Pyrus is pleased to be proven right that Meiou isn't violent the moment he's let back out.  And that Angel is getting a handle on how to manipulate her jester into behaving.  Tark already covered answering Meiou's question, so there's no real need to add anything there.  But some acknowledgement for Meiou's cunning is in order.

"A fine plan, Meiou.  I'll bet you're well suited for scouting.  And if it turns out that they're simply misunderstood, I'm sure they'll make for satisfactory recruits."

Angel says, "Good thoughts. So for now the plan is to observe. No traps yet. Just watch and gather information. Works for me."

Angel definitely noticed JB's response. She rewards him with a smile and a nod before turning her attention back to the others.

(Fast forwarding to said plan)

With some observation, Meiou and whoever else joined in spying would find the drow that the kobolds spoke of. Two drow. Both male. They surface from a trap door camouflaged as grass and then lurk about as if searching for something. They are careful, quiet, and never speak.

In reply to Angel Bard (msg # 440):

Johnny would be by Angel's side, with his own hand crossbow at the ready (while he's nowhere near as good a shot as she is,) doing the usual covering for her.  Whatever or not he sees the drow himself depends on what Meiou's team relays back to anyone.

Meiou was definitely on the spy team carefully observing the drow on wether they were the raiding kind ,trading kind, or what. after all for all the group knew they were jus trying to find someone to trade goods with.

  Despite often knowing people obsessed with party stealth, Tark is not the most sneaky man in the world.

  The actual worst part of party rogues is worrying about them going of without being there to smash anyone who spots them.

Pyrus is only so-so with stealth without resorting to magic, so he stays back with Tark, figuring at least one of the sneaky types will call for help if they get spotted.  Besides, he's got sneaky minions to help with the scouting.

The two drow are dressed in pretty (if gothic) garb, almost like a merchant tailor might be if they enjoyed making spider-themed clothing. They are armed with drow daggers, but little more, indicating they are either overdressed assassins, or just a pair of wealthy male drow who only carry daggers for self defense. They don't seem to be aware of the people spying on them.

Angel is quite stealthy and is able to keep up with the rogues decently enough, but she knows she isn't as stealthy as them and keeps her distance. Which is what she would have done anyway even if she were amazing at stealth like Meiou, JB and the kobolds.

"If it weren't for them having all those spider outfits," JB whispered to Angel, "I wouldn't mind having something like what they're wearing."  He then made sure that Meiou wasn't within earshot before adding, "I wonder what you'd look like in a black gothic suit or dress."

Well one way to see what they were up to was to follow. He moved from his hiding spot to get closer to them but still just out of sight from them in hopes of maybe either overhearing something or noticing something. He did make a motion to Angel that he was going ahead. Though had he heard the mouse surely his thought process would of been something like he wondered what the mouse would be like as a living suit? surely more tolerable than this. though he could sell him on the market like that and at least get something good out of him.

  "I'm still trying to think of why they would even be here.  This lair hasn't exactly had time to get a reputation."  Unless 'Hey I heard there was a dragon horde that could fit into a pillow case!' sounded like a vacation?

Judging from the look Pyrus gets from a distance, he's not expecting this to devolve into a combat encounter.  But is still most intrigued by the fact that Drow are on the surface.

To Tark he smirks and shrugs with a whisper, "The legendary hero May was here not long ago."

Angel whispered back, "I'm sure a tailor could put something together."

One of the drow gets a little animated and excitedly motions the other one over. The two examine what he found. But after a few moments, they both seem slightly dejected and put whatever it was back on the ground before moving on.

Angel keeps her bow trained on the drow (not drawn, though), motioning for Meiou to check out the object.

Regardless of who goes to check out the object, it does appear the two drow are heading for the secret door to leave.

Johnny keeps quiet (A needed rarity for him) and keeps an eye on the drow as they leave, allowing Meiou to scamper over to find whatever they're looking for.

Meiou quietly moved forward to check out what they had been looking at quite
curious what they had been excited about at first then disappointing.
He knew Angel was watching and did some thieves cante to her to report his findings
before tailing after the two drow half tempted to reveal himself to them.

  "True Pyrus, but I don't think most of May's weapon collection fits the interest of lurking around sorts."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Mon 10 Sept 2018.

"I don't think these fine gentlemen would only be interested in her for her weapons," Pyrus answers with a smile and wink, "Let's see if they'd be interested in one of their own kind for something other than what lurking around sorts usually are."

Pyrus uses his alter-self magic to make himself look like a fellow drow, still dressed the way he was before.  Note to self: find a dungeon delve reputed to have a hat of disguise.  In any case, he casually strolls over to where the other two are headed toward, waving to them in a friendly way.

(( Hard to find a picture of a dark elf that doesn't look pissed off.  So here's the closest I could find to what I had in mind:  https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b4/0...-character-ideas.jpg ))
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Mon 10 Sept 2018.

Meiou finds what looks like a piece of scrap metal that is coincidentally and very roughly in the shape of a miniaturized shield. It wasn't designed to be that shape, just happened to be the shape it turned out to look when it was discarded. When Meiou signals to Angel what he found, Angel puts her finger to her lips in thought, but says nothing.

The two drow look alarmed at first and put their hands on their daggers, but they don't draw them. They speak in undercommon, <Undercommon>"Um... hello?"<Undercommon>

They don't seem to detect anyone else yet.

In reply to Angel Bard (msg # 455):

Johnny crouched down lower as he kept himself hidden, making sure that he still keeps his eyes on the drow.

moving closer yet still out of sight of the drow he quickly covered up his bracelet to hide the flash as he swapped from himself to Sarah to use her magical skills. focusing the squirrel quietly performed the comprehend languages ritual so she could listen in on the conversation between the drow and pyrus.

  Tark likes Pyrus's plan because when enough people sneak off on their own it loops back around to most of the party being together in case anything goes wrong.

  If he knew what Meiou was doing, it would be reason number We Lost Count for why Tark has such a dim view of Jamie's claims to be teaching Meiou anything useful.

OOC: Meiou is a rogue learning magic, yet can't cast comprehend language himself.  Meanwhile in Parnast, Jamie is trying to teach Igatho "only Rogues get to do this. It's like, their ONE cool thing other casters don't get" invisible magic hand.

...Okay, wait. Is Jamie is stealing Meiou's magic instead of teaching him magic? Because it would explain a lot.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Mon 17 Sept 2018.

Pyrus blushes in embarrassment at the question, rubbing behind his head.  He offers a polite bow, but doesn't take his eyes off their daggers.  Just in case they decide to draw them.

"My apologies, gentlemen, but I do not know that language fluently.  You see, I did not grow up among my own kind.  So I've been doing the best I can to learn about my heritage with what's available up here on the surface.

"The name's Pyrus.  I'm a tracker of sorts.  It looked as though you were searching for something.  I'm very familiar with the surface world, so I could be helpful to you in finding it if you care to hire my services.  Did you know there's a dragon cave nearby?"

The drow who spoke up looks baffled. So the other drow speaks up in Common, "Pyrus? A dragon cave? Did a dragon raise you?"

The first drow continues in undercommon, but Sarah is now able to understand it. <Undercommon>"What did he say? What are you telling him?"</Undercommon>

The other drow responds in undercommon, <Undercommon>"He never learned undercommon. He was raised on the surface. Also claims there is a dragon cave nearby. I was just asking him why his name was Pyrus and if the dragon cave maybe had to do with it."</Undercommon>

He looks back to Pyrus. "Oh but where are my manners. My name is Elysia Gallaer. My companion here is Kalannar Nirinath. We are merely searching for an emblem that was lost. A trinket, really. But important enough to our boss that if we do not get it back to her, she might transfer us to a much less desirable duty."

Elysia Gallaer: (though not wounded and is wearing what was described earlier)
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/85/5...3af711daee4b0069.jpg

Kalannar Nirinath:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/85/2...le-elf-night-elf.jpg

Angel is frozen in place, but fully attentive now as the drow seem to be opening up to Pyrus. With the drow showing no sign of sneaking a dagger out or other surreptitious actions, Angel just keeps her bow at the ready and pointed in their direction, but not straight at them.

...and Johnny's not too far behind her, ready to back her up.

Sarah stayed in her hiding place listening to the conversation between the drow and
pyrus. Meiou inside had rolled his eyes at the using his actual name. First rule of disguise was you always changed your name if your changing your looks so as to not get questioned about it from others.

  Well, nobody is screaming yet even with the additional complications.  So that's... Actually can things remaining the same instead of getting worse be considered 'progress'?  Eh, close enough in this business.