If we can help the gnomes with the Goldwhiskers, then they ought to help us in return.
" I am sure I speak for most of us when I say we will help yous however we can, if yous want to prove yous are not Goldwhiskers maby yous can prove yourselves by helping with the problem at hand for your people?"
Edlethron agrees, "Topsy, Turvy, we have stood shoulder to shoulder for too long and gone through too much to stop now. Let's go find a bed and bit of luxury."
They seem to give an "aweshucks" kind of look while still looking a bit doubtful. The party trudges on guided by the quaggoth until the svirfneblin cobblestones come to a sheer brick wall. One of the smaller quaggoth gets close and sniffs around the edges until sliding a claw into the mortar, flipping a concealed copper lever. The brick wall swings inward, and you are hit with a dry but pleasant smelling air. It is pitch black inside. Derendil says "Here is a way to what they call the Pickshine Mines...and where we leave you. He grips Edlethron on the shoulders "I hope you understand, this is something I have to do. Perhaps we will meet again in the battle against the dark overlords..."
Jimjar is pleased, seemingly unempathetic about Derendil's departure "Ah, the Pickshines! Delightful. Er...hmm, they always said there was only one way into the Pickshine Mines. I guess they were wrong! We are right on the outskirts of the metropolis proper then."
Kriv reachs out and grasps Derendils arm in a firm shake.
"It was a honor knowing you, I hope fortune shines on yous and that you are able to stay safe"
"Stay safe Derendil."
The party makes its way through a pitch black passage. Remnants of copper and iron veins are abundant, but there are also signs of mithril and adamantine. Jimjar mentions a number of precious gemstones are often found in these tunnels in splendid abundance.
Soon you hear the *clink clink clink* of gnomes at work...
Once they are insight kriv will raise his hands in a sign to show he is not wielding any weapons and intends no harm.
Striding up with a complete lack of self awareness and total confidence, Khaz yells ”Oi! Gnomes! Good to see ye!”
Cade waves sheepishly muttering, "Please don't be horrifically evil."
Edlethron pulls Derendil into an embrace and whispers, "take care of yourself, prince. Please look for my family, and I will look for yours."
============
Reaching the miners, the wood elf smiles and says, "Aye, dwarven diplomacy."
The gnomes seem completely shocked and take cover, their wide scared eyes peeking out from behind a little wagon of ores. "W-who goes there? Be ye friend, or foe?!! D-d-don't come any closer!!"
Another simply can't handle it and breaks down completely, dropping to the floor and rolling around muttering "...demons...demons..." while a pair drags him behind the wagon. You hear whispers like "How did they get in here?! Infernal teleporters, must be." Another chucks a rough sapphire at you in surprise, clinking off Kriv's shinguard.
Gael lifted up his hands, "No, no demons. We are traveling passing through."
He quickly added, "We were guided here. We mean no harm."
The svirfneblin look at each other, unsure and visibly shaking.
"Cousins! Really! My traveling companions and I aren't here to do harm!
At Gael there is some hushed suspicion "...that necklace...the mark of Ghaunadaur..."
At Froog the pop up their heads in disbelief "Why, look at that he looks just like Micky!"
Another who looks like he has some authority (the ridiculous elevated shoulderpads give it away) approaches "...Then why are you here? And so armed..."
Jimjar looks at Topsy and Turvy and probably thinks its better to leave it up to you whether or not to tell them the truth about evading the drow prison and so on.
"Does Micky have a great leather tricorn, too?" the wood elf says with a smile.
Cade smiles, "We are all about the peace and friendship."
Their eyes go mad at the sight of the hat, you can almost see their huge pupils widening as they nearly cry in delight, collectively their hearts let out an ecstatic sigh. "Thats some headwear, master cousin!" The authoritative one nods at Cade "I'm Dasco, Dasco Pickshine. These are my tunnels. I still dont know how you got in here, but if you are really interested in peace and friendship, prove it by escorting us to the main gate...can use some protection these days. Besides the odd insane elemental, damned ghost, lycanthropic impossibilities and flesh eating puddings...we've seen signs of a cursed cave badger in these parts!!" just the mention of the cave badger seems to startle the rest of them.
Froog stands proudly as the praise showers on him. "Of course we'll escort you to the gate! Though... we don't know the way. Cursed badger you say?"
Cade nods "That's fair." He looks off in the distance lost in thought I wonder if its the same badger I met awhile back? "A badger. What makes it cursed?"
Edlethron prepares to get near the front of the gaggle of gnomes. He would lead but doesn't where to go.
"How in the name of Bahamut did a badger get cursed?"
"...ah yes, that's right. Ornery thing, that. Has the mark of the damned, a drow symbol scorched in its steel-like fur. Must've once been a companion of the dark elves, raised on human flesh no doubt...now its burrowed into our little space. Sometimes in the sleeping hour you can hear it crunching copper ore to sharpen its teeth..."
The journey to the gate only takes an hour, notably you pass a heavily guarded portal which must be the "only" entrance/exit to Dasco's mines. Great stones flank its sides, which seem to be breathing out of the corner of your eyes...perhaps the legendary Galeb-duhr are his guardians.
Reaching the long stairs down to Blingdenstone proper, the cart is driven onto a large elevator that seems to function from the physical work of an ensnared earth elemental. Its heavy pacing gently lowers the ore laden cart down to the gates...
Taking the stairs, you beat the cart down and are met with 8 heavily armed svirfneblin. One of them holds a glowing gem up to his eye like a spyglass, scanning over you all. The gate itself is a marvel of steel, mithral, adamantine and some undiscernable alloy (perhaps a svirfneblin secret).
"Hmm...surfacers? Yes, you are...names and intentions?" one of them inquires.
”Khaz Dourblade! Came here to kill drow!” He pulled out his Drow ear trophies. ”Lookin’ to get back to me kin. But first, me hammer, me beautiful hammer, be damaged. Need a forge to fix it. Me companions though, they jus’ want to get to ththe surface.”
Vic Lofliss...looking to get to the surface, but willing to help free or recover any taken wood elfs, by the drow scum.
"Captain" Froog nods and grins at Ed, "Froog Nackle at your service. I originally came down here to spread the word of Lathander the Lightbringer to try to bring some light into these dark places."
"Kriv, I am looking for a way back to the surface while trying to just survive."
"I can second that wanting to see the surface bit. I am Cade. Cade Whistler, we are grateful for you hospitality."
The guard in charge squints his eyes at Khaz' hammer "Mmm...yes I can see it as it once was, quite a piece...quite a piece in indeed. Seek Plucky Tinderfiddler in the Caves of Clatter. And nice tatoos, by the way."
Another listens to Froog "Lathander? Oh no, he has forsaken this place...we only trust Smoothhands here."
To the others "So, seeking captives and a way to the surface? Perhaps you were once captives yourselves...I don't know, I don't know...best speak to Diggermattock." he adds shrugging "Is that Jimjar? I suppose you cant be all that bad...but those Aerialpick twins..." motioning to Topsy and Turvy, raising his nose in the air. "We'll see what Diggermattock says. One last thing..." he produces a little spittoon with a holy symbol of Lolth at the bottom. "Taint the symbol, just a small spat! It's the only key!" he tries holding it up to Kriv's mouth.
Kriv stares down at the guard for a unnerving few moments.
"You do know I spit lightning don't you?"
His eyes widen in fear, believing you wholeheartedly "...er, well I suppose we can forgo this formality, just this once! Jinx, open her up!"
EARLIER
Gale bowed his head slightly, "I am Gael Lloris, a former captive of the drow, underdark guide, and seeking a way back to the surface or to known territory."
Khaz smiled at the guard.
"Ye've a good eye. I'll find this Tinderfiddler. Jus' point me towards these caves o' clatter. An' aye, thank ye kindly 'bout the tattoos. Saved me life more than I can mention they have."
Froog is obviously distressed that fellow gnomes would think his god would abandon anyone. "Forsaken? No no no, Lathander wouldn't just quit on followers. Maybe it just seemed like it till he could get me here! I'll do my best to prove that he still cares!"
Cade notices the spittoon and the ritual requirements and pulls a deep loogie, "Are you sure you don't need a more substantive sample." He will spit right into the bucket.
EARLIER
The wood elf tracker bows and introduces himself, "I'm called Edlethron and am looking for elves who look like me down here in the Underdark."
The gates open to reveal what could only be described as a soul sucking death engine forged by the craftiest of svirfneblin dungeon masters. It looks like a maze...no, the maze from which all others are judged: a twisting and turning path that runs between 10-foot-high walls studded with nails (pointy side up).
Your path, with a few guards escorting you, is luckily 10s of feet above, looking down. Crossbowmen engage a small band of mephits from the ramparts, selecting clever levers and switches to adjust their path until they reach a room filled with poisonous, heavier than air gases. Others drop buckets of hot lava with excellent precision onto swarms of small spiders far below in the dark.
Finally you pass through one more layer of defense, an area the guard refers to lovingly as "the gauntlet". Another large gate opens to reveal a tighter tunell whose walls are speckled with strange stones etched with delicate symbols...Jimjar explains touching one, or even being close to one within sight of the guard can cause instant death.
The defenses in Outer Blingdenstone paint a picture of a paranoid people under siege, but once past the final gates, the true character of the settlement is revealed. Warm, cozy, and welcoming, Blingdenstone is a rarity in the Underdark.
You leave the dark tunnel behind and step into what looks like another world. These aren’t sinister drow caverns or harsh, bare stone, but a subterranean land of warm colors and welcoming smells. The deep gnomes you see going about their business glance up at you with suspicion, but you instinctively understand that you face no threat here. One of the guards escorting you abandons his severe frown to give a deep nod as he prompts you past the inner gate. "Welcome to Blingdenstone, travelers."
The guard informs you that Diggermattock will want to speak to you, but for now to relax at the Foaming Mug if youd like.
Blingdenstone is not a single cavern, but a network of interconnected caves and pockets the svirfneblin have widened and worked for use as homes, workshops, vending stalls, places of worship, storerooms, and the like. Other than the private homes of svirfneblin families, all chambers are tall enough for Medium creatures to walk around without difficulty, and common areas are even larger.
It is rare for cavern walls to be bare in Blingdenstone. The walls of large caverns are studded with stairs and ramps leading to balconies and hollows serving as storage or shops. The largest caverns are crisscrossed by walkways allowing svirfneblin and visitors to reach connecting tunnels high above the floor.
The caverns of Inner Blingdenstone are brightly lit with a mix of bioluminescent fungi, caged giant fire beetles, and magic. The light from these chambers spills into short connecting tunnels lacking their own illumination, creating areas of dim light. Longer tunnels have their own light, usually magically produced.
Svirfneblin and other Small races can walk through tunnels with ease, but Medium or larger creatures must duck and squeeze — a feature intended to control invaders’ movements. Most tunnels have smooth floors, but those around the periphery of the reclaimed areas are strewn with rubble and debris.
5. Reception Hall
6. Barracks
7. Trader's Grotto (central market)
8. The Ruby in the Rough (temple)
9. Cultivation Cave (fungi farm)
10. Staging Area (exit to unknown sector)
11. Caves of Clatter (armor and weapons)
12. Residential Caves
13. Speaking Stones (mysterious menhirs)
14. Diggermattock Hall (palace of provisional government)
15. Singing Stones (minstrels...)
16. The Foaming Mug (nice, safe, tavern with comfy beds)
*Blingdenstone’s ghost problem is getting worse, and there are even spirits haunting the catacombs.
*There was a crazy svirfneblin back in the first days of reclamation who disappeared. Some of the scouts claim to have seen him, skulking around the unrecovered areas of the settlement.
*The Stoneheart Enclave is closing in on a solution to the threat of Ogrémoch’s Bane. The gnomes call a large unclaimed area in the northeast of the settlement “Rockblight,” as earth elementals go mad whenever they go near it.
*People are divided as to what to do about the wererats living in the southwest caverns. Some want them out, while others propose an alliance of mutual defense.
*A merchant from Gracklstugh says there’s an influx of surface-world coins there, but nobody knows where they come from.
*A svirfneblin caravan returning from Whiteshell Mines encountered a parade of dancing myconids. Through their rapport spores, the myconids told the gnomes about a “wedding celebration,” which is strange considering that myconids don’t celebrate or have weddings.
While talking to the guard Kriv looks to the unconscious halfling before deciding to ask the guards.
"Have you heard of any halflings around here that have gone missing perchance, we found this fellow a while back but he doesn't seem to want to wake up, you know anyone who might know anything about him?"
At Kriv's request, he takes an honest look "Hmm, no...I don't recall the last time I saw one of those. But if he needs reviving you might talk to Glyphic Shroomlight in the Ruby. I've seen him do it before!"
"Thank you, I will go do that while my companion get some rest then."
Kriv proceeds to take the halfling and heads to the ruby, asking for directions when needed.
Kriv, you make your way through the bustling town, many residents stop what they are doing simply to stare. Upon reaching the temple you find a large inscription in Undercommon, but can't read it. Inside the massive stone carving, you find a group of young acolyte arranging crystals in some kind of religious ceremony. "Shroomlight? Down in the catacombs...probably best to wait here, unless you are not afraid of ghosts...?"
Edlethron is cautious through the maze understanding the drow aggressors.
Entering Blingdenstone, he looks for wood elves while taking in the amazing sights of the gnomish town. He politely eavesdrops on conversations among those who assume he doesn't speak Undercommon hearing some rumors.
He follows the crew wondering whether consensus picks the Mug or Diggermattock first.
Kriv shakes his head.
"It is I that ghost should fear"
Kriv then heads to the catacombs to look for Shroomlight.
"Cooked food, libations."
While passing through the combat zone Froog looks around in awe. He had seen some great construction on the surface but this was beyond imagination! Upon reaching the town he is absolutely thrilled! "Finally a nice place down here. I thought I'd never see anything like it!"
Seeing that Kriv is trying to look after our mystery halfling, Froog follows along with him if for no other reason than to offer translation, lighting, and familiar companionship.