"It would seem the one that fled has returned." Mathias says gesturing toward the sneaking kobold.  

Waving the creature over he says, not knowing if the kobold can understand him or not, "Come on. There is no more fighting here, only talk."

Arista’s brow furrows. She shifts her weight, bracing the quarter-staff across her knees, and fixes the winged kobold with a level stare. “So the lizardfolk hold the keep above and chase after a dragon’s favor,” she rumbles, voice low but clear. “Below, you say there are humans and elves—‘weird and scary.’ Are they allies to the lizardfolk, or something the lizards fear as well? Tell me what those tunnel-dwellers actually do down there, and how many of each folk you saw.”

'Weird and scary' humans and elves living underground...? The elves could be Drow, Kaelen supposes, but he doesn't know of any such human subspecies...

"And please describe what is so strange about them," he adds, book at the ready.

The kobold returning calls out in draconic, "Is it safe, Arglen?"

Arglen, the winged kobold, responds in draconic, "Yes, use human words, be friendly."

She turns to you and says, in common, "They let the dragonfolk, (that's us and the lizardfolk) stay in the main keep as long as they keep the place free from others and we do not interfere with their 'rituals'. They talk funny, more funny than humans usually do. They have lots of tattoos, and wear robes in dark ugly colors. I've only seen a half dozen of them, most when they took poor Jorrik for one of their 'rituals'. There are probably 2 dozen lizardfolk and a dozen kobolds left."

Arista listens without flinching, then rests the butt of her frost-veined staff on the ground and addresses Arglen in slow, plain Common: “Before the lizardfolk took the keep, where did your folk make their dens? Caves? Marshland? Somewhere they could return to?”

She pauses just long enough for the kobold to think before adding, voice steady but firm: “Know this: more soldiers are marching up the road behind us. They aim to claim those walls, and they’ll spare no one still inside when they arrive. Help us steer your kin someplace safer, and blood needn’t be spilled.” (Deception: 10) She lets the warning hang, then gestures toward the trail with her chin. “Guide us to the keep and we’ll see they have that chance.” 

"We were living in caves to the southeast on the edge of the forest. We were kicked out by a goblin tribe that seemed way bigger than us. The cave the three of us are living in now isn't big enough for the rest of the kobolds. We wouldn't want to live with them anyway, after they sided with Chief Cracktooth against us." she says.

"We can lead you to the keep, I'm good at wayfinding, and they don't have any other urds with them. We'll guide you, but we will not be able to negotiate with our kin, they have exiled us. In return, we want food that keeps, enough for the three of us for a few days,[[6 days of rations]] a shovel, and a hammer."

Arista glances around the circle of firelight, voice low and direct. “I think, six days’ rations, a shovel, and a hammer are cheap payment for a guide who can shave hours off our approach and point out obstacles between here and the gate. When we reach the castle, we can still decide whether it is easier to root out the lizard folk or strike a deal with them to remove the goblins from their original home. What do you all say?”

"I agree," Kaelen states simply, preoccupied trying to recall if he has heard of any similar cultures to the humans and elves the kobold described. Rituals, tattoos, an unfamiliar language...

History: 12

Asariel looks in the cart and brings out a shovel (1 remaining), and 6 rations (44 remaining on the cart). "We don't seem to have a hammer on the cart. And I don't have one either. Does anyone else?" 

Arista unhooks the light hammer from her belt, flips it head-first into her palm, and passes it to Asariel (removed a Light Hammer). “Add that to their packet,” she says, then fixes Arglen with a level stare. “Guide us true and you’ll have what you asked for. Try to mislead us, and I’ll come back for my hammer—right through your skull. Clear?”

(Intimidation: 11 if needed)

Arglen replies in common, then repeats in draconic, "I just want to be clear, We are not negotiating with our former clan, we are leading you to the keep, then leaving. Also, the lizardfolk were not with us in our former home, we met them while trying to cross the pass. I have no idea where they came from."

"We'll handle any negotiating," Brekka says with a confident puff of his chest. The way his hand went to the hilt of his sword suggested his preferred tactic.

"You just get us there in one piece."

Asariel adds (not hiding this from the kobolds, just not directly to them) "Don't forget, we have not been asked to enter the keep yet. We just need to be shown the best way there and then we can return, and see based on the information we have if they would like us to start diplomacy or not."

He then turns to the kobolds "What is your opinion on living in a town? If you help us, I would be willing to put in a good recommendation of you three to the Townmaster and see if we can find somewhere for you to work so you can buy your own food."

"No thanks, we have a small cave and we like being free. We will figure out how to house future generations if it comes to that."

As a peace offering, as it was he that had harmed the two kobolds earlier, Mathias approaches the party's new guides. "My apologies for earlier.  I know it's not much, but these berries will fill your bellies for now so that we do not have to dip into the reserves of what you will be taking with you when we part ways."

[[Mathias had 5 berries in reserve.  After handing some to the kobolds he has 2 left.]]

Arista dips her chin to Brekka’s hard-edged promise, then tips a brow at Asariel. “Fair—no point storming a fortress we’re only meant to scout.” Turning to the kobolds she adds, “We’ll finish our watch and move at first light. You’re welcome to share the fire—keep your hands where we can see them and we’ll keep ours off our weapons. Deal?”

Quote from EmileTherese >>

"I agree," Kaelen states simply, preoccupied trying to recall if he has heard of any similar cultures to the humans and elves the kobold described. Rituals, tattoos, an unfamiliar language...

History: 12

 [[I missed this, sorry.]] The descriptions do not match any specific culture, per se, but do follow common cultural stereotypes of cultists who worship dark powers.

"Hm, sounds like a cult alright," Kaelen remarks mostly to himself before looking to the kobolds. "You have never been bothered by any demons? A few appeared and attacked us after we got close to one of their pillars...Ah, and have you seen any other outsiders make it here and head for the Keep?"

"Keep in mind, we don't see as well under the sun. We'll try to sleep on the edge of your camp. If it helps, hold on to to our weapons while you rest, we'd ask to hold them while travelling as we might have to fend off a beast."

"We haven't seen any outsiders since we left the keep."

“So be it,” Arista agrees, settling back by the fire. “Rest here till dawn; tomorrow you guide, we guard—just name every snare, beast-trail, or watchpost you know of, and leave any fighting to us.”