If anybody comes to Figwidget's house, they will be greeted at the door by a clockwork servant and a clockwork soldier. Although the latter is tall and impressive (but not nearly as impressive as the city's Brass Guardians), Figwidget will have programmed both of them to recognize the other members of the party, and they wont attack. Not speaking, the clockwork servant will show the visitors to a sitting room.
Shortly thereafter, Figwidget will emerge from downstairs, dressed in work clothes with his Goggles of Minute Seeing over his head and his Engineer's Workgloves tucked into his belt. "Hello!" he'll say, enthusiastically, happy to see the others. "I'm glad you made it back! Last I heard, the Brass Guardians were still acting up; did you get to the bottom of it? I've just been downstairs working on brewing up another Emergency Backup Me... that is, another one of my alchemical dopplegangers. You can see if if you like, but right now it's just sort of a fleshy lump; I haven't had enough time to fully grow a new one. The halfling slaves and I made it back to the city without trouble. The Mana Wastes are always exciting to move through, but nothing was nearly as bad as that little incident that the Major and I had when we were first out there....."
"So! What news!"
Nike snorts. "Greetings, Mr. Really Figwidget... assuming you are really Figwidget and not Not Figwidget." She says, doing an excellent imitation of both Tychi's voice, and his manner of speech. She tosses her head, returning to her normal voice. "Short version is, Rand ran off by himself, got himself blinded and then captured by the enemy. We had to agree to let the enemy flee in exchange for his safety. The enemy was merely a hired thug anyway. Their employer is behind the guardian trouble. They are intentionally seeding parts for the guardians with the green metal from the mines that causes madness in machines."
Meanwhile over at the Brass Guild, Tychi arrives to find locked doors and crowds bearing placards.. Predictably, the placards and signs demand that the Brass Guardians be decommissioned and that law enforcement be the sole province of the Shield Marshalls. Although the guild is not 'under siege', the mood is quite ugly...
Fortunately Tychi is a recognisable sort of fellow and, even without Nike, stands out in a crowd... A voice hisses at him... "...over here...over here...", a guild member beckoning him to a discreet side entrance... Bustled inside before anyone notices, Tychi finds the workshops to be a hive of activity, Brass Guardians in various states of disrepair or maintenance are hoisted on work benches with mechanics feverishly salvaging parts to reconstruct new guardians... Somewhat horrifically, there appears to be a detail of halflings whose responsibility it is to clean blood from one of the units.
Eliza Baratella doesn't even look up when you are shepherded into her workshop...until Tychi opens his mouth and she almost drops her wrench, "You...you came back...you found something?..tell me...tell me...there is hope after all..."
"Yes, we are aware of what has transpired. Your guardians have been sabotaged. We encountered a tiefling and her retinue who were mining a green mineral that, when mixed into your ore to make parts for your guardians, causes them to run amok." The tengu says, and produces the samples that the group took, as well as the notes that Figwidget produced before he left on the substance and what it can do. "I believe that now that you know what is causing it, you should be able to screen your guardians for the foreign material. We've shut down the operations at the mine, and freed some halfling slaves who were forced to work there by the tiefling's minions. Before she fled, she gave us a general description of her employer, and where he was currently."
Tychi gives the general description they received, and the location of the man's main outpost. "We will be proceeding there now to deal with him, but felt it was best to bring Major Rand back to ensure he was himself and uninjured permanently."
He then describes the events, from the outset, that occurred in the mine.
Carran moves in silence along the roads, blending in with most of the crowd of Alkenstar as he goes along. When Tychi is waved aside, Carran moves slowly after them, intending to listen first to what more news is to be heard.
After that he goes throughout the town to do some shopping, buying more arrows and an efficient quiver or two.
"You say this Tiefling accused an Alkenstar High Minister of being behind all of this?", Minister Baratella wipes her hands on a cloth with some disdain, "I had my suspicions, the cost if putting this scheme into motion always suggests that it was someone of means...but who? You didn't get a name? There are several who would see this guild closed and their Shieldmarshalls allies restored to sole law keepers... Yet I cannot simply accuse them - our position is tenuous at best, if we were to throw accusations around then our last remaining credibility would evaporate like the morning smog."
Minister Baratella looks to Tychi, "I am afraid to say that I must ask you to brave the wastes again... Go to this Megator Facient and find out who lies at the core of this plot"
"That was our plan. We are to leave tomorrow. We thought it best to bring you news on how to stop the brass guardians from malfunctioning, to save lives. Plus to have Major Rand checked, given how rare Magic is here, to ensure he was not altered." Tychi turns to Carran. "I believe that is all we had, unless I have forgotten something? Nike usually reminds me when I forget small details."
We had found the Eidite in a few of the Guardians...at lest we know now where it has come from - and that the supply has dried up. How will you get out to Megator Facient? I must admit I thought that forge long dead..."
Pulling a map from a drawer, she points to a mountain range some twenty miles north west of the Karggat mines, "How will you get back up there?"
"Well, such a trip is no issue for Nike. However, I'm afraid she can't carry multiple people as she did to get us back to town, not safely." He studies the map. "Perhaps you could arrange some clockwork steeds for the others? They would be able to keep up with Nike."
”Sadly, the bulk of our clockwork steeds have been dismantled for repairs to the Guardians… there are good stables down near the ‘Screw’, I could arrange three horses for you if you wish?”
Tychi shakes his head. "Normal horses cannot keep up with Nike. Do you have any mechanical horses?"
Figwidget nods, as he converses with Nike.
"I see. So, the mines are indeed the source of the problem. Hopefully, if the leaders of the city are warned, they can be on the lookout for tainted parts. It seems that the next thing to do would be to return to the mines and find whoever is behind this enemy you had to let go, and put a stop to their activities once and for all!"
"I would like to offer my services to return with you. At this point, the clone I have growing in my lab downstairs should be able to grow on it's own. A pity it won't be ready in time for me to transfer my consciousness into it, as it would mean I could leave my real body safe and sound in the Vault down stars, but, eh! A little danger, risk, and adventure will keep the bleaching at bay, will it not?"
Nike snorts. "As you wish, but what happened to your previous 'not Figwidget' and the halflings?"
"When I got the halflings back to Alkenstar, I took some of them to various soup kitchens and places where they would be able to get meals. They're free, now, and on their own, and I can only hope that they're finding good lives for themselves. One or two of them have been by to visit, and I've cooked for them and shown them around."
"As for what you call 'not-Figwidget', actually, it was the first Figwidget you met that was a clone. That clone got destroyed by Major Luke Rand when the madness of the mana storms was upon us. When I came back, I was in my regular body. I won't be able to transfer my consciousness into another alchemical clone until I finish growing it."
"Ah, that is good to hear. You should explain to Tychi when you are and are not you. Both of us thought you not you, and we therefore had prioritized you as the least in need of saving. This could have resulted in your unfortunate demise."
Minister Baratella confirms to Tychi that the horses she procures for you will be mechanical, "I'll call a few favours in...there's more than one stable down there who we maintain such steeds for"
I'm assuming we're bringing ourselves up to WBL based on what you said. Tychi/Nike made some minor equipment changes (Nike is at the point now where the barding is worse than not wearing it).
Adamantine Urumi +3 Urumi 21330
Bracers of Armor +5 25,000
Belt of Physical Might 40,000
Headband of Wisdom +4 16000
Sustenance 2500
Tengu Jug 1000
Amulet of NA 2000
Ring of Deflection 2000
Gloves of Dueling 15000
Helm of comprehend languages 5200
+2 Weapon 8350
Bag of Holding (Type II) 5000
MW Backpack 50
Monk's Kit 8
Traveller's Anytool 250
Lenses of Detection 3500
Horseshoes of Speed 3000
Amulet of Mighty Fists +1 Acid 16000
+2 Wisdom Bridle 16000
Bit & Bridle 2
Military Saddle 20
Saddlebags 4
Cloak of Resistance +1 1000
2x Wand of Cure Light Wounds 1500
Total spent : 184714
Updating character sheets now
Done
Minister Baratella is good to her word and, the following morning, shortly before daybreak, finds Major Luke Rand, Figwidget and Tychi riding north...the dust clouds from their galloping settled before the sun starts to burn the cold of the desert night away...
The ride to the north is about fifty miles and starts to bring you dangerously close to the border with Nex...until you catch sight of what must be your destination, plumes of smoke belching into the air from behind a small range of ragged hills. Carefully traversing the hills, finding paths stable enough to support the weight of your steeds, you find yourself looking down upon a walled facility built into the side of a sheer rock face...from a distance of half a mile or so you can't detect any movement however the smoke belching from vents int the rock face and the dull throbbing sound of machinery tells you that this is not a deserted building...
...as far as you can tell, there is only one entrance into the building...a bailey at the eastern end of the wall encompassing the facility now features a wide gap of crumbled masonry.
"Would it be worth looking to see if there are any less obvious entrances?" Tychi asks Figwidget, as he fully expect the good Major to want to batter down the gate, rather than even going in through the gaps in the wall. The most direct and frontward approach.
Figwidget nods. "Assuredly. Let's go up and down the cliff face a little bit and see if there is anything to see."
"We should find a place to hide our horses before leaving. We might need them quickly, and I don't want to shut this place down only to have to walk back across the mana wastes."
"Yes, one other reason I wanted mechanical horses for the two of you, they can be shut down, and the key removed, so they cannot be stolen. And they do not need to be fed." He whistles very softly, and helps to survey the area for both hiding spots and alternate entrances.
The hills are suitably rugged that you find several gorges where you could easily hide your horses whilst you proceed on foot... From this distance, you can see two other 'possible' entrances into the facility...
- There are two vents cut out of the rock face through which smoke is billowing - the climb up would not be easy (it is about two hundred feet up) and, with the smoke coming from it, probably doesn't lead anywhere 'safe'
- Halfway along the wall encircling the facility, there is a small river...some ten feet wide...that must pass through the wall - maybe a gap in the wall below ground level?
...taking the extra time to survey the building...you also start to notice something moving in the ruined bailey tower to the east...something very large...
"How loud an enterance are we making? If we had more people, I would suggest surrounding them and then moving in until the fighting starts, but there are only...Where is Carran? Wasn't he with us?"
"Mr Carran gave his regrets, but had a family emergency and had to leave." Tychi says, looking things over. "The chimney would be unreachable by Nike. The river the same. Unless we find some other way, we will have to go in through the front, or leave our only source of healing behind."
Figwidget says, "Mechanical horses would be nice! When I have some time to spend back in my workshop after all of this is over, I intend to design and build some."
Figwidget points at the large thing moving in the tower to the east. "We should get out of sight if we aren't going to take a visible approach. Do you want me to drink something that will let me swim and scout under the water?"
"Unless you can become invisible, then no. I think we must find a cave entrance, or take the frontal assault. We could hit them from two fronts, but we are very few to do so."
"Splitting up would be a bad idea, I feel, but I don't have a lot of experience in this kind of work. I think that we have two different options: either we move as fast as we can and push to get into the facility, or we can silence the guards and move in quietly, avoiding the patrols where we can and taking out the guards as noiselessly as possible when we can't."
"That being said, I have traditionally always been a fan of lightning strikes. It has the advantage of not relying on everyone to have the capability to move unseen, and it lets you use less resources. The downside is that there aren't very many of us. If one of us falls, that's 25% of our combat capability."
"That is my tactical assessment as I see it."
Tychi nods. "Unfortunately, I don't see a way around it. I might suggest that Mr. Figwidget sneak up via the river with his potion to swim. Even better if he can do so for Major Luke Rand, Retired, as well. Then once both are close, Nike and myself can charge in noisily and make a lot of noise and draw attention, allowing the hidden duo to then attack the responders from the side. If Nike and I encounter things too dangerous, we are the most likely to be able to outrun them given her speed and our ability to dodge."
Figwidget says, "It will take me a minute to make one Water Breathing infusion, another minute to make a second. If we think we have the time, I can do that...."
"Better to take the time now that we have it then to regret not taking it later. For now, the combats can be on our timetable."
Tychi nods. "Very well then, make a cold camp here in this gully, and I'll go out after dark and sneak around and see if I can find a way in that's not the front door that will accomodate us all."
Darkness falls unnaturally quickly in the Mana Wastes...jagged shadows cast over the plain in front of the Dwarven factory before the sun dips over the horizon and the temperature drops... Taking his leave, Tychi scouts the area looking for alternative entrances...unnoticed by the lumbering shape skulking within the damaged bailey tower, the stealthy Tengu confirms that there are only two breaches in the wall...
One being the damaged bailey tower...with the large shape guarding a huge set of double doors...
The second, and less favourable, being a grille in the river flowing through the bailey wall. As far as Tychi can see, the grille wouldn't even allow Figwidget or Tychi through... Let alone Nike...
Tychi doesn't get a good look at the shape that is guarding the tower... But he does hear clanking and grinding... Enough to suggest that it is a construct or clockwork device...
"Interesting. That does give us a 3rd option: We can try attacking from multiple enterances at once as well."
Luke begins sketching out a quick map in the dirt using a stick.
"hrmm....if we had more people I would almost suggest a diversionary tactic where we have a group go up and make a lot of noise to draw off as many things as possible, and then go in when they are gone. As it stands, I think the broken wall is probably our best bet. It will let us stay together, and use stealth and invisibility to get as close to the break in the bailey wall as we can. From there, we should push into the building the smoke is coming out of. That is where we will most likely find the mastermind of this little affair."
Figwidget says, "There's definitely an advantage in staying together. If you wanted me to go in through the grille, I could do so, brewing up not only an infusion of water breathing, but also one that would temporarily allow me to assume gaseous form. Unfortunately, I don't have enough spare alchemical acumen remaining to brew up gaseous form infusions for all of us. So, the broken wall sounds good to me. Let's do that."
Tychi nods. "Then, I propose the three of us sneak up on the wall. I will take the land, the two of you sneak up by swimming underwater in the river up to the grate, and then exiting. This gives Major Luke Rand, Retired, the greatest probability of making it to the wall unseen. Nike will wait until she hears the sounds of battle, and then join us. We will then go in through the break in the wall under the cover of darkness. Agreed?"
Figwidget nods. Sitting down, he quickly brews together a couple of infusions, spending two minutes on it. When done, he hands one of them to Major Luke Rand. "Water Breathing," he says. "It won't help you swim, but it does mean you won't drown if you fail. You can walk on the bottom, if nothing else. Once you drink it, it will last all day."