Quarry Quarrel Part 3

<OOC> Thurid says, "We paused at the top of the round, so it's Reithak's turn. You can attempt a strength check to break the entanglement as a full round action, if you'd like. Until you break free, you cannot move and are considered grappled."

 <OOC> Thurid says, "(Although you can still take move actions that aren't actually moving, like drawing weapons etc)"

The fight is going... interestingly. Crik's snatch and run tactics are sewing discord amongst the otherwise fairly well organized Kobolds, while the brutality of Thoth and Khepri's attacks is giving the weaker rank and file kobolds pause- as their number are cut or burned down one by one. Nevertheless, it's not all going the adventurers' way, as Reithak found themselves caught out in the open, and has been subject to the undivided ire of the bands apparent leader, and finds themselves at the tip of his lance, and glued to the pile of splintered wood and granite rubble that remains of the crane and the laden cart that toppled it.

 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 22.
 It is now Crik's turn! Kobold Monster Wrangler 1 is next!

 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright, Crik. Last turn you spotted the coffer the quarry owner wanted you guys to retrieve if you weren't able to drive out the kobolds. It's in the stone building to the south. The door shows signs of being tampered with- hacked at and hit with rocks, but doesn't seem especially damaged. What's the plan?"
 <OOC> Crik says, "Can I make a screm so loud, pretending to be a kobold, and say two large terminators are about to bring the apocalypse on them all to try and scare them/come here?"
 <OOC> Crik was planning to dress up as a kobold but that probably requires too much effort ._.,
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Dressing up as a kobold is not something you can do mid-combat without the aid of magic, no."
 <OOC> Crik cri
 <OOC> Thurid says, "You could make a bluff check to try and attract their attention, or an intimidate check to try and scare one of the kobolds, with a range of 30'"
 <OOC> Crik says, "Can I get close enough to try and get the attention of the people harasisng Reithak?"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Not quite, it'll be a standard action to try your bluff/intimidate, and you can't get to within 30' with a single move."
 <OOC> Crik says, "I think I'll just run to 18,28 then. Sorry Rei. :<"
 <OOC> Reithak says, "all good"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Done. I adjusted the permissions on the map so you should be able to move your own icon now, by the by."
 <OOC> Crik thummub
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, go ahead and pose it."

 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 21.
 It is now Kobold Monster Wrangler 1's turn! Kobold 2 is next!

 <OOC> Thurid says, "Wrangler is taking the bait and going for Thoth. Can't charge because of difficult terrain, but moves and makes a single attack."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 6+1: (10)+6+1: 17
 <OOC> Thurid says, "wiffs."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Oh, Crik, you were stealthing. Do you have the Fast Stealth rogue talent?"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "If not, you'll take a -10 penalty for moving more than half speed."
 <OOC> Crik says, "Ughhh, forgot about that. No, I don't."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "No worries, it doesn't necessarily break stealth. You rolled a 33 last session, so that just makes it DC23 to spot you."
 <OOC> Crik thummub.
 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (10)+5: 15
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Kobold 2 doesn't spot you."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "And since it just watched Khepri critically bisect a shaman, he's going to make a will save to inform his actions."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (7)+1: 8
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (6)+1: 7
 <OOC> Thurid says, "And even with the reroll from Call of the Lion he decides he wants none of it."

Crik hears cries and shouts from behind him. And with _great_ reluctance, he looks behind himself. Khepri was still advancing like the murderous golem it was, apparently having missed the ingenious plan of the corvid's, and Thoth was... well, probably setting something on fire again.

Briefly rubbing hands over his hood, Crik takes a peek around the corner, resists the temptation to steal the shiny, and runs back towards the house on the cliff's ledge, staying low as possible.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "He drops his bow and flees."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 21.
 It is now Kobold 2's turn! Thoth is next!
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 15.
 It is now Thoth's turn! Kobold 1 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Sorry, Reithak. The cavalier moved away, would you like to act now? I'll put it in my pose, but he's going to tell the archer next to him to watch you before moving off."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Concentration check, if you fail you loose the spell. If you don't defensively cast, you provoke, and then have to make a concentration check if you're hit."
 <OOC> Thoth nods
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Combat casting gives a +4 bonus to the concentration check."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Yeah, just found the DC. 15+double spell level. Ooph. I remember why I never defensive cast."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Instead, Thoth will use a regular ol' Move Action"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Yeah it's... honestly usually better to just risk provoking, especially when you're buffed up."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Gimme that AoO"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, Cavalier and his Slurk both AoO, and they have Paired Opportunists so get a +4 to their AoOs"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Cavalier first"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 6+1+4: (15)+6+1+4: 26
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Hit"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "And slurk."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1+4: (9)+4+1+4: 18
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Miss"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6
 <OOC> Thurid says, "You're hit, but no special effects which prevent you from getting away."
 GAME: Thoth casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 7 DC: 19
 GAME: Thoth rolls Ranged: (15)+8: 23
 GAME: Thoth rolls 4d6+2: (16)+2: 18
 <OOC> Thoth says, "It fires on the Slurk, if it can btw"

As Thoth emerges from the screams and smoke happening behind the southeastern cabin, the armor clad Kobolds helmed head turns towards him. The tip of his lance stays pointed at Reithak for a moment, and then he says, "Don't move." to the downed inquisitor. He barks back to the archer by his side, "Watch them!" before squeezing and yanking on one of the slimy, wartlike nodules on his mounts back to direct it. The toadlike creature rears up and turns, and the carries the two of them towards Thoth- it's rougher going, even for the sticky feet of the mount, climbing up the sloping and irregular wall of the quarry but they do get there and the lance tip surges forwards, glancing off an invisible shield of force that moves to intercept it.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "You can target the slurk, sure."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (3)+6: 9
 <OOC> Thurid says, "He fails to negate the hit."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Slurk is staggered."

Thoth ducks quickly and rolls to the ground, using the snow to break its fall as the Monster Wrangler rushes it. It chirps in frustration, realizing it cannot step back easily right now.

It tries to instead rush away, getting its claws burried in the snow. It gets way from the jaws of the Slurk, but it brings it right into the path of the lance coming its way. It rolls and tumbles, before getting back up and spreading its fingers, sending a flaming beam straight at the Slurk, aiming to burn it apart!

 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 11.
 It is now Kobold 1's turn! Kobold 7 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Reithak, before we go any further you never answered. Would you like to act once the cavalier moves away from you?"
 <OOC> Reithak says, "Yes I would, sorry I missed that part"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, we'll resolve that now. It's slightly out of sequence, but your init is modified to just after them. What would you like to do~?"
 <OOC> Reithak would like to try to break free
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, that's a raw strength check, full round action."
 GAME: Reithak rolls strength: (9)+3: 12
 <OOC> Thurid says, "You're not able to break free, but you do pull yourself away from the rubble. You're still considered entangled, but can now move at half your normal speed."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Pose it, unless you have any swift or free actions you'd like to take."
 <OOC> Reithak says, "that's all! I'll pose it"
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 9.
 It is now Kobold 7's turn! Kobold 4 is next!
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 9.
 It is now Kobold 4's turn! Kobold Scalecaster 1 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Kobold 1 is braver than his companion and shoots at Khepri"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1: (20)+4+1: 25
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Rolling to confirm."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1: (6)+4+1: 11
 <OOC> Thurid says, "No crit, but does hit."
 <OOC> Khepri nods
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (3): 3
 <OOC> Thurid says, "7 moves up, has a chance to spot Crik"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (7)+5: 12
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Does not."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Shoots at Reithak"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1-2: (6)+4+1+-2: 9
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Misses"
 <OOC> Reithak says, "phew"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "4 takes a 5' step back and shoots at Reithak, also gets a chance to spot Crik"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1: (10)+4+1: 15
 <OOC> Thurid says, "What's your flat footed AC? Rememver you have a +2 from Judgement"

With the large mounted kobold leaving Reithak alone, the inquisitor takes the opening to try and pull theirself free. It doesn't go too well, and the egalrin at least manages to pull off of the stonework, but they don't dare risk making any more noise at the moment.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright a 15 hits"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (2): 2
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 8.
 It is now Kobold Scalecaster 1's turn! Khepri is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Scalecaster casts Command: Prone on Khepri"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Give me a will save."
 <OOC> Khepri gets a +4 vs mind affecting effects (wargolem) so...
 GAME: Khepri rolls Will+4: (20)+8+4: 32 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Yeah... you're fine. XD"

The Kobolds remain oblivious to Crik's sneaking around, as they move and array themselves around to get a better vantage of what is going on. Two of them loose arrows towards Reithak, and one of them lands a hit as they manage to pull themselves free of the glue. "Stay down!" it barks nervously, eyes flitting around seeing smoke and hearing the noises of violence where their allies are supposed to be.

In the northern part of the quarry, one of the kobolds has given up the fight dropping his bow and fleeing towards the rear wall and showing no signs of slowing. The shaman that has not yet been skewered on Khepri's blade decides, perhaps unwisely, to provoke the war golem's wrath by attempting a spell on them, barking an incantation in Draconic. The invisible tendrils of magical suggestion shatter against the inquisitors steel mind, however, with no effect.

 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 8.
 It is now Khepri's turn! Kobold 8 is next!
 <OOC> Khepri says, "Quick question: can I see the monster-wrangler between those two buildings? He is showing up in LOS for me."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "If the map says he's in LoS he's in LoS, although if part of his token is obscured he has cover."
 <OOC> Khepri says, "So long as he doesn't have total cover."
 <OOC> Khepri says, "Hold Person on the wrangler."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Nope, not total."
 GAME: Khepri casts Hold Person. Caster Level: 6 DC: 15
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright. Cast it."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 2: (13)+2: 15
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Saved"
 <OOC> Khepri says, "Son of a... (sigh) OK. Moving south and east back towards Thoth's position then."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Six - Init 8.
 It is now Kobold 8's turn! Crik is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "8's chance to spot Crik"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (11)+5: 16
 <OOC> Thurid says, "He does not."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1: (9)+4+1: 14
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Shoots at Reithak and misses."
 GAME: NEW ROUND!
 Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 22.
 It is now Crik's turn! Reithak is next!

Khepri is completely unfazed by the scaled magician's command. Might as well have demanded a sandywich from the golem. But hearing Thoth's squawk and the sound of the slurk-rider charging, draws its attention. As the Executor catches sight of the kobold, it points. "Be bound by the Harpist's displeasure," before clenching its fist. Sadly, the kobold slithers out of the spell's grasp, drawing a deep sigh from the golem as it begins stomping back towards where it can hear the sounds of a fight.

A might slower than his companion, another kobold rounds the corner of the southwestern cabin and shoots at Reithak- mostly because that's what the kobolds near him are doing and he's not really sure what else is going on so it seems like the done thing. The arrow misses, but it's close, and ends up caught up in the hardening slime still stuck to reithak.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "Crik you're up, what will you do?"
 <OOC> Crik says, "Am I on the higher ground?"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "You are, yeah."
 <OOC> Crik says, "Can I glide-stab kobold 4 in the face? ._."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "You sure can."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Roll your attack."
 <OOC> Crik says, "Did he have any buffs?"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Bless for a +1"
 GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+1: (18)+8+1: 27
 <OOC> Thurid says, "That hits."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Roll damage with sneak attack."
 GAME: Crik rolls damage1+3d6: aliased to 1d4+1+3d6: (2)+1+(10): 13
 <OOC> Thurid says, "ded"
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 21.
 It is now Reithak's turn! Kobold Monster Wrangler 1 is next!
 <OOC> Reithak says, "okay!"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "What's the plan batman?"
 <OOC> Reithak says, "I'll try one more time to break free"

Crik managed to run himself up atop the cliff's edge, and he was staring as Reithak was being peppered with arrows. Beak open, glancing this way and that, the corvid rogue takes a moment to take stock of the situation.

Pulling his hood up, he then takes a running leap - and his black wings unfurl, spreading from under the layers and layers of cloth as he slams into one of the kobold archer's, knocking the creature down onto the ground. They both land with a thud, but the kobold does not straighten - Crik leans down to take out his wide-bladed knife off the kobold's eye socket.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "Roll strength"
 GAME: Reithak rolls strength: (19)+3: 22
 <OOC> Thurid says, "That does it, you're free."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 21.
 It is now Kobold Monster Wrangler 1's turn! Kobold 2 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Wrangler feeds his slurk a potion."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
 <OOC> Thoth says, ">:3"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Slurk moves and bullrushes Thoth"
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Roll it!"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+4+2+1: (12)+4+4+2+1: 23
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Hit"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Beats you by more than 5, right?"
 <OOC> Thoth says, "It does not."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "My AC is 23"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "It's vs your CMD."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Which actually, is one higher than your base AC. I think it might have failed."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Ahh."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "If shield and MA apply to CMD?"

Reithak struggles some more with the various layers of unpleasant slime, and finally, they're able to tear free yet again. There's a look to where one of the arrows came from, but again the egalrin is silent, not wishing to draw attention again for the time being.

 <OOC> Thoth says, "It's an Armor and a Shield bonus. I fear CMD is not my strong point for calculations."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Armor does, shield doesn't."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "So beats it, but not by more than 5"
 <OOC> Thoth nods
 <OOC> Thurid says, "So pushed back 5', not prone, and entangled"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Because it automatically slimes wen is succceeds a bullrush"
 <OOC> Thoth woo for being pushed back!
 <OOC> Thoth says, "(But boo on concentration checks for spells)"

The scorching ray tears a blistering rent across the slimy flesh of the Slurk, and with it an absolutely horrendous stench of burned toad flesh. The slurk staggeres, and takes a half step backwards, it's eyes becoming glassy but it does not quite fall down. The rider hisses his frustration, swatting aside the spell coming his way. His hand plunges into a 'saddle bag' (really just a leather sack adhered to the toadlike creature's own slime) and pulls forwards a vial. Breaking the waz seal with his thumb, he leans forwards and pours it into the creature's slack-jawed mouth. Light comes back to its eyes, and it exhales steam from its nostrils in amphibian anger. It hops over towards Thoth, and then hip-checks the wizard, sending him skidding back into the snow and covering him in a thick layer of hardening, slimy mucus.

 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 21.
 It is now Kobold 2's turn! Thoth is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "2 continues to flee, and begins scaling the rear wall."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 15.
 It is now Thoth's turn! Kobold 1 is next!
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Fireball."
 GAME: Thoth rolls Caster-2+Intelligence: (7)+Caster+-2+5: 10
 <OOC> Thoth says, "I needed a 18."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Entangled is just + Spell Level"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Ahhh, ok, yeah."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Free action to squawk."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "And that's my turn."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "You are not stuck to anything, since he didn't knock you back into a wall, so you can still move at half speed if you like."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 11.
 It is now Kobold 1's turn! Kobold 7 is next!

Thoth ends up hipchecked and thrust across the snow. It tumbles and groans, only to realize its fingers and body is all covered in muck. It's getting all into its gears and everything. In annoyance, it tries to retaliate with a fireball, drawing a few motions with its fingers. But the spell fizzles out as the muck gets between its fingers and stops it from opening the right ports on its body to send it outwards.

Instead, there a loud 'POOF' from one of its ports, and a bit of smoke comes out lazily.

Thoth squawks in irritation.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "Chases and shoots at Khepri"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1: (18)+4+1: 23
 <OOC> Thoth says, "It'll remain in place, since it can't really get away from it anyhows."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Just hits even with the judgement."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (3): 3
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 9.
 It is now Kobold 7's turn! Kobold Scalecaster 1 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "7 shoots at Crik, since Crik is now visible."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1: (13)+4+1: 18
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Hits"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (6): 6
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 8.
 It is now Kobold Scalecaster 1's turn! Khepri is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Moves and Burning Hands on Khepri, except the damage type is changed to Electricity"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Reflex save"
 GAME: Khepri rolls Reflex: (10)+4: 14
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Half damage, unless you have evasion?"
 <OOC> Khepri says, "Nope."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d4: (3): 3
 <OOC> Thurid says, "It tickles."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 8.
 It is now Khepri's turn! Kobold 8 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid poses.
 <OOC> Khepri says, "OK, so, moving through the area between the two buildings."
 <OOC> Khepri will cast Divine Favor and challenge the slurk-rider as a free action, yelling at it.
 GAME: Khepri casts Divine Favor. Caster Level: 6 DC: 14

In the far northern reach of the quarry, where the rear wall curves around, one of the kobolds is frantically scrambling up first a ladder, andnow attempting to scale the rock face to flee the adventurers. His companion moves up to take his place, loosing an arrow at Khepri which finds its mark, dealing minimal damage. It barks an insult or perhaps an order back at his companion, which goes unheeded. But the shaman still seems in command of her wits and moves up to send a surge of sparks flying from her fingertips. The sparks roll over Khepri, but are mostly harmlessly grounded underfoot.

Meanwhile now that Crik has just violently stabbed one of the kobolds, appearing from no-where, the archers on high turn their attetion from Reithak to him- after taking a shocked half step back, loosing an arrow his way which finds its mark, piercing a wing and drawing blood.

 <OOC> Khepri gains +2 to attack and damage.
 <OOC> Thurid nodnods.
 <OOC> Khepri says, "Posing now."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Pose it."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Seven - Init 8.
 It is now Kobold 8's turn! Crik is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Shoots at Crik"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4+1: (6)+4+1: 11
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Wiffs"
 GAME: NEW ROUND!
 Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 22.
 It is now Crik's turn! Reithak is next!

The electricity doesn't even slow Khepri down. With a single, contemptuous look at the scalecaster, the golem stalks between the buildings to see what Thoth has gotten itself into. As it does, it holds its khopesh up, focusing. "My Lady in Gray, grant me a drop of Your might, that I might reproach these wrongdoers appropriately." A flash of energy washes over Khepri, as it points its blade at the kobold and its mount.

"YOU!" Khepri thunders. "I terrorize your minions. I slay your magicians. Now I am here for you. Come and show me if your god favors you, as mine does."

 <OOC> Crik says, "In how bad of a shape is Rei?"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Looking pretty rough, two stabs with a lance and a couple of arrow hits."
 <OOC> Crik says, "Free to move though?"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Yeah no longer entagled at all"
 <OOC> Crik rub beak. ._. "I'm going to run right behind the kobold scalecaster and nearly give them a hug."
 <OOC> Crik says, "I have... nothing more useful than that."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 21.
 It is now Reithak's turn! Kobold Monster Wrangler 1 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Reithak you're up."
 <OOC> Reithak says, "hmm"
 <OOC> Reithak says, "I'll move to back up Thoth, and cure light wounds on the way"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty cast it and roll it. On yourself, I assume?"
 <OOC> Reithak nods

The dark murder rises. Black wing and its pierced kin flaps open, flittering feather and blood, as the black corvid egalrin straightens to look at the archers.

Then Crik drops his basket of fish atop the dead kobold and calls out to Reithak, "Behind the house!" He gestures - before darting off into a sprint again, this time rushing off the direction he came from.

With another flutter of wings, he stops by the kobold caster's back and flicks out his blade. "Stop!" He points at Khepri. "It murders people!"

 GAME: Reithak casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 4 DC: 13
 GAME: Reithak rolls 1d8+4: (7)+4: 11
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright, pose it."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 21.
 It is now Kobold Monster Wrangler 1's turn! Kobold 2 is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Obliges, moving to Khepri. Single attack with the lance, no charge."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "And Lion's Call enbds"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 6: (19)+6: 25
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Hits"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6
 <OOC> Khepri nods.
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Kobold 2 flees into the woods."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 15.
 It is now Thoth's turn! Kobold 1 is next!

The Wrangler gives a satisfied laugh as Thoths spell fails, "Not so scary, after all." he calls out to the Wizard. When Khepri arrives and bellows his challange, the rider wheels around once more, setting his lance he crosses the uneven ground towards the INquisitor and snaps the lance forwards, catching Khepri square in the shoulder with an ear splitting screech of steel against steel as the tiop of the weapon inches its way into one of the joints in his shoulder articulations.

 <OOC> Thoth says, "Magic Missile the creature the guy is riding. Still entangled - but my strength is attrocious."
 GAME: Thoth rolls Wizard-2+Intelligence: (15)+7+-2+5: 25
 <OOC> Thoth says, "There we go!"
 GAME: Thoth casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Roll damage"
 GAME: Thoth rolls 3d4+3+2: (6)+3+2: 11
 <OOC> Thurid says, "That drops the slurk."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Now the slime makes it hard to be dismounted, but also makes it hard to deliberaly dismount so..."
 GAME: Thurid rolls 6-8: (7)+6+-8: 5
 <OOC> Thurid says, "He's prone and pinned under the slurk."

Thoth, still tangled, watches the rider run off while Khepri takes a protective position over it. It shifts its wings, trying to get up. But the slime is just getting everywhere. So it opens up three of its fingers and just points at it... sending three magic missiles straight for the Slurk. Each impacting with heavy blows, tearing through its body and causing it to tumble over!

 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 11.
 It is now Kobold 1's turn! Kobold 7 is next!

Reithak, now freed of the slime, at least physically, darts for the relative safety behind the shattered crane for cover and archers. As well as putting themselves closer to where Thoth was assailed. A brief prayer is offered to the gods in that breezy sounding language of the egalrin, and the worst of their injuries heal, though Reithak certainly does not look completely hale still.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "1 and 7 shoot at Crik. -4 since Crik is in melee"
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4-4: (19)+4+-4: 19
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (3): 3
 GAME: Thurid rolls 4-4: (15)+4+-4: 15
 <OOC> Thurid says, "One hit."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 9.
 It is now Kobold 7's turn! Kobold Scalecaster 1 is next!
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 8.
 It is now Kobold Scalecaster 1's turn! Khepri is next!
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Scalecaster 1 takes a 5' step away from Crik and uses Burning Hands."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Give me a reflex save, Crik"
 GAME: Crik rolls reflex: (15)+8: 23
 <OOC> Thurid says, "No damage."

When Crik comes running up the path towards the Scalecaster, he captures the attention of the remaining archers which loose arrows after the corvid form. One of them fails to find it's mark, while the other one crazes his upper leg drawing fresh blood. The shaman is equally surprised by his sudden appearance, and half steps half stumbles away from Crik as she spins around to send another surge of sparks from her hands which wash over the Elgarin harmlessly.

Meanwhile, the Slurk falls over and its rider tries to free himself from the beast but the sticky slime which helps him remain in the saddle even when the beast climbs or leaps, prevents him from breaking free. The bulk of the toadlike beast falls squarely on his leg, twisting it and pinning it and drawing a wordless yell of pain from the Cavalier.

 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 8.
 It is now Khepri's turn! Kobold 8 is next!
 <OOC> Khepri says, "As the slurk rider is no longer a threat, Khepri turns, marches back around the corner, swift action to activate bane (humanoid-kobold) and proceeds to try and smack the spellscale into next week."
 <OOC> Khepri says, "Bane makes my weapon +2 better vs kobolds."
 <OOC> Khepri says, "So... rolling."
 GAME: Khepri rolls weapon9+2+1+2: (12)+8+2+1+2: 25
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Hit"
 GAME: Khepri rolls damage9+3+2+2d6+2: aliased to 1d8+1+3+2+2d6+2: (4)+1+3+2+(11)+2: 23
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Ded"
 <OOC> Khepri poses.
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Eight - Init 8.
 It is now Kobold 8's turn! Crik is next!
 GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (12)+1: 13
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Kobold 8 flees."
 GAME: NEW ROUND!
 Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Nine - Init 22.
 It is now Crik's turn! Reithak is next!

Khepri looms over the pinned kobold, its yellow eyes merciless as it raises its khopesh. And then it stops.

Quizzically, the golem tilts its head, staring at its weapon. "What? But..." It pauses, then seems to sigh again, and turns on its heel away from the slurk-rider, marching around the corner just in time to see the scalecaster sling another arc of electricity at Crik. The fact that Crik is unharmed does not change what happens.

"A mistake, to not run," the golem intones from behind the kobold. "Now, you are already dead." The khopesh flashes, a brilliant curve of metal, sending the kobold magician's head flying in a gentle lob to land in the snow ten feet distant.

 <OOC> Crik says, "I think I'll point at the spot where the kobold used to be, make a exclamation about how Khepri will kill every kobold, and then walk to smack kobold 7 with a dagger. ._."
 <OOC> Thoth says, "'Smack': Noun. A solid shanking to the gut."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Roll it."
 GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+1: (17)+8+1: 26
 GAME: Crik rolls damage1: aliased to 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Doesn't quite kill him, but defginitely hurt"
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Pose it."
 <OOC> Crik thummub
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Nine - Init 21.
 It is now Reithak's turn! Kobold Monster Wrangler 1 is next!

Crik managed to throw up his arms when the electricity crackles around him - but it slides off the heavy fabrics. Insulation. The egalrin makes a note of that - but he also makes a note to point at where the caster then _used_ to be.

"By the... kobold gods, it just killed him!" The corvid flaps his wings, furls them and with a half run, half hop, makes his way towards one of the archers. "Run for help!" And with another caw - drives his knife into the kobold's gut.

 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright, Reithak. Several of the Kobolds that are still alive are either disabled by injury or fleeing. What will you do?"
 <OOC> Reithak hmm
 <OOC> Reithak says, "Just weighing the options"
 <OOC> Thoth says, "Our XP is running away!"
 <OOC> Reithak will take a walk over to where the wrangler is, and attempt to get them to call off the rest of the kobolds, and not bother the village again
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright, going with Diplomacy, Bluff or Intimidate?"
 <OOC> Reithak will go with diplomacy since it's probably the one most likely to last long term
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, roll it and pose."
 GAME: Reithak rolls diplomacy: (4)+9: 13
 <OOC> Reithak says, "I'd like to reroll that."
 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright. Make sure to send in a spend +request after the plot."
 <OOC> Reithak nods
 GAME: Reithak rolls diplomacy: (11)+9: 20
 <OOC> Reithak says, "That's it for me! Posing."
 GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
 Round Nine - Init 21.
 It is now Kobold Monster Wrangler 1's turn! Thoth is next!

Reithak continues onward, dashing past the line of sight of the first kobolds, past Thoth with a passing nod, and coming to a stop near the monster wrangler. The large egalrin coughs, and looks down to where the beast rider was pinned. "Really didn't want it to come to this, but given the fact that I've got more feathers sticking out of me than I came here with, well, it's a good thing that I'm still willing to talk." Reithak huffs. "So, here it is. You leave, and call off your allies too, and I promise we won't harm you further, if you and the rest of the kobolds promise to never harm the people working here ever again or where they come from. Is that fair?"

The rider lost his helmet in the fall, it's tumbled away in the snow- crimson scales, contrasting with the blue and green of the others, adorn his features. He turns golden eyes to Glare at Reithak when she has approached, and he managed to pull a knife out to swing at them- but doesn't have the reach, leading him to sullenly glare as they speak. "Psh. Fair." he spits. "Don't care about fair. But know when I'm beat. We go. Hope fake dragon come and gobble you up. Gobble up village too." he grunts.

He finally manages to pull his leg free from under the Slurk, and lays an armored hand on the creatures side for a moment. Feels its shallow breathing, growing shallower by the moment, and then plunges the dagger into its throat to finish it off promptly. "We go!" he shouts out at the top of his lungs, that those that have not yet fled might hear him.

Thoth, after some time (and help) manages to get out of the goop covering its body, and chirps at Reithak. "Why let it go? It will just cause problems elsewhere." It asks of them as it gets up and keeps shaking its metalic feathers and legs, trying to remove the last bits of the goop. Constantly using its prestigitation ability to try and further clean itself!

As the kobolds flee, Khepri comes back around the corner again. "Not for a while," it replies to Thoth. "The kobolds lost several this day, including two of their magicians. Their leader's mount was slain, and that will have to be replaced as well." The Executor turns its gaze to its heavy khopesh, studying it. "And there are other considerations. We can discuss them later." Cleaning the blade before sheathing it, and moving to assist the others in cleanup and repairs.

Crik lets out a long breath as the kobolds finally flee, and he wipes off the blade before retreating towards the rest of the party. "Did we interrogate the leader?" He calls out from around the building's corner. "Because if there is a dragon in there with the gold," He points at the stone building. "I will not open the lock."

The corvid then stares at the crowd expectantly.

The surviving kobolds gather themselves together, one of the rangers helping to support their limping leader as they make their way out of the quarry one by one. They carry very little with them, although they do have a couple of packs of no-doubt looted food given that the cabins seem to be by now largely devoid of any supplies. Save for the stonebuilt one, with the sturdy wooden door which the Kobolds don't seem to have managed to gain access to during their occupation.

Thoth will find that after a little while, the slime grows harder and harder until it becomes brittle and crumbles off with relatively little residue. The smoke rising from the chimneys of a couple of the cabins come from meagre fires burning in their hearths, firewood supplies also seeming to have been exhausted by the kobold occupation.

Thoth chirps; "This one inquires, what is this 'fake dragon' they were heeding?" To the group, as Crik mentions a dragon with gold. "This one does not believe Kobolds would confuse a Dragon for a 'fake dragon'. It chirps.

Reithak takes a moment to sheathe their weapon, and the large egalrin sighs. "Oh, gods damn it, I didn't say I was unwilling to help, just not be dragged off and forced to." The large egalrin grumbles, but they don't give chase.

Shaking their head, the inquisitor takes a look around. "They might, or they might get the point and not try this again. We'll make sure the town is prepared regardless." The egalrin answers. "Could be my heart's bleeding from one too many arrows, suppose. But let me just say, well, egalrin know what it's like to be treated like monsters."

"That, and the false dragon they kept talking about is worrying me. I think we're going to need to look into that, and at least having a foot in the door to talk might help." She adds. "I don't think the dragon is in the stone building, but wherever they planned on dragging me back to, Crik." She adds to the other Egalrin. "I don't think they were heeding it, but they wanted to get rid of it, somehow."

"It raises certain questions, though I find it difficult to believe the miners would have entrusted their gold to any dragon." Khepri approaches the strongroom door, producing the key given by the quarry miners. The golem pauses to listen at the door, before trying the key in it, and opening it just an inch or so. Just in case, you see.

GAME: Khepri rolls Perception: (7)+12: 19

Crik lifts up his hand with the kobold bow. "It is easier to presume there are no limits to confusion." The corvid replies to Thoth, but he does evaluate the stone building. "... it is unlikely a dragon would be hiding there, though."

The egalrin walks over Reithak, and he nods repeatedly at her words. "Agreed. Something has to be here for them to abduct people to help." As far as people being treated as monsters, he pointedly rubs at his beak, staring off at the camp.

The key is hard to turn in the lock, but does work with a bit of jiggling. Likewise, the door is stubborn and moves only begrudgingly. Likely damage done by the kobolds' clumsy attempts at forcing it. But open it does, and Khepri's listening reveals no noises from within, and the peek reveals a desk strewn with ledgers and logbooks, and a decently-sized strongbox, clearly made fro transport given it has handles at each end, solidly built out of stout wood and banded generously with rivetted iron. No doubt this is the coffer they were asked to retrieve.

"This one believes this is what we seek." Thoth mentions as the group manages to open the stone house. "But this one also believes we should do what we should truly do here. We barricade in with the chest, take a rest, and prepare for the evening. This 'fake dragon' is something we should deal with, as Adventurers, yes?" The avian War Golem inquires. It always has understood that Adventurers never just do the 'bare minimum' of the requirement. "So that these people can return home safely."

"That's what we were looking for, right? That's great!" Reithak beams, patting the coffer on one of the handles, before she takes a walk over to take a look at the logs. "Reckon they'll want their documentation too, to make sure they've got everything in order."

"Appreciate the enthusiasm Thoth, but I reckon we should head back on the boat with this. It's too heavy to take with us, and a liability if we do. If we stay the night, they might scupper the boat or lay a trap for us here, too. We should head back and rest in town, that way they have their supplies, and we can ask in town if anyone know where they came from. I don't see any bodies here unless they tossed them in the ocean after all, and given the fact they gave up on that door, it isn't why they came here. People might still be alive, and we need to do what we can to help them if that's the case, or at least give some closure to their families."

Thoth points out; "This one did not see any bodies. Do Kobolds eat other biologicals?" It inquires. "This one is aware the Lizardmen..." Pause. "Sith-makar. They eat softskins. But it is uncertain if Kobolds do."

Khepri tilts its head. "Correction. There is no guarantee they had 'given up' on the door. They may have been waiting for additional tools or assistance to breach the stronghouse." The inquisitor considers its options, before nodding to Reithak. "However, I do not think remaining here is a good option. The kobolds may return with their 'false dragon'. Let us remove the coffer, and the logbooks and ledgers if possible, back to the village. They do need the money, as they stated."

Crik stares at Thoth and then at Reithak, then back at Thoth. At coffer. Then at Reithak. "Little machine might have a point. They might go hiding and wait for another season before attacking again. But if we stay, we might catch them on the look." The corvid says. "We could hide and see if anyone follows?"

The corvid then takes a look towards the boat. "Push the boat along to hide it first? We have time. But we should find more about this dragon too." And he glances at the buildings. "... and set traps." Tail bops.

The coffer is heavy- and locked, so the adventurers will have to take it on faith that it contains what it should, unless they plan to pick the lock which might upset their client. Either way, it is heavy, and takes two pairs of hands to lift and carry very carefully back down the bank, avoiding the bear traps which are still strewn amongst the snow. They return to the boat, and have an easier time back to the village, following the river's gentle current and only having to row here and there to keep the keel even. They are back to the village before nightfall, and greeted warmly and offered a hot meal and place to stay in the village's solitary Inn- as well as the promised share of the recovered coffer.

But the question of this 'fake dragon' still plagues them, as well as the lingering concern over whether letting the kobolds go free was the right choice to make. It certainly seems a situation that warrants further investigation, and so plans to return to Alexandria are forestalled for the time being.