Quote from nschrock >>

Daemyar will go ahead and open the door

Thieves’ tools 17 

 Daemyar opens the door.  As it swings inward, creaking ominously, the hobgoblin sees several torches mounted in crude sconces that burn fitfully around this chamber, filling the air with a haze. A double row of marble columns carved with entwining dragons runs the length of the hall.   The haze doesn't develop into suffocating levels but the area is considered lightly obscured.  The natural ventilation in the ruins helps with this.  The hallway runs for some 60 feet or more before ending in a doorway.  This door in opened already and you can see a lit room beyond.  You can hear sounds coming from the room.  Looking to the floor, the bloody streaks continue but are fading.  They all lead into the door at the end of the hallway.  On the north face of the hall are two small doors, both closed. 

(( Do  the two small doors correspond to Calcyrx's room? ))

Ithelion watches Daemyar's progress.

Quote from Ereshion >>

(( Do  the two small doors correspond to Calcyrx's room? ))

Ithelion watches Daemyar's progress.

 Daemyar, in addition to what was described, as you look to your right, you can see that there is a door that is heavily barricaded, with a stout piece of lumber barred across the door.  It looks like this would be the entry to Calcryx's former lair...

Daemyar is going to try to sneak into the hall, following the blood trail to find out what’s happened.

stealth 22 

 (( @DM: Just checking, the only light is from the long corridor, correct? Does anything else have light? We all have darkvision. ))

@daemyar - you carefully and effectively stalk up to the door frame and venture a peek inside.  What might once have been a cathedral is now a goblin lair, thick with the filth of years of goblin life. Scores of wall- and floor-mounted sconces filled with violet-glowing fungi provide illumination.

You see a few dozen goblins gathered in a semi-circle around a large hobgoblin.  The hobgoblin seems in rough shape and is wheezing through his mouth.  Sitting behind him on a chair of some sort is an interesting-looking figure: a female goblin, adorned with bones, furs, and beads looks on in your direction.  She holds a staff topped with what looks like a dead rat.  One of her eyes is milky white.  They all mostly sit in silence.  Your eyes pass through the crowds and you catch sight of a blade here and there and some shortbows - not very many though.  

Goblins - 11
Grenl - 12

You remain unnoticed from where you are crouching/skulking near the doorway...

@Ithelion - yes, the light is coming from the doorway.  Of course, you all see this as being lighter shades than the surrounding area, which you perceive as dimly lit and shadowy.  Hope that helps.

If she loses sight of Daemyar, or hears a scuffle, or he's gone for long, she asks Shere if he could send a message asking if he is OK, and what he's found...

Daemyar will return to the others with the information. 

“This appears to be a time for diplomacy. Go on, Shere. Seduce the goblin queen and let’s get through this.” 

Ithelion quickly stifles a laugh, shakes her head and turns to Daemyar, eyebrows raised, "What did you see?"

“A hob I don’t recognize has been captured. The goblins are back in control. They have a queen I believe.”

Ithelion's eyebrows rise in surprise, and a smile broaden's on her face. "Could be a trap. Was he badly wounded? And did you see Sharpie?" The thought that the strong-willed Sharpie might still be alive pleases her. While her mind races, considering the options, she absent-mindedly plays with the whistle around her neck before realizing what she's doing. Taking her hands off it, she pulls the chain off her neck, and hands it to Daemyar, "You'd best keep this, I think we would have no use for it, but one day you might." Remove the damned thing from temptation.

She brushes down her clothes and turns to Shere, "You, or me?" she asks. "I can back you up, but I don't have much luck with diplomacy. We just want right of free passage, news of the humans, and ... perhaps warn them about the Kobold Queen's intentions." A slight smile plays on her lips. Who knows, she might be a cat  person.

“I couldn’t tell if Sharpie was among them. There’s obfuscation in the room. Smoke. If one goes in and distracts, the rest might make it in unnoticed if they are patient.”

Daemyar takes the whistle and puts it on, hiding it beneath his cloak.

Ithelion shakes her head, "If diplomacy is required, then it is best if we show good faith, and risk the least. Only Shere and I should approach. The rest...the rest can rescue us with the help of the kobolds -- if necessary."

She turns to Shere, "I suggest we both walk to the end of the corridor and announce ourselves." This could go very badly. She clasps her hands together to stop them shaking and squares her shoulders, then hands her pack to Daemyar, "Guard this..." she says, glancing sideways at Erky, before directing Elosa to jump onto Daemyar's shoulder, "...and her." Perhaps I should use some Gooshie!

"Ready?" she asks Shere.

Guard the pack, stay with Daemyar, she sends to Elosa. Don't get eaten.

Shere wrinkles his nose at Daemyar's painted thought of seducing a goblin. He looks at Ithelion with a nod then turns to Daemyar He calmly whispers with a slight smile

"I merely play upon their strrengths Daemyar, or theirr weakness, and fearr. I no seduce. Was this, hobgoblin tied up? Wounded orr just sick? You told us therre were three that betrrayed you. I imagine this trree could take a toll on one's health"

Quote from nschrock >>

Daemyar will return to the others with the information. 

“This appears to be a time for diplomacy. Go on, Shere. Seduce the goblin queen and let’s get through this.” 

Quote from nschrock >>

“A hob I don’t recognize has been captured. The goblins are back in control. They have a queen I believe.”

@Ithelion - Elosa bobs her head up and down and flies to Daemyar's shoulder - she seems to understand that you want her to go to Daemyar.  She ruffles her feathers at the suggestion that she would let herself get eaten.

Erky notes with interest that you passed the backpack to the hobgoblin and his eyes follow it closely...

What do you all do next?

Shere growls at the lack of detail the hobgoblin gave him and he moves quietly he hopes to look for himself

Stealth 18

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

Shere growls at the lack of detail the hobgoblin gave him and he moves quietly he hopes to look for himself

Stealth 11

 @Shere - compared to Daemyar, you are not as graceful, in spite of your feline heritage.  You scuff your boots a few times but are able stalk up to the door frame and venture a peek inside without anyone inside noticing.  What might once have been a cathedral is now a goblin lair, thick with the filth of years of goblin life. Scores of wall- and floor-mounted sconces filled with violet-glowing fungi provide illumination.

You see a few dozen goblins gathered in a semi-circle around a large hobgoblin.  The hobgoblin seems in rough shape and is wheezing through his mouth.  Sitting behind him on a chair of some sort is an interesting-looking figure: a female goblin, adorned with bones, furs, and beads looks on in your direction.  She holds a staff topped with what looks like a dead rat.  One of her eyes is milky white.  They all mostly sit in silence.  Your eyes pass through the crowds and you catch sight of a blade here and there and some shortbows - not very many though.  

No sign of Sharpie, which isn't surprising.  You know your spell - Sharpie must be in a different room that effectively blocks the message from reaching her.

MAP

(( I'd imagine everyone back in the store room, except Ithelion and Shere, but happy either way ))

Ithelion gives Shere several moments to sneak ahead and take up position before coughing loudly and walking up the centre of the hall, the sound of her footsteps ringing unnaturally loudly off the walls. A dim red light glows in her hand, and as she approaches the end of the corridor the light from the sconces seems to flicker, dimming and then brightening. She surveys the crowd for a moment before bowing to the figure on the throne, addressing her loudly and clearly in common.

"Do I have the pleasure of addressing Queen Grenl?" She stand still, waiting for an answer. No Sharpie, but at least I can't see any bows. Once again she holds her hands together to stop them shaking.

(( Gratuitous use of prestidigitation, happy to adjust if effects described are not allowed ))

Quote from Ereshion >>

(( I'd imagine everyone back in the store room, except Ithelion and Shere, but happy either way ))

Ithelion gives Shere several moments to sneak ahead and take up position before coughing loudly and walking up the centre of the hall, the sound of her footsteps ringing unnaturally loudly off the walls. A dim red light glows in her hand, and as she approaches the end of the corridor the light from the sconces seems to flicker, dimming and then brightening. She surveys the crowd for a moment before bowing to the figure on the throne, addressing her loudly and clearly in common.

"Do I have the pleasure of addressing Queen Grenl?" She stand still, waiting for an answer. No Sharpie, but at least I can't see any bows. Once again she holds her hands together to stop them shaking.

(( Gratuitous use of prestidigitation, happy to adjust if effects described are not allowed ))

 [Not a problem.  If everyone else wants to be in the storeroom we can go with that - is Shere with you in the room now?].
Certainly you can use the spell to cause light in your hands.  The sconces don't contain flame but funghi that gives off an eerie blue-green light.
If you look in the crowd, you'll see some bows and arrows.
As you address the hall, the figure sitting behind the bound hobgoblin taps her staff 3 times.  The hobgoblin flinches at the sound and you see that he is large being, maybe at one time a muscular creature, but has now grown a bit fat.  He is bleeding from a few wounds from what you can see and one of his eyes is swollen shut.  Looks like he's been beat pretty badly.  You can hear him wheezing - probably a collapsed lung...
She speaks in raspy common, "I am Grenl, leader of the Durbuluk. What you want, elf?  What you doing here?  You smell like them kobolds."