R.E.B.O.R.T. decides to inject here, based on his own selfish curiosity. "I have heard many stories about the brilliance of dwarven ingenuity and technology. Perhaps a sharing of knowledge would prove useful."

Thakous looks over at his king. "When w' git on oor feet, sire, we cu' do that". He looks over at Shiaran. "I nuh' yer jus' pokin' lass, bu' e'en if w' wanted tae, w' cou'n affor' a pot t' piss in, much less pay ye. Pardon me verse. Bu' if we cou' get th' lads fed, we migh' cou' get th' forge fired uh' again. Me'be gi' tha' ride o' your's some stout. Oor oonly hol'dup thaer bein' the rust monsters. They dun' like fire, bu' we be needin' our kindlin' foor th' forge".

Meanwhile, not a soul stirs in the new "infirmary" Sypher resides over. All patients are fast asleep, and soundly at that. Both literally and figuratively, as loud snores are starting to come from all sides around Sypher. Despite the noise though, not a wheeze or a cough can be heard.

"How many more rust monsters are there? We dispatched several on our way in, including a very large one that seemed to be controlling them. Is there a nest somewhere?"

While Rebort gathers more intel from the dwarves, Shiaran prepares another plate of food and glass of water.  She wraps them up in a cloth and pins them before bringing them back over to Rebort.

The day wains into mid-afternoon as those strong enough to move of their own power and aren't sick file in to the hall and eat. They aren't nearly as lively as the Fyreworms, but a few smiles and a low chuckle here and there can be heard. Most of them take some time to finish eating their fill of the bland food, but full bellies make for a better over all temperament and visibly higher morale.

Thadrumir informs Rebort that though they may have killed a brood mother, she wont have been the only one. Quite some time ago, when the fortress was at full strength, a mining shaft being dug happened to open up into a larger cavern deep below. It was mineral rich, with torch and lantern light sending sparkles of illumination in all directions. It was also home it so happens, to a large clutch of rust monsters. They swarmed the dwarves, reducing anything metal they held to powder. The contingent quickly egressed from the area, and by the time powder kegs and flint were brought back to seal the tunnel, many of the beasts had escaped.

The tunnel was sealed shut just the same, but the damage had been done. A campaign was formed to hunt down and eliminate the aberrations, but with the majority of the weaponry and armor of the dwarves being metal, it was an uphill battle in the mud time and time again. They set traps, used fire (which Thadrumir notes worked best), and made choke points to try and coral the monsters one by one if they had to in order to kill them, but the unfortunate nature of the beasts was that they breed fast and could lay dormant for long periods of time without the need for food. The decision was made to shut the gates and only open them when needed. Any mages capable of conjuring fire have long since left the fort, and are presumed dead in the battle for Fildegarne.

Thadrumir appears at a loss for this problem, and none of the other dwarves chime in.

Sypher accepts the food Shiaran had prepared and sent via Rebort.  After checking each of the patients one last time and finding them sleeping restfully, he asks the warforged to take a shift watching them, explaining what to watch for in terms of signs of worsening or waking.  Mostly he was to keep them comfortable and quiet.  After half an hour of the basics, Sypher takes his leave in order to talk to the king about moving forward.

Once he catches up on the information, he remains silent for some time, while others speak their minds.  It was not in his nature to act rashly with such limited information and he wanted to see what the others might offer in the way of solutions, though he already had an idea.

One the king would not like...

"I wonder if we could develop some kind of locator spell to hunt them down and clean them out, at least the majority of them an all the brood mothers.  Lightning works as well as fire, certainly, and the two aren't that much different at the fundamental level.  We could take only those who can fight without metal, go slow and systematically, and regain control of the territory."  Shiaran could not remain seated as she spoke.  The energy in her words matched her rapid pace.  It was evident that she wanted to do something.

No doubt, part of what drove her was her attachment to things and the unwillingness to give them up if she didn't have to.  Given free rein, she would press forward and destroy her enemies and preserve the kingdom of the dwarves - singlehandedly if she had to.

R.E.B.O.R.T. acknowledges the responsibility. "Your instructions have been recorded. I believe I can manage to tend to their mundane needs, however, should their condition worsen, I will not be able to provide much aid."

He glances up to his newest creation and speaks to it. "Em'Owon, go with Sypher." The tiny constructed flutters over to the paladin and circles around overhead, not sure whether to remain airborne or land on his shoulder.

"Should I need you, I will call."

Thakous responds to Shiaran. "Tha' cou' taek weeks lass. Do ye haev tha' kind o' time?".

"How far is the human capital from here?"

"We'd hae t' go on feet, on accoun' o' yer ride na' fittin' through th' road ahead, bu it wou' taek aroun' haf a day".

Sypher is quiet for some time.  When he speaks, it is slowly, carefully.  "We cannot stay here.  Our mission is too important to the survival of Fildegarne.  You cannot stay here.  You don't have the resources and your people will die.  A half-day of travel with us enhancing your protection during the trip, will help you arrive safely at the human capital where your people can survive.  Once the threat of the PCA is eliminated, your people can come retake this mountain.  I would be more than happy to help in that endeavor if you would have me."  Sypher looks around at the small remnants of the dwarven people.

"I would not presume to command you, though.  I do not have the authority.  This is my recommendation and an offer to assist.  However, we do not know the state of the human capital.  It may be worse than here, in which case your people would be leaving a bad situation for a worse.  A small group of people can travel more rapidly than a larger one.  I propose we send scouts to the capital, find out the state of the city, and return here.  It should be volunteers, but I will send those under my command if none do so."

"It cannot be me, because I need to get the sick as restored to health as I am able.  Rebort should stay as well as he will not be safe in a small group facing rust monsters.  Anyone else that goes needs to consider the primary foe under the mountain and perhaps leave their metal belongings behind.  Half a day there, half a day back, and a day to scout.  That is two days for the mission.  We should leave here in four.  If the scouts have not returned by then, we should go anyway and take our chances.  What say you?"

After several hours of poking around and collecting data, Beloc arrives at the barracks to find Sypher and Thakous already deep in discussion. "Ahh, there you are..." His voice trails off as he realizes his interruption.

"My apologies." He walks over and hands several pieces of parchment over to Sypher. "That's my report of the resourcing break down here. Fair warning though, it doesn't look good."

Sypher reads over the reports thoroughly then repeats to Beloc his recommendations, asking for his input at the end.

"I think your assessment lines up with my reports. The number of able-bodied soldiers, plus civilians, exceeds their supplies by a good margin. Sure, they could hole up here for a little while, maybe a few months, but with the state of things on the surface the fight would be at their doorstep before then and I doubt they'd be able to weather the storm."

Beloc looks over to the king. "The scouting effort is a wise suggestion. I could lead that, with a few inconspicuous volunteers. Those proficient in fighting without heavy or metal armor would be best suited. I see you have a number of staves and crossbows, those will be ideal against the rust monsters, should we encounter them again. Crystalline or Ironwood weapons, however, would be ideal if you have any of those secreted away."

"Th' rest o' the lads unner me comman' caen stee. Ah'll goo wi' ye. Somebody haes tae unlock th' gates tae Fildegarne".

"I'll accompany you as well". The dwarves in the room whip around to find Oro, leaning back in a chair next to the hearth. He casually picks from underneath his nails, flicking whatever he finds in to the fire. He looks back to his old self.

Thakous scratches his thick beard. "Ah dinnae see tha' one come in with ye".

Beloc grins slightly. "Well, I did say inconspicuous."

"I'll go to give them some spellpower."

Sypher addresses the king.  "My apologies.  Oro is with us.  He is a good friend and a valued companion to our group."  The monk turns to Beloc, Oro, and Shiaran.  "Gear up.  You leave in half an hour.  You have two days to scout, no more.  Do it in less if you can."

Once those three acknowledge their orders, Sypher turns back to the king.  "The situation is just too dire to stay here.  If the scouts return with news that the capital is holding, we will need to gear up to leave here within four days.  To prevent rust monsters from attacking us, we need to leave behind any metal gear we can, the more the better.  Do you have a place we can store the Badger and other metal things and seal it up against the monsters?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 23:58, Sun 25 Mar 2018.

"Aye, we haev a vault big enou' t' accomodate ye".

"Very well.  I and the others not on the scouting party will help you get all that we can moved in there.  Then we need to start packing to move out when the scouts return.  We need to emphasize to everyone that metal is what gets us attacked, so we should take as little as possible.  Ceramics if you have them, ironwood, anything like that are okay."

He turns to Beloc.  "Beloc, I want you to lead.  Find us a wooden wagon that will fit the tunnels if you can.  Something we can carry supplies, wounded, or infirm on.  Get moving.  Time is not our ally."

Sypher will spend the rest of his time helping the king and seeing to the ill.  He does not command the dwarves, only his own people, but will advise the king when asked or the opportunity seems diplomatically beneficial.  He can be found in prayer at whatever passes for dawn, sunset, and any time he is with the patience.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:23, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

Shiaran will leave her sword with Sypher and any other metallic equipment, though likely nothing small like components.  She makes sure she has enough food for Leukos and will use him to scout the tunnels as best he can in the dark.  "Hey boy, your shine is fading?  You okay?"  The dark, glazed color of his feathers seems slightly dulled.  Shiaran wonders if the time underground is affecting him, but they hadn't been down there for very long at all.

She shrugs, thinking perhaps it is just a trick of the light and heads to the exit tunnel to meet Beloc and Oro.

As the trio departs, Irja invites herself along. During the endeavor of the dwarves eating, she's managed to conjure several more meals worth of food, which according to her will keep for several days. Thakous comes along as well, on the condition that he knows the proper way to open the gates ahead at what he refers to as Drakna'th dwelluroz, the Dragon's Tomb.

With everyone stripped down to the bare essentials, the overall baggage is light and makes for swift travel. At several points through the narrow tunnels, Thakous has to nearly sprint to keep up. On more than one occasion, rust monsters are within earshot. But due to the lack of metals, they have zero interest in the group as they skulk through the winding cave roads. The group eventually finds itself in another cavern, like the one they fought the rust monsters in. The same species of bio-luminescent mushrooms gives off their green and purple glows all around. Even more rust monsters congregate here, but as with the rest of the trip, don't bother even sniffing in the direction of the everyone. At one point, the group is certain they've spotted another brood mother as well off in the distance, but given the circumstances, it makes for neither the time nor the place to perform pest control.

At the end of the cavern is a large stone wall, spanning hundreds of feet in both directions. The carved road leads directly to a door on the sides of the smooth wall. Thakous goes over and inserts a key, turning it clockwise first, then counterclockwise, and again and again in varying degrees. Before the last click is made, he anounces "This'll be th' furthest Ah goo with ye folk. Ah doon't mine' waitin' for ye t' return within th' next room, buh' doo be quick if ye can".

With a final click, the stone doors swing open. A foul and musty smell wafts out of the space ahead. The architecture looks positively ancient, and the size of the open space ahead could easily compose several city blocks, with the only structures in the room being massive polished stone pillars supporting a ceiling high enough that even those with low light or dark vision have a hard time seeing. Thakous enters first, and once everyone follows, he shuts the doors behind. He pulls out a pack with several pieces of kindling, and sets to making himself a fire. "Goo oon then, Ah'll be 'ere. Ye shou' fine a set o' stairs down yonder, tha' take ye up throu' a well".

Oro glances around, taking in the scenery. "So much death" he mutters to himself aloud, before looking back at the dwarf. "I can manage our navigation beyond this space Master Thakous. I've been here before. Quite some time ago".

Thakous nods, incredulous to the claim.