Chapters 1, 2, and 3

"I'll let them know," Jimjar replies, and moves up to speak with Flarg. He nods back to you after a few moments of conversation.

"You have my thanks, dwarf," Sarith whispers back then shakes his head and chuckles, "Adventuring with a dwarf, seeking refuge with gnomes... soon they'll start calling me Drizzt Do'Urden!"

A short while later you come upon a large set of stairs leading up to a large gate. Off to the left of the stairs is a small opening, big enough to fit a cart, but not much extra clearance. Going into the opening is a track leading up through a tunnel and into the gnomish city. Flarg beckons you to wait as he wheels the cart over to the opening and attached it to a chain. A earth elemental at the top of the stairs starts turning a crank and the cart is pulled slowly into the opening and out of site.

"All done with that now, let's head in," Flarg says and begins heading up the steps.

The stairs are not meant for people larger than gnomes, so it is a little bit awkward heading up the steps, but you all make it. The gate at the top of the stairs is made from steel and mithral and plated with adamantine. It is truly an impressive creation and Elfog finds himself impressed with the workmanship. The terrace leading up to the gate is sloped, which you recognize as a tactical choice to prevent people trying to batter the door down from gaining any real momentum.

There are four gnomish guards on each side of the gate. The leader steps forward and speaks to Flarg for a moment before shooting a suspicious glance in your direction and pulling out a gem. He whispers a word of command and you all feel a tingle of cold for a moment before it dissipates. He nods, satisfied with whatever it is he saw and shouts for the guards to open the gate.

The gnomes are very suspicious, but are at least courteous. They don't appear to have hostile intentions, it's more like the look of someone who's expecting you to stick a dagger in their back when they turn around.

From what Flarg told you on your trip you were able to piece together the recent history of the gnomes:

Most, if not all, of you have heard tales of the noble drow ranger, Drizzt Do'Urden, who abandoned the evil ways of his kin to seek a more goodly path. He was best friend to Bruenor Battlehammer, king of Mithral Hall, who died some time ago (though rumors say he has now returned to life). You know that he is in good standing with the powers of the north, including the dwarves and the powerful city of Silverymoon. He has quite an impressive reputation for being a do-gooder.

The gate opens slowly and Flarg leads you on through. Beyond the gate is a twisting and turning path; on both sides of the path are 10 foot high walls studded with nails. The path slopes up and down and, at some points, narrows so that you have to be very careful while squeezing through.

Above the path you are traveling are walkways, festooned with towers and battlements where defenders could fire freely on any creatures attempting to gain unauthorized access. You can see gnomes above and often their grips on their crossbows tighten when they see the drow passing through.

After what seems like a long walk, you find yourself in front of another gate which opens as you approach. The tunnel beyond has a high ceiling, about 30 feet, and you can see gems embedded in the walls. Flarg casually mentions that the gems are dangerous and tells you to avoid touching them.

At the north end of the tunnel is a smaller door made of stone and reinforced with adamantine. Flarg opens the door easily to reveal Blingdenstone, home of the Svirfneblin.

You leave the dark tunnel behind and step into what looks like another world. These aren't sinister drow caverns or harsh, bare stone, but a subterranean land of warm colors and welcoming smells. The deep gnomes you see going about their business glance up at you with suspicion, but you instinctively understand that you face no threat here.

One of the guards escorting you abandons his severe frown to give a deep nod as he prompts you past the inner gate. "Welcome to Blingdenstone, travelers."

The cavern here is busy (5 on map). Dozens of gnomes rush around, performing all manner of tasks or just in a hurry to get somewhere. The cavern is well-lit by a combination of luminous fungi, caged fire beetles, and magical lights.

"It would be wise to seek out Dorbo now that we're here. He'll want to talk to you about your story." Flarg says and leads you through a cavern to the east, through a market (7 on map). Stone carvings of fungi sprout up from the floor here and merchants have stalls set up here and are trying to sell their wares.

You take the southern exit out of the market, which leads to a temple (8 on map). The priest nods politely to the party as you pass and gets back to his work in restoring the temple.

He continues leading your through the caverns. Next you go through another large chamber (10 on map), with a well-guarded door on the east end, flanked by grim guards, then you go south into the residential caves (12b), where the deep gnomes stay when they're not busy restoring their home to its former glory.

Flarg leads you through to the southeastern corner and into another large chamber (14 on map) which he calls Diggermattock Hall. Two dozen or so svirfneblin occupy th is well-lit cavern, some moving briskly with messenger pouches in hand while others huddle around several stone tables cove red in maps and other papers. talking in hushed, serious tones. The back of the room is dominated by a dais carved from the rock of the cavern, atop which rest two stone desks facing each other. Two svirfneblin - one male, one female - sit behind the desks, conferring with advisers and each other. They turn their attention to you as you enter.

Flarg indicates that you should wait where you are and he moves ahead to speak with the apparent leaders. After a short conversation they wave you forward. The male looks you over for a moment before speaking slowly, "Welcome to Blingdenstone, travelers, you are most welcome in our home," he looks unsurely at Sarith for a moment and continues, "My name is Dorbo Diggermattock, and this is my wife, Senni. Flarg tells us you escaped from a drow slave camp and have had quite the adventure out in the wilds of the Underdark? Why don't you tell us all that happened out there? We don't have as many people gathering information out there as we'd like."

The gnomes listen in polite silence as you recount your journey thus far. Once you're done, Dorbo strokes his hairless chin, deep in thought. After several long moments of silence he responds, "I see... Your journey thus far has been truly incredible, and you are welcome to stay here so long as you don't cause any trouble. What are your plans after you deliver Stool to his home?"

"I plan on staying here," Jimjar speaks up at this point, talking mostly to Dorbo, "As long as you'd have me."

Dorbo smiles, "All of our people are welcome here, always."

"I don't know where I'll go... I have no desire to return to Menzoberranzan," Sarith says, "I may try to find a new home in the Underdark, or perhaps I will make my way to the surface as well."

Dorbo looks at Sarith with a confused expression on his face, then turns back to Hunter, "Could you find your way to the surface even if you wanted to?"

"Tell me of your home, I'd like to hear the tale," Dorbo says to Mai'ngor, curiosity clear on his face.

"Bad omens... rocks should come from the ground, not the sky," he says, examining the stone without touching it, "It's like nothing I have seen before. Perhaps one of our priests could further determine its origins. I'd go ask Gurnik Tapfinger at the Speaking Stones if he can determine its origins, or maybe Kazook Pickshine at Trader's Grotto could give you some insight. He's an expert in gems and ore."