The two duos, one metal-clad, the other leather, approach each other across the black sand.
L: By the way, they are Gish and her brother, Gash. They never told me their names; Melandria did.
D: Spoiler.
L: What? You should already know I talk to her; that's the whole point of the story!
"Why are you out here?" asks Gish.
"Where do you think you are?" asks Gash.
"Both questies: we're lost in the Underdank," says Ling, she gestures for Kalyani to answer.
"Quite," says the priestess, "If you could point uss in the directshion of the nearesst town, we'd apprecciate it."
"That symbol," says Gash, "That eyeball you're wearing... What manner of follower are you?"
"Do you know it, brother?" asks Gish. She reaches for her sword, but before she draws it, Gash answers.
"That's the Love God's Eye," he says, "So how do you serve her?"
"Oh, you know her?" asks Kalyani, fluttering her eyes. She slithers toward Gash. "Are you a follower too?"
"Brother," Gish voices tings with annoyance.
"Let him have some fun, mate," says Ling, scampering up to Gish, "Yous two alone out here?"
J: I should have known. You're a wizard, Mum; don't you have stories about succeeding through... you know, wizardry?
L: Magic isn't the only answer to problems, Jevoi.
"No, we-" Gish cuts herself off, "Why are you really here? What do you think you're doing?"
"What do you want me to do?" asks Ling, still sauntering forward. Lacking the ability to flutter, she quickly licks her eyes instead. At the moment, she has no idea where this will lead, but it is succeeding as a distraction.
Gish takes a step backward. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots Kalyani encircling Gash.
"Perhapss, we've not been honesst," whispers Kalyani, "The Goddesss ssent uss."
"Somebody needs our help," says Ling, "Is it ya?" Ling gets up to Gish's faceplate. "A big strong woman like you shouldn't be alone."
"I- I'm not," says Gish, "My brother and I-"
"Brother doesn't count, mate," says Ling, now fully confident, "Let's see those eyes of yours." Ling places her hands on Gish's helmet, who does not resist. Ling carefully remove it and looks upon Gish's battle-scarred tallgoblin face. "Looks like ya had some bark taken off, eh?" Ling gently traces her claw down the diagonal scars; they clearly came from a claw attack.
Gish face contorts. "Would- would you like to see," she says, struggling to keep her strong warrior demeanor, "My other ones?"
"I'd love to," says Ling.
L: Long story short: they let us into the tower and we kept them distracted for a bit.