Ula shakes the water from her hair and rests her elbows on the edge of the pool, still kicking her feet slowly and taking a few deep breaths. She responds to Hammerdasher with something distinctly un-dwarvish, probably something from her learnings at the temple, “Water is life…”. She smiles… and continues on a different tact like a meandering river. “When push comes to shove, and given enough time, water will erode stone…”, and it’s not clear if she’s really talking about water and stone, or dwarves and elves, or their prison, or politics, or life, or what she’s getting at… She’s still smiling though, and her friendliness is obvious even if her meaning is not.

Marrin clicks her tongue at the no and subsequent ignoring by Festan.

"Well, we have time and he certainly knows where to find us."

She turns slightly at Ava's departure before giving the hobguard a slight bow and following her away.

She'll greet Jisthelek with a faint smile and nod after he's answered Ava.

"Morning Jisthelek."

Hammerdasher raises a pair of bushy eyebrows at Ula and then laughs.

"Maybe, but a couple of dwarves and some good hammers and axes will do the job much faster," Hammerdasher says. 

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Jisthelek looks up at Avaria and shakes his head again, throwing droplets of water all over when she asks him about swimming.

"Morning bath," Jisthelek says. "Keeps the funguses from growing between your toes."

He wrinkles his nose at Avaria and sniffs.

"Takes a bite out of the usual body funk too."

He eyes, Avaria with a smile.

"Why else would I be in there?" Jisthelek says.

He turns when Marrin returns.

"Back so soon?" he says then laughs. "Told you that lot weren't the friendliest. Once a hobbie soldier, always a hobbie soldier."

Jan would have accompanied Marrin and Ava, similarly disguising her elven features, but lets Marrin do the talking, and doesn't push it when they are promptly turned away.

Avaria smiles and sniffs Jisthelek back.  "Body funk, that's what you call it?  Hey, if I went for a swim, the whole cave would smell like wet dog.  Just curious as I've never seen a goblin take a bath before... didn't know you cared about hygiene."

"You never know what will come to you when you're taking a bath," Jisthelek says to Avaria. "You can just let your mind wander and it goes down all sorts of paths and tunnels. You could even imagine yourself free of this place if you find the right tunnel."  

Jisthelek shakes off the rest of the water on his shoulders and gives Avaria a wink.

Ethel nods as she listens to Geffroi.  "Magic weapons in the arena is pure fantasy.  Ghosts... I haven't seen anything to give me that impression, though there are far stranger things in this world.  Good to know about the food."

"I had something else I wanted to ask," she adds.  "Your books - was there anything among them that was irreplaceable?  Anything you would be compelled to retrieve if we were to extricate ourselves from this place?  The Hargroves have confiscated everyone's belongings... while most are concerned with getting heirlooms or weapons back, I find myself equally concerned with lost knowledge."

Marrin looks appraisingly at the water.

"Might be time for a swim myself."

Ethel:

Geffroi looks at Ethel and nods.

"I fled Gheldaneth in a bit of hurry and wasn't thinking clearly," Geffroi says with a sigh. "I didn't bring much with me other than some notes I had made. I'm not sure anyone else would find them valuable but they have my sketches, drawings and maps to help me find the Arcanum again."

He looks around the cave, and then lowers his voice.

"Do you think we can actually get out of here?"

Marrin asks Jisthelek quietly,

"What do you know about Xanthe? She seems overly attached to the status quo."

Jisthelek looks at Marrin and smiles.

"Are you worried the old human will stab you in your sleep?" Jisthelek says with a laugh. "Good thing they're short a knife over there."

Jisthelek then loses the smile for a moment and looks, almost, thoughtful.

"She was here when I got here," the tattooed goblin says. Then he lowers his voice to a whisper. "She's even healed me once."

He looks around and glares at one goblin who has moved closer to your conversation. He barks a short order and the other goblin scrambles back, causing Jisthelek to laugh again.

"You're on to something though. She won't help you unless it means all her people get out. You've seen what our gracious hosts do to the tribe of anyone caught escaping."

Back in the home cavern:

Ula and Ethel hear the unmistakable sound of the door panel opening and then closing. Keys turn and the main door opens. Six hobgoblins enter the cavern.

Xanthe looks over with a calm face but her eyes don't leave the hobgoblins.

The hobgoblins move quickly through the cavern and almost immediately point at Ula and then at Ethel.

"You two, get your three companions now. Come."

Three of the hobgoblins head to the entrance to the orc cavern. You hear shouting but no sound of weapons but shortly five orc exit the cavern and head towards the doorway followed by the hobgoblin guards. In the middle of the group is a tall orc. The first thing Ula and Ethel notice about this orc prisoner is his hair. Jet-black and long, it has formed into thick dreadlocks both from his scalp and beard. Cold, steady eyes stare out from beneath this dark mane. His muscled body is more wiry than hulking.

"Now" the hobgoblin shouts at Ula and Ethel.

Ula does as asked and rallies the troops ready to follow.

Avaria looks at Jisthelek, considering.  "have you happened to have found the right tunnel?"

She looks at the pool in the goblin cavern, considering.  Turning to Marrin, "Well, did you want to go swimming or shall I?"

Before either have a chance, Ula arrives.  Avaria stands up, "Hopefully we'll see you again Jisthelek." and turns to follow Ula.

Marrin takes in Jisthelek's comments quietly.

She rises to leave when Ula arrives and says under her breath,

"But unlike Xanthe, you are more willing to make compromises if the... Tribe is best served by them?"

"Ula, what's up?"

Jisthelek smiles at Avaria.

"The right tunnel? Hmm. I'm still here, so maybe not."

He then turns to Marrin and continues in a low voice.

"This isn't my tribe," Jisthelek says. "This is a bunch of goblins I currently live with."

He doesn't continue when Ula rushes in but watches with interest to see what's going on.

Marrin gives the goblin a small smile.

"We'll talk when we get back, as long as you're not busy."

Ula, dripping wet, suddenly doubts herself, “What IS up?!… Well I thought it was a call to the arena. But maybe more jobs... I’m sorry. I was busy when they stormed in… Come on. They want us either way“. She trots back through to they’re cavern and towards the exit.

Ethel is about to answer Geffroi when the hobgoblin guards enter.  Instead she turns to fetch the others until she sees Ula coming back.  Assuming the rest are on their way, she limps toward the door.

She considers asking the guards what is in store now... but doesn't expect she would receive more than a monosyllabic, unhelpful response.  She and the others would learn their fate in due time.