Sarainy Malki |
"Yes, this seems like the perfect place to set up some sort of base. After all, we already have the Smiler's old HQ and now Hellion's... We could make a real difference to this town."
At the mention of the generator Sarainy adds, "Oh the generator. Linpul you had some interesting ideas in mind?"
Solaria Jesari |
"Now that the threat of Hellion is over, we can celebrate for tonight, but tomorrow we should go through that complex, make safe anything left behind and retrieve all that is useful." says Solaria as she picks up the bracers and torch. A smile breaks out on her face, "Yes, tonight we drink and forget the bloodshed, we must bring our own justice to Scrapwall. Tomorrow is another day, today we celebrate with our friends. Tomorrow we find what we can of Hellion's secrets and plans."
Uran Folker |
While happy that they had survived the final confrontation with Hellion, Uran still feels like something was missed. While the group certainly lost much in these fights, it seemes to the gnome that something was missing, but for the life of him he cannot put his finger on it.
GM Demonmoose |
You spend the night celebrating with the Scrapwall gangs. Redtooth and Whiskifiss gather together some of their best food, which is less displeasing slop and bugs and slightly dirty water. The gangs agree to split the remaining territory fairly with all gangs while the balance is still gone. Dinvaya agrees to head back with you should you return to Torch.
Searching through the complex, you find nothing new or relevant. The Lords of Rust have disbanded, any of its ex-members joining one of the other gangs or forming smaller ones. From Solaria's words you remember that their may be others like Hellion, the Enemy that sleeps beneath the mountain, and another being that came before Hellion.
Regardless, Torch is no longer under threat from Hellion and the Lords of Rust. If you return, you will get a reward from the council.
Book 2 is complete.
Feel free to continue roleplaying in Scrapwall if you want. Also, please tell me if you would like to continue to Book 3. Those staying may Level up to Level 6.
Linpul |
Linpul stops in front of Hellion and begins dismantling the robots for parts, scrap, and weaponry.
[ooc]Can I take 20 on that? Plus guidance for a total of 32[/dice]
"Well, if the generator can't be moved, we might be able to do something with that excavator thingy we never found. Can somebody check the panels? Maybe it's gone, maybe it's still here? Either way, a generator with the appropriate charging cables are practically priceless. Imagine being able to recharge laser pistols and the like without having to worry about silverdisks."
GM Demonmoose |
Yes, you can take 20 to dismantle stuff.
Linpul spends an hour dismantling Hellion and the robots. The scrapyard robots are mostly worthless, but she is able to find three silverdisks and a battery. Ripping apart Hellion's tail and taking various circuits, she has the basic structure of a plasma gun, like a laser pistol or arc pistol, but firing the same blue flame as Hellion. She only needs about a month of tinkering to get it to work properly.
You are technically inside the excavator. It is a giant vehicle with a drill on the front that is the lower part of the Lords of Rust base. It also needs a lot more energy to be functional.
Sarainy Malki |
After a night of celebration in Scarpwell, and with a slight hangover, Sarainy takes a moment to seek out Redtooth in the morning.
"Now with Hellion and his Lords of Rust gone, there will be something of a power vacuum here in the town. No doubt gangs will try to muscle in and take over..." she bites her lip, hoping this is a good call, "Maybe you should try to take control of Scrappwall? You and your gang I mean."
Later in the evening, she tries to talk with Uran when he is alone.
"So now that you are done here, with Hellion, will you be heading back to Alkenstar? Or try to carry on your mission to spy on the Technic League?"
Uran Folker |
"I reckon I will head on home. The sending I received seem to make me think they have something planned for me. I am sorry to be runnin' out on you all, but as a full fledged Shieldmarshal I have to go where they tell me.
I will miss you all, and wish you all the best of luck. I have not fought with such worthy people, and I will remember you all!"
Linpul |
Before Uran leaves she gives the other gnome a quick peck on the cheek.
"Good luck Shieldmarshal Uran, you will be missed. Now can we go home so I can hawk this battleaxe and chainblade and get a new arm? Cybernetic or a spell of regeneration works for me. Oh and Dr, you might like this thing I got off of Hellion. It's what he was using to fire plasma with, the blue fire. You might get more use out of it than anyone else would."
GM Demonmoose |
Finishing up your business in Scrapwall, the party heads their separate ways, some returning to the town of Torch.
----
End of Book 2. Starting Book 3.
A month passes.
Everyone that returned to the town gets a summons from Khonnir Baine at the Town Hall. When the party members head to the town hall, they see another face in the crowd of those gathered, a heavily armored dwarf.
"Well I am glad that all of you could make it on such short notice," Khonnir says. "It isn't important business I had in mind, but I think it might be relevant."
Jarkralzak |
Jark stands and listens to what Khonnir has to say. He was surprised the man included him in this meeting, as they had only met a few days ago.
Jarkralzak arrived in Torch in search of a growing evil he could sense. The meeting with Baine was pure chance, but perhaps the hand of his god was directing him to this particular group and their mission.
He examines the rest of the party and nods in approval at what he sees.
"These are not some group of farmers and shopkeepers, but seasoned veterans with the knowledge and experience of professionals!", he thinks to himself.
GM Demonmoose |
Khonnir continues, "A couple days ago I received word that a friend of mine was having trouble in Iadenveigh. Some of you may know that Iadenveigh is a town to the west of here-but it is quite different in Numerian standards to Torch. They try to live a simple life of farmers and hunters, and make sure that technology and the Numerian gadgets are kept out of the town. However, my friend, the councilman Redfang, has sent word that there has been some sightings of the Technic League in the area. I would like you to head over there and see what the problems are, hopefully helping Redfang in the process."
Linpul |
Linpul had been fiddling around in Torch after the excursion to Scrapwall. Most importantly she had the local doctor install a new cybernetic arm. It looked real, the new body art was certainly nice, but if anybody had a spell to simply detect technology they would know instantly. She had purchased a couple of items to help better protect her, had some local mages enchant her armor, her shield, and bought a fancy belt for Tetsuda.
Now in front of her adoptive father, she had Tetsuda's leash in her new arm. The beetle seemed to like that she was whole again. With the city of Iadenveigh announced, Linpul raised her arm.
"Mr. Baine, small problem. We have a lot of guns, and bodyart, and I have a new arm that's not exactly... natural. Will I have to stay outside of the town?"
She had noticed the dwarf, but was waiting for a time to introduce herself.
Dr. Lendaro |
Dr Lendaro nods to everyone upon arrival, and quietly greets Linpul's beetle. "Looking good Tetsuda... you are certain to make all the other beetles jealous with your new belt."
In response to Khonnir request...
"Yes. We'd be happy to lend assistance. I seem to have developed a thirst for excitement, and frankly wouldn't mind poking through the knapsack of a Technic League agent."
Linpul |
Linpul turns to the Dr, waves and then turns to the beetle, her eyes the size of dinner plates, her arms near her face as she squeezes her eyes shut and squees.
"I know, I knew it would match his shell. It's so great on him! It took me a few hours... days for me to get him to wear it properly without taking it off. Come on Tetsuda, open up your shell, good boy! See, it's wrapped around his abdomen between the rear and middle legs underneath his wings. And if he rolls over, Tetsuda, roll over. Not this again."
Linpul lets go of the beetle's wing and let's him close his shell before taking a few moments, a few clicking noises from her mouth, and finally his favorite treat, a banana, to get the beetle to roll over on his shell.
"Like I was saying, if he rolls over, you can see the belt buckle is made of Bronze and even in the shape of a gear! And because he wears this thing out and about it gives him a new sweet spot underneath the belt. Anybody want to try petting him there? If not I will and he really likes it."
Solaria Jesari |
Solaria's eyes narrow and her lips tighten at the mention of the Technic League. The followers of all this other world poison, they only bring trouble. At least we go where it follows the old ways, the ways of the gods. the words tumble through Solaria's mind. "It would be a pleasure to go there."
Out of the corner of her eye she spies a warrior dwarf, she nudges Linpul and whispers to her, "See, we are being studied by that warrior there, we'd best be careful, who knows what he scrutinizes us for? Are there Technic Agents here already."
GM Demonmoose |
Khonnir says, "I'm sure you will find a way to bring your tools and gadgets into the town. You are all very capable and have saved us more than once. Perhaps you will need to gain the trust of the people. Or at the very least, hide the things the people are fearful for."
From her desk Dolga clears her throat and says, "I thought your party needed some more muscle, as you had lost some members. The paladin seemed in need of a party as well, and you can't go wrong with a dwarf." The dwarven councillor adds.
Jarkralzak |
Taking this as his cue, Jarkralzak steps forward and introduces himself.
"May the strong arm of the Forge-Father protect you. I am Jarkralzak of Janderhoff, Paladin of Angradd. I look to join you in your battle against the Technic League, if you will have me."
A powerfully build dwarven warrior, his long, red beard is braided into two long ques with a large, heavy bead at the end of each. His armor is enameled a deep red, and the odd weapon at his hip looks like a long chain with a heavy fist-shaped weight at one end. A travelers pack sits at his feet.
Dr. Lendaro |
Dr Lendaro silently mouths "wow" as he takes in the dwarf's physique and presence.
"Excellent. Thank you and welcome.", and bows his head.
He murmurs over his shoulder to the others at his side - loud enough for Jaeralzak to overhear .. to avoid appearing rude. "Sturdy looking fellow to say the least... and on good terms with his deity. I do believe whatever we are up against, we just won."
Linpul |
"Mr Jark, Jarkra, is there a shorter name I can call you by? Well met, and would you like to pet my friend here? He's very playful once you get to know him."
The motion of her arm reveals the many tattoos on the gnomes left arm, which were spinning and lighting up from her excitement.
"Solaria, you seem, to me at least, the type of person that this town enjoys having. I am... more than likely not very welcome due to certain odds and ends that I rather enjoy. Like my e-pick, grenades, all the firearms we have, and some other toys and knowledge that we probably shouldn't have. What would you say we do?"
Jarkralzak |
"Jark is fine, and a fine looking beetle you have there Miss. I have a friend who travels with me as well, although he usually stays on his home plane until called. Would you like to meet him?"
The dwarf make a noise that sounds like a mixture of two rocks grinding against one another and the rattle of gravel down a slope. It lasts only a few seconds when a small bump can be seen forming on the floor. Soon the lump has grown into a roughly humanoid shaped stone creature.
"This is Squire. I know, an odd name, but he heard it once from a human knight talking about his squire, and so decided it was a good name that described himself and his relationship with me!"
Sarainy Malki |
Having spent the past month very much enjoying the comforts in life, namely an actual bed and home cooked food, Sarainy has been spreading stories of Scrapwall to the locals. Mostly the tales have been of the unholy majesty of Hellion, and how the group put him and his Iron Gods down, finding where possible to talk positively about the everyday people of Scrapwall and their strong desires to live good honest lives.
====
At the meeting Sarainy is very passive, listening to the words of the dwarven councilman and writing copious notes in her journal. When he is finished she turns and thanks him, insisting that the party will get to the bottom of the troubles in Iadenveigh.
Giving Tetsuda a scratch, as per the excitable gnomes desires, she grins. "Looking good Linpul, love what you have done with his belt! Trust you to add a cog though!"
"Well met, Jark." Sarainy says with a warm smile. "The Forge-Fire is a mighty god indeed. It will be an honour to fight alongside you. From where have you travelled, for you do not look like a local to Torch?"
"So, to Iadenveigh to find Redfang? If it is only three days travel horses seem a tad extravagant. Or are we in urgency enough to warrant them?"
Dr. Lendaro |
Dr Lendaro looks over Jark's summoned minion, and clucks his tongue.
"Impressive."
He looks to Sarainy and nods.
"While I have nothing against extravagance, I agree regarding the necessity of horses... and riding for hours on end tends to do a number on my lower back."
"We should replenish supplies and leave immediately. Naturally, a few extra days of rations would be prudent."
Once he finds a moment to speak with Linpul.. "Any progress on your tinkering with Hellion's weaponry?"
GM Demonmoose |
Pushing ahead. Feel free to talk about stuff before.
The party leaves after a day of preparations. You take a carriage and horses to the west following the road out of the town of Torch. The first day and night is uneventful. You see the blasted, desolate landscape to the north and west. The road cuts south and west.
You can continue following the road to get to Iadenveigh. It will take two more days of travel. Or you may head through the forest. That will take one day and a successful Geography/Nature check.
Solaria Jesari |
"Whilst I enjoy the sounds and smells of the forest, I doubt I would be able to find a way through without significant luck." says Solaria as they reach the point of decision. "I suggest we keep to the road, its been safe up until now, who knows it maybe safer than the forest."
Sarainy Malki |
"Come now friends, do you not trust my navigational prowess?" Sarainy asks with a laugh.
Can I do some sort of Knowledge roll to assess how dangerous the roads are to travel in these parts? Like an assessment of which would be the safer route, provided we pass the skill check.
Linpul |
I thought I already gave Dr Lendaro the arc pistol I had salvaged from Hellion
Looking toward the road and the forest, she points her new arm toward the road.
"I know about forests and such, but navigating isn't really my thing. Let's stick to the roads. Sure, bandits might be a bit more common, but typically bandits will have things like silverdisks and maybe some random laser pistols we can commandeer as concerned citizens."
Solaria Jesari |
"Sairainy, of course we don't doubt your skills, but I'm not sure any of us feel very safe tramping through the dark and unknown forest, even if we hang onto your shirt tails." Solaria smiles. "If you can lead us safely through, then it becomes an option again, though the wide open and dismal spaces of the road do appear less risky."
Happy to wait for Sairainy to use her knowledge, before we choose.
GM Demonmoose |
Sorry for the delay. Family stuff. Hopefully, things will go faster now.
Before you set up camp for the night (unless you want to keep traveling at night), a single dog-like creature passes by about 100 feet away. It doesn't move in closer to the horses, but instead brays and trots away.
Setting up camp, you see a bright, starlit night. It is peaceful and gives you very good rest.
---
The second day of travel along the roads as they slope south and west along the broken hillside is just as uneventful as the previous day.
You set up camp again away from the forest and some distance away from the road. The next day you will reach Iadenveigh.
Do you do anything before heading to the town?
Solaria Jesari |
"So what do we know of this place, we should keep a low profile, we are not the heroes of Scrapwall here. I wish we knew what to expect there and who is in control." Solaria sits wondering if her friends knew anymore than she does. "Let us hope we can find councilman Redfang quickly and not meet the League, and he can send us on the right path to help. For why would the League be interested in such an natural town, one I would be proud to be part of, if what Baine says is true."
Linpul |
While Solaria is prepping her spells I am going to check out the tracks of the creature that was watching us in the night.
Linpul spins the gears on her artificial arm, watching the lights glow and spin with fascination.
"I... might want to sit outside the gate if what Mr. Baine says is true. I've got my arm back, but it's not from a regeneration spell. Good news is that now I can actually hold on to Tetsuda's leash and he can't pull me anywhere. Sure he's stronger, but the cyberarm has some amazing capabilities."
Dr. Lendaro |
"No no... we stay together. Long sleeves and gloves should be enough to avoid triggering their anachronistic aversion."
"I'm glad you are happy with it... it's good to see you whole again."
As they near the town, Dr Lendaro stows his guns and tech within his haversack and bandoleer.
know local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 Anything else about Iadenveigh leadership and severity of tech phobia?
Linpul |
Linpul rolls up her sleeve to show off her cybernetic arm. Stretching her arm she wills the gears, cogs, and clockwork to spin and light up orange against her pale skin.
"Well, on the outside it doesn't look like anything special. Just some tattoos, I will have to not turn them on while in town. See, pretty seamless, I moved my armband up to cover the scar from the where it was severed. But a simple spell to detect technology will light it up to whomever casts the spell."
Sarainy Malki |
Sarainy waves her hands at Solaria, "No no, just a jest. More than happy to take the path more travelled - especially in this region."
----
"I agree with the Doctor, we should stick together. Worst comes to worst we can probably talk our way in even if they do spot your tech."
GM Demonmoose |
Lendaro knows that Iadenveigh is led by the Deadeye Council, with Redfang as the primary leader. They are worshippers of Erastil, the one eyed hunter. Not everyone is antagonistic against technology, but having it out in the open will likely get you the attention of any hunters and guards in the town.
You reach the town of Iadenveigh as the sun is about to set. The guards take a look at you, perched atop the Elkhorn Wall- a sharp, massive wall of wood and palisades that surrounds the entire city, but allow your carriage through.
Now that you are in town, what do you do?
Solaria Jesari |
"Linpul, there is nothing I can do to use the power of Desna to disguise your arm. You will have to use mundane means, unless Sarainy can help?"
Hopeully more after I've eaten dinner
Solaria Jesari |
Damn, just ate my post ... grrrrr!
As Solaria enters at the gates, she smiles at the guards, "Evening, would you be so kind as to direct me to the local temple, I would give thanks to the gods for safe travel. I will remember you too, if you can help me in my devotion. And who might be the holy man or woman to lead the ceremonies here, that I might introduce myself, as a friend." Her holy symbol of the Lady of Dreams , hangs loosely around her neck. Just as she thanks the guards for their help, her head quickly turns back, "And where might I find refreshments and shelter for the evening, good company and the warmth of ale. For as 'The Lucky Drunk' knows, we need sustenance after a long journey, so if you can direct my friends to the best inn, they will drink to you this night."
GM Demonmoose |
The guard, who is heavily cloaked with a soft brown beard, nods and answers Solaria.
"Follow the road to the west where it splits into four, just by the twin lakes and you'll find Derviec's Orchard. Brother Derviec is the head priest of Erastil. You won't find any inns here, most people stay at family farms, or you could go to the main building, High Home. Travelers stay there if they ain't got a place to go. It serves as the main congregation building for the Deadeye Council, too."
Solaria Jesari |
Solaria nods to the dwarf, "It would be a pleasure to have you along, there's no knowing what we might bump into along the way. Tell me, you know much of Erastil and his followers? It is sometime since a visited shrine or temple to the patron of farmers."
Turning to the others, she asks "Join us if you will, otherwise we'll meet you in the High Home."
Jarkralzak |
KNO: Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
I know something of their practices. I hads the good fortune to spend some time with one of their priests in Janderhoff. What would you like to know?
[ooc]I figure with a 17 he should know at least the basic tenants of the religion, as well as their common worshipping practices. Is that ok?"[/b]
GM Demonmoose |
Jark and Solaria (and others) head over to the orchard. A thin but tall man wearing a cloak is tending some of the large, pristine looking trees and picking ripened fruit and placing them in a basket held over his shoulder. He glances at you and continues with his work.
Past him and the orchard is a simple wooden church adorned with large bones and runes that look like an eye or a longbow.