The carnage in the little alcove of a cave was disheartening. I look around at the bodies of my exploration party and the bloodied corpses of the cave’s denizens wondering how I had lived. I crouch very still listening for more of them- swearing the heartbeat in my ears would give me away. I listen intently for that telltale hiss that sounded from raspy throats of phlegm and venom. Nothing but silence.

We had picked our way deeply into the kobold lair with much care and precision, following this mysterious map I had discovered on the body of a foe days before. It had led us on an arduous journey across much of the central wilds of Thestra, through a field of particularly nasty spiders, and into the lands of the Dwarves. My impromptu party was upbeat honing our skills along the way while liberating the undesirables of valuables. That was until the map led into this very hillside, tucked out of the way in a hidden vale in the mountains.

The kobolds were a bit more organized and better trained than those in other parts of the continent. They had certainly tested our skills, but we managed to push forward anyway, weaving through the maze of tunnels and passageways pausing only to glance at the map’s directions. What it led to, I do not know, but by the maps quality and the way its previous owner tried to defend it, it must have some value.

When approaching this alcove, we realized right away that the four of us were outnumbered. One particularly strong looking lizard was surrounded by several others. I looked to my companions to see how they wanted to proceed. The warrior grinned, his chest heaving. The cleric began to bless us while the shaman chanted wards upon us. I knew then, that this little band of strangers was just the kind of adventurers I’d make a note of for future expeditions… provided we walked away from this one.

I drew my two newly crafted blades I had picked up from a craftsman in Tursh. They had been working surprisingly well, and were perhaps the greatest weapons I had owned. Fast and deadly- Just the way I like them. The warrior followed suit, unsheathing his enormous two handed blade. I snuck out into the opening and slipped behind the larger of the kobolds. After a nod from the warrior I plunged them into the beasts back.

He turned on me, as did the others and the warrior leapt out, cutting into the larger kobold viciously until he dropped to the ground. We turned our attentions to the others working in a syncopation we had built amongst us. The shaman and cleric stepped in and out the fray, backing out only to heal our wounds. It was quickly moving along and only two more stood before us.

Then the cleric yelled out. Shortly thereafter, the shaman shrieked. Both had been ambushed by two other kobolds who had skulked into the room while our attentions were focused elsewhere. The cleric fell… a kobold fell… the shaman went down. The warrior and I fought intently, calling forth every ounce of skill we had acquired against the three remaining lizards. The warrior kept their ire focused on him, leaving me with ample time to jab at the beasts’ backs. We managed to dispatch two more before the warrior ultimately met his fate. I stood toe to toe with the final kobold, both of us bloodied. My vision fading, my body aching I mustered up one more strategic strike knowing very much that it would be my last if it failed… and the kobold went down.

And that’s where I stand, crouched in the shadows. I must remove the bodies of my fallen friends. They can’t be left in this dank nook of Telon for eternity. I eye the pile of rubble protecting my unknown treasure. I hobble over to it with my pack already overflowing with sellable loot from our crawl through the underground. I shove the stones out of the way to find… hard packed dirt. Cursing to myself (and already exhausted) I rummage through my packs for the shovel I had picked up from a merchant in Tursh.

Blast it! I left it in the bank with another set of gear! Of all the luck!

After a much discouraged sigh, I turn to my valiantly fallen friends and grab the cleric by the ankles, turning to pad through the shadows of the cave to find daylight. The hissing echoing off of the cavern walls has begun again and I know that other kobolds have wandered back in. I hope my stretch of bad luck has ended for the night and I can get my friends out with all of my limbs intact. I still need to go back in for the shaman and the warrior.

I’m going to pay another visit these kobolds real soon.