Looking at the rough map of Scrapwall you now have the west fairly safe.
Boiling it down to basics, Dinvaya suggests exploring Scrapwall, build up your reputation (Scrapworth), and take out as many of the Lords of Rust's low rankers as you can.
If you go straight at the Lords in their arena (Scrapmaster arena Area Q) you'll be dealing with some tough opponents, and be swarmed by the low rankers at the same time. If your scrapworth is high enough the low rankers will choose caution and stay out of the fighting.
She also tells you that Area G is Smilers territory, with Area H their base. And that the Redtooth raiders in area J are at war with the Smilers, and would pay well for aid against them, as the Raiders are not doing well.
There is a large, mutated Manticore lairing in Area K, dealing with it would be worth a lot of scrapworth.
Area L is the Lords of Rust's territory.
Area M was controlled by a large number of Chokers who worshipped Hellion, however several weeks ago he went into a rage and had most of them slaughtered. You estimate from the timing that this would have been when you shut down the transmitter in Torch.
Area N is a large receiver array, pointed to the west.
Area O is a canyon that is rumored to be haunted, it's choked by chilling mists and no one has made it to the end and returned, so no one knows what lays there?
This book is a bit of a sandbox, so your tactics and where you go are up to you.
"If we want more scrapworth before we take on the Lords of Rust, then that manticore sounds like a good target," Raktar suggests. "Then we could find out what this array is, and what it does. It might be important to the Lords of Rust or Hellion."
"Oh yes, I would like to see a Manticore. I know they are very dangerous but dealing with that should be great for our reputation."
Agree. Time to visit the manticore.
"Sounds fun, maybe he has a secret stash of stuff we can look at and take a part." Figgy says while going through his items.
Roga swung his augmented weapon a few times, "It doesn't feel any different but I trust you smart people that it will hit harder."
He smiled, "Maybe I can try it out with the manticore, eh?"
After a nights rest in the secure shelter of the Warrens you are preparing to set off on your next hunt when a discordant sounds echoes through Scrapwall. It sounds as if a mammoth were blowing on a horn built for it?
The Ratfolk are all excited "Wulfgar is here!" the Ratman on watch calls into the warrens. Trade items are hurriedly scrambled together and an armed group sets off to the gates.
As they travel Redtooth explains that Crazy Wulfgar is an eccentric trader who circles through the wilder areas of Numeria, trading food and other supplies for whatever tech has been scrapped up. Often he is the only source of food and other supplies these areas ever see. So he's regarded as vital and left alone. "Plus he's Crazy, not easy." Redtooth adds dryly.
At the gates you take a moment to stare in surprise, two huge covered wagons, with glaucite plates bolted to the sides sit close to the entrance of Scrapwall. On each wagon a turret is built into the roof, both have someone on watch, each armed with a technological rifle of some type.
All Wulfgar's crew look tough, and are heavily armed, long tables have been set up by the wagons for customers to set their trade items on and barter.
Crazy Wulfgar himself stands well over six feet in height, wearing a heavy mammoth hide coat, two pistols at his waist. His thick red hair is starting to grey and his beard spreads well down his chest.
"Ho, new customers?" He calls when he sees you. "Welcome, welcome!"
What are you doing now?
The sudden excitement of the travelling caravan is a stark contrast to the anxiety and fear of the past few days and Raktar is keen for some light relief. Crazy Wulfgar's appearance certainly lives up to his name and the selection of goods his crew are displaying is both broad and bizarre.
Raktar approaches Wulfgar, his suit of magical splint mail cradled in his arms. "I'm Raktar," he says, just about managing to juggle his hand free to shake Wulfgar's. "I was hoping to trade this armour, perhaps for tools or batteries, or gold," he says hopefully.
Wulfgar gestures to one of his crew, a lean Half-elf woman, a long white scar runs up her cheek and ends at her forehead, the eye it cuts though his hidden under a patch. She has an ivory toothpick she idly rolls in her mouth as she looks over your armor. Giving Wulfgar a nod before she wanders off again.
"Wise thinking." Wulfgar nods agreeably, offering you 5 full batteries and a set of masterwork armorers tools in exchange for your armor. "Making sure you get the batteries that is. This new stuff is pretty good, until you run out of power, and then it's not."
"Done," Raktar says in agreement. "Thanks for the tip - I'm new to batteries and power, but I can see why I wouldn't want to run out."
Having been woken early by Lancelot to prepare her spells Dilana gets pretty early word of the arrivial of a trader. It is the further details that make her smile and kind of bounce around in anticipation.
Quickly rummaging though her pack she grabs some gold and gems hoping for a straight up purchase instead of a trade.
"Wow, those are some impressive wagons. Do they get hot in the sun with all that metal on them? Must be like.... never mind that is not what your hear for. Do you anything that could be used by an artisan or crafter? I am looking to make some interesting items."
She lists of a few things that she would need for her crafting her first headband.
Upon hearing that a new comer is here and they come wanting to sell all manner of goods, Figgy is up early, going through his things and polishing up Springy.
"Ohhh there is so much stuff here, what do we buy Springy?" Figgy darts around the tables looking at this and touching that.
"Do you have something that makes people smarter? The mind sharper?" Figgy asks the large man
Wulfgar nods happily. "Aye lass, we've got plenty of that. Lots of folk out here in the ass end of nowhere need crafting gear. No much good finding a nice shiny toy if yer ass is hanging out of yer raggedy pants."
Raktar kneels down and rummages through his oversized backpack before pulling out a well made and well cared for chain shirt. "I almost forgot about this," he says, presenting it to Wulfgar. "If I were to trade you this and some coin, would you be able to supply me with these magical reagents?" he says, hurriedly writing out a list for Wulfgar.
Dilana steps back and watches the transactions take place with a grim smile.
No, I could not go back to being a merchant easily I think. There is something thrilling about this new life. Maybe I will return to that life when done.
Satisfied she heads back to the others ready to see what a manticore really looks like.
Figgy buys a few things, hoping that he can make something with it all.
Olimpia saves all her coin hoping to soon be able to pay Roga back.
Wulfgar smiles again when Raktar asks for more. "Plenty of that carried on me wagons." He looks around in a show of caution. "With that damned Technic league putting the squeeze on people there's plenty of crafters living out somewhere nice and private. So's I make sure to carry things for making things."
in the morning Figgy will take his 2 vials of Alchemist fire and mix them with 2 vial of alchemist acid.
"These should be fun to use, they burn and freeze, maybe that Chimera will like them. Figgy says after carefully pouring one explosive liquid into another with Spriny's help.
Valeria approaches Dilana rather sheepishly "Dilana, am I to understand that you can craft magic items for people to use? If that's true would you being willing to craft something to help steady my aim, something to improve my hand-eye coordination." She pauses, uncertain "I'm mean, when you have time."
Just before walking away form the trader another idea pops into Dilana's mind.
"Scrolls! Any chacen you have scrolls? [u] Lightning Bolt [/u] would be a good start. Oh!!! [u] Summon Swarm, [/u] have that one as well?"
After watching the others shop and just enjoying the spectical Dilana will bring up getting their day started in earnest.
"So.... do I get to see what a manticore really is like now? I have read about them but never seen."
Figgy purchases some potions from the Trader, Owls Wisdom, Fox's cunning, Eagles splendor. Figgy then takes the potions and his fun alchemy tools and Springy, distilling the potions so that he can learn their secrets without spoiling the potion. Once that is complete Figgy will hand out the potions to Dilana (int) and Raktar (cha). Keeping the Wisdom one for himself, it helps with noticing things better.
Just before walking away form the trader another idea pops into Dilana's mind.
"Scrolls! Any chacen you have scrolls? [u] Lightning Bolt [/u] would be a good start. Oh!!! [u] Summon Swarm, [/u] have that one as well?"
[/b]
Finding the feared creatures lair is easy, it makes little attempt at concealment. The problem facing you as you slip closer to the large opening is what guards the entrance.
A tangled mess of coils of razor-spiked wire , rusty chains, bones , rubble , and the like make entering the nest a dangerous proposition.
What are you doing now?
After taking a few days to carefully craft Dilana straps on her spring loaded wrist sheaths and dons her new Headband of Vast Intellect.
"So... the manticore?"
Olimpia presents Raktar her masterwork cold iron blade and the requested 1000 gold with a hopeful look. Let me know if I can help. she offers.
Valeria will move up, quietly hiding along the walls until she's within range of the "nest". Cautiously she peers around to see if it's home.
"Is it just this manticore here or are there people as well?" Figgy asks quietly
Raktar takes Olimpia's blade and the magical reagents he needs over to the forge and begins working, the heat of the flames and the smell of the metal comfortingly familiar. He has already spent the previous day working on his own armour, enhancing it's technology with his own magic. Infusing magic into a cold iron weapon was no easy feat - the material itself resisting Raktar's efforts. The two days it takes to enchant the blade are some of the most challenging days of crafting Raktar has ever undertaken, but he is proud to return Olimpia's blade to her stronger and sharper than ever before.
"Looks like this beast has tried to guard it's lair. Either that or it's been blocked to stop the thing coming out," Raktar muses. "We should ready ourselves here before we go deeper."
Valeria's got a mithral chain shirt that use some enchanting.
Valeria's got a mithral chain shirt that use some enchanting.
Raktar begins preparing himself, his scars flaring to magical life as his hands move through the air and words of power escape his lips. He fortifies his muscles and charges the air around him with force, before increasing the density of the head of his hammer.
His own power seen to, he gathers the group together and passes his hands over each of them, strengthening their bodies and their wills.
HP 49/49
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+5 armour, +2 deflection, +1 natural armour)
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +5 (+4 vs disease), Ref: +2, Will: +5 (+1 vs fear from bless)
Conditions: bless, bull's strength, lead blades, shield of faith
Melee attack (+1 earthbreaker): +9 (+3 BAB, +3 Str, +1 enhancement, +1 bless, +2 bull's strength, -1 Power Attack)
Melee Damage (+1 earthbreaker): 3d6+11 (+4 Str, +1 enhancement, +3 bull's strength, +3 Power Attack)
Done.
The nest is carpeted with this hazard, there is no way in except through the tangle. Valeria you can detect no signs of any movement within the lair.
What are you doing now?
Raktar looks over the tangled mass of sharp detritus. "Seems like we haven't got much choice but to wade through it," he says, "though I've no doubt this thing will hear us coming if we do."
Raktar hefts his hammer and prepares to move in, trusting in his new armour to protect him.
"I can fly but don't have the ability to grant anyone else the power yet. Maybe I should fly or levitate up and see if he is home. If so I can either hit him with a lightning bolt or glitterdust and try and draw him out."
She stops for a moment.
"That might be a terrible idea. Anyone else have an idea?"
I might can wiggle through, but then I'd be up there alone. Not sure that is a good idea. I am in favor of Dilana but scouting from a safe distance. Then let me stealth up and try to get a look around. If I can get through the barricade I'll lay low and wait for the rest of you to come up.
Roga frowned, "I like the witch's idea. Let's see if you can find whether it's home and then draw it out. Maybe?"
"We could probably burn it down, could we not?" Figgy asks while looking at the brambles.
Dilana cautiously flies over the tangled mess, peeking into the lair she can see the cave floor is a foul tangle of bones, grisly remains, toxic waste, and rubble. There is no Manticore in the cave though.
As you wait nervously for Dilana's report Valeria catches a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. Coming at you from above and out of the sun is the Manticore!
The Manticore is 100' feet up and diving at you. You have a round to prepare. What are you doing now?
2nd—bull's strength , cat's grace , invisibility
1st—cure light wounds , enlarge person (DC 15), longshot, shield, true strike
Figgy pulls out a vial he made this morning, handing it to Valeria.
"Drink this it will allow you to shoot further." Figgy giggles a bit.
Figgy will then pull out a bomb waiting
Raktar steps over towards Roga, his hand outstretched to touch the bigger man's arm. "Take this, be stronger," he says as silvery light flows from Raktar's hand, flooding Roga's muscles.
Seeing the creature Dilana points both arms at the creature, on her shoulder Lancelot also points both claws, and calls upon her newest and hopefully most devastating spell.
"برق!"
At the word a bolt of lightning flashes into the air aiming for the distant Manticore and an exuberant smile forms on Dilana's face.
Valeria takes the potion from Figgy and quickly slugs it down before drawing her new pistol and steeling herself for the attack as the creature approaches.