Rodolfo says also quietly, "It's not Duran Duran, it's Callarduran Smoothhands"

As Skameros hugs the Singing Stone and beseeches Collard Urine to bless him, a small fissure opens in the stone above Skameros and a stream of hot water trickles out onto Skameros's head.  The liquid is hot and runs down the bugbear's fur, soaking him from head to toe.  Only when the hot liquid begins to dribble out of Skameros's ankle fur onto the cavern floor below does the stream stop.

Father Gurnik stands mouth agape, "I've never seen such a blessing.  What did you ask?"

(Skameros:  Edit your sheet.  Your mundane weapon attacks now have +1 to hit, +1 to damage and they do magical damage.  But note, this does not make your weapons magical... they can still suffer damage)

After receiving Callarduran's blessing and eventually receiving payment from Sark, your party is led to a different set of massive metal doors sealing off Inner Blingdenstone from the northern end of old Blingdenstone.  Senni is waiting for you, with Dorbo off to the side looking visibly upset.  Senni repeats her wishes and your objectives, then looks to Grithik saying, "If you are able to disguise yourself to look like a surfacer, your party may be able to make contact without violence."

"My talents don't really include any way to disguise myself as such..." Grithik thinks for a moment before continuing. "...I can make myself invisible for a short time, though I would think if it were discovered would only engender further distrust. I would also be unable to assist in the talks without revealing the deception. Seems like it should be a decision for the group."

Rodolfo says, "I mean I can try something, but it will just look weird. We'll see. Do you mind?"

He will cast Prestidigitation and try to use the effect of "You make a color, a small mark, or a symbol appear on an object or a surface for 1 hour." to color Grithik similar to himself.

Quote from Winenose >>

Rodolfo will cast Prestidigitation and try to use the effect of "You make a color, a small mark, or a symbol appear on an object or a surface for 1 hour." to color Grithik similar to himself.

Beegred: "Good thinking, Rodolfo. Although, I don't think the Grithnik's disguise needed to have the "odd odor"."

(OOC: I know that wasn't part of Rodolfo's spell. And Beegred is oblivious to the fact that hasn't been bathing all that frequently, either.
Or that a urine-soaked Skameros is nearby. But I presume it was sanctified urine.)

Skameros stares at Grithik and squints a bit - its possible he might be trying to think.....but you've never seen him put this much effort in to it.

Rodolfo manages to alter the skin color of Grithik's face and neck to almost match his own.  The effect looks bizarre up close and wouldn't hold up to scrutiny.  However, it should deceive from a distance.

The guards get to work removing a large cross-bar locking the doors closed, and a smaller door is opened allowing everyone to squeeze through.  On the other side of the door, a small chamber is well lit with a couple different kinds of fungi, carefully cultivated to illuminate all of the chamber.  This chamber provides a stark contrast with the fastidiousness of the deep gnomes on the other side of the door.  Where the deep gnomes are neat and tidy, whoever lives on this side of the door are sloppy and lazy.  Among the natural cave rubble strewn haphazardly about are various bits of garbage.  The cavern here faintly stinks of over-ripe mushrooms and other forms of decay.

Rodolfo says quietly, "This is different. Skameros, Beegred, would you take point on this one? We'll hang back with Grithik."

As Beegred and Skameros take the lead and begin traversing the cavern towards a narrowing corridor approximately 15 feet wide, two disheveled and grimy deep gnomes step out from cover and stand barring the way forward.   You find yourselves approximately 20 feet from them and you can see one is barely dressed with any clothing and doesn't carry anything worth noting, not even weapons.

The other deep gnome wears thick looking armor.  You all see a mace slung to his belt and he casually twirls an empty leather sling in the air.  There is a necklace around his neck of what appears to be a mushroom.  The two deep gnomes point to the ground between them and your party, shake their head "no" and cross their arms, waiting to see what you decide to do.

Grithik has pulled his hood up as the group approaches the bedraggled looking gnomes in an attempt to conceal any imperfections from Rodolofo's spell. His eyes dart about trying to take in as much about the interaction as possible, while trying to maintain calm as his excitement builds.

Rodolfo is letting his eyes wonder around the whole area trying to determine where the army is that is going to stop Skameros from eating these two. Or if there is no army then whether there are traps or anything of the sort that might hinder their advance.

(Rodolfo Perception check looking for hidden enemies, or visible traps: 21  -  NOTE, this is not the same as investigating which is a more detailed and time consuming activity)

Rodolfo can't help but wonder if all the litter, debris and stench is deliberate?

(OOC: Does Beegred's passive Perception or Investigation give him a clue about what is going on?)

Beegred notices the deep gnome with the mushroom necklace. "If you are carrying around food, you must be one of the cooks. You didn't have to come all this way to tell us that you won't be serving a second breakfast. We already knew that."

Skameros says "Where rats, take us to your king." And points past the gnomes and nods.

Quote from Quasimodal >>

(OOC: Does Beegred's passive Perception or Investigation give him a clue about what is going on?)

(Hmm, yes please keep reminding me about your character's abilities.  At the pace of these PBP games, it's hard to remember details like that)

Beegred scans the ground where the deep gnome pointed and immediately notices that it is 'clean'.  There is no garbage, no debris, no growth of fungus or mold or anything.

The gnomes don't answer to Beegred or Skameros.  They once again point to the ground between the groups, shake their head no, and cross their arms to wait and see what you do.

Rodolfo addresses them in gnomish, "Hello there. Our leader, " as he points to Skameros, "would like to speak to your leader. Do you understand me?"

The armored gnome doesn't speak, but nods his head at Rodolfo's question.  But once again he points a the ground between the two groups, shakes his head 'no' and crosses his arms.

Skameros scratches his head, looks at the gnome and then walks around the spot they keep pointing out.

Rodolfo nods, says (in common), "Lets see then.. Hold on Skameros, this will be loud" and casts Knock on it.