Crispy heard Chubby approach, and looked up at him with a warm smile, something she rarely did with anyone else. She considered his words while he spoke.

"If you feel that way, then I will go with you. But it does sound more dangerous than Gauntylgrim, and we'll have to convince the others of that. It's unlikely they will agree." She said. Chubby knew how to fight, but when he made emotional decision, Crispy always humored him, and would always go where he went. She wasn't afraid of danger, or risk, and she knew one day she would surely get killed by being so risky. But Chubby was her best friend and the closest thing to an actual father figure she'd ever have, and was, and would always be, loyal to him.

Then Arthasis had something to say, and her smile faded, tearing her away from the moment she was having with Chubby. Arthasis brought up some good points, but his tact was terrible. Something she was used to. Not just from him, but from the people she used to deal with.

"Well, ok, then, you Drow buttplug." She said to him, matching his annoyance with sarcasm. "What do YOU propose?"

Southwest was shroomland, and also the way the Koa-Toa wanted to go. North was Gauntylgrim. 

Cade stayed silent, but watchful. If anyone dared to look directly in his direction -- and he kept in mind to stick to the edge of the group even once they reach the alcove -- he curtly averts his gaze. If he had any thoughts on the direction folk would take, it shows only briefly as a cringe whenever the mushroom and fishman's home get brought up. 

Either way, when rest eventually finds the group, goblin doesn't even try to feign it. He just sets his gaze to the entryway, curls up into himself, and stares unblinkingly out of it.

If necessary for staying up: 

     As the discussion regarding their route continues, Immotichey notices the absence of the twins who had jumped down ahead of the group when the demons attacked. He takes a few moments to see if there is any trace of them. 

Perception 13

The lively discussion rouses Evrik from his slumber. He hears the resolve in Arthasis's voice and approaches the group. Quietly he says, "I do not know much of the Kou-Toa, please explain your unease with Shuushar. And with regard to Stool, perhaps you are right, he may not be as great as you. But lest you forget, the other way is the desire of the cute gal over there who's not quite so sure about the direction, and her side-kick the ever advancing royal highness who, a few hours ago was a prince, and now all of the sudden is a King. So forgetting about your lack of love for either Stool or Shuushar, aren't they at least a bit more trustworthy?"

Immotichey would see no signs of them, mostly due to the darkness, and the fact the twins had left the same route they had, but had managed to get out of the water much faster combined with the darkness, and rocky ground. Immo would however, remember that the stream going through this alcove would likely lead into the southwesterly tunnel, though the group would have to ultimately leave the alcove to head there, as the trickle through here was only through tiny cracks. He would also note that the faintest smell of fungi headed southwesterly as well. The north smelled more granular, rocky, and a few other intermingling scents he couldn't decipher.

Eldreth slept like a  rock, as did the fishman.

The quaggoth prince-king however, would chime in, speaking through the mind link "This may be hard for mortals to understand, but I am sure you all know of elves and their reverie to some degree. Much like that, we can sense when our Kin die, it is a very spiritual bond. As my father now lays dead, that would make me a king. Never think again that you can speak so plainly without catching my ear. As for you, savage" he says, looking to Immotichey "It does no surprise me that one with a brain slightly larger than an acorn would not understand the intricacies and importance of a peoples leader. Without their leader, they are lost. Much like you, you are leaderless, and look where you are? I know not if you were banished, foolhardy, or if perhaps in some great hour of need you abandoned your tribe like a coward but here you are. Atleast this Dwarf... Evrik? understands. Which is why I shall grant him titles within my kingdom when we arrive."

(If cade does not sleep atleast short rest length, he will receive Exhaustion rank 2, as he only got a partial short rest prior.)

"My lord Darendill, forgive my tongue, I meant no disrespect. You honor me with even the mention of titles, and were it but a choice for me I would lend what help I could. In this matter however, choice I have none. This creature who connected us all and blessed me with an introduction to you must be honored. I feel compelled to see it through. Your kingdom awaits and I understand that here we may part ways and if that be true I wish you godspeed and a safe journey home." Evrik bows toward the Quaggoth and retreats back toward one of the walls where he sits in quiet prayer.

Crispy's eyes narrowed as she heard the quaggoth speak. There was something..off..about that one, that's for sure, and she didn't trust him. She wasn't buying it. Not one bit. Evrik was being nice, and his reply was typical, but Crispy was good at weeding out a crock, and this one was screaming off the charts.

She sighed, slowly getting just how far fetched this was. "Well, "Your Majesty", she said as sarcastically as she could walking up to the Quaggoth. "Just where exactly is your "kingdom"? And you speak Elven? What's the deal with that? How in the Hells does a King get captured and sent to a Drow slave camp, anyways?? I'll give YOU a title, it's called "KING OF BULLSHIT." 

She turned to Cade, "And YOU." she said, pointing. "What's your story, eh? I'm getting quite over this whole pity game you think you're playing with yourself, or on us. First you run, you HIDE, from a fight - and I know, I was there - then when we call you out on it, you get defensive and tell us to **** off - that we're a bunch of losers, and yet HERE YOU ARE, tagging along! You know? We've got a word for people like you back home: FREELOADER."

Her temper was starting to boil, and she unlatched the safety from her sword belt and kept her hand on the hilt, gripping it tight, one lightning fast move, and someone's head would be on the floor.

She turned to the "King" once more. "YOU! Are full of shit. You shut up now and stop corrupting the others with your LIES." Then to Cade. "I'm going to give you ONE last chance to explain yourself and why we should even CARE about you. Make it count."

     The frill on the back of Immotichey's neck bristles at the last of the prince-turned-king's accusations. He growls back in response, "I am smart enough not to attack those that are trying to help me escape!"

The warlock took a deep breath asking for Guidance to navigate this whole situation.

"Envy that the drow didn't take you to play, woman?", Arthasis snorted. "What I propose is to go North where we have the chance to leave the Underdark behind us." He paused for a second before continuing, "I don't know any of you and while some you of proved capable, some of you most certainly did not!" He gestured at the Goblin and the Kuo-Tao in a way that delivered the point he was trying to make.

The warlock then turned towards this so-called Prince bristling with anger, “You in any case are not just useless, you are an outright liability. If you don’t have some good answers to the woman’s questions and if you don’t drop this presumptuous demeanor, I will put you in your place, furball.”

Crispy turns to Arthasis. "Yeah." She states a matter-of-factly, not affected by the pathetic attempted to get under her skin. "I am. She was hot." She tuned out to him after, waiting for Cade's response eagerly.

In the midst of all the arguments, Chubby unsheathed his sword and quietly walked up behind Crispy (Stealth @ advantage since everyone is distracted by the argument: 18), and just stood there, unmoving and not speaking.  He'll use the confusion to make Ready to attack anyone that threatens Crispy.

"Not once have I called you losers." Cade whispers, his voice for once clear of the rasp that seemed to havea affected him in the begining. When he looks to Crispy, the tired look in his eyes went deeper than just the physical. "Not once." He states evenly but loud enough for all to clearly hear. "I told you to **** off... because you were wasting precious time. And I don't want to see you dead... Even the lizard monster over there. Infected though you may be like Sir Evrik over there." He lets out a pained chuckle that has him clutching his wounded arm.

"And with time being of the essence, and my voice... my voice being unused to speaking after so long as it was... There wasn't time for pleasantness. And if I were honest, I doubt you would've listened otherwise to it after my failing just before." He says before flashing a toothy but mirthless grin. "...I don't want your pity. Nor your generosity? I.. I hesitate call what I've seen so far as such, but that's... that's whatever. Either way, I'm not worth it. Not after what's been done to me." At that, he raises and stares at a trembling hand. His breathing grows and eyes narrow to dangerous slits the longer he stares at the appendage. Before the building anger can overwhelm him, he squeezes his eyes shut, clenches his hands into tight fist, and lets out a long breathe.

"... I've always been a coward though. What I have become has not made it that more apparent. I followed now only because the thing that I sought after was to be denied me when those flying nightmares attacked. My wish after you so brazenly reminded me of everything I hated." He looks to arthasis after his whole display, then to the quaggoth. Having only been privy to a quarter of the exchanges, he could only stare with some confusion over the accusations. He still wasn't even sure what the whole prince business was about! But after taking a second or two to let that situation simmer down just a bit.

"... If my being here is such a burden in spite having asked for next to nothing, yet done as much as I could in... spite of what I am. Then... so be it." If given the chance, Cade will detach his axes from his belt and cast them aside. Then with only shield and hammer in hand, the latter hanging limply in the damaged arm, he pushes himself onto his feet. He looks at her hand gripped on the sword, and then up to Crispy face.

"What I've said was not to get you to care about me. Simply to open your eyes. Many of you lack temperance. True Empathy. For what reason, I can't even begin to guess. I pray this is only your worse. That my own mistakes has only served to bring that out further. Because if its not... down here?" He taps the floor with his weapon. "That quickness to punish even the slightest infractions might spare you lives. But should you reach the surface, what little light might be in your heart will be gone. And the world -- shitty as you may have come to see it -- as /I've/ allowed for even a second to see it as, will be only for the worse. Now I've said my piece, and intend to head to north. Alone, if I must. Cut me down, if you so wish for I presume what scraps I have left on me. But know that I will defend myself."

Cade at that point will let his words sink in. But short of being physically stopped in some matter, he will back his way out after hearing the replies, and head in the direction the dwarven lass pointed out.

Crispy grabs Cade by the collar, holding him in place.

"Well, peel me some onions. I feel like cryin." She says, sarcastically, but the anger in her eyes was gone. "But, i'm not done yet. One last question. What's happened to you? SOMEthing has happened to you. What do you mean, specifically."

Chubby will keep a keen eye on Cade’s eyes, looking for signs of madness (Perception: 10)

 (aka Insanity)

In spite of his own words, Cade can only muster the resolve to try and bring his shield up to meet whatever "attack" was imminent. But, it doesn't get up far, and takes little effort to bat it aside. Tired as he was, he at least firmed up his jaw, and managed a defiant glare up until the questions.

"What?" He frowns. "What does -that- matter?! There's no 'fixing' what happened to me. And even if there is a way, why would you even matter to you? Your focus should be on making sure the rest of this motley crew doesn't fall apart, and keeping hold of that light in ya." He says, gesturing off to the others, and then loosely at her. "Not some 'sob' story from some random cowardly goblin that you just met and-- if wasn't obvious for you -- has a ****'n death wish! Yea. That's right. I said it. Death. Wish. Now.. would kindly stop grabbing me." He says, though the last part comes out through gritted teeth. 

"Oh, it matters." She says, letting him go, roughly. "We're in this together, and believe it or not, it takes courage to admit what you just did. And I respect that. Something happened to you, something you're not willing to share with us. And you're upset. Ok. Fine. But we're all in a position now where we need to work together to survive."

"But know this." she warns him. "You're hiding something, too. If you want to tag along, fine. But the second I find out you've become a liability? Your wish will be granted."

Stupid Chubby adds at the end: “Yeah, what she said.”

Cade turns and gives Chubby a quick but withering glare. Then, he looks back to Crispy. "Save the threats. My little secret won't make me a liability. But if I do become one?" He looks to the axe on the ground. "I'll be dead long before you have chance to worry. Of that, you have my word... For what little its worth at this point." On that note he'll sit back down agains the rock.

"Now would someone please explain to me that whole situation?" He asks waving a hand in the direction of the Quaggoth. 

While the party falls into disorder, Evrik finishes his prayers Bless me with your courage that I shall seek out your foes. Bless me with your strength that I might defeat them. Bless me with your wisdom that I might know them. He then looks up towards the crowd and shakes his head a bit as he sighs.

Walking up to Cade and Crispy he notices her blade ready with Chubby ready to stand with her. Unsure how to diminish the obvious tension and unable to see a way to get Cade to understand why his actions make him seem a bit untrustworthy, Evrik simply chooses to reply Cade's query. Hiding his thoughts from the myconid net, he speaks quietly to Cade and those nearby, "I'm not quite sure what you mean about the whole situation", he says nodding towards the king, "but he seems to believe he's royalty of some sort, and gets a little off kilt if one deems him otherwise. Best to play along if you ask me."  Evrik then explains what little he knows about the Quaggoth at this point, including the fact that he lashed out at one of the group while they were busy trying to subdue Ilyvara. "So, I'm not really trusting his sense of direction. I'm still voting we take the southwesterly route. So how about now you explain a bit of your whole situation?"