"Gugs!Thosebigmonstersthegugs!Mytrapsaredifferent,Icantellyouhowtowatchoutf orthem.Oh!IamHabblegash. Habblegash. Did you hear that?" he peers around the corner. His voice is starting to steady. "I will help however I can if you can stand my vices and swear to rid this mine of that foul ettin."
"Hubblegash was it now?"
Nigel says stepping forward with a big smile on his face. Unfortunately when Gnomes smile like this it tends to make them look insane.
"Well I am Nigel Smith Woolsy, master gunsmith artisan and big game hunter. And these tall folk are my companions, they are not bad sorts as far as big folk go. But you know how they can be sometimes. Now down to the business at hand. I say though, you wouldn't happen to have a spot of tea would you? Oh nevermind there's no milk or sugar and then there's always the problem of who's going to be mother. Right! This ettin fellow you mentioned, is it possible that he is responsible for the malfunctioning brass guardians from the city? Which in point of fact is why we are here. Oh, and lad never keep your red ingredients next to the blue ingredients.
"Yes, tell us about your set of armor in the other room. Where did you get it? And how exactly is this ettin interfering with the mine?" Isavara slowly wanders around the room taking in the sight. Its almost exactly what she imagines Nigel's workshop to be like, overflowing with odds and ends and trinkets lying about everywhere. Isavara wasn't the most organized, but the shear chaos of the lab was almost overwhelming.
Cole is baffled by the little rat man's quick speech.
He tries to pay attention to the little creature's explanation of the problems in the mine.
"Oh, I have been working on a process to help milk keep longer. The process removes some of the natural creaminess and flavor, but it allows some comforts. I can steep some tea," Habblegash says as he turns to a bench and lights a small fire beneath a copper kettle, "The walking armor...the gugs destroyed it. I tried to restore it, but there is some sort of interference. I would like to flush the system fully, but I don't have the grease to replace what I would remove."
The kettle whistles softly and Habblegash pours the boiling water into a few small cups to seep some tea leaves. "I don't exactly know what the Ettin is up to, or who he is working for. Too stupid to be the mastermind, you know? He pretty much owns the lower level and has some big slaves toiling away down there on something. I try to stay out of their way."
"How many of them are there? I assume all the slaves are hostile right?"
"I don't know for sure. I'm not the sort to go snooping into the business of giants...I have four cups. Do you wish to try the dried cream, gnome?"
"Jolly good show old boy." Says Nigel as he accepts the tea cup. "Why yes I'll try the non-creamy cream and this is damn civilized of you. So you say you to tried to repair the Guardians? Gugs, is that what they're called? Nasty buggers. Now I'll just bet a clever fellow like youself knows all the back trails in this mine and that's exactly the sort of help we could use. Oh, and as far as grease goes I understand the fat from your local mana-waste boar makes a dandy mixture."
"That boar fat would probably be a pretty good fit, but the stink from rendering would attract all sorts of attention. These mines shelter me from the storms outside, not to mention the mutants in the wastes so long as I keep the attention to a minimum." He sips from his cup then glances at his blood and powder covered knife. "I know a few things, but again, I try to mind my own business. Usually I have my little spies check things out for me. A little north of my cave here is a sandy cavern. You want to watch out walking on the silt, but there is a tunnel in that room where I sometimes hide out from the gugs and mutants. The creature in the silt and concealed nature of the tunnel makes it a good hiding spot. I keep some supplies in there. If you're going to clean this place out at all, feel free to use those supplies if you need, just try to leave some food and water for me if I need them in the near future, okay? I have another little bolt hole, a little less protected, north-east of the cart junction. It's protected by a false wall and hidden in an alcove."
"Do these gug creatures cooperate with the ettin? The one we saw a few minutes ago seemed more of a mindless beast."
"Hard to say which is dumber, but the gugs aren't animals. Rather clever, actually. They've got traps all around the area. Thing is, the foolish things don't seem to understand that dropping dead meat and precious gems isn't going to increase your luck. But to answer the question, I don't think they're working together. I have a feeling the ettin thinks of them as guard dogs, at best. The gugs just know better than to go below."
"Wait, are you saying that the gugs set the traps? Why? What are they hoping to ensnare?"
"Food," he sips his tea calmly but he taps his feet nervously and glances over at his knife again. "Did you get them both?"
"Both? There are two gugs? We have only encountered one, but it did not survive our...introductions. Do you know what their traps do? Are there other creatures in the mine? Would you be willing to guide us through the mines? Or could you provide a map? I would be willing to reward you for your services."
"Oh, yeah, mated pair, I believe. They're deadfall traps. Hit the tripwire and a pile of rocks collapses on you. There are plenty of other inhabitants, but I have a strict policy of minding my own business. On that note, I have to turn down your offer. I haven't taken the time to map the mines, and while I know it pretty well, I'm just not interested in making waves. My apologies. I do alright with the tinkering, but I'm no fighter. Stop in anytime you like, however, and be mindful of the boltholes I mentioned. I do wish you luck," his nose twitches nervously and he keeps glancing at his knife and powdered rock. "Oh, and watch out for my pit traps. Smart folks like yourselves should notice them easy enough, they're meant to catch animals. Lightly covered with loose dirt and a canvas."
"What's that powder you covered your knife with?" Cole asks the little rat man.
"I've never seen its like before."
Nigel finishes his tea and says. "Well you have been most helpful my good fellow and uncommonly civilized but we have a job to be about. So we should take leave of your gracious hospitality."
He begins to walk towards the exit of the workshop when he abruptly stops, turns to the group and says.
"I've just had an absolutely marvelous notion. That non-creamy creamer could be packaged in single servings and then tea drinkers the world over could always have a proper cup...Oh and I propose we set off a few of those tripwire to attract that other beastie. That way we encounter it on our terms and not it's."
"Creamer? Umm, yeah, we should set the critter up for an ambush. "
When Cole asks about the powder, Habblegash looks down at his feet and simply says, "I'm sick."
Before turning to leave the ratfolk, Isavara looks at him once last time and asks "Habblegash, can I trust you not to alert anyone of our presence here? I would hate to walk into an ambush." She then focuses her attention on his aura, watching for any signs of deception.
Once Habblegash has answered, she heads back out to continue the exploration of the mine.
"I keep to myself here. Safer for me."
"I like the idea of setting off a trap to attract this other gug."
"That shouldn't be too hard. Let's head back out to where we saw that trap further in. You guys get in a good ambush position and I'll see if I can't trip the trap with some rope. Thoughts?"
"Nigel, can you tell from tracks on the ground which direction the gug is likely to come from?"
Nigel walks back into the tunnel kneels down and studies the ground as he says. "Smashing idea, let me have a look."
Nigel is easily able to determine that the gugs generally come from the north east, deeper in the mine.
Nigel studies the tracks for a few moments then begins to draw symbols in the dirt with his finger. after a while he stands and says. "That non-creamy creamer in single servings sould be a real money maker. I don't suppose any of you would be interested in investing? As far as the Gug it comes and goes from the north east. I think the east trap sould be the one. It offers the most instances of cover for our distance assets as well as quick assess for the up close types. Of course to really sell it we could use a bit of bait of our own. Anyone want to play dead?"
"The east trap sounds good to me. We should all take up hiding spots and i'll hook the carcass with my grapling hook and pull it to set off the trap."
"Sound good to everyone?"
"Sounds like a plan. " and he will look for a good hiding spot with line of sight on the presumed target.
"I already got me and Prudence's spot picked out." Says the Gnome as he croches in the cover of one of the mine's many rocky corners.
Isavara moves over and takes up position in a small alcove south east of the trap.
Hooking the carcass is a piece of cake, since it isn't going anywhere. Cole yanks on the rope and the body begins to slide across the dusty floor. There is a loud, "twang" sound followed by a half-ton of rock falling from the ceiling, which causes an awful roar that echoes through the mine. Several minutes pass before the large gug comes into Simo's view. It's hideous vertically aligned mouth snaps open and shut as it seems to be calling out.
Yeah, suppose I should have said that. I'm waiting for everyone to get it in view so we can all attack.
The creature rounds the corner and doesn't see the hidden adventurers, as it is distracted by the sight of it's dead mate. It opens it's mouth and releases a guttural roar of pain and anger.
I have improved precise shot, cover is not an issue. If I know everyone has a potential shot, I'll let loose.
I assume we get a surprise round then initiative.
[ooc]well that's kind of a waste
Surprise attack, deadly aim
Normal round (in case I'm before the critter)
Simo's bolt strikes the gug in the gut and tears into some vital organs.
Nigel waits for the Gug to appear, takes careful aim, holds his breath and squeezes Prudence's trigger.
Suprise round shot (deadly aim & -4 cover. range thouch)
Normal round attack (if I go before)
firing 1 barrel deadly aim + cover range touch & using a swift action and the Beneficial Bandolier to reload first barrel.
Nigel's shot rings out. The bullet catches the creature in the thigh, spraying orange blood everywhere.
Cole moves up closer to the beast
The inquisitor steps around the corner to stand in front of the foul beast. "Well hello there. I must say, you are one ugly, son of a...yeah, I have no idea, but you are definitely ugly."
Tatsumi holds his position waiting to see if the Gug gets any closer. "Nigel is it? Who do you think that beast is gonna eat first?"
"Ah a wager capital notion lad, I suppose you're not such a bad sort for a scaily type. if I had the coin I put me money on the lady getting the first bite. Although whether it bites her or she bites it is the real question."Says NIgel while drawing a bead on the Gug.
Crossbow bolts strike the gug in two spots, one penetrating it's left eye and spraying milky ichor everywhere. Prudence thunders again, causing a flesh wound in the beast. It howls in pain, adding to the cacophony echoing through the mine. The gug is bleeding profusely, and seems unsteady on it's feet.
Cole takes a 5' step towards the gug, draws his pistol, and fires a single shot.
Cole's shot punches a hole through the gug's chest. It's claw clutches at the wound. That it is still standing at all is amazing. It's wounds are severe, possibly fatal, yet it still stands.