[pnpgm] Game Update #130 - File #979 - Tour of Bes Kril

[pnpgm]

    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

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         Game Update #130 sequence (file #979)
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            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.

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