Book 3: Chapter 7: The Mining Town of Gemena

Book 3: Chapter 7: The Mining Town of Gemena

After the wonder that was Minnova, I wasnt sure how I felt about Gemena. My first sight of the city thatd been my home for the past year-and-a-bit had been from afar; a sea of houses and miniature figures dancing beneath eldritch purple light. Up close Minnova had been even more impressive, with massive walls and a cacophony of magical sights and sounds, chock full of people and bursting at the seams.

In Gemena we opened the door of a rather unimpressive stone shack and were met with an unadorned hole in the ground and utilitarian steps. Smooth stone walls lead down into the darkness, and we were forced to pull out lamps before descending. The air was dry and dusty with the scents of stone and soil.

It was a bit cramped in the tunnel, but not as bad as it couldve been. Thankfully only the Goat crew had come down the tunnel, including Malt, Bran, and Opal. The various gnomish contingents were taking their time, wanting to get their larger caravans fully settled, or in Whistlemops case, getting set up to sell goods.

After a couple dozen more paces we came upon a massive steel door. Annie approached it and knocked, and a slit opened up halfway up, revealing a pair of beady eyes. Bright light poured out, along with the sounds of chatter and movement.

Aye? A gruff voice called out.

Travelers from Minnova to Kinshasa. Annie stated matteroffactly. Therell be another couple groups along shortly. Also, one of us is a peddler and has goods for sale on the roadside.

Names?

We went down the line saying our names, and when we were all done the slit slid shut again with a, Wait.

Time passed in silence for five minutes, I passed it shifting from side to side, but eventually I couldnt take it anymore.

Whatre they doin? I whispered to Annie.

They have someone with [Sense Lies] on the other side of that door. Theyre checking our names against known criminals on the bounty board. Annie whispered back.

What if we have a way around [Sense Lies]?

Malt cackled from behind us. Theres definitely a [Whisperer] listening in on us, and a mage or [Graviturge] ready to blast us if we make one wrong move and Petes discussing a way around [Sense Lies]! This is going to be a fun trip!

Annie sighed. Not particularly, and unlikely with a group as large as ours. Youd need the right Title, the right Milestones, and theres no guarantee that the person on the other side there wouldnt have a way of countering your counter. Now shhh.

My mouth snapped shut. The guards at the entrance to Minnova had been efficient and cordial, so this cautious heavy-handed approach was rubbing me the wrong way. Then again wed just been attacked by roaming monsters, and I knew for a fact that the bounty boards in the Adventurers guild were chock full at all times.

After another tense few minutes, the door made a grinding noise then swung open silently on well-oiled hinges. The dwarf on the other side actually reminded me a lot of Jack the [Goatboy]. He had the same general look about him, with plain leather armor rather than metal, a scruffy beard, and a distrustful squint. He also had that same southern drawl Id come to associate with rural-dwarven. Or rather, that my Ability was translating as southern drawl.

Come in all and welcome ta Gemena. Im Gloin. Sorry fer tha rough welcome, but bandits ave been a problem with all tha travelers headin into Kinshasa. If yer lookin fer an inn weve got a couple, but Diggers Dive in tha eastern tunnels is best, and tha market is to tha south ifn ya need goods.

The space wed entered was an open cavern about ten meters to a side, containing what was essentially a mini-fortress against the far wall, much like the one wed seen at the Manticores Gullet. Tall crenelated walls on either side created a perfect kill-zone, and I shuddered at the sight of the wicked ballistae and other machines of murder trained on us. There were about ten other dwarves in the room, each dressed much like Gloin, and they were all watching us like hawks.

Thank you, Gloin. Annie murmured, her eyes also trained on all the weapons aimed at us. Well be staying for the night, then heading on in the morning.

Gloin waved us on, but not before one of the other dwarves pointed at Johnssons Thirsty Goat branded hauberk and shouted, Oy! I recognize that symbol! Are you lot with tha Thirsty Goat?

We all turned to look at him in shock as Johnsson replied, Aye!

I know that! Oy! You lot! These are tha winnin Brewers from Minnova!

Whazzat? Another dwarf asked, peering down at us.

They made the Ass-Blaster that Innkeeper Rosie has been makin hell about, and that Barber Brew tha Highwatch has been drinkin!

They gave us curious looks as they passed, covered in dust and lugging pickaxes or other equipment. They tracked mud everywhere, and just as I was beginning to wonder how they kept the tunnels so clean, Gloin called for a halt.

Cleaning golem, give it some space. He pointed out a large brass automata up ahead. It took up nearly the entire tunnel and was slowly advancing on us, a whirring mop and other cleaning paraphernalia whirling about its boxy body. He then ducked into one of the holes in the wall and gestured for us to do the same.

It was a tight fit, but not as tight as it mustve been for poor Richter, whose grunting and swearing was soon drowned out as the whizzing mops of doom trundled past us.

As soon as I could hear anything I called out, You okay Richter?

Soaked me whole front! AHHH!! ME BOOKS!!

Sorry fer that youngin, you can lay it ta dry at the Diggers Dive. Were almost there! Gloin pointed ahead, to where the tunnel was once again opening to an atrium.

This time as we walked into the open space the air felt fresher, and we could see something other than dwarves in mining equipment. A contingent of Highwatch was settled at some tables in front of a literal hole-in-the-wall with a sign over it that read Diggers Dive and a set of swinging doors. I even spotted a couple gnomes chatting with well-armoured mercenaries, and a trio of unarmored silken-suited fops that I immediately pegged as nobility. They were drunk off their rocker and chatting up a bevy of giggling dwarfesses while their plate-armoured guards looked simultaneously threatening and decorative.

Behind me, Aqua snorted.

Gloin pointed at the doorway. Old Rosies in there. Just head on over and tell her ol Gloin sent ya! Shes got some thorns, but shell treat ya right. Now, ifn youll excuse me, I need ta get back to me post, and send some runners to tell folk theres a [Peddler].

Hes a [Merchant] now, actually, I pointed out. Just look for the gaudy wagon that says Whistlemops Fineries.

Even better! Means hell ave good wares! May Lunara bless yer night here in Gemena!

And with that, Gloin was off, headed back through the winding tunnels to the entrance.

Well, come on. I want to sleep in a real bed, and relax in front of a fire. Annie squared her shoulders and walked through the swinging doors. I followed a beat after, trailed by the rest of the crew.

I swung through the doors just in time to dodge a tossed pan. A well-endowed elderly dwarfess with a salt and pepper beard and regent moustache was shouting and throwing kitchen implements at a younger dwarf. She wore a stained apron and studded leather armor, and had a tattoo on her right arm of a rose wrapped around some kind of monster skull. Her voice was deep and had the same deep-south accent Id come to associate with rural Crackian.

Get that Yearn be-damned paper outta here boy! Ill not be havin you spread that tripe in this here inn!

But mum!

NO BUTS! NO SON O MINE WILL BE CAVORTIN WITH THA LIKES O HARMSSON AND HIS SLIMY SILVER-TONGUED [POLITICIANS]!

The younger dwarf, who was wearing a similar apron and studded leather combo batted an incoming ladle out of the air with a cutting board. Theyre workin hard for our own good! Mica says theyre passin through Gemena next week, and I want to join em!!

Is it too late to find another inn? I whispered to Annie as a pie pan, including pie, sailed past to splatter against a wall.

Annie heaved a sigh. No, but the beds had better be worth it.

Malt snickered. Depends on what youll be usin em for.

Annie gave him some side eye that promised murder as an entire chair crashed against the ceiling. Well, lets get this over with. Hello! Are you Innkeeper Rosie?

And so we were introduced to Rosie, [Innkeeper] of the Diggers Dive and her son, Bando.

And a high-velocity roast. Name unknown.