Shroomlight appears escorted by his acolytes "Oh dear...no, no no. He is lucky to be unconscious, these burns are not fun! Not fun at all." he makes a tight little fist and wriggles his pinky with one closed...
Ed, the Diggermattocks send back a svirfneblin dressed like an Emerald Enclave agent from the surface, though the symbol on the insignia is a badger rather than a deer. He offers a hand "Gurnick Tapfinger, priest of the Stoneheart Enclave. Now, I heard about what you did in the Trader's Grotto...your presence was a blessing." he nods in assurance.
Edlethron steps away from his captain to speak to this agent. "A blessing but not without costs." the wood elf replies.
"Pleasure to meet you Gurnick Tapfinger. What is your role here?
Who is responsible for the defense of Blingdenstone?
Who will track those cubes to understand how they made it inside the supposed safe area of this settlement?" The concerned sylvan elf asks many questions allowing Tapfinger a polite amount of time to respond.
Waking from his untimely nap Froog looks around in a panic. "Wha? What happened? Where am I?" He starts to try to get up but winces from the pain of his burns. The pain seems to snap everything into focus though as he recognizes Ed and Shroomlight then takes in the walls of the temple. "This the temple isn't it? But how did I get here? Last I remember was the cube swallowing me. That was unpleasant."
"Ed, thank you so much! I thought I was a goner! And you too Mr. Shroomlight. How did the others fair?"
"I'm the Stoneheart's presence within Blingdenstone proper, the rest of being outside in the Stoneheart Quarry. We manage the earth elementals that operate machinery and defend against oozes...er...obviously we are having some trouble as of late. The oozes seem to be coming from the northeast, a sector we had never had to defend against in the past. Additionally, there are whispers in the Standing Stones that Ogremoch's Bane has returned in the southeast...a malevolent spirit that saps the life from elementals..." northwest, northeast, southeast...it seems the svirfneblin are surrounded on all sides by terror closing in on them...
While Ed is chatting it up, the halfling from the Silken Paths pokes his head out the door of the Ruby "Are you...you the ones who brought me here...?"
"Looks like you got to share the experince I have had all to often of late, not that I really wanted you to."
seeing the gnome Kriv turns to him.
"Thats we did, good to see you finally awake"
"So, you have responsibility for defending against oozes? So, you will take responsibility for healing my friend and captain?" Edlethron asks Tapfinger. "And what are you and your Stoneheart Quarry doing about stopping the ooze threat?"
To the halfling, the wood elf replies, "yes, actually the dragonborn carried you here. Hope that was where you were going."
And when Froog awakes, "Take it easy, captain. You took the brunt of the attack. The others are fine."
"Oh thank the Lightbringer. We definitely need to see what we can do about those oozes getting in so they don't hurt anyone else! Oh, Mr halfling, you're awake too!"
"I'm good."
Froog gives Cade a look of frustration then amusement as he shakes his head. "Not you Cade... The gentleman we picked up in the eye tyrant caves."
Ed, Tapfinger grunts at the somewhat hostile demands "Very well, but next time come directly to us. Shroomlight is a good gnome to tend to Earthcaller, but I've got a few decades on him working the Speaking Stones with Smoothhands. What are we doing? Oozes are useless against stone, making the earth elementals we conjure the perfect strikers!" he clenches a fist at the word "strikers".
The halfling takes his time to go around and shake everyone's hand. He uses both of his hands and shakes each of your single hands in turn while muttering his little introduction "Fargas Rumblefoot, Seeker of Khaem. I'm a Netherese Archaeologist...I had summoned that spectator in desperation from the spiders but he quickly took control, he's been keeping me alive giving me the tortures of the damned the past few months. The tortures of the damned! Please, I've been thinking about, and I might have a way to repay you..."
"Come to you directly? The oozes invaded the market. If you cannot stop the oozes at their source, will you conjure enough earth elementals to police the market and the rest of the Blingdenstone? Otherwise, the residents here are at deadly risk, right?" Edlethron ignores Tapfinger's reaction and pushes forward on the topic of safety.
He nods "Yes, you understand it. That's the idea, conjure enough for all Blingdenstone. As I said though, something is sapping the strength we once had. I fear its Ogremoch's Bane."
"The what now?"
Froog once again starts to rise from the mat but winces from the pain. He concentrates for a moment and says a small prayer to Lathander and more of his wounds begin to close up.
"It's a good thing we came upon this place when we did, you all could use lots of help!"
Tapfinger shakes his head "We knew it would be a struggle when we returned. But listen to me, surface brother...listen well: it doesn't matter how hard it gets. It never will. We will take back our lands from the Dark wilds and endure..."
He then goes back to explain to Cade "The Prince of Evil Elemental Earth...that holds the name 'Ogremoch'. Its our fault it yet nests within the Rockblight...when the drow attacked, Ogremochs Bane attacked the drow just as it had us...we had a chance to banish it but let it stay free. It's hard to describe...like a choking cloud from a mason's chalkline...that dust, but alive. Any elemental that touches the cloud falls under its command." he pauses.
"Naomi thinks it has something to do with Entemoch's Boon, a lost summoning circle made by Blingdenstone's original settlers...hence the name. Entemoch is the evil princes good brother, if you follow...anyways, I've a plan if you want to help, but it will be dangerous."
Khaz nodded. ”Your resiliency is to your credit. Now, what’s this beasty we need to kill? An earth demon? I’ve got a hammer!”
Tapfinger holds up a ruby crystal, bigger than Khaz's nose "This spell gem contains a hallowing spell gifted by Smoothhands. Placing it in the Steadfast Stone's menhir deep in the Rockblight will awaken the ancient guardians...but no doubt as soon as you do so Ogremoch or his servants will assail you. You may have noticed some other menhir around the Inner wards...we think these are ancient, slumbering galeb dur...manifestations of the gods. Those stone circles are the true temples of Blingdenstone." Shroomlight lowers his gaze in submission. "Stirring them to life may just protect us for an age."
"I've heard this Smoothands mentioned a few times now. Is this a person we should meet? But then again I heard a guard say they trust in Smoothands when I mentioned I'm a disciple of Lathander which leads me to believe it's a divine entity. I am quite curious as to which it is."
He looks sad "Im sorry, brother. I've neglected my duties of proselytization. The Deep Brother, Callarduran Smoothhands...patron of the svirfneblin. Master of Stone. Lord of Deepearth. Did you hear Callarduran led his chosen people into the deepest depths of the earth, so that they might discover the joyous beauty of rubies and other gems? Beware the dangers of Deepearth, and guard against evil races such as the drow who employ any means necessary to seize what is not rightfully theirs. Protect and serve your community. Celebrate the beauty of minerals and gems and understand their value in craft, art, and magic...such is the dogma of Smoothhands." he holds up a golden ring with a six-pointed star, no doubt the holy symbol of his god.
letting the others deal with tapfinger, he turn to rumblefoot.
"We didnt save you expecting a payment freind, we just did what was right."
"Oh no, I insist...and it will not be one of those new fangled monetary payments, but a good, proper, halfing payment: adventure. As I mentioned, I specialize in the ancient ways of the Netheril Empire." he pauses "...you've heard of it, right? Floating cities, crystal orbs, huge breasted maidens? Ok, I made that last one up...bear with me, Ive been alone a while." he gathers his thoughts "Brysis of Khaem was a great sorcerer, but ignored the law and was locked away in a flying prison...one designed to be her tomb. Through my research I know where it fell so long ago, biting deep into the earth like an arrow in a haystack. What? Not interested?? Hold on I was just getting to the best part...Brysis was interred with her favored weapon, a sun hammer of legend, its head a young star, a sentient weapon with the memories of the Empire! Dawnbringer!" he smiles "Or it could just be rusted to s#%+, I dunno. Should be fun to go get it, right?"
Cade seems dizzied by things, "We have a lot going. We are going to have to get priorities straight." He looks around at the Deepgnomes, "Any chance we can get some maps of the area. Doubly good if the map is of the old city and marks where the lost or buried parts are. So we can get a feel for what it was verses what it is."
Cades innocent inquiry is met with dead silence and suspicious glances from the crowd nearby, even Shroomlight and Tapfinger are taken aback. "Oh, no, no, no...maps are not allowed. Not allowed at all! If such information fell into the hands of our enemies it would be over..."
Jimjar tugs at your shoulder *psst* "I can get you where you want to go, but they'll never make a map for an outsider..."
Cade holds up his hands, "I understand your apprehension. As helpful as it would be to us I get it you are surrounded by enemies. We will help if we can."
"We know where the residential area is. Do we want to start with the ghost there? After we go collect some rings of course. Hopefully the marketplace wasn't to terribly damaged by the oozes."
I am with you. Choose our path carefully. We have shown ourselves to be quite able, but these threats are not for the feint of heart.
"Once you regain your strength, captain. I'll follow." Edlethron agrees with his cousin.
The party makes its way to the residential area, which actually connects directly off of the Ruby's plaza. These caverns further branch off into smaller caves serving as hovels for families of svirfneblin. Tunnels lead to secondary chambers that branch out into more hovels. Branches upon branches in the rock, like the wandering of water with time. Deep gnome hovels have no doors!
A tired looking woman, covered head to toe in mine-dust, the occasional glitter of gold specks on her cheeks waddles up curiously Oooooh, so you're the new residents? There goes the neighborhood..." she jests. When no one laughs, she repeats it louder "I said there goes the neighborhood!! Just kidding. Names Clucky, Clucky Borscht-slinger."
Kriv looks down at the plucky deep gnome and smiles.
"Good to meet you my good lady, and I don't know bout that, I thought we might bring more colure to the neighborhood'
"Well first are we supplied fitly for any of these fights. I mean were creatures need like special metals to damage them, who knows with ghosts and we don't want to start whacking acid puddles with nice shiny magic weapons if it will break them down and it sounds like lots of stuff like that are in our future."
"I have Lathander on my side and you are not unskilled in the arcane arts. We at least have what we need. I'm sure it'll be fine!
To the woman, "Nice to meet you Clucky! I'm Capt'n Froog Nackle!" Froog tips his magnificent hat, "I'm afraid my companions and I have had a rough go of it recently and don't have that much of a sense of humor right now. I myself just returned from the precipice of death thanks to my dragonborn friend here and some attention from Mr. Shroomlight. Speaking of him though, we were told there is a ghost causing problems in the area. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"
She shudders a moment "Captain?! That's funny! Oh yes, I know that hovel...one of our newest families was settling there but that ghost would not have it! It manifested and stuck like slime...throws quite a temper tantrum when anyone gets near, I'll show you the way...but mind it doesn't seem to be your usual pasty white...more of a presence than an appearance. Eh, I don't know the word for it."
Winding through the warm, nice smelling tunnels she takes you to a portal that has nothing but pitch blackness inside, pointing.
"Pleasure to meet you Clucky Borscht-slinger. Have you ever seen an elf with the same coloring as me? I'm looking for family." Edlethron politely inquires.
She shudders a moment "Captain?! That's funny! Oh yes, I know that hovel...one of our newest families was settling there but that ghost would not have it! It manifested and stuck like slime...throws quite a temper tantrum when anyone gets near, I'll show you the way...but mind it doesn't seem to be your usual pasty white...more of a presence than an appearance. Eh, I don't know the word for it."
Winding through the warm, nice smelling tunnels she takes you to a portal that has nothing but pitch blackness inside, pointing.
"Oh we are checking on ghosts. Fun."
To Ed's question she replies "No, I think you're my first one! Lucky you...so, you neither worship nor are obsessed with spiders? What a change. What's your thang?"
"No, no obsession or worship of spiders. My thang is finding my family. How about you? What's your thang?" Ed replies.
"Optics! Specifically the optical properties of minerals. Have you ever enjoyed the birefringence of calcite? One can become two! Its quite something." she pauses her excitement a moment "Sorry about your family, if you aren't like the drow then you must not be all that bad. I suppose everyone needs something to keep them going in a place like this. So, are you really going into that house? It won't like that...no, it won't like that all!"
"No, I haven't. Sounds interesting." Edlethron replies about calcite.
"I suppose I am. Is there anything useful that I should know to help me survive in that house?" The wood elf asks for help.
"Not sure, I've never understood the spirits that lingered here after the drow invasion...some are so nice but some so spiteful. Just watch your heads, it likes to throw things..."
"Thank you for the advice. Maybe I'll see you around later. It was pleasure to meet you, Clucky Borscht-slinger." Edlethron