Deeper Underdark

Oh my days - we’d better look for a hiding place!

Using his superior skill in navigating underground, Grin finds two areas the group can use. One is a side dead end. Assuming the incoming duergar are simply passing through an area they know, they will not likely investigate a known dead end without reason. The other is an "overpass" of sorts that would not be used to pass through, but should give the group a chance to either avoid the duergar, or at least get the drop on them.

Stee will stash his Autums Glory for the time being as he hide with the others. He looks to Wreak and whispers"Quiet now boy."

Grin is feeling protective, and given the options and the short time to hide, he guides the group to the side dead end - over here- He settles himself and Havoc and extinguishes his lantern.

Oliver holds his breath while they walk to the dead end, not daring to say a word, but his mind racing to think of any concoction in his bag that could help them out.

Brewner will follow Grinfletch to the dead end and quietly awaits

Following Grin and the group, Ealdwig whispers the command word light and the Chromacloth goes out. Due to his small frame Ealdwig will hid behind one of the humans. He pulls his sword slowly and carefully in case it is needed.

You all squish in and push back to the back end of the dead end passage, keeping the pets farthest back. You stay as quiet as possible, keeping the animals quiet also. Sure enough the noises get closer and closer while you wait. From the sounds, you can tell there are around a dozen or so individuals. You start to be able to hear banter between some individuals, slowly making out more words and finally whole sentences. Unfortunately, most is spoken in dwarvish, which none of you understand. However, a couple of minor voices are using the common trade language, too, which you can make out. While you aren't able to hear entire conversations, you do hear some phrases and comments. Examples include normal small talk one would expect of soldiers out on a patrol, but not in any immediate danger. As they get uncomfortably close, they stop.

You can hear the squad quickly shift into a formation, after which you only hear one individual moving in a slow and deliberate manner. He speaks harshly (or at least you think he does, as the whole dwarven language sounds harsh to non-native speakers). After what seems like an hour (but is in reality only a few minutes), the squad starts moving again and you hear them leave in a direction different from whence they came. However, before you have much of a chance to do anything, you hear a voice that obviously didn't leave with the squad.

Oddly, the voice, which while spoken by a dwarf, is using the common trade language.

"This is stupid. Nothing ever happens here."

Another voice responds, "Shut up. Whine too loudly, and your complaints will make it back to the Squad Lead, and then you'll pay for it."

"And how is he going to find out about my whining? Is there a magic listening stone here?"

"No. I'll just tell him. Plus you talk so loudly that he is probably still close enough to hear it echoing around these confusing passages."

"You always were the suck-up."

And on their bickering continues. Despite the contention, there doesn't seem to be much animosity between the two voices. However, they don't stop.

Using his psionic resonance communicator, Grin messages: what should we do? They must have noticed some of our tracks or something, otherwise they wouldn’t have left a couple guards.

They are speaking dwarven. Maybe they are friends of yours Yoci.

"Just one way to find out, let's surprise them if they are friendly good, if they are Duergar we catch them while the rest of the squad is away" Brewner communicate with a shrug

Well we aren't going to "turn you over". Ealdwig says sarcastically. That's just ridiculous. Maybe you could continue to hide here and someone, can go talk with them. Grin and I are unassuming. Maybe we could wonder toward them and ask questions. Long pause, you'll have our back right? Or maybe one of you talls can do it.

While deliberating, you hear, "Well, we just have to make the best of it for the next couple hours while we wait for them to get back."

"Good thing nothing ever happens here. I don't even know why we have to be here."

"It's your fault we were the ones left here, you know."

And at that the bickering continues.

Stee will pull his bow and ready an arrow "I will have you covered the whole time."

Maybe Ealdwig and I can lead them in here and we can tie them up and get some information from them?

We'd better hurry, if the rest of the group is coming back. Ealdwig sheaths his sword quietly. He takes a deep breath, are we going to do this? Should we leave our gear behind?

We should go out bickering, how did you get us lost, nonsense like that. Think it'll work?