Out of the Abyss

96

Among the party's fellow escapees. the deep

gnomejimjar is the most enthusiastic about visiting

Blingdenstone, and he can lead the adventurers

there. Topsy and Turvy also know the way, but they

are noticeably less willing to go 10 the settlement

because of the fear and shame they feel regarding their

lycanthropic affliction. The shield dwarf scout Eldeth

Feldrun isn't sure how to reach the gnome setLiemcnt,

but is in favor of going there if it offers a route ro the

surface or to Gauntlgrym. lf the characters allow

Glabbagool (the sentient gelatinous cube from .. The

Oozing Temple'· in chapter 2) ro accompany them. it

feels a certain pull tOward Blingdenstone, and is c urious

enough to guide the characters th ere.

DROW PURSUERS

The svirfneblin settlement is a haven for the characters.

For good reason. the deep gnomes rarely allow drow

into Blingdensrone, and only then with a heavily

armed escort. A drow character must succeed on a

DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check to enter escorted.

However, if any deep gnomes are traveling with the

party, having them vouch for the drow allows the escort

to be waived at your discretion.

The party's drow pursuers won't attempt ro follow the

characters into Bl ingdenstone. The party's pursuit level

(see "Drow Pursuit" in chapter 2) doesn't change while

they are in the svirfneblin settlement.

If the party's pursuit level is 3 or higher when they

arrive at Blingdenstone. flvara and her party are

watching the tunnels leaving the settlement. The

pursuit level increases to 5 when the characters leave

Blingdenstone, possibly leading to a chase or straight

into chapter 7, .. Escape From the Underdark."

ARRI V ING AT BLINGDENSTONE

Bl ingdenstone 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 i1s

way to recovery. Once the characters reach the gates,

they can see that the truth lies somewhere in between.

RoLEPLAYING THE SVIRFNEBLIN

Deep gnomes are a dour lot, reserved and careful in their

dealings with outsiders. They make the assumption that

every non-svirfneblin means to do them harm-which

is understandable given their history. They speak softly

in caves and tunnels where sound carries, eyes darting

furtively, looking for signs of danger.

Despite their harsh outlook, svirfneblin are still gnomes,

and many are as benevolent and joyful as their surface

cousins. They reveal these aspects most easily among their

own kind, and to those they come to trust.

The svirfneblin assign defined roles to each gender but

hold females and males in equal standing. It is ancient

custom for there to be both a king and a queen with equal

responsibilities. Svirfneblin males are hunters, explorers,

laborers, and warriors, while females are managers,

judges, politicians, and caretakers. Deep gnomes

sometimes forget this is not the case with other races, and

that males are capable of careful thought just as much as

females can fight.

C HAPTER 6 lilt INGOE:o;STONl

The characters must prove their goodwill to the

deep gnomes before they arc allowed inside. Once the

characters w in the gnomes' t ru st, they are welcomed

imo Inner Blingdenstone, and to what food and comfort

the locals can readily provide.

CHANGING SvrRFNEBLIN ATTITUDES

The general attitude of deep gnomes toward strangers is

hostile-not necessarily opposed, but deeply suspicious.

This attitude can be shifted to indifferent and then

friendly as the characters help the svirfneblin openly

(see "Social Interaction" in chapter 8 of the Dungeon

Master's Guide).

Some deeds in Blingden~tone reward the characters

with an automatic attitude shift, while others require a

DC 15 group Charisma (Persuasion) check. If the group

check succeeds, the attitude of the svirfneblin shifts by

one. If characters are rude or act in a way to make the

deep gnomes more suspicious toward them, they must

also make another group check. If this group check fails,

the deep gnomes' attitude worsens by one.

RANDOM ENCOUNTER S IN

BLINGDENSTONE

Once per day while the characters are exploring the

deep gnome settlement, roll a d20 and consult the

Blingdenstone Encounters table to determine what, if

anything, they encounter.

BLINGDENSTONE ENCOU N T ERS

d20 Encounter

1- 10 No encounter

11 ld4 + 1 animated drow statues

12 1d4 + 2 cave badgers

13 Dungeon hazard

14 Ele m e nt al vagabonds

15 1 d 4 + 2 fiendish giant s piders

16 1 ghost

17 Mephit gang

18 Roaming ooze

19 ld4 + l svirfneblin were rats

20 l xorn

ANIMATED DROW STATUES

Once part of a expedition from Menzoberranzan, these

drow were petrified by a medusa and later animated

by Ogrcmoch's Bane (see "Settlers, Squatters, and

Invade rs" later in this chapter). They have the staListics

of animated armor. except they are clcmentals instead

of constructs.

CAVE BADGERS

The svirfneblin use these beasts as part of their digging

workforce. Cave badgers are giant badgers with AC 12

(natural a r mor), tremorsense out to a range of 60 feet,

and a burrowing speed of 15 feet. When they burrow,

they leave tunnels behind them.

DuNGEON HAZARD

The characters approach a section of Blingdenstone

in horrible disrepair. If they explore the area, roll a d6