An elderly dwarf woman sits together with two male humans in thos room. Although one is dtessed in fine clothes, the other in the garb of a priest it is the dwarfs presence dominiering the room. A black hammer leans against her chair and a mug and paper stand before her on the table. Even usually vocal Dinali is silent. After looking each one of you in the eyes for a lasting moment her gravely voice speaks up.
"Finaly some with mixed talents, and if I am not mistaken some common sense and some brain here. Let me guide you through this. Khonnir is the most experienced mage in this town. He has gone missing. Find him alive or in the worst case bring back his body, so that we can raise him. Rhis will be dangerous, but we have prepared for you some thongs to make your task essier."
Ibarra runs his hand over his bald pate. "Yeah, the water near the Black Hill Caves is no joke. So what have you got to help us?"
I eye up the female dwarf, noting her chin whiskers.
I agree with my friend here Throwing a thumb towards Ibarra There is a poor chance we will make it down into the underwater cave with no assistance. Can you tell us how you figure that Master Baine went missing? Doesn't seem like your Master Magi would just up and get captured, unless maybe he stumbled onto something?
Mort stays near the back of the group, no confidence evident in his features.
Eriethiel remains silent, waiting for the others' questions to be answered.
Looking at the impatient bald human in front of her Dolga sighs."I think my first aid would be a word of caution. Khonnir himself led his
second foray into the caves just a couple of days ago—and he has yet to return. Four teams went in, but only one came back to report what they found—Khonnir’s first expedition. Khonnir spoke at length with the council before going back in, and he confirmed what his group told us, despite how outlandish it sounded. The first team was a group of halfling adventurers, the second a group of local thugs, and the fourth a small adventuring party devoted to the worship of Brigh from out of town. Khonnir’s team undertook the third and fifth expeditions under Black Hill, and it was on the fifth expedition—his second trip—that he went missing.” Taking a scroll she holds it into direction of Derlan.“Once you’re on the job, I’ll give each of you a writ that you can show to any of the merchants in town for a f lat 20% discount on any gear you need to purchase—I wish I could offer a greater discount than that, but that’s the best I can do. Further, Val, Khonnir’s adopted daughter, has closed down her father’s tavern, the Foundry, for the time being. She’s told me that any group that’s going into the caves to look for her father can use the tavern, free of charge, as a headquarters and a place to rest between forays. Finally, the entrance to the caves is flooded. You’ll need to swim a bit to get to the caves. Joram Kyte has agreed to cast water breathing on any group to aid in entering the caves—free of charge, of course.”
I take the scroll, bowing a little
The discount is mighty generous, will come in very handy. Is this scroll a report of what Khonnir has found in the caves? I assumed he was kidnapped and taken underground. I have been very busy with Garritt lookin' through his scrap yard in search of materials I think I may need.
I smooth my beard down with a grease stained hand, rubbing some off of my smock to keep my beard in check. I use my little finger to try to work some more water out of my ears.
When is Master Joram free today? I want to get started on the search as soon as possible and my last wander into the water I think it got the best of me. I guess we should head over to the Foundry to set up a base of operations.
Ibarra jerks his thumb at Derlan. "What he said. Before we go, is there anything else you want to tell us?"
"The scroll is the writ, you dwarf. If you want to know what he xperienced in his first foray, well the caves are inhabited by several enormous vermin and other scavengers, along with some strange humanoids who had the ability to blend into the shadows of the cave walls, and a nest of gremlins. Khonnir believed this indicated a deeper connection in the caves to the Darklands, but of more immediate interest was his discovery of a wall of solid metal deep in the caves. A wall made of a skymetal alloy called glaucite. He said it was like the kind we mine from the hills and surrounding plains, but formed into a structure with doors. It was near one of these doors that Khonnir found the broken automaton that he brought back after his first expedition.” Thinking for a moment she continues."Maybe you want to meet Val first, she is his daughter and might know more! Also, maybe just maybe she has some more items."
"Great, lets head over and talk to Val. I'll want to pick up a sunrod or two, as well."
The man next to Dolgar speaks up." You can meet me at the temple, I will meditate for the right spells. In one hour?"
My eyes light up at the sound of an undiscovered portion of Skymetal.
You said that Khonnir said there was a wall of undiscovered Skymetal down there? Probably some mutations as well from the radiation and sewage, who knows what is down there no one has ever seen before.
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"Now this is my kind of adventure! Artifacts, giant rats, and beings that can camoflauge! This sounds like it's going to be great. One hour should be plenty of time to meet this Val daughter. I'm sure she will be really insightful; plus I could go for some early noon ale... Mmmm..."
Tavar glazes over from the prospect of free ale and the great adventure that lies ahead.
Dinali all you know gremlins are bad luck. Walking to Khonnir's Tavern takes at the utmost 10 minutes. Getting closer you hear screeching, whining and faint crys for help.
Ibarra quickens his pace. "Sounds like Val needs help!"
Mort breaks into a run when he hears the screams!
I chase after the group, one hand holding my smock down and the other grabbing my Hammer off of my belt.
As you enter the house you can hear the sound from the right side. It is clearer now a girl is in danger. You can see an open door and a strange metal beast working on a girl.
Roll for initative.
Link to the map in Camouflages ID
Mort Ibarra and Tavar can act
Drone
Rest
"Leave her alone, construct!"
Ibarra tumbles around the creature, bringing his rapier to bear.
"Get out of here, Val! We'll take care of this."
With a jump Ibarra tries to get past it, but he feels as if the drone is looking at him, but ignores him, until he attacks it. And what an attack. His perfect timing gives him a change to strike deep. Unfortunately he misses a vital spot. Now he is closer he can see it seems rather badly damaged. But it still whirrs and turns toward him
I charge in with Ibarra, hammer held high over my head in 2 hands.
Leave her alone you whirlin' bucket ol' bolts, I will add ye to me scrap collection.
Mort sees the threatened girl and moves like a blur, drawing his oversized rolling pin as he goes! for damage!
With a mighty crash Mort is able to bash in the head of the robot and it falls to the floor, destroyed. Under the table there is a shuffle and a young girl rolls to light and looks at the destroyed robot!
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. It suddenly started to cheep hoot and went totally bonkers."
I walk over to the drone, scooping it up and having a look at it.
Maybe I should take this to Garritt see what he has to think of this and why it "bonkers" as ye so gently put it.
Ibarra sheathes his rapier and looks at the little girl. "I hope that wasn't your pet."
"Anyway, we're working for the council to find Khonnir Baine. So we decided to stop by and introduce ourselves. Looks like our timing was great for a change."
Ibarra runs his hand over his bald pate.
Giving the broken automatin a kick just to yell in pain, Val adresses your questions." Autsch, bloody hard. Well dad brought it from his last expedition. Meant it was broken and even pretty unarmored. And it stays here. Garrit is a halfwit for brains. Dad is the only expert on stuff like this. Me I just take what we get and tries to make it useful. And it works. Well most of the time."
Looking at Ibarra Val continues."Bloody right you were on time, curly. By the way I must have left my manners at the door. Focus, Val. I am Val, daughter of Khonnir. And if you really plan to find dad, I am quite happy to hear that. Who are you all? Please come all in have a seat."
"I'm Ibarra. Your father was helping me learn how to pick apart Numerian relics."
Mort prods the metal robot with his rolling pin, intrigued by it and slightly still afraid it's going to jump up and attack. "Hello. I'm Mort. I'm... I'm just a baker."
I flatten out my smock and fix my beard, I offer her a hand after I have wiped most of the grease off of it.
"I am Derlan Stonefinder, I have been staying at the Junkyard, I won't tell Garritt what you said. I'd heard that your father was an expert and I was hopin' to meet him one day but not quite like this."
I stop everyone from beating on the Automaton further, scooping it up and looking it over.
"Dolga said yer Father brought this back from the underground cave, did he have any papers about this machine or anythin' else that they found down underground?"
"Hello Derlan, nice to meet you. And if you tell that to the gnome, tell him that he still owns me 4 silverdisks from last weeks game of Warlords and Wizards. HA! Well you know Dad returned from the first foray, reported to the council had a goodnights sleep organized a few things and two days later went in again. And trust me he wouldn´t stay down that cave overnight, if he had a nice cosy warm bed here, watcha think?"
Ibarra frowns. "Seems likely. Have you got anything that could help us? Can we look at his notes from his previous expedition?"
"My name is Eriethiel Halynnmyr. I recently moved here from Hajoth Hakados, and have been working with Inkrit at the general store." She looks to the automaton. "What caused the thing to become so...agitated?"
Val frowns and then leads the group to the smelting area where she looks around collecting bits and pieces...
"Dad took his notes with him, sorry, but I might have other things you might like!"
Putting on the table she lays 2 bags made of a strange material, folded twice on top with some kind of closing clasps you have never seen. A kind of short metal wire made of a black material. A short rod, made of the same material. A few "masks" made of a soft white material. A shield made of a transperent material. A small strange kind of weapon together with 5 bolts. The bolts seem to have heads made of debris. And finally two pages of a spellbook.
"I know it is not much, but I hope it will help!
Finally seeing that Mort has is equipped with rolling pin she looks around and returns with an old heavy flail.
The head seems to be hollow and the chain is not of metal or any other material you know, atually you think it was never meant as weapon, but it seems to work just fine.
Eriethiel's hand tentatively reaches out to the spellbook pages. "These may very well be useful to me. Unless someone else feels they need them, I would request them." She eyes the masterwork backpacks, as well, but waits to see if there are others that would have them.
Well lass yer very generous with yer wares. I'll en devour to return ye items once we have located your father. We'll be off right away to find yer Father lass, don't you worry.
I pick up one of the backpacks, and the crowbar.