“Sir is there anything, or anywhere I’m needed?” Kanei inquires, he wouldn’t usually ask for work, but he needed something to take his mind off of what he had just seen.
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He seems puzzled for a moment, and then “Ah! Kan … Kanis? Yes, well, not really. Take this time to rest, or help the others search the factory.”
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Callen nods and puts the things away before turning to scout the factory for loot.
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naturally Kanei chose the most distracting option. He began to walk off before realizing something.
The merc has your sunstone.
he curses once again under his breath as he turns and follows Callen.
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Iosif stood, waiting for the plate to finish being recharged.
Eldon had given him a blank stare for almost an entire minute, which ended in Iosif breaking eye contact sheepishly and going to find the closest Scholars aide. It was a very painful reminder of exactly how much the person who cared for him the most actually cared, and even now he tensed in anticipation of the ungrateful aide possibly clipping him in the back of the head for bothering them with something so menial at a time like this.
The aide charging the plate was clearly agitated, as he was pressing the catskin into the plate a lot harder than he should have been. Unlike the other aides, he was also lifting the plate with one hand while charging it with the other - which considering it was affixed meant Iosif was forced to stand at an awkward angle.
Finally the light coming off of Iosif’s skin was as bright as it had been before. The cloth was tossed on his head and the aide disappeared into the decreasing shadows with a bitter curse. Other members of the Scholars’ party approached and held their Sunstones in front of their vision to not be blinded from directly staring.
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Callen hears Kanei’s approach and turns to face him then returns the sunstone to the warrior before he starts examining the abandoned equipment of the factory for stuff to make a torch out of (Flint, oil, fabric and wood) along with some scraps to sell on the black market.
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Kanei takes it. And holds it up hoping to catch some charge for it, before returning to searching for anything useful hopefully at some point down here he can find a forge and craft some weapons.
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Bren hadn’t considered there would be much organic left in Gravesbane. After all, his mind was affixed mostly for the mechanical, and that was the reason he was here, anyways.
As Bren held the Sunstone openly, he noticed its light being recharged. For a second time now, the boy in the cage glowed like the very sun was with them.
For a moment, Bren questioned if it was the cage that provided this power. Or perhaps…perhaps the boy himself was just as strange as these stones?
Was it man, or machine?
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As bedrolls are laid out and sunstones inserted into special lanterns, most of the expedition again sort itself into its constituent factions.
As the building is explored, you begin to get a better understanding of it - it seems to be one large room, with several ledges, tracks, and rails built into the ceiling. The walls are stone, cracked in many places. The floor is strewn with Gore droppings and other waste; toppled crates, shredded machinery.
As more and more light fills the building, you hear screeches from far above you. In the receding shadows, you see the movement of Gores’ wings, flying between perches or wheeling in circles. After a moment, as if the creatures all shared a common signal, the Gores dive down and to the side, towards a large, square opening in the wall. There are roughly a dozen of the large ones you fought, and many smaller, all of which disappear into the vent.
Those of you that are searching the factory find many scraps of metal and components. In some crates, there are several of the small crossbows Callen used earlier, as well as multiple cases of steel quarrels.
After a moment, you hear a cry from the far corner of the building.
The cry is just to your left.
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While exploring the room, Bren is going to salvage some components and scrap metal. He didn’t bring much with him, so he has a decent amount of room.
As a precaution, he will also take a crossbow.
Bren has built many of these before, even large ballistae meant for sieges, but he has no formal training. At the very least, he can pull the trigger and hope for the best.
Bren will turn to look as he hears it, still wielding the crossbow, but shakily.
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Kanei grabs a few after pocketing one in his bag. he’s heard from others about how easy crossbows are to use, apparently you could learn to use one within a day.
Kanei freezes. Not again. he thinks as he draws his sword.
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Iosif was half-torn between the Gores making their maneuver and the realization that Gore dropping were plentiful and that it was only by the good graces of the spirit of this old place that he hadn’t solidly stepped in a pile of it by now.
However, the former soon carried the day, and he cradled his upper body in his arms nervously as the cry tore through the air. He hadn’t really processed that four people had already died.
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A man, seemingly another engineer, is on his back, backing away from something in the corner. Several crates block your view, but you are the nearest one to the commotion.
You hear a voice, odd, like several voices overlayed. Harsh, grating. “G-gree-ee-t-tings.”
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Callen seems wary of the crying sound and silently elects to remain at a distance.
He continues to examine the factory equipment and weapons, taking pieces and putting them in his pack from time to time, but he keeps his ears open.
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Bren will continue to aim his crossbow, shakily and cautiously, but realizing now this - whatever it is - can speak their language, he hesitates.
In this moment, he really wished someone more…diplomatic was here.
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A figure emerges from behind the crates, their head down in … embarrassment? It holds its hand out towards the man placatingly.
“G-g-gree-ee-tings.” It says again. The being seems to be roughly your height.
Its limbs are sets of steel tubes.
It is obviously damaged, the metal plates of its torso torn and bend, exposing visibly turning gears. Its head is roughly oval in shape, with two, glowing white eye, one of which is cracked. It sees you.
“Gree-ee-tings. Do n-not ki-ill me plea-ease. C-can I d-die? I d-d-o not kn-ow. H-hell-ell-o.”
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The Verdant Paladin has been sitting this whole time with his eyes closed, sometimes muttering things under his breath, although no one could ever quite make out what he was saying. When he hears the scream his eyes suddenly shoot open, and he immediately starts looking around for the source of the sound. He faintly hears someone, or something, speaking and he manages to triangulate where it’s coming from. He gets up off the crate and starts hobbling over to the source. His walking has improved significantly, even in the short time since the battle, however his walking is still not quite the same as before. He sees the strange creature and inhaled sharply. What is this mockery of nature! he thinks to himself.
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Callen continues to go about his business.
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Hereward gives a silent nod to Gottlieb, though it looked more like the helmet barely rocked.
To the aide he says, “Let me know when they’ve found it. The bodies will take some time.”
He then pauses and addresses Gottlieb again, “Who will accompany me for this round? Someone needs to have the light to ward off the Gores.”
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Kanei lowers his blade. What is that? he holds up his sunstone hoping to get a better look at the thing that had very noisily made its presence known. Its one of his Automatons!
Kanei instantly brings his blade back up: “WE’VE GOT A RUST BUCKET!” he shouts a warning over towards the Party, that thing could kill of us all right now… Why hasn’t it attacked yet? It’s gotta be planning something.
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