Dungeon Master Forum

Falkor was surprised, he had expected to start using spells when the door opened but the threat had not yet materialised,

"Hi there", Falkor wasn't sure what else to say... It wasn't really their place to start interogating this knome, and yet interogating was exactly what he wanted to do. If the knome was friendly he may well tell them all he knows without the need for intense questioning.

OOC: Falkor's own perception check (1d20 => 13)

"Yes, hello. My name is Westian, and you are?" There were lots of questions Westian wanted to ask. Did he live here in the dungeon? Did he know where the mage was? Had he seen Brother Deephold? Had he seen someone go past dragging a headless corpse?

But he held back. How had this gnome survived in the dungeon?...he must be somehow in league with the servants of Gholst, otherwise he surely would not be sitting around so happily.

After a few seconds of staring at the gnome he spoke again with a smile "If you do not mind me asking, what do you do here?"

Unsure of anything else to do, Aurek simply sits back and watches the fun unravel. He greets the gnome with a quick "hello", but maintains his guard and distance. Where is this headless corpse? Where is the THING that dragged it off? Has this gnome got something to do with it? The questions nagged at him, but Aurek keep them silent... for now.

"Oh my. Oh my indeed. My my my." The gnome walks forwards as fast as his legs would carry him, looking with interest at the five standing in the door. He gave Falkor an interested look, but it seemed to be Haynuus and Sir Farel who drew his initial interest. "My my my," he said again, his eyes alight. "What ever do we have here?"

Haynuus, due to his height, was perhaps able to take his eyes away from the gnome the easiest. The half orc quickly spotted in the odd plays of light that there was still evidence of a blood trail. It appeared to be going stright through a wall and disappearing.

Perhaps more intelligent brains would have dismissed this as a trick of the light and looked for other clues to the disappearance in the other bloody scuffs of the room. Haynuus, having no such handicap, kept looking at the wall. The first thing obvious about it was that unlike every other wall, which either had a large wooden door with chains, or a set of multiple alcoves piled with rubbish, this wall had no decration whatsoever. The second point was that the blood trail seemed to have a rather squarish shape to it against the door. As if the wall had moved, and then had squelched back into place squeezing out any introduing trail.

Falkor, being close to the gnome in height, had more of a distraction to his general looking around. Really, he gave up checking for signs of anything - although he did spot alot of magical-related apparatus in the various alcoves - and instead looked at the gnome.

The gnome was a little bit bewildering. He was dressed plainly enough in stained blue breeches and a shirt, and had a scruffy beard and huge bushy eyebrows. He had large inquisitive eyes and a wide flabby mouth. His neck seemed a little thin, and his head bobbed and rocked dangerously around on it as he examined everything around, as if the neck was not strong enough and in danger of relenting at the effort of keeping his head upright. He reminded one of a chicken whose head had been caught in a bowling ball.

A selection of items - some glasswear and some scrolls - were clutched in the gnome's hands, crossed infront of him to keep the things from falling out. Pride of place seemed to be reserved for an astrolabe that was about the size of the gnome's head. Falkor spots that these items the gnome has are good for perhaps the more practical study of the world not necessarily magic.

"My my my. My my. My my my. Oh, I'm sorry, what? "said the gnome, looking up at Westian. The gnome had nodded happily if distracted to Haynuus's, Falkor's and Aurek's welcomes, but seemed to take a moment to process Westian's more complex greeting.

"Names, oh yes, I recall they are important. Let's see...Theron, yes. Not my name, oh no, but I suppose you could say I work for Theron, yes yes yes. His is an important name, certainly one you would want to know about. My name...hmm..." the gnome seems to pause for a second as if to work it out. "Hmm, yes, the people in my village called me Brighteyes!"

The gnome stands and smiles at everyone, nodding to each in turn, then coming back to Westian. "It's probably a better name than many of the ...hmm...shall I say epithets, why yes, I think I shall... it is certainly better than many of the epithets I have been called in recent memory. Oh my, oh my yes." The gnome stands up straight, eyes indeed bright and dancing. He moves as if to stretch out a hand, but then at the last moment manages to catch the handful of items that wish to escape.

"Well, now you know who I am. However, you seem to be...different...from the usual soldiers who walk around here." The gnome seems to again regard Haynuus and especially Farel, looking them up and down. "Not so...co-ordinated." The gnome's bright eyes dance more. "Is there a story? Do you have an interesting story to tell? I'm afraid I haven't heard a good story from anyone in a while. The soldiers walking around are so boring in that regard."

"Our 'story' is that we seek a mage, one whom might have captured my squire!" says Farel, apparently perturbed by the constant gaze.

"I hope you don't accuse Theron of that, no no no, that wouldn't be right at all, not of the Grey Lord's own apprentice. No, I think you have the wrong place. My my my, I think so. Are you perhaps lost?"

The gnome stands, eagerly looking to the party for comment. Apparently quite unconcerned about the blood trail, nor apparently the fact that both Westian and Aurek are dressed in the armour of the black clad soldiers.


There we go, another NPC. Don't worry, eventually I'll stop throwing talking NPCs at you, and just have slavering monsters. And then you'll wish for the days of Helm and Brighteyes and Farel again

Anyway, you guys have the mystery of the gnome, and the mystery of the blood trail to solve. And if you are now hardened D&D players as you seem to be, there's a whole room to loot to boot!

"Hi, My name is Falkor, we mean you no harm and are indeed on a quest, well - many quests, but primarily to find this mage." Falkor looked hard at the knome for any reaction... "Gholst, we are seeking him also..."

OOC: Checking to see the reaction to the name Gholst...(1d20=> 9)

"Stories? We have plenty of stories! Do not worry about that...um...Brighteyes." Westian felt deeply uncomfortable calling the strange gnome by that name.

"I can tell you stories about the outside, I can tell you stories about what we have been doing here - including great tales that involve mummies, murafu and magic. But first we would like some information. As my friends have indicated we are searching for a mage in the service of Gholst - I am sure you will have heard about him. And any other information you have about this dungeon." Realising his mistake, Westian quickly corrected himself. "Any other relevant information. That would help us in our search, or save us from immediate danger."

OOC: Diplomacy 3 + 13 = 16

Haynuus replied to the gnomes question - "We not be from around theeese paaaarts" he replied with a big grin. He seemed innocuous at least.

Rather than bombard the sparkly eyed gnome with his own questions, Haynuus sidled over to the wall with the super-smudge. How was it possible that even the most work-absorbed academic could ignore someone carrying a headless corpse across the floor?! 'Just dropping off the shopping Brighty' - 'Oh righty ho!' would reply the gnome. No. He's just going to have to wait for the more conversational members of his party to find out.

In the mean while, he could have a go at finding a switch for this secret wall. It was that touchy-feel time again and he decided to feel around a bit. (1d20+2=7) He'd start with the actual wall then check the sides.

"Many quests?" said Brighteyes in surprise as Falkor commented. "Oh dear, that sounds ever so complicated! However do you decide which one is more important than the rest? Do you make a list? I do admit to liking lists. Oh, and your hat by the way. That is an unusual and perfect hat. Very complicated in the...bending. Now, you see, lists are never complicated, unless you have terrible handwriting. The secret to making them is, of course, to possess neat handwriting. And a good pen. Yes, yes, yes. Good pens and penmanship are very important. For list making, not hat making, I mean. Yes yes yes."

The gnome's meandering comments seem to have completely bypassed the comment on the mage and Gholst, and so Falkor had little ability to spot anything amiss. Had this been deliberate?

That would actually be a 'sense motive' roll money, still a wisdom based check so I'm afraid not much change on the middling outcome. At least I won't give you an incorrect assumption!


"Murafu?" said the gnome upon hearing Westian's comments. "Now that is a word I have never heard. How very facinating! The other two words are known and intriguing, so I imagine your stories would be wonderful. However..." and at this the gnome's voice trails, and the sparkle leaves his eyes for a moment as he looks around, "if your quest is to look for the mage I think you are to look for, I don't think I can tell you anything relevant to avoiding danger. Oh no. Oh no indeed."

The gnome shakes his head. "Your friend mentioned Gholst aswell, didn't he? Then I guess the mage you all keeping asking about would be Seeroc then?" The gnome shakes his head further. "In a way, I suppose I work for Seeroc more than I work for Theron." The gnome gives one final shake of his head. "You see, I have this...well, I do not know what you could call it. Some word people have said over the years. I'm so inquisitive you see, it's hard to relate to just one thing in the world, when the world is so filled with interesting things."

The gnome seems to have quite forgotten his train of thought for a moment. "Psychopath! No, sociopath? One of the two." The gnome nods happily, then smiles. "Oh, sorry, we were talking about Seeroc, but I just remembered the words for me. I think that's why the soldiers stay away from me, to be honest." The gnome laughs. "Sorry, I did not mean Seeroc, no, I think people have worse words for him. Though not ones I would apply. I'm afraid I find it so hard to care what people think of Seeroc, what with all the other interesting things in the world. Now, what was I saying... oh, that was it!"

Brighteyes walks up to Westian and tilts his head back, and then almost falls over. "No, sorry, I'll have to talk to the halfling again, I hope you don't mind." He walks over to Falkor, with whom he only has to tilt his wobbly head a little bit backwards for. "You see, the mage is a little bit...well, you see, finding the mage...you see, the thing to understand about Seeroc is....hmm, oh dear, oh dear." The gnome thinks for a moment. "I suppose what I am trying to say is that, as interesting as your stories all sound..." and Brighteyes nods and regards Falkor and Westian's knees regretfully, "I dont' think I could guarantee your safety. The danger...well, apaprently the danger is quite dangerous, and I have a bad habit of not being reliable when it comes to noticing it for other people. Hmm, my my my. What I could say is that, if you want to tell me your stories..." and the gnome also gives Falkor an appraising look, "and perhaps if you have any stories of the High Lords and where they now live, for example..." the gnome looks to the contents of his hands, "then I can see no reason why I couldn't guide you to the mage's room. Telling you anything relevant to your many quests while we walk, of course. The mage is not there just now,in his room, but that is probably for the best!"

Brighteyes extends his hand forward atthe offer, to shake on it with Falkor, and this time the contents of his hands really do collapse on the floor. There is a sad noise as the astrolabe he possesses breaks apart into separate discs, the parts spinning against Falkor's feet along with a few scrolls and other instruments.

"Oh dear," says the gnome sadly. Then he looks up. "Wait, what is your friend doing?"

Meanwhile Haynuus, after his initial comments, had spend his whole time inspecting the wall. Or what might be a wall. After all, Haynuus had seen and heard of walls that were not really there at all, and walls that were there to look at, but you could put your hand right through. And walls that were actually living rock and could eat you. And walls that only looked like living rock, but were actually cunningly disguised living ooze that could absorb and then eat you.

A wall that appeared solid, and yet could apparently move and come back was a new one to him, but this was apparently exactly what he had found. Luckily, he also didn't find himself embarrassingly falling through the wall, because if he couldn't be seen inside the wall, did that mean he no longer existed? More importantly, he hadn't been eaten yet. That was a good sign. A less good sign was there was a lack of switch. Haynuus was starting to worry he'd infact gone too far - a wall that came back? Was that sensible?

Sir Farel had taken a step back to allow the gnome to speak to Westian and Falkor, and a step around to ensure there was nothing that could harm the party waiting in any shadowy area. He certainly seemed to pay attention to the references on the mage and the room of the mage. However, Farel also looked across to Aurek, and raised an eyebrow to the man. Perhaps one professional soldier to another, looking for reassurance everything was ok. It was hard to tell.


Whew, there we go, wall of writing done. I've moved on without LB's move, because I think this update makes something clear that might give Aurek a little bit of a pause. Is a potential sociopath a liability a paladin can't travel with? Is a potential sociopath a liability that none of the party can travel with infact? Time to find out!

Haynuus had been pushing and pulling at the wall while the chatter on the other side of the room continued... Fascinating. He decided to go all the way and push the wall 'open', or 'out' or 'whatever' and take a look inside. As soon as he had taken one step it was the gnome that had pulled his attention back into the room.

"Wait, what is your friend doing?" he said.

Haynuus, completely out of view for a second, popped just his head out horizontally from behind the wall and said "You don't happen to have seen a decapitated corpse being dragged around here, do you?" The rest of them needed to double-take on the situation as they were seeing the half-orc's head come into view from out of nowhere inquiring about the location of his body lacking said head. Then he unbalanced and fell on the floor. "Uff. It's just that Mr Gnome..." He pointed a finger to the blood stained floor inches from his face. "My bat senses tell me that one was dragged through here not long ago."

Falkor was surprised by the offer, the knome seemed to have free movement around this dungeon and yet was unphased by the visitors. Falkor had listened and although he seemed harmless enough he was a little surprised by the somewhat specific request for information on high lords... Was the knome meerely working for Gholst? Was he fishing for information that would leave the high lords open? Falkor didn't like it - still, they wanted to find this mage and ultimately Gholst... Falkor looked at Westian, he seemed to take the lead in these matters and Falkor was sure that he would have also picked up on the odd request...

Westian eyed the gnome quizzically. Behind the randomness of his thoughts Westian thought he could sense an animal cunning, and so he resolved to be on his guard.

But he did not let this show as he sat down on the ground and began to talk. "Sadly I know very little about the location of the High Lords. I would love to know the location of the Grey Lord in particular, but I don't have an idea."

"But other stories I have in abundance!" He proceeded to tell a dramatic account of some of there encounters in the dungeon, culminating with the battle against the mummy. He focused on the drama, and left out any important details. In particular he avoided mentioning Gholst or his soldiers.

"Anyway we have to keep moving, there are plenty more stories to create before we are finished! Do you fancy joining us and seeing what happens on our way to find this mage?"

OOC bluff = 8 + 5 = 13
Sorry for the disjointed post, I wrote a very long one with lots more detail and more actions, but I lost it when firefox crashed. I don't have the time to write one like that again, only one lunch break per day!

Aurek remained at a distance from the gnome, eyeing him suspiciously. I don't trust him thought the paladin to himself. He decided that attempting to sense this gnome's inner motivations might be in order... (sense motive 1d20 = 11+8 = 19)

OCC: Sorry for the delayed post.... pay no attention if you hear about an Aussie randomly killing his mother-in-law because she wouldn't give him the internet...

However, I'm going to take the opportunity to retroactively say the sense-motive has been active for a second turn, as it shouldn't effect anyone else... 1d20 = 6+8 = 14

"Oh," said Brighteyes disappointed at Westian's lack of knowledge, carefully picking up items without seeming to care that none of the group were helping him. "You see, it's a silly theory, but with more free time to myself I thought 'why not', I mean everyone names the constellations afetr the High Lords, but really, one has to ask oneself - is there a truth to this? Do the stars appearing because of the High Lords residing in the outer planes? If so, does that mean we can determine exactly where they are? Does that mean we can determine other powerful occurrences and beings in the outer planes through unnammed stars? I find it quite facinating!" Brighteyes smiled with shining eyes. Then seemed a little sad. "Indeed, the Grey Lord would know the location of the other High Lords, and I would be able to corroborate all my research! Alas, Gholst smashing the Soul Stone means that isn't possible. I mean, I assume the man did it so that the Grey Lord could not detect what was happening in Anaias, but of course it also means we have no means of tracking where he is either." Brighteyes sighed.

Westian's stories seemed to distract the gnome, and he smiled and laughed at the appropriate places - and sadly at innapropriate places to do with the various deaths of the Trolins and undead. "Masterful, quite masterful!" he said with glee at the tactics to kill the mummy.

Aurek had taken the opportunity to spread his divine senses in the direction of the gnome while the creature was occupied. Slowly the certainty formed in Aurek's mind that the gnome was, indeed, evil. A faint aura surrounded him - which was troubling. Either thing gnome was false, or worse yet he was exactly as he appeared to be and the Grey Lord actually employed a helper for Theron who was of such little moral standing.

The paladin could clearly not accept this creature - self confessed to have no moral compass - as a companion, but could the group even trust him as a temporary guide? Would he use them for some unknown agenda, or was the danger merely that he could see no value in their existence beyond entertainment. Either way, the gnome made Aurek's skin crawl.

It did not help that Aurek's conclusions were being drawn in the same direction as Westian's. This gnome clearly was not just the happy go lucky creature he appeared at first. Obviously, by his speech he was intelligent, and his bright eyes danced too easily around the assembled party. And there was almost a smile when Westian's stories skirted clear of the confrontation with the soldiers. Aurek would swear he saw the gnome's eyes flick to the outfits of the group, Haynuus's mis-matched greaves and rusty breastplate especially.


I assume you mean 'detect evil' for the sense motive checks. DE happens automatically as long as you can concentrate for three rounds. In this case, Westian's story alone would probably give the paladin enough cover for that. I'll throw in the first sense motive roll - also the highest - for free

I'll leave you to decide what 'evil' means in this context, and how opposed you would be to having anything to do with him.


Meanwhile, of course, Westian was offering to allow thre gnome to lead them to the mage. The gnome, hands filled with items again, tried to clap. "Oh my, yes! If your stories are as facinating as that one, I think I might have to insist we stay together!"

Haynuus's movements and comments then drew the gnomes gaze across. The gnome then looked down at the floor. "Oh, I see. Hmm, what do the soldiers call them...oh yes, the 'grak-graks' - one of those probably came through here and used the secret passage. They're quite intelligent, without having any real intellect I'm afraid. Left to their own devices, they seem to kill anything that moves, and then take anything still suitable back to Seeroc. To make more of them, you see. They're undead constructs. Seeroc needs fresh unmutilated bodies to make more. I suppose the fact they rip most things to shreds provides some means of 'population control'. Anyway, I mean if you wanted to see where they are being made by Seeroc, we could go that way. It might be quite facinating for you!" The gnome looked around with a smile, but catching at the very least Farel's disgusted face his face fell. "Oh my, or perhaps you might like to just go to the mage's rooms instead through the door over there. That's where he takes any guests anyway. I mean, the two link again anyway through the Stairs of the Dead, if you want to see it later! Or else how could he dispose of his guests afterwards!"

The gnome stood around, looking to the knees of most of the party and the face of Falkor in anticipation.


Gotta love the mad gnomes with no moral compass. Anyway, sorry, gotta run out the door, might add some comments at lunch. Obviously, the decision is which way to go - help Haynuus check out the secret wall and figure a way to open it, leading to some grisly spawning chamber of some sort, or go through the door in the room towards the mage's actual rooms.

And obviously, do you want to take the gnome with you, or not? If not ... well, what do you do with a problem like Brighteyes?

Oh, and of course, do you want to go right now, or did you want to check the room out?

As Aurek only detected a faint aura of evil around this gnome, he could only object if the group do aswell. He waited to see what the others would feel on the situation. However, where the mage was concerned, he was quite strong in his directives... "Our mission is to find this 'Seeroc'. I honestly don't wish to see more corpses than required." trying to hide his utter disgust, simply at the suggestion of going to this 'grak-grak lair'.

"Now, I'm sorry if this may offend you Mr Gnome... but we need to sort out a few things over here first, we'll only be a minute, just wait there..." gesturing the group to move away from the gnome and his possibly good hearing.

The gnome waved the request away without concern, or waved it away as much as one could with armfuls of items, and turned to look at the other alcoved in the far side of the wall away from the party. "I'll be here, I'll be here, don't mind me!" he said happily.

As the group got out of earshot of the gnome Westian looked at his companions. “I don’t trust this gnome as far as I could throw him.” Glancing over at the diminutive gnome he clarified “Actually, I trust him far less than I could throw him. But having him as a guide could not be any more dangerous than going on our own, could it? I mean, he might bring us to the mage, or he might lead us astray. But I think the chances of him leading us to Seeroc are at least as good as our chances of finding him on our own. What do you think? And Aurek, I agree that I would prefer to find the mage than look for some undead abominations. Once we have found Deephold and Sir Farel’s squire then we can return at our leisure and put these grak-graks to the sword, along with whatever evil is spawning them.”

Haynuus picked himself up from the floor, and made for the huddle of adventurers. He cast a glance over to the studious pygmy and threw the comment over "Suddenly I'm not so keen on examining secret walls any more, Mr. Gnome. Where I'm from you find apples and bits of old rope behind them!"

He lent an ear to the low-level conversation and to Westian's consumate wisdom...

"Agreed" he said, unsure what the plan actually meant. So he added, "I'll follow you then."

Finally he thought it appropriate to take a quick scan of a couple of alcoves - might be some interesting bits in them. (1d20+2=16)

Sir Farel's face was black, perhaps at the previous mention of 'guests' of the mage finding themselves in the chamber of the 'grak-graks'. "I agree, someone whom admits to a lack of morals is a danger we can ill afford, and yet a necessary one that has at least been honest about that. For now, even being led into a trap forwarned might be better than stumbling blindly into one. "

AS the rest were talking, Haynuus spotted a few things around in the various alcoves. Most had a few unexplainable items, or more scrolls, or complicated pieces of glassware. However, Haynuus thought he could spot a few items that looked like compasses around. There also looked to be a promising bit of rope (no apple, sadly), a few scrolls partially buried under some scrolls, and some odd piece of glinting metal and glass that struck some odd memory in Haynuus.

While nothing extra-special, these items might be worth grabbing when leaving. While Haynuus was looking, he realised the gnome was also looking around and had caught Haynuus look and was looking at the looker. Brightly. The gnome gave a big smile and tried a 'thumbs-up' gesture, but ended up dropping half the contents of his arms again.

Luckily, gnomes being so short (chest height to Falkor), this meant he didn't have to go too far down to pick them up.


Ok, that's kinda the update for today. Want to give money a chance to weight in, and more impiortantly let you guys have one more go-around to see if you are happy with everything.

Will be busy busy busy at work by the sounds of it, will try to catch up with you later in the afternoon or something, depending on what is happening.

Tomorrow evening I'll set you up for Monday, and next week it's off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of icky undead death monster creation.

Haynuus returned the thumbs up, with a bit of a wink as well. "So tell me about your work here." he said while attempting to palm a compass. (1d20=16) "You are in possession of some interesting artifacts but unfortunately I have no idea what they do!" It was then the half-orc picked up the metal & glass object that had glinted at him in an attempt to attract his attention. He showed it to the gnome. "You see, as Westian said earlier, we've forgotton a load of stuff. But I'm sure I could never manipulate these devices, read the stars or understand these arcane languages like you can." He then gave the object(s) in his hand a jolly good eye-full (perception!) (1d20+2=12), and held it up to his face where he looked through the glass straight at the gnome distorting his figure into the dark and twisted being that he really was. "It's all quite fascinating here."

Westian noticed Haynuus’s attempts to grab some momentos (OOC: at least I think he did, perception = 11 + 4 = 15).

Being fond of rationalisation Westian realised that the group might very well need some extra equipment. Not for themselves, but rather to help in their search for two poor souls who could be in mortal danger. Furthermore, this gnome probably would never use half of the materials lying around his room. Indeed one could even argue that a sociopath did not deserve such equipment, who knew what nefarious use he would put it to?

With this in mind Westian walked over to the gnome to try and get his full attention. Crouching down in front of him to see eye-to-eye he said “All right Mr…um…Brighteyes…we will accept your offer. We need to get to Seeroc. And we need to get there quietly, so the mage will not be expecting us. Also we need to avoid any traps or hostile creatures on the way. Do you think you can do that? If so then you will be able to have a ring-side seat for the negotiations between this mage and us, and I guarantee that it will make for interesting viewing.”

The gnome shook himself from whatever internal thoughts he was having, and smiled widely as the apparently facinating half-orc engaged him. "My work here, well, it so depends on other people usually! Of course Theron is busy with Gholst so I do not get to work with him, and to be honest the work Seeroc is doing right now is so pedestrian - he is mostly generating his creatures to aid the soldiers in taming the Grey Lord's dungeon. I must admit, in a way that is good - it gives me time to focus on pet projects. Like the mapping of the heavens!" Brighteyes shakes the contents of his arms happily, then gets temporarily sad when he rememberes he still hasn't found a replacement astrolabe.

"I mean really, I think another thing that no one seems to want to do just now is discover the Grey Lord's fate. Without the Soul Stone, he really could be anywhere and we just won't know it!" Brighteyes has a sudden cunning gleam in his eye. "You see, my theory is that the Grey Lord's pet raven - Fulcrum - could be the key. I mean that raven has been in service to his master for so long, there must be a link!" Brighteyes almost bounces. "And besides, even if there is no link, I am sure so much of the master's personality will have rubbed off on the bird, I would just love to get a hold of its small brain - think of the things it might have overheard! Oh yes, oh my oh my yes! I mean, I am sure Theron might have had some strange ...what's the word....oh yes, queasiness or moral objections, but really if it was that important to keep the bird alive, he would have found it and kept it with him instead of playing around with Gholst and his plans. I mean, that must be true, mustn't it?"

Luckily, Haynuus's re-direction towards the items in the room took the gnome's mind off of other grisly pursuits. "I know, facinating are they not!" he said, spinning around to look at all the alcoves, then tottering for a bit as he was obviously dizzy. "I mean the Grey LOrd has one of the most powerful minds in the world, and yet apparently not one of the tidiest. The little caches of knolwedge and power one can find is, frankly, terrifying! No, wait, terrifyingly exciting? It is definitely something. And I think he has crafted every single piece of equipment himself. By hand, I mean, not just by magic! Isn't that truly wonderous?" The gnome took the glassware and twisted it around, following the spins of it with his gaze. "I think this distills steam into water...wait, why would that be a good idea?" The gnome shrugged and handed the item back to Haynuus. Haynuus, sadly, could not work out any more than the gnome had said about the item. It certainly seemed as if it was supposed to do something complicated and unnecessary. Wasn't that what most magic users and scholars were all about?

The gnome rushed off and picked up a thin human-sized glove from under a pile of scrolls. "I mean look at this! The exquisit needlework! Why, I am sure a duchess...well, or a duke, if he had small hands and a flexible self-image - would not be ashamed to wear such an item! I wonder what it does?" The gnome absentmindedly puts it on the pile of his scrolls, and then misses it slipping off onto the floor.

Ok, Haynuus has managed to bag himself a compass without apparently being noticed by the gnome - as there were three, roll me a d3 and I'll tell you what you have got.

OB, Westian might notice Haynuus attempting to grab something, but your perception didn't beat Haynuus's sleight of hand so Westian won't have seen him actually take anything. However, by the quirks of the mechanic, if Westian suspects Haynuus has taken something and looks for it on Haynuus's person, he will spot where it is temporarily stashed

While Haynuus was occupied with the items in his hand, Westian took the opportunity to communicate the group's decision and dictate a few terms.

At first the gnome looked uncertain. "Well, this is embarrassing, but, well..." the gnome trailed off looking to everyone except Falkor in the room, "I can't guarantee you getting to Seeroc quietly, oh no no no. Not with those clanky metal suits on! It quite goes for my ears as it is! Though I forgive you, because, well, this place is so very dangerous!" The gnome lets Westian finish, and his eyes widen and sparkle as Westian comments on what will happen when they meet Seeroc. He actually claps his hands, which of course means the items in his arms once again fall to the floor from his arms.

"Why, I am ever so glad I met you! And to think, if you hadn't cold-bloodedly murdered whoever you did to get that armour, I might not have! So I'll put up with the noise, of yes I shall! I'll be taking you the way that the soldiers travel to Seeroc anyway, so if they can go that way, then there is no reason you cannot! I shall certainly warn you if there are any traps of monsters, oh yes yes yes! And Seeroc won't be in his room, so you can arrange yourselves in any wonderful way you want to prepare for his return! Or...perhaps...carry on the search..." the gnome's voice trails off, but then he rounds on himself again. "This will be so much fun!" The gnome skips a little and then sticks his hand straight out to shake with Westian's, a bright grin on his face.

While the others react to this deal, Sir Farel has a disgusted look on his face, but seems to understand the need to be guided by such a creature. He walks over with purpose to the door in the room, obviously eager to carry on, and indicates the chain by the door.

"Do we go out this way?" he asks, not fully able to look at the gnome.

"Oh yes, yes we do! Certainly, we definitely do" says Brighteyes, looking back around with an oddly wide grin at the party after gathering his possessions again. He then looks to his full hands. "Oh, if you could perhaps do the honours?" he asks.

Sir Farel takes the chain in his hand, but looks around the room first to ensure the party is ready. And perhaps in uncertainty of what might be beyond.


Ok, that's the post, since everyone had sort of decided this was how it was going, then I imagine LB and money can ret-con any reactions or actions quite easily. We'll be moving forward monday exploring beyond the door, so any grabbing of more items or analysing anything will need to be done in parallel with that!

As there wasn't much time Haynuus quickly picks up the glove that had fallen from atop of the scrolls, makes a show of looking at the detailed seams and embroidery but then hands it over to Falkor.

"He's right. Check out that... Niddlework. Quite exquisite don't you think?" He slips the glove on his hand, halfling permitting, and thinks that he'd make a fantastic half-sized Michael Jackson - fireworks included. "How does it feel against your skin? Does it give you a nice warm feeling? I wonder if it's too loose? They say that halflings are well endowed with disproportionately larger... Ugh, hands and feet so maybe it's a good fit."

Haynuus nodded to Sir Farel that he was ready to proceed, but not quite finished with the gnome. He was proving to be a great source of information yet seemed uncapable of adding any of the 'good guy'/'bad guy' opinions that most people would colour to their conversations. The more information, the better. "So what brought you here to this place? Was it originally a request by The Master Theron or are you on a calling to improve your own studies and came of your own volition..." He surprised himself that he had started using the vocabulary of the scholorly.

OOC - Ok, Haynuus has managed to bag himself a compass without apparently being noticed by the gnome - as there were three, roll me a d3 and I'll tell you what you have got. (1d3=1) Looks like Haynuus couldn't work out which way the needle points anyway.

Aurek is ready to proceed. He nods to Farel and waits to go through the door after everyone else. Once everyone else is through the door, he proceeds to take a quick glance about the room, "borrowing" anything that jumps out at him, or looks of use.

Westian got ready to leave. As he began walking he quizzed the gnome some more. "The Soul Stone, you say. Tell us some more about that, I don't believe I have heard of it. And Fulcrum, that is the Grey Lords pet raven, no? Do you have an idea where he is now?"

Westian did not know what the gnome was planning to do with the bird if he found him. Something unpleasant no doubt. Still, if they found him together then he would not get that chance. And the group, while not finding the Grey Lord himself, would have at least taken a step in the right direction.

Falkor remained quiet, he was going along with everyone for now, he had doubts and was still miffed with the others not believing he had met Gholst, but for now he would see how things panned out...

The glove Haynuus offered was quite large on Falkor, but could at least could stay on as long as Falkor didn't want to handle anything. As with his cloak, Falkor spotted the needlework was unusually stitched - it was the handiwork of a mage.

Give me a check roll money if you want to try and analyse it on the move. You won't be able to use any aids like the previously gathered scrolls if you do it now though.

Meanwhile, Haynuus had got a small look at the compass as he had grabbed it with his huge hand. The needle seemed to be pointing to the wall opposite the exiting door. The compass was small, and like an over-sized coin in size and shape. It could easily fit in his pocket, although hopefully it would not be too fragile.

Farel seemed eager to proceed with the tacit assurance of the group, and with a series of clatters the chain was pulled and the door opened. Brighteyes looked to the group to see how they would proceed, and so was happy enough to be swept up in the wave of Haynuus's questions as he provided his guidance to the group's direction. Sir Farel fell into step with Haynuus and Brighteyes once he was happy the door would not fall back down again. Apparently the knight was interested in either the unlikely warrior for good, or more likely their diminutive guide to the lair of the mage.

Aurek was the last to leave the room, and took the opportunity to look around once again from a different perspective. It proved to be a good move, as under a scroll was a slim piece of wood. A slim wand of no extraordinary appearance, save the perfect smoothness and roundness of it.

Aurek's perception check (1d20=16) Wow, of all the people to not give me a dice roll! Usually you roll for everything - which I approve of!

Also visible were a few more flasks precariously perched on a higher alcove. They had two tags on them - one flask was apparently empy, and the tag read 'air elements'. The second seemed to contain a liquid that looked like water, and the tag read 'water elements'.

Walking out of the door, Aurek happened to notice that on the left of the door as he left there was a keyrole in the shape of a diamond. On the right of the door was not a reciprocal chain to open and close the door. Instead there was a block of text chiselled into the wall. It said 'Danger. Enter with cuation.' Now they were told. More worryingly was the lack of chain though. Without it, if the door was closed they would apparently require a key to open the door again. Not a pleasant though.

Meanwhile, Haynuus was speaking to the gnome as they moved onwards. "What brought me here you ask? Why, an interesting question to be sure! Necessity I am sure!" the gnome looks up at the half-orc, and promptly fell over. "I'm sorry, my mind is not good with heights. Nor time. With heights when I have to look up, my brain seems to think I am still level with the ground. Good for the esteem in these strangely tall days, but I lose my balance so easily. Oh, what excellent knees, they seem so sad and pleading. Interesting craftsmanship in the faces. I hope you do not mind me looking to them instead of looking up at you. Where were we, oh yes, I'm afraid time also becomes a little bit of a mish mash in my head. It's the fault of you humanoids I'm sure, you all seem so alike, and yet live such short lives. It's hard to keep track, oh my yes! And also so important to meet such interesting and memorable people as yourselves! Yes yes yes!"

Brighteyes grins at Haynuus's knees and pointed out which one of two directions to go at the t-juction the find themselves at. "The Grey Lord created a replica of his firestaff - not real, of course - and placed it in the Tomb for people to see. An inspiring sight, I am sure - perhaps you can come back and visit it later!"

Haynuus carried on his questions, though the gnome seemed to not mind. "Oh, Master Theron? Well, truth be told I do not think he likes working with me much. Yet, of course, he has had no choice. And now he has no need to. I like to study, the world is filled with so many wonderful things. The more long lasting the better! I mean, what could be more long lasting than the Power Gem itself, and the last High Lord to remain on this plane? Perhaps I will get to see the Power Gem one day - if we find the Grey Lord again, of course! A shame he has run off, really!"

Westian used the opportunity to ask his own questions, and Brighteyes turned and fell over looking to see where the noise came from. His lack of speech gave the party the opportunity to realise there was a strange buzzing noise in the air. In some ways it reminded them of the teleporter previously, In other ways it sounded more...agressive...

"My my my, you were saying something?" said Brighteyes to Westian once he had stood back up again. "Such shiny knees...oh, that was it, the Soul Stone! Yes, a wonderous item, I never did work out where it came from I'm afraid. Apparently the Grey Lord was worried that if he left the mountain to aid the world, why, those creations of Chaos that he allowed to live would wither and die. So he used the Soul Stone to bond himself to the dungeon and thus the creatures. Quite a clever idea, of course, but I suppose troublesome to Gholst, so the man had the Stone broken quite soon after entering here. Of course, all the creatures of magic have been dying since them. However, some real creatures were pulled here too in the times of Chaos, and others were twisted from their natural shapes, so I suppose we won't be too lonely in here. I'm sure the real Trolins will appreciate not have such blasphemous duplicates walking around too! Hmm, as to where Fulcrum the raven is...why, perhaps he was just a summonation of the Grey Lord? Perhaps that is why the creature has disappeared..." Brighteyes sounded sad upon this train of thought, but then brightened up when he looked back up. "Aha! Here we are! No, not the mage, just the door, I am sorry."

The gnome gestures to a doorframe that the party had arrived at. To the left of the door, there was what appeared to have been once a RA lock. It seemed to have collapsed into itself, melted by some strange force or material. Between the posts of the doorframe was a shimmering curtain of what seemed to be lightning shooting backwards and forwards, creating aggressive zapping and buzzing noises.

"Apparently Seeroc couldn't find the key, or lost patience, and he destroyed the lock. The door doens't really block anything anymore, and cuts out aswell. It has been safe enough to walk through, at least."

Brighteyes looked around, most importantly at the armoured warriors. He gave a bright, brittle smile. "Oh yes. I am sure everyone will be perfectly alright. After all, the soldiers have come to visit Seeroc all the time. Well, at various times. I mean, sometimes. Well, I'm sure they used to. You see...oh...well, time is not quite, how would you say, my speciality. I am sure some have come through alive. Anyway, on we go!"

So saying, the gnome puts his hand against the door. There is a 'ZAP' sound and the gnome gives a little whimper, but afterwards the door fades and he walks through.

"Come along, come along, no time to dawdle - oh my no no no! A long way to go!"


And that seems a good point to stop typing. You guys need to ditch the gnome soon, or get into trouble, so these posts can becaome respetably sized again!

Oh, and anyone wanting to check around should give me a perception roll. Of course, you are welcome to go check out the other passageway that allegedly leads to a copy of the firestaff....but your gnome friend, and Farel, may not agree to go with you.

Remember the map is on the map thread, first post!

Haynuus thought for a moment about what he saw. Electricity emanating from the door... The gnome's fascination with those that were armoured. Yes it could be that he needs to think this one through as that evil earth-midget might get them fried. He looked longingly at his falcion. She was not the most elegant of weapons yet... He threw the sword vertically through the RA door-frame to see if the lightning channelled down the metal weapon to the floor.

Aurek grabs the wand, and both the newly discovered flasks, then continues along with the rest of the group. He watches as the gnome leads them up to a door made of what seemed like electricity... What? A door made of lightning? Is this gnome trying to get us killed? he thought to himself.

Once the gnome touched the door, and Aurek saw it fade away, he thought to himself I think we should rush through this one, this little fella could be waiting for it to switch itself back on. He did say it was intermittent at best. We have already let him out... I really DON'T like this at all! Then he stepped forwards, and passed through the now empty doorway...

A few thoughts went through Westian’s mind. He could take off his breastplate and throw it through first. But the gnome seemed to imply that they had to move quickly. Then again, if the lightening reappeared then surely someone could just turn it off again?

With his mind made up he started to unbuckle the straps. He watched with interest though as Haynuus began his own experiments with electricity.

OOC: If the falchion survives Westian will throw his breastplate through, and then go through himself. In case a roll is needed for anything, I rolled a 4