Pax nods, "Indeed. I'm not feeling particularly curious at the moment."  She carefully avoid the 'yet one more weird thing' about the underdark and keeps from touching it, following Sekkar as he leads them on their way. 

"I agree, we better not touching the thing. Most likely left by that party of Explorers we are after for that very reason, to scary off chasers." He carefully navigated around the "beholder" and continued forward looking for the tracks of the myconids ahead.

Heeding the advice of Kastix the group cautiously circle around the weird floating fungus balloon and continue on their way.

Dawnbringer has been unusually quiet since leaving the grove, and whenever Sekkar tries to begin any communication, he gets the telepathic equivalent of a cold shoulder from the sentient sword. It still produces its blade, but the light is only minimal and doesn't radiate out to its full extent.

The terrain remains the same tortuous maze as before, but the tracks remain visible, until the passage opens up into a relatively open cavern, wide enough that the edges are outside the vision of any of the group (more than 60'). It is not until Stool enters the cavern that the sprout's words come through the rapport spores: They are here, Rhayna! I can sense them. The Circle of Explorers! Immediately from the edges of the cavern about two dozen myconids converge on the group. They make no overtly threatening moves, but appear defensive. From one of them (it is impossible to tell which) comes the words: Why are you following us, and why does this sprout accompany you?

"We are not a threat to you. We came at the behest of Sovereign Basidia, and we have grave news. Please allow us to relay his message." Rhayna will look around and ask if someone can fill them in. (Perhaps Stool?)

(Rhayna ask someone to update the Circle of Explorer for I believeshe doesn't have the full story herself.)

Pax mentally blurts out, "Your home has been subverted by a demon, some fungus female demon, and most of its people are now held under its sway. It's next move is to take over...uh...."  she snaps her finger trying to recall... "....some giant....fungus..the biggest one in the world....that you know, you all commune with...or something. Anyway, it's bad. Sorry to tell you. The fungus people not subverted fled."

"Basidia said the demon will lead them to Araumycos and will gather others along the way. Basidia said they were going to go before her and gather all the myconids that they can to prevent her gaining strength.  He said Rasharoo and the Circle of Explorers could help us find Bligdenstone which he called the home of the small softers or even a path to the surface.  Stool was sent with us so that should we succeed in finding you he may share with you the knowledge of the colony's fate, and that you may join Basidia and not return to the Grove.  Basidia left with the Circle of Hunters."  Kaylyn adds to Pax's explanation.

The myconids don't show any expression that would indicate surprise or alarm, but the emotion is detectable through the rapport spores. Again the communication comes, not from any single myconid but seemingly from the group: Stool, show us!

Previously the group had been witness to the myconids' rapid transfer of information, but this time the group were a part of it. Although Stool had not been present for the encounter with Zuggtmoy and the Circle of Masters, nor for the conversation with Basidia, it had evidently received a knowledge of it through the thoughts of the group. The 'account' that Stool gives takes only a few moments, but simultaneously includes all the images and emotions experienced by every member of the party throughout the ordeal. The end effect is therefore more vivid even than the experience itself had been, as each person relives it not only through their own memories and perspectives but those of their companions.

Although the transfer of information is almost instantaneous, the mental processing of it seems to take much longer as the myconids stand speechless for a while. Eventually the telepathic communication comes yet again: We must go now. Eventually we will join Basidia but we must take measures to slow the progress of the dissidents. We will share with you the information you require to navigate the passages to the city of small-softers. A series of images then flow into everyone's mind, including important landmarks and methods of navigating various pitfalls between here and Bligdenstone.

The communication continues: But you must take care. There is a gas spore somewhere in these tunnels, resembling a great eye-tyrant, which although harmless can be fatal to softers if attacked. Also, several cruel-softers came to the grove, searching for far-softers like you. We see they perished in the Garden of Welcome, but others are abroad seeking them and you.

Pax takes a deep breath, letting her pulse slow after the rush of the memories of the battle. Thne, she takes another deep breath, letting her mind absorb the details of the path to the gnomes. She feels exhausted after so much intake...and is slow to respond as she glances around.  "Thank you so much for your help. Do you think we could be of assistance to help slow the progress of the dissidents?"

"Far-softers like us..." Sekkar was quite sure it mean just "non-mushroom" but details matter here. He projected image of a draw and a duergar: "Which softer?" "And how the hell they are so much ahead of us?" (that was not sent to others but rather said out loud)

Once he got his answers, he stepped away (just a little as an indication that he is done with questioning) and looked at Dawnbringer. Misbehaving weapon is the last thing one wants on the battlefield but started gently: "What's with the silence? What came in to you suddenly?"

Zeno shook his head to clear it.  “That wasn’t something I needed again,” he said aloud.  “Cruel-softers makes sense. I saw a pile of drow belongings in the Garden.  Was going to investigate them before everything got crazy.  And there were a bunch of infected drow in that fight. Maybe the slavers have just gone to everywhere we could have gone and are waiting for us.  They’ll know by now we’re trying to get to the surface.  We’ll find them in Bligdenstone, if not before.”

"Thanks for your kindness," Kastix states as he loosen his tight grip on his staff. Commenting after the two groups  split, "That went well I guess. Thankfully we didn't burst that ballon thing. We got a destination and a way there. We got an end to this underdark,"

To Pax the myconids reply: You may accompany us if you wish, but your assistance would aid us only a little. Better than you seek help from those we cannot. It will be doom for the above-world and all softers if the demon joins with Araumycos.

In response to Sekkar's question, images come of figures gliding swiftly through the dark tunnels and snatches of half-whispered orders. Other images also appear of tall dark figures entering Neverlight Grove. The myconids seem to have difficulty telling different humanoids apart, and can barely even differentiate the major races. but the images are clearly distinguishable to Sekkar as drow.

Sekkar: Make a Persuasion check to see if Sekkar can convince Dawnbringer to talk

Pax nods to the mushroom folk, "No no, you're probably right. Good luck." She waits for the others to be ready to go, and then turns to the rest of the group, "Well...lets get to these gnomes then. I have no idea how we're going to save the world from multiple demons, but...they seem no friendly to drow than to us, so perhaps....an alliance." She pauses, then looks to the group, "I think I've been in the underdark for too long, I just recommended an alliance with drow."  She shakes her head and starts following Sekkar. 

With Stool's recount of the events at Neverlight Grove, Rhayna starts to realize what actually happened. Though, she remembers that she gave herself willingly to the Lady's request, but now she also realizes that it wasn't actually her wedding. She feels remorse now, for she put the party in danger.
She thanks the myconids for their aid. She tells them that she knows of Araumycos' location, and that she told Basidia that she would try to join him if she is able. "Good luck to you, Sovereign Basidia needs all the help he can get."

((You could as well ask him to dance or recite poetry))

Persuasion: 16

"Thank you." Kaylyn says as the myconids fill her head with the information needed to get to their next destination.  Confident with her ability to recall maps and directions she is sure she can reach the city of the gnomes with little trouble.

Sekkar managed to convince Dawnbringer to talk all right, but he soon wished he hadn't. The response that comes back is loud, shrill and highly spiteful. Oh, talkative now are we? I thought you wanted me to SHUT UP! Well since I don't have a mouth, I guess I'll have to just SHUT UP! No matter what Sekkar tries after this, Dawnbringer is silent and refuses even to produce her blade.

The myconids take their leave from the group, but as they do Stool grips Rhayna's hand one more time and looks up at her. Through its spores it says that although it would like to travel with her again, it feels like it should stay with Rasharoo and the others and help in their cause. With one last flood of emotion for its 'softer' friend, Stool the spore-who-is-growing-up turns and trots to catch up with the Circle of Explorers.

The voyage through the tunnels continues, but this time the group follow Sekkar and Kaylyn who have the most skill at following maps, even mental ones. As always the shadows move hauntingly, although they are even deeper now with the lack of Dawnbringer's light. The group stop after several more hours for a long-overdue rest, and pass the hours unmolested. Resuming their journey again, the directions of the myconids prove most effective, and the group is able to avoid some almost-invisible sinkholes, to circumvent a large field of steam vents, and to bypass a nest of gricks. Still the shadows spook them, and as the hours pass the group can't help but feel as though dark figures are moving swiftly in their peripheral vision, racing to flank them from behind or gliding overhead to attack from above.

Everyone gets the benefits of a long rest.

Everyone please make a Perception check

Rhayna: Please make a CON save

Kastix Perception: 21

Legends never mentioned anything like that. Usually they stopped at "... and they lived battled happily ever after" (until the hero was dead or the weapon broke, that happened not that often). Though... there were some stories about cursed weapons with someone's spirit in it. If that was the case, Sekkar was not sure how to handle it. Punching in the shoulder did not seem like an option, talking did not work (not to mention - why he had to talk? It was Dawnbringer's sudden caprice obviously!). Lizardman was just happy the spore-radio was off and tried not to think about a tavern with an understanding bartender.

In situations like this a man's got to do what a man's got to do - ignore the problem. There were tunnels to navigate and the destination to reach.

Perception: 29

Rhayna Perception: 24

Rhayna CON save: 7