Waterbrick Down Posted September 2, 2015 Author Posted September 2, 2015 "Pardon my ignorance, but I didn't know dwarves used ether tech... I am Ellaria Arbour of Heroica, like my comrades, and we have come here to investigate the acclaimed mythril shortage. I have here a document from the High Chief himself, giving his blessing on our research. Upon arriving to Frumpknob, it has been brought to our attention that the mythril is nowhere near of running out of the mines, yet precious little of it make it to the other cities. What are your thoughts about this matter?" "It's a bit of an amalgamation really. Ether cores function as a battery of sorts while the cogworks are the engines of the machinery down here." The dwarf pauses and cleans off her goggles from the soot in the air. "Mythril shortage? I know we've been asked to bump up our numbers, but we thought it was due to higher demand not a shortage. You're free to check with smelting a level up from here, they take all the raw ore and refine it into something workable. Maybe the ore's the problem, might be requiring more enriching. Other than that, it sounds like you've got a leak in the process somewhere." "Aye, the people on the levels above don't seem to have any shortage of the stuff, but ya' can't say the same for your other cities down here. It's affectin' the outside world at this point, even." "Well, we haven't had any cut in wages so someone's paying for all this stuff. Granted, they do slap a tidy up-charge on the refined ore and definitely on any actual forgings."
CMP Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 "Sounds like onna of the higher ups has been siphoning the Mythril, or they're bein' paid for it, at least, and the maybe the one controllin' these monsters hits the shipments as they move outta Frumpknob."
Sandy Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 "Well, I guess we will go to the upper tier, then. Thank you for your cooperation. You do not happen to have any spare mythril shards lying around, would you?" Ellaria felt greedy just asking, but her gainings had been so scarce in the last couple of quests that she wanted to get at least something out of this prolonged journey through the suffocating caverns. She had been fine with her claustrophobia in the cities where there was plenty of light and houses and people, but down here in the mines she could feel the pressure of tons upon tons of stone everywhere around her. She had to keep her composure, though, if she wanted to emerge from these caves with the promised reward.
Waterbrick Down Posted September 3, 2015 Author Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) "Well, I guess we will go to the upper tier, then. Thank you for your cooperation. You do not happen to have any spare mythril shards lying around, would you?" Ellaria felt greedy just asking, but her gainings had been so scarce in the last couple of quests that she wanted to get at least something out of this prolonged journey through the suffocating caverns. She had been fine with her claustrophobia in the cities where there was plenty of light and houses and people, but down here in the mines she could feel the pressure of tons upon tons of stone everywhere around her. She had to keep her composure, though, if she wanted to emerge from these caves with the promised reward. "We just pulled up a few broken fragments from the wreckage, your group is free to them for your help." Mythril Shard (One quarter of a full Mythril ore, used for mythrilizing weapons.) The Party heads one level up to the smelting area. The heat is only just bearable and the group notes that all of the workers are sweating. Carts of ore and refined mythril rush back and forth as giant vats of molten metal swing suspended from the ceiling, it's all the party can do to stay out of the way of all the activity. A lone Dwarf inspecting a piece of ore shouts over at the party. "Look lively, unless you're trying to get yourselves killed." Edited September 3, 2015 by Waterbrick Down
CMP Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 Atramor pulls off his hat and wipes his brow. "Hey there mate. What's all this-...uh." The drafter frowns, rubbing his chin as he looks at the piles of silvery ore. "...that stuff s'post to be Mythril?"
Sandy Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 "Greetings, Master Smelter. We are from Heroica, inspecting a certain thievery taking place in these cities. Pardon my ignorance about the mining process, but what is it you actually do here?"
Waterbrick Down Posted September 3, 2015 Author Posted September 3, 2015 Atramor pulls off his hat and wipes his brow. "Hey there mate. What's all this-...uh." The drafter frowns, rubbing his chin as he looks at the piles of silvery ore. "...that stuff s'post to be Mythril?" "It is indeed. The unrefined stuff isn't very shiny, once we've refined it it turns silver, and then as it cools it gains its opalescent appearance most people are used too." "Greetings, Master Smelter. We are from Heroica, inspecting a certain thievery taking place in these cities. Pardon my ignorance about the mining process, but what is it you actually do here?" "I'm Chief Volaf of Clan Frumpknob. I oversee most of what goes on in this city, but I like to spend my free time down here at the smelters. Nothing like the feeling of heat on your face and a good piece of rock in your hands." The chief sets down the mythril he was inspecting, "What sort of thievery?"
Jebediahs Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 Nur approached the wererat. "'Ello there. Hot enough in here for ya? Hurr hurr. Say, how much would it cost for ye to pour some liquid mythril over my friend Alfred here? Give 'im a nice hard coat so he could perhaps last longer than a single one-two punch combination in a fight. You have the talent for such a request, no?"
Peppermint_M Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 "The mythril is not getting to the other cities." Tesni said, stepping back from the heat. "Though it seems plentiful here and in the mine."
Sandy Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 "Psst, Tesni! Can I get one of those Mythril Shards, please?" "What sort of thievery?" "Well met, Chief Volaf! I am Ellaria Arbour, an aspiring alchemist. I have had the honor of meeting all three chiefs now. The High Chief has authorized us to investigate the curious case of mythril disappearing en route to the surface. May I ask, what is your opinion about your two colleagues?"
Waterbrick Down Posted September 4, 2015 Author Posted September 4, 2015 Nur approached the wererat. "'Ello there. Hot enough in here for ya? Hurr hurr. Say, how much would it cost for ye to pour some liquid mythril over my friend Alfred here? Give 'im a nice hard coat so he could perhaps last longer than a single one-two punch combination in a fight. You have the talent for such a request, no?" "That's a lot of mythril, boss would not be happy about it, but your friend would probably last a round or two longer. Perhaps 200 gold and we could pretend he just fell in?" "The mythril is not getting to the other cities." Tesni said, stepping back from the heat. "Though it seems plentiful here and in the mine." "Well met, Chief Volaf! I am Ellaria Arbour, an aspiring alchemist. I have had the honor of meeting all three chiefs now. The High Chief has authorized us to investigate the curious case of mythril disappearing en route to the surface. May I ask, what is your opinion about your two colleagues?" "Disappearing mythril? That ain't good, payment's been coming in fine from the depot. I haven't met with Kublin in a while, gosh must of been since he lost his hand. I've made it to Brumpknob a few times in the past month to speak with Head Chief Bratly concerning the state of the mines, but he never brought up a shortage."
Jebediahs Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 "That's a lot of mythril, boss would not be happy about it, but your friend would probably last a round or two longer. Perhaps 200 gold and we could pretend he just fell in?" - "Highly improbable. My balance is exceptional despite my ridiculous attire." En Sabah Nur looked at his golem with mouth agape, dumbfounded that it had spoken out of turn. No coin in my pocket and now insubordination?! With fists clenched Nur looked towards the ceiling and silently screamed at the direction his life had taken. Woosah. Compose yourself. Nur attempted to engage his diplomatic charm. "Well I could make ammends for this 'accident' with a shiny Medal of Glory (Allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles, Accessory) for yourself and 3 Dwarven Rums (Can be given to Dwarven Miners to make them friendly) to help your boss and coworkers laugh off the incident, hmmm?"
Waterbrick Down Posted September 4, 2015 Author Posted September 4, 2015 The were-rat takes the medal in hand bites into it and pockets the award and the three rums and turns his back whistling. "I see nothing."
Jebediahs Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 "Right. Disrobe, minion! I'd like to make a costume adjustment while our companions are engaged in their investigations." Before he could remove the final bit of clothing, Nur jerked the garment causing Alfred to accidentally fall into the vat of mythril. "Oh no. My friend has fallen and he can't get up." Whatevever happens good or bad, it should prove interesting.
Waterbrick Down Posted September 4, 2015 Author Posted September 4, 2015 "Right. Disrobe, minion! I'd like to make a costume adjustment while our companions are engaged in their investigations." Before he could remove the final bit of clothing, Nur jerked the garment causing Alfred to accidentally fall into the vat of mythril. "Oh no. My friend has fallen and he can't get up." Whatevever happens good or bad, it should prove interesting. With a loud splash, Alfred tumbles into the vat. "What in blue blazes! Get him out of there, he'll ruin the whole batch." "Aye, sir!" Moments later a shinier Alfred is fished out of the vat. Alfred (Nur can call his golem minion twice per battle to protect him from all damage and effects for the remainder of the round or once per battle to protect him and another party member from all damage and effects for the remainder of the round.) "Somebody want to explain what's going on here?" "Well sir, I believe the mage here was trying to adjust some equipment on his servant and the uncomely buffoon fell in. Thankfully he appears unharmed." "It's a miracle he didn't melt, do you know how much ore..." "Sir, it's getting a bit hot in here, don't you think it's time for a break? I've got a few bottles of rum here, I'm sure the crew would enjoy." "Heat? Yes, yes, your right. Best call the men over for a break." The Chief turned back to the Party, "Your news is troubling to me, I can see to it that I bring it up with the High Chief. Anything else you were needing?"
Jebediahs Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 "My sincerest and deepest apologies, Chief. This has never happened to me before and I shall make sure to punish him accordingly." Nur gave a deep bow. "If I may, I do have another question? When smelting mythril...you don't happen to use Alchemist's Acid anywhere in the process? I know the stuff is rare and hard to get in bulk and so powerful that just a tiny bit could be used to break down the hardest of materials with ease."
Sandy Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 "If I may, I do have another question? When smelting mythril...you don't happen to use Alchemist's Acid anywhere in the process?" Ellaria thanked the chief for his time, and then tapped Nur on the shoulder. "Ahem... I have some Alchemist's Acid right here. We got that from that one battle, didn't you remember?"
Peppermint_M Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Tesni handed a shard over to Ellaria and gave a glare to Nur. Tomfoolery was going to be risky anywhere on a quest.
CMP Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 "So, this railway system leads from Frumpknob over to Krumpknob? Is that how ya' transport the ore once it's been refined?" questioned Atramor.
Jebediahs Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) Ellaria thanked the chief for his time, and then tapped Nur on the shoulder. "Ahem... I have some Alchemist's Acid right here. We got that from that one battle, didn't you remember?" "Oh? No, I have not seen any Alchemist's Acid since hearing about it in Brumpknob. I talked to a squiddy man named Hava at Kogs & Company who lost some. Come to think of it, he looks exactly like that Captain Squidraken fella. Bulgy eyes, tentacles whippin' about his face... It could be his, iff'n you're in the mind to return it." Nur gave a fake toothy smile then turned towards Atramor. "Did you ever find out what that golem kidney stone was for?" Edited September 6, 2015 by Jebediahs
Waterbrick Down Posted September 6, 2015 Author Posted September 6, 2015 "My sincerest and deepest apologies, Chief. This has never happened to me before and I shall make sure to punish him accordingly." Nur gave a deep bow. "If I may, I do have another question? When smelting mythril...you don't happen to use Alchemist's Acid anywhere in the process? I know the stuff is rare and hard to get in bulk and so powerful that just a tiny bit could be used to break down the hardest of materials with ease." "Nay, that stuff'll melt through a diamond though." "So, this railway system leads from Frumpknob over to Krumpknob? Is that how ya' transport the ore once it's been refined?" questioned Atramor. "Well technically there's a stop in Brumpknob at the Eastern Depot where some of the ore is unloaded for the merchants and craftsman of the city to utilize, then the rest is shipped over to the Western Depot outside of Krumpknob where it's put on boats."
CMP Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 "Well technically there's a stop in Brumpknob at the Eastern Depot where some of the ore is unloaded for the merchants and craftsman of the city to utilize, then the rest is shipped over to the Western Depot outside of Krumpknob where it's put on boats." Atramor turned towards his partymates. "Then maybe we ought to follow this rail line."
Peppermint_M Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 "Sounds like a good idea. Do we need to visit anyone else in this city first everyone?"
CMP Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 "Don't look like it, and we can always come back." Atramor leads the way down the rail line.
Waterbrick Down Posted September 10, 2015 Author Posted September 10, 2015 The Party decides to take a few empty carts down the rails. Thanks to the rail map pieced together by Ellaria and Atramor the group navigates the multiple lines effectively. Approaching quickly, the group notes a turn in the tracks off the main route to the Eastern Depot, would the group continue on to the depot or take the turn-off?
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