Grimnir smile at the giant. “Oh, you can’t help that here, I guess we’re all a bit mad here.”

"Stonespeaker, I will be honest with you.
I had a moment where my companion are saying I was not myself. This happened when we "met" a gargantuan demon. But nothing happen since then, would you mind checking if i am not under any curse if you have this power ?"

The stonespeaker calls over a young stone giantess apprentice, and bids her to give check each of you for signs of madness, should you consent.

She performs a short ritual, taking various sizes and shapes of rocks and placing them in stacked configurations in front of each of you. When completed, she indicates to the Stonespeaker that each of you has indeed been touched by madness, with the exception of Oorr and Valrish. The stonespeaker nods, then casts a restorative spell on each of you. "This will not protect you from the dangers of the spreading madness, but it will help ward off any permanent affects from that which you have already experienced. Now, I must return to my duties. I wish you well in your journey. You will always be welcomed here."

"I deeply thank you, Stonespeaker."

When outside the cave, Oorr will address his companions: " Do we start searching for this Droki?"

"I thank you Stonespeaker for this. I feel already more calm."
Grimnir bows and leave the giant. "Let's go Oorr, let's find this guy. I think having the Duergar on our side could help us a lot to stop any pursuers"

"Also, I was thinking, maybe we should bring our two friends that showed strange behavior, Buppido and Sarith, to the Stonespeaker"

"Agreed. Sarith's case is weird, to say the least. We will see if the giant can put some light on it."

"I agree on finding that derro now. We better hurry up." Valrish bows to the Stonespeaker and exits the cave with his companions.

As you exit the caves, you meet up your stone guard escort to be taken back to the Darklake District. You hear the sound of large footsteps and see Dorhun rushing out after you. "Wait, friends," he says, stopping as he reaches you to catch his breath, "The stonespeaker has a gift, to aid you and to thank you for what you did yesterday. One moment."

A minute later, the stonespeaker arrives, carrying a polished quartz crystal that looks small in his hands, but as he gets closer, you see it's about the size of a human forearm. "This is a stonespeaker crystal", he explains. "You may find it useful in your journey back to the dreamlands. And perhaps beyond. It was made by the stone giant librarians of Gravenhollow."

With that, the giants bid farewell, and return to the cavern. Your escort takes you back to the Darklake district, and after passing through the massive gate, disperses to watch you from afar. 

(OOG Tell me who wants to take the crystal and be sure to add it to your inventory. It should be available. Then let me know what you wish to do next.)

OOC I vote for giving the crystal to Belwar, it seems the kind of thing that would make him happy :-). Also, I believe we are headed for the Furrow.

"Thank you Dorhun. Belwar, do you how to use this?"

Quote from AsbestosPenguin >>

The stonespeaker calls over a young stone giantess apprentice, and bids her to give check each of you for signs of madness, should you consent.

She performs a short ritual, taking various sizes and shapes of rocks and placing them in stacked configurations in front of each of you. When completed, she indicates to the Stonespeaker that each of you has indeed been touched by madness, with the exception of Oorr and Valrish. The stonespeaker nods, then casts a restorative spell on each of you. "This will not protect you from the dangers of the spreading madness, but it will help ward off any permanent effects from that which you have already experienced. Now, I must return to my duties. I wish you well in your journey. You will always be welcomed here."

Quote from filcat >>

OOC I vote for giving the crystal to Belwar, it seems the kind of thing that would make him happy :-). Also, I believe we are headed for the Furrow.

"Thank you Dorhun. Belwar, do you how to use this?"

Quote from filcat >>

OOC I vote for giving the crystal to Belwar, it seems the kind of thing that would make him happy :-). Also, I believe we are headed for the Furrow.

"Thank you Dorhun. Belwar, do you how to use this?"

As you pass through the gates, the stench in the air changes from acrid and metallic to fetid and repugnant, the fires of industry replaced by squalor. The homes in this part of Gracklstugh are crudely carved from the rock or are just holes in the walls, arranged in no apparent order. The chatter in the air is unnerving, with hundreds of derro muttering, screaming at each other, and otherwise reveling in their insanity. Those who spot you look at you with a burning hatred.

Oorr leads the party slowly into the West Cleft District, keeping an eye on... everything. (Perception 23)

"Zippy, stay close and keep your many eyes open."

The area is a slum. What might pass for ramshackle huts are clustered in multiple areas throughout the cleft. And those are the nicer places. Most of the homes are little more than burrows in the ground and holes in the side of the cliff. There are many derro wandering about, conversing together in groups, and some apparently talking to themselves. You receive multiple looks of contempt,  almost daring you to come nearer, and giving them an excuse to attack. None of them appear to be Droki.

Up on a large outcropping on the Northern wall is a large doorway. Based on the information you received from Errde Blackskull, this would be the entrance to the Halls of Sacred Spells, where the Council of Savants lives and rules over the derro. They seem content to stay locked away in their fancy hall.

You notice one other small detail. (OOC Thanks to that nice roll!) From some of the burrow holes in the sides of the hill, you see an almost imperceptible wisp of energy drifting out and up towards the cavern ceiling. It shimmers lightly, a sickly purple green tint. You recognize this as potentially a sign of Faezress, thanks to your encounter with the Illithid earlier, and Belwar's knowledge and confirmation.

"You see that purple light? That is the Faezress, isn't it?"

Oorr then casts a Goodberry, to keep some for later and maybe some to bride the derro.

"Belwar, can you try to speak with them and ask about this Droki? Tell them that with have exquisite food."

"I'll definitively keep away from that this time..."
"Also I'm not sure if asking around is the best, I don't think they would tell where one of them is to outsiders. It could make them defensive.I don't know. Maybe we can continue a bit and look for ourselves ?"

"All right. Let's continue without engaging and keep the eyes open."

Valrish silently follows the group, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with all the derro around. Even though he feels like this, he still tries to look for that one derro they are searching for. 

Perception: 15

OOC: forgot to roll for Perception (if needed). Looking for our Derro : 19

You venture further into the district. The further you go, the more oppressive the derro are. After about 15 minutes, crowds begin to gather around you, jeering. "What are you doing here overlanders? Come to gawk at the crazies of Gracklstugh!?" shouts a voice. You hear a few mutterings in agreement. They don't hinder your movement, but the crowd is getting bigger, and angrier by the moment.

You all cast your eyes about looking for the distinct hat of Droki amidst or beyond the crows. Grimnir sees him first, off in the distance, coming out of particularly large hole in the side of the furrow. Faezress seems to waver like heat out of the entrance. Droki glances around, then makes his way quickly along the edge of the furrow, towards the gate you came in. He seems to moving much faster than you'd expect, running at at an incredible speed.