Ambushed!

We set out this morning just after breakfast. I stayed near the holy donkey. I don't really quite understand what makes donkeys so unique, but I can't deny that their demeanor has a serene calmness. We walked along the road all morning¿without incident. After a brief stop for lunch, we continued our trek. We had decided to start with the southernmost of the unexplored fingers and had almost reached the spot where we would turn east into the jungle when we came on the remains of two holy donkeys lying in the middle of the road.
 
Jefa foolishly charged forward to check on them, heedless of the arrows in their corpses and the potential for their foul murders to be still lurking in the vicinity. I readied myself for action, and the others in our band cautiously proceeded. When a figure appeared in the trees, I cast a sorcerous blade of flame as others joined in. That foul murderer didn't last long and fell from the tree in which he was perched. As we engaged the other figures in the trees, Jefa again showed poor judgment. Despite the plain evidence that these fiends were responsible for the deaths of two holy donkeys and their ambush of us, he tried to parley with them. It was unsuccessful, as was fitting.
 
As another of the assailants was quickly dealt with, they summoned a giant squirrel. Draal engaged the beast, showing great courage. With my bow, I got off a good shot as the monster ravaged Draal. Nibo healed him, then smote the squirrel, sending it scurrying back into the forest in fear for its life. As we turned to the remaining gnome, he exercised discretion, if not valor, and fled into the forest as well.
 
We revived the treed gnome for questioning, but he proved uncooperative. Jefa continued to be a problem, apparently convinced that we would have to make peace with the gnomes at some point. Clearly, Newt has addled his brains and instilled him with the bane of Kobold-kind from time immemorial: morals. Having set themselves against kobolds and the Servants of Hanseath and having committed the sacrilege of murdering holy donkeys, the entire tribe must be slain, atoning for the blood of the innocent beasts they slew by spilling their own.
 
There was some dispute over how to deal with the filthy gnomish scum, and although he deserved death, I tossed a ration at his feet in an attempt to get our band to move on before the slime returned with reinforcements. It worked, and we left, setting off into the jungle. Oh, welcome the darkness and cover! But I have marked the gnomes for destruction. When we encounter them again, I shall slay as many as I can. If we're fortunate, we will be able to slay and raze the entire village.