So, not an ettin after all, but a giant who just went and grew himself another head, or had one grown to him against his will? ’Why, this sounds so much better,’ Precious thought glumly as he helped pick up another crate of scattered fruit and heard the Stone Guard’s “invitation”. Better and better – getting more attention from the deep dwarves was just the thing he could have done without, but he was a bit too conspicuous a figure on the street to think of slipping away unnoticed.
Maddy looked resigned, "So we have to come with you now?"
”Fer sure sounds like it,” Precious grunted as he walked over, with the enthusiasm and energy of a convicted felon walking towards the gibbet. ”Well, best not keep good Captain waitin’ eh?”
May I inquire directions, and possible writs of passage or escorts towards Overlake Hold? It is my understanding that travel for foreigners in your city is restricted, and we have no intention of violating such restrictions by accident or ignorance.
The guard Alex is talking too draws his eyebrows together in a frown. He then gestures behind him. "It's not but three blocks that way."
Resigned to their fate, the five of you go with the guards towards Overlake Hold. It's a short trip, as the Hold is just on the otherside of the Blade Bazaar, well inside Darklake District.
As you walk, the female Stone Guard explains, "The Stonespeaker is the title held by the leader of the giants who live in Cairngorm Cavern. The access to the cavern is south of Laduguer's Furrow. Duergar aren't allowed in, except the Deepking, who has meetings with the Stonespeaker sometimes."
Overlake Hold (Dunglorrin Torrune in the duergar tongue) is a fortress and temple, carved into the heart of a massive stalagmite on the shore of Darklake. It bristles with forge chimneys from which smoke billows, and ledges from which catapults can hurl stones at waterborne invaders.
The Stone Guard bring you in through the main door (past six more Stone Guard), and immediately up a steep, narrow flight of stairs. It must be more than ten stories that you climb, before exiting into a hallway filled with what are clearly dungeon cells.
Maddy listened to what the Stone Guard said about the Stonespeaker as they were led to the Overlake Hold. There was something in her voice that sounded similar to her brother's when Maggie, their younger sister, would choose to hold her hand over his when they went for a walk in the woods. But why would this guard be jealous of them? They were outsiders. Surely this Stonespeaker had all the time in the world to speak with the locals.
The young woman studied every aspect of Overlake Hold as they approached. It was an imposing structure to say the least. As Maddy's eyes were drawn ever upwards, she caught movement on a rooftop near the hold. They were being watched! It took all of her will to not react but she sounded a warning through the Stool collective, ::We're being watched from above and it's not a duergar. It looks like a drow! Friend or foe I can't tell so be on guard::
She dutifully followed as they were led up many, many stairs. Had she not spent so many hours outdoors doing active work, she would have been breathing heavily by the time they got to the top of ten stories.
Maddy stopped dead in her tracks when the dungeon cells came into view. She looked questioningly at the Stone Guards, "I thought you said we were coming to speak with the Captain. This doesn't look like a place to have a conversation. Why'd you bring us here? We did nothing wrong."
Clearly you have other... amenities for guests. Nobody and nothing enslaves me without paying the bloodprice for it or the attempt, this is the religious conviction of my patron, I have no say in this.
Alexandras eyes grow purple
[::We're being watched from above and it's not a duergar. It looks like a drow! Friend or foe I can't tell so be on guard::
::Aye, saw it meself,:: Precious sent back, not bothering to hide staring directly at the figure for the moment it remained in his line of sight, before the guards ushered them inside their fortress of a building. ::Ain’t heard o’ many black-skinned pointy-head that wouldn’t stick a knife intae ye rather than look at ye… present company excluded, o’ course,:: he went on, nodding in Kalanzar’s direction, ::so if I had to make a guess…::
"Clearly you have other... amenities for guests. Nobody and nothing enslaves me without paying the bloodprice for it or the attempt, this is the religious conviction of my patron, I have no say in this."
::Don’t go startin’ us any wars just yet – they haven’t demanded our weapons or anythin’ so far,:: Precious sent the thought urgently, as Alex’s challenge was clear in her voice and he could just imagine Maddy exploding on the guards if they suddenly laid hands on the fierce warrior. ::Surely there be more guards from where these few buggers came from, an’ fighting our way outta this citadel would only be the first course in tryin’ to force our way outta the whole bloody city, not the end o’ our troubles!::
Precious and Maddy spot the drow watcher, and can't help but wonder if it's related to their escape from Velkynvelve. The drow makes no move, however, just watches as you're shepherded into the Hold.
The guards didn't draw their weapons at Alex's fierce words; they do bristle, however, and it's clear that at least a few of them would welcome a fight.
"You're not guests, and you're not welcome to mingle with duergar in Dunglorrin Torrune. The captain will want to speak to you, and she will, when she's ready. She'll speak to you here. You can keep your weapons, for now, but you'll wait here. Trust me, if you put up a fight, you'll spend more than a few hours waiting, and it'll be in the real dungeons."
Maddy took small comfort in the fact that they were being allowed to keep their weapons. That seemed to speak to the fact that they weren't prisoners. However, it may not stay that way if cooler heads didn't prevail. Of course, that didn't mean that she wanted to be locked up again.
"I understand that we are not to mingle with other duergar. Since you require it, we will wait here until your Captain has a free moment to speak with us."
They want you in the cells.
Kalanzar does not notice the other drow and barely restrains himself from the temptation not to look back. Maybe it's Sarith, he thinks hopefully. Having chuckled at the remark of Precious about 'black pointy-eared', with which he generally agrees a little more than completely, the druid of the stars moves further up the stairs, and this climb tires him out (but he tries his best not to show it).
____
Kalanzar puts his hand on Alexandra's shoulder.
Наша Леди в Тени также предпочитает обман и обольщение ударам в лоб.
Our Lady in the Shadows also prefers deception and seduction instead of direct confrontation.
The language in which he says it sounds like a chaotic set of nauseating and frightening sounds pronounced without any system. But still it is a language, and the fact that Kalanzar, unlike Alexandra, prefers not to use it, but now he has spoken it clearly means something - this is a message for her.
Then he adds in the common language of the Underdark , which is already understandable to most, let's be reasonable for now, it may bring new benefits. Words about personal gain are the words that everyone expects to hear from a drow.
Я слушаю
--I hear--
Alexandra nods, her eyes are still purple though.
Хотя я с нетерпением жду, когда вы попробуете свои силы в соблазнении.
--Although I also look forward to seeing you try your hand at seduction--
She adds with a grin.
Maddy looked at the cell and then back at the Stone Guard, then back at the cell before looking back at the guard. "Is there any way that you'd allow me to be in the cell without locking it? I will sit quietly and wait so locking it would be unnecessary. There will be guards at the door anyways, right?"
They had been through so much to obtain their freedom and the thought of being captive again when they had done nothing wrong made Maddy feel very uneasy. Could they trust these duergar to let them go when all was said and done?
Hue was on high alert and his senses were a knife's edge that could cut through deception and darkness. When he was warned on a watcher he took a (not so concealed) glance. 'Wha' are they talking on? There's only a crenellated wall. They must be mistaking the carved section there for someone. We'll I won' embarass them by pointing out their mistake.
:Mmmm, yes, some pointy eared devil of a watcher for sure:
Finally led to the cells, his throat constricted a little and a bead of perspiration ran over the ridge of his temple. He had half a step forward when they were ordered to get in -
Clearly you have other... amenities for guests. Nobody and nothing enslaves me without paying the bloodprice for it or the attempt, this is the religious conviction of my patron, I have no say in this.
- but when Alex protests, Hue snapped his foot back and moved his arms in an exercising kind of way to hide the jerk. It was not subtle.
"... Since you require it, we will wait here until your Captain has a free moment to speak with us."
Thinking Maddy meant they would wait in a cell, hue began to step forward again but hedged. It looked like he was testing the temperature of water with his big toe. Kal and Alex were both talking and in at least two languages and he waited to see which way the wind blew. It seemed to be blowing in the general direction of the cell.
"Is there any way that you'd allow me to be in the cell without locking it? I will sit quietly and wait so locking it would be unnecessary. There will be guards at the door anyways, right?"
Hue pulled his toe back again and looked at everyone like he was trying to thread the eye of a needle. He exhaled. He shrugged. Then he walked into the cell and sat in a corner. His head bent down towards his feet. His spear leaning against the wall over him.
Хотя я с нетерпением жду, когда вы попробуете свои силы в соблазнении.
--Although I also look forward to seeing you try your hand at seduction--
It seems that Kalanzar is ready to sink into the ground from this taunt and is glad that most likely he alone understands this language. Nevertheless, he does not let himself be led astray.
Устроить бессмысленную драку ты всегда успеешь. Давай пока подождем. Переговоры могут пойти нам на пользу. Будь хитрее и гибче.
You will always have time to arrange a senseless fight. Let's wait for now. Negotiations can be good for us. Be smarter and more flexible.
Alexandra passes by Kalanzar, smiling, "accidentally" breathing hot air on his neck as she does so and settles into a cell.
I need to find some effing perfume, now that I think about it.
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The Stone Guard allowed that they would close the doors most of the way, but not tight, and not lock the cells. For now.
It was difficult to judge how much time passed. Jimjar almost immediately fell asleep, snoring softly in his corner. Stool seemed anxious, and paced slowly the perimeter of the cell. It's too similar to your time with the drow, but at least you're not chained to the walls.
After waiting a long while, the door to the stairway opens, and another guard holds a whispered conversation with you guards. The door closes, and the duergar open your cells. "The captain is ready."
You're led back upstairs another two stories, and finally taken into a large, dark office. An imposing female dwarf meets you there. She is fully armoured and bears an insignia you have not seen on any other duergar. She is flanked by two Stone Guards who remain by the door.
"I am Captain Errde Blackskull, commander of the stone Guards," she says, giving each of you a calculating look. "Let me start by saying you are worth nothing here in Gracklstugh. Most of those in my command would sell you off in a heartbeat as the cheapest manual labour. However, I've learned to make much better use of adventurers like you. We have seen that you can handle yourself in a fight. The question is, can you work with cleverness and discretion as well? Are you willing to work for safe passage out of Gracklstugh?"
Hue thought out to the others through Stool, : Well, that was as sweet an offer as I expected. Perhaps this is more of an errand and we don't all have to go? Thinking of the safety of some : His heart reached out to Stool and Jim Jar in the particular.
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Kalanzar confidently looks into the captain's eyes. We were looking for a job, that's right. And we are used to being paid for our work not only with promises to get out of a certain place free and alive. He raises an eyebrow slightly and gives his face the same expression you would expect to see on the face of a haughty but ready-to-negotiate drow.
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Good Captain Blackskull, our cleverness and discretion obviously depend on the offered incentives. I can see this is hardly your first dance with random surfacer mercenaries. As with most things, you get what you pay for.
Her standoffish demeanour earlier with the guards is gone, and she is negotiating quite ably.
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Maddy found it challenging to wait in the cell. She sat rigidly on the floor, her fingers tapping nervously on her knees.
She scrambled to her feet when a different duergar guard came to discuss with their guards.
The Captain was an impressive and formidable presence. Maddy could tell that she was all business and that she would probably be just as happy to throw them into a bunch of cells as she would to speak with them. Their words could mean the difference between those two different fates.
Knowing that she wasn't the best with words, Maddy focused on if there was anything underlying the Captain's words.
Hue grimaced his best fake smile and he thought through Stool :Ah, do we really want to push with these authorities while they have all the space to do their, um, authoritizing?:
He looked to Precious for support but the horned dwarf had so far been silent. Hue thought to himself, 'Hmm, coiled springs were silent too.'
All in all, Precious found their duergar keepers unsurprisingly accommodating, as they actually agreed to put them in cells for mere appearance’s sake, with doors left ajar at Madison’s request. He hadn’t expected them to make those kinds of compromises. Had they earned more credit with the guard by assisting with the subjugation of the crazed giant? Well, be it as it may, he found himself hopeful their meeting with the Guard Captain would follow along similar lines.
Hue grimaced his best fake smile and he thought through Stool :Ah, do we really want to push with these authorities while they have all the space to do their, um, authoritizing?:
::Well… ain’t like I knew the lass, so hard to say, right?:: Precious sent back, focusing his attention to the formidable officer while Kalanzar and Alex kept her talking. ::Could be she’s just downplayin’ her own needs to make us grateful fer her givin’ us the time o’ the day… or ‘haps she really could use any number o’ tools to crack a particular problem, an’ us breakin’ in the effort would inconvenience her a tad less than her other options.::
The captain looked at Kalanzar and Alexandra, who clearly were the leaders of this little group. "It's true, you actually are a surface drow, aren't you?" She shook her head as if in amazment. "I am plagued with your kin almost daily. I wonder who they hate more - you, or these pale-skinned human females you travel with?" She frowned, as if impatient with her own curiosity.
"You wish to negotiate? Very well. Here is the job, briefly. There is a derro whose movements we've been tracking. He is slippery, and we've been unable to catch him. We want you to find him, follow him, and report back. Capture him if you can. You think your service is more valuable than arranging a safe journey out of our lands and back to yours? Convince me."
She leans back against her desk, armoured arms crossed over her breastplate.
I have several questions, please state the following outcomes in order of their desireability.
1. We track him, capture him, bring him back to you.
2. We track him, fail to capture him and kill him in the scuffle.
3. We track him, consider a capture risky and report back without making the attempt, giving you the information without alarming him.
4: We track him, fail to capture him and he escapes, alarmed.
1 is obviously best, 4 obviously worst, yet 2 or 3 could plausibly be in either order. Alexandra keeps beeing all professional business.
Second, a Derro evading you in your own city implies a degree of an organization behind him, criminals typically band togther, which of course explains why you wish to utilize outsiders who are not known to this organization. How much lethal force are we "authorized" to employ to resolve interference from this organization should the operation require it?
She makes a hopefully not unreasonable guess. The Duergar seem to run a fairly tight ship, are well resourced and organized, one evading them may have an organization behind him.
Third, are there any secondary objectives in this mission?
Fourth, I appreciate you offer of safe passage to our lands, this is indeed a most attractive incentive.
Maddy tried to concentrate on the Captain but was distracted by one of the guards who was trying to hide a smirk. It looked like they were hoping they'd make a mess of this meeting resulting in either a fight or having the pleasure of locking them up for good.
With all the questions being laid out for the Captain, Maddy nervously shifted her weight hoping that the fact they weren't outright accepting the job didn't end poorly for them. The Captain seemed open to discussions but looks could be deceiving. After all, being questioned by those considered to have no value could be thought of as disrespectful.
There was one thing that Maddy was unsure of from what the Captain had said. Not wanting to add another voice into the conversation, she thought at the Stool collective, ::I assume that we'll be taking this job because we all want safe passage out of the city. Is this derro loose in the city or are we tracking him outside the city? If he's inside the city, how are we going to be able to travel outside the Darklake district?::
Kalanzar calmly nods, although he shuddered internally, just tried not to show it. Safe passage to the native lands is indeed the best reward. But what do you mean by that? Just point the way and wave your hand in that direction? He smiles wryly, demonstrating the unacceptability and wretchedness of such a reward option. Or do you have a more interesting option?
:: Alexandra, don't agree too quickly. I don't think it's worth taking an interest in the details until we figure out what we're going to get. :: Kalanzar tries to think this thought as quickly as possible and return to the conversation again.
"I will arrange for safe travel. I know a caravan travelling to the surface, by way of Blindingstone. I will pay your way to travel with the caravan. It will leave Gracklstugh when I tell it to. Further information will be given to you after the mission is completed."[b]
To Alexandra, she said, [b]"You have many questions. Does this mean you accept the job and payment?"
On of the guards leans over and whispers to the other, and the 2nd one chokes back a laugh.
Kalanzar turns to the laughing ones and humbles them with such a look that it's time to feel the drow blade between the shoulder blades in a dark alley, even standing here in the heart of the dark dwarf garrison.
He does it for a reason. It's a signal, but not to those two laughing, oh no. This is a signal to the commander because when he turns back, the steel is still visible in his eyes. This is a signal that jokes with us are harmful to health and woe to the one who will play wicked games with us. We are ready to fight anywhere and anytime. Now and then and always. We won't let anything go and we won't forget anything.
All this is clearly visible in the look of this drow and it does not matter whether he is from the surface or not.
The payment is decent. We are interested in this. You can answer her questions. She knows what she's asking.
The voice sounds dry and calm, as if Kalanzar and his comrades can dictate conditions here to the same extent as the captain of the garrison.
I'll add another one. If derro is inside the city, how are we going to be able to travel outside the Darklake district?
:: Thanks, Maddy ::
Hue was on his feet and standing near Maddy. A lot was being said back and forth in words Hue didn't understand. Luckily, he was an expert at reading the faces of the people of the underdark ...
... and it was clear by the shrewd look on Kalanzar's face and the gentle laughter of several of the guards that this was a professional negotiation and it was going well. The tension in Hue's shoulders was easing.
Then Kal shot a look towards the laughing guards that could make boot leather invert itself.
The conversation had turned and suddenly. Hue tried not to let out a shocked gasp at the look. The impulse swallowed his alarm and transformed it into a tiny hiccup in his throat. He screwed up his brow and tried desperately to appear tough and back-up Kal's real toughness.
The hiccup made him snarl a bit but inside, and in the span of about a heartbeat and a half, Hue had been on his own little emotional merry-go-round.
Oh Dark Goddesses, bless us in this darkness... I'm so scared! What a risk we are taking now... I hope it doesn't show on me... Not a muscle twitched on Kalanzar's face when he holds the captain's gaze.
::Well, we did ‘ready have an option fer safe passage outta with the deep gnome caravan… ‘less this lass is suggestin’ we might run intae accidents on our way to the gates ‘less we play her game first? The way I see it, she’s pretty much the law here, an’ if she wants to cause us grief there ain’t much stoppin’ her.:: Precious sent.
::I don’t think ye shoulda push her too far with payment an’ all, though, since she kinda seems tae be thinkin’ she’s already doin’ us a favor o’ sorts in makin’ this offer.::
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The commander's eyes widen as she takes in Kalanzar's expression, and even more, her soldier's reaction to him. The snickering had stopped, and the guards looked deadly serious. Emphasis on deadly.
Her voice soft, she says, "Have a care, drow. I do not doubt your mettle, but this is not a place to make enemies."
However, she seems to respect his show of spine, and Errde begins to answer Alexandra's questions.
"Hmmm. Most desirable is to find out what he's up to. If you can capture him without making more trouble, then bring him if for questioning. If you need to kill him, bring evidence of his activities to me.
"Here is what we know. His name is Droki. He has evaded capture for a long time, as if he knows the schedule of the duergar patrols. Even when invisible, they can't capture him. All the Stone Guard knows is that he's living, or making his base, in the West Cleft District. That's derro territory."
She shows you a map on the wall, marking the area. "We don't go there unless in force, and to do so would likely produce an uprising of the locals. You won't be welcome there either," she warns.
"The Council of Savants are the derro rulers. I suspect Droki is linked to them, and I fear that the Deepking doesn't take the derro threat seriously enough. It's not impossible that a conspiracy even involves elemnts of the clan lairds. If you can help discover what this conspiracy is - if it exists - then I'll be able to purge the corrupt elements. This will earn me great favour with the Deepking."
She looks to Kalanzar again, and says, "I will provide you with insignia which will let my people know you're working for me. Keep them hidden unless stopped by the Stone Guard. In that case, show them discreetly. Don't let them fall into other hands."
Looking you over, she asks, "Any further questions?" Her tone is genuine, not confrontational.
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Kalanzar nods stiffly.
Hue tried to listen carefully but his mind often wandered when he was under stress. He did pick up on a tiny detail ...
"...Even when invisible, they can't capture him ..."[/b]
'What does that mean', he thought to himself. 'Can he see thing unsee-able??? Can he see the invisible world?' He had the presence of mind to ask the others but then forgot again.
So he has a mean of invisibility detection. Nice to know that this capability. Alexandra nods
We accept your terms Stone Captain.
Precious nodded in turn, believing the Captain had given them all the information she had – or was willing to admit at this point. So. Into Derro territory, and the Captain had made it clear they were not going to be welcomed with open arms there either. Not that Precious needed anyone to tell him that.
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Errde nodded briskly, and handed out the insignia. "Remember, don't flash these about unnecessarily."
As you begin to file out, she says, "Oh, I heard that the giant invited you to visit the Stonespeaker. You might want to do that first, before entering the West Cleft District."
There was a lot of information to process and Maddy was unsure about their ability to catch this Droki. If he was causing the Stoneguard so much trouble, would they be able to succeed considering they knew nothing of this city - other than outsiders like them were hated?
She followed the rest out of the room, giving a respectful nod of her head to Errde.
Maybe their interaction with the Stonespeaker would be more positive.
”So… off to spy on an’ capture a Derro among ‘is own kind – ‘haps unveilin’ a conspiracy by the rulin’ council no less while we be at it! - in a portion o’ the city where we will not mix in with the locals, an’ where every local knows outsiders ain’t allowed in… ‘less give special leave by the authorities, all the while avoidin’ flashin’ our shiny new badges that would reveal we be in bed with the Stone Guard, the only people who would have given us access to the district?” Precious muttered aloud once they got a bit of privacy for themselves.
”This gonna be interestin’. Anyone git ideas how to approach this? Should we claim we slipped in without the Guard's notice? But for that, we'd be a mighty compellin' reason to git to the District, to risk the wrath o' the Guard in case we were spotted... I guess we could hang 'bout inside the Darklake District an' try to spot the bugger when he gits out, but who's to say 'is secret o' slippin' past the Guard even goes through the known gates?”
Not yet. But we certainly shouldnt move from the authorities straight to Derro-town. Checking the Giant first is clearly a more cunning plan. Eh crud, should have acquried some contraband from the stone guard to smuggle in, would have given us a reasonable legend.
Alexandra opines privately
we may also opt to setup some proper cover identities, as in fake names for everyone. Our group is fairly eclectic and there are only that many female humans shooting eldritch blasts running around, may as well make things harder for certain adversaries. The one Derro we know is Buppido, but he is dead. Jimjar you got any cunning plan?
r certain adversaries. The one Derro we know is Buppido, but he is dead. Jimjar you got any cunning plan?[/b]
Jimjar looks up at Alexandra with wide eyes. "Yeah. My plan is to stay in the inn. Derro are crazy. You remember what happened with Buppido? I'm not going anywhere near that place. Stool, if you're smart, you'll stay with me too. Maybe you too, Hue."
Errde had supplied you with a description of the derro. He wears rags styled in an imitation of a fancy jacket, and always has a large satchel slung over one shoulder. Most obviously, he wears a wide brimmed hat with two displacer-beast tentacles sewn into the hat's crown. He acts as a courier and supplier of goods for disreputable employers.
Precious scratched his beard in puzzlement. ”Dunno ‘bout ye folks, but no-one here knows my actual name, so why bother with false ones? ‘sides, names don’t stick on me so well, thanks to that Fae minx,” the dwarf scowled, spitting between his boots to ward away the evil eye. ”An’ ‘less ye suggest someone takes a saw to me antlers, I’m not exactly the easiest one to mistake to anyone else, even forgettin’ the hue o’ me hair an’ skin.”
”’haps the big ‘uns can git us somethin’ to help us about the task,” he grunted, although it was a rare day a dwarf actually welcomed a meeting with a giant. In this bizarre hellhole under the deepest mine, though, perhaps things were different. At least the giants didn’t have the kind of blood feud with surface dwarves as the duergar did.
”’nyway, I’m right with ye about the need o’ some story when we git to the West Cleft,” Precious grunted after a moment. ”Soulforger knows, this bloody place been an’ surprised me too often ‘fore this, but Hemeth at least was pretty plain on the matter o’ outsiders not ‘llowed outside Darklake, an’ we don’t exactly look the part o’ locals, nor know the place well ‘nuff to pass as ones if questioned. I’m half wonderin’ if ol’ Captain’s real plan was fer us to go an’ draw attention on ourselves, stumblin’ along all blind an’ clueless, so her guards can slip in an’ do the real work unnoticed.”
”So. If we ain’t locals, an’ we ain’t admittin’ we be workin’ with no Guards, an’ we still git where outsiders ain’t supposed to, what are we?”
"Sounds like we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's go visit the Stonespeaker and maybe another option will present itself."
Maddy had no idea how they were supposed to navigate the city to do what they were supposed to. Disguising herself in this city with her height, blondness, and humanness would be about as effective as slapping lipstick on a pig and convincing others it was a person.
She looked down at Jimjar with surprise, "You're not coming with us? Even if derro are crazy, aren't you safer with us than on your own? And we'd be in serious trouble without Stool to translate for us. At least come with us to see the Stonespeaker because you helped with the giant as well."
”So. If we ain’t locals, an’ we ain’t admittin’ we be workin’ with no Guards, an’ we still git where outsiders ain’t supposed to, what are we?”
Somewhere deep inside of Maddy she heard, We are death, followed by menacing laughter with a tinge of hopeful glee? She shook her head as if trying to erase the thought.
"I guess whatever we are, we better be stealthy because we'll be dodging all kinds of citizens wanting us imprisoned or worse."
Strength is in numbers, Jimjar. Maddy's right. Come with us. Kalanzar puts a hand on his shoulder. I bet you a gold piece that we'll find this derro! And three more that all of our squad will remain alive! Drow smiles.
... Jimjar looks up at Alexandra with wide eyes. "Yeah. My plan is to stay in the inn. Derro are crazy. You remember what happened with Buppido? I'm not going anywhere near that place. Stool, if you're smart, you'll stay with me too. Maybe you too, Hue."
"Wha'?! Stay behind and no' see the Stonespeaker? Sorry Mister JJ, I wouldn' ever force you to come bu' I simply couldn' stay. Surely a little carefulness is all tha's needed. As my Aunty Astrapia was fond of saying, 'There are three places along the riverbank. The drinking place. The washing place. The peeing place. A wise person keeps them in the proper order.' We keep our heads and we'll be fine."
Hue gathered his things and tightened his straps. He turned and started to head towards the home of the Stonespeaker. He stopped.
"Um, which way are the gian's?"
Jimjar reluctantly agrees to go with you at least as far as the Cairngorm Cavern. "No bet," he told Kalanzar, "I'm not betting against us. But how big do you think the giant king will be? I bet at least 20 feet tall!"
He also suggests thick, concealing cloaks for all of you, which you are able to find in the market. He pays for them with a stash of money you didn't know he had. They all have deep hoods, and work pretty well for hiding yourselves (except for Precious, whose antlers completely befoul an attempt at covering). Stool lifts up his tiny arms for Maddy to carry him again, and he sits on her shoulder, holding tightly to her cloak, looking around nervously.
You travel west through Darklake District as far as you can. The acrid smoke and fumes that drifts through the streets of Gracklstugh increases as you move away from the lake. The red glow of the forges lights your way with a dim red light, though pockets of deep darkness exist. Duergar and people of all sorts move through the streets, mostly with an air of nervousness and anxiety, as if they don't entirely trust the goodwill of duergar that allows them to live here.
Finally you come to a gate, and are challenged by the stone guard there. You cautiously reveal your insignia. The guard remains stoney faced, not even raising an eyebrow. She simply nods and opens the gate for you. Not without hesitation, you slip out into Gracklstugh proper.
It's much the same, except that there are only duergar about. The citizens move quickly and with purpose - nobody seems to be lingering about here. Your party garners a few double-takes, but nobody challenges you as you make your way south.
You soon find yourself before a deep cleft in the earth. This is Laduguer's Furrow, which splits the city in half. Several narrow bridges cross the deep, dark chasm into the earth. As you cross, you look to your right and see the dimly lit gates of the west cleft district. A few derro scuttle around near the gate, vanishing into the gloom beneath you.
Past the bridge, it's a short walk through Southfurrow District to the long tunnel leading to Cairngorm Cavern. It's easily recognized due to the two giants standing on either side of it. There are no duergar nearby - they seem to be giving the place a wide berth. The giants spot you approaching and watch curiously.
Drow takes a step forward, raising his hand. We have come to see the Stonespeaker. We have an invitation. And he describes in a nutshell how it was on the market.
Maddy looked relieved when Jimjar agreed to join them to speak with the giant leader. She didn't like the idea of being separated from one another so it was comforting to be all together, even if they were going into hostile territory.
She gratefully takes the oversized cloak and brings the hood up to hide both her hair and her face. She then tries to hunch herself a bit so that she didn't appear as tall as she was. She tucks Stool inside the hood on her shoulder but makes sure that he can still see what's going on.
Maddy made sure to keep a keen eye on their surroundings but also made sure to not make direct eye contact with anyone. Soon they were at Cairngorm Cavern and being watched by the giant guards. Thankfully Kalanzar let them know why they were approaching and she studied their reactions, waiting to see if they would actually be welcomed.
Precious scowled at the hooded cloak Jimjar offered him for a moment before taking a knife to the hood, cutting slits on both sides to make room for the pedicles - the antlers themselves stood out like a party of tai collectors at a miser's door, but at least he could draw the hood down to hide his head and face… not that it did much to help him, either, as his bright copper beard was clearly visible, too long and thick to be hidden under his shirt, clearly proclaiming him as a surface dwarf. He just had to hope the black-hearted locals would take his antlers as a sign of demonic blood or the result of some Faustian pact and decide not to get involved.
The march through the city proper gave them a taste what stepping into the Derro district would likely be like, as they were instantly taken as outsiders by the locals. The dwarf murmured a prayer of thanks to the Keeper-of-secrets-under-the-mountain that none decided to do more than follow then with their eyes. Getting to the giant colony was almost a relief, as to the huge sentries they were likely little different to the other small folks.