The party makes its way up the narrow pathway, all going smoothly. Lamlis's step suddenly falters as a rock breaks way; he manages to save himself before slipping too far.
A shout comes from within the cave. Two gnomes rush to the entrance, light crossbows at the ready. Zylxian manages to press himself against the path, hiding in shadow. They lock eyes with Lamlis, then Alban and Elias.
"Who are ye?" the female gnome says, crossbow trained on the party. "Shapechangers back for more? Ye won't be foolin us again, I'll tell ye that!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lamlis raises up his hands, slowly, to show the gnomes that he means them no ill intent. He speaks softly. "My partner here speaks true, We were told to come here and request any assistance you could provide against the dragon that has moved into the area. We were only moving quietly to make sure there were no orcs around since we were ambushed by several not far from here. Is there some place we could talk and see if you might be of assistance?"
Realizing that they’re gnomes, Zylxian will move out of the shadows and pull out the job and display it to the gnomes, to hopefully provide the help action for either Alban or Lamlis by showing proof of employment. He’ll also say “If I was a shape changer, why would I bother revealing myself to you when it would be so much simpler to strike from the shadows?” (I can roll persuasion for that if you want, but didn’t want to stack a bunch of ability checks)
The guards jump as Zylxian emerges, examine the parchment, then exchange a few whispers in gnomish. The female guard shrugs, then turns back to the party.
"Very well, you're not shapechangers," she lowers her crossbow. "Phandalin has long been our ally; if you hail from that city, you are certainly our ally as well. Please, come in."
The gnome guards step aside for the party to enter the cave, a tight fit height wise for the taller of the group (the ceiling is 6ft high). The gnomes lead them into a small hallway, two passageways branching left, and one branching right.
"Sorry for the unfriendly greeting," the female gnomes continues. "Things have been...tense around Gnomengarde of late. I would direct you to our kings to discuss giving Phandalin aid, but...King Korboz has gone mad, locked his brother King Gnerkli and himself up in their room. Your next best bet would be Fibblestib and Dabbledob, the two lead tinkerers in Gnomengarde. They should be just down this hallway in the dining hall," she points to the first hallway on the left. "And may be able to supply you with the items you're after."
“Thank you, and no need to apologize. Everybody’s a bit on edge during these times, what with all the chaos going on in this part of the Sword Coast,” Zylxian says. “And now you have shapechanger problems as well, is that why Korboz and Gnerkli are holed up?”
"Yes," she nods, shifting uncomfortably. "King Korboz was yelling about shapechangers, and ordered us to shoot any on site before imprisoning King Gnerkli and himself five days ago. We're worried about him and King Gnerkli, but he won't let any of us in, believing all of us to be shapechangers. What's more, two gnomes have gone missing in the past tenday, which we don't believe is a coincidence."
"As if the dragon wasn't trouble enough," Alban says. "It sounds like you need help as much as Phandalin does. Is there any way we could be of service?"
"I'm curious about the circumstances of these missing gnomes. Also, with the two kings holed up, who's running the kingdom right now? The two lead tinkerers?"
"If you could find the shapechanger behind all this trouble, that would help us greatly," the gnome says to Alban, then turns to Lamlis. "Yes, the lead tinkerers have taken over the tasks of the kings until this...situation is solved."
Lamlis inclines his head and speaks to the gnome. "What info can you provide about this shapechanger? Is there somewhere we should be looking? Even though they can shapechange, do you have a possible name or identifying characteristics? What makes you think the two gnomes' disappearance could be related?"
Lamlis turns back towards his companions. (In a lower voice) "I don't have a problem helping them with their shapechanger problem, but do you think we should still talk to the two tinkerers first? That was our original task and maybe they have items that could help us."
"When King Korbez ran from the throne room with his brother, he was yelling to attack shapechangers on sight, and something about 'the rug'. When I ran to the throne room to prevent the king's attacker from chasing him, I found no one there, nor any rug. I don't recall there every being a rug in the throne room," the guard shrugs helplessly. "We assume the shapechanger is behind the disappearances of the two gnomes, because we frankly don't know what else could have happened to them. With the dragon about, and orc tribes moving down from the mountains, we've kept strict orders for no gnome to leave Gnomengarde any farther than the mushroom farms. I wish I could be of more help, but I've never dealt with anything like this before."
Alban nods in response to Lamlis' suggestion. "We certainly will need more information if we're going to find the shape changer. The tinkers are as good a place to start as any."
((OOC Sorry guys for MIA, a few people from my pathfinder group asked me to start a short campaign, so add that to my wife's honey-do list (about a quarter through now hahaha) it has been a busier furlough than actually going to work.))
Elias being unusually silent all this time looks at the others, "Have any of you ever dealt with shapechangers before? Or done any research on them? Growing up on a ship I don't know too much of the land based world. Can they only change shape into creatures or objects too?" Elias turns in the direction the gnome indicated and says "Guess we should get started, if its not to late in the day."
"Well, let's go talk to the tinkerers then." Lamlis motions towards the tunnel leading that way. "Maybe they can also shed some light on this shapechanger."
He turns to Elias. "I have no experience with these creatures either. It's pretty creepy though if they can change into people or objects. You'd never know how to trust what you're seeing."
Alban shakes his head. "I've never had any encounters with shape changers." He furrows his brow as he thinks. "Or, rather, I've never knowingly had any encounters with shape changers. This is going to get confusing, isn't it?"
Continuing down the designated passageway to the tinkerers, the tunnel opens up into a larger cavern, the sound of two arguing voices filling the air. Several dining tables and chairs, clearly meant for Gnomish proportions, fill the room. There is one other exit to the north of the dining room.
Sitting at one of the tables, two gnomes are in a passionate discussion, green loaves of bread and mugs all but untouched on the table. It's difficult to make out what they're saying, but the words "mad king," "sanity ray" and "straitjacket" are audible. They appear too engrossed in discussion to hear you enter the room.
Elias steps up to the two gnomes and with a slight bow says, "Hail Master Tinkerers, my companions and I have been sent here from Phandalin, to warn of a white dragon, and seeking any magical items you have been working on that might be of help to the settlement. But the guard we talked to brought up some worrying things about your king, and a story of shapechangers. If at all possible we would like to try and help your people, but we don't really have that much information to go on."
"Oh!" the gnome pulls out a pair of spectacles, squinting at the party. "Aid from Phandalin you say? Ho ho! What did I tell you, Dabbledob?" he casts a grin to the other tinkerer, who frowns and crosses her arms. "They've heard of our plight and come to help despite the danger they themselves are in! What noble allies and friends!"
"They're just here for our contraptions to protect their own settlement," Dabbledob scowls. "They said so themselves! Has your hearing gone as bad as your eyesight, Fibblestib?"
"Bah," Dabbledob adjusts his glasses, turning back to Elias. "In any case, we'd welcome your help, friend. None of our contraptions have been able to cure the king of his madness. This occurrence would be bad enough on its own, and paired with the white dragon...well, you know all the troubles the region is facing by now," he sighs. "Frankly, we've hit the end of our rope. Our inventions aren't working, we're not sure how to run a kingdom, gnomes are disappearing..."
"What about you folk?" Dabbledob sticks a small pipe in her mouth, multicolored bubbles puffing out the other end, examining the party with a skeptical eye. "Any experience with curing madness? Any bright ideas from our "saviors" from Phandalin?"
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The party makes its way up the narrow pathway, all going smoothly. Lamlis's step suddenly falters as a rock breaks way; he manages to save himself before slipping too far.
A shout comes from within the cave. Two gnomes rush to the entrance, light crossbows at the ready. Zylxian manages to press himself against the path, hiding in shadow. They lock eyes with Lamlis, then Alban and Elias.
"Who are ye?" the female gnome says, crossbow trained on the party. "Shapechangers back for more? Ye won't be foolin us again, I'll tell ye that!"
Alban shouts back, “We’re a party out of Phandalin. The town master commissioned us to see if you had something that could help against the dragon!”
Persuasion: 8
((OOC: that roll...))
Lamlis raises up his hands, slowly, to show the gnomes that he means them no ill intent. He speaks softly. "My partner here speaks true, We were told to come here and request any assistance you could provide against the dragon that has moved into the area. We were only moving quietly to make sure there were no orcs around since we were ambushed by several not far from here. Is there some place we could talk and see if you might be of assistance?"
Persuasion: 18
Realizing that they’re gnomes, Zylxian will move out of the shadows and pull out the job and display it to the gnomes, to hopefully provide the help action for either Alban or Lamlis by showing proof of employment. He’ll also say “If I was a shape changer, why would I bother revealing myself to you when it would be so much simpler to strike from the shadows?” (I can roll persuasion for that if you want, but didn’t want to stack a bunch of ability checks)
The guards jump as Zylxian emerges, examine the parchment, then exchange a few whispers in gnomish. The female guard shrugs, then turns back to the party.
"Very well, you're not shapechangers," she lowers her crossbow. "Phandalin has long been our ally; if you hail from that city, you are certainly our ally as well. Please, come in."
The gnome guards step aside for the party to enter the cave, a tight fit height wise for the taller of the group (the ceiling is 6ft high). The gnomes lead them into a small hallway, two passageways branching left, and one branching right.
"Sorry for the unfriendly greeting," the female gnomes continues. "Things have been...tense around Gnomengarde of late. I would direct you to our kings to discuss giving Phandalin aid, but...King Korboz has gone mad, locked his brother King Gnerkli and himself up in their room. Your next best bet would be Fibblestib and Dabbledob, the two lead tinkerers in Gnomengarde. They should be just down this hallway in the dining hall," she points to the first hallway on the left. "And may be able to supply you with the items you're after."
“Thank you, and no need to apologize. Everybody’s a bit on edge during these times, what with all the chaos going on in this part of the Sword Coast,” Zylxian says. “And now you have shapechanger problems as well, is that why Korboz and Gnerkli are holed up?”
"Yes," she nods, shifting uncomfortably. "King Korboz was yelling about shapechangers, and ordered us to shoot any on site before imprisoning King Gnerkli and himself five days ago. We're worried about him and King Gnerkli, but he won't let any of us in, believing all of us to be shapechangers. What's more, two gnomes have gone missing in the past tenday, which we don't believe is a coincidence."
"As if the dragon wasn't trouble enough," Alban says. "It sounds like you need help as much as Phandalin does. Is there any way we could be of service?"
"I'm curious about the circumstances of these missing gnomes. Also, with the two kings holed up, who's running the kingdom right now? The two lead tinkerers?"
"If you could find the shapechanger behind all this trouble, that would help us greatly," the gnome says to Alban, then turns to Lamlis. "Yes, the lead tinkerers have taken over the tasks of the kings until this...situation is solved."
Lamlis inclines his head and speaks to the gnome. "What info can you provide about this shapechanger? Is there somewhere we should be looking? Even though they can shapechange, do you have a possible name or identifying characteristics? What makes you think the two gnomes' disappearance could be related?"
Lamlis turns back towards his companions. (In a lower voice) "I don't have a problem helping them with their shapechanger problem, but do you think we should still talk to the two tinkerers first? That was our original task and maybe they have items that could help us."
"When King Korbez ran from the throne room with his brother, he was yelling to attack shapechangers on sight, and something about 'the rug'. When I ran to the throne room to prevent the king's attacker from chasing him, I found no one there, nor any rug. I don't recall there every being a rug in the throne room," the guard shrugs helplessly. "We assume the shapechanger is behind the disappearances of the two gnomes, because we frankly don't know what else could have happened to them. With the dragon about, and orc tribes moving down from the mountains, we've kept strict orders for no gnome to leave Gnomengarde any farther than the mushroom farms. I wish I could be of more help, but I've never dealt with anything like this before."
Alban nods in response to Lamlis' suggestion. "We certainly will need more information if we're going to find the shape changer. The tinkers are as good a place to start as any."
((OOC Sorry guys for MIA, a few people from my pathfinder group asked me to start a short campaign, so add that to my wife's honey-do list (about a quarter through now hahaha) it has been a busier furlough than actually going to work.))
Elias being unusually silent all this time looks at the others, "Have any of you ever dealt with shapechangers before? Or done any research on them? Growing up on a ship I don't know too much of the land based world. Can they only change shape into creatures or objects too?" Elias turns in the direction the gnome indicated and says "Guess we should get started, if its not to late in the day."
"Well, let's go talk to the tinkerers then." Lamlis motions towards the tunnel leading that way. "Maybe they can also shed some light on this shapechanger."
He turns to Elias. "I have no experience with these creatures either. It's pretty creepy though if they can change into people or objects. You'd never know how to trust what you're seeing."
Alban shakes his head. "I've never had any encounters with shape changers." He furrows his brow as he thinks. "Or, rather, I've never knowingly had any encounters with shape changers. This is going to get confusing, isn't it?"
Continuing down the designated passageway to the tinkerers, the tunnel opens up into a larger cavern, the sound of two arguing voices filling the air. Several dining tables and chairs, clearly meant for Gnomish proportions, fill the room. There is one other exit to the north of the dining room.
Sitting at one of the tables, two gnomes are in a passionate discussion, green loaves of bread and mugs all but untouched on the table. It's difficult to make out what they're saying, but the words "mad king," "sanity ray" and "straitjacket" are audible. They appear too engrossed in discussion to hear you enter the room.
Elias steps up to the two gnomes and with a slight bow says, "Hail Master Tinkerers, my companions and I have been sent here from Phandalin, to warn of a white dragon, and seeking any magical items you have been working on that might be of help to the settlement. But the guard we talked to brought up some worrying things about your king, and a story of shapechangers. If at all possible we would like to try and help your people, but we don't really have that much information to go on."
Lamlis quietly stands next to Elias. He casually looks around the cavern and waits to see how the two tinkerers will respond.
The gnomes jump and turn at Elias's words.
"Oh!" the gnome pulls out a pair of spectacles, squinting at the party. "Aid from Phandalin you say? Ho ho! What did I tell you, Dabbledob?" he casts a grin to the other tinkerer, who frowns and crosses her arms. "They've heard of our plight and come to help despite the danger they themselves are in! What noble allies and friends!"
"They're just here for our contraptions to protect their own settlement," Dabbledob scowls. "They said so themselves! Has your hearing gone as bad as your eyesight, Fibblestib?"
"Bah," Dabbledob adjusts his glasses, turning back to Elias. "In any case, we'd welcome your help, friend. None of our contraptions have been able to cure the king of his madness. This occurrence would be bad enough on its own, and paired with the white dragon...well, you know all the troubles the region is facing by now," he sighs. "Frankly, we've hit the end of our rope. Our inventions aren't working, we're not sure how to run a kingdom, gnomes are disappearing..."
"What about you folk?" Dabbledob sticks a small pipe in her mouth, multicolored bubbles puffing out the other end, examining the party with a skeptical eye. "Any experience with curing madness? Any bright ideas from our "saviors" from Phandalin?"