9 AM: Nighttime passed uneventfully and the cool, humid air of the ventless corridor relaxed the party as they awoke from their uneasy slumber. The ice-coated areas were now melted and damp with moisture. Trail rations were eaten and the formal tactics of their latest plan was introduced.
Aramil paused when he heard about the kobolds task. " Gailwind, one thing to consider; be sure to have a talk with our little companion. If it yells the wrong thing, such as 'it's a trap', it will hurt us considerably." The lorist nodded and went into immediate discussions with Pomeer about his role.

The companions took time to arrange the furniture to suit their defensive positions around the circular chamber. When all were ready and everyone in position, Pomeer let out an ear-piercing scream that echoed around the room quite horribly. Many minutes passed and the kobold was encouraged to continue his wailing until he tired.

10 AM: Before hope started to fade, grumbling was heard from the other side of the door. " It worked!" squeaked Roslyn and she balled herself up behind a broken rocking chair. Teflar waved down the druid's fervor and Gailwind extinguished the group's last torch. All range weapons were pointed at the portal and the dull scrape of something sounded against the wood. The door soon swung open allowing a large humanoid to step through the exitway. It stood over six feet tall, had broad shoulders, and wedge-shaped ears! Red eyes darted around in the darkness as it sniffed the air with derision. Pomeer, immediately intimidated, screeched and ran from the room! The monster bounded a few steps forward and growled something incomprehensible back at his two companions hulking in the doorway.

Aramil tilted forward on his knees and fired a crossbolt that lodged between the lead beast's shoulderblades! The bugbear cringed and roared at the ceiling. Nanith fired a missle that struck a doorway monster right in the belly. The humanoids were now thrown into an all-out battle by the concealed fellowship that surrounded them. The lead bugbear forgot the fleeing kobold, spun around and launched himself at the first person he saw: Oktavianus. The brave cleric stood up and tried to fire off his crossbow point-blank but his weapon jammed! The monstrous bugbear came fast upon the priest swinging its morningstar aloft and landed a sickening, crashing hit upon the dwarf's head. Sunderstone's skull cracked wide open and he collapsed to the ground without a word.

Teflar and Vrai, who held careful aim upon the bugbear's muscular frame, failed to sink telling arrows to slow them down. Three of the beasts had now entered the room and carried with them an unremittant anger.

Aramil's face contorted into a mask of fury as he spied the beast kick the cleric out of the way. " You shall pay. Hell will be thy home this day!" The wizard fired another bolt, but it deflected harmlessly off the bugbear's chainmail. The monster's attention was then drawn to the spellcaster as he crouched behind an endtable in a troubled posture. The beast ran at the magician, but just as it came upon the wizard for a crushing strike, it stumbled clumsily over the furniture! It fell hard to the ground as Teflar emitted an animalistic howl of rage. From the creature's right ear, a deadly ranger arrow protruded.

Nanith fired an errant crossbolt before resorting to his shortshort as a last defense while the two beasts plowed through the furniture after them. Roslyn was unlucky enough to be immediately discovered when the tables were bashed aside and the bugbears began wailing on her with their spiked clubs. Erelis jumped a broken desk and shouted challenges to the monsters from the center of the chamber. " Come over and face me you ugly bastards!" One bugbear turned around with a deep snarl and stepped at the poised psionic.

" Step aside Meadows! You are in my sights!" Vrai pulled his bowstring back to full tilt and commanded loudly " Move!!" Erelis flew to the ground just as an arrow burst from the archer's bow and pierced halfway into the monster's forehead. It dropped to its knees and plopped forward into a bulky heap.