Smoke rises from a massive chimney in this open-sided smithy, whose ceiling rises at least twenty feet above the ground at its lowest point. A fenced yard hosts a multitude of swords, shields, breastplates, and helms—some are propped up on stands and others lying incomplete in piles. The cadence of steel on steel rings out from the shop.
Most of the shop is simply a sturdy pavilion containing a central forge, half a dozen anvils of varying sizes, and a pair of immense ceiling-mounted bellows. Racks mounted on pillars hold hammers of many sizes, and several large barrels filled with either water, oil, or bars of iron.
An enormous, muscular giant is banging away near the forge.
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"Excuse me my gigantic friend Valsog, I wonder if we would speak with you about the glorious peoples revolution and your part within it? I heard a heartbreaking tale that you were suffering in bondage and I have come to see what can be done about that in the name of Liberté, égalité, fraternité, wake up and arise my colossus of freedom! Come join with me if you will, and lets see Tygora thrown out"
Diplomacy
Hmm. Tygora boss. Oreads boss. What do I care? I make swords. Tygora boss, I make swords for Tygora, Oreads boss, I make swords for Oreads. As long as I have my forge.
I made a lot of weapons. he says as he points to the stockpile of armaments outside they are for ifrits. Tygora will be very mad if they don't get the weapons. Tygora may take away my forge, the giant says with a sullen tone, smacking his hammer on metal once more. Forge is all I have.
Even though Valsog seems indifferent, Jacques has the feeling that his words may have moved him enough to be more friendly toward the party.
Hrmm. These are my weapons. I made these weapons. They are not yours for the taking.
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"Wait Ceobryn, perhaps we can ally with this man, he seems to only care about the making of the weapons and has no love or loyalty to Tygora"
Blackjack takes a gamble...
"Valsog, there will always be a place for you and your forge in this town. The people here will always have need of a skilled artisan who can turn their ore into useful tools, into weapons with which they may defend themselves. There is no suggestion that you should be forced to hand your labours over without due compensation, for that would simply be slavery by another name and I don't see that as acceptable.
"Tygora has treated you wrong, treated you poorly, and takes advantage of you, the same way Tygora has wrongfully abused the Oreads. Enough is enough. The Oreads could use your friendship and your support as they seek a new set of freedoms, no longer under the yoke of Tygora."
"When Tygora is gone, there will still be a need for you, there will still be need for your labours - future trade with those who would come after us as they seek supplies which which to explore these ancient mountains, those who would take your wares far across the oceans and look with wonderment at the items created by such unique hands."
"If you cannot gift these weapons to the people that they may secure your future, at least let me assure you that you will be compensated for them and paid fairly. Regradless, Tygora will simply use them for evil ends... whatever choice you make, let me implore you not to hand them that way."
"Will you aid us? Will you aid them? Will you free yourself?"
Diplomacy
Lanarial has been tagging along, keeping to the shadows and watching for signs of the party being followed. He knows the power of intelligence, and knowledge. Lanarial was determined to keep knowledge of their actions from reaching Tygora through her spies if at all possible...
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Elindriel nods, "We understand that you want to continue working; you're obviously devoted to your craft, and it shows in the quality of your work. Weapons of that quality are too precious to be given to the likes of Tygora, who never appreciates them. With her gone, however, stories of your amazing workmanship will be known throughout the lands; I myself will tell the stories of Valsog the craftsman, slave to Tygora, who provided the weapons to free the Oread peoples from Ifrit tyranny."
Lirianne, nonplussed by all this diplomacy, is starting to get an itchy trigger finger. Nevertheless, she waits with the group, while keeping an eye out for signs of trouble.
I don't like politics. I like my forge. But I see. No weapons for Tygora. The giant nods solemnly, then continues his smithing works.
The Everlasting Flame can be found in the merchant's part of town A wood-and-stone structure sits on a busy street corner, red and orange paint brightening its exterior. A sign depicting colorful vials and a beaker hangs above the door.
Just as the adventurers arrive, two ifrits have just finished throwing several bottles of oil on different parts of the structure. They seem to be completely undisturbed by the arrival of the adventurers.
"Can do," Lirianne replies, raising her pistol and aiming a shot between the two ifrit.
"Stop right there," she shouts to the ifrit, "and step away from the building. Now." She raises her second pistol and cocks the hammer back for emphasis.
Bloody... the Ifrits are clearly startled by the sudden display of aggressiveness of the group of foreigners. C'mon one says to the other let's light this crap and get out of here.
The ifrits drop their torches and make a run for it. The oil immediately turns the shop into a large blazing fire. Mark comes running out and scream My Shop! We have to stop the fire, or the whole neighbourhood's going to blow up!
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Lanarial
Ceobryrn
Ennoia
Lirianne
Jacques
Elindriel
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Marok (ally)
Fire
Fire
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Having dealt with gunpowder accidents before, Lirianne knows that the key is to suffocate the fire (and that using water on an oil fire would just spread it further), so she immediately whips off her cloak and uses it to smother the flames before they can take hold.
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Glad that they convinced the giant without blood shed. Ceobryrn is slower to react at the merchant place, but his survival training kicks in as he helps put out the fires.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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During the Fifth Mendevian Crusade, Ennoia had to deal with many fires and blazes. She hurriedly takes a blanket to snuff out the fire.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Through quick thinking and even quicker action, the group manages to control the fire. An outrage! Morak says, they've gone too far this time, they tried to set fire to my shop, because I refused to contribute part of my inventory to Tygora!
We're not going to take it! Morak shouts and some oread bystanders, also shopkeepers, join in not any more!
There's no containing the the insurgence any longer. Grabbing the nearest piece of sharp iron or bludgeoning wood, dozens of oreads pour out into the street. To the citadel! they shout Storm the keep!
There will be no curfew tonight...
A 500-foot road extends up from Crystalcrag to Fury’s Hold, giving the structure a commanding view of the whole town. The curtain wall around the palace’s courtyard is 20 feet high and sealed with an immense, barred bronze door.
Two large fire elementals patrol in front of the gate, and the oread crowd seem hesitant to confront them.
"Stand down and let us pass!" Lirianne calls to the guards. "Our quarrel is with Tygora, not you. Stand in our way, though, well, there'll be consequences."
Lanarial, ever off to the side and in the shadows, quaffs a potion, and disappears!
Upon the first words of Lirianne, the elementals do not hesitate and move on the attack. The troupe of oreads fall onto several of them, leaving two of them for the party to deal with.
Lanarial stealthily moves up, only to see the enraged elemental moves past him, toward the party.
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Ceobryrn
Lirianne
Jacques
Ennoia
Elindriel
Lanarial
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Elemental
Elemental
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As soon as the elementals begin to advance, Lirianne opens fire, aiming a shot at the left enemy.
Lanarial will silently follow behind, waiting for the close melee before attacking with his +1 keen rapier from behind and giving his comrades a flanking advantage!
Delayed action
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Jacques sees the battle breaking out and begins rallying his allies with a song of revolution...
He draws his sword and waves it to emphasise his point.
Lirianne fight fire with fire, and her deadly shot hitting. A barrage of arrows from Ennoia, under the encouraging songs of Jacques, pierces the fiery creature, and leaves it in a heap of ash.
Lanarial sneaks up to the elemental and catches it unawares. Unfortunately, there are no vital organs to strike, so the effect of the stab is rather limited.
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Ceobryrn
Lirianne
Jacques
Ennoia
Elindriel
Lanarial
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Elemental - Dead
Elemental (4)
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Ceobryrn moves back a few steps quickly drawing his dark wood bow and taking deadly aim fires at the injured fire elemental.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ceobryrn tries to add his own precision shot, but his arrow is off the mark, and simply catches fire as it brushes past the elemental.
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Ceobryrn
Lirianne
Jacques
Ennoia
Elindriel
Lanarial
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Elemental - Dead
Elemental (4)
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The last elemental slams at Elindriel, the closest target in range. His first slam bashes on the bard's armour, shaking her up enough that the second slam hits home hard.
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Ceobryrn
Lirianne
Jacques
Ennoia
Elindriel
Lanarial
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Elemental - Dead
Elemental (4)
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Nimbly moving in, Blackjack draws the attention of the elemental before stabbing it himself. Blackjack draws a slam from the elemental, the searing heat scorching his nostrils.
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Ceobryrn
Lirianne
Jacques
Ennoia
Elindriel
Lanarial
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Elemental - Dead
Elemental (18)
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Ennui's first arrow hits the elemental creature, and it wails in pain, while the second arrow burns up before it hits, and the third goes wide.
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Ceobryrn
Lirianne
Jacques
Ennoia
Elindriel
Lanarial
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Elemental - Dead
Elemental (41)
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Ceobryrn sitting atop his horse has it hold its ground as he rapidly fires two arrows at the fire elemental
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ceobryrn pierces the elemental with his well-aimed arrows, while Elindriel, halting her song to avoid being burned, cuts an end to the elemental with a well-placed stroke of the falcata
With the help of the oread mob, the guards outside of the keep are defeated. From the crowd a huge shape looms up. It's the slow, lumbering figure of Valsog, heaving a rock. Though Lanarial fears for a moment it is aimed at him, the slag giant lobs the boulder at the gate, smashing it open with a huge crash.
As the party has the chance to close in on the palace courtyard, a group of ifrits emerges from the far end. Shyvera some of the oreads gasp out in shock the assassin master. She has a team of specialised warriors. Be careful!
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Ennoia
Ceobryrn
Elindriel
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Shyvera
Ifrit
Ifrit
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Lanarial
Lirianne
Jacques
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