"Should we follow him? Show him we mean no harm?"
"We did kill those spiders. And the ants too. I guess we found out who was training them, at least."
The elf nods at Deric's question. "Yes, I think we should follow. Cautiously, since we evidently killed some of their pets. They may not be terribly understanding, but I'd like to try."
Barkot nods unenthusiastically. "Yeah, 'sworth a shot. Jus' be careful; dose spiders mighta been pets, but dey weren't too friendly. Dey got more pets like dose, yer gonna wanna beat feet back outta dere."
He thinks for a minute, then adds, "Ya c'n borrow da jetcaster if ya wanna take it just in case."
Quietly moving down the steps, Paeral comes to the entrance of the ant mounds.
He is unable to discern which tracks are the most recent in the thin layer of dust that lies over the hard stone floor. However, he does her some sounds coming from the south (the direction of the black widow fight).
Paeral moves toward the secret door, seeing nothing hiding among the ant mounds.
As he nears the mound where he found the tracks, he can head some muted noises, possibly talking.
Deric whispers to the group "Perhaps we should send a quieter one forward to check on Paëral. I am willing to move forward, but fear my noisy armor may be an issue."
Judging that the sounds seem to be coming from the ant mound, Paeral climbs the side of the mound as quietly as possible and drops inside, finding a very small tunnel.
Slowly making his way up to a bend in the tunnel, Paeral peers through and sees an irregularly shaped room that has clearly been excavated recently.
Six of the ugly, little, blue-skinned humanoids are in this room holding hammers and chisels. They are agitated, speaking quietly in worried tones while glancing at another small tunnel on the other side of the room.
Paeral returns to the top of the stairs without issue and reports seeing 6 of the creatures with chisels.
What is next?
Barkot scratches his head. "I only got a coupla seconds tea look at da little blue guy an' even less da last time wit' da ants, but if dey're little, blue, an' diggin' tunnels, dey sure soun' like 'blue dwarfies" ta me, da whatchamacallem, Derro. Ya know, da guys who been snatchin' people off da streets in Underbridge? Dat guard asked us ta keep our eyes peeled fer 'em - seems like mont's ago - and mebbe now we found 'em!"
"We haven't seen any sign of prisoners though. Not to say that there isn't plenty of places to stash people in here, but these creatures seem kind of...pathetic. Not that kidnappers couldn't be cowards." Reillana taps her tip of her wand against the mask's cheek as she stares at nothing, thinking.
"I don't know. I'm not comfortable barging in and attacking them without at least attempting a discussion--even if they keep unpleasant pets, I'd prefer not to leap to conclusions." She glances around at the others. "Thoughts?"
"Agree, Reillana. Worth looking into, I believe. Derros... Is anyone here familiar with them?"
Barkot quickly fills in Deric - and reminds the rest of the group - about what he learned about Derros from the Heidmarch Manor library and conversation with Sheila Heidmarch.
"Tryin' ta talk first makes sense ta me," he says. "Mebbe dese ain't da same Derros that're snatchin' folks. An' even if dey are, it's a lot easier ta find out where dey're keepin' 'em if dey ain't too dead ta tell us."
Reillana places a hand on Squint's shoulder, reaching slightly up since he's on Ulyi's back. "You picked up their language, or something like it, right Squint? If we go to speak with them will you speak for us? I can tell you what to say if it helps..."
"We could start by eavesdropping before we properly introduce ourselves."
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Paëral shakes his head. ”Gonna be hard to eavesdrop...it’s tight in those tunnels, even for an Elf...it was tough enough sneaking up on them by myself...as a group, it’d be near impossible. Maybe find a good defensive position nearby and then have Squint yell out in their language, asking them to parley?”
"Hmmm....What would lure them out to us? We need bait." Deric looks at each of you and smiles.
Barkot looks down at his looted chainmail and sighs. Ya used ta be sneaky, pal, but until ya git some better gear, yer gonna be sneaky like an oliphant in tap shoes.
"I could send in da ghost rat if we wanna get a better look-see at whaddever dey're up ta. And if we need bait, whaddabout dose illusions Rei c'n make wit' da Dingus? Dat worked pretty good on da Tower Gals."
"The illusion is an option, but it's a powerful effect whose use is limited, I'd like to save it in case we get into trouble. I'm willing to try speaking with them, if Squint will translate for me."
Well, we aren't going to make much more progress here. Do you have a marching order? Where do I fit in?"
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Paëral sighs. ”Deric’s right, we need to move...I came upon the blue dudes at their back...they weren’t looking up the tunnel I came from, they were eying one that came from the opposite direction...it could’ve been a tunnel originating near the place where y’all took out the spiders. I could watch the back exit while y’all approached the other entrance and Squint/Reillana could try to talk to them...”
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"Marchin' order? Heh. Guess so, kinda. It wuz like dis: Paë would scout ahead, movin' silent an' dark. At first, Cee would run up behind him, wavin' a torch, but den she got de idear an' would hang back. A little, anyway - she was always ent'usiastic when it come to a fight an' she moved pretty quick. Squint & Ulyi aren't usually right up front, but we try ta leave a chargin' lane open fer 'em 'cause when Ulyi goes, he goes. Rei is pretty fast on 'er feet too. I'm pretty well armored up in this stuff," he gestures at his chainmail, "but it slows me down so once we start goin' da fight sometimes gets away from me. Once the swords start swingin', my job is mainly ta stand dere an' get hit anyways. Fer now, I t'ink ya oughtta be up front, 'cause ya look like ya know whatcher doin' an' Da Heidmarch vouches fer ya. If Paëral's watchin' da back way, den I could be up witcha unless Rei or Squint an' Ulyi want da spot."
"Thank you, Barkot. I will take the front. I do have a concern, though." Deric addresses the group. "If the little blue buggers are all checking out the rear passage, there could be a danger there. To split up the group if this is true would put Paeral in harms way by himself. To split up a party rarely has good consequences, but there are times to do so." Deric lifts the greataxe from his right hip. "I am ready" He begins to move forward, awaiting a consensus before getting too close.
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Paëral nods to Deric. "If the tunnels are as I think they are, we won't be that far apart; the rest of you should be just down the stairs, and just a bit farther, from me. I will hide behind one of the mounds and keep an eye on the rear exit if any if them try to leave that way...I won't start anything unless needed...or unless I'm discovered..."
Deric returns Paeral's nod. "Let us do this." He heads down the stairs.
Deric whispers " Which way, Barkot? You have been here before, I have not."
The party heads through the ant mound through the same path they followed previously. When they reach the top of the stairs, they open the poorly fitted secret door and enter the narrow tunnel.
As before, Squint is forced to dismount. Deric's armor scrapes the sides of the tunnel, sending small puffs of rock dust falling to the ground.
As they reach the secret door leading into the room where they had their final battle, the party pauses to ready themselves. Deirc, backlit by the light from Squint's lance, reaches out to push open the door.
In the room, the corpse of the large spider has been removed. In its place are two medium sized spiders being ridden by two of the blue-skinned humanoids.
They brandish shortsword and call out to you.
Barkot draws his longsword as they make their way through the tunnel to the door. He flinches at the sight of the spiders when Deric opens the door, and swears under his breath.
Barkot leans over to Deric and whispers, “Dose ain’t da biggest spiders dey got, but dey're plenty nasty."