‘Renewing old ties’
Part 2 Riddles of the Gnomish Lords
Mission Report by Thar Nomis, Ranger of the Elvenblood
River, Herald to the Temple of Tymora, and Dashing Young Bard
about Town.
The Mission Report:
Five days have past since I was awoken by Godwin’s message,
and began my journey on another mission for the City of Sabreenar.
A diplomatic mission this time to the City of High Haspur, with
the hope of settling the continuing dispute and distrust between
our two cities, and renewing old alliances.
The journey to High Haspur was uneventful. Something for which
I was eternally grateful, considering my death at the hands of
Zhent assassins before the mission had even really begun. The
speed of my demise and subsequent resurrection has lead some in
my party to even question if I had really died, and that Godwin
had simple healed me of my wounds. My fellow Ranger Zuke is adamant
that I am mistaken, and the visitation of Tymora my Goddess, was
simply a delusion brought on by the poison carried on the Assassins
blades. He states that he has seen me survive from so many impossible
situations in the past, that six Assassins were child’s play
in comparison. I eventually gave up my attempts to persuade him,
just glade he was by my side to face any other dangers I was sure
would confront us before this mission was over.
Breaking
camp on the fifth day, we soon crested the last ridge on the High
Haspur road, and there before us stood the City itself.
Pushing our floating gate pass before us, we made are way to
the City’s main Gate. Here we were stopped by a small company
of gnomish guards, one of which took our names, our reasons for
visiting, and accepted the floating Diamond’s House of Lavation
as entrance fee for our party into the city. He did however set
each of us a task to complete before he would finally let us through
the gates.
It was a Riddle of great complexity, that had us all (yes, even
me) at a loss for an answer. By noting ages of brother’s,
wives, nieces and other relative, he wished us to ascertain his
true age some four days hence. After trying and failing many times
to give the correct answer, inspiration assailed me. Whilst the
rest of the party assaulted the gnome with answers, two of which
gained them entry, though they had no idea how, I decided to ask
one of the gnomish guards near by if they knew the riddle maker’s
age now, and if it was his birthday in four days time. Not knowing
this was the answer to the riddle we had been set, they freely
divulged the information I need.
Passing on the answer to each party member in turn, the look
of amazement on the gnome’s face when we gave him the correct
answer was worth the slight delay.
"Why I be slop-eared hobbit…., I would never ’ave
believed you could figger dat one out, it was one of mee best.
Your two maties over there gave some snappy answers that tickled
mee innards, so I let ’em pass. But the right answer…
I’d never ’ave believed it." Composing himself
he lets us past, with a warning to behave ourselves within the
cities boundaries.
As
we pass through the gates, I inquire of a nearby guard for a good
tavern where we might refresh ourselves and make ourselves presentable
before we approached the Gnome High Lords with our petition. He
directed us to the Elf in Armour, saying it was the best tavern
that catered for the needs of the tall folk.
We followed his direction and entered the inn only to have our
senses assailed by a raucous band playing on stage at the back
of the tavern. I cast a glance across at Hamlin at this point,
and I could see he had come to the same appraisal as I as to the
band’s ability. His half Orc features were showing a distinct
level disapproval at the bangs haphazard clanking and plucking
of strings. There didn’t seem to be a single well-tuned instrument
in the whole bunch.
After
a particular teeth aching crescendo, the band final stopped murdering
their instruments, to the relief of us all. They were unbelievably
then hailed with clapping and calls of "Bravo! Bravo!"
by one person sitting near the stage.
He was a young human, male of medium build and dark hair, but
what was most striking about him, were the large dark glasses
he worn. A name clicked into place, and I muttered "McCoy."
All of my party had met the man at some time in the past, and
I knew he had helped the city of Sarbreenar on a number of difficult
missions. I saw this chance meeting as a piece of luck. If he
had been in High Haspur for any length of time, he might be able
to help us with advice about how to approach the Gnome Lords regarding
Sarbreenar’s request for help. I will admit however, I felt
a little unease as to his reasoning, after seeing him applaud
the band.
We approached him, though we were momentary distracted when Jerome
notice three uniformed Zhent soldiers sitting at another table,
two gnomes and a large half-orc. Being a constable of the Honest
Watch, he wanted to arrest them on the spot, but we all managed
to persuade him that we were out of his jurisdiction, and that
we didn’t want to start any trouble that might jeopardise
are diplomatic mission. He relented his wish to decorate the Tavern
floor with there blood and guts, only after we promised we would
all cheer him on should they resist arrest after our mission was
completed.
McCoy was indeed helpful once we explained our needs, and offered
us advice on how best to proceed. He rented for us a gnome herald
who would introduce us to the Gnome Lords with the correct gnomish
protocol.
He informed us, that there were five main Gnome Houses that ruled
the city:
McCoy advised us to seek an audience with Fankolin Morninglight
first, as he was that house’s High Lord and nominated ruler
of High Haspur. He had the greatest power in the city, and could
command its forces to come to Sarbreenar’s aid if he so chose.
As a messenger was dispatched to hire a herald, we spent the
time ordering a hot meal, and quenching our thirst we all felt
from our journey to High Haspur. It was during this interlude
that I inquired about the band and McCoy’s delight in their
performance. His explanation caused me great relief at his actions.
It seemed he was setting himself up as Manager to travelling bands
and minstrels. His hope was to corner the market by getting them
all to sign a contract that gave him exclusive right to rent out
there performances.
"So," I asked "You’re looking for good Bards
to fill your books. I understand you must encourage them all,
but how about a little performance to gain you a benchmark as
to what is a good performance and what is a bad one." I smile
mischievously in Hamlin’s direction, "How about it old
boy, care to take a turn on the stage with me?" I had always
wanted to test my skill against that of Hamlin’s, and this
was too good an opportunity to miss. Moreover if we gave a good
performance (of that I had no real doubt,) it might enhance are
reputations with the common populace, and give us a cover story
as to why we were in the city; a band of travelling minstrels,
here to entertain the nobles.
With an equally mischievous smile, Hamlin agreed. We retired
to the stage and began to give a stupendous performance —
if you will forgive me saying so myself — that had the audience
on their feet shouting for more. We gave two more equally skilled
sessions, the last of which saw Geroff joining us on stage, dazzled
all with an outstanding display of tumbling. Now it is here with
all fairness that the issue for now, and I mean for now, that
the mastery of my and Hamlin’s level of Bardic skill can
finally be answered.
Competition has always brought the best out of me in my performances,
and this time it was no different. But no matter how good my verse
and ode, Hamlin’s skill on his Lyre always seemed that little
bit better. After are finally verse and tune, that later McCoy
stated was one of rapturous magnificence, I gave Hamlin a deep
bow of praise, simply say, "Well played old boy" leaving
the stage first so he could receive the last vestiges of applause
from the audience.
Whilst Hamlin and I had been entertaining ourselves, the others
in my party had gathered what other useful information the could
from the Tavern’s patrons. The most noteworthy, was the disappearance
of many gnomes just outside the cities and the surrounding area.
There appeared no pattern to these disappearances, or any link
between those that were taken. All investigation by officials
from the city had found no clue or explanation as to what had
happened to the Gnomes, or who might be doing this.
Now I, as did the others, thought that this mystery might prove
useful to us. If we could offer our services to uncover those
behind the kidnapping, we might find favour with the High Lords.
Gnomes from all houses had been taken, and it was rumoured that
the eldest son of High Lord Snorem-Niggleson was one of those
lost.
After discussing how we would proceed and with the arrival of
the gnome herald, we gave our thanks to McCoy for his advice and
set off to seek an audience with High Lord Franklin Morninglight.
With
as much fanfare as our herald could muster with his small trumpet,
we were lead to a lavish palace were we were ushered into the
presence of the High Lord Morninglight. The meeting did not go
well. As I had the most knowledge of dealing with nobles and diplomatic
situations such as these, I spoke on behalf of the party, and
therefore the City of Sarbreenar itself.
Fankolin Morninglight was most unreasonable with his demands.
Accusing the Sarbreenar council and all the cities citizens, of
stealing diamonds from a mine he had laid claim too. Now I remember
the incident concerning the mine he was referring to very well
... I had been part of the group that had become embroiled through
no fault of our own, in wranglings over the said diamond mine,
which Fankolin was now literally shouting about in a most unbecoming
manner for one of his station.
The incident over the diamond mine had ended, with the control
of the mine still loaded with vast veins of gem stones, firmly
in the hands of a Paladin called Fleetwood and his cohorts. The
ranting Fankolin now states that all the Diamonds in the mine
were then stolen from the mine by a lich at the behest of Sarbreenar.
I try to calm the High Lord down, with carefully chosen words
of platitude, explaining that if it was a Lich who stole the diamonds,
what makes him believe it was following Sarbreenar’s wishes?
His answer almost left me dumb founded. Fankolin states he knows
this is the truth because he says the Lich told him so. I try
to explain to the idiot, how on earth he could possible take the
word of an evil demented creature like a Lich over his Allies
in Sarbreenar. But the Gnome Lord was unwilling to listen to reason.
I tried a different track. We offered to seek out whomever or
what ever was kidnapping his citizens, but he dismissed the idea
out of hand. All he was interested in was the return of all the
Diamonds that the City of Sarbreenar I believe never held in the
first place, and that until this was done, he would send no help
of aid to Sarbreenar. Fankolin then dismissed us from his presence.
We now decided to try and approach High Lord Penrith Cliffjapper,
in the hope that he was more willing to listen to reason. Once
more our herald tooted his little trumpet, and we were led to
another Palace, though this was more a miniature fortress than
a lavish palace.
We were ushered into Lord Penrith study, and were greeted courteously
and warmly. My hope of a settlement rose when he explained how
he greatly admired the City of Sarbreenar and its people. He states
he would happily order reinforcements to his allies of Sarbreenar,
but he does not have the power to do so. But he explains, there
was a way to make this possible.
The overall ruler of High Haspur is always one of the High Lords
of the five ruling families. Now the only way one of the houses
can become overall ruler of the city, is if they are nominated
by three of the other High Lords of the other houses. Smiling
and giving us a wink, he produces from his desk a large tome.
It is by means of this ancient and magical book, that the transfer
of power is accomplish. Once the three Gnome Lords have signed
their names in the book all pledging allegiance to one of the
two remaining houses, the transfer of power is instantaneous with
the last signature; absolutely legal and binding, the old ruling
house having no say in the matter.
High Lord Penrith Cliffjapper assures us that once in power he
will send all available aid he can muster at once. I sensed no
false hood as I listened to him speak, just a belief that a change
in leadership was needed for the betterment of his city. I personally
couldn’t have agreed with him more. My personal opinion of
the cities present High Ruler, Fankolin Morninglight, was that
he was an absolute idiot and mad as a hatter.
Penrith showed us he already had one house who had signed their
name in his favour, the Snorem-Nigglesons. All we had to do was
get the High Lords of houses Nackles and the Janirabbits to also
sign their names.
"Easy as eating tea and biscuits" he declares. We all
look at each other at this statement. We all realise somewhere
there was a catch involved, there always is. There will be complications
that will delay and confound us, and it goes without saying, danger!
For if it was that simple to get the other houses to sign the
book, we are all sure Penrith would have done it already.
But we had little choice, it was the best option we had open
to us. We could still attempt to find the answer behind the gnome
kidnappings if all else failed, (in fact this is something we
all wished to do anyway,) but Penrith’s proposal gave us
the most assurance for aid that Sarbreenar so desperately needed.
Taking charge of the book, we accepted Lord Cliffjapper’s
proposal, and raising our glasses of rum the High Lord had offered
us, we proposed a toast, "To the success of ‘Operation
Tea and Biscuits!’"
Thar
Nomis, Ranger of the Elvenblood River, Herald to
the Temple of Tymora, and Dashing Young Bard about Town.
Next,
Part 3, "Operation Tea and Biscuits"
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