Episode 9

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## Plot Summary

The party exits the forest and can see the foot of Copperforge mountain.  The land is full of farms that feed the city, tended by automated harvesters.  They approach the Live Gate and announce that they are on official business with Queen Sleekrun.  They are let in and marvel at the size and scope of the city within the mountain.  As they debate what, a female gnome in a highly decorated uniform approaches them: Baroness Kettle.  She says that before they meet the Queen, they will need to have “tea” with her.

The party heads to The Bowl on the center level.  A hunched gnome in black approaches Ora with a betting opportunity.  Odds are 50:1 against the Badger.  The gnome wants her to help him win.  They don’t take him up on it, but follow him and see that he’s desperate.  He’s going up to people with a copper bracer on his arm.  Ora changes her mind and agrees to help him.  The match is between the Badger and the Cat.  The gnome's name is Bask.  The crowd is very cosmopolitan.  The gnomes with copper bracers stand off to the side.

The Cat is a clockwork saber tooth cat.  The Badger is a well worn mechanical badger.  The Cat has the upper hand until Ora stealthily joins the battle from the crowd.  The party is being watched closely, but no one notices their attempts to influence the battle.  Despite massive damage, the Badger is able to destroy the Cat.  Bask pays them 150g for their effort.

They head to the residential district via the pneumatic tubes to find a tavern.  Nitsuj goes to find a potion store, owned by Billa, to purchase medicine for “the spins,” some heal potions, and a potion that turns the imbiber into a liquid.  Ora and Bubo enter the Tequila Mockingbird and sit in a secluded booth.  Ora tries to get Bubo to give her the letter from Urit Syle, but he refuses.  She uses mage hand to secretly get the scroll before Nitsuj returns.  The party banters with Gleb the barkeep while Ora reads the scroll.  He tells them that the finest artificer on the Forge level is Klaxxon Carbal.  Baron Kettle shows up and tells them it's almost time for tea.  Nitsuj asks about visiting the library in the Peak, but Kettle tells him it will have to wait until after tea time.  Ora sneaks to the loo to reseal the letter.

The party travels to the Forge and Klaxxon’s shop, the Gearhead.  Bubo wants Klaxxon to upgrade his shortswords for 100g.  He says to return in two days.  Nitsuj peppers Klaxxon with questions about his creations.  Klaxxon says he got a book from Quarry on enchantments.  Ora wants to purchase an automaton that will open locks, but it will cost 2000g.  Klaxxon reveals he was the maker of the Cat, which he would sell to them in its damaged state for 4500g.  Ora cases the joint for potential entry points.

The party decides that it is tea time with Kettle.  She escorts them to a gilded-edge, locked, tube.  She leaves them in the hands of Clib Calhoun.  They enter a dark room and see a gnome that is almost the size of a human.  He inspects the letter and interrogates them about their business.  He is suspicious of the tiefling and he does not trust them.  He leaves and they wait a minute before being led to the Queen’s quarters, where they see the Queen and sixteen armed guards.

Queen Sleekrun reads the note and laughs at Syle’s request: 10,000 platinum.  In exchange, Raufel will have Captain Grint (acclaimed ship architect) build Copperforge a private trading fleet of five ships.  She then reads something that alarms her and she calls for a guard, who hurries out.  The Queen wants 10 ships; Syle has granted them authority to negotiate on behalf of Raufel.  Ora asks that if they negotiate a deal, she would like one of the ships as her own, to sail under Copperforge colors.  Bubo offers to take on contracts for the Queen.

Nitsuj explains that the calamity was not natural and that Raufel is in dire need.  He says that the same tragedy might befall Copperforge, to which the Queen angrily replies that it already has, 17 years before.  The Black Cloaks overran the town, killing all who saw the meteorite.  Governor Syle helped them in their time of need.  Ora also explains that they killed a Black Cloak in the forest.  Queen Sleekrun does not believe the stories that the meteorite was an angel.  The Queen is reticent, but Ora finally gets her to agree that for 10 ships, including the one given to Ora, she will give Raufel the loan.  The party will also work for her now.

The guard returns in a panic.  He shouts that Iris fell.  The Queen demands that they find her immediately.  The party is ushered out.  Iris is the Queen’s daughter.  She has fallen into Klaxxon’s junkyard.  The party hurries down to help the rescue, thinking that they will be handsomely rewarded.  Bubo asks Klaxxon to shut down the machines, but he can’t.  However, if they are able to find Iris, he can reverse the suction of the tube, allowing them to return.

After descending through the tube, Nitsuj shouts for Iris, drawing the attention of eight bots.  Iris answers from the back of the cave.  A large rolling bot is chasing Iris.    Ora uses her Orethil seed and it forms into a vine humanoid which joins the battle.  Nitsuj finds Iris, who is bloodied, bruised, and panicking.  Ora goes down.  Dumeril tries to lift Iris while Nitsuj uses his scroll of flying to save Ora.  Suddenly, a gnome costumed as a bat (Batman character drop) climbs down the tube and attacks the constructs.  Bubo is able to destroy the big mech with his Orethil fire, which explodes, knocking him out.  After all the mechs are destroyed, the party is able to stabilize Bubo.  The bat gnome leaves.  The vine man carries Iris back up the tube.

## Fun Moments

At the start of the stream, Danny and the players all do the tam tam dance.

Nitsuj rolls a 1 on his constitution check to avoid getting sick from the rotation of Copperforge.

Chat comes up with many puns for inn and shop names including: Tequilia Mockingbird, Smiths and Giggles, Juiced Mockingbird, and Owlbeer.