Garm seems to be not quite looking at Lax, as he thinks out loud:
"Lax, I believe you missed my point about repairs to secure the ship. Metal, stone, anything that will make it difficult for enemies to breach. I have no illusion that we can get the Hymn back into the void without outside help. The turrets would surely be more manageable, and the scholar may well know something of use."
"That would be significantly easier to find but I'm not sure that the tech priest would allow it, though I will ask them after this meeting is over. With that in mind how should we proceed Captain?"
"If the best materials are not available, then the tech-priests will have the choice of leaving gaping holes in the Hymn to allow bandits to steal and harm machine spirits - or accept the reality of the situation. But the dwarves may provide us with something suitable. We will speak with them swiftly. Is there anything else that needs to be taken care of before we leave to trade?"
"Lax, find Sigfried. I want to know who would be best to deal with for promethium or materials for repair."
Lax will do as he's told but he'll also grab a tech priest as well.
Translator or not Sigfried has some difficulties with the technical details as he is not a metallurgist but has a general idea of some of the more common elements... sometimes ye are asking for things that have no direct translation.
Sigfried takes a while to figure out roughly what you mean. The tech priest must sadly inform you this sounds like a raw unrefined version, the ship has no facilities for mass processing, they can transmute small quantities but that will detract from other tasks which are currently grenades.
Sigfried tries to get his head around what you mean by Adamantium which is mostly required for use as alloys rather than pure. He thinks you might be speaking of Gromil which is known as 'Star Metal' in some circles. The tech priest suspects it might be of limited to no local deposits due to this if it is adamantium.
Sigfried, doesn't know where you have currently brought him but he would say many goods are available in Marienberg.
"Tech-priest, show Sigfried the substances you describe. It may help him know them."
"Let us try Marienburg. Tech-priest, give us small samples of the materials so we may show them."
Siegfried hasn't seen the promethium before, it's an odd liquid. As for the Adamantium he admits he's never seen Gromil up close.
Heading to Marienburg you find things easy going communication wise if you can speak Reikspiel. No one has anything like proper promethium just this cruder unrefined or barely refined versions. Techpriest Philips speaks up "The machine spirits would be offended at even the crude attempts at refinement these locals have made though they might accept it they would demand an excessive increase in maintenance."
Asking around about adamantium or gromil there aren't many examples of gromril here. The dwarves keep the majority for themselves and you are directed to a dwarven smith in the city called Azulbak, if anyone in the city would know the answer to your strange questions it would be him.
Azulbak's forge is quite, comparatively to the others in the district at least, impressive. Several younger dwarfs with shorter beards work forges hammering away. Azulbak however is older, shy of five foot he is broad his muscles well developed. His beard is full and well tended to. "You've been asking about gromril and some other exotic metal, tell me more?"
"Greeting my name is Lax Stoneborn and it is my pleasure to introduce you to my captain Garm Dariyal. We are searching for Gromril, though we call it adamantium and refined promethium. Our tech priest has examples of both. By the way your forge seem quite impressive, can you tell me a bit about what kinds of goods you can produce?" Lax says stepping forward.
"Weapons and armour for the most part, my apprentices can produce better than any living human blacksmith. Goldsmithing and silversmithing can also be done on request. My services charge a higher rate but you'll not find better in Marienburg."
"It's strange looking Gromril." He peers at it studying the sample growing more quizical as he does, smelling it and eventually even licking it. He grows confused and cleans it with some acid before examining it again. "Adamantium you say... that's not Gromril I can tell you that much but I've never seen this metal or aloy before." Like a wave the forge goes silent as apprentices turn.
"Where did you get it?" He seems a little annoyed.
One of the apprentices interjects "Maybe it's Ithilmar?"
Ithilmar roughly sounds like bastardised Eldar words that would translate psychic metal
Azulbak looks furious at the apprentice and raises his voice in Khazalid at him.
"You think so little of your master that he does not know ithilmar on sight. Begone, I will you have you shame me at my own forge. You are my apprentice no longer."
The apprentice leaves his eyes cast down. Azulbak looks at your group again, the forge more still now somehow than before. "Where did you find this metal?"
"We can tell you everything you want to know about it. For a price."
Garm sizes up these dwarves, now that he a chance to see them up close.
Garm speaks up.
"Master Azulbak, it is certainly not the 'psychic metal' we seek. Adamantine is as sturdy a metal as we know of, and the Eladrith materials are instead more flexible."
He aims to support Lax's negotiation plot by dropping a little bait.
"Oh for a price... is that the game you're playing. After asking me questions and getting some of your answers. I had assumed we were being cordial but if that's the way you want it! Wouldn't it have been wiser to ask my price before setting the forge up like that. You're in my debt now manling if that's they way you want it!" Azulbak still annoyed has found a focus in Lax. "You're Sirname sounds more dwarven but your tongue carries an elvish lilt manling." It is clear from the reactions of the apprentices this is not a compliment.
Lax couldn't help but grin slightly. Now this was how there business should be done. With an exchange of words not fists.
"Debt? For what? That finding out that you don't have what we seek? or that you know nought what you hold in your hands." Lax leans closer.
"You told me that your the best in Marienburg. With the knowledge of our metal you could be the best in the world. Or we could be."
"Get out of my forge manling or my hammer will find your skull you insulting little wretch."
Seeing the negotiation tack has gone to hell, Garm tries something.
He turns to Lax and speaks in Reikspiel.
"Leave. Now."
And turns back to the dwarf, still speaking in Reikspiel.
"Master Azulbak, I apologise for my crewman. He is young and enthusiastic - and a bit too reliant on clever words. I am Garm Dariyal, Druchii-slayer, and I would treat with you directly, if you would allow it."
Garm glares at Lax, still speaking in Reikspiel.
"That was an *order*, Lax."
Lax will leave as ordered.
Lax stops outside and thinks for a minute.
That man is more proud than Illorn, maybe we can use that.
Lax will ask around if Azulbak has any business rivals.
He will vox any information that he finds to Garm.
"He's a fool, best not left talk to strangers if that's how he goes about it. Where did you come across this Adamantium I've never seen it's like before." Azulbak seems to be responding better to Garm but is still more guarded in his responses than he had been earlier.
"I will not dispute that, given his words. Adamantium, from what I understand, is used in our heaviest structures, vessels, and war machines. Any in our base comes from other worlds. With the damage, we either need adamantium, or the nearest equivalent we can find or have made."
He thumbs a data slate with numbers and quotes the amounts of adamantium required.
"I couldn't tell you where to find a vein of this adamantium, maybe in the furthest reaches of the Southlands or Lustria or Cathay, not many of my people in those places. The amounts you are talking about I doubt there'd be enough Gromril in the world, though that'd be stronger I'd be willing to bet. You'll have to make do with lesser metals, even then the quantities you are speaking about..." He shakes his head. "With the Northern Wastes opening there is an increased demand for weapons, armour and warmachines. Your homeland must be far afield to have such large ships that I've never heard of them."
He shakes his head examining the promethium "This is oil, I'm no engineer but I can't say I've seen one processed so much. I doubt anyone in the holds has even had a need for something like this. No one you could trade with would have it's like, I'm not sure even on someone you could raid to seize it."
Garm cannot help but hide some disappointment.
"I see. Master Azulbak, even with the lesser materials, would resupply in the quantities we require be possible?"
"Possible perhaps but you'd need the wealth of a Kingdom at the least." He runs his thumb through his mustache. "You'll not buy such a quantity overnight that's certain. Our own ships use up quite a bit of steel but why ye build such a behemoth and use up your own supplies, I'm sure she's impressive but did you empty your mines."
"I will need to get the wealth of a kingdom so.", Garm says with a wry smile.
"Thank you for your time, Master Azulbak."
And Garm makes to leave.
"Alright, good luck in your treasure seeking... but if you should return leave the elven by blow at some tavern before you should return, I'd hate to go killing one of your crew."
"I will remember that. A good day to you."
Azulbak has several rivals in the city but he is the most skilled blacksmith. The most prominent is Tom Strosberg.
Lax will vox Garm.
"Hi Garm, I don't know it this is any use to you but I have a list of Azulbak business rivals. Also I've been thinking, our port marcobatteries are still operational. In theory we should be able to bombard any target we want."
"I have left. The quantities of material we require are beyond any one forge it seems. But worth acquiring."
Gizzard follows around the council members trying not to show unease at non-synthetic environment.
A man in embroidered clothes with extravagant feathers in his cap approaches you as you start to regroup. "Greetings gentlemen I am Jebediah Oberfinkt and I would like a bid to purchase your flying ship!"
Garm greets the man with something resembling a smile.
"Greetings, Jebediah. Are you familiar with flying ships? And what would you willing to offer?"
"I have not owned one but I can see the economic benefits of one. I would know more of it before I could calculate such a number. How fast can it go? How much coal does it need to operate? If the overheads are too high then that lessens its value to me I am afraid."
Lax leans over and whispers into Garms ear.
"We only have five of these so I wouldn't recommend selling it. Renting it out might be worthwhile but we must be careful not to spend too much fuel before we secure a new supply."
To the merchant
"It runs on Promethium and it can fly faster than a horse can run. It also requires specially trained pilots to operate it. We might be willing to rent it out to you for the right price."
Gizzard will pipe over and pass comment in low gothic.
"Captain, he may be an enemy trying to get intel from us. It's better if no one know how fast or how far we can move."
Garm has been listening to the advice of his companions, while watching the merchant, before replying himself.
I hadn't thought of that. Quick just play it cool and act like it was your plan all along, Lax thinks to himself.
"Promblethium, well renting sounds like a possible area of discussion." The merchant goes on to pitch potential rates but these might not be enough to cover the effort of the fuel, right now with promethium as a finite supply definitely not worth it.
The merchant is genuinely trying to trade with you but has no frame of reference. It seems like although he could be haggled up to a greater amount it would be of an insufficient quantity.
Lax in low gothic to the rest of the crew.
"He's being honest, though he is trying to low ball us."
To the merchant.
"I'm afraid that won't even cover our fuel costs, let alone wages, increased maintenance costs ..... we've going to need a lot more than that".
Lax will write some figures on a data slate and show them to Garm and Gizzard before showing them to the Merchant.
Garm looks at the figures and thinks on the conversation thus far.
"Jebediah, it is as my companion says. We cannot afford to trade away promethium for less. If the price is too high, that is unfortunate."
"Maybe there's something else we can offer you weapons, technology or our services in some matter? We have a very diverse range of skills available to us, though we specialize in the capture of exotic creatures".
Whilst this has been going on Illorn was doing the rounds in the taverns and gambling halls of the city, looking to get a acquainted with this new world. He's keeping an ear out for anything interesting but mostly looking to get a feel for how this world works. Any mention of wars or mercenaries will especially peak his attention. He has his microbead if needed.
To put it quit bluntly he is interested in the items but that's part of your bonus to profit factor but wont increase it. Capture of exotic creatures is of more interest but he starts asking about creatures you don't understand and you get the impression are quite dangerous.
Illorn hears the ever present rumblings of the hordes of chaos descending from the north as well as their allies in the unseen places of the world coming to the fore. There are mercenaries all about of various kinds with a country to the south known as Tilea famed for it. Men, dwarves and elves as well as more exotic creatures all hire themselves out as dogs of war. Some have fantastical beasts and monsters in their service, ogres, giants and even one of an elven noble with a mighty wyrm he rides into battle if the stories can be believed though why he would turn to fight for coin non there can say.
Gizzard thinks to himself.
I wonder if we could build an atmospheric craft to fly us around? The shuttle is essentially a passably aerodynamic brick inside the atmosphere. We're pissing fuel away to overcome air resistance.
Whilst exploring the taverns Illorn will start to ask about the island that the crew first explored when they left the ship, see if anyone knows anything of interest about it. He will ask about the region around it too.
Lax will try to buy some Firebombs.
Garm attempts to get a picture of these exotic beasts by comparing it to his own knowledge of such things.
The patrons of the bar aren't sure what island Illorn is talking about, it must be far from here. Maybe off the coast of Estallia one suggests.
No one is talking to Garm about exotics beasts...
Gizzard considers the matter, without a proper wright they'd likely piss away resources trying to get it to work. However it might be possible to take one or two of the shuttles and augment them to lighten there load so they are at least a bit more fuel efficient.
Garm will seek Illorn, and get himself, Lax and Gizzard together in a quiet spot, speaking in low gothic.
"We need to secure the ship, and to secure food and water for the crew. It is clear that we cannot currently find the materials and fuel to repair the Hymn, so let us seek that food! Can we farm the islands? Bring ships laden with produce there? Shuttles or these airships?"