Southspire Underdark
We meet with Ussail Rubyrinser the Deep Gnome Jeweler to ask about getting to Chrysophrase. He agrees in his very terse, Deep Gnome manner. He takes us to the docks and we meet his wife Schaitcha Rubyrinser. They take us to this rickety skiff, and we set off down the river.
Chrysophrase
The river is raging, and we are pushed along the very fast current through a tunnel network of horrors for a few hours. We move down an offshoot, and eventually hit Chrysoprase. It is lit by bioluminescence in crystal globes. Many Deep Gnomes are here. We are greeted by a phalanx of armed Deep Gnomes.
They tell us that we will be brought before the king. We agree, and are marched through. We meet King Belwar Stoneshield. He introduces us to Queen Shooshul Homeshield, co-ruler. The king has a woman next to him, and the Queen has a man named Gertek next to him. They’re consorts.
It seems that the King and Queen are not married, but co-rulers. The King asks us what we are doing here, we tell them about our intent to attack the Drow Outpost and to speak to Jaquette. The King wants to know if we are a danger to the Deep Gnome community. We say we are not. He asks if we will defend Chrysoprase if it is attacked by the Drow, we agree.
The Queen then asks us questions, specifically regarding Jacquette. We find out that Jacquette Alegan is now named Nethra Jointloader. She wants to know what we intend to do with the child. They are concerned about her safety should she decide to go with Bale. After making assurances, we are given permission to speak to her, but we need to find somewhere stable and safe for her to stay should she decide to leave Chrysoprase.
The consort Gertek takes us to the Jointloader home. Gegu Jointloader and Griselka Jointloader are Nethra’s adopted parents. We meet Jaquette.
Jaquette looks exactly like Bale did as a 12 year old. She’s bright and happy, strong and well adjusted. She is essentially what happens if Bale had been raised with hope.
Bale speaks to her and is holding back tears. Jaquette understood she was kidnapped, and that she could not be found due to the innate non-detection from the Deep Gnomes. So she never lost hope that her family would come to her.
It is mentioned that a group of Green Dragonborn are living further down the river. Another Dragonborn group!
We are introduced to Kiknurs Stonespeaker, who talks to the stone we took out from the King’s College in EastSpire, facing the Deep Gnome Embassy. The Stonespeaker begins to talk to the stone, and the stone responds.
“The great red wyrm was afraid. Deep Gnomes found his home. His den. It is in this tunnel. In the Lava field – far away. The stone is grateful. The stone will help when you call. It has said.”
Kiknurs will meld the stone into the cavern walls, so it can return.
This means that they knew where Xiammantoneldrym’s Lair is, which is bananas.
We find out about the Drow Outpost. We learn that there is one priest there, two or three magic users, a captain of the guard, a group of guards, totaling 10 Drow. There are also a number of giant spiders and slaves.
To get to the drow encampment, follow the river downstream, one day exactly, take that tunnel, it is in that tunnel. To return to the Dwarven Outpost, we have to travel the river upstream for 4 days.
We rest for the night.