As the slink tries to escape from the group, Daituk gives him as close a chase as possible. Their hopes of taking the cult by surprise might not be lost yet. Of course, with their new companion's propensity for shouting challenges at anything that moves, it might all be for naught.

Move to AK18
Bond of Pursuit on Slink
13 damage to Slink

The slink can't have long to live now.

:cmb:

The dark assassin's ongoing struggle with her luck with the damning glue had been going for a while. And finally, she was successful. Again, being put in her place though certainly reminds her of her weakness of not capable of doing anything much.

The final kobold falls to furious assault of the group, and the area becomes still. The mess of bodies and blood everywhere, including the fact that all of the bodies belong to their enemies, is an encouraging thing.

Victory! 115 XP each. Presumed Zeno did what he was talking about doing so that i don't have to try to kill him.

The roaring of the waterfall continues as if nothing had ever happened. Now that they have a moment to themselves, the adventurers take a moment to look at their surroundings. There are two caves next to the waterfall, one on each side. The kobold which had made a break for it had been heading for the southern entrance.

Take time to heal, do whatever else you want to do, etc. you guys are in control, so do whatever. Cave will be revealed as you go inside.

Burn single surge to get to full.

The robot quickly searches the bodies. Maybe there is something on them of some use, and if not, maybe something that could shed a little light on the situation at hand. Y'never know.

Loot bodies

Suddenly, he remembers a movie he once saw. Maybe this'll work. He quickly searches for a spear, or any suitably lengthy branch from a tree, and checks if any of the kobold skulls haven't been caved in.

If successful, sever it, impale head on a stick for future sneaking assistance.

Finally, a bit of respite. These kobolds may not be the biggest threat to the group, but a bunch of them as big as the one they've just dispatched sure does slow them down in their endeavors.

Use on healing surge
Search the slink for any clues to what may lie inside the cave

After searching the slink and taking a quick breather, Daituk heads toward the construct who has recently joined their ranks.

"You there, otherworlder. Would it be too much to ask that the next time we have a chance to sneak up on our foes and observe them to possibly further our quest, you not start shouting your battle cries before we collectively agree to reveal ourselves?"

"And another thing, if your going to be laying your hands on me again with the intention of trying to launch me to the stars, could you at least try and give me a fair warning so I can prepare myself somewhat? I know you paladin-types have a sense of being divinely justified in every one of your actions, misguided as they may be, but our collective endeavors might be better served in us all not having to worry about one of our own trying to deliver any one of us into the hands of the enemy on a flying sliver platter. Your lucky I'm as fast on my hands as I am on my feet."

Oooooooh. Did he ever tell him. :smug bastard:

:cmb:

Optimus just looks at Daituk.

He realizes how easy it would be to dismember him, if he has to. This is good information to keep on hand for future use.

As my second wind died down, the cuts and bleeding on my body seemed to slow down and even stop, and I accelerated this process by washing my wounds in the waterfall-fueled river.

Rest until full health and no longer bleeding or anything like that

3 healing surges to get back up to full.

The battle over, Truckbus takes a short moment to catch his breath and patch himself up the best he can. Then, he frowns. The barrel of grog seems to be gone. Damned kobolds.

He kicks the slink's corpse because of a lingering disgust at its backstabbiness, then searches it. From his previous encounters with the kobolds, he does not have high hopes for any salvage, but it's worth a try.

Truckbus then returns to the slinger's corpse. The sling is probably useless, but he decides to carefully wrap any remaining gluepots or ammo in strips of the kobold's attire. Might come in handy some day. Maybe as a condiment?

Search slink and slinger.

That done, Truckbus catches sight of Prime, remembers how the warforged transformed during the skirmish, and approaches him.

"Friend golem! Can you teach me how to be a chariot?"

2 Healing Surges to full.

Thia wonders if there's anymore available glue to be found and to be used for later?

She looks about in amazement and hope to find something handy.

Search the ground around her. 5x5

Oh that reminds me Truckbus, lets share a barrel of grog together!

The group finds nothing more interesting than the last two times they fought the kobolds, just the dragonshield's sword (the shield had some major cracks running through it from when Truckbus had so graciously landed on its owner), the slinger's empty orb-holder, and a whole lot of pointed sticks. These guys were going to need some more advanced weaponry if they wanted to be effective combatants against anything other than fat merchants. The kobolds have some money on them. 5 gold coins might get one a nice brew, if one was very, very lucky, but hey, it's something.

5gp found. also spears and javelins, but nobody actually cares about those.

As the group goes about the business of tending to their wounds, Daituk gives Optimus what-for, and Thia looks for anything terribly interesting in the vicinity. The goop which had entrapped her was already starting to solidify, and as such it wasn't going to be of much use to anyone anymore. As she searches the area, Thia comes across some interesting rocks, and a neat looking bug, but nothing actually useful.


Prime chops off a kobold head and puts it on one of the spears. He can make its mouth open and close when he shakes the stick up and down! what fun.

Prime creates kobold head-on-a-stick. In related news, children everywhere are pretending to chop off each other's heads. Transformers is canceled by producers in concessions to angry mobs in exchange for their lives and the show never returns.

Prime throws a single dollar to everyone.

They're rich. Horray!

With his kobold puppet, Prime moves forward, popping his head around carefully to the two cave mouths to see if he can see anything.

Truckbus's question is met by money in his face. A little flummoxed, he takes it and wanders off. He'll have to figure out this transforming thing on his own.

The southern cave entrance was where the kobold was headed for, so he could expect to find kobolds instead. The north entrance was a little more mysterious. Truckbus checks the area surrounding both entrances carefully for tracks, spoor or any indication as to what lies within - aside from kobolds, that is.

Nature check... 21

Once he is done with that, he doubles back around to Thia. "When you say grog, lass, I'm all ears!"

After a healing surge I decided to investigate the entrances to the caves along with Truckbus, but I doubt I'd find anything he hadn't. Before I could actually look though, I was suddenly presented with a dollar. Hmm, guess fighting to my near-death was at least worth something

"Thanks for the gold, I'll spend it later."

I was standing there looking pretty daft when it hit me, or rather, the waterfall did. I had an idea.

Check for anything around the Waterfall, such as a hidden entrance

Truckbus discovers that the areas around both cave mouths is thoroughly trampled down, though the one to the north is less so. considering how much closer this entrance was, why didn't the kobold just use it instead of trying to dash across the stream? A mystery.

Prime pokes his head around the north cave entrance, and pulls it back immediately - he spots three kobolds in the area he could see alone, and there were a lot of places out of his range of vision. If the group wants to get any more information about the cave's layout without alerting its inhabitants, they're going to have to be pretty quiet about it. Prime thinks he spots something moving in his glance through the southern cave entrance, though he can't tell what it is.



Zeno looks closely at the waterfall. He can see faint light reaching through from the other side, but he can't tell much more than that. The waterfall could provide a way for the adventurers to surprise anyone in the cave, presuming they could get through without being crushed by the water.

Option for entry - moving through the waterfall takes three moves and requires a DC15 endurance check to avoid being knocked prone.

Stealth Check
Perceptive Check
Acrobatics Check
Revert to Shade Form

I spy a couple of kobolds in there! Thia starts to creep along the riverbank after hearing them. Or so she believes anyway. She KNOWS she's wispy enough for that waterfall to hit her but she still had an idea of just literally an Aeon Flux/Matrix jump through the waterfall somehow. But to be safe, she goes through her shade form to cover her possible fumble.

Thia's misty form leaps towards the waterfall... and is instantly pulled down into the pool. That form just didn't have enough substance to make it through the watery curtain. Thia's misty self swirls below the water for a moment before being pushed out into the stream. As she collects herself (as much literally as figuratively) downstream, she scowls inwardly at the gods who had created this world. Stupid physics, always ruining her fun.

Truckbus sees Thia fail in her attempt to enter the waterfall. The dwarf, however, is somewhat more solid - even if he thinks that a WALL OF WATER is UNNATURAL AND INDECENT AND NOT VERY NICE AT ALL.

He says to his other compatriots, "That north cave probably has less kobolds innit. Don't know about big uglies though. Or I can try to pull you folks through that water wall, because I'm a big strong dwarf." Then he, too, plunges through the waterfall.

Endurance check.... 25 :cmb:
Hawk, can I roll an Athletics or Endurance to try to assist anyone else who wants to go through the falls?

It seems like the waterfall will be the way in for the group. Even though it seems like a bit much for his somewhat frail constitution, Daituk summons up his courage and heads straight for the waterfall, looking into it for any sign of the dwarf's outstretched hand or anything else that could help him get across.

The Gith crosses the waterfall as smoothly as his fullblade goes through a kobold's hide. He assumes a proud pose as he stands up on the other side, before suddenly realizing that he might do well to look around a bit in case anyone or anything besides his companions had also been witness to his athletic prowess.

Look around the cave and try to detect any hint of movement
Prepare to aid others to cross the waterfall

:cmb:

I figured that with my lean fit body and with a good running start, I could get through that waterfall un-assisted.

Okay, so this waterfall is pretty stubborn. The second time through I barely missed the ledge and slid back down.

After flailing around for a third time, I decided that me and mr. waterfall would never be good friends and I should just call it quits.

I reconvene with Thia to plan the next move for us non-waterfall-beating companions, and dry off my clothes.

Prime watches everyone try to perform the simple task of walking forward.

He robo-sighs as he watches a little rain bring everyone to a stop. Pansies.

Go to north side of north cave mouth

Head on a pole is going to become more useful than he thought.

He sticks just the head around the corner, and waggles it to make it "talk".

"Hey guys I need a hand, can Jimmy and Joe Bob and Jimbo all come over here?"

Lure out the three minions I can see from there

Optimus signals to the rest of his crew. Maybe they'll pay some attention. Form up, get ready, three coming. Shank 'em.

Ready charge + Ardent Strike on the first one to leave the mouth of the cave.
8 + 6 + 1 = 15. Hit minion vs AC when/if they come out.

Thia decides to join Prime via the northern entrance. (Keeping with the checks earlier? Or do I need to reroll those?)

Shadow Darts to any approaching minion.

Looks like the mechanical has a plan with a disturbingly useful head on a stick. Better then nothing I suppose.

I took position near the two and prepared for anything that might come out of there.

Energy Strobe against anything that comes out
16 + 4 = 20 against Minion vs Reflex, like Prime

Truckbus stays put behind the waterfall, because he's a stubborn dwarf like that. Hopefully this means he can get the jump on whatever's lurking nearby.

Optimus waves his head-on-a-stick through the cave mouth. As soon as he sees the scaly foot around the corner, Prime jumps out and decapitates the unfortunate kobold on the spot. Alas, none of the others had noticed the poor imitation, but they did notice the scream of their ally just before it was cut short. Unfortunately for them, the kobolds weren't prepared for battle. The sounds of the battle outside were nothing compared to the roar of the waterfall echoing about the cavern. Prime, Thia, and Zeno rush into the cavern entrance, further startling the kobolds within.

Daituk and Truckbus power their way through the waterfall to find a group of four playing cards on the stone floor of the cavern. The jaw of the kobold facing them drops, and then he throws down his cards and starts shouting. The rest of the players are rather offended until they spot the reason for his destruction of their good time. The entire group scrambles about, grabbing for weapons and shouting warnings. Chaos reigns in the cavern for a few seconds.

Surprise round! Everyone gets one standard action, and then the rotation begins as normal. Surprised opponents grant Combat Advantage.

:savepoint: Daituk 23, Skirmishers 21 (surprised), Truckbus 21, Thia 19, minions 18 (surprised), Prime 12, Zeno 7

Truckbus emerges from the waterfall, shocking the living daylights of the kobolds hanging out in the cave - and is it any wonder? He looks like a wet, dangerous dwarf. He smells like a wet, dangerous dwarf. And he snarls like a- well, the kobolds probably got the idea.


Charge to AG25
Melee basic attack on Minion AH25.


Despite Truckbus's sudden appearance before him, the kobold blocks wildly and manages to deflect his attack. For his trouble, Truckbus gets a nice bruise on his forearm. Undeterred, the dwarf turns to another kobold and winds up for an even stronger attack.


Shift to AH26
Earth Spikes Minion AI26


This, too, misses. The waterfall pounded on Truckbus's head a bit too much, perhaps.

:gonk:


Nature's Wrath to mark AH26 and AI26