Kazri tries not to lose sight of Chill.

Krom follows Chill and the others into the room where the gnomes are busy with their work. Since the gnomes seem to have not noticed the group Krom says in Common "Hello there", the dwarf waits for a few seconds to see if the gnomes notice him and then says again, "We hail from Axeholm and Phandalin. We are a group of adventurers that took upon ourselves the task of eliminating the Dragon that is plaguing this region. We heard that you may have some items that may help us in our endevour, would you mind to introduce you to your clan leader?" As Krom speaks he take a closer look at each mechanism used by the gnomes.

At the sound of Krom's voice all of the gnomes suddenly stop and look fearful.  They all cower away except the female that was useing a poker to stoke the fire of a hot iron stove.

"Oi! Hey, who are you?  What do you want!"

She says waving the hot poker in front of her as the others scramble behind her.

"Dragon eh!  We have bigger problems than a dragon!  You need to speak to Fibblestib or Dabbledob in the workshop.   They know what’s going."

"Sorry for the interruption lass", says Krom to the female gnome, "A problem bigger than a Dragon you say? We do not know our way around here, could you please show us where is this workshop?"

"And if we might be as bold as to ask, who are these... Fibblestible and Dabblelydo supposed to be?" Rhogar asked, sounding genuinely confused. "Or better yet, might one or two of you guide us to their workshop? Perhaps EVEN provide something of an introduction, so that there are not nearly as caught off guard by our presence." He adds, before smiling almost hopeful at the gnomes.

Chip would follow behind the group, not paying much attention as he focuses on getting his lute back into tune. "I might have to stop hitting things with this lute ya made me Krom... or maybe hit things with it more and play the other lute more often" The dragonborn would say with a smile as he finishes tightening his strings. Looking up and seeing the worried group of gnomes that don't seem very happy to see the group, he would clear his throat and give a quick bow as his cloak billowed behind him. "We appologize for interrupting your work, My name is Chip." He would say with a wide smile towards the female gnome. "And what is your name? Do you think you could take us to the workshop? I would hate to startle them the way that your beauty has startled me." he would add with a wink.

Persuasion! 16

"I'm Joybell  and no way, we aren't leaving this room.  Everything is safe here and we aren't leaving.  Fibblestib or Dabbledob know what is going on.  They are trying to save the king.  They are on the other side, second room in."

Try as you might you can get nothing more out of them and they flat out refuse to leave the kitchen.

Kazri will just observer and follow the group.

"I suppose we head to the other side then?  Seems we came in the wrong way.  I say we cross over and climb the other side and find these Fibbles and Dabbles then." Chill remarks.  He'll head that way if not opposed, backtracking the way they have come.

Kazri raises her shield off the ground and follows Chill.

"So we should, and so we shall. Here's hoping those two are as welcome to visitors as our friends here." Rhogar chuckled, though some tension clealry lies behind it. He would otherwise follow Chill and Ghorar, but not before bidding the gnomes a final goodbye in warm wave.

Moving to the opposite side of the cave system the party finds the water to be only a few feet deep and easily cross it.  Even Krom is able to keep his head above water. On the other side Chill's natural climbing ability allows him to easily navigate up the 30 foot slope, but the others don't find it quite as easy.

DC 13 Athletics check to climb the hill.

"Saving the king? From what or from whom I wonder" says Krom after bidding farewell to the gnomes. "I hope that Fibblestib or Dabbledob will be able to provide us with some answers on what is going on here."

"The water is very cold", says the dwarf as the party moves to the other side of the cave system.

Krom murmurs a chant of Guidance as he tries to climb the hill.

Athletics 9 + Guidance 3

"Dwarves were not made for climbing hills..." says Krom as he is unable to proceed.

"Here Master Krom. Please allow me to give you some assistance." Kazri helps Krom with the climb.

Athletics: 23

Chip would play a quick tune on his lute "Climb! Climb up the hill ya hard and heavy dwarf!" He would chant as he grants bardic inspiration to his friend before attempting to help push him up the hill.

Chip athletics! 19

With the help of Chip and Kazri, Krom attempts one more time to climb the hill:

Athletics 6 plus 1d6 of Inspiration 1

A very embarrassed Krom pulls out from his pack a rope and throw it to Kazri and Chip saying "Try to pull a bit while I attempt to climb for the last time...."

After realizing that helping to push the dwarf up the hill isn't working, he would let out a small laugh. "Why don't ya just climb on to my back... Otherwise I suppose we can tie a rope to ya and drag you up once we are at the top." Chip would offer to Krom.

"We have defeated a banshee and a lot of monsters together, I will not let an hill to have the better of me Chip!" says a very frustrated Krom.

 Athletics: 19.

After Krom's spectacular example Rhogar wisely whispers a request for guidance from Vixix, before begining his own ascent. An unnecessary  act, as things turn out, as he scaled the hill as swiftly as he would the rigging of a ship. Once at the top, he stood proudly, and shout out a "Yata!"

Turning back on Krom, or as much as he can from the top, he waves him on encouragingly.

Rekuberk cracks his neck before he moves to the cliff, using his annoyance with the gnomes to fuel his climb as he mov s to make his way up.

Athletics: 14