I see..... so you are here to take what is mine and give it to someone else? If I cannot enjoy such things, why should I allow others? This forge, is mine  and no one elses! he seemed to ignore the last question, and malice began to fill the air, and a sense of anger and dread. The skulls started laughing but still hadn't attacked just yet.  The ghouls seemed antsy and it seems 'negotiations' would break down soon.

Rose's grip tightens on her hammer and looks around to see if she can find the source of the voice. Who are you? You control these undead clearly. I can't help but wonder what you plan to do with the forge. I doubt you're undead minons would be able to forge anything for you. Why don't you show yourself so we can come to an arrangement!

"Yeah!  Or, you know, you could just be alone and grumpy forever, which... just sounds like loads of fun!  Unless you consider the ghouls ample company, but they don't seem like much for conversation."

After a tense moment, a faint laugh could be heard, that wasn't from the skulls, it was  wispy, and cold, but after a moment, a spectral figure, shrouded in clouds, and dark smoke, robes fading into nothing where his feet should be, a cowl with a crown-like-shape, as he faced those in the room that could see him. 

Who am I? I am Mormesk, Former grand wizard of Waterdeep. And as the gracious being that I am, I shall offer you your lives, providing you can give me something worth my time to add to my riches and posessions... As thanks for ridding me of that Spectator - Casters such as us... have trouble with creatures such as that. You stand in the presence of greatness, mortals. And they will do as I command. I can no longer touch the forge myself, yet I can hold weapons .. armor.. or trinkets that have been created within the forge itself. And with time... I can re-raise the fallen who are not.. overly damaged. Including yourselves. The glory of this mine, should be mine alone. You or your benefactor did not fight and die to protect this place. And in turn lose everything you had in life. I did. I fought and died in this mine when the orcs invaded. As did my fellow mages, yet I am all that remains. Myself and those I have returned. The skulls laugh harder, as if to indicate they were whom he was referring to.

If you have nothing to offer for your lives, I shall be taking them. You will gain your glory in the mine by serving me in death.

"Heh heh.  'Mine alone'... I see what you did there.  Anyways, why don't you just let living people back in?  If you love this forge so much, let it's flame burn bright again.  Just charge whoever uses it rent!  Make them forge you something cool every once in a while, add to your riches, and see life breathed into this place once again.  It's a win win!  I mean I guess the whole 'undead forever' motif has its charm if you're really bent on it, but come on... that trend is so last century."  Bell takes a swig form her jug.  "By the way, who contracted that beholder thing to guard the forge?"

Rose glares at the ghost with a stern look of disappointment. You can't even touch the forge eh? So I ask again, how do you plan on adding to your collection then? You need mortal hands to make items in the forge. You say you fought and died to protect this place. I'm sorry you lost your life, but if we leave the forge abandoned as it is then what was your sacrafice worth? This place can be glorious once more, and that can be thanks to you! Surely we can come to some sort of arrangement. Our allies wish to restore this forge, to craft magic items like they did in your time. If you would help continue to protect the forge as you did in life, I'm sure we could arrange payment in the form of magical items for you. Surely that is better than leaving this place to gather dust and the magic of the forge to continue to fade? 

The specter floats there ominously as he listens to both arguing against him, and a mixture of bemusement and rage fills his eyes. You ask me to share after all I've sacrificed? Clearly you do not understand. no one understands. You ask me to just let people back into the mine, like those Drow? For them to reap from what I have endeavored to obtain for centuries but could not due to that damned spectator! And you fool of a goat, it is not a beholder it is a Spectator as I have said multiple times! And you wouldn't know them even if I told you. He was an ally, who's thoughtfulness became my bane. And if such pathetic jokes make you laugh I worry for your intellect....

His face twists however, as Roses words sink in. And he ponders long and hard. The two skulls look at him with as much confusion as a skulls visage could portray.

After another long, tense moment, the specter seems to nod, once, then more Yes yes.. What they say makes sense.

Ruagh.... I do not like to admit this but.. your argument has merit. If I allow the mine back into the hands of mortals.. I.. I can show them how to use it, and as you said, they can offer me gifts to suit my prowess..

FINE. I shall allow it. But you will let me know to whom I will be speaking with so that I do not assume they are here to plunder what is mine. I will only allow those allied with you to enter here. But we must have an agreement.

his hand reaches out as he approaches more floating than walking, to rose, a skeletal hand extended as his eyeless-skull looks straight at Rose. 

We agree that I will allow those whom have benefacted you and those they deem necessary to bring the mine to functionality again. In return, they will craft me items to match my station and satisfy me alongside whatever else they need to do. 

Do we have an accord?

Rose looks to the others to see how they feel about the arrangement.

If at least half the group seems to agree Rose will turn back to the specter and shake its extended hand. We have an agreement. Our primary Benefactor is a man named Sildar. He will be on his way with the necessary people to help secure, defend and rebuild. We will be staying in the cave until he arrives, to protect it from intruders. There is another here as well, a Dwarf named Nundro. He was one of those searching for the mine. He should be able to help in rebuilding. I hope this deal will benefit all of us, and I'm sure with the aid of someone as powerful and knowledgeable as yourself the forge can start producing wonders once again.

If the party seems against the deal

Fallan pushes hard with her mind as if to FORCE Rose to hear her thoughts... "I wouldn't touch that thing if I were you! But it's your plan. Please just be careful. Disembodied voices usually aren't out for YOUR best interests, and often aren't trustworthy."

"Yay!  Nothing wrong with a peaceful outcome!" Bell cheers, and skips up to join in the handshake between rose and the wizard, clasping both their hands. "Whoa, hey... your hands are really smooth Mormesk!  What kind of skin-care do you use?!" Bell exclaims.

Gwen feels around the room, with her eyes, and though Fallan seemed against the idea to a degree, she didn't seem outright against it, and Root hadn't spoken up, though was likely going to be mad at missing out on a fight. But with Bell moving forward, and Rose seeming tow ant to avoid conflict... Gwen moved up to put her hand on Rose's shoulder to signify she agree'd with the decision. 

And with that, Rose moved to grasp the spectres hand when bell jumped in to try to do the same, and Bells hand is met with air, as her hand passes through the spectres own,  however, Rose's hand feels a chilled hand, one from beyond the grave though she doesn't seem to come to harm. And as the wraith's hand pantomimes a handshake once Rose realizes that her hand is also passing through it and once several 'shakes' have occurred, the wraith pulls back, and the laughing skulls seem to go silent. The spectre nods once and says An accord has been reached. In return for staying my hand, I allow those who aid you to reclaim the lost mine. In turn, they work the mine to it's function, and provide me trinkets to succor my loss and sate my need. And through this, both sides ultimately benefit.

Regardless, I need time before your envoy arrives. He need not come across the myriad bodies strewn throughout the caverns. Lest you wonder, all life, except your own, and 'Nun-droh' have been extinguished. And these are the last of my armies. You may pass unmolested. But I ask that you do not linger over-long.

Fallan slowly moves from her station between the two rooms, primarily to get a better view outside. In particular, she is looking for both the ghouls and the floating skulls. She scans the room and without saying anything tries to push thoughts to her companions to emphasize her caution. "There's no way to know if this THING will keep its word. There's no way to know for sure the OTHER creatures will be bound by the specter's word, or if they even have anything to do with this undead mine-claimer. CAUTION!"

As the New skull appears with it's ghouls, Root is ready to strike but unlike the first skull this one seemed more powerful. Ready for the challenge Root can't help but smile. As Conversations go back and forth Root sees the quicked tongued Rose and Bell go to work. As tensions die down Root sighs "Well if you think this is best for the town, Rose. Let's hope we don't come to regret making a deal with "It"." Root's claw retract back to normal Root will be on alert clearly not trust the skull but respecting Rose's decision. He will stand with Fallan trying to respond to Fallan "It's not up to us Fallan that's Rose's decision this is her home. We must respect her decision."

Bell turns to Rose again.  "You can't use that sending stone again, can you?  If not we might wanna start heading back.  I'm sure the others would appreciate a warning about the fact that they'll have a phantom warden to negotiate with."

Rose clears her throat as she thinks back to Fallan I get what you're saying but I think we can trust it. If he truly wanted to just kill us, he would have. He sensed a better option i think, and chose to go with it. Atleast that's what I'm going to believe, but trust me.. I don't fully trust him either.

As Root made his own replies Sorry Root, I know you're spoiling for a fight but we need to avoid them whenever we can. And like I said to him, he knows the forge already, meaning we won't have to hope and pray someone can figure out how it works. And no Bell, its a once-per-day at dawn thing. And hah, we have time before they get here, town isn't exactly a skip and a jump from here. We'll be fine. Let's go collect Nundro, and await Sildar so we can inform him of what's happening. Though I can give him bits of info each day as we wait.. i suppose.

Lets get going. Somehow I think he'll keep his word... No offense Mr. Mormesk, but I trust that your greed is a powerful enough motivator.

You would be correct.... I simply desire to have that which was denied me in life.... as recompense... for.. my sacrifice... afterall, I toiled long and hard only to have my fortunes stolen from me just before the end... of my career... 

Rose ushers the group to start moving and tells Root that if he has any more torches to bring them out, since she has no more blessings to grant and the current one is about to run out. After waiting for him to comply or choose not to, they began to head back to pick up Nundro. Root, when we get there, will you be willing to carry the man? You're about the only one here with the right 'size' for it.

Listening to his answer, the group makes their way back to Nundro's location, and due to the angle of this side of the scar, its easy enough to slide down without much trouble.

You may do other things than just 'Follow Rose' on the way back to Nundro if you wish, otherwise proceed to Nundro's room. Everyone passed the climb, except bell, lmao, meaning she falls down about halfway up back to the floor, atleast this time.

I will proceed in 6 hours, and bot whomever hasn't posted.

“Sure, I have no issue with that. Let me check and see how many torches I got left.” Check his pack “I got about seven left now.” 

Fallan follows the group but is obviously constantly scanning all around as if expecting something to pop out of the dark at any moment. She sidles up to Root and speaks softly, not truly a whisper, but low enough that anyone else overhearing it would think this was a secret between the two.

"You know, that specter-thing said we (and the dwarf) were the only LIVING thing left in here. But doesn't that mean there could be OTHER non-living beasties?" As silly as it must have looked, the halfling leaned in closer (and rose up on her tip-toes) to ask Root: "You didn't *hear* anyone or anything ELSE in your head during that first fight, did you?"

Holding off on posting for now to allow conversation to continue.

You're probably reading too much into it Fallan... Though it doesn't mean I won't keep an eye out. I never discredit someone's words unless they give me reason to. For now though he seemed to be insinuating our perspective.. at-least as far as I could tell. I think he was saying that between all the permanently dead zombies, the demon ting, and the pile in the hall... I think he meant we were the only moving thnigs that could still move, do you understand?

she asked as she reached the top of the rope, watching in amazement with the perfect ease Fallan climbed. (when she did) You seem to be adept at climbing things, what did you used to do? she asks as Rose makes it up, watching Bell fall flat on their ass.

"You really think so? You'd trust something like THAT THING to tell the truth? It deals in death and the unnatural. Let's just say I have seen enough "unnaturalness" to last me a lifetime already, so I don't tend to want to do much more than GET AWAY FROM things like that. But, if you are ok with it, and you are around to help if things go badly, I guess that's better than being alone in a dark room when things go badly..." Fallan's thoughts seem to drift off to somewhere far away in either time or place or both. "As for what I used to do... well, let's say 'things I probably shouldn't have, but then, karma seems to catch up with folks like me. You know?"

Fallan continues to move toward the room with Nundro in it, without giving so much as a second thought to the obstacles needing to be climbed and traversed.

Before sliding back down with the others, Root will look over the armory they had barricaded for any mundane weapons such as a spear or the pole arm. 

Rejoining with the group Root bends down to hear Fallan “I don’t think so but I tend to forgot things like that quickly. I prefer to live in the present hahah.”