Spidre nods to Rikal. "I will have Raven examine the guns. He knows things beyond our world."
Raven, however, seems more interested in the handaxes and strange capsules.
Spidre nods to Rikal. "I will have Raven examine the guns. He knows things beyond our world."
Raven, however, seems more interested in the handaxes and strange capsules.
The night passed quietly, with the pilgrims doing the grim work of cleaning up the bodies without complaint. They held a brief service for those of their number who had fallen, taking care not to dwell on the details of how. They kept their distance from Groo, but otherwise did their best to make the sworn band welcome.
Groo didn't notice what the weaklings did. He spent the night eating his slain foes.
Groo didn't notice what the weaklings did. He spent the night eating his slain foes.
Over the night, there were occasional sounds of loud retching as Groo made his meal.
Rikal spends the evening quietly. The next day, as he communes with the spirits, he reaches out to see what spirits linger within the city of Scrapwall - for even within areas of foul technology and dark magics, there are spirits to be found.
Spidre spends the evening quietly questioning her life choices.
Chotka tried to make conversation with the travelers, once they had time to grow accustomed to a heavily armed orc that wasn't intent on killing them.
"Do you know anything about Scrapwall that might help us? Does the town allow travelers to enter, or is it locked down by the Lords of Rust? I think that the Lords of Rust are the ones stealing Torch's light. We have to teach them what happens to thieves, but that will be easier if we don't have to smash down the walls."
Chotka tried to make conversation with the travelers, once they had time to grow accustomed to a heavily armed orc that wasn't intent on killing them.
"Do you know anything about Scrapwall that might help us? Does the town allow travelers to enter, or is it locked down by the Lords of Rust? I think that the Lords of Rust are the ones stealing Torch's light. We have to teach them what happens to thieves, but that will be easier if we don't have to smash down the walls."
The pilgrims don't know much more, but there are a few things:
"Inside the Scrapwall, everything is about scrapworth. It's how the others see you: brave, ruthless, bold sorts are bowed to."
"They did speak of some other gangs within: the Steel Hawksand Redtooth's Raiders. There uesd to be another, Thralls of Hellion, that are no more. All who live within, save a few dangerous enough to defy the rule of the place, seek protection with one of the gangs. There might be a made priest like that, too powerful to be crossed. They say he, or she, commands the ghosts of ancient dead. Or perhaps a twisted beast. Or that they war upon each other."
"The Lords of Rust rule the Scrapwall from somewhere near its center, at Scrapmaster's Arena. Many live underground."
"Groomahk will fit right in. He has only one answer for a challenge."
Spidre looks a bit worried but she doesn't say anything.
Spidre looks a bit worried but she doesn't say anything.
"Regardless, we should move carefully. Scrapwall will be dangerous, and even the mighty Groomahk can be brought low by sufficient numbers. Is there a bridge across the river, or will we need a boat?"
"Groomahk will fit right in. He has only one answer for a challenge."
Groomak pounds his chest when he hears his warchief call his name.
"There is no bridge, but the river is easily forded."
Rikal nods. "Good. Then we shall cross the river and venture into Scrapwall. We have a sacred quest to be about."
Rikal nods. "Good. Then we shall cross the river and venture into Scrapwall. We have a sacred quest to be about."
Scrapwall loomed, thirty feet and more high, twisted towers of rusted iron and piles of rubble and ruin like a metal scab rising from the plain. Huge lengths of chain, coils of jagged wire, giant gears, and ancient, rippled metal boxes cut with many gashes, holes, and burns made up its walls. The whole place looked to be three miles on the side.
What passed for a clear path through the debris led the Sworn Band to a ramshackle pair of buildings with walls and roofs of leather and fur, timbers, metal plates, and the like all bolted together to block a gap in the makeshift earthworks. Between them ran a metal gate, closed against entry.
As they drew near, a man emerged from within and called out, "Stand there and say what you want; I say for the Steel Hawks and the Lords of Rust!"
Rikal leans over and whispers to Spidre, "I am not used to deception - could you tell them that we are here to trade or pay tribute to the Lords of Rust or something like that to get us into the town? Once they no longer hide behind their walls, we can likely kill them quickly."
Spidre nods. "I'll get us in, but try not to kill anyone until we're on our way out."
She approaches and speaks proudly, not wishing to show any sign of weakness. "We seek to tribute the great Lords of Rust, and to trade with the Steel Hawks, strength for strength, and iron for iron. Let us pass that we might all make a profit this day, and satisfy the will of the Lords of Rust!"
Unfortunately, Spidre isn't totally sure if she just made a compelling introduction or accidentally threatened the Steel Hawks.
Spidre nods. "I'll get us in, but try not to kill anyone until we're on our way out."
She approaches and speaks proudly, not wishing to show any sign of weakness. "We seek to tribute the great Lords of Rust, and to trade with the Steel Hawks, strength for strength, and iron for iron. Let us pass that we might all make a profit this day, and satisfy the will of the Lords of Rust!"
[dice=Deception]1d20+8Unfortunately, Spidre isn't totally sure if she just made a compelling introduction or accidentally threatened the Steel Hawks.
"You serve the Lords of Rust?"
"We even brought these shooter tubes we found out there," Chotka said and held up one of the guns by the barrel.
Groomahk growls at the guards, but doesn't move. He flexesa ldn stands taller, making himself imposing and impressing all with his strength and scars.
Karek is studying the walls with interest and not paying the talking much heed.
Rikal merely nods in agreement, waiting to see if these Steel Hawks would be fooled by Spidre's deception.
"We even brought these shooter tubes we found out there," Chotka said and held up one of the guns by the barrel.
"The Lords have many guns. What need they of yours?"
"We even brought these shooter tubes we found out there," Chotka said and held up one of the guns by the barrel."The Lords have many guns. What need they of yours?"
"We also bring word of the village Torch, and the Lords' plans there."
"We do not seek to deal in needs, but in wants and plenty."
"We even brought these shooter tubes we found out there," Chotka said and held up one of the guns by the barrel."The Lords have many guns. What need they of yours?"
"I never said they were ours. The Lords would be interested to know who we took them from," Chotka snarled back.
"We also bring word of the village Torch, and the Lords' plans there."
"Never heard of-" the man broke off as a white-haired, scarred woman stepped out of the gatehouse.
"You're not Lords of Rust. Who are you?" she asked without preamble.
"We also bring word of the village Torch, and the Lords' plans there.""Never heard of-" the man broke off as a white-haired, scarred woman stepped out of the gatehouse.
"You're not Lords of Rust. Who are you?" she asked without preamble.
"We are those who were there in Torch when the purple flame came back."
"We are those who were there in Torch when the purple flame came back."
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+9
"I don't know anything about that. Who sent you?"
"Mayanda, servant of Hellion, mistress of the deep metal cave." Spidre responds in her proudest voice.
"Mayanda, servant of Hellion, mistress of the deep metal cave." Spidre responds in her proudest voice.
[dice=Bluff]1d20+8
The woman blinked. "So that's how it is. Go on in. I'm sure she told you the way to your master."
The sworn band pass through the makeshift gatehouse and find themselves on the edge of a broad, mostly open field with walls of twisted metal and other debris rising up on all sides. They sould see three separate paths through the most distant portion of the wall, all heading off to the northeast. A rude building just as ramshackle as the gatehouse rose above piles of debris nearer to due north.
The sworn band pass through the makeshift gatehouse and find themselves on the edge of a broad, mostly open field with walls of twisted metal and other debris rising up on all sides. They sould see three separate paths through the most distant portion of the wall, all heading off to the northeast. A rude building just as ramshackle as the gatehouse rose above piles of debris nearer to due north.
Rikal looked about the inside of Scrapwall - the place was truly worthy of the name, being nothing more than scrap. Glancing at Chotka, Rikal says, "Warleader, should we head towards that buidling to the north?"
Chotka scratched the stubble on his cheek, then grunted his approval. "Only place that looks standing. Remember why we came."
The Sworn Band started across the somewhat open space. In short order they came near enough to see a pair of orcs standing on a wooden walkway outside the building. They looked to be armed and guarding the place.
Spidre notes the guards but tries not to look like she's looking at them. "Think they'll stop us?"