A wave of murmuring ripples through the crowd of deep gnomes hiding in the shadows, with only a few scattered words being audible: "The two new ones?" "...telling the truth?" "...Pudding King..." "Take them to Chipgrin." Finally the raspy voice simple says: Follow us, and half of the pack slowly moves away to the west, while about a dozen others remain to keep an eye on the 'visitors'.

The tunnel to the west winds for several hundred feet, but several times along the way a gnome stops to direct the group around a hidden pit trap or over a trip wire. Finally the tunnel opens up into a large cavern that looks like it once housed the ore smelters for the city, but now features scattered piles of trash and dozens of small sleeping pallets. The group is ushered into the center of the cavern, and soon find themselves surrounded by at least forty raggedly-dressed and unkempt gnomes. On one side of the cavern is a natural rise, and a somewhat larger and fatter gnome sits on a stone chair which is draped with a cave badger pelt, as two other gnomes whisper into his ear. With a loud but rather squeaky voice, the large gnome speaks: Let's get down to brass 'obnails then. You 'elped the settlers with a few of their problems, now they using you to get to us 'cos you think you 'ave contacts among the Goldwhisker clan. Am I right? Well this is our 'ome, and we ain't leaving just 'cos the cowards what fled the city when it needed 'em the most 'ave now returned and think it's theirs. 

(This fat gnome appears to be the chief of the clan. Anyone can speak, but if you do, please include either a Persuasion/Deception/Performance/Intimidation or other skill roll as appropriate)

Kaylyn stepped forward and gives a short bow.

"Greetings Chipgrin, we are honored to have been invited into your home. I will not lie and say that we have not been sent by request of the gnomes in the other caverns to help them with some sort of issue between you and them. But I also say that we are not hired mercenaries here to clear you out of the caverns or kill you. That is in no way our intent or goal. Two of your people, Topsy and Turvy, aided us in clearing out a long standing issue in the Rockblight cavern. Additionally we have made the connection that these two were also prisoners with us, held by the drow, and aided us then in our escape. We are glad to see that they survived. They have invited us here and so we come as friends and allies as well as ambassadors for the deep gnomes that are your close neighbors."

She continues

"This Pudding King is a threat, not only to the gnomes, but to you as well. And while the gnomes prepare to defend against an imminent attack by this Pudding King and an army of slime they are concerned for the relationship between you and the gnomes. We are here to seek a way to make peace your two peoples can live together."

I'm going to use my Inspiration to make this roll with advantage.

Persuasion 11

Pax stands quietly and formally to one side, her helm off and tucked under an armpit, standing at attention....though...she can't help but glance around at the unkept gnomes and their situation. Trying not to be caught judging...or sniffing...too much, she instead focus' on Kaylyn...and is drawn into her speech.  In the end she finds herself nodding along...yes...exactly...perfectly put....really.  She glances around at the group, nodding in agreement with everything Kaylyn said and seeing if everyone else is also so well aligned.

Sekkar was silent, of course - adding low hissing voice to the threatening size of his did not seem wise (nor needed). He was quietly assessing potential battle with an obvious conclusion - way too many rats. Nothing a few fireballs can not solve, of course, so he was checking for exits and ways to keep Kastix protected in case it will come to deratization. Sekkar fully trusted Kaylyns abilities to talk, he was just skeptical about rat's ability to listen.

Kastix was going to say similar but probably in less words but let Kaylyn speak instead as he stays near the back quiet. 

Kaylyn makes a very convincing argument, and her speech is followed by much nodding and murmured assent from the gathered crowd. Chipgrin seems moved as well, but clearly he is the chief for more than his size, and he replies:

So it's true that you know Tospy and Turvy. They're newcomers to our clan, 'aving found us by chance only weeks ago, bringing wild stories of escaping the drow slave-pens, which I'll confess none of us believed. We took 'em in, recognising them as... kindred of sorts. Then hours ago they claimed to 'ave seen the destruction of Queen Neheedra and Ogremoch's Bane at the 'ands of surface-folk - an equally incredible tale, but one which is now also proving to be true. Your words carry great weight, which we cannot lightly dismiss.

But yet you speak of those other gnomes like we are none. Are we not? Are we any less than them? Our fathers survived the drow invasion of Bligdenstone. Suffering beyond description they endured, but they never abandoned this city. Should we bow now to these upstarts? Would they even give us so much as a place at their councils?

Another murmur ripples through the crowd, this time in favour of the chief and his words. This is obviously a sore spot among the Goldwhisker clan, and the chief knows how to press it to his advantage.

As for this Pudding King. Maybe we knows more about 'im than the Diggermattocks do. Maybe we knows exactly who the Pudding King is, what 'e's up to and where to find 'im. Maybe them Diggermattocks need us more than they think. 'Ave you noticed 'ow them out in the quarries aren't quite so nice and friendly as them in the city? Why is that do you think?

You're right about one thing though. This Pudding King is a threat, and we can't fight 'im alone. Either we all fight 'im and 'is oozes together or we all die apart. So if them Diggermattocks want an alliance, then we do too, but on equal terms. Goldwhisker Clan gets a voice just the same as the Diggermattocks and the Pickshines and the Stoneheart Enclave. If they agree to that, then we'll tell 'em what we knows, and 'elp 'em fight too.

Pax purses her lips and rocks back and forth on her heels a bit. She sends a couple quick silent messages to Kaylyn, "If they want equal standing with their kind, it seems a reasonable request. Equality for living beings is an admirable goal. And....these ones have seen better times. Their....infection will be a concern though. That it doesn't spread to others. Should you ask the king about this?"

"Of course we can not speak for the others. We can bring your requests to the rest and you can trust our interest in this is neutral overall, we are outsiders to both you and the city. At least for the time being, we can trust you will not hold any hostility to us or the city in this time of danger. Will you be willing to meet with the other leaders to discuss the situations?" Kastix speaks.

 Persuasion: 18

Pensive, who just can't help himself though he does have a little control, flashes the image of him striking down the Medusa and of Topsy and Turvy helping them out.  He shows restraint by only showing Chipgrin.

"Fair enough Chipgrin.  We will bear your message and offer of treaty and partnership.  I hope the Diggermattocks and the rest are as willing to ally with you as you are with them.   We will return with their answer." 

Looking about she casts her gaze on the crowd seeking Topsy and Turvy.

"May we see Topsy and Turvy? We wish to thank them again for their help.  They were brave and helpful, valiant warriors, and we owe them a debt of gratitude."

After this she hopes they get led past the traps and back to see the Diggermattocks again and pass on the message. 

After Kaykyn’s speech, Rhayna has an idea and approaches her companion. In a lower voice she tells Kaylyn. “It just occurred to me that we might be able to avoid a fight with this Pudding King.”

”I was wondering... If we are able to show to this ooze entity that if the whole of Bligdenstone is now united, we can try to convince it to just leave. First, we tell it that we have met The Lady of Rot, and it will need every single ooze it can muster. If it decides to threaten the city, even if he is able to defeat the united deep gnomes with their earth elementals now under their control, it will certainly be very costly. It will most likely not have an adequate army to face The Lady. Lastly, we should point out the fact that this ‘Feast’ is far away from here, and if it doesn’t want to miss the party, he might consider departing soon.” She shrugs. “It was just an idea. If needed, I can try to communicate with it telepathically to prove that we are not bluffing. Specially the Lady of Rot part.”

(OOC. Was Rhayna able to collect any Torchstalk?)

To Rhayna,  "That may work.   But we need to get them united first.  Then we can learn what the Goldwhiskers know.   That will help us know if your plan will work. "

To Pax,  "I've thought about that but have you noticed the Diggermattocks have said they have been able to be free of catching lycanthropy so far despite confrontations.   I think that's because the Goldwhiskers aren't trying to change them.   I think they truly want to live in peace and it's the Diggermattocks that have the problem not the Goldwhiskers."

Sekkar's roll at the diplomatic conventions was that of a silent guardian. Should someone ask, he would share the tribal wisdom of peace to depend of the size of the hunting ground. If those clans have enough to not fight for scraps - they might even coexist. But nobody asked and he did not care enough to talk. He followed the group out of the rat's den - at the moment he was more worried about future ooze-fight.

(Yes, Rhayna could have easily taken some torchstalk and lit it.)

Chipgrin seems satisfied at the group's intentions and their willingness to serve as intermediaries, but words from Kastix persuades the chief to send one of his lieutenants along - a stocky gnome by the name of Waxoff - as a sign of goodwill. As for Topsy and Turvy, the chief admits that he doesn't know where they currently are. The twins spend most of their time exploring, probably because they are new to Bligdenstone, but possibly because they are new to the clan and still don't quite fit in, having lived independently for so long. Waxoff leads the group out of the cavern and past the traps. If he hears Rhayna and Kaylyn conversing, then he doesn't show any sign of it. The guards are waiting and ready on the other side of the barrier gate, and open it at the group's signal, although there is a mild commotion when they realise one of the ragged Goldwhisker gnomes is accompanying them. At first the guards are unwilling to admit Waxoff, but are persuaded by the assurances of safety from the surfacers.  However, the usual free passage that the group enjoys through the city is now diminished with a guarded escort as they make their way to the council hall.

The assembled council members look up with a start as they see the escorted group enter with one of their adversaries. One of the gnomes raises his voice in anger saying: You fools! You want to give the wererats first-hand knowledge of our defenses? There are other assorted murmurs from the rest of the assembly, with phrases such as "that was unwise" or "ugh, the smell!" being heard. Dorbo Diggermattock looks on impassively, and brings silence to the room with a raise of his hand. I see you have made contact with the wererats. Are they willing to depart, or have they sent one to bargain with us? The distate of the gnomes for the wererats is even more evident than before, and the group can see how much of an uphill struggle it will be to convince them to even tolerate the Goldwhisker clan, let alone accept them as equals.

Time to persuade again. Anyone can make a Persuasion skill check, but I'll take all results into account. If you prefer another kind of action, then go ahead.

"As we are not envoys with the authority to speak on your behalf and we dare not pretend to. They wish to negotiate with someone with authority to speak and make lasting decisions. I will like to point out, this pudding king is not something you can fight on your own.  Divided you fall, united you stand. They are willing to stand if you are willing to broker an agreement but they are willing to fall as they have little to lose," Kastix states, "We can only bring the people to the table and to best of our ability, make sure everyone leaves the table alive. What is spoken and what is agree is in your hands,"

Kastix Persuasion: 15

Pax attempts to help Kastix with his persuasion... "Indeed. These are your folk, cursed by a disease, but....they still feel this is their home. You should seek to help them, lift them up, not cast them out without a thought. They are your kin, wether you like it or not."

(Perhaps Kastix can roll an advantage die now?)

Quote from NathanPizazz >>

(Perhaps Kastix can roll an advantage die now?)

 Sure! Go ahead and make another roll Kastix.

Kastix Persuasion: 9

LOL. The old Kastix is back!

Anyone else?

Sekkar hoped that Kaylyn will speak again - she managed to impress rats, after all. Should she try, he was going to do his best and support her words with his imposing presence as well as with a notion about rat's knowledge of the Pudding King, that could turn the future battle in gnomes favor.

(Help to Kaylyn, mostly)

Rhayna hangs in the background, as always, and wait to see what Kaylyn has to say.

(BTW, has Rhayna spotted whomever "relocated" her whip??)