Galingal listens to Svezzekt's voice in his head. He pauses for a long moment.

"You mentioned more chaos in the Underdark," Galingal says. "What was that?"

While waiting for an answer he watches as the cave fisher emerges in response to Lia's cacophony. He starts to rise but settles back down when he creature returns to it's den when the noise stops.

Svezzekt considers for a moment, then responds that he gave you information about the other cities in the Underdark in exchange for the info about the plan for the ritual. Surely friends, or at least not-enemies would have more to share in return... and if you don't have a secret to share, he would be willing to... extract... one you are sure not to miss...

Galingal almost smiles.

"I think the exchange was already heavily lopsided in your favour," Galingal says. "I gave details you did not have and in exchange we got information every resident of the Underdark already knows."

He pauses then nods before standing.

"This was interesting and I am still not your enemy," Galingal says and nods. "I must now rejoin my companions."

Svezzekt raises a slender hand as Galingal makes ready to leave.

 Thom, you clock the duergar looking over repeatedly to Stena, where she sits with head looking down at the table. The two in more traveling clothes attire seem to have concluded an argument with the more casually dressed one, who throws up his hands and moves to the bar to get a drink. The other two remain at the table, whispering to one another and casting glances at your table, eying each of you, not just Stena. Their gaze falters a bit at Derendil tearing a spiny crustacean apart with his hands and slurping out the innards.

Quote from Rodgeir >>

((Yes, please. It must take you ages to write that.))

 ((I actually got pretty fast at it, the trouble was that in typing for grading, I kept double striking keys... wonder what the kids would think if they got feed back from a 'no longer a mind flayer'?))

Galingal nods his thanks to Svezzekt.

"If I discover more to share, I will," Galingal says in elvish.

He walks back to the group, nodding to the ogrillon on the way.

Once at the table he sits back down and relays the limited information he got from Svezzekt about the cities and general unease in the Underdark.

"I not know why they help. Maybe sick. Maybe not have full power," Galingal says in common. Then he looks at Stena. "The duergar will try to attack you. Cave fisher will strike at whoever starts fight. Don't start fight."

Galingal then turns and faces the duergar, not taking his eyes off them, deciding whether to wait or whether to move now with threats.

<I could go threaten them. But then they might just wait outside in ambush.> Galingal spore-link-thinks. <Best if we can get the cave fisher to take one or both of them out.>

The duergar fix their gaze on Galingal, since he is staring them down.

<Huh? What is going on?>, the Prince asks, previously oblivious outside of his meal. He turns, partially standing, looming over Galingal's shoulder. 

((If it fits with Galingal's intent, he can make an Intimidation roll.))

Stena doesn't respond to Galingal's warning for a minute. Then, blinking, she looks up at him from the table then shifts to the rest at the group. Her expression tired and eyes glassy.

<Don't let them kill me. I have things I promised to do. Bear with me.>

With a sigh she pushes away from the table to stand. She then curses the table in dwarven and knocks over a drink, probably Thom's, and stalks off to another unoccupied table or chair with her back to the duergar.

((Performance if needed: 15))

<Hey, that was perfectly good beer! Well... it was beer... er... it was drinkable.>, Buppido objects.

Galingal wasn't trying to intimidate - really just keeping an eye on them so he could see when they made their move.

<Remember. No body take a swing at them unless it's in defense.> Galingal spore-link-thinks. <Let the cave fisher get the first one.>

That makes Galingal pause for a moment.

<How fast can a cave fisher take a duergar, stash it and get back for a second attack? We need to be ready to take the remaining duergar.>

((How are the rest of you reacting to Stena knocking over beer and going off on her own?))

Thom winces as Lia's second performance attempt. He just can't get into what seemed like amateur hour at the pub he used to frequent where he grew up. He claps nonetheless and says "Don't worry Madam Lia, it's just they don't seem to be... progressive!" and he continues to awkwardly clap.

Thom would indeed need another water-beer after Lia's second 'song'. And after taking a good look at the creature hanging on the ceiling. He gets quite uncomfortable as it sends its line down, and is about to warn the KT's when Lia packs up and it decides to retract it and go back and hide. Thom says "Yeah mates we really need to watch that thing up there. Seems like it's hungry yeah?!"

The rest happens so fast when Galingal gets back to the table, he doesn't quite understand it (at this point, let's say that Thom has drank that second water beer and isn't really paying attention to Galingal and Stena and the duergar. He chimes in the link <sorry WHAT now mates?!> he would nod at the Prince and now actually say "Yeah mates, what the heck IS going on!?" he looks at the duergar and then back at the others and says "Let them kill you Madam Stena?! What in the blue heck..."

and then Stena pushes away from the table and knocks over Thom's drink. It was basically empty but it still spilled a bit.

He would say out loud "Woah Madam Stena! Where are you going?!"

Thom has a confused yet happy glow on his face from the small buzz as he looks to Lia to see how she reacted. He whispers to her "psst Madam Lia, do you know what's going on here!?"

He instinctively rubs the back of his neck, making sure he has his bow should whatever is going on here get nasty. 

Thom thinks to himself wait did Gal just say let the fisher get one!?

((If Thom has a buzz on, either he's got the tolerance of a kuo-toa, or he's probably lost count and is on way more than his second beer. Derendil perhaps has been topping him up regularly.))

Lia spoor-links to Thom and everyone, thinking <it’s a trick I think, to get those creeps to attack Stena first, and to get them hauled up into the roof… play along!!>.

Then she calls over to Stena with a wink only she can see, her back to the others, and maybe hamming it up just a tad too far, “Yeah! Go off on your own then!… You… stupid… ‘oaf’!(?)…”

”Yeah!… … You.. won’t last one minute without us!!.. …”.

”In fact, if someone were to stab you right now! I’d probably even help them do it!!… You… you… distinctly… unlikeable … thing, you!!…”.

Her face is probably almost saying, ‘Eek, er, I don’t know!!?’. As she sits back down and turns her back on Stena.

((Let's  have a Performance or Deception from Lia?))

Stena will give Lia an unfriendly gesture over her shoulder.

Lia’s performance/deception check (both +4): 14 

((You gotta be kidding me!!…))

Lia just can’t get it together in this unusual place!!…

((She is in distinct need of a rest it seems!…))

((Well here is hoping they don't speak common...))

<It would be best if you don't speak to the duergar anymore,> Galingal spore-link-thinks to Lia. Then adds to the rest for Thom's sake. <Those two duergar are planning on attacking Stena. If they make the first move, the cave fisher will intervene. Do not make the first move unless you want to be taken up.>

Galingal looks to the duergar to see if Lia's words have changed their intentions.

Insight: 14  

Galingal knows he doesn't have much power left after the forced march Stena and he used to catch up to the others but he still might be able to draw on his reserves and catch one of the duergar without the cave fisher noticing.