Legildur said:
Flannad whistles in appreciation of a job well done. He immediately looks for Ghelve, and then scouts the remaining rooms while Jon and Liracor deal with the skulk.
After the sounds of the battle have died, the red curtain parts, and Keygan comes cautiously through into the back room. He immediately notices the fallen skulk, and looks immensely relieved.
"Thank you," he says as he breathes a sigh of relief.
"Finally, we can talk without unfriendly ears listening in."
He doesn't seem to notice that Flannad has slipped away. (See below)
Question said:
Liracor sheathes his blade, and calls the gnome over...."You seemed to know this creature was hiding in the back room?" he askes.
Grimacing, Ghelve replies,
"Of course. It, or one of its kind, has been here in my shop, constantly keeping watch over me, for more than three months." He sighs,
"Let me tell the whole story."
The locksmith continues,
"My shop is built over a secret entrance to a place called Jzadirune. It's a small enclave that was inhabited by gnomish spellcasters, until disaster struck. The enclave was abandoned 75 years ago after a magical plague called the Vanishing swept through it. The disease caused several of Jzadirune's residents to slowly fade away into nothingness. The gnomes couldn't find a cure, so they were forced to abandon their homes and workshops.
"Apparently, Jzadirune is no longer abandoned, because three months ago, I was surprised by a gang of creatures that crept up from below and ambushed me here in my shop. Some of the creatures are like this one," he gestures toward the genderless, hairless, gray-skinned creature on the floor.
"They usually come out in pairs or threes, and leave the shop wearing cloaks. Their skin allows them to blend in perfectly with their surroundings. The other type are shorter...sinister gnome-like creatures with pallid skin, large noses, and soft black hooves for feet. They wear black cloaks and cowls that help them hide in the shadows. These tall ones usually carry rapiers or light crossbows. The short ones carry sharp daggers. All of them are vile and nasty creatures.
"Anyway, that dreadfulful night, they overpowered me, and took Starbrow hostage. He's my familiar, my rat. They threatened to kill Starbrow unless I told them everything I knew about Cauldron. Well, once they found out I'd crafted most of the locks in the city, they made me create skeleton keys for them which would open all of my locks. I also had to give them a list of everyone in town to whom I've sold locks in the last ten years. I'm sure you can piece together the rest, with the disappearances and all.
The gnome pleads with sincerity,
"Please, you've got to realize I'm not proud of what I've done. I know I put a lot of innocent folks in danger. But I knew they'd hurt me and Starbrow if I didn't cooperate. I know it's a lot to ask, but...do you think you might be able to help us? I can sense Starbrow is somewhere underground, and he's scared and hungry. And, once they find out what happened to this one...well, I can't bear to think what's going to happen to my poor rat."
stonegod said:
Hearing Liracor's remark, Jon says, "Be kind to the gnome. I think he is a vicitim in this as well. I am sure he will tell us his horrid tale---once Flannad ensures that the rest of the area is secure." Keeping his place at the bottom of the stair near the soon to be prisoner, he keeps an anxious eye on Flannad as he moves upstairs.
To Ghleve, "Master Gnome, my we utilize some of your manacles to secure this villian?"
"Oh...yes, of course." Ghelve turns to one of the chests in the middle of the room. He unlocks it with a key from the large keyring in his pocket, bending over somewhat awkardly to do so. He produces a length of chain and a strong-looking lock from the chest, and hands it to Liracor to bind the unconscious skulk. Then he looks on nervously, to see how his rescuers will respond to his story.
Meanwhile, Flannad scouts out the rest of the locksmith's shop. He discovers that the door to the remaining room on the first floor is locked. Then he moves up the staircase, and finds that there are two rooms leading off from the wooden balcony.
The first is a richly appointed bedroom which holds furniture sized for a person of small stature. A coat rack sits by the door, while elsewhere in the room sit a cozy bed with a hand-sewn comforter, a clean bedpan, a chest of drawers at the foot of the bed, a wooden screen with birds painted on its panels, a wardrobe, and a small bookcase with some books and trinkets on it. A lantern sits atop a small end table by the bed.
The second upstairs room is a kitchen that contains all the basic amenities, including a table with an hourglass resting atop it. A fireplace dominates one wall, with pots hanging from hooks on either side. Two cabinets with frosted-glass doors hold dishware and utensils. A half-barrel washbasin stands in the far corner next to a locked pantry.
