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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3342841" data-attributes="member: 11760">Tucker forces his way through the brush on the north side of the clearing He's about to head for the entrance when a loud cough draws his attention to one side. Renraw has his hand clamped over the Katadid's mouth, although the younger wizard is mumbling a greeting through the older wizard's fingers."Emmerson, up!" Tucker barks. "Kobolds are coming!"Hazel rises smoothly to her feet."How far back are they? Did they see you? Have you no sense at all?" Hazel keeps her voice to a low hiss, in the hopes that the kobolds are far enough back not to hear it.She shakes her head and points at the gap Tucker's made in the brush."If we're lucky, they'll think it's some dumb buck crashing about. Hurry up and hide, or we'll never hear what they're after."She gestures at Emmerson to stay down."Be ready to spring if you must, but at least let's see what they're doing here. We'll likely learn more if they speak freely amongst themselves than we will if you and Tucker go rushing in with weapons." She smiles slightly. "We can save that for a backup plan."As Tucker piles into the group's hiding place, Hazel steps out, a branch in her hand, clearing away the deputy's tracks before returning to hiding. Back inside, she crouches down in front of Kat and sets a light hand on his shoulder. She speaks softly in a tone she might use with her little brother."You wanted some excitement, eh? If Tucker's kobolds show up, listen careful to anything they say, all right? We might need to know their exact words if they're the ones we've been waiting for." She tilts her head, considering; normally she'd offer her brother a prize of some sort for helping out. "We'll see about making sure the barrow's safe so you can explore a bit yourself later, yeah?"As Hazel finishes speaking, she hears a soft cough and looks up. Six kobolds, wearing wide-brimmed hats and black goggles, as well as being bundled up to avoid the snow, stand in a semicircle around the group, having just now quietly stepped out of the brush. Five of them bear loaded crossbows aimed at the adventurers. They seem especially unhappy to see Bufer.The sixth, wearing a necklace with a stylized five-headed dragon around her neck, gestures at the group with her large -- and apparently very sharp -- pick.Her voice sounds a little bit like a dog's bark as she speaks."You surrender, yes."It's not really a question.Emmerson leaves his sword on the ground. He crosses his arms and speaks at the kobold-in-charge."We mean you and your party no harm." He nods at his companions. "We're looking for a man named Tiberius, whom is supposed to be here this day. You can go about your business in the barrow, if you like."Renraw stands and speaks to the kobolds in fluent Draconic."Illustrious brethren," he begins gratefully, "Many thanks for your timely arrival. There's no telling what this band of gnome-sympathizing ne'er-do-wells was just about to coerce this simple young man and me into doing." He looks at Katadid sadly. "Something we would have deeply regretted, no doubt."You see," he gestures, explaining, "Some days past, these and several other disreputable types attempted to loot this barrow of its contents, with me as their unwilling guide and magical expertise. Inside, I am sorry to report, we found three of your number deceased. They carried what they could from this place and now force us to return, to what foul end I do not know. What I do know is that I simply wished to leave your friends' resting place in peace."I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, but please allow the two of us passage from here," he pleads. "With these others you may do what you wish."Hazel narrows her eyes, irritated at having wasted the entire morning in a stakeout only to be surprised by a haughty group of apple bandits. She keeps her hands far from her weapons, though, unwilling to give the kobolds a reason to shoot. She listens, uncomprehending, to Renraw's lengthy speech, with a growing sense of unease. Surely "I surrender" wouldn't take so long to say. When he finally comes to a halt, Hazel addresses the kobold leader."To whom would we be surrendering?"One of the kobolds holding crossbows on the groups licks his lips. All the kobolds seem to have coated their scales with some sort of oil, which glistens in the midday light."Are they too stupid to understand 'surrender?'""They die now or when the Queen arrives, either way ..." another interjects."Shut up, you idiots! I'm in charge!" the kobold with the pick shrieks before rounding on Hazel, tiny form shaking with fury. "You surrender now! No more questions, corpse-robbers!""Listen to me!" Renraw shouts in Draconic. "Truly, these here ARE too stupid to understand and comply. They're thoughtless brutes, defilers, and they have no respect for your traditions. The boy here and I, on the other hand, we'll do exactly as you wish as long as we're allowed to go free. The only fault of ours in this heinousness was being too physically weak to say no to them!"Renraw's wild eyes dart back and forth, insane with worry."We'll tell your Queen whatever she needs to know! We'll put our magic to her service! We'll do whatever it takes so that you let us live! We're innocents, the boy and I! Spare us, and kill the others for their crimes!"Renraw turns to the group and yells at them angrily."Get down on the ground! What are you waiting for? They're going to kill you! There's more on the way and if you don't do what they say I shudder to think what they'll do to you."</blockquote>

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