In Search of The Sycamore Tree
They followed the river along the eastern shore, led by the captured bandit. They travelled another full day before they spied the great tree in the distance. They made camp for the night. On the first watch, Reppa saw small creatures coming out of the base of the tree and skitter off to the South. Reppa informed Piotr and Ambiorix about them when they took up the second watch.
Piotr and Ambiorix spied some kobolds in the distance. They were not approaching the camp. Ambiorix awakened Stormbolt. Piotr calmly approached the kobolds. They raised their spears, but were not aggressive. When he got close enough, the kobolds started barking at him. Stormbolt heard them tell him to come no closer.
Piotr asked if they spoke Common, and one replied for him to come no closer. He asked if they would trade for radishes, but did not understand. Stormbolt yelled out the Draconic translation. They offered to buy radishes, not sell. Stormbolt approached calmly, but the kobolds were spooked and ran off. He returned to camp and went back to sleep.
Just prior to dawn, Stormbolt saw a single mite return to the tree on third watch. He informed the others when they awakened.
At The Sycamore Tree
They approached The Sycamore Tree. Piotr, Reppa, and Stormbolt walked up to the base of the tree and noticed the hidden opening at the base of the tree. Inside, Stormbolt saw that the root-lined shaft descended 10 feet and opened into a cross-tunnel. He attempted to call the mites out to parlay in both Common and Draconic.
He heard movement, wood, and metal sounds from deep within. He informed the others that the mites did not appear to be interested in speaking with them. Reppa walked around the tree but did not see anything ntoeworthy. Ambiorix and Froing kept watch on the party’s belongings, but nothing happened.
Piotr took Stormbolt’s place and repeated the greeting in Elven. He also heard noises below. Then Reppa did so in Sylvan, but there was no response. They waited a while, but there were no signs of activity. Piotr suggested that to recover the ring, they would need to go get it.
Enter the Kobolds
While considering their options, Ilya and Ambiorix noticed a band of kobolds sneaking up toward the tree from the opposite direction. When they got close enough, the kobolds stopped and started conversing among themselves.
Reppa asked if the prisoner had dealt with the mites before. He said that they snuck into their camp at night and took things. The bandits shot at them and drove them off.
The kobolds appeared to be holding their position, waiting to see what the humanoids do. Piotr and Ambiorix approached to parlay. The kobolds brandished their weapons, but did not attack. The leader appeared to be the one Piotr spoke to the previous night.
The kobold told them to stop, and that they did not have any radishes. Ambiorix spoke to them in Draconic. They came to kill the mites, who stole their idol. Ambiorix offered their radishes in exchange for what was stolen from them.
The kobolds considered the offer among themselves. They came back offering to give them the ring in exchange for anything else they find and the radishes. Ambiorix agreed.
The party took a position outside the hole. They were spooked by Stormbolt, who told them that they were safe from him. Six kobolds entered the tree before the sounds of battle started. Then the rest joined them. Ambiorix cast Comprehend Languages.
After a few minutes, a very wounded kobold climbs out of the tree. The battle was still in progress. It waited up top. Then the kobold sounds got louder and Ambiorix heard them cry centipede. A few minutes later, two more emerged carrying a third. Froing healed the down one.
Shortly after that, a giant centipede emerged from the hole. Stormbolt case a fully empowered Energy Missile and killed it. Having witnessed that, the kobolds rallied and went back inside.
A short time later, six wounded kobolds emerged from the hole. One had a burlap sack. He said there was no ring there, but they had stolen a ring from the mites previously. They offered to trade for it, but it was back at their camp.
They considered what to do with the bandit prisoner. Ambiorix mimed casting a spell and told the bandit that he was marked and if he returned to banditry, any other scouts would kill him. The bandit agreed. They gave him some trail rations, a dagger, and a bow but no arrows, and sent him on his way.
To Kobold Camp
The kobolds were happy to have recovered their idol, but sad to have lost so many in the fight. The party returned with them to their village. On the journey, Stormbolt learned that the kobolds lived in an abandoned mine. They fought with the mites and human bandits. Ambiorix mentioned that the party was there to deal with the human bandits. The kobolds did not know where any bandit camps were located.
In late afternoon, they entered some hills and came upon the River Shrike. A short time later, they found the entrance to the kobold lair. A fallen sign bearing “Oak Top Silver Mine” in Common was on one side of the entrance, and a wooden cage on the other. Inside was a single, sobbing mite. A kobold started poking with a stick.
A kobold emerged from cover and argued with the returning group. They communicated that they had recovered the idol. Since the party had helped, they were invited into the lair.