Friday 19 August 2011

The Sunless Citadel: Friends and Foes (Sessions 2-4)

Meepo "Keeper of Dragons"

Even for a kobold, Meepo makes for a wiry and jittery figure, his large eyes darting constantly this way and that, his dog-like ears like radars for approaching danger.  Small horns protrude from his forehead and a thin rat-like tail drags behind.  Armed with a tiny crossbow and spear, Meepo dresses in ragged clothes of oranges and russet reds and carries a satchel which contains a seemingly endless supply of phosphorescent fungi, albino insects and other dubious Underdark victuals.


Cowardly and pathetic even for a kobold, Meepo claims to have enjoyed some status in his clan as the "Keeper of Dragons" before the "thieving goblins" stole the clan's dragon, Calcryx, in a brutal surprise raid.  He is most enthusiastic about any opportunity for vengeance against the goblins, rescuing his beloved Calcryx and winning back the favour of Yusdrayl and the clan.

Yusdrayl "The Dragon Queen"

Yusdrayl is particularly reptilian in appearance, showing few of the dog-like traits of her kobold subjects: she has narrow reptilian eyes is covered in scales and sports an impressive pair of horns.  Her regal gait is somewhat spoiled by her short stature, even for a kobold: she seems to almost drown in her long red-dyed robes and her little feet kick in the air from her throne.

Yusdrayl "On Her Dragon Throne" is absolute ruler of the kobolds within the Sunless Citadel.  Supremely confident about her people's destiny as descendants and heirs to the ancient dragons, she claims that, as the "mightiest of her people", she has lead the kobolds to the Sunless Citadel to worship dragons as they were long ago.  Frustrated by the goblin inhabitants stubborn resistance, she appears willing to deign even to barter her clan's treasures for the return of the dragon, Calcryx.

Guthrash "The Bloated One"


The embodiment of her goblin-name, Guthrash was a six hideously bloated albino dire rat, with stumpy pink legs which somehow carried her swollen, distended girth with slick, terrifying speed.  Six feet long and covered in pustules, with red-pink eyes and yellow gnawing teeth, Guthrash was horrific beyond measure.


Aptly name 'the Bloated One' in the black tongue of the goblins, the immense, foul and fertile Guthrash was something of a legend amongst the kobolds and goblins of the Sunless Citadel, who likely never got a good look at her and lived to tell the tail.  The way Meepo describes it Guthrash is thought to have spawned all the many vermin which crawl through the Citadel's lightless halls.  Meepo even seems to believe that Guthrash's offspring brought her food like supplicants to some sort of ruler, but this is surely superstitious nonsense.

In any event, the legendary Guthrash was bested by the adventurers and slain by the warrior Tam.

Karakas


Sadly Karakas has apparently been slain by the monstrous Guthrash, and his remains have been so gnawed at and rotten as to be beyond recognition.  His rustic hair braids, woodsman's equipment and a gold ring bearing his name provide some indication that this is, however, the missing tracker.


A ranger from Oakhurst's surrounds, Karakas was a member of the missing adventuring party that failed to return from the Sunless Citadel over a month ago.  Apparently slain by Guthrash or one of her brood, his remains were discovered in her foul nest.

Erky Timbers


About three and a half feet tall, Erky is thin even for a gnome, covered in grime and dressed in rags but otherwise seems remarkably unscathed for someone held captive by goblins for almost a year.  He has a prominent nose and gently tapered ears.  No longer carefully trimmed in the style of his folk, his blond hair and beard match his sunny disposition and an indomitable spirit sparkles in his mischievious blue eyes.  


An adventurer in search of his fortune, Erky apparently made the mistake of traveling along the abandoned Old Road as a shortcut between the Four Halls and Oakhurst where he was to visit a friend.  Captured by goblins almost a year ago, Erky has been languishing in a tiny cage ever since, and apparently only survived with the aid of his healing spells.  Grateful at his release and eager to rescue the three young humans who joined him in captivity for a time, Erky offers to join the adventurers and aid them in their quest.

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