RttToFC/Interlude1
Return to the Tomb of Five Corners - Flashback: Daughter of Nexus[edit]
Kuros: OK, Nexus is a very large city in the Scavenger Lands
Kuros: It is a huge trade city, the largest for thousands of miles, probably
Kuros: It is ruled by the COuncil of Entities, who rule by decree
Kuros: Nexus is built on the ruins of a First Age city called Hollow.
Kuros: The legal system in nexus is...odd.
Kuros: There are six laws called the Dogma, that are immutable.
Kuros: They are: No taxes shall be raised, except by the Council
Kuros: None shall obstruct trade
Kuros: None shall bring an army into Nexus
Kuros: None shall commit wanton violence
Kuros: None may falsely claim the Council's name or sanction
Kuros: None shall harbor a fugitive from the Council's wrath
Kuros: Violating these means death.
Kuros: There are somewhat over a million people living in Nexus..
Kuros: The other laws are called The Civilities, and they are the decrees of the Council
Kuros: any member of the COuncil may make a law, such as "None may eat after dark"
Kuros: and these frequently change daily
Kuros: And most seem extremely odd, or pointless
Kuros: The Council's enforcer is a being known as the Emissary.
Kuros: He wears white robes and a silver mask, and no one knows who or what he is.
Kuros: He is extremely powerful, and has shown no difficulty killing even Solar Exalted in the city
Kuros: The methods he uses include turning offender's blood to molten metal and the like.
Kuros: Several Solars are living openly in Nexus, and more are arriving, as it is probably the safest place this close to the Blessed Isle
Kuros: OK, the Guild
Kuros: The Guild is a massive trading organization that sprawls across Creation.
Kuros: They trade in anything and everything. Food, minerals, drugs, slaves...
Kuros: Think Wal-Mart, but a lot more evil.
Kuros: The Guild uses Nexus as thier headquarters
Kuros: OK. You have all been in Nexus for several weeks...for some reason...
Kuros: and yes, you all travel together/know each other.
Kuros: As you are walking through the bustling streets, a boy of about 8 comes up to you.
Kuros: He's dressed in the uniform of a popular courier service in the city, and he's carrying a folded piece of paper.
Kuros: "Masters Caran, Gavane, and..." he pauses, then looks puzzled and says, "Son of the Metal Flame?"
Caran: Caran looks at the boy, "Yes?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: smiles at the child. "Yeah, I would be the latter. Anything I can do to help?"
Kuros: "I have a letter for you, from Hierarch Artemisia."
Gavane: considers for a second, then gives an almost imperceptible nod
Kuros: He extends the letter towards the three of you.
Caran: Caran takes the letter and opens it up, holding it out so all of us can read it
SonoftheMetalFlame: grabs a small piece of jade from a pouch at his waist and hands it to the child. "Thanks."
Kuros: The letter is written on extremely high quality paper. The writing itself is beautiful calligraphy.
Gavane: looks over Caran's shoulder, but keeps one (paranoid as usual) eye on the boy as he departs
Kuros: The child bows formally, then runs off into the streets, disappearing between the stalls and large amounts of people
SonoftheMetalFlame: moves in closer to the others to get a better look at the letter.
Kuros: The letter reads as follows:
Kuros: "My Dear Sirs, I would consider it a favor if you would meet with me. Simply present this letter at the Guild headquarters. I have a matter to discuss with you that could prove beneficial to us all."
Kuros: It is signed Hierarch Artemisia.
Caran: "Hmm. To the point, isn't it?"
Gavane: raises an eyebrow. "It seems we have caught the eye of one of the rich and powerful."
SonoftheMetalFlame: nods. "Very."
Caran: Caran chuckles. "Well, I see no harm in hearing what this 'matter' entails."
Gavane: "And short on actual information, no doubt calculated to make us curious."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Well, it's working. I'm curious as heck why a hierarch wants us."
Caran: "Well, it certainly peaked my curiousity."
Gavane: "Indeed. If only in who it is, who calls themselves such. Not that a fancy title isn't something you can buy around here ..."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Oh, I imagine the guild would not take too kindly to someone pretending to be a hierarch."
Gavane: "No? Is it a Guild title then?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: nods. "It most certainly is."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "A pretty high up one, at that. I'd be inclined to say this is genuine."
Caran: "So a higher up of the Guild wants to speak with us concerning something. Now I'm very curious."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Well, no point in standing around then. Shall we go and see what this Artemisia wants from us?"
Gavane: "Huh. Riverspeak isn't my first language, but the meaning I learned had something to do with priestly things, if I remember correctly? Strange title for someone in the Guild - but then, it certainly sounds impressive, and I guess that's what counts."
Caran: "I say yes, let's head to the Guild and see what this is about."
Gavane: "And yes, I think our previous plans can wait for the moment. Let's hear what she was to say."
Kuros: (The Guild is headquartered in a 12 story tower from the First Age, in the center of the Nexus District.
Gavane: "Let's be on our way then. It's a bit of a walk ..."
Kuros: It is huge. The walls are sheathed in some sort of gleaming white material that has faint, whorling patterns of blue on the surface. It reflects the light spectacularly. The area in front of the tower has a large, beautiful marble fountain chased with gold. A huge crowd of people cross the courtyard in front of the tower, with many entering through the massive entranceways.
Gavane: Under his thin cloak Gavane is wearing his usual gray silks and fine leathers. Nothing ostentious, but he doesn't look too out of place here.
Kuros: Inside, you can see what looks like nothing so much as an indoor market. You can see racks of clothing of every sort, with beautiful men and women modeling various articles. There is a jewelry section, with row upon row of gems in glass cases. ALmost everything except food is represented here, it seems.
Kuros: Near the back of the huge area, you see a spiral staircase leading up through the ceiling.
Kuros: But you see nothing resembling an office here.
Caran: Caran glances around as he walkes, enjoying the sights of so many different things.
Kuros: Though there are guards in red and gold uniforms milling about.
Caran: "Hmm. I would guess we need to go up the stairs then?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: thinks for a moment. "I honestly don't know."
Gavane: "Let's simply ask."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Yeah, sounds like a good idea. They may even know the exact person we're looking for."
Gavane: approaches one of the guards. "Excuse me, sir? Where would we find Hierarch Artemisia or someone who can point us towards her? We have an appointment ..."
Kuros: The guard turns toward you. You can see he is smartly groomed, and looks very professional. He also looks very competent, and has a short sword sheathed at his side.
Kuros: The guard raises his eyebrow. "Do you have an invitation?"
Gavane: "We do."
Kuros: He holds out his hand. "Let me see it, please."
Gavane: "Caran, you had the letter?"
Caran: Caran hands the man the letter.
Kuros: He unfolds it and scans it. "Very good. I will escort you to her, but you will need to leave your weapons here."
Kuros: he gestures toward another guard, who comes walking up. "Give them to Larac, here. You'll get them back when you leave."
SonoftheMetalFlame: nods, removing all of his weapons (cesti, hookswords, even the small dagger in his left boot), handing them to Larac.
Gavane: "I assume their safety is guaranteed." (it is not a question)
Kuros: The guard nods. "Of course. This is one of the safest areas in Nexus."
Kuros: Is anyone going to try to conceal a weapon?
Kuros: Or, rather, sneak in with a concealed weapon...
Gavane: makes a show of producing two daggers and a roundish leather case (closed) from his belt, and another dagger from his ankle. He keeps the rest.
Kuros: Wits + Larceny.
Kuros: 8 successes.
Kuros: The guard flicks a glance over you all, and seems satisfied.
Kuros: "Follow me please, sirs."
Kuros: He walks over to the stairway, and begins climbing.
SonoftheMetalFlame: follows close behind.
Caran: Caran follows along
Gavane: follows at the rear
Kuros: The next two floors are similar to the first, with thousands of items being sold to hundreds of people.
Kuros: On the third floor, there are several guards posted at the stairwell, but your escort waves them away, and they let you pass.
Kuros: 5 floors later, your escort steps off the stairway and into a large hallway. The walls are made of a dark wood, and paintings line the walls.
Kuros: Doors are interspersed along the hall at regular intervals, as well as smaller hallways that branch off.
Kuros: The guard leads you through the hallways for several minutes, taking many turns, and finall stops at a large set of double doors. He pushes it open, gesturing you inside. "She will be right with you. Please take a seat."
SonoftheMetalFlame: nods, walking to a chair to take a seat.
Gavane: nods. "Thank you."
Kuros: The office is splendid and rather opulent. The chairs are detailed in ivory, and the desk is of the finest Eastern wood. Everything in the office drips wealth.
Caran: Caran takes a look around the room, then finds a seat and relaxes.
Kuros: Piles of paper are stacked on the desk in neat piles, as well as several quills and inkpots. There are two doors on opposite walls, much smaller than the ones you entered through.
Gavane: takes a seat beside him.
Kuros: After several minutes of silence, one of the doors opens.
Kuros: A women enters. She is perhaps forty years old, and dressed in an immaculate red robe chased with gold. Her hair is raven black, with no sign of gray, cut shoulder length, with no hair out of place. She wears a thin golden tiara.
Kuros: She takes a seat in the larger chair behind the desk, and smiles at you all, though the smile seems lack any real warmth.
Kuros: "Welcome, my friends. I trust you had no difficulties on your way here?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: smiles genuinely. "Not really, no."
Kuros: "So glad to hear it."
Kuros: "You three have made something of a name for yourselves of late."
Caran: Caran smiles. "I wouldn't say that."
Gavane: "Have we? For what, if I may ask?"
Kuros: "Oh, tut. You're being modest."
SonoftheMetalFlame: grins and sits up a bit taller, but doesn't say anything about it.
Kuros: She turns to Gavane. "Do you require a recounting of your own deeds?"
Kuros: "I hope we can do a bit of business together."
Gavane: "Not at all. I was merely inquiring - obliquely - as the the exact reason you have approached us. A reputation is such a vague and fluid thing."
Caran: "And what business exactly?"
Kuros: "I need someone capable to travel into Hollow, and retrieve someone for me."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Retrieve, you say?"
Kuros: (Hollow is mainly ruins, now, and many homeless and poor live there. The slums, essentially.)
Kuros: She nods.
Kuros: "Her name is Arvia."
Kuros: "I need her returned to me, as soon as possible."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Returned to you? Is she a slave, then?"
Kuros: She smiles again, and again there seems to be little warmth. "Certainly not. She is the daughter of an acquaintance. Of late, she has been taken with the idea of running away, living with the poor, that sort of thing."
Kuros: She waves a bejewelled hand. "You know how children can be."
Caran: "Indeed."
Kuros: "I am prepared to pay for your efforts, of course."
Gavane: has leaned back in his seat and is listening intently
Kuros: "I can offer you some jade, and perhaps a small interest in some Guild endeavors."
Kuros: (Equivalent to Resources 1)
Gavane: "How old is said daughter of your acquaintance?"
Kuros: She turns toward Gavane. "She is sixteen."
Caran: "How are we know this girl? If she ran away is more than likely she's wanting to hide, so she may be using a different name. What does she look like?"
Gavane: nods. "16 - apparently not old enough to know better."
Kuros: "She is, perhaps, five foot and nine inches tall, with very long, blonde hair."
Kuros: "I have a picture, here..."
Kuros: She quickly begins to rummage through a stack of papers, and pulls out a small, rolled piece of parchment
Kuros: She unrolls it, and sets it on the desk. On it is a pencil sketch of a young girl, with long hair.
Kuros: She has large eyes, a thin mouth, and a small nose.
Kuros: She's quite beautiful.
Caran: Caran nods. "And I assume that she more than likely won't want to come back here?"
Kuros: "Probably not. She likes to...tell stories."
Caran: "Stories?"
Kuros: "That her father is cruel, or that he starves her. It's gotten quite tiresome for him."
Kuros: "He has only ever shown her kindness and love, but she repays him by running away constantly."
Gavane: "So, you are arranging this on behalf of your acquaintance?"
Kuros: "Quite."
Caran: "Any idea where in Hollow she might be? Any people she might now we could find?"
Kuros: "Are my terms and the price agreeable, then?"
Kuros: She smiles at Caran
SonoftheMetalFlame: sits quietly, pondering the offer.
Caran: "Well, I think that my compatriots and I would need to discuss the matter before we agree to anything. Could we have a moment alone?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: "I think a bit more might be needed for recompense."
Kuros: (THe Hollows are primarily underground, as well.)
SonoftheMetalFlame: coughs. "Sorry, perhaps I should discuss this with my friends first. I spoke too soon."
Gavane: nods in agreement with Son
Kuros: The woman stands, saying. "Of course, I will return shortly."
Kuros: She exits through the small door she entered by.
Caran: After a moment, Caran says "So, does this strike anyone as unusual?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Definitely."
Gavane: "I wonder why her 'acquaintance' can't hire someone for himself."
Caran: "And why such a powerful woman needs to hire 3 Solars to retrieve a runaway girl? Something else is going on here..."
Caran: Caran thinks...
Gavane: "We don't need to speak openly of THAT particular detail here."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Well, she doesn't necessarily know our status as Solars, but certainly, this is a bit much for finding a runaway girl."
Caran: "Still, I think we should take the offer, at the very least to find the girl and maybe learn what is really going on here."
Gavane: "In any case the heart of the matter remains, a girl who is possibly in danger."
Gavane: nods. "Indeed, Caran. That would have been my suggestion as well."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Then we're agreed - we take the offer."
Caran: "So, we agree to go and find the girl, and then decide from their what we do?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Yes."
Gavane: "Who knows, we might just be paranoid here. But we will learn more if we go along and find her first. Yes."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Alright. Now, as to the matter of payment..."
Gavane: "Although I agree with Son, that the money offered is pitiful for someone so high in the GUild."
Gavane: "It is an insult, really."
Caran: Caran grins. "I'll leave negoatiating the payment to those more qualified."
Gavane: "Or more likely a test for us."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Hard to tell with those in the Guild. Maybe a bit of both. But regardless, we should definitely negotiate better pay."
Gavane: "A businesswoman likes to know, whether she has gullible fools sitting before her who will pay any price and sell their wares under their value."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "So, what should we ask for, then?"
Gavane: "I believe when discussing prices it's customary to demand an absurdly high one at first."
Caran: "Indeed. I'd say ask for (Resources 4), and go down from their."
SonoftheMetalFlame: nods. "Sounds good to me."
Gavane: "One of us should do the negotiation, preferrably not me."
Gavane: "Caran, you have spoken for us so far ..."
Caran: "Well, I can try. I'm not very good with these things, but I'm willing if you want me too"
SonoftheMetalFlame: "I can negotiate. I've got experience in negotiating cost with the Guild before - if you don't mind, Caran."
Gavane: "Ah, all the better!"
Caran: "Please."
Kuros: THe door opens again, and Artemisia enters. "Have you finished your deliberations?"
Kuros: She takes her seat, and folds her hands on the desk.
SonoftheMetalFlame: nods. "We have."
Gavane: nods and lets Son take the lead
Kuros: "And is my offer agreeable?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: "For what you are requesting, we would need more in compensation."
Kuros: She nods, unsurprised. "How much more did you have in mind?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Based on what we believe will be needed to find this girl and for compensation of our services, about (resources 4) will be needed."
Kuros: She laughs quietly. "My dear sir, for that much I could hire an army to track her down."
Kuros: "But perhaps I could offer you a bit more interest in a few of our trade endeavors. (Resources 2)"
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Perhaps we were a bit greedy."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "But I am sure you knew before requesting our services that we are quite skilled, and so I am assuming that you need our skill for this. (Resources 3) is the minimum."
Kuros: She smiles. "Yes, I am aware of the extent of your skills. (Resources 3) would be agreeable to me."
SonoftheMetalFlame: smiles warmly. "Then you have yourself a deal."
Kuros: "Wonderful!"
Caran: Caran nods towards the scroll. "Could we take the picture with us?"
Kuros: "I have already sent word to one of our foundries in the Nighthammer district. There is an entrance to the Hollows there."
Kuros: She nods and slides the picture to you.
Caran: Caran takes the picture. "Once we have the girl, where are we to bring her?"
Kuros: "Here will be fine."
Gavane: "Not to her father?"
Kuros: She smiles. "I will handle her return to her father."
Gavane: nods, "I see."
Caran: Caran stand up. 'Well, then it seems we've a job to attend to."
Kuros: "The foreman at the foundry is expecting your arrival."
SonoftheMetalFlame: stands. "Then we shall see you upon our return with the girl."
Kuros: "I look forward to it! I have every confidence in you."
Gavane: stands up as well. "A good day to you."
Kuros: She stands, and inclines her head.
SonoftheMetalFlame: gives a slight bow, turns, and exits the room.
Caran: Caran follows, tucking the picture inside his shirt
Gavane: And Gavane brings up the rear again.
Kuros: OK.
Kuros: You head over to the Nightwander district. It takes slightly over an hour. As you get closer to the district, the air begins to stink, and a fine grey ash begins to fall from the air
Kuros: The overhead sky begins to dark as the smoke in the air gets thicker and thicker
Kuros: (The grey snow is caleld Nexus snow. It is ash from the factories and foundries)
Gavane puts up the hood of his cloak as ash begins to fall. It has the added benefit of making his face hard to discern by passerby especially with the sky getting darker.
Gavane: A piece of cloth before nose and mouth protects him from breathing in the loathsome miasma.
Kuros: You find the foundry with a bit of searching. It is a tall building, with smoke pouring from squat towers on its roof. There are two massive ponds on either side of the foundry.
SonoftheMetalFlame: takes a deep breath. "Ah, the smell of a forge. Always makes me miss home."
Kuros: The heat of the foundry is blistering. The entire factory is bathed in a
Kuros: dull, red glow which glows brighter and clearer towards the massive iron
Kuros: vats which hold tons of molten copper. Even without the men working
Kuros: the forges, the sound of clanging hammers hangs in the air. In the center
Kuros: of the foundry is a massive shaft with two channels leading into it. The
Kuros: channels glisten with a thin layer of dried copper, as does the edge of the
Kuros: shaft and the adjoining walls.
Kuros: As you enter the foundry, a large man in leather overalls walks up to you.
Gavane: "A good thing we don't have to worry about getting sick, though." Gavane says in reply to Son.
Kuros: "Heyo! Yer the people from the guild, are you?"
Caran: "That would be us."
Kuros: He snorts. "Wondered who'd they rope into this."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Pardon?"
Kuros: "Nothin, nothin, don't mind me. See that vent shaft, there, in the middle?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: nods. "I do."
Kuros: "Well, that's how ya get to Hollow. We normally dump our slag down there, as well."
Caran: "Can we get back up the same way?"
Kuros: He chuckles. "You could try. Just do it when we aren't dumpin our slag."
Kuros: "Might get a bit uncomfortable."
Gavane: "It might."
Caran: "More than likely." Caran says with a dry smile.
Kuros: "There's a ladder on the far side. It's only about three dozen feet."
Caran: "Well, no time like the present I suppose."
Caran: Caran heads for the ladder
SonoftheMetalFlame: gets a bit closer to the man and says quietly, "Is there something we should know about what we've been hired to do? You seem to know something."
Kuros: He blinks at you. "No, no. Hollow is just a dangerous place, after all."
SonoftheMetalFlame: reaches into his pouch and plays with a bit of jade, loud enough for it to be clearly heard. "You're sure about that?"
Kuros: He glances about furtively, then leans in closer. "You aren't the first group to go down that shaft, you know. By my count, yer the third."
Kuros: He snatches at the jade in your hand
SonoftheMetalFlame: makes no attempt to keep it from him.
Gavane: listens with narrowed eyes
SonoftheMetalFlame: "I trust they've all returned?"
Caran: 'Third in how many days?"
Kuros: Having gotten his money, the foreman toddles off, stuffing it into a pocket.
Kuros: (Er, before he leaves, he looks at Son, and says "Dunno. THey coulda gotten out at some other location.")
Gavane: "That would have been pertinent information to give us ..."
Gavane: shrugs. "Nothing to be done about it now, though, except to be cautious."
Caran: "Heh, explains why they wanted to pay us so cheaply."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Yeah, it definitely would have been."
Gavane: "So, jump into the mouth of danger then?"
Caran: Caran grabs the ladder. "Well, last one down has to bury the bodies" he says with a smile and proceeds downward
SonoftheMetalFlame: laughs, following him down.
Gavane: "I can do that," Gavane mutters drily, following last.
Kuros: You are perhaps halfway down the shaft, when you hear a clang from above, and the shaft walls shudder a bit.
Kuros: At the lip of the shaft, you see one of the huge slag cauldrons being tilted over the lip. Drops of dull, orange molten metal sizzle through the air as they fall.
Caran: "Wonderful."
Gavane: curses expansively in his native tongue
Kuros: The cauldron tops over more, and a thin stream of slag pours down the shaft, barely missing you
Kuros: (Caran, you can easily dodge the slag, as can Gavane)
Gavane: twists to the side sliding down the side of the shaft to dodge the pouring slag.
Caran: Caran releases the ladder and bounds down the shaft, bouncing from ne wall to the other as he goes.
Kuros: Son, unfortuantely, is caught in the middle of the stream.
SonoftheMetalFlame: chuckles. "Ah, that feels nice..." Noticeably, he doesn't appear to be in any way affected.
Kuros: The slag pours down the shaft, and pours into the tunnel below with a hiss. Heat and steam rise through shaft
Caran: Caran looks up at Son. "Show off."
Kuros: After perhaps 30 seconds, the cauldron is empty.
SonoftheMetalFlame: laughs loudly - once he's no longer got molten metal on him, he pats Caran on the back and continues down the shaft.
Kuros: You hear the foreman's voice from above shouting
Kuros: "GET THAT BACK! WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED!"
SonoftheMetalFlame: turns around. "Or perhaps we should see what just happened...?"
SonoftheMetalFlame: begins going back up the shaft.
Gavane: Standing next to the pool of molten slag he looks dubiously at the holes in his cloak, where he pressed against the wall to slow his descent.
Gavane: "Looks like I'm not the last one down after all."
Kuros: The foundry floor is a bustle of activity as Son emerges from the shaft.
Kuros: "I'm so sorry! One of the supports failed, and it tipped over!"
SonoftheMetalFlame: looks around a bit. "It just failed?"
Caran: Caran yels up at Son "Do you need our help, or should we wait here?"
Gavane: "Also this might explain those other groups not coming back ..."
SonoftheMetalFlame: yells down to Caran, "Your help would be greatly appreciated - it seems like something just happened to fail when we went down."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Same for you, Gavane - this seems kinda odd."
Caran: Caran nods. 'Well, back up the hole."
Kuros: The foreman is shouting at workers. "I want to know what happened, and I want to know now!"
Gavane: sighs and starts the climb back up
SonoftheMetalFlame: picks up a ball of black silk near the failed support.
SonoftheMetalFlame: unwraps it and looks a bit puzzled at the tiny skull in his hands.
SonoftheMetalFlame: walks deliberately to the foreman. "Does this mean anything to you?"
Caran: Caran assists Gavane and Son as best he can
Kuros: Gavane, you notice one of the chains holding the vats from the ceiling has crystallized into black dust...
Kuros: <@Kuros> (Dear god Caran)
Kuros: <@Kuros> (You're a badass MA Investigator, apparently)
Kuros: <@Kuros> Caran notices the same crystallization
Kuros: The foreman looks at the skull in Son's hand. "I've never seen that...what could it be?"
Kuros: He looks very puzzled
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Your guess is as good as mine."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "But it was over by the failed support. I suspect they're related."
Kuros: "I'm sorry about this, sirs. I'm sure the Guild will launch a full investigatino. WEre any of you hurt?"
Gavane carefully and covertly looks around, looking for any person seeming out of place or acting suspiciously
Caran: Seeing the dust, Caran looks to Gavane. "What do you make of this?"
Gavane: frowns "I don't know. It doesn't seem like something that would just happen by accident or even without an intervention by extraordinary means."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "None of us were hurt, no."
Kuros: The foreman looks at you. "You all going to go back down there?"
Kuros: He looks warily at the shaft
Gavane: "Our luck seems to hold," Gavane downplays the matter.
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Yeah, I think we can handle ourselves."
Caran: Caran just sighs and returns to the ladder
Gavane: (going down again)
SonoftheMetalFlame: follows after his companions.
Kuros: You reach the tunnel below, carefully avoiding the still flowing stream of molten slag, though it is rapidly cooling
Kuros: It casts a ruddy orange glow across the circular stone tunnels.
Gavane: "That was strange."
Kuros: (There are quite a few tunnels branching off of this one, but there is no light aside from the cooling slag. Does anyone have a light source?)_
Caran: (Uh, no.)
Gavane: (Not an inconspicuous one, that is)
Kuros: ("Let's go explore the underground First Age city, which is underground, where it is dark, without a light source!" =)
SonoftheMetalFlame: (Yeah, probably should have thought about that.)
Kuros: (Anyone can spend 1m to use thier caste mark as a light)
SonoftheMetalFlame: makes sure there's no one around besides his companions, and if there's no one, he begins making gestures and incantations as his hands slowly begin deforming (Wood Dragon's Claw, 10m peripheral essence)
SonoftheMetalFlame: At the end of his ritual, Son's hands have become gnarled oak roots, though perhaps quite a bit more menacing.
SonoftheMetalFlame: (And his anima should be shedding plenty of light now)
Kuros: On the floor of the tunnel, where Son's anima casts light, you see a faint golden line running down the tunnel, and going off to one of the side tunnels.
SonoftheMetalFlame: follows the gold line where it leads.
Caran: Caran, impressed by the display of magic, follows Son
Kuros: The golden line leads you deeper and deeper underground. The air grows cooler and moister as you go along, and you see roots poking through the stone wall here and there.
Gavane: Also impressed both by Son's resilience and his sorcery Gavane follows as well. He also comes to the conclusion, that there has been a screw-up in planning. Together with the strange 'accident' above this probably means a curse of some sort has been laid on them ...
Kuros: The corridor comes to an abrupt end in what appears to be a ruined
Kuros: city square. To the left, up a flight of rough stairs and past a group of
Kuros: columns, lies the only open path. Pursuing that path leads the circle into
Kuros: a long, wide hall. Five columns line the inside of the hall, each with a
Kuros: stone warrior leaning up against it, and each stone warrior bears a metal
Kuros: blade. At the end of the hall stands a brass statue carved in the likeness
Kuros: of a legionnaire.
SonoftheMetalFlame: studies the statues to see if anything appears unusual about them - and if not, just to admire the handiwork.
Gavane: is about to suggest going back and taking a more methodic approach, when they reach the apparent city square
Gavane: "This isn't really what we were looking for, but ..."
Kuros: Stones crack and metal screeches as the stone statues come to life. Each
Kuros: moves with a slow and blocky gait, hefting its weapon and moving forward
Kuros: with a murderous purpose. At the end of the hall, the brass legionnaire lifts
Kuros: a spear with clockwork precision, leveling it towards the circle and emitting
Kuros: a metallic shriek.
SonoftheMetalFlame: "Whoa, what the hell?!" Son shouts, dropping immediately into a combat stance.
Gavane curses again. " ... but it's damn trap."
Caran: Caran frowns, dropping in to a combat stance.
Caran: "Stop. Stop and stand down!" Caran shouts
Gavane: shakes loose his bladed rope and draws one dagger, though he gives his weapons a dubious look. Against stone and metal they might not be the most useful.
Kuros: Join Battle - Caran: 4 successes. Status: 2. Son: 0. Gavane: Uh...10
Kuros: Tick 0: Gavane. Tick 6: Caran, Statues, and Son
Gavane steps close to one of the statues, letting the spike on his rope snap towards its eye and tries the sharpness of his knife the joints of its sword arm
Kuros: (Both attacks barely miss.)
Gavane: Following his first probing attack Gavane jumps backwards with a kick against his statue's chest.
Gavane: With narrowed eyes he analyzes the statue's unnatural movements to find a flaw to exploit in their defenses.
Kuros: Two of the statues swing thier swords toward Gavane, while three go after Caran
Kuros: The third statue gets a decent cut on Caran, opening a gash in your arm.
Kuros: 2L of damage.
Caran: Tensing, Caran lets out a growl as he takes the form of the Tiger
SonoftheMetalFlame: leaps at one of the statues, spinning midair to bring the back of his fisted claws full force against its head. (I'll wait to roll and stuff)
Kuros: Your swipe barely misses one of the statues.
Gavane: As two of the statues come at him with their swords Gavane switches to the offense again. He evades the first swing easily, then ducks under the second to bring the knife in his left up again the statue's wrist while attacking its shoulder joint with the spike.
Kuros: The statues shows no pain, but it stumbles backward into a pillar, causing a crack to appear in it with a sharp pop
Caran: With a roar Caran hands grab the floor, fingers tearing the concrete. He lauches himself at the nearest statue, leaps of the blunt edge of it's blade, and swipes at it's head with a pair of vicious blows
Kuros: Your blows slam into the statue, and cracks spread along its body. It is hurled backward into a wall, and falls to pieces.
Kuros: Leaving a nice pattern of cracks in the wall.
Kuros: 4 statues left, one wounded.
SonoftheMetalFlame: leaps over the statue he had previously attacked, crouches low as he lands, and leaps forward with his fists at the statue's back.
Kuros: The statue spins as you attack, attempting to block with its sword (5 parry dv)
Kuros: Your claws shear through the stone as if it were air, and the statue falls to the ground, a series of huge grooves carved into its body.
Kuros: The three remaining statues advance on Son, swords raised.
Kuros: The blades impact on your skin, and careen off with a clanging sound.
Gavane: "I don't really see how this fight is helping us," Gavane calls out while dodging another swing of the statue's sword. Then as it crashes into the ground he runs up the blade and the arm, jumps off its shoulder high into the air.
Gavane: As he comes down again, he brings the knife in his hand down on the top of the already damaged statues head.
Kuros: The statue quickly tries to bring its sword up to deflect the blow
Kuros: Your knife slams into the statue's head, and a series of cracks radiate outwards from the blow.
Kuros: (3 statues left, 1 severely wounded, 2 fine)
Caran: Bounding low, Caran passes between 2 statues and pounces on the statue Gavane just struck, driving his hands in to it's chest
Kuros: The sword misses you, and your blow cracks into its chest. It falls backwards into another pillar, sending itself and the pillar crashing to the ground with a huge crash. Stone dust swirls up as the tons of stone settle.
Kuros: Two left.
Kuros: The two remaining advance towards Caran, raising their massive blades high, swinging down towards Caran.
Kuros: The first sword crashes into the ground next to you, barely missing
Kuros: The second gets even closer, but it still misses. The blows leave massive cracks in the floor.
SonoftheMetalFlame: runs from his recently felled statue to leap at the nearest statue. As he descends, one claw swipes at the head while the other goes straight for the chest.
Kuros: The statue again raises its sword in an attempt deflect you from your path
Kuros: The statue's sword hits you a glancing blow, deflecting part of your attack
Kuros: Your manage to scrape a groove across its face
Gavane: Holding on to the grip of the knife still embedded in the statue's head Gavane uses its fall following Caran's attacks to propel himself towards one of the remaining statues.
Gavane: He snaps his rope ahead of him, sending the spike against its throat, then as he flies past it he lets it wrap around the stone figure's neck and uses his momentum for a hard pull.
Kuros: Your spike cracks into its throat, and a small series of cracks spread out.
Kuros: One statue swings a massive blow at Gavane as he lands, while the other swings at Caran
Kuros: The attack on Gavane misses, and cracks into the base of a pillar, sending another one crashing to the ground. More dust flies up
Gavane uses the rope still wrung around the statues neck to complete a revolution around it, confounding it terribly
Kuros: The attack on Caran misses by a wide margin, destroing the floor even more
Caran: His caste mark glowing brightly, Caran leaps at the free statue, driving a pair of massive blows towards it's stone head.
Kuros: The statue lifts its sword, attempting to deflect you with the flat of the blade
Kuros: The statue groans, as it falls aprt under your blows, tumbling down into a pile of rubble
Kuros: The remaining statue raises its massive sword, aiming at Son
SonoftheMetalFlame: turns to face the remaining statue and crouches low. He does a flip over the fallen statue between them, claws extended for impact.
Kuros: The blade glances off of you, doing no damage.
Kuros: Your claws leave a deep groove across its chest
Gavane ends his acrobatics clinging to the statue's back where it can't defend itself against his attacks. His rope still firmly wrapped around its neck he puts his feet to its shoulder and simply stands up horizontally, giving the weapon one last hard pull to cut into the figure's neck.
Kuros: The cord cuts into the statues neck, and a massive arm flails around as it groans.
Kuros: It is now severely wounded.
Kuros: The statue's arm descends toward Gavane
Kuros: It is trying to swat you while you are on its back
Gavane: The rope finally winds loose, cutting as it goes and Gavane is out of reach of the statue's arms
Kuros: It misses, cracking into the stone of its own back
Caran: Caran crouches low, watching the statue flail around, Gavane swinging from it's neck. Sensing his moment he charges and hammers the creature in the chest with his hands
Kuros: The final statues collapses into a pile of rubble. THe floor of the hallway is covered in dust and large pieces of stone.
Kuros: As the last statue falls, the brass statue at the end of the hall suddenly begins to click and whir
Caran: Caran tenses, preparing for another attack
Kuros: It's dull, tarnished skin suddenly begins to shine. Slowly, it stands, grabbing its huge brass sword.
Gavane sighs. "What now?"
Kuros: The brass reaches behind its back, and grabs a long javelin.
Kuros: He turns toward the three of you, hauls the javelin back, and hurls it forward with incredible force, straight at Gavane
Gavane: One second Gavane is there, the next he isn't. Among the roiling clouds of dust he has simply disappeared. It takes everyone several seconds to find him again, standing behind one of the few remaining pillars.
Kuros: The javelin flies through where Gavane was standing, and into the wall, burying itself halfway up the shaft.
Kuros: The brass statue (which is smaller than the stone ones), clomps forward, shaking the chamber with its walk. As Caran nears, it takes two swipes with its brass sword at him.
Caran: Caran weaves back on his heels, swaying like a jungle cat (dodge DV
Kuros: The first swipe misses.
Kuros: As does the second
Kuros: The brass statue whirs angrily
Gavane: (Gavane keeps his distance, moves in position to get behind it. Aim action, acting on tick 9)
Caran: Caran roars out "Begone! and trouble the Chosen of the Unconqoured Sun no more!" His anima flares brightly, a golden tiger appears around him as be lauches like a spear at the statue
Kuros: The brass statue wheels its sword up into your path
SonoftheMetalFlame jumps near a standing pillar and crouches, sizing up the bronze statue. (Aim action, acting on tick 9)
Kuros: Your strike hits the statue, resounding with a deep clang, and a dent appears in its chest
Kuros: The statue, in a surprising display of speed, whips its sword again at Caran.
Caran: Caran shouts "Ah! Hear that brothers, a girls scream. Mayhap our quarry is nearer than we could think."
Kuros: Two strikes.
Caran: and then drops to the ground to avoid the blade (dodge dv)
Kuros: They both barely miss, but you can feel them pass extremely close to you
SonoftheMetalFlame runs full force at the construct, claws flying in a blinding flurry to strike at its body.
Kuros: Your claw scratches a groove down its chase with a shriek of tortured metal
Gavane: Having moved into position behind the statue Gavane silently curses the dust and these statues that just won't stay still. But Caran's words bring his mind back into perfect, crystal clear focus. They are close, but she is in danger - and this last statue is standing in their way.
Gavane: In a flash he throws his knife into a minuscule chink in its armor, then follows in a running jump-kick against its grip: Once, twice, driving the blade deep into the brass figure's back.
Kuros: You reestablish surprise.
(Gavane rolls incredibly poorly on damage)
Kuros: The brass statue emits a metallic shriek of pain as the dagger is driven into the machinery of its back
Caran: The Golden Tiger surrounding Caran grows more intense as essense flows to his hands. Caran climbs the statue with ease, crouches on it's shoulder, and growls as he strikes it on the head with his golden fists.
Kuros: The statue lurches forward, as its head deforms and rocks to the right
Kuros: The statue brings its sword back, striking at the attacker on its shoulder 3 times
Caran: Caran leaps off the statues shoulder, weaving around the blade as he falls (Dodge dv)
Kuros: The first two miss, the third manages to hit you but the sword glances off you, doing no damage.
SonoftheMetalFlame leaps away from the brass statue again, readying another attack. (Aiming)
Gavane: Quietly frustrated, that this metal man simply won't die even to wounds that would fell any mortal, Gavane slips a second dagger into the crack he just made and tries to widen it, increase the damage to whatever unholy machinery keeps it going.
Gavane: The thick brass armor proves too strong for Gavane's small blades, though.
Kuros: The statue slashes its sword twice at Caran, as the clicking and whirring grows louder
Caran: Caran flips back away from the statue, then, hands wrenching the floor, bounds at the creature and lays into it with a quick series of punches and kicks
Kuros: Your blows clang off the thick chest armor, doing no damage
SonoftheMetalFlame again charges the brass construct, is attacks this time centered on its solar plexus, claws tearing wildly at the metal.
Kuros: Your claws rip apart the thick armor chest plate, exposing the machinery within. Gears go flying out, along with thin metal wires and a host of other bits and pieces
Kuros: The whirring and clicking stop as the statue falls to the ground
Kuros: The room is in ruins, and now that the noise of combat is fading, you can all hear the yells of help with a woman's voice floating into the room
Gavane gives Son and Caran an appreciative nod, then tries to locate the origin of the cries
Kuros: It seems to be coming from a tunnel that begins next to where the bronze statue was standing
Caran: As the statue hits the ground, Caran hesitates long enough to make sure it's no longer moving, then dashes for the tunnel entrance. "This way, quickly!"
Gavane breaks into a run alongside Caran
Kuros: The tunnel is short, and opens up into a massive, open cavern. You cannot see ceiling.
Kuros: The magnificent structure ahead has seen better days. Its statues
Kuros: and marble colonnades are long since collapsed, leaving behind a
Kuros: shadow of what they once were. Suddenly, a woman’s scream comes
Kuros: from inside!
SonoftheMetalFlame breathes heavily, following after Caran. "Yeesh, it would be nice to get a little down time between all of this molten metal, evil statues, and screaming damsels."
Kuros: The structure itself is a large building, but appears to be mostly in ruins
Kuros: As you climb the ruined steps...
Kuros: A group of hobgoblins is assaulting a beautiful young woman. When they
Kuros: see the circle coming, the squat, cowardly brutes flee, their unkempt toenails
Kuros: clacking against the broken marble as they run.
Kuros: The hobgoblins are small creatures, dirty, with green skin, extremely long noses, and sharp yellow teeth
Kuros: The figure is a young girl, and she looks very similar to how Artemisia described her. She is dressed in somewhat raggedy clothes, though they appear better than what you would think people here would wear...
Kuros: She even has a small sword belted to her side, but it is undrawn
Kuros: She is huddled on the ground, still shaking and crying
Kuros: (And you can all tell this area is a powerful manse)
Caran: Caran watches to make certain the creatues have fled, then turns to the girl
Gavane stops between her and the fleeing creatures
Gavane: "It's ok, they're gone."
SonoftheMetalFlame checks around the group, making sure that no one (or thing) is hiding.
Kuros: She looks frightened, with a red face. But she doesn't seem to have any injuries
Kuros: As you all get close to her, she begins to look frightened. "Who...who are you?"
Kuros: She stands up and begins to edge backwards
Caran: "We are folk who have been 'hired' to bring you back to your father." Caran says dryly
SonoftheMetalFlame puts his hands behind his back, allowing his claws to quickly reshape to their normal state of hands.
Caran: "Though that's open to negotioation, as we have some questions about this."
Kuros: She blinks. "My..my father?"
Gavane: Gavane's voice is calm. "Mainly we're happy to see you alive and well."
Kuros: "But he already knows where I am..."
Gavane: "Your name is Arvia?"
Kuros: She nods, then looks confused
SonoftheMetalFlame: raises an eyebrow. "We were told that you had run away from him and he was looking for you."
Kuros: "I'm sorry, but you must be confused. My father is the one who brought me here. THis is my home, I'ved here since I was little!"
Caran: " A woman from the Guild hired us to retrieve you, 'for your father' is what we where told."
SonoftheMetalFlame: "If that's the case, could you take us to your father? He may know more about what's going on here."
Kuros: "The Guild? I had heard they were looking for me..."
Caran: Caran pulls out the picture and opens it up, showing it too her
Gavane: "Why would they be looking for you?"
Kuros: "I don' tknow, but I am sure it has to do with profit."
Kuros: "As for my father...well, you may not believe this..."
Kuros: "But he is the God of Nexus, Gen.."
Caran: "Really?" Caran says quietly.
Kuros: "So, you see, I don't know what the Guild has told you, but I'm really supposed to be here."
Kuros: She nods. "Really."
Caran: 'And you live with him, down here?"
Kuros: She laughs, and shakes her head. "He visits me when he can."
Gavane blinks once. "Then, apart from those creatures just now, you are safe here? You want to be here?"
Caran: Caran shakes his head. "This is very perplexing. Why would Hierarch Artemisia want her then?"
Kuros: (I think this is a good place to end.)
Kuros: That was Act 1, there are two more.
Caran: any xp for the session?
Kuros: Ehh...that's difficult, cause Alyssa wasn't here.
Kuros: I think I will want to include this adventure as part of your circle's background
Kuros: For now, take 7xp, and I'll talk to Alyssa
