Cyrus ducks between his allies and lashes out at the enemy before retreating back to safety.
Galinndan and Odak each strike a solid blow, destroying another statue. Its stone limbs clatter loudly to the ground. Rankle tries to finish off the last statue with a blast of acid but the statue leaps awkwardly into the air, dodging the puff of danger. It lands off-balance and swings wildly at Galinndan, missing twice.
Sensing victory, Odak tries for a telling blow on the remaining statue.
As he pulls his blade away from the statue, his face contorts in confusion and he quickly looks over his shoulder at Myras once again.
Myras loads his crossbow and fires again at the statue to his west.
As the bolt pierces the statue, the half-drow responds with a cheeky grin to the wincing dwarf:
Cyrus moves forward and flails at the statue.
With an impressive blow and a well-placed shot, Odak and Myras finish off the last statue! It crumbles into dust on the floor of the cavern.
You catch your breath and look around at your new companions, some more sufficient introductions surely in order!
Galinndan does indeed look around, trying to get the measure of the group's unexpected allies. His tattooed copper skin and green hair mark him as a wood elf. Though both have grime and marks from wanderings in the dangerous underdark. He carries a short sword in each hand and moves with the grace spoken of about elves.
New members? Why not!
"I am Galinndan Siannodel. I fought drow and orcs on the surface with my people, then entered the Underdark to hunt them down. That got me imprisoned and enslaved, with Cyrus and-"
The briefest of pauses.
"-others. Several of us escaped initially and fled the drow. As we fled, we came to realise that nothing less than demon lords had begun to stalk the Underdark, forming cults and devastating entire settlements. We have been all nearly killed by them several times over."
"Now, we seek a means to the surface, or safer parts of the Underdark. The deep gnomes offered help so long as we did tasks for them in return. Slaying a medusa is one. Presumably the creature that froze you two."
Galinndan looks at Boomtop and Kargoroth meaningfully.
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The excitement from the battle going down, the gnome shows a different type of excitement entirely. "Well Mister Galinndan you know how it is, sometimes you travel the Underdark and sometimes you die but sometimes you might get poisoned and other times you might get turned to stone and even yet other times you might end up becoming..." He looks at the faces, "Right, get to the point. I get it." He fixes his hat and eyes the currently destroyed statues, "It most definitely froze me. In that very spot if you can believe it! I came here to solve the mystery of the Deep Gnomes and their reduced lifespans, and I was actually under the impression that maybe petrification could hold the key but clearly I didn't think that far ahead." He gives a hop and nearly stumbles over something on the ground. "Thankfully alls well that ends well right? Where did I leave my notes, I don't think the serum worked. Actually I know for sure the serum didn't work or else we probably wouldn't be having this conversation right now." Stopping for a moment of breath, he changes his plan halfway and midbreath keeps talking, "Because if it worked I wouldn't have been petrified you see?"
Not answering anything further he looks for his notebook near where he was unfrozen, before letting off a cry into the caves, "Are you happy snake lady my notes didn't survive! They DID NOT SURVIVE!" He stomps his foot on the ground and walks back angrily toward the others, "Lucky for her I have a perfect memory of thirty days, but its inexcusable! Actually!"
Giving a grin the Professor performs a bow, and something falls loose from his armor, "Professor Rankle Boomtop. If you're looking for medusae I'm your gnome!"
Smiling he cleans the dust off himself before his face contorts, "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait...! What's this about demons?!"
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"Demons? Oh, dear..." Kargoroth sighs. He then cleans his sword of non-existing blood and sheathes it. Clearing his throat, he tells about him. "My name is Kargoroth, paladin of the Morninglord." As he speaks, he looks at the gnome by the corner of his eye, afraid that he's not done speaking yet. "I was led here by a mischievous mage who betrayed me once he got what he wanted, and I arrived here trying to look for him." He shrugs. "Sadly, I guess I lost him long ago, and was actually looking for a way back when I was caught by the Medusa's gaze." Grinning, he moves his hand signaling the whole group. "That is, until you arrived. And it seems an opportune arrival, since fighting demons, undead and other perils is what I do best. I might fancy having a word or two with those gnomes." Immediately, before Boomtop can open his mouth, Kar adds "Not you, the other gnomes."
While Professor Boomtop and Sir Kargoroth introduce themselves Odak Crouches and pokes at the rubbled statues with his axe. Then he grunts and moves to one of the non animated statues and pokes at it defensively with his axe expecting it to come to life.
”So were these statues like us too?” the dwarf asks with a mild tone of concern in his voice. ”How did ye turn from stone back to skin?” as he asks his questions, the jagged stone skin covering the dwarf begins to recede. ”Be there more people to be saved from the stone?
Based on their petrified belongings and certain spider insignia, you can tell all the rest of the statues were drow.
Galinndan looks about.
"The rest of the statues? All drow."
I am very familiar with drow.
"Not quite Odak. I saw scrolls next to our new companions, while they were still petrified. I guessed that they might be magical and that intuition turned out to be correct. With Myras' words jogging my memory I was able to decipher and cast from those scrolls swiftly enough for it to matter. I did call but frankly there were more urgent matters for you all to focus on. Namely, the statues trying to kill us all."
”Drow eh? I could barely tell they were elfs. Those pointy ears are hard to keep from chippin’ off I s’pose.”
The dwarf story’s his axe then and walks up to the two new party members and offers them a hand shake. ”Well met then. The more the merrier I’d say. “ Myras might notice the difference in this welcome from the one that the dark elf received. Odak might actually come to realize his bias but it won’t be for a some time.
Myras does not initially lower his crossbow. His cold blue eyes glint palely in the dim light of the cavern. He lets out a chuckle as the rock gnome stumbles about, twittering and chattering, but it's not initially clear if he is laughing with or at the vial-chucker. His expression stiffens when he hears Galinndan mention hunting Drow, but he does not interrupt. He eyes the pointy ears of the paladin and the ranger and wonders how their common fey ancestry could manifest itself so differently. Upon the mention of demons, his eyes broaden slightly and quickly flit between the corners of the room. Once he sees the statue Odak has poked is not animate, and there is no immediate demonic danger, he lowers his crossbow. He lets everyone finish before introducing himself.
"Greetings, one and all. You may call me Myras, that's [mʏɾɑs] in my native tongue, though you may also call me "me-rass" or "my-ris". I can't say I've had the pleasure of working alongside many of your kind," he says, giving each of you a toothy grin. His grey skin showed no significant signs of age and his long white hair hung low over his shoulders. "It would appear we find ourselves in a similar situation. My interests lie in escaping the drow-settled regions of the Underdark. My reasons are my own, but suffice it to say that I am no friend of wicked slavers." At this point, he stows his crossbow and gives a slight bow, bending at the knee with a grand flourish of the arms, but does not lower his suspecting gaze. "Not to overly flatter myself, but as long as our aims overlap, you will be in the company of one of the most well-renowned skalds this side of the surface. I would be remiss were I not to point out that have played the lute and recited my own poetry for royalty." He bows once again.
"Now to the point. I suggest we plot a course for safe lodging far from medusae and Drow search parties, avoiding demonic forces as much as possible."
"Professor Boomtop, Kargoroth, I strongly advise that you either take a mirror or a piece of crystal to avoid seeing the medusa directly...again. I am not in ideal condition myself and others seem battered. We should return, heal, and regroup for another push to hunt down this medusa."
Myras nods gently. ”Agreed. Let’s return the way we came and rest up so we may come challenge her when we’re feeling spry.” He brushes some dust from his shoulder and gestures toward the entrance.
The gnome professor begins pacing about. "Yes yes yes, all drow it seems. Not sure why they would be over here, its not like its a pleasant place or they are the type to really want to understand science." He gives a quick glance to Myras and looks a little apologetic before waving his hands, "Odak was it? As I said I was turned to stone and then not turned to stone no longer after Mister Demon Hacker decided it was better to have the greatest investigative mind helping you fight. Oh, I am obligated to mention I am humble too!"
Moving over the Myras he adjusts his goggles, "See. Drow. Look how the litheness is different, it matches the statues here, here and here!" Giving the skald a quick poke, he starts to back off upon seeing Myras' demeanor. "I love music, in fact I can make you a really neat music box if you'd like! Oh its so much fun let me show you right now---" Suddenly the sound of clanking and the starting of a sound like a duck mixed with a bell starts to ring louder and louder before he tucks it away under his hat, stifling any serious noise. "Still needs some work."
When lodgings are mentioned he settles down somewhat. "That may not be a terrible idea you know. You may have forgotten that I was just stone and my arms are not moving as nicely as I would like and I still have plenty of notes to try to take. Besides, I really would like to know what time it is. Oh also I could go for lunch! I'd love lodgings and lunch, have I mentioned that my favourite thing for lunch is---" He trails off as he starts to gather loose parts.
Kar shrugs. "Well, I don't really have a plan... and I don't know what to expect of this medusa, other than she turns people into statues..." He pauses for a moment, thinking aloud. "Wait, so... why didn't all the statues attack us?" Shaking his head, he retakes the thread. "Anyway, as I was saying, I am pretty fresh still, but my field knowledge is zero, so I'll go with what you all go."
Having had enough for one day what with the statues and the mad earth elemental, you head back to Blingdenstone. Galenus () leads you to seek out Nomi Pathshutter, the deep gnome of Stoneheart Enclave, and deliver the fragment of the mad earth elemental you found.
"Ah!" she exclaims with excitement, flipping several more lenses onto her eyepiece to examine the fragment. "This one was mad indeed. Hmm..." She stares at the fragment from several angles and puts it down in various spots in her small workshop carved into the wall full of strange odds and ends for a moment then picks it up again. "Yes it's Ogremoch's Bane, some strange, sentient cloud of dust, probably connected to Ogremoch, the Prince of Evil Earth. I've been studying it for quite some time now. It's an odd, malevolent force from the elemental plane of earth and it drives creatures of earth mad to serve it. It's quite a problem, really. Some of our best weapons and workers are earth elementals but we can't trust them as long as Ogremoch's Bane retains its influence in Blingdenstone." She reaches into a pouch and counts out 12 platinum coins, handing them over to you. "Here. For the fragment. I'm sure I could convince the Diggermattocks to give you more if you could help deal with the problem."
Nomi taps her chin thoughtfully. "If one could find where Ogremoch's Bane was residing, we could try to banish or dispel it with banishment or dispel evil and good (). I imagine I could find a scroll of one of those if I asked the priests. But where would it reside? Probably somewhere where there were many, many creatures of stone gathered in one place that it could control. Dozens, really."
"You mean like in the medusa's lair?" Kar knows he knows nothing, but he anyway throws the question to the air. Maybe in the answer he can grasp some more of what is going on here.
"That makes a dire amount of sense, Kargoroth. Perhaps the medusa is an ally of this Ogremoch's Bane."
"If this medusa were creating and amassing stone warriors, it is providing, either knowingly as a sacrifice or unknowingly by accident, to this —How do you say?— Ogremoch's Bane, much fodder for manipulation." He paces the gnome's workshop's floors and peers long at the fragments and tidbits on the wall, themselves lined up like little toy soldiers. He sees the incipient consensus: "As the half-elf and the wood elf have stated, we have seen such a gathering of stone creatures." Looking to Galinndan and Cyrus, he asks, "You two have known these gnomes for some time. Can we trust them to deliver on coin if we free their elementals from this Bane?"
Kar listens carefully. Just as he thought, the conversation slowly sheds light to the real problem - and its solution.
"So we could start by chasing the medusa, then. It seems a difficult task to interrogate such a creature, right? We could maybe interrogate some of the statues, if we somehow manage to turn them back to their original state..."
Kar seems a bit worried. "So, if we're going back for the medusa... some of you gave me an advice before, to carry some mirror or whatever... Is that how you avoid being turned to stone? Where can I get one of those?" He is a valiant guy, but the line between valor and stupidity is certainly a thin one, and one he doesn't want to cross.
The professor is glad to be among more gnomes. Surely in his mind, they would be more understanding of his eccentricities. However once he got there he noticed things were not quite like he remembered it. "Excuse me. Excuse me." He seems awfully restrained, "Does anyone know what year it is?" A little bit of panic begins to settle in, and it is clear the frantic gnome is no longer hearing the conversation about Banes and Demons and Medusae.
It takes until the small crowd of them talking about mirrors and glass for him to shake out of his reverie.
"Yes yes yes, glass and mirrors. I suppose I might be able to prepare something to assist us with such a thing, but no promises. I will have to consider it overnight and maybe even scrounge up some supplies." He puts on his spectacles, "Sadly these do quite the opposite, they help you see better. I doubt that's what we're going to want. Though I wonder if it would petrify you longer..." His train of thought continues to rattle on.
"I think for the time being I will accompany you. My notes are long destroyed and perhaps all of this medusa talk might help me rejig what once was. I still have a mission and if you'll have me I would like to still come with you all."
Nomi Pathshutter blinks as she looks back and forth from Kargoroth to Rankle. "Um... you will definitely wish to buy a mirror or something of that sort if you are going to hunt down this medusa... Even that won't make you perfectly safe." The deep gnome eyes Rankle uncertainly. "As for the year, it is 1491 by Dale-Reckoning, which I think you surfacers use."
Galinndan quietly notes to the others:
"I believe that the deep gnomes are trustworthy but not trusting. We needed to demonstate action before they began to show us much faith. I think they will hold their end of a bargain so long as we complete ours first. Mirrors can be purchased in Blingdenstone and we obtained these crystals from a chamber with a petrified gnome. Neither confers immunity but can give some better odds against the medusa's gaze."
"Myras, Kargoroth, and Professor Boomtop, you are all welcome to accompany us if you wish. You are all capable combatants after all."
He then seeks out the deep gnomes:
"Are Kanzen and Zoltan still here? I would see them and ensure their condition."
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The only thing bothering Odak about fighting the Medusa is how to hold the crystal and see through it. After practicing with it, he determines to ask for help.
Kar understands Odak's worries - with shield on one hand and sword on the other, he'll be poorly able to hold the crystal.
The professor looks shocked at the statement of the year but holds back any further questions for the time being. Looking at Galinndan he nods in agreement, "Yes capable. Very very capable." He ponders how best to make these mirrors, "I wonder if I could make goggles. I mean I've made goggles but I mean goggles that might help avert our gaze."
He takes a quick seat and begins to look at the others, "Oh, also I have something for you you know. I can fix your injuries fairly well."
Handing over a bubbling elixir to whoever takes it, they would recognize that it's glow is pure positive energy.
"I have a spare too, but honestly I don't know what it will do. The first one is always the practice one."
The adventurers decide to work on their project and prepare for the next day. Nomi Pathshutter thinks to herself then explains "I'm sure you can stay in the miners' barracks. Since you're here to help anyhow. I'll get that scroll by tomorrow morning."
You find that the miners' barracks has plenty of space for you but each bed is sized for a deep gnome, which some of you find rather cramped.
He tries to find his tools only to let out a yelp. "My... My tools are gone! Gone gone gone!" Nearly dropping the experimental elixirs he shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "I could try building these goggles of yours but without tools I'm useless! Useless I tell you!"
The professor looks at the others pleadingly, "Some gnome here must be willing to part with a set. Surely one of you has some money to spare! I promise you it will be worth your while."
"I would be grateful for healing draughts, experimental or no. We certainly have money and it would be well spent on such items."
Kar decides the goggles idea is by far the best one suiting him, and tries himself to craft them.
Happy with the result, he announces the rest of the group he'll be ready in the morning, and offers healing for those in need.
Kalgoroth grabs some crystals and leather and haphazardly cuts the leather then forces the crystals into place. They pop into their sockets and happen to work out very nicely. The paladin contentedly goes to sleep in the tiny beds, convinced he's a skilled craftsman.
Myras covertly felt the weight of gold pieces in his small moneypouch, dangling gently from the belt holding his dark and loose-fitting clothes in place. He had minimal inclination to help the gnome, but knew that such skills with tools could prove useful and skilled allies were always an asset. Even so, he had only 15 pieces to spare, at his last reckoning.
"Rankle, you poor dear. If anyone else can share, I would be more than happy to offer my aid," Myras says with a mostly sincere half-smile. "I have ten gold pieces that are yours if you need them! Will that suffice?" he asks, knowing full well it won't, but trying to look friendly.
When you first enter the barracks, Myras immediately glances at each corner. Seeing nothing immediately awry, he takes a bunk by himself a fair distance from the rest of the party. Don't be fooled... you never know who you can trust, he reminded himself. He takes out a small dagger from his pack and places it covertly beneath his pillow, hoping to escape the group's attention. He then digs in his pockets and removes an extremely small, pale sphere. Tightening his fingers around the small pearl in his palm, he closes his eyes while sitting completely still. Every once in a while you see a faint glow as he slightly opens his lids. Finally, he returns the pearl to his pocket and lets his body recline onto the bed, one hand cautiously beneath the pillow.
Before heading to sleep, Galinndan finds Kanzen and Zoltan. They and Galenus are discussing how to deal with the problem. Galenus' curse of confidence drives him to proclaim "I will lead them to the surface based on my incredible ability to navigate. We won't need these!." He drops twenty-five golden pieces in Galinndan's open hands.
Odak looks confuses for a moment when the topic of price comes up about the goggles. His face brightens though and snaps his fingers. ”Ahh, we can be tradin for these hiders we found not too long ago?”
It becomes obvious, that Odak doesn’t have any coin to pay for the goggles.
Once the Medusa Combat Goggles are complete, Odak is ready to move out back into the caves. He is still not very comfortable in the large city of Blingdenstone.
The gnome sighs, "Its alright. I can hold one of these anyway, I don't use my hands for much." He lets out a yawn, "Offer still stands whenever we get what we need." He walks through the town for a bit looking for a mirror before trying to settle in for the night.
Galinndan brings coin.
"We should spare no expense if it might mean the difference between life and stony twilight. Spend what you need to."
Your errands done, you rest uneventfully. The deep gnomes eye you and whisper among yourselves but apparently it is broadly known that you are helping Blingdenstone deal with its problems. You then prepare to head back out into the tunnels. Right before the guards let you through the adamantine doors to Outer Blingdenstone, however, Nomi Pathshutter rushes through a side tunnel, panting to catch her breath, waving a scroll in the air. "I got it! I got it! Here, you'll need this!" She hands the scroll over to help you deal with Ogremoch's Bane, when the time comes.