As Tanner remembers the transformation of the fighter and its similarities to Attir's transformation, an idea occurs to him. Thinking back on it, the dragon never used its acid breath even when it had the opportunity. And the fear that sent himself and Glennifar running wasn't necessarily cast by the dragon himself. "Ryli, didn't you see a green ray come out of the forest, as if there was spellcaster there? If so, then Attir may have become a black dragon against his wishes. If a spellcaster leader of the gnolls wanted to distract us before his gnolls attacked, what better way than making a huge dragon appear in our midst. If that's the case, then one, we probably don't have to worry about a black dragon waiting for us at the gnolls encampment, and two, Attir may still be around here somewhere trapped in a black dragon's body."

"All I can say is if we run across that black dragon again, don't attack immediately, let's talk to him. If it's still Attir, we may be able to help him, and more immediately, he may be able to help us. And if it's not Attir, well, talking may still be our best chance."

Tanner will take the jewelry and one of the Spiderclimb potions. He'll offer the other one to Nissa or one of the rangers. "I'll hold on to these red potions until we figure out what they are."

Thinking further about the fear spell and how it affected Tanner and Glennifer but noone else, Tanner wonders if the spell was specifically cast on Glennifar and Tanner was just the next closest person to him. If so, then the entire attack was probably just a ruse to get Glennifar away from the group so he could be captured, in which case the likelihood of another attack seems unlikely, and the chances of Glennifar being a prisoner but still alive is greater.

When one of the guards speaks up about knowing Gnoll, Tanner goes with him to interrogate one of Gnoll prisoners. "Who is this spellcasting leader of yours? Why did he come for the elf? Where are they taking him? How far away is it? How many more of you are there?" Tanner will make sure that the Gnoll understands all the questions and knows that Tanner will not leave until he gets answers to all of them. He will try whatever tactics he needs to to get the Gnoll to answer. Knowing that the elf's life is at stake, and more importantly his own now that he's decided to go after him, Tanner will use whatever means necessary to get the answers out of him.

ooc: Tanner will use all his skills to cajole, browbeat and terrify the Gnoll into answering. He'll use his Bluff skill to convince the Gnoll that he'll really kill him if he doesn't answer. While Tanner doesn't really want to actually kill any defenseless prisoners, if nothing else works, he will.
A tall, gangly human youth looks at you, his questioning green eyes filled with the energy and enthusiasm of youth. Clad in a fine chain shirt with a buckler emblazoned with crossed lute and sword, he wears an Elven rapier at his side and a rustic lute over his shoulder.