(I’ll wait for you to decide about Knox’s spell before moving forward with scouting.)

Knox stands silent and still again, before responding.

"Your words are wisdom, the threats we have escaped have been exceedingly dangerous, I will hold my magic in reserve."

Knox turns to Wendigo before looking around the group.

"Shell we use the innate maintenance cycle as our indicator that we should begin taking action, if Wendigo does not return?"

Knox looks at Wendigo again,

"If you have not returned before our bodies indicate a need for a maintenance cycle, we will take that as an indicator that you may be in trouble."

Wendigo shrugs.

"Not worry. Will be fine."

And with that, he departs.

(alright now I didn't actually think this far ahead idk how this is going to work lol)

Wendigo, you come to a set of stairs meant for gnomish feet.  They’re awkward to climb up, but you can manage it.  Beyond that you can just barely make out a rather intimidating door, plated with adamantium.

Before making any moves, Wendigo finds the most shaded spot and melds into the shadows, before looking over the area for any potential guards, obstacles, or alternate routes of entry.

Stealth: 18 (invisible to those who require darkvis to see him in the darkness)

Perception: 8

(Posting will be less frequent this week and next week—will try to update tomorrow.)

Wendigo, you see 8 deep gnome guarding the gate from various positions.  Most of them are completely oblivious to your presence, but one of them suddenly locks eyes with you.

"Hey, you.  The invisible one.  State your business, traveler."

(Because of course it couldn't go off without a hitch...)

Wendigo's eyes narrow, but he does not move, staying in the shadows. He allows them to collect on his body, subtly changing his features, so then rather than the hairy man-beast his true-form appears to be, he instead looks to be a bulky human, dressed in a pale fur coat. He allows the shadows to disperse from his body, revealing himself. He shows his open palms to reveal the lack of a drawn weapon within them as he appears.

"Travel... Underdark. Making sure... not dangerous. Last city... very dangerous. Seem less dangerous here."

(Using at-will disguise self to appear as a human, rather than whatever the blue blazes Wendigo is)

The gnome frowns.

"Come again?  Where’d you come from that was so dangerous?  And I’m afraid if you wanted a safe haven you might have come to the wrong place, Bligdenstone has issues of its own."

Wendigo frowns pensively, scratching at his disguised form's white mane of tangled hair.

"Last place... crazy mushrooms. What issues here? Not... demons, right?"

The gnome grunts again.

"Depends on what you mean.  We have a bit of a growing ooze problem is the main kicker, and things have just been going . . .wrong lately.  Crazy mushrooms you said?"

"Yes. Mushroom people. Who are crazy. Making more people into mushroom people. What do you mean... ooze? And how does it depend?"

The gnome shrugs.

"Oozes as in, ya know, oozes.  Bloody clumps of acid n’ shit that try to devour everything in sight.  Some would call ‘em demons, and others say they’re demonically influenced.  If yer sayin’ that there’s some big demon problem elsewhere, I wouldn’t rule either of those options out."

He pauses for a second, then continues.

"Ya travelin’ alone?  Mighty brave of ya.  Or are ya just the advance guard?"

The gnome seems friendly enough, so Wendigo has decided not to hide anything from him, besides his bizarre appearance.

"A few others, yes. I meant to scout out. To make sure not hostile. Didn't scout very well, but you not attack, so fine. Oozes sound... concerning. Should let them know."

(Is Wendigo returning now then?)

If the gnome has nothing more to say and they'll let him go, Wendigo will return to the group with news of their apparent friendliness, and the... ooze problem.

"It sounds similar to the other places we've been..." Vera sighed out frustratingly as Wendigo relayed what he had just discovered.  "But we have nowhere else to go if we don't enter.  Do we risk it again hope for a better outcome this time around?" she asked the party afterwards.

"If helps us get out... anything. I say yes."

Miles:

”I’m not sure I know how to fight oozes, but as long as I can splatter them with my good rolling pin I am in,” says Miles, hoping that they can win this time instead of just buy time for the residents.  “What are the chances some flavor of demon is behind this one too?” he ponders, almost to himself.

Wendigo chuckles gravely. "Many chances, I think. Though don't know if ooze tastes good. Never tried it. Closest thing I had is some gooey mold that made me sick for days."