To Save Sonuklola(IC)

[Thundercracker]

"I can't fly, but I do have some other tricks with which I might be able to help with scouting"

Armand

"What kind of tricks?" Armand asked, "maybe we can both take a look. But my plan is to be way up high, out of range of anything."

[Droid Tony]

Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle walks over to an empty table. From her robe she pulls out a bright green bag. Out of the bag she pulls seven small gold mechanical frogs and sets them in a circle on the table. Then she taps each frog on the head, and slowly they start to hop around on the tabletop.

[Toliudar]

Like Armand, Shanks is openly curious about Phaneeddwall's shtick with the chair, and now with the frogs. After all, he'd spent decades playing with illusions, and was curious about her possible use now.

"Are the frogs part of our destiny also, Miss Whindlewhistle?"

Spoiler: ooc

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Spellcraft on the effect with the chair: (1d20+18)[22], +2 if it's an illusion effect.
Knowledge Arcana (1d20+13)[23] and Spellcraft (1d20+18)[23] on the frogs.

[Book Wombat]

As an answer Meredith replies Well, I have a way of looking anywhere within a few hundred feet with just a bit of time.
Also curious about her appearance and the golden frogs.

Spoiler: Checks

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Knowledge (Arcana) to find out why Whindlewhistle fell through her chair: (1d20+23)[24]
Knowledge (Arcana) for the golden frogs: (1d20+23)[28]

[JbeJ275]

With some curiosity, Nathaniel casts a short spell, using Detect Magic and his small brass monocle to identify and magic present and determine the exact function of those mechanical frogs recently deployed.

[Droid Tony]

Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle keeps watching the hopping frogs, "Oh, they are just my Hopping Hope Frogs. You know each one has a bit of liquid hope inside of them. You watch them hop and hope for an idea or help."

Spoiler: Shanks

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Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle could be a projected illusion figment, as they are intangible. Or Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle could be using a spell or magic item to be intangible. Though both are possible, they are a bit unlikely, as it's a huge waste of magic. The more resanble would be that she is intangible all the time, like a template.

The frogs look like simple Effigy Creatures, common enough among gnomes. Hopping Hope Frogs is something you have not heard of, but you have sure seen a mechancial frog before(and likely dozens of other animals too).

Spoiler: Meredith

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Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle could be a projected illusion figment, as they are intangible. Or Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle could be using a spell or magic item to be intangible. Though both are possible, they are a bit unlikely, as it's a huge waste of magic. The more resanble would be that she is intangible all the time, like a template.

The frogs look like simple clockwork frogs: minor magicaly animated constructs.

Spoiler: Nathaniel

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The frogs glow with weak transmutation and weak enchantment magic.

Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle herself glows with strong necromancy and conjuration magic.

[Toliudar]

Shanks

Any gnome who still has the power to become situationally corporeal or not is worthy of some respect in Shanks' eyes.

"Well, then. Frogs notwithstanding, I would favour a strategy of trying to come over the mountains from the back, if we can find a way to do so. Flying or climbing over, or perhaps seeking out an underground pass."

[Droid Tony]

Aesrick Gravelglove "Well, if ye don't mind me saying, you could just walk in the front too. They do have the Tradetown open. Sort of. Like no good decent folks go there to trade...only dark folks. But still, it's a way in."

[JbeJ275]

They may not want other gnomes coming in, but I myself can conceal myself invisibly so as long as they don't have to many dragons or mages I can probably get through tradestown.

[Droid Tony]

Aesrick Gravelglove "No need to worry, there are plenty of shady....if not out right evil gnomes. As long as you can put on that act you should be fine. "


Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle "Invisibility won't work. Plenty of the guards and guard creatures have scent, if not tremorsene or something else. And lots of kobolds are Sorcerers, and that does not even mention magic items."

[Book Wombat]

Unless they can see more than what you've said, I should still be able to scout around in one way or another. Meredith comments, I mean, who suspects a cat? If that still doesn't work I still have my ways.

[Droid Tony]

Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle "I just urge caution. Don't get over confidant. This is not an army made up of clueless mundane farmers that you can trick and fool with weak magic. It's an intelligent, prepared magical military. "

[Toliudar]

Shanks

The old gnome seems to age even further as Phaneeddwal seems to snatch away the hope she so recently offered.

"The same, I suppose, could be said for any mode of approach. All that we can do is try, and be ready to change our plan as we learn more."

[JbeJ275]

An entire army has tried and failed before, whether we gain entry by deceit, flight or some other paths, it won’t be easy or the crusade would have done it. We’ve just got to stick to what we’re best at.

[Droid Tony]

Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle "Well, yes, you should always be true to yourselves. "

All at once the golden frogs on the table stop hopping and stay in place, Phaneeddwal looks them over and scratches her chin.

[Thundercracker]

Armand

“I’m going to take a look around the back,” Armand said, “anyone have a way of contacting each other? Otherwise we’ll meet back here in theee days.”

Spoiler

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no idea how long getting around the back of gnome-land will take, just trying to move this forward.

After determining how they would get back in touch, Armand left the building and took off into the sky, rising to over a mile up before turning and making for the mountains in the rear of he gnomish lands. On the way there he would descend to rest for a couple of hours when necessary, in inns if he could find them, or pitching a tent on a field if he had no other choice.

Once at the mountains, he made sure to stay over a mile above the ground, invisible, as he searched for trails or passes the others could take, as well as fortifications, guard posts, etc they would need to dodge.

[Toliudar]

Shanks

The old gnome holds up a hand to pause Armand's process.

"If your goal is to scout from a great height, it might be safest if we all do that together, so that if there's trouble, we can respond as a group. Also, if we fly in from miles up and then land in a relatively uninhabited area like the [REGION THAT SHANKS KNOWS FROM HAVING LIVED THERE HIS WHOLE LIFE], we avoid those magical defenses at the border. Who's in?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Shanks can give everyone phantom steeds with air walk. Not quite as good as flying, but good for 12 hours of high-speed (well, faster than pretty much everything but a dragon) flight. What do you say?

[JbeJ275]

Well it commits us to avoiding long term infiltration from the get go, which we could try if we came through trade town, but then again, I was never a particularly good liar so that may be for the best. I think it might be a good idea, and have a few spells to help us if need be.

[Thundercracker]

Armand

"Flying in from a great height and landing in an uninhabited area sounds like a great idea, let's do it," Armand said.

[Book Wombat]

For communication I do have rings for that, though I only have two. responding to Armand's query.

[Toliudar]

Shanks

Shanks nods at Meredith's offer.

"Those rings do indeed sound invaluable, especially if we need to split up. If we like, we can try out the shadow horses on the way to the mountains, and if you decide you don't like them, can always try other ways to get over or under."

Spoiler: DroidTony

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If we're flying about 200 miles a day, how long would it take us to work our way around to a section of the gnome kingdom that's well away from the main trade entrance?

[Droid Tony]

Using the phantom steeds everyone flies over the mountains, And land in the Rock Feilds, the large rocky area in the north of Sonuklola to rocky for farms and is left wild. The land is filled all sorts of animals such as birds and wild goats. There is no sign of the army in the immediate area.

[Toliudar]

Shanks gratefully dismounts and stretches some very sore old bones after a long and harrowing trip over the mountains.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Sonuklola. I wish we could provide the hospitality you all deserve."

[Edit to reflect DroidTony's very kind post following.]

"Now, once we're down out of the mountains, this area is pretty much all farmland, except for streams leading to a big lake in the centre, and our capital is there on that lake. I'm now a little low on magic for today. Would any of you have a way to conceal us? If not, perhaps we should try to commandeer a hay loft or silo to hide while we regroup."

Spoiler: OOC

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Knowledge Geography to know what other geographical features (forests, rivers, etc) are in the area. Casting Divine Insight to give +5 to this check; (1d20+7)[21]
Knowledge local to know something about the nearest gnome settlement. (1d20+6)[15]

Did Phaneeddwal come with us?

[Droid Tony]

As Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle fell through a phantom steed, she could not come.

Spoiler: Shanks

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Knowledge Geography: Just about the whole of the valley is farmland. There are no forests, only small groups of trees scattered around. Water runs down the mountains in the north, forming the Great Falls, that turns into the river and flows into the lake in the middle of the valley.

The capital city and work town are both on the lake.....the only other town is the tradetown over at the south pass. Each mountin wall base has a gold mine (north, west and east.)

[JbeJ275]

Nathaniel has been fidgeting throughout the entire journey, and now looks around nervously.

I can make a few of us invisible, but not for very long. Let's try and get out of sight before they find us shall we. We can't stay out in the open forever, but there must be more than farmhouses around here somewhere.

Spoiler: OOC

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Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty to know about any castles manors or other large central buildings to help control the countryside. Even if they're ruins now they may still be useful.
(1d20+11)[12]
Knowledge: Local to see what Nathaniel knows about the surrounding area and lesser known places that they could find some shelter in.
(1d20+16)[26]

[Book Wombat]

Waking up from her cat nap as literally a cat, Meredith stretches and suppresses a yawn as she jumps off her mount, "Well, isn't this idyllic. Almost like there isn't any war.

Spoiler: OOC

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Knowledge (Geography) for some place to shelter in: (1d20+23)[39]
Knowledge (History) for any landmarks or points of interest in the area: (1d20+23)[36]

[Droid Tony]

Spoiler: Nathaniel

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Nobility and Royalty :The gnomes don't have any castles or fortifications, using more natural barriers.

Knowledge: Local : the three mines and the single work city make up a small part of the kingdom, the whole rest of the valley is farmland. Normally, just about any gnome family would be happy to put up a traveler in their barn for a night.

Spoiler: Meredith

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Knowledge (Geography): The mountains have some natural caves, and some used and closed mines. The farmland has little natural cover.

Knowledge (History) :Just about the whole of the valley is farmland. There are no forests, only small groups of trees scattered around. Water runs down the mountains in the north, forming the Great Falls, that turns into the river and flows into the lake in the middle of the valley.

The capital city and work town are both on the lake.....the only other town is the tradetown over at the south pass. Each mountin wall base has a gold mine (north, west and east.)

[Book Wombat]

Hmmm, it seems the mountains have some mines where we could shelter in, as long as we find one which isn't it use. How about that?

[Droid Tony]

Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle falls out of the sky and bounces on the ground a couple times. Then she stands up, not looking hurt at all.

Phaneeddwal Whindlewhistle "By the Great Gear, what a way to travel. It least I'm here."

[Toliudar]

Shanks is doubly grateful that the party member most likely to pass through security nets undetected is also thinking about how best to conceal the entire group.

"I think that Meredith has an excellent idea. If we start in the mountains, we can investigate ways in which the kobolds made their way up during the invasion. Which might lead us more directly towards the possible brains behind all this. Besides, it would be unwise for us to get too close to [name of the capital] until we know more."