Dragon of Icespire Peak - Campaign 1

Mr.Dark's keen eyes notice what Kaemgan himself does not. He looks at Kaemgan, and smiles when the king makes his observation. "Kaemgan. You have a bit of blood from the shifters on your hand. The wolf could smell it. The answer is literally at your fingertips.  It's Pollux's nose. We should be good looking for anymore of these things." 

     "Now wait a minute...  His teeth were at my fingertips," Kaemgen grumbles, "not his nose!"  Still, Kaemgen pats and pets both Castor and Pollux telling them both that they're good wolfies...  The best wolfies!

Auric:

Smiling, Auric says, "Very well. Let our august company scour thy domain for the shapeshifter stench with the olfactory capability of our intrepid canine companions while thy engineer prepareth the plans for thy expanded storage facility."  Bowing, Auric gestures to Kaemgen and the wolves to lead the way.

     “C’mon sniffers,” Kaemgen says in that upbeat, I’m talking to my dogs voice.  “Let’s get sniffing!”

     Standing up from being on his butt while playing with Castor and Pollux, Kaemgen brushes himself off and starts turning towards the door.  “Wait, guess you best check this room first, eh?”
     Once the wolves are done (assuming no finds in the throne room) Kaemgen will start heading to the exit.  “Oh!  Bye your leave, of course!” He says hurriedly after turning to the kings and bowing.  “Leaves?  Well…”

     “Coming?” He asks Factore and pats his thigh to signal to the wolves to come.  “We need their sniffers but we need your sense of direction!”

     Heading out the door Kaemgen will head in the direction away from where they’d come from.  We’ll probably want to double check it before we leave but for now probably best to expand the map…

The Kings would give their nods of thanks. Together, they give permission for them to search their room prior to bidding the crew farewell. 

At Kaemgen’s beckoning, Facktoré would give him the stink eye then groan. The pair of pumps bounce in excitement prior to pushing the snouts to the floor. Snoot down, boot up, the wolves scoot. With the gnomes suggestions, she guides you through the following spaces.

Sniffers Activated
(G15 > G11 > G12 > G3 > G4 > G5 > G6)

G15. Gnome Kings’ Bedroom

The Kings Bedroom was elaborately decorated compared to any of the rooms you would search through.

Sniff. Snort. Sniff. Sniff.

All clear.

G11. Inventors’ Workshop

Entering from a door in the hallway,  you come to a 10-foot-high ledge that overlooks the room, set with a wooden pedestal on which sits a leather-bound book. The workshop is cluttered with half-completed gnomish inventions that serve no purpose, as well as worktables strewn with tinker’s tools. 

Sniff. Snort. Sniff. Sniff.

All clear.

G12. Gnome Domiciles

The floor of this cave is strewn with the remnants of old campfires. Four side caves serve as sleeping areas, with five small wooden cots crammed into each one. Eight rock gnome recluses sleep soundly here when the characters first arrive, with two gnomes in each side cave

Facktoré encourages the utmost silence.

Sniff. Sniff. Sniff. Sniff. Sniff.

All clear.

G3. Dining Room

This room contains several dining tables and chairs sized for Small folk. A stout wooden cabinet against the east wall holds tin dishware and utensils.

Sniff. Snort. Sniff. Sniff.

All Clear.

G4. Kitchen

This kitchen is furnished with gnomes in mind, so everything is either close to the floor or readily reachable by tugging on an overly complicated rope-and-pulley mechanism. Four rock gnome recluses busy themselves here and Joybell returns to her tasks here.

Sniff. Snort. Sniff. Sniff.

All clear.

G5. Pantry

This room is piled high with small wooden crates. Each contains loaves of green mushroom bread and other foodstuffs collected and kept by the gnomes.

Sniff. Snort. Sniff. Sniff. Snort. Snort. Sniff.

 All clear.

G6. Barrel Crabs

Parked in alcoves in this otherwise empty room are two gnomish contraptions. Each resembles a crab with a barrel for a shell, six articulated metal legs, and a pair of forward-facing pincer claws. A hatch on the top of each barrel opens to reveal an interior compartment equipped with a small, leather-padded seat surrounded by levers, pedals, and gears. The barrels are not airtight.

Sniff. Snort. Sniff. Sniff. Snort.

All clear.

Entering this room full of barrel crabs, Facktoré stands firmly. She informs you that the gnomes built these crablike contraptions to grip and move other objects, rather like crude forklifts. However, the contraptions are so clumsy that they are useless for delicate work. They are just small enough to navigate Gnomengarde’s 5-foot-wide passageways.

Each barrel crab is a Large object with AC 15, 30 hit points, a Strength score of 10, and immunity to poison and psychic damage. It is designed to hold a single Small humanoid, though a Medium humanoid can fit inside with some discomfort. While in the barrel with the hatch closed, a creature has total cover against attacks from outside the contraption. It can use its action to make the contraption scuttle across the ground at a walking speed of 15 feet or make one attack with its pincer claws.

”These babies can help you clear the debris.” The engineer would smack one. A bolt would roll on the floor.

     Kaemgen rewarded the wolves after each cleared room with lots of verbal encouragement and plenty of pats and scritches!  He cringed a couple of times when they poked their superb sniffers at the notoriously cranky, though drowsing, rock gnomes...  But apparently a sleepy rock gnome can sleep through most anything,  Thank goodness.

     Kaemgen walked around and inspected the barrel crabs in depth.  They really were quite impressive to look at.  And they indeed looked imposing, if on squatted down and tried to stand at about gnome-height.  But he had his doubts...

     "Ummm, you got a couple volunteers to drive them?" Kaemgen asks, a bit perplexed.  "I mean they look totally impressive but we're a pretty large group, mostly..."

     "Don't get me wrong, I am sure they can move a lot of rock!  I'm just not sure us driving them would dig out the storage room quicker than us doing it by hand.  Our lack of expertise in controlling them, if nothing else," Kaemgen hurries to add, not wanting to offend Facktoré.  "Perhaps a demonstration?  And a wager?  We could put one of your barrel crabs up against, say.... Mr. Marblebeard?  Make a little bet on who can move the most rubble in ten minutes?"

     Kaemgen was starting to like the idea...

((Updated previous post...))

Mr.Dark trails behind the group as they follow Kaemgan and the pups around the complex. He looks around with interest at the items on shelves, stuff on walls, and pretty much looks anywhere but where the pups are busy sniffing. He recalls when he was a kid how his brother pointed out the magician in the square.  "Always look at the other hand. He really wants you to look up there, get everyone's attention on what he's doin with all the wavin, but...watch the other hand."  Watch the other hand.  So...on their tour...he "watches the other hand", basically trying to focus on what everyone else is not looking at, and just tries to keep generally aware. 

When it comes to the strange crab machines, he looks at them with curiosity.  "Say, Facktore, did you build these?  What would it take to build a bigger one....one for our size.  I just imagine walkin around inside a big metal casing some of the time might be pretty handy." 

Scott follows dutifully along with the group. He does his best to stay close to Kaemgen as the search for more gnome-eating-shape-shifters continues. He groans audibly at being voluntold for this contest and sighs in resignation to participate in it… could be a good excuse to “accidentally” throw some rocks at the gnome that shot him. 

Facktoré would casually move on to tinkering with a couple crab barrels while Kaemgen did his inspections and tossed thoughts out loud. A couple snorts would leave the gnome as the man went on, even popping a brow at his suggestion of a wager.

Both wolves bounced and relished in the praise, which completely took over their attention, following Kaemgen wherever he went. Eventually, at the 'end' of his crab tour, the twins flop into dopey melted floof puddles at McScathe's feet.

Taking advantage of this, Facktoré would use Kaemgen's back to make some sketches and calculations while Mr. Dark would chime in from the shadows. "Sorta. The inventors came up with the concept. Built a terrible prototype. I fixed it. It went into a mini production." Humming to herself, the engineer continued some work, occasionally looking up to the sky and poking about for calculations before going back to writing. "I've been maintaining them." The gnome would pull away, taking her notes with her. "Tweaking them along the way, naturally." She'd go around to a bench tucked away in the corner of the room.

Facktoré would pop her lips, as she climbs up onto a chair to gather some things from a 'disorganized shelf'. "So!" She'd turn around to face everyone. "Volunteers to do the work for you?" The gnome would nod her chin to Kaemgen then she'd look to Mr. Dark. "And bigger crabs you say?" The engineer would hold out multiple viles of liquid between her fingers and wiggles them. "Am I right?"

"I've got the solution to your problems big or small." Facktoré would wiggle the viles before tucking them back away safely. "But if you can convince some to lend a hand, it'd distribute the work evenly." The gnome would admit with a shrug. "It'd be a little crowded at first." After a pause, she'd hop down from the chair. "And if we did a production line to funnel the debris outside, it would ease the work load even more." The engineer would wave around her calculation sheet between her fingers, then gesture in a random direction. "Get the inventors on board, we could actually build something more automative and we may be able to get you out of here in record time." She'd grin.

Recruiters

Convince the Engineers
Those taking the task provide a little RP to justify your roll.

Charisma Check: Persuasion, Deception or Intimidation
Participants: 2 Players

Voluntell some Volunteers
Those taking the task provide a little RP to justify your roll.

Locations: Dorms or Kitchen. Pick one.
Charisma Check: Persuasion, Deception or Intimidation
Participants: Up to 3 Players

Getting Down to Business

Participation!
Describe how your character would contribute to digging out the debris.

Strength Check: Roll it
Boosts: Use a Crab or take a Vial from Facktoré. Both grant +5 Strength.
Participants: Everyone

Extra Oomph
Give some extra efforts for some extra.

Roll: 1d100
Participants: Everyone

Roll Call: Everybody! Anybody!

Auric:

”Thy creations are indeed fascinating, Factore, and I am most intrigued by thy past improvements and planned upgrades.  Tell me, dost thou plan to shrink the occupants or increase the size of the mechanical constructs?” asks Auric, showing interest in the work the engineers are doing.

Persuasion or Help if someone else wants to roll:  23

"Oh damn, this is a tight fit." Xenophon says as he squeezes his 7-foot tall frame into one of the gnome crabs and begins to help remove debris.

Strength: 24 

Despite (or because of) the discomfort, Xenophon is able to be a great help in clearing debris, moving a significant amount in a short time. 

Recruitment!

     "Recruits?  On it!" Kaemgen says, confidently.  Kaemgen doesn't fully understand what Facktoré is on about, but he gets that he's tasked with getting volunteers.  Clicking his tongue as he gave a small wave of his hand to signal the wolves to follow, Kaemgen heads back to Gnome Domiciles they snuck through earlier.  

      Kaemgen clears his throat gently in an attempt to rouse the slumbering gnomes.  Then less gently.  Then it's a full on, intentionally loud "Ah-Hem!"  Finally, having achieved little more than some tossing and turning, Kaemgen just plain old shouts "Alrighty, WAKE UP ALREADY!!!"  If that's not quite enough to do it he'll go bunk to bunk rattle the beds a bit and arousing them all.

     "So sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep but I am afraid your kings have set me to a task and instructed me to use any means necessary!  You, my friends, are part of the means.  Now wake up, look lively and come with us!" Kaemgen says with his most confident, born of nobility (even if third son in a minor house) pompousness. 

     "I don't know if you are all aware or not, but Gnomenguard here ((his pronunciation is off, but he'll get it eventually... maybe)) has seen an infestation of shape changing vermin as of late!  Why just a couple hours ago two were found and killed in the storeroom just over yonder that way..." Kaemgen says, vaguely pointing in the proper direction, "but with much unfortunately damage and debris.  The kings demand the area be cleared and made safe once more...  But more importantly to everyone's safety, they want the corpses of those vermin found so that measure can be figured out to prevent this from happening again..."

     As Kaemgen speechifies he also is going around and about the room, helping the rock gnomes get up out of bed, helping them pull that shirt over their head or tossing them that missing shoe or anything and everything he can to keep the momentum going and not give them time to question or consider.

     "Now don't any of you worry.  There is no danger in this task and barely even effort, not the way those working under the Kings orders are planning to have things go.  Young Facktoré has developed a stratagem that will maximize efficiency and minimize effort.  Over and above that,  there's others like me who shall be doing the heavy lifting, don't you worry.  In fact it'll probably be entertaining for you all to watch the overgrown numbskulls work so hard while you outsmart them all and do things with gnome craftiness and cunning, eh?"

     "Alrighty now, form up and let's head us!" Kaemgen shouts once all have been dragged from bed and more or messed dressed and roused.  "The Kings want this done and for the love of Gnomengawd ((Still, he'll get it eventually!)) We Shall Get It DONE!"

     Kaemgen and the wolves thus escort the volunteer recruits to what was formerly the storage room... 

A mix of Intimidation and Persuasion (Same modifier):  2

Getting Down to Business

     If Kaemgen's recruitment drive was successful at all (haven't seen the roll yet) then Kaemgen will, at least initially, continue on as part Drill Instructor and part Supervisor, doing everything he can to get the Rock Gnomes working in the production line that Facktoré describes and instructs.

     But Kaemgen has never been afraid of hard work, even if he generally feels others should be doing the bulk of it.  At some point, recruitment drive successful or not, Kaemgen would roll up his sleeves and pronounce that he will show them (them being everyone else who obviously isn't doing it right) how it is done!  While rolling up his sleeves he will take a moment to consult with Facktoré concerning which area most needed his assistance...  And subtly take one of the strength boosting potions she was offering...  

     Finally Kaemgen would put his back into it, though trying to remember to lift with the knees, and move some rock the old fashioned way - By old fashioned sweat and muscle!  (And secret strength potion... Shhhhhh!)

Strength Check (Is it +5 to roll, or +5 to actual strength, which would put me over 20?  I'll assume to roll.):  17

Extra Oomph

     Inevitably the wolves would get under foot.  You can't blame them, they'd just want to play or participate or... be a hassle.  Knowing their minds is no simple thing.  But Kaemgen would decide to put them onto a task... 

     "You two should be keeping the Gnomes in line," he would tell them.  "No real biting or anything, but some growling and pushing around of anyone trying to slack off or sneak out sure would be helpful!"

Oomph Roll:  10

Auric:

Pleased with his motivation of the engineers, Auric listens to their plans and realizes the potions are for strength, not size modification.  Taking one of the potions, Auric says, “What wouldst thou have me do? Mayhaps I can clear the most pernicious of the rubble grasped by thine engineers and remove it to a suitable location, the better to facilitate thy work.”

Strength:  23

Extra Oomph:  24

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.

Auric:

Pleased with his motivation of the engineers, Auric listens to their plans and realizes the potions are for strength, not size modification.  Taking one of the potions, Auric says, “What wouldst thou have me do? Mayhaps I can clear the most pernicious of the rubble grasped by thine engineers and remove it to a suitable location, the better to facilitate thy work.”

Strength:  7

Extra Oomph:  20

 So, I corrected a misplaced capitalization and the dice roller went crazy.  Unfortunately, the 7 strength check is correct, but the d100 was in the 70’s somewhere.  Let me know if you want any rerolls.

Mr.Dark follows along behind Kaemgan as he goes to fetch some voluntolds.  He stands back as Kaemgan goes about trying to convince the group. The story is right, but Kaemgan's face seems to be giving a few bits away. He's got that hopeful sounding upward tick at the end of his demands sometimes. Mr.Dark should really getting him playing some more ante and up his game.  Regardless, Mr.Dark tries to help by adding a bit. 

"Folks, it's mandatory. Get moving!"   Deception: 21 

 -------------

Once back in the room, Mr.Dark glances at Facktore, the too small devices, and her mystery vials and silently says, "no f'in way am i trusting this gnome..." and simply goes about getting  to work. He's no stranger to manual labor and gets in there, pulling up rocks and yelling at folks to form a line he can pass debris to.  Strength : 18

 -------------

Extra Oopmph!!!! : 49

Scott makes his way to the kitchen (since it looks like Kaemgen and mr dark handled the dorms) in an effort to get the gnomes there to assist with fixing up the collapsed chamber.

“Howdy folks. The group I’m here with accidentally made a mess of one of the chambers in your home here and it would make the clean up go much faster if you would assist us in removing the debris. If I could have all of you follow me.”

Voluntell some Volunteers

Persuasion: 14

Scott then turns and heads towards work area chugs one of Facktore’s vials despite the fact that he would much rather not do so. He figures the sooner they fix the mess they made the sooner he can get away from here.

If there’s enough people to form an assembly line, Scott will do his part in moving things down the line.

Participation

7

Extra oomph

58

While the others start rounding up volunteers, Xenophon makes the tight squeeze, fitting his large frame into the crabtraption. It didn't take much time for him to get used to the controls and immediately went to work on the first stages of clearing the debris. With everyone off and out of the way, Xeno was confident he'd be able to move the largest chunks out. It turned out to be a lot easier than he thought, and would manage to clear enough space to make room for others to start working comfortably when they arrived. With lots of oomph, he wasn't stopping there!

As Auric sweeps into the inventors workshop, Fibblestib and Dabbledob immediately become speechless from his presence. Even Facktoré has never seen the two completely mesmerized without a word to say. They followed every word the dragonborn spoke, making sure not to miss any details of his asks. Dabbledob took notes dutifully while Fibblestib immediately got to work collecting components. Inspired by their recruiter, the inventors knew just the thing! Conveyor belts to funnel the rock and debris outside promised significant efficiencies.

Kaemgen swelled with confidence from his handling of Castor and Pollux, surely rounding up a few gnomes would be a piece of cake. Or so he thought. Though, he had just barged into the dormitory of very sleepy and already overtired workers. He was met with blank stares and exchanged looks of confusion. Why was this dirty nobleman with dopey dogs in their dorm trying to give them an inspirational speech? Maybe he was looking for the kitchen staff on the other end of Gnomengarde...

"Folks, it's mandatory. Get moving!"

A booming voice came from the shadows of Darkness. Every gnomes eyes widen. They hop to their feet, grab their gear and march out the door in a neat single file. And as they got to work, the would sing a work shanty which proved to keep good focus and morale on their task. They were incredibly productive! Especially when the inventors introduced their addition to the extraction process.

At this point, Auric and Dark appeared to have done their best lifting with their chops. Their strength proved to fade quite quickly, but with a little added oomph behind their words, they'd continue to inspire their helpers to make up the physical labour. They supervised like the beautiful pros that they were, naturally delegating work, organizing the project schedule and adapting on the fly. The shapeshifters corpses were discovered by the wolves with the scene being masterfully contained and inspected under Auric and Darks watch. There were no work place accidents to report and everyone got their scheduled breaks.

Meanwhile, with some help from a little potion, Kaemgen put on the best performance. Ruffed, buffed and fluffed, man and wolf were just 'haulin' ass'. Huffin' an' puffin', heavin' an' weavin', sweatin' an' pettin' until the job was done. With a whole lot of oomph to give, he pressed on until the job was done!

Finally, there came the one final boulder to place on the conveyor belt.

Sweating, filthy, and tired, Mr.Dark walks over the Auric and claps him on the shoulder, "Well....I was wrong. I thought this was a big waste of our time, we have a dragon to deal with and all and helping them clean up a mess didn't seem like a worthy task. I forgot that half the time we saw action in the core was to deal with disasters and things a lot like this. It feels good to just put your body to work and help people get a job done.  So...thanks."  With an approving nod, he heads over to look for someplace to get a big drink of water. 

Auric:

”Well and truly spoken, Master Dark.  let us take our ease and quench our thirst,” he agrees, looking over their work with satisfaction.

”A masterful job, a feat of precision engineering,” remarks Auric to Factore and her fellow engineers.