The Only Way to Fly

[Breila]

"Well then, let us go in and see if treating him with respect will keep us from getting enslaved. The only other option would be to run for it. But that would be deceiving my fellow gnomes, too." Babushka sounds resigned.

[JadedDM]

Jerrard removes the invisibility on Babushka, as it would be otherwise rather difficult to follow her. The party then goes with her toward the keep with some measure of resignation.

As they approach the keep's gates, Babushka notices there are twice as many guards now. The guards are tense, but seem to be expecting the party. Without a word, they open the main gates to let them pass when they approach.

[HorizonsDream]

Imani takes the lead of the group as she walks in through the gate. She keeps her eye on the guards, looking for any signs of trouble, and keeps her hands at her side. She doesn't want to look like she is ready for a fight at this point, but then again she doesn't want to be unprepared either.

[Breila]

Babuhska follows Imani's lead, happy for the lack of open hostiliy, but prepared to defend herself and her friends if she has to.

[JadedDM]

The party is escorted by no less than four ogres through the courtyard and into the keep itself. Once inside, the guards close the gates behind them, sealing the party inside.

The aurak sits at his throne to the east of the room. "Well," he says, "I must admit, I had assumed your accomplices were more gnomes. Instead you seem to work for a group of humans instead. Very interesting, indeed."

"And me!" Locky says, raising her hand. "I'm a kender!"

The aurak frowns, but doesn't address her. Instead, he looks to the others. "So which of you was the one who had the brilliant idea of breaking into my keep and attempting to steal my property?" he asks, leaning back in his throne.

[HorizonsDream]

Imani takes a step forward. "It was mine, your grace," she says politely. She knew better to tell this draconian that the wheel wasn't his property. "We were faced with a few unknowns, so we thought it best to sneak into to retrieve what had been lost."

[Breila]

"The flywheel is part of a gnomish device that broke down, your Grace" Babushka explains. "But all the gnomes were busy with repairs, so they asked me and my friends to look for the flywheel."

[JadedDM]

"We were faced with a few unknowns, so we thought it best to sneak into to retrieve what had been lost."

"I see. And would you have done the same had this fort been manned with elves or humans, I wonder?" the draconian asks.

"The flywheel is part of a gnomish device that broke down, your Grace."

"Ah, yes. The 'flying machine.' I'd be interested in seeing it, if it weren't gnomish. More than likely it will explode than actually fly."

[HorizonsDream]

"Once again, your Grace, we would have been faced with a lot of unknowns even with humans or elves manning the walls. For all we know, they could have shot us on sight," Imani explains.

[Breila]

Babushka nods. "Yes, out mission is peaceful, we want to get back something my people need to get back home. The first step was to find out where it is without inviting open hostilities, and not being seen helps with that." After a pause she adds "The flying machine got the gnomes here from Mt. Nevermind, so it has been in fine working order for quite a while."

[JadedDM]

"The flying machine got the gnomes here from Mt. Nevermind, so it has been in fine working order for quite a while."

"And yet, apparently pieces of it fall from the sky," the aurak notes. "But I have been rude. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Duke Eridan, Lord and Protector of this keep and the surrounding lands, Leader of the Ogres, the Golden Scourge. And you are...a pair of Khurish women, a pair of Solamnic men, and a gnome and kender. You all seem very far from home, yes?"

[HorizonsDream]

"My name is Imani, your grace," she says with a bow of her head. "And these are my friends, Malika, Ulster, Jerrard, Locky, and Babushka. I can't really say for the rest of them, but I know for certain that I am far from home."

[JadedDM]

"So you are, so you are," Eridan says. "But there will be plenty of time to talk about that in the morning. No doubt you are weary from your travels. Guards, escort them to the guest rooms."

[Breila]

"Thank you, your Grace" Babushka says softly with a slight bow at Eridan as they pass him, following their guard.

[JadedDM]

The ogres lead the party up to the second, then the third floor. They find themselves in a hallway that stretches west to east. Another set of stairs lead up to a fourth floor. There are two doors to the north, two on the south, and one on each far side.

The ogres lead the party to the two doors on the south wall. "Here rooms," says one in poor Common.

"We shall need to split up," Jerrard points out. "Malika and I can take one room, and the rest can have the second. This sounds reasonable, yes?"