With five redcaps hot on his heels, Krask bolts back down the tunnel to his companions. Unfortunately for the wily kobold, the redcaps are in their beloved terrain and they quickly catch up.
They tear into Krask’s scaly body, inflicting severe wounds before the party even has time to react. If the tunnel were a bit more narrow, it is very possible that Krask’s retreat would have been cut off entirely.
The rest of the party rallies to Krask’s aid as the kobold slips past to gather himself and lick his wounds. Barnaby, Trace, and Fobias seal the redcaps off from Krask and begin hitting back with tremendous force. Despite the ferocity of their enemies, the party is undeterred. Even the fast-healing properties of the redcaps isn’t enough to save two of them from a quick death.
Fyn conjures up a writhing mass of black tentacles, completely suffocating the cavern and entangling the remaining redcaps. The only downside is that the party is prevented from advancing in the tunnel until the tentacles subside. Well, without the use of magic, that is.
Once again, Fyn has a solution and takes a dimensional step to the opposite end of the tunnel with Fobias. This functionally blocks off the remaining redcap from escaping, and he knows it. He begs the party to spare his life, in Sylvan.
Questioning the Redcap
Fyn wants to hear him out and begins questioning him about the things they heard prior to the combat. The redcap is more than willing to talk about Mokmurian coming into the area and pushing the redcaps into this labyrinth of tunnels. They’ve essentially been starving, sustaining themselves on whatever thin vermin they can catch.
According to the redcap, the entrance to the other tunnel system underneath Jorgenfist is guarded by a fierce kobold with a shovel tattoo extending from her neck downwards. There are numerous giants who have taken up residence in the tunnels after Mokmurian claimed them as his own.
If the party can navigate to the ‘Pit’, there is a chance that they could infiltrate Jorgenfist without going over the heavily-defended walls. The only problem is that the redcap doesn’t know all the details about what lurks in the tunnels, as the redcaps haven’t dared return lest they risk total annihilation.
Trace poses fears about this redcap’s trust; what if the redcap is double-crossing them? Redcaps aren’t particularly known for their honesty and aren’t inherently forthright with information.
Fyn puts the fears to rest by casting Dominate Person on the redcap. Finally – I can stop calling him ‘the recap’ and start calling him by his name: Lyergo!
Cue tons of alliteration around the fabulous Fyn and his fantastic friends, after which the party heads towards the Pit.
As they near, the kobold comes into view. Krask can’t say for sure that he recognizes her, but she definitely shares markings similar to those in the Dust Digger clan. But Krask was the only survivor…
This kobold isn’t messing around – she sees the party, bares her teeth, and charges!
Where did this kobold come from? What atrocities live in the Pit? Any bets on how long Lyergo will last in this deadly party?