Ederion ponders for a moment if he might have offended the curvy halfling, but as she smiles back he feels more relieved at the situation, and smiles to himself.
One way or another he eventually wanders off toward Nisha - "Good morning" - he offers from a distance, not wanting to pry - "I was not expecting to find a colleague in the alchemical arts" - he nods towards her work bench - "It is a fortunate coincidence. I am Ederion"
Bazzle wanders into the dining area where Ed is having a huge breakfast. "oh man bacon. I need bacon. Seriously."
He grabs a breakfast with an obnoxious amount of bacon with a bit of biscuits and eggs. He moves over to the table careful with his breakfast. "Place is brimming with alchemists." He holds up his coffee, "I mean bam good coffee alchemy." He looks up, "I was able to get some odds and ends too. I worked on an opera a few years back. We made some effects for the finale' that were mini explosions. Flashbangs they call it in the biz. But they are essentially well small bombs. I got a line on a source and I think I will be able to make a few explosives."
The curvy and red coloured Tiefling with black hair suddenly reminds Ederion of Xyl, but that's quickly removed when she speaks soft as a mouse. "Oh uhm, hi Ederion. I'm not really a colleague, haha, I just uhm dabble in it."
"BULLSHIET!" Yells Laria from halfway across the room while taking Bazzle's order. "Nisha's the best doc I've ever had. Wayyy better'n any of those bloodletters! I keep her around for very good reason!" Laria seems quite pleased with herself as she heads back to the kitchen. Just before she disappears, she leans back and shouts "And she's single by the way!". It's a good thing the walls of this hideout are thick.
At this point Nisha is almost under the table with embarrassment. This gives Ederion a moment to examine her alchemical set-up, while Bazzle jumps in and distracts the scene with talk of alchemy and flashbangs. Ederion does notice that Nisha's set up is... kind of barbaric. A very strange collection of ingredients from mushrooms to rusty nails to pebbles. Yet somehow as if by magic she's made them into proper extracts. The only thing that looks like it wasn't found in the sewers is her book, which may be old and worn, but sophisticated.
Ederion can't help but chuckle at Laria's outburst, then turns to Nisha and her working bench - "Your setup is impressive" - he comments with appreciation - "Unique. I have never seen anything like it" - and steps a tad closer, still not touching anything - "This healing extract seems perfect from where I'm standing" - he smiles.
"Oh uhm, thank you." Nisha replies while gradually returning to the surface world, meaning the table. "It's an infusion. I've only learned how to make the healing one into an infusion, but I can turn the others into proper potions."
Aster shuffles in. She stops her hello as she sees the interaction between Ederion and Nisha. Instead she simply smiles in memory before leaving them to their talk.
Going up to Bazzle she hands him a ring of rune lined steel. "It's a simple protection ring, since without you I believe I would have been gutted by those ghouls. Please accept it with my thanks." in return she swipes a piece of bacon from his over populated plate.
"Wow thanks. Even better than a shield."
Rexandi is trying to relax that morning, plucking out another simple tune on her clavichord while intermittently sipping at the free coffee. Her tail twitches involuntarily but she seems to have calmed a bit. At least she's not having crying and yelling jags any more.
"Oh uhm, thank you." Nisha replies while gradually returning to the surface world, meaning the table. "It's an infusion. I've only learned how to make the healing one into an infusion, but I can turn the others into proper potions."
"I have heard about those, and have been doing some reading on them myself" - the elf nods - "But have not yet mastered how exactly to go about it - some more study and experimentation are definitely required" - he smiled - "Have you learned all this on your own?"
"Well... sort of." Replies Nisha with some hesitation. "I've learned most of it from this book, but it asks for ingredients and tools that I couldn't afford, at least not until now. So I've been... improvising."
The salty labourer team has gotten up now and are about to begin their sparring practice. They don't use fencing techniques very often, but instead use a mixture of heavy combat and guerrilla tactics. They're all hardy, mercenary type men lead by a stern man named Forvian Crow.
The Skritt Squad is also present. These mousefolk stand about three feet tall, except for the one named Borr, who is a behemoth of 6 feet. They're currently learning how to scale walls. Their leader is Deratata, who is known to speak insanely quickly. Aster would know that it's a common trait among Skritt.
"So what about you two? Where did you learn alchemy?" asks Nisha, quick to get the topic off of her.
"Many will tell you that Alchemy has no room for improvisation" - Ederion chuckles - "I think they are not only boring, but also wrong. Sometimes improvisation will be the only way to achieve mastery and innovation" - he adds.
"Me..? Well... My parents sent me off to learn from the best - you know those boring ones I spoke about? Yep, those same ones" - now the Elf laughs for a moment - "Yeah... That didn't work out... So I left, unfortunately not on the best of terms either... Some ethical differences you see..." - and then he is not laughing anymore - "Something to discuss some other time. Coffee?"
"Please" replies Nisha, gratefully accepting the bitter elixir of life.
As the group finishes preparing for the dangerous dungeon, Nisha comes over to Ederion and hands him a vial. "I heard before that you got bit by a venomous snake, so I thought maybe this would help. It's not a specific antivenom, but it might help in a pinch."
Bazzle smiles, "Family business. Brastlewark originally. Applied it to stage effects prior to the close of the opera."
Aster gathers her things, waves to Nisha as the men says their goodbyes to the curvy tielfing, thanks Laria for second breakfast, and the others good luck in their training.
"Please" replies Nisha, gratefully accepting the bitter elixir of life.
As the group finishes preparing for the dangerous dungeon, Nisha comes over to Ederion and hands him a vial. "I heard before that you got bit by a venomous snake, so I thought maybe this would help. It's not a specific antivenom, but it might help in a pinch."
"Thank you" - the elf offers a polite bow - "I'm sure this will come in handy. Wish I had one before" - he smiles, offering her a pot of coffee, and putting the vial in easy reach.
Bazzle smiles, "Family business. Brastlewark originally. Applied it to stage effects prior to the close of the opera."
"Your parents also worked in the same line of business Bazzle?
"Gnomes are famous for alchemy in Brastlewark. My family ran a respectable business there." He looks away slightly. "But my real love is art more than engineering and alchemy they are just mediums."
"I had no idea Bazzle, but then again we kind of 'just met'" - Ederion ponders - "You need to show me some of yours and your family's work. But..." - he hesitates - "The family business is not there anymore? Apologies if I am prying..."
The journey through Villegre happens simply and without any issues. The Ravens are walking on the main road, heading south and west to reach the Yolubilis district. Though there are guards on patrol, no one seems to care about a group of mercenaries.
Once the Ravens reach the Yolubilis district, Ederion gets the uncanny feeling like he's being watched, studied in fact. They cross the bridge without issue, and then make their way through Redroof. The Redroof district is abuzz with business, crowded such that it delays the group. They eventually take the southern road and reach Old Kintargo, where they are relieved that the roads are much less crowded. When the Ravens reach the secret entrance in the ruined fireplace, it doesn't look like anyone has followed them.
You are being watched by a small group of Asmodeans, likely redactors. They are studying you.
The Lucky Bones looks to have been untouched since the two days before. Every room that has been cleared has not been repopulated. The only places that lead to unexplored areas are the walled-off entrance made by the Order of the Torrent, and the 20ft pit filled with yellow fungi.
"Down the pit? I would feel better knowing there is nothing more down there before considering tearing down a wall." Aster suggests.
"We were being followed close" - Ederion informs the others once they are back underground - "A small group of Asmodeans, redactors probably..."
"Down the pit? I would feel better knowing there is nothing more down there before considering tearing down a wall." Aster suggests.
"We need to clear out that fungus first though..."
"Cover our faces AND hold our breath, I'd suggest, and still walk carefully." Aster suggests since there is no possible way she will succeed at not hitting one of these things.
"What do we do with our tail. . . I always wanted a tail. Well not this kind but how cool would a tail be. "
"Cover our faces AND hold our breath, I'd suggest, and still walk carefully." Aster suggests since there is no possible way she will succeed at not hitting one of these things.
"Understood" - Ederion nods, tying a black handkerchief around his mouth and nose.
"What do we do with our tail. . . I always wanted a tail. Well not this kind but how cool would a tail be. "
"Good question Bazzle... Should we wait for them in here and jump them, or just pray they will not follow us?"
"That depends. Are they smart enough to send a reporter back saying they are following us or will the whole group engage us."
"They are still there. The Gnackles. They do a lot of work in fireworks, engineering, practical consumable alchemy, I think the most famous thing they are famous for is the steam spinner. I a came here after . . . I earned by nick name." He chuckles. "I was better at packing fireworks than metallurgy. I thought it would be cool if a certain statue of a dragon 'breathed fire' . . . well it was pretty cool, but the statue's bronze work didn't think so. Thankfully the artist thought the effect was cool but my Pa didn't like one of his kids named Blast Hazzard working in a reliable engineering business. . . . so. I went from liability there to assesset for my uncle who did stage design for the opera here. A set crew with a 'Blast-Hazard' sounds artistic."
Tarnagius leans out of the tunnel to look up at the sheer walls of the 20ft tall, fungi infested pit. "Anyone got climbing magic? Flying magic? Uhm, jumping magic?"
"Nothing..." - Ederion shakes his head, then looks back at the others - "We can always go around and through the door"
"What door?" Aster askes, not remembering a door. "Does anyone have a grappling hook?"
"No grapple and no climbing magic, sorry..." says Rexi.
"I wish we had some way to destroy this fungus!"
"The weird jail-looking door with the Order's old symbol." Replies Tarnagius. "And no, didn't think we'd need a grappling hook. " Tarnagius thinks for a moment while staring at the fungus, but he doesn't offer any bright ideas towards Rexandi's plight.
"I guess back to the jail door?" Aster covers her face again and them shuffles back through the fungus again.
This is the first time the Ravens have taken a close look at the strange door. It looks much like the door to a cell, with bars dropping vertically from the ceiling. There are also smaller bars jutting diagonally from the larger vertical ones, such that it forms little right-angle triangles across the whole structure. The metal is not iron, and probably not steel either, for they have a distinct blue tinge to their silver colour. In the center of the whole thing is the armoured fish, which is the old symbol for the Order of the Torrent. It has a simple handle on it, but at an odd slant and located at the top-right corner of the design. To the right side of the handle is a keyhole.
The hallways beyond the 'gate' isn't particularly interesting, but there are two doors to the left hand side, and a set of double doors at the end of the hall.
Ederion takes a moment to check the door for traps and locks.
Ederion doesn't find any traps. The keyhole presents the only 'lock'.
"Here let me take a look at this. No traps you think."
Bazzle after looking over the door listens at it for sounds on the other side. He pulls out his lock picks and attempts to get the door open.
He looks around frustrated. "Keep a look out this one is tricky." He hunkers down wiglles his fingers and looks closer taking painstaking effort.
Ederion takes a step back stands watch as Bazzle tackles the lock.
Bazzle starts digging into the keyhole of this strange door and finds that the lock is quite intricate. However, nothing that a little patience and determination can't get through. After spending about a minute on the task, Bazzle is happy to hear a *click*. The door starts to shrink by compacting itself and having the strange blue metal bars merge together like they were liquid. It takes a couple seconds, but the door squishes together and forms a large shield made of the blue metal. On the front it bears the armoured fish symbol, and at the back near the handle remains the keyhole.
The way is open.
Bazzle needs a nat 20 to unlock
Each attempt is 6 seconds (one full-round action)
Tah Dah
"Amazing..." - Ederion smiles, explaining the item's properties to his companions, and passing it over to Tarnagius.
He then peeks his head right after where the gate/shield was, to look around and listen.
"Indeed, it's fascinating, but... why a fish?" wonders Rexandi.
"People like fish?" Aster shrugs, at her own suggestion, not thinking it is likely. Aster gives the door and the corridor a long sniff, to see if she can pick up anyone's scent... or anything that smells other than metal and dust.
She'll also cast a quick detect magic on the corridor, realizing she really should have done it on the door before asking Bazzle to open it.
"The armored fish is the old symbol for the Order of the Torrent" - Ederion reminds - "Or the question is why their order uses a fish as symbol?" - he chuckles.
"The Torrent are all about finding missing people." Starts Tarnagius as he's strapping on the surprisingly light shield considering it's at least the size of Bazzle. "Lots of folk end up drowned on the coast or the river, be it by accident or murder. Problem is, retrieving the drowned in risky because of all the monsters that live under the waves. The Torrent's armour and weapons are designed to work underwater so they can fight the monsters that pull people down to the depths."
Aster doesn't smell anything other than rot and mold, which has been a constant theme throughout the entire complex. Ederion looks to his left and sees two sets of double doors a little ways down a hallway. The first set is to the left, while the other set is directly ahead.