The response is quick and brutal. Kaylyn's energy blasts burn holes in the squishy cube, which don't seem to be able to close up again. Then Sekkar's radiant sword blazes out, causing the gnomes to shy away from the harsh sunlight. The ranger slashes back and forth across the gelatin surface, which seems about to lose all integrity and fall apart. All the while, the gnome guard trapped within struggles in vain to escape the goo, his blistering face locked in an expression of fear and desperation.

Kastix casts a spell to aid Sekkar while several other gnomes run forward and reach into the quivering cube to pull their compatriot out, their dark-skinned arms blistering agonisingly as they do so. 13 With a disgusting slurping noise, the trapped gnome is pulled free and dragged away to safety.

Rhayna tries to establish mental contact, but finds the cube as unresponsive as the stone fungi. She does however notice that the rubble blocking the tunnel from which the cube emerged from is filling again with gelatinous goo.

Pax is up next.

Pax taps her heels together activating her boots, and strides forward so that she's the closest one to the slime, "You know, I'm sorta glad I don't have my armor on for this one...."  She sends two Eldritch Blast's at the creature as she moves forward to offer herself up to the beast.....thing.

Attack: 13 Damage: 7

Attack: 20 Damage: 2

The two blasts from Pax are sufficient to finish the creature off, and whatever membrane was holding it together collapses and sends the inner sludge across the stony floor before it has the chance to accept Pax's kind offer of a free meal. But just as the combatants are feeling relieved and relaxed, the slime that Rhayna observed near the tunnel blockage forms up into a second cube, which moves forward silently and almost invisibly toward Sekkar.

Sekkar: Make a DC 12 DEX saving throw (with advantage from Haste). Kaylyn/Sekkar/Rhayna/Kastix can also post actions.

Rhayna will engage the second cube, convinced that these creatures are most likely not affiliated with Glabbagool. (Moves to within 10ft of the creature) The cleric closes her eyes for a moment to concentrate, and suddenly she is enveloped by dark green spores, that swirls around her. (Rhayna activates her Symbiotic Entity feature gaining 8 temp HP). At the same time the spores that swirls around her, start to swirls around her Zurkhwood Staff as well. (BA she casts Shillelagh)

(OOC: I hope I got my actions right)

(Symbiotic Entity - You can use Wild Shape to awaken the spores that infuse you to gain +8 temp HP, roll double damage dice for your Halo of Spores damage, and deal 1d6 additional necrotic damage when you hit with a melee weapon attack. These all last for 10 minutes, or until you lose all these temporary hit points, or until you use your Wild Shape again.)

Dex save: 25

"Almost" in case of invisibility" makes a big difference. The creature was sneaky enough - or Sekkar was distracted enough to let it come so close, but at the last moment he dodged the sudden attack, answering with his own:

BA: Hunter's Mark

Attack 1: 19 Damage: 15 + 2

Attack 2: 24 Damage: 12 + 1

Attack 2: 12 Damage: 11 + 2

Kaylyn grimaces as the poor gnome is pulled from the ooze and admires the bravery of his compatriots to risk injury to save him.  Glad to see the ooze destroyed she turns her attention to the next as it solidifies and sends bolts of Eldritch energy at it.

Attack: 10 Damage: 15

Attack: 23 Damage: 15

Another devastating round of attacks from Sekkar and Kaylyn, and a blast of fire from Kastix leaves the second cube barely intact. As it slinks slowly forward, Rhayna's cloud of spores seem to coat it like a handful of thrown pepper, causing black patches to grow from each pin-prick. One final blast from Pax is enough to finish it off, and the large ooze collapses and spreads across the ground, its semi-liquid contents seeping into the dirt. A few gnomes look over and smile or wave gratefully to the mighty surfacers who so quickly dispatched the mindless invaders, but most occupy themselves either with the injured guard and his rescuers, or with restoring order to the disrupted market. If this kind of incursion is indeed as common as the gnomes had intimated, then it is understandable why the chief seemed so reluctant to allow too many of his able-bodied protectors to be absent from the city.

Pax walks over to the injured gnome, "I'm a healer, I can help."  She casts Cure Wounds for 9 hps.  She then glances towards the space they came from, and asks, "What is through there? Do they always come from there?" 

"You did good!" Sekkar sent a satisfying thought to Dawnbringer before it returned to the hilt and added his question "Why did not you seal that thing off?" Surely eath-elementals controlling race would have to find the way to completely cover a crack in the stone?

The injured guard gasps and manages to nod a thanks to Pax, and the other attending gnomes also murmur or nod in gratitude. There is still a lingering mistrust of the surfacers among many of these deep-dwellers, but the group's heroic actions seem to be going a long way in softening their attitude. One of the traders seems more interested in engaging in conversation, and answers both the questioners.

Kazook Pickshine's the name. Them oozes come through from just about anywhere, though more commonly in these northeastern parts. Some even been seen to go in t'other direction, and some just look like they want to pass through without troublin' anyone. Through there be the old House Center - the original heart of city government. Also a shrine to Baervan Wildwanderer, and lots more residential burrows. We can't be sealin' them tunnels off completely, or the air be gettin' too stuffy in here, to be sure. Them big gates stop just about everything, but we can only be havin' so many of those.

There is one large adamantium gate on the eastern side of this grotto.

Pax raises an eyebrow, and nods, "Well met Kazook. Do you think we could head out through that gate maybe and take a look around?" 

"Passing through, huh? Some of your new friends, Rhayna?" It answered the question, though and seemed to give Pax an idea. "Are we going to the source?"

Kazook rubs his nose and replies: Urgh, I suppose so, but I've not got t'authority to say. We'd have to be checkin' with the chiefs first. And be fetchin' the keys. And assemble some more guards just in case. I can come with ye if one or two of ye want to be speakin' to the chiefs while t'others are preparin' yerselves. Someone needs to inform them of what happened here just now anyway.

"Unfortunately, those were mindless creatures. We should investigate it further." Rhayna replies to Sekkar, then she turns to the gnome trader. "Kazook, I will accompany you to speak with the chiefs. We are here to help, this might be the best place to start. After you."

Rhayna and Kazook (and anyone else that wants to go) trot off to speak to Dorbo and Senni. The chiefs are found in the same cavernous hall where the group first met them, and seem hard at work organising and directing the affairs of the city and the outlying mines and quarries. Kazook relates the information about the latest incursion, but it is apparently such a regular occurrence that the listeners are only semi-attentive. However they pay close attention when Kazook announces that the surfacers wish to pass the blockade and investigate the source of the ooze incursions (if that's what they are). Their first reaction is one of reluctance, saying something about "poking the stirges' nest".

Not sure who else wants to accompany Rhayna and Kazook, but if you wish to convince the Diggermattocks to allow the gates to be unlocked, then I'll allow one player to make a Persuasion check.

"I will be first to admit that we are outsiders to all of this but we have a vested interest in returning to the surface. Should that be hasten by assisting in this matter, consider our assistance available for a hopefully faster conclusion to current issue involving this incursions of these oozes," Kastix speaks up, "We are fully capable of both keeping people safe and more important handling such threats as you may have hear,"

Persuasion: 17

Pax follows....though stays out of Kastix's hair as he tries to convince the leaders knowing it's not her strong suit...and simply stands by, armorless....feeling more than a little naked without her steel casing.

Dorbo and Senni Diggermattock listen attentively to Kastix's argument and then consult briefly with two of their advisors. (It's a little comical seeing these short mostly-bald gnomes acting so serious, but then they seem pretty gnarled and rugged, and not as cute as surface gnomes). Finally Dorbo turns back to Kastix and his companions and replies: 

Your offer of assistance is gratefully acknowledged, but we must also be considerin' our ability to defend ourselves should these threats prove to be beyond even your capabilities. We will grant you access through the gate to investigate the passage of these oozes, but we cannot be sparin' any warriors to assist you any more than we could to escort you to the surface. Furthermore, if there should be any attack through the gate after you pass, then we will have no alternative but to be closin' it again, even should you remain trapped beyond. If you accept these terms, then we will grant you access.

Sekkar was a realist enough to understand that he comes off as more intimidating for little folk rather than charming, so he did not even try to talk. But once the chief agreed he slowly nodded too "You can close the gates right behind us the moment we are out. We will knock on the way back." He assumed the other visitors usually did not bother with knocking and that would be a reasonable signal.

The chieftain and chieftess look to their advisors again for confirmation and then nod in agreement. We'll have the gate prepared for when you are ready to enter, says Senni gravely, after which the group are given leave to go and prepare themselves.

Does anyone want to do anything else before meeting at the gate?