Erallian Campaign; Session 2

Arlina pushed ahead towards the dipping sun. The other three companions were grouped together, speaking in near silent voices, and falling desperately behind. “Hurry up! We don’t have time to waste!” The cloaked bard continued shouting at them without once turning around, and, to her increasing frustration, they refrained from answering.

“So, Lunara… You say that you were once in the astral sea? I can’t believe it, but to look at you… Well, to look at you there is no doubt.” Zyrallus again took into account the burned wings and attempted to picture the giant woman in angelic fashion. He failed miserably. ‘There’s nothing left in her of that life. Maybe she prefers it that way.’ Azreck was far too busy admiring the sky to take into account anything the two were saying. He did, though, try his best to stay in line with them in order to foster some sort of companionship.

“Help! Help!” The three redirected their gaze towards Arlina and saw that a group of kobolds had her surrounded. They rushed in and began to draw their weapons, but the bard held up her hand. They continued their pace.

“Wux. Yth tir ti tuor ekess svent wux.” To all involved, the fact that the kobold was attempting communication was a great shock, at the very least. Unfortunately, Zyrallus knew little to none of draconic. It seemed that this would be another situation resolved solely through bloodshed. The rogue began to ready his rapier, but a clay fist moved him gently aside. Azreck stared into the eyes of the little monster before speaking, “Gethrisj. Yth jatil thric lowan. Ergriff wux maekrix nishka loreat.” And at that, like a kind of magic, the proud kobold warrior sniffed, sheathed his weapon, and herded his troops away. Everyone stared at the paladin, mouths proverbially dropped.

“I have lived a long life. I have learned much. Let us proceed.” For them, for now, that would have to be enough explanation. The sun was completely gone, and soon the true evils of the forest would present themselves. Kobolds and spiders and wolves were one thing. ‘Ogres and Basilisk are something else entirely,’ Zyrallus thought to himself. ‘Besides. Martanya is just across this valley. Or at least it should be.’

As the long trek continued, Lunara wondered momentarily back to a life she did not quite remember, and wished, against her own pride, that she could recall the glories of it. Serving Bahamut had been the greatest experience of her near thousand year life, but it seemed that even after a half century of fiery punishment for her misdeed, the true glories of her past would be forever forbidden. “Smoke. There, in the distance.” She pointed to a clearing, just barely visible in the moonlight. Two kobold underlings were slobbering over some kind of slaughtered game, and another, much larger kobold sat near a small campfire.

Zyrallus crept closer through the trees, took into account the details he could acquire, and returned to the party. “Definitely the leader of this small tribe. The only problem is that he’s blocking the pass to Martanya. I know that I could sneak by, but I have less faith in the rest of you succeeding. And to travel around at this time of night… No. We must fight.” All agreed that the best plan was, indeed, violence. They took their positions.

Azreck charged from the trees at the crossbow wielding kobold and knocked the little humanoid straight to the ground. The leader shouted some kind of arcane warcry before rushing to the giant paladin and hacking away at his legs. Zyrallus, hidden by the commotion, made his move. He leapt from the shadows and delivered such a powerful blow that the minor kobold warrior was immediately eliminated. Soon after, all that remained was the disgruntled warchief.

“Ragh! Thric kilith! Ergriff lowan!” Azreck, clearly understanding the kobold’s taunt, nodded before striking the beast down. The party sat in the camp and rested. Martanya was just a small walk to the north now. ‘Martanya… the rotting waste of southern Erallia. Heh. Rotting or not, I’ll be glad to get some peace and comfort.’ After a few hours, they gathered their resolve and ventured forth once again.