Iron Gods: Forged into Legends

Game Master polyfrequencies

As you continue on your way to Scrapwall, it is starting to get onto dusk, but in the distance, in the lowlands around it, you can see what must be the city itself. You can see Towers of rusted iron and hills or rubble. You could head into the city, but you would be approaching at night. Or you can camp here.

If you wish to camp here, do a survival check to find a good place. Then give me watches

Keldor's survival skill is called 'room service.' Do we want to go on, or stop for the night?

Thawm has 3 Survival. Should've invested in Rope Trick xD
knocking on the front door at night might be as good as walking up to a normal town in daylight. No telling xD
Then again, I'd be annoyed if we got robbed at the local inn...

Basil seems to be AWOL for now. Since you have survival Thawm, let's camp for the night and see how things look in the morning? Fair enough?

Apologies. By all means, lets go to the front door, see who is there - we can still turn the wagon around and camp somewhere outside.
I do have 6 survival, which should be enough not to get lost usually, and to survive off the land if needed. But I see little benefit from staying outside civilization(no matter how barbaric) in such lands.

Sure. And if we get attacked by overwhelming force we can abandon the cart and run off into the dark if we have to. Right? Do we want to wake our 'prisoner/patient' to warn her? She may have been here before and can offer some sensible advice now that's she's had some rest.

thankfully we don't need to survive off the land or take the half-travel speed penalty for doing so ^^
We have all the food

As night falls and the city comes into view, far off in the distance, Thawm slows down the cart.
"Think there'll be an inn in the city? If not, I think we should stop here and make camp."

Keldor shrugs and looks worried.

"An inn? Possibly. However, I got the impression from Scrapwall's description that it is more like an armed camp with parts of the city at war with others from time to time. Not much of a place to run a business...unless you are really into buying and selling ancient scrap-technology. Or weapons of war. Maybe that is the tack we can use? Say we are here to demonstrate what our Ballista can do? Sell ourselves as arms merchants? We can't compete as Tech sellers, but there are plenty of normal weapon like this one that could still impress some of the factions inside. Especially with Basil's skill with them to show them off properly."

Turning to Basil, he asks.

"What do you think? Willing to offer your skills and few shots of ammo for demonstrations? Technically speaking, its not lying either if we intend to honor any negotiation agreements we make. We can say we are looking to trade their technology for cheaper and more available 'normal' weapons too. At a decent discount of course. Sorry...my family are a bunch of mercenaries and arms dealers really in the end, regardless of what they think of or call themselves. Kyonin is just their biggest customer."

"I will go along with whatever approach you prefer to take. I would like to point out that regardless of the time of day, Scrapwalls description will remain valid. If they are in armed camps with guards, then that will be true during the day as well. I see little reason to specifically stay away from Scrapwall only to wait for sunlight. There's also a question if we even need to put up a cover story. As you stated, the factions are at war with each other. We are at odds with one of the stronger factions. That makes it desirable to pool our resources with one of the smaller factions also at odds with Hellion. Such an approach would be mutually beneficial - why do you think they would prefer to believe we are arms dealers? Especially if we have nothing to sell? If you think they are unwilling to see reason, we may be better off signing on a mercenaries.", Basil responds, clearly not feeling very strongly about her point, but curious about Keldors reasoning.

"Well, I say we make camp so we're at least fresh when we face whatever is in there." Thawm says, interrupting Keldor and Basil's discussion of strategy.

Maybe Thawm can take second watch? XD

Keldor shrugs.

"I just was trying to find a reason for us to be there other than: 'Looking for big tech thingy that a tech-god thinks will be dangerous for the REAL gods.' These guys are here looking for tech-scrap they can use or sell, right? 'Tech they can use or sell' seems like a driving force to me. We use that. A form of control and a diversion all at once. We stay separate from all of them and appear as a neutral force so we avoid conflict with them all as long as possible. We just have to be careful not to show favoritism among any of the groups until it is no longer possible to be otherwise. I'm afraid if we just walk right up to them they will simply assume we are spies for another faction or outside force, or simply here to take what is theirs. What if they want to make slaves out of you and your kind Basil? Conflict. I'm just trying to avoid that if at all possible. You may appreciate the straight forward approach, but in less civilized areas, that doesn't always work to your advantage. It can make you a target too. I just feel we should use our heads more than our fists, assuming we can help it."

He looks at Thawm after that.

"I don't care WHEN we approach. I care HOW we approach. You two decide when we do it and I'll follow along."

Keldor then turns and moves a short distance away to begin his long summoning ritual for his Eidolon.

"Oh. I misunderstood then. I thought you may have moral issues associating with cannibals and participating in their social context. My interpretation was that you would show clear favoritism against such a group, and favor one in conflict with them. But social aspects are complicated for me to fully understand, so apologies for my mistake."

Turning to Thawm, she wonders:"What do you mean with being fresh? I think we are more likely to find access to refreshments as well as rudimentary sanitary access inside Scrapwall, rather than outside - if you refer to the small number of spells you cast in the past day: would it not be safer to refresh those in the safety of a larger group, rather than hope trouble does not find us?"

Just arguing IC - OOC I don't really care. I just see little reason to delay going in to risk being picked up by some patrol, maybe end up accused of being spys or something by the very group we were looking to join. And regarding "remain neutral" - we already know at least one of the groups is cannibalistic and another is associated with Hellion. It would seem there is a very clear "good guys vs evil guys" divide going on if they kick the puppy like that - if you think Keldor can deal with watching while the Smilers slaughter a couple babies for their victory spit roast, by all means, lets try and be neutral. I figured association with one of the groups would favor you most of us, as it may be hard for you to remain un-hostile towards certain of the groups in the power struggle. If you think you can pull it off without setting us into hostile mode with one or more of the groups without any backup from another group, then we can certainly go for it. Just know the paladin code lines in the sand you draw may need to be flexible ones for that approach and you may end up needing atonement.

"I don't think we'll find safe lodging in there unless we make fast friends with one of the gangs.
For that, we'll probably have to pick a fight. If we're doing that, then I vote Smilers; I don't want to be offered someone else's bicep as a midnight snack."

Thawm looks from the city back to the others in what's left of the evening's sunlight.

"I don't think we'll be better off resting in the city if we don't want to pick a fight immediately."

"Thawm, do you know something you did not inform us about? Why would we be attacked on sight after entering the city? If there is danger in approaching, we should in fact turn the cart around and make sure we put significant distance between us and Scrapwall.", Basil is surprised when Theurge suggests that even entering the city would mean combat.

Fine, then. We don't go in, we camp far outside the city. We sneak in by day and avoid all the factions as good as we can, then sneak back out and camp in the wilderness hoping for no random encounters. That satisfactory for you guys?

This may not make a lot of sense, but here it goes:
*1. Keldor cannot abide an overly evil act in front of his face and it would force him to intervene...that being said...it is not my place to judge people or groups. The Laws of the Land are just that...and are mostly unknown to Keldor. If Cannibalism is LEGAL in Scrapwall, technically I cannot do anything about it unless they try kill and eat someone I see or know about. Not exactly willful ignorance, but pretty close to the line, I know. Also, even if a person is 'Evil' it does not mean I need to kill them on sight, unless they are supernatural beings of evil in most cases. Keldor is not one of the 'Kill them all and let the gods sort-em out' kinda guy. One of the reasons I thought we should sneak into the city in the first place was to help avoid my Paladin code problems as much as possible, but I was outvoted. I'm doing the best I can with what I have. I'm still trying to understand why you both wanted to go in and talk our way past people when none of us has any skill in such things.
*2. Resting before going in is fine I think, and will allow Thawm to replenish all her spells before hand. If she has not used up her spells, then we can try entering now if you want. We got here by the faster route, and I think that will allow us to take some time to be cautious if we want. I also doubt a city run by gangs has 'patrols' outside the city walls, but who knows really. On the obverse, no patrols means more wandering monsters near the city probably. I say bring them on if we do. If I can level up sooner than later, I can actually put some skill points into Diplomacy and similar skills we need right now.
*3. Regardless of what we think we know, there is no telling what will really happen when we reach the gate. It could end up being one of the biggest battles of our group to date, or it could easily be nothing at all. We need to stop worrying about what we will find and go. I will do my best by playing it by ear like I did with the group in the wilderness. That's part of the fun for my character. I just wanted us to have a cohesive plan of some sort so that if the guards at the gate are like any others and ask: 'What is your business here!' we have something consistent to say we all three agree on. What happens after we get into the city is again no point on speculation, as it will be determined by HOW we get in, if we get in at all. We just need to get inside. Agreed?
**NOTE: I'm not trying to be argumentative here. Its obvious we all have difference perspectives on how things are right now. I think we did amazingly with that group we just encountered. We just need to get things done and get inside the city. After that, I have a feeling deciding which direction we go in will either be easier, or just plain obvious.

I think we'll probably get robbed at some point during the night unless we're friends with one of the gangs, that's what I think xD
Therefore, let's enter in the early morning ^^

Thawm shrugs "Just a hunch. As strangers we'll probably become targets for all the gangs unless we pick a fight with one to make friends with the others.
Also, I've been... investing my magic making our captive addict feel less uncomfortable. I feel under-clothed."

As the group find a place to camp for the night. They find a decent enough location to bunker down. In this wasteland around you there is not much life. An occasional bird in the air, watching the ground, but not much activity.

Through the night, the watches go easy. At one point a group of torches are seen in the distance, but they are moving toward the city and not near you.

As you watch you can see the group approach the front gate of the city. They are stopped at the gate for a few minutes. YOu are not sure what transpires, but eventually the gate is opened and they are allowed in.

Other than that, it is a quiet night. You get strange waffs of strange smells that are carried on the wind. Rather unpleasant, or strangely sweat. All seem rather chemical.

With seems like an uneventful night, the sun raises up. You are able to do what you need.

btw, how did our captive do with only... 14 hours of sleep and/or spell assistance ? xD

Need to know to decide how much I want to prep that 1st level spell... I might even use 2nd level slots for it to keep our soon-to-be spy in good condition xD

Thawm passes out the morning's jerky. "No time like the present. Keldor, you want to take point again?"

today's spells TBD

"Not a problem. Do you want to summon the horse again? I can walk if it comes down to it, especially if you want to save the magic. Gotta learn that spell...or something like it. I'm too slow on foot, even with Gauntlet."

The woman with you seems to stay compliant. She is handling her own addiction decently well. Her system seems to handle it well, though while she has been awake she has bugged you over and over for more fluid. Seemly forgotten you don't have it on you.

"So today you will get me more?" The woman says, seemily forgotten you where going to try to clean her up. She might take some time to fully get her to understand.

Keldor shakes his head sadly.

"That's not what we are here ma'am. Please remain calm. We need to get into the city. Find you some help. We were told a cleric was here..."

Thawm shrugs at Keldor's request for another steed.
After a moment's hesitation, she casts her third spell of the morning.

Thawm ignores the horse she just conjured and stops ignoring the prisoner.
"Hm. Maybe I should calm down our new 'friend' too. She might be helpful with a clear head. This'll scratch your itch for a few hours. Alleviate Addiction."
Thawm pats the impatient alchemist with her hand.
I wonder if we should just feed her that bottle of weird stuff she had on her...

Thawm waits for the go-ahead from Basil and Keldor before spurring their wagon's real horse onward towards the city...

Mounting up, Keldor starts to ride the conjured steed toward the gate.

"If things turn out badly, you can turn the cart and run if needed. I can summon Gauntlet in a trice now to protect you, then will follow when I can once you are away."

Apologies, been ill.
Also, not sure how exactly the addiction mechanics work in pathfinder - would it be highly detrimental to her recovery to feed her the bottle of fluid she had on her? She was compliant so far, so some reward seems in order - unless that resets her cold turkey. Not sure and with the amount of catching up I need to do, I don't feel it's a good idea to look the mechanics up now.

"If things do turn out badly, they will already be pretending to check the cart for contraband or some similar pretext. I doubt they will give us a chance to turn and run. If you expect problems at the gate, we would best prepare for a fight.", Basil comments matter of factly, as she checks that all chambers of her firearm are loaded. Following a verbal command code in Androffan, her nanobots then release a sort of adrenaline pushing her to a state of Heightened Awareness(dismissed for Initiative in case it comes to that).
"I will load the ballista, just in case." - unless hindered, she proceeds, then looks at her Thawm, giving her a thumbs-up as a gesture that shes ready.

The addiction mechanics is a bit weird. I should be rolling on her addition every day. I should look into that more. I have been just RPing more than rules for her. But I will try to be a bit more clear. Giving her more meds, will just delay the addition. She has seemed not THAT addictive. Mostly because of her own Alchemist specialties

Addiction Check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

As the woman wakes up, "Uug. My head. Look.. I have been thinking over the night. I doubt you will be giving me any more of the fluid. If you can provide me my Formulas.. and my basic materials. I can craft a extract to remove dependance. After.. I can leave you all alone and go on my way. Thoughts? I can get out of your hair. Though I imagine the Paladin, might want to keep me around.. to better me, or some bull"

"Not sure I want to deal with that city" she points toward the towering scrap walls.

And here I was hoping we could bend her to our will more easily...
Thawm shrugs in response.

I'm kool with just letting her go and then heading into the city xD

"You assaulted us, and with lethal force, no less. I don't really care about your personal feelings regarding the city, or your morals, for that matter. You seem capable enough in the alchemical arts, considering the strenght of the acid your bombs had. So you can either stick around and support us, maybe find affiliation and a home with one of the gangs in the city, and earn our trust and your gear. Or you decide to depart with your formulae book and some basic alchemical ingredients. In that case the remainder of your possessions will be transferred into our possession as immediate compensation for your attempt at homicide."

I didn't think she would stick around permanently. I figured she may be an asset that could strenghten our allied group a bit, remain with them, maybe provide some free consumables(Acid, Alchemists fire, Thunderstones, Tanglefoot Bags...) now and then while we are here.(Used consumables are not supposed to count against WBL long-term, so that would be an easy way to "recharge" used ones)

Rolling her eyes a little, "Fine. I don't have any issue with any of the gangs out there. I might be able to set up a trade deal. Who knows what they have access to. At least let me create an extract to fix this" She motions to a shaking her palid skin, and slightly shaking hands.

I know its only con damage, but still

"You can watch me do it. Plus if you need supplies, I will need my gear anyway. Let me help myself out, so I can help you out. Hell, if you supply me with materials I will craft things for you. Keep my mind off all the dribble from goody two shoes, over there."

Thinking about the woman's situation, Keldor tries to see as clearly as he can with his feelings and turns his magical horse to keep pace with the battle-wagon as he speaks.

"I agree with Basil that some basic compensation for our trouble is not untoward, but...trust must be given usually before it is received in turn. I say let her heal herself if she can: Give her what she needs Thawm, but keep an eye on her in case she intends to blow us up or melt our faces off again. A sick ally is not much of an ally really, is she? May I ask what was your name again my Lady? I promise not to try an convert you today. Its not really my style anyhoo'."

Looking to the strange Paladin, "My name is Ury Rume. Associate Professor of University of Lepidstadt." She gestures to a small scar along the line of her jaw. Though it is not much noticeable among her other wounds and dirt.

She waits, holding her hand out for the supplies. "Thank you" She sets to work doing her normal routine. Watching closely she is open about what she is doing, though going quick. Thawm, with her arcane skills, quickly translates the alchemist formula. It looks like she is making 2 extracts of Remove Disease. She then creates 2 more strange blue extracts. These should extend the power of the others.

As soon as she is finished she quickly downs the blue extract. She swishes it around her mouth. Quickly downs the Remove Disease, but spits it back into the container. Waiting a second, then doing it again.
Remove Disease: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Remove Disease: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

She then does the same thing with the other blue liquid and Remove Disease.
Remove Disease: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Remove Disease: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

With the final Remove Disease, she looks up "Finally! That one was worse than some. I should be ready to go." Her words are clear, though her skin still looks a bit sallow. She seems very intelligent when she is not at her worst.

Smiling, Keldor waves casually at the woman.

"Lepidstadt? You've come a decent distance for some 'odd fluids' my m'lady Rume. I'm Keldor Whisthawk, newly forged Paladin of Erastil. Old Deadeye suprized me with this gift recently, so I'm a bit new to this...reality. So forgive any of my blunders with my methods and oratory."

"Bluntness can be a good thing. It can also just be butting into other people's lives. In this case, the question is fine. Yes, I am from Ustalav. Which is not so far from Numeria. I traveled here a few years back, not sure exactly how long, because I had heard of strange chemicals and fluids. I came originally for research purposes. You can imagine why I stayed" She gathers her stuff and offers it back to Thawm.

"Better get this over with then. Onto Scrapwall? Or did you have more blunt questions?" She actually gives you a bit of a wink with that last comment.

Smiling again and chuckling at the professor's new casual banter, Keldor nods.

"I think you ARE feeling better if you are willing to joke to a Paladin about his bluntness. Be glad I'm not one of those egomaniac types who takes to this work with swords rather than his words. I DO use a sword too, if truly needed of course. Scrapwall awaits! Let us continue."

"Your skill with alchemy is impressive. You mixed these compounds by eye, despite their potentially explosive reaction if measurements were off. I know you are far from your university, but I would appreciate it if I am allowed to watch you work."
Basil looks towards the Gate:"When not demanding fluids at bomb-point, you seem rather reasonable. Something we don't know about whoever mans that gate. If you want to create 2 of your bombs, just in case, I would not object."

"A fine suggestion." Thawm nods at Basil.

"I'm sure she remembers how well I was able to undo the damage last time and won't be trying again." she adds, speaking in a direction where no one is standing.

She grabs her supplies and a quick nod "Thanks"[/]. Quickly mixing a few items together. [b]"Feel free to watch, if you can keep up". She preps two small vials.

As you move on to the city. You can see what is the closest to the front gate. Around which huge walls of scrap surround the entire city.

A ramshackle pair of buildings with walls and roofs made of strips of leather and fir, timbers, metal plates, and other junk lashed and bolted together sit in a gap in the surrounding mounds of refuse. Between the two buildings run a metal gate, closed to block passage into the open area beyond.

As you approach someone exits the west building behind the gate. Yelling out to the group. "Hale! What is your business in our great city of Scrapwall?"

At the fore, Keldor will salute the person talking and move his horse closer.

"Greetings! What an amazing sight! Never have I witnessed such a structure before. What is it made from? Where did it all come from? The Starfall?"

He glances back at the others, looking to see if they plan on inputting anything more here...

Taking note that Keldor has omitted an answer to the actual question asked, Basil speaks up: "Our business is simple. The town we reside in has been under attack by an Agent of an Entity called Hellion, affiliated with the Legion of Rust based in Scrapwall. We mean to investigate if there is any further danger to our home - and if so, nullify it."

Thawm nods and grins at 'nullify it', but doesn't otherwise contribute.

The human laughs a bit at Keldor, but as Basil speaks he seems to perk up. Yelling to the eastern building "Get Sevroth out here"

The man steps forward to the gate, "I think we have someone you should talk to"

A woman walks out of the near by building. Short cropped white hair, scar down her forhead. Tattoos along her cheeks and neck. Piercings and gauges in her ears, nose, and lip. She walks out "What?"

The man Gestures to you through the bars, "This little group has something they would like to talk to you about"

She snorts, turns to you, "What did you tell him?" Gesturing her thumb hard at the man, with an air of brash cockyness.

Looking relived he no longer has to dissemble, Keldor nods and salutes the woman briefly.

"My name is Keldor. My companions and I simply seek to, as my friend put it, investigate if there is any further danger to our current home. Mainly from the Legion of Rust or their Master Hellion. An agent from Hellion was apprehended recently and confessed to her motives and origins, although she was short on specifics beyond that. Here name was Meyanda, does ring any bells?"

Basil adds:"What we told him, exactly, was that..." - she reiterates her previous statement word for word, with the same lack of emotion, presenting what she says as fact.
Afterwards, she continues: "According to the information we gathered, this area should be under the jurisdiction of Steel Hawks, who had previous hostile engagements with the Lords of Rust. We felt if our intel was true and current, some of our objectives may correlate, opening avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation while we pursue our objective. Please confirm?"

As Keldor starts talking the woman seems uninterested until you mention the Lords of Rust. With a small grin growing on her face as Keldor then Basil talks.

She takes a step back, and with a chuckle, "Confirmed". She then turns to the other person and "Would you raise the damn gate?"

While the gate is being raised, "I think we could come to some arrangmenet. Come with me, We should have a little chat." She walks ahead to a close door just inside the gate.

Inside you find a grungy meeting room of sorts. Strange smoke hangs in the air, table covered in what seems like trash and food containers.

She sweeps a few tables clear and gestures for you to sit. "My name is Sevroth. I am with the Steel Hawks. We used to be the toughest gang in town before the Lords of Rust arrived, then murdered our previous leader. After which they installed that Smiler Birdfood as our new commander. So here is my deal to yall. You get rid of Birdfood so I can take over what remains of my gang.. and I will help ya out. Give you passage into our fine little city. You help me... I help you..."

She slowly waves a dagger around the room, not in a threatening way, but you can tell she likes being armed.

Thawm smiles. I think I'm going to like you...

"Call me Thawm. Now when you say Smiler, do you mean he's a Smiler as in, he's a cannibal?"
Might not be hard to convince Keldor that blood needs to be spilt if it's from a cannibal

Keldor reamins silent at first during this new turn in the conversation. Murder for hire is not something he wants to be eager for. He then asks for clarification.

"Is his death necessary? Or just proof of his removal?"

With a chuckle "Sure.. removal is fine... Removal of his bird loving mutilated head" She imitates a holding a head by grabbing her own hair and dangling her tongue out of her mouth.

"As for being a cannibal.. Sure. I don't know. Just go kill him and let me take my gang back over."

"Where will we most likely find our target and how will we identify him?", Basil asks, then adds: "If he is accompanied by others, is there any way to try and get them to stand down? I assume if they are former members of your group, you would prefer to take them over intact?"

I was afraid of this.

Keldor frowns, and shakes his head speaking to Basil and Thaum in a low tone of voice away from the woman talking.

"We have no knowledge of this man's capabilities or allies, no real knowledge of the terrain such as it is...nor can I kill a man in cold blood without just cause or reason. If he were to attack us, I will defend myself and my friends to the utmost of my abilities, but we can't force him to do so either. I will NOT hunt down a man for HER just because she wants to offer us something in exchange we MAY need. This place has no real law other than 'might-makes-right' I think and that leaves me cold. Maybe I should have stayed in Torch?"

Thawm whispers back.
"Don't worry about it, I'm sure when we talk with him he'll be reasonable and step down. Let's just get her to agree to 'removal' and 'forget' to explain that he just left town."

and then when that fails spectacularly and we have to kill him anyway, Keldor won't be so whiny about it...

Then Thawm gives the homicidal lady a thumbs up. "Sounds great. Where can we find this guy to have, er... a little talk?"

She nods her head to the north "He is just north of here, just gotta get through our Territory. And honestly, most of the "steel Hawks" are just plants by the Lords of Rust anyway. So if you do decide to go that route.. I don't care what you do with them. Might get a chance to defend yourself." She seems to roll yer eyes a little at that.

She looks over to Keldor listening, "Ah.. a crusader.. goody goody.. You kinda sound like Dinvaya. What a drag, here I thought I had a way to take control from those Hellion freaks" She smirks and leans back.. Waiting and listening.