>>5283965You wander the tunnels. They are just as busy (nor not) regardless of the time of day in the world above, with every Reptilian keeping their own peculiar schedule. Reptilians bow their heads to you, or shy away—not uncommon since your growth spurt, but more pronounced now that you are clad in armour and reputation. As you stroll aimlessly, seeking rest, a notion occurs to you: perhaps you could find a kobold, a slave or servant in this place? They are common in the base itself, but you know some Reptilians from the middle-lands and western regions yet subjugate and breed small clans of captive slave-kobolds. Maybe they could lend insight into the ultimate targets of your expedition?
Eventually, you find a trader from that area, dealing in strange curios. You are light on coin after supplying your troops, and ill-relish the idea of spending Priesthood resources on glorified knick-knacks and ethnic art from some mammalian clan or another in the hills—meaningless frivolity. However, when you ask after a kobold cohort, the trader delights.
“A slave! Yes, I have just the thing for that!”
However, what he present you is… Well, there’s really only one way to describe it.
“That is not a kobold,” you say.
“Certainly, oh Dragonborn! It must be! What else COULD it be?”
You… Aren’t sure. It is ratlike in appearance, but with hints of what illustrations you have seen of ‘digs’ are well. You note a long, worm-like tail, the only scaly part of it. The rest of it looks as if it might have once been hairy—its skin resembles a Degenerate’s non-scaled patches—but as if some blotchy disease has caused it to fall out. Its eyes are bugged out, too large for the skull containing them, and milky as if half-blind. It limps at the end of its chain, and is clad in rags. It has small, nubby horns, but not like those of a Dragon or Dragonblooded Reptilian.
“You take me for a fool, Trader?” you glower.
“C-certainly not, Superior One!” he placates you. “This is an odd kobold, but a kobold! Or… Some kobold relative. I say again, what else can it be?”
The ‘kobold’ blinks at you. Well, it tries. It cannot fully close its eyelids. It makes a rattling chitter, as if beginning to speak up, only to catch a cuff from the trader.
“I don’t speak that devolved kobold patois,” the Trader says. “I am trying to teak it True Speech. As it is, though, it can follow basic commands, such as to fetch, or carry an object, or to kill small vermin.”
What do you do?
>Accept it, in exchange for money to be paid by the Priesthood>Steal it, and dare the lying merchant to try to stop you [intimidate]>Refuse to buy such a liability, and leave this place>Slay merchant and ‘kobold’ for wasting your time>Write-in 