Gnome's OOTA Story Thread [CLOSED]

The duergar invading the svirfniblen building pay no heed to the newcomers, clearly bent on doing what it is they came there to do, the sounds of battle and magic ringing loudly from inside, along with shouts and screams.

Back with Traydark and Khessa, the two duergar being held curse in exasperation while the two gnomes attempt to rush off to their building in full panic. Peebles ignores Khessa and continues to attempt to escape, promising to guide them all to great treasure even if they'll just let him go. The two duergar however, speak again, "Threaten us all ya want, we aren't the ones in charge anyway. Grimgol and Khuldir will get what's theirs soon enough and that stupid Yantha will get what's coming to her, if she isn't dead already. Then we can talk about peace again."

The noble drow frowns at the unreasonable duergar, but they were always a stupidly stubborn lot. "So be it." He says dryly, giving up on this endeavour now, hoping the others would return soon so that they could get on with the business of saving the Underdark rather than vainly trying to mediate between these pesky creatures and their pathetic squabbles.

Khessa gets more and more suspicious of Peebles... What's all this hurry, now that he does not risks anything anymore? And why he now wants to leave the town? He was in search of a beholder... wasn't he? And... treasure? Where should he have a treasure? And why?

The blonde arcane warrior keeps firm hold on the gnome, using all her might, if needed, to keep him there and hold him.

She has Dawn discretely tell Traydark: "This one is probably an incredibile liar... or at least one that hides a lot. Would you like to come here and search him? Maybe he has the gem... or at least an item that spreads madness... or something that gives us clues. My feminine istinct tells me not to trust this fellow, something is not right with him..."

The noble drow sighs and turns to join the blonde human and her telepathic blade. Assuming Khessa seems to have the deranged svirfneblin in check, he then searches him for anything of interest, a gem in particular.

Investigation if needed: 6

Quote from Oberon99 >>

The noble drow sighs and turns to join the blonde human and her telepathic blade. Assuming Khessa seems to have the deranged svirfneblin in check, he then searches him for anything of interest, a gem in particular.

Investigation if needed: 8

 The gnome doesn't seem to have much on him, certainly no gems to speak of.

Katryl looks to Lulu to see what she might suggest. "That was about all I've got to help," she says. "I don't see what we can do without trying to just physically stop those duergar." 

The noble drow takes a step back from the deranged deep gnome, looking up at the blonde human restraining it. "No gem, or anything else of interest for that matter." He says with a hint of annoyance, then glancing over at where the rest of the team went, hoping they would return from this hopeless cause.

Khessa is still quite suspicious and asks Peebles: "Ok, now... You were looking for a beholder, were not you? So, you can go if you like... but why don't you stick with us, instead? We will help you find the beholder. And as long as you are with us, many will think twice before trying to hurt you. Is not it better? You were about to get beaten to a pulp just momens ago..."

In the meantime, the blonde arcane warrior sees that violence is far from stopped.

"Let's try talking to Grimgol and Khuldir" the tall adventuress proposes to Traydark with pleading blue eyes. "Maybe they will listen, at least... You know that there must be Demon Lords' madness behind this... It is better for all if we can stop it".

"I agree demonic madness is most likely the cause for all this, but what can we do to reason with those already under the demonic influence? I still think we should see my contact here first, hopefully he is not yet caught by the abyssal corruption and able to give us some straight sensible answers." Traydark responds.

“Innocent people are dying over there, Traydark…” Khessa observes, in a sweet tone “How can we just leave, as if it doesn't concern us? I agree that talking to your contact will help us more, but going there now, would mean let a useless massacre occur... We must at least try to make the two Duergar leaders see reason... Even if only to prevent Lulu, who is less familiar with this environment than you, from trying that and maybe getting into trouble".

"You are very good at diplomacy..." the blonde arcane warrior looks at the drow noble full of confidence "these two blockheads" she nods at the two Duergar "are not entirely convinced also due to the fact that they are not in charge... but I really think you might be able to make those in charge listen to you..."

"If they won't listen to you," the tall adventuress sighs "I agree there will be nothing more to do - and we will go to meet your contact".

"You think I am that easily flattered human?" The noble drow says with a scoff. "Name one time that I have shown to be very good at diplomacy. The fact that I am a drow, an outcast at that seems to make me the last person to send forth in any diplomatic relation." He says with a tired sigh but seems resigned to go and speak to the Duergar leaders if that is the wish of the team. "We still need to regroup so focus your efforts on convincing the others to stop futilely trying to stand in the way of the Duergar retribution."

"Traydark, I was not flattering you..." Khessa smiles, while fixing her sincere blue eyes into the other's purple ones "Your diplomatic skills secured us the support of the Zhentarim, to begin with. But even before this decisive success, it doesn't seem to me that being a 'drow, an outcast at that' has prevented you from negotiating with the Duergar in Gracklstugh, balancing my well-known insolence," she winks "or with the Svirfneblin in Blindgenstone... and in one case we got to be rewarded for our services" she nods to the drow warlock's rod "while in the other we got to coordinate the efforts and save the city. Overall, it doesn't seem like it went too badly. Have faith in yourself, Traydark..." she gently places a hand on his shoulder "...because you deserve it!"

The blonde arcane warrior meanwhile has Dawn send a telepathic message to Lunaria, Katryl and Horkas: 'Come here, friends... Let's regroup, we will try to stop this madness'.

The noble drow grins at the blonde arcane warrior. "I think we remember those situations quite differently human but no matter, come and let us collect our wayward friends." He says turning to find the others in the team, also trying to determine if somehow blocking off the entrance to the Svirfneblin compound could possibly cease hostilities for a while or if trying to stop the apgression is really a lost cause.

Perception: 18
Insight: 20

(From his vantage point currently, the duergar have already made their way inside the cube building of the gnomes, so there probably isn't any way to block it off now. It is also likely that the other duergar would respond like the two currently being held. Seeing the two in charge currently holding Yantha captive is probably the best chance of making the current situation stop.)

Also considering what Traydark has been able to understand, Khessa, not seeing Katryl, nor Lulu, nor Horkas arrive, is more perplexed than ever...

'Go figure! Those three... First they seemed willing to do anything to stop the hostilities... and now that I called them for this very purpose... they ignore me! Dawn,' the blonde arcane warrior marvels with her own sentient sword 'isn't your telepathy failing, is it?'.

However, sighing, she then goes to call her friends in person: "Come! It's no use staying there - unless you intend to enjoy the show. If you rather still intend to stop it, come. Traydark will try to talk to the leaders of the Duergar faction and sort things out. Maybe you too can contribute... or, if things get bad, at least we'll all be together, okay?"

(So - did the other three of us actually get the message from Dawn? I know Khessa asked Dawn but never saw anything about it happening. Or should we have just assumed? If so, sorry for the delay.)

(So I went to check on this, and I misread Dawn's ability. She can communicate telepathically with its wielder, technically. But I'd say the others are currently out of range for telepathy from Dawn unless Khessa moves closer to them first. Sorry about that.)

As he observes the violence happening within the svirfniblen building, Horkas starts to feel a bit nervous. "Those duergar are ignoring us, but that won't last!" 

Katryl nods. "I think you're right. Lunaria, we should probably rejoin Traydark and Khessa.  See if we can come up with something that will get the duergar's attention." She starts to head out of the area, back towards the market where they'd been before, assuming the others come along with her. 

Traydark tries to collect the team without drawing the ire of the Duergar and as soon as they are all gathered he would swiftly lead them on to the Duergar hold to see Grimgol and Khuldir.

(What are you all doing with the duergar you questioned, the other 2 gnomes, and Peebles in the meantime?)