Chapter 3 Session 6: Gnomes, Theatrics and Cages

General Summary

I'm sorry Gwydion, I made you a promise but I can't keep it this way.

• Mimsi turns away from her Cursed Dagger.

The party started the session with Mimsi giving Olympia a new pair of magical boots, The Boots of Sass, a pair of boots that increased the volume of Olympia's sassy words and actions so that they are audible out to 300ft whilst Kodo prepared mission snacks by borrowing The Frosted Tankard kitchen from Eb, Mary and Sue. Finally, Thordak completed a religious ritual to bless his new weapon, The Harvest Maker, asking for it to give him the ability to be guided by Pelor's light. Imposing this blessing on the weapon made the Harvest maker glow with a brilliant golden radiance. Finally, Amrys made a prayer to his comrades that summoned forth a shade of a Gnome that was entirely silent and seemed to be named Dimble, he looked aghast when Amrys said they were hunting Gnomes before he relented seemingly upon learning they were feral gnomes.
With preparations, prayers and blessings made, the party set out to leave Edmonton and track the gnomes who allegedly attacked their benefactor. They came across a toppled cart in the road with two dead horses and four corpses around it. The party (with the exception of Thordak who sensed something was amiss) moved forward to investigate this scene... leading them directly into a trap. Setting off several snares that restrained Fenbalar and gave four feral gnomes lying in wait a surprise round on them that they used to summon spheres of darkness to confuse the battlefield.
What followed was a complex fight against these gnomes that were capable with ranged and melee weapons but also made use of a unique ability that the party consistently saved against.
Eventually, through Olympia dispelling the spheres of darkness and Thordak using the light of his weapon to destroy one, the party beat the feral gnomes back until only one was left alive. This gnome tried to bargain for it's life, telling the party he was part of a larger army in the forests and that he would lead them to the base if they wished. The party got a very NEGATIVE vibe from this gnome and so Fen executed them and bundled them into the bag of holding to gift to Marcutio Euriguez.
The party searched the bodies and the battlefield and found different strange loot. From looking at the necklaces the party realised these Gnomes likely come from a growing cult that worship the Witness, one of the dark lieutenants of the Dread King that were killed by The True Heroes of Alturis, the party also learned that the Gnomes were instructed to rob and kill Marcutio and that it wasn't a simple random roadside attack.
With that, the party split. Olympia, Mimsi and Fen returned to Edmonton to collect their reward and 'banter' about the battle that just took place.
Amrys, Kodo and Thordak however decided to stay on the battlefield where Thordak found a locket on one of the bodies that opened to show a beautiful woman's portrait and a message that said 'To my love Ysolda, I will return' Kodo quipped that Ysolda must be single again, to which Thordak chose to pocket the locket in the hope he'd have a chance to return the necklace to her.
After that, Amrys decided to try and follow any tracks he could find to the Gnome camp, joined by his two allies. They moved fairly UN-Stealthily through the treeline until they spotted a wooden outpost in the distance. Thordak asked Kodo and Amrys to stay back and he would approach the outpost alone at first.
As Thordak approached he heard shots of whispers before the camp grew silent all of a sudden, he called out 'Friend or foe' to which a hidden individual replied in Orcish 'Come, friend or foe' Thordak entered the camp and moved to a table nearby with a single battleaxe upon it.
Kodo and Amrys soon chose to catch up where they saw Thordak leaving the camp at speed, seemingly nervous and on edge... desperate to return to Edmonton...
They tried to see what the issue was but Thordak seemed upset and confused by the experience so they accompanied him back to town and the party met up once more.
Fen had some cold weather gear tailored for him and, giving only a day's notice, had to pay an extra 100gp as a service charge. The party then went to The Mage-Slayer's Garb to speak to Ellena Swarov who they felt would take their warnings about the Gnome cult the most seriously, she did not disappoint as the elderly inquisitor expressed her belief that Aist mages were behind the gnome cult and promised to check them out once she'd completed her work with the party the next day.
After that point, the party took long rests in which some of them had strange events occur:

• Mimsi found herself in a black empty space, naked and with none of her power or energy, before her floated her pointy stick and her cursed dagger. As she looked across them both, they each shimmered with good and bad memories... advertising themselves to her. Mimsi was quiet for a time before coming to the decision that she was healthier without the curse of the providence dagger and so she chose her pointy stick and broke her attunement and curse with the dagger, this left the dagger reacting and shaking violently whilst glowing red hot. The name on the blade went from 'Archania' to 'Promise' and then finally was left on 'Betrayed'.
• Fen dreamt of an endless dark space where he communed with a spirit within his grimoire where he spoke with the spirit of his father. The spirit made clear that Fen's greed for power was always there regardless of his desire to avenge Baralas. As Fen accepted that answer, the Grimoire manifested it's first ability and revealed it's name to The Grimoire of the Envious (and thus making Baralas' the Grimoire of Envy). The grimoire then gave Baralas two names, Grimoire users that he can chase down and take power from: Kerrak Cauchmar and Bazzle Strum-Strum. 
• Olympia woke up in the night to watch Thordak glow with radiant rage above her and slam his scythe down on her form twice, both shots missing notably. As she span away from him he simply looked upon her, sneered and said 'The Witness sends their regards'

Rewards Granted

• Thordak found a silver locket after the Gnome fight that he chose to keep in the hope of finding the woman it mentions. 
• The party found several symbols of the Witness on the feral gnomes that they then decided to not keep as it was recognised as illegal worship by The Elected Crown of Alturis. and The Inquisitors 
• The party gained 400gp as payment from Marcutio Euriguez for gifting him the well preserved feral gnome to be taxidermied. 
• The party gained a token for the bargaining chip, meaning that if they find a door to The Bargaining Chip they will be permitted to enter it. 
• Mimsi broke her attunement and curse with the Former Woven Providence dagger as she chose her friends instead. 
• Fen's grimoire was awakened and revealed it's abilities as the grimoire of the envious, giving Fen a new magical item and unique ability.

Missions/Quests Completed

The party successfully slaughtered the feral gnomes and returned a well preserved gnome corpse to Marcutio Euriguez .

Character(s) interacted with

• Eb, Mary and Sue 
• Ellena Swarov 
• Marcutio Euriguez 

Created Content

Fen's Grimoire of the Envious has given Fen the following abilities:

• If Fen kills a Grimoire user (he has to land the killing blow), he can absorb their grimoire, mind and soul to keep for himself. This gives Fen their grimoire abilities to add to his own. However, the opponents soul will be forever trapped in the endless darkness of Fen's Grimoire.
• Additionally, when a creature dies within 30 feet of Fen, he can use his reaction to store their soul inside his grimoire, whilst stored in such a manner, they are kept in a deeply torturously state of half-existence. During that time, Fen can ask them 3 questions that they must answer honestly. However, if he asks all three questions and does not release them then their soul is destroyed by the grimoire and they cease to go to an afterlife and cannot be revived.

Notes

The next session will be starting with just Olympia and Thordak conscious as it is an attack in the middle of the night.

Campaign

The Story of Persicorum inc.

Protagonists

Kodo (I've met you smallfolk halfway by having the one name)

Neutral Good Firbolg ()
Monk/Way of the Open Hand 6

45 / 45 HP

STR
15

DEX
20

CON
15

INT
12

WIS
18

CHA
11

Report Date

06 Feb 2021

Primary Location

Edmonton

Secondary Location

The Frosted Tankard