(Thom's tolerance is shot as he hasn't consumed alcohol in awhile!)

Thom thinks to Lia <ahhh, got it Madam Lia, thank you! I knew they were definitely giving her the stink eye, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out why> and then Lia seems to almost fudge up the situation as Thom elbows the prince to take his attention away from the food after Galingal confirms everything.

<My Prince, you getting all this? Be ready, yeah?>

Seeing Stena separated from the pack, one of the duergar makes to move in her direction, but his companion catches his arm and shakes his head, the two converse briefly, before they head outside, the one who was starting to approach Stena throwing a grin at her back as they depart. The third duergar at the bar watches them go out of the corner of his eye before shaking his head and turning back to face the bar, lifting his pint to his lips. 

<Give the word, Thom, my dearest advisor, and I shall defend young Stena! How many pieces would you like the duergar that lays a hand on her to be in?>

Galingal, you suspect that Lia overacting things a bit might have slowed them just enough for warnings of the cave fisher to sink in. If they still plan trouble, they won't be starting it in here.

Galingal turns back to the group.

<We won't have to worry about them until we leave,> Galingal spore-link-thinks to the group. Then he adds to Lia, <You may have accomplished accidentally what you tried to do on purpose.>

Lia looks over to Galingal first with a wince of guilt then a nod of polite thanks. You get a feeling that after three fails in this tavern she’s folding in on herself a bit. Her usual confidence and charm having taken a knock, on top of everything else the party has endured this day.

Thom would respond to the prince <HA! That's my best mate. Er, prince. I'll tell you the number of pieces should things get...hairy, yeah? Although it seems it's not going down in here yeah? Anyhow, stay ready, my prince. Between the meals, of course!> and he prompts the prince to keep eating for now. 

Stena stays at her new table even after noting the duergar have left, looking up into the rafters tiredly.

The third duergar at the bar seems relieved that the other two didn't start anything in the Beer Room.

Galingal looks at Stena and decides to let her be.

He’s inclined to keep a low profile now and wait for the arrival over their KT allies.

You collectively while away your time, and it seems that eventually Derendil and Stool are full.

Jimjar returns from his information gathering, and confirms some of the things that Galingal had heard about the other cities down here, with the additional rumors that the Duergar king has gone a bit senile, and corruption is on the rise in the city. The drow capital has also been particularly xenophobic, enslaving or killing any their patrols run across... though he admits he isn't clear on how that rumor got out, if everyone gets killed or captured. Blingdenstone seems to be drawing drow ire, his fellow deep gnomes are struggling to get organized enough to rebuild, but the drow are undercutting their efforts, with the kill/enslave patrols operating in that area. It seems folks are hesitant to speak ill of Sloobludop, perhaps because they are unwilling to declare allegiances without knowing the allegiances of others. It is common knowledge that the archpriest of the Deep Father (Ploopp's daughter) has a big ritual planned for tomorrow, and intends for there to be lots of sacrifices, but her followers have been having trouble rounding up enough. There is a bit of wondering if the Deep Father's followers will end up having to give up their own slaves to the cause.

Eventually your waiting for Ploopp comes to an end (unless anyone else wanted to do anything) as he walks in with a trio of his followers, and walks over to greet the bartender warmly, before looking around and his eyes lingering on you for a moment. He doesn't walk directly to you, instead taking a circuitous route through the bar, greeting those who take notice of him and approach, avoiding those who avoid him. It would seem he's offering the Sea Mother's blessing to those of her faithful. There are some hard glares between KTs as his presence reveals allegiances, more than one drinking groups becoming fractured and rejoining with other like minded folks. Eventually he makes his way to you all, addressing you in Undercommon that is translated by Jimjar through the spore-link that Stool has refreshed.

"Ah, visitors to our fine city! How have you found the hospitality of the people of Sloobludop? Have you seen the sights, spoken to the residents?"

Stena looks over from her table but doesn't join as Ploop arrives.

Galingal listens to the translation then replies through Jimjar.

"We have not explored the town yet. What sights are worth seeing?" Galingal asks then adds, indicating for Jimjar to speak quietly. "We need somewhere safe to spend the night. Somewhere to recover and plan."

"Ah, well, the shrine of the Sea Mother, of course. I happen to be the archpriest of her divine will. There are other opportunities to take in the culture and do some shopping, if that is of interest to you. If you've seen your fill of our town, I'd encourage you to drop by the shrine later, perhaps we could talk further. I can see about accommodations that might be available for ones wishing to honor the Sea Mother."

He continues playing his role for any listening in.

<I need to rest. Can you string them along so we can get at least that out of them Jimjar? A night in peace.>

What was at first an interested look quickly turns into a cloudy gaze as Thom tries to listen to Jimjar explain more about the situations and politics within and around the village. It just makes him miss home even more. will I ever get home? he thinks to himself.

He would think out loud back <well it seems we're smack dab in the middle of a shatstorm, yeah? Galingal, Commander, er... I mean madam Stena, I trust both yer judgements. What do you think the best shot we got to get back to the surface is given all of this?" (Thom saying this not knowing if it is getting to the surface that the others even want.) 

Thom nods in agreement when Galingal mentions the rest. "Oh yeah. Right mate. Best we decide with a clear mind, yeah?" 

Thom would immediately respond to Ploopp when he and his group came over, not thinking first just genuinely blurting what came into his head out "Well.. we did see the mating competition yeah!" and he smiles wide and looks at Lia and Shuushar. Immediately after, he thinks maybe that wasn't the best time to bring that up in this moment. He gets nervous and keeps blurting out things. "Damn it seemed kind of complicated, yeah?! Should be a heck of a lot easier than that, right madam Lia?!" and he gently elbows Lia trying to make a joke. Let's see if he comes across creepy or not. His intention is for it to be a joke, but it might come off super creepy. CHA: 18

Thom gets the sense that Ploopp isn't going to get into the specifics about tomorrow's plan here now by the way he is acting and from what he's learned about the politics going on, but Thom agrees that this shrine that Ploopp explains might be a great spot for further discussion as well as a rest and he waits for Galingal and Ploopp to continue the discussions. 

(Ok thank gosh. I think that 18 makes it not that creepy, just a joke!)

((It comes off as Thom being VERY interested in mating haha!))

Stena doesn't look at Thom as she responds in a flat tone,

<These people won't honestly help us. They will use us until they don't need us and either forget us or, more likely, kill us. If we can find another guide, not a duergar or drow, we should get out before we get used up. Or used at all.>

Jimjar doesn't bother passing along Thom's mating pool observations, he's not confident he can not end up making Thom seem creepy telling it second hand.

He emphasizes the need of the party to rest, and the archpriest nods, encouraging you to see the sights, but to remain alert, as there is a cult to a false god that has been growing in power... all stuff you've heard before, but things it'd be expected for him to great new arrivals with.

Ploopp takes a mug and raises it, wishing you all good health and an enjoyable stay, before draining it. When he places the mug back down in front of Lia, she hears a faint musical clink from within. The kuo-toa nods and departs, some additional followers schooling behind him.

Lia smiles at Thom’s perfectly pitched joke. She’s about to say something back but stops herself and just shakes her head a little and grins at the whole idea. She thinks about memorising the whole thing along with the joke for future re-telling in a tavern one day, but doesn’t see the same series of events ever happening again to make it funny a second time. ‘Bravo’, she simply thinks privately to herself!

She considers the idea of the general store, but with very little money she wouldn’t be able to buy very much that they couldn’t scrounge somewhere. And she doesn’t need a lot of gear personally, really. She leaves it unmentioned.

At the toast, and the subtle musical clink of the drink, she first looks at Ploopp for any clue, then subtly looks down at the cup to see what she can see without giving too much away to everyone else in the bar!…

((‘schooling’! - love it!))

Thom smiles widely back at Lia's reaction to his joke!

Thom lets out a sigh and responds to Stena <Alright Madam Stena. I trust your judgement. Let's hope we can find a proper guide then yeah? Tell me... you miss home, right Madam Stena?> 

((haha good point about Thom seemingly being keen on mating! It was more for the joke though and more the player couldn't think of anything witty :) ))

Thom says <Shuushar, do you know where the Shrine of the Sea Mother is?>

<Shall we go mates? Looks like most of us could use some shut eye, yeah?>

To Stena <Perhaps there's a guide at the shrine? Wouldn't that be convenient Madam?!> he smiles at her trying to make her crack a grin.

Thom's going to see if the druegar that were eying Stena are outside before they leave the Beer Room as well. 

(If possible, Thom would've asked Ploopp the location of that shrine before they left)

Stena's eyes flick to Thom at his first question.

<...miss it?> There is a very long pause and Stena's eyes look back to the rafters.  <Yes, I miss it.>

Deception: 15

Thom gets the equivalent of a mental grunt to his next questions.