"So now what?" Carran asks the group.
"We are still up to grab some rest again or do we continue on? Seeing as we got that wand over there that can also heal us, I'd vote for some more exploration after we healed up.
Figwidget looks Major Rand. "Are you able to read the book? I know a number of languages; it's possible I might be able to read it. And, if not, give me a minute, and I can whip up an alchemical extract that will allow me to read any language."
Luke will offer up the book to Figwidget, saying "It's probably a manual of some sort, so you should take first swing at trying to read it."
The journal is a meticulously prepared document, written in Dwarven, itemising ore and jewels mined, employment records for miners and materials used. The records date from several decades ago and become less coherent in the latter pages before arriving at a final page...
The eidite poisoning has taken almost full hold of my blood by now. I fear that I may be its next victim in this struggle to command the properties of the enigmatic mineral, and I am regretful that it could not have been a more noble martyr who could teach my fellow miners the folly of their avaricious ways. I learned but too late that all the wealth in the world could not replace my loyal comrades, who have seen me through to the end in these darkest of nights. To my most faithful friends, I pray that you see to my fellow invalids after my passing, including the following unfortunates:
Three fellow miners: Hekrin, Pyndle, and Sortare
One priest: Clockmother Ingled
Two pets: Maximos and Tor
To those who heed my dying wishes, I seek for you all the best in the Great Beyond, and hope that fortune finds you well.
There follows only blank pages for the remainder of the ledger....
Figwidget raises one red eyebrow. "Eldite Poisoning?"
He shows the entry to Tychi, who also speaks Dwarven. "I strongly suspect this has something to do with that greenish glowing stone we've been seeing in the clockwork creations. It would seem that somebody recently delved too deeply, not learning the lessons of the past...."
He thinks, wondering if eldite is something he's heard of before.
Thinking back through what he has seen, read in documents and from discussions with the Airship Captain who brought the latest Simulacrum of Figwidget to the Karrgat mines, Figwidget recalls the following facts about Eidite:
- Eidite is a rare and unusual mineral that can be found in some parts of the Mana Wastes. It’s known to be poisonous to living creatures, with light-headedness as the initial symptom.
- Scholars speculate that eidite formed deep beneath the soil of the Mana Wastes as a result of the fell magic Nex and Geb used during their devastating wars.
- Eidite was valuable because it can be used to boost the power of clockwork and other mechanical creations, but it was outlawed due to its highly poisonous effects on living creatures.
- Eidite’s beneficial effects to machinery are temporary; machines injected with eidite or otherwise constructed with the mineral eventually begin to function unpredictably and dangerously.
Weren't we also supposed to bring a few samples of Eidite ore back for someone as a sidequest?
Tychi ponders the mention of Eldite. "We should avoid the stones then. If the mine has been contaminated by it, no machines should be made from this metal. We should continue to check the mine, to see if it's intentional sabotage, or just typical stupidity and greed. Then we can return to the city."
Figwidget says, "The pilot who brought me here wanted some Edite. I do feel some responsibility to make good on the deal that we made... but I did pay him for the trip, and it was a sort of additional deal. So, let's not make that side trip right now. I want to learn a bit more about what's going on here. If the mineral truly is dangerous, I would like to warn Mr. Jones about it before I bring him some of the stuff and have his airship go haywire on him."
"How much of the mine do we have left to explore? I might do with some rest at some point, to restore my energies so that I might rebrew some of my extracts. Other than that, I'm good to keep exploring."
Leaving the fire destroyed room behind you and heading north, you soon emerge into a large chamber - it is some 100 feet by 100 feet and has several features of note. The cart tracks split off in a multitude of directions:
- The tracks head directly west disappearing into the gloom of a tunnel.
- To the East, the tracks arrive at a small workshop area where a number of abandoned mine carts and scattered tools are covered in a thick layer of dust and soot.
- To the North, the tracks dissapear into the gloom of an exceptionally steep tunnel…the tunnel heads downwards and, standing at the top of the tunnel, it seems that the machinery that Tychi previously heard lies in this direction.
Standing centrally within this chamber, a thick stone cylinder (almost ten feet across) sits atop another peg that's attached to the ground. Four stone levers jutting from the sides of the cylinder make a cross shape.
"It appears we have found the way to the sounds. I suggest we investigate the repair area, then the tunnel to the west. Finally after that, we rest and go downstunnel in the morning, it's been a long and painful day, and Former Major Rand is looking the worst for wear."
"I'm fine. If we need to move on, we can."
Figwidget says, "Who needs healing? I'm going to use this wand on myself...."
"Ah, like clockwork," Figwidget sighs, as the healing light surges down through his body, closing his remaining wounds and fading his bruises.
"Anybody else? Oh, and this big contraption here, it's a winch that was used for lowering things down that steep tunnel. It's not working any more, though; neglected too long, and missing some components."
Carran sees Figwidget getting better almost immediately when he uses the wand.
"I could use a tap or two of that wand as well Figwidget, hopefully we will not need all of it too soon."
"Feels much better."
Carran swings his arms to loosen up his sore muscles and looks at the others.
"Tychi seems to have a thought for tactics and decisions. I'll second his thoughts. if that heeps us alive I welcome it."
Figwidget regards Luke. "How are you doing? Don't hold back. We need you in fighting trim. This wand seems to work quite well...."
Nike snorts and bobs her horn. "He didn't ask for healing, obviously he's just fine..." She eyes Rand as her head moves over and one giant blue eye stares into his. "Either that or he's suicidal, perhaps overcome with guilt over killing.. how was it Tychi put it? 'Mr. Not Figwidget?'." The unicorn snorts, and gives a soft amused whinny. "Or he's an idiot who won't ask for help because he thinks it's a sign of weakness."
Tychi winces in the background and raises a hand to forestall Nike, but the unicorn slaps him the face with her tail, making him sputter before he can say anything.
Figwidget smiles, and says, "I hope there's no guilt over destroying my other doppleganger. The mana storm was confusing both of us! And, I assure you, I am Figwidget. This is my mind, my consciousness. It's just... this body is sort of a duplicate, for safety. My regular body is back at home, safe and sound, but also unconscious because my self is here in this functional copy of it."
Tychi leans in close to Figwidget. "So, what you are saying is, is that Mr. Figwidget is in town, and if something were to happen to you, he would wake up safe and sound. You are also saying that this body is... Not Mr. Figwidget..." He asks, tilting his head, with an aura of amusement. The tengu hoots. "I would be very careful, Mr. Not Figwidget, if I were you. Nike has very short tempers with people at times, only her innate sweet nature keeps her from pounding them into the ground when they irritate her. Given she could do so to you with the full knowledge that she would not be actually killing anyone... Well... I personally would be very nice to her." He says, the amusement in his voice growing, eliciting an annoyed snort from Nike.
In the background, there's a mutter in Sylvan, for those that speak it, wondering if it would be possible to find a Mr. Not Tychi in the near future.
Your search of the workshop yields nothing of any particular value. The workshop tools are so corroded as to be useless although one or two of the components that are missing from the Decline Winch are piled here. The broken mine carts are in a much poorer state than the ones that you are currently wheeling around.
Everything remains quiet and calm within the mine for now...there is a definite rumble of machinery echoing up the tunnel to the north but nothing threatening.
With little of interest to divert your attention in the workshop area, you proceed in to the western tunnel. Ahead of you, you can see that the tunnel joins up with the other leg of the junction where you first encountered Gugs. The tunnel itself is fairly devoid of features however, some sixty feet along, there is a side tunnel heading to the north / north-east...
...a soft sobbing noise emanates from this side tunnel...
"I'm fine. Let's just keep going. I'll let you know if my spleen pops out or anything."
Figwidget cocks his head as he hears the sobbing noise. "It's probably a trap," he says. "Let's go investigate."
He'll head down the side tunnel.
Tychi and Nike follow along with the immortal gnome. "I wonder if he could operate multiple copies of himself? Then we could send one down each tunnel to find all the traps and rot grubs..." Tychi says to Nike softly as he follows.
Nike just rolls her eyes.
"It can be a possible trap, though I haven't heard of a Gug or grub to sob to attract travellers."
Carran wants to take point, but looks at Luke Rand.
"You'd want to go first right? Don't let me hold you back."
Luke will take point.
Moving into the side tunnel, the source of the sobbing becomes clear...some forty feet ahead of you, the pathetic sight of a ratperson pinned to the floor by a towering Gug; its fist raised high for a killing blow. The Gug is not alone, the spell casting Gug that previously evaded you accompanies it...burbling something unintelligible...
For the moment, both Gugs appear too engrossed with their prey to notice you...
Tychi pulls his whipsword, and Nike races down the tunnel to surround the gugs. Tychi attempts to gore the caster gug.
Tychi joins in from the other side, using the whip sword to attack the gug about to kill the ratfolk.
Carran steps up so has line of sight on the Gugs and fires one arrow at the one Tychi is attacking.
Luke will charge the attempted murderer, Shouting "Hey! You!" right before his blow lands.
Figwidget, hearing that there's something going on, starts running after Nike.
Nike thunders around the tunnel and drives her horn into the flank of the Gug. Pulling back and withdrawing her horn, blood pools across the floor.
The rest of the party focus on the nearer Gug, Tychi lands a blow with his whip-sword and ducks out of the way as an arrow catches the Gug in the shoulder. Major Luke Rand's attack is far less effective though, his shield catching on the rock within the tight confines of the tunnel.
Tychi flurries with his whipsword.
Figwidget keeps running in on his short little legs to see what all the fuss is about, perhaps only arriving in time to see his companions finish off the other gug.
Between them Tychi and Major Luke Rand beat the first Gug into submission…it falls to the floor under the intensity of the blows…and, with a whimper, dies.
Still reeling from Nike's charge, the second Gug turns on the Unicorn and furiously claws and bites at it.
Pounding up the tunnel to the south, alerted by the sound of fighting, two further Gugs arrive
Carran takes a 5-foot step and shoots several arrows at the Gug spellcaster.
Seeing the newcomers, Figwidget takes a step towards them and throws a bomb at the closer one, aiming it such that the splash damage will affect the other gug if aimed well. Unfortunately, the bomb slips prematurely out of his hand and misses, the bomb landing short and a little off to the side.
Nike whistles a challenge at the Gug, and activates her smite ability.
Tychi meanwhile jumps over the dead gug and lands behind the female gug and attacks with his whipsword.