After the fight with the earth elementals and the banishment of Ogremoch's Bane, Kuhl needed a long solitary soak in one of the Foaming Mug's bathing rooms. He needed to prop up his feet next to a fire and sip a mug of stout. Most of all, he needed a good night's rest. Instead, he found himself waking to frantic pounding at his door.
"I'm coming," he called out.
The knocking stopped and Kuhl let out a sigh. He pulled himself up into a sitting position, and rested a moment, gathering his wits. Fargas rolled over in his own bed and gave the door a bleary eyed, questioning look. Kuhl shrugged and shook his head, then realized the halfling probably couldn't see him without dark vision. Regardless, he had no idea what was going on. But he had a suspicion. One that filled him with dread anticipation.
He padded to the door. The stone was cold beneath his feet and the air cool against his bare chest. Unlocking the door, he cracked it open, peeked through, then opened it fully upon seeing the gnome innkeeper, Tappy.
In Blingdenstone, the day and night cycles revolved around control of their light sources. They sprayed the phosphorus fungi or fed the fire beetles to be bright during the 'day' and let this light fade in the 'night'. The hallway lanterns had a feeble glow. They had not yet been refreshed. It was sometime in the early hours of the city.
"The Diggermattocks sent a messenger to fetch you," the gnome innkeeper said.
"Me?" Kuhl asked.
"You," Tappy said. "And your companions. I'm going to wake Lady Rhianne next. Then…"
The gnome paused, staring up at the half-elf. He understood the source of her hesitation.
"Would you like me to wake Ront?" he asked.
Tappy brightened. "Would you?"
He nodded and she smiled, then grew serious again.
"The messenger is waiting for you in the Common Room. I think the Diggermattocks want you to hurry."
She turned to head to the darkling bard's room, but Kuhl called her back.
"Tappy," he said. "I don't suppose Aleina and the others returned while we slept?"
The gnome shook her head. Kuhl sighed. He'd known the answer even before he'd asked. But he'd nursed a wild hope. He motioned for the innkeeper to go wake Rhianne.
"This does not bode well for your romantic prospects," Fargas said as Kuhl turned. The halfling was out of bed and had lit one of the room's lanterns. "She saw you shirtless and didn't even stare. I think you better lay off the sweet cakes and cream for a while."
"I see you're now awake enough to jest," the half-elf said as he retrieved his shirt from where it hung on one of the posts on his bed.
"Who is jesting?" Fargas asked. "When I first met you, you carried little Stool and a pack on your back. That kept you fit and trim. Now that we have Sky's magic bag you don't have to carry a pack. And Stool's gone as well. You need someone else to carry. I might know a certain halfling who finds himself weary and foot sore from time to time."
Kuhl smiled but worry over unfolding events only allowed the halfling's teasing to coax a smile rather than a laugh. He pulled his shirt on and gathered his studded leather armor. Fargas sensed his mood and he dropped the lighthearted banter.
"The Pudding King?" the halfling asked, giving voice to Kuhl's fear.
"What else?" the half-elf said.
"Have the others come back?" Fargas asked.
Kuhl shook his head.
Silence stretched as they both absorbed the implications.
"What are we going to do?" the halfling finally asked.
"Meet with the Diggermattocks," Kuhl said. "Decide then."
Fargas nodded. It seemed to spur him to action and he started dressing. Kuhl realized he too had stood inactive for a time. He resumed buckling on his armor. When they were dressed and armed, the halfling made a staying motion, forestalling the half-elf move to the door.
"Just so we're clear," Fargas said. "The four of us can't take on the Pudding King alone. It was risky enough with the others."
"I know," Kuhl said.
That seemed to satisfy the halfling, but he still looked doubtful. They went to wake Ront. At first the orc responded with only a grunt through the door at the half-elf's pounding.
"Ront," Kuhl yelled. "It is me. Wake up. We need to get moving."
He did not knock again as he could hear the orc moving inside his room. He was quite audible in fact. Cursing, thumps, and banging came from beyond the door.
Rhianne came out of her room as they waited. She gave a sigh and a nod of her cowled head in greeting.
"This is not good," she said. "A summons at this hour can only mean one thing. And the others have not yet returned."
"I know," Kuhl said.
"What are we going to do?" the darkling bard asked.
The half-elf had the distinct feeling he'd just had an identical conversation. He wondered how it had somehow become his responsibility to answer this question. He should be asking her. She was, after all, a hundred years older than him. He kept these thoughts to himself.
"We need to meet with the Diggermattocks and find out what is going on," he said. "Then we can decide."
"Decide what?" Ront asked, having just opened his door. "Wait. Before answering that, tell me why I shouldn't kill you for pounding on my door at this Gruumsh cursed hour?"
Kuhl sighed, mentally preparing himself to have the same conversation yet again. He explained their summons to the orc. Ront, like the others, felt the need to remind Kuhl that the others had not returned.
"I know, Ront," the half-elf said, not able to keep the frustration out of his voice. "We all know. The others have not returned. I can't do anything about that, can I? Let's just answer this summons and find out what is going on."
Uncomfortable silence fell while they waited in the hallway for the orc to finish dressing and join them. Kuhl felt like a petulant child. He tried to think of something to say to recover from his outburst but could think of nothing. The tension stretched, growing more and more unbearable until Fargas spoke.
"We could all be overreacting," the halfling said. "This summons could be anything. It could be something like an early morning surprise breakfast party."
"An early morning surprise breakfast party?" Rhianne asked, voice showing her skepticism. "I don't think so. I don't think there has ever been such a party. Ever."
"It's doubtful," Fargas said. "But possible. It could be."
"Could be what?" Ront asked as he again opened the door.
He was now fully outfitted and ready to go.
"Fargas was just saying," the darkling bard said. "We might be overreacting. It could be a early morning surprise breakfast party."
The orc stood for a moment in the doorway to his room, digesting this, then shook his head.
"Just so everyone understands," Ront said. "If the little halfling is right and I was woken at this hour for a breakfast party, someone is going to die."
"I promise to help kill them," Rhianne said.
Kuhl smiled and felt his tension ease. The others seemed similarly affected.
"Not a lot of morning people in this group," Fargas said with a chuckle.
Together they headed to the Common Room. The doorway to the room Aleina shared with Jhelnae, and Sky drew the half-elf's gaze as they passed it. The statue of the petrified half-drow stood inside, along with the gnome who shared her fate. No, the others were not here. But they had good reason not to be.
The messenger was pacing as they entered the Common Room, looking nervous. Tappy, seemed equally on edge as she watched from behind the bar.
"What is going on?" Kuhl asked. "Why are we being summoned?"
"It is for chief Dorbo to say," the gnome said, shaking his head. "I was told there would be more of you. Are others coming?"
"This is it," the half-elf said.
The gnome frowned and looked worried but gestured to them to follow. He headed to the exit of the inn.
"Did he tell you why we were being summoned?" Rhianne asked Tappy as the group moved to follow.
"No," the innkeeper said. "Please let me know what you find out."
But they only barely heard the last part as they were leaving the inn as she spoke. Once outside, their gnome guide set a quick pace. The group fast walked through the tunnels and caverns of Blingdenstone. The city was mostly quiet and darkened in the lowered lantern light.
"Diar's one. A morning person. Or the Underdark equivalent anyway. It is the one thing I don't love about him. It seems everything about being a ranger requires an early start at some gods cursed hour." The darkling bard held up a gloved hand and started counting on her fingers. "Hunting, early start. Tracking, early start. Foraging, early start. Exploring, early start. Even damned ranging itself, whatever that is, early start. Do you know when a bard typically performs?"
"Late?" Fargas guessed.
"Late," Rhianne confirmed, sighing.
Activity grew as they approached Diggermattock Hall. Several groups of grim-faced soldiers marched past, clanking in their mail, and other svirfneblin with messenger pouches in hand ran by. Something was definitely happening and Kuhl highly doubted it had anything to do with a surprise breakfast party. The darkling bard and halfling seemed to pick up on the tension of the soldiers and messengers and fell silent long before they entered the cavern holding the court of the Diggermattocks.
This area was brightly lit, and more crowded than usual. Kuhl was surprised to see Chipgrin of the wererats there. Also present were the burrow warden ghost, Jadger, the gnome priest Gurnik Tapfinger, and other svirfneblin Kuhl didn't recognize. They huddled around a large stone table with the Diggermattocks. A map of the city was spread before them, smooth stones laid at each of the corners to keep it from curling.
"Finally, you've arrived," Dorbo said in Common as the group entered. He then seemed to take count of their numbers and frowned. "The others. They have not returned?"
"Not yet," Kuhl said.
"Glutton's curse!" the gnome chief said, shaking his head. "The Pudding King has made his move. The battle for Blingdenstone has begun. Our soldiers are already engaged. You were supposed to launch the counterattack. But half of you aren't here. They are off chasing some damned magic elixir?"
"Not a magical elixir," one of the deep gnomes at the table said. "An ingredient to an alchemical concoction. I have it mostly prepared for when they return."
Kuhl glanced over at the gnome who had spoken. This must be the alchemist, Kazook Pickshine. The half-elf recognized him as one of the merchants owning a stall in the Trader's Grotto. He wore a close-fitting purple skull cap that was hard to forget.
"Does it look like I care if it's an elixir or concoction?" Dorbo snapped. "The point is they aren't here now! When we need them!"
Senni put a calming hand on her husband's arm.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm no warrior and leave the military things to my husband. What does he mean? Who isn't here? What counterattack?"
Kuhl started to answer, but she held up a hand to stop him.
"Remember. Not a warrior." She pointed to herself. "Simple terms please."
"The plan your husband settled on," the half-elf said, starting again. "With the help of Chipgrin and others, was to draw out the Pudding King's forces. Extend them so they couldn't protect him. Then, when the moment was right, send a force to attack him directly."
'By attack," Dorbo said. "He means kill. Its basic military strategy. Kill the king and the army falls into disarray. And it should really work with this Pudding King. Without him his army is just a collection of mindless oozes."
"And your group was supposed to be the force that attacked the Pudding King?" Senni asked.
Kuhl nodded. "We were to enter through a...back door of sorts, and attack him while his army fought the svirfneblin."
"Including the Goldwhiskers," Chipgrin said.
"Including the Goldwhiskers," the half-elf agreed.
"But now half of your group is missing," the female gnome chief said. "What does that mean?"
Kuhl considered for a moment. In the interest of cementing the alliance between the wererats and the settlers, his group had volunteered to form the backbone of the counterstrike force. Now he had to renege on that promise and ask for troops to aid them. His reluctance to admit that made him hesitate too long.
"It means," Ront said, speaking first. "That you tuskless little runts might have to do your own fighting for a change. I am not taking part in a suicidal raid for some vague promise for a caravan to the surface. Do it yourself!"
The table grew very quiet. Then the cavern grew quiet. It was the calm before the storm. Outraged gnome voices erupted all at once. Kuhl could barely make out what was being said, and some of it was in a language he didn't understand, gnomish probably.
"You damned orc bastard!" Somehow Dorbo managed to be heard over all the others. "We should have pincushioned you with crossbow bolts when you showed up at our gates. A beggar runaway slave of the drow. Do our own fighting? How do you think we resettled this place? By fighting for every inch!"
Soldiers around the cavern responded to their leader's anger by hefting their war picks. Ront showed his tusks and reached for his own blade, but Kuhl was there first. He secured a grip to keep the orc from drawing. Ront tried to shove him away but gave a surprised grunt when he didn't move the half-elf. The orc was physically very strong, but Kuhl's grandfather had been one of the Vassan Rangers who fought in the phaerimm-Evereska war. Many elves of the city still joked they were more bears than men. The half-elf had inherited more than his name from his grandfather. He'd inherited the man's strength as well.
High pitched screaming started. It took a moment for Kuhl to identify the source. It came from Senni, the chief's wife. Her voice sounded so hysterical it took even longer to puzzle out her words. He might never have if she hadn't kept repeating herself.
"Stop it! Everyone! Just stop!"
Through these piercing wails, she managed to quiet the cavern and take control of it again.
"Now then," Senni said in a surprisingly calm voice. "As I said, I am not versed in military matters. So, you tell me if I understand correctly, we settlers and the Goldwhiskers are to draw the Pudding King's forces away from him?"
Kuhl nodded when she looked towards him.
"So, it seems to me, that whoever is drawing most of the forces away must also engage in most of the fighting?" she asked. "Do I have the right of that? Or do I have it wrong?"
The half-elf saw where this line of questioning might lead. He approved. Could this gnome woman be so cunning as to use her feigned ignorance as a strength? He took the bait to find out.
"You are not wrong," he said. "They need to draw most of the Pudding King's army away. Otherwise, the counterstrike fails."
"That question was not for you," Senni said. "It was for your orc friend there."
Kuhl noted his 'orc friend' had calmed as the gnome spoke and cautiously let go of him. Ront seemed confused at being directly asked a question. It took him a moment to answer.
"Yes," he finally said with a shrug of his shoulders. "They draw the oozes away. That is the plan."
"So, it stands to reason," the chief's wife said. "Since most of the fighting then falls on us, both settlers and Goldwhiskers, we are, in fact, doing plenty of 'our own fighting'. Are, in fact, fighting as we speak."
The female gnome chief stared directly at the orc, leaving no doubt of the target of her statement.
Ront shuffled his feet and looked around the room, seeming to look for a way out from under her scrutiny. He eventually answered with a simple nod.
She seized on that concession.
"Let it be known then that no one here doubts the courage of the svirfneblin," her voice was raised to be heard throughout the cavern. "Whether they are settlers or Goldwhiskers."
Chipgrin smiled, showing the bucked teeth that had given him his name.
"She has no mind for fighting, says she," the wererat chuckled, "But there can be no doubt she is deadly in the art of chit-chat."
His smile grew even broader and he mimed applause.
"Now then," Senni said, focusing again on Kuhl. "As my husband has said, you came to us seeking sanctuary. Protection from drow slavers. We gave it. And you have repaid that gift thrice over. The medusa is dead, Ogremoch's Bane is banished, and a truce between settlers and Goldwhiskers is established. We do not forget these things. But I fear circumstances demand we beg for more. Will you help us again?"
"I can only speak for myself," Kuhl said. "But I will help where I can."
"And I will as well," Dawnbringer mindspoke.
"More importantly," the half-elf added, not able to suppress a slight smile despite the tension of the situation. "My sword has just informed me that she will as well."
"That means a lot," Rhianne said, with amusement in her voice. "Where a magic sword leads a bard must follow. There is sure to be a story there for the later telling. I will also help where I can."
Fargas sighed, and muttered under his breath, but Kuhl could just make out the words.
"This is what comes from being friends with a paladin. Mother always warned me of them, but did I listen? Oh no." In a voice that could be heard by everyone else he said, "Sure, why not? I mean I don't have the strength and size of my friend here. Or say, a magic sword. Or a voice that shatters elementals. But sure, why not?"
Senni smiled at Fargas's answer. "You are among gnomes sir halfling. So don't try to underplay your value due to your lack of size. We know that game."
Fargas chuckled. "Yes, I suppose you do."
Only Ront had not answered, and Kuhl feared what the orc would say.
"I will fight for you," he said. "But only because you say you can get me to the surface. And I am not dying for you. I will not be going after the Pudding King with only the four of us."
"Do you think me a fool, orc?" Dorbo asked. His voice was no longer angry, just tired. "We don't accomplish anything by sending you to your death. Everything we are doing will be worthless if the Pudding King survived the assault. We could have tried to hold the oozes at a choke point but have instead given ground to draw out his forces. All of that forfeited territory is lost for nothing if the Pudding King does not die. We know the four of you are not enough."
"You are not fighting for your home or people," Senni said, voice gentle. "But you do fight for a way home, which is close to the same if you think about it. What about this? If you and your group can kill the Pudding King, we will give you more than a chance to accompany a caravan to the surface. We will share a secret we share with few that will get you to the surface just like that."
She raised a hand and snapped her fingers.
Kuhl was very intrigued about this seemingly magic way to the surface. But now was not the time to ask. Ront seemed to sense this as well, and also appeared satisfied with what they offered. He nodded.
"Good, good. My wife, Senni, is right of course. I was angry when I saw most of your group was not here. But what we need to do right now is salvage what we can and not cast blame." The gnome chief looked to the others around the table, "What forces can be spared to add to the counterattack?"
"I would like to join them," the gnome priest, Gurnik Tapfinger, said from his place at the stone table. "They did not banish Ogremoch's Bane by themselves after all. They might need my help again."
"We most definitely did not banish Ogremoch's Bane by ourselves," Kuhl said. "And we worked well together. I'd welcome the opportunity to do so again."
Dorbo looked to the gnome priest, considered, then with a nod decided it. Gurnik would join them.
"With Gurnik with your group," a female deep gnome with a topknot and grey eyes said. "I will be needed with the bulk of our forces to give healing and help with the elementals we have fighting with them. We have, however, kept one elemental in reserve. It could be deployed with you and should fight well against the oozes."
She made a beckoning gesture and in one of the corners of the cavern a large boulder shuddered and unwound itself to stand. Kuhl had to resist the urge to take a defensive posture as it moved forward, the fight against the elementals of Ogremoch's Bane still fresh in his memory.
"It will need someone to handle it?" She held up a yellow diamond and looked to the companions.
They stared back, silent for a moment, still trying to understand what she offered. Then Fargas raised his hand.
"If you are asking who would like to control a giant creature of earth and stone," the halfling said "I think I'd be perfect for that."
The gnome with the top knot smiled. "I believe you would. Come with me master halfling and I will introduce you to your new friend."
She led Fargas towards the elemental, passing him the diamond as she did so.
"The oozes are right next to us and even more pushy than the last group of settlers," Chipgrin said, laughing when the Diggermattocks scowled. "We've few fighters to spare. But these twins don't have control over the gift yet. I've been using them as my guards, so as to appear all important and high and mighty. But the time for all that has passed, and I think they know you all to boot."
The wererat motioned towards one of the tables in the cavern where two gnomes sat alone. Kuhl hadn't noticed them before. Many gnomes sat at several tables and messengers came and went. But he did know these two, Topsy with her mop of hair and Turvey with only a few tufts up top, former fellow prisoners from Velkynvelve. The sister waved, but her brother, like always, seemed to be muttering to himself.
"We do know them, they will be welcome to join us," Kuhl said.
"Those two little runts?" Ront grumbled at the same time, thankfully under his breath.
Privately, the half-elf somewhat agreed. He would rather have wererats in control of their gift. Still, he knew the two could use crossbows. He'd had to yank a bolt loosed by one of them out of his leg not so long ago.
"I cannot haunt as far as where the Pudding King resides," the ghost Jadger said. "Don't know a ghost who can. We can continue to help the forces that are closer."
"Which will free up some of our troops to also send on this counter offensive?" Senni asked.
Her husband sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them again he nodded.
"When the fighting reaches the Reception Hall, I will send a runner to let you know to begin your assault," the gnome chief said. "A couple of our best soldiers will be with him."
Kuhl ran through a mental headcount, the four in his group along with three gnomes, one a priest, and an earth elemental. Add two more soldiers to that and they would have ten. Whether or not it would be enough depended on how many forces this Pudding King kept in reserve, and also what sort of power the gnome himself possessed. He'd be more confident with the magic of Aleina and Jhelnae on their side. But this would have to be enough.
"To begin our assault, we'll need to clear the way," the half-elf said. "A potion was mentioned before to help with that. Or should we start the elemental digging as soon as we get to the Steadfast Stone temple?"
"Digging is too noisy and too slow. We'll lose the element of surprise," the alchemist, Kazook said, He indicated to two glass flasks on the table. "I've created an alchemical concoction previously discussed. The ingredients are scarce, so you only have a single dose to use. Separated, both liquids are inert. Combine them and it is very volatile. You have a ten count before bang."
The gnome mimed an explosion with his hands.
"It actually won't make a sound," the alchemist continued. "A highly corrosive gas will be released. But it will gladly eat through your flesh just as easily as the stone. We have a spell gem prepared to create a wall of wind to keep the gas away from you. It should also direct it down the stairway you want to clear. It dissipates quickly. Give it a minute, maybe two to be safe, and you should be able to walk through."
He held up a piece of blood stone for a moment, then handed it to Gurnik, the gnome priest.
"You've been busy," Rhianne said.
"Very," Kazook said.
The darkling bard picked up the two stoppered glass flasks and looked at the contents. One held a clear golden liquid and the other a clear amber liquid.
"It is probably wise to have two separate individuals carry these," Rhianne said.
She handed one of the glass vessels to Ront, who took it with obvious reluctance.
"There is one more thing," Kuhl said. "I normally fight with a shield, but my last one was destroyed. I haven't had a chance to pick up a replacement."
The gnome chief considered for a moment, then shrugged.
"Someone get this man a shield," he said.
Most of the guards wielded warpicks with two hands and carried no shield. One, however, carried a round metal shield made from some type of bronze like material. It was inlaid with a spiraling flaming serpent pattern. The owner looked around the room, desperate to find another potential volunteer.
"This one is too small for him," the guard grumbled.
"It's too large for you," Dorbo said. "Everyone tells you that. Besides you use it with your crossbow. A rectangle one or one appropriately notched would suit you far better than a round one."
"But this one is so pretty," the guard said.
Despite his protests he was already unslinging it and moving towards Kuhl. With one last look at the face of it, he sighed and handed it over.
The half-elf slid his arm into the strap and held it into a guard position. It was smaller than what he was used to, almost a buckler sized, but fit his arm surprisingly well.
"Thank you," Kuhl said.
But the gnome guard only grumbled in response as he returned to his post.
"We'll send the runner and some soldiers when all is ready," the gnome chief said. "When you come across this Pudding King, kill him dead, dead, dead! It makes me so angry to think one of the settlers we brought with us, someone who knows all the work we've put into reclaiming Blingdenstone, would do this!"
Dorbo's speech had started calm and rational, but his temper had flared again as he spoke. This time, at least, his anger was directed towards the enemy rather than the missing companions of their group.
"Now go, and may Gaerdal Ironhand bless and protect you," the gnome chief continued. "And also bless your steel to kill the Pudding King when you reach him!"
He punctuated the last statement with a slam of his fist against the stone tabletop.
They left the cavern, accompanied by Gurnik, the gnome twins, and the earth elemental. Topsy and Turvey had been a little surprised to suddenly find themselves transferred to their group and now on a special mission but seemed to adjust quickly. Soon they jogged through the tunnels, booming steps of the earth elemental reverberating down the corridor.
When they reached the entrance to the Rockblight, they found both the fortified doors rolled back and the way clear. Only a small contingent of guards now monitored the entrance and Captain Axebarrel was not at his usual post. He probably fought the advance of the oozes. For a moment Kuhl was confused as to why they didn't hear sounds of fighting. Sound carried in the Underdark and, as Dorbo had said, svirfneblin forces were already heavily engaged. But then he remembered the fighting, at this point, would be beyond the fortified doors of the Reception Hall that led to the Goldwhisker Warrens. Those doors were likely closed and sealed. The gnomes would be even now slowly retreating towards them.
Gurnik spoke to the gnome guards before they entered the Rockblight. He shared the news he gathered as they moved through the abandoned residential cavern and up the stairs to the Crystal Garden.
"The guards are to close both doors the moment they see the first sign of oozes," the gnome priest said, huffing as he climbed the steps. "And not open it again unless Dorbo himself orders it. No matter who they see on the other side."
"I think," Rhianne said, also winded from the climb. "If the oozes reach those doors, we'll be long dead, our remains still digesting in a gelatinous cube. Or maybe we'll still be alive but mired in a black pudding sludge that likes to play with its food."
"Well, someone gets a little dark when she is woken too early in the morning, doesn't she?" Fargas said.
Unlike the others, he wasn't out of breath, having ordered the elemental to pick him up when they'd reached the stairs.
"Perhaps," the darkling bard said as they reached the top of the stairs, "but I'm feeling a sudden improvement in my outlook."
They were now in the Crystal Garden and, as before, scintillating colors danced against the cavern walls from the combination of the crystal growths and nightlight mushrooms. They all took a moment to catch their breath as they appreciated the beauty of the place. Kuhl noticed the headless body of the medusa had been removed and the blood scrubbed clean since he'd last been here.
"If I reach the surface," the half-elf said, then decided that sounded too ominous before a battle. "When I reach the surface, I'll never take a rainbow for granted again. Such a simple thing. A bit of rain, a bit of sun, and colors arc across the sky. This place really makes me want to see one again."
"I never took seeing one for granted," Rhianne said. "I still remember the first time. I was still a child and my family sheltered in a dense stand of trees. We sought such places when we traveled on the surface, resting in the shade, and waiting for night to fall so we could continue our journey. That day we sheltered from rain as well as sun. I watched the rain fall, unaware of what I'd soon witness. Then the clouds broke, the sun shone, and there it was."
"That is a beautiful story," Fargas said. "But sad, since you have to see a thing like a rainbow from the shadows. It's both beautiful and sad, if you know what I mean. I hope that is not insulting."
"It's not," the darkling bard said. "Believe it or not, as a crafter of stories, I will take that as a compliment."
"The first time I visited this place was with you," Gurnik said. "Before we cleansed the Steadfast Stone. But it is already very important to me and very important to our people. Sheyanna Flaxenstrand, our goddess of love and beauty, has little love for the Underdark. The stories passed down say this place was crafted to attract her attention so we, the svirfneblin, could receive a little of her favor."
"Interesting," Rhianne said. "A fitting gift to her. Hopefully, in the future, many gnome couples will be inspired by her divine presence while they explore this place together."
The gnome priest smiled, then his face hardened. "They won't if the Pudding King drives us from Blingdenstone again."
"That isn't happening," the darkling bard said. "We can't let that happen. The oozes would destroy this place by consuming these ancient nightlights. This place must be preserved."
Ront snorted. "I don't care about this place. I only care about getting to the surface. And I am sick of carrying around stuff that might melt my flesh and bones. So can we go?"
The orc held up the stoppered glass flask of amber liquid.
"It should be safe as long as it is not mixed with this," Rhianne said, holding up the flask she carried.
But she headed for the stairs leading up to the Steadfast Stone temple. Kuhl and the others followed, Fargas again deciding to have the elemental carry him.
The temple was much the same as Kuhl had last seen it. The menhir in the center glowed with a pure white light and the three galeb duhr still guarded it in boulder form. No rubble from their battle with the earth elementals, however, remained.
"Nomi and I had a chance to clean the place," Gurnik said. "But little beyond that."
"I don't suppose those will help us," Fargas said, indicating the three boulders.
The gnome priest shook his head. "They will protect the temple, no more. Maybe when we have spent more time with the Steadfast Stone, become attuned to it, we will be able to do more. For now, we have no control of them."
The halfling sighed. "It was too much to hope for I suppose."
Kuhl walked up a short way down the wide staircase on the opposite side of the temple from where they had entered. It ended at a wall of collapsed stone. Beyond this wall, according to the svirfneblin, lay the tunnels that would provide lead to the Pudding King.
"Let's put the flasks down here so all is ready," the half-elf said.
He watched as Rhianne and Ront put down the flasks. They retreated back up the steps.
Kuhl set about organizing his group while they waited. He and the elemental would lead the way, Gurnik, Topsy, and Fargas controlling the elemental following. Rhianne and Turvey would be next with Ront playing rear guard with the soldiers the Diggermattocks sent.
Tense waiting followed, but as time stretched, grew into boredom. Kuhl found himself seated and drumming his fingers along the rim of his new shield by the time the messenger entered the Steadfast Stone temple. A brief exchange and they were gathered at the top of the stairs staring down at the two waiting flasks.
"I'll mix them," Rhianne said.
Kuhl shook his head. "I'll do it. Gurnik, have that spell gem ready."
He handed his shield back to Fargas and descended the stairs. Kneeling, he pulled the stopper from both flasks. Kazook hadn't told him to hold his breath, but he did so anyway. He picked up the one holding the golden liquid and, very carefully, poured it into the amber liquid. Part of him wondered if the ten count was for when the two liquids first mixed or had the alchemist naturally included time for pouring. Too late now to ask. Trying to stay calm, he finished his tipping the last of the golden liquid in, set down the flask, and sprinted for the top of the stairs.
"Gurnik, now!" Kuhl called out as he joined them.
The gnome priest held up the blood stone and chanted an incantation and pointed. The air stirred at the bottom of the steps. Specks of dust and debris rose to spin and swirl in maelstrom in a dizzying pattern and Kuhl heard the roaring of wind. Yet beyond the first displacement of air, he felt no current. Past their wall of wind, a golden hued amber gas rose from a melting flask. Some of it spread towards them but was rebuffed by the barrier of air and sent back. The gas ate away at the fallen rock blocking the stairwell. Portions of the stone collapsed as the base of the wall was dissolved, but this fallen stone was soon consumed as well. After a time, the passageway was clear. Not completely clear, there were still patches of rock to navigate, but clear enough for their group to pass through. Soon after that, the wall of wind collapsed, the gem's magic spent.
"You think it is safe?" Fargas asked. "I don't know if I want to march through there after seeing all that rock get melted."
"Kazook said it would be safer after a minute, maybe two," Kuhl said.
It had probably been two minutes already, but the half-elf delayed a little longer. When he was more than sure enough time had passed, he ignited Dawnbringer and led his group down the stairway.
"Tell the Diggermattocks our counter assault has started," he called back to the messenger.
I have tried and tried with this chapter. I can't get it to flow right. I probably should work on it some more, maybe give it some time to just sit and wait for some inspiration to come so I can make the read much more enjoyable. I could try to put all this 'off camera' to move the action forward and weave it into the first couple paragraphs of them starting their attack on the Pudding King, but I have a feeling I have been relying too much on that tactic the last few chapters. Sometimes you have to show the set up. However I'm also aware that this is a fanfic and trying to drag you dear readers through a slog of set up is a sin. If you have any suggestions of where to fix it, please let me know. Perhaps they shouldn't joke about an early morning breakfast party? Or the stories of rainbows should go? I don't know. I just want to stop thinking about it for a bit. Maybe when I go back through on a re-edit things will be more clear to me.