Everyone healed by Kahan non-magically gets back 6 hit points, plus whatever you get for your healing spell hit points.  Please make the adjustments accordingly.

Recap: Shae took the onyx gem before entering the labyrinth.  You then took an azure gem and a dark onyz gem from the eyes of Manjab.  The azure gem was donated to the Llamasu for information on how to get out.  According to his instructions, you now place the dark onyx gem in the dragon's maw and keep the Onyx Gem (originally taken by Shae).

Placing the dark onyx gem in the dragon's maw results in a flash of light that momentarily blinds you.  Then you realize, as before, that you are no longer in the same room.  You are in the entry room you started in, with the exit just ahead of you.

Quickly, you exit.  The gnomes are there.  They rejoice when you return but are pointing to the south toward the stairs.

Finally, one of them approaches--the same one who was their spokesman previously (see msg#9 in Test of the Faithful-1)-- and in a halting tongue, states, "They thought you dead.  Two of our kind go down stairs to find exit.  We not see them in many hours."  Then he points back at his people.  "Two more get the Black Curse.  Their fingers grow black at tips.  They have one day, maybe two, to live."



OOC: As a reminder, you originally saved 11 gnomes, but 5 were killed as you were escaping the giants, leaving you with just 6 alive.  You need as many of them alive as possible to communicate with the Gnome clan leader at the bottom of the mountain and to plead your case and help you accomplish your goals.

Tahldar stumbles out of the secret doorway and is glad to be alive.  He is distressed to hear that two of the Gnomes have left and are surely dead.  And that another two have gotten the sickness.

"My supply of spells is dwindling, but I should have enough to continue.  But I fear I will not have enough once we find this dragon.  Hopefully that Fingas character and his friend will soften things up for us a bit going forward, but I don't have my hopes up that they have lasted very long and will make any difference."

Addressing the group he adds "Which way next?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Tue 17 Mar 2015.

Borimer has no answer, but a question instead when his warrior's paranoia gets him thinking.  "Do you think an ancient wyrm like that could take those two fools over with spellcraft or bribery and use them against us? That could take our already-bad odds and kill us with them..."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Tue 17 Mar 2015.

"It is possible I suppose, depending on whether or not he is old enough or powerful enough to have access to spells. We should be weary if we see them again," Kahan replies to the warrior, turning and continuing down whichever path the lead gnome says the others went.

Shae says, "I remember them running and screaming, and if I recall right, that was at the bottom of the stairs just to the south of us.  That does not bode well."  She is ready to follow them down the stairs but is wary and has her spear ready.

"Do you guys remember if we have another test left?" said Didit "Because somehow I feel like we have something else to do before facing the dragon"

Leo exits wondering how he managed to get out of that last scrape without a scratch.  "I won't always be so lucky", he says quietly to no one in particular.

Tuning in to the current conversation, he adds, "I haven't had a lot of experience with Dragons, but I would just assume that spells are in our future if we are unfortunate enough to have to tangle with it.  I'm hoping we come up with another way of dealing with that one."   Leo pauses for a second, then continues " 'Course maybe we could just get him to swallow me whole, and then I could just cut my way out!" he says while making hand gestures designed to remind everyone how easy that fate could be for any of them.  "Of course it might take two bites for that one", he says winking at Borimer.

"In all seriousness though, if this is our fate, I am with you all to the end.", trying to sound as serious as anyone could really take a hobbit, and then nods at Shapfren wondering the same thing.

Shae laughs at Shap's comment.  "As I recall there are six or seven tests, and we have only survived two so far.  Our travails are just beginning.  I don't like the fact that these tests we are beating were designed by apparently evil and sadistic clerics>"

You cautiously go down the stairs with the gnomes right behind you.  At the bottom, you look to your right and see that the hallway falls away into the same abysmal drop you saw before, where a chasm has opened up in the mountain right in the middle of the corridor.

To your left, you see the corridor continue down to a stone door.  The door is halfway open but dark from this distance.  You realize that the gnomes must have gone through that door, as it appears to be the only way out other than down into the abyss.

You also realize that Fingass Hatt and Battrus Moonshadow came running from the direction of that door screaming before plummeting over the side of the chasm.

"Sure, seem like a lot of test if you ask me"  Lukas will take the lead and check out the door and then proceed to have a look at what's behind it.

Shae will hang back, waiting to see what Lukas reports.  She is ready for battle--again.

Borimer follows after Lukas, easily looking above him for signs of any trouble up ahead.  "If we run into trouble let me cover for you while you ply your skills, friend."

if combat ensues borimer will take the front for the encounter

As they wait to enter through to doorway Tahldar says in Gnomish to the remaining four Gnomes "Please don't split up again.  This place is extremely dangerous.  We lost Donovan in the last test and I myself am lucky I was not killed too.  Our only chance to get through this alive is if we stick together and have faith in each other.  And with luck we've get those berries we need quick enough to heal those that get sick.  But it's not going to be easy."

OOC:  Is the Gnomish language tag ready?  And if it is, how do you use it?  It's been awhile and I forget...

Leo follows Lukas also looking over the door but making sure there is a clear path for the big guy if something suddenly happens.  "A second pair of eyes never hurts."  He draws his dagger as he gets close to the door.

In reply to Tahldar of Tyrannia (msg # 13):

Yes, Gnomish is tagged.  You access it from the "Insert a private line" pull down menu.