From deep within the thicket you can hear a faint series of rhythmic thumping noises. It sounds like a group of people dancing but you can't hear any music accompanying it.
"Perhaps the gardener is one of these plants? I would love to meet an intelligent plant form, wouldn't... Say, can you hear that?"
Bored already, Harro follows the others without much thought.
"Yes, it would be interesting to meet the gardner. It sounds like we might be able to meet someone. . . Hello!?!"
As they prepared to got o the Whorlstone Tunnels Vinexa looked to Glabagool and asked the cube of gel, "Glabagool, would you go to the inn and keep tabs on our stuff for us? We'll be back soon." She had lain a hand on the outside of the cube gently as she spoke and stroked the surface lightly to give the cube some comfort at their parting and once he was headed back she turned and went with the others.
As they made it further into the tunnels and debated exploring more Vinexa had begun to find the confines rather cramped. She folded her wings closed at first but then had to bring them tight to her body, the for-claws clasping at her throat to hold them in place. When they found the shrinking fungus Vinexa was a little concerned about using them herself, she knew that such things didn't always work on her due to her not being truly mortal or even entirely flesh and blood.
Making their way through the small tunnel Vinexa was kind of surprised to see a mushroom garden. She agreed that surely someone had to be nearby to tend to it and she began to look around carefully for just such and individual.
She heard the same noise that Micar did almost as soon as he said something. She was wary of disturbing whoever it was but it was already too late for that.
What's wrong with the fey? Some of my best friends are fey!
"Well, I guess we should go investigate, right? If nothing else this presence may know something."
With that he marches into the fungi farm though he does not move with the usual ease of the druid through the plant life. And he is further slowed by how easily he is distracted by any new piece of vegetation. And don't forget his already slow 20' move rate. I hope you are all the patient sorts.
Glabbagool protested slightly at first at being left behind but agreed once Vinexa made it clear that she would return soon.
The mushroom thicket would ordinarily be quite difficult to move through due to the sheer density of fugi life, some of the mushrooms are over 5 feet tall, but due to your reduced sizes you are able to move through the gaps quite easily.
After a short distance you reach what appears to be the source of the noise, a small clearing where 5 mushroom people and two ape like creatures covered in mold are dancing wordlessly in a circle. Another small mushroom person is hanging on the outskirts and watching.
The mushroom people are myconids and are usually simple peaceful folk. The apelike creatures are quagoth. They can be aggressive and are not normally moldy.
Myconids don't dance.
Tanics face lights up at the discovery. He motions everyone to silence and finds a comfortable place to sit and watch, smiling at the congregation.
Harro 'harrumphs' and hocks a loaded spitwad off to the side, then leans on his axe.
"Bunch'a fairies..."
In hushed tones, Tanic replies "My, my. Not technically correct, Harro, though I wouldn't mind seeing a few of those too. Unless you mean fey in the general sense. I do hope they don't mind our observing them!"
Micar shrugs and sits down, following the druid's lead. Though he keeps an eye out for anything unusual . . . besides a group of shrunken adventurers watching mushroom people dance.
If the quagoths or the myconids notice you they don't seem to respond, instead continuing their wild dance.
Micar continues to watch the quagoths and myconids dance, entranced by their relentless energy. I didn't realize quagoths and myconids got along so well.
Harro spits again. Louder this time.
The myconids at last notice you and gesture for you to join their dance.
Tanic bounces up and joins in the dance.
"Just a little longer. After all, they might know where he's gone!"
But of course he dances like a rock and none of you can figure out why he would consider THAT dancing.
@Talindra The dance itself does not see magical but there is a strange aura around the dancing myconids (although not the small one watching) and quagoths. It looks like they have been cursed, or possibly blessed.
As Tanic joins the dance he hears a voice in his head, Have you also received the blessings of Our Lady of Decay?
"Do you mean mushrooms? Yes, I have been greatly blessed by mushrooms!" He responds volubly.
Vinexa saw the dancing people and, while normally she might join such a group, this one bothered her. She decided that joining them wasn't something she was interested, particularly when they mentioned "Our Lady of Decay". She looked nervously at the others and said, "I don't like this. I don;t think we're going to find what we are after here."
Tanic pauses in his 'dancing' and looks at Talindra with a puzzled expression until his face lights up with understanding.
"Oh, my. I hadn't noticed the voice was in my head. Yes, someone asked me if I had been blessed by decay. Actually by some Lady of Decay. I think she wants to bless me, though, as you say, the blessing may be too life changing. Hmmm. Though it does sound intriguing. I think I'll ask. Say, whoever you are, what is this blessing thing?"
He still hasn't hot the hang of this head talking thing and speaks his request loudly, as if the talker might be hard of hearing or, since he or she is out of sight, far away.
As Tanic starts dancing and talking to himself, not that that is strange, Micar nods at Talindra, "There's something off here. I don't like it. I wonder if that one knows what's going on," motioning toward the mushroom creature not dancing.
@ Talindra The name Lady of Decay sounds familiar. You think that it is a title of one of the less commonly worshiped demon lords. Zuggy something or other.
The voice continues in the head of Tanic and anybody who moved closer to the dancers.
Our Lady has gifted us with the ability to travel from fungus patch to fungus patch, spreading word of her greatness and magnifying her name. She fills us with rapture and delight, and thus we dance. We could share Our Lady's gift with you if you like?
"Oh, one of them, huh. *sigh*. Well as interesting as a blessing of decay sounds, I think I'll pass. Could any of you tell me about the Derros around here? We are looking for a bunch of them that are acting more odd than usual for Derros."
Harro stands up suddenly from leaning on his axe, as if he was falling asleep and caught himself.
"Dam'nd mushrooms...make me drowsy every time..."
He then Spits...LOUDLY...again, setting his axe on his bulky shoulder this time.
"Time ta' go."
We are saddened that you do not want Our Lady's Gift but we understand. In time all shall accept and know her love but she is as patient as she is loving. Perhaps in time you will reconsider.
The voice pauses before continuing.
We regret to say that we traveled from far from here and know not of the derro you speak of. Perhaps they were the ones to plant this wonderful grove? Further down this tunnel lies a cavern with many noises, maybe you will find the derro you seek there? We wish you luck and good haste on your endeavors, as your time is evidently precious.
A slight note of disapproval can be felt in the final word as the dancers dance into the fungus patch and disappear, leaving only the solitary non-dancing myconid behind. The tunnel continues further in the same direction and there is also a smaller side passage leading roughly in the direction of where you originally entered the Whorlstone Tunnels.
The Quaggoths' eyes betray looks of terror as they enter the mushrooms but they seem to be under a mental compulsion to follow.
Harro points down the passage indicated by the dancers.
"Bahh! They's gotta' mush-f-brains wid all that dancin'! Let's go check'n the cavern!"
He then leads the way, a wary out out for traps or monsters. Or more dancing. *shudders*
"Well, thank you for your hospitality, but it seems the others are getting restless. Not the dancing type like me, I guess."
The group heads off in the direction indicated unless someone surprises us with sense motive revelation.
Micar nods at Harro, "I agree. Let's move on. There's something off about this place."
Micar will walk in front next to Harro or behind depending on the amount of room in the cavern keeping an eye out for any dangers.
"Pshaw! I'm sure you must be mistaken. What could be scary about a simple fungi forest?! Perhaps they ate the wrong ones and are having hallucinations?"
Heading down the tunnel you notice a number of faint tracks, both tiny and normal sized. The normal sized ones seem to belong to a number of different people and lead in both directions, whereas the tiny tracks only lead in the direction you are heading.
The cavern is quite an impressive sight. The glow of faerzress shifts across the chamber as if pushed by an unseen wind. It flows towards and around a large mesa and continues to spiral upwards, but the ceiling of the cavern is too high and too dark to see, even with darkvision. You hear murmurs and whispers coming from atop the mesa, which grow louder as you approach. It's stacked levels resemble steps in a staircase, and provide easy access to the top for a normal sized person.
The only exit to the cavern, other than the tunnel you entered through, appears to be a small crack in the far wall, far too small for a regular sized person to fit through.
"Well, then, let us discover the mystery before us!"
With a jaunt in his stride, Tanic mounts the steps towards the mysterious sounds, humming a tune, if you can call it that. Unfortunately his singing skills are on par with his dancing skills and his tune sounds like grinding rocks.
Micar points to some prints on the cavern floor made by tiny creatures, "Look at these tracks. I wonder if the derro come this way. We've got to hurry through that small crack in the cavern if we want to see who went this way."
As you get nearer to the Mesa you can see that the top is devoid of people and the sounds aren't coming from anywhere within the chamber but from the city above. You can make out the clank and roar of the forges, the rumblings of Themberchaud's displeasure and the murmur of what sounds like thousands of different conversations. Someone standing at the top of the mesa could potentially eavesdrop on anyone in the city.
The only magical auras you detect are the swirling, chaotic surges of wild magic that infuses the faerzress . These surges of magical energy can interfere with teleportation and cause certain spells to have unusual side effects. The noises could be linked to the faerzress, be caused by another magical effect masked by the wild magic surges, or sply be a natural feature of the cavern.
Hearing the forges and the dragon, Harro realizes what he's listening too quickly enough.
"F@$K ME!"
"I like your idea Talindra. Might save us a lot of hoofing. Lets go to the top!"
It is difficult at first to make out anything useful from the jumble of conversations but with a little concentration you might be able to hear something useful by listening out for certain key words and then trying to hone in to those conversations.
You hear the following: " Droki is late! Late, late, late! They will be so angry! So angry at poor Droki! Stupid, stupid, stupid! But not Droki's fault. Mushrooms gone, dirty little thieves stole them,yes? It's their fault, their fault poor Droki have to swim, get wet, wet, wet! Poor, poor Droki. Have to hurry now, hurry to meet ghosts. Ooohaah! No time! No time, no rhyme, not mine! No! Time!"
In amidst some chanting in a language you don't recognise you hear the name Demogorgon repeated several times.
"Shhh! You hear that? Some guy named Droki is kinda pissed about some missing mushrooms and I think he means the ones we used.
Demigorgon? Is that some kind of mini gorgon? Not that I mind being made of stone, but not like that!"
"Say, guys, you know what a demigorgon is? Wait, did the chanters say demigorgon or Demogorgon?"
Disturbed by the strange cavern and the faerzress, Harro is on the look-out for any dangers here, not above. Rarely is such a useful cavern not unoccupied or guarded!
He winds his hands around his axe continuously, back and forth, ever nervousness in such a magical chamber.
"It seems we may have a lead on Droki. Now we just need to pinpoint him."