Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

“Guys, I think it’s time that we run.  Follow me!”  With that Vadernul will run and dash with his shield held up high, more so trying to protect the group behind him; getting the group out of harms way. Vadernul slams down with his shield edge  onto the bowstring in hopes of snapping it.

attack: 24

Connak doesn't have any intention of having that thing shooting at their backs.  Connak runs to the contraption and tries to shove the gnome off the thing.

Contested Shove attack: 11

Hearing the gnome, Barric mumbles to himself.

"Yes. Definitely insane."

Barric runs into the room after his two allies, and sees Vadernul trying to cut the thick string with his...shield?

He draws his shortsword and tries to cut through the string with a swift cut.

Attack: 7 Damage: 4.

Vadernul and Barric successfully disable two of the crossbows while Connak takes a more direct approach. From the operator’s seat, the gnome sits about 6 feet above the floor, above the wood elf’s head, but certainly not unreachable. Several push rods, tensioning cables and metal tubes project down and out from the large control panel, which takes up most of the space directly in front of the gnome.

(OOC: Facktore’s Athletics roll to contest Connak’s shove attempt - 3)

She topples from her perch and spills out onto the floor landing prone on the opposite side of the device from Connak.

Ando will run up on the opposite side of Vadernul and take a swing with his longsword to disable another crossbow.

Attack: 8 Damage: 7

Connak turns to Vaxis, "Is there anything you can do to restore her sanity?"

Vaxis frowns at Connak, his head vane quivering a bit.

"I may be having spells to end the madness...It depends on the cause of the malady. I can certainly attempt."

He touches the gnome on the head and prays for Bahamut's aid in cleansing the malady from the poor souls.

"Lord of the North Wind, may your' divine forgiveness allow us to part the madness from this gnome, by your' benevolence, Amen."

(Casting Lesser Restoration...Hopefully its a disease or something else the DM allows for healing, because I have nothing beyond this so far.)

Vadernul will attempt to grapple the gnome.  Not menacingly, but in an attempt to deescalate the situation and signal to the group to calm down.  

Athletics: 17

Vadernul wraps his arms around the gnome, essentially hugging the gnome.

(OOC: Facktore’s Athletics roll to contest Vadernul’s grapple attempt - 9)

The gnome looks up at the towering firbolg who gently gathers her up into a warm, but firm embrace. She gazes soulfully into his eyes as Vaxis prays for her sanity. The dragonborn’ s massive clawed hand envelopes her entire head. The glow of divine magic emanates from his palm and flows down into the seemingly awestruck gnome. Once his prayer is concluded, a few silent moments pass before the gnome finally speaks:

”Day 463: Test subjects uncooperative. Several in this experimentation group have demonstrated hostility towards shooty-shooty thing. Three acted out their aggressions physically, sedation may be required. The largest specimen is attempting to pacify what seems to be a deeply-rooted fear of abandonment with physical interaction...schedule for isolation immersion therapy soonest. The reptilian subject is suffering from delusions of grandeur, likely untreatable. Terminate and return to test supply company for full refund...”

Vaxis' head vane becomes stiff.

"Delusions of....why you...I have half a mind to take this mace and..."

He seems angry enough that his words are having even more trouble coming to the surface.

He looks off to the right seemingly at nothing and says, "And you! You stop laughing! There is nothing funny here!"

Connak looks disappointed when the gnome isn't calmed with Vaxis's magic.  "I say, pick her up, hold her in front and carry her with us.  If there's more danger ahead, she should at least warn us if not outright tell the other gnomes to not 'shoot'."

“Okay”. Vadernul says to Connak.

Whispering to the gnome in his arms “We’re going to lead the way little one.”  As he continues down the path.

Following the tunnel leading south out of the room with the crossbow sentry, Vadernul comes to an intersection. West, the tunnel puts out onto a ledge overlooking the waterfall and pool below, similar to the one in which they entered the complex (sans narrow ramp.) The southern passage rounds a corner which leads to another spilt. To the east, several large casks can be seen resting on wooden frames and have been tapped with shiny silver spigots. South leads to another chamber within which can be seen a ledge that rises 10 feet above the floor. The outline of a small humanoid can be seen standing atop the ledge.

Connak looks south and says, "Lets not meet any more of these crazy gnomes than we have to.  We should be going west across the bridge."

Vaxis looks to the rest of the group.

"Perhaps we should make one more attempt at having diplomacy. After all, we cannot borrow any of their inventions if we do not try to meet some of the...less enthusiastic...member of their clan."

Connak replies, "We ARE trying to meet others... Fibblestib and Dabbledob in the 'development lab', which is to the west."

“Little one, do you know those names?”  As Vadernul continues to follow Connaks instructions to head West.

"Fair enough. Just...be careful."

Vaxis sighs cautiously.

Moving southward into the chamber connecting to the bridge west, Vadernul is arrested by two sharp voices from the ledge above. Looking up, he sees peering over at him two gnomes, one male and one female. The female speaks first, saying something in a language he does not understand, then the male speaks:

“STOP! Who goes there?”

Ando steps forward. "Greetings friends. My name is Ando Fain, servant of our Lady of the Forest. We are adventurers sent from Phandalin seeking to aid the town in their defense against the dragon. We heard the gnomes of Gnomengarde's have many magical trinkets that might be able to assist us. We met one of your fellows near the kitchen, who suggested we seek out Fibblestib and Dabbledob in the development lab, and sent us this way. Do you know them? Could you give us further directions to their lab?"

Persuasion: 18