" Nanith, you inpected that cage then?" prodded the archer " What did you found that disturbs you so?"

The rogue stepped into the center of the circled team and regarded the kobold with incrimidating eyes. " That cage was twisted in a way that doesn't denote normal escape. Droppings were left, but I see nothing else to indicate how long a whelp would have been there." He glanced up at the green dye slashed along the gray stones and grinned " The writing is on the wall {pause for theatrical effect} ....yet it is too difficult to ascertain what we are up against here. Kobolds should never be trusted!" He looked over at Gailwind " By the way, what does that writing say?"

The lorist's orange eyes sparkled against the torch he held aloft.
" Here There Be Dragons. The seed of our universe."

" Lead on Promere." commanded the ranger and they watched the humanoid walk straight for the western hall. Pomeer was a lot calmer than before and seemed to thrive in the presense of its foreign company. The thin passageway fit only two abreast and seemed to extend infinitely westward. After ten yards, a side hallway broke north and the fellowship turned in that direction because the kobold tugged at its leash. Twenty yards north they walked and, all the while, Aramil fretted about his lack of magical efficiency.

The first room they entered was a cavernous hall. Deterioration and decay thrived here as it did everywhere in the facility. A double row of relief-carved marble columns marched the length of a 20' wide hall. The worn carvings within the supports depicted entwining serpentine reptiles. " Dragons indeed." whispered Erelis with musement.

Nanith�s jaw hung slack at the carvings " Beautiful... yet so dangerous." The crossbow by his side was forgotten momentarily while his captivation clearly increased. " I just don't get it." he murmered " How could one lonely kobold be in charge of the 'seed of their universe'?"

Suddenly, the kobold started yapping alerting the party! Teflar jerked at the leash yanking the kobold backwards to him " Gailwind! What is it doing?!"

Before the lorist could respond, three kobolds, dressed in guard attire, approached quickly west from out behind the columns!

Teflar held Pomeer tight against him with a raised sword across its neck in warning against anything foolish. The company drew their weapons in front while the three kobolds stopped short upon reaching them.

" We come as friends!" shouted Vrai; his bow half-cocked in back of the party " Go on elfsage, tell them to escort us to their king."

The kobolds obviously knew they were outgunned so no move was made to try and disarm the invaders. Once realizing that Gailwind was fluent in their language, they exchanged conversation that was quick and squeaky.

" They realize that we are here to gain information and not to take them over." assured the lorist " I think they want to bring us to their leader now." With this realized {the level of tension never easing}, the ranger released his grip on the dragon keeper. Pomeer didn't revolt against this hard treatment; it was almost as if he accepted his position as the pawn captive. The heroes were told to wait a few minutes while one of them bounded away to announce their presense.

" There�s still something not right about this whole thing." the rogue frowned through narrowed eyelids. " These kobolds are too relaxed with our presence." He took a step closer to the dwarf " Almost as if they were expecting us."
The cleric responded rather passively " I bet the reports are in on our pillar incident."

11:30 AM ~ Six more korbashlavids appeared from behind the supports, but they never posed a threatening disposition.
" I guess it�s too late to turn back now." Nanith fretted. They led the party west 30 yards past rows and rows of carved columns until they reached the far end of the hallway. A short throne stood against the western wall, constructed of fallen bits of masonry stacked against an old altar. A small, horned figure in red-dyed robes sat in a highbacked, dragon-carved throne chair with six similar creatures around it. A wide-open dragon maw hung down from above as if poised to gobble up the lonely humanoid that served as high commander beneath it. Upon the altar's counter contained a variety of small items: a tiny wooden box, three scroll cases, and a small flask.

" Let's take this nice and easy. " spoke the druidess with her typical cautious demeanor. " Let's not provoke any further trouble."