Silver and Steel Episode 6: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

“You don’t need magic, you have beer.”

Sofieus

 

Watch Silver and Steel Episode 6: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

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The cast of Silver and Steel, most characters are level 4 while Avren is level 3:

Full Summary

Standing before the gates of Port Argent as the sun is setting, the group discuss if they should check in with the rest of the council or go directly to the mine. Both Avren and Sofieus believe the council will simply bicker and argue, so Freely finds out a shortcut through the city to get to the mines quickly from the gate guards. Cally also thanks Rodney for his information about the weredial, informing him that they took care of the creature. When Sofieus tries to offer Rodney a reward of some wine from her alchemy jug, Erica is upset because he is already intoxicated. She gripes about needing to work at this gate with her lazy, drunk partner, and how in a few years she’ll advance enough to be able to choose another post and see the world. Recognizing how frustrated she is, Avren gives her a gold coin and thanks her for her help, and the group head quickly to the mine.

The commotion in the town has started to quiet down as the sun has set, but there is still a large group of people working in the miners district helping many injured people. Groups in front of the mine entrance are still moving large chunks of rocks, being directed by Milly and her father. Milly is upset as things have gone poorly. She’s grateful that her uncle sent help, but it took them a very long time to clear enough rubble to get to any of the trapped people and fifteen have perished. All they can do now is recover any remains that are left and investigate the cause of the collapse. Milly yells at the group, upset that they didn’t come sooner, but says they have bigger problems to deal with and pulls everyone aside to talk in private. She relays how strange things have been happening; a fisherman caught a dead marid, a creature she’s heard about that are rumored to live in the nearby waters but has never seen. And even more disturbing, it’s the third one they’ve found this week. They still have the body and she wants the group to check it out. Additionally the city is on edge as many are still suspicious that the mine collapse was somehow orchestrated by the people of Henge.

Cally explains the details they discovered about the missing cart, the mysterious figure who bribed the guards, the issues with the weredial and the giant snake, and how suspicious it is that all of these calamities are happening at the same time. Freely backs her up, a little more angry that Milly would think they weren't doing everything they could to help. The dwarf calms down, agreeing that now that she knows more details she understands why the group was late and saying how she knows they are good people. Avren warns that whoever is behind all of the problems is actively trying to sow distrust and anger between the two cities, and they all need to be cautious about who they blame and how they act.

Arriving at the docks they find the duck shaped boat holding the body of the marid. The fisherman who pulled it up informs them that something horrible is in the water, scaring off the fish, and that he’s never seen something that could take out a marid—but now three dead water genies have been pulled up dead. Its been cut loose from the net and is lying in the bottom of the boat, a massive humanoid creature of shimmering blue and lavender color, wearing simple clothing and jewelry over a muscular, aquatic frame. Avren quickly realizes that despite what they have been told, the marid is actually pretending to be dead. Through Cally’s psychic link with everyone, he’s able to gently warn what is going on, and when they agree to try and talk with the creature, Cally includes the marid in the connection. She lets him know that they are aware of his attempts to play dead, but that they would like to help if possible. The marid replies that he is heavily injured and just want to return to their haven. For a moment Avren considers healing them, but it becomes obvious what this being needs is access to his own medicine and time to rest.

Slowly the marid rises to his feet as they give up the deception, towering over everyone with his twelve-foot-tall form, and telepathically informs Cally how he was attacked by a deep sea demon with crackling lightning breath. He reassures them that his fellow marids will slay this beast and keep everyone safe, as they have for generations. When the group offers to help, he scoffs at their level of power and warns that if his people fail in their task that the town should evacuate, the demon returns every few years, and only by the blood of the marids do all lands remain safe. Avren warns about the issues both Haven and Port Argent are having, wondering if this is just another part of some grand scheme to weaken everyone in this area.

Freely offers the creature the nickname of Hank and asks to help in the battle with the demon. He shows off his eldritch blast to prove that they have more than just primitive weapons, and in response the marid demonstrates his own immensely powerful water jet. The creature remains unimpressed and is preparing to leave despite the offers of assistance, when Freely changes his skin color to the same shimmering blue and Sofieus uses disguise self to appear like the marid. The alchemist is able to accurately mimic the beautiful iridescent shifts of the marid’s skin, which finally brings a smile to Hank’s face. He is pleased by this flattering display of friendship, and reconsiders his harsh demeanor. He offers the group to join him on a hunt the next evening, and if they perform well he will accept their help with the fiend. Everyone is happy to agree to this plan, and Hank offers Cally a soft piece of green sea glass in a heart shape. He tells her to shine the glass on the water at midnight the next night and he will return to lead them on the hunt. Then with a final gesture of friendship the marid gracefully leaps back into the ocean and disappears under the waves.

Milly has come out of her shock and is horrified at what happened as she was not a part of the telepathic communications, but Avren and Sofieus reassure her and use their powers as members of the council to protect the marid. Mollified, she leads them towards the mine entrance so they can investigate the collapse. As they walk, Freely relays all the good that Avren and Sofieus have done in the last few days, even casting message to relay that story to passing townsfolk, in order to increase their positive reputation as council members. Milly relays that they should talk to Sal and his sister Sally, as they used to study the wildlife and be zoologists before settling down in the city. Sal took up being a council member, while Sally stays in her room at the inn reading. Pulling out a nicely made notebook and pencil, Milly looks up notes she made the last time Sal was drunk and rambling about a giant snake in the area called the Barren Mother. Apparently they take over the nests of mothers who died. Milly suggests they talk to Sally for more details.

Arriving back at the mine entrance, Milly’s father is still standing there and happy to see his daughter. While she is instantly annoyed again, Avren compliments him on his hard work as Freely uses prestidigitation to clean him up. Sofieus fills him in on all the amazing things Milly did to keep the town safe, and he’s quick to state how proud he is of her, he just wishes she would come work in the mine. Freely casts thaumaturgy to make his voice boom loudly as he talks of Milly’s praises, but the rocks in the cave shake loose and dust falls. As Avren snaps at the halfling about staying quiet and respectful in this space, Freely taunts him by using the spell again to cause a harmless tremor. This panics Cally, who spent her whole life underground and has delt with cave ins before, and knowing that Avren is in protective armor and Sofieus has magic to shield her she leaps to protect the only other person smaller than she is; Freely. As the motion stops and the group realize it was just a harmless spell, Milly angrily smacks the halfling as she relays that they just finished stabilizing the main shaft. Knowing they need to be cautious and quiet, Cally includes Milly in her psychic whispers so they can all communicate telepathically, and the group enters the mine.

The silver mine has been cleared but is still rough, with destroyed trolley tracks and half collapsed struts. It’s dark and dusty, needing both Milly and Cally’s lanterns to see clearly. It’s very much like a labyrinth as the main shaft splits off to follow veins of silver, but the destruction apparently followed the main shaft. They reach a circular room that is a basic processing center that includes an ingenious mechanical innovation used to separate silver from stone. The construct is impressed, and repeats her wish to talk to Milly’s father about the details of his inventions so she can relay them to her own father and her people’s mining work. Examining one of the smaller offshoots that is mostly blocked off, Freely considers squeezing through to explore, even casting divine sense but not receiving any pings. As Sofieus examines the press, and Freely asks Avren for silver plating on his mechanical hand, Cally pulls out her book to start making notes and drawings of the machine. Noticing what the rogue is doing, Milly requests she not pass along their cities patents to a potential rival. While Cally says she is happy to erase what she has drawn and does so with a show, Avren notices the book she has written in is suffused with magic, and the warforged isn’t bothered by the fact that she had to erase her work. As the group continues through the tunnels he covertly congratulates her, and agrees not to divulge her deception when asked.

Eventually they reach the main point of collapse, and with her extensive underground experience and keen investigation Cally can see pressure marks are getting worse. Following Milly further in the group is trying to be cautious around the collapsed support structures, but Avren stumbles and knocks one of the beams. Before things can start to fall, Freely dashes under the beam and casts mending to secure it back in place as Sofieus quickly pushes Avren over to safety. The wood beam pinches the corner of the halfling’s hand, but the alchemist casts healing word while the armorer thanks him for his fast work. 

The air grows thicker and more destroyed, and Milly stops as this is as far as she has ever gone. There isn’t a chemical smell or scorch marks to indicate an explosion, but the cracks and pressure marks indicate something too large to fit in this tunnel was shoved inside. There is further to go as they have yet to reach the epicenter, though there isn’t much further to go past the small opening that is available. Freely can fit through the crack, and after Sofieus places some butter around the opening Cally is also able to slip through. The construct suggests the others remain behind, as the space is small and if something goes wrong they will be in a safe place to help. No one is happy about splitting up, but with the psychic connection and the short distance the group agrees to chance it. 

As Cally and Freely begin to examine the area, Milly takes a seat on a rock nearby to take a small break. But suddenly the rock she is sitting on opens its eyes...

Find out how are adventurers deal with the rocks attacking on our next episode, May 26th at 6pm PT on twitch.tv/dndbeyond!


Lauren "Oboe" Urban is the Community Manager for D&D Beyond, as well as a professional classical musician on oboe and English Horn. When she's not playing a Bard in real life she's a prolific Dungeon Master and player on a variety of livestreams and podcasts. She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband Luke where they spend their free time playing video games and drinking tea. The best way to keep up with Lauren's busy schedule is to follow her on Twitter @OboeLauren!

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