The next day, the centipedes explain that they found your planet, and are returning you there.
They take you to your air-cart, which you practically do not recognize! Instead of wood, it looks metallic - almost as if the metal had been spray-painted onto the wood. And Gerta's many low-power crystals have been replaced with fewer high-power crystals. They explain that they have installed many safety features as well, making it harder to overturn and such.
They announce that due to his help with restraining the other prisoners, they have decided to list Xvark as one of the fallen, vaporized in the cross-fire. They telepathically link up with him and the group, and mentally "teach" him Common (and if the PC can learn more languages, then also any that any current PC knows, like Human, Orc, etc.).
They are also willing to let you keep the ear-buds, and the shock pistols (but nothing more). Their source of energy will not give out for a very long time.
They take you to their "bridge", where you are all the first-ever to see a breath-takingly beautiful sight - your planet, seen from orbit.
"Where would you like us to drop you off?"
I think we should set down a few miles from WeMadeIt. Hide the cart and walk into town.
Is there a way to secure the cart while we are away. Perhaps take a crystal or two out of it.
"We *should* find Gerta's partner and stop him, but if you are not willing to do that then we should notify the authorities in WeMadeIt as soon as possible that something evil is brewing deep in the heart of Keltica."
Arabella shows Marko (highest Smarts in the group, probably) how to turn on and pilot the aircart, and power it down. The power-up sequence is so complicated that no one could figure it out by chance.
"I agree with Kat, but we my want to hit a town and stock up on supplies before we go after him. We should also alert the authorities to the problem so they can be prepared for anything that might pop up."
"Yes, with the cart we can cover great distances in a short amount of time, so Lets hit WeMadeIt before we begin this new quest"".
Arabella sighs as the possibility of returning to deal with the orcs arises. "I'm sorry, but I cannot ... will not participate in any more fights. I'm no help and the fear of injury or of seeing friends injured ... [gulp] or killed, is more than I can bear. I just want to get back to WeMadeIt and try to make a little money and work on my inventions. I can report the activities of Gerta and the orcs to the authorities, if you like, but I'm not going back there or anywhere else that doesn't have street lights."
The centipedes drop Arabella off wherever she wants, then drop the rest of the group off in the woods outside of WeMadeIt.
I assume that you cover the aircart with bushes and such.
So, you head into town. What do you all want to do?
Find a nice place to stay. Get cleaned up, have a good meal. Sell some stuff and buy some potions. Check out the armorer and look for weapons.
Arabella would be happy to be dropped off near WeMadeIt! and walk into the city with the others, where she will say her farewells. She gives each person a hug and wishes everybody success. She says she'll look for work as a mechanic and try to find some lab space to rent.
If the group goes to tell the authorities about the mine and the plot, she will stay with the group to add her eye witness evidence and her appraisal of the level of technology, etc.
Marko asks Arabella "Can we come by and visit from time to time and see the progress you have made, perhaps even purchase any upgrades we may need and service the air cart from time to time?"
"You have done your family honor. What ever "difficulties" you ran afoul of in the past, you have made up for it many times over. Be well and Qapla!!"
In an uncharacteristic gesture, K'Don enfolds Arabella in a big bear hug.
You get to town, find a jeweler who can convert Gerta's gems to gold, find a decent inn/tavern, and settle in. I'm assuming at this point you have enough money to not worry about keeping track of the cost for individual meals, each night at the inn, taking a bath, etc.
If anyone wants to purchase anything specific (potions, weapons, armor, etc.), please post the details of what you're looking for.
The next morning, everyone is clean and refreshed, with only memories of your recent experiences to tarnish the new day, if you let them.
After breakfast, I'm assuming everyone (including Arabella) goes to see the mayor? Actually he's more like the territorial governor, but that's his title. Having been the saviors of <that little settlement that got attacked by the Orcs>, you are ushered right in.
How would you explain the situation, in character?
Before reaching the mayor's office, Arabella will bring up the following point: "We need to think about this. We are going to tell the mayor that we know of a plot by a dwarven woman and a bunch of orcs to make fantastic devices of war, devices no one around here is likely to believe are possible.
"When he asks where this research is being done, we're going to have to say we don't know. When he asks why we don't know, we'll tell him that we were kidnapped and taken to the mine without being able to see where they were taking us, being unconsious and all. So far so good.
"Then when he asks how we got back, we'll say what? That we were hit by a blast of electricity and sent up to a space ship inhabited by aliens that look like giant centipedes, where we fought a bunch of alien criminals who escaped their cells, after which the centipedes kindly deposited us here? I doubt we are going to be taken seriously, unless we show him the vehicle we have and maybe Xvark here. Do we want to do that?
During breakfast K'Don speaks up. "I suggest we leave out the part about the space ship as it is not important to the bigger problem of the War Machines. We just escaped and traveled here on foot."
"Just stick to the facts as we know them. I suggest only one of us be the spokes person. Either Arabella or Marko would be best. Since it is about technology I suggest Arabella be the spokes person.
Let's go over what we are going to say."
"If we escaped on foot, we'll have to explain our route. They'll want to know what kind of terrain we traveled, what landmarks we observed, how many days it took. We know none of these things. Even if they believe us, without knowing where the mines are, there is not much they can do."
"They also will not likely believe that a bunch of orcs mining for a bucketful of crystals is anything to worry about. We know that with such crystals they can manufacture powerful weapons of war, but who else will believe that?"
"I'm willing to speak for the group, but I'm not sure there is anything we can tell them that will make them believe there is a threat and even if they do believe there is a threat, there is nothing we can tell them that will help them prepare for it. I don't necessarily want to get the reputation of being a crazy person in the city in which I'm going to have to find work. Perhaps the best thing you can do is to resupply yourselves and take the air car and try to find the mines."
"Hmmm, your correct. I think we should do as Arabella suggests. We should have asked the 'pedes to show us on the map where they picked us up. But since we didn't we should look for the mines ourselves."
K'Don will look for potions of healing, and (shoot I forget the name) potions that allow 2 attacks per round. 4 of each.
Marko want potions of healing and armor.
I looked and found that Gerta had "100 GP and several fine gems in the office safe."
= 284 GP
= 304 GP
= 458 GP
= 247 GP
Let's see, Alex is dead and Xvark didn't participate in that, so divided by (Arabella, Connor, K'Don, Katana, Marko)=5 is 279 GP each.
Remember, this is a *silver* economy, so 1 GP is like roughly 10 days of moderately good room-and-board.
But, potions cost 50*(the PP to cast the Power) for the standard duration of 3 rounds, see below.
Healing : 150 GP each
Armor : 100 GP
Quickness : 200 GP
Damn that is expensive.
Yep, between the rare ingredients and the chances of explosions, an alchemist's overhead is high...
"Perhaps we should show the mayor Gerta's air-cart, that should back up our story some."
"Good idea that will give weight to our claim of an evil force trying to dominate the contenant."
"Perhaps we should just fly it into town and have everyone gawking at it. That will raise a few eyebrows. We can fly it right up to the mayors office."
If the others want her to, Arabella will do her best to explain the function of the crystals to the Mayor. This can only be to her advantage as she will become a local expert on the potential new resource. It might also provoke interest in the wealthy investing in her research, eliminating the need for her usual approach to getting seed money, running cons on rich fools.
"Connor, I need for you to work with Marko on you ability. You will also need to practice with that pistol you Uncle left you. I need for you to become the man you are meant to be. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Connor, you need to start making decisions, that's what makes you grow up. What do *you* think we should tell the Mayor?"
"Yes, Connor, what do you think we should tell the mayor to get him to understand the risk."
"Let's go get the air cart and fly it right up to the mayor's from door"
Connor had been sullen and withdrawn ever since losing Uncle Alex, avoiding eye contact and conversation with everyone, but especially with Xvark.
Oddly, WindDancer didn't seem bothered by the little alien, mostly taking the new addition in stride.
"I don't care," says Connor. "Fly it right through his window and land in his bath!"
His fists begin clenching and unclenching, arms stiff at his sides. "I'm gonna practice until I shoot real good. And the anger making things happen... that worked way better than being afraid did before, and I remember how it felt this time. I can do it again, and I'm gonna practice that too."
WindDancer's tail twitched in concern as moistness glistened in the boy's eyes. Connor looked up at K'Don. "Unka Alex is gone because of that Gerta person and who she worked for. I don't care if the Mayor helps or not, they're gonna pay."
"I'll make them pay."
Katana walks over to Connor, squats down in front of him so they're eye-to-eye, and in a very uncharacteristic gesture, grabs his shoulders and squeezes gently (the closet she can bring herself to a hug).
"Connor, it's ok to feel hurt right now, but when you act childish, you're no good to us. We *will* get the people that are responsible for killing your uncle, but we need you to start becoming the man your uncle wanted you to be. Only then will you be able to revenge him.
Now : take a minute, and think about all the things we've suggested about what to tell the mayor. Can you think of *any* reason why one might be better or worse than the other?"
"I'm not very good at shooting, your Uncle was the expert there, so I can't help you too much with that. I would like to train you how to defend yourself with a dagger it your willing to learn. Marko is best at teaching you how to use your gift, so I'll leave that to him.
If you willing I would like to take you as my adopted puqloDwI'. That is my adopted son if you will have me."
"Connor, we should spend some time practicing your gift. PLUS, I think a little education is in order as well. Your uncle would not like to you be un-educated. He was a well educated man, a leader of men, he woudl lke to you be one as well, so we start training later today, after we deal with the mayor."
Connor jerks away from Katana with a frown. Then he looks thoughtful.
"Well... we have the flying cart so we can prove what we say about that. And we have these funny guns," he says, pulling his out and looking at it briefly.
"And we have... that," the boy adds, holstering the gun and pointing at Xvark. "So we can prove lots of strange stuff happened if we want. But maybe simple is good. That prison ship thing doesn't matter I guess. Can't we just tell them about Gerta and stuff? Say we got the guns because of her too? And that" -- pointing at Xvark again -- "is from Faraway Land and was held unfairly and we freed it? Make it sound like everything is Gerta and her boss?"
He paused to think some more. "And maybe she had some sort of magic that makes people forget where that place was, or maybe a big confusion machine so when you get close you don't know where you are?" Connor shrugged. "I dunno."
You can tell that Katana has not had much interaction with children, as she says "That was VERY good, Connor! I'm...um, proud of you. But when you don't...when you have to not tell the whole truth, it's best to keep it simple, and stick to the truth as much as possible.
So rather than lie about the guns, and make up some strange confusion machine, wouldn't it be better to just use the aircart as proof, which is the truth? Because later on we don't want to be caught in a lie, then no one would ever believe us again. Always try to be as honorable as possible. Does that make sense?"
To Xvark "So, Xvark, what skills are you good at? Need to know what we can count on you to do."
Let's get the cart and get this show on the road."
Connor shrugs at Katana and points to Arabella. "She said we have to explain why we couldn't say where the place is. Then you asked what I thought. That's what I thought." He shrugs again.
Arabella mumbles, "Truth, as far as it goes."
"Ok, well, if the discussion is over, lets get to the air cart and fly it into town."
The group walks back out of town, into the woods, where you left the aircart. Just to be sure he knows how to work it, Arabella talks Marco thru starting it, lifting it, and flying it around over the treetops for a few minutes, then he flies it into town, spots the mayor's mansion easily, and Arabella talks him thru the landing and power-down procedure.
Needless to say, you've created quite a stir. A huge crowd of passers-by immediately forms around the unheard-of *flying machine*!
One of the guards at the mayor's door works his way thru the crowd and finally gets up to the machine. "Here now, what's all this about? What're ya doin' here?"
"We wish to seek an audience with the Mayor, if you please. We have important information to share with His Execllency. It cannot wait we need to see him immediately."
To the assembled crowd.
"Good people of WeMadeIt. A darkness is rising on the interior of the continent. It has a great deal of power coming from the use of crystals. It has subjugated the orcs of the interior and made them it's slave. We have struck the first blow by killing a dwarf who was mining crystals and had a huge lab for designing weapons made from the crystals. She has captured many of the settlers on the interior and made them slaves in the mines. We liberated these people and destroyed the facility. However, we may have pissed of the evil that sent the dwarf. We give you this warning so you can prepare in case it comes here."
Connor stands up and puts his fists on his hips in a "superhero" sort of stance. "But we're gonna fix it!" he declares loudly.
WindDancer, standing on his shoulder, nods solemnly.
The crowd starts to murmur nervously when they hear Marko tell of a dark force of Orcs coming to kill them.
"Here, now, don't you go listenin' to these strangers", the guard jumps in. "There ain't no Orc army comin' to hurt us, the Orcs are our friends", he adds, eyeing K'Don's bulk a little nervously. "Go on about your business, ain't nothin' worth worryin' about here."
He turns to the group, and with a scowl on his face he says "Here now, what's the big idea, you tryin' to cause a panic, spreading rumors about Orcs comin' to attack us? IF there are, you should tell the powers-that-be" pointing with his thumb back over his shoulder "not blabbing it in the streets."
He eyes the aircart for a moment, then says, "But then again, I ain't never seen anythin' like this contraption before. I'll go see if his nibs can see you. You stay here, and don't say anything more about Orcs, ya hear?"
He turns and walks inside the mansion.
The guard comes back after a few minutes, and says "The mayor will see you now, follow me."
Altho I called it a "mansion" before, the mayor's house is made of brick instead wood, and is maybe only the size of 3 mid-income houses. The inside is lavish but not overly-so, with fine wood paneling, some tapestries, etc. It doesn't look like he's wasting the people's taxes.
The guard takes you to an office, where the mayor sits behind a large, dark-wood desk. Behind him are wall shelves filled with many books. The mayor rises, comes around the desk, and shakes each one of your hands, and says rather enthusiastically "Well, well, it's a pleasure to meet the heroes of Roxbury! But what's all this about Orcs coming to attack us from the west?!?!"
Please explain in-character as best you can. Add anything you can to the PC's who speak (post) first.
"Your Excellency, it is an honor to meet you. Thank you for seeing us so soon. Sincere apologies if we stirred up the town too much, but what we have to say is vitally important.
After leaving Roxbury, we were abducted and taken to the interior as slave labor in a crystal mine. The mine was run by a female dwarf, very nasty creature. She has been using crystals to create weapons for an unknown enemy. She has enslaved Orcs as guards and soldiers. Common folk were used to do the mining. The dwarf had a vast lab where she was working on these weapons. The flying cart is one of her creations. We thought it best to fly it in here as proof of our story. We manged to escape from her prison and took out the facility. We freed the people enslaved there.
But, what is most disturbing is that the dwarf was reporting to someone, we couldn't find out who, but "He" is creating an army of advanced weapons and enslaving Orc as soldiers. We though it best to inform you so you can take steps to protect the town. We have no idea of when or where "He" is planning to expand his territory, but we suggest you prepare the town.
Our next mission is to find this enemy and see what is really going on, and if possible put a stop to it.
(Looking at Connor) do you think WindDancer woudl be willing to carry messages to the mayor as needed?
(Expecting a yes from Connor)
We will keep you informed as best we can. We could use some provisions and any weapons to aid us in our quest.
Well, that is a brief overview,
(looking at the others) anything else you want to add?"
In response to K'Don's question, WindDancer nods as Connor says, "Yes, she'll do it!"