"I would like to hear this too. I bet your boot is such an illustrious conversationalist, like you have proven to be," muttering the last part under her breath sarcastically.
you know a smaller boot he says raising his left foot like mine right here is easier to shove up in one backside he says smiling.
But you are more welcome to tag along missy
"You'll leave me alone then? Let me be?", the ratperson scratches himself, deep in thought, "The slaves are in the lower mines sir…you need to head north from here…find the decline winch to use a cart….the lower mines are deep, the slope is too steep to climb safely sir….but, I haven't been there for months…somethings moved into the mine just north of here". A look of genuine fear crosses it's face, "Big things sir…they could rip you to pieces…"
The ratperson looks at the rest of you assembled in his hideaway, "Will you go with him? Leave me be?"
Thank you for the information. I see no reason not to leave you in peace, what are you doing here any way out of curiosity and what is this? and what purpose? he ask pointing at the lab and the creature
"So this damn-fooled hunter is right...there actually are slavers here. Nice to know he's here for the right reason, but we really do need to hear more about you." Bragi's voice drips with menace as he snarls the last word and fixes the rat man with a nasty stare."You see. We came looking for information about those." and he gestures with Betty toward the Guardian behind the rat.
The ratperson visibly shivers at the sight of Bragi's firearm, "Please sir, I just found this one...out on the plains it was...I've tried to get it working again...but the mechanisms are beyond poor Habblegash's knowledge". Scratching himself nervously, the pathetic rodent continues, "This one isn't the only one though...every few days I see one marching to or fro...".
Simpering to Sumak, "This is my home now...I used to be a great mechanic...a maker of marvels...but", talking in a sad tone,"those days are behind me. I came here for peace...to be left alone...and everything was okay until these others came along". From his demeanour, he clearly means Bragi et al when bemoaning 'the others'.
you satisfied now? says sumak to the gun wielding man
"Well, isn't that interesting, several more of these wandering around? Let's take care of this slaver den, the two situations are probably related."
As long as they are dealt with i am fine. I am sumak and this is Fred. he says making a simple nod but you can tell that he isn't relaxing his grip on his weapon.
Wouf, Wouf goes the large Wolf
Bragi scowls, "We'll deal with the slavers in time. These Guardians are a threat to our city. If the two are related, you'll have your justice all the sooner." He turns back to Habblegash and barks several questions, "Tell us more. Where do the Guardians go? What have you learned from this one? What other creatures lurk in these mines?"
Taken aback at Bragi's abruptness, Habblegash stutters a response…"They d.d.d.d.don't come into this part of the mine sir…..somewhere else they be going…maybe the lower mines?". This one….", pointing at the inactive guardian, "…is faulty…I found it on the plains…think it was heading back towards the city…I don't know what's wrong with it though…."
Scratching nervously again, "I don't know what it is that has moved into the mine north of here…large hairy creatures they are, with four arms…my spies watch them…look for weaknesses…but there's too many of them…they have their space…and I have mine…."
Bragi's nose flares and his hand seeks a cigar that isn't there before he fixes a more fierce glare on Habblegash, "You know something rat. Don't try to hide things from a shieldmarshal, especially things that threaten my city."
He forces himself to back off a little, "Look, maybe we make a deal. Sounds like you're not all that crazy about these big hairy critters. Probably the same slavers our new acquaintance here is all crazed to track down. Maybe we can work together. You tell us everything you know about these Guardians, the lower mines, and the mine north of here. We'll go deal with whoever is behind the trouble with the Guardians and in return, you get a little safer home. What do you think?"
I think that deal is fair simply says the hafling not relaxing one bit tough
"Not hiding anything…not hiding…not hiding….", the ratperson's voice trails away as it glances nervously at Bragi's imposing firearm. "Okay, okay, okay…tell you what I know…this Guardian is contaminated…it's been tampered with…".
Stepping backwards and opening the front panel of the device, in a gentle non-threatening way, Habblegash points at something inside, "There…there…do you see it?". There are green flecks of mineral deposits within the clockwork working of the machine and, similar to the construct that you were shown in Alkenstar, some of the metal appears to be fluctuating between solid and liquid. "That's Eidite…dangerous stuff…it used to be mined here…used by Clockwork mechanics to improve the performance of their constructs…but then people started getting sick…that's why this mine closed…too many deaths…"
"There's not much I could do to help Sir…my machines are lost to me…in a cavern to the north….maybe….", his eyes light up, "yes maybe you could retrieve them for me…valuable clockwork soldiers!!!! They could fight alongside you…". Closing the panel on the Guardian and turning to you again, "I can't come with you though….is too dangerous…"
Bragi puts his gun back over his back before advancing to look at the Eidite, "Not letting it anywhere near my gun" he grumbles before peering in. "Funny. I don't think Minister Baratella said anything about it being used by the Clockwork mechanics...only about the contamination and how dangerous it was. So who is putting in in the Guardians? Is is these big brutes Habblegash or someone they're working for?"
What is all that business about guardians and the machine things?
"See that thing the rat is poking around in? That's a Guardian. Blasted things have been going mad and suddenly running amok in Alkenstar. Apparently they wander out here, then come back crazy. We're here to figure out what's making it happen."
so our interest are colliding. Lets get to exploring that cave and its underground levels
"Clearly it is a terrible idea to find these clockwork soldiers. They could just as well turn against us. Let's proceed into the mine."
"The Creatures, Mister? The ones in the north of the mine…they don't care for Clockwork…the remnants of two of my Clockwok Soldiers are somewhere in the mine….destroyed by whatever those things are….it's not them who are interfering with your Guardians mister", pausing to scratch himself again, "The lower mine is where you should be looking…Two-Heads is mining something down there…I haven't been down there but I guess it's probably Eidite…there's nothing else of value in these hills…"
Towards Twylla, "My Soldiers aren't the problem…there's no one alive who could sabotage my designs….but….if you are set on getting deeper into the mine, you should head north east….there's a tunnel to the lower level there"
What is Eidite and why would it be so important?
"I am telling you this already Mister…Eidite is what used to be mined here…no one really knows where it comes from…but it boosts the power of clockwork mechanisms…very popular amongst the guilds in Alkenstar it was….but is outlawed now…too dangerous, too dangerous"
ha says sumak trying to make it appear like if he really understood
So lets head north eat and take the tunnel to the lower level then !
"I agree, let's head that way." Bragi keeps his weapon out and joins Sumak, heading to the north.
Wouf !
Taking your leave of Habblegash, you turn back on yourselves and head eastwards to the main entrance cavern. The soft morning light illuminates the entrance to the mine and the air, briefly at least, seems fresher...
Following the ratperson's directions, you turn northwards, back into the mine...your light illuminating the rough hewn tunnel as you move along it. Arriving, fifty feet along the tracks, at a junction, the rails lead in the following directions:
- to the south east, where they abruptly stop at the tunnels' end after fifty feet
- to the north east, where they disappear into the gloom
- and, to the north west, where they also disappear into the dark...
In addition to the various directions that the rails lead, there is a set of steps to the north that lead upwards for around thirty feet... From somewhere in that direction, you can hear the sound of heavy items being dragged around, low guttural voices and, intermittently, the sound of splintering wood.
There is a loud barking noise from somewhere beyond the top of the stairs and the sound of things being moved around abruptly stops.
Sumak and Fred will head stealthily toward the noise
Black Bragi gets his musket ready, activates his slate spider, and proceeds along with Sumak and Fred, keeping his senses focused on the tunnel ahead.
Everything remains quiet at the top of the stairs for a few moments and then a guttural voice rings out again…the language is completely alien to you but, from what you can determine, it sounds less than friendly…
The door nearest to the top of the stairs is suddenly flung open…all is dark beyond the door…and the alien voice barks out again. This time, there is a response to the baying…a similar voice from behind another door up the stairs; the door crashes open and lurching out of the gloom, a towering beast (some fifteen feet high) walking with an unnatural gait…it's arms split at the elbows into twin clawed hands…as it barks in response to the voice from beyond the opened door, you realise that it's mouth is vertically aligned across the crown of it's head…
With a roar, the creature starts to bound towards you…
"No idea what the feck that thing is, but I'm not waiting to find out either!" As soon as Bragi moves up into a clear line, B1tchin' Betty explodes with a violent burst. Bragi quickly reloads to be ready
Round 1
Fred launches himself in a charge
if it hits possible
Current AC 35
Rounnd 1
Sumak lowers his visor and Holds his lance steady (Arcane Strike: Swift)
= 69 damage (because of spirited Charge)
Current AC 34
Bragi's shot easily finds it's target; the wall behind the creature is sprayed with blood, the musket ball apparently having passed completely through its shoulder. Reeling from the wound, the creature is not well prepared to defend itself against the charging wolf, it staggers wildly as jaws clamp around its leg; Growling, the wolf attempts to drag the creature to the floor but it can't topple the enormous beast.
Mistakenly anticipating that his steed would fell the creature, Sumak's lance is dipped too low and misses its mark.
Following Sumak up the stairs, Finnian raises his sword in an attacking stance and moves in to engage the creature. The creature has recovered enough to swipe at Finnian as he tries to close…
Rolling with the attacks, Finnian slashes, pirouttes and, with a flourish, attempts to impale the creature.
Twylla uses shadow evocation to mimic a resilient sphere, attempting to trap the creature inside.
Twylla raises her hands high….and moments later the creature starts flailing at an invisible barrier…
The success is momentary though as the doors in the western wall fly open and a further two monstrosities reach out and attack the nearest targets.
"One down, two to go," says Twylla matter-a-factually as she traces her finger in a straight line, placing a swirling cloth of color between the party and the two non-trapped monsters.
"Sumak, would you like to back away from the trapped creature and try to charge again? I can release the sphere on command. And I think that gives you, Bragi, a chance to fire off your full-attack."
No need it is going down anyway, but thanks
Round 2
Current AC 33
Round 2
Fred Will also full attack the creature
Keeping his distance from their long arms, Bragi fires a pair of shots in rapid succession into the newly arrived giant to the north.