Pleased with the haul of treasure Gyp put the necklace and sixty seven gold coins in his backpack then danced a little jig. When he had completed his frivolities he went to examine the chest. Before he looked the lock he took the time to search around it for any attachments or wires, Gyp was wary that it might be a trap.

Leozaren ties up and gags the remaining female, more to shut her up than anything. Then he searches the bodies for a key to the chest.

Falco nods as Leozaren takes the remaining kobold captive. He looks on as the jester investigates the chest. He keeps an eye on the fool who holds all their captured gold in his pack.

Simon keeps an eye out to the rear, watching to make sure nothing comes up behind them.
As he does, he speaks to the Kobold in its native tongue, "Female. You haves name? Tells me. Keeps any pets here? Lizards? Snakes? Drakes?"

Gyp examines the chest carefully.  It is not large and was originally well-built, but has seen many seasons and is not in the best of shape.  He does not see any sign of a trap on it.

The female looks at Simon suspiciously.  "Kyr, man-food.  That is what I am called," she says, and there is a glimmer of hope mixed with the heavy suspicion.  "We have big wyrm, great big pet!  You not strong enough for it!" she says rising her arms up in a curious gesture.  There is no effect from the gesture, of course.

After the captive answers him, Simon steps near her and squats down to be closer to her eye level. Although the kobold might not recognize it, his tone is inquisitive rather than demanding when he speaks to her. He replies back, "Kyr. I understands. Your bigs wyrm is strong. Where do you keeps it?"

No sign of a trap Gyp remained cautious but hopeful. The fool stepped backwards and used his javelin as a lever to open the chest at arm’s length.

"What is she saying?" asks Faldal, made a bit uncomfortable by the tone the femal kobold is using.

Gyp pries open the small chest and it comes apart spilling a collection of mixed coins: silver, copper, electrum and gold.

Kyr meanwhile looks at Faldal and then at the spilled coins before turning her attention back to Simon.  "In her own room, near the tribe," she says cagily, wringing her hands together.  "Let me go, you can go, no wyrm come.  You are strong warriors, go kill hobgoblins, they are nasty," she adds, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

After the kobold answers, Simon turns his head to look at Faldal. He says to the acolyte, as well as the others in the party, "The kobold is named Kyr. She says they have a big beast as a pet. She implies it is a dragon and says the beast is too strong for us to defeat. She says the beast is in its own room near the tribe. This may mean there are more kobolds as well. She urges us to leave while we still can. She suggests we go kill the hobgoblins instead as they are most foul creatures."

Once the coins were revealed Gyp leapt into the air and spun a cartwheel with glee. His jovialities complete he began to stuff as many of the coins as he could into his backpack. Their adventure was feeling successful and Gyp said as much “perhaps we should return to the fort now we are laden with treasure.”

OOC Gyp has space for 253 more coins in his backpack. Can he fit in all the coins from the chest?

Faldal winces when he hears Simon. "Does she know how many creatures there are in these caves?"

Falco patiently listens as Simon translates the words of the kobold captive. After Gyp makes his suggestion, he replies "Hmmmm. It does seems wise to return while we have our lives and some gold in our purses." He looks at the other members of their party and asks, "Does anyone disagree to returning to the Keep now, Hmmmm?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Sun 09 Jan 2022.

Simon says to Faldal, "She may exaggerate their numbers to encourage us to leave, but I shall ask." He turns his attention back to the captive kobold and says, "Kyr. My companions. They wants to know how many mores of your kind are in this little cave? How manies hobgoblins do you believe are ins the hobgoblin cave and which cave ares the hobgoblins in? I finds you to be interesting, yes, I would prefers not to hurts you. If you gives us good informations about the other caves, perhaps we can sets you free and leave for those caves, but be honest--my companions. They dislike liars and may kills you if they thinks you lie."

Kyr looks at Simon with narrowed eyes, then nods slowly.  "Not many left, of us," she says grimly.  "Hobgoblins, other side, above goblins; I don't know how many.  Orcs too, and bugbears, in caves.  Strong enough to kill kobold, you are.  The rest?" she asks, and there is some bitterness in her tone.

Although Leozaren felt a little sorry for the kobold, he figured rather her than him. Left to her own devices she probably had little hope, but again, not really his problem. With humanoids it tended to be kill-or-be-killed.

"Perhaps it is time to return to the Keep. We have fared well, and there seems to be no shortage of foes if we linger."

Simon asks the captive kobold, "Kobolds. Goblins. Hobgoblins. More. Kyr. Why so many kinds live heres...so closes together? What kobolds uses gold coins for? What you dos if wes let yous go free?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:49, Mon 10 Jan 2022.

Faldal nods at the suggestions to leave the caves for now, while still eagerly waiting to know what Kyr had to say.

"I gos free, I gos back to clan," Kyr says.  She looks at Simon quizzically.  "You ask a lot of dumb questions.  'What kobolds use coins for', what anyone use coins for?!" she says not quite mocking his tone.  There is almost a growing hysteria in the creature, as though a lack of patience is battling within against self-preservation.  "These caves are good caves, much room, room for all if hobgoblins not try and rule," she says finally answering his last question.

Simon replies to Kyr, "I finds it unlikely you can just goes into a human town and spends gold coins to buys things." He stands back up to his full height.

He looks at the party members and says, "She says only a few Kobolds remain. Goblins and Hobgoblins on the other side with the Hobgoblins above the Goblins. She says there are also Orcs and Bugbears in the caves. She says she will go back to her clan if we free her. I believe that is all the useful information we will acquire from her. I say we free her and head back to the keep."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:11, Fri 14 Jan 2022.

”Well done Simon” Gyp gave a clap of his applause to the wizard “let the little one go and we should be leaving too” the fool agreed.

"Right. If we have to confront goblins and hobgoblins, we might as well come back well prepared!" agrees Faldal.

"Agreed on all counts, let us depart."

Leozaren is ready to be on his way.

Falco says, "Then we all agree. Simon, untie the Kobold and let us fall back." He points his spear towards the Kobold and narrows his eyes at her just incase she does something aggressive. He adds, "Keep your guard up, friends, as we exit the caves. Let us survive the trip back to the Keep to enjoy our spoils."

The party leaves the cave of the kobold chief with the treasure piled into the chest  Kyr seems eager to lead the way, but stays where directed by Simon.  After a turn of careful movement you reach the intersection where the guards first fired arrows at you.  Jori and Reea seem to have departed, there is no sign of them or of any struggle.  Ahead is a chamber Kyr refers to as "refuse."

Turning right you reach another intersection.  To you left (West) is the direction you came and the cave entrance.  To the East Kyr turns to go, hesitating before rushing off into the darkness.  From that point to the pit trap and cave entrance there is no further obstacle.

You exit the cave in the late afternoon.  If you take the road you can be half way to the keep by nightfall.

*** Move back to the Keep on the Borderlands thread ***