the camp fire
C = Cultist
K = Kobold
s = Statue

E = Einar
H = Hope
K = Korym
Gr = Grune
O = Oraphina

Initiative:
Cultist 17
Grune 16
Korym 14
Einar 12
Kobold 7
Hope 6
Oraphina 4


The kobold rises from his prostrated position and seizes the idle, and quietly motions to the others, who also rise, to follow him; and together they all quietly gather their things and begin running from the site.

O.O.C. You are correct about the time of day.

Grune holds his action, waiting for one of the cultists to proceed close before her attacks. He looks nervously at Korym and waits and watches as the elf's skeem unfolds.

Orafina looks at the statue, then at the fleeing kobolds, then at Korym.  She gives him a silent double-thumbs-up alongside a wide smile, then turns her attention back to the remaining raiders in the camp.