The Hamlet of Roccatorre is facing feral kobold raids about once per month. These kobolds have bigger teeth and claws, black eyes and red splotches. The Wanderers of the Wyld have been offered 100 gp to deal with the Hamlet of Roccatorre's kobold problem.
Cherry and her companions then entered the Kobold Caves. Understanding draconic, she heard the kobold guards at the entrence mention something about wanting to worshop the dead gods but had to wait for Tsath. Could Tsath be the lost legendary wizard, Tsathzar, from the ruined tower on the mountain plateau that supposedly disappeared?
As they entered the kobold caves, Ellie scampered up the corridor - passed the smouldering remains of the three kobolds - and found herself in an open expanse with a river running down its centre. The river was punctuated with a series of columns of stone running down its centre. And in the distance - across the river - she could just make out the backside of one of the two fleeing kobolds - disappearing down a narrow corridor. She came to a stop - there was no way she was going to catch the kobolds - but maybe one of her tall companions would surprise her with their speed and agility. At that very thought she guffawed out loud. All she could picture was Cherry falling into the river.
The Wanderers of the Wyld chose the 2nd tunnel which led to a cave with 8 kobolds, 4 with shields and javalins, and 4 with light crossbows. Tunnels to the left and right exited this chamber.
The right tunnel continued to a 3rd cave defended by 5 kobolds in scalemail armor and shields, shortswords and light crossbows. With them was a kobold magic-user.
Six kobolds came from the left tunnel as reinforcements. They had come from some nearby barracks in another cave.
A nearby cavern was richly appointed with a wide stone set desk, a black candle in a golden holder (used for unholy trinity cerenomy) and a pristine leather bound book with golden pages. The book feels cold to touch and the pages are full of unreadable script which seems to be related to ceremonies needed to invoke the unholy trinity. There are several pallets around the cavern, some have furs, while one contains a dozen black candles.
The tunnel split into a double fork. The top fork led to a big large cavern. The temperature in this cavern was much cooler than elsewhere. Human, elven and dwarven body parts were scattered everywhere, all that remained of the adventuring party whose traces they had discovered on the way to the Kobold Caves. In addition to some salvagable gear, Ash found an elven masterwork composite longbow(+1 hit, STR 10/dam+0 = 400 gp) and a masterwork compass (+2 circumstance bonus to survival skill to avoid getting lost = 25 gp). Gorgonzola found a Divine Scroll of lesser restoration (druid, 3rd level caster) and Vivian recovered a Divine Scroll of remove paralysis (cleric, 3rd level caster).
The bottom fork widened out onto the shore of an underground river. A dock and two big rafts made from giant mushrooms. Vivian had a vision that a great evil lies that way and there would be no going back if they went down the river now. The Wanderers of the Wyld decide to return the Hamlet of of Roccatorre to report on what they have found and to collect their reward.
Before the Wanderers of the Wyld leave the Kobold Caves, they explore the other main tunnel by the stream. Cherry wanted to set off a trap, but was prevented by her companions. However, when the 4 kobolds and 4 diseased fiendish dire rats attacked, Rako fell on the trap during the combat. It was a miracle that the trap did not activate. Several of the kobolds wore a small non-magical gold pendant (5 gp) crudely shaped into the form of a 3-fingered hand. The 3 fingered fist is associated with the Elder Evils, specifically the Unholy Trinity of Azathoth, Nyarlatholep and Cthulhu.
During the last battle in the Kobold Caves, Rako and Thank had been bit by several diseased dire rats. Upon their return, Chery, Rako, Thak and Vivian went to the Temple of Chauntea. Ingrid, the senior priestess and Vivian's mother took a look at Rako's festering wounds. At that moment, a Rat scurried down the temple wall, stopped and spoke. It claimed to be an extra-planar being possessing the rat and was actually the guardian of the local forest. It had followed them back from the Kobold Caves. The 'entity' that is possessing the rat is a force of nature and of high power. It originates from the ethereal plane. These 'spirits' embody the will of the land and all creatures in it. It is a benevolent and protective of the region that spawned it and of the creatures therein. These entities are referred to as Spirits of the Woods. It confirmed that Rako had been infected by the bite, but then cured Rako of the dire rat disease. It claimed that Thak was not infected from the rat bites they got in the Kobold Caves. It told them that it would return to the forest, as the Hamlet already had its own protector.
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