Faith Kruehtzer

[Moonlighter]

A bundle of reports is delivered to Faith, via a nervous Recluta...

Faith,

Herein lies everything the War Council of Ephia's Well knows and has been told about the Bronze Beasts.

I'll also be opening up the floor for discussion on the matter during tomorrow's War Council.

M.R.

Iakmes has reached into his sleeve and retrieved yet another trick. Once again, the savage cowers in his castle and tries in desperation anything that will slow us, that will drive us off.

He has captured some kind of creature-- known from here on in this file as a Crucible Beast-- and taken it one of his Forges, a major site, where his orcs harvest flesh from it for the creation of hideous monsters.

Through the efforts of our brave warriors, we have beaten our way to the precipice of this Flesh Forge and now can prepare it for a decisive, singular strike.

There are many remaining questions:

+ What is this Crucible Beast, and what are the Jackals intentions for it and the Forge?
+ Should we kill or release this creature, given the option?
+ Better yet, can we use the power of this Forge to create our own beasts and demons and turn them on Iakmes?

I'll put all the intel I have in this file, here.

M.R.

Report The Forge and Tunnels

Individuals selected: Faith Kruehtzer, Recluta Kazadun Azkalhson, Student Dandrik Thenson, Balladeer Aurelio d'Lyon, Acolyte Narwen Alendiel, Greta Maddern, and Janissary Evanderall Ristar

Causalities: Greta Maddern (Deceased), Aurelio, Dandrik, and Faith took serve injury however they will recover.

Enemies encountered: Orcs, Exploding Chickens (Yes, actual exploding chickens), Bronze Hounds of Flames, Behemoths of Flesh

Upon our arrival we were greeted by Zyn, we escorted him through the tunnels after a trek through the desert. Going north from the Camp and then towards the west, finding a spire sticking out of the sands. Encountered a band of orcs guarding the entrance, as we made our way inside there was crates full of metal, scrap and rotten flesh. These tunnels are likely used to supply their lines directly from the Forge. In these tunnels we encountered Magma chambers and lava, along with a new odd enemy.

The mission overall went smoothly, we found the entrance to The Forge where the creature's cries became louder. The screams as we got closer would cause damage to our ears, and even dazed some of those with us. As we encountered the entrance to The Forge we met the first behemoth creature of flesh, powerful and large. It was felled along with orcs that assaulted us from every direction. Zyn ran towards the exit after the behemoth had appeared.

After our victory, we stared into the mouth of hell itself. We decided we would push further to see if we could strike at the creature after the others assured me they were prepared for whatever came our way. Upon entering the cave, we went down a staircase into strange ruins. Metal walls with heat bearing down upon us coming from the Forge, we able to pick open a door leading further.. This is where things started to quickly fall apart.

As soon as those doors swung open horde after horde of orcs, hounds and even a behemoth spilled into the room. We did not expect such massive resistance, a Molten ran in as well. We held out for a good while, killing a powerful Void Caller.. Perhaps a Captain, along with the Behemoth creature.. Unfortunately Greta fell before this occurred, the behemoth beast picked up her corpse and ate it fully in one bite. At this point I had to call a retreat as we were being overrun by more orcs spilling into the chamber, there was no hope of victory and we were all in a bad state.

Myself, Kazadun, Narwen and Ristar had made it out quickly, only to find that Aurelio, Dandrik, and Faith were left behind. We wait a good few moments, thankfully they were able to escape but sustain more serve injuries. We stumbled towards the entrance where Zyn met us, and we were able to return to camp. There he said our task was complete, that we found The Forge and where the Crucible beast is being held. Zyn said he might be able to uncover other entrances to the Forge with this information.. We shall have to wait and see what his report offers.

End of Report

Notes:

Aurelio made a mention these hounds hides have gotten more difficult to pierce by blade, requiring greater magic weapon.

We encountered two new types of creatures, exploding chickens... They run up and explode with potent explosion, causing people to be knocked down to their knees or back. (These I was able to handle and take the brunt of without injury) Then encountered two Behemoths, they are fleshy and large.. Stabbing them works, but it takes lot to bring them down and they hit very hard.

The Reward we received.. A thousand dinar each and a handful of vials, given it was a costly venture it was a bit lackluster. I said I would look into getting a more suitable reward from the Warmaster given the 200,000 dinari put into the Stele.

-Balestriere Stearwood

Hi Warmaster, or do I call you Mirielle?  I've never had an official role before...

The raid on the scald yesterday was very revealing, though maybe not in the way that you might think.  Basically, I think that the process of transformation of these Bronze Abominations is so terrible, that it is leaving a mark on the spirit of the animals that they are crafted from.

I know it's going to sound ridiculous; even I am sort of in awe that this is happening.  By examining the guts of these fallen beasts, I'm able to get some manner of feeling from the beast itself.  Some strange kind of empathy maybe.

To now, I have discovered the following clues:

There is a sense of something ancient in how they are being made.  I could see myself holding a fractured and broken thing within the span of my hand. I was struck by a deep sense of grief, though I could not tell whether this was my own grief at the plight of these poor things, the grief of the beasts themselves, or the grief of the one making them.

I was able to grasp flashes of images from the memory of some of the beasts; a road before it ripped apart and torn. A realization that it would never go home.  A series of tunnels passing by it quickly.

I am not able to augur anything useful from the guts of every beast.  It is decidedly random in how it seems to happen.  Furthermore, some of the things learned are occasionally seen again.  Therefore, it is of great import that all the guts found from these beasts be brought to me for examination.

BB

Live and drink,

I noticed a lack of any report on the reconnaissance mission to find the lair of whatever beast is spawning these "Bronze Beasts". I've taken the liberty of drafting one for the Council's attention.

The Lead-Up

Zyn of the Golden Sight, an agent of Kha'esh, informed the council on a potential tunnel system that would lead us to the beast the Bronze Beasts are spawning from. The Warmaster put Balestrerie Stearwood in charge of putting together a task force to follow through on this information. The objectives were thus:

1. Scout out these tunnels to see if the Beast responsible for these creatures can be found.
2. If the Beast can be located and the group believes themselves capable, slay the creature.

The Balestrerie put together the following group:

Balestrerie Melody Stearwood
Balladeer Aurelio d' Lyon
Student (Squire?) Dandrick
Lictor Faith Kruehtzer
Recluta Kazadun
Acolyte Narwen Alendiel
Soldier Evanderall Ristar
Greta Maddern

The Approach

After arriving at the Scald, we were met with Zyn. He guided us out into the expanse of the Scald towards a tower half-sunken into the sand. Guarding the tower was a band of orcs, unaware of our presence. We struck hard and fast ensuring none could escape.

We moved quickly through the tower down into the caverns below. The tunnels seemed extensive seemingly used for the transfer of supplies. I took the time to search a set of crates we found, curious about its contents and found a crate of potions hidden away past all the crates of scrapped metal. Unfortunately, my time spent sifting through these lost us the element of surprise we had.

The New Beasts

Moving quickly now, we rushed ahead through the network of tunnels. My ears were the first to register the sound of the new beasts we faced. The sound of clucking. We began encountering flaming bronze chickens. These beasts were frail, but when they died they exploded in a concussive blast of flame that could knock even stalwart Aurelio off-balance.

A strategy was quickly devised. These Bronze Chickens crawled out from little nooks in the cavern walls, moving as a pack. If one died, the explosion would kill the rest. As such, either I would fire upon them from afar, killing one to kill them all before they could reach our front-lines or the Balestrerie would move to intercept them, using her evasive talents to avoid their flames.

The path forward was treacherous as we were beset both by orcs attacking us from behind and as well, unsteady passages that would collapse in on us if we stepped in the wrong spot. As we moved forward, the gusts of heat from deeper within grew more prevalent. As unbearable as it was, it was a tell we were moving in the right direction.

The Heart

Finally, we arrived before a large gate embedded into the rocky walls. Steam and fire wafted from within and from its depths the sound of heavy foot-falls. A giant made of molten metals and flesh stepped from the darkness within. We engaged with this new foe. It moved with surprising deftness for a beast of its size and did not go down easy. The flames emanating from its form burnt our flesh as we struck at it, even at me as I fired arrows upon it from afar.

As we battled it, orcs and beasts spilled into the chamber doing all they could to tear at us. These Bronze Beasts have been much improved already. Aurelio noted that the only way to pierce their hide was with blades enchanted with greater blade wards. The giant as well, would consume these smaller beasts to reforge itself, patching over the wounds it had suffered.

We fought tooth and nail to isolate it from any of the beasts and with much effort it was slain along with the remaining beasts and orc. It was at this point Zyn gave a name for building before us. "The Forge". And with it, he called the beast within "The Crucible Beast".

Hubris

Our primary objective fulfilled we discussed whether to try delving deeper to slay this "Crucible Beast" or to return with our new-found knowledge in hand. Hearing the sound of more of these giants within, I advocated we return, not believing we had the strength necessary to fell more of these things. I was the sole member of the group to advocate this.

"The Forge" was a strange place, the architecture something none of us recognized. The heat was blistering, but it was quiet. After a brief look about the chamber we discerned only one path forward, a locked door. I picked the lock. A fatal mistake.

Behind the door was a horde of orcs and beasts. Among their ranks was a notable void caller and another of the giants. We were pushed back almost immediately. The fight was arduous, desperate. Their sheer numbers overwhelmed us. I found myself constantly having to move about, trying to weave my way around the orcs so I could focus down their various mages.

It was during this time, that Greta was unfortunately slain. I did not see it myself, but the others saw as the giant picked her up and consumed her. I know I myself came close during this, darkness almost taking over my vision before Narwen came to my rescue with waters. Though a retreat was called, we did not leave without enacting vengeance. I saw to it myself as one of my arrows ripped into the throat of the void caller. As well, after myself, Narwen, Stearwood, and Kazadun had made a full retreat, Aurelio, Faith, and Squire Dan managed to fell the giant that had killed Greta before fleeing as well.

We made a full departure from there, not stopping till we were back at the camp. Zyn rewarded us with coin and potions before departing, and it is from there we returned to the Well.

That is as full an accounting as I can muster. I recommend any on the Council seeking to learn more speak with any of the individuals involved with this mission as this is only my own observations. If any have questions, feel free to seek me out.

Very Respectfully
Soldier Ristar, Evanderall
Voice of Sorazin Bey

[Faith Is My Shield]

Faith tips the delivering Recluta before poring over the documents with a potion of fox's cunning in hand.