GAMER’S GROTTO: THE HIDDEN
01 NEW WATER
SEGMENT 005
ACT FOUR: THE FACILITY
4/5/14
YRLAG, SHADOW MARCHES
NEW WATER
RHAAN 11, 999
The Tharashk Dragonmarked family uses this place to collect and clean their Eberron Dragonshards. They can be found within the mud and water encased in brittle stone. One must first find them then collect them. When brought to the facility, they are broken open and the magical crystals inside are separated and washed. Then they are packed and secured to be brought back to Yrlag. Here they are brought to Zarash’ak where air ships and ships take them across the continent to Sharn, Trolanport and other cities.
There are two building here. One is a large three story structure and the other is a two story square. The two are joined by a small stone bridge that connects two stone and rock structures. It appears House Orien built these also possibly from clever use of mud to stone spells.
They check it all out as they approach the structure. There are many trees and brush still around the building. Looking into the water, it is still a dark blue with beads within it. The water depth never changed either. It has remained at about 18 inches in depth with about 3-4 inches of these beads on the bottom.
They spot two balconies on the tallest structure. One is encased in glass and the other with a blind. There is no way to be certain if anyone is watching them. There are signs of life here.
The shifter gently pushes the warforged’s boat to a dock the cleric had seen. The cleric gets out is thankful he not walk in the New Water as much as the shifter did. The mage and elf get out next. The mage is less than graceful but doesn’t fall in.
The warforged tries to steady himself now. The shifter has moved away to climb onto the structure further away. The warforged tries to get out but the boat kicks out from under him and his foot lands hard in the water with a loud splash. The beads slowly settle back over his large foot. He walks back to the dock and finds it will be difficult to clear the 18 inches of water and the foot of rock. Seeing his distress, the cleric offers a hand. Forgetting just heavy the fighter is, the cleric gives a good yank and finds himself falling into the water head first.
Luckily- he kept his mouth shut.
“Well that was embarrassing.” He says as the warforged thumps a leg onto the dock and rolls onto the structure. He offers his own four fingered hand to the cleric and easily pulls him out of the water.
Swoon and the elf go to the smaller square building. Snarl has already entered the other building as Gilad and Cornnerstone arrives. Snarl sees little as he first enters the structure. Stairs lead up and an open doorway leads to the rest of the first floor. He looks into this room and sees long sorting tables. Based the bits of debris here and there, he guesses this is where they process the shards. The cleric agrees.
At the other building, the mage and elf find no windows to look in. There is but one door. It is reinforced with a metal frame and copper strips. The elf tries the door and finds himself electrified. Stunned but not ready to give in yet, he goes to kick in the door. The mage shakes his head in disappointment. He thought all elves knew better. The electrical jolt sends the elf back against the rail.
“The copper adds to the warded doors magical jolt. You will not be opening that door easily.”
“To be reinforced suggests the need for protection. I suspect there is money or something of worth within.”
“And thus not the reason we are here. We are looking for answers to why the employees are missing- not gold or shards.” Scolds the mage.
At the top of the stairs Snarls finds a 3ft by 2ft cloth that glows. He carefully steps around it. The room here is plush with large and comfortable looking seats and tables. At the end are two doors that lead to presumably the glassed in room. The warforged climbs up the steps and holds at the top.
“What is this?” he asks of the mat. “Is it a trap?”
The cleric comes up behind him and inspects it. Against his better judgment, he reaches out to move the small rug. As he grasps it, the glow flows onto his dirty gloves and magically cleans the dirt and muck from them.
“That is incredibly nice.” He exclaims. “It’s a foot mate that magically cleans your boots.”
“No wonder the floor is so clean.” Adds the shifter looking at his own footprints on the floor.
The sound of the elf triggering the electrical trap can be heard. “Sounds like trouble.” Warns the warforged. He and the cleric go down the stairs. The shifter remains at the top of the stairs wondering why one would want a mat to clean their boots like this.
He begins to look around now while alone.
When the warforged and cleric arrive, the elf is climbing a tree that grows close to the building. He has spotted small windows on the second floor. Using the tree, he can hop onto the window sill but finds there is no way to open it. The rock has been magically molded over and around the edges of the thick glass. Peering in, he can see little inside. Frowning, he decides to try the roof.
The mage is not impressed with the decision but does appreciate the elf’s climbing ability. The cleric reaches him first. “What happened?”
“The elf is proving how foolish it can be to try to steal from a Dragonmarked House.”
“Any success?” Gilad says with a smile.
“Oh plenty. The door is warded with electrical magic. The windows are designed to be theft proof also. He is trying the roof now.”
The cleric hears a howl of pain and rushes off back to the main building. The warforged slumps his shoulders. He had just gotten there with his large and heavy frame and now he has to go back.
From the roof, Naila spots the group entering the larger building and decides that would better than standing here still smoking from the electrical barrage.
Inside on the second floor, the shifter is fighting off bloated dire rats that were hiding under a large couch near the doors. He has just gotten away from them when the others arrive. Like the others, the mage comes to an abrupt stop when he faces the mat. “Cleans your feet” adds the cleric as he rushes past him.
“Amazing- what will the Houses come up with next?” says the mage in true amazement and appreciation.
The shifter points out where the rats are and they wait for them. In a few moments, they spot one sticking its head out. They rush it and attack. A total of four dire rats have collected in the corner under the couch. When the creatures are struck they seem to burst like a balloon. “Ugh!” calls out the mage.
“Not undead…. What are they?” asks the cleric as another is burst.
“Maybe they will offer clues to this New Water….” The cleric strikes the creature with intensions of stunning it instead of killing it. The warforged stomps on one and it bursts loudly. The fourth one is knocked out.
“Now what?” asks the shifter.
“What is it?” asks the mage.
“Dire rat…. diseased maybe.” Offers the shifter.
“It’s not undead.” Adds the cleric. He collects the magical rug and rolls the rat up in it. “Should be safe enough to travel with now.”
They don’t bother checking the rest of the level and go upstairs. This is a small room that acts as a lookout.
Nothing of any interest. They go back down and step outside of the building. The elf goes to the mage. “Do you have any magic to locate secret doors?”
“To do what? Enter the tower?”
“Well- yes in fact that is exactly what I had in mind.”
The mage uses a spell to do this and finds nothing. There is only one way into the vault- through the electrified door.
Instead of using the spell on the other building, they decide to get back into the boats and leave before it is dark.