Somewhat relieved that there was nothing dangerous lurking around, Hex rejoin the group and shrugs. "Nothing interesting. Just another cliffside. We could climb down but I don't think it'd be a good idea since we'd just be walking right into Jeralla's camp." She gestures towards the other path. "Shall we continue?" 

If everyone is ready to go, Hex continues to lead the party down the passageway.

"Yes," Hildigrim said, giving a short nod. "Let's check out all of our options."

Auriel nods as well and follows the rest, wondering how they'll find Jeralla's camp now that Sharrak has escaped—and most likely warned the other kobolds.

OOC: Need to access the character sheets for my next post and D&D Beyond is currently having issues. Once I can access them (and have time) I'll get the next post up.

OOC: Sorry, I know it's a short post to have to wait for, but I needed certain scores from your character sheets and finally can access them.

A ghastly animal stench fills your nostrils from further ahead. Along the way, you note another side passage that looks to steeply twist and descend.

Hildigrim sniffs purposefully, trying to identify the smell based on experience and books he's read.

Hex scrunches up her nose as the stench fills the air. "Urgh... what is that smell?" She pauses once more for the party to rejoin her as they reach another split path. "Another choice," she comments, peering down the twisting passageway with a curious look. "I think this one might lead to Jeralla's camp, since it goes downhill. That smell though... it comes from the other path. Should we check it out first?"

"Could be where the owlbear is?" Auriel whispers. He listens carefully for any sounds coming from that path, trying to discern how many creatures might be there—if any—and whether they're awake. Then he gives Hex a nod.

Auriel hears a scratching of claw on stone, a snarl, and an occasional clanking of a chain from further ahead, while Hildigrim can't place the smell to anything he has experienced before.

Carl stops dead in his tracks, he sees Auriel tense up in the dark and his sense of smell already has him concerned.  He doesn't say a word, but he has Squirt gently tap Auriel on the shoulder, if he turns, he sees Carl hold his arms up in an X configuration and shake his head.  

"There's something in chains up ahead," Auriel whispers as he relays what he's heard to the others. "Do we ignore this passage, as Carl suggests? Or do you want to take a peek, Hex?"

Hex thinks for a moment, tapping her chin. "In chains? Then it might actually be the owlbear like you suspected. Carl's probably right about avoiding the path but I'm curious... I might be able to talk to it? Get some useful info or convince it to be an ally? I don't know if owlbears are considered animals by the spell's standard though..." She's mostly muttering to herself before letting out a sigh and making her way towards the second path that leads downwards. "No, as much as I want to check it out, let's avoid the path for now."

"Fine by me," Auriel replies. "Let's take the other path, then. I just hope there's somewhere to hide once we're outside, before Jeralla's kobolds spot us."

Hildigrim squints in the darkened interior of the cave as the others discuss the two options. As he doesn't see a clear path himself, he lets the others decide.

As Hex moves on, he follows mutely.

The tunnel descends steeply and deposits you into the rear of a misshapen cavern, where a campfire crackles in its center. Four bedraggled humans, a half-elf, and a pair of dwarves are tied nearby, sprawled over a pile of stinking furs. Wicker cages containing oversized centipedes and cockroaches are stacked against the back wall near a leather sack.

To the south, a slanting cave mouth curls outside.

You have interrupted some sort of strange shadow play - the shape of a clawed hand arcs across the back wall of the cavern from the flickering firelight, and a shrieking kobold voice is recounting the legend of Kurtulmak when the firelight reveals your entrance. Another shriek announces your arrival, and the five kobolds around the cavern cease their odd entertainment, drawing daggers and slings.

In the blink of an eye, two of the speedy little reptilian creatures are jabbing their daggers at Auriel and Hex, doing just enough to be a distraction for the stones that follow quickly from the kobolds further away. The creatures are accurate with their slings, reloading more stones as their first volley rebounds off of Auriel's and Hex's skull.

Round 1 Order:
Kobolds
Players <=====

Placement:
All combatants are within movement range.

Health:
Auriel is lightly wounded.
Hex is lightly wounded.

Carl moves his hand forward and a burst of energy shoots out to hit one of the kobolds, almost reflexively.  He then backs up and crouches down, hiding at the opening to the cave mouth, hoping to make himself a smaller target.  

Eldritch blast : 14 to hit, for 4 points of force damage to a kobold.

Auriel barely has time to register the seven captives before stones begin to rain down and a kobold's dagger bites hard into his side. There's clearly no room for negotiation. He shifts into a ready stance and swings his halberd down at the nearest kobold. There is no anger, no fear—only the quiet determination to free these people from Jeralla's claws.

Halberd attack. To hit: 25 / Damage: 11

The kobolds jump onto Hex before she even has a chance to react to everything going on in the cavern. She takes the risk of being stabbed at and moves to get more space between her and their assailants. Pulling out her longbow, she takes a shot at the kobold Auriel attacks. If he manages to kill it before she can make her attack then she'll turn her attention to the kobold Carl attacks instead.

Movement: 30ft away from the kobolds

Action: Longbow Attack - 13  Damage - 6   Colossus Slayer - 5 

Hildigrim immediately goes on alert as his party members begin reacting to being pelted with rocks. He moves forward behind Auriel, attempting to hide behind the imposing elf, though he has not yet been able to stop shivering.

Bonus action: hide (stealth at disadvantage): 8

After taking a breath, he steps out and fires an arrow at the furthest foe that he might have been hidden from.

Action: 20; damage: 8 piercing — if at advantage: action: 9 — sneak attack if applicable: 7

Carl's blast chars the chest of the kobold in front of Auriel, and the paladin's halberd nearly cleaves it in two, seizing upon the provided opening. Hildigrim and Hex answer the volley of stones with missiles of their own, and Hildigrim's arrow meets the skull of one of the sling-wielding kobolds, felling it instantly.

As if frenzied, the reptilian humanoids swarm Auriel like a pack of rabid hyenas. Though diminutive, the creatures show their danger in a pack; while the first darts about the Eladrin's legs, a second grabs ahold of his arm, kicking off of his armor and biting its dagger into his neck and shoulder. One kobold remains afar, accurately launching another stone that smashes Auriel's nose, dazing him and eliciting a gasp from some of the gathered prisoners.

Round 2 Order:
Kobolds
Players <=====

Placement:
One kobold are engaged in melee combat with Auriel.
One kobold is engaged in melee combat with both Auriel and Hex.
A third kobold is within movement range of all combatants.

Health:
Auriel is severely wounded.
Hex is lightly wounded.