Slowly the ship pulls into the quay. She has been sailing up the fjord for an hour or so now, and the crew are running around getting ready for the landing. The quay is old and in need of repair and there is no real sign of any buildings. Just a few ruins and a soldiers' camp
It's been an uncomfortable journey to get here, the ship was clearly overloaded and it was impossible to get proper cabin space. You had to share with a carpenter, a stone mason and a farmer, all looking for a new life in this newly promised land.
The only person of real interest aboard the ship, is a tall man in a dark cloak who had a cabin to share with 3 of his followers, although he kept himself very much to himself on the journey over here.
Just about all the chatter on the journey has been about the marvellous opportunities that Earl Richard is making in this new land.
As soon as she is docked the crew starts unloading the cargo of timber she is carrying, and many of the poorer looking passengers are being press-ganged into helping.
You guess that after the deck cargo is unloaded they will start on the supplies and stone down in the ships holds …
** EDITED December 19, 2001, 2:33 pm **
Meeleek steps off the ship, fastening the shoofa around his face in response to the sidelong glances from the crew and passengers at the symbol on his forehead.
He slowly inspects his surroundings, taking in the soldiers’ camp, lake, and island. What might lie in this new land? He wanders to himself.
However, his thoughts are interrupted by the sight of the tall dark man and his 3 followers disembarking. Our paths may yet cross, the young Zacharan thinks to himself, turning his attention to the blond elf he has shared a cabin with during the long jurney. While being quiet and withdrawn, he has found his long talks with the elf most interesting and plesent.
What say you, Corellon Amastacia, shall we go and find out what awaits us in this land, or have you other plans?
Meeleek then heads to the soldiers’ camp, trying to find someone who will give him information of this place.
As Meeleek nears the camp, a soldier steps forward and asks "Can I help you, Sir?"
He does not look much of a soldier, as he wears a mixture of brown and green everyday clothing. However, he is armed with both a shield and a spear.
OOC - My fault - I didn't make it clear Meeleek and Corellon shared a cabin on the way over. So you can know each other.
"Salaam A'leykum, Sir," says Meeleek. "I am in need of knowledge of this place and it's abouts. Are you familiar with this lore, or can you direct me to another?" and he pulls out a silver coin.
The soldier takes in the strange clothes worn by the man and seems to reassess then in light of the strong accent.
His grip tightens slightly on his spear, as his eyes flick quickly to the silver coin and then back to the man himnself. "I can try sir," he answers.
Handing the coin to the man, the young mage introduces himself. "I am Meeleek El'wakhad. Since it seems you have spent some time here, I would like to know everything about the area- What was here, what have you encountered and the plans for this place. Know I am a loyal citizen and mean no harm to you or the settlers."
The man drops the coin into a pouch, and then replies. "I don't rightly know sir. I bin here two days like the rest, sir. I know there was giant living in that place over there." he says pointing to the earthworks. "But I ain't privvy to the Earl's Council, sir."
Mandrake dashes the water onto the stricken statue, causing Edgar's expected cloud of steam and a dulling of the glow from the creatures sword and hand, although the eyes still glow with the same dull light.
Callum and Rolf stand ready to strike the creature as Madelyn, stays on the floor close to Elsbeth nursing her damaged shoulder, her dropped sword now on the other side of the monster.
Slowly it starts to clamber to its feet …
OOC: You have a +2 to hit and initiative gentlemen
Seeing the beast down, Rolf pushes forward to take advantage of the opening. He slams his sword in a massive, two-handed, over head swing that seems poised to cleave the thing in half. But somehow, his blade deflects off the things armored body and takes a chip from the floor.
He glances at Callum. His teeth gritted, he says, "Callum, let's get it outside." Of course, even if Callum is willing to leave, now they've got wounded ot worry with.
OOC: Rolled a 6, even with the blessing and +2 bonus.
Elsbeth hesitates, her healing having worked on Madelyn, the other woman's sword beyond. The druid looks at the thing rising and reacts instinctively.
She draws Skalarna and raises the scimitar and slashes violently on the thing, putting herself between it and Madelyn, her only thought to protect her. But like Rolf, the weapon bounces harmlessly off the thing, the sharp edge of her weapon barely nicking the surface.
The two blows seem to slow the metal monster slightly, although it continues to rise ....
Peter leaves his blanket, half out of his pack, and stands up again.
As he watches the failed attacks on the metal monster, he redraws his dagger and adjusts his shield. His face white at the very thought, he prepares himself for the worst.
Thankful that the effects of the steam were limited, Edgar's agitation nevertheless increases as several blows bounce off the metal man's skin.
Helpless to assist in anyway, he hops from limb to limb, fighting the urge to fly away, refusing to leave his companions, and racking his brains for anything that might help ...
Kerim darts forward, to cover those who may wish to retreat, opting to try his Katar over his Leather Cutlass (cringe at the thought of what would happen to that).
In his eagerness to protect his allies he overbalances and with a native tongued Midani curse, his blade slicing open air. His disappointment is evident.
Callum whips his sword around and smacks the head of the rising statue, hitting it a sound thump(11 points).
The statue crumples to the floor with a sighing noise as steam escapes from various slits, splits and breaks. The eyes continue to glow, showing up the paving slabs in their red glare.
As it lies there silently next the skeletal corpse, Callum grunts and collapses to his knees as the spectral owl seems to emerge from his chest.
It circles the room twice and with an eerie screech of triumph, the first noise you have heard it make, it fades into nothingness.
A look of relief passes across Peter's face as he realises that he will not be called upon to fight with the thing. "Is it 'dead'?" He asks quietly from the large room.
As the metal beast falls to the ground, Rolf gives a sigh and sags to one knee. As Peter asks, Rolf looks at him tiredly, "Your guess is as good as mine." He looks to the items laying strewn about, the sword and disembodied hand still on the floor, the metal body of the beast, the shield and spear lying by the rotting skeleton. He forces himself to his feet and looks about. "Well done, everyone. Maybe some of us couldn't hurt the beast, but we kept it distracted for Callum's killing blow."
Gesturing at the things, he turns to Ravn, "Master Ashengrey, know you anything of such things? That beast is no natural creature and if it's heart was of magic, perhaps some of these other things are also."
Ravn ceases his chanting, glad that the battle was over before he had to recall more verses from his strained memory.
Pondering Rolf's question with an even more strained frown, the Runecaster shakes his head in uncertainty.
"I cannot say for sure, Constable. In my homelands, such an abomination would surely be deemed the work of dwarven artisans but here in the South I would dare the supposition of gnomish ingenuity mixed with arcane influence."
He rubs his thin beard.
"Whatever it was, it was most likely the guardian of something - and I would expect that something to be of great importance or value..."
Ravn smiles.
"Daring another supposition, namely that of the victor's right to spoils of battle, I suggest we search this chamber thoroughly for whatever the creator of this thing went to such great lengths to safekeep."
Edgar stares at the statue ...though its frame be rent asunder by Callum's stirling efforts, the glow that still lights its eyes make him wary, and so, while the others obviously regard it as defeated and eagerly begin their search for whatever treasure the state was guarding so vigilantly, he continues to watch the fallen thing from his perch atop the door, lest it somehow stir itself once more.