12.28 - A Clockwork Conspiracy, Ch. 1

General Summary

Robin and Elfriede take a lunch break at the Last Rest Tavern after the upsetting events of the morning, where they share what has happened with Eliana and Riven, just returned from the Greenskin Plains. The Professor speaks through Elfriede and connects with Riven about the ancient Kingdom of Volskaria, intimating that they should seek out a vault of the Templars that Riven might have access to through their oath; however, the more pressing political crisis demands that the heroes address what appears to be an attempt by the Hephaestus corporation to take over their town, as Mayor Liam seems to be greenlighting Gildenwerd's proposal to establish workshops and factories in a new sector of the growing town. The new councilwoman appears to have already purchased a large manor in that area and has a large contingent of servants and mercenary guards stationed there; Eliana and Riven decide to investigate the manor while Robin and Elfriede return to the council chambers to attempt to persuade the leadership of a different course of action.
Eliana and Riven do not make much headway convincing the hardened Hephaestus muscle guarding the manor to let them in through persuasion--until Eliana casts a charm spell on the guards in the back to let them into what appears to be a mechanist's laboratory. Depite the charm, the two heroes seem to have been expected, as they are ushered into an opulent reception room and are plied with rich food and refined drink--of which they cautiously only partake in as much a politeness permits--until they are greeted by a returned Anastasia Gildenwerd, garbed in an exquisite floor-length gown and glowing with charm and friendly welcome. Moments later, however, both heroes find that they cannot move a single muscle, the small sips they had taken from the wine containing a potent paralysis charm that leaves them completely vulnerable to the Hephaestus artificer--who stands up, veneer of cilivily abanoned along with her gown, revealing gilded chassis of clockwork and arcane tech where her torso should be as she approaches the frozen heroes.
Back at the town hall, Robin and Elfriede discover that the council has adjourned and most members departed, save for Captain Barksdale and Phoebe Longsnout who are talking in hushed tones at the table and Liam sitting alone by the large fireplace. Barksdale seems to be attempting to console Longsnout, but he gets up when seeing the other councilmembers and makes his excuses to return to his post, charged as he has been with overseeing the refortification and expansion of the town defenses and garrison. Robin and Elfirede decide to attempt to appeal to Liam directly--despite the democratic nature of the council, as far as Falinor is concerned decisionmaking power resides with the mayor. Liam seems strangely dejected as he gazes sightlessly into the flames, but his face immeditely returns to its uncharacteristic good cheer as Robin addresses him. After speaking at length about the political situation, Robin appeals to Liam's deep-set values around doing what is right by his people, and something gets through to the man, cracking the mask of good cheer that had been plastered on his face. Something of the old Liam returns for a moment, confused, and he shakes his head, and Elfriede gets right up to the weathered genasi's face and notices something strange: the sound of faint clicking and whirring behind one of the man's eyes, and the faintest glimmer of gears turning behind his pupil. As the wizard relays this to Robin, the artificer immediately springs into action, gripping Liam's head between his hands and magically defabricating whatever machine had been implanted in the man's head--instantly killing the Mayor of Last Rest.

What happens next is a blur. The light leaving Liam's confused eyes as he crumples to the ground. Phoebe trumpeting in rage as she witnesses the apparent murder of her beloved, the structure of the hall shaking beneath her as she charges at Robin. The artificer yelling for Elfriede to help him as he pulls out his tools and tears a bloody hole into the genasi's head, prying free a single red bead of archanotech from the mess of machine and flesh. Phoebe connecting with a hasty arcane shield thrown up just as Robin manages to blast a Revivify spell at the ruin of Liam's skull, snapping bone and viscera back into place. Liam screaming in confusion as he gasps for air, clutching at Elfriede's robes. Robin crashing through the wall of the town hall as Phoebe slams into his shield and throws him across the square into a neighboring building. Liam gasping at Elfriede as he is nearly crushed by sobbing Loxodon to assemble the council... for a new crisis seems to have befallen the town of Last Rest.
Songs of Glory +2: Eliana, Riven, Robin, Elfriede

Report Date

07 Aug 2024