Timbra half-smiled and replied " Why should we care? We and he are both safer where the bugger is right now. Perhaps he won't draw trouble if he's kept in check."

Roslyn twisted her lips at the caution exhibited by the former prisoner.
" Timbra, what's your story? Why did they lock you up like that?"

The gnome rubbed his body instinctively as if there were invisible bars squeezing him tight. " My tale is of one who expected to leave his village and seek the life of piety, dear miss. I was traveling to a place called Gazerafty where an elder of mine resides." The gnome coughed and tinkered with an old screw jutting out of a table leg. " I had expected to enjoy a few days within the Nalmiar forest, but I was ambushed by these awful goblins. It seems these woods are not safe as they used to be and I am lucky to be alive."

Roslyn nuzzled her back iagainst the wall " I wonder at this whole dragon business. How did the goblins manage to steal it?" Timbra plucked the screw out from the grain. " My guess is that this place is a thoroughfare for cults. The goblins may be using their theft of the kobold's treasure to break their spirits. My own opinion though."

Roslyn's eyes closed slowly; lack of sleep was slowly catching up with her. " Timbra, have you any rope? Pomeer won't hurt anyone." The druidess reintroduced the rescue issue which was bothering her.

The gnome regarded her with a strange eye. His head jittered uncomfortably.
" I haven't gotten anything, forest guide. I'm lucky to have my own life available and that is a struggle ongoing still."

The hobbit rose carefully and slowly walked through the western door to stand before the traphole. Looking down, she barely caught the slinky shape of the kobold as it rested in the far corner of the pit. She couldn't help but feel pity for this creature. Grabbing her short quarterstaff, she tapped it against the catwalk in an effort to arouse the little humanoid within. It took countless minutes, but finally, Pomeer realized the levity of the situation; he'd stay down there forever if it didn't receive the druidess's charity. He scampered up the stick quite well and seemed even to obey the priest as she led him back into the circular room.

With a gentle smile, she asked " Timbra, you wouldn't know how to speak his language, would you?" The gnome crawled out from behind his jungle of protective wood and stammered.
" Now, now, go easy with him miss. We won't wanting him attacking us or bringing them others back here." He gestured her over and said quietly
" I think we ought to watch ourselves. I am in no condition to fight effectively." He glanced over at the kobold standing there calmly. " I know how to speak to him, but what should I say?"