= Cauldron, Part 17 =
5/21/08
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* The hobgoblin heads towards the southern pair of doors, "Follow me."
The hobgoblin knocks at the door twice, and waits.
Kristof follows along, striding confidently and taking in the surroundings.
Jiona follows along with the others, carefully skirting the statue.
* Behind the door, a loud clank is heard, then another knock.
The hobgoblin smiles a toothy grin and opens the doors.
Calico returns an equilly tooth cat grin.
Tillandor watches the statue cautiously as he waits.
* DM types...
* The ceiling of this hall rises to an apex twenty feet overhead. The floor, walls, and vaulted ceiling are composed of smooth black stone that almost seems to absorb light. There are two little halls that offshoot to the east and west. To the south is a heavy set of double doors guarded by two hobgoblins.
The hobgoblin leads to the first door on the left and opens it, revealing a small room.
Jiona gives the revealed corridor a wary look before following Kristof through the opened door, glancing back at Tillandor as he eyes the statue. She quietly asks him in a question in a manner of speech that is most decidedly not Common.
The hobgoblin says, "You may rest here for now if you like. I'm sure Kazmojen will want to see you soon."
Kristof nods and takes the offered room.
Calico yawns and settles into a corner, and starts the now familiar purring.
* An iron cage dangles from the ceiling in one corner of the room. Trapped inside the cage is a large beetle with glowing red eyes, bathing the room in an infernal light. The room contains a pair of simple beds and a table with two chairs.
The hobgoblin says, "If you need anything, there are guards in this hall that can aid you. Please do not wander off. The underdark is a dangerous place."
* Ethkin stumbles along, following Tass.
Kristof tosses the hobgoblin a gold piece and says, "Thank you. I look forward to speaking with Kazmojen soon."
The hobgoblin nods, catching it in midair. He bows, "Thank you."
The hobgoblin heads off through the two northern doors into the chamber beyond.
Jiona nods to Tillandor, gives the statue another uncertain look, then resumes following Kristof into the indicated chamber, but not before giving the room a careful look-over, much like a bodyguard would. Her eyes narrow a bit at the caged beetle, but she doesn't say anything more.
Tillandor enters with Jiona.
* Tass grimaces, "Not exactly a posh setup."
Kristof glances at Tass and says, "I am sure it is much better than their dungeon."
Calico feeling well below her potential after a hard day, attempts to meditate and recharge.
* Ethkin grimaces at the cage, "You mean that over there? Or it just a sample?"
Jiona has to nod her agreement to Kristof's reply, but she does look a little uncomfortable at the tight quarters.
Kristof shrugs at everyone's coziness and suggests, "I take it they don't get visitors often," and then shrugs.
Tillandor muses, "I wonder when last they fed the fire beetle."
Kristof hmmmmms, "What do they eat?"
Tillandor says, "Fungus, molds and the like."
Kristof leans against the wall and waits, taking the moment to rest.
Calico continues to purr in an almost hypnotic pattern.
Jiona seems to be concentrating on something for several minutes, not paying a lot of attention to the brief spurts of conversation, then makes a minor gesture. She tilts her head for a moment, then nods, although she looks a bit unhappy. In a volume about the level of a whisper - which carries very well in this confined space, she says, "If we don't speak louder that this, we can't be overheard. If there's something we want to talk about."
* Suddenly the room goes very silent. You can still hear one another, but ambient sound has deadened completely. The room seems to SOUND infinitely large for some reason.
Kristof whispers, "Did you do that?"
* Ethkin stumbles a little, then catches himself.
Tillandor leans toward Jiona and asks quietly, "What's going on?"
Jiona nods to Kristof with a smile. "We all have our gifts. And while we have this moment... care to share how you anticipate this bluff of yours ending?"
Ethkin says, "That.... is a very strange... sensation."
Tass leans back in a chair, playing with a little piece of wood he picked up somewhere.
Calico's purring softens, but she gives no obvious hint she's aware of the conversation.
Kristof nods in understanding and whispers, "I wanted to use this to find our way to Kazmojen. Once there we can exercise our abilities to bring his trade down, and if we can capture him alive, make him show us where the captives are so we can release them."
Ethkin feels his way to the wall, seemingly far less sure of himself, then sits on the floor crosslegged.
Jiona gives Ethkin a curious glance, but otherwise keeps her attention on Kristof. "I see. Well, I must give you credit for cleverness thus far. I only hope we don't find ourselves in a... difficult position, when we are unable to continue this."
Tass whittles at the wood with a knife that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.
Kristof shrugs and says, "Probably no more than we would if not playing the part."
Kristof says, "Or.... we could wait until we are being shown the captives to make our move."
Tass says, "I don't think those two hobgoblins pose a threat. We could probably take them down before they made a noise if needed."
Jiona stifles a laugh, but doesn't hide her grin. "Your point is sturdily made. Very well. If there's nothing else, I'll drop this deadening, have some dinner, and get what rest I can." She nods to Tass, but waits for confirmation from everyone before doing as she suggested.
Kristof nods and settles in.
* You all rest for a little.
* You hear a light knock on the door.
Kristof stirs and goes to open it after checking to make sure his companions are ready.
* A short stout dwarf with dark skin and a yellow beard stands in the hallway. The two hobgoblin guards watch from the south end of the hall.
The dwarf extends a grubby hand, "Hello, I thought I'd meet my competition. Call me Pyllrak."
Kristof takes the offered hand and says, "Kristof, a pleasure."
- It takes a bit longer for Jiona to awaken, but she does get up shortly after the knock, having not been sleeping all that deeply under these circumstances. As she stands back up with a stretch, she alertly watches the dwarf.
The dwarf says, "Well, since you are new here, I thought I'd let you know that dinner is served. If you are interested."
Tillandor frowns at the dwarf.
The dwarf peeks in around Kristof, "I see you don't travel lightly. It's a shame they put you in the smallest room."
Calico continues meditation, apparently ignoring the dwarf.
Kristof grins and was about to reply then stops and says, "The smallest you say? And I suppose the others are full?"
The dwarf says, "If you like, I can talk to Kaz... I'm pretty certain there's a larger room that may fit your taste... err... entourage, even."
Kristof nods and says, "It is a bit too cozy in here if you know what I mean. Not enough privacy," and winks.
The dwarf plays with his beard a bit, thinking, "Well we can speak to Kazmojen at dinner, if he is there."
Jiona's ears twitch in annoyance as she listens, but she continues standing where she is and keeps her mouth shut. She does cross her arms, though.
Kristof brightens and says emphatically, "Well lead the way!"
Pyllrak gestures, "Come... we should have enough room for your... cousins."
Pyllrak quirks an eyebrow, getting a glimpse of Jiona.
Kristof sputters and exhales a cross between a cough and a laugh.
Pyllrak todders down the hallway.
Kristof follows and looks to the others, nodding in the dwarf's direction.
Jiona seems to be ready to grumble a bit, but withholds her irritation, and follows along after a short delay. That kind of thing is clearly going to keep happening down here.
Pyllrak gestures to the hobgoblins guarding the doors, who grumble, then open the double doors.
Tillandor frowns uncertainly, but follows along.
Calico stands without warning, and waits for Tillandor.
* Four malachite pillars support the twenty foot high ceiling for this grand chamber. Hanging from an iron brace mounted near the top of each pillar is a cylindrical iron cage containing a giant fire beetle that sheds an infernal light. The southern half of the chamber rises five feet, and a wide black staircase leads up to the raised floor. Just past the top of the stairs, an eight foot tall iron post erupts from the floor. Iron shackles hang from the top of the post. Five narrow windows carved into the south wall stand open to the darkness beyond.
* The DM dohs... forgot to add windows.
* The DM adds them.
Kristof steps into the room, taking in the surroundings.
Calico keeps to the rear.
* There are three hobgoblin guards near the exits.
Pyllrak gestures to the pole, "here's where it all happens. There will be an auction later tonight, I'm sure."
Pyllrak turns his eye to Kristof,
Kristof regards the pole and smiles, "Excellent. I AM anxious to see the merchandise."
Pyllrak asks, "You seem... not the slave mongering type. What kind of slave are you here for?"
Jiona again very carefully and deliberately looks around the room, seeming to ignore the conversation between the dwarf and Kristof.
Kristof says, "More for my personal use, not for resale. I hate to disappoint you but I do not think I am truly your competition."
Kristof says, "Except for bidding of course."
Calico finds a corner and resumes meditation.
Pyllrak says, "Well, just curious. I mean... you have quite an entourage there. I was trying to imagine what you might be missing."
Kristof asks, "What about yourself?"
Pyllrak says, "Ah... I need some nice young muscle... something to grow into my tasks."
Kristof says, "Traveling to an unfamiliar area without the proper.... protection is often a quick way to an unpleasant burial."
Pyllrak seems to laugh a little under his bristling beard, "Perhaps."
Pyllrak leads to the eastern door, looking at the hobgoblin meaningfully.
Jiona's nose twitches, and she moves over to Tillandor.
* The hobgoblin looks at Pyllrak, confused.
Pyllrak coughs.
* The hobgoblin suddenly blinks then opens the door.
Pyllrak sighs, "Can't ever get good help these days."
Pyllrak turns to the hobgoblin, his eyes narrow, "I guess you're new here."
Pyllrak goes through to the next room.
Kristof follows along nodding towards the others in his 'entourage'.
Tillandor watches the hobgoblin warily as he passes.
Calico stands suddenly and follows Tillandor.
Jiona seems to be very cautious as she responds to Kristof's beckoning, following along with Tillandor, even more so than she was when she entered this chamber.
* The volume level in this room is... quite high. Hobgoblins occupy the three furthest tables, noisily eating and chatting in their language. The nearest table is empty.
Pyllrak gestures to the nearest table, "Have a seat."
Kristof nods and sits in an unoccupied seat.
Pyllrak takes a seat at the table, a smile evident beneath his scraggly yellow bristles.
Kristof says, "So how long have you been here?" after everyone has gotten settled.
Calico finds a seat, and again resumes meditation.
Jiona sits down as near to Kristof as she can that still has a space for Tillandor beside her.
Tillandor glances around nervously before taking a seat.
Pyllrak says, "Highly unusual for an overlander to take interest in this operation. I'm a regular customer here, Kaz is alright by me. But I must say, of all the customers I've seen here... never has it been an overlander."
Pyllrak gestures to Kristof with thick fingers, "I admit. I must know your story."
Kristof raises an eyebrow and waits for Pyllrak to continue.
Pyllrak gestures to a goblin peeking out of the southeastern door, who quickly scampers away through the door.
Pyllrak asks, "So tell me... I thought slavery was... discouraged in the Overlands. How is it that you find you can... get away with it?"
Pyllrak a heavily overburdened goblin wobbles up to the table, covered in plates with food on them. He begins putting them down on the table.
Kristof smiles wolfishly and says, "What people can't see, can't be discouraged."
* A heavily overburdened goblin wobbles up to the table, covered in plates with food on them. He begins putting them down on the table.
Pyllrak scratches his beard, "Invisibility? Or do you mean cloistering?"
* The gangly goblin spills a plate of some messy white substance on the floor. Pyllrak nearly instinctively slaps the goblin, who goes flying to the floor. Pyllrak sits down again and listens.
Kristof says, "No no, invisibility would be a bit much."
* The goblin sits up, scoops up the mess with the now-dented metal plate, and runs off to the kitchen.
Pyllrak grabs a hunk of unidentified meat and presses it into his beard. Munching noises can be heard from within.
Kristof says, "I have my resources but invisibility is not yet in my reach."
Jiona's tail twitches at the casual contempt Pyllrak shows the goblin, but she doesn't otherwise react to it. When the food is set on the table, she gives it a careful sniff, not seeming to approve of everything being offered.
Calico pauses her purring, picks up a hunk of meat, and sniffs.
Tillandor nervously looks around, and bites into his food without thinking.
Pyllrak chuckles around his meal, "I see. Well you interest me. You've got quite a crew here. I am unfamiliar with these two breeds," he says, gesturing to Jiona and Calico, "Though they are quite lovely."
* There is a pile of boiled roots, a plate of grilled fungus, a bowl of raw seed pods, and a plate of unidentifiable meat.
Calico scowls and hisses.
Pyllrak laughs, "Spirited too." He grabs a seed pod and cracks it open between two meaty fingers, popping the contents into his mouth and chuckling.
Calico turns back to the meat and attempts to identify it.
* At the far table, two hobgoblins begin brawling. The first smashes the second into the wall, then shouts at him.
Jiona nudges Tillandor as he reaches for the plate - a bit too late, as it turns out - and quietly murmurs something to him in that same unfamiliar language she's been using. If she hears what the dwarf says to her, she's getting better about concealing her annoyance.
Kristof examines the food, and after listening to Pyllrak, chuckles and says, "I would be careful not to upset them you know. They can be quite the handful."
Pyllrak looks Jiona up and down, "At the very least."
Calico nibbles at the meat.
Tillandor blinks at his plate, and the half-eaten fungus in his hand.
Kristof looks at Jiona and nods towards the meat with a questioning look.
Tillandor says, "Really, it's not bad."
Kristof relaxes and takes in the surroundings, glancing from table to table. "Is Kazmojen here?"
Pyllrak laughs, "I see you are unfamiliar with Underdark cuisine, young man."
Calico puts down the meat and resumes her meditation pose and purr.
Kristof shrugs sheepishly, "True. I usually like to know what I eat before I stick it in my mouth."
Pyllrak looks about, "Hm... not yet. Perhaps later."
Jiona gives Pyllrak a smile that has altogether too many teeth in it, and starts picking at some of the roots and the seed pods. At Tillandor's suggestion, she also samples a bit of the grilled fungus, but clearly avoids the meat.
Pyllrak gestures to the meat, "This here is grallbuk meat. Not the best I've had, but decent."
Pyllrak grabs a hunk of fungus and sniffs it, "Ah, good. This is polypore... grilled it is quite good, as I see you've discovered."
Tillandor nods, gesturing with a bit of fungus.
Pyllrak says, "The pockle pods are good, you'll need a good grip to crack them. And geffel roots... well... they're good for you."
Kristof samples the polypore.
Pyllrak grins at Jiona, "Put some hair on your chest, eh?"
Pyllrak laughs at his own joke and chows down on the fungus.
Jiona seems pleasantly surprised at what is termed polypore, and helps herself to some more. To Pryllrak, she gives him that toothly grin again. It's not overtly aggressive, but having a predator show that kind of expression generally unnerves most folks.
Pyllrak turns his stare as the goblin returns with another plate of whitish glop, several mugs of something that smells like ale, and a grilled fish of some sort.
Pyllrak says, "Ahhh, mudgrub. Do you mind? I particularly like the head."
* The goblin quickly retreats as Pyllrak digs in on the fishlike thing.
Kristof gestures towards the food with his hand in a 'be my guest' way.
Tillandor munches a geffel root.
Kristof asks, "So how many others are here looking to buy?"
Kristof says, "You seem to have a very good handle on the market here."
Jiona samples a bit of the white stuff, but the majority of her attention is on the grilled polypore.
Pyllrak hmmms between bitefuls, "You mean today or in general?"
Kristof says, "Well, since you mention it, both."
Pyllrak says, "Today, well it's just you and me. But Kazmojen gets customers pretty often. He does good business here."
Kristof nods and smiles, seemingly a little more relaxed.
Kristof says, "Well that should keep the prices a little lower while we are here."
* A shrill scream resonates through the halls, echoing off the walls. The hobgoblins all stop, even the ones that were fighting.
Kristof looks towards the source of the scream.
Jiona reaches out to help herself a bit more to the white stuff, but changes her mind, picking at the bits that are left in front of her. And even that stops at the scream, her ears perking as best they can towards the direction of the sound.
Pyllrak grimaces and gets up, "Well, that's my ... umm... well I'll see you around. Enjoy."
Calico opens her eyes are stares at Pyllrak, a grin suggesting intent to harm.
Pyllrak heads off in the way you had come into the room.
Pyllrak looks a little freaked out by Calico.
Tillandor drops the remainder of his root onto his plate, clearly having lost his appetite.
* After a moment, the scream stops and the hobgoblins resume their meal.
- For her part, Jiona had lost hers at the mention of the good business, and now looks slightly ill. At least to Tillandor, who is more experienced with reading her more subtle expressions.
Kristof says in a low voice, "I think it is time to excuse ourselves, don't you?"
* A goblin peeks out of the kitchen at the group.
Tillandor nods quickly.
Jiona gives Kristof a curt nod, her ears lowering as the scream stops.
Calico stands silently.
Kristof stands up and makes his way back out of the room.
Calico again takes up the rear.
Jiona rises as well, and begins following after him, although she keeps close to Tillandor.
* A hobgoblin gets up from the far table, following you.
Kristof walks back down the corridor, attempting to catch a glimpse of where the dwarf might be headed.
Kristof walks to the double doors on the north side, and pushes them open.
* The hobgoblin by the eastern door looks a little nervously at the group.
* The hallway seems to be empty, except for the two hobgoblins guarding the southern door.
Kristof walks down the corridor, and looks down both sides.
* The hallways are empty.
Kristof walks back to their room and opens the door.
Calico turns back towards the guards and asks an innocent question, in cat.
The hobgoblin guards seem confused by Calico's question.
Jiona's ears twitch, and she looks back over her shoulder at Calico with an extremely puzzled expression. Then she just shakes her head, facing forward again.
Calico shrugs and returns to the groups room.
Tass leans back in a chair, picking his teeth with a blade he had carved from the wood, "Well? How was dinner?"
* Ethkin sleeps on one of the beds, in a lotus position.
Tillandor says, "In excess of my expectations, to be sure."
Tass blinks, "...is that GOOD?"
Jiona considers a response for several moments, then settles on, "Disconcerting."
Kristof asks, "Did you hear that scream, a second ago?"
Tass nods, "Yeah."
Tillandor frowns. "Yes, it was 'good.'"
Tass says, "I have no idea why it didn't wake up the old geezer."
Tillandor says, "Though the meat I certainly forewent."
Tass says, "I figured I'd be safe with rations. Besides, I don't trust dwarves with yellow beards."
Jiona nods to Tillandor. "It didn't smell right to me. I've learned to trust that sense."
Calico says, "reptilian, not to my tastes."
Tillandor says, "Half-dwarves."
Tass shrugs, "Whatever." He cleans the blade off with a rag, then tucks it somewhere.
Kristof asks, "That was a half dwarf?"
Tass asks, "What was the other half?"
Tillandor grins. "But not for long."
Jiona glances at Tillandor, then asks, "Shall I?" and she makes the gesture she made for silence earlier again.
Calico settles into a corner to get what rest she can before the auction tonight.
Kristof looks quizically at Till.
Tillandor says, "Probably wise, yes."
* The strange acoustics in the room resume.
Tass asks, "Now what? Kill the dwarf?"
Jiona keeps her voice lowered to whisper levels while the effect is in place. "Half a dwarf, malachite hold. We've reached the end of the note."
Tass asks, "Note?"
Tillandor says, "What else he may be I don't know. But he is half a dwarf, for certain. And despite that Kazmojen may be behind the kidnappings, I would say that he 'guards them.'"
Tass suggests, "The other half... could be dwarf."
Kristof looks at the two with a blank look and asks, "What are you guys talking about?"
Jiona shakes her head. "He doesn't smell like dwarfs usually do."
Tass says, "So he bathes."
Jiona has a brief struggle not to laugh, and manages to withhold it. "I can smell the difference between dirt and dwarf, thank you very much."
Tillandor says, "Hmm. According to the note, he will not guard them for long. Which may be because he will sell them... but he certainly implied that Kazmojen was the seller."
* DM assumes we are all in the room, yes? Door closed?
Calico says, "the dwarf may not be who he claims."
Kristof asks, "What note?"
Tillandor says, "Mayhap our 'friend' the half-dwarf actually IS Kazmojen," then turns to Kristof. "I'm sure we discussed this with you before."
Kristof shakes his head.
Jiona has a sudden shocked thought, and holds up a hand for everyone to get quiet for a moment.
Tillandor watches Jiona, and waits.
Kristof waits for Jiona.
Jiona then drops the effect, and listens carefully for the sound of footsteps, or of anyone else outside the door.
Kristof listens quietly, waiting.
* In the distance you can hear loud conversation, and rushing water, but it is mostly quiet.
Calico listens in silence.
Jiona then glances at Ethkin, and realizes she's not being smart enough. She reinstates the effect, and asks Ethkin - in a whisper - to use his spirit sense if anyone gets close. To the others, she explains, "Our departure may have attracted some attention. While I'm doing this, we won't hear anyone knocking, which would be even more suspicious."
Calico takes note of the rushing water.
Ethkin jostles awake, "huwhut?"
Tillandor nods, and explains to Kristof, "Jenya, of the Church of Saint Cuthbert, gave us a note with the tone of prophesy."
Ethkin nods at Jiona's idea, "Uh yeah. Alright."
Jiona explains again to Ethkin, "Let us know if you sense anyone getting close to our door. We won't hear them while I'm keeping this area quiet."
Kristof waits patiently for all the details.
Tass listens, interested, flipping the small wooden blade absentmindedly.
Tillandor quotes, "The locks are key to finding them. Look behind the curtain, below the cauldron. Beware the doors with teeth. Descend into the Malachite 'Hold, where precious life is bought with gold. Half a dwarf binds them, but not for long."
Kristof asks, "Well the last part seems certainly pertinent, what about the first part?"
Tass says, "You sure Jenya's not in on it? That's an uncanny description."
Jiona replies, "We encountered all of that on our way down here. It's been difficult to interpret ahead of time in parts, but we've found matches to all the lines."
Tillandor explains, "Ghelve's shop is certainly the 'locks.' Behind his curtain is the entrance to Jzadirune, which is below Cauldron."
Kristof says, "Ah I see."
Tillandor says, "The doors with toothed gears are guarded with traps. The rest you know."
Kristof asks, "So I wonder if there are any other 'half-dwarves' here?"
Jiona wonders aloud, "I don't suppose that last part is in reference to our rescuing of them?" She sounds skeptical, but hopeful.
Kristof asks, "Maybe there are more than one?"
Ethkin says, "Someone's coming."
Jiona holds up a hand for silence, and drops the effect once everyone acknowledges it.
* You hear footsteps outside the door, but they pass by after a moment.
Ethkin shrugs, "Sorry."
Jiona doesn't reinstate it right away, and listens a bit more to make sure the footsteps continue on.
* A heavy door opens nearby. There's a clank, then footsteps as the door closes.
Jiona seems satisifed by the clank, and after a moment the strange acoustics resume. Nodding to Ethkin, she whispers, "Better a false alarm than the alternative."
Kristof nods.
Ethkin nods, "There is an extra pair of guards outside that double-door."
Kristof asks, "So there are 4 now?"
- Addressing Kristof's earlier question, Jiona shrugs a little. "If there's more than one half-dwarf down here... I haven't smelled one yet. With the rest of the note being correct, and this Pyllrak the first half-dwarf we've encountered... that's enough for me."
Ethkin says, "One on this side, two on the other side of it. And...," he pauses as if to think, "Still two at the south doorway... and three things... in a room... and four in the room next to us..."
Ethkin's eyes go wide, "And something very big. And dirty. And mean. ... in thatta way." He points northish.
Kristof thinks for a moment and wonders if that is any reference to the guard dog the hobgolins mentioned earlier.
Calico says, "a real bidder."
Jiona grimaces at Ethkin's detailed description, and sits down next to Tillandor with a sigh, curling her tail into her lap and picking at it a little, gazing at Kristof. "Fighting our way out of here is not going to be trivial."
Calico says, "and not any easier if we don't get some rest."
Tillandor shakes his head. "Nor likely avoidable. Unless you really have the coin to buy freedom?"
Kristof shakes his head and says, "I don't know how much they sell slaves for, but I won't stand for buying back those they kidnapped."
Kristof says, "This needs to end or more will vanish."
Jiona reluctantly adds, "And how do we prevent their theft in the future that way?"
Kristof says, "Well, take out the mastermind, and hopefully the rest will fall apart."
Calico says, "for awhile."
* A distant plaintive howl chills you... not the same sound as before, and probably not the same creature... far more eerie and unnerving.
* The fire beetle seems to scuttle into the corner of its cage to escape the sound.
Tillandor stands and walks to Kristof. "Have we a plan?"
Kristof shudders and wonders what strange things are in this place.
Calico returns to her meditation, hoping to complete her evening prayers before being interrupted again.
Jiona glances at Calico, but shivers at the sound, which was loud enough to seep through her barrier. She allows herself to recover for a few moments before wondering, "Calico may be right, but I'm not sure what we're proposing here. We want to rescue the children, and preferably put a stop to the trade altogether, but this isn't a trading post we can burn to the ground, or something."
Calico mutters a single word, "elevator."
Kristof says, "True. My thoughts are that if we get rid of this Kazmojen guy and enough of his henchies, then the buyers won't have anything left to buy here."
Tillandor says, "From the looks of things, we're rather strongly outmatched."
Ethkin asks, "And rescue the children... and anyone else still here?"
Kristof nods.
Kristof shrugs at Tillandor's comment and says, "I didn't say it would be easy. But I think if we can kill Kazmojen, maybe we won't have to fight everyone."
Jiona again looks skeptical, but hopeful. "It's as much a plan as we can get away with, I suppose. I don't think we'd have any luck bringing the entire town guard down here. And with your ruse, we might get close enough to strike with surprise."
Kristof nods. "That is my hope."
Jiona sighs again. "Well, Calico is right. We all need to rest first, while we can."
Calico purrs in seeming oblivion.
The DM pulls in the parking brake.
CategoryCauldron