With that last assault, the trapped ooze is eliminated.  You all currently have a moment of quiet where no other oozes appear to be aware of your presence.

(225 XP each)

Beegred: "Let's go back, and get the salt miners ready for a day's work."

Skameros nods "before more ooze come"

Perigrog is more than happy to leave quickly, before more oozes appear and chase. 

He leads you all back up to the living section of the mine and into a large hall.  There are several long tables with stools all around it, and in the walls are cubbies two high, full of sleeping gnomes.  Perigrog speaks in a hushed voice, "There is no other suitable living quarters where you can wait.  The current mining crew will be back in an hour or so from their shift.  Everyone will eat, I will give the current crew another couple hours to rest because they will be doing a double shift.  All of our miners will head down later if you can indeed clear the way.  In one shift, we'll have enough of the good salt to head back to Blingdenstone early.  Please make yourselves comfortable, I have to go prepare the pack lizards to come down with us.  The cooks will be bringing in food soon, I will inform them to bring some for you all as well."

Skameros finds a dark corner to fall asleep in - rock throwing is hard work

After a bit of time goes by, Skameros snores softly in the corner and some gnomes enter with stacks of plates and cutlery, followed by large pots filled with food.  There are a few larger plates that the gnomes set on the table nearest the group, leaving you to serve yourself.

Not long after, a gaggle of boisterous dirty gnomes enter the hall.  When they become aware of your presence, silence falls and no one moves.  Perigrog enters a few seconds later, ringing a bell.  The sleeping gnomes wake and begin crawling out of their stone beds until they also take notice of your presence.  In the stillness of the room, Perigrog launches into an explanation in gnomish.  The gnomes returning from the mines groan when they learn they must return to work with a meal and only an hour's rest.  When Perigrog leaves to pursue his business, one crotchety gnome steps forward to face Narstin, Rodolfo and Beegred, demanding in undercommon, "What's in it for you?  We risk our lives and what do you get?"

Skameros hears the clanging of the bell and slowly wakes up and stands up as much as he can given they are probably cramed in gnome sized quarters before wandering over and shoveling some food in to his craw.

Rodolfo gets the gist of the question - he doesn't speak undercommon that well. But he followed all the previous conversation that was held in gnomish.

He says, in gnomish, "safety, at least for a bit." Then does a short summary of the events so far, leaving out everything about the drow pursuit.

Unable to follow the conversations in either undercommon or gnomish, Narstin simply nods along as Rodolpho talks.

Beegred doesn't understand Undercommon either (choosing instead to learn how to insult giants in their own tongue). But... well, it is pretty obvious why the gnome is upset.

(in Common) "Just be patient. We know you are eager to dig up the salt right away to pay off your debts, but some of your co-workers need a break first. You just have to wait an hour, so everyone else can rest up."

Skameros between mouthfulls of food says "he ask why we do this." In common for the party. 

Rodolfo purposely leaves out the part about the drow pursuing the party, which leaves some holes as to why the party is in the underdark and why they can't find their way out.  So...

Rodolfo deception check vs. DC 14: 2

The crotchety gnome's face twists into a grimace as Rodolfo tells his story and at the end he spits on Rodolfo's boots.

The reaction in the room is instantaneous -  the entire roomful of gnomes rise and press in on the party.  Between forty to sixty Svirfneblin are spread out and pressing each of you on all sides. You can feel hands all over, pushing and pulling at anything they can grab.  They don't seem to be attacking any of you, but Skameros is definitely having his fur yanked in all directions by a couple dozen hands, which gets to be a bit painful.

It is complete chaos.

(This is likely to make it worse, but why not...)

(in Common) "Hey, HEY, HEY! We are here because your boss said you smurfblin were afraid to get your salt. We offered to protect you. If you want to get your whole quota done in 1 day, we fight for you... You want to go out there to face flesh-melting oozes by yourself, be sure to bring a bucket and a sponge so we can bury what's left of you."

Intimidation: 9  (dammit)

(that escalated extremely quickly...!)

Rodolfo yells (in gnomish), "GET THE **** AWAY FROM ME! DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW BAD IT IS OUT THERE?!?! THE DROW ARE KILLING EVERYONE, THE MUSHROOMS ARE ******* INSANE, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A FRIENDLY FACE FOR MONTHS. WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE HORRIBLY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER."

He continues, "What is wrong with you?! We are here to help you for a day and you ******* attack us? Is your life REALLY THAT GOOD that you need to turn away all help if they don't tell you their whole life story without leaving out the horrible parts?"

Skameros roars in anger and starts tossing Svirfneblin off of him

"STOP!" he will yell in undercommon as well (and will burn his inspiration on this)

[Intimidation: 20]

Rodolfo persuasion check: 22

As Beegred banters uselessly in common at the gnomes, Skameros begins to hurl gnomes away from him to great effect.  Rodolfo's talk of doom seems to sink in as the fervor of the gnomes around him abates.

• Check with advantage vs. Beegred's passive perception (DC 19):  18 (w/ advantage: 4)
• Check with disadvantage vs. Skamero's passive perception (DC 11):  6 (w/ disadvantage: 11)
• Check with advantage vs. Rodolfo's passive perception (DC 11):  3 (w/ advantage: 9)
• Check vs. Narstin's passive perception (DC 14):  17 

As the gnomes have their hands all over the members of the party, Beegred, Rodolfo and Narstin notice their belts and packs get a little bit lighter.  Skameros is clueless as he hurls gnomes around.

(Some items have been removed from your inventory)

With his Observant feat, hopefully Beegred would notice some of the pickpockets, against him, and against his party mates. (The die rolls look favorable for Beegred, but the DM mentioned that the numbers are not reliable.)

He will do his best to slap / punch / grab arms, to try to expose the pick pockets. And in case the mob thinks the attack is indiscriminate: "Honest miners shouldn't protect thieves!"