Val takes the hammer from you and gives the egg a nervous look. "Well... okay..."
"If we're not back in a few days time I want you to go to the records hall and ask them for the letter I left for you." She held out the hammer and smiled nervously, "I don't expect you will need to though."
"I seriously hope not, Sis." Val's voice takes on a serious & worried tone. "I've already got enough to worry about now that Dad's missing--I-I don't know if I could handle you going missing too."
She clears her throat and looks back over at the broken repair drone before turning back to the egg. "So, is there anything specific you want me to do to take care of this egg? I could wrap it up in blankets, or something..."
-------------
The shopkeep takes the offered list from the squat warrior and looks it over. "Hmm... waterproof bags, rations, chalk... rope, grapple hook..."
She looks over the counter at Inlé. "You're headin' down under the Hill, too? Well, thank Brigh's oiled teats for that."
She steps out from behind the counter. You catch a glimpse of some more exotic goods in shelves underneath it. "Did ya have any particular preference as to what sorts of rations you want? We've got gnome rations, hobbit rations, elven rations (although I'm pretty sure they're just sheafs of wheat), dwarven rations (just don't let my wife catch you buying them--she loves the liquor that comes with 'em)..."
Your walk home is peaceful, for the most part. The people you pass on the street pause briefly to acknowledge your presence before getting back to their errands. Some of them rub their heads and wince in pain as they walk, their gait becoming unsteady and erratic for a time.
Your home is a rather modest, two-story building, carved from stone like most of the other buildings in town. Lights can be seen in the first-floor windows--it looks like Hepzibah is busy.
Stepping in through the door, you catch sight of your wife whistling a tune as she organizes several potions on a nearby shelf. Dressed in soft blues and earthy browns, and with a well-used white apron covering her slightly rounded belly, she appears unconcerned with anything at the moment.
She turns as you enter, and her eyes light up with happiness. "Darling." Her expression turns into one of concern. "So, what was the news in town?"
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He was smiling as he closed with her and he leaned forward to hug her close for a moment before raising up slightly on his tip toes and kissing her forehead.
"Nothing good i'm afraid my heart. Mr. Khonnir is missing beneath some ruins, under the black hill, to investigate the torch's sudden dousing. His daguhter Val, you remember her? is worried too, he found some crazy machine his first visit that sudden stood up and tried to smash it's way out of his workshop.
"Councillor Dolga was looking to hire a group to go in after them... I voulnteered to go with them."
He pulled away stroking her hair with one hand the other sliding to her belly rubbing there. He closed his eyes for a moment and just soaked in the feeling of his love being there.
"Don't worry, the group im going with seems capable."
"Which would you recommend?" he asks the shopkeeper.
"Given the description, the dwarven ones sound interesting." Edynn says looking at the options.
"You like liqueur?"
"I like trying things I haven't tried before." Edynn says with a shrug.
"Ah, okay. I've never had any either" Inlé responds."We'll take the Dwarven rations then."
This woman is infuriatingly enigmatic... he thinks for a moment before asking "So did someone teach you to fight like that or did you teach yourself?"
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"A bit of both I suppose. I was trained in the basics on how to use my body in combat and I've practiced a lot on my own." Edynn says in response, noting that the little man....was very curious.
"Interesting. So they taught you to use your body over weapons? I would say that's silly... but it's working so obviously that would be wrong. Were you taught here?"
"Do you enjoy fighting?" he continues.
Sia pulled Val into a hug again as the younger woman expressed her worry, squeezing her tightly before releasing her, and said, "I promise I will do everything in my power to come back to you and bring Papa back to sis." She released Val after a moment and then pulled Val's hand gently to lead her to the egg. "All you need to do is make sure he stays warm, keep the heat lamp going as much as possible and it shouldn't take much more. I don't expect him to hatch any time soon so that shouldn't be a problem."
With that Sialea grabbed her pack and threw what little she needed into it. Her packing done Sia gave Val one final hug and kissed her forehead briefly before she said, "I think that's everything Sis, I'll be back soon."
"I fight mostly because I need to but I suppose it feels...natural while I'm fighting." Edynn replies.
"Really? Fighting feels the same to me too! It's just so much a part of me, I don't even really have to think about it. Fun too." Inlé excitedly responds.
"Had any favourite fights?"
The shopkeep gathers several cloth-wrapped bundles of dwarven rations and brings them over to the counter before gathering up the other items on your shopping list.
"Now, how many of these items are you lookin' for?"
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Val takes a breath and nods. "Heat lamp to keep the egg warm. Gotcha."
"And you'd better come back soon. With Dad in tow."
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"Don't worry, the group I'm going with seems capable."
Hepzibah bites her lip and rests her head on your shoulder. "So did Khonnir's group..."
She shakes her head and looks up into your eyes. "How long are you going to be gone for? Jyacynth and I are going to miss you so much. I know it's a bit silly to worry about you after all this time, but..."
... crap. "Well there's four of us and we're going to search for Khonnir..."
"So, one set of rope & grappling hook, four waterproof bags, 12 days worth of dwarven rations, about 5 sticks of chalk..." The shopkeep places the rest of the requested equipment on the counter. She unties one of the cloth bundles to reveal its contents--several smoked sausages & salted meats, with dried vegetables & hard biscuits rounding out the package. There's a small tin flask in the bundle as well. "These here are the dwarven rations, in case you wished to know what they consist of."
Inlé sniffs at the rations, the noise amplified by the wolf skull. "Pungent, but not in a bad way. We'll take em."
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The shopkeep claps her hands together. "Alrighty then!"
She steps behind the counter and takes out some sort of small black slate. She looks the goods over with a critical, appraising eye before tapping the slate repeatedly. "So, altogether..."
After thirty seconds of tapping her slate, she looks over at the diminutive swordsman. "...that'll be about 27 golds and 5 coppers."
"Oh, sorry, Councilwoman Dolga gave us this." he says as he produces and then offers the writ.
She takes the writ from Inlé and looks it over. "Hmm."
She then hands it back and starts tapping on her slate again. It doesn't take her as long this time. "In that case, that'll be 21 golds, 6 silvers & 4 coppers."
Digging around in his robes Inlé finds a small purse of which he quickly counts the coins out onto the counter for the lady.
"Thank you." Edynn says taking the equipment.
Yes, thank you." he says to the shopkeep. "If your wife gets angry just tell her we paid double."
The shopkeep smirks and taps the bridge of her nose. "Now, if that's all, you have a nice day now."
"Anything else?" Inlé asks the Brawler, his skull helmet just barely peaking out over the supplies cradled in his arms.
Hepzibah blinks and looks over at the stairs up to the second floor of your home. "Oh, and before you go..."
"...Jyacynth would like to see you. She hasn't been out of bed all day--she says her head hurts."
Hepzibah blinks and looks over at the stairs up to the second floor of your home. "Oh, and before you go..."
"...Jyacynth would like to see you. She hasn't been out of bed all day--she says her head hurts."
His eyes widened slightly and his frown became much deeper.
"The councilwoman mentioned a lot of people were complaining of headaches the lastfew days, I dont..."
He swallowed hard, he didnt like the idea that something could be causing his little angel headaches, It made him almost regret saying he would be a part of this expidition if his little girl was getting sick, he should be here.
He kissed his wife on her forehead again before hurrying upstairs, To the small room that was his daughters
He knocked softly on the door before he poked his head in.
"Hey there little butterfly, Your mother tells me you have a case of the achey head."
He began moving to the bed and gently sitting on it, like all parents he quickly moved to assess the problems by placing a hand on her forehead and looking into her eyes.
You push open the door to Jyacynth's room. It looks to be as messy as it usually is--several of her toys are scattered all over the floor. Sunlight streams in from her window, illuminating the wadded up bundle of covers and sheets on the bed. Her floppy, black-furred bunny ears stick out of the top of the bundle.
She peeks her head out at you as you sit down on her bed. There's a great deal of discomfort on her face. "...Da-dee?"
"Hey there little butterfly, Your mother tells me you have a case of the achey head."
Jyacynth sniffs and winces, her soft blue eyes shutting tight as you rest your hand on her forehead.
You also are fairly certain that Hepzibah could perhaps brew some medicine for her...
"Not that I can think of. I can carry most of that if you like." Edynn replies.
"Eh, if you want, the smell is already making hungry." he grumbles as he raises the packages up for Edynn to take a few. "Just don't go getting drunk without me, okay?"
"Will do...or won't." Edynn says with a small smile.
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The tiny swordsman & the tattooed brawler leave the shop in time to see Sialea step out of the Foundry, a backpack slung over her shoulder.
Inlé gives her a short chuckle in response.
"It looks as if we are just waiting for Celen now." Edynn says seeing Sialea
"Do you know where he lives?"
Val takes a breath and nods. "Heat lamp to keep the egg warm. Gotcha."
"And you'd better come back soon. With Dad in tow."
Giving the young woman one last hug, as hard of one as she can, "I will Val, I promise. Sia then slipped out the door and headed to the rendezvous, sending a last telepathic burst of love and reassurance to her sister as she left.
Seeing Inle and Edynn, Sia headed over towards them. Her movements were graceful and her rather sparse attire left little to the imagination, covering only enough to be, barely, within the bounds of what is acceptable. It certainly didn't seem to bother her and she obviously had any number of admirers given the looks of both men and women in her direction. Granted many of the women were jealous of the attention given her, but they looked none the less. She reached her to adventuring companions and said, "I see you're done. Did you manage to get everything?"
You push open the door to Jyacynth's room. It looks to be as messy as it usually is--several of her toys are scattered all over the floor. Sunlight streams in from her window, illuminating the wadded up bundle of covers and sheets on the bed. Her floppy, black-furred bunny ears stick out of the top of the bundle.
She peeks her head out at you as you sit down on her bed. There's a great deal of discomfort on her face. "...Da-dee?"
"Hey there little butterfly, Your mother tells me you have a case of the achey head."Jyacynth sniffs and winces, her soft blue eyes shutting tight as you rest your hand on her forehead.
** spoiler omitted **
"hmm not an optimal temperature for a spunky butterfly like yourself, you are running too hot, no wonder your head hurts. "
He began trying to hide his worry with a smile and and kiss to her forehead. Already he was contemplating what herbs would help cool her very slight fever and make the throbbing subside.
"I'll have mommee brew you up some medicine and get you right as the rain falling in time. Listen little one, I have to go help the town find Mr. Khonnir... you remember mr. Khonnir right? He went to look under the pretty torch to see why it stopped burning and he hasnt come back yet. They are afraid he might be hurt, so I'm going with some people to find him and help. No you behave for your mother Okay?
He said hugging her tight and saying a silent prayer... not to his patron. Nethys wouldnt care one iota about his daughter's health or well being... unless she took up a spell book. He said a silent prayer to what ever diety looked after little girls... tossing in a quick line to Sarenrae just in case.
"I'll be back before you know it okay?"
He added giving her one final hug and kiss before he rose. His feet felt heavier than ever before as he trudged for the door, if this werent as much about her future as finding his friend and mentor... he didnt he could leave. He glanced back one last time offering her his best fake smile and giving her a little wave before heading down to his wife.
He relayed his findings to her, hugging her close again. He couldnt think of the last time they had been apart. He just held her for a few more long moments before finally regretfully he pulled away.
"I will be back as soon as I can, keep an eye on everything at the town square meeting thing there were a lot of worried and angry voices. I love you."
He added once more kissing her forehead and pulling away. He moved and gathered a satchel of things trying hard not to look back to her too often. Finally when he was ready he wished her one last farewell, kissing her then he growing belly.
"If 'everything' is liquor, then yes." Inlé says as his eyes lock onto the woman sashaying over to them. "If not, then we still got everything."
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Edynn smiles slightly,though whether in response to Inle's answer, or the sight of Sia's approach was unclear.
Jyacynth doesn't say a word, only nodding at your words. She gives you a weak smile before hugging you in return. She puts her head back down on her pillow as you leave.
"I will be back as soon as I can, keep an eye on everything at the town square meeting thing there were a lot of worried and angry voices. I love you."
Hepzibah nods and hugs you once more. "Please, stay safe. For her sake and mine."
--------------Once the party has reunited with supplies & said farewells, it's time to visit the town's temple of Brigh. Torch's smallfolk eye the party as they walk along, looks of skepticism, hope and sheer worry on their faces. Some of them linger on the more... exotic-looking party members (Sialea & Inlé in particular), but none of them move to interfere in their business.
The temple itself is easy enough to find; it is a squat, domed stone building that lies in the eastern part of town, two streets north of the town hall. Bronze wind chimes decorate the temple's domed portico, and bronze statues of clockwork angels line the cobblestone pathway to the temple's double doors. The smell of burning coal and oil mixes together to create an aroma that irritates the nose.
The interior of the temple appears to have been fashioned more as a study hall than a place of worship; rows upon rows of pews sit before an impressively large blackboard standing behind an oaken pulpit. Frescoes depicting a towering, feminine clockwork statue overseeing robed men & women tinkering with all manner of exotic devices line the walls on either sides of the pews.
Standing before the blackboard is a redheaded woman in a grey smock and brown breeches, single-mindedly writing equations down on the blackboard with a piece of white chalk. She does not appear to have noticed the party's arrival.
Inlé lets out a whistle as they enter the building. "Fancy."
The redheaded lady turns when Inlé speaks. Her skin is ashen and covered in strange blue lines running from her scalp and down her neck to the rest of her. Her light blue eyes are strangely devoid of emotion. She blinks a couple of times before stepping forward to meet the party.
"Greetings, petitioners." She says in a soft, even voice. "I am Acolyte Sarona, a student of Brigh. Are you the new expedition?"
"Yes we are." Edynn responds.
He didnt say too much when he met the others, merely hefted his pack a bit higher on his shoulders and began marching forward seemingly very eager to be off. He had never been inside the temple, the smell of it usually kept him away and his nose wrinkled at it again, but it was a necessary discomfort. he was a little pleased by the layout of the place, A study hall was far better than just rows and rows of pews to worship.
He tilted his head in thought as he looked on what she had been working on his mind working over the math involved and trying to see if he understood it. It no doubt had something to do with engineering or the like.
We are indeed the expedition
He stated just moments after the strange woman brawler.
Sarona bows her head. "You wish to speak with Artificer Kyte, then. Please wait here for a moment. I will fetch him."
She turns and walks away from the party into some sort of office in the back of the main worship hall, returning moments later with an older man in tow. Dressed in a dirty brown smock with all manner of tools lining its pockets, and with a receding head of greasy grey hair, the older priest steps forward to greet the expedition with a twinkling eye.
"Well met, ladies and gentlemen. I am Father Joram Kyte, artificer of Brigh. How might I help the lot of you today?"
"Dolga said you had something that could help us get under the hill." Inlé bluntly says.