These thoughts run through your head as you doze, your tired body turning your energy into magical power as the NAJA armored unit moves along, front and back legs moving at the same time, opposite one another. Your arms are tucked behind your head, legs and tail laid out over the soft blankets used for making camp. Your right elbow occasionally bumps into the railing of the tank with a metallic clang, the armored joint transmitting almost enough force to prevent your slumber.

It has been a long time since you visited the Alloyed Brotherhood. Like a cup full of molten metals, mixing together, the place is as fascinating as it is dangerous.

Your transport stops. A metallic hand shakes you by the leg, and you hear the sound of a crossbow cocking up ahead of you. As you open one eye, you hear a high voice in the kobold language.

"Good morning to you all. I hope you've had a restful sleep, and I do apologize, but I'm here to relieve you of your resources."

"In other words: This is a robbery." A second, lower voice says.

You open your eyes, sitting up groggily as you note your troops with their hands on their weapons. The canyon your group has willingly walked into has brownish red stone, carved into by a tribe long passed on to make a path. Up near the top are a number of kobolds in odd clothing holding what you recognize as Tengu gunpowder firearms.

>>15497395
"Oh this simply will not do.
"Do you have any idea who you're dealing? Who the Hell do you think we are?"

Prepare to cast a Wall of Force as a semi-sphere over our group. That should give us a few extra seconds to ready ourselves, should the bandits prove to be dumb enough to actually attack us.

The sound you heard was similar to that of a crossbow, but now you can see the small hammers of the weapons cocked back, not 15 feet over your head. The kobolds wear somewhat baggy, short-sleeved tunics made from surface plants, dyed in blues, greens and blacks, with tight cloth wrappings around their upper arms and legs. Their eyes are shielded behind dark goggles, and their limbs are lithe and muscular. A few tengu are in the group as well, the bird-men clad in similar attire, with patched cloth over the hearts of their tunics.

The two voices from the front are not, as you first believed, kobolds. Two tengu hold their weapons at bear. The smaller of the pair you would almost mistake for a large kobold were it not for the huge black beak extending from his face. In one bird-like claw he holds a wooden-stocked rifle, engraved on each side with the slash-like letters of the tengu language, embossed with red wax. His clothing is much like the others, a dark blue tunic and black wrappings, plus a wide straw hat that has been fastened beneath his beak. The larger of the two stands nearly five and a half feet tall, a giant among the people standing here. He wears no armor, his chest's black feathers shedding a glossy light from the lamp clutched in one hand, along with a tube. His fingers and toes appear to be dyed black, and his shoulders and arms bear bright red and white paintings on the feathers, depicting the far southern water dragons, fish-like creatures known for their magical ability. His lower body is clad in longer pants, with foot-straps securing armor to his taloned feet. Around his feet a great number of guns are laying, some pistols, many rifles, and a few you don't recognize.

"If you'd be so kind, please lay down your weapons. I'm afraid you are outnumbered and outpositioned." The smaller one says, somewhat cheerily, and in perfect kobold.

>>15497727
Did the trog prisoners and the Diamond Spear tribesmen mention what clan or mercenary company the Tengu that had fought the Golgremet Empire belonged to? Any way of telling what group these tengu are a part of?

>>15497800

It would usually be through some kind of marking on their clothing. Usually on the left sleeve or over the heart.

Unfortunately, the Diamond Spear tribesmen were only mentioning what they had heard. The tengu mercenary group that fought the Golgremet is unknown.

>>15497723

"Oh this simply will not do." You say, standing up.

"Do you have any idea who you're dealing? Who the Hell do you think we are?" You shout, pointing at the smaller Tengu.

"You're out from the Crystal Caverns, are you not?" He says back to you. "Interesting place. Means you have a lot of interesting stuff." He seems to think for a second, tapping a claw on his beak. "Naw, you're not him."

>>15497965
"Ah, good, you DO know who we are.
"Then you must also know our policy when it comes to making sure that nothing of ours gets out.
"Now, while you are in a better position, you must also know that you won't get out of this without some pretty high casualties. And you don't even know what you'll be able to salvage, if anything, from our dead bodies.
"Consider how much this will cost you if it gets bloody, and I assure it will, versus just letting us pass."

>>15498067

"Ah, good, you DO know who we are." You say to him, crossing your arms. "Then you must also know our policy when it comes to making sure that nothing of ours gets out."

He nods, cautiously.

"Now, while you are in a better position, you must also know that you won't get out of this without some pretty high casualties. And you don't even know what you'll be able to salvage, if anything, from our dead bodies." You explain to him, shaking your head.

"Consider how much this will cost you if it gets bloody, and I assure it will, versus just letting us pass." You say to him.

The smaller tengu shrugs. "Well, that all depends on what you have on board. I mean, we already have everything we needed from that inventor gentleman, so..."

The larger tengu grunts over to him, and you can see his feathers raise on end.

"Ah, perhaps I've said too much." He says, shrugging. "If you don't have any mechanical parts or ioun ore, then we have no business with you. And I assure you, a conflict will end much worse for you than it will for us." He gestures out to you with one clawed hand. "So, why not let us examine your cargo? If there's nothing we need, you may go on. I'll even warn the other bandits a couple days ahead of you. Tell them we took 'heavy losses'."

>>15498324
Approximately how many of the Tengu bandits are there?
And there are 7 of us, if I remember correctly.
We may be able to kill them all, but, it would be costly.
On the other hand, I don't like the idea of them going through our things.

>>15498390

You do a quick headcount. Two leaders, plus twelve kobolds, six more tengu and possibly more that you can't see. The kobolds do look somewhat uncertain of attacking you, but you doubt that will stop them if the order is given.

Tayn has not moved from his position down tot he left of you. He looks up at you from time to time. Whatever he does, you doubt it will be enough to avoid a bullet.

Won't it?

>>15498531
This was a trip to find out what happened to the last envoy, and to talk with the Alloyed Brotherhood. We don't have much in the way of ioun ore or mechanical parts besides the NAJA, our lineguns, and some spare parts, right?

>>15498565

Nope. You've got some spare joints for the NAJA, but that's about it. Only one of your soldiers is an experienced machinist.

>>15498686
As a leader, there are times when we need to swallow our pride, for the Greater Good.
Unfortunately, this appears to be one of those times.

Consent to a search, but be prepared to set up a Wall of Force, and a Black Tentacles spell.

>>15498809

You look around you. You could certainly beat them. But there's no guarantee you'd be able to take them out before someone took a bullet.

You gesture to your cargo with an open hand, reluctantly. Tayn looks surprised.

"Excellent." The tengu says, rubbing his hands together briskly. He and the larger tengu come forward, looking through your cargo. They look at the extra joints of the NAJA with interest. "Hmm." The smaller of the pair looks over at you, holding one of the smallest joint in his hand. "Maybe." He raises his larger friend's hand, bringing his hand up to the joint and extending a finger, measuring the joint against it.

"Is this for your arm?" He asks you, bluntly.

(Protip: the joint is about 50% bigger than your knuckle)

>>15498966
"No."

If they make to take those parts, though, we kill them all. Pride is one thing, but allowing our technology to be stolen is something completely different.

>>15499016

He tosses the piece over his shoulder. "Well, if that Dalak fellow hasn't come yet, we may need to start saving up for regeneration." He looks over at you, down his beak. "See, our captain needs a new hand. And for obvious reasons, your border patrol wouldn't let us past." He shrugs. "Imitation is the fairest form of flattery. We figured we'd make one ourselves." He tips his head down, looking more closely at your right arm. "Man, that Tarthis was right. Fantastic craftsmanship. I still can't see why you'd want to turn down our business. I mean, with the clan wars, you'd have a wave of noblemen willing to pay for your expensive replacements as long as they went on, and due to the foreign exclusion policy, we'd be the only ones- Ah, but you're not here for my economic ramblings." The tengu chirps softly. The kobolds above you shoulder their weapons.

"Could we not work something out? I assure you, our business has been quite profitable." The tengu says.

>>15499334
"The border patrols did not escort you when you made overtures from beyond the border that you wished to trade? Did you not try talking with one of our trade caravans?
"Your gold and gems are as good as any other; I know for a fact that surfacers who can make their way down here and who can pay for the operation, are allowed to purchase prosthetics."

Is he bullshitting us? Because I remember in the first sessions the issue of whether we should continue allowing outsiders to purchase our cybernetics came up in front of the Council.

>>15499414

"The border patrols did not escort you when you made overtures from beyond the border that you wished to trade? Did you not try talking with one of our trade caravans?" You ask him.

"We got a similar run-around." The tengu says, sounding oddly bemused. "And the border patrol? Just because we've officially become outlaws recently, they were very rude to us. Your lexicon includes a great many more unkind words than I was led to believe it did."

The larger tengu grunts at this.

"Your gold and gems are as good as any other; I know for a fact that surfacers who can make their way down here and who can pay for the operation, are allowed to purchase prosthetics." You say to them, thinking on the name Tarthis. You've heard it before. "There was this one sahuagin, four arms. He got four new hands when he came to visit us. If a fish-person can get them, you should be able to."

"Yeah, I wish it was that easy." The tengu sighs. "I mean, we don't even have a need to gather any more money. We could probably afford an entire new body's worth of prosthetics by this point."

"Well, whatever, if you can't help us, there's nothing we can do about it." The tengu sighs. "Alright, let 'em through."

The tengu gunmen shoulder their weapons as well. The larger tengu seems to lock eyes with Tayn, the metal tube in his hand audibly creaking as his grip tightens. He then walks away suddenly, as though denying the exchange ever occurred.

The smaller tengu talks in the dissonant, quick tengu language to the larger one, and your soldiers ready to move out.

>>15499494
Try to remember who Tarthis is.

"As for having become outlaws, not much I can do about that. You haven't, you know, tried third-party negotiations? Or at least, using people that aren't known to be members of your group?
"Look, as profitable as this may eventually be, you should really be going through one of the traders.
"Or are you suggesting an arrangement with mutual benefit?"

With war looming, we need the income from our prosthetics.
But on the other hand, I don't want that technology accidentally falling into the trog empire's hands.
We may need to discuss this with the Council.

>>15499711

You think for a bit. There was a Tarthis with a group that visited some time ago. A bunch of rather ragged adventurers that left in a huff over the food, the fact that you were kobolds, something stupid. You never met the man, but apparently he was badly injured.

"As for having become outlaws, not much I can do about that. You haven't, you know, tried third-party negotiations? Or at least, using people that aren't known to be members of your group?"

The tengu looks over from his conversation, his head feathers puffing slightly. "We have considered it, but your people demand money up front. And unless I misunderstand your building process, our boss would have to be there, would he not?" He shakes his head. "Trust strangers with our money, and our beloved captain? There's a reason we still live today, dragonson. And it's not because we're that gullible."

"Look, as profitable as this may eventually be, you should really be going through one of the traders." You say to them. "I have as little to do with the trade branch as I can.

"Or are you suggesting an arrangement with mutual benefit?" You ask him.

He thinks for a moment. "Well, you do enjoy more money coming in, yes? I know quite a few back on Sacrasmar that might wish to buy replacements. Noblemen or warriors who have been crippled in war are not an uncommon site in a land with four times the population of this one." He thinks for a moment. "Perhaps only two times if we count the races down here."

"And if you want to avoid the technology getting out, the policy of each clan is to avoid contact with outside nations. We only hire exclusively to the underground races near us. It's to ensure that the clan wars don't end up stretching anyone too thin by making war on multiple fronts." He explains.

>>15499866
"I'll see what I can do.
"But your attacks on Crystal Cavern folk are going to have to stop. I can guarantee you that if attacks on us continue, that you'll never get the prosthetics, or the profits, that you want."

We'll have to discuss this with the Council when we get back. This is a potential source of much-needed revenue just as a war is about to loom. The money that comes in could be used to purchase healing potions, wands and scrolls from the surface, things that we cannot create ourselves."

>>15500012

"I'll see what I can do." You say to them.

"But your attacks on Crystal Cavern folk are going to have to stop. I can guarantee you that if attacks on us continue, that you'll never get the prosthetics, or the profits, that you want." You give them a stern look. The tengu seems to actually consider his position for a moment.

"Well, we have been looking for a new employer. But yes, we'll have to think on it." The tengu says, waving you through.

The group continues on for a few days, through the white salt caves. Aside form some uneasy feelings, you emerge unharmed.

Finally, you see the city on a straight path through the cave. Great stone towers loom over a mass of small buildings, with a few flagpoles waving above the colorful, sloping roofs. You can see a huge mass of people walking around in the city. Turen looks ecstatic.

(Back in 20)

As you get up closer, you can see guards up in the wooden towers. Kobolds, some with vibrantly colored scales, wearing brilliant green tunics with a blue-gray stripe across one side. You get a few stares, though mostly at the NAJA, and are waved inside.

"Wow, this is really something!" Turen says eagerly, looking up at the various buildings and the people walking the streets. You can name off the backgrounds. Warrior cultures, religious ones, even a few nomads appear, clad in the skins of insects and reptiles, pulling along their insectile beasts of burden. "People from all over, huh? I wonder what kinds of magic traditions they have."

"This place is full of thieves, I was told." Tayn says quietly. "I can only hope it was another drow lie."

"Regardless, let me find a place for us to stay, magistrate." Turen says, smiling. "How long should I have us stay for?"

>>15500525
"4 days at least. We need to find out what happened to our previous envoy, and then try to convince the Brotherhood to join with us against the Golgremet Empire."


Okay, I'm probably going to be out for a few hours. I'll leave things up to the lurkers to keep this going.

You look around. This place has a huge populous. And the diplomat disappeared over a month ago. Finding him could take weeks if you're lucky. You need an insider. Preferably someone who you can get on your side with a minimum of bribing and unethical practices. As this thought crosses your mind, you see a clearly marked gang in brown robes shaking down a street vendor.

Thinking about it, maybe months would be a better estimate.

More seriously, perhaps in one week or two week increments? You could pay by the day, but if you were to lose your rented rooms it could be dicey finding new ones. And frankly, you don't think setting up camp out here would be safe.

>>15500626

"4 days at least. We need to find out what happened to our previous envoy, and then try to convince the Brotherhood to join with us against the Golgremet Empire." You say to him.

"Alright, right away, sir!" Turen says, hopping to it. You notice a few people give him strange looks, but not as much as you'd think. You glance around at the brown-robed kobolds. They pay him no mind, collecting their silver and heading off to the next victim.

Turen waves you in through a doorway, after about 20 minutes of searching. The inn is called "The Dragon's Belly", and has an entrance shaped like the maw of a huge brown dragon. The exterior is plated much like a dragon would be, were its skin stretched over a curved house. You cringe inwardly at the idea of being eaten by a huge dragon in effigy.

"Come on, magistrate! This one's only 7 silver a night!" He shouts.

"Can't imagine why..." Tayn snarks, smiling a bit.

bump

>>15500740
"Hm...this place's design is...disconcerting..."

When we get inside, scope out the patrons; anything funny, and we find a new place; that includes the owner as well.

>>15500907

"Hm...this place's design is...disconcerting..." You say, proceeding inside. The interior is a shade of dark red, with ridges on the sides of the building, like on the interior of a snake. There seem to be quite a few merchants staying here, some larger than others. The innkeeper is behind a polished sandstone desk, a muscular kobold with a scaled brown eyepatch over one eye, wearing a red sleeveless shirt, with a dagger that appears to be made from some kind of tooth in one hand.

"You're the party of seven, correct?" He says, waving his dagger at you. "Good to hear it! You look like the kind that could appreciate a place of class like this one!"

Bump

He hops over the counter, leaving the weapon behind. He walks up to you, grinning and reaching out to you, shaking your hand. "I'm Farnad, tenth in the line of the Kranthen drgaonslayers!" He poses proudly, turning away from you for a moment, to gesture to the dragon skull on a far wall. The skull looks old, and is probably about the size of Farnad's body. "We still have dragon products today! Dragon scales, blood, bones and teeth!" He looks you over. "And, for just three more silver a night, you can sleep in the dragon suite!" He pats you on the shoulder, pausing for a second. "That's weird... Anyway, we also have a restaurant! My sister is an excellent cook. We offer three-hundred year old dragon meat, if you have a brave enough stomach!"

Turen has stars in his eyes. "This place is so cool! Can we stay?"

>>15501039
I assume money isn't a problem, but how much do we currently have in our pocket?

Now, let's try to haggle some. Let's start with some sweet nothings...

"A cozy establishment, my good bold. How much is your room and board?"

>>15501132
Universal law of thread quests: when you finish your response is when a new post is made...

"Excuse us for a moment..."

Pull Turen aside, then give him a stern talk.

"Turen...did you pick this place because it was the cheapest...or did you pick it because its shaped like a dragon?"

On a side note, how goes the other quests, OP?

>>15501175

(They go on Fridays now, starting this one, with any luck.)

"Excuse us for a moment..." You say, pulling away from the enthusiastic kobold, and putting your arm around Turen.

"Turen... did you pick this place because it was the cheapest... or did you pick it because its shaped like a dragon?" You say to him.

He seems shocked. "Ah... Well... I..." He scratches the back of his head. He looks away from you, guilt in his expression. "There is one cheaper, but..." He shakes his head. "I'm sorry, sir. It's just..." He looks back at you, then down at the ground. "I thought it looked so cool!"

>>15501248
Note to self: send Turen to a warzone so he can man the hell up.

"Well, since we're here now...I suppose...." Turn back to Farnad. "I would like rooms for me and my men, as well as an overview of the local area, if you'd be so kind, my good bold..."

>>15501311

"Well, since we're here now... I suppose...." You turn back to Farnad. "I would like rooms for me and my men, as well as an overview of the local area, if you'd be so kind, my good bold..."

"Excellent! Will that be the dragon room, then?" He asks, grinning. "I assure you, dragon leather is remarkably comfy." He looks over to Turen, obviously seeing someone who he can use to get more money out of you.

>>15501458
Although it'd be nice, we're not going to lounge about on the taxpayers dollar like that...for now...

"No, that won't be necessary; just your standard room."

If Turen gives any lip, shut him up. We need to get rested before we proceed any further.

"And, if you'd be so kind, some refreshments and food for my compatriots." We'll say as we hand over some money.

Also OP, I think I'm gonna head to bed now. See you Friday for this and maybe Gargoyle/(regular) Sorcerer Quest.

>>15501527

"No, that won't be necessary; just your standard room." You say to him, looking over at Turen. He seems too embarrassed to raise any objections.

"Very good." Farnad says, quickly accepting the money. "And we have a small room below where you can leave your, um..." He looks out at the NAJA. "Walky thing."

"And, if you'd be so kind, some refreshments and food for my compatriots." You say, meriting some applause from your companions.

Staying here for four days? Yes, you will be needing a drink.

>>15501622
After we get our lodgings squared away, and a small meal, we need to figure out what to do next: contact the official governing body of the Brotherhood, or start asking around about Crystal Cavern diplomats.

The problem is that we're not that great at all of this cloak-and-dagger stuff; It might be better to go straight to the government.

>>15503925

You spend a few hours the following day researching the governing bodies of the districts, and asking around about a Crystal Cavern diplomat. Before long, you are approached by a kobold with a small brown headband and satchel, marking him as one of the couriers of the city. "Magistrate Mythar, correct?" He asks you, simply. You answer him and he places a small, well-written note in your hand.

"Mythar,
You seem to be looking for someone. I believe I can help. Head to the Serpent's Tail inn in around two hours. Do not ask around about the diplomat any more in public.

-T"

>>15506315
Locate this tavern, and arrive ten minutes early in order to get a feel for the building's structure.
30 minutes prior to the meeting, examine the area of the tavern and the building's exterior, identifying possible escape routes and dead ends.

As for our own personnel, have the guards come with us but stay out of the tavern itself, observing it form discrete positions outside.

The Serpent's Tail is a place you know well. An illicit inn where the world's oldest profession is practiced. While situated in the middle of the red light district, it is sadly one of the more reputable places for information or company in the city at large.

You know because the last time you were here, you stayed there for a few days. They had a woman who was an excellent masseur. You had a few kinks in your back that needed some working out, and she got all of them. Even the one you thought would be tough to get out.

What can you say? Everyone needs a little something around breeding season. It's this practice of going for it outside of the season you just don't get. And, if you recall, you can just stay a night at the inn, though it's pricey at around 2 gold.

Your musing draws the attention of Turen and Tayn, who stop and look at you. "What is it, magistrate?" Turen asks, still clutching the authentic blue dragon scale he purchased at the Dragon's Belly.

>>15506425

Much as other races might consider taking a ten year old to a house of il repute a morally deprived action, Turen is a young man now. You arrive a half hour early to scope it out. The Serpent's Tail is a brown clay building that has a sign over the door with a snake burrowing down into a hole. Tayn mutters something along the lines of "Real subtle" as you check around the back. There is the main entrance, large enough to have a decently sized party head through, exits into the two alleyways on each side of the building, and an exit through the cellar. It also looks like there may be a way onto the roof, which is about 25 feet up off of the ground. The whole place is no more than 50 feet wide, with rooms you know are down below the ground, usually for storage or staff.

You stride in to the red-hued center room ten minutes early. The lobby is just as you remember it, a few ornamental stone pieces in the corners, orange colored glass lanterns adding to the mood, and the stone stairway seeming cramped against two hallways opposite it. On the right wall is a carved salt desk, with a thin kobold wearing an elegant spider silk shirt attending it. He looks at your group of three curiously, but says nothing.

>>15506567
Wait around for 10 minutes.

I expected this to be a tavern, not a brothel.
Also, will be away for an hour or two.

>>15506629

You look over at the man a bit snootily, and look for somewhere to sit. There is none. You stand uncomfortably in silence for a few minutes before the kobold speaks up in a high, sharp voice. "Can I help you?"

You begin to answer, but Turen speaks first. "Yes, we were here to meet with someone?"

The thin kobold immediately smiles, nodding. "Oh yes, he said you'd be here around this time." He steps out from behind the counter, gesturing towards the left hallway. "Please follow me."

You sigh at Turen, following behind the smaller bold as he navigates through the hall. Paintings of female kobolds, and a few males dot the hallway, and granite doors cut off all sight into the closed rooms. You are led to the last room, where your guide stops and turns to you. "This is one of our larger rooms." He knocks quietly on the door before tipping it open.

"Is it safe to-" You start to say, as Tayn and Turen head inside. You hesitantly follow. A plush bear fur carpet and the scent of Haln, the smoking mushroom, greet you as you step into a short hallway. You hear a higher voice, a kobold's, talking as you head into the darker room.

"-and, naturally, none of them had any idea. But, as smart as drow think they are, they always hide their traps in the most obvious places. So you might say that we never would have flown into the void between worlds, fought an exiled protodaemon bent on turning the world into his own personal hell, and saved the world if it hadn't been for me." The voice says, and you hear some stirring from within the chamber followed by a female kobold's voice.

"I had no idea you were someone famous. We must've got lucky finding you." You hear the end of the sentence punctuated by a kiss.

"Well, I've always had a soft spot for the ladies. And your security was falling apart. How could I leave so many damsels in such a dangerous part of town unprotected?"

>>15506845
Cough loudly, to get this person's attention, before stepping in further.

>step into the void between worlds
That reminds me, we need more surface holdings, so we can set up our space program.
Because from a space program, we can get ICBM's and orbital weapon platforms. No one will ever look down on us kobolds again! They will always look up at us in fear, fear that they may be wiped out without warning by our terror weapons!

You walk into a circular room containing several kobolds, mostly women, sitting on red velvet couches. The majority of them are wearing fairly provocative clothing, at least by kobold standards. A few appear to be dressed in clothing similar to that worn by miners, with others wearing elegant silken gowns. The only male in the room is a kobold with blackish-red scales, wearing a wide red loincloth and with a woman under each arm.

His face is a mess of scars, stitching going down the back of his head, over his left eye and up from his jaw. His right eye is a brilliant orange, and his left eye is a dark blue duralumin sphere, with a reddish glow coming from the center "pupil". His lower jaw has been replaced by a dark blue duralumin piece as well, with steel teeth and segmented metal making a facsimile of lips. His bare chest has a few lengthy scars stretching on it, and his right hand has wide scarring stretching along the palm and back of the hand, and all of the knuckles and fingers have been replaced by white prosthetics. His left arm appears to be the same shade as his skin, until the prosthetic on that side starts a bit below his elbow, where it is a much more pure black. He has scarring up to nearly his waist, and two artificial legs that are clearly Dalak's work, which are colored black much like his left hand, and you notice a pair of thin red stripes down the outside of each leg. His tail curves out to his left in an unusual way, and you notice spider-legged scarring stretching down its length.

>>15507935


You cough, to get his attention.

The kobold looks over to one of the women under his arm, somewhat sadly. "Ah, that time already, is it? Well, sorry ladies, but I have to meet with these fine gentlemen privately." He says in his odd, almost human accent, patting the one on his right on her opposite shoulder. She drags her hand along his arm as she goes to leave, and gestures to the other women.

The women filter out of the room, several of them giving the members of your group suggestive looks. Tayn seems intrigued by their behavior more than anything, and Turen chuckles as one rubs him on the head, saying how cute he is.

"Please sit, Mynthar and associates." The kobold says, gesturing out to the seats. "Can I get you anything to smoke? I've got some tobacco if you've never had it. Absolutely smooth and relaxing."

(Will be updating more slowly)

>>15508013
"No thank you. You have me at a disadvantage; I do not know your name."

>>15508064

"No thank you. You have me at a disadvantage; I do not know your name." You say, standing for the moment.

"Ah, well, when you've got a little fame, you have to be careful about who you associate with." The kobold says, standing. "I'm Tarthis, associate of the heroes who I believe you are acquainted with, professor of trap-making and machining, ex-adventurer and treasure hunter." He reaches out with his left hand to shake yours, his metal lips parting to reveal a mesh of steel and white teeth. "And one of Dalak's best customers."

>>15508134
Tarthis? Didn't the group he was with leave because they didn't want to deal with a city full of kobolds or something?

"So I see. Ex-adventurer? Looks like you got out of the business when the going was good, rather than staying in it for too long.
"But let's get down to business. You know what happened to our envoy?"

>>15508182

"So I see. Ex-adventurer? Looks like you got out of the business when the going was good, rather than staying in it for too long." You say to him, sitting down.

Tarthis laughs. "Let's just say if I had listened to my gut, I wouldn't be as good a customer of Dalak's as I am." He shrugs. "Not that there's anything wrong with it. Like my father always said: 'Injury builds character'."

You smile awkwardly at the remark. "But let's get down to business. You know what happened to our envoy?"

Tarthis leans forward. "I have a few ideas. But suffice to say that whoever took the envoy is probably not afraid to try for you or one of your friends." He raises an eyebrow. "I mean, this is not a nice place. I put some new traps in the rooms so the girls would have something to protect themselves with in case any of the customers got too rough." Tarthis scratches the back of his head. "There were a couple custom traps that weren't... exactly... my normal fare, but that's earned me a place to stay out of the public eye here. I mean, I'm not exactly an indistinct figure." He says, clacking his metal fingers together. "Orange is an odd eye color, after all."

>>15508292
"I can guess at a few possible suspects. Now, do you know if the envoy and his group are still alive, or are they all dead already?"

I wonder if the trog empire might already have agents here in the Brotherhood.

>>15508382

"I can guess at a few possible suspects. Now, do you know if the envoy and his group are still alive, or are they all dead already?" You ask him.

"Well, most likely they are alive, yes." Tarthis says, stirring the coals atop the smoking pipe. "I mean, the word is that he came here to set up a trade agreement, was adamant about refusing to trade lineguns or NAJA, and that's what got him held. More than likely, they're still trying to decide what to do with him." The kobold takes a long drag on the pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke up into the air.

"Maybe they have some kind of plan to ransom him?" Turen says, his high voice piercing the air.

"Could be." Tarthis says, looking Turen over. "Man, what happened to you? Poor kid."

"It's nothing." Turen responds, seeming a bit uncomfortable.

"Kids your age should be playing games, not going under for surgery." Tarthis says, sadly.

"That aside, they could be torturing him for information. We should find him as quickly as possible." Tayn interrupts.

"That may be, but I assure you, being obvious will only make them squeeze him harder if they think they might lose him." Tarthis points at Tayn, nodding slowly. "Whoever has him snatched him about a month ago. If he's dead, he probably went already. If not, they've got a reason not to kill him.

>>15508523
"Perhaps we could lure them to us? We don't have anything close to a spy network here.
"If I go to the Brotherhood's leadership, saying that I'm another envoy here to negotiate a trade agreement, they may try to kidnap me. We could ambush them in turn, and rip the information we need from their minds.

>>15508597

"Perhaps we could lure them to us? We don't have anything close to a spy network here." You tell him.

"I figured as much. Otherwise, why would you be asking around personally?" Tarthis says, learning back and crossing one metal leg over the other.

"If I go to the Brotherhood's leadership, saying that I'm another envoy here to negotiate a trade agreement, they may try to kidnap me. We could ambush them in turn, and rip the information we need from their minds." You say after thinking for a bit. "How does that sound?"

Tarthis nods. "It seems solid, but they'd be suspicious if you appeared to be just another envoy, walking around with no knowledge of the other one already sent here." He takes a short puff on the pipe. "Maybe we can use the fact that you've been asking around as part of the story. That might throw them off. And if we can lure them to a secure location..." A devilish grin crosses his scarred features. "Let's just say I love what I do. And I love doing it to bad people more than I should."

>>15508675
"On our way here, we were accosted by tengu bandits. Perhaps if I steer my inquiries in that direction, it will give the opposition a false sense of security, letting them believe that I suspect that the previous envoy had been attacked and killed by outlaws, instead of suspecting them.
"As for a secure place, you have one in mind?"

>>15508713

"On our way here, we were accosted by tengu bandits. Perhaps if I steer my inquiries in that direction, it will give the opposition a false sense of security, letting them believe that I suspect that the previous envoy had been attacked and killed by outlaws, instead of suspecting them." You think aloud. Tarthis nods approvingly.

"As for a secure place, you have one in mind?" You ask him.

Tarthis thinks for a moment. "Someplace with a lot of noise around it to mask the sound of construction, and someplace nearby to dispose of bodies if necessary." He sighs. "I wish I knew where that conductor guy was with that lyre. Everything happened so quickly with that thing."

Tarthis snaps his fingers, the loud tinny sound echoing through the small room. "That's it! There's a small shop that used to be near the blacksmiths. It sold sculptures, I think. Old guy signed out in the thighs of one of the fine ladies of this establishment." Tarthis shakes his head. "It's still full of heavy statues that no one wants, with a marble floor and a second floor. Gods, it's almost perfect."

"Almost?" Tayn asks.

"Well, it's a bit small." Tarthis explains. "But, that just means nothing flashy. Pure death contained in a five foot cube, every five feet, with no way for them to save themselves."

"And what about us? Won't we be in there too?" Turen points out.

Tarthis opens his half-metal mouth, and doesn't close it for a few seconds. When he does, he puts a fist to his chin. "Oh yeah..."

>>15509611
"I could cast a Mage's Mansion spell; it'll last for about 24 hours, and the entrance could be easily masked. Best is that nothing on the outside will affect anyone on the inside.

>>15509695
Actually, instead of trying to find a building to use, why not just use constant castings of Magnificent Mansion, refreshing it every 32 hours when the spell runs out.
It's an extradimensional space, so no worrying about sound, and we could use it as a trap.
Have the enemy pass through the boundary of the door without realizing it, and on the other side is nothing but traps and poison gas. Close the door, wait for them to fall unconcious or die, and then collect the bodies.

>>15509695
>>15509827

"I could cast a Mage's Mansion spell; it'll last for about 24 hours, and the entrance could be easily masked. Best part is that nothing on the outside will affect anyone on the inside." You put your fist into your open hand, realizing now what your ancestor had told you about using it offensively.

Tarthis thinks for a second. "My good magistrate, I think you picked a winner. If you can construct it as you wish, I could make a three-dimensional architectural map, traps built in, and probably even some additional remote switches." Tarthis pulls a large book out from underneath the cushion, papers sticking out from each corner of the binding. "To conceal the entrance, that little waver, we could use darkness with non-kobolds, but in this case, maybe an obscuring mist spell or fog cloud would be the best idea."

"I thought you said you were a professor of trap-making?" Turen asks him.

"Well, I minored in spellcraft." Tarthis explains, the diabolical gears turning in his head. "Yes, and we could do pits. Gods, do I love pits."

Tarthis sits there for a while, going through his designs and penning them once again with a master's precision. His final stroke is accompanied by a joyful, sadistic laugh. He spreads the paper out to you, and you note the copious notes near each trap, and the side map in miniature up in one corner. The map is full of traps of every shape and size, with revolving walls full of crossbows, smashing pistons, 50 foot deep pits full of poisonous gas, and minefields. It's like something a small kobold child would think up, but with the precision of a mechanic, notes and precise measurements.

"Inside of a magnificent mansion. We can rearrange the sections in any order you'd like, by number, and then we can talk about sealing the entrance." Tarthis says, leaning back and putting his hands behind his head.

You look the map over.

Area 1 has a large drop off, with a wall of crossbows at the bottom, as well as razor wire on the way down.

Area 2 is a corridor with a heavy carpet, underneath which are landmines. halfway through the room, the path behind the group closes off.

Area 3 is a room whose entrance and exit are closed, then filled with poisonous gas. Magic traps can be placed on the walls, usually inflict spells.

Area 4 is a set of rooms with a series of crushing pistons, controlled by the flow of water in several other rooms that are full of the stuff.

Finally, there is the observation room towards the center of this chaos.

>>15510464
From the door, have it open into 2.
Then 3, 4, 1 which loop around the observation room.

>>15510549

Tarthis looks over your revisions with interest. "Hmm, start it our scary, then the certain doom becomes a big finish." He says, shaking his head. "You're a sadistic one." He rolls up his plans and stands. "But then again, so am I." The trapmaster smiles, helping you up.

Within a half hour, the beginnings of the trap are set. Tarthis tells you he will have to purchase the required materials from a few different sources, and that he will get started first thing tomorrow.

>>15510654
Alright.
Then Mynthar will begin trying to get an appointment with the Brotherhood's leadership, and asking around about large tengu bandit groups that might have come into possession of a big jackpot, or of anyone selling ioun ore or prosthetic components.
We should probably keep Tayn and Turen with us.

>>15510715

Over about a week, your plan progresses. You take on a new role, one of Kolp, a sorcerer diplomat from the Crystal Caverns, looking for information on the diplomat, and information on the tengu bandits and the ruling organizations in the are the diplomat disappeared.

After a week, you know the following:
-The tengu bandits have been dubbed the Canyon Birds by the locals. They are from either a down on their luck mercenary group or a sect of assassins from a dissolved clan, depending on who you ask. The smaller one of the two you encountered is known as Mataru, and the larger is known as Okan.

-The city is held by a large number of organizations, chiefly:
The Cave Fangs, a gang who dresses in brown robes or other brown clothing; The H'runten, who are a tribe of deep kobold assassins; and the Kerlan, a more organized crime family who call upon an oracle of Kurtulmak for a number of their schemes.

>>15511134
Prepare the ambush so that it can be sprung at any time; where to go, how best to get there, all that good stuff.

Put in some feelers with the three largest groups that control the Brotherhood. The offer from the CCCP is for gems, ores, cut and processed ioun ore. But no advanced technology.

>>15511222

You decide on using an honest looking front, closed during most times of day and with a dark curtain over the front. A partial set of letters will spell out "Crystal Cavern Trading Post" when the trap is completed. Tarthis and Tayn head in day in and day out. Some days carrying chests full of unidentified items, other days they carry assorted tools, picks, iron or weapons.

You get offers from each of the groups you have been seeking an audience with. Who would you like to meet with first?

>>15511398
Let's go Kerlan first, then the Cave Fangs, and finally the deep kobolds.

>>15511522

The Kerlan are clearly the oldest of the bunch. In a large temple, you meet with the thin, green-robed low father Ghent, the deep brown of his skin contrasting the gray marble of the temple. On the wall are engraved images of Kurtulmak, the kobold god of vengeance and trickery, engaged in various methods of trapsetting.

"Kolp, a pleasure to see you. I understand that your people will be willing to trade in some Ioun ore?" He says, his voice smooth and unusually deep.

>>15511665
"Ah, yes. The raw ore itself, as well as cut stones and processed ore. In exchange, we're looking for metals and certain items that we cannot produce on our own."

We're looking for healing items and scrolls, things that use divine magic that we are in short supply of.

>>15511741
And that's it for me for tonight.
Thanks for always letting the sessions go on for so long, VKO.
I'll see if this is still up when I get up, and post accordingly.

You talk for some time, going through the motions of setting up a trade agreement. The kobold smiles the whole time.

"A pity you won't trade any of that wonderful technology of yours. The NAJA would be very useful for mining and moving stone. We have been meaning to expand our jurisdiction of temples. Perhaps we might transfer a number to the Crystal Caverns if the ban on that particular export was lifted." He says calmly, whislt staring at a rendition of Kurtulmak's Betrayal by the Gnomes, Our Eternal Enemies.

>>15511756

No problem. Though I am going to end this early tomorrow so I can get that gargoyle quest and sorcerer quest on.