Quote from Wolfy911 >>

(BTW, has Rhayna spotted whomever "relocated" her whip??)

 No, that was just some random miner. But Rhayna can purchase a new one from the vendors in the city.

Quote from ZorgAlmighty >>

Quote from Wolfy911 >>

(BTW, has Rhayna spotted whomever "relocated" her whip??)

 No, that was just some random miner. But Rhayna can purchase a new one from the vendors in the city.

(Rhayna is just miffed that someone was able to take her whip right under her nose. :-) The zurkhwood staff is working fine for her newfound abilities.)

Kaylyn clears her throat.

"We have returned with a one who can negotiate on behalf of the Glowwhisker Clan.  They seek peace between your people and theirs, to live in harmony.  If you can reach an agreement they also offer information on your common foe, the Pudding king and the slimes.  This is an opportunity to make amends for past... misunderstandings.  Dear Diggermattocks, I recall what you said just prior to us leaving to speak with them on your behalf.  You said that you confess you had miraculously managed to avoid being bitten and contracting lycanthropy in your confrontations so far.  I submit that the reason for is that they have not been trying to bite you or pass on lycanthropy to you.  They seek to have peace and an equal say in the city that they resided in prior to your returning.  They seek the same as you, peace, protection from common enemies and an opportunity to live free.  There is ample space here for both and you both seek the same ends.  They are gnomes, the same as you and this is their home, the same as yours.  They seek an alliance with you, to live together in peace and to face common enemies together.  You will be stronger together than separate.  Together you can rebuild Blingdenstone and defend it.  What say you?"

Pensive for his part sends subtle emotions of peace and harmony to the Diggermattocks in order to help.

Persuasion, with advantage.  Use just the first roll if advantage doesn't apply. 26

Quote from Wolfy911 >>

(Rhayna is just miffed that someone was able to take her whip right under her nose. :-) The zurkhwood staff is working fine for her newfound abilities.)

Yeah, sorry about that (not really). I wanted to highlight the unfriendliness of the 'outer' gnomes, and wanted one to steal from someone. Picked a random PC as the target - and it was Rhayna. I was actually expecting them to get caught and for a fight to start. At least someone didn't lose their favorite magic item, right?

The prejudice of the deep gnomes runs deep, and despite Kastix making a very logical and convincing case for unity, backed up by Pax's appeal to common decency, the Diggermattocks and their advisors remain unswayed. We have reclaimed Bligdenstone alone and against great odds, says Dorbo with much reduced amiability. We will survive this Pudding King and its thralls without their help. Then Kaylyn steps forward and speaks her part. Many of her arguments are the same, but with additions that seem to strike more of a chord with the leadership. Tactical knowledge of the Pudding King is clearly of interest to the members of the Stoneheart Enclave, whose elementals will likely bear the brunt of the assault. The soldiery also take heart to Sekkar's brief but severe supporting words, feeling that truly conquering is a more desirable outcome than mere survival. And insight into the lack of curse-bites causes the eyes of the Diggermattocks and the other mining clans to widen in surprise.

Finally the stony countenances of the assembled leaders begin to crack, and a new and more positive tone of murmuring starts to ripple through the throng. The murmuring turns into a spoken plea to the Diggermattocks to 'let the wererat speak' which is apparently a recognition of some privilege. Dorbo looks to Waxoff and gives the signal for permission to address the council. The wererat lieutenant gazes sternly around at the faces of the observers, and then begins:

What they speak is true, O brave gnomes. Despite your incursions, our leader has instructed that none shall be bitten, for what you call a curse we have come to see as a gift unfit for those not already so blessed.

(Kaylyn thinks this a provocative and unhelpful opening and considers gently pulling Waxoff away, but the assembled gnomes actually seem impressed with his display of conviction, so she lets him alone)

Long have we dwelt here, since the early days after the drow invaders departed, and know all of Bligdenstone's secrets. When first you returned there was one of your number that disappeared soon after arrival, a gnome of unstable mind. From our secret places we observed him, whose name we knew not, as he retreated into the depths of the burrows, beyond the House Center. There he hid, stealing and hoarding food until it rotted, and then talking to it, capturing and studying the few oozes that crossed his way. After a time he left, but recently he returned, affected by some new insanity we cannot explain. All manner of oozes returned with him then, and they have grown in number since, beyond counting. Now he sits on a slime-covered throne beyond the old rothé stockade, and calls himself the Pudding King. Thus you now know your true enemy, and it is one of your own.

But this is not all I am bidden to tell you. The Burrow Wardens of old were all defeated in the drow invasion, yet they have not left these warrens. As ghosts now they remain, sharing information with us about the dangers lurking within the dark places of the city. Their leader, the great Burrow Warden Jadger, speaks with Chipgrin, our chief.

There is a sharp intake of breath from those assembled, many of whom look pointedly at the Diggermattocks as Waxoff continues:

The Burrow Wardens will never recognise your authority - and you will never obtain that which you seek - a just claim to the crown - until you accept the Goldwhisker clan as legitimate residents of Bligdenstone, and equal members of the council. Do this, and the Clan will endorse your coronation and both we and the Burrow Wardens will help you fight the Pudding King and his hordes.

Truly Waxoff has struck a nerve with all the gnomes leaders. Senni and Dorbo Diggermattock are the most affected, and see now not only the benefit the Clan and the ghostly Wardens will bring to the city as a whole and their campaign against the oozes, but the advantage to their own claim to leadership. Waxoff looks to the group with a crooked smile and a nod of thanks, for without them and their intercession, he would never have been given the opportunity to speak, nor given any credibility. Dorbo rises and calls for a sustaining vote to allow Goldwhisker Clan recognition among the inhabitants of Bligdenstone, and the show of hands is unanimous. Waxoff is charged with bringing Chipgrin and any other senior clan members to the council hall to be given official acceptance, and to assist in the final preparations for battle, and he departs. Then Dorbo steps down and approaches the group, saying: 

I thank you, friends of Bligdenstone. You have achieved great things for us, for which we cannot thank you enough. As soon as the battle is over, in which I now feel more confident we shall prevail, we would be honored to escort you to Mantol-Derith, or anywhere else you wish to go. If you wish to remain safely in the warrens during the fight, we will gladly offer you refuge, and would not dare ask anything more.

What next? 

"Please let us speak among ourselves before we proceed," Kastix said before turning back to the ground, "We're going have fight aint we? Can't be lead to surface if there's no one to guide us,"

Pax nods, "Yes of course. I'll not stand idly by while these folk fight a bunch of oozes, not when I can help." 

"Agreed.  Our part here is not finished and we cannot walk away in good conscious.  We do not need to lead the battle but we should lend our strength to aid as we can."  Kaylyn says in response to Pax and Kastix.

"May be we can ask around which of these gnomes actually knows the way up and see to it, that that one stays alive?" Sekkar felt like some practicality had to be reminded of. "Let's hope they would be able to fix our armor afterwords. And our hides too." He was not eager to fight slime but was not about to run away from inevitable either.

Pax glances sideways over at Sekkar, and lets out an unexpected laugh that comes out as a "pffff"..... but otherwise doesn't say anything. She glances around, hoping no one can hear his words. Stifling a grin she shakes her head, as if not quite believing what Sekkar had just said, and just remains quiet.

Oh, Sekkar was talking strictly to the party - he was around long enough to understand that not everyone shares ... practical view of life.

It's taking him a while, but gradually Sekkar is getting his mind around the unusual idea that in some societies not everyone is a warrior. He sees that most of the females and hatchlings, as well as many of the males in the merchant and priestly clans, are not being armed for battle. It is mainly miners, craftsmen and dedicated soldiers that form the ranks.

Dorbo is delighted that the surfacers are willing to help with the battle, and invites them to join in the planning. Chiprin soon arrives with Waxoff and another wererat, and with them floats a ghost of a gnome warrior, the legendary Burrow Warden Jadger. The heads of the other gnome factions join together and finalise their plans for combat.

Kazook Pickshine, whose trade happens to be in alchemy, spends some time consulting with Rhayna on her knowledge of the fungi in the garden, and with her help manages to concoct an oil that he says should provide a protective coating against the corrosion of the oozes for any metal armor and weapons. He manages to create enough to protect the entire party for the duration of the battle.

Meanwhile, in the war room, elementals are assigned as the spearhead of the main attacking force, following by the relatively resilient wererats. The gnome army plans to protect the flanks and provide ranged support in what will largely be a head-on confrontation, while the ghosts identify and focus their attacks on any problem targets. At a suggestion from the ghost general, Dorbo makes a request of the group, summarising the issue as follows:

The Pudding King will likely be well-protected behind the bulk of his forces. It is an uncertain gambit, but Jadger believes that the ooze forces may weaken or even be neutralized if the Pudding King can be incapacitated early in the battle. Based on Chipgrin's intelligence, the Pudding King should be found near the rothe stockade. We propose to send you with a small force to infiltrate the tunnels from the southern end, via the newly-cleansed temple. Nomi Pathshutter has supplied an alchemical concoction that will clear the blockage in those tunnels, and allow you to circumvent the main battle and strike at the Pudding King directly. It is not without risk, however. You could find yourselves trapped in the depths of the burrows with the ooze horde blocking any means of escape. Would you be willing to try this?

Sneak upon the enemy in the tunnels - the best tried-and-true tactic he personally knew. "We'll do it." The idea that someone might disagree with an obviously advantageous strategy did not even cross his mind, that was still digesting the complicated information about gnome's society. "Let us know when you are ready and we'll begin".

Pax grins and slaps Sekkar on the shoulder, "From tentative pommel stone to tip of the sword in 3 seconds flat. Sekkar, you're hilarious, and it's great! Of course we'll do it."

She doesn't say much at first, but she is seems very impressed with the oil to protect armor. Eventually to Rhayna she mutters, "I'd be very interested in this oil and how to make more. Anything that protects metal from corrosion would be very popular with the knights of the surface..."

Rhayna tries to be useful helping with the preparations. She was glad that she was able to assist Kazook Pickshine with the creation of an oil that would give some protection the party against the oozes. While applying on Pax's armor. "Perhaps after all of this is over, we may go to Candlekeep, and apply for a patent on this oil. As always, I have written everything down in my Journal. Required materials, mixing methodology, etc etc." She replies to her companion's question. However, back in her mind she was thinking what she would tell this Pudding King if she, or the party, was able to get close to him or it. She tries to draw inspiration from companion's recent speech.

Kastix takes a moment to check on his lack of armor and his non metal magic stuff, "What about we worry about getting out alive before destinations on the surface?" 

"I'm with Kastix on this, one step at a time.  Let us be this strike force and do our part." Kaylyn says.

"We find this king, hit him as hard as we can until he's dead, get out and you talk oils while they escort us out of the underdark," Kastix outlines his idea of events to happen. 

"Good plan," fully approved Sekkar and explained to Pax: "One does not need to rush into the battle, but if it's inevitable - no point to beat around the bush." He was ready to scout ahead a bit.

Battle lines are drawn up at the main gate - the same one the party first entered when they encountered the oozes. The plan is for the earth elementals to burrow underground and pop up in the ooze territory to form a defensive line. The Goldwhisker wererats will rush through the gate and attack up close around the elemental barricade. The gnome warriors will form up behind and fire at range over the barricade. And the ghosts will float in from all sides and hit selected targets. It's a good strategy, but the group is escorted away before the assault begins so they can prepare their flanking maneuver.

The special preparation from the Pickshine alchemist is applied to the stone blocking the tunnel that leads north from the temple. At a signal given through a magical sending spell, a flame is applied and a loud and dusty explosion rocks the cavern. When the dust and smoke clears, the tunnel is passable and the adventurers enter with a small force of gnomes. They lead the group quickly along the dark tunnels as the sound of fighting echoes off the walls from further ahead. At several points small passageways branch off, and glimpses can be seen of the large ooze-covered sphere of the House Center. At each of these branches, several oozes break away from the thick horde and move toward the commando force, but each time one of the gnomes stays back to hold them off while the rest of the company advances.

Finally, what's left of the company reaches an opening to the east leading into a cavern, which the wererats described as the cavern beyond which the Pudding King resides. The cavern shows signs of ooze residence, but all seem to have left for the battle. The only remaining features are two pools of water on the far side of the cavern and a pool of reddish-brown slimy residue in the middle of the cave. There is an opening to the south which the gnomes hurry toward, but as they pass the slimy pool, several dozen eyes suddenly open from within the pool, and then the entire thing rises up from the floor. Mangled vestigial appendages emerge from the formless thing, then are reabsorbed into the disgusting mass just as quickly. Worst of all, huge tooth-filled mouth appear all over its surface, each of which babbles unearthly incoherent nonsense that is so disturbing it threatens to incapacitate the minds of any who hear it! The three remaining gnome warriors form a defensive line and one calls out to the group: You keep going! We'll hol- but his voice is immediately silenced as one giant mouth engulfs him and he is absorbed into the monster...

(It looks even scarier appearing suddenly in a dark cave!)

Everyone roll initiative.

Slime Monster: 7
Gnome Warriors: 15

Anyone that rolls higher than the slime monster can take a turn, but must start with a DC 10 WIS save. If you succeed, you can proceed with your turn (and can stay and fight this abomination or move directly into the adjoining cavern.) But if you should fail... you can't take reactions until the start of your next turn AND ... roll a d8.
On a 1 to 4, you do nothing for your turn.
On a 5 or 6, you take no action or bonus action and use all your movement to move in a random direction.
On a 7 or 8, you make a melee attack against a randomly-determined creature within reach (or do nothing if you can't make such an attack).

(Not like anyone's gonna fail a DC 10 WIS save though, right? I mean what kind of loser would you be if you did...)

I'll post a map tomorrow. For now, just... imagine!

Here's a big map of the whole city. The current combat is being fought in the top-right corner.