Zeno's face remains calm as he glances inside the pouch. (If he has time while they are resting, he will examine the headdress more closely).

Nodding at Sekkar, he says, "Thanks buddy.  If Rhayna can use it for now, that's fine with me.  I'm hoping to stay out of sight enough to not get hit anyway" 

"If you want one of these now, you're welcome to it, Priestess," he says holding out one of the potion bottles

He accepts the weapons, slinging the sword around his waist and loading the crossbow, then joins Sekkar in leading the group down the tunnel in the darkness toward the Darklake.

Joetaro nods as he walks with the rest of the group before joining Sekkar at the front. 

Kaylyn stays near the middle to back of the group one they set of again.

Rhayna stays in the middle behind Kaylyn. She makes sure that Stool is keeping up.

Again, I apologise for the long post, but I hope it's worth the read to build the setting. I'm also trying to streamline travel encounters as much as possible.

Dry-mouthed and panting, the group take some time to catch their breath, distribute their gear and tend to wounds. Joetaro's skin has blistered and still burns, but there is little that can be done for it now. Rhayna tries to clear the memory of the voice from her mind, recalling that the epithet of "Faceless Lord" belongs to Juiblex, the demon lord of slimes and oozes. Feeling a little recovered from the mad escape from the drow compound, the ragtag group continues their flight. The worm-hole continues for about another mile then opens into a cavern dotted with multiple caves and grottos. A quick query from Sekkar reveals that Shuushar in fact knows nothing of this region, being too far from his familiar territory around the Darklake. Sarith on the other hand is familiar with the area, and helps Sekkar select the opening that best takes them forward. The two of them guide the group through cave after adjoining cave which seem to be spread throughout this area like honeycomb. Some are no bigger than a tavern common room, while others are large enough to fit a large town, and no doubt contain wonders and terrors both great and small, but the group's travel is too hurried to observe much. The only thing everyone does notice is frequent patches of dim light that seem to emanate from nowhere in particular. Some are large enough to fill whole caverns, while others are as small as a pin point. During one brief rest, when asked Sarith explains that the drow call it faezress, but he can offer no explanation as to its cause. Hour after hour passes with endless travel until the group can walk no further. With nowhere to hide, the party forms a circle on the floor in the center of a large open cavern offering good views in all directions, and takes some rest. Watches are assigned in groups of two, with at least one person in each pair having darkvision.

Awakening undisturbed but still weary, the group continues their journey. Travel is slower today, both for exhaustion as well as the need to forage for food and water. The terrain is unlike anything on the surface world, and travel often seems to be as much in a vertical direction as horizontal. The series of caves continues, but now are often spread further apart, and linked by passages. Some require crawling through narrow holes, or climbing up or down jagged cliffs and slopes, and Shuushar's rope proves to be invaluable. It is a physically taxing way to travel, and many feel after several hours that the labour in the drow camp was easy in comparison. Throughout the journey, Sekkar is able to pick through the various fungi that grow throughout the region, finding the most useful organisms. The lizardman finds some Barrelstalk which can be tapped for fresh water and the pulp eaten. He find some gourds that although inedible can be hollowed out and used to store extra water, and collects some webs that can be twisted into twine or fashioned into crude slings for carrying extra food. Trillimac is also abundant and useful for food and other things, but Sekkar explains that the mushroom would require soaking and drying, so it is left alone.

On the third day, travel is interrupted as the group emerge from a passage onto the side of a huge gorge, which cuts almost vertically through the earth as if carved by a colossal blade. The far side is dotted with caves and holes and appears to be about 200 feet away. The top and bottom are not visible, but by the simple method of dropping a rock, Sekkar estimates it to be 500-feet deep. Seeing no other way to traverse the barrier, the group begins the slow process of taking turns to descend by rope gradually from one opening to the other, making their way painstakingly down the precipice to the bottom. The descent alone takes hours, but the climb back up the other side even longer, to be sure no mishaps occur. Jimjar questions why any of the caves or passages they pause in might not be as good as any other, but Sekkar and Sarith have not failed to lead them true so far, so his complaints soon cease. As each takes their turn to climb, the others nervously watch the far side, expecting every minute to find their former captors emerging from one of the tunnels, but none are seen.

The fourth day of travel is a continuation of the endless caves and passages of the previous two days, with several notable exceptions. During one brief stop, the group rests sitting with their backs against a vertical wall. Suddenly Joetaro finds his neck in the clutch of a long dry tentacle which cuts off his air and prevents him from crying for help. It's a few moments before Kaylyn notices and cries out in alarm and the others come to the paladin's aid. Hacking at the appendage, they find it belongs to a kind of giant, rock-dwelling octopus that has squeezed itself into a crack in the wall. Eventually the creature is beaten away and Joetaro revived before travel resumes. Later in the day, just as the group are searching for a place to sleep, Kastix notices a symbol carved on a stalactite. Sarith is the only one to recognise it, and solemnly identifies it as a drow warning sign that means "Demons ahead!" Not daring to risk spending time in the area, the group move on cautiously, and it is several extra hours and miles later before they feel safe enough to stop and collapse.

It is during the final watch of this rest that Zeno raises a quiet alarm to warm of voices approaching. Hiding themselves as best they can, the group awaits as the voices draw louder and nearer, until a group of five duergar are seen passing by. Several are armed, but all carry large packs of mixed goods, and Sarith whispers that they appear to be travelling traders. He says they may be willing to trade with the group or help with directions, although he himself offers to remain out of sight as there is great animosity between duergar and drow.

"I don't believe we have much to trade but maybe they can tell us where our destination is," Kastix whispers before looking at himself, "I'll take out sight as well. I'm not pleasant to look at,"

Although Rhayna knows Undercommon, she will remain quiet. She is out of her elements here, and it seems Sekkar has things under control. She will offer to translate to others if necessary.

"I can ask," with unsure tone said Sekkar, "but Jimjar will do it better - duergars are not at good terms with any outsider. What say you, Jimjar? Want to get latest news and ask for directions?"

(OCC: If Rhayna offer Selune’s guidance to Jimjar, would he be offended?)

Rhayna Insight: 13

Rhayna can't be sure, but Jimjar strikes her as the kind of person that keeps his eggs in many baskets...

Jimjar is happy to talk to the duergar, but asks if anyone wants to trade, and what for, and with what. He says: I bet you 5 gold I can get us a discount.

"Let's talk to them.  We need news and we can see what supplies they have to offer."

Kaylyn will accompany whoever goes to speak with them. 

Zeno will accompany Jimjar and Kaylyn. "I should be able to help get us something." 

Joetaro is going to hang back and watch the interaction Zeno, Jimjar and Kaylyn. 

Jimjar happily accepts Selune's blessing from Rhayna, and accompanied by the two half-elves he approaches the duergar traders, calling out to them in Undercommon: Agurrak, Laduguerren alde. Jende grisak zer albiste?

The five grey-skinned dwarves stop and turn as one, their dark eyes boring into Jimjar and flicking quickly between him, Zeno and Kaylyn. One of them speaks gruffly back: Zer nahi duzu, ipotxak. Eta zein da zure negozioa gainazaleko biztanleekin?

Then, gesturing back to his two companions Jimjar cheerily replies: Ai, hauek dira nire bi esklaboak. Laku iluna aldera bidaiatzen ari gara. Erakutsi al zenieke arrainen herriari bidea? Eta agian gurekin merkataritza?

Kaylyn, who doesn't speak Undercommon, can only guess at the gnome's conversation, but Zeno whispers to her that Jimjar is pretending they are both his slaves, probably to gain favour with the sullen and suspicious duergar. In Zeno's opinion, Jimjar did a rather poor job of it, but it seems to have been enough to fool the traders, and they visibly relax, drop their guard and their packs, and speak freely with the gnome, explaining the best route to take to Sloopludop.

Kaylyn & Zeno, you can nominate any goods you wish to trade for/with. The duergar seem to have a few weapons, including handaxes, hammers and a couple of longswords, as well as light crossbows. They have one set of leather armour pieces and a shield made of zurkwood. They also have a range of general goods, such as backpacks, bedrolls, a healer's kit, some rope, lanterns and waterskins, and some rations that look promising compared to the fungus you've been eating so far.

Kaylyn carefully looks at the goods offered by the dwarves.

Unable to communicate in Undercommom she whispers to Zeno in elvish.

"A backpack would be useful to carry items and possibly some more rope.  Waterskins and rations would be good also but I can't speak to weapons.  I've never carried more than a dagger so I don't know their values."

If Stool can reach Kaylin, Zeno and Jimjar with his spores, Sekkar will ask what is there to buy and remind about goods at hands: headdress, 24 gp, 30 sp, and a small moonstone - useless for them but good for trading, and ask if it's possible to get a long sword. Of course, rations and any healing materials come first, but if there is something left - a good weapon comes a long way in their situation.

Rhayna notices Sekkar perhaps looking back towards the folks in the back. Then she realizes that some of them do not understand Undercommon. “Hey Stool. Do you think you can use your spores on Kaylyn, Zeno, Sekkar, and Jimjar? If possible the ones back here as well.” Rhayna asks Stool in a rush voice.

OOC: Sekkar understands Undercommon, but the rest of the group is hidden and only three are talking to not agitate duergards (Actually, one is talking and other two are posing as slaves). Hence, telepathy and hidden communications.

Stool look up at Rhyana, then lets out a puff of spores, which again helps those still hidden to communicate telepathically, but it is clear the spores effect is only local, and the thoughts of Zeno, Jimjar and Kaylyn are out of reach. Rhayna and Sekkar can only hope that Kaylyn and Zeno recall the conversations they have no doubt had with their companions in the past several days about what equipment they lack, and what preferences each has for weapons. Certainly Sekkar has previously expressed his desire for a longsword.

(OOC: It seems that the spores only affect those in about a 10-foot radius, although their effect is maintained over 30 feet. Kaylyn/Zeno/Jimjar are further away than that, probably at least 100 feet. But if you think it's likely your character would have discussed their weapon preferences, then you can make that known now, and Zeno/Kaylyn can 'remember' that. Besides, Kaylyn should know Kastix and Rhayna well enough by now. No guarantee that the other slaves have discussed such.)

Zeno murmurs in Common with Jimjar and Kaylyn, conferring and pointing at the various goods laid out before them.  Then he steps forward and addresses the gray dwarves in Undercommon:

"Nire maisuak ezpata luzeak, armadurak, bi motxiladunak, hornidura medikoa, argia eta soka nahi ditu. Era berean, eraman ditzakegun ur eta janari guztiak." He gestures to each of the items in turn: the longswords, the armor, a couple of backpacks, the healer's kit, a lantern, and rope. He waves generally in the direction of the rations and waterskins.

"Trukean, sorkuntza bikain hau eskaintzen dugu, azaleraren azpian dendaririk arrakastatsuenaren emazteari egokia."  Zeno pulls the headdress out and lays it before the duergar.

Persuasion: 10