Bunnies of DOOM
"AHHH," says the gnome.
"AHHH. You have to help! My garden has been INVADED."
The gnome is flailing at you. "By horrible, horrible creatures! Too horrible for words! Too horrible! You have to help, you have to help!
...he wasn't much use in a description, but that's why you're not on the edge of Alexandrian territory, out along the north, having been shipped by airship to this locale, following a gnome's map to his supposed 'garden'.
Why?
Because gold, that's why.
"These critters better be really horrible. Or like, poop gold or something.", Murder comments, peering over the railing, having climbed up to see where it is they are heading. "Else I am going to bop that Gnome on his little hatted head." She makes a fist and mimes bopping someone. The Gobbo peers back to those along for the journey.
"Oy, ee's loud." The big Ork says, reaching up and brushing his armored glove along his chin as he watches the gnome. "Wot say we kill everything and burn dis garden down. Den we go home afore his squeaking gives me head an ache, aye?" Slipping his shield onto his left forearm and unlimbering his battleaxe with a few good solid swings. "Nawt sure this is gonna be a song for Kor, war for da squeaky wee man's garden?"
Razen takes stock of the surroundings, but in truth he's distracted by his companions. Keeps looking at those that aren't familiar to him. In particular the orc whom it's clear after a few moments he's been trying not to stare at the whole trip. Trying not to stare at now. He does his best.
Bhavrad says, "Silver and gold, silver and gold. Ev'ryone wishes for silver and gold," Bhavrad sings atonally. "How do you measure its worth? Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth." The khazad reaches out and pats the big orc's armored frame. "Tink of it this way. One needs coin to wage a good war. So lets kill the things, not burn his garden. And then do something good with the coin. How's that sound big guy?"
If there's gold involved Amaya certainly won't complain with some gnome's antics, plucking a few chords during the trip on her mandolin. To the goblin she says, "I dunno, I'd prefer my gold to be easy and ripe for the pickin', no need for too much danger." but she also spends some time looking over her companions, assessing each in turn, fingertips drumming over the hilt of her scimitar in a casual manner.
Erakirak chuckles. Honestly, any job that involves airship travel is all right with him, as is any job that lets him spend time with Murder, as is any job that puts coin in his pocket. Whatever the problem is, enough arrows have a way of solving it.
Murder bounces off of the railing, launching herself at Erakirak. "Phweee!" Hopefully he catches her, but no matter, she'll cling to him. "How do I measure the gold's worth?", she asks of the dwarf. "By how many nice things it will buy for my love, and my da."
"Bleh, no burning, lets get this going." Baz says, setting about shouldering two packs over an arm and then picking up his axe again. "Whos got da map? Mudah me girl, you got da map? Which way we go?" He watches the little goblin jump on the birdman with a raised brow then shrugs. Looking around the group. "Everyone 'ave some food and water? If we rode out here, might be out dis way a bit."
Finally, you begin to reach the area in question. It's a bit more sparsely forested, now, rather than rugged and treacherous. The greenery deepens until you're finally in a more verdant area, full of tall, flowers. Really big flowers, actually.
"Never leave home without bein' ready." Amaya retorts to Baz, "Can never tell when I will find myself goin' out in a trip, like now." she ties the mandolin over her back against her backpack and then settles her buckler in place before glancing in the direction of the goblin and at the mention of the map, watchin her in an expectant manner.
Bhavrad sets a boot in a stirrup and swings up onto his llama. The ornery looking creature turns its neck backwards to stare at the colorful khazad now sitting on its back. It chews its cud and stares at him with dull dead eyes. He glares back at the creature and gives it a little kick in the ribs. "We can put some more water in my saddle bags. This fat sow needs the extra work." The llama's hooves make little work of the distance, though Bhavrad starts to get figgity when the flowers start to look as big as his mount.
Deftly Razen evades the flowers as best he can, eyeing them suspiciously. While also keeping an eye on one of his companions. With his attention so split he's not paying attention to much else, but there's a soft grin that belays his suspiciousness of the odd looking flowers. Finally he speaks up. "Anyone recognize this kind of flower?"
Erakirak catches the goblin with a laugh, the pair doing that annoying PDA thing that kids who have just started dating haven't yet learned not to do. He looks at the flowers distractedly.
GAME: Erakirak rolls knowledge/nature -1: (5)+4+-1: 8
Murder plops down and tugs on Erakirak's hand. She glances at the flowers suspiciously, and pulls a bit more on Rak's arm, striving to keep up with the others. "Hmm. Giant flowers. Does this mean we might run into giant bees. Or worse, giant wasps? Or giant weevils?" There's a sigh from the big Ork. "Oy, big flowers, if there be'n big mushroom peoples here." He shakes his head and looks down, laying his axe against his hip as he digs out his helmet from a pack and secures it into place. Then there is a laugh from Baz. "Hoyo, thats da ticket make da provisions carry themselves. Eh? Oy, big one too, we broil that up a treat." The big Ork gives a throaty laugh as he eyes the llama. Then swings his axe up and resumes the march.
Razen laughs at Baz's comment that they should eat the llama as though it is a joke and shakes his head a little. He coughs at the end however, still grinning. "I doubt it would make good eating. Big as it is I bet it is all fluff." Beside the other oruch his accent is more notable, each word carefully spoken. He's still watching the larger Oruch, but it's a contemplative sort of observation - it borders on longing. Now he's almost not paying attention to the flowers.
A eye narrows to stare at the llama. "You 'ear that Caurak?" Bhavrad waggles a finger at the dire llama. "Behave yourself or I'll feed you to uggo over there." The llama spits a wad off sticky saliva onto the ground in response. "Giant weevils? Florists? This is why you can't trust a gnome. They are run on sugar, and lubricated with irrational thought."
Amaya eyes the giant flowers in a curious manner but for once is quiet, her brows furrowing as she seems to concentrate, steps now more deliberate as she keeps attentive to their surroundings. The gnome did mention danger here, so whatever it may be it won't be too far, at least in her mind. Gloved hands continue to taptap on the hilt of her scimitar as if in a musical rhythm.
"If you see any monks, you should take them out as quickly as possible. Remember that only you can prevent florist friars." Murder nods to Erakirak. "I'm more worried about giant bugs." The Goblin shudders. "Hopefully not giant earwigs. I'm going home if it's giant earwigs."
"Well, I'm glad you're at least willing to give bees a chance," Rak replies. "If not earwigs."
You hear...
...crunching sounds?
None too far away. It's definitely coming from one of the larger sets of flowers in the area. These flowers look like they could hold people, for god's sake.
Razen's ears perk up a little, and he drops back beside the llama-rider and his mount. Quietly he looks Bhavrad dead in the eye with his own stormy gray-green gaze and quietly murmurs. "If you call him something like that again, I am going to feed your mount /you/." He grins and flashes his pointed fangs, a clear marking of his own oruch heritage - and a threatening one at that. Then he marches forward toward the sound of crunching as though he had not just made a threat.
Murder peers at the larger flowers. Her ears stand up at the ominous crunching sounds. "Erm. Does that sound like... something large being eaten, to you?", the Gobbo asks of Erakirak. And she then looks to the others. "Er. Anyone else hear that?" She points at the bigger big flowers. "It sounds like those flowers are not vegetarians."
Erakirak nods agreement. "I do hear it. They're eating _something_, it seems."
Bhavrad looks to the llama and then back to Razen. Then back to the llama. Then he turns to Baz and hikes a thumb back at Raz. "Dis fella doesn't like us makin fun of da llama no more. Guess we gotta cut it out." A hearty chuckle rumbles through the khazad, his rosy cheeks barely ruffled. "Noisy. Bet that is your fun time, big guy." He reaches out to slap the orc in the shoulder. "Is it flower krumpa or bug krumpa time?"
She'd finally spotted him again! But then he'd been leaving, in a group... so she did the only thing any good stalker does, she followed! How she managed to stay unseen so far with her blue robes and silver jewellery is remain to be seen, but suffice it to say that as the crunching sounds grow louder as she grows nearer to the group, Chloe brings her hands up to her face to cover her mouth as she waits to see what the others find or reveal.
...it's really harwd to miss the source of the giant crunching sounds on the giant flowers in the distance.
It's a rabbit.
A giant.
Frigging.
Rabbit.
It's huge. It's easily twice the size of a person and with thick black fur. It is lazily munching on a flower.
Seriously.
And its eyes. Those eyes are...red.
very, very red.
The Goblin stares at the giant rabbit for a full ten seconds, before she starts to salivate, and she slowly pulls out her two-handed sword. "DINNER!", she yells out, and begins to run towards the large bunny.
Erakirak likes the way she thinks. That beast would feed the entire Aerie. He brings his bow out and gets ready to hunt.
"Someone clearly had no restraint when feedin' their pets.." Amaya quips, swinging her scimitar over to her side and continuing on to approach. No salivation here though.
Chloe just suddenly shouts out, "Bunny!" raises her hands a little bit as she does so before she seems to gather herself, snapping her mouth closed and glancing quickly aside at Razen before she reaches into the folds of her sleeveless robes and pulls out a small silver flute. As she begins to make her way towards Razen she begins playing slow but happy melody, something that calls to lazy afternoons spent outdoors. The priestess's braid is left free to run down the center of her back.
GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+7: (17)+7: 24 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Erakirak rolls 4+1d8: 4+(6): 10
Dreaming dreams of rabbit stew for the ages, Rak lands an arrow into the rabbit's flank.
Chloe continues to make her way towards Razen one step at a time, half paying attention to the bunny. As she walks behind Razen moving past him she stops playing just momentarily as she inhales, and while doing so gently runs the plam of her right hand across his back, the metal symbol affixed there glowing briefly for a moment before the music returns as she resumes the slow carefree tune.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d20+10-2+1: (19)+10+-2+1: 28 GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d8+5+4+2: (2)+5+4+2: 13
The massive Ork shifts on his feet, bringing his shield up and then swinging his battle axe in a vicious powerful cut towards the lead rabbit's head. "KOR!" He snarls, as black and red energy swirls around the edge of his axe. The weapon whistling upwards as it cuts hard across the rabbit's face spraying blood across it's soft snuggable fur.
GAME: Razen rolls weapon7: (6)+9: 15 GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+4: (1)+4: 5
Razen arches an eyebrow at Chloe, but flashes her a grin and draws his heavy mace. Following Baz he roars and swings at the bunny. He lands a light hit but his blood is flowing now - ready for the fight.
GAME: Amaya rolls 1d20+9+2: (9)+9+2: 20 GAME: Amaya rolls 1d6+4+3+3: (6)+4+3+3: 16
Amaya dashes across the garden, crushing all those little, poor flowers under her boots as she gracefully brings her scimitar in a graceful arc on the other flank that the orcs were at, blood flowing after her scimitar leaves the bunny's flank, a taunting little smirk on her expression.
OH GODS THERE IS ANOTHER BUNNY.
It lopes from beyond the flowers, letting out a shrill cry. It's fur bristles.
OH GOD THERE'S /ANOTHER/ BUNNY.
It's as big as the first one you saw, easily, and it also lets out a scream.
Screaming giant bunnies.
GAME: Bhavrad rolls ranged: (10)+4: 14 GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10 GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d8: (5): 5
And the violence finally kicks off. Odd bloody bunny violence. Bhavrad digs in his heels with a shout. The dire llama beneath him rears and then charges. A heavy wood and metal dragonspitter is drawn from its holster and fired with a screaming arcane boom. Caurak the llama oddly spits in time with the shot, but the lougie just hits the ground.
... ANOTHER BUNNY? BUNNY NUMBER FOUR?!
SO MANY BUNNIES! All black furried and scrumptious looking.
With red eyes.
... IS THAT A FIFTH BUNNY?!
It is. A fifth bunny just arrived from another direction. It's also huge. And tasty looking. It's nose twitches madly.
GAME: Murder RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP GAME: Murder rolls weapon10: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Murder rolls 1d10+5: (5)+5: 10
The Goblin's eyes flash and begin to glow red as she growls at the first giant rabbit. "DIIIIE YOU WASCALLY WABBIT!", she screams as she partly scales the creature to smack it in the nose with her sword.
...that bunny is made of strong stuff! Very strong stuff!
... of course, after Murder gets done trying to murder it, it's fur bristles even more and great thorns erupt from bloodily from its skin, its visage growing twisted and corrupted! Green flame spits from its eyes.
... it's a /fel/ bunny.
DEMON GIANT BUNNIEs. It's teeth grow EVEN LONGER and it attempts to take a bite out of Murder…
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (5)+4: 9
...quite successfully. That looks like it hurt!
GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Erakirak rolls 4+1d8: 4+(7): 11 GAME: Chloe casts Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 1 DC: 14
"Take your stinking herbivorous teeth OFF OF MY GIRL!" shouts Rak as he fires at the demon bunny that attacked Murder, wounding it.
Chloe almost stops her performance as she watches everyone runinng up to smack bunnies. She is clearly shocked, well no she kinda knew it would probably happen, but then the lead bunny begins to transform! Chloe quickly closes the gap created when Razen and others went to confront the giant rabbit. Placing her right hand in the center of his back as she steps up behind she whispers in Sildanyari <Walk Blessed, Shielded by Eluna> and for a brief moment a shimmering field of glowing white energy surrounds Razen before it fades almost entirely from view. Then the song returns, the notes wafting out of the flute like leaves settling on the winds.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d20+10-2+1: (11)+10+-2+1: 20 GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d8+5+4+2: (1)+5+4+2: 12 GAME: Razen RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP GAME: Razen rolls weapon7+1: (7)+11+1: 19
With a roar the big Ork drives his shield into the demonic bunny's maw. Catching just behind it's jutting horrific teeth and wrenching the head upwards and to the left. Then his right handed axe sweeps in, glowing it's black and red energy. The power of Kor surging through the Ork's massive arm as he chops the creature's throat open, spraying it's blood all across his black armor and the ground. "AHAHAHA! DIS ONE IS FOR FRY'N!"
GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (2)+8: 10
Razen doesn't notice the gentle hand on his back, notices nothing but his friend in the rabbit's jaws. Feels the spray of blood and roars. Stormy eyes turn nearly black as he charges across the field to slam his weapon into the nearest rabbit he can reach. "FOR MURDER!"
GAME: Amaya rolls acrobatics: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Amaya rolls 1d20+9+1: (15)+9+1: 25 GAME: Amaya rolls 1d6+4+3: (1)+4+3: 8 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (8)+4: 12 GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20
There is a raised brow given at all the shouting and ragin' going around the battlefield but Amaya only grins now, tumbling across to attempt to get behind the other bunny to attack it together with Razen, dodging nimbly through it's attack and placing a blow on it's flank. "Demonic skewers on the menu tonight?" she asks to noone in particular.
GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d4: (4): 4 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (3)+8: 11 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (7)+4: 11
BIRB IS THE WORD.
One of the bunnies immediately leaps over everyone towards the egalrin and proceeds to munch upon him viciously!
The others, well... one goes for the llama. Ar en't bunnies vegetarian? Not these fel bunnies. As each moves in, they undergo similar transformations to the first. DEMON RABBITS! Attempting to eat you. Baz and Razen are both struck, left bloodied by vicious bunny teeth.
GAME: Murder rolls weapon10: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21 GAME: Erakirak rolls 4+1d8: 4+(1): 5
Again the llama spits, a viscous globule of milky green mucus coats the bunny's face. Llamas. Creatures so gross, they can make another animal that eats its own feces, sick to its stomach. Bhavrad pulls at the reigns, turning his mount around at a distance. He draws his blade as he prepares for a charge.
GAME: Chloe rolls 1d6: (2): 2
Erakirak squawks indignantly as the demon bunny attacks and takes a bite out of him, then backpedals and fires at the beast.
The Gobbo screams when bitten but falls free when the giant rabbit is smashed by Baz the Orc. She promptly stands and charges, having seen the giant rabbit bounce over everyone to attack Erakirak. Screaming loudly she makes a mighty swing that ends up to be a mighty whiff.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d20+10-2+1: (3)+10+-2+1: 12
The Half-Sil priestess shakes her head and rolls her eyes a little as she continues to play the flute as Razen runs off once more! She doesn't have a pause in the music to sigh or she would! Instead she just slowly walks amongst the combatants until she's roughly in the middle of the middle, then she raises her right hand up, twirling it a little as if moving with the dying note of her flute, then a bright flash of white energy flashes thirty feet around here before it dims again and her hand comes down to regrip the flute and continue her melody.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d8+5+4+2: (2)+5+4+2: 13 GAME: Razen rolls weapon7+2: (3)+11+2: 16 GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (3)+8: 11
"ARRGH!" Baz roars as he's bit, repeatedly, by the bunnies. Smashing down with his shield he pushes the bunny's head off him and then cleaves into it with his axe. Loping one of the ears off with a heavy handed strike. "WOT, naw all ye can hear is the rage of Kor!"
The bite of the rabbit only serves to anger Razen more, and he echos Baz's roar to the heavens, but his roar is to Angoron. His strike falls heavily and he grins a bit viciously, hollering all the more loudly at the victory.
GAME: Amaya rolls 1d20+9+1+2: (8)+9+1+2: 20 GAME: Amaya rolls 1d6+4+3: (2)+4+3: 9 GAME: Amaya rolls intimidate -4: (5)+7+-4: 8 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (4)+9: 13 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (19)+9: 28 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (10)+4: 14
Oh great, flying ears now. Amaya shifts her weight from one foot to the other and delivers another graceful blow on the creature's flank, drawing some more blood. She hmphs and teases the creature, "You are goin' into the fryin' pan reaaallll soon." but she ain't scaring that big, bad bunny with those weak lines.
GAME: Bhavrad rolls melee: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20 GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d6+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7
Caurak's long fluffy neck twists in disgust at the horrid bunny it now fights in mortal combat. His fat lips part and large teeth chomp on the bunny with indignant wrath. His front legs peddle the air as Bhavrad drives his stiletto blade downwards into the floppy menace before him.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10
Well..
They're giant bunnies.
The fact of the matter is, bunnies are made to run away and fight is a last resort for them, so these thorny, bristly bunnies with red eyes and green flame and giant teeth try to bite. They try to kick. Only Baz is further injured at the moment, however, and he's honestly not looking so great with all the blood that the bunny is making him spill.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+10: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+8: (11)+8: 19 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21 GAME: Erakirak rolls 4+1d8: 4+(7): 11 GAME: Erakirak rolls 4+1d8: 4+(3): 7 GAME: Chloe rolls 1d6: (1): 1
Erakirak adds two more to the collection of arrows the bunny in front of him is sporting. It continues to hop and bop, much to his irritation.
Chloe continues playing the slow lament of lazy days spent under a scorching sun, lilting melody spilling from the silver flute as she just ambles along the brawl's edges. Another flash of pure white Divine energy bathes the onslaught of Rabbit Murder between beats in the music before the trilling notes return.
GAME: Baz da Ork casts Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14
The big Ork stumbles back under the continuing assault. He brings up his shield and braces his axe behind it. Intoning in his deep voice a prayer to Kor. His form flashes with celestial energy as his armor becomes infused with the wrath of war god!
GAME: Razen rolls weapon7+2: (4)+11+2: 17 GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (3)+8: 11
Razen raises his weapon again, both hands tight on the handle of the heavy weapon. He lifts it and slams it back down again, finally cracking the rabbit's defenses and bringing it down like a felled tree. Only with the fall of this one comes the roar of a half-orc deep in his rage, already looking for another rabbit to bring down.
GAME: Amaya rolls 1d20+9+2+1: (13)+9+2+1: 25 GAME: Amaya rolls 1d6+4+3+3: (2)+4+3+3: 12
With another bunny being downed, and the one she was flanking, Amaya swiftly jumps over the carcass and dashes across the battlefield to the demon bunny on top of the archer. "Got to keep 'em off the ranged ones!" she shouts to her companions just as she slashes in an effortless manner across the creature's back, a deep cut.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Bhavrad rolls melee: (16)+4: 20 GAME: Bhavrad rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+10: (11)+10: 21 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Erakirak rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d10+5: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Erakirak rolls 4+1d8: 4+(7): 11 GAME: Erakirak rolls 4+1d8: 4+(4): 8
As the dire llama's hooves hit the ground, its bucked teeth clack loudly as it tries to catch an ear. Bhavrad has greater success, his stiletto jabbed between demonic spikes time and again. Red kroovy stains the blade as he pierces the fel rabbit's side. "Just. Die. Already."
Erakirak shares Bhavrad's sentiment... these creatures are taking far too long to fall over! Perhaps the healers have something to do with it. Still, his trainers had always impressed upon him the importance of persistence. Sooner or later, they WILL fall.
GAME: Chloe rolls 1d6: (2): 2
The flute doesn't stop as the blood continues to be shed. The Half-Sil has her eyes closed to it at this point, she has settled down on her knees in the middle of the melee. Another burst of the potent positive energy pulses out, spreading through all living creatures and soothing wounds as the priestess plays.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d20+10-2+1+2: (13)+10+-2+1+2: 24 GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d8+5+4+2: (3)+5+4+2: 14
"WAAAGH!" Roars Baz as he brings his axe down on the bunny's head. Cleaving it in two. Then three, then four. The maddened Ork hacking the fuffly demonically powered monstrosity until there is just chunky salsa above its neck.
GAME: Razen rolls weapon7+1: (5)+11+1: 17 GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (6)+8: 14
Razen sees one last bunny standing and doesn't hesitate to charge it screaming the whole way. His weapon hits it full on and the creature falls like the one that Razen felled before it. No bunnies remaining. The half-oruch stands in the aftermath breathing heavily and covered in gore, but he shakes his weapon toward the heavens and laughs.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls Survival: (12)+9: 21
...with the bunnies disposed of and the garden searched (you also have to dispose of some giant slugs on the way out, but they are less dangerous than the bunnies by far), you're able to purge the garden of its demonic...slug and bunny infestation.
If the slugs were demonic. They may simply have been giant. In any case, the gnome will be glad, and when you return to alexandria, you're paid well in gold and a few magical trinkets.
Per the usual.
Only this time, you nearly died to bunnies.
-End-