DM,

Along the way to Gnomengarde, others might have noticed Meira and Lyra slowing to fall back a bit from the group for what seemed an intense conversation. But they quickly catch back up, the halfling smiling and the woman with her usual playful grin. The rest of the trip though sees Meira a touch quieter and more introspective than typical. 

Once they've arrived, she looks closely at each of the cave entrances that can be seen from where they stand below the waterfall. (Perception: 21) "Which way do you suppose we're supposed to go?" she asks. "There's clearly a path up to that entrance on the east side of the river. But could we reach the one there on this side?"  She points towards the nearest entrance. "It does look a little steep," she comments. 

(OOC - I can't tell from the map, but just how accessible are the entrances other than the one with the winding path. I'm assuming I'm right that east is on the opposite side of the river from where we are now.) 

"So this is Gnomengarde. Can we expect the inhabitants to be welcoming to strangers?" The young dark-haired man with the purple robes dryly asks no one in particular as he starts hovering towards the nearest cave entrance while sending his accountant to scout out the rest of them for any signs of any locals. 

Alisande delights in the freedom of the skies, eventually coaxed into games of chase with her familiar as they spiral through the heavens. The cool air has a chilly bite, but after the unchurned dust and suffocating claustrophobia of a day and a night beneath the mountain, she considers it most welcome. In the midst of their play, the noblewoman is about to offer one of her companions a turn upon her broom, when she catches sight of a concerning group making their way westward. She swans down to the earth, her boots touching ground gracefully and immediately falling into stride alongside the others. 

"Four creatures in the air, moving westward." The mage says, loudly enough even for Meira and Lyra to hear as they enjoy a private moment at the rear of the party. "I cannot yet discern their identities, but one looms larger than the rest. They altered course, and and wheeled toward the north-west upon sighting us. Too distant to pose an immediate threat, but something to ruminate open - do keep your eyes open for danger."

When the party finally arrive at their destination some four hours later, Lady Alisande finds herself intrigued by the multi-coloured mushrooms flourishing in the area untouched by sunlight. "I am happy to play ferryman if anyone requires assistance in navigating the stream." She says in response to Meira, tapping the magical broom resting on her shoulder. Ozymandias takes flight, investigating the array of unusual flora upon Alisande's telepathic instruction.

"It is said the wizards of Gnomengarde enjoy their privacy, preferring to spend their time in solitude from the wider world, pursuing admirable endeavours such as the forging of magical items and non-arcane invention." She replies to Rasziel as he inquires after how the party are likely to be received. 

Ozymandias
Perception: 8
((OOC: Looking for anything dangerous as he approaches the islands.))

Alisande
Nature: 12
((OOC: Does Alisande recognise these mushrooms or know anything about them?))

At the head of the column, Zephyros spots the threat to the south and stops his forward progress. Shortly afterwards, Alisande flies down next to the group to report. The bull of a man responds, "Yes, I saw them too. The large one looks similar to the manticore we fought at Umbrage Hill while saving Adabra. This must be the monster's mate and kin." The armored veteran sees Meira and Lyra at the back of the pack as he follows the monsters flight path, but thinks nothing of it. The warrior knew well the pair had grown close over the course of their adventure and it came as no surprise now. "Good, it looks like they have moved on. Agreed, Alisande. Stay vigilant."

As the group arrives at Gnomengarde he looks around. Answering Meira, the bearded man pulls out his pipe and lights the bowl. Taking a few deep puffs to cherry the contents, he says, "I believe it can be climbed. First, let's see if anyone is home."

Ironheart calls out a greeting to the gnomes, "HELLO GNOMES OF GNOMENGARDE! WE COME IN PEACE AND BRING NEWS! SHOW YERSELVES AND TREAT WITH US."

Meira,

[[OOC: You perceive that the rocky ledge nearest you can be climbed with a DC 13 athletics check, as it sits 25' above. Any of them can be summitted but the ones closer to the waterfall would be much more difficult. The windy walkway that leads up the eastern rocky ledge looks like it was made for much smaller folk, but could be navigated safely by someone larger with a bit of caution.]]

 Alisande,

[[OOC: Ozymandias doesn't see any danger as he approaches the mushroom islands in the center of the shallow pool. You've never seen mushrooms this large before, growing to unnatural sizes. Some of which rising up to 3'. With the mushrooms growing in three distinct colors, you recognize two of them and remember reading about their uses. The red mushrooms are often processed for their oils and burned in lanterns to illuminate dark spaces. The green mushrooms are ground down into a flour and baked into a rather tasty green bread. However, the purple mushrooms escape your recollection. With them growing in close proximity to the others, you surmise they are harmless.]]

Rasziel hovers up to the closest cave entrance as Zephyros calls out to the Gnomes. Rasziel is immediately greeted by several Gnomes with crossbows pointed at him. He also sees a makeshift ballista pointed at him as well that rests 10' behind the frontline Gnomes. In a small squeaky voice, someone calls out to the man with the sinister looking scar. "Hold it right there buddy! Don't move a muscle or we'll fill each one o' them with new peircings! Tell yer friends outside to drop their weapons!"

Azazel just manages to fly over to the western cave entrance and sees it illuminated by a string of hanging lanterns. He turns around seeing his master in danger and waits for additional instruction.

Perception - 13

The ranger's mood noticeably improves as soon as they leave the old dwarven fortress behind. He hadn't enjoyed being cooped up in there very much, and that was before taking into account all the undead and the other nasty creatures that had been lurking inside. It's a four hour journey to Gnomengarde, and Gareth does his best to appreciate being back out in the wilderness again while it lasts. He has no idea what Gnomengarde might be like but fears it's another fortress of some kind. When they arrive at the place, he's perplexed by the strange mushrooms and furrows his brow when he sees that the place is actually a cave system. Back underground it is then.

"They might not be able to hear us over the sound of that waterfall, as mighty as your lungs may be, Ironheart," Gareth says with some amusement. A moment later though a squeaky voice calls out in response, and Gareth looks up toward the source of the voice with some surprise. "Well, that actually worked. At least we got their attention, I suppose."

The ranger makes no move to actually drop his weapons, however.

"No need for threats I'm sure, we come here peacefully and wish to negotiate with you for whatever magic you posess that can help us defend this region against the imminent dragon threat against it." The young dark-haired purple-robed man explains with a calm smile, showing the welcoming comittee his open hands in a sign of peace. "I suggest we do as they say, better lower your weapons so we can avoid any unnecessary bloodshed." He then calmly calls down to his associates below, still not seeming bothered by the threat from the gnomes.

Persuasion: 11 Another roll if help action is provided: 13
Insight: 7

Zephyros smiles and shrugs his shoulders at Gareth as he suggests his greeting wouldn't be heard over the din of the waterfall, but his mood grows serious once more as the gnomes respond. "What a warm welcome," the warrior says a bit under his breath. "VERY WELL. WE WILL DISARM." He spears his trident into the ground next to him and sets his crossbow down at his feet.

The armored warrior begins climbing up the embankment to join Rasziel, but he continuously slides back down getting frustrated in the processes. "Blasted rock is more unstable than I expected."

"COME OUT AND SPEAK WITH US!" Zephyros yells. "PLEASE DON"T HURT MY COMPANION. THAT WOULD BE MOST UNWISE. WE ARE HEAR TO HELP."

The bearded warrior whispers a request to Felagi. A second later, the bird is in flight, heading away from the cave entrance and back into the open air to the north.

Helping Rasziel if possible.

Athletics: 11

DM:

For her part, Meira takes her shortbow and sets in on the ground in front of her. And then she takes her rapier and lowers that to the ground as well. The daggers are not obvious, so she does not touch them for the moment. She raises her arms, hands open, and speaks out to the gnomes. "We have come to make sure you were aware of the danger of a dragon in these regions. Is there any way we could offer you aid?" 

 "Well, he seems like a fun guy." Alisande mutters drily as she absorbs the scene before her. She pinches the bridge of her nose and shakes her head, glancing at the odd wand that Rasziel foisted upon her hanging from her hip. 

The wizard makes particular note of the formidable piece of artillery that could pose a hazard should she ascend into the skies. Ozymandias remains clustered amongst the riot of shrooms on the northernmost misty isle. The noblewoman follows Zephyros' suit and tosses her rapier to the ground. 

"Now, now, threats of bodily perforation before we've even exchanged the courtesies of introduction? No, that really won't do." She says in a chiding voice, wagging her finger despite the warmth of her smile.

"My name is Lady Alisande of House Immerwood. As my colleagues have explained, we have journeyed to Gnomengarde not as your adversaries, but to do you a boon, though you may mislike the news we bear. Meira speaks the truth, but only half of a whole - there is not one, but two drakes, that haunt the skies over the Sword Mountains. A white dragon and a huge green behemoth who shook the Mountain's Toe Mine. Now, please, we entreat you... lower your weapons and let us meet as friends."

Rasziel watches as one of the gnomes cautiously steps forward. He lowers his crossbow, but the scowl on his face remains. As he gets closer, Rasziel notices this gnomes looks emaciated and weak. He says, "A dragon you say? Well we needn't much worry over a dragon. Doubtful a dragon would bother us gnomes. Sides, we've got our own problems much more pressing... Mhm we do." The gnome glares at Rasziel as he steps around the man to get a look down at his companions. The crossbow comes back up as the gnome scans the group below.

 Zephyros,

As you attempt to climb the slope, a loose rock dislodges and causes you to fall backwards 10' down onto your back. It knocks the wind out of you and you take 3 bludgeoning damage.

Rasziel,

[[OOC: Is there something specific you are wanting to insight check?]]

Meira and Alisande,

The gnome standing on the ledge responds to you, "You say you want to help do ya? You can start by giving us some food if ya got any." The gnome turns to the others and says, "It's okay guys. They look friendly and might be able to help us." Turning back to the two of you the gnome continues, "It's two dragons now is it? Pretty soon the sky'll be filled with them I suppose. Mountains Toe, hmm... Yes, Yes I believe we've sold the dwarves there a case 'er two of mushroom wine if memory serves, and it always does, mind you. My name's Fibblestib and..." He stops mid introduction as he catches a glace at Ozymandias amongst the mushrooms. Fibblestib's eyes go wide as he begins yelling, "TELL YER ANIMAL TA GET OUTA THERE. M..M...MONSTER!" 

Unfortunately, the warning comes a second too late as one of the taller green mushrooms lashes out at the flying kitten and drags it into a large toothy maw! Attack: 22 Damage: 7 piercing & 4 Acid. Ozymandias lets out a cry of surprise as a pseudopod latches onto him, similar to how frogs catch flies. As the monster bites down, the kitten disappears.

Combat Begins!

• 22 Alisande
• 22 Zephyros
• 18 Fibblestib
• 15 Lyra
• 13 Gareth
• 9 Meira
• 9 Rasziel
• 2 Mushroom Monster
• 0 Azazel

Map:

Fibblestib brings his crossbow back up and fires a bolt at the mushroom creature, but the bolt is shot in haste and splashes into the water, well short of the monster.

Lyra cries out as she turns to see the Tressym get eaten, "Oh no! Tymora help us!" She points a finger and mutters under her breath and a bolt of radiant energy shoots from the finger tip. Attack: Natural 20+6=26 Critical damage: 26 The radiate bolt blasts a huge hole in the creature. It writhes in pain amongst the other mushrooms, knocking many of them over in the process.

"Ozymandias! Nooooo!" Alisande cries in dismay at the distressed chirp and squeak of the baby tressym. The mushroom monster's pseudopod latches around the tiny creature, and a moment later, the little duke seemingly poofs out of reality, whisked away into the cozy comforts of a pocket dimension awaiting recall. 

Nevertheless, the noblewoman narrows her grey eyes and glowers - her typical measured composure transmuted into undisguised anger. She vaults atop her broom and begins a sharp, outraged arc into the skies above. As she whistles forward, she scoops up the discarded rapier with one hand, while the other darts to the loop on her hip for her wand. 

Discombombulated by the sudden attack, her fingers cast about for the familiar gnarled elder wood sceptre she has always carried, but instead close around the strangely ringed, iridescent implement Rasziel wisely refused to keep. A series of vexed incantations follow as hisses from the red-haired witch's tongue, but what was intended to be a bolt of wrathful fire is choked away by the volatile dweomer upon the wand, and transformed into something else entirely...

ACTION: Wand of Wonder. d100 effect: 6 - Faerie Fire. DC 15. 
BONUS ACTION: None.
MOVEMENT: 50ft directly over her current position. 

A soft blue light erupts from Alisande's recently procured wand and shrouds the mushroom island in the light. Though it doesn't take her long to identify the magical effect this spell has on her target. Mushroom Monster Dex save 4 fails. The Mushroom monster illuminates in a soft blue light, making the creature much easier to see amongst the other mushrooms on the island. Any attack rolls against the affected creature have advantage if the attacker can see it.

As his companions move to lower their weapons, Gareth shrugs and is about to do the same when one of the gnomes shouts something about a monster. Then everything happens very quickly as one of the green mushrooms swallows the poor tressym familiar whole and Alisande wails with dismay. Despite the gravity of the situation, the ranger can't help but be excited. This is a new monster he hasn't encountered yet, and he already starts to think about what sort of trophy he could take from a mushroom monster.

He releases an arrow at the mushroom, hoping to shoot it in a soft, vulnerable spot.

Longbow +1 Attack: 18 to hit for 13 piercing damage

Edit: Forgot to roll with advantage but the second roll was also an 18.

Meira is for a moment confused by the gnome's panicked yelling. 'What is he even talking about?' she wonders. It's moments later she realizes that Alisande's tressym had been attacked, evidently by a mushroom.  Quickly she reached down and picked up her shortbow, firing a shot at the thing. 
(Shortbow Attack: 25, Damage: 9 piercing + 4 sneak attack) 

Zephyros' soldiers instincts kick in and his adrenaline pumps as soon as the gnome yells monster. With deft precision, Ironheart yanks his wife's trident free from the earth and throws it toward the once unsuspected adversary.

Hit: 23

Damage: 10

The hovering young dark-haired man with the purple robes glares down at the menacing malignly mawed mushroom, swiftly placing an infernal hex on the aberration before unleashing a purplish beam of hellish crackling force towards it.

Eldritch Blast: 26 Force: 11 Necrotic: 1

Meanwhile the invisible Azazel flutters back to the safety of his masters purple robes, not liking one bit the prospect of being sent scouting into the hungry maws of innocent-looking fungi.

Everyone,

Fibblestib drops his crossbow to the rocky ground as his jaw drops in amazement at the brutal onslaught wrought by the adventuring party. Almost simultaneously the mushroom monster is illuminated, struck by two arrows, a trident, a mote of radiant light, and a purplish beam of hellish force. The Mushroom monster is obliterated in short order. "Wow! I was wrong... you guys aren't friendly. You're amazing!" He turns to the other gnomes, "Hey guys, you're not gonna believe this. These people just killed that monster, like... super easy." He says in his squeaky voice as he struggles to find the proper words to describe the event.

Fibblestib turns back to Rasziel, "Thanks for helping take care of that monster. It ate Oryyn not long ago as he tried to get us some mushrooms for food."

The other gnomes begin gathering around Rasziel and start taking in the scene for themselves. One of them says, "What about the other ones. They gonna help with those ones too?" Clearly addressing Fibblestib, who responds, "How should I know. I just met em. Why don't you ask em yerself Dabbledob."

Dabbledob, turns to Rasziel with an expectant expression, lips pursed, one eyebrow raised and one eye squinting. "Well?"

 Rasziel,

You notice all of the gnomes around you look frail and weak, as if they haven't eaten in a long time.

"Well, we did come here seeking your help but that can wait. We will of course help you in turn with your predicament." Rasziel starts, seeming somewhat uncomfortable with this kind of attention but still landing among the frail-looking gnomes and handing out what he has left in the ways of rations from his backpack. "Eat this and then tell us more about these other ones. Are you saying there are more of these menacing mawed mushrooms around here?" He asks with calm confidence.