After some time, Glinsael first became aware of the musty odor of the basement, and the fading queasiness from the poison. She blinked open her eyes open to see Gill watching over her. She looked around to make sure the others were there, and winced from the patched wound on her neck as she moved. "Sorry for the trouble," she said, "thank you for your help."

Kovann rejoined the others, visibly wounded.

Taking a seat on the floor, he places his spear next to him.

"I'm worried if we rest, there could be more of them down here, and they try to ambush us as we rest. But if we don't rest, we might not have the strength to fight them off. Thoughts?"

"Given they abandoned the top as quickly as they did, particularly the little one that wanted to flee, I'm inclined to think that's it for them at least. That one kobold darted down here from the front pretty fast, so I'd guess that was him," he remarked, gesturing over towards the doorway that the one was casting from.


"Though I think some rest would definitely be advised. Several are hurt, so best not to push it at this point. If there is particular worry, I or Finnick could possibly send our familiar to explore a bit?" he suggested, looking to the other.

"I'm with Kovann.  Never give someone defending their home a chance to recover and respond.  We may be suddenly on the defensive without the benefits of real sleep.

I like the scouting idea.  See what you can find.  Let's see if there is more to worry about."  Ayanna replied.

Grover and Rakas set out. There's some fluttering and some skittering and they return with news. They say there are the four rooms you've already seen. The recently closed door across from where you entered. And although didn't have enough room to fly into the cistern, Rakas slipped and swam across and peeked into the grate at the far end.

There's another room there, with giant rats kept in wooden pens. One pen has a whole bunch of babies. All the others look like adults. There's another door there, but Rakas wasn't able to see anything in it.

After resting for a while Glinsael still wasn't feeling confident about continuing. The wound on her neck stung, And she felt unsure of her ability to add much to the party.  "I don't mean to spoil all the fun we're having, but maybe we should secure a camp for the night."

13:44, Today: Glinsael rolled 2 using 1d8+1.  hit dice.

"Rats you say?" Gill asked at the familiars' return. "At least they're locked in for now." He smiled halfheartedly. Then commented in a softer tone: "Should probably kill them soon, though. We don't want them rummaging through any of those provisions in the back."

He looked behind him at Glinsael once again on her feet. "Glad to see you up!" He gave her a friendly slap on the shoulder. "I can definitely use the rest. But it'd give me some comfort knowing we don't have to worry about any more threats from down here. Shall we secure this room as well, before we get comfortable?" He prodded the rotten wood of the closed door with his mace.

Glinsael inspects the weapons around the throne.

There are several shortswords, all of good make. A little rusted, but nothing a bit of sharpening won't fix.

Also, on the wall, covered in mould, there's a spear that, under the green muck, isn't rusted at all. The haft is made of an unfamiliar wood that is darker and heavier than expected, and has dwarven runes carved along it.

---

Spoiler for Dwarven: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

"To High Duke Bryssel of Almiraj from Stonelord Qazurak of Stonehollow, we gift you the heat of our Forge to cement eternal friendship between our Houses."

---

---

Spoiler for Glinsael, or History DC16: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Duke Bryssel was one of the last recorded sitting dukes before the region fell. He came from an offshoot of the House, in a time of great instability, and had no children.

---

Kojik gave a nod after he received the report from his own familiar, relaying the details of the trapped rats and the other areas of the lower level that had been found.

"As you say," he agreed with Gill, "For the moment they seem to be rather secured in there. The creatures here had domesticated them, to a point, though I don't know how readily they'd take to new masters nor what commands they'd respond to even if they did. As you say, eliminating them might be the most humane thing to do in the long run - and the safest," he noted.


As they took some time to gather up all the items that had been dropped or spotted, he paid particular attention to the silk pouch marked with regards to a Wizard. If the one creature they had fought utilized such abilities - or someone who once was here did - the odds they'd have a book as well increased. So he spent a bit more time investigating that room for signs of any hidden spots that a book or scrolls could be squirreled away in. A long shot, but as everyone was resting and his owl was busy scouting the lower areas, it was time well spent. He likewise rested up as much as possible in the meantime to regain some of his casting strength.


[Private to GM: 07:26, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 24 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 18.  Investigation Roll.]

As she was exploring the thrown room for a better melee weapon, Glinsael noticed a spear mounted on the wall.  She cleaned it and read the inscription.  "Look at this," she said to the others as she wiped the muck off with a rag, "A spear of dwarven make with an inscription. It's in remarkable condition. It says, 'To High Duke Bryssel of Almiraj from Stonelord Qazurak of Stonehollow, we gift you the heat of our Forge to cement eternal friendship between our Houses.' It's probably safe here for now, but once we have a more secure camp, I'd like to move it away from the mold."

Her search for a better weapon also revealed a shortsword of a more common variety, but in decent condition for her to use. She hung that on her belt.

Kovann meditates during his rest, concentrating on letting his body feel better as he reflects on the teachings back in Gun Galaq.

After an hour he feels better, picking himself up, and joining in going over what has been found, his attention is caught by Glin when she mentions a dwarven spear.

"Such a gift and show of skill deserves to be treated better than left to be covered in mold. If no objections, I would like to take it now, let it be properly used to reclaim the keep, and then I can regift it to the Duke, to show that the new bonds are built on old ones."


15:37, Today: Kovann rolled 3 using 1d8+2.  Hit dice healing.
Could have been better!

Ayanna spent the rest eyeing the closed door.  Something had closed it.  Something might still be in there and hostile to them.

At mention of the spear, "Spears are a human weapon.  When you get tired of it, I'll make use of it."  She mentioned with a smile.  Kovann was a unique dwarf for sure.

After the rest, she will approach the door with Gill.

She took the spear off the wall and handed it to Kovann with a smile.

Also, she takes one of the healing potions and drank it

12:50, Today: Glinsael rolled 8 using 2d4+2.  healing potions.

Kojik searches the north room (which seemed to be the gnoll's personal space). After sometime, he does find a loose stone under their bedding that holds a scroll-case made of wood and inlaid and adorned with finely-crafted silver. It bears the same wizard mark as the silk bag,

Inside are some rolled up pieces of parchment.

Finnick elects to stay in the throne room to watch for reinforcements. The rest of the party form up at the recently closed door and pushes it open.

Inside the room is dark, with no illumination. The light from Kojik's spell reveals a large, clean space. Littered about the ground are various oddly-shaped small wooden constructions. They all show significant chewing damage. Off to one side is a series of hoops on the floor, and around them are a number of large leather balls. The hoops and balls are each marked with bits of different coloured fabric.

On the other side of the room is what looks like an obstacle course. Ramps. Tunnels. Walls. Rope bridges. It is quite elabourate.

Along the back wall is stout pen, in which the largest rat they've seen yet lurked in the corner, with very small babies running all about.

And in the middle of the room: a single kobold. Much like the rest except he has a grey armband.

He brandishes a large dagger. He starts barking madly as they enter.

OOC
1. Scrolls: Feather Fall, Detect Magic, Levitate
2.

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
No! Go! No! Go! Mine! Mine!

---

ROUND 1
You guys can go first. Glin, Kojik, and Kovann: you rolled higher than the kobold, so if you attack this turn you can roll with advantage

Initiative Order (we're doing sides, but in case it matters)
15 - Kovann
14 - Kojik
13 - Glin
6 - Kobold
5 - Ayanna
2 - Gill

Conditions and Notes: The room is Dim Light.

Glinsael drew her bow, leveling it on the kobold. She spoke to the party, "I'm going to try and talk it down. Be ready if it fails. Kovann, you're doing well." She spoke to it in draconic, "Those who fought us are dead. Those who left are alive. Leave and live."

Action: ready action to shoot the kobold if he takes hostile action.

Bonus action: bardic inspiration to Kovann.

Move: none

OOC: I'm going to dispense with the Draconic spoilers, and assume Glinsael relays his words to the party, and vice versa.

The kobold tenses up as Glinsael approaches. But he shows no sign of attacking. Rather, he takes a step back, towards the pens.

"No! Can't! No fight! No leave! No leave babies! No hurt babies! Mine! Mine!"

Kovann stands in the doorway, ready to stop anything that goes past, but not rushing inside.

"They look like pets. It was one thing when they attacked us and we defended ourselves, but slaughtering some rats and babies..."

Ready action: Hit anything that comes up to us with my spear.

"Slaughtering is a big word for preventing some pests from multiplying," Gill started before his eyes fell onto the elaborate obstacle course throughout the room. "Is that kobold training those rats? That's amazing! Do you think it can get them to do any tricks?"

Kojik remained on guard, looking around to the rest of the area but also watching the kobold the group had encountered, remarking to Glin to perhaps relay but also the others to consider.

"It seems this one is more concerned with caring for his charges than anything else.. admirable. Do you think it possible he might.. consider changing allegiances as it were? He could keep these tended, train them, give the Keep some additional protection perhaps and maybe even let us know about the state of things in the area - as best he could. Let the Lord decide if it is something that would remain long term or not, but its a possibility. If it'd be interested?"

“That’s a big ask Kojik.  I like the idea of making allies, but rats?  I’d be thrilled if he just took them and left.”. She also prepared to defend if they suddenly attacked.

It took a bit to discern the kobold dialect, She gave her opinion to the others, "I think the newborns need time to grow before they can be moved. What if we give them that time, as long as they stay out of the rest of the castle?  Then we can always broach the subject of potential allies later. Does that sound reasonable?"

edited for typos
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Wed 24 May 2023.

The kobold stands, alert, tense, dagger out, his snout darting from speaker to speaker as the party debates.

When Glinsael makes the offer for him to stay, with his rats. He starts nodding and barking excitedly.

"Stay! Stay! Can't move babies! Too small! Too many! Stay!"

He puts his dagger away slowly, warily.

"Safe!?" he barks, "Babies! Safe!?" in a way that is clearly a question.

OOC: We are out of initiative.

When they check the small space between this room and the next (assuming they do check), they find what was once a rather fancy anteroom. It's all gone to rot now, with that same green mould hanging over everything. But there were once some fine tapestries here. And there are remains of what was once some sort of statue or sculpture.

Leading off the space is to a long, narrow hallway. There is no illumination inside. Ant light shows the hallway to be about 50 feet long before widening into another room. It is too dark to see much there.

Should the party seem intent on entering the hallway, the little kobold (whose name appears to be "Snet" - which isn't a word Glinsael recognizes, but that appears to be what he calls himself) runs up and warns them away.

"Bad! Hall! Bad! Ghost! Ghost! Bad!"

OOC: the hallway and the cistern are the only places left unexplored.

As tensions ease, Kovann lowers his spear, and then joins in looking around the newly available areas.

When Snet warns them about a ghost, a frustrated sign crosses his face.

"Again with the ghost? Now, is there an actual ghost back there, or just something that has scared the kobolds into leaving it alone? As if it is a ghost, I'm not going to do much waving my spear at it."

Ayanna relaxed as well and lowered her spear.  “Good job Glinsael.”  It was an odd arrangement.  If it limited the amount of bloodshed though, she was willing to give it a try.

In response to Kovann, “We can probably relax and get a good nights rest in before checking on any ghost.”  At least she hoped it would be safe.  It didn’t sound like the ghost had harassed the kobolds during the nights or they wouldn’t have stayed here.  She was willing to bet on it.

Kojik gave a nod of agreement as Snet came around to at least not see them as adversaries but at least as neutral. When the group began to move towards the next room and he warned them of a ghost once again, he looked thoughtful.

"Would you?" he asked to Glinsael, in regards to translating his words, Kojik tried to keep them simple to somewhat match the speed of the other.


"Ghost only there? Nowhere else? Man? Woman? Like me? Like him? Or her?" he asked, gesturing to the others in an attempt to imply their races. If the ghost was there, it most likely had a form similar to its earthly body - human, dwarf, elf? Man or woman? And if it was confined to only one room - nowhere else - then it was contained and wouldn't trouble them. That would also suggest it was either bound or cursed.


"Safe above? Other places safe?" he asked. If there were other places down here that were safe or unsafe, Snet would likely know. How readily he was to help them would soon be seen. But at least for the moment, he seemed to be helpful knowing his charges were safe.