Seeing the gnomes mourning one of their own, lost, Pax wanders over to Rhayna. “Say, you’re a healer, better than me by a league. I don’t suppose you could….” She motions towards the gnomes, then makes a hand waving motion. “You know. Help?”

Kastix will take a moment to try and set the pile of drow corpses on fire with a few firebolts. 

With it clear they can't help the gnome, Pax simply waits, standing back a ways, while the gnomes say their goodbyes. The quiet moment after the violence is ideal for self reflection and Pax thinks about how quickly life can be end....which naturally leads to thoughts about her own life, her decisions and the path she's taken...and where that path has led. She looks around at her companions thinking of each of them as well. 

She spends a few moments using magic to clean the blood splatters and dirt from her armor, blade, and clothing, checking straps and buckles. Finally, all that done, she moves away from the pile of burning drow bodies, away from the smoke, and sits down and sits by herself for a while. She pulls out a strip of jerky and chews on it while she waits, still thoughtful.

The gnomes funerary ceremonies are sombre but short, and once completed they return to business as if nothing happened, and as though the wrapped lump on the top of the rear wagon is just another package bound for the trading-post. Kastix is quite thorough with his cremation, and perhaps a little too enthusiastic, and there is little trace of anything resembling the drow once he is finished, aside from the slightly heat-warped armour.

The convoy continues on its way and the mage (whose name is Mipry Atamantlepiece) returns to the conversation with Pax just where they left off. In particular, she is curious about everything to do with the surface world, and asks all sorts of questions, particularly about the sky, such as 'how high can birds fly' and 'what is the function of a cloud' and 'what do you do with stars'. Eventually Mipry asks Pax: What will you do once you return to the surface world? Will you ever return here?

(Did we get the short rest?)

Pax glances around the caves thoughtfully at the gnomes question, "It is hard to say. I must go where I am needed most. My patron it seems is equally pleased with me doing my work wherever, and indeed has gifted me all I need to do my work down here.  There is much trouble beneath the feet of those who live above....and...if someone does not deal with it, it could take hold and become a terrible threat to all. I don't think I could stand idly by and let such evil fester. Though, who is to say what will be. Should I return to the surface and be presented with great need there, I would be forced to choose." 

Kaylyn somberly stands by and gives her respects for the gnome guard who fell during the fight.  The strange matter-of-factness of the deep gnomes strikes her as odd yet she does not know their culture.  She spends the rest of the time trying to converse with them and trying to learn about their culture and beliefs.

"Onto the nearest ship of wherever we get out," Kastix states, "I'm had enough of this Underdark for a lifetime,"

Pax looks over to Kastix who was clearly listening to their conversation and offered his own answer. She smiles at him, "You know, it's not the places you go, it's the people you go with that make the difference. You'd be missed if you did simply go your own way once we reached the surface, friend." 

Sekkar fully approved the gnomes funeral traditions (there is no room for sentiments in the tunnels), added a few words about "his death was not in vain" and "his enemies payed for it", and returned to his snacks (it's the funeral after all). The joy of reunion with his sword kept the lizardman in a high mood to the end of the day.

When everyone was ready to move, he again took his place ahead of the procession - to look, listen and sniff.

(In case there was no short rest - healing spirit: 1 5 5 6 )

Rhayna tries to help the gnomes with their funerary ceremony, but she is clearly not much of a use for she doesn't know of the deep gnomes rituals. Her mind was also not exactly there, for she was going over her head of the things she could have done differently during the battle with drow, and specially with the Spider Priestess.

When the convoy continue with its journey, Rhayna takes her spot in the back. One can hear, from time to time, the Cleric blowing her nose on her handkerchief. She tries to keep it quiet, but sometime she just can't help it.

Yes, short rest is gotten.

Kastix
Mipry replies to Kastix: Well, I'm sure if I was stuck on the surface world I'd be wanting to find my way back here. We svirfneblin have a stake at the trading post at Mantol-Derith, along with the duergar, the drow and the overworlders, and have done so for a long time - long before we returned to Bligdenstone. It's not near the surface exactly, but nearer than most places. I don’t be having much need to go to the surface world myself, though I'd like to see it someday... but you’ll not have any difficulty buying passage with the overworlders.

Pax
To Pax, Mipry replies: Ah, well you'll be doing what's best I'm sure. It's fearful news, what you've been telling us, about these demon lords roaming around and all, and no-one knows why. But I think if it was me that was looking for the why of it, I'd probably try looking for Gravenhollow. That's the place to be finding answers. I don't know where it is, Yantha Coaxrock has been there. Maybe once we get to Mantol-Derith you can ask her. She’s the leader of the Stoneheart Enclave. Oh, won't she be so surprised to hear that Ogremoch’s Bane is vanquished and the Goldwhisker Clan has been accepted as citizens, and about the battle of House Center against the Pudding King and all his oozes!

Sekkar
As different as the gnomes are from Sekkar, the surviving guard seems to recognise the lizardman as sharing the same pragmatism, as well as the bond that seems to exist between those of the martial persuasion. They take to speaking gravely about the threats in the tunnels and how best to deal with them, and Sekkar finds some of the gaps in his knowledge filled in quite nicely, especially relating to some of the more abberent denizens of the Underdark. When the topic of quaggoths come up, the guard briefly mentions Prince Derendil's short stay with them. He kept on saying he was searching for some special black gem. He was a vague on the details though, and wouldn’t accept any of the gems we offered him. Eventually went off to Mantol-Derith with Yantha Coaxrock. She's our resident specialist on spell gems, which are a high commodity with other races, since they don’t know the secret of making them. Maybe he's found what he's looking for - maybe he hasn't - but he might still be there.

Kaylyn
Kaylyn spends some time chatting with the merchants. Despite the elevated status that the group enjoys among the gnomes, Kaylyn finds they are still somewhat suspicious when asked questions about their lives, and cautious in their answers - no doubt a deeply-ingrained survival instinct. In fact, they seem more likely to turn Kaylyn's questions back around, asking her about life on the surface world. However Kaylyn does manage to glean a few interesting facts, particularly regarding their lack of a system of tracking time. The concept of 'days' seems alien to them, and when asked how long it will take to reach Mantol-Derith, they simply frame it in terms of how many times and in what locations they plan to sleep. The same goes for the tracking of years - when asked about their time in Bligdenstone, the gnomes simply say the city has been there for 'a long time' and that the gnomes reclaimed it 'a while ago now'.

Rhayna
Rhayna finds herself a bit short on conversation during the next part of the journey. The gnomes seem to shun her somewhat, possibly owing to the fact that she is now wearing the armor of a drow priestess, which seems to disturb them more than a little.

Pax nods to Mipry, "Thanks so much for the advice. We'll certainly track down this Coaxrock person when the time comes." 

After a while Pax drops back, letting the others pass by, until Rhayna catches up. She then takes up stride beside her. She doesn't say anything, just walks quietly next to her. 

(Then no spirit but hit dice: 7 5 5 13 14)

"Ah, wish the Prince was here, he would enjoy the revenge for all his peace talks. Almost hope he did not find his gem just yet and we can still recognize him." Back in the cage Sekkar never even though seriously about Derendil's claims of being charmed elven prince - who cared, really? - but here, now, after all they have seen... Sekkar was ready to believe anything.

Song of Rest, 5 HP

"I should have enough to book passage anywhere," Kastix states as he walks. 

During their rest Kaylyn plays a soft tune, somber to fit the mood of the gnomes and their fallen comrade.

((Song of Rest, an additional 1d6 HP for anyone who used a hit die to regain HP))

She finds the stories and information the gnomes do share to be interesting.  She freely answers any questions they may pose about the overworld.

She also senses the unease the gnomes have over Rhayna wearing the drow armor as he shares the same concern.  She brings it up to Rhayna at some point.  "I have no love for the drow and while I see the value in the armor you have taken from Ilvara at the same time the central Lolth icon in its distinct style draws too much attention to it.  I fear if we come across other drow, those who were not hunting us, but others who live a trade in the underdark will recognize it. It may draw attention to us, unneeded attention.  Is it possible to remove the icon?  Even if we have to pry it off I can use my magic to mend the damage."  

As Pax drops back and wait for Rhayna. “I am ok, must be allergies season in the Underdark.” She tries to quietly blow her nose, and uses her sleeve to whipe away some tears.

Later on, as they get closer to their destination, Kaylyn speaks with Rhayna regarding her armor. “I am really sorry for what happened before Kaylyn. I will try not to hurt the party again. It’s just when I saw Ilvara, I threw logic out of the window, and just wanted to kill the bi... Her, with my own hands...” Then she blows her nose again. On their next break, Rhayna changes back to the armor she purchased at Gracklstugh. She puts away the drow armor into her haversack.

"I hold no ill will towards you Rhayna.  We suffered much under her, and we have been thrown into the underdark and have had to face the horrors down here.  We have changed in ways that would not have happened if we had stayed on the surface."  She speaks gently with kindness and friendship.  "We have been through much together do not doubt my friendship and allegiance to you.  Kastix has made it clear he does not wish to return to the underdark if we get out.  He has been a good companion.  But I feel there is more to be done here and while I long to see the sun again I have a feeling we'll be back.  I know you have things you need to see through down here.  I will stand by you when the time comes."  

When she sees Rhayna remove the armor,

"Do what you feel is right. Perhaps if we cannot modify it ourselves we can find a smithy to do the work for us.  It really is just the icon that concerns me."

Pax shrugs to Rhayna's comment, not bothering to speak. But she does reach out and grab her hand with her metal clad fingers, and then just holds it as they walk for a while. 

Mipry replies to Pax: Oh, you'll like Yantha. She's very wise. And clever.

The mood remains somewhat subdued for the next day's journey, as far as time can be tracked in this sunless realm, although Rhayna seems to instinctively know the position and phase of the moon at all times. The caravan stops in a secure defensible location to rest and the group are just preparing to get some much-needed rest, when Rhayna feels a pressure in her mind and the words of a message begin to form. Mentally, she knows that Skriss, the troglodyte from the Society of Brilliance, is the sender. The message goes: Still in Menzoberranzan with Zeno, investigating new cult. Demon lords all arrived at same time, different places. Demogorgon appeared here, city damaged. Any new information? Rhayna then senses a pause, as though the spell is waiting for her to respond...