Teemto was shaken, but was determined. �Must have put the em-PHA-sis on the wrong sil-LA-bull,� was his only excuse. Despite the fact that Teemto could probably not have cast a spell to free himself from a paper bag, he did understand the relative import of having a few kobold in the group. He convinced Killian to toss down the spears they were using, and even convinced Shenya that it would be better if they were at least untied so that they could fight. Shenya agreed to untie two of them, but said of the one that remained bound, �this one is mine.� Obviously she had different thoughts.

Once again, the party ventured forth farther into the mine. No one bothered to pay any attention to the two kobolds that remained untied, and once they saw the opening to the tunnel that led out of the room, they looked at each other, turned tail, and ran. Shenya tried to chase after them, but Teemto insisted, �let them go. They cant be much use to us now anyway.� Shenya agreed.

The stench leading into the hallway was overpowering, and the temperature was also significantly higher than in any other place in the mines. Again, Shenya kept the party behind to check out the area up ahead. Only this time, she tripped. Three times. Muffled laughter was the only sound that could be heard upon her return, and despite her complete loss of all dignity, Shenya did manage to figure out that there weren�t any more traps. The group proceeded onward, and Shenya picked up the bound kobold and held him under her arm.

Suddenly, with a yelp of pain, Teemto reached down and touched his pocket again. It was the gem, once again letting off a faint burning sensation. At this point, he had realized the importance of the gem, or at the very least what it did, and whispered to himself, �undead.� Arris heard him, as did Killian, and they braced for more vile creatures of filth and disease. They were not disappointed.