dead/11
While Gramorn struggles to make any sort of impact on the battle, Will takes a closer look at the creature and tries to identify a spot that would finally put the whirring piece of metal junk out of commission. A few spots stand out to him - but one, on the shoulder area of the center chassis, is exposed to just enough internal parts to be a serious weak point. With a careful eye he sends another jolt its way...
But it swerves at the last second, leaving the magic to dissipate harmlessly across its metal exterior. With a quick lunge, it goes for Davina and finally makes significant contact, scraping in a downward motion across the weaker armor on her arms. The metal hand tears through her clothes and leaves a streak of blood on her hands.
Which clearly only served to anger the Kellid woman. Raising her mace high, she screams at the robot before bringing her mace down in a powerful crushing blow.
The robot whirrs and gives a final defiant pop before crumbling into a heap. Val watches from the corner as the robot stops moving. Slowly, she sets down the broomstick she'd been holding like a sword. Her eyes pan over the damages, and you can see her heart sink. "Huh. Thanks for that..."
Gramorn eyed the mechanical destruction that lay within the destroyed domicile.
"Child, we have saved you. Tell us, what has become of your father."
Sparing no moment to cut to the chase, the little gnome stares at Val intently.
The girl tilts her head, confused by the strange gnome's immediate change of subject. "Saved. Okay."
With a sigh, Val hops up and sits on the table in the corner of the store room. "Well, I wish I could tell you. I haven't a clue. He's been missing about two and a half days now, after he took his second trip down into the caves." She notices a look of confusion on your faces and clarifies. "The Black Hill Caves? Beneath the Black Hill? You can't miss the Hill, at least. It's huge. Khonnir stumbled over the caves about a week ago, thought maybe they had something to do with this mess, and made a trip down there and back. Brought that stupid thing-" She gestures to the wreck of metal crumpled in the corner of the room. "-and went back a few days ago to make a second trip. Said he'd be back by nightfall. Wasn't."
Davina inwardly grimaced when Gramorn opened his mouth without even a moment of checking on how Val was. Walking over to where the girl is sitting on the table, Davina mutters something about how rude men can be in heavily accented Hallit to Val.
"So it seems we found the answer we wanted, which was where he went. Chances are he is still in the caves, or at least traces of where he went will be there." Davina said, raising an eyebrow at the carnage.
"Did he ever mention anything about the Flame? And has the Council contacted you, if you don't mind me asking?" Davina inquired, politely yet to the point.
Beginning to pick up the pieces and putting them in neat piles, she waited for Val's answer.
"Sure they have." Val rolls her eyes. She's obviously been through this before. She speaks slowly, as though irritated by the discussion of her father. "It was mostly Khonnir's idea to go down into the caves, anyway, but they gave him the okay to bring a few other guys with him. When he didn't come back I was the first person they asked about it - as though I'd know why he didn't come back. As for the Flame... well, he figured it had to have something to do with those caverns. There was a big metal wall down there... and that thing." She once more gestures to the unmoving robot. "I was thinking if I could get it working, I could take it down into the caverns and find him..."
"Not a bad idea, really." Will commented, he had moved back into the room and was peering into the innards of the smoking remains with the curiosity of an engineer. He turned to look at the girl and gave her a smile, "It's impressive ya got it movin' in the first place, but these things isn't so easy to control, I'm told."
Will gave the smoking remains a nudge with his foot. "If ya want, when this is all done an' we find yer paps, you an' I could put it to rights, get it really workin' proper." There was a gleam in his eye as he thought about the prospect of a fun project. "It'd be uncommon useful to have one of these things all obedient an' helpful-like."
"All things return to the earth. Some sooner than others. If we are to save the village of Torch, I'm certain that Konnier will be the solution."
Gramorn walked over towards the small pile of destruction and eyed it warily. "I do not trust these...creatures. They are unnatural. Even Nature's destruction has a beauty." He gave the largest of the metal bits a swift kick and motioned towards the door.
"To where will we find these...caves? The sooner I have returned to my natural element, the better things will become." he said rather quickly.
Val smiles at Will's compliment and subsequent suggestion. "Thanks. But you're right - most of these things don't take too kindly to order them around. Isn't that the League's agenda, anyways?" She shrugs, clearly unsure and clearly not really caring. She hops down from the table and grabs the broom, sighing as she surveys the damage.
"The Black Hill Caves are below Black Hill, obviously. But the entrance is underwater. S'why no one ever noticed them before - if it wasn't for Khonnir noticing some stray footprints leading into the water, no one woulda. So I sure hope you guys can swim... Oh, and you'll probably want to talk to Councilor Freddert. She's been offering a reward if anyone can find Pops." She pushes aside a pile of dust and debris with the broom, then looks up at you guys - covered with grime and grease and dirt, slightly bruised, with wide and expressive blue eyes. She couldn't have been any older than 15 or so, but she sure acted like someone who knew her way around things. But now, for the first time since you've seen her, she really looked like a kid. "I'd obviously appreciate it, too."
Davina listened to the conversation as she tried her best to help Val clean up, absorbing the information silently. The sheer contrast of Will's delight in mechanical things and Gramorn's discomfort with them struck her, as she realized she was truly comfortable with both.
"Thank you for your help, Val, you've truly provided the next steps for us. We will be sure to send word the first moment we find anything ," Davina said calmly, wincing as she extracted her sword from the wall.
"If you need help rebuilding later, let me know as well, considering I think I took a chunk of your wall,"Davina sighed surveying the damage. She wasn't happy that her mistake had taken a chunk out of the poor girl's wall, but at the moment there were more pressing matters. Besides, Val seemed like a resourceful girl and Davina could always drop by once they had accomplished....if they had accomplished what they had set out to in regards to the Flame and the missing man.
"Councilor Freddert then the caves? I assume both of you men can swim?" Davina shrugged her pack back on nonchalantly.
Gramorn's eyes peeped open when Davina posed her question.
"Yes, I can swim."
He shifted his feet and adjusted his armor. Swimming hadn't been something he particularly enjoyed, but it was a necessary skill he learned during his stewardship.
Val bids you farewell as you make the trek back across Torch to the Town Hall. Immediately recognizable as you stroll down the thoroughfare, the building stands tall over its surroundings. Fortified and raised several floors, the structure serves as not only Torch's meeting hall, but a secondary garrison and eastern watchtower. A bored looking watchman stands atop a platform, near the bells that toll out the hours of the day.
The door is wide open and you enter in, hoping for a meeting with the councilors. The building is mostly empty - it is early, after all. The only person inside is a short, wrinkled woman. Braided gray hair drapes down onto her shoulders as she looks up from the book she's writing in. "Ah! Travelers, I assume? If so, you've likely heard about the situation with the Flame. I'm very sorry you've come all this way and we can't even accommodate your business..." The woman fidgets anxiously, glancing past you to the door beyond. After a moment she sighs, closing the boo before her and leaning forward onto the desk. "Though I'll be damned if this is the end of Torch. We'll get things back to normal. Somehow."
Gramorn quickly cut to the chase. He understood full well that politicians could sway people with their lengthy words and gain anything in their favor.
"We may be able to help. I understand that a reward is in order for saving Konnier's life?"
The elderly woman sighs again, leaning back and folding her hands before herself. "All business, are you? Alright, fair enough. Yes - there's a reward for finding Khonnir. A sum of 4,000 gold pieces will be granted to the lot of you for bringing back his body. If he happens to be alive-" She knocks on the desk in front of her. "Then we'll throw in the scroll that Joram's been holding onto. Insurance, you understand."
The woman once more sighs, then stands up to greet you all properly. She's not just old and wrinkled, but a dwarf. The stocky woman holds herself up with a strength unbefitting a woman of her age. She eyes your group up and down, sizing you up. "Alright," she finally finishes, apparently satisfied. "I suppose you look moderately capable. There's also a reward if'n ya reignite the torch. But Khonnir first, I think. He can probably help us get that thing back on. So, Mr. Business: pray tell who the hell you lot are?"
Perhaps for once a smile shown on the blight druid's face.
"I am Gramorn Tohim Kest, a druid who studies the decay of nature. I speak for blight, fungi, and all that decays. Unlike other conventional druids, my arts deal with the reality of life, instead of its beauty."
He gave a slight bow with his head, which shook dirt and ivy from his crown.
"And these two are my companions who share a similar idea. I will allow them to introduce themselves."
After his introduction, the druid stepped to the side and allowed his teammates to take their time in the spotlight.
"Will Jannis." The man stepped forward and bowed slightly. He had chosen to remain silent up until this point, never having been a cutting hand at social civility. He preferred action and deed over boasting or long winded, uninteresting speeches. He gave the woman a genuine, warm smile, "Which I am an engineer an' a wizard. At yer service."
Davina remained silent until it was obvious everyone was waiting for her to speak. She wasn't good at introductions in any form. Although good enough in looks, she lacked charisma. Some would even say she had a bit of a leaden tongue.
"My name is Davina Kala. I was formerly with the Archaeologists who would sometimes come through Torch. Pleasure to meet you," Davina said in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
The woman remains silent, nodding as you introduce yourselves and offering her hand in greeting. As Davina finishes, you note a flicker of memory on her face. "Ah. There's a few groups like that passing through town every few years. Good folk, good business." She nods again, obviously recalling some past event but saying nothing. Finally she chuckles to herself, tipping her head towards Davina. "If you've been around before, then you might just recognize me. Bit older now, I suppose. Name's Dolga Freddert, and I'm the presiding old fogey on Torch's Council. Though Joram's sure trying to give me a run for my money, I'll tell ya. Tough old bastard, he is."
The dwarven woman chuckles, leaning back against her desk. "So that's how it is. A pile of gold if you can save our good friend Khonnir, and another pile of it if you can save the town. I can write you a writ for discount around town... not sure how much else I can provide for you lot. No pressure, ha!" She grins, a devilish smile also unbefitting of her age. "Did you have any other questions, comments, or criticisms?"
Gramorn quickly responded to the council woman's inquiry before Will or Davina could object.
"A writ will do."
He was satisfied knowing that there was something immediate that could help him. In reality, he could use additional forbidden druid magic, but that isn't something he could just pop into a merchant's stand. He would have to develop his talents through any means.
"Did you have any other questions, comments, or criticisms?"
"As a matter of fact, where are the Black Hill caves? Is it easily traversed, or will we need a written approval? In addition, since we are aiding the people of Torch, can you give a writ for any healing services? I'm unfamiliar with the local church or temple, but I do imagine we would need their services at some point."
Davina's face remained blank as she wasn't exactly sure what else to add to the gnome's demands. Supplies and healing were surely all they needed. Her weapons were fine, but a healing draught or bandages would help with the few nicks and cuts she sustained after destroying the box of bolts.
"I am only in want of healing, Councilwoman, and I agree with information on the caves if at all possible," she said quietly, eyes sliding down to a particularly nasty looking cut on her left arm.
"A writ for healing, eh? Well, that's really more of Joram's domain. At the very least, the writ'll qualify you for a discount on his services. Might also check with Mylan Randli, our local Pharasmin. Bit of a grim fellow, but he's good people." Dolga shrugs, obviously having little else to offer but her words. "Not so surprised you've heard about the Black Hill Caves already. Whole town's been talking about Khonnir's discovery - we've been sitting on them for gods know how long! They're a bit of a pain in the rear to get to, though, so I guess it's all fair enough. The entrance is a little passageway, maybe a couple dozen feet long, at the bottom of the Weeping Pond. When ya talk to Joram, tell him I okayed you lot and he'll help you navigate the pond."
Dolga pauses, then snaps her fingers and grabs a book from somewhere behind her desk. She pages through it for a moment and then stops, smiling. "Aha! Here we go - Khonnir's report from his first trip down there. Found a few oversized vermin, all scavenger type bugs. Scared most of 'em off. Uh... some strange humanoids, gray-skinned with this uncanny ability to blend into the walls. A nest of gremlins. Heh. He left a rather angry notation about how annoying those buggers are. Last thing he found was a large wall of Numerian steel - uh, glaucite, they call it - and pryed the doors open. Found some little machine and dragged it back for further study." She slams the book shut and throws it back onto the pile of things in the corner of her desk. "Hope that helps."
"Joram seems like a good start. I wish to see him. Our adventure awaits."
Gramorn shifts in his place and looks up his allies with his usual grumpy face.
"We leave now."
Will stood behind his two compatriots, listening and occasionally nodding in agreement. He was taking notes, but he didn't have an awful lot to say and he believed that if a body had nothing useful to say, it shouldn't say anything.
"Where can we find... Joram and Mylan Randli?" He asked, looking up from his notes.
"Well, if'n you're staying at the Evercandle, take a look out the back windows. That pretty little buildin'll be the Temple of Brigh. Nine times out of ten, that's where you'll find Joram. He's good people, and only a pinch more eccentric than the rest of the folks here in Torch." Dolga keeps directing with her hands, as though the walls of the town hall weren't blocking the way. As far as you can tell, she's pointing in the right direction - it's just not particularly helpful without a window to see out. "And just between the Temple, the Inn, and here you'll find the graveyard. Our resident Pharasmin won't be far. Mylan'll be in his chapel in front."
While within the archway of the egress, Gramorn snaps his comrade's attention and motions outsides. Upon seeing his comrades move with a sluggish pace, he bumbles through the town of Torch looking for the Temple of Brigh.
As per Dolga's suggestion, it wasn't that hard to find the place. In fact, it was a rather nice looking structure. Hopefully, they could find answers inside.
Pushing wide the door and entering, Gramorn calls out looking for Joram.
"Joram. We have been sent from Dolga!"
"We are brave adventures who wish to find Konnier and aid the people of Torch, however, we need your help findin the entrance to the Black Hills."
Gramorn seemed impatient and rather hurried. The appropriate response if someone was in danger.
Davina easily kept up with the grumpy man's strides, considering she had well over a foot of height on him. Trying not to outpace him she slowed her speed to match his, all the listening to him grumble under his breath. The only unfortunate side effect of Davina's height compared to Gramorn's small stature was the fact that it was easy to lose him in the chaos of town.
Thankfully, Davina manages to keep her eye on the small white dot darting back and forth and finds her way to the Temple, taking a second to appreciate the building's features.
Standing behind Gramorn, Davina prepared herself to step in if necessary.
"Please if you could help us we would greatly appreciate your aid." Davina added with a smile, her eyes flickering to Will for hope in speaking to Joram.
As Gramorn bursts into the Temple of Brigh, an older man shoots up from a workbench he'd been sitting behind. Several springs bounce loose from whatever he'd been tinkering with, rolling off in all directions. The man groans, rubbing his temple with a weathered old hand before approaching the trio of newcomers to greet them.
"Heya there, little man - all business, are we?" The old man gives a wide, partly toothless smile. It's evident he means no ill will, even if it might sound otherwise. "Life's too short to be all work and no play, fella. Why not make sure you have fun at work?" He chuckles, laughing to himself before coughing and trying again with his best 'serious' face. It is not all that serious. "Alright, alright. I'm Joram, or Mr. Kyte to those folks I don't like, heh. Can't imagine why you'd need me to find Black Hill, though." He points past you, out the door to the massive hill in the center of town - the one from which the town's titular flame typically emitted from. "That's Black Hill. Are y'all blind? 'Cuz I might have something for that... somewhere, I think. Or maybe that was for a sore throat... No matter, we can just rub it on your eyes and see if they burn up or heal up." He starts another word, then interrupts himself and slaps his knee. "Aw, you mean the Black Hill Cave! Sorry, we done just found that and I forgot all about it. Guess that means you folks are looking for Khonnir? Sures I can helps ya! What exactly are you needin'?"
"Dolga stated that we needed to see you in order to access the caves, tinkerer" said Gramorn.
The gnome was taken aback by the amount of metal machinations and devices that littered the temple. It was rather unusual, well for a temple, but the druid supposed that this was the man's domain. After all, fungi, mold, moss, and other creeping nasties from nature were his.
"Is the entrance easily traversed? Would we need certain supplies to enter?"
Will looked around the room with an appreciative eye, noting the quantity and quality of the devices, parts and machines littering the room.
He stepped out from behind the large barbarian and offered the man his hand, eyes crinkling into a smile.
"Will Jannis, at yer service sir. You're an engineer, I find? Well, so am I!" He chuckled, "I wonder if you've heard anythin' about them machines, or per'aps drones, that can be found in the depths of the cave?"
Joram shakes his head slowly, moving as though to pat Gramorn on the head like a child before reconsidering his action. Instead he simply shakes his head again, glancing over to Will. "A pleasure, Will. Glad someone's got some manners in your little group here. Heh, no offense intended, 'course. But yes, Lady Brigh would have nothing else but a true tinker and fiddler and button-pusher in her service. It's what we do, aye?"
Joram pauses long enough to wave a hand around the temple. The place looks more like a workshop than any temple you've seen. "The Whisperer in Bronze, she is. Wonderful how we can find her in all the little dits and dots, eh? Ah, but I suppose you don't want to hear me talk all day - the little fella might get upset." He winks at Gramorn, obviously oblivious that his comments might upset the gnome. "The caves - they're a bit of a hassle to get to, they are. Hope you lot like swimming, because you'll need to take a little dip in a salty little pool. I can provide you with some of Brigh's blessings to get you through without drowning, but you best get back before it wears off. Or learn to hold yer breath, I suppose. It's only a good forty, maybe fifty feet through a crevice at the bottom'a the Weeping Pond. Nothing major!"
Gramorn wasn't particular thrilled about swimming...especially if it mean doing down an unmeasurable depth. He was a druid of the blight, not swimming. In addition, due to his short stature, that mean double the amount of work! Thankfully, the bleaching had established a permanent grumpy attitude on the gnome, less his disdain for this activity would be very obvious.
"A blessing would be...grateful" he said quickly.
Davina was a bit in awe at the sheer clutter and piles of bronze and silvery steel bits and parts that seemed to flow endlessly in waves around the temple that was unlike any she had ever seen. It reminded her more of the warehouses and libraries the archaeologists would frequent. She knew Gramorn and Will were talking but figured it was negotiations, which she probably would be best staying out of for a myriad of reasons, the most prominent of all being her way of twisting words the wrong way.
Blinking out of her daze, she refocused in on the conversation. Swimming was not a problem for her nor as holding her breath, but having a security of sorts would be reassuring.
"A blessing would be wonderful," Davina reiterated Gramorn's words as she nodded, her eyes still wandering the gears and springs littering every surface in the temple/workshop.
"Alrighty!"
The man claps his hands together and rubs his palms with eager anticipation. With a playful laugh he grabs for a large, cane-like rod of silver and bronze. "This'll just take a sec. Hold still, else it might tingle in all the wrong places." With a few whispered mutterings, the cleric strides forward and strikes the rod against Gramorn's chest. Despite the force of the blow, there is no pain - or even any force of impact. Instead, Gramorn's lungs seem to bubble with a greater flow. Strong enough to breathe even underwater. Joram winks, offering a raised eyebrow and gleeful expression. He repeats the same gestures for Will, and Davina in turn. "Many apologies, milady. The blessing's a bit awkward for you ladies. Never did calibrate this thing quite right, though. A conundrum for another day, supposin'."
As you feel the blessing of Brigh grace your lungs with strength, Joram sets the cane back down where he found it. "Now that should last you about six... well, eight... well, no, better make it six hours. Just in case I done counted it wrong."
"Very well. The sooner we can start, the better". Intoned the Gnome as he received the cleric's blessing.
The Weeping Pond was back on the other side of town - you were getting used to the walk by this point. You can actually smell it before you see it, an acrid stench with a twinge of sulfur (or perhaps something worse). The dark waters of the Pond are clearly not fit for consumption, let alone swimming. The blessing of breathing the stuff might be a bit of a curse - you're not sure you want that stuff in your lungs. Worse, you might accidentally taste it.
Somewhere at the bottom of the waters, though, was a passage into the depths of Black Hill. The mountainous 'hill' rises just to the east of where you stand. The caverns below that could run for miles. Finding Khonnir within would not be easy.
Garmorn stood before the dark water of the Weeping Pond and tried to ascertain its depth. He couldn't reveal to his comrades that he abhored swimming, but after coming so far, he couldn't let this minor obstacle stop him. Shuffling towards the water's edge, he pushed aside pond scum and slowly began to submerge himself. Sludge and brine began to cake his leggings and hide armor until he looked like a moving lilly pad. Before his face went below, he turned his pale face towards his comrades and issued a charge.
"We go."
Gramorn jumps in, turns to his comrades, and manages only two words before sinking like a rock.
A very pale rock.
While the water doesn't immediately choke his lungs, it doesn't exactly feel comfortable on the skin. A strange prickling sensation bites at you like a persistent itch.
Perhaps the only blessing is that the Weeping Pond isn't particularly deep. Feet planted on the floor of the pond, Gramorn easily identifies the passageway into the Caves - a dark, narrow recess along the eastern base of the pond. Easy to miss, if he hadn't been looking for it.
Also quite dark, even when he was looking for it.
Davina plunged into he water not too bothered by the pond. Her job as the protector of the archaeologists had led her to all sorts of strange locales, and water wasn't a fear she held at all. Due to her strength, swimming was usually easy for her.
Air filled her lungs unnaturally, the blessing making it as if she was walking on the surface. Squinting her eyes, she notices Gramorn struggling and tries to give him a hand.
Davina is, unsurprisingly, a much more capable swimmer than the short fellow. With a quick dive she grabs the flailing gnome by the arm before swimming in the direction of the cavern's ingress.
Unfortunately she barely passes five feet into the tunnel before the light gives out entirely. The tunnel ahead is pitch black and underwater. You could feel your way through, but it would be much, much easier with a light.
Gramorn was tugged by the hulking woman towards the depths. Water and pond scum caked his outfit as he was pulled under.
The world grew dark around him and in an knstant he realized what was happening - they were going deeper. With a snap of his finger and a mote of light burned brightly within the tunnel.
Gramorn's light illuminates the murky tunnel, a winding pathway leading deeper beneath the hillside. It stretches as far as the light can penetrate, though it appears to curve upwards near its end.
Struggling to keep his eyes open, Gramorn motioned Davina to follow the now illuminated cave towards it's egress.
The water is fairly calm and the spell's accommodation for a certain gnome's lack of haste meant that you could take your time pushing into the cavern.
You emerge from the water feeling a little strange, but it didn't feel like it had done any lasting damage. Whatever it was would probably pass. The cavern before you is dank and damp, with condensation covering the walls. The calm, dark water stretches deeper into the cavern, though its waters are shallow enough to tread. The ground is a mixture of stone and soot, a foul and strange mixture beneath your feet. Ahead, along the eastern wall of the chamber, is a five-foot ledge with a number of stalagmites beyond, giving the impression of teeth.
A strange clicking resounds from the cracks and corners of the room. It quiets as you look around for the source. It's almost like you're being watched.