Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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OOC: It doesn't matter to Lath if the scrolls are an order for the gnomes. We were hired to deliver the scrolls. If we are unable to deliver it, we report back what happened to the wizards.
OOC: Based on post #26, it doesn't appear that the scrolls are just an order for a certain item but at least are part of a ritual to create such an item. Still, the party is just the delivery team. We don't care what the scrolls are or do.
Lath Insight: 7
OOC - Yup, the gnomes are supposed to follow the ritual to create the item for your employers.
Rastaris knows something about the psychology of gnomes. He realizes that these gnomes are recluses ...
OOC - That's actually what they're called in the stat block ...
... but this behavior is extreme even for them. Something really has them spooked. They've likely had dealings with humans or elves before, but for some reason they just don't trust you. Rastaris realizes you will have to do something extreme to even get the gnomes to parley.
OOC: Mithrokk thought he was hired to make a delivery. So, as far as he's concerned, it seems they are refusing to accept the delivery so his only recourse is to leave and return to the people that hired him and let them know what happened and hand back the merchandise.
Insight: 3
OOC: The gnomes may be recluses but they also appear to accept commissions for magical items. I would think they have some sort of process for vetting potential customers. If they're spooked, fine; we can't really help with that. We're happy to help if we can, but if they don't want to even parley with us and even attack our party (blowing up Xelote is sooooo not cool) ... well ... Lath just doesn't think that's worth it. The gnomes, Lath thinks, may not want to jeopardize their source of commerce. And will reach out to the party when they feel safe enough. Lath is not risking anyone else getting hurt right now. He's not pushing the gnomes around. As far as he's concerned, the ball is still in the gnomes' court.
OOC: That's Lath's thinking.
Farnakees thinks wonders why the gnomes seem unappreciative of the seal, notwithstanding the language barrier. He ponders this and other wondrous things... Insight 9
OOC - Well, unless the party tries something extreme to get the gnomes to parley, you'll get no response from them and can spend the night on that ledge. Press the long rest button on your character sheets. In the morning, how do you plan to get down from the ledge?
OOC - Thinking long over this problem, and realizing that the gnomes are a mountain people like himself, Farnakees places himself in their little shoes and realizes that one option would be to offer to surrender to the gnomes.
OOC: How strong is the current below? Strong? Would Lathalas need to make an Athletic check to prevent drowning? Does it look safe? Does there appear to be anything in the waters? Sahuagin?
OOC: Looking to carry two 50' ropes to anchor to the other side. Climb down, swim across, climb up. Anchor rope. Take 10? Take 20? Or roll because the water is dangerous?
The most ludicrous idea just popped into his head. But, not one to give up, he decides to surrender. "Hey, everyone, gather round... I was thinking., 'A goliath, a dwarf and a gnome enter a bar.... Forget that.... the only way I think the gnomes will conquer their fear is if we tell them that we surrender. They won. We lost...."
Not waiting for the rest, he lays down his weapons, takes out his shiny white undergarments from his pack, and waves it around - the universal sign of peace and surrender.
OOC: No current. It's a pool formed by the waterfall. Given the mist, you can't really see how deep the water is.
OOC: Has the party decided to leave now? I thought you were going to spend the night on the ledge.
As Farnakees lays down his weapon and takes up his unique flag, a series of high-pitched whistles ring out from the caves across you. This is answered by more high-pitched whistles from the caves on your side.
Finally, after a few minutes, the rude rat you saw earlier magically reappears, but this time beside the party. In a woman's voice it says, "What is this? What is the meaning of that flag? Are you surrendering? Throw your weapons into the water and we shall take you into custody. "
OOC: we spent the night on the ledge and did a long rest. Farnakees surrendered in the morning. That's what I understood the timeline to be.
As Lathalas ponders how to rebuild the bridge or even just get across, he perks up at the signs of the gnomes communicating with the party.
"I won't speak for my friends," he says, eyeing Mithrokk in particular. "I would be satisfied with putting my weapons by the edge of these spinning blades or perhaps in a chest that you provide. I will not be throwing them in the water."
"We mean you no harm but have no guarantee from Gnomengarde that you mean us no harm either."
Lathalas puts his weapons where he said he would as a show of sincerity, retreats to the camp, then waits for a response from Gnomengarde.
Farnakees addresses the rat as well: "For a... errrr.. ah... ahem ... exterminator.... our weapons are of great importance, but replaceable. For my friend here (indicating Mithrokk), his weapon is sacred and his heritage. Let him keep his weapon safe. I beg you. And please do not take away my undergarments. Armor chafes...."
Farnakees throws his sword into the pool.
"Take me as hostage for a parlay. For that is what we sought from the beginning. In a roundabout way, albeit."
Quote from Skulgryn >>
Lathalas cannot help but admire his goliath friend.
Farnakees basks in the glow for a brief moment, memories of his old squad and their sworn brotherhoods returning. But his face returns to its serious and sincere demeanor...
"Throw your weapons into the pool," insists the rat to Lathalas and the rest.
"Have sense like this big fellow here. If you are who you claim to be and not shapeshifters, then we will fish the weapons out of the pool and return them to you. The water won't hurt them -- in fact, we'll give them a good cleaning if you can prove who you are.
"Meet our conditions or leave. Gnomengarde is self-sufficient. We have no need of the outside world. It is outsiders such as yourselves who keep bringing trouble to Gnomengarde, seeking out our magic."
The rat watches you expectantly.
Rastaris throws his weapons into the pool -light crossbow, dagger, and quarterstaff.
Alianna does the same. She tosses the light crossbow, longbow (from the orc) and dagger into the pool.
OOC: Ok, we've got 3 out 5 party members complying. Is there a designated party leader? Will you all follow suit, or will someone do an ATF at Waco thing -- shooting the Branch Davidian dogs while negotiations were still ongoing, triggering a firefight? Or maybe like the dude during the Trojan War, who took a cheap shot at Menelaus when the Greeks and Trojans had a parley? Individual characters can still make their own decisions; I'll just roll with whatever you guys do.
Mithrokk takes his glaive and his greataxe and gives both a hard look. He examines every groove and every etching on the dwarven steel and admires the way the blades catch the light and shimmer in the morning sun. He remembers the sound the steel makes when they sing through the air and slice through flesh. He relives the long history behind each weapon with those that came before him.
Reluctantly, and rather forlornly, Mithrokk slowly dips each blade in the water and, with a silent prayer, lets go.
OOC: Since Lathalas probably has no weapons worth throwing away anyway ...
A series of whistles echo around the caves. You see gnomes emerging from the other three cave entrances, nervously and inexpertly holding crossbows. Mithrokk and Farnakees, both trained soldiers, realize these gnomes are more likely to shoot themselves by accident than shoot the party on purpose. They lack the training given to even regular militia.
Before the party, the whirling blades slow, then stop.
"Follow me," the rat says.