The Only Way to Fly

[Breila]

Babushka sits down silently. She hopes to be able to follow the draconian after dinner to see what the "treasure" is.

[JadedDM]

The rest of the dinner conversation is of no interest to Babushka. After half an hour, they finally finish eating.

The slaves move in to clean up, while the ogre nobles head upstairs. Only the draconian heads downstairs, into the basement.

[Breila]

Babushka follows the draconian as quietly as she can.

[JadedDM]

Babushka follows the draconian down into the dungeon, and he approaches the door with the two padlocks on it. The ogres that were playing cards are now patrolling the area, but they stop and stand at attention when they see the draconian. He removes a key from a belt pouch and unlocks one. Then he uses a second key to unlock the other. He swings the door wide open and steps inside.

[Breila]

Keeping very close to the wall, Babushka walks to the door and peeks inside.

[JadedDM]

Peeking inside, Babushka finds a large square room numerous large bags filled with either steel coins or gemstones. There must be nearly a hundred of them, all stacked on various shelves throughout the room.

In the center of the room is a large brass wheel, about two feet in diameter and looking to weigh considerably more than Babushka herself does. The draconian stands over it, then shakes his head at it in disappointment.

[Breila]

Babushka keeps quiet and continues watching. Obviously, this was the flywheel they were looking for. Now if only the draconian decided it was worthless and asked people to dump it! It would be so much easier to reclaim in then than from this heavily guarded room.

[JadedDM]

"Looks pretty worthless," the draconian says aloud. "But I suppose I don't hire ogres for their appraising skills. Still," he adds, looking directly at Babushka, "it must be worth something to someone, yes?"

[Breila]

Babushka starts at being addressed directly like this, but manages not to utter a sound.

[JadedDM]

The draconians looks at her, as if waiting. Then, he shrugs and speaks again. "Gnomish, I assume? Perhaps that explains the flying boat my guard claims to have seen. And I suppose, for some reason, these gnomes decided to use weak illusions to sneak into my castle rather than just politely ask for it back." He steps aside, putting some space between him and the wheel. "Well, little gnome? Here it is. Surely you don't intend to leave without it?"

[Breila]

Babushka bows deeply. "Sir, I am very grateful for your kindness. All we knew was that ogres had taken the flywheel and brought it here. We are foreign to this area, and had no means to talk to the ogres. They are not known to be kind to strangers. So I was sent to see where the flywheel is without being attacked by them, and find out a way for its return."

"While I would very much like to take the flywheel right now, I am not strong enough to carry it. If I could have a rod or staff, I could try to roll it out."

[JadedDM]

"So I was right," the draconian says, rubbing his chin. "You have accomplices. And yet, as you say, you can't move this thing by yourself. So that means either you are not alone here, or it was your intention to...what? Sneak your accomplices in, as well? Or storm the keep itself?"

[Breila]

"I am alone here, my friends are camped some distance away. The flywheel is needed to get us back home. All we want to do is leave the area, as soon as we can. My task was to find out where the flywheel was, and then come back for a report." Babushka assures the draconian.

[JadedDM]

"Then by all means, invite your friends here," the draconian says. "You can stay the night as my guests, and tomorrow we can discuss some kind of trade, I'm sure."

[Breila]

"That is a very kind offer, Sir" Babushka says cautiously. "But I think we are all served best if I just get a rod to use as an axle, and some help to get the wheel up the stairs, then I will be fine."