Galingal understands none of the dwarvish but does his best to look uninterested in the exchange, as if they've had to deal with gatekeepers all over the Underdark.

The duergar doing the talking barks back interrogations at Stena.

 His last question is met with some grim chuckles from the other duergar. He looks well pleased with himself being so clever.

((Sorry, was on a work trip and missed this!))

Stena snorts disdainfully.

She'll look over her shoulder at the party before continuing,

A pained look crosses her face but she continues like she has a bad taste in her mouth,

((Make a persuasion or deception check please Stena.))

((Same flat roll for both! She is more persuading than deceiving at this point.))

Persuasion: 13

The guard frowns and shakes his head, speaking again brusquely in Dwarven.

 He waves a hand at the party in a shooing motion.

Jimjar clears his throat and steps forward, keeping his eyes lowered. For the rest of you that are well familiar with the garrulous gnome, it's clear he's treading carefully as he speaks deferentially in Undercommon.

"Apologies, sir, for speaking up. My name is Jimjar, and as I assume my... associate...", he gestures at Stena in her duergar form, "...mentioned, we seek access to The City of Blades as one of the finest centers of trade and craftsmanship, not just on the Darklake, but the whole of the Underdark and beyond. I've held what surface dwarves call a blade, and I don't need to tell you how inferior it was. Our group is small, and we are not merchants of any great renown, but I'd bet you a year's wage that with the quality of goods we can purchase here and sell where they are in highest demand, that we can form a long and profitable partnership. If you would please consider allowing us access to the Deepking's mighty city? 

 Jimjar Persuasion: 18

The guard listens to Jimjar before turning to Stena and speaking in dwarven.

 The duergar that had approached invisibly behind the party circle around and join their fellows at the gate, and it's clear the party is being dismissed.

Stena looks at the guards around them as she turns with a word of thanks for the dubious grace the guard offered,

She waves the rest of the party out of her way and says,

"No trades. Move."

Neth opines that it'll be fine, turning around and heading back the way you came. Lia seems a bit more dejected at being turned away, and the goblins mutter about how it's 'totally bogus'.

As you pass the first curve, a stone doorway, meticulously fit into the natural stone of the cave, swings open, and a duergar steps forth.

"Well." He says, removing his helmet, to reveal a bald gray head. He musses his white beard as he walks closer, switching to Common as he lowers his voice. There is a discomfiting glint in his eyes and his smile. "You are clearly lying... or at least not being forthcoming with the truth. I ought to just send you to the slave pens, but... you amuse me. What do you have that is worth your freedom?"

The duergar waits for your answer, his gaze touching on each of you in turn as he smiles in anticipation.

Jimjar whispers to Stena and Gal, "Usually they aren't so open about asking for bribes..."

Galingal watches the duergar carefully as he speaks, looking past him into the room he came from, trying to see if that might be a tunnel to avoid the gates.

He begins mentally going through the words that would allow him to command the duergar to get out of their way but holds off saying them for now.

"As she told the guards at gate," Galingal says, indicating Stena, "gold. Thought this city sell goods. How do we find guide to help find way into city? What do they cost?"

Stena just started at the duergar while Gal talks to him, her lip curling in a snarl.

"Lying? Amuse ye? Oh, ye were just waiting to fleece meh then."

She contributes helpfully from the side.

"Aye, sells goods... acquires goods too. A guide? Better guard that guide, if you're wanting to enter the city.", he mutters somewhat cryptically, eyes flickering across the group before lingering on Neth, who smiles placidly back while avoiding actively stroking his dagger hilt in response to the probing gaze.

The hidden passage does seem to extend back into the cave wall. It's possible that it extends into the city via somewhere other than the gate.

Galingal wonders again about what happened to Neth under the water that day.

"How about you take us through your tunnel and into the city?" Galingal says. "That would save time and get us trading sooner. Would be worth a reward."

He looks over at Jimjar and asks "Any idea what going rate for rewards is?"

The duergar strokes his beard. "Yes, could be, could be. A reward for something like that would have to be... suitable."

Jimjar shrugs, at a bit of a loss. 

((Gal want to roll some dice to see if he can get a sense from the duergar what would be... suitable?))

Galingal watches the duergar for a moment, trying to determine what the newcomer thinks the group might have in the way of gold. He can't think they have much but perhaps he's noticed more than he's let on so far.

(Galingal Insight - 26  )

((This is still all out of sight of the gate, right?))

((Yes out of sight.))

The duergar is being careful not to stare at it openly, but Gal notices his lips part slightly and the tip of his tongue protrudes when he looks at the ornate hilt of the dagger on Neth's hip.

Galingal nods when he catches the duergar's glance. Two birds with one stone, though he suspects Neth might not be keen to part with the dagger.

He leans closer to Stena, and waves over Petmailer and the old man.

"He wants Neth's dagger," Galingal whispers. "Good trade. There's something wrong with that dagger. But need to get it from Neth."

Stena narrows her eyes at the duergar,

"But why does he want it? Probably will take it and betray us."

She shrugs after a moment of thought,

"Fine, though. Best to get rid of it."

Kolose seems a bit glad to at least be able to understand what is being said, but still seems wholly out of his element. It seems quite evident he was never that strong on the social aspect... Was he? 

He's frowning again, rubbing his head as he gets more flashes of memories. Cordial conversations, done well, if more out of obligation rather than a desire to. And a vague sense of...

He shakes his head. Let the others deal with this.

Galingal assumes Petmailer has no attachment to the dagger and looks at Neth then to the duergar.

”How far can you take us for that dagger?”