When last we left our intrepid band of adventurers they were preparing to ply their unique blend of cunning, wit, and interpersonal prowess in the Garden District of Lo’Thar. Contracted by Master Tree Hugger to deal with a gnome infestation within the labyrinthine hedges at the center of the district, the Wild Rovers, along with a town guard, fearlessly approached the source of the gnomish nuisance.
Despite much talk of bashing gnomes and removing their bodies, as opposed to peaceful relocation, upon being greeted by a well-spoken gnomish leader named Galin, the Rovers acquiesced to conversation as opposed to carnage. Galin delivered a tail of being driven from their home in the Bearden Forest by humans and a group of wandering gnomes simply looking for some kind of confirmation of their place in the world. Despite the truth coming out, there was no roof to come down, and so Galin made a proposition: facilitate a game of tag to let the gnomes crown a champion amongst themselves and they will move on from Lo’Thar.
Never being ones to take a negotiation laying down, the Rovers gave a counterproposal: beat Urs in Blue Streak and the group will play tag. In a sign of things to come, Urs threw the shit out of Desmond but Galin used a bit of unexpected magical trickery and sent Desmond flying in an arc that Goofy would be proud of. Despite Urs’ insistence that his magic was longer and stronger than Galin’s, no spells were produced and the Rovers agreed to play. As the group prepared to enter the hedge maze, Galin left them with some specific rules on the game of tag (the gnome tagged the least amount of times by the Rovers wins) and words of wisdom regarding the five gnomish participants:
Carmira – “Speed kills but words hurt more.”
Dapheim – “Butter her up before you pucker up.”
Hissan – “Size matters not and looks can be deceiving.”
Rosica – “To reach the stars you must first plant on the ground.”
Keyore – “Remember that ghosts are scary unless you scare them more.”
As usual, Urs led the charge with the rest of the Rovers soon to follow. Upon entering the maze, though, the Rovers, and the guard, were each teleported to a separate area and left to their own devices. After a long and well fought game of tag, some choice words were spoken, “I’d catch you a treat with only my mouth”, some hard falls were taken, Aengus and the guard may not be walking right in the morning, and in the end Keyore emerged victorious.
True to their word, once the tag champion was crowned, the gnomes agreed to move on though they divulged that they didn’t have a particular destination in mind. Gracious as ever, the Rovers offered up Beho as an excellent person to antagonize and make miserable as well as lodging at their ranch in Shalaco should it be needed. And so the gnomes left Lo’Thar with Shalaco as their destination and were warned that they may run into a particular minotaur mating with cows but to try not to be too disturbed by it.
The Rovers and the guard reported their success to Master Tree Hugger and were given the agreed upon 1,000 platinum pieces. After giving the guard his split (200 platinum), the Rovers began to look towards tomorrow and what it might have in store for them . . .
