The Kozakura Campaign
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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Dimension door works as Khzuro is now more familiar with the area. He blinks everyone across the chasm again and they start back from this part of the cavern system. As they pass by where the energy beings were fighting, they notice the ice has been melted on the sides of the cavern expanding it about 10 feet. They get back to a T section and know the other tunnel runs about 60 yards and hits the crevasse again. The only way is south.

As they start to walk Khzuro questions, “Wonder if those creatures were how she made those crystals..." he thinks about it and realizes he doesn’t have enough information to make any determination on that. He also wonders if they may just be attracted to the area because of the crystals. They travel southward until they come to the chamber were they first encountered demons. They can go due west or south then east. Khzuro knows they have not explored the east or west branches. He chooses to go west.

They walk for about 40 ft down a corridor then it opens into a vast chamber 150 feet by 60 feet. There are 5 mariliths looking at something straight across from them on the other side. They are so involved that they do not see the companions. Khzuro moves the group back out of view. “I recall one of those before. They're strong. There's five of them ahead. If we are going to go for it, we'd better prepare accordingly..." Everyone nods, the mages start to cast various shields. Iwao puts up his shields and casts bless upon the group. Khzuro casts haste on both Samo and Ayako.

Ayako transforms. She slinks down the corridor making faint guttural sounds. Her fur takes on a golden glow. On himself Khzuro casts shield, haste, greater invisibility and transformation. He is ready to engage. Drasta readies herself to engage the demons.

The group slowly sneaks up upon the demons who they see are working on something like a big iron vault door. Khzuro gives the signal for the party to engage a surprise attack. “Let’s hit them with our strongest strikes while they're busy."

Iwao casts implosion on one of them. One of the mariliths completely crumbles in upon itself and disappears into a pile of ash. Katsu casts horrid wilting. The creatures seem unphased by the spell. Ogano casts transmute metal to wood on a single creature. There also seems to be no apparent effect to it. Aiami casts elemental swam. 4 large earth elementals appear 30 feet in front of the group. Shin casts a spell and one of the demons gets thrown into the door and seems stuck there. Masako casts an acid fog in the area around the mariliths.

Samo and Ayako both charge. Samo comes to a dead stop on the edge of the acid fog. Ayako however does not. Haru drops back to the mages holding her naginata in a guard position. Both Khzuro and Drasta bring up their weapons and aim at the demon closest to Samo. Khzuro hits it five times, once in a vital spot. It stumbles as it tries to make its way to fight Samo. It crumbles to the ground.

The remaining three demons teleport into the middle of the mages and attack them. Each one goes for a different person. Shin suddenly flies in the air and is stuck to one of the marilith's back. The same one he cast magnetism on. Masako, Ogano and Katsu are attacked. The one on Ogano hits him twice. He reals back casting as he tries to escape. Katsu is fairly hearty but he also reals back from the attack while trying to throw a quick spell. Masako falls to the ground bleeding badly. Iwao casts a mass heal. Masako wakes up and runs for her life while her earth elementals are trying to close in. Samo under haste runs back into the middle of the group but only gets time for ½ his attacks. Haru attacks the one with Shin stuck to its back. She slices it twice.

Ayako has to come all the way back and doesn’t get there in time to fight at the moment though she has passed the elementals by a hair’s breadth. Ogano throws the first thing that comes to mind being they disrupted his though process with their teleport. The swords of the demon twist away from the marilith and start to drag her back with them. As she slides away from the group, she loses any shot to defend her sisters.

Katsue frustrated by the play of the enemy casts shapechange and turns into an earth dragon. Masako is still trying to get out of the immediate area before she is hit again. Khzuro seeing one’s full concentration is on the mages takes advantage and puts a full salvo into it. He hits several vital organs on the one that missed its attack. It goes down bleeding a thick black ichor and starts to dissolve.

In the fog of battle Drasta aims at the one shin is stuck to. She hits it 3 times and Shin once as it is turning, dodging and attacking. Shin gets hit by one of her arrows. And Marilith is badly hurt now, enraged and fighting for its life on the prime. Ayako is charging back to the group but the mariliths are able to take the advantage for the moment. This time they turn their attentions to Aiami and Iwao.

Aiami is disemboweled by one of them. She falls to the ground bleeding and instantly shape changes to her natural form. A small white rabbit. The other demon pummels Iwao giving him massive injuries. He too falls to the ground. He isn’t dead but completely unconscious and bleeding out.

Khzuro knows he has to do something. He concentrates putting five bolts into one of the demons in the middle of the mages. He destroys it so badly its body just puffs out and turns to ash almost instantly. She puts 3 arrows into it and Samo attacks it at the same time downing it forever. He sheaths his sword grunts and nods to Drasta. Haru severs all the arms off the last one that is down wounded badly it too then puffs to ash, its soul returning to the abyss.

Shin falls to the ground with an arrow in the side of his chest badly wounded. Ayako transforms back to her human form and puts a cure critical wounds on Iwao trying to stabilize him then does it again. Drasta goes and tends to Shin’s arrow wound all the while he is staring her down with a bit of anger.

Iwao wakes up but is obviously still in pain. She then goes over to Shin and casts a cure moderate wounds on him. The spell pushes the arrow back out as flesh regenerates, but he is still bleeding some. It’s a nasty wound. Ayako not done yet tries to cast raise dead on Aiami. The spell works but Aiami is still in very bad shape. Khzuro breathes a breath of visible relief out as Aiami is returned to life. “Thank the Eight Million..."

“Apologies that you were shot Shin.” Drasta almost whispers.

Shin grumbles, “Watch where you're aiming. Now look at me my armor is ruined. " Samo snorts then laughs.

Drasta smiles, “It could have been worse. This all could have been.” She turns and looks in the direction where they saw the creatures first.

Khzuro looks around. “Not sure if we're safe here. Could be more demons around..."

The group slowly looks at what the mariliths were working on. It’s a giant iron door surrounded by cut blocks of ice on the other side of the cavern. Drasta gestures, “Well one side is doored we only have the tunnel to worry about. And it would seem they were maybe attempting to go into it perhaps?”

Ogano suggest. “Perhaps we can go to the door so we can watch the tunnel.”

Drasta nods looking back at Khzuro. “I will go and check the area near it.”

Khzuro first checks with the group looking particularly to Aiami. “Are we all well enough to continue?" Drasta walks over to the door and looks the area over studying its safety.

Ayako smiles and licks her lips. "I'll carry her. After all she weighs less than a pound or two unless she's stuffed with something interesting."

Haru becomes incensed, “You just raised her!”

“Makes it more interesting.” Khzuro checks on Aiami’s condition herself. He sees that she is just barely alive and still in her rabbit form. Ayako comments again. “Don’t worry I'm not going to eat Aiami. Well, not yet anyway."

"Think she might need additional healing or restoratives." Khzuro observes.

Shin offers a potion of heal. "Here, though I’m not sure how to give it to her.”

Iwao holds his hand up. "I think I can cast again. It will be my last mass heal until i can rest though.” He tells everyone to gather and cast his second mass heal.

Aiami wakes up bites Ayako's finger. Ayako drops her and says, “That was rude!”

Aiami wakes up bites Ayako's finger. Ayako drops her and she transforms into her human form.
Ayako says, "that was rude!" Drasta gestures for the group to come over.

She looks around, “It seems safe enough for now if anyone would like to sit for a moment.”

Khzuro gives a nod. “Think we might want to move to a safer location if we wish to set camp for an extended period of time, but... what is it?"

Drasta replies, “That is a good question…” She takes a moment to study the door. It's a giant iron door with inscriptions all over it. The inscriptions all say the same thing in western common, elven, damarian, mulan hieroglyphs, draconic, Chessentaian, and low shou. It says, Intruders will be dipped in butter, dredged in powdered sugar, slathered with raspberry jelly, rolled in a croissant roll, baked and eaten!
Drasta smirks “Similar to the roasting the vision promised.”

Khzuro shakes his head, “That is… oddly specific.” He sighs, “Am guessing this door leads to that outlander dragon's lair."

The elf shrugs, “There is only one way to be sure.”

Khzuro gets pensive. “That one isn't our mission though."

Drasta thinks, “Perhaps not, though what if they know something that would help.”

"Useful as they would be to have as an ally, this one isn't certain they would be reliable. And... possible. Already tried the Sending though. "In any event, think our team needs to recover." Looks over to the others "Are any of you well enough to keep going or will you need reprieve?" he also looks around the room to see how many entrances/exits are there.

Aiami, Iwao, Masako, and shin will all need rest. He sees only one exit the tunnel they came in from, well… and the door. He sighs, looking around "Guess this place is secure enough, but we should probably set an alarm on the direction we came from. Unless the door opens on the other side. Will definitely need to keep watch here. That or we can go to one of the more out of the way passages." Looks to Drasta and the others who are still coherent "What do you think?"

Drasta replies, “I believe if try another path we may find more trouble that we do not need at this time. perhaps we take a moment here or we could always try inside.” She chuckles

"Right then, let’s set some kind of alarm on the way we came from. Figure it's unlikely the door will open up. Likely the Western Dragon will keep to itself." Looks around "Can anyone put some kind of spell or trap that way, so we have advance warning in case demons show up?"

Khzuro decides that they might be able to rest here but first tries to set a trap on the door. As he touches it a magic mouth appears, “With no loom or thread, I weave tales grand across the land, by bard's command invisible but clear, though air, my art. What am I, that touches the heart?

Khzuro stares at the door mystified. “"Would be fitting if answering this riddle correctly triggers some trap rather than opening it, probably something Sithmore knew. Pretty sure the answer is "Music" though."

The magic mouth fades. Drasta smirks, “Perhaps it is a song that is needed.”

Khzuro answers her. “Probably, could be a specific song is the password or... something."

Drasta walks over next to Khzuro. “Riddles are interesting.”

“Maybe in that letter…?”

Ayako tries the door. a magic mouth in another place appears. “With clever mind, I twist and bend
words and meanings, I blend and send. Ancient game of wit and art. what am I that puzzles the heart?

Khzuro thinks, “That is definitely, “Riddle.”

They all hear giant pins and latches turning moving inside the door. It opens on its own.
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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As the door opens, they see a long corridor and a floor of stone instead of ice. It’s 20 ft wide and perhaps a hundred feet long. Khzuro blinks… then looks aside over to Ayako. “Well, if we CAN open this door, while the demons can't, it's probably safer to rest behind it."

Drasta hesitates but says, “That would seem to be the best.”

Khzuro gives her a nod, then motions to the others. “Right, come on then, let’s get moving. Behind the doors, before they close." The companions all go in. After 10 minutes the door closes on its own pins and latches turn and it locks itself.

"Right then, that should provide us some cover. I expect the Western Dragon probably has taken notice of us. But we know they are an enemy of the demons, at the very least. Should probably camp and rest here. If they do send an emissary can hope it is not hostile." Khzuro takes a breath out, considering the angles. Then he goes to check on Aiami.

Drasta calculates, “I am not sure they would send one but perhaps. We will see.” Aiami is very tired even though she is healed by Iwao’s spell. Still, she and others have lost a lot of blood in a short time. She looks to Ogano next. “I will need that scroll you copied.

Khzuro looks to Drasta and replies, “Doubt they will ignore someone coming in as we have."

“What was that scroll again?” Ogano asks.

“Shapechange.”

“Oh yes, here you go.” Ogano hands her the scroll.

Khzuro thinks a long time. "There is... one other plan this one can think of regarding this dragon... But..." Looks to Drasta "How do western dragons regard this one's kind?"

“In general, the kobolds in the west worship dragons though it is generally mostly chromatics if i remember correctly.” She replies.

He raises and eye ridge at that "Chromatics?" Apparently Khzuro isn't well schooled regarding Western Dragons, but probably knows plenty about the 'proper' ones... or at least what Eastern Kobolds learn of them. "How do you think they would regard one who has received the blessing of one of the gods here?" Considers, rubbing the side of his neck, perhaps making note of the lake god's blessing.

“It is possible though...I do not know this dragon or how he is in nature after being here so long.” Drasta shrugs.

"So, altogether unpredictable and unreliable then." A sigh, considering "And probably powerful. At the very least they are a foe of the demons." Khzuro sighs and thinks about the situation.

“The dragons where I am from have many colors...Generally that is based on who and what they perceive in life as good and bad.” Drasta replies.

"Think this one is a... Copper? Well, we've already attempted to give a sending to this one. Guess my next question, where this is leading to, is if this one went alone to speak with them, would that be a good idea or terrible idea?" Khzuro asks.

Drasta shrugs, “I am unsure it would be good though. I do not fully know. If you try and fail it may eat you.

A nod, pausing, considering, looking around. "Among my kin, we do have tales of the dragons of the west..." Khzuro makes a sigh, considering, perhaps ready to regale some of his people's mythology. Drasta holds a moment listening to him. He continues. "Is said that the great dragons served the gods, were gods themselves that served the Celestial Bureaucracy. But there were those who craved the power of creation, to make life of their own. Power that was solely in the hands of the gods... Those who were tempted shed their blood to gain the power of creation to propagate themselves and make their works but there was a price for their ambition and desire, that is they lost their divine nature when they did so. Those who did so went west, no longer welcome among the god's courts. But those who still serve the gods and the eight million, who did not shed their divinity, they remained where they were meant to be."



Drasta chuckles a bit tells Khzuro what she knows. “Coppers are not usually evil. They appreciate wit and usually doesn’t harm creatures that can relate a joke, humorous story or riddle the dragon has not heard before. They quickly get annoyed with anyone who doesn’t laugh at their jokes or accept its tricks with good humor. It likes to taunt and annoy opponents into giving up or acting foolishly.

An angry copper dragon prefers to mire foes using transmute rock to mud. The dragon pushes trapped opponents into the mud or snatches and carries them aloft. A copper dragon tries to draw airborne enemies into narrow, stony gorges where it can use its spider climb ability and maneuver them into colliding with the walls. Khzuro raises and eye ridge. Drasta continues. “Some have kept their good and lawful nature thus the color of their scales.”

"Well, suppose it is a relief that some of those that went west weren't wholly corrupted, then." Khzuro says. Drasta nods and takes a moment to step a few feet away listening down the hall. She hears nothing. "Guess in that case, would they be willing to hear us out if we... or this one alone petitioned them? You know the dragons that went west better than this one. What do you think?"

“I feel though you may want at least my company in this since I do know and can judge their actions better. And they are not the only dragon that can be in the room.”

Khzuro looks at her queerly. “Only saw evidence of Sithmore dealing with that one Dragon, but you are right..." A look to the others in the party.

Ogano shrugs. "We do need rest after that last battle.

Drasta reports, “It is best there are not too many of us in either way.”

"Am aware. Just... if Drasta and this one go alone to negotiate with the dragon, while the rest of you rest up..." A sigh "Well if it does go bad, we'd be leading an ambush to you while you're resting." Khzuro responds to her.

The elf nods, “That is also a possibility.”

Khzuro gives her a nod. “We'll camp here then. At least if negotiations go bad, we'll be ready. We're not out to harm this dragon. Our mission is to stop the demons. Right then. Better keep someone on watch though in case of any complications. Regular camp routine then."

“I agree.” Drasta replies.

Khzuro goes to find a spot to rest. Drasta continues to sit taking the first guard keeping her eyes and ears focused on the tunnel. Sometime after her shift Drasta wakes up from her trance before the others and gently takes a few steps forward being calm and ready. She whispers, “Many things are seen, and many are not but the path ahead may gain some knowledge and light.... If you are the one in the vision...I hope you give us some leniency and listen to our words or even our stories.” She calms herself, sitting a bit far from the group and goes into her normal trance again still somewhat alert.

After the group rests, Khzuro checks on the others to see how they're holding up, particularly Aiami, given she literally died. Satisfied he goes back to sleep.

Halfway through the rest Masako goes to do her business and disappears. When everyone wakes up. She is gone.
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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Khzuro looks around. “We’re missing one…” He casts see invisibility. He sees nothing but the ice tunnel ahead. Drasta checks around for any tracks on the direction they went. She notices faint tracks going down the tunnel. Ayako changes to her animal form. Khzuro gets his buffs up.

Drasta gestures down the tunnel. The tracks lead in that direction. The tunnel itself goes west. After twenty meters it branches. One leg goes north then to the west. The other splits off south and another slanting northwest. The tracks go north.

Khzuro says, “Let’s follow the tracks”, remaining alert. “Any idea why she left…?”

“I am uncertain I was in meditation.” Drasta replies.

Samo says, “Most likely to take a squat."

Khzuro shakes his head. “This far out…?”

“Perhaps she heard something and decided to take a look. Though we know that would be unwise.” Drasta surmises.

As the tunnel turns north you see a light in the distance. It is blue/whit in color. It’s at a distance far off near the eastern wall. Khzuro looks off to see what it is, trying to determine if it's magic of some kind. Is sure to make sure their Heroism spell is intact. It’s now about 40 meters away. Khzuro knows he needs to get closer. He does flying forward cautiously. “I don’t like this… be ready…”

As the companions go ten more meters, they start to see the tunnel opens in the distance. There is something wood there. Whatever is lighting the area it seem to be on top of the wood.

Drasta looks around suspiciously. “Best we are careful if we proceed further.” The tracks seem to lead this way.

Ayako and Haur both go another 10 meters. Haru turns back. “It’s a table with a bunch of papers, a book and a giant glowing ball on the table.”

Drasta shouts out, “I would advise not touching it unless you know what it does.”

Haru calls out again. “Otherwise, this chamber looks empty.”

After 20 meters the rest of the group gets to the table. There is a large table in the middle with a giant crystal ball. There is a spell book there with many papers on the far end and a giant crystal ball in the middle that looks like it has a 5-foot radius. The chamber itself is 25 meters N/S and 30 meters E/W with a tunnel on the north side going west.

Khzuro casts detect magic in the room. The crystal ball lights up with divination magic. The book and papers do not. He notes out loud, “Divination device, must be scrying to spy on the demons outside, and us..."

The book at the end of the table is neatly placed and there are several pages also neatly placed on the side. The tracks stop at that spot then seem to disappear. Khzuro sees that the book is not magical nor the loose pages. He goes through them finding that they are notes on the energy planes with spell concepts but no actual spell. All of it looks like research notes and theories. Khzuro shakes his head. “Ssskh! Do any of you see anything? Only thing I see is magic is that orb here..."

Drast looks over the desk to see if anything had been recently disturbed. Some of the papers have been moved but that’s all. it looks like someone was looking over them. Ogano, Aiami, and Katsu start to go over the notes. Ogano says, “It looks like research for a specialized series of spells used by tapping in the negative or positive planes.”

Aiami says, "Here is research on the crystals Iodium and Stallix along with properties, how much energy each can hold and theories on how to.... entangle them? I'm not sure what that means?”

Shin says, "The basic idea is to keep them apart and use them as an axis for energy I believe by these notes. You juxtaposition them and they will move on their own accord against one another like two magnets. if what I am reading here is right? It is astounding as to the regards of what these crystals could produce is such a state."

“Perhaps that is how she was able to harness their power then.” Drasta questions.

He replies, “It would certainly revolutionize the world this work." Khzuro gives a nod listening, letting the researchers do their thing.

Aiami says, “It still leads us nowhere to where Masako disappeared too.”

"But her trail led her this way..." Khzuro states then looks around to see where all the exits of the place are. He sees the new one in the northwest corner going west. "Guess there's only one way she could have gone through if she didn't backtrack."

After the mages study the papers, they gather and start down the tunnel going west.
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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They go 20 meters west and the tunnel takes a sharp turn to the north for another 10. They start to see plants. As they get to them, they see the plants growing in the ice down a long tunnel that turns again sharply to the west and into the distance. There seems to be a large stationary object in the distance. Khzuro looks at Aiami. “What kind of plants could grow down here…?”

She replies, “I won’t know until I can examine them.”

He gives a nod, “Right, not just yet though... best keep our guard up." Looks over to the stationary object.”

The main party gets to the plants. Haru is slightly ahead with Ayako. Aiami picks some of the leaves looks at it and smells them. Her eyes go wide, and she looks at Ayako in fear even when Ayako is looking at the object in the distance. She says, "It's sweet basil!" Then runs for her life in the opposite direction from where they came. Ayako suddenly flattens herself to the ground with all 4 paws spread and starts to roll in the plants.

Haru gets back from Ayako as far as she can. Khzuro asks, “Sweet Basil? Is that a Toxin? Or...?" Looks off, moving after Aiami, but seems to expect an ambush from the running.

Katsu says. “Well, another name for sweet basil is.......Catnip.”

Khzuro stops suddenly and looks over to Ayako. “Oh… …. OH!” Drasta takes a few steps away from Ayako in a bit of a frantic hurry. Khzuro ask, “So, um.... is.... she going to be okay...?"

They all hear a creak. As a light suddenly shines on the object. It’s a stuff crochet deer on a platform of wheels. Ayako suddenly flattens herself out. Her hind legs go up and her butt starts to wiggle. Her ears are all the way back on her head as she looks at the stuffed crochet deer with giant dilated eyes.

Khzuro floating a few inches from the ground asks, “So, what is that Sweet Basil going to do to her?"

Drasta mutters a bit. “This has trap written all over it...As if designed for her specifically.”

"Can we snap her out of it? She's an intelligent being." Khzuro insists.

The deer on wheels takes off with blinding speed and Ayako takes off after it down the tunnel. it seems to be on a rope because the rope goes taunt as the deer suddenly moves wheels creaking along the way.
As it does Ogano says, "Catnip to a cat is like opium to a human"

Khzuro screams out… “Well! Damn it! So, in other words I should have told her to find Masako first and then we can all return to get wasted?"

Ogano shrugs, “Well, it just affects cats. No one knows why.”

Shin asks "What do we do Khzuro? Aiami or Ayako?"

"We can't afford to become separated; we need to go after her." Khzuro points to the giant fur ball charging down the tunnel.

Drasta mentions, “There is an odd pattern to this… Perhaps Masako found a similar fate in the first room as Ayako did here and was tempted by something and taken away.”

"Looks like it's what this dragon is playing at, separating us one at a time. If we cannot trace her, do we still have a scroll of Sending...?" Khzuro looks around frustrated.

Everyone looks back and forth between each other. Ogano nods, "It seems this way. Masako is an elementalist specializing in the energy planes. Ayako is a cat. Each part seems custom tailored to their sentimentalities or weakness. I imagine there is a place here for each of us."

Katsu says. "Those of us with dreams of the orbs and not the demon. perhaps"

Aiami finally returns. Shin says, “Those of us with dreams of the orbs and not the demon. Perhaps. I can make one in an hour.”

Drasta says, “It is possible.”

Khzuro grumbles, “We don't have time for that right now, let’s try to find where Ayako went. Once we have her, then we can do that." They all nod.

They follow the tunnel 60 meters and come to a large pit that seems to go down forever. The crochet deer on wheels is on the other side of the cavern with a lot of rope beside it. the pit is T approximately forty meters wide and long. there is a small shelf on the other side just to the south another ledge.

They look up into the pit above then into the pit below. They see nothing. It looks like darkness. Drasta and Khzuro look at the pit downward. They see giant marks on the wall. The tracks look like claw prints, but they are enormous. One claw marking by itself is the size of Ayako’s entire body in her sabertoothed tiger form. They are all along the sides of the pit at varying distances.

Khzuro looks down, frowning, “I have a bad feeling about this. Think the dragon might be ambushing us one by one..." He does have his overland Flight spell, so he could fly down. He looks to the others before trying that though. "Sssk, can fly down that pit, if needed. Think that's where they went..."

Haru asks, “What about a guard?”

"Unfortunately, my flight spell won't extend to others and the only one I can carry with me is Aiami, unless another one of you can fly." Khzuro asserts.

“The pit could be a way to get you away from the rest of us.” Drasta observes.

Khzuro nods, “also true.” He looks over. “Can anyone cast a sending now, and Ayako? Did she jump or something?” Everyone shakes their head. No one knows.

Drasta tosses a small stone where the pit is and listens a long moment. When it hits, she does not like what she calculates.

Khzuro looks to the passageways to the other side then says, “Okay…” He Flies a bit, trying to get a good look "So either down the pit or possibly down one of those corridors, though the deer being there suggests down the pit." A sigh. Then looks back "Can any of you cast a sending?"

Both Katsu and Aiami raise their hands. Khzuro looks at them, “Right, Aiami, attempt to contact Masako. Katsu? Contact Ayako."

"What do you want us to say" Katsu asks?

"Ask for their current location and status. Actually! Hold that thought..." Pauses, thinking "Aiami, can you speak Draconic?"

She shakes her head. “Plants, animals, hengeyokai, high and low shou. Animals and plants mostly have a very low vocabulary somethings what plants say I can’t relate too."

Khzuro pauses, thinking. "Okay, could still try to contact the Dragon and tell them you thought what they did to Ayako was hilarious. Maybe add you're hoping to see them humiliated more. Wonder if that will bait anything good. What do you think of that plan?" Looks around.

Ogano says, "It's as good a plan as anything."

Haru smirks, "What do you think Drasta?"

Khzuro turns his attention to the elf, “You know the fallen dragons best."

She chuckles, “Perhaps it may find it amusing. It is worth the chance.”

"Right, go ahead then Aiami." Khzuro asks.

Aiami casts the spell. Khzuro puts his fist into his other hand. “Leaves us one additional sending. Can you contact Masako, Katsu?" He casts the spell.

You wait for quite a while. Finally, Aiami winces, “I got something of a booming laughter is all.”

Katsu shrugs his shoulders, “No answer.”

Drasta comments, “Curious.”

“Either way.” Khzuro looks at the pit. “This one can Dimension Door us across, have no idea if that will go anywhere though." He teleports the group across.

Katsu says, “I got something. I got back the words, ‘It’s very dark in here.’”

Khzuro smiles and almost celebrates. “Okay, so the Dragon's not killing them, at least. But is imprisoning them. Well, seems we're going to have to contact them somehow, we're out of sendings and I don't think more will help right now.”

The tunnel leads them to the east.
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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They follow the tunnel warily. They go 40 meters east then it splits to the southeast and south. Khzuro opts to take the southeast. They come to a 15X15 chamber. It goes south and as they continue… They come to the entrance tunnel. Khzuro muzzle paws. “We got turned around… Pretty sure where Ayako went was down that pit, but..." Sigh They see to the northeast the table they were at before.

Khzuro sighs again and goes backtracking. “Think it might be intentional... the Dragon might want this one to come down to meet him alone... We'd better go back to that pit then, unless anyone has any ideas..." He sees something at the split of the tunnel entrance. It looks like a pile of greens. He looks again. It’s a pile of carrots.

Aiami has her attentions on it. Khzuro sounds off immediately, “Aiami… This is very obviously bait!” She nods but she’s still looking at those carrots.

Drasta says, “I would agree...It wants to separate us all for sure.”

Khzuro casts detect magic on the carrots while Drasta steps in front of Aiami’s vision and looks into her eyes. “Do not be tempted.

There seems to be no magic on the carrots. Haru walks over to them and studies them. She picks one up to examine it closer and she faints. Khzuro muzzle paws. "Well, it's not magic, but this one clearly is fond of poisons..." Sigh, "Samo, can you pick her up? 'Nice' as those Carrots are, we'd better leave them here."

Samo laughs, “I can pick her up. Looks like she’ll be out for a while.”

Khzuro grumbles, “Suppose that leaves the option of this one flying down the pit alone... or checking other paths we might have missed."

“It would seem the more paths we discover the more challenges each will face.” Drasta comments.

Khzuro decides to lead the group towards the direction of that room with the papers again, but this time decides to check the side-paths as well. "Probably better we check every spot of this place thoroughly. We're at too heavy a disadvantage with this terrain."

They go back to the room with the crystal ball. Khzuro explores the side paths but in the end, they go back to the pit. They dimension door over the chasm to the other side they have not explored. The side where the Crochet deer is still there. Samo goes over and stabs it. Then cuts it open like he’s gutting it. He pulls all the hay out of it. After he does that, he throws ‘the skin’ over himself. "I have a new blanket and its cozy warm too.”

Drasta shakes her head. Haru looks over. “That doesn’t count!”

Khzuro raises and eye ridge, but then looks at the passage ahead. "We need to keep moving, we're still missing two of us."

Drasta says, “Indeed.”

They go about 40 meters and the tunnel Ts each to about 20-meter square chambers. One is to the east and one to the south. Khzuro directs to the south chamber. They go to the south chamber. At the southern end of this chamber there is another tunnel going east but something seems amiss as everyone looks around. Shin is gone.

As soon as they realize he is they hear a banging sound to the north and east. Then they hear a large shuffling and an earsplitting Swoosh! Khzuro yells out “What the...? When did Shin go miss... go!" Flies off to the east chamber from the prior T.

He charges off. Everyone follows. He finds himself in the other chamber they bypassed. There are wooden and metal models of machines in this chamber all over the place. they look more like models than working machines. They look to see where Shin might have been taken.

Drasta spies one of the models that looks like a giant diving bell. She sighs. Meanwhile Khzuro is looking around all the room exclaiming, “Is that dragon going through the ground and walls...?"

Drasta looks up to judge the height of the ceiling. It’s about 50 ft high and there are the same giant claw marks on it. She says, “Perhaps it skitters above us quietly.”

Khzuro states, “These are enclosed caverns, unless it's able to bypass my spell to see invisibility, then we would have seen them. Or heard them." He Sighs, "They must be travelling through the ground and walls somehow."

Haru clears her throat. Everyone looks at her. “There is something funny about this giant bell. it has a door, and it seems to be stuck or locked.”

Khzuro goes over to it, inspecting it carefully… Then he casts detect magic. It looks like a giant bronze bell that can fit about 3 humans inside. There seems to be no magic. Drasta comes near to it watching Khzuro as he says, “No magic on it.” He tries to listen for any sounds.

He puts his ear to the bell and hears the rush of air. He looks to where the sound came from but he can’s see through solid bronze and the door seems to be stuck or locked. The sound though, is definitely coming from inside the bell. He finds a lock and tries to jimmy it. He hears a click. He then checks for traps, and he does not detect any.

Drasta takes a step back as he opens the door. Khzuro gets a rush of wind in his face. What he sees inside is that it seems the floor has caved in and there is a tunnel like shoot going down and to the northeast. It looks like someone went in there and the floor fell in from their weight. Khzuro looks to see if there is safe footing for the rest of the group to move in. He doesn’t see any. The hole covers the inside of the bell almost to the rim. It looks like a sluff going down and to the northwest toward the chasm.

“One would assume this is where Shin had gone to. looking around.” Drasta comments.

Khzuro shakes his head. “Probably, yet another place only I can traverse safely." Ogano nods.

Drasta also nods, “In theory yes but I would not suggest such.”

"That's two pit traps that were used. So, they definitely have a sublevel. And, yes, I know. Risky for me to go in alone. Dragon likely won't negotiate with me alone. Already tried that." Khzuro says.

“I would assume it would not I believe we may need to move on...
Less you think we all should take this hole.” Drasta chuckles.

"Well, our only points of continuance are down these pits, or through the ground..." Khzuro observes as he pauses, trying to think if there are any passages they haven't gone through yet. He tries to judge how far down the pit is, and it it’s safe to walk once down there… but he doesn’t have enough information on that.

Drasta tosses a rock into the hole. It rolls along until she can no longer hear it. Khzuro makes the decision with a sigh. "We can't get down there. We'll need to backtrack, and absolutely no moving away from the group, anyone. We're already down three of us." He'll need to use a dimension door to get across the pit again, but he's starting to get a feel for the layout
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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The group backtracks to where Shin split off from the group to look at all the wonderful models. Haru wakes up. Samo puts her down before she can slap him. Drasta suggests the perhaps instead of backtracking they continue forward as to not lose more companions through knowing it will most likely happen. Khzuro looks a bit confused then turns around. He goes to the large chamber beside the model room then goes south back to that T on the west side then they start south-east.

They go through another 20x20 chamber and at the southern end is a small tunnel to the east. Khzuro takes the lead down this tunnel. Ayako looks at him funny but follows close behind. As they follow this tunnel there is an oblong chamber to the north with a cutout to the south. It also seems empty. Khzuro looks around the oblong chamber. He considers investigating but decides not to. He leads the group to the south.

They come to a long channel going west but this is different. The floor here is covered in precise ice blocks. There are six rows going up the tunnel and six blocks across. Each block of each row has a letter, but they are all different symbols along each row. Each row has one block with a Hieroglyphic letter, an elven rune, a Netheresse letter, a draconic letter, a modern western common letter or a low shou Kanji. Each block has one symbol.

Khzuro stops and makes everyone stay behind. He thinks deeply remembering the book that turned to ash in the mage’s library at Renkyu. As he and others looked at it the writing was in many languages, but it seemed to have a sequence. Ther problem is he is not sure if he remembers the sequence of languages.

He looks across the blocks to see if there is anything on the other side. He finds he cannot its 60 meters with each block being 10 meters long and 2 meters wide. He looks to see if its possible to fly over. It seems perfectly fine to do so.

Ogano casts a spell and states cautiously, “The blocks are magical…. Well, the runes are at least.”

"It's definitely some kind of puzzle, or trap. Think there's a specific order. Of course, would be just like this one to use something completely different." Khzuro muses while studying the tiles of ice.

Drasta tries helping. “I would be wary of chancing anything that is uncertain... Though I would agree there would be a specific order.”

Khzuro rubs his neck. “"If I'm not mistaken, ssskh, that vision that was cast..." Pauses, thinking "Might be reaching.”

Drasta shrugs, “I am unsure.”

“There must be some symbolism to this test." Aiami insists.

Khzuro closes his eyes to think more clearly. "Those are all languages Sithmore knew, used. Wonder if the order is in when she learned each? Of course, we have no way of learning which languages she learned in what order... unless there was some clue in some of her personal effects..."

“She herself was and elf, no?” Drasta asks.

“Correct!” Khzuro exclaims, “Elven is probably first then.”

Ogano concurs saying, “Ok so elven would be first. What would be the next language that she would have learned?"

“Low shou is probably last…” Khzuro pauses, thinking.

“Perhaps it would be…” Drasta agrees.”

"Did we ever read a diary of Her’s? Something that might explain how she came to be in her position? Have focused mostly on her works and artifice." Khzuro asks.

Aiami asks "But she was a sailor correct before she went to Netheril?"

Drasta thinks a moment and says, “In my raising elves knew common shortly after they were able to talk.”

"So common comes before Netherese. Elven, Common, where does the Mulhorandi and Draconic factor in though? We know she was a friend with this Copper." Khzuro considers.

Katsu asks, “When do mages consort with dragons in the west?”

“Perhaps that was later in her life.” Drasta muses.

Ogano says. "We know she lived in this country Mulhorand. I am unsure on draconic I learned this on my own in the time I spent young.”

Katsu asks again, "When would a mage naturally need to speak with dragons in the west?"

"The old elf mentioned she was a Wu Jen and an Engineer, before she became a Sailor who made the Moonflower." Khzuro states.

“It is less a matter of when and a matter of if one were to come across one, they could learn from.” Drasta insists.

Aiami says, “We know that she time travels to Netheril from the modern era on her ship so Mulhorand must come before Netherese.”

"Elven, Common, Mulhorandi, Netherese, now to fit Shou and Draconic in there..." A sigh "This is assuming it's not in alphabetical order or something..." Khzuro states.

Drasta shakes her head. “The draconic coming into the line is the complicated one.”

Khzuro snaps his fingers, “Right, pretty sure that Low Shou is after Common, at least."

Ogano says, "The golden way stops in Telflamm so many sailors on the sea of fallen stars speak low shou.”

Khzuro gets excited at that. “Good to know, ... is she from this... Mulhorand place though?" Tries to remember how that fits in besides the afterlife stuff.

“I could attempt to look through my tome though I do not know if that will help.” Drasta states.

“What did that old man say about her was Mulhorand where she lived?” Ogano asks?

Khzuro starts putting together a scenario. “Born in Evermeet, but then moved to Mulhorand. So, thinking Elven, Common, then Mulhorandi." Drasta nods as he continues thinking through the puzzle. “Became a sailor, learned Shou, then the time travel incident, so learned Netherese." Grumbles, "That also means chronologically she would have learned Netherese first since she travelled back in time to learn it."

Ogano smirks. “But not by experience.”

"Draconic is still missing, but the dragon in the vision did mention what sounded like Mulhorandi clerics, so.... Think the order is... Elven, Common, Mulhorandi, Shou, Draconic, then Netherese..." Khzuro replies somewhat confidently.

Drasta nods, “It is possible. Though if the order is wrong, I am unsure on what will happen.”

“Probably something horrible.” Khzuro remarks.

Haru asks, “Ok, who goes first?”

Khzuro says, “I’ll do it. I’ve got options in case things go bad, at least.” He sighs, then goes to walk along those steps starting with Elven. He steps fully on the elven run in the first row. Nothing happens. He is able to walk the ten meters along this block to the second row.

He steps on the common run in the next row. As he puts his full weight on it nothing happens, and he walks to the edge of that block to the third row. He steps fully on the Hieroglyph……... Nothing happens. Samo gives him a thumbs up and Ogano gives him a hardy, “Good Job!” He reaches the next row.

He steps on the low shou kanji. Nothing happens as he puts his weight upon the block. The others start to follow one by one his sequence. He reaches the next row and confident now he puts his full weight on the draconic block. It crumbles and catches him by surprise. His overland flight kicks in just a second too late and he falls a short distance. He reaches out and catches the Netheresse block with his hand, which is the right block. He dislocates his arm but then the affect of the overland flight takes over and he can levitate back up. There is a slopping tunnel under the unstable blocks.

Khzuro hisses, wincing some, then a huff, He goes to complete it with the draconic block last. Luckily, he was able to lift himself up on the Netheresse block before the ceiling collapses from someone using a flight spell to try to bypass the test. Katsue yells out, “Are you ok, Khzuro?”

“Hssskh!... Think one of my arms is broken or... ow..." Winces... "Am fine, am... fine..."
Goes to set himself on the last block, for Draconic

Haru looks unamused and unimpressed, she orders, “Walk it off!”

Everyone else crosses over into a roughly 20X20 chamber with a very wide carved stairway in the ice. It isn’t going down. It’s going up.”

Calls back "Think we're clear now... ssskh, I see a way down... ow... ow... Iwao?"

Again, Haru says, “Walk it off, Khzuro! It isn’t even a flesh wound.”
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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After resting a bit to regain their strength the companions approach the stairs going up. There are some words cut in the block of ice in front of the stairs. They say, “Welcome, you can add butter to yourselves now.”

Drasta smirks, “Do we even have butter?” Samo slowly raises his hand. She rolls her eyes and chuckles. “Of course you would.”

He shrugs, “You can’t really cook without butter.”

“Fair enough.”

At the top of the stairs the way is carved out going west. Khzuro sighs, but keeps alert, looking around. "We'd better find our missing companions before the Copper eats them."

Drasta nods collecting herself back. “Agreed.”

They go thirty feet. The tunnel opens to a giant chasm. There is a rickety wood bridge Half-way across to an ice pillar. From there looks like a stone cave entrance in the form of a giant dragon head with its maw open. The statue’s eyes are closed. Going through it is the only way forward. Samo looks at the bridge. “Not sure that will hold.”

"This one can fly over but won't help the rest of you. Could teleport past though, I think...?" Khzuro looks around for any other potential problems. He studies the chasm. It’s 30 feet wide. The bridge ends at about 15 ft. and the ceiling looks about 40 ft high. He looks down the chasm to try to see if there is anything of interest down there, or if it is just a blank pit that goes nowhere. He sees only darkness.

Drasta approaches the bridge and pushes on the first board with a small amount of force. It creaks but takes her weight. Khzuro checks the bridge for traps but does not see any. "No traps that this one sees but... the bridge might not hold all of our weight. Can dimension door us across though."

Drasta comments, “Best be slow and jump across if needed. studies the further boards for signs of failure.” Though the bridge does look rickety the boards all seem to be in the same condition. Khzuro realizes that he can dimension door 3 others or 2 and Samo to the ice pillar but only that many being the stand is not that long or wide.

Drasta calls back. “Seems though it can support some, but I do not know how much.”

Ogano shakes his head. “I don’t think wood to stone would be good in this particular situation. anyone else have any ideas."

“Can any of you cast that?” Khzuro asks.

Ogano nods. “But if I do the rope supports will no longer hold."

Khzuro sighs, “Ah… That is a problem.”

Aiami steps up. “Someone, get me a long rope.”

Khzuro in his own thoughts says, “Can dimension door us across I guess…” Then looks around to see if anyone has a long rope.

Iwao asks, “100 ft, ok?”

Drasta not understanding looks at the rope. “I think that is a bit long.”

"This one's flight spell is still holding, so if you need him to apply the rope somewhere less convenient for you, let him know." Khzuro says.

Aiami nods to Iwao. “More than enough its 15 feet we need to shore up. She takes the rope, and casts animate rope from her spell book. The rope zig zags back and forth across the wood of the bridge binding the wood more strongly to the existing rope supports. Aiami weaves it like she’s sewing the boards back together until she runs out of the 100 feet. She smiles. “How about now?”

Drasta and Khzuro watch mesmerized by the spectacle Drasta exclaims, “Well… That works better than I thought it would.”

Khzuro surprised says, “Good going!”

Aiami smiles while Drasta starts across still careful of her steps. Samo reiterates, “Umm still not going first!” Khzuro flies around the bridge to make sure there’s not more problems.

Drasta makes it to the pillar. Katsu goes next. He has no problem. Iwao goes next. He has no problem. There are three people on the pillar now. It can only fit one more. Aiami decides to go. She makes it. The four on the pillar look forward into the giant maw of a stone dragon statue. They are not sure if it opens up beyond because there is no light behind the maw, and it stinks like rotted meat.

Drasta sees something shiny inside between two of the carved stone teeth. She looks it over carefully as if something doesn’t feel right about it. She also sees she cannot retrieve the item without stepping inside but it looks like a piece of armor. Maybe part of a suit of some kind. “What are your thoughts Khzuro?”

Khzuro flies over and casts a detect magic on it. The object glows dimly. “Minor magical enchantment on the armor, I don't see magic on the teeth... It glows of abjuration magic.”

Drasta asks, “A way of transport?”

Khzuro corrects her. “"Teleportation is conjuration magic. Could be a dispel or some kind of protection spell. Either way, I'd expect anything here to be a trap. Let’s move on."

Drasta sighs, “It would seem we only have one direct option...”

"Could throw a rock at the armor and see if something happens." Khzuro suggests.

Drasta considers. “Perhaps that best unless it only reacts with living objects.” She tosses a small stone at it. It bounces off the armor and falls down the chasm.

“Must be some kind of repulsion magic to throw anyone who touches it down the chasm. But we should be able to keep moving as long as we don't touch the armor." Khzuro concludes.

Drasta nods and steps in carefully avoiding the armor. As she does, she finds the floor is hard. She looks back and motions for the others to follow saying. “Avoid the armor.”

She goes into the mouth and gets to the back of the throat. She finds something in front of her blocking her path. It sways slightly as she touches it. There does seem to be something behind it being it is swaying in the breeze. Whatever it is, it is all the way across blocking her vision. She pokes it with the sharp end her bow. It yields to the bow like a curtain. She shrugs and walks past it carefully. It is indeed a black curtain she easily maneuvers past. Beyond is another ice tunnel.

Drasta swears several times then yells back. “More passages. I see no danger yet.” Everyone takes their turn and gets into the next tunnel.

When Khzuro flies in last he looks at everyone, “Right, let’s keep moving.”
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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Our brave companions go 30 yards down the tunnel and come to another chasm. This one is 50 feet across. Another dragon’s head statue is at the other end and this one is even larger than the first by ½. The great head stares at them from the other end. It has its eyes open. They notice that its eyes are made of 2 giant aquamarine gems. Like the last chasm there is a central pillar at the very maw of the dragon’s snout. Between the pillar and the ledge that the group is on are several pillars 5 feet apart going to the larger central one. It looks like they would have to jump column to column to get to the mouth of the dragon head statue. There is a green mist surrounding the central pillar.

Khzuro looks around the room to see if there are any other points of egress. There are none. The only way to move on is into the maw of the dragon. He studies the platforms some judging the gaps and tries to gauge if there’s enough room to dimension door the party across. He sees that 4 can fit on the central pillar or 2 and Samo. He flies ahead and checks for traps on the pillars. As Khzuro gets near the central pillar he is overcome by a smell. It doesn’t put him out, but it stinks to high heavens and his flying slows to a crawl. He flies back to the others. "Well... Good.... to.... know.... about... that.... stinks.... fierce.... some... kind.... of... gas... there"

“Interesting...This is a test throughout these passages then to see perhaps if one is worthy.” Drasta observes.

“More… traps…” Khzuro slowly states. As he talks the stone dragon statue spues out more of the green gas. It now spreads to encompass half the pillars.

Katsu shrugs, "If they are they are not your standard traps you can disarm."

"Any... ideas... for... this... one?"

Samo asks, "if you leap pillar to pillar will that gas make you jump any shorter?"

After thinking about it a bit, Khzuro replies, “It… could.”

“Perhaps a good time to use the stone spell on its nostrils.” Drasta observes.

Ogano chuckles. "Perhaps the gas gives you longer to contemplate that you missed your mark when you jump. You can then fully know your doom in the bottom of the chasm as you are jumping."

“Or, perhaps a way to disable what is causing it?” Drasta asks.

"Well .... at.... least.... I'm... flying... as... long... as... it... only... slows... I ... could... take... a... look..." Khzuro exclaims.

Everyone nods Haru winks at Khzuro, "I guess you’re the next one to step first into the maw of a dragon."

“Right… then…” Khzuro flies off toward the mouth of the statue to inspect it. He peers in and it looks like the inside of a stone dragon statue. The other end is dark, and it stinks of gas. The slow spell continues. He sees there is another black curtain in the back and there is a suit of full plate armor stuck between two of the teeth. He first tries to see where the gas is coming from casting detect magic.

He steps inside and finds out the gas is definitely coming out of the dragon statue’s nostrils. He tries to see where in the nose the gas is coming out of, if there is some mechanism to disable. There does seem to be something in there but it’s very deep. He casts detect magic on the armor. It also glows of abjuration magic and there is writing on it. It says, ‘Sir Sham of Shankville He needed to be rendered more." He also concludes that the armor is +2 full plate +3 against reptiles.

Drasta taps impatiently waiting and looking to the others, “Well…”

Haru looks at her. “Let’s wait until he’s done.”

Khzuro tries to see if there's some way to clog the nostrils, maybe an object big enough...? He looks around only finding sheer walls, ice and a small ledge on the other side. He sighs and decides to fly back. "Gas... coming... from... statue's... nostrils.... didn't... find... a... way...to...stop....it"

Samo says, "It’s only 5 feet between each pillar an easy jump.”

Aiami says, "The animate rope is whipped from my book. I cannot use it again."

"Guess that might be what we have to do. I can fly but I doubt I can carry anyone except maybe Aiami if you can shapechange." Khzuro shrugs.

“Will it be as easy when you are slowed?” Drasta asks.

"Should cast a feather fall for the group in case anyone falls." Khzuro counsels.

Samo says, "I don’t know." To Drasta.

Ogano asks if anyone has feather fall. Katsue says, "I have it in my book but not remembered."

Haru suggest, "We could camp, and the mages could take turns studying it."

“Perhaps though I do not know how much it would help if one were to fall to the bottom of this pit.” Drasta says while looks down into the depths of it.

Aiami says, "It would depend upon the strength of the caster."

"A dimension door across is still an option." Khzuro mentions.

Drasta nods, “Indeed it is and possibly the best option.”

Khzuro ask, “Aiami, can you turn into a smaller form?” She nods. "Okay, I can fly you over then. For the others..." Counts how many they have with them. Aiami shapeshifts into a little fluffy bunny rabbit which is her natural form. He picks her up and looks at the rest of the group. “Are any of you confidant in your jumping ability? Will need one of you to make it conventionally.”

Haru nods, “I’ll do it the hard way. Besides I can’t let an apprentice show me up.”

“I can as well perhaps much easier.” Drasta states then she chuckles lightly. “I see.”

Khzuro looks at Aiami and sets her back down. “I need my hands for this. Right then. Samo, Ogano, Iwao, Katsu, on me.” They join hands and Khzuro dimension doors them into the maw of the statue. Aiami is left there for the moment. Drasta and Haru take to the pillars. Khzuro casts heroism on both of them as they start to navigate the pillars and before taking the rest over.

Drasta goes first jumping from one pillar to another showing that even under a slowing magic she can do it. Haru is next she jumps the first and second pillar fine but as she hits the slow poison the timing trips her up. She misses the third. She screams falling a short time then there is silence. There is no ‘Thunk!’ of a body landing on the ground.

Khzuro flies down after her, but he is also slowed. He sees falling for a moment then suddenly she seems to disappear. An outline of a giant tail swings up as something really big descends into the depths of the gorge. He casts see invisibility as he descends further. He flies down to 500 feet and start to see giant holes spotting the canyon walls. He goes down another 250 ft to find an icy bottom with spike like snow mounds all over. He doesn’t find a body there no matter how much he tries. He did not think the pit was this deep but keeps looking around, trying to see if there’s a point of impact or something that could determine where her body went. He finds nothing. It seems she somehow just disappeared mid-air. He curses himself and flies back to the others. Aiami is still on the other side waiting. The others have moved past the curtain and are waiting in the next ice tunnel. He picks her up and flies across joining the others. “Haru is missing.”

Drasta says, “Shit…”

Aiami says, “I can’t believe Haru missed.”

Khzuro shakes his head. “She fell down, think the dragon grabbed her.”

"We know the dragon isn't killing them....at least yet." Ogano determines.

“It would be most likely... He means to separate us all at this point I believe.” Drasta theorizes.

Khzuro struggles with the deterioration of his band. "Damnit, should have teleported all of us across." A sigh "Now we have more to rescue. Let’s keep moving. We'd better get them back before the Copper eats them."

The six of them move forward cautiously.
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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The next tunnel takes them another 50 yards due west. They come to a third chasm with yet the same situation. This gorge is 80ft wide. This time the statue is that of a full dragon crouched and clinging to the wall with its neck outstretched and its maw open at the central pillar. Its head is not quite twice the size of the last. There is a bridge this time. It is a rope bridge with a single strong line at the bottom and the sides strung up to make a V. They catch a faint whiff of acid as they come to the opposite ledge.

Khzuro casts resist acid on himself. “Probably best I scout around again this time... this place looks even more dangerous than the last..." He flies around the dragon statue then down into the pit. It looks to him that the chasm is about the same depth as the last only wider. He finds no traps. He flies back up to the dragon statue. It has its maw open, and eyes closed in the same spot. It’s just a bigger statue and this time that of a full dragon with its tail in hole supposably the entrance to the next tunnel.

Drasta looks at Aiami while Khzuro is doing his scouting. “Can you change again?”

“Yes.”
Drasta nods. “Do so this will be quick.” Aiami changes into a rabbit.

While Khzuro is still checking for traps on the pillar and bridge to make sure it is safe, Drasta grabs up Aiami and casts void step holing the final note looking at the maw. As Khzuro looks from his searching a moment to her. She casts void stepping inside the statue’s maw.

The statues mouth snaps shut in an instant. The dragon under a Stoneskin spell suddenly dives into the chasm. Khzuro’s mouth drops open in disbelief, “I didn’t find any traps.”

Drasta and Aiami find themselves in the dark and are propelled to the ceiling as negative gravity takes effect when the statue falls. They then rattle around in its mouth for some time and are spit out in a very dark place.

"Damnit w... I hadn't finished checking f..." Khzuro muzzle paws and looks to see where the hole goes. Like the others it turns into a tunnel. He flies back to the others who are making their way to the middle pillar. "Damnit, we'd better hurry. Come on." He dimension doors them to the other side

Samo, Ogano, Katsu, Iwao and Khzuro rest a moment on the other side. "Doubt the dragon will negotiate, it also seems to know very much about us. Knew who we were and our capabilities. If it spent this much effort against the demons... gah! ..." Huffs "We need to keep moving. Come on." Khzuro exclaims exasperated.

They go on after about 50 yards the tunnel Ts going north and south. Khzuro keeps alert for traps as they move which slows them down. He heads north. After another 50 yards the tunnel gently curves back to the west, but a side tunnel splits off to the south southwest and up ahead they see another split to the north and the main tunnel gently keeps turning south and west.

Khzuro decides to take the side tunnel to the north. They go about 40 yards, and it sharply turns splitting west and south. To the south it opens up. Khzuro goes west. They go about 30 yards and the tunnel splits again southwest and west but west seems to be a dead end.

Khzuro decides to backtrack and take the southwest tunnel. They to 20 yards and it opens up to about a 70-yard X 50-yard oblong chamber. There is hay spread out on the ground here and there are 5 large hare-like creatures here sprouting antlers. There are several younger rabbits here without antlers.

Khzuro looks over to everyone else. “Any idea what those are…?”

Both Ogano and Katsu shake their heads. Samo says, “A Derabbit?” questioningly.

“Right, they dangerous?" Khzuro asks.

"Have no idea?" Samo shrugs.

Khzuro looks around to see if there's any other exits out of this chamber besides the way they came in. There is one about halfway down the western side of the chamber going southwest but he cannot see the full end of this large cavern being at least 100 yards long and curved. "The Copper might be keeping these as a food source. Let’s try to move to the other exit there without provoking them." Khzuro says.

They slowly walk single file along the western wall. They get about 25 yards and the adults take an interest in Samo and start to hop toward him. Khzuro says, “Come on, keep moving.”

Samo eyes them, “Nice bunny rabbits.”

"Irony we don't have ours." Sigh Too bad Khzuro isn't getting head pats, but these creatures likely will.
“Walk calmly and in a careful fashion.” Khzuro states.

They block Samos path and sit as if waiting for something. "Don't suppose any of you picked up any of those 'nice' carrots?" Khzuro asks. Samo shakes his head and looks at the rabbits questioningly.

Ogano says, "Now this is an interesting situation. What could they want?"

"Probably they smell something. Samo? What are you carrying besides your usual gear?" Khzuro asks.

"Umm, my usual gear? weapons, rations, some mammoth meat, extra stinky clothes I already wore."

"Anything in particular about your rations, food, drink?"

"Nope, food, water, and Shasta for those long cold nights."

"Shasta?"

“It’s rum made in Renkyu special recipe.”

"Oh... That's probably what they're smelling then. Think they might want some."

Samo looks a bit depressed, “They want my Shasta!............... Umm, I'm not sure I want to give it away its pretty expensive stuff."

Katsu snorts, "Just pour a cup and see if that’s what they want. Take one for the team Samo."

Samo looks angry but nods. He pours a cup of Shasta and puts it on the ground The rabbits waste no time hopping up to it and drinking deeply. one even jumps for the clay pot the rest is in. Samo says, “Ok let’s get out of here before they finished the first cup.”

"Good idea, let’s keep going." Khzuro agrees.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign

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They take the split away from the jackalopes and come to a slant T going north and south. They hear the sound of water rushing in the distance through the walls. Khzuro ops to take the tunnel going sharply north. It arcs due north for 30 yards then curves slightly east. They come upon a switchback to the west going south or north. The sound of water rushing is louder here. Khzuro leads them north. The tunnel slants east slight. They come to a T going east and west. The western end looks like a dead end after about 25 ft. They feel they may have been here before. The sound of water recedes.

Khzuro backtracks just a bit and takes the south bend. They come to a sharp Y both going south but one more to the east and the other to the west. They hear the sound of water in the background again. Khzuro takes the west leaning branch. The tunnel gently runs southwest, and they come upon a rather large river running through the caverns cutting through the ice. It’s about 30 ft wide and the opposite shore is just an icy cliff to the ceiling. They are not sure if there may be another exit leading west on the other side.

Our five brave uneaten companions turn back and take the south exit. They come back to the T going north and south. They know the north leads them back to the strange antlered rabbits. Khzuro leads them south. They go about 60 yards. It starts to head east; they start to hear a thunderous crashing sound coming from a small entrance on the south face of the ice. Only a small person can enter this place.

Khzuro goes to investigate. He can barely fit himself into the hole but once on the other side he finds himself on a small ledge beside a giant waterfall crashing into a pool below. The runoff flow is headed due west. He surmises this must be the headwater of the river they saw.

He looks around to see if there's anything of note here. The waterfall is on his left and the water turns into a river to his right heading due west. He thinks it must turn somewhere just out of eyesight and tracks northward. He looks up above the falls. There’s a hole on the eastern end of this giant cavern. The waterfall is coming down from it where the water chewed a hole in the ice. The cavern itself seems to have been excavated by giant claws some years ago. Khzuro casts overland flight and starts to follow the river.

He follows it 60 yards due west and it takes a sharp turn north. from there he goes about 50 yards and there is an exit to the west. another 30 and there is another exit to the west. then it opens up and becomes 30 feet wide. you go 50 yards and there is an exit to the east. you go another 50 yards and there is an exit to the west then he travels 70 yards, and the water ends in a whirlpool. He sees that the whole of the river is not traversable by foot. It is sheer ice except for ledges for exits. He looks at the walls and ceiling and finds giant tracks all around him.

He goes to the waterfall and tries to peer in. There are no holes at all just a giant turbulence at the back end of the river. He goes back, trying to figure if there are any paths he hasn't gone through yet that doesn't involve going through the Jackalope room again.

Khzuro remembers some paths to the east and decides to check down those. He leads the small group east for about 55 yards and finds a four-way split. One goes northeast one south east one south west. He decides to take the northeast leg. They go about 50 yards and come to split. One sharply to the west and the other east and slightly north. He takes the slightly north path. They come to at T They can go due north or south. They head north. They go another 50 yards, and the tunnel starts to curve west. There is an offshoot tunnel going south here. He keeps heading west. “Have we been here before?”

Ogano says, “Perhaps we should have used a string.”

"Probably..." Khzuro sighs, heading southwards. This time he takes the offshoot tunnel. They go to a slightly winding tunnel into a large cavern. As they enter, they hit a trap. All five of them suddenly go blind as a cloud of powdered sugar explodes all around them. They have it their eyes, hair, ridges, scales and all over their armor. they look like tasty ghosts. “Hssskh!” Khzuro flies back a bit, but keeps ready, listening carefully for anything coming by.

Ogano falls down, Iwao steps back, Samo takes out some bread rubs it on his armor and starts to eat it. "Tasty"

Khzuro casts break enchantment. Nothing seems to happen. Samo looks at him and smiles, “Want some?” Khzuro huffs and casts Trueseeing. He sees a dozen traps in the room. He licks his eyes to get the powdered sugar out "Ssskh, lots of traps here. Covered by illusions. I'll try to deal with them."

He goes up to and disarms the first, second and third trap. He fumbles with the 4th trap and a giant blob of blueberry jelly hits him. It nearly encompasses the small kobold. "Blbllrlbfff"!

Everyone rushes to him and tries to wipe away the jelly. "Sssk, wasn't acid or anything harmful, at least." Khzuro exclaims.

Samo rubs his bread on his forehead and takes a bite, "I like this dragon"

"Really...? They've kidnapped half our team." Khzuro stammers.

Samo smiles and says while taking a bite, “Yea but he knows how to eat."

"Let’s try to make sure he doesn't eat us, at least." Khzuro says. Samo nods. "I'd better get back to disarming the traps while my trueseeing lasts, there's more of them." Khzuro adds. "I'd better get back to disarming the traps while my trueseeing lasts, there's more of them."

Ogano musingly asks, "Should we try for some raspberry?"

Khzuro waits for them to back up a bit and starts disarming them again, while saying, “"You're thinking about food too?"

Distracted as he is the kobold sets off another trap. This is a spray trap that spues out ground coffee beans that sticks to the jelly. He sighs, “Am going to be such a killjoy for this dragon..." He tries the next trap and gets hit with a giant blob of grape jelly. He stomps his foot in anger and tries the next one which he disarms.

He goes to the next trap. He cuts the wrong wire and is sprayed with liquid chocolate which immediately starts to harden in the cold air. As he walks to his next target chips of chocolate and gooey jelly fall off his body. He seems very annoyed but keeps going. Khzuro is now completely soaked through is armor.

He trips the next two traps in a row and is sprayed with elderberry jelly and more coffee grounds. He manages to disarm the last two traps and casts prestidigitation on himself to clean himself off. All the goop falls off of him. Samo sighs, “You could have waited until I rubbed your head."

"Well, you can still do that," "Why would you want to when I'm covered in goop?" Khzuro replies.

"It’s really good stuff.

"Oh..."

Katsu sighs. Khzuro continues. "Let’s just make sure we get our companions back." Samo nods while eating the last of his bread. Traps disarmed, Khzuro advances on, but keeps alert for more. The room is a rough box and has no exit but Khzuro notices something in the southeast corner. It’s a hidden door. He checks for traps finding none. He opens it and goes in. They find themselves in a tunnel in the shape of a Y two ends going north and southwest and one going east.
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