Last time on Crown of the Kobold King, our heroes decide to explore a different part
of the underground forge, leaving the electric trap room for another time.
They head east and find living quarters.
They find the room occupied by a skeletal dwarven spirit, and Rupemore cast a heal spell
on it to lay the spirit to rest.
The spirit was unfazed and Monet learned that it was actually a gelatinous cube as her and
Rupemore became engulfed by it.
Monet was able to escape its grasp, but Rupemore was still stuck and suffocating inside the
jelly.
With a few big hits from Pig and well aimed shots by Scarab, the jelly was destroyed and
Rupemore was saved.
Our story continues now.
Rupemore, you suddenly spill to the ground from this collapsed gelatinous cube.
Sizzling on your skin, wisps of steam coming off of you, and you hear a clatter to your
side as the skeleton suspended within collapses to the floor.
You sputter for breath.
And you all find yourselves in a now silent room.
What do you do?
I'm gonna go sit on one of these beds for ten minutes.
I need to go rest.
Grab a bed!
We can all use a rest!
I need to rest in my own bed.
You're trying to go back to town!
Yes.
I almost died and so did Rupemore.
Yes, things are rough, but I understand Monet, but-
But what?
We don't know how much time the sheriff has before they take him.
Was it like a day?
Did we get a time frame?
The only thing you know is that because the sheriff has offered himself, that there will
be time for you to prove your innocence and through you his innocence.
It was only a matter of time.
At this point you would even imagine that he's probably already been apprehended.
If not apprehended, at least set under house arrest locked into the sheriff's quarters.
But we didn't get like a day.
No.
It doesn't seem to be a time frame.
But something to bear in mind is that knowing what you know of the sheriff, him being an
outspoken bastion of justice among the Creed's tyranny, the longer he is under house arrest,
the more free will the Creed's have to run their town as they see fit.
Something else you notice is that though you are once again in the dark of this room with
no light source, there is still a faint glow.
The armor that clattered to the ground with the skeleton of a dwarf within has a glow
shimmering off of it from the axe.
Now you realize the axe within the cube is what gave it its almost ghostly glow.
Oh.
And even now on the stone floor below it shines in the dark shedding light in this room.
I'd like to identify it.
Give me a check.
I will take Arcana Religion.
Religion?
Oh, 28.
The axe appears to be imbued with a spell of continual flame.
Oh!
In fact, it sheds light as if it was a torch though it gives off no heat.
Engaging from its being submerged in the gelatinous cube, you imagine the light is not extinguished
even underwater.
It requires no oxygen and gives off light as if it were a torch.
Amazing.
It's pretty good.
Furthermore, two things you note about the axe, first of which it is inscribed with a
plus one rune of potency.
And the second, it bears a dwarven inscribing along the blunt of the axe that reads Glint
Axe.
Glint Axe?
Rumor upon reading the name inscribed on the back of the axe, you realize this is the axe
of your heroic relative, Druingar.
Oh!
The Glint Axe.
Oh!
This is my cousin's axe!
Let me look at that!
Can I do a perception check or some kind of check on the axe to see how much it's worth?
Yeah, give me crafting for appraisal.
15.
Goddamn, he's called Druingar the Glint Axe.
Is this skeleton Druingar?
Reason would tell me that that skeleton is probably your cousin.
Oh!
Taken out by a jelly.
Sad.
No, no, could have just been picked up by a jelly.
Probably died from not eating food.
Good thing you're here, you can help!
Ah, looks down at the skeleton.
I think he's dead.
No dwarf left behind!
Scare of from your estimation, it being a great axe, worth 2gp on its own, a plus one
potency rune inscribed into it being worth 35, and a spell of continual flame cast upon
it worth 16 gold pieces, you estimate this piece, let alone its name and fame, to be
worth 53 gold pieces.
Is that good math?
We'll find out.
Yes, it's great math.
Rudemore, let me have a look at it.
Sure.
Scare pulls out an empty monocle from his pocket, no lens, gets real close to the weapon,
ties it up and down, the markings, the sharpness it's held, and the magic, this could fetch
a high price, I could sell it for like 75, give it here, give it here!
Oh no!
Pushes you away.
Fine, fine, but when you die I'll know where to look.
Hold on to it for now.
Looking over the remnants from the cube, the dwarven apparition as it were, appears to
be a dwarven skeleton stripped of flesh, still within a suit of gleaming full plate armor.
The remains you surmise of your cousin, Druengard the Glintax.
I did not expect this.
I thought he would be fine.
The plate still sizzles in the darkness, the remnants of the acid that linger.
But you imagine with a fair amount of cleaning it would be perfectly usable, a memoir of
your cousin.
I would like to check this armor, see what kind of armor it is.
Rup would also like to check, but wants to check for any strange scuffs or wounding to
see if he can surmise that he was...
What killed Druengard?
Sure.
Another religion?
Yeah, go ahead.
Another 19.
28.
Rupemore, nothing magical stands out about the plate.
It seems almost as if the nature of the full plate armor was too much for the cube to digest,
and instead its acidic nature has worn away any grime.
So barring the disgusting slime that is now coated on it, it is otherwise a perfectly
usable and gleaming set of plate mail.
Plate mail?
Full plate.
Can you wear heavy?
Yes, this is actually exactly what I needed.
Plus six pounds.
Plus one AC.
Um...
Don your cousin's armor?
Oh yes, I will.
Scarab rolled a 25 on checking for cause of death.
Um...
Or just... or just a deep search.
There are the barest remains of tattered leather, still in the process of being digested but
not fully digested.
You would imagine these to be the remnants of a journal.
However, the journal has been mostly, if not completely digested, barring its leather covering.
Inspecting the armor itself, there are no obvious gashes, cuts, dents, or chinks in
the armor itself.
It's almost as if Druengar may have been caught by surprise or snuck upon by the cube.
Well...
So sad, so sad, he says as he's cleaning the armor and putting it on.
Yeah Scarab totally understands.
Uh... uh...
But look what you made out with, this is pretty good!
Yes, I barely knew the guy anyway, it's fine.
I will, holding up fingers, honor him with this.
I don't know what he worshipped.
Do you... do you have any idea what he was doing?
Truly?
Uh... just looking for a way to have eternal life, that's all I know.
Go ahead and roll me.
Let's do a flat check.
Fifteen!
Searching your memory through your time in Absalom, reaming over the roughly transcribed
journal of Druengar the Glintax, you recall his intent when setting out to the Crucible
was in fact to retrieve what was rumored to be an axe made by his ancestors and by proxy
your ancestors, forged over a thousand years ago.
The axe of Droskar.
In his search and in his travels he further learned rumors of Droskar's Crucible, about
the happenings that had gone on there and in his search had found something that had
been written down only as the way to guard back from death.
The axe of Droskar.
The way to guard back from death.
And this one's not it!
This isn't the one he was looking for!
No.
Idiot!
It's not, but it's still pretty fancy.
Oh yeah!
I'll have to add the effects later.
Still figuring that out.
Like I said, if we're running out of money that'll go for a high price.
Yes, yes, I'm actually quite full on shit.
Mechanically when wielding the axe it also functions as if you're holding a torch.
Shedding light in a 30 foot radius and then dim light 30 feet beyond.
It has a level 1 continual flame on it that will only matter in the effect of counteracting
magical darkness.
It's pretty cool.
Pretty cool.
Ah, yeah so I can't move.
My bulk is at 15 and my max is 14.
I imagine it's probably your half plate you were wearing before weighing you down.
Yes.
Here, here!
I'll carry some.
We'll strap it to Pig.
We'll go back.
Very good.
Thank you.
You know at the end of the day we really haven't gotten anywhere.
And yet two of us have already almost died and we have found this Druengar dead.
We could basically just go home.
Hey, let the serf know.
He wanted to know about Druengar.
This could help.
Yes.
But maybe I should stay out.
I can hang out at the edge of the forest or something.
Ah, you'll be fine.
You'll be fine.
Have you ever been ripped from your bed in the dead of night?
Yes, but I paid for it.
But anyway, they wanted the sheriff.
The deal is on the sheriff.
You're off the hook.
I don't trust them.
I'll lay low.
Alright, just throw your hood over your head.
You'll be fine.
Totally.
So we head back to town.
One moment.
Also, among the gelatinous slime you find the remains of a now mostly eaten through
pouch containing a small number of silver coins.
Seven, to be exact.
Seven coins.
Is there anything else you want to do in this room before you leave?
I mean...
You'd inspected the southern half and began making your way north before the cube showed
up.
I'd be happy to search the room as thoroughly as I could.
Please do.
Sounds good.
I'll do that as well.
Same.
Twenty-two.
Amazing.
Thirty-seven.
Woohoo!
Sorry.
Twenty-seven.
Stupid.
Carry the one divided by the square root of a hypotenuse.
Twenty-three.
Plus fifteen to my roll.
As you each begin to search behind and underneath the beds, Rootmore, you find a slender, bone
scroll tube tucked behind the southernmost bed.
Whoa!
Bone scroll.
Bone scroll tube.
I'll just unscrew this thing and pull it out and start reading it immediately.
As you open the tube, you find a well-worn scroll within.
Oh.
It's a scroll.
Let me look at that!
Give it here!
I'm gonna roll to figure out what kind of scroll it is.
Fifteen.
What would you like me to roll?
Religion is fine.
Fancy.
Twenty.
It is a scroll of remove curse.
Oh, this is really good.
That's a good find.
Really good.
Remove curse.
Are you able to use it?
I am a cleric.
This is my specialty.
I assume.
Let me see.
Yes, it's on your spell list.
Ah, fantastic.
Good!
The rest of you find nothing else of interest and feel certain that the room has been thoroughly
searched.
Cody, why are you rolling those die over there?
What are you doing?
You're fairly certain that- Ooh!
Missed the plus three great axe.
The crossbow of kill boss.
Oh no.
I love a good sausage.
Alright.
So, uh- What level was the scroll?
Good question.
It should be the- If unlisted, it is the standard level of itself.
It is a fourth level spell.
Yeah, get a four.
Hot damn.
It doesn't seem to be level seven to use it, I think.
Correct.
High level item.
Been there, looked at that.
So that's a real good one.
But we are able to use it or do you have to have the fourth level slot?
No.
You should be able to use it as long as it is on your spell tree in which case Rune Moor
is good to go.
Yes.
Cool.
The glint axe.
Does it do any extra damage besides just the plus one to hit?
Nope.
It is a plus one potency and it has continual flame.
And continual flame itself does not do any damage.
It produces no heat, only light, as if it were a torch.
It's like an ever burning torch or whatever it's called.
Correct.
That's cool.
So the advantage here being you can use a two handed weapon and still cast light simultaneously.
That's amazing.
It also requires no oxygen so it will not be extinguished by water or gelatinous cube.
The only thing that can counteract it would be magical darkness.
That's cool friggin.
I'm so sorry if I missed the part where you said it but can you turn it off and on or
is it just forever?
It is just on.
It's fancy.
If you wanted to conceal it you could like put it in your robe or something like that.
But yeah it's just effectively it is a torch at all times with no burning.
What was it worth?
54 gold Matthew?
Uh 50 D. We could sell it.
You don't want it?
No.
Is it not better than yours?
I mean it's a plus one two hander that's D12.
I already have a Dwarven Warhacks that's plus one or not plus one but it's a D12.
You don't want a higher hit chance?
I mean I do but I already have the Warhammer which is great because it's one handed and
it's a D10.
Oh okay you're right.
Anybody else want to use his cousin's axe?
Monet you want to use an axe?
Are you unweaponed?
Do you have to be?
Can you do it?
Speak!
It would probably just make more sense to sell it because she won't use it.
I mean if you're going to sell anything sell the Sheriff's Axe because they're both the
same but this one has continual flame.
I know but I want to give back to him.
That's what sucks.
Yeah.
What no sentimental value for your cousin's weapon of choice?
The weapon of fame that gave him his name?
I barely knew him.
I was really coming here to reap off his case.
I was bored.
Fucking idiot doesn't he know we have dark vision?
So Rootmore is holding his cousin's axe, the Glint Axe, looks it up and down and he just
can't make sense of it.
First of all his cousin is obsessed with Droskar.
Fuck that guy.
And he's thinking why does my cousin, a dwarf like me, need a weapon that lights up in the
dark?
I see he sees just fine in the dark.
Why does he need a fancy torch?
Is he just parading?
Fair point.
Very odd.
Call attention to himself.
I don't understand.
I mean it's neat and all but...
Oh yeah!
Look at it!
I do like his armor.
Scarab's eyes light up.
I'm...
Ms. Monet you want to use it?
I'm fine with selling this.
I'm okay thank you.
Sure sure.
Yes I'm totally fine with going back to town.
Can I just hold on to it?
Yes yes here you go.
Here!
No love lost!
Yeah Scarab's gonna strap the axe to the back of Pig.
Hop on Pig himself.
He's cool to go to town.
Let's go.
Ready.
Alright.
Briefing the loot.
Just to get more context.
The reason Droskar's axe would have been significant to Druengar was not because it was named Droskar's
axe but because it was made by one of his ancestors.
So one of his and by extension one of your ancestors forged an axe in the name of Droskar.
So that would be the only reason he was going for it.
And then as far as him being able to see in the dark is probably irrelevant to the axe.
As a well known and renowned adventurer it is more likely that the people he would have
kept in company on adventuring expeditions probably could not see in the dark.
And so his axe was there to guide the way for others.
Axe aside.
No it's good.
I'm gonna keep that in.
It's good.
You don't have to.
No no it's good.
But playing the characters.
Yeah fuck that guy.
This guy's a fucking idiot.
What did you see in the dark?
What a dumbass with a nightlight.
I'm sure he's the one that brought all those zombies to life.
Probably we'll have to figure out.
Oh it's been shitty down here but I'm excited to see what else is down here.
Your family line is awful.
Yes yes please don't talk.
I'm really into the necromantic arts from what you said.
Gross.
It's gross.
Don't tell anybody about this jelly.
It's embarrassing.
The real way to bring something back to life is to throw it on a grill.
Oh I'm so hungry.
First thing we're gonna do is.
Scarab I'm just gonna hand you all this bullshit that I'm holding.
Yeah yeah.
I'm gonna go cook.
Beautiful.
I need a new cart.
Yes yes I'm sorry about your cart.
I mean if there are any remnants it's probably further in there.
But they totally wrecked it.
Sad.
Very sad.
What?
It's just wood.
Just wood.
They took my hammer.
I don't have a hammer or nails.
Oh no.
I've got a hammer.
I'm sure there's a shop in town that has nails.
I hate that guy.
Worst.
Yeah you're right.
You retrace your steps down a now familiar path by this point.
And before long you appear on the edge of the woods leading into town.
Trudging your way down the path past the logging camps before you end up at the gate back into
Falcon's Hollow.
Yeah Scarab is a hood up.
Okay everyone sold our stuff.
Gone some old friends into giving me more gold as well.
That sounds bad.
Just say you made a good deal.
Oh made a great deal.
Look at my gun.
Oh.
Scarab pulls out his weapon.
He's got new engravings that looks a little bit shinier than before.
Yeah you saw the money I got to buy this.
Oh.
That.
Let me read that.
Plus one striking.
Oh my god.
We're gonna get in there.
And we're gonna finish what your cousin started.
I don't know what he started but I'm down for loot.
I like loot.
Me either.
I've got some kobolds to kill.
I'm gonna stop by the sitting duck and drop off these axes.
He's holding his dwarven war axe that he never uses and the sheriff's axe.
I'm gonna stop by the sitting duck and go to sleep.
Good idea.
Yes.
Yes me too.
Yes as well.
As you step inside you are greeted once again by the shock of red hair behind the mountainous
woman in Urgantoc.
She warmly greets you smiling and raising a hand as you enter.
Welcome friends.
Come to claim your free meal and drink.
I am famished.
That is a fantastic idea.
Are we mad at her?
Scarab is.
She did present evidence against Scarab in the trial.
TBH Scarab would just go upstairs.
Quickly.
I'm a little indifferent because there is free food and drink right now.
I'll take my food and drink in my room if that's alright.
And what would you have?
What's on the menu?
Whatever the imagination wants.
I'm sure my chefs could whip it up.
Mashed bees.
It's like a full sized turkey.
Thanksgiving style.
I want my chickens clucking.
Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Fair enough.
And a drink?
Diet Coke.
Never heard of it but I'm sure we'll manage.
Do you have Pepsi?
In the back we have something that tastes like cocaine but with no sugar.
What about Pepsi?
Shut up.
Is Pepsi okay?
Yeah.
I like Pepsi.
Is this place owned by Laser Budweiser?
What is it?
So you take your meals in your room and you exchange your free voucher coupons, the leftovers
of the writ written by the sheriff.
Thank you.
You are now in your own rooms with a warm meal and a cold drink.
And not but a night to drink.
No knocks on the door.
No filthy hands touching at my bosom.
Well they didn't knock first.
No they didn't.
Rootmore puts a chair up against the door handle of his room.
Good idea Rootmore.
Fair play.
The Scarab is just sleeping in the closet.
Good idea.
Rootmore is in the closet as you go in there.
Oh hi.
Eating his full size turkey.
Oh Rootmore I knew you'd be in here.
I knew you'd be deep deep in my closet Rootmore.
No skeletons in here Scarab.
Come on in.
Just like sizzling wieners.
And you bed down for the night.
Hell yeah.
As you lay in your soft beds and your warm blankets.
Monet you toss and turn in your sleep.
Befouled by strange visions of dreams.
You find yourself once again under employ of the library in Absalom.
What?
Let me in on this dream.
I'm listening.
You push your cart along the labyrinthine shelves returning book after book after book
to its rightful place.
You can't help but overhear in the library's quiet atmosphere.
The whisperings and rumors spread by the unwitting and the unknowing.
I heard he practices necromancy.
Necromancy of all things.
Only a loser like him.
You continue performing your duty listening as you do day after day.
Before you find yourself on the upper level overlooking the lower study area.
Where once again you lay eyes on a pale and sickly looking gentleman.
One you've known now purely through rumor to be known as Rasmorg.
A failed wizard.
Untalented.
Uninspired.
Yet day after day through his cruel mocking from his classmates his inability to master
the will of magic.
You find him diligently studying.
Pouring over stacks of books.
But the day is different.
One book in particular he begins to study.
You catch glimpses.
No more does he retreat to his frantic search placing book one after another looking for
something to make him more than he is.
Instead he's been pouring over the same tone the stack of books he normally requests left
untouched beside him.
You would pay it no mind as you continue your task.
Moving throughout the shelves replacing books where they belong.
But as you watch him from above something is different.
No longer is he taking notes.
No longer is he swapping frantically from book to book.
But instead over one singular tone.
One you recognize by its cover is a recent addition to the library.
One from such Drewingar Glintax.
A copy of his recent manuscript on his travel requisition you know through the head librarian.
At no small fee from the library itself to garner more information from this famous would
be adventurer.
As he seems to fervently pour over this text flipping page after page after page.
He seems more energetic.
More alive than he's ever seemed before.
As you glance down once more between your tasks to watch him.
You see him fold the book closed.
He stands gathers his notes and you watch him place the book within his cloak before
he hurriedly makes his way out of the library.
Leaving behind a pile of pages and a stack of books.
No doubt you'll have to clean it up later.
What could have this strange downtrodden would be wizard in such a fervor that he would leave
his ritual early.
And you will wait in the next moment.
For the listener Cody wasn't reading anything he just pulled that straight out of his ass
and I applaud.
All my best things come out of my ass.
That was amazing.
I say all your best things are shit.
That also comes out of my ass.
That was awesome.
That was a joke I don't feel that way it's just it would be shit.
Is it shit because it comes out of your ass?
That's the real question here.
What makes something shit?
Yeah God's been asking himself that for a long time.
God's been just planning on making the perfect society meanwhile he's just been eating so
much.
You see what happened at the first shit he pulled out of his ass?
He got so pissed off he pissed all over it for 40 days and 40 nights.
But what the heck who's this?
Who's this guy?
Who's this man?
Who's Monet?
Hi Monet.
Hi.
Hello.
I'm Monet.
Monet who was that in your dream?
Tell me quickly.
Each of you in turn wake up as the first rays of light warm themselves upon your chest.
Unmolested you survive the night and you feel an overwhelming sense of warmth and peace
cross over you as you stretch within the morning light.
How much do we heal with the rest?
Con times level.
Stamina refilled.
Correct.
All your resolve points are back and one thing I would like to do with your permission is
cast my last heal spell retroactively.
Nope you fucked up.
Damn.
Yeah go ahead.
Okay anybody else have HP damage?
I do.
Uh pig.
Okay I will cast the three action one which is 1d8 I believe.
Oh 2d8 sorry.
We'll be generous and say you did this on the way to the setting dark.
Thank you.
That's a 12 HP.
Yay.
I'm full.
Uh hell yeah.
Okay Monet opens her eyes refocusing on the room around her.
She thinks back leaning over the railing on the upper level looking down as he shoves
the book in his jacket and leaves.
She stares up at the ceiling and she stands up and leaves the room.
I mean she gets dressed and stuff.
Naked leaves the room fully nude.
She's like oh I forgot my clothes.
Rookmoor drops his sausage oh my god you're beautiful.
Rookmoor is making breakfast right now.
Silently waiting for more.
The scarab smells Rookmoor and then he can smell the breakfast being made.
Yeah scarab and pig are gonna scoot out of the room and go to Rookmoor's room for some
breakfast.
See how good the breakfast is.
A nine.
It's fine.
You got them sausage pucks they're a little hard around the edges but hey the center's
good.
Turn them a little bit.
Now damn there it is.
Hold on.
The hot dogs are just splitting in half.
I left some hot dogs on the stove the other night a little bit too long and they just
they looked like predator mouths.
Oh that's when they're good.
It was delicious but like whoops.
Uh oh.
Something was growing in there.
Monet walks out of her room smelling the sausages and it follows the smell.
She takes a peek into Rookmoor's room seeing him with the armor of Druengar.
Oh he's like he's like downstairs in the.
Okay well yeah well wherever he is.
Just see the trail of grease.
Let me do it again.
See the trail of Druengar's armor.
He left one leg here one leg there an arm there an arm here.
Careful Monet there's sausage on the stairs don't step on it.
I can't cook in full plate.
Monet.
Stove's hot.
I dropped one and bending over is just no option.
Oops lost some armor oops lost some more armor oops.
Just gotta leave it.
Just chasing the one sausage.
Kicking it as he tries to get over it.
It's a 15 second there's a 25 second wait time on this.
And then our guy's fucking rewind that shit rewind.
My mom loves those moments.
We all have you know.
It's about laughing and friendship and getting some damn sausage in the morning.
Oh God.
Monet leaves her room following the scent of the breakfast sausage being cooked.
She walks down the stairs and sees Rubemore in the armor.
For a moment her face is just deep in thought until she sees him turn and she puts on her
mask again and is like oh hey Rubemore.
Hello sorry about the sausage.
It's not my best work but.
Not a quitter.
Yeah I can tell it smells a little burned.
Little burned but some people prefer that.
And it's adequate.
Okay.
There emotions for you to take a plate.
You know I have some rations but thank you though.
Oh no problem.
He turns around in a tear and rolls down his cheek.
Feels the weight of his god on his shoulders.
Rubemore could you perhaps throw mine on there for a little longer.
Oh of course I can yes yes.
Yes Garib.
Though it's definitely not a better taste.
Just something that he misses about charred food.
There's a bit of longing in his eyes for the burnt burnt dogs.
Rubemore makes a plate for Pig as well.
Sits it on the ground.
Look your children.
Eat up get brain worms or something.
You'll be fine I'm sure.
It's not my pig's disease.
The shanks go away just drink coffee.
Pigs eat pigs it's fine I've heard of it.
No one can speak with animals so we don't know better.
Pigs gotta eat it's fine.
Tastes like my brother.
Why is it so bad?
We should probably get going.
Yes before we do we need to talk to the sheriff.
Let him know we found my filthy cousin.
Wow your opinion of him has changed very quickly.
I was indifferent before but now.
Well it seems he clearly just juked torag.
It's bad.
It's sad but could be a reward.
Perhaps he could be redeemed.
For your sake for your family name.
Either way they wanted news maybe we get some points.
Very true.
Maybe we get a point or two from doing this.
I'm hoping to be very wrong.
We might find something to where he was a hero.
I hope you're wrong too.
Let's go.
What was that Monet?
Nothing.
I literally didn't hear you I'm sorry.
I'm sorry come again.
You'll be fine you'll do fine.
I'm with you Monet.
For real I didn't hear you.
It's fine.
Please don't make me rewind.
You'll hear it in the edit.
Okay.
Yeah Scarab is totally ready to go back to the crucible.
Sheriff's first.
You're freaking right.
Scarab's a little drunk on sausage.
Okay to the sheriff's.
Two sheriffs.
So you gather together and meander down the dirt roads of the town.
Before long you find yourself standing in front of the sheriff's office.
One thing to note different than before is now in front of the sheriff's door are two
armed guards in half-plate armor wielding howlblades.
They stand at attention on either side of the sheriff's door.
Howdy officers.
Yes we walk right in.
Before you do the howlblades cross in front of you.
What business do you have here?
Let me handle this.
Hello.
I am Scarab.
I am the one that was held to the pike above the fire.
We have business with the sheriff.
The one taking my place in this.
The two guards exchange glances for a moment.
The same who spoke before replies.
Make it quick.
I know funny business.
And their howlblades separate.
Yes yes thank you thank you.
Scarab grovels and scoots through.
We are in nothing but serious.
Monet bows her head and locks in a solemn look on her face.
As the three of you enter you find yourselves once again within the sheriff's abode.
He's in much the same way you originally encountered him behind his desk.
Not chained.
With a glass of whiskey.
The only difference being his visage is much more haggard.
Worn by concern no doubt and he no longer dons his distinct leather armor.
Instead he sits in a plain shirt behind his desk.
Toddling a small glass of whiskey.
Oh sheriff you look like shit.
His eyes brighten as you enter and he drunkenly raises a hand holding a glass.
My friends welcome back.
Um please.
And he stands up and brushes various bits and bobs off of his desk directly onto the
floor making way for you.
Please come in.
Oh no.
Geez it's been a day.
It's crazy he's got like fourteen sonic cups.
Any news please.
You've apprehended the kobolds perhaps.
No but check this out.
Scarab's gonna point to Rootmoor.
You are wearing the armor right?
Yes.
Yeah yeah yeah.
Yeah yeah yeah see look see.
We found Druungar.
You found him.
Yes.
Uh dead.
Super dead.
Eee.
The sheriff's face.
Now I'm kind of realizing this isn't good news.
It's just news.
There is a an air of shock to the sheriff's face but a solemn understanding as you gesture
to Rootmoor in his new gleaming full plate.
Check it out.
Hey you still tied up huh?
Doing okay?
So you did.
In a sad turn it seems Druungar has met his end.
He was stuck in a slime.
A slime?
And it ooze I guess.
Jelly.
Like a gelatinous cube.
Wow.
Yes.
What do you know about this?
I know it's a sad and unfit ending to an adventurer as brave as Druungar.
Have you found anything else?
Did he leave any notes?
Any anything?
Speaking of why he was there what he had found.
Not quite.
We were pretty beaten up at the time.
That's pretty much it.
We haven't found anything that he discovered but there is still a labyrinth to explore
down there.
There is a trap room which was crazy.
Like electric and magnetic powers.
There were uh... there were cobalt?
Yes they fled but we are on the pursuit.
They have nowhere to run.
And listen.
I can tell by the drink and everything you are stressing but stress not.
We will not stop.
We will continue finding proof of these cowardly cobalts.
You can see obviously an air of shame on the sheriff's face.
As you examine his state he's obviously disheveled.
His facial hair has begun to grow in as if he's not shaved.
This uh... there is very little to do as you understand aside from drink while under lock
and key.
They have been kind enough to allow me free reign of my small sheriff's office but there
is not much to do in the free time.
Understand I would probably do the same thing.
They given you enough to eat?
Hardly.
Well I've got plenty of sausage.
Do you do?
Yes, yes.
My breakfast wasn't that fantastic but I've got ten minutes I can whip something up right
here.
I've not eaten since last night.
Oh.
It's happening.
They've not looked...
The creeds have seen it fair enough to not raid my office affording me the luxury of
being able to drink while I wait but my stores of dried meats have run low and your delectable
sounding breakfast sausage I have only thought about since our meeting last night.
Okay.
Rupor slams down his grill on the ground and he's gonna make some fucking sausage for our
hero here.
Come on baby.
Come on.
Don't forget your pee pee.
Shit.
Yeah we're gonna use a pee pee for this.
Yeah baby.
Fucking use a pee pee.
We're gonna use a pee pee.
Just in case.
I knew it was gonna be a shit roll.
You gonna kill this poor man with your food?
There we go.
19.
It's delicious.
Oh hell yeah.
You can see him visibly salivating as you hand him the breakfast sausage and he as he
eats it there's a moment in which you think he almost might cry.
His face immediately grows with a warm pink hue and he exclaims loud even though it's
only been a day never have I tasted a meal so sweet.
Thank you Rupor for your kindness, your generosity and your heroics.
I think I'll wait outside and give you all a moment.
You deserve it.
Our friend here is standing here because of your generosity.
I'm super gracious but seriously man you look like shit.
You look terrible.
It's been less than 24 hours or I guess it's been about 24 hours.
Either way I think you were married to your job.
You might want to seek therapy to find better ways through this other than just forcing
yourself not only to not eat but to somehow lose whatever food you had before the incident.
It's crazy man you need to seek help.
Scarab.
You've always been a wise and true friend to Falkensoller.
Why is your foot black?
It's the diabetes.
Just already like that.
Without medical aid it's set in quick.
Good lord.
I have always trusted you and I knew in that moment though I feared for my life I knew
that you were the one that I could place faith in.
Of course.
That's me.
Yes he saved my life and Monet's life last night.
Stress comes not from the job.
Even though it was a mantle I never wished to adorn it was something that once thrust
upon me I knew Falkensoller needed.
Now the weight of my burden is bore by the idea that the creeds have sought me out ever
since my rebellion against Payday.
Even now I know that this was all just a ploy.
You were pawn in their plan to get to me.
They do not stand for those who rebel against their ways and they would have me punished
for it.
But because I was elected sheriff by this town unanimously through democratic and true
process.
They could not but now they have reason.
The weight only hangs heavy on me my friend for fear that despite your efforts that they
might get their way and they might send a message to the rest of Falken's Hollow that
there is no withstanding the creeds.
Tell me though I am grateful for your finding of Druun'gar's fate have you made any headway
on securing your innocence.
Have you brought forth any of the true scale Kobolds who might proclaim their responsibility.
No we are to head right back find the true scales alive or dead and perhaps even find
Drosgar's axe whatever we were looking for in the first place whatever your cousin was
looking for we'll find it and my innocence if not my innocence I'll skip town.
You'll figure it out sheriff I'm sure.
Die.
No I'm kidding we got you we're gonna do it we're gonna save the city.
Scarab please these are not the time for jokes.
I hope I hope in whatever way that you are able to clue your name because I believe you
innocent and it is only by that belief that I here remain under lock and key.
Do not let my obviously disheveled and worn demeanor dissuade you.
I am simply not used to being under confinement.
I do believe in you I do believe in your goodwill towards Falcon Zollo.
Sheriff is there a cemetery in this town or is it further away.
There is on the outskirts of town for sure for our fellow our fellow trepidors who undercame
an unceremonious circumstance felled by tree or beast.
Either way let's hope there's enough room for say four or five bodies and make one of
them real big hole.
Oh I get it I know who you're talking about you're talking about payday aren't you.
Within a week.
Scarab winks.
There is no small part of me that finds great humor but my sincerest wish dear scarab is
that you and your comrades are able to find safe escape from whatever dire threat lies
inside their crucible.
I hope you are able to bring forth some form of evidence or witness to clear your name
and by extension mine but I also hope that in your venture to discover whatever it is
whatever greatest secret lies beneath Falcons hollow that you are able to return safe.
I thank you for what you have found so far.
I thank you for returning.
Dringars armor and axe.
Even if only briefly.
Now I know what happened to our fair citizen.
But in lieu of that we have greater trouble.
Free me first find a way and when we are out of the grasp of the creeds maybe then and
only then.
We can solve the deeper rot and cause.
We'll find the true scales.
Well I'm ready.
Oh yes I'm ready.
Oh.
Mornay's outside let's go get her.
I have very little left over.
So for you I raise a glass.
She meant it's like eight in the morning.
It's very very very little to do when under lock and key.
Exactly.
You remember quarantine it didn't matter.
Just fucking drink it's fine.
It's not wearing shoes or socks.
Tosses back the fingers.
No armor or axe.
Just wiggling his feet.
I am no sheriff no more.
Good luck my friends.
Later man.
So walk outside Mornay is standing next to the car.
It's like.
Nudging them.
Man he's real drunk.
Wouldn't know.
Stay outside.
Mind my own business.
Creed's orders.
Do you smell it?
No.
It's why we keep the door closed.
Wouldn't want it.
Don't wish it.
He's in there flirting with a dwarf.
Well it's his business.
Free country, free world.
Very boring.
Inundating.
Awful.
What do you all talk about?
Weather.
Games.
Women.
Also kind of boring.
Boring.
Inundating.
Repetitive.
Yeah.
Alright.
Door slams open.
Oh thank god.
Mornay.
Are these two bothering you?
No.
Great.
Bothering.
Joining in conversation.
Passing the time.
It's about in.
Oh look a dragon.
Let's go.
Dragon.
Drake.
Why then?
Down into the dumps we go.
Oh look this is where the slime died.
One step out the door, one step into the dungeon.
You strike out on yet now a far familiar path.
Further into the woods, past the cobalt tracks now worn down.
Past the river and back in front of the old chapel.
Past your way through the halls.
Passing doors and traps long disassembled before you find yourself fresh down the stairs
into the main antechamber of the lower story.
Once again you find yourself in this room with a strange stone obelisk made of some
reflective black obsidian and the walls coated in strange dwarven runes.
Depictions of events past.
Okay team.
I guess maybe back to the left.
Past the slime room.
Yeah we could do that.
What was so important about this obsidian?
Could be worth something.
I don't think we rolled on it.
Is there a roll we can do?
You haven't done any rolls on anything in this room.
As far as the obelisk?
Sure you can do a religion roll.
Alright.
27.
Hey!
I got a plus one.
Nine.
What remains of the monolith as it has been chipped away and worn by time is the proud
depiction of a dwarven man standing on a forge.
At its base there are the bare remnants of arms and legs of what you assume to be dwarves
in supplication bowing and worshipping.
Said dwarf.
You imagine this, Rubemore, to be a monument or sculpture in worship of Droskar.
Carved from pure obsidian.
Much of it has been worn away and chipped away, presumably by the kobolds cut away in
large and small swaths, chips of reflective obsidian glass.
You also note in this room a series of dwarven carvings on the walls.
What do these say?
You're welcome to take ten minutes to decipher them if you'd like.
I would like to read all of it.
As you begin to pour over the carvings on the wall, they depict many dwarven runes and
murals depicting worship to Droskar.
You're able to make out some of the prayer that seems to be carved into the wall.
Coil is the only true path to salvation.
Those who will not work shall have their blood boiled in the dark furnace for all time.
There is no decadent paradise awaiting after death as our corrupt ancestors claimed.
Only industrious labor in Droskar's forge awaits the faithful.
This work is its own reward.
The unfaithful, they will serve in the end.
Their blood and bones shall stoke the fires of our industry.
The world will burn to the glory of Droskar.
Droskar is dark as hell.
Damn.
You can think of Droskar as like the anti-Torag.
Yeah.
Rather than taking pride in one's work under Torag, Droskar is the ideology that one must
toil and if one will not, then one only serves as fuel for the fire of toil.
Yeah, this guy's messed up.
Capitalism!
Kind of like pre-1950s capitalism being, you know, Torag and post-1950s capitalism being
Droskar.
Not to get political.
Yes, let's run down this hallway and then run north.
Running needlessly.
Slowly walking while listening.
Fervently without caution.
I'd like to check for traps as we walk along.
I'm hunting prey on that kobold.
As you make your way north through the western hallway, Scarab, you distinctly can make out
what the others hear.
A faint, distant shouting in kobold.
A draconic uproar that seems a barking of orders followed by a smaller cry of excitement
or anger.
But I can't make out what they're saying.
It's very muffled and very hard.
It's kind of just a...
Baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa
Bunch of whiters.
Anybody got stealth?
I can stealth.
Scarab.
Oh.
Scarab's trained.
I just want to get...Scarab's gonna try to get cool.
If cool with you guys.
Scarab wants to try to get a little closer to see if he can tell what they're saying.
As you approach the end of the hall, there are a set of hinged swung double doors that
are partially open.
And from them you can hear a loud commotion.
There is a distinct, louder kobold voice commanding others to one at a time attack and retreat.
I know you want to stealth, Scarab, but they're going to hear me.
So stay back.
Alright.
Let me just see if I can hear what they're saying.
You hear this faint shouting as you're moving up the hallway.
What else do you want to do?
Can I move slowly closer and listen in to see if I can figure out what they are doing?
Yes.
At the end of the hall you do note a set of double doors that tend to be swivel doors
that seem partially ajar.
Scarab is going to...let's say, is it at the end of this hall that you have showing us
here?
Correct.
The spaces revealed to you that's the end of the hall, beyond rightward ends, swivel
doors.
Think kitchen doors.
I don't know if you guys want to get in place, but Scarab is going to step up right there.
Do we need stealth checks to get that far?
Give me stealth checks.
I would like Rootmore to move as far as possible without doing a stealth check.
Move up one space behind Pig and to the right.
Pig is about halfway up the far hall.
Scarab up next to the doors.
Scarab, if they come to you, draw them into the hallway.
Got it.
What about you, Monet?
What are you doing?
Monet is going to follow behind Scarab trying to be as stealthy as possible.
Roaming stealth check.
16.
6.
Okay.
Hell yeah.
Good to start it.
Scarab from the cracked swivel doors you can actually see through and in front of you,
at least through the narrow crack, you're able to see the beginnings of what appears
to be some sort of mess hall.
But the tables have been overturned and in the middle of the hallway ahead of you, you
can see a pure white kobold with black horns speaking to a purple looking kobold that you've
encountered once before.
You overhear in Draconic something to the effect of the white ones concern that King
Merlocrep will learn of his favorite singing halfling having escaped before the purple
one leans in and whispers something to him upon which his Draconic visage turns towards
the door and he barks to his others.
Prepare for an attack on two fronts.
In that moment there, Scarab presses himself against the wall and looks back down the hallway
to make sure we're not being followed.
Roll perception.
Get your thumb out of your mouth.
Listen up, it's Roll for Perception.
Adrian.
Hey.
26.
You are the species, I'm the extinction.
You know I've never seen any of those movies.
None of the Rocky movies?
No.
I've seen the first one.
I just couldn't give a shit.
That's...
Boxing's a great sport.
Anyway, what'd you get, Scarab?
I do love boxing.
I don't know if I would like...
I haven't seen...
Emma does too.
We all watch together.
I ain't seen the Rockies neither.
I'm a bad boy.
Uh, 26.
Okay.
I'm sorry, that was a...
26 perception to see if we're being trailed.
You do not see anyone coming up the hall behind you.
Okay.
As you swivel your head around to look, it just seems like there's a warning coming from
a familiar kobold to another kobold, the second of which barks out a command to some unseen
force of kobolds to prepare for an attack on two fronts.
Yeah.
It just makes me immediately wonder if there's another entrance to this room, or...
Are they the ones attacking on two fronts, or are they being attacked from two fronts?
That's where my brain's at.
Show what you can see from the crack in the door.
I think they're being attacked on two fronts.
That's what you can see from your crack in the door.
Huh.
Just because of my inexperience, is a white kobold...
The white...
Is the purple kobold the one that we came across, or is that the undead one?
From your vantage point, that's the one that you let leave underneath the bed earlier in
the chapel.
Just making sure.
Now the white one, is that weird?
In a sense.
It's a little unique, but most of the kobolds you've encountered so far, including the undead
one, either or warm colored red hues, or even in the case specifically of the undead one,
a yellow hue.
Yeah.
Would you allow a sneaked perception check on the white one?
What are you looking for?
A straight up creature perception check.
Give me a society check.
Okay.
Suck a baby niren.
Yeah, I like him.
14.
The only thing you can discern from him is A, that he appears to be a kobold of some
superiority, i.e. something in a form of leadership, and B, something you notice, is a rather strange
looking weapon at his side.
Something that appears to be a series of claws on a chain.
Not like a flail though, like just a...
It's bad whatever it is.
It's probably going to inflict bleeding or some sort of terrible, terrible...
Scarab's going to quietly relay this information.
What do you think, Monet?
I can see you two.
We can hear more.
And the one we're looking for is right there.
This is what saves the captain.
I'm just going to call it a rumor.
Take your time.
Take your time, buddy.
If I take one more step, it'll be the furthest away from home I've ever gone.
No, but if he does go further, they're going to hear him.
Yeah, I know.
That's the thing.
Well...
Could be.
I mean, Monet rolled a six.
I rolled a six.
Oh, fantastic.
Let me roll a stealth check.
Because they are in there, they're shouting.
Right, you hear the shouting as you're walking up.
And then as you go to peek in, everything kind of quiets down a little bit.
You see a familiar purple kobold whispering into the ear of a unfamiliar white kobold.
16, stealth check.
Hey, yo, buddy.
Where do you want to move?
Oh, door's open.
Let's...
Fuck it, right?
Let's go right here.
I feel like maybe we should wait and see.
See if they disperse.
See what the second front is.
We could hold.
They're not necessarily off guard right now.
It's tough.
It's tough, tough, tough.
What do you guys think?
You could try and talk to them.
Yes, the kobolds.
I mean, I'm a dwarf, I could just walk in and be like, oh, I haven't seen you here in
my home.
Greetings.
I don't know.
Greetings, I belong here.
Gosh.
I wonder if this one is the kobold king.
Maybe.
Well, no, he was talking about somebody else.
I would relay that information.
I don't remember the name.
You remember the white one saying, King Merlocrep will learn that his favorite singing halfling
has escaped.
Rootmaw, walk in there and start singing.
Something about a singing halfling.
Dwarves and halflings are...
Yeah.
That's kind of rude, but I get what you're saying.
And that's a fantastic idea.
I could start singing.
Wait.
He's about to start singing.
No, dude.
I literally was going to start singing.
Everyone's supposed to put to singing.
Rootmaw, fucking wait.
Do you have a head covering or anything?
No, just my bald head and my magnificent beard.
Monet, do you have any clothes we can put on?
A rag, a sack.
Monet's wearing a...
Cover him like he's a prisoner.
Promically large sun hat.
As you're planning, you hear a shuffling in the room.
One second, one hot second.
I need to check my gear.
If we have a sack or something or a blanket, I have a...
Yeah, Monet has her hat or her scarf.
Scarab's going to take his bedroll, which I'm sure is smaller than normal bedrolls,
and toss that over Rootmaw.
Holding it in the back.
It's loose.
This thing could just fall off.
I'm not tying it around you, but he's holding it so it looks like you're held up in it.
If allowed.
You do that, grab onto the back of it, and say, Rootmaw, you got the right idea, but follow me.
Monet will push herself against a wall.
Yeah, Monet, stay here.
Are you still on Pig?
No, Pig is back in the hallway behind Monet.
Do me a favor, roll me a perception check.
I don't like this.
27.
Just be a halfling, be a seahalfling.
As you scheme and plan from the hallway outside, you glance back through the crack in the doors,
and you see that after the message has been delivered by the Purple Cobalt,
that it turns and runs through a northern door that you can only barely glimpse
before the door swings shut and it disappears.
Ooh, let me check one of my abilities real quick.
I just need to make sure, I'm pretty sure with my pistol arrow skill I don't need to have my weapon in my hand.
I hope you know this is all a joke, right? I'm not gonna lie to them.
No, we just have to catch them off guard.
Just sing. That's it.
I have a good singer.
I'm sure.
Okay, cool.
Scarab's gonna walk in there.
Holding this sheet blanket bedroll around Rootmoor.
No weapon in hand.
He's gonna slam the door open, and in draconic he's gonna say,
I found the halfling!
I'm a singing man. I like to sing and I like to wear shoes.
Rootmoor, roll me a performance check and roll me a deception check.
I did not lie.
For Scarab.
Okay, for Scarab.
Now I'm gonna go ahead and move you into the room.
Performance, yes.
One behind the other and I will reveal the room as such.
Okay.
Okay. I like it.
Okay.
A dancing fool.
My goal is to entertain, not deceive.
As you push your way into the room, immediately the first thing you notice is three kobolds to your left,
each touting a shoddy spear.
The furthest to the west is standing over the corpses of three dead kobolds,
leading to an opening to another room, which seems to be barricaded.
And ahead of you is a now surprised looking pure white kobold with black horns staring stupefied before you.
Rah!
What's your scheme again?
I like to sing, I like to dance, I will make delicious hot dogs.
Performance check.
Ah, 17.
And Scarab, your deception.
22, to make you believe that I believe I have found the halfling.
I like to sing and I'm definitely a halfling.
I like food and I'm special because I'm medium sized.
I can't see with this bag over my head.
The kobold before you, the one adorned in pure white scales, seems visibly confused,
as do the other three kobolds who glance at each other uneasily.
This is so stupid.
The other looks over at the window, halfling is running away.
What the fuck?
Exactly.
The white kobold's eyes narrow as he looks at you, Scarab.
The halfling ran into the kitchen.
How is it that you captured him outside of his barricade?
Because I'm not a halfling and he throws the fucking bedroll up his head and starts swinging.
There was more, there was more.
Roll for initiative.
Damn it!
You literally have food on you!
Here we go.
Come up, lie.
You weren't lying, Scarab was.
I was lying!
You can't work with dwarves.
Let's see here.
Okay, not bad.
Alright, Brutemore, what'd you get?
Twenty-one.
Monet, what'd you get?
Twenty-two.
Oh, fancy.
Scarab, you may roll stealth if it is, or sorry, you may roll deception if it is higher, and what do you want?
My perception is higher, I got a twenty-three.
Wow.
Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three.
Pretty good, yes.
Brutemore, what's your modifier?
It is a plus eleven, so that kobold can go fuck itself.
Actually, according to the rules...
According to dictionary!
Whenever there's a tie, the creature always wins.
Oh, really, that's a new thing.
I thought it was player wins.
I thought it was a roll-off, because that's more fun.
I mean, you're the ruler.
Yeah, whatever you want to do, but I'm just letting you know, according to the rules, creature always wins.
Well, you know, you actually beat the creature, so your modifier is greater, we will give you the go.
That's very generous of you.
As you wrench the covering off of Brutemore, immediately the shrewd white kobold screeches,
It's an attack!
Damn right.
Scarab, you are first to act as you see Brutemore rip this disguise off of him.
What do you wish to do?
I'm going to fire at that white one.
With a PP.
Give me, give me, give me, give me.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Right into your thumb.
You can keep it over there, just set it aside.
I just got excited when you grabbed for it.
I'm excited, buddy.
I want to put up my PP.
Reach out for me, PP, I'm going to give it to you.
Yep.
Give me a roll to hit.
First roll was a one, second roll was an 18.
Wow.
18's a hit.
Holy shit.
No, no, no, no, not total.
It's going to be a 29 to hit.
That's a critical.
Damn right.
Kobold in white.
Yes, finally.
Oh, yes indeed.
Swapping the D10s.
My gun.
We just paid for a striking rune.
Yes! Oh my god.
Which gives me another die of attack.
But also, when I land a crit with this weapon,
the die size for my attack goes from a D6 to a D10.
Is that 4D10?
It goes from a D6 to a D10.
I get an extra D10 because it's a crit.
And I get another D10 because it's a gun.
Not a super great roll, but pretty dang good.
That's going to be 20 piercing damage.
20 damage.
Yes.
Which is very good, but a little bit more, but that's fine.
I rolled about half.
That's nutty.
Okay.
In catching your opponent off guard, you whip your pistol in his direction
and let off a shot.
The bullet rips through the air and tears a massive chunk
out of this Kobold's shoulder, and he immediately
screeches out in pain, but determination.
If we fail, we die!
Well, that is correct.
Yeesh.
Except you.
What else you got?
Let's keep you alive.
And fail, I hope you do!
Oh, I totally forgot to move my ten paces.
Hands off the chest piece. I'll stay there.
Uh-oh.
I got too excited to shoot my gun.
Um...
Two actions.
Draw. Fire.
It's free action to draw.
I did four of my ten paces.
I did the free action draw, but I didn't do the free action move ten paces.
Or that.
Um...
See, I've only used one action.
Screw it. Let's have fun.
Scarab's going to reload and fire again on the same one.
Uh, 16 to hit.
It is a miss.
Okay.
Bam.
That's it.
Monet.
Uh, first thing Monet will do, she still has her elements channeled from last time.
So she will, uh...
Even after her rest?
Your show, right?
So she will channel her elements.
Uh, then she will immediately discharge them to put on her earthen armor.
Are there any rocks around?
Never mind.
She'll just channel her elements.
There's stuff in the room.
It is a mess hall.
She doesn't have the actual economy for it.
Quite a mess.
Yeah, because it's elements discharged for stone form elements again.
Yeah.
Well, because I was gonna... I keep doing that.
I did that last time too where I'm like, sure I think she can throw, but telekinesis effectile is two actions.
Okay.
Uh, that's it. That's her entire round.
Alright, and Rootmore, you're next.
Oh, beautiful.
First thing we're gonna do is take a step towards this leader kobold.
And as you do...
This is actually a step. Doesn't provoke any reactions.
It sure doesn't, but...
Okay.
You're right.
Go on.
It doesn't, but...
You work.
And...
Therefore...
Also...
Though...
So...
Good evening, my friend.
You're gonna start a dialogue now?
I hope my singing was good.
Watch me destroy your buddy.
He's gonna swing at the regular kobold to his southwest.
Okay.
Roly hit.
With a vicious swing.
I've got a bad feeling about this dead kobold on the floor.
I've got a feeling they're not gonna be dead for long.
That is a 12 to hit.
There's a miss.
And that is it for Rootmore.
Good round.
Thank you.
Alright, up next...
I was talking to Matt.
...is...
I had an okay one.
Up next is the white kobold, who immediately...
...barks an order in draconic to the kobold to your southwest.
If you don't kill him, I will kill you!
And begins to move, triggering your reactive strike.
Ah, yes.
He gets a bonus...
...as he does, so please make your attack.
This really sucks because...
...I want to do a non-lethal.
So it's gonna be minus two for me.
Just kill him!
Ah, but the sheriff, come on.
He already took 20 damage though.
Like...
Yeah, non-lethal.
Here we go.
That's what I wanted to do.
That's what we're gonna do.
Yes.
Uh...
29...
27 to hit.
Oh yeah.
That's a hit.
Okay.
D10.
Six bludgeoning damage.
Okay.
The kobold sees you swing, and as you do, he begins to pirouette, attempting to dodge your strike.
But...
Your hammer lands true, clipping the side of his back, drawing blood...
...as he spins away and moves 10 feet more to the north.
Before he draws a weapon from his side, a strange series of claws...
...on a chain, which he begins whirling above his head.
And as he does, he swings the chain in your direction.
Uh oh.
24 hit.
That's a hit.
Ah!
He's just taking up Kong Pals.
Betty, he has the chain in.
Hits him in the back, and it freezes.
One thing I learned.
Clawed hands.
Really hurt.
Whatever he said.
You take six points of piercing damage.
Whoa!
Yeah, you got pretty good health.
That's actually seven points of piercing damage.
Okay, and that is his turn.
To which it moves to the kobold warrior to your southwest.
Who, emboldened by the threat from his superior, will attempt to strike you with his shoddy spear.
This is a 20...no, sorry.
A 19 to hit.
Clangs off of root mirror...root mirror.
Root mirror!
Root mirror shield!
You're gonna AC higher than 19?
21, exactly.
It will then attempt the same.
And it will clang again before a third, sad and desperate attempt.
Which also clangs off of your armor.
Oh, you can't touch this.
Which one of you ran away yesterday?
It's the one that went further past them.
Another kobold, southwest of the one that attacked you, Rootmore, will move forward and attempt to strike...
...at scarab with a shoddy spear.
Ooh.
17 to hit.
Uh, miss.
Very nice.
17 is a miss, okay.
As you dodge the spear, it arches its arm backwards and attempts to hurl the spear at you.
And also misses.
The spear going far into the room before clattering against the wall.
Scarab throws up one middle finger at that kobold.
Screw you, buddy!
The third kobold, seeing your display of deception, will move 20 feet in order to skirt behind scarab...
...and attempt to stab at you with another spear against your flat-footed AC.
Uh...
That is a 21 against your flat-footed.
Oh, shit.
If that doesn't hit you, I'm gonna be amazed.
No, it's a hit, it's a hit.
Yeah.
I just have a couple new reactions I haven't used yet.
Oh.
You take seven points of piercing damage as the spear lodges itself in your shoulder.
That goes straight through my stamina, right?
Just straight into the HP?
JK, buddy, good.
I mean, what's your stamina at?
It's less than seven, then yes.
Nah, I just, I do kind of wish there was like a piercing mechanic like that.
Um, there are some like spells and stuff that say, if it says, like, it, if it says it does damage to hit points...
...then it goes straight to hit points.
Apologies, there is a small addendum to that damage.
It is actually four more damage.
Oof.
Why?
So, 11 total.
Why?
Because the kobold warrior does 1d4 precision damage against flat-footed creatures.
Oh, shit.
Oh, damn.
As it sneaks around behind you to do a sneak attack.
Uh, the last thing that happens is the door that you saw the purple kobold go through.
You see the door get kicked open, revealing the purple kobold as a dagger flies towards you, Rootmore.
Oh.
Uh, that is a 23... 21 to hit.
Sorry.
That is exactly a hit. Oh!
For seven points of piercing damage.
Oh, no!
Taking a spanking up here!
And as the door flings open and the dagger flies at you, you see before the door swings shut...
...the back of that kobold turn as it begins running down the hallway.
Little bastard!
Scarab.
How's scarab looking right now?
Is it pretty beat up?
Uh...
You got seven points of stamina left.
Okay, good.
But if I stand here and take shots from these guys, it's just gonna be add or die.
So...
First things first, reload and I'm going to shoot the one, uh, to the west of me.
Is reload a manipulative action?
Yeah, I don't know.
I am not seeing anything that gives reload the manipulative action.
Although I do think that's strange because normally one needs to manipulate to draw from...
...like, you know, pouches or anything like that.
Which would trigger, but it does not seem like it.
I just see the word interact.
I don't see manipulation.
Yeah.
It isn't raw though. So that's up to you.
No, you're okay.
So...
What do you want to do?
Just reload my weapon.
Okay.
I would like to reload my weapon and fire on the guy to the west of me.
Go for it.
And hope for the best.
28 to hit.
Critical hit.
Yes!
Rock-o-ball number two!
Blast!
Yes, finally!
Play another one, play something else!
Be-bong-bing-bong-bong!
Oh, good lord.
That's going to be a 25 piercing.
Oh, murder town.
Your shot splits the head of the kobold open and it dies immediately.
Oh, yes.
Um...
Scarab, not for an action, is going to quickly turn back at the one that hit him and give him the stink eye.
As his friend slumps to the floor behind him.
And then Scarab's going to run away, provoking attacks of opportunity.
There are none.
Okay.
That's it.
Scarab is physically shaking and covered in blood.
Monet, it's your turn.
If I go here, does that count as flanking with root mirror?
Yes, it does.
Okay.
And is this kobold, is that a difficult terrain?
No, he's small.
You can step over him.
Sweet.
So Monet will move to get behind the kobold.
So you rush into the room, stepping over the dead body and position yourself between the kobold and the root mirror southwest.
Yes.
That's what I was about to say.
And he's what I was about to say.
Oh, look, we're flanking.
I was about to say it to the kobold.
Root mirror claps.
Im...
Claps and jumps in place.
You're catching him off guard.
And, yeah, Monet will...
Fire off an elemental blast.
That was a miss.
She will...
Are you sure?
Do you get crit miss issues?
No.
A miss?
No, there's no crit miss.
It was a natural four, so unless an 11 hits.
It does not.
Yeah.
So she'll try again.
Even against its flat-footed AC.
That is a 16 to hit against a flat-footed AC.
16 is a hit.
Oh, yes.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure these dudes are 17 or 18.
I'm sorry, that was so wrong.
I mean, it doesn't...
That plus two.
Pardon?
18.
It doesn't...
An 18 to hit.
I did math wrong.
That is a hit.
Okay.
What the...
I don't have magic sounds ready to go.
I mean, we are just using guns, right?
Okay.
Nice axe.
Six piercing damage.
All right.
Try Sonic's new elemental blast.
There's a...
There's a 5% chance that the bottom will just fall out of your cup.
I forgot about that Sonic blast.
Nice one.
The elements of your attack riddle the kobold with holes, causing blood to pour profusely
from him, and he slumps, haggard, but still standing.
Little punk?
That's it.
That's her turn.
Rootmoor.
Well, little man, you're not escaping.
We need to bring you back to our town for questions.
And he's going to step towards the white leader kobold, and he's going to vicious swing his
war hammer.
Non-lethal.
Non-lethal, thank you.
Viciously.
So non-lethal's a minus two?
Yes.
Rootmoor swang at the leader kobold for 17.
Swung.
Swang.
Swing.
Swang.
17, and that's already with the minus two?
That is with the minus two.
That's probably a miss.
17 hits exactly.
Yes!
Oh!
Hell yeah, hell yeah.
Okay.
Sick.
14 bludgeoning damage.
That's huge.
Your hammer collides with the kobold's face, and you see its eyes roll back in its head
as it falls to the ground unconscious.
Yes!
Nice.
Oh my god.
Beautiful.
That's it for Rootmoor's turn.
Wow, wow, wow.
Well, it would have been that kobold's turn next, but instead his compatriots, seeing
their leader fall, begin to flee.
Oh, where you going?
Don't let them get away, they'll regroup!
Scarab, you see the other one run past you.
And it is your turn, Scarab.
Scarab is going to reload his weapon yet again.
And fire at the kobold that just ran past him.
Yes!
Fire at pig.
Oh, you're gonna one-shot this guy.
50 feet away, still in your first increment.
Oh, actually.
No, no, no.
He's gonna go back into the room to the white one that Rootmoor just knocked out.
Pee on him.
Gonna shoot him in the face.
No, I'm gonna do the raconteur's reload.
I'm gonna try and get this guy's attention as he's running away.
Okay.
Try to trip him up.
Deception against Perception DC for distraction.
Yep.
Hey, friend, wait!
Your leader!
He's getting back up!
He's calling for you!
16 deception.
Success.
Hell yeah.
Okay, so now he's flat-footed to this shot.
It's not a good one.
I think it's a miss.
Let's startle.
I rolled a 13.
Just missed.
Yeah.
Shot goes over his shoulder, clinging off the stone walls as you see him running and rounding
the corner.
Okay, I've got one more action.
Yeah, one more action.
Ah, oh well.
Scareb's gonna reload.
That's it.
Monet.
Monet is going to attempt a two-action moment of her life with the PP.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
On who?
On the unconscious one.
Just kidding.
On the one that's running away to the south.
The southernmost?
Yeah.
Did you move first?
Yes, I did move.
Okay.
So she moved for one action.
I'm gonna give it a very small cover bonus because you're shooting past Scareb.
And at the same height.
She can actually get in front of him with her movement in one action.
Okay.
I just, I just went.
That's fine.
Roll the hit.
Roll it.
With PP.
Natural 20.
I had to double check.
Oh my god.
I had to double check because look.
Yes, finally.
Yeah.
So I had to check to see if the one was on the other side.
It's a skull.
And I'm like, is that a one or a 20?
Oh, yeah.
What's the critical success on that?
Double damage.
Hell yeah.
You're gonna murder that thing.
A cord?
Yeah.
Straight up kill him.
Oh, you need a card?
It is a natural 20.
That's right.
I forgot about the cards.
Magical crit.
Magical crit is the best crit.
Bomb or spell.
Oh no.
The target laughs uncontrollably until the end of its next turn.
While laughing it is slowed one and can't use reactions.
All right.
That's so sad.
Maybe we can walk out of here with two.
He's not gonna live.
This is going to murder him.
Not necessarily.
It could.
Double damage.
Double damage though.
I think you just gotta get like.
He's in the 20s.
Oh my god.
I rolled two sevens.
Plus what?
Plus four.
Times two.
Yeah, that's two.
So 14 plus four.
18?
Yeah.
18.
18 piercing damage.
As your projectiles riddle the back of this kobold the magic takes hold over his body and you see his arms and legs go wild as he lifts into the air and you hear.
Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Vaporized.
Into a thin mist of blood that speckles onto the floor.
Scared claps wildly.
Yeah!
Oh beautiful.
It's like confetti but blood.
That was disgusting.
Oh my god.
And you are out of initiative.
Says you.
Rude Morr runs forward.
Just kidding.
Oh damn.
The last of the kobolds is quelled in the hallway before.
Rude Morr you hear from the southwest part of the room a call that comes out from over a barricade blocking what you assume to be another room.
Are you friend or foe?
And that's the end of our story today.
That depends.
Do you like hot dogs?
Was it a sing songy voice?
Good to say that.
Shut up.
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Bye.
Can't sing that.
I could sing it real slow.
Me.
You gotta be the one that saves me.
Hey, you can't sing that unless you sing it really slow.
After all.
All right.
What was the highest one?
28.