We’re in my room, and at sunrise, we hear a commotion on the street below. Peering down Main Street, Pie spots a fancy airship from the Zenith Empire, drawing a crowd outside. As an anchor drops from the ship, we disguise ourselves and head downstairs. I manage to convince my boss that revealing my whereabouts would put him in danger. He reluctantly agrees but insists I return to work within an hour. Agreeing, we step outside.
There, we meet M1, a summoned construct created by Klax from a once-normal barrel, now a sentient automaton thanks to an extraplanar species. M1N3R, a friend of Taylor’s late best friend Virgil, was a union organizer for dwarves in the mines, where he met Klax. The street buzzes with activity under the rising sun, a few drunks meandering among the crowd gathered to watch the airship descend and its ramp touch the ground.
We’re here to meet with M1N3R, so we wait outside a bar. Soon, he approaches, greeting Pie with a handshake that lingers a bit too long, his robotic nature evident in his speech. Soldiers and a high-ranking priest from the capital city, Zacharius Tenenbaum, approach. The city, divided into four sections controlled by the priesthood, mages academy, imperial army, and royal court, is abuzz with activity.
A meeting occurs in the street involving the mayor and others. Chadee, a contact of ours, suggests words that might open the massive double doors leading to the mountains. With M1N3R and Chadee’s help, we make our way there. Meanwhile, I work a shift at the bar, overhearing that soldiers are pressuring the Toodles family to ensure the railroad’s timely construction due to an accident.
As night falls, we approach the snake doors. Despite their apparent inactivity, Klax detects a magical aura. Chadee reads from his book, attempting to open the doors. After several tries and a puff of dust, the doors creak open, revealing a giant stone statue. The statue, partly clay, is vulnerable to water, which we use to our advantage in the ensuing battle. Despite the chaos, including a bizarre moment where urine becomes a weapon, we defeat the statue, leaving us standing before the dark entrance to a dungeon, ready for our next adventure.