You find the Church of Saint Gili easily enough and you find yourselves at the corner of Seawatch Street and Shark Street in the Sea Ward before a three story building that looks like a cross between a temple and a workshop.  Saint Gili's symbol - a toothed cog with four spokes - is on prominent display on the building.  You hear the sounds of metal being struck, the bubbling of liquids, and other such noises that tell you this place might be a bit LOUD.


Outside the main entry stands a human man with dark hair and clean shaven face who is dressed in chain shirt, leather breeches and boots and his hands are resting on the grip on a rather large hammer. Around his neck is a chain which ends with a toothed cog.  He nods to the three of you and seems to make note Rani and Ironclad,  "How might dis servant of Saint Gili be of service tuh you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:10, Tue 22 Feb 2022.

Filimena is somewhat taken aback by the sight - and the sound - of the building before her. This is a church? Then again, she shouldn't be surprised. She's encountered a few odd religions in her brief travels. Somewhere out there is a church whose congregants worship through the daily consumption of dry ciders and pork pies. That would be the theology for her.

"Greetings. My name is Filimena. This is Marik, and this is Ironclad," she begins, tentatively. "We're looking for information about someone. My brother, actually, whom I haven't seen in years. Apparently he was spotted at this temple a few weeks ago. We were wondering if we might ask around, to see if anyone remembers him, perhaps even spoke to him. Do you think that would be permissible?" She looks up at the man, and gives him a polite smile.

The man nods as he looks over the group "I am Gilas Mason, followuh of Saint Gili and guardian of those who have need. I believe I've heard of yuh two befawh  ... " he point to Filimena and Marik "Yes, some business about a dwarven enclave bein' found, cawhrect?""

Filimena grins somewhat sheepishly and shrugs. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, uh, Gilas," she says, tilting her head forward slightly in greeting. "That, uh, would be correct. That was indeed us. Quite the adventure. And rather remarkable how word has gotten out. Wasn't expecting that. In any case, we're taking a bit of a break now, and... looking for my brother, as I said. We were told he had been spotted here at this church, so we were just here to see if we might pick up any clues. And, uh, I suppose, to look around. You have a very interesting building." She smiles again.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

Gilas nods, "Of cawhse, all may entuh de church of Saint Gili."

(assuming you go inside)

You step inside to what would be best described as the largest work shop you've ever seen.  There are dozens upon dozens of worktables which fill the church with the clamor of hammers, saws, and other work.  Along each row of stations you see what best can be described as monitors, all clad in similar heavy leather worker clothing with a toothed cog with four spokes embossed their shoulder, who walk along the row checking in with those who are work; sometimes they lend a hand, and other times attempting to stop something from going wrong.

In the center is a massive forge encircled with anvils where all sorts of artisans and smiths go about their work. A slight draft, or breeze comes from up high where you see a series of massive fans rotating very slowly via a belt and pulley system which crisscrosses the open space.


One of the monitors, a older human man with salt and pepper hair, a few days of stubble, and a pair of goggles over his eyes, approaches you. " 'Allo there, right, I 'aven't seen yer two 'round 'ere before. Wot can this servant o' Saint Gili do for yer today, then?"

Filimena lowers the hood of her cloak as she enters the church, partly out of respect for the sacred space, and but also the better to take in the glorious cacophony that surrounds her.

"Greetings," she says to the man approaching her, barely managing to tear her eyes from her surroundings. "My name is Filomena, and these are Marik and Ironclad - and Rani of course, sorry I forgot you just now. We're here looking for information about somebody. A halfling, like me, my brother actually. We were told he had been spotted at this temple a few years ago. We were wondering if we might speak to some of the people here, to ask if they might recall anything about him, that might help us find him."

With a big smile he says,  "Me name is Quinn Schofield, pleasure ter meet yer and yors."

Quinn glances back at the space rubs his knuckles on his cheek before saying, "I don't spot w not. Fough it if 'as been years as yer say then yor'd best ask the bloomin' uvver Makers o' Saint Gili, right, we 'ave these levver aprons, right?"

OOC: Ahahahaha. I read this and was really confused until I noticed my own typo. Will reply either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Filimena blinks in confusion before realising her error. "Oh, pardon me! I meant to say he was seen here a few weeks ago, not a few years ago," she chuckles, slightly abashed. "He looks a lot like me. Actually, Ironclad, would you mind conjuring that image of my brother again, which you showed us before?" She beckons towards the construct.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 04:17, Sun 06 Mar 2022.

Ironclad steps forward extending their hand, "Name is Filimena, the image as you requested."

The illusionary image appears is exactly what was displayed back in Windsalt's Trinket Emporium, that of a waving male halfling in a simple but nice set of traveler's garb in earthen hues with a worn satchel on his hip.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Thu 10 Mar 2022.

"Thank you, Ironclad," Filimena says, glad that they had agreed to come. "This is he. Do you happen to recall seeing this halfling here in this temple a few weeks ago?" She turns back to Quinn and gives him an enquiring looking.

In the meantime, Marik and Rani have mostly stepped aside to leave Filimena do the talking, trying to find a quieter corner in this hellish place. Anyway it's not like he feel he could be much use. He can't hear a thing in this place and barely pick up Filimena talk-shouting with a man in leather apron before her. His head ache from all that clanging and banging.

As Filimena talks, he keep his gloved hands on his ears (with Rani imitating him with her paws below), now missing dearly the relative quietness of the street and tavern (which he used to think were the most noisy and chaotic place he's ever been). He keeps looking at all these poeple working in leather apron, looking indifferent. Are they all deaf? How do people not go mad with all this sound?

Quinn watches the image intently, as though taking in all the details. He nods to himself before looking to Filimena "I do recall seein' the wee fellow 'round. 'e were workin' on sumfink, a music box or maybe a puzzle box, right, wiv Sanzir and Ricusi. Yor'll find them over in the Eastern wing ... it's a wee quieter there for the finer work."

The human glances to Marik, "I'm sure they would be more than 'appy ter 'elp wiv makin' them wooden bits better, if yor'd like."



[Private to GM: Sanzir: Male Dwarf Paladin, Good. Sanzir has curly red hair and dark green eyes, and walks with a limp. He wears plate armor and wields a maul. Sanzir is depressed and decisive.

Ricusi: Male Tiefling Cleric, Neutral Ricusi has blood red skin, with messy golden hair and gold eyes. He wears leather armor and wields a club. Ricusi has an animal companion, a ginger cat named Gudane.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:35, Fri 11 Mar 2022.

For the briefest moment, Filimena thinks she hears the man say her brother is here still, in the church, in the eastern wing. Her eyes widen in shock. Then, quickly, she realises that she has misheard, and she comes down a bit from her excitement. Still, the man remembers seeing him! He remembers seeing Finn! And he was right here, working on something, with these two others, Sanzir and Ricusi. If he was not only working here, but working here with somebody, they must have talked, right? She feels an desperate need to speak with these two right away, as if to delay even a minute or two might mean they forget everything.

"Thank you!" she says to Quinn. "You can't imagine how relieved it makes me to hear from you that he really has been here. We'll head over to the... Eastern wing then, to speak to your colleagues."

She looks behind her to give Marik an excited grin, but notices he has gone. Looking around, he sees him in a corner, covering his ears, clearly looking quite uncomfortable. Filimena blinks. Is it that loud in here? Maybe his elf ears are a little more sensitive than she thought.

Do you find it loud in here? She speaks to Marik telepathically. This man remembers seeing my brother. He was here working on something. In the eastern wing. Let's head over there now. It's a little quieter there, apparently, and they work on wood there. Maybe we can learn something for the tavern. She glances over at Ironclad, then at Quinn, motioning at where she imagines the East wing is and shrugging, as if to ask, Over there?

Marik looks up suddenly, locking eyes with Filimena. He nods enthusiatically, (not sure about which item, but could mean "all of the above") and quickly signals Rani. The big cat removes her own paws from her ears with a groan and moves quickly in the eastern direction.


As he moves, Marik can't help but perceive a certain giddyness in Filimena. Could it be they heard of her brother? Or something else? In any case, it feels good to see her happy. He looks forward to know what it is about.

Seeing Marik head off, Filimena glances back at Quinn and nods again in gratitude. Pausing a for a brief moment to see if he might have anything else to say, she turns to follow Marik towards the East Wing.

Edit OOC: At this moment I can't help but hear the West Wing theme song in my head. Hahaha
This message was last edited by the player at 14:21, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Quinn points towards the left side of the Church, smiling as the group wanders off.

A pair of massive iron reinforced wooden doors greet you.  A long the center you see a series of symbol of Saint Gili which act as the door pulls.  Beyond is a twenty by twenty (6m x 6m) vestibule with an identical set of doors on the far side.  Set high on the wall facing the street is a stained glass window depicting a person with goggles toiling over a work table.

As the doors from the main room close behind the group, the vestibule becomes eerily quiet.

[Private to Filimena the Gentle:
Magical _silence
^Magical makers]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:32, Sat 19 Mar 2022.

Filimena halts in her track, head jerking downward and to the side as she winces in discomfort. Gradually looking up and opening her eyes again, she looks around the hall she has entered. Her ears seem to have popped. She feels the silence like a bubble inside her head. Opening her mouth, she pauses, wondering for a moment what to say. "Hello?" she ventures, finally.

OOC: Does Filimena hear anything?

The words can be heard as they are spoken, but they sound muffled as though you're hearing them at end of a long tunnel.  After that you can hear only the sound of your own heart thumping in your chest.

Marik let himself soak in the silence for a little time, letting in a silent thank you to Rauros, spirit of silent shadows, for this gift.

"[Language unknown: Nd, st saetun taone.]" says Marik. "Blissful... wonderful quiet. by the spirits, that place was loud."


He turns to Filimena, smiling. He start talking in whisper, feeling the place invite to hushed tone.

[Language unknown:
"Ee, pl tho resas? Lar ica ee trasss nour atactr sanallout le eture. Saurneto iouteromealless manto me? Eisa stio se ulill ouckck? "]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:01, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

Filimena blinks and looks up at the elf. [Private to group Elf: "My brother was here,"] she says. [Private to group Elf: "He was working on something in the Eastern Wing, apparently. A music box or a puzzle box, with two people, Sanzir and Ricusi, I think."]

Filimena remains still for a while, taking in the silence as well, then glances back at Marik and Ironclad. Motioning forward, she walks across the vestibule and pauses briefly before the doors at the other end, before reaching out to open them.

"Was there a problem in the previous space?" Ironclad inquires "It felt like home to Ironclad. This space is ..." The mechanical marvel pauses and their eyes shift to their golden color to a glow of white, "Yes, it has warding against sound."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:46, Wed 23 Mar 2022.

"It...definitely didn't feel....home..to me" respond Marik, while massaging his right temple and ear. He's about to pursue but stop as Ironclad reveals he can detect magic.

"Wait...what? How can...." start Marik, before shaking the head, looking at Filimena who is opening the door on the other side. "Not time...Later"

He goes to join the halfling with Rani.