TO MARCON:
"King Grol make deal with Black Spider, say we become most powerful bugbear clan in region. Promised us goblin - and human - slaves. Also promised us magic stuff once we pry info out of dwarf on where this mine was...and how to use the Well of Souls...." Gundren and Nundro bristled visibly at the bugbear's account of the clan's motives, barely holding back tears of rage as their thoughts swirled around the image of their other brother's dead body.

"Me no care if King Grol dead....we was going to kill him anyways. Cragmaw Clan is MINE now. ALL HAIL KING GRAHL!!!" shouts the bugbear as he beats his chest.

TO RIGEL:
At the ranger's indication that the bugbear is not under any apprehension and is free to leave, he turns to walk out the door. He stops just before he exits through the door and looks back at Rigel concerning his question about what they were digging for: "Magic gauntlets..." he says, and then turns and walks through the door and down the darkened hallway.

Ronk waves at the the other bugbear as the introductions are made, then partly sits, partly collapses in a heap onto the floor and closes his eyes to meditate a bit. One eye pops open as he hears Grahl mention gauntlets. He starts to reach into his robes where he'd stashed the strange gauntlets he'd found, but then thinks better of it. As Grahl leave, Ronk opens and closes his mouth a couple times, then once he thinks the other bugbear is far enough gone, mumbles to the others "I think I might have those gauntlets. Or I just found really shiny ones..."

Realising that having the bugbear around might be more than his friends can take Rigel makes no move to stop Grahl.Instead he turns to speak to Gundren when Ronk speaks up. "That's good news Ronk! You should meditate with them and see what they do." Rigel congratulates his companion before continuing on with Gundren" And how did you end up here good dwarf? Isolde brought us here as part of her game to toy with us. I'll explain that at a later date but now your story could help us locate Carp. Everyone else search your gear and find all of the items from the carnival. Distribute them about. I want to know what each thing does." Rigel himself pulls out the toy soldier and hands out anything left before making himself comfortable. He urges Gundren to tell his tale while they all rest and attune to their items.

Marcon looked a touch disappointed at the Bugbear, but otherwise unsurprised at the claims. And though letting the bugbear go meant leaving another threat in the region to roam freely, the man ultimately found himself letting out a tired a sigh and would leave things to chance. At Rigel's suggestion, the ex-farmhand couldn't help frowning a bit, but would say nothing on the matter so long as noone tried to hand off any his way. Though he does offer Sildar his shield in the meantime, citing he had plenty enough protection by showing off the somewhat faded unicorn boon on his arms.

Here's a reminder of all that was obtained from the Circus magician:

Ronk shrugs and pulls the gauntlets out of his robe, staring intently at them in his hands as he meditates.

Rigel takes out the small soldier that he won at the ring toss and begins his own meditative rest.

The party takes a short rest while they locate and meditate upon their items:

RONK discovers that the gauntlets in his possession are a set of gauntlets of ogre power.

RIGEL discovers that the small toy soldier is a magic item that can be used to cheat at a game of dragonchess. (OOC: When replaced with any other piece on the board, it magically changes to look like the swapped out game piece and allows the user to roll with advantage on an Intelligence skill check in a contest to win the game. At the same time, it imposes disadvantage on the opponent's skill check.)

Gundren holds his head as if a massive headache were upon him. He looks up at Rigel's question and attempts to shake off the fog. "I... I don't know exactly. After we all split up at that evil carnival, me and Sildar headed for the edge of town. It got really foggy...so much so that we found ourselves lost....couldn't make out which way we was goin'. So we just kept on, though we couldn't see barely a foot in front of our faces. Next thing we knew, we was standin' in front of the entrance to Wave Echo Cave...."

The dwarf struggled to continue: "...I remember finding Tharden's body by the boulders up front. His magic boots was still there, but his war pick was gone... next thing I know, we's gettin' weylay'd by a gang of bugbears. Everything went dark....must'a taken one over the head. Then when we woke up, we heard all this commotion outside that door there and then the young lad over there busted down the door," he said as he motioned towards Marcon.

If Rigel produces the war pick, Gundren exclaims, "That! That's me brother's! That's Tharden's missing pick!"

Ronk shrugs at his discovery of the nature of the gauntlets and holds them up. "Anyone want to be stronger?"

Hit Dice: 16

"Well that definitely sounds like Isoldes handiwork. Do you still have your map? Could help us locate Carp faster." Says Rigel.

As much as Marcon's body yearned for a few 'Zzz', the ex-farmhand fought off the temptation using Gundren's story of all things to give himself something to focus on. But following Ronk's question, a quickly distracted Marcon looks to himself at first, then over to the others until his eyes eventually fell on Rigel. "I can think of one person that could prolly use it." He said a bit dryly. 

Hit Dice(2): 26. 

(ooc: Knew I forgot something)

"All in all, it sounds everyone's favorite elf had a hand in helping you on your way... Though it's weird, ain't it? Like, why she bother going after the drow herself? 'cause I get her whole big thing is a twisted sorta justice 'n all, but I would've half-figured she'd have left to us just to see how we'd handle the situation." He confesses. 

Flynt hands over the pick. "My condolences for the loss of your brother. Of course you should take this back." he says as he offers the pick back to Gundren. "I'm not sure who you mean Marcon but I think Ronk would benefit from using them or even yourself should you be inclined." 

Hit dice: 15

Marcon snorts. "I'm talking about you, you nutter." He replied to Rigel with a bit of chuckle to his voice. The first time in days since the ex-farmhand has really shown any lighter emotions since the whole Cragmaw incident. However, his amusement proves to be short lived as he once says in a more serious tone, "I'm already plenty strong as-is, and Ronk too, if I had to be honest. And I ain't say'n that just 'cause he's bigger than ya. So really, that just leaves you, Big Blue over there-.." He gestures to Garet. "And Mr. Ex-Performer." He gestures to Vanzaren.

"Though in anycase-..." Marcon turns to Gundren and the rest, and with only a small grunt of effort in the process, eventually detaches his shield to offer to Sildar. "For you. If ya'll are to come with, or.. well, even if not, you'll need this protection more than me." As soon as its hopefully taken, he proceed to unlatch his crossbow, it's ammo case, and light hammer and set them down in offering to Gundren and the rest. "There. And don't anyone start worry'n none on my behalf. I still got a few hidden weapons to myself."  

OOC: Garet will collect his father shield back as there is no "active" danger

Garet smiles to Marcon "I b..bet I c..can stil lift as ..m..much as you". 

"Isolde has no sense of justice," Vanzaren says. "She's just twisted. The sooner we save that boy the better off we are." He eyes the gauntlets with interest before looking at the others. "I'll take them if no one else is interested."

Sildar takes the offered shield and light hammer from Marcon with a nod of thanks. Gundren does likewise, accepting the war pick from Rigel. The dwarf cradles the tool/weapon in his hands, and looks at it for a long time before gripping it tightly in his hand. "Let's kill everything in this gods-forsaken place..." he says, with a slight tremor in his voice.

After giving Garet a quick once over Marcon rolls his eyes, but ultimately gives a ghost of smile as he nods at Garet. Looking then to Vanzaren, Marcon looks about ready to comment or something, only to let out a small sigh prior to scooping up whatever personal weaponry hadn't been taken by others. "Well, if everyone's ready to go, we aughta see about making for that intersection near the entrance and taking that other path we ignored. 'cause I don't know 'bout ya'll, but-..." He pauses and glances over to to Gundren, before coughing into the back of his hand.

"-it'a be real boneheaded move to tread somewhere we already looked, if ya'll catch my meaning." He adds, looking meaningfully at the rest of the party.

Flynt pats Gundren on the shoulder, "Agreed." In answer Marcon he says, "Sure, Let's see if we can pick up more tracks."

Ronk gives the gauntlets a waggle. "No 'Yes please's? Okay..." He starts to put the gauntlets on, but VERY slowly, looking at the others, as though waiting for one to speak up.

"Oh just put on the blasted things anyone here could tell you really want to," Van says, exasperated.

With the apparent approval of the rest of the group, Ronk slips on the gauntlets and as they continue to discuss their next move, he begins to feel their power taking hold in his body...his fists become had as rocks and his muscles swell to 150% of their current bulk. Somewhere deep in his consciousness he hears the echo of a sinister laugh, a deep guttural chortle...not goblinoid in nature, but one that is familiar to him. He thinks back to when he was a young bugbear, still in the clutches of his clan and of the monsters they employed as party of their raiding parties... "Orc?" he thinks to himself, "No...bigger...orog? Not that either, but closer....ogre. Yes, that is the sound an ogre laughing just before it eats an elf..."

(OOC: the gauntlets are NOT cursed nor are they sentient, the above is just for flavor. Ronk's STR increases from 14 to 19.)