Action 1:
Malka looked at Seven with concern. "Are you sure you want to come with me? I know how much you hate enclosed spaces."
tag Seven
Action 2:
It seemed odd to Malka that the healers in Torch were unable to determine what was continuing to make Khonnir Baine sick.
She requested permission to take another look at Councilman Baine to see if there were any clues as to what was plaguing him. Since Val was desperate for any help in diagnosing her dad, she gladly ushered Malka in to examine her father.
The first thing Malka noticed was that the red lines initially spreading out from Khonnir's veins had turned greyish in color. As she studied his arm, she could see movement under his skin. When she rejoined the others she said, "I think the disease affecting Councilman Baine is not natural. Seeing the greyish color and movement under his skin makes me think that there are tiny robots causing damage to his body by traveling through his blood." Seeing some of the doubtful looks she added, "Imagine the larger automatons we have been fighting but they have been shrunk to such a small size that they fit inside the body."
tag everyone
A frown creased Malka's forehead. "However, knowing what is wrong does not help us in knowing how to treat him. If this is not a normal disease then the regular treatments will not work. Maybe there is something in the ship we were exploring that can help him."
Action 3:
Malka looked around the items that Sanvil Trett had to see if there was anything of interest but her mind keep drifting back to the coupling. As soon as they were finished with their trek to Market Square she went to the forge. Rounding up Jeyne and Zaken she said, "I am going to use the forge to try to repair that coupling. If either of you are interested in joining me, feel free."
tag Jeyne and Zaken
It proved to be challenging for Malka in fixing the coupling but she was able to create the proper piece to replace what was missing from it. In the end, her hair was plastered to her forehead from the heat and there was soot smeared on her face but her smile told the others that she had managed to repair the coupling.
@Camrad: I think you are the only left to level up...
@Malka: the coupling was repaired succesfully.
Your heal check tells you that you need really strong magic to heal Khonnin or some sort of technological remedy to counteract the technological disease.
Questions?
Game on!
The first thing Malka noticed was that the red lines initially spreading out from Khonnir's veins had turned greyish in color. As she studied his arm, she could see movement under his skin. When she rejoined the others she said, "I think the disease affecting Councilman Baine is not natural. Seeing the greyish color and movement under his skin makes me think that there are tiny robots causing damage to his body by traveling through his blood." Seeing some of the doubtful looks she added, "Imagine the larger automatons we have been fighting but they have been shrunk to such a small size that they fit inside the body."
"Nanites, they would be called, Jeyne responded quietly. She was intimately familiar with the subject - they were running through her own conduits, after all. She wasn't certain how she hadn't recognized the symptoms in the first place. "They work to ferry nutrients throughout a body, perform repairs and healing - or at least, they do in my body. It is the principle by which the hemochem Malka gave to Seven works. But as to why they would operate so differently in Khonnir's body, I cannot say."
Rounding up Jeyne and Zaken she said, "I am going to use the forge to try to repair that coupling. If either of you are interested in joining me, feel free."
"I...would prefer to stay with Khonnir." After all, if things began to take a turn for the worse, Jeyne's presence could be beneficial to Val. And Khonnir had made a significant impact on Jeyne's life, one that she was only now beginning to understand...perhaps this is something like what Val means by "love". Acknowledgement that, should someone depart, things would be...different. Diminished.
And so she stayed at the Foundry, only leaving to fetch some cheese and sliced fruit when Val's stomach began to rumble, or to fetch Khonnir's journal when his mind had sufficiently recovered to begin taking down notes of what he had seen. Though the notes were still shaky and disjointed, nearly impossible to decipher, Jeyne urged him to keep at it. "It will help...Father."
It proved to be challenging for Malka in fixing the coupling but she was able to create the proper piece to replace what was missing from it. In the end, her hair was plastered to her forehead from the heat and there was soot smeared on her face but her smile told the others that she had managed to repair the coupling.
"Excellent," Jeyne replied when she heard of the repaired coupling. "Perhaps now that will be the key to unlocking more of the vessel's secrets."
Val was distraught. "What are we gonna do?"
"We will do as he has taught us," Jeyne replied simply, nodding to Khonnir. "We shall care for him, as he cared for us. We shall keep things as normal as we can for him, and see that he gets what he needs. And I..." She had not yet told Val of her intentions, and there seemed no better time. "...I will get to the bottom of this. I intend to return to where we found Father, with as many of the others as are willing to accompany me. It is the only way we will get answers."
So just to make the timeline clear:
MORNING: discover Khonnir has worsened, determine the cause of his disease
MID-MORNING: visit market place, buy/sell/trade/talk to Sanvil
LATER THAT DAY: Malka repairs the coupling, which takes 8 hours to do and takes us to roughly 8:00 pm that day. So everyone has the afternoon and evening to do 'other stuff', if desired. Or you could just watch/help Malka.
I'll pick up the action later that night then.
Questions?
Game on!
[dice=Knowledge (engineering), guidance]1d20+11+1
I'll let you shave off 2 hours so the repairs are completed by 6:00 pm.
Seven sat crouched low near the ground, his fingers tracing pictures in the soot. Silently, he watched Malka's sillhouette as she worked diligently over the fires. Her dark hair was matted to her skin, her skin slick with sweat. It reminded him of the days following their escape, when she had led them through unknown, outside places. It was good she was there. He would not have known where to go or what to do.
Malka was always working to help someone, he realized as he drew. Himself, Val, Counsel Mintbane. He was only one in a series. After this was done, maybe she'd help someone else.
She was real important to him, but was he important to her?
Why would he be? He wasn't smart they way she was, the way Zaken and the Jeyne just knew stuff about how things went together. He wasn't handsome like Camrad. He didn't even know how to use the forge the way Tolgy and Malka did.
His fingers continued to draw on their own, his mind adrift in thought.
Yep, he figured he needed to start being useful. Maybe this underground place was a good start. If they could get the purple fire going again, it seemed everyone'd be real happy.
He stood up, took one last look at Malka as she worked over the metal, then strode out into the early evening. The stars were beginning to show up, and he always like to tell them hello.
On the floor, Seven's drawing spread across the room. It was a series of pictures depicting their mad flight from Silver Mount together. In the last picture, two figures stood beneath a raiment of stars. Their hands were locked together.
Not a problem. I hope things get better soon.
BTW: I'm letting this turn run for another day or until you guys make up your mind regarding what to do next.
“So I understand you came upon some interesting items. I am here to help. I am an expert in anything technological related. I can identify them for you or take them off your hands. I can also trade. You can see I have an ample stock of items. So, what’s it going be?”
"I believe we have managed to identify most of these without issue - Zaken and Malka are well-versed in technological subjects, and I have some skill as well. We have found that some of our discoveries were quite unsuited to our needs, though." She withdrew the remainder of their findings from the canvas sack she had used to carry them.
"This suit of armor was intriguing - see how it shifts in color to match its surroundings?" To demonstrate, she set it on the counter and ran a hand over the subtle interface on the suit's front; instantly it began to shift to a faded beige, and within moments the resemblance to the pale planks of the countertop was remarkable. "But none of us is much given over to subterfuge, and it lacks the protection heavier armor would give.
I have this as well." She takes out the flashlight and sets it atop the neraplast suit. "A mobile light source, easily carried and quite bright, according to Zaken. A sale is acceptable, but if you are open to some sort of barter, that would suit us as well. Perhaps if you have some other sort of armor that would prove more suitable to a more direct approach to exploration?"
Seven entered the Foundry to see the Jeyne talking to Val.
I intend to return to where we found Father, with as many of the others as are willing to accompany me. It is the only way we will get answers."
"I'll go, too," he said, determined to be useful.
Zaken nodded at Malka's comments. "I also intend to continue our exploration... LEEK has many more functions and dormant systems still inoperable that I do not fully understand and any knowledge down there could be important... oh, and, after all, you'll need someone who knows about engineering, right?" Zaken smiled and winked at Malka.
Zaken listened as Malka talked about the bad nanites in Mr. Baine's body. Humm... this changes everything... I wonder if mom's antiplagues could be useful in this case... even if we can at least slow it down might be of some help...
Seeing that Jeyne was already staying with Mr. Baine and Val, Zaken decided to help her with the coupling. "Sure, why not, Malka..." As Zaken helped Malka, he actually appreciated this thing of 'working in group'... he knew that he would have been able to fix the coupling without Malka's aid, as he knew she would also have been, but it would take a significant larger amount of time. From time to time, he watched Seven in the distance, observing them... no, just Malka. When they finished and were leaving, Zaken noticed Seven's drawings. Oh boy... this is tricky... perhaps I'll need to talk to them before something goes terribly wrong but for now it would be better just to watch...
So... it looks like you'll be doing various things during the day.
The coupling is finished at 6:00 pm.
I will have you all spend another evening/night above ground before going back under the next day (in the morning) unless I hear otherwise.
I intend to recap later today.
Questions?
Game on!
Action 3:
Zaken had decided to join Malka to help to fix the coupling. For the most part they worked well together. There were a few tense moments involving a difference of opinion but in the end, they managed to get it done quicker than Malka had been expecting.
Malka had thought Seven had come to the forge to watch her work as he sometimes did; however when she looked for him to proudly show him the fixed coupling, he wasn’t there. She felt disappointed when she realized that he wasn’t there. "We need to find the others and show them that it is fixed." In her excitement to share the news about the fixed coupling, Malka didn't wait for Zaken and quickly exited the forge to find the others at the Foundry – completely oblivious to the presence of Seven’s drawings.
Action 1:
Zaken nodded at Malka's comments. "I also intend to continue our exploration... LEEK has many more functions and dormant systems still inoperable that I do not fully understand and any knowledge down there could be important... oh, and, after all, you'll need someone who knows about engineering, right?" Zaken smiled and winked at Malka.
Malka didn't respond to Zaken's comment but rather just rolled her eyes.
"This suit of armor was intriguing - see how it shifts in color to match its surroundings?" To demonstrate, she set it on the counter and ran a hand over the subtle interface on the suit's front; instantly it began to shift to a faded beige, and within moments the resemblance to the pale planks of the countertop was remarkable. "But none of us is much given over to subterfuge, and it lacks the protection heavier armor would give.
I have this as well." She takes out the flashlight and sets it atop the neraplast suit. "A mobile light source, easily carried and quite bright, according to Zaken. A sale is acceptable, but if you are open to some sort of barter, that would suit us as well. Perhaps if you have some other sort of armor that would prove more suitable to a more direct approach to exploration?"
Sanvil was pleased with the offer of the suit and flashlight and agreed to purchase them. He was also very intrigued about the exploration and what else they had found. He asked questions about how dangerous the investigation was and wanted to learn everything and anything about the 'vessel under the hill', as the locals started calling it.
No recap tonight, I'll do so tomorrow.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+3-4
That is funny but relax. The market visit happens mid morning so I think there are others with you. I thought Zaken wanted to get rid of the grenades...
Turn 062 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
While eating, Zaken looked around at his companions. "So... we are going back, right? Will you join us, Camrad?"
"LEEK, quickly, scan everything!" As Zaken ordered LEEK, the construct stepped forward and a green light 'scanned' the room. After passing two times by everything, LEEK answered. "NO ITEM MISSING. MINOR DISTURBANCE DETECTED." Zaken smiled at LEEK's new feature that the discovered. "Pretty cool, right?" He then remembered of their situation. "Right... someone was tinkering with our stuff... fortunately they found nothing. I could bet that weasel-faced Sanvil has something to do with it..."
"Yep, yep." Seven stated calmly as he ate his eggs. He was still learning the intricacies of managing silverware, and his fork was gripped clumsily in his left fist. At least, he thought it was his left. He had trouble remembering which was which.
"Friends are good," Seven announced in response to Val's statement. He didn't know they'd made a new one, but who was he to question? He was as surprised as Val when the others ran into the foundry. He sighed, put his fork gently down on the plate like Val taught him, then followed the others.
He didn't know what the big deal was. The room looked as mixed up as usual.
________
success
Er... I guess no recapping tonight...
Game on!
Action 1:
Malka sat next to Seven, quietly eating. She had already stated her intent to go back underground and so she didn't feel the need to add anything to the conversation. Everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.
Action 2:
Malka was one of the first ones up from the table and she moved quickly towards the foundry. As she went, she threw some questions over her shoulder at Val. "What did this friend look like? You did not recognize him? I thought you knew most everyone in Torch."
tag Val
Once Malka got to the foundry she started looking around but not for things that were missing. Rather she searched for things that were out of place or possibly something that had been left for them to find.
Action 2:
Malka was one of the first ones up from the table and she moved quickly towards the foundry. As she went, she threw some questions over her shoulder at Val. "What did this friend look like? You did not recognize him? I thought you knew most everyone in Torch."
Val was confused, "Yeah, you know him. he's the guy that sells trinkets at the market. Even dad has dealt with him in the past. Something wrong?"
Val was confused, "Yeah, you know him. he's the guy that sells trinkets at the market. Even dad has dealt with him in the past. Something wrong?"Action 2:
Malka was one of the first ones up from the table and she moved quickly towards the foundry. As she went, she threw some questions over her shoulder at Val. "What did this friend look like? You did not recognize him? I thought you knew most everyone in Torch."
Malka answered while she searched, "I do not know if something is wrong but I do know that we did not ask anyone to track down a part for us. Why would he lie other than to gain access to the foundry?"
Jeyne arrived in the dining room shortly after Val. After the Kellid girl had departed, she had reached for Khonnir's hand, matching his fingers to her own and murmuring several lines of a strange, lilting language. She didn't know what the words meant, but some glitch of her timeworn circuits held it still, a five thousand year old prayer of benediction and warning against ill fortune. Much had changed since then, even the gods...but it was still a part of her, and so she passed it along to him.
Downstairs, she joined everyone in eating breakfast. She would have preferred the few seconds' effort of eating a goo tube to the protracted meal around the table, but she knew that Val's feelings would be hurt if she did, even if she didn't understand the sentiment. "It seems most prudent to begin where we left off, in the medical lab," she began after several moments' silence. "That is where we are likely to find the most answers to our questions, and I would like another opportunity to examine the machine we found Khonnir in, to perhaps determine its function. Then the other rooms adjacent to the lab, unless there is an alternate route others would prefer."
With Khonnir's disappearance, then his illness, Jeyne had had little chance to visit the foundry in the previous days; as such, she had little point of reference for what state it had been in prior to this morning. She turned to Malka. "You and Zaken were here yesterday; does anything seem to be missing? I did not request anything from Sanvil, and you said you did not, either. It seems, then, that he intended to deceive, and it would be best to know the purpose of his deception."
So... peeps...
What are we doing?
Two clear options here: a) go after Sanvil or b) go back down and ignore him for now.
Something else?
Let me know...
Game on!
After the others explained what was going on, Seven got even more confused. Whly'd Sanvil wanna take Val's stuff? Let's go ask.
After the others explained what was going on, Seven got even more confused. Whly'd Sanvil wanna take Val's stuff? Let's go ask.
"I concur. While Khonnir's condition is severe, the priests should be able to ameliorate his decline for some time; delay of a half-day is acceptable, in order to ensure Khonnir and Val are not further put upon or taken advantage of."
The loot has been allocated and the money shown is what is left after the sales. How you split that is up to you. Just let me know.
I'll move forward with the group seeking Sanvil unless I hear otherwise.
Questions?
Game on!
Turn 063 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
__________________
@Camrad: everything still Ok? I haven't heard from you since Sunday...
He's been in town for a few months but has come to see Torch as his home.
He's fair in his prices and provides good information on tech items. He can also acquire special items given enough time.
Action 1:
Malka couldn't believe that Sanvil was so unconcerned about what he had done. "Why did you feel the need to be in the foundry without us? If you had questions about what we have or have not been finding, why not ask us directly?"
tag Sanvil
Action 2:
Malka's eyes narrowed suspiciously as Sanvil asked his questions. "Were we supposed to share information about what we have seen? You seem to be showing an excessive interest in what we have been doing. Is there something specific that you are wanting to know about?"
tag Sanvil
Seven could tell that Malka didn't trust Sanvil, so neither did he. He stepped ahead, just a few inches, but enough to emphasize his presence.
Action 1:
Malka couldn't believe that Sanvil was so unconcerned about what he had done. "Why did you feel the need to be in the foundry without us? If you had questions about what we have or have not been finding, why not ask us directly?"
The man became instantly defensive, "I did ask you, remember? But you were so tight-lipped that I thought you were hiding something. I'm just looking out for Torch here."
Action 2:
Malka's eyes narrowed suspiciously as Sanvil asked his questions. "Were we supposed to share information about what we have seen? You seem to be showing an excessive interest in what we have been doing. Is there something specific that you are wanting to know about?"
Seeing Seven suddenly grow large in his eyes, the trader raised his hands, "Wow there, big guy. No need to get excited here." He took a step back and continued, "I just want to know about the purple fires and how to get them back. There are strange things going in town; I'm sure you know that, right? You do all know the deal the League has with Torch and it would be a shame if they don't meet the quotas..."
The man became instantly defensive, "I did ask you, remember? But you were so tight-lipped that I thought you were hiding something. I'm just looking out for Torch here."
Malka didn't understand why Sanvil got defensive since he was the one in the wrong. "Obviously it is dangerous underground. Many groups went in but only a few have come out. You do not need us to tell you that. As for what we have found, we kept what is useful to us and showed you what is not."
tag Sanvil ?
Seeing Seven suddenly grow large in his eyes, the trader raised his hands, "Wow there, big guy. No need to get excited here." He took a step back and continued, "I just want to know about the purple fires and how to get them back. There are strange things going in town; I'm sure you know that, right? You do all know the deal the League has with Torch and it would be a shame if they don't meet the quotas..."
Malka forgot how attuned Seven was to her reactions so she schooled her emotions before putting a calming hand on Seven's arm. The last thing she wanted was to be the cause of anything physical. "We were unable to find out anything about why the purple fires have gone out. That is one of the things I hope to determine when we go back. The last thing anyone wants is to draw the League's eye towards Torch." The manner in which Malka said the League's name revealed the fact that the wizard had a deep seeded hatred of them.
tag ?
"I am more than aware of what will occur should the flame not reappear - I have lived here as long as I can remember." Well, as long as my own memories continue back, anyway. "It is curious why you are so invested in Torch's well-being, however; so far as I am aware, you have been in this place only a short while. If it were to fall out of favor with the Technic League, could you not simply relocate again?" The question was not asked with malice or suspicion, but genuine curiosity; she was sincerely curious as to why this trader would be so interested in the purple flame and Torch's status with the League.
"I just want to know about the purple fires and how to get them back. There are strange things going in town; I'm sure you know that, right? You do all know the deal the League has with Torch and it would be a shame if they don't meet the quotas..."
"We have not shared what we have found because we have discovered nothing of general interest as of yet. Councilman Baine's recovery was our primary objective, but we intend to return as soon as possible to complete his mission, searching for the cause of the flame's disappearance. When we discover anything, we shall share it with all - ideally, by the flame's reappearance."
Sanvil shrugged, "Ok then, I'll trust that you also have the best interest of Torch in mind."
He turned to the android, "And yes I am fairly new here but I like it here and I aim to stay."
Before they leave he adds, "Listen I'm not sure if this is important or not but I have seen some suspicious activity in one of the old warehouse in town. I know Garmen is somehow involved and that's not a good thing. Has he reached out to you?"
Malka eyed Sanvil warily but decided that his presence in the foundry wasn't sinister. "Garmen came to see us and invited us to his place of business, but that is all. We have not talked to him since. What kind of suspicious activity are you referring to?"
tag Sanvil
Malka eyed Sanvil warily but decided that his presence in the foundry wasn't sinister. "Garmen came to see us and invited us to his place of business, but that is all. We have not talked to him since. What kind of suspicious activity are you referring to?"
"Yeah, I'd watch out with him. It's no secret that he's involved with the Ropefist Gang and it's them that I've seen go in and out of the so-called abandoned warehouse."
He rubbed his temples, "I was there last night but couldn't get too close. There's something in there that sort of... vibrates. I feel it in my head, nasty headache. At least for me and I heard other people complaining in town."
Malka eyed Sanvil warily but decided that his presence in the foundry wasn't sinister. "Garmen came to see us and invited us to his place of business, but that is all. We have not talked to him since. What kind of suspicious activity are you referring to?""Yeah, I'd watch out with him. It's no secret that he's involved with the Ropefist Gang and it's them that I've seen go in and out of the so-called abandoned warehouse."
He rubbed his temples, "I was there last night but couldn't get too close. There's something in there that sort of... vibrates. I feel it in my head, nasty headache. At least for me and I heard other people complaining in town."
The mention of a headache got Malka's attention. The occasional headache was to be expected but not so many at one time in different people unless there was an underlying cause. "I was recently plagued with a headache as well. Are you saying that whatever is in that warehouse is the source of town-wide headaches?
Tag Sanvil