2. The First Delve

"Yep, I'm game."

Ricard packs up his new rope and gets ready to head out.

Gabbro and Ricard lead the group on their tapping, probing way through the corridors. "My skin crawls when I think of that Ghost Beggar spying on us." the elf says to the fighter as they continue. "Normally when I suspect someone is following me, I'd want to slow them down - say by going through the 'feet statue' room - but today I'm worried that they may have followed us last night, and have already cleaned out our goods. So I'm inclined to go straight to the storage room without trying to shake pursuit, just to find out if the stuff is still there. What do you think?"

"I agree, seems like whoever set that magic upon us did so for a reason... Better to check our stash before anything else."

Hearing no dissent, Gabbro and Ricard lead the group directly back to the storage room without going through any of the portcullises.

Dice rattle in the distance ...

The journey back to the storage room takes two turns, but is uneventful. Much to your relief, you find the stashed provisions exactly as you left them.

Please can someone cross off another torch or lantern oil.

---
Day 4, 10:00 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Luther will light a torch and hand it to Johann'Do you mind carrying this? I would like to keep my mace and shield hands free."

Ricard gives over three torches to Luther.

"Thanks friend, this pack is getting heavy!"

Pickles readies himself to pull/push the supplies back to Kopper.

It’s hard work, but with a shared effort, you drag the litter of goods back towards Kobold Korners.

When you finally make it back to the market, mid-morning, it is still quiet. The only customers are a group of four hobgoblins who are perusing the weapon-smith’s wares.

---
Day 4, 10:30 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

We approach the northern door to return the goods and claim the reward.

Kobold Market
With a bit of care, you manage to steer the litter between the stalls within the rather cramped marketplace. As you approach the northern exit, the bugbear guards gesture for you to wait whilst a kobold child (the same one you encountered the previous evening) is dispatched to find Trustee Sniv.

After a short wait, Sniv emerges from his quarters, fez and monocle intact. At first, he seems delighted at the return of his goods, but as he inspects the litter more closely, his upbeat mood fades. "Is that all there is?" he enquires rather abruptly. "According to our ledgers, the goblin order was much bigger than this. Where’s the rest of it?"

---
Day 4, 10:30 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Pickles smile drops as well as Sniv addresses them. "Hey, hey! Mr Sniv, we never said this was all of it. We recovered this lot from the hall in which we lost our friend, we thought it best to return this before adventuring off after those dirty Goblins. There are many in the dungeons who are not as honest, and would have run off with it and stored it for their own use. We are about to sally fourth to hunt down the fore-mentioned Goblins and their Demon Hounds. So seeing as we have delivered, what about half of the goods, why not give us half the agreed amount, or we could just sell it ourselves and make much more. As my good Ol’ Uncle used to say, ‘A ration pack in the hand, is better than two in someone else’s pack."

Kobold Market
Sniv considers Pickles’ offer for a moment, and then shrugs. "Half seems fair," he harrumphs.

The Trustee waddles away, to return a couple of minutes later with a small sackcloth pouch containing 100 copper pieces.

"Do spend it all at once," he suggests only half-jokingly, gesturing at the market stalls, clearly keen to get it back in his coffers as soon as possible.

---
Day 4, 10:30 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

"Well thank you, that is fair Mr Sniv. Now we shall seek our revenge, and hopefully more of your goods." Pickles says as he let’s Ricard deal with the money exchange.

"Off we go to get those goblins and your stuff!" Gabbro gives a cheery wave as they leave. Then, as an aside to the others: "So now we're going to check in with the Open Sores, and try to get a spellbook?" Of all their faction interactions, this one makes Gabbro the most nervous, as they have the least to offer. "What's our play? We tell them what the GBs are asking us to do and hope it's worth something?"

Ricard doles out the copper to the rest of the party and rejoins his companions. To Gabbro, he offers a heavy sigh.

"I suppose that is as good a plan as any when it comes to the orcs, honestly I would rather get back to exploring this place but it does bode well to have our gnome friend flush with magic once more "

Luther will nod"Agreed, every little bit helps."