As Ioseph finishes speaking, the gnome suddenly appears between Arianna and Saranna, his hands held high in a gesture of cessation.
"I believe the man of light is correct," he says.
"Killing this creature would serve no purpose." Turning to address the bleeding mite, the gnome speaks to it in a series of variously-pitched squeals. As he finishes, the mite scowls at the gnome; it's clear that he's found whatever the gnome had to say displeasing, but after a moment's hesitation, he scurries between the gnome and Saranna, making a point to avoid Arianna, and hurries off down the cave as fast as he can. The gnome turns to the others.
"I've told him to return to his masters and tell them that their ambush has failed; the problems this will bring them will serve us far more than his death ever could have. Come, let us continue; my home is only a short ways up ahead." He turns as if to lead the group out of the caves, but then stops. Turning back to address the quartet, he adds,
"I must apologize for my hasty disappearance - I am not a fighter, even when faced with a most hated enemy. Besides," he adds with a smile,
"I wanted to see what I was paying for." With that, the gnome turns his back to the group and begins leading them out of the cave.
[sblock=OOC]I liked how HM stepped in like that, so I figured I'd run with it.
Encounter rewards: 600 XP (150 each) and you find 105 gp worth of equipment (darts and daggers - I assume no one wants to keep any of it, though if you do, let me know and I'll give some specifics) and gold pieces.[/sblock]