"Your name is Eric?"
"Yeah,"
"and you're a cleric?"
"Yeah."
An exchange between Nyx and Eric
It was a few days travel before I reached the town of Coral. Sent here to report on the war, I had my hesitations.
After stopping a local for directions, I headed up the hill toward the barracks. Surrounded by stone walls, there is only one gate leading in, facing the south. Four sentry towers stand in the corners of this less than intimidating structure.
As I entered the barracks (there was no one standing guard) I was met with the sight of a small group gathered around a rather tall Goliath. He seemed cranky, and a little uninterested in the group. The group seemed to be split in two; with everyone standing away from a Bugbear and what appeared to be his Half-Orc handler. It would seem that most of these people weren't used to this type of scene.
We stood and listened to the usual speech, "It's a great honour to work for Bahamut," I looked around the faces of my fellow initiates. There was a mix of excitement and trepidation in their eyes.
Gunther, as we learned the Goliath was called, explained that our first mission was to clear out an old disused mine that some Kobolds had taken as a stronghold. We were to "remove the Kobold threat". Gunther advised that we should all visit the armoury before heading off, motioning for us to follow a guard.
The guard led us down a few stone corridors into the armoury where a very slim blonde haired half-elf stood waiting for us. She looked as though she had just turned 18. Madeline, as she introduced herself, produced a box containing a ring for each of us. She advised us to wear them at all times, suggesting that they held magical abilities to heal. The guard, showing us his hand (on which, of course, he was wearing a ring), said that it is a mark of honour, and should we run into any trouble with the locals (finding a place to spend the night, etc.) we need only show them the ring.
With that (a few of the others selected some weapons from the armoury) we headed out. After a few hours (during which no one spoke) we found ourselves heading into a dense forrest. Not so dense that you couldn't see, but dense enough to provide cover. The half-orc must have a keen sense of sight; it wasn't long before he yelled "Brinjin, Fetch!" pointing into the forrest ahead. Before any of us could react the bugbear had taken off at a wild pace, dragging the half-orc behind him.
By the time the rest of us had caught up the bugbear was, rather oddly given what just happened, hiding behind a rock. The half-orc, moving towards one of the creatures while pointing to some of the other creatures up the hill, ordered the bugbear to "kill". Noticing for the first time that we were surrounded by creatures, that I assumed were Kobolds (they look a little odd), the others broke out into battle poses.
The Mul (Broda I think his name is) was the first to act, charging the closet (and largest) Kobold, bringing down a strong hit. The Kobold hit back with it's spear, but missed.
There are was a small group further up the mountain that started swinging rocks down at us. The half-orc took a hit but seemed unfazed.
The human Paladin, John, moved forward charging the kobold Broda hit moments before; bringing his long sword down splatting blood across the ground.
The half-orc was the next to act, in some kind of jump charge he attacked one of the kobolds up the hill. Brinjin followed suit, charging up and decimating the kobold.
Erik (the cleric) moved forward and killed the larger kobold.
The remaining kobolds fell with little effort.
As we collected ourselves after the battle the bugbear took the opportunity to have a small meal; turning around I noticed him holding half eaten kobolds in each hand. I can’t imagine it was a tasty meal (based on the smell).
We rested for almost half an hour before venturing further up the hill. Eventually we reached the remnants of a small entrance to the mine. Moving some boulders we were able to make the entry a little larger.
John was the first to enter, cracking a sunrod as he did. The rest of us followed in single file. As John moved forward, the light not reaching either wall or the roof, he triggered a trap. The floor gave way underneath him and the two people immediately behind him.
It took a few seconds for the rest of us to realise what had just happened. Upon inspection we saw a five foot hole. There was nothing else down there. Warryn, obviously expecting what I did, tied rope around himself and jumped down. The hole was an illusion, and he slipped all the way down, well past the the five foot mark.
We called out for him, but there is no response from Warryn. Those of us remaining up the top decided to try our luck with the rest of our group down the hole.
By the time we reached the others, they were surrounded by dead kobolds.
Part two of this journal (the events of which took place over two sessions) to come.
EDIT:: Part two of this journal is likely to never come. I didn't take extensive enough notes, and because I left it too late, I'm not complete sure of what happened.
What I do remember, Is that we met a Kobold, who was rather well spoken, more so then normal Kobolds, who advised us that there was a Dragon who was commanding them (the Kobolds) to attack the city. We made a deal with him that we would kill the Dragon, freeing his people, and he would no longer attack the city. I left the session early but as I understand it (as all my party was alive last week) we rid the Kobolds of their Dragon overlord.
