Keldor moves forward and tries to offer a solution to opening the device as quickly as possible...
"Try...turning that knob clockwise till the light flashes...and then pulling that lever...NO the other lever...quickly now...spin that dial till it goes from red to green..."
Keldor begins silently praying to Erastil that they are not too late!
Quickly following any directions Keldor tells him, Harg tries to open up this thing as quickly as possible.
"Who is it?"
Harg preses his rough half-orc face against the glass, but can't see past the murky liquid. Keldor moves in and assesses the containment unit. It is a complex piece of machinery, but the familiar signs of a card reader pad indicate that a black or white colored card could open the unit. Otherwise, force or a particularly nimble manipulation of the device could trip the unlock mechanism.
Keldor finally has an idea...and snaps his fingers making a metallic click-ringing noise that is almost painful to hear.
"A card! Do we have a Black or White card? There! That slot!"
As the card is inserted into the panel, the containment tube shudders and then opens, spilling a mass of goopy gel-like fluid and a man onto the floor. It may be tears on his face, its hard to tell with the fluid, but this is undoubtedly Khonnir Baine. His legs appear to be maimed, and he lays on the ground panting, flinching back every time any of you make a motion to reach out to him.
Keldor moves toward the disoriented man, dismissing his Eidolon in order to keep him from panicking...
"Khonnir! Please...your daughter is worried sick! You're going to be OK!"
Kell attempted to assess whether this being is what he appeared to be.
Standing back, not knowing this man very well. Harg trys to get a good look at whatever is ailing him.
"Easy there, Mr. Baine. We're here to help." Dirissa's face shows true concern to the poor man sputtering on the ground.
Khonnir seems to slow his breathing, becoming less panicked, but as he tries to speak, he can't seem to form words. You can see his brow furrow in concentration, but nothing but moaning sounds and noises come out of his mouth. He tries to stand, but his legs can't support themselves.
Harg, the masses of goo are too in the way that you can't get a good assessment of his situation other than his legs seem unusable currently.
Kell will use judicious applications of Create Water to attempt to clean him off.
"We need to get him out of here. Unless one of you has hidden potential as a cleric, or a potion of healing at least, we can't help him much here. Gauntlet can carry him, if you guys can cover any enemies we may face on the way out?"
"I'll do what I can," Dirissa says laying her hand on Khonnir's shoulder.
Harg looks at the man, who does not look so good. "Yeah, might be best to get him out of here and to the temple in Torch. I am sure we could use a break as well."
Spending ten to fifteen minutes summoning his Eidolon again, Keldor is clad in his Metal friend quickly enough. He then lifts the man easily, cradling him in his massive metal arms like a large child.
"Let's go! He's not getting any better while we stand here."
"Hold. Khonnir, focus on me. Your survival is unexpected yet welcome. The logical follow-up question, then, is if to the best of your knowledge, anybody else survived. Blink once for yes, twice for no, three times for uncertainity."
It was all well and good that they had found one member of the expedition - but it wouldn't do to rush back and condemn others to their deaths a room further or off the path. Plus, there was a theoretical chance that her own mentor, Drovan, could still be alive.
Was that...Hope? Most fascinating...against all odds I somehow welcome entertaining the unlogical thought that my own caretaker might have made it, too.
Kell cleans off Khonnir as best he can while Dirissa treats the wounds that she can see. Strangely enough, he isn't terribly inured except for the weird sutures on his leg that seem to be disabling their use. Still the healing energy washes over him and Khonnir looks a bit more relieved, even if he can't verbalise it. There's something that is seemingly clouding his mind to prevent speech, or most coherent thought.
Back at the cave entrance where the water opens to where you've been adventuring, it takes much convincing for the priest to doff his robes and join you on the swim with your repeated assurance that there are no manner of beasts or monsters to attack him.
After a long day of bringing the injured Khonnir back home, you succeed.
"Excellent. This seems like a good time for a well-deserved drink," Dirissa says heading to the tavern. She's worried about Khonnir but has done all she can for him. She'll have to wait to see if the town doctors can help him.
Back in town, Harg looks to the group. "Well this has been interesting. I think a drink does sound good."
Around the table with a drink.
"It is very interesting down there. Seems like what you dealt with before I got down there was pretty interesting. I hope that Khonnir does ok, it seemed like he was not all there. He is a wizard, right? I wonder if he has a spell book I can take a look at."
---
Basil will seek out Khonnir's daughter, and request usage of the raw materials available in their lab to craft additional ammunition for her firearm.
Dirissa agrees with Harg. "It's so... otherworldly down there. That's just the only way I can think to describe it. It's like nothing I've ever experienced. No one would believe me about things like this back home." She waves the flashlight around and smiles. "Not without proof anyway."
Nose buried in his Note/Sketch book while waiting to hear about Khonnir, Keldor will eventually talk to the others and get a read on their current whereabouts once the request is made to gather again.
"A drink sounds delightful." offers Kell as he joins Dirissa in heading for the local watering hole.
"I'm glad we found Khonnir. My Venture Captain will be happy to know he's well."
When discussion turns to the "dungeon" below, Kell would say "I have read about such things during my studies, but it's quite different between reading such things and seeing them firsthand."
Harg, enjoying the company and drinks. Heads off that night to meet up with people the next day to start a-new.
He spends the night, trying to perfect new spell ideas he has in his little book. Still plenty work in progress spells.
Looking up from his book, Keldor looks at the rest of the group casually sipping their drinks. It is obvious he is sketching one of the medical droids you fought
"I look forward to exploring more of the...place?...under Torch! Fascinating location! Such marvels cause my mind to speed up and slow down all at the same time!"
With a fire in his eyes that might worry a fully sane person, Keldor turns back to his sketch, trying to perfect his image.
With everyone taking a well-earned rest and some time to restock, the party meet's up at Khonnir's place to see how he faired.
As you approach you see a human man open the door while bidding farewell to those inside.
"Glad you found him,"[b] the man says as he greets you halfway down the hill.
[b]"He's still a bit of wreck, but hopefully he recovers."
He smiles hopefully.
"I was actually hoping to run into you folks as well. Sanvill Trett's the name. I run a stall at the market, and was hoping we could speak about your discoveries of your forays. I think I can make it worth your while..."
And with that, he bids you good day and walks off to prep for the day's profits.
Even with Savnill's foreboding words, when you enter Khonnir's abode, you find him, his daughter, and the local cleric. Khonnir turns to you all and smiles weakly, reclining in his bed.
"Welcome.....friends...." he says softly.
Dirissa is glad to see he's at least conscious. That's a start. Who knows what might have happened to him down there.
"Mr. Baine. We're so glad to see you awake." She holds her exuberance in check given his condition. But it isn't easy. She's a passionate kind of person.
"I hate to rush you, but do you have the strength to tell us what you encountered down there?"
"That would be excellent. If you could also, when you have a moment, send a letter to my venture captain informing him that you are well, I would greatly appreciate it."
Nodding emphatically, Keldor waves at the man from the back of the group.
"Yes! It is great to finally meet you in the flesh good sir! But I wish to hear your tale as soon as possible! Your letters on the technology here pales in comparison to the real thing."
"Welcome back, Khonnir Bainne.", Basil greets him, as well, "Allow me to re-iterate my question: Can you confirm either the death or survival of any other members of your latest expedition? Will another rescue attempt make sense?"
While the group talks to Khonnir, Harg steps back and leans against a wall. Listening the the group as they ask him questions. Thinking about the man Savnill..
As the questions die down, Harg speaks up from the side, "One additional question. Did you discover any information about the Torch itself? I am happy to see you alive and well, but without the Torch this city's livelihood is broken. I know we will likely need to go back down there, any information you can provide about your discoveries... Before you got trapped in that machine?"
He holds his hand up to stop the barrage of concerned questions and well wishes but is still smiling.
"First, I must insist that I thank you for my rescue. It was not an easy journey, I know that myself. So I thank you."
He lets his head down at a slight angle as a sign of respect.
"Before I begin my tale, I will address the other concerns. Yes, Kell? Was it? I will send a letter as soon as I am able. But I'm afraid it may take a while."
His face darkens, and you can see hand shake slightly as he grasps the sheets fiercely, subconsciously as he recalls what had happened, almost like a dream- no, a nightmare.
"The worst news first yes? I am saddened to admit that I have no progress to report on the Torch and its disappearance. The room where you found me, my group and I believed we were making headway when those ....those automatons came for us. My comrades were injured far worse than I at that point, they urged me to press on. They felt we were so close!"
He pauses to calm himself.
"They are no longer with us, dissected and ripped apart on that operating table. I was injected with a serum of sorts, and it attacking my nervous system. Through the help of my old friend,"
he clasps the priests shoulder,
"I can speak, but he has not successfully removed it as of yet. It is a disease of some sort, an affliction of moderate nature. But for now I am confined to this bed until I can overcome it or some intervening force alleves me of it."
He looks to you, Keldor.
"I see you have a love for technology. This is good, but it may be quite a while before I can talk with you in earnest. Some time to process. Some time to mourn..."
Listening to the tale, "Sorry for your loss. You should take whatever time you need to heal all wounds, both physical and emotional"
"That being said, I hope everyone here understands that we must get the torch lit. If there is anything you can let us know about what you learned. Otherwise we should head back in to solve the problem."
Maintaining a gruff attitude, he leans against the wall, hoping others realize the importance of going back down.
Kell nods at Khonnir's answer to his request, and then begins to furiously scribble notes as Khonnir describes his disasterous descent into the Under-Torch? Kell crossed out that name and then added a note to himself next to it Come up with a better name. Gallowspire is what it is because if it's name! before continuing to chronicle Khonnir's story.
Finally, as Khonnir finishes his tale, Kell's pen stops it's scratching as he asks "As you seem to know a bit about the objects from Silver Mount, do you think there might be a cure for what you were injected with in the location we found you? We didn't really take the time to properly search it. Any ideas you might have as to where we could find you a potential cure, I would be more than happy to check for you."
Keldor nods, understanding Khonnir needed rest now more than anything. He suddenly takes heart at Harg's suggestion.
"Yes! Let us journey again together! We rescued Khonnir! We can relight the Torch!"
"Your account implies the demise of my caretaker, Drovan Blackhand. If that is so, I am functionally homeless. I shall spend the night cleaning our former home.", Basil turns to Khonnirs daughter: "I think he mentioned a niece living in Starfall as his only living relative. Could you assist me in formulating a letter notifying her of her inheritance."
With a small pause, she turns to the others: "I shall accompany your attempt to re-light the Torch. If we manage to clean the area of hostile constructs, I could possibly find shelter there."
"What do we know about Sanvill Trett? He seemed interested in our work down in the caves, or ruins.. What is his play in all of this? I am tempted to avoid the man, but maybe he has some resources for us."
Dirissa looks a little shocked at Basil's pronouncement. "Homeless? Far from it! I won't stop you if you want to live in the Silver Mound, but you're welcome to bunk with me where-ever I roam. I'll not see a friend left out in the cold."
She waits to hear any more information that the group might be able to find about Khonnir's expedition. But after a night of rest, she's ready to go back and figure out a way to relight the Torch.
"Here, here. I won't see someone who has spent their blood with me sleeping on the streets."
Keldor smirks and speaks too loudly as he scratches his head absentmindedly.
"I'd offer you to bunk with me Basil, but I can barely afford the room I have. Although it would give me the chance to ask about your more unusual bodily functions in private...Ummmmmm...Never mind."
Suddenly realizing he was talking too much, Keldor shuts his mouth, his face turning red.
"I much appreciate the offer. If it comes to pass, I would bunk with Dirissa Dhib. I already am indebted to her for lending me her projectile weapon during our previous foray. I would like to compound that debt rather than building one up with various members of our group.", Basil responds and explains to Kell and Keldor.
Keeping her view on Keldor, Basil cocks her head in a gesture imitating Hali Gearalt: "Is there need for privacy? Which type of body functions are you referring to? Unusual as in seldom used, such as tear ducts or vaginal lubrication? Or unusual as in seldom in existance, such as my self-healing system or multi-layered vision? Please clarify if I am misinterpreting your inquiry: Are you expressing an interest in becoming my new caretaker if your financial status improves sufficiently to afford a larger living space?"
Keldor's light half-elvish skin burns even redder if that is possible, his voice stuttering in embarasmmnet.
"I meant it in a fully scientific...Look! I was not thinking...
decorum...my...my honor...I was not going to...OH JUST Erastil shoot me now!"
He then stumbles out of the room, mumbling something about looking for an outhouse to wash his dirty mouth out with.
Dirissa howls with laughter, banging her hand down repeatedly on the table as she gasps for breath. It's easy for the group to see there may be multiple reasons she was nicknamed 'the wolf.' "When he comes back, I may ask him to light a pipe with those blazing cheeks of his!"
Kell also laughs at Keldor, then calms himself and says "He has quite the way with words!" before laughing again.
Watching Keldor go, with a bit of a chuckle. Harg is pretty sure he could no better, but he has learned not to try. His looks, alone, give him trouble.
"Whatever happens. My humble home is available to anyone. It is a blacksmith's home, so it is a big dirty, but its capable of housing a few more."
Looking to the wizard, "I hope you get better soon. Thank you for your information"
Turning to leave, "Meet at the usual spot to get our water breathing in the morning? Check on the old man, then head out?"
Without really waiting for an answer he walks out. Walking up to Keldor on the way out. "No worries my friend. I think everyone is ok with a bit of laughing, even at our expenses. You are a powerful ally. Rest well, there is more tomorrow." With a slap on the back, a bit harder than originally intended, Harg walks off.