"We had some fighting over possible thief. Trying to separate everyone up. I believe it's safe to come out now," Kastix Message the caravan.

Sekkar was trying to speak quietly with Rhayna. "Last duergars we saw were about to hand us back to drow as run away slaves. Simpler would be to add his body to the pile. But sure, let's check it with your spell. And not to forget to check his bag too." Sekkar was not much of a strategist and operated with simple and obvious ideas: drow are after them - there is someone who saw the group fighting and wants to report to drow - it is something to be prevented because obviously it is about another attempt to apprehend the group.

He did not exclude, though, another option - this Pebble is The Thief everyone is looking for, that stole the gem that Derendil was after and now wants to sell it to either Zhents or drow. As any rate, he was not about to let that little sneaky rat to just march there. "Don't rush, Pax. Let us talk fist about that information of his. Our caravan is not here yet, right? We have a few moment to spare for talking."

Rhayna steps back (enough to be outside of the area of effect), and casts Zone of Truth centered on Pebble.

Kaylyn keeps an eye around them trying to see if she can see who may be watching them.  She also checks in with Pensive who is somewhere up above.

Fly around the immediate area and see who is around that witnessed our situation.

Pensive starts to sweep around the area while Kaylyn watches what he can see and also looks around herself.

Kaylyn perception 12

Pensive perception 12

The information from the duergar suggests that the mage accused of theft was taken into custody by the duergar chief. The gnomes objected to this and attempted to free the mage, but were repulsed and attacked. The mage is presumably still in custody, and the surviving gnomes are taking refuge in their own facility.

A reply comes back to Kastix from the caravan that they are resuming their approach.

Duergar wait at Rhayna's request, but despite still being non-hostile, they are clearly impatient.

Pebbles makes no attempt to escape, but doesn't respond directly to Sekkar's question ("What were you going to tell those drow, exactly?"), simply returning another question: So... are you with the Zhents?

Rhayna casts Zone of Truth...
Pebbles CHA save: 3
The AoE is a 15' sphere. If you want to keep Pebbles boxed in, then someone will have to be in the AoE and make a CHA save. Or I can allow three people to remain within 5' and be unaffected by the spell, provided they all remain on one side of Pebbles, and no-one is within 30' on the other side. Make sense?

Pensive flies a circuit...

Pax gladly steps into the spells range, crouched next to Pebble, and, taking a queue from Sekkar, seems to take a moment to calm herself and then takes a knee next to the them. 

Pax Charisma save : 15  (failure I believe, though she has no reason to lie anyway)

She reaches out and puts a hand gently on the gnomes shoulder, attempting to be comforting, "Pebble. I'm afraid we've just shown up here and though our intentions are peaceful, we do need some more information about what's been going on here. We're not with the Zhents...feel free to think of us as uninvolved outsiders who are just here to help. What is it you need to tell the Drow exactly?" 

Sekkar was never a deceptive (that kind of deceptive) to begin with and did not mind staying in the spell. His only goal was to keep the suspect inside the circle. 

Looking up at the heavily armored Pax and the rather fearsome-looking Sekkar, as well as the other hardened surfacers nearby, the gnome seems willing to talk. However he barely makes a start than he seems to have trouble, as if his tongue simply refuses to complete his sentences: Er, what do I need to tell them? Is that what you said? Well I need to teeeeee-... I mean I wish to go there and giiiiii-... I have iiiii-... Ugh! You said you would help me!

In frustration he stamps his feet and glares at Pax, then with a sullen murmur he grumbles: The name is Pebbles, by the way, not Pebble.

Finally after a deep breath he attempts to speak again, slowly this time, making the effort to choose his words carefully first and speak only what his tongue will allow him to say: I want to go... to the drow or the Zhents... either one... for information... That's it. Did I say I had information? I meant that I need information. That's right. It's an investigation. I'm investigating something. It's very important. To me. And I need help. Someone's help. Your help if you want to help me. To do that.

It seems like a considerable effort for him to pick out words to say that are true and avoid getting tongue-tied on untruths. It isn't hard to discern that he is constantly on the edge of losing the necessary concentration and slipping up, accidently speaking something he doesn't want to say...

The lift beside the trench begins to move, presumably being activated from below by the members of the gnome caravan.

Kaylyn speaks to Pensive in her mind asking him to check out the lift.  Pensive, see who is on the lift coming up from the trench while the others finish here.

Meanwhile she stays were she is watching around them and staying out of the conversation for the time being.

Pax's face grows dark as the gnome is obviously deceptive. Her hand on his shoulder squeezes a bit more firmly, "Look. I've enough trouble figuring out which bad lookin thing is good, and which good lookin thing is bad...without you muddling up the water with lies. We've been stuck underground for a while now, and our patience is growing thin, so either you cough out what your deal is...what you're looking for....and why....and stop trying to deceive us....or I lose my patience. And, honestly, I've no idea what that'll look like in this moment, but I'm pretty sure you won't like it."

Pax Intimidation : (with help from Sekkar's glowering presence?)  16

Absolutely! Sekkar was an incredibly unconvincing "good cop" and if his look could help in any way, he'd be glad to put it to good use. So, he was just silently glaring, adding a toothy smile from time to time to the general impression.

Pebbles looks up at the two faces glaring down at him, stammers I... I... ugh! and then slumps his shoulders, defeated. Fine! I am looking for information. About... aberrations. Beholders actually. I heard a rumor that there's a beholder. Here somewhere. In Mantol-Derith. My master sent me to find out if it's true. I've checked the gnome and duergar camps, and come up empty. The drow and Zhents won't let me in without an escort. But they might let you in though, and I thought if I was with you, then... you know. He looks up at Pax and Sekkar with imploring puppy-dog eyes. I don't wish you any harm.

Meanwhile, Pensive flies over the trench and sees that the lift does indeed carry the first of the gnome wagons, one merchant and Mipry the mage, and are just about at the top. The other two wagons are waiting their turn at the bottom with the guard.

If required for later:

Kastix tries to gain some insight, partly paranoid about gift horse and partly general paranoia on Kastix's behalf.

Insight: 17 (...of all things he could crit on, it's a paranoid induced check to see if a guy is holding back)

Kastix can clearly tell that Pebbles is withholding information, despite telling the truth. He has not shared why his master sent him, although Kastix can tell it isn't because this information was withheld. Reading between the lines, there is also the idea that Pebbles is more than passing familiar with beholders. He may actually be quite expert. He is also genuine about wishing no harm to the party - he doesn't seem like he has any threatening intentions whatsoever, and is probably quite harmless.

Pax glowers at him, "Stop being so cagey. Who is your master? Why's he care if a beholder is here?"  She messages Kaylyn, "Beholders are bad right? Or....do I need to just leave it open for any old creature to be good around this place?" 

Pebbles glares back, the puppy-dog eyes gone now that he sees they don't work. With frustration he blurts: Someone who doesn't like beholders, that's who! Them I do wish harm. Help me or don't, just mind your own business. I'll do it myself if I have to. 

The first wagon has now reached the top of the trench and is being led toward the gnome enclave. The merchant looks in horror at the smashed doors, while Mipry the mage walks over toward the group surrounding Pebbles. Who is that? she asks, apparently not recognising him.

Puppy-eyes did work! Or, better say, the information that the gnome had finally shared. If the gnome did not spy on the group, the gnome was free to go anywhere. Sekkar stopped resembling a hungry dragonoid and tried his very best to look friendly. "Now-now, no need to argue here. Beholders are a be news anywhere and no one would wish for the thing to make a nest in the big city. We will help you if we can." He was absolutely genuine in his wish to eliminate the monster (he never tasted hunted one and was curious), and was going to continue with a few more clarifying questions, but was interrupted by Mipry. "This is Pebbles. Says he is interested in helping the city and needs us to join him on that."

Rhayna:

Rhayna casts her spell around Pebbles, and let her companions do the questioning. The Cleric looses her patience when it seems evidently that the gnome is withholding the whole truth. So she requests divine aid, and opens her mind. Once she finds out what is the deal with Pebbles, she walks next to Pax, and whispers to her elf ears. "Be careful with this one. It seems that his patron might be a powerful beholder, and he seems to be also an expert at dealing with such aberrations." Then she walks back, and whispers the same to Kastix and Sekkar. (If Kaylyn is nearby, she will tell her that as well.)

Kastix will Message those who didn't hear the whispers from Rhayna adding ,"I really do not want to meet a Beholder,"