“Perfect, they we may depart at once.” Baror then motions the the door and begins walking towards the exit. The acolytes would once again open the door for the group, holding them open. Baror would wait for you all to exit, but then walk forward at a brisk pace towards the town square (as brisk as a dwarf can be). Feel free to make any small talk during the walk, just know it doesn’t take more than a couple minutes. Unless spoken too, Baror is silent. 

Eventually though, you reach your destination. Baror stops in front of what appears to be the blacksmith’s forge and enters. He holds the door open for each of you before entering himself and waving to the grizzled duergar with bulging forearms who is currently pouring steel into a mold. The blacksmith would finish pouring before setting the materials aside and looking to the group. Baror speaks first, saying with a nod “Thondor, greetings. Is your son available at the moment? There are matters I— we would like to discuss with him.”

Thondor shrugs. “Ye, probably, he’s just in the back.” He says, motioning to a door from which you can hear clanging metal. “Oi! Mathor!” Thondor yells, and after a few seconds, the clanging stops and a younger duergar, very similar to Thondor steps into the room. He is lean, with bright yet focused eyes, and has the beginnings of a beard... but it is next to nothing compared to both Baror and Thondor’s facial hair. “Yeah, what do ye need?” Mathor asks before bringing his eyes to the group, and Baror. “Oh...” he says, smile faltering for a second before returning. 

“Hello there, Mathor.” Baror says. “May I speak with you for a few minutes?” He asks.

”Ah uh right, sure.” Mathor says before looking to his father for approval. Thondor gives a nod as Baror motions to the door, and you once again find yourself back to the streets to Vin Badur.

“Do not worry, my friend,” Baror says to Thondor as the group leaves. “We will not be gone for longer than a few minutes. Your son will be back quickly... I do not wish to compromise your business.” 

“Right,” Thondor murmurs. “Take all the time you need.”

Baror stand next to Mathor, bringing the party in close just outside of the shop. “This seems like a sufficient place to talk. Now, Mathor, I have promised a guide for this group. A member of theirs seems to have encountered issues with powerful magic, and they need a guide. Do you think you are able to help?” He asks. 

At this point, Mathor would have become much more intense, his face focused. “Funny thing actually, I was just finishing up the final equipment for a shipment to Gracklstugh. Would’ve been leaving by the end of today at the latest...” he looks to the group. “Would that work?”

What would you like to do? Feel free to interject at any point during that entire scenario. I know it is a lot, and someone could’ve definitely done something during that time.

As the group walks out of the office Shishakli would start to approach, assuming that their business is completed. But as they are being led by someone he’s unfamiliar with, and at a very quick pace, Shishakli instead hangs back a bit and simply follows, merging in with the rest of this rather large group. At the mention of ‘guide,’ he raises an eyebrow and turns towards Jimjar asking quietly, in Gnomish, “Are my services not needed?”

On the way to the blacksmith, Thodek would pull Syvis aside slightly, "He's offering us a guide to Gracklstugh, but that's not where we want to go is it? Why are we following him?"

“We aren’t sure yet,” Jimjar murmurs to Shishalki. “Stay close though... I’ll find a way to let you know. Something about this seems off.”

Syvis slows her pace to fall back a bit with Thodek and whispers, "Baror's motives are in question and I would like to see this person he would plant in our midst. I am not of a mind to add yet another unknown and untested individual to our ranks but it would be prudent to know the face and take the measure of a potential spy when given the opportunity. It would not surprise me if Baror were to set this individual on our trail if we refuse their services."

Seeing the concerned expression on Shishakli, she simply nods reassuringly before continuing on, hoping that he either overheard her whispers or will understand her intentions.

Quote from ctleath13 >>

 

Baror stand next to Mathor, bringing the party in close just outside of the shop. “This seems like a sufficient place to talk. Now, Mathor, I have promised a guide for this group. A member of theirs seems to have encountered issues with powerful magic, and they need a guide. Do you think you are able to help?” He asks. 

At this point, Mathor would have become much more intense, his face focused. “Funny thing actually, I was just finishing up the final equipment for a shipment to Gracklstugh. Would’ve been leaving by the end of today at the latest...” he looks to the group. “Would that work?”

What would you like to do? Feel free to interject at any point during that entire scenario. I know it is a lot, and someone could’ve definitely done something during that time.

 
Anything to do, or should I move on?

"It would seem we are fated to travel in opposite directions, young Mathor," Syvis says calmly. "We appreciate your willingness to help us in our time of need but we must return our ward to his people. Perhaps they will be able to help him."

She turns to Baror. "We are in your debt for providing shelter for our group. We will take our leave now and trouble you no further. Thank you and be well."

Thodek nods slightly to Syvis and moves to prepare to leave.

Nicholas likewise nods in agreement, "Again you have our thanks. Perhaps our paths will cross once more in the future."

He then turns to leave with the rest of the group.

Baror nods to the group, then turning to nod to Mathor. “Yes I understand... you wish to head to Neverlight Grove... perhaps his own kin can save the young myconid.”

”Yeah,” Mathor adds with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t be too much help there. Really only go to Gracklstugh and back...”

”But if you ever find yourself back here,” Baror continues. “Please, stop by. I would love to hear how your travels go, and would also be happy to help if you ever need anything.” He then gives a final wave to the group as you leave before turning to walk with Mathor back to the forge. 

The party is now by themselves in the center of town. What would you like to do?

Thodek watches them leave and then turns to the group, "I do have a little gold left, is there anything we need to purchase before we head out?"

"I am well-provisioned for the journey, assuming we'll be able to find or create food and water along the way," Syvis says matter-of-factly and looks to the rest of the group to be certain they are ready to depart.

Seeing the new 'guide' be turned away, Shishakli feels more sure of his place, and steps forward counting the members of the group, and then adding, in his usual, more fluent Undercommon, "Though it would be good to have food just in case, I should be able to provide for a dozen as we travel. If you are ok with Dark moulds, fungi, insects, or the occasional creature I may be able to catch."

With a nod of affirmation from Jimjar, the rest of the group also seems prepared to leave. 

(I’m assuming this means everyone is ready to move on to travel. Neverlight Grove is the plan, yes?)

I will be posting the first day of travel hopefully by tomorrow morning, so for now just stay posted. Feel free to RP if you would like. 

And with that, the party would make their way to leave Vin Badur. Blurg will say his goodbyes, apologizing again for the teleportation mishap before blinking away using his ring (feel free to ask any final questions or RP before he goes).

Then, led by Shishalki, the group will once again enter the harsh environment of the Underdark. The first few hours of travel consist of the last vestiges of the Darklake. You pass through almost swamp like caverns of shallow water before once again reaching the rocky and dry tunnels of the Underdark proper. 

Despite obvious problems with Stool and his coma, morale seems to be up after spending some time in civilization. Most members of the group at least seem to be content with the conditions as you travel.

As he promised, Shishalki is a large help. He forages and guides the party with ease, appearing to be in his element as he leads the party by staying at the fringes of the light, flickering in and out of sight. 

(Due to new party composition, travel should be far easier. No need for forage or navigation rolls. Pretty much smooth sailing until the encounters start)

(Alright, I will continue with an encounter later today after some posts come in, but for now, there are some things the NPCs would want to discuss. Any other RP that might be wanted can also happen now.)

On one rest, Derendil would approach Nicholas and ask about his firearm. “Hello, Nicholas, so I had noticed in our encounter with the hag, you used a unique weapon. I must admit it interested me; I like to consider myself an intellectual of some sort, but perhaps you could explain it to me? I have never seem something like that before, and it appears to be a unique contraption.”

Additionally, at another rest once the group had bedded down for the night, Jimjar would engage Shishalki. “So, my friend. Where do you call home? Blindgenstone? And how did you come into this... profession? Most gnomes are happy to live a secluded peaceful life, but not you...”

What would you like to do?

Speaking with Blurg before he leaves, Syvis looks up at the awkward Orog. "Despite the mishap, your arrival and assistance came at a most fortunate time for us. I thank you for your help and wish you a safe journey back. Hopefully your return will be without complication."

Once they make camp for the first night, Syvis pulls Shishakli aside. "How long do you estimate we will travel before reaching the Grove? The twins are but children and I am uncertain how the extended travel will affect them. And, of course, I do not need to bring up the urgency of returning Stool to his people before his condition worsens..."

As they sit down for the first evening, Shishakli helping show how to prepare some of the local fauna in a, not delicious, but fully edible, soup, he replies to Jimjar, in Gnomish "Though I grew up in Blingdenstone, as you likely did, I would often go out with my father, who taught me to read the land, on short excursions. One time we had a, run-in, with the Elves... things did not go well, but we managed to escape and stay hidden. Since then I have only returned occasionally, preferring to interrupt their supply lines when possible." You can clearly hear the hate in his words.

To Syvis, he replies, in Undercommon, "If we continue traveling as we have, we should be able to make it in <> days ((DM... can you fill in the blanks here please?~)). And while I will attempt to move with haste, it is best to be careful when traveling trough the Dark..." Looking to the twins, he then adds, "I will help with the twins. Even young ones can learn a bit about life in the wild of the Dark."

At some point he goes up to the twins, and in their native Gnomish, says, "So little ones! Have you ever been away from the Stone before?" He then pulls one of the small bits of mould he'd found foraging and tries to share information about how it can be used. Clearly excited to have children to share his knowledge with, as his father did he, and not really noticing if they aren't very interested (though hoping they are a bit at least).

Finally, if Nicholas is willing, he will spend a few minutes every evening teaching him some basic Undercommon, saying to him, in Gnomish, "Though you surly hope to return to the Surface, while you are here it would be good to understand the people, as well as the land."

Once the evening and camp is made, he's happy to take the first watch.

(Lol, beat me to it kevtr0n, I was just planning on posting to have Thodek start helping teach Nicholas undercommon.)

Thodek will create water using his magic at the end of each day to ensure they are prepared for the next. He will also help Shishakli in teaching undercommon to Nicholas, viewing it as also a good way to help Shishkakli to practice his common and be prepared for their roles to be reversed if the group ever reaches the surface.

“You as well,” Blurg nods in return. “I um wish you luck in your quest for the surface, and should we ever cross paths again, will hope to um see the myconid healthy again. Good day.” He says with a sense of finality before teleporting away after a small wave goodbye. 

Shishalki would be able to tell Syvis after the first night that it will probably be about 4 more days before the group reaches Neverlight Grove. 

Thodek and Shishalki would definitely be able to teach Nicholas undercommon. It might take awhile for him to be completely fluent, but after a few days he would have at least a rudimentary understanding of the language. Same for Shishalki if he is interested in learning common like Thodek suggested.

Topsy and Turvy both give small head shakes to Shishalki’s question. Topsy then pipes up. “No, not really.” She says shyly. “The farthest we would ever travel would be to the outskirts of the city. To gather mushrooms and stuff— that’s actually how we got... caught.” Topsy finishes quietly. 

Her younger brother Turvy, stays behind Topsy for most of the encounter, peeking out occasionally and softly mumbling phrases you can’t really make out. Both are definitely still wary of you as a newcomer and all, but seem to still be interested in the presentation, just holding back and staying quiet. Turvy particularly seems to come out of his shell a bit.

 “Ah,” Jimjar says. “So... your father did not make it? I myself am in a similar profession of sorts. Native to Blingdenstone, but leave frequently. The Drow can... catch you by suprise, y’know.” He says awkwardly growing silent after he finishes speaking.

What would you like to do?