So We Met In A Tavern.

A Whole New World.

*Dirbie! You have got to be the most curious svirfneblin I've ever seen.....*

Her father's voice echoed from her past and into her mind.

She'd crouched down with her cloak surrounding her and was currently peering thru the opening of her hood at fresh strange tracks in the tunnels of the underdark. Pitch black were her surroundings, but her milky white eyes like all of her kin had adapted long ago to seeing in the dark.

Motionless, she would appear as one of the many rocks that littered the path among the columns, stalagtights, and other rocky formations here in the damp cave system. Here is where she thought.

* How can this moment be worstened?*

Days ago, she had left her gnome city of Wobblestead in her curious exploration. This time, she wandered entirely too far... even past the entrance to the Duergar. Too loud were their constructs smashing rock on mining operations that they hadn't noticed her silent movement. Her curiosity took her all the way to the gates of the Drow.

She watched from afar... she had no intention of accidentally encountering the Drow. Their reputation of brutal murder and slavery was known far and wide, but she just wanted to see one for herself.

A pale grey elf woman approached the guards. Her skin had a faint pink-purple to it, and she seemed to be the one in command. Despite her determined and calculating face, she was beautiful. Her white hair was brought up in a high ponytail between her long pointed ears, and loose strands at the sides flowed down and around her neck and young face. She was dressed in leather armor and bore the symbols of her house. No other women around her wore it on their armor, but the banners around them matched it.

Derbie scribbled some notes and drawings in her book, determining that this woman... was someone of importance. She stayed motionless in her shadows and at great length, listening to her give orders. Here, noise traveled far, one had to be very careful not to give away their position. This woman felt confident enough not to care about the noise she made.

At long last, the woman made some final orders and retreated further into the tunnels, so Derbie slowly slipped away. There was the sound of water dripping from above, and Derbie anticipated each drop to help mask every step she took.

Traveling back, she once again slipped past the Duergar and wasn't far from home when she heard it echoing down the tunnel.

*click.....click*! Freezing in her steps she hunkers down to make herself small.

*SHIT!* her mind screams.

From even further ahead, a return call. *click...........click..click*

*shit.shit.shit.shit.shit.*

*ok .....don't panic Derbie!*

She backs away slowly, trapped between Drow, and these monsters.

*click!....click!"

Resembling man sized beetles with long hooked arms and an exoskeleton stronger than shields, these monsters used a series of clicks to echo-locate their prey. They must have tunneled in from behind her, and there are at least two.

Knowing it's certain death, she retreats back and begins to formulate a plan. The clicks fade away as she gets beyond their range.

*I can go to the Duergar and pay them to get me thru.* Risky at best....she had few gems to pay for it, and the Duergar aren't the friendliest of folk.

*but more friendly than the Drow* so going to the Drow is out.

*sneaking past the monsters was out too....as good as she is....echo-location would find her.*