ding.
you have leveled.
Sir Ramsey, Sir Cameron, Father Henry. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Professor Anody Gearon and me and my friends were actually on our way somewhere else when we ran across your fort being attacked. I belive you are actually in Sho's debt. That swordplay was... quite amazing!
Sho grimaces at Anody's praise.
"Please Professor, I am merely a beginner at the art of the spear dance. There are many that would shock and astound you. Besides my contributions were no more important than anyone's."
...hmmm, on the way to 'somewhere else', Professor? A little more circumspect in telling others the full story these days? I hope that this place, our journey, our trials and tribulations aren't changing you...
Sharae places her hand on Sho's shoulder, "No need for modesty... Bringing that ogre to heel was enough to break the siege here... that was all you".
Turning to the newcomers, Sharae bows lightly, "Sharae... of the River"
"You're welcome, Sir Ramsey...I'm glad we could intervene before you suffered further losses to, er, what exactly is the Shining Host?" Criek asks, catching his breath.
why, my rodent featured friend, we ard one of the knightly orders dedicated to defending our world from the demonic incursions of the world wound. sir ramsey replies.
you are welcome here, although our accommodations are a bit...singed at the moment.
Yes, I think some time to rest would be quite welcome. There are some raiders lurking out there that might be hostile too so it would be quite good to have some protection. Tell me brave sirs, are you attacked often?
Anody starts jogging inside the fort unless he's stopped.
"Why, er, yes -- I think we shall take up your offer of welcome for the night. Singed accommodations are better than none at all on the road, as the Professor notes?
Er, do you get many passerby in need of lodging? And what have you here that is worth such a coordinated--and costly--onslaught as the one we just broke?"
A sudden thought striking him, Criek's furry brow furrows -- I wonder if it worries anyone else that the forces defending us from being overrun by demons can be so nearly be eradicated by a pack of orcish pirates?
"Any rest would be welcome... I am that tired that I do believe I would barely notice even had the roof had been burnt away. It is lucky that Desna guided our journey your direction today, tell me have you had trouble with that band of orcs before?"
Sho bows slightly at the waist towards the knights.
"Well then it seems we shall be troubling you. Thank you for the offer."
Well bless my sword, this sort of attack is rather unusual. As to who we serve, well yhis is the crusade road my friends. Have you never herd of e world wound? Crusaders travel through Numeria to the kingdom of mendal, to fight the demons. This is one of its way houses. The crusade that is, sir ramsey says.
As he does this a group of civilians exit the tower, armed with maces and swords. They fan out and start putting out fires.
Sir Ramsey frowns. this was as hot as any attack on the ward line, but here, very strange. Human pirates from the water kingdoms, allying with orcs. Something is behind this.
He sighs. Pity we have no prisoners. We need information.
Father Henry, a pinch faced person, states well this is certainly our problem, to be sure. The true faith can handle it from here. Our thanks I guess. he looks rather distanefully at the party, especially both ayla and sharee.
Ah yes of course, the route to the WorldWound. Itself a great challenge for the faithful of the Inheritor travelling to keep us safe from the demons. Well good luck to you I say, may all the forces of goodness aid the Light of the Sword and her faithful in that struggle Anody grins at the priest. I feel I must tell you that there was a necromancer that we dealt with on the way, we managed to destroy her undead but she herself sadly managed to get away. If any of you are good trackers then perhaps we can aid you in capturing her? I cannot imagine she's very good at surviving in the wilderness and we did burn all of the raider's boats. In any case we have business of our own. Did you hear what happened to the town of Torch? There seems to be something sinister about all of that. I do not suppose you have any word of what might be happening at Scrapwall or the Technic League? I imagine they don't interfere with the crusaders as well they shouldn't but any news would be good.
"Perhaps there is information we can glean from the fallen raiders? It did seem an unusual array of attackers, and i can't understand why they would strike so fortified a target?"
Criek begins to poke around the courtyard, looking both for any identifying marks or gear on the raiders as well as anything out of the ordinary about the construction of the fort:
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tis a mystery. Still, let us retire to the tower for the night. The morning may reveal more traces
And with that, after some fire fighting, a meal is cooked, and sleep arranged. Criek looks about the fort, but sees nothin untoward.
Meanwhile, in a ship buried beneath a town.
Inception protocol initiated. Genni, it has been sometime. It is good to see you online.
Interlink protocol excepted. Mistress greetings. Download initiated. Much has happened in very little time
hmm, these individuals seem quite talented. And they go after my tainted sibling. Will they be successful?
I do not have enough information to predict, mistress.
the question was rhetorical, genni. If they succeed against the tainted one, we may have our agents to oppose my other sibling.
Silence reigned for a moment.
mistress, what are your orders.
you still have a link with them?
yes mistress
monitor them. Unity must not be achieved. Unity must fall
Elsewhere.
a group of pirates, having recovered their craft and sailed to safety, set up a camp back in the river kingdoms.
Sitting down, they survey their loot and eat and drink.
Captain? This was a strange one, this raid.
aye, and not as profitable as we were told. But profit still, between the gold we were paid, and the loot we seized. Still, I'm glad we are out of it.
wonder what happened to the orcs.
A voice speaks from the darkness they were defeated and slain mostly.
The group starts, and half draw weapons, then relax when they see who it is.
the captain eyes her. so you are back witch. Took your time.
yes, well. After your departure, the "heroes" who accosted me crushed them. I do not think they we pursue us. Seems they have a quest. Against our employer.
The captain swigs his mug our former employer. The hag take the orcs and him. If those heroes took out the orcs, they could have taken us.
The necromancer sits beside him and leans against his shoulder.
we may still be involved. And profit can be made. This situation can be to our advantage, my love.
hmm. Maybe. Tell me your plan
And they plotted into the night.
The next day. Party actions?
In the morning, rested and well fed, Sharae spends a little time watching the repairs to the fort… but the urge to move onwards, to take a boat and head north, is stronger than ever…
Before leaving though, she will examine the armouries of this place and seek out a better weapon than the starknife she has been relying upon… a shortsword, a rapier or a trident… she feels confident, having watched others, that she could handle such a weapon.
With a good breakfast, the party is ready to go forth. On leaving, you are gifted with some potions.
On giving them to you, sir ramsey says please accept these. We are in your debt, indeed we would likely be drinking celestial mead without your intervention. Fare you well.
The potions are
two bulls strength
two blur.
two shield of faith
You hop into the small boat you aquired from the pirates and head north.
a few days of travel and at last you arrive near scrap wall. You see dark plumes of smoke, and there is an acrid smell in the air. In front of you you see an onimus wall that seems to be made of many pieces of metal, wood and stone. People are moving up there. There is a large gateway in the wall. Some folks are hanging around there, but you see no guards.
Actions.
Criek eyes the folks loitering around the gate, Can never be too sure about people you meet in Scrapwall...at least one of these is bound to be on the lookout for us?
"I've been through here a few times before," he offers to his companions. "Scrap being the family business and all? Hard to say whether I'll know anybody -- or anything -- this time, though? Place changes too fast."
I fear we are going into hostile territory. That Hellion priestess character probably expects us to be coming and this is where she was redirecting all of that energy from Torch. Anody says and then smiles Still maybe we can make some friends and find some lodging.
The days in the boat are like a homecoming for Sharae, the gentle movement, the lapping of water against the hull and the feeling of travel towards something new… it is almost a shame when, as the river turns once more, Scrapwall comes into view…
…alas dear Sellen, this is where our ways part once more…
”Another welcoming place Criek… you do seem to know the finest places in this nation!!!”, there is a mischievous glint in Sharae’s eyes as, standing knee deep in the cooling waters of the river, she secures the boat.
Criek smiles somewhat sadly at Sharae. "My kin don't always find the warmest welcome. You saw how, er, 'Ratty' was treated on that ship? Fairly common, I'm afraid. We have to get by in the edges of places that nobody else really wants. ...or places that are so chaotic that nobody can spare enough attention to kick us out."
Anody ahems and goes into his lecturing voice Scrapwall is only mildly interesting compared to Torch and other places in Numeria. It is most probably the wreck of a starship much like what we found under Torch. Indeed it is possible that is was a part of the same gigantic space vessel. It would be quite amazing if we were able to confirm that supposition. Unfortunately unlike Torch, where everything otherwordly is quite remarkably preserved in the caverns, in Scrapwall everything of interest has probably been scavenged quite long ago. Still there are scavengers and fortune hunters that inhabit this place looking for riches. And bandits of course. It may be best to pose as adventurers following some rumour to maybe avoid the attention of these Hellion characters.
"Then it should have some interesting things below the surface."
Sharae feels a slight tang of sadness for Criek but then she catches herself...
...for the ratfolk race maybe... but Criek would neither want nor need our sympathy...
"Chaotic... Chaotic seems to be the word for this place Criek... I think, if we are to blend in, adventurers, explorers or scavengers would seem to be a sensible cover".
Perhaps, Mel or Sho should take the lead. I fear the Hellions know the rest of us pretty well based on what happened in Torch. I'm finding that there aren't many Professors from Absalom trotting around Anody notes with a laugh.
"You're a long way from home Professor... and I fear our journey has many miles left to go", Sharae flicks a wry smile towards Anody. "I'm inclined to agree with Anody, our faces are known to thise who we believe have fled here... better that Mel or Sho do the talking for now".
"Very well then. I shall lead the way." Sho moves forwards to the gate while looking at the surrounding area. He looks at the people in the general area and tries to get a feel for the mood.
As you approach you attract little notice. You see that the people are gathering metal and putting it in piles. There are no guards visible. The gate is merely an opening, with no defences.
Ah that makes things simpler Anody says. Let us explore this place a bit before we start asking people things. Discretion is the greater part of valor after all
Sharae, agreeing that discretion is what is needed, scoops several handfuls of water from the Sellen... washing the butterfly motif from her cheks, she then rubs a little mud into her cheeks and her hair...
"Time to blend in Professor...", the grime-covered woman making her way into Scrapwall is far removed from the normally elegant lady that calls the Selllen home...
Oh, yes, of course Anody mutters and takes off his glasses and roughs up his hair before grabbing onto Sharae's hem to keep from blundering about. Quite blind without my spectacles but I've been told they're quite distinctive he mutters.
"Then we shall have to find you some new spectacles Professor", Sharae kindly slips her hand into his, "I will be your eyes for the moment".
Sharae looks around as they make their way into Scrapwall...
You move up to the entrance, no one stops you. Sharae notices many of the people working giving the party the once over, but apart from that nothing. As you approach the entrance you note two long pikes embeded in the ground, on top of which you see two heads. One is a half orc, the other is a human woman. slightly rotting, you start as both rotate on their pikes to watch you. A man steps out of the wall from an entrance you hadn't seen. Behind him you can see a room with tables and chairs.
Hold outlanders. You enter the territory of the steel eagles, and the entry of scrapwall. May I have your names and purposes.
The grotesque display turns Anody's stomach but he manages to bring the nausea under control as he answers.
Ah, my name is Noddy and me and my friends are here chasing some rumours on a wondrous store of energy in Scrapwall. I'm quite fascinated by Numerian technology! Are yo uSteel Eagles in charge of the town?
hmm. Why would you be seeking something like that? Don't know of any energy source.
"Who wouldn't be interested in such an artefact? Just think, me and Noddy here, we could power our farm and cultivate crops in this arid place... But you say you ain't heard about it? The name's Eskarae by the way...", Sharae offers a grime covered hand in friendship.
Keeping his hood up so only his snout protrudes, Criek tries to channel Ratty's submissive posture and let his more outspoken comrades speak for the group, mumbling "I just carry the things for Miss Eskarae," if asked directly, while staring at his toes.