Lets go on a walk though our realm, hear what the people have to say, then gather our court, we have work to do!

bumping with pic

>>14477228

You put on your customary robes, revealing the tattooes of office on your legs and arm, and the paint signifying them on your right arm, and head out to talk with some of the people.

"Mythar! Wonderful day, isn't it?" One of the miners says to you, hauling a great quantity of stone using a four-legged N.A.J.A. to where it will be processed.

"Certainly. Keep up the good work, citizen!" You say to him, waving.

You chat with a few others. Apparently, the problem most are concerned with right now is the formation of a new Drow civilization far to the east. You are keeping an eye on it, you say. They know well of your hatred for the black-skinned monsters.

Gathering your people would take time, but meeting with the members of the senate would take little time. Would you like to do that instead?

yes

>>14477281
Gather the people. They need to be reassured.

>>14477314

You go to the senate, who is currently meeting and talking about various things. Each one is a powerful member of one of the kobold castes, representing a particular group of professions or one especially large one.

They are: Ghaon, a heavyset green kobold who represents the military. He is renowned for having brought an end to a few dwarven generals personally. Unfortunately he is not the brightest.
Unuk, a reddish-brown kobold laden with jewelry who represents the merchants of the city. He is very pragmatic, but has an excellent business sense and is good with people.
Zhao-mal, a reddish-brown kobold with black stains on his clothing who represents the miner's guild. He is new, but you have heard his mining plans are what led the people to a cavern of potent Ioun ore recently.
Mohuk, with brick-red scales, is the proud leader of the farming and fishing caste. He is loud and boisterous, and a bit too friendly with outsiders.
Yuune, a kobold known most for his silence. He is your older brother, and represents the magicians.
Jaran, a kobold who is cold and calculating with sickly green scales, represents the treasury and resource allocator's caste.

They incline their heads to you as you enter the forum. They have been discussing things about resource allocation.

>>14477432
So lets hear what they have to report

>>14477353

"We need to gather the people, and speak on a few things." You say to them.

"What, about the drow? We do not need to concern ourselves with them." Ghaon says, shaking his sizable head and causing the fat about his face to shake a bit. "Did you not hear about those visitors of ours destroying the Rosenkraft family stronghold? Our main aggressors are gone, and they have learned long ago that making war with us will only result in more graves that they must dig for their fellows."

You feel your considerable temper grow a bit. "We haven't had a communal meeting in some weeks. Perhaps you should think more on assuring the people instead of assuring your troops, Ghaon."

He sneers at you, but remains silent.

"What have you to report?" You ask.

Unuk speaks up first, fidgeting with his jewelry and smiling a smile that has gotten the people many riches. "The trade with the surfacers goes well. No incidents, and they are in particular interested in the NAJA and other such technology. I think if we choose to share it, they would sell at a high price."
Zhao-mal clears his throat before speaking. "As you know, what the surfacers call 'Ioun ore' has been unearthed with around a seven ton load so far. The mineral rods are detecting a small deposit of precious gems near to them, which we will be mining out carefully due to its proximity to a small underground river. Estimate: Three days."
Mohuk laughs a bit. "Gems and ore alike should be good for trade. The military shot that aboleth in the lake, that's all the excitement we've had. Still good hauls, fish farms are doing fine as well."
Yuune inclines his head, and one of his attendants brings you a detailed report of the latest research discoveries, to browse at your leisure.
Jaran puts his hands behind his back. "Fiscally we are fine. However, most of these greedy fools are demanding more allocated to their castes."

"What good is all out money if we can't spend it?" Ghaon mutters.

"For the last time, Ghaon, the military has more than adequate numbers of NAJA units." Jaran says.

"I thought we had a surplus of Ioun ore or whatever recently. Isn't that what runs 'em?" Ghaon asks, scratching his head.

"It is a component of their construction, yes. But it could be used for almost anything. Well-cut ioun ore can be used by the mages, the falloff used in making NAJA, and perhaps, yes," Jaran says, looking over at the eagerly smiling Unuk, "Some could be traded with the surfacers. So, magistrate, any input on this?" Jaran asks, harshly.

>>14477725
What exactly are the NAJA units? Obviously the character knows what they are, but the players don't.
Also, a better overview of the current political and international situation would be nice.

As for the ore, send half to the mages for new applications, a quarter to the construction of more NAJA units, and the rest stockpiled for emergency reserves.
When the gems are mined, they can be traded to the surfacers; NAJA units are off-limits however. It sounds like the surface doesn't have an equivalent, and they would reverse-engineer the first unit they get their hands on.

>>14477765

The Kobolds in the underground, known as the Crystal Cavern People are not especially friendly, but are fairly technologically advanced, especially concerning personally mounted magic-powered devices (Numex Alvanshir Jagalt Arminik). Kobolds who are unfit for work are taught to maneuver machines intended to do the job just as well. Using different methods of processing Ioun ore, they can create a number of fantastic devices using magic power.

The political situation? You act as a sort of advisor and figurehead to the senate, who allocates resources to those needing it in your society and comes to other such decisions. Working in this way prevents any part of society from hurting any other part.

The surface has no equivalent for much of your technology, as you have discovered from the few visitors you've had. Your lineguns, prosthetics, and various NAJA used for work produced with the Ioun ore, have allowed you to keep a foothold against even organized dwarven incursions. At present, you are at a quiet point in history. You hate quiet times. It just means something's rearing up to hit you all the harder when it does.

>>14477838
Alright then.
Go with the allocation from >>14477765
We need to maintain techno-magical and industrial superiority; it's what's kept us alive before, and it is what will see us through to the future.

Now that the resource issue has been handled, what other problems are before the senate?

Politically, the underworld is quieted by the tengu mercenaries who suddenly showed up, using powerful explosive-based weaponry, and destroyed the Rosenkraft, a powerful drow family who made pacts with devils and demons alike. You allowed yourself a bit of satisfaction at the news. You have hated the drow for a long time, the Rosenkrafts especially.

The dwarves are still shouting something about the threat tribes of kobolds pose to their kingdom. Yawn. Dwarves have posed little threat to your ranged weaponry and traps, as well as a focused magical culture.

Oh, and despite the continent's dragons having left several hundred years ago, you've recently had one hatch from an egg. A brown dragon. The populace was somewhat excited about this.

>>14477967

"Send half to the mages for new applications, a quarter to the construction of more NAJA units, and the rest stockpiled for emergency reserves." You recommend.

Your brother, Yuune, nods at your decision.

"The NAJA are not to be traded for the surface. Do not think they will not find some way to make them themselves if they get the chance." You say. "This dragon business is going to everyone's heads. We are not a powerful people yet. We have a great many things to accomplish before we can afford to go making alliances, let alone shelling out or greatest accomplishments for humans, dwarves and elves to use against us."

"There were a few among that number, the ones brought to us with need of replacement parts like yours, who were not of the people. They still are in the city. Should we do something about them to protect our secrets?" Unuk says.

>>14478091
"No, allow them to acquire replacement limbs, if they have already purchased them. Though they may eventually understand their workings and construct more for themselves, killing them now would only bring the ire of the surfacers upon us.
"Individually, we may be able to match them, but if they were to combine together, then we would be crushed underfoot.
"No, we must husband our strength carefully, become strong in secret, be unassailable in our power; then, we can stride forth as first among nations."

Pic being posted for future use by others.

>>14478144

"No, allow them to acquire replacement limbs, if they have already purchased them. Though they may eventually understand their workings and construct more for themselves, killing them now would only bring the ire of the surfacers and the other subterranian races upon us." You flex your right hand contemplatively. You can afford a bit of generosity, especially considering how much worse some of them were injured than you had been.

"Individually, we may be able to match them, but if they were to combine together, then we would be crushed underfoot.
"No, we must husband our strength carefully, become strong in secret, be unassailable in our power; then, we can stride forth as first among nations."

The council nods their heads in agreement.

"Indeed. So, what shall we talk to the people about, exactly?" Mohuk says. "Some of us have a pretty full work schedule, you know."

Find dragon.

Tap that ass.

>>14478227
"Foremost, we must allay their concerns regarding the resurgent Drow. We need not promise any concrete action; only that steps are being taken.
"In that regard, Ghaon, does the military have any scouts that far east? How far along are they in restoring their empire? They may have been beaten before, but we should not underestimate the Drow."

>>14478248

Man, if you want that so bad, why don't you go to deviantart instead of saging a perfectly fine thread?

>>14478266
OP, I have a question concerning the kobold military.
You mentioned that the kobolds have lineguns (I'm assuming some kind of magic rifle).
How professional is the military compared to that of other nations (at the individual soldier level)? Is it organized into fireteams and squads?

>>14478264

"Foremost, we must allay their concerns regarding the resurgent Drow. We need not promise any concrete action; only that steps are being taken." You say. Ghaon grits his teeth.

"In that regard, Ghaon, does the military have any scouts that far east? How far along are they in restoring their empire? They may have been beaten before, but we should not underestimate the Drow."

"The Rosenkraft are not being restored, our scouts are seeing them begin to construct a small fortress a few miles off." He says. "The empire was never under a threat. As such, they are not even remotely agitated."

>>14478349
"What of the dragon which has hatched? It's health remains unaffected?"

I'm not the poster that wanted to bring the people together. If they aren't really that worried about the Drow, then I don't see the need to interrupt our work cycles for unnecessary team-building exercises.

>>14478320

Line Gun

This projectile weapon looks like a long tube with a handle towards the back, and a chamber towards the base flanked by a set of several squat protruding cylinders with vents on either side. The tube and chamber snap forward from the frame to reveal a slot into which a cylinder can be inserted, the vents clearly leading out of that spot. The handle and trigger of the weapon have a number of exposed spots with a cool stone on the interior, which, when grasped, causes the bearer to feel a slight electrical pulse move along the gun. When the trigger is pulled, steam is discharged from the vents, and with a flash the bolt is discharged from the end of the barrel.

They come in many different sizes. Their propellant is frozen water, easily obtained.

The military is well trained, with lineguns being used along with traditional spears and other weapons. They move as units, with specialists and scouts using the weapons as well.

>>14478585
>Line Gun
Holy crap. It is now apparent how we have survived the past 200 years. We're the top renewable magic energy tech civilization.

>>14478585
OP mentioned that tengu mercenaries appeared with explosive-based weapons.
Perhaps we should endeavor to acquire samples, or at least build replicas.

As for the communal meeting, is it something that is socially expected? Because if not, then I don't really see the need for it.

>>14478416

"What of the dragon which has hatched? It's health remains unaffected?" You ask.

"Yes, he's quite fine. I thought you didn't care for him, mm?" Unuk says.

"It would be a great blow to our people if he were to die." You say. "However, we must not depend on him too much."

"Of course not." Unuk says. "He'd horde all our money."

>>14478650
Can Unuk make contact with the Tengu mercenaries, and purchase a sample of their weapons for our mages to analyze?

Does the Senate have any other immediate concerns?

>>14478645

You have something like it.

One of the surface visitors, an orange mohawked goblin named Rut Madkill, scion of Rut Madkill the elder, was an alchemist with what he called a "boom stick". It uses round metal bullets and an alchemical propellant instead. You know the magicians have a few spare prototypes lying around.

>>14478722

"Unuk, see if we can get one of these 'black powder rifles'." You say. He grins.

"Anything else of immediate concern?" You ask. None of them speak up. "Very well. We don't need to talk to the people at present. Farewell."

>>14478831
Considering the tunnel-fighting that we would most likely engage in, range is not as important as volume of fire.
If we can produce a gun with a magazine, whether it be based off of lineguns, blackpowder, or this boom stick prototype, then it would give us an even better edge against the other nations.

Talk with our brother about it, and have the mages look into it.
I want to make the image to the left into a reality.

>>14478266
Because I'm a horrible person and didn't feel that my non-contribution should draw attention to itself.

I'm sorry. I won't do it again.

>>14478888

The guns with clips are at present, only mounted. You could put more funding into the magic division to enhance technological research.

As far as rocket propelled grenades...

What do you think the spider-tanks shoot?

>>14479017
Well, then, what are we waiting for? The mages have been given half of the Ioun ore that is being mined. Will allocating more resources to them to speed up tech progress need to wait until the next Senate meeting?

>>14478913

Don't worry about it bro. I thought you were trolling, apology on my end as well.

The report says that currently they have multi-barreled weapons, and that they are experimenting with bullet placement systems. Since the bullets do not have cartridges, they have to modify most of the guns to include a site to put in cartridges.

The research will be sped up quite a bit with this extra Ioun ore.

>>14479175
Excellent.
Unless something else comes up, I think we can fast-forward time to the next important event.

>>14479210

Your people develop guns with a 5 shot clip in three day's time. You feel your old war wound start to act up in that time. It is usually a sign of something bad. What would you like to do?

>>14479342
Speak with the head of the military, have him intensify the scout patrols.

Who handles manufacturing and industry? Have them begin a limited production run of these new guns.

As for the mages, have them keep working at it. I won't be satisfied until we have a 30-round SMG.

>>14479385

You have a set of 100 produced to be used by the advance scouts. They see the most action out of any branch of the military. You should know: you were one once.

You track Ghaon down while he is eating. He does so far more often than any other kobold, but his strength warrants a bit of extra food. Unfortunately, his gain in weight has not been all muscle. He slurps the muscle out of a steaming crab as you stand before him.

"I'm telling you, Mynthar, there's nothing to it. Just a drow civilization in a clear area they mined out." He devours a boiled silk spider, whole. "Your vendetta against them needs oiling- hrm, I mean stroking every once in awhile, I know, but the border's secure, I can assure you.

>>14479462
"Ghaon, that may be. But my old war wound's throbbing, and if anyone understands the importance of listing to your body when it tells you something, it should be you.
"We're both military men; humor me a little. Just an extra patrol or two. I've got a bad feeling that something nasty is coming our way.
"Oh, and let both Yuune and me know how the new guns are working out for your scouts; we need field data for the next generation of weapons."

>>14479527

"Ghaon, that may be. But my old war wound's throbbing, and if anyone understands the importance of listing to your body when it tells you something, it should be you." You say, patting just above your right shoulder and feeling the electricity jump from your artificial arm to your hand with a slight jolt.

His eyes widen a bit. You smile dangerously. You don't mind people pointing out that you have an artificial arm, you had the damn thing plated in orange metal for ancestor's sake, but when they belittle your injury, your temper tends to rise a bit. And this fat sack of scales has yet to learn when to stop pushing your buttons over it.

"We're both military men; humor me a little. Just an extra patrol or two. I've got a bad feeling that something nasty is coming our way."

"Uh, huh." He says, his eyes still wide.

"Oh, and let both Yuune and me know how the new guns are working out for your scouts; we need field data for the next generation of weapons."

"Oh, yeah, guns, right." He says. You leave the cafeteria with his eyes and those of his subordinates on you the entire time.

It's like they've never seen one of the prosthetics shoot lightning before.

Actually they probably haven't.

>>14479673
Unuk likely hasn't been able to hash out the deal with the Tengu yet. But it doesn't hurt to learn from him how our trade relations stand with the other nations surrounding us, and if his traders have heard rumors of trouble.

>>14479703

You go chat with Unuk. He is currently in his counting house.

"Our emissaries should be about there by now, Mynthar. Soon we'll see what those crows think of our trading power." He says, grinning. "So far, the trade at the halfling outpost has gone well enough. A few losses over a couple of days, but we're building presence so it's a natural occurrence."

"Some of the tribal kobolds have offered an exchange of their workers for our soldiers, but I told them that was not my place to say. 90 of their men in the mines for 30 of ours who they asked for with 'bangy shot wands'. It was adorable." He smiles gleefully.

>>14479798
*sigh and facepalm*
"We really should annex those tribes. Their lack of technological development is a little embarrassing, even if somewhat amusing.
"We could use their workers in the mines, but considering that they wouldn't be trained with our tools or methods, won't be as good as our own. I'll have to Zhao-mal about it.
"I don't want to just hand over our solders; but maybe shipments of lineguns, or our military patrols around their borders...that's more possible."

Next, let's speak with Zhao-mal to see how the miners would take additional tribal workers.

>>14479857

"We really should annex those tribes. Their lack of technological development is a little embarrassing, even if somewhat amusing."

"Oh, no this is a new tribe. The Kipkreeri, they said it meant 'Dragonling Spirits'. They're pygmies! Well, about a foot shorter, anyway." He says.

"We could use their workers in the mines, but considering that they wouldn't be trained with our tools or methods, won't be as good as our own. I'll have to talk to Zhao-mal about it." You say, stoking your chin.

"I'm sure there's some kind of a strip or something." Unuk waves his hand.

"I don't want to just hand over our solders; but maybe shipments of lineguns, or our military patrols around their borders...that's more possible."

"Well, I remembered what you said. I figure if we have our own men there, just a small group, there will be less chance of one of the Kipkreeri misplacing one. They are further up north. Had to deal with dwarves a lot in the past before they relocated." Unuk shrugs. "But if you want to ship them some, I guess we'd always have a market for spare ammunition."

>>14479956
Yeah, by stationing our own soldiers there, we could effectively turn them into a protectorate.

But first, we'll need to talk with our head miner, to see how well he thinks these pygmies could work in our mines.

Zhao-mal grimaces at your news. "What? Midgets? I guess we could put them to work in some of the tighter areas, but we have folks for that already...

"Ninety extra heads wouldn't hurt though. Definitely not letting them around the NAJA. I don't want them trying to light them on fire, chew on them, worship them as gods, or any combination of those. Besides, the beauty of NAJA is they're easy to use. So any of our people can do it. Our people." He says the last word in an affirmative tone as he hands off a finished map. "By the way, gems are out and being processed by the gemcutters."

>>14479995
*sigh*
"I thought as much. But I'm more interested in slowly integrating the Kipkreeri, and this would be a good step in that direction. I'll have to check with our military resources.
"Now, have we made any progress in finding more veins of Ioun ore? As nice as gems are, the ore really is more important."

>>14479994
Consider genuine benevolence. (Don't have to do it seriously, a passing thought is sufficient.)

Would it be possible to impress them enough with technological advancement and just generally being bigger and individually more capable than them that they desire to join? We could be glorious atlanteans to their primitive and barbaric selves.

>>14480054

"I thought as much. But I'm more interested in slowly integrating the Kipkreeri, and this would be a good step in that direction. I'll have to check with our military resources."

"Well, I don't enjoy having to babysit. The pits aren't any place for kids." Zhao-mal says.

"They're not- nevermind, doesn't matter." You start correcting him before dropping the subject.

"Now, have we made any progress in finding more veins of Ioun ore? As nice as gems are, the ore really is more important."

"We've found a big batch of purple in sector A-3-6 with the amethyst. You need any new ones? I got a few extra I can just sign the requisition for for you." He says, kicking open a small chest.

You already have a few Ioun stones. They are small reservoirs of magical energy for one specific spell. Processed ore can produce energy exclusively in most cases. They can be safely embedded in the skin, even molding up to bone safely by someone with some arcane magical ability. You have a special kind, called a message stone, that lets you communicate with others carrying them over long distances, but the messages can take a while to arrive. You have five embedded in your left arm in a V pattern, and your prosthesis's plating is studded with some, making it more resistant to magic of all kinds.

>>14480117

You totally can do such a thing. Most tribes have no idea about you, really. Or are doubtful. A show of power is usually quite effective in convincing them.

>>14480172
"No, we don't need to open up new veins just yet. As long as there are more veins to mine, we should be good.
"If we do go ahead with bringing in Kipkreeri, I'll let you know in advance."

Okay, I think we should go ahead with the deal. We'll use this chance to show off our power, and to slowly begin integrating the Kipkreeri into our culture.

I think that's about it. The last thing I'm concerned about is food. We need to check in with Mohuk, that our food stores are adequate.

>>14480197

"No, we don't need to open up new veins just yet. As long as there are more veins to mine, we should be good." You say.

The leader of the miners scoops up a few of the brightly colored translucent bits of ore from the chest. "Sure, but I have these good clarity ones I thought you might be interested in, sir. None too large, but from my time in the mines I can tell they're good ones." He shrugs. "No good to me, I didn't have that tingly feeling from any of them, which means they're all caster type. I thought maybe you should get a pick, sir."

"If we do go ahead with bringing in Kipkreeri, I'll let you know in advance." You say.

"Right, I'll need all the prep I can get." Zhou-mal sighs.

>>14480252
Exam the stones. Are they in a state where we could immediately begin using them, or would they have to be processed by the mages first?

>>14480261

They would simply need to be carved and smoothed a bit to be used. The process is quick enough, probably an hour for four of various qualities. You've heard gnomes do such things by hand, and are nowhere near as quick. The thought brings joy to your heart.

>>14480288
What properties do the stones have?
Regardless, ask to have them shipped over to be processed. We'll pick them up later.

Then, check in with Mohuk to make sure that our food stores are in proper order.

The different colors denote a preference to one of the schools of magic, except for blue, which is neutral and the most common by far. The attunement simply provides a small boost in power. Each can be keyed to a particular spell and used to replicate that spell. Using one more than about every two days though can result in fatigue.

You pick up an orange one that looks particularly pretty, a yellow one and a white one. You drop those off at an Ioun cutter on your way to Mohuk

Mohuk chuckles as he sees you.

"Food's enough for a group twice our size. Fishing season's in full swing, and we have the cave fish farm underway." He gestures out at a nearby table, which is filled with flax seeds. "Got these in a surface trade, going to see how well they grow on our small surface growing houses on the plains. Camouflaged naturally. I'm told the oil from them is edible and they can be used for cloth.

>>14480356
"Excellent. Just to warn you, I'm currently considering a deal with the Kipkreeri to have 30 of our soldiers stationed with them, in exchange for 90 of their workers for our mines. Not exactly a great deal, but it puts us closer to integrating their tribe into our own empire."

Okay, I can't see anything else worth doing right now. Let's skip time-skip.
Also, OP, can we get our spell list?

>>14480378

"Excellent. Just to warn you, I'm currently considering a deal with the Kipkreeri to have 30 of our soldiers stationed with them, in exchange for 90 of their workers for our mines. Not exactly a great deal, but it puts us closer to integrating their tribe into our own empire."

Mohuk laughs. "Long as they each don't eat as much as Ghaon it'll be nothing to worry about. Way I see it, more recipes I can use so my wife doesn't complain about eating the same thing every three days!"

You are unique amongst sorcerers, in that your spell list can fluctuate.

Before the people of the Crystal Caverns created this amazing technology, they perfected a ritual called "Razel Mrefek" or "Ancestor (or dragon) Imaging". The tattooes you have now are those of the Crystal Cavern's old leaders. You had those of a young member of your family when you were a scout, and had them removed when you became magistrate. The paint on your arm so far hasn't done anything, despite being made of the same in as the ones on the rest of your body. Not to say it's a hindrance though. It has its benefits.

You favor electrically based spells, and your right arm can catch such energy and store it for a massive bolt to be used later. You favor conjuration spells aside from summoning, a few transmutation spells and some abjuration spells you picked up to aid with warding certain parts of the offices.

Your favorite one by far is a Ricocheting Lightning Bolt. You had great fun with that in your scout days after you convinced them to let you back into active duty. It was developed by your uncle, who taught it to you after you had been rescued from a drow fortress.

More on that later though.

The pygmies arrive after a few days. The son of their chieftain (You refuse to call him a "prince") comes and shakes hands with you, marveling at your arm. You politely entertain him for a day and then send him back off with a small armed escort.

>>14480436

Should be "same ink".

>>14480436
Hopefully Zhao-mal isn't having too hard of a time getting these primitive screwheads to understand modern mining techniques and technology.

Which brings up another point, OP.
Our Kobolds, besides being technologically advanced, also seem to be much more developed socially, linguistically, and culturally than the usual impression of kobolds.
Is this due to simply growing up in a more advanced civilization, or does it have something to do with the Ioun ore?

>>14480436
Anything from the Scouts? Otherwise, keep on fast-forwarding time.

>>14480453

Your society was one of the first to institute schooling, as well as making sure that all of your people get proper nutrition during their formative years. Your ancestors finally gave up on the dragons coming back, and decided to depend on only themselves. You've felt this way ever since you were young.

That good nutrition makes a hell of a difference. Stronger bodies, a healthy constitution, and even shiny, sleek scales are something kobolds who grow up here usually have. The tribal kobolds often refer to you as the "Fair folk", and think of you as some kind of fey. You do like to think that you're dashing and all, but supernaturally so?

You look down at your choker that enhances your charisma.

OK, so maybe a bit supernatural, yes. But generally you're just awesome on your own.

On top of that, the philosophies of the great kobold philosopher Kreshumal resulted in a society where the government redistributes funds for the good of all, and each major sect is given a fair say. With the new prosthetics technology, even paralyzed kobolds can walk once more, and those born with withered bodies can operate heavy machinery and still contribute. The number this benefits may be few, but every little bit helps.

You sigh, and get all starry-eyed thinking about all the industrious people you are responsible for. If you were capable of crying, you would shed a single tear for their perseverance.

"How can you not understand? It's pneumatic! You just pull the trigger and- OH SHIT!"

You hear the sound of a pneumatic pick going off from up around the mines, and a wail of pain.

"When I am demonstrating the equipment, none of you. NONE OF YOU. Can touch it." Zhou-mal barks angrily.

>>14480513
Investigate incident.

What's the current population of Crystal Caverns?

>>14480498

One of the scouts brings a missive to you from the front. He kneels, but you bid him get up. You're not a king, just someone with a lot of power. Respect you like, but worship and placing oneself lower than someone is too much like the dragon kings of old who would use your people.

The report on the guns is on top. Aside from the occasional jam, there were no problems. There is a few written reports from some of the scouts. You stop and read one describing the way it tore apart a drow's hip as they turned to run. You never get tired of that. The rest of the missive says that a drow scouting party was caught and are being held for interrogation.

You smile sadistically. "Interrogation, you say?"

>>14480513
I've gotta say, I'm enjoying this immensely, OP.
A socialist Kobold empire, with a Shiny Kobold's Burden complex, attempting to lift up its primitive cousins from their savagery.

While Zhou-mal is teaching the new workers, let's check the scouts reports in our office. See if anything new has come up.

>>14480535
What's the status of the drow party? I'm sure our people did not spare them any discomfort, but it would be... remiss of us to allow them to die before giving us any useful information.

>>14480535
>Interrogation, you say?
Interrogation!
I wish we had grenades, so that we could play grenade golf and grenade jeopardy, and the other fun Tank Police interrogation games.

>>14480526

The current population of the Crystal Caverns is a healthy 63,000.

One of the pygmies seems to have embedded one of the pneumatic picks in another's thigh.

The healers are called. One thing you could use more of, you suppose. Few worship the gods, especially not you, and the philosopher priests rarely are devout enough these days to perform any kind of healing or miracles.

Zhou-mal is beside himself with anger. He looks a shade redder.

"There aren't toys for you children to play with-"

One of the pygmies pipes up. "I'm forty yearses old!"

Zhou glares the smaller, slightly wider kobold down, then continues. "So don't use them in ANY way other than what I describe. The same stuff here goes on those neat spears that the heavy infantry had earlier."

"Steam-gas sticker." One of the tribesmen pipes up.

"Yes, that." Zhou says, noticing you and giving you an expression that you can tell says he's not enjoying this. "So it is also a weapon. Treat it like one. Don't point it at your friends or anything you're not alright with leaving most of the head in."

>>14480545
>>14480540

The scout's office is the barracks. You keep the prisoners close by in case any prospective hunters need anatomy training.

There are reports on the Goblin, Drow, Troglodyte and Dwarven movements.

>>14480559

You forgot grenade hot potato.

By the way: Totally have grenades.

>>14480603
We need more healers. I'm assuming that's Yuune's department. Let's send him a note.

Read all reports, then interrogation time.

>>14480603
>Totally have grenades.
Fuck yeah!

We're gonna have some fun!
Just because we're technologically and socially advanced Kobolds with a society in which everyone works for the Greater Good, doesn't mean we can't have fun every now and then.

Call for the noose and stools to be set up, and someone get our golf clubs! We're going to play grenade golf!

>>14480622
Yes, we need to see about either getting more healers, or opening up trade with surface-dwellers for a consistent supply of Wands of Cure Light/Medium Wounds.

Then we need to read the reports.
Once all of the boring work is out of the way, then we can interrogate the prisoners.

>>14480622

Your brother Yuune would certainly be willing to provide a healer. You also send a man to pick up the ioun stones you had done, paying him for his time.

>>14480652

You had an odd bard, said he was a "conductor" come down here for trade with the surface worlders. Never got his name. He was the first surfacer your people ever traded with. You don't regret it.

The Drow are currently fighting amongst themselves over the hole left by the Rosenkrafts, and the society of the burning web along with them. You wish you could have seen their castle fall. The one bound to the hells and the abyss is still nearby. There has been a movement from the somewhat allied drow faction you made brief contact with signifying that there is no danger from the empire at large. However, there may still be some from that new group of settlers. They moved quick. Drow seldom move quick except in retreat.

The goblins, who you have opened negotiations with, are heading to the eastern side of the continent. The few who did not follow Rut after he unified them have agreed to let your people have a wide berth, including tribal kobolds.

The trogs are still mostly fractured, but they seldom give you trouble aside from the occasional theft. They are good neighbors though, aside from that and the smell. The other groups of trogs have fallen under a new leader that the report does not name, but it does say he hates everybody else in the underworld.

The dwarves are still testing the kobold lich you have living to the north. Still losing people, even though all he does is sit up in his tower. Their misplaced sense of justice will doom them one day, you think. You hope. Their irritating gnome allies have sent a message saying they have made a mobile trap-disarmer. Another one. Hope it's bulletproof this time. They never have been bulletproof yet.

You rub your hands together as you finish the report and head off to the private prison. You get a full case of grenades and a set of mallets. It has been a while, hasn't it?

>>14480751
Does that Kobold lich want anything besides privacy? It always pays to be good neighbors with powerful forces like that. And he's a Kobold! Bitch-slapping dwarves! Always good for a laugh.

The trogs may be a problem. Not the neighboring tribes we've always worked with, but this new leader of their other factions doesn't sound good.
We may need to send a diplomatic envoy to find out what's up (and make sure our ambassador has a gas mask and plenty of perfume and air purification charms).

As for the interrogation, this should be fun. I hope there's enough that we can also play Grenade Gameshow.

>>14480751
I cannot wait to see the looks on their faces.

>>14480794
"Never expected a kobold to be this articulate did you? I suspect that your narrow-minded and arrogant world-view was your downfall, being captured by a 'lesser race' as you would call us.
"Well, let's see how this product of a 'lesser race' blows apart you head, hmmm?"

We should see about forming a special elite cadre of commandos, to become the terror of the Underdark.

>>14480793

That lich kills whoever goes into his ample territory and animates them. But he has not aggressed you. The surface dwellers did not deal with him as they expected to, despite a paladin being among their number. You dealt with him as well, giving away the skull of an old dragon for their benefit. That caught you some flak, but after the truth came out they tempered their opinion.

The troglodytes sound dangerous. Sending an armed envoy might be the best plan.

You have the drow brought out into the testing yard, where they are bound, stripped down to their skivvies, and tied to a piton. You step by each of them, swinging a colorful mallet in your hand.

>>14480854
>lich
Well, as long as he respects our borders, we should respect his.
On our side of the dividing line we should set up a sign. "Please leave messages here"
We draw a line down the middle, with us on one side and "LICH" on the other. That way, we can leave him messages without entering his territory, and it's a non-invasive means of getting his attention.

>trogs
Yes, send an armed escort. The troglodytes have been good neighbors in the past, and it would be a shame if we had to go to war with them.

>Drow
This should be fun!

>>14480854
"Last one to tell me something interesting gets to know what a Kobold Headache is."

Do we have any bright lights or lenses? Because shining an arc lamp in a Drow's face would be deliciously unpleasant.

>>14480896
LIGHTS!
"Tell me how many lights there are."
"There...are...FOUR...LIGHTS!"
"I don't understand how you can be so mistaken."
*SHOCK*
"Now, how many lights?"

>>14480913
Woops, forgot my image.

>>14480883
>>14480913
Oohh...this is a hard choice.
I wish we had more prisoners, so that we could use all of these.

>>14480834

The Underworld's Finest. Hmm, not a bad ring to it. Maybe throw a goblin on there for some ethnic diversity and you'd be golden for a serial play spot and an elite fighting force.

"So, you thought you were quick-" You swing around until you're about an inch from one of the prisoner's faces, and he jolts back in surprise, "-did you? You thought you were better than a bunch of fungus eating hatchlings because it takes you a hundred years to learn how to cast a magic missile."

A couple of kobolds wearing goggles and aprons haul out a large, wheeled box.

"Maybe you're illiterate as well as mentally incapable, and missed the signs we put up denoting what areas we had under our protection. Perhaps you simply didn't know what a linegun was, despite them having killed thousands of your soldiers in your ill-conceived strikes against us in open canyons, long tunnels and pretty much everywhere else."

One of the drow spits at your foot, but you stop a step before the loogie would have made contact with your reptilian toes.

"Really? Aren't you supposed to be all high and mighty? Formal and whatnot? They just teach you to spit instead of a proper insult?" You snark to the offending drow. "A child could spit. Please, don't elevate my view of your pitiable manners, keep being silent and drooling in my general direction."

"You see, we actually train our men in the art of war instead of having them duel each other one on one for a few decades while- What the hell else do you do anyway? Pick moss? Play patty-cake? How can you be so inept when you've supposedly had several times the training? One of the scouts who caught you was eleven. Eleven! That's a tenth of most of your ages, isn't it?" You laugh, shaking your head. "And the slow gestation rate, don't even get me started. We estimate we've put a dent so great in your population that in a hundred years, oh and I'll still be around by then," You dab a metal claw into one's chest to illustrate your point. "Still fertile, having up to eight children a year per couple while you have one every two. You've all learned your math, right? So that's sixteen times the number of kobolds to one of your drow, assuming no twins on either side.


"But I've proven my point. We are the rising kings of the rock, and you are falling down quickly the more you try and lean on us. You should know that by now." You put the mallet up on your shoulder. "So I'm wondering what could possess you to do something as stupid as to actually move CLOSER to us. Have we not made it clear enough? Do we need to nail a note to your foreheads?"

One of the technologists in back demonstrates the nail gun. The massive crossbow-like machine kicks him back a bit and embeds a six-inch nail halfway into a stone wall.

"Because we can do that, if you need a reminder." You grin. Some of the drow look a bit shaken up.

>>14480988
Demonstrate what a Kobold Headache is, on a melon or something.

Make sure the prisoners are far enough away from each other that they'll only be showered with gore, not take blast damage from those we will be horribly executing.

>>14480988
"Now, truly, I lament that I have to prance in front of you all supposed 'professional soldiers' like some cheap vaudeville villain. I would prefer it much more, in fact, I would respect you much more, if you showed the same discipline as our own soldiers, who will recite name, rank, and serial number when questioned.
"But no, I have rant and gesticulate, like an actor on a stage, in order for you people to actually get it through your skulls that we are not a people to be trifled with.
"Now, I am going to give you all one last chance, to at least act with some dignity and professionalism. Are you going to talk, or will we be playing Grenade Cricket for however long it takes me to blow your heads into a gory pulp?"

>>14480896

You have some. You also have a set of goggles that drow like to claim they created that would protect you from the effects.

>>14480881

You think this might be a good idea. Not like your relations with the dwarves could possibly get worse anyway, after having housed the Gray Death for a while.

>>14480913

That can be arranged.

>>14480947

There are about seven out here. The other four surviving members of the patrol were wounded while being apprehended. Not nice to pick on them while they're knitting.

Then again, you're not nice when it comes to drow. You're slightly nicer with dwarves. And you've peeled off all of a dwarf's skin and rolled him in rock salt.

Drow don't get too mad if you shave them, though. Funniest thing you've ever seen is a red-faced dwarf screaming obscenities as you lit his beard on fire.

Well, you guess that's not what most people consider shaving. You don't have hair, so how would you know?

>>14481052
Light them up. With actual lights, not fire. For now.

What strange and inventive tortures have we used on them in the past? Has this netted us any usable information or do they mostly lie to save themselves like everyone else?

>>14481052
This'll be great fun!
The 7 here, we can play grenade games with, and once the remaining 4 are healed and ready, we can subject them to the 'How many lights' interrogation method.

see if you can get a strobe setting for the lights, or set them to turn on and off at precise intervals, perhaps 5 minutes on and 30 seconds off. leave them with the lights like that for a few hours to soften them up.

>>14481052
I say we get Ghaon in on this, it seems as if he's on bad terms with us. And it would be wise to get all the allies we can, after all enemies can surface from within as well and with Ghaon at our side we would have full military backing should the need arise. Politics and fun at the same time, light up the caves baby. TIME TO BLIND SOME DROW!

>>14481014

"Now, our technologists estimate that after the skull is punctured it takes a few seconds for the person to die."

The kobold with the nail gun has a whitish, rounded mushroom about the size of a drow head. The nail slams into it, crushing the front of it and leaking down the watery interior, pale fungus falling out of it suggestively.

"A few seconds after that happens, that is." You say. "So, naturally, we improved upon it, to make things more exciting during those last few moments while your superior drow brains leak out of your crushed faces."

The technologist presses a button on the side of the contraption, and the fungus explodes, showering everyone with sloppy, wet drippings.

The drow are horrified.

"I heard you sometimes nail a man to a wall and let his own body weight drag him down. I think this is an improvement actually." You say, shrugging.

"Now, truly, I lament that I have to prance in front of you all supposed 'professional soldiers' like some cheap stage villain, much as I enjoy playing the villain." You say, grinning. "I would prefer it much more, in fact, I would respect you, if you showed the same discipline as our own soldiers, who will recite name, rank, and identification number when questioned.
"But no, I have rant and gesticulate, like an actor on a stage, and talk slowly, in order for you people to actually get it through your skulls that we are not a people to be trifled with." You bonk one on the head with the mallet gently as you say this.
"Now, I am going to give you all one last chance, to at least act with some dignity and professionalism. Are you going to talk, or will we be giving your buddy with a leaky mouth a Kobold headache?"

"You don't scare me. Drow interrogations are much more painful than this primitive display." One of them towards the right says.

>>14481147
Perhaps we should force-feed the others his intestines. While he's conscious, of course.

We have healers on hand to make sure they stay alive, right?

I don't suppose we could just use Dominate Person...

>>14481147

Kneecap the one on the right. With the nailgun.

>>14481147
lights, lights now!!! blind that insolent bastard. Strap his head down, get a lense and pour blinding white fire into his eye

You tilt your head to one side at him. "Well, it seems we have some common ground! I was in the castle nearby here with the demons and devils! Rosenholm or whatever." You smile at him, moving his head to one side to note a docked ear. "See, I was in there for about two months while they asked me what I was doing. Chained up to an iron cross over a pit of lava, stripped naked, beaten with iron chains four hours at a time, and had hooks put though my eyelids into my eyebrows to keep them open for a day." You point up to your eyebrows and blink for a moment. "Really, I've heard about it, but that was so much worse than the drow techniques I'd been prepped for. I mean, who needs water boarding when you can just have liquid pain injected directly into your bloodstream for what felt like hours of pure agony in just a few minutes? Say what you will about demons, but they are hardly uncreative. The days I was with the drow interrogators I laughed. It was like a vacation.

"Eventually Rosenkraft himself came out to see me. Stuck a wand to my nose and told me to talk. I told him to stop waving his dildo in my face and get back to the pain." You flex your right arm. "He sawed my arm off slowly over about an hour, with a fire spell intended for cutting through metal, then left it to sit there for a while. That same injury loosened my chains and let me escape. I didn't come back from that whole in body or spirit. So I won't be doing that to you."

You put on your goggles. The technologist behind you flips on the floodlights, bright enough to blind even a surfacer. The drow gasp in pain. He shuts it off. You begin walking back with the nail gun.

"These aren't explosive. I'd get sympathy pains if I was to maim you, honestly." You say, nailing first one knee, then the other, to the ground. The drow screams in pain, sobbing. You take out a small wand and cast daylight on a blindfold, putting it around his head.

"Oh c'mon you crybaby. Can't you see you're scaring all of your friends?" You head over to the case, where the technologist is wringing his hands.

"Mynthar, how about the spiked one first?" He says, smiling. "Or the one full of sticky fire! That should get him really screaming."

>>14481244

"You see, having my arm sawed off showed me something even a creature as stupid as a troll can understand that you apparently can't. Physical pain is nothing a good deal of willpower and a bit of temporary insanity can't get you through. The really scary thing is the threat of an especially painful and embarrassing demise." You pick out a nice looking sticky fire grenade and swing it around on one finger by the ring.

"No one going to stop me? Alright then." You yank out the pin, placing the grenade down and rearing back with the mallet, knocking the iron-reinforced glass globe down the series of hoops you know the drow were wondering around for some time now. The ball strikes the pole, and you high-five the technologist. The wailing drow is engulfed in fire that burns from a phosphorescent yellow liquid as the thing bursts, showering him with liquid pain. He screams loudly enough that the other drow next to him closes his eyes and begins quivering.

You walk over to him and gently take him by the chin. He opens his eyes. "Oh no, my dear." You say, the drow still burning to death and wailing about ten feet away from you. "You must watch."

"We were just testing the borders, trying to get an idea of where the patrols passed by so we could get some hunting in." The drow sobs, his head quivering in your hand.

"Hmm, not buying it." You run a bit of electricity through your hand, and the drow convulses, crying out pitifully.

Anyone else going to talk? I mean, do they even like each other? Drow society being what it is... Torturing one in front of the others might not have the effect you'd think.

"So next, let's play a game. I call it the not quiet game." You pick up another grenade covered in jagged metal spikes and place it down in line with the one who spit at you. "I pick each one of you in order. If you talk, and it isn't a lie, I might let you live. If it is a lie, we'll improvise from there. I know how it can be, I've been there. But if I don't hear you say anything." You roll the grenade a bit with your foot. "Then everyone is going to hear the sound of a bang and of your last screams as your shredded torso hits the ground and you die over a few seconds. Everyone understand the rules?"

The spitter shakes his head. "He's telling the truth. We're fugitives from drow society, I swear. We're just trying to find somewhere we can live freely."

"See, I wouldn't have faulted you for playing the sympathy card, but you apparently have the attention span of a cave fish. I did just tell you all the ways in which I do not care about you, didn't I? That I was tortured by your people and maimed?" You shake your head at him. "That is just astounding. Are you trying to get me to feel sympathy for you?" You pick up the grenade and hook a finger through its pin.

He shakes his head. "It's the truth, I swear, please!"

You spin the weapon around in your duralumin plated hand. "Hmm, you know, I don't know what to do with you. You sound like you're telling the truth- for someone with such poor draconic. But you did just stop thinking you could belittle me and get some real fear of death in you... I don't know what would be in the spirit of the rules."

You take out a small stick from the box of pain. "You know what, I'll just blind you and come back to you later."

You shine the extra-bright light straight through his eyelids, and he lets out a screech, weeping uncontrollably.

"So, next impolite drow prisoner, what were you doing in my people's territory?" You say, making a few practice strokes with the mallet after you roll the grenade over to the one on the now blinded drow's left.

We'll stop on that sadistic note for now. I'll try and run this on saturday at around 18:00.

See, what Mynthar didn't say is that he had this other kobold next to him singing about how he should look on the bright side of things while he was being tortured.

That was the real torture.

Archived.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14477181/

>>14481474
Nice, OP.

Next time, we should try to get them to break, the Cardassian way. Looking forward to it.
I'm not sure if we want to have Mynthar actually be evil or not. It just seems so...cliche.
Now, cold, ruthless, and uncompromising when it comes to the safety and welfare of his people, and who regrets the near-comical showing of 2nd-rate stage villainy that he has to perform in front of other races in order to be taken seriously, I think would be more fun to play.

>>14482264
I have to say, whoever archived this is terrible at archiving. The tags are poorly put together and will make searching for this much harder than it has to be.

rolled 88 = 88

Holy shit, VKO
did you take up THIRD quest?!

Do you have no brakes? Do you know no limits!?

>this is awesome really. I love your way of writing.

>>14482369
This
I don't uderstand why people who archive Quests refuse to put a tag with the whole title of the quest.
Like for example, Barbarian Quest will be archived with tags like "barbarian", "quest", "skulls", "axes", "manly", "huge guts", etc... Anything but simple and easy "Barbarian Quest"

rolled 6 = 6

Holy shit, VKO
did you take up THIRD quest?!

Do you have no brakes? Do you know no limits!?

>this is awesome really. I love your way of writing.

>>14485766
Well, its not too bad since threads tagged "kobold" are pretty rare..(didn't archive it)