I. Entry

[Starbeard]

Pardu calms himself and considers what to do now that they have likely spoiled any chance of a surprise ambush.

'Well, unless we wish to retrace steps and explore some other tunnel, I think Tavari has the right idea. That passage is just too long to bait them from here. If we want a fight we'll have to move into the tunnel and catch them half way, and hope that it will give us enough time to retreat back or else be in a good enough position to stand our ground there.'

[spanningtree]

Luken will purse his lips slightly: I thought that would bring them down this way for sure... picking up his gold. We'll, we could douse the glands and wait for them. Or, we could try their front door... maybe creep up behind the folks with shields. Does anyone have any oil they might be able to throw?

[Alethan]

Abelard replies, "I have some oil, but we have no idea how long we're going to be down here or how long it will take us to get out, so I'm not sure if I want to throw it at anything just now."

[AleBelly]

Tavari listens to the conversation, then chimes in. "The problem is with that passageway...it's only big enough for one of you big folks at a time. Whoever's in front will keep getting attacked, and we don't know how many of those nasty kobolds are waiting for us. It would be best to draw them in here." He falls silent for a few moments, lost in thought. He then begins to remove his armor.

"I can only think of one way. We need to make them chase us. Slaying one with an arrow should do the trick. I can try to sneak down the corridor and fire at the first one I see. I'll then turn tail and run as fast as I can back here. Without this armor, I should be quiet enough to sneak up on them and run faster than them. I'll just need the rest of you to do the dirty work when they come back to this room, where you'll be waiting for them. What do you think?" Tavari asks, half-hoping they shoot the idea down.

If the party agrees, Tavari will leave everything but his bow and two arrows behind, moving slowly and as quietly as possible down the passageway until he sees a kobold, keeping maximum distance. He'll then fire an arrow and run like hell back to the open room the group is in, making for the east wall.

Bow shot under 50' - [1d20+4] = 17+4 = 21, damage [1d6] = 5

[spanningtree]

Luken will hear out the plan: That's a pretty dangerous but if your willing to give it a try you have my support. Maybe we stretch some rope across the hallway and trip anything chasing you into the room? After you run by, of course.

[Starbeard]

'Not a bad idea,' Pardu says. Returning his sling to his belt, he will gather up his hemp rope from his pack and test lining it across the entryway, to see how well it lies concealed against the cave floor.

[dmw71]

After everyone agrees with his risky, but clever, plan, Tavari begins to strip off his armor. Leaves everything behind except for his bow and two arrows, the halfling once again disappears down the western passage.

[AleBelly]

After quite awhile, Tavari returns to the others in the party. He attempts to mask his relief with a visage of disappointment.

“Goodness, that passage is long” Tavari says in a hushed voice. “It winds westward for 60-70 yards, then forks northwest and south. I could hear the wretched kobolds down the left passage, but were out of range of my dark vision. The right passage was interesting. The chilly air down here seems to yield to warmer air, and there were some noises that sound like it might be the way out. Speaking of which, it’s chilly down here.”

Tavari dons his suit of armor again and takes a healthy swig of wine. “I suggest we scout the right passage, with someone strong bringing up the rear to deal with the kobolds if they come after us. Of course, I’m open to other ideas. Shame on you, bossy Tavari Quimbas!”

[onlyme]

Kernodle answers back,
as quietly as he can...

Well, did the tunnel look narrow, to where the one rear guard becomes a sacrificial elf? I say the sooner we leave here the better, but not at losing my head to a kobold looking for that gold that was dropped...

[spanningtree]

I agree, let's try to get out of here. Luken will say with a bit of a smile. I can't see without the lantern or glands to well though. That will probably attract the kolbolds I would think....

[AleBelly]

"Yes, the passage is the same width the whole way." Tavari hesitates before talking again, and does so with a bit of a stammer.

"O-of course, Kernodle, if the k-kobolds frighten you, we could always keep the r-r-rearguard at the fork, where two of the party could meet them. Come along, I'll show you."

[Alethan]

"If we can get out of here without killing anything else, I'm all for it," whispers Abelard. "Let's try the right passage."

[onlyme]

Kerndodle responds,

The light would certainly tip them off, by the sound of it. There a few of us graced with the ability to see our way through here without a lantern. How about we take the front and rear, and walk arm to shoulder as far as we need to go. Someone have their lantern and flint ready at a moment's notice of course. I dont want to be fighting next to a blind person.

[dmw71]

The passage Tavari described is as long as advertised. The halfling leads the group west, with the Kernodle, the other member able to see in the otherwise total darkness, bringing up the rear. The fire beetle glands, illuminating a modest 10 foot radius, allow the humans grouped in the middle some limited visibility while the group traverses this western passage. While the thinking is to shutter any lights prior to reaching the intersection so as to preserve the potential for surprise, the clanking of the metal armor worn by most fills the normal silence of the cavernous terrain being navigated so the light may be a non-issue as well. Surprise, armed as the group is, will not be an option.

As Tavari begins to approach the 'Y' intersection, it becomes evident that the kobold voices fall hushed.

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Stopping just short of the intersection, the halfling finds comfort in the perceptible change in temperature off to his right, but the complete silence off to his left is definitely an unnerving change from his last visit.

[spanningtree]

I know oil is short but we don't know how many there are... in fact there may be more kolbolds to the right. A pool of fire may keep this first group at bay for a bit. Luken will whisper with a shrug.

[Starbeard]

'Unfortunately, I have no oil with me. Does anyone else?' Pardu whispers to the others. 'If all else fails, it appears as though we could double up on our defense against the south passage at this intersection.'

[AleBelly]

Tavari whispers to the group. "What if I move into the passageway to look south, fire at a kobold if there's one there, then duck into the right passage. Pardu, you could follow, and I'll keep watch up the west passage. That way you and another could fight off any approaching kobolds, or throw oil if their numbers are too great."

[Starbeard]

Pardu grunts a soft approval at the idea. 'I suppose dealing with the enemy we know now is better than having them at our backs when we run into something else.'

[onlyme]

Kernodle will continue to look behind for any stray rats or centipedes or the like.

[dmw71]

Once again, Tavari sets out on a solo mission in an attempt to lure the kobolds out into a more favorable defensive position. The group watches as the halfling disappears out of sight to the west after only 20 or so feet down this southern passage.

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