Quarion gets to the tunnel entrance and pulls on the door, but it doesn't open. With kobolds gaining on the party he figures they've probably already been spotted, and it was a higher priority to get the door open as quickly as they could.  He knocks loudly, his hand drifting down to the hilt of his rapier.

Skiaceq and Urokris follow behind Quarion, shortly followed by Valji, as is only fitting for a gnome of his stature. 

After a moment of silence, a grumpy redhaired dwarf opens the door excruciatingly slowly. "Why are you knocking so loud? It was unlocked. You just have to push a little harder."

"Kobolds!" Quarion says, uncharacteristically tersely as he pushes past Escobert. "They've found the tunnel. They'll be here any second; I'm not sure how many, and who knows who's with them.  Please, lock the door behind us!"

Nothing could make Skiaceq happier in this moment than fresh outdoor air. As soon as he stumbles out of the gate, the tension begins to leave his body. He looks behind to ensure everyone is through, then slams the gate shut with a riotous clang. "Quickly!" he adds to Darvin's plea. He peers into the tunnel, but his vision has already begun adjusting to the light.

Perception: 12

Skiaceq peers into the cave, where he can see faint scuttling shapes in the distance. Draconic murmurs can be heard in the distance, probably around the room the party had just been in, and a loud knocking can be heard in the distance, like knuckles rapping on some gigantic, magical door. As Valji comes rushing in, Skiaceq can almost hear the sound of kobolds cursing over something.

It is around this time that Escobert slams the door shut. Glaring at the lot of you, he yells "Well done! You brought them right to us!" Twisting the large iron key in the door,  he locks the door and makes for the main castle. "I must get the guards!"

With that, the four of you are left in the castle basement, at home among the boxes and crates stacked haphazardly around the room.

Valji stares incredulously at the dwarf, and calls after him, "You're welcome, you ungrateful vermin-host!"

He then turns towards the door and prepares to send a magical, mystical wave of colorful lights at whatever comes through. "Come on, you little lizard-dogs...come get a taste of my dazzling power!" the gnome says.

As his heart rate starts to return towards normal and Quarion is able to think a bit more clearly again, he says, "That was close. So much for a secret escape route, I suppose. I imagine we should keep an eye on this door until the guards return, and then perhaps join the archers and the other guards in case that dragon decides to attack?"

Skiaceq can’t help from feeling a pang of responsibility at the dwarf’s accusation, although he knows it isn’t so.

”You two keep watch.” Darting away, Skiaceq quickly searches nearby for chains, manacles, or something that can be used to bind.

(OOC: What skill should that be? He needs at least three sets.)

Looking around the room, Skiaceq finds several heavy crates full of food and supplies, a crate full of wine, and a barrel of ale. Disappointed that he wasn't able to find anything, he leans against one of the crates and is suddenly reminded of something by the feeling of the rope attached to the side of his backpack.

A loud alarm sounds from just on the other side of the door. Urokris places himself in a defensive position beside the door.

The rope might suffice briefly. But to enact his plan, Skiaceq will need something sturdier. “No time,” he grumbles, then turns to the nearest guard. “Bring me three lengths of chain, two meters each at least! Hurry, we can stop this before it begins!”

There’s no chance the guard will return before the kobolds attack, but with luck, he might make it before they break through the gate. Skiaceq returns to his companions. “I’m sorry... I can’t help from this side. Try to create a wall of bodies to block the gate. It will slow them down, at least.” He withdraws the rope from his pack and fashions a lasso.

Persuasion: 2

It'll take a roll to try to convince the guards to take orders from the strange bird person. Can I get a Charisma(Persuasion) roll?

Hearing Skiaceq's words, Urokris sheaths his sword and takes up a position against the door, leaning to put his weight on it should they decide to break though. The solid metal door is almost dwarfed by the black dragonborn's massive frame.

After a moment, the doorknob jiggles. A lock holds it in place... or at least it did until the sound of the alarm is interrupted by a resounding knock. This time, the doorknob turns, and there's a sound of draconic cursing as Urokris barely breaks a sweat holding them back. 

In the distance, the knock is answered by the roar of a dragon.

There is a loud crashing sound against the door. 

As Urokris holds the door, Quarion figures it couldn't hurt to provide a bit of extra weight.  He leans on Urokris to help keep the door shut, as Urokris leans on the door.

The door shakes as it's hit again. (U:24, M:19) and again. (U:26, M:12)

Around this time, you hear a roar again. It shakes you to your very core. "The Red is here!" comes a cry from the wall, and you can hear pandemonium from the courtyard as people rush to the relative safety of the wall and tower.

Urokris' and Quarion's struggle draws Skiaceq's attention to the door, and at that moment he sees the flaw in his plan the flaw in his plan. The chain will accomplish nothing. He scans the room, scrambling to think of something else, then pauses a moment. "That might work..."

He begins throwing the lids off barrels, searching for any fluids that might be flammable. "Get a torch ready!" he squawks to the others.

Figuring this could go on awhile, and he may as well prepare for their eventual penetration, Quarion positions himself behind some ale crates with a direct line of sight into the tunnel for cover, and shouts to Urokris, "If they break through get some distance from the door! I'm going to try to knock them out with a spell, and I don't want you to get caught up in it!"

BlitzKeir

Recognizing Skiaceq's plan to create a fire trap for the intruders, Quarion decides perhaps buying time is the wisest course of action after all, and returns to fetch Urokris's torch to hand off to Skiaceq, then returns to assisting Urokris with the door.

There's another crash against the door, and the feeling of it reverberates through Urokris and Quarion. (U:26, M:20)

Skiaceq moves to another barrel and almost recoils. The pungent odor of refined oil assaults him when he wrenches the lid off. Bracing his thighs and shoulder against the heavy container, he forces it toward the door. "Everyone move! Up the cellar stairs!"

Quarion mouths to Urokris, "Okay, on the count of three we bolt for the stairs. One. Two. THREE".  Quarion heads for the stairs.  The next time the kobolds test the door, it's on.