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At the sight of the cat sized dragon, Rumble collapses into laughter on the stairs. "THA'S A DRAGON? HAHA! Wha sort o' spell did ya cast on it Pavo? HA! 'ello Mr. Baby Dragon, is ya ma and ya pa home? We 'ave real dragons ta meet with!" he concludes, spilling his ale and clutching his belly in laughter induced pain.
Eventually, he regains his composure and stands back up. "Imma need more ale 'for aye keep goin'," he declares, tromping down the stairs and back to the kitchen where he shares the breaking news about the size of the dragons with everyone. "Did ya get an eye on those wee lil dragons? HAHA! Gimme suhmore ale, ya? I cannae talk to 'dragons' the size o' me prick withou' it."
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"R-Really? Very well - we're willing to offer numerous gems worth a total value of 450 gold," Craik says, trying and failing to hide his excitement. "It will take me a few minutes to draft up the contract and get my lady's seal but I will return as quickly as I am able! Shall I meet you back here or somewhere else?"
Meanwhile, upstairs in the turret, the little pseudodragon remains silent as it regards Pavo and the others peering in at it. After a moment, you all hear a voice within your minds.
"Mama and papa said I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," it remarks. "But...you all seem nice. Not like that shiny person."
There's a pause. "But that doesn't mean it's nice to laugh at others," the pseudodragon adds, sounding a bit reproachful in response to Rumble's laughter. "You can come in, if you want - but you have to be nice! Okay?"
When Anastasia mentions the broken eggshells, the little voice in your minds grows agitated. "Broken...broken by that shiny person! One of my brothers or sisters gone forever!"
While all this is happening the rest of you notice that as Rumble makes his departure back down the stairs for more ale, that Sarzuket is nowhere to be seen. He was behind you all as you left the kitchen but that was the last that you've seen of him. Of course knowing the capriciousness of gnomes, it's quite possible that he decided to head back and grab a snack much like Rumble availed himself of the establishment's ale.
Confident that the rest of his companions can handle the little dragon, Rumble heads back downstairs for more ale - his go-to go-juice for when things get ridiculous, even for him.
As you head back into the kitchen, you spot Sarzuket and Craik standing further down the hallway, engaged in some sort of conversation.
Lomen is there, looking up with surprise and perhaps a bit of annoyance as Rumble strides into his kitchen like he owns the place. "Back for more already? Dwarves...I should've given you the whole barrel to start with!" he grouses. "And of course the dragons are little! What, did you think Cadmion had a full-sized fire-breathing dragon living upstairs?"
"O-of course! I will be right back!"
With that, Craik turns and hurries away down the hallway, turning a corner and disappearing out of sight. As he does, you hear the sound of footsteps approaching and turn to see Rumble come back through the dining room and head towards the kitchen. He glances your way and you're certain there's little chance he would've missed seeing you or Craik.
"They're out looking for my other stolen brothers and sisters! Looking everywhere but can't find them. I think it's making the people downstairs upset but they have to do it, have to find my brothers and sisters," the voice explains. "I'm too little to help, have to stay here and babysit."
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"Ah course Imma drink mahself u'til tha dragon is biggah! Ain't no glory in lil dragons, tha ale makes 't all funner haha!" Whether or not he is served, Rumble will try to pour himself more ale.
Mission complete, he stumbles back out into the hallway. "Oy! Gnomey-man! Ya want a pint o' tha good stuff 'for 'eadin' back up?" he asks, offering up his mug to Sarzuket.
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"HAHA! Aye knew aye liked ya, ha'e a swig! One o' these nights we can drink some o' tha strong stuff togetha, but righ' now we gotta keep things professional, eh?" Rumble points out as he passes the large mug to the gnome.
With a heavy sigh, he continues. "Back ta work then. Why are tha stairs so damned steep? Aye feel like mah legs gotta be at least eight feet longa fuh this!"
"Um...I think so," the little pseudodragon replies. "It happened quick; we were asleep...but I know the shiny person took three of my siblings! Dropped one when Mama and Papa and Big Brother surprised him, but other two are still missing!"
The little pseudodragon finally stirs from its perch on the rafters, peering down at the group eagerly. "Mama and Papa would know the egg thief for sure, though! And if you're here to help then you can come in and look until they get back!"
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From within the kitchen, Lomen simply shakes his head as he fills another mug for the dwarf and pushes it across the table to him. "Whatever helps you get through the day. Just try not to have too much fun, else Cadmion will have to use what he was going to pay you to repair the property damage."
As Rumble stumbles back out into the hallway and decides to take a moment to share his mug with the little gnome, Craik comes striding back around the corner, some sort of paper in his hand.
"Ah! Here you go, just like you-"
He stops, having spotted Rumble.
"Er...I am sorry, I assumed the rest of you had already proceeded up to the turret," Craik remarks, looking a little nervous.
Now invited, Pavo and Anastasia are the first ones into the small room with Dwozer and Thranalas not far behind. Before the group can really begin their search of the room in earnest, there's movement from a nearby window as a creature bearing the head, wings, and forelegs of a bird of prey and the body of a horse stands and screeches at the party. It's head turns toward Pavo and it flaps its wings as if ready to strike!
For some reason, Zeeva's earlier words about the card you drew come back to you.
"The Joke...the monster that can only be defeated through trickery or simply the value of humor. Humor can open many doors and bypass many obstacles."
This is a hippogriff, a magical beast that is often the bane of ranchers and livestock as they prefer a diet of horseflesh. Being as intelligent as a horse but easier to handle than a griffon, they're also prized as mounts by some groups. Judging by this one's size, it's likely a juvenile rather than a fully-grown adult.
In spite of the creature's screech and posture, it doesn't seem as if it's hungry or being territorial. Instead, there almost seems to be an eagerness to its actions as if it's feeling happy and playful.
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Surprise Round
Anastasia
Pavo
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Beast
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Thranalas
Dwozer
Active Conditions: None
Pavo is UP!
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Craik blanches at Sarzuket's choice of words and hisses, "Sssh! It...it is not stealing, it is simply a relocation of an overabundance of resources in order to even out the load!"
Casting a look over his shoulder, Craik sighs and offers Sarzuket a slip of paper. "Here, a contract - signed and dated by my mistress, just as promised." And indeed, the slip of paper is just that - a contract detailing the acquisition of one single pseudodragon egg for one Lady Qualstair for the purposes of adoption with payment promised upon delivery of the egg.
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"Whoa boy! Girl?" Pavo says as he spies the feisty beast. "Hey, now! My skin's not as tough as yours, I can't play like your brothers and sisters. Let's play catch!"
He tosses the hat in his hand to the side and silently prays to whatever gods will listen that he not be shredded to pieces in a belfry full of pseudodragon scat.
Despite Pavo's best efforts to calm the beast, it looks as if it'll be all for naught as it bounds across the room towards him...and then at the last minute it's eyes finally focus on the hat. Seems Pavo's distraction technique might've worked?
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Surprise Round
Anastasia
Pavo
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Beast
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Thranalas
Dwozer
Active Conditions: None
Thranalas is UP!
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Pretending to be every bit of "the best in the business," Rumble squints really hard at the document for several painstaking moments. It is a contract. Looks like its got all the inky words and scratchy paper a contract is supposed to have...
Rumble grunts in approval, but lets Sarzuket take his time with the paper as well. I should spend more time with this fella, side deals to pad that Society Agent wage? Smart gnome!
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Thran quickly processes the scene:
"A young hippogriff? Interesting and unexpected. Be alert, it's smart like a horse, and likely kicks like one too."
Thran reaches into his belt pouch, "I prefer not to hurt such a beast, but such is the way of things:"
With practiced confidence, Thran casts a spell of Daze Monster
Though it makes quite the monumental effort to resist Thranalas' spell the young hippogriff isn't able to manage it. It stands still, wings drooping and head swaying slightly as if in a daze.
From up above in the rafters, the little pseudodragon begins shrieking and squalling at the top of its voice. "No, don't hurt him! Don't hurt Gentlefluff! Mama! Papa! Mama!"
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Round 1
Anastasia
Pavo
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Hippogriff
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Thranalas
Dwozer
Active Conditions: None
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Although it'd probably be fairly convincing to someone who doesn't know what to watch for, you're pretty sure that this entire contract is a forgery - including the signature. There are odd breaks between the letters in some of the words and the signature itself shows small traces of blotted ink, as though the signer hesitated while signing. And you've watched enough people sign their names to realize that they all did so without the least bit of hesitancy.
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Pavo scurries behind Dwozer while the young hippogriff is dazed.
"I'm not sure that it understands my words as much as my intent," Pavo confesses. "Whoa, boy. Settle down. Maybe we can find you something to munch--that isn't us--down in the kitchen. Would you like that? Be a good boy and stop hopping around. Please?"
The bard takes his whip off of his belt, just in case. "Where's a woodsman when you need one?"
The hippogriff, perhaps confused or mistaking all the shouting, arm-waving, and posturing as further attempts to play, shakes off Thranalas' spell and bounds towards Dwozer - or is it Pavo it's drawn to? But a spray of bright, pretty colors from Anastasia renders the hippogriff not only blinded but also completely stunned and unable to move or act! Taking advantage of the moment, the group begins to secure the beast with ropes, leashing it to one of the support beams.
Meanwhile, up in the rafters, the pseudodragon continues to wail and call out for it's parents. After just a few moments, three more pseudodragons swiftly fly into the room through an open window in the corner - these are much larger, the little one's parents and elder sibling you presume. One of them breaks off from the others and begins circling the little pseudodragon, around and around, while the other two begin circling the hippogriff.
"You! Who are you? Friends of egg thief!? Leave our children alone!" one of them declares, hissing at the group.
"Flovi! What happened? Are you alright? Did they hurt you???" the pseudodragon circling the rafters asks, her tone quite anxious.
"No! They didn't hurt me, they didn't hurt Gentlefluff!" the small one, Flovi, wails. "Said they were friends, wanted to help find the egg thief so I told them they could come in! Gentlefluff wanted to play and I couldn't get him to stop, he won't listen to me but he'll listen to you...I think the lady-person did something to make him stop but she said it wouldn't actually hurt him..."
At this, all three pseudodragons cease their circling and begin hovering though they still seem protective of Flovi and Gentlefluff.
"You...you're not friends of the egg thief, then? You came to help?" the biggest one asks, sounding cautious but hopeful.
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"Oh, um...er...w-well, certainly, I would normally love to introduce you to the Lady Qualstair but I am afraid she uh...is having her afternoon siesta," Craik stammers. "Yes! Yes, her afternoon siesta and she does so hate to be distrubed....um, perhaps you could come back later? When you have the egg, I mean. She will surely be awake by then and then I will gladly introduce you to her."
He glances around again. "Ah...and speaking of the egg, perhaps you should rejoin your companions? If you are gone too long they may come looking for you...or...or take all of the eggs for themselves or accidentally smash them! Best hurry!"
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"Awwww righ' lil man, tha gig is up! Aye 'ave 'ad like forteen minutes," he says while he holds six fingers up, "ta think tha whole thing ovah an' aye think yer lyin' ta me an' tha Gnome here. Even aye 'ave written bettah tha this an me mitts be biggah than the 'dragons'," he notes with dramatic air quotes. The pencils are just soooo small... WHY ARE THE PENCILS SO DAMNED SMALL?
He then turns to Sarzuket. "Aye think ya was tryin' tah be more subtle, bu' there are limits tah wha' a dwarf such as aye can do laddie," Rumble explains with true remorse.
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Sarzuket extends his hand to shake Craik, and...
for electrical dmg.
"Oops... sorry... I must have rubbed my beard too many times against the bar this afternoon... I seem to have picked up a charge..."
At Rumble's absolutely baseless accusations Craik seems to regain some of his nerve and positively swells up like a toad.
"How dare you! I would never do such a base and underhanded thing as forge documents," he exclaims angrily. "I assure you that the writing and signature there 100% belong to the Lady Qualstair!" He turns to gesture to Sarzuket. "If it were not for your more sensible companion's words and my Lady's charitable heart I would reconsider this entire arrangement!"
"'Shake on it?'" Craik repeats as he turns to the little gnome. "Ah yes, I have heard that is how ones of your...ah...particular life path prefer to finalize their agreements. Very well," he continues as he starts to hold out his hand. "I will humor you and shake..."
Craik stops and gives Sarzuket a strange look. "Er...pardon me for being rude but do you smell that? It smells as though something is...burning?"
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"Yes!" Pavo clears his throat as his voice cracks, still recovering from being the subject of a hippogriff's playfulness. "Ahem. Yes. We're here to help you. Your little one told us that someone stole two of your eggs and broke a third--I am very sorry for your loss. We were looking for clues that would help us to identify the thief while we waited for your return when, ah, Gentlefluff surprised us with his rather physical play. He should be fine shortly."
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"Oh, that... that must be the kitchen experimenting. I'm glad I'm not eating here today."
"Now... were were we... ah yes! handshake!" stammers Sarzuket, extending his shocking hand once more!
for electrical dmg.
for electrical dmg.
for electrical dmg.
The three bigger dragons all relax considerably as the group shows deference and Pavo explains the situation - again. There's a bit of squeaking and growling that passes among all four pseudodragons and then the leader turns back to address the group.
"Okay. We believe you. I'm Novi," he explains. "Last night, a nasty, shiny-headed human crept in here and stole from us! He took our eggs, our children!" Novi explains. "We tried to stop him...he dropped one," he continues sorrowfully. "But he got away with the others. We've looked and looked but we can't find them! But maybe you can? Please! Please find our missing children!"
Shiny-headed human...hmm, who has the party met recently that might fit that description?
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...Made you look!
"Oh, ah, right...that Lomen does use some rather unorthodox methods," Craik nods in agreement, absently extending his hand. "Still, cooking is as much an exercise in experimentation as technical skill so I cannot b-YEOOOWUCH!"
Jolted down to his bones by Sarzuket's electrical grip, Craik collapses in a smoking heap on the ground. He's not dead...but he looks like he's on his way there.
There's a rush of footsteps as several of the servants come running to see what the commotion is all about. Even Lomen pops his head outside of the kitchen to have a look.
"Well I'll be damned...I think you killed him!" the chef gapes.
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Under his breath, "Rumble, please sit on him will ye? and a rope... if he gets shouty..."
points of healing back to anyone within 30 feet!