"Well, he was pale, and had long black hair, but it was up in like a pony tail," she says, somewhat flustered by her poor description. "He acted like he knew you, but I haven't seen him before."
"It is possible that this figure is from my own past, Zelvin. I have no memories of the time before I was captured by a scavenger and then rescued by Khonnir Baine.
It could be that this individual is that scavenger, or a member of the Technic League. And it may be that they consider me to be their property. I would strenuously object to that designation.
I regret the trouble that this situation may cause. I believe we should inform our new comrades of this individual and note the possibility that they may be seeking to acquire me."
Tyn occupies himself with the vegetable stew, as well as engaging in a bit of drink to medicate the somber mood put on by a continued streak of bad luck.
He searches for any bottle behind the bar with a brand name label insinuating any form of good fortune coming from the consumption...
Tyn manages to turn up an unopened bottle of Black Butterfly Brew that had rolled behind a bookcase. While the empyreal lord herself isn't considered particularly lucky, perhaps her close association with Desna is close enough?
Val bites her lip and nods. "I'm sorry to drop this on you guys. You'd think things might be starting to calm down after rescuing our father, but it's always one thing after another, isn't it?"
Xaerai tucks in to Tyn's stew with a will, finishing a bowl and getting seconds once everyone else has had their first. She gives the Baine siblings a questioning look as they file back in. "Anything we should be concerned about?"
As the meal winds down, the dwarf cleans her own bowl and then rechecks her pack, more from habit than any real need. "So! Back down into the depths? We've still gotta figure out why Torch's big purple column of fire went kaput."
Xaerai tucks in to Tyn's stew with a will, finishing a bowl and getting seconds once everyone else has had their first. She gives the Baine siblings a questioning look as they file back in. "Anything we should be concerned about?"
"Perhaps, Xaerai.
A man came by the Foundry asking about Zelvin and myself. Val described him as pale, with long black hair in a 'pony-tail' style. Val did not specify that he was human but that would be my inference.I deem it likely that this individual is of or affiliated with the Technic League, and that they seek to acquire me. As I understand it, the League believes that all technological creations in Numeria, including androids such as myself, are their property. I do not agree.
As I told Val, I have no memories of the time before I was captured by a scavenger and then rescued by Khonnir Baine. This individual may attempt to tell me falsehoods about my past, and I am not proficient at detecting deception. I would ask you to be alert for either falsehoods or direct violence."
"For now, I believe we should return to the caves."
Your trip back down to the science deck is uneventful, with the various dangers along the way either dealt with or too afraid to confront you. Still, there's quite a bit of space in here that remains unexplored to you.
As the party returns to the Weeping Pond for another venture down into the caverns, you find a sight that's unusual even for Torch: a lone dwarf, turning his head this way and that, having what appears to be an argument...with himself.
The android approaches the dwarf and, in his best imitation of being personable, says, "Greetings, master dwarf. I am Hekau. What brings to you to the Weeping Pond?
Are you seeking a particular location, person, or object?
If so, I may be of some assistance. I have lived in Torch for several years."
Mad Marvin Dundlerock mumbles (once again) about the noise coming from those approaching to himself. The dusty, dirty, dumbfounded dwarf slowly stands up from his seated position to turn his crazed blue eyes to look over the polite, blue-lined humanoid.
The stone-armored soldier-looking dwarf nods to no one in particular.
Be done 'ear'n yee frum sum miles. Torag be tell'n me dat yee be need'n sum 'elp wit yer mission.
The dwarf suddenly turns full circle before facing the android once again.
Ye be 'ear'n dat? Neverminds. Torag be un bit silent 'bout da mission doe.
Mad Marvin then offers his grubby hand.
Me be Mad Marvin Dundlerock, at ye service frum Torag.
Cocking her head in intrigued puzzlement, Xaerai scans the somewhat befuddled-seeming dwarf before her for a clan dagger or forge-marks that might tell her more about who he is, and where he's from. She reaches out and clasps his hand, unbothered by the grime.
"Kveðja, dwevgeldi. Ég er Xaerai af klaninu Stormforge. Frá hvaða löndum og ættum kemur þú? Þú segir að smiðsfaðirinn hafi sent þig?"
"Hello, elder. What lands and clan do you hail from? You say the Forgefather sent you to us?"
A haunted look grows on the mad dwarf's bearded face, as Xaerai asks about his clan and lands.
Dere be demons and da wound dat eats!
Mad Marvin looks a bit terrified at the moment.
Xaerai blinks in surprise, taking a second or two to parse the older dwarf's outburst, but then her expression becomes sorrowful--almost pitying.
"Your ancestral lands were lost to the Worldwound? Hjarta mitt er þyngra en blý, elder. I'm sorry to hear it." She doesn't let go of Marvin's hand, peering intently at his face. "About my other question, though: you say the Forgefather sent you to...help us?"
Zelvin watches the two dwarves' interaction with polite curiosity. "A scion of the dwarven gods," he murmurs to the others. "And here I thought Brigh was watching over our endeavors. Still, I wouldn't say no to some priestly assistance." In a slightly louder voice, he calls to Mad Marvin. "Do you need anything, Mister? Food and drink, maybe? I reckon my sister could scrounge up something for you while we get to know you."
Mad Marvin Dundlerock looks up at the elf. The dwarf's blue eyes a bit red from moisture.
Be Torag dat led me here. Me be talking ta Him constantly. Frick'n be annoyed when me be on da s@$@.
The soldier-attired dwarf winks.
Sum foods be guud. Yee be telling us 'bout yes mission.
With a shrug, Xaerai gestures up towards the hill Torch is built on, and the absent beam of purple light. "It's not secret--we rescued the town's wizard, but he's in a bad way and he didn't know why Torch's forge is powered down. So we need to head back in and complete the job." She gives Marvin an assessing look. "You up for it, dwevgeldi?"
"We do know that another group has entered the caverns, which I surmise are in fact an ancient vessel that traveled between different worlds, most likely employing technological means. This other group may have caused the Torch flame to shut down."
Hekau, with a bit of what almost could be excitement, begins sharing various facts about the 'caverns'.
"The walls are made of a skymetal alloy called glaucite.
There are numerous mechanical constructs within, powered by technology rather than magic. Some are hostile, some are simply tools we can use. For example, 'Elevators' transport us between levels of the structure.
We encountered skeletons and a zombie created from four-armed humanoids native to a planet named CX-335 or Kasath. I do not believe this vessel originated on Kasath, but rather visited that planet.
And, throughout the ruins, there are messages in the Androffan language. This language is of unknown origin, but Khonnir Baine believed it to be from another world."
He will, of course, stop talking if requested, but he draws a lot of inspiration from Data and the exhaustive exposition was a specialty of that character.
Mad Marvin grins at Xaerai. The worn, older dwarf stands up, pats is pant legs to get the dust off (it doesn't do much), and shoulders his pack.
Torag be say'n ta go wit yee so me be go'n wit yee.
The dwarf makes a face, as Hekau begins relating the pertinent information. Mad Marvin nods, sighs, and claps at the correct intervals.
Me be tink'n dat yee be da wizard.
The dwarf laughs.
Xaerai looks over she shoulder at the others and shrugs. "Can't hurt to have him with, can it?" Turning back to the older dwarf, she frowns as she surveys him. "You are a priest, dwevgeldi? I'm inclined to welcome you aboard, but what powers does the Forgefather grant you?"
Zelvin shrugs back at Xaerai, as if to say "Probably not." "I reckon his appearance here is some kind of providence anyhow, since Shesik's had to go off on her own way and all."
Mad Marvin turns his crazy blue eyed gaze at both Xaerai and Zelvin at the same time.
Me be un soldier fer Torag. He be mak'n me un stupid priest too. Now me be hav'n ta watch me f!@%ing languages.
The laughing dwarf slaps both on their backs. He gives them both a wink.
Plus me be un guud wit dis pick.
Rolling his eyes in just the slightest,
"Oh yeah, another dwarf is certain to be a sign of good fortune...! Tell me. there Marv, do you keep any talismans on your person to stave off the demons? I hear the ones of the frozen-type are most effective! You know, frosted lucky charms and what not..."