Renato arranged with Balin and Tristana to visit the "Mushroom Putty Cave" marked on the note the next day, investigate the situation, and assess whether they could reach the next stratum.
The female Drow was deeply reluctant at first. She sat on the stone bed, constantly muttering about her family and praying for Lolth's favor.
Only after talking with her did Renato learn that, in Drow society, usually only traitors and exiles voluntarily fled the stratum where Samoriel City lay. It was a disgrace, a fall from grace, a sign that one had been abandoned by one's family.
But Tristana eventually accepted reality.
Survival mattered more than dignity.
Renato felt the same way. If all else failed, they would take refuge in the next stratum. At least there were no mind flayers there.
Balin's attitude, however, was deeply contradictory, and Renato could not fathom what the old Dwarf really wanted. Sometimes he intended to fight the mind flayers to the bitter end in New Rolling Stone City; at other times, he planned to explore the next stratum, as though searching for something.
It was as if two impulses were waging a tug-of-war in Balin's mind, leaving the normally decisive old warrior unusually indecisive.
Renato lent the female Drow fifty gold coins so she could find someone to repair her damaged scale mail and purchase some basic adventuring supplies.
This was no time to quibble over a little money. An adventuring party was only as strong as its weakest link. Tristana's lack of equipment would seriously compromise their fighting strength.
With the mind flayers threatening them, they needed to work together to keep their brains safe.
After his speech, Madra returned to Deep Hammer Tower surrounded by a fervent crowd, then shut himself inside.
Renato intended to sound him out. Could