The next several days are the best you've had yet since your escape from your slavers. Flarg, the gnome who spoke to Xeliss and Jimjar, and his companions are friendly and welcoming to all but Sarith, whom they regard with a lot of suspicion. After a few days even that suspicion fades and Sarith shows himself to be an able scout and guide, steering you away from any danger in your path.
Four days later you end up in a small Svirfneblin farming village. The gnomes there look upon you with suspicion, but allow you to roam freely and feed you well at Flarg's request. You leave early the next morning and by midafternoon you come across a couple of gnomish guards, both armed with pickaxes. They call out a greeting to Flarg and his companions in the language of the deep gnomes, which most of you can't understand. Jimjar provides a helpful translation for you.
"Hail and well met Flarg! Who are your new companions?" one of the guards calls out to Flarg.
"Just some folks who were lost in the wilds and were headed to us for help. Seems that they just escaped a drow slaver's camp," Flarg says in response.
The gnome's expression darkens, "Damned drow... Should take them straightaway to Dorbo. He'll be interested in their tale, I'm sure." He looks over and notices Sarith for the first time and his grip tightens on his pickaxe, "What in the nine hells is he doing here!?
Sarith sees that he has been spotted and raises his hands in a gesture of surrender, showing that he is not dangerous. Flarg waves a hand dismissively, "Bah, this one's not so bad. Been a damn good scout on our way back too, but we'll let Dorbo see what he wants to do with him."
Sarith leans over to Elfog, who is standing by him at the moment, and whispers, "I think this may not go so well for me; it was my people who destroyed their city many years ago...
The guard bids farewell to Flarg and you head on your way. Flarg indicates that it will be just a few more hours until you reach the main gate to Blingdenstone.
