The group is suddenly a wealth of information, and both Skriss and Y seem attentive and eager to learn more.

In regards to Blurg, Y jokes: Remind you of 'im do I? Must be my giant muscles, eh? We normally all meet up every so often, but our teleporting as been a bit off, and sometimes we end up in random spots. We ain't seen 'im in weeks, but I'd know if 'e were in trouble.

Regarding the news of Gracklstugh, Skriss gulps and says: It was always possible that one day the Keepers of the Flame might lose control of their Wyrmsmith. Still I wonder where their structure failed. It seemed sufficiently robust.

Replying to Sekkar, Y says: I dunno of any gigantic two-'eaded demons save for Demogorgon 'imself, says the derro. Surely you don't mean to say ya actually saw 'im?

Responding to Pax, Skriss steps in and explains: We have observed an increase in the presence of minor demons. Also the faerzress seems to be behaving more erratically. It is probable there is a correlation. If you have other intelligence to share, it would be most welcome.

"Big giant, two heads, tentacle arm, hard to mistake it for anything else. I think level that fish people town a while back" Kastix chime sin.

The presence of an actual demon lord is most troubling, says Skriss with a frown. I think it is time we extend our inquisition further afield. Let us not linger here. We will transport you to Neverlight Grove if that is your intent. There you may take respite before resuming your quest for the surface, and then looking more at Pax, or you may accompany us in our investigations.

Pax nods, while glancing at the rest of the group....wondering absently what she's got herself into. 

"Yes, a demon lord.  Leemooggoogoon is what the kuo-toa called him.  They had a faction that had been worshipping him and called him out of Darklake.  We barely escaped with our lives.  There were some duergar also worshipping or summoning demons in Gracklstugh.  We think we put an end to it.  As for the dragon, that may have been our doing.  The Keepers of the Flame apparently kept an egg from Themberchaud to help control him but we brought it to him."  Kaylyn give a bit of a shameful smile and admits, much to her chagrin, that they were responsible for the Keepers of the Flame from losing control of the dragon.  "Our presence in the Underdark seems to send ripples of change through every place we visit. How much of that is our fault and how much is a product of these changes I cannot say.  But we seem to have disrupted demon worship as well.  Perhaps this is why the gods have brought us here, though I cannot say I see their direct hand in this.  Fate, doom, destiny.  These are ideas outside my understanding of the world."

Zeno steps out of the darkness of the tunnel, scoffing. “I don’t know much about gods and destiny, seems like we just keep finding ourselves in the middle of chaos.  I!’d prefer to find the quickest way out of here, and leave the folks down here to their own devices.” He pauses and stares off into the darkness for a moment, then seems to snap back.. “But if you really think there’s something we can do to keep this from affecting folks on the surface, I’ll do what it takes.”

"That is the thing,  isn't it?   If demons really are crossing the planes they won't likely stay in the Underdark will they?   As much as I want to get to the surface there isn't much good in it if demon lords follow us to the surface. Perhaps we should help in this situation. Though I am certain I would still flee from a demon lord would one arise."  Kaylyn says.

"My priority at the moment is to bring these little ones to their home." Rhayna replies to Skriss. "If you are able to teleport us to Neverlight Grove, that would be great. I guess after that, we could help you investigating this demon lord business." Rhyana is not exactly sure if she should mention The Lady to the list.

"Yes, if the offer to take us to Neverlight Grove is still good, that would be where we wish to go now.  If you plan on carrying out your own business and cannot stay, as you have said, could you kindly give us direction to Bligdenstone from Neverlight Grove that would be very helpful."

The decision made, the group prepare to depart. Ylsa approaches Zeno and gruffly explains that she has no personal reason to go to Neverlight Grove and can instead make it to Bligdenstone alone. The duergar stays outside the circle of travelers as Y speak his arcane words of conjuration.

In the blink of an eye, the rocks and tunnels around the group seem to fold inward and then immediately fold back outward. A brief moment of disorientation is felt as each adjusts to the new surroundings, now absent of their duergar guide, but still consisting of rocky tunnels. The edges of the passages are here lined with phosphorescent fungi which glow softly in subtle tones of yellow, green and orange. Wisps of faerzress drift lazily in the air. Y curses: Hells, I'm off again. I blame this ruddy faerzress, it always 'appens when it's on one end or the other. No worries though, we're not far off.

Skriss takes Y aside for a moment where they speak quietly, then the troglodyte returns and says to Pax: Your offer off assistance is well-received. However after contemplation I would prefer to first convey the new intelligence you have imparted to the head of our order, and also request his advice and permission before aligning our activities to any new objectives. With your consent, Y can monitor your progress remotely by means of divination, and we can arrange a rendezvous at an appropriate future time. If this is agreeable, then a small token would facilitate his scrying - perhaps a hair or two?

Their service having been rendered, the troglodyte and the derro take several minutes more with Sekkar and Kaylyn to describe in detail the directions from Neverlight to Bligdenstone. Finally they bow in farewell and vanish as suddenly as Blurg did, leaving the group alone in the fungus-lined tunnel. It is less than a minute later that movement is heard from further down the tunnel, and a dozen adult-sized myconids appear in view, armed with spears and rough zurkhwood shields, marching toward the group...

"Well I may be a firestarter here," Kastix states as he eyes the approaching figures, "Hey Stool. Recongize them?"

Pax looks to the Skriss after her request, her eyes calculating. Then, looking rather displeased, she pulls out her knife and lops off a small bit of hair.  She ties it in a small knot so it stays together.  She holds it up for Skriss, but when Skriss reaches for it she pulls it back slightly and looks to the Troglodyte, "Don't make me regret this. Or you'll find yourself regretting it."  With that she holds out the hair for Skriss to take and then backs away as the two vanish. 

Then come the Myconids.  Pax growls and steps out in front of the group, her shield out, her hand on the pommel of her sword, and waits to see what they do. 

Rhayna steps in front of the little myconids. “Are they the folks you are looking for Stool?”

Zeno nods his understanding to Ylsa, and thanks her for getting them this far.  He found himself wondering if they’d made the right choice in trusting these wanderers over the Duergar woman, then chuckled at himself at the realization that he trusted the known criminal more than these shifty types.

—

As they stand in the darkness of the tunnel outside Neverlight, at the sight of the band of armed myconids, Zeno fades into the darkness, hood raised.

Stealth: 15

"Well Rhayna, this one is yours I think." Kaylyn says as the myconids approach.

Sekkar listened to the directions very carefully - these are not things you are taking lightly in the tunnels and the most precious information too. He nodded to that strangers goodbye and could now give his full attention to the still-walking-future-food. The group loved to talk and they did came here to return Stool and relax a bit, a but "relaxation" can take many shapes. Right now "biting" never felt so tempting as a weapon of choice.

After listening to Kaylyn, Rhyana takes both myconids under her arm, and walks to the front of the group. "We come to deliver these two little ones back to where they belong." Rhayna tries to see whether the adult myconids are truly hostile, or just defending their territory. (Insight: 14)

Skriss grins at Pax's bravado, and for a moment Pax gets a flash of understanding that she and the troglodyte share the same healthy sense of mistrust.

----------------

When the myconids first appear, naturally the group go on the defensive, with weapons and teeth bared, spells on tongue-tips, and Zeno slipping away. However Rhayna has spent enough time observing Stool (not to mention the positive signals coming through Stool's spore-telepathy) and can tell that the attitude of the approaching myconids is non-threatening. The adults are equally incapable of normal speech as the sprouts, but once within 20 feet of Rhayna a new cloud of spores produces a fresh sense of telepathy more immersive than that experienced from the sprouts. A sense of curiosity emanates from the myconids, so when they quickly form a silent ring around the group the feeling is more like a warm hug than a killing circle.

Communication seems to happen more rapidly between the myconids than across species, and in only a few seconds the following thoughts come into the minds of the group: We thank the softers for their effort in returning these sprouts to their home. We welcome you to our grove and we invite you to stay as long as you please. We recognise that you have experienced many hardships, and we hope you will find solace here.

There is certainly a noticeable sense of a collective 'we' with these myconids, as if any one of them could represent the entire group. Even Stool's next words demonstrate how quickly the sprout has assimilated back into this collective (having been alone for most of the time, or with only Rumpadump for company): We want you to stay. Will you stay with us?

Without waiting for a response, the group-myconid voice adds: We are departing now on a scouting mission, but the grove is near if you travel along this way. Several of the myconids simultaneously gesture back along the tunnel in the direction they came from.

Rhayna hasn't seen any fungi for the last couple of days, and deep inside of her, she misses communing with it. She looks forward to enter Neverlight Grove. "Well... I think we all could use a little rest? Perhaps we could stay for the night."

"I don't mind a rest but I don't like surprises for sure," Kastix states as he looks around at the strange beings, "We came to bring the young ones home but we still on a journey to go home ourselves,: