Fíriel opens the door to the kitchen and prepares to throw a dagger if the enemy tries to escape.
The thug flinches at Antal's glancing blow, then looks around as he's readily surrounded. He glances into the kitchen and realizes the halfling is prepared to attack him... but he sees little alternative. He makes up his mind and zeroes in on the most wounded of the group in an attempt to buy some time.
He seems to change his mind mid-swing, turning to dodge out of the room instead.
Njord lands with a grunt atop his unconscious victim after freeing his trapped limb. Hearing battle to the north and battle to the south, the big Ulfen rushes to help the isolated Firiel.
Randall attempts to tumble past and set the runner up for a flank.
"I guess we need to pursue, huh?"
Randall will hustle after the man, drawing another dagger to throw when he gets the chance.
Jametor says softly, "Let's go help Firiel and Njord first. They know we are here, no reason to split up now. Antal, do you need to heal?"
The same sickly black energy radiates from his hand as he tries to seal the wound shut.
"No..time. We have to get to the bottom of this. And fast."
"You are right. Follow me." Randall follows the man far enough to see in any easy method of blocking the door presents itself. Otherwise, he heads for where Njord and Firiel are.
Fíriel watches the door nervously and waits to see what the others will want to do.
"We may have a respite. Is everyone up for the next wave? I think we should get away from here, but I'm not sure where would be better."
Heading down the stairs, the party enters the basement hallway of the Gold Goblin. The hallway is quiet.
At each door up to the secret door:
The wine cellar holds large barrels of common port and rows of bottles of wines and various other alcohols. The room bears a subtle, musty odor underlying the spoiled, sweet stench of wine. There is no one in the room.
Continuing on, the party hears no sound from Bjask's room (the door is locked). There are faint murmurs of speech to the south beyond the secret door... Randall estimates that they're a good fifty or sixty feet away.
The murmurs become slightly more distinct as the party heads through the secret door. Entering the arena, the group can hear Bjask's voice speaking in soothing tones, but can't quit make out the words.
Njord pulls out another vial.
"You two want to check it out?" he asks of Firiel and Randal.
"Sounds like he's training something to me. We'll have a look."
Randall and Fíriel sneak forward to see what Bjask is up to. Peeking down from the arena, they find him talking to the house's current champion fighter: a fat, broken-tusked boar named Pigsaw.
"We're gonna kill 'em if they come down here, Piggy... that's right, that excites you, doesn't it? Yeah... there's a good pig."
"Keep your voice down!" says Saul's voice. "And stop talking to that stupid pig as if it can understand you."
"Aw, boss, he's just an innocent lil fellah..."
Whispers to Firiel, "Do you see Saul?"
Fíriel shakes her head.
Whispering again, "Wait here and watch for him."
Keeping very low, Randall moves back to the rest of the group, finger to his lips as he comes into view.
Whispering, "Bjask and one of his creatures - a huge pig - are down in the pit. We heard Saul's voice nearer to the stairs, but we didn't see him. They are waiting for us. How patient are you? More patient than Saul?"
Njord nods as he listens to the halfling’s information.
”We can be patient but what are we waiting for? You expecting Saul to separate himself?”