“Quiet, Slyvia-chan.” Takahashi warned without facing her, “You will draw unneeded attention.” He whipped his blade and quickly sheathed it. Then leaped to the other side of the pit to climb to the bottom at a rapid pace to get a head start on the reinforcements. The tiny waterfall splattered down a few feet away from him on the back of the dead mite, laying facedown in the dirt. Takahashi looked up and placed his hand on the hilt to ready himself for whatever came his way.

Sylvia blinked, then grinned, then smirked. He was right, and he actually spoke. Thus far the warrior had been stoicly silent, he did have a voice and Sylvia liked it, stern, strong, good qualities. "Very Well~" She hissed quietly, seeming pleased that their new party member wouldn't be the creepy silent guy. She to followed suit, making sure to take it nice and slow as she descended having little climbing experience save for trees. She didn't go all the way down though and chose instead to hang above a bit and press herself into the wall to allow others to pass, not a sound issuing from her.

After he finished reloading his crossbow, Achuak headed to Jun and whispered to him his thoughts.

"I will go back and see if there is anything in the other corridor that we did not go through. If I find anything, I will not confront it. That is, unless you wish to come with me. We should not tarry too far from the rest though, but of all of us, you and I are the ideal ones for sneaking and scouting. With so many people in one area, it would be difficult for me to use my weapon of choice, so splitting up would make me more productive to the group."

Junn nodded to the little lizard man and whispered in return

"Alright lead the way you can see better in this light then I"

Junn drew his sword and prepaired for follow Ackuak down the other corridor

Achuak gave a sigh.

"I apologize Junn. I so easily forget that your kind does not share my ability to see into the darkness of the underground. Considering I desire to be cloaked in shadows, perhaps I should merely scout the other way to either confirm more hostiles, or perhaps even an easier way to get to where that last cur was going. I shall be back soon, and I shall not converge on the enemy by myself - these creatures are not as easily affected by steel as I am."

With that, Achuak left for the other route, being a bit ambitious with his speed until he got to the entrance whence they came. From that point on he would be as quiet as he could. He also hoped that Junn was willing to oblige his plan: The elf didn't seem too fond of being bossed around, which Achuak hoped he did not come off as doing. Nonetheless, if the elf came, Achuak was sure it was for security, and to an extent, he hoped he would follow at a distance...

Chastised, Sylvia put the dagger she got from Kressle away and started to climb down the shaft slowly. Without hesitating Takahashi took the other wall, passing Sylvia on his way straight to the bottom. The light shining from his compass* illuminated most of the egg-shaped room and its occupants.

Along one wall the bodies of four kobolds were strung up using the ubiquitous roots for bindings. One of the kobolds was still moaning, but the other three had gone limp in death unknown hours or days ago. The six mites in the room stood around the moaning kobold with sticks in their hands, but they weren’t looking at him. All six looked from the body of their companion freshly killed to the tall man that now stood over it.

Above Aria sheathed her kukris and joined Sylvia on the root walls.

(Random Mini-Statblock to Establish Continuity)
Aria – Hunched, Climbing Dancing Lights 2/10
Sylvia – Hunched, Climbing

Mites A-F – Oh, hullo there.

Achuak announced his intention to explore the other tunnel branching off from the entrance and left deeper into the darkness. Junn was going to follow him, but elven night vision suffered considerably without the faint glow of the stars and moon overhead. The elf sheathed his weapon following the others, moving closer to the narrow shaft.

Sordin put his bow away and prepared to begin his climb as soon as there was a space open in the shaft. He didn’t wait long. Sylvia climbed down the shaft, perched on the wall just a few feet above Takahashi’s head.

The samurai was ducking under the low ceiling to see into the room. The mites gathered their wits enough to strike. The three in the front grabbed their throwing weapons. Takahashi found an assortment of small weighted darts flung at him. The only one that actually hit him, though was thrown with only just enough force that it stung his shin without significantly wounding him (-1sub Takahashi).

Two more mites drew their tiny knives and ran up to the samurai. The last, standing furthest from the light, didn’t seem to be doing anything more than staring at Takahashi in concentration. Then all at once its huge black eyes shot all the way open. Immediately a foreboding sense of doom overtook Takahashi. His mettle proved to be too much for the supernatural fear and the feeling faded as quickly as it had come.

Takahashi drew his sword and stepped aside of the entrance to allow others to come flooding down. The room, like the previous, was a tight fit for the six-foot tall samurai. He swiped at the verminous fey but it dodged back and hissed some curse in a strange language at him.

Aria meanwhile crawled past Sordin on her way down the shaft stopping again just above the sorceress, whose bright hair was getting dirtier with every minute spent underground. Aria could only be glad that her shorter hair wouldn’t be such a hassle to wash.

Elsewhere Achuak was slowly approaching the end of the second tunnel from the entrance. He knew the mites’ large eyes provided them with greater vision in the darkness than even he had himself, so he relied on the contours of the earth rather than the darkness to mask his presence.

The next room had a particular smell, like damp and dung. He took a peek inside and quickly found his estimation was correct. The room was much larger than the workshop. The damp floor was criss-crossed with shallow trenches of putrid water. There were six large mounds of dung and compost heaped around the room, each studded with spherical eggs. In the centre of the room, sitting on a small stool, a single mite was feeding three giant centipedes, each at least six feet long from a large bowl at her feet. Achuak could hear her murmuring low, unintelligible words of affection to the three giant vermin who fed hungrily from the paste.

Achuak 10/11 – Stealthed
Aria – Hunched, Climbing Dancing Lights 3/10
Junn 4/8 – Hunched
Sordin – Hunched, Climbing
Sylvia – Hunched, Climbing
Takahashi 11/11 (1) – Hunched, Light ~1min (Aria)

Mites
A-C: Uninjured
D*: Uninjured
E,F: Uninjured
Dingetooth: Dying
Uurch: Dying

(Any moment the majority of the party will be on solid ground again and in larger quarters easier for fighting in. Sure first you’ll have to draw your weapons, but hey, least you can say you didn’t plummet to your death. I can’t actually think of much to say for this post’s OoC section… Oh! I could mention that I managed to end the turn on the last initiative count (if you don’t count that I delayed Achuak’s discoveries—the first initiative count—until last). Also, about the dying mites, I'm only going to leave them up for a few rounds after KO so things don't start getting majorly cluttered around the statblock region.)

*(Officially ret-conned: Aria cast light on Takahashi’s compass, not his sword or sheath. The compass hangs attached to some strap or another and can easily be detached and it just looks better.)

In other news, though, your map is here.

Sylvia wanted to drop down to see just how many they were dealing with, and what those moans of pain were coming from though she had a good idea. "Little bastards." She cursed under her breath, currently she could only see two of the mites. Thinking it prudent for the time being she tried to make as much room as possible for others waving them down. "Come on we got company!" She called up quietly, turning her attention back she focused, a glob of acid forming in her hand as she whipped it at one of the mites praying it would hit.

Junn pasused at the top of the hole and peered down on all the others then moved back and leaned agenst the wall, he called back down quietly

"I'll wait here for Ackuak to get back with my leg its gunna take me a bit anyway and we dont want harm to come to him should he get unwanted attention you kids have fun~"

Junn continued his lean and stared down the dark tunnel waiting for the lizardman to return be it alone, or with some unwanted friends

The thought of attacking the horrendous creature while she was caught unawares was exceptionally prominant in Achuak's mind. however, he knew that he could not take on so many opponents at once, and even the mite would be a challenge due to her hardiness against his steel tipped bolts. If only Achuak had the prescious metal that was the bane against all fey - then he would have been able to shoot one right through her like a hot knife through butter.

Achuak shook his head. It was pointless to wish for things that were not. He would learn form this - pressuming he lived through this raid. He would find bolts that will ignore their unnatural immunity, and then keep them at his side at all times.

For now, he would simply move on. Taking care not to alert either the mite or her pets, Achuak pressed on, looking for another route to take.

-Knowledge nature: do vermin (or centipedes) have certain perception that would make stealth impossible? If so, Achuak will get back to the group and report what he found.

"I'd have to agree. Unsavoury things but well, you don't get to pick your audience." Aria noted, still working on climbing the rest of the way down.

When/if she reached the bottom she'd draw both her blades, ready to back up Takashi, but leaving her lights up above for the aid of the ones still climbing.

No sooner had Junn decided to await the return of their little reptilian companion than Achuak materialized out of the shadows, silent and unpursued. If the mite had been alone or if she had been in one corner of the room, Achuak may have been able to attack or slip past, but he realized it would be next to if not impossible to walk right past her.

Junn decided to go for the next logical step, and started climbing down the shaft, ending up passing Sordin just as the paladin was realizing that the shaft was too crowded to descend any further until one of the girls moved.

Sylvia at the bottom leaned down to see into the room without getting too close to the sharp knives of the little monsters. She reached out with one hand and summoned a small ball of acid, one of her weakest spells. She lobbed the glob at the nearest mite, but the angle of the shaft prevented her from aiming properly. The acid splashed a foot away from the feet of the mite she aimed to hit, which leaped up in surprise and hissed at her.

The mite circled around the hole, wary not to come in sight of whatever shot down its companion. It stared at Sylvia in concentration the same way the other focused on Takahashi. Its eyes likewise shot open wide suddenly, causing a sensation of doom to creep into Sylvia's gut. Thanks to her background of magic and mental effort, she resist the emotion effect as easily as the samurai had.

The remainder of the mites converged on Takahashi. One threw another dart which deflected off the metal plates in his armour, another tried to pull its fear-trick on him, but he resisted even quicker than the first, the one standing next to him tried to stab him, but he dodged. The last two drew daggers and ran to surround him, one of which he cut down one the spot with a contemptuous flick of his katana as it tried to surround him (-10dmg Mite(F) Dying).

Finding himself pressed deeper into the corner, Takahashi adopted a defensive stance. Far from going entirely on the defensive, he carefully chose the moment to strike while keeping himself in a good position to dodge. Another mite fell to a quick slash (-4dmg Mite(D) Dying).

Aria was the first to follow Takahashi into the room, Sordin filling the void she left on the wall. Three mites lay dying around her with only two more in melee reach. Takahashi stooped under the low ceiling to her left, and the remaining two mites stood back.

Achuak 10/11 –
Aria – Hunched, Dancing Lights 4/10
Junn 4/8 – Hunched, Climbing
Sordin – Hunched, Climbing
Sylvia – Hunched, Climbing
Takahashi 11/11 (1) – Hunched, Expertise (+1 AC), Light ~1min (Aria)

Mites
A: Uninjured
B*: Uninjured
C*: Uninjured
E: Uninjured

D*: Dying
F: Dying

(Since I don't have access to my map-making tools right now, splitting R3 into a grid with Takahashi's current position as A1, the rows labelled alphabetically and columns numerically: Mite-C moves down to C2 and uses its spell-like ability, E moves to C3 and throws a dart, D moves to B2 with a dagger, and F gets cut down in B2 on its way to B1 [base of the shaft], all other mites (A and B) stay where they were. Achuak is at the entrance to R1, Junn is near the top of the shaft, Sylvia nor Takahashi have moved, Aria is at bottom of shaft, B1 as far as that room's notation goes. Sordin is just above Sylvia.)

Sylvia shook her head and narrowed her eyes at the bulgy eyed freak. "Impudent little cretin." She hissed, deciding it prudent to get into a better firing position but with the current situation and confines of the tunnel this wasn't to possible. But she bit her lip, and dropped down. "Damn." She breathed out as she made a dart for the corner knowing she would be suffering some prods along the way.

Once at her corner for better or worse she turned and identified the mite who had tried to scare her, and hurled another acid blob at hit hoping this one would hit. She was less then five feet from the little blighter, if she missed, well she would have to work on her aim when they got back to Oleg's.

Reaching the bottom, Aria noted with disdain that with the numbers there were, and the rate at which the man with the katana was going through them, it wouldn't be out of the question that she may have to watch out for tripping on one of the dead bodies. She wasn't altogether sure that she could dance in this confined space. Setting that thought aside, she drew her blades and effectively tried to poke at one of the mites beside her.

Achuak started his climb down with his crossbow over his shoulder. Below him almost the entire shaft was filled top to bottom.

Sylvia climbed down the last few feet and landed in the room below beside Aria. She quickly dodged two mite blades as she moved out of the dancer’s way.

Sylvia cast another ball of acid straight into the chest of one of the mites who had tried to stab her—the same who had tried to curse her (-2acid MiteC).

Junn crawled down the shaft to the space Sylvia had formerly occupied the same way Sordin had a second ago.

The mite next to Takahashi stepped back and performed the now familiar cursing manoeuvre on him, but again the samurai’s resolve was too strong to be swayed by their magic.

One of the throwers struck Aria with a tiny dart in the side (-1dmg) while the other tried to curse Sylvia, which she threw off after a moment’s effort. The one wounded by Sylvia’s acid tried to stab her but didn’t come close to hitting.

Takahashi physically imposed himself between the remaining mites and those coming up behind him. With another swipe of his katana he dispatched yet another mite (-5dmg MiteE Dying) sending it sprawling to the ground to join the pool of blood already mixing with the water flowing through the room.

The rest of the mites were decidedly worried at this turn in the advantage of numbers. Aria drew her kukri knives and cut down the acid-splashed mite (-2dmg MiteC Dying).

Sordin touched ground, worsening the numbers still against the fiendish blue fey.

Achuak 10/11 – Climbing
Aria 8/9 – Hunched, Dancing Lights 5/10
Junn 4/8 – Hunched, Climbing
Sordin – Hunched
Sylvia – Hunched
Takahashi 12/12 (1) – Hunched, Expertise (+1 AC), Light ~1min (Aria)

Mites
A*: Uninjured
B*: Uninjured

C*: Dying
D*: Dying
E: Dying
F: Dying

(Mites are beginning to flee. You will get your map when I get last minute details from peeps. Point is four people are in the room, and the two mites left are trying to gtfo. Long wait for the post brought to you by the fact that I almost forgot I had a game from the lack of activity (well, yeah, I was also doing other things, so it’s on me, too).)

Oops, I forgot to add a map to this shindig. Here ya go ya needy blighters. =D

Junn appeared from the shaft, Achuak following just a few feet above.

Sylvia threw another ball of acid after the fleeing mites, striking one full on across the side of the head. It fell to the ground screaming as acid burned scars into its hideous blue flesh (-4acid MiteB Dying).

The other escaped down the sloped tunnel that led to the next room. Takahashi started to pursue the fey, but halted when it leaped onto another network of roots stretching across a wide chasm that split the passage. He couldn't see how deep it was from back here, but it was obviously not a short drop.

The samurai paused to assess his position. Rushing deeper into this hole could be fatal, especially with his comrades only just catching up to him in this room. He glanced at the one captive kobold still breathing, then down the passage. This room was much better suited to a defensive position than the last.

“See to the prisoner. I will hold the entrance,” Takahashi directed. He took up a defensive stance by the passage bottleneck. He gave potential attackers just enough room to get cut to pieces as they tried to get by him.

Aria approached the kobold hanging from the roots on the wall. He (or her? Aria had no way to tell) was beaten and bruised pretty badly, but he was still alive and his breathing was regular. As she looked him over, he flinched involuntarily in response to her proximity.

“Can you hear me?”

One yellow eye popped open, then the other. He, like every other kobold in the region besides Achuak, was covered in dull black scales, with a paler scales on covering his chest. The kobold watched Aria warily, but said nothing.

“How badly are you hurt?” She placed both kukri in one hand to cast her healing song.

The kobold's chest swelled, cringing in pain halfway through the gesture. “Mikmek warrior. Mikmek hurt worse.” He paused. “You help Mikmek?”

“Yes.” Aria touched the kobold—Mikmek—with the glowing energy. He squirmed and gasped as his cracked ribs reset and his bruised body mended. (+3hp Mikmek Uninjured)

Sordin stepped in to help, tearing at the knotted roots that held Mikmek to the wall. “Just hold still a bit longer—we'll have you free in no time.”

Sordin made short work of the knots, and soon the kobold was standing on his own two feet. No sooner had he touched the ground, though, than he fell to his knees.

“Mikmek thanks you. Be happy to help tallfolk kill big-eyes if only Mikmek have weapon.”

Achuak 10/11 – Climbing
Aria 8/9 – Hunched, Dancing Lights 6/10
Junn 4/8 – Hunched
Sordin – Hunched
Sylvia – Hunched
Takahashi 12/12 (1) – Hunched, Total Defence (+4AC), Light ~1min (Aria)
Mikmek: Uninjured

Mites 
A*: Uninjured
B*: Dying

(We are dispensing with initiative order, but we'll still be tracking rounds since there are some time-based effects still on-going and we might have company any minute now. Act in whatever order you choose [operating under a loose first-come-first-serve basis—no interrupting each other], but take each round one at a time (which is not to say you can't post more than one round if you've planned it). Next combat I'll give all y'all a new initiative to play with, but for now dealing with the kobold is the main issue, until reinforcements arrive.

(Oh, and by the way--Yes, Mikmek will totally flip out when he sees Achuak, the same as every kobold who has seen him so far.)

Here's your new map right here.
Cross-Section of the Warren: Shows the chasm just at the edge of your vision.