"Hm," Syvis mumbles absently as she seems lost in thought.

After a moment she's clearly made some sort of decision.

"Would you care to come meet the group? Perhaps you can tell us of the way to the Grove. The one you do not see is the one which has fallen ill and necessitates our travel."

Thinking for a moment, the gnome looks back to the group behind the elf, and then nods to himself, saying "Normally my fee as a guide is three shares of anything found along the way, but, as you have some Svirfneblin with your group I will guide you for an even share. The Dark is dangerous, but there are many wonders along the way. Call me Shishakli." He then passes his pipe to his off hand, and extends his main to the elf across from him. "Do you plan to leave in the morn?"

"Guides and fees are something the group must discuss. I am merely inviting you to join us at our table and talk."

Syvis turns on her heal and returns to the table with the others.

Still holding his hand out as the elf turns, Shishakli can’t help but think her rude for not introducing herself or shaking his hand. He simply shrugs and says to himself “Pale elves and Dark elves are the same it seems...” He then walks over to the group and says in Under Gnomish ((Gnomish with a slight accent~)) “Are you three trying to make your way back to Blingdenstone?”

Thodek nods to the newcomer, "Did you make a new friend, Syvis?"

Syvis silently raises an eyebrow at Thodek then addresses the table.

"This one says he knows the way to Neverlight Grove. I am not certain I trust him but I will leave that decision to the group," she says before sitting down.

Jimjar looks to the new gnome with a suspicious gaze. The twins both sort of retreat behind him while the adult gnome addresses you, Shishalki. “So... Neverlight Grove... you say. I don’t doubt from your attire you speak the truth, but what brings a... traveler of your sorts to Vin Badur; what makes you want to help us too?” Jimjar asks while he loudly taps his foot. 

For now, seemingly to have ignored your direct question. At this point, Derendil, a hulking quaggoth would have also stood up menacingly, taking a step forward. He is at least double your height and stares at you intently, Shishalki. 

What would you like to do?

“I have no love for the Elves,” Shishakli replies in undercommon, clearly referring to the Drow specifically as they are the elf race in the Underdark, but not sure about the race as a whole, “And, if you are the group I’ve heard about, you’ve done quite a bit to upset them. Which is both amazing, and a bit amusing, and I’d love to hear how it was done.” Switching to Gnomish he adds "Also, I could never let some brothers and sisters down if help was needed.” Back to undercommon, “I know the Dark better than most. I’m simply here resupplying before heading to the Darklake. There is also word of a great disturbance there. Much is happening in my Dark of late...” he trails off in thought.

Thodek shakes his head slowly and replies in common, "I would not advise continuing on to Darklake, it isn't really there as a city in any sense of the word anymore. But that is not a conversation for tonight, perhaps on the road. I'm willing to give you a chance and journey along with us, but I would request sticking to the common tongue, not everyone here speaks undercommon, and fewer still gnomish. Not being able to understand can breed a great deal of unnecessary mistrust over simple things."

Shishakli blinks at ‘anymore’ but files the information away for later. He then replies, still in Undercommon, “I am speaking the common tongue. I’m not sure what you mean. Though if I must use Uppercommon,” he frowns even at the thought, as if he’d just eaten food gone rotten, but then slowly switches, thinking hard about each sentence, “That is... possible. But... I do not ask for chance. I offer help. No one here better than I know the Dark. I am a guide. Food, medicine, paths, well I know.

Nicholas would observe the new comer, "So do you have a name? And how do we know we can trust you? Pardon my skepticism but my time in the underdark hasn't exactly been a bed of roses so far."

“I am Shishakli Tabr. You?” the gnome replies, still in broken Common. He then shrugs and says, “I offer help. You don’t need? Roses what is?”

An uncomfortable sound emanates from Syvis as you see her quickly stifle a snort of laughter.

"Idiomatic imagery of the world above is lost on those who dwell below, Nicholas."

Turning to Shishakli she relates (still in common), "We have reason to be suspicious of outsiders seeking to join us on our journey. Not long ago we were betrayed by one seeking to travel with us and we do not wish to repeat the experience. In truth, we would benefit greatly from having someone familiar with the terrain but it is difficult to trust if we do not know their motivations."

She stares for a moment. "What are your motivations? Why would you help us?"

Thodek nods, “We must all adapt as the times and circumstances change. I am called Thodek, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Glancing sideways at the elf, Shishakli annoyed that she asks a question that he had just answered in a language he knows she understands. “Perhaps like the Dark Elves, she is trying to stir discontent in the party?” he thinks to himself saying “I have explained that.” Then nodding to the dwarf, and looking to the rest of the group says “Nice to meet you. You escaped from Elves yes? That is good!” Looking then to the gnomes, and with a glance to the human, who he believe understands his words ((insight 19 from OOC)), he adds in Gnomish “I also could never abandon the sons and daughters of Blingdenstone far from home.”

Doing her best to read between the lines as Shishakli keeps speaking to his kinfolk in gnomish, Syvis begins to relax. But only slightly.

She leans in to the table and, in hushed tones, says, "Because you have asked and because we need some measure by which to gauge whether or not we can trust you, I will tell you of our escape. However, it cannot be spread about as I have no doubt that the drow have spies throughout the Underdark." The contrast of this bit of inflection is made even more stark by the fact that her cadence is typically completely devoid of variation. "Our escape was largely made possible by the cruelty that our dark captors inflicted upon each other. They sowed discontent amongst their ranks and we were fortunate enough to reap the benefits. But that series of events came at a great cost. Several among our number did not make it out." She continues to recount the rest of the tale (and introduce everyone by name)...

Nicholas would sigh, "I guess we don't have much choice. He seems friendly enough and I guess if he was malicious, he probably wouldn't be found here."

He then turns to Shishakli and says in gnomish, "Nice to meet you Shiskhali. I'm Nicholas. If you will be our guide, I guess we will be in your care."

Shishakli listens carefully and nods, thinking, “This Elf seems against the others... Perhaps she is one like Drizzt and can be trusted.” After the story has been told, and introductions made, he nods to the group, saying in Undercommon, as he is much more fluent there, and he believes that nearly everyone in the group understands it, “That is an amazing tale! I have heard through the faerzress of a group that had made it away, but such a thing is rare. I have had my encounters with the Elves, but am able to stay hidden, and avoid groups of them when in the Dark alone.” Then turning towards Nicholas, eyes wide and smiling, replies in Gnomish, “Well! A very surprising group indeed! Clearly you have done amazing things, and are a trustworthy person if one of our own has helped you to learn our language! Rare it is indeed to find a Gnome-friend from the ranks of those from Outside. I hope to hear your tale one of these days! Though normally I am a guide for hire, allow me to buy you and your group a drink, we can then discuss where I can assist in guiding you as friends once we have shared a cup.” He then calls out to Thorna and orders a round of an Underdark brew made primarily off a sweet moss.

Jimjar gives a nod of approval, and seeing that Derendil moves back to take a seat. Jimjar motions to the twins who also become more relaxed and sit down as well, small smiles of interest looking at yet another deep gnome similar to them. 

Jimjar then holds out his hand. “Welcome, the names Jimjar. Those two are Topsy and Turvy, and the big guy is Prince Derendil.” He says, pointing to each person respectively. “Yep! At least right now the plan is to reach Neverlight Grove for Stool over there, but then reach Blingdenstone. We can get these two back to their family,” he says ruffling Topsy and Turvy’s heads, “and also find a way to the surface for everyone else. We have already discussed it is probably the safest option to reach the surface compared to some... other settlements.”

Thorna would indeed be able to bring over some of the brew Shishalki requested. That would cost 2 sp per mug (there are 8 ‘adults,’ but including the twins, you could pay for a total of 10 mugs. I trust you to subtract the amount spent from your sheet depending on how many you’d like to order.) However, Thorna brings them over, and taking a sip, the drink is essentially an earthy mead. Most of you haven’t had any form alcohol for awhile, and this being the first, it is incredibly refreshing. 

Thodek frowns slightly as the newcomer slips back in to undercommon, hoping its just the excitement and he will remember himself in the future, the dangers of the underdark are hazard enough, and a warning in the wrong tongue could lead to disaster. But smiles again at the offer of a free drink and starts to try and relax a little, looking forward to what might be in their future.