Crown of the Kobold King
The Halfway House
A couple of weeks of downtime in Falcons Hollow found the adventurers starting to get itchy feet. One day, the talk in the Inn was of 5 children that had gone missing last night. The towns Wizard, Sharvaros Varse, approaches Farren, who he had been teaching to say his son was one of the missing children and implored the young wizard and his friends to find him and the other children. Ever impetuous, Farren readily agreed, picking up his hat and staff and urging his colleagues to find the children. The party agree, although Roscoe was not overly enthusiastic, suffering with a major hangover!
After speaking to
various townsfolk, some older kids revealed that as a dare, the 5
missing children had set off to spend the night at the burned out ruin,
Elara’s Halfway House. It transpired that this “Elara” had set up on
orphanage 8 miles north of town on a hill overlooking Darkmoon Vale
after the Goblinhood War.Early afternoon, the party headed towards the ruins of Elara’s orphanage. As they approached the hill they could see the blacked husk of the ruins. Heading up the hill cautiously, the party began to search the area. They found the remains of a camp site and a trap door withing the ruin. Checking the campsite first, the say evidence of a struggle and found some reptilian scales that were identified as Kobold, with tracks leading into the forest.
Before heading into the Forest, the party decided to check the trap door. Forcing it open they were greeted by a foul stench from the cellar. Heading down the stairs cautiously, the found what looked like a torture chamber, with blood stains everywhere and the robed corpse of a woman lying on the floor. As Lia and Ulfgar moved into investigate, Hogradin headed back up the stairs to start digging a grave. As Lia approached the corpse, a spider swarm erupted from the body and a large spider dropped from the roof. Both were defeated after a brief, frantic fight, but not before the stech made Roscoe throw up all over Farren’s sandals. Searching the cellar, the discover the corpse, Elara, had had her throat torn out. In addition they found two silver daggers and a bundle of decaying wolfsbane herbs. A werewolf?!?!
After Hogradin buried the remains of Elara and Lia saying a few words, the party headed into Darkmoon Vale, following the Kobold tracks. As night fell, the party made camp and set watches. Although the night passed without trouble both Farren and Roscoe got the feeling they were being watched………..
In the Woods
The party continued to follow the Kobold’s trail through the gloomy forest of Darkmoon Vale, avoiding a Bug Bear patrol twice, they could not shake the feeling that they were being watched. They made camp that evening and set watches. Lia’s watch was disturbed as a shadowy figure darted into the cam to drag a startled Faran into the forest. Lia raised the alarm and gave chase to see what appeared to be a Werewolf dragging a struggling Faran deeper into the trees. Hampered by the struggling young wizard, the party were able to catch up with the werewolf. After a brief fight, with the party using the silver daggers they had picked up, the werewolf broke and fled, leaving a dishevelled but fortunately un harmed wizard.
The party broke camp early and
continued following the Kobold trail which appeared to be heading towards
Droskar’s Crucible. As the morning wore on, the peace was disturbed by loud
cursing and the sounds of trees being uprooted. The party decided to hide in
the trees either side of the trail they were following. From their cover, they
saw a Hill Giant, obviously drunk, cursing as it appeared he was looking for
something. Faran, ever impetuous, stepped out of hiding to enquire what the
giant was looking for. In broken common, the Hill Giant said he had misplaced
his wedding ring after drinking with Ogres the night before and that his wife
would be Pissed if he couldn’t find the ring. Faran helped the drunk giant
retrace his steps, whilst the rest of the party followed cautiously, and helped
the giant find the ring……under the corpse of an Ogre!!. A grateful giant
announced in slurred tones that Kardoblag liked Faran and would not eat him as
he stumbled off into the trees, heading home.
The rest of the trip through
Darkmoon Vale uneventful and the party followed the kobold trail into the
courtyard of Droskar’s Crucible and into the room where previously the Warg had
been found. The stairs leading down, which were blocked on the party’s last
visit, was now cleared and descended into the darkness.
Hearing voices below, Roscoe lit
his hooded lantern and accompanied by Ulthgar, headed down the stairs with the
rest of the party following. The stairway opened into a large rectangular
chamber. Two Kobold slaves were chipping away at an Obsidian Obelisk in the
centre of the room, guarded by 4 armed Kobolds. On seeing the party the Kobold
warriors attacked with slings. The Kobolds were quickly overcome. Lia freed the
two slaves who began fawning over the party. The slaves, Kibbo and Jarrdreg
advised they were collecting “Shiney Good Good” for the Kings Consort. The
slaves offered to help the party where they could, although the appeared very nervous
around Hogradin, who did little to assuage their fears by suggesting he may eat
them!
As Lia questioned the Kobolds, Faran was drawn to a passageway on the East where a glow emanated. Entering this chamber Faran saw a deep pit filled with molten slag and sizzling blood…As he moved into investigate a Grick dropped from the roof and advanced. Faran beat a hasty retreat squealing out a warning. The Grick was quickly disposed of.
There were two large heavy wood
doors to the North of this room. Roscoe checked the doors for traps and opened
them into a long corridor. Roscoe’s lantern pick up the remains of a headless corpse
lying in the passage. Moving forward the party could see three Dire Rats
feeding on the corpse. Quickly disposing of the rats the party searched the
corpse discovering a pair of magical boots. The corpse was at a T junction. With
two passages, one heading West into the gloom and one North ending in heavy iron
doors.
Heading to the iron doors, roscoe
again checked them for traps and opened the heavy door outwards. A large
circular chamber was revealed with a set or double doors N, S E & W. In the
centre of the room was a large stone obelisk, its surface covered with metal
bands and encrusted with deposits of a strange greenish mineral. Lia and Ulthgar
headed into the chamber, triggering the trap. Lightening shot out from the
obelisk hitting the unsuspecting duo. Lia beat a hasty retreat but Ulthgar
found himself trapped and being pulled towards the Obelisk. Ulthgar managed to
break free of the force pulling him and exited the room. Roscoe, deciding that the
room was dangerous, shut and relocked the doors.
After dispensing some healing, the party decided to head down the Western corridor by the corpse. After some 40’ the party hit a crossroads. The southern passage headed back to the room where the slaves were. The northern passage opened up into a small chamber full of steam. A large fountain dominates the centre of this room, with boiling water pouring out a stone obelisk at the centre of the fountain.
The Rescue Begins!
The
party decided to give steam chamber a miss and headed west down the
corridor to a large room with uncomfortable stone beds. On entering the
room Lia, Ulthgar and Farren were attacked by Stirges. A brief fight
ensued and the Stirges dealt with, but not before Farran had some blood
drained by the vile creatures…
Leaving
the room and heading north up the passage, the party hear an evil hiss
rise from the darkness ahead. Out of the gloom a floating Dwarven form
shrouded in full plate glided down the passage. The air around the
figure shimmered eerily. Peering into the gloom Hogradin identified the
Dwarven form was engulfed by a Gelationus Cube. Hogradin, joined by
Ulthgar, prepared to attack, but were engulfed by the Cube, both
succumbing to its paralysing effect. Retreating back to the bunk room
they had just left; the remaining party attacked the monstrosity with
spells and missile weapons. Farran saved the day with his crossbow
bolts of fire, slaying the Cube. As the Cube dissolved the party were
able to retrieve a set of Mithril Dwarven Full Plate and a magic Battle
Axe with the name “Glintaxe” inscribed on its haft. Once recovered from
the paralysis, Ulthgar cleaned and donned the Full Plate as Hograding
advised he had heard of Glintaxe, a dwarven hero and adventurer of old.
As
the part continued up the passage, they heard the sounds of fighting
from the room ahead. Charging up the passage and entering the large
room, 7 Kobolds were surrounding and attacking a young Halfling with a
broken Lute strapped to his back, who was defending a young girl, Kimmi
(one of the missing children from the village). A short vicious fight
followed, and the Kobolds were defeated, but not before their leader
threw a poisoned missile at the Halfling, killing him. Kimi (the
daughter of the famous ranger, Idris Eavewalker) insisted she would
accompany the party to find the other children. Kimi explained the
fallen Halfling, Edgrin Galesong, was also a prisoner, but manage to
contrive an escape with the children. Unfortunately, in the ensuing
flight, chased by Kobolds, they got split up. A brief search of the
room turned up two potions, which Lia identified as potions of Owls
Wisdom.
Leaving the room, the party headed out of the Northern
doorway. They reached a crossroads with double doors ahead and a
passage heading East into the darkness. Deciding to check the doors
first, Roscoe checked for traps, finding none moved back to let Ulthgar
and Lia past. On opening the doors, the party were greeted to a large,
cold room, full of the sound of dripping water. A dark corridor ran
down the centre of the room revealing niches either side. On moving
forward to investigate, Lia peered into the first niche, only to find
the skeleton animating. Similar noises could be heard from the other
niches. Stepping back, Lia brandished her holy symbol and called on her
god to rebuke the 6 skeletons that appeared. All 6 disintegrated in a
shower of bones. Ever eager Farran hurried forward to check the niches,
only to be attacked and sorely wounded by another 4 skeletons emerging
from the last niches. Again Lia called on her god to deal with the last
4 skeletons. Hearing whimpering from an alcove behind an Anvil Alter at
the far end of the room, the party found another missing child. The
young boy Savram. Kimmi was able to calm him, and Lia healed a wound
the child had.
Leaving the cold room, the party headed down the
East passage coming to another crossroads with a door ahead and a door
just to the North. Deciding to check the Northern door first, Roscoe
again checked for traps and finding none, stepped back to shield the
children. Lia opened the door to reveal a large abattoir. Two
blood-stained stone blocks were in the centre of the room. On one of
the blocks a kobold lay with its chest ripped open and entrails hanging
down. The body was being feasted on by 4 ghouls. On seeing Lia, the
ghouls stopped their lunch and moved into attack. The party dealt
with the Ghouls, but not before Hogradin was injured.
The Search Continues
After Hogradin was healed, the party checked the doors on the West Room of the abattoir. Roscoe though he could hear faint “yipping” through the doors. After checking the door for traps, Roscoe stepped back to allow Ulthgar to open the door and peer in. In the centre, what looked like a well dominated the room. A chain was fed through a pulley and disappeared into the well. Ulthgar also spotted a corridor on the South wall and an opening on the West wall leading to a rough-hewn passage filled with smoke. As Ulthgar stepped into the room Kobolds lept out of the well and attached, flinging poisoned “flying talons”. The Kobolds were swiftly despatched.
Hogradin moved to the West side of the room to peer into the smoked filled passage, hearing the faint sound of metal banging on metal. Ulthgar, Farren, Roscoe and Lia headed down the other corridor to a set of double doors. The children and the two Kobold slaves hung back. After checking the doors for traps Roscoe pulled back towards the children saying he thought he heard more yipping. Again, Ulthgar opened the doors to reveal a chamber with stone prayer platforms. As Ulthgar peered in he, Lia and Farren came under attack from 5 Kobolds hiding behind stone prayer platforms on the far wall. The battle was swift, and the Kobolds easily overcome, but not before Farren succumbed to a cause fear spell from one of the Kobolds and fled. The Kobold spellcaster and one other, seeing they were going to by killed, surrendered. Lia questioned them and found little of use and on Roscoe set these two free and the two slaves, under pain of death if the ever returned.
Whilst Lia, Ulthgar and Hogradin searched the room, Roscoe that he saw glowing red eyes from the rough-hewn passage in the well room, which quickly disappeared. His search was cut short as Lia called out that she had found a secret door. Opening the door revealed a long passage, the floors covered with thick dust which looked like it had not been used for years. The party, in need of rest, decided to make camp in the chamber with the stone prayer platforms. Roscoe looked to two set of doors into the room and the party had an uneventful rest.
Feeling refreshed the party
decided to explore the passage behind the secret door. The passage headed South
for some distance only broken be a short corridor to another set of double
doors before continuing. At Lia and Ulthgar’s
urging Roscoe checked the door
and opened the lock. Whilst the party decided to open the doors and explore,
Roscoe continued down the passage on his own coming to a large set of metal doors.
Ulthgar opened the doors in front of him which revealed a large bedroom. Within
stood a bed, a stone table and a large anvil with a massive maul attached by a
crude mechanical arm. A dwarf skeleton with its head smashed lay atop the Anvil.
As Ulthgar cautiously stepped into the room a snarling voice said, “Leave my
master in peace”. Despite Ulthgars remonstrations that they would do no harm,
the snarling voice kept repeating the same words, and finally a tiny Homunculus
flew out from behind the desk and attacked. The construct was quickly dispatched.
A search of the room revealed some Obsidian objects and a pair of fine slippers
on the Dwarf Skeleton Farren, without waiting took the slippers and tried them
on to find the fitted comfortably. A detect magic spell showed they were
magical. Lia also found another secret door on the Western wall.
Meanwhile, Roscoe pushed open the large metal doors to reveal a circular room and at its centre large stone obelisk, its surface covered with metal bands and encrusted with deposits of a strange greenish mineral. This was the magnetic trap room they had been in before. Divesting himself of all his possessions and clothing, Roscoe entered the room and triggered the trap. The doors slammed shut behind him and an electrical discharge from the obelisk hit him. At the same time the doors on the North and West walls opened revealing small alcoves in which two Vargouilles erupted. Unarmed and unarmoured Roscoe struggled to open the doors he had entered in and managed to get out but not before being bitten by the monsters. As he got dressed again Hogradin come down the corridor to find him.
Returning to the bedroom, the party opened the secret door which appeared to be a dead end until Lia spotted another secret door at the end. After Roscoe had checked this door, the party opened the door to reveal an octagonal room with stone benches lining the walls with small openings above and an unusual device resembling a stone trumpet fixed to the floor in the centre. Hogradin managed to identify the room as a listening chamber, where the long dead abbot could listen in on his minions. Lia, Ulthgar and Farren entered the room to investigate, only to be attacked by a lurking Allip. Lia managed to turn the undead creature but not before it had paralysed both Ulthgar and Farren. Again Lia spotted a secret door on the South wall.
The secret door led to a simple room with polished walls of Obsidian that bear long list of Dwarven names. A set of double doors were opposite the secret door on the South wall. Searching the room, the party discovered a small trap door. Within the concealed alcove below, was an Iron Gauntlet for the left hand. A detect magic spell showed it had magical properties. The impetuous Farren immediately slipped his left hand into the gauntlet, causing him excruciating pain as his hand curled into a tight fist. The Gauntlet transformed into supernaturally hard black stone. Farren found himself unable to remove the gauntlet, although he felt stronger somehow.
Realising they could do nothing for the hapless wizard now, the investigated the double doors to the south. The doors opened to a large arched chamber with a row of Dwarven statues on the East and West walls. On the East wall the statues all held spears pointing into the room. On the West wall the grotesque caricatures of Dwarves had Warhammers held high. On one of the spears, a long dead Kobold was impaled. Ulthgar stepped cautiously through the door and stopped. Ulthgar announced his unease, but on seeing nothing untoward, Farren marched across the room towards the double doors opposite, springing the trap. The doors behind Ulthgar slammed shut. The whole room rotated 90 degrees with a loud grinding noise. Both Farren and Ulthgar were thrown onto the spears of the Dwarven statues. Seconds later the Dwarven Statues with the Warhammers fell in chains smashing to the two trapped unfortunates. The trap then rest itself, the room moving back to normal and the doors opening. Whilst Ulthgar was badly hurt, Farren was almost dead, only Lia’s timely intervention saving the young Wizard.
Whilst the others tended the wounded, Roscoe tried to find the trap, unsuccessfully. However very careful exploration allowed Roscoe to move across the room to the double doors that led to the fountain with the steam room they skipped earlier.
Smoke & Fire
The party decided to leave the
steam room alone and retrace their steps to the Well / Lift room and explore the
smokey, rough-hewn passage. As the party entered the passage, the smoke reduced
visibility massively and affected their breathing. Moving cautiously forward
they were surprised by a Hell hound. The creature was quickly despatched. Continuing
on, Hogradin announced he could hear a metallic ringing sound coming from
ahead. The passage opened into a large chamber dominated by a massive forge along
the wall at the far end. The chamber was less smokey than the passage and the
party saw in front of the forge working at a large anvil was a creature,
looking like a hulking Dwarf wrapped in a heavy steel chain with glowing hot
hooks and half melted razor wire. The creature was using a heavy Warhammer to work
on links of the chain. At the foot of
the anvil was a young lad bound and gagged and attached to the chain. The party
also noticed another slumped form at the far north east of the chamber. As the
party entered, the creature ignored them and Ulthgar approached too close.
Battle was joined, and the creature eventually slain, but not before Ulthgar’s
magic axe was destroyed the creatures war hammer and Hogradin sorely wounded.
As the creature fell, they party was able to release one of the missing children, Jurin Creed. The party also roused the unconscious human, who introduced himself as Tostig and he was looking for his party who had disappeared. Lia, using her knowledge of religion advised the chain the creature was working on, was a “Soul Chain” and needed to be destroyed or the creature may come back. Ulthgar destroyed the chain using the creatures hammer an anvil. The destruction of the chain freed souls trapped by the creature.
Examining the room found little else of interest, except a small chimney that Roscoe discovered that led both up and down. The fissure was too small for any to enter save Roscoe, so the party decided to return to the well / lift room to find a way down. Roscoe tied off a rope above the opening and climbed down to the chamber below. The chamber was not natural and had a couple of openings. Standing guard were two Kobolds astride ugly toad like creatures. After throwing a poisoned “flying talon” at Roscoe, one fled whist the other moved into attack. The Kobold and Slurk were quickly despatched as the other party members clambered down.
The chamber had a doorway to the West and rough opens on the North an East wall, apparently where the Kobold tunnels had broken through. The doorway revealed a stone chamber filled with empty crates and splintered barrels. A wounded creature, gurgling pathetically lay amongst the barrels, a kobold spear sticking out its side. Taking pity on the creature, Lia removed the spear and cast a healing spell. The creature nodded gratefully and retreated into the shadowy roof above.
Tostig and Roscoe examined the norther opening revealing a narrow passage with ledges high above. They were drawn back as Farren announced he could hear the sound of tapping from the Eastern passage. Heading down the passage revealed a large chamber with 6 Kobolds chipping away at obsidian deposits with the rock, all overseen by a mean looking Kobold. The Overseer spotted the party and ordered his miners to attack. The battle was over swiftly, but not before the adept overseer sorely wounded Hogradin. After the battle, Lia treated the wounded half orc.
The chamber revealed to exists to the North & South of the far wall. Deciding to head South first, the passage led to a large chamber, the floor of which was covered in huge stalagmites. As Ulthagr and Hogradin entered the chamber a Dire bat swooped down to attack. Battle was joined. As more of the party entered the room, a gargoyle leaped down to attack the party. The battle was fierce and the party wounded, with Hogradin again collapsing before the two creatures were dispatched.
The Kobold Tunnels
After resting in the stalagmite chamber
the party pushed on through the kobold tunnels looking for the last two
remaining children. Retracing their steps to the chamber where the kobolds were
mining before, they headed up the Northern passage.
The passage widened into a chamber with the walls and floor covered in a semi transparent slippery grey slime. A narrow tunnel exited to the South West and a flight of steps to the North. Residing in the cavern were two Slurks and there Kobold handler. The battle proved tricky due to the slippery floor, with many of the party struggling to maintain their balance, but the foes were eventually dealt with.
The party opted to head down the South West passage which opened up into a large cavern with a number of exits. Immediately to the south was a small passage that widened slightly with high ledges either side. As the party poked their heads in, they were met with a flurry of the Kobold thrown weapon “Flying Talons”. The Kobolds were hiding high up on the ledges. With a combination of spells, ranged weapons and a couple of party members climbing up to the ledges the Kobolds were dealt with.
Heading back to the large cavern with multiple exits, the party headed into the gloom and were ambushed by a Kobold party. The Kobolds were dispatched, but not before one could escape up a passage to the north, up some stairs. The party examined the large cavern revealing a number of alcoves that the Kobolds were hiding in. At the far end they could hear faint sounds mewling cries. Investigating they found a Kobold hatchery , with eggs and young Kobolds, guarded by their midwife. The midwife pleased with the party not to hurt the young and offers rough directions to the Kobold kings chambers.
The party agreed and left the midwife and her charges and headed up the passage with the stairs, following their rough directions. As they headed up the tunnel they could hear a lot of noise, chittering in Draconic and the scrape of objects being moved.
The party headed towards the noise the passage opened into an immense chamber where the Kobold tribe were preparing to defend themselves.
The Kobold King
The party began their assault on
the prepared Kobold tribe, with Hogradin causing havoc and creating a charnel
house around him. Farren and Tostig hung back in the tunnel and were surprised
by two Kobold Dark Talon Hunters and their Slurk mounts. Farren was sorely
injured (again) and went invisible and retreated out of harms way. Tostig
looking in trouble until Lia moved in to help. Eventually the party prevailed,
with the Kobolds fighting to the last. However, one Slurk bounded up a
passageway to the North.
After healing was dished out, the followed the route of the fleeing Slurk, searching for the last two children. Farren, still invisible stayed at the rear of the party. The tunnel they followed opened into a large chamber, the Kobold Kings Throne Room. The King himself was standing in front of his throne, crafted from the corpse of a monstrous centipede. The King was an imposing figure for a kobold, wearing a crown and wielding a large Battle Axe. Trussed up in one corner was on of the children, Mikra. The King was flanked by two Slurks and guarded by 4 Kobold Dark Talon Hunters.
The Party attacked. The battle proved difficult as the King initially used spells, before entering the Melee. The King appeared to hate humans and targeted Tostig and the now visible Farren first, felling both. The King proved a formidable opponent, but eventually the party prevailed. They recovered his Battle Axe and the Crown.
After healing was dished out and the trussed child, Mikra, freed and calmed the party headed out a passageway to the East searching for the last child, Hollin. The passage split into to two, one heading Northeast the Other Southeast. Tostig, silently scouted the Northeast passage which opened into an unadorned chamber with an alter in the middle. An emaciated Kobold was studying a script whilst another tied down an unconscious half elf on the alter. Tostig recognised his former party member Tyran Moonsilver. The last child, Hollin was trussed up on the floor, catatonic.
Tostig retreated to rally the party. As they approached the alter chamber again, the emaciated Kobold uttered unknown words and sacrificed the half elf, ripping the heart free. With a cry of rage Tostig moved to attack, but not before the emaciated Kobold cast fireball at the party, singeing most. The emaciated Kobold proved tougher than he looked, but was killed under the party’s onslaught, along with his cowering companion. The party freed the catatonic Hollin and retraced their steps.
On the way back to the Throne Room the party decided to be thorough and check the Southeast tunnel. This led to the Kings quarters. The Queens Consort Vreggma threw herself at the party’s mercy. The party let her go and recovered some gems & jewellery from the room.
The Party headed back to Falcons Hollow and received a hero’s welcome.
The party were lavished with gifts and praise from the townsfolk, although they did receive some sidelong glances of distrust from the Lumber lords.
Apart from gaining the use of a house in Falcons Hollow the party also received:
Meat on the house from Mikra;s father, the butcher Colbrin.
Jurin’s father, the Gavel, Thuldrin showered the party with gold.
Savram's father, The mage Sharvaros, identified the party’s items and removed the cursed “Grasp of Droskar” from Farren.
Hollin’s sister Ralla was profusely grateful, but distanced herself from the party and soon left Falcons Hollow with her brother.
Kimi’s mother, Kitani, took a shine to Tostig, but Kimi warned Tosig to be careful as her father, the renowned Ranger, Idris, was jealous and vengeful.