Character Name Type Player Sex Notes ..Arawn...........Druid...John.Haight........Ma..Alfar/Backup Navigator ..Dorhak..........Warrior.Kevin.Newark.......Ma..Captain/Leader/Dwarf ..Fremea..........Sidh....Tobie.Bonahoom.....Fe..Faerry/Archer/Magician ..Kiet............Acrobat.David.Sanders......Me..Human/Magician ..Mournath........Sailor..Gibert.Isla........Ma..Human/Navigator ..Pyandalgor......Hunter..Panthera...........Ma..Human/Hunter ..Raddok..........Miner...Bess.Hadley........Ma..Human/Miner ..Tsia.Phan.......Thief...Don.Ker............Fe..Human/Thief ..Unali...........Ninja...Wout.Broere........Fe..Human/Dagger Maiden ..Z'leyra.........Healer..Alex Koponen.......Fe..Human/Shaman/1st Mate ..Barbosa.........Warrior.Npc................Ma..Dwarf/Outcast Game Web Site - http:/nrgcomputers.com/pbem/ Public posts/actions to pnpgm@list.powersandperils.org (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm@comcast.net Game Update #130 sequence (file #979) ---------------------------------------------------------------- From Dorhak: [Re: Actions] "the land is called Vahear. It is far to the west of here near … GM: Ack. Admin Notes: None. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [New Stuff] [Ma 8th, 1636TH] [Time: 12:48 pm – Kris Bes – Capital of Beam] "The land is called Vahear. It is far to the west of here near what we call the Sea of Tears. The 'reward' the human received was his death for stealing. In the cave, there were wards that only dwarves could pass and we had to prove we were dwarves thru language and response. Some of the wards were almost like they were alive. I have to cross a chasm as well. Beyond that, there were animated suits of plate armor. I wish I had access to that armor! I can imagine it was worth a small fortune. It may still be. I intend to go back and find out. There was also a guardian creature. "I only passed over the imprisoned dwarves for brevity, as I know your time is of such value. The previous crew of the ship we took in payment, had raided some small dwarfish villages and captured several kin. They had them in a cage on the ship! The anger I felt over that is like few I have ever experienced. Oh! And they tried to kidnap me, which is why I have the ship. They broke a sculpture I had created To sell to a human female that obviously had too much gold for her own good." "Hmm mm. Ships in this Han. The trip, I am told, is a long one. I’m not certain my crew and I could navigate it. We were mostly in a inland sea. Gods know what kind of monsters would roam a much larger ocean. Also, I doubt we have to means to hire or purchase such a ship." Oh, yes. Speaking of that guardian. He was protecting a magic tome. Some of my companions know of it from their pasts. The way they talk, they warn it is best to simply keep it safe and never see it used. So, I intended to return it to another dwarf krill for safe keeping as it was in Vahear. The one I would trust to have sufficient defenses and security would be in the Elder Mountains back home. The older Bes sits back and thinks then nods. He stands and goes to the door. He tells the last guard outside a few things in their language. The guard nods and says a few words words and “..stonehand...” is understand which must be the rune masters name? Seems in every languages names use a underlying language common to all. The Bes turns and walks back to sit, “tell me more about this guardian please. Vahear never heard but maybe our records have info on it. Suits of plate armor animated?” He pauses for a minute. “Animated...suits? That magic is not of our ...kind. Maybe these dwarves had help?” He places fingers on his naked chin making Dorhak shiver a bit – no beard really? The runemaster then sits back and frowns at Dorhak. “This Kril is the safest around. You suspect it otherwise? You saw the gate outside we MADE giants build it. Centuries ago. Since then we've not had one invasion or thief inside. Bes are peaceful folk who are healers, musicians and artists among other things. With that said this fortress has 250 of us at any one time and 150 humans.” He glances to Raddok briefly and smiles. 'With our villages and nearby settlements we can get 100 Besmar and 50 human warriors here with simple ease before we have to cull from the other villages. Being this deep in mountains we have are defenses. I saw you had a elf and..a Fae? We don't know how many elves are around but we estimate a couple hundred. The Fae we rarely see. There is a rumor a Fae village is near the Dumgi area.” “You are free to do with this tome what you want. But our vault is hard to get in and out. No thief has made it there.” He stands as he eyes both for what seems like 2 minutes. After hearing Dorhak's description of the guardian he clasps his hands behind his back. “You are welcome to stay the night. I sent the guard to fetch your group. I will discuss all we talked about here with the King and archivist so we can figure out more about this....Vahear dwarf place.” He walks to the door and opens it. He exits and waits for the strangers to follow. Soon the party with full gear join them. The Bes speaks in dwarf elder again, “I am Crix Stonehand. Welcome to Bes Kril. You are all welcome to stay the night. Let me give a brief tour.” The lone guard sticks to the back but with party taking gear and weapons back he is probably of little defense other than a a helper to Crix. Crix leads the party down a long hall past shops and storage areas. Shops being more a workshop or craftsman shop than anything. Folks making metal things from armor to plates or another shop may be making shoes or repairing items like backpacks. Crix rounds a corner to a new long corridor and stops at one shop to show a group of 3 Bes working on stone sculptures. “Figure you might find it interesting.” He tells Dorhak. Dorhak watches as two sculpt and a young Bes sweeps up the dust. Dorhak sees the statue is of a Bes holding a book. “Our first of its kind. A statue to our greatest Archivist Stylus Potshard who led us to live with the humans and dwarfs. Who was first to record the tenets of Bes and Cedalion. As well as set the first laws of our little nation.” Crix gives Dorhak a few moments then moves to the end of the hall to a dead end. “This is the main level. Two floors above us one a storage area and the top is the Kings level where the lords visit or hold meetings. His quarters and visitor areas are for folks to sleep and rest. That floor is the restricted area. The below levels are quarters and general areas for the rest. It is 5 total floors. Below that are the mines we have a dozen or so still active tunnels. “ He turns to the wooden door and opens it. To reveal a small area maybe 6x6 feet? It has a wooden floor and a light iron cage around it with a railing. “This is our...Upper and Downer machine. I know we have to get a better name. About 150 years ago or so a wizard named Marob visited and invented this. Some human mage we hear he lives far to the north in some dark area now? Before then we had to use the stairs to go up and down. But this uses pulleys and ropes..and stuff to move the cage up and down.” He shows some ropes that go from ceiling to floor about 6 of them but these are smaller than the huge shoulder size ropes that hold the cage. “These ropes control and let other floors know when it is in use and to call for the cage. To be honest it uses same principle as the gate outside. But I do not fully understand it. This one can hold a thousand pounds or 4 adult sized folks around 250 each. About 50 years ago we invented a larger version base don this one. It carries our ore and materials up and down. It is located elsewhere but can carry we estimate close to 7,500 pounds. But usually we just use maybe a quarter of that. I will take you to your quarters and you can drop your gear off. It is lunch but we may still have some left and you can enjoy some if still hungry. I will show you how to use the machine and you are free to roam the kril. Free to interact with whomever. The top level is restricted so guards are posted there so can't go there.” With that he steps inside and waves Dorhak, Raddok and Barbosa forward. Then he grabs two of the smaller ropes and lets the right one dip lower some distance. Those with keen eyes see iron rings and locks on the rope. That must fit in some kind of structure below and above. Then from the left he pulls the rope upwards using a adjacent rope. He then tells the others he will return in a few moments. He lowers the safety bar and pulls a level with some strength on the side. A bit of grind noise is heard from above. The cab lowers slowly. In fact Z'leyra has seen such devices before. In Ticasi they use steam or water wheels for power. But most use magic simply. Back on Vahear even they had a simple one that lifted the part high above to the town on the cliff top. That used horses to use manual strength to lift it. Arawn looks to Unali and Z'leyra. Did they catch the name of this wizard? He raises a eyebrow. Below the cab ends its descent and the 4 exit. Crix explains they can pick a empty cave. There are 2 beds to a room and about room for 30 on this level for visitors. Soon one at a time the full party finds places to sleep. [Time: 1:12 pm] The party is lead on same level to a large banquet room here there are a half dozen humans and bes with 3 dwarves. They eye the party but go back to talking quietly among themselves. Crix shows where the cooking area is for stews, soups or open flame cooking as well as food in kegs for selection from fruits to vegetables among others. Tables of ale, rum, whiskey and water as well as hot breads complete the area. Crix speaks up, “Before I speak to the King any questions?” Suddenly the whispers silent and all turn to the threshold. Two humans enter. Crix whispers, “that is UPUS Delver and Kimis. They are...Diumg guests that we are giving...shelter to.” The male, upus, is around mid 20s standing 6 foot 7 and about 200 pounds but well muscular. Both of them have knobby reddish skin but no hair. Their eyes are a odd color of orange? Kiet notices the red skin and wonders. The female, Kimis, stands 5' 7 and about 250 pounds. She is more heavy but she seems to be more muscles than fat. Even bald and red skin she strikes the humans as very attractive. Both wear leathers and light clothing. On their back they seem to carry a battle axe of some sort. Kimis eyes the room and that's when Unali picks it up. Being trained in that area she recognizes a body guard when she sees one. The way Kimis moves and eyes the room for exits and threats. The male seems a bit hungry only. Then Kimis sees Fremea and stares. Thirty seconds then a full minute pass as she stares. Finally upus urges the female for food and they walk to get some. All the while Kimis gives quick glances at Fremea who is not disguised. [Time: 1:16 pm] GM: Actions? Comments? Next Update – Tue/Wed. GM: A bigger update than expected. No posts and no votes on lair. So guess we'll ignore the lair. Sorry guys who wanted it. I'll try next update in a few days. Hope to see some good posts! I wanted to do more detail on tour and place. But it is already past 12 and near bedtime.