The party slays the jinkin gremlin, ending the threat of the little nuisances.
The group works its way down the caverns towards the entrance in the black hills...
How are you getting through the water?
Seventeen speaks up, "I can summon a dolphin like before. It will stay for perhaps 3 minutes. Its an excellent swimmer and can help us get through. Perhaps a strong swimmer can go ahead and lay out a rope for weaker swimmer to pull on. One other thing. Do we have access to an air bubble spell? That would help getting Konnir back safely. "
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"Seven would the dolphins willingly pull the rope? If so. We could make slings with the rope I have and have the dolphin quickly pull us to the other side. Most of us would only need a loop on each end - to put an arm through on one end and on yhe other for the dolphin to grab on. The councillor is in much worse shape, he would need the druids spell and a more complex harness. The majority of the time would be taken up front fashioning the harnesses. Once prepared the work for the dolphin could begin."
"I believe so, they apparently think its some kind of game." replies Seventeen sounding puzzled.
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"I would suggest Guaire and Seven going first, followed by Omo, then the Councillor, Mort, and I will come last, acting as the rear guard. With Seven on one side and Mort on the other we should be able to communicate with the dolphins, and if needed Omo can help the Councillor when he arrives until Mort can arrive to stabilize him should the situation dictate. I'm not overly fond of this swim but with the dolphins help it should go well. Guaire, I'm asking you to go first so that you can help protect Seven and the other till we are all on that side. Anyone have objections or a better plan of action?"
Jarreck will look to the others. He is open to any suggestions if the others feel this is not the best plan.
"Sounds fine to me."
Guaire secures his equipment.
"I can cast the Air bubble spell on Khonnir, that way he is free to breath as I doubt he might feel the need to hold his breath. I can also still summon a second dolphin if we need one."
Mort says as the party arrives at the water's edge again and begins discussing how to get Khonnir back to the surface.
"That may be a good idea Mort. I say we go with Jarrek's overall plan."
"Thank you, Mort for helping the councilor breathe."
"No thanks is needed Omo, I prepared my magic today just for this event. Indeed Jarreck's plan sounds very good and efficient. Guaire can help Seven and Khonnir out of the water."
Mort scratches his head though and looks to the others.
"I'd suggest to travel in pairs though, If one fails to Swim or hang on to the dolphin the other could try and save him. Also I'd rather not leave Jarreck or anyone else alone down here. We've no idea as what has happened to those beetles and they might come back and surprise us. It's better to still have someone to cover your back Jarreck."
Everyone needs 3 swim checks DC 10, you get a +5 bonus if the dolphin helps you. I'll roll Khonnir's now.
Khonnir makes it!
"Allright, see you at the other end."
Guaire takes a deep breath and takes a dive.
As before, Seventeen efficiently puts everything she posses into the waterproof sack (including her dress) summons the Dolphin and dives in. The Dolphin is too busy assisting Khonnir to help her, but fortunately Seventeen is having a good day and she swims through to the other side without any problems.
Just as efficiently on the other side, she unpacks and puts her dress back on. If anyone noticed or happened to look, well she just didn't care.
Mort spits out a bit of water he gulped in along the way, but other than that he appears to be fine.
"Let's get Khonnir home okay? And arrange a healer for him as he's beyond my help of healing. Who's the best healer in Torch?"
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can Jarreck think of anyone better than the local cleric?
"I would say we take him to the temple unless someone has a better option I'm not aware of. On another note, Mortimer would your uncle be able to identify this last item I found. I'm not sure I want to show it to Garmen, some in his employ might be associated with the Technic League."
does Jarreck know of anyone else to help identify the item if Garritt isn't able to. -
Seventeen suggests, "Perhaps the Temple of Brigh, might be the best place to take him? I believe I have met some of the acolytes. Then we must get him home, and protect him. Not everyone will be pleased to see his return."
"My uncle? I've got no uncle living in Torch Jarreck. You must mean my brother Garritt, though I have to give you that, we don't look much like each other."
Sanvril Trett can also identify items.
"Alright seven, sounds fine. I haven't a pressing time to get back to the city, so protecting the councilor would be appropriate."
Bringing Khonnir to Dolga is you guys first action? All together or are you splitting up?
I think we should go straight to a temple, presumably Brighs. He can talk to Dolga after he's compos mentis.
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Jarreck will help escort Khonnir to the cleric with Seven. Still not a bad idea to him to involve Dolga, additional protection being a good thing. Maybe Mort could go to Dolga and bring her to the temple as well. Not so much to talk with Khonnir but to observe and setup the protection. We can discuss where we go from here.
Mort will go over to Dolga to inform her that Khonnir is back to Torch alive, but still recuperating, while the others take Khonnir to the healer.
He will knock on the door of the building where the party gathered before setting on their journey down to attempt Khonnir's rescue. Patiently waiting for an answer.
Omo refuses to leave the councilor's side until they get him to a cleric, but the moment he is -- Omo will run to get Val. She needs her father too.
Jarreck, Seven, Guaire and Omo head with Khonnir in tow to the Temple of Brigh and the Priest Joram Kyte.
Mort heads to the Town Hall to see Dolga Freddert.
Joram Kyte the priest of Brigh greets the party Oh! You have Councillor Baine, please come in!
Dolga Freddert is at the Town Hall and says Yes? to Omo.
"His legs are very injured and his mind appears muddled, please help him!" Omo squeaks.
Mort looks up to Dolga Freddert and replies to her in a slightly hushed tone.
"We're back and we brought him with us. He's being brought to Joram Kyte the priest as we speak. He's in a recuperative state and needs much rest and attention. It's probably best to keep quiet until he has recovered right?"
"Mister Kyte, he's in bad shape, probably not merely physical. Not to rush anything, but if you take care in treatment, how long do you think before he makes a recovery?"
Dolga responds by grabbing her warhammer and saying Well lead on youngun!
Joram Kyte ushers you inside the Temple and examines the Councillor. He is indeed in bad shape. I can help him only slightly today, but tomorrow I can request that Brigh restore some more of his natural machinery to full functionality.
Joram casts his one use of Lesser Restoration on Khonnir, restoring the Councillor's speech faculties.
Councillor Baine says Seven, is that you...everything is soo fuzzy...Omo?
"I'm here father. Something happened to you in the tunnels, but we have you back to health soon. I'll bring Val to see you."
Mort leads Dolga to the temple and is just too late to hear Khonnir's first real words again. However he brings in Dolga and notifies the rest, then stands behind the others so as not to trouble Khonnir with his presence as he greets Omo and Seven.
"Dolga is also here, hopefully she'll be able to arrange your continued care as well."
Seventeen nods thanks to Joram and gently answers Khonnir, "Yes I'm here with Omo, Val will be over soon, I'll fetch her. We've been so worried for you, but you are safe now back in Torch. So much has happened and I don't know what it all means, but I'm rambling. I mustn't tax you with my concerns. Still there's one thing, do you know of a purple haired woman? She caused much mischief for us and I wonder what else she is responsible for."
In the quiet, almost tender way Seventeen has around the Councillor, she could almost be mistaken for being normal... Most things slide over her, but was that a tear?
Khonnir's face scrunches up Purple...I don't remember...I...owwwww he grabs the sides of his head and his speech begins to slur and one side of his face droops.
Joram Kyte exclaims By the Bronze Lady, something is wrong with him! He raises his holy symbol and casts a spell that seems to calm the man.
Khonnir continues The robots, they injected me with nanites, I won't have long to speak before the nanites reduce me to an animal like intelligence and render me unable to communicate. The Torch is part of something much greater, a threat to the Town we both love. Baine says to Seven and the others.
Meanwhile, Councillor Dolga Freddert moves swiftly with Mort towards the Bronze Temple. What of the expedition? Did others survive? she asks the gnome.
"From his expedition we haven't found any other survivors, though from our expedition, everyone survived. We heard they might have been ambushed by another party."
Joram Kyte furrows his brow and says I've learned a few things yes, but...not all knowledge is worth knowing here. Kyte looks around and says The League would hear of such things...
Kyte continues after a moment I don't know what a nanite is, but it sounds like it takes his mind from him slowly, there are diseases that do so also...perhaps I could petition Brigh for a spell of Healing that would Remove the Disease?
Khonnir, who is still lucid says A Nanite is a tiny robot, smaller than you can see. There is an uncountable number inside me right now and they are destroying my mind!
In a very subdued voice Seventeen asks, "Who did this to you? I want to help but I don't know how? What should we do?"
Regardless of any reply Seventeen whispers to Omo, "We must get Val before he's lost to us all. This may be hard on her."
"The League cannot hear of this. That much is clear, they'd exploit and abuse anything in there."
Potentially kidnap the councillor for experiments even.
"We must purge these 'nannites.' Please do whatever you think is best."
Khonnir responds to Seven Thhee metal men..robots..injected me....nanites... Khonnir is obviously suffering
Kyte nods and says Tomorrow I will do my best. You can leave the Councillor here for the night if you like.
At that moment Dolga Freddert stalks in with hammer in hand and Mort in tow Someone give me a situation report!
Dolga says No good will come of this...we must get the Torch back to normal before someone from Silver Mount comes looking...Will you continue to search for a way to reactivate the Torch?
"They function like a disease, I think. Magic can cure them, but a technological solution would be more efficient."
Omo cannot even stop to think what the council woman is asking. He had no other concerns until father was better.
"I will go get Val."
Seventeen strokes Khonnir's hair in an absent minded way, whispers "Rest now" and then stands up and nods to Dolga saying, "Yes we will, besides there are many strange and bizarre medical items down there, one may aid Councillor Baine. But I must ask you if you know of a Purple haired woman heading a disreputable band of greenskins and rat folk?"
Seventeen looks at her intently waiting for a reply.
Dolga frowns at Seventeen No. We have seen nothing of the sort, would have noticed such a band though....
Omo rushes out of the Temple, bound for the Foundry Tavern.
Dolga says If you are willing to go back to the caves and find this Purple Haired woman, you should take the reward you were promised.
Omo arrives at the Tavern and sees Val cleaning the floor Omo you are home!