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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 7475377" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>The party is out of breath, gasping, when they again exit the tunnel. </p><p></p><p>“We can't leave them behind,” Kane groans.</p><p></p><p>“Of course not,” Karlinden replies, “but we need a minute to catch our breaths first.”</p><p></p><p>“They could be dying in there!”</p><p></p><p>“If they were dying, they are dead already. If they are not already dead, they are not dying.” Kane folds his arms in front of his chest as the wizard speaks. He doesn't like it, but he sees the elf's point. </p><p></p><p>“If only we had some more help,” Karlinden starts, and three figures come around the corner of the trail. Surprised, the newcomers halt, hands dropping toward their weapons. Karl raises a hand and cries, “Peace, friends!”</p><p></p><p>The strangers hesitate, then the first, a heavily armored man, speaks. “Who are you folks?”</p><p></p><p>The second, who is dressed in a more feral way, with furs and hides, adds, “You've the look of adventurers to you.”</p><p></p><p>“We are, indeed,” Karl replies gravely. “And so do you.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, we have that in common, then.”</p><p></p><p>“Listen, we have some friends in trouble, and we could use some help rescuing them.”</p><p></p><p>“Is there any treasure involved?”</p><p></p><p>“Bugs the size of dogs,” Kane says, “made of copper and silver, and a few we saw were electrum.” He smiles. “Deeper in, who knows?” </p><p></p><p>“We've heard rumors of gold ones, and even platinum,” Karl declares.</p><p></p><p>“Hmm,” say the two strangers together.</p><p></p><p>The third, staring at Karl, asks, “Is your name Karlinden, by any chance?”</p><p></p><p>Startled, the mage says, “That is me.”</p><p></p><p>“I'm glad to have found you!” he exclaims. “My name is Alkar. I'm a ranger. My companions are Orzza and Lupark.” The two (who turn out to be a paladin and warden, respectively) nod greetings.</p><p></p><p>“And why are you looking for our friend?” rumbles Kane, hand near the hilt of his sword. </p><p></p><p>“My mistress sends a warning,” the ranger replies.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Alkar's tracking skills allow him to lead the party back in. The lack of impressions in the metal of the tunnel floor is made up by its tendency to hold smudges and bloody prints. He uses his nose, too, allowing the scent of blood and sweat to guide him along. There are a few copper horrors here and there along the way, but they ignore the party, so the party ignores them right back. </p><p></p><p>When they come to the scene of the battle, among the shattered clockwork horrors, they find but a single corpse: Lithieln. </p><p></p><p>“Shifty's not here.” Karlinden states the obvious. </p><p></p><p>“We're going after a guy named Shifty?” exclaims the more civilized-looking newcomer, Orzza. “Are you sure he's worth it?”</p><p></p><p>“Not really,” mutters Alkar, but Kane speaks over him: “We do not leave our own behind.”</p><p></p><p>The less civilzed-looking new member of the party, Lupark, shrugs. “I'll take point.” </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>When they burst into the room holding Shifty, it's like staring at a nightmare. The unconscious gnome is strapped to a table, all four limbs shackled separately to ings along its edges. The table is built onto a moving conveyer belt that winds its way through several stations in the chamber. Buzzing saws and razor-sharp scalpels wave and hover over each station, moving on the end of metal arms as if alive. A conspicuously large waste container full of limbs and other body parts is near one of the stations. A much larger dumpster full of bodies with metal addendums seemingly grafted onto them lies near the final station. </p><p></p><p>Banks of strange machinery, much of which includes blinking lights and strange blooping sounds, line the walls of the chamber. At the far end, a large ceramic jar full of bubbling brine holds a large jar. </p><p></p><p><em>Oh dear!</em> The thought comes clearly to everyone in the chamber (except for the unconscious Shifty). <em>I didn't expect you quite so soon. Well, leave now, and you shan't share your friend's fate. That's the only offer I will make.</em></p><p></p><p>“It-it's that brain!” exclaims Karlinden in horror. </p><p></p><p>“A demon!” cries Kane.</p><p></p><p><em>I'm no demon, you idiot,</em> the brain in the jar exclaims, and sudden pain shoots into Kane's head. The warrior cries in pain, then drags his sword out of its sheath.</p><p></p><p>Clockwork horrors begin to pour into the room. The conveyer belt moves swiftly, bringing Shifty into the first station. Amongst the copper horrors, Shifty sees a few silver ones, and a trio of strange-looking humanoids. It seems large parts of their bodies have been replaced by machinery...</p><p></p><p>“I don't think so,” cries Orzza, and rushes forward, using his paladin abilities to strike down a horror even as he unleashes a flood of healing power into the captive gnome.</p><p></p><p>Shifty's eyes flutter, and open, and he cries out in terror. </p><p></p><p>A scalpel circles above him, then slices down, cutting into his right shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Gritting his teeth, he dislocates his thumbs. He slips one hand free of its bond, then the other, then slaps his hands together. His thumbs pop back into place, and he rolls his body aside as a spinning metal saw slices for his cranium. </p><p></p><p>Then the conveyer belt draws him onward, toward the next station. </p><p></p><p>Kane, meanwhile, brutally destroys one of the half-machine, half-humans, then rushes toward the brain in the jar. Karl hurls spells at it and Alkar fires arrow after arrow into its glass casing, defended by Orzza and Lupark.</p><p></p><p>Cracks start to form in the jar. </p><p></p><p>Shifty rolls his body to the side, dodging another waving surgical tool, and manages to pick the lock keeping his left ankle attached to the table. <em>Almost free!</em> he thinks. </p><p></p><p>He eyes the brain in the jar. The belt is almost at its closest approach... Fingers moving furiously, he frees his other foot, then leaps off the table just before it reaches the next station. </p><p></p><p>His hand is a blur. His dagger pierces the jar, and it shatters. </p><p></p><p><em>No! Why would you do this!</em> the brain thinks. Already its voice is fading. <em>No fair! I'm smarter than any of you! No... no fair. I should have lived foreverrrr....</em> Then it goes silent. The reek of the fluids preserving it reach the party, nearly gagging them. The group retreats. </p><p></p><p>“Thank you, guys,” Shifty exclaims. “I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come to rescue me!”</p><p></p><p>“You would probably have ended up as one of those clockwork servitor, half-machine things that the brain was commanding,” Orzza says. </p><p></p><p>“If you survived the process,” Karl adds. “There were a lot more corpses in the dumpster than there were machine men down there.”</p><p></p><p>Shifty shivers. </p><p></p><p>“You're welcome,” Kane growls, giving Shifty the sort of smile that looks like a threat.</p><p></p><p>Karl goes on. “In any event, we need to get out of here and back to Overland. Alkar's mistress, a ranger lord, has sent word that the goblins of the Black Brambles have joined the Double Javelins, and they're marshalling for an attack.”</p><p></p><p>“The who? What now?” Shifty shakes his head. </p><p></p><p>“The Double Javelins are the... free company that I used to run with. Mercenaries. Survivors.” Kane laughs. “Time to lead, governor.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Once the party returns to Overland, they begin to muster and train defenders. Alkar immediately starts archery drills, while the others evacuate the tiny community of Woodcut to the relative safety of Overland, which at least is the point of concentration of resistance. </p><p></p><p>Before long, the first raiding parties begin to harass the farmers and peasants in the outlying fields. Bradford, Orzza, Shifty, and Alkar lead a team that scatters them and sends the survivors flying back to the main force, which still lurks in the brambles. Bradford acquits himself with honor during this battle. (He officially graduates from being a minion to being a level 1 skirmisher.)</p><p></p><p>Afterward, the heroes discuss the strategic situation. “We might be able to prevent some loss of life if we can head off the attack before it comes,” argues Orzza. “Take the fight to them, and it won't be our fields and houses that burn. Any collateral damage will be on their territory.”</p><p></p><p>“We do weaken Overland's defenses by leaving it, though,” Karlinded points out. “We risk an attack while we're gone.”</p><p></p><p>“We risk an attack if we stay,” Kane points out. “To attack is always better. Besides, I know the Double Javelins. Better to fight them in the brambles, where their movements are restricted.”</p><p></p><p>The debate goes well into the night, but in the end, Kane and Orzza carry the day. The group agrees: they will attack. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Into the Black Brambles. The goblins that live inside the place know its tangled paths. They know the best ways to get around in the thickets. The party does not. In their favor, neither do the Double Javelins. </p><p></p><p>The group manages to talk their way past a swarm of cavorting sprites accompanied by a pseudodragon named Nom, who proves friendly enough after an offering of wine and honey. </p><p></p><p>Though Nom only chirps and burbles, the sprites translate, and he offers to help the party find the Double Javelins and their allies. It seems that he and his allies don't like them or approve of their effect on the surrounding terrain, trampling flowers and smashing toadstools and the like (not to mention all the hunting!). </p><p></p><p>This leads to a campaign of several exhausting days of guerilla attacks on Double Javelin and goblin forces. Our heroes have several skirmishes, coming out on top each time, all of which leave at least a handful of dead enemies behind. At least one results in the loss of significant food stores. </p><p></p><p>The party must deal with other dangers of the swamp, as well. Krenshar and stranger things assail them, but the party triumphs against them all.</p><p></p><p>“We've been doing well,” remarks Alkar. “But we're about to run into a significant problem.” </p><p></p><p>“What's that?” asks Kane.</p><p></p><p>“I'm down to my last two arrows.”</p><p></p><p>“How are our supplies?” wonders Karl. </p><p></p><p>It is time to return to Overland to resupply. And more than that: they have a valuable piece of intelligence that they have gathered during this mission to follow up on. It seems that there are already Double Javelins hidden in the town.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> The attack on Overland!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 7475377, member: 1210"] The party is out of breath, gasping, when they again exit the tunnel. “We can't leave them behind,” Kane groans. “Of course not,” Karlinden replies, “but we need a minute to catch our breaths first.” “They could be dying in there!” “If they were dying, they are dead already. If they are not already dead, they are not dying.” Kane folds his arms in front of his chest as the wizard speaks. He doesn't like it, but he sees the elf's point. “If only we had some more help,” Karlinden starts, and three figures come around the corner of the trail. Surprised, the newcomers halt, hands dropping toward their weapons. Karl raises a hand and cries, “Peace, friends!” The strangers hesitate, then the first, a heavily armored man, speaks. “Who are you folks?” The second, who is dressed in a more feral way, with furs and hides, adds, “You've the look of adventurers to you.” “We are, indeed,” Karl replies gravely. “And so do you.” “Well, we have that in common, then.” “Listen, we have some friends in trouble, and we could use some help rescuing them.” “Is there any treasure involved?” “Bugs the size of dogs,” Kane says, “made of copper and silver, and a few we saw were electrum.” He smiles. “Deeper in, who knows?” “We've heard rumors of gold ones, and even platinum,” Karl declares. “Hmm,” say the two strangers together. The third, staring at Karl, asks, “Is your name Karlinden, by any chance?” Startled, the mage says, “That is me.” “I'm glad to have found you!” he exclaims. “My name is Alkar. I'm a ranger. My companions are Orzza and Lupark.” The two (who turn out to be a paladin and warden, respectively) nod greetings. “And why are you looking for our friend?” rumbles Kane, hand near the hilt of his sword. “My mistress sends a warning,” the ranger replies. *** Alkar's tracking skills allow him to lead the party back in. The lack of impressions in the metal of the tunnel floor is made up by its tendency to hold smudges and bloody prints. He uses his nose, too, allowing the scent of blood and sweat to guide him along. There are a few copper horrors here and there along the way, but they ignore the party, so the party ignores them right back. When they come to the scene of the battle, among the shattered clockwork horrors, they find but a single corpse: Lithieln. “Shifty's not here.” Karlinden states the obvious. “We're going after a guy named Shifty?” exclaims the more civilized-looking newcomer, Orzza. “Are you sure he's worth it?” “Not really,” mutters Alkar, but Kane speaks over him: “We do not leave our own behind.” The less civilzed-looking new member of the party, Lupark, shrugs. “I'll take point.” *** When they burst into the room holding Shifty, it's like staring at a nightmare. The unconscious gnome is strapped to a table, all four limbs shackled separately to ings along its edges. The table is built onto a moving conveyer belt that winds its way through several stations in the chamber. Buzzing saws and razor-sharp scalpels wave and hover over each station, moving on the end of metal arms as if alive. A conspicuously large waste container full of limbs and other body parts is near one of the stations. A much larger dumpster full of bodies with metal addendums seemingly grafted onto them lies near the final station. Banks of strange machinery, much of which includes blinking lights and strange blooping sounds, line the walls of the chamber. At the far end, a large ceramic jar full of bubbling brine holds a large jar. [i]Oh dear![/i] The thought comes clearly to everyone in the chamber (except for the unconscious Shifty). [i]I didn't expect you quite so soon. Well, leave now, and you shan't share your friend's fate. That's the only offer I will make.[/i] “It-it's that brain!” exclaims Karlinden in horror. “A demon!” cries Kane. [i]I'm no demon, you idiot,[/i] the brain in the jar exclaims, and sudden pain shoots into Kane's head. The warrior cries in pain, then drags his sword out of its sheath. Clockwork horrors begin to pour into the room. The conveyer belt moves swiftly, bringing Shifty into the first station. Amongst the copper horrors, Shifty sees a few silver ones, and a trio of strange-looking humanoids. It seems large parts of their bodies have been replaced by machinery... “I don't think so,” cries Orzza, and rushes forward, using his paladin abilities to strike down a horror even as he unleashes a flood of healing power into the captive gnome. Shifty's eyes flutter, and open, and he cries out in terror. A scalpel circles above him, then slices down, cutting into his right shoulder. Gritting his teeth, he dislocates his thumbs. He slips one hand free of its bond, then the other, then slaps his hands together. His thumbs pop back into place, and he rolls his body aside as a spinning metal saw slices for his cranium. Then the conveyer belt draws him onward, toward the next station. Kane, meanwhile, brutally destroys one of the half-machine, half-humans, then rushes toward the brain in the jar. Karl hurls spells at it and Alkar fires arrow after arrow into its glass casing, defended by Orzza and Lupark. Cracks start to form in the jar. Shifty rolls his body to the side, dodging another waving surgical tool, and manages to pick the lock keeping his left ankle attached to the table. [i]Almost free![/i] he thinks. He eyes the brain in the jar. The belt is almost at its closest approach... Fingers moving furiously, he frees his other foot, then leaps off the table just before it reaches the next station. His hand is a blur. His dagger pierces the jar, and it shatters. [i]No! Why would you do this![/i] the brain thinks. Already its voice is fading. [i]No fair! I'm smarter than any of you! No... no fair. I should have lived foreverrrr....[/i] Then it goes silent. The reek of the fluids preserving it reach the party, nearly gagging them. The group retreats. “Thank you, guys,” Shifty exclaims. “I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come to rescue me!” “You would probably have ended up as one of those clockwork servitor, half-machine things that the brain was commanding,” Orzza says. “If you survived the process,” Karl adds. “There were a lot more corpses in the dumpster than there were machine men down there.” Shifty shivers. “You're welcome,” Kane growls, giving Shifty the sort of smile that looks like a threat. Karl goes on. “In any event, we need to get out of here and back to Overland. Alkar's mistress, a ranger lord, has sent word that the goblins of the Black Brambles have joined the Double Javelins, and they're marshalling for an attack.” “The who? What now?” Shifty shakes his head. “The Double Javelins are the... free company that I used to run with. Mercenaries. Survivors.” Kane laughs. “Time to lead, governor.” *** Once the party returns to Overland, they begin to muster and train defenders. Alkar immediately starts archery drills, while the others evacuate the tiny community of Woodcut to the relative safety of Overland, which at least is the point of concentration of resistance. Before long, the first raiding parties begin to harass the farmers and peasants in the outlying fields. Bradford, Orzza, Shifty, and Alkar lead a team that scatters them and sends the survivors flying back to the main force, which still lurks in the brambles. Bradford acquits himself with honor during this battle. (He officially graduates from being a minion to being a level 1 skirmisher.) Afterward, the heroes discuss the strategic situation. “We might be able to prevent some loss of life if we can head off the attack before it comes,” argues Orzza. “Take the fight to them, and it won't be our fields and houses that burn. Any collateral damage will be on their territory.” “We do weaken Overland's defenses by leaving it, though,” Karlinded points out. “We risk an attack while we're gone.” “We risk an attack if we stay,” Kane points out. “To attack is always better. Besides, I know the Double Javelins. Better to fight them in the brambles, where their movements are restricted.” The debate goes well into the night, but in the end, Kane and Orzza carry the day. The group agrees: they will attack. *** Into the Black Brambles. The goblins that live inside the place know its tangled paths. They know the best ways to get around in the thickets. The party does not. In their favor, neither do the Double Javelins. The group manages to talk their way past a swarm of cavorting sprites accompanied by a pseudodragon named Nom, who proves friendly enough after an offering of wine and honey. Though Nom only chirps and burbles, the sprites translate, and he offers to help the party find the Double Javelins and their allies. It seems that he and his allies don't like them or approve of their effect on the surrounding terrain, trampling flowers and smashing toadstools and the like (not to mention all the hunting!). This leads to a campaign of several exhausting days of guerilla attacks on Double Javelin and goblin forces. Our heroes have several skirmishes, coming out on top each time, all of which leave at least a handful of dead enemies behind. At least one results in the loss of significant food stores. The party must deal with other dangers of the swamp, as well. Krenshar and stranger things assail them, but the party triumphs against them all. “We've been doing well,” remarks Alkar. “But we're about to run into a significant problem.” “What's that?” asks Kane. “I'm down to my last two arrows.” “How are our supplies?” wonders Karl. It is time to return to Overland to resupply. And more than that: they have a valuable piece of intelligence that they have gathered during this mission to follow up on. It seems that there are already Double Javelins hidden in the town. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] The attack on Overland! [/QUOTE]
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