"I have no idea what you did Professor... But jolly well done", Sharae smiles as she walks over to the ingenious gnome...
...whilst, taking the opportunity, Valia drags the robots into a corner and looks around for ropemor cabling to bind them with... the sound of muttering beneath the elf's breath talks of 'abominations', 'mechanical monstrosities' and 'affronts to nature'... one look at him confirms that the elf is really... really... angry.
Anody mops his brow and sighs with relief as he hooks Genni up. If only everything else was so easy. he smiles.
Criek yowls as the blast from the robot's pistol catches him in the shoulder, and smoke begins to rise from his fur --
...but quickly smothers the smoldering patch of fur with the edge of his cloak before it can catch fire.
He looks up just in time to see the robots power down, and rushes over to watch in fascination as Anody connects Genni to the console.
"Did it work?! Is the meltdown over?"
the immediate danger is removed, but the overload is still in progress genni explains.
If this device had detonated, it would have caused a cascade effect, resulting in an immediate overload. That would have been...devastating to the settlement above.
Anody sighs. No rest for us then. Genni, is the device disabled for good? Where should we go next to stop the meltdown?
i am now connected to the reactor computer. I see the cause of the overload. The reactor is running at 221% of capacity. They were then transmitting that power, hmmm, here.
An image appears in the air before you. It the the lands around torch. The it seems as if the image expands as more is seen. A red dot is visible, indicating torch, and another, elsewhere.
That's Scrapwall. Surely, we can slow the reactor down here, turn the Torch back on and then we can think about what to do about these miscreants from that lawless town
"221% doesn't sound safe at all Professor... Is that what was going to cause the 'melt down'? You're sure you and Genni can return the 'reactor' to safety? I worry for the long term safety of the town though... What is to stop the Technic League attempting to use this technology against the townsfolk? We must talk more with Khonnir when we get back to the surface..."
Well, the Technic League seemed content to leave Torch alone as long as the, well Torch, was still active Sharae. These criminals from Scrapwall devoted to this 'Hellion' character are the ones who seemed to have sabotaged this place for their own purposes completely independently. Now the rumours say the Technic League will get involved... the denizens of Scrapwall have much to answer for
Genni refocuses
so...analysis of the overload completed. It can be ended by reestablishing the venting procedure. Activating venting procedure.
A sudden hum starts, and the roaring noise can be heard.
Outside, in torch.
It is early evening, and the stars are just starting to show. The town is settling down from the day. Many are still discomforted by the stilled torch that gave the town it's name.
Suddenly the ground shakes and a roar like a hundred angry dragons fills the air. With an explosion of light the town is stunned by the sight. A great column of purple tinged flame streaks to the sky. It was back!
The cheers and screams from the town signeled the start of a nightlong celebration.
meanwhile, in the distance.
The Android prist and her followers look back at the horizon. A purple line of flame stretches to the sky.
She says nothing, her face cold.
Mistress, what does it mean? asks one of her followers
It means we have strong enemies. Good. I will enjoy hearing them scream as I rip out their still beating hearts in sacrifice to our lord.
She turns
come. we have much to do. We return to scrapwall.
Back to the control room
Excellent Genni says. the overload is ended.
May I suggest you leave me here to over see the reactor. I can use these two robots to repair and maintain it, and defend it.
As she says this you pick yourself off the floor. That was an experience indeed. The noise, and vibration was incredible. But you have won.
Torch is saved.
Or is it????
"So the town is safe for now -- and the...'venting procedure?'...is the Torch itself? So the town's livelihood is restored.
But you are right, Anody; Hellion's followers will still be after this power, and, as word gets around, so will others." Criek sighs. "Can we at least get a good night's sleep and a bath before we go chasing them down?"
"Genni, do you need you body repaired, encase you need it?"
I believe so. These two drones are not combat models, but are repair units. With their help, I will be able to execute a full rebody. Oh, you should take the pistols
"If the reactor is indeed safe then I would cherish the feeling of the sun upon my skin once more... And, I do believe I would very much like to see this fabled 'torch'... Come, let us return to the surface", Sharae checks on everyone's wounds before, encouraging the Professor to leave his examinations and tinkering for another day, making her way back to the elevator.
Oh yes, but first there are so many levels of this facility to delve into! Perhaps we should see what is here that we can learn from and utilize. Criek wouldn't you like to learn how the technology of this place works? Anody says his little eyes gleaming at the thought of actual archaeology.
With the meltdown averted and Khonnir safe above, Criek feels his week-long adrenaline high wear off along with the effects of his mutagen. Slumping firefly against a nearby piece of machinery, he replies, "I admit to substantial curiosity about this place, but so far every piece of it has seemed determined to kill us--with or without the help of Hellion's crew. I'm keen to delve into the other levels of this strange vessel, especially if the alternative is leaving it to the League's plunder, but do think we should retreat and recuperate on the surface." glancing at the robots, "Recharge our own batteries, if you will?"
I believe so. These two drones are not combat models, but are repair units. With their help, I will be able to execute a full rebody. Oh, you should take the pistols
"I hope I can bring it back down here in good shape, since Ingrid and Astrid currently are looking at it and figuring things out and might have gotten got some repairs on it."
Two weeks pass
The repaired medical robot finally heals Khonnir, and another party kicks off. Once the party is done (the next day)Khonnir and Dolga ask the party to a meeting.
Once seated, Dolga start to talk.
We and the other town councilors are fearful that this "hellion" hasn’t lost interest in Torch, and we wish to protect the town from it. You have already done so much for us, but we wish to ask you to seek out where Meyanda, priestess of hellion, came from and to investigate why she was beaming energy out to Scrapwall in the first place. If Torch is still under threat, please make sure that threat is neutralized. We offer to pay the you a reward of 8,000gp if you can help.
Khonnir adds Meyanda and some of her confederates escaped, as did that scoundral Garmon. We will pay additional rewards for their return for trial, 2000gp for meyanda, 1000 for Garmon. 500 for each confederate. Half that if proof of death is provided.
Dolga continues
The safest route is directly east to the Sellen River, where you can hail a passing riverboat. there are several small villages there where that's possible. If safe as that is one of the ways crusaders heading to Mendlev go, so bandits give the place a wide berth.
She pulls out a map and shows the path to the Sellen.
The crusaders maintain small forts up the river, where you can purchase shelter and supplies, healing too if needed
She looks at you and says
This path adds another 80 or so miles to your journey, but the direct path takes you across sovereign's reach, a much more dangerous journey. But the choice is yours
Khonnir adds
We will give you rations and such for the journey, and our best wishes. You will always have a home in torch.
Oh, Joram, the priest of Brigh would like to speak to you before you go. Dolga finishes
Any questions
Items for sale around town
Due to the party's success, shop owners are revealing special stock for the party to buy.
General Store
Ingrik Kollisun owns this store, and is always pleased to see customers.
Her special stock currently includes a cloak of the hedge wizardUE (abjuration), five trauma packsTG, a wand of technomancyTG (44 charges), a +1 flaming warhammer, and a filter maskTG.
Tempting Tonics: This building is home to Jhestine Imierin (half elf), the town’s apothecary and healer.
Among numerous other concoctions, she currently offers a wide range of poisons, antitoxin, healing potions, and even a few technological pharmaceuticals (such as cureallTG, all four grades of hemochemTG, and two doses of cardioampTG) along with a half-dozen medlancesTG.
The Temple of Brigh has a small shop front, run by Joram of Brigh.
In addition to many objects under the town’s base value, the shop currently offers for sale a flare gunTG, a scroll of find traps (CL 10th), three scrolls of restoration, a scroll of raise dead, and a wand of rebuke technologyTG (11 charges).
Torch Guildhouse: This large building is home to the guild of metallurgists and artisans established by Bazlundi Otterbie.
The group always keeps a few weapons for sale in their shop, including a +1 cold siccatiteTG longsword, a masterwork mithral-inlaid heavy crossbow with a metal tension string (worth 500 gp), a large supply of adamantine bolts (worth 60 gp each), a +1 construct bane adamantine dagger, a +2 breastplate, a +1 mithral chain shirt, and a +2 spiked light steel shield.
"we can probably assume Meyanda returned to Scrapwall -- would Garmen have gone with her, so you think, or was their partnership here more of a one-time arrangement?
At any rate, I should expect her base of operations to be well-guarded, both with automatons and the more normal variety of thugs -- the latter of which are in no short supply in Scrapwall, based on the tales I've heard? We'll need to go ready for both."
The party departs Torch at dawn, seeking to head east to the Sellen River. It is fairly quiet as the party advances across the grassy plains, the column of fire from torch fading into the distance. It is a three day journey to the Sellen.
Day one
encounters
the first day is uneventful, with the party making good time, and nothing to see except the occasional copse of trees. The weather is fine, if a little warm. The only thing slowing you down is Anody's short legs.
Day two encounters
As the first the second day is peaceful. Late afternoon, you come across a small village, which has, most importantly, an Inn and stable.
The village has a store and smithy. A 6 foot wooden stockade surrounds it, and several fields to the south have both livestock and crops growing.
Poor Anody is rather tired after two days of keeping up with these swift giants.
As you enter through the gate, a woman steps up to you.
Well met, neighbors. Welcome to Robsrest. May I ask, where are you from? You don't appear to be crusaders. I'm Melony, Mel for short.
You see a fairly competent looking woman, wearing a chain shirt and leathers, and a pair of daggers in her belt, one curved and the other sharp pointed. (A kukri and a punching dagger)
Her face covered in dust from the two days of hard travelling, Sharae takes a swig of water befire answering, "Well met Melony... We are two days out of Torch heading eastwards... I believe it is another day or so to the Sellen? That is where we are headed in the first instance"
...it may be better not to let on that we are headed towards Scrapwall...
"Crusaders?", Sharare smiles and looks at her friends, "I'm afraid not... We are but sinple travellers".
Simple travelers? Really? She looks at your gear, and shrugs. If you say so. If you wish good food and beds, the saucy maid is the place to go. Well... she laughs a bit, it is the only place to stay. Unless you want to sleep in the street. The Inn is fairly empty at the moment.
"Crusaders? Goodness no -- travel is stressful enough without there being demons to look forward to at the end of it," Criek half-jokes. Criek nods to Mel's own armor and weapons, "A traveler can't be too careful! You yourself are dressed for trouble, and you're not even leaving home?"
Mel smiles at criek
oh, this isn't my home, I'm just staying for a while. I was with an adventurer group, the swords of light. A bit pretentious, I guess, but our leader was a cleric of Iomedae. Anyway, we ran into a scorpion robot, which killed most the party. So here I am.
Oh dear. Scorpion robot? Sounds dangerous. I take it you were on your way to the WorldWound? Anody says while still huffing and puffing.
Sharae shivers, the thought of a robot that could decimate a group of ‘crusaders’ is worrying enough… the prospect that it may be nearby is much worse, ”You managed to escape then? Was it near here? Do you think there may be any chance that it would follow you?” Taking another drink of water, Sharae surveys the small community… the thought of a night’s rest beneath a roof is appealing although she can almost ‘taste’ the proximity of the Sellen… somehow, it feels as if the river is calling to her…
nah, twas far north of here. And no, I'm not a crusader. Thought I have though about it.
A young boy and girl come out of the stable, and offer to take any animals you have inside. (Cp tip is traditional, silver to feed and groom).
The smell of good food wafts out of the inn...pork, beef and chicken. Your stomachs growl.
"From what I've heard those robotic Scorpion are bigger then an normal scorpion."
big as an elephant, and very bad tempered. Killed most of my party and the caravan we were guarding. Could never prove it, but i reckon the technic guild unleashed it. Myself and a few other survivors returned later and found the caravan looted. Ah, enough about me.
"Oh dear, that does sound...harrowing. Had you done anything to raise the Technic League's ire, or was this simply more of the wanton destruction they do so well?"
Realizing he may have said too much, Criek quickly turns and busies himself handing off his pony to one of the stable children.
Mel grimaces.
The Caravan was carrying tech. That's the only reason they need
She spits on the ground.
Still, enough about unpleasant things. Come, I'll shout you a beer. What they brew here is excellent.
She leads you into the Inn.
The Inn is busy changing from breakfast to lunch, about half full of patrons. There is a warm glow of warmth and hominess here. A sign says No fights! No spitting!
A 1/2 Orc barmaid bustles up to you. She greet you with a toothy grin.
Welcome to the Saucy Barmaid. Would you like a table? We can serve pork, goat or beef at the moment. Mutton in half an hour. Or would you just like drinks?
You quickly are placed at a table, and a minstrel starts playing a cheerful song. Mel goes to the bar and brings back a round of beers for you
As promised.
looking around, you see a few persons of interest. In one corner table, you see a human wearing splintmail, a longsword at her side, and a dwarf wearing half plate with a light warhammer talking quietly together.
Taking a seat and sampling the beer set before her, Sharae declines the offer of food when the barmaid is near, ”Another beer would be much appreciated… I have a thirst that the Sellen would struggle to slake – it has been a hard journey although…”, Sharae turns to Mel, ”…to hear it, you fared far worse out there in the wilds. Did the other survivors come here? And, if it is not too impertinent a question, what do you plan to do next?”
no real plans. I'm sort of at odds and ends.
Quite a few crusaders here. Anody says handing 2 sp to the boy and girl to take care of Anody's new pony. The Technic League comes down that harshly on anyone with tech you say? Oh dear he continues with some nervousness as he surreptitiously pushes his tablet computer and grenades deeper into his pack.
Anody dives into the beer with relish though and offers to buy the next round.
Beef sounds wonderful my dear! he orders from the menu as well.
"So, you say you were an adventurer? Where where you headed before you were ambushed by the League? ...and, actually, where did you say you were from again? Could you get back there safely do you think?", Sharae skirts around the issue a little...
...maybe we have found a guide?..
"I'll take an order of pork, potatoes and some water."
The barmaid is taken aback a bit by Ayla's order
Water? Are you sure. Its not very good for you
She writes the order down and bustles off.
Mel continues. Oh I'm from the river kingdoms originally, but ended up in numeria. Long story. Right now, this is my base, so to speak. As for the caravan, we were headed to the Chessad, with a load of starmetals and items for sale to the crusaders. Mithril, adamantium, that sort of thing. We also had tech items, weapons and armor, and a few robots. Myself and my group were going that way anyway, so we hired as guards.
Mel takes a deep drink of her beer
The fight...it was bad. Gearmen, mages and that huge robot. I lost good friends that day. The others, well we broke apart.
She looks distant, and then refocuses with a smile
but enough about me, you must have happier stories than I. Tell me of them
At this point a new figure enters the Inn. Tall, and his face is covered in blue tracery reminding you of...R6. He is wearing a green robe, and is carrying a staff. Over one eye is a strange looking monocle. Mel see him and calls out bob! Come meet some new faces. This is Bob, the villages local mage, archivist, item creator and magic shop owner.
Bob walks up and stares at the party. Greetings he says New crusaders...no, no obvious religious icons, also not as touchy...what are you?
With a sudden motion Bob is kneeling next to Anody, starring at him intently. Fascinating. Dwarfism...Elongated nose...a gnome correct?
He stands again, with a another quick motion. Can I have your body for research purposes. he says to Anody.
Mel kicks him and glares.
Er, once you have finished using it of course he continues.
Then he sees criek Oh, a ratman. Interesting. A few of you people came through here, oh, eight weeks ago. With a group of unsavory 1/2 orcs and humans. Lead by a very unpleasant woman.
He sits next to mel, and receives another kick. Mel gestures at him.
Oh, er, may I join you. You all look interesting
Mel looks at the party with an apologetic gaze. Sorry, bob is a good person, but he has all the tact and diplomacy of a Landshark
"Oh, er, yes, I'm famished -- may I have some beef? And an ale would be delightful as well?"
...too distracted by hunger to take much note of others in the public room, Criek tunes in again as Bob addresses him.
"Other ratfolk, you say? Per-perhaps they were...relatives of mine? Did they say anything about where they were going?"
Ohohoh. No worries. No worries at all. Actually I've already donated my body to my university... well the university I used to lecture at.. back in Absalom. I find the prospect of them waiting around to get their hands on my corpse is a wonderful added incentive to not Bleach. An unpleasant woman you say? We met one of those ourselves much to our displeasure. Maybe the same one.
Bob thinks for a moment. Torch.They were going to torch
Then he seems to think again
Bleaching? Sounds fascinating. Do you dip yourself into a base solution, or just dye your hair. Will it happen soon? Do you mind if I watch? For Science, of course.
