| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Khonnir and Meyanda departed just a day before the Technic League attack. Do you remember those men from Iadenveigh that were having trouble with their crops due to toxic waters? I think Chaance talked with them in the Silverdisk Hall. Well, they convinced Khonnir to create a purifying device like the one in Torch." Val starts to explain the events since the group left Torch "It seems the discovery of the techno-ruins under Torch reached the ears of the Technic League, and they came to seize full control of the city... Dolga tried to stop them, but the Technic League leader himself, Ozmyn Zaidow, killed her and made a show of it to intimidate all of the city. I tried to run away, but the city exits are taken, so I got back to the Foundry, took some supplies and left to here hoping Khonnir or you would follow the breadcrumbs to find me"
The girl looks down sorrowful and abated "I have been days here, from the little I dared to investigate, I have found out most of the citizens that did not escape on time have been enslaved and put into direct service of the Technic League. Just yesterday a column of them were headed to the Black Hill caves you discovered under the pond, with working tools. Joram Kyte was among them, chained and deprived of any symbol of Brigh..."
Dinvaya frowns "So typical of the Technic League..."
"Dolga...is...dead?" Rhoreen tries to stymie tears that threaten her face. "She was so nice to us. Oh...oh..." Rhoreen wipes away tears.
"They WILL PAY."
Yambul is very unhappy by Val’s story. At the same time, he worries what they few can do against such a foe. ”Is there a sense of general uprising? If we could take out the leadership here, would the people rebel? If they did, could they hold off another invasion?”
He shakes his head sadly. ”Maybe we should bust out one of the gates with you Val. We were planning to head to Iadenveigh anyway. Maybe we can find help there to combat the Techinc Leaguers. I don’t want to throw them off now, only to have them come back in force while we’re gone and take it out on the city…”
He does not like the options the party has and struggles to come up with a better plan than fight. At least for now.
"It appears we owe you an apology, Dinvaya. You've been lifted from the frying pan, into the hellfire of the League." Chaance frowns at the developments. She fully expected Torch to be a place of refuge, now they'll need to adjust their itinerary for Iadenveigh. "Are we intent on freeing Joram?" The elf regards the ysoki for his zealous regard of all things clockparent.
"Val, we're going to need more information. The Technic League. What are their numbers, and do you have more names? Is it suicide to consider direct retaliation? We strike at Ozmyn, and Torch is razed to the ground, its people slaughtered to the one..." Chaance slows her speech, and regards the others.
"Ozmyn's swordplay is as famous in Numeria as it is his null blade, and he is known to be as powerful of a wizard and knowledgeable of technology as he is cruel" Val negates with her head visibly reviving the images of Dolga's death "I guess he wanted to see the techno-ruins with his own eyes... or maybe he was not confident on his own people... But there was another man, a wizard with long beard I think, he was walking with a ratman and were asking Dolga about someone called Casandalee. I've seen other troops, perhaps a couple dozen men, and a large robot..."
"Even if Ozmyn leaves at some point, it will be difficult to face the others, and as Yambul says, they will not let Torch stand now that the vessel underground has been discovered..." she closes her fists frustrated "Iadenveigh... yeah, that sounds a place as free of the Technic League as it could be in Numeria. They are not interested in technology those faithfuls of Erastil, the League will let us be there, won't they? I hope Khonnir made it there and is safe from all this chaos."
Dinvaya clicks her tongue "I cannot speak for you, but I have hidden myself for just too long. If there is a chance to fight them, I will take it. I have endured the fist of the Technic League for just too long" the half-elf soothes the symbol of Brigh you gave her. Joram's holy symbol of Brigh.
"Yeah, we've met the large robot. It's LARGE," Rhoreen finally says when she recovers from her angry fit.
"Maybe we should focus on getting Joram his holy symbol back. That might make a difference," she agrees with Chaance. "We'll want other allies too. Is there anyone else who can help?"
Rūha offers a prayer for Dolga, and continues to shake her head as Val reveals more and more of the situation in Torch. "Seems things are even worse than they appeared. It's good Khonnir managed to make it out at least. And we'll be sure to get you somewhere safe too." She nods reassuringly at Val "However I'm inclined to agree with Yambul. Even if we were to fight off the occupiers here, the Technic League would send more, and with even more of a grudge. I'm all for frustrating their efforts, so long as it doesn't result in a greater punishment for the people of Torch, but I'm skeptical how possible that would be."
She ponders for a moment longer then suggests "As difficult as it would be, a total evacuation of the town would leave the League without workers to slave away. However, it would require everyone here to abandon their homes and go... somewhere. Numeria isn't particularly safe." She shakes her head. "Maybe not."
”Well I’m for killing every Technic Leaguer here…and posting their heads on pikes all they way back to where they came from, so if they do march this way again, they will know what happened to the last group,” Rhoreen says, still venomously angry about the death of Dolga.
”We should kill them all. This was my home. This *is* my home.”
"[..]Is there anyone else who can help?"
Val tries to think very hard, she even gets nervous and shakes "Don't know, the Otterbie family is probably not having a good time either... perhaps Garmen Ulreth? He always seems to know how to get the best out of each situation..."
"I don't think now's the time. We may, or may not, be successful against such odds. Whether we're successful or not, there will be reprisals, and I don’t want that on my head. It would be cheap to fight, then leave, and we’re definitely leaving.”
”Val, we’re going to Hajoth Hakados to try and sell some stuff and buy some other stuff. Something we’ve been unable to do, and continue to be unable to do. Then on to Iadenveigh. Come with us.”
”I don’t think we should stay, even long enough to sell our goods. Let’s get out now while the gettin’ is good.”
Zzvkgrogk ponders. ”Garmen Ulreth and the Ropefist gang… did they not get enslaved then? Do you know where we can find them?” he asks hopefully.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rhoreen nods at her friend and co-Torcher, Zzvkgrogk. ”Yeah, good question. I can’t leave my hometown like this.”
"Ulreth? That would be an odd ally to rely on. My impression of the man was as an opportunist with few scruples. I would not put it past him to be working on the side of the League if there is money to be made." Rūha furrows her brow.
"Hajoth Hakados?" Val echoes Yambul's words "If I can join back with Khonnir yes, then I will come with you. It will at the least be more safe than here."
"Let's be smart about fighting the League." Dinvaya cleans her hands, leaving the decision on the group.
Answering Zzvkgrogk, Val comes to a glass opening in the southern wall and points past the lake, to the buildings down the slope "I have seen the Silverdisk Hall is still open, there are lights every night. You said Garmen Ulreth was smuggling some goods in that storage of his? Perhaps he knows a way out of the city without alerting the Technic League guards... Bu-but as Rūha says... it might be a bad idea to be in debt with him, even if he can be persuaded to help..."
"Bu-but as Rūha says... it might be a bad idea to be in debt with him, even if he can be persuaded to help..."
Rhoreen smiles, thinking upon a plan that will either get them out of the city or satisfy her initial bloodlust.
"Then we should go speak to Garmen then. If he'll help us, great. If he won't help us, then he can't be trusted not to sell us out, and we may need to silence him permanently," she notes. "It might be a better place to start than just taking off. Knowing what we have here will make it easier."
Zzvkgrogk ponders more.
"Ulreth? That would be an odd ally to rely on. My impression of the man was as an opportunist with few scruples.”
”But maybe an opportunist with few scruples who is also very well connected. I can’t really say much about where his scruples lie, I don’t know him at all. But like Chaance says, one must keep an open mind.”
”Besides,” he adds after a thought,” no one said ‘rely’.”
He starts heading for the silver disk if everyone is OK with seeing Ulreth
"Hajoth Hakados?" Val echoes Yambul's words "If I can join back with Khonnir yes, then I will come with you. It will at the least be more safe than here."
”Just temporarily. We have to follow this lead, but then we can come back, kick the bastards out, and stay a while to deal with the reprisals too.”
"Then we should go speak to Garmen then. If he'll help us, great. If he won't help us, then he can't be trusted not to sell us out, and we may need to silence him permanently," she notes. "It might be a better place to start than just taking off. Knowing what we have here will make it easier."
”Wow, you really have the blood lust going don’t you Rhoreen! Still, I agree! Let’s see the man and take his measure. If he aids us, great. If not, then he’s an ally of the Technic League, and an enemy we can kill who shouldn’t get the local ‘Leaguers too worked up.”
He mutters, ”I never liked him anyhow…”
”But maybe an opportunist with few scruples who is also very well connected. I can’t really say much about where his scruples lie, I don’t know him at all. But like Chaance says, one must keep an open mind.”
”Besides,” he adds after a thought,” no one said ‘rely’.”
”I agree, he probably is well connected. And that could work for us, if he can be convinced to do the right thing by the city.”
Yambul follows Zzvkgrogk to the silver disk. Not a place he thought he’d set foot in, but there you are.
"At least gauging his allegiances right now would be worthwhile." Rūha nods uneasily. "And if he proves to be helping the League..."
”Wow, you really have the blood lust going don’t you Rhoreen! Still, I agree! Let’s see the man and take his measure. If he aids us, great. If not, then he’s an ally of the Technic League, and an enemy we can kill who shouldn’t get the local ‘Leaguers too worked up.”
”The question isn’t why I’m bloodthirsty, YamBULL. The question is why you aren’t. Isn’t this your home too? Wasn’t Dolga part of your home too, YamBULL? Why would you want to leave at a time like this?” she huffs in response. She has more to say, but feels it might not be helpful at this time. She bites back more angry words, knowing they come from hurt and not really from logic.
”C’mon. Let’s go.”
You make it quietly to the Silverdisk Hall, the sun rays are receding and the darkness of the night helps you reach the location without calling the attention of the Technic League.
Once there, you discover the business is still running, perhaps not with its lively usual atmosphere, but running. You make a note reach the appropriate hands and ten minutes later you are invited into Garmen Ulreth's private office through a backdoor in a back alley. Val and Dinvaya remain behind.
The garrulous man checks on you from his chair behind the desk, a wide smile drawn into his face "Look who comes knocking at my door"
Garmen's eyes are sparkling "So tell me, how can I help you, friends?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"They've come to wager their Silverdisk credits, finally. That is, if you're still honoring them?" Chaance narrows her eyes warily of the duplicitous man still breathing after all this time, and all that Technic League.
"So tell me, how can I help you, friends?"
”Are we ‘friends’?” Rhoreen asks. ”You seem awfully cozy with the Technic League. Are they friends too?”
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
”The question isn’t why I’m bloodthirsty, YamBULL. The question is why you aren’t. Isn’t this your home too? Wasn’t Dolga part of your home too, YamBULL? Why would you want to leave at a time like this?” she huffs in response. She has more to say, but feels it might not be helpful at this time. She bites back more angry words, knowing they come from hurt and not really from logic.
"I've lived this long by not fighting every injustice I see." Yambul begins quietly, "For there is injustice everywhere you look. Someone is always taking advantage of someone else somewhere."
"But if we act now against the 'Leagers directly, then we're staying for the reprisals which are sure to come. I'll not stir a hornets nest and leave it to the next poor bastard to suffer my actions. That's just selfish. If the Technic Leaguers get too riled up, I'll stay here to protect the town and not ride south with the rest of you."
He follows Rhoreen, and hopes the group doesn't make the poor citizens of this town worse off than they are already.
"They've come to wager their Silverdisk credits, finally. That is, if you're still honoring them?" Chaance narrows her eyes warily of the duplicitous man still breathing after all this time, and all that Technic League.
”Yeah, is there honor in you?” Yambul asks somewhat frowning.
”Are we ‘friends’?” Rhoreen asks. ”You seem awfully cozy with the Technic League. Are they friends too?”
”Yeah, what she said, who are your friends Garmen?”
”Are we ‘friends’?” Rhoreen asks. ”You seem awfully cozy with the Technic League. Are they friends too?””Yeah, what she said, who are your friends Garmen?”
"Don't you find most people terribly fallible when it comes to emotional responsibility? The robust figure of silverdisks I find more trustworthy more often than not" the man stands up and looks back to the wall hiding his face while opening a cupboard and bringing a bottle and a few glasses "Some whiskey? At the pace the Technic League consumes my reserves and keeps wandering merchants away it might take a while for you to have a chance at one of these"
He fills one of the glasses "Of course Ozmyn Zaidow quickly understood the advantages of keeping my business running"
Even for someone as used to conceal his emotions, it is difficult for Garmen to hide he is being pissed off by the Technic League despite his position being probably better than for other citizens.
"Keeping your business running, but not keeping it running with the kind of volumes you're used to, I'd suppose? Have you considered closing up shop here in town and moving to open up another place somewhere else?" Rūha presses Garmen, hoping to get him to reveal some more in his responses. "Or do you think things will settle down on their own, the League getting their fill and leaving? Because I'm sure you're not about to just sit here and let them walk all over you, isn't that right?"
"Can't say I haven't thought about relocating. But it is not the best of times now" Garmen takes the glass and drinks it hole "Anyway, I am guessing you have not come to my office to discuss on real state opportunities outside Torch..."
Zzvkgrogk takes a proffered drink. Placing a straw therein, he pretends to sip being more of a ginger beer kind of Ysoki. The fumes however make him a little tipsy and he sets the drink away from his face.
”Why are you really still here? Surely you can leave if you like. Your clientele can only be of one type at this point – we heard everyone else locally was enslaved under Black Hill. Is Sanvil Trett among them, or just a Silverdisk patron? I mean – do you like it here -- with all the changes? It just sounds like it might be a little ... limiting.”
All pirates hate regulation.
Rhoreen crosses her arms. She agrees with what Zzvkgrogk is saying.
”Maybe you should pay us to get rid of them. We would do it…for a price.”
Yambul nods, pleased they aren't going to kill anyone here today. Although this guy is seedy, he's going to go with his best plan, and that means being, relatively, hostile to the Techic folks.
Yeah, why is he still here? He's got the resources to bail...
He leans in continuing to study the man and wonders where he'll spend his coin.
Garmen stretches his eyes visibly tense "For a moment I thought the Technic League was testing me, but nah, you are not the kind to get along with those sorts. Sanvil Trett, sure, he is sorting all that tech in the Market Square."
The man fills another glass for Zzvkgrogk "So that is why you are here? To get rid of them?" his smile skews "Yeah, you want money, I see. Good, I will pay you a thousand gold coins to get rid of Furkas Xoud. Ozmyn Zaidow has charged him with keeping Torch under control and unearthing all secrets from under Black Hill"
He observes your reactions for a second before quickly adding "And before you keep going with your questions on why I do this or that, let's just say I have my reasons to get rid of him and remain near my properties"
"And before you keep going with your questions on why I do this or that, let's just say I have my reasons to get rid of him and remain near my properties"
Rhoreen really doesn't care why Garmen is doing this or that, but she does like this offer.
"Where is Ozmyn? I heard he slew Dolga," she asks, trying to figure what what might be involved. "How many men do you think Xoud has? Any other threats other than that big robot near the gate?"
"And before you keep going with your questions on why I do this or that..."
Zzvkgrogk sniffs well past his drink and his beady eyes crinkle into a shine.
That sounds right, but something stinks… He is afraid. I bet he can’t leave because he is stuck here somehow.”O.K.,” Zzvkgrogk says, huffing more of the whiskey fumes before he becomes chatty. ”enough about you. We’ll consider this offer... Can we ‘borrow’ some of the Ropefist gang? Or, did Furkas Xoud enslave them too? Is Ozmyn in Torch? Has he been? Do you know where we can find this other Ysoki who has been sighted with a possible wizard? Does Furkas Xoud look like a possible wizard? If not, what does Xoud look like? Also, the questions Calliope asked -- how many? Is there a discrete way in and out of this City? We might need to hire some reinforcements. ”
"Furkas Xoud? Yet another League agent?" Rūha can't help but wonder why Val didn't mention this one earlier. Could it be that Garmen is taking advantage of the situation of make a business move?
Yambul looks dour at the turn the conversation has, er, turned. He wants to argue with the party, make them see why this is not good either, but he won't give Garmen the satisfaction of seeing the party in disarray. So he keeps his big trap shut and just looks on angrily at the proceedings.
He is curious to hear the responses Garmen gives to the latest questions, and concentrates on his veracity.
"Yeah, you want money, I see. Good, I will pay you a thousand gold coins to get rid of Furkas Xoud. Ozmyn Zaidow has charged him with keeping Torch under control and unearthing all secrets from under Black Hill."
Chaance bristles at the exchange between Rhoreen and Garmen. That she would reduce a liberation effort in Torch to mercenary work for the lowlife gambling hall owner seems far beneath them, it's rather insulting. When the elf speaks, it's clear she has no interest in what Ulreth has to say.
"Torch is lost. We have no business here. Yambul was right to insist on departing immediately for Iadenveigh."
Rūha and Yambul think Garmen is giving them accurate information, for whatever the reason.
"I saw Ozmyn just yesterday. My impression was he was just willing to know about the techno ruins personally and did not plan to rule Torch directly. I have not seen him around the whole day, and from what I hear in the halls, I think he just teleported back to Starfall." Garmen explains "They have a couple dozen men, and a big robot, at least that one is not drinking out my reserves. If was letting them I think they will drink all the alcohol in a single night."
"Yes, I saw the Ysoki, that one came to the Silverdisk Hall a couple times with Furkas Xoud. And yes, he was left in charge here and as most Technic Leaguers, he is a wizard, though I have not seen him in action personally, I have heard how he defeated the militia by summoning some air elementals." Garmen tries to give answer to all of your questions "A discrete way out... you are certainly talking with the correct man... smuggling out people though can get pretty dangerous... requires some coin to have it done of course..." his face seems to light up as he smiles.
Chaance statement thought caught him off guard and he frowns "Yeah, I see, when things to south you hide your head. Well then, run into your forest..."
"Yes, while you continue to take their blood money." Chaance looks daggers into the man, though she doesn't produce one.
"If you understood half of went on in Scrapwall, you'd beg our forgiveness for your insolence. Now, I am ally to my companions, and if they insist on staying to provoke the League even further, then I will listen to their plans. We may even pay you to smuggle."
"Teleported? Then you are as right as can be Chaance. If Ozmyn can just teleport reinforcements into Torch then we will be on the back foot no matter what we accomplish here." Rūha turns a little pale, though its hard to tell on her mottled lilac skin. "In fact, it may be better to distract the League's attention away from Torch first."
She folds a set of arms together. Against a foe with so many resources and proper organization, freeing Torch seemed insurmountable. But then again, defeating the Lords of Rust had seemed an incredible task, and this group had managed it.
Rhoreen listens with crossed arms. She’s not willing to leave the town like this, and if she can get paid to clean it up, she would accept it.
Know (Arcana)
"If Ozmyn can just teleport reinforcements into Torch then we will be on the back foot no matter what we accomplish here."
”No, that’s not likely Ruha. That takes a lot of magical power and energy to do that…and even then, it’s maybe 2 or 3 extra people per trip. It’s a terrible way to bring in reinforcements. Even if they have reinforcements.”
She turns her attention back to Garmen.
”Where do you think we should start? Is there a way to isolate some of the Starfellas?”
”Where do you think we should start? Is there a way to isolate some of the Starfellas?”
"Drugs, wealth, tech... should you find a way to distract the low ranks with the promise of that, you can strike them ensemble, or somewhere else, or profit the opportunity to escape... maybe pose as slavers and slaves... depends on whether you want to strike the low ranks or the high ranks. You sure are a creative lot" Garmen proposes with a mischievous smile in his face "It seems though your group is divided on what to do, so probably you should agree on that first"
"Yes, I think we've learned more or less all we're going to. Let's go." He leaves, if the party is ready, and heads to cover so the party can chat.
"Chaance, I don't think Torch is doomed, just a bit hamstrung at the moment. And I do think we can help to put things to right, but..." he turns to Rhoreen, "I think this task might be a mistake."
"I mean, I don't trust Garmen, but sure, let's take his money if it's something we're going to do anyway, but I'm still not sure it's the right thing to do! If we take out this guy, it seems to me the Technic Leaguers are just gonna send someone else. And we'll be gone! Off to the south."
"It just seems a wrong thing to do is all. Stir up the hornets nest then leave. On the other hand, it would be nice to paste someone before we go. I dunno. Zzvkgrogk, what do you think?"
”You could [ … ]” Garmen proposes with a mischievous smile in his face
Zzvkgrogk considers, then reconsiders, then considers again and then again.
... I’ve been huffing too much…
”O.K. – let us talk among ourselves for a moment,” he says to Garmen.
Zzvkgrogk gathers the Zzvkith in privacy.
”So – pay Garmen to smuggle out Joram and also pay Garmen to show us all they way out? If we can reunite Joram, Dinvaya, Val and Baine – maybe we can all figure out how to save Torch.”
5 first, 3 Second
(1st)
(1st) True Strike
(1st)
(1st) Sheild
(1st) Detect Metal
(2nd) Identifier’s Eye
(2nd) See Invisibility
(2nd) Detect Thoughts
Mutagen: (+4 Dex, -2 Wiz)
Can use craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using Detect Magic
Hits: 33/33 ()
AC: 17 / 15 / 13 (Normal/Touch/Flatfooted)
AC Current: 17
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 43/50
Radiation Detector (6/10 charges)
Neraplast Armor Charges: 18/24
Laser Pistol (Charges): 10/10
Batteries Charged): 18/18
Empty Battieries: 0 /21
Zzvkgrogk Special (Alchemical Ordinance): 8 / 8
”So – pay Garmen to smuggle out Joram and also pay Garmen to show us all they way out? If we can reunite Joram, Dinvaya, Val and Baine – maybe we can all figure out how to save Torch.”
”What? NO! We’re not leaving people like this. Not when we can do something about this,” Rhoreen crosses her arms. ”I was raised here. My foster family is here. I’m *not* leaving them to suffer.”
She glares around.
”Not sure how we can so blithely attack the scary Manticore of the Trashheaps, but a few pathetic Tech Leaguers have us scurrying for our elders.”
Rūha nods to Zzvkgrogk "There's strength in numbers. Joram, Khonnir and Dinvaya all have their own magic that may help." She ponders for a moment and adds "But paying Garmen to get out seems risky. Though it is clear there's no love lost between him and the League right now, he may decide there's more profit in sabotaging any attempt to leave, especially if it earns him favor that he can leverage. The robot and guards at the entrance to the town would be hard to bypass, but we could climb down the cliffs and escape that way without Garmen's help."
When Rhor protests, Rūha feels a pang of sympathy. The people of Torch weren't her people, were separated an interminable age and distance from her people. But they were important here and now. Still, blindly lashing out would only create a worse situation, as the others had already said. She can only offer "We've done some reckless things, and so far they've turned out alright. Here we risk not only ourselves, but the town as well. If you want to help the town, we have to think through a plan that will actually get the League to leave. Taking out some of them will only serve to stir the hive. And I feel having all our remaining allies on our side will provide the best chance of determining that plan."
”This lot aren’t the ones I’m worried about Rhoreen. It’s the guy who killed Dolga, and whatever cronies he brings to bear that I’m worried about.”
”Are you prepared to stay and go against whatever the Technic League can throw at us? I’m not saying it wouldn’t be nice to give ‘em a black eye before we leave, but I don’t want the reprisals to fall on the shoulders of others. If there are any ‘course.”
”Let’s go south and talk to Khonnir Baine and do the thing there. Then we can get a plan together. A real plan. Not that I wouldn’t mind a little revenge, but you gotta think of the common folk. Who’s to defend them while we’re out of town?”
He shrugs, ”Maybe the ‘Leaguers aren’t that quick to respond. Maybe we could do some damage, leave, and get back before the reprisals hit. And then again maybe not. Their leader teleports for Desna’s sake!”
”When we move against the Technic League, and we will, we need to be ready to stay in town for a few weeks at least to guard against their next blow. Then maybe see what happens.” his plan sort of trails off as Yambul has trouble seeing that far ahead - but he sees a lot of blood in his future.
”C’mon, keep your anger for now and lets get out of town quickly, today, now - and be on our way. The sooner we’re gone the sooner we’re back and can free Torch from their oppressors. Mr. Baine will know what to do.” He entreats.
Zzvkgrogk looks at Rhoreen, his eyes full of sympathy.
”I’m not crazy about leaving now either, Calliope. If we show our hand now that will just reveal the mistakes Ozmyn made in leaving a bunch of weak-willed wastoids behind to hold down the fort in the first place. We need to ensure we can make a stand and hold it, or he’ll just hire more competent thugs that will be harder for us to eradicate. And like Yambul says, they just might take it out on our families here.
I’m fine not paying to get out, I could create 3 invisibility elixirs and … one for Dinvaya and Val and someone else. I could probably stealth it down the cliffs, but that still leaves most of us unaccounted for. Oh? I haven’t got anything like that prepared for today, though.
I’d also like to mislead Garmen. Maybe tell him we’re doing further surveillance, then make our move down the cliffs."
”Do you guys think we can take the robot at the gate? Chaance, you got any adamantine arrows?”
Yambul thinks, ”I’d like to strike a blow, and if we attack while fleeing the city, they can’t come down on the populace right? So let’s attack their door guards at some point when there are but few of them, and that nasty robot.”
”Me, and anyone else who can affect it, focuses on the robot, and the rest of you on the guards. Zzvkgrogk makes Dinvaya and Val invisible for their protection. We destroy their big bad robot, and head south to do a little trading and follow up our other leads in Iandenveigh.”
”We give the Leaguers a black eye and there’s nothing they can do but try and follow us south, weakening themselves if they try!”
”If we don’t want to do that, maybe I can get a levitate potion or something and just carry people down the cliff face to the bottom and we can leave that way. No one watches the cliffs, as Zzvkgrogk suggests.”
”Do you guys think we can take the robot at the gate? Chaance, you got any adamantine arrows?”
”Were you there when we beat the Manticore of the Dungheap?” Rhoreen wonders where the bravery and drive in the has gone. ”I cannot believe we are considering ditching Torch and letting the Technojerk League take control of the Torchfire. But I guess it makes sense as your life and livelihoods don’t depend on it…unlike the rest of the townspeoples. And mine.”
"Chaance, I don't think Torch is doomed, just a bit hamstrung at the moment..."
Chaance nods as the swordsman expresses himself, answering him almost sympathetically. "I didn't say 'doomed', I said 'lost'. If it can find its way free of the League, so much the better. I like the word 'yoked' more than I do 'hamstrung'."
"Not sure how we can so blithely attack the scary Manticore of the Trashheaps, but a few pathetic Tech Leaguers have us scurrying for our elders.”
"Like Yam and Roo speculate, if you decide to scatter the ant hill, you shouldn't be surprised when the agitation leads to a much stronger response. Remember, they're attracted to the technology here, and it's deeply rooted, almost unassailable."
"Do you guys think we can take the robot at the gate? Chaance, you got any adamantine arrows?”
"None, I'm afraid. Only the blanches obtained from Aldronard's Grave. You show wisdom in your strategy, Yambul. We can't be seen to be Torchers ourselves, attacking in defense of the town. Attacking as we try to leave? Well, the Technic League can't hold that against the local population. I mean, they could, if they lash out for any casualties we inflict before we depart..."
Chaance turns to Rhoreen. "You sound very knowledgeable about the Technic League, for how confident you are we ourselves can cull their ranks. Please, tell us what you think happens once you've rid Torch of the current occupiers. How long is your campaign against the Technic League, and do you think it a greater threat to Torch than Unity Herself?"
"Taking some Technic Leaguers out on our way out does sound like a sensible way to draw attention away from the town and reduce potential reprisals." Rūha nods along with Yambul and Chaance's comments. "Even better if we're seen close by afterward, so they split their forces and send some looking for us. If the garrison is weakened enough, then they'll have to think twice before taking their frustration out on the townsfolk." Chaance's question for Rhor also seems apt and Colvyn suggestion of tricking Garmen as to the group's intentions also seems sensible.
Afterward, Rūha says "So the question is, do we first want to try to pull Joram out so that we have more people on our side when we inevitably return to help the town shake off League control?"