#2 Mio strikes out at the gnome holding the red velvet cake with her rapier's hilt-guard. Her hit sends the other gnome (dangling from her rapier's point) to belly-flop on the top of the cake just as it begins to vibrate, but then it stops. She hits the gnome square in his jaw and pain explodes down her hand as if she has struck a statue made of stone. However, the gnome's head flies clean off his shoulders, bounces off the wall behind him, and lands on the counter by the decapitated gnome's feet. For a moment, it seems as if Mio killed the small gnome, but then his eyes look up toward her, "Seems I've done gone and lost me head!", he exclaims in a cheerful tone.

 #3 Vondus's words seem to be lost in the chaos of the three gnomes as: Marva is currently throttling a gnome in her grasp, the second gnome is face-down in the icing of a red velvet cake, and the third gnome's head doesn't seem to be on his shoulders.

 #4 "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!!!!", shrieks a high pitch voice coming from the front doorway. All eyes fall on a 4th gnome in finely dressed magical attire and jeweled walking staff. His eyes are filled with burning rage and his face and ears are flushed as red as a red velvet cake. Mio can see steam coming from the small gnome's ears and can hear the sound of a tea kettle coming to boil.

 The distraction lasts for a few long seconds, but is soon broken by a "DING!" has the apple pie launches itself at Marva! (DC 12, Damage: 10 vs Dex Save 15 )

#4 The apple pie takes Marva by complete surprise as it nails her right in her snout!

 The new gnome arrival pulls out his wand, invokes an arcane spell. Aiming his wand at the party, bright pulses of arcane power shoot out and blast the remaining cake floating in the air into a shower of chocolate cake and icing!

 After the cakey shower, all three gnomes shout in unison, "Hi, Boss!"

 END OF ENCOUNTER.

Cutscene:

As the last gnome disappears behind the swinging kitchen doors, the boss gnome makes his way and climbs up on the stool behind the counter.

"Welcome to Millhouse the magnificent bakery emporium and spectacular sweets.", he said in a dead-pan voice while resting his chin in his palm as he places his elbow on the counter. "I'm Millhouse, by the way. Retired Archmage and current bakery owner. Would you like a free dessert or coin as compensation for your troubles?"

"Don't know 'bout these folk, but all I came for was a few sacks of flour for the taverns kitchen. If it's no trouble I'd like 'em and then be on my way, your staff have made me run on longer than I should've. There's ale to be had." The dwarf grumbles further about missing his drinking time but maintains a relatively polite manner all things considered. He kicks the spoilt cake and bagels out of the way as he makes his way to the counter. "Oh, and I'll take this too" he states as he grabs a cookie from the only undisturbed plate in sight.

Mio perked up at the prospect of coin for compensation. She immedietly responded, "We came here to pick up some things for Mr. Gundren Rockseeker. Those items were already paid for. But..." She points to the bruises (non-lethal as they may be) on Marva's snout and Sir Seigfryk's face and continues, "the gnomes attacked us with projectile deserts that both left injuries and ruined outfits. We would like some money for compensation. And before you ask, no Gundren did not give us Hazard-pay."

Landrae watches the entrance of the archmage and their dismissal of the troublesome gnome assistants, she rubs her arms back to life after the strike into jammy left her feeling a little numb. Moving over to Marva and helping wipe the cake from her face, Landrae continues Mio's thread, "Aye, perhaps you could assist us with a little recuperative magic? Our knight was badly injured and our dragonborn friend knocked nearly unconscious by the density of you cakes. We have one more stop to make, and by how things have gone today I wouldn't be surprised if we found live beasts stampeding through the shop and we had to slay them ourselves!" 

Sir Seigfryk rises from the shop floor, taking care to comport himself with dignity to the greatest degree available to a man knocked out with a tray of cookies. He brushes crumbs from his tabard as he addresses the gnome. "Never have I been so egregiously assaulted for a mere attempt at conducting commerce! You offer recompense, Wizard?" Seigfryk continues, clearly upset with the reception the party has received, but not letting his temper get the better of him, "Your coins and confections cannot conceal this conspicuous stain on the honor of my house, nor my personal honor as a knight!"

At that moment, Seigfryk's hands brush off more crumbs, and find a fairly intact chunk of cookie resting on his shoulder. He tosses it in his mouth and his demeanor transforms. Turning again to the gnome, this time smiling through his swollen lip, he says, "On second thought, I'd like a dozen of these cookies please! Perhaps just handed to me this time though?"

Marva was nearly knocked off her feet when hit by the apple pie. She is filled with fury at the indignity of this attack and the pure unreasoning nonsense of the gnomes. A low growl begins in her chest. Only the interruption of the arrival of Millhouse stops a thunderous eruption. She is still shaking a little as Landrae helps her wipe her face clean. After a moment, she staggers out of the bakery without a word, pounding the doorframe as she goes.

She stalks past a couple of brightly colored shops, her amulet burning with cold fury. Her mind is full of rage: How dare they! Insignificant clowns! This anger is tempered by another part of her brain that is processing the imagery and humor of it all. She eventually turns back toward the bakery with a horrible headache and sits in the wagon with her head in her hands.

Vondus munches on the cookie while he waits for someone of the other group to voice their needs. It's then that the knight demands recompense for the dishonour brought upon him and the silver half dragon storms out. This could get interesting he thinks to himself.

"She's a feisty one that dragonborn... Normally I'd charge her for damage to my lovely wooden frame, but considering the trouble my helpers gave you, I'll consider us even. Now, let me see what I have for the rest of you." Millhouse disappears into the back of the shop and returns with a platter of six tarts. They have a thin pastry crust, elaborately crimped into swirls. As you look at the jam-like centre your eyes are drawn into the  filling that seems to have sparkles dancing and swirling around inside of it. "A batch of 'Getwell Tarts', they are for another order, but I'll let you have these for the trouble... They are worth a pretty penny, so should hopefully meet your needs. I promise after eating one you'll feel the hurts just slip away and feel right as rain. They don't last too long though, so best make the most of them whilst they are fresh!"

"Now, you said about an order for Gundren. Sacks of flour I believe it was? You don't look like the sort that will be carrying them out with you, so I'll have one of my more reliable assistants load them up for you if you have a cart nearby?"

Your party gains six 'Getwell Tarts'.

You can make a Medicine or Arcana check to determine what they do, DC12.

Mio is a bit disappointed with being compensated in tarts rather than gold. She's sure they're delicious and knowing that the baker is an ex-archmage, they may or may not be magical. However, pastries can't be used to pay for living expenses.

Once her emotions settle a bit, Marva is left with a pounding headache. She probes gently at her forehead where the pie hit and finds a very tender lump. I’ve probably got a concussion, she thinks ruefully. If I sit here much longer, I’ll fall asleep which seems like a bad idea. She decides to pull off one of the patches off her Robe of Useful Items with a red potion on it, hoping for a healing potion. Assessing the vial that drops into her hand for a moment, she drinks it for 7 points of healing. Her head feels a little better and she feels less like she is going to lose consciousness. She begins to wonder when everyone else will emerge from the bakery.

Seigfryk rubs the jawline of his aching face. The wizard's offer evokes a distinct indignance within him (to be offered such a lowly sum as compensation for the slights against him), but also a sense of relief at the prospect of the tarts making the "hurts just slip away". He takes a tart, and surveys it for a moment before declaring, "The best time to eat a pastry was five minutes ago! The second best time is now!"

Seigfryk takes a hearty bite, savoring the flavor.

He then says to Millhouse through a mouth full of pastry, "Aye! This will do, Wizard. We have a cart outside you can load the flour into. Hopefully you have some less... rambunctious servants."

He then grabs a second pastry from Millhouse and goes to deliver it to Marva outside. "Marva! You've got to try this pastry!" he shouts as he exits the shop.

Marva looks up when Seigfryk joins her outside. “A pastry? As long as you don’t plan to throw it at me, I’m happy to accept.” She takes the tart and studies it suspiciously. When she sees that the filling sparkles and swirls, she frowns and looks more closely, but she can't really understand the nature of the pastry. (Arcana 17)  “I don’t know, Seigfryk. I wouldn’t put it past that crazy baker to poison us all. Are you sure these are okay?”

((Not deliberately holding back. Waiting for PBS to resolve Vondus behind the scenes. ))

Seigfryk, at this point scarfing down the last bit of his pastry, replies, "Oh I'm fairly sure they're safe, Marva. In fact, I feel the fair flavor of this tasty tart truly has healed me! Hearty and Hale!"

Seigfryk swallows and lets out an involuntary belch, suddenly becoming very aware of how slovenly he must appear talking with a mouth half full of pastry. He blushes, clears his throat, and stands up a little taller.

"Besides," he continues, "What are the odds of the same bakery trying to kill us twice in one day?"

“Earlier today, I would have said even one attempted murder by bakery was unlikely, but here we are.” She watches him for a moment, shrugs her shoulders, and bites into the tart. She pauses after the first bite, gauging her reaction. “Oh! It really is quite good! And I do feel a little better. Thank you, Seigfryk!” She finishes eating (and heals for 2 points). After wiping away any crumbs, she looks toward the bakery and asks, “What’s taking Mio and Landrae so long? Do we need to go rescue them?”

Inside the bakery Mio says to Millhouse, "We do have a cart outside. Would appreciate the help loading the goods on it. Once that's done, we'll be on our way."

Millhouse appears pleased at the knight's reaction to the tarts, rubbing his hands together gleefully. He disappears into the back room and there are sounds of a conversation before the wizened gnome re-appears and explains to Mio and Landrae, "My porter Rufus will bring the sacks round from our storehouse in a moment. He'll meet you outside" 

He looks to the dwarf stood apart from the others in the store, recognition dawning, "Ah, Vondus isn't it? Simply perfect timing! I'm in a most pressing circumstance. My latest delivery from Waterdeep should have arrived last week, and without it I can't complete the tiered whizbang cake for Lord Solnus's nameday celebration. I heard tale of trouble on the road south, would you accept a charge to investigate the goings on and se if you can find my shipment? I really don't want to deal with that old battleaxe up in Luskan if I don't have to, her prices are ridiculous!" He seems to catch himself going off on a tangent and bring himself back to the matter at hand. "Yes, if you'll investigate what happened to my delivery I'd be most thankful. 15 gold I believe you said?" As a purse of coin appears from behind the counter and floats over to Vondus.

Millhouse disappears into the back room again, and you can hear mutterings about wasted spells and now being behind on orders. 

As Landrae and Mio are heading out the door, Landrae stops and quickly says to Mio, "Give me a moment..." She saunters over and introduces herself to Vondus as Mio lets the door close behind her and heads over to Marva and Seigfryk.

Out in the street, a burly man approaches the trio, with two sacks of flour, one over each of this broad shoulders. "The boss sent me out to load your cart with the order... those idiot spell creations of his always find a way to leave me with the hard work!  Is it that one there?" He points his nose in the general direction of your cart. As the group nod their assent, he heads over, loads the sacks up, and then repeats the trip half a dozen more times, his brown leather apron getting a little more dusted with white each time. He walks back to the group and claps his hands together, releasing a light cloud of flour into the air before it gets carried away on the low breeze, "That's your lot. Thankyou for your custom." With that he wanders back down the alley.

Landrae and Vondus exit the bakery and approach the group, Landrae making the introductions between them all. "So, Vondus is travelling south for Millhouse, so I suggested that there is safety in numbers, and he'll be travelling with you all to the butchers, and then on the road tomorrow for so long as it suits both purposes." She hesitates a moment, as you all pick up on her reference to the travelling, "I... I need to look into some things here first. I hope I'll be able to meet you at the inn later, or meet you before you leave tomorrow... Maybe a day behind at the worst, but I'll catch you up somehow. I just... need to find some answers." With that she grabs her things from the cart, flourishes her hat and bows to you all, before  spinning on her and heading back the way that you came, the feather plume from her hat vanishing amongst the press of people.

Mio greets Vondus with a nod, "Welcome aboard. As long as the pay isn't split any thinner, I'd be happy to have you traveling with us. "

“Welcome, Vondus. Given that we are being attacked regularly by rats and magical constructs, it’s good to have another arm along to provide defense. Who knows what we’ll find at the butcher shop?” She turns to the group and says, “Shall we go? I think it’s this way.”

(Marva is willing to drive the cart if no one else wants to. When we have to walk, she may hang toward the middle of the group, since she is still a bit injured.)