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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Qik" data-source="post: 5669193" data-attributes="member: 6673727">As the others continue to concentrate, the gnome turns over a second card.  It's original image - an ear - rises out of its surface and comes to linger with the first card's imagery.  The images of the hooded figures return, this time much more clearly.  As the group watches, they see two such figures stealing into a small cottage in the dead of night, cast some sort of incapacitating spell on the home's occupant (the scholarly halfling seen earlier), and then make off with him in the night.  This image transforms like the others, swirling into a collage of shapes and forms which soon die down, regress, and then disappear altogether.  After a moment or two, the gnome opens his eyes, and sighs heavily, a smile on his weary face.  "Fate be...I was fortunate to find a group such as yourselves.  Using your abilities as focal points, I was able to divine much.  Come, come, let us return to the parlor and get comfortable - there is much to discuss."The group follows the gnome upstairs and into the sitting room.  After spending a few minutes making another cup of tea, the gnome returns, pours one for himself, and then spends a few minutes in silence, lost in thought.  After a time, he addresses the others."Well now...I was quite successful in divining the fate and whereabouts of my seeing-deck - with your help, of course.  It seems that the Ears of the Whisperer are indeed responsible for the theft of my deck.  The cards are being held in a cave that the Eyes seem to be using as a base of some sort - this cave lies in the hills to the east, only a few hours' journey from my home.  I will make a map for you before you set out on your journey tomorrow.  It is worth mentioning that the path leading to these hills travels through a forest rife with malicious fey, the presence of which may in fact be due to the Eyes themselves.  In any event, these woods are rarely visited because of the danger they hold, which makes them a perfect location for the Eyes.""As you may have foreseen yourselves, this cave seems to be guarded by duergars; I also sensed the presence of a dangerous cave creature known as a darkmantle.  So it seems as though you will meet some resistance once you enter the cave, if not before...I suggest you prepare yourselves for this resistance.  In fact, I may have some things which can help you in your endeavor..."  At this, the gnome makes his way over to a small cabinet, murmurs a few words to unward it, then pulls out a bundle of scrolls and a few small potions.  "These should help," he says, placing the objects on the table."Now, there is one last item of note.  As we witnessed, the order seems to have kidnapped a man, who is actually someone that I know quite well.  His name is Phedilo Crea - he is an expert in all manner of arcane items, and as a devout follower of Issolatha, especially schooled in items relating to the divinatory arts.  It is my belief that the Ears have taken possession of him in order to enlist his aid in unraveling the secrets of my seeing-deck, which I created in part to not willingly give up there secrets.  He is a bit of a craven man, but has a good heart - you would be doing a good thing were you to rescue him as well.""Now then," says the gnome, draining the last of his tea, "unless you have any questions, I propose that we all turn in - you may stay in my guestroom, it will be cramped, but will suffice - as you have a busy day tomorrow."[sblock=OOC]600 XP for a fully successful completion of the skill challenge.  The gnome has also given you four scrolls of Longstrider (CL 4), and 4 potions of Cure Light Wounds (CL 1).RP as you'd like; otherwise, casters, let me know what spells you want to prepare for the morning, and we'll be off soon.  I assume you'll do the same marching order?[/sblock]</blockquote>

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