Dalton did not buy Alia's account. She is letting her own confidence in ability get the best of her or is covering something.
"What are the details of our alias for the gnomes?"
"I had my men intentionally be vague in the details, so you can come up with your own. All they know is a group of specialists are arriving soon who will take care of the problem for a fee."
Pride can eclipse wisdom from time to time.
"Are there not divinations that can reveals spells that have recently effected a person or object?"
Toramin's tone is respectful, but he shares a brief glance with his sister.
Toramin thinks they are goddess-touched. Though if he is correct, then not much can be done to thwart divine intervention.
Ianna's expression remains pleasantly placid during the briefing. She doesn't ask any questions.
"The reaches of magic are far, and my knowledge of it is beyond yours. If there was more to learn from divination magic, it would have already been done."
For security reasons, Rilka uses a notebook she only keeps in the Aestherics’ compound when taking notes about the mission. She flips between two pages separated by a finger as the two discussions of Grastle Hollow and Acera run more or less parallel. ”Infiltrate the underworld? That’s a challenge. It’s good we’ll have government support, but the more people that know about us, the more likely criminal elements will learn we’re working for the gnomish government.
“We could be selling stolen or illicit merchandise as a cover. Or, maybe we’ve heard how able and willing individuals can thrive in the city now that Calios is running the underworld. So many excellent possibilities. As a practical matter, does anyone speak Gnomish? I do not."
The details of Acera's prison didn't interest Bjorkus much. The name of their target did.
"Isn't he the bastard Gabriel was always goin' on about? Is he the one that did him in eventually? I'd love to settle the score."
The bull snorts in anger and shakes his horned head. "Do we have any reason to think Calios is workin' with the sod that took Ianna?"
Drosil gives a grim nod. "Yes, the very same."
Heff bristles at the mention of Rygat. "No, we have no reason to suspect that at the moment. But we barely know anything about Rygat's current goals."
Appeals to authority are a logical fallacy.
Toramin nods his head at Alia's unnecessarily harsh response and keeps his own council.
He does, however, respond to Rilka, "I thought Gnomes would speak Sylvan, the fey tongue, but I know neither."
"Gnomes have their own language and a good portion of them speak sylvan, but they all speak common as well. There shouldn't be any language barriers." He gives a glance to Alia then looks back to Toramin. "If there is a problem with it, I'm sure the government would be happy to provide you a translator."
Dalton turned his head to the party. "My accent might be lacking, but I have the vocabulary. That not-quite-practiced approach would work well for a group of hirelings' cover anyway."
Rilka nods, making notes about language. ”Now Grastle Hollow is in the mountains to the west. How are the environmental conditions this time of year? Will we be teleported within fifty miles of the city? Another question, is there a time frame you envision for the assignment? Two or three months? I’m just guessing how long it will take to get established in the underworld. Hmmm. What are other ways to gain a reputation in the underworld...break out of prison? Smuggle something into the city? Or we could claim to be part of a gang from another city, hoping to establish relations. That last may be too complicated.”
"Temperate climate, somewhat chilly since we're getting into winter. You will be teleported right to the outskirts of the city, travel won't be a problem."
"Not a time sensitive mission. Can't imagine it being too short thought."
"The details of your infiltration are up to you. If you want to pursue a certain route we can help you establish it."
"Well that will conclude the public part of the meeting, the rest of the details will be kept to the council and the group to protect their identities. Meeting adjourned. Let's take a quick break and come back in a few minutes to hammer out the details. Start thinking of an alias."
As everybody is taking their short break, Heff pulls Toramin aside.
My sister was recently speculating on who to craft a divination that would reveal the strictures of a Geas. If such magic can exist, a divination that could reveal previous spell effects does not seem logically unsound. Master Dalton has some facility with temporal spells perhaps he could research such an effect.
However, that tangent aside, my concern for Alia was more of a concern for outside tampering. There seems to be a lot of that going around these days.
On a different matter, on our last mission, the Aestherics provided us with endless mugs so that we wouldn't die of thirst. May we receive something that shields our alignment on this mission. As I understand it, my aura, like my sisters, would be rather noticeable to basic magic. Magic that anti-paladin definitely possesses. Could you get some charm to guard us?"
"Hmm. I may be a spellcaster, but I'm not one much for the delicate intricacies of how magic functions. I imagine it's possible though."
At the request he smirks, then reaches inside his coat and tosses a ring to Toramin. It's a heavy gold ring of good craftsmanship. "I expect that back. We've been through a lot together. I'll get another one for Ianna before you leave."
Rilka nods her head, and begins packing up her notes, pen, and ink vial. ”I think I’ll go with Chibi,” Rilka says. ”Not sure about a surname yet. We’ll fabricate a good cover and background as well.” She leaves the room as Toramin approaches Heff.
Toramin smirks at Heff's comment about rudeness. Their mutual disdain for each other's feelings was the bedrock of their working relationship after all.
"No doubt it has shielded your innumerable sins. I would not expect you to carry the traditional lead sheet to prove your manhood. You never struck me as being especially multicultural."
He pauses for a bit " . . . thank you."
"I'll go by Ragnar", Bjorkus says after a thoughtful moment. "But we should settle on a plan before we put too much more thought into our cover stories. Whatever it is, it's gotta be something that's gunna get us close to Calios. Do we know what he was up to last time we crossed paths?"
Toramin nods in reply, but chooses not to say anything out of fear of spoiling the accord.
Reunited with Ianna and Dalton, Toramin asks them to examine the ring. "Is this a focus for scrying?"
Ianna examines the ring.
"I never met the man. The problem is that he definitely would remember the man who through him in lava. Perhaps you might benefit from a hat of disguise? As for our covers, I'll go as Azan Dibh Muileta."
"I think it best if my cover was at least partially true. I'll be Ziza Dibh Muileta, your sister."
Drosil's voice is back to it's hoarse quietness. "We have a few suspicions of clusters of murders in some small towns in a travel path, as if he just kills for fun wherever he passes through. This has been happening mostly in southwestern Xilres."
Ianna does not detect any divination on the item; only the abjuration that comes with a ring of mind shielding.
"Ah yes, you're getting too much renown (especially "Ares") to be just running around without some disguise. Luckily that is something we have in massive stock, as we need disguises very frequently."
Dalton selected an alpine hat of the viridian variety. "This should do. What do you think of the name Lopa? It's easy enough for me to remember." Dalton wasn't the best with fabricating elaborate schemes, and he didn't want to select something with an uncouth ethnic twinge.
He adjusted his hat, looking in his silver mirror. "Quite stylish, I think."
”Lopa sounds fine,” Rilka says, shifting from foot to foot while evaluating Dalton’s hat. She grins in satisfaction to the half-elf. ”And Ragnar. That’s a strong name. Azan and Ziza Dibh Muileta? That flows from the tongue really well. Do you know anyone in the Dibh Muileta clan? We’re not likely to find them in Grastle Hollow are we?”
Rilka scratches her forearm. ”Another idea for the infiltration is to just pose as criminals intent on taking over a territory. Mostly charging people ‘protection’ money. Though we need to find out which activities are illegal in Grastle Hollow. Such as gambling, prostitution, and smuggling.”
"Fairly or unfairly, no one who knows the reputation of the Dibh Muileta would be surprised to hear that some of their number are involved in illicit activity. They are far walkers with a hand in many a pot; they are also closely allied with our clan. So unless we are confronted with genealogical scrolls we should be able to pull it off."
Heff gathers everybody together for the final time. "Any last questions, concerns, whatever? I'm sending for Liamsho now to get ready to teleport."
"If we should get into a pickle again, are we to contact you? The gnomish city is likely to be much less porous than Akropash."
"I will be in charge of this operation, so if you get in over your heads contact me."
"By clicking our heels together three times? What are the methods of contact?"
"Rilka's earring has limited range, but I will be within the city and well within the contact range of it."
"That is good to know. I think I am ready."
”As am I. I think entering this situation in a fairly simple manner, taking territory from a weak underworld guild and building from there is the best way to go. We can revise and adjust our tactics as we get a better understanding of Grastle Hollow.”
The final preparations are made, hats of disguise going around as well as another ring for Ianna. The rest of the council retreats save for Drosil and Alia. With a brief incantation, the party feels the pressure at their navels as the world swirls around them in the form of teleportation. Then with a nod Alia disappears and leaves the party and Drosil to their new location.
The surrounding landscape is a small mountain town on a river with the looming mountains blocking out the sun even at the hour of late morning. The town is bustling with activity, humans and gnomes and halfling and half-orcs and a few scattered other races running about, but the population is mostly gnomes and humans.
Drosil (now disguised as a brown-haired human with green eyes) gives the party little time to appreciate the scenery and ushers them to a boat on the docks. Judging by all the bodies moving on the ship it's clearly getting ready for a voyage as a blond gnome with a round belly gives directions to the crew. As he sees Drosil's disguised form walk over his mouth twists and he beckons them over. "Ah, Fenrick. Are these the specialists we're transporting today?" Drosil's only response is a nod as he doesn't even stop walking, stepping right onto the boat. The gnome mumbles something and looks over the party, then shrugs and beckons them on board. "Name's Captain Wardri. Normally I give the 'do what I tell you on my ship' speech about now, but uh, I think you lot can handle yourselves. If you need something just ask...we have separate quarters for you in the lower decks, as well as plenty of food and spirits."
The trip through the mountains is beautiful, if uneventful. Most of the view is blocked by the high rises and beyond some normal wildlife nothing interesting pops up, but there's some excitement when Captain Wardri carefully navigates through a rocky outcropping that had a few nail-biting moments. After a few hours the ship rounds a mountain and comes into a surprisingly open area where a city can be seen in the distance. "That's our destination..." Wardri muses apparently to himself.
As the gap to Grastle Hollow is closed, the footprint of the city is well noticed. The noise can be heard miles away, and the distinctive smell of oil and machinery is nigh-overpowering. Even the air seems different, as if it has a taste to it. As the party reaches the docks, they can tell it's a city that never sleeps. The city's population is vastly dominated by gnomes, but a fair amount of humans are represented as well as a scattering of other races. The people rush by unapologetically, hurrying to their destinations. Some people speed past on devices that seem to roll, fly, hop, bounce, and whir. Others are examining clockwork-like things displayed in windows that seem to be moving on their own. It's baffling to the mind how most of these devices even function.
Drosil again hurries the party down a narrow street, pushing aside those that get in the party's way. Nobody really seems to mind, and more than once (or even a dozen times) the party finds themselves rudely bumped into without a second glance. Other times they're greeted as old friends as shopkeepers standing at their doors try to entice them to try out the newest gadgets. Drosil ignores them all and plunges forward with a single-minded determination.
A distant rushing noise has been heard the entire time within the city, and it has been steadily growing louder as the party followed Drosil. Eventually they learn why. A staggeringly impressive building is on the north end of the city next to a monumental sized waterfall behind it. There are at least eight airships floating around the building, landing on it despite their huge size and looking dwarfed by the structure. In the waterfall are what appears to be about a dozen immense wooden wheels that are being constantly turned by the running water.
Drosil leads the party right up to the main door after going up four flights of stairs. "This is where I leave you. Go inside and tell them you're the specialists and that you're looking for councilman Panrick. He is the council member that took responsibility for handling the underground and directly oversees all law enforcement within the city. He will set you up with everything you need. He's stingy and vain, but usually does decent at his job. I will be staying at the Time Turner Inn in the poor district if you can't contact me magically." Without another word the fetchling stalks off, leaving the party alone in the wonder of a city.
Captain Wardri must have some high connections in the government of Grastle Hollow to know that we are "specialists." I doubt they sent a memorandum to all low level bureaucrats, since that would be self-defeating. Were I the mistress of some nefarious group, I would suborn a spy in the halls of power. That suggests Wardri is trusted by someone. His familiarity with 'Fenrick' suggests that Drosil's cover is rather deep and also imbedded in the politics of this city as a participant.
Though she did not often like to acknowledge such things, the training in politics and social graces instilled in her by her mother and grandmother shapes how Ianna sees the world around her.
She studies the city carefully. Her grandmother had told her that the gnomes possessed many technological marvels, but that they were sorely lacking in wisdom when it came to development. For her part, Ianna decided that the gnomes and the Trealamhgabha probably had much to learn from each other. Perhaps it is best there has not been too much collaboration between our magi-tech and their weird science. The world might not be able to withstand unrestrained progress.
"These are vulgar marvels. Interesting but not aesthetically integrated into cohesive urban planning. But still quite marvelous." Toramin muses to his comrades.
After Drosil makes his departure, Toramin stumps into the city hall. After finding the welcome desk, he informs the functionary there. "We have a meeting with councilman Panrick. Would you please direct us to his office?"
Before transporting to the mountains, Rilka changes her appearance with the aid of the hats of disguise. ”Chibi Kerchiechoo, at your service,” she bows appearing as a male, but speaking in Rilka’s normal tone. He hums then produces a string of tones, testing out the tone of his voice.
Along the way to Grastle Hollow, he stands at the prow of the boat, marveling at the wondrous scenery. When they pass through the rocky outcropping, he blurts out ”Ah, how do you get through this during floods?!”
After Drosil says his farewell, Chibi nods, ”Time Turner Inn, aye. Until next time, Fenrick.”
He chuckles at Azan’s comment. ”I don’t think there is any planning here. Urban or otherwise. A wonder for the eyes nevertheless.”
Chibi takes in the activities of the office while Azan informs the functionary about the meeting with Panrick.
Ragnar is happy to remain quiet while Toramin handles getting the party to their appointment. The bizarre clockwork of Grastle Hollow doesn’t necessarily impress him but it does get the bull wondering what about their purpose. ”What’s it all do?" he asks the more technology-minded members of the party. ”With all that noise and smoke it’s gotta be something big. Some kinda defenses maybe?”
"Gnomish invention is more often about possibility than purpose. I imagine that it all does something, but whether that thing is making paper or blasting fire, it will rarely fit together as a real plan. Or, so I have been told. This is where hearsay meets the anvil."
The inside of the building is quite a wonder. High arced golden ceilings give the halls a grand appearance as hundreds of people mull about. Pictures of important people (mostly gnomes) adorn the walls as well as multiple statues of people and inventions. Everybody here is dressed more officially than those outside.
A few manned desks are at the front doors with lines leading up to each. Secretaries direct the various people, sending the vast majority to what appears to be a waiting room. The party reaches the front of the line after 20 minutes of waiting where a fluffy female gnome with purple hair gives them a broad smile. "Welcome to the Capitol Building of Grastle Hollow. An appointment you say? Can I have your name?"
"Azan Dibh Muileta, we are the specialists that he requested."
She starts flipping through a large book at the name, but stops and looks up at "specialists". "Ah, I see." She looks over the party wide-eyed. "Well he's currently in a meeting but he requested you to be sent up immediately..." She bites her lip, then calls back to another gnome who's scribbling something down. "Fitz, I need you to take over for a few minutes!" She calls over the noise. With a final scribble Fitz comes to the desk with a smile. "Right-o, have fun upstairs Jielna!" Jielna gives a brief nod and gestures the party to follow...
The interior hall is massive, letting in the sunlight that shines off the dozens of whirring and clicking gadgets. Jielna leads the party into a very confined room that has no other door as far as they can tell. After a moment of confusion, she presses a button on the wall and with a sudden lurch the entire room starts moving upwards. The loud clanging of gears dominates the space as period lurches keep the party on their toes, as if the room is going to decide to go back down to the floor at any moment.
Finally the room stops and the doors open, Jielna leading the party out a much smaller and less grandiose hallway. She approaches a set of ornate double doors and starts fidgeting nervously, but the burden is taken from her shoulders when the doors burst open.
"Yes, that's all well and good, but you can't just ignore them for now. The damages will outweigh the costs of keeping them in line enough..." A particularly short gnome with green whiskers and a balding head looks somewhat frumpled as he waddles out of the room.