The town of Torch has long enjoyed a singular claim to prosperity-a violet flame that burns atop Black Hill in the heart of the town. This flame burns incredibly hot, and while it's usually the size of a bonfire, several times a year the fires spew up into the heavens in a brilliant beam of purple violence. These eruptions are presaged by about an hour of soft rumbling, giving nearby smiths a chance to retreat before the fires can consume them. At all other times, the violet energies allow for the smelting of all manner of skymetal. Torch is one of the only locations where skymetal can be worked with relative ease outside of Starfall, and its entire economy has risen around these purple flames, with traveling smiths coming from across Avistan to pay for the opportunity to work with them. Of course, Torch needs all the visiting trade and coin it can gather, for while the town's distance from Starfall makes it inconvenient for the Technic League to maintain a permanent presence here, the taxes and tariffs it charges the Numerian town on a monthly basis are significant. The town prospers, but the bulk of its income does not belong to it.
Which is why, when the fires atop the hill suddenly go
out, the town is in trouble.
atop Black Hill for over a century has gone out, leaving a
strangely seeping pit of rubble and bubbling fluids where
the town's livelihood once glowed day and night. This happened 8 days ago.
one of Torch's more powerful wizards and a well-liked
individual, went missing on his second expedition under
Black Hill, the citizens of the nervous town have edged
closer to outright panic. With their hands full handling the
growing refuse and waste problems in town now that their
primary disposal method is gone, the town council is eager
to find out what happened to Khonnir and rescue him they've
made public a reward of 4,000 gp to any group that can recover Khonnir's body; if he can be returned alive, they've promised to throw in the scroll of resurrection they've been holding on to in case they need to revive him. Interested parties are invited to speak to the council at
Town Hall.
unusual traffic on the banks of Weeping Pond, and shortly
thereafter, the submerged tunnel that provides access to
several heretofore unknown tunnels under Black Hill. His
emergence from the caves with a deactivated semi-humanoid
automaton sparked worries that something strange might
be going on in the caverns, but when he failed to return from
his second expedition a few days ago, those worries turned
to outright fear. Several other adventuring parties have gone
missing in the caves, and Torch finds itself running short on
new volunteers. 7 days ago the first group went and never returned, 6 days ago a second group went in and never returned, 5 days ago Khonnir Baine went with some allies and returned with an odd metal object, 4 days ago a group of Brigh worshippers went in and never returned. 2 days ago Khonnir Baine and his team went back in, and have not returned.
You all hear that the best place to go will probably be to the city council. You all arrive there, one by one, eventually sitting there. Nobody is in the town hall yet, but in about five, ten minutes, a counciler should arrive.
Setting his pack down on a chair the well built young Halfling fighter stands up stretching his arms up. A few twists and turns of his body fills the room with several loud pops and cracks.
"I'm supprised they are making people wait. From everything I have heard this is supposed to be some kind of catastrophe for the town."
Tazwell arrived wearing a dark brown cloak with his unstrung bow slung over his shoulder.
Taz looks to Sarona and says "Sarona, I haven't seen you in a few days. I figured you went to investigate the Black Hills Cave with the folks from Brigh's temple a few days back."
"What have you heard?"
No. No. No. No. This isn't how it was supposed to happen.
Sarona uneasily paces around the town hall's meeting chamber, one hand nervously rubbing her holy symbol of Brigh in an effort to regain her composure. This was the first time she ever felt such anxiety, and it clearly showed. Sometimes, being capable of feeling emotions had its drawbacks.
How do humans cope with this? Every part of me feels like its tensed up and ready to explode at the slightest provocation...
She barely registers the halfling newcomer's comment, but Tazwell's addressing of her finally makes her suck in a breath of air and snap to attention. "Er--no. No, I have not, despite wishing to do so." Sarona blinks a few times, both hands clasping her holy symbol as if it will fly away at any moment.
"Khonnir and Joram both told me I should stay behind. I have respected their wishes up to this point, but Khonnir is missing, and I need to find him." The priestess looks down at the floor.
At least my headache isn't bothering me anymore.
"What have you heard?"
"Only that a purple-haired woman arrived in town a day before Torch's flame was extinguished and hasn't been seen since." She looks the young man in his eyes again.
Looking at the worried woman clutching her holy symbol Fist steps up to her and the man shes talking to.
"ohh are you two locals? Im a bit new in town. Names Fist."
The halfling sais with a smile as he extends his calloused hand for her to shake. Hopefully meeting someone new might calm her down.
When Caimor arrived, he first looked around the entire building before settling down in a chair. The elf wore his usual functional light blue robes and leggings that made him look more of a traveler than a scholar.
"They're likely panicking and are distracted with their own internal politics," Caimor says in answer to Fist's comment, inclining his head towards Sarona as an example. He taps a finger on his thigh and a frown persists on his face. It's clear that even if he knows the cause, he still isn't amused with the waste of his time. "They should arrive within ten minutes at most."
He seems to keep an eye on everything, including all the people in the room, and stays at a decent distance from everyone. He'd have enough time to react should anyone attack him, or approach him for a lengthier conversation.
Tazwell doesn't seem to be bothered by (or even notice) that he's obviously the youngest person in the room.
"Hey Fist, my name's Taz and this is Sarona. We both took some classes from Khonnir Baine, and we're a little worried that he's gone missing, and I could think of a few things to do with that four thousand gold they're offering up."
aside to Fist "You'll have to cut her some slack, she's not real good with people."
Kerin prefers to stand. No need to be caught with his guard down, especially not around these people.
There was the halfling. Definetely something off about him. He was related to it. And the two scholarly types, no telling what Khonnir had put them up to; one of them was even the ex-zombie priest girl.
And the blue-robed guy showed up just as people started to disappear? That was a bit too convenient.
Still, shady as they were, they turned up to volunteer for duty. He'd better introduce himself.
"I'm Kerin. Blacksmith. You're all here to help find the people tthat disappeared? It's not right, decent folks up and disappearing."
The halfling shakes Taz's hand showing off the firm grip the unusually strong halfling possesses.
"Thats not a problem. ive never been a great people person myself."
looking to the girl i give her a slightly unsettling grin.
"And dont worry this should be simple. we find out whats causing people to go missing and then we kill it."
"Only if we're not lucky. If we're lucky, whatever dragged them down there is holding the townspeople captive, and will use them as hostages. If it turns out to be simple, they're already dead."
Kerin seemed somewhat surly.
Fist looks at the dwarf with a raised eyebrow.
"I doubt this town has much to give in the way of ransom money from how much I hear that league is squeezing it. Besides, anything that thinks it can capture and hold people against their will like slaves should be dealt with accordingly."
The Halfling sais as he raises his chin up and slowly drags his finger across his throat.
"You'll have to cut her some slack, she's not real good with people."
Sarona quirks an eyebrow. "However, I'm always trying to improve."
"I'm Kerin. Blacksmith. You're all here to help find the people that disappeared? It's not right, decent folks up and disappearing."
Sarona nods at the dwarf. "And what Tazwell says is not entirely accurate--Khonnir Baine is my... well, I believe 'father' would be the closest term. I intend to seek him out and bring him home however I can." The nervousness in her voice is beginning to even out.
"I doubt this town has much to give in the way of ransom money from how much I hear that league is squeezing it. Besides, anything that thinks it can capture and hold people against their will like slaves should be dealt with accordingly."
The vehemency in the halfling's voice makes Sarona scratch her head. It was a widely-known fact in town that the Technic League taxed Torch a great deal, but she didn't think they'd go that far...
Then again, it was quite possible she knew very little about them. She checks her memory banks for any relevant information on them.
Sarona knows for a fact that the technic league, while somewhat assholish, would probably never step their bounds by kidnapping people. They aren't dumb, except when facing technology, and kidnapping people is rather dumb.
A female dwarf, 30 years of age, walks in, her hand on her forehead, and a hammer on her waist.
"Ugh... Good 'morning." you hear her mutter.
She looks you over, the middle aged woman smiling, "I suppose you all are here to go after Khornnir huh? Well, good to see someone to actually go down and find them. The reward is 4k for his corpse, or 4k and a scroll of resurrection. Anything to ask?"
"Yeah. The rumors about men of steel coming up in the night and snatching folks true?" He stares at her levely "and what happen'd to your head?"
Fist will smile up at the only slightly taller dwarf woman.
"Do you have a map of the place were supposed to be rooting around in? Also i heard you guys might have a gremlin problem. Whats town hall willing to shell out for us to fix that problem too?"
The halfling speaks with confidence as though what dangers might be awaiting them are a trivial thing at most.
Not their normal means of operation. Not precisely related to technology--probability of the Technic League being involved is low. She thinks as she finishes rummaging around in her memory banks.
Sarona blinks again as the dwarven lady enters the meeting hall. She takes note of how she's holding her hand to her forehead.
"Are you suffering from a headache, Councillor?" She asks, one hand coming to rest on her holy symbol.
The counciler nods to Sarona, "Yes, I am, most folks been having them." she groans, "Murgrave's got so bad, she had to go home."
She looks over to Kerin, "Well, no. Heard rumours, but no missing persons reports yet."
She looks down to the halfling, "I don't know, maybe a scroll or hat or something, we'll decide later."
"A new hat? Heh I could do with a new hat. Well other than that just point us in the direction we need to go and well get this taken care of."
Fist sais with a grin then thinks for a moment.
" If you lot are all having the same headache I bet it's cause of that flame going out. Like when you have to adjust your eyes to a new room only bigger."
Fist offeres up in explanation though he really has no clue why they arnt feeling good.
Kerin is instantly suspicious. Well, more suspicious at any rate. Headaces don't go from one person to the next one.
His eyes narrow at the councilor. She didn't mention her name, either.
"What've you all been up to that gave you headaches? Out listening to hammers all morning or something?" He says, in a vaguely accusatory voice.
Sarona rubs her forehead sympathetically at the mention of headaches. So it isn't just me then?
"I have had headaches recently as well... I haven't been doing much crafting work lately, so I do not believe loud noise is to blame for it." She offers, clearly confused. "At least, not in my case. I cannot claim to speak for everyone here."
Kerin looks at Sarona. "Headaches don't just hop from person to person. There's something sinister behind this." He looks from Sarona to the Councilwoman. "Sarona, you're a priest, right? I wonder... Does 'most people' include only those who worship Brigh, or does it hit those able to do ma- No wait! I think it only hits the women!"
Sarona gives Kerin a somewhat irritated and perplexed look. "Unfortunately, while I am an ordained priestess of Brigh, and able to heal wounds, I do not possess in-depth knowledge of humanoid anatomy." She appears to be somewhat affronted by the idea that the headaches could affect only worshippers of Brigh. At least if the headaches only affected magic users or women, there would be an explainable biological/arcane element to them.
She looks over at the others. "May I ask who else has suffered from headaches recently?"
The councillor shrugs, "Most folks, ever since the torch went out. And good to see I'm not the only one who thinks it's from that damn hole in the ground..."
Caimor doesn't speak yet, absorbing data and forming hypotheses. Investigation into Khonnir's disappearance required new information, but this new mystery served well as a momentary distraction.
Infliction more severe on one person? Hmm.
And as long as she was already here, might as well rule out one possible cause.
Caimor looks unusually focused on the councillor for half a minute.
Finished with his analysis for now,he moves on to the matter at hand. He wasn't being paid to solve headaches. "On Khonnir, any information on the area we'll be heading into? Perhaps someone on Khonnir's first expedition left behind on the second who could tell us what to expect? And anything on the Black Hill as well to explain the origins of the cave."
Taz answers Sarona "My head's right as rain."
To everyone else he says: "From what I've heard, the flame's source is some machine buried deep under that hill.
"That squares with Khonnir being involved seeing as how he's a sucker for any kind of dusty old technology. I'm guessin' that if we find Khonnir, then we'll find out what happened to that flame."
Kerin scoffs at Tazwell's naive idea. "You've been listening to bad rumours. I've been working with that flame so long as I can remember; It ain't no sodding machine, you bet yourself that. It's honest to gods magic, I tell you."
He muses briefly.
"Restoring it would be a good thing, though. Everyone's livelyhood is at stake, what with us smiths being unable to work the hardmetals these days."
"If we're done here, I say we get a move on. We're keeping whatever is down there waiting."
Fist grins at the dwarf.
"I agree. Were burning daylight. ohh and Kerin was it? My names Fist, if this little adventure takes a good deal of time perhaps you might be willing to teach me your peoples language. I've always wanted to learn dwarven."
Fist sais with a happy grin as he offers his hand to shake the dwarves in greeting.
Murgrave is a member of the city council, though not one of particular note.
There is literally no magic or poison in her system. None. Really is odd.
However, you do know that Black Hill is where the fire that the torch is built around sprouts from. It's why the Torch is so well known around Numeria, and it's been out for about eight days.
She looks annoyed at Kerin, "Do you boys even know how to even get to where the expedition started? There's a underwater passage connecting them to weeping pond. Khorn noticed a bunch of human footprints on the pond's banks, and he was there testing the waters the fire went out in, to ensure they didn't grow toxic. It's how he found the expedition site. You are just going to walk around like a idiot looking for a entrance? Pardon me, young man, but I'm fifty years your elder, and I have to tell you, you shouldn't be so brash."
She looks over to Tazwell, "You know, he went in by himself, right? It was his own choice to go in. He went in three times, in fact, found a giant wall made out of skymetal, an alloy called glaucite, the kind we mine from the hills, only actually formed into a structure with doors."
She calls over to Kerin, "SO YOU MIGHT BE WRONG, YOUNG MAN!"
Young, brash, and secure in the truth of his own ideas. That was Kerin. "Pish. Machines are for moving stuff. They don't make fires. And even if they did, how'd that be different from magic? Doesn't matter if magic makes a big flame, or a bunch of metal bits put together make a big flame; you still get the same sodding flame."
Fist looks up at the dwarven woman with an arched eyebrow.
"Underwater passage huh? Well i can hold my breath and swim if need be but what about that door? Is it possible to just open it or is it sealed shut?"
He askes a little more curiously now that more details have been made clear.
Sarona keeps quiet as the councillor goes off on Kerin. Considering how... abrasive the dwarf has been up to this point, she's understanding of her foul mood.
I cannot imagine, for the life of me, why anyone would pay 50,000 gold pieces for a lock of his hair. And that much money strikes me as being a poorly-disguised attempt at conning me anyway.
The mention of the Black Hill Cave only being accessible via an underwater passageway causes her eyes to widen. "Oh... but if we have to swim, that'll be a problem for me. I... er... don't know how to swim."
Tazwell turns to the councilor and asks "Does the council have any resources they could spare to help us navigate the underwater passage?"
and then he looks to Sarona "If not them, do you think your temple could help?"
Dolga shakes her head, "Your right, but you shouldn't speak up to your elders, young man."
She looks over to Fist and Sarona, "We have a cleric who'll cast Water Breathing on you guys before you guys enter, with a fancy rod of Extend to keep you all from choking." she says, "You don't need to bother with swiming. Your pals will be able to help you swim."
She looks to Fist, "One of the doors was sealed shut, the other was open. Khorn said he would explore the area beyond the door, but who knows if he made it that far."
She looks over to Tazwell, "I'll be able to provide a 20% discount on gear while you're out doing work- Wish I could do better, but that's the best I can do. In addition, Khonnir's daughter, Val, closed her father's tavern for the time being, and offered it to folks as a place of rest."
Ignoring the councilors rebuke, Taz replies "Any chance of an advance on some of that reward money? The discount is nice and all but it doesn't do us much good if all we have is pocket change."
Sarona feels a wave of relief at the mention of a cleric who can help them get to the caves.
"Do you mean Father Kyte, Councillor? I'm glad you brought him up--I'm relieved that he's prepared to assist us in this."
"In addition, Khonnir's daughter, Val, closed her father's tavern for the time being, and offered it to folks as a place of rest."
Sarona nods. She knew that all too well--if anything, Val was more distraught about this than she was. "It appears everything is in order." She turns to the rest of the team. "Perhaps I should introduce you all to her--she'll be happy to provide us with a place to rest, I'm sure of it."
The counciler looked over Tazwell, "Well... I know my fellow councilers won't permit that, but I think I might be able to pay a bit up front, out of pocket."
She slips into her pocket, and hands him about 15 platinum pieces.
"Make sure to share with your pals, 'alright?" she says.
Sarona nodded, "Indeed. Try not to fall as the other four teams have, your a wonderful young lady."
The woman's lack of faith in them rankles a bit. Of course, Kerin doesn't exactly trust her either. nor the rest of them, for that matter. They were awfully sneaky. still, he'd better head home to pick up those scrolls he'd bought, just in case. "Hrmph. I s'pose I have some things to collect from home before we get started. Let's meet by the inn to set up our 'base camp' in a bit, and then we hop to it when we're done there, ehh?"
Caimor blinks at Kerin's display of astonishing ignorance, both on magic and technology.
"I'm more interested if we can keep anything we find," he says to the councillor, "but we can work something out afterwards. My thanks for your aid. And I'm afraid I never did get your name?"
Fist grins from ear to ear
"A Place to sleep that's not the side of the road? Now thats a nice bonus. Other than maybe picking up a strigil in town I'm good to go. Lets go meet this Val friend of yours Sarona."
Taz divies up the cash 5 ways and says to the crew "I've got a couple of things pick up in town. What say we meet up at the tavern in a couple hours?"
Fist happily takes his share of the coins and pockets them.
"Sounds like a plan. I'll stick with you Sarona. You can tell me tall tales about your hometown."
Sarona graciously accepts the offered platinum pieces, taking her share and slipping them into her coin pouch.
At the mention of possibly meeting Val, Sarona smiles. It's... a somewhat unsettling sight--it's as if she's heard of smiles, but is still learning to make them without looking like she's about to murder someone.
"Certainly, Fist. It would be my pleasure." She turns to leave, pausing in case Councillor Dolga had anything else to say before they departed.
Dolga shrugged, "Alright, go there and do your stuff, I have paperwork to do."
Kerin is followed home. He knows this, by some old half orc. He thinks.
Fist gives Sarona a grin just barely able to hold back a chuckle as he follows her to wherever she leads him.
"Thats a cute smile you have. Not real used to interacting with people just yet? We have something in common in that regard. Ive only had maybe a year or so to interact with people freely."
Fist sais to Sarona in Androffan in an attempt to be friendly.
Wandering the streets of Torch on her way back to the Foundry (Torch's tavern), Sarona is surprised (to say the least) that Fist just spoke Androffan to her. It's enough for her to give him her full attention.
She 'smiles' in an attempt to imitate Fist's grin. Whether or not she's successful at keeping it from being as bizarre as all the other ones is currently up in the air.
Fist chuckles looking up at her.
Fist contorts his face into the wild angry intimidating look of someone about to rush into battle.
Quickly putting away his angry death glare fist laughs deeply.
Joseph was stumped. He had been to the big city only once before and that was way back almost before he could remember. And with his Pa, not on his own... So many sights to see! So many people, he had never seen this many people in his life let alone all at once! And he was lost... Completely and utterly lost... His town back home had a single street lined with shops and the rest of the homes were on farmsteads...
Well Stumper. What are we going to do here? How are we supposed to find out any kind of information here with all these people in the way? And on top of that im getting hungry! We should find some place to get food. Why dont we ask those guys? Joseph points to a pair of peeps heading his way, urging Stumper on.
Blah... Stumper... Blah blah Blah blah Blah blah...Find...blah Blah blah Blah blah Blah blah Blah blah Blah blah Blah blah...Food!!! Blah blah Blah blah...This way...
Stumper was content to wander the streets in a zig-zag pattern looking for scraps of food, unbothered by the throngs of people, he was a herd animal, when his Shepherd riding his back urged him on, seemingly in a random direction. He would follow, after all, he heard the word Food and that was a word he reconized!
Joseph approached the duo, they are speaking a foregn launguage! Neat!, a short halfling like him self and some sort of Longlegs he had never seen before, and hailed them.
Ok Joseph, get it right. Formalities and first impressions are importiant!
Hail good citizens of Torch! I prostrate before thee, seeking informat...HEY!!!
The halfling was clearly scowling at him, and it was fierce! The Longlegs had a really wicked smile on as well... Oh dung! I must have really messed up the formalities! They look like they are about to kill me!!
Tazwell takes his unexpected windfall and visits the general store.
He picks up 2 covered lanterns, 4 bottles of oil, 2 waterproof sacks, a 50' long silk rope, and a backpack to put it all in.
Then he heads for the Foundry to meet up with the rest of the crew.