The next morning you wake well rested and well fed, back alone in your own bed. In a dense pad of fog the Annabel Lee and the Nightingale make their way out of the safety of Lamprey Bay. Arrangements were made for Ore, Etny and Oxious to stay behind, leading Kai Aata and the Clover full of orc mercenaries against the monsters plaguing the poor city.
***
Atriox, you sail slowly most of the day as Sheila Coppertree navigates the fog surrounding the rocky, swampy islands off the north side of Komodori. In the distance you can see the island you'd originally planned to dock at, a much larger land mass with a thriving city just a little way inland from the ocean. Built with stone spires and carpeted with ferns and palms, Freetown is most definitely a glorious sight after that of the dingy outer cities.
Beyond that are the craggy, sandy cliffs of Komodori. Based on the map Etny provided you before your departure, she indicated a trove of treasure up through a winding set of tunnels at their base. She indicated, with a few scribbled directions, that you were to dock at a port with a large rock in the shape of a skull. Then follow the trail southeast. She said a cart could make it, and offered to lend you her axebeak to suppliment your toad beast.
Kora, still rather aloof, wanders the ship absentmindedly. She slept under the stars the night before, rather contemplative. Most everyone gives her room knowing better than to upset her. Word travels fast after all. She's more than eager to get off at Freetown, grudgingly carrying along one of the stinking poultices in a makeshift container.
Docking at this city goes smoothly, the beautiful whitewashed walls ancient and well cared for. There is an incalculable amount of trade going on up the harbor, of which Sheila makes a note to go investigate. You wouldn't put it past her to have been carrying additional cargo to deliver here, while at the same time getting you to Arkoshia. It definitely seems like something she'd do.
Tak clammers off the ship, sliding down one of the ropes along with several other kobolds. He looks refreshed and happy. His clothes seem to fit him better as if they were adjusted for him, and his sword is slung up properly on his back.
"Atriox! Tak like this place... much nicer." He grins, oddly enthusiastic for him. "When are you leaving for--" he catches himself, thinking of how to say it. "--leaving for coastline? A few of us would like come with." He gestures to a few others up above, dressed but playing around in a teasing manner. You see a few you recognize among them, including Darr.
Atriox grunts and refrains from rolling his eyes. After his time with Dahlia he feels more like himself.....but it probably wouldn't take much to change that
He looks at Tak
"We leave immediately then. Get those coming ready. We will enjoy freetown once we have returned."
Tak nods obediently and whistles loudly through his teeth. The others react immediately and scramble down the nets and the plank, bouncing and skittering around the dock as they get a cart supplied with food and gear. The large toad Bastard and Gaare are both led out with tethers, although the former continually leers forward, eyeing the kobolds hungrily.
Sheila walks up and shakes your hand. "Got a smaller vessel ready for you." She starts leading you down the row of boats to a decently outfitted ship, small enough that the kobolds and you can steer it on your own. "Biggins' won't last against the shallow rocks out thataway, but this should work just fine."
The kobolds rush up the ramp with the cart, bumping and jostling it the entire way with glee. Tak follows after leading the two animals
Atriox shakes Sheilas hand
"I'm grateful to you captain. For everything. We will be back as soon as we can. I trust you wont abaddon me here....."
Atriox winks at her and looks for Kora
"Ha! Of course not, swears by it on my pirate honor!" She winks and laughs, clapping him on the arm.
As she turns away you scan the crowd for Kora and spot here sitting on some rocks down past the end of the dock. The rough waves seem to remind you of her, volatile and powerful. She watches them dubiously, but senses your eyes on her and glances your way.
Atriox takes a big breath but pushes ahead and heads torwards her......even if it means the possibility of a watery grave
She just stares at you the entire walk over. Once you're close by enough, she lifts her chin a little looking up at you. "Hello. Heading out so soon?"
Atriox grunts and nods his head in his normal fashion
"How are you? I've..... been trying to give you some space after everything."
She grunts, looking you over. After a moment she looks back out at the sea. "Thanks."
Kora reaches up and runs her hands through her hair, trying to clear her head. "Definitely not sure how to feel about everything."
Atriox clears his throat and looks out over the sea
"That's understandable.....given the circumstances. Well......enjoy the quite while I'm gone."
Atriox turns and heads for his shop that the kobolds have loaded everything on
You head back to your smaller boat, ready to go. Map in hand and a small team to help manage it, you're sure it won't take you very long at all to return.
****
The craggy mountains inch ever closer. The kobolds play down below on the ropes helping to adjust the sails, keeping you straight and steady. There is a good headwind and you'll be arriving quickly.
Many of them, including Darr, seem to have taken to sea-fairing life rather quickly. There's a new light in their eyes that you're beginning to notice, something less feral and more purposeful.
(Make an athletics or acrobatics check to see how well you're able to handle the ship given the conditions approaching the shore)
(18+4)
You steer expertly, navigating the coastline with ease. Tak sits up by the helm with you, the breeze refreshing to you both. Sunlight doesn't bother you today, although you can see him squinting as he bathes in it.
"Brother?" He asks lightly, glancing your way. "Tak have something to ask you."
Atriox continues to steer the ship but raises an eyebrow
" hmmm ?"
He has a serious look in his eyes. "Tak want your blessing. Tak wish to..." He clears his throat, looking back out at the sea. "Tak... Tak wish to be with Vele."
Atriox does not answer for awhile. He just keeps eyes forwardand steers the ship. Though he doesn't look angry....infact up until Tak spoke you could say Atriox was very relaxed at the helm
Eventually he sighs heavily
"Why do you want my blessing for something I suspect you've already been doing behind my back ?"
"Vele done nothing wrong. She kept her promises. She do everything you ask." He remains silent, holding his head as confidently as he can.
"Tak remembered how often brother Atriox encouraged him. Tak remember all the kindnesses. And Tak... Tak unable to forget seeing Vele... when Atriox pull her from sea. Tak..."
He turns away, trying to avoid showing too much emotion. "Tak not want lose her. Not like Rhen. Not again."
Atriox nods his head but doesn't answer him. After a minute Atriox continues on even though his heart his heavy with sadness
"Answer my question Tak. Have you in any way disobeyed my order and been with Vele except the time I saved her ?"
He stands, pacing a little. "Tak treat all troops fairly! Bring them things for morale. Make happy. Try teach them. Try teach myself... Tak behave. Tak not making eggs with Vele. But..." He looks back at you. His yellow eyes shine.
"Tak not lie. Tak... favor Vele. Unable to see her as he sees others. Tak want eggs with Vele... Worth any conciquence. Tak love her."
Atriox nods again remaining calm....for now
"I think you missed the purpose of my order Tak. It's not about how you you treat your troops. I told you and Vele that you were not to be in contact past that of your duties. Period. Thats why I wanted you on the Anabel Lee."
Atriox sighs and adjust the wheel to where they need to go
"I had no doubt things would work themselves out in the end between you to. The order was to give her time to think about what I said. So she could make a real decision on the matter. And now you've gone and messed with that. How longs it been huh ? Not long at all and you couldn't even wait that long. I was going to speak with you both after Komodori but now........"
Atriox lools around. His trying his absolute best to stay neutral and not let emotions get in the way
"Now what should I do?"
Tak raises his head, gulping. He looks at the sea again. "Tak still leave decision up to Vele. She been very thoughtful. Much time to think."
He taps his claws on the railing of the ship. "She been taking care of first egg. Not mine, so Atriox clear." He looks up at the sky, his eyes closed. "She realize she make her own choice. Not need follow the others if she not want. Many come to make more eggs with her. Or move her egg. But she..."
With a long exhale, he leaves that thought unfinished. "Please, brother. She not disobey. She respect you. Tak only at fault."
Atriox thinks on everything he says but can not come to any clear decision on the matter
"We will not talk anymore about this for now. Were getting close and theres buisness at hand. I'll decide on the matter later but for now assume you don't have my blessing.......brother. reflect on that. Now prepare everybody for the landing.:
Tak winces and looks away. He nods in understanding nonetheless. "Yes... as you ask, Atriox."
He walks to the edge of the stairs hopping down to where the others are. Jabbering in draconic, he gives them orders to adjust the sails as he unties the first rope.
You easily make it into the shallow water here, the blue kobolds jumping out and nimbly pulling the vessel up onto the rocky pebbles. The cart is unloaded, the frog attached, and Gaare tied to the back with her tether.
Each of them grabs some dried, salted fish from the supplies, gulping it down. Only Tak refuses, seemingly not hungry. Up ahead a small game trail winds its way through the rocks and sparse trees, just wide enough for the wagon to navigate.
(Skill challenge time.... lol. First need an investigation check to see if you're following the map well)
(Ouch lol 9)
You stare at the map for a moment, trying to decipher all the notes now that you're here. You lead the expedition up the road, winding your way through several shallow caverns. The ceilings are low and cause you to duck down, the cart scraping against the rocks on the side.
The kobolds start up a strange little noise between them, a mix between a game and a song. It echoes strangely on the walls of the caves as if a multitude of kobolds are with you.
Tak walks along, stroking the walls with his claws. "What made these, Tak wonder?"
There is a scraping sound nearby but it is hard to hear over the noise of your party.
(Make a perception check)
(16)
The ground rumbles behind you, a gnawing, grinding sound following it. You look closer and see something red, wriggling and long, like the intestines of cattle.
Perhaps about 5 feet long, they split into three separate entities--worms. Their bodies are muscular and scaly, mouths a nightmare of row upon row of triangular teeth. Gnawing through the rocks with acidic mucus, they carve their way toward you.
Atriox growls and grabs his glaive from his back
He motions for Tak
"Tell the others to keeping going a little ways and you and I will catch up to them."
"Yes brother!" He rushes forward, yipping to the others to hurry on and smacking the back of the toad to get it going. The cart lurches forward quickly.
The monsters wriggle along the ground, acid dripping from their fangs. The one closest to you scrambles forward, going for your legs. (6 attack lol miss)
Atriox expertly moves out of the way as it strikes at his legs with acidic mouth. He follows this up with a downward strike with his glaive a little past it's head
(11+7 for attack, 11+4 for damage)
The glaive sinks down deep into the slimy flesh, corrosive blood spilling out from its writhing body. It hisses as it hits the blade, boiling over the edges of the wound.
(DC 17 Dex save or 15 damage to your glaive from the acid)
The other two wriggle toward you, one leaping past a little too far, the other successfully latching on to your leg.
(28 and 13, one hits for 8 damage + 6 poison damage... DC 17 Con save or poisoned)
"HYAAAAH!" (24 to hit, 6 damage) Tak rushes in and lands atop the one that bit you, the teeth of his shortsword cutting through the fleshy insect. It lets go of your leg, whipping around and trying to free itself. Tak hisses in pain and leaps off, a noxious, waxy substance secreting from the body of the enemy. He stumbles to a knee, panting and sweating, his sword still in hand.
(I actually matched the dex and got a 23 con)
You pull out your glaive, flinging off the poisonous blood as it sizzles and hisses. Grimacing at the bite in your leg, it only succeeds in making your eyes glow in anger. The poisonous venom was too small a dose for such strong blood.
The first worm that struck at you coils around and spits a stream of yellow acid toward your chest. (Dex save 17 for half damage)
It splashes and burns holes through your clothing, sizzling and popping on the metal. The smell is noxious and disgusting like stomach acid.
(Your turn, the three worms are still alive--the first you struck is half dead)
Atriox growls as the acid burns into him but shakes his head and trys to remain focused
He lets loose a Eldritch Blast from his hands and concentrates sending 1 orb at each of the two wounded worms
(8 and 7 on damage)
As the black beams shoot torwards the two he turns his attention back to the other one that went flying by him a moment ago. He swipes his glaive upwards slashing and flinging it in the air then bring his glaive back down on it smashing it back to the ground under its sharp blade
(25 and 23, 16 and 12)
The black crackling energy engulfs both the injured worms, causing them to shriek in distress and back away back down the cave. Their corrosive blood drips and sizzles everywhere, magnified by the searing burn of the Eldritch Blast.
Tak rushes after them making to end their escape as you take on the 3rd worm. You practically cut the thing in half, your glaive severing the head from the tail end... as difficult as it is to tell which is which. Acid spills from its belly and discolors your weapon with yellow specks.
As you catch your breath, Tak returns to you. "Tak like centipedes. Tak no like worms." Flicking the slime from his sword, he grimaces from his burns. "No more trouble now. You ok?"
Atriox chuckles at Taks words while he recovers and then straightens up
"I'll be fine. Let's get back to the others and good job."
The kobold grunts and nods. He still looks a little sour from the earlier conversation but bites his tongue for now, forcing a smile. Shouldering his blade, the two of you head back to the cart.
(Roll a nature check for me)
(13)
You go for some distance, in and out of tunnels. The sunlight and shadows play an interesting game with your senses. This area is like a complete maze.
You finally find the cart again, perhaps a half mile ahead of where you were before. The other kobolds greet you heartily and pass you both flasks of water. Tak finally gives in and eats something, hungrily tearing apart some salted fish.
As you rest from the flight you study the walls in detail, looking at how the acid has corroded them away.
It appears these worm-like monsters have been carving tunnels here for ages. You're not sure when Etny was last here traversing Komodori, but if it was long enough ago it is likely her map only accounts for the older tunnels... not any of these newer ones.
Atriox nods at all his kobolds and looks at the map
"Let's continue so we can get out of here quicker shall we ? I personally so far am not loving this hell."
Most of them snicker at that but agree whole-heartedly. You continue forth, picking over the rocks and crevices in the floor and walls. The cart bumps along. Gaare pecks at the bones of small creatures on the ground and the kobolds strike up another game of song, calling and answering one another.
After a good hour or so, you make your way into another set of canyons and tunnels, and on a path slowly heading up the mountain.
Tak walks quietly beside you, arms folded in contemplation. You've never seen him so thoughtful; he's usually more one for action than one for concentrating.
"Atriox not punish Vele right?"
Atriox grunts and continues on for abit before finally responding
"I suppose not.....if she's as guiltless as you say."
"...She did nothing wrong." He glares at the ground.
"Still you want Tak to continue act... impartial?" He says the word with a distasteful look. It doesn't sound like a word he would even know, and you suspect it's something he's picked up listening to the much more learned Vele.
Some of the other kobolds ahead shove each other and snicker, glancing at the two of you with gawking expressions. Someone that Darr was talking to cackles and turns to call to Tak, gesturing in some crude kobold way. "Yesss, leader! Leave ladies for us! We take good care of them!"
Tak bristles, holding his breath and fighting the fire in his chest. You see his claws clench and unclench. He growls low in his throat. "You touch her and Tak rip your throat out, Kag."
"Pftttt, you not when Darr touched herrrr!" He and the others let out a peel of laughter. "She like it! Won't leave his egg, will she?"
"Tak already share on that matter!" He growls louder, wincing. It's almost as if he's more frustrated and embarrassed that you are personally hearing all this than the fact it's happening in the first place.
You finally pass into a deeper tunnel, one that curves upward through the mountain. It takes a little time to climb it with the cart, your toad drying out with every mile. The kobolds splash it with their own supplies despite it hungrily eyeing them. They keep snickering, Tak growing more incessant with the passing time.
"What if Tak not--" he grumbles under his breath at Atriox. "Tak not care for blessing anyway? Trying being fair. Didn't have to ask Atriox in first place... You seemed to not care if, as you put, Tak sneak."
Atriox stops suddenly his growing a dangerous shade as he looks at Tak with a growl. In a very dangerous tone he asks
"What did you just say to me ? Your very life is a gift frok me in case you have forgotten! And if you didn't care you wouldn't have asked. I did have a mind to forgive and let it go."
Atriox growls again and lowers himself to Take level
"But now I have a mind to do the exact opposite. On both accounts."
Tak first looks terrified being face to face with an angry Dragonborn, but at the threat he growls back with his eyes aflame. The other kobolds up ahead hear the commotion and slow down, glancing back apprehensively.
"How dare you... threaten her..." He hisses slowly. "She done NOTHING except try to please you! Leave her out of this!"
Tak angrily paces in a circle, irate, almost as bad as when you first met him. He rubs his fists against his eyes in frustration. "Tak could have ANY other female there, but not want! Tak not like YOU!"
The other kobolds glance at one another. Many of them share the same sentiment as their ruler, thinking it not strange at all that you do that. If anything they revere you for it, and find Tak's recent attempts to change that strange. Tak on the other hand only glares daggers of disgust, his concerns bubbling to the surface.
"Sleeping in houses FULL of females! Atriox like that since Tak met you... not ever change! You even want make more!"
He stops, breathing heavily and looking horrified that he said such things out loud. Especially in the company of others. His eyes glance at the others and drop to the floor in shame and anger, clinching his fists.
He shakily reaches in to his shirt and pulls out an engraved platinum coin, the one he'd given to Rhen. His voice is hoarse and quiet. "We different! You first encourage Tak to try. Now that Tak HAVE feelings, you punishing Tak for having them! What brother do that?!"
He pushes the coin into your chest, freely handing it over. His voice quivers with seriousness, speaking only where you can hear him. "You punish me or even threaten take away Tak's life, fine. Tak willingly fight Atriox for her honor. Tak's feelings not change.... Tak favor her above all others. No amount of suffering change that."
Atriox roars and backhands Tak sending him sprawling from the force
He looks to others with a dangerous growl
"Go on a bit further and wait. Also if I hear another word about any of this from any of you.....you can consider them your final words. Now go !"
The others yip in terror and within moments the rattling sounds of the cart reseed around the next bend.
Tak groans, his head spinning from the force. He struggles to stand up, spitting out a bloody tooth from his mouth and wiping his scarred face with his hand.
He stands, supporting himself against the wall. He glares at Atriox in silence, waiting.
Atriox watches them go and then growls at Tak his eyes glowing and points an accusing finger in his direction
"Don't you dare look at me like that. How....dare....you! Do you know what you've done ? Do you understand how you've made this so much worse ?!"
Atriox uses his speed to pick small take up and pin him against the canyon wall by his chest
"This isn't about me you fool. And for your information I've only been with two woman since you've known me ! That is not my test. Well all have our burdens. Do you know what this was truly about......brother ? Testing you two. You are meant to be my left and right hand for your people. You are supposed to be my brother. A member of my family !"
A few tears of blood drip out of Atrioxs red eyes which now are dissipating. He drops Tak on the ground and turns around a walks away a little bit balling his fists trying to calm down. With his back still turned Atriox speakes again in a sad and serious tone
"As a leader you must be patient. I never ever intended to actually keep you two apart. Had you waited till the end of today you would have had my blessing.Like you said I brought you two together. Vele showed patience and that she truly understood the situation. You failed. As a leader you must be willing to sacrifice everything you love for the good of your people. You two needed some space before there was potential schism made between you two and therefore potential your people. You showed you are unable to make even a tiny sacrifice for your people. You failed. So how can you be my right hand ? How can you lead your people when you've shown your so unworthy. You've betrayed them and me. And now you do it openly in front of our troops. Now this demands action. There is no choice in it now"
Hearing more about you personally seemed to come as a shock to him, and a spark of shame swirls there in his countenance. Tak shakes with emotion, forcing himself to remain standing. He can't bear to look at you, his damp eyes averted. His voice shudders when he speaks.
"T-Tak knows action must be taken. That fine... You our king." He swallows, clinching his fists and wondering if he is expected to pull out his sword. "T-Tak not expect anything less. Neither will they."
"Tak at least... Tak at least show others one thing..." He squeezes his eyes shut. "T-Tak show them he did what he believed right. Tak only regret... hurting his family. Failing his family." He looks up at you, swallowing his pride.
Atriox shakes his head and sighs. Through his supernatural senses he knows Tak is preparing to defend himself
"Relax a little Flame-scar. Im not going to attack you. No......from this point on Vele is my right hand as such a time you earn your place back. Until then she will decide what place you have amongst your people but whatever decision she makes I will expect her to report it to me and defend the decision. Now go back to the ship and wait. You are not needed here."
Atriox walks past him torwards the direction the rest went
Tak looks on in shock. He closes his mouth and swallows, nodding and resigning himself to the order. He knew it was better than he deserved.
Slowly you hear his taloned footfalls fade away as you make your way to the others. When they see you they scramble to attention, looking as ready as possible. None of them wish to incur your wrath.
Atriox nods to them all as he walks to then
"Thank you for waiting. That has been handled now and I except you all to leave it alone amd not antagonize the situation any further once were back. Now lets go get that treasure."
Darr, Kag and the others bark in excitement, eager to fulfill the mission and get more treasure. Yipping they get the cart moving again and you continue on your journey.
You finally crest the top of a canyon wall, the fresh air pleasant despite the heat of midday. Looking out across the deserts down below, you see a massive sea of pale sand and rock, be-speckled with sparse, strange trees. Smoke in the distance makes you think of soldiers or cities, but it's hard to tell from so far away.
You continue. It feels equally difficult going down the other side, and you find yourself back inside a tunnel leading to another landing. There is a trickling sound... It sounds faint and steady. A thin sheen of sand covers the rock under your feet making the going treacherous.
(Roll a survival check)
(Nat 16)
You notice the sand is trickling from cracks in the ceiling. The noise of the cart bumping along so quickly seems to shake more from the roof as you go.
Atriox looks at everything and his paranoia kicks in a bit
He motions to his men
"Slow down a bit. Dont move like slugs but we also dont want everything to know were here by acting like s stampede. Carefully now....."
Atriox continues warily on
They glance around more cautiously now, easing their pace. The sand continues to trickle but no longer at such a flow as it was before. Tedious as it is, you finally make your way out to the other side. The sunlight dazzles your soldiers and they blink away at the shimmering light.
"What map say?" Darr looks up at Atriox, tilting his head as he does so. "We going right way still?"
(Make a perception check)
Nat15
You look over the map, realizing after a moment you're on a different path than the one Etny originally marked out. You're a bit further around the side of the mountain than you should be, but still going in the right direction.
Atriox looks back at Darr
"We are not on the original trail but were going the right way. Soon it'll be ours. Come."
Atriox smiles as they push forward feeling a little confident now
They gicker in renewed excitement. Darr looks most pleased, running up in the front to lead the charge. As you continue on for the next few hours, you begin to see strange rocks protruding from the mountain. They look like sandstone ruins, ancient monoliths of some lost culture.
(You can roll here if you'd like to learn more about them or study them further, otherwise we can press on XD)
Atriox looks at the monoliths more closely. He is intrigued that there is ruins clear put here in the middle of no where
(Investigation lol nat 15)
You rub your hand along one, feeling the runes and carvings lost to the sands of time. It definitely doesn't look like orc ruins, much more like elvish or even ruins of some kingdom of man. It's ancient indeed, and a somber feeling for such a place to have fallen.
Up ahead in the dwindling sunlight, Darr holds his hand out against the cart to get the other kobolds to stop. He looks nervous, listening.
Atriox notices Darr and hurries to him
"Whats wrong Darr what is it ?"
Kor tries to ask him a question but he shushes him with a hand around the snout. Darr just glances at Atriox with an expression that instantly tells you something is nearby. He points up, scanning the ceiling.
Surrounding you are broken walls and mountain stone, brushed smooth from the sand and insects of centuries. A quiet wind whistles through, helped by the height of the plataeu you stand on--you can't really even tell how far up you've climbed.
Shadows creep along the ground, lengthening and descending into the crevasses between the cliffs. A dull, scratching sound can be heard somewhere. It echoes and makes its origin difficult to pinpoint.
(You can make a perception check with advantage)
(I didn't use the advantage lol nat 19 first try)
At the last second you sense it right above you. Thinking fast, you grab both Darr and Kor and leap back with them as a large object lands, CRASH! atop of the cart, crushing it to splinters.
A wailing squeal issues from the 12 foot tall monstrosity. The unwholesome abomination scuttles fluidly forth, its shape combining features of both spider and squid under an armor of rugged rock. While stone protuberances gird its upper portions, below it is a thing of angry red flesh and soft pink tendrils. Two gaping orifices full of tiny barbs split its lower body—a mouthlike slit surrounded by numerous narrow red eyes and, above that, an oozing alien aperture.
The largest thing it sees in front of it is the bastard toad pulling the cart. Before the can even move the aberration's almost two ton bulk slams atop it, puncturing it with its mouth parts and digging both tentacles and claws into the poor animal's soft flesh.
The other kobolds scream in fright, falling over and scrambling back away. Gaare squawks in absolute terror, freed from the smashed cart and skewered with small splinters. Without a backwards glance the large axebeak leaps over the kobolds and barrels back down the tunnels from where you came.
Atriox growls in anger as his toad is killed on the spot. He knows this wont be a easy thing and that his Kobolds will more likely die than help in any real way. He makes his decesion and turns to Darr and points torwards the direction they came from
"Darr get you and your men out of here! Theres no point in you all waisting your lives for this. I will distract it while you escape. Find the Gaar and get back to Tak and the ship. Now go ! Go!"
Atriox doesnt wait for a reply. He looks around as he takes in the landscape of his battlefeild and grabs his glaive.
(investigation 12)
He notices the beast is still distracted with eating his toad and uses that to his advantage. As softly as he can amongst the yells of his Kobolds and the beast itself Atriox hurridly sneaks up on the monster (sneak 16) and once he's close enough he quickly examines the monster closely (21 insight) though he hasnt fought this specific beast its still a beast and Atriox is more than knowledgable when it comes to hunting and killing monsters.
He thinks he sees a weak spot on its legs where they connect the pintchers to the body. It wont be a fatal blow but hopefully itll piss the creature off to where it makes a mistake. With his plan formed he suddenly jumps as high as he can and spins head over heal slashing his glaive in a deadly circular ark on the pink soft spot. ( 15 acrobatics, 23 athletics, 23 attack , 14 damage)
As Atriox lands from his roll he quickly backs up instead of taking another hit
The steel of your blade finds its mark and slices deep into the pink flesh of the irlgaunt. Mouth full of liquefying frog jelly it sputters in fury at the pain.
Scrambling off of its meal, its limbs make contact with the ground again. Clacking loudly on the stone it scampers back and forth, eyeing you with its dozen beady red eyes. You can tell its watching for movement both from you and the fleeing kobolds, Darr leading them away as quickly as his claws can carry him. With one last backward glance toward you he disappears, worry and horror in his eyes.
During your hurried study of the area, you noticed you're close to some fragile looking pillars--perhaps ten feet tall or so. They surround the edges of the cliff you find yourself on. Although it's hard to judge the distance from here, a tumble could prove deadly. Aside from these, there are several smaller boulders and the splintered remains of the cart, both wood and twisted iron.
Ichor dripping from its wound, the left claw swings limply and painfully. It makes up its mind to strike at you first. Jerking its head this way and that, it regurgitates what looks to be a sizable, dense sphere of sharp stones veined with jellified digestive acids.
This gastrolith, under immense pressure, is shot forth and slams into you, shattering in a rain of rock shards and hissing acid.
(I'll let you choose where you're hit........... 29 against your AC, 25 damage)
As the mass of acid and rock hit Atriox in the chest he stumbles backwards onto the ground.The Acid burns badly and his armor is damaged. He notices he almost fell of the cliff as his foot is danglig off the side. He trys to get up quickly but the pain in his chest is to much. He falls to one knee and uses his glaive as a something to hold him up. He must het the beast to charge him other wise this will end very badly
In a last ditch thought Atriox flings his Eldritch blast in the creatures face
(19 damage total, 17 and 15 to hit)
The black tendrils of searing magic slam into the hard carapace covering the monster's face. It sizzles and pops, one or two of its eyes overheated and ruptured as it drips a horrid looking brown blood. Other than that the blasts only served to anger it more, scorching the hard outer shell of the monster.
Unable to fire another gastrolith so soon, the irlgaunt scuttles forward sensing your injuries. Hungrily it leaps at you like a bolt of lightning. Connecting, you tumble back against the breaking pillars, the force of its front legs alone like that of a horse beating you to death. It makes to break you utterly before enjoying a meal of your pulverized body.
(32 against ac for two slam attacks and a bite, 14 damage)
With the last slam rocking through your body and into the stone pillar behind you, you feel it crumble and give way. There's a moment where you feel like you're floating, losing all sense of ground beneath your body. With a horrific screech the irlgaunt and you find yourselves falling off the cliff, hurdling toward the rocks down below.
Atriox trys to right himself as he falls. He's barely staying concious after the battering he took. He spreads his arms and legs so he's not diving and gets above the falling creature. It's underbelly is now exposed and open. Atriox opens his maw and unleashes a inferno on the beasts underside
After the smoke clears he tightens his grip on his glaive which he's still holding and throws it at the monsters mouth
(Glaive is 13+7 for attack, 15 damage, fire breath 14)
The blast of fire and smoke can be seen from a distance. The retreating kobolds, having heard the shrieks and cries of the beast, glance back to see the smoke high in the air. Their claws beat faster, past the acid pools of the dead worms and down the sandy cliff trails.
Your glaive pierces through the creatures' mouth and faceplate, ripping it half open. Its legs and mouth parts convulse and twist, clawing at you and trying to grab a hold. Normally able to scale these smooth rocks with ease, falling the way it is gives it no chance to gain a foothold. Your glaive, now stuck in the monster's body, swings around as the aberration does and remains out of your reach.
It's body cracks against the rocks on the side of the cliff with a resounding boom, the utter weight of its own body breaking its own shell into splinters. You fall past the battered rocks, the impact of the monster first only just saving you. The ground below comes up faster than ever, perhaps a few hundred feet further.
Atriox barely keeping his eyes open throws himself at the sides of the canyon and uses his claws and vampiric powers to hold on magically. As he screeches to a halt he doesn't have a second to feel realived as everything from that fight and his magical abilities hit him again and this time he's not strong enough to fight it. The last thing he remembers is everything going black and the feeling of falling again
****
(Cutscene... xD dun dun dun)
"Tak! T-TAK!"
Darr's voice echoes across the canyon like a bullhorn, catching the kobold's attention. He'd made it almost all the way back, the going faster on his own without a cart and a team to lead.
He grimaces, waiting for the teasing. But when he turns to see Darr and the others rushing alone with Gaare, he stops in his tracks. A wave of cold dread washes over him. "W-what wrong? Where's Atriox!?"
****
The sound of clawed feet scrambling up the canyon is almost nothing to the blood pounding in Tak's ears. His lungs burning, he scrambles on all fours up the last ridge to the sight the others lead him to. The last of the sunlight fills the area with blinding warmth. The tension is beyond thick as they try to remain quiet ...should the monstrosity be lurking.
The whole way his heart sank, imagining his friend, his brother, his king, laying injured and alone without any of them there to help. Horrid thoughts ran through his mind, punctuated by the words spoken between them at their last meeting. They cut him like daggers.
Out on the plateau they stop. Their breathing the only sound for miles. Tak tentatively steps out alone. The dread of the irlgaunt leaves the others shaken and rooted to the spot, but following his lead, they slowly tread behind him.
Tak walks past the decimated corpse of the dire frog, now starting to rot. The smell of decay and acid burning away the remaining bones stinks terribly. He follows the broken wood of the cart, the blood and ichor spilled on the ground, the deep gashes and claw marks spiraling their way across the sandstone.
He swallows as he comes to the edge of the cliff, where broken pillars lay freshly chipped. He can't seem to breathe. The sun sets red on the horizon. Willing himself to look over the edge, his eyes scan below and his heart dies in an instant.
He spies the wreckage at the bottom; broken rocks, guts, drying blood splattered like paint in every direction. He sees the remains of the massive behemoth spider, now just shattered legs and ichor. And beside it lays the still, unmoving form of a white and red dragonborn, covered in bloodied remnants of armor.
The others move up beside him, peering down in silent horror. It takes a few moments for the depth of the scene to register to them. Slowly they back away, quietly whispering among one another as they do so. Tak alone remains standing there, quiet as a statue.
****
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