Beegred thanks Narstin for all the times the halfling would have died without healing.

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Narstin turns to Nomi and says, "I believe you are correct.  These two..." pointing to Skameros and Grithik, "... were being influenced by something and Lesser Restoration pushed it out."

"Skameros, I've been telling you that you should try to get more vegetables in your diet. More fibre, so you don't need spells to help push things out... Although, I guess we didn't have a lot of food choices during our march to Bringdesling."

Skameros gives Beegred a big sharp toothy smile

"Maybe Big Red make good stew too...."and you're not sure but he might be drooling a bit with that statement.

Rodolfo addresses everyone around the table and says, "Thank you for taking the time to talk through these things. We will look into the wererats problem."

He turns to Sark, "I understand that the family heirloom is important to you, but a deal is a deal. Consider it the price of underestimating people who don't look like you." He pushes the bag with medusa head towards him.

He turns to Senni, "Is there anyone who knows more about the wererats? What should we be aware of, where are they, how do we not get killed at first sight and other similar things? Also - do you have any demands towards them? What are your conditions for the peace?"

Sark looks sheepish and nods.  He replies, "I will fetch the diamond and meet you at your next destination to hand it over.   Where will you be going next?"

Senni answers, "No one knows much about the wererats.  We immediately tried to push them out of Blingdenstone when we arrived.  There hasn't been any civil discussion with them.  When we arrived, we took control of what is now called Inner Blingdenstone and the main gate.  We walled off Inner Blingdenstone to create this refuge.  From our limited exploring, we're pretty sure the Rockblight to the east is not habited by wererats.  That leaves the north, where we encountered them and began warring and the north-east.  We can open a doorway to the northern parts of Blingdenstone for you, or you can go outside of Blingdenstone proper and find the entrance the wererats use... because we have clashed with them outside of Blingdenstone too.

As for peace terms, the only condition that I will require is to be allowed to remain and reclaim Blingdenstone.  I will impose no other conditions.  Dorbo might not... no, he will not be willing to proceed with any kind of negotiation with them, so if you're going to come back with a chance to negotiate, I hope the wererats can make it palatable for Dorbo and the others that think like him.

The only advice I can offer to l hold back the wererats from acting violently is to disguise your new friend there (points at Grithik) to make him look like a surfacer too.  I hope as outsiders, they will not assume you are working on our behalf and will do whatever they would normally do.  And if that happens to be violence, then there may not be any chance to reconciliate."

Rodolfo nods, "Understood. Peace, full exile or corpses"

He turns to Sark, "We will be heading to Rockblight once again. We need to check on Father Gurnik, he has been gone a while now. You can meet us at the gates there." 

Sark clarifies, "Father Gurnik will be at the Speaking Stones, here in Inner Blingdenstone.  Rockblight will still be off-limits until our elementals don't pose a threat for us in there."

Travelling to the Speaking Stones, you do indeed find Father Gurnik sitting cross-legged in front of one of these stones that dominate this cavern.  His hands are pressed against it and he seems to be deep in meditation.  Yet when you enter the area, he immediately straightens and stands before approaching.   "There is indeed a link with Callarduran Smoothhands now, although it is tenuous.  He is being rebuffed by a presence still occupying the Rockblight, but it seems neither are strong enough to break the stalemate.  Yet Callarduran Smoothhands is once again present in Blingdenstone, where he has been absent for so long."  

Father Gurnik points to the stone he was communing with, "I believe that if one of you communes with the Speaking Stone there, Callarduran will partially honor my promise to provide a blessing.  But I'm afraid his presence is not strong enough to bless each of you.  These blessings usually take the form of divine protection, or divine retribution.  Choose among yourselves, who will seek this blessing."

Rodolfo says, "This is great news Father! Is there anything else we can do to help?"

Father Gurnik responds, "Callarduran has a toe hold here in Blingdenstone, but can neither make his full presence felt, nor banish what is holding him back.  There is a being in the Rockblight that is countering him.  Either a creature you have not found yet, or this dust you spoke of.   I can't really help you further.  Maybe you can seek some elemental arcane advice?  The leader of the Stoneheart Enclave is away to Mantol-Derith, but Nomi Pathshutter is in charge in her stead."

Beegred: "Yeah, if you can tell us where to find Gnomey Pattystutter, we might need to talk to her for arcane advice.

"Maybe you can write a short note saying we are doing errands for you, so she doesn't ignore us as outsiders?"

Rodolfo turns to Skameros, "Hey, I think you need to be blessed on the way of the divine retribution. That means you'll be hitting stuff harder!"

He says, "Tell him what to do, Father."

Father Gurnik responds to Beegred, "N O M I, is most likely at the Stoneheart Quarry.  That's outiside of Blingdenstone.  If you would like an audience, I can ask her to return to Blingdenstone to answer your questions."

Then, turning to Skameros, Father Gurnik says, "Embrace that stone and ask Callarduran for his blessing."

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Father Gurnik responds to Beegred, "N O M I, is most likely at the Stoneheart Quarry.  That's outiside of Blingdenstone.  If you would like an audience, I can ask her to return to Blingdenstone to answer your questions."

Beegred: "Don't beat yourself up for not knowing how to spell "Gnomey" the right way. If you keep doing your spelling lessons, you'll figure it out some day.

(Before Gurnik can reply to that:) "Instead of making her do a long trip, maybe you could ask her to send a message on how to deal with angry evil dust clouds that can animate statues and take over elementals. Either how to kill it or trap it or make it go away. And it has to be something we can do, and not some useless advice like "train until you can cast Banishment"."

To Skameros: "Yeah, instead of me getting the Cauldron blessings, maybe you'd like one this time."

Father Gurnik shrugs and says, "Nomi has expressed her theories on a being she has name for that I forget that can corrupt our summoned elementals.  But even she admits they are theories.  If you don't want to talk to her, then I won't send a message?"

Quote from Kerrec >>

Father Gurnik shrugs and says, "Nomi has expressed her theories on a being she has name for that I forget that can corrupt our summoned elementals.  But even she admits they are theories.  If you don't want to talk to her, then I won't send a message?"

"If you want to expose her to danger by having her travel in the Underdark, then by all means have her come here instead of sending us a message. It would be easier on us to talk to her directly, instead of reading her manifesto."

Father Gurnik looks confused, "Many travel from Blingdenstone to the mines or the quarry nearly every day.  Every resource we need comes from outside.  Our food.  Metals. Gems.  Or anything we offer in trade at Mantol-Derith.  Do surfacers grow their food in their own homes, and thus not need to leave?"

Beegred shrugs. "Your salt miners had to hire protection to go to work. You hired us to check out places you didn't feel safe traveling to. If you say that other areas of this city are safer, you would know better than us.

"Yes, please send for her, if she thinks she knows what that evil dust cloud is."

Skameros looks around slightly confused as to what he is being asked to do but approaches Father Gurnik and reaches out towards the gnome.....

Then envelops the stone in a big hug and looks at Father Gurnik for further instructions.

Father Gurnik sighs, "Ask?  Maybe explain to him why you should be blessed and not the others?"

Still hugging the rock, Skameros says "Collard Urine give me your blessing?"

Beegred: (quietly) "Psst... The god isn't Collard Greens. It is Curan Duran."