Gambit: Stage 2: Broadscast System

"We've got some folks working on getting the power turned back on. When it goes on, using the broadcasting system should be doable. It may also have a back up mana system of its own. Hard to say." 

Captain Evelyn Stonehammer of the Dun Mordren Kingsguard is a stern looking woman who's been left in charge. The city center is now packed with dwarves arming themselves for the fight against the Panacea and it's allies. It's become the nexus of those still loyal to the king, though it's anyone's guess how strong the resistance is compared to the occupation. Everything has been happening very quickly. 

"We need that system if we're to have any hope of cutting through the panic, confusion, and chaos, and the lot of you are our best bet to take it back. That'll let us talk to everyone in Dun Mordren, the way Forgeholm has been since this whole damn thing started."

Svarshan cuts off the growl that's been building in his throat. Then nods once, softskinstyle, to show he's understood. "We will return thiss. To itss people." He wears Am'shere's wrap around his waist, in the Dragonfather's colors. A heavy weapon hangs at his side, a slender blade tied next to it.

Before the soldiers got there properly, Tatyannah did what she did to keep things calm, encouraging those who wanted to fight to stay and those who wanted to leave, to go home, lock their doors, and keep any and all children and elderly safe. If for nothing else, it wouldn't do to get innocents hurt.

Kravar listens soberly. While he's rarely what you might call exuberant, his mood seems toned down more than is usual for him. When Stonehammer pauses, Kravar looks across the other assembled adventurers, calling to memory times he's fought by them before and what their abilities and tendencies were.

Azog grumbles under his breath about dwarves and their .... gadgets. Real oruch don't need to talk at everyone in a crisis. They just need to fight. Real oruch having a fight are a crisis in their own right, but that's not the point. He looks a bit angry, but he's never really looked pleased when he's around dwarves, and at least he's quiet and cooperative, so a little surly isn't catastrophic. He's standing ready to help, and that's the important bit.

Renfrey comes bounding along between the rubble as lightfooted as ever despite the book he is carrying now. "Right, broadcast systems." he says with a broad grin. "Should be no problem right?"

Ssylrath has been making himself useful, keeping people calm with his commanding presence and occasionally showing his teeth. Or the teeth of the swiftclaw that follows him, daintily stepping along the roads and sniffing things with interest. "Thisss will be done."

Svarshan grins, and looks over to Renfrey for a moment. He's suddenly quiet and thoughtful, and sends a heavy thump of his tail towards Ssylrath. "Good hunting with you. Tonight."

Benthus stands behind and to the side of Svarshan, letting the senior Sunblade decide what the course of action will be for him and any allied to the sun-god. He is presently without a weapon, but bearing a shield on his shield arm. He looks calm and composed, as if the chaos of coup is just another day-to-day occurence.

No matter how she's scrubbed, Myrana can't quite get the smell of char and smoke out of her nose. So she's embraced it in her normal quietly bad-tempered way, and wears a silk blouse tucked neatly into the band of a tough, bustled gabardine skirt the colour of coal, belted trimly about her middle and a pair of leather gloves that reach up showily over her elbows. Her dark hair is braided down her back and she wears an expression like she would really like to punch someone.

Cesran is standing towards the back listening to what is going on. He has been working hard to secure the city center and do what he can to help with his magic as well as helping the other arcane users. He is leaning on his staff and he hmms, "You wouldn't happen to have anyone that knows how to use this broadcasting system here would you or at least knows how it works."

Renfrey grins and nods to Svarshan "Likewise, look forward to giving my new book a spin." he notes "Should be for a fun toolbox."

Tatyannah looks at Cesran and deadpans, "Magic."

Svarshan looks back from Renfrey, towards Myrana. Opens his muzzle. Closes it. He clearly wants to ask where Sandy is. Given Myrana's expression, he clearly has better sense.

She would totally punch him.

"Right now, the only engineer I've got is busy trying to restore the water system to functionality. Apparently, there's no fresh water coming through *anywere*." Well, that's bad new.

"That's the bad news. The good news is that he's damn proficient at what he does, so if there's any way to figure out what's wrong, he's on it. He and the folks I sent with him should be back with news anytime." 

Evelyn gives a nod, then says, "IT's fairly straight forward. The important part is that you get the station under control in the first place. Doubt Narvin wants anyone to do this anyhow so we'e expcting truly strong resistance"

Ssylrath shrugs in his light leather harness. "Resssistance is what we deal with. Everything dies sssome day."

Azog nods at Tatyannah's answer to Cesran. That about sums things up. Azog likes simple answers and simple tasks. Makes things easier. "Go in, kill bad guys," he repeats back the orders. "Got it."

Cesran looks over at Tatyannah, "Obviously, but knowing a little more then that would be extremely helpful, but not completely necessary."

"He lacks sscars. Ssmall man who thinkss with--" Svarshan cuts off, and scratches at his throat. The scales are itchy.

"It was good enough an answer for Azog," Tatyannah points out innocently.

Renfrey shrugs to Cesran "I am sure we can figure magic out right? Magic, locks... easy as pie. JUst have to make sure theres nobody else who has the same idea."

Kravar has been scanning the skyline. "Where is the system? Inside a building, underground? In some kind of tower...? Are there defenses?" Not Earth Elementals, he thinks to himself. Please not Earth Elementals. Then he thinks of something else. "Are there -traps-?"

"There may be planss, but they may be in. Ssection of ssity." Difficult, occupied section the sith means. Svarshan makes a motion with his claws, and looks sympathetically to Cesran. "If we had time. Would find them for. You. But between you and. Renfrey you sshould be. Able to crack. Anything. I have faith."

Rhar doesn't need to know where it is, or even what it looks like. "Rhar find! Gurr find!" She announce3s with certainty. "

Rhar than looks around. "How smell?"

Azog says to Rhar, "Like stale ale and old sausages, just like everything else here." Azog ... doesn't see eye to eye with dwarves. That's more than literal.

Benthus listens quietly to the frantic chatter coming from all sides, gleaning into the conversation and getting an idea of what is going on, who is doing what, and where he should be at this particular moment. He patiently waits for whoever is in charge to get the group informed of what their specific goals are, and what they will be up against. His griffon mount has perched on the highest point that provides concealment within their area, providing him with a 'bird's eye' view of anything that may be happening around their immediate vicinity through their telepathic bond.

"..." 

Stonehammer stares at Rhar for a long moment. THen she looks at the others like 'please reassure me that she actually belongs to you and isn't here on accident'. 

She rubs her face, then says, "I can't tell you about defenses, but under normal circumstances, it would have a handful of guards keeping it under control with more to come. Beyond that, I can't tell you much more beyond the fact that it is a building in the city, fairly non-descript. It's a few districts from here, though, so you're in for a bit of a hike to get there through unfriendly territory."

Cesran nods to Kravar, "Exactly we need more information the better the information we have the better our plan can be." He listens to Stonehammer and hmms, "Do you know if any other way into that building or know someone who might?"

"Our besst bet may be disguisse, then. I doubt all of uss are profissient at stalking but. If we appeared ass khazad guards?" Svarshan shrugs once, and finds a place to relax and listen, as words are shared and spun.

Ssylrath looks at Thaliss the swiftclaw and at the griffon and at Rhar's companion. "Disssguise? That ssseems a tall tree to climb."

Tatyannah mmmms, "I was just going to go via the roof tops and let you know where groups are. There are a number of us who can fly, one way or another. Taking the high road, so to speak."

Kravar gives Svarshan a curious look. "I wouldn't have thought of that," he admits. "I should be able to pass for a Khazad, if a tall one." He scans the group again, gesturing at Rhar and then Myrana and Renfrey. "They probably could as well...the others could try keeping out of sight."

Cesran hmms, "I only need an unguarded side of the building and I can make a doorway for us all to get into it." He offers, "I don't have any illusionary spells that would help in this matter."

Azog frowns about disguises. "There is no honor in doing battle while in another's guise. If we are vulnerable in transit, then we'd best do it swiftly, to minimize exposure. And ... maybe we'll pound some of their forces in the streets if we do stumble across them. Hit them hard so they can't give a warning, and move fast."

Benthus perks his ears to what Cesran is suggesting. He shifts his gaze towards him. "I like your plan, Cesran."

Rhar looks around at those gathered. "Be wolf!" She looks over the others. "Need fur. Teeth. Make good wolfs!" Then she looks and Azog, nods with his plan, too. "Wolf move fast! Rhar fast! Gurr fast! Pack be wolf move fast!"

Renfrey shrugs "Yeah but what if we are disguised to avoid battle? At the very least us sneakier types can forge a path, perhaps we can find route with minimal complications. In fact with a bit of magic we can forge our own path."

"Even Sserene would not charge into. Charn," slow, solemn. Then humor, "Though sshe wantss to. Disguisses are ssimple with a few words," Svarshan says to Ssylrath, then nods to Cesran. "Ssa. Or the usse of a. Wagon. I would rather not fight the. Ssity of. Dun Morden."

"I'll leave your approach to you," says Evelyn. "I don't know you, or your capabilities, well enough. At all. But I can't tell ou anything more than I Already have. I've never been on broadcast detail, and most of those who were there recently haven't reported in. Finding out what's happened to them would be pretty great too... but I think we likely know the answer to that." Her expression twist into a grimace.

Ssylrath grins widely showing many snaggly teeth. "Fast we can do. Also doorwaysss in new places is good." He takes a couple of steps to let Gurr sniff his scaly hand. "The problem isss knowing where to go, yesss?"

Cesran suggests, "We could go through the sewer and then I can use my magic to create a doorway in the floor for us to come up in. Not that I want to go in the sewer, gods know we do that enough in Alexandria."

Svarshan thumps his tail once, and then looks to Evelyn. "What ssort of ressistance sshould we espect in the. Ssewer?" he asks her.

GAME: Azog rolls intimidate: (17)+24: 41

"No sewer," Tatyannah rules this out for her, at least. "Consider how much smaller they would be here. I will go above ground. I'll even disguise myself as a wolf if need be. But no sewer."

Benthus begrudgingly nods in agreement with Tatyannah.

"The sewers aren't /that/ small here, you know," mumbles Evelyn to Tatyannah, "Though tey serve the same function, they also tend to serve as a funnel for a lot of other things too, unfortuately. When you have access to magma, disposing of things gets a lot easier, lemme tell you." She clears her throat. 

"I can give you a short set of directions to the location, but yeah, you'd be in the open. If you've got a way to get there fast, like teleportation or something, that'd work wonders."

Azog leans back and lets people argue it out. "You're making this too complicated," he complains. "COmplicated always blows up in our face." He also says, "No sewers. I'd rather fight dwarves than what runs around in their sewers."

Cesran looks at Azog, "Not all of us are walking armored murder machines...I left Jareth at home, but yes if the sewers are filled with magma or might lead to magma we'll avoid them then."

Ssylrath swings up into the saddle of his swiftclaw in one practiced motion. "Sssewers make spears hard to use. We have mobility, let us not wassste it."

Renfrey shakes his head "Yeah but it is complicated, having us run around is not going to help the image of the king either, non-dwarf types running around doing his work."

"We will be moving in crowded ssity sstreets, among the people of Dun Morden," Svarshan says solemnly. "All we need to do iss not be notissed on the way. There."

"I am with Tatyannah," says Myrana, breaking her grumpy silence. "Sewers when there've been bombs everywhere underground is too dangerous."

Azog says to Renfrey, "The king has already lost control. If some people don't like how he restores it, then they can fight against us." This doesn't bother Azog. He shrugs to Cesran. "If you are afraid, go home."

"I'll be blunt: We're long ways past worrying about how having non-dwarves doing work for us is looking. Most of us are too busy to give a damn. Mind you, once you secure the place, we'll be sending people to occupy it and begin broadcastings to counter Forgeholm. Unfortunately, I don't think we can shut him up, so it'll be dueling broadcasts and none of this matters if we can't get the city lights back on. Now, understand, none of us Khazad can see more than a hundre and twenty or so feet undr the ground, but we CAN see light from a ways off, like the rest of you, so.."

You say, "What if some appear as Khazad who are escorting others?"

Cesran looks to Azog, "I didn't say that I was afraid, being careful and cautious and actually thinking things though is not the same as being afraid and even if I was I'd still be coming with you on this. This city needs to be taken back. I just want to do it with the least amount of lives lost."

Rhar nudges Gurr, and her furry friend pads closer to the in-charge-like-khazad-person. "Broad castings important? Need find quick?"

"Ok, someone point us in the right direction, and let's go, we can't spend all day on this," Tatyannah prompts.

Azog hrmphs at Cesran's caution. "Moving fast is key. Who strikes first often strikes last as well." He nods at what Tatyannah says. "Let's go. If we find anyone on the way, we'll fight them, too." Problem solved.

The brightscale rumples his muzzle in a grin. "Sstrength iss in knowing where to usse it, not being consserned with what. Ssize it is," solemn. His eyes dance with humor, and he looks to the wizard. "If you can make ssome of uss invissible. That would do it."

Renfrey nods "Right... lets go fast then. In which case Tatyannah and I should probably lead the way and try and steer us around trouble."

Benthus frowns slightly at the picture of them having to slug it out with the dwarves that are likely just following orders. He again tries to have the group's attention focus on Cesran. "Cesran, explain to us how your spell works? We have two members in our group who are good in evading detection. Can they be of any use in getting the magical doorway in place? If a diversion is needed, we have fast moving units who can serve that purpose, too."

Tatyannah give a little nod and goes to climb up top. That's how she's going, damnit. She can see better and farther from up there. Mostly she's just going to make the decision by doing.

Svarshan listens to the khazad, and nods. "Saa. Sso all we need to do iss not attract attention. Our ssneaks," he says, with a gesture to Renfrey, Tat, "Can let uss know ahead of. Time. Sso long ass we sstay 60' or more from the. Enemiess, they cannot ssee uss in the. Dark."

Cesran takes a moment to gather himself, "The spell is called passwall, at my strength I can create a 10 foot passage way through 25 feet of wood, stone or plaster, the only thing that will stop it would be metal so if the building is made out of metal or has a metal sheet embedded into it passwall won't go through it. I can be invisible when I cast this although my casting will draw attention as I can't do it quietly, they just wouldn't be able to see me."

"That's only if you're not using light," says Evelyn to Svarshan, quietly, "Which is fine. If you travel through the dark, using those of you who cn see to guide you, you actually have a pretty good shot at going undetected if you have some folks direcing you." She nods towards Rhar, "I think I understand," she says after a halting pause. "But, yeah. This needs to happen, fast as you guys can make it happen. We know where it is, but yeah... get there as fast as you can. If Narvin has any agents in here, he might even already know that we're working towards it." She scowls.

"As for where, I can show you on a map," she adds.

Svarshan looks over to Renfrey, back to Cesran. "If you like, we can sstage a drunken. Brawl to cover your wordss." Pause, "Ssome of uss can ssee well in the. Dark. Otherss..." he looks over. "We may have a. Problem."

Ssylrath's swiftclaw claws impatiently at the stones with one massive rear leg. "Sssilent and dark. Sscertainly, this can be done. Lead those who cannot sssee we can."

"Pack ready! Pack go!" Rhar is ready. Gurr is ready. So everyone must be ready. Some talked about going already. Rhar and Gurr start moving out. But quietly and sneakishly.

Cesran hmms a little bit as he thinks, "I might have a spell that could be a distraction if the guards are male."

Tatyannah calls down from the nearest roof, "I am leaving in five minutes. If there's anyone who wants to come with me, we'll go. The rest of you can decide how to follow. I am leaving in five minutes, however."

Renfrey packs up his book "Well then, I gues I will take the roads then while Tat takes the high ground." he puts up his cloak and starts down the street. "If I see anything I will let you know."

Azog peers at the discussion. He's not sure if it's moving forward or not. But since time seems to be of the essence, he will hustle out at Tatyannah's call and move it. He nods to Renfrey. "You will not be alone."

Ssylrath follows Renfrey at a significantly discreet distance, Thaliss stepping surprisingly quietly.

Svarshan looks over, and shrugs once. He heads after Renfrey and Ssylrath, at a distance.

GAME: Renfrey rolls stealth+2: (7)+32+2: 41

GAME: Azog rolls stealth: (17)+-9: 8

GAME: Tatyannah rolls stealth: (16)+27: 43

Svarshan's form blurs and the scales shift. So does his clothing. A hunter-caste in scaled armor stands there. He thumps his tail once. A moment later, a second swiftclaw appears near Thaliss as they walk, and he hoists into the saddle with a creak of leather. "Glory to the Empress," he says to Ssylrath. His voice's changed and lightened. Smoothed out until it's no longer his.

Azog pulls out his shield and sets it, then draws his sword and locks his gauntlet. It's hard to tell, but there's a pallid glow to his sword. Not like normal light, but more like a dim corpselight. Normal vision can't really see by it, but they can at least see it.

Cesran shakes his head a little bit as those that want to go off to do their own thing. He flips his hood up and he moves along after the others casting a few spells of protection once they will get close but not too close to the building.

SO! 

You're off. 

The light of the blade is not particularlu helpful and most of you can't see a damn thing, for the most part, but you have those of you who can and they have a decent idea where they're going. 

For the most part, people are sheltering in place. You catch the occasional sign of people, but they aren't getting involved any further than the have to until they can sort out what's going on themselves. Dwarves are a solid, practical people and that shows. They don't want to get into things without having the ground be steady beneath their feet. 

It's going to take time, but interetingly, you don't encounter much resistance. Much of the fighting so far has been in districts further out, but whispers you've all heard indicating it's getting closer to the city center. What's necessary is to restore function to the city, more than anything else, so that the fires can be dealt with and the KIng's Guard can act more easily. 

Afer several hours, you begin getting closer to the area where Captain Stonehammer indicated the broadcast station would be. Indeed, those of you who CAN see in the dark, can see that up ahead, and indeed, that it is guarded and well guarded by at least a dozen men in Panacea-liveried heavy armor. While they may be solid guardsmen, there can be little doubt that they'd be outmatched, easily, by warriors of the quality present.

Myrana keeps bumping facefirst into someone; she has no idea who it is but she's gotten so embarrassed that she's stopped apologizing in any civilized language and just sort of makes a back-of-her-throat mortified grumble every time it happens.

GAME: Svarshan refreshes spells.

GAME: Myrana refreshes spells.

GAME: Rhar refreshes spells.

Svarshan looks at the guards, then looks back to Cesran. "Sso we go to the back, and you do your--?" he makes a motion with his hand.

GAME: Cesran casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 18 DC: 21

GAME: Cesran casts Shield. Caster Level: 18 DC: 21

Benthus thinks he will fare better following the stealthier members of the group who are traveling on top of buildings than he is in disguising himself with the other ground-goers. With a thought, he summons his griffon from one tall building and let him just glide by him before continuing on to another roof. The paladin swings up to his mount's saddle with practiced ease and then follows along with the rest. With limited vision and illumination, he becomes dependent on his mount's darkvision to get him to their destination.

A few hours pass and he and his mount are close to the broadcasting building. He waits for further orders.

Tatyannah goes slow over the roofs, but every so often she comes down to consult with Renfrey, then back up to spot things from there. When they reach the problem area, she comes down to join the rest of the group.

GAME: Benthus refreshes spells.

Kravar looks back and forth in the darkness. He's tempted to ask what's going on, but it would probably be that much more frustrating to be told and still not be able to see for himself. From what Svarshan is saying, it sounds like they are close at least.

Rhar just pads along. Ok, Gurr pads along. Rhar is just along for the ride. Gurr can see better tha Rhar, and smell people before running into them. As a special ability, anyone downwind and close to the pair may be able to smell them before running into them, too!

Azog pauses as the guards and the building come into view. With a twist and a soft grunt, he stows his tower shield. Seems he's trying something different this time around. "Do we kill these here now?" he asks. "Or let them ambush us when we're inside?"

Ssylrath frowns at the guards in the dark. "We need the... magic thing working, yesss? So, no charging the front, they may break it. In the back it is, a ssstealthy hunt."

GAME: Benthus casts Vestment of the Champion. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20

Cesran gets hit in the back by Myarana and he looks back at her, "Don't worry about it." He nods to Svarshan as he carefully moves back out of hearing range of the guards, "Let me go invisible first I want to cast as few spells as possible."

GAME: Benthus casts Sanctify Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 21

"I have news for you, master Cesran," says Myrana, rubbing her nose in embarrassment. "You are already invisible." Which obviously isn't true. But this /suuucks/.

Benthus spots Cesran casting some spells on himself and decides that it is a good time to do so himself. He begins saying words of celestial origin causing his hand to glow with divine energy. He touches his shield and then his breastplate, giving the two armour a slight sheen.

Svarshan leans down and grips Kravar's shoulder. "We are moving back to give our door-maker. Time. He may need a disstraction." He looks automatically at Rhar and Myrana. There is no reason for this whatsoever.

Myrana can't see that significant look, and so she doesn't hit Svarshan.

Rhar slows when everyone else does. She looks at Svarshan when he looks at her. Or she thinks he looks at her. But he spoke. "Distract! Rhar distract!" She and Gurr pad over a ways to get ready for their distraction.

Ssylrath's mount paces over by Gurr and Rhar. "If needed, we go together as Pack. Yesss?"

GAME: Cesran casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 18 DC: 22

Cesran actually takes out one of his rods as he casts invisibility and doesn't make a sound. Too bad he didn't have a stronger one. He moves over towards Azog and speaks, "Give me to the count of 50, a slow 50 count and then distract. Once I hear the distraction I'll start casting."

Azog grumbles and gives Cesran a slow count to 50. By fives. Then, he charges.

Rhar grins at Ssylrath. "Yes! As pack!" She nods twice, too. "As pack, be loud. Scary." She stands up on Gurr's back to get bigger and takes deep breaths."

GAME: Azog rolls stealth: (17)+0: 17

GAME: Cesran casts See Invisibility. Caster Level: 18 DC: 22

Cesran starts to cast additional invisible spells on Azog and Kravar. He whispers, "All right let's head towards the back." He says as he starts to sneak around towards the back.

GAME: Cesran rolls stealth+20: (4)+23+20: 47

Benthus adds a few words for Azog, "Try not to hit them too hard. Knowing how long dwarves live, they've got family likely waiting for them somewhere." He leaves it at that, heading along with the rest of the group to where Cesran is going.

Karelin's armour goes black as he follows Cesran -- a nod to subtlety as he passes it on the street.

Myrana covers her eyes in the dark; a goofy-assed gesture if ever there was one. But an instant later she vanishes, and invisibly follows somebody else by hanging on to their coat.

Azog frowns as Benthus tries to tell him how to fight. "I did not put axes in their hands. They put themselves out there, to face whoever challenges them. I'll hit them as hard as I can, and I damned well know they'll do it to me. And whoever hits hardest will win. However long dwarves life, a few tonight are going to wake up in their heavens, wherever that may be. I've done this before," he adds, and it's hard to tell if he's intending this as ironic humor or just talking down to a fool.

Rhar takes one more big breath, puffs out her chest. Then distracts! "LET BROAD CASTS GO! BROAD CASTS NEED FREE! LET FREE OR.. DARK EAT YOU!" She cups her hands around her mouth to try and sound louder. She adds some growls. And Gurr helps! Especially with the growls.

GAME: Rhar rolls intimidate: (14)+17: 31

Cesran hurries to the back of the building and he waits for the distraction. He hears Rhar's voice and he gets on with it as he starts to cast Passwall and goes to open a doorway to the back of the building.

GAME: Cesran casts Passwall. Caster Level: 18 DC: 25

"...what the hell?!" 

"AHHH!" 

"HOLY CRAP!" 

"THA'S A GIANT WOLF!" 

"HELP!" 

The guards are promptly terrified by Rhar and put their hands up, surrendering immediately.

Svarshan can't help but look towards Rhar's snarling. He can't /see/ them, not from the other side of the building. But he knows she and his tribesman will do a damn good job. He turns back to Cesran.

Azog rushes at the foe, boots pounding the ground, but unseen and unseeable. Except to those looking into the arcane wavelengths. The guard he approaches could hear his footfalls, but possibly not until it was too late. Much, much too late. He should have listened to his father, who told him to be a cobbler and leave the fighting to others. "Drop your weapons!" the oruch bellows. "Drop them now, or I will cut your heads off so hard they won't land til next week! DO IT!" There is a whoosh of Azog brandishing his sword so fast it makes whooshing noises.

GAME: Azog rolls intimidate: (18)+24: 42

With the help of Cesran's magic, everyone else is able to pass through the walls of the building and into the interior. It is full of people doing work on the broadcast systems, which appear to be a complicated array of metal tubes, wires, machines, and more, all powered by magic easy enough for everyone to see. They all look stunned by the arrival of those who are NOT invisible, some of them goingfor their weapons within a few seconds, but you have the advantage of surprise, and with Azog and Rhar making shor work of the guards outside, you're quickly able to lay claim to the station. 

It really /is/ that easy.

GAME: Svarshan rolls craft/artifice: (20)+5: 25

"Surprise!" Tatyannah yells before she starts stabbing people. She might be a little cranky about the whole situation. "Surprise!" Stab. "Surprise!" Stab. Yeah, that's not going to get tired.

"We reclaim thiss. Sstation in the name of your. Queen. Handds out and up, away from the--" Wires. Blinky lights. "...things." Svarshan levels his axe at the workers. He'll grab any of them that rush past, of course. Or disarm anyone who reaches for a weapon, or a big red button that reads: 'PRESS HERE FOR SELF-DESTRUCT.' The old boards suggest too many memories.

Ssylrath stalks inside atop his swiftclaw, who growls at the workers with teeth bared. "Anyone who sssurrenders does not get eaten. Thaliss is hungry, pleassse fight."

GAME: Ssylrath rolls intimidate: (4)+15: 19

Karelin steps through the wall, moving to be first or close to first. He takes the closest Panacea worker into a table, crunching his face and tossing him to the ground in a limp pile. He doesn't take out his sword until one of them does. Fists are enough. "You reap what you sow; put your face to the ground."

GAME: Karelin rolls intimidate: (7)+25: 32

There was a time when this skulking about may have offended Serene's sensibilities. Or at least she would have been vocal about them. Perhaps time and experience has taught her enough to allow for the occasional... lapse in regards to forced entry. She draws no weapon; there appears to be no need. She does contribute to the suggestion that the people inside lay down their arms peacefully however. "You are outmatched," she tells them. "Do not make this worse for yourselves than it already is."

GAME: Serene rolls intimidate: (11)+22: 33

GAME: Cesran rolls craft/artifice: (3)+31: 34

Axe Cop puts the guards facedown on the ground and collects up their weapons. Just to show he's not fooling around, he smashes one of their axes into the ground hard enough to mangle it a bit, and then he plants a knee in the first one's back and binds his wrists with rope. Moving on to the next, and then the next, he gets them lined up in a coffle, and when the last one is bound up, he'll yank the rope and pull them onto their feet, marching them into the building at swordpoint. Not that anyone can see him. But the one in back knows.

Myrana comes through, and just immediately starts picking workers off of the workstations with magic missiles, not wanting to damage the highly nerdy looking equipment.

Kravar has been Invisible before, and knows enough about how it works to know what will spoil the spell. Instead of acting directly against the Khazad here he drifts back and forth, demanding in Khazdul that they surrender their weapons.

Cesran leaves the door in the wall open, "Can someone please watch so that we don't get surprised." He moves over towards the controls and he shakes his head, "Someone did a number on this. I'm gonna need a while to fix this." He says invisibility as he starts to fix the broadcast system, "Excuse me."

Benthus remains at the group's relative periphery, not wanting to show whoever is in control of the facility how many they are and who they are. He and his mount are haunched behind a wall, just listening in on the battle chaos that is happening on the otherside of the wall. He prefers not to engage with the regular dwarven regiment unless he really has to.

GAME: Myrana casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 14 DC: 19

"I ssuspect the previouss workers. Sabotoged thiss." Svarshan moves Srassha back and to the side, and out of Cesran's way. He looks from Benthus then, and towards the rest of the building.

Karelin nods, then starts working out the ways people'd come back in. He works towards the front of the building, telling the unfortunates he meets to kneel, and punches the rest.

Benthus makes a curt reply to Cesran, "I'll keep watch."

It isn't too long before you're able to seize control of the station. It's one of many, after all, designed to help propagate the messages throughout the city. It should be noted that there is lighting on in here and you're able to see easily. It must have its own, self contained mana-battery of some kind. 

Before long, all the guards are either slain, or on the ground cowering with their hands over their head as commanded, more or less. 

Each room is cleared, in turn, and there are several, along with a second floor. In one of the backrooms, you find a handful of badly battered wrokers. Looks like they were beaten pretty silly, but not killed. They are all bound and gagged at the moment, and none of them are in much state to do anything. There are also some bodies, coveed respectfully in sheets. Seems like they were guards who put up a fight and didn't make it. Seems like casualties were on both sides as well, as one is in a Panacea uniform.

Svarshan nods to Karelin, and then says a few words to Srassha. The swift's head comes up and she goes on alert, eyes bright as he drops from the saddle. With that, it's old work--moving through a structure, clearing it out and taking prisoners. Finding the room of workers though, is a damn relief.

"I've got thiss. Warrior," he says to Kravar. "Could you pleasse transslate my wordss sso they undersstand. We are here in honor of their Queen?" With that, he grips the Dragonfather's symbol, and raises it. There's a heady rush of wings, a blast of Sun-bourne healing.

Cesran shakes his head a little bit as he works, "Ugh I hate that I know so much about this." He crosses some wires, "If you see a mana battery let me know." He says as he removes some panels to start to fix them.

Kravar translates as best he can. At first his Khazdul even has a little more sibiliance than usual before he realizes and begins speaking in the normal guttural tones. "King," he corrects himself. "We're here in the name of the King." He pauses and then admits, "And the Queen as well, I suppose."

Myrana appears with a farty purple sparkle, leaning over Cesran's shoulders and reaching in to pull out some things that obviously don't belong, even to a complete technical know-nothing like her.

Karelin looks around, then finally asks: "Is there a mana battery that runs the lights?" His Khazdul is a little rusty, but more than functional.

Svarshan lowers the Dragonfather's symbol. He's quiet a moment, and gives Kravar a troubled look when he mentions the King, but doesn't say anything at the moment. Instead, he grips Srassha's rough shoulder and adds more quietly, "Let'ss help them to their. Feet."

Ssylrath seems slightly lost here in tight quarters underground, he stays in the main work area just keeping an eye on things. Making sure nobody sneaks in for example. Yeah, that's it.

Cesran nods, "Yes don't touch it. I'd like to see what they are using and if I can duplicate it."

It seems like they were already busy trying to repair the station in question. It was damaged by the previous crew, who is now hale and hardy and willing to help put it back into order, though the damage is significant. It's going to take some time. So, yes. THe lights are run by the mana batteries in the basement. The whole station is, actually, and it isn't long before you can verify this yourself. 

The workers, headed up by a dwarf named Torsten, is eager to get things working again, and they have numerous spare parts to do so with. It's still going to take time, though. Hours.

Azog is certainly lurking. It's the damned invisibility. Normally, seven foot oruch just glare their way through the smaller races, but Azog is forced to chivvy them into compliance with dire and complicated threats. He's mostly lurking around, checking for spies, saboteurs, and anyone he's got an excuse to smack.

"Oh, they were helping us?" Tatyannah asks. She ums, "Uh, sorry for the stabbing. I thought you were bad guys. My bad!"

Svarshan makes a point of staying out of Torsten's way. Occasionally he leans down and asks Kravar what they're saying. Otherwise, he stands there, and keeps an eye on the entrances, exits, with the others.

Eventually, the Khazad workers, with Cesran's and Svar's help as well as the rest of you, are able to get things working again. With knwoledge artificers about, it really isn't so bad. It still takes time, though, and quite a bit of it. More than any of you would probably really like. 

Immediately, though, you begin *receiving* a message from somewhere else through one of the intercom situations. The broadcast centers are, apparently, not just for sending out broadcasts across the city, but also for short-length transmissions through a magical system of messages. 

"...Station 17, are you active? Station 17, are you active? If so, please reply. We'd love to hear a friendly voice about now." 

Evelyn Stonehammer's voice.

Myrana freezes.

Kravar looks at the others, then at Torsten. "Is that Captain Stonehammer? Where...where is she?"

Karelin turns around, facing the voice. He stares at the controls, trying to figure out if its already transmitting.

Ssylrath remains impassive and trusts that someone else will take care of this.

"She's sending to us from somewhere else in the city," explains Torsten, "using the Messenger system. It's the short-mesage-system we use for transmission between stations and with a few devies throughout the city. It's part of Dun Mordren's defensive architecture. "I think she's asking for the all clear that you've taken the station."

Svarshan thumps his tail once, before leaning in and pressing his hand against one of the crystals. Presses, yanks it away. Presses again. "Sstation iss clear," he says, then leans back and waits for a response.

"Great. Guys, hold the station. We'll be sending you a special guest," says Evelyn in response. "They'll speak, all of you will get a chance to speak."

Oh. Oh thank goodness. Myrana sags; one dwarf sort of sounds like another when you're in a city full of them.

Karelin busts out his Khazdul, "Who's the special guest? We'd like to make sure the greeting is appropriate."

Svarshan stills with his hand over the trigger. Nothing in his gut says that those are good words. At all.

"One of you can explain who it is, isn't that right, Svarshan?" Evelyn says with the biggest grin in her voice.

Kravar turns his head slowly to look at Svarshan.

Tatyannah is suspicious. Squints at Svarshan. "Does she mean Barntos? Or that girl princess that you were running around with?"

The brightscale's hand turns into a fist. He doesn't say anything for a while. What he does do is looks at Karelin. Just looks at him, as though to say: Oh. Good. Life had been just too easy lately.

Myrana goes pale as a sheet at Tatyanna's mention of that name. "Y'know I think Sandy's probably worried about me, maybe I should go back to the flat," she mumbles, picking up the edge of her skirt in preperation to head on down the hallway.

Cesran hmms, "If I had to guess I bet it's the Queen."

Karelin points towards Cesran. "He's got it. Fuck, this is going to be fun."

Benthus refrains from saying anything, preferring to keep quiet and letting someone fill him in on the details later. If there is a later.

Tatyannah glances sidelong at Myrana, "Don't you leave or I will give you to Azog. You know how cranky he gets when he doesn't get to hit people."

Ssylrath cocks his head to one side questioningly but says nothing.

The heels of Myra's neat little lady's boots bark as she brakes abruptly and gives Tatyannah a woeful look.

"...if sshe iss coming here. And broadcassts. Her enemiess will sswarm." Svarshan reaches out and grasps Myrana's arm. "We sshould prepare." The shit's going to hit the proverbial fan. In other words.

You say, "Wait, which Queen?" He glances around, particularly in the direction of the Panacea prisoners, then lowers his voice. "The Queen of Dun Mordren? Or of Am'shere?"

A moment later, right after Karelin indicates Cesran's 'got it', a handful of armed guards (Khazadi Kingsguard, actually, and quite thankfully on your side) appear out front the station. Amognst them, hooded, is a dwarven woman. Once the initial check pans out (because hello, everyone is armed to the teeth and suspicous), they make their way inside where a stern khazadi woman with twin blonde braids, smudged with dirt and looking upset, reveals herself underneath the hood. 

"Well. Let's get this ov... oh my goodness I love your dress," she tells Myrana, "Just WHO is your taulor?" And then she clears her throat from that initial distraction, "I'm here to announce that I'm alive. That will be a serious blow to the traitorous, bastardly asshole calling himself the regent." She scowls. 

...but just as she says that, Stonehammer's voice comes over the transmission again, "/Balls/! Gods damn it. Gods /damn it/. Reos sweaty testicles, I swear. Guys, we just got a report. My engineer working on the water system came back with the adventurers. In addition to meeting a talking spider that can vomit tinier spiders... oh gods why did I need to hear that... the reason that we don't have any water is that it's /all gone/. The resevours are empty. Worse, they've got some kind of *giant* down in there. Black giant, covered in crystals and runes down in the reservour. I'm going to need to borrow some of you."

GAME: Svarshan rolls knowledge/history: (2)+10: 12

GAME: Karelin rolls knowledge/history: Trained Use Only: 0

Cesran nods, "The queen that was supposedly kidnapped. I can set up some walls of force and walls of stone I can put up."

GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/history: (18)+25: 43

Svarshan rubs at his muzzle. Once. "Your Majessty," he says. Then takes a breath, a space of a heartbeat to refocus on the problem at hand. He looks to Karelin, to Cesran, "Any ideass how we might fortify. The building?" he asks them.

GAME: Karelin rolls knowledge/military theory: (20)+28: 48

Benthus ponders and says, "Cesran, can you make a recording of someone's voice and then let it go into a loop? We don't need to broadcast live if you are capable of doing that. We could also lure our foes into a trap without putting anyone else in harm's way.

"Thank you, your majesty," says Myrana, faint with relief. Just dwarves. No vampires. Well, not JUST DWARVES, one of them is royalty, but holy shit she was not ready to actually faint today; there's been too many scares in Dun Mordren, for sure. "It's my own design." Because not answering would be rude. Fortunately for her poor, overheated brain, something much easier to grab onto comes over the radio.

"Oh, we can kill the shit out of that, no problem. Lets go do that; straightforward! Yes!" She exhales. "Alright!"

Cesran blinks and his jaw drops for a moment, "No where do they find these things. These creatures are used by the Black Iron Dwarves, a banished clan of khazard that are probably out for revenge, to level cities, this is going to be one of them. It's a crossbreed engineered giant, this is bad news like having an ancient black dragon attack this city bad. This is probably the worse thing that can happen to this city right now. The Black Iron Dwarves are crazy, they get in contact with demons and use them in there inventions." He says as he finishes explaining the information that he knows. "I probably can, but we have to set up defenses right now, I've got walls of force and stone I can put up as well as some extra tricks, but this is really bad. Horrible bad. We have to get help and warn others in the city."

Ssylrath perks up. "Giant? Big things are easssier to hit. Giantsss. Yes."

"Demonss?" Svarshan looks up. He tries not to drool.

Karelin nods, squinting. "Look, it's going to suck once people start swarming, but it should at least hold together barring really big guns." He gestures -- "We at least know they'll come in -- even if running won't be much of an issue." He looks to Cesran. "If we fight here, you could protect the equipment inside..." There's a pause. "What needs to die?"

Tatyannah glances in surprise at Benthus, narrowing her eyes a bit, before saying, "You've changed." Then, in some surprise, "That's a very good idea." She does say, "I'll stay here with the queen. If needed."

"I heard a demon-crossed giant," Svarshan says solemnly. "Bred by revenge hungry khazad." He's quiet for a moment after that, and looks towards Her Majesty.

"...the wizard with you -- the one that teleported the Queen in... not the nerdy know it all one, the proper Khazad with the guards. He can bring some of you back. The rest of you need to stay there, but.." 

Was that an earthquake? 

The ground just rumbled. 

"...we're going to need some of you." 

The queen, at Cesran's words, gets very wide eyed. "...oh dear gods, /no/." Then to Benthus, "That's an excellent idea, if it's possible -- but I'll still need to give the speech once here. We can'th ave it seem too canned or else people will believe it's a trick and the result would be even worse..." 

The ground rumbles again. She turns to MYrana, "IF we live, I am going to ask you for a design for my tailor to make. If Narvin has been operating with assistance from the Black Iron Clans, that explains so, so, /so/ much. I always wondered where the Panacea got its wealth, don't you?" 

She swallows, then says, "Make your teams. My wizard will take some of you to the other site. The rest of you can stay here to protect me, but none of that matters if Dun Mordren dies. HOw the /hell/ did they get a Rune Giant into the water system? That doesn't..." She shakes her head.

Cesran looks at the others, "This giant, as Stonehammer put it, the black giant, covered in crystals and runes down in the reservour. The strongest of us need to stop it. I can put up some defensives wards here, but I will need to save my most powerful spells to help take this monster down." He looks towards the Queen, "I can probably guess that they took it apart and floated it into the water system in crates and then reassembled it in secret."