Under the Tavern, Over the Mountain, and Around the Tree

OOC: The elves are truly an amazing race.

Chief Inspector Lathalas Persuasion check: 16 

OOC: We do this...in the name...of the King.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Um98FZei8

Near tears, the gnomes try to answer Chief Inspector Lathalas's questions:

- they don't know anything about a shapeshifter. It was the king who told them about it and to watch out for it.

- six gnomes have disappeared; there doesn't appear to be any connection between them, the victiims are spread out among the caves; the gnomes advice you to ask in the other caves

- the gnomes disappeared over the last month, maybe one or two gnomes a week

- they don't know where the gnomes disappeared to; Captain Klie thought they went outside, that's why he took the Long Patrol; after Captain Klies failed to return, the gnomes stopped leaving Gnomengarde, but the disappearances continued

- the last disappearance occured last week

- they know nothing about Captain Klie; they're not warrior-types like the members of the Long Patrol

After the interrogation, the gnomes rush to bring you to their king. Any willingness on their part to offer assistance, material or otherwise, to the party, has been dissipated by the elf's interrogation.

The goliath knocks.

The adventurers are brought to a set of closed double doors made of thick wood and held together by copper rivets. Talk to the bat, the gnomes tell the party, pointing to one hanging upside down near the door. They then leave and return to their workshop.

OOC: I'm dreading this question, but who's going to do the talking this time to the gnome kings? (Even if there's nothing in the module about this, I guess I should start prepping in case you start a war with Gnomengarde. Sigh.)

Farnakees can see the bat giving him the hairy eyeball. No one answers his knock.

"Cool hang-out!"  Farnkees says to the bat....

OOC:  I think our fearless leader shall do the talking...  Rast?

OOC: Can we do an Insight check to come up with something that might make the kings talk to us?

Insight: 21

OOC - Yikes, I just looked over your party's Charisma skills ...

OOC - You'd need to see the king or his behavior to make an Insight check. You do suspect that he's extremely paranoid, so you're going to need to be careful in your conversation with him.

OOC - Might I recommend that somebody use the Help action on your chosen speaker.

Rastaris moves to the front and addresses the bat.

"We seek an audience with the Great King Gnerkli and the Great King Korboz."

"We are messengers from Silverymoon and also come bearing a message from the Townmaster of Phandalin"

"We come in peace and hope to speak with you. Please let us enter."

"We also wish to extend our aid to Gnomengarde during this time. We have spoken with your subjects and have heard the troubles the kingdom has experienced lately. Let us help great kings. Let us remove the burden from your shoulders."

OOC - Make a Persuasion check Rastaris.

Persuasion Check: 3

OOC: Seeing how bad this was the last time, I will use a Luck Point to roll again

Persuasion Check: 20

Rastaris always feels so tired. He always sees so many possibilities - what could be's. His mind races on what to say to the bat on the door.

OOC - That works too ...

The bat flies down and lands in front of the double doors.

''Step away from my door,'' it says. ''Show me the messages from Silverymoon and Phandalin.''

Rastaris shows the two scrolls from the wizards of Silverymoon and the scroll from the Townmaster, making sure the bat sees the seals on each scroll.

OOC: Smooth talkers we are not.

The bat examines the scrolls.

''Yes, these are for me ...''

It then looks the party over.

''But perhaps you slew the messengers who were bringing this to me. Or perhaps you are the messengers, but one or more of you are shapeshifters. Perhaps you may not even be aware that shapeshifters have replaced your comrades.''

It turns to Rastaris.

''You ... you asked to enter into our royal presence. You could be planning to kill my beloved and I when you enter.''

The bat continues to look the party over, then its eyes settle on Lathalas.

''Send yonder elf over to speak to me.''

Lathalas approaches the bat, held head high.

He bows.

Rastaris steps back and speaks to the Lathalas:

"The bat wishes to speak with you."

OOC: What's the protocol for addressing gnomish kings?

The bat gestures with its wing for the elf to come closer.

''I am King Korboz; this bat is my familiar. I am using it to see you and speak to you. I have noticed from your manner and bearing that you are clearly a noble sort. For royalty such as myself and my beloved, it is easy to see those whose blood and lineage confer upon them a certain quality. Your companions clearly lack that. Come closer; I do not want your peons to hear what I have to say.

''Such a noble bearing is beyond the powers of a shapeshifter to imitate. I believe you are as you appear, a noble elf, but I do not believe that is true of your companions; one of them could be the shapeshifter. I dare not open my doors while this shapeshifter prowls the halls of Gnomengarde.

''If you were to rid Gnomengarde of this shapeshifter for me, I will allow you to deliver your messages. I shall also make a gift to you, noble elf, of a magical weapon and suit of armor.

''Will you do a king this service, noble elf?''