The gnome quickly nibbles up the food offered and then answers with a faint scowl. "I'd be careful about taking the Carrion King lightly. His palace is near the peak of the mountain on the far side. A strange stairway of black stone columns lead the way up, but it is heavily guarded. Of course, I didn't escape that way."
"He used me for his amusements and then gave me away to the veiled witch that has become his concubine. She has talked the King into excavating around the House of the Beast looking for some artifact. I don't know much more than that she has a heart as black as her robes."
"But I got away. I uncovered a great pit that lead deep into the mountain and escaped through some steaming caves near the base. All the gnolls are gathering at the House above so the forests around here are fairly clear."
Amir offers Kzrira a "gods only knows" eyeroll at the thought of an "audience" but is quickly caught in rapt interest by the gnomes tale. Moving over to Karethas, Amir whispers in the wizard's ear.
I look a little shocked at the poor man, "A black, robed and veiled witch?! Did you happen to catch her name; my good sir? It sounds like you had a lucky escape, would you be able to show us the way to these caves, you wouldn't have to come in with us, just show us the entrance.?"
Karethas nods at Amir, "Of course he is thirsty, let me get him some cool water." He casts a quick spell as he moves to remove a scarlet red waterskin from his saddlebags. He hands the skin to the gnome casually, although his eyes are glued to the gnome to see if there is any sign of aversion to the waterskin.
At the sudden flurry of question from Faelar the older human raises his hands, Perhaps it would be better to sit a moment. Rest. Let the gnome catch his breath and feel the security of safety before we rush him with questions and activity. Conscious that Karethas may be following through on his request Amir attempts to use the interjection to focus attention on himself and "block" (like stage blocking/LOS) the wizard if it seems necessary.
Picking up on Karethas' use of water and red, Kzrira places the arrow back in her quiver and instead nocks a cold iron arrow.
The gnome shrugs at Faelar's questions, "The Witch. OK." The gnome gratefully accepts the cool water from the scarlet skin.
Karethas nods to Amir and Kzrira, "He may be under an enchantment, but it isn't her disguised." He turns back to the gnome, "We will provide you food, water, and directions for your travels from this place regardless of whether you help us, but thank you for offering to help us find this entrance. I am Karethas, and this elf you have been speaking to is Faelar. Sorry, but we did not ask for your name."
He turns back to the gnome, "Sorry, but we did not ask for your name."
"Call me Bug!" the strange gnome cackles and keeping the red water bag turns to lead you down the trail toward Pale Mountain. It is toward evening when you reach a rickety bridge that crosses the headwaters of the Pale River. On the other side of the short span you see the foundations of a long ruined settlement and beyond that the foot of Pale Mountain. A great black ramp leads up and around the ashy gray and yellow mountain side formed from clustered vertical hexagonal basalt stone posts. Before that however, there is a darkened cave entrance with a crudely carved hyena head above it.
Bug points to the cave, "That's where the Wormhollow gnolls lair. Most of them are up the mountain now though. The steaming caves are in there."
"Bug, what a strange name! How did you come by it?"
As the gnome leads the group Amir will use the travel as an opportunity to grab Kzrira, I have watched folks for a long time. He has no love for the witch but I do not think he fears the Carrion King the way one might. We should be wary that in our effort to see this witch we are not betrayed to the King.
Kzrira rolls her eyes:
I cannot wait to put a few arrows between the veiled eyes of the b . . witch.
She then thinks about what Amir said:
If he does not fear the Carrion King, then we shall have to be wary. However, we all know who the witch is. Or, we are pretty sure and simply the fact that they are excavating for something of Lamatshu only increases the need for us to extinguish this threat.
"Bug, what a strange name! How did you come by it?"
"It's short for Little Bug," Bug explains which explains nothing at all.
"Oh," Karethas responses as if it is the most natural name in the world. "and who named you that?"
"The Carrion King, of course," the gnome sighs with exasperation at the human.
I do not look surprised, "Ah, are you and his Highness friends then? I have met a few Gnolls who have been quite friendly, we even hired such a Gnoll to bring us to Kelmarane just over a year ago ... I wonder how he is doing?"
"Friend?! The Carrion King doesn't have friends. I was his toy and when he was done he cast me off to The Witch!" the gnome looks at Faelar like he's a simpleton.
He turns his gaze back to the cave entrance. "Be careful though. The Wormhollow gnolls haven't left their lair undefended and there are traps."
Karethas nods at Bug's wise words about the Carrion King, "Can you tell us anything about the creatures and traps we will encounter?"
Kzrira looks down from her mount at Bug.
How did you get through the traps?
Bug gives a dramatic sigh at Krira's question, "I know a trap when I see it!" He turns back to Karethas, "Nothing too tricky for traps. At least I had no problem getting past safely. There are only a few old gnolls and their young left behind, but it is said that the Wormhollow tunnels connect to the Underdark so who knows what will creep up." Bug chuckles maliciously.
Amir simply listens, cataloging the various details of Bug's story.
Karethas gives Amir a meaningful glance about the traps. We will need to be careful. "We wouldn't want to wander into the Underdark, so what is the most direct route toward the witch's area?"
Bug nods at Karethas' query, "Once you reach the gnolls' warrens, take a passage upward that feels warm, not the path that feels cool and leads downward. At the end of the warm tunnel stand great bronze doors that I was able to open and caves of melted rock. A narrow vent leads upward from there to the House of the Beast."
Karethas nods, "You have been most helpful, thank you Bug." He turns to get some supplies for the gnome, but turns back as a thought occurs to him. "How did you end up as the Carrion King's toy?"
"How did you end up as the Carrion King's toy?"
"Perhaps I could ask you the same," the strange gnome snorts as he wanders back into the woods.
Although not her strongest skill, Kzrira quietly watches the strange dirty gnome attempting to discern whether there is any truth to his statements.
Sense Motive:
Amir frowns at the gnome. A few years ago I might be more inclined to kill this man than risk his threats...but he seems so harmless.
Do you mean to leave and live in the woods Bug? I would send you back to where we came from. We have friends there who would see you well cared for...
Karethas stares after the gnome blankly for a few moments after he disappears into the bush. "I guess not, Amir."
Bug's directions seemed straight forward enough to Kzrira though his departing jibe certainly didn't seem like best wishes for your journey. He doesn't bother to respond to Amir and quickly disappears into the undergrowth leaving you alone to ponder the cleft beyond the ruined settlement.
Kzrira looks to the others:
Well, unless someone has a better option, I think that we are going through the gnoll tunnels. I agree that heading up would be a better option than down into the Underdark. However, I really do not trust that gnome and as with the nice lady at the tannery, would not be surprised to find Bug hanging with the Princess when we get back to Kelmarane.
Unless anyone objects, Kzrira will begin to lead to party into the tunnel.
Surival:
Stealth:
Nothing stirs as Krira stalks to the cave's entrance. She finds a well worn trail leading in and there are many gnoll tracks though nothing looks fresher than perhaps a week ago. Peering inside, she sees a roughly worked passage with hyena heads shaped into the walls to either side every ten feet or so.
Once Kzrira clears the immediate entrance, Karethas casts Light on her bow. "Amir first to look for those traps?"
I watch the man disappear into the undergrowth, "What a friendly gentleman." I turn to face my friends again, "I wonder if we will be able to spot the traps as easily as Bug ... it does sound strange to make traps that can be seen easily, I always thought they would be hidden to catch unwelcome visitors by surprise. Maybe I will have to do some research on the matter?" Seeing that Kzrira is trying to advance quietly I will keep quiet and follow silently.
Amir can only shake his head at the elf and offer him a pat on the shoulder as the party convenes for the trek into the caves. On Karethas' recommendation the rogue wordlessly moves forward pulling a everburning torch from his pouch. Edging to end of Kzrira's light the rogue looks over the cave trail and beings the hunt for traps...
(+1 for traps, just so its clear if there are other things I might notice or not)
Amir creeps cautiously down the passage with magical torch held high. Upon reaching the first pair of stone three-eyed hyena heads, he notes a thin crack that runs vertically up from each head and across the roof.
Amir will examine the situation carefully in an attempt to be clear on the mechanisms/trap and see about disabling or circumnavigating itI have found something. See how there are cracks in the heads of these creatures? I suspect were we to touch the floor or pass the faces....well I am sure you can imagine.
If I can take 10 or 20 I will but just in case...
Amir suspects that stepping between the statues will release heavy blades to swing across the hall. He expertly jams the cracks and when he steps through there is a click and the scraping sound from inside the wall, but the blades are checked!
Ten feet further, the second of the three opposing pairs of stone hyena heads bare teeth menacingly. This time Amir smells oil between the stone jaws.
Kzrira stays back and keeps her bow raised and ready should any hounds appear.
She also watches as Amir makes his investigation trying to pick up on anything he might miss.
Perception(aid another): Take-10 for 11 -- add +2 if FE(gnoll) bonus applicable
After the blades are blocked Karethas stage whispers to Kzrira, "I told you he'd eventually be useful for something." Then he gives Amir a big smile of encouragement.
Amir offers a tilt of his head at the wizard, Sadly, have we yet found out your use? The theif winks at the younger man and continues on his work.
Moving to the next hyena head Amir sniffs and pulls back. Fire or gas perhaps?
Pulling out his tools once more Amir works on the trap.
As Amir sets to work, you hear him curse and wince, but there is no explosion thankfully. He sighs as he tells you that he has not managed to disable the trap, but at least his slip wasn't bad enough to trigger it.
Again working carefully, Amir is finally able to deactivate the trap sparing himself from the gout of flames that would have resulted had the trap been tripped. He continues to the final set of stone hyena heads and after a thorough inspection finds small darts embedded in the walls and lying broken on the floor. He assesses that this trap has already been tripped and not reset. The way is now clear to proceed.