2. The First Delve

Guided by Gabbro, you return to Kobold Korners by the southernmost route. Your passage is uneventful and, 20 minutes later, you arrive back at the now deserted marketplace. Well, not quite deserted. As you pick your way between the empty market stalls towards the Kopper Kettle, you hear a small voice call out nervously: "Err … sorry … the Trustee would like to see you".

You turn to see a kobold child peering at you from around the corner of one of the stalls.

---
Day 4, 01:00 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7, 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 ...

"The Trustee you say? Sounds like an important bloke." Luther will smile at the young Kobold

Pickles turns to the young-looking Kobold giving a friendly smile and wave. "No need to apologise. Where would this Trustee like to meet us?"

The young kobold returns Luther's and Pickles’ smiles, albeit shyly, and points towards the northern exit from the market. She then turns and runs, as fast as she can, towards that exit. Upon reaching it, she pauses to talk to the two spear-wielding bugbears that stand guard. They stand aside to let her through and she continues north, out of your sight.

---
Day 4, 01:00 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7, 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 I guess we should go see the Trustee then." Luther will head off.

"I'll bet money it's about the supplies" says Ricard as he follows along.

As soon as the young Kobold heads off Pickles is skipping after her, big smile on his face and not even looking if the others are following.

You follow the kobold girl towards the market’s northern exit. As you approach the bugbear guards, they stand aside to let you through. Beyond, a corridor heads north for 20’ before opening into a storage area. The room, which is lit by torches in sconces, is crammed with stacks of barrels, boxes and bales. A group of agitated-looking kobolds stand amidst the goods. They are centred around a particularly corpulent kobold wearing a tattered fur coat, a red fez and a monocle.

Upon your arrival, the kobolds turn, and several start pointing and nodding in your direction. The larger kobold brushes the others out of his way and waddles towards you. "Ah, so here we have the witnesses to the goblins’ blatant thievery. Is it true what I hear? That my people were ambushed and our goods stolen?"

Mapping information: rectangular room, 40’ x 30’. You enter through the southern wall, 10’ from the eastern wall. There are two further visible exits: a door in the middle of the eastern wall, and a passage in the middle of the western wall.

---
Day 4, 01:00 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7, 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 skips after the young Kobold but as he arrives at the warehouse door his shoulders suddenly drop, as well as his expression. He enters a saddened Halfling . . .

Gabbro nods to the big, elegant kobold. "Yes, that is correct."

Pickles approaches the Kobold that spoke and in front of Gabbro, "I do not know what your noble Kobolds told you sir, but let me elaborate upon what occurred in that dark corner of the dungeon." Pickles looks up into the eyes of the portly Kobold, sadness sitting upon him like a wet facecloth, a single tear glistening in the dancing touch light.

"There was a chill in the dungeon which put a shiver down one’s back, a feeling of unexplained dread scratching at the back of the mind, as we turned the corner to find your team working diligently to deliver your goods. Recognising them as members of the Korner we had lowered our weapons and called out our approach, hoping to engage in some trade of mutual advantage." Pickles takes a breath as to steady himself before continuing.

"It was then that all hell broke loose as our assailants emerged from a secret passageway. Armed to the teeth and with blood on their minds, they stormed forth firing arrows and bolts discriminatively, as their beady red eyes glowed and they chuckled with malevolence. Your team attempted to fight back, but they are no warriors, and were overwhelmed. Seeing the intent was not one of friendship our brave and justice band engaged the rabid foe, allowing the bewildered Kobolds to tactically withdraw." Pickles allowed another tear roll across his cheek, and a shudder breath escape his lips.

"The engagement that followed was ferocious and unyielding, many foes fell to our weapons but more come from that tunnel to hell. Demon Wolves, unnaturally large goblins, and magic welders. When the smoke cleared we had been forced back, dragging one of our own as we did. A dear friend who shall not feel a cool breeze upon her face, nor the tend hand of a child within hers. She shall not grow old."

Ricard removes his helm at the mention of the fallen comrade and bows his head solemnly.

Trade Goods Storage
Sniv, for that is the Trustee’s name, stands enraptured by Pickles’ sorry tale. The other kobods nod along, particularly when Pickles recounts their attempts to "fight back" and their subsequent "tactical" withdrawal. Sniv even follows Ricard’s lead and removes his fez at the tale of Jessica’s fall. At the story’s conclusion, Sniv removes his monocle and wipes an eye.

"THIS WILL NOT DO!" he shouts angrily, causing the other kobolds to shrink back from their leader. "Justice must be served. Nobody steals from Trustee Sniv, nobody! Those goods were mine. And now they’re in the hands of those filthy, thieving goblins. The question is, what to do? WHAT to do?"

He pauses for a moment, deep in thought, before raising a finger and declaring: "I know - a reward! A bounty! A generous fee for the safe return of my goods and for teaching those goblins a lesson. But mostly for the return of my goods. Yes, that will do the trick. I’ll get to work on some notices right away."

That you lost a comrade clearly secondary to the loss of his goods, he turns and starts to head towards the western exit from the storage room.

---
Day 4, 01:10 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7, 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 ...

Ricard stops Sniv as he is leaving with a word,

"Sir, if I may, we have a vendetta against the little green scum for the death of our friend, might you hold off on posting that bounty until we've had a day to try and track them down? We could recover the goods for that bounty AND get our revenge. How much would you offer?"

Luther nods "Yes we would surely like to avenge our fallen comrade."

Trade Goods Storage
Trustee Sniv pauses at Ricard’s suggestion. He looks a little disappointed that he won’t get to make and post his notices, but eventually he shrugs and accedes to the request. "Sure, why not? 100 coins seems fair. Do what you like with the goblins. Just get my goods back."

---
Day 4, 01:10 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7, 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 ...

"Gold coins..." clarifies Ricard,

"It will be death for the goblins..."

Pickles maintains his sad look, but those whom have been traveling with him will see the glint of joy in his eyes.