Blurb

Alan and Jugo from the Artificers Guild infiltrated New Dawn's crystal mine to secure a load of crystals for helping their plague-threatened district, while Harry and Ulfgard from Growers Division investigated unusual fungal growth at the same mines. Both pairs succeeded in their respective efforts despite encounters with guards, beasts, and local conflicts.

Synopsis

Alan, Jugo

Alan and Jugo, busy members of the Artificers Guild, happened to be passing when Agnis Moonshaw was attacked by a swarm of rats and a humanoid. Alan quickly lobbed a Sticky Bomb to trap the creatures, allowing Agnis to escape before Jugo waded in with his blacksmith hammer. Closer examination of the humanoid figure revealed it was a weeper, once a citizen of Auschental City that had succumbed to the plague carried by the rats.

A grateful Agnis brought them before the Artificers Guild council to bear witness. While Jugo's words failed him, Alan described the incident well enough to convince the council of the plague threat. After lengthy discussion, they settled on an idea to raise the artificer's district using a supercharged crystal with lifting powers.

As thanks, Agnis restored Alan's used potion and offered them a job to secure more crystal from the mines, now controlled by the militant splinter group New Dawn. The pair accepted and chose the shortest path across the plateau, despite rumours of a dangerous beast.

After crossing a swollen river with improvised flotation, they made their way across the plateau but were spotted by the beast. Terror overtook Jugo and he fled, abandoning Alan and the wheelbarrow. Alan lobbed a blasting potion, but the beast charged them both. They ran desperately until the beast stepped into the wheelbarrow and tumbled to the ground.

At the mine, their stealth attempt failed, but Alan convinced the guards they'd been sent by Newton Desmith himself. Inside, they searched the tunnels, discovering strange fungus and a prisoner named Dug who only worried about graphic design issues. In a refinement room, they found grey powder and crystals, deciding these must create the supercharged crystals.

Commandeering a donkey and tying a barrel of crystal with twine, Alan convinced the reluctant guards to let them leave by offering blasting potions and praising their work. Taking the long way home, they safely delivered the goods to help rescue the city.

Harry, Ulfgard

Harry and Ulfgard were farm hands and labourers who picked up contract work from Growers Division, spending their off days in the forest or by the fjord. The protected peninsular had proven a fine place to live, with the artificers' clever gadgets helping life along, though everyone knew Growers Division held the real power, having traded their military background for stonemasonry, timberwork, and feeding the burgeoning population.

After finishing a harvesting job, the pair stopped at the Harvest Moon Tavern for a casual drink. When a down-on-his-luck farmhand demanded a drink, Ulfgard rejected the idea in no uncertain terms and sent him packing. Outside, they found the bully had returned armed and with mates. A fight broke out, and before the City Watch could intervene, Harry distracted the bully with acrobatics while Ulfgard opened him up from navel to neck with a vicious blade swipe. This cost them reputation and coin.

At Growers Division HQ, Mareen Pearce, a leader with strange ideas for the traditionalist organisation, offered them a special job investigating unusual plant growth at the mines for double the fair rate, plus weapons and supplies. Ulfgard convinced Harry to travel through the forest, which proved wise when they encountered survivors of a bandit raid with a damaged cart. After making repairs, they reached Ulfgard's forest lean-to and set snares for an uneventful night.

Spotting armed guards at the mine, they approached some workers instead. Harry surprised everyone with a quick one-two from his staff, while Ulfgard finished the ambush with an inventive crossbow swing, managing not to shoot himself. Using the miners' clothes and cart as a ruse, they entered the mine, found crystals and fungus, and followed the trail through a shaft. Exiting through a refuse chute, they discovered strange, rich growth in the rocks and soil. Samples were collected in Mareen's leather bags before thoughts turned to the journey home.