File: Update_061.png (234 KB, 640x600)

234 KB PNG

>>3708432

Ragnar decides that taking a few more grabs for their burgeoning nest wouldn't hurt. The pair of kobolds round the bend along the beach and sneakily scout the cave entrance.

The big ones don't seem to be around, so the kobolds grab some decently sized crabs and scamper away before anyone or anything can notice them.

"Whoa... I know you described them to me before, but these things are kinda freaky. It's like a giant bug, but it lives in the water!" Nizra remarks, holding the crustacean an arms distance away from her as it's claws probe around and try to snip at anything within reach. "So do we eat them raw like bugs or what?"

The pair stuff the crabs into the water pot and carefully make their way up the slope. It's slow going as the steepness of the hill combined with the heavy sloshing pot makes things difficult.

"Whew... I hope there is a place to get water closer to the nest... I feel kind of exposed." She says, nervously looking around as they return.

Preparations for dinner start when they return, and soon they have a fire going and are boiling the crabs along with some of the vegetables from the stilt-leg settlement. They even get some squirrel barbeque as a side dish when Klindi returns near daybreak.

Ragnar eats well. Far better than any other day since fleeing his last nest. From the gusto that everyone else is eating, the red kobold guesses that they are feeling quite happy with the nice meal as well.

Satiated, the nestmates all pile up near the egg and fall asleep.

----

Ragnar wakes up the next morning seeing Qrad and Nizra discussing something. The red kobold steps over Klindi and scoops up some of the dinner from last night. He pops the cold combination of mash and crab into his mouth and then wishes the two awake workers a good night.

"Oh! Evening! Hey, were you going to head back out to the settlement thingy?" Nizra asks. "We thought of something else we might need."

"Yeah, This is a nice start for a nest, but it feels a bit... Undefended? I mean, you guys don't even really have any traps set up yet. It's a little worrying." the other male kobold says. "I mean we don't have much we can do yet, but if you can get us some stilt-leg traps or parts for making them it'd be really useful. For now we'll have to settle for pits."

"We might be able to get a rock trap up, though there isnt' that much in the way of a ceiling here..." Nizra says, conversationally.

"Yeah, hrmm..." Qrad says, looking at the entrance and pondering.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3708436
[It's back omg I love this quest! Welcome back QM!]

we should help with making pitfall traps, but let's hold off on the ceiling traps don't want the place falling in on us.

>>3708436
We should go to the settlement, maybe Klindi can come with us? 2 pair of hands would be very useful and as a huntress she can sneak around with us and help us in a bind if we find that animal again.

Just thinking that if we make the trek there we should be bringing more stuff, if the other two can survive here for a while for some days gathering food and making improvements that would be great

>>3708458
And they can start working into traps while we go there to find tools, traps and whatever else might be useful

>>3708458
while I agree going to the human settlement to get tools is useful if we fail to protect the den and something happens while we are gone then getting more tools was useless.

>>3708436
Pit traps combined with spike traps sound plenty lethal to me. Let's just hope we dont fall into one as we come back home. Going back to the human village sounds good to me though. Did we get a bag and/or a barrel last time? And should we take someone with us? I kinda want to go with Klindi because she's the stealthiest and would help us get twice the haul. Or maybe Qrad, so we can get to know him on the way. And let's bring nothing else with us so we have as much space as possible for stealing. Just the containers. We can eat and drink when we get there and use our stomach as additional storage.

>>3708465
Yes but there are two other kobolds to make some rudimentary traps while we are out, besides, to make better traps we will need the tools or the actual human traps, and those things won't be easy to carry

>>3708476
I agree in going to the settlement with light load and I think we should take Klindi for the stealthyness, we can't afford to be seen

>>3708488
If we take Klindi who will protect the den? we haven't spent any time with Qrad so we don't know how reliable he will be. also your right we need more tools I am just a slow and steady kind of person about safety

>>3708476
support

take Klindi with us if she is willing and the others can feed themselves while we are away

>>3708498
She doesn't protect the nest often since she is always hunting, face it, even if the four of us stayed, if something attacked our best bet would be to simply leave, the traps will have to be enough for now, we have no way of defending the nest as it is

>>3708551
alright I see your point we do need more tools and she will be the most useful on the trip.

>>3708476
Supporting this with Klindi, maybe Qrad can start setting up traps.

File: Update_062.png (286 KB, 640x600)

286 KB PNG

>>3708442
>>3708458
>>3708459
>>3708465
>>3708476
>>3708482
>>3708488
>>3708498
>>3708550
>>3708551
>>3708628
>>3708685

Ragnar asks what sort of traps they had in mind.

"Well, other than pit traps and rock traps that we mentioned, we could also get a mud trap going. Sure it won't disable any snoopers, but it might slow them down enough for us to bean them with a few rocks and then run.

Ragnar rubs his chin. He says he thinks he remembers times when his nest mates would use the spike traps as a dumping ground for their waste and garbage.

"...Yes, I suppose until we can find some poison or something that'll have to do. I'd prefer that a trap full of poop and trash not be near our sleeping or eating area though." Nizra says sticking out her tongue in disgust.

The red kobold wonders if he should ask one of his nestmates to come along. He has his pack, but he is still a little low on storage space, and an extra pair of claws would be handy. Plus,being alone is kind of scary with all those non-kobolds out there. Klindi seems like the most useful because of her crossbow and over all talent of surviving in the wilderness. Plus, he trusts her the most out of the other three.

The problem is that because she is so capable and trustworthy Ragnar feels that Klindi should be around the nest in case something happens, like a predator wandering in. Nizra and Qrad seem like good nest mates, but if they were mostly diggers than they probably don't have much of a stomach or talent for combat.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3708860
Go alone the last thing we need is to come back to find that everyone has been slaughtered.

>>3708860
We are at the start, and that settlement is big and has those rat/dogs around, we should bring Klindi, and tell both of them to hide well while we are away, we will be back as soon as we can

>>3708880
we can fight or run if needed. they can't if we leave this place undefended any a predator comes knocking they are fucked. let's go alone.

>>3708860
Let's go alone I guess

>>3708860
bring Qrad along, it's too wasteful to go alone and bring too little

>>3708906
Yeah ok this will work it gives us a chance to get to know the guy

>>3708906
I change to this, at least one of them should come

Tell Klindi she'll have to look over the nest for now, it seems only us two can do something about attackers

>>3708860
We have strength in numbers. The den defenses will go down by about 33%, but our own safety will go up by 100%. I say we take Qrad. If we die then everyone is boned.

>>3708860
>Mate with Klindi and Nizra first, we need to reproduce not just scavenge homeless kobalds. Also, we have to show we're the alpha kobald.
>other than that, prepare for the trip as much as possible.
>being Qrad along. He's going to need to be toughened up a bit. New job: warrior.

File: Update_063.png (288 KB, 640x600)

288 KB PNG

>>3708871
>>3708880
>>3708886
>>3708899
>>3708906
>>3708909
>>3708922
>>3709124
>>3709240

Ragnar takes a small walk, and after considering for a second decides to invite Qrad along. He's physically the strongest out of the other three others, which is all he really needs. The red kobold calls out to the other male, asking if he wants to come along.

"Yeah! I mean, I'm not sure how much help I would be." He says, coming to the entrance. "Closest I ever got to stilt-legs was scrounging near the outskirts of a few houses near my old nest."

Ragnar asks what sorta things he had to grab.

"Just whatever looked useful really. Old tools and scrap metal. Sometimes people bury stuff on the outskirts. Gold, gems, corpses. That kind of thing." Qrad replies, and then says. "Anyway, did you want me to bring anything?"

What does Ragnar do?

>>3709472
Containers anything that can hold stuff other than that not much.

>>3709476
this, travel light so we can bring back more

>>3709476
This.

>>3709476
This^

QM what happened in june/july I thought for sure the curse had taken you?

>>3709472
I think I need to get me some better glasses. I seriously thought that said, “Ragnar takes a small wank” for some reason.

>>3709472
>Get klindi to fashion you a stone blunt weapon. I'll hold the hatchet, but we'll mostly just hope we don't need either.
>Wait around until that's done, and practice sparring.

File: Update_064.png (325 KB, 640x600)

325 KB PNG

>>3709622

The curse? Also, just went and did a different CYOA. I'm sorta switching from one to another once a thread finishes.

>>3709476
>>3709478
>>3709536
>>3709617
>>3710174

Emerald says if Qrad want to carry a container that'd be helpful. He grabs one of the pots from the stilt-leg settlement and says, "I guess i could carry this around. Seems a bit cumbersome though. Kind of wish I had a backpack too."

"Oh! I think I got an idea." Nizra says from inside the cave, causing Qrad to turn around and walk inside.

Ragnar follows back inside to see Nizra holding up some of the cordage from around the big egg.

"Ohhh! That's smart. Put it under my cloak though." Qrad says holding up his clothing as the female digger wraps the ropes around ties the container to his body.

"Hey, that looks familiar." Klindi says yawning and looking to bleary eyed up at the group.

Seeing the hunter awake, Ragnar asks if she can make Qrad some sort of makeshift weapon.

"I mean, it looks like you guys are ready to go. I guess I could throw something together quick... Err..." Klindi says, looking around. She grabs a stick and splits it on one edge and then stuffs a rock inside. Using some of the cord she wraps the stick and the rock together tightly. It doesn't look like it could be swung more than a few times without needing adjusting, but it's better than nothing.

Well, Qrad seems at least a little bit better equipped now.

"So we ready?" He asks.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3712468
Thank Klindi and let's get going, wish the girls good luck

>>3712473
+1 time to go

>>3712468
Time to go!

>>3712473
support lets hit the road

>>3712473
>>3712468
And do a motivational chant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oPmiMsh9ZU

>>3712468
>The curse? Also, just went and did a different CYOA. I'm sorta switching from one to another once a thread finishes.

what quest?

>>3712468
>Emerald
Someones getting his CYOAs mixed up.

>>3712551
what quest is that from?

File: Update_065.png (359 KB, 640x600)

359 KB PNG

>>3712473
>>3712489
>>3712499
>>3712505
>>3712507
>>3712511
>>3712551
>>3712599

Ragnar and Qrad say their goodbyes, and make the multi-day trek to the stilt-leg settlement. The travel is thankfully peaceful along the cliff edge. As they travel Ragnar begins to wonder if they can cut through certain parts of the forest to get through faster. Perhaps when they are better equipped and the nest more secure and numerous he'll give it a shot.

---

As the colossal stilt-leg settlement comes into view Qrad let's out an impressed whistle.

"By the Avaricious that's a huge stilt-leg nest... You went in there and scavenged? You are a better thief than I thought!" Qrad says astonished.

Ragnar grins confidentally and makes sure not to mention that he didn't actually go into the town proper. What Qrad doesn't know won't hurt him. Probably.

Last time the red kobold left his companion around here, but perhaps he should try to bring Qrad closer and past the outposts. If that sleek, long-dog thing attacks him again maybe the other kobold will be of some help.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3712779
bring him along and try to avoid the watchtowers, let's try to approach through a different angle

>>3712790
I disagree we where almost caught last time and we are a professional thief

>>3712779
go on alone

>>3712779
double check gear and make sure the bandanna is tight. wouldn't want to lose it or have it catch on anything.

>>3712779
Not much point in getting somebody that can carry more stuff if we have to go out of our way to give him stuff.

>>3712779
Bring him along.

>>3713003
the guy is a tunneler he has zero experience in stealth. please lets not shot ourselves in the foot by bringing him into a guarded area.

>>3713010
Two kobolds can carry more than one kobold.

Do you expect us to run in and out five or six times to bring things to him?

>>3713060
No, what I expect us to do is what we did last time. load ourself down like a pack mule until we can barely walk. then meet back up with red here and distribute the load.

are kobolds for sexuals?

>>3713097
Kobold sexy time will come later

>>3712779
He just needs to follow our lead. We need him for storage and protection. Bring him along. I see the moon in the sky, hopefully the stilt legs arent gonna be very alert at this time. Also he's another pair of eyes so it'll make it safer to hav him watch our back.

>>3713495
on another note, work wrapping our feet... paws... claws? Would wrapping them in clothes make us a little more stealthier? Cuz like the wraps could hopefully muffle the clipping of out foot talons against cobblestone roads, or wood flooring? Would bandages and improvised shoes only get in the way by reducing traction and getting sliced up by our raptor feet?

>>3712599
that's a secret :^)
I wonder if he did it on purpose

File: fb92474fa072331b59c622ed6(...).jpg (71 KB, 640x426)

71 KB JPG

>>3712779
I say get him relatively close but outside the patrol area and we'll go in and bring things back to him.

>>3713668
are we capable of making those?

File: images.jpg (39 KB, 388x477)

39 KB JPG

>>3713670
Don't see why not it's just a pit with a pair of spiky logs in slots.

>>3708432
I swear i've seen this art style before,Say QM you run any other quests?

>>3713766
I know right

>>3712779
QM what other quest do you run?

File: Update_066.png (304 KB, 640x600)

304 KB PNG

>>3713766
>>3714597

Unless you like pony, it probably won't be your thing.

>>3712790
>>3712995
>>3712830
>>3713003
>>3713060
>>3713495


Ragnar decides to take Qrad along. Might as well make him carry as much stuff as possible. The red kobold tells Qrad to lay low and follow him. As they approach the first of the watch towers Qrad whispers.

"Oh! Are we going to steal from there too?"

Ragnar asks why they would do that when they could get better stuff down at the city.

"I dunno... This place just seems less defended and there isn't really anyone else around to call for reinforcements. I bet they are more concerned for their lives than for the odd tool or food parcel." Qrad says with a shrug. "C'mon, let's just take a look really quick...!"

Qrad starts crawling towards the watchtower, and the kobold grits his teeth and follows.

From the ground the kobold can see a shadowy stilt-leg with a crossbow, patrolling from one corner of the tower to the other, watching both the sea and the forest.

Watching the door is a female guard. At first the kobold thought it was robbed, but it appears the character is wearing layered vestments above armor and carrying a gnarled staff. However, that isn't the most interesting thing about the guard...

...Much more interesting is that the guard is a gnome!

She has her back against the wall next to the door, and she is keeping watch on the small mowed field in front of her and the forest beyond it.

Ragnar nods. Maybe Qrad has some good hunches after all. That being said, that's at least two foes, and one with a height advantage and a crossbow.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3714939
AARRRGGGa fucking gnome!!!!! must killl!!!!

but....this is dangerous as fuck

let's circle the towar and look for something interesting to get, I don't think we can surprise both of them

File: Emerold.png (74 KB, 197x319)

74 KB PNG

>>3712468
>Emerald says if Qrad want to carry a container that'd be helpful.

>>3714939
stick to the plan, the last thing we need to do is try and raid a military outpost

>>3714939
Maybe we can throw a rock at her as we leave, gnomes deserve the worst. Damn tricky gnomes.

>>3715119
Yeah, how about no, we are on an infiltration mission into hostile territory to steal critically needed tools. lets not fuck it up by alerting the military to our presence

>>3715134
Why should I listen to you, gnome lover.

>>3714966
What quest is this from?

>>3715146
Ah, now I understand you are here to cause chaos and throw Allen wrenches into the gears of the quest.

>>3714939
I don't think there would be all that much useful stuff here and raiding a guard post along our path would mean tighter security. That would make it harder to get past here in the future.

>>3715160
No, if I wanted to do that I could do that easily by giving answers to questions you don't actually want.
I just don't like how controlling you were trying to be when I was just trying to be silly.
I mean damn man, I put 'maybe' in there specifically so the action couldn't be taken at that time. Sort of like a thought going through someone's head.

>>3715414
this is 4 chan I have seen anons suggest similar actions and be hundred percent serious.

File: Update_067.png (432 KB, 640x600)

432 KB PNG

>>3714956
>>3714966
>>3715105
>>3715119
>>3715134
>>3715146
>>3715148
>>3715160
>>3715175

Ragnar has to admit that this is really, really tempting. He shakes his head, and says that it's best that hey should stick to the plan.

"Aww come on... Can't I at least throw a rock or two?" Qrad asks.

The red kobold shakes his head and says that it's probably better not to raise the security of the outpost closest to their nest. If they cause problems it might start some investigations. He doesn't mention it, but Ragnar also remembers the attack on those stilt-leg fishermen... You know, if they kill everyone then they might get blamed instead.

Ragnar shakes his head. No, too dangerous.

"Makes sense... That's the thief knowledge, right there." Qrad says, scratching his chin in thought. "Alright, so we keep going?"

Ragnar nods and they continue on. They make slow progress, and though it's clear most of the way, he has to stop in his tracks and pull Qrad back.

"What the-" Qrad starts, but Ragnar shushes him.

He recognizes these tall bushes, and this watch tower. This is the one where he was attacked by that animal and had to injure it to get away. Ragnar turns to the other kobold and explains what happened last time he was here.

"So what's the plan?" He says, turning to look for any signs of the guard animal and readies his makeshift hammer. "Think it's asleep? It's pretty late. Maybe we could just sneak by? I mean, if we are gonna fight anything I'd rather it be the gnome."

What does Ragnar do?

>>3715563
Look for an alternate path maybe we can go around it?

>>3715563
Agreed, I'd also rather fight the gnome then anything else. But we can't afford to be discovered, they'll go looking for our nest afterwards.
The animal can't talk about us to anyone. Plus I hit it pretty hard not that long ago, it's probably still getting treatment or something.

>>3715452
Oh this is 4chan? I had no idea.
Every individual is a different case, making assumptions about anyone based on the worst of your experiences is not going to help anyone.

>>3715660
how about we call this a miss understanding and agree to just enjoy the quest

>>3715823
Sure I'm good with that.

>>3715148
Unless you like pony, it probably won't be your thing.
The answer depends on you.

>>3715563
Haven't read the older threads yet. What's with the hate for the Gnomes?
I guess we try to avoid the dog and watch tower if we can this time (no clue what I'm talking about)? If we succeed and manage to sneak our way in, maybe we can come back with some pounds of jerky to endear ourselves to the dog, that way on the unfortunate chance it ever notices us in the future it might greet us happily instead of trying to bite out heads off.

>>3716634
I think the gnome thing is kobold lore.

>>3716634
It's a D&D thing as far as I'm aware, unless it's something else in this it's because the gnome god trapped the kobold god in an endless maze.
Thus kobolds hate gnomes.

>>3716634
>What's with the hate for the Gnomes?
From what I can tell in the previous threads, Ragnar finds gnomes very challenging to steal from because they use illusion magic to protect their valuables.

>>3716634
yeah, sure they are fine

File: Update_068.png (320 KB, 640x600)

320 KB PNG

>>3715607
>>3715660
>>3715823
>>3715911
>>3716634
>>3716646
>>3716700
>>3716818
>>3716920

Ragnar scans the area around the watchtower. To the north of the watchtower is a road running west to east. dissecting the road is a gate. It's too large to stop the kobolds, but any sort of wagon would need someone to open the blockade. The road is currently empty, probably because of the stilt-legs like of sleeping during the night. To the south of the watchtower is the cliff with heavy bushes that he had trouble escaping from before.

The red kobold sneaks up closer, just to check if the animal he fought before is there.

Indeed, it is curled up at the door to the watchtower, glancing with it's beady eyes. It's head raises and gives a few sniffs, so Ragnar retreats for the moment, back to Qrad.

"Sssooo... What are we doing?" Qrad asks.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3718225
Looks like we'll have to cross the road.

>>3718225
I think we can sneak by it if we're fast enough, we'll just have to be careful about making sure it's not tracking us and that we're not leaving behind tracks.

>>3718243
cross the road, that otterdog has the nose of a bloodhound. crossing the road is our best option. take a few minutes to make sure no one is patroling/ watching the road then go.

File: Update_069.png (385 KB, 640x600)

385 KB PNG

>>3718243
>>3718334
>>3718474

Ragnar says that they should retreat back a bit and cross the road out of sight. Then, once they get passed the watchtower they can cross back. The other side of the road is a full on forest, and the kobold doesn't want to take his chances with any other wild beasts.

They crouch in their hiding spots for about fifteen minutes, just watching to see if any guards appear either along the road or up in the tower. There are stilt-legs on the second floor, though since they all look pretty much the same it's hard to tell how many, perhaps two or three.

The two kobolds retrace their steps, and then finding a particularly dark patch of road they scamper across the dirt path and back into the safety of beneath the bushes.

Despite the rustling of the forest and the occasional snap of a twig, the pair of kobolds keep their cool and sneak as fast as they can past the watch tower, crossing back over once they are far enough away.

"W-whew... You know, this is kind of exciting huh?" Qrad says, who had been dragging his whole belly along the ground while sneaking, rather comically causing the pot on his back to stick into the air.

Ragnar agrees with a smirk, and then takes a quick glance back at the watchtower in the distance behind them.

He sees the otter, his head held high and sniffing the air. He wonders if that thing is going to be a problem in the future.

The rest of the trip is uneventful, and he once again finds himself outside the gates of the settlement. Little has changed here that he can tell from a distance.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3719003
This is where I got most everything I came back with, there's no way we can get into the city from here and even if we could we wouldn't be able to get back out. I mean maybe if we snuck enough kobolds here we could dig under the wall but that's probably not worth it.
Take a look at the tents again, we'll hit them first.

>>3719003
We'll probably have to figure out a route through the forest if that guy is going to always be there.

>>3719117
agreed

>>3719003
Nothing changed? lets get a closer look.

>>3719003
Is the tent with the chest still there? We might finally be able to steal it with Qrad watching the tent entrance for us, giving us the signal if he sees someone about to enter. Oh, we need to establish a call sound we can use to alert each other of danger first. Like "Cacaw cacaw!"

>>3719003
Can someone remind me what's in the settlement?

In DnD dont kobolds get sight penalties because bright lights hurt their eyes? If that is applicable to this quest then why dont we snag some goggle or shades? Maybe some cool sunglasses.
Shutuptheresmagiciftheresmagicthentheressunglasses.

Well lets take a closer look to tents and decide how Qrad can warn us if someone is getting close.

Next time, we should look for shortcuts through forest to get here faster. And also look for another ways inside the city too. People will notice if we keep stealing from same area.

>>3720643
Lots of tall people and dirty gnomes.
We never made it inside, so we don't know.

File: Update_070.png (300 KB, 640x600)

300 KB PNG

>>3719117
>>3719135
>>3719147
>>3719184
>>3720591
>>3720643
>>3720654
>>3720978

Ragnar hides in the same place he did before when he came to the settlement, that is to say, the decorative tree line to the left of the gate. Ragnar peeks out at the tent city nearby and notices that even though the camp is still in the same spot, the tents are different. He supposes that makes sense. It's probably been about a week since he's been there.

That's a bit of a shame. He would have liked to sneak into that tent with the chest and plunder it.

Observing every thing else doesn't really reveal anything noticeably different about the area. The castle gate is still teaming with people and sale stands despite the hour and the wood building he stole the salt from is still there.

"So what's the plan. We going to try and get inside the walls?" Qrad says, looking at the tall stone barricades. "I doubt we could climb over. Maybe we could go under?"

Ragnar considers this. Usually walls like this have foundations set deep in the stone. However, he also knows that cities like this usually have culverts or sewer grates. Along with that, he wonders if the walls extend out into the sea nearby.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3721669
Before we make any definitive choices lets take a closer look at the camp maybe we can find a nice tent to loot.

>>3721669
I see something new next to the building we should check out. Also, there are some additions to the wall. We should also find a way to check the stalls lining the road.

>>3721669
Check the basement to that building. If it's still broken from last time, we can get in easy... Or did we break it so much we can't get in anymore? Let's check it out!

>>3721669
I'd like to go for sewers, but that might take quite a while to find.
Checking tents first is probably for the best.

It's been week already, so they have most likely reinforced the cellar..if not placed someone to watch it. Not worth the risk.
Stalls are busy with people, we might get something if we sneak behind them, but tents are way safer.

File: Update_071.png (316 KB, 640x600)

316 KB PNG

>>3721701
>>3721710
>>3721744
>>3721912

The red kobold inspects the walls further, and notices that there is actually an addition on top of the wall on each side of the gate. Even with just a silhouette he can see the pouch and sling leading up to the beam and frame of a large catapult.

Ragnar asks Qrad to wait here, and crawls closer to the tents. It's pretty late in the night, so most stilt-legs are asleep, but there are a few stragglers still sitting around the fire, stoking it and chatting quietly. The kobold can't see into the tents too well, but he can hear snores and the occasional whispered chitter-chatter.

He notes this, and continues on to the big wood building. It sounds like they could always use more salt and decides to check if he can get into the cellar easily. When he gets there though Ragnar notices that there is a weird glowing mark on the cellar door. The lines of the rune form what look like a decorative shield inscribed in a circle with weird scribblings all around.

From here he could probably walk parallel to the road and find a place to cross, if he needed too. There is also the backdoor to the building, and if he follows the road up that way he comes across the sales stalls, as well as the large group of stilt-legs.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3722341
Lets check out the sale stalls.

>>3722341
yeah, stay away from that ward. move across the street and check out the stalls

>>3714966
>kobold Emerald
Very cute

>>3722341
I'm more inclined to check out the sewer system. We'll just need to wash off whenever we enter and leave.

So I had a few ideas kicking around in my head:
>If we have to pass by the guard house with the weasel thing, then let's prepare a small bag full of salt, meat and veggies we can toss it's way as a distraction. It would be preferable if we find a living or dead rat to toss it it's way. That way, if the guards happen upon their pet eating, they'll just think it caught a rat rather than a thief

>We can make crossbow bolts by whittling down bits of wood with knives and making arrowheads with sharpened bits of stone and metal. Nothing professional without more tools and practice, and accuracy might be a bit off if you're too far away, but it's better than nothing.

>make custom sized Kobold boots to wear or foot print stamps in the shape of Gnome shoes. We could cause descent between the stilt-leg and gnome populace in the city. On the chance anyone catches onto our attics, they'd be more likely to believe that gnomes have been stealing rather than a kobold. Misdirection and we get to kick the gnomes. Two birds one stone. We just need to steal some clothes and wood blocks to either put on our feet or make stamps with.

>Four kobolds from different communities that have been stamped out by adventures. We are more likely to find more kobolds like us, despite how grim that is. More survivors means more members for our budding nest.
It's kind of dangerous, but maybe we could mark places with kobold words telling survivors about our budding community. Also throw in some kobold social ques/tact/ etiquette so people don't know exactly where we are unless they're a kobold.

>Get some clothes, a hood, practice sounding like a gnome. If we get good enough we might be able to fool a non-elf stiltleg we're just an extremely handsome gnome. because gnomes are ugly as hell and kobolds are better in every way.

>Just because the pair of giant crabs are big, doesn't mean they're all too smart. We can get a decently sized animal like another piglet, force feed it poisonous berries, force even more berries into its belly once it OD's then throw it at the giant crabs to feast on.
Of course before we do that we should get a whole lot of pots and salt to preserve all the meat once the giant crabs are dead. Might need to cook and boil the meat to cure it of all the poison first. And hey if we manage to kill the big ones then we can try fashioning full or half-place crab armor, AND get to explore the cave they stay in. Perhaps if we're lucky we might find skeletons of adventures. Adventures always have nice stuff on them.

>>3722341
>if we manage to get deep in the city, let's see if we can see if there are any slave pens we can free up, especially if there are any kobold or goblin slaves. Goblins will cause a ruckus giving us time to loot while they cause a commotion, while kobold slave would bolster our numbers and give us insight on the stiltleg town.

>This time while we're within the city, let's first prioritize stealing some cordage, backpacks, containers, tools (saw, shovel, nails, fishing poles + hooks). Rope too as a rope is super versatile. They're "common" items so they should be fairly easy to steal. On paper at least. Second priority would be weapons and food. We could check out that place we stole from a while ago. For weapons we might find the odd knife here and there on a person. If we find a child Toy cart we could possible repurpose it for a kobold sized cart. Problem with that is it making a trail that might lead back to our nest, and taking it through the sand is out of the question. Not mainly because it would make us visible and possibly take longer to pull it through the sand, but because of the mer-stil-legs might try to attach us.... actually taking it through the sand is a no go regardless. We'll probably have to stick to hoofing it all the time. God I wish we had a Bag of Holding.

>Rome wasn't build in a day, and neither will our kobold nest, so during some down time while everyone is chilling we should talk about our respective roles, tips & tricks of the trade and the like. You know in case one of us meets an untimely demise. It's not something good to think about, but sort of nessassary.

>A big question I wanted to know: does of the four kobolds know how to read? Do they know how to read and write in kobold? Can they understand the common language? If yes then we should loot a library. If no then we should kidnap someone and tell them to teach us stuff. Maybe someone blacked out drunk. A dwarf captive might be able to tell us the secret of masonry and how to do it if we deprive them of booze long enough. Everyone knows a dwarf will die if their alcohol levels drop below 50%. because dwarves are know alcoholics

>Related to my last idea. Steal, MAGIC BOOKS! Kobolds to an adventure are nuisances. Kobolds that can cast spells are a legitimate threat.
(Look for that one youtube video explaining kobold encounters. It's a good way to make a kobold trap dungeon to kill adventures, more so if we add some traps.
Steal a book on dragons. It would be nice to know if the egg is a dragon egg or not.

>>3722341
>Maybe we should have a small stock of kobold sized weapons. Just in case. Once we have the tools let's make spears, clubs, arrows and bows. We don't need a whole lot of tools to make bows, but we kind of need feather for the arrows, so..... trade offs.

>(find pic of that kobold wearing an assortment of kitchen wear as full-plate armor and post it)

>if we have the space, maybe we can keep a pen of chickens indoors so they can make eggs. They're sort of low maintenance. We can feed them plant stuff mixed with bugs. Plus their feathers could be used for arrows.

>>3722341
check the sewer system, let's go for the big prizes

>>3722341
Dang, Guess we're not getting more salt. Look at the fire and see if they're cooking any food over it. If they're roasting fish it might be a sign we can find a fishing rod or fillet knife. Those would help us out a lot.

>>3722772
>maybe we can keep a pen of chickens indoors so they can make eggs.
Kobolds make eggs we dont need chickens.

>>3723648
But that's cannibalism, and I'm not sure if kobolds lay unfertilized eggs

>>3723648
>Kobolds make eggs we dont need chickens.
Cannibalism is frowned upon. No eating kobold eggs!

File: 1482784407253.jpg (98 KB, 978x1000)

98 KB JPG

>>3724207
https://youtu.be/J5MRc-nueYQ
Found what I was looking for. Thought these might be interesting to apply in this quest.

File: Update_072.png (278 KB, 640x600)

278 KB PNG

>>3724217

Yeah I saw that. It's pretty interesting. Also that picture is awesome.

>>3722428
>>3722440
>>3722562
>>3722761
>>3722770
>>3722772
>>3723605
>>3723648
>>3724207
>>3724213

Ragnar crawls over to the stalls. Stalls mean treasures on display and shopkeeps occupied with other people. Maybe he can get something good!

Despite the time of day there are still lot's of stilt-legs around. There is even a variety here he doesn't recognize. It sort of reminds him of a goblin, except bigger and much more muscular. They are even green like them, though instead of razor sharp teeth they have regular stilt-leg teeth but with weird tusks jutting from their bottom lips.

Ragnar feels like it'd be best to start on this side of the street. Between the crowd and the fact that the path is lit every few feet it's probably not a good idea to try and cross here. All of the stalls open right now seem to be prepared food, and while it all smells delicious such a thing is a luxury that would not surivive all the way back to the nest.

The red kobold does find a prime target though. There is a food stall selling produce, and there is no one currently manning it.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3724749
Try sneak into the stall from behind. We can't steal from it while we're out in the open.

>>3724888
>>3724749
Or sneaking behind anything that would provide decent cover really. It doesn't have to exclusively be the stalls, thought if we can help it let's steal some fruits or veggies. Not a whole lot thought, just something to use as animal bait. An apple should suffice.

>>3724749
sneak over to the food stall, hopefully, it has some tools inside, if nothing else we can load up on food.

>>3724918
Can't image the kind of tools a food stall would have, if any. A register or small lock bock full of coins, that would undoubtedly require the lock picking set we no longer have. A knife for cutting bits of fruit? Small and normal sized buckets and baskets?

>>3724749
Food doesn't seem super useful. But a thrown apple is a distraction, and might be good against the weasel. I would be fine to skip it. Also watch out for that trap!.. Oh, hey, let's steal the trap! That would be good for us!

>>3724982
>trap
what trap?

>>3723648
Yeah no, kobolds protect their eggs above almost everything else. Giving that we started out by carrying an egg almost our size at the beginning of this quest I'm inclined to believe it's true here too.
(Even if that egg isn't a kobold one, we thought it was at that time.)

Also none of the others have laid eggs yet so I doubt they'd lay unfertilized ones.

File: Update_073.png (345 KB, 640x600)

345 KB PNG

88
>>3724897
>>3724918
>>3724938
>>3724982
>>3724996
>>3725019

Ragnar sneaks over to the empty stall and glances up to it, making sure no stilt-legs are watching. The kobold then sneaks behind the structure and crawls under the tarp that is acting like a back wall. There probably isn't much he can steal from a produce stand, but an apple or two might be a nice snack plus bait for-

"Can I help you?" A stern voices says, shocking the kobold.

At first Ragnar mistook her for a stilt-leg child, but the kobold realizes that it's actually one of the smaller breeds of stilt-leg.

What are they called?

Oh right, half-legs! Right? He's pretty sure that's the name.

The voice belongs to a female of that species, and she is wearing a simple earth green dress atop a long sleeved white shirt. She has no jewelry save for some cheap earrings. If he had to guess this half-leg is probably one of the lower class of it's kind. In it's hands he notices a basket full of fruit. It looks like she was bent over packing things up and putting the fruit in a crate, which easily hid her from view. However, even if she had been she would have been hard to spot as her eyes barely come over the side of the front counter.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3725197
SHIT. Only one thing to do now.
>rape

>>3725197
Aw fug, we've been seen! We were too short to see the shorty that was in the stall. She's not screaming or attacking us yet, so try to play it off?
Uh? Yes? Do you have any... Trap parts?

>>3725209
As funny and evil as that would be, we've got females just waiting to be bang back home. Best save that seed for where it can be planted you know?

>>3725197
Ask if she sells any tools

>>3725197
She's talking rather than screaming or attacking. Maybe we can bluff?
>"Err yes, yes you can help. See I am playing a game of hide and seek so please don't give my hiding place away"

>>3725228
But consent is borinnnnn

File: download.png (1 KB, 182x199)

1 KB PNG

>>3725197
Misdirection!
Ask the half-leg for gainful employment. No one said we couldn't be a thief AND a member of society. If we get membership in this place then maaaybe that might open up some more Avenue to steal in the future.
The Pitiful and Helpful Ragnar will be a decent front. Its believable. We're a sad hungry kobold who's home was destroyed and would like an apple and help.

>>3725236
We left our 15 copper at home.

>>3725297
But it is the smart thing to do.

>>3725318
She obviously doesn't have it, but she could direct us to somebody that does. You think we'd actually be able to buy something if we had money?

>>3725318
support. time to turn on the old kobold charm

>>3725326
>You think we'd actually be able to buy something if we had money?
Depends on who we buy from. Are they none too picky about their customers? Are they bigoted? Are they a bleed heart?

>>3725318
>employment
Gonna be hard to do any actual work if it takes us a few days to get here and we only work at night, when she’s closing her stall.

>>3725531
Sell to her the idea of a night shift.

>>3725273
This is good.

We can fool her with sob story, but the longer we stay here, more likely the guards or someone who actually knows what kobolds are will see us. So asking for job for real, is out of question

>>3725197
Try to evoke sympathy?

>>3725197
Stand next to her to see who's taller. if we're taller we gotta assert dominance, if we're shorter we can beg for mercy and apples.

>>3725197
>“Uh... Will make traps for food?”

what if....what if we offer to eat out her puss with our lizard tongue in exchange for her silence?

File: Update_074.png (310 KB, 640x600)

310 KB PNG

>>3725209
>>3725223
>>3725228
>>3725236
>>3725273
>>3725297
>>3725318
>>3725320
>>3725326
>>3725333
>>3725348
>>3725531
>>3726007
>>3726027
>>3726072
>>3726311
>>3726453
>>3728327

The kobold left his money back the the nest. All he has on him now is his knife, and it's probably not the best idea to use it in this situation. Instead Ragnar says that he was just browsing and asks if she sells anything other than groceries.

"No. Just fruits and vegetables." She replies.

The red kobold switches tactics and begs her for a job, lying and saying that he is a down on his luck kobold who just needs some food and that he'll work it off if necessary. He can even do the night shifts, seeing as he is nocturnal and everything.

"Nocturnal huh... Hmm. Do you speak any other languages besides Common? Can you write?" The half-leg asks.

Ragnar does his best not to sneer at the idea of the stilt-legs language being the "common" one, and says that he can speak and write in Draconic, and knows a little bit about the 'common' writing system.

"Hmph. Tell you what. If you are serious feel free to come back in the morning to speak with the boss, Mr. Lange. Knowing your kind though, the next time I see you will be reaching into someone's coin purse. Now get out of here. Before I make you, thief." She says, leaning over the boxes she was loading and pulling out a half-leg sized butcher knife.

Ragnar acquiesces, and pulls himself out from under the tarp.

Whew, that was a close one. He suddenly gets a realization, and ducks back under the tarp and asks the half-leg her name.

"Malhaly." She says, squinting at the kobold.

He scampers over to a bush to hide under and seethes. Malhaly, huh? He'll remember that for her tombstone later.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3728565
This operation is blown! maybe we can salvage this situation lets try and find a tent to 'acquire' some free equipment

>>3728565
Pause for a moment, then go back to Malhaly.

“Wait, hold on. If I actually decide to come back to work for you, what’s preventing the stilt-legs from straight up murdering me while I’m in the store? Hell, why didn’t YOU instantly put that cleaver in my head?”

It might be a good idea to cultivate some contacts in the city so we can loot the place better. Admittedly, the short-leg isn’t a good contact for stealing stuff, but she might work for getting some info on who might.

>>3728605
support

>>3728565
Scout around the perimeter of the wall, also raid some tents

>>3728565
I support the idea of building a cover identity of some sort. We can hide IN PLAIN SIGHT. And to be fair, if we build up positive relations with the stilt-legs they might actively avoid messing with our nest!

Though if that egg turns out to be a dragon, hrm... Then they may not be as keen. Unless it's a metallic dragon, but I'd kind of doubt it.

>>3728565
Whatever we steal now we've been seen it has to not be missed. If word gets back to her about anything going missing I don't doubt she'll let anyone know that there was a kobold around and it was probably us.

>>3728565
hot halfling pussy

>>3728565
It won't be long before she blabs about seeing us and the others end up on alert, or knowing in future that if things go missing, it'll be us that did it.

I think... We need to keep her quiet as quick as we can. Go back, and tell her that we were stealing for the sake of our starving baby. That we want her to come with us and see the poor kobold she'd be saving if she let us have just one little fruit.
So that we can try and take her to Qrad, and double team her!.. With weapons I mean. Ragnar holds her mouth, Qrad clonks her on the head. And then take her as hostage.

I don't have any plans beyond that yet. I just dont want her talking.

>>3730533
Somebody going missing is A LOT more problematic than stealing little bits and bobs.

File: EDA566F0-D571-410A-A378-6(...).jpg (23 KB, 292x302)

23 KB JPG

>>3730533
>Kidnapping someone to keep things low key

>>3730533
maybe, not this. sorry anon but this sounds real iffy.

>>3730584
Yes but unfortunately that anon is right in a technical sense, if we managed to pull it off we'd be better off because though people would notice her missing they wouldn't be able to blame us because they wouldn't know kobolds were around.

None of this accounts for dragging her all the way back to our nest past the guard outposts through the forests over several days, possible search parties or adventurers looking for her.

It's not a good idea obviously but it has solid reasoning, sort of.
Honestly even if we pulled it off managing to kidnap her without alerting the guards or anyone else which I doubt is possible we'd have to look after her and keep her from escaping when we got her back to our nest.
All around this is way beyond our means.

>>3730708
It'd be much easier to befriend her and convince her to keep us a secret.

>>3730778
Yes, it would be. A whole heap of things would both be easier and safer then the other anons suggestion. I was just stating that it was in some parts technically correct.

File: Update_075.png (377 KB, 640x600)

377 KB PNG

>>3728595
>>3728605
>>3728645
>>3728839
>>3728949
>>3729051
>>3730055
>>3730533
>>3730584
>>3730643
>>3730647
>>3730708
>>3730778
>>3730911

[Sorry about slow updating recently. Should be better by tomorrow.]

Still slightly seething, Ragnar goes back to the stall. The half-leg is helping a customer, and he notices she seems to use the storage boxes as a stepping stool for helping customers.

Ragnar asks what's keeping her from gathering some people and murdering him if... Err, when he comes for an interview tomorrow. He even asks why she didn't just put the cleaver in his forehead when she had the chance if she doesn't like thieves.

"Because you might have fought back, and frankly I didn't and still don't feel like getting attacked by a thief today. Don't test me though. I will use this if I need too." She says brandishing the knife. "As for tomorrow. Well, you are just gonna have to trust that I won't attack you. Can you do that? I've never heard of a kobold being very trusting of others."

Ragnar holds back his desire to just run her through with his knife and be done with this whole conversation, but the kobold realizes that building a cover identity might be useful. Maybe it will somehow lead to an easy way inside the walls of the city. Perhaps he really should take her up on this offer, at least temporarily.

Perhaps he'll check out the wall. If he's lucky, he won't have to subject himself to working for stilt-legs just to get inside.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3730933
I'm tempted to come back tomorrow for that job just to prove her wrong.

>"Yeah, I came back for that job, yo! Whatcha gonna do about it, short-leg?"
>"Make you go through the vegetables to see which ones are spoiled and rotten."
>"...oh."

Seriously, though, head back to Qrad, retreat to a safer location, inform him of the situation, and get his opinion on whether we should attempt to make non-kobold contacts in the settlement. Let him know that right now, she only knows it's us, and that if we do go that route, we should try to avoid mention of where we are, and how many we are.

>>3730980
support, building bridges now will open new doors for us later.

>>3730933
Defiantly tell her that you're gonna get the job and be awesome at it. And then get promoted to manager, and then to king.
Return to Qrad. Imagine kidnapping half-leg. Realise it's a bad idea but enjoy the thought.

>>3730933
>be Ragnar ten years later
>have established an infamous yet untraceable guild of thieves below the city
>practically have the city wrapped around our claws
>get a share of everyone's cut because we're guild leader and sent it back home to our nest
>our nest is the most prosperous of all kobold nests since the golden age when our god still roamed the lands
>all the material goods and wealth turned the humble cliff side hovel into a deep cliff coast metropolis
>shit's so fine it rivals dwarven architecture
>dick constantly sore from all the females and a few males begging to get bred
>Ragnar becomes a Household kobold name throughout time
>only short people and non-gnomes allowed in the city, for they're the only ones that understand us
>stilt-legs can fucking suck it
soon...

>>3730933
On a different note we need to come back with *something* and just go back empty handed. I think, we should steal some stuff and send our buddy on his way back to our nest (with said stolen stuff). We'll stick around and see if we can build up a front and contacts until he gets back.

>>3732293
I am not sure sending him back alone is a good idea. Remember he isn't a trained thief like us.

>>3732513
He doesn't need to steal from anyone on his way back. Just hide if he spots anyone. Kind of different from stealing.
Or he could stick with us, but then the females would be worried. Maybe stay for the day to see if we get the job, then go back home.

>>3732524
We stay for the day then head back

>>3732533
and get some hot half leg puss?

>>3732548
No we are saving our purity for that sexy kobold huntress back at the nest.

>>3732553
but think about all those thirsty half leg thots in need of superior kobold dongs. they're missing out.

File: Update_076.png (211 KB, 640x600)

211 KB PNG

>>3730980
>>3730994
>>3731016
>>3731592
>>3732293

Fort he moment, Ragnar decides to check the wall, and then return to Qrad. If Ragnar actually plans on coming back to the produce stand in the morning he'll have to take a bit of a nap, plus he should fill his nest mate in.

He carefully sneaks along the wall, looking for any weaknesses he could exploit. It's made of thick stone bricks covered in mortar. He could probably partially climb this, but he isn't sure he is strong enough to climb to the top. In addition he'd probably be seen, and if he was he'd have no where to go but down.

He soon finds that there is more wall than ground, and the barrier continues out into the water some ways. It's low tide, so he can actually walk along the wall a bit without getting his claws wet.

The stroll is rather pleasant, and Ragnar nightdreams a bit about kidnapping that uppity half-leg. His old nest had a few stilt-leg slaves, and they always seemed a bit useful for the hard work.

The kobold spots a small stream of water coming out of the wall, and approaching it Ragnar spots a small culvert. He could probably get through the openning without his backpack on, and all that is covering it is an iron grate, easily dealt with if he can find a file.

With this knowledge, the kobold returns to Qrad, who he finds taking a nap under a bush where he left him. Ragnar wakes him up, and tells him what he saw.

"You are gonna... Sell stuff? Oh, I get it, you are gonna steal a bunch of food once they leave you alone right?" And when Ragnar explains his plan to try to get in nice with them he replies. "Whew, you have more patience than me. I could never stand taking orders from their kind."

What does Ragnar do?

>>3732599
"Sometimes you have to have a little patience. It will pay off in the long run though."

>>3732599
See if that sewer grate can be removed if we had the right tools.

>>3732599
“A thought occurs. Remember when one of us talked about a couple of kolbolds starting a nest inside the settlement, in a stilt-leg building no less? This might be our ticket in! Just imagine, Qrad! Not needing to hunt our meat, being able to drink beer once or twice a week instead of when the raids bring back a keg when they can, and making that gnome in the watchtower have to protect us as citizens rather than help the stilt legs wreck our homes!”

>>3732667
Truely a vision to unite all kobold kind.

>>3732599
These poor creatures have to live in the same city that gnomes have infested! Perhaps they can eventually come around to help us out against the real enemy. Let's take this job seriously for the moment. Getting in with them could be our best chance to find out what's been going on with all the nests being destroyed. Tell Qrad that for now, we're playing it diplomatically... Also does he have the kobold muscles to pull off an iron grate?

>>3732599
I won't like it but it might be a good way to get into the city, or at least make it so everyone gets used to me.
If they get used to me walking around I can check out a whole lot more stuff.

File: Update_077.png (352 KB, 640x600)

352 KB PNG

>>3732609
>>3732658
>>3732667
>>3732677
>>3732759
>>3732785

Ragnar says to trust him and that a little patience will pay off in the long run. At the very least, it might get him a ticket inside the walls. Much better to not have to sneak in. On top of that, imagine if they could actually live in the walls of the city.

"What, you mean WITH the stilt-legs?" Qrad says incredulously.

The red kobold shrugs and says well if that's no good they could live under the settlement. They'd never be in want of anything down there.

"Sounds kinda dangerous honestly, but I suppose it would be great if it worked out." Qrad says, frowning as he thinks.

Ragnar also mentions the culvert he saw along the wall, and mentions if they can find a file they might be able to get in.

"A file huh? So where we getting it from? What sort of things even use a file. A blacksmith?" Qrad asks.

Ragnar says that lot's of professions use metal files. Stoneworkers and woodworkers use them as well for instance.

Qrad thinks some more and says, "I see... Well if you go out to work for those stilt-legs what do you want me to do? Just sit around here?"

What does Ragnar do?

>>3732866
The plan Right now Is to hang out here until the morning talk to the owner of the stand to secure the job if it pans out great and I tell them I can start working for them in a weeks time. then we go back to the nest at night after we steal some tools from that the tent camp. then In after a week I come here to work part-time gaining their trust and at night after work I will use the file we will somehow get to work away at the culvert.

>>3732866
We'll for now if you can help me dig a little hole so while either of us sleeps we'll be a bit more hidden.
If we get chased out of here we might be able to make them think that was our nest so they don't come looking for a real one.
This can all go wrong at a moments notice, the best thing to do is try to have it go wrong with the least... In the least bad ways.

>>3732901
I agree things can go wrong, but I truly think it will be worth the risk.

>>3732903
Oh I agree, I just want to prepare for the worst you know?
Though I'm definitely working the angle of getting access to the city to steal things. Living in the city (under it maybe, but even that's doubtful) is never going to work for many reasons, least of which is that gnomes live there and kobolds and gnomes really don't mix.

Honestly I see this as necessary since we were seen, we have to come up with a cover and getting this job is not a badvway to do it.

>>3733071
Yeah, it is a good cover. I want to try for a part-time position may be working part-time like working on weekends bi-weekly

File: Update_078.png (312 KB, 640x600)

312 KB PNG

>>3732878
>>3732901
>>3732903
>>3733071
>>3733076

https://linkto.run/p/SMLIUNOR

>>3733127
as of this post, we have a tie

>>3733127
it is now 4 for work and 1 for not work

>>3733127
"Work" for the time being.

File: Update_079.png (156 KB, 640x600)

156 KB PNG

>>3733127
>>3733144
>>3733155
>>3733160

Ragnar decides to actually speak with the grocer tomorrow, and asks if Qrad can dig out their hole a bit more. If something goes wrong maybe the stilt-legs might assume the kobold's nest is here and not look for their actual nest.

"Ah, sounds good. Gives me something to do I guess." He says shrugging.

While Qrad does this, Ragnar curls up beneath the bush and does his best to fall asleep.

---

Ragnar wakes up bleary eyed as the morning sun hits his eyes. He cups his claws his eyes, and afetr slapping himself awake a bit makes his way over to the grocer stall.

He feels like he should be sneaking, but the light makes it too difficult to see. Instead the kobold checks that his knife is in easy reach and walks with purpose, proudly pacing to the food stand.

As he approaches he sees a shape setting out food into the bins outside the stall. It's taller than the half-leg and rather lithe, and Ragnar recognizes it instantly as an elf. Because of his feminine looks and long hair, Ragnar mistakes it for a female of it's kind. To be fair, sometimes it's hard to tell even at the best of times.

The kobold introduces himself.

"Oh! Yes, the kobold from last night that Malhaly mentioned. Honestly I didn't expect you to actually come. My name is Mr. Lange." The stilt-leg says, tittering. "So, I've heard we might have a bit of a reformed criminal case here. Please, tell me about yourself Mr. Ragnar."

What does Ragnar do?

>>3735345
I think we would probably be served well to use bits of truth like that our nest was destroyed and we are trying to make a new life

>>3735356
Support, but we are only interested in part-time work as we are looking for 'survivers' the attack. this will allow us to not have to spend all our time here.

>>3735345
I said I would come and I am a kobold of my words, I'm equally as surprised as you that there wasn't just guards waiting to try stab me when I got here.
Alright, what kind of things about me would you like to know?


>>3735356
Yes, this is a wise strategy. Give him some true information but not all of it, along with some small lies. We'll need to be careful about what we say. We probably need a better prompt to explain our nest was wiped out, saying it right away could be suspicious.

My nest was wiped out by stilt legs from another town, I was only barely able to escape by myself. I'm looking to restart my life in a way where there is less chance of that happening again.

How is this? Does it need more tweaks?

File: 42e.jpg (95 KB, 539x960)

95 KB JPG

>>3735345
Be offended that he called us a criminal (despite being correct). Say we were a basic laborer before some jerks killed everyone we knew. We're pretty much homeless.

Also pic related

>>3735345
Being called a criminal for just trying to survive got tiring. Having my home destroyed got tiring. I'm up for trying anything new.

>>3735461
Agreed. We need to make the stilt legs challenge their view of kobolds, so that we can cause internal strife ULTIMATELY DRIVING THE GNOMES INTO CIVIL WAR AND THEREBY ENACTING OUR REVENGE!

>>3735345
Well we just moved into this region after our home was attacked and everybody we knew and cared about were brutally slaughtered. Back in our nest we scavenged, and did odd jobs to help out around the nest including labor.

File: Update_080.png (320 KB, 640x600)

320 KB PNG

>>3735356
>>3735383
>>3735421
>>3735461
>>3735506
>>3735640

Ragnar says he's a bit offended about being called a criminal.

"Fair enough, I suppose our little night owl caught you before you actually stole anything." He says, laughing.

He also says that his nest was destroyed and now he's trying to make a better life for himself. Maybe start a family sometime.

"Hmm... So you say." the stilt-leg says, tilting his head. He takes a small board with a piece of paper tacked to it from behind the stand. "Anyway, I was told you can read a bit of common. Can you tell me what this says?"

The kobold reads it off. It just says everything is two copper per pound except the blood mushroom, which is 10 copper per bundle.

"Good, so all you have to do is man the stand. Do you think you can do that and be polite?" He asks. "I'll pay you three copper per night shift.

Ragnar that he thinks he'll manage.

"Hmm... I'm not sure sure myself. Tell you what, I'll watch you make a few transactions, and if I like what I see I'll let you take tonight's night shift. If you can manage that I'll see what I can do." The elf says smiling.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3735948
agree to his terms but ask how we can be sure he won't just use us for free labor then decline to hire us anyway?

>>3735948
Ask if we can get some unsold produce after the shop closes after our shifts. Also ask if barter is acceptable for trading vegetables, namely crabs.

We should consider learning how to breed crabs so we can trade them off for other food and goods.

>>3735948
Will we have to roll to not stab any stilt-legs?

>>3736135
No, that's for when we have to serve... Gnomes. (lightning strikes)

>>3735948
I make no guarantees for gnomes, but an attempt will be made.
>3 copper a night
Let's try our claw at negotiating for a better price, maybe 6 copper a night as that's not that unreasonable. It should be enough for some paupers food and a literal hole in a wall, and wouldnt hurt his buisness with the pay price we're demanding. There should be a decent chunk of night owl races and people in the city, so buisness shouldn't be bad.
Kind of insulting he doesn't think we know how much we need for the bare minimum for living. Maybe after he feels better about us after several more days of shifts we can ask for 10 copper a night, should we attract enough customers.

Does Ragnar know what blood mushrooms are? If no then ask.

Also ask the guy where we can get a chicken. Then can make eggs and sort of cute.

>>3735948
So work all night and we'd only earn enough for a pound and a half of food?

>>3735948
I can do that, might be for the best in case I have any questions about anything.

>>3736258
>>3736239
Not that we can't be greedy but earning money isn't really the real reason we want to work here right? It's a nice side bonus but we're more here to set up a cover.
Less people will be up and buying things at night, we're just starting, and honestly for what it buys it doesn't seem that bad.

>>3736381
So, you don't think showing the ability to haggle to a businessman will benefit us in any way what-so-ever? There are more reasons to pursue money than just greed.

>>3736481
The prices are set amounts per pound or bundel. So no, I don't really think that it'd really be of benefit for this job.
How exactly do you think it would benefit us? What do you think we'll get some promotion from it?
Yes there are other reasons other then greed, but there is no way to tell how he'll take it.
I wasn't even against the idea I'm just against being so pushy about it.

>>3736509
Settling for the first offer given can reflect poorly on the prospective employee and might tell the employer that they don't actually care. On the other hand, putting some effort into haggling our pay shows him that we have some business sense and that we wight actually have some understanding of economics and math. Yes, skill in haggling has absolutely no value in relationship to the offered job, but it can affect his opinion of us.

>>3735948
Definitely haggle. Working that hard to only just barely afford one apple? He's definitely set the pay super low on purpose. Let's prove we know the value of money by asking for more than that.

>>3736031
>>3736239
+ return policy/ how to react when someone tries shit because were a kobold.

>>3736481
Not so much a matter a greed. we need copper for utilitarian stuff too. Like clothes. WE don't need clothes but it might help with social encounters, or might be novel enough to attract curious customers. A shirt, a new skirt (no idea what we're wearing, ragged loin cloth?), an adorable hat maybe?

>>3735948
Ask what we should do if someone tries to start trouble because we’re a kobold?

Ask what we should do if someone calls the guards on us, thinking we need to be killed because we’re a kobold?

And, most importantly, what should we do if someone doesn’t want to pay for the things they’re buying because we’re a kobold?

(I still don’t see how this is going to work, since this guy might want us to work every night. That would mean that, since it takes a few days to travel to and from our nest, we can’t go back there anymore. We would need to live here now in order to keep this dumb job.)

>>3737231
we would work a few times a week. like two or three days with the excuse of "learning stuff and how to survive in the city."

>>3737282
This will need to be changed to biweekly since the nest is a few days away.

>>3737831
Wish we had something that gave us invisibility, infinite stamina or something speedy. Would be nice if we could travel to and from our nest.

File: Update_081.png (302 KB, 640x600)

302 KB PNG

>>3735971
>>3736031
>>3736135
>>3736174
>>3736239
>>3736258
>>3736381
>>3736481
>>3736534
>>3736509
>>3736608
>>3736788
>>3737183
>>3737231
>>3737282
>>3737831
>>3737871


Ragnar asks how he can know he won't just be used for free labor.

"My goodness, you are sure paranoid aren't you?" Lange says. "I assure you, three copper is nothing for me to pay you."

Ragnar says that if three is nothing, then he wouldn't mind paying him a bit more then right? After all, three doesn't seem to really be enough to survive.

Mr. Lange laughs heartily and says, "Fine fine, five copper then. I'll even let you have a few apples if you'd like."

The kobold eyes the stilt-leg and asks why he is being so nice.

"Because I'm curious to see what you are gonna do. Like I said, I bet you'll get super angry and mess up. I kinda wanna see what you do." He says, shrugging.

The kobold frowns angrily at the elf but doesn't say anything. Instead he asks if he'd be interested in trading vegetables for crabs.

"Not really. This stand is a bit of a... Pet project, I suppose I should say." Mr. Lange replies.

Ragnar asks if there are refunds, and also what the heck blood mushroom is.

"No refunds." simply, and then continues. "It's a cheap alchemy ingredient that's mostly used in potions of healing I think. My parents grow it, along with everything else in the stand."

The kobold asks if there is any sort of uniform or anything. He isn't sure he's the most presentable to stilt-leg kind.

"Hmm~" He says, thinking with a small smirk on his face. " I think I might be able to find something for you to wear for when you come in tonight." Mr. Lange says.

Ragnar then asks what he should do if someone tries to start trouble, like a thief or someone who doesn't like kobolds. Or if a gnome comes up.

"I expect you to deal with it in the most professional way possible. If worse comes to worse, there are guards everywhere and I'll vouch for you." He says.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3737983
Deal

>>3737983
This is acceptable.

>>3737983
>”I got to admit, that’s a pretty sweet offer you’re giving me... I can’t work every day, mind, as my place is a bit of a distance, and I need to set it up right to make it livable, but I can do two to three times a week.”

>”Now, how exactly do you close a deal in these stilt-leg settlements?”

File: Spoiler Image (2.34 MB, 1920x1080)

2.34 MB PNG

>>3737983

>>3737983
I don't think we need to start saying we can't do certain days yet. We can negotiate that after he's happy with our performance. Assuming this isn't all just a trick to humiliate us. Accept the offer.

>>3737983
'So this is like a game to him? He'll probably keep us around if we keep things interesting but not too interesting.'
Yes, this is good. Deal.

>>3737983
This works for me shake the elf's hand

File: Update_082.png (235 KB, 640x600)

235 KB PNG

>>3738013
>>3738037
>>3738049
>>3738059
>>3738062
>>3738111
>>3738112

Ragnar says he isn't sure he can work every single day.

"We'll worry about that once/if you pass your test."

The kobold then holds up his claw and says it's a deal. The elf raises his hand and shakes saying, "Good! Well, shall we start? Err, I think our usual little night owl uses a box around here to stand on. You'll probably need it too."

As Ragnar climbs on the stepping stool the stilt-leg takes a small wood box with a lock on it from below the counter. He taps the lock with his finger and it opens, revealing a few silver pieces and a bunch of copper ones.

"Here, use this for change. Oh yeah, we don't carry enough change to cash out gold pieces, so don't take any of those. Any other questions?" he asks.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3738164
How many copper is a silver worth?

>>3738164
Ask if he'll be watching us the entire time. If not, then we'll need to ask when our lunch break is. I kinda want to check on Qrad when we get the chance to update him.

>>3738206
He's testing us, of course he'll be watching. Also, Qrad is most likely asleep right now.

>>3738164
Practice our soulless customer interaction voice.

>>3738164
>Halfling needs 1 box to see
We are superior. We are the ultimate life form! Let's stick a two crates, then put one behind it. That way WE can look down at customers and get a good view of everything.... plus a way to step down.

>>3738729
*stack. I just want a ways we can watch the the surroundings while in a relaxing sitting position.

>>3738164
Lets also shoot the shit with our new boss.
>Where is the library?
(Need this to learn about the egg and other survival thing for our people back home)

>Where is the nigger smith?
(We need tools like shovels, nails, pick axes, metal containers for cooking and storage, lock picks)

>Where is a butchery?
(Meeeeeaaaaat)
>Where is a general goods store?
(Fishing equipment, salt, etc)

>How old are you?

>What can you tell me about the Mer-stilt Legs

>>3738164
What if someone wants to make a bulk purchase?

File: Update_083.png (314 KB, 640x600)

314 KB PNG

>>3738183
>>3738206
>>3738213
>>3738236
>>3738729
>>3738745
>>3740478

[10 copper piece = 1 silver piece. I'm using this site basically http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/wealthAndMoney.htm]

The kobold asks what to do if someone wants to make a bulk purchase.

"I don't have the inventory for bulk purchases. You can just tell them that. It probably won't happen though, usually we just get travelers buying potatoes and sometimes a small bag of apples." the elf answers.

Ragnar asks what time he'll be done, and if he'll be here the whole time watching.

"I just want to see if you can handle a few transactions and then you can leave until tonight. You guys are nocturnal right?" And after the kobold nods he smiles and shrugs saying, "Malhaly might be there for part of the night, but mostly I'm trusting you to be by yourself. I'm gonna say you'll probably take the money box and run, but you could prove me wrong."

Ragnar actually finds the job quite easy. Serving the stilt-legs is almost exactly like skirting around the higher castes of his previous nest. Just be polite and submissive, and remember that they could shank you at any moment and get away with it. He must admit though, several times he had to stop himself from pocketing the money.

There are many lull periods with no buyers, and decides that speaking with the boss stilt-leg is less boring than doing nothing. Plus he could get some information out of the elf. For a start, Ragnar asks how old he is.

"110 years young." He says.

The kobold then asks where some of the city facilities are, such as a library, a blacksmith, a general store, and so on.

"Ha... Well I doubt they'd let you into the city currently, and I'm not gonna vouch for you yet, no offense. If you are looking for food there is always the stalls or the inn. I'm kind of surprised you'd want to visit a library though. I didn't think kobolds were really into reading." Lange says, leaning on one of the support poles of the stall. "What sort of things would a kobold want to read about? Dragons?"

Ragnar says that's actually what he did want to read about, particularly their eggs.

Mr. Lange laughs rather loudly and soon a custome approaches, forcing the kobold to turn away. After about thirty more minutes Lange says, "Alright, that's good for now. This has actually been surprisingly uneventful. I was hoping you'd at least yell at someone. Hmph. You are free to come back at dusk if you'd like some sleep."

What does Ragnar do?

>>3740858
We need to work out what days of the month we want us to work. I think it would be best if we work weekdays on a biweekly basis.

>>3740858
Do we get payed or was this a trial run?

>>3740858
You were just unlucky there wasn't anyone too bad or gnomes, they probably saw you watching me who knows if everyone will still be as nice if I'm working alone.

>>3740919
This

>>3740858
Alright, I'll be back around then.
Leave and go back to our new temporary fake nest.

>>3740858
It seems crazy to think we can just use coins to get ourselves the tools we needed. Let's get some rest, bt first tell Qrad what's going on, and ask him to come back with the copper we left behind. We should stay and work as much as we can, then ask Lange to buy the tools we need. Then we hand them off to Qrad and send them back home. If we can do that, then the nest will be able to expand quickly when we go back there.

>>3740858
Time to head back to Qrad and get some sleep. Gotta be ready for tonight.

>>3741425
>Then we hand them off to Qrad and send them back home.
Qrad is too scared to travel 2-3 days alone back to the nest.

>>3740858
Supporting >>3741425

Also I find it funny that just doing the job well is probably pissing Lange off more than just about anything else we could do.

>>3740858
ask what needed tools cost. according to d20sed we have to work like 2 months for a pound of salt.

>>3740858
Let's go find Quad.

>>3741425
A problem I seethere. Wouldnt Lange question why we would need all these tools, and be reliant on his "good will" to not charge us more for the tools without us knowing? I mean the latter is unlikely, but it's also sorta unlikely for him to do us this favor and. ut the tools for us, or so. I believe.

>>3741877
Jesus thats a lot of money just for a pound of salt. We're better off just using the sea water or something or stealing salt.

>>3740858
We should work tonight to prove that we can, then travel back the next night.

When our nest get's big enough, what if we have a +1 like minded Kobold work with us in the city? He works the stalls, while we skulk around in the shadows in search of things to steal no one will notice go missing? a Thieves tool set would be a good start. Silently pick the lock to some dude's tool shed, steal some things, lock everything back up and leave. BOOM. The owner is left scratching their heads wondering if they left their stuff some place else.
Money is some of the stuff I think we should have as low priority. The bigger the sum of money missing, the more likely people are to point accusations at the "innocent" hard working kobold. Oh course if any thefts are made public people might give us looks regardless, unless our boss is willing to put in a good work for us. Might need to polish his spear some, aye?

>>3744390
And maybe once we find another kobold to do it for us with the excuse of, "The job is easy enough but I kind I miss the freedom of wandering around, so here's my cousin [kobold name here] to take my place. I can vouch for him" we'll be free to go as we please within the city again while having someone on the inside.

File: Update_084.png (324 KB, 640x600)

324 KB PNG

>>3740919
>>3741069
>>3741165
>>3741312
>>3741399
>>3741425
>>3741612
>>3741672
>>3741877
>>3742329
>>3743652
>>3744390
>>3744758

Ragnar asks if he's going to get paid for his trial run.

"Sure, I'll throw in an extra bit at the end of this day for the hour you spent working here. Whatever." Lange says shrugging.

The kobold wonders out loud if maybe this was easy because Lange was watching, so no one caused any trouble.

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe I'll get a nice message in the morning about you harassing a gnome customer." He says, chuckling. "But then again maybe not?"

The kobold says goodbye and Lange gives him a few apples for the road. He goes back to his fake nest to find Qrad asleep in a small hovel. It's certianly nothing special and if it rained it'd probably flood, but for something temporary it'll have to do.

---

"Hey Ragnar, it's dusk. You gotta go do the work thing, right?" Qrad says, shaking the red kobold.

Ragnar sighs, sits up, and rubs his eyes.

The other kobold takes a bite out of one of the apples Ragnar brought back and says, "So what do you want me to do? Sit around some more? I might be able to scavenge some stuff from the outskirts of the city. I can't promise it'll be anything particularly useful, but it's kinda boring sitting here."

What does Ragnar do?

>>3745110
maybe. could make a better temp hovel so if it. scavving works too. Maybe we could sleep now then go looting in the city tonight?

>>3745131
Remember we have to work at the food stand. I say we let qrad go ahead and scavenge what he can but warn him not to get caught/anger and humans.

>>3745110
Yeah understand, this wasn't planned to work out this way. Go scavenge just remember whatever you do stay out of sight, even if you see something cool it's better you're not seen.
Head off to our new job.

>>3741612
Qrad too scared? I don't remember this.
>>3745110
Suggest Qrad go back to nest, explain our situation, and then come back with copper coins. When he returns we can pile the money together and see what we can get for it.

File: Update_085.png (362 KB, 640x600)

362 KB PNG

>>3745131
>>3745152
>>3745196

Ragnar asks him to scavenge what he can from around the settlement, but makes it very clear that staying hidden is more important.

"Alrighty, have fun standing around workin' for the stilt-legs." He teases, waving Ragnar off as he walks towards the grocery stand.

The red kobold finds the half-leg standing at the stall, and she frowns as he comes up.

"Oh... I was hoping you wouldn't end up coming." Malhaly says, sighing. "Well, get up here. Lange said I get to leave once you are ready. You got any questions?"

What does Ragnar do?

>>3745504
Yes, when are you getting back? When the sun comes back up or some other time?

>>3745536
support

>>3745504
What should we do if someone tries to shortchange us or pass off shaved coins?

>>3745504
Why she seemed so disappointed?

>>3745504
Glad to be working with ya, co-worker!
So, is the meat cleaver company property or yours?
Any other employees that I should know about?
How should I deal with fruit thieves? Are lethal force, maiming, or torture appropriate?

>>3745504
Where's the uniform?

>>3745504
She has to leave once we're here? So does that mean we wont work together at any point?

File: Update_086.png (190 KB, 640x600)

190 KB PNG

>>3745536
>>3745603
>>3746072
>>3746224
>>3746263
>>3746895
>>3747659

The kobold asks why she sounds disappointed at him showing up.

Malhaly just sort of glares and doesn't answer.

Ragnar asks how long she's staying, and if she's coming back.

"I'm only going to stay for a bit. I have to open up the stall tomorrow so I'll need to get sleep at some point."

He then asks what he should do if someone tries to steal, shortchange, or otherwise rob the store.

"Call a guard. It ain't worth getting stabbed over this job, even for you." She replies. "I mean you could try handling it yourself it you want. It also helps to be prepared, just in case."

She picks up the butcher knife from the night before. She's keeping it on the little shelf beneath the stall counter where the money box also is, along with a book and her purse.

The red kobold asks if robberies are pretty common around here.

"Petty theft sometimes yeah. The poorer travelers might get hungry and try to take something when you aren't looking. Lange doesn't care too much about it though. As long as they aren't being super obvious he said to just leave them be." The half-leg says, shrugging.

Ragnar asks if Mr. Lange left him so clothes. The elf said that he'd do it to make him look a bit more presentable.

"Clothes? No the only thing he-" She then stops and starts laughing suddenly. Ragnar looks to the half-leg in confusion, and she bends over and pulls something out of a box next to her.

She comes back up holding a giant, red apple sculpture. There is a circular hole in the front and bottom of the apple, and it's been hollowed out. It takes the kobold a second, but then he realizes it's a head piece for him to wear.

"He left this behind, I thought he expected me to wear it. Heh." She says, offering the helmet to the kobold.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3748249
Where is in front of her and be smug about it. She's clearly jealous of our sick ass duds.
I don't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing us hate wearing it.
We can take off the helmet thing once she's left.
....I would also like to practice giving the cleaver a few swings to get used to it's weight in case we need to chop a bitch, or stray dog. I wouldn't be against killing or taming a stray dog.

>The kobold then asks where some of the city facilities are, such as a library, a blacksmith, a general store, and so on.
>"Ha... Well I doubt they'd let you into the city currently, and I'm not gonna vouch for you yet, no offense. If you are looking for food there is always the stalls or the inn. I'm kind of surprised you'd want to visit a library though. I didn't think kobolds were really into reading." Lange says, leaning on one of the support poles of the stall. "What sort of things would a kobold want to read about? Dragons?"
Before she leaves, lets ask her for directions for some place. I forgot the exact place we're at but I'm guessing we're not within the walls of the city or something right? Well, let's ask her where we can find something close to a general store, library, blacksmith and so on outside the city bounds. Assuming the stiltlegs don't let halflings inside either.

>>3748249
put it on.

How do I look? (Maybe pose)

>>3748249
Do a kissy duck face with the apple on and an apple in hand.

File: Update_087.png (323 KB, 640x600)

323 KB PNG

>>3748310
>>3748312
>>3748327

Ragnar bites back his pride and just reminds himself this is for the good of the nest. Plus, he doesn't want to give the stilt-legs the satisfaction of seeing him suffer.

He'll just make sure to keep an eye open for anything he can do to get revenge.

The kobold puts the mask on and strikes a pose, doing his best to fake being happy to wear it.

"Yeah, pfft... Looks good." Malhaly says, turning away and stifling a laugh. "Anyway, your turn."

She hops down from the stool and takes her book. She then goes to the other end of the shack and starts reading.

Ragnar takes his place, and waits for some business.

=====

Luckily, there isn't many stilt-legs to see him with his mask on, and he only makes one sale in thirty minutes. He yawns out of boredom, and sees the half-leg still reading at her corner. She hasn't said anything or looked up from her book at all.

What does Ragnar do?

>>3748569
Before she leaves, ask if we can please borrow the book for the night, for when business is slow. It's not like she'll be reading it when she's asleep anyways.

While we wait for her to finish reading, try to pass the time by keeping an eye out for anything of note. (e.g. Any places we can hide stuff or ourselves. Anything worth acquiring (be it through purchase or theft)).

>>3748569
Ask if it's always this slow, and >>3748611

>>3748640
support