>> "As far as my injury goes, I rolled my ankle after jumping down off of something. Turns out I lost a lot of the cartilage on my ankle when it broke, and had a couple of fractures that have healed up." He says, glowering at his foot. "It could've happened to anybody. But it happens to me, and they assume I'm going all frail and lame on them." He looks up at you. "I ran ten miles the previous day, magistrate. They want to stick me in a desk job, give me a wheelchair. I'm not doing anyone any good sitting somewhere where I'm looked down on."

You recall what he had last said, and you contemplate this silently. If he's telling the truth, his injury is nothing and he could join the group quite easily, and would be a great choice. If he is... exaggerating, his injury could cost him his life in a bad situation, or someone else's. You know from the elders what a bad joint can do to a man's career if they need to stay active.

Which of course, begs the question: Is he telling the truth?

You realize you've got a lot on your plate right now. Clearly this Northern Troglodyte Empire has to be dealt with in short order. Still, there's barely any information on it. Which means there's a possibility almost anything could happen.

The drow feudalists up to the north are in an interesting position. From what you've heard, their efforts to build a castle are going well enough. They seem to think of laying down their lives as though it were nothing. And, considering their small size, they might as well be a single man to an army with the size of the trog military.

A strange, unwelcome thought crosses your mind. What if they were to surrender? What if the castle held? The trogs would have a base of operations not a week's travel from your home. With that, despite being beaten, humiliated or even routed, they would still be able to return. Can you allow that chance?

You look over the man in front of you. Will he be able to lead the team you need in the coming months?

rolled 9 = 9

>>15427551
Yes.

>>15427578

You stand up, and Soth's gaze follows you as he steadies himself, standing as well.

"Lieutenant, I have thought about it quite a bit." You say, folding your arms as you lock eyes with him. "Despite any misgivings others may have about your injury, I feel a man's best judge is himself. Should your condition worsen, don't push yourself to the point where it might be too much."

Soth nods, quietly.

"From this day forward, you will be part of a special task force, answering to myself and General Ghaon." You say, putting your hand on the table. "This organization will be kept secret to allow the handling of sensitive information. With your leadership qualities, I feel you can ensure we get the information we need to keep our community safe."

Soth seems a bit reinvigorated. "Sir, I will do my utmost to see this thing done." He gives you a quick salute, his hand over his heart.

You nod to him. "I should have the interviews completed by this afternoon. You may meet with the rest of the team after that time in the bunker at a location given to you by one of my messengers."

Soth grins. "May I say, it will be an honor working with you, sir."

You feel a bit of pride pass your chest as you acknowledge him with a nod. "Thank you. You are dismissed, lieutenant."

The remainder of the interviews go smoothly. You decide to keep a few on a watchlist, thinking they might be best suited for the team after they've accumulated a bit more experience. To the rest of the community, the men and women in the squad are working as evaluators in numerous areas throughout the caverns. One of the few occupations that seems to attract many different backgrounds, the society is overseen by the miners, and thus there is very little in the way of socialization between them and the other branches.

You crack your knuckles as the day ends, the metallic pop of ioun gas echoing in the quiet interview room. What will you do next?

rolled 10 = 10

>>15427692
The task force will be constructed out of the 15 most qualified interviewees. I will have them and Soth meet in the bunker in 24 hours.

>>15427692
The meeting with the Drow Feudalists is coming up soon, yes?
Have they made any communications as to the agenda, and what they will be bringing to the table?

>>15427798

The drow feudalists have schedules a meeting in three day's time. You have no idea what to expect there. Religious fanatics? Political dissent? Both? What was that guy's name again?

You might even send someone else in your place. You're not sure you could hold your temper if they started getting all incredulous.

>>15427751

About a day later, you get a message from Soth saying that everything is under control, and asking for his first assignment.

>>15427959
For the GRU, I think we should send them to scout out the edges of the Troglodyte Empire, see how their military patrols are organized and try to discern any kind of operating procedure that they might have.

As for the Feudalists, while they are of a small concern, we should still observe proper international protocol, even if no one else does.
Make sure that the security detail we bring is well-armed enough to wipe out the Drow delegation, however. If they won't become a puppet state, then we'll turn them into a labor camp.

>>15427959
Oh, hey, what about some of the special equipment that our military intelligence agency is supposed to get? Did we hire that mad scientist to become our quartermaster/engineer for developing new military technologies?

>>15428029

You give the orders to the GRU, and turn your attentions to this meeting of the minds... And the drow.

You keep trying to think of something nice to say on your way to the drow, with an accompanying regiment of riflemen and your personal favorite prototype, the basilisk NAJA walker, but you just can't think of anything. You are greeted by armed guards in ceremonial armor who take you into the unfinished throne room. They refuse to speak kobold or draconic, only answering in the lilting, quiet drow tongue.

As you head towards the castle, you note the huge farming fields that dot the surrounding landscape, and the typically tall dark structures of the drow barracks, imposing over the new farms. There are few buildings other than the gray stone houses that you've seen given to drow slaves or worse, and the walls are still under construction.

The throne room's open roof shows the stalactites far above, looming overhead. A stone throne sits at the center, behind a drow man whose image is not quite what you expected. The king of this small community is long of face, with pouting lips and a dull, silvery circlet on his brow. His hair is cut short, save a few braids from the center of his scalp that stretch down to the back of his neck. His garb is hardly regal; a white, low-quality spider silk shirt and black of the same for his pants. He carries a slender sword at his side, and has a somewhat far-off look in his eyes.

"Kneel to Emperor Alkrem." The drow guard who led you in hisses.

>>15428092

Yes you did. Aside from a slight twitch, and referring to himself in the third person on occasion, he seemed remarkably normal.

>>15428267
Kneel? Kneel to a DROW? We will do no such thing.

"You are Emperor Alkrem, leader of this nation."
A statement of fact, delivered without emotion.

>>15428411

"You are Emperor Alkrem, leader of this nation." You say, ignoring the guard.

The "Emperor" waves his hand. "Please. These ones are lower already than most bow for me, and they have walked a long ways." His tone is low, his lips pursed. "I would offer him something to drink, but considering how he has dealt with our brethren in the past, I think he would hardly blame an errant servant for attempting some sort of act of vengeance for a dead comrade or family member." He sighs. "It is practically tradition by this point."

>>15428457
Oh, and now the insults begin in earnest.

Well, we don't need to play that game; after all, we're only here to see if these Drow can be useful to us alive; if not, then we wipe them out as a way of testing our new allies and experimenting with new technology.
There is no need for us to feel anger, when we are confident in being able to commit genocide with precision and accuracy.

Have Mynthar ignore the barb of talking as if we aren't here.
"I am Magistrate Mynthar, and I speak with the full authority of the Council of the Crystal Cavern People.
"I would like to get right to business. First, the issue of the border between the sovereign territory of the CCCP and your nation."

>>15428551

"I am Magistrate Mynthar, and I speak with the full authority of the Council of the Crystal Cavern People." You say, looking up to the drow with no indication that his words have irritated you beyond a slight raise to your eyebrow.
"I would like to get right to business. First, the issue of the border between the sovereign territory of the CCCP and your nation."

Alkrem looks lazily off to the entrance to his throne room. "Yes, I believe there was already a skirmish over that. My people were tortured over it." He looks directly at you, for the first time that you entered the room. "And from what they said, their torturer had a very distinctive set of armor over his right arm."

>>15428644
On the one hand, I don't want to outright admit that we tortured his subjects.
On the other (prosthetic) hand, I don't give a shit, since we will crush them and kill them all if they give us any trouble.

"Armor? I wear no armor.
"Currently there exists no treaties or agreements between your nation and mine concerning the treatment of prisoners and of non-combatants. The details of such can be discussed later.
"I must request in the strongest terms that the sovereignty of our borders be respected, and that your people stay on their side of the line."

There is no need for threats here; if this 'king' cannot understand the position that he is in, then he is a greater fool than I pegged him for, and we will put all of his people into concentration camps.

>>15428729

"Armor? I wear no armor." You say to him, with just a hint of sarcasm. "Currently there exists no treaties or agreements between your nation and mine concerning the treatment of prisoners and of non-combatants. The details of such can be discussed later." The drow's gaze goes up to the stalactites, almost as though he isn't listening.

"I must request in the strongest terms that the sovereignty of our borders be respected, and that your people stay on their side of the line." You tell him.

"It appears we have no choice, with such a force facing us down." He says, calmly. "Though I must think that perhaps the magistrate's troops overreact to a handful of men wandering a few feet past their borders."

"Regardless, let me be the first to extend the hand of cautious hope." Alkrem says, not moving his hand. "Hope that perhaps we may come to stop hating one another. I endured enough of that when I was among my fellows." He steps out to point past your shoulder, out a window opposite the throne room. "There, my followers build a future for their children, free from the tyranny of the noble families they will never have the chance to enter, and of the scourges wielded by the upper class. This empire will grow from the water of the earth, not the blood of drow.

"Tell me, Magistrate." The emperor says to you. "Have you ever had a son?"

>>15429000
>perhaps the magistrate's troops overreact to a handful of men wandering a few feet past their borders
Ignore this part.
"Henceforth, any Drow individual or group found having violated our borders without prior authorization by my government, or without a valid passport, will be detained, their arms confiscated, and then returned to your land. Resistance will be met with lethal force.
"Next, let's talk trade. What can you offer us?"

He wants to insult us, we'll insult him right back by talking to him as if he's just another subordinate.

>>15429120
Hold off on >>15429121

>has Mynthar ever had a son
I don't know, have we? I don't think we have.
In case of a negative:
"No. The futures and prosperity of all of the citizens of the CCCP are my singular concern.
"It is good that you hold concern for the future of your people."

You pause at his question. "No. The futures and prosperity of all of the citizens of the CCCP are my singular concern.

"It is good that you hold concern for the future of your people."

You continue. "Henceforth, any Drow individual or group found having violated our borders without prior authorization by my government, or without a valid passport, will be detained, their arms confiscated, and then returned to your land. Resistance will be met with lethal force."

You keep your gaze locked on him as he looks out the window. "Next, let's talk trade. What can you offer us?"

"This land is very young. An infant, if you will." The emperor says, seeming quieter. "What we have is very little. Crops, iron. Countries are much like children. In the beginning, they must be nourished if they will be allowed to grow." He looks down at you. "I wonder what you wish to take from a developing child?"

>>15429252
>I wonder what you wish to take from a developing child?
"Whatever work that child is capable of.
"Surely you have sorcerors and wizards, do you not? The magical items known colloquially as Boots and Cloaks of Elvenkind are of value to us."

I wonder if we should go on a tirade about children, and how they are treated in our society.
Come to think of it, what happens to a failure in kobold society? One who, rather than physically being unable to work, chooses not to work. I imagine that the miners, the farmers, and the military are always hiring.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I sort of imagine the CCCP as a mix between an idealized fantasy Soviet Russia and the Federation from Robert Heinlen's Starship Troopers.

>>15429346
>Federation from Robert Heinlen's Starship Troopers.
Specifically the "Everyone Works" idea and that if a civilian is willing to work for the greater good, a use will be found for them, no matter what, and that it's their willingness to put the greater body politic before themselves that's important.

>>15429346

"Whatever work that child is capable of." You answer, unflinchingly. "Surely you have sorcerors and wizards, do you not? The magical items known colloquially as Boots and Cloaks of Elvenkind are of value to us.

"If your child will not work, then they will be forever treated like a child." You say to him, simply.

"From your philosophers, correct?" The drow muses. "Will you be willing to compensate us in return in some way?"

>>15429529
>Will you be willing to compensate us in return in some way?
"We will pay for them, in gold and gems. Foodstuffs as well, if you prefer. A fair price to be can be worked out, I'm sure."

>>15429657

"We will pay for them, in gold and gems. Foodstuffs as well, if you prefer. A fair price to be can be worked out, I'm sure." You say to him.

"Good, good." The drow says, quietly. "I would hate to think even one of my people had died for nothing."

He gestures down at you. "There is another matter. You may have heard of the troglodyte army to the north. Let me first ask your position on their advance towards our respective civilizations."

>>15429704
"We are not on a hostile footing with the North Troglodyte Empire. If possible, we would like to maintain our neutrality. However, considering the espoused ideals of their leader, the CCCP feels that caution is the best course for now."

>>15429761

"We are not on a hostile footing with the North Troglodyte Empire. If possible, we would like to maintain our neutrality. However, considering the espoused ideals of their leader, the CCCP feels that caution is the best course for now." You explain.

"And yet, the conquerers march further south." The drow says, folding his hands. "If the mighty Crystal Caverns do not stand up to them, then shall I, perhaps?"

"They are still many months away." The drow says. "Plenty of time to plan. Accrue forces.

"Which reminds me." The drow says, tapping his fingers together. "I believe your attitude towards kobolds is accepting, correct? If so, I know of a group who has engaged the troglodytes. They were unwilling to talk to my men, but perhaps they would talk to yours."

>>15429892
"I assure you, plans for ALL contingencies have been prepared.
"As for these kobolds, I can have a military unit debrief them. Where are they located?"

>>15429939

"I assure you, plans for ALL contingencies have been prepared." You say, maintaining a stalwart expression.

"As for these kobolds, I can have a military unit debrief them. Where are they located?"

"I will tell you. However, the information they have on the Northern Troglodytes, you must share with us as well." He says. "Think of it as a rather inexpensive investment."

Bump, will be back in a few.

>>15430010
An information exchange is a small concession, especially as we have our GRU to verify that information.

"Acceptable. Now, where are they?"

>>15430088

"Acceptable. Now, where are they?" You ask him.

He nods. "Seven miles northwest. I would offer a cart or two to carry the wounded and injured. The trogs are as unkind to their prisoners as..." He lets himself trail off. "Well, you had best hurry."

>>15430245
"Our next item of business is the treatment of prisoners and conduct towards non-combatants in a warzone.
"Simply, the articles are thus:
"Surrenders will be accepted. No torturing of prisoners. That medical care is to be provided, non-spoiled food and water to be provided daily, and that a detainment facility meet basic requirements of safety and hygiene. Finally, that in order to for these protections to be afforded to them, prisoners are required to provide their name, rank, and nation to which they serve, and that they follow the orders given to them by their jailers, within certain limits.
"Soldiers must wear distinctive uniforms to be afforded these rights; disguises will nullify any of these rights.
"As for non-combatants, so long as they do not raise arms against properly identified soldiers, and follow the orders given to them, they will not be harmed. However, any violence directed at properly uniformed military personnel will be met with immediate lethal force. There will be no exceptions."

You dismiss yourselves, and you teleport in a few of the clergy that you can from your churches. Knowing the havoc that teleporting can wreak on the wounded and motion sick, you decide against doing so with these men if you can help it.

Your crew finds some deep caves in the direction the drow said they were. The sound of flowing water from below masks some of the movement of your scouts and soldiers, and aside from the dim floating lights you have made to scan the floor and ceiling for odd-colored hazards, such as molds and oozes, the cave is fairly quiet.

What is your plan?

>>15430337

Herp derp. Thought I refreshed before posting.

One sec...

>>15430337
Cast Mage Armor on ourselves, and have the soldiers take some cover.
Can we us Prestidigitation to throw our voice or amplify it, to call out to the kobolds in Draconic that we are of the Crystal Cavern People, and we are here to help them?

>>15430322

"Our next item of business is the treatment of prisoners and conduct towards non-combatants in a warzone." You say to him, pacing a bit. "Simply, the articles are thus:

"Surrenders will be accepted. No torturing of prisoners. That medical care is to be provided, non-spoiled food and water to be provided daily, and that a detainment facility meet basic requirements of safety and hygiene. Finally, that in order to for these protections to be afforded to them, prisoners are required to provide their name, rank, and nation to which they serve, and that they follow the orders given to them by their jailers, within certain limits."

You nod at one of the emperor's guards. "Soldiers must wear distinctive uniforms to be afforded these rights; disguises will nullify any of these rights.
"As for non-combatants, so long as they do not raise arms against properly identified soldiers, and follow the orders given to them, they will not be harmed. However, any violence directed at properly uniformed military personnel will be met with immediate lethal force. There will be no exceptions."

"I feel as though I have little choice but to agree." The drow sighs. "And should your troops pass through our borders? What then? Shall I be forced to meet them with lethal force?"

>>15430369

You can, I was just derping and proceeding ahead without refreshing properly.

>>15430383
Mynthar locks an unflinching, hard stare at the drow.
"You always have a choice. Maybe not good ones, maybe they're all bad. But you always have a choice."
Pause for effect.
"I will not order troops to move through your territory without first informing you of it.
"These rules are intended to protect the lives of your subjects as well as the lives of the soldiers of the CCCP. So long as you abide by them, we shall do the same."

>>15430446
Okay, with that, I'm out for a few hours.
I leave the rest in the hands of the lurkers.

>>15430446

You stare the emperor down. "You always have a choice. Maybe not good ones, maybe they're all bad. But you always have a choice."

After a few moment's silence, you resume talking. "I will not order troops to move through your territory without first informing you of it." You toss him a message stone. "This will be the first way, then a personal messenger one or two days before the movement."

"These rules are intended to protect the lives of your subjects as well as the lives of the soldiers of the CCCP. So long as you abide by them, we shall do the same." You say to him.

The drow sighs. "Forgive me, but I find it amusing that the ones I was told were beneath my bother as a child have come far enough that they now rule over us." He looks down at you grievously, then an infectious smile cracks his face. He laughs, not mockingly, not maniacally, but with a pure, simple joy that seems to flow from nowhere.

"Perhaps then, I will go along with it. I wonder what a people who has been told they were nothing will do if they gain everything. Even if you were to live up to every stereotype, it would be far better than what L'Ornamar has become." He says, smiling gently.

L'Ornamar, the drow kingdom. You have heard little of it during the past decade. Still, you remember the sight of them. Huge, gray spires, curved streets and rivers, and the eerie blue lights, like shapeless ghosts, shimmering softly against the mirrored ceilings. Has it changed so much?

Soth?

>>15430549

Maybe.

>>15430520
"As ones who have always been underestimated, disregarded, and treated as nothing, we have learned to never underestimate our enemies, or overestimate our own capabilities.
"I believe that our current business is at an end. A formal treaty shall be readied for signing within a week."
And now take our leave, and we can go to those injured kobolds.

>>15430614

"As ones who have always been underestimated, disregarded, and treated as nothing, we have learned to never underestimate our enemies, or overestimate our own capabilities." You say to him, seemingly unshaken by his outburst.

"I believe that our current business is at an end. A formal treaty shall be readied for signing within a week." You say to him as you move to leave.

"Very well." The emperor says, with a smile. "Magistrate. I trust you will allow this child to grow as best it can."

(Continuing on with the part after >>15430337)

>>15430369

You cast mage armor on yourself, and stride out in front of your soldiers, telling them to take cover.

"Hello! My name is Mynthar, Magistrate of the Crystal Cavern People!" You should into the caves. "We were told you had some wounded. We'd be willing to help you!"

You hear some shuffling, then a great grinding of stone. A female kobold, probably no older than 20 and clad in spider-skin armor walks out from a nearby hole in the wall, which you though was just a small divot in the stone. Her eyes are bright, though she bears a scar across her forehead.

"The Crystal Caverns?" She says, sounding somewhat confused. "I knew we had run far south but..." She looks down at the ground.

She looks up at you, seeming a bit shocked. "Forgive me. I'm just- We've been on the run for months. I suppose it makes sense that we'd run into each other eventually." She straightens herself up. "I am Renir, acting chieftain of the Diamond Spear tribe. I've heard a lot about your people." She looks back towards the hole. "We're trapped from the other side. If you brought anyone else..."

You snap your fingers, and your troops file out behind you.

The woman looks impressed. "I suppose I should have expected that. Please, follow me."

Tune in next time as a kobold lady lets Mynthar access her dark hole!

Or it could happen right now...

But if it doesn't, that's cool.

>>15434443
Oh, right now?
That's cool.

Let's follow her in.
Is the cave big enough for our NAJA unit to fit?

>>15434443
Aw, no more extra Kobold Sorceror Quest?

>>15434660
>>15434460

There was going to be, then I had to deal with Inform 7's shit.

Anyway, the NAJA are too big to enter. Renir looks at them with surprise, and a bit of fear. She leads you down into the humid, cool caves below.

"I'd ask what those things are, but I'm not sure I want to know." She says to you. The first chamber she leads you through has a dirt floor with numerous kobolds there, in stone plates of armor over their chests and forearms, with crude leather loincloths. They point their spears as you approach, and gaze in confusion as the remainder of your battalion enters. Renir speaks to the taller of the pair, who has a bandaged wound on one arm. "It's alright, Treman. They say they're here to help. Do we still have company in the fore cave?"

The kobold nods, his hand still tightly clutching his spear. "We've had a few more get hit by the arrows. And the antidote..." He pauses, looking at you as though he considers what he might be telling you to be private. "There's not much more of it. Enough to save one or two."

>>15436490
"The perimeter hasn't been secured? What exactly are you facing down here?"

Do we carry any antivenom as part of a soldier's standard kit?

>>15436736

You do indeed have some anitvenom with you.

"The perimeter hasn't been secured? What exactly are you facing down here?" You say to the guard. He looks like he has no idea what you are talking about.

"Trog advance party. They have a lot of archers. The poison they're using is..." He cuts himself off. "It's not good. We have a few people with crossbows returning fire on them from the bottom of a cliff, behind some rough stone."

>>15436835
Motion for our soldiers to go down there and handle the situation.

"I'll have the soldiers help take care of the trogs.
"Now, I brought some medical personnel; where are your wounded?"

>>15436835
I'm trying to envision the layout of the cave, where we entered, and where they're being attacked from, and I'm having trouble.
Are the trogs attacking from a place that the NAJA can get to? If so, I think we should introduce them to our superior firepower.
Make sure none of them escape, however. We cannot allow the Northern Troglodyte Empire to learn of our capabilities so soon.

The two lead you back into what they call the "underchambers". Cramped corridors that seem formed by water rather than by hand stretch out before you.

"They must have thousands of arrows. They've had us sieged in here for days." Treman says, leading you by a dim magical light that Renir conjures. "They've been tracking us for a while now. We were just moving our wounded when we fell into an ambush and were forced into here." He snorts, the humidity of the air causing a spray of water off of his dripping nose. "We've got a number now we can't move. Before, they shot stone arrows with green slime smeared on them. Now, they're using some kind of blackish mold." You hear the clatter of arrows on stone as you approach the exit.

>>15437020

That was in response, forgot to put the dialogue in.

The NAJA may well be able to get to the trogs, but they can't go through the small cave to do it. You haven't scouted this area, so you're not sure of the whole layout.

>>15437080
Motion to one our clerics/medics.
"Make sure to get samples of each type. We're going to need to create anti-toxin for each."

>>15437110
We have a good number of soldiers with us, right?

Can we split them into 2 squads, one to go with the Basilisk to find a flanking position against the trogs, and another to come with us to provide backup for the Diamond Spear defenders?

>>15437116

You wave forward one of your clerics and one of your mages.

"Make sure to get samples of each type. We're going to need to create anti-toxin for each."

>>15437138

You message your troop leader, telling him to split the forces as you designate and meet up with your party.

Within about five minutes, the troops are down in the hole with you. You are in a small cave with a short pathway leading to an opening interrupted by stalactites and stalagmites, where you can see kobolds who are clearly exhausted reloading crossbows made for much larger creatures. They look at your troops, with dust masks over their faces, the strange guns, and their unified movements with wary eyes. Another passage hides children and older kobolds, who huddle with each other tensely. Across from you is the chamber containing the wounded, whose hisses and pained wails can be heard over the spotty firing of arrows.

>>15437376
Try to get an idea of the layout, and where the trogs are and what kind of cover they're using.

If the chamber where the wounded are isn't exposed to enemy fire, have the medics go forward and do what they can.
As for us and our soldiers, start calculating angles of attack and distances. Also take a look at the type of rock that this cave is made of, and if we can use any of our grenades.

>>15437376
If possible, I'd like to coordinate an attack with the other squad and Basilisk.
If they can't find a way to flank the trogs, they should return back to us.
If they do flank the trogs, they'll fire the opening shots, which will be our signal to attack. Opening barrage of lineguns and our Ricocheting Lightning, and maybe some fireballs.

>>15437413
>>15437437

(As you may have suspected, I will be taking a bit to respond for now)

You continue messaging your troops, as your priests and medical teams head into the closed-off room where the wounded are kept. You can hear them remark on the injuries of one poor kobold caused by green slime, and they begin assisting the stabilization of a few others.

The caves are made from a mixture of shale and granite, say your engineers. Stable enough that light blasting won't cause a cave-in. You and a few other soldiers head to the front lines. Invisible, you look out the entrance to the cave, barred by spiky stone. You see round, flashing eyes about forty feet up a steep cliff, athletic gray-scaled arms clutching bows made from deep subterranean roots. They fire a shot, the arrow impacting out in front of the cage of stone. You note as the arrow clatters to the stone floor the black substance smeared on the head, lumpy and thin.

>>15437701
We may want to use some Protection from Arrows spells while fighting here.

Oh, do we know the spell Glitterdust? That could help in outlining the trogs and making them easier to hit.

>>15437782

You curse your past self for being too proud to take a spell called "glitterdust". Fortunately, one of your people's ancestors was not so modest.

You protect yourself from arrows, and consider the low ceiling over the heads of your foes. There is another ancestor who master the art of collapsing passages. But, would that be a good idea here, with your cave below them?

>>15437861
Collapsing would be too dangerous, especially with immobile wounded.
I think an initial Ricocheting Lightning spell, followed by a Fireball, Glitterdust, and Web spells would be best.

Right now, just identify where the enemy is hiding, get our soldiers into position, and wait to see if our other squad is able to flank the trogs or not.

>>15437913
Oh, and tell Renir and Treman what the plan is, so that they won't get in our line of fire.

>>15437913
>>15437933

You wait tensely, telling Renir and Treman to pull their allies back. You return fire a few times using the crossbows, mostly forcing the trogs to keep their heads down. You go over your spells in your head in the tense minutes that follow, and start to message the leader of the second force just as you hear the decisive crack of a linegun shot.

>>15438191
>linegun shot
Set off the spells in quick succession, as detailed here: >>15437913
Also, yell "Now! Open fire!"

You blast in with a ricocheting blast of lightning, catching one unlucky trog in the upper body before the blast passes through him and flies into the ceiling, hitting another beyond your vision. As they scramble, you assist them with a blast of fire, the dull boom echoing in the small cavern. Trog bodies hang over the edge, and you hold the final syllable of the spell for any trog still interested in making these kobold's lives miserable. You are rewarded with one, whose face is suddenly full of blinding glitter. A few others cry out in accented draconic, and your troops begin picking off any who try and shoot down at you. The battle is over in under ten minutes. The other kobolds look at your group with a sense of awe.

"What are those things?" One of the soldiers asks, pointing at the line rifle in one soldier's hands.

>>15438583
"A line rifle. It is the standard weapon of the Crystal Caverns."
Turn to the sergeant as well as sending a message to the lieutenant with the other squad.
"If possible, capture one of the troglodtyes for interrogation, but be very careful about their toxins. Kill them all if you have to, however. None of them can be allowed to get out of here alive."

>>15438667

You pat the rifle with your right hand. "A line rifle. It is the standard weapon of the Crystal Caverns." You tell them. You don't relish having to explain your arm to them, when they realize it isn't just very slender armor.

You message the sergeant. "If possible, capture one of the troglodtyes for interrogation, but be very careful about their toxins. Kill them all if you have to, however. None of them can be allowed to get out of here alive."

"Already found one. He laid down arms when our troops rolled up over the ridge. We're just checking around now for stragglers. Our mages are on standby." He says back to you.

"You're from the Crystal Caverns?" Treman asks, his face showing signs of shock as he rubs one ear. "Why help people like us? I heard you weren't letting anyone in."

>>15438847
>I heard you weren't letting anyone in
Is this referring to some kind of immigration control we have in place?

"We helped you for a number of reason. Foremost because you are fellow kobolds.
"But I won't lie to you and say that we did this purely out of generosity. We heard that you had fought against the Northern Troglodyte Empire, and we need information about them."

>>15438939

You involuntarily raise an eyebrow at the kobold's statement. "Aside from some basic screening to make sure immigrants don't spread disease, we let most anyone in provided they need aid or want to become a citizen."

A few of them talk amongst each other at this. You wonder how such a rumor could have spread. You have paid good money for travelers to spread your messages of goodwill to kobolds throughout the underworld.

"We helped you for a number of reasons. Foremost because you are fellow kobolds." You say to them, and they grow quiet once again. "But I won't lie to you and say that we did this purely out of generosity. We heard that you had fought against the Northern Troglodyte Empire, and we need information about them."

Renir nods to you. "That seems more than fair. Do you plan on fighting them?" She asks tentatively.

"If it comes down to it." You answer.

"We've seen quite a lot, and their advance regiment is still close. If you have someplace safe to move our wounded-" She begins.

"We'll be able to evacuate them to the Crystal Caverns within the hour, provided no one is too badly wounded." You say to her.

"We... We can go." Renir says, halting for a moment. "Those who have become too wounded to travel have offered to stay behind so that we might escape."

>>15439226
"No, we're ALL going. That's the way we do things in the Crystal Caverns."

Get the NAJA back around to the other entrance, and have the medics stabilize the critically wounded for transport.
As for the others, have them move the trog bodies into a pile, where we will burn them to ash to destroy evidence of their presence.

>>15439226
>advance regiment is still close
Oh crap, I just realized. They're much, much closer than our initial reports indicated. This is bad.

>>15439281

"No, we're ALL going. That's the way we do things in the Crystal Caverns." You say to her, perhaps a bit more harshly than you intended. She seems a bit taken aback.

You load up the wounded, taking them back into the tight tunnels. A number of them have been badly injured by green slime, the flesh eating substance reducing their flesh to a gelatinous liquid. The stuff is hated by every subterranean race, so the fact that they're using it is surprising. The black mold has infected a few soldiers, who cry out in pain periodically. Black veins and cold limbs mark the infected, and the healers talk of a possible gangrene infection in some of the soldiers. You are met by the second regiment after about ten minutes, the normally glowing eyes of the basilisk tank dimmed, its disitingrating eye rays spent. A few trogs are bound, with gags and blindfolds in the transport carts you had originally intended to use for transport of goods. Your travel due south is hectic, and the Diamond Spears are on guard as you pass by the drow stronghold. The tired soldiers collapse, clearly grateful for your assistance.

Your lead healer comes to you with a request. He needs anticoagulants to treat the infected. He knows of some plants that should be nearby that would have such properties. He is hesitant to gather them, as more scouts could be nearby, not to mention more green slime. He says that without the anticoagulant, their bodies could continue to cut off the circulation to their limbs until the tissue dies. However, if not enough coagulant can be supplied, the effect could spread to the rest of their bodies, which would definately kill them.

>>15439848
Have him take some of our soldiers along with him as escort, while the rest of us create a defensive perimeter.
Tell him to do it quickly; we can't be caught in a firefight here, and we need to get the wounded to better facilities back at the Crystal Cavern.

>>15439894

You give him leave. The party comes back without any incident. You do get some bad news: the anticoagulant is limited in quantity. This means he will either have to make another trip later on or let some go without.

After fording a river on the way back, your lead healer asks for leave to go on a second expedition.

>>15440429
Could we teleport him back to the Crystal Cavern for more anticoagulant, or teleport some of the more critical cases?

Otherwise, do the same as before. Make sure that the soldiers with him keep a sharp eye out.

>>15440510

You can teleport back with more anticoagulant, of various kinds. The healer does note that a few of the patients appear to be having a slight alergic reaction to the processed medicine, but he dismisses it as nothing major.

Your scouts say that everything seems clear ahead. Still, as you lie down to sleep, you can't help but feel uneasy.

>>15440658
We've learned to trust in our gut instincts.

Cast a Magnificent Mansion spell, and take refuge in there. It's safer, and easier for us to hide so that any trog patrols will skip over us.

>>15440677

You gather everyone closer by, and meditate for about 15 minutes. You attain a quiet state, the world around you grinding to a stop.

"Morlor, I need your protection." You whisper. A ghostly visage of an older kobold with a small embroidered cap. He lets loose a hacking cough. "What? You running away again, Myther?"

You sigh. "It's Mynthar. And no, it's to protect some others."

He grumbles. "Fine, whatever. When I was alive, I used that mansion to attack the bastards wherever they were! Remember that!"

You feel slightly embarrassed as you cast the spell, and usher everyone inside.

>>15440963
Using Magnificent Mansion offensively?
Oh this story I have GOT to hear.

And with that, I must sleep for a few hours.
Thanks for running this extra session, VKO!

The following day, you manage to get within a day's travel of the Crystal Caverns. Passing through the lich's domain, the basilisk tank threatens to destroy any of the undead minions that might aggress you. They seem to ignore you, for the most part.

You are however, greeted by a contingent of very unwelcome creatures. A group of dwarves, near the edge of the lich's domain, between you and your territory. They begin shouting in dwarven as your group rounds a corner in the passages, readying their crossbows and axes as they catch sight of you.

"This is bad." You hear your squad leader say as he levels his rifle.

You feel a frown start to form on your face. You hate dwarves.

>>15441075
Force Wall, immediately between us and the dwarves.
Do we know Dwarven?

>>15441099

You move forward, conjuring a wall between both of you. One of the dwarves fires their crossbow, the bolt spinning off of the wall of force. You look on at the bearded creatures as they yell and shout. You never learned Dwarven. You did however learn comprehend languages.

"-mn scaly bastards came around from out of nowhere! What's that wall?"

"It's keeping them away, Franz. Don't question it!"

One of them calls out in poor draconic to you. "What do you do here, kobolds? This is not your land!"

"Just tell me if you want them brought down, magistrate." The leader of the squad says to you, leveling his rifle.

"What? What that language? You are kobolds, no speak draconic?" The dwarf says, somewhat angrily. "Why you here?"

>>15441266
"No, this area is not part of our domain. Nor is it yours.
"Now stop your shouting before you call down the attention of the lich on all of us, you alcohol-addled gits!"
Turn to the squad leader and make the hand signs to prepare flash grenades.

>>15442807

You resist the urge to put your head in your hand. "No, this area is not part of our domain. Nor is it yours.

"Now stop your shouting before you call down the attention of the lich on all of us, you alcohol-addled gits!" You rasp at them, trying to get them to shut up.

"Ach!" The dwarf you're talking to says, after hearing your insult. "How dare you talk to me that way! I ought to teach you some manners, you cowardly rat-dog!" He sneers, shaking his weapon at you.

"You dwarves wouldn't know the sharp end of a pick if one was stuck in your head!" The leader of your squad of soldiers says, through the barrier. You glare at him. He shrugs, probably grinning beneath the mask.

>>15444966
"We don't have time for this. We have superior firepower and numbers. Any conflict you enter into will result in the death of you and your unit.
"If you want to get yourselves killed in another futile attempt on the lich, that's your prerogative."

Look for another way around them.
Otherwise, create Walls of Force to basically bottle them up so we can pass by them.

>>15445079

"We don't have time for this. We have superior firepower and numbers. Any conflict you enter into will result in the death of you and your unit." You try to explain more calmly to them.

"Oh! The rat dresses up in some fancy clothing and he things that makes him better'n us!" The dwarf says in his native tongue, leveling his weapon.

"If you want to get yourselves killed in another futile attempt on the lich, that's your prerogative." You say to them, glaring down your nose at one.

"Lich? What lich?" The dwarf answers back.

You point to the sign, just over his shoulder, sighing. "You boys aren't from around here, are you?"

You hear the hissing breaths of a morhg off in the distance. The dwarves look at the sign, and then at you.

"If you're so tough, how come he's still here, dog-breath?" The dwarf says.

You sigh. You remember the words of your ancestor during your meditation. Using the mansion offensively? How in earth would you...

>>15445174
"He's still here, because he is an inoffensive neighbor who respects our borders, as long as we give him his privacy. And now, it looks like you've gained his attention."

Cast Magnificent Mansion, have everyone escape inside, and let the undead deal with the dwarves.
Maybe also write quickly on a wall in large letters, in Draconic, "Very sorry for the noise, just passing through to the Crystal Cavern. Will be on our way shortly when you're done here."

I suppose another way to use the mansion spell offensively, would be to lure the enemy into it, then dispel the spell once they're trapped inside.

"He's still here, because he is an inoffensive neighbor who respects our borders, as long as we give him his privacy. And now, it looks like you've gained his attention." You say, placing a shimmering entrance to an imagined building, and ushering everyone inside. You stay outside for a moment, drifting back into your meditative state for a split second.

"What did you mean, old one? About using this spell offensively?"

The hacking cough heralds the voice of your ancestor. "Well, think of it this way. You have around 420 cubic feet to do with as you will in there, and barely any tell that you've cast it. Be creative!"

You hear the rasping voice of a morhg. "Dwarves? Good. It's been a long time since I've had dwarf!" The dwarves appear to be looking for someplace to run. You place a large mark on the wall while the bearded ones deliberate.

>>15445456
>420 cubic feet to do with as you will in there, and barely any tell that you've cast it
Oh, I get it. Fill it up with sand or water, or even gas, and once the door is open, have it all spill out.

>>15445553

Well, not exactly. You can get things to go into the mansion, but the mansion's contents can't exit it. Luring someone in is the right idea, though.

You think your wall will go down soon. You have a feeling the answer is as simple as one of the most basic traps you've ever made.

The dwarves start to head towards CCCP territory.

>>15445725
"You'll only get shot up if go that way! Don't say I didn't warn you!"

But yeah, we could use the Mansion as a great trap, filling the inside with poison gas and whatnot. But right now, we've got to take cover, let the undead take care of the dwarves, and then continue on the last leg of our trip when the undead has moved on.

>>15445762

"You'll only get shot up if go that way! Don't say I didn't warn you!" You say as you duck into your own mansion.

After the sounds of screaming have ceased, you let everyone out and move on to the northern gate of the crystal caverns.

>>15446041
Alright, as soon as we're in secured land, have the medics take the wounded straight to the hospital. Have some of the soldiers go ahead and get some tents/temporary housing ready for the Diamond Spear people.
Have the mages take the samples of the poisons used by the trogs to the research labs to be analyzed by our alchemists.
Have the prisoners taken to holding cells, where they will be kept separated and prevented from talking with each other.
Finally, get some runners from our office to send a notice to the Council: "Negotiations with Drow concluded favorably. Found group of kobolds running from the Northern Trog Empire. Rescued them, have captured NTE scouts. Will provide full report once interrogations are completed."

>>15446111

You keep yourself busy with the numerous tasks of getting things organized. You notice a few among the wounded with vicious scars across their bodies, probably from some kind of segmented blade.

In the week that follows, your alchemists make a medicine that will seek out and destroy the blackish substance, which they name "black maim". It appears to be some kind of cultured fungus, designed to render the victims incapable of escape. Eventually, it constricts the veins heavily enough that the body parts will die, and have to be removed, lest the rest of the body contract gangrene. Several of the wounded soldiers, injured in earlier conflicts, bear the marks of the affliction.

You keep the trogs drugged and move them to the prison. The setup of the tents goes well enough, with the Diamond Spears assisting, those who can, anyway.

"Negotiations with Drow concluded favorably. Found group of kobolds running from the Northern Trog Empire. Rescued them, have captured NTE scouts. Will provide full report once interrogations are completed."

You finish writing your note, and after handing it off lean back in your chair, sighing. Some days, you really wish you could have a break.

>>15446427
Write up the treaty that we said we would, and tell the head of the Traders that he'll need to get a trade negotiation team together to work out a price for the magic items we want to trade with the Drow for.

We should inform Ghaon how close an advance scout force of troglodytes has come, and that he should have his scout patrols on high alert.

Now, let's get to the interrogations. Does the military have an interrogation team?

You consider a few things. You need more information on the NTE, and the Diamond Spears are one of the few who can provide it. The trogs are unlikely to be as responsive, and with their propensity for using fungal weaponry, they're clearly not to the point where you can expect some negotiations. They wanted the Diamond Spears dead, for some reason or another.

You drum your fingers against the back of your head. You don't like the idea of executing prisoners of a race you're allied with, but if they have such an "us or them" mentality, it would be best for you to switch over to the same quickly instead of wasting time with negotiations.

You shake your head. Maybe you're just extrapolating a lot from this. Genocide is a thing that took hundreds of years for the drow to declare on the surface elves, and at least a few generations for the dwarves to declare all kobolds their enemies (At least, after the great Stalheim Gnome Massacre). You'd be hesitant to declare it too quickly. It could make your people look like they were incredibly aggressive. No one would willingly ally with such a group.

>>15446477

After a short break, you write up a few more notices to the proper people and the treaty you talked about the drow with. You head off to observe the interrogations, headed by a few military men wearing gas masks. They lead you to a small observation room.

In the room is a single trog, restrained on a wall, glaring at the interrogator with a look of disdain.

"Don't bother with your musk." The interrogator says, his hands folded behind his back. The interrogator looks back over to you, tapping the side of his head suggestively.

>>15446737
Do we know Detect Thoughts?

"Now then, what was your goal, here? These people were running away from you." The interrogator says, holding up a small stone arrowhead that one of your scouts gathered. It is still smeared with some of the black substance. "And using this... Weapon on them signifies that you didn't want them surviving." He looks over at the trog, "Why is that?"

The troglodyte's tail swishes, but he says nothing.

The interrogator looks him over. "You know, you didn't have much, for scouts. Leather armor, bows, barely any food. Why so far from the empire with so few supplies?"

The troglodyte shrugs as best he can with both of his arms restrained.

"Hmm. It makes me wonder." The interrogator says, holding the arrowhead up to his goggles. "Do you have an antidote for this stuff?"

The trog instantly stiffens up.

The interrogator tilts his head to one side. "Is that a no?"

>>15446867

You tell one of your subordinates to get a scroll of detect thoughts in here. Whatever he's thinking now, it might be good.

>>15446895
The interrogator is doing good work.
Once we cast Detect Thoughts, concentrate on the troglodyte to see what he's thinking.

>>15446895
This interrogator's a smart one, I like him. Asking something like that, in the way he asked it, isn't something most would think of.

Also, they don't have an antidote, that's bad.

If we're really going to get to him, the way to do it would be asking what he'd do if he had to watch one off his allies wasting away from their own poison.

>>15446925

"Because, you know, we're still developing one." The interrogator says, spinning the arrowhead in his hand. "And I must say, I'm short on patience. If you can't serve us by giving us information," He says, pressing the arrowhead up against the trog's left thigh. "Maybe you'd serve best as a test subject instead. I mean, the stuff should take longer to work."

The trog tries to recoil back, hissing.

"C'mon, I'll give you to the count of ten to say something, and then you'll get your own medicine." The kobold says, not relenting.

You receive and cast the scroll. The troglodyte's mind is an open book.

|-not that stuff! I wish I could say something, don't want to lose the leg, that stuff works on us, doesn't it?|

"Four, three, two-"

>>15447049
Hmm...it can't talk? As in, it actually cannot talk, rather than choosing to not talk?

"Interrogator, hold for a second.
"Troglodyte, are you physically incapable of speech right now? Do you wish to speak, but cannot? If so, nod.
"Otherwise, let me get the alchemists before you continue, interrogator. I'm sure they would wish to take notes as to how the poison progresses."

>>15447117

"Interrogator, hold for a second." You say, and the interrogator gives you a rather aggressive look as he steps away from the trog.

"Troglodyte, are you physically incapable of speech right now? Do you wish to speak, but cannot? If so, nod." The troglodyte seems surprised by your words, hesitating for a brief time.

"Otherwise, let me get the alchemists before you continue, interrogator. I'm sure they would wish to take notes as to how the poison progresses." You say, not breaking eye contact with the trog. He quickly nods several times, letting out a rough croaking gasp.

|Is it that obvious? They told us the chemical muteness was undetectable... Still, it hasn't worn off by now. Will it wear off? Will I be able to talk again?|

You get some of the interrogator's thoughts as well.

|Ah, I feel so embarrassed now. I was getting so into character that I glared at the head magistrate! How do I even apologize for that?|

>>15447174
"Hmm...Interrogator, as the subject cannot speak, how would you recommend we extract his information?"

>>15447291

"Hmm...Interrogator, as the subject cannot speak, how would you recommend we extract his information?" You ask him.

|Please don't let it involve a lot of pain...| The troglodyte thinks.

"I'm not sure." The interrogator says. "Can you write?"

The troglodyte nods. |Can these guys read?|

"Fine, get him a table and we'll answer through the miracle of the written word." The interrogator waves his hand to his fellows, who release the chains binding the trog.

|Wish I could escape. No way they'll let me alive after what he said.|

A few minutes later, the trog rubs his wrists, and has a piece of parchment sat in front of him with a charcoal writing stick.

"Now then," The interrogator says, striding from one side to the other. "Why did you want them dead?"

He writes hastily, dropping the charcoal when he's done.

""They didn't want to be a part of the empire."" The interrogator reads aloud. "Good to know."

>>15447402
Well, that at least gives us an idea of what to expect: "Join or Die".
Peace with the Northern Troglodyte Empire is pretty much impossible then.

Let's see what else the interrogator can get out of this trog. Such as the size of the advance force he was with, and how many other such forces are active.

>>15447493

The rest of the interrogation goes smoothly. You find out that the advance force numbers around 600, and that their goal is scouting and tracking down any who have information about them. The trog claims not to know how many other advance forces there are, but says that his tribe's warriors make up most of the force he was with. He says that the other reason the Diamond Spears were being hunted is that they refused to pay tribute for protection.

He thinks mostly about his inability to speak, and thinks that perhaps he may have been betrayed by someone called "Krajant".

>>15447619
Ask him who this 'Krajant' is.
Also, what is the timetable for the advance scout party to return to the Empire, or is to be met by reinforcements?

>>15447648

"Who is Krajant?" You ask him.

He looks at you, seeming startled. |How does he kno- Of course. Why didn't he just ask me to think my answers, then?|

|Krajant is the head gardener of these plants. Among other things, he outfits us with our specialized equipment. This stuff that muted me, it was supposed to wear off last week. And now, it's nearly gotten me killed. The others, too, they haven't been able to speak. Musk-talk gets annoying after so many weeks.| He begins thinking rapid-fire. He writes down the information about Krajant.

|Gardener used to be a position of great honor, he says. Thousands of years ago, when our people ruled... Why have they done this to me?|

"When can your group expect to me moved?" You ask him.

|In- No! If he knows, they'll kill them. I've already betrayed for that traitor, but my fellows, they don't deserve this. They can't say anything in their own defense, and they have too much faith to realize we've been taken advantage of. Sacrificial worms?| The thought fills him with rage. |What else can I tell you? What else do you need to know to hurt that plant-whispering bastard?|

>>15447770
Has the one northern trog tribe that we were asked to meet with, have they joined with the Empire?

Also, this Krajant; does he have disciples? Are there others like him that we should watch for?

>>15447854


|Which tribe do you ask of? Many have joined already.| The troglodyte thinks.

|Indeed, a number of other troglodyte earth-worshipers tend to the plants. We had none in our tribe. We worshiped Akher, goddess of the hunt, stealth and silence.| He says, seeming frustrated. |Now, we are forever silent.|

(back after a meal break)

>>15447902
I think it was the Spider Web Clan. They were mentioned as wanting to meet us in a previous session, but I can't find them on sup/tg/.

>>15448471

They are now known as the Spider Web Clan.

|No, they hadn't given a decision, last I heard.|

He writes down some directions to them, which the interrogator reads aloud.

The trog looks angry, though not at you. A few remarks from the interrogator suggest the smell has gotten more pungent.

bump

>>15448812
Alright. Now ask him about military protocols, the size of scouting squads and their operating procedures. Basically things that would help our scouts and GRU agents slip past their patrols.

>>15449174

He seems to know a bit about the size of the patrols, saying each group is around 20. The group you brought down was around 30. They tend to use their own scouting tactics, but he thinks his clan was an exception.

|Our ancestors bred with the earth, that we might remain unnoticed in her busom. That is the legend we were told. Our sneakmaster impressed the examiners, so we did not have to do any extra training.| He pauses. |I think they may be incorporating some of our strategies, but...| He looks straight at you. |I need to know what's to become of me, of my clanmates. I refuse to tell you any more until I know that.|

>>15449303
"Very well. We will deliberate on your future, and give you an answer."

The two of you stare each other for a while. You call a halt to the interrogation. You need a bit of time to think.

These troglodytes... You're still not sure how you feel about them. Clearly this one feels his loyalty is misplaced.

>>15449548

Before that, you say this.

Your interrogator is very confused by this development.

>>15449569
We could just kill them all, but what would that serve?
They won't join us, because then they would fight against their own brethren.
And keeping them alive doesn't ensure the good treatment of any of our soldiers who are captured.

We could let them live in exchange for information, but after that, they would become a drain on precious resources.

>>15449582
Motion for the interrogator, and lead him out of the room. Explain to him what happened, that we were using a Detect Thoughts spell because the trog couldn't speak.

Have the trog taken back to its cell, and have the interrogation teams interview the Diamond Spear tribe. No scaring them; just regular debriefing.
I want to know where they were attacked, where their territory was, and if any of their surrounding tribes were resisting the trogs, or had accepted their rule.

>>15449672
>>15449703

Your explanation seems to make the interrogator more tense. You tell him the spell has worn off. He seems all ready to apologize, but has a hard time actually doing so. He does provide some useful insight though. The trog seemed quite genuinely afraid of the black fungus. He swears he wasn't going to stick the trog, but you wonder if he's trying to convince you or himself of that.

You get the report back from the Diamond Spear tribe leaders later in the day.

Their territory was along the Gundren Crevice, an underground canyon over 300 miles to the north-west. They were so named because of the numerous gem mines the tribe laid claim to. They had to remain hidden, however, due to their proximity with their drow and troglodyte neighbors. The trogs had found them long ago and the two traded with one another.

When the Golgremet Empire approached them, they were amicable, for troglodytes. They offered a high position in the government that was to come. Conservatively, the leader of the Diamond Spears, Renir's father, Rimons, declined, saying that they would still be willing to trade with the Golgrem, but that their tribe was not up for fighting a war. The Golgrem later organized a meeting with him and a few of the other leaders of the tribe, saying that it was to discuss trade agreements. The trogs returned, throwing Rimons to the ground, his back badly twisted. They stated quite simply that the kobolds of the Diamond Spears would pay tribute, or they would all die. Renir decided to flee, with her father and the others wounded by the troglodytes in tow. They split or dwindled down to the 140 or so that now survive, some others following her protegee, a kobold wizard named Farmok.

Many of the surrounding tribes who had not already joined up or been conquered began to hide after the Diamond Spears fled. Apparently, they still have quite the haul hidden deep in their underground home, with a few very dedicated ascetics the only ones who know how to get in.

>>15449873
Well, at least now we know what they call themselves.
The Golgremet Empire has made it abundantly clear that subjugation or war are the only choices.

Has the military been able to secure the facility that we rescued Tayne from, and has any progress been made in examining its technology?

>>15449927

The facility has been placed under observation. They are co-ordinating things with some diviners to map out the place. Apparently, it does strange things to divination magic. Many of the diviners complain of occasionally glimpsing pure black, lifeless places when they gaze into it.

Tayn has recovered, in addition. Aside from a period for observation, he's set for action.

>>15449982
We may need to step up the scrying attempts so that we can move forces in more quickly and clear out the inhabitants.

As for Tayn, I can't think of a use for him yet.

What can we do with the trogs? Would we be allowed to offer them Geneva Convention-style POW accommodations until the end of any war we fight with the Golgremet Empire?

So, any other plans within plans?

>>15450166
Well, if as magistrate, we have the authority to set up a POW camp and actually feed the prisoners, then I think we should do so.
Offer the trog we had interrogated the lives of his clanmates and his own, and certain reasonable accommodations, in exchange for information concerning the Golgremet Empire, its military, how it functions, and their methods. Especially the stealth methods that his clan uses.

>>15450165

You tell them to hurry things up, basically.

You could give them fair treatment, if that's what you want to do. Be the better bipedal reptiles. You could let it become someone else's problem. Hell, you could make their lives a living hell long as you didn't leave any marks. Not like they could tell anyone about it.

Of course, this is still before any formal declarations of war. Though this first clash has certainly given you a taste of what their army is going to be like.

>>15450255
We need the information. And it's better to treat our prisoners well, to try to cultivate double-agents from amongst them.
Let's go with the offer in >>15450241

>>15450241

You bring the trog back in. He sits quietly, awaiting judgment.

"We are willing to allow your clanmates to live, provided they co-operate and allow us to shelter them. We can feed them, house them in a separate area. To the Golgremet, they'll simply have been wiped out." You say to him. "If and when the war starts, you'll all be categorized as prisoners."

He sits, thinking about this for a bit.

"We have a tribe of troglodytes whom we have allied with. Perhaps at some point, if we were to build up enough trust, we could arrange something similar." You say to him. "We've never had such a widespread case of muteness, but we could certainly look into a cure in that case."

That is the bait the trog bites into. He motions for a piece of parchment and something to write with. You give him some ink this time.

The Golgremet empire usually offers for a peaceful resolution, to those it feels can support the empire. Those who do not show any sign of wishing to work with the empire are subjugated, then those subjugated peoples give tribute and soldiers to the Empire.

Its military is a large conglomeration. Soldiers are rarely mixed, to ensure unit cohesion. The commanders are always troglodytes from the original tribe, or one of the more loyal tribes.

They are currently subjugating a group in the north known as the K'lern, a group of kobolds and subterranean goblins, with groups of strange bird-men that he explains are from the south on the surface. You recall that the polarity of magnets is switched on the surface. This is one reason you've always said never to try conquering the surface, because orders would get confusing.

The trog seems to know little about Golgremet strategy.

>>15450628
The Tengu mercenaries?
Just to clarify, are the tengu fighting against the Empire, or are they fighting in service to it?

Will the troglodyte instruct our scouts in the methods of his clan's stealth? It would aid our scouts, as well as showing them what to look for in the enemy.

Also, this talk of another kobold tribe reminded me; we had sent a diplomat mission to the Alloyed Brotherhood; did we ever make contact with them?

>>15450734

The tengu mercenaries were hired to fight against the empire. However, they know when best to get out of Dodge. The trog explains they've likely already abandoned the cause.

The trog explains that the advanced stealth methods were actually taught to his people by a traveling tengu ascetic. He explains the stealthmasters can disappear in cover of darkness from even his people's sight, or scent. He explains the methods used for infiltration and covering tracks as well. They might be willing to train your people, but he explains he's obviously not a stealthmaster, as he was caught.

Your diplomat to the Alloyed Brotherhood has not returned.

>>15450930
These tengu, while perhaps not reliable enough as conventional fighters, may be useful for our GRU, in teaching certain stealth methods.
This is something we should look into. Get a description and name of the tengu ascetic, and try to have him tracked down and hired.

The long silence from our diplomat is disconcerting. And could also be very bad news. I think we should put together another expedition this time, to see what happened to the first one.
Given the Empire's size, we need to know if the Alloyed Brotherhood will ally with us, or if they've already been subverted or wiped out by the Empire.

I think that's enough from the trog for now.

>>15451031

You get the description of the ascetic, known as Riklaw Shadefoot. He promises to be a challenge to track down.

You give the trog a comforting pat on the shoulder, and send him away.

Perhaps you should look into what has happened in the alloyed brotherhood personally? There must be a good reason for the diplomat not coming back.

You receive an odd message that night, from the department of distribution. It asks if you would like a personal assistant.

>>15451075
Accept the assistant. We're going to become very busy, very soon.

Write up a general report outlining what we've found out about the Golgremet Empire, their policy and what they're doing.

Also, prepare another expedition to the Alloyed Brotherhood. We'll ask the Council for permission to go and make contact with the Brotherhood.

>>15451113

You answer the short note in the affirmative. You've had your hands full int he past with minor grievances compared to this. You tell them to be ready for travel soon.

You give a report to the council, and ask for permission to lead an expedition to the Alloyed Brotherhood. They deliberate for a short, time, asking you to take only a small unit of armed guard, if any. Ghaon suggests sending some of the GRU, but you point out the small size, saying that stretching them thin so early might be dangerous. Ghaon agrees after a bit of deliberation. The nighttime meeting ends, and Ghaon sends you a small notice, for a family dinner his family will have in the following month. You smirk a bit. After ten years? You're not sure you've grown up enough to not embarrass him at such a gathering. Have to get him back somehow for bullying you and your brother when you were kids. Then again, you did some bullying of your own back at him once you learned some magic.

If you want to have a small contingent, maybe up to three personal guards, you can leave the following night. Getting more to go will take longer, as covert operatives are hard to come by.

>>15451162
We'll go with the three guards, and the small contingent.
Speed and stealth will be important to us.
Also, with our magic, the smaller number of people we have to buff/teleport with, the better.
Ask Tayn if he wants to come.
Before we leave, make sure that the antidote to the poisons used by the Empire are given over to the military so they can produce enough antidote doses for their scouts operating in areas they might encounter Empire troops. Same with our allied trogs, too.

...I've been reading through great military and intelligence blunders on wikipedia, and now I'm paranoid I'm making a mistake.

>>15451246

You elect to go as soon as possible. When you ask if Tayn wants to go along he simply asks for anything besides sitting in bed. You can hardly blame him. He'd been in bed for over two weeks with magical healing, when he could get it.

You make sure the antidote is distributed among anyone who will come in contact with the black maim. You don't need Dalak keeling over from too much work in the coming months, and you already expect it to be high.

After a few more preparations you head off to bed, sleeping like a rock.

The following day, you hear a knock on your door, rousing you from a nice dream.

"One minute!" You call out, quickly dressing in a loose robe and walking over to the door. You groggily open the door, seeing Turen standing attentively outside your house.

"Good morning magistrate." He says cheerfully. You can see that he has gotten a replacement eye on his left side, and the plated ioun sphere glows a deep blue. He is clad in a set of dark blue robes, with the hem cut at about mid-thigh and embroidered with black trim. The sleeves of the robe are a "sorcerer's cut", ending a few inches past the elbow. You always preferred complete freedom of motion, but personal taste in fashion is beyond your groggy brain.

You try to connect things in your head, but things just aren't working this morning. You realize you're hungry.

"Breakfast?" Your brain asks. Your stomach answers.

Turen stands at your door, grinning for some reason.

>>15451469
Blood flows to the brain, and brings consciousness, and realization.
"I should have known...alright Assistant Turen, time for your first task as Assistant to the Magistrate: Get Breakfast Ready."

And get dressed, and eat breakfast.

>>15451564

You plant a warm metal palm on your forehead. "I should have known...alright Assistant Turen, time for your first task as Assistant to the Magistrate: Get Breakfast Ready."

"Yessir!" He says cheerily, moving inside, over to your stove. He gets out a few roots and starts up a fire. He cooks a few fish over the fire while you get dressed and complete your morning meditation, along with a bowl of hot, cooked grains. It's surprisingly filling.

He simply sits as you eat. This is a usual occurrence amongst a people who sometimes go for days without eating.

"I was glad you accepted, sir." He says, as you start to finish. "Is there anything you'd like me to get before we go?"

>>15451654
"Actually, there are.
"I want you to pull up the route that the original expedition to the Alloyed Brotherhood was supposed to take, and get copies of maps of the regions they would have passed through. Make note of any natural hazards along the route, and make sure that our expedition is equipped accordingly.
"I want a summary of our projected path ready by evening."

As for ourselves, read up on all available information regarding the Alloyed Brotherhood.
Oh, and before we forget, make sure that increased food rations are allotted for our trog allies, and that the nutritionists can begin their studies.

>>15451715

You finish your mouthful of fish. "Actually, there are."

"I want you to pull up the route that the original expedition to the Alloyed Brotherhood was supposed to take, and get copies of maps of the regions they would have passed through. Make note of any natural hazards along the route, and make sure that our expedition is equipped accordingly." You say. Turen listens attentively, standing to take your plate.

"I want a summary of our projected path ready by evening." You tell him.

"Yessir." Turen says quickly. He thinks for a moment. "I haven't ever seen another kobold civilization."

"Well, it's not a fun visit. Something's gone bad and we have a man missing." You say to him. "Though the Alloyed Brotherhood is an interesting place. The last time I was there, I had food from the deep southern tribes, met a few traveling deep kobolds and saw the western firedancers." You nod to him. "A lot of culture there. The government won't ally with ours because the consensus isn't complete."

"I see." Turen remarks, a finger on his chin. "Well, I'm sure I'll find out all about it soon enough." He walks to the door, clearly trying to hold back a giddy grin. He bows his head as he exits. "I will see you this evening, sir!"

You shake your head. To be that young and full of energy. You're still a bit hesitant about putting the kid in danger, but he's smart enough that he should be alright.

>>15451866
Is this trip to be a secret one, or just kept low-key as another diplomatic mission?

You send a message to the nutritionists to begin analyzing the trogs, and you read up on the political atmosphere of the Alloyed Brotherhood.

Kobolds from all over end up in the brotherhood. As such, its government is a mesh of the old elder councils of the ancient kobold tribes and a more modern autocracy below a number of competing forces. Some are post-tribal crime lords, others are head of religious orders, and some are leaders of rebellious circles. You recall the last time you were there, you were appalled at the theft that happened on a daily basis, and the armed goons in the streets. Some non-kobolds are members of the Brotherhood as well.

>>15451878
Sounds like we might not be able to get them to ally with us.
But if they're that independent-minded, they'll probably balk at the Empire's demands.

>>15451889
>>15451876

This doesn't have to be secret, but still, it might be best to show up unannounced. Consider avoiding duplication of any circumstance that could have cause the diplomat's disappearance.

The mutability of the politics and their fierce independence prevents them from agreeing with a lot of the CCCP's ideals. You keep explaining that your technology needs to be kept insular, but they see not getting it as a dealbreaker. The place is also known as the first society the Gray Death visited after about four years or so of dwarf killing.

>>15451916
>not getting our tech is a dealbreaker
Really? I had been under the impression that their science and technology was equal to our own, if not a little better.
By about how much is our technology ahead of their's? I thought our ioun ore prosthetics and cybertechnology, as well as line gun technology, was derived from their ioun myomer technology.

>>15451934

One of their technicians made an ioun myomer. They never developed their tech as far as you have. They can enchant things, make some unique things with it, but can't make half the things you can. Maybe that makes them jealous, but they refuse to allow you to keep your tech exclusive.

They do have powder guns, though most use treated crossbows because of both the legends about the Gray Death and because they are quite a bit cheaper. They, unlike most of the world, know what your tech is. They just can't make it.

You complete the rest of your preparations. Tayn is freed, and meets with you. He looks over the rest of the group with interest.

"I know more about your lineguns than most... Outsiders. They are powerful." He says, pointing at one of them. "How do you prevent the outsiders from getting them?"

"One, we take a lot of care to ensure that no one is left behind, or placed in a risky situation while with one." You say to him, gesturing to your own weapon. "Secondly, the methods of maintaining the propulsion system are very difficult. Unless someone had training in making them, repairing these weapons would be impossible."

"Magic won't do it?" Tayn asks.

"I'm afraid not." You tell him. "Each one of these is magical. And as you know, magic cannot normally repair magical items. While we make the propulsion on each one to last, without proper cleaning of the weapon, or any improper use, the gun breaks down."

Your group has one transport NAJA, six-legged and large enough to hold about eight people plus the pilot, and a minimum of luggage. The food you carry with you has been treated for maximum caloric intake with minimum space. They're kind of dry, but you had worse in the army.

Turen returns, just before evening. "Alright, sir, I have a route planned out."

Hey, VKO

Long time no see!

Glad you're back!

>>15452185

Hey, nice to be back!

Still working out a schedule for Sorcerer and Gargoyle quest, if you read either of those (It will probably be on Friday). I usually run this one on Wednesday.

The smaller kobold takes out a small sheaf of parchment. He has sketched a route through a main road, heading through a set of salt caves and valleys. "The diplomat took a route through here. There's some reports of bandits in the valleys, and legends of a white creature in the salt caves." He explains. "After that, we should be relatively safe. About 4 day's full march in the NAJA." He looks past you. "And there's my supplies, there." He points to the small packages by the NAJA. "Are we otherwise ready?"

Well is your body ready /tg/?

Keep it ready until Wednesday! We'll set off then!

>>15452196
Well, I read Sorcerer quest but never got around reading Gargoyle, always putting it of.
Now it seems a good chunk of the threads got deleted for some reason :(

>>15452371

Because Gargoyle quest was full of a million pictures.

There was really no reason for me having put so many pictures in there. Except the Q ones. Those were funny.

>>15452388
Dayum shame