Dramatis Personae:
Ayrkin (Andrew), Al'xios (Jola), J'nan (Shelly), Jayden (Paul H), Thufark (Paul V), G'dzang (David), Rook (Chris), Mort (NPC)
We reached the walled village without any further problems. At the gate they wanted us to surrender our weapons. I didn't have a problem with that but some others complained (Al'xios wanted a receipt!). We spent the night and reprovisioned, then hired guides to help us get to the dwarven fire-chariot terminal.
As we approached the terminal (five days later), we spotted many columns of smoke rising from our destination. A large shantytown had been erected around the fire-chariot station. It was populated by the wounded and children of Monarch of the Mines. We dispersed into it to help out and find out more of what was going on.
Apparently, Monarch of the Mines is being besieged. The attackers consisted of the Blue Women, monstrous metal insects, and Minh Clovisites! I said we should go and help fight, but the others said we need to return to deliver the Philosopher's Stone and continue our quest. Whatever, either way we need to get into the city.
Rook negotiated with the chariot driver to return us to the city, but he doubted we'd be able to make it all the way on the tracks. In order to travel forward and backward on the track, he did not want to be pulling any cars, so many of us crammed into the front, but I got to ride on the roof! It was really fast and almost as much fun as flying! As we got closer to the valley where the city lie, we could see a smog blanketing the area, with the occasional flash (explosion?) lighting it up. We stopped well in advance of where the chariot's tracks went underground and scouted ahead. Sure enough, the tracks were torn up, so the train headed back to the terminal without us.
We approached the tunnel on foot and discovered that it had collapsed just as another chariot was emerging. The engine was crushed under tons of partially melted stone. It didn't look like we were going to get in this way so we "discussed" our options. Ayrkin knew of some smuggler's tunnels, but they were on the far side of the city; we would have to sneak past the besieging armies to reach them. I suggested we take on one of the armies ourselves and fight our way in, but no one seemed to like our chances.
Al'xios thought we might still be able to use the tunnel; if it has collapsed around the chariot, we might still be able to move from car to car to get through the blockage. He grabbed the Rug of Doors and used it to access the driver's area of the chariot. I joined him before he got too far in and we discovered that this chariot had also been full of refugees trying to flee the city. There were a lot of dead dwarves. It was a bummer and I was sad moving the bodies out of the way to clear a path for us to advance. Whatever took out the train had generated a huge amount of heat that melted rock and incinerated many refugees. Eventually, we got through and the rest followed (Rook coming last in a form that slid through the cracks and brought the Rug with him).
Traveling up the tracks under the mountain, we came across the scene of another battle; a huge metal spider had melted its way through to the tunnel and had attacked some cars. As we approached we could see the spider attempting to reassemble itself. I blocked some of its limbs from reattaching as the others chopped it to bits.
Reaching the other sealed end of the tunnel, we knocked and were admitted by the dwarves to the undercity of Monarch of the Mines. They recognized Ayrkin (a mixed blessing) but insisted on binding us until we could be vouchsafed by his sister.
The city was in bad shape. Aside from the outer walls themselves, the upper levels had been completely abandoned, and many refugees were at this chariot station, now with nowhere to go. We were brought to Ayrkin's sister, who released us and filled us in.
The country of Ar'Ethmet has sided with Perimal Darkling, and is assaulting both here and Aereolus. The city of Benges (J'Nan's hometown) has been taken over, and its population has been forcibly converted to clockwork automatons.
We also discovered that the Austere Warriors were here and being held by the dwarves. We told the dwarves that the Warriors were the enemies of the Blue Women and would fight alongside the dwarves against them. The Warrior's weapons were then returned so they could aid in the fight.
Now to meet with the "dwarves of the Final Blood"…
