>>5310071>13…Because you arrive too late. Well, not exactly TOO late—rather, right on-time for the confrontation which you envisaged. You find a crumbled natural wall, chipped and dismantled by kobold activity; through this entrance into the small reptiloids’ mining complex, Hapo leads you to where he and the other kobold who once formed the so-called Dragonwrought found their cache of magic items, ‘shinies’… And the eggs.
And there, in this holy place, you see them. Having expanded a small hole on the opposite wall through strength-of-arm and rusted hammer and pick, there lurk a small cluster of cloth-swaddled, glowing-eyed mammals. Pinpricks of deadly sharpness penetrate their clothing at odd angles, lending the collection of a half-dozen stout figures an air of danger… And confirming their identity. Barbed devils, or whatever you would call them. Scavengers of the deep places. You think you even recognize one of them—the parasitic opportunist who once tried to assail you, who you captured and mercifully spared. If he remembers the way you and Glowie (the venomous and surprisingly-stealthy worm-woman princess, awaiting you topside in Reptilain disguise) dealt with him so handily before, it would certainly explain and nervous step he takes backwards. Perhaps you are mistaken, though, for all of his cohort seem taken-aback by the way you barrel into the room, backed by five kobolds, a pair of True Reptilians, and four-fire-lizards, baring a glowing moon-sabre. You see no sign of the leader who you glimpsed in your divination.
The barbed-devils have scarcely entered the room. You have, likewise, only just stepped inside. Neither of you make a move—not right away. It won’t be long, though. No race which thrives in the darkness below long hesitates to take decisive action—if they did, their bloodlines would have perished in this harsh environment long, long ago.
What do you do?
>Attempt to intimidate them away with a roar and a show of force—you cannot assume <Improved Dragonshape>, but you clearly have them on the back foot>Open diplomacy, having the Translator issue a warning and request formal discussion in dwarf-tongue—you know they speak it>Strike first, strike hard, no mercy! Set them ablaze with Firebreath, while you allies bombard them with slings and arrows!>Charge in to block their entry personally, flanked by your fire-lizards, while the rest of your retinue abscond with the eggs>Write-in 