Pax frowns, looking between Sekkar and Kastix who seem to have opposed desires, and releases the gnome, standing up straight she says to the gnome, "Well, Pebbles, it seems we will help you get access to the zhents at least. We're not fond of Drow, so you may end up going that way alone."  She absently touches her tentacled rod tucked in her belt when she mentions Drow.  "For now though, I believe we have this whole Duergar misunderstanding to smooth over. Can you wait a while for us to escort you? Say a couple hours?" Pax glances to the gnome wizard who has arrived and says, "You don't know this gnome?  I guess, that makes sense. Just because you're both gnomes in underdark doesn't mean you know each other."  She sighs, forced to once again subtly adjust her shallow world view to just a bit deeper.  "He's deceitful and works for a beholder, and is looking to find another beholder that's supposed to be here with the Drow or the Zhents."  She stops......realizing what she's said, and closing her mouth she glances about. "So, are we going to go follow these Duergar and smooth out this whole ...." she waves her hands "...situation?"

"Your master is a beholder and he wants you to find another one for him? Please, tell me your master is not looking for a mate, because in this case we might have a problem." Sekkar was serious and looked at the gnome with a puzzled expression. "You want help - be straight with us. Who knows, you might get more help than you counted for."

Kaylyn whispers back to Pax through the message.  "Uh, yes very bad."

She also relaxes as it is the gnomes bringing the caravan up the lift.  She decides to let the others take the lead on this one.  They know she doesn't want to deal with the drow.

"Yes, it seems the Black Network over the drow."

Pebbles appears surprised that Pax seems to have figured out the nature of what his master is, but says nothing more about it. Only to Sekkar does he reply softly "No, not a mate" then says nothing further, apparently feeling that Pax's assent to help is sufficient for now.

The gnome wagon stops outside the damaged doors, which open with a loud creak as a female gnome appears in the gap. The merchant runs over and greets the figure, they converse briefly, and then both approach the group. Speaking with an authoritative voice, the new face says (speaking in passable surface Common this time):

Greetings heroes! I am Gabble Dripskillet, the chief ne-gosh-in-ator for our people here in Mantol-Derith. I'm told I have you to thank for res-cooing us from the treach-e-nous duergar, and I will see to it that you are re-worded. The duergar have attacked us without pro-vo-mo-cation, and taken our gem specialists, a mage named Yantha Coaxrock, on some made-up charge of stealing. This simply cannot be true, as Yantha is a dear friend of mine and certainly not deposed- dispensed- disp- ... she's no thief. We expect them to be poo-nished, but for now I fear for Yantha's well-fair.

Mipry doesn't understand the Common tongue, but can pick up on the fearful tone in Gabble's voice, and is clearly shocked and distressed to hear the name of her mentor, Yantha, mentioned in such dark circumstances. Mipry and the other two gnomes start chattering in agitated Gnomish. Pebbles simply looks and listens impassively. The lift activates again as the second wagon makes it way to the top. The duergar begin to wander off toward their own compound, uninterested in the exchange (and not understanding either language), and Rhayna feels that her enchantment on their emotions is about to wear off.

Pax looks to Pebbles, "Very well, we will meet back here in a couple hours."  She then steps forward towards the Gnome leader, speaking in Undercommon, "Gabble? We will speak to the Duergar regarding Yantha, on your behalf." She turns to the Duegar and raises her hand, and also in Undercommon, "Wait, please, take us to Ghuldur Flagonfist. In order to prevent more bloodshed, we will speak to him regarding the crimes you believe were committed by Yantha."   

She glances around at her group, hoping she hasn't overstepped any boundaries.  She looks at Sekkar with a "Ok?" sorta look...but....his face is incomprehensible to her as always....or....is he smiling? She looks to Rhayna and Kaylyn, and with a grim smile on her face she casts two message spells, the same to both of them, "This will get interesting when your magic wears off....they may get quite agitated...."

((Oh, FGS, Pax, it's so simple! Here, I'll draw a comprehensive chart for you with direct human translation.))

 "Want us all to go?" Sekkar did not mind and he could speak both Dwarvish and Undercommon, but so could others and his presence... On the other hand, his presence could be useful. "Let's go then." He was still curious if the gem is the same Derendil was after.

Rhayna follows the group. She is ready to recast her spell if the duergars become very grumpy. She nods to Pax that she is on it.

Kaylyn will go with the others with no objection.   But prior to leaving she eyes the bag that Pebbles holds and casts Detect Magic. 

It isn't long before Rhayna's spell wears off, and an immediate change is visible on the duergar. They become more tense and look around furtively with their white pupil-less eyes. But although their hostility returns, the memory remains of the battle and their retreat, and they seem to appear to consider themselves just as much prisoners of the party as an escort. Leading the way, the duergar pick their way through the mess of stalls, with lumps of minerals, scattered gems and spilt salt seen everywhere. A little further south, the stalls are largely unspoiled and contain various weapons, armor and other works of steel, as well as smoked Darklake eels, kegs of stout ale, and other sundries. Mipry joins the group, her anxiety for her mentor's wellbeing greater than her fear of the duergar, although Gabble remains behind to attend to the gnomes still taking refuge within their enclave. Pebbles tags along behind briefly but then breaks away to pick over the debris of the broken stalls. Kaylyn gets no sense of magical vibes from the bag that Pebbles clutches.

The procession soon comes to a wrought-iron fence enclosing a fungal grove which grows in straight, ordered rows, illuminated by six nightlight mushrooms, and amongst which a familiar-looking hulking quaggoth in a tattered tunic is seated with his head bowed. Beyond the grove in the south wall is a set of double stone doors. The three duergar leading the group stop before the a large gate in the fence and speak a word or two in Dwarvish (something to the effect of 'open the gate') which is following by the sound of invisible shuffling feet, keys turning in locks, and the creaking of hinges as the gate opens wide. The three duergar move into the grove and head toward the doors at the far end, ushering the rest of the group forward.

The quaggoth looks up from his deep thoughts, sees the group and walks over. However, as he looks at each face, there doesn't appear to be any show of recognition on his furry features. He simply speaks confidently in a rich Elvish tongue, to no-one in particular:

Ah, yes! As I expected! My vassals have come to support me. Refugees of the the usurper Terrestor's cruelty! Go forth in the name of Prince Derendil, and the blessings of the true potentate of Nelrindenvane will attend you. May you have success in restoring my birthright.

The duergar continue on, completely ignoring the quaggoth.

Rhayna is a little sad that it seems that Derendil does not recognize the group. "Greetings Prince Derendil, do you remember any of us? We first met at..." The cleric trails off, unsure if she was supposed to mention where they came from so many moons ago.

Pax looks back and forth between the Quaggoth and the group. The look on her face is cryptic, but contains pity, disappointment, and a touch of sadness. She pauses, waiting for the group to interact with the 'prince'. The shadows swirl around her armor in the darkness.

"I think his mind broke along the way back here," Kastix whispers. 

Elvish was not among the languages Sekkar knew in any capacity but the blank look on Derendil's face spoke loud enough. "If that how elven princes speak, it is kind of disappointing. I thought he will transform." It was hard to say if the lizardman was serious. Then he nodded to Katix' words added in a hissing whisper "May be this is that gem's work? Takes peoples minds?" Sekkar patted "his highness" on the shoulder compassionately and let others to talk any senses into the quaggoth.

Kaylyn also stops to speak with the quaggoth. 

"Derendil?  Do you recognize us?  How did you get here?  It is I, Kaylyn, with Rhayna, Sekkar and Kastix.".

Derendil stares blankly at the group for a few moments after being addressed, lingering on Kaylyn who is the last to speak and the only one to identify themselves by name. There is a low barely-audible growl as Sekkar touches the quaggoth's furry shoulder, but it stops as soon as the lizardman's claw is withdrawn. Looking at Kaylyn still, Derendil begins another round of urbane verbiage...

Ah, Kaylyn, my faithful subject. Glad am I that thou hast brought Rhayna and Sekkar and Kastix and... the other... with thee (as he looks at everyone in no particular order). Long have we been parted since the glorious days of old when still the crown graced the brows of my forebears. Fear not, and wipe the worthy tears from your weary cheeks. The day is at hand when the sun shall rise again on the kingdom restored, as it enjoys the blessed rule of its rightful sovereign. Your vigilance and loyalty shall not go unrewarded, when Terrestor's cursed dominion is cast down, his fell works undone, his faithless hordes slain and scattered, the pleasant palaces rebuilt, the gardens refurbished, the pets manicured, the...

Derendil continues to drone on, his eyes now fixed on some point in space. The duergar have halted, but one walks back to the group, gravely imploring them to follow promptly. Don't ye be antagonisin' 'im, or 'e gets awful violent. One of Krimgol's slaves, 'e was once. Escaped ages ago, then just turns up 'ere outta nowhere not long ago, talkin' like this. But we can't get 'im to leave, and Krimgol gave orders not to kill 'im. Best ye leave 'im alone. And with that the duergar beckons for everyone to make haste and follow into the stronghold.

Pax glances about the group, then sighs and says, "Come on....let's go."  She turns and follows the duergar towards the stronghold. 

At least that duergar spoke understandable language, for that alone Sekkar was ready to follow their guide. But still he asked: "Krimgol? Who is that?" He honestly could not remember that name. He looked back at the mumbling furry giant. "Did your healers tried to cure the guy?"

Recognising the lizardman's familiarity with the dwarven way of speaking, the duergar replies to Sekkar in a slightly less grumbling tone: Krimgol Muzgardt's the ale merchant what owns the gem that got stolen by the blasted gnome. Bloody good merchant 'e is too... or was. Not been 'imself lately. Thinks that 'e lost 'is honor, but won't say why.

Then glancing back at Derendil, he adds: No point wasting good healin' on a quaggoth, 'specially a mad one.

Kaylyn looks at the quaggoth, pity in her eyes.  "Fare thee well my lord." she whispers as she lays a hand gently on his cheek.  Her hand shines for a moment and she uses her Healing Light to heal him for 6.  If nothing else happens she rises to her feet and follows the others.

Sekkar nodded to the story of Derendil's former owner (again, the gem! But some cultures can be strange, may be the gnome blamed himself for not looking after the thing properly and allowing it to be stolen. Unimportant, really). But Derendil was not just a random quaggoth and if it is truly madness, not the real thing ... The lizardman stopped and looked at his sword. "Can you do something about it? Clear his head, may be? Derendil was a friend. Suffered enough too. And healers here don't give a damn about him." He did not blame the duergars for being duergars. He was just looking for a solution.