When Pax silently holds Rhayna's hand, the Cleric starts to calm down a little. Then Kaylyn speaks with kindness to her, and she calms down even more. At the next stop, Rhayna removes the Drow Armor, and stuff it in the extradimentional space inside of the haversack. It is like she immediately feels like a great weight has come off her shoulders, and with a great sigh of relieve, she is back to the old Rhayna.

"I thank you for your kind words Kaylyn. I also believe that there are still much to be done in the Underdark, and I hope that if we do come back, that we can do it together. You know, by that I mean, most of the group, perhaps without Kastix, if he really decides that he had enough..." She pauses for a brief moment. "Kaylyn, I just would like to let you know that I do value your leadership. We have trusted you this far, and you have not led us astray. I will also stand by you when the time comes."

When the caravan, and her companions are ready to rest, Rhayna receives a message from Skriss. "We left Blingdestone a couple of days ago (or yesterday?), and we were able to help the city to become stronger. We are on our way to Mantol-Derith, then we plan to return to the surface. Do you have a need us?" Rhayna replies back to the Troglodyte.

Even though Rhayna hasn't done this before, it seems natural enough to mentally reply. However she only makes it as far as "We are on our..." when the spell abruptly ceases. Presumably this spell of communication has a limit to the length of the reply (and probably the same for the original message) so it is likely that the destination of the group did not transmit, nor the final question.

A few more days of travel pass relatively uneventfully. Patches of faerzress, both large and small, are seen haphazardly throughout the caves and passages. Scouting ahead, Sekkar manages to detect a small cluster of darkmantles clinging to the cavern ceiling among some stalactites, and is able to guide the caravan around them without incident. And a number of times the unearthly screech of demons can be heard echoing from far away down one of the many side tunnels, and at one such time, Kaylyn spots the mutilated corpse of an umber hulk a short distance down one side tunnel.

The memory of the sun and the sky and the smell of trees and fresh air is almost forgotten, and it seems unimaginable that such luxuries might finally be within reach, as the march through the dark tunnels drags on and on. But finally the caravan stops short in the middle of a rather nondescript tunnel, as if to give another short rest to the lizards pulling the wagons, but this time the gnome guard simply states "we are here" and the excitement of anticipation thumps loudly in each breast. The gnomes all seem to relax a little as the thought of refuge in Mantol-Derith eases the tension of travelling through the Underdark. Mipry walks over to the bare wall, then slowly along it, passing her hand over it as she does, and looking closely as if searching for something. Finally she stops, leans in, and whispers a single word that no-one recognises, and suddenly a long straight crack appears in the wall. The crack widens as the stone on either side begins to move apart, and in a few moments a new passage lays beyond a ten-foot-wide square doorway. The gnomes chat more animatedly as the wagons rumble slowly through the portal and into the passage.

The passage meanders slightly toward the east until the wagons stop several hundred feet along, opposite a side passage that branches to the north. But rather than taking this passage, Mipry instead moves to the south wall and repeats the ritual, whispering another word (which this time sounds distinctly Elvish), and another doorway appears the same as the last. The excited chatter builds as the gnomes move into this new passage, and their happy burble is joined with the trickle of running water from a small stream ahead. The gnome enclave is just ahead on the left, explain Mipry gaily. We'll first load the wagons onto lifts and then we can-

Mipry cuts off mid-sentence and the chatter among the other gnomes suddenly dies as new sounds begin to filter down from the tunnel ahead - the occasional clash of steel on steel, a rhythmic thumping, and the yell of panicked voices, all marring the long-expected expectation for repose...

"The chaos that it seems the Underdark is never ends." Kaylyn motions to the others.  "Let us move carefully up the tunnel and see what is going on. Sekkar, Pensive will scout ahead with you but stay out of trouble."

"Pensive, scout ahead with Sekkar, stay high up and we will follow behind you.  Stay no more than 100 feet from the rest of us so you can send us images of what you see." She says to Pensive, out loud so the others can hear.

Pensive then launches him off of wagon he had been curled up on and staying close to the ceiling waits for Sekkar to also move forward and then stays close.

Kaylyn will wait till they are about 70-80 feet ahead and then start down the tunnel as well.

Pax walks up next to Kaylyn, drawing the three tentacled rod.  With a flourish of the rod, a thick barrier of dark shadow seems to seep up out of the ground around Pax, surrounding her in darkness. ( Armor of Agathys at 3rd level. )

As Sekkar moves forward she says, "Do not get surrounded.  Withdraw back to us if you can. Draw them to us."

As they wait for Sekkar to advance, Pax says with a dark tone, "The underdark is being overrun. We ride the breaking wave of the demon's invasion. If we reach the surface, people must learn about this. They demons emerging from every nook and cranny into the world, safe in their warren of deep impenetrable caves is a nightmare we must try to solve."   Then Pax follows Kaylyn as the group advances 80 feet behind Sekkar.  

And here it was! Sekkar counted himself among realists of this world - no need to panic without a reason but really, few days of quiet travel and a simple walk in to the city? In the Tunnels? Highly unlikely. And the Tunnels proved him right immediately.

"Would always share, don't you worry," answered he to Pax lowering the hood of his (ex-Zeno's) piwafwi and disappearing into the shadows. (Stealth: 12 ) He fully intended to look first and not attacking right away. But you know what they say about plans.

Kastix lets out a quiet sigh of annoyance at the twist of fate before he casts Invisibility on Sekkar before he sets off to scout. 

Rhayna follows behind Kastix with her drow staff, and she imbues it with her spores. Just in case. (Casts Shillelagh)

(OOC: Will try to get back to Skriss when we have a chance. Obviously, I never used Sending.)

(Sekkar seemed to be too excited by the battlesounds and Kastix's spell was quite timely cast)

Pensive flies ahead down the tunnel, with the only evidence that Sekkar is following being a few hasty foot-scuffs on the well-worn ground. Kaylyn and Pax come next, with Kastix and then Rhayna bringing up the rear, all prepped for a possible conflict. The gnomes remain with the caravan, prepared to turn around and retreat if the signs indicate significant danger.

The ceiling of the tunnel abruptly ends, becoming instead a long and deep trench within a large cavern. The sides of the trench are fifty feet high and twenty feet apart, and it runs for about 250 feet before the tunnel resumes its passage through the rock beyond. About halfway down the trench are the shattered remnants of what appears to be a crystal platform of some kind - probably once a magical means of ascending to the lip into the cavern above, but long ago broken and abandoned. Beside the wreckage are four relatively new-looking mechanical lifts - two on each side of the trench - which seem designed to hoist wagons to the trading-post above. The walls themselves sport numerous handholds, and look like they could be easily climbed. Two stone bridges span the trench, one near each end. Nothing of the cavern above is visible from the bottom of the trench, save that it appears to be magically illuminated. The air is moist and the sound of running water seems ubiquitous, but is overlaid with a rhythmic thudding, cries of alarm, and the clash of weapons.

Pensive flies swiftly to the top of the trench, and telepathically transmits images of what he sees, first to Sekkar and then to the others. The trench bisects a large cavern with a 30-foot-high ceiling supported by naturally formed stone columns. Continual flame spells cast on stone lampposts reflect off crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling, illuminating myriad fountains, waterfalls, streams, and pools. Water drips from stalactites onto leather tarps covering clusters of merchant stalls west and east of the trench. Beyond these marketplaces are well-tended gardens of mold and fungi, crystal walkways, and stone bridges. The tranquil beauty of Mantol-Derith is undone by visions of combat to the northeast, where several panicked svirfneblin are running from two 8-foot-tall duergar.

The caravan entered the tunnels from the top left (northwest). The group enters the trench at the star. The green circle is where the gnome caravan stops, and the orange circle is where the duergar are seen chasing the gnomes.

Kastix will send a Message to the caravan leader, "Stay back, we have duegars here causing trouble. I'll message you if it's clear. Do Duegars generally have a grudge against gnomes? You can reply to this message," before turning to party and whispering while waiting for answer, "So anyone have an idea who we kill exactly?"

When Pax hears the word Duergar, she casts an additional spell on herself, her eyes briefly flashing with arcane light. (See Invisibility)  Then she rushes forward, taps on her boots of speed, glances up the wall, takes a deep breath, and begins clambering up the stone wall as rapidly as she can.  (Walking speed of 70 ft.)

The target was obvious - duergars. Sekkar did not like them in general but combined with the previous encounters, and the fact of them attacking gnomes in their own city - he and Dawnbringer were eager to start. He had only one question - are we attacking the closest group or searching for the "command center"? THough for him it was not mutually exclusive tasks, one would be just delayed a bit.

Sekkar begins to climb the wall on the "duergar" side of the trench.

Rhayna tries to keep up with the party.

(OOC: Are we all climbing?)

Kaylyn looked up the 50 foot wall and wasn't sure she could climb it but seeing the numerous hand and foot holds she figured she would give it a try.

"Lets see if we can climb behind the others Rhayna.  Certainly faster than trying to get to the lifts.  I'm sure we can do it."  

Before starting up Kaylyn gives Rhayna Bardic Inspiration (1d6).

The chief merchant in the gnome caravan replies to Kastix: Mantol-Derith has been a neutral outpost for centuries, and conflict is extremely rare. The duergar are usually the most rigid in adhering to the code of conduct. Something exceptionally bad must be occurring.

The wall is far from smooth, but still presents somewhat of a challenge to climb. Anyone climbing the wall, please make a DC 10 Athletics check. If the roll fails, please roll a 'd50' to see from what height you fall.

Pax athletics : 19 

Scrambling with super-human speed up the side of the trench, Pax is the first to make it to the top. Directly in front of her is a wild-looking grove of fungus, strewn with the corpses of about a dozen dead svirfneblin. Beyond the grove and set into the northeast wall of the cavern is a set of stone double doors, which four enlarged duergar are attempting to break through with war picks.

To the south, a cluster of tents and stalls have been knocked over, and various goods are strewn about the cavern floor amid the slaughtered corpses of giant lizards and spider-like steeders. Two enlarged duergar with war picks are chasing a pair of unarmed svirfneblin, whose forms appear blurry and indistinct, amongst the chaos of the broken market. A third gnome clutching a pale leather bag is hiding in plain sight under the wreckage of a zurkhwood stall.

On the west is a bridge that spans the trench, on the other side of which (and a little to the south) is another cluster of market stalls, which appear to be intact but deserted. Beyond this is a small stream spanned by two more small bridges, and further to the west are yet more stalls and groves. No other creatures are in sight.

Pax:

Pax looks down the cliff behind her where her allies are all climbing up and whisper shouts to them, "Six large Duegar total, four of them are trying to break through some large stone doors. Eight additional are invisible by the main stone doors. They're waiting for the enlarged ones to break through." 

For the next few moments she'll keep an eye on her friends and if anyone is going to fall a long way, she'll cast Feather Fall on them.  Otherwise she helps pull them up over the ledge. 

Sekkar Athletic: 14

Sekkar could barely see the movement to his right when the super-sonic Pax fist caught up with him and then blazed past his position as if not climbing but sprinting on a running track. Pax, obviously, did not see invisible him, but he did not mind. "I'll move closer to the big ones, while you get others," said his voice when both were on top of the trench. He did not want to rush the battle, but was going to take a position that would allow to attack effectively.