As the group of you make your way down the hewn corridor, nothing jumps out to you prior to making it around the first bend. It is then the group can just faintly make out a source of light in the distance. Although its only as you are reaching the point where hewn tunnel opened up into the main chamber that Mixum, Charlotte, and Ordrin can actually make out the details of the blue flameskull across the way... staring right back at them.  Whether it was the clanking of their collective armor or Pip's own presumption being wrong, it appeared either way that the flameskull had been expecting someone to approach the chamber since the owl's abrupt departure.

As the group of you are readying to possibly do battle at that point however, the nasally voice of the Flameskull rings out. "Calm, calm! All is well here, my intrepid little friends. There need not be any violence. I really don't want to need to vaporize you now, as it not often I have visitors." The flameskull then lets out an obnoxious sounding laugh as it bobbed just a few feet above the smelter. "I will say this though! Whichever one of you are the wizard responsible for that little flying pest  that vanished earlier, DO do me the kindness of not bringing that into her again, if you would. I only recently have been able to train those pesky bat buggers to stay well away from this place, and would like to keep my proverbial skies clear, thank you very much!"

What does the group do/respond?

Rough Image of where people/things are at:
Blue Circle = Flameskull
White Circle = Main concentration of bodies saw last

"I, uh, well, uh.  Yeah, sure." Pip says, a little disconcerted by the response of the flameskull.  With a quick word Archimedes again vanishes back into his little pocket dimension.  "Uh, he won't bother you again, uh, unless you try and kill us of course.  Uh...who are you?"

While Mixum and Ordrin are still pondering or recovering from the shock of the Flameskull's invitation, the Skull, who couldn't quite see Pip behind the others unless he stepped forward, cackles at the question. "Me?! Why I'm... I'm.... Hold on there, I, uh... it was uh... Uhhh... Oh man, it's been a while since anyone has ever asked me that, so there hasn't been much reason to think about it in so long!" The Flameskull admitted before chuckling again.

"Ah! Now remember! The name was Vargimmly! Vargimmly Marshman, Sorcerer Superior and Son of the Sun, or uh... That's what my grandfather would say. Family line owed our 'gift' -- our innate tie to magic to the morninglord getting fancy with an ancestor! Can you believe it? Freaking god of the Sun wanted a little Underdark Fun, if you catch my meaning." Vargimmly bobbed his head giving the impression of trying to wink. "And if we wanna get technical, I'm supposed to guard this zone from intruders, even such as yourselves. BUT! Those fools hadn't realized I'd worked in a bit of my own magic into the ritual to 'adjust' things a tad. Bloody Chickens! If they'd only let me finish speaking, they would've gladly died themselves to be in my position!" He laughs and sways in the air in his amusement.

"But enough about me! Who are you lovely little creatures? One dwarf and one gnome, obviously. But, there's more to your little story I'm sure." As that is being said, Riris can have just reached the hewn tunnel that the others had clearly climbed into upon cross the chasm.

"I've but one question for you, you loathsome, stinking abomination," Ordrin growls. "Do you recognize this armor?"

Although its hard to see at a distance, the eyes of the Flame Skull, mere embers of light compared to the flame wreathing the rest of it, appear to dim in response to Odrin's words. After a moment of silence, the skull floats some five or ten feet closer and replied in a far less amicable voice. "Such unkind words is most unbecoming of a dwarf. Especially when I've showed nothing less than hospitality, even in giving my own name when none of you have done the same."

"Keep that up, and I may just have to reconsider not playing my part." He said, the light of eyes brightening and flickering from some barely held in check emotions. Then he quiets, letting the words sink in before appearing to glance off to the side. "But no. I don't recognize the armor... though..." The eyes dim again for just a few moments, before the skull bobs up and down as if nodding at something. "I did... sense something attached to it. Felt almost... familiar." Vargimmley then looked to group, noting Pip's presence in hindsight, but then narrowing his focus on Ordrin. "Why do you ask?"

 "Perhaps you should think harder," Ordrin says. As he does he, he pulls a small, inscribed paper from his belt pouch and runs his fingers over the writing while uttering the words. As he completes the phrase a faint holy light appears around him.

Shield of Faith on Ordrin

"Hmm, well-" Started Vargimmley, his interest piqued quite a bit by the topic. However, Ordrin's display of magic had not gone unnoticed, and immediately after, there's a shift in Flameskull's demeanor. "Well, there's certainly one thing I do recognize. And while I have no personal things against for those that hold true to the gods, even in my current state, neither will I tolerate being manipulated by their tools. But, I won't be as rude as you have been twice. Nor am I without my mercies. Your friends can stay to chat if they wish. They may even pass through here, if that's all they want... But not you, rude one. I'll give you this one chance to leave, as I can already guess your intentions now.... I suggest you take it."

 "Don't trust this... thing, my friends." Ordrin speaks to his compatriots without taking his eyes from the flame skull. "Those bodies are not a sign of mercy."

MIxum: "I'm with the rude one!"  (he smiles apologetically to Odrin to reassure him that he doesn't think he's overly rude.)

Mixum and Charlotte ready themselves for the attack....

"Don't trust who?" Riris's voice is heard from behind the group. She wasn't hiding anywhere, though she was out of sight. She'd only heard their voice further back down the cave and responded sooner than she arrived. She is a quick one, so with her steps being heard growing faster and louder (loud for a small halfling), she finally arrives and tries to get a grip on what's going on.

"... Yes, clearly I was mistaken." Vargimmley deadpanned, for Mixums jest could not have been more well timed. "Now what's this about bodies?" The flame skull questioned, canting its head, before then glancing off to the side. "Those bodies? Hah! You would be mistaken on that part in think they were MY doing. And I'd allow you to see for your more closely if I weren't so sure you'd just stab me in the back!" He declared with a harrumph, only to look askance and add, "Metaphorically speaking, of course."

He then gently floats closer at least another ten feet towards the ground, but while maintaining still a fair distance. "But I really had nothing to do with them. Most of those are from back when those blasted Orcs raided the place, and led these mine to their sorry state. Serves both sides right too. If they'd hadn't been so slow about the rituals, I could've dealt with those little misguided invaders in but a few blasts. But noooo~ We'll summon a ball with a bunch of eyes from Mechanus to watch over the Well, but a creating a Flame Skull is crossing a line. Peh!" He hawks a flaming loogy off to the side and shakes his head.

"And Fyi, I am perfectly trustworthy! Unlike that Greedy bastard to the south." He proclaimed proudly.

Ordrin's single-minded revulsion flags for just a moment on learning there may be other fiends about. He studies the flame skull carefully, searching for a hint of truth.

Insight: 5

"Who?  Who is to the south?" Pip asks at the mention of another.  "Some rival of yours?"  He pauses a moment, "Did you aid those who had the cave before the orcs came, were you allied with the dwarves who were here?"

To Ordin: Try as you might, and you just cannot get a bead on the Vargimmley. Between the lack of facial expressions and maybe some of your own bias playing havoc at keep perspective, the best you can discern is that the Flame Skull maybe believes it is trustworthy.

To Pip: Make a Persuasion Check. 

Pip Persuasion 9

Vargimmley appeared taken aback by the back to back questioning, but obliges after a bit. "Once there might've been alliance of that sort. Not just with dwarves, but with gnomes and humans such as myself as well had a vested interest in the mines." As the Flame Skull spoke the flames wreathing his head diminished to almost the state of mere embers.

"Yet remain I do. My ropes frayed and loose, but there all the same.... Hmph... As for that bastard Gormesk or Mormesk or whatever his name was, I wouldn't say he was a rival. No friend of mines for sure, in life or death." Vargimmley grumbled as the flames return to the size of a small campfire in intensity. "Did you have to insist upon such an unpleasant topic? Here I thought we were becoming friends."

Pip gets a bit excited and quickly pulls a book, a tome, out of his pack. 

"I found this, a wizard named Glastaff and it."  he holds up the tome.  "He's dead now," he quickly says as an aside.

"This tome, its the journal of an adventurer named Urmon. It speaks of these caves, and the Forge of Spells and a pact between clans of dwarves and gnomes who made an agreement known as the Phandelver’s Pact.  Human spellcasters allied themselves with the dwarves and gnomes to channel and bind that energy into a great forge, called the Forge of Spells, where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby human town of Phandalin prospered as well. But then disaster struck when orcs swept through the North and laid waste to all in their path. A powerful force of orcs reinforced by evil mercenary wizards attacked Wave Echo Cave to seize its riches and magic treasures. Human wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost. In addition, Urmon records that a magic mace named Lightbringer was commissioned by priests of Lathander, the god of dawn, from the mages working with the gnomes and dwarves of the Phandelver’s Pact. The mace was lost when Wave Echo Cave and its mine vanished from history."

Pip looks around.  "Was this the Forge of Spells?  Were you one of the spellcasters who helped the dwarves and gnomes? " 

Ordrin watches this exchange with great interest as it dawns on him that his quest to find Gundren may in fact be more about this cave than the dwarf himself.

(To Paladin54: Glasstaff is still alive. Just, uh... dealing with 'her' new issue now. Or is Pip being forgetful or intentionally lying?)

Even before Pip spoke of the arthor Vargimmley had immediately perked up seeing the journal. Yet still appearing uncertain, he drifted a few feet closer(50ft away from party), before stopping abruptly at the name. From then on, Pip could be certain he had the Flame Skull's full attention. Although he remained more mindful, and refrained from getting any closer.

"Urmon... that... is a name I have not heard in long, long time.... so inquisitive that one was. Even more than Vicker and... El...fon?" Vargimmley stared off in thought for a bit there, before slowly shaking his head. "Memory... My memory is not as good as it used to be. Better than others of my kind, but..." He trailed off letting out a low growl. "I don't remember any mages among their ranks, but I wouldn't be surprised either... Many a protections now lost to time were set in place to help protect this place. The sorta things that even those tuskers can't just chew their way through. Hmph! But it would've been funny to see them try!" Vargimmley bobs about for a bit there, letting out sinister chuckle. Afterwards, he goes quiet for a couple minutes there, and appeared to be almost lost in thought.

"... When noone came to check on the state of things after the first few years, and get it all back in operations, I... I thought that was it. Anyone with outside connections to this place had suffered similar misfortunes or worse. And with them, so were lost any records. But, leave to Urmon to not let his stories -- our stories die altogether, eh?"

Another chuckle slips out, though far less malevolent than the last. "I believe I already made clear my alliances before, actually. As for the Forge.... what do you intend to do with it? Technically speaking, the original owners are dead and or gone, excluding myself and that other bastard to the south. And while I may not be inclined to make use of it, I ain't so starved for conversation and company as to not destroy anyone that might abuse our creation."

"I uh, I am sorry.  I misspoke earlier.  Glasstaff is not dead.  We killed, or helped kill, one named Nezznar.  He's dead. He was trying to run this place and I think intended to use the Forge of Spells for nefarious reasons.  He ran some gang that took over a nearby town.  But we ran the gang off and have killed their leader Nezznar.    Iarno Albrek, also known as Glasstaff, was working for him."

"We have been helping Gundren Rockseeker and his brothers Nundro and Tharden clear this cave out.  Tharden is dead.  They are dwarves who I think have better purpose in mind for this place.  And so here we are.  We hope to clean out this place of all of the undead and help the Rockseeker brothers rebuild the glory of this place."

Pip answers, hope on his face that this is enough to placate this creature.