LMoT - Nightal 26, 1491

— Are you late for freaking funeral or something?, Leylon suppresses urge to shout. We're already here and for once - all in one spot! Would it kill you to do things properly and in order? Like sending scouts first and move all forces after?

Seron down in the crevice probably unable to hear the conversation slowly stalks up to the offshoot of the crevice he saw before that this thing was probably using as whatever it would call a home.

I'm never late but the Lords' do establish timelines that I intend to keep. I never once said scouts could not move first, merely that I will not allow disguises or lies or any sort of deception. Besides, we know what is here, we know they bleed, and they don't know we are here. We need to move quicker before they get alerted.

Sparks arrives quickly, walking as fast as being stealthy let's him do.
— Wooohoho, what did I miss? You seem to be in such a hurry that I barely had time to make it to that passage before I was called and I saw you going in.
As he sees Leylin and Mynok arguing over something about scouts and blood, he then tries to calm the situation down.
You (to Mynok) seem in an urge to make a move. Not that I blame you, I too am here to bring justice to the Redbrands. But the door has been kicked down, and then a fight broke out right here with this... Nothic. If someone is able to notice us, they already have : so let's just take a minute to establish a half-decent plan and then we'll be able to act faster. I guess your plan goes beyond running into them and see what happens, so would you mind sharing with use?
If needed, I'll follow the two of you that I met outside and stand 10 to 20 feet before Gu'lorg.

Ryti seems a bit upset he didn't get what he was expecting from the one called Spark. He begins to respond before getting swept up in a flurry of back and forth between the others. He sits down on the dirty floor and covers his ears.

Gu'lorg, noticing the odd halfling, walks up and sits next to him. He pulls out a book of lore from his pack and shows the illustrations given of ancient goblinoid monsters and heroes to Ryti. He is attempting to calm the halfling down a bit, and get his head in the game.

He says to him, with his finger pointing at Ryti You then moves his scissors fingers back and forth across the palm of his other hand walk then points at himself with me.

Gu'lorg points his index finger upwards and draws an imaginary circle with his finger going between Ryti and himself We then he manifests a magical hand that snaps in front of Ryti, then disappears in a poof of smoke use magic.

Seron peaks his head up from the alcove. Everything good up there so far? He says looking back down at the chest kneeling in front of it inspecting it for traps.

The drawing seem to entice the small halfling and within moments the smile once again adorns his face. With a cheerful smile, Ryti replies "My can do that." Then begins scissoring his fingers across his palm. He looks up at the hobgoblin, his eyes wide, his smile wider "You Ryti friend? Ryti like friend. Mama say many friend good but not be sad if no be friend; she say Ryti handful. My not get this when Ryti hand empty." He holds his hands up, still scissor-walking across them. His smile turns into a shocked 'O'*, in which he immediately stops scissor-walking and holds his empty palms up at Gu'lorg, the smile slowly returning. "See, Ryti hand empty."

Spark bends oven the crevice to answer.
— We're ok up here, but it seems like we are going to make a move soon. Do you need some kind of help down there?

Spark then watches Gu'lorg as he appeases Ryti, but still can't wrap his head around the way he functions or communicates. Are they playing, or is it some kind of odd communication? I'd like to join them, but I'm afraid I offended him earlier.

As the map pops in the air, he tells to the others: So how do we proceed? The priorities Mynok enumerated make sense to me, but if I read the map correctly we have to pass near that Glass Staff thing (whatever it is) before we make it to the prisoners. So it would make sense to take care of that first, then free the prisoners, and then bring the Redbrands to justice — be it human or divine. Are you OK with that plan?
Leylin, you told me that you are some kind of scout, so you can walk first as we stand ready to join you. Mynok, the equipment you carry tells me that you and I should be in first line to protect the others from our enemies' blades. And Gu'lorg will protect the little Ryti behind us as they seem to get along. Then, gazing into Mynok's eyes with more vigor than you heard from him so far: I don't know what Lord is yours but here you stand, in an underground cave to fight bandits and free prisoners: that's enough to have me on your side for now. You and I fight for the Good, for Justice. Let us be the wall that stands on their way!

— Right now we're planning where to move from here. Leylin pinches and massages nose bridge. My thoughts were to block possibility of anyone from the eastern barracks to strike at our backs. Either by blocking the passageway or going in and subduing them. I would really like to trap or block the forest entrance just in case. And speaking of prisoners - it's easier to escort them out if all possible threats are removed from the play.

  Leylin sighs and looks towards Seron being busy down there.

— Found something there? Need help?

— Well if we go west from here, the only easy for someone to get to us is though the wood entrance. That crevice and collapsed bridge are an effective enough barrier from the eastern barracks, aren't they? As he says this, Spark points to the crevice in which Seron is still doing whatever he's doing.
If we trap our only exit path and need to get out quickly, or if we free the prisoners but have to hold someone while they flee, the trap will turn against us. Maybe a harmless one, like stretching a rope to make someone fall? The noise would be enough alert us, and I can cut a piece of my own rope to build that in seconds.

  After listening to Spark, Leylin quietly takes a running start and effortlessly jump over the crevice. He gives Spark a look and jumps back.

Gu’lorg puts his hand in Ryti’s empty palm. I am your friend. He smiles, finding solace in the company of this other outsider. He stands up, then says, you come, okay?

— Point made about it not being an effective barrier. I still think that vulgar bandits would think twice before they attempt such a jump, but they could easily put a board or even a table if they don't want to jump.
But I see no easy way to block that path, so maybe it would be simpler to have someone watching our back as we go west?