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Having recently returned to Torch from a rather unprofitable stretch of scrap prospecting, you discovered much to your surprise that the town's namesake was no longer visible...
The violet flame that has burned atop Black Hill for over a century has gone out, leaving a strangely seeping pit of rubble and bubbling fluids where the town's livelihood once glowed day and night!
Quickly hurrying into town, you found its citizens in turmoil - Councilor Khonnir Baine, one of Torch's more powerful wizards and a well-liked
individual is missing! Apparently, he discovered the signs of unusual traffic on the banks ofWeeping Pond, and shortly thereafter, the submerged tunnel that provides access to several heretofore unknown tunnels under Black Hill. His emergence from the caves with a deactivated semi-humanoid automaton sparked worries that something strange might be going on in the caverns, but when he failed to return from his second expedition a few days ago, those worries turned to outright fear. Several other adventuring parties have gone missing in the caves, and Torch finds itself running short on new volunteers...
As a result, the Town Council is offering a reward of 4000gp to anyone who can bring back Khonnir Baine's body, and another 4000gp if the torch can be re-lit. As added incentive, if Baine is brought back alive, they will throw in a Scroll of Resurrection!
A tall, lithe half-elven man with dusky, bronze-like skin, and eyes that glow an unsettling shade of limpid green, walks down the streets of Torch, shaking his head. His hair is piled-up on top of his head in braids, and he maintains a square, braided beard. His most unusual feature, however, is a surgical scar, in the mid-saggital line which extends to just above eyebrow level, and then ducks across to above his ear, before disappearing up into his hair.
Strange days indeed, in an ever-surprising country. This place seems so different without the beacon provided by the violet light of the torch. I do worry about Baine, though; he was always a good friend when I needed it most, and invariably gave me a good price on the scrap that I brought him. I should probably check in on Val at some point, too, to see how she is holding up...
Deciding that he had better confirm the rumors, Gregory heads for the town hall, to have a chat with one of the other Councillors.
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Heading over to the town hall, Gregory finds that only one of the Councillors is currently in residence: Dolga Freddert, a doughty old Dwarf, who has been with Torch since its inception, over 100 years ago.
She looks quite stressed, but when she spots Gregory, she manages to smile.
"Ah, Gregory! I was wondering whether I would eventually see you. I take it that you have heard what has been happening?"
Gregory nods.
"I heard that after the torch went out, Baine discovered that someone had been messing around in some newly-discovered caves beneath the Hill, and that several teams have ventured inside, and not returned. Can you provide me with any more concrete details?"
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Councillor Freddert nods.
"Ah, yes. Four teams in all have ventured inside, but only one came back to report what they found-Khonnir's first expedition. Khonnir spoke at length with the council before going back in, and he confirmed what his group told us, despite how outlandish it sounded. The first team was a group of halfling adventurers, the second a group of local thugs, and the fourth a small adventuring party devoted to the worship of Brigh from out of town. Khonnir's team undertook the third and fifth expeditions under Black Hill, and it was on the fifth expedition-his second trip-that he went missing.
Apparently, the caves are inhabited by several enormous vermin and other scavengers, along with some strange humanoids who had the ability to blend into the shadows of the cave walls, and a nest of gremlins. Khonnir believed this indicated a deeper connection in the caves to the Darklands, but of more immediate interest was his discovery of a wall of solid metal deep in the caves. A wall made of a skymetal alloy called glaucite. He said it was like the kind we mine from the hills and surrounding plains, but formed into a structure with doors. It was near one of these doors that Khonnir found the broken automaton that he brought back after his first expedition.
Now, I can confirm that the reward for rescuing Khonnir is 4,000 gp, plus the town's scroll of resurrection if he's brought back alive. A separate reward of 4,000 gp is still awaiting those who can reignite the torch atop Black Hill. Are you interested?"
Gregory thinks it over for a few moments, before agreeing, saying:
"That sounds reasonable to me - Baine has always done right by me, so it is about time that I returned the favor; I owe him that much, at least."
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Councillor Freddert breathes a sigh of relief.
"Excellent. Here, take this," she says, handing across a rolled scroll. "This is a writ that you can show to any of the merchants in town for a flat 20% discount on any gear you need to purchase-I wish I could offer a greater discount than that, but that's the best I can do. Further, Val, Khonnir's adopted daughter, has closed down her father's tavern, the Foundry, for the time being. She's told me that any group that's going into the caves to look for her father can use the tavern, free of charge, as a headquarters and a place to rest between forays."
Gregory accepts the scroll.
"Thank-you. I am sure that it will prove useful. Before I head into the caves, though, I might check-in on Val, to see how she is doing."
With a bow to the Councillor, Gregory takes his leave, and heads off to the Foundry.
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The Foundry Tavern is one of Torch's most popular establishments, frequented by both locals and visitors alike. However, as you approach, you see that is shut-up tight, with no smoke rising either from its chimneys, or from the foundry next door.
However, suddenly, a scream of terror echoes from the small stone house behind the tavern! As you near it, the door bursts open and a strange robotic creature, its torso, arms and head vaguely humanoid, with one blazing "eye" in the center of its head and a four-fingered hand on each arm, atop three spidery legs, lurches forward, moving with a jerky, staggering gait. It has clearly seen better days - bits and pieces ofits chassis are missing, exposing the delicate circuitry within, and it makes loud and tortured grinding noises as it moves.
It immediately turns around and begins to inspect the door hinges, before clumsily starting to take them apart.
Gregory quickly ducks out of sight.
"Oh dear..."
Carefully observing the robot, he notes that none of its appendages are covered with blood, and seeing that no-one is in any immediate danger, decides that he has time to change.
Subvocalising: Initiate transition protocol.
+++Command accepted. Initiating transition protocol. Please remain stationary for optimal conversion+++
Suddenly, Gregory is shrouded by a nearly-invisible cloud of microscopic machines, which use the surrounding materials to initiate a stupendous change...
Over the course of a minute, his body is clad in plates of dull grey metal, which grow and spread across his body like an encroaching fungal bloom, even as his arms are encased in exoskeletal prostheses, which end in delicate, three-fingered claws. his legs, meanwhile, are worked into an extended quadrupedal chassis, with an additional two spider-like legs extending from the back for additional stability.
Only his face remains largely unchanged, apart from a goggle of fluid silvery metal which extends across his left eye, momentarily blinding him, before clicking on, and revealing a dull red glow from a prosthetic iris.
+++Transition complete. Nanite cool-down period will last approximately 24 hours+++
Flexing his new hands, Gregory turns his attention back on the erratic robot.
"Right then. Let's see what we can do about you..."
He then pounces forward, one clawed hand reaching for its delicate internal wiring.
Regaining his balance, Gregory attempts to tear into the robot!
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Reaching directly into the robot's exposed wiring, Gregory shreds several important-looking wires and tubes, causing electricity to arc across the robot's body, and hydraulic fluid to start leaking across the ground.
However, despite being heavily injured, the robot manages to take a swing at Gregory...
...slamming its fist directly into his torso with enough force to knock him back a few inches.
Round 2: Gregory(-6), Robot(-10)
Gregory is up.
Wincing slightly, Gregory attempts to render the robot inert.
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Grabbing the robot with both hands, Gregory shoves his head right into the open wound on the robot's chassis, and rips out the power core with his teeth!
The robot immediately goes limp.
Silence descends upon the area.
A few seconds later, a comely-looking young Kellid woman, dressed in sensible leathers covered by a reinforced smock that is utterly festooned with pockets, cautiously peeks out of the doorway of the room that the robot burst out of.
"Greg? Oh! It is you!"
She rushes forward and envelops Gregory in a tight hug.
"Thank-you so much! I was just cataloguing some of the supplies in the storeroom, when that robot which Dad brought back jerked to life! I was so terrified! Luckily, I was able to dive under a table, and it seemed more interested in dismantling things, than chasing after me..."
Gregory smiles.
"It's good to see you Val! I am glad to see that you are unharmed. I heard about what happened to your father, and I am going to go look for him. Would you mind if I stayed here for the night? I figure that I should make a start in the morning..."
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"Of course! I've shut-up the tavern, but I can lend you a key, and you can set-up a bedroll in front of the fireplace. Feel free to help yourself to the contents of the pantry, too, while you are at it."
So saying, she digs around in her pockets, before triumphantly holding aloft a large iron key, which she presses into Gregory's hand.
"Thank-you."
Accepting the key, Gregory moves over to the tavern entrance, and lets himself in.
Once inside, he quickly gathers together a simple meal of ham and cheese, and settles down in front of the fireplace.
Subvocalising: Initiative Repair Protocol
+++Command Accepted. Initiating Nanite cascade+++
+++Optimal function restored+++
Satisfied that repairs have been completed, Gregory settles down to sleep.
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The night passes uneventfully.
In the morning, following a hearty breakfast cooked over a small fire, Gregory heads to the Weeping Pool, where the entrance to the caves beneath Black Hill is located.
Unfortunately, the entrance is underwater, but fortunately, one of the previous expeditions apparently connected a guide rope through the tunnel, making the journey into the cavern a relatively easy task.
Dampness hangs in the air of this cave, condensing into heavy moisture on the slick, stone walls. The calm, dark waters wind around to the east up north, along a stony, soot-scarred beach. A five-foot-high ledge sporting several stalagmites rises to the east, beyond which a low-ceilinged cave beckons. Of more immediate concern, however, are the three dog-sized beetles with glowing thoraxes, which pull themselves from crevasses in the walls and floor, chittering hungrily!
Round 1: Gregory, Beetles
Gregory bounds forward, and takes a swipe at one of the beetles with one of his claws!
"Get off!"
Gregory frantically claws and bites at the beetles covering him.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Gregory conducts a brief search of the room, before deciding to follow the flow of water upstream.
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A shallow creek runs through the middle of this cavern, while to the south a stony bank rises up from the water. Thick carpets of green and gray mold and fungus grow on the bank, particularly around a trio of three-foot-high, foul-smelling mounds.
As Gregory moves closer, the mounds of mold begin to quiver, and then slowly begin to move in his direction, revealing the partially-digested bodies of three small-sized humanoids where they were previously resting.
Round 1: Gregory, Mold
Wrinkling his nose in distaste, Gregory takes a half-hearted swipe at the closest pile of slime.
"How utterly disgusting!
Gregory attempts to scrape the slime from his foot.
Gregory continues claw at the slime.
Hoping to go three for three, Gregory enters into a frenzy of blows!
Not wanting to stay any longer than he has to in this fetid pool of slime and decay, Gregory continues up-stream.
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A dark cavern opens up here, its twenty-foot-high ceiling thick with stalactites. A rocky shore overlooks a placid pool and stream, fed by a trickle of water leaking from a narrow fissure to the north. A small garden of toadstools and dark mold grows along the banks.
Crouched at the edge of the pool, chewing on the remains of a medium-sized humanoid, is a grotesque, frog-like creature the size of a large dog, with enormous eyes. It gives a bark of surprise when it spots Gregory, and immediately hisses threateningly!
Round 1: Gregory, BH
Unperturbed by the creature's display of bravado, Gregory moves forward, and takes a swing.
Frantically rubbing at his eyes, Gregory decides that discretion is the better part of valor, and runs away.
Subvocalising: Initiate Repair Protocol
+++Command Accepted. Initiating Nanite Cascade+++
+++Optimal Function Not Restored. Organic Substrate Remains Damaged. Warning: Nanite Stores Temporarily Exhausted+++
Battered, bruised, and quite injured, Gregory staggers back downstream, and upon finding the guide-rope, wisely decides to leave the caves, at least for the moment.
After an hour, when the light-spots disappear from his eyes, and he can finally see again, he returns to the tavern, wisely deciding that he should probably rest for the night, and tackle the caves again the following morning.
Perhaps I should try to climb up that small cliff next time? That frog-thing packed quite a punch!
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After a (relatively) restful night's sleep, Gregory is able to head back into the caves.
To his surprise, the beetles' abdomens are still glowing, shedding dull red light across the entrance chamber.
Clambering up the shelf to the chamber above is a simple task , made easier by the numerous stalagmites and stalactites.
A collection of stalactites and stalagm ites choke this low-ceilinged cavern, making it difficult to squeeze between them. Matching stalactites close in from the five-foot-high ceiling, giving the impression of a maw of needle-like teeth bearing down on one another. A dead half-orc sprawls on the ground near the cave's eastern entrance.
a short-bladed weapon like a dagger.
were right...
Gregory gives the body a perfunctory search, but finding nothing of interest, continues on down the corridor.
Wisely deciding to avoiding facing the frog-beast again, Gregory quickly heads off down the side passage.
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The corridor continues on for about 50 feet, moving in a vaguely south-westerly direction, before opening out into a crossroads.
The passage to the northwest dead-ends in a small cave, containing a collection of crates, boxes, rubble, and scavenged metal lies heaped in the northwest section of this damp cave. Several strange chalk drawings of twisted, spiny plants, a strange three-legged creature, and emaciated four-armed humanoids mark the walls.
To the southwest, the passage continues, whilst a branch, partially blocked by rubble, tracks southeast.
Gregory regards the chalk drawings for a few moments, before shrugging in exasperation.
His eyes, however, light up when he finds the small stash of discs.
Finally! Something worthwhile...
Hearing a faint noise behind him, he spins around, and, spotting the strange humanoid, charges forward!
Gregory continues his frenzied attack upon the creature!
Not content to let it escape, Gregory chases the creature down.