(Previous thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15572022/)

You think for a bit about what to do. Turen and Tayn are both here as well, taking a breather.

Bump?

>>15651896
Alright. what's our status concerning Tayn and Turen?

Also, we'll need to come up with an idea on how to find and rescue the members of the first expedition that were captured by the Fangs.

>>15652077

Tayn is in no condition to move out right now.

Turen seems to be in good condition, but seems a bit shaken up by the whole thing.

"Like I said, anything you need against the Fangs, I'm willing to help with!" Farnad says, putting a hand over his heart. "They've shaken me down more times then I care to admit. Now's the time when I can strike back!"

>>15652374
"Alright Farnad.
"When I was in there, I heard that the the soldiers who had come with the previous envoy from the Crystal Caverns were being held by the Fangs; have your heard any rumors about where they might be kept?"

>>15652406

"Alright Farnad." You raise your hand at him, and he seems somewhat surprised that you actually paid him some attention.

"When I was in there, I heard that the the soldiers who had come with the previous envoy from the Crystal Caverns were being held by the Fangs; have your heard any rumors about where they might be kept?" You ask him.

"Oh, oh yes. I can think of a few places." He looks up at the ceiling. "There's a lot of old storehouses from hundreds of years ago that they laid claim to. Any one that's getting food shipped into it is a good candidate." He snaps his fingers. "And I think I know of one I'd check out first."

>>15652533
"Good. Can you draw us a map?"

I want to go try to rescue them now, before the Fangs can move them, but we'd be at a disadvantage without Tayn.

>>15652567

"Good. Can you draw us a map?" You ask him.

"Uh, sure, I guess so." Farnad says, rooting around in the room. He finds a map of the city, and blows some dust off of it. He pulls a charcoal stick out from his apron, spreading out the map on the ground. He tries to outline the correct route, but ends up drawing on the sides of the buildings with his first few attempts. Finally, he pulls his eyepatch off to reveal...

A perfectly normal eye.

His next attempt is much more clear.

>>15652883
"To make sure you fit the image of a proprietor of an inn such as this?", indicating the perfectly good eye covered by the eyepatch.

Do we have any lineguns on our person, right now?

>>15652988

Right now you don't have a linegun. But you did pack one.

"To make sure you fit the image of a proprietor of an inn such as this?" You say, indicating the fallen eyepatch.

Farnad sighs. "Yep, in short. All because great-pa Ghurken lost his eye fighting dragons, as did his son after him. People expect to see a grizzled innkeeper with an eyepatch when they come to stay here." He licks his finger, erasing some of the charcoal markings. "My grandfather lost his eye too, though it was from a barfight, not any sort of dragon. But he's still a better fighter than I am." He finishes circling another of the buildings. "Me? I'm not foolhardy enough to get stabbed in the face. And that makes me a mockery among the family, just like my father before me."

"That sounds incredibly stupid." Tayn chuckles from where he's laying on a smaller cot.

"Doesn't change the fact that I have to put on appearances." Farnad says, blinking. "Though I don't see how you'd fight with no depth perception against something that can fly."

>>15653181
Okay, looking at the map, and assuming that we're able to successfully rescue the soldiers at the warehouse, let's come up with escape routes.
Also, does this inn have a secret back door? If it had a secret fight club, there might be a hidden entrance/exit.

>>15653266

"What about a secret exit?" You ask him.

"Well..." He pauses, looking off at the previous room towards a small unobtrusive switch. "I do have one but..."

"It's fine, I can get it!" Turen hops up, walking over to the switch. As he pulls it, you hear a creaking, twisting sound from the walls. The back wall opens, and you hear a loud thudding sound as the stone stops against the ceiling. Turen looks over, horrified. "Ah... Aaahh..."

You hear the voice of an elderly kobold. "Eh? Who the hell are you? Get out of my house!"

"He's..." Turen gasps, backing up until he's up against the wall.

"And what the hell is wrong with you, anyway? Can't even introduce yourself, huh? I knew none of you kids had any manners..."

>>15653392
"Well, I must admit that the standards for the younger generation have slipped a little from my time.
"I am an envoy from the Crystal Cavern People. I go by the name of Kolp here in the Alloyed Brotherhood. And you are?"

>>15653458

"Well, I must admit that the standards for the younger generation have slipped a little from my time." You say, stepping out into the main room.

The back wall is raised up to the ceiling, and the room behind that is exposed. Within it, there are numerous cobwebs and bits of smashed spiders surrounding a faded gray carpet that may have held color many, many years ago, and a number of severed dragon parts; claws, heads, tails and wings, all preserved and mounted on the walls, all framing a dark passage going deeper into the secret room. You see a kobold standing near the entrance with a ragged purple robe held around himself by bony fingers. Literally bony fingers. The skeleton's right eye glows a vibrant blue, and the left is covered by a nearly shredded cloth eyepatch.

While the sight of the undead is unusual, it's not something that bothers you as much anymore. "I am an envoy from the Crystal Cavern People. I go by the name of Kolp here in the Alloyed Brotherhood. And you are?"

The skeleton looks over at you, grunting. "Isn't it obvious? I'm Lanon, the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the fiercest dragon slayer that ever lived!" He looks around his sparse room, where you can see a number of dragon parts hanging. "Hold on, let me strike a pose for you. It's sure to jog the old memory." He reaches up to a dragon foreleg, clutching a chipped but sturdy looking greatsword. He smacks it, and the leg twitches, dropping the sword to the ground with a clang.

The skeleton ties his robe around himself, raising the sword up vertically next to his good eye, glaring over at you. "There. See it now?"

>>15653616
"I see. Please excuse me, I never was good at placed a face to a name.
"We were wondering if we could use this exit to leave unseen, and then return this way with some of our fellow citizens, if they're still alive.
"We've run into a spot of trouble with a local gang, you see."

>>15653663

"I see. Please excuse me, I never was good at placing a face to a name." You say to him, playing your role smartly.

The skeleton slams the point of the sword down into the stone. "Good, I'd hate to see my reputation start to dwindle. Keep working up the family name, and all that."

"We were wondering if we could use this exit to leave unseen, and then return this way with some of our fellow citizens, if they're still alive." You say to him.

"What? What are you talking about?" Lanon leans forwards, tilting his skull to one side. "The citizens in trouble?"

"We've run into a spot of trouble with a local gang, you see." You explain to him.

The skeleton leans back a bit. "What? A gang? Those stupid kids! Say, wasn't my great grandson supposed to take care of them?" The skeleton looks past you. "Farnad! Why haven't you killed all the unruly elements of the city yet?"

Farnad leans out past you sheepishly. "Grandpa Lenon, I was-"

"Cover up your shame, boy! I didn't raise your grandfather to leave a son with two eyes in his head in charge of this place!" He shouts, shaking his bony fist at the kobold.

"Yes sir." Farnad responds sheepishly, tying on his eyepatch again.

"Hm, well, it has been at least a decade since I told you to do it." The skeleton remarks, after checking a calendar on the wall held in place by a green dragon's head, with eyes that seem to track after the skeleton malevolently. "Fine. You've had your chance. Let me just round up the rest fo the contributing members of this family..."

"Grandpa Lenon, no!" Farnad shouts. "You can't go up to the town!"

>>15653819
"Your great grandson does have a point, sir. If the Cave Fangs realize that we're trying to rescue our captured compatriots, they might move them, or worse, kill them. We thought that stealth might be a better choice for now."

Does the Alloyed Brotherhood have laws against intelligent undead? What about the Crystal Cavern?

>>15653870

"Your great grandson does have a point, sir. If the Cave Fangs realize that we're trying to rescue our captured compatriots, they might move them, or worse, kill them. We thought that stealth might be a better choice for now." You say to him.

"What? Why, those cowards!" The skeleton cracks his knuckles. "Even worse than a dragon! They hide behind a shield of men instead of coming out to get stabbed in the throat like a proper enemy!"

"That's why... You should stay down here, Grandpa Lanon." Farnad stammers, looking behind his grandfather's skeleton as a purplish point of light rises up behind him.

"What? Ruffians in the streets?" A hearty voice says, the clattering of armor accompanying it. Out from the edge of your vision strides another skeletal kobold, in weathered scale mail with a large shield over one arm, with an eyepatch over one eye. You can see ghostly white-blue strands of flesh floating around its face as it continues speaking in its unusually deep voice. "Why, any under a hundred and fifty and you shouldn't need our help, Lanny."

The first skeleton turns on the second. "Gramps, I told you a thousand times not to call me Lanny!"

Turen seems far less horrified now, and is rubbing his brow as though a great deal of stress has suddenly mounted on it. "Can we please go through your... House?"

The new skeleton lets loose a hearty, bone-rattling laugh. "Ohoho, why of course, lad. No one in here but a few old bags of bones." He looks over at Farnad. "My, my look how cute little Farney's grown!"

"Grand-Grandpa, not in front of guests." Farnad hisses.

>>15653870

Oh, and as far as legality goes...

The Crystal Cavern does not use undead in the armies or in labor. They may be employed privately, but as a general rule only the corpses of enemies may be animated.

The Alloyed Brotherhood considers most necromantic practices to be morally reprehensible, even when they aren't.

As far as intelligent undead go, beyond liches you hadn't head of them existing, save in fables.

>>15654067
>>15654040
Interesting. The knowledge of how to get intelligent undead, and especially with their original personalities intact, would be almost worth trading NAJA technology for. I'm sure that the Mage Caste would be champing at the bit to research such specimens.
Imagine a military, where soldiers can continue serving their nation even after the first death.
'Even in death, we still serve!'

Anyway, let's disguise ourselves and Turen, get our lineguns, and then get to that warehouse.
"Excuse me, sirs. While I admit that I am quite surprised at seeing how active you are at your age, time really is of the essence here. If you wouldn't mind...?"

>>15654130

"Excuse me, sirs. While I admit that I am quite surprised at seeing how active you are at your age, time really is of the essence here. If you wouldn't mind...?" You say to them, gesturing out at the cave behind them.

"Oh, sorry about that. My jaw just seems to start moving by itself sometimes." The purple-eyed skeleton chuckles. "Just don't get Ghurken mad if you see him. He's still convinced the servants of the dragons are ready to come any time now."

"Yeah, most of these guys were in one piece before we moved them back here." Lanon grumbles as you move back to get your weapons.

Tayn starts to get up as well, breathing fairly hard and clutching at his bandaged chest. You notice new black lines running across his current tattooes, these seeming somehow more like a map of his veins.

>>15654277
"Ugh, no, Tayn. As much as I would like to have your skills available, that poison is still in your blood. I can't afford risking you right now."

If Tayn makes to protest and try to come along, cut him off with "If you make any more of a fuss, I'll have you keep our good not-so-departed hosts company."

>>15654315

"Ugh, no, Tayn. As much as I would like to have your skills available, that poison is still in your blood. I can't afford risking you right now." You say to him.

"I'm fine." He grunts, glaring at you. "Something like this isn't going to keep me from combat."

"Tayn, be honest with yourself. You can barely stand." You say to him.

"I just need to tough it out. I'll be able to keep up if I need to." He groans, clutching at his chest with a sudden spasm of pain.

"I'm surprised we got out of there with you." You shake your head. "Now, you're staying here. If you make any more of a fuss, I'll have you keep our good not-so-departed hosts company."

Lanon looks back over at his grandfather. "What does he mean, not-so-departed?"

"Oh, just that we're still here." The armored skeleton says, sounding a bit sympathetic.

Tayn grimaces, falling back into his seat. "Never mind. I'll just sit back and soak up a bit of entertainment."

You and Turen head through a tight passage framed with grim remnants of numerous dragons, and populated by several kobold skeletons in various states of repair, some more lucid than others. And eerie purplish light streams through the passageways. You hear shouting from one that remains unseen as you proceed through the long passage, until you finally arrive in a ditch outside of town.

>>15654503
Now, are we disguised?

Let's make our way to the indicated warehouse. Once we arrive, if there are guards there, let's take a page out of the T-1000's playbook and use Disguise Self if we have it to become one of the guards.

>>15654580

You both disguise yourselves as simple Cave Fangs about town before entering into the city. The facility you see the greatest deal of guards outside is a rather flat, blue-roofed building, with a number of armed guards. With another quick change, both you and Turen take on the forms of the guards of the facility.

"What's the plan?" Turen says, his youthful voice contrasting his new, stern appearance.

>>15654661
"Step 1: Act natural. That includes wiping that grin off your face."

"Step 2: Infiltrate. Find a spot that needs filling and fill it; none should be the wiser."

Let's get a good look at the facility from our position on how big it is.

"Step 3: Search. Being in the right place at the right time isn't necessary, but being in the wrong place is something we should avoid."

"Step 4: Escape. Once we locate what we came for, we leave as quietly as possible. However, considering what we're carrying in tow, that'll prove difficult."

"Any questions?"

Also, what was the name of that one Kobold who tried to kill us last thread? We may need a tad bit of forgery and bluffing going on. If it works out grandly, we'll just give the old "moving prisoners; here's our paper work. See! It's even signed by important person X!"

>>15654713
His name was Fley.
Though considering what Tayn did to him, he's probably not in any position to be signing anything. Or probably speaking, for that matter.

But otherwise, I agree with your plan.
And with that, I'm out for the night. Thanks for stepping up.

>>15654713

"Step 1: Act natural. That includes wiping that grin off your face." You say, pointing at him. Turen balks, looking down and away from you.

"Step 2: Infiltrate. Find a spot that needs filling and fill it; none should be the wiser." You say, pacing around the building in the distance. You count only three entrances adn exits. You see no one but the brown-clothed Cave Fang soldiers moving in and out. Most of it is likely underground. Paced out, it is perhaps 200 feet by 150 feet.

"Step 3: Search. Being in the right place at the right time isn't necessary, but being in the wrong place is something we should avoid." You start towards the building with Turen quickly behind you, adjusting his fake sword on his hip.

"Step 4: Escape. Once we locate what we came for, we leave as quietly as possible. However, considering what we're carrying in tow, that'll prove difficult." You keep eye contact with the guards as you approach. "Any questions?"

"No sir." Turen says, looking over at the facility. "Sorry. I'm still absorbing those... Fine gentlemen back in the basement." He straightens out his expression, walking abreast with you as you close in on the facility.

The two guards look you over as you come nearer, holding up their hands. "Stop. What're you here for?"

The name of the kobold who tried to kill you is Fley.

>>15654900
"Fley sent us; here to get a basic report."

Less is more when giving descriptions.

>>15654923

"Fley sent us; here to get a basic report." You say, looking over at both of them.

The two guards look over at each other, then both burst out laughing, the one complimenting you on your choice in humor.

"Oh man, did he want a written report?" One of them says, chuckling. "Hooh, man it feels great to laugh at that dirty merc now that he can't harm us."

>>15654972
...laugh along?

"Yeah; bound in bed for Kurtulmak knows how long. He was a scary bold. Now? Not so much..."

After that, sober up.

"Still, an order is an order."

>>15655005

"Yeah; bound in bed for Kurtulmak knows how long. He was a scary bold. Now? Not so much..." You say, laughing along with them for a bit. You take a deep breath. "Still, an order is an order."

The two kobolds look at each other strangely. You feel a chill run down your spine. "He doesn't give us any orders, fellas. What division are you with?"

>>15655043
"We're just go-fers for the central hub."

>>15655064

"We're just go-fers for the central hub." You say, quickly.

"Go-fers? Well, why don't you come inside so we can sort this all out?" The guard says, pushing open the stone door.

The interior is dark, and cool. You see it in black and white, the few lights stretching around the corners of a number of corridors. You walk down a long path, and on occasion you can hear a quiet call, almost like a person saying "Aaa." in a neutral voice. The guards pay it no heed, and you follow them into a small, lit room with an older kobold, thin and ratlike, pouring over a number of documents.

"Larth, we have a couple sent over from headquarters on a fool's errand." One of the guards says. "Can we find something for them to do?"

"I don't know." Larth sneers, his voice high and sharp as a needle. "What are they good for?"

>>15655166
Act a bit surprised.

"Well, go-fering aside, we've had some experience serving as guards. And Fley, injuries aside, requires an examination of the...how did he put it? 'Recent hospitable guests'..."

This is getting...complicated.

>>15655206

"Well, go-fering aside, we've had some experience serving as guards. And Fley, injuries aside, requires an examination of the... how did he put it? 'Recent hospitable guests'..." You say to him.

Larth stands up to his not very impressive height, and gets a few inches from your face. You can smell the bitter scent of smoking mushrooms on his breath as he speaks. "Fley does not give orders around here. Not over my head or yours." He looks you straight in the eyes, not breaking eye contact. His finger floats threateningly in front of your chest. "And if it turns out his injury is bad enough, he won't be working here any longer and causing these little mix-ups."

He sits back down at his desk, looking over a few rolls of parchment. "I suppose we might put you to work down in research. You know how to hold a man down, don't you?"

>>15655303
"Steady as a rock, sir!"

Let's just play along until we find an appropriate point to break away.

Anyway, I'm heading to bed OP. Good night!

>>15655348

"Steady as a rock, sir!" You say to him, nodding.

"Right then. Show 'em down." The supervisor sneers.

You and Turen are led down the slender corridors, passing by countless skinny kobolds clad in no more than loincloths huddled in the corners of dim cells, staring out at you with eyes filled with fear and hatred.

"What are they researching, exactly? I think we need to find that out before we hold anyone down." Turen says to you, through a simple message spell.

You descend further and further down, through rusted ladders and choking, dirty air.

And we may continue in the morning. Just don't expect me to go until Friday again.

>>15655411
Follow along for now.

Also, I recall you mentioned that Crystal Cavern kobolds are almost instantly recognizable as such, because of our national nutrition program for children makes us bigger, sleeker, stronger, and smarter than other kobolds. Have any of the prisoners we've seen so far showed signs of being CCCP members?

>>15657473

Well, that's mostly in the form of your physique, and other ethnic factors such as your accent, body language, and clothing. You're no expert on nutrition, but whatever it is that helps your people grow up strong, they get the same thing here, though they tend to be more wiry than your people, and cases of gigantism seem to be more widespread.

Regardless, the huddling, scared men and women you see down here are extremely thin, having been starved over many months, it looks like. So far none of them match any major ethnic group associated with the CCCP.

You continue down, now hearing the "Aaa" sound more clearly. It is a machine of some kind. Each long pulse hangs in the air like a sour note. It's already gotten to you, and you've been here only a few minutes.

You pass a kobold who is clutching his head, crouching in the middle of his cell, and gibbering. He laughs oddly on occasion, his eyes wide with madness.

You count as you head down another ladder. Sixth floor from the surface. Here, you see cages with new iron bars, and instantly you can tell that several of the prisoners kept in the cells lining the walls are your own. An obtrusive stone wall stops your advance, and you head far to the right, making this the largest floor yet. Your guides stop in front of a thick steel door.

"Doctor Zagnef is through there." One points. "He'll tell you the rest.

The "Aaa" sound seems loudest of all here, and you can feel it shaking the walls.

You and Turen walk through the door, the two guards heading back the way they came. Inside, the room is very bright, the cold stone walls still humming with the strange noise. You can see quite a few kobolds around here kept in metal cages. A number bear bandages around their midsections and heads. You do not see any of the ones in this room matching the look you'd expect from the people of the CCCP. There is a stone table that is oddly flat, smooth and clean. You see a kobold in a black robe next to it cleaning several bits of surgical equipment, and next to him is a large mechanical device that is just the right size to be held in both hands. Out of it sticks a crystal blade with a wave-like construction. The room smells strongly of antiseptic.

>>15658852
Message Turen to go back and quietly free the CCCP personnel. Stay quiet, though, until we can make a major breakout.
Once Turen slips out, go up to this Doctor Zagnef.

"Doctor. I've been sent down here to assist you. What IS all this equipment, anyway?"

We need to be ready to kill this guy quickly and quietly. Preferably by first getting all the usable information from him, and then clamping down on his snout from behind and shoving a knife into a major organ or two.

The kobold in the black robe looks up at you, a scalpel in his hand dripping with water. "New assistants? Good." His voice is dry, and emotionless. "I hope you have a stronger stomach than the last ones."

You hear the sound of a fist hitting flesh off towards the back of the room and a yelp, where you now notice a passageway leading off to the right. You see a pair of kobolds dressed the same as the other guards carrying a thin kobold between them, one you suspect may be a CCCP prisoner. They carry his emaciated body over to the table, his feet dragging across the stone, and then lift him up onto it, tying his limbs down with leather wrappings attached to the bottom of the table. The prisoner groans, clearly having been struck hard in one side of his head, a thin trickle of blood going down his temple. The guards leave shortly thereafter.

The black robed kobold lifts up the bladed device, and pulls a trigger on it, the device making the "aaa" sound. "Please secure the prisoner."

>>15659302
Do we know the Silence spell?

I'm thinking that we go to make it look like we're about to secure the prisoner, then we use the Bull's Strength spell stored in one of our ioun stones, then cast Silence to make the doctor unable to call for help. Then we knock him out with our improved strength.

>>15659120

"What IS all this equipment, anyway?" You ask him.

"It's for research." The kobold says. "Soon we'll have technology designed by me equaling or exceeding that of the Crystal Caverns." He reaches into a panel beneath the floor, and pulls out a metal leg, no more than a skeleton, with square framing around its sides. There are numerous tubes connected across it, especially on the three-toed articulated foot. "We will be attaching this first. Then, I will add artificial muscles to it based on the design of the subject's leg until he can move properly, or mostly properly, again." He slides a syringe across the table, past the prisoner's head. "This is a sedative in case he begins struggling. Don't give him too much, we need him conscious for testing."

>>15659432

You nod to the doctor, and to Turen, leaning over the prisoner to secure him, one hand on the bindings keeping him strapped down. He seems to notice the difference between your right hand's appearance and feeling, and looks over at you, confused. Turen does the same, watching your movements for the first sign to act.

The doctor starts up the weapon in his hand. "Secure the right leg, please."

The prisoner begins struggling, and you press down on one leg, just before quickly chanting the components to the silence spell. The black-robed kobold clearly notices this, and raises his now silent weapon to cut at you. You move backwards, and begin considering how you'll deal with him just as a scaled fist slams into his face. The doctor, surprised, falls down to the ground as Turen's fist flies off to your left, cord trailing out of what appears to be a normal hand. The prisoner screams silently in distress at this. You vault over him, grabbing the robed kobold and pinning his arms down with your legs as you sit on his chest, preventing him from getting to the weapon. He silently calls for his guards as he struggles, to no avail.

>>15659664
Quick, grab the sedative, or send Turen to grab it if it's out of reach.
Once we have it in hand, inject the good doctor with it. All of it.
Either he stays out for a long time, or he dies. Either way, we can't allow the Cave Fangs to have someone as obviously talented as this.

Once the doc has been secured, take his robes and put them on. We will need to get the rest of the CCCP prisoners freed and armed, ready to get out of here.

Turen begins releasing the prisoner, his hand reeling back in as he does so. The prisoner sits up, his body shaking from the ordeal, and he rolls off to his feet on one side of the table.

>>15659715

"Turen, the sedative." You message him. After a few seconds, you have it in one of your free hands.

The doctor looks up at you with fear in his eyes as you wield the needle. He begins calling for more security, but his voice still does not work.

"We can't let the Cave Fangs have someone as obviously talented as this." You message to Turen as you stick the needle into the side of his neck.

"So we're going to kill him then?" Turen says back to you. "Magistrate, if we kill him we'll be no better than he is."

The doctor freezes, his eyes wide with fear. He keeps looking over at the weapon he dropped, almost longingly.

"I have no problem with knocking him out, but what you said just now... 'We can't let the Cave Fangs have him'."

>>15659797
"Yes. We'll take him alive with us if we can, since he can be used as a hostage if necessary. But above all, he can't be allowed to continue working for the Cave Fangs.
"Now, go and free the others, and find some weapons."

Inject the doctor with 3/4 of the sedative.

>>15659850

"Yes. We'll take him alive with us if we can, since he can be used as a hostage if necessary. But above all, he can't be allowed to continue working for the Cave Fangs." You explain to Turen. You see an expression of relief on his face. You inject about three quarters of the sedative into the doctor, who immediately grows colder and lapses into unconsciousness after about a minute.

"Now, go and free the others, and find some weapons."

You give Turen the doctor's clothing, liberated from his unconscious body. With a quick recasting, Turen appears as the unconscious man on the ground. You bring the prisoner a short distance out of the field of silence. "Just stay here, and hide that man with you. We're from the Crystal Caverns. We'll be back with weapons."

The prisoner hugs you suddenly, sobbing quietly. "Oh gods, I can't tell you how much we all want out of this horrible place." He whispers, his clutch tight on you. "That man... He did horrible things to the others. And I was supposed to be next."

You pat him on the shoulder, gently taking his arms off of you. "We'll be back in a moment. How many guards are in this section?"

The prisoner looks off behind you. "Those two are there to guard all the prisoners. Most of them couldn't get out if they tried."

You feel a frown cross your face. That's not something you wanted to hear.

The prisoner crouches down behind the table, grabbing the weapon the doctor had in his hands as he hides.

You and Turen walk further down the corridor, hearing on occasion the groaning of a few of the prisoners, or a short, pained hiss. As you turn the corner, you can see the two guards seated at a table at the end of the corridor, each with a crossbow propped up next to them. They are playing cards. One of them looks up at you, seeming surprised. "Doctor Gurtler? Is there a problem?

>>15659931
"Just need help with moving one of the experiments.
"One of the new guards that came in, didn't have as strong a stomach as he thought he did."

Wait for an opportune moment, then use 2 Hold Persons to freeze the guards so they can be bound and gagged.
I'd like to use Sleep, but I don't think they're weak enough to be affected, and I don't know if we have Deep Slumber.

>>15660131

"Just need help with moving one of the experiments." You send the message over to Turen, who speaks for you. "One of the new guards that came in, didn't have as strong a stomach as he thought he did." This explanation is aparently enough for the two.

The prisoners are each two to a cage. On each one, you can see the scars of surgery, with some having a limb twisted in a strange position with a kind of waxy film over it. Of the eight cells, three are empty, and five contain prisoners.

(Back in 30)

>>15660296
So, any chance of getting off those two Hold Person spells?

Two contained kobolds who have had one of their limbs twisted, rather painfully, it appears. They are not your people. Another two appear to have had their midsections shrunken and twisted. One cage has a kobold on a far wall, who has been chained to the wall, with manacles around his hands and feet. His limbs are covered in stitching, and they appear to be swollen with muscle. He glares at Turen hatefully.

The final two occupied cells have a couple of kobolds in them, of the light green coloration attributed to the Crystal Caverns, and one in the same cells with a pale red complexion. You can see that one is missing his left arm and foot, each replaced by the crude prosthetic replacements, with the metal fused into the flesh of his stumps along with small wires. Another in the same cell is missing his left arm as well, just below the elbow, with a wide plug attached to the end of a few inches of steel.

The other two are in another cell, the green-scaled one of the two missing his right leg and having a crudely muscled replacement like the one you saw in the operation room, while the red-scaled kobold is missing his left arm and about half of his right leg, with his inner three toes on his left foot removed and replaced with two of steel.

You and Turen each hold one of the guards with a quick spell, before knocking them out.

"Oh gods, what's going on?" One of the prisoners shouts.

>>15661006
"Quiet!
"We're here to get you out. Now stay silent, or you'll bring the entire complex down on us!"

Start unlocking cells. Get the crossbows to the CCCP soldiers.

"Turen, can you teleport?"

>>15661147

"Quiet!" You hiss back. "We're here to get you out. Now stay silent, or you'll bring the entire complex down on us!"

You grab the keys off of one of the guards and begin unlocking the cells, the kobolds weakly hobbling as best they can on their clearly painful grafts. The red-scaled one grabs a crossbow without being told to, his metal left arm moving jerkily to prop up the front of the crossbow.

The musclebound kobold in the cell growls at Turen as you unlock his cage.

(Slow updates)

"Turen, can you teleport?" You ask him.

Turen shakes his head. "I'm fresh out fo the academy. Turning invisible is the best I have."

>>15661391
"Alright. I'll think of something."
Turn to the muscle-bound kobold.
"Be quiet, you idiot! If that really was the doctor, do you think he'd be helping you escape? It's just one of my men using a Disguise spell. If you endanger this operation, so help me I will leave you here."
Mynthar is not in any mood to take lip from a bunch of civilians and non-citizens.

We might be able to get everyone out with our Teleports back to the hidden room in the inn.

>>15661634

"Alright. I'll think of something." You say to him.

You look over at the muscle-bound kobold. "Be quiet, you idiot! If that really was the doctor, do you think he'd be helping you escape? It's just one of my men using a Disguise spell. If you endanger this operation, so help me I will leave you here."

The kobold doesn't like the sound of that. He strains against his bonds, the steel links starting to bend. He finally stops after a few minutes, his breath visibly turning into steam.

"Believe me, if I was that guy, I wouldn't still be standing here." Turen replies.

You can teleport the ones who have been twisted, as the two whose bodies have been altered appear to be paralyzed from the waist down. Would you like to keep any of the prisoners here, to help evacuate the others?

>>15661788
Go over to the CCCP soldiers.
"Alright, just in case you were wondering, I'm with the CCCP, and here to get you out.
"I also can't leave any of these test subjects here; they represent far too much technological development to be simply left behind. I'm going to teleport the worst-off of them to our safehouse; it should only be a few minutes for me to teleport them there, then come back here.
"I want you to go down to the lab, there's another one of our soldiers I freed earlier there; Turen, I want you to keep up your disguise and make it look like you're working on one of the men here on the operating table, just in case some guards come down before I'm back.
"Once the invalids are safely away, we're going to get any and all important documents and technology, then blow this entire facility.
"Any questions?"

>>15661898
We should be able to teleport 5 people at a time, plus Mynthar himself. So we should be able to get all of the ones who are no good in a fight out in one teleport.

As for that muscle-bound kobold, we should ask him if he wants to live or not. If he wants to live, then he has to cooperate with us. There's still 6 floors of guards above us if he just wants to try busting out himself.

>>15661898

"Alright, just in case you were wondering, I'm with the CCCP, and here to get you out." You say to the prisoners.

"I also can't leave any of these test subjects here; they represent far too much technological development to be simply left behind. I'm going to teleport the worst-off of them to our safehouse; it should only be a few minutes for me to teleport them there, then come back here." The prisoners look over to you, nodding. The two with the crossbows cock and load the things the best they can.

"I want you to go down to the lab, there's another one of our soldiers I freed earlier there; Turen, I want you to keep up your disguise and make it look like you're working on one of the men here on the operating table, just in case some guards come down before I'm back." Turen points over to the one missing his right leg, who nods as he hobbles over, the stiff thing obviously not functioning as it was supposed to.

"Once the invalids are safely away, we're going to get any and all important documents and technology, then blow this entire facility." You say to them. "Any questions?"

"Just two." Turen says, pointing at the bound up kobold. "Is he dangerous, and if so, who's unlocking him?"

"Yes, absolutely." One of the prisoners says.

>>15662240
Go up to the bound kobold.
"Do you want to live? If you do, and you want me to free you, you will need to listen to what I tell you.
"Are you going to cooperate?"

>>15662356

You walk over to the bound kobold, feeling how much hotter it is in his cell than the others. You see no source for the heat save the kobold.

You come much closer to it, and remove your disguise like a layer of thin paint. "Do you want to live? If you do, and you want me to free you, you will need to listen to what I tell you." The kobold moves its head back. You get the feeling that it has calmed down quite a bit, though its breath is still quite hot.

"Are you going to cooperate?" You ask him.

"Yes." The kobold says, his voice a deep, growling bass.

You unchain him, noting that his limbs seem slightly longer than is normal for his body, and that the numerous stitches have a deep blue glow beneath the skin.

"How long have I been here?" The kobold asks, rubbing at his wrists. "Who are you?"

>>15662774
"I'm from the Crystal Caverns, sent here to rescue our soldiers who had been captured.
"Like I said, one of my men has taken the shape of that doctor in order to keep the guards upstairs from being alerted. If you try to escape on your own, you'll only raise the alarm and bring down six levels full of guards on all of our heads. Now, wait with the other able-bodied prisoners."

Go down to the lab, and gather up all documents we can find, and any examples of their technology. Then, prepare a small clear area out of sight, then teleport out with the documents, items, and the invalids.
Drop them off, then teleport back here.

>>15662832
Damn, I almost forgot.
When we teleport out to the inn and drop off the invalids and the documents and such, pay Farad however much we need to in order to quickly acquire weapons, armor, and alchemist's fire. Do it quickly and discreetly, no more than 10~15 minutes. Money is no object.

Hell, if the old undead guys want to have some fun, this might be a good time to bring them along.

>>15662874
To clarify, that should be enough weapons (swords and crossbows) and armor for the able-bodied of the kobolds.
Include getting our linegun and ammunition.

>>15662832

"I'm from the Crystal Caverns, sent here to rescue our soldiers who had been captured." You explain to him. He rubs his head with one of his hands. "Like I said, one of my men has taken the shape of that doctor in order to keep the guards upstairs from being alerted. If you try to escape on your own, you'll only raise the alarm and bring down six levels full of guards on all of our heads. Now, wait with the other able-bodied prisoners."

"I know now. Before, I..." The larger kobold shakes his head. "I was angry. I couldn't think. I feel more stable now."

You head into the lab and just gather up everything you can. You teleport the prisoners incapable of fighting and the doctor, landing in the basement of the Dragon's Belly.

>>15662928
Okay, now do this:
>>15662911
>>15662874

"So, gentle-kobolds, who amongst you would like to give the Cave Fangs a backhand right across the snout? I happen to have uncovered a laboratory where they have invested quite a bit of coin into, and have been performing experiments on the people you see behind me. Who would like to help me blow that place up?"

>>15662928
"Tayn, I need you to watch over this prisoner. He's a research scientist, almost as good as the ones back in the Crystal Caverns. I'd prefer to keep him alive, for value as a hostage and as a researcher, but not allowing the Cave Fangs to have him takes precedent, if it comes down to it."

>>15662961
>>15663006

At least, you can with five of them. The four maimed kobolds and the doctor come with you. Tayn jumps up, presumably from sleep in surprise.

>>15663006

"Tayn, I need you to watch over this prisoner. He's a research scientist, almost as good as the ones back in the Crystal Caverns. I'd prefer to keep him alive, for value as a hostage and as a researcher, but not allowing the Cave Fangs to have him takes precedent, if it comes down to it." You gesture to the unconscious figure on the ground.

"I understand." Tayn says, still seeming a bit surprised. He stands up, stretching his arms as he wakes up.

Farnad looks over in surprise from his cleaning, dropping the rag in his hand. "When you left through the secret passage... Why didn't you just do this?"

"Because despite appearances, there is a limit to my power." You say to him, reaching into a pouch to pull out a large amount of money. "Here, Farnad. I need armor for eight kobolds, plus one for a larger one, weapons for each of them, and a lot of alchemists fire. Purchase discretely. You have ten minutes, fifteen at the most." You point past him, to shake him out of the trance he enters as he weighs the bag in his hand. "No haggling. Get the best you can. Tell my men to get down here and give their weapons over."

"I'll do my best, sir!" He says in surprise, rushing up the stairs.

You get the prisoners situated, getting wheeled chairs for the two paralyzed ones.

"You shouldn't be keeping that monster alive." One of them says in a shaky voice, pointing over to where the doctor is lying on the ground.

"He will answer for what he did to you." You say to them sternly. "And we at the Crystal Caverns will try our best to undo what he has done to you, if you join with us."

The four kobolds look over at each other, seeming to wonder if you can really fix their problems.

"Think on it." You say to them, pressing the switch to raise the back wall.

"Eh? Didn't I tell you kids-" You hear as the wall starts to open. The skeleton catches sight of you, as he marches forwards, brandishing his greatsword. "Oh, nevermind, it's you." He sounds somewhat disappointed. The other kobolds all have a reaction similar to Turen's. You see a couple of the other skeletons emerge from behind him.


>>15662961

"So, gentle-kobolds, who amongst you would like to give the Cave Fangs a backhand right across the snout? I happen to have uncovered a laboratory where they have invested quite a bit of coin into, and have been performing experiments on the people you see behind me. Who would like to help me blow that place up?" You strut a bit as you make your proposition.

The skeletons look over at the kobolds seated behind you, who cringe in terror.

"Poor folks." Says the purple-eyed kobold. "Ain't right what's been done to 'em."

"True enough." Says a higher voice from behind him, punctuated by the tapping of a spear on the ground. "And blowing something up? I've never heard that expression. I'd like to come along just to see what it is."

An angered howl issues forth from behind them. "What's all this talk! You tell me what's going on or I'll eviscerate every last one of you with my teeth!"

The purple-eyed one sighs, calling back "Great-grandpa, we're just talking with the man who came through before."

"It sounds like you're going to go fighting, and leave the man who started this family behind!" Ghurken shouts back, his voice cracking with anger.

>>15663656
Whisper over to Lanos, "Er...seems to have some anger issues, doesn't he? Is he always like this?"

>>15663746

You whisper to Lanon, cupping your hand next to his fleshless ear "Er...seems to have some anger issues, doesn't he? Is he always like this?"

"Well, nowadays, I suppose. He was always in a much better mood before the accident." Lanon explains, still sounding somewhat crotchety.

"I never get to do anything! I feel like I've been staring at these damn walls for nearly a century at least!" Ghurken practically screams.

The purple-eyed skeleton sighs. "Well, you have a limit to who you can take along, right? The others in our number can just go around the other side up top."

"But, what about-" You start to say.

The skeleton grins. Well, moreso than usual. "Just leave that to us. This wouldn't be the first time we've been above ground, you know."

"Not for most of us, anyway!" Ghurken sneers at the top fo his lungs.

You can take five of the following:
2 Greatswordsbolds (Lanon)
2 Spearbolds
2 Flailbolds (purple-eye)
??? (Ghurken)

>>15663926
Take along:
1 Lanon
1 spearbold
2 flailbolds
Ghurken

We're going to be fighting inside of a building, so weapons that won't get in the way and can be used indoors will be more useful.
As for Ghurken, I want to see what he can do. He can play the part of distraction if necessary.

>>15663979

You assemble the first four, seeing the spearbold who addressed you as a skeleton with a glowing yellow eye.

"Ghurken?" The purple-eyed one says in surprise, then dropping his voice to a whisper. "Are you su-"

"Yes! Hahahaha! Come back here and get me, you ungrateful fruits of my loin! And no takebacks, whoever you are!" The voice echoes from the depths of the cavern.

The purple-eyed skeleton sighs. "Coming, great-grandpa."

The other flail user has lighter armor, a slight crack in part of his snout, and a six-headed flail that he whooshes about with astounding gutso.

Farnad comes down the stairs, hefting a ton of things on his back in a four foot tall leather sack you suspect is a bag of holding. "I got this for free with all the purchases!" He drops it on the ground, looking around the room. His expression goes sour. "Oh no! What are all of you doing?"

"Go get the hats of disguise, you big baby." One of the skeletons further back in the cave jeers.

"I knew it!" He sighs, looking back at you. "You shouldn't be encouraging them."

"Ah, it feels good to see the light of this old place! I remember helping add on this portion!" You hear Ghurken say from the purple-eyed skeleton's direction, who walks forward with a sour expression. His mouth isn't moving.

>>15664193
I'm expecting Ghurken to be just a talking skull.
Is it worse? Because I mostly picked him for comedic effect and to act as a lure.

"Move your shield so I can see, you great big lummox!" Ghurken shouts, and the purple-eyed skeleton sighs, complying.

Hanging from his belt is a kobold skull, with a red dragon-scale eyepatch over one eye, its other eye glowing a bright red. The "pupil" of the eye looks over at you quickly, and the jaw clenches. "Well? What are we waiting for? I'm tired of the smell of this place already!"

(And that's it for a while, going to see Cap. Be back in about 4 hrs.)

So? Anyone still on?

Cap was awesome by the way.

"What's that look for? Don't tell me you've got your loincloth in a knot because I'm hanging from my son's belt!" The skull hisses, as Tayn tries to retract his accidental snicker.

"No, uh, I wasn't laughing at you, sir." Tayn says, looking off to one side.

"What? Quit'cher mumbling you tattooed freakshow! What kinda momma you got lets you get all marked up like that?" The skull sneers, its good eye flaring up.

Tayn actually looks somewhat shaken up. "Well, these are the marks of a sor-"

"I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, YOU DIRTY SHROOMHEAD, I'VE EATEN SORCERERS MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER!" The skull's shout echoes through the small room, and you see Tayn staring dumbfounded at the occurrence.

"NOT TO MENTION THAT DRAGON WHOSE THROAT I ATE FOR DESERT! HE'S RIGHT UP ON THE WALL IF YOU WANT TO ASK HIM HOW THAT TURNED OUT FOR HIM!" The skull grinds his teeth, and you can hear the head of a red dragon towards the back of the room say "Yup."

"SO THE NEXT TIME YOU THINK YOU KNOW SOMETHING, WHY DON'T YOU KEEP YOUR LUNGS FROM PUMPING AIR UP INTO THE FLABBY SLABS OF SKIN YOU CALL A MOUTH AND SPARE YOURSELF HAVING TO GET THEM REPLACED AFTER I POP THEM LIKE THE FLESHY BALLOONS THEY ARE?" The eye is blazing now, with a power you actually find quite terrifying. Tayn has sat back down now, stonefaced and quiet.

"You always were so persuasive, Grandpa." The spearwielding kobold skeleton says.

"That's why after 300 years I'm still the head of this family." Ghurken says, smirking sadistically.

"Tayn?" Farnad says, waving a hand in front of his face.

Tayn doesn't talk or move, he just sits there staring straight ahead.

"Well, do I have to tear into you to get us moving, or what sorcerer?" Ghurken says, in what you assume is a pleasant tone for him.

>>15666375
"Alright then. Let's get going."
Grab up everything, get everyone together, then teleport.
When we arrive, quickly start handing out weapons and armor.
Have the alchemist's fire given out, and see if we can't rig some of it to the equipment down there to blow.