Play Day 2 - 5/5/2012

Date: Oathday, 25th of Gozran. The party, having completed the early morning preparations and their meeting with Lord Padraig, leave Winterhaven on foot - walking east along the road back to Lington. According to the map in their possession, they will need to walk one and a half hours east before leaving the road to walk south a further one and a half hours through the wilderness before reaching their destination - the Dragon Burial Site that the historian, Douven, is searching. After an hour traveling along the road, the nameless Monk spots a small brown head peering around the side of a series of large rocks, just set off from the road. The monk discreetly tells Isabella and she too sees the head of a kobold look up and the glint of metal off a javelin tip. A crackly voice then shouts out from behind the rocks, Thats them! The party then quickly move into positions of cover and make their way up cautiously towards the rocks. Javelins start to y towards the party but miss their targets. The Monk goes round to the northern side and the rest of the party make their way around the south. Delina, Guided Witch of Desna, sees two more kobolds hiding in bushes to the south. These two are larger than normal kobolds, carrying impressive looking large shields and carrying morning stars. Isabella looks towards the two hiding kobolds and raises a hand towards the nearest, words of a prayer under her lips. The air sizzles in front of outstretched ngers but there seems to be no effect on the crouching kobold. Isabella curses under her breath. The monk then rushes further forward around to the north and as he comes around sees that there are three kobolds here. A smaller kobold carrying a javelin, another larger kobold with a shield and morning star and lastly one dressed in plain robes and holding a staff decorated in small skulls and feathers - a shaman.

Javelins continue to y toward the party but miss. Isabella then charges forward to the nearest kobold, hiding in the bushes, and swings her morning star at the hiding kobold. The morning star crashes down upon the large shield of kobold, with a loud bang, but with no other effect. Delina, utters words of power and touches a hand to her hawk, which then ies up like an arrow. The hawk ies directly towards the Monk and swoops down - the outstretched wing just touching the Monk as it ies past. Immediately the Monk feels a sense of protection come over him. The shaman steps towards the Monk and stretches his hands together uttering low guttural sounds. Flames bursts out of his hands, engulng the unprepared Monk which takes the full brunt of the force. The Monk is badly injured. A morning star swings at Isabellas head but she manages to avoid it. Krondor, seeing the dire situation the Monk is now in, runs up to his position to help, all the while watching the Monk dodging the javelin blows from the small kobold before him. Hoodlin, rushes up to the side of Isabella, and jabs the arm of the shielded kobold, drawing a small amount of blood but instantly the kobold grabs his arm like it is on re. Hoodlin grins that his poisoned blade is doing its work. Meanwhile, the Monk lets y a series of strikes towards the kobold shaman but only one hits. Isabella swings at the now poisoned kobold and strikes a solid blow, injuring the kobold severely. Delina agains utters words of power and touches her hawk, this time it ies towards Isabella and as the wing of the bird touches the Cleric of Cayden Cailean, a warm feeling of protection ows of her. The kobold shaman, now too close to the Monk and Kronder to risk using magic, desperately swings his staff at the Monk but thanks to the protection of Delinas witchcraft, misses. The poisoned kobold swings his morning star at Isabella but fumbles his grip on the weapon and it ies out of his hands, landing 10 away. He now only has his shield. The effects of poison are making him shake. Krondor swings his mighty battle axe at the smaller kobold but misses it. The monk now faces the combined blows of the smaller kobold and one of the larger kobolds with a shield. Weapons swing at the Monk, but he is like a blur of motion, dodging everything that comes his way. Hoodlin attempts to strike the unarmed kobold again but misses.

Delina sees another larger kobold, carrying a shield, closing in on Isabella. She points at this new threat and utters words of power. The kobold instantly relaxes and then turns around to stare a near by buttery - completely oblivious to the battle around him. Krondor swings at the shaman and hits him in the torso, blood spurting out. He has done a mighty blow and the shaman is severely injured and can barely stand. One of shielded kobolds swings back at Kronder but misses. Hoodlin again strikes out at the poisoned and unarmed kobold. The dagger plunges into the chest of the kobold and he falls backwards, unmoving. The Monk now focuses completely on the shaman. All his years of training now explode through his muscles. Fists, elbows, feet and blade strike out in a series of bone crushing attacks. The nal strike, that of his temple sword, slices the kobold literally in half; the bloodied upper torso of kobold falls away from the rest of the body. The shaman has been decimated. Isabella, reaches down and touches to dying poisoned kobold, a small amount of healing power ows just enough to stop the creature from bleeding out. Isabella shouts out, This one well keep to interrogate. Delina then rushes over to the downed and barely alive kobold and places her dagger at his throat, I will keep watch over this one. The previously dazed kobold, now no longer under the effect of Delinas spell, sees Isabella before him and swings but misses. Krondor swings at one of the shielded kobolds but misses. Javelins comes swinging in quickly at Krondor and the Monk. Krondors shield stops the blows but unfortunately the Monk is hit. He is now seriously injured. Hoodlin sees that Isabella faces one of the shielded kobolds alone. He raises a blow dart from a concealed sleeve on this chest and aims it at the kobold. The dart ies through the air and hits the kobold in the neck. The Monk, covered in blood, strikes out again and hits the shielded kobold, kobold blood goes ying in multiple directions. The kobold is hurt badly. Isabella seeing the shielded kobold before him is now staggering from the effects of Hoodlins dart, swing her morning star at the kobold head and cleaves the top part of his skull off. The kobold spins and drops onto the ground - half his brain is missing. Krondor, tries to swing a mighty blow but fumbles and accidentally over swings and wildly swings the battle axe into his own leg, drawing blood. The dwarf shouts a curse both in anger and embarrassment. The injured Monk, distracted by Krondors shout, doesnt see the javelin tip that lunges at him. It lunges into his stomach. The monk cries out in pain and then drops onto the ground, unconscious and dying. The kobold cries triumphantly.

Hoodlin hears the Monk cry and with no hesitancy runs towards them to help. His small Gnome legs pumping as hard as they can. Isabella also charges forward, overtaking Hoodlin, and moves straight towards the murderous kobold but her swing misses. Krondor, now over his embarrassment, swings his battle axe at the shielded kobold and cuts the arm off holding the shield. The kobold falls over dead. The last remaining kobold now runs for his life. Hoodling res a dart at the eeing kobold and hits, causing it to slow down and stumble. Krondor, runs forward - screaming a Dwarven battle cry - and cuts the eeing kobold down in half. The battle is over. ****** Isabella quickly tends to the downed Monk, using her powers of healing, she brings the Monk back from the death. Some of the party the start searching the area and fallen bodies of the kobolds. Isabella, who can speak the language of kobolds, begins to interrogate the captured kobold who is now conscious. The learn that a female, dressed in black had given orders to the group to kill them. They also learn that the kobold lair is somewhere to the south and that they face around 20 kobolds in the lair; though that last part is somewhat unsure as most kobolds cant count past 10. Once the are nished questioning the kobold they dispatch him. The party nd 5 gold pieces and 23 silver pieces on the bodies along with an obsidian necklace that shows the symbol of the Demon Lord Orcus and a note. The party work out that the note is from Ninaran, the lady dressed in black, and that she arranged for this ambush against the party.

All the ears of the kobolds are cut off and kept in a bag, for collection of bounty from Lord Padraig later.

Isabella tends to wounds of all the party and everyone is now fully ready. They party continue on their way. ****** Following the instructions of the map they continue east along the road a short time before leaving it to head south into the wilderness. The party realize quickly that without the map they would have had trouble nding the location. After walking through the wilderness for an hour and a half, following a path that wounds and bends they eventually come to an area where the trees clear. The Monks very keen hearing picks out talking up ahead. The party decide to stop and wait and let the stealthy Hoodlin and Monk go up ahead alone. The two sneak their way up and come across a large clearing. A large dug out area, 100 across and 15 deep is here. Work tools and shovels are visible. Three humanoids are visible, one small, along with a weird small dragonlike creature; all in the dug out area. Off to the side, outside of the dug out area, is a strange purple apparition; that appears to be looking down at the humanoids. Hoodlin and the Monk decide to go back and tell the party what they saw. The party decide to go forward and work out a plan of attack. Hoodlin will sneak up through the bushes alone, from the west, and approach the apparition from behind, carrying Delinas silver dagger. The only silver or magical weapon the party have. Delina will approach from the south, but hide behind rocks ready to assist as needed. Krondor, the Monk and Isabella will approach from the east with weapons drawn, using rocks to cover the approach until the last moment. As the party put their plan into motion every thing works as planned. When the party gets closer they see that there are two humans dressed in dirty work gear - but armed - and a small well dress colorful Gnome. The dragon like creature is dog size but appears tough. Krondor can see that the purple apparition is coming from something that is laying on the ground. The Gnome calls out, Hail friends - you have no need of your weapons. Put them down and lets talk. Krondor and Isabella can see that there is a large human sized bag, near the Gnome, that appears to be moving. Krondor also sees that the apparition is apparently coming out of something on the ground. Isabella, not believing the Gnome, rushes in a swings at the dragon but misses. The Gnome pulls out from behind his back a loaded crossbow, yelling, Kill THEM!!! as he res a crossbow bolt at the party missing. Krondor charges at the dragon and smashes his battle axe into it, drawing blood.

Isabella also hits the dragon with her morning star. One of the humans sprints over to the battle. The monk steps towards this human and attempts to hit him but misses. A blood curling scream comes from the purple apparition - KILL THEM!!!!! The dragon snaps its jaws at Krondor. The mighty jaws miss but only just. The Dwarf realizes that this creature is very powerful and those jaws are deadly. The other human then sprints toward the battle. Music starts to play. The party look over and see the Gnome has pulled out a small wooden ute and is playing a song. The two humans and dragon seem to be affected by this music and seem to be feeling positive effects. It appears the Gnome is a bard! Krondor swings at the dragon but his blow does nothing. One of the humans swings a wooden club at the Monk, it hits him on the head and causes a blood to spew out of the Monks head. The Monk remains standing. Isabella swings at the dragon but also misses. Delina utters words of power and sends her hawk into the battle. It ies at the Monk, swooping in and striking him with its wing, before ascending into the sky. The Monk feels a protecting warmth envelope him. Hoodlin now sneaks forward toward the apparition and lunges the silver dagger at it. The hit is good and parts of the purple break out and disperse - there seems to be less of the apparition but its still there. The dragon snaps at Isabella. The teeth just miss the Cleric. The hot breath grazes Isabellas leg. Krondor swings with all his might at the dragon and hits again. Blood comes from the wound but the dragon ignores it. The purple apparition turns towards the exposed and alone Hoodlin and simple stretches his ngers out touching him. Hoodling draws in a deep breath expecting to fall over dead and .... nothing. Hoodling looks confused at the apparition and the apparition appears to be looking at his hand, a scream of frustration comes from the apparition. The Monk dodges a swing of a club from one of the humans. Isabella swings at the dragon again but still misses. That dam Gnome bard music is making this battle hard. The Monk steadies his mind, remembering the teaching of his sifu - Become like the raging river and ies out a series of blows at one of the humans. Strike after strike land upon the ill prepared attacker. Bones snap broken and blood spurts out. The nal blow, a forward snap kick, sends the human ying backwards and lands in a crumpled heap. It is

obvious from the way the head is looking directly back that the Monk has snapped the enemys head and completely broken his neck. Delina sends her Hawk, commanding it toward the Gnome Bard. The hawk comes round and swoops at the Bard trying to claw his face. The Bard immediately stops playing. The remaining human and dragon seem to be no longer under the effect of his music. Krondor yells at Hoodlin, The apparition. Grab whats on the oor and throw it into the river! Hoodlin, sees a small purple crystal on the ground, that a faint haze erupts from that then forms into the apparition. He quickly bends down and with one hand grabs the crystal and throws it into the river just near by. The apparition goes ying with it into the water screaming, Kalarel - I have failed you .... Steam erupts from the river and a purple haze can be seen on the surface of the water that then fades away. The dragon tries to snap its jaws at Krondor but misses by a far mark. The Gnome Bard tries to hit the attacking hawk, swinging wildly with a dagger but misses. Krondor raises his battle axe and brings it down hard on the dragon causing a major wound to open up, blood gushing out, the dragon can only just stand. Isabella seeing her chance, steps towards the injured dragon and smashes her morning star with all her might into the skull of the beast. The bone crushes under her blow. The dragon falls to the ground, its legs twitching. The Monk turns his attack at the last human and easily brings him down, his temple sword slicing open his stomach. Delina calls her hawk back - not wishing to risk it being hurt by the Gnome Bard. Hoodlin raises his light crossbow at the Gnome Bard and res a bolt into his leg, blood rushes out. The Gnome Bard, seeing he is the last and will blood oozing out of the arrow sticking out of his legs, raises his hands, Friends! I surrender. Surely we can take. The party rush forward to secure the area and the Gnome. This battle is over.

****** The Gnome Bard is secured and questioned. His name is Agrid and after some persuasion by Isabella, involving Isabellas dagger and Agrids ngers, Agrid reveals all he knows. The party learn that he works for Ninaran and she wanted to nd a mirror at this site. For what purpose he does not know. He does know that Ninaran answers to another, a powerful person by the name of Kalarel; though the Bard himself has never meet this Kalarel or knows where he is. Agrid also reveals that Ninaran has organized the local kobolds to take up arms against the humans here to cover her interest in this area and keep people away from the dig site. The party locate this mirror in a crate, ready to be shipped out, and take it. Inside the moving bag they found a bound and gagged male. Once released they discover that this is Douven Staul, the historian they were searching for. Douven is overjoyed to be rescued and tells the party that the amulet that the Gnome Bard is wearing is in fact his. t is a magical amulet that protects against poison and other effects. Douven wants the party to have it for saving his life. Isabella gives her scroll to Douven to read. He tries to but can not read the writing. He states he needs his notebook to do so with all his research notes but that the notebook was taken by his attackers and given to the leader of the kobold lair - Irontooth. Before he can help decipher the scroll he will need his notebook. The party also nd 65 gold pieces and 13 silver pieces on the dead foes. It is decided to return to Winterhaven with Douven and the prisoner Agrid. ****** A few hours later, after walking back, the party return to Winterhaven where Douven again thanks them before leaving for a stiff drink. The party speak to Orten, the guard that have become friendly with, a pay him to look after their prisoner in the Barrack holding cells. Orten also tells the party that Ninaran has been around asking questions about the party. The party then spend the rest of the afternoon shopping and getting new supplies and gear. Krondor and Isabella obtain new armour from Thair Coalstriker the Blacksmith. Hoodlin obtains some mild Paralysis poison for the Monk, that the Monk intends to use with his newly obtained shurikens. With evening drawing near, the party go to the Manor and speak to Lord Padraig. He gives them the map of the possible location of the Kobold Lair before retiring for the night. The party decide it might be prudent not to spend the night in the paid for room in the Inn and instead go to the barracks to try to secure lodging. They speak to Captain Kelfem and due to the previous help of the party to Winterhaven and their unusual situation he agrees to let them stay in the barrack hall that night. The night goes by apparently uneventfully, that is until the morning.

Date: Fireday, 26th of Gozran. In the morning the party learn news that their prisoner, Agrid, has been found dead in his cell. He had a look of terror on his face but no wound or mark was found upon him and the door to his cell was still locked. The Monk learns from Captain Kelfem that he has knowledge of the emblem that is upon the dagger that the Monk carries from the mysterious death of his family. Captain Kelfem recognizes the emblem as that belonging to a group of murderers, assassins and necromancers - though he can not remember the name. He does know that they operated about twenty years ago from the capital of Edamor. And that is where the play session ended.