The pitter patter of little feet (part four)

Chamber of the Chief (#24/30, #328/365)

"You enter the biggest chamber in the warren, a long circular cave that you can almost stand up in. Opposite you is a stone throne, on which sits a large Gremlin in a splendid purple cape, flanked by four armoured Gremlin bodyguards wielding shortbows primed with poison arrows. In front of the throne, on a short chain held by the Gremlin Chief, is a snarling Jackal, frothing at the mouth and rabid in fury. The Gremlin Chief points to you with an accusing hand and squeaks:

'By Dhaktili's red hand who have we got here then?'"

Contents: If the Heroes have been brought here by the Guards, perhaps pretending to be merchants, Ergoth will feign disinterest but is actually keen on cementing some lasting power and influence in this region. He would like to facilitate a trade in Gremlin-made gear, such as red dye and bone weaponry, in exchange for clay and salt.

If they are aggressive, Ergoth will release the Jackal onto the first Hero in the tunnel, while his Bodyguards will fire poisoned arrows. He will hang back, watching how his bodyguards and the rabid Jackal do, and if the cause looks hopeless, lob both a Gas Egg and a Yokka Egg into the chamber, which will ignite in a conflagration causing 4-24 STAMINA fire damage to everyone in the chamber, and flee to the nearest exit with his small treasure chest if possible (see below).

Behind the throne is a small wooden chest plus some goods stolen from surrounding homesteads. The chest is locked (Ergoth has the key), and contains a DESERT SCORPION (SKILL 2 STAMINA 1, Sting does 4 STAMINA damage, Light Armour) that will leap out and attack whoever has opened the chest, gaining a free hit, unless they make a successful DODGE Special Skill roll. Also in the chest are 13GP in a pouch, a hipflask with one measure of Herbal Liqueur, a pair of Nose Filters, a small Diamond worth 15GP, and a glowing Energy Crystal.

Stolen goods total 4 bottles of olive oil, 3 bottles of Red Wine,  a pile of 3 folded woolen blankets, and a salted shank of lamb that counts as 2 Provisions.

Stats:

Ergoth the Cruel, GREMLIN CHIEF, SKILL 6 STAMINA 6, Bone Handaxe, Bone Breastplate. The Chief's Handaxe is made from bone and covered in a crude home-made Blade Venom that resembles viscous black sludge and causes +1 STAMINA damage for any successful hit that wounds (hits whose damage is fully absorbed by armour don't count). The Blade Venom lasts for one combat only, before it has to be reapplied.

In addition to their handaxe, Ergoth has a Gremlin-sized Breastplate made from bone, an elaborate purple cape (actually some curtains), 3-18 Copper Pieces, 2-12 SP, and 1-6GP (all in a leather purse), a small brass key stamped with the number '14', a Gas Egg, a Yokka Egg, and their left hand is painted red.

4 GREMLIN BODYGUARDS, SKILL 5 STAMINA 5, Bone Shortswords or Shortbow, Light Armour. The Gremlin's Shortsword and arrows are made from bone and covered in a crude home-made Blade Venom that resembles viscous black sludge and causes +1 STAMINA damage for any successful hit that wounds (hits whose damage is fully absorbed by armour don't count). The Blade Venom lasts for one combat only, before it has to be reapplied.

In addition to their Shortsword, each Gremlin bodyguard has a shortbow and a quiver of 6 arrows, a helmet made from skull bones, 1-6 Copper Pieces, 1-3 SP and their left hand is painted red.

RABID JACKAL, SKILL 5 STAMINA 5, Small Bite. The Jackal has Rabies; anyone who is wounded by its bite, must deduct 2 STAMINA points of extra damage to be spent cutting the taint out, assuming they survive the fight, otherwise they contract Rabies. This virulent form of the disease causes 1-6 internal STAMINA damage per day until the victim is dead. Prior to death, in this form the victim will attempt to bite everybody around them to further spread disease but they can be repelled by water.