"Shhh shh shh, Whiskifiss, we're friends! We're here to get you out, but we've got to move fast, and quiet!" Criek hisses.
He unclasps his cloak and holds it out to the other ratfolk, "Take this, and let's go!"
Whiskifiss takes the cloak gratefully and wraps it around himself. He stands a little straighter Did Redtooth send you? he whispers Is she alright? I swear I'll never make fun of her again if we get out of this alive.
"Redtooth is fine - although you must know that your people have suffered badly at the hands of the Smilers", Sharae keeps an eye out for movement... and, when she is satisfied that Whiskifiss can walk unaided, whispers towards Criek, "Back out through that tunnel? If our luck holds, we'll be gone before anyone knows that Whiskifiss is no longer a captive".
You got to me without anyone realizing you were here to rescue me? Whiskifiss says incredulously in a low voice. You must be really good.
"Well... that's not entirely true", despite herself, Sharae smiles a little, "there's a hobgoblin back there who was experimenting on the dead... she won't be offending Pharasma any longer".
As they converse, Criek offers the remainder of Whiskifiss' possessions to him.
"Gunshy and his cronies are still out front," he offers with a gesture of his head, "but we've another way out. Ready?"
Marrow's dead? Whiskifiss says with surprise as he turns around to put his clothes and armour on. Couldn't have happened to a nicer witch He says with a visible shudder as he turns back to hand Criek his cloak back with a grateful twitch of his nose.
He looks a lot more poised and alert when he's back in his full gear. You know he says If you two and that shiny dog were able to cut Marrow down then maybe we can finish the Smilers right off by gutting Gunshy as well. We leave those two bodies out to rot and all of Scrapwall will know the Smilers are done for and hound anyone with a Soothe scar right out of town. All the cowards that jumped from the Raiders to the Lords for protection will come back to Redtooth with their tail tucked between their legs too. What do you say?
You two get the sense that this much braver and bolder version of Whiskifiss is much closer to his normal self than the terrifed ratfolk you saw just a few minutes ago.
Criek wrinkles his snout in concern. "Our mission was to get you out alive? I shouldn't want to return to your sister and tell her we had the chance and instead picked a fight and let you fall in combat!"
If the ratfolk insists, Criek will acquiesce with a sigh. "I see the value in taking out the Smilers for good -- just stay behind the hound, okay?"
Sharae is equally unsure and addresses Whiskifiss directly and with little tact, "We have achieved what we set out to do... if you were to fall now, then it would have been for naught. I say it is better to leave the Smilers for another day, let them stew in their juices, and return you to your sister".
You're the rescuers Whiskifiss says with a shrug. At least let's drag Marrow out with us so some Smiler doesn't get it in their head to try and cover her death up. Scrapwall needs public proof of weakness
Criek nods at Whiskifiss' urging to take Marrow's body as a trophy, leading the way back to her chamber before the group attempts to leave via the secret passage.
Whiskifiss whistles in amazement as the Share and Criek lead him out through the hidden passageway. No wonder we weren't able to track those bastards. A second route into Scrapwall? That changes everything. If you two could keep this quiet and the Raiders can secure the Smiler place then we'll be much better off than before. Damn the Lords. Did you come in from this way? Rats! I hope Chirpuss hasn't gotten loose. Say can you spare something to eat, it's been days... I think.
It seems like Whiskifiss is starved for both companionship as well as food and he chatters away as they emerge into the day light.
Whiskifiss' nose twitches and tail sings from side to side as he peers around at the junk strewn entrance. Outside Scrapwall.. he marvels again before leading the rest of you in a counter clockwise loop around the perimeter of the settlement. It seems like Whiskifiss is skilled in the arts of survival. The journey takes a few hours, especially as you're burdened by, not only Marrow's gear, but her corpse as well. As evening falls you end up back at the main entrance of Scrapwall from where you'd made contact with Sevroth Slad just a few days ago.
The Raiders and the Hawks get along well enough, plus I figure they let you in, so we shouldn't have any problems Whiskifiss comments as you approach the gates, dragging not only Marrow's gear, but her corpse along.
"Here's a snack, at least -- I didn't bring my entire kit along to infiltrate the Smiler's hold, so we'll have to get you more later."
After slogging a little ways with Marrow's corpse, Criek will pause and see if the mechanical hound will allow itself to be harnessed to help drag the body.
Before getting too close to the gates, he stops again, "Sharae, could you try to raise Anody? See if there's been any response from the Smilers? I'm worried about marching back through the front gates blind after they've had a few hours to regroup."
It's easy enough to get the group's tablet to communicate with Anody. The gnome's anxious face appears on the screen. It breaks into a relieved grin when he sees Criek and Sharae Oh thank the Gods. I was getting so worried out all of you. Didn't dare to raise you on the tablet in case it gave you away or anything like that. Did you get the captive out? Are Pinki and Spivel okay?
"We got Whiskifiss, and took out one of the Smilers' leaders as well -- but we're outside Scrapwall, made our exit through the Smilers' back door! So...we don't know what's going on in there, and I'm hoping Spivel is keeping his head very low? But...I don't know?" Criek finishes, with some anxiety.
"We actually wanted to see whether you'd seen any response from the Smilers yourself, since we kicked over that ankheg's nest...or maybe Dinvaya has some way to reconnoiter?"
Anody turns away from the screen to confer with Dinvaya and, presently, Dinvaya's face appears as Anody turns the tablet to face her. One of the Smiler leaders? Which one? she asks The Smilers are very loosely organized and most of their thugs live in tents and crude shelters on their territory and they only... wait... the Smilers have a backdoor... to the outside of Scrapwall?
Whiskifiss, who was up till now entranced by the tablet device, puts his paws in his hands and groans.
Sharae watches Whiskifiss with some concern... and, tentatively, "Is something wrong my friend?"
Whiskifiss just waves Sharae off Nah, it's nothing. Just wanted to keep the back way out a secret for the Raiders he looks a little embarrassed as he scratches at the back of his neck A bit selfish I guess, but a gang needs every edge it can get. Spivel was helping you out? Who's Pinki?
Dinvaya continues speaking to Criek In any case, I have some mechanisms that may be able to assist with seeing what is happening in the Smiler controlled areas of Scrapwall. I will send them out and let you know what they find a few hours hence. I trust it would be safe for the Professor can contact you by this technological device when I have more information for you?
"Marrow - and ghastly business she was up to," Criek replies to Dinvaya's query with a shudder. "Any information you can provide would be welcome," he continues, "but my primary concern would be if an ambush awaits us at the main gate? I don't want to delay overlong in returning -- if the Smilers haven't already mounted a response, I should want to wait until they do! Would you anticipate we find any danger at the gate? Er, more than Scrapwall's usual, I mean?"
After signing off, Criek shrugs in partial apology to Whiskifiss. "It would have been hard to ask for tactical information without explaining why we were outside the walls." With an anxious laugh he adds, "Besides, I expect it wouldn't be wise to try withholding information from Dinvaya while she's aiding us!"
Dinvaya nods through the screen. Thanks to your activities the main gate is easier to carry out reconnaissance in. We will contact you again in half an hour
During that half hour Whiskifiss, no longer concerned with pathfinding (lol), peppers the two of you with questions about the tablet and the Clockwork Cleric.
No one in the whole of Scrapwall's been on that lady's good side from what I can remember. She keeps to herself and exchanges healing for scrap and that's it. Every once in a while once of us goes to her wanting to become an apprentice to the Bronze Whisper but she turns everyone away
Also
So what's your deal anyway? What're you two after in a place like this? No offense but the two of ya are a bit... soft hearted for it. Not that ya won't be able to survive. Taking out Marrow makes you real scrapworthy sure enough.
***
30 minute later on the dot the tablet chimes again. Anody appears on there Dinvaya says the main gate is calm! You should have no troubles. I do hope to see you back safe and sound soon! And my word, congratulations seem to be in order for a successful rescue operation. Dinvaya did seem to think that this Whiskifiss person was as good as dead.
Whiskifiss pushes into view to peer into the tablet Hey! Can you see me too?
Hullo! Anody calls back You must be Whiskifiss!
Sharae is momentarily taken aback by Whiskifiss' suggestion that she and Criek are somehow too 'soft' for what needs to be done at Scrapwall... but she doesn't let on, "There are just two of us... so our approach may seem a little cautious for what you are used to. The Smilers will, in time, pay for their perversions and acts... but it will be on mine and Criek's terms", she smiles as she attempts to reassure the ratfolk that they are up to the task here...
And then, "Come on... let's get you back to Redtooth - the longer we are out here, the more chance there is of the Smilers discovering our deception... and catching up with us before we are prepared. And, in any case... we left Spivel and Pinki watching the entrance - best we go and relieve them".
At the front gate a Steel Hawk lookout takes one look at the four of you approaching, dragging along a corpse, and disappears into the makeshift fort that is the (main) entrance to Scrapwall.
Sevroth walks out presently as your group gets close and waves to you.
You two are full of surpises. C'mon. I'll walk you in. Glad to see you're safe Whiskifiss. Word around the junk piles was the Smilers got ya!
Whiskifiss grins up at Sevroth Us Raiders are hard to keep down and don't you Hawks forget it
Sevroth smirks and rolls her eyes I'm sure this lot from away with a corpse strapped to a clockwork dog had nothing to do with it at all Whiskifiss, I'll have to ask Redtooth sometime how the bloody hell you all got outside Scrapwall without coming through my gate here.
Whiskifiss' tail droops a little at Sevroth's observation.
Inside Sharae and Criek see a lot more gangers sporting Hawk insignia than there were the first time you came into Scrapwall. They still have a furtive look about them, though they do pause to gape at Marrow's corpse before Sevroth yells them back to their posts.
Seems like you're making friends and enemies all over the place. Guessing you being with Whiskifiss has something to do with what's happening in Smiler territory Sevroth says Plus this o'course she aims a casual kick at the former Marrow's dangling hand Birdfood and Marrow done and rusted. That's some heavy duty work.
I'm sure this lot from away with a corpse strapped to a clockwork dog had nothing to do with it at all Whiskifiss, I'll have to ask Redtooth sometime how the bloody hell you all got outside Scrapwall without coming through my gate here.
"We've, ahem, certainly got our methods!" Criek replies brightly, attempting a coy acknowledgement of Sevroth's question. Looking around at the other Hawks, he offers, "It seems your crew is getting back to its old self? Glad if we've been able to undo some of the chaos Hellion's crew has sown, but please do remember, we have our own quarry here and we'd appreciate any tips you can provide us?"
Thinking of Spivel and Pinki, "In the meantime, er, we do have a loose end we've got to tie up, if you'll excuse us?"
Sharae also avoids the query about getting out of Scrapwall...
It seems that knowledge is power around these parts!!!
Although she smiles when Sevroth mentions the deaths of Marrow and of Birdfood, "The world will not mourn them..."
If I could make a suggestion Whiskifiss says There's a large junk pile that used to be kind of border of the Smiler's old territory. We find a long pole and stick it in the ground and tie Marrow to the top. Should let everyone in Scrapwall know just what's up. Won't take more'n 10 minutes or so of work.
However the group decides to do it. They Leave Sevroth behind. A few of the Hawks tail your group at a discreet distance. They're not being very stealthy about it but it does seem like they want to keep tabs on you.
In fact they even offer to help with any mounting operation as none of you run into any resistance as you get to the border. The Hawks fall back as you travel into Smiler territory because what you find there is, very very different then just a few hours ago when Spivel sneaked you through.
Before there were makeshi(f)t tents and ramshackle junk huts scattered across the territory where Smilers could be seen moving about.
Now those same primitive living structures are either empty, or smashed to bits, and you see, not living Smilers, but dead ones scattered about. You can see that they're either stabbed or shot to death and it happened very recently.
Whiskifiss stops taking a stealthy approach pretty soon and just leads you directly to the Smiler headquarters after a little bit. By all the shiny junk in Scrapwall what the heck happened here? he mutters.
The scenes of devastation and death crop up more regularly as the three of you get deeper into the Smiler's land. At one point you see a living Smiler huddled in a hastily dug out mound in a pile of junk. He's absolutely covered in blood and rapidly scabbing sores. He doesn't even notice you as he's busy with a large pile of Soothe bottles. Half of them are empty and he's cutting into himself with a dagger over and over; giggling as he slathers his rapidly diminishing stockpile onto the fresh wounds.
Whatever you do, or not do, about that you soon get to the mound opposite the entrance to the Smiler Headquarters, just as the evening starts to turn into night. The door to he headquarters is thrown open and a crazy burning light can be seen from within and Smiler corpses are littered absolutely everywhere. On the mound itself Spivel spots you and waves you over. Whiskifiss.. cut off my tail and feed it to the vultures.. the scout ratfolk swears as he clutches the comically oversized laser rifle Where have you all been! and what happened in there?.
Pinki pounces on Criek with an angry mrrowl sound and nips Criek once hard, stopping just shy of drawing blood.
Sharae is instantly alert as she takes in the scene of devastation, she considers putting the crazed Smiler out of his misery... but cannot bring herself to do so... not yet at least... not before she finds out exactly what has happened. And when Spivel reappears, laser rifle in hand, Sharae has a double-take...
No... you couldn't have... surely?
Putting the thought that Spivel had somehow caused this massacre to one side, Sharae asks just exactly what happened here?
Well Spivel says after a moment of trying to process the madness he'd seen over the last few hours into some sort of coherent narrative An hour or so after you lot disappeared into the building. I heard a lot of shouting and then some Smilers ran out into Scrapwall. Screamin' things like "She's dead" and "Marrow's gone, Marrow's gone". As word spread I guess a LOT of 'em came streamin' in from everywhere. A few times I thought at least one of 'em must have seen me but they all seemed intent on whatever was happenin' in that building. A lot of them pushed their way in and the rest were just milling around outside shouting at each other about something called the pink and then.. I heard shooting and yelling from inside and then they all... turned on each other. Spivel waves his hands around in wide gestures as he tries to explain what happened, his eyes widening. Some of 'em were running, others were chasing, some were trying to get into the building, some were trying to get out... there was a lot of gunfire. And they were grabbin' little bottles from each other. It took a long while for things to quieten down. Some of 'em took a... long time to die.
Spivel takes a long inhale and exhale and then shivers as he tries to forget what he'd just recounted No way was I gonna make any move while that madness was goin' on. He looks at you three You didn't hear any of it?
"I...suppose we must have touched this off? We killed Marrow while we were sneaking Whiskifiss out--" Criek leaves the escape route for Whiskifiss to explain later "--and...she must have been the source of their drug? When word got out she was dead, they must have gotten desperate...insane...to get hold of the last of the drug?"
Criek surveys the carnage somewhat sadly. "Whatever suffering their 'soothe' caused them, it's over now...as are the Smilers."
"...let's get you back to your sister, shall we, Whiskifiss? She'll be wondering, I expect, especially after all this ruckus."
Right, I can't wait to go home. Whiskifiss says, clutching his crossbow tightly to himself as they turn back towards Whiskifiss and Spivel's home, leaving the burning Smiler HQ behind.
As they go back to the Raider's headquarters, the loudspeakers, which had been quiet, suddenly blare out again THOSE WITH NO DISCIPLINE HAVE NO PLACE IN THE NEW GLORIOUS FUTURE OF HELLION. FAILURE HAS NO PLACE IN THE NEW GLORIOUS FUTURE OF HELLION. SO THE THRALLS. SO THE SMILERS. before clicking off again.
Whatever that thing is, it really needs to shut up already Whiskifiss complains as Spivel nods. It's been months of Hellion this, Hellion that, Hellion the other
With the Smilers seemingly not a threat anymore the two guides opt for speed rather than stealth and, just as night falls over the junk heaps of Scrapwall, the group gets back to the warren.
The hidden ratfolk guards keeping an eye on the entrance move out of hiding to clasp Whiskifiss on the shoulder and Whiskifiss returns their greetings heartily.
He peels off from the group as they pass the rust monster pen inside the warren saying he needs to check in on them before doing anything else. The rest of you go into Redtooth's room.
She stands up as soon as you enter, looking far fresher and more relieved then the last time you saw her. She comes up to you and gives you both a deep nod, almost a bow.
My scouts came back to let me know you were coming back with my brother safe and sound. Words can't express how deeply thankful I am for saving him. And for gutting the Smilers. Thank you thank you thank you!
She's beaming.
"You have no need to thank us, putting an end to the Smilers was the right thing to do... and your brother does not seem to badly affected by his time in captivity", Sharae shudders at the thought of what might have become of Whiskifiss had he spent any more time at Marrow's pleasures, "Hopefully this marks the beginning of the end of Hellion and his Lords of Rust".
Musing over their next steps, Sharae wonders aloud wherever there are further gangs that have aligned themselves with Hellion... and whether they can further strengthen themselves or weaken this voice that would be god before their inevitable confrontation.
If you won't take my thanks, then you'll still have the Raider's help no matter what. You've earned that many times over. Redtooth replies to Sharae Now, if I recall, you were here hunting Meyanda right? The Lord of Rust priestess? If you're after her then you must be chasing her from wherever the hell she disappeared to. Redtooth's tone changes from one of gratitude to one of business.
You do realize this means going up against the Lords themselves, right? she says I figure you do, but I thought I'd ask cuz those are much more dangerous foes than the Smilers. The Smilers were just one of their paws.
She gives the two of you a long look over, first Sharae, then next, a little longer, at Criek You two don't seem real hurt by taking out the Smilers though so maybe you'll be alright against the Lords.
She taps her paws together and gets a thoughtful look, as if she's collecting her thoughts before she speaks again.
Alright, this is what I know. The Lords have a bunch of leaders and they're all bad news. Meyanda wasn't the strongest of 'em but from what I figure she got to the top of the heap by being the most zealous. High Priestess of Hellion she called herself, and she had the magic to back that title up. Only other god touched around Scrapwall before Hellion was your clockwork friend so throwing magic around is a big deal. Redtooth starts recounting.
Before the Lords of Rust took over, there were the Thralls of Hellion and that's how Meyanda first came up; preaching about Hellion as a Thrall and using her powers to build a new gang that become the Lords. They seemed like just another crazy cult if it wasn't for Meyanda and then some of her first converts started getting powers too! That's when the defections from the other gangs really started. Especially when the rest of us couldn't protect our followers from the Hellion stooges. Now the Thralls are a buncha chokers and humans that live under that giant dish on the other side of the Arena. If you want to know about Meyanda then that's where I'd go looking.
Redtooth suddenly smirks and goes back to her desk and starts rooting about it.
The Thralls used to be just as bad as the Smilers, walkin' about Scrapwall doing whatever they pleased. Cowing some and forcing others to convert. A few weeks ago they got real quiet though. Right after their giant dish stopped humming.
She brings out a neon green package and tosses it up and down in one hand That dish is even more a symbol of Hellion than the Arena since that's where his power first started in Scrapwall. If you're going that way. Then.. after you've learned what you need to. Maybe you can do all of Scrapwall a favour and blow it to hell? Will put some fear into the cowards in the Lords too.
At this point from behind you Whiskifiss says Still talking about blowing things up? Figured you'd have grown up a bit in three days but I guess not sis
Redtooth drops the package on her desk and rushes to her brother to give him a huge hug that goes on for a while. After a minute or so Whiskifiss pats her on the back I'm alright I'm alright. Your friends here saw to that.
"We had a good plan, but were even so lucky to come out of the Smilers' lair so unscathed, yes, and we can only count on luck for so long?" Criek agrees.
"The Lords of Rust are clearly powerful, and we appreciate any guidance you can offer in dealing with them. And the Thralls. Er, are the Thralls and Lords the same people, or two separate, uh, sects? Could the Thralls be shaken from the Lords' command?" He wrinkles his snout, trying to parse the complex politics of Scrapwall.
"And this dish of theirs -- it hummed? Until recently? When exactly did it stop?" Criek asks, imagining this was related to their exploits under Torch.
Redtooth finally lets her brother go and rubs her eyes quickly to get rid of her tears as she gets herself back together.
I don't believe in luck she says to Criek.
The Thralls are the first people in Scrapwall to fall under Hellion's sway. Then Meyanda used them and her powers to build and recruit the Lords. The way it ended up working was the Lords were the muscle for Hellion while the Thralls were the... priesthood I guess. And Meyanda was the leader of both Redtooth explains.
A few weeks after Meyanda vanished the giant dish that's the base for the Thralls started humming and the Thralls were very active. Going on about how this was a sign of Hellion's ascendance or whatever. Then a week later, it stopped and then the Thralls just... stopped preaching.. or walking about Scrapwall for that matter. That was three weeks ago now. Redtooth shrugs. Sorry I can't tell you any more. We were pretty much hard pressed to hold on to the very heart of our territory while all of that was happening.
She cocks her head. You two know anything about what was going with the dish?
"The dish has been out for three weeks you say?" Sharae counts out the days since they travelled from Torch... "Maybe our encounter with Meyanda and reigniting the Torch could have something to do with that?" Sharae smiles at her friend, "What do you think professor? Does that seem credible?"
There is a glint in Sharae's eye, "Regardless of whether it is humming or not... I think it is time to make a bold statement. Let's blow that thing sky high!!!"
"That seems like a good course of action -- not only for the shock and awe, but hopefully it will prevent Meyanda and Hellion from making another attack on Torch?"
He eyes the green package Redtooth had brought out. "Er, and what is this?"
It does seem beyond coincidental that this large dish structure would start and cease to act strangely at the same time that the Torch went out. Anody agrees through the screen; his sudden vocal interjection from seemingly out of thin air, giving Redtooth a bit of a scare.
They got tech working that's like magic. That gnome is all the way in the Clockwork Chapel, unbelievable! Whiskifiss explains.
Recovering pretty quickly Redtooth considers what the others are saying Torch huh, that's where Meyanda went? Good to know. When you find out more, keep me in the loop right? she requests as she goes back to her desk.
This she says resuming tossing the green package up and down Is some fancy tech we've figured out how to use too. It's more for blowing things sky high than talkin' though she tosses it too Sharae with a grin You're a woman after my own heart
Using it is simple Redtooth explains. The raiders had found a large cache of these things a long while ago and careful experimentation, and the loss of two particularly curious ratfolk to said experimentation, had taught them what this stuff was and how to use it despite not being Technologists. She takes out another device that looks like a switch.
Found this with the cache of green stuff. she says What you do is you place the green stuff in a place that you want to not be a place anymore, then you place this switch thing against it and press the green button until it flashes. Then, once you're far away from the place you want blown up. You press the red button and... BOOM. Only the green stuff you pressed the green switch on blows up. Otherwise this stuff is safe enough to build warrens out of. Weird.
Sharaeis somewhat tentative as she handles the switch, turning to Criek, "So... this sounds like the kind of plan that could go horribly wrong. I think, just to be safe, whoever is carrying the 'green stuff' can't be carrying the switch - I'd like to attract Hellion's attention... but I'd rather not do that by painting myself across Scrapwall!!!"
And then, a little more seriously, "I think this is the kind of thing we should try to do at night... less inquisitive eyes milling around". Thinking on that for a moment, she wonders aloud, "Maybe if we could create a distraction?"
Well it's night now Redtooth says And, really, I have no idea what we could do that would be more distracting than the Smilers turning on each other like a pack of wild dogs gone insane.
Redtooh huffs in frustration If we weren't barely holding on we could have grabbed some of that territory. As is The Lords are probably going to take most of it.
I'd help ya out if I could but.. warren comes first. Hope you understand. Chirpus is doing alright but it's going to take me days to get most of our pet rusts back in their pen. Whiskifiss says I'll be watching out for that dish turning into blooming scrap though right enough! If you lot can take on the Smilers when they're at their strongest then the Thralls should be as easy as falling into a junk pile.
"This green stuff sounds...fantastic!" Criek says, with an almost reverent appreciation for the alchemical technology involved.
"I agree it seems we have an opportunity to do some damage to Hellion's forces while they're sorting out the Smiler situation. While I might like to spend the day preparing, I expect they will too. Have you studied how this dish of theirs is mounted, where we might best seek to place these, uh, green bombs?"
It rests on four legs, I think if any of 'em blow up the whole dish should fall over. Here she digs out another brick Have a second one, just in case the first one doesn't work. It's worth it. she walks over to hand the second package to Sharae as well then goes to Criek to press the switch into his hand.
It's a dark slab with a single bulb in the middle and a green button on the left side and a red button on the right. A single back stick made of the same starmetal as the rest of the slab rises from one of the long edges of the slab.
Hold the green one down while pressing it against the package until the bulb in the middle flashes green, then when you're far away, and I mean far away, like 300 feet or something like that, point the stick towards the green stuff, press the red button, and, there'll be fireworks she says as she looks Criek right in the eyes.
Redtooth seems to hold onto Criek's paw for longer than strictly necessary as she hands the switch off to him.. Then she reaches up and places her other paw against his cheek where the dark marks of the plague have almost faded away to nothing against his white fur. You come back safe, right?
She then clears her throat as she steps back Both of you come back safe. Don't like sending outsiders to do our dirty work.
Whiskifiss sniggers Snow furs huh? That explains a lot Red.
Redtooth shoots her brother a glare Maybe I should have left you with Marrow Whisk, now go get your rust monsters back or so help me....
Whiskifiss holds up his paws in a placating gesture. He does continue to snigger though as he makes a hasty withdrawal.
Thanking Whiskifiss and Redtooth, Sharae suggests to Criek that she'll carry the 'green stuff', "Shall we then? Is there anything you need to prepare?" Thinking about preparation, Sharae offers a silent prayer to Desna - nothing elaborate, just a desire that their journey forwards will be lit bright by the stars...
Criek struggles to concentrate on the instructions through the brain fuzz induced by Redtooth's touch. "I...er...we shall...um...thank you?"
Avoiding eye contact with Whiskifiss as the other ratfolk leave, he collects himself and replies to Sharae, "I should like some time to make the preparations I skipped over this morning, in our haste to reach Whiskifiss -- you'd think he could be less noxious -- my strength tonic in particular could come in handy if I'm forced to resort to bow work."
Oh, and perhaps some healing before we pick any more fights?"
Spivel volunteers to guide Sharae, Criek, and the dog, to their next destination even though it's clearly marked on Redtooth's map.
You lot are big damn heroes, you know that? he says as they set out. I mean, this path through the junk used to be almost impossible to cross cause of the monster that lived here, but you killed it too! And we've got less headaches too and they say it's cause you cleared out that Rat King Horror show.
He's not carrying the laser rifle that was comically oversized for Spivel, who's a little small even by ratfolk standards.
Going through the east west passage way that they had gone through earlier when they were hunting the manticore is fast going and they come out in the area of Scrapwall right below the giant dish. I looms over all of you, blocking out the starlight behind as it glow a dull silver under the light of the moon.
Spivel looks around as they pick their way through the scrap and junk that is unbiquitous. Back when the Thralls were on the rise and we hadn't been knocked back by the Smilers we kept tabs on them here. It used to be way more lively. It's deserted now.
And it's true, the place is eerily silent. The cookfires and makeshift shelters of scavengers and gangers that you've commonly seen in the other parts of Scrapwall are completely absent here. It's disconcerting.
Soon enough they're near the base of the giant dish. I'm just going to.. hide again, if that's alright with you? Spivel says.
Pinki buts his head against Criek with a mrrowl. He's been sticking close to the ratfolk since they picked the cat back up.
Oh my comes Anody's voice from the tablet. That is quite ominous isn't it?
With a smile on her face, Sharae playfully chides Anody when he points out the dish is somewhat ominous, "Thanks for your input professor... it's even better in the flesh!!! Now... if you don't mind... time to be quiet".
Eyes glinting in the moonlight, Sharae looks around for signs of, if not life, then at least movement.
Sharae doesn't see anything moving from where the group is.
Sharae looks at the underhang... and looks into the shadows. She considers them for a while, and then, wondering whether there is a better way of bringing the dish down, she whispers towards Criek, "You know... maybe we don't need to go in there at all. I could beseech Desna for the power of flight... get you or me up onto the dish, spread the 'green stuff' around, fly a safe distance and BOOM". She smiles, "What do you think?"
"I like a plan that keeps us from fighting the Thralls directly while destroying their capabilities!" agrees Criek.
"Perhaps you should fly and lay the charges; since Pinki and I are better at hiding, we can keep watch down here for anything that comes after you?"
Criek will look for a dark nook to keep watch from, ideally about 60 feet to the underhang so that he can see the entrance well.
He'll also swallow a shield extract as Sharae takes flight, just in case.