During the walk Hue calmed his nerves with a song his grand uncle was often caught singing. He did it quietly and as much to himself as possible.
"... I took the dus' pan, the missus grabbed the brooooom, and we chased tha' lobster round and round the room singin' I-diddly-oh, I-diddly-oh, I-diddly-I-diddly-I-de-diddle-oh ..."
The song reverberated in the alcove of his deep cloak hood. Once or twice he stumbled on the length of the cloaks' train until he took to holding it up like a ball gown while walking through mud. It made it difficult to hold the spear at the same time.
When they came to the gates of the giants, Hue grabbed the spear tightly and tried to listen to it. "If ever you wan' to star' talking like tha' there sword you jus' go righ' ahead." While he did so he examined the landscape for possible ambush entrances, 'back doors' and arrow 'murder hole' slits.
One of the two giants nods and says, "I will tell the Stonespeaker. You will wait here." He ducked his head to enter the passageway and soon vanished into the gloom.
Alexandra seeks to rely on her intuition to gain insight on the area.
How do the giants react to her? Or her shadow? Although the latters natures may not be apparent? Do they guess that she can see in the dark, unlike most humans?
Hue leaned over to Precious and whispered up over his shoulder, "Wha' do you think of the mining of the entrance there? I' doesn' seem very good. All the entire load of stone at the lintel looks likely to fall and only the stick by tha' gian's shoulder seems to be holding everything in place. And they have to step over the threshold every time they go to or fro cuz the stone seems connected to it.
"Do you think I should mention something? They could ge' hur' with bad stonework like tha'."
Kalanzar nods. We'll wait. And then he turns around and whispers back to Hue. If we can help someone, we have to. But is this definitely an accident and not a measure of protection from uninvited guests?
If we can help someone, we have to. But is this definitely an accident and not a measure of protection from uninvited guests?
Hue put his hand to his chin in thought, "Tha' makes a lotta sense. Yup, now tha' you say i' tha' way. I's probably a trap."
Maddy gave the remaining giant a friendly smile but didn't engage them in conversation considering they were probably on guard. When she was protecting the flock, she wouldn't want to be distracted by a conversation either.
Through Stool she commented, ::I think they were expecting us and seem to consider us a curiosity. We must seem as strange to them as they do to us, or at least me. I've never been this close to giants before::
"Tha' makes a lotta sense. Yup, now tha' you say i' tha' way. I's probably a trap."
”Aye, now that ye mention it…” Precious murmured, looking at the area in a whole new light and appreciating the cunning stonework. ”Try an’ step in uninvites, an’ ye git to try out a new career as a meat pancake. An’ I reckon it’d take a mighty while fer anyone smaller than yon giants to clear the rubble, givin’ the tall folks on the far side o’ an impassable barrier plenty o’ time to prepare their defenses… or start filin’ away through a back door. Well spotted.”
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It didn't take long for the giant to return, this time with an even taller giant behind him. "The dreamlanders, Stonespeaker."
Stonespeaker Hgraam was taller than the others, but not the 20 feet that Jimjar had guessed. He wore a simple, toga-like garment that blended in well with the stone of the cavern. His black hair was thin and hung to his shoulders, and he had a bulbous nose and thick lips. His eyes were black. He steps over the trapped area of the floor without making it look like he was avoiding it. For a moment he simply looks at each of you, taking you in with a somewhat unsettling expression. Stool whimpers a bit and snugs himself in closer to Maddy's neck.
Finally, he speaks. "You are as Dorhun described you. You are as the walls of the caves have whispered. For the stones have told me of your coming. You must be careful. Something evil stirs in the Underdark. The rock itself cries in pain and horror, and a madness creeps from the blackest depths. Pay heed to the signs surrounding you. A cave with two faces. Rock devoured, and the land overgrown. The pebble believes itself flesh. The earth rejects its wards and the tunnels shake in fury. By these portents, you shall know if evil's presences and of evil's face. This is what the stones tell me, and to tell you."
Behind him, you can see Dorhun has also approached, but he is standing a bit back, respectfully waiting for the Stonespeaker to finish.
Maddy didn't often have to crane her neck to look up at someone but she didn't have to do so to look at the Stonespeaker. These giants were much more calm and peaceful than the stories she had heard.
When she could feel Stool's agitation, she lifted her hand to rub his back comfortingly and she sent calming thoughts to him much like she would a startled lamb.
The Stonespeaker had a wise, ancient feel to him and so Maddy respectfully listened when he began to speak. It didn't take long for her brow to furrow with a mixture of confusion and puzzlement. It sounded like he was speaking Common but she couldn't understand his meaning. How could stones speak or rock cry? How could a cave have faces? Hopefully the others understood what she couldn't.
Were they supposed to ask questions? Were they even allowed to speak to the Stonespeaker? Or were they just brought here to be given some obtuse message?
Precious felt the first throbs of a coming headache as looking at the giant Speaker in the eyes forced him to crane his neck in an uncomfortable angle and maintain the posture for the long moments they were looked over, gauged, judged. And when he finally spoke, his words chased each other in circles, displaying the kind of verbal gymnastics one expected from the owner of a large manufactory when the time came to fill in their year-end tax return forms.
Precious did note that the Speaker’s words had quite an effect on the guards standing within hearing distance. They, at least, took what was said as serious portents.
::Warnings ain’t often getting’ any vaguer than that, but them guards certainly didn’t like what they just heard:: Precious sent to the other via Stool.
Besides, cryptic or not, it would not be wise to disregards the warnings of those attuned to the heartbeat of the stones. The bones of the world carried a great weight, and the living should take heed of the lessons hewn in stone or veins of metals, said the oldest and wisest of the dwarven master makers, Precious well recalled.
”We thank ye o’ yer words o’ warnin’, Speaker,” Precious said, to fill in the heavy silence left by the giant’s words. ”An’ we have ‘lready seen our fair share o’ horror an’ madness.” The images of the towering demon rising from the still waters of the underground lake came unbiddenly into his mind, and he did his best to quickly banish the memory and the soul-quaking terror it brought with it. ”Far be it fer me to dictate things to the stones ‘neath and ‘round us, but could ye possibly glean anythin’ a mite more… specific… outta them?”
Hue nodded knowingly as the Stonespeaker, well, stone-spoke. He took in the words and certainly knew what each of them meant, but, put together? They started to go out the other ear before the entire scentence could be formed. Still he nodded gratefully.
When Precious asked for some clarity Hue thought out to everyone loudly :Oh, thank you Mister Precious, I thought I was going mad:
He looked at the giants and tried to see the concern Precious mentioned abut was a little distracted as part of his head kept wondering if there was the chance of a spot of tea.
Like everyone else, Kalanzar raises his head but does not seem to feel any excitement. It was necessary to worry in captivity of the drow, during the attack of the demons, during the time when the mega-demon came out of the lake and devoured the city... Now is the time for wisdom and conversation.
It is clear that the druid is touched by the giant's words and plunges into deep thought. The voice of nature is the voice of gods, the voice of the universe, the voice of harmony of all worlds. And whoever hears this voice must be heard... Thank you for the warning, although it is difficult for us to interpret it. But still, there is great wisdom and power in this.
The Stonespeaker's expression turned startled, and then he smiled. "Alas that it were so," he said to Precious. "The stones speak softly, and their words are hard to understand. Oft times it is only in looking back that they become clear. I can only hope the words are some help, as the stones have spoken them for me to speak to you."
Looking down to Jimjar, he adds, "You should hurry home, little cousin. There is danger there, and the passages through the Underdark become more dangerous every hour."
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When they started back Hue mumbled. Hue mumbled more than usual. Hue mumbled a lot.
"'You mus' be careful.' We'll tha's obvious. 'Something evil stirs in the Underdark.' I think I go' a grasp on tha' two. 'The rock itself cries in pain and horror,' hmm, either tha's poetry for the 'soul' of the natural world, like, or there is more of a specific consciousness near here?"
"'and a madness creeps from the blackes' depths.' 'madness' and 'creeps' could be more poetry bu' i' also sounds like aberations. We've had a share of dealing with those already."
"I sure could use a spo' of tea."
"'Pay heed to the signs surrounding you.'" Hue looked around him suspiciously and then went back to mumbling.
"'A cave with two faces.' Could be rock shaped like faces or two things, two monsters, in the cave." He paused meaningfully and touched his fingers together like he was doing math. "Or a cave with a monster tha' has two faces"
"'Rock devoured, and the land overgrown.' Sounds like moss or mold kinda, hmm, wha' eats rock. Lava. Some acids. Water drills. Is there Fraking!? Do you Frak down here."
"'The pebble believes itself flesh.' No. No clue there, and, 'The earth rejects i's wards and the tunnels shake in fury.' Are there seals and wards down here? Are there clerics to talk to. I suppose we jus' did. What abou' rangers. Oh, I could go for a good map. I sure do miss my cartography tools. Really, the only thing I miss. Tha' and my ha'."
"'By these portents,' Holy these are jus' the porten's. '... you shall know if evil's presences and of evil's face.' So maybe theres one leader to all of this or is this a poetic, a metaphorical face??? It all feels like we'll know wha' we're looking a' when we see i'.
"Hey, Guys! I think we migh' be facing an intelligen' mold with two heads that mines using pressurized water and dubious ecological standards."
Alexandras eyes blare in purple as she suddenly intones
Foes have been summoned,
but not to invade
yet under their wroth
the underdark does shake
Talons to strike and claws to rend
insidious visions that do doom portend
the untamed tide of abyssal rage
will sadly take the center stage
Thee knowest the strength of thy dire foe
to oppose them directly brings nought but woe
yet defeat ought not to be thy fate
though must use thy foes common hate
I am worried about you, this was not me my little idiot
Huh what the hell just happened?
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"Hey, Guys! I think we migh' be facing an intelligen' mold with two heads that mines using pressurized water and dubious ecological standards."
Precious covered his mouth in a sudden coughing fit, to hide a gale of surprised laughter that had threatened to burst free – the halfling could say the darnest thing at the most unexpected moment! ”Aye, that sounds like trouble an’ a half,” the dwarf managed a moment later, when he felt he had got himself back under control. ”Ye were good with them plants and ‘shrooms, aye? So ‘haps ye shoulda keep yer eyes open fer just that an’ be sure to alert us if any mold rises its ugly twin ‘eads,” he suggested. Besides, what with all the strange crap they kept running into in this hell-under-the-mountains, he could not shake the feeling there just might be something to Hue’s bizarre deduction.
The Stonespeaker's expression turned startled, and then he smiled. "Alas that it were so," he said to Precious. "The stones speak softly, and their words are hard to understand. Oft times it is only in looking back that they become clear. I can only hope the words are some help, as the stones have spoken them for me to speak to you."
”Understood, ‘onored Speaker,” Precious said, turning his attention back to the giant shaman, seer, priest… whatever his role in the giant society was. ”We ‘ave a long way home, through strange trails. Any warnin’s o’ danger be much appreciated.”
He thought for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. ’Won’t hurt to try…’ he thought. ”An’ speakin’ ‘bout the way home… the local Captain o’ the Guard be given us a task ‘fore she allows us free passage outta her turf. She would send us to West Cleft, to chase a suspected criminal. That ain’t a huge issue in an’ of itself, but she would send us to the Derro, without providin’ us any reasonable cover why a motley crew o’ outsiders like us would be even ‘llowed inside by the Guard. Could ye, by any chance, be able an’ willin’ to provide us an excuse to go there? A simple task we could ‘form in yer name? If this ain’t somethin’ ye be comfortable gettin’ yeself mixed in with, we do wholly understand.”
... ”Ye were good with them plants and ‘shrooms, aye? So ‘haps ye shoulda keep yer eyes open fer just that an’ be sure to alert us if any mold rises its ugly twin ‘eads,”...
Fortified by Precious opinion, Hue nodded and began looking to the shadows for places where mold might take hold. He watched for suspicious mosses and shifty looking lichen. Mostly he held the spear of warning tight.
"Hey, Guys! I think we migh' be facing an intelligen' mold with two heads that mines using pressurized water and dubious ecological standards."
Maddy shrugged and nodded because it seemed like a logical conclusion to her based on the confusing words the Stonespeaker had said.
She looked down at Jimjar, "Looks like taking you home is my next priority after getting safely out of this city. I didn't understand much but he said that you needed to get home."
** spoiler omitted **
The stonespeaker considered Precious' request, then reluctantly shook his head. "I can think of no task or request that the derro would honour. They are no friends of ours. They are inclined to madness, and are as likely to ignore you as attack you. Keep your heads down, and all may be well."
Stonespeaker Hgraam calls for his apprentice, Dorhun, whom you met earlier and had been waiting. Dorhun hands the Stonespeaker a polished crystal, about the length of Maddy's forearm. Hgraam says, "I offer you this is a token of our gratitude for the mercy you showed our poor Rihuud. It will be helpful in your future, or so the stones say."
Dorhun stays to explain that this is a stonespeaker crystal. It will allow an attuned wielder to speak with animals, plants, or even the dead. "And should you ever find yourself in Gravenhollow, there is more that it can do, though I do not know the details."
The stonespeaker considered Precious' request, then reluctantly shook his head. "I can think of no task or request that the derro would honour. They are no friends of ours. They are inclined to madness, and are as likely to ignore you as attack you. Keep your heads down, and all may be well."
”Aye, figured it mighta be that,” Precious sighed, but didn’t make his disappointment too plain. It was no fault of the Speaker, after all, that they had been given such a pain in the buttocks of a request… after they had already sourced out at least one safe-seeming way to leave the city behind! ”We’ll just have to do it the hard way, eh?”
"And should you ever find yourself in Gravenhollow, there is more that it can do, though I do not know the details."
”Thank ye for yer generous gift,” Precious said, bowing his antlered head to the Speaker and his apprentice. ”I hope yer stricken kin is on the mend?” he asked, lamenting the fact that asking after the poor creature’s health hadn’t been the first thing out of his mouth. A second head, sprouting just like that? Truly, even the diseases one got we just downright weird in this strange place. ”If I may ask… his ailment. Be that… normal in these parts, or ‘nother sign o’ the creepin’ madness ye warned us ‘bout?”
”Thank ye for yer generous gift,” Precious said, bowing his antlered head to the Speaker and his apprentice. ”I hope yer stricken kin is on the mend?” he asked, lamenting the fact that asking after the poor creature’s health hadn’t been the first thing out of his mouth. A second head, sprouting just like that? Truly, even the diseases one got we just downright weird in this strange place. ”If I may ask… his ailment. Be that… normal in these parts, or ‘nother sign o’ the creepin’ madness ye warned us ‘bout?”
"Normal?" The Stonespeaker repeated. "No, not that. I have never heard of such a thing. Creatures born with two heads, yes, those exist. But to grow a second head? I cannot ken what caused it. He is still unconscious. Our healers are with him, trying to determine how he can be helped."
The Stonespeaker and Dorhun make their way back into Cairngorm Cavern. It's time to make good on your promise and go look for Droki.
The walk back to the furrow is much the same, with smoke often drifting into your eyes from the many forges. Sweating duergar can be seen through open doors, as they forge the swords and armour they're famous for.
Soon you're at the furrow, and making your way down the steep and poorly-maintained paths that delve downwards. The pebbles skid underfoot, making the route treacherous.
It is much darker down at the bottom - the constant red glow of the forges don't penetrate, and the derro prefer it dark. Only those with darkvision can see confidently down here. It's not pitch dark yet, but the west cleft district ahead looks is shadowed and black.
The derro were once enslaved by the duergar, and the ruined gates hang askew, testament to the days when they were locked up here when not pressed into work. As you pass through the gates, the stench in the air changes from acrid and metallic to fetid and repugnant; the fires of industry are replaced by squalor. The homes in this part of Gracklstugh are crudely carved from the rock or are just holes in the walls, arranged in no apparent order. The chatter in the air is unnerving, with hundreds of derro muttering, screaming at each other, and otherwise reveling in their insanity. Those who spot you look at you with burning hatred.
::So, time’s up. How we gonna play this, considerin’ we stick outta like a goblin elbows deep in the lord's coffers,:: Precious sent via Stool, muttering the occasional curse as a pebble shifted under his boots and threatened to twist his ankles as he sought for balance. ::Them locals look like they wouldn’t spit on us if we were on fire, an’ we be here to git information ‘bout one o’ their kin who’s doin’ nasty things to their former enslavers? Need a mighty good story fer that to work out fer our benefit.::
It was always darker than Maddy would like and when the ground underfoot began to change and become more shifty, she had to concentrate on keeping her footing. Not just for herself but also because she was carrying Stool. It wouldn't do to have both of them sprawled on the ground.
She may have been focused on where she placed her feet but she couldn't miss the burning hatred in the eyes of the derros who paid attention to them.
Maddy tried to continue without additional light but it was getting too difficult for her. She mentally requested Dawn to glow ever so slightly to give a bit more light for her to see by.
::Because we stick out so badly and with what the Stonespeaker said about the derro possibly just ignoring us, I don't think we need to come up with a story. Let's just find this Droki. They may hate us but as long as we're a group, they'll probably leave us alone::
Hue eyed every mold and fungus suspiciously on the way back to the furrow. He looked so hard that he wasn't paying attention to the ground underfoot and, for a moment, slipped and slid on some fine pebles. Hue's body threatened to splay flat on the ground but he caught himself and jumped up two or three times in an exercising sort of way to try to hide his slip.
The attempt didn't work.
When they made it to the Derro district Hue looked about at the squalor and went silent. There was no soft folk song and no self-muttering from the little fellow.
After a bit he thought to the others, ::Maybe, jus' maybe, we can be something the Duergar canno'. Maybe we can be caring? We're strangers which means we migh' no' be their oppressors. Maybe we can listen to the people here. They won' trus' us, perhaps, maybe ... they'll need us.::
Precious gave Hue a surprised glance, the nodded slowly. From what little he knew of the two Underdark races, sympathy certainly sounded like a novel concept. Unless it was taken as weakness to be exploited... well, perhaps even if it was...
::I mean... I ain't git 'nuthin' better,:: he sent back. ::It sounds pretty outlandish fer this folk, 'sfar as I understand, but who knows? Could be the surprise factor drawin' all attention to itself would work fer us.::
Alexandra falls, but manages to land relatively gracefully
Hehe, I made way bigger falls! At least no turning into a bat this time, although it was pretty cool!
She listens to Hues and Precious conversation
If you ask me, provide some service to be useful, while being outlandish so we are not attacked. I am reasonable in deception so there is that!
The drow was deep in his own thoughts, and wasn't paying close attention to the descent into Ladugar's Furrow. Hue's sudden jump-save startled Kalanzar badly, and he stumbled backwards, caught his foot on a sharp stone, and pitched over. He tumbled head over heals twice, then slid the last ten feet on his face and stomach in a very undignified manner.
Sore and bloody, the druid allowed Maddy to help pull himself to his feet. Rueful, he wiped at his scrapes. As he looked at the gates to the derro shanty town, he said, "I might be more help as a scout. I'll turn into a lizard again, and go up high. My vantage point might help. I'll let you know if I spot anything." He took his lizard form, and scampered easily up the wall and slipped unnoticed into the west cleft district.
At Maddy's request, Dawn begins to glow softly. The nearest derro cry out and shield their eyes, some of them practically hissing and spitting in fury. Even Jimjar shields his eyes for a moment, though he seems able to get used to the sword's sunlight glow.
When Dawn begins to glow and gets such a negative response from the locals, Maddy mentally asks her if there's anyway she can go any dimmer.
::Were we told where this Droki hangs out down here? If we don't have a place to start then I guess we go where the derro are and start asking. Maybe we'll luck out and find one that is somewhat helpful::
Dawnbringer grumblingly reduces her glow to barely more than a candle. It's enough for Maddy and Hue not to trip, but not enough to see more than about 10 feet away from them. No derro come close enough for you to see their hateful scowls, but the others can see it.
.
Maddy can't really see far enough to know what types of buildings are around.
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The derro mutter and hiss as your group moves cautiously into the slums. A few are brave enough, or mad enough, to throw stones or clods of filth at you, though none approach in an outright attack. Hue stays close to Maddy and Dawn's reassuring light. Overhead, Kalanzar scuttles across the cavern walls, his vantage point giving him a good view.
After a few moments, you hear his voice, transmitted by Stool. "There! look to your right!"
Alex sees a figure that appeared to have the strange hat as described by the captain. A moment later, he seems to vanish straight into the cavern wall!
You hurry after him, and discover a cunningly concealed entrance to a narrow corridor. You squeeze in, and file down it. A moment later, it opens into a long cavern lined with stalactites and stalagmites. Water drips from the stalactites, forming small pools on the floor.
The glow of faerzress casts an eerie soft light across this cavern, swirling into spiral patterns and casting dancing shadows from the jagged pillars lining the walls. The air smells and tastes slightly metallic, and the sound around you is strangely muted. The dripping of water makes no echo, as if you stood in open air.
Hue grabbed the spear of warning and squinted. He moved to the front from his usual position in their traveling order, knelt and checked for disturbed lichen or splatterings of the grey stalactite milk on the surrounding rock. ::Did we see him or no'. I'm getting nothing of a sense of where he wen'. I's kind of soundless in here in a weird way.::
Hue pointed in the direction he felt strongest about with his non-spear hand.
::What be the damn odds fer this?:: Precious wondered as their quarry just up and ran across them on the street. He was more than happy to have the stealthy halfling shadow the derro, with the others following at a distance.
::Anyway… quite a secret hideout, this one,:: he went on, giving the cavern they now found themselves in a curious look. ::Natural, o’ course, though someone sure went through an effort to tunnel their way here, an’ enspell the way to keep curious eyes at bay. I doubt the good Captain will be thrilled to hear there be burrows into an’ outta her city she doesn’t know ‘bout. Someone mighta bring all kindsa things through here. Valuable things. Or perhaps folks carryin’ pointy things an’ wishin’ ill fer the duergar, come a day o’ reckonin’.::
Maddy had been out of her depth once they entered the derro district. To say that she was relieved when Kalizard and Alex found their quarry was an understatement. Finally she had a direction to focus on.
Once they entered the cavern she felt like they were back at square one. ::He could be hiding anywhere in this dark vastness. Now what?::
Then she thought of something and offered, ::I could get Dawn to shine as bright as she can and then follow the screaming and hissing. Chances are we'd find him faster that way, even if he is trying to hide::
Hue looks through the drippy puddles on the ground, and finds some small footprints moving forward. You hurry forward, following the tracks, and your footsteps barely make a sound in this strange, echoless place. Keeping pace with you overhead, Kalanzar gives you a warning just as you catch sight of your quarry.
The dirty derro is easy to recognize: a pale face under a floppy hat fitted with two tentacle-like things that bob up and down in time with his brisk pace. He keeps muttering repetitive series of phrases to himself at different volumes, failing to notice you. "Droki is late! They will be so angry! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Delays, blocks, procrastination, obstructions, pfah! No time, no rhyme, not mine! No! Time!"
He is nearing a three-way intersection of tunnels - two smaller passages lead to the left and right, and the main tunnel continues straight ahead. Droki looks like he is heading towards the left passageway. He's about 25 feet ahead of you.
Alexandra creates a silent image of another Droki right in front of him!
Hopeing to confuse him so someone who can grapple him gets him!
Hue, seeing the second Droki appear, panicked and rushed forward. He dropped his spear and fell into a near face-plant trying to grab hold of the (not so) little guy's ankles. He hoped that he'd picked the right one.
Maddy sprung into action as Alex acted by causing another Droki to appear. Not wanting to let him get away she needed to rush forward but she also couldn't run the risk of tripping so as she moved, she requested that Dawn provide more light.
She noticed Hue moving foward as well so as the halfling went for the ankles, Maddy went for the torso.
I'll let Alex have the surprise illusion as Droki didn't know you were there. Hue, Maddy and anybody else springing into action, roll for initiative. Alex did not voice her plan. But you can know that she's responsible for the illusion.