GM Edwin;s Ferrous Deities!!!! (Inactive)

Game Master Insnare

The Foundry Tavern

Day 10, Month of Arodus (August), Year 4714

Torch takes its name from the violet flame that burns atop its central hill. The fires ignited spontaneously in 4602 AR, and for nearly a year they lanced into the sky, forming a purple column of fire that could be seen for miles around. By 4604, the flames had died down to a man-sized bonfire, leaving the top of the hill blasted and blackened. Several industrious locals soon discovered the flame's heat possessed two unusual qualities-it was hot enough to smelt skymetal ores and work with difficult materials like adamantine, and the fires themselves radiated a strangely directional heat. A chunk of wood thrown a dozen feet over the fires would instantly burst into flame, yet a piece of paper set a foot from the bonfire's edge would not even smolder.

This unique combination of traits made the fire a perfect forge. After a few sudden flare-ups resulted in the tragic incineration of several smiths and their partially completed forges, the townsfolk learned how to interpret the flares and flashes that presaged such an eruption. Rather than build permanent structures around the fire, they came to rely upon portable workshops transported up the hill via wagon or carriage, so that when the fire began one of its unpredictable surges, the smiths could retreat to safety to wait for the blast of fire to recede.

One of the more popular hangouts in Torch, the Foundry Tavern was aptly named. Its owner, Khonnir Baine, used to make frequent appearances to demonstrate new inventions here- whether mechanical or magical. The tavern itself was always packed, and Khonnir rented out space in his neighboring foundry for visiting smiths and metalworkers to use.

Now with Khonnir gone missing for the last two days, the tavern was a far cry from its glory days. Indeed, strange events had befallen the town of Torch lately.

Arguably, the most important recent event in Torch was the loss of the town's eponymous feature. A strange violet flame had long burned atop the hill the town was built around, and these fires burned hot enough to allow the smelting of skymetal. This had given Torch a singular source of income. Smiths, metalworkers, and scavengers from miles around came to Torch to use its flame to smelt and work with skymetals. Now and then, the flame had pulsed and blasted a beam of fire into the skies above town, during which time it was not safe to be atop the hill, but until a week ago, the flame had never gone out. Now it had, and no one in town knew why.

Without the flame, the town's primary source of income had been removed, and with a number of significant tithes to the Technic League coming due soon, the town's leaders were growing desperate to re-light the violet fires.

One of Torch's most beloved leaders, the wizard Khonnir Baine, discovered strange activity in a number of hitherto unknown caves below the city's central hill, and even recovered a deactivated automaton now stored in his home behind his tavern, The Foundry. But when Khonnir returned to these strange caves to try to learn more, he vanished. The town has grown increasingly desperate for answers, and now looked for the return of their missing wizard as well, but with so many other local and visiting adventurers having gone missing in the caves, fewer and fewer volunteers were stepping forward.

But on a more personal level, someone’s dad had gone missing.

It was mid-morning when Val Baine finished writing the five notes and hoped beyond hope that they would be heeded. The notes were simple; they asked the person to come to lunch at the Foundry Tavern later that day. She then called over a couple of the kids she fed in her tavern and asked them to deliver the notes. Once the kids left, she got busy preparing lunch.

please tell us about receiving the ‘note’ from Val; possible things to include are:
- what you were doing;
- how you reacted;
- describe you're ‘getting ready’; and
- anything else you want to add. Write how your character might know Val, when you came into town if you are not from the village and so on.

"...then, wouldn't you know it, gentlemen? At just that moment, the halfling comes right back into the room at last. And his eyes, they'd seen somethin. Wasn't airy a doubt to it. And, well, I don't rightly recall who it was what asked first, but I don't reckon that's the point, yknow, in the grand scheme of such. Anyways, SOMEone asked him--"

Into the tavern burst Barany, his cousin of naught but seven years old, thin like twigs and hard like steel. "Anj! Val needs ya somethin awful. She sent a note a words!"

"Val?" the storyteller blurted in an uncharacteristically ill-considered way. Anjru belted down his whiskey shot and the rest of his beer. "Well, gentlemen, what kind of man would I be if I harked not at a lady in need? I thank ye kindly for the hospitality and doubly so for the spirits, but it seems I must vacate and assist a lady so fair her pa learnt to break th rules of nature." Anjru bowed impressively and exited the tavern.

"Wait ..." one of his compatriots said, just too late. "What did th little fellow see?"
Meanwhile outside, Barany and Anjru had twisted their trail through several corners. "Anj, I do hope I didn't interrupt a fine story."

"Dingus, I kept a-hoping I'd come upon some sort of satisfyin endin, but I was drawin a real blank. So, what sort of mess is Val in now?"

Barany shook her head. "Ain't like that. Not this time."

Anjru shut up for once and pondered upon what it was he'd just a-jumped into.

Aada yawned as she answered the door, looking down upon the child with a letter in hand to her. Handing the child a gold coin she took the letter and closed the door of her small rented home. Sauntering lazily over to a small chair, she gingerly opened the letter.

"Now what does this say?" she said sitting down, reading through the letter,[/b]" O' boy, I better get dressed."

Quickly entering her bedroom she threw off her robe, moving about with nothing on. Her wooden symbol of Calsistria in hand, she held it tightly to her chest chanting a prayer to her goddess. When Aada was done, she stood up from her prayer and began to dress. Yellow and white garments draped over her. With practiced effort, she donned the ceremonial armor.

She was just about to leave when she heard a snore from the lump on her bed. She shook the figure gently, "Hey sleepy, having a good sleep I see."

The figure groaned in response.

"Well, make sure to lock up when you leave," she said as she took her leave.

It's in the plaza that Gema stands, staring at where the town's defining feature used to roar. A puzzled look sits on her face as she watches both the no longer burning torch, and the passer bys who stop and shout about it. "I do not understand..." she mumbles to herself as she continues to watch, oblivious to the small figure standing next to her, attempting to get her attention.

It isn't until that the child tugged sharply on her jacket that she acknowledges him, craning her head town to look at him, and then to his outstretched hand. "If you wish for my attention, please speak up next time," she says, eyeing the piece of paper he offers forth for a moment before taking it.

She ignores the comment from the child about how easy she was to find. "Tell her I will be there momentarily," she instructs, and the youth takes off to whatever he has next to do - or so Gema presumes. She is not normally in the habit of taking notes from strangers, but she makes no effort to hide her appearance, her true nature and in Torch a note could be anything from a warning to a dubious invitation - something, logically, she should not ignore both for opportunity or for her own safety.

The note is from someone she only met briefly when she arrived in town, which makes this sudden contact all the more strange to her. For a moment, she considers ignoring it. Warning signals crop up in her mind quickly, but are quashed after continued consideration. Instead, she turns and walks back into the depths of town, pulling a book from her side to glance at as she makes her way to meet Val.

KiRen pounds out the last dent of her breastplate, grumbling as she works. Two days without the fires of the forge! If this continues, I am going to have to find another source of income, and I hate looking for work!

Trying on the armor, she twists and stretches to see if she continues to have full range of movement. The training session from yesterday dented more than just her ego, but the armor was quicker to repair.

As she turns her attention back to the gearworks she was working on earlier, a child she recognized from the tavern meekly peers in.

"Yes, what is it? I have no toys for you today." She smiles to herself, knowing that the children are afraid of her, yet curious enough that they still come to see her.

The small boy holds up a letter. He doesn't seem afraid, yet he does not speak, nor does he come closer. He just sets the paper on the barrel and back away.

KiRen stands and walks over to it. She opens the paper, and looks at it. "Can you read this boy?" As he shakes his head "no", she shakes her head sadly. "We shall need to remedy that soon, little man! You do not want to live your life deprived of that skill, of that I am sure!"

She reads the letter. Khonnir Baine missing... well, I expect it is one of those constructs he likes so much revealing it's true self and destroying him. But Val was always kind, and the man did let me use his forge many times, so the least I can do is come hear what she wants. And she makes a fine meal, so perhaps there is a decent stew there. Without the forge, I may be hard pressed to afford such fine dining in the days to come...

"OK, boy." KiRen says, as she straps on her favored falchion, mostly just to impress the boy who she knows likes to tell stories. "Lead on, and we will go hear what Mrs. Baine has for me this day!"

During her stay in Torch, Shareena had stayed primarily in the Foundry Tavern when not in her room at the inn. As such it was natural that she'd meet Val, and regaled her with stories of the open sea.

"Coming." Shareema replied to the knock at her inn room's door. When she answered the door, there was a child holding a letter up to her.

"Thank you little one." She said as she played with the child's hair. With that, and a little wave, she sent the child on his way.

"Now what's this?" She asks as she opens the letter and reads it,"Val needs to speak to me? I hope all is as well as can be."

After a short walk, Aada reaches the tavern. She opens the door with a smile and enters, "Hello, is Miss Baine present, she sent for me?"

Val was on edge and growing desperate as the hours passed and there was no sign of her father. She took matters into her own hands and called on friends and acquaintances for help. With the tavern closed, she gathered them all at noon.

You characters walk into the tavern and she closes the front door to make sure your group is in private and says, " I wish to thank all of you for coming to me in my hour of need."

Serving being her kind of a nervous habit she pours each of you your favorite beverage and then Val breathes deeply, “The Council is offering a reward to bring back Councilman Baine. I don’t have that kind of money but you can all stay here as long as you need, free of charge of
course, and I can cook.”

Tears welled in her eyes, “What I really need is for you bring back my dad.”

introduce yourselves, discuss plans on how you will approach the task of finding Khonnir (the AP hinges that you accept to do this )
The information below is common (PC) knowledge so feel free to use any and all of it in your post:
Extinguished Torch: The violet flame that has burned atop Black Hill for over a century has gone out, leaving a strangely seeping pit of rubble and bubbling fluids where the towns livelihood once glowed day and night.

Missing Councilor: Ever since Councilor Khonnir Baine, one of Torch's more powerful wizards and a well-liked individual, went missing on his second expedition under Black Hill, the citizens of the nervous town have edged closer to outright panic. With their hands full handling the growing refuse and waste problems in town now that their primary disposal method is gone, the town council is eager to find out what happened to Khonnir and rescue him. They've made public a reward of 4,000 gp to any group that can recover Khonnir's body; if he can be returned alive, they've promised to throw in the scroll of resurrection they've been holding on to in casethey need to revive him.

Interested parties are invited to speak to the council at Town Hall.

Black Hill Caves: Khonnir Baine discovered the signs of unusual traffic on the banks of Weeping Pond, and shortly thereafter, the submerged tunnel that provides access to several heretofore unknown tunnels under Black Hill. His emergence from the caves with a deactivated semi-humanoid automaton sparked worries that something strange might be going on in the caverns, but when he failed to return from his second expedition a few days ago, those worries turned to outright fear. Several other adventuring parties have gone missing in the caves, and Torch finds itself running short on new volunteers.

In general, please think of the following when posting:
a) When you post, provide a good physical description of your PC and start fleshing out mannerism, quirks, fears, personality, etc. I want to be able to read a name and immediately have a strong picture in my mind of who this name belongs to.
b) DO include your character internal thought process. This is an excellent touch to games and will strongly help define your character. There will be times when I or a fellow player will take over your character for ‘minor actions’ or bot you so a very well defined character is to everyone's benefit.

Aada takes a seat, crossing her legs as she sips the light alcoholic drink served to her. She is of a Taldan descent, with dark hair that accented her green eyes amd fair skin.

"It is a very kind offer you have made to miss Baine. I may not be really from around these parts, but I can see your father's disappearance is a rather large problem that needs to be resolved. Please do not cry, there is still hope," she smiles politely putting her cup down on the table.

"Could it be those damned metal men behind this," she thought to her self.

She looks her in the eyes, "By the sting of Calistria I, Aada, shall accept your plea of aide."

Anjru walked into the tavern with a reserved smile, friendly but allowing for concern. Tall and wide, fit but not muscled, wide face tanned and jet black hair oiled back, he was unassumingly handsome. His clothes were well worn, and a guitar was strung around his back. "How do, KiRen," he said as he nodded at the blacksmith. "Val, what's wrong, darlin?"

Well lookee here at this motley assortment. A robot lady, Ki, one a them purdy Calistria lasses, and a swordswoman by the look of it. Ain't I a lucky fella ...

"No secret yer pa was a friend t'me, hell, t'all. If'n I can help, well, I'll do just that. All I ever ask for is a roof and some vittles, and for true, Val, yer stew's more'n enough to get me to do what ever."

KiRen, a stout looking woman with a full head of jet black hair, strides confidently into the tavern, head held high. A simple but effective leather skirt and sturdy boots look practical, but the scuffed breastplate and notched falchion show that she is not afraid to mix things up. A warm fur lined cloak hangs from her shoulders, and large copper disks hang from her ears.

"I am sad to hear your troubles, Miss Val. I have heard of such reward they offer, and so I expect more than a few will take up this task for the monetary gain alone. I care not for such things... but you and your father have been kind to me, despite my insistence that he meddles with things he should fear. I am certain that techno-garbage he seeks has caused his troubles, but we can have hope that he has simply gotten himself trapped and needs rescue. Yes, I will search for your father, and perhaps take care of a few of these dangerous machines in the process."

"He went into the caves, of that we are certain? It seems, then, that is where I must go. Who will join me?"

A cross look sits upon Gema's face as she slides purple hair out of her face as she steps into the tavern, taking a moment to somewhat straighten windswept hair. That it looks messy isn't the issue, rather that she has forgotten anything to tie her hair and now she constantly finds it blowing into her vision. It's one of the closest things to "aggravating" she knows, or so she's told. Every step is measured and deliberate.

Straightening her light leather coat, she wastes no time in finding her way to Val and those gathered around her. The book she had held the entire walk is closed with a bare audible thump and slipped into a pouch at her waist. The android pauses, looking to the others gathered around, before looking to each of them individually and offering a nod of acknowledgement.

She listens to Val's plea, arms crossed as she stands. Tall as she is, it would surely attract attention if anyone else were in the tavern besides the lot of them - though the circuit lines running across her hands and neck would likely make her stand out just as much, no effort made to hide them. She only half listens to Val, being pretty sure she's already reached a conclusion on what she is needed for; instead she takes a moment to assess her company.

"Techno-garbage?" she questions with a sidelong glance to KiRen, she metallic glint in her eye evident. She doesn't sound offended, despite clearly questioning the choice of words. But rather than inquire into it, she instead looks to Val and offers a small bow - a custom she was taught by her adoptive mother. "You will have my assistance," Gema offers, expression flat. "This is as much an opportunity for me, as it is an opportunity to help you."

I can't put my finger on it, but that woman looks rather strange," Aada thinks to herself as se gives a puzzled look to Gema.

"Well, it looks like we have a posse," she smiles taking another sip from her drink.

Her skin almost seems to glow with an inner light as she stands leaning up against a wall. Her long black hair flows loosely and her startlingly blue eyes look at each in turn.

"Of course I'll go look for your dad Val. You know how important family is to me after hearing all my old sea stories."

Val tear ridden nods in acknowledgement to your motley crew of adventurers and she says after regaining some composure, "I really appreciate this, it is just so difficult."

After a few minutes, the blonde girl excuses herself and went to get you a cake she has baked for you. On her way to the kitchen she snaps her fingers as if she’d just remembered something. The sound of the outside door confirmed that Val was going to get something from her home, right next to the tavern.

Please roll me a D20, please mention what your ideas are to help and find her father, where to go and the like.

Just a d20, alright.

1d20 ⇒ 14

"Hmm," Aada began, "I think we should take a visit to her fathers house. See what he was working on before his disappearance. Any other ideas?"

1d20 ⇒ 19

"I think it is worth a look before we enter the caves."

1d20 ⇒ 17

After a silent moment, Gema looks thoughtfully towards the others. "I would believe this is the first place anyone would look for clues to his disappearance. However, there may still be something meaningful to find." With a brief pause, she nods to herself. "Has anyone retraced what is known from before he vanished? Perhaps there is something overlooked there as well..."

1d20 ⇒ 13

"That sounds like an excellent first step. We should also ask his friends, and any enemies, if he'd been acting at all oddly before his second dive."

"Well, there is also talk of that automaton he found. Stored up at his home. Word is he got it from them caves he disappeared off in," she shifts in her seat, crossing the other leg and taking another sip from her glass.

1d20 ⇒ 9
"I reckon that's a right fine way t'start our investigation. Now I ain't exactly learned in such topics as robots and the arcane arts or such as, but I Fer damn sure have heard and told many a tale of detectives of rare ability, so maybe that'll work like a charm."

Aada

Kiren

Gema

Shareena

Anjru

"If we are going out, I advise we go to the Tempting Tonics. I've heard they are having a sort of sale."

"While we're at it, may be interesting to go check out Crowfeather. I heard there's a monster there that's big enough to swallow a wagon."

Shortly, You can hear a scream from Val that breaks up the conversation right quick. It came from outside. You all fly out of your seats to help her, who was frantically trying to enter the foundry.

Everyone roll me initiative and tell me what you choose to do.

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

KiRen rushes out toward the scream, pulling out her falchion.

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8"Val!" Well what in tarnation is it now?!

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Gema likewise moves towards the scream, though she doesn't rush, instead moving methodically in it's direction.

Aada Init 1d20 ⇒ 16, Shareena 1d20 ⇒ 8 I don't see an initiative listing for either character... please include your ACs, saves and Init on your avatar posting thingy

Following the scream and the sound of crashing and
mayhem leads you to the storeroom in the
southeast corner of Khonnir's home. None of the doors in the
building are locked, but as you approach the storeroom,
the door bursts open and the malfunctioning robot lurches
forth on its three spidery legs. The robot moves with a jerky,
staggering gait.

The repair drone was 5 feet tall and made of a gray and white metal-like polymer. Its humanoid-type legs allowed it to navigate over broken terrain and rubble with ease. Its torso and arms and head are vaguely humanoid, with a four-fingered hand on each arm. Bits and pieces
of its chassis are missing, exposing the delicate circuitry within, and it made loud and tortured grinding noises as it moves.

Init Bot 1d20 ⇒ 10

Order: Aada, Bot, Gema and Anjru(simultaneously), Shareena, KiRen

Aada moves in to attack the robot 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16 with her morning star hitting for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The bot turns to attack Aada 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 hit slamming her with its arms 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Gema, Anjru, Shareena, KiRen

Gema stops once the lumbering mechanoid comes into to view, her advance slowing until she's what she considers a reasonable distance away. She eyes the creature momentarily, assessing it. Mother always called these things my cousins, she thinks to herself as she raises her hand, fingers spread and trying to get the automoton in her sights before letting a crackling bolt of ice fly forth from her fingers.

Ray of Frost - Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Damage If Hit: 1d3 ⇒ 3

I am glad I do not agree.

KiRen strides right in and tries to destroy the bot, her raison d'etre.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 14
Damage: 2d4 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 + 2 = 12

Gema's ray of frost strikes the bot.

Anjru runs and attacks with his warhammer 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 miss

Shareena attacks with her rapier 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 hitting for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

KiRen you have the honor of describing how you destroy the enemy, this is a tradition in my IRL games and I want to bring it on pbp... please do it in detail

And the whirring stopped altogether and the robot lost its legs. It toppled to the side, dangerously close to Val who was still sobbing. It was now easy to see that she had been cut and she also had some minor burn marks on her from the bot.

Val says, "Thanks for saving me from that machine. It kept digging holes into the wall for no reason and it attacked me."

"I'm far from a robut expert, but weren't this one OK with yer pa? Might well be it was a-tryin' in his own way t'find 'im?"

Trying to shake off her wounds, Aada looks to the now destroyed machine with a look of disgust.

"What a horrid creature. What happened to awaken this thing? she says with distaste.

"Curious," Gema intones as she looks over to Val, and then starts to approach the wrecakage. "I would like to know as well, Ms. Aada. These malfunctions are obvously dangerous. Know the catalyst for such a thing could be helpful to us all, in case more are on their way to this condition."

She kneels down beside it, looking over with a strange sort of intensity. "Are you alright, Val?" she adds, as close to absent mindedly as she can. "If you are in need of aid, I can provide." A hand runs over the fallen machine, showing where her focus really lies, however. "That goes for you as well, Ms. Aada. I will be over there momentarily." She doesn't seem to know - or at least, not consider - that Aada could handle herself.

Val says, "My dad brought it back from the caves awhile back and I think it was the first time, anywho, it was inert and he hadn't been able to get the thing to work. With no luck at all."

Val turns to Gema, "I should be fine. It attacked me and just started boring holes into the walls. So macabre."

"Some proper healing would do me a kindness," she says with smile, "It hit me pretty rough, rougher than I like."

Don't get proper channeling until next level. However, this archetype is more in favor of buff and debuffing.

KiRen pulls out her blade with a scraping sound of metal on metal, bringing wires and chips out with it. "These constructs are dangerous, as we can plainly see. We should not let them in our homes."

Not being the coddling type, KiRen looks over to verify that Val will live, and nods satisfied that the situation is done.

Val blushes mildly and says, "If it had been up to me, I would never have let that thing in my home. But my father wanted it here."

"So, it just started attacking, rather strange," Aada says as she kicks the dead automaton.

Val says, "It was deanimated just a big block of metal up till now, extremely macabre."

What would you like to do?

"These... machines... cannot be trusted. They have no feelings, no morality."

"Only if you know nothing about such things would you make such a hasty judgement," Gema remarks as she walks over to Aada, a hand placed on the woman's shoulder, sending positive energy surging into her. "We should not be so quick to judge until we have more information. Such machines rarely act without some sort of outside influence." A glance cast back to the wreckage, Gema approaches Val.

"Where did your father get these machines, again?"

Spending one point from my arcane reservoir and a spell slot to cast Cure Light Wounds on Aada

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

KiRen looks at Gema, surprised by the repeated defense of machines, but simply scoffs and starts sifting through the destroyed robot's components.

Shareena walks over and puts one arm around Val.

"It's ok now Val, I don't think this one is going to be moving again anytime soon."

With that, she stands there trying to be as much comfort for the shaken woman as she can.

Val nods her head in Shareena's direction and says, "I'll clean this mess up. Thanks once again for your help. Please find my dad."

Feeling the strange sensation of Gema's healing, Aada gives a polite smile, "Why thank you for such a kindness. Rather refreshing."

"We should pick up what potions we can from the store. This Automaton came from the caves below. We should get our answer I believe there."

You don't want to check out any of your rumors, if not I can bring you to the caves below

We could do some of the other rumors, but posting rate seems abysmal somewhat.