Jeji nods at Trett finishes. "We are ready if you are. Lead on. Wait, how do we get there? Do we have to go back through the water?"
Leupel continues in undercommon, "These humans were armored in leather and ...
" Do we have to go back through the water?"
Sanvil Trett nods. "That's the only way in and out as far as I know. Just hold your breath and follow the tunnel. Keep your head and you'll pop out at the end." He sends his robot forward to collect The dead man and then turns and sinks into the water. The robot follows closely behind.
The swim through the tunnel is easier this time since you know what to expect. Everyone makes it back into the quarry pool and pull themselves back onto dry land to brush the water off. The moon is already bright overhead as you start down the trail into town. You can just hear the chugging of the odd piped structure at the edge of the lake when Trett turns off toward some buildings. Hiding around a corner, he points out a big building that still looks quite busy. Light streams from a couple windows to illuminate the street between you and the gambling hall.
"Should we wait and watch a while, or find a way to sneak in?"
Trett holds up his hand for silence. "Wait. Watch."
Jeji's head was spinning. They were supposed to be seeking out a weapon to destroy the humans, and they were being helped by one. She didn't know what to make of anything anymore. She wasn't as bloodthirsty as most of her kind, but she still wanted to do what was right for her brethren. She would bide her time, and keep one eye on Trett and the other eye on where the human was indicating.
Jeji is nearly trembling in anticipation of a sudden and inevitable betrayal, but she is first to spot a tall, short haired man with a well groomed bearded leaving out a backdoor with a pair of hooded furtive figures. "Good eye," Trett congratulates. "That's Garmen. Follow quietly."
Jeji nods and creeps down low to the ground, resting her hands in the mud and reducing her profile to almost match the horizon. She slowly follows behind this new human as quietly as she can.
Unused to skulking about in the shadows, Drahlneep does his best to step lightly. Luckily, the combination of his small size and natural nimbleness provide him with a chance to fake it.
Reep follows after, his boomstick cradled and loaded.
Small, agile and naturally adapted to the dark, the kobolds slink so stealthily through the night that their guide has to stop and peer closely to make sure that they are still following. The group creeps behind the houses that line the street until Garmen and his thugs stop at a warehouse. Glancing around suspiciously, Garmen unlocks and opens the door.
Confident that she can open the lock after witnessing the human work it, Jeji waits quietly in the shadows for the humans to enter the building. Once the door closes, she silently approaches the warehouse.
Jeji moved forward eagerly. Her tools click slightly as she readies them to work on the foor. Everyone freezes nervously, but no alarm is raised. It looks to be a rather complex lock.
Trett waves the kobolds on whispering, "This is as far as I go. I could be recognized and I have some other business to take care of..." He seems to be indicating the robot with Khonnir's corpse that he hid before you staked out the gambling hall. He says that he will be in contact later in the caves below the quarry if you are successful.
"We must be wary of that one. He tries to hard to appear helpful and reasonable," Drahlneep whispers after Trett leaves, his innate mistrust of humans rising to the surface. His eyes constantly dart to every corner in sight as Jeji tries to break into the above ground cave.
Jeji inserts the lockpick and begins to fiddle with the lock. She tries to keep her ears open, but her focus is on the task at hand.
Jeji fidgets with the lock, but it proves tricky.
Just when she thinks she's got it, her hands slips and the pick falls out and lands on the ground. She picks it up and starts again with a sigh. This time, her breath catches in her throat as everything else fades away and her attention is fully on the lock.
This time the lock clicks open.
Jeji slips her tools into a small pouch. She tries to quietly open the door and take a quick peak inside before ushering the other kobolds in. She waves Drahlneep in first, then Sa'rah'then'al, then Reep, then slips in herself and closes the door.
At Jeji's urging, Drahlneep creeps through the door, trying to stay low and keeping his senses open.
Standing in the human town put Jeji on edge. She stood next to the door, holding it open, her head constantly searching the shadows. The darkness was comforting and so too was her tribe, but the fear of being discovered was rising within her. She tried to remind herself that it would all be over soon, but the fear combined with the anticipation of rescuing her brothers was enough to bead her brow with sweat.
Reep stays back, creeping slowly with his rifle in his hands. This place is so much alien to him, and so much depends on them that he can't help but worry.
The kobolds creep into the dark and silent warehouse. Big boxes stacked high on both sides loom overhead. Drahlneep and Sarahthenal lead with Jeji and Reep in the rear. Suddenly, torches flare and the rope fisted thugs leap down to attack!
The kobolds are caught off guard. Each is pummeled by a thug except the one on Jeji who lands off balance and misses.
Jeji:
Reep:
Sahrahthenal:
Drahlneep:
Thugs:
Drahlneep curses under his breath, flies into a rage, and grabs the strange buttoned mace and shield before attempting to bash the thug who injured him.
Jeji knew she was being too trusting of the human, and when the thugs sprung upon them, she blamed herself for leading her kin into the ambush. She raised her spear defensively, trying to keep her attacker off balance.
HP 10/14
Reep hisses loudly, his frills flaring and his anger rising. How dare humans think they could ambush kobolds! How dare they! Reep slips back away from the thug and fires!
for damage!
Drahlneep strikes his opponent with the buzzing baton with a loud thud and zap. The human loses some control of his movements for a moment and just gazes numbly off in the distance as he totters on his feet. Reep tenses as he pulls the trigger, but nothing happens as the musket jams. Fortunately, the thug flinches anyway and his fist misses. Jeji focuses on defense and ducks her attacker's fist. Sarahthenal ; ; catching the surprised thug's wrist and leaving it lacerated and acid burned.
Suddenly, Garmen appears out of nowhere beside Sarahthenal stabbing at the inquisitor with a rapier, but the burned thug knocks into his and ruins his thrust.
If he were not enraged, Drahlneep might have really appreciated the extra effects of the bizarre weapon he had stolen, instead he simply raises it high and brings it down again on the soft-skin before him, hoping to take him down before the human can recover his senses.
Drahlneep takes advantage of his dazed foe's condition and feels a satisfying crunch as he smashes his baton into the human's ribs. The thug falls.
The albino struggles against his bindings, wiggling his small limbs and thin frame against the rope.
Jeji continues to fight off her attacker with her spear, trying to keep the human at bay.
Reep snarls as his gun misfires. Instead he howls and a cone of fire launches over the humans, angled up to avoid the smaller kobolds! damage!
Perrik tests his bonds briefly, then grimaces in frustration. "Vornop, turn so I can see the ropes on you. I can start them on fire--you'll have to be quick once they're lit."
Reep steps away from his attacker and sends a burst of flame over Sarahthenal's head to catch a thug and their leader. Both are burned in the flames and Garmen's long ugly hair catches on fire! Jeji keeps on the defensive, but her thug dodges the tentative spear thrust and strikes her a glancing blow with a corded rope gauntlet. Reep dodges his assailant. The gang leader tries to reposition to flank Sarahthenal, but stumbles as he notices that his head is on fire. He slashes at the kobold in vexation anyway, injuring him. Sarahthenal bites at the hand that wounded him, but misses.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Drahlneep snarls, smelling kobold blood being spilled and turns to defend his new tribe. He charges the human beating on Jeji in an attempt to crack his skull open.
Turning as instructed, Vornop soon hears the sizzle of hemp aflame, and pulls fiercely against his bonds.
"Smart thinking! They'll burn through soon enough!"
Jeji was emboldened at Drahlneep's aid and continued to fight on. She kept her head, knowing that her best chance was to keep the human's attention on her.
Perrik continues to burn rope.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Reep snarls and stabs at the closest pink-skinned human! for damage!
No sooner has one human dropped than Drahlneep spins and assaults another hairy cretin attacking his snarlmate. The strange club kneecaps the thug. Jeji jabs tentatively with her spear keeping up a distraction anyway. Without his gun, Reep is forced into a claw-to-hand scuffle and isn't quite as effective.
The thug favors his injured leg, but pummels Drahlneep with a combination. Reep's assailant punches him hard in the snout. Sarahthenal finds himself between two thugs and though he dodges a roped fist, he is pierced in the back by Garmen's rapier. The kobold inquisitor gasps and falls to the ground!
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the warehouse, Vornop breaks free of the burned rope.
Perrik starts trying to burn through the rope holding him.
HP 4/14 Reep hisses as the thug punches him and stabs again! for damage!