The druidess looked sternly at the kobolds " I hate to sound so hard-hearted, but mayhaps it's best if we leave them here until we come back this way. Roaming around doesn't sound safe to them or for us." The little halfling hung her head, with a disgusted look, obviously horrified at her own practicality.

" I agree with Roslyn." said Vrai. " Let us have some compassion for ourselves as well. These wretched creatures are no good to us in the trials ahead. At best, they would get themselves killed, for they're in no condition to fight. At worst, they would get us killed, and sacrificing my own life for a kobold, even a hundred, is far beyond the limits of my altruism."

Nanith listened on to the array of opinions in disbelief. " We can�t just leave them here. We�ve already freed one of the prisoners and if their captors come back finding the gnome missing, the others would surely be killed."

Oktavianus chortled " And your point is.....what?!"

Nanith avoided the cleric's stare " They may be small like me, but I�m sure they�ll fight like demons for their freedom. We�re not even sure of how many we are up against. Maybe this way we can be a stronger force to reckon with."

Vrai paused for a moment eyeing Pomeer. " Or..." he touched his index finger to his lips in thought. " ...perhaps we send them back with him. It's not a far journey back to their queen. The only obstacle is the rats, and if they should make a meal of them, it's no loss to us. Either way, they're out of our hair." He eyed Nanith with a serious air " And don't be foolish. Perhaps these kobolds would fight for their lives, but they've barely any life left with which to fight. Mark my words, they will bring trouble."

Aramil contested the rogue as well. " Kobolds are evil and I do not trust them. Do what you will, but we must go forward. I don't relish the idea of having them with us."

Teflar glanced up at the bound kobolds from his kneeling position beside the cage. His hand made a curt, dismissive wave. " They shall have to endure their prison a while longer." The ranger stopped and looked at the excited beast tethered to his belt. " I still feel that we will need this Keeper of Dragons before the end and I'm reluctant to send him blundering about causing trouble with these others while we forge ahead. Should we get out of here with our own skins, then we may consider releasing them to their queen." The ranger looked down at the gnome laid out beside him. " I think a more important question may be how do we help our friend here. Timbra does not appear to be in much condition to travel, much less dive deeper into this goblin den."

Timbra rolled over to his stomach " Don't mind me, fair lads. I'll be okay in a mere moment. I just have enough divine power to rejuvenate myself for a half-days effort." He slowly got to his knees with Roslyn's help and then the yapping of the kobolds began again.

Nanith asked the lorist " Gailwind, could you maybe query the kobolds as to why they were captured and if they know how many creatures we might be facing?" The rogue scratched his chin. " Maybe you could also ask Pomeer how he knows them?"

While the fellowship came to a conclusive decision that the kobolds would remain here until the party's return, the lorist interrogated the beasts in their own tongue. Minutes later, he gave his synopsis " It seems they were all a part of one unit that guarded the white dragon before it was stolen. Pomeer was away from the area at the time when the other three were surprised and overmatched by the goblins. Those you see in the other room, killed by our graceful hands, were the culprits. However, the dragon was passed deeper into the citadel while they were held here as hostages for ransom. There are others and they are strong in number."

Erelis levied with the light weight of his sickle arced at the door " Then we shall find them now and end this dungeon crawl. I must feel the breeze on my skin again."

The dwarf tugged his thick, shaggy beard " Strength or no strength I am ready to do battle. Let's move!"