Chapter 30

Carl's group discovers that Growler Gary, the gnoll bartender, is an indestructible NPC who cannot leave his bar due to magical constraints. They learn the Interdiction Rapid-Response carts require two gnoll hands placed simultaneously on magical sensors to operate. To rescue stranded survivors at the abyss, they must repeatedly kill and harvest Gary's hands to activate multiple carts.

Upon returning to the Downward Dog bar, the party finds Growler Gary severely intoxicated. He explains that the Tangle transformed the station into a Krakaren nest, killing all the gnolls and hobgoblins. A woman with a pretty appearance attacked him, tore out his throat, and stole his alcohol, though he mysteriously survived. Carl recognizes from his NPC handbook that Gary must be an indestructible NPC necessary for quest completion. Gary reveals the Interdiction Auxiliary carts and Rapid-Response carts—specialized trains that can navigate the tracks and operate portals to transport objects. The Rapid-Response carts are the most powerful, featuring a wide debris scoop portal that can clear tracks and redirect items to either the trainyard or the abyss. However, these carts require two gnoll hands placed simultaneously on magical sensor plates to start and keep running. After testing, Carl realizes they cannot remove the portal mechanism from the carts. The party develops a rescue plan: send two Rapid-Response carts down three different colored lines to each stranded survivor group. The first cart's portal channels debris and monsters into the abyss; the second, arriving fifteen minutes later, transports survivors to the trainyard. To execute this plan, they must harvest Growler Gary's hands repeatedly. After initial resistance and explanation of the purpose, Gary agrees to cooperate, asking only that they make the deaths painless and provide alcohol afterward. By chapter's end, the party has killed Gary multiple times and collected several of his hands to power the carts.