What is your wish? Do you see justice done here or do you bring this creature to your King for judgement? The crime was committed against your kin, you have the rightful decision. he says to Ivy, knowing she at least understands.
Ivy thinks it over, and then, with a quick flick of her wrist, one of the knives she wears slides into her hand, and she spears Azraak right between the eyes. Wounded as it already was, Azraak squeals and dies quickly.
"There, Justice, vengeance, call it what you like, that was for the sheriff, peace among you dwarves," Ivy states.
Harvald blinks, stunned "Ivy! I hated that thing too, but what of him as a witness?"
"You and I both heard that creature's confession. Folks at 'home' don't trust me, but they'll trust you, sides, we NEED these dwarves, don't we? To get back to town, maybe even to save the damn thing from drow if they're crazy enough, IF it's worth saving," Ivy says, her eyes quite bright "Now, the only dishonor if there is one at all is on me, and they stand united just like we need em. IF they want nothin' to do with me after what I just did, well, that'll just file em in with most folks i know. Small price to pay for me avengin' the only person what trusted me before and getting help I reckon."
Harvald nods , but slowly, "Some will call you a murderer for this, others an executioner."
"I been called worse," Knivy Ivy shrugs then looks to the dwarves, "Let me know when you want to go, and if you still will stomach me among you. Either way, Harvald there just became the most important member of the town... he speaks undercommon, and is trusted. If he dies, you've lost the witness they'd trust most."
At Ivy's deed, Anka raises a single brow. When she kills the creature, some of you catch the hint of a smile in Anka's compressed lips. When Ivy makes her defiant statement, some of you notice the shadow of a nod, as Anka shifts her stance & looks Harvald over.
It is done then. Dolgrin says, face as impassive as granite. It was not our place to pass judgement. The Svirfneblin made their decision.
To Ivy, whom he knows speaks Dwarvish Dolgrin says You made your choice Iverna. You now bear the burden to prove the Drow misdeeds to your King. he raises a hand to forestall her criticism of Lord Geirni I know your feelings about your King, you must put them aside for your duty is now to your people.
Ulfgar watches all that has transpired, and awaits with Anka at the front of the group to begin the trip to Fasturvalt. An approving nod is noted when Ivy ends the creatures life - whatever the creature was afraid of probably would have prevented it saying anything useful in town, this was the most expedient resolution.
" Ivy, care to join me, as we head back to town, I'd like to possibly learn of signs to look for in these environs. To give us warning of creatures and dangers that we may have forgotten in our time above ground."
"Clearly you love him more than I, Dolgrin," Ivy is not convinced, "And it maybe you care for my people more than I. Like I said, sheriff was the only one who ever gave me more than a fair shake. No skin off my nose if a group of dwarves like you help them, but not sure how much I should bend over those never treated me kind. "
Anka's appraisal of Harvald yields little to his mood beyond what was said and is obvious. The older svirneblin is troubled by Ivy's choice, but also appears to have been honest when he admits he wanted Azraak dead to. At Ivy's words, he says, "Not all the bad come your way is unearned, Ivy. But mayhaps you do get too much of it. Let's leave it at that. What's done is done, as the good dwarf there says."
" Ivy, care to join me, as we head back to town, I'd like to possibly learn of signs to look for in these environs. To give us warning of creatures and dangers that we may have forgotten in our time above ground."
"I hide more than I hunt, but i suppose I can teach ya a little," She agrees. She heard Harvald, but she's either thinking quietly on it, or leaving it be for now, "Seeing as you probably want to avoid a fight more than anything. I'm good at that."
Kragg turns away from Dolgrin as he watches Ivy knife the spider, speaking softly so the Svirfneblin don't over hear about future dwarven plans or the possible importance of Dolgrin Have it your way then but there is more to life than absolute right and wrong and if you wish to lead the dwarves from their current state then you must be willing to understand that.
With the spider dead Kragg states quite simply, Which way to your home? there is no sense lingering any longer as we will just question ourselves and our recent actions. Now the most important thing for all of us is to get you back safely. If the drow threat is real then they have plans that go against us dwarves as well. I will help you with what I can as our paths are the same for a while at least. IF Harvald is as important as it seems then we must keep him in the middle and well protected as we travel. now unless there is anything else that needs to be discussed let us find some fresher air than this lair.
If needed Kragg will cast guidance on everyone 1 at a time to help them get down the rope safely.
The young wizard's jaw drops as Ivy slays the creature. His mouth starts to move a couple of times as if he intends to speak, but no sound emerges as he fixates on the deed.
Is the world truly this savage?
Modnar shivers briefly. "I agree with Kragg. Let us be on our way, and leave this place to eddy in fate's tide."
Backing out from whence they came, and this time with more loot and more deep gnomes besides, our dwarven heroes resume their journey. The svirfneblin know this area better than you do, but even with Kragg's assistance, they're still rather weak and this slows you all down even more.
The svirfneblin are a practical people, hardened by their lives in these strange lands, so while they still grieve, they mostly focus on being as little trouble as possible (obviously unable to be NO trouble given their aforementioned condition), and they do discuss things among themselves. They don't seem to mind if you ask them what they're talking about.
Another concern might be food. The gnomes have told you its seven more days until you get to their small city. You had plenty of supplies to make it before, but now, with seven more mouths to feed and the gnomish food much spoiled by their assault, well, it's going to be cutting it close.
"ეს არის ასევე საკითხია საუკეთესო შეეხო შემდეგ არსებული პრობლემები."
"მე ვეთანხმები მას შეუძლია არაფერს ნიშნავს კარგი თუ იმ საშინელ ელფები აქვს გეგმები, მაგრამ თუ მათ წარმატების გადატრიალების, ან უარესი მტკნარი დამონება, იმ მაღაზიებში იქნება მინიმუმ ნებისმიერი ჩვენი შეშფოთება." Anka observes.
"I agree it can mean nothing good if those damned elves have plans for it, but if they succeed in a coup, or worse outright enslavement, that cache will be the least of any of our concerns."
Dolgrin says to Anka and Ulfgar as they support the caravan Your skills here are invaluable. Our thanks to you.
Dolgrin does his best on the road to Fasturvault to get to know the Gnomes, especially Harvald whom he recognizes as a leader and hopes will speak on the Dwarves behalf
Dolgrin will also attempt once more to speak with Iverna. Your people have placed little faith in you before. Perhaps now, in their hour of great need, you can show them their mistake.
Ulfgar petitions Ivy for help with the foraging
"Ivy while you are helping me to learn what to look for can you also assist me and Anka with foraging supplies?"
Survial checks:
Kragg says little but keeps a watch over everyone as the group heads towards teh gnomes home. When they stop Kragg tries to evaluate how the gnomes are doing and what is causing them to slow up the dwarves. If it is healing or disease/poison Kragg does his best to heal them using channels. If it is disease then he will try to treat them when they are ready for rest.
heal check for evaluation
channel energy each day...
halved
halved
halved
halved
halved
halved
halved
heal check for disease/poison if needed each day...
As the group's journey leaves the spiders' lair behind, Modnar keeps to himself and focuses on his spellbook. When he hears the svirfneblin speaking, he perks up and says, "რა სახის ხვრელი? არ არსებები მისცეს ნებისმიერი წარმოშობა?"
Perhaps puzzling out the monsters' hidden trove can take my mind off what happened back there . . .
While the company is stopped for food, Modnar takes the opportunity to speak with Kragg. "You may have noticed that the events in the spiders' den have troubled me. I must confess that my life has been rather . . . cloistered. Is that sort of treatment of prisoners normal?"
While not one to understand the languages that are being spoken by the gnomes Kragg does hear Modnar speak some good solid dwarven. Turning to the young lad Kragg hopes to share the time passing with him and hopes the conversation benefits both of them.
That is a complex question without an easy answer. In fact it is one that may have no right answer other than what the group secedes is the right answer. The spiders committed no crime against us other than to attack us for invading its lair. We have joined sides with our ancient allies in the hope of furthering our cause so that made the spiders our enemies.
With that being the case if the spider would have been killed in the fight then no one would have seen any problem in that action. It was a kill or be killed situation and there is no time to stop and assess the situation from a morality standpoint. Once the spider was subdued and no longer a threat though, what then? Are we responsible for it to ensure that it does no more harm to others and that no harm comes to it while it is a prisoner? Are we under obligation to protect it from those that it harmed? What rights did it have? Are we a group that believes in torture to obtain information no matter the cost? Do we believe in second chances or rehabilitation? All of these things are to be considered.
In this case I believe that the safest and most humane course of action was taken. It was clearly terrified of its superiors, so much that it preferred death to the alternative. What Ivy did, while rash and impetuous, was quick and relatively painless compared to what it believed would happen to it. Is this the normal reaction? Down here without any alternatives more than likely yes. We are in an unknown world for the most part without many options. If we had a place to put prisoners for rehabilitation or for them to work off their debt to society then I would advocate for that option instead. rightnow though we do not have that luxury.
Kragg stops eating as he asks a complex question to Modnar, The question I have for you is this. Should I feel guilty for saving the spider originally only to have it summarily killed shortly thereafter? Should I have let it die from the combat and save it those moments of pain and suffering being bound and questioned by enemies when there was no hope of its freedom or a respite other than death? That is what I have been thinking as we walk along.
Dolgrin overhears the Cleric of Zuth speaking with the Goldrune and thinks Too many words, too many damned words. He shakes his head and continues on with his tasks.
Modnar's face scrunches in thought, and the young dwarf scratches his chin. "You are probably right. What evidence do we have that Azathyr has the resources to allow for prisons? Perhaps a rapid death is, in some measure, preferable to a stretch of anxiety and fear, punctuated by a similar demise. In hindsight, I find it unlikely that the svirfneblin would have shown much mercy, given the creature's actions against their own.
"As for your part in what transpired, I would not place any fault upon you, Kragg. If naught else, we received confirmation of what appeared to have happened to the gnomish caravan. Moreover, we now have some additional insight into what we may find in Fasturvalt, and our actions might allow a prodigal to find her way back home. As Matriarch Mysta is fond of saying, 'Take care when you tug at one strand of the tapestry, or you may unravel all you have accomplished.'"
Modnar looks toward Hannarr briefly. The wizard opens his mouth for a second, then chooses not to speak. Let us not judge each other at the first juncture.
Before they set off for Fastervault:
Hannarr too was intrigued by the Spider's mention of a cache that the drow were after. Any "gift that the drow planned to make to a gnomish king couldn't be good.
Ulfgar, the spider said that cache was near here. As we leave, can you keep you eyes open for any spider or elf tracks or signs that might lead us to it? Perhaps we can secure it before them. Perhaps it will prove to eliminate or rations problem. And besides, if we are to make enemies of these drow, we best make good enemies he adds with a wry grin.
Ulfgar listens to Hannarr and can't fault the dwarf's logic. While they return the weakened gnomes to Fasturvalt he will keep an eye open for the cache while foraging.
" Aye Hannarr, I'll keep an eye out for it. Can be nothing more satisfying than using the enemies own supplies against them."
Checks to search for cache while foraging
Dolgrin gets to know Harvald, and finds the older gnome a good source of information, "Our town is one of the finest sources of stone in the entire region. Good quality stuff, beautiful and strong. So as you might imagine a lot of us are masons, carvers, that sort of thing. Me? Been serving as a soldier or guard in one capacity or another all my life. But it's frustrating, small patrols can only do so much."
Dolgrin will also attempt once more to speak with Iverna. Your people have placed little faith in you before. Perhaps now, in their hour of great need, you can show them their mistake.
"Perhaps," She admits, "But I won't hold my breath. I HAVE stolen, y'know? So I suppose I'll always be a thief to their thinking." While you aren't convicing her of anything, she has grown less guarded around you and some of the others.
"Ivy while you are helping me to learn what to look for can you also assist me and Anka with foraging supplies?"
"I'm not much of a forager, but if it helps us eat, I'll sure as hells try," She nods and spits to the side.
Kragg tends to the sickened gnomes, and while they still will want a day in bed, he does a lot of good in helping them. The Skis'raal bites defintely weakened them, but Zuth's cleric speeds their recovery.
"Much obliged to you," Xath says, quite grateful.
Meanwhile, Ulfgar, Anka, and Ivy forage for food, and keep eyes out for the 'cache' spoken of.
Despite their best efforts, the dwarves do not find the cache mentioned. Perhaps they merely overlooked it but unless they want to slow their pace to go around for a look again, they're liable to leave it, if it exists, behind.
The choice is theirs.
perception if needed for stonecunning
Continuing the conversation with Modnar, Thank you lad for the kind words. I will not take these recent actions to heart too much as we have more pressing matters to attend to. Namely we have to get the gnomes back safely and figure out what machinations may be set against us already. Perhaps we may find a strand of our enemies to unravel everything that they have done thus far. The key is to see the strands themselves and not get lost in the tapestry as a while. Wisdom comes in many forms and from a multitude of places. Thank you for imparted that to me.
Modnar chuckles for the first time in a while. "Mayhaps that will be where I finally become useful on this expedition. Staring intently at details is what my clan does best, after all. Speaking of which . . .
"Before we began the journey, the Matriarch had been working her divinatory magics to see what we might find on our journey. She mentioned 'knives in the dark,' which may be a reference to Ivy. There were also portents of a glowing door closing, and purple skin marked with a serpent. I believe that last image relates to some orcs Anka encountered on her previous expedition, who evinced advanced magical prowess. Of course, I know not if the orcs and drow are in league, but who knows what we might find upon reaching Fasturvalt?"
Though it is regrettable they cannot find the cache, the group moves on. Mulch powder becomes a staple, much to Anka's pleasure, though it's unlikely the others agree.
Fortunately, the foraging does yield some results. A few mushrooms are found, and while they look lumpy and unappetizing, the deep gnomes assure you they can be eaten, unlike the rounder smoother beckoning ones with speckles, which you're told "not only won't feed you, it'll give you the runs for days". Lumpy safe shrooms it is.
Some crickets, larger than their surface kin are also found. They have a popcorn like quality that isn't too bad if you cook them right. The real treasure is a largish salamander that makes the mistake of coming up out of a stream where it can get shot but fast!
Meat, at least for one day, is on the menu.
In the early part of of the hunting and travel, you do find a waystone, essentially a marker put by svirneblin kings of the past
This one reads “5 ½ days east and north to Fasturvalt. 9 days west to Kladdenvalt and 32 days east to Vondehammer.”
Harvald speaks up, "Those others are also holds of other svirfneblin outside of the Azathyr. You'll be seeing more of these waystones if they haven't been vandalized along the King’s
Highway. These other towns are some of the 'safe trading' locations with our own we have left."
Kragg will supplement what the others have found on the way with his deities daily allotment of libations along with clear water as well. His 20 rations that he brought along on his own he will eat instead of the mulch powder to conserve the dry staple. It will last longer Kragg surmises than the food that I brought.
At the marker Kragg is slightly intrigued by the notion of the other settlements. Should the other towns be warned of any future drow incursions? Vondehammer seems like too far of a distance but Kladdenvalt may be close enough to warn. Then again it would be 14 1/2 days once we get to Fasturvalt. If only we could speed our way to give the others a chance. No sense ruminating on what can not be done. We shall just need to hurry as fast as we can and pray that it is enough.
"Before we began the journey, the Matriarch had been working her divinatory magics to see what we might find on our journey. She mentioned 'knives in the dark,' which may be a reference to Ivy. There were also portents of a glowing door closing, and purple skin marked with a serpent. I believe that last image relates to some orcs Anka encountered on her previous expedition, who evinced advanced magical prowess. Of course, I know not if the orcs and drow are in league, but who knows what we might find upon reaching Fasturvalt?"
Portents and omens are never easy to decipher but at least we have some forewarning if we do see anyone in purple. We should be aware of purple clothing as well for dreams can mislead and interpretations can vary.
To his surprise, Modnar develops a taste for the subterranean crickets. "While I cannot say I will miss these when our journey is at its end, a bit of texture is a pleasant switch from mulch powder."
When the party reaches the waystone, Modnar asks Harvald, "Are these other settlements vassals of Fasturvalt, or does each have its own monarch? If the former, this drow incursion may be far more entrenched than we can delve."
Our goal is Fasturvalt, and our new allies need our aid. Dolgrin says
Aye. We need to stay to our path. But Modnar's question is an interesting one. How closely tied are these other towns? He turns to theirs gnomish companions. Can they be relied upon to send aid in the face of a tangible threat?
The wizard nods in assent. "My question was not meant to indicate a change in direction. I am merely trying to assess the political structure of the svirfneblin cities and the possible scale of the plot we face.".
"Usually, each city or town has it's own government," Harvald says, answering Modnar and Hannarr "Kladdenvault is larger, a true stronghold, but very insular, very suspicious even of fellow svirfneblin. They've never raised a finger to help anyone else though there is no malice in it that I know of. Vondehammer is closer to Fasturvalt's size, though they're more into iron than stone. I don't think they have reserves to send. We trade with both now and then, but it's been powerful hard. The Kings Highway is more dangerous than ever."
While continued talk of the other towns may or may not occur even while talking occurs you move forward. With Kragg's helping the svirneblin, their pace has picked up a bit. Even dwarves must sleep though, and on the night before you are soon to be arriving at your destination, you do just that.
Indeed, it seems to be the sharpest thing you've ever held in your life. It cuts the armor on your gauntlet when you press it even lightly against the metal.
She speaks no words as you practice, and swing it about. It cuts the very stone around you, in smooth easily slices as if cutting human butter with a heated kitchen knife.
Foes come, and you slash them as they approach. Down they go, heads falling from bodies, legs dropping off, the blade is too sharp for them to resist.
The foes vanish, and you are victorious...
but your arm grows heavy with the weight of the blade.
You have no scabbard for the sword. You set it down on the stone, and it threatens to cut through the very cave floor! You have to grab it to keep that from happening.
And, once more, it grows heavy.
Then another hand comes out, a dwarven hand. You CAREFULLY hand over the blade. Then it grows heavy for that unseen dwarf, and he (Or is it a she?) hands the blade to another dwarf near him (or her). And so on, each taking their turn, though in the end the blade returns to you.
"What is the lesson?" Ysolmir finally speaks.
Another dwarf about your age shakes his head, "Try this instead." And offers you a fine dark drink, as good as any you've had. Indeed, it's powerful stuff, and warms your heart.
You and this dwarf, who seems oddly familiar, have a drink together for a moment, when he says, "See, pretty much the same as you had, but seasoned. Some very promising brews come from just waiting for them to mature. They just need a lot of patience, eh?" He chuckles, "But they're stronger for it in the end."
"I've been watching you as best I can, on and off. Listening tells me more, your group can be a chatty lot, which is good for me," She smirks for a second before sobering, "Alas, there's still much I can't tell you about what's ahead. Easier to scry you where you are than try to go to places I've never been. This spell is one way, so whatever you think you're saying to me. I'll not hear it. It's a joy for an old wizardess like me to have all the talking and not to have to listen to a young upstart's prattling, even if that upstart is serving me quite well. Know this, from what I DID hear of your talk, things that further research has said:
Some dark elves are not black as jet, but rather.... almost purple in hue.
The old gnome king was an ally, I don't know about this new one, but the old one was wise. Keep an eye out for what that late king may have hidden even from the drow. Some sign of our old trade or visit must linger still.
And I don't know what all that fuss was about the Skis'raal renegades, but things sounded positively tense between folks for a bit there. Hopefully they won't need reminding, but try to keep everyone as unified as possible. Course, I realize you're no diplomat, but try if it comes to that.
As for how things fare here? About like you'd expect, save for one thing that's a surprise. A young boy of our people , with no clan no less, claimed he wanted to learn magic. Said he wanted to be your apprentice, mentioned you by name. Claims his name is Lok. I told him you had gone doing wizardly things...and that seems to satisfy him, but he seems to have decided, that when you get back, you're going to be his arcane mentor so he could learn from you 'how to make the earth swallow folks up'."
At that, her half hidden visage is definitely amused, "If you like the lad, maybe he could be at that. Another reason to set up SOMETHING down there. Gods of the folk knows he doesn't have much chance here."
Kragg wakes with the taste of alcohol on his lips. The taste lingers long after it should have disappeared from his lips. There was something familiar about it yet distinct enough to know that it was new to him. He was experienced enough to know that such an occurance should not have been possible but the taste was too fresh and tangible to discount. Clearly the dwarf that he had shared a drink with was another manifestation of Zuth himself. With that thought Kragg focused intently on the words of the dwarf and nodded to himself.
Looking around he tries to see who is on watch to know how long he had been asleep. Wide awake now he offers to take the watch so he can ruminate more fully on what he experience and how he could put those words into practice.
In the morning Kragg prays long and hard to Zuth to grant him wisdom during the day so that the proper interactions with the gnomes may go as well as possible.
Dolgrin is in awe of the Mithral Warrioress, he holds the sword out, his shoulders screaming for rest. Duty is two edged.It cannot be put down. It cannot be put away, it must always be tended. Each Dwarf must tend their Duty. he says kneeling before the Herald of Holy Ardwal.
Then she says, "Under a mask of stone, cruel and crude
One may find a treasure of lore and faith. Knock at the unseen door, and you may yet hear the echo of honor preserved."
And with that, the dream ends.
Anka raises an eyebrow at Kragg's insistence, but little else. Once certain the elder is well-prepared for his vigil she takes a soldier's advantage of the opportunity for an unplanned nap.
Ulfgar wakes from his rest to see Kragg sending Anka to bed early from her watch. Maybe the old guy just can't sleep, oh well, Anka can always use the rest. The extra foraging and scouting is taking it toll on all of us With that thought the ranger returns to his rest.
Modnar shoots to a sitting position in the darkness. "Purple skin!" he gasps, before realizing his dream is over. Shaking himself to full wakefulness, he chuckles softly at what he saw. The Matriarch must love the thought of being able to speak without my interrupting. I would say she has earned that opportunity, though.
The wizard starts again when he sees Kragg on watch. "Have I slept that long already? Perhaps I should simply begin studying my spells." He reaches for his grimoire before realizing no one else has begun to stir, then shrugs and plops his head back to his bedroll.
When everyone rests, and rises, you come into the last day of your travel.
And frankly, it makes the more stonewise and tactically savvy of you nervous. The cavern tunnel thins, thin enough that a caravan might have to unload and then resemble (taking valuable time, but still the quickest path), but it also bends into more than one location that would be ideal for an ambush from elevated outcroppings.
You come across another marker that reads (in undercommon, gnome,
dwarvish, elvish and skis’raal): “Fasturvalt ahead, domain of the great Lord Geirni son of Geiri. All who come in peace are welcome.”
Ivy sneers at the word 'great'
Fortunately, no ambush comes, and you find yourself, at last, gazing upon Fasturvalt. Anywhere else in the world the cave that contains the town would rate among the largest caverns anyone has ever seen. Of course, those were the rules of the near surface that you knew. Now you are in the deep, and there are deeper environments still. This maybe quite common for all you know.
The cavern ceiling rises more than a hundred yards high at its central apex and is adorned with countless natural hanging formations. Running right through the center of this cavern is the Snabbinflod (" the
Quick Water" in gnomish). This aptly named river comes into Fasturvalt
from a tumultuous waterfall along its northwestern wall and roars through the center of town.The river is black, cold, deep and deceptively fast. The song of the Snabbinflod (as the gnomes call it), a low dull roar, never ceases in the cavern.
"Don't go swimming in that by the by, smash you up good against the rocks, the Quick Water will," Harvald warns, "The Channel we made off it is slightly safer. It heads to the Stock Lake where we gather up fish and the like."
Ivy smirks, "Not that you want to swim in the stock lake either."
As you go further in, you can see great mushroom fields, differing types, and some of it as tall as cornstalks. While you can see some gnomes farming them and tending them, those of you familiar with religious rites might also notice signs of burial there.
And, of course, beyond all that, in this damp and cool place, are the actual dwellings of the people. Neighborhoods of sorts rise up along the slopes. Residences, places of commerce, shrines, and no doubt the dwelling place of the local Lord too.
And, of course, there are those who greet, or at least comment on your approach
Mutters of gnomish chatter among
"Dwarves? Here? Why it's been an age."
"Maybe they have an ambassador like the drow."
"Hope no trouble comes of this."
"Be polite, they're guests to our fine town."
"Ivy is with them. I wonder if she tried to rob them blind and got caught?"
Harvald, would you secure an Audience with the King for us..
Not having picked up on the Gnomish lanuguage as of yet, Ulfgar has no clue what the town's inhabitants are commenting on. Yet catching Ivy's remark he turns to her...
"Not that I intend to go swimming, I sink like a rock you see; but just what is in the lake?"
Letting out a low whistle as he looks around at the city, Ulfgar addresses Harvald.
"IT is nice to see actual civilization again after so many days. Surprising to see the size of this area, most of the troll and orc hidey holes I've seen before can't even begin to compare in size, forget the actual structures and society that are here."
He will continue to look around and admire the gnomes handiwork.
anything stand out as either not being kept up or of exceptional quality. Or I guess do they take pride in their city?
Modnar looks around the cavern of Fasturvalt, and his shoulders relax for the first time in days. "It's comforting to be back in civilization again."
Overhearing the hubbub surrounding the party's arrival, Modnar asks the caravan members, "I heard the townsfolk mention a drow ambassador. Does the ambassador keep residence here?"
That could make our audience . . . problematic.
As is his nature at times like these, Kragg says nothing as he takes in the surroundings. He does not understand what is being said by the inabitnts but he tries to catch the tone of those he is passing. He does hear Modnar mention the Drow ambassador and wonders indeed how things are going to progress when word of a Drow plot against the gnomes is revealed. A private audience with the king, his advisors, the dwarves, and the caravan would be adventitious in this instance.
What concerns Kragg the most though is the welfare of Harvald. The need to keep him alive and avoid assassination is paramount until his message is delivered to the king.
As Fasturvault closes ahead & the Gnomish citizens pass around them, Anka takes on an even more cautious air. A caution not diminished even slightly at the mention of Drow 'Ambassadors'...
"Gardu," She mutters in surface common, "La Elfoj kuriero tie. Mi ne volis preni _odds_ la pintaj oreloj bastardo ĉeestos se ni provas havi Harvald prezentas nian kazon."
The Drow have an ambassador here. I wouldn't take odds the pointy-eared bastard will be present if we try to have Harvald present our case."
Harvald, would you secure an Audience with the King for us..
Harvald nods, "I'll give it a go, any of you want to come with me to try to sway the guards? YOU may recognize me as sheriff but most of the town doesn't even know about Gunther's loss and might not see me as having a right to the job like you folks do. And, o course, somebody really should tell his wife..." Harvald says, "And I know she's like to meet the heroes who returned his things."
"Not that I intend to go swimming, I sink like a rock you see; but just what is in the lake?"
If you get closer to it, you can see the lake is anything but pleasant. The water here is murky and overgrown with mildly bioluminescent
cave algae that give the lake a sickening pale green glow."The stock lake? Well, as the name implies mostly fish, blind fellows we dreg up for food now and then, along with other things. Lots of things get dumped in the stocklake refuse wise, not stuff that'll poison us or the fish, but most don't want to swim in it. Now Diamond Lake, further outsie the city? That's right pretty."
Letting out a low whistle as he looks around at the city, Ulfgar addresses Harvald.
"IT is nice to see actual civilization again after so many days. Surprising to see the size of this area, most of the troll and orc hidey holes I've seen before can't even begin to compare in size, forget the actual structures and society that are here."
He will continue to look around and admire the gnomes handiwork.
"Oh, it's just a small town in a big cave to most," Harvald says, though despite his modest start, you can hear pride in him, "But it's a lot to us... some see the cavern almost as our mother y'know? Provides all we need, even each other."
Modnar looks around the cavern of Fasturvalt, and his shoulders relax for the first time in days. "It's comforting to be back in civilization again."
Overhearing the hubbub surrounding the party's arrival, Modnar asks the caravan members, "I heard the townsfolk mention a drow ambassador. Does the ambassador keep residence here?"
"I didn't even know he was in town," Harvald frowns, "And not sure where he'd be staying, I hope not the palace itself, but it's possible. Might also be somewhere outside of town if he's just popping and out. No, if the Baroness of the drow has sent an ambassador here, they've made deeper inroads than I feared. Gunther was right."
Kragg picks up on some tones alright. The deep gnomes here seem very nervous and uncertain, a bit fearful, and yet, some have a sense of wonder about ...well, YOU... the dwarves that is. They stare, and some smile, as if your people are not all together forgotten by the elder, and the very young , well, it seems children of almost any race love legends.
As Fasturvault closes ahead & the Gnomish citizens pass around them, Anka takes on an even more cautious air. A caution not diminished even slightly at the mention of Drow 'Ambassadors'...
"Gardu," She mutters in surface common, "La Elfoj kuriero tie. Mi ne volis preni _odds_ la pintaj oreloj bastardo ĉeestos se ni provas havi Harvald prezentas nian kazon."
That causes blank stares from Ivy and the other deep gnomes. It seems down here, surface commmon is as rare as undercommon is on the surface, at least among the svirfneblin.
Ivy also speaks up, "Well, where do you all want to go now that your here? Straight to try to get that audience or to Esmeralda...that's Gunther's wife..." SHe frowns and corrects, "Widow... Or to another part of town like our temples or the Blue Bat? That's a tavern. Other places too"
We should see the King first, unless some of you wish to visit the widow instead. Dolgrin says, knowing some of his kin are not keen on speaking with royalty.
"Yeah, I can see where you'd not want to take a dip in that. Maybe one day you'll be able to show me this Diamond lake" He says with a smile. "Dwarves ever were ones to appreciate gem-like beauty"
Ivy also speaks up, "Well, where do you all want to go now that your here? Straight to try to get that audience or to Esmeralda...that's Gunther's wife..." SHe frowns and corrects, "Widow... Or to another part of town like our temples or the Blue Bat? That's a tavern. Other places too"
Hearing mention of a tavern, Ulfgar's perks up a bit...
"Well being as I speak neither Undercommon or Gnomish, I will be a little use at either the King's audience or the widow's house; except as moral support or advisement if either is wished. Otherwise a trip to the tavern would be in my future. Just to wash the dust of travels from my throat I assure you. Anyone care to join?"
Anka is clearly uncomfortable at the idea of diplomatic pleasantries with the Gnomish nobility. Her demeanor improves significantly at the mention of speaking with Gunther's widow instead.
At Ulfgar's admission that he is ignorant of either their host's tongue or the 'lingua plebia' of Azathyr, she shakes her head a trifle incredulously. "That we're going to have to repair & not before time. Just stick wi' Ivy or I & let us do the talking." She smirks.
With a slightly sheepish shrug of his shoulders Ulfgar just reminds Anka...finishing with a grin.
"Up above, most of the undercommon I heard was cursing, not much time for pleasantries amongst the trolls and orcs in the hills. At least not when your lobbing arrows at each other or trying to remove your opponents head from his shoulders. And as for gnomish, they were traders and spoke our tongue. The need had not come up before. As there is need now, I will be a willing student to the willing teacher, granted, getting something to stick in this head of mine might be a tall task for a short people."
I agree that we need to see the king and that the widow should hear from those that were with him last. However, the message needs to be delivered to the king first so we may see a few things. First, how does the king receive the message. Second is the Drow ambassador there. For those reason I would go with Harvald to better protect him and see what machinations a in the works.