The Keep - Part 1

[Agita]

Intoning a short phrase, Aanna swings her sword at the cornered kobold. The wound it leaves is outlined with a bright white light, showing the others an opening to exploit.

Standard action: Guiding Strike vs. D.
Guiding Strike attack, damage (1d20+8=16, 1d8+4=9)
Hits AC 16 for 9 damage, which means it probably misses. On a hit, the Kobold takes -2 AC until eont.

[VennDygrem]

Aanna's sword clashes with the kobold's shield, which just barely seems to keep up with the barrage of attacks coming in from all sides.

Golkonda's turn.

[VennDygrem]

Golkonda makes his standard attack against the kobold, aiming the longknife so that the butt of the handle would strike his foe's head. Striking true, the kobold is knocked out cold, slumping to the ground.

Golkonda's attack - Magic Weapon:
1d20(16)+8=24
1d6(6)+4=10
Knock-out blow

Combat over!

One kobold escaped the battle, while several more lay dead by your hands. One, however, is laying unconscious by your feet, its sword and shield fallen impotent to the ground.

[Risada]

While the other members are deciding what to do with the prisoner, Golkonda starts looking around for some useful loot from the fallen...

Please tell me if I have to roll anything for it...

[VennDygrem]

Not much in the way of treasure exists in this ambush. Among the kobolds, there is a set of crimson hide armor, a set of regular hide armor, two sets of scale armor, a light shield, two heavy shields made from dragons' scales, three spears, 2 shortswords, a bone mask shaped like a dragon's skull, a necklace with a dragon figurine, and some coins, equaling only 5 gp and 23 sp in value.

A Religion check can identify the figurine, while an etching on the bottom of the figurine requires an Arcana check.

[Nanshork]

Amnon gives the figurine a cursory glance.

Religion: 13

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Peering over the shoulder of his peer, Gerand notes the mark, and reaches out for the necklace. Playing the figurine through his fingers, he examines the arcane mark on it.

Know (Arcana): 29
An 18 with a +11. Not bad.  

[Agita]

"Oooh, these look neat. Traditional kobold artwork," Aanna remarks, picking up the mask. "Hmm... That figurine looks odd..."

I'd make a remark of some sort about picking them up from dead bodies, but whatever. We're adventurers.

Religion, Arcana (1d20+2=18, 1d20+6=22)

Naturally. I get that kind of roll now. Not during combat, because it's not like I need them more then. No sir.

[Risada]

Golkonda mumbles, slightly sad.

"Pff... nothing extraordinary... but I will take a souvenir anyway... I'm sure they won't mind..."

Picks a dragon's scale Heavy Shield to not leave empty handed...

Arcana: 1d20+11 = 13

[VennDygrem]

Amnon and Aanna instantly recognize the figurine as a symbol of the Cults of the Dragon Below- a diverse group of sects that revere the power of the subterranean realms, often including the worship of demons. Khyber is often referred to as the Dragon Below, much as Syberis is known as the Dragon Above.

However, only Lord Mytos recognizes the symbol scratched into the bottom of the trinket's base- a crude outline of a skull with ram's horns, and an abstract representation of the demon lord of the undead, Orcus.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

As soon as he realizes what it is, he covers it completely in his hand. Mytos' empty gaze passes along the ground as he considers what's going on. This was bad. Ignorant beings looking to deal with the power of Orcus was a terrible thing to find. He pockets the necklace subtly as he can while standing and addressing the group. "I'm not trying to make myself the leader here, but if we are going to follow that kobold, we should do so quickly. We can hide the gear somewhere and come back for it later if we want to try selling it off..." Suddenly, he had half a mind to invoke his mistress' name to try and get some guidance. Wisely, he decided against it.

"Can anyone detect magic here?"

[VennDygrem]

Anyone trained in the Arcana skill can attempt to Detect Magic, if they wish.

Anyone else may make a Perception check vs. Gerand's Stealth to see him pocket the necklace.
You guys can always choose to make these sorts of checks without my permission, along with other similar skill checks. If there's any question as to whether a check is relevant or could dig up some extra info or be of use, feel free to simply ask.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Stealth: 20, by the by.

I'd love to detect magic as part of my analysis of it. Second roll?

[Agita]

"Huh. I guess they are evil after all. As for magic... meh, I can try." Focusing inward, then outward, Aanna concentrates on any sources of magic energy in the area, though she doesn't expect to find much. As expected, she doesn't find so much as a faint metaphorical glimmer.

Arcana (1d20+6=12)
Nope.
Anna can only match that Stealth on a natural 20, so I won't even bother.

During the short rest, Aanna will also spend two surges, leaving her with 9, to get back to full hp. Note that everyone gets a +4 to their surge value duringa short rest thanks to Aanna's Song of Rest.

[VennDygrem]

@Flay: Yes, separate roll.

Everyone else, that reminds me, injuries I have listed are:
Curyll: 26/32 hp
Minharath: 17/25 hp
Amnon: 22/29 hp
Golkonda: 19/28 hp
Aanna is at full now
Gerand is at full.

[Nanshork]

Amnon grabs the figurine (even if someone else is currently holding it) and shoves it in Aana's face.  "You see?  I told you that these vermin were evil!  But no, you had to try and tell me that the demon worshipping filth weren't evil, that they're just innocent criminals!"  He rolls his eyes.  "Innocent criminals, Bah!  Such a thing does not exist!"

Perception: 8

I rolled a one.  I'm distracted.   

[Risada]

"Now now, gentleman... we are gonna beat more of them, so you should be happy with it, right? Cut the girl some slack, will you?"

Spent one surge to get full hp, thanks to the Song of rest...

Arcana Check to detect magic: 1d20+11 = 18

... it is so much easier when you can blow a cantrip on Detect Magic  

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Yeah, I'm feeling that Risada.

Detect Magic: 21

[VennDygrem]

Now, I don't want to jump to conclusions here. Flay, did Gerand share his information with everyone else? I assumed you would, but given his reaction, perhaps not. I just want to know how many here know Orcus is involved. So far, Gerand might be the only one here who even knows who Orcus is. Keep in mind, also, that this is Eberron, and Orcus isn't as well heard-of here as he might be in the standard adventure settings.

Oh, and Amnon can't grab the figuring if it's in Gerand's pocket. Of course, we're assuming the trinket is changing hands for everyone to get a look at it, so I'll say he grabbed it before Gerand stowed it away.

The kobold groans on the ground, but does not get up.

No one detects any significant magical auras or effects on any of the loot, not even the symbol. It might be used in some form of worship, but it is not enchanted in any way.

[Nanshork]

You said Dragon Below worship usually meant demons, and I thought that Gerand had pocketed the necklace sorry.

Oh yeah, spending a healing surge.