After her slash, Orchid's blade didn't seem to put the drake down. Aron moved in to intercept and distract it, and so Orchid would dash forward, plunging her glaive into the side of the drake. However it was for naught; by the time Her blade struck, Najila's eldritch blast had managed to slay the beast. All Orchid could do was cut off it's head, mainly to ensure it's death and partly as a trophy. Taking a knee to breath, Orchid looked around the room and towards the others. "We're safe for now. But that damned wizard escaped. He'll have to chase him down and find him before it's too late. I don't know what spells he's capable of, but from what I can guess he's used at least two second levels for Invisibility, one on himself and this drake since it appeared out of thin air. Unless there's more mages here..." Orchid just sighed as she stood up.

"No matter." Orchid looked to Angus. She was still annoyed at how he had put himself in such a perilous position just charging out towards the enemy without the rest of the party. Frankly she doesn't expect him to even stay much longer, assuming he didn't immediately just stand up to continue the chase. "Whatever element of surprise we had is gone now. Even the wizard himself knows that we're here and coming after him. We've no choice but to give chase, less he take this opportunity to hold the rest hostage and prevent us from saving them."

Angus returned to consciousness just in time to watch the drake fall. "Bloody dragon-likes." Angus muttered before pulling himself up again. "Cheers fer that." Angus said to Azzen. "I'll be buyin' ya two rounds it seems."
"Now stop being so reckless, again." Azzen said.
"Yeah yeah." Angus said noncommittally with a wave of his hand.
"Are we safe again?" A small voice asked quietly.
Angus turned to see Celeste peeking out from around a corner. "Aye." Angus replied after he reclaimed his javelin from the drake and spat on its corpse.
"Yes, we are safe for now. But stay close to us, Celeste. The employer escaped, and he could easily come back." Najila said before looking to the others. "Are you all alright?"
"I'll be fine in an hour." Angus said as he sat himself down on a nearby bench before looking to Azzen. "You. Yer a bard, aye? I dunnae suppose ye know the Song o' Rest. I could certainly use it right now."
"What happened?" Najila asked "You seemed to be having quite a discussion with that employer."
"Sarfyr's 'is name." Angus said. "After I took down the bastards who tried to get in me way. Sarfyr stopped me from followin' the sods that slipped passed to go after you. We chatted fer a bit. He asked some questions. I asked some questions. It was all very boring. Then you came along an' then the bugger' 'ad that dragon-like bring me low."
"We're safe for now." Orchid spoke up. "But that damned wizard escaped. We'll have to chase him down and find him before it's too late. I don't know what spells he's capable of, but from what I can guess he's used at least two second levels for Invisibility, one on himself and this drake since it appeared out of thin air. Unless there's more mages here... No matter. Whatever element of surprise we had is gone now. Even the wizard himself knows that we're here and coming after him. We've no choice but to give chase, less he take this opportunity to hold the rest hostage and prevent us from saving them."
"If ye wanna press on, go right ahead." Angus said. "But I ain't movin' from this spot fer at least an hour if I can 'elp it".

Najila raised an eyebrow at Angus's answer. She had a feeling that there was more to that answer than what Angus was letting on. Didn't she hear mention of some sort of an agreement earlier? She gave a sigh at Angus's stubbornness about staying here if the others were to go ahead. She asked Angus, "Have you truly learned nothing from storming ahead?" She then elaborated "Leaving anyone alone, or going ahead alone, is a terrible idea. If you're staying here, then we'll stay and rest as well. I can get back some of my magic from a short rest anyways,"

Orchid was surprised to see Angus wanting to stay put, however she was also annoyed. "Now you want to stay put after getting beaten down and brought back up." Orchid rubbed her eyes and looked towards the next area. "If we rest now, that gives the wizard more time to prepare to trap us in, kill off the others, and escape us. Not to mention my current enchantment won't last the whole hour rest." Orchid looked up to Najila and Celeste. She was stern and serious. "We can't afford to wait here and expect to be able to escape with everyone intact. If we do wait, I don't recommend we try and save the others. It'll be too late for them and I doubt it'll be pretty either. If that madman was willing to cut off your horn for his curiosity, just imagine what they'll do to the others now that he knows we're coming after him. He wouldn't even need a whole hour to do so. At most, ten minutes to kill or disembowel the others, and fifty minutes to let them die slowly. If that's what you want to see, that is what will happen if we wait here for another hour."

Najila looked to Orchid as she spoke with annoyance. She can understand that annoyance, and she could see where Orchid was coming from when she gave her argument. Najila answered Orchid patiently, but just as seriously as Orchid, "Orchid, calm yourself. I understand your argument quite well, and I feel the same, but seriously think about this,"

She then asked Orchid, "Do you know how long we've been asleep? Because I certainly can't answer that question," She continues, "My point is that that madman already has had plenty of time. Any traps he has are probably already set up in case any of his prisoners escaped. Not to mention, if he wanted to kill anyone, he would have done so already. But he didn't. He wants something from us. He'll probably use the other prisoners as hostages as well,"

She then finished "Right now, Ironbane over here is acting as an individual. We need to work together if we want to get out of here and rescue the other prisoners, which means no more splitting up! We need to look out for each other,"

Celeste nodded and smiled at the sound of good news so far. What was once sadness before when the were approaching the turn to the spacious room, she now became determined. Once she had a good look at Angus's injured state, she quickly made her way towards him and began to heal his wounds. As she heard the party discuss their next plan of action, her eyes went wide when she heard the Ironbane deciding on staying here in this room for an hour, but her spirit went up when Orchid pursued the action to continue further before its too late. "She's right, my guardians must be somewhere up those stairs. If we can go now, I'm sure we could maybe release them in time and they can help fight these people that kidnapped us."

At Najila mentioned the ideas of traps, Azzen spoke up. "Well if they were preparing traps, I would think they would have already have some ready back in that long hall that we walked through. I say this due to the fact that although we killed their men down by the jail, they somehow knew to send us a written message when we were preparing down in the storage room. Meaning, they must have known back when we were in that jail room questioning that guy. But that just leaves more with more questions. What they lack in traps, what do they have instead."

"Like these kobolds and drake. The dragonborns of Draverros knew the secrets of how to train and breed draconic creatures and is home to many kobolds. It is only the creation of the Novus Alliance was when we started seeing more of them, but the breeding and distribution is only said to be handled by high ranking officials as to help maintain this secret trick. But then there is this." Azzen pulled out what only a few in the room would have heard about, but Orchid may have seen before. He pulled out and twirled between his fingers was small magitech, that of a small firearm. He toyed with it for a few seconds, and caused it to shoot out a small bolt of fire. "I found this hidden on the half orc. Although Angus gave the guy a beating, you didn't seem to search him for any valuables. But anyways, magitechs like this are only found with soldiers from the Veteris Empire and will only attune once and become unusable upon death or far enough from the user for an extended period. But I've heard some powerful spellcasters know a trick to prevent it from being unusable and instead be used by anyone. I say all this because what they lack in traps, they clearly succeed in resource. Basically, when we do decide to go up there, we should just be ready for anything." Then directed himself to Angus with a bit of a stern look across his face. "If you do change your mind and follow us soon to finish these guys, I'll give you another healing, on the condition that this time you keep your distance than standing near danger. And if it helps keeps your distance, use one of those light crossbows on the ground. I'm sure those dead kobolds won't be using them."

Aron during this time was on guard as he kept an eye and ear to notice if anyone else came down the stairs or the large door. Once Azzen finished his long explanation, Aron simply asked, "If they want something from us, then why don't we just give it to them and during that brief moment when their guard is down, we attack?"

"Have you truly learned nothing from storming ahead?" Najila asked.
"That it ain't always the best o' plans?" Angus said with a shrug
"Leaving anyone alone, or going ahead alone, is a terrible idea." Najila elaborated. "If you're staying here, then we'll stay and rest as well. I can get back some of my magic from a short rest anyways."
"Sounds good to me." Angus agreed.
"Now you want to stay put after getting beaten down and brought back up." Orchid said.
"Ye dunnae need to remind me o' that, lass." Angus said. After that, everyone started prattling on about what to do next, so Angus tuned out until Celeste approached him. Angus signed in relief as Celeste provided him with further healing. "I reckon yer a wee bit young fer a round at the next tavern we find." Angus said. "So instead I'll buy ya somethin' sweet instead once we're away from 'ere."
"She's right, my guardians must be somewhere up those stairs." Celeste said. "If we can go now, I'm sure we could maybe release them in time and they can help fight these people that kidnapped us."
"Perhaps ye could do that." Angus said. "But if I go on without rest, even after all that healin' the two o' ye gave me, I won't last long enough to be o' much use." After that, Azzen yammered on about something to do with traps and contraptions, so Angus tuned out again until the tiefling looked at him sternly.
"If you do change your mind and follow us soon to finish these guys, I'll give you another healing, on the condition that this time you keep your distance than standing near danger." Azzen said. "And if it helps keeps your distance, use one of those light crossbows on the ground. I'm sure those dead kobolds won't be using them."
"Sounds good to me." Angus said with a nod. "Though I won't be needin' any o' those runty dragon-likes' peashooters. Me javelins will do well enough."
Aron then spoke up. "If they want something from us, then why don't we just give it to them and-"
"SHUT IT!" Angus barked before Aron could finish his sentence, the thought of allowing Sarfyr to take Celeste stoking the Highlander's ire anew. "We are not doin' that. We are goin' up there. We are savin' the other prisoners. An' we are killin' anyone who stands in our way!"

Orchid just rubbed her eyes in growing annoyance. "Right then. Aron, you and I take point. Najila, see if you can't send your owl ahead to scout for us. Angus can use one of the crossbows we picked off the other guards." Orchid would hand Angus a heavy crossbow and a quiver of bolts. "Let's push onwards." Once everyone was settled and the owl reports back, Orchid would head out through the next area.

Najila listened to the group as they spoke and argued on what to do. She rubbed her temples in slight annoyance as well. Some team they were proving themselves to be. Eventually, Angus agreed on moving ahead with them, and Orchid had given instructions. Najila nodded in response to Orchid, and she answered, "Very well. It appears we're all in agreement then," She looked up to her owl familiar, and she called calmly, "Pythagoras,"

"Hoo!" Her owl responded to her call. She then told Orchid, "I apologize but I will have to be a burden for a bit. Someone will have to watch over me. I will be blind and deaf to everything around me while I see and hear through Pythagoras,"

After she informed them as such, she closed her eyes before reopening them again. When she reopened them again, she revealed her eyes to be clouded white, as though she were born blind. The owl then flew ahead of the group, silently scouting ahead to see what the path ahead holds for them.

Aron quickly raised his hands up, showing he didn't mean anything ill from it, but he did remain very quiet from the very intimidating. Azzen rested hand over the highlander's shoulder to heal his wounds as promised. "Easy, we're all just trying to think of any other options to give us an advantage as we have little to none. Meanwhile, our enemy have the advantage."

Once everyone was ready, the party ascended the stairs, Celeste and Azzen followed behind party as they began their way up the stone stairs and held Najila's arms as they guided her with the party. Through Pythagoras's vision, Najila saw what he saw as he flew ahead to scout. At the top of the stairs leading to the 2nd floor was 10 feet wide hall with a door on both sides of the hall wide open and at the end was more stairs leading up. Looking into the room on the right, it appeared to be a barrack as there were many bunk beds, but with no one appearing to be inside from a quick glance and who ever was in here, was in a rush with how scattered things were inside. On the room on the left, it appeared to be a a mess hall that had a scattering of things, but there did appear to be two slightly bruised people inside and chained to the ground. One was a human with short dark hair, tanned skin, and wore very lose cloth attire, Najila could easily tell that this was Nadir. However, on the other side of the room, there was someone she did not recognize as a blue lizardman could be seen and was the only one to notice Pythagoras as he returned a curious look at the owl.

With the 2nd floor scouted out, Pythagoras flying up the next stairs leading up would find hear a faint breeze at the top. Once up on the 3rd floor, there was a 10ft wide hall that continued straight and to the right appeared to be a 10 ft wide alcove with arrow slits that revealed outside to be some mountainous area with nothing and no one else outside. But once moving out the alcove, Pythagoras only saw some crates obscuring the path further ahead, two doors on one side of the hall and then a bolt of fire that shot and quickly hit Pythagoras who then faded away into a puff of clouds.

As the group walked and Najila followed Azzen's guidance, she spoke, telling the group of what Pythagoras saw as he proceeded to scout ahead.

"There is a hall ahead...and a room on the right. The room on the right looks like barracks...but there are two people, bruised and chained to the ground,"

At the mention of the conditions, Najila's tone grew disgusted and sickened. But she continued as her tone lightened with recognition,

"I recognize one of them! Nadir!"

She then asked in concern,

"But...where is Layla?"

She then continued for her friends, "The other occupant in the room is a lizardfolk of blue scales. It seems he too is a prisoner,"

She continued as Pythagoras continued investigating, "I hear a faint breeze. There is an alcove. I see mountains from the arrow slits. There are crates obscuring the path ahead--NO!"

Najila tried to snap her fingers to get Pythagoras out of harm's way, but it was too late. The bolt of fire struck the owl, burning him to a crisp. Her vision and hearing returned to her as she fumed, "Who throws a fire bolt at an owl?! That's like kicking a cat!"

"Well lemme tell ye right now, you won't be findin' any advantage in givin' them what they want." Angus said in response to Azzen's words. "In that note they sent us earlier, they said they wanted two things: The girl an' some 'cloud book' they must 'ave found on one of us. I doubt we'd get any advantage from givin' 'em the girl or lettin' 'em keep the book."
With that last round of healing from Azzen, Angus had recovered enough to stand without too much difficulty. He followed the others with javelin in hand as they proceeded to move further into the dungeon, listening to Najila report what was up ahead. "There is a hall ahead...and a room on the right." Najila said. "The room on the right looks like barracks...but there are two people, bruised and chained to the ground,"
"More prisoners no doubt." Angus commented.
"I recognize one of them! Nadir!" Najila exclaimed. "But...where is Layla?"
"Nowhere good I reckon." Angus guessed.
"The other occupant in the room is a lizardfolk of blue scales. It seems he too is a prisoner," Najila continued.
"Bloody dragon-likes." Angus muttered darkly. "No doubt a traitorous minion bein' punished fer its treachery."
"I hear a faint breeze. There is an alcove. I see mountains from the arrow slits." Najila spoke further. "There are crates obscuring the path ahead--NO!"
"Gah!" Angus exclaimed, startled by Najila's sudden cry.
"Who throws a fire bolt at an owl?!" Najila asked indignantly once her senses returned to her body. "That's like kicking a cat!"
"Look on the bright side." Angus said in a consolatory manner. "Yer owl ain't dead dead. 'E is a familiar after all. Once you've got a free moment, ye can just re-summon yer feathery friend good as new."

Orchid stayed alert as they moved forward with Najila's owl providing guidance. It seemed like the next area would be clear save for two prisoners, someone from Najila's caravan and an unknown. Angus assumes it's a minion of this group who turned traitorous, but Orchid shakes her head at the suggestion. "Making a lot of assumptions there Angus. Those men we killed were humans too, and the one overlooking this whole operation is elven I think. Doesn't mean all of humanity is against us or that this is an elven conspiracy. The lizardfolk likely isn't a member of whatever draconic faction that might also be involved." Then Najila shouted in surprise as something killed her owl. A firebolt apparently.

"Might've been that mage who escaped before. Or a different one, firebolt isn't that advance a spell. Regardless we gotta keep moving, see if these other two up ahead are healthy enough to assist us in escaping this damned place." Orchid says as she continues to lead, her shield at the ready to intercept any attacks that might come as she moves forward.

Once the party reached the 2nd floor, they were met with a very wide hall that extended about 30 feet to the next stairs leading going up. To the right was an open door anyone could easily see. Inside was the barracks that looked like a complete mess with with various things thrown about everywhere. Searching through this chaos would take some time. On the left side of the hall was the mess hall and those who looked through, the first being Aron and Orchid who were in the front of the party, would see the room have some unfinished plates of food and Nadir. But what was now different than Najila's vision, was the once imprisoned blue lizardfolk who was looking at Nadir, still binded. Aron quick took a few steps in with his hand at the ready to unsheathe his sword. "Before you say or do or anything, are you friend or foe?"

As he was checking on the other body, Ulhar noticed more people arriving. They didn't seem like they were part of the bandits here, mainly due to the fact none of them were kobolds and they came from a lower sector. He vaguely recognized a few of them as people who were with the caravans, though he only recognized the woman. As one of them raised a weapon at Ulhar, he raised his hands up to show that he had no weapons nor was he holding any spells. "Please, be at peace." Ulhar's voice was distinctively similar to a Sansea accent. "I am friend. Saw the caravan attacked, and I tried to stow away as a smaller lizard. Had hoped perhaps I could look for a way to help. Thought it would be foolproof but the kobolds were cruel and attacked me even when I was harmless. Destroyed my disguise, stripped me of my possessions, and brought me here. I still intend to assist. I am a shaman of Deep Water Tribe, skilled in nature magics. I just need totem, and I can heal and aid. They call me Blue."

Najila entered the room with the others to find that the dragonborn was no longer bound. Had he escaped on his own? She couldn't help but wonder to herself. Aron already stepped up cautiously and asked the Dragonborn if he was friend or foe. She listened to him as he spoke, about how he had witnessed the caravan get attacked, and tried to help only for him to get captured as well. Considering that he had been bound earlier, she had very little to no reason to doubt his words.

She stepped forwards, taking point in the discussions for her allies, "Hail and well met, Blue. Though I wish our meeting was under better circumstances. My name is Najila. Any healing and aid you can provide would be most appreciated,"

She then asked him, looking to Nadir, "How is Nadir's condition? And do you know where they've taken his wife, Layla? Or my tome? It has clouds permeating out and off of it,"

Ulhar nods. "Without my totem, I cannot cast my stronger spells spells. However I can provide you Summer Balm if you are wounded. If like me, your items were taken, but now you are armed. I guess my totem is in the room you came from." He looks in the direction the others came with a small nod. "As for your friend, I am not sure. I was about to see to his health." Turning back to the man known as Nadir, Ulhar chanted a simple prayer over himself (Cast Guidance) as he checked the man about his condition. He hasn't stirred since Ulhar saw him and hoped that he was not dead. "I do not know of his wife, or this book. However before I was captured, I know a room that look like a study. This is a mountain fortress, and there are others in a eating hall. Well... This place look like eating all, but not many people here. They must've moved people before I woke. Let me think... There is a sleeping room, four beds. Next to room where I saw elven man question others. And last, there is magic teleporter room. Some bodies brought did not move... I do not know what became of them."

Orchid joined Aron in getting ready for combat if this lizardman proved a threat. However he quickly raised his hands to show he was unarmed, and explained his situation. Orchid wasn't entirely certain he could be trusted, given that he could still very well have been a sentry left behind to watch over them, but right now she isn't going to complain about having extra help. She'd leave the talking to Najila as Orchid went around the room carefully poking and prodding things with the blade of her glaive. There could still be a sneaky kobold hidden around here waiting in ambush, so Orchid didn't intend to let her guard down for a moment. "As much as I'd like to trade information, we got to keep moving. I don't know what your stuff looks like but there was a storage room way back where we came from. If you hurry I'm sure you can grab what belongs to you and meet back up with us, but we can't stand around here chatting. More so since something shot down our little bird, so I've no doubts they not only know we're coming, they're probably sending goons down here to slow us down, if not spot us."

"What makes ye the goons ain't 'ere already?" Angus asked Orchid as he eyed the lizard folk suspiciously. "Ye tried to disguise yerself as a kobold. A likely story, dragon-like. More likely this one tried to backstab the leader an' got locked up to await agonizing punishment. Or maybe yer still loyal, an' just look like that due to disguise magic. No doubt you've been ordered to lead us into a trap. Or maybe this is the trap, an' a massive mob o' minions is about to become visible an' attack. Dunnae trust this one. Up to no good 'e is."

Looking to the pale orcish woman and the roughing looking man, Ulhar can tell that they don't seem to trust him. It was understandable considering their common enemy also shares common traits with him. "I understand your fear. We are not safe." Ulhar motions down to the unconscious man on the floor. "Our enemy uses poison that can put you to sleep. Just like what they used on me. I do not know their numbers, but I know they have many. You are right that we must move forward. And, to show good faith that I mean you no harm, allow me to do this for you." Kneeling back down to Ulhar, he tries his best to awaken Nadir mundanely using what little medical knowledge he knew. He was starting to regret not taking his shaman's healing lessons more seriously. Ulhar began to pray over the body, blessing himself with magic in order to get a better idea of how to heal this man of his afflictions. And if he's wounded in any way, Ulhar would also use what little magic he can manifest to heal him.

After he did what he could for Nadir, Ulhar looks to the rest of the group. "As I said, I cannot use most of my magic without my totem. But if you are wounded, I can call upon Summer Balm to heal you. I've no doubt you had to fight your way up here, and I am a skilled in magic healing. I only wish to help everyone escape this place with their lives. Failing that, I will ensure that if I fall, it will be in your defense."