“Don’t worry about him, he’s got uses that are different than talking. And it sounds like you must be desperate. You carry that sword like a kid who’s figured out he put his big brother’s breeches on. I think you have been tasked with finding us, and don’t have a chance of making it back to your house alive without them.” 

Orubis insight 17 

The Drow looks at the sword he keeps readjusting around his hip, then looks up to answer, "Not my favorite method of solving problems.  But the underdark is more deadly than usual these days.  Demons don't really tend to chat or make deals.  So..." He trails off for a moment as he tries to shift the armor into a more comfortable position.  "Times are desperate indeed for house Myzzrim as Ilvara dearest is destroying our credibility and support among the noble houses with her current obsession.  I am only desperate to end the downward spiral.  Desperate enough to leave Menzoberranzan and come find them... I mean him."  He points at Beegred.  "I assure you, I was not sent by anyone for any task and I am quite alone at the moment.  Other Drow don't solve problems the same way I do, and having them along for this meeting would interfere with my methods."

(Insight:  The drow standing before you has the same arrogant set of beliefs regarding 'lesser' races, but he is honest in his purpose and promises.)

Rodolfo is listening for anyone or anything else approaching (perception: 7).

He shifts himself into a position about 30-40 away from the drow and keeping a keen eye for any sudden movements. 

(Rodolfo doesn't hear anyone else approaching).

Rodolfo, seeing that nothing else is happening, asks, "How did you find us?"

The drow taps his head, "Used the old noggin.  Most of the escaped slaves were surfacers.  Ilvara has been chasing them for some time and they never left the Underdark.  I figured they didn't know how to get out.  'So where would they go?' I asked myself.  Well, the Duergar are as likely to throw them right back into slavery, so the City of Blades would not be a good place to go.  The Kuo-Toa are insane.  Lizard folk would more than likely eat them than help them.  Of course, they would not understand the merit of Menzoberranzan, so not there either...  The only peoples that wouldn't enslave, kill or lead them astray would be the Svirfneblin of Blingdenstone.  So I gathered a crew to keep me alive and I've been staking out Blingdenstone for some time now.  I saw a caravan of Svirfneblin head in, and I thought I saw a dwarf in the mix, but apparently I was mistaken.  Either way, I saw your little party leave all by yourselves and I followed.  Lost you for a bit, but here you are now.

Now, since this is question and answer period, you can scratch one of my itches too?  You're not a Svirfneblin," the Drow is pointedly speaking to Rodolfo, "and not one of the escaped slaves.  Yet you're here with one of them, and haven't returned to your surface world.  Why are YOU here in the underdark?  What could possibly motivate you to come down here or stay down here in these demon infested times?"

A low rumble emanates from within Skameros chest which sounds like a growl at the sight of the Drow.

Beegred: "I don't get what you want, Mr. Unimportant. Your offer is, be my slaves, or I'll keep boring you by talking... Not much of an offer. That would be like me saying, let me sell you to the Kuo-Toa as a school teacher or else die. You wouldn't take either of those choices.

"For someone who says he doesn't want to fight, you seem to be asking us to beat the bejeebers out of you. Maybe you should make an actual deal to avoid that."

Rodolfo casts Levitate on the drow. If it works he'll raise the drow 5 feet off the ground and says, "Lets tie him up, gag him and put a bag over his head. Lets take him and let the others decide what to do with him."

(Per initiative rolled HERE, the Drow gets to act before Rodolfo, who is the one to initiate combat by casting Levitate.  Beegred would go before the Drow, but his post sounds a lot like an intimidation attempt, so I'm ruling it is the Drow's turn to act as Rodolfo is in the process of casting his spell.)

At Beegred's aggression and Rodolfo's casting, the Drow's eyes go big as saucers and he quickly steps into the darkness behind him, saying, "I'm just a messenger!" as he can be heard withdrawing.

(Anyone attempting to pursue through the darkness will roll History first.  Beegred can roll with advantage due to his Favored Terrain.  I am not following initiative order anymore.  This is not combat... yet.  I will describe what happens after everyone declares what they will do next.  Grithik chooses not to pursue and will only follow the rest if he would otherwise be left alone.)

Skameros looks at Beegred and then looks at the darkness and then back to Beegred

[History: 6]

History w/adv: 17

Orubis history 17 

Rodolfo is definitely disappointed things didn't go his way.

History check: 10

Throwing caution to the wind, Beegred marches into the magical darkness, trying to use his other senses (other than eyes) to figure out what is in around him.

(If a stealth roll is required: 21 )

Beegred carefully enters the magical darkness, cautious to sense any dangers using senses other than sight.  Skameros follows behind Beegred and Rodolfo behind Skameros.

It is evident to Beegred that the Drow used the darkness to escape, as he is no longer nearby.  Moving forward cautiously, Beegred finds the lip of a cliff face and stops.  Feeling around, he finds a rope ladder that is tied off here at the top.

Beegred relays that to the others, calling out from the magical darkness. "I think the blowhard ran away. He put this darkness here, hoping we would fall off the cliff chasing him."

Rodolfo curses to himself, "Oh I would so have just run off the cliff here..."

"I believe we are better off waiting a bit until this shit dissipates. No point running into another trap. I'll back off out of it." (and he does so)

“It’ll take some preparation, but I’ll get something ready to deal with that stain’s darkness if he ever decides to try that again.” Orubis mumbles almost to himself. 

After waiting for a few moments more, the darkness dissipates by itself, revealing the cliff you had climbed up on the way to search for Entremoch's Boon.  Your party is able to climb down and move onwards without incident.  

Beegred is able to return to Blingdenstone without issue and no creature or Drow impede your progress.  After a brief exchange at the gates, you are escorted into Blingdenstone proper.