Cik & Klak - The miners
Added 2024-08-05 17:30:02 +0000 UTCZeek explains that their coloneys princess is demanding an opportunity to explore these new lands. While the queen is happy to grant this request, she would prefer if locals of good quality were to act as her bodyguards/ guides.
Zeek also explained the payment would be in gemstones similar to the ones the thieves had attempted to steal. Your party confers briefly, realizing you are largely broke, this wouldn't be a bad job to take on.
3 weeks of travel later, you and your party are at the fortress, entrance to 'the nest'. It is a hive of activity. To your astonishment, there are many more of these geckolds than you supposed there would be.
Some sunning themselves on walls and roofs, while others seem to be mining or squabbling over large crystals. Zeek explained that right of ownership is based on who licks the stone first... a simple system but effective.
Most of these crystals aren't worth much until one of the graders tests it for magical potential.
