"From the looks of it, your need a game where your skill plays more than your luck. Perhaps the game over there is more your 'game'?" She points to a table with a few people at it, all holding 5 cards. "You must read your foes, hide your hand, and go for a set of matching cards or series of cards like 7, 8, 9, Squire, then Knight of the same color and 'house'. Think of it like hunting for the best cards?"
"These games are all a waste of time. These fat cats are getting rich off of the poor in the town. They give you a little for free, and then make you pay more than you have once you get a taste for it. It's a sad arrangement."
Sorry for delay, bit wrecked from work lately. Will update tomorrow. Cheers
After and hour of gambling and losing their gift of credits, the group is discreetly asked by a number of the hostesses to make their way towards a booth in the upper level.
Boba had already wandered his way up this stairway, so he at least wasn't surprised by the level of opulence on display here. Where as below the cheap liquor and grog of the locals was selling well, up here only the finest of brandies and exotic alcohols were on display. Bottles of drink here were in excess of 10 to 15 gold a bottle, something beyond the realms of most workers annual savings.
The men and women up here eyed the new comers with interest, but not long enough to draw heir attention away from whatever entertainment they were having at the time. Zlota seemed to get more than one passing glance from some of the younger men, her clothing and appearance marking her as a beauty among those gathered here. Yet for ma who looked, there was a woman staring daggers.
Eventually they were led to a room with a gilded hanging separating it from the rest of the establishment. It was no real barrier to entrance, but it provided those inside the booth with privacy from anyone trying to view them. What's more, there were definitely arcane symbols embroidered into the material. Most likely it was enchanted in some way as well, to protect from eavesdropping perhaps.
As they entered, they were greeted by a tall, well muscled man in his early thirties. Short cropped hair was accompanied by a well groomed beard. His face was lean, and showed signs of wear from long nights in such an establishment. His eyes were keen and alert though, showing something of the intelligence behind them. As he smiled a greeting, they noticed his left side twisted slightly where some injury in his youth had scarred the cheek there. While his garb was clean and fine, it was also functional leather, something that could turn a blade if necessary. Here was a man not born to wealth, but one who had earned it through tough times.
"Garmen Ureth, at your service." he stated simply, bowing low and then taking each of the ladies hands to kiss briefly. With Boba he offered a firm handshake, while to Suna he offered the warriors grip, hand to wrist. It showed his understanding of the different customs, tough he seemed happy enough to offer Bitha a kiss on the hand rather than a warriors shake.
"Ladies, may I say how stunning you are tonight. IT is an honour to have such beautiful women such as yourselves grace my establishment. Would tat you would see fit to visit often, I'm sure you'd find the Silverdisk more than welcoming.". His smile was genuine, and a gleam in his eye showed the flirtatious nature in which he offered the praise.
To the men, he again offered a bow. "And gentlemen, such folk as yourselves rarely seem to emerge in a town such as this. Too many here seek fortune or are running from trouble. When I heard that group had formed in order to delve the depths to rescue Khonnir Baine, well I just had to meet you." He smiled again then offered them a seat.
At the table, a bottle of Mendevian red stood airing. It was dated to around the time of the first crusade, an era when Mendev had time and money to make the finest of wines. Garmen offered to pour each a glass before he himself took one and then sat at the table. "Tell me everything, please. I am dying to hear of the bravery you have shown and what horrors you have faced in the regions below!". His smile again gleamed, focused mostly on the three women in the group.
Boba
It seems that Garmen Ureth, the man who runs this establishment, earned his wealth through the secrets he gets from the customers here. When rich people get drunk or high, they tend to feel invulnerable and so they happily tell their latest escort things that should best be left in the darkest corners of their memories.
His natural charm and his willingness to use this information for leverage saw him rise rapidly in the towns movers and shakers.
It's known that the three remaining councillors do not like the man, and even darker rumours suggest that he may have a hand in the Ropefists, a local gang of criminals who seem to be involved in organised crime in the town.
The other patrons were Guildmasters and high stakes claim holders, making their money from the backs of the working class in Torch. Only one or two folk in town hailed from old money, and most of those had left estates in other countries for reasons they'd rather not talk about.
Alyna stared at Garmen quizzically. She had met many men who had complimented her on hear beauty, but not nearly to the extent that this man did.
"Good evening, Mister Ureth. This is quite an establishment you have. However, I do not desire to be rude, but we must keep this meeting brief as we must rest soon before we return to the caves below the town. Master Baine is still missing, and any time we delay in locating him increases the possibilities of us not arriving in time to help him, if he is alive."
"You run this place? It is something all right," she sneers. "We are going to find the missing townsfolk. The ones we have found so far haven't been in great shape, as you've heard. We do not think we've seen Khonnir as yet though, although there is a great unexplored area below. As Alyna said, we are heading back in the morning to keep looking."
Bob smiles and tips his hat and bows graciously.
"Mr. Ureth, your hospitality was overwhelming. It is unfortunate that we are in a hurry to rest from our harrowing journey and be up at the crack of dawn to return and look for Khonnir. I assure you, we will return to resume our conversation in earnest."
Bob adds with a wink: "Consider this first meeting a quick prelude to an earnest conversation at a later date. At the moment, we have found little of interest to share, but will return when we have information of value to share."
Bob will wait to share his discoveries with the others later. But will hasten the departure as he puts on his leather jacket, gives a final tip to the serving staff and offers his elbow to Alyna to escort her out formally. It is quite obvious the first meeting is coming to a quick end.
Not wanting to leave him totally dry, Bob informs him on the way out: "We found many an empty Silverdisk, but we may know the trick is to find the 'full' ones."
Suna shakes the mans hand with a Warriors grip but increasingly grows agitated as his scent gives of the intention of flirtation. His constant ploy towards the women made a growl rush through his throat until it was quite audible. The strange thing was, Suna had no particular reason as to why. He had just met these people, especially the females. To his knowledge he did not feel much more towards them than comrades so perhaps it was his natural protective self?
Regardless Suna eventually spoke, " I don't know your customs.. but If I didn't know better this whole thing was so you could get information from people. We have a Job and you have yours. And next time You shake Warrior Bitha' Hand LIKE A WARRIOR! Don't assume any of these women are yours for the taking " Suna almost storms out looking to the party before turning around and leaving.
"A pleasure, Ser Ureth. And as my compatriots state, we come as a matter of civility. Your generosity and kindness is appreciated, but we do have others down in the caverns needing to be found so their bodies may be laid to rest."
Turning to Suna, she reaches out and touches the hunter on the shoulder. "Stay calm, Hunter Suna. We will join in several moments." Looking to Alyna now, she speaks in Adroffan.
Bob shakes his head as they leave and relates.
"That is a powerful and dangerous man. It was not necessary to antagonize him. If we have made an enemy today, we have done ourselves no favors. He has ruthlessly moved to his position of power and has access to thugs and criminals."
What was done was done. Having left the dangerous man, Bob would be happy to get back on the hunt for his mentor.
Alyna stares at Bob blankly for a moment. "My apologies, Mister Boba. I did not intend to antagonize anyone nor did I intend to make enemies with influential townsfolk. I shall try in the future to regulate my conversations and actions as to not be antagonistic."
Garmen looked taken aback at the response from the group. At Suna's remarks his face hardened for the briefest of moments before his smile returned.
"So then, this is how it's to be is it? I offer you my hospitality but it is spurned. Well.....I am sure you have your reasons."He stood then, finishing his glass of the fine red then turned to leave. As he did so, he spoke in genteel tones. "Please, feel free to finish the wine, it is of the highest quality. When you leave, your weapons will be returned in good order.
Turning to Zlota specifically, he bows and says pleasantly [b]"Milady, feel free to return whenever the mood takes you. You are delight to both the eye and the mind. Farewell"
As the curtain swings shut behind him, the group are left to ponder whether the man is indeed a potential ally of they've just made a powerful enemy.
With that though, the night was at an end. The return to their rooms was without event, and soon restful slumber claimed them all.
"I didn't like that place anyway. The day I need his help is the day I'll consider letting the robots have me first!"
The morning broke with grim clouds and heavy rain. At some stage during the night, a cold front had moved in and now a chill bit through the air, bringing with with it a light wind and the rains.
Despite the miserable conditions outside, it was not long after breakfast had been served that a heavy knock came from the front door. Val went to answer it, allowing the group to take their repast without interruption. A few moments later, she returned leading a heavy set man dressed in a guild tabard. Behind him stood three large lads, obviously his sons. Each carried a chest, and they were straining under the weight of what was carried.
The old man looked around at the group, taking note of each of their features before taking a low bow of deep respect.
"Ye'll forgive my intrusion into your morning, please. Me names Griffon, a guild member in high standing at the halls. I was informed late last night that you five had been instrumental in returning my sons body from the depths below Torch." his eyes clouded in grief for a moment, and the three lads behind him hung their heads.
"He were a good lad, but never was interested in the trade o' me and me other boys. We're smiths o' some skill ye see, but Gremmin, well he was more wiry than brawn. Followed goodman Khonnir into them tunnels like a pup with waggin' tail. I warned him o' the dangers, but ye think the fool boy would listen." His words had taken on the hard edge of one going over an old argument that carried much frustration and regret. He sighed deeply, then turned to his boys, nodding his head.
The three men stepped forwards and placed the heavy trunks on the floor. They stepped back and the old man opened each one with an old brass key. As the lids opened, the group saw weapons and armour of fantastic workmanship, master crafted each one, and some of exotic materials for sure.
"This lot were bound for the League, as part o' tithe we have ter pay each year. My wife and I agreed that some o' this would be better served by such as you. Take one o' something for each of ye. It's all we can afford I'm afraid. If the League's taxes fall short, they tend ter get a might touchy. But you brought me boy back to us, cleaned him up of whatever foulness killed him too from what the priest tells me. For that, we'd take a lashing or two from the League."
He stepped back to let the group look through the goods and make their selections.
After it had been done, the old man glanced at Bitha and nodded his head towards the chain shirt she wore.
"That were Gremmin's that were. Ye look like you can use it better than he ever could. If you give Grieg here a half hour o' time, he can fit it so it suits yer frame better."
The youngest man blushed a little as he stepped forward. "Sorry maam, but I'll need to take, ah, that is to say...I'll need to know some sizes to let it out in the chest and such. It's all professional mind, I'd never think to take advantage...." he petered out in embarrassment.
Despite the reasons for the visit, the two older brothers snickered a little at their younger brothers discomfort. The old man just frowned at them and spoke. "The other two can do similar for the rest o' ye. They'll make what adjusments as is needed for the weapon fits and armour straps. Grieg made that suit your wearin' miss. It's just best its him as sees to its fit."
Bitha nodded at the family. "I am happy we were able to return him to you for proper rites. That is important to my tribe.". Bitha slips the shirt off and talks to the family, aiding them in getting the fit just right for her. She understood the emotions the family was suffering through, and mostly was quiet, allowing them to grieve.
Bob picks a well made shirt of mithral chain links and, with his Gunsmith kit, makes 10 adamantine cartridges.
The small technocrat was interested in the packages of fine materials and weapons. He quickly grabbed some chalk and worked with the fine craftsmen. He sketched an emblem of the a picture that was quickly recognized as the signature great purple bonfire lighting up the darkest of skies that was the hill near Torch with a motto in both Androffan and the Common tongue. 'Our flame burns for those of Torch'
"Fine craftsmen, I would like this emblem on my fine shirt of chain to wear with pride. Some of my companions may wish the same. I hear there as an etching process to color fine metal without damaging it."
Choosing the links of the fine, light metal of uncommon strength, Bob explained the chain shirt he would like crafted. Picking up the ore of the meteorite that was reputed to be indestructible, he helped craft ten cartridges with bullets of the adamantite enclosed within.
He shows Alyna his gunsmithing kit, and how he maintains and loads his firearm. Testing the cartridges by carefully fitting each into the chamber, measuring the clearance with a pair of find calipers, and then removing each adamantine cartridge.
The ten special adamantine cartridges he puts in a special ammunition pouch easily accessible when needed.
"If the mood takes me, I shall return. I thank you again for your hospitality." Too bad she has trouble with moods...
Looking in, Zlota spots a unique and ornate armor of studded leather. Looking it over, she finds the patterns embossed on it intriguing, the lines looking much like the markings on her skin. "I would like this, please. If one could help fit it for me, I would appreciate it."
Looking down, a dagger of similar make catches her eyes, the acid etching almost mirroring the pattern in the armor. "And this, if this is fine."
In the end it took more than an hour for everyone to be kitted out suitably. The men were professional and fast, and by the end they were all joking easily with each other.
These were the kinds of folk that Torch prided itself on. Honest workers and tradesmen, working to better themselves despite the stringent limitations placed upon them by the technic league.
After the Guilders had left, it was a matter of getting the water breathing spell reapplied and then a plunge back into the murky waters.
No one stood to watch them decend this morning. The drizzling rain kept all but the very brave or the very foolhardy indoors at this point. Not entirely sure to which category they belonged, the party took the plunge once more.....
The caverns hadn't changed much from their previous delve. However the inhabitants were showing signs of times passage. The frog creature was beginning to reek of decay, and now some sort of slime was growing over it. The fire beetles had lost all sign of their inner luminescene and the grey folk were gone. A heavy piton was driven into the lip of the great hole that led deeper into the caverns below, but they had obviously used a knot that allowed for the retireval of their rope, for it was not their any more.
The tech chambers too hadn't changed much from before, with the wrcked robot and disabled chambers. The desert showed signs of the tentacle beasts though. Great tracks had been plowed through the sands, radiating out from the rocks in the cetral desert. The beasts had gone looking for food during the time the group had been above ground. Their tracks gave them away though, and it was nothing for Suna and Bitha to lead them around the threat that these alien beasts provided.
Within a half hour, they again found themselves in the passageway and rooms system where they'd fought the Juju. Boba's work in disabling the lightning trap had stood the test of time, and the room remained inert. The Juju lay where it had been destroyed the day before.
A choice of two doors lay before them. Both had black access panels but the one that seemed to lead deeper into the tech complex had been warped. It would take serious effort to force open. The other door merely require the use of the correct card or e picks.
"Both our choices are poor at best. Forcing the door open will make much more noise, so maybe the silent door would be best for now," the barbarian suggests.
Bob checks out the 'unwarped' door carefully and inserts the new black access card in when it looks safe.
Alyna stands at the ready. She isn't letting her guard down considering all of the trouble they have experienced so far.
Suna had made the crafters recreate his tribal markings and fetishes upon his new Hammer but overall seemed satisfied with their overall determination and skill.
He stood posed to act staying behind Bitha and near Alyna and Zlota as they choose to advance. He sniffed at the air experimentally to tell if anything changed.
The door slid soundlessly upwards as Boba swiped the card across the black panel. Inside the room was again filled with strange tech. Numerous benches with blank screens of black or flickering blue, great benches that contained thousands of buttons, each glowing with different colours, or humming with a faint buzz. In the centre of the room, a great black column rose to the ceiling, its sides made of black metal interspersed with dark glass.
Predominantly the room glowed with red. Most the panels were black, but so many buttons flashed red or glowed a dull orange that the place held the hues of hell itself.
There were no signs of life in this room, just the strange technology, keeping its bizarre secrets.
So Bob took out his now massive collection of tools and went to work. He was determined to get all he could of value.
When he was through with this room, he went to work on the warped door. He concentrated on using the epick to try and clear the lock so the big strong members of the party could force the door.
Zlota, having resummoned Ksila, steps in behind the others. These rooms were so familiar, yet so alien at the same time, like memories of memories of dreams. Stepping over to Bob, she leans down and pats his shoulder. "Anything of note, friend?"
Ooc - anyone else want to check things in here or are we happy for looty mc loots a lot to do his thing and move on?
Bitha doesn't want anything to do with this strange hell hole of a room. She is quite ready to move on when the others have accomplished whatever they were looking for.
Alyna examines the room closely, hoping to find anything of use in here.
Her curiosity getting the better of her, she starts to push some buttons.
Suna sits back as well watching the hallway, he had no training in such things and more shared a similar mindset as Bitha on technology, though it made for fun hunts.
Boba was in the process of removing a panel from the wall mounts when Alyna stumbled upon an amber coloured panel of light. The young priestess pushed on it gently and the entire room changed.
Energy hummed to life on the large central column, its black glass pulsing now with an eerie purple light. Many of the switches which had previously glowed red now filled the room with an emerald green light.
Nearby, a deep hum filled the air as some form of tech came slowly to life again. The sound of wind came from the tunnels leading to the desert chamber, and more miraculously, bright sunlight seemed to be streaming into the trapped room from the tunnel.
Warm air also seemed to be coming into the chambers from the desert area now. With the pressing of that one button, Alyna seemed to have drastically changed things inside the huge domed chamber.
A few seconds later, a table which had previously seemed empty suddenly hummed with life. An image of the desert suddenly appeared in three dimensional illusory tones, coloured blue and flickering slightly. Fifteen red dots were scattered around the "map" one of which was moving slowly towards the main mountain region.
Behind the table, a series of panels flickered to life as well and began to flash images of strange creatures across their surface. IT was like watching a painting that could change its image every few seconds. Androffan words scrolled across the page with each image, telling what was being seen. It turned out the tentacle creatures were called Ghelarn by the androffan tongue.
Bitha and Suna heard a mournful sigh erupt from the room containing the Juju corpse. As the two warriors rushed to the entrance, they caught site of the Juju zombie once again standing and fully healed. IT stood staring at the great vista of the desert dome, but that scene had changed significantly since the two hunters had last seen it. Where once darkness reigned, now the light and heat of twin suns burned across the sky. One had a distinctive blue colour while the other was similar to their own, a yellowish white colour. The Juju turned to them and whispered words in its own tongue, its withered face seemingly twisted in grief. For a moment longer it stood looking towards them, and then it dissolved into dust, as if thousands of years f decay had caught up with it all at once.
Alyna blinks in surprise. "I... I only pressed this panel..." she replied.
Soon her surprise turns to curiosity and she begins to examine all of the new sights, from the strange magical table to the ever-changing images. She paid particular attention to the Androffan words scrolling across the displays. Seeing the name of the tentacled creature, she mindlessly muttered "Ghelarn," as she traced her hand across the lettering on the screen. She looked back towards the window overlooking the artificial desert for a moment before returning her gaze to the screen. Then, as if something had taken over her actions, she began fiddling with the buttons near the screens to see if they would have any effects on the images.
"Evil sorcery! It's evil I say. How about no more button pushing from now on. If this room has the power to bring evil monsters like that back to life, there's no telling what other evil its capable of!". Bitha was clearly freaked out by the scene.
Turning to Bitha, Zlota raises a hand. "Warrior Bitha, while I agree just absentmindedly pressing buttons was not a very wise course of action, we now know several things: This isn't just some tunnel system, some of the creatures we've encountered are called Ghelern, and that something is approaching the mountains." She points to the table to reveal the small dot moving towards the aforementioned mountains.
"This appears to have been an observation post, and with it we can, with some mild success it looks, track the beasts and foes here, at least in the desert there."
Bob nods.
"I once asked Khonnir why many charged high costs to relate knowledge through books and teachings. He said if you think knowledge is expensive, try ignorance. It is much more costly. We do know much, and my tinkering instincts where wrong."
Bob begins to mess around with the controls and buttons, writing down what affects the controls and buttons seem to cause. All thoughts of disassembling the room now forgotten.
Suna growls, his eyes had witnessed something one should never see but at the same time he felt sorrowful. The creature was a fine warrior and the light that bathed it was warm, giving an expression almost as though it regretted something. He was no less riled up, his fur stood. " I have heard of an entire Tribe wiped out from ignorance such as yours, I'd rather that not happen here with this vile metal magic. Warrior Bitha it is fine however, even creatures such as it fell to your blade and your new one is much tougher, we should be fine. We are strong. "
Despite carefully pressing other panels and exploring their findings here, neither Alyna or Boba could get much more to work from this room.
They decided that leaving it as is was probably preferable to accidentally triggering something dangerous.
Moving to the other door, Boba pulled out his tools and set to work. He managed to disable the lock and loosen the door enough for Bitha and Suna to force it open without much noise.
Beyond the door lay a large, brightly lit chamber. It's walls curved in semi circular patterns, and two great pillars of black metal rose to support the metal roof above.
The far side of the room rose in a series of wide steps onto a platform. A single desk stood there, with a screened panel emerging from its centre. Behind the desk a single windowed door seemed to lead to a smaller room. The window showed metal containers of some sort suspended from the wall in there.
Off to their left lay a double set of doors with a black panel beside it. A large pool of dried blood spread from the door into this room, as if it had seeped under the doors from whatever lay beyond. Someone had made it this far recently., but it did not seem like it ended so well for them.
Suna rushed over to the pool of dried blood and began to sniff it to judge taste, and how old it was. And more importantly what kind of scents.
Bitha followed Suna. "I hope this isn't more of the townspeople. Can anyone find a way to get in that room? Get us in those double doors now!"
The blood was days old, and mixed with the strange oily fluids of the robots that Suna had smelled in the past. The cool temperature, lack of air movement and the non porous floor meant the liquid had congealed slowly, leaving a raised surface like a resin coating.
The door panel was not locked, and so simply using the black card they had acquired would get them through when they were ready.
Bob carefully examines the door for traps, despite the anxiety of the barbarian, before using the access card.
" This is blood and black fluid from those metal creatures; days old. It may be the blood of one of the groups that went down here.. We should follow it. "
Bitha stood silently, sword at the ready. She hated everything about this place, but she was bound and determined that she was going to protect her group from the fate that had befallen whatever other humanoids had been here before.
Boba's check revealed no traps. He gingerly swiped the card across the panel and the doors parted. Rather than sliding into the ceiling, these ones opened into the walls on either side of the corridor.
The corridor that was revealed curved slowly around to the right. It was obvious that some epic battle had occurred here. The ground near the door was covered in more dried blood and the walls had been sprayed with sweeping arcs of the crimson fluid as well. Ruined piles of metal lay strewn in two or three places, the remnants of robots that had been destroyed in the fight.
A great trail of blood led from the battle scene, showing where the bodies had been dragged through the corridor and around the coirner out of sight.
In the distance, the fain sound of mechanical noises and the familiar hiss of steam could be heard. This part of the complex was alive with tech that had somehow been re enabled.
"I knew there would be more robots attacking the villagers! We must find them at once. These monsters are a threat to our whole world,". She began following the trail of blood to where it looked like it ended.
Alyna cautiously begins to methodically examine the room, paying particular attention to the damaged robots and anything else that may have some educational value and taking her time to thoroughly search the area.
Suna roars " Khonnir and the rest were slain and dragged away whatever was alive! THE HUNT IS ON! Let us find them! " He follows suit noting the trail along with Bitha. He allowed the more technophiles their time but did not wait. They would tell him what was important later he was sure.