Intimidation: 10 

Quinn stands back in the shadows staying out of sight and focused on observing the surroundings. By the looks of it, some of his friends are communing with Ssarnak, so he leaves them be.

Just in case Ssarnak tries to peer into his mind, Quinn focuses on remaining calm and showing that they are not here to harm Ssarnak.

"It would be a pleasure to hunt you Ssarnak, and take whatever treasures you have. Instead, I'll settle for you word, your promise and assurance that you'll stay within the bounds of these ruins. At least, until we return."

Aros feels the presence rifling through his secrets and memories. "...Your secrets are rather dull, genasi..." Aros hears in his head. "...But you know some intriguing history..."

"...I will not leave the ruins..." replies Ssarnak to Syzygy. "Ssarnak won't lie to you. Will you return with magics? Ssarnak loves magics even more than squirmy bloody things. He will trade magics with you if you are kind to Ssarnak..."

Quinn steps forward with an idea. He calls out to Ssarnak aloud with a question.

"Ssarnak, this is Quinn. Have you heard of someone named the Spider? How about a place called Cragmaw castle?"

Afterwards he opens his mind, waiting Ssarnak to answer.

Syzygy updates the others on Ssarnak’s offer. 

Jurgen offers the following, "I can make a magical item from one of these." He holds out a small metal sphere. "It can be 5' of light, up to a 6 second long recorded message. Or it can emit an odor or nonverbal sound, or a static visual effect, like 25 words of text. Which do you think he would like? I can make a couple if it would help."

Kimberley remains quiet, she doesn't trust the thing as far as she could throw it....but she is also new to the group and will let them make the decision.

"Ssarnak knows nought of castles," hears Quinn in his mind. "And spiders can be tasty snacks. But the little stick-carrier babbled about a mysterious entity named 'The Spider'. He said this Spider hired them - the Red ones - to frighten off interlopers like you and cause troubles. And the Spider sent those hairy bugbears to help them. But this talking Spider never came here, that Ssarnak saw." 

"Odors and words?"  hears Jurgen in his mind. "Ssarnak is curious. Sarnak will trade you one for a magic liquid to drink. Would you like that?"
Now Jurgen feels the presence invading his head. Jurgen: make a DC16 Deception check to keep the intrusive mental probe out of your mind.

You have no idea where Ssarnak is. The cave appears empty.

Bryony waits while the others engage with Ssarnak. She isn't too eager to have the creature peer into her mind, if that is how he is communicating with Syzygy and Aros. Instead, she remains near Quinn and Kimberley, waiting to see if they'll be able to learn something important.

Deception - 15

Jurgen applies the magic to the item. 

He then says "Are we OK to advance in and give him this?"

Kimberley mutters under her breath, " Give him something....." 

But she steps up regardless.

"Yes, Jurgen. That sounds like a good trade. Let's see what he has to offer."

Quinn winces as he hears Ssarnak's voice in his mind.

"...Ssarnak answered my questions. He's not familiar with Cragmaw Castle, but he's heard Glasstaff speak of the Spider. Sounds like the Spider used Glasstaff to scare off people."

Quinn once again calls out to Ssarnak.

"Ssarnak, thank you for your honesty. I do have one more question. You're seem enamored with magical items. Have you ever found a cave around here with great magical powers or items?" 

Syzygy admits to himself that perhaps he was fishing for an excuse to murder the creature and take its treasures but also realised the path hhis companions are taking might be more lucrative. Plus, he can’t shake the strange affinity to Ssarnak’s power and presence. 

Jurgen moves forward to give Ssarnak his new magical item. 

Aros sits at the edge of the crevasse, near the magical auras. ”I would consider myself a student of history, but I do have a deeper understanding than others. Is there something you would like to know or that I may help you with? I’ve noticed you have some sort of magical… something or other under the bridge here. Maybe an exchange of information?”

Aros notes that the cluster of magical signatures seem to be emanating from somewhere under the northern bridge, near the bottom of the crevasse. The whole crevasse emanates a faint necromantic aura as well.

"Ssarnak values magical items more than information," replies Ssarnak to both Aros and Quinn. "...But if you know of such a nearby cave with great magical powers or items, Ssarnak would be most very much interested. But Ssarnak will not give up his magics, no. But a trade, perhaps..."

The one-eyed creature suddenly appears as it silently clambers out of a hole in the side of the bottom of the crevasse. You watch as it nimbly climbs the crevasse wall, depositing a filthy red vial on its edge. It grabs Jurgen's magical trinket, drops to the bottom, and darts away again. (Jurgen: What does it do?)

“That seems fair. There is rumor of a cavern nearby with great magic contained within. If we are able to find it, I will return to discuss the matter with you.“ Aros stands up and dusts himself off. “It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Ssarnak.”

Aros returns to the group. “I wouldn’t have taken him for a scholar.”

"I think there's much we'll never know about Ssarnak. I've never met someone like them before. I was hoping Ssarnak would have known, perhaps even visited the Wave Echo cave, given his affinity for magical things. 

Well, I guess we best be on our way now."

Quinn looks about, making sure everyone is accounted for.

"Jurgen, any idea what Ssarnak has given you?"

Quinn walks over to look at the bottle.

DM: Does the bottle or the contents look anything like the health potions I found in King Klarg's chambers?

Ssarnak remains quiet and hidden. Examining the vial, Quinn decides that its contents look somewhat similar to the potions from the goblin cave.