The Flameborn

"Then don't attack random people!" Telv counters, "Wait you speak common?"

Zarf nods quickly. "Yes yes yes. Zarf learned few words from the goblins." The other kobold seems not to understand a word, but stands down as well, getting on his own knees.

Mateo blinks. "Wait, you were hungry? Were you gonna eat us?"

"We were gonna eat first things that came here," Zarf says. "Thought it would be the invaders, but we almost out of food so anything do. Never had humanoid before. Heard it taste like chicken. Mmm, chicken."

"Eating humanoids is bad, mmkay?" Mateo smirks. "...wait, if the 'invaders' aren't humanoid, what are they?"

"You hate intruders too?" Zarf perks up. "It settled. You help us kill intruders and reclaim our lair!"

Mateo shrugs. "Sure I guess. We were planning to kill them anyway."

Telv shrugs too. "works for me!"

Zarf excitedly tells the other kobold, Pib, what's going on, and the two let loose a resounding warcry before charging out of the armory.

Mateo frowns. "Oh boy. Guess we'd better follow them..."

Telv nods and starts after the kobolds

The kobolds run into the north wing, running along the eastern rooms past the variety of corpses you left in your trail. When they reach the furthest back room, with its graffiti'd walls and pitiful hoard, with no opposition, they begin to jump excitedly, proclaiming their everlasting victory against those who would dare insult mighty dragons such as them.

With the entire vault level cleared, the Flameborn return to the tunnel and head down it. Orinda and Mateo realize quickly that the tunnel had been carved from magic many years ago, and that it lead back towards Breachill. At the end of the tunnel is a ladder leading to a trapdoor. Climbing up, they emerge into a small, dimly lit wooden storeroom with a door in the western wall. The other walls are lined with shelves filled to the brim with jars upon jars of pickled foods; cucumbers, beets, radishes, onions, cauliflower, chicken's feet, and pig's ears.

"Pickled goods? Gross" Telv comments as she exits the trapdoor. She helps up Tiberius too

Outside the door is a hallway leading to a staircase going up. Faint music can be heard from the other side of the door. Following the hallway, the group emerges into... a tavern. The source of the music is a band playing a fast-paced and festive jig. Despite it only being early afternoon, the tavern is already packed with servers having to bob and weave around the rowdy customers, and the dwarven bartender is moving at a breakneck pace to keep up with orders. Mateo and Orinda immediately recognize this establishment: The Pickled Ear.

"Heh, I guess the Hellknights had good taste in hangout spots," Mateo jokes, but then clarifies "Though this actually used to be a storehouse for emergency supplies."

"Maybe we should notify someone that we're here, there's a tunnel that leads to a decrepit keep, and said keep was infested with all manner of critters and a possible dragon cult" Telv suggests, "Once business slows a bit?"

Mateo nods. "The owner is over there tending bar. But she... might not like me very much so, uh. Maybe someone else should talk to her."

"I can go," Orinda volunteers. "Though, do we want to head back, and use the main door? Might be better than appearing out of the basement."

Mateo shrugs "Eh, we're already here and it's crowded anyway- I don't think anyone noticed."

"Even if they did, and even if it matters, our names probably mean enough to get us a pass after the fire." Sayl adds.