Missing Caravan

[Mardak Trannyth]

"These fuckers' heads are harder to cut off then a horses balls!" He sets the sharp knife away and drops the corpse at his feet.  Mardak sniffs, then watches them run to a door.  "What the hell is going on now!?"

[Betimi]

Seeing that Mardak had been preoccupied with his  strange, grisly task, Betimi whispers back

"Ready yourself, Jonath thought he could hear the prisoners on the far side of this door,  or something crying anyway.  If it is them we can get them to safety."  

As she turns back towards the door after glancing at Tomreal and Nacesh to see if they were ready, she seems to pause momentarily.
Yes I know there is nothing edible on those corpses, I am not sure why he is collecting trophies when the other people seem appalled.. nevermind...

[Mardak Trannyth]

"Alright alright...If'n Toenail got over here and helped me cut heads; with that stick from his ass; We'd be makin' headway!  BUT NOOooo, the jerk jus' has to keep remindin' me of what happened earlier.  I say stop yappenin' and start happenin' "

[Betimi]

"Mardak  quit wasting time!  As Sir Tomreal has informed you there is no bounty on kobold ears in Cantus, you are more like to gains enemies  than wealth. Get yourself set for whatever is like to come through that portal when Jonath unbars it."

She is obviously annoyed at the madman's obliviousness to his surroundings.

"Act like the warrior you claim to be and aid your allies and those that we have sworn to rescue, rather than endanger them!"

She turns back toward the door, and seeing that Selina, and Jonath seem ready, and trusting Tomreal is ready without having to look, rereadies her crystal.

"Sir Jonath, we are ready when you are."

[Mardak Trannyth]

Mardak mutters some things...

Slinging his shield into position and prepared to 'draw' his sword at the first sign of danger.

[Jonath]

Seeing his companions are ready, Jonath nods and begins to remove the bar from the door as quietly as he can. With it gone, he quickly whips open the door, keeping himself to one side just in case something dangerous is near at hand.

[OOC: Initiative roll, just in case its necessary:
Init:[1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13]

[Nacesh]

"Careful, the wail may be another trap-- or worse." Nacesh warns the gnome as he readies and loads his crossbow.

[GM Marvel]

"Alright alright...If'n Toenail got over here and helped me cut heads; with that stick from his ass;  We'd be makin' headway!  BUT NOOooo, the jerk jus' has to keep remindin' me of what happened earlier.  I say stop yappenin' and start happenin' "

Tomeal ignores Mardak's juvenile comments.  Noting to himself that the man's tongue is always sharper toward him than it is to anyone else who mentions the incident, which was curious.  He had even given Mardak opportunities to redeem himself by carrying Betimi's equipment that was once being carted by her mule companion which she sacrificed for him.  But instead the Hexblade ignored her burden.  Then when Tomeal offered his shoulder for her equipment Mardak shook his head as if he was being an idiot for helping her.  It seems he cannot win with the Hexblade so he vows to now stop trying.

"Actually Mardak, I wasn't speaking to you.  I was addressing the people who would have remembered when the Kobold's were having their conversation.  You know, when you were near death from being tossed around like a mewling kitten.  So instead of flapping your gums, or acting out to get attention from the pretty ladies, why don't you listen for once.  You might learn something."  With that Tomeal returns to his conversation with the other adults.

When Jonath says he hears something from behind the door and the group decides to look inside, Tomeal takes a position near the front to absorb any incoming attacks that could severely injure the squishier party members.  He owed them his life so even if he dies in this place he will still have lived a day longer then he would have, for which he will be eternally greatful.

[Tomeal is going fully defensive.]

The warrior nods to Jonath that he's ready.

The gnome stealthily moves the board which is threaded through the door's handles.  Then when everyone is ready he throws the doors open and jumps out harms way.  Inside you all see a roughly 20'x20' room with four beds lining the opposite two walls.  There's a small table and a couple of chairs that are overturned as well a crude tapestry which depicts open jaws with large teeth painted in blood red.  It appears to have been defaced and now hangs in tatters.  On each of the beds you see seven people tied up.  Everyone appears either dead or unconscious except for one child who screams through her gag while tears stream down her dirty cheeks.

[Betimi]

Her eyes on the wailing child,Betimi steps to the threshold of the doorway and leans in, looking quickly left and right to make sure there are no waiting ambushers.

Satisfied she moves aside as she enters the room, fully expecting one of the others to rush directly to the child. She starts checking the people on the leftmost (easternmost) wall of beds to see if they are alive or dead.

[If any are alive she immediately unbinds them and will try to gently rouse them and offer water]

[Mardak Trannyth]

"Well I'll be...The high and mighty has finally spoken!  I'm surprised you're still a knight with all of those oaths broken.  Protect the innocent?  Here's your innocents that you were supposed to protect, take a look inside.  They be alll dead save for one.  Go repent yourself somewhere will ya.  Dunderheads, the lot of ya!" 

Mardak continues watching for a trap to happen because he knows it's going to happen.