I heard of a mutated manticore and more undead living there as well as a lot of vagabonds and exiles, next to those gangs. Best we go in and prove ourselves as scarp-worthy, so the gangs won´t attack us. Then we can search for Dinvaya. She might be a valuable resource for what´s going on in there. Finaly, we should speak with that Hellion. I want to know what it is and how it gets its powers. There we will find the most answers. ...and invaluable knowledge and power...but what´s that for the do-gooders? Nevermind, more for me.
Once the meeting is over, Auehda eats another share of the rations and takes the first watch.
Yvell nods at this new information. " In that case this is a place of might makes right and will have to conform to that to likely get any respect or information. Good information Ibuki. The undead and manticore we should rid regardless however, tis place would do well not to have such things around. As far as Hellion, Im not so sure.. We can try but if he ordered Torch to be destroyed for his means I am not sure he will be up for debate..and should be sufficiently strong if he can give those power. It will be a struggle. Other than that I agree with your premise " Yvell crosses his arms as they were finishing camp he would take Second watch. And Suggest Muga take First with Auehda.
We never met the undead nor the manticore before. Same is true for Hellion. How about we take a look and judge the situations then?
" It doesnt matter what the undead are UNLESS they happen to be ghosts like Aldronard before or zombies from Geb. That will need to be taken out. I agree though, some reconnaissance would be good but I rather be prepared to fight in either case. Hellion is not your friend I can assure that. "
I never said Hellion is my friend. I´m also not sure how to get reconnaissance. You learned sneaking or being a good scout? We´ll probably have to go in and communicate. It might be good if that´s not starting with insults, threats and statements of who is evil or has to be slain. We can always do that later, but first we have to survive and get the knowledge we need. I totally respect if you don´t want to lie or be responsible for something out of your beliefs, but sometimes we have to be flexible. You´re really good on the battlefield, but in negotiations and intelligence, maybe you could just leave that to others first? Valtyra here for example is surely our best negotiator, Auehda seems to have some good judgement of human nature and Muga definately didn´t fall on his mouth. We need to be a team to be strong and use everyone to his or her best advantages. Only this can secure the success of our mission, else we might end up as undead or cannibal food down there.
Ibuki nods towards scrapwall.
Regarding Hellion, we should first find out what that really is and identify this possible other threat.
Yvell clearly shows rising dislike from the Mage's words but allowed him to finish. It rose to what clearly looked to be rage before swiftly disappearing as if from a small wind. " Reconnaissance is simply gathering information on the enemy without them fully learning why you do so and safely using it to form a plan. As far as your 'comments' You act as if by my efforts objectives have not come to a close or gained effectively. As a matter of fact it is as if you are discarding them all together. Unless you have suddenly had a memory lapse, every action I have taken outside of a small set of circumstances has been for the betterment of this group and OFTEN with my words. Phylla would not be here and recently you would not have known what the ghost needed nor would have been wary of the attack on the Crusader's Fort.
I digress, that is not important. The important portion is that I am well aware of the strengths each member has as of late for I am actually OBSERVANT. I simply feel out those newer to the group. Valtyra is indeed our best negotiator though that is due to her disposition and wording. Auehda is not so much a good judge of character as they say what they think.. Auehda's SENSES however are strong, able to notice things well in advance. Muga is a masterful artist in carnage and enjoys battle much like a follower of Gorum would. Aeron walks awkwardly and somehow contorts into graceful poses relying on agility more than brute force with her strikes, augmenting whatever else with sword-magic. When it comes to information you have quite a few but if you notice...
I am not a slacker in any one of these fields. If there is such a thing it is to no benefit to the group to solely rely on one person for such things. And you discount my accomplishments by saying I only stand useful.. in combat. Everyone does pull their weight it is merely in different ways in varying degrees. "
Yvell stares hard at Ibuki, standing up and then walking away, " We need to be up soon you should get some rest "
The cerebric fungus slaps Yvell playfully with its tentacles as it follows after him. "Wait, Yvell-servant. You are forgetting my praise. I am clearly the smartest one here, and much more advanced than you baser life forms. I know you are only human and elf, but you should try harder to remember how valuable I am." Phylla whispers in your minds.
The night passes uneventfully. The morning is chilly and bright.
You assume too much. I would just have cast my spell on the ghost and talked to him, exactly like i did. The outcome would very likely have been the same. What i was saying exactly is that you are good in many fields, but when it comes to talking and diplomacy, you have a certain way of doing that. Which might be good in some cases, but more often it closes doors than it opens some for us. This is very likely to provide more difficulties than it is to solve and lead to unnecessary violence more often than not. You can see that right? It´s also not a disrespect or diminishing you. You develop hard feelings and get worked up so easily, seeing everything and everyone as an enemy that doesn´t share your opinion. Or at least you leave that impression. Is forcing your opinion and view of the world part of your religion? Is it something good?
In the morning Ibuki gets up early, stretches himself and goes about studying spells before breakfast.
Changing ray of sickening to chill touch.
Yvell gives a wave back as if an afterthought to Ibuki before the conversation ends, " That may well be and could happen but I don't force anyone. I don't need to and allow them their own opinions.. I don't use magic to end them to do so... " leaving it at that. Once Phylla pipes up he looks down to the plant allowing her to wrap her tendrils around his arm and lift Phylla atop his shoulder. " Of course i could not forget about your efforts Phylla, you are invaluable.. though Ibuki might give you a run for your money when it comes to.. smarts. "
=========
In the morning Yvell seems to be studying some script and understanding some arcane rune he had perused as the sun rises. He begins breaking down the camp and rallying the rest of the group into battle worthy beings. They have an.. alright breakfast consuming the rations he had carried and it was a wright off his shoulders.. literally. " Hrmm the night sky was good this evening but the sun will always trump it. Now, I suppose everyone is ready to continue? " Yvell seemed particularly.. pleased today.
"Lead on, oh fearless captain." Muga was obviously making a spot of fun at Yvell, smirking, but was still acknowledging Yvell as the leader.
Yvell gives a nod, " Being fearless is foolish, it is better to face fear head on to overcome it. I will need your Blade Muga so let's find out the mystery of this place... Everyone! Time to move out! " He then leads the party to the gates of Scrapwall, securing Phylla on his back like normal, blade carried in his left hand. They were on a mission.
*sigh* is all that can be heard of Ibuki witnessing Muga and Yvell. ...because kiling someone with a blade is so very different from doing it with magic...
You move to the gatehouse of Scrapwall and are greeted by a man wearing leather armor and a hawk tattoo on his arm. He has a sword at his side and a bow on his back.
The gate looks like:
A mass of metal bars, wooden timbers, and strips of refuse lashed and bolted together form a crude but effective barrier here.
"Let's see. You want in to Scrapwall? You look like a bunch of crusaders to me. What's your business here?"
Yvell looks up at the man his face stern but not threatening. He motions to the group and then to the gate. " Sorry to disappoint but we are not crusaders as you think.. Just adventurers who wish to have access to your settlement. We have business inside and might start a way to become 'scrap-worthy' as you say. We don't plan on causing anymore trouble than what might already be here. Is that acceptable? "
Auehda nods.
The man looks at Yvell, the paladin, and snorts. "Yeah, you aren't a crusader." He takes a better look at everyone and grunts.
"What the *%@% did you just say? Speak common, you #@#$!." He sighs. "Wait here."
He returns with a tough-looking woman with a similar tattoo on her face. She has no visible weapons on her person.
"Ah, adventurers, or something. Come with me. We have to do an interview, before you're officially allowed in to Scrapwall. Name's Sevroth Slaid, by the way. Follow me."
The gate raises up and she walks into one of the small gatehouse buildings.
Yvell grunts when the man verbally assaults Auehda, holding back his more protective urges. Ibuki might have clearly wanted Yvell to be less.. foreboding for his personal reasons but it served well here to be..'humble'. He calmed himself enough in the time that elapsed bringing what he could only think is their leader. To which Yvell actually cracked a smile as she seemed quite capable and experienced in her position based on her constitution and appearance, not to mention orderly demeanor.
He whispers a bit to Phylla to recall what the woman might be thinking " Phylla the female one this time " before responding with a nod, " A pleasure Sevroth. Let's see what you need to screen us for. " If the party had no issue he lead them forward into the building curious what the woman wanted.
We search for several...persons...we have some unfinished business with. It´s kind of a crusade, you could say that. A trade crusade perhaps. Will you open the door for us?
Map.
Ibuki eyes Yvell, nodding to seeing him keeping himself in control.
He follows, letting Yvell take the first step in, but not going last.
Yvell spat on the ground before walking into the building. This was the SECOND time they had been lead past a gate and into a courtyard so it went without saying that he was wary of the situation. Notably however, the people were unarmed and the gate did not crash back down.
Sevroth leads you to a common room, with tables and chairs. She tells the two gang members in the room to leave. She sits down in a chair and faces you.
"I have a proposition for you. After the Lords of Rust killed our leader, they installed our new 'leader', an ex-Smiler named Birdfood. He has a bunch of orc bodyguards, too. Our gang, the Steel Hawks used to be at the top of the gang chain, as it were. You take out this Birdfood and we'll start our revival. In exchange, I'm willing to offer you information-information that you don't have about the goings-on here in Scrapwall. You can also use the common room here to rest, I don't f*#@$#$ care. You look like the kind that's going to stir up trouble. I'd just like to focus you all into something-helpful. What do you say?"
As they initially began their approach, Aeron decided it best to be a bit less conspicuous and donned her hat, hunching her shoulders a bit and keeping her now child like features deep within the shadows offered by the wide brim. Following quietly, Aeron's eyes moved from one area to another as they were led in. She had never been away from Torch and this was new to her. She inspected the surroundings with interest, wondering if this settlement was the norm for the rest of Numeria. The locals seemed to be friendly enough though . The gatekeeper and the one leading them in caught her attention. Or at least their facial tattoos did. She unconsciously brought her hand up to her own face feeling the subtle lines crisscrossing her features and wondering if these hardened humans were trying to emulate her people.
Yvell nods to the woman's proposal, clearly she had thought of this plan ahead of time and simply waited for a group that might seem powerful enough to handle said threat. He took it all into account as well as the Party's needs before responding. " Your proposal does not sound.. unreasonable. You know what we want and what you need to get done. That is the clear sign of a capable leader, which with your attractive figure, physical prowess and clear experience would mean that no doubt you would become the next leader. We would want to get in good graces with you. " Yvell lead off before he got into HIS side of the deal.
" You are correct, we have come to investigate the Lord's of Rust who have caused issues away from your land and need to be dealt with. However, before we can agree to help we need to know about the enemy we face. When you say 'ex-Smiler' what does that mean? What are the Smilers known for.. better yet, what is Birdfood capable of? That way our group can plan accordingly... Oh and there is but.. one more parcel of information that may solidify the deal. Do you know of an elf who lives here and worship Brigh or anything on Hellion? If you can give that information we would have a deal on the agreement you assist us even more after this task. Is that appropriate, Lady Sevroth? " Yvell turned on his standard diplomatic state, this woman genuinely being one he respected.
Ibuki watches Sevroth Slaid, then Auehda, to see if she shows any sign of agreement.
Sounds interesting. You might want to tell us more though before we can agree.
I wonder if Yvell tells everyone he meets so much. Guess that was our secrecy. Soon probably everyone will know why we are here. Phylla! Phylla! Tell Yvell telepathically to not tell so much about us please! I´ll try to get you some better red food!
Why do they call him "bird food"?
The question was abrupt and blunt. The expression on the child's face seemed that of true curiosity, as if the question was important to the decision of this conversation. To Aeron, it actually was, though the question was a bit awkward and seemingly off topic. To the android, it made all the sense in the world. She wanted to know what they were going up against.
Phylla sends to all the party members. "Ibuki-servant says to Yvell-servant not to talk so much. Yvell-servant should not divulge our secrets. She is thinking about what she is saying. It is the truth."
"Birdfood ain't one of the Smilers anymore. He's the 'leader' of the Steel Hawks. He still has that deformed smile, cuts himself and is on Soothe, but he's taking the position seriously. He has a bunch of birds he's trained. I've only seen him a handful of times, 'cause he's a hideous bastard, so I don't know what he's capable of. I also know he likes to act like a high and mighty king."
"Only the leaders of the Lords of Rust, the actual lords, have seen Hellion. None of us other gangs, or the minions of his have seen the 'god'. Or whatever it is. But we've heard him. There's a crazy elf lady living in the broken clocktower. She makes constructs but stays mostly alone."
"Anyway, Birdfood is in our base the 'Hawk Palace.' It's just north of here past the big courtyard.
Is on soothe? Ibuki produces one of the pink gels found in the fort. You mean something like this? Is it addictive?
Does she hide something from us Phylla? Something she thinks but doesn´t tell about her plans?
A crazy old lady in a clockwork tower that makes constructs? That sounds interesting!
Yvell twitched and almost smiles a Phylla had blurted out Ibuki's thoughts. He was also glad that the woman was telling the truth as of late. But as the information of what a 'Smiler' is and who the Birdfood may be was divulged his smile quickly changed and his eyes were the hardest to hide his fury. It did not matter what she had originally wanted to off him for, Yvell was hell-bent on wiping him off the face of Golorian. He drew the parallel from the description to Aldronards Grave. They were one in the same. His tone was no longer flowery but he still held his anger back to speak one last thing. " Thank you, So we can expect to shoot birds out of the sky and if he uses such creatures more than likely uses a bow much like the Rangers in Nirmathas. At this point I need the direction of this tower and I think we will be satisfied for now. I assume any were meet at your base are not your allies anymore, correct? "
Soothe runners. To get close to him, we can be soothe runners.
The words were spoken silently, almost to herself as her mind toiled with the next step of their plan before they even agreed to undertake the task fully. Her thoughts were already calculating and formulating plans as she phased out much of the continuing conversation.
Yvell turned to Aeron his Elven Ears picking up the hushed tone and commented on it, " A fair plan if we have enough of the stuff, though I am not one to lie, so it would not be me speaking to them, it'd get us into the Palace but may still require we deal with whoever we passed on the way out.. If we already don't have to deal with them during the fight. "
"I might be able to produce this soothe. Would have to run some experiments on it and need some equipment though. A good plan! " Ibuki smiles to Aeron.
-Posted with Wayfinder
" Hopefully it doesnt need anything.. Too exotic. For the act we would only need .. a few at the very least. " Yvell looks to Ibuki insinuating something they all should be aware of in the party.. considering 4 of them saw the Technological enigma that was the ruins beneath Torch.
Valtyra looks at Ibuki, "Even if we can make the Soothe, he likely has a supplier that he trusts and isnt going to buy from just anyone. I'm sure theres easier ways to get to see him. We could say we have important information about another gang or from the woman we captured. This Hellion seems to be a very unholy and trouble some deity." The way she says 'diety' its easy to tell she isnt sure if this is a true diety.
Val looks at the woman, "Is there anywhere Bird frequents where it would be easy to have a... private conversation with him? Hopefully where he wouldnt have many men with him."
Yvell places a hand on Valtyra's shoulder " You are also correct on that front, He may well already have a supplier but even more so, why would he buy from some random group? On the woman, if Hellion is even half as powerful as that woman believed then he would already know something was up and thus so would these 'Leaders' Why they would employ a.. cannibal is beyond me. " Yvell grips subconsciously a bit firm with his plated glove on Valtyra before realizing and taking his hand away in slight embarrassment.
" If he has the same men that we meet before.. it will not be a difficult job... " Yvell's eyes still holding the anger below.
If we meet resistance it would more be in the area of the women that lead those men. It makes sense to me that the mightiest gang installs leaders in other gangs somehow. If that is connected to Hellion, who knows? It seems the population here is mainly organized in gangs, some exiles and outcasts and some monsters. This doesn´t really paint a picture oh Hellion so far. We don´t know any about it´s preachings or some such. We could try to find out though.
Sevroth Slaid, what is known about the cult of Hellion? Is it a god? Or a demon? Close to the worldwound, that would make sense.
" Ibuki, she has already given us information for information past the deal. Any more than that would be us getting more than what was bargained for. Not to mention we have been given somewhat of a safe haven. She already voiced her thoughts on Hellion. She MIGHT however give us more information once we have finished this request through her connections... You can at least see that right? "
"... Well... I was going to say something, but you've pretty much taken all the good lines. Moving on." Muga heads off to whatever passes for a bar in this place, cricking his neck.
It seems i see a lot more than you, Yvell. Sevroth Slaid is standing right next to us here. I´m not sure what you hope to gain by this behaviour Yvell, but i think it is insulting. You want to be the leader here somehow, then behave it. You´re pretty far from it. You´re more of a bully actually.
Yvell had many words he could have said to the man in front of him but if he betrayed those emotions it wasnt shown. He simply looked Ibuki up and down, and responded. " Alright then.. go ahead.. I'm not going to CONTROL you. Only giving a suggestion. " The control portion was obvious in inflection.
Auehda remains still. "Burnt One wait here in Steel Hawks' place. Make sure we can run if need to. Also watch Steel Hawks."
Muga walks out into Scrapwall.
Sevroth ignores everything else you say afterwards. She stands up points to the exit that Muga leaves through and says, "Just remember. You take out Birdfood and I'll give you more assistance." She leaves.
-Deal with Birdfood at the Hawk Palace.
-Explore Scrapwall
-Go to the Haunted Eastern Section
-Fight the Mutated Manticore
-Meet with Dinvaya at the Clocktower
-Search for and attack the Smiler base
-Meet with Redtooth Raiders, one of the other gangs
-Follow after Muga and go drinking
-Attack the Lords of Rust at Scrapmaster's Arena
-Something else
Aeron grew very still at the dismissal of her plan before she could formulate the details fully and present it to the others. She wanted to push the idea, but held it back as Muga stood and left. Looking over the others, she waited a moment to see where they all stood on the next steps. Her desire to explore Scrapwall had to be sublimated until she knew wfat the others had planned. As for Muga, she was used to his frequent departures and was confident he could take care of himself. He would return when he was ready.