Let's go find the burnt guy. Maybe he knows something. Maybe Aukan can punch something out of him.
Aukan grins broadly at Mayberry
Friend Mayberry. I would very much like that.
"Yes, I could help the burnt limping guy and gain their trust. Then we might get some more information on this turf war."
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A small wooden sign above this shop’s main door is bare except for a large, bent nail sticking out of it. The front room contains displays of ornate wooden furniture, as well as a selection of bows and crossbows. The wall behind the counter is lined with rows of finely carved wooden canes, quarterstaffs, and shields.
The half-elvish carpenter is leaning over the counter, What's going on out there? I'm in my workshop and I hear a loud WHOOOSH and come out to the front room. Next thing I see a glint of metal... maybe brass or maybe copper, but dulled with time, as a cloaked man rushes past my shop window!
Eerie staggers along while holding his head. Once arriving at the shop, he leans in the door frame as the others enter.
Oh! Which way did he go? Did you see anything else?
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He went around the corner, the carpenter replies, Didn't walk right, though. Almost like one of them doohickeys that the Temple of Gond puts out to parade on Day of Wonders! But how will you find him? He's got maybe a quarter bell on you?
It is at that comment that Dalron remembers, the gear! The gear is the symbol of Gond! Perhaps they would know more.
"Now I remember, the symbol, it's the symbol of Gond. We might find more information there."
Sliver stays close to Eeerie making sure he stays with the group.
Aukan stares at the carpenter a while and then cracks his knuckles.
Do I start now Friend Mayberry? he asks
Eerie stumbles along with his head held, though he does look to be faring better than before.
"Not yet Aukan. Lets go to the temple of Gond it may have answers we seek."
"Eerie are you doing ok, you seem a little down?"
"We had quite a day." Sliver answers for Eeerie.
Eerie does not respond. He just continues his semi-stumbling.
Mayberry claps Aukan on the back, Soon enough! She also pats Eerie very gently on the back, cringing at the inevitable voices (if that happens), If you need anything, let us know, she says quietly. On to the temple!
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Asking around, you find that the House of Inspired Hands is located on the corner of Seawatch and Shark Streets.
The House of Inspired Hands looks like a cross between a temple and a workshop. The symbol of Gond, a toothed cog with four spokes, is displayed prominently. You see the silhouette of a humanoid shape perching on the rooftop. It extends an arm, releasing a tiny metal sparrow into the sky. The bird does a few loops in the air, then veers right toward you.
Everyone except Eeerie may go before the little clockwork bird flies straight at you!
Dalron take no chances and says a short prayer to Ilamater and a Flame-like radiance descends on the metal bird.
When May touches Eerie's back, he tries to flick away, but he does not do it quick enough. For the one second that they are in contact Mayberry hears the most horrifying and loudest screams, yells and other sounds she (probably) has ever heard. It makes the sounds she has heard previously from Eerie pale in comparison. "Not her. Not her. Not her..." Eerie repeats as he disconnects from May and begins shaking his head in rhythm with his words.
Seeing Dalron attack the little mechanical bird, she instead looks up to the person that released it. Not entirely sure why they are being attacked, she flexes her fingers and quickly looses 3 missles of force at the dude on the roof.
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Dalron's holy flame reduces the little bird to a hail of little gears!
May's silvery bolts pepper the figure upon the roof! In response, the silhouette slips behind the steeple and disappears!
What would you like to do?
Dalron keeps walking to the temple.
Speaking to the rest of the group "I hope that bird thing was not some kind of welcoming thing."
Did we just shoot down the WELCOME COMMITTEE?! May stares at Dalron.
"I am sorry sir, there was an incident and a wounded person with the symbol of Gond on his gear, may have come here for help. Have you seen a person like that lately?"
Dalron talks to the acolyte.
Aukan keeps a wary eye open....his hand is on his axe.
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The acolyte looks confused, Wounded? Recently? Not that I can think of. Perhaps, Gearsmith Valetta may know something...
He gestures deeper within the temple before continuing to sweep dirt out of the open door, Her office is in the back quarter, ask anyone if you get lost and they will happily point the way.
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"Is it normal to have metal birds swoop down on to passers-by?"
Eerie suddenly collapses, sobbing quietly while holding his head, "I sorry..I sorry..I sorry..I do as you ask just please...please..."
"I did not watch it land only swoop down, sorry. If you had it could you tell who built it?"
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Oh dear! the acolyte exclaims, the calling to a nearby priest, several of them rush to help!
When a couple of them touch the young warlock they pull back with gasps of surprise!
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EDIT: When Dalron produces the wreckage of the little bird, the priest examines it cautiously, It is of rudimentary design... any second-year acolyte could build this. As you can see here, there is no maker's mark. Perhaps the Gearsmith could help?
Eerie curls into a ball of cloak/robes.
Snow kneels next to Eerie, she had been keeping her eye on him for a while. Seeing him collapse, she leans down and begins talking calmly. ”Brrreath with me, my frrriend.” drawing a deep breath audibly through her nose to demonstrate. ”Focus on this voice, now exhale.” again leading by example and as she exhales. She continues giving basic instruction on meditation and trying to calm the warlock.
Eerie doesn't seem to react to any external stimuli. After several moments of being in a ball, he unfurls. He carefully rises to his feet with his head hung, his large hood covering his face to all but the ground. After standing, his body begins shaking rhythmically. As it does he raises his head to view all other around him. An exceptionally wide and creepy smile permeates his face, seeming to reaffirm some creases in his skin at the appropriate places. He views everyone with a silent, creepy chuckle. "Eeet no problem. I am back to fine. My lord has found me once more," he says in a hesitant and strained voice.
Sliver steps squarely in front of Eeerie and looks him in the eye, accepting the consequences in doing so. "You sure you're ok? We can go back to the inn if you need to?" If Eeerie reaffirms his (relative) well being, Sliver will accept it and stand with him.
"Yeees, I fine," Eerie replies as Sliver can hear insane giggles in his head for a few moments.
Aukan frowns at the strange young man.
Friend Eerie says he is fine, but the spirits perhaps do not agree.
"Yes. He's good. Now, let's do what we're here to do."
Mayberry makes to walk to the back of the temple (to go find Galetta), making sure everyone else is going, too.
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The acolytes look a little shaken, though the more experienced priests look more concerned than afraid.
It does not take long, but you find your way to Gearsmith Valetta's chambers. As you peer into the office, you see a bronze dragonborn with an elaborate contraption on her head that consists of several lenses as she works on a clockwork object.
You are not even standing there a second when she looks up, her eyes bulbous and round as the lenses blow them out of proportion.
Ah, yes, acolyte Brigis mentioned that you wished to see me. What can I help you with?
"Very sorry, it is not often I meet a dragonborn. No I have not seen clockworks, normally it's some wizard construct that went wild.
We were told that someone who was wounded from an incident that happened earlier came here. We would like to have a talk with them, please."
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Her head tilts with curiosity, Injured? Perhaps. They would be in the hospital ward of the church, though it is more likely that someone injured would go to the Hospice of St. Laupsenn, she nods to Dalron, acknowledging his holy symbol, Or the Spires of the Morning.
She nods to herself, More likely the Hospice, as it is only a block or two from here... Who is it that you are looking for?
I has been only a few minutes. Gather enough clues and you could track down where he is. Or you could try to follow the lead and try to chase him down... Question is, how would you like to try this? ;)
You head toward the Bent Nail and see a kid, might be an urchin, but otherwise untended, sitting in a corner, back against a rain barrel, playing with something small, a trinket that it looks like he just found.
There is also a woman crying that is being tended to by the watch as the inspector in robes approaches to take her statement. Snow and Dalron hear her frantically exclaim, I tell you, it was not a man. More like a puppet shaped like a man. A puppet without strings. It was on the rooftop. It hurled something into the crowd below that caused the explosion. I saw those halflings burned alive! I saw them!
SO many clues I just walked away from. No, I don't want to talk to a kid that I can get a major clue from. I can't believe I missed it.....pounding head on wall
And only because I went looking for a description of the man that I found it.
"Well you might find this strange, but it is a man that looks like a puppet without strings.
Snow listens closely to the exchange trying to judge the priest’s reaction to this news. ”We underrrstand wherrre a normal perrrso would go for aid, but we found one of these gearrrs at the scene that led us herrre. This gearrr matches that of a strrrangly aggrrressive bird that attacked us just outside of yourrr temple. In fact, we believe therrre was someone on yourrr rrroof that sent the birrrd at us.”