Irdril can toss in to make sure everyone has the weapons they need..
I would hope we can make peace with them though. We need allies with demons/oozes/drow running amok..
You find a deep gnome trader heading to Gracklstugh soon and he pays you half value, cash, for your voucher, pretending to be very skeptical of its veracity.
Those of you who wish to and can afford it ourchase silvered weapons. Then you head back to the doors into the Warrens. The deep gnome guards look at you skeptically but unlock the door for you.
Galinndan looks at Zoltan sceptically.
"In the underdark, violence, hiding, or fleeing are generally the viable options. But we have been surprised occasionally."
"Wererats, at least as far as I have been taught, have a reputation for shiftiness. It would be unwise to go into their domain without a means of defending ourselves. I for one will be hoping to avoid violence, but we must be prepared for all possibilities."
Galenus keeps a wary eye out for what is to come. He's unsure if they'll be like the typical wererats in stories, or more like the two they've been traveling with.
If asked, Odak merely shakes his head. ”Save de gold.” he then seems to have an argument with the small stone sitting next to him.
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Kanzen regards Zoltan with what those familiar with dark elves recognise as a particularly drow-like expression: face like a mask, revealing nothing. The difference in this case is that Kanzen's eyes are kind, rather than radiating devious cruelty or a lust for blood and pain.
"But we do go looking for trouble; trouble is there, and it is our job to find it. Looking for it or not, everywhere this group travels, we find trouble. It seems that is what the gods intend for us. Don't fear, we'll not lead with our swords, nor will we trouble the innocent. "
Galinndan seems to half-smile, as if thinking of something pleasant and long-ago.
"I recall a time before the drow and their orc minions attacked my people. We had little need of swords then. It would be...pleasant to be like that again."
The guard looks skeptically at Zoltan and shrugs. "Dorbo wants the problem gone. Senni seems to think you can do it without fighting. Soft on those freaks she is, I say." The other guard shakes his head. "Those used to be deep gnomes out there. Can't blame here." He turns back to Zoltan. "Anyhow. No rumors that I know of except that the wererats are fierce and set traps against outsiders. Anyhow, here you go." He and his companion finish pulling open the heavy set of double doors for you, revealing a dark, rough tunnel in the gray stone about four feet high. It seems to head straight back for about ten feet then take a sharp turn to the left.
Galinndan stays in front, stepping out, blades low but in hand.
Yeah, why don't we hang out back here? Galenus suggests to Zoltan.
Galinndan searches carefully in front of him and, about ten feet into the tunnel, finds a fine wire that stretches across the tunnel about one foot off the ground. It doubtless triggers some sort of trap.
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Galinndan seems to half-smile, as if thinking of something pleasant and long-ago.
"I recall a time before the drow and their orc minions attacked my people. We had little need of swords then. It would be...pleasant to be like that again."
Kanzen looks at Galinndan with something like pain in his eyes, obviously feeling some kind of guilt by association for the horrific actions of his kind against Galinndan's people. He blinks the expression away quickly, though, and prepares to move over the tripwire.
Kanzen skips over the tripwire, coming perilously close to touching it as he does. Nonetheless, he smiles back at the rest of the party, then moves away from the wire in case someone else trips it.
Irdril follows behind..
"If anyone thinks they might have a hard time with that let me know and I'll give you some assurance."
Cyrus and his lizard climb over the trap not trying at all to hid his smug grin.
As soon as the door opens to inky dark of not-often used tunnels, Odak eyes seem to light up. He moves with great haste into the tunnel. Even the trip wire is not enough to dampen his spirit as he slows and gracefully steps over it.
Looking back at Zoltan, he grins ”Wasn’t in there long” referring to the gnomish city ” but already missed these dark quiet places.”
As heads into the black, he summons the strength of the earth and covers his body with familiar cool stone armor. He also dons the shield on his back.
[occ]Odak will follow Galinndan closely.[/ooc]
The tripwire poses no problem yet! Galinndan stands before it, ready to leap nimbly over... Surely?
Galinndan barely looks as he steps over the tripwire, resuming his place at the front.
He feels a pang of guilt at not realising what Kanzen would think of his words.
Little to be done about it now.
He thinks gloomily as he continues to search for more traps.
You all bypass the trap without trouble, stepping over it more or less gracefully.
You move forward cautiously and quietly in the dark tunnel and take a turn to the left. There you see four creatures in waiting! Two appear to be deep gnomes with rusty daggers drawn, wearing shifts in poor condition. The other two appear to be giant rats! They rush you!
"PARLAY!"
The wererats hold their position while the deep gnomes look to each other skeptically. "Parlay about what?! What do you want, big intruders!?!"
Odak looks around, preparing to summon a weapon but delays at the frantic calls to the attackers. Knowing we were coming to talk, he assumes his companions are resolving the situation. He seems to be concentrating very hard on what everyone is saying though as if trying to figure something out.
Glad to be past the traps, Galenus keeps quiet, letting his more verbose companions take the lead. Part of being such an excellent specimen of a Dwarf himself, he understands that you present your best foot forward in each situation. In this case, that means putting Idril forward.
Kanzen follows Galenus's lead, staying quiet and in the middle of the pack. He makes no move towards his weapons, but is ready to draw and leap into battle if these creatures won't listen to reason.
Galinndan has both swords in hand, albeit pointing to the ground.
He moves to the front of the group, but not a step farther.
He speaks.
"We are here to arrange peace between your group and the wider city. There are dire threats roaming the underdark, and we cannot afford to be at each others' throats. What say ye?"
I know you all have seen the increase in foulness as of late. I know you have seen a rampant ooze population roaming about.. These are darks times.. We come in peace to barter for a truce...
The two deep gnomes look at each other and the two in wererat form look back at them. Water drips quietly somewhere far away in the dark of the tunnel while you hold your breaths, hoping you don't end up fighting these opponents. Your deep gnome wererat friends, Topsy and Turvy, are particularly still, watching with wide eyes. You've never seen Turvy's grouchy, sullen, bitter, closed off face ever show this much open emotion and interest in anything. The deep gnomes nod slowly. "We do know something's up. Come with us to our hall and talk to Chipgrin."
You can tell the deep gnome wererats are very, very wary but they are interested in your offer and don't seem to intend to attack you, though they are clearly keeping an eye on you.
Cant ace em all i guess lol..
Lead the way.
Galinndan nods and begin to move. He does note:
"You are wise to be wary. Dangers are on move. Please, lead on."
Kanzen continues to avoid the attention of the wererat gnomes as best he can - the presence of a drow would be unlikely to reassure them, and while they might have already noticed him, staying quiet and unobtrusive is probably the best way to avoid exciting them any further.
He does sidle up next to Galenus though, and he murmurs to his dwarf companion, "They don't seem inclined to trouble, though I wager they're ready to deal with trouble if it finds them. Hopefully we can resolve this peacefully."
The wererats lead you into the old, rundown miner's hall. A small crowd has gathered here. Most of the assembled creatures are deep gnomes, but some have ratlike features — including a fat specimen standing in front of the others, smiling at you with jagged buckteeth. “Peace,” the big wererat says. He takes a step forward, arms extended and hands open. “Chipgrin’s the name. I’m chief of the Goldwhisker clan. Shall we talk?”
Irdril steps forward..
"I think we should. Here? Or would you rather a more private setting?"
Galinndan steps up and stands next to Irdril.
"Either would be apt. But time is ever pressing."
Galenus watches on in silence, curious how this will turn out.
”What’s he askin? Does he want a hug?” Odak mumbles under his breath. Other than that he seems to just be along for the ride.
The deep gnome wererat nods with a chip-toothed grin. "Of course. Follow me." He gestures and turns over his shoulder, climbing a set of stairs leading to the top of a natural stone plateau, where the floor is covered with a soft and well-manicured carpet of green moss. The wererat chief sits on a stone chair flanked by two giant rats. Draped over the chair’s back is a cave badger pelt. “Let’s get down to brass hobnails, then. You were sent by the Diggermattocks ’cause they want us out, right? Right?! Well, they might get their wish soon enough, but in a way they ain’t likely to cheer about.”
Out? Naw. They want to broker a peace treaty. In light of the greater dangers that have recently arising in the Underdark. They're just tired of the constant back and forth. You all would be better off working together, creating a stronger defense system - than you would worried about each other while the demons are on the rise.
Galinndan follows. And listens.
"What threat is presssing you? The city has seen incursions of oozes. And far worse, demon princes are loose elsewhere in the Underdark. It is time to unite and fight."
"Puddings. Oozes. Slimeballs. You name it. We've had it." He looks at Glabagool with great uncertainty. "Say what's that thing? Why's he with you? Do you work for the Pudding King?!"