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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 8254388" data-attributes="member: 2012">TIM & VINCCENZO AT THE IRON GATE:Captain Launceleyn listens intently while Captain Emenheisier seems stunned in silence. His men sheath their weapons and urge him to let the Elites of Riftwatch to handle the situation."Missing guards from the Gate of Scales... if I'm understanding you right," she muses. "That is quite concerning indeed." She motions to another Elite. "Soldier, go tell Lieutenant Covington that I have a job for him. He's to put together a detachment and go reinforce the Gate of Scales. There are Regulars there who need support. Make sure Castellana goes with him. He's going to need her keen senses and magical abilities.""Yes ma'am," the Elite reacts with a salute. It seems the Elites of Riftwatch are no nonsense guardians of Old City."Now, let's get that gate open," she adds. "OPEN THE IRON GATE!"Her voice resounds high into the air. The force of her shout goes beyond that of normal vibrato. There is magical enhancement in her voice. It pitches high in the air for all to hear. Tim would not be surprised if Oakfirst himself heard her word all the way at the Tribunal."There's no turning back now," she says in her normal voice.A flurry of activity on the inner walls above Riftwatch and the Iron Gate can be seen and heard by the half-ogre knight and the Sectarian Guard. The men and woman working to get the gate open are like ants crawling along the framework of the closed gate. Tim hears what sounds like gears in a huge mechanical monster beginning to move. The only sound that he's heard similar to it, on this world, are the great steam-powered lifts of the Undercity that allow citizens to move up and down from there to the streets of New City. The sound is also eerily similar to the Great Ironworks Clock of the Imperial City of Kluanburgh in the Ailaithan Empire (on his home world), which he heard once while part of a Vrocian diplomatic mission."I've heard the story of this gate, but I've never seen it operate," Vinccenzo notes to Tim.From the Old City Rift rises what looks like a massive animated statue... or at least it's arms, torso, and head. It looks like a giant made of ceramics, iron, and wood. It reaches out towards the gate and undoes a latch on the top of the gate's tower. The guards on duty seem to working to steady lines of taught rope and portions of the wall that appear to be weaker than the rest of the edifice. The giant construct grabs a handle and lifts it up into the air. The process is noisy and crumbles a very small section of the upper wall but the process isn't truly destructive. It does kick up dust into the air. The Elites helping to work the complex mechanism cheer in triumph as the construct pulls the gate to itself and merges it to its torso. Then it disappears back down into the rift."Steam gnomes," Captain Launceleyn says after the noise dies down. "They're never subtle about the thing they build.""Yes, but it works, and I must say it is impressive to behold," Vinccenzo replies.Tim notes that the parts of the walls that crumbled weren't weight bearing but the process seems... excessive. The Riftwatch Elites work quickly to clean up the area and check the integrity of the, now, open gateway. They move to shore up any major cracks or fallen stonework. Tim notes that several of the Elites are dwarves and gnomes. Tim also understands why there are no other buildings near Riftwatch except for the sturdy walls protecting the gateway and rift, as well as Pomander Estate."Let's get your prisoner to the barracks," Captain Launceleyn says as she heads towards the open gateway. "Try not to let the gawking citizens on the other side of gate rattle you."Vinccenzo follows the Elite captain through the fading haze of the aftermath of the Iron Gate's open. Tim can't help but follow. Once on the other side, it is as Captain Launceleyn says. The people of the Barracks Ward have gathered around on the other side of the Iron Gate. There are nobles, shopkeepers, and peasants mixed alongside Regulars and Elites.Standing closer to the impressive gate is an imposing elder dwarf with stern look of his face. His arms are crossed and he looks one step below irate. He glares daggers at Captain Launceleyn who doesn't wither under his eyes."It was required," she says plainly."You better hope so or I'm going to personally call for your banishment from the city," the dwarf replies. "Iron Gate is never to be opened unless The Five all agree. You know that!""That's not even possible right now," she says. "There are only four of them and-""That is not the point!""Commander Mildenhall, the morning rumors that the Old City Killer was caught and is a doppelganger are true!" She motions for Tim to step forward. "And there is more. The Gate of Scales was left unguarded this morning while the killer's captors were transporting the prisoner through the city's streets. The guards that were supposed to be on duty there have vanished. I'm sending Lieutenant Akia Covington and Miss Castellana to investigate.""And, we were set upon by members of the Rising Swords," Vinccenzo adds. "They admitted who they were as they attacked us while trying to take the doppelganger. The Renegade is responsible for all this trouble."The old dwarf bows his head and muses internal for nearly a minute. "Del Cannitha," he finally says. "That bastard again. First the fires and explosion in New City and now this..." He sighs and shakes his head before raising his eyes towards Big Tim. "I assume you haven't captured him yet, Sir Valencia? Yes, I know who you are. You're quickly becoming a local celebutante here in Old City... whether you wish it or not. Regardless, Lord Commander Oakfirst has told me and the other commanders of your group and your mission to bring the Renegade to justice."</blockquote>

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