"Anything underground is called The Hells. Goblins like to sneak in from the wasteland every so often and set up shop. Hence the name. They aren't friendly and will probably kill you for your shoes," Eston answers.
"Unless we kill them first....." Hearing the tone in her friends voice, she lays a comforting hand on the top of her head.
Nye looks down at his bare feet.
Well that's comforting. They'll probably eat my feet...
"Glad I don't wear shoes, my hairy feet like to be free." Alton wiggled his toes.
"I'm sure they'll find some they like instead," Eston says, humorlessly.
"Well, let's go and see Master Huston. Nye thinks for a minute, his brow furrowing as if an idea just landed on his head.
Perhaps we could tell him the water isn't getting out when the pump isn't broken - we might be able to get him away from his steam pump to come and investigate and do a little "coercing" of our own.
Otherwise we are faced with a long wait until we can catch him breaking it on purpose - or whatever his trick is. Maybe I'll ask him for a job, and snoop around. The furrow returns to Nye's face as he realizes he has forgotten an important detail.
What's the pay like for this little escapade Eston?"
"Two hundred gold," Eston says. "Not much I know, but I'm hardly rich myself."
"It's 200 gold more that we had yesterday." Vi says with a shrug.
Thinking for a moment Rosa looks up at the others, "Do we really wanna tip our hand this early by making Huston aware that he's being looked into? Maybe we should try to deal with some of his "associates" first?"
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With a suspicious gaze Eleanor asks. "You just want to get back at those guys from last night don't you?"
Looking at her friend with an innocent smile she shrugs. "Who? Me?
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"We don't know exactly which of the groups currently calling themselves "Rifters" is associated with Huston, and it may not be the ones we saw last night... I guess we could find out, but it doesn't seem to address the heart of the problem. They'll likely be goons. [muses thoughtfully for a few moments] I guess if we neutralize his heavies, it might help…"
Rosa just smiles and nods in agreement.
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"Either way I'm pretty sure you'll get the chance to shoot somebody Rosa." Vi says with a wink and a grin.
"Well they better be able to pay me back for the bullets cuz they sure ain't cheap." She chuckles softly to herself.
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"If you say that a few more times I'm going to make it your catch phrase and have it printed on a shirt. " Eleanor comments humorously.
"Well they are...." she says a bit sulkily.
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Eston looks at the group. "Well, I'll leave you to it. You can see Kaplan about your payment when you're done."
The walk to section 3 takes a bit as your move through the milling crowds. Vendors hawk their wares as you pass, some practical like hot weather clothes, some quite impractical like a pneumatic bottle opener. You notice that Section 3 is sparsely populated as opposed to everywhere else.
Rosa looks around the area.
Aneirin's gauntleted fingers twitch, and he moves his mace into easier reach.
"Wonder why it's so quiet hereabouts." he murmurs to no-one in particular.
Rosa shakes her head, "I don't know....but, it can't be good."
Rosa catches a glimpse of one of the underground access sites a little ways off, guarded by a couple of tattooed goons.
"There's definitely something wrong here. Anyone here is around only because they have to be, it's as if everyone else is avoiding this area if at all possible." Vi says, her hand shifting to the rapier on her hip.
Pointing out the access site and the goons Rosa says, "There's our entrance and our welcoming committee. Shall we go say hello?"
Eleanor takes a minute to summon her guardian Eisen forming his body out of scraps from the street, something he doesn't seem to be overly fond of.
"So what's the plan, go down there and knock some skulls together?" she asks.
She shrugs, "Or we could try talking first? But yeah, it's probably gonna be us smacking each other around till they're unconcious."
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'Why do I have a feeling that part is inevitable?" Vi chuckles.
"I'll try to make sure we don't get to that." Alton said rubbing the hilt of his sword.
She just smiles, "Cuz it's almost always inevitable....." Walking towards the goons she calls out, "Oy you two....what are ya just standin round for?" She keeps an eye out for other goons that might be hiding out nearby.
"Piss off, love. Ain't no place for the likes of you," one of the goons says, smiling with cracked teeth.
Rosa doesn't notice any others. Given that these guys might be dimwits, the others might be below.
"Ugh, these meat-brained idiots have a horrid odor about them. Don't they realize I can smell them from 2 blocks down?" Amara sighs and stays next to Rosa.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" Vi asks conversationally.
"That means if you ain't one o' us, you oughta scram," the goon replies.
With one hand on her warhammer and one on her rifle she smiles at them, "Well see there sweetcheeks, there's a problem with that....we gotta be gettin down below....so, if you'd be so kind to just move along so we can get on with our business....this won't have to get ugly."
Nye taps his mace handle meaningfully.
"You bios may just want to listen to the lady..."
The goons eye the group's weapons. "Huston ain't gonna like this..."
"Who cares? We've already been paid," the other says. "Let's go, I could use a beer."
The two goons casually stroll off, glancing over their shoulders at you.
"Well I guess they're smarter than they look." Vi quips after the goons are out of earshot.
"If ugly and stupid went together, I'd think those boys were twins. C'mon, lets get this over with...everyone stay sharp. No telling what we'll find down in here." She carefully makes her way into the sewers.
Alton draws his sword and shield ready to jump any goblin who tried to eat his toes.
You descend down the concrete steps and, about twenty feet later, come to a door with a wheel on it. A sign hangs on the door that reads "This door to remain locked at all times".
"Vi can you poke your head and see why it needs to be locked at all times?" Alton aksed curios to the reason of any locked door.
"Why is any door ever locked? Only for two reasons, to keep something in, or to keep others out. At any rate, we're gonna have to get through there to figure out what's going on with that pump."
Nodding quietly, Vi studies the door seeking any signs of tamper proofing or nasty surprises.
[b]"Well, might the portal keep water in?
Nye looks at the ground for traces of moisture/signs of rushing water.
Rosa keeps her eyes peeled for anything suspicious looking as well.