The Timuafa Tower vibrates off in the distance, sporadic lightning and whirlwinds spew from the contraption at the top. Our heroes move towards the chaos, against waves of panicked civilians into the Metallurgy District of Port Zoon. A huge golem constructed of smouldering coal stands tall at the center of a square. Remnants of what seems to be a communal firepit crumble beneath its feet. Half a dozen individuals stand ringed around the construct, looks of shock and fear clear upon their faces.
The party approaches with haste in hopes of quelling the threat. They shout their battle cries and urge all able civilians to join in. A pink tiefling, an elderly woman with a rolling pin, and a burly working man join the battle, giving the others time to escape.
Morgryn and Rocky brandish their weapons
Morgryn and Rocky brandish their weapons, while Artemis sends Tay in close to aid her friend’s attacks. Vellym, suspecting the Golem’s weakness to water, puts some bystanders to work at a nearby water pump.
Transferring buckets of water onto the golem seems to be having a weakening effect. But then Tay gets in the way of the construct’s rampaging attacks and is bamfed out of existence. Much to Artemis’ dismay, and not knowing if he’ll be able to return, she runs exasperated, up to the golem and channels a wave of thunder towards it. The thunder cuts through where the water has eroded the coal boundaries, and it blasts the golem apart.
As the dust settles
As the dust settles, empty market stalls can now be seen as the bystanders shake themselves out of their shocked stupor. The adventurers are thanked profusely and meet Elysia Thunderglass, the shopkeeper of Stormshroud Alchemy. She invites them into her shop to recuperate.
Glassware and elixirs line the shop’s walls. “What can you tell us about the Timuafa Tower?” Morgryn asks.
“Those wizards are always doing experiments,” Elysia explains. “But this time… I don’t know what they’re doing. All of a sudden, the tower started spewing crazy, dangerous weather!”
Elysia gifts them 2 potions as a thank you, and once they patch up their wounds Vellym leads an investigation of the space the coal golem arose from. He finds a glyph, carved in undercommon on the edge of the communal firepit. Unfortunately, he can’t decipher its meaning.
Morgryn takes a look. “Awake” or “free”, and thinks this may be part of a more sinister plan. His knowledge of the language not known to his travel companions, he keeps the meaning to himself for now. He will tell them once he understands what’s going on, once they know more.
The storm continues to intensify
Civilians run scared, hiding in alcoves and shops whose doors have not been barred.
The party makes their way into the eye of the storm. The Timuafa Tower. Makeshift barriers and Zelezo Guards surround an industrial stalagmite of mechanical wires and pipes. Two Zelezo stand guard in front of heavy iron doors, barred shut.
A sun weathered male dwarf, grey hair and scraggly beard, can be seen giving out orders. They approach him, his wrinkled brown eyes filled with concern. He looks ready for battle, though his fine leather armour and jewel adorned hand axe haven’t a scratch on them and are polished clean. At least, he looks ready to command a battle. This must be the Marquis Alamades Haddou.
Approaching the Marquis, our heroes offer their assistance. They witness two mages outside the tower, seemingly attempting to stabilize it with their powers. A well dressed casualty sits a ways away, recovering from wounds.
“That’s Runeax Silvershield.” Alamades spits. “They are head of the Arcane Dynamics Guild and I intend to hold them responsible for this, once things are all said and done.”
Runeaux appears distraught, their robes torn and slightly singed at the edges. Their hair matted with blood and dirt.
“They claim sabotage,” the Marquis continues. “and no one has come out since the tower destabilized, but there were Guild members inside when it began.”
Nodding in understanding, Vellym asks the Marquis if they can go question the wizard. “We’re here to help, if we can.”
Nodding, Alamades Grips his handaxe. “I appreciate all the help I can get in this matter.”
Runeaux
Runeaux is in a sad state of affairs as the party goes over and introduces themselves. Their breathing is shallow and words raspy.
“We’ve been exploring ways to power the core…” They explain. “To generate more energy sustainably, and make the city more clean. Do you know how bad air quality has gotten in the past few years, with all of this ramping up of industry? It doesn’t stop!”
Nodding along to their explanation, Artemis asks. “So why would someone want to sabotage your work?”
Runeaux shakes their head in dismay. “All of a sudden the labourers turned on us, drew weapons and stormed the tower.” They look down on themselves, hands splayed on their lap, still marred with the wounds of battle.
Perhaps more of a worker’s revolt then, Morgryn ponders, kneeling beside the Guild Master. “How many of them?”
Still looking down, Runeaux thinks aloud. “I’m not sure, four? Five? There were six people inside when they attacked. No one has come out since the tower was destabilized.”
Aggressive negotiations
The Marquis wants to negotiate, but has to get inside the building first. With a ship in repair and the city otherwise on lockdown until the tower’s weather contraption can be stabilized, the party decides they’re the right ones for the job.
Rocky brings his massive fists together excitedly, the brass knuckles clinking off each other. “You want in? Let’s get you in.”
Alamades brandishes his axe, maybe it’s actually not just decorative, and lines up behind the crew. “Oh, and please watch out for the two constructs inside. They’re made to defend the tower, and we will be marked as intruders to them.”
Morgryn nods solemnly as Vellym sarcastically comments, “Oh goodie.”
“You got this big guy.” Artemis taps Rocky on the shoulder, her gentle Bardic magic flows from her fingertips and wraps itself around Rocky before dissipating into the air.
He grips his greataxe, easily removes the barriers in front of him and puts his shoulder heavily into the front doors of the Timuafa Tower.