drothgery's Victorian Eberron game - IC

[EvolutionKB]

Grant, AC: 18, HP: 28

Grant let's Horace go ahead, when he returns and reports his findings, Grant says, "let's put away the guns for a moment. That way we can take out this single guard without being so noisy." He make a little flourish with his rapier, and says, "Ready?"

 

[Einan]

"Aye, then. Lead the way." Horace slings his beloved rifle across his back and draws out a hand axe.

 

[EvolutionKB]

Grant, AC: 18, HP: 28

As they move away, Grant whispers to Horace, "flank him with me, I work best with others." Grant moves as stealthily through the shadows as best as possible, following the directions that Horace had given them, towards the single guard. With rapier drawn and shield readied, he quickly closes with the man stabbing with his rapier.

[sblock=ooc]Once the guard is seen, move up to him and attack him with my rapier. +7 att, 1d6 damage plus 1d6 SA.[/sblock]

 

[Einan]

Horace nods, grips his axe tighter and moves to flank the thug.

 

[drothgery]

The solitary remaining guard might have been more alert than his fellows, but what he was watching alertly was what lie beyond him and over the cliff he looked out at.

Grant and Horace snuck into positions on opposite sides of the man, first Grant on the left than Horace on the right, and then Horace's axe struck, and then Grant's rapier from the other. That, howerver, was not sufficient to kill the man. (ooc: Horace hit on a 19, 2d6 (1d6 skirmish) for 6hp; Grant critical hit on a 20, confirmed crit on a 9, 2d6+1d6 sneak attack for 5 hp)

Initiative
Horace - 22
thug - 20
Grant - 9

Horace took a wild swing at the thug (2 to hit), who promptly drew a long knife and attacked the scout in turn, just as futilely. Grant had none of this, though; a neat stab of his rapier put the man on the ground (another crit, this time for 10 dmg).

And looking over the cliff, you saw below you what must have been Aerdene's device.

 

[Einan]

Horace scrambles to the edge of the cliff on his belly to get a good long look at the device.

 

[stonegod]

Hearing the slight scuffle up ahead, the scholar called quietly, "Is everything fine up there?" He clutched something in his breast pocket in anticipation.

 

[EvolutionKB]

"See...not so loud this way," Grant whispers, then his gaze follows Horace's. "It is real..." he exlaims. He then silently nods to Horace and motions to the group. He then begins to silently pad back towards the others.

 

[drothgery]

OOC: The waterfall is much too loud for you to hear each other whispering where you are.

(assuming everyone catches up to Horace and Grant and looks out over the cliff)

Looking over the cliff, it's clear the crevase beyond you opens all the way up to the surface, as light filters down from above. In front of you lies what has to be the strangest construction any of you have ever seen, and only Doc has even the slightest idea of how it might work.

A huge, elongated ball-shaped structure -- it looks like some sort of canvas bag writ large -- is suspened over a wooden framework that looks much like the top deck of a ship, with some sort of motorized fan mounted on the deck, and something built for no obvious purpose immediately below the center of the 'bag'. Though the 'ship' must have been made of soarwood, and the engine and fan seemed likely to be mithral. And a hole that looks roughly the size of a canonball exists in the side of the 'hull'.

[sblock=Doc]
Doc thinks that what Aerdene has built is a particularly nice example of a powered hot air balloon (which first started appearing in the real world in the 1850s, though something like what Aerdene built is more like an 1880s thing; real-world aviators didn't have soarwood hulls or mithral engine parts available) by taking advantage of some rare and expensive materials for his construction. It's not something that would be practical for large-scale use due to how it was built, but still a very impressive feat.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Horace]
Looking more closely, Horace notices two people huddled to the side of the 'airship'.
[/sblock]

 

[stonegod]

Doc looks over into the chasm and... stops. His face blanks for a moment, conflicted looks of awe, hope, anger and, if it was to be said, envy all there to be read. This was a man who had dedicated his life to one goal and, upon seeing it realized in a form by another, questioned if there was else left to do.

Then a smile broke out over his face.

"Still not as good as the original."

Thoughts raced in his head, different means of improvement, changes to the design, arcane advancements that the too mechanically minded group of his brethren would not have thought of. It isn't until a tap on his shoulder does he come out of it.

"It is a beauty. Not very practical, but neither were the designs of our ancestors. Hmm. Must be some damage to the engine or air bladder---the hole shouldn't keep it grounded." He looks over at the others. "Might be enough of us to get it in the air if I can figure the works... but we better hope a few of them survived if we want this to be quick." An eager light burns in his eyes.