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"That is really weird. Well I'm glad it turned out alright. Was a little worried that without me there, you guys would be in some trouble." Ashur grins to let her know he's obviously joking. "Well, since I'm done learning from Mr. Heidmarch, I'm free for the next one. What do you think it'll be?"
You were promiced a two week vacation from the society by Shelia Heidmarch, and by all that is holy you took it. Individually, you all decided to spend your free time in Absolom or within Varisia.
On the morning of the third day of your vacation, however, you received a missive from Shelia Heidmarch:
Missive from Shelia Heidmarch - Google Docs
We begin this story in the Dwarven Sky Citadel of Janderhoff, an important Dwarven Trading post in the Mindspin Mountains. Janderhoff is a very busy place, with dwarves, wearing practical earthly-colored clothes, moving about going about their business.
You eventually arrive at the headquarters of the Mithral Mallet Mining Company, a small complex within the underground passages of the Sky Citadel, where you find the rest of your team.
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Ashur is a fairly tall 6 and a 1/2 feet tall red-skinned Tiefling. At the end of his fingertips are wicked looking claws. He also sports a pair of large horns for which he is 'nick' named. He wears a very well used breastplate made of black adamantine and an amulet with a set of horns inscribed on it. "Name's Ashur. Torch sends his regards."
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Tanrov marches along in silence (other than the clattering from his armor).
"Have you ever seen the inside of a dwarven hall Horns?"
Tanrov is a young shoanti warrior hailing from the Velashu Uplands. Despite being a sparse 20 years of age, Tanrov is already a towering specimen, nearing seven feet tall. Gifted with the burly muscular physique of a people that are bred for war, the young shoanti is the spitting image of the strapping warrior. Unlike his more seasoned kin, his dusky skin is bereft of any elaborate tattoowork and a mop of tawny hair sits on top of his head.
He's armored in a suit of iron plate with a strikingly detailed image of a bucking bull aurochs embossed on its chestpiece. Hanging from his back, attached by a harness worn on around his broad torso, is a massive earthbreaker-hammer. A series of hide pouches of assorted sizes hang from a thick fighting girdle around his waist.
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Tsusuko is a Tien-Min man, well past the middle of his lifespan. He stands at a mere 5'9" and 155 lbs and is dressed in remarkably aged (but entirely intact and functional) villager clothing. On his back hangs a backpack of assorted goods. He appears as if he hasn't cut his hair in ages, as it drags a full 12 feet behind him. He keeps quiet through the trip, as if he is contemplating something as he takes in the surroundings.
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A tall, dark skinned man with walks into the room. He wears a mithril chain shirt under his clothing and has a multitude of flasks, vials and the like hanging from belts and straps. He also has a wayfinder hanging from his belt. He nods at the group upon entering. Erin, Jander, nice to see we will be working together again. He turns to Ashur and Tanrov. Greetings and well met. I am Ezrek Filosten. He gives them both a short bow.
Finding the office of Rukha Borthwick is not difficult. The dwarf at the front desk tells you that she is in her private office on the second floor. You go up the stairs and find her office, which is closed with an iron door. Her name in gold letters below a shining symbol of a silver hammer is written on a copper plaque, hangs on the wall right of the door.
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A look of embarrassment crosses Ezrek's face. Mm..my apologies. he stammers. I thought you introduced yourself as Jander last mission. I must have been confusing you name with another colleague of mine, Ander. You two look strikingly similar. Please accept my deepest apologies. Ezrek says to Tsusoku. When the Tien has his back turned, Ezrek gives Erin a questioning look and mouths the words; "He's not Jander?".
He turns to Ashur. Very nice to meet you Ashur.
Ashur opens the door, leading into a large office. Unlike the hallway and much of the rest of the dwarven halls outside, this room is unusually bright. Looking up, there are many everburning torches set to give out white light. The walls are a much lighter shade of tan, with numerous pictures and awards hanging along the walls. Off to one corner of the large office, numerous dwarven sized sofas surround a clear glass coffee table. Cabinets align the eastern wall, with a large clear handled craft containing what appears to be tea lying on one of the smaller ones. Dominating the center of the room, behind a solid looking iron desk, is a middle aged female dwarf looks up. Her braided hair is white in color. She looks up to you in annoyance.
"So, you be the pathfinders I heard was commin? Whada ya need? Da rescue team we sent down to get me brother hasn't come back yet."
Well, about a month ago the government found some undocumented tunnels in a little used area of our citadel. The Mithral Mallet Mining Company made a bid to update those tunnels, and bring them up to code. Unfortunately, those tunnels are so trap laiden that we had to subcontract out to a week ago ye Pathfinders. They sent out me brother, Sandricaan Molnworret, and his team to clean them out. We lost contact with me brother about three days ago. Two days ago, me boss sent out some of his men to check up on them, but we lost contact with them too. After that, I went and contacted Miss Heidmarch about the problem.
If you be the Pathfinder's rescue team, you'll have to convince me bosses, Delver Ornregar and Delver Kannis, to let you in. They were never too keen on allowing ye pathfinders in in the first place. I think the only reason they let the first group in was because me brother was leading the group last time.
"No idea really. Ye could try to be polite ya know, like not entering without knocking first; and convince him that ye are competent and unlikely to cause damage to the area."
She stands from her desk and motions to you to follow.
"Come on ye group of uglies. I'll show you the way to the foreman. Push comes to shove, if ye don't manage to convince me bosses to let ye in, I can sneak ye in through a side tunnel, but I'd rather not risk me job over some outsider folk."
Rukha Borthwick leads you back to the relatively dim main hall, where you travel through the main streets for 10 minutes. You pass through a variety of markets, from dwarves selling fine craftsman tools, to foodstuffs grown both above and below ground, to expensive jewelry markets. There is even a "human quarter," where humans, halflings, gnomes, and elves sell their wares in a brightly lit area.
Eventually, she leads you to a small alley, where there is a break in the wall. Signs of gunpowder residue sear the walls, a medium sized hole opening up into a cavern beyond. Going through the dim lighted area, these halls appear to be of very different architecture from the hall you were once in.
It opens up into a new hall, smaller than the hall outside. It branches out into several other tunnels, most which are completely dark. Many dwarves, all with long beards of varying shades of brown and black, move around carrying mining equipment. A small camp is set up in one area of the hall, where two dwarves wearing mithral breastplate and holding weapons are.
Rukha says, "Wait here", and goes to talk to the pair. After a minute or so, she comes back to you.
"Well, those two be Delvers Ornregar and Kannis. I went ahead and told them about you, so feel free to walk up to them and say hi. They're in a foul mood, so don't ruffle their thick hides. If you can't convince them to let you in, come back to my office, and we'll figure out another way." She then leaves you to yourselves.