"That is Glabagool.. An intelligent version on his kind and a companion. No we do not work for no Pudding King. Who is this Pudding King? And as far as arrangements go we have it from Senni herself that an arrangement can be made for peace. What do you say?"
Chipgrin shrugs acknowledgement about Glabbagoll then gets a thoughtful look on his face regarding the Pudding King “I remember him from when he worked in the tunnels, and my kin saw him when he returned. I know who he is, what he’s doing, and — most of all — where he can be found! If you and the Diggermattocks want, I can take you straight to him — he what calls himself the Pudding King.” He nods firmly. "We'll help deal with the Pudding King but we want to be a real part of Blingdenstone, not outcasts." He thinks for a moment then asks "Say, have you noticed anything weird about people, lately? It seems folk have been acting odd. I've seen more greed and agression in the people of Blingdenstone than ever before..."
"We've only just arrived, but foul corruption is spreading across the Underdark so I does not surprise me that it has reach here as well. I can only assume it is from the demon lords presence. If this Pudding King is responsible for the rampant ooze population than he needs to be taken out. As for yourselves I'm sure an arrangement can be made for helping rid the area of this Pudding King and making peace.."
"Your aid is appreciated and we will push hard to get you back with the city proper. This Pudding King, he is a deep gnome? And where did he go, that he returned with powers?"
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Kanzen steps forward, still hooded. "I'd like to add that we travel with two of your kind," he says, gesturing to Topsy and Turvy. "They have been our companions since we escaped a drow labour prison, and since then we have been through many dangers together. They have proved their worth and mettle every time they've been called upon. They wish to find a home, and it may be possible they could find it here with you. So rest assured we are not merely pawns of Diggermattock, here to get rid of you. Through friendship and loyalty to these two, we genuinely want to see your home here survive and thrive."
Galenus looks on in eager anticipation to see the response.
Topsy steps forward. "These have been good allies to us. And I know you can smell 'the gift' in our blood. They have not shied away from us, despite it." Turvy steps forward as well and nods. The female twin continues "We would like to help deal with this problem and then join you here in the Goldwhisker Warrens."
Chipgrin nods with a toothy smile. "Excellent! You let the Diggermattocks know I want to talk. They'd better pick some safe, neutral location for it though."
"Excellent. We will return to tell them this straight away."
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Galenus smiles at the turn of events. He's happy with how things have turned out, despite the struggles they've been through. I'm glad I could make all this happen, he thinks to himself.
As you discuss with Zoltan (just note that it happened earlier) you head back toward the central, civilized part of Blingdenstone. Finding the Diggermattocks again in their hall, you surprise them with your swift return. Dorbo Diggermattock raises an eyebrow. "What's all this? You're back awfully fast..."
After the situation is explained to him Odak, nods and shrugs. ”I figured we’d have to be fightin’. Wouldnah’ be takin wererats for the negotiation type. “
The hall however, on their return with news, seems uncomfortable at first. The reaction to the party’s return seemed startling, as if unexpected. He would have to wait for translation before he could know for sure.
Galinndan speaks from the front.
"I am pleased to inform you that a leader of the inhabitants of the Goldwhisker Warrens, one Chipgrin, wishes to meet you for talks in a safe, neutral location."
Aye. They say there's bigger threats afoot, and they ain't lying. We gotta all band together to face what's coming. They don't want war with you. And they don't want to be treated like second class citizens. You play your cards right, you could have a powerful ally with them rats.
"He seems to have information on someone called the Pudding King who he thinks is involved in the increase in oozes as of late. I believe they have no interest in fighting and just wish a piece of the city that was once their home as well."
Dorbo looks downright hostile toward this proposal of peace but his wife, Senni, places a calming arm on his shoulder. "There now, Dorbo. We have a chance at peace and we're going to take it." She nods to the lot of you. "Tell the wererats we'll meet them on the outskirts of town tonight. Third bell."
The deep gnomes seem to feel exactly as they are saying and showing. Dorbo doesn't trust the wererats but will listen to his wife while Senni genuinely wants peace.
You head back to the wererats and explain the truce. Chipgrin smiles in excitement. "Good! Very good! Soon we'll be able to live here without fighting our own kin." The gathered wererats murmur in approval and excitement. Chipgrin turns to you "It seems the Diggermattocks trust you as some sort of intermediaries. Will you go scout the Pudding King and his army so that they will know we speak the truth? He holds court in the tunnels on the northeast side of the city, just a little ways east of here." He points down a long dark tunnel to the east.
Galinndan is pleased at the Diggermattocks' words, and hopes that they are sincere.
******
"Is there anything else you can tell us about routes to approach this Pudding King? You have stealthy folk among you, who may have insight."
Chipgrin shrugs. "Well he's pretty crazy but I don't think he's fought everyone he's come across. Not that he'd be likely to listen to sense, just might be busy and ignore you. His oozes, though, those are different. Hungry things, they are." He turns to Galinndan. "As for how to get there, well that tunnel there leads straight into the heart of where he's taken up court. But you should be able to move quietly and come on him unawares. Several of our folk have and came back when realizing their mistake."
Galinndan nods, and keeps listening, given that Zoltan has asked another pertinent question.
Chipgrin shrugs. "Arrows, rocks, magic if you got it. Best not to get too close." He gestures around at the tight tunnels. "Of course, keeping your distance is the whole trick of it..."
It is certainly something we'll want to research before we go to investigate. Let's see if anyone else knows a thing about them.
Chipgrin shrugs. "Well there's an alchemist in town. Soren Linkin. He might know something about them. But most people don't study them. Just run."
At the mention of shooting arrows and throwing rocks at the oozes, Odak breaks the translation for a moment and looks at a pounce on his waist in which he keeps his magic stone. ”Hush, I ain’t gonna be throwin’ ya at the oozes.” He then turns back to his translator and continues listening.
As everything unfolds, Odak is more than willing to scout out this Pudding King. He does occasionally make a joke about everything recently has been making him question his food choices. First talking hiders (mushrooms) and now pudding royalty.
Galenus is ready to head into the city to see this Linkin. Thank you. We'll look into it and see what we can see.
You head back into Blingdenstone and find the odd alchemist, Linkin, toiling over some bottles fizzling with odd chemicals in a shop carved into the stone. He is the oldest deep gnome you have ever seen and is clearly very hard of hearing. When you enter his shop, he bellows at you It's possible he would be able to hear better if he didn't have so much white hair growing out of his ears...
Galinndan speaks very clearly.
"Linkin? We need you to tell us how to destroy oozes."
Galenus takes great interest in the shop, looking over the equipment and devices the old gnome is using to make his wares.
Where here on behalf of the Diggermattocks looking into the ooze problem.. Can u give us any information that might help ?
He seems to have a great deal of trouble hearing what you are saying but when you repeat yourselves more loudly, he nods in understanding and scratches his stubbly chin. He holds up some tiny, alchemical oozes in odd little flasks and demonstrates with a scalpel and then a tiny shock from some sort of homemade salt battery. He grins proudly after his demonstration.
"NO CUTTING!? THAT IS HELPFUL! THANK YOU!", shouts Galinndan, far louder than usual.
He turns to the others.
"Do any of you have any spare blunt weapons? I fear that my blades will do little good should we battle these oozes."
Kanzen looks down at his delicate blades ruefully. "Hmmm. That is unfortunate. Smashing things is not my forte. I must do my best to think more tactically when battling these creatures."
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The ancient deep gnome nods graciously to Galinndan and turns back to his bottles again, humming happily to himself. You hear a sharp pop and turn back to see that he has lost his eyebrows to a tiny explosion but he seems entirely unperturbed. This probably isn't the first time he's experienced such a mishap...
You leave his workshop and head to a nearby inn, the Miner's Rest, where you get rooms, food, and drink. Relaxing in the common room while eating and drinking, you have your first chance to talk in quite a while.
Derendil sniffs his ale and thinks telepathically to Galinndan with a sigh "Ah... regrettably these ales pale in comparison to the fine brews of my golden forest homeland..." The massive quaggoth does his best to sip daintily.
Galinndan also sups the local equivalent of ale. As strange a prospect as it seems, Derendil has struck a cord with the wood elf.
"I can understand that, Derendil. It has been far too long since I supped the brews and wines made in the forests."
"Indeed, indeed! There are none other like them! Tell me, what was your favorite variety?"
Topsy approaches Irdril "So um... Turvy and I think we might just stay here with Chipgrin and his people. They don't have much but..." she continues in an even quieter voice "They're like us. It'd be home, ya know?"
Galinndan has a look of nostalgia cross his face.
"In truth? The mead. The glorious mead. It seems a maddeningly small thing to miss, given everything, but a simple pleasure like that seems a luxury worthy of kings to me now."