>>5340184>>5340131>>5340060>>5339883>>5339844>>5339842>>5339827>>5339821>>5340391Despite their experience, and the Bastard’s evident confidence in the little reptiles’ abilities, the Kobolds of Bloodrise have struck you as… Small, weak, even a little pathetic. They ARE an inferior slave race, after all, even if they’re technically Reptilian. You can think of ways to make such a plan work—maybe some earth-shaping with your terrain-affecting spells, to divide and conquer? Still, it seems a risk to make them so crucial to the early stages of the invasion…
All this to say: you have your own misgivings about sending the kobolds to form the spearhead for your invasion. You can’t help but wonder if Agno shares them, and so despite your fraught history and his lowly status, you let the defeated servant speak his piece.
“Kobolds see these new allies… But don’t yet know what you promised them, these mammals. Promised much wealth… Land, loot, meat, yes?”
He looks up some fire in his eyes, but he keeps his tone respectful as he points out: “More for them, less for kobolds. LESS-less, when you take best of magic things we find… Rightful-proper, as Dragon, but… Kobolds attacking in waves, high casualties. KILL-killed, in numbers. May be… Upset, when they learn it is for less-less.”
Ivno’s face twists up, and he squirms; you can see he wants his friend to silence himself. He fears you will execute the impetuous warrior in response to his frank, kobold’ centric concerns.
“This is the role of the kobold—of ALL footsoldiers, for the Grand Design of the Dark Gods!” the Bastard snarls, slamming his gifted barbarian’s maul upon the stone floor of the cavern for emphasis.
“What do you propose, then?” you ask, surprising everyone in attendance with your willingness to humour this defiant-hearted little creature—even Agno himself, by his wide eyes and stammering pause.
“Basilisk,” he replies. “Dragonwrought—sorry-sorry, Hako and Hapo… When they pretended to be Dragonwrought… They commanded basilisk in battle to take human town. Paralyzes with eyes! Petrifies with venom! Fast, strong, BIG.”
You consider this. It is true you have been at a loss for what to do with the captive, pit-trapped basilisk which these kobolds have managed to corral, and which now serves more as a communal garbage disposal than any sort of properly-useful asset. With your Fearsome Presence, especially useful with reptiles, you could perhaps bind it to your will…
