Kragg is dead, Magnum is unconscious.
Kib slips and falls, but continues to wind his way to the top. He finds himself approaching near the group at the top. The tunnel opens fifty feet away from the shaft behind a thicket. Joan and the bannerman are restrained with ropes, Khazad and Nar are being restrained next.
Hon is about a quarter of the way up the shaft, having begun his ascent.
The leader of the men yells back to the duergar below: "We will clean this mess up. You just keep the minerals flowing, Stumpy."
Obviously the duergar's name isn't Stumpy from the curses he utters.
Knowing there is little to nothing he can do to help his allies at the moment, Kib remains quiet and hidden behind the thicket, only his head sticking up above the chimney rim.
Under his voice he mutters a continuous stream of curses against druegar, humans ,of course Hon, and elves as well, just for good measure.
As he watches the men, he tries to ascertain what he can about, where they might be from, their strengths or weaknesses and anything else that might aid him in rescuing his friends.
He also looks around for any thorn or briar or overgrown patches he might escape through with his natural fey-like abilities.
"Why are you working with the Duergar? One of our own wears the same symbol you do."
The leader replies: "These duergar are business partners." As he looks the group over a light seems to dawn on the man.
"We do have a dwarf member, Hon Spaminitus if I remmber correctly. That explains a lot. If he is ruining this operation he will be in trouble."
As the climbers are disarmed the leader speaks up: "I have little time for games here. Who is messing up my mining operation?"
He does notice the improperly referenced Hon missing from the group, and details two of the bored looking men with the cold eyes to 'look around'. At about that time a misty figure appears at the top of the shaft looking like a hazy dwarf in the light.
The leader looks upset: "This was supposed to be simple."
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Pausing, discerning the gentle mingling of warm and cool air, at the top of the shaft, the vaporous Hon takes a moment to enjoy the sensation before moving over to firmer detritus laden terra. Observing his Dwarven-hold peers restrained but not resisting, he drifts closer, acknowledging with a dismissive barely cohesive wave the cold-eyed men as they take flanking position.
Concentrating for a second, the blurred Hon-image cloud tightens up, the colors and gear become well defined. He stretches out, counting fingers and pockets, "Curious. This has potential for so much more."
Grimacing, over the now recognized discomfort of ill-fitting clothes and weight of gear or the fouled up attempt to recover the mine or the diplomatic nightmare about to begin, Hon approaches the irate leader.
"This is what happens when I am kept in the dark. Any other former dwarven assets that I... We should avoid recovering on behalf of my brethren?"
As the two men are detailed to 'look around', Kib hides even further in the whole, just letting his eyes peep over the edge, and prepares to cast an invisibility spell on himself if they look to be coming his way.
Stealth (+cover?):
Khazad does not resist as he is being restrained, but speaks up when the humans talk about interfering with their business:
"We got no issue with the mining. But if you would choose your business partners better, they would actually be mining ore instead of harassing the dwarves and then holding them for ransom! Did you know of this nice little side business of theirs? Do you know your money goes towards raising their own army, which they can one day turn against you, instead of using those arms to work?"
"YOU WERE KEPT IN THE DARK. I informed the headquarters of my actions and received approval. Did you inform the Society of your intentions and get approval? This would have avoided this unpleasantness. Now your fate is in my hands."
Kib waits in hiding unable to see further. He avoids the two man patrol that is sent to 'look around'. As the dwarves are disarmed and do not actively resist, the humans are much more amiable. The lesser members wearing the same insignia as Hon advise Hon: "As associate members, addressing a full member like that is not advised."
Before hostilities can escalate, huge reverberations and crashes come from the depths of the mine. Pieces of the mountains can be seen to collapse in pieces, and parts of the tunnel complex are obviously collapsing. The humans escort you away from the shaft, and the screams of duergar can be heard to echo from the inside of the mine. Over the screams and rumblings, a set of ominous footsteps of metal on stone are heard. The advancing creature must be massive to make such loud sounds and begins to ascend the chimney Kib used. The shaking of the earth makes in obvious the creature is widening the small passage significantly.
After a few minutes, Kib realizes he better move or be crushed, and rushes across the open space invisibly. Shortly after he emerges, a large earth creature made of solid black metal appears. A coating of blood covers his arms. Behind him emerges a dwarf and a human.
The human you recognize as the leader of the dwarf miners. The wizard you recognize as a wizard you met earlier that goes by the name of Chris, a former companion of Magnum, and leader of the golem take down that occured in the big city. The creature that has emerged from the hole is similar in construction to the golem you saw before, but seems to be made out of pure adamantite.
The full member of the Society of Secrets looks on in shock and tries to digest the new developments. He immediately yells at the wizard, "I was not informed of your involvement here either, Chris."
The wizard looks at the dwarf beside him and says, "I have new business associates. I am no longer on your payroll. Consider me an independent agent now. I also have my own golem now, I don't need your paltry iron golem anymore when I have this one."
Chris nods at the golem and he takes some steps toward the group of humans. "I think you can let those dwarves go. I also think you need to tell me why you should be spared."
Chris notices that Kragg and Magnum are not moving. "I hold you responsible for these deaths, Logan. Maybe you should not be allowed to report back."
The rest of the dwarves and humans that entered the mountain emerge, hardened warriors all. Logan and his band realize they are outclassed and quickly release the prisoners.
Chris turns to Khazad and smiles grimly as he tosses the large magic axe to the newly freed Khazad:
"Thank you for coming to our relief. Your attack helped divert crucial resources that allowed us to finish our mission."
He then switches to dwarven and says:
"Shall we dispose of these Society jerks. Allowing them to walk away seems imprudent. Someone will pay for the death of my friend and your leader."
The axe speaks in dwarven: "I have not spilled enough blood today."
The elder dwarf grimly advances with his waraxe.
He speaks to Logan: "So you are the one who is responsible for this operation?"
The dwarf accentuates the word operation, pronouncing it with great disgust and vehemence. As a dwarf, he is not prone to use his fingers to put air quotes around any word. Especially with an axe and shield grimly held in both hands.
Let's not be hasty, Gallak says, his small miner's pick enlarging in his hand to the full length of his greataxe.
I think we'd better take... Our... Time, he hisses menacingly.
Once Joan realizes what is happening, her face splits into a broad grin, which turns into a grimace as her shoulder flares in pain and rudely reminds her of the bolt that had "convinced" her to drop her weapons.
"Don't suppose you grabbed my bow and my swords? I was growing fond of the one of cold iron."
One of the heavily armed humans looks a little sheepish and stands forward. He has Joan's bow and swords added to an already formidable collection of slung weaponry including at least three war axes.
"Sorry, I thought they were fair game."
"Not to worry. It wouldn't have been a problem if one of these idiots hadn't used my shoulder as a quiver when I suggested they take them up here instead of dropping them."
Joan gestures to her bloody shoulder before grabbing her gear from the man.
Having seen the golem grab move before executed by the large iron golem, it is even more spectacular when executed by the smaller, but much denser and stronger golem.
Logan squirms in the arms of the large, dark creature.
Nar continues to stay silent for the moment. Not really sure what to make of everything, Nar has no other choice since he has spent everything he has in the fight below.
Khazad is slightly perplexed but after a while deduces that an enemy of a friend of his enemies should be his friend. He hefts the Axe in hands and speaks grimly:
We have lost our best men in that "operation", He uses the same negative connotation as the elder dwarf before him. ", but we are happy to see the prisoners rescued. We are lucky to have our goals align with yours this time. We are not sure what those duergar-kissers were up to, but they have not shown themselves to be any better than those you've left down below."
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Watching the conflict with a mixture of glee, enlightenment and impassiveness warring on his face, Hon wrenches back control of his emotions. "While our intention was to rescue our fellow dwarves or worst case recover your remains, it appears to be a fair turnabout. My thanks to your very fortunate timing on our behalf. Might I also say, very happy tidings of your good health."
Turning back to Logan, while lifting his arm to "jingle" the SOS bracelet, "Tell me truly, Honor among thieves and all that, did you suborn the duergar for your own ends or are you merely the latest in Bosses our Society put in place to manage this site since the original miners were encouraged to depart?" Sense motive
Hon motions Chris, Gallak and Khazard over for a huddle.
"You know lets hold that thought for a moment. Chris, Khazad and Galak, lets separate the members, I think we should question them in depth to see if thier stories match and extent of SOS involvement. As a SOS representative as well as charter member of Rock's Delegation, I will be present to ensure objectiveness in the questioning. I am curious to find out if the Society arranged the original takeover of the mine."
Hon fishes out inkwell, pen and a sheaf of papers from his bulky backpack. "Might as well get comfortable... Gonna be a long night."
Chris looks at Hon with disbelief:
"You cannot question a full member, your loyalty to him should be complete. The device you jangle is evidence that he is your superior."
Logan screams, "Scatter and report back."
The two cold looking men with bracelets identical to Hon take off in a sprint in separate directions, both attempting to reach the rushing river below. The two members who were patrolling seem to have gone to ground. The mercenary fighters seem to be unwilling to intervene, but grab hold of their weapons.
The older man looks at Hon, somehow managing an imperious glare, "The Society answers to no one, and you cannot question it in front of outsiders JUNIOR MEMBER."
The heavily armed dwarves stand no chance of catching the fleeing men, but three of them produce heavy crossbows.
Hon is convinced that Logan seems sure of his position relative to Hon.
Thumper, the aged dwarf catches the interchange between Hon and Logan.
Seeing the bracelet on Hon's wrist seems to drive into an apoplectic fury.
"What, a dwarf in league with these duergar-lovers."
Hon's immediate concern seems to be avoiding the charge of the stocky dwarf.
Chris casts quickly and efficiently. One of the fleeing humans with the Society bracelets is stopped in his tracks, the other continues to flee. Joan recognizes the spell that immobilized her.
Chris looks around, "Where are the other two?"
"Dunno, but I wanna have words with that thrice-damned orge-lover up there before ya kill 'im."
Joan raises her bow and launches two arrows at the fleeing man.
Never been a dragon nor man born what can outrun a Fangbreaker, Gallak declares before sprinting off after the runner.
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Hon is about to respond to the self-identified Logan and Chris the mage as well when he is interrupted by a bellowing charging dwarf.
Hon easily evades the armored dwarf.
Joan's two arrows find the mark of the lone sprinter.
Three heavy dwarven bolts quickly follow, but only one finds the mark.
Gallak gives chase, but the injured sprinter is able to leap over some jagged rocks into the surging water below and is temporarily carried under the water to reappear further downstream.
The held member is quickly caught and driven to his knees by two determined dwarves.
The disappointed young mage smacks his hands in frustration. He approaches the pinned man. "Logan, you snake. You have nothing to bargain with now."
Thumper realizes Hon can evade him almost indefinitely, and throws up his hands in frustration. He spits: "Well, now I know how the duergar got the resources to take the mines now. Well, now no one will be getting anything useful out for years now. Better no one than the dark ones or their allies."
Chris pulls out a small bird from a cage in his backpack and throws him into the air, he beats a quick flight to the south. It is heading towards the huge capital city. The mage speaks slowly:"I guess like my former friend, I have thrown my lot in with dwarves. Hopefully I fare better than he does."
Thumper looks menacingly at all who will meet his gaze as he approaches Logan: "Does anyone deny me the right to avenge the death of my kinfolk?"
He looks at Hon:"Maybe I can give you a battlefield promotion?"
Gallak pops the bolt loaded in his crossbow off at the fleeing man more out of spite than anything.
His luck is phenomenal, and the bolt soars home with a crunch. He can't tell if the limp form in the water is dead or unconscious, but soon it won't matter.
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"I don't deny but I must insist on delaying your right. My access to SOS library may be cut off." Approaching cautiously, "Logan, my dear superior, since my death writ might as well be already pinned on the walls I've no incentive to remain loyal; this also makes the second effort that I am aware of by SOS to keep us Dwarves penned in, hobbled and destitute. Care to tell us why? I look forward to any forthcoming answers."
Watching Thumper from the corner of his eye, Hon pats down and strips the SOS full member of identifying insignia, intel and ways to injure himself. Checking and removing SOS coin from the money pouch, he tosses the remaining coins to Thumper, "A start on reparations for the clan. A poor substitute for our lost brethren."
Striding over to his backpack, Hon starts to set his gear back in order. Stowing the captured SOS gear (hopefully from all SOS members) in a designated trophy bag. A quiet mutter, "Running with the gnomes, simpler times. Speaking of which..." Hon scans his surroundings for a porcupine-like gnome, but says nothing further.
[ooc]Perception
The two on patrol disappeared past the entrance to the chimney, and outside Kib's line of sight. The visibility from behind the thicket was somewhat poor out of the thicket as well as into it. They moved with a quiet grace and quickly moved out of sight.
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Thumper looks menacingly at all who will meet his gaze as he approaches Logan: "Does anyone deny me the right to avenge the death of my kinfolk?"
He looks at Hon:"Maybe I can give you a battlefield promotion?"
Hon is quite speechless and shocked with disbelief as the old dwarf who was not minutes ago screaming for his betrayer blood now offers a promotion. The emotions war briefly on his face for all to see before settling on a poker-faced suspicion. "No." Addressing the his peers, "Recommend we escort these gentlemen for questioning under Rock's jurisdiction and authority by professionals." Turning to Thumper, "I am sure a more public venue for sentencing once the full extent of his involvement becomes known would provide a much needed catalyst for justice."
Since his encounter with the elemental, something had been niggling at Kib, a familiar sensation he had felt many times in his life when his fey blood was whispering to him of new knowledge and hidden secrets.
Moving still invisibly and quietly over to the edge of the cliff, he spies the escaping man and then closes his eyes in concentration. Moving naturally, acting without conscious thought, he allows his blood to speak for him. Soon something begins to form in the water, a shape, a figure. Once it is fully materialized Kib points his finger to the bobbing man as says simply "Kill"
FRA: Summon Small Water Elemental, send it to attack the dude in the water.
Kib rushes to the edge of the hill. He casts and notices that six seconds later the water starts to bubble. Kib feels an intense burst of elemental magic.
Chris is heard to utter the words "Uh oh. Earth doesn't like water." The large metal creature begins to drop Logan and looks to the river with a look of anger.
Thumper looked old, but his reflexes are quite fast. He unleashes a devastating swing of his axe.
Logan will not be getting up for a long time.
"He would have run." is all the dwarf says.
Gallak looks in satisfaction as his crossbow takes the human with a vicious impact in the shoulder. The human goes under and does not resurface.
Gallak shakes his head as he sees the spell cast, and watches the ultimate effects with interest.
Kib stays awake after summoning a powerful elemental.
The dwarves and Chris prepare for the long March back with the sole prisoner after letting the swords for hire go.
"You coming along? We can raise your leader and Magnum in town. It will square our debt to you."
Thumper consults quickly with Chris. " Your crossover dwarf can come too. Hopefully you have verified his loyalty."
Surprised with himself and the power of his spell, Kib watches in fascination at the result of his handiwork. He also though keeps a close eye on the large, incredibly dangerous admantium creation that seems to have a problem with the whole thing.
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A wary Hon hefts his backpack into place, saunters over to inspect each access to the mines below, casually keeping his route roundabout so that the new arrivals remain in periphial vision, watching the dismissal of the mercenaries by Thumper. A not-so-quiet stage whisper mostly for the benefit of his audience as he makes an inspection of the site, "Crossover... There's a term with multiple meanings... Debt and Loyalty. The best steel retains some flexiblility. Look what happened to Brask, at what is happening to our clan compared to those profitable City-Dwarves..." Once out of easy earshot, his mutterings take on a different context, although anyone watching would see he continues nonstop.
Everyone watches as the dense golem plunges into the stream seeming to attack the very water itself. A newly created water creature easily evades the golem and escaped downstream, easily riding the current. Giving up in frustration, the creature returns to Chris, clearly looking to the young mage for direction.
Hon inspects the collapsed mines as the dwarves ready themselves for a long hike. He is unsure of the condition after the huge shocks within.
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Observing the crumbling precipice, he is unable to resist the childish urge to lightly toss a couple of rocks into the gaping wound of earth. Still keeping a conversation with himself, he tries to pierce the local flora to locate Kib without being to obvious.
Shrugging and tossing one last rock, he heads back to group. [b]"Getting Kragg returned to life is important, I hate funeral dirges. I might even get to send a note to the Clanhold. Just gotta remember to scrub it clean of any obvious useful information."[b]
"What about Magnum? Is he, *gulp* ya know. Dead?"
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Coming back from his survey, he hears Joan's
"What about Magnum? Is he, *gulp* ya know. Dead?"
A look of earnestness and a tighter grip on the banner flying upright in his grasp is all the commentary he can provide at the moment. Hon maintains an awareness of Thumper's location and keeps his distance from him and dwarves loyal to him as environment allows.
Thumper gets the dwarf column ready for travel. Chris sends 'Colossus' back to burrow through the ground with a large chest. He returns with the chest full of items he scavenged from the collapsed tunnels.
After Joan makes her comments, a heavily armed dwarf steps out of line and checks Magnum over. Whispering a few words, he channels divine energy two times, and those nearby recover Chris is overjoyed to see Magnum return to consciousness. He spends a few minutes catching him up: "I have switched employers now. Thumper and company needed some arcane backup, so it turns out I will work for a golem."
Chris quickly begins 'working on' the prisoner. He is obviously trying to get him to join up with him as he is starting 'a new crew'. His main argument seems to be the great opportunities by not being under the Societies thumb and strict taxing rules. His main obstacle being that the Society does not tolerate defectors, and he will become a marked man.
During the interchange, Thumper catches Khazad's attention and points to Hon. He then points to the prisoner and mentions, "It is often difficult to determine where a man or dwarf's loyalties lie."
As the dwarf column prepares the long hike back, Thumper looks at the group. "Let's get Kragg back quickly and restore him." The cleric of Torag mentions: "I can cast a spell to stabilize Kragg till we get back tomorrow after prayers."
Joan takes a minute to see if she can pick up the other two men's tracks.
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"Magnum, I believe this banner is best wielded by you. Do you wish to resume the task?" Hon steps forward once Chris has finished his brief. A quick nod to Magnum upon his resuming his appointed position, with a nonchalant salute to the banner, he turns to follow Chris towards the prisoner, "Good to have ya back, Magnum."
Hon makes a slight detour for the bodies of the SOS members. He addresses the dead, clearly not expecting an answer, "Well well well. I'd love to have a chitchat but seeming how youse guys weren't accomodating in life, much less in death, I'll need to get upclose and personal. Please feel free to object. heheh" Once again keeping Thumper and crew in sight, he searches the bodies (bringing the head back for asthetics as well as scanning it) for items of interest, tattoos, loose change. He'll take his time(20+7), as each rogue has a favorite place to hide things, just in case. [sigh]"So much I do not know about the Society. Now so much harder."
Kragg's head slumps forward at the mention of restoring him. Of course this was just gravity affecting it while Khazad shifts his weight around.
Khazad shakes head at Thumper's words.
"Back in the clanhold, things were simple. Here everyone seems to have a double agenda. We were starving for information and Hon thought he will be able to glean some out of the Society. But the Society kept us all in the dark.
Without a clear path ahead, we can only find solace in trust. And I trust Hon to put the Dwarven interests above personal gain, though how far above may be another matter."
Joan cannot pick up any tracks due to the hard ground. After leaving the area, the dwarven column sends out two man/dwarf patrols at regular intervals.
Thumper adds, "Ignoring many of the workings of the real world and big boy politics is what got the dwarf nation in trouble."
After a week of travel, you arrive at the dwarf hold on the outside of the large capital city. Built of cobblestone, some packed earth, and hardwood, the large castle looks over the city. It is dug into the hill, and many tunnels extend under the hills.
Kragg is raised by a member of the 'Lighters' as the dwarves call them. The visiting cleric admits: "We sent Kragg's group after you because we didn't think you would make it on your own. We didn't know that you hired your own mage."
The prisoner is put in the ample dungeon.
After looking to see if his water elemental returns, Kib rejoins the main column and marches with them. Although he still has some unsettled ire with the mage Chris from their previous encounter in the city, his natural curiosity finally overcomes this and he begins to spend more time with the mage speaking of magical things, something he rarely to never gets to do with his own dwarven cronies.
Other than talking shop with Chris though, Kibibblepep is uncharacteristically quiet and introspective for most of the journey.
What the... Where's my weapon let me at those $&@% dwarf wannabees. I'll show the a thing or two. Let me at them. Kragg opens his eyes and it takes a while before it dawns on him that this is not the same place as he remembers last. Calling out, Khazad, what the hell happened and where the hell are we? What's the status of everyone and where is my gear?
Clearly Kragg is lost and wants some answers now being that he has lost track of time.
The dwarf keep supports a staff of about five hundred including children and human workers. Outside the dwarven keep is a collection of artisans and trades enclosed by a smaller wall that obviously has grown up around the larger, sturdier fortress. The trade section numbers about 2000 people total. They seem to be skilled workers that support many economic activities: coopers, teamsters, blacksmiths, ranchers, butchers, seamstresses, furriers, etc.
The cleric wearing the striking medallion you have seen on Liselle and the small paladin casts a series of spell that puts Kragg back on his feet. You do not know if the pretty gems being used are real, but if they are, they cost a pretty penny.
Thumper helps fit the cleric with a suit of adamantite breastplate with what looks to be deep regret. "The golem was made of the vein of adamantite that was at the core of the mine. We won't be seeing any of that for a while, unless we dash to the Forbidden Forest and get some."
Hon notices that he is assigned two escorts to 'help him find his way' while he is in the dwarven keep. On the way back the prisoner decides to accept Chris' offer and join his new crew. Magnum turns down the opportunity to join Chris' crew as he has to 'work off a big incalculable debt'.
The good cleric has a meeting with Joan and anyone wishing to join him in the temple room. Statues of all the dwarven gods are placed here with Torag enjoying an advantage in size and quality of materials.
Thumper speaks to Kragg, "Enough lollygagging, we got your stuff here. You need to get your crew together and figure out what ye want to do. One of them is wearing a bracelet of my enemies, but disciplining him is your job. If you want to conference after ye have cracked some heads, let me know."
It is obvious Thumper is not being sarcastic or subtle. He seems to be one of those straight talkers.