"Maybe this will be a way we can get them out," Kronag answers, even as he rises and moves to follow Lareth.
Following to the tunnel the part]y, prisoners and hatchlings in tow, find themselves in a small cramped lair. Strewn across the rock floor are broken weapons, jars, and bodies. The koboldsa here are either dead or going to very soon.
It looks as if the kobolds where is horrible fight, against something they stood no chance against. Some of wrymlings go up to the bodies nudging them with their snouts. As if they'll afterward.
The norther wall is what gets the most attention. A visible seam can be seem, a door though not fullly closed. Only big enough to fit a pole or something smaller. To the left of the door a strange symbol can be seen, most of it worn away and covered in thick dust. A star, shaped as if spiraling. On of the starts points/arms is missing though.
Each of the spirals arms are infact dragon heads. Some identical to the bone char, found earlier.
The symbol is that of Tiamat. Goddess of wealth, greed, envy, and patron chromatic dragons.
"Do you think the guards got back here? But that doesn't make any sense.."
"I don't believe the guards could have done this."
Brazimal moves up to the symbol and begins brushing away the dust. After a few moments she stands up and looks back at the others.
"Its the symbol of Tiamat, goddess of wealth, greed, envy, and patron of chromatic dragons."
"Dragons? Wow . . ."
Glancing at the inscription Lareth mumbles It's probably just some old grafitti, as his interest is piqued by another sight, I wonder whats behind that door he says as he trys to pry it open.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea.." Adrana says to Lareth "It could be dangerous"
"Yeah, Lareth, and I -- I don't feel so good. I've been in fights before, y'know, but not like this."
Maybe you guys are right, we should take the baby kobolds back out the way we came. Whe can fashion a sling to lower them down like we did for Bruno and then check this out tomorrow, He stops trying to get the door open and thinks better of it
Lareth pauses and looks at his beat and battered friends.
"Yes, let's go back the way we came."
Brazimal follows the others back the way they came, all the while cooing at the hatchlings, hoping to keep them calm.
Yeah, lets head back down
It takes time to return to the cave entrance. As they journeyed back up the party more than once had to wrangle in the wrymlings from wondering down or through other passages.
As the party exits the mouth of the cave they see the lights of Lowtown dancing in the darkness. As they take a huge sigh of relief two grapplings hook shoot up from below.
Looking down they can see a rather large group of the town guard gathered below. In the distance tents set up to tend for any wounded and on a stretcher a certain sergeant, ALIVE, and recieving care
"Now what?" Kronag whispers.
Maybe you guys should get out of here quietly while I try to talk to them. I'll catch up with you latter at the gnome
with that Lareth grabs the rope and slides down to the bottom and makes his way over to whoever seems to be in charge. Snapping a salute he says Trooper Shierhand reporting Sir
"Wasn't that guy dead last before?" Corrin peers curiously over the edge of the entrance.
Brazimal looks over the edge after Lareth and frowns.
"Anyone have any ideas on how we are going to sneak off quietly with all these little ones running around?"
The guards on the ground look surprised at Lareth's decent.
"Geez what did you wind up doing in there" a voice calls from the medical tents. An attractive elven woman walks toward Lareth, Corporal Lil'n Clearwater. Lareth grew up with her and she joined the guard years before him.
She smiles and hooks her arm around his head, "Looks like you had your share of fun. But did you really have to blow up Sergeant Fleur?" She gives a small laugh.
Corrin leans over the edge and yells down "Hey! We have a few injured guards up here! And two kobolds who surrendered! And a bunch of baby kobolds!"
"Geez what did you wind up doing in there" a voice calls from the medical tents. An attractive elven woman walks toward Lareth, Corporal Lil'n Clearwater. Lareth grew up with her and she joined the guard years before him.She smiles and hooks her arm around his head, "Looks like you had your share of fun. But did you really have to blow up Sergeant Fleur?" She gives a small laugh.
Catching Lil'n in a friendly hug Lareth says Am I glad to see you, it was touch and go in there for a while. he leans in closer to her and whispers I don't trust that Sergeant Fleur, we found him poking around in there like he was setting something up and then there was a big explosion.
Ending his embrace a look of concern comes over Lareths face, There are still some guardsmen up in the cave who were hurt in the blast, is there anything you can do for them.
We also found some little baby kobolds that we need to get to Master Nimozaran. A look of delight spreads accross his features while saying this as thoughts of maybe one day in the future having children of his own if he can find the right girl enter his mind.
"Well lets get them and your friends down from there" she nods up to the halfling yelling over the cliff.
"After that you can tell me more about what happened."
"Get so ropes and baskets ready", she calls to the other guardsmen, "Looks like they have cargo to bring down"
Kronag, though tired, pitches in to help get everyone and everything down.
It takes alot of time but finally the injured guards from the cave, the wrymlings, the prisoners and the rest of the group are on the ground.
Some the guards on the ground talk about an infestation, and about putting the "barking rats down before the can spread". Lil'n doesn't seem to have an opinion or ateast isn't sharing it as loudly as the others.
From the medical tent a loud whining can be heard as Sergeant Fluer is awake and demanding better treatment. It doesn't take long for the word about the prisoners and their wrymlings to reach him. The air is filled with obsensities and his repeated order for the death of kobolds. Some the soldiers seem eager to oblige.
Lil'n turn to the group of young adventurers "Lareth said you had to get those wrmlings somewhere. I suggest you grab them and go, now!" She gives a smile to Lareth and the others
"Some people just seem way to happy with spilling blood over the events of today."
Brazimal nods and begins attempting to herd the hatchlings together so she can lead them to Nimozaran's tower.
"Thank you again for the help down."
Draconic
Adrana helps in any way she can, "Bruno you too!" She laughs as one of them crawls on the dog's back.
Lareth starts gathering up the little kobolds while being as gentle as he can and follows Brazimal. He calls back over his shoulder thanks again Lil'n, I'll see ya soon
Kronag, having realized the weight of the other youths' opinion, helps Lareth.
Again the group is tasked with keeping the hatchlings from running loose into the darkened city. After some time the finally approach the jade tower. Brazimal knocks hard on the jade door, and finally a familiar, uninviting face appears
"You again, huh?" the halfling says holdinng back a yawn.
"Why don't ya go home. This isn't the hour for little kids games"
Brazimal pushes past the halfling, shaking her head. "Why don't you just step aside before you set yourself on fire again?" She then turns to the stairs leading up and yells, "Master! I've returned! Ummm.... could you come down here?" She quickly turns around and grabs one of the hatchlings as it runs between her legs.
Draconic:
"Hey! I never lit myself on fire! Oh, wait, you're talking to him. Excuse me." Corrin moves his way up to the door. "Now, from one halfling to another, can you please step aside? Really, all you need to do is just take a quick little step to the right, it would take no effort at all. Please?"
Tobolar grumbles and finally moves to let the others into the jade tower.
"If you're seeking Nimozaran he's in his..." Tobolar stops as he sees the swarm of wyrmlings. "N... no! It's bad enough that YOU are here. Not to mention your filthy friends, but I THE GREAT TOBOLAT draw the lone at these disgusting rat-lizards! Remove them from the great tower or I shall be forced to do so myself"
Brazimal glares at Tobolar as he threatens to remove the hatchlings.
"If you lay one finger on one of these wyrmling's I will personally send you to the eighth layer of hell where you will experience new meanings to the word pain!"
The boastful halfling falls on his butt cowering hoping not to be burnt again...
The party and the wrmling slood into the center of the jade tower. Nimozaran no where to be seen.
If anything the old mage may be in the reasearch laboratory high above.
Brazimal, seeing no sign of her master, rushes up the old stairs to the research lab. Breathing heavily at having to run all the way up she knocks on the door before opening it.
"Master, forgive my intrusion, but I need your help."
Lareth looks around the musty room and finds a convenient seat. He proceeds to lean back and pop his legs up on a nearby table. While relaxing he takes turns bouncing the baby kobolds on his chest, keeping them entertained.
So, Tobolar is it. How do ya go about getting a nice job in a cosy place like this then?
Brazimal knocks of the door but no reply comes. She slowly opens the door, "Master, forgive my intrusion, but I need your help."
There sleeping in a chair is Nimozaran. The old man surronded by a number of old tomes. Hearing the sound of someone entering the room startles the old man and he fall from his resting place"
"BWHA! Tobolar, you fool! How many times..." He places his glasses of his face "Oh Brazimal, my dear, you startled me. I thought you were someone else."
"J... job! This is NOT a job! I am THE GREAT TOBOLAR QUICKFOOT, Successor of Nimozaran the Green, Keeper of the Great Seven-Side Spire, Inhereitor to the great knowledge of the ages, Equal to the none, Lord of the, um, Grey Cloak..." And with that the small halfling began to monologue
Brazimal puts on her best teary eyed face and looks at Nimozaran while sniffling occasionally.
"Master my new friends and I, we were exploring the kobold's lair that was at the bluffs and after we killed some guards we found out there were wyrmlings in the lair and now they have nowhere to go. I couldn't just leave them there to die. I was wondering if you could take them in? Please!"
well, yes, yes Ahhh yawning thats all very interesting, you wouldn't say happen to have any food around here, I'm starving. Looking bored he continues to bounce the kobolds.
Adrana pats Bruno on the head as he lays his droopy face down.
"Huh..." Lareth's question breaks Tobolar from his rambling, "Of course there's food! But none for the likes of you! That infernal abomination may have tricked me into letting you and your rat-lizards in, but the last thing I will do is feed you or those things"
"What? Lair... My dear you must have had a terrible dream. There are no kobold holdings here in town. They live only... Wait did you say wyrmling here in the tower!?"
The old mage sacks off his tiredness and nimbly makes his way downstairs.
"Huh..." Lareth's question breaks Tobolar from his rambling, "Of course there's food! But none for the likes of you! That infernal abomination may have tricked me into letting you and your rat-lizards in, but the last thing I will do is feed you or those things"
Gee, I bet you get all the best bits of food, don't you. Well you can surely see how hungry I am, even my ears have grown long straining to hear the sound of a cooking fire. Why don't you be a pal and help us town heroes to a bit of a feed.
"HA, town heroes!? What could a bunch of runts like yourself ever accomplish to make ya heroes"
Kronag bristles. "Not much -- just kill a bunch of kobolds setting fire in the market, track them to their lair, and rescue a bunch of guardsmen!"
"Pfft, kobolds! Who couldn't kill a bunch of the those rats. I myself could eaily wipe out a whole lair with just wag of my nose! Of course such small minds couldn't ever comprehend the type of power I possess." Tobolar straightens his back, puffs out his choice, and dusts his ratty gray robes.
Moments later an older gentlemen, dressed in green robes, decends the stairs. He straightens his glasses and cawks at the room filled withe yapping wyrmlings.
Lareth sheepishly jumps to his feet, cradling any kobolds he was bouncing, trying to look inconspicuous.
Brazimal moves down the stairs after her master and waits quietly behind him.
"Pfft, kobolds! Who couldn't kill a bunch of the those rats. I myself could eaily wipe out a whole lair with just wag of my nose! Of course such small minds couldn't ever comprehend the type of power I possess." Tobolar straightens his back, puffs out his choice, and dusts his ratty gray robes.
"Gee, too bad you weren't actually there helping, then." Kronag sneers.
He then settles back when the old man enters.