"We will not give up until we either die, find Khonnir, or something much more powerful than us," Karina reassures.
Nodding to the skulks, "It as my companions said, we have made progress and have found much that surprised us, while we didn't find Khonnir Baine, we will report our findings and return,"
Sef reacts when Alpha mentions the name of the person you are seeking. Her reaction is immediate and negative. "Baine?" she hisses, hand going to her dagger. "He and his cronies slew our former leader and stole our silverdisks. That is what you are seeking? That is ill for our arrangement. Ill indeed!"
"Be that as it may, you asked us to do something for you, something that can't be reversed. We did so. You must hold up your end of the bargain as well. That is how people act. We've done you no harm."
Karina just stands by silently, feeling judged by her familiar somehow.
As Zaria speaks calm but firm words to her, Sef blinks a few times then shakes her head. "You are right, of course. You did us a service by eliminating the gremlins. That is not undone by your goals, and though we mourn the loss of our former leader, I would not be in this role if she were still living. Either way, bringing more from the surface here threatens our small tribe. We will not fight you, but we will not aid you if you return with more surface dwellers. If more come in your place, we will fight for our place here. There is nothing more we can do..." She dismisses you with a wave of her hand, and enters her tent, to think on what is best for her small band.
It is simple enough to work your way back to the foul-smelling water that marked the entrance to the cave system under Weeping Pond. You recall having underwater breathing cast on you by the priest of Brigh, Jorah Kyte. That effect was extended using his magical rod, so you have just a little time left on the effect right now.
The swim to the surface is through a 45' long tunnel with no air pockets, but if you can breath water, that doesn't seem particularly challenging. The water is sulphurous and has a bitter chemical taste to it, which may cause nausea with prolonged exposure.
Karina barely manages to avoid wretching as she drags herself out of the water. "Pffta... same nauseating water as before."
Alpha-47 attempts to swim out.
"I think I'm growing used to the water after I ingested so much of it last time," Looking around, "Should we head straight to the councilors?"
Without much difficulty, the team assembles on the shore of Weeping Pond once again, wet and with the bitter tang of the polluted water still fresh on their skin. Torch itself is just a short walk away.
Aglippa and Ba'hahk both look forlornly at the water-covered tunnels. "What I am seeking is not below I am afraid," they both say in their own separate ways. "I will continue my search elsewhere. Good luck with your exploration and rescue of the town councilor."
And they split from the party going their own way, and out of this story.
"I need to fill in the town council." Zaria says.
Then she goes to do just that, telling them about the skulk village, the four-armed undead, the strange complex under the town, and everything else that they ran into.
The familiar Dolga Freddert and Joram Kyte attend the meeting. Also there is councilor Bazlundi Otterbie. Missing is, of course, Khonnir Baine, but also councilor Soceal Murgrave who is at home nursing a splitting headache (for the second straight day).
As Zaria explains what was found under the city, Dolga replies:"Aye. Khonnir told us of the inhabitants of the cave when he returned the first time. Reckon he said there were a glaucite wall but that's all t'further he got on t'first journey. Seems he got further on t' second trip, but gods knows where he is now. Supposin' y'all are headin' back down there to finish t' job then an' bring him back?"
The priest of Brigh weighs in: "Undead creatures below the surface of the city is concerning, but I trust you will put them to the sword. Some kind of structure down there speaks to alien tech. Bring us back any technology you find, it may be of value in more ways than one." He offers to heal or cure any conditions you may have acquired while under the Black Hills and readily agrees to give you the underwater breathing again, when you are ready.
"Yes well," says Baz Otterbie, pinching the bridge of his nose, as if he too has a headache. "I haven't heard tell anything that gets us closer to the Torch coming back on. How will the consortium stay afloat without that fire? I say you get back down there and figure it out, pronto!"
"We merely wanted to avoid running out of our daily allotment of spells while we were down there, is all. We want to explicitly avoid ending up like the other parties," Karina adds, switching back to her bard persona as she holds her familiar in her hands. She then notes down the material the wall is made of, and adds, "of course we'll bring any technology. Brigh is the Mother of Invention after all, and collaboration is key."
Dolga nods. "What else do y'all need to make sure Baine is returned and t' monsters below don't make it into town? Seems like there were more o' y'all when you started...Rest up, eat somethin', we will help as we can, but with t' Technic League raisin' our dues, it ain't easy."
The lute in Karina's hand seems to shake a bit at the mention of the Technic League, but she does her best to hide it. ... Am I going to be ordered to take on the League? Oh no. Now I know why her patronage came strings-free.
"A small amount of special materials might be worth it if we can afford them and they're in stock, we don't know what's down there. It's not all robots and all the other usual Numerian things. There were literal fey down there."
Dolga shrugs. "Tell us what you'll be needin' an' we will see about gettin' it."
Jorah Kyte the priest of Brigh agrees to apply his water-breathing treatment on you for your return journey. [b]"And there might be heroes for hire or the like staying in Torch. We'd offer them the same pay to bring back our fellow, Khonnir Baine, if you find any takers.
Nodding, "Any additional information you might have on four armed creatures, we encountered several of their skeletons, they are some kind of unusual undead, though we aren't sure what, there was something off about the skeletons and this zombie we found. Seemed like an intelligent zombie, but not a ghoul or wight. Additionally if you have any cards such as these," Alpha-47 pulls out the brown card, "They may look like novelties but we've found they can open and close doors in the structure below,"
The town councilors look among themselves first then Jorah Kyte says, "We don't have knowledge or experience with such things. They have not yet come to the surface in Torch that we know of. As I said, I expect you will put any undead you found to the sword to keep that from occurring. We have not seen any four-armed creatures here, though there is rumor of them but that is all. None of us have these card-keys you mention either."
Meanwhile in Torch's most expensive Inn:
An Elven woman dressed in colorful garments sits in her usual corner, circling her glass of wine in her fingers. She had arrived yesterday night and has not yet left the establishment. After several glasses she began shouting and rambling about aliens and accusing patrons and staff to be aliens in disguise. Afterwards she was asked to go to her room.
Today, she was trying to listen in on the other patrons' conversations. Sometimes she also mingled with them, offering a drink or two. All in all, she tried to behave a little better, while investigating if anyone knows something about aliens and there whereabouts.
They must all be in on it, if noone is willing to talk! She decides for herself and retreats to her corner...
Meanwhile in Torch's most expensive Inn:
An Elven woman dressed in colorful garments sits in her usual corner, circling her glass of wine in her fingers. She had arrived yesterday night and has not yet left the establishment. After several glasses she began shouting and rambling about aliens and accusing patrons and staff to be aliens in disguise. Afterwards she was asked to go to her room.Today, she was trying to listen in on the other patrons' conversations. Sometimes she also mingled with them, offering a drink or two. All in all, she tried to behave a little better, while investigating if anyone knows something about aliens and there whereabouts.
They must all be in on it, if no one is willing to talk! She decides for herself and retreats to her corner...
Efni Raan has a frustrating day in the Copper Coin common room. Last night she acted the fool, and today no one is conversing with her so no information is gained on her search for strange creatures or places. It's quite maddening really, after coming all this way to not hear anything at all. She considers leaving the busy inn public room and maybe trying her luck at the Silverdisk Gaming Hall down the road.
Just as she tosses back the dregs of her last drink, and is ready to settle up, a young woman approaches her. She is tall and athletic looking with blonde hair and a face marked with colored tattoos.
"You are asking about strange people or tech?" she queries. "My father is missing after he led an expedition to under Black Hill, but he brought back some strange artifact and talked of stranger things below. Maybe that's what you seek?"
A young Tian woman sits at a nearby table, head in her hand in boredom as her other is occupied with fiddling with a lock of her oddly rosy pink hair, or drumming her fingers on the table.
She perks up at the mention of strange artifacts and stranger things "below". Practically jumping to her feet, the girl strides over to the colorful elf's table. Dusting her white martial artist tunic and brushing off her blue knee-length skirt, she clears her throat.
"Sorry for interruptin'," she says, "but I couldn't help but overhear somethin' about weird artifacts and other stuff?"
Now that she's closer, she begins to recognize the elven woman and gives her an odd look, "Wait, weren't you the one rantin' and ravin' about alien conspiracies or whatever the other day?"
"You are asking about strange people or tech?" she queries. "My father is missing after he led an expedition to under Black Hill, but he brought back some strange artifact and talked of stranger things below. Maybe that's what you seek?"
Efni's eyes widen and she jumps to her feet and a young woman of at least 7 feet towers in front of you. She forms a fist and hits it loudly at the table. " I KNEW IT!" she shouts out loud, then switches immediately to a soft comforting tone. " I'm so so sorry, my dear. They have taken him, didn't they?" She softly pads the young woman.
"Just as they took me. But I escaped. Somehow, I believe. But not after they did weird experiments to me. I Wanna find out more. Maybe show me what your father found.*"Sorry for interruptin'," she says, "but I couldn't help but overhear somethin' about weird artifacts and other stuff?"
Now that she's closer, she begins to recognize the elven woman and gives her an odd look, "Wait, weren't you the one rantin' and ravin' about alien conspiracies or whatever the other day?"
Another woman approaches. Obviously an outsider a well, just as Efni herself. Efni looks down on her, too. In a harsh tone, again, completely different from the soft comfort, she answers. "Yeah... maybe... so I've been told. Got any problem with that?" The amazingly beautiful elf leans forward threateningly while tilting her head. Anyone would think she is indeed crazy.
The young woman stammers a bit at the reaction from the super-tall elf. "M-m-maybe. Maybe they took him. I don't know...He went down there and never came back. Well -- he came back once -- but then he went again and hasn't. The town is paying folks to look for him. Some are down there right now, they're good people, but who knows what they'll find."
She takes a step back as another stranger approaches, letting those two work things out.
Bahir feels the heft of his remaining coin as he enters the Inn. Sleeping under a wagon is not the most comfortable, but it is the least expensive.
He walks in to see the woman who seemed to be a bit agitated... and intoxicated last night standing up banging on a table.
Bet she doesn't do a lot of stealthing.
The patrons of the bar see him enter...
A large swarthy human enters the tavern. He turns slightly sideways as he enters the door, as his shoulders almost fill the opening. While the elf was tall he was wide.
He wore a bronze breastplate that was blackened with the edges and emblems shining a bright bronze color. It seemed to be finely crafted and well cared for. A gleaming steel shield... obviously of dwarven manufacturing was slung over his shoulder. Finely made gauntlets covered his hands, and a finely made scarf hung around his neck. The heads of two spears poked above his right shoulder, and he held an unusual spear in his right.
He walked in in time to hear the majority of the excited exchange.
"Ho! I hear your conversation and wonder if I might join you in the conversation. I've never seen an alien, though I've seen things in my travel that defy explanation. I must ask if there seemed to be any objects constructed of any strange alloys".
He then smiles the gap between his gleaming white teeth on full display.
He bows slightly and opens his left-hand palm up.
"Oh. Forgive my rudeness. I sometimes get carried away when the idea of new metals is presented. I am Bahir Steel Orisini Alloysmith".
Alpha-47 nodding, unphased by the lack of help, "Understandable, I will conduct research on these alien undead. Before we descend again, we will see if we can find any more allies that may wish to join us in the search for Khonnir Baine,"
Looking to Karina and Zaria, "Back to the inn where we all first started?"
Intimidated by the overreaction as the elven woman leans toward her, Seoli takes a step back, raising her hands in a defensive manner, "I, uh, I was just curious, is all. I apologize if I've offended you."
As she tries to take her leave of the situation, she backs into Bahir, "Huh...?" Seoli turns around and tenses up as the size and sudden appearance of the man now looming over her takes her by surprise, "Gah!"
Seoli slowly lowers her guard as the man explains himself, returning to normal as his disarming smile and polite bow placates her.
"I dunno anythin' about alloys, but somethin' like that does sound pretty interestin' as well," she muses, "Weird artifacts, weird metals, aliens..."
"I don't know anyhing in particular about alloys, either. Actually, I should. Probably. If daddy had his will! But I never really payed attention." Efni rambles and seems to get lost.
"Anyways. I appreciate any opportunity to investigate and I gladly accept any company willing to do what must be done."
Awkward silence filled the table, as Efni suddenly stopped speaking and the others didn't know, whether the conversation was over.
" So, aehm,..., should we wait for those mentioned? "
The blonde woman (little more than a girl really) speaks up: "As far as I know, they are still under Black Hill. They left early today and have yet to return. I can certainly find you if they resurface, or you can just go down there on your own? I just really want me father back safely."
"That's a good idea. Back to the inn!"
Karina comes in just as alloys are being discussed.
"I've seen a few alloys. Greetings, I'm Karina the bard, in case you haven't heard me playing here or in the Foundry Tavern. We were the group that recently went down, but given a fair few of us are casters... it's a bad idea to try to go down their with nothing but cantrips and a dream. Glaucite ring a bell," Karina says as her eyes twinkle.
"Oh please! Can you show me or describe the alloys. I'll be happy to accompany you to retrieve or inspect them".
The big man rises to his feet.
"Where are my manners. I'm Bahir... Bahir Steele".
"You went under Black Hill?!" Seoli exclaims, swiftly turning her attention to Karina, "What was it like?!"
She stares into the woman's eyes, her own practically gleaming in excitement as a large grin creeps onto her face. Finally, some real leads after only the vague stories from the townsfolk. After a moment, realization kicks in and she averts her gaze in embarrassment. Backing off, she mutters, "Ahem... S-sorry about that. I'm Seoli."
Behind Karina, steps a tall, broad-shouldered figure clad in a reinforced coat of bronze plates and riveted seams. Where skin should have been, smooth synth-flesh caught the lamplight—almost human, yet unmistakably artificial. Golden, pupil-less eyes glowed faintly beneath a sculpted brow, calm and unreadable. At their side hung the intricate gearwork symbol of Brigh, softly ticking with each measured step.
"I am Alpha-47 and yes Indeed, we did descend below the city. Technological marvels awaited us. Alloys we specifically encountered in abundance was Glaucite, fashioned into some sort of facility. To that point, we also found abundant alien undead that possessed unique properties unknown even to me," Looking around at the others, "We require new companions, our previous ones were overwhelmed with awe and left,"
"OH!" cries Val Baine leaping into the middle of the discussion. "You've returned! Did you find my father? Is he ok>? What happened?" She seems pretty excited at your return.
"Uhhhh, so many new people! I'm excited to meet you all! My name is Efni." The 7 foot tall Elven woman in fine garments friendly introduces herself with a very wide and girly grin on her face. Lady Efni, actually, but you don't need to know that.
"Alien undead? Wowowowow, I knew it! How did they look like? Like us?"
"We're waiting a day to refresh spells, as we don't want to only rely on cantrips and end up like your father did," Karina says to Val, as she then goes on to describe glaucite to Bahir. "At least I'm pretty sure it was glaucite, also known as Numerian Steel. In addition to being a bard, I also try to research the non-magical technology of Numeria to better help those who live there, like Khonnir Baine has done."
Nodding, "Yes alien undead or at least of a humanoid I've not encountered on Golarion," Thinking back, "They had four long arms, stood on two legs but had an elongated skull. Those four arms were dangerous, really allowed them to wield a number of weapons,"
Val Baine seems quite disappointed after getting her hopes up at your reappearance. "By all means, you should rest. You can stay at The Foundry again, if you wish. Did you see any hint of my father under there? Or is there any hope of his return?"
"We require new companions, our previous ones were overwhelmed with awe and left,"
Seoli flashes a beaming smile as opportunity presents itself, "Would you allow me to join you?" she asks, barely able to hide her enthusiasm, "Like I was sayin' earlier, I'm don't know a whole lot about metals or aliens, but I can thrash any undead or other monsters you might come across. Plus, it sounds like it's really interestin' down there."
"I'm fine if you come miss..." Karina says as she pauses to wait for a name.
"We have no idea where he is or if we were even on the right track. Buried under Torch is a massive, well, I don't even know what to call it, a complex, maybe. We've encountered multiple different groups living there or non-living there in the case of the undead. In fact, one group of undead that we defeated was removed from where they fell with no traces or tracks left behind."
Zaria takes a breath and then continues. "That said, I would not despair. There is no evidence that he is dead, and Karina, Alpha, and their new companions will be able to continue to look for them. I will not be going back down. I want to make sure that if they fail, or if monsters come out of the lake and attack Torch, we can protect the town. I'll be staying here and working with the militia."
She takes the striking shortsword off her hip and hands it to Karina. "You may need this more than I do. Good luck.". She then heads out of the Foundry.
Val Baine watches Zaria leave wordlessly. Then she turns to the others. "You all must go back. My father is down there and needs rescuing. Waiting for the monsters to surface is all well and good, but what about him?" she cries plaintively.
Efni couldn't care less about the woman's father. Neither did she know her, nor was she particularly fond of father's in general.
"So, 47,I want to join you and see these aliens myself!"
"Seoli," she answers Karina, "Sorry, my introduction must've gotten droned out by this chaotic conversation goin' on."
In response to Val's pleas, Seoli places a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry, miss...! Uh, I don't think I got your name. But either way, with me on the case, we'll get your dad back! Promise!" she proudly pats herself on the chest, giving the girl a cheery smile, "Won't let any monsters creep their way into town, either!"
Nodding, at the large Elf, "Good, as you've gathered our original task was to recover Val Baine's father, Khonnir Baine who descended beneath the mountain with another group of adventurers. None of have returned in days, we made a significant foray into the depths of the compound but had to retreat, the weight of the task was high," Turning to Zaria as they depart, "Have a good day, Zaria, thank you for joining for what you could,"
Looking around at the new group, "Karina and I will introduce you to the town councilmembers who are aiding us, Seoli and Efni, correct? After seeing what's down there, I think four of us is not enough, two more would allow us to find success, the danger is high and it was only getting more perilous the more we descended into the compound,"
"Six seems just enough, any more and we run into problems with the size of the group itself," Karina adds. "So that leaves... what, one more person to ask around for, Alpha?"
... That's multiple people in the wild who know I serve Baba Yaga, and an entirely new group that will get those living down there to attack us. I suppose this is better than typical stories of serving the Witch Queen, at least.