" Hold your positions." Ninnipin warned " There might be traps hiding about just waiting to catch the unwary adventurer."

Aramil spoke with frustration as he monitored the impulsions of Pomeer.
" Can't we muzzle it?" Teflar walked over and clobbered the little guy instinctively. The kobold dropped to the ground with a squeal and started crying.

Nanith said with a tinge of displeasure " Just try and silence that little beast. I don�t need any distractions while I work."

The party allowed the rogue to walk around the three kobolds tied to the groundspike by crude ropes. They were half out of it; barely conscious and their heads hung to their sides while sitting back to back. On the other side of the 20'w x 25'l room, a small, rusted iron cage stood upright upon the floor holding something within. Squalor reigned in this low dungeon and several sets of corroded manacles jutted from the walls on either side. Most were empty except for the occasional crumbling skeleton beneath.

After a few minutes of assessment, Ninnipin mentioned that no traps were present. Teflar asked Gailwind what the kobold had been shouting before he was sharply reprimanded.

" He seems to know these three." assured the lorist.

The ranger retethered Pomeer to his belt. " Vrai, maybe you should keep a watch at the door so we don't get trapped in here. We need to finish exploring this area without worrying about our backs." The archer agreed and turned his attention to the smell of death in the other room.

Roslyn piped in " I'd like to take a look at that cage and figure out what is in it!"

Aramil, Roslyn, Nanith, and Teflar formed their own posse and moved cautiously toward the end of the room. As they got closer, they noticed an overstuffed battered creature languishing behind rusted bars that were practically crushing its body within its miniscule capacity.
" A gnome!" whispered the druidess.