Tanis nods absently at those who take a goodberry from his hand, staring out into the darkness of the webs.  First watch.

He is relieved that Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait seem to be trustworthy, even fighting on their side, which Sarith had not.  Of course, Turvy had not either, but that was more understandable considering someone had murdered her brother.  I hope it was Buppido.  Because if not, the killer still walks with us.

But subconsciously, he continues to brood over the changes coming over him.  My companions cannot even see me any more without light, though likely the spiders could sense me from the vibrations on the webs.  Part of me is troubled, yet part of me revels in the darkness.  Hiding in the deep winter woods back home, no one could find me unless I wanted to be found.  Embrace the gloom.  For never again will you feel the warm glow of daylight...

Tanis gazes out into the chasm, lost in his dark thoughts.

Rest does not come easily in this place. Your sleep is disturbed by strange echoes coming from the spiderweb covered chasm next to your resting place. Insectoid creatures and amorphous oozes plague your dreams.

Eldeth, Jimjar and Buppido Derendil offer to take turns with the night watch. Your gobling guides do not volunteer and simply go to sleep next to each other. Whenever you wake, you see that Spiderbait and Yuk Yuk are calmly sleeping as if this was truly their home.

No real creatures attack you while the group rests. Yuk Yuk wakes, takes a look around counting heads and smiles broadly (common) "if our invisible friend is here that means that no one rolled over while sleeping. Ready to keep going?" He goes on explaining that the route to follow goes alongside the cliff wall for close to 14 miles until you reach the correct tunnel to go to the Darklake. Before departing he goes next to Arokas and gets serious to tell him (common) "and no fire this time, no matter how many spiders you see."

“Fine,” Arokas says to Yuk Yuk in Common before siding alongside Derendil, continuing to exchange Elvish and Undercommon with him. After a while, Arokas asks Derendil with a soft voice in Undercommon, “What was your life like before you were thrown in that prison?”

Tanis carefully straps Stool back into his harness, thinking calming thoughts towards the little myconoid, and takes the lead at the front of the party as a scout once more.  His 90' darkvision scanning the darkness, the dipping of web strands and Stool's floating form showing his general location.

To the dwarves, Drogen and Eldeth, he whispers before the party sets off, "I know you two do not trust goblins.  Nor do I, as a rule.  But these two seem to be businessmen and so far reliable and skilled.  Let us remain wary but not judge them unless and until they betray us."

(dwarven) "Aye I guess for now."

Quote from Tybard >>

Tanis carefully straps Stool back into his harness, thinking calming thoughts towards the little myconoid, and takes the lead at the front of the party as a scout once more.  His 90' darkvision scanning the darkness, the dipping of web strands and Stool's floating form showing his general location.

To the dwarves, Drogen and Eldeth, he whispers before the party sets off, "I know you two do not trust goblins.  Nor do I, as a rule.  But these two seem to be businessmen and so far reliable and skilled.  Let us remain wary but not judge them unless and until they betray us."

Eldeth shudders at the prospect of going over the deep chasm again, but nods (dwarvish) "I'll admit that they have guide us across so far, but I'll still keep my eye on them."

Once everyone is ready, Yuk Yuk takes point followed closely by the floating Stool strapped to the invisible Tanis. The goblin makes an effort to find the easiest path for the group to follow, but avoids some strands that seem stronger and easier to follow (common) "too new, most likely a trap that way."

Quote from Zak_The_Slack >>

“Fine,” Arokas says to Yuk Yuk in Common before siding alongside Derendil, continuing to exchange Elvish and Undercommon with him. After a while, Arokas asks Derendil with a soft voice in Undercommon, “What was your life like before you were thrown in that prison?”

Derendil's eyes widen in remembrance at his lost freedom, replying in a mix of Elvish and Undercommon to help Arokas grasp the new language "you should have seen my court, the moonlight shining through the oak branches in Nelrindenvane was a sight that any kingdom would envy." He goes on describing exotic birds that you have never heard of, and noble houses with strange names. From his telling you could tell that his mother was the queen of Nelrindenvane and that he is the second of three siblings.

Hours go by as you keep going over the enormous chasm. The chosen path makes you climb over 400 feet along the miles you advance, until you reach a large cavern entrance by the cliff wall. Once evryone is safely on solid ground, Yuk Yuk announces (common) "this tunnel is the shortest way to the Darklake" he smiles while looking at Turvy and Eldeth "still a day to go, but no more balancing business for you." The goblin walks to Arokas and "now, about that shiny armor you had?"

Arokas mostly listens to Derendil, conversing in Elvish and Undercommon like him. “That sounds wonderful,” he says at last to his companion. “I…I wish I had a life like that. But all I’ve known has been hurt. And fear.” He is silent for a bit after saying that. “Thank you, Derendil,” Arokas tells him. “I’ve never really met anyone who’s been nice to me before.”

Once they reach the tunnel entrance, Arokas gets out the Mithral Scale Mail and sets it in front of Yuk Yuk. “This is where we part ways, it seems,” he tells them in Common. “It was good doing business with you.” He turns to the tunnel, and says over his shoulder in Goblin, “May your paths stay safe and your gold continue to flow.”

In the bits he overhears from Derendil speaking of his elven homeland, Tanis wonders once more where this Nelrindenvane is.  He has certainly never heard of it (History check of 8 several days back in the prison cell), though that does not mean it doesn't exist.  Tanis, despite having some elvish blood, is anything but an elven lore master.  Anyway, he is glad of the supposed elf-turned-quaggoth's help.

In truth, he is more concerned about Arokas' melancholy reaction.  We are all lost and floating here far from home in our own way, and only some, like Stool, Eldeth and myself, have a clear home to return to if we ever escape.  And speaking of escape...

As the goblins depart, Tanis speaks quietly to Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait in Undercommon, concerned about their helping any drow from Velkynvelve:

"You have been forthright and honest, not to mention skillful, in guiding us across these Silken Paths.  You see that we in turn made good on our end of the bargain with the enchanted armor.  Not all down here will deal as fairly with you.  Not, for example, a detachment of drow who may be pursuing escaped prisoner-slaves of all races and may just as well enslave you once you have helped them.  Choose well who you do business with."

He looks at two little humanoids in the eyes for a long moment to make sure they understand his meaning, then bids them farewell.

Quote from Tybard >>

As the goblins depart, Tanis speaks quietly to Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait in Undercommon, concerned about their helping any drow from Velkynvelve:

"You have been forthright and honest, not to mention skillful, in guiding us across these Silken Paths.  You see that we in turn made good on our end of the bargain with the enchanted armor.  Not all down here will deal as fairly with you.  Not, for example, a detachment of drow who may be pursuing escaped prisoner-slaves of all races and may just as well enslave you once you have helped them.  Choose well who you do business with."

He looks at two little humanoids in the eyes for a long moment to make sure they understand his meaning, then bids them farewell.

Yuk Yuk smiles and touches his nose (undercommon) "the dark elves are always saying they are so much better than everyone else, we have no sympathy for them" he looks at Sarith and adds "unless they are in such good company as your group."

Quote from Zak_The_Slack >>

Once they reach the tunnel entrance, Arokas gets out the Mithral Scale Mail and sets it in front of Yuk Yuk. “This is where we part ways, it seems,” he tells them in Common. “It was good doing business with you.” He turns to the tunnel, and says over his shoulder in Goblin, “May your paths stay safe and your gold continue to flow.”

The goblin takes the magical armor with glee in his eyes. Almost ignoring everything else until he hears Arokas call back on his own language (goblin) "it was a pleasure doing business with you, may Bargrivyek watch over you and your tribe." With a nod to Spiderbait, both goblins grease their feet with the foul smelling unguent they keep and deftly slid away in the darkness.

Eldeth visibly relaxes once the goblins are out of sight (dwarvish) "Moradin be praised, I hardly slept last night keeping an eye on those two. I will make up for it once we stop to rest."

You sill have some time to go before tiredness forces you to rest. Sarith has a vacant gaze and it takes some prodding to get him to react, but eventually he gathers his wits, reorients himself and turns to the tunnel entrance (undercommon) "the Darklake should be easy to find, we travelled mostly in the right direction over the webs." He starts moving, scratching behind his ears as he walks.

"Right.  Let us make good time.  We may have stolen a march on our pursuers from Velkynvelve." (Undercommon, Elvish and Dwarvish)

Unstrapping Stool from his harness with a relieved sigh, Tanis takes up position as lead scout once more next to Sarith, invisible to darkvision in the gloom.  Keeping an eye on their clearly addled dark elf guide as much as on the caverns all around.  He wonders if Sarith will even react if Ilvara and her drow warriors catch them, or just stand staring vacantly into space as he always does.

Tanis Perception as a scout:  22

     Thunk shrugs and trods along.  Thunk is mostly unaware of the concern about Sarith or the plan on where they are going or even what is going on.  Thunk just is sad.  Thunk wants to see the sun again....

Arokas nods at Tanis’ words. He keeps an eye on Sarith, feeling something off about him. Arokas tries to glean anything he can from Sarith’s demeanor. (Insight: 19)

Quote from Zak_The_Slack >>

Arokas nods at Tanis’ words. He keeps an eye on Sarith, feeling something off about him. Arokas tries to glean anything he can from Sarith’s demeanor. (Insight: 19)

The drow remains inscrutable as ever, his personality shifting from an alert guide to a glassy-eyed automaton just putting one foot in front of the other. There is something wrong with Sarith's head but he makes no effort to ask for help.

You walk a couple hours along the main tunnel before reaching a large chamber where many passages meet. Sarith pays no attention to the small passages and keeps walking stright in the same westward direction towards the Darklake. Tanis spies a glimmer of light from one of the southern passages. It does not waver or flicker at all.

A soft feminine voice sounds out in your mind suddenly, faint and distant, vaguely coming from the north. "Hello? Is someone there... ? Oh please, I need your help! I have been trapped in the dark for so long... so very long. Please, won't you help to free me?"

Drogen follows along silently, glad to rid of the goblins. (common) "What the..?? Anyone else hear that?" 

Arokas freezes at the sound. “I do, but it’s in my mind. Like Stool’s spores,” he says to Drogen (common). “I don’t trust them. Perhaps Tanis can sneak towards them and see what’s happening before we walk into a trap?”

     "Need our help," Thunk says and continues in the direction of the voice. "Thunk help."

Tanis' voice comes softly from the darkness, sounding startled.

"I hear it too in my head.  There is light coming from a passageway to the left.  A glow, steady, so not like a candle or campfire." (Dwarvish, Undercommon)  "Maybe one of you can try to reply in your mind to see if the telepathy goes both ways?  I will try to scout."

The ranger creeps laterally to the south and presses himself against the corner of the passage, trying to stay in the dark and mostly out of sight (even though he is already invisible to darkvision) as he sneaks a peek inside.

Tanis Stealth:  15

Noticing that people are starting to move in different directions, Stool releases a puff of rapport spores to facilitate communication "still going to Neverlight Grove? why people go opposie ways?" asks the myconid. Jimjar has the presence of mind to grab Sarith by a sleeve "easy there, we should stay together." The dark elf stops and looks back at the group and speaks (undercommon) "we should keep moving, tired as we are this is no place to linger."

Quote from Mikey1000 >>

Drogen follows along silently, glad to rid of the goblins. (common) "What the..?? Anyone else hear that?" 

Eldeth nods, unsheating a shortsword (common) "aye, sounds like someone is in danger."

Quote from Kaemgen >>

     "Need our help," Thunk says and continues in the direction of the voice. "Thunk help."

Thunk steps into the northern passage, followed by Derendil "a noble calling, my large friend, I shall go with you to answer it." The pair doesn't need to walk more than 60 feet before the passage ends in a dirty marble wall with a deep-set door made of bronze-encased stone, green with age. The door is sealed shut and the whole area is devoid of light sources. Thunk gets the feeling that the voice came from behind the stone doors. An inscription over the door reads (elvish) "Here lies Brysis, beloved daughter of Khaem"

Quote from Tybard >>

Tanis' voice comes softly from the darkness, sounding startled.

"I hear it too in my head.  There is light coming from a passageway to the left.  A glow, steady, so not like a candle or campfire." (Dwarvish, Undercommon)  "Maybe one of you can try to reply in your mind to see if the telepathy goes both ways?  I will try to scout."

The ranger creeps laterally to the south and presses himself against the corner of the passage, trying to stay in the dark and mostly out of sight (even though he is already invisible to darkvision) as he sneaks a peek inside.

The voice does not respond to any calls, either mental or spoken out loud. The southern passage is wide and sinuous, the light gets brighter as Tanis walks it until it opens into a larger area filled with mushrooms of various shapes and sizes. A large group of 9 feet tall tube-shaped ones that have no cap at their tops illuminate the cavern with bright light. Tanis hears no sounds coming from this area.

     Thunk tries to open door.  If door not open, Thunk knock.  Thunk use the butt of one of his shortsword to pound upon the door.  "Hello?" He calls out to the door between knocks.  "Is the lady here?"

Suddenly visible in the light of the fungi to the south, Tanis turns back and retreats to the group

"I sensed nothing to the south but a cavern with mushrooms.  None of us needs light, and I operate better in the darkness anyway, but perhaps some of them are edible if we need them later.  Those of you who do not wish to to venture north might look meanwhile to see what you can forage there."

Back in darkness, Tanis' voice sounds again behind Thunk and Derendil.  "I will join you in trying to rescue whoever seems to need it.  Strange that they do not respond after speaking in our minds."  Reading the inscription aloud, the ranger hesitates a long moment, wondering whether to ask the next question.

"Derendil, you ah..., you are an elven prince.  Do the names Brysis and Khaem, written in Elvish here, mean anything to you?"

(He repeats the question in Undercommon and Dwarvish for the others as well).

Tanis himself is hopeless at History but he tries to rack his brains anyway for the significance of those names.  History:  11