Chapter Seventeen: Taking the Fight to Loviatar!

[Sherwood]

Luna looks at Alisa and asks, "How many Rangers are we talking about? That was a whole bunch of ogres back there, and they are well armed and supported by those ogre magi. Do they have the numbers of soldiers needed to take them on and win? If so, we might be able to help back them up. If not, we should warn them somehow about the threat so they don't walk into an ambush that they can't fight their way out of."

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Otiorin Taletreader

Otiorin used his flying powers to fly circles over the Wagon’s landing area, peering into the undergrowth to watch for any Ogres who might decide to show this misshapen faces, second crossbow ready to fire. He glanced back at the Wagon, watching the newcomer and her kobold followers as they approached and mounted.
“We’re all clear at the moment, Oreleth. What’s the plan?”

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag.

Oreleth calls out to the armored figure and the kobolds, saying, "Don't worry about us; we're allies from HIghwind! Now quickly! Get to the Wagon so we can get the hell out of here! Before that large bunch of ogres decide that taking us all out is something to put on their to-do list!"

Alisa looked down at the Kobolds, finding herself surprisingly fond of their newfound willingness to defend her. "I think we can trust them. I mean, they did help us out with those ogres just now, right?"

The woods around you remain charged with their recent magical electrification still hanging in the air and the knowledge of the ogres and their torture-loving masters nearby only adds tension to an already tense situation. The more astute and awareness-trained among the Wayward Wanderers can feel confident that the ogres are not near enough to require immediate attention but only the grandest of fools lets down their guard knowing they are not far away and quite aware of you given that you have littered Shandra's Evergreen with the corpses of these overgrown brutish butchers.

So thick is their evil that perhaps it invades where it should not - like into the scarred memories of people far smaller than they, people who have every right to fear the return of the Dumbstumps.

The kobolds huddled around Alisa at first nod almost mindlessly at her direction and head toward the flying wagon drawn by its four humongous hippogriffs that seem alive but are not. Then one among their number shakes his scaly head as if fighting off a spell and in his tracks, he stops with a snarl.

"Yyyyark!" he howls drawing the attention of the others who pause mid-stride and look back to him. "N-no! We can't!"

"Whaddya mean, we can't?"

The kobold thumps his spear into the ground and kicks the dirt with great anger for one so small. "You'se guys honestly believe some goody-goodies just came outta the sky... ta help da likes of us?! They're gonna want somethin'! They ALWAYS want somethin'!"

The armored white-furred cat-creature shouts back, his ears drawn back in irritation, his long tail lashing about. "Hey, lizzy-faces! Get on board already! We're tryin' ta save you from da Army of da Black Fang, fer Basts's sake!"

"Oh yeah?" the kobold aims his spear on the cat. "And what are you gonna want in return? What makes you diff'rent from da Dumbstumps? Dey enslaved an' killed us fer funsies, especially when dey found out we wuz tryin' ta be goody-goodies! I say we go back to da holies grounds an' take dat holy wood wif us! Dat way, da baddy-bads won't get it!"

"Yeah!" Another of the kobolds nods at this direction while looking up to Alisa. "Hay! Only you waz nice to us! But you don't know dese tall peepers any better den we do!" She points her spear at Oreleth the Wood Elf and her company.

"Yeaaah!" the first kobold exclaims and stomps up to Alisa. "You stuck yer neck out fer us! You didn't even stomp da holies grounds when weze asked you! But dese peepers might make a slave outta you! We knows what dats like an' - I kin tells ya - it's far from fun! You sure you trust dem?!" All of the kobolds huddled around Lady Paladin Alisa look to the new group. They fail to see the seventh kobold, dressed much like them complete with a shiny charm tied about his neck. He looks very sad.

"Orelef, Brrria," Nitwit gulps and shakes his head. "Now yer gittin' a taste of da troubles of my tribe. We wanna be goody-goodies, but... we're so afraid!" He shudders and looks very lonely. "Whadda we do?!"

You can hear more than see the confused ogre presence in the woods. They seem to be separated and calling out to one another in dull, low groans. You appear to have some time before the chaotic creatures get their act together, but far from forever. Meanwhile, the faces of the Kobolds of the Silver Sun Tribe look even more confused, miserable, and worse - the little reptilians are clearly scared as they look from one another and then to Lady Paladin Alisa.

What do you do?

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Kaerri Rainshadow, Shadowdancer

^{Art by Peritwinkle}
Character sheet
Hit Points: 99/99
Armor Class: 27
Touch Armor Class: 17
Shadow Illusion: 3/3
Shadow Call: 2/2
Shadow Jump distance: 80/80 feet
Defensive Roll: 1/1
Rogue Talent Resiliency: 1/1
Stinger -- uses of Slow remaining: 3/3
Charm of Bastet -- uses of Cat's Grace remaining: 1/1
Action Points: 14

Luna looks at Alisa and asks, "How many Rangers are we talking about? That was a whole bunch of ogres back there, and they are well armed and supported by those ogre magi. Do they have the numbers of soldiers needed to take them on and win? If so, we might be able to help back them up. If not, we should warn them somehow about the threat so they don't walk into an ambush that they can't fight their way out of."

Kaerri shrugs. "They generally know what they're doing. I wouldn't think they'd go calling attention to themselves without first doing a bit of scouting to know how much attention they'd get. But it won't hurt to let 'em know. When Lady Alisa contacts 'em to let them know she's OK, she can tell them."

Meanwhile, it seems the kobolds they weren't trying to rescue weren't all that convinced it was a rescue. She shook her head and looked at the one they'd brought with them. "What say you tell them we're goody-goodies too, Nitwit?" she suggested gently. "Might come better from another of their kind."

Looking out from the wagon, she called, "Didja see the ogres Luna here dropped with her lightning spell? Or that the rest of us shot with bow or crossbow? C'mon, y'alls, I know there's a lotta baddies out here but enemy of my enemy and all that, yeah? Lady Alisa, I'm a knight of Highwind, and I've got my medal on me if that'll help."

 

[jaydude]

Alisa gave a grimace at the sudden display of reluctance and wariness on the part of the kobolds. She'd heard the voices of the ogres within the surrounding forest, and felt an instinctive need to get out of here before they could regroup. Though given the arguments of the and the past experiences they claimed to have had, she supposed she couldn't blame them for their reactions. After all, she herself knew next-to-nothing about these newcomers.

She heard a voice similar-sounding to those from "her" group of kobolds among the Wayward Wanderers, and then heard the roguish, blonde-haired woman speaking to its source, but before she could inquire about this, the woman began speaking to her and her group, naturally drawing the paladin's attention. Looking at her face, Alisa felt something jog her memory, a vague bit of knowledge suddenly coming to the forefront of it.

"I once heard tell of a woman named Kaerri Moonshadow, a rogue said to have earned a knighthood for serving the King and Queen of Highwind." she said, speaking clearly for the benefit of the kobolds; hopefully they'd be a bit less fearful if they heard that one of their 'saviours' was a local hero here. "You wouldn't happen to be her, would you?"

As she spoke, she looked the other woman over for any sign of the medal she had mentioned; seeing an authentic one might help to confirm her theory.

 

[Kaerri]

Kaerri grinned. "It's 'Rainshadow' -- this bard wrote a song called 'Shadow in the Rain,' and it stuck -- but yep, that's me." Holding her crossbow down by her side with one hand, she hopped down from the wagon, then pulled the platinum medal out from under her shirt and held it out for inspection. Closer up, she herself probably looks a little clearer upon "inspection" -- less human and more elvish.

 

[Purr]

In this moment, the ancient green and gold trident in Kaerri's hand slowly comes to life accentuating her features both human and elven with a lovely glow of golden illumination, for as long as Kaerri chose to display her medallion. The platinum sheen of the well-kept Knight of Highwind medallion also becomes clear to Alisa.

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag!

In the distance, where the leafy branches of Shandra's Evergreen flow as one in the dark autumn wind's grasp, the ogres do not yet seem to stir. That they are gathering is certain, so time, at least for the moment, seems to remain on your side.

Meanwhile, it seems the kobolds they weren't trying to rescue weren't all that convinced it was a rescue. She shook her head and looked at the one they'd brought with them. "What say you tell them we're goody-goodies too, Nitwit?" she suggested gently. "Might come better from another of their kind."

But Nitwit hesitates. Rooted by fears, dark and neighboring close to his soul, his tail nervously thumping, his jaw quivering, the little reptilian visibly struggles beside you to take action of any kind.

Looking out from the wagon, she called, "Didja see the ogres Luna here dropped with her lightning spell? Or that the rest of us shot with bow or crossbow? C'mon, y'alls, I know there's a lotta baddies out here but enemy of my enemy and all that, yeah? Lady Alisa, I'm a knight of Highwind, and I've got my medal on me if that'll help."

"Dat wuz you?" One of the kobolds visibly brightens. They follow Bria's silent smile and pointing fingers as they cheerfully indicate not Kaerri, but Luna, the Wizard of the Fiery Arts.

But the doubting kobold is not turned as he points at the stinking, smoldering ogre corpses. "Yeah! An' remember! Dey can do dat ta us, too!"

Powerpaw gives off a snarl, partly wrathful but partly in irritation born of sympathy. He begins picking up the gleaming steel swords from the nerveless hands of the fallen. "C'mooon, lizard-faces! We're riskin' our necks down here against a horde of..."

"Don't say it!" they cringe and plead from about and around Alisa. So he doesn't.

"...Dumbstumps, yeah, I knows!" He stamps the foot of his maul into the forested earth. "What's yer beef wif goin' wif us? I don't get'cha!"

"Don'tcha see?" yells the doubting kobold with his stabbing spear. "We can't trust no ones! Nothin' comes for free because goody-goodness ain't real! Just another trick ta put us an' our whole tribe back inta nooses an' slavin'! But baddy-badness? Baddy-badness sure is real! We all knows dat, don't we?!" The rest of the kobolds shudder and shrink as if recoiling from phantom pains and invisible whips. Some of them begin to look and step toward the doubter with new expressions.

Finally Nitwit can take no more! He bursts forth from the Wayward Wanderers protection, arms outstretched. "Dat's not true! Goody-goodness is real!"

"NITWIIIT!!"

"B--but, but," one stammers as the whole group point and repeat his name. "Yer s'posed ta be at da High 'n Mighty kingdom!"

"It's naaame..." Nitwit points in the direction of the mountain city, "...iz Highwind! Dey has goody-goods! I found dese peeps dere and dey wants ta help us!"

"Oh yeah?" challenges the doubter, his arms crossed. "Any good dragons hangin' around in her happy safe city? Dat's what we all came up from our homes in da dark fer! Dat's what we're riskin' our soon-ta-be-swingin' necks fer!" Suddenly, he breaks down underneath unseen burdens held by the cruelest of chains - the chains of awful memories. "I... I... just wanna stop livin' in fear everyday! I'm tired, so dang tired, of bein' kicked on! Havin' our people hurted an' bleeded an'... killed by peeple bigger an' tougher dan us! I'm proud ta be a kobold, but what are you gonna give me, Nitwit - or give dem, or any of us - ta shows us dat goody-goodness ain't just some fluffy stoopid dreamy puddle-gunk, huh? Where's yer proof dat goody-goodness is true and real?!"

All of the kobolds grow silent. As one, their thin eyes turn to slits with Nitwit as their focus.

But Nitwit the Ranger is undaunted. In fact, the littlest kobold is smiling, bouncing from foot to foot, his ears and tail flapping as he holds his Charm of the Silver Sun one clawed hand. "You'se wants my proof?"

"YEAAAH!" they demand.

Up to the starry sky, Nitwit's claw reaches as he points at a lone flying adventurer, together but apart from his dear fellows and love. It is clear to all that Nitwit is pointing straight up at... Otiorin Taletreader!

"HIM!"

The kobolds regather around Alisa's protection. They gasp and gawk and stammer in confusion, their tiny hands on their own silvery charms, as they behold the flying person and clear cause of Nitwit's fervent behavior.

What do the Wayward Wanderers and Lady Paladin Alisa do?

 

[Sherwood]

Luna nods in fervent agreement. "Yes, we are from Highwind. That's where we met Nitwit, and he has asked us for our help, and we've agreed to give it, and I for one will not dishonor my family by breaking our word. That's why we are here, and why we toasted and pin cushioned those ogres. It is the right thing to do, and by golly, we are going to do it! Isn't that right, my friends? Now please! Get up here on the Wagon so we can all get to safety before that larger group of baddies decide to come calling!"

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Kaerri Rainshadow, Shadowdancer

^{Art by Peritwinkle}
Character sheet
Hit Points: 99/99
Armor Class: 27
Touch Armor Class: 17
Shadow Illusion: 3/3
Shadow Call: 2/2
Shadow Jump distance: 80/80 feet
Defensive Roll: 1/1
Rogue Talent Resiliency: 1/1
Stinger -- uses of Slow remaining: 3/3
Charm of Bastet -- uses of Cat's Grace remaining: 1/1
Action Points: 14

Kaerri grinned. Otiorin probably was the best ambassador of goody-goody dragonkind currently available, now that she thought of it. Rather than confuse things by interjecting, she joined Powerpaw in searching the fallen Dumbstumps for anything of value.

After a moment, she remembered something, and called over her shoulder, "Hey, magic-types? Could I get one of you over here to cast Detect Magic so we don't miss anything important?"

 

[jaydude]

Alisa gave Kaerri's medal an approving look when she saw that it was the real thing. Her attention was then drawn to the kobold who was apparently called Nitwit, and then to the airborne form of Otiorin.

She looked back at the forest - there surely couldn't be much time left before more ogres came knocking - and then decided to address the doubting kobolds. "Listen. I get that you don't trust these people. You don't know them, just like me, and you've clearly learned not to trust in the kindness of others. But they saved you all, one of your own is with them, and they're offering to help you, whereas the ogres approaching this place will no doubt have openly malicious intentions. Don't you get it? There's either a chance of a harsh fate if you leave, or a certainty of one if you stay here."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag!

It just so happens that one of the kobolds is hard of hearing and has been aided by the others when he doesn't quite get the entire message. Craning his neck forward while cupping ear, he appears to be in need of another such correction... right now.

whereas the ogres approaching this place will no doubt have openly malicious intentions.

"By Bahamut's wings! Yuh hear dat, me scalies? We gotta do as she sez and skeeedaaaddle! She sez dem Dumbstumps be havin' some 'openly salicious inventions!'

Spoiler: Lookie here

Per Google:

sa·la·cious
/səˈlāSHəs/

adjective

1. having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters.
   "salacious stories"
   
   Similar:
   pornographic. obscene.

"We'd better get da hell outta of here!"

 

[jaydude]

All the kobolds and members of the Wayward Wanderers - and perhaps some of the nearby ogres and rangers - would hear a loud slapping sound as the palm of Alisa's right hand made hard contact with her forehead.

"I said 'malicious'! Starting with an m, not an s! An em!" she said, sounding exasperated.

 

[Sherwood]

Luna lets out a choked snort of laughter and almost misses Kaerri's comment about checking for magic. Composing herself, she quickly jumps down and runs over close enough to use her Detect Magic spell on the ogres to see if these 'dumbstumps' were carrying anything of interest.

Spoiler

Level: 13
Class: Wizard
Hit Points: 74 +1d6
Action Points: 11 / 10
Diamond of Fate: 1

Armor Class: 18 - 24 Mage Armor II. +2 from Ring of Force Shield
Touch AC: 14 Flat Footed: 22

Initiative Bonus: 2
Fortitude Save: +6
Reflex Save: +7
Will Save: +16

Base Attack: +6 / +1
Melee: +4 / -1
Ranged: +8 / +3

Mage Armor II and Protection From Arrows active; duration of 13 hours

Spells memorized:
Cantrips (4): Mage Hand, Light, Detect Magic, Read Magic
1 (7): Magic Missile x4, Shield x2, Unseen Servant
2 (7): Web x2, Protection From Arrows, Glitterdust x2, Scorching Ray
3 (6): Haste x2, Fireball x2, Slow, Lightning Bolt
4 (5): Empowered Scorching Ray x3, Ball Lightning
5 (5): Cone of Cold x3, Empowered Fireball x2
6 (4): Chain Lightning, Maximized Lightning Bolt x2
7 (2): Prismatic Spray, Mage Sword

+7 damage to all Evoker spells

 

[Psychie]

Oreleth stays up on the top of the Wagon, keeping her arrows ready to fire at any sign of trouble. She does say, "Whatever you are going to do, do it quick! We are rapidly running out of time!"

 

[Purr]

All the kobolds and members of the Wayward Wanderers - and perhaps some of the nearby ogres and rangers - would hear a loud slapping sound as the palm of Alisa's right hand made hard contact with her forehead.

"I said 'malicious'! Starting with an m, not an s! An em!" she said, sounding exasperated.

The other kobolds relay this important information to their fellow but quickly return to Alisa in a fuss.

"By Bahamut's wings! Yuh hear dat, me scalies? We gotta do as she sez and skeeedaaaddle! She sez dem Dumbstumps be havin' some 'openly salicious inventions!'

"But what about da 'inventions' part?"

"Yeah! Izzat true?"

"Yeah!" One tugs on her armor. "We knews dey waz baddy-bad but we didn't know dey was dat kinda baddy-bad!"

"Yeah," even Nitwit has to concede, "we thought only Drow waz inta that sort of thing!"

Bria cringes and softly says, "Little ones, I really don't think she said anything about inventions but intentions!"

Only the doubter remains silent as the rest continue to worriedly pester Alisa.

 

[jaydude]

Alisa allowed her palm to fall from her forehead, but let out a long-suffering sigh. "That's right. Intentions is what I meant to say."

This situation had to be a test of her patience from Mielikki, the paladin thought. Or perhaps a test of her patience and elocution.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Otiorin Taletreader

Otiorin was almost lost in the joy of flying when he felt a particular tingle up his spine. It was familiar and altogether unwelcome, because it was a well-developed warning sign. Responsibility. Somebody was laying responsibility his way and that required attention. He ceased his patrol orbits and flew back to the Wagon, remaining at a hover over the bickering kobolds and looked over at the source of his issue.
"I feel someone took my name in vain, so what did I do this time?", he asked, sparing a moment to nod cheerfully at the newly-arrived paladin beneath him.

 

[Kaerri]

Kaerri grinned up at her fellow half-elf rogue. "We're having some trust issues, and need to prove we've got someone of goody-goody dragon blood on our side. Help?"

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Otiorin Taletreader

Otiorin's mouth opened and closed, fishlike as he looked around the Wayward Wanderers. A Druid of Mielikki, an esteemed Mage, a Ko Monk and a famous Half-Elf like Kaerri.... none of these could persuade this odd party of paladin and kobolds of their good intentions, but they needed him to prove they were well-intentioned? And then, the intent of Kaerri's words hit home, "someone of goody-goody dragon blood on our side". He nodded and turned to face the kobolds and put on a serious face.
"You dare to doubt the good will and faithfulness of my companions? Do you think that a scion of Charmsring the Silver would associate with any but the very best of people?", so saying he revealed the extent of his draconic lineage, his fingernails extending into silver claws, his skin rippling with silvery dragon scales and his eyes shifting into the very image of a Silver Dragon's, "Is this the proof positive that you seek? Or should I unleash my breath upon you for your impudence?"

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Psychie

"You dare to doubt the good will and faithfulness of my companions? Do you think that a scion of Charmsring the Silver would associate with any but the very best of people?", so saying he revealed the extent of his draconic lineage, his fingernails extending into silver claws, his skin rippling with silvery dragon scales and his eyes shifting into the very image of a Silver Dragon's, "Is this the proof positive that you seek?

Even from a distance of well over 30 feet away, Otiorin can clearly see the kobolds gawk and stammer in awe at Otiorin's unique and marvelous display. Pulling forth silvery pendants from behind their clothing and leather armor, they hang on his every word stricken into silence.

Or should I unleash my breath upon you for your impudence?"

Until this.

This spoken threat from one such as Otiorin causes all but Nitwit to go from awestruck silence into the spine-shaking realm of fear for their hides!

"OH NOES!"

"WE MADE 'IM MAD!"

"AAAHH!!"

Powerpaw smacks the side of his furry head as he watches them scurry about. "Aw, Oti-face! You wuz doin' great until ya hammered da nail in da wall wif just one too many whacks, don't'cha tink? Lookit 'em go!"

The wide-eyed kobolds run around in panicked circles even bumping into each other until finally they hide behind the only rampart against such power they can imagine - Lady Paladin Alisa. Once again, Alisa finds the little ones huddled like children and clinging to her nearness.

"We believes you! We believes you!" They repeat. "Jus' don' hurt us!" Two of them point to Alisa. "Or her!"

All of them react this way. Except one. The doubter. He alone stands his ground but only for a moment. "See? Whad I tell ya? I'll show ya how ta deal wif a so called 'goody-goody!'" With that oath, the doubter disappears into the green night-touched underbrush and is gone.

"No! Wait! Don't go!!" Nitwit hops off the Wayward Wagon and begins to run after him, but only for a few steps when he realizes there's no way to catch his fellow scaly-kin. Nitwit turns to the Wayward Wanderers, his claws in the air as he clearly does not know what to do next.

But moments later, the doubter returns with sullen eyes and something kept tight in his reptilian paws. "You 'goody-goodies' are jus' like da baddy-bads, is dat it? Well, here!" The kobold presents a very old looking piece of brown, faded leather. At first it is difficult to tell what it is, but then as the kobold hefts it higher, everyone can see it is a leather quiver likely of human make, but from when, none can say.

"We Kobolds of da Silver Sun will trades you fer our safety from da Dumbstumps! Izzn't dat what you want?"

"Izzy!" One of his fellows exclaims. "You can't take dat!"

"Yeah!" shouts another. "Dat's da holy ting from da holy place! It's not holy wiffout it!"

"It's better dan da Dumbstumps gettin' it, ain't it?" Izzy presents the quiver to Otiorin and Oreleth both, unsure as to who is in charge.

Bria looks on, uncertain but trusting in all of you. Powerpaw and Mamapaw both look to the rest of the Wayward Wanderers in confusion as they listen to the woods and your own tense surroundings.

"But Izzy!" Nitwit runs up. "Dey don't even want dat!"

"No way! Ev'rybody wants sumpthin'! I sez 'goody-goodies' are no diff'rent!" Izzy snaps. "So? We gotta deal or what?"

In the distance, everyone hears the din of the horns fade away. Wherever the Highwind Rangers are now, they appear to be safe. The same cannot be said for you.

What do the Wayward Wanderers do?

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Otiorin Taletreader

Otiorin watched regretfully as the doubter sprinted off, preparing to chase him down and bring him back forcibly if necessary. However such an act was not required as he returned, clutching something in its paws. He listened to the back-and-forth of the creatures and decided to land. He stood before 'Izzy' as Nitwit had called them.
"My, my, aren't you the brave one. Standing before people you fear may be wanting to cause you harm.", then he knelt, so that they were eye to draconic eye, "I can see why your clan chose you to defend this holiest of holy places. Not even the Dumbstumps and their wicked weapons and evil magics scare you. And now, you come to offer that which you protect to ensure your peoples' safety."

Otiorin took the worn quiver in his hands, handling it with the care and grace he used to handle Moonlit Edge. He turned it over in his hands, reverently taking in all the details of it's manufacture, delicately lifting it to view it in the lights from the Wagon.
"Nay, we do not want to take your precious holy relic.", he said at last, gently pressing it back into Izzy's hands, "Your bravery and your strength of will has impressed me. I am Otiorin, great-grandchild of Charmsring the Silver Dragon. His blood flows through my body and your loyalty to your clan and your people has stirred it deeply. My companions and I came here to aid you in defeating the ills that you are facing, and we shall not rest until your people are freed of your troubles. And do not be concerned about removing this holy thing from its resting place, many people in times past have carried away their sacred relics in times of war and trouble to protect them. Once your ills are past, you can return it to its resting place and make it a holy place once more. Will you trust us and let us help you, Izzy of the kobolds?"

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus jaydude Kaerri Tag!

"My, my, aren't you the brave one. Standing before people you fear may be wanting to cause you harm.", then he knelt, so that they were eye to draconic eye, "I can see why your clan chose you to defend this holiest of holy places. Not even the Dumbstumps and their wicked weapons and evil magics scare you. And now, you come to offer that which you protect to ensure your peoples' safety."

Izzy stabs a finger at Nitwit. "It's hiz fault! We only started gettin' uppity 'cause'a hiz example!" Still, Nitwit runs up and hugs Izzy who just stands there kicking a twig and looking unsure.

Otiorin took the worn quiver in his hands, handling it with the care and grace he used to handle Moonlit Edge. He turned it over in his hands, reverently taking in all the details of it's manufacture, delicately lifting it to view it in the lights from the Wagon.
"Nay, we do not want to take your precious holy relic.", he said at last, gently pressing it back into Izzy's hands, "Your bravery and your strength of will has impressed me. I am Otiorin, great-grandchild of Charmsring the Silver Dragon. His blood flows through my body and your loyalty to your clan and your people has stirred it deeply. My companions and I came here to aid you in defeating the ills that you are facing, and we shall not rest until your people are freed of your troubles. And do not be concerned about removing this holy thing from its resting place, many people in times past have carried away their sacred relics in times of war and trouble to protect them. Once your ills are past, you can return it to its resting place and make it a holy place once more. Will you trust us and let us help you, Izzy of the kobolds?"

As Otiorin gets closer to the kobolds, everyone sees the silver charms hanging around the reptilians' necks begin to glow and glow brightly in ones and twos until finally, they are all softly lit with a gentle and beautiful silvery radiance that pierces the evening's gloom like tiny stars in the twilight. The kobolds hold their charms and look on in awe as their fears slowly begin to melt away.

Powerpaw pauses a moment in his looting with Kaerri to raise his huge weathered maul above his furry head. ""Boyoboy! Way ta go, Oti-face! You guyz see dat? Dat wuz da smoothest speechin' dese Kitty-face ears haz ever heard!"

"Quiet, Fuzzy Goof!" From the wagon, Bria shushes and Powerpaw quickly clamps his toothy maw shut. Still, the Ko Healer can't help but whisper. "He really is something though, isn't he?"

Nitwit prods Izzy to face Otiorin and sure enough, Izzy takes back the made-for-human-sized quiver as if it were something precious yet unfamiliar. Then he prods him again a little harder. Izzy says, "You reeeaally don' wan't nuffin' ta saves us from da Dumbstumps?" Izzy can't look Otiorin in the eye but he can look Nitwit in the face. There, he only sees happiness and reassurance.

Nitwit finally seals the deal with an argument even Izzy can't debate. "Izzy! Ya goblin-brain! Our charms are glowin', dey've given us back da holy-holy, de're riskin' their necks jus' by talkin' to us... an' yer arguin'!"

Well, there isn't anything Izzy can say to that except, "But the holy-holy isn't even--"

DOOM! DOOM!

Spoiler: War drums

Okay, the Dumbstumps don't sound nearly this cool (they have the power but lack the skill and rhythm), but I can't help but post this terrific and thrilling percussion piece!
"Germanic War Drums 1 hour Germania Forest Drums"

Suddenly, Shandra's Evergreen thunders with the sounds of drums! For generations, ogres have crudely crafted war drums hardy enough to withstand their pounding and with great effect have they caused fear across battlefields present and past.

DOOM! DOOM! sound the drums and the forest begins to quake in answer. Even the sorry-looking charred corpses left behind by Luna's powerful magic seem to tremble. Over the din, you hear the voices of ogres in their native Giant tongue rising in some diabolic hell-born chant.

(Translated from Giant)
"Mash their bones!
Chew them cleans!
Suck their marrow!
Eat their spleens!"

But Mamapaw has a gift. It is a gift shared by mothers and grandmothers beyond counting, a certain ordering tone in her feline-riled voice that reaches into nearly everyone who hears it and is affected as if it were their own mother was angry with them. She calls upon this gift now and Powerpaw is the first to move. "By Mielikki's singing songbirds, our time is up!" Mamapaw readies the reins of the four huge jade hippogriffs-that-are-not-hippogriffs that pull the magical Wayward Wagon through the sky.

"Now get on or get left behind!"

Powerpaw wastes no time hustling back on board, his big paws kicking up the dirt as he runs, his arms filled with sharp cold steel and a some charred-looking bags. "C'mon, Kaerri! Go go go!"

Now, thanks to everyone's efforts, that is all the little kobolds need to hear! They scamper, scrabble, and scurry their way onboard as Mamapaw sets the Wayward Wagon into motion. The hippogriffs flap their great majestic wings and the Wayward Wagon responds in kind. "You! Highwindian!" Mamapaw points to Alisa after glancing at Oreleth. "Are you coming? Any further debates you all may have you can satisfy inside!" She jerks a thumb back toward the wagon's sole doorway.

What do the Wayward Wanderers do?

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Otiorin Taletreader

The wardrums are all the warning Oti needed to act, and act he did, snatching up Nitwit and Izzy under an arm each and passes them firmly up to whoever was ready to receive the on the Wagon. He then helped each of the remaining kobolds and helped them aboard, before clambering halfway aboard himself.
“Last one aboard has to cook dinner!”, he shouted as he looked back at the paladin.

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus jaydude Kaerri Tag!

The kobolds make it aboard without trouble.

“Last one aboard has to cook dinner!”, he shouted as he looked back at the paladin.

Hearing this declaration, Bria of the Ko freezes as if paralyzed, her attractive face locked into a momentary cringe. She looks not to Powerpaw who is already onboard or to Lady Paladin Alisa who is not onboard but to the other half-elf in the party who at this moment is not onboard and farther away from the Wayward Wagon than Alisa. The one with strawberry-blonde hair hauling heavy ogre-sized loot through the forest.

"Oh. Dear. I've. Tripped."

Bria hops both of her sandaled feet off of the wagon. They crunch upon landing on the leafstrewn grass. "I. Seem. To. Have. Fallen. Off. Of. The. Wagon." Bria says with both hands still firmly on the driver's seat by Mamapaw, her body within the motherly Felane's easy reach as she easily walks alongside the moving wagon.

"I. Don't. Know. If. I. Can. Get. Back. On. Before. Kaerri. Is. Forced. To. Cook. For. Everyone." She even mock-staggers once as she watches Kaerri and Alisa.