D3 (Derro Cave)

The derro in this room are startled by the PCs' presence, but take a break from their own twisted version of rat-torture D&D to deal with the party. I suggest the following encounter for a party of five adventurers:

• 1 Kobold Rat Master (see Dragon Magazine Annual 2009)
  
• 1 Kobold Vermin Handler (see Dragon Magazine Annual 2009)
• 2 Kobold Pikers (see Dragon Magazine Annual 2009)
• 1 Kobold Slyblade
  

Total: 925 xp (Level 4 Encounter)

Describe the derro's actions as maddeningly erratic (including their Shifty power). Flavor their combat style well and unless the party has had run-ins with kobolds in the past they'll never realize they're fighting a completely different base monster.