GH 05 - "Guise within Gnomengarde"
General Summary
Hello and welcome back to Phonic Fables - Green Hunters of the Dragon Queen Edition, a product of The Techno God, free to consume on World Anvil, Discord, and platforms like Spotify under Wizards of the Coasts’ Fan Content Policy. This journey is shared by myself, my Partner in Life, Kat, and some friends we’ve met along the way, Rachel and Jarod, who have given consent for their characters and tales to be shared here as well. This content is not official in any capacity, and is merely a rendition of stories Wizard’s IP has already published throughout the years. The foundation of lore from the books we use, mine and my players' creativity and passion, and little moments of spontaneity create this tale. With boundless joy, my scribing and reciting of these tales is something I am most happy to share with y’all.
Bonus Preview!
Recently, I have opened up three other games oriented around the Hunters of the Dragon Queen storyline. Using many 5e published books, and pulling at threads of canonicity, this multi-party, campaign experience is sure to be fun. I will talk about that more in a bonus episode, where I detail the plot of all five games; Red and Green are private, but we still share Green Dragon Hunters on Podcasts, so in the same way that Blue, Black, and White are the other three colors of the Dragon Queen’s kin and heads, the Blue, Black, and White (Dragon) Hunters exist; this episode will also detail where you can find me to be a part of the Blue, Black, or White Hunters’ Games.Episode 04 Recap
The road for the Trio these last few days has been fraught with chaos and the promise of even more mayhem. Talos and His Anchorites are here, down the mountain and spreading everywhere, taking Orcs from other tribes, recruiting… and what’s more is that Rey was defeated in single combat by a shared Champion, an Orc given dark powers from a Shadow Lady of some kind. Reymira should be dead by all accounts, but Half-Orcs and Orcs, for that matter, are pretty hardy folk, by nature. Oralis helped an Orc friend of his find solace and is helping to take him home, but not before discovering the harrowing truth that his other friends, the ones he was meant to meet the other day, were killed by the Anchorites. All but Grymm, that is. Zelana made quick work of a Manticore, convincing it with coin via gemstones, performance of fealty, and cajoling of allies approaching, that it was time to leave the Old Lady alone. Once inside, Adabra fixed up some food, sent folks out to hunt for herbs, and taught Zelana a few recipes. They would discuss the journey back to Phandalin, in the morning.Session 5 - “Guise within Gnomengarde”
The momentum of the last few days halted for them to spark another rise in power while they rested. This level up had incurred many powers and prowess within them. Reymira has another dream that spurs her awake before Zelana for her morning Monastic meditations. She steps downstairs past Orlais on the chair, in a meditative state of his own, and steps outside. She spends some time in the dew-covered grass away from the slain Orcs the night prior, and as she connects body to mind to soul, her Ki arcs elemental sparks in her extremities. The dream suggested it was time, time to tap into the elemental power of the Chromatic Dragons. Rey wondered for a moment if that meant she was tapped from evil Dragons in the same way it seems that Zelana had come from the good ones. The energy between her fingers and toes made her forget this thought. Zelana would awake to stare blankly at the wall for a time, the Weave channeling through her differently as she commands it to, in some ways. Metamagic awakening within her! Orlais would come to last, as the others would flock downstairs from the sizzling sound of eggs on a frying pan, but just as his eyes opened, and Reymira reentered the house, a gust of wind the flew in, became sparked with life in front of them, and became as a Hawk! Oralis hears his patron on that same wind, dissipating into the jug that he calls his faux Djinni home, “May the Winds continue to favor you as you are chained to me, young one. Flint remembers you from Calimshan - he now roosts with you again.” The hawk, named Flint, sat on top of Orlais, and screamed a deafening CAWW into the small room. Orlais’ thoughts supercede his voice and echo into Flint’s mind through telepathy to be silent and find somewhere to relax. Flint relaxes on top of a rack adorned with a few winter coats. Adabra yells that the food will be done soon, and to get ready at the table. While everyone gathers and finishes sitting, the Trio discuss the bird in the room, and their respective rises in power. Adabra begins to talk with her back turned, still cooking, and begins to talk about the Goddess Chanteau, stating that She is the reason Adabra can’t leave, that the Earthmother has called upon her to perform this small act of devotion to Chantea Herself, and the people they both serve in the region. “Chantea is the very force of the plants and all things flora and of the earth. Great forests, grasslands, and deserts alike are nurtured by Her patient embrace, and She teaches us to take care of the world in kind. My way to take care of the world, this part of the world, is to heal it from the chaos and destruction that Talos begets. She asked this of me through the wildflowers on the hills, their petals danced with Her voice. Talos is one of Her greatest foes, after all, as the bringer of Storms, so I will do this, and heal the people of their strife. I hope you understand.” There were no words that could be spoken, like a grandmother scolding you for something you knew you never should have done, an experience Orlais was not used to from his sordid past, he felt guilty for pressing in the first place last night. Adabra made sure they worried not as she served eggs and pork, and fresh baked bread from the oven. There was no arguing, but she didn’t need to do it alone. Orlais had another thought while eating, and shared it when he got his fill. Grymm could help Adabra, familiar with these hills, and no ally of Talos himself, now. Adabra accepts the help, and everyone grabs their potions from her before helping Grymm to load up a cart with packages of healing potions to deliver and sell at the Lionshield Coster in town, and begin their walk back to Phandalin. There would be a quick respite and they would turn in the quest to Harbin alongside Dazlyn and Norbus, when they arrived. The two dwarves make their way back for Neverwinter, booking a carriage bound for North, with a letter written by Zelana that contains her report to Captain Zoud. While in town, the Trio also bump into the rest of the Dragon Hunters staying in town, and meet Victor, the Human Paladin of Bahamut who is exactly what you would expect from such a man. When they finish up, they make haste for Gnomengarde! First though, the Trio, Talon still traveling with them, would all need to make another stop back to Adabra’s at Umbrage Hill to give her the earnings from selling the potions wholesale, and to drop off the cart so that Grymm can head home to Azurehill with the group, since they are walking the same path… uh, until Grymm goes North when they split for Gnomengarde in the South, that is.Wrong Place, Wrong Time
The otherwise leisurely walk East through the hills was run afoul by the likes of none other than Cryovain! The Young White Dragon swoops down in the hills, attempting to feast on some large goats that were grazing. The Dragon was only there a moment though, grabbing a Goat and looking towards the small group that had just emerged from the treeline it begins to make a pass and nearly fells Orlais with a single tooth from it’s maw, piercing his flesh, but scraping alongside the skin more than digging deep. The Dragon met the force of adventurer’s with an arrow, and it nearly repelled Cryovain with how true it struck, but in its snowblind rage, it came in for another attack, this time to Zelana! Even knowing her name, and speaking it in a furious Draconic voice! She couldn’t believe it, but compelled herself to fight back against the dread digging into her person as the Dragon lept towards her - she yells out, “Bug off, pal!” and hundreds of fearsome fleas begin to infest and overcome the Dragon’s rage, distracting and redirecting him to fly away, goat still in claw, the Dragon bellows a curse and that they would see him again very soon. After being helped by Reymira, brought back to his feet and patched up from the giant fang, Orlais would take a moment to pontificate, worried about the Dragon’s knowledge of Zelana’s name, but grateful that Grymm was fine too. They have no theories as to why Cryovain knows of the Water Genasi or her new presence to this region, why it left after only so much harassment, or why it would not just freeze them solid with an ice breath, but, after taking a short rest to catch their own breaths, Grymm splits up to the North, as discussed, and heads home to Azurehill. As they head down the hill, towards Gnomengarde, Orlais spots the stream that becomes a river that feeds into a great cave-like chasm, but it is all just shapes and colors from atop the hill. They make it down, and Orlais using their new Gift of the Chain to see through Flint, flies in and scouts ahead, with sharper eyes and other senses. The river leads to a waterfall, but there are no Gnomes, save for atop a bridge at the back, nearest the Waterfall, and great, glowing mushrooms of a few colors.Into the Cave, Enter Gnomengarde
Everyone heads inside the mouth of the great cave, and up a ramp-like edifice that climbs up into an opening. Except for Oralis who decides to step out into the water, out on the small island that the great mushrooms lingered on and checks them. On the first little isle, he stopped and inspected the ones that sparkled with Green and Blue hues - surmising that they are at least partially magical with his Magic Sight, they emanated Transmutation. He headed inside after, boots sploshing in the water and crunching beneath the pebble littered path upwards. The Waterfall sounds within the cavern are deafening and make folks have to yell when not behind closed doors. Down the hall at the top of the upward path, Zelana and Talon go left, Rey goes straight, and Oralis catches up. Rey asks Orlais more about the new bird, the ‘birdsight’, and how they are able to do that, but are of course yelling it as they do so, Orlais says its not the right time, uh because the yelling. They meet up in a Dining room with several small tables, closing doors behind them to be in a muffled roar of the waterfall, and still no Gnomes. A small hall and a longer one to the South, something large and circular takes the space of the room. The Trio sees it coming into view and decide to go North instead, to the Kitchen - it seems. That’s when they meet Dilligaf, and the many other working class folk of the small city-kingdom. The door shuts behind them and the Waterfall sound ebbs to silence once more. Ahh. Dilligaf is a colorful character, as much as any Gnome, but he comes with a quiet resilience despite his outward apathy. He asks about why the Trio are there, and talks about the city, answering questions posed to him, but stretches the truth a bit about the threats of the city, stating there are none. No one picks up on the specific part of the lie, just that he is not being forthright, and Rey thinks it because they told him they are here for their trinkets. As the conversation continues, Dilligaf’s story begins to slip, and he mentions that two Gnomes have gone missing as of late. He says that he can guide the Trio to the King, but… he has not been well lately either. Orlais asks for a pause, to discuss the cooking and customs of the Gnomes before they head out, namely what they are doing with the mushrooms that are scattered about the cantina. The Breadwaever, known as Uppendown, shows the process for each mushroom, and Orlais learns about the red and purple mushrooms too. The green mushrooms from earlier are ground into a flour-like material for bread, the blue are cut and utilized for ropes, sieves, sponges, and even water purifying properties, depending on the part of the mushroom. The red mushrooms are squished and filtered into various kinds of oils, cooking and flasks for their torches, and the purple is the same process, but for a hearty mushroom wine, that is fermented into barrels further in.History and Arcana, Insighful Zelana
As they leave the Kitchen, they ask a few more questions, remembering the wall of sound on the other side of the stopgap between them. Dilligaf recalls something of note, telling them to wait, and opens the door, darting into the sound. A couple moments pass, and they hear the sound emerge as he does once more, beckoning and beginning to yell as they walk South to discover a giant mechanical weapon of some kind. Dilligaf says that he remembered that the operator likes to test it on strangers, but says he thinks he may have buttered her up for the Trio, so not to worry. The operator, introduced as Facktore, as they round the corner, was definitely a little off their rocker, as Dilligaf promised. Though they were also a scholar and scoundrel of sorts. Facktore decided to test Zelana, whose knowledge base oddly stretches into the realm of Gnomes? Zelana accepts the challenge of Gnome History and Arcane Knowledge in general - and Facktore is impressed by both answers, and a little stumped by the last response even, seems Sorcerers have unique insights on magic. It hits them like a wall, and their eyes contort to inquisition, but it beams inward, and Zelana can almost see the spark of the idea behind their eyes. Facktore shakes their head and their hand, thanks her, and disappears to the stool at the front of the “Crossbow Auto-Loader” that was apparently called a ‘Spearcannon', to deliberate on these new ideas. Dilligaf pulls them aside into the Barrel room, for wine from the purple mushrooms to ferment in, because some of Zelana’s sentiments about Gnome history help him to see that despite coming here for their magical trinkets like many others, they do seem to actually care. Orlais’ connecting with the fellows in the Kitchen and learning about their processes shows a certain kindness too, so he entreats upon more details. They discover that the King has gone mad and has not been seen outside his room in ten days, the mad King, Korboz has apparently imprisoned the other King, Gnerkli within, and won’t let anyone pass the bridge that leads to the King’s side of the cave except when it’s time to rest or change shifts. Dilligaf also mentions that the two Gnomes that have gone missing were actually slain, and were from the working class - nothing seems to be happening about it either. This boils up Orlais a bit. Dilligaf also admits he doesn’t know much about the events themselves, just the names of the people who perished and that they were found dead on this side of the city. He also says that a new trap was installed a couple days ago, on the other side of the bridge, and that there could be others, hidden, just beyond. Just a humble chef, though, he does not know how to turn it off. Dilligaf leaves, back to the Kitchen as the Trio approaches the two guards at the bridge. They need some convincing to allow passage, but they let slip that their objective is to seek shapechangers, by the order of the King. Zelana’s gold-dragon tongue comes through once more to ease that secret from them. They say and prove they are not shapeshifters with the touch of silver to their skin - a thought from Reymira, then tell the guards they are heading to speak to the King to solve the problem. One at a time, they cross the small, rope-woven bridge that is slimy and slippery, always kissed by the mists of the waterfall.The Other Side Lives
On the other side of the bridge is a small chamber, they all gather up, but cramped as it is, Orlais pushes past into the hallway beyond, darkened. His Fogcutter blade helps him to illuminate the dark room enough to see the trap that Dilligaf warned them about, the new addition. Zelana mentions that Gnomes who are Small might pass through the trap with ease so perhaps Flint could dive through - grasping at Sereena and gulping a bit. Flint begins to dive through on telepathic command, from his Chainkeeper, and would glide through the whirling blades gracefully. Orlais stops a moment and looks through Flint’s eyes, spotting a lever through the bird's sharp vision, just beyond his sword’s light. He returns from the birdsight, and says, “Watch this”, as he grasps the Dark Ice Shard Amulet firmly, and a Mage Hand as if from a watery grave would appear on the other side of the room, beside Flint, and pull the lever to disengage the trap. The blades of the spinning whirlwind of death retract, and the poles the blades protrude from also align vertically before it all slides back into the floor effortlessly. The Gnomes of Gnomengarde are known for their marvels of artifice, after all. Light fills the room beyond once more, from around the corner, and as the Trio enters the hallway to the workshop, the rush of the waterfall echoes just at the edge of its pulsating booms. They listen in, to two voices within, Zelana poking through the crowd and past Orlais, to listen in on the argument voiced in gnomish. She listens to the heated discussion a bit, she learns that the two tinkerers inside are trying to figure a way to help the King, though help is somewhat loosely defined in one of their minds, both pitching inventions that could cure or assuage the madness from the King. Zelana summarizes to the others, then enters the room, and the conversation of the Gnomes. One of the gnomes begins to draw a wand and asks who they are, how they got in here, etc, the usual inquiries one might ask of a trespasser, and thinking to be in the clear from the guards is taken back a moment. Then, as Reymira begins to say, “The Gu”, in common, Zelana interrupts her and finishes the sentiment in gnomish, “Guards let us in, yes, because we are not shapechangers!” We’re here to help!” The Tinkerers each look to one another, and nod sheepishly, before sheathing their wand and introducing themselves as, Fibblestib, (a male), and Dabbledob, (a female), in common, seeing the human in the group. Dabbledob’s plan was the less kinder of the two, and she was the one who also had readied her wand, but with the opportunity presented, she details their plans are oriented towards helping the King, not the gnomes that have gone missing. They receive some judgment from Orlais, but Fibblestib says that if they help ‘cure the King’ or at least get him out of the room, that they will reward the party with a handful of items from their workshop, and one of the items they will find even more use of that is locked in the treasury. Zelana accepts the terms, wanting both the magic items and to help the nobles in general, but Oralis remains neutral saying nothing. Rey and Talon both are eager to see what trinkets they get though, seeing many litter the workshop. The Trio then pops down a side hall to find the Gnome domicile, bunks and beds stack to the top of the 7ft cave. Eight gnomes are within, getting up and ready for a night shift of tinkering, tailoring, and pretending their King isn’t mad. None know more than the master tinkerers of the workshop, but one Gnome in particular, Nyx, stepped up to keep eyes away from garbing gnomes, already dressed herself. She was mentioned by Dilligaf earlier in the Barrel room, a crush of his, and Reymira intuited that his main concern for what it is that is going on with the Gnomes. Nyx explains that when shift changes happen, they move in groups, and the Guards let them pass - nothing like the buddy system when there are monstrosities among us!Kings & Madness, or Mimics & Fear?
Off to the Mad Gnome King now… a stout door at the end of the longest hall they've walked down in the city so far that wards even the tallest of folks by the looks of it. Zelana notes mentally that much like Townmaster Harbin, there is no slot to open and exchange items with. Only one voice is heard clearly through the door though, the other is stifled, muffled, almost as if gagged. The King admits it is his husband, but not to worry, as long as the creature is found! Once they offer their tentative help, the King tells them the shapechanger is a Mimic, that he had locked the door the day after the first gnome went missing, then, thinking it safe, came out a few days later, to stock up on some supplies. It was that night, as he was coming back from the Larder, then he saw the creature, then he ran back to the chambers, then he locked the door behind him and he has not come out since! Telling only the two guards and the two tinkerers about the affair, so other than that, he doesn’t know much. He told his husband, of course, too. The King will only open the door if given proof of the Mimic’s demise, Orlais bites his tongue for now, but has words for this King that hides behind walls and offers gifts for potential risk of harm while his people perish. Orlais knows a bit about Mimics, too and waits until they are done speaking to share with the Trio. He talks about how they change shape, and that it is a unique method through their skin which changes not only pigmentation to match surrounding objects, but also texture to a degree. They were base creatures, cycling through the need to feed on creatures drawn by greed with a concentrated adhesive they secreted. He knows not of their origins, but says their size determines the objects they can mimic. As they leave the King’s door, Flint sits up over the door, to serve as an alert if the creature comes down that hall. As they start to cross the bridge, Reymira has a thought, pondering what Orlais had said about Mimics and rushes back to the King. She tells the others, “I am going to find out the Mimic’s size so it can tell us what sized objects to poke with my Quarterstaff.” Orlais cleverly uses his birdsight to eavesdrop and hears this, allowing them to spot Dilligaf and start informing him of their plan ahead of time, but he is serving dinner and is busy, so he asks you to wait in the Barrel room, knowing you prefer the silence as he does. They head back towards the Barrel room, interceding Reymira, and enter the door to lull the roar of the Waterfall again. They all stand there, half waiting for Dilligaf, half deciding which stack of barrels to check first. Reymira begins to detail what she heard, but Oralis cuts her off, flashing his pale white eyes a moment and back, Rey says, “Oh yeah, birdsense”. Orlais and Zelana are chatting amongst themselves as they wait, he gives her praise on her knowledge of Gnome culture, and she asks about his experience with a mimic - he is vague and says that he and some friends encountered one in Calimshan, and that it didn’t end well for one of his friends. Talon taps his spear impatiently on the ground, and the time begins to ache through an impatient Reymira who decides that she is just going to jab at the stack of barrels in the corner. She is bored, and Dilligaf is taking too long. She thinks to herself that this corner would be the best place to hide if she were a barrel. Surprise! She found the Mimic on the first try, so much for hide and seek!Spoken, Sorted | Sortid, Solution
Another surprise! The Mimic Speaks common?! It says that it will not be quelled from the tasty flesh of Gnomes that has grown accustomed to, it will not leave, and partially out of shock, and partially because there would be not terms that they can imagine that would allow the creature to keep consuming innocents, there was then a Mimic battle! Sanctuary, Firebolts, Shortswords & Fists, and not a single Spear Strike from the agitated Talon! An armor of Agathys appearing and disappearing as fast as it shimmers, sparking back cold damage to the Mimic and causing it then to stick and grapple Orlais to attempt and use them as a shield in their escape. The interposition of Orlais, attached to the pseudopod would not help though as Reymira deftly aims a dart between Oralis arm and chest, and Zelana emanated a sliver of psionic energy that bypasses Orlais, with a shiver, piercing deep into the Mimic’s brain and causing it to almost deflate, as if an ooze, shrieking - Orlais stands up, covered in adhesive, ooze, and gray blood, with little textures of stone still within. Dilligaf enters, equally surprised and grateful, saying that he was going to offer aid, but the others didn’t feel that he was ready for that. He admits with a little push from Zelana, that he was doing it for Nyx all along, Rey nods her head having suspected it. He shares that he always adds a little bit more seasoning to her portion as he serves it, knowing it makes her day… but he wants her to see him as a hero, not just a chef. Orlais offers up a scraping off his jacket, the sticky ooze would serve as proof for the King, hopefully it should be enough for Nyx too, so as they all head back to the Kings’ chambers, Dilligaf walks with them and heads to the bedrooms, pulling some parchment from his pocket as the door closes yonder. Orlais vials up some of the adhesive for later use - within its gullet lay some pieces of treasure as well. The King, Korboz takes the proof from under the door and is grateful, swinging the door open after unclasping several locks. Orlais admonishes him immediately, but is taken aback by the other King, Gnerkli, tied and gagged to a chair? Korboz’s seeming madness begins to subside, just a desperate and worried Gnome at the end of the day, and his husband seems to be understanding but rightfully cautious, even uttering some preference for safe words if they wanted to do something like this in the norm. Korboz doesn’t seem apologetic for not looking into the deaths until it threatened those close to him, and he projects this by asking if Orlais and the others “Want the trinkets or not?” as he finishes untying his husband, marks on Gnerkli’s small wrists. Orlais shrugs with every fiber of his being, and they walk back over to the Tinkerer Gnomes Two, who give various trinkets, consumables, and even open the treasury to offer one final magic item of a bit more note. Heading out, leaving the roar of the Dragon and the waterfall behind, they head back to Umbrage Hill, and Adabra, taking a short rest outside her mill, and putting in some orders, before finishing the trek back to Phandalin once more.Remember You Are Not Alone, Fellow Adventurer!
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17 Jan 2024
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