Mihara bows gracefully before following Azri out.
"So, mind filling us in?"
Azri calmly explained the highlights of the conversation, focusing on the relevant points of who the creatures were and what had happened to the machinery. Her words should've been getting translated by a certain someone, but hey... it was easy to get distracted when giant glass creatures were looking at you, right?
Kosi listened in, and nodded. "If there are any further problems, we will attempt to contact you before taking action ourselves." She glanced at you all enquiringly, seeing if there was any further questions.
Aibek's dark eyes continued watching how the lights in the room changed while pondering on what the others were saying. While the witchwolf could likely think up enough questions to keep them there for ages and more - what other creature living below them, whether glass dragons interacted with other dragons, lights and shadows - but getting the water back, in a way that didn't hurt these dragons, needed to be top priority and done with as much haste as safely could be.
So Aibek pushed aside the other swirling thoughts and with a step forward said, "So, fixing the bits below and the bits above we've seen that was making the damaging noise and if possible finding an on/off switch for safety and later maybe asking the locals about the history of the maintenance of this place and what was being just in case. That is all the steps I can think of, so it seems we should now head down, keeping an eye out for any on/off switch or other damage and things? Shall we head? Aibek said with an eager smile...
As you return to the previous areas, it is apparently now how the machinery was wrecked. Claws and and things simply tore into the heavy metal and pulled until it stopped working.
Since the damage was simply to stop the machines, not an attempt to damage them, it looks like repairing the underground machine will not be as hard as you first imagine. Replacing the gearing and using Mending form the metal that held it in shape should do the job, and the controls to make it runs are likely those in the most western room you disocvered.
However, putting the gears back in the right place might be a challenge, and there's still the matter of what caused the malfunction in the first place in the machine upstairs.
"Now then, let's see how we can go ahead and fix this, shall we? This doesn't look like that complex a mechanism..."
Azri had a little bit of training in many different areas, and hummed slightly as she started making suggestions for which parts ought to go where.
The machine slowly goes back together thank's to Mihara's knowledge of strange devices unusually being used to repair and Azri's engineering skills. But it takes time.
Dark has fallen by the time the machine is finished, all it's internal machinery in place and the metal formed back into shape with Mending. It just awaits being turned back on.
"Everything's okay now, right?" Selena asks. She was a little frustrated to not have been able to help, but machinery definitely wasn't her specialty. The valve incident in the Sarenite temple didn't help, either.
"Didn't we find a weird machine underground, full of valves and stuff? Maybe it's that that turns this thing back on?"
"There's still the part up above. If only half of the machine is working, it could damage something else." Azri pointed out. "Best to fix everything and then turn it on, I think."
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The room further to the west opens to reveal yet more machinery, this time with half a dozen valves, levers and hand-pumps and more dials than can be easily counted. This is obviously the control system for this section of the water works. It is, so far as you can tell, completely intact.
"Do you think we should try turning it on, or should we look for what might have caused the problem first? I don't want to hurt them," she says quietly, obviously referring to the glass dragons.
All but entirely emerging out of the dirty machinery, Mihara is happy to declare it fixed, nonchalantly disregarding the fact that her lavish dress is dirty beyond cleaning.
"I believe it would be wise to see the other part fixed first. Little good can come of half of a machine." she declares.
She grasps the end of her sleeves and whispers a few words under her breath, at which point her garment magically turns into a new one, a short crimson summer dress some might recognize as being of Katapeshian inspiration.
"I was kidding." Azri said, poking Mihara. "We probably can turn it on now and see what's up. Just be ready to shut it off again if that noise is still happening."
"Don't be silly. There's no time for that; we're repairing these machines. I'll have time to wash off once we're done." Mihara says, wiping the smudge off with her fine silk sleeves with a nonchalance that would have left most courtiers in complete horror.
"Let's check on the rest of the machine before we turn it on, shall we? I doubt our guests will be happy if things go wrong."
Still not sure of what was going on with the machine, Selena simply nods and follows the others.
Instead, she's much more interested by Mihara's new illusory dress.
Oh, you saw those a lot about two years ago: I think I have one of those, somewhere...Now that I think about it, I need to buy something new. I didn't expect to stay here so long, so I brought along only the necessary for a 2 week or so trip: three dozens of clothes, 10 evening dresses, 7 dancer outfit's, 5 jackets, 15 pairs of gloves, 10 pairs of boots and shoes, and 9 different kinds of kinky underwear. I really need to be more careful about these things...
She turns around, looking at Nigrum's backpack.
Speaking of lingerie...maybe I could use that basilisk skin? I Wonder how that would look...
The above ground mechanism is still as you left it, as far as you tell. Elie is a dim shadow in the doorway, awaiting your return. The Half-Orc glances over at you all as you trudge back up the stairs. "Well? We having showers tonight?"
Aibek follows, eyes looking over various things as they went. "Checking sounds a good plan, hopefully whatever caused the noise in the first place has either already been mended or you can spot..." Aibek thought outloud.
Looking over as Elie speaks, Aibek's head tilts back and forth in thought. "Hopefully, some checks still need to be made. Apparently it was making an awful noise before... things happened. Getting an idea of this things history and normal maintenance stuff might be helpful later, if possible Aibek said while turning and looking around the room...
Aibek's examination of the pipe work reveal a section leading into the underground areas where the gears have been stripped and no longer mesh correctly, so the pump cannot function and push the water further along the system.
What is there, however, is a strange selection of what look almost like panpipes that the now waterless system would pump air through...
"Well, guess we know what else to fix." Azri mused, taking a closer look at the system. "Anyone know where we can get some replacement gears...?"
"That's... different." Mihara says, approaching the pipes. Curious, she blows at one, hoping to get a feel for the pipes' sonority.
"Did these cause our glass neighbors' troubles?"
Aibek stopped spinning, head tilted, staring at the panpipes, "I don't know much about water pipes mechanics, but I wouldn't have thought panpipes would have been part of it..." the witchwolf comment before glancing back over to the stripped gears and back...
Aibek thought, tilting head back and forth before responding, "I would guess so. On a hunch, it looks to me like someone wanted to do as little or as small and easy to overlook as possible that would enrage them, to use them to cause as much damage as possible to the machine - maybe beyond. Someone seems to both know of the dragons are here, how to hurt them, and want to harm them and the town." Aibek paused a moment before turning and asking, "Elie, when did this start again? It was before we arrived by about how long?" while various possibilities tumbled through the witchwolf's head...
Selena nods at Aibek "Yup, never heard of panpipes-water systems, either...". The half-succubus muses for a moment, staring at the panpipes. "Would they be enough to play loud enough to our neighbours, though? Or could it work like when you break a glass by singing the right note?"
Elie paused a for a few moments. "A couple of weeks I think?"
"Clearly, someone was trying to rile these glassy creatures against the town." Mihara says, holding the pipes in her hands.
"Whoever our enemies are, they certainly are a crafty bunch."
Aibek pondered a moment outloud,looking to the others, "Wouldn't a couple weeks ago be around the time we de-possessed that Redemption guy and all got knocked out when I tried to pick up the colourful shiny statue thing? Aibek said, rubbing the back of on arm looking a bit uncomfortable.
It might be a bit of a coincidence, but that feels a bit too neat that we stopped one thing that was against us being here and another seemingly purposeful sabotage would happen so soon after. We may want to start checking the other vital systems soon. Aibek said, head continuing to wobble in thought.
But first let's get this working so Elie can have her shower... said with a small smile while watching the others make the repairs...
"Yeah, let's." Selena nods to her sister. After the pumps are back and running, she goes back with the others to inform Kosi and her son that everything's fixed.
"By the way..." she says, letting Ayreth or someone else translate "Do you know something about these pipes, Kosi? The pipes were making that sound because of them: any idea of who could have put them there?"
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Once they exit the building where the pipes where, Selena stretches, opening and closing her wings, and sits by the fountain at the center of the plaza.
"Well, looks like we did some work today!" the half-fiend grins to the party. "We just broken a centuries old curse, given back an home to a magical tree-lady, found one of the symbols, and gave back running water to the whole city. Just the usual." she looks at her nails nonchalantly, not putting any effort in trying to hide her satisfaction "Ah, right. I got to polish my nails."
"What about if we stay at Azerna's? She's just behind the corner, and I really don't feel like sleeping at the Dust Devil, after what she said. Though" the half-succubus adds, getting back on her feet "I got to go back there to get my clothes. Anyone wants to come with me?"
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"I will." Azri offered. There was no particular reason for that - she just enjoyed the company of her family. Also, Selena needed to have a chaperone or everyone else would wake up one morning to find that "Succubus-style Wrestling" was the national sport and all citizens were required to participate. Or something.
"I'll head out to Azerna's and make sure we have some rooms waiting for us. She'll probably need some help getting the place cleaned up," Mihara says. "Nigrum, would you care to come along? The inn can probably use some muscle getting things set up, and I've got a curiosity or two about your swordsmanship."
Nigrum shrugs, an inn was better then the tower he had been staying in. But where would he set up his mount he wondered.
"Sure why not. As to my swordsmanship, what you see is what you get. I don't have any tricks like some do."
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Ayreth links one arm through Selena's and one through Azri's. "Wow, that does sound impressive when you put it all together. I'll join you, if you don't mind stopping by the temple so I can get my stuff, too. It was good to have a night to myself under the stars, but I'm getting used to having family around." She squeezes their arms with hers in an odd sort of arm-hug.
"Then we'll all go together!" Selena giggles as she joins Ayreth in the arm hug, smiling at Azri.
"By the way,Az, Ayreth, I don't think I've asked you: when you're not busy restoring long destroyed ancient cities, what do you do?" the half-succubus asks to her sisters "I'm pretty sure I already told you that I work in Absalom, but I guess that isn't the case for you."
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"Hold on, I'll be back in a minute." Selena says as they reach the Dust Devil Inn, running into the building and up the stairs.
A few moments after that, she comes back out of the door carrying a pair of huge travel suitcases: you're not really sure what's in there, but you're fairly sure that it is too much for whatever its use is.
"Just the bare necessities." the half-fiend explains with a smile "Come on, let's go back to the others!"
"The same thing I do every night. Try to take over the wo- er, I mean, studying." Azri said. "Sleep isn't really something I do anymore. I just talk with my friends, research spells, plan things out... and when I'm done restoring this place, I plan to stay here. Like... permanently." The city would probably benefit from having some type of continuity of rule, and her planned support of studying meant she'd have lots of time to learn as many spells as possible.
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"Hmm, seems like that should be an easy thing to answer. But I've been on the move for so long. It's nice to be semi-sorta-kinda settling down in one place." Ayreth's face brightens at Azri's response. "I talk to my friends, Emmitt and Thark, a lot, too, especially under the stars. Thark's the one that taught me it's good to help other people. What kind of work did you do in Absalom?"
"Ah, so you both travel around! That's so nice!" Selena beams, before nodding at Ayreth.
"Hm, I was sure I already said that, but I work as a courtesan in Calistria's temple there. I mean, that's what succubi usually do anyway, no?" the half-fiend grins, touching her horns, but her expression changes a little. "It's a lot fun! I meet a lot of people, the guys and girls at the temple are really nice, I never run out of new things to do, and...and it keeps my head occupied." she says, growing uncharacteristically serious. "It's certainly better than to go crazy one day, fly around seducing people and killing them afterwards-" she chuckles grimly "-well, mostly during. I still am a little scared that I'll do that sooner or later anyway, no matter how hard I try not to..."
"Of course." Azri said, smiling at Ayreth and Selena. "Besides, if you need to go crazy, just stick with me for a little while and I'll find a way to help." As an undead, she wasn't likely to be seduced very easily - and if killed, she'd just come back. Aaaaaah, being undead was great - no wonder so many scholars wanted it.
"So humble you are," Mihara smiles. "And yet, I've been observing you in combat, and you clearly know what you're doing. Those were no ordinary strikes you made against our undead friend; your aim was precise. Would you consider sparring with me some time? I would love to see some of your techniques up close, and I'm certain we could learn much from one another."
Selena hugs both Azri and Ayreth, kissing them on the cheek.
"Thanks, girls." she smiles.
Nigrum looks Mihara over for a moment before speaking.
"I appear to know what I am doing from practice and experience. As to sparring, no offense intended, but I may injure or accidentally kill you if I were to use Tsui or most blades for that matter. Few in my village could face me when I left and none of them in my age group."
Mihara gives an offended cringe. "A sheathed blade deals no cuts." Mihara simply retorts, drawing one of her swords, still in its sheath, out of her sleeves as an explanation before tucking it away
"But it is as you wish." She adds. "That being said," Mihara adds, a glint in her eye. "Do not underestimate me. I did not earn three tails by sitting around and eating cured meats."
Nigrum simply smiles. If she could handle at least an ogre alone then she could spar with him. Otherwise his words were all to true, blade or simple club. He was stronger then most men, old man halfblood and his orc blooded comrade among those uncommon few. He would not lie or toss aside dangers to his own comrades for something like pride. Better a sharp truth then a soft lie that leads to a fall. He did not think any of his comrades weak, but being strong and being powerful were not one and the same. The world was not that simple.
"If you are going to get blood in my Inn," Azerna call from the doorway, "You'll be cleaning it. Not the blood. The inn. All of it. Apparently several centuries of dust can get...thick."
The Inn's lights are lit, however, casting a warm glow out onto the street and garden surrounding the large building. The windows are all open to the warm evening air and many were freshly scrubbed of the dirt that had been caking them.
"Besides, who needs swords...?" the Dryad murmured as she re-entered the building.
Aibek had followed the others, quietly lost in thoughts swirling, dark eyes naturally going from dark patch to dark patch as they moved, hands resting on each other behind the witchwolf. Comments on tricks and blades and offense brought Aibek's attention back only to feel confused in the multiple conversations and fights until witchwolf ears heard Azerna's words over the others.
Glancing to her and then to the others with raised eyebrows, Aibek gave a small shrug before following Azerna. Looking around the inn, Aibek quietly asked "The water problems seem to be fixed. Beyond cleaning, is there anything else here that needs help?" while trying to calculate what else will need to be checked in the morning...
Please tell me someone has Prestidigitation, please tell me someone has Prestidigitation... Or at least Unseen Servant...
Not that staying up all night to clean something would be especially difficult - she neither slept nor felt fatigue. She just, well, preferred paperwork to cleaning. Also, she didn't have the spells that would help... Not unless she used some extra power, anyway, which she could actually do. Actually, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea... if the others were going to go to bed and rest anyway, she probably wouldn't need this power for anything else...
Azerna shook her head. "I'd suggest you find a room that will suit you and make it up as best you can. No fresh linen and the mattress' probably aren't any good after all this time in this heat, but I'll replace those tomorrow. You're welcome to make yourself as comfortable as you can manage."
The dryad smiled. "With the water back on in the town I won't feel so guilty about having a bath now."