IndyPendant's Sunless Citadel

((Hrm. It seems I've forgotten to describe the exits from the room you're all currently in. There are five doors, all shut, and one hallway that lead from this rather large room. In the northeast corner is an east-facing door. Near--but not right at--the southeast corner is another east-facing door; this is the door you all came through. At the southwest corner there are two doors; a south-facing door and a west-facing one. In the northwest corner a large room 'pushes' into the room you're in, causing your room to have a sort of ';-|' shape, with the break in the semicolon being the hallway, leading west. Accross from the northeast door is another door, that apparently opens west into whatever room is warping the shape of yours. Phew. Hope that's clear...))

Meepo tells some of the story in its broken common, but nowhere near all of it. Snuffling and whimpering every other word, it describes a raid the goblins made about a week ago, coming from "that way"--it points to the northeast door of this large room. During this raid, a great many goblins were killed, and a few "noble kobold bounders" as well. The kobolds were happy with the new goblin bodies, because they have been running a little low on meat just lately, but they burned their comrades' corpses in a great ritualistic bonfire about five days ago.

The most important, utterly heartbreaking (for it) tragedy though, is the fact that the goblins managed in the confusion of the fight to capture and flee with the "Great Wyrm" Calcryx, who was kept in the now-rent cage. In the course of the story, you learn that Meepo, as Keeper of the Dragon, apparently had great status within this strange kobold community. Though he won't come close to admitting it, by reading between the lines you can see that with the Dragon gone, Meepo's status has plummeted to zilch.

He insists he doesn't know anything about any other humans, but that Yusdrayl the Wise "sees all, knows all", and would be able to help you with your quest--for a price. That price, apparently, being rescuing Calcryx. He is eager and insistant that you all meet Yusdrayl, repeatedly pledging safe passage so long as you "make nice"--sending the occasional petulant glare at Kuma as he says this.

Lehko notices that the bench beside Meepo, draped in the green cloth, looks almost like some sort of altar. There are vials of green dye, a crude paintbrush, and four more small jade figurines, similar to the one he found in the fire, but much cleaner. Ydyr studies the cage in the middle of the south wall, noting that the gaping hole in it is almost perfectly sized for Terrek, looking as if something had battered its way out of the cage...

Besides the bonfire remains, bench, Meepo, and damaged cage, there is nothing else of interest that you can see in this room.
 

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"Meepo, how many kobolds are in your tribe? And I am a little unclear on some detail here. Describe this dragon, how big was it, is it green like the jade? How did your tribe come to be a caretaker to a dragon? What happened with the cage? It looks like something burst from the inside out."
 

I think we should allow Meeps here to collect the stuff from his altar and bring it along. I don't want to leave it here unguarded, and yet, from a trust standpoint, I don't think we should just grab it and take it.

Ydyr is still puzzling why it looks as though something came OUT of the cage, as opposed to going in.
 

Kuma eyes the jade with interest from where he squats near Meepo. He's released the kobold from his grip midway through the interrogation, but is clearly ready to grab the creature again at a moment's notice. He scowls at Ydyr's idea.

"The valuables in this room are ours by right of plunder," he protests. "What do you mean give them to the kobold?"
 

With Lehko now in the room, Jerek closes the door quietly behind them and approaches Kuma. Under his breath he says, "These things are a small price to pay if they can lead us to our actual quarry, and the reward that goes with it. Especially if we can do so without needless fighting." He casts a baleful look around the room. "I'm sure there will be plenty of chances to wet our blades before this is done. Let's not burden ourselves fighting all the vermin in the place."
 

Kuma, look. These things are obviously held in high regard by this kobold. And for better or for ill, as we will find out eventually, he is offering to help us along in this unfamiliar place. To allow him his trinkets now might provide him with a good outlook on us, maybe even enough to keep us out of any kobold-ian trouble. And, plus, honestly Kuma, do you doubt that you couldn't subdue Meepo and take those trinkets at any time you choose?
[[Diplomacy]]

Ydyr explains slowly and carefully, taking care to show respect towards the kobold and his items while speaking.
 

Lehko sighs impatiently, and uncrosses his arms. "We waste time with this talk. If our targets are in the 'care' of the goblins, then we must hurry. Take us to Yusdrayl, now," He glances at Kuma, "No harm will come to you, IF you play fair with us." To illustrate his point, he reveals the dragon figurine found in the pit and places it next to the others on the alter.
 

Kuma grunts, and waves off the comments.

"Faugh, so be it. They will betray us in the end, and I will be ready. For now, I will follow."
 

Meepo eagerly scampers away, saying "You make nice, we get dragon, you get Yusdrayl!" It leads you down the western hallway, which you can see bends to the north and opens up into a huge hall, in which you can see standing a few large pillars.

You don't get to enter the hall quite yet though, as you see a pair of kobolds--these ones dressed for combat--passing by there just as you all reach the bend. Meepo rushes towards them, screeching in his lizardlike language, and they stop and turn to face you, spears at the ready.
 

Jerek slides so his back is to the hall corridor, ready to shoot around his friends if need be. He does not point his bow at the kobolds, however.

"Now we'll see what our new ally is worth," he murmurs to nobody in particular.
 

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