Drinks are cheaply purchased, 3 sp total. But other than nodding in response to his name he doesn't say anything, looking curiously between the three of you.
Having confirmed his identity, Threll continues quietly, "We were told you could provide us with passage to somewhere called 'The Rose Quarry'."
In a rapid burst fire, he responds.
Rose Quarry? Very far away. Near the border. Near the gray mists. Mining town. I can take you. Yes. But it will cost you. Sixty gold each, forty up front. You bring your own supplies."
”Surely it won’t cost you all that much, considering.”
Threll will also add to Guardian’s question with ”And by what means will we travel? How long will the trip take?”
"Don't forget the part where we leave," Seras reminds her team. She looks at Failin and continues: "Though for so handsome a price I would assume that the trip was both ways."
[i]With a frown at Threll he turns to Seras before curtly nodding. Reaching out he takes the coins and keeps his hand out for the money owed by Threll and Seras. Once he's paid he gets a nervous look and then proceeds.
"Let's go, let's go," Failin says, leaping up from the table, while quickly stashing his money. Gesturing to the door, "Follow me, quickly! My land cart is hidden nearby.
As you make your way to the land cart, two bugbears step out of the shadows of an alley and shout angrily at Failin.
"Failin, you cheat us!" growls one of the bugbears as both of them raise their morningstars to threatening positions.
-----| . . . . . . |
-----| . . . . . . |
. . .B1. . . . . . |
. .B2. . . F . . . |
-----| . T S X . . |
-----| . . . . . . |
Threll will step up, between the bugbears and their contact. ”Leave and you live. Stay and we will kill you, or hunt you when you run. Choose wisely, bugbear runts!”
"Every five minutes, it feels like, sometimes," Seras sighs, taking refuge in the hyperbole. "Look, guys," she addresses the Bugbears, tapping her shoulderguard with her cane. "See these? One's from the Hounds of Khorvaire. One's from House Cannith. You should know damn well what that means. We're out of your league, and we need Failin here to give us a ride. We aren't going to stop him paying you and we aren't going to help him escape you, but we need him first, urgently, and intact. You, we do not need intact, so the lovely Guardian Eleven here both can and will cut you in half, vertically, if you attack us or Failin. I'm not exaggerating. He's done it before." The tinker levels her best glare at the Bugbears and makes her point crystal-clear; "In short, bugger off."
Both grin murderously, the one closer to you smirks. "Puny human funny, think his toy soldier and smelly female are enough to protect...HIM!" He points at Failin as he tries to hid behind a barrel.
"Now you have 2 option," He holds up 3 fingers. "Pay his debt... Talk to the big boss who is big scarier than you... Or my favorite we kill you, take your stuffs and make a tidy profit before taking him away."
He loos a bit shaken but not truly cowed at your intimidation.
As Failin dives behind a barrel, he peeks out at the situation. With a shaky voice he rapidly shout out to you. "He's lying I own "HIM!" the money not some boss."
The bugbear quickly glares at Failin before turning back to you, at which point you finally notice the nervousness in his posture and eyes.
Initiative
Failin
Seras
Bugbear 1
Threll
XI
Bugbear 2
So Seras your up
Battle Map here
Seras pulls her shielding device from her bag, slotting it into place on her arm and activating it. It whirs to life, projecting a disc of force as per usual, and she moves forward to guard Threll, pulling her blade free from the cane. "We're in a hurry, last chance. Leave now or you'll break yourselves on our defense."
"Small human, need smashing! The closer one yells as he moves in and swings his morningstar at Seras.
With a shock the leading bugbear misses Seras and on the swing back smashes he buddy in the face. Which causes them to start bickering.
Initiative
Failin
Seras
Bugbear 1
Threll
XI
Bugbear 2
B2 5/16
Realizing that these are significantly weaker foes than he thought (or at least inexperienced ones), he decides that caution too much of a hassle. ”You were warned.”
Threll takes careful aim and shouts ”BEGONE” as he looses an arc of lightning on the bugbear attacking Seras.
Lightning flies from your fingers, and in the beginning all you smell is burnt hair. After a moment smoke rises from its ears, eyes and nose and collapses to the ground dead in front of Seras. The second one sees its dead companion, and already knowing its had enough begins to turn back to the alley.
B1 -4/16
B2 5/16
The arrow takes down the second one as he's about to run for it. As Threll investigates they both are struggling to breath and Failin tells you to finish them off before their friends arrive.
2x Studded Leather Armor
35 gp, 142 sp, 21 cp total on the one downed by Threll
Threll fails to stabilize the bugbear on his first attempt, and, frustrated Eleven saved his first, he stands up and says ”Eleven I think I am actually making things worse over here.”
XI notices that the man electrocuted by Thrells magic, will actually need magical aid. Spasms and burns are wracking his body. As Threll asks for help with the second one. XI notices the one near him give a relieved sigh and passes from this world.
With nothing to be done he moves to the one with the arrow in its side. With deft moves ripping the creatures clothes, you make quick work of the wound and have the creature stabilized.
”Oh well, We tried. Claim their things as conquest and let’s be off.” Threll sounds frustrated as he rifled through their pockets.
He stands quickly and says flippantly over his shoulder, ”You may come out now Failin. Explain while we run.”
He waits impatiently for Failin to lead them, and for him to speak.
"It's none of your concern." He answers with his quick countenance. After quickly brushing the dirt off his knees, he pick up his pace.
Failin leads you to a large stone outcropping in a secluded area not far from the Bloody Market. He rolls up his right sleeve to expose a dragonmark, touches the birthmark to the stone, and mutters a strange word. He steps back as the stone rumbles, and a strange covered wagon emerges from the rock wall. The four-wheeled vehicle has a canvas cover that encloses a large rear compartment, while an open bay at the front features a bench and foot well. The wagon appears to be made of wood, but an undulating pattern of constantly shifting rock, gem, and crystalline structures seem to overlay the wagon's wooden frame.
"My land cart," Failin says in a quick burst. "Earth elemental powered. Get in. Time's short. Long road ahead."
Threll will comply with the request, entering the cart before replying. "I have ended a life over your confrontation. Consider me concerned. I feel that I have a right to know why."
Seras nods at Guardian, sending back, "Yeah, possibly exiled from Orien, or a bastard child. Or maybe he just left, did his own thing. House business is always complicated, rarely fun." She steps up into the cart after Threll, brushing her hands against one of the spots where the crystal patterns overlaid the wood. "Hm... I wonder what I could do if I incorporated Khyber shard fragments into some of my designs. I'll have to see about sourcing some of those when we get back to Sharn."
With a whimsical smile, Threll says Maybe with your house and his too, but mine is all about nature and animals. Feels hard to have politics there!
Failin looks in Threll's direction, "Here I'll say it in a way you should understand.... , bugger off!"
With a sneer he climbs aboard. The elemental bound to the land cart rumbles with a sound like Eberron itself stirring from an ancient sleep. The wheels slide partially into the earth itself, and then the land cart slides along without regard to broken ground or other natural obstacles.
Asked about his knowledge of Rose Quarry, Failin responds with, "The village of Rose Quarry belonged to Crye before the war, now it lies within Darguul territory. Originally, House Cannith prospectors established the village when they found a massive vein of red marble. Cannith brought in dwarves from the Mror Holds to mine and excavate the marble. Anywhere you see Cannith architecture, you may find Rose marble -- Sharn, Flamekeep, Korth, even Rhukaan Draal -- half the red stone in Khorvaire probably comes from the quarry."
Twilight descends on Darguun as the land cart closes on Rose Quarry. The wall of dead-gray mist that forms the border of the Mournland can be seen in the distance. The sight seems to make Failin nervous and sad at the same time. Your own memories of the time surface as well, affecting your moods to the darker sides. As the land cart crests a small rise int he land,
"Were you expecting company?" Failin asks. A vast plateau, bounded to the west by a narrow canyon, stretches before you. The quarry extends for a least a mile, and the nearby village spreads across the plateau -- at least what's left of it. Anything made of wood has been burned to cinders, leaving a handful of stone facades, rock foundations, and chimneys behind. Though warm weather surrounds you, the village appears covered in a layer of ice that glitters int he light of rising moons.
You also notice another source of light. In the southern part of the village, a fire glows in a large pit, which is surrounded by four large tents. Figures move around this makeshift campsite.
Seras bolts upright in the back of the land cart, going from relaxed stargazing to alert in an instant as her eyes scan the moonlit landscape. "Blood and ashes," she mutters to herself, before answering Failin in a normal voice. "Not quite so much expecting... More 'dreading', if I'm honest." The investigator shoulders her bag and grasps her sword cane, leaning over Failin's shoulder to get a better look at the ruins and the bonfire.
|
As they approach the mists Guardian realizes it's been quite a while since he's been back here. However this place is nothing like he left it. He feels a mixture of stark feelings, of entering an unfamiliar foreign land and the knowledge that his former life died and vanished here.
He focuses on and scans the active spot in the village, replying to Failin, Certainly not.
...while on the mindlink to his companions, We don't need to concern him with the possibility that the Lord of Blades knows about us and is looking out for us...
Given Failin’s vehement response, Threll decides to drop it.
After coming in view, Threll says ”Wonder who set it on fire and raked the coals?”
After noticing the company, he responds to Failin with ”Hoping out of boredom, but expecting? Nope.”
XI easily notices the campfire, four tents, and a number of figures moving around the camp. Threll and Seras sees a bit more with his enhanced night vision. He adds 16 horses, two covered wagons and makes out 7 human shaped figures. The figures appear to be wearing helmets and chainmail armor, judging by how the firelight reflects off their gear. Both also notice the design on the helmets as a very distinctive half-faceplate design. None of these figures seem to be on guard duty.
You both finally notice two skeletal figures in the shadow of a tent, these figures do seem to be on sentry duty.
Through out all this onlooking a periodic ringing sound, like that of a pick striking stone or ice. This sound seems to be coming from the north end of the village, but nothing related to the noise can be seen.
Threll shrugs, answering through their link.
Looks like a fashion choice to me. And a bad one. They have two skeletons posted guard, hiding in the tent-shades. If we can sneak around them and blitz the camp from the other side we could definitely do some damage... but I suppose we- should ascertain- who they are be- fore I try to-
The ever returning *tink...tink* of the pick-noise is starting to bug Threll, making him visibly twitch at the sound, breaking his cadence.
He seems... well, irritated! Eyes drawn to reptilian slits in frustration, he forgets the mind link and speaks aloud, "New plan. Find the noise-" He flinches again as the pick rings anew. "- and kill it." he finishes, biting the words off.
Seras thinks hard on the subject of the faceplates. "I think I've got it..." She turns to Threll and makes a calming gesture. "Easy. It's just mining, most likely. Probably skeletons or something."
"Well- can they just- NOT!?" Threll lapses into speech before calming.
Threll, frustrated that he is not allowed to destroy the source of the noise, crosses his arms and grumbles mentally.,"Well, It would be best- if we ignore them then- We are searching-the ruins for something- valuable, just like- they are. Competition- I say we look for a- burnt out something that looks- Cannith-y and search it!"
Threll hops off their transport and grabs his belongings. Waiting for the others, he then heads to the north.
|
|
Guardian looks back and forth between Failin and Seras, and finally resigns himself to grabbing his belongings and following Threll. He drops down from the transport.
I suppose that's one way to look at it. But, when they don't see it the same way we should be ready to defend ourselves...
As they get further from the transport he takes a moment to manifest both his mind blade and his astral armor.
Ha! At least if they- attack us I can- stop them making that- INSUFFERABLE NOISE!
Threll, having a thought, asks Failin if he knows anything about the area, before heading off.
"I've already told you everything I know, as for a map... Did you try a Cartographer's shop or with a caravan master?"
Failin tell you he'll make camp a little ways back off the trail, hands over a clay tablet and tells you to break it when you need him. Otherwise he will leave in a week. After piling off you see he move off a bit slow but a lot quieter then before.
You follow the road the rest of the way north towards the ruined village. Once you hit the edge of the village, the scraping sounds of glass are much closer as you approach you notice that a strange layer of glass covers much of the village. It coasts the ground. It cascades from the shattered stone walls. Towards the center of the village, one or two buildings appear to be more intact than the rest of the ruins around them. Two other sights leap out at you as you look around. First, you can see the occasional forms of burned dwarves buried within the glass, their expressions twisted in fear and pain. Second, someone has been breaking the glass around some of the ruins, shattering it as though searching for something that may have been trapped within it when the glass cooled and hardened.
Threll stares at the first glassed-over dwarf-corpse, entranced. "What could have done this, I wonder... and how could I replicate it?"
In response to Eleven, "Hmph. Maybe we have competition. Should probably just blast them or something. Rid me of this INSUFFERABLE NOISE while we are at it."
Seras safely stows the tablet away and ghosts after Threll and XI, carefully picking her way across the glass and creeping ahead of the others to try and scout.
As you move into the ruins, Threll causes a wall to crumble causing some noise which 2 soldiers seem to notice. They get up telling their companions that they heard something. As they reach the edge of their camp, one waves off the noise but the second seems to try and peer into the darkness.