Kari moves quietly down the walkway and into the nearest tunnel. She follows it for a short time, to just get a sense of where it might lead. It opens up into a dark cave with numerous small side crevices that look like they largely dead end. Lurking in the dusty tunnel are two dozen kobolds. One of them carries a threadbare satchel and wears a fake pair of dragon wings made of thin wood and tattered white cloth. He sits, on a raised stone, flipping through the pages of a book, reading. The other kobolds all lay about looking dreadfully bored. Some pick their noses, others lay on the floor staring at the ceiling. One has a small termalaine gem embedded in some stone and is rolling it about. Another has a hammer which he is using to bang on either side of another kobolds tail, the other kobold unaware. They don't seem to notice Kari. 

 Kari quietly exits and has a huge grin on her face as she walks up to the others. She motions for them to come close and whispers just loud enough to be heard over the waterfall. There are a lot more kobold in there, pointing to the tunnel she just came from, maybe something like two squads. One is dressed up with wings and looking at a book, the others are just relaxing. We can take them by surprise!

Looking at a book!? Badger whispers incredulously. Kobolds can't read! Perhaps it is the same one that wrote the sign. I confess I am curious...

He pauses to think for a moment and then says: They are only kobolds. I'm sure we can destroy them with ease. But I'd like to talk to this book-reading kobold rather than simply attacking. Or at least attempt to read his thoughts...

Talk, oh. I thought you want to do something like... she props her glaive against her shoulder, then stucks out her arms and waves/wiggles them up and down, brings her fists in to her chest, opens and shoves them forward while she makes a whooshing sound, then wiggles her fingers and makes what you can only assume is supposed to be some kind of fire noises? But if you want to talk, I suppose I could run in and try to grab him. Maybe Kurik would want to come with? But then all the others will try stabbing me, that wouldn't be fun. She appears to be stumped on what to do next.

Badger raises one bushy eyebrow at Kari's gestures, and stares at her flatly. Be careful, he drones sarcastically, you might turn me into a toad.

In response to the uncertainty of the plan, Badger suggests: I'll charm the book-reading kobold. The rest of you can keep the other ones away. Kill them if necessary, but I'm curious why they are here, so try not to. Perhaps they aren't the usual marauding monsters we expected.

If the group agree to the plan, Badger will cast Hold Monster on the winged kobold as soon as he can see it, using his Portent roll of 4 for the kobold's saving throw. They can then deal with the rest of the mob without worrying about a spellcaster or whatever else the boss might be.

 Kari wiggles one hand toward Badger with a mischievous smile, then turns more serious. So, body guard duty. The tunnel would be best for that  are you up for blocking a tunnel, Kurik? Perhaps we should leave the torch with you, Mal. If Kurik and I are in front we should keep the others away from you Badger, just let me know how close you need to be. Kari takes a moment to reverse the glaive in her grasp, intending to use the staff part for non-lethal damage for the moment.

With Kari and Kurik in the lead, and Badger behind them, you advance down the dark cave with your light shining brightly.  The kobolds clearly see the light approaching as it pushes back the wall of darkness in the cave ahead, as there are scrabbling sounds and draconic mutters of "What's that?"  "A light." "Ooooo, light, helpful moron."  "I wonder who is making it!"  "Or what! Could be a what!"  "Like..a lantern is probably making it. Not a person."  "Could be a glowing person you don't know."  "YOU don't know dum dum!"  A heavy sigh punctuates the conversation. 

As Badger rounds a corner he sees the winged one. He already knows the creature will fail to resist his magic. Smug and ready he unleashes his spell.  25

The creature continues to move!!  However, aside from moving its head a bit and waving at the other kobolds to shut up, it doesn't seem to cast any spells.  

In very clear common, though with a strange accent, the fake-winged kobold looks to the advancing tall folk who are bristling with weapons and casting spells, and says in a flawless common, though with a bit of a strange accent, "Welcome to my mine!"  He seems to consider this and chuckles and says under his breath to himself as if trying it out, "My mine. My mind. Mine mine."  Smirking to himself he returns his glance to the group, and awaits a response.

Kurik stands with his flaming blade and points it at the kobold standing in and resisting Badger's spell.  Deciding that such resistance bodes dangerously, Kurik raises his blade and cuts the air with three quick slashes.  Each of the three slashes followed from his blade to the kobold.  

Casting Eldritch blast

Attack: 23 Damage: 14

Attack: 21 Damage: 14

Attack: 19 Damage: 11

The echo of the sword slashes streak across the room striking the kobold one after another in quick succession!  The kobold is thrown backwards and slams against the wall, bones broken, wings shattering into broken bits that fly apart. The broken dead kobold flops to the ground, leaking coppery blood. 

The rest of the kobolds gape.....frozen by the shock of the violent death.... then their heads all slowly swing towards the group.  Chaos ensues!   They begin screaming and running everywhere, trying to flee, though they're trapped in this cave and so attempts to charge past the group. 

(Roll initiative.) 

Init 1: 18

Init 2: 22

If you go before either of these numbers, you can take an action.

Kurik initiative 19

Kurik stands firm in front of them and in a deep booming voice yells out, "SIT DOWN! And you will survive this."

Intimidation 17

Badger Initiative: 21

Angrily, Badger yells at Kurik: You were supposed to... ugh, just like your father!

Badger is hoping to salvage something of the situation before the bloodthirsty dunderheads slaughter everything, and has a rough plan in mind to make use of these pathetic kobolds. Rubbing his crystal ball, he calls out to the kobold horde: Your new master, a powerful green dragon, is coming to take charge of you and this place. Go to the entrance of the mine and wait there until it arrives.

Casting Mass Suggestion on the nearest twelve kobolds.

Initiative: 19

Kari stands there, confused now. She holds her action and waits to attack only something attacks her first.

Half the kobolds wilt under Kurik's yelling and shrink back against the wall in fear, sitting on the ground hastily. Another bunch of them meanwhile yell, "Our new leader awaits us!!!" and rushes past the group heading away down the hallway (AoO's against any if you wish as they rush past you.). The last few seem totally unsure of what to do and hide in some small dead-end hallways. 

Everyone feels a faint prickle at the back of their necks as if sensing some otherworldly presence...a too cold breeze in the still air, a faint smell of something rotten. 

Kurik, make an Charisma saving throw. 

Watch me fail...

Charisma saving throw: 15

Kurik feels some ....presence.... it seems to surround him, like a fog, seeping inside him...pushing at his perception, trying to push him into darkness.  He growls, and shrugs it off pushing the thing away, shaking his head as the presence is repelled.

Kurik's armor rumbles as a presence tries to overtake him.  Worm projects his displeasure at such an act.  Kurik however shakes his head and spits out, "Spooks."  He looks at the others.  "There's a damn ghost or demon or such trying to take over."

Undead! growls Badger. That would explain how it resisted my magic. Echoing Kurik's call for caution, Badger calls out to the others: The winged kobold must have been possessed. Be wary lest it try to possess you too. Then quietly he adds to himself: Here's one gnome it won't possess so easily. I have the wits of a hawk and the guile of a fox...

Kari is concerned. She keeps her head on a swivel, looking briefly at everyone including the kobold. She grips her Glaive and looks ready in case of an attack.

As the fleeing kobolds patter out and down the passage away, the others, cowed, stay sitting or hiding back in caves. One of the kobolds suddenly stands up. It seems to stand taller....and...straighter than before. It has a calm expression on its face. It speaks in strangely accented common, "You are surprisingly stubborn for one so quick to violence. Shall you kill another?"  He holds out his hands, offering his body, seemingly talking to Kurik. 

Kurik stares at the newly posted kobold.  Then at the dead kobold.  "Says the spirit that possesses other.  If I must I will.  Be easier if you stated your unfinished business and then bugger off this plane."