The spider-like automaton takes heavy damage from the sustained beating. It's metal warps and cracks letting out sparks and chirps. It falls back on a broken leg and writhes on the ground for a moment before it stops moving.
Val peeks up from her hand at the collapsed heap, then at the warriors in the room.
Jean, Fidget, Who are these... People?
Jean looks to the others as if thinking, who are they again...? oh, right!
"All of us here are part of the next group to go under the hill of the Flame to investigate its loss and look for Professor Baine as well." says Jean. She approaches Val and slowly puts an arm around her for comfort. "It looks like you didn't know. Are you OK?"
Askra is none surprised that Baine's brat doesn't recognise her.
Why would she? Only lived hereabouts ALL my life. She's probably a freaking vegetarian.
Ask takes a further moment to wrench her greatsword out of the window frame (again) making sure the wall is still structurally sound. She squats down to examine the metal monster, passing a javelin tip amongst the wreckage in an attempt to see if it might spit out any large gems or other treasure.
Monsters sometimes have treasure. Everybody knows that.
Somewhat chagrinned at having performed so inadequately Ask tries to hide her shame through bluster. Still squatting on her haunches, Ask turns to ask Val a question.
"What IS this thing. Why was it... monstering you?"
Fijit examines the contraption to determine it's purpose.
As the automaton collapses into a heap, Relas reaches out and cautiously bats at it with a paw. "Definitely dangerous; it's a good thing we got here when we did!"
He then turns his attention to Val. "Don't worry, we'll get your father back! Palo and I make a good team and everyone else seems very strong too."
Val looks up at Jean, then back at Jean’s arm on her shoulder, then back up at Jean.
>"Yeah, Thanks."
Val then looks over to the window then down at Askra. She throws up a hand in disbelief at the smashed window.
"Gee I don’t know Askra. Why don’t you wake it up and ask it." She says sarcastically.
Askra finds no shinys.
Val reaches for the wrench looking tool to her side, subtly shaking off Jean. With a quick flick of her wrist she catches the cable that ensnares her and snaps it. She looks up at Kaad, for a moment, then down to Relas.
"Relas and Paloma is it?" She nods a slight bow at Relas. "Always a pleasure to meet such a being, Relas. Yes, thank you for help."
She looks up at Nashara.
"I had it sorted." She says, gripping her wrench-tool. She looks down at Nashara’s greatsword. "But thanks."
Val stands up and dusts herself off.
"So it’s official then. Khonnir is missing?" She says looking at the back of Fidget’s head as she examines the automaton. "THANKS FOR THE UPDATE."
"Anyway, I’m coming with you."
Wouldn't you rather stay here and work on your gadgets?
Jean promptly lets go of Val and watches her intently.
Great, she's already back to cold herself. Typical...
"I think we're already a very capable party to cover the search, unless you know something that we don't?" asks Jean who's now scanning the room, looking for anything amiss from what she knows of Professor Baine and Val.
Perhaps there's a clue to Professor Baine's disappearance here...
Relas looks at Val, slightly tilting his head to one side in an almost quizzical manner. "You're welcome. I didn't get all of the details but it seems like a few of you know each other already. I think I understand why you would want to go with us but like Palo said, it probably won't be easy. Especially with tensions running high," he says, with a bit of added emphasis on the last sentence.
Kaad also scans the room for interesting objects like the automaton, objects that leave him completely astonished.
Askra's eyes widen momentarily as the big cat-thing talks. She nods at Relas' estimation, hiding her sense of wonder at the black creature's paws and intelligence.
A moment's flicker of resentment passes across the Kellid girl's unusually pale face. She flicks her pale hair self consciously while considering Val.
"I thought maybe you and your old man were the "waking up bad news best left sleeping" type. By all means join our crew Val. Maybe you'll lose your sense of entitlement or find some grace. Oh, and sorry about the window." Askra smiles sickly sweet for Val's benefit, sarcasm dripping from her words. It is obvious there is little love lost between these two.
Having childishly insulted Baine's daughter, Askra throws a shattered component on the wreckage pile disinterestedly and rises from her haunches. She introduces herself to the newcomers openly and honestly.
"Name's Askra. Former pig-farmer and local. Just ask Val."
To Relas, Nashara, Fijit, Jean, Kaad and Palomia, Askra offers a firm handclasp and looks each new ally straight in the eyes.
"Some kinda worker bot, not a combat model. Repair and the like. Wonder what it was doin' down there..." Fijit says aloud to nobody in particular. She reaches up to Askra to shake her hand, and returns the stare, some kind of Kellid greeting perhaps?
"Fijit Cogwheel Doohickey, Cleric of Brigh, part-time babysitter and general salvage retriever."
For those looking, the room has several pieces of rather mundane alien artifacts, if you're from Numeria, you're used to seeing these sorts of items. Nothing really catches the eye other than the automaton, and Val's tool.
"No I wouldn't rather wait here. Khonnir came back with this automaton a few days ago after going under the hill. There might be tougher machines down there, and sure it might be dangerous, but I'm sure the six of you can handle it. So long as the 7th, Askra, keeps her hand-me-down broomstick from distracting you. What's the matter with you anyway? This town too big for two Kellid orphans so you had to wreck my storeroom?"
"Anyway, the Tavern won't be open until we get Khonnir back, and since some of you are from out of town why don't we make that our base? You can sleep there. And there's plenty of food for everyone. Askra, stay out of the ale. I've set up bedrolls and set out water from the well in there. I... had a feeling that Dolga would send an adventuring group my way so I prepared.
Val looks down at the decimated automaton.
"I've never seen one actually alive like that before. I didn't really mean for it to get kil-destroyed like that... Anyway my name is Val. Formerly of Starfall. I study Numerian artifacts with Khonnir.
Image of Val Baine.
"Really? I thought that working with your father would have made you more careful when tinkering already. I presume your father brought it here inanimate, so how come it started moving just now?" Jean wonders out aloud, scratching her brown tinged hair.
She takes a second, closer look at the automaton. Looking for a power source, obvious weaknesses, or an answer to my question to Val.
She has some points though, but...
Jean turns to the others and asks, "What time did Dolga say we're going to head out?"
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Dark Mother look at all of this stuff! The teamsters on the road said they'd been making some fantastic discoveries in this part of the world but I had no idea...no idea. Dark mother guide my steps on uncertain grounds. I am your vessel, your pottery, and your sword of war. Amen.
The large brown skinned woman seems to have regained some measure of composure after the encounter with the automaton. She addresses Val Baine a bit softer, but you notice her eyes shift to the pile of bits that used to be the automaton every few seconds, seemingly to reassure herself whatever it was wouldn't be springing back to life or anything of that sort. It's pretty easy to read on her face that a lot of what she's seen in this room is completely alien to her.
"If you insist on coming I'll officially advise against it. If you're set on it however then I do ask that you remain within our sight at all times. For your protection as well as everyone else's here. Can we agree upon that? From the sounds of it people are disappearing in there and there is safety in numbers."
"I don't know Jean, I was tinkering with it. I tried opening it and it freaked out.
Yes, Nashara, I'll follow closely behind the group, I promise.
Paloma, there's nothing too specific that we focus on. He's just been working on teaching me how some of these objects work and what their uses might have been. When the flame went out we focused completely on getting it back on. He knows that everyone here is going to suffer without it. Dolga advised against it, but Khonnir knows he's one of the only people in town that might be able to figure it out. If the risk is worth it to him, then it's worth it to me."
Val turns to Jean.
"In my position, I think Jean would do the same."
Best to move forward to find Khonnir as soon as possible. Who knows how many of these things are there...
With a deliberate sigh, Jean says to Val "Yeah, you're probably right. The air feels like it's charged here in Torch since I arrived. I hope it's not related to this though... Anyway, if you're coming along, would you mind leading us to the Tavern, Val? We'll keep an eye out from the rear, right guys? -err guys?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Askra outwardly ignores Val's jibe and saunters off with the others to the Tavern.
Inwardly the nascent warrioress seethes.
I'll give you a hand-me-down broom. Somewhere you won't want it. Some Kellid you are!
"It'll be just like old times, Val. Remember when you were four and I left you by that giant centipede nest?" Fijit laughs and hurries to keep up with the others.
"See Palo? Dolga wasn't kidding about the town losing its livelihood with the flame going out. It's a good thing we decided to come here after all," Relas says cheerfully as they head to the Tavern.
"Well, there was this very interesting shiny doo-dad poking out of the side of a cliff, and I didn't want to climb up there carrying little Val too, so I left her in the shade and about halfways up she starts SCREAMING..."
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The large dusky woman laughs deep, from the belly. "Centipedes eh? Ferocious beasts!". Wiping a laughter-tear from the corner of her eye she looks around at all of her current company.
"I'm not exactly sure what that was back there but it certainly wasn't a centipede. I've noticed quite a few strange contraptions since my traveling party arrived here in Torch. It may take some getting used to, especially if some of them are attacking people." she seems like she's about to say more before cutting herself short and looking around at the surroundings once more, her face twisted in thought.
I must seem so backwoods to these people, but they seem....genuine. I trust your path for me Dark Mother, in this and in all things.
Nashara reaches into her pocket and withdraws a small carved trinket made of wood. It appears to be a tiny shepherd's crook, hand carved with some skill. She places symbolic item to her lips and kisses it briefly before returning it to the pouch it came from.
"I wasn't four I was ten, and they weren't centipedes they were spiders." Val calls back as she leads the group to the tavern.
The tavern has lots of personality with strange metal devices hanging from the ceiling as though in mid flight. The stools are made of large cogs and the tables look like the large inner workings of a clockwork time keeper. Different metals line the alloy bar. Val pulls a heavy lever and with a low buzz artificial illumination lights the Foundry Tavern.
"If by strange you mean wonderful and full of life, then yes, Numeria does have quite a few strange contraptions Nashara. Anyway It probably meant no harm. Please make yourself at home here. The bedrolls are in the corner and food is over behind the bar. Relas, I'm sorry but I don't know what to feed you. Do you need a bedroll as well? If you don't mind, I'd like to lead us to the Black Hill Caverns as soon as possible."
Val picks up a travel-bag from a bar stool and a pair of intricate metal goggles from the bar and pushes over her forehead. She pushes a small button on her wrench-tool and a dim blue light flickers, its ice-pick like appearance folds into a neat and smooth scepter.
"Ready to save Torch?"
"I was born ready." Ask sets down her meagre possessions and sits cross-legged on the proffered pallet, preparing to rest for as long as she is able before they set off.
She can hear her grandfather's words in her mind as she grasps the disc-shaped pendant made out of strange metal at her throat:
Always take your rests where you can Askra. You never know when you'll have to go without later.
If only she could recall her mother's face, or father's embrace.
"Let's get going then!" says Jean, a mixture of intense curiosity and worry occupies her emotional being.
"I could've sword it was centipedes. Maybe I'm getting it mixed up with the time we were chased by the stirges..." Fijit brightens as the tavern comes to life. "Brigh's gears I've missed this place."
"Stirges? We heard a story once that had stirges and ghosts and werewolves and all kinds of strange things in it. Wish I could remember how it went..."
I require food though, so let's go.
Val leads the group from Khonnir’s Foundry, Home, and Tavern complex. You travel parallel to the dusty city of Torch and hear the metal workers toil over hot fires and heavy iron. Down the side of black hill winds a path past sharp rocks and uneven gravel. Scarce vegetation begins to appear as you approach one of the town’s small natural reservoirs. Down by the shore Val directs the party to swim through the water for a bit while sticking to the cliffside. Eventually you find a rather hidden cove with a cavern entrance. Your feet find solid ground in the dark cave just as the light lowers. Here at the cavern entrance, to your right you can just make out a large hole 5' high that goes into the darkness, and dead ahead is a dimly lit narrow passage with more water to wade through.
”Here it is. I’m not sure which way Khonnir went though. I’ll follow behind whichever way you choose, so long as someone has a light.”
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Nashara utters a few magical words and her drawn great sword begins to emit light.
Looking to the right and then forward towards the water the large warrior woman looks perplexed. "In my travels I've heard a few old adventurer's saying 'Right is never wrong.'. Shall we?" she says, indicating her preference to go through the hole to the right.
The hole in the stone wall to the right is 5' off the ground, Nashara easily peers into it with her beaming sword. She sees stalactites, and a low hanging ceiling with darkness beyond her light. Moisture hangs in the air and clings to the the stone walls. A foul smell comes from all around the cavern entrance. Nashara notices patches of burnt moss around the entrance as well.
Jean looks up and the hole Nashara is looking into "Phew! Smells like the bad stuff from Weeping Lake seeped in there..."
Hmm... It's too high for me. Perhaps I can make a stool? No- that requires much more wood than I can manage.
Turning to the tiefling near her, she points to the hole and asks "Can you help me get up there, err... Mr. Kaad?"
My pleasure. Kaad responds to Jean's request for help up to the hole. Slightly put off by the smell, Kaad struggles to remember where he has smelled that smell before.
Askra nods along with Jean's summation.
"It sure does smell like the Lake. But worse, no?"
Ask grunts and scrabbles but makes no traction trying to climb up and over into the hole, hampered by her cumbersome hide armor and heavy greatsword. Much swearing and cursing accompanies her lack of success.
[+2 Str, -3 ACP]
Small frame and giant backpack notwithstanding. Fijit rubs her hands together and prepares to attempt the wall. A small calculation to Brigh first .
"Ouch".