The Arrow Job

[Charon]

The Methyllar swamp. Centuries ago this was the site of the city of Methyllar. Human scholars probably have books about the fall of Methyllar and the nature of the curse put on the land that turned this area into thick, heavy swampland where no foundation shall ever stand again. Maybe those stories are true, maybe they aren't. It matters little to you as you traipse through the Methyllar swamp or the Swamp of Despair as people more commonly call it. As for why you find yourself tramping through the sludge so late at night, well, that's because you've been summoned. The great black dragon Karrthragoth your lord and master, or to some, an incarnate deity and when Karr summons you, you get your boots on and you trek through the blasted Swamp of Despair no matter how late at night it is because each of you, whether Scalykind or Goblinkin is more than just your average minion. You're all that little bit more special, that little bit more powerful, that little bit more competent. This isn't a summons to scale scrubbing duty. Karr wants something important doing and he wants it done now.

Before long the western cave entrance becomes visible through the low hanging mist. Two Hobgoblins lounging around stand up straight as they see you approach then with a moment of recognition, resume their slacking. One of them jerks a thumb over his shoulder. Entry permitted.

Stomping through the swamp makes one complacent. It's easy when you know you're the biggest baddest threat around. But now, as you descend into Karrthragoth's subterranean lair you are reminded that Karrthragoth is the biggest and baddest threat around. Whether you're more impressed by his might or his keen intellect or his incredible magics is a matter of personal taste. Certainly his lair is impressive. As the entry tunnel gives away to the lair proper there are kobolds scurrying about their duties. These smaller caves that serve as ingress and egress for minions have many cave paintings on the walls done by those very minions portraying their dark and terrible master in all his glory. Karrthragoth melting an army of stinky humans with his acid breath. Karrthragoth in flight. One is even so bold as to depict the time Karrthragoth fought and defeated the blue dragon Brazzapnigon. Thankfully you are saved from that terrible thought as a nearby kobold coughs patiently. You turn your head, to see Speaker Skekkle, a small kobold with mottled green and black hide and tiny eyeglasses perched on the edge of his snout. The Speaker is an honoured position, the dispenser of Karrthragoth's orders among his duties. However he beckons with a claw,
"Follow me."
One does not question the Speaker, even if old Skekkle is a bit of a prat. With a sigh you follow him deeper into the lair. Deeper than usual. Past the minion size tunnels and into... oh no. These tunnels are much larger... large enough to accommodate a dragon in flight. Is Skekkle taking you to...? *gulp*

He stops in one larger room where a few others are already waiting nervously... or zealously in one case. You look around, totting up who's present. Some of these others you may already know by acquaintance or reputation. Bashnag, the biggest meanest bugbear on Karr's staff and a mess of scars from head to foot. Slightly hidden behind him, you almost didn't notice Maggot, the kobold thief and knife in the dark. Ullouccu, the ranger lounges against a wall somehow seeming unalert whilst being the exact opposite. Kwelzucht the sorcerer, wielder of some impressive magics by all account and Gnutmyx... can clerics receive their spells from deep rooted insanity or is this proof that Karr might actually be a god? Best not to question it too deeply. Skekkle speaks up.

"Now you are all here, please follow me. Karrthragoth would like to speak to you personally."
Looking nervously around at each other, the only one grinning is Gnutmyx as you follow the Speaker down the tunnel and into Karrthragoth's audience chamber. The dank sulphurous smell intensifies here as soon as you enter. The air is warm and humid and an ankle deep layer of mist covers the floor. In the centre of the chamber, sprawled on his display hoard is the bulk of Karrthragoth. So big, so mighty, so terrifying, Gnutmyx might well be enraptured but the rest of you are extremely nervous. Kobolds hang from the ceiling from ropes, frantically buffing Karr's scales as Speaker Skekkle shuffles you ever closer. Karr's unblinking eyes watch your every step. His scales gleam darkly. Coins clink as he shifts his weight and the massive head lowers itself closer to you.

His voice rumbles like the thunder. Deep and gravelly, yet eloquent and well spoken. Imagine Scar from the Lion King if he was a dragon.

"Well, well, well. All of you made it. On time, no less, quite the feat, I'm almost disappointed."
A blob of acid falls from a tooth and lands hissing on the floor.
"I do get so frightfully peckish this time of night. But I didn't call you here to satiate my appetite. At least not in a gastronomic sense. I have a mission of some importance for you five, one worthy of your unique talents. Allow me to explain and I shall endeavour to do so in language that even Bashnag can understand. There is a boat coming into dock at Pale Bridge this very night, mere hours away. On this boat there is a shipment, naturally, of twenty Dragonsbane arrows."
One of the hanging kobolds gasps, then frantically redoubles his scrubbing efforts as Karrthragoth growls.
"Retrieve these arrows, this is your top priority. Use this wand..."
A claw emerges from the hoard and flicks a wand towards Kwelzucht,
"to shrink the merchant down to size. Leave him alive but make it very clear who sent you and why I am so displeased. Do what you will, but know that the effect will wear off after twenty minutes. I have some other equipment you might find useful but before I hand it over... do you understand your mission?"
He looks over each of you, one by one with his fearsome green eyes, the irises of which seem to swirl like liquid.

(Some visual imagery)

Spoiler

[Cmdr Maxwell]

Bashnag squares his shoulders, gives a curt head nod, and says in a deep, gruff voice: "Yes, Master. Understood, Master."

[Crabain]

As Maggot 'slithers' barely from behind the broad shoulders of Bashnag he whispers: "Delighted to serve, O great Karrthragoth."

[Ricochet]

At first annoyed that he was being interrupted while perusing the Venerated Murals depicting the grand history of his Master, Gnutmyx snapped to obedience once he saw who would be guiding them. Skekkle brought mixed feelings to the goblin; he had to be appreciated as the chosen of Karrthragoth, but he definitely felt some kind of... jealousy? He slammed himself in the side of the head with his mace as punishment for such unhealthy thoughts.

As the group descended further into the caves, Gnutmyx began to tremble in fervent awe of the deep holiness of the caves. Blessed with the very smells of his Master, he dropped his visor to reduce the amount of saliva he was splattering on his new companions. Conveniently, his armour was constructed with this in mind, directing all the drool down onto himself.

When given his task, Gnutmyx was eternally grateful. Dragonsbane Arrows? Such unholy abominations. Surely the goal is to destroy these terrible artifacts, these blasphemous tools of those unworthy to have the blood of dragons. Well, Bashnag was pretty cool though. And lizardfolk are scaly enough to count, right?

"Your instructions are as exquisite as always, My Exalted," Gnutmyx nods and bounces enthusiastically, his draconic visor chomping with the motion.

[Grodech]

Ullo, never one for words, bowed deeply to his master and uttered "Understood." in draconic before returning to an upright position. He wondered what the merchant was that the wand would be required.

[Niilo]

Speaker Skekkie. The black scaled Kwelzucht couldn't help but think about all kinds of nasty ways to make that arrogant dog suffer a painful death. Skewer him with a sword, throw him in a pot of acid or in a pool of lava... The possibilities were endless as far as Kwelzucht was concerned.

But when Kwelzucht realized where he was going... he put those thoughts away for now. "Soon... my time will come." he muttered under his breath.

~ ~ ~

Kwelzucht paid attention to the great dragon Karrthragoth and caught the wand deftly. "Your wish is my command, my Lord." Yikes, dragonbane arrows. Karrthragoth wasn't the only one who was displeased with that, since those arrows would hurt the sorcerer like hell too. "The merchant will suffer for this insolence, but live... What's the name of his boat, my Lord?"

[Charon]

Karrthragoth's face betrays little expression as he accepts the chorus of yesses with a cursory nod at Kwelzucht's comment.
"Suffer yes, but live, that is very important. Ideally so he can continue his craft, leave him at least one eye, use of his fingers, you know the drill."
He twirls a claw for emphasis.
"You must understand that this is an intricate... game for want of a better term. There are many details I do not have time to explain to you. My ultimate plans involving these arrows are intricate to the point of being labyrinthine in their complexity and Bashnag doesn't even understand what that *means*. You *will* arrive back here with twenty Dragonsbane arrows. I know at least one of you can count that high."
The claw reaches up, scratches a tooth.
"That being said, there are of course some details that will assist you and though time is short it is not entirely fugacious."
He looks over at Bashnag,
"Which is to say I have time to give you some information. The boat is called "The Wind of the North". I understand it to be a large vessel, perhaps larger than usual for Pale Bridge but size alone may not be enough to identify it and alas, I have no further details to assist in that regard. This information reached me at short notice. The merchant is one Gerard Keffler. An elderly half-giant. He himself will be little threat, the wand is more for poetic reasons. It is a one shot use, Kwelzucht, and would be best served reminding Gerard that whilst he may trace his ancestry back to the cloud giants he is, in fact, minuscule in comparison to myself in every way...
It is an analogue, see, Bashnag. By making him small in stature I remind him that he is smaller in intellect and... you know what, never mind. It is his bodyguards that you will have to worry about. I do not know who he brought with him but he will likely have a couple among the workers unloading his shipment. The arrows, of course, are not his sole cargo though I do not wish to stoop to petty theft, do I make myself clear? Regardless, consider his staff expendable. Deal with them as necessary. Get into Pale Bridge how you wish though need I remind you the town is under control of the Warlord Tarsk and his Purple Blades. Hacking your way in may draw his ire and he is not without his usefulness given that he keeps Pale Bridge as an open port... why am I still explaining this...?"
He sighs.
"Lest I waste the rest of the evening being loquacious, are there any other sensible questions?"

[Cmdr Maxwell]

Bashnag is standing there with a blank expression on his rugged, scarred face whilst Master Karrthragoth is speaking, furrowing his brows when whilst Master Karrthragoth uses these complicated words. He gives the odd curt nod when Master looks in his direction.

When there is a moment of silence, Bashnag speaks in a not so loud voice.

"Bash people on boat, no bash guy with arrows. Pale Bridge, careful. Wind of the North, boat."

Another moment of silence passes whilst Bashnag looks deep in thought, trying to understand the objective and the various pieces of information given to him.

"Twenty?" He says quizzically.

He starts counting on his fingers, but stops when he gets to his last finger. A momentary look of confusion flashes across his face, then he drops his hand in resignation. He then says in a louder voice:

"Master, I serve. Bashnag not fail."

[Grodech]

Bashnag will make a good distraction. Ullo thought to himself. "If there's nothing else, my Lord, we will be on our way." he says.

[Charon]

"Ah Ullouccu." says Karr. "Do not think your efficiency goes unnoticed. Naturally, I considered sending you alone but I could not guarantee stealth alone would be the way forward here. To that end, I have a few supplies that may collectively benefit you in your efforts."
He snaps his claws... which is rather impressive in its own right. A trembling kobold emerges form the hoard with an armful of items which he promptly dumps at your feet before legging it. Karr chuckles.
"He's actually got an incredible mind. A great archivist. Pees his proverbial pants the moment he hears my name though. I like it, of course, but, well, it does grow tiresome."
He gestures at the items on the floor.
"Please, do, run along. Oh and take this portal key."
He tosses that at Ullouccu.
"Skekkle will show you to the outgoing portal. It comes out a little over an hour from Pale Bridge. The return key is good til 3am. I assume the significance of that statement is clear enough."

[Charon]

As the items spill down at your feet, one of you gathers them up, likely waiting until Skekkle ushers you to the portal room before truly giving them your full attention without fear of judgement from Karrthragoth.
You find them to be, the following:

1. A Ring of Mis-spelling.
Once per day as an immediate action, change one letter in the name of a spell just cast to change its effect, as determined by the DM. For example, Cause Fear could become Cause Bear. The new name must make some form of sense, so Charm Person could not become Charm Nerson. Instead of changing one letter you may instead add or remove one letter, but not both. Dm's ruling is final.

2. Mimic Coin.
Once per day as a standard action, place the coin in your mouth and touch any nonmagical object to be instantly turned into a copy of that object for 1d4 hours or until mentally dismissed. Whilst disguised you are essentially that object though any spells previously affecting you that are creature based persist.

3. Temporal Grenade.
Throw at a point (ranged touch Vs AC 5 assuming visible floor/wall within 20ft, if used in some more elaborate fashion, DM decides AC). Where it hits, 10ft radius sphere of slow time occurs. The duration is 1 minute outside the sphere to 6 seconds inside the sphere. You can trigger this on yourself as a move action.

4. Girdle of Weightlifting.
As a standard action, double your carrying capacity for 1d3 hours.

5. Little Book of Calm.
Full of inspirational quotes. Once per day, reroll any skill check you just failed. You did not fail and can roll again with a +4 bonus even if a reroll is not usually allowed.

6. Paired Earrings.
Two linked earrings passively allow purely telepathic communication within 200ft.
(sorry Niilo, put those in before you made your char :P )

Effects listed as once per day refresh at dawn, so essentially once per one shot for the purpose of this game. :P

[Grodech]

Ullo catches the portal key (dex roll required?), then gathers up the items to follow Skekkle to the portal room. Ullo wanted to spend as little time in the dragon's presence as was necessary. After all, he couldn't eat you if you weren't there.

Once there, he sets the items down, and places the portal key in his pocket. Then he starts to look over the items, and chooses the Temporal Grenade for himself.

ooc: not sure if you had a specific item in mind for specific characters. Question on the earrings - does each earring need to be on two different people to allow communication between the two, or does one person wear both and then can communicate with anyone?

[Charon]

One earring on one person, allows telepathic communication between the two wearers only, so Kwelzucht's ability to telepathically speak with the whole crew could still be beneficial.

No dex roll required, it was thrown with the intention of being caught (essentially an autopass take 10).

Distribute items as you see fit as best to complete your mission. :)

[Crabain]

Maggot immediatly goes for the Little Book of Calm; he just loves Kobold poetry! And who doesn't? Quotes of his favorite writers are all in there! There we have Bartols Jelly-Egg with How not to be Eaten, and, of course one of the classics of Zophter Phoodbegger: A Lifetime of Groveling, and look, even one of Halvbrinx the Insane: Opportunities in Servitude, and even a rare (considered a bit of a naughty one by most Kobolds) from Woodle Dong-juicer: Extacy in Dracorage!

[Cmdr Maxwell]

Despite the colourful language used by Master Karrthragoth, most of which is lost on him, Bashnag understands the basic premise of what's been asked of him and of the group. Whilst his business for Master Karrthragoth has taken him around the local area (when he isn't doing his primary duty of guarding the various sensitive parts of Master's lair), he hasn't been into Pale Bridge before.

When the items are gathered, he looks at them with little emotion, but nods his head respectfully to Karrthragoth for providing them. Bashnag will saunter after the group, carrying his weight with a fearsome look on his grizzled, scarred face.

Once the group is looking at and handing out the items, Bashnag looks to Ullo (as he is thinking they are the defacto leader as they got the portal key and says in a gruff voice:

"When we start? Master needs arrows"

He hesitates for a moment, and then says:

"You lead? you have key"

[Charon]

Skekkle looks from Bashnag to Ullo.
"You may wish to decide on a leader before departing. A clear chain of command may be necessary."
His smile suggests the position may not just carry positive connotations.

(My pc is broke so posting from my phone while I wait for replacement psu. Gonna be posting from phone so they'll be short n sweet til it's fixed.

[Ricochet]

As the bounty spills onto the ground in front of them, Gnutmyx almost immediately begins reaching for the Book. Any text offered by the great Karrthragoth must be a holy text! However, the tome quickly gets lost in a forest of scaly hands and he loses track of it.

Next best thing was the shiny ring, which spoke to the goblin in him. Which was really most of him, but he wouldn't admit that. He snatched out for it, sticking it on one of his clawed fingers. He was already pretty terrible at spelling, so this would surely come naturally to him. Ideas started racing through his mind...

Cue Moderate Wounds? Animate Lead? Make Whale? Bestow Purse!

Gnutmyx loses himself in thoughts of shiny and valor in the name of Karrthragoth, only mildly paying attention to the group deciding leadership.

[Charon]

Gnutmyx has indeed hit upon the extraordinary potential offered by the ring, but with only one use per day, timing is everything. Was it just his imagination, or did Karr smile as the goblin left the chamber? Standing out among the many kobolds is one thing Gnutmyx can guarantee, success in this mission will only serve to elevate him further in the dragon's eyes. Those incredible eyes...

[Grodech]

Ullo knew Skekkle wanted them to choose a leader in his presence, so he would have someone to point his bony finger at if something went wrong. "We'll have an hour between the portal and the town to figure that out." he responds. He hands Bashnag the girdle. "Here." he says to the bugbear "Make you stronger for a few hours a day, carry more." He then picks up the earrings and says "We can decide who uses these on the way as well." That left the coin, which he picks up and tosses to Kwelzucht, saying "I guess that makes this one yours."

[Niilo]

Kwelzucht caught the coin tossed by Ullo. "Yeah, I guess..." he mumbled, wondering how such a thing would be useful to him. He was more interested in the Little Book of Calm and went over to Maggot. "Maggot... does it contain the works of..." he started saying, but then lowered his voice to a whisper, as if somewhat embarrassed for saying it out loud... "Woodle Dong-Juicer?"



"So... commander Ullo, lead the way!" the sorcerer said when all seemed ready, who wasn't interested at becoming the leader of this peculiar group. It was very likely that the leader's head would roll first if things went awry.


[OOC] Not a problem, Charon!

[Charon]

Skekkle seems almost disappointed to be cheated of his sport.

"3 am, Ullo. If you're not back by then, well I hope for your sake you're already dead."
He motions to the portal.

(Moving it on but feel free to backfill the discussion about the now bizarrely erotic Little Book of Calm XD )

The portal spits you out in a cave, as Karr told you, an hour's trek or so from Pale Bridge. Sneaky, in fact, you had no idea Karr had a portal this close. It's cleverly hidden at that, visible only because of the portal key when Ullo stands in close proximity. At 3 am that key becomes a useless bit of iron. Right now, it's around 10pm by Ullo's reckoning. Seems a generous time frame, providing nothing goes too wrong.

To that end, the first point of order when you finish up any conversation and leave the cave is... how to approach Pale Bridge?

I will take any Knowledge Local, Knowledge Geography or Survival rolls for further information regarding the potential approaches to the town now. :)

[Grodech]

Knowledge (Geography): [roll=87]d20+2[/roll]
Survival: [roll=88]d20+7[/roll]

Questions regarding the town:
Is there a wall around it?
(that's all I have for now)

[Niilo]

Survival:
[roll=89]1d20+2[/roll]

(one can always try...)

[Crabain]

Half turning, holding it out of reach of the sorceror, looking at the book again and then to Kwelzucht again he whispers back:"Yes, I think so. After we get back, I'll be in my bunk with it. You can borrow it later." Content with giving this promise that would keep Kwelzucht in check with his sometimes torterous escapades.

After all, being the only two kobolds, chosen one's, in the group, they had te be some sort of solidary. Yes, Kwelzucht was a nasty, arrogant one. But that was to be expected for a sorceror among his kin. And he was of the same Dragonwrought batch and that had to count for something.

Thinking of the other members of this group, Bashnag was te be respected too, for his strength, but luckily, seemed to have no brain. The other goblinoid was a abomination in Maggot's eyes though, but seemed in the favor of Karr somehow and so going directly against him was to go against the mighty Karr himself. Of course, when someone "died" in their sleep, things where quickly moved on, Maggot had learned since he had came out of a scale. But that was for later, he decided. Or not at all. After all, Maggot survived all these years by leaving others alone and not attracting too much attention, or even ire, on to himself.

And then he was torn out of his thoughts by Ullo's speaking. Ah yes, Ullo, the lizardfolk. Reptilian, yes. Dragon, no. Poor fellow. Probably trustworthy though.

[Charon]

It has wooden palisade walls. So think thick upright timbers with a raised area on the inside for guards. With those rolls you're no experts on the current state of those walls so getting past the guards is one obstacle to overcome although there may be alternate solutions available once you're on site.

As for the survival, Ullo knows the approach fairly well. From here there are two sensible routes to Pale Bridge and one dumb one. Well, flight would be a fourth but no one has that ability.
Route 1 is to stay on this side of the river and approach from the north. It will be faster, taking roughly an hour as there is road and short grass on this side. However, it may have patrols of Purple Blades. Although it might be possible to avoid those, should a fight break out not only would they be well armed but they could potentially raise the alarm. Likewise, the northern entrance, seeing more traffic, is likely to have more guards. On the plus side, it may be less suspicious approaching from that side if social stealth is the method of entry.

Route 2 is to cross the river here where it is shallow, not too difficult and trek through the swamps on the southern side. This will take a little longer, 1 hr 20 or thereabouts due to the difficult terrain. It will also definitely mean combat with the local bullywugs who will be spoiling for a rumble with any intruders. Whilst combat on this side is a certainty, the bullywugs are likely to be an easier fight than the Purple Blades and they owe no allegiance so no alarms would be raised. The southern side of the town sees less traffic and may have a minimal guard, but approaching them readily would of course be more suspicious and thus subject to greater scrutiny.

Route 3 of course is to row a boat along the river but that would take a lot of effort, be slow, be an easy target for anyone riverside etc. Not to mention that you don't have any boats. The only plus side would be entering the town from the dockside but of course, even the docks will have guards, how attentive they would be at this time of night is anyone's guess but they'd certainly have questions for minions in a rowboat.