Alba guides the group through the gnomish tunnels, leading them to their library. There is a history book of the area there, describing the major events of the area.
Alba seems surprised that the well was magical. She admits not to know anything about it, but suggests someone named Karala might. Pard is sent to find Karala and bring her here.
You learn that the gnomes take their ancestral devotion to keeping the demon secretly tucked away very seriously. They monitor the forest closely, and not much escapes their observation. Normally they would have acted sooner to distract the party and possibly prevent them from finding the keep, but it has been difficult with so many intruders in the forest. It has been a very long time since there have been so many intruders.
In addition to the two orcs, there are two other groups in the forest. One is a group of six gnolls, currently in the south of the forest. Another is a group of five worg-mounted hobgoblins, who just entered the north of the forest.
What was going on?
Were Anosh and Shoduk trailing the party? They could have followed the party here. Or maybe they had heard about Linace Keep, figured out that's where the party was going, and got here ahead of them. It's a possibility. They may have been part of Rangark's forces. Rangark, the lizard-riding orc commander of Goruka, who has been scouting the Duchy of Rogan, slaughtering peasants along the way. He was mentioned in the journals of the priest of Hextor, as one who wields great power in Goruka's armies, though he seems to be acting somewhat independently of General Nazdin's orders, if the priest's journals are to be believed.
The five worg-mounted hobgoblins might be part of Inyek's Red Claw Clan, sent by the cult of Hextor to search for Linace Keep, on General Nazdin's orders. Worg-riders, these hobgoblins might even be Vrastak and her band, part of the now-destroyed Night Swarm Clan. They made a great night-time ambush of Glendrake's caravan, but were driven off by Darien, a Knight of Shillen, with the aid of a group of heroes, including Dunathar and Manzanita. Vrastak and the survivors of the Night Swarm Clan were now part of Inyek's Red Claw Clan. Vrastak was said to be determined to attack Glendrake's caravan again, once headed past Carodan and north, into the wilderness. On the other hand, Rangark had sworn to protect the caravan.
What of the six gnolls? General Nazdin, the great war leader of Goruka, is interested in Linace Keep. Could he have sent another party? For that matter, the Dharnan's might have sent another party, though probably Warden Ricsten would have mentioned it if they had.
Thinking on it, its possible that Nazdin's spies learned of the Keep from the Dharnans, or vice versa.
In any case, if they were agents of Goruka, it is clear they must be stopped, whether they were merely investigating, or already knew about the demon.
After that threat was taken care of, they could venture into the depths below to defeat the demon cultists, his half-fiend children, or both. Alba suggested it would be hard, but maybe they need not fight everyone. There were doubtless other ways to stop them...
Or find a way to further seal the demon, possibly even destroying it completely.
Or should they return straight away to Warden Ricsten in Carodan? After making sure the others didn't get to Linace Keep, of course...
Or maybe something else entirely...
Time passes as the group discusses its options. Late in the day, Alba suggests they spend the night in the gnome's underground complex, and the group agrees. Gnomes are sent to the surface to hide the group's mounts and obliterate their tracks.
Everyone gains 4,000 exp and may level up. The gnomes have everything needed to train, scribe spells, etc.
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