Joetaro nods. "Yes, which group we encounter is the question. Do you think it would be wise going around town and asking for their headquarters?"

To the giant, Zeno says, “What about the Stone Guard? We’ve heard they’ve become more aggressive of late.  Do you know of any connections these groups would have into the guard?”

To the others he says, “We can head to the West Cleft, or maybe try to keep an eye out for guardsmen involved with the Grey Ghosts? That seems more likely to end with us in shackles, but I don’t know how we get into the West Cleft once we get there.”

Hgraam listens to each question and answers them together after a moment of thought.

As yet I cannot determine what caused Rihuud to sprout a second head, nor can I think how it could be related. Perhaps it is a curse of some kind, but this usually requires some interaction with the subject of the curse. Furthermore, this has only happened to Rihuud, and suddenly, so it may be an isolated occurrence. The general madness among the duergar has grown gradually and insidiously, so when it began is difficult to say. I have noticed it only in the last month or so, as you surface-dwellers measure time. The Stone Guard are affected the same as the rest of their kind.

If you intend to venture into the West Cleft, I would offer my advice. It is a squalid and chaotic place, and not even the duergar go there unless at great need and in very large numbers. The derro are insane, and always have been, harboring a hatred for all but themselves, but particularly for outsiders. They will not welcome you. But they are also so preoccupied with their mad plots and scheming that they may overlook your presence altogether. Do not attempt magical invisibility however, for the derro have wards against such, as defense against the duergar.

"We have a person with connection Gray Ghosts we can look into. Its whats his face high priest want us to find or follow," Kastix comments, "The empty scabbard themselves seem be more aggressive by nature and less likely to overlook us,"

"I agree, we should try and find this derro Droki in the West Clef that Gartokkar told us of and follow him and see what we can find out." Kaylyn says.

Sekkar felt completely lost by now, and something as clear as a name, that could be applied to one specific person sounded like a straw he could cling at. "We could just ask. Wandering aimlessly did not exactly worked. Do not think we can truly follow around a sneaky derro either. I am for getting to the Est Clef and straight ask if he is there." What would they do if they find that derro he did not know, but was ready to cross that bridge when he gets there.

The more travel-savvy in the group have a pretty good idea of the city layout now, and are aware that the West Cleft is actually very close to Cairngorm Cavern, where they are now.

Map:

The West Cleft lays beyond the main west gates of the city, which stand at the end of Laduguer’s Furrow, a rift nearly two hundred feet deep and five hundred feet wide that runs through the center of the city, splitting in two. The Furrow has a packed-gravel floor, and each end of the rift has a steeply sloping floor, carved with a set of stairs and a wide ramp for both pedestrians and wagons, which can be used to descend from the city level down to the gates. Vents along the walls release potent gases that sappers can be seen tapping for industrial applications of some kind. The chasm also appears to be Gracklstugh’s main residential zone, with homes built on the top part of its north and south sides. The openings that Laduguer’s Furrow creates in the walls of Gracklstugh’s cavern are blocked by massive structures of bars and scaffolding, each set with several gates, and guarded by two soliders (two visible soliders at any rate).

Gracklstugh's noise, hot and poisoned (at least for any sane creature) air, that was too dry despite the lake near by, it's citizens, suspicious of strangers, and it's messed up politic - all of these did not sit well with Sekkar. Add on top of this slavers on the group's heels, and he could safely say he hated the place. Cold dark lake with nothing more dangerous than a few underwater monsters was much more simple and friendly, he wished they were back in the tunnels already.

Judging by the uneasy silence of others, he was not alone in his feelings. By the heavy gates - an unpleasant reminder of their trapped situation - Sekkar spoke. "Zeno and Rhayna, if you see your derro - give a sign, but it's like looking for a fry in the reeds. How about we wander in the first tavern we see and just ask?"

Rhayna snaps out of her thoughts. "Ohh, yes of course. I will see if I can spot the derro that I saw the other day." (Perception: 25)

(LOL. Sorry, it is not her day...)

Joetaro nods at Sekkar. "Yes, let's start at the first tavern." 

(Don’t we have to leave the city, i.e. go through the gates to get into West Cleft? Or are you saying go back to the nearest tavern on the city? I was kind of waiting for a face to try to talk to the guards, but I can I guess.)

(We can consider Zeno saying it all and walk straight to the guards first)

(I hope Rhayna is not the designated face of this party... :-)

Kaylyn walks along with the others but at the moment keeping silent.  She keeps an eye out for trouble, or a derro that matches the description given of Droki.

Walking from Cairngorm Cavern toward the west gates, the only people visible other than the group themselves are unwelcoming duergar, bringing home again how unusual it is for any outsiders to be permitted within the city proper. The tolerance of the duergar doesn't seem to extend to all areas however, as the group discover when they pass a tavern on the way. Two particularly thick-set duergar stand at the door and flatly refuse to allow any of the group to enter, badges or no.

Moving on to the gates, Zeno approaches the guards and asks about their quarry. The guards are more cordial to the group, apparently having been apprised of their 'deputisation' by both the Stone Guard and the Keepers of the Flame. They also know of Droki and say that he is spotted from time to time in the area, but they have been unsuccessful in apprehending him as he is unnaturally fast.

The guards suggest that the group may have more luck locating him if they enter the West Cleft and find somewhere to watch for him. Alternatively they point out two abandoned watch-towers above (not standing towers but built into the cliffside) that overlook both sides of the gate, and which used to be used to watch the derro back in the days before they were liberated from slavery. The towers would give a wider vantage to spot Droki, but might be too far away to effectively pursue him if he is spotted.

Rhayna still trying to figure out the best way to carry the wondrous, but unwieldy, object that she was left in charge. “I would suggest that we go in and look around.” She then asks Stool to use his spores so they can communicate easily.

"Agreed," nodded Sekkar, "those towers are good for spotting and for shooting, but if we need that derro alive - not much of a help. Let's stay on the ground".

"I can be in the tower, watching and send message as needed," Kastix suggests, "I will stand out more in the open then you beside obvious,"

"Do you know how that derro looks like? Rhayna and Zeno saw him, but last time we were searching he was nowhere to be found, they could not even show us the slippery bastard."