I return back to the group.  I feel, so much better thank you.

"We found the map in an old book in a run down room of an abandoned mine. We're ... Compelled to go there and seek some guidance."

Fjolnir tries to eye all the maps on the walls and commit them to memory- its early afterall, and the ale hasn't started to flow yet. "We were referred to you by the Rockseekers of Phandalin- and weren't sure of yer offices, ah one of... yer competitors sent us here. Prickly fella. Is that why the ruse?"  He continues to nonchalantly pour over the maps looking for landmasses that look like their map, or anything comparable.

"I'm not an avid tea drinker, so I'm not sure what to compare it to. It's more flavorful than ale, but missing that certain... Ale essence?" Absinthe signals for another cup and upon receiving one begins to slurp it loud and slowly as if trying to disect its ingredients. 

As you're all taking turns speaking, The Cartophile listens attentively to each of you. Several more creatures enter the room while this is happening and listen as well; a lightish red tiefling with jewelry and baubles attached to their horns, a monodrone modron, and an eladrin with many floating trinkets circling her and a cat familiar with glowing red eyes.

Once you've all spoken, Anaxi replies to you individually. "You're compelled to go? Excellent." He seems genuinely excited that you already want to go. "An abandoned mine? Abandoned for how long? This is most interesting, as I've only researched Daoine Gloine recently, and there's only one person I know of that has been to Daoine Gloine, but he never returned. This suggests another visitor, or that he DID in fact return but never revealed as such, or... magic for all I know."

"The Rockseekers? Fine gentlemen, the lot. Gundren is an explorer after my own heart. Now that you mention him, and you've mentioned 'an abandoned mine', Are those two related?" He gives a knowing smile. "You know he spoke with me before he set off on his quest to find the Lost Mine of Phandelver. If you've worked with him then we're going to get along fantastically. The ruse? Ha ha, no that was just for fun. Well, a little bit caution but mostly fun. I only really have one competitor and he's next to worthless. Interested in the maps? That one covers the entire continent. Here, let me show you where we are and where you'd have to go to get to Daoine Gloine." He points to Neverwinter on the map of Faerun, then traces his finger along the Sea of Swords, down past Chult and taps the Barrier Peaks surrounding Halruaa. "I'll go over that more in a minute."

Spoiler only for post size purposes, feel free to peek at the map.

"It's never a bad time to start drinking tea. I would be pleased to have introduced you to this fine beverage. Ale definitely has a certain something that tea does not, and vice versa."

"Ah, there it is, the direct approach. Dirk, there is no 'sucking' necessary. Bowel Shift? Interesting, but no I haven't heard of you. May your exploits allow your name to proceed you in the future, hopefully more positive than negative. Although, perhaps change the name before it sticks? Might give people a... bad impression. Anyway, back to the point. You've brought me this glorious hand drawing of Daoine Gloine, which is payment enough for me to tell you what I know about it. Then, I'll propose another deal for you, involving an expedition.

"A little about me first. I started my fortune as a merchant. I've always found particular interest in maps and started collecting them. I eventually became an adventurer and started charting my own maps and verifying the validity of maps I came into possession of. I have maps from all over the world, pocket dimensions, other planes, all sorts of things. If you ever need to know where something is, come find me, I'll tell you, I most likely have a map of it. I stopped adventuring after an incident where I was thrust into the Astral plane. Someone accidentally placed a portable hole inside a bag of holding. Word to the wise, don't ever do that unless you want to wander the astral plane for years... I'm still not really over it." He shudders. "Anyway, now I pay people to make maps for me." He gestures to the others behind him that entered previously.

"Here's what I know. Centuries ago, a researcher and scientist named Kwalish had a laboratory in the Barrier Peaks. You may have heard of the Apparatus of Kwalish? He found and made magical technology, and his lab most likely has more inventions. Something happened and he had to flee, in doing so, he found the city of Daoine Gloine. The city is ancient and rumored to be inhabited by people made of glass. Daoine Gloine directly translates to Glass People. I have mapped out his route to the base of the peaks, and a little way in toward his lab, but that's where the last expedition ended, for unknown reasons.

Here's where the deal comes in: I will let you use the maps I have to get you to the Barrier Peaks and as far in as the last expedition got towards Kwalish's lab. You get to keep any magical technology you find there, and if you're going to continue to Daoine Gloine, my information, anything you find, and my guides will help you get there. All I ask in return is that any further journals, notes, maps, and other documents from Kwalish’s earlier expedition be returned to me when you come back. I insist that you bring at least one of my guides with you, that they may accurately map the area and document any tech you find there. Feel free to ask them any questions, they are under my employ and will help your expedition to the best of their ability. I am open to any questions you have as well. This is Garrett Levistusson, Tiefling Bard and Chronicler of maps and sketches, Gearbox the Modron, an accurate little helper, and Mary Greymalkin, an excellent Diviner.

The three potential guides stand before you.

Mary, Mary should definitely come with us.  Not to be taken too seriously, Dirk just Dirking.

Fjolnir stares still for a moment. "Surely, always had a fondness for maps, just never made commerce by it." while thinking about the route Anaxi traced, "Thats further than a've ever travelled, that's a certainty." He scratches his beard a it..."Greymalkin- eh, now thats funny, few towns over where i'm from there was an old elf diviner; named the street that i thin- er, anyway sorry, i digress-" while still studying the maps. He looks to Dirk and Dustfinger while continuing, "I might be able to actually help us get there, i've known a few blue-water carracks and sloops that make long routes. Old Salty Alice skippered the Mabel Grey for many years- if the Mabel Grey  is still more wood than barnacle maybe we get passage for paintjobs and sewing only. eh, just possibly anyhoo." 

Dustfinger idly scratches under his chin and unintentionally stares at Mary. 

Mary replies, "Greymalkin is an old name, it's quite possible there are streets named after it. My lineage itself is quite legendary, my grandmother was the vampire Drelzna — herself a descendant of Iggwilv and Baba Yaga. I was tutored in the magic arts by Thingizzard, a witch dwelling in the fens near White Plume Mountain. I am eager to accompany the expedition that I might search the Barrier Peaks for rare ingredients for my potions."

Anyone can roll a history check to see if they've heard of any of those names.

The Cartophile interjects, "Ahem, yes, but please make sure to ask everyone questions... Take Garret, for example, he's a fine cartographer."

"It would be ideal to understand everyone's particular talents. What sets you apart from each other and, really, from others in your particular lines of expertise. And, also, what are you?" Dusty examines Gearbox perhaps a little too closely.

Absinthe finishes his second cup of tea, then pulls out his skull mug and tops it off with the ale he keeps in his waterskin. 

"While I do find that tea flavorful, I prefer my own brew of ale. Hope you don't mind." 

Gearbox replies with a series of clicks and whirring gears.

The lightish red tiefling laughs. "He only speaks Modron. He understands common, but he's not allowed to speak it. He's quite a useful thingamabob. He's a compass, clock, lantern, and automated lockpick all in one. He's come in quite handy in mapping all kinds of terrain. He's also good with machines. If I come with you, I'll be bringing him, as he's my assistant. I'm Garrett Levistusson, by the way. I'm an accurate cartographer, sketch artist, and I'm not bad with a blade or an inspiring tale. I know a lot about the peaks, for instance, I’ve heard tell of one of Kwalish's greater inventions, a suit of armor as powerful as it is cursed. Whoever dons the suit channels powerful magic, but must fuel its capabilities with their own body’s vitality. You'll have to bring me along if you want to know more."

On a serious note.  Raise your hands if you would feel morally obligated to save a family, of whom you have no affiliation, from mortal danger out of some misguided sense of do-goodery?  posed to all three... four.

Gearbox immediately raises his hand.

Garrett raises his hand too, "As long as it doesn't instead put me in that same mortal danger."

Mary doesn't raise her hand. "I'm not answering that. It's too hypothetical, too many variables that I would know if I were in the situation but have no way of knowing while the question is posed."

"Was that to me too? Yes, of course, why not? As long as they aren't near a bag of holding or anything."

Mary, you find a bag of gold with someone's first and last name on it, you are approached by a wealthily dressed Man, who is a famed and recognizable to you as obscenely wealthy, who claims to be looking for it and can verify his identity.  What do you do?

Dustfinger looks away to suppress his chuckling at Dirk's questions. 

"Which one of you can help brew the best ale? Looking at you still (gearbox)" 

"I would return the bag to him. The gold inside of it is forfeit if he can't keep it in his possession, but the bag may have sentimental value. Only a fool would return that money."

Gearbox shrugs. No one answers the ale brewing question.

I vote Mary.  Least resistance to boundaries we tend to operate within.