Juxt bows her head, "I am ready and willing to accompany you all whenever you are ready."
Khonnir Baine clears his throat and stops both Dolga and Joram Kyte from speaking.
"I wish I had something more important to speak to you about, but this is all I have for now. One of our sister towns, Iadenveigh, has had some recent trouble with the Technic League. Nothing too big, but still, I thought I should have someone check on it. One of the leaders of the town, Redfang, is an old acquaintance of mine. I also know that there is an old wizard's tower, called the Choking Tower, near the town. The previous owner was very interested in technology from Numerian ruins. I don't know if that will help you in your quest, but it might, at the very least, allow you to acquire more technological equipment, should you check it out."
He looks to Yvell. "You've informed me about the threat beneath Silver Mount. I don't think that it is a good idea to enter there, or Starfall, until you are fully prepared. You'll have to deal with the full might of the Technic League, as well as the Black Sovereign, not to mention whatever this other Iron God's minions are."
"These three new faces have answered the summons for additional adventurers. I know that some of the past members have left for some reason or another."
"Yeah, that's what I'm here for," Grammanar confirms. "Help some independents keep the League off their backs, raid a ruin, fire some lead."
"Ah, very good, more artifacts to investigate. Splendid. Hopefully I will also be able to find the man's notes. "
Yvell listens to the explanation and tries to figure out how far and how long it would take to travel Iadenveigh. What it was known for and what to expect.
" Our goals coincide, recently we had gotten information leading to such a place as well so I shall take your sound advice Khonner Baine. We will deal with these other threats and find out about this Casandalee along the way. She seems to be of interest. As to the Black Sovereign, who are these people? "
Iadenveigh is a rural region of farmers to the southwest of Torch. It is a community known for disallowing the entry of technology into their town.
"Ah, I forget that you are not from Numeria. Currently, it is ruled by the Kellid warlord, Kevoth-Kul, the Black Sovereign. He is "advised" by the Technic League in matters of state." Khonnir says.
"It just ain't right," Dolga adds. "I mean, I respect them Kellid tribes for not liking technology, even though it's crazy, but they definitely shouldn't be working with those technologists if they believe such a thing."
"Best to learn these things before traveling to the middle of a hostile country," Grammanar grumbles.
" It seems something Nefarious is likely to blame for the sudden change. I cannot see a Kellid being 'advised' in ANY fashion by the stain that is the Technic League unless there is either Blackmail, Mind Control or Underhanded incentive. Then again the land is known for its farmers.. not particularly warriors. Unlike Torch it doesnt have our or your presence. Even then the Technic League sees fit to tax and pressure areas. "
Yvell cracks the knuckles in his right gauntleted hand. " Alright then, with that extra bit of knowledge, I believe we have our mission. Check this Choking Tower, Figure out the Relationship between the Black Sovereign and the Technic League, Deal with that if needed, Follow our lead on this Casandalee and the Relation to Hellion. Thank you for the information Khonnir, Dolga and Joram, hopefully it will come in good use. Will there be payment or is this a favor? I do not have a preference here but I do not speak for everyone. "
He looks to his allies New and Old, " That seems about right? I am ready to depart as of now, what say the rest, do you need time to gather any resources? "
Muga by this point was dozing against a wall.
"I believe I have what I need for the moment. I'm ready to go. "
"Are you, Perdix, or should we see if we can find you some reading on Numerian customs first?"
Just frowns at Dolga's suggestion that mistrust ing technology was crazy, but pushes it aside, "I am prepared to leave whenever."
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" I will give you all an hour to do any last minute things such as food, shelter or armaments. After that, we will leave for Iadenveigh. Meet at the Southern Gate. Our Journey will start then. "
Yvell giving a nod and strolling from the group near Muga defore loudly banging his sword against the wall near the Samurai and strolling out to Meet Phylla new adorned with her assorted equipment better suiting her form.
" It seems we head to Iadenveigh, like the journal Kulgara kept pointed out. "
"Right." Muga doesn't respond immediately to the bang. In fact, he doesn't seem to move at all for a second after it, before responding. He gets up and starts heading for his house to grab lunch.
"I'm not here to study the quaint local customs, just the artifacts. " and he steps out ignoring any reply from the rude, scarred man.
"Just... try not to get any more 'colleagues' killed by your ignorance of them, then," Grammanar replies as the wizard leaves.
When you head outside of the town hall, you see a small plant like humanoid creature with a flower cap. It latches onto Yvell, wrapping tiny tendrils around the paladin's body. The tiny creature seems to weigh down on Yvell more than it should.
A voice says in your minds, "These are the new servants, Yvell-Servant? With the added muscle we should be able to take over the world, hahaha. We are heading to another settlement? Hopefully not like Scrapwall. I want to plant my roots in rich soil."
"How curious a sentient plant! I've heard of the vegepygmies, but those are technically a fungus, and they are not known to communicate with humanoids. Greetings Phylla. I am Perdix. I am happy to make your acquaintance. "
Yvell has to readjust once Phylla attaches to him he gives a chuckle and raises a brow, giving a sweeping arm to introduce her.
" Yes Phylla, this is the new additions to the group we plan on heading to Iadenveigh soon. Luckily for you they are said to mistrust technology, so likely the soil conditions are much better than even here. Taking over the world is a far distant future.. you will need far more servants. "
This should be a fun group. Val thinks to herself as they leave the meeting.
When the party is ready to depart, you head south and west towards Iadenveigh. The other town is nearby a river as well. At the end of the first day, you make camp outside a forest. In the center of the greenery is a smoking tower.
Yvell looks to the tower intrigued, the last few times a smoking building was a bad omen.
Other than the smoke that seems to be spewing from every crack and orifice of the tower, it looks like a regular stone tower from this distance.
"This might be the 'Choking Tower' mentioned," Grammanar points out. "It might be useful to see if the nearby town has any smoke protection we can borrow or buy."
"Yeah. I'm a fair shot at breathing smoke from all the gunpowder blasted battles I've fought through, but, well, that's a LOT of smoke."
"I simply don't see how anyone could breathe inside of there without some sort of abjuration. "
" That would be an idea, though it would need to be magical or mundane in make as Iadenveigh does not use any of these relic devices or 'technology' The nearest is still 2 days or so away. Khonnir Recommended the Tower for exploration I assume any hazards, he would have warned us about. Why not make a cursory observation as to the tower to determine if we need fully explore or return? "
"Well... we could where the smoke seems to be coming from, and if part of the tower seems safe start there," Grammanar adds, cautiously.
" Obviously, in either case it would not be to the point of great danger, then only reason I even suggest this course of action is my trust in Valtyra's expertise and the augmenting ability of my Lord. This will be done with caution. Especially with the lack of knowledge of your particular contributions in stressful situations. " Yvell said in a straightforward manner as he stretched in his suit or armor.
"Sounds good to me."
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"Yvell, go ahead, lead the way, you're the leader. We'll follow."
Yvell quirks a brow, " Very well then. " Yvell unsheathed his blade and moved off into the forest.
Unlike the wasteland of Numeria, the forest itself is slightly more vibrant. Bits of ash cling to the tops of the trees like snow.
Grammanar takes a bit of time to pick at and smell the first piece of ash he gets his hands on, seeing if he can determine whether it's normal ash or something more poisonous.
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The party takes the most direct route to the tower and are easily able to keep the tall structure in view. It takes only a few hours to reach the monolithic building.
This towering stone structure rises high above the tops of the surrounding trees. The towers walls are made of metal and stone and stained black with greasy soot, and its roof is a metal cone crowded by a forest of pipes and chimneys belching smoke into the sky. The tower's few windows are narrow and slatted with thick metal grills, and its only door is a metal rectangle with rounded corners, twelve feet high and nine feet wide. The door bears no knob or handle-only a two-inch-wide hole in the center, the edges of which are cracked and bent as if a tremendous force wrenched something free. A large number of immense humanoid footprints mar the g round surrounding the tower.
Before you can get any closer (you are about 50 feet away), you all hear noise behind you as the flora rustles. The rustling is followed by mechanical noise of metal grinding and squeaking.
"Hello, thing likely about to attempt to kill me!" Muga says raising a hand and waving in welcome, his palm facing behind him as he continues looking forward at the tower.
Two large robotic shapes crunch through the trees and foliage between you. The bulky constructs stomp forward on disjointed legs. You all hear noises coming from the holes in their clawed hands.
1. Enemy
2. Everyone
Unsure what kind of armored plating the constructs have, Grammanar pulls the large gun from his pack and fires an aimed shot at the one closer to him, leaping back to his feet as he recovers from the recoil.
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Perdix will haste the party, and move to be away from the strange automatons.
While quite shocked by his appearance he tries to remember what he might know about such things.
"I don't believe I've encountered such things in my research as yet. "
Val waits until someone tells her what they are.
Yvell sees the two metal automatons and raises his blade. " Get behind the more heavily armored. Focus one down than the other. Let the soldier Fervor of my lord bring us victory! "
Two Flaming Wings burst from his back as he approaches the enemy, he moves past Muga and then Juxt and Valtyra. As he does so ANOTHER pair of flaming wings grow and his muscles bulge fiercely as a reddish glow overwhelms him. He stops right outside the metal beings reach. Wielding his Chain-blade.