Jolga nods to Ton. "I've only been here a short while myself. Mara brought me here yesterday. I haven't acquired any starmetal yet but have found this place rather inhospitable. But the stars do not mislead me. I will find a piece of them here."
He looks at Garfaulk somewhat quizzically then turns to Ton politely. "Would you prefer that I call you Shady?"
He nods at Garfaulk's weapon and what he achieved with it. "Indeed. I noticed the powerful effects of your magic and weaponry acting independently. They were certainly sufficient." His eyes grow wide when Garfaulk flashes the bauble. "Oh my... That is certainly impressive. May I look at it more closely, Mr. Slag?" After the handshake, Jolga places his hands behind his back and leans forward to get as close of a look as Garfaulk will allow.
Jolga nods to Ton. "I've only been here a short while myself. Mara brought me here yesterday. I haven't acquired any starmetal yet but have found this place rather inhospitable. But the stars do not mislead me. I will find a piece of them here."
[dice=Sense motive]1d20+14
He looks at Garfaulk somewhat quizzically then turns to Ton politely. "Would you prefer that I call you Shady?"
He nods at Garfaulk's weapon and what he achieved with it. "Indeed. I noticed the powerful effects of your magic and weaponry acting independently. They were certainly sufficient." His eyes grow wide when Garfaulk flashes the bauble. "Oh my... That is certainly impressive. May I look at it more closely, Mr. Slag?" After the handshake, Jolga places his hands behind his back and leans forward to get as close of a look as Garfaulk will allow.
"Makes no difference to me. We said we'd use sydonymns for a while but I figure sooner or later we want people to know who we are. We're here for the Lords of Rust. Got some unfinished business there."
"Listen, it looks like you're as much of an outsider as us. From what we've heard if you haven't got a gang in this place then you're as good as dead. Figure that's true enough from what I seen happen to you so far. Well, we're not much for gangs, but we got a good thing going here. You're welcome to join up with us if you want, safety in numbers and all that."
"If you do though, it ain't going to be all that safe, just so you know."
Jolga ponders Ton's words. "An interesting offer." The scorpion then floats up out of the pocket, glowing lightly, and floats over Ton's head for a few seconds before returning to the pocket. Jolga nods. "Indeed. The stars lead me to join you. I do not fear danger as long as I follow the heavens. And from what I've learned so far about these Lords of Rust, some danger may be needed."
The dwarf nods slowly, holding out his weapon for Jolga to examine, though had his other hand under his jacket, ready to draw if need be. He gave Ton an odd look, surprised-he figured they would help him and he'd be on his way, though was more thrown off by Ton being the one to make the offer. Still, he found the old man intriguing to say the least, and upon hearing the words "some danger may be needed" he was hooked. Grinning, he reached up and clasped a hand on his shoulder. "heh. I like this fella. Welcome! " he said with a warm smile, slapping him in the back
Wulf watches as the scorpion floats about. "Um..." He points at it. "First thing, what is that? and if you're going to help us here. Try to not hit me with anymore messed up magic." He laughs. "But you seem capable and we could really use someone like you."
Sammy searches the orcs.
The orcs do not have anything of note: hide armor, falchions, and a couple of javelins each.
Zeke looks startled by Ton's offer to the old man, but he thinks a bit more and his expression settles down. Making allies wherever they could was a good plan, but maybe the grizzled old elf had taken the android's departure from their company harder than he had seemed. It was strange that he had made potions that seemed to be intended for them. But, maybe Groetus had sent the old man visions on their behalf. Regardless, he seemed useful and friendly, and Zeke thought he would be glad of some new company in any case.
"Mr T-- uh, Mr. Shady, that is-- he does something very different from me with his gun. I can't figure out how he does it. Me, I just use magic to make bullets, and the gun fires them for me. But him, well, by damnation, it seems like he casts his magic and shoots his gun at the same time. They sort of fire together. I don't know, Mr. Jolga, maybe that makes sense to you. I'm afraid I'll always be a dabbler compared to him." He sighs.
"Don't beat yourself up, Reverand. I got about a hundred years on you don't forget. My dad was a scientist - an alchemist. Used to spend hours locked in his study tinkering with some formula or another. The ability to balance a magical equation and to block out the noise, just focus ya know, those were the only things I ever got from him." he lights a cigarette and blows out smoke while he checks on the slice from the orc's falchion. "Well, and his disappointment I guess."
"But the thing he never understood is that scientific magic is more art than science. Not a lot of people get that. My book is full of all kinds of crap you probably wouldn't understand, but I'm starting to feel the connection between the tech and magic. Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if they are all that different at all."
Jolga shakes his head slowly in response to Reverend Night's statement. "No I do not understand it, merely its significance." He listens intently as Ton explains the history of his trade and nods slowly, considering the many ways there are to connect to the magical and use its power.
He turns back to the orcs and their weapons. "If you will allow me, I will honor these in the way." He begins piling their weapons and armor neatly next to a heap of trash. Then he gathers whatever flammable scraps he can find and painstakingly dragging the orc corpses on top of the flammable materials. "To leave their strength to the dust would dishonor them. As if saying they were not worth remembering as foes."
"Hey, crazy man. That gear could be useful for trade. Why are you dead set on honoring your captors? You're welcome to join us, but I don't know you."
Sam takes time to pull off all the gear he wants before Jolga starts conducting his strange rites...
Jolga nods to Sam "Yes, please take it. It would honor their strength far more to use it than to simply leave it here in a pile. I was simply doing my best to organize the pile." He then ties a string around a few sticks and attempts to light the pyre with the orc bodies.
At first the fresh bodies do not burn very quickly but Jolga adds a few plants from his pack and the flames leap up. Soon, the fire goes out leaving nothing but ash behind. Jolga scoops ash into a jar in his pack until he can't fit any more then straightens up and dusts himself off. "Thank you. That is much better. Shall we proceed?"
"Can't carry it all, obviously, but maybe the weapons? Must be worth something to someone."
Wulf frowns as Jolga goes about his business. "Look I'm happy your with us, I'll never turn down some help and as I said you seem pretty capable. I just hope you don't plan on doing this for everyone we put down. Those old ways died hard with me." He smiles, thinking about performing burial rites on everyone they kill and just how much time it would add to their day.
He then looks over to Ton and Zeke. "Look you two can fanny about over your guns and magic later we have things to get to, and a bird mans wings to break." He moves over to Sam. "I don't know if anything of this is worth taking... I didn't think I'd ever say that but it's almost not worth the time and effort. Man, I've gotten lazy with the gold we got." He sticks around and is happy to pick up whatever Sam wants to take.
Jolga nods to Wulf. "I understand. 'There is no dishonor when the need is great.' When we are in a great rush, I will leave the bodies where they fall when I must." He looks to his new traveling companions "Shall we move on? I was planning to head north into the city looking for starmetal but will acquiesce to the group should the decision be different."
"Movin on it is then!" The dwarf slung his weapon over his shoulder once more, then looked to Jolga with a nod. "Now so ya know, we're here fer a few reasons like Shady said before, especially dealin with the Lords O Rust" He made sure to drop his voice to hushed tones as he mentioned them not trusting what few people they saw as they traveled. "But of course we're tryin ter make sure we can be round this place long enough to get the deed done. Part o tha is dealing with a man named Birdfood. He's supposedly in charge of a bunch of bad folk in town, and if we take em out, we'll be top dogs and, with any luck, mean we don't have to worry bout fellas like them. Up fer sumthin like tha?
Jolga nods. ”Indeed that sounds like the right path. ‘The flock thrives when the sick animals are removed.’”
The Heroes of Torch and Jolga proceed north through the maze of piled rust junk and debris.
The sun is just starting to set when you think you have come across the place that Sevroth Slaid marked on your map.
Ahead, there is a complex of sorts built into the interior of the Scrapwall. From where you are standing, hidden behind some scrap, you can make out a ramp that is guarded by two gnolls with spears. Some fifty feet past the ramp and thirty feet up, there is a series of walkways built into the Scrapwall that lead to various doors. You can't get a sense for how big the complex is from this point... You can see it is multi-leveled, but the exact layout is unknown to you.
Unsure how this group likes to proceed, Jolga casts heightened awareness on himself and guidance on Garfaulk then waits quietly on the fringe of the party.
Zeke pulls out a couple of scrolls and also casts two spells on himself.
Wulf looks up and down the large structure, setting his eyes on the guards. "Look, I'd like to get up there and just take this birdperson out. But looking at those two dogmen, I'm not sure it's going to be so easy. But maybe we should let one of our gifted talkers to go see if we can get a meeting with the birdman." He says scratching at his beard.
"Aye, good thinkin Hammer. Definitely ought to chck em out. Though I think it won't be as tough as ya think. I mean, it's a tad dangerous, but we could go in askin fer employment. Ya know, tryin ter find our way in this crazy place. We took out a hefty summa orcs, I'm thinkin word travels fast round here. We go in, see if we can get him to come to us, meet em, then if we dont like em, make him specifically food fer vultures. Or, we find out the lass we're workin fer is no good, and maybe we help him out a bit. Tha way our chips aren't all on one griffin, ya know?" The dwarf looked to the others, curious about their thoughts on his plan, if it would work, and he looked especially for Jolga's reaction to the plan, seeing if the old man was up for his level of antics.
"Makes sense." Ton agrees. "They'll see through me in a second though. I can keep you covered from some distance though... errrr... I can't keep up with these names.... ummm 'Beardy.' I've been itchin' to try out this laser sight old Baine gave me." he taps the pistol at his hip.
He snaps his fingers.
Slag! That's it! Yeah, I can keep you covered Slag.
Jolga looks back and forth between Shady Ton and Beardy Slag, a bit confused on the names. "This sounds wise, to speak to the man before killing him. Heavens know what kind of man he is. Perhaps he can reward us with starmetal or stories if the heavens. But if you decide he is too dangerous and destructive, I will aid you. I owe you a life debt."
"He's a smiler. Met one? Total psychos. Cannibals. The job is we put him down, that's all there is to it."
The party, lead by Garfaulk in the front, approach the front gates. Weapons sheathed, you try to appear less intimidating, but your armor and bearing betray your expertise. You stop 20 feet in front of the front ramp.
The two gnolls straighten up and growl as you approach. "Grrrr.... What do you want with the Steelhawks, adventurers? Birdfood rules this roost and all strangers are turned away or killed. Which it is... is up to you."
"Psychos? Cannibals? I do not know these words. Our dialects must differ."
Knowing what the plan is and wanting to prove his usefulness, Jolga steps forward. "Sirs, we are not requesting entry. We merely want to speak with your leader, Birdfood. We may be able to reach a very useful agreement with him, should the Heavens prove willing. If agreeable, we will wait here to meet him. 'The wise man sees both paths before walking.'"
They blink at you stupidly. No one has actually wanted to talk to Birdfood before.
"Grrrr.... Uh.... I go check."
One of the gnolls goes running off.
The other gnoll glances around nervously as he waits for his friend to get back. "Grrr.... So... nice weather for spring?"
Zeke tries to follow Garfaulk's plan, but is also curious what gnolls have to say when they are not attacking villagers. "Yeah, let's hope it stays like this. Hey, how's Birdfood as a boss? He treat y'all well?"
He glances around nervously. "Grrrr... Oh yeah.... the best. Lots of killing. Lots of...grrrr... fun times. How... about...grrrr... you? You like following short stubby dwarf?"
While the others distract the gnolls with idle conversation, Ton examines them for weapons, armour, signs of weakness and any back up that might come running if the fighting starts.
"Don't worry about it Jolga, just know these men arnt ones you want to sit down for some food with." He shudders thinking back to the fort.
--
Wulf steps forward, looking the Gnoll up and down. "The dwarf is nice, he keeps my weapon nice and shiny." Wulf then takes out his weapon to show the Gnoll. "What's it like being in the Steelhawks? I think I might want to join up, I don't think I've ever met a dogman before it would be interesting to work with you."
"Dogman".... Ton shudders inwardly.
"DOGMAN? Grrrr...." Wulf's racist comment has the gnoll starting to raise its spear in attack position when the other gnoll returns, saving the situation for a brief moment.
The newly returned gnoll says, "Lord Birdfood says that he will deign to speak to you. You may come with me. He shall not come down to the front door... He told me to say, 'When the Hells freezes over.'
Ton doesn't notice anyone beside the two gnolls holding spears at this point. The complex is ...complex though. There are twists and turns, ups and downs, and anything could be hidden there.
Jolga nods respectfully to the gnoll. "He seems a worthy leader. I am curious if your people have any legends of the stars which I have not heard before. Any tales or stories popular among your kin?"
"Yes. Many, old man....Grrrr... Perhaps if Birdfood likes you, we tell you. Now... you coming?"
Jolga nods. "A fine offer. I look forward to hearing your tales."
Jolga turns to the others, eyebrows raised, ready to follow their lead.
In response to the gnoll's query, Zeke clamps his mouth shut and looks fearfully over at Garfaulk and Ton, before looking back at the gnoll with an apologetic shrug. He seems unwilling to say anything else on the subject. He winces when Wulf inadvertently insults the creature, and looks relieved when the other one returns to usher them in. He follows them with another silent shrug to the first gnoll.
"Grrrrr.... Oh. Oh. Grrrrr. I forgot. Birdfood would have been so mad. You must leave all weapons here in a pile. Right there... yes yes... Grrr.. Drop them all."