rzen looked at the others, "My Shadow Riders and I have encountered Changelings before and I have to tell you that they are a nasty piece of business if they infiltrate our ranks. I recommend that we team up in pairs. No one gets out of the sight of their partner. And we have a simple code word and safe word that only we know to differentiate ourselves from the Changeling should we get separated. I would recommend 'Apple' as our code word and 'Cobbler' as the safe word. If we get separated and run into each other, then we can use that code word and safe word to determine who is who and what is what. What do you guys think?"

"Someone has apple pie on the brain doesn't he?" Alyson looked at the swordsman.

"A hot apple pie and a cup of warm coffee would be nice right about now I admit," The Swordsman confessed, "But that code word and safe word might mean the difference between us rescuing these people and us ending up just like them."

"Simple but if it keeps the changeling at bay enough for us to help the gnomes." Lazheros made note of the entire area down below and started to draw a map on the ground.

"It will be worth it," Serna replied as she looked at Lazheros drawing, "Okay, Laz, what do you have there?"

Lazheros drew a rough sketch of the area below with the large crystal not quite in the center but more to the left. He then found two narrow rocks indicating who the main boss and the twisted gnome. "Over there and over there are where most of the gnomes are being forced to mine. Straight ahead and right below us. Oddly enough, perhaps splitting up would be a better idea here with one of Gimble's kin to partner with. That way, the overseer wouldn't be able to target all of us at any given time. Thoughts?"

"I say let's take out the overseer first and rescue the miners second," Irzen replied bluntly, "Cut the head off the snake while we have the element of surprise. If we take out the overseer, then the Bullywugs will be practically leaderless. Without his direction, we will be able to sweep the Bullywugs aside--at least those that do not flee first--and free the Gnomes quickly and with a minimal amount of bloodshed. Other thoughts?"

"I'm game for whatever happens." Alyson nodded.

Caliaphy hemmed and hawed, "Umm, maybe we should get the gnomes out first, so they don't caught in the middle, yeah."

Serna held her peace and listened to all of the suggestions the people were presenting.

Lazheros closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them, "The final decision is up to the shield maiden here and since we're all children as it were we should use that to our advantage."

"Cuz' kids are unpredictable?" The elementalist piled up a sizable collection of pebbles.

"Precisely." The bronze man winked.

"Okay! I thought it over," Serna replied, "Lazheros and Caliaphy are absolutely right! We need to get the Gnomes to safety first, then we can deal with the Bullywugs and the Overseer without anyone getting caught in the crossfire. Sorry, Irzen."

"No problem!" The Swordsman smiled, "So what's the plan."

"The plan is you, Alyson and one of the Gnomes sneak over to the Miners at the far end of the cavern and free them while Lazheros, Gimble and I free the Miners at this end of the cavern. Once everyone is out of here we take down those mean, nasty Bullywugs and that mean, nasty overseer too. Any questions?"

"Okay. Let's do this." The elementalist said when Nathosot volunteered to go with her and the swordsman.

"Remember to ask for 'Apple Cobbler' if something feels off." The Bronze Man said quietly watching them head down the rocky path.