"Affirmative. We will accomplish this task."
[b]"Yeah, we'll make sure the coot is safe and sound![/ooc]
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Redfang nods his head and gives detailed directions to the farm. Jevik’s farm is one of the few located outside of Iadenveigh’s Elkhorn Wall. The man, Redfang notes, is something of a godless misanthrope who never really got along well with Iadenveigh’s locals, and so never felt comfortable living within the city’s walls. Iadenveigh’s hunters generally keep the hinterlands relatively safe, but Redfang notes that strange beasts and mutated animals are very much a danger—in other words, a monster may well have been preying upon Jevik’s farm of late.
The odor of pigs marks Jevik’s farm before it comes into view. Visible from a wide break in a roadside hedge, the house has been recently painted and sports a wide porch with several chairs. An orchard is partially visible behind the house. A few sheds and two connected pens occupy most of the side yard, but the fencing of the pen has been splintered and the earth churned.
Richard takes some time to pop into a few taverns and shops on the way out of town. Though he doesn't know what to make of the rumors he's heard, he passes them on.
"Seems no one has seen Jevik in town for 3 days. I'm not sure this is unusual, since most townsfolk see Jevik as something of a loner and a misanthrope, but let's be cautious. Also, Lewdon, stay in the back and keep that chainsaw and those cybernetics out of sight, even in a fight if possible, until we can get on Redtooth's good side."
"Affirmative. It is probable that Jevik simply no longer wishes to associate with other meatbags. It would be logical. But it is more likely that something negative has happened to him."
Alpha will start looking around for any signs of the missing organic.
Richard looks for anything amiss.
"It is probable that he is no longer among the living."
"Uhh..." Richard points at the tracks leading off to the orchard. "Lewdon, better get that chainsaw ready."
"I'll scout ahead. If you hear a scream, rev that thing up and come running."
Richard readies his new pepperbox pistol, casts a spell of invisibility, and begins following the tracks quietly.
"Gah, hold up, Dick!", Kharax trying to follow up just in case his magical skills are needed.
Alpha tries to follow along.
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Alpha stomps through the soft soil. His metal frame creaks and moans loudly as it awakens a creature sleeping within the orchard. This creature is a mix of different animals fused together, with a bear’s torso and head, clawed ape legs, and a furred tentacle arm. The gargantuan creature stands and let's out a mighty roar that causes nearby birds to flutter from the trees into the air.
Richard
Alpha
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Monster (DC 17 Knowledge Arcana)
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Lewdon
Kharax
"And you organics continue to surprise me." Alpha casts a spell, quickening the party's movements and also enhancing his shield as he moves up.
Richard gulps and hums a spell to make Lewdon heroic.
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Alpha recognizes the howl of a Yaoguai. A magical beast more of a monstrosity born of unnatural magic that combines several creatures into one body, creating a deformed, mismatched monster that slays and escapes its creator as soon as possible. No two yaoguai look the same, but most have similar abilities. Invariably, the torment of its genesis and the ongoing pain of its existence leave a yaoguai violently insane and prone to attacking at the slightest provocation.
Yaoguai's heal extremely fast and are able to fortify their bodies against their critical areas while reducing their damage from all forms of weapons and spells. They are immune to all forms of sickness as well as nausea. The Yaoguai's tentacle is able to grab a foe and constrict it to death similar to a python.
Richard gives Lewdon a small bit of heroism as Alpha releases a swarm of nanites to help increase the memory and circuitry of the androids.
The Yaoguai stomps through the brush that it collapsed to make into a form of a nest as it swats a tentacle at Alpha.
Alpha raises his shield up just in time to deflect the tree sized tentacle as it slams into his shield.
Haste
Richard
Alpha
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Yaoguai
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Lewdon
Kharax
"This creature is a Yaoguai. It is a magical beast, a composite of many different meatbags. It is resistant to everything, spells and weapons. It fights much like a python."
Alpha takes a step forward and slams his shield into the creature.
Appearing from invisibility, Richard fires his pepperbox pistol, spins the chamber, and fires again.
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Lewdon dives into the beast, his chainsaw sending viscera and appendages flying in all directions as the beast quickly heals it's lost limbs into stumps, cutting any form of bleeding off at the source.
Kharax moves through the and prepares a spell as Richard sends a pepperbox bird shot into the beast's face. It roars one final time before falling to the ground in a pulsating heap.
Richard
Alpha (49/59)
Lewdon
Kharax
Richard reloads his pistol.
"Unless Jevik can run like a quickling with major blood loss, I'm pretty sure he didn't make it..." Throwing it back into a holster, he sighs and heads to the cabin to look for signs of a the farmer.
Alpha will go into the cabin proper to take a look around.
"I hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure Jev's dead. Let's grab a claw from this thing and head back to report."
"Redfang wanted us to check on Jevik, not clear the wilderness of monsters. Hell, we're in Numeria! If we started doing that we'd be never get back to the problem we came here about."
"We should find the body or what is left of it for evidence if possible."
"I guess we could check the monster's nest. Or it's leftovers."
Richard will take a look, using a long stick to do the dirty work.
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Digging through the nest goes to prove that Jevik was indeed killed as several severed body parts lie scattered within with dried blood holding the nest together.
Heading back to Redfang to report their findings the dwarf grimaces. "I guess sooner or later he had to be right. The poor guy been calling on monsters for years now. How were we supposed to know this time it was real?" The idea seems to take a small toll on Redfang.
Redfang moves to a rack against the wall and draws off a long, thick shawl that has a flame-like rune etched within the fabric. This cloak is of little payment but should help you in your travels."[/b]
"Sorry to ask more of you but if you wish to look into the spy it would be greatly appreciated. Ivik Gunnett over in the Bell Quarter may have some interesting information for you." Redfang hands the cloak over to Alpha.
"Affirmative. You have our recognition for the scarf as well."
"Thanks. We will use this well." Richard nods to Redtooth, realizing that such a gift could mean that the man might actually need their help more than they need his. Or maybe he has become too used to individuals lacking high morals. It is unusual to fill me them in Numeria. "I hope your concerns about a spy turns out to be nothing, but we will see it through."
Richard heads out to find Ivek, gathering information on the way.
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"As do I..." Redfang mumbles as the group leaves the High Home once again.
Heading back into town Richard asks a few of the locals about the Bell District as well as Ivik
The town, ringed by the antler-topped Elkhorn Wall, is centered around the Brow; the bare hill’s rocky slopes boast the sprawling High Home and a communal vineyard. Most of Iadenveigh’s tradespeople live and work in the Bell Quarter, a residential area west and southwest of the hill. The Westwalk separates the Bell Quarter from the orchard-filled Hardblossoms neighborhood to the north and northwest.
Ivik seems to be the Ealdorman’s and current leader of Iadenveigh.
With little more information you are slowly directed to his house where you find an older man with salt and pepper hair as well as a well-trimmed beard sitting on his porch enjoying an ice cold lemonade as he rocks in his chair.
Making sure that everyone is dressed appropriately for the locals, and that no technology is obvious among them, Richard approaches.
"Greetings Ivik." Richard waves. "My name is Richard, my companions are Alpha, Lewdon, and Kharax. Redtooth sent us to speak with you."
Richard doesn't plan on bringing up the subject of the spy in public if others might overhear them. And he wants to get a measure of Ivik first.
"Yes, we are sufficiently competent to aid you."
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"Competent enough to know that the man who sent is called Redfang and not Redtooth strangers." The older man eyes you suspiciously as he chuckles slightly. "Either way well met Richard. Come onto the porch and have a glass of lemonade. It is fresh I assure you." The man stands to a tray and pulls out four more glasses and begins to fill them from a glass pitcher with a wet cloth draped around it's cylinder to stop the condensation from pooling.
"So what is it you can help me with exactly?" His wooden chair creaks as it rocks slightly, giving it some character of it's own.
"Er... Redfang, right." Richard mentally face-palms himself. "Well, we are new in town, and.. he doesn't really have fangs." He adds lamely, then switches back to the reason for their visit before he somehow manages to shove his other foot in his mouth. Lowering his voice, he explains what Redfang suspects about the spy and his hope that Ivik might be able to steer the group in the right direction.
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Ivik nods his head as he looks out upon the town. Taking a short sip he breaths in deep as he closes his eyes. A child with a third leg hobbles down the street and waves. Ivik returns the wave in kind as he smiles back. "Iadenveigh’s fear has stunted its growth and health. I haven't quite figured away to maintain the traditions while easing the prejudices that set in place." He almost seems to say to himself as Ivik refills his glass.
"You are from Torch right?" He smiles as a small look of shock forms on your faces. "I recognize you. News may travel slow here but I try to keep abreast of all current events as best as I can to help prepare the town. I hear you had a bit of trouble with the Technic League in Torch. Is this true?"
"Yes, we are from Torch." Richard confirms Ivik's recognition. "And yes, we did have some trouble with the Technic League, but they weren't behind the larger threat against the town. Another group, a dangerous cult, was trying to steal technology that could have posed problems for a lot of folks, not just in Torch. We dealt with them, but learned that they were interested in some ruins here in Iadenveigh. We approached Redfang about it, and we're helping him with a problem of your own, which may or may not be related."
Lowering his voice, Richard gets to the point. "Redfang says you suspect there is a spy in Iadenveigh."
"As Richard has stated, we are here to assist. Do you know anything of this?"