Chapter 5: Blingdenstone

You walk to the cavern entrance and inside you see a trio of deep gnomes touching various stones. A series of lights flicker and flash in time with the eerie notes that sound while the stones are touched. A semi-circle of four tiny deep gnomes sit on the ground in front of the trio, clapping and giggling at the music.

Bildaweer, you realize after seeing it, you've found a group of stonesingers. Deep gnome musicians that can attune to the vibrations of the earth itself. Everything looks to be in order and they ignore you as you come in so they can continue their concert.

You all proceed along through the tunnels and caves, keeping stone walls always on your right side as you move through. In a short while, you find yourselves in a large cavern with three entryways carved into the walls. One of them boasts a heavy sign over the top of a mug overflowing with foam, clearly the Foaming Mug.

When you walk into the tavern, you find it bustling pretty well. Three or four tables boast deep gnomes at various levels of drunkeness, one table in the corner sees a surly duergar drinking alone. A bored looking svirfneblin sits behind the bar watching as two wenches move around distributing steins of frothy dark stout. She moves only when needed to fill the mugs.

However when your crew walks in, with Heartboiler easily dominating the space, she perks up and immediately rushes to you.

Oh! You must be adventurers and travelers to look so! You must sit down and have a glass of Darklake Stout and tell me about all the crazy things you've seen and done! Do you need rooms? We have rooms and hot springs for bathing. Please, come sit! M'name's Tappy Foamstrap. Owner, runner, and proprietor of the Foaming Mug! she says in a peppy rush, guiding you all to one of the two large tables running the length of the side walls.

Old Enzo? The armor guy? He's not here just yet, usually comes in a little later in the day. If I see him, I'll send him your way though! As for rooms, we've no lodgers just yet. Not many visitors these days. You can each have your own room, at 15 silver a piece or you can double up for 20 silver per room. Baths are included with the room. she says, happy to have the prospect of guests.

You sink down into your chairs and in short order, tall mugs of the nutty, slightly bitter, stout are brought over. In addition, a tureen of a thick mushroom and rice soup is delivered to your table with a stack of bowls.