The forge lets out a roar of flame as Adriana's blade touches its surface. A golden glow spreads from the forge and touches the elven blade, traveling down its length and spreading to the hilt and pommel.
As the forge works its magic, the blade's appearance begins to change. Where it was once plain and unadorned, the hilt begins to look... more elegant and refined. The pommel begins to rebalance itself so it may fit a wielder's hand better. The sword's blade flares a bright golden colour, the impurities in its iron being scoured away and leaving behind only a weapon that any blacksmith would be proud of.
After a few minutes, the forge's flames cool to embers, and the blade may be retrieved. Its hilt is rounded and refined; the pommel is inlaid with a single red gem. The blade, once made of a cold, dull grey iron, is now a proud golden colour--and a quick examination shows that it's as sturdy as before, but sharper. With a touch of the pommel gem, the blade glows for a moment before being wreathed in golden flames.
"That... is pretty impressive. It's something that was more a tool of war turned into a work of art and worthy of Dad's hoard. And it's sentiment... I wonder...."
If there's a little bit of magic remaining Max will volunteer the sickle that was given by the citizens of Kassen so seemingly long ago now.
If there's more, they'll suggest that Vixie, Shyla, or Kitterix place their weapons on it.
Adriana thinks for a moment.
"If the magic is gone maybe feeding it a magic item would recharge it?" she touches the hilt of her other ECB."If so I can feed ot this one."
She will look at the blade to see if it was at all personalized to her.
Vixie considers her bill. She'd hate to ask and take a spot from anyone else, though...
"If there's anything left, we should get Vixie, Shyla, Kitterix and then me since I have the morningstar left over from those cultists." Max offers thoughtfully. "Vixie first, and maybe her shield since that's what protects us the most?"
As the party attempts to figure out which item to enhance next, there is a different roar, but from quite a distance. The ruined buildings and streets funnel the sound to the team, despite the seemingly vast distance from the source.
Kitterix looks around nervously. "Not sure WHAT you are planning on doing but that didn't sound like someone using another forge like this! It sounded big, scary, and... maybe made of metal?"
Max glances to Kitterix and then the rest of the party.
"Dad just told me that there's someone here who's trapped in-between that...needs our help. The 'not moving anymore' kind of help. We should probably finalize what we want to have upgraded and quickly."
"Vixie's shield seems like the logical choice for a quick improvement - our armour would take too long to strip off and put back on, alas," Khalaban said, frowning.
Adriana will move towards the sound and keep a lookout,
"Maybe her weapon? Increase other offensive capabilities? Just a idea, don't want to start a debate...I think somebody may need vengeance."
Vixie nods, and offers up her bill.
Once again stirred to activity, the forge rumbles and roars in an almost primal sort of fashion as captive flames and energies wrap around Vixie's bill. Despite the vast and incredible heat, the flames do not incinerate the pole of the polearm.
Similar to the refinement of Adriana's elven curve blade, the head of the bill becomes thicker, blockier, yet also bearing the same sort of elegance as the previous weapon. The filigree that erupts upon it bears markings of a bygone age, but the golden markings do not stop there.
Somehow, without turning the wooden portion to ash, the filigree marches down the lengthy wooden haft, leaving a complex interwoven series of shield-like symbols and threading.
When it cools and Vixie retrieves it, it almost melts into her expert hands, but does not feel any less solid or durable for the slightly odd experience.
After a few more minutes, the resounding roar from somewhere else within the ancient doomed city echoes through the streets once more. Closer, this time, but not by a large factor.
"Ooooh..." Kitterix looks quite entranced by the new bill.
"...but, uh, we might wanna get moving. That big, scary thing I heard before? I think it's getting closer..."
"I concur in most hearty fashion, and that person is in need of help." Whether they should give it was a question they'd have to answer when they got there, but the massive Skinwalker started heading that way anyway, unless someone had another plan.
With a general consensus among the gathered heroes to go render aid to the someone in need of help, it doesn't take too long to scoot through the city, avoiding a few traps and whatever the cause of the roar is for the moment.
As the party travels upwards towards the heart of the circular city, they cross past another thick wall, and the buildings are a great deal more intact, though still somewhat damaged.
The party approaches what appears to be a ruined colonnade that is coated in a thin layer of gold -- unlike most of the nearby buildings...
Vixie "ooo"s as she takes the bill back into her hands; it somehow feels even better, maybe better-balanced?
Regardless, she moves just in front of Shyla (prompting a bemused chuckle from the big kitty), happy to lead the way...
...as long as someone else is pointing, anyway!
Khalaban scanned the strange, golden area with caution. If even the buildings were layered with gold then there was at least a chance that there would be guardians.
Kitterix nervously unlimbers his crossbow.
There's a tension building in the air as the party assesses the surrounding area -- unlike the negative energy storms outside, this is more... immediate, visceral. Definitely in keeping with this creepy dead city of potentially molten golden death.
Turn Order
Surprise Round
Shyla (Surprise round, 1 action)
Khalaban (Surprise round, 1 action)
Kitterix (Surprise round, 1 action)
Round One
Adriana
Shyla
Khalaban
Vixie
????????
Kitterix
Maxilla
Surprise Round is currently active round.
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"Uhh..." Kitterix readies his crossbow and starts scanning the area for threats.
"This place is wrong and ash-choked, and something haunts it," Khalaban warned the others, raising his shield and hunting for whatever was setting off the Haunt Detector hanging off the back.
Shyla's brow furrows. "You really are getting into bigger trouble than usual, aren't you?" she asks with a glance at her foxling wife.
Her ears perk and her eyes narrow.
Kitterix, Shyla, and Khalaban can all see that this is a modified Betrayal haunt with a lot more power behind it (covering a far greater area as a result) and an unknown cause.
There are gold-covered skeletons at various portions of the area that seem to shimmer briefly and are replaced with images of cultists standing where the skeletons are at, attempting to set up an ambush aimed at where the party is standing.
Round One:
Adriana
Shyla
Khalaban
Vixie
????????
Kitterix
Maxilla
"I would assume at least one of the golden skeletons to be the source of the Haunt," Khalaban murmured to the others. He knew he would personally prefer to not have his bones interred in metal. "I presume none of us are powerful enough to break the curse via magical forces?" he asked in a vain hope. If not, they would simply have to deal with the Haunt's effects, somehow.
