Yes let's not stay here. I need some rest above ground and the skulks turned out to be incredibly rude and inhospitable I must say
"Given today's events a little ale would be good."
Yes let's not stay here. I need some rest above ground and the skulks turned out to be incredibly rude and inhospitable I must say
Valia: "They seemed rather tolerant of our intrusion, I feel. You do realize they are likely listening right now?" Valia looks at Criek and Ardash. "Will you two be able to manage the swim? If not, I may be able to stay behind with you in order to complete the painting I mentioned earlier."
Looking at Valia as if he'd sprouted tentacles himself, "stay? Down here? With Desna only knows what else is lurking? ...and when there's ale above? I'll brave the swim, thanks! And perhaps this time, i can tie a rope 'round myself, and one of the stronger swimmers can 'assist' me through the passage?"
Became incredibly intolerant when we asked for a place to rest after we did their dirty work. It's also most likely that they are responsible for two of the bodies we found. Would not advise staying here alone Valia
Valia: "Oh come now, I am certain they must have a rich tapestry of cultural history. One only needs to take more time to get to know them. Furthermore, those dead, were they dear to you? I understood from the discussion that they were brigands."
I had hoped we would get through here without seeming weak or unkindly before our hosts.
"Let's hurry on back, now, then, what do you say? So long as Criek and Ardash can make the swim we will be fine." After a moment of consideration, ((Hmm what if something came in from where we left the blindhelm?)) If we clear the village, Valia joins the front of the party as they enter into the next cave.
"Maybe they will warm up to you once we slay the monsters malingering next-door."
Continuing to take Valia's statements at face value, "Rich tapestry or not, Mistress Sef made quite clear that theri camp was their own, and there was no place for us there? And, Anody, why should that surprise you so? We are a band of armed strangers who have as much as proven ourselves to her to be killers-for-hire! I daresay that if such a crew as we showed up at my own clan's burrow, they'd be met similarly, with a call of 'nobody home!' from behind bolted door.
"One more reason to return to town, I'd say? Relieving her folk of the worry that we may attack them in the night?"
They could have treated us as friends but they chose not to. Their loss... and ours as well as we don't have a safe place to rest close to the metal tunnels. They way they responded to my suggestion was shocking after we took care of their enemies for them and got hurt doing so. I don't believe they think anything dangerous will come through the metal doors otherwise they would not have made their homes right next to it. Anody says in a huff as they continue walking. But in any case, this is all academic as Sef made it clear that we have no guest rights in their place and I would not dream of infringing on their wishes.
[ooc]Do we need to do the Swim checks to get back to Torch?[.ooc]
Some town info
Torch is a large town, pop about 4300. It is heavily taxed by the Technic league, a powerful and nasty mage organisation, so it is not as prosperous as it could be.
Base value is 2400
Spending limit is 5000
spellcasting 3rd.
Places to buy/sell
The general store, for basic adventuring gear, not weapons or armor. Said to have some Magic items for sale, for the discerning buyer.
Tempting tonics, sells potions and alchemetical gear, and material components for casters. healing potions are for sale here
The temple of Brigh, potions and spells
And lastly the torch guildhouse, where all the smiths and mettalurgists sell there product. Armor, weapons and the like.
Also for those seeking fun, silver disc hall. A gambling hall, and night club.
valia: If anyone has anything heavy they would prefer to be rid of, I can carry it to the foundry tavern. I am going to swing back by there and unload a few loose items while I check on the place.
By the tine you exit the caves, it will be late afternoon
Aching and in need of a rest, Sharae is content to find somewhere to quietly watch the stars come out before finding food, "I will meet you at the Copper Coin for our supper...I must contemplate our day and what it meant"
Before leaving the group, she imparts her final blessings of the day upon Ardash.
Aching and in need of a rest, Sharae is content to find somewhere to quietly watch the stars come out before finding food, "I will meet you at the Copper Coin for our supper...I must contemplate our day and what it meant"
Valia: "I had hoped we could reopen the foundry tavern for dinner service and invite the councilor, maybe even our acquaintance the priest. There will be board there." He mulls it over. "It could be worth the coin though, just to be around normal people at the Copper Coin."
Wheezing and panting and thankful that the stronger swimmers had basically pulled him through the pool Anody sits down near the entrance pool and tries to catch his breath.
It would be great if we could re-open the Foundry, but perhaps we should consult with Ms Baine about that first. As for me, would someone assist me with taking these... many... dead bodies to the mayor? I'd like to get that sad business out of the way as soon as possible both to let the families of the dead humans know what happened to them and take care of the bounty for the gremlins. We can arrange help from the priest to get us water breathing again for the next day. Then the Copper coin for some much needed dinner and then we can regroup at the Foundry
Actually you have been given permission to stay at the foundry free of charge, and val will provide you food and such.
Edit oh wait you mean open it for business. I'll have to think about that. Tell you what, persuade val and it could happen.
Btw did you recover any of the bodies?
Emerging from subterranean hell with the others, water running down his chest and neck in rivulets, Ardash thanks Sharae for the healing as her curative magicks surge through his body, his posture and demeanor instantly improving.
"I will assist you with whatever you require, professor. A short period of rest and recovery before returning to the metal halls. Our work is not yet complete."
Give me but the work of a moment to find a cart from the Foundry and it will facilitate bring the bodies up.
Thank you Ardash. Oh dear people will look at us strangely for this but it can't be helped. Valia could you come along with the gremlins in your bag while we drag the humans towards Town Council?
Valia goes to the foundry. He sets down any nonessential gear. He keeps his gremlins in his pack, and returns to the site with the handcart .
Sharae, exiting the caves with everyone else, will help with bringing the bodies back to the Council before taking her leave.
Much later on, with the stars hanging in the sky above Torch, she returns to the Copper Coin and orders food. Waiting for the rest of the group to join her, she stands at the bar listening out for rumours and gauging the mood of the Town’s inhabitants; if she does talk to anyone in passing she makes sure not to mention anything about the last few days.
A handcart. Hah. Simple solution. My father would have had a fit if he knew I was thinking of dragging something heavy all the way across town without the aid of a mechanical device Anody laughs slapping his head and then helping to load the bodies onto the cart as much as he can. He'll then try to keep up as the bigger members of the party trundle the corpse laden cart towards the Town Council's place of meeting.
"I'll see to talking to the council about the groups sent down so far, and where to hold a service for them, and their burial."
Having no emotional connection to the townspeople of Torch, Ardash will assist with the physical task of loading the bodies into the cart and serve as stoic honor guard as they make their way to the town hall.
He maintains his silence throughout the exchange, breaking it only if any mention of the Technic League should come up. In that case, he listens intently, asking a flurry of questions to garner as much knowledge about their machinations as possible.
Valia heads off to Khonnir's place as soon as the bodies are dropped off at the authorities' headquarters. He asks if Ardash doesn't mind to please bring the cart back to the Foundry when Anody & Ayla are done.
He sets to cooking and cleaning up the place, and gets ready to share with Val what he knows so far.
With their macabre burden trundling along on the cart Anody trots alongside it as they reach the Town Council. There he asks for Councillor Freddert. Once they have an audience with Freddert or someone else Anody explains We have managed to make it back from the underground passage following Khonnair Baine's trail. We did manage to pick it up but ran into some... complications.. on the way. There were some gremlins that we had to dispatch... Valia has the evidence of that... and we also found two corpses of Torch residents. Dries Snapfinger and Parda we believe. We thought best to retrieve the bodies for burial here and to let their families know what happened to them. We're planning on resting for the night and then continuing our quest tomorrow. Would it be possible to get the water breathing blessing again? Perhaps 8 hours worth of it so we can follow the trail deeper?
Following along to the Council chambers, Criek adds to Anody's report, "We found Khonnir's mark, near where we had to turn around -- I can understand why Khonnir had to make two trips? Some of what we found is like nothing we would have anticipated, and we should need to resupply to make ready for it?"
"I think Khonnir's mark was for navigation down there."
At the Council chambers you find freddert, who is sitting at a desk. She looks up and says, by brigh's shiny hammer, you're back. What did you find?
@the two bodies. On returning them you receive the sad thanks of their families, their fate to be a cautionary tale. You are gifted their gear, if any, and gain a +2 bonus to diplomacy in torch until otherwise noted.
We found quite a few interesting things. But mainly we managed to procure safe access to the metal tunnels that run under Torch, as Criek and Ayla said we found Khonnair's mark there so we are certainly on the right trail. It's... very hard to describe. An entire structure made of skymetals. With robots and strange technological wonders. The entire edifice has... run out of power... which probably explains why the Torch has gone out. I'm certain that if we manage to penetrate deeper we will find Khonnair Baine and discover its secrets. We will need to rest before we go back in though and we would need more Water Breating Blessings. Could we arrange that for the morrow? As well any other help Torch could provide us would be of great use. We ran into Sand Monsters of all things when we were in the metal tunnels! It's quite dangerous! Also we ran afoul of some gremlins. I understand there is a bounty?
V tries to help other V with the cooking. He leaves the doors unlocked and lights the brazier out front to signal the place is open.
Ardash attempts to aid in Anody's plea for assistance, but in doing so does more damage than good.
a bounty? Aye such as that exists. One gold for each set of gremlin ears. And of course the water breathin' spell will be recast for ye. Just visit tgevremple of brigh when ye thinkin of goin.
When you leave the councildwarf, a tough young man is waiting for you.
are you the adventurers who went into the caves. I have something for you. he hands you a note, and a bag. Then he leaves.
Enough coin to rub together. Thank you Councillor. Anody says glad to be rid of the various bodies but somewhat disappointed at not getting any more support from the Town Council.
Outside Anody strains on his tiptoes to read the note that the mysterious young man had handed to one of his taller compatriots.
Well this is interesting. Garmen Ulreth?
I think I know who that is... we should get back to the Foundry and let everyone else know.
Garmen Ulreth is the owner of the Silver Hall, a casino.
And he has a shady reputation.
Yes quite infamous around these parts. I think we should head to the Foundry and let everyone know. I'm quite eager to meet some new people and 10 gold is nothing to scoff at. Though it seems like we're gaining a reputation ourselves!
"Yes, I recall going there once before? It's...loud. I think I have limited energy for, ah, 'partaking of its pleasures' after the day we've had, but I suppose we could stop through?"
Let's tell Valia and Sharae first. See if they want to come along. I think Valia is at the Foundry?
Anody heads towards the Foundry to let Valia know what happened at the Council and the mysterious note from Casino Owner Ulreth. Then after that he'll head to the Copper Coin to look for Sharae and relate the story to her as well. From there everyone in the group who wishes to do so can head to the Casino
I think we should all go. Garmen Ulreth seems like quite the formidable fellow and I'd feel safer in a group
Val is very pleased to see you all, though disappointed that you haven't yet found her father. She quickly prepares a meal for you, simple yet tasty and filling.
If you tell her about the note she says
My father and garmen don't like each other. He might try to disuade you from finding him. I think he may have financed one of the groups that entered the cave.
If he is as shady as everyone says then I fear we found the remains of the group he financed. We found Dries Snapfinger in there and Parda too. They tried to attack some skulks that have made their home there and it didn't go well for them.
Anody will look about the Foundry and find a small space for himself. Well I think I'll drop by my rented room and move my things here for the time being if no one minds. Seems like this is a convenient base of operations for us as we try to get deeper into the metal tunnels.
Having done so Anody will be ready to head to the Copper Coin to find Sharae and relate everything they've found out so far.
"The Silver Hall? A few folks here have mentioned it... So we've been invited? News does seem to travel fast around here.", gauging the enthusiasm of her erstwhile companions, "Well, we may learn new information there...I suggest we saunter over and find out a little more about this Garmen fellow...let's be discreet though, and keep your eyes and ears open"
Ardash thanks Val for her meal and her hospitality. En route to the Silver Hall he acts as a sentry of sorts, opting to keep watch over the others as they enjoy themselves. He will donate his gambling chip to whomever wants it, favoring anyone who seems to be having less than ideal luck at the gambling table.
Valia: "I will go and sell five of our silver disks I can meet you at Silver Hall after. The Foundry will not be open this evening. So let's have a bit of fun."