Sighing quietly, Zeroth tightened his grip on his battle axe and began to size up the opponents in front of him and Ardric. Zeroth knew he and his allies were going to get exhausted before too long and they couldn't let any of these gnomes get killed. As Zeroth began to formulate a plan of attack, noting the kobolds seemed to be watching them at a distance for now, he heard an all too familiar voice pipe up from behind the group of gnomes. "Tingle has an idea for this. Tingle will consider this the first field test of my latest explosive project." Tingle giggled lightly as he walked through the group of gnomes, procuring what appeared to be an apple-sized ball with a small button on the top. Zeroth saw that the orb was dark gray all the way around with two slots parallel that went around the middle of the orb. "And what exactly will that orb do, Tingle?" Zeroth asked hesitant of how Tingle would answer. In response, Tingle pressed the small button on the orb and in the same instant, a bright purple and blue light began emanating from the orb. Smiling because Tingle knew it was working as intended, he threw the orb toward the kobolds, the orb bouncing a few feet in front of the kobolds, getting brighter with every bounce. Once the orb rolled to a stop in front of the kobolds, the radiant lights abruptly dimmed, and then, in the blink of an eye, the orb erupted into a spectacular display of arcing blue and purple electricity. The lightning crackled with intense energy, eviscerating the kobolds within a matter of seconds, the electricity arcing from kobold to kobold. The sudden burst of light left an afterimage burned into the eyes of those who witnessed the explosive prowess of Tingle's invention.

Zeroth, stunned by the terrifying power of Tingle's inventions, patted him on the back and said, "Good gods gnome, how the hell did you create that? I'm pretty sure Varic wet his pants back there and he's got quite the magical arsenal." As Ardric laughed at that comment, Zeroth thought he heard Varic spouting some profanities towards him for that. "Either way, that was much nicer than another fight, especially after dealing with the Three Heads. Speaking of, why didn't you use that orb on them? That would have saved me a free slicing!" Zeroth said, chuckling slightly. Tingle, not smiling now, said, "Tingle believes they didn't deserve a quick and easy death. They deserved to be killed piece by piece." Zeroth was shocked by how serious Tingle was being but remembered what Tingle had been through in his past. "At least they are gone, along with a good number of kobold followers. Now, we need to get these poor gnomes out of here and back to Alderbrook. Someone has to be able to work this toxin out of them if it doesn't pass with the three-day journey there." Ardric, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "Right. We can't afford to linger here. These gnomes need medical attention, and I'd rather not spend another moment in this dank place." Varic, ever watchful, approached to see what everyone was discussing. His eyes, tinged with green energy, surveyed the scene. "We have to move quickly. The longer we stay, the more complications we might face." The urgency in his voice was palpable, reflecting the gravity of their mission.

Zeroth grunted in agreement with Varic's sentiment, his hand ready on his battle axe, and signaled for Tingle and Varic to take the rear while he and Ardric guarded the front. The trek out seemed more straightforward, with the remnants of the kobold forces likely scattered and demoralized after the chaotic events that unfolded in their lair. Zeroth tried to focus on the task at hand, aiding the gnomes and ensuring a safe journey back to Alderbrook. Eldrin, though occasionally complaining, expressed his gratitude for the help Zeroth and his companions provided. Yet, in the recesses of Zeroth's mind, an unsettling presence lingered. He attempted to suppress thoughts of the fiery entity within his battle axe, preferring not to dwell on the mysterious and ominous warnings it had delivered in his dreams. The more he tried to push these concerns aside, the more they seemed to fester in the corners of his consciousness. Despite the urgency of their mission, the weight of the unknown bore down on him. With time seeming to pass faster while Zeroth was deep in thought, he realized they were approaching the hidden entrance door that Ardric pressed Tingle into to open. Halting at the door, Zeroth looked back towards Tingle with a slightly evil grin and said, "Hey Tingle, wanna try the trick again in reverse or do you think it opens normally from this side?" Tingle gulped and said, "Tingle would prefer not to be slammed into a door again, thank you." Looking back at the door, Zeroth began to push against it, and with Ardric's help, the door opened with little trouble. As everyone exited the sanctum into the fresh night air, Eldrin gasped as he took in his first breath of clean air since his capture. The weight of captivity seemed to lift from his shoulders, replaced by a sense of newfound hope. Zeroth knew it must feel amazing to be free once again. "By the stars above, it feels good to be out of that accursed place," Eldrin exclaimed, his voice filled with gratitude. Zeroth couldn't help but smile at the old gnome's reaction, a sense of satisfaction washing over him as he glanced at his companions. "Glad we could help," he replied, his tone reflecting the weary yet determined spirit of their group. Ardric clapped Eldrin on the back, offering a reassuring grin. "Don't thank us just yet, old timer. We still have a journey ahead of us. But don't you worry, we'll get you all back to Alderbrook safe and sound?" Tingle, his usual enthusiasm undiminished despite the trials they had faced, chimed in, "Yeah, and we'll make sure to celebrate once we're back in town!" Varic, ever the pragmatist, nodded in agreement. "Let's focus on getting back first. We can celebrate once we know everyone's safe."

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With their spirits buoyed by the prospect of returning home, the group set off into the night, Zeroth leading the way out of the canyon so he and his allies could put together a camp for everyone to rest. Zeroth made sure the most frail of the gnomes, Eldrin included, had something decent to sleep on. Zeroth knew he would be fine sleeping on the hard earth, the hum of nature always lulled him to sleep. As Zeroth lay on the ground, his mind drifting towards sleep, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him like a persistent shadow. The night air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the heat that seemed to emanate from his very thoughts. With a sigh, Zeroth took a bite of the pork jerky, savoring the taste as he chewed. But even the distraction of food couldn't dispel the creeping sense of dread that lingered in the back of his mind. As exhaustion began to tug at his eyelids, Zeroth's consciousness slipped into the realm of dreams. But instead of the peaceful respite he longed for, he was met with a vision of fire and darkness, the echoing laughter of the fiery entity echoing in his ears like a taunting melody. "You have done well, dwarf," the entity's voice reverberated through Zeroth's mind, each word dripping with malice. "But know this: many more will fall by your hand before my time comes. And when it does, you will lose everything." The laughter that followed was chilling, sending shivers down Zeroth's spine as he struggled to make sense of the ominous warning. Was it merely a figment of his imagination, or a premonition of things to come? Unable to shake the feeling of foreboding that clung to him like a second skin, Zeroth drifted into a fitful sleep, haunted by the specter of the fiery entity and the dark prophecy it had laid before him.