Kaylyn buys 9 days of rations to get an even 20.  She also examines the ring.  "This could be useful.  I could store spells that make you invisible or teleport a short distance (Misty Step) or even climb on walls (Spider Climb) and then one of you less magical types would have access to use those.  Rhayna could even store a couple healing spells in there for someone to use as need.  A useful item indeed." 

Go ahead and credit items or debit coin as needed for the shopping. The dark dwarves thank you for your patronage (despite the fact that they normally only sell in bulk, to marauding armies and the like). Diamonds are also in plentiful supply.

Rhayna: Yes, you expend one charge per spell level for the spell you are casting (so two for Augury), and the crystal replaces one material component even if that is a component that would normally be consumed. Divination spells only.

Pax takes the shield, Rhayna takes the necklace, Kastix has the staff for now at least, and Kaylyn has the spell ring until otherwise decided.

Zeno (in spoiler mainly for size. I'm sure Zeno will pass on the info):

 (Another busy night at work. Sorry for the brevity. Except the spoiler - that wasn't brief)

Pax sits comfortably in the Tavern as her new companions head in and wander out on their shopping. For each, she offers to escort them, for safety.  Once all the shopping is done, and the meetings have been done, and the group is back together, she gets them all to a private corner for a chat.  "So, last thing was the Captain gave you a job. Are we going to go report to him, or her....with the job done, or is it too dangerous?  Otherwise, we need to find a guide to Bligdenstone or Mantol-Derith...then, once we have a guide, we can head to the giants on the way out of town.....do I have that all right? And we have much more than a day, since the destruction of the city is no longer imminent.  The lizard having changed its mind at the end...right?  So, we aren't in as big a rush as all that." 

(Goit 200g of diuamond so far, need another 100g)

"We were going to give the list of people to the guard captain right?" Kastix questions, "Probably get some rest before we move on. So from the big red guy, we got items. The necklace can only be used by her," Kastix gesture to the cleric before gesturing to the staff and ring, "Me, Kaylyn and Pax can use the stuff. The ring is goof ro anyone who can cast spells so everyone beside Zeno. We got a shiled for our front liner as well. Anyone want to want anything first and foremost?"

Pax taps her boots, "Don't forget we found these boots.  And a hand crossbow I think?  Though I don't want any of that stuff, and am happy to keep the boots and shield."

"I have studied the ring.   In fact anyone can use it.   Any spellcaster can add a certain amount of spells to it as it will hold only so much, but anyone could then use it.  Then that person would have access to using spells.  So if someone wants a couple utility spells I could load it up and give you the ring and I just need to rest to replenish my power to cast them again."

Kaylyn says.

"As for leaving town I'd still like to leave sooner than later.   Maybe the captain would recommend someone to guide us in thanks for the information we found out.  But I'd rather take my chances in the underdark than be close to this place tomorrow. He said one more day and the next time he flies it happens.   If that's in the morning than we won't have time to leave."

Discussion of stuff was all good and productive but Sekkar worried (as much a a lizardman can worry) about another thing. "We did promise to the Captain to look into corruption in her ranks. We did it, yes. But the "corruption" was her very right hand. That "hand" was about to frame us for something and we do not know if he did. There are slavers drow in the city, looking for us this very moment and discussing our return to them with the fathers of the city."

"I say, we do not need guides, as we have a direction. And I would not go to the Captain, but if we do this - be prepared to fight. May be visiting the giants is not a bad idea after all. I would take a couple with us to the meeting. Never hurt to have a backup."

"If we've already been framed they've had plenty of opportunity to arrest us.   We aren't hiding.   I think we took care of Gorlak before he got the chance  to do anything. I'm fine either way."

"The dragon isn't going to conquest the city next time he flies.  At the end he changed his mind. ' I will delay my conquest of the city until he does so. '.   He's going to wait until the demon worshipping derro have been rooted out.  I have no opinion on reporting to this Captain, I wasn't here when you met, or know who this person is.  I'll do whatever you guys decide to do....but....finding a guide to the gnomes seems like a good idea to me.  Sekkar, we got pretty lost in a few hundred feet worth of caves.  I can't imagine a 10 day journey without knowing which way we're going...."  

 ""We" did not get lost there - we were exploring. And the cave was not the normal tunnels." Sekkar did not really argued, but was looking into options. "Searching for a guide means asking questions and explaining things. And you never know who is listening. The more people know where we are going - the faster the slavers or whatnot will be after us. Kaylyn sais right thing - guards did not arrest us. May be it is safe to visit good Captain. Still, I say if we go around the city, expect fight".

Pax nods, "Fair enough. I usually expect a fight. Let's go see this captain, and find a guide."  She grins at the lizard. 

As everyone is discussing what is the party’s next step. Rhayna gets comfortable in the tavern, takes out the crystal from her backpack, and leave it on the table. She clears her mind, and prays to the Goddess for guidance. “Should the party leave immediately, or do they have some time? Should they find a guide?” She casts Augury concentrating in the crystal as a focus.

After confirming the group only wants one diamond, and doesn’t need any more, Zeno will buy one 300gp diamond.  He will also check with Ylsa to see if she knows anyone who could lead them to Bligdenstone, or anyone who might know Hemeth’s way to the surface.  He will then join the others.  Asking for a little bit more time to take a short rest himself after all the gear gets sorted out, he spends some time with his gift and getting used to activating, attuning himself to its abilities.

After an hour, he joins the others and agrees to join them in talking to the giants then the Captain.

Zeno makes another quick visit to Ylsa, who he finds earnestly packing up numerous valuables. In answer to his question about Hemeth's probably route to the surface, she says that he probably knew a passage through the Labyrinth, a huge network of tunnels that begin a few days to the southwest of Gracklstugh. She herself doesn't know any paths through there at all, and doesn't recommend attempting so without a guide. That is the only area nearby that she knows of that has access to the "Upperdark" as she calls the regions closest to the surface. Gracklstugh, Sloopludop, Velkynvelke, Darklake, Neverlight Grove and Mantol-Derith are all in the "Middledark". Bligdenstone and Menzoberranzan are in the Upperdark and would have the best chance of access to the surface, but the gnome city is slightly closer and far safer than the drow city.

Ylsa herself has not determined a destination yet, but agrees that Bligdenstone would be a good option. She hasn't travelled that way for some time, and only in a caravan, but thinks she would be able to guide them if they wished to travel together. Travelling with a group would benefit her too, however she isn't going to risk the dragon attacking sooner rather than later, and plans to leave within the hour. She says she will travel five miles outside the city and wait for three hours for Zeno before leaving alone.

Back in The Ghohlbrorn’s Lair (the inn) Rhayna lays the large crystal on the table and casts her spell. The question in her mind is "Should we leave immediately?" as opposed to staying long enough to visit Captain Blackskull or the Stonespeaker giants. With a soft flicker that gradually intensifies, the crystal starts to glow with a light akin to that of the moon, and Rhayna feels again the positive 'weal' sensation that she experienced in her previous casting.

As everyone moves about the bazaar and the inn (except Pax who has not been here before), the same small groups of non-duergar can be seen, primarily svirfneblin and orcs, although the few drow that were seen before are noticeably absent.

Dawnbringer speaks in Sekkar's mind, sharing its enthusiasm for staying longer on the chance of another fight against these duergar.

Rhayna calmly puts away the crystal. “My friends, the Goddess has spoken, and I am afraid we must leave as soon as possible. I believe that we do not have time to visit the giants, nor speak with Captain Blackskull, but at the very least I would like to visit the giants. If you all agree, for I believe strongly that they should be warned.” She turns to the myconids. “We are leaving soon guys. Be ready.” (OCC: Like giving a 10min heads up for the kids.)

Kaylyn nods to Rhayna.  "I am ready at any time.  I feel we should also go soon as well. But I wish we could visit the giants." 

Zeno nods. “Let’s go. I found us a guide. We can try the giants on the way out.”

(OOC: They’re on the way right?)

Pax pulls the chain mask across her face as they prepare to go and hefts her new shield. “Let’s visit these giants then and go meet our guide.”

She lifts her heavy backpack, ensuring it’s well closed, and walks to the door, turning and waiting for the others to lead. 

Stubbornness was a running theme in the group and Sekkar was guilty of it himself. Fortunately, another of his concern seemed to resolve itself when Zeno found the guide without asking around. He did not need to pack much and was as prepared as ever. If others wanted to visit giants, he was ready to go.

Rhayna is ready to go, myconids behind her.