The Gnome Agenda

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epetrow
Dire Badger
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:02 pm

The Gnome Agenda

Post by epetrow »

A silhouetted figure slips into the Font of Knowledge in the middle of the night. The diminutive shadow shuffles with a gate that indicates both injury and encumbrance. It carries a bag of splintered wood and corroded gears as he slips into the elaborate double doors flanked by the pillars of entranceway of the Font.

The sharp wooden crack blends with a loud metallic clanging echoing off the high vaulted ceiling as the now illuminated shape lets the bag fall to the marble floor of the Seekers’ crafting room. Wyk Whitehorn slowly lowers his ragged scarlet hood from his head revealing a care-worn, drained expression on a face littered with minor cuts, burns and frost bite.

He sighs “Well, could have been worse, at least I still have you, Mortimer.” He talks to a small, stone statuette of a winged figure with four arms and horns in his tiny hands.

“And we now know the source of the kidnappings, the undead gnomes and why the PK was not moving to resolve either.” He places the figure on the golem crafting table and brightens a bit as he continues his one-sided dialogue.

“We also know the next steps and we should be better prepared next time.” Wyk seems to gain strength with each passing breath. Until, the enthusiasm bubble seems to pop and his shoulders sag slightly.

“Still, there is much work to be done if we are to succeed. Not the least of which is rebuilding your brothers” He says wistfully as he gestures wearily with his head to bag of shattered components.

“Well, as my old Nadi always used to say, a journey of a hundred leagues starts with a single, first step.” He chuckles a bit as he begins to sort through the ruin of parts and begins to formulate a plan.
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
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ayergo
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Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:50 pm
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Re: The Gnome Agenda

Post by ayergo »

Hmmmm.... that reminds me, I need to put in a crafting book for the "mechanical badgers".

Great writeup!
There's a place I like to hide
A doorway that I run through in the night
Relax child, you were there
But only didn't realize and you were scared
It's a place where you will learn
To face your fears, retrace the years
And ride the whims of your mind
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epetrow
Dire Badger
Posts: 198
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:02 pm

Re: The Gnome Agenda

Post by epetrow »

Wyk was quite frankly amazed at the speed and accuracy of the arrows flying from the re-curved bow in the hands of Laird Briarbush. Wyk and Laird had returned to the entrance of the Plague Knight’s lair. A lair he has now learned had been corrupted by the profane presence of a Necromancer.

Over the last few weeks, Wyk and his companions had learned of disappearances of gnomes and the attacks by undead gnomes throughout the city, some attacks he knew firsthand.

Approaching the Plague Knight’s tower, the frost damage Wyk found on the bodies of the undead gnomes instantly made sense as frozen missiles from the Myconids present started to rain down on the two diminutive adventurers. Again, Wyk mused as he had many times since arriving in this city, practical experience had enhanced and confirmed knowledge obtained through research.

A blast of frost brought him out of his contemplation and back into the moment. Luckily, his elemental wards held and he was unharmed. He uttered an arcane phrase while gesturing at one of the beasts and glowing missiles flew from his fingers and slammed into the beast’s soft fleshy cap. Laird's bow was devastating as one after another the giant plant creatures fell, their constant shambling stilled forever by his well-placed shafts.

Mixed in with the Frost Launchers were undead gnomes. Laird and Wyk knew that they needed to destroy these abominations from afar as their experience taught that the creatures exploded with acid when their un-life was ended. The gnomes danced between clouds of acid, explosions of fire and lightning from the flasks hurled by the undead gnomes all while moving toward the tower.

The cacophony of explosions stopped suddenly as the last gnome burst into a green mist of acid with an arrow buried into its eye. The companions looked up to see the stairway leading up the side of the tower and, taking a collective breath, began their ascent.

“The locks have been changed” Wyk stated as he held the keys he found on their last foray into the tower.

He didn’t even try the keys as one look told him the locking mechanism was newly replaced. Wyk leaned down and moved the loose brick that hid the hole that housed the keys in his last visit. Oddly, there were a new set of keys there. Why would the Necromancer go through the effort of changing the locks and still leave keys in the same place? Shrugging Wyk slipped the key into the lock and heard a satisfying click as he turned it. The door swung open with ease belying its obvious age and the gnomes entered quickly.

(To be continued)
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
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epetrow
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Re: The Gnome Agenda

Post by epetrow »

The antechamber held two of the undead gnomes. As Laird and Wyk concentrated their fire on the first, the second hurled a flask with a bright green fluid and this one, for the first time since they entered, was a direct hit on Wyk.

Bright, sharp burning pain brought the wizard to his knees as a scream was torn from his throat. His flesh smoked and melted before his eyes as the power of the acid ripped through his arcane protections and began to eat through his exposed clothing and skin below. Death was near, but Laird was nearer with a healing draught. Laird poured the restorative liquid into Wyk’s mouth past his ruined, sagging lips. Wyk, pulling back from death’s door, stumbled to his feet and into a corner as Laird engaged both of the unnatural creatures. Using his own supply of healing potions, Wyk restored his devastated body and used his spells to reinstate his wards.

The two undead creatures had been destroyed by the time Wyk was fully healed. The two gnomes still have not exchanged a word since beginning the assault. There was no need for communication they were acting as one. With a nod, they entered the chamber now occupied by the Necromancer.
Wyk, having scouted this chamber with his constructs on the first trip, knew some of the resources his adversary had and some of his tactics. That information was gained at the cost of 3 of 4 of Wyk’s constructs and almost his own life.

The Flesh Golem that Wyk knew was guarding the enemy shambled towards the two invading gnomes immediately. Wyk, having researched the creature’s vulnerabilities, cast a spell to immolate the automaton. His research was rewarded when the mystical flames engulfed the creature and it caught flame. The Necromancer responded by summoning Shadow Fiends and cursing the infidels with unholy magics.

Wyk’s wards were quickly overcome and he was forced to flee. Hoping that his companion, with their almost telepathic connection, would like wise retreat so they could regroup. Chased by a summoned zombie warrior, Wyk was amazed that Laird did not flee but continued to weave through the host of enemies damaging then disappearing before a counterblow could be landed.

Wyk had no option to return so he turned the corner and started to solve the problem at hand, the zombie warrior following him. Wyk quickly gulped from his rapidly shrinking supply of healing potions and began to cast a shape changing spell. The tiny gnome’s form began to stretch past the bounds of nature and in a mere moment stood more than 8 feet tall. Looking at his limbs he now saw the huge claws of the umber hulk. As he finished ripping the zombie into lifeless pieces, Laird turned the corner, bleeding and burning. Wyk-Umber Hulk stepped forward and held the line briefly destroying another zombie and an undead gnome as Laird used his restorative magic to heal his failing body. Wyk can hear the foul words of the Necromancer and recognizes that he is bending the weave to his will to heal and create wards for himself for the coming battle.

The Necromancer and a Shadow Fiend advanced on the gnomes and Wyk tried to end the battle with one of his most powerful spells. Concentrating on the villain of the warrens, Wyk arranged the weave using his well-practiced phrases and gestures. Wyk’s hopes rose as the Necromancer’s eyes widened in fear. He obviously believes in the phantom of his fears that Wyk’s spell created is real. The vision reached out and touched the Necromancer with what Wyk hopes is a death grasp.

Wyk’s shoulders slumped as he saw that the touch (and the Necromancer’s own fears) while damaging, were not fatal. He has resisted. The world became a blur as Wyk concentrates on damaging the Shadow while trying not to be killed by the powerful spells of the Necromancer.

Suddenly, Laird strikes the Necromancer a deathblow. It is over. They are victorious. The two enter into the bedchamber of the Plague Knight and begin to take inventory of the various items found there. Laird speaks for the first time “The hold of the Necromancer has been broken, I leave you to sort out the rest of this. Until next we meet.”

Wyk finds himself alone in the bed chamber of the tower. On a chest near the bed he notices a peculiar hood. As he reaches out to take it, a hooded figure that he did not see before steps from behind one of the columns.

“So you found the keys I placed for you?”
Last edited by epetrow on Fri Jan 17, 2020 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
User avatar
ayergo
Penguin AKA Vile Sea Tiger
Posts: 3503
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:50 pm
Location: Germany (But frequent world travels)

Re: The Gnome Agenda

Post by ayergo »

I love the transmutation bit. The hunter becomes the hunted, and the small becomes large! Great strategy and very fitting for the new Plague Knight.
There's a place I like to hide
A doorway that I run through in the night
Relax child, you were there
But only didn't realize and you were scared
It's a place where you will learn
To face your fears, retrace the years
And ride the whims of your mind
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