Session 3 - WTH is with the fake dragon wings

 The party take a moment to regroup and regain their composure, those that need to recover some do so and the rest try their hand at mining some gems. 

Their inexperience and clumsy approach with the miners tools yield them nothing of value from the mine so they continue to explore. They find the current levels opening to the shaft which descends to the underdark, and as they look around they spot two Kobolds dangling from ropes with saws, under the wooden bridge they had just walked across, they make quick work of them, and then head through the tunnels until they come to a tunnel leading down and listen intently for signs of danger but only hear the sounds of rushing water. 

Descending the tunnel they find another series of wooden bridges around the shaft, and Nogok walks across to find himself face to face to a kobold wearing fake dragon wings made from wood and old cloth. As Nogok looks at him threateningly he throws his hands in the air and begs for mercy.

The Kobold's name is Trex and he has three companions behind him, he explains in very well spoken common that a yeti attack forced them from their home on Kalvins Cairn and they were looking to make a home here. 

The other Kobolds grunt in agreement, but don't speak common, Nogok sees through the lies and decides that their task of ridding the mine of Kobolds for the betterment of Termaline is enough justification to take Trex down. Battle ensues and the party prevail. 

Trex falls the ground and Nogok takes his wings and tosses them to Nox who had mentioned a desire to make them his own. As he does this a ghost appears from Trex's body in the form of a human. The ghost tries to possess Nogok and fails, it then retreats into the satchel that Trex was carrying. 

Nogok casts divine sense and can smell the essence of the spirit in the bag, Etch comes over to inspect it, and finds moss, lichen and rocks and a quick estimated value shows items which could have been collected from any common garden putting the value at about 1cp for the worn satchel. But as he is inspecting the contents the Ghost appears and possesses him. 

Nogok smelling the ghost move from the bag to Etch, starts to ask the ghost why it has possessed his friend, and the ghost replies "tis I, Etch we should head back to Termaline". Nogok explains he can smell the ghost in his friend, and Etch (Janth the botanists ghosts host) says "Bugbear friend we can smell all sorts of things in you" The banter continues until the ghost explains who he is (Janth) and how he was beheaded in the mountains collecting fungi samples. The kobolds happend upon his body and took his satchel, he was able to possess Trex without him noticing, and managed to get them to take the mines. 

He is insistent that once they get him to Termalane and meet with the speaker, if they hand him the satchel then he will leave Etch forever.

The party opt instead of heading out directly, to finish exploring the mines to ensure all the kobolds are taken care of. They find in one room a Skull embedded in the rock, which Nogok identifies as a mind flayer. As he tries to remove the skull with his pick it crumbles revealing a crystal. As he picks it up it binds to him instilling an indefinite madness which the rest of the party see no visible signs. 

They agree to head back to Termaline and set out, along the way Etch and Janth converse and Janth explains (all inside Etchs skull) that he is bound to the satchel and he will leave once someone of power in Termaline has it. 

Nogok and Nox ask what was with Trex and the dragon wings, Janth explains that they allowed him to appear above his station and were purely for show.