Session 4: The Kobold Vanguard

Deeper Into the Unknown:

In the river cavern.

Two paths lead on, one upward to the east the other a narrow passage to the west. The Paladin senses seeds of evil from the east, the decision is made. Into the cave, up the slope, flickering fire light ahead, snarling and arguing as well. The group moves forward in stealth.

Kobolds, six of them, arguing over food in the light of an open fire pit. Out of the darkness, a javelin, a crossbow bolt, a blast of magical energy, and charging heroes. A kobold falls to the javelin, a bolt shatters against the wall near the head of another, an eldritch blast staggers a third reptilian form. Melee begins. Kobolds regroup, snarling they release a volley of heavy crossbow bolts in retaliation, their warriors jump into action concentrating their viciousness on the heavily armored humans. Chaos ensues, swords, shields, bolts, magical blasts, claws, fire, smoke, and blood. In the end kobolds find their demise.

The group catches their breath for but a moment, a decision is made to move on deeper into the caverns.

At a crossroads in the darkness three way's lead on. The first into foul smelling darkness, the second-- to the sound of the river, and the third-- a narrow passage up a steep slope, flickering candle light at the top, and the seeds of evil sensed by the Paladin yet again.

Ranks are formed, a single column, Krius leads, then Mannon and Alton, Prophit guarding the back. The march up the slope begins. At the top movement. Voices from the cave. Broken hissing common from a kobold, disgust in its voice, "Humanths?!! Humanths in MY caveths? And theyth broughts theys bratling childrenths with thems! Bury thems!"

Rumbling. Boulders rolled from above, tumbling down the passageway. Ducking, dodging, weaving out the way. Prophit is hit, knocked prone, the wind knocked out of him. A second boulder crashes down, the heroes react, Prophit rolls to side, safe this time.

Krius rushes past the kobold guards at the entrance into the cavern. Across the room, small and malformed, in dirty yellow robes, a vile kobold sorcerer stands behind a crude stone desk. A large baleful eye falls on the Paladin, an arcane word is muttered, and from the end of a wand a green arrow of energy slams into the Paladin, burning into his chest then disappearing.

As Krius positions himself to attack the sorcerer, kobold guards roll another boulder down the shaft. The halflings dodge past and enter the fray attacking the guards, at the bottom of the tunnel Prophit is struck down again the boulder hitting him square in the chest. Gasping he calls to his god, he is healed in divine light.

Back in the chamber the paladin charges as the sorcerer weaves magic energy into a shield of protection around himself . The magical shield nullifies the Paladins attack. The kobold laughs, his voice cackles "flame on!" and jets of flame from the kobolds hands engulf Krius from head to foot. More fighting at the entrance. Mannon, Alton, and Prophit, covered with many wounds fight on against the guards taking two of them down.

Magical energy resists the Paladins attack again. "Flame on!" More flames, more smoke, more pain. Near exhaustion and burning, a quick prayer, a sword descends with holy energy, fate seems to intervene. Gore. And the dark sorcerer is smote to the other realms.

Prophit's hammer falls, along with it a kobold. One defiant lizard form remains. Ever vigalant Krius reacts with a javelin. Aim is true, the kobold falls. A hard earned victory.

Exhaustion sets in. The paladin meditates, the cleric heals, and halflings loot. Clues are found, shards of an evil sword and a letter that speaks of a witch queen and a mighty wyrm to the east. A decision is made to rest, meditate, and heal for the night. Defences are set, watches taken, the night passes in safety, this time.

Back into the unexplored cave to seek more clues. An empty barracks is found so is another river cavern with a dock and two giant mushroom cap boats. Leary of the journey down the river the heroes back track to the narrow cave not taken.

Once again the paladin leads the way. Moving slowly, evil is sensed ahead. Snap! A misstep. Warning bells, and a net from above ensnares Alton and Mannon. Kobolds, crossbows, swords, and confusion, rats are released. Disease carrying allies of the kobolds. Swords swing, bolts fly, rats bite, a mighty jump by Mannon. In the end the halflings and humans defeat the foes.

The area is explored, only rotten food and rat filth is found.

One path remains. With reluctance the heroes trudge in the humid dark back to the river docks, back to the mushroom boats...

The characters present:
* Alton (Aaron), halfling shadowcaster
* Mannon (Dave, absent, ran by DM), halfling swordsage/warlock
* Prophit (Jeff), human cleric
* Sir Krius (Matt), human paladin

Rumors gathered (this session):
* Slazzik even more deformed than his kobold counterparts, more patches of red scales, one eye much larger than the other.
* Letter from Rubald to Slazzik about the Witch Queen, evil blades, raising a mighty army, and the Great Wyrm to the East.

Treasure found (this session):
* 14 more golden three-claw pendents (carried by Mannon)
* armor bracers (worn by Alton)
* strange black pearl (carried by Alton)
* wand weilded by Slazzik Balefire (carried by Alton, activation word "svarness"?)
* two flasks of oil (?)
* black candles (?)
* gold candle holder (?)
* mysterious book on Slazziks desk (?)
* black sword shard (?)
* bone scroll case and letter (?)

Foes/traps/tricks overcome (this session):
* 6 unaware arguing kobolds
* 4 kobold body guards, bouncing bolders
* Slazzik Balefire, kobold sorcerer
* net trap
* 5 kobold rat keepers
* 4 dire rats

Experience gained (this session):
650 each player