The voice seems hesitant in its response, torn between knowing they should help but being unable to, "Hmmm.  The surface world and dwarvenkin such as yourself have been hospitable to our kind during our exile.  But the underdark outside of Blingdenstone proper has been making people crazy, and I can't risk letting you in, in case you are all afflicted."  The voice follows up with a mumbled, "Or in case I am."

Then with a firm voice once again, "There are many Svirfneblin working the salt mines, the Pickshine mines, the mushroom fields or the ore smelters.  I'm sure they all could use some help.  Maybe with a few of Svirfneblin vouching for you, I could take the risk."

"How do we find these places?  And what exactly is this 'affliction'?"

The voice responds, "There are two separate large domed chambers.  Each one is the entrance to a mine, either Whiteshell Mine, where salt is mined.  Or Pickshine Mine, where ores and gems are mined.  The domed chambers will be easily identified by a double ring of boulders.  Mind the boulders, lest you rouse them!  Ha! Seriously though, if you're in one of those two chambers, then there are surely Svirfneblin watching you.

The mushroom farms are a collection of several mined tubes, sloping upward into a water source.  If you want to find those, follow the water.  And your nose.  Mushroom farms stink. 

To find the smelters, you can get directions from the Pickshine Mines.  They regularly send caravans of mined ore for smelting.

As for the sickness, that's not for me to say what it is.  Our priests may venture a guess, but my opinion is they don't really know.  Whatever it is, it drives Svirfneblin to greed and distrust and worse.  Merchants have come back saying the other underdark races aren't themselves either.  I'm pretty sure you're all afflicted.  Why else would a group of surfacers befriend a Bugbear?"

Rodolfo is looking around and trying to think back on their journey up the steps and see if the smaller tunnel (they decided not to take) would actually end up inside the city somewhere possibly.

The smaller tunnel is part of the same massive pillar that leads up to the city of Blingdenstone.  Where else could it go?

Rodolfo replies to the voice, "Why else would surfacers befriend a bugbear? For safety of course. You know better than we do that allies are hard to find in the Underdark. Why would we turn away a capable and friendly creature who just looks a bit different than we do?"

He spreads his arms and shrugs his shoulders, "It seems that you are turning us away though. I would hope you reconsider, especially at these uncertain times. Turning away friendly people and potential allies who bring news from far away places should be the last thing you do, should it not? Why don't you ask your priests if they would like to learn more about what is happening further away so that they may better guide the future of all Svirfneblin?"

The voice replies one final time, "If you found a bugbear that doesn't want to split your skull open for not being a bugbear, then that is an exceptional bugbear.  Or maybe you should worry that it is sick and might get worse, to your detriment, or not.  

As for the priests, I will seek their council.  After my shift.   You can come back some other time and maybe someone with more authority than myself will decide to let you enter.  In the meantime, there are plenty of Svirfneblin outside of Blingdenstone.  Go make some friends.  They can put their reputation at risk to vouch for your little group."

Rodolfo says to the others, "It seems we're not being let in here. Lets head back down I guess."

Narstin nods.  "Do we want to wait around awhile to try whoever takes over the next shift, or head down and find some of these svirfneblin to try to get them to support us?

Rodolfo turns back towards the voice and calls out, "You don't mind if we camp here outside your door for the night, do you? It's been a LONG journey."

Apparently they don't mind, as no one replies and no one chases you away.

Rodolfo proposes to the party to rest here in a corner and to follow one of the proposed avenues of further allies the next day.

Quote from Winenose >>

Rodolfo proposes to the party to rest here in a corner and to follow one of the proposed avenues of further allies the next day.

Beegred will agree with this suggestion.

While still talking to the guard... "Bugbears aren't so bad, especially this fellow. Try hanging around with an insane quaggoth who is an elf..."
(It takes a moment to realize that this isn't helping.)

He tries to notice if the guard seems sincere about his suggestions (find others to vouch for our group, guard will check with his higher-ups), or if the guy is making stuff up (to make the party go away and stop bothering him). Insight: 13
(Beegred has a Soldier's background. If that would normally give Advantage, then that would be another +5.  EDIT: Yeah, never mind, he has no idea.)

"Thanks Big Red....." and Skameros wraps his big long hairy arms around Beegred and lifts him up in a big hug.  Then settles down against the wall and waits with the rest of the party.  "Wonder why dirt nomes not let us in...we helpful."

Everyone settles down on the terrace and hopes the proximity to Blingdenstone will grant some protection.  After resting properly (long rest), the party decides to try to find Whiteshell Mines.  You all remember passing through a chambered room with two rings of boulders where Glabbagool said it could hear screams, so you retrace your steps and head in that direction.

The route back is uneventful and you step into a large domed chamber with several exits.  In the center of the chamber are two ringed circles of round boulders, one larger than the other.  In the middle is a clump of fungi emitting fairly bright light, where the outer perimeter of the domed chamber is at least dimly lit.

Rodolfo looks around and says to the others, "Well, they said that if we're here then someone is definitely watching us.. "

He calls out, "Hello! We just came from Blingdenstone and were directed here to be of help to you in any way that we can. We are very helpful and can handle all kinds of problems, tasks and assignments. My name is Rodolfo and these are Beegred, Narstin and Skameros."

Skameros waves, and then looks around for everyone else and then realizes it's just the four of them now.

Out of the shadows on a shelf about ten feet high no one saw, a deep gnome emerges and climbs down.  It has mismatched bits of armor and an obviously often repaired war pick looking about ready to fall apart.  He grunts, makes a 'follow me' motion and heads into one of the cavern entrances.  

You all travel for several hundred feet as the cave switches back onto itself a couple times, continuously descending.  You all walk through a portion of the tunnel that first slopes down, then back up while the ceiling remains level.  The dip in the tunnel is low enough that even medium creatures would be forced to swim if that portion of the tunnel was flooded.  Once you climb back up to the other side, you enter a long straight hallway with several neat carved archways leading to various chambers.  The first you see looks to be a pen holding large lizard creatures.  The next one seems to be a place where meat is hung to cure, with several large carcasses in plain sight.  Another has sacks neatly stacked almost from floor to ceiling.  It goes on like this, until you are escorted to what essentially is an office.

The escort holds up a finger motioning for you to wait and enters.  There is a hushed but still audible conversation, but not in common or undercommon.  The escort emerges and bids you to enter.  Inside, a gnome has stood from a small desk and says in common, "I did not think I would see surfacers ever again in my remaining years.  What could possibly have brought you down to the outskirts of Blingdenstone?  Curious indeed.  My man told me you claim to return from Blingdenstone proper and are looking to help us in whatever way you can.  Is that correct?"

Rodolfo steps forward and nods. "That is correct. My name is Rodolfo. This is Narstin, Beegred and Skameros. Between the four of us we have many areas covered - we have the muscle and brains, some healing and some arcane magic. We even have some actual work-related skills," and he pats on his tinkers and woodcarvers tools.

"We have traveled the Underdark for a long time and faced quite a few dangers on the way. I am confident we can handle any task you put forth for us."

Beegred wants to contribute to the conversation, to show that there are other smart people in the party besides Rodolfo.

"Yeah, like Rodolfo says, we have work-related skills. And we can do stuff other than fighting, too." (Looks proud at his clever words.)