As Eser methodically destroys the trap, Rik'tik meditates on what might lie beyond. As the trap is finally destroyed, Rik'tik hisses at Grasz, who heads into the fountain to bask in it. He'd been out of the water long that it was a welcome relief.
Rik'tik holds up his torch, lighting the way forward. "Maybe koboldsss make lasssst ssstand ahead? Be ready."
"Careful, there's plenty of high ground. Might be a shooting gallery if we aren't careful. But at least we could leave." Hellewen expects the kobolds to pop up at any moment now and start pelting them with things. Just insults if they were lucky ...
"Bah!" Eser exclaims, clacking her beak together. "I shall put myself between you and their tiny arrows! They will be like mosquitoes biting at a... a..."
Eser's brow furrows; she thinks over a raft of animals - largely harmless - before her gaze settles on Grasz. "A crocodile!" Shall we go swat them?
Having clambered out of the fountain with her loot, Pfil buzzes her wings a few times to get them--and, somewhat less effectively, herself as well--dry before scampering up to the door and peering curiously into the room beyond. "Yeah, I'm in favor of swatting, lots of swatting. But I think we're going to need more light in there, especially if Rik'tik needs to use both hands or something." And so, with a thought, Pfil begins to glow brightly. Afterward, she points her finger threateningly at the tipped tables and benches. "Alright, I'm ready! Time to charge and swat those kobolds," she declares. As Rik'tik moves forward with Eser close behind, Pfil begins to hum a rather jaunty tune that has a definite martial air to it.
Further back, Surla likewise prepares herself with a rather worn sigh. "Indeed, I'd like to see us end this business of the pilfered fish and the thieves responsible for it before it grows dark outside." Stretching a bit to loosen her back, the older woman continues. "I'd rather forgotten how tiring and demanding this sort of thing can get, and my retirement hasn't done me any favors in maintaining the sort of condition needed for this."
"I can fight one-handed," insists Rik'tik as he continues with the magical shortsword in one hand, and torch in the other. Though his torch hand occasionally seems to move toward his trident--a weapon he might choose to throw when the time is right.
"Very well. Let us see what welcome they've prepared for us!" Hellewen boldly states and less boldly waits for one of the beefier party members to lead the way. Hopefully.
"They are small and not to be feared! I will run them over like a boulder running downhill! Like a dog rolling on grass! Like a..."
Eser trails off, unable to think of another metaphor, and gripping her weapon, keeps pace with Rik'tik.
Between Pfil and the torch grasped by Rik'tik, there's enough light that everyone can see--well, insofar as the narrow corridor allows--a number of kobolds peering cautiously over and around the makeshift furniture defenses. For whatever reason, they seem content to remain on the defensive for the moment, but they're clearly ready for a fight. Hellewen can also see, on the floor between the two fighting positions, a pair of the same traps that almost ended Pfil's life not too long ago.
Hellewen notes the vast amount of kobolds arrayed against her and promptly dives back for cover. But she leaves a parting gift for one of the kobolds. And maybe it'd come in handy next turn ...
"What's up? Scared?", Pfil pulls out her collection of teeth, including some Kobold ones, dangling them in the short corridor from behind the corner, "I understand that. You should be. It's very brave that you lot decided to die here - but we can streamline if you just come hop into that alligator instead of making the whole thing into a long and painful slaughtering."
Pfil was well aware that - to her knowledge anyway - none of the Kobolds were capable of understanding common, but the standoff she found herself in prompted her to speak up nonetheless. The silence was too deafening, otherwise.
Even though the kobold's are ready and waiting, Hellewen's sudden appearance was still startling enough that the hissing reptilian targeted by her attack was unable to avoid it, and it curses in its native tongue as a rapidly spinning blade of compressed air opens gashes on its unprotected face. After a moment, it darts away from the dubious safety of the rotting crate which it had been hiding behind, leaving it perfectly positioned to launch a spear down the corridor at Rik'tik before it takes shelter with the duo covering behind the table.
However, the attack does little beyond wasting a spear, the thrown projectile not even reaching the lizardman before it collides with the corridor wall and clatters uselessly to the floor. The remaining kobold warriors each prepare a spear to launch at the first of the invaders foolish enough to make themselves a proper target.