17-B: The Great Betrayal

Bogteam, Stool Team Six, Nomi Pathshutter, Bill, and Nomi's brother Norbo make their way towards Blingdenstone, the city of deep gnomes. The Pathshutters warn the team about the famously unfriendly gnomes; they were betrayed a generation ago by the drow. They learn:

* For centuries, Blingdenstone remained hidden and isolated from the rest of the Underdark, thanks to a combination of misdirection and magic. It wasn't until they provided shelter to a drow exile that the deep gnomes began to take a more active interest in the world outside their caverns. Perceiving the threat the drow represented to all the peoples of the Underdark, the deep gnomes abandoned their isolation when they came to the defense of the dwarves of Mithral Hall, defeating an invading drow force from Menzoberranzan.
* This alliance, however, would spell Blingdenstone's doom. The vengeful drow bided their time, rebuilt their forces, and sent their armies out to strike back hard against the svirfneblin. After tricking them into gaining entry under peaceful terms, they returned in great force to lay siege to Blingdenstone. The deep gnomes were no match for the drow army. Thousands of svirfneblin were slaughtered, and those survivors who didn't escape to Mithral Hall or the surface world were dragged back in chains to Menzoberranzan as slaves.

Blingdenstone has a reputation for being a dangerous ruin inhabited only by monsters and other undesirables. Others think of it as a budding settlement well on its way to recovery. As Bogteam reaches the gates, they can see that the truth lies somewhere in between. Nomi and Norbo vouch for their good character and support of the gnomes.

The party travels through outer Blingdenstone, which is still being rebuilt and reclaimed from various monsters--the restless ghosts of slain deep gnomes, wererats (Norbo explains that they are famous for sticking daggers into the kidneys of unsuspecting gnomes), and more. Soon, the party encounters an earthen monstrosity called a xorn. Bogteam reaches into his bag of tricks and sicks his animals on it. Pix calls on a gem Norbo gifted her and summons an earth elemental; she names him Billie-Geo Kill-Crusher (or "Rocky" for short). Rocky destroys the xorn with minimal effort as it tries to flee. Nomi, Norbo, and the gnomish guards are impressed.

The group leave the dark tunnel behind and step into what looks like another world. These aren't sinister drow caverns or harsh, bare stone, but a subterranean land of warm colors and welcoming smells. The deep gnomes they see going about their business glance up with suspicion, but they instinctively understand that they face no threat here.

One of the guards escorting them abandons his severe frown to give a deep nod as he prompts you past the inner gate. **"Welcome to Blingdenstone, travelers."**

Finally inside Blingdenstone, the group is taken to the village's chief, Dorbo Diggermattock, and its quartermaster, Senni Diggermattock. Dorbo affirms Norbo's distrust towards wererats; a population of them live in the slums to the Northwest of the city. The party inquires about many issues with the city, which has a small population of 300. They learn that oozes have recently made their way into the city, dissolving structures the Diggermattocks are trying to rebuild. The Diggermattocks relay rumors that some monster or magic in the northwestern part of the settlement might be responsible for the growing number of oozes in Blingdenstone. (They also inform Bogteam about the story of the drows' betrayal.)

The group decides to head to the Traders' Grotto in the north. There, they meet a talkative and pleasant salesman named Kazook Pickshine. Kazook is open about his desire to eventually expand his sales into other Underdark locations, including Gracklstugh. (He, too, mentions the drows' betrayal; he is wary of trading in their city of Menzoberranzan.) As they barter with Kazook for items, there is a disturbance.

The deep gnomes around Bogteam all draw weapons and retreat as they see a guard stumble back, then rise up in the air. A strange shimmer around him reveals the surface of the gelatinous cube that has engulfed him.

Bogteam leaps into action as the ooze slowly moves towards the party. They pepper it with arrows and spells as it engulfs some merchants' wares. They see through the transparent monster; the guard inside is being horrifically dissolved and disfigured. Tremble, surging with adrenaline, destroys it with his newfound bracers and magic bow. The guard, just barely, is alive. The normally-dour gnome merchants stare with wonder and gratitude at these incredibly powerful goblin children.

## New NPCs

1. Billie-Geo "Rocky" Kill-Crusher, Pix's earth elemental
2. Kazook Pickshine, svirfneblin merchant
3. Dorbo Diggermattock, svirfneblin chief
4. Senni Diggermattock, svirfneblin quartermaster