Borimer urges the gnomes forward and then follows everyone through the blades of grass, watching their backs for attack and making sure the gnomes can make it. If Tahldar casts the flying spell Borimer will take the gnomes up as many at a time as he can.

Kahan felt it was pointless to echo Tahldar's sentiment, so instead simply ran to keep up with the others. If he felt it was possible, he would carry one of the gnomes up the hill.

The entire party begins running.  Those with strength enough to do so have the surviving gnomes jump on their backs.

Several of them seem to begin to understand what is happening.  "Keshnar!" several of the say in distress.  "Keshnar!"

[Language unknown: "Bleundain Nirola! Eiceon Powelo!"] they also yell.

The blades of grass and leaves begin swiping at the air.

That strange howl you heard earlier returns.  It is much closer this time.  It is not human or dog but like a deranged animal on the hunt.

[Language unknown: "Tho niiosi a eebe acck!"] they yell in Gnomish.  Then in broken Common:  "Hurry!" one yells.

You pick up the pace.  The sharp bladed foliage strikes out and hits Borimer, Kahan and Tahldar.  Tahldar and Borimer manage to avoid the worst of the blows (saving throws made).  (Borimer: 4 damage; Tahldar: 3 damage minus stoneskin)  But Kahan takes a slash to the belly, drawing a swath of blood.  (11 hp dmg.)

The path forged by Fingas is of less and less help, but you see the edge of the stony hill and make a final break for it just as the last of the mist is dissipating...

Tahldar casts fly on Borimer, who swoops up two additional gnomes (three total) before flying into the air above the deadly leaves.

The blades and leaves are flying quickly now, making a whirring sound in the air.  They seem to be everywhere, and dodging them may be impossible as your feet step onto sharp blades of hardened grass...

The howl is closer now, maybe just 50 yards away, and you hear the crash of a tree being toppled over, but you cannot see through the thick foliage at what the creature might be.

The grass is now retracting and stabbing out while the leaves spin like saws.

Tahldar is hit twice, his stoneskin absorbing both blows.  Kahan is hit once more but evades the worst of it.  (4 hp dmg.)  Leo is hit three times critically by stabbing grass blades and a saw like palm leaf.  (18 hp dmg.)  Shae is also badly hit by two deadly blows.  (13 hp dmg.)

The gnome being transported by Shae is swiped by a blade, his body cut in two at the waist.  He grunts once before falling from Shae's shoulders.  Another gnome, this one on Kahan's back, is also hit (4 hp dmg) but survives, although he is bleeding heavily.

And then you are clear and climbing the mountain, blood dripping and oozing as you look back once more at the deadly forest that moves and shimmers with life.  By the time you reach the top of the hill, a number of gnomes have gathered.  They look at you with mixed surprise and confusion.

The gnome who blew the horn begins yelling:  [Language unknown: "Itei rom ourionlar.  Wialnc iolito inine ratcomiouall."]

Another gnome furls his eyes and says, "[Language unknown: "Ichi  houtinles?  Iv usun n nccon?"]

Borimer drops to the ground, letting the three gnomes loose.  The gnomes of the village are looking at him as though he is some sort of deity...or demon.

Shae, who does not speak Gnomish, immediately goes to one of the injured and bleeding gnomes and casts a healing spell on him as a sign that they are all friends here.  She speaks the Elvish word for friend, "Melleth" as she does so.

Kahan drops his gnome off as Shae begins healing him, so he casts a healing spell on himself. After all, a dead healer is a useless one. Once that is completed, he looks around the village and its inhabitants, trying to locate a leader. "Does anyone here speak Common? It would make this much easier," he asks the gathering.

[]

This message was deleted by the player at 11:16, Fri 15 Dec 2017.

Borimer sets down the last gnome and straightens up, his eyes meeting the awe-struck gazes of these new gnomes. Borimer coughs uncomfortably.

The mage Tahldar looks around at the various injuries they have sustained and especially to the poor Gnome that was cut in half.  He nods his head downward in sorrow for the man.  He had survived so much only to be cut down when he was so close to safety.

"I speak Gnomish." he says to the others.

"They call what happened "Angry Earth", and "the fiend in the mist"." he says in reference to the grass.

"They are sending for healers, but are leery of us.  It would seem Fingas and the other man have gotten here before us and they are wondering if our arrival is some kind of omen."

"I will do my best to allay any fears they may have."

Tahldar approaches the group of Gnomes with open palms.

[Language unknown:  "Adilol has laerfipa.  A for bend widiiv ssnt m stseit vir."]

With a wave towards the surviving Gnomes still with them he adds, [Language unknown: A tha con be p chouic p eraconnot rutdayyin Etilca erasonted hasthible he virome-wassta ei is.  I lles omca ac ioncsi ss onseveset ta."]

[Language unknown: Ck conureill ofutit vir m trekec Eiweli lough m ant illouture outlo un rat mi ofsom o eses rutthuine ho aveearrat aclat n ng esngusan th p ardiouastany sta naard redntewas inomur hi trhell i m, whiun be ieeipr ine.  Manev ereai ionet o li was?  Sali ul fofo'acul iner plie ei io ure ome."]

OOC:  Tahldar has the secondary skill etiquette at CHR+1 if that helps with the Gnomes.  Plus maybe a bonus since he speaks Gnomish?  (And the group in general for putting their lives on the line to save the other Gnomes, maybe they can put in a good word?)

Leo looks back at the blades wondering how he and anyone ever got out of that.  He takes stock of his wounds and looks for something to bandage up and stop the bleeding.

The gnomes seem in awe of Tahldar's ability to speak their language.  The leader says:

[Language unknown: San tiothowerlat i enc laevou.  Iomo noterelin whiforany ck ro whisontio me.]

He then turns and speaks in very broken Common:  "We call it not Common language.  We call it Ashe Language.  We speak it some.  My name be Unther.  We speak of the Angry Earth over dinner, if you please.  We invite other human Fingas too.  You come, no?"

The surviving gnomes are taken away by a healer.  One of the elder ones who was uninjured says to the leader: [Language unknown: Sanconcom elitss etel ticencess thsine nt.  Oreoushou m rut ica un nthe, k the aiurweun all laons Plncstan Oulnd.]  He points up to the top of the mountain you came down from.

While he speaks, you are led to a formal dining hall, which is warm and well lit against the coming night.

Tahldar translates the gnomes speaking.  The uninjured gnome tells of your journey, of your feats in saving them, and of the Black Curse disease that has started to take over some of the gnomes.  And he tells of your taking of the berries and earthwater to cure the disease.

When he talks of the Black Curse, the other gnomes spit on the ground as if to ward off evil.  Then Unther speaks to you in broken Common:  "This Black Curse take over any who went inside cave of the Doomed Temple."  He seems to be indicating the caves you just exited.  "If you no have it now, you have it soon.  Only Tenvillah know how to make cure.  But you must go to him.  You  have no time."

You sit at the table while food is being brought.  You noticed that the village seems to be its own compartmentalized ecosystem, so you are not surprised to see meet and grain at the table.

A few moments later, Fingas Hatt enters.  "Ah," he says.  "Never thought I'd see you again."  He points to the back of the room, where you notice something for the first time.  The head of a dragon is on one of the walls behind you.  "We slew the dragon and made it safe for the village again.  Unfortunately, Battrus has come down with some sort of sickness.  But the gnomes are happy the dragon is dead.  We should eat up and you can tell me how you survived that dreaded temple of doom."

He sits and waves some gnomes over to give him food and drink.

Kahan followed after the others, once he was certain they wouldn't bleed out after the razor grass incident, and was happy to have a place to relax as the stories of their deeds were retold. As Fingas enters the room, the priest inspects the dragon's head and wonders where it came from. "I seem to remember there still being a dragon that we fled from not an hour ago. Tell me, where was this one you slew?" he asked, wondering what color the dead one was.

Borimer gratefully eats and drinks what the gnomes provide, keeping an eye on Fingas.

Tahldar eschews any dining protocol and eats whatever food is available before he has to go see Tenvillah.  It has been some time since he had good food and the urge to eat overcomes him.

The mage is suspicious of Fingas's claim he and Battrus slew the dragon they just faced.  Especially since he exited the mountain after his own group had, and they did so by the skin of their teeth.  Just narrowly escaping the crystaline spewing dragon.

OOC: Tahldar will take a close look to see if the dragon head is from the one we just faced.  He will try to determine if perhaps it's the right size for the smaller dragon we found in msg#23 from The Last Test - 1.  It was missing it's head...

Leo slowly but deliberately eats the provisions that are provided grateful to have the moment.

When Fingas mentions that Battrus has come down with an illness, one of the gnomes spits on the ground to ward off evil and says, "Black Death."

To Kahan, Fingas responds, "It was in that cave system back there.  Perhaps you missed it because it was dead.  Luckily, you do not need to worry about dragon troubles anymore.  But I seem to recall you were looking for a cure for this plague they call the Black Death, eh?  I could help and we could heal Battrus.  They say those who stay in the caves for too long catch this disease.  So far, I have not contracted the foul thing, but I will do whatever I can to keep Battrus alive."

Tahldar examines the dragon during Fingas' discussion.  The head does indeed match the dragon you previously found frozen.

See msg 23 here: link to a message in this game

"I'm sorry to burst your bubble Fingas, but this dragon head I believe is the offspring of the dragon we faced.  We found it's body in our travels in the caves, but not the head.  Which I see is now here." Tahldar says as he chooses his words carefully.

"We faced the much larger parent dragon, and were able to slip by it.  But it is still very much alive I'm afraid.  We also found it uses a unique breath weapon that turns its victims to crystal.  In all my research back home I have never heard of such a thing.  I know of no defensive spells one could use to protect oneself from it.  Other than a wall of force of course."

Turning to the Gnomes he says [Language unknown:  I pl laekhe day redlathis seher ll tha ac k anwapl heekdi of comsanshe en re ithwasave essie nd oustraons evol st, ine oursheres ac ouure.  Dayek iou linherble, ecpaur stras dinesscom, sa vorai an weerwe iemaai.]

Borimer continues  to stuff food into his belly while watching Fingas for his reaction to Tahldar's words.

"If we end up facing it again, I would very much like to go back and search through its horde of treasure. There could be some very useful items that have been sitting there for years," Kahan mentions, not wanting to bring up the fact that they were being chased by the dragon when they got here. "We need to talk in private, once we are done with dinner," he adds, eating whatever his stomach will let him before he felt the need to wretch it back up.

When Fingas hears Tahldar speaking in Gnomish to the gnomes, he seems very concerned.  He says in fluent Gnomish:  [Language unknown: "Ut, o.  Iouna nirat ate waany reaareonsent.  Ul est u ivnousho. Virse wilessrom on lleven, uree whi be ck aststions."]

He says in common to Tahldar, "Why put fear in their hearts?  They were celebrating the death of the dragon that has been their fear for centuries.  And it has never appeared in all these centuries.  Now you will make them needlessly afraid again.  And even if such a dragon is alive--which I did not see--they have not the means to fight it."

He takes a seat, drawing attention back away from the dragon's head to change the subject. "I should like to tell you about this strange world and what you experienced out there in the grass that turned to blades, if you are willing to hear the tale.  It may just save your life.  I have spent the last few days learning what I can about it.  And then we can go search for this cure so that Battrus may live.  They say he has not much time left, perhaps a few days at most.  And several of these gnomes you brought back are infected as well.  We should find the cure for them all."

The gnomes look curiously at Tahldar's statement about the dragon but seem to trust Fingas and are calmed by his words.  They resume their festivities while Fingas turns to see if you are ready for his tale.

"Ignorance won't protect them from anything," Borimer replies. He says nothing about his wineskin full of berries and blue water, instead eating gnomish food and, hopefully, a little wine. He waits for Fingas to tell his tale.

Kahan shakes his head at Fingas' response. "They should be afraid. The dragon is coming and will kill them all if we don't do something to stop it, or lead it away from here. We barely got away with our lives," the priest warns grimly, putting down his food. "This is not the time for tales. We need to find a way to cure this disease, and slay the dragon before we all perish," he adds, more insistently before coughing a few times, showing the signs of his own illness.

OOC: At least, I'm pretty sure I remember you saying he was sick... That was a long time ago.

Tahldar bites his tongue though he wishes to say more.  He finds himself agreeing with his companions with their concerns over giving the Gnomes false hope, but wants to hear what Fingas has to say about what they have found about this new world.  Which is very different from where he came from.  The attacking grass is nothing he has ever heard of and he is sure there must be other things generally benign on his world that are very dangerous here.

Fingas lifts his hands as if weighing ideas in each of them.  "To tell them or not to tell them.  The dragon has not attacked them in centuries.  I saw no dragon and I traversed the same cave as you.  So it is up to you what you tell them."

He then says, "What I have to tell you is what it looks like we are up against going to this Tenvallah character.  The "Angry Earth," as they call it, is from the mist that settles down each morning and lifts each night.  The mist keeps things...normal.  But when it dissipates, the poisoned magic in the earth itself takes hold.  What happens next with the plants and animals depends on the color of the glowing plants--for plants have roots buried in the earth and have adapted to it.

"If the plants have a reddish glow, they will turn to the sharp bladed spikes you saw.  If they have a brownish tint, they will emanate an evil magic that could take many different forms.  If they have a bluish tint, all they touch will be drained of water--even human flesh--immediately.  If they glow yellow, then touching them is touching poison or acid.  And if they glow black..." He pauses.  "Well, they didn't tell me exactly what this means except that it is pure evil.

"But the worst thing is what happens if you are caught down there when the mist dissipates.  If you are not on solid rock, the poisoned earth will transform living flesh so that it is--they called it transformed or morphed--into some sort of inhuman creature without the soul that once inhabited it."

He shudders and then resumes.

"Because of this curse in the earth, no one in this village has been able to travel more than a half day away from this village, which, as you may have noticed, is built on solid rock above the mist to avoid its evil influence.  They do not know how far this poisoned land extends, but no one who has gone out to explore has ever returned--at least not without returning as a monster.

"And speaking of which, they say there is a Fiend of the Mist.  You probably heard it when you were down there.  They don't know what it is, or if there is more than one, but they are terrified of it.  Those who have caught a glimpse of it say it is a giant creature on two legs with deformed clawed hands, boils or other lumps on its skin, and eyes that glow red with evil."

He says after he lets this sink in, "They say this Tenvillah is rumored to be one to two day's journey from here.  They have seen smoke rising from his encampment.  He left this village long ago and now only occasionally corresponds by carrier pigeon.  He will be reluctant to help outsiders and will require a payment or task to be carried out, but will help for the sake of this village.  They trust me and have given me a note to give to Tenvillah.  Together, we can go there, get this cure, and get back here.  But it will be a dangerous journey.

"We should leave as early as possible, so I suggest we do so when the mist rises in the early morning before dawn and go as fast as we can.  What say you?"

"Tenvillah has the cure you say, and he is two days travel from here.  How do you propose to get there if no one has made it more than a half a day from the Gnome village?"  Tahldar asks of Fingas.

"This sounds like a wonderful place," Borimer said between (or during) mouthfuls, "Perhaps I could take a flight over the area and see what we're looking at on the way to Tenvillah. If you're able to cast that spell again."