An isolated bastion of civilization in the magic- blasted wasteland known as the Mana Wastes in western Garund, the Grand Duchy of Alkenstar is one of the most unique cities in the Inner Sea region. Alkenstar stands atop a massive cliff overlooking the Spellscar Desert, the mighty Ustradi River bisecting the settlement as it flows over the Alken Falls on its way north to Nex. The city’s mastery of science amid the unpredictable magic of the Mana Wastes has Alkenstar’s influence extend beyond its local region, and its innovations such as firearms, clockworks, and alchemy keep it a relevant part of the larger economy.
....at least that's what the text books say about this place...
Ask a citizen and it's a different story, they'll tell you of the stifling heat, the endless days of humid smog, being afraid to step beyond the city walls for fear of what lies beyond....
Still, whatever they may call it, it's a home for you; at least for now.....
...and today finds you in the Ferrous Quarter; this grimy district in Smokeside is the location of many of Alkenstar’s most famous taverns and small artisan workshops. Adventurers flock to the quarter’s myriad rumormongers and city criers in search of the latest gossip, though trustworthy leads are in scarce supply. More prevalent are the delicacies and powerful ales served at the many inns, taphouses, and eateries lining Ferrous Quarter’s primary thoroughfare, Hammer Avenue. Visitors with sufficient coin can find nearly any sort of Garundi traditional food for purchase along this main street.
One of the oldest markets in Alkenstar has grown up in a large square where Hammer Avenue bisects the Lane of Alloys and it is here, amongst the gaudily decorated stalls and the throng of citizens and traders going about their daily business, that our story starts...
The city streets looked bustling to him, all below the people and visitors of Alkenstar looked like ants. On the roofs of Alkenstar he looked on down to see if anything particular was happening, as well as keeping watch for the constructs roaming the streets.
It has been a long time since he had a run in with them now he was accepted as a honorary guard. Still he didn't trust the automatons. Thge market district was a place where he took a long look, seeing if the stalls he wanted were there before he climbed down again.
Ah there he is, the backpack vendor, I need to get rid of this old knapsack of mine and buy something sturdier and convenient. Night's watches are handier when you can find the stuff that you're looking for. What else do I need?
After spying several other shops from above he climbed down as easily as a squirrel climbs a tree. Then he pulled up his hood and blended in with the rest of the crowd, making his way to the shops he needed.
"Good day Carran, what can I do for you today?"
Carran looked around and saw the sort of backpack he wanted.
"That sand-coloured backpack there please. I trust it is sturdy?"
"Aye it is, that'll be 2 golden coins."
Carran handed him the money and walks past the other shops to collect what he wants, all the while keeping a careful eye on his surroundings.
Tychi is an oddity on the streets of Alkenstar, in more ways than one. The tengu's pure white feathers reflect the sunlight with an almost painful intensity, as if they were somehow concentrating the sunlight and throwing it back. His silk clothes don't help much, being stark white with black trim and silver adornments. The loose clothing is, at the very least, entirely appropriate for a hot desert environment.
The Tengu rides atop a massive beast that seems to have no trouble on the city streets, even normal horses and camels shy away from it and pull back, despite their rider's best efforts. The 3 foot long horn that tapers from 4 inches thick to a razor sharp point almost acts like an ice breaker ship's prow, shattering the gridlock ahead of it, allowing the massive shaggy beast to stalk forward, her hooves ringing clearly on the baked stone, metal on stone, a heavy metal clop with each step.
Finally, reaching the center of the market, the black beast stops, and shakes her head. She rolls one eye back in it's socket to look at the Tengu riding her, a silent question unspoken.
"Níl, níl a fhios agam cén fáth go bhfuil muid anseo, dúirt an ghaoth dúinn le teacht. Beidh sé soiléir go luath, Nike.
"No, I do not know why we are here, the wind told us to come. It will be clear soon, Nike."
The big rangy beast stamps it's hoof impatiently, and lets out a neigh that pierces through the market, but otherwise seems to accept whatever was said. The rider pats the beasts neck, fondly, and unsnaps an odd springy looking weapon from his waist.
The great beast, Nike, carries her rider through the crowded and smelly city streets. She really can't understand why the two legs insist on living in such disgusting squalor, but she's grown used to it.
This hot forsaken land is so far from her cool forests, she wonders what possessed her to agree to this insanity. Still, as the feathered man on her back gently guides her with his knees, the reins slack against her neck she snorts. It was better than falling into madness, one supposes.
As she stalks through the streets, here eyes seek the eyes of the horses and camels that the other two-legs ride, and she watches with amusement as their eyes roll in fear of the horned unicorn. No horse or camel in it's right mind wants to be around a pissed off unicorn, and Nike exudes anger as she stalks through the sun bleached streets. Even the two-legs notice it and part before her. Of course, it could have something to do with that wickedly gleaming horn she keeps lowered and pointing ahead at eye-hight on the two legs. Amusement ripples through the anger as she watches the two-legs part before her like an ocean parting before a god.
Finally, they arrive in the center of the two-leg market place, an especially loud and annoying place. One eye rolls back in accusation against the bird brain on her back. That one remains infuriatingly calm, as always, and prattles on about the wind in his feathers and sun in his eyes and dirt in skull. She lets out a bellowing wicker that sends the nearby horses scrambling away, whites showing in their eyes, and then settles into an amused stance.
If the feather head is right, there will soon be battle against something threatening innocents. Granted, it's just stupid two-legs, but a battle is a battle.
Wandering through the crowd, it's obvious to the various onlookers that The man is popular, with both the merchants and at least some of the shoppers. straight backed and keen-eyed, his body language screams someone with military service.
this blasted thing still doesn't feel natural. It makes my joints ache, and I think the balance might be off
Stopping at a shop with a bit of a line, the man gets a steaming mug of *something* and settles in at a seat to observe the comings and goings.
After Carran bought his supplies for the coming days he whistles sharply and an answer is heard in the sky, a kestrel high up above the roofs calls back while it circles the market streets.
Glad he keeps an eye out as well. Hold on Serlek, your meal is coming soon.[/ooc]
After finishing his last purchase he takes a look around and finds the thing what many people seemed so in awe about; A white Tengu riding a unicorn.
[i]Now that's not something you'd see everyday. I was a stranger here first as well, though I didn't tend to stand out in the crowd quite as much.
He leans close to a part of a building where he could climb easily up in case of trouble. Standing on the lookout again, he views the other guards around him, seeing the man getting a drink or soup, he's not sure of it.
I know his face, the way he observes the crowds... he is a lawmen, no doubt about it.
sipping his coffee slowly, the major scans the crowd Ahh, looks like okay Jubul is getting the best of another tourist. We're going to have to have a talk with him one if these days. No Rand pauses and then reorders his thoughts the guard is going to have to have a talk with him one of these days. He's going to scam the wrong person and then they'll have a mess on their hands.
noticing the tengu and the unicorn, Luke begins to rise and then stops himself; not my problem if he gets stoned to death. the "noble" lord Grandville determined that I'm no longer fit to serve, even after getting *this* thing. Now I just need to find a new job where I can put my skills to use. Then again he thinks as he rises and approaches the tengu maybe I can still do *some* good.
speaking to Tychi, Rand says "morning stranger. I see that you're new to town. while I'm sure that you mean no harm, I feel it's fair to warn you that there are some elements in this city that won't take too kindly to you, on account of your appearance. If you should have an problems, just ask for me and I will do my best to help you out. The name is Major Luke Rand, retired. Anyone around here should be able to point you in my direction." with that, Luke extends his hand to Tychi. it obvious to all that the arm that he extends is made entirely of metal, hand and all; there is the subtle sound of gears grinding as his elbow and wrist bend.
The Tengu looks down at the proferred hand, and then nods, taking the hand and giving it a firm pump. "I am used to those who judge on appearance, rather than substance, Major Luke Rand Retired." The Tengu says, his speech accented by more than just the hard beak that forms it. "Nike and I are more than able to take care of ourselves, but we are most appreciative of your thoughtfulness in offering to help us. If I might suggest, it would be wise to ward any you care for. The wind has spoken to us, and directed us here, for we will be needed soon. The earth also speaks of turmoil to come." The Tengu waves a hand at the busy marketplace. "My travels have taught me that strangers rarely are heeded when they offer warnings of impending turmoil, so instead I position myself to ward those who cannot protect themselves from the oncoming storm." The Tengu's voice is calm and relaxed.
The unicorn eyes the retired military officer, and snorts, her long black beard waving in the wind as a result. She shakes her head, and piercing eyes make contact with the military officer. Death rides those eyes.
Adventurer, pretty much as I figured. waltzing in, making nebulous claims of doom, then just hanging about, inviting chaos. ah well the major thought, then shook his head to clear it and says "well, rider-of-Nike, I don't know about any turmoil, but this *is* the Duchy of Alkenstar. We're always facing one or another crisis. I think you'll find that the people of this city are tougher than you might think."
The big black unicorn looks Rand directly in the eye, and then spits on the ground, shaking her mane. She paws at the stone, striking sparks with her hooves.
Tychi pats the unicorn's neck reassuringly. "Oíche, Oíche. Ní Tá a fhios aige cad a thagann. Níl sé a locht."
"That is good to hear, friend Major Luke Rand Retired. It would be a nice change of pace for the four whispers to send us somewhere we are not needed." The Tengu pats Nike's neck. "Would that not be good, Nike? To have a... how do they call it? Vacation? Yes, a vacation, in wonderful picturesque Alkenstar. Why, it is famed all over the world as the best vacation spot in the world, is it not?" The Tengu laughs softly at his own joke.
The unicorn just rolls it's eyes and stamps a hoof in irritation.
Can't unicorns speak? let me try talking to it directly
turning to the unicorn, Rand says "Hello. I assume your name is Nike? My name is Luke, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Nike snorts, and ignores the human. Other than shuffling in place, and almost stepping on his foot with her 2400 lb frame.
"Féin a iompar, Féin a iompar, a bhí go drochbhéasach Nike!" Tychi admonishes Nike, slapping her neck, which get's him a glare.
"My apologies, Major Luke Rand Retired. Nike is... a rather taciturn individual. She's not very talkative unless she knows you. Or even if she does know you." He leans over and whispers. "It has been said that she is an ornery old nag..."
Nike begins shaking her entire giant frame, bits of bridle and saddle groaning under the pressure as Tychi holds on for dear life. "Not that I would ever say such a thing! Whispers forfend! Only uncouth ruffians have said such things! And they are entirely untrue!"
The shaking stops, and the Tengu sits there catching his breath.
fighting back the urge to chuckle, Rand shakes his head at the whole situation and says "Well, then, I shall endeavor to make her acquaintance; that way, she will have no reason to feel ill tempered with me. You can call me Luke, by the by, it's much easier than the mouthful you are currently using to refer to me."
Carran climbs the wall of the roof he stands by as no-one seems to be looking, climbing easily twice as fast as many other and sharply whistles again as he stares up into the sky.
Serlek circles somewhat before swooping into Carran's outhold gloved hand and picking eagerly at the piece of meat in it.
Carran loosens his hood and undoes it, while walking with Serlek perched on his arm. Looking down on the unusual pair he listens closely to their conversation.
Major Luke Rand eh? I've heard of the name, never ran into him though. The unicorn's called Nike and the Tengu... well I haven't caught his name yet. Though the doom coming to Alkenstar is somewhat new, we have our troubles here being so close to the Wastes, but doom is new...
He pats Serlek a bit after he gives him another piece of meat.
"You're not as stubborn as that unicorn, are you? Nah we're good friends."
The Tengu nods. "That is the best way, usually. I'm not sure it will work with Nike, she's stub... er.. she's set in her ways, Luke Buythebuy. I would offer you a shorter name for myself, but the only two I could possibly offer is Ti, or Chi. And Ti was my sensei for many years, and I would probably jump out of my skin for fear of him hitting me in the head with a reed rod again if I heard his name. While Chi, in Tengu, is a female name, so you can see why I would not want to use that one, yes Luke Buythebuy?"
The Tengu is now intentionally misunderstanding the name in some sort of odd bit of humor.
The Unicorn is not enjoying the odd bit of humor.
From your positions around the market, with keen eyes trained across the crowded square everything seems entirely normal.
Time passes until, close to midday, over the general clamour of the market; the advertising of wares to be sold, the convivial chatting of the citizens, the occasional raised voice from the shops and the taverns, a new noise is heard. Faint at first but growing in volume, the unmistakable noise of an approaching brass guardian…the crashing of heavy metal feet against cobbles accompanied by the whirring and clanking of gears. The mood in the market changes instantly…
Of course you have heard the rumours, stories of the previously infallible protectors mysteriously breaking down and, more recently, tales of the brass guardians running amok causing indiscriminate damage and injury…all rumours of course as there has been no official word on the veracity of these stories…but, and you can see it now, the very citizens they were designed to protect are scared…
Turning the corner and moving into the market square, the brass guardian looks no more innocuous in the city of smog than it has ever done before. Yet, whereas people would have previously milled around their clockwork protectors, now there is a very empty space around the walking machine. The market square falls silent as the thronged masses hold their breath and wait to see what happens next…all eyes are on the guardian as it ponderously moves into the centre of the square. Towering above the citizens at some ten to twelve feet high, the brass guardian is an imposing construct and, even before the current rumours had spread amongst the populace, would command a degree of respect. Standing impassively in the centre of the square, its head rotates through a full 360 degrees surveying the scene…
…suddenly there is a furious whirring sound from deep within the guardians' body accompanied by a crunching of metal grinding against metal…people around you scream in panic and start to scatter from the market…
…then nothing, the guardian just stops…
…and stands perfectly motionless and silent…
…the sun glinting on the brass statue in the centre of the square…
Tychi chucks at Nike. "Dealraíonn sé go bhfuil tús curtha, Nike. Lig dúinn iarracht fhonn an staid roimh cúiseanna scaoll díobhála."
Turning to Luke, the Tengu gives a shrill bird like whistle. "Try to stop the panic, Luke Rand. More will be hurt by panic than that thing." Matching action to words, Nike rears up bugling a challenge to the sky, the unicorn trying to inject something unexpected into the situation to startle people out of their panic.
"Do not panic, leave in an orderly fashion! Help your fellow citizens if they are injured! The machine is broken for now, let those in charge deal with it! There is no reason to hurt yourself fleeing it!" He makes a motion at Luke, knowing the local retired military man will be paid more attention to than him.
Carran moves for a btter surveying area around the market streets and look towards an area without any constructs as of yet, then calls up from above.
"People, the streets here and here don't have constructs! Go there if you're scared else leave the market area slowly!"
"Serkel you go fly above and check for more of these okay?"
With that he releases Serkel and he flies high above the roofs, only making a sound if he spots anything.
He walks back up to the part of the roof above where the automaton was and nocks an arrow while waiting for any hostile signs of the metallic guardian.
Figwidget the gnome is in the market looking for a worm gear of an obscure size and threading ratio, for a small experiment he's currently performing in his lab. Humming happily to himself, he moves from one junk and second-hand parts dealer to the next, looking through their stock and having occasional inspirations about various things that he might be able to construct out of rare parts that he finds.
He hasn't yet found the worm gear he's seaching for when everybody around him suddenly reacts. Hearing the noise, he looks around, the read hair on his head bobbing as his neck whips left and right, until his eyes focus on the large clockwork guardian making noise as it marches into the square.
When it grinds to a halt and stops, Figwidget's curiosity overcomes him. Boldly, he walks into the clearing around the clockwork guardian and right up to it. "Hmm, what's wrong with you?" he asks quietly, as he looks over the construct and tries to figure out what might have happened.
The presence of a unicorn in the centre of a marketplace in Alkenstar is hardly a commonplace event and, as Nike rears up, the crowd flowing out of the square slows in confusion at what they have just seen….
…and then, looking back into the square, the citizens realise that the brass guardian has merely stopped….
Panic is quickly replaced by an atmosphere of derision as howls of laughter erupt around the square. Almost as quickly as the chaos had descended, the normal hubbub of the Market returns with little notice given to the guardian standing lifelessly in the square. If people had cared to look at the rooftops they would have seen at least one figure who remained poised….bowstring pulled taut and an arrow notched ready to fly…
Figwidget, a local character known to most residents in Smokeside, is the first person to approach the immobile guardian; unafraid and totally absorbed by his professional curiousity, he starts to tap and examine the metal body of the construct.
Whilst the adults continue to shout, barter and laugh, children start to play in the shadow of the brass guardian…whether it is to shelter from the sun, to show how brave they are or just ignorance of the inherent danger matters little…one brave boy, maybe ten years of age, ignoring the gnome's protestations and warnings boldly climbs on to the immobile machine and, producing chalk from within his clothing, crudely draws a fools' face on the visage of the guardian…The boys' playmates whoop in delight and admiration at his bravery and at his juvenile humour.
Suddenly and without any warning, the brass guardian bursts into 'life'…to screams of horror from around the square, it grabs the boy in its' oversized hand and tosses him across the square where he crashes into a wall landing in a mangled heap of broken limbs. With the sounds of gearwheels accelerating inside its' torso, the malfunctioning monstrosity bears down upon the scattering crowd…
I knew it, those constructs are not to be trusted.
"Now you can run!" he shouts to the people below.
From a previously unnoticed position upon a nearby rooftop, Carran lets loose an arrow…whistling through the air with deadly accuracy, it pierces a valve on the rear of the Brass Guardians torso…yet the arrow does not have enough power to fully pierce the armour and embed itself into the Brass Guardian.
Nike rears up, enraged, and charges....
...past the monstrosity, stopping by the injured child. She drops her horn to the child, and blue sparks cascade over the child.
As Nike charges past, however, Tychi gives Nike 24 temporary HP by spending a Ki point, and then performs a ride-by-attack on the golem.
Taking hoof on the back of the raging Unicorn, the Tengu thinks he sees a chink in the Machines defences and, racing by, strikes the clockwork guardian a furious blow across its flank.
The major yells "Make a hole!" and then focuses a moment before charging.
; counts as magic, piercing, admantine, alignment, cold iron, and silver
The resonant sound of metal on metal rings out across the square as the major smashes, at speed, into the Brass Guardian. There is a sound of cogs smashing and pistons exploding as a sizeable dent appears in the machine.
Carran will jump down from the roof and move to flank with Luke Rand on the opposite side of the construct, drawing his greatsword when he's in place and swinging it.
"Raah! Bloody constructs!" Rage can be seen on Carran's face.
A loud shriek up in the air seems to agree with him on the matter.
Swatting at the annoying 'mechanic' behind it, the Brass Guardian strikes Figwidget with a glancing blow.
Then turning its attention to the semi-mechanical creature that had just slammed into it, the clockwork protector grabs Major Luke Rand and, pulling him close, rubs him against a row of serrated saws that emerge from its torso.
Now that the boy has been cured, Nike rears up and turns without coming back down, the Tengu on her back standing up in the saddle without any apparent issue with his mount's unusual method of turning about. Then the giant beast charges the golem.
Tychi then unleashes a flurry of blows against the golem, his whip like sword flashing in the light.
The Tengu's sword flashes in the light, wrapping around the golem from various angles, and slicing through important and vital gears, jerking out rods and sending bits of ruined gear into other gears, causing further damage.
"Oy, now, something's clearly wrong! You need to be stopped!"
Figwdget takes a step back and quickly grabs a bomb from his pockets. He tosses the bomb at the construct run amuck.
Take a five-foot step back. If the creature has reach, preparing and throwing the bomb will provoke an AoO.
I included +1 for Point-Blank Range. This is against touch AC. Fidgwidget has the "Precise Bombs" discovery, and can omit up to 6 squares from the splash damage if he hits. He'll go ahead and target one of the four squares of the construct, and omit all neighboring squares that aren't part of the construct (which only requires 5 squares of omission, since it's a large creature).
Again including +1 for Point-Blank Range.
Also: does Figwidget recognize this particular type of construct? What does he know about it? (In particular, he's interested in its special defenses.)
Struggling in the powerful grip of the Golem, Luke unleashes a series of devastating blows to the creature with his spiked shield.
As the dimunitive mechanic scurries back to get a better shot at the haywire machine he has a momentary lapse of concentration and, with his defenses lowered, the Brass Guardian catches him with a glancing blow.
The bomb thrown at the guardian, ignites on impact showering the machine with molten chemicals and flames; the heat from the resulting inferno is great enough to melt a section of armour plating revealing the spinning clockwork internals of the machine.
Dropping from the rooftops and charging at the towering machine with a fury that could only be described as feral, Carran plunges his greatsword through the molten opening in the Brass Guardians' armour. Whether it is this blow, Major Luke Rand's struggling or the flurry of attacks from the mounted tengu that deals the deathblow to the Clockwork machine is uncertain…with a final crunching of gears, spinning of cogs and spluttering of pistons, the machine stands still…smoke issuing through vents on the rear of its' torso.
If Figwidget had had time to cry a warning, he surely would have…for he would have known that such machines do not simply stop…the high pressure and stored energy within the clockwork winding and the pistons has to be released somehow and…with a screaming of tearing metal, those stood near the machine are caught in an explosion of cogs, gears and shrapnel.
Fortunately, none of the bystanders within the square were caught within this potentially fatal blast…in fact, as the dust and smoke clears, you can see that the square stands almost completely empty as the panicked crowd pushes its' way down the neighbouring streets. The child who had been flung across the square remains lying on the ground with two adults kneeling next to him...
Battered, and bleeding from several bits of metal embedded in his flesh, Figwidget opens his eyes and looks back at the scene. At least he'd had the good sense to close his eyes and look away when the machine exploded; the last thing he wanted was to go blind!
Looking around, he sees that Tychi seems to have taken a bigger brunt of the blast than everybody else. "Are you OK?" he asks the Tengu Monk. "Here, drink this." He hands the tengu a potion. (This is his Cure Serious Wounds extract, which he's able to hand off thanks to his "Infusion" discovery. It heals 3d8+12 hp of damage.)
He then drinks a potion himself. (Cure Moderate Wounds, healing hp of damage.)
Next, he heads over to where the two adults are leaning over the body of the child. "Is he OK?" He looks at the child and attempts to figure out his status. ( ... no Heal skill trained, unfortunately.)
Tychi dismounts, patting Nike on the neck, after first looking around to ensure the golem is down and that no one else is in danger and doesn't look severely wounded. "I trust the child is alive? Nike did her best to reach him in time." He says to the adults checking the child over.
Tychi raises gives the small alchemist a short bow, as he comes over to check on the child. "Thank you for your efforts to stop the rampaging object." He tells the gnome, steepling his hands together and bowing simultaneously.
As the creature began it's death throes and then exploded, Major Rand instinctively maneuvered his body to allow the brunt of the attack to be absorbed and redirected into the ground by his shield, although some of the shrapnel did get past his shield and armor to deliver various cuts and bruises, as well as flinging him bodily some 15 feet across the square. Standing and brushing himself off, he looks at the wreckage in the square and in a loud, clear voice says "Is everyone alright?"
Approaching Figwidget, Luke says "based on your appearance, I'm guessing that you are one of the people that create the clockwork protectors of our city. Do you know what happened here? Why this machine failed it's assigned duties?" pausing for a moment and remembering where and who he now is, Luke says "sorry, old habit. Major Luke Rand, retired. he says, offering Figwidget his hand, the one on his clockwork arm.
turning to Tychi and Nike, Rand says "It seems that the winds spoke true; there was a danger to the people here that you helped to diffuse. Thank you for your assistance, Rider-of-Nike; it's good that you were here to help that child."
Tychi gives Luke the same half-bow he gave to the gnome. "The wind often speaks truth, for those who hear. I am pleased we were able to help, but I fear that this is far from the end of the turmoil. Rarely does the wind and earth whisper for us to take such a long journey over something so easily dealt with." He then pats Nike's neck again. "But any praise for assisting the boy is solely Nike's, I am just a Tengu, I have no skill at healing or mending. She is it who helped the boy."
Nike snorts and shuffles and moves away from the mutual admiration society, rolling her eyes at the lot of them. Moving to a stall with some vegetables that got knocked on the ground, she maneuvers a carrot into her mouth and crunches it around her bit.
|
Figwidget says to Major Luke Rand, "Hello, I'm Figwidget. I don't actually work for Alkenstar or maintain their clockwork guard force. I am, however, a dabbler in clockwork, and do experiment extensively myself with clockwork creations. I have no idea what went wrong with this particular creature... er, device."
Curiously, Figwidget goes to examine the wreckage of the clockwork beast that attacked them. He pokes around at the scattered gears and other components, in an attempt to see if anything looks amiss. After such an explosion, it would be difficult to see anything, but just in case there's something in there that is different from what a normal clockwork machine explosion would look like, Figwidget pokes around at it. Is he able to see anything?
Carran saw that the automaton was ready to burst as he had hit it, he dropped down on the ground just before it blew. As the cogs and gears and other parts of the clockwork construct whirled aaround him, he managed to duck away from some of the debris but several parts still hit him.
Standing up, he shook out his cloak of dust and metal splinters. Looking around he sees the Tengu and unicorn and the little gnome and the retired major at the small boy's side.
He grabs a cloth and cleans his sword of the oil and metal dust on it and picks up his bow before walking over.
"Those machines are a problem, how can we rely on something that doesn't feel remorse or doubt about his orders? One faulty order and it gets out of hand as this did."
Carran stands close to Luke Rand, a small symbol of the Alkenstar guard, visible on his left shoulder. Hw sheaths his greatsword and holds his bow in his left hand.
"I've heard the stories from over town as well as others from around here, but this is the first I've seen go haywire like this. How is the boy holding up?"