(Still traveling a bit but we are settled so I should be checking in at least once a day.)

The troll doesn't resist, it doesn't flinch or cry out. It simply dies in a pool of green blood and flesh.

Triäsa leans in toward the north door. You hear a rhythmic, light

*clink* *clink* *clink* 

It's hard to tell much more unless you were to open the door. To the south Daventry opens the door just slightly and thankfully very quietly. You see a large room with multiple bunks, chests and weapons in racks. It appears to be some sort of barracks. All of the way across the room you see another large set of double doors. There a few serpentfolk in the room but you are not entirely sure the number, but it is definitely more than 1. 

Seeing Daventry open the door to the south, Triäsa moves away from the north door, slowly moving back towards the others. With the door open, and already having heard that others are behind that door, she remains quiet.  If possible, she will try to get a look through the now small gap in the door.  (Perception: 5)

Daventry silently closes the door, and looks if it can be blocked - is there a lock, or a bar, or anything?

"There's serpentfolk barracks that way. Another set of doors past, but it's a fight if we go there."

She looks to Triasa.

"What about the other way? I'd guess... if there's barracks next door, and... food... here, then you're lookin' at a kitchen."

"I can hear a *clink* *clink* *clink* sound from the other door," Triäsa says. "Not sure what it is - I'd guess something is there." She tries to place the sound to see if she has an idea of what it might be. (INT Check: 6, not sure if maybe some skill might apply?) 

Ludolf waits for Daventry to decide which way to try next, listening for sounds of approaching enemies.
Perception: 9

Triäsa you are not sure what the sound is some sort of metal on metal is about all you can tell.

Ludolf -- all is quiet nothing is moving in your direction.

Quote from Viper15E >>

Daventry silently closes the door, and looks if it can be blocked - is there a lock, or a bar, or anything?

"There's serpentfolk barracks that way. Another set of doors past, but it's a fight if we go there."

She looks to Triasa.

"What about the other way? I'd guess... if there's barracks next door, and... food... here, then you're lookin' at a kitchen."

 Didn't answer your question here. There is no way to lock the door from this side but there are alot of shelves and materials you could use to barricade it if you wish. Might be noisy.

Daventry will sneak a peek into what she suspects is a kitchen, continuing her methodical process though silently wishing she still had her mage hand. 

Stealth: 10 (20 with PWT)

Perception: 17

Daventry's instincts are correct as this messy room appears to be a kitchen. A halfling with bright red hair and giant bushy sideburns is miserably stirring a great cauldron of boiling meat chunks, and the smells wafting from it, while unpleasant, are not wholly nauseating. The halfling cook is chained by his ankle to an iron ring in the floor, giving him a limited run of the kitchen. He does not notice you. 

There are no other doors or exits from this room. 

The sound Triäsa heard is the halfling repeatedly cutting large chucks of meat on a hard iron table.

Daventry quietly motions Cathbad over, pointing at the halfling. "One of yours?" She whispers. 

Cathbad leans in a looks through the crack with you and sighs, "Thats Shorty. He's our cook." He looks back toward Gunnar but it's too late. The big man smiles widely and nearly yells, "Shorty! You're alive!" Without pause Gunnar launches himself into the room and grabs the halfling around the waist picking him up off the ground. Unfortunately in his haste he forgot Shorty was chained to the floor and nearly rips the cook's leg off in his excitement. 

"Ah, my friend what have they done to you. Let's get you out of this chain right away." He drops the halfling to the ground. Gunnar grabs his axe and prepares to smash the chain in a very loud assault. 

I'll give you a moment before he continues his assault on Shorty's bindings.

Triäsa quickly moves over to the halfling. "Wait! I want to get Shorty free, but let's be quieter about it." She looks about the area. "There must be a key or some way to get him out of this thing."  She starts to look about to see how the halfling might be released. (Investigation: 21)

Pardot also quickly steps in towards the other halfling, smiling as they are put back on the ground. He says, “Perhaps I can help… though I hadn’t spent as much time with these as I would have liked…” and pulls out a set of Thieves’ Tools that he’d slowly been training with.

I remember saying I wanted to learn this a lot while back, but never really did much with it… so here is a dex roll (with guidance) and no proficiency: 18

Daventry also tosses the key from the prison guards to Pardot. "Try that, too." She looks at Gunnar. "We will get him out, but let's hold off on hitting metal with metal like a dinner bell yeah?" 

Gunnar sets Shorty down, looks him seriously in the face, "Don't worry Shorty, we are busting out of here. That Gehir is gonna pay for all of this. I got a brand new axe and it's good at head chopping." You all start fiddling with the lock on his restraints as Gunnar keeps talking to the halfling, "What's wrong buddy? You are awfully quiet." At this point Shorty looks up at his big buddy and opens his mouth. There is an obvious lack of a tongue with blood caked around his mouth and dried on his lips. 

This does not sit well with Gunnar, "No! Shorty those monsters. I'll kill every single one of them." He looks at the south door with rage and hate in his eyes, leaps to his feet and starts charging to the barracks where he knows the vile lizard people are.

Shorty's restraints pop free with Pardot's lockpicks just as the big man leaps to his feet and starts running past you all toward the barracks. You have a just a moment to react.

Dandelion sighs, "This man is going to be the death of us."

Maxx predicatbly agrees, "Death will come no matter how we proceed it might as well be behind Gunnar's Rage."

(Gunnar is in a rage at the horrors inflicted on Shorty, his best friend in the whole world. He has advantage on any attack against lizardfolk but every attack against him has advantage as well. Basically, forced Reckless attack until otherwise noted. Gunnar should have been a barbarian not a paladin... I will send a note to the authors.)

As he realizes what has been done to the poor halfling, Ludolf does nothing to stop mighty Gunnar, following suit to exact a wrathful vengeance on these vile lizards.
Cathbad gives Shorty a compassionate look before quickly following the raging paladin.

Looking to Shorty, Pardot says in Halfling, "Though I'm not able yet, if we make it out of here you can come back with us and eventually I may be able to help you with that... For now though we should likely try to calm down the big guy..." He then gestures for Shorty to join him as they follow the others.

"F*ck." Daventry sprints after Gunnar, pulling a dagger from her bandolier readied to throw at the first lizardfolk, knowing enough of Gunnar that he can't be stopped.

Triäsa pauses just a moment to speak with Shorty. "Are you up for a fight? Not sure what weapons might have been yours, but nobody would object if you just wait here."  Then with that she hurries after the others. 

With a crash Gunnar plows through the door more than he actually opens it. Four very startled lizardfolk quickly draw their weapons and turn to face the bull of man that just appeared with rage in his eyes. Shorty nods at all of your kind words, picks up his cleaver from the table and joins you all in your approach to the barracks. The lizardfolk yell something in the strange tongue none of you have ever heard before. 

Initiative:

• Lizardfolk 1 24 
• Lizardfolk 2 17
• Lizardfolk 3 16
• Lizardfolk 4 19
• Daventry and Gunnar 8
• Ludolf and Cathbad 7
• Pardot and Shorty 21
• Triäsa 17 and Maxx 23
• Dandelion 9

Map -- Positions are approximate if you would rather be somewhere else let me know within reason it should be OK.