Keldor moves to help basil, trying to aim Gauntlet's fist in an attack on the red lump!
When the first one is killed it seems to be under pressure under its skin and erupts into a fountain of strange red fluid that lands on Basil and Harg.
As Gauntlet crashings down on the creature it also bursts.
The strange creatures go quiet.. Other than some acid burns. Everyone is doing ok, they think.
"Damn!" Dirissa says panting, trying furiously to brush the burning goo off of her. "We might need to try to wash this stuff off."
She'll take a quick look around the place to make sure there aren't any more of those things (and just to look around).
Basil instinctively shields herself from the bursting creatures, with machine-like reflexes, managing to take only minor damage from the acidic goo.
She then proceeds to clear her jammed weapon and starts reloading it:"Exposure to air quickly seemed to diminish it's potency. Washing it off might still be a good idea, though - it originated from creatures and could be a biological contaminant. Most evolved self-defense mechanisms make themselves known before the demise of their host - so it may have served an additional function such as post-mortal procreation."
After a short pause, without stopping work on her weapon, she turns to Harg and Gauntlet:"Would the correct social response in this situation be to thank you for taking care of the creatures before they managed to accomplish their objectives? If so, thank you!"
Keldor waves off Basil's thanks easily, then seems to enact a couple of spells to fix the burn marks on Gauntlet.
"How could we do anything less? You are our friend and you were were obviously in possible peril. I wonder if these were some type of ooze or slime creature? Fascinating!"
Definitely an ooze of some kind, though they seem to be of a different structure than what you would see locally.
It looks like they might be holding a disease of some kind. Might be worth getting looked at to make sure the explosion didn't spread it.
As Dirissa looks around the room. Seems like there are strange liquids and residue all over the place. Broken glass fills the room. It almost looks like an Alchemist lab or something. Though you don't see anything of use, as most of the things are very broken.
Seeing nothing useful in here, Dirissa suggests they head back "home." "You should be able to get your fancy rod fixed, Kel. I wonder if it'll still work though." She conjures a bit of water to help wash off the remains of the goop that she can see.
On the way out, someone notices that last door they couldn't open before. "Anyone know how to get this one open?"
Seeming doubtful, Keldor responds.
"I could try to batter it down with Gauntlet...but my understanding from Khonnir is that such structures tend to be much sturdier than those we normally understand."
As you all make your way out of the building, you make a stop at the front desk area. Behind it is a locked door with a white panel. Using the card you now have access to from the bodies of the dwarves (covered in fungus) you slide it across the flicking panel and the door slides open with a soft puff of air.
Inside are a tossed few shelves of items.
A strange tube with an open end
Flashlight - Price 30 gp; Slot none; Weight 1 lb.; Capacity 10; Usage 1 charge/8 hours
DESCRIPTION
When activated, a flashlight creates a beam of normal light in a 60-foot cone. It also increases the light level in the area beyond this initial cone by one step, out to a 120-foot cone. It does not increase the light level in normal light or bright light. A flashlight has no effect in areas of magical darkness.
3 things that look like silverdisks, but somehow different.
Price 100 gp; Slot none; Weight 1 lb.; Capacity —; Usage —
DESCRIPTION
Most technological items are powered by electricity. While one can use the electricity provided by a generator, these are rare, expensive, and rarely portable. It’s more common and practical to charge such items with batteries. A battery looks like a small silver disk that’s etched with strange lines—the people have taken to calling batteries “silverdisks” and sometimes use them as coins. A battery contains 10 charges when full; to charge an item with a battery, one simply slips the disk-shaped device into the proper slot on the item. The battery’s charge instantly fully depletes, and the item’s internal capacitors fill with 10 charges as it does so. If the item had fewer than 10 open slots in its capacity, the excess charges the battery once held are lost. A battery can be kept within an object indefinitely, or it can be ejected from the object for the purposes of recharging it or storing it elsewhere without affecting the item’s charge. Inserting or ejecting a battery is a move action.
Placing a battery in a generator’s charging slot can recharge it. However, each time a battery is recharged, there’s a 20% chance that the battery is destroyed in the process. A destroyed battery is worth only 10 gp. The bulk of “silverdisks” in circulation today are destroyed batteries; one can tell a functional battery from a destroyed one by the way the circuitry seems to shimmer slightly when reflecting light. The circuitry in a charged battery glows with a soft blue radiance equal to that of a candle.
4 round balls with a button them each. 2 with a small symbol that looks like sound, 1 that looks like the sun, and 1 more that has a strange symbol of a hand on it.
A suit of some kind of clothes. Has a variety of pockets, straps, and a strange interface with color choices.
A small gun type object
And 26 silver disks.
"This open-ended tube is a magitek Bullseye Lantern providing a large cone of light."
"No idea about the disks."
"But the round balls are...like alchemists bombs. Just usable by anybody, with varying effects."
"No idea about the clothes or the gun-like object."
"OooOoo, shinys!" Dirissa exclaims. She has no idea what they are, but they are nice to look at.
Where to next? Back out?
Collecting all the new items. Some identified and some waiting to talk to Khonner about, the group leaves the main area you are in, walks out into the strange halls outside. The group notes a door they should check out later. Then exits into the strange dark alien landscape. Making their way across the sands to the other side.
Out through the tunnels and with the small amount of remaining water breathing available to them, make their way back to Torch.
The group makes their way to the foundry, where Val is currently staying. It is late in the evening. The rest of you bed down for the night. Long day of journeying in the caverns below. Val greets you, she had just come home from seeing her adopted father at the temple and is also here to rest the night.
The next day, you all gather your things and head to see Khonner at the temple. But before you wake, Harg has left. There is a torn page of his small book near his folded cot. This may sound crazy, but my sword has given me a task. I must complete it. I hope to see you alive and well in the future. The rest of you make your way to the temple.
You are greated by Joram Kyte, the cleric of the temple. "Great news! Last night I was able to use Brigh's guideance on a remove disease. I had tried it in the past, but it had not fully taken hold. This time, with luck from Our Bronze Lady, I was able to remove the issue. I am still working on the damage done from the disease... if you could call it that. Anyway, Khonner is over there. I think he is excited to get out of here"
As you make your way to Khonner he is talking to 2 new individuals. Looks like 2 elves.
You can hear Khonner speak to them, "Ah yes. Sanvil. He is a knowledgable person in matters of the ruins and technology. Not much more can be said... OH! My friends. Please let me introduce you."
He introduces the 2 elves to the group.
A half-elf himself, keldor walks up to the elves and offers a traditional elvish greeting with a smile. He wears almost immaculate
"Bright breezes and fair-weather greetings! I apologize for speaking in the common vernacular, and the translation is terrible, but I do not wish to alienate my new friends by speaking in the homeland tongue. I am Keldor of the Whisthawk half-elves."
"I am Tiras of the Silverblood elves," Tiras says in Elven. " Now tell me... have you encountered any mechanical constructs on your journey? If so, I would love to take a look at them." He absentmindedly fiddles with a bomb.
Keldor smiles.
"Silverblood? One of the larger clans is it not? Yes, we've met several constructs! One even that Khonnir himself rebuilt. However, we were unable to procure much from their remains. The corpses are extremely heavy."
Right to the point, isn't he? Dirissa takes a moment to size up the new folks. You never know with elves. Satisfied, she follows Keldor and offers her hand to them both. "Hey, 'm Dirissa. I hope you're interested in taking those mechanical monstrosities apart, cause they've made it pretty clear: it's us or them."
As you walk up, you see a slim elf wearing a collared khaki shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbow, talking to Khonnir. The gear affixed to his hat and the ornate gray-white hammer dangling his belt seem to identify him as a follower of Brigh. The hammer shakes slightly every so often as he frantically jots down notes in a leatherbound journal.
"Trett, yes. I would very much like to meet him and ply his mind about the technological and mechanical devices that have passed through his shop. Of course, I must leave some secrets to discover for myself. Why, that's half the fun. The wilds surrounding your town are practically saturated with knowledge waiting to be unearthed! As you well know, of course. A scholar's dream. I-"
The elf speaking with Khonnir cuts off politely as new people approach, covered in burn marks and grime, and all the other hallmarks of adventuring. He grins immediately.
"Hello! I expect you're the people Baine was just telling me about. Let me just say, it's quite a pleasure to make your acquaintances! Uh, forgive me - introductions first, of course. I am Professor Varilien Dorianathi, of the esteemed University of Lepidstadt."
He gracefully tucks his inkpen into the journal, and extends his right hand by way of a polite greeting.
"Fascinating! A Forlorn elf then? OH...Sorry! My fault for speaking my thoughts aloud! I meant no offense. My family lives within the elven homeland with the crown's permission, and we have taken to speaking as they do. I'm a follower of Erastil myself, as most Whisthawks are I think. As the patron god of our family, Old Deadeye doesn't allow for much else really! You know? I just realized, I can't wait for a priest of Brigh to meet Gauntlet..."
Keldor finishes wit a big smile, obviously happy to have elves around, although is cheeks are still kinda red from his embarrassing speach.
"Priest of Brigh, huh?" Dirissa says. "Alright then, perhaps you'll be wanting this." She lifts up a hammer attached to the back of her belt. It bears the mark of Brigh on its side. "Figure a magic hammer like this was probably meant to be found by you anyway. Besides, it's a little too unbalanced for me."
=)
"'Forlorn?' I suppose so, though I never adopted that property for myself. It's hard to see friends and colleagues pass on into Pharasma's judgment, often with work unfinished, or unpublished. But then again, the feeling is not so different from studying the works of a long-dead intellect, knowing you'll never meet her at all, that no more tomes will be authored by that mind..."
The professor stares off for a moment, before snapping back to the conversation. "But anyhow, no offense taken. The term fits. As for my 'priesthood,' I don't know if I've earned that one. I obey the Whisper's directives, and by nature I'm inclined to follow her teachings, but I lead no worship, conduct no ceremonies. I simply strive to recover technologies, mechanisms, and knowledge which might otherwise be lost to the world." He smiles again. "And then I study them, and share those discoveries - which I suppose is precisely what my Lady asks of me."
At the offer of the hammer, he seems taken aback, but he does study and inspect it for some time, gauging its weight distribution and analyzing the geometric design of the head. It seems to apparently be of even better quality than his own. After a few moments, he asks, "This is of excellent craftsmanship. Where did you come to find it?"
"It was in the silver mount. Other groups have journeyed in, some more recent than others. Many of them don't make it back out. These particular fellows were taken by a very aggressive fungus."
As you are all talking Val runs into the temple.
"There is someone in the Foundry! I left to come here, realized I forgot flowers and when I turned around, there was someone in the building! Hurry!!" She looks to everyone there and turns and runs back.
Khonner looks up to you all, "Please.. All of you. Go! Take care of Val. And new friends, please keep her safe. I will happily talk to you about everything, but keep her safe. And make sure our home is ok"
Keldor whips a hand through his Protection from Evil spell and taps himself on the chest as he rushes out, making himself about as ready as he can be without Gauntlet's help.
Tiras runs out after Keldor, casting a protective spell as he goes.
"Truly remarkable." He holds it soberly. "It certainly would have special significance for any worshiper of Brigh, myself included, and I must admit I would honor such a gift. I don't know that I could take a thing of such great value freely, though - but if what Baine tells me of your expeditions is even a quarter true, then perhaps the offer I planned to make you will offset this hammer's value."
He spreads his arms wide. "I'd like to-"
At that moment, Val runs in yelling about the Foundry. As the others take off, he gives Baine a wry grin, and runs to catch up, still holding the magical hammer.
Basil had been busy crafting new ammunition all night. Chances are she would soon lack access to her mentors workshop, so it made sense to be as prepared as one could be, for whatever else was waiting below the Torch.
As she makes her way to the temple, intending to arrive exactly punctual for their meeting with Khonnir, she realizes that not only did the others arrive before, but they seem to already have concluded their business, as they were rushing towards the Foundry.
Clearly, they were motivated and excited to get back into the underground death trap. Without question or effort, she altered her course and fell in beside Keldor: "A good day to you! Nice weather we are having!"
Keldor runs, one hand on his Elven Curve blade to keep if from bouncing around and glances at Basil while huffing.
"Weather...? Basil are you being funny? There's...an emergency of some sort! The Foundry!..."
"I was attempting to do small-talk while we were moving to our next destination. Inappropiate?", Basil wondered, not slowing down but retrieving her firearm and starting to wield it while running:"I was not informed of an emergency. What kind of problem arose at the Foundry?"
Dirissa charges out of the room on Keldor's heels. She's glad to see they met up with Basil by chance.
As you run to the foundry. Val tells you whoever it is, is in the tavern. Where all of you have been sleeping.
You run to the front door. One of you throw it open and see a man looking through your stuff in the main room of the tavern. Its been closed since Khonner went missing and you have been staying there . The ones of you who have met him before recognize Sanvil Trett going through you stuff.
As officious as possible, Keldor warns the man off.
"Stop! You are violating our personal items. Those things belong to us!"
"Yeah, what he said," Dirissa yells pointing her thumb at Keldor.
The professor follows Keldor and Dirissa into the Foundry, immediately spying the man very clearly rifling through things that don't belong to him. Odd that he would be doing this in such plain sight. Pretty brazen, unless...
Suddenly the man's features and Baine's description line up. "Pardon me: are you Sanvil Trett?" Varilien steps forward, smiling, hammer down by his side. "What, exactly, is it that you're doing here?" He gestures broadly with his free hand at the ransacked bags.
Turning suddenly toward the group. "Oh! Hi, um. I.." He shuffles on his heals. Turning to all of you. "Ok yea, you caught me. I heard you got ahold of some really interesting objects while down under the city. I was just super curious. I think my curiosity just got the better of me! I am embarassed to say"
He puts his hands up, "Yes yes. I didn't even want to take any of the items. I just wanted to get a look at them. They are a curiosity of mine and didn't want to miss my chance. I do hope you won't turn me in. No harm no fowl?"
He takes another step toward the back door.
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"Sanvil. How's about you come have a seat? You wanna talk about some artifacts? Have I got a doozy for you." With that Dirissa whips out her flashlight. "There's other ones, but this one's my favorite." She flips it on and off again, sometimes seeing how she can put the light behind behind her hand (which makes it glow red), sometimes with the light below her face, giving her a spooky spotlight.
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"You will stay right where you are until we can bring in the Authorities of Torch to search you thoroughly! What is the law of the land? Guilty until proven innocent I think? Khonnir always told me to watch my back in this county. We are not country bumpkins, and you cannot paw through our things without permission!"
At this point, Keldor draws his two-handed Elven Curve-blade from his back-sheath and points in the man's general direction.
Looking over to Dirissa then over to Keldor, "While that sure does look interesting, little one, I don't think I would like to deal with the Authorities.. Not sure who your new friends are, but I am sorry for your involvement." He pulls his longsword out.
Round 1
Dirissa, Basil, Varilien <-- He has drawn his blade. What do you do?
Sanvil
Tiras, Keldor
With a sigh at his foolishness, Dirissa casts a spell on herself (divine favor), and moves to provide a flanking partner for one of her allies.
"It doesn't have to be like this, Sanvil."
"Sanvil, Keldor, hold on. This doesn't have to get ugly. Now," he says, turning his full attention to Trett, "you know, and I know, that you can explain away being in here, and even going through these people's things wouldn't necessarily get you put away by the authorities here. But skewering one of us with your blade there? Frankly a lot harder to explain away. And that's if you make it out of this room, which isn't a sure thing either. Do us all a favor - drop the sword, and let's talk. I didn't come all this way, seeking a knowledgeable person such as yourself, to lose that knowledge in a wasteful act of violence."
As he talks, the professor moves forward slowly, placing himself between Keldor and Sanvil. He never breaks eye contact with the latter, and does not raise his hammer.
Keldor moves to block the door, his look serious and determined, even without Gauntlet to protect him.
"He doesn't leave unless we can search him first, or see if any of our things are missing."
Sanvil's blade droops down. "I have no wish to deal with the law. If I put down my blade, can I have your word you will not report me? I can offer advice and knowledge. I just wish to continue my pursuits alive."
His blade is not poised for striking, but he seems to be holding a readied stance. Not quite sure if this discussion can turn on a copper piece or not.
"Easy. You let us search you to make sure nothing is missing. Then our little wolf can present her magitek light some more. And afterwards, you come with us for our next excursion. That gives you the chance to see things first-hand - many more interesting artifacts remain below the ground, too heavy to transport or attached to the floor or walls. And it makes certain you are not tempted to go through things again while we are gone. Deal?", Basil suggests in a monotonous voice. She was somewhat uncertain what kind of social interaction just took place here, but the man seemed interested in what was down there, so it seemed logical to take him there.