Chapter 5: Blingdenstone

Welcome to Blingdenstone, travelers. My apologies for the gruff treatment, we are leery of those seeking entry, but you've a member of a trading tribe with you, and you bear a load from Pickshine.

You find that you are in a busy cavern, with several deep gnomes milling about. There are two sealed tunnels off to the west and southwest. The western path is closed by a reinforced, locked, and guarded gate. The southwest appears to be a cave-in blocking the way. To the north, there is a single open passage leading deeper into the caves. To the northeast, a miltaristic gate sits open, with armored gnomes moving in and out.

Well then the Trader's Grotto is the place you'd want to go. Just head through that tunnel there. Thankfully most of the merchants do speak Common, you'll be fine to communicate. They may have some ideas for work or things like that. As for unloading supplies, I can take those off your hands. I'm under contract with Pickshine, he sent a message ahead of you letting us know about your arrival. What was it, fifty gold per to transport? Here's your take! he says, pulling out 7 bags full of golden coins from a pouch under his cloak, handing one to each of you. He gestures to the unblocked path.

You proceed north, into the Trader's Grotto. The guard stays behind, going back to his duties as another guard tends to the shipment from Dasco. There are myriad stone growths that appear to be fungi, and are exceptionally well done, almost as if they were fungi at one point. There are numerous makeshift stalls in and around the stalks of these stone mushrooms. You make your way to a stall that looks like he might be interested in some of the non-violent goods in your possession as he has a number of silken clothes laid out in front of him on a rickety table.

Oh yes! Things to sell, hmm, I'm not usually a buyer you see, but depending on what you have to offer - he starts to say.

Just as the deep gnome gets into his speech, however, a loud clanging bell begins to sound from the main entrance, toward where you came in. The deep gnomes around you all draw weapons and retreat as you see the guard that escorted you stumble back into the entry way of the grotto. He rises slowly into the air. As the light from a nearby torch flickers, you see a strange shimmer around him, revealing the surface of the gelatinous cube that has engulfed him!

Heartboiler leaps into action. As she does so, a spectral trio of goliaths split from her body and stand flanking her, ethereal yet powerful. Her massive sword whistles through the air, burying itself deeply into the cube. A loud peal of thunder echoes through the halls, causing every gnome to turn in awe.

Combat! You are all up.