Awwww hell yeah. Go on.

The intent was obvious. Big, bright flames up ahead that illuminated the wide tunnel, with a tasty morsel of a wounded man at the other end; perfect hero bait. And so, despite the initial act of aggression coming from the front, you knew that any self-respecting ambusher would now come from-

“-Behind!” You yell, grabbing Jorm and hauling him with you to the tunnel’s side, twakking him away from a low volley of crossbow bolts, trusting Allandro had the good sense to duck.

Pushing yourself to the side of the wall you watched Jorm whirl around and lob his torch straight down the centre pathway, revealing, for a brief moment, more than skeletons in the catacombed ruts down the channel. Indeed, revealing a many great other things behind sliding peepholes and half-hidden beneath rotting rags.

“May I revise my opinion on who made the traps?” Allandro asked aloud, readying his throwing knives, “Because I’m quite sure this is kobold work now.”

You wonder what gave that away as you rifle through your bags looking for the right one; the shape and type of the crossbow bolts...or the kobolds who fired them. Kobolds that were now making good on their escape through good old-fashioned legwork; those lagging behind providing an annoying level of covering fire out of their corpse-concealed cover. Terribly inaccurate, but random enough to make an approach hazardous.

>>18529674

On top of that...as tempting and perhaps easy as it’d be to follow after one of them for a capture, the trapped gentleman behind you would likely pay for such a result with his life. Considering that...it was obvious which the bigger score would be. Blasting ice to put out the fire seemed reasonable, but it surrounded the guy and you might have to use too much force to do so...for all you know a little frost might tip him over the ‘dead’ line. So that left...

“Jorm,” You call out, finally finding one of your fire-immunity potions, “See if you can’t catch one of the little devils if you’re up to it. Allandro-”

“-Yeah you don’t have to tell me, save the guy. The floor either side the fire might be trapped to the howzits though, so it’ll take me a few minutes to clear.“

“Really? Then I’ll see you over there.” You finish, quaffing the potion and running through the flames, handily bypassing all the traps.

And, happily, not falling into another one- the man, some early-thirties fellow with a neatly trimmed moustache and neatly-placed turban, seemed legitimate enough to your eyes, as did his state- unconscious, with a trap normally used for bears cushing his leg and a couple of newly placed crossbow shots in his chest armour. Pale, clammy...been like this for goodness knows how long, a day maybe, but not dead just yet.

>>18529688

Putting a hand to the sprung trap you note a second attached- some carefully contained wire that had been pulled taught and would loosen if the jaws separated. More explosives? Didn’t matter, there wasn’t one on the chain securing it to the ground so you could deal with it somewhere safer.

You put one hand up and blast the path you ran down clear of fire to let Allandro approach and begin to hack at the chain with his cutting tools (must make a note to get some of those too), freeing you up to go help Jorm.

Right as walls slide down over where the Kobolds ran off to, stopping your pursuit dead.

Jorm reflects on this for a moment, crumpling the too-loose helmet he’d managed to grab off one in his hand.

“I bloody hate kobolds...” He surmises.

And just in this one case, you might be inclined to agree. Still, you escaped the trap thanks to your wits, and now, more importantly- have the correct numbers for a proper buddy system.

You just need to make sure yours survives.

****

Bump. Think it might be a little early?

Hmm, seems we've scored a clear win for once!

So, we track them down, get our new friend up to the priestess or what?

>>18529771

I usually start around this time...though granted, this one's a day late. I'm happy to act on less for the time being.

>>18529780
Prolly see what we can do to patch up the turban fellow. May as well, since we went through the trouble of getting to him. Potion or something.

>>18529848

Why waste a potion when we've got a priestess waiting for us?

>>18529860
Something about moving critically injured fellows. Unless of course he's not as injured as I interpreted. If that's the case let's move him along.

Is he still attached to some sort of trap with wires? Might disable those so that we all dont die in explosion.
Stabilize him with potion/magic. Dont have to heal him outright, just make sure he doesnt die.
Inspect him and his belongings. Does anything says who his is or were he is from? Any magical items/potions/spells on him? Is he known to our group or fit a description of anyone missing?

Figure out who the bait was. What's he doing down here, what did he learn about the kobolds, what can he tell us about things, does he need healing? (If yes to the last one, send him back up to that cultist who offered us healing.)

Attempt to examine the kobold's secret door for information or activation.

Kill him and turn him into our undead servant!
Wait, wrong game.

****

“How is he?” You call back, putting a hand on Jorm’s shoulder in sympathy before turning to your new guest.

“How does he look?” Allandro retorts just a little grumpily on account of the sturdiness of the chain, “Nothing poisoned though; the trap’s broken his leg, but not caused too much bleeding- his pant leg’s caught most of it aaaaaand the crossbow bolts...got through the armour, but blunted on entry- maybe some broken or bruised ribs there. You could probably slap him awake for a conversation if you wanted. If you’re thinking of moving him...well I’d have to de-booby his boo-boo first.”

“Fine, I’ll finish off the chain. Sure he’s not anyone you know from around the tavern?” You suggest, picking up where the halfing left off.

“Naah,” Jorm called back, having spent his time trying and failing to force one of the closed entrances, “Swanky guy like that I’d notice.”

“The amount you drink Jorm, you’d see two of him.” Allandro smiled, taking a pair of snippers out and hovering precariously over the potentially explosive appendage.

“S’why I’m sure I ain’t. Maybe one of the town’s guys.” He finished with a boot to the stones, turning back.

>>18530272

“Well, let’s find out.” You respond, giving up on the slower method of chain-cutting in favour of simply melting through and snapping the remainder with a bit of acid, “Give him a frisk, Al.”

“I’m a little busy here,” He tutted...before throwing an emblem and a purse at your feet, “Though lucky for you, I always examine a man in need- first thing.”

“Muthirr Rajul ‘Ariyy. Internal affairs...always nice to be owed a favour...” You murmur.

Allandro gives you a curious eye but says nothing, finishing his own task after a few minutes sweating and preening. Beckoning Jorm over for the carry, you find and relight his torch using Allandro’s remaining one and consult your map, pushing to head back up the way you came. No other creatures seem to accost you along the way, and for that you’re thankful, as it gives you time to think.

Namely, about how the Kobolds were not the creatures you were expecting down there. The priestess had spoken of more human-sized foes...a lie? Or was there more to this underground area?

Her concern over the wounded man seemed genuine enough though when presented with him, leaving her perch on the stairs to silently chant healing over him, her gems dimly glowing as the three of you sat to the side, watching, and wondering what else there was for you to do in this night...

****

Well, as soon as she is done with her healing, we should talk to a guy. Find out what he was looking for, who he works for (doenst matter if we know already - just want to see what he says). Then, if he doesnt say anything important/alarming - leave him to caring hands of priestess and descend back.

We sure we need to go back down? It must be getting late...

>>18530549
We have been down there for at most 3 hours.
8 hour working day was not introduced until 1920s, so keep on digging.
Too bad we couldnt get any permanent fire-protection items. Or maybe good, cause then we could become too overpowered/

bump

****

“...Unn...my my, I didn’t think kobolds could look so sexy.”

“Your friend is awake.” Ayza smiles down at the man, head in her lap.

“Thanks Aizya.” Allandro waves over with a mouthful of rations, “Be with him in a minute.”

“Aizya? A beautiful, warm name.” The injured man compliments, “Makes me feel very safe and wanted here, between your legs.”

“It’s Ay...” She begins, then raises her eyebrows in an amused shrug at her name change, “...Yes, Aizya. And you have these men to thank for the rescue, not I.”

“You’ll forgive me if I decide to keep my eyes on your for the time being.”

“Certainly. The Lord likes it when you admire his possessions.”

Definitely a Red, you think. Divine or not’s another matter. Anyway, business calls and you clear your through, getting the attention of his ears at least, if not his eyes.

“So...my name is Victor, and these are my fellows, Allandro and Jorm. Would you care to tell us what you were doing down there, Mr...?”

“Muthirr Rajul ‘Ariyy, my friend. But please, call me Rajul...though you, my beauty, can call me whatever you wish. Being down there, investigating the tunnels to seek after claims of ill-deeds being done below. Evidently, I was perhaps not as cautious as others of my station- though I must say the traps and Kobolds are rather new.”

>>18530818

“New?” You venture, sitting up, “How new would you say?”

“Hmm...The last week and a half, if my colleagues are to be believed. Though we’ve only just started to re-scout the lower-tunnels are part of a check-up, so...maybe a month or two at most. I suspect this is why many of my fellows have been so aggreiviated. Or lost.”

“I see,” You pause, mulling his words over, “...Thankyou, Rajul. Stay here for the evening, you’ve done more than enough for what that Gnome’ll be paying you for.”

“Oh well, if I must. In the meantime, it’s always nice to get to know other people...”

-

The rest of the night passes a little more uneventfully- hours worth of trudging and traps, but no more sightings of Kobolds or anything more sinister. You feel that perhaps you had scared them off for the while, or they were waiting elsewhere. If you’d managed to overhear what they were saying earlier that would have been a great help in knowing exactly what they were doing down in the dark...as it stood, you were in the dark too. The map was the only thing to receive further light over the course of the travels, and by the end of it, you’d made a pretty good starting point on where all the trap-laid areas were that you’d come across- too few for your liking, given how slow they forced the pace, but...adequate.

Adequate enough for the three of you to get thirsty enough for a night-cap at any rate, and decide what should be done next. You’d have invited Rajal, but he seemed quite...content, where he was, for the moment. So long s the Priestess didn’t mind, you saw no reason to impose on the man’s night- he evidently had a thing for trouble, and you can’t get more troubling things than a woman.

****

>>18530818
>Definitely a Red, you think. Divine or not’s another matter.
And here I was going to play a clueless traveler. :/

>>18530846

We're still smart, and we already figured it was some kind of Dragon-thing. The possessive talk just narrowed down the colour some.

And lets be honest we're all going to abuse the meta-knowledge anyway.

rolled 24 = 24

Was our job to patrol the undercity, or to find out whats going on?
If its first, get our reward and go get food and drinks.
If its the second, than we havent really done anything today, aside from saving some womanizer... So lets eat some dinner and get drunk.

Also, it was said that every night someone steals stuff from traders, correct? Maybe with the new map we could find a good place and ambush those thieves. Prepare some knock-out magic before hand, though.
Rolling if roll is needed.

>>18530900
>24
And here I was thinking of 90+, and we ambush those thieves like master-ninja, and find out their plans... Silly me.

>>18530900
Apparently, its late night right now, and we were trying to ambush someone in the dungeon already.
That got me thingking, if we have trouble finding or following those guys, why dont we try to bait them? Set up the shop of ourselves or convince a shopkeeper to do it, move wares into the basement,hide in basement and wait untill someone try to steal it.

Or it might just take too long. Perhaps, we should go to the gnome and tell him that there is something bad going on with the dungeon, and see if he can be persuaded to give info/clue or some other help?

****

“...But ya see, what I don’t get is, Aiya said-”

“-Aizya.”

“-I thought it was Ayza?”

“-Well whatever, the point is *she* said her wares came under attack by human kinda guys, right? But we didn’t find no human guys. And then the kobolds just up and vanished on us after we met ‘em. But, they left a trap out, didn’t they?”

“I see what you’re saying,” You nod, holding your pint out and peering over the top rim at him, “It means they were trying to bait someone, and if they were baiting, then why did they up and leave so quickly? You don’t spring a trap and then just go ‘oh well’ if the first volley doesn’t work out.”

“Exactly, man, exactly. And with all the rangers and everyone having a hard time down there, why’re they all- well nearly all coming back in one piece? I tell ya, some lax stuff’s going on down there.”

“Hmm,” Jorm ponders, scratching at his stubble, “So...what do we do? Assumin’ yer gonna be a regular at this, Victor. We’ve a few days until our rotation again.”

“Well, I might be down there a bit earlier than that...” You admit, taking another swig, “Though...it depends what the target is; kobolds or those other things...if they even exist. Seems trudging around didn’t bring any out the woodwork, maybe another approach'll be needed.”

“Oh yeah, been meaning t’ask you about that,” Allandro piped up, “You got some Internal Affair’s dealie going on now? Because I want in on some of that action.”

>>18531101


You shrug, not terrifically inclined at the moment to expand on it- and not, you admit, terrifically sure what kind of deal you had, either. Something to investigate in the morning.

And investigate you do, heading straight through the now familiar department and into the office as early as you can to look for some answers...only to find a shirtless Gnome comparing robes in his mirror.

“Ah, Viccie!” He beams at you through his reflection, “Just the suave man I need to sort this out! The patterned one or the blue one?”

****

****

>>18531112
Murder him.

>>18531161
We don't seem to be very good at being good.

>>18531112
The blue one makes you look like you have been dead for several dies.
The patterned. Though those kind of sleeves have been out of fashion for several years now. Good for kitchen, or where noone will see yo, I guess.

>>18531161
>>18531191
Killing him should be avoided. At least for a while.

>>18531218
This. Maybe growl and yell at him that he's not a very likable person.

>>18531112

We're not being paid to give fashion advice. If he wants some from us, we'll need a raise first.

>>18531328
> We're not being paid to give fashion advice. If he wants some from us, we'll need a raise first.
I guess I'll settle for this as opposed to murdering him. For now.

>>18531101
>You don’t spring a trap and then just go ‘oh well’ if the first volley doesn’t work out
>I must say the traps and Kobolds are rather new
I'm guessing the traps aren't meant for us, which is why they're not followed up on. Azzy HATES being stolen from, so he sent some kobolds down there after the other things? If he's decided to solve the problem, I don't see any reason to lessen the amount of resources he needs to do it.

Nope, we should talk for several hours about fashion and how he does not understand it - never avoid the possibility to enlighten the country bumpkin. The burden of the civilized being is to educate the savages.
I mean, look at those shoes! Look at them! Where did he get them, in the garbage dump 50 years ago? They are not only uncomfortable, they look like shit too. Those hills, that wrinkled leather, those huge pointy... Urgh, its painful to look at them

****

You are not entirely sure how much more of this you can take.

“Y’see, the patterned one’s nice. Very official-seeming, gives off a nice image of prosperity and the like, makes an open impression; easy to talk to and all that...but the blue’s more regal in these parts...and might end up ingratiating me to some of the more influential people around town, if ya know what I mean.” He turns and winks at you- an effect all too disturbing when combined with his sagging paunch. Mesmerizingly grotesque.

“I don’t care,” You manage carefully, “I just came to know if you still wanted me on that underground mission.”

“Underground mission?” He laughed, “What underground mission? I never said anything about the mission being underground. I said if you wanted some brownie-points for skirt-chasing you should give it a look....oh and you did didn’t you, ya crooner? That’s so nice of you! You should drop your intel off with Sahhi, the dame’d love a heads-up on where people are slipping up...though maybe Raj has already filled her in...haha not in *that* way though, I don’t think!”

>>18531420

You’re glad the map you’d drawn wasn’t in your hand for the crumpling as he turns back to the mirror, chuckling at his own little joke.

“No, see, I was just thinking a bonafide hero like you might want a mission a little more rewarding, a little time to unrest and unwind amid people of...similar calibre. Might not seem it right now, but we’ve got the movers and the shakers here in Urgash, and tonight’s one of those nights for the moving and the shaking if you catch me- though I’m sure you do plenty enough of that every night with some young filly, am I right? Ha!”

“Anyway, it’s Gnome and guest...and you’re more than a prize catch- you’re a new face. Maybe you can give us all a fresh perspective on things...” He pauses for a second, then unusually adds, “And if my hunch is right, someone like you is exactly the kind of flair this party’s going to need.”

He turns to you, wispy-haired chest and all.

“So Vicko...Patterned or Blue?”

****

rolled 33 = 33

Patterned. You are a far cry from royalty to wear blue, and, besides, it cast pretty shade on your skin, makes you look... unhealthy.
And while you at that, do something about those sleeves.
Roll for fashion sense!

rolled 36 = 36

>>18531556
I meant, for GNOME fashion sense, ahaha, now its ours, right. Right?

>>18531586
I MUST ROLL BUT I HAVE BAD DICE!!!

Whatever we say, we appear like a bumbling drunkard to this gnome. I dont even know if we should attend that "gnome party" at all, my confidence is all time low. We might even make ourselves look much more foolish than we already are.

****

You eye him for a very long time before replying.

“...You should wear black, it’s more flattering for your figure. A mid-sash at least. And keep to patterened if that’s not possible- longer sleeved that that though. I’d have hoped a man in your position would know how to dress himself.”

“Ah see, I knew I could count on you!” He praises, tossing the robes aside and going back to his usual chair, re-donning a shirt, “Right then, that’s that sorted out for tonight. Just come around here late afternoon and we can go off together. Now-“

He leans back and grabs a stack of folders off the shelf behind him, plopping them down on the desk to rifle through.

“-Here we are, a something of a guest list if you want to brush up- and a couple of maps on the underground if you want to continue charming your lass. I’ve got my own guys working on it, but Raj seems’t owe you one, so if he wants or if you’ve any ideas, then maybe I’ll take you up on it all after this shin-dig’s over. I’m sure the gears will have greased sufficiently by then. “

He taps his hand down on the files like patting a full stomach, pushing them across the desk in satisfaction.

“Y’got ‘til tonight. I think if there’s anything else you want to look into or make before then, you take care of it. I suppose you could say we’re stepping up our game a little.”

****

Seems we're being given a bit of prep-time here. Didn't someone want to scry or something in one of the previous threads? Or maybe we could go chat to someone.

rolled 34 = 34

Allright.
He said "till tonight", but dont we need some sleep before, since we spent all night in the sewers?
Also, we might get a bath and a new change of clothes (do we conjure it or buy it, I forgot?)
Look over the list of guest. Anything strange? I doubt we would know anyone there, but still... Ask the Raj about the guests we find peculiar.
Check the maps, compare with our own hand drawn one. See if we missed anything. Any tunnels or entrances that should have been there but we didnt see. I dont think we would have enough time to crawl in sewer before the party.

rolled 92 = 92

>>18531772
Crap, all my rolls today are around 33.
check how I roll!

Well, one logical conclusion seems that Cultist reported the supplies theft, and Az air-dropped, (or whatever) some kobolds to catch the thieves. Hence traps and running away, because he only intends to have the people who actually stole from him brutally murdered.

It is a possibility, at least.

Also, it seems reasonable to look through the information we were handed, and see if there is any mentioning of kobolds. If there are any, then the kobolds are a known quantity. If not, then we may have a bargaining chip. Simply put, we can ask him how much he would like it (in units of exorbitant monetary compensation) for us to resolve one or both of the entities down there. (kobolds, medium-sized humanoids)

While we are at it, let us see if we can find a pair of bolt-cutters, or equivalent tools. They are useful, and given our resource, perhaps we could find a better pair, or a more compact/portable set. (Adamantium, perhaps. I am reluctant to make as huge investment as that would represent, though.)

>>18531772
Seconding this.

>>18531860
Az and kobolds are completely OOC. All we know is that someone steals from traders using the old catacombs, and when we tried to investigate - we were ambushed by kobolds. Some people said that it was something bigger than kobolds stealing - but they might not know for sure, since it was dark. Some said the kobolds have been there only for seveal weaks, while stealing was going for more - again, we cannot be sure that they were not just unable to spot kobolds before. So for all we in character know is that kobolds might be original culprits.
And bolt-cutters? What for? Just use your fingers as electrodes and burn stuff with lightning. Plasma-cutter, fuckyeah!

>>18531925
It is not completely OOC. It is a lot of guess work, but knowing that the cultist probably worships a Red dragon of some sort, (and probably not terribly divine, given that we should know draconic deities,) Red dragons are ridiculously greedy and prideful (if less vain that Blues), and kobolds are a common minion of dragons of most flavors, it would seem a tentative, if possible, conclusion. (The name 'Az' obviously excluded.)

Bolt cutters would work without magic, would not take our magic to use, conceivably would be silent, and would not be as conspicuous as plasma cutting. I would totally go for plasma cutters, though, as that would be pretty damn awesome.

>>18531961
It would be OOC.
We have no connection between cultists and kobolds for now. If we would have asked the priestess about kobolds, and she would try to be extra-failingly-sneaky about them "you DID NOT see any kobolds in the sewers" while trying to use her mind-control powers, or we would see kobolds talking to the priestess - then yes, we could have made such a far-fetching conclusion.
As of now all we know 2 facts for sure
a) there are kobolds in sewers who ambush adventurers and set up traps
b) someone has been stealing supplies via sewers
and so the only conclusion we can come up at the moment is that it must be kobolds stealing. But we are wise dragon, so we are not going to go exterminatus on kobolds yet. We investigate.
We might even try to talk to a kobold. Catch one, and then interogate in drakonic. Be merciful, give him a swift death after we got all the info.

>>18531961
>kobolds are a common minion of dragons of most flavors
Also, considering that the area is overrun with dragons (there are what, 20+ dragons living around the area, maybe more if we count all the blue ones), and that neighboring cities are run by blues IIRC, it would be easier to assume that kobolds are the agents of blues.
Honestly, stop being so suspicious of those nice, beautiful priestesses.

>>18532069
We know that:
c) the kobolds are letting people escape and not following up on the traps so the traps are probably not set to trap people.
d) the only other things we know of in the sewers that the kobolds could be trying to trap are the shadowy humanoids the priestess said was stealing things

>>18532069
>and so the only conclusion we can come up at the moment is that it must be kobolds stealing.

A thought:

Retreating and allowing the team to escape is an odd move; if the Kobolds were the ones doing the stealing, then they would surely have attempted to kill the group before they could report on it. Hard to steal when people know what to look out for and where to look for it. In addition the lack of a mention of kobolds by the priestess/cultist/whatever is conspicuous.

Is it possible that the Kobolds are incidental, and were stirred up by whatever is really doing the stealing? It seems that there is a virtual maze of tunnels and catacombs underneath the city- not a stretch of the imagination to see kobolds living there unmolested until something used their tunnels to get into (or at least close to) the temple.

>>18532110
>>18532121
Or the kobolds might be very incompetent - we are not the only party to avoid their traps. We know that some parties return injured from traps. We also know that some adventure parties never return at all, and live no trace. So it could be that the kobolds are very cowardly - they can steal allright, but normal attack is too much for them. Kobolds rely on their traps, if they work, kobolds jump in and finish the rest of the group, to carry the remainings away and eat them. If they fail the initial ambush, they just fire couple bolts to keep the target away, and run.

The kobolds aren't the thieves. They didn't bother to relieve the functionary of his valuables. He would have been perfectly adequate bait without those items, and those items wouldn't have been risked by the fire traps if the kobolds had any desire to take them.

>>18532276
Kobolds are not after us. They attack and trap everyone, but only until they determine we aren't who they're looking for. Could easily be after the thieves.

>>18532289
But what if the thieves are not doing it for the money, but instead try to pressure the local business?

****

Finally, some place in this town where you feel you can breathe easy.

The upper side of the town is not one you’ve really taken the time to see during your stay in Umbaya given all the problems seeing to be located in the slum and market areas, and you find it to be much more like the kind of place you expected to be overseen by your grandfather- spacious, tasteful...overall more pleasant and decidedly less noisy.

Welskin’s info had proven satisfyingly unobscure as well- his records, at least, show no signs of his normal bluff and blather, and already you fancy you can spot out a few of what might be presumed the ‘key players’.

The first being the one who is holding this little get-together (some community purchase of land), a Madame Halla, who seems to have ties with the religious sector of the city, namely by having acquired the leases to the land they’re resting on and charging accordingly. Perhaps you would have passed it over were it not for Welskin’s notes, which point toward illicit seizures of these titles over the past number of decades- nothing provable, but notable nonetheless.

You also spent some time with Raj after meeting with the Gnome to discuss the Kobold situation. Naturally, as one of the Internal Affairs operatives, he (and by extension Welskin) had a little bit more info on it than you, confiding that, so far, the issue was being kept as a close secret in the department and was not to spread out beyond. Something on Welskin’s direct orders it seems, and a little suspicious...but Raj seemed about as keen to rid the underground of them as he is at chasing skirt, so there’s probably more to it than the irritating little Gnome is letting on.

>>18532322

Regardless, you inferred that you might have some ideas over how to resolve the conflicting reports of property damage and traps, and the man seemed interested- maybe there’s a paying job in it for you afterall. If nothing else, you could sell your chunk of trap-noted map to them to help with the investigation.

The rest of the day was simply spent browsing the folders in your (you assume ‘favourite’, if such a word applies) open eatery, keeping an eye on the crafter across the street who you had gainfully employed to work all of your bags into pouches on a belt...and also off whom you had purchased decent set of cutters, incase a similar incident as what happened last night happened again. Quite how you’re going to morph with the belt escapes you at the moment, but you are not wholly without means on that issue- having spent a lot of your life in relative isolation did at least come with the benefit of picking up a few skills and talents to pass the time. Some academic solution would no doubt be applicable to such a problem.

Here, though? A problem requiring utility seemed unlikely. Here, you found yourself in a crowd of rich debutantes, discussing irritation at stymied trade and complimenting Welskin on his fashionable blue robes. Patience and guile...for once, you don’t imagine that the Gnome has dragged you along other than for a distinct purpose- his folders had nothing on the potential Shadow Council members...and chances were good at least one of them was here. More, maybe.

Dragonborn in the making.

Somebody post the mating pics

>>18532303
If the kobolds had any presence at all in the local society, that might make sense. However, here they are complete outsiders and are incapable of exerting any sort of nuanced influence.

>>18532332

The groups had all clustered off, catching up before any official toasting would take place. You can’t help but be introduced to a ew people by Welskin, a Mr. Altair who has a position on the chair the magic academy, an unusually cheerful Mr. Muhafaz who is in charge of west-side trade...both of which seemed less than keen to see Welskin, and even less so someone who he introduced. As such, you’ve stepped away from the throng and stood watching, trying to put names to faces for the afterparty.

A waiter smiles, placing a glass in your hand.

“A gift from the lady across the way.” He explains before gliding off.

You look over. Short hair, hazel eyes- a little stern...more striking than that though is the uniform, and the fierce henna on one side of her face. Military...Ah yes, there was a file on her. Captain Ta’Assuq- the one under the shadow councilman for the military branch. The Welskin of her department...though hopefully not as bad.

You incline your head in appreciation, sip and move over, leaving the first line to be said by her- voice a bit lighter than you were expecting from her appearance.

“Victor, right? I read the Gnome’s report; my compliments on handling the Orc problem; my boss seemed satisfied, and that satisfies me.”

Patience and guile, you remind yourself. Now how best to get something out from the night...

****

>>18532333
Excuse me?

>>18532338
Classy lady. Good taste. I bet she's trying to put something over us.

String her along, but keep an eye out for stuff. I bet she's after something, and let's try getting more out of her than she does out of us. If she does seem entirely honest, though, things could go well.

Also, quietly distribute our complete dissatisfaction with 'our' boss. That might get us in better with some of these nobles. Again, though; quietly.

>>18532413
Works for me.

I'm going to gnash my teeth if there's any play-it-modest dialogue from us though. I mean, come on.

rolled 100 = 100

>>18532413
Sounds good enough.
I am not going to suggest everything. Every time we did what I asked to in social situations, spaghetti would fall out of the character pockets.
How about a roll, though?

>>18532495
> 100
Huh.

>>18532495
Nice 100. I'm guessing how much of WG's posts are being changed.

Archived.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18529654/

>>18532495
I guess she falls in love with us.
(thick russian accent, deep voice)
"Viktor, it is a rarity to meet such a handsome young man in zis province. I have much feeling for you, Viktor, here, touch zis - you feel how my hurt is beating, yes? Its my love to you beating!"

>>18532546
Stop archiving so early. If you wait, you can actually have a description that might describe more than half of the thread.

>>18532580
And then it turns out to just be a plot to distract us when we next roll a 1.

>>18532580
I'm entirely okay with this.

>>18532594
Well, she is probably one of those ladies who would chop your balls off if she were to find you with another woman.

So... what are we actually doing with that 100 anyway?

>>18532614

Her.

****

“Well, someone has to do the work around here.” You allow yourself to wallow for a moment, leaning back on the bar.

“Mmm, and there’s not nearly enough of that going around in His camp, is there?” She grins, sipping her own drink, “I’m sure he’s having a lot of fun with someone as competent as you onboard. A pity he snapped you up before I could, after that stint. Had you doing some busywork for him?”

“Something like that...and well, I’m not exactly on the payroll,” You reply, trying to widen opportunity, “He’s not exactly the kind of person to inspire much loyalty, you know.”

“No, I suppose not.” She agrees, leaning back on the bar with you, “I mean, can anyone who got to his position through weedling and backstabbing really earn the kind of trust needed for that?”

“Hmm, his staff seem to put up with him.” You push, not committing your own opinion just yet.

“Pfft, his staff are a joke,” She waves, “Green, nearly all of them. Now my guys, they know the value of respect. And they don’t go off needing therapy if a few of their relatives die in the line of duty, either. A man like Welskin who flouts his own bosses’ orders hasn’t got any place in a town like this. Like it ain’t enough in the shitter already.”

“You, though,” She smiles over, “Like you say, you get the job done. I wasn’t happy when Internal Affairs got pushed from above to take the beasts out, but maybe it worked out okay if it blipped a powerful guy like you on the radar. I was fast running out of people I could respect around here.”

****

>>18532610
She had better not. Dragons do not take well to that.

>>18532625
Sweet. Let us see if we can get her to brief us on what is going on here, and other people. Maybe she has some data on the catacombs, or why this town is in the shitter.

Particularly, data on the catacombs. Perhaps tell her about the kobolds we ran into recently, and ask her opinion on what the heck is going on.

Oh, and stop rolling. With our luck, we will roll a 1 next, and WG will take that instead.

>>18532665
>tell her about kobolds
Not sure about that... The gnome tried to keep it a secret, didnt he? OTOH, he didnt pay us to shut up.

She certainly has an at best casual concern towards the well being of her employees. She might not just be different than the current worm we're dealing with - she might be worse.

>>18532700

>he didnt pay us to shut up.

heh, very true, that'd cost him extra.(draconic greed lol)

>>18532771
Unless I'm misreading, she was simply extolling the fact that HER people weren't a bunch of psychological wrecks. She might just be proud of them for being tough, rather than casual towards their suffering.

****

“Oh? I’d have thought a gathering of such influential people would have its fair share of applicants for such a position.”

“Fewer than you’d think,” She sighed, scanning the crowd with you, “...Altair, maybe. He’s a bit of a rich, spoiled brat, but I get this feeling off him...he knows what he wants. Halla does well to keep the religions in tow- I can’t say any of the priests have proven anything to me; they’re good for healing, but that’s generally all they’re good for. Other than that...”

She snorts derisively into her drink.

“Trash, the lot of ‘em. Except my boss.”

“I thought you’re not supposed to know who your boss is, and that was a part of what kept them safe?”

“...Yeah, true, but I know he’s solid. If he told us to clean up those trade-routes, we’d be on it in a heartbeat. But, so far...well, ”

“And the catacombs? I hear there’ve been problems there.”

“Really?” She perked, eyes glazing over in remembrance, “Hmm. I guess the Gnome keeps a tight lid on that kind of stuff, I haven’t heard jack. If it’s serious, I guess I could clear it with my boss and have my guys do a sweep.”

She takes another sip, looking sideways at you.

“How about it? Maybe you’d like to come along too, see what good pay and decent treatment’s like? It’ll beat the hell out of hanging around with one of Welskin’s headcase projects, I’ll tell you that much.”

****

>>18532902
I'd be tempted to say yes, just to see how it might russle the gnome's jimmies. Anyone have any reservations or paranoid thoughts I'm not getting?

>>18532902
She is probably right. Welskin did not pay for silence, nor a retainer to give him the benefit of the doubt, nor do we like him well enough to do that out of charity. Since we are discussing it, let us mention the fact that we ran into kobolds, and a hell of a lot of rather competent traps down there.

Express agreement with the general sentiment, but do not actually agree to go with her. We would want actual terms, and to see if she is as nice as she is trying to appear.

>>18532925

no paranoid thoughts going through me. I'd say yes on the spot, god that gnome is an ass... makes me want to commit fantasy genocide.

>>18532943
I second this. We want terms and payment before we do any thing.

>>18532902
Yeah, why not? That Welshskin in not our relative or a friend. So far we have asked him plenty of questions, and all we got was some dickering and smug responses. And he is not even the biggest fish in town! So lets see what the other party can tell us.
Too bad that the cursed gnome knows about our identity. I it was Az, gnome would have already be long time dead gnome.

>>18533099
If we were Az, we'd have killed our grandfather for daring to ask our assistance. Or simply plotted to usurp him for being incompetent enough to need it.

Our employment with the gnome has not been one of exclusivity, I see no problem into taking up her offer. As we say we are not into his payroll we have being hire for each job individually. Plus she sound like a more more strait-froward person than the damn gnome. We may try to get the same thing going with her.

Sometimes I think the gnome intentionally tries to make us angry or push away. He knows we are a dragon, but he still keeps that wise-ass tone, and he dresses exactly like we suggested not to dress, and then he takes us to the party where we can meet his enemies.
So either he is an idion, or more powerfull than it appears (hey, noone said we are the only dragon in town), or he hopes that once we learn about the other side, we come back to him because he is the lesser of two evils.

>>18533387
>the lesser of two evils.

perhaps he's a devil or demon in disguise, those guys love to fuck with people all day long.

****

You take a moment to consider her offer, then, sensing no apparent malice on her part, make a small concession.

“I’ve no objections, and it’s not like he’s paying me to keep any secrets. However, there’s not much fun for me without some profit- if you want me to go with and help uproot the problem, then I’ll want a cut of the pay as well as the action. I get that well enough, then...well, you get me,” You accede, offering a hand for her to shake, “And a deal. Still, I’m not so stingy as to let you go in blind; got time for me to give you the details here, or are you going to have to take part in the political mixer sometime tonight?”

“Pfft, me? Screw ‘em,” She smirks, taking your hand, “I’ll leave the brown-nosing for people like Welskin- he’s certainly got a big enough one. You have me for the whole night, Victor...I trust you’ll make the most of it.”

She downs the rest of her drink in one gulp and waves over another tray of hard brandy for the both of you.

“So,” She starts, flicking some hair out of an eye, “What’s the deal? Skeletons yawning too loud?...”

A couple of hours pass as such and you move to a private table; general details turning more intricate, then falling apart into playful banter once the liquor starts to flow toward unhealthy levels- moreso for her you feel, as your superior metabolism gave you a bit of an edge in the inebriation stakes. You read the dossier on her before attending, and it mentioned aggressiveness, but she seemed nice enough a drunk, if a little...personally invasive of space. Much like the previously praised Altair, you get the feeling more than once that this is a woman who knows what she wants.

>>18533603

“No no no, Victor, Vic,” She slurs, her hand fast on your arm, “It’s not that, you know? If it were just about auras, that’s no good. That’s like holy crap’n I don’t do holy crap, yeah? You gotta feel it here, yeah? Respect comes from the heart. You feel that?”

“I certainly do. You realize that the host of the party is about to give her speech and she’ll see-”

“Fuck her, I’m talking to you. I’m going to totally- I’m going to really talk to my boss about this and we’re going to fix this town. You an’ me. We’re gonna make it right. Change shit. G’sm order in here. Arright?”

“Alright.”

“-‘Cus we’ve got –this-.” She adds with finality, drawing a line from her eye to yours, “Don’t even forget that.”

“Would you like another drink, Tass?”

“Fuck you!! Yes.”

A little too drunk yourself to really hold back a grin you stand and make your way over to the serving area before they stopped coming out during the little charity talk, finding the waiter from before just a shade before the leading lady began her little spiel.

“Hi, Kadum was it? Can I get-“

“-The blackest coffee you got. I’m talkin’ tar here- and another Exheln wine for myself, whatever you got. Fast as you can, lad!” A very familiar voice you’d hoped to escape from for the night calls out from right beside ya, “I see you’ve gotten her pretty hammered, Vic! Good, she works best that way- not that she knows it. Same for the bedroom too I bet, haha! Though you’re too much of a gentleman for that, am I right? But no, seriously, sober up, I just got a call off of-”

>>18533640

“-Welskin.” You try and phrase this as nicely as possible, realizing you might be a little tactful as usual, “You know what I am. You know what I can do. And if you don’t stop harassing me for one night, or at least just for right /now/, I am going to eat you. That’s just fact. It will not be enjoyable for either of us for I'm sure you taste disgusting, but that is what will happen. So shut up and save this speil for later. Yes?”

The Gnome looks at you, and for the first time, you think you see his affable nature slip a little. No, not a moment. It just has. He looks grim. He holds your gaze though, taking the cup of coffee for you and holding it out. He even manages to hold the gaze even as the pack of Worgs that breached security shatter through the two-story windows. You just about hear him talk as the shock turns to screams.

“S’your party, Vic. Time to shine.”

****

>>18533690
Asdfg.

>>18533690
Well, it seems like we ought to use the opportunity to drive that fear of us into him a little more. No reversion, here, but let us make with the evocation and blade-work. Former preferably, since I bet we are unarmed, but we can probably snag some useless noble's sword, or pick one up off a body.

Can we get more detail on the layout and attackers?

>>18533690

Damn it I was hoping to get more personal with the lady...Well no time for that now, drink the cup in one go and take down the biggest Worg in the room, Magic Missile is a good opening move.

btw, do we have any sobering magic? If so, use it on us if we are off, or the lady if we can still fight.
What do you mean "there is no sobering magic"? Thats the first spell anyone should learn!

>>18533744

Sure, why not?

It's a big hall with some 50 odd people in attendance, plus 150 catering staff (who are all, sans the waiter you accosted) are thankfully all in the kitchen area and prepped to flee in relative safety.

Along the walls there are coats of arms, including sword and shield combos. Around the hall are large circular tables and small, raised-cushioned alcoves for more private conversation- one of which you and Tass were in. The Worgs, well, the first ones in, are disorientated, four are quite keen, though, but haven't attacked yet...there are eight in all- one of which seems to be an Elder.

I think we can stop updating her for today, give y'all time to plan. Also! The next session is early by a day to make up for lateness by a day, and so will commence on Thursday, 11PM...whatever englishtime is.

Relax, you've done well.

rolled 61 = 61

>>18533825
Worg is like a big wolf, right? i just hope you didnt misspell vork.
Since we most likely dont have a weapon (we dont, right?) we can try either grabbing one from the stand or take a table or other heavy furniture and smash em with that. I guess its too much to hope for "force cage" or to create cage out of ice to imprison those worgs.

I don't suppose we can recycle that whole "fog, ooze mephit, and loud sound illusions" plan that got proposed and ignored against the bugbears?

>>18534372
Stinking cloud would probably upset the sensibilities of our dear nobles here. It is a good idea, but it would probably do so all the same.

Visual illusions, mephits, and illusory sounds would probably all do well to keep the wargs distracted, though. Smell is good and all for tracking, but there are so many people here and so little in the way of fresh air, it seems like 'seeing' that way would be like trying to look into a spotlight for them, and completely non-functional.

Grabbing a halberd or glaive off of one of the coat-of-arms on the wall would be awesome, though might not work if they're bolted to the wall, and could conceivably cause offense for some reason. Also, show-weapon vs. practical-weapon... Let us try to keep the wargs away from the non-military personnel here, though, and if possible, attempt to rally the military types to hold them off.

And oh god, we need to figure out what the fuck is going on.