"Yes, if it is not too much of a bother." Maldorn says with a thankful tone. "I don't mean to abuse your hospitality but, would you be willing to also invite in the other two people who traveled with Ebokk for such a long time? They are outside trying to find some shelter as we speak. Perhaps my companion here, Aisle, can go fetch them while I answer any questions you may have... and vice versa?"

"It is a pity Ebokk left in such a hurry. If he was here, I feel like this conversation could have avoided some initial awkwardness. Is his mother alright? We had the pleasure of meeting her when we visit Ebokk in Waterdeep."

Maldorn is trying to be as nice as he can, possibly channeling some Erric in this moment.

Aseid shrugged, making no attempts to correct the old hunter, turned around and walked to the others. The gnomes completely ignored his questions but seemed friendly enough to invite strangers. Maybe asking about gargoyles is counted as bad manners around here, who knows. He did what he could.

"Ebokk is already left but his relatives invited us in," laconically informed warrior Jambiya and Erric waiting for them to decide if the invitation was worth it.

Jambiya looks up. "Oh! Oh, that's fortunate," she says as the rain streams down her face. "Erric! Erric, you can stop now, Ebook's family has agreed to give us shelter. That old hunter seems to have some charm in him after all," she smiles.

She will go with Aseid (and Erric) to the Lockforge home.

Erric stops casting, smiles, and follows the group to the house. 

@BB: In the timeline which ensued where they replied to Maldorn's first paragraph with a different answer than he expected, I figured your question would come later. They didn't ignore you; please ask it again.

"It is a pity Ebokk left in such a hurry," Maldorn says. "If he was here, I feel like this conversation could have avoided some initial awkwardness. Is his mother alright? We had the pleasure of meeting her when we visited Ebokk in Waterdeep."

The dwarf's creases lessen further, and he nods at Aseid. "Please. Any friends of Ebokk's." He steps back and invites the older human inside. His wife hurries into the small adjacent seating area and begins bustling about doing this and that with one thing or another, but Maldorn isn't sure what.

Adrik stands by the open door, clearly preparing to welcome in the other three when Aseid returns with the other two. "I'm not sure why Aunt Esmet sent that lady to fetch Ebokk. I didn't really hear. She got here just as the rain was starting, but I believe she was from somewhere in the city. Please feel free to sit. As soon as your friends return, I'll stoke the fire and warm you up."

Maldorn will offer to remove his wet cloak and muddy boots after making sure the Lockforges are OK with him leaving the soiled articles by the entrance. It just seems like the right thing to do. He'll take a sit as offered and continue his conversation while he waits for Aseid to return with the others.

"Well, I hope all is well with Ebokk and his mother. This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Ebokk had just mentioned he would pay a pleasant visit to his cousin tonight and perhaps lodge with you for the evening should you agree to it. We were expecting to meet him in the morning and continue our travels. In a strange twist of fate, he is the one possibly traveling now, while we are here seeking shelter." Maldorn reaches for his snake pipe, raises it, and asks: "Do you enjoy the tobacco leaf, my good sir? If so, I would very much like to offer you some of mine."

Aseid let the Jambiya and Erric enter first, stepping over the threshold after them with another "Please forgive our intrusion". He also left his soaking wet cloak near the door before entering the room. Without necessity the young man would not open his mouth, letting others talk. Only if the old hunter (or others) forgot to mention gargoyles would Aseid chime in reminding about that important detail and probably go as far as to ask his question "how common are the monster's attacks around this place".

Jambiya hurries inide, smiling and nodding at the dwarf holding the door open. "Oh, my thanks! It is cold and wet out there, and we've had a night of it." She looks aghast at the puddle of water and mud spreading in the entryway. "Well, we aren't being the best of guests, are we?" She begins disapparating the dirt and mud as best she can. "My name is Jambiya, and this is Erric, and we are terribly grateful to you."

She looks about the place, taking it in. "It's a lovely home you have."

After welcoming Aseid, Jambiya and Erric into his home, Adrik closes and locks the front door and crosses to the fireplace to revive the dying fire.

His wife, who he introduces as Finellen, marvels as Jambiya makes the mess disappear. "Oh, that's wonderful," she says quietly. "Thank you very much." She seems demure, but not nearly so introverted as Tassel.

Jambiya, as you look around, you realize the room is just as much a shop as a sitting room. Various tools and wares of the locksmithing trade are on display. There is a workbench along the back wall that is neat and orderly, but looks like a fine place to repair and build. There's a door on the left wall that probably leads to more personal rooms.

"No, thank you," Adrik replies to Maldorn. "We abstain from smoke and drink."

"But if the smoke will make you more comfortable," Fenellen adds quickly, "please feel free." She gives her husband a stern look and a curt nod to stave off any argument.

Adrik continues, "It was good and surprising to see my cousin. I hadn't seen him since before we were wed. It must be 15 or so years. We Lockforges keep up with each other, but we don't always see each other very often." He pauses, his eyes staring for a moment in memory. "Like I said, I didn't hear why Aunt Esmet needed Ebokk, but it did sound urgent. Hopefully it is nothing too serious."

"You're welcome to stay the night if you need lodging," Fenellen says.

Adrik looks at his wife, then back at the others. "Yes. We only have the one bed, but we can supply you blankets and the fire." A gust of wind pelts rain against the window, and the dwarf smiles. "And a roof to keep you dry."

In response to Aseid's tentative question about gargoyles, Fenellen catches her breath in her throat, and Adrik looks alarmed. "Gargoyles?! Tonight? In the Square?" He crosses to the window and looks out. "We occasionally have a monster sighting. It's not nearly what it used to be, I'm told. Since the chasm was closed up, I mean. We moved here after that. And we've been assured no undead can escape the graveyard." He continues to look out the window. "Gargoyles," he repeats in almost a whisper. He turns to look at the strangers. "Are you all right? Do you require healing?"

Jambiya will also goose the fire a little, but not too much, she doesn’t want to put their host out, but she *is* wet and cold.

She smiles warmly at Fenellen, as the woman makes sure they feel at ease. But as the wind rattles the house, she sits up suddenly. “Snap! Oh, I do hope he’s okay in the wet and the cold. I’m sure he’s found somewhere dry to settle, but… um.” She thinks hard, hoping that thinking hard makes her thoughts go further, and offers the pseudodragon images of warmth and dryness if he wants to join them.

That done, she returns to the conversation. “What can you tell us about the ruined temple?”

Maldorn abstains from smoking in order to not bother their hosts. After that, Maldorn goes through the conversation. "Yes, thank you for the offer. We will gladly accept your kind hospitality and stay for the night. Blankets and a stretch of dry ground by the fire are more than we could have asked. Thank you very much."

Letting the others fill the dwarves in regarding the monsters and perhaps the gnomes, Maldorn comes to a realization regarding Ebokk: "Whatever might have happened with his mother, it sounds like good Ebokk is likely already making his way back home. I am afraid that means we'll have to continue on without him and hope to catch up with him at a later time." He looks at their hosts: "But worry not, such is the life of adventurers. Ebokk has become quite the capable explorer. I am sure we'll see him again in no time."

Erric arrives, sodden, but slowly with a smile as he learns where he is. Then he is warm introductions, welcomes, and sincere pleasantries as he tries to get his things dry and out of the way. He is already looking to see if the place has even an unused storeroom as long as the floor is dry such that he could try the dome inside and give protection and shelter and warmth, if not furniture and other things.

But that was later. Getting to know more Lockforges was now. He’d eagerly listen to any answer about the ruined temple. If there was a chance afterward he would wax poetic about Ebokk, and offer to tell them the tale of how Ebokk died and exactly how he was brought back, reciting the full sea shanty if they seemed up for it. He didn’t even bother with magic and Enthralling Performance - these seemed like good folk and charming them was unnecessary. He’d also gaze admiringly at the locksmithing tools, always interested in learning more, even if from the lockpicking side. 

He did not want to overstay his welcome though, so he had a pretty attentive look on the body language and responsiveness of their new hosts. He’s worn out his welcome before and he did not want to do so here.

Jambiya, both dwarves look at you a little curiously following your exclamations about Snap, but neither asks any questions.

Adrik — and Fenellen to a much lesser degree — explains that Keeper's Square — along with much of the southeastern side of Neverwinter — was destroyed when the chasm opened. You all know of the event, of course, and that powerful magic fairly recently closed up the chasm. Since then, Dagult Neverember has been working tirelessly to rebuild and restore the city. His reasons are most likely political in nature, but the citizens are benefitting, and so the public has a fairly positive view of Neverember at the moment. Keeper's Square was rejuvenated as part of the rebuilding effort. The only building that hasn't been touched is the old temple. As the land belongs to the church of Kelemvor, it is up to the church to rebuild, not the city. And as far as the Lockforges know, the only attention the church has given the temple is when a pair of officials came through, inspected the temple and the newly-rebuilt buildings of the Square, and then were outraged. "They claimed that some of the temple's remains were used to help rebuild the other buildings," Adrik says, not looking happy. "It's improper, and I hope they're wrong," he continues. "We love our new home, and while we are loyal to Berronar Truesilver only, it would be unfortunate to blaspheme against any church in this way."

Changing the subject, Adrik asks about Ebokk and his involvement in becoming an explorer. "His father, my late Uncle Oskir, was a well-known treasure hunter. At least among the Lockforges. Their house in Waterdeep is full of his finds. But Ebokk was always a bookish kind of dwarf. He seemed more interested in leisure than work."

Erric waxes poetic about Ebokk, and tells them the tale of how Ebokk died and exactly how he was brought back. When they encourage it, he recites the full sea shanty for the dwarves. Tidbits are shared about their latest adventure within the vault as well.

Adrik is astounded, but pleased. "Good old Ebokk. I had no idea. It's funny how much someone can change. We dwarves are not known for changing. How does my aunt feel about him becoming more like his father?" The ensuing furtive glances and the hesitant half answers tell Adrik everything he needs to know, and he nods. "I can imagine. It is possible that is the cause for her summons."

When Erric shows interest in locksmithing, Adrik is very happy to explain the craft on a surface level. "It's something I've always been interested in," he says. "I have an uncle — another uncle — who is a locksmith, and he allowed me to apprentice with him."

"The rebuilding of Neverwinter has kept Adrik busy," Fenellen adds proudly.

When the subject of the gnomes comes around, both Adrik and Fenellen darken. "They keep to themselves, and we're glad to let them do it," Adrik says.

"There's something off about them," Fenellen says. "Well, Largo and this sons. Ellysnick is nice. Pour thing. She hardly ever gets out, even when they spend all night in the tavern."

Jambiya’s head comes up at the end there. “Ellysnick? Who is that?”

The Lockforges are being so nice and the conversation seems to be flowing both ways. Therefore, Maldorn sees no reason to not mention the lightning-catching rod they witnessed, and how one of the not-nice gnomes put it up there. He is hoping the dwarves may know something about it, even if they don't seem to pay too much attention to the Fiddlecrackers.

"The monsters were attacking that gnome. Unless he and his family are after something nastier than gargoyles, seems like he was doing something good." Aseid, who also allowed himself to sit by the fire, caught a few bits of information that prompted him to ask his own questions. "Did the church of Kelemvor formally claim the ruins and resumed funerals? How do they look at trespassers on the temple's territory? Can people enter the perimeter freely?" That part "were here only once" was reassuring, but where is "once" soon could be "twice", and he strongly suspected kelemvorites would not be thrilled about his mission, as righteous as it was.

"He was putting some metal thing up on the top of the ruin, right Jambiya?" Erric says. "And then lightning struck it. Any idea why that would happen?"

He has less caution than Maldorn!

Jambiya nods along. She reflects that maybe she’s just not a good adventurer. She likes puzzles, sure, and finding treasure and magical artifacts is exciting, but even with Dirk’s buried treasure story about the ruined temple, and the curiousness of the gnomes and their lightning catcher, she finds herself most interested in the fate of a tavern girl or the sister of those gnomes, a complete stranger… people in need… and little dragons, too, she amends. People, her friends… she looks around at them and realizes her name has been said.

”What? Um, yes, I got a good look at those poles on the top of the wall, well it was raining pretty hard, but I was right up there.”

“Ellysnick? Who is that?”

"Ellysnick is the sister of Largo's deceased wife," Fenellen says bluntly. "From what we've heard, she came to care for Largo and her nephews because she doesn't have a family of her own. She's the only one who doesn't suffer the gnomes' charms," she finishes.

The party works together to describe the temple fight, the gargoyles, the gnome, and the lightning catcher. Adrik is wary, surprised and curious all rolled into one. "I don't know why anyone would be putting some kind of rod on top of the temple. I can't imagine what it would be for, why one of Largo's sons would be messing with it, or why gargoyles would be in the Square at all."

"Did the church of Kelemvor formally claim the ruins and resumed funerals?" Aseid asks. "How do they look at trespassers on the temple's territory? Can people enter the perimeter freely?"

Adrik shrugs. "Well, they were here, so I suppose that means they still claim it. No activity has taken place that we've noticed. But the ruckus that they raised when they thought some of the temple ruin was used to rebuild some of the remaining buildings tells me they probably wouldn't look too kindly on anyone going in the temple's remains."

"Tell that to the climbing gnomes..." Maldorn snarks , adding little to the conversation this time around.