Dark Places

You're certain you've been here before, the strange call for help. In a dream maybe? Deja vu?

Maybe it was a dream. You find yourself early in the morning crawling out of whatever life you have lead and make your way to town square. Cooperstown is wealthier than most, strangely blessed with an abundance of high iron ore in the mine below the town. The mine entrance is within the town walls, and a building is built over the adit. The ore is stored in the warehouse building. Some of it is processed in a smithy locally, refined into iron and steel pig, and a number of artisans are located nearby. Raw ore and trade goods flow out of Cooperstown, and wealth comes in. Farmland dots the area, as the hungry industry draws in people and a need for food.

As it does crime and predators.

Each of you have a life in Cooperstown, be it long or recent. Today you find yourself earlier than normal at the ornate steel plumbed fountain. A few others drift in around you. The sense of expectation hangs above you all. But for what?

---

A little mystery to wake you up, where the mystery remains a mystery.

Let's describe your characters, include anything generally known about you all. Assume the town has a thousand people, so you don't have to automatically know each other, but reputations are a currency in itself.

Jaz is the town freak, familiar to anyone who frequents the gambling dens of the low society in town. Though those that may have shared a tabel with him, and got past the rumors that always circulate around mutants, and spoke with him would find him friendly, intelligent, and trusting. It's the last one that kept him from doing well, as more than one player would somehow take advantage of him.
Though today he seems to be doing well, he had some wins last night, and didnt even lose his winnings. Things could be looking up if he can keep ahold of his shins; and maybe sell the Cypher he won last night to pay off some debts.
It would be easier to pay off his debts if he could get any sort of steady work, but rumors of this and that always seem to ruin his prospects. Such is the life of the freak in a frontier town.

Jaz finds himself looking upon the metalwork of the steel fountain, remembering when is former family had comissioned their own, smaller, version of the fountain for their eatate. But such gloomy thoughts don't stick long on a bright, crisp morning.

Y'breq is out for her morning walk. She spends a lot of her time in her workshop unlocking the secrets of cyphers and numenera that are brought to her, so she makes sure to take some time throughout the day to get in some exercise. Being cooped up for hours at a time is neither good for the body nor the mind. Halfway through her walk, she notices a group forming near the town's fountain. Several of the town's denizens give her nods or small waves. Despite being as friendly and helpful to the community as she can, her work made her a bit of an outcast to some. That was the price in dabbling with technology beyond most people's understanding, she supposed. And she doesn't entirely blame them, the stuff she deals with can be quite dangerous sometimes. Thankfully, despite being the town's expert in advanced and dangerous technology, she was also a noted musician as the best (albeit only) player of the antagonistic undecagonstring. Commonly called the elevenstring, the antagonistic undecagonstring is a large eleven-stringed stringed instrument that lies horizontally across the floor and the player sits behind it.

As the crowd continues to grow, she can't help but satisfy her curiosity and stop to see what's going on herself. She notices Jaz, with a noticeable void of people near him, and stands nearby him, waiting to see what is the cause of this hum of excitement in the air.

Lyle walks slowly towards the fountain from his rented berth in the dingier part of town. Although he has been through Cooperstown many times, there are only a handful of real friendships he's made in the city. Most of the people he knew here were business aquaintances. He traded in goods harvested from the Ba-Adenu forest that weren't entirely illegal- but skirted that line. Last time he was here it was Brevin leaf (which could be used as a mild painkiller for the ailments of old age). Chew too much of the leaf and... you'll be seeing the world in an entirely different way for a while. This time he had a bunch of dried Blue Selcouth mushroom. One mushroom would guarantee even the most lackluster lover to have the vim and vigor of a beast. Much sought after by men long past their prime. Most people in Cooperstown viewed Lyle as a travelling peddler, but a few stuck their noses up at the services he provided. Despite that- he liked the little town.

Reaching the fountain he notices people he's seen in passing before- people who always seemed to stick out from the crowd. Among them was Jaz- a local mutant that most people seemed to avoid. They had worked together on a job before- and Lyle found the man to be entirely competent. The job seemed almost effortless in a way he'd rarely experienced. Was Jaz the reason he was here? Standing near him was the Wright, Y'Breq- a local tech he'd wanted to make a business connection with. Who better to sell cyphers he scavenged in old ruins to?

Lyle gives Jaz a wave, nodding at him. He heads towards the water, looking down into the rippling surface. His reflection reveals a man in his early thirties with various stages of beard on his face- a face lined with the traditional tattoos of his clan he received as a boy. His clothes were meant for travel- not exactly pretty but functional, well worn, and protective. His hands reach down into the cool water and he splashes it in his face a few times- trying to rub the sleep out. Wiping himself dry, he sits on the edge of the fountain, one hand dangling lazily in the water.

He had a feeling something was about to happen, that this was important... but what? The only thing he did know was that Emmett was sure to be here. It just made sense- the old man seemed to have a sixth sense about when he was in town. He knew it was only a matter of time before the sheriff came to 'politely inquire' about his business in town (although since the time he pulled him from an operation by a shady surgeon- the constable seemed to have a soft spot for him).

Emmett opens his eyes, sitting up on the edge of his cot. It feels early, but the sun has risen and shining brightly outside. He groans with night aches and tries to blink the sleep out of his eyes, running his left hand through his hair, feeling the cold azure steel against his scalp. His white-gray hair falls into his eyes and he does his best to brush it away.

Some damned dream. By the Black Three, what was it about? The morning sun has burned away all but a strange feeling, like something was about to occur. Whether what was happening was good, bad, or otherwise, he had no idea.

The man bent and put his boots on before grabbing a tight leather jacket and pulling it on over his shoulders. The blueish metal of his graft poked up over the back of his collar along his neck before he pulled the collar up to hide it. After pulling on a pair of brown leather gloves, he strode out into the sunshine.

The first thing he noticed as he climbed down the outer stairway of Ma Cordelia's bakery was the number of people about. The break in the weather drew folks out of their homes, eager to greet each other after 4 straight days of rain.

Emmett nodded to folks as he walked, smiling to those he felt would appreciate it. He never wore the shining circle that represented his office as constable since everyone already knew who he was. He wasn't one to prance about trying to impress anyone. It was more important to make sure the people were comfortable with him around.

As he approached the square, he locked eyes with Jaz as the gambler spoke to local Wright that Emmett didn't know well. He wasn't close with Jaz, only having spoken with him over a few games of Cups. The man was strange looking, to be sure, but no stranger than others Emmett had met. As long as he didn't chest and didn't cause trouble in Cooperstown, he had no qualms with him.

Emmett recognizes one more person at the fountain, bent over washing his face in the same way Emmett planned to. He moves beside the man, dipping a hand into the frigid water.

"Can I assume you're here to some questionable something-or-other among the fair folk of Cooperstown, Lyle?"

Emmett questions the man with a serious look that doesn't quite reach his eyes. He knew Lyle trafficked in less-than-legal substances, but it was nothing overtly dangerous, and in any case Emmett owed the man. A few years back, Lyle had found Emmett near death in an alley behind a bar. Emmett had been trying to drunkenly graft a cypher he had just bought into his leg. Lyle immediately recognized the fake and cut it out before the numenera had killed him. It wasn't Emmett's finest moment, but it demonstrated a depth of character in Lyle Emmett that he repaid by cutting him a break for small offenses.

Emmett pulled some water from the fountain with his good hand, washing the night's sweat from his face and letting it air dry.

"It's funny you're here, I was just thinking something was going to happen. What kind of trouble are you bringing around, eh?" The smile in Emmett's eyes matched his joking tone.

Jaz notices Lyle give him a wave and waves back as they normally do. It was good to see him back around, hopefully they could have some more profitable adventures soon.
He continues his smalltalk with Y'breq, who seems to... check in on him since she thew him over a house... though it did take months for him to recover she paid most of the fees. So in his book thet were square, besides, a conversation oitsid the gamblong dens was a bit hard to come by outside of a select few, so it was shapong up o be a nice morning indeed.

Turana noticed the crowd form a distance.... that day she woke up earlier to go explore for Numeneras she could salvage outside the town to hopefully then sell to those who have a store in the market, she was not only one doing that but there was not that much she could think of to pay for her rent and food, when you are a slave that craves for freedom you tend to forget that although being a victim of exploitaition and abuse, your masters usually give you some food and a place to live .. kinda., after all you are their property and to lose you wouldn't be good business practice. You hide your appereance not only because of the scars that slavery left you but also because if someone sees you, might fear you or even worse tell your former masters where they could find you, after most of the Convergence megisters have the reputation of being powerful sorcerors you should be afraid off. Wearing a mask doesnt ussueally make her attempts very easy but sometimes the thing she finds are attractive enoug to at least give them a try for a low price.... the knowledge about numenera she was able to obtain from the convergence and curiosity are her main tools to survive , if not the only ones.. this curiosity made her get closer to the fountain.

What was going on there? She tended to balance her curiosity with being ready to defend herself but at least she was able to spot that cypher crafter girl.."that might be productive" sqaid to herself and Emmet, she knew him enough to trust him at some level. The sheriff knew a little of her story and they had a few things in common, so far he had always been considerate enough and she did not see him as a threat.
So she silently came closer while trying to keep a low profile .. did not want to interrupt conversations either , maybe she could hear or see something.. who knows,after all she might need to overcome her shyness and make some questions... like she always has to do when trying to sell stuff

In total, there are nine of you at the fountain. One man known to most is Foreman Loryth, a shorter man than many, but strong and wiry. He wears a pair of googles pushed back onto his forehead and is filthy, which is odd because he doesn't do manual labour in the mine, hasn't for years.

The Candlemaker is there, a traveling Aeon Priest. She is fair and generally well liked, using her intellect and technology to solve problems that the locals struggle with. While her base is in Cooperstown, she spends a fair bit of time wandering to holdfasts in the area beyond site of the town.
"
The rest of you settle down as Loryth snaps his fingers loudly, a local custom and not at all considered rude. "You all have no doubt felt something, like I did, drawing us here. You should know that there has been an accident. Dayle, Hasima, go into the mine and do a check. Come back if you see anything amiss."

Two of the men leave and head for the adit. Once they are out of earshot, the foreman continues.

"They're good workers but they can't help with what needs be done. Some of you I know well and trust already. The rest of you, you're going to earn that fast. There was a collapse in the mine last night. Dayle and Hasima will find that out. The problem is that it was triggered." He looks at the priest.

The Candlemaker, her badge of the Order of Truth tattooed onto her forehead, immediately says, "I detected a strange signal, a communication method, immediately when the cave in occurred. I suspect that it was a deliberate explosive. Communications continue as we speak from beyond the collapse. A form of telepathy."

Foreman Loryth says, "The mine is good for some iron but its deep. We found something down there one day, a gate. It takes us to where we can find the rich ore we all know about. The mine is real, it's just unique that way. We've sort of hidden the gate, and keep it dark. Most of the miners don't even really know they have travelled, just know that beyond a certain point, everything feels funny, lighter somehow. Someday the truth will get out, but so far we've kept those who know happy enough not to sell us out. In the early days that was more important, but we're less vulnerable now."

He scratches his head under his goggles. "Something called to us. Why us? Don't know. I want you to go find out what it is. Me and the two miners will clear a passage, but you gotta go and you gotta go fast. You're each known somewhat, as capable folk, maybe that's the reason. Give us an hour, maybe less and we'll have the way open. Please don't tell anyone and come back with whatever gear you'll need fast. The Candlemaker will let you into the adit, and we'll lock ourselves in."

The Candlemaker says, "I'll fetch water enough for everyone. Clearing rubble is hard work."

"This work for you all? Oh, and we'll sort out pay later. You know we don't skimp." There is a pause when you sense you have a chance to back out, or ask questions.

Emmett's jaw goes through a workout while the foreman talked, first clenching at the thought of people stuck in the mine and then dropping at the admission of a gate to somewhere.

"Crail...What were you thinking? A damned portal to who-knows-where and you're sending people through without telling them? Of all the cark-brained..." Emmett grips his hair like he's trying to tear it out.

He strides closer and jabs a metallic finger into the foreman's chest. "As soon as those people are out of there, we're going to finish this talk, and it's not going to end well for you."

He backs off, taking a deep breath to calm down. It works, mostly, but the look on Emmett's face could curdle milk. "How many? Who's down there?"

Not that she wants to minimize the people involved, but Y'breq was more interested in the portal. "And where does the gate go exactly?" Y'breq cuts a striking and aloof figure to those who don't know her well. Her fluorescent tattoos, the subtle field of anti-gravity around her that makes her diaphanous shawl float as if underwater, her severe hairstyle. Appearances can be useful.

Y'breq lives near the outskirts of the settlement and it will take her almost an hour to walk there and back, so she sets out as soon as her question is answered. She starts making a mental list of everything she'll need to grab.

The foreman isn't threatened by Emmett, not visibly anyway. "There's no one down there. Least not, any of our people. Next shift doesn't start for an hour. And we've been doing this for twenty years. I spent a decade going through that arch. There's never been a problem."

To Y'breq, he says, "Don't know. Under the sea maybe?"

"Are we going to have supplies to work in the mine? Picks, pry-bars?" Jaz is a bit hesitant with his question, but he wants to know what he is going to be working with?

"Lots of that in the tool room. You can grab what you need on the way in."

Emmett still looks very annoyed, but he's placated knowing none of the people he was elected to protect are caught inside.

"I don't trust it. If there's a gate, there could be something on the other side." Turning to the others, he remarks, "I'm bringing a weapon, and I suggest you folks do, too."

He looks back to the foreman. "If you were trying to keep this a secret, it's too late. You can't have something like this happen and keep it under wraps. But we'll deal with it once we clear your mine."

"That’s actually good advice Emmet, hi by the way, how are you? Since i was outside the town looking for cyphers earlier i did bring in my bagpack most of my stuff that i could need to survive or defend myself even couple of books, in this world , knowledge can save you from wasting time or even death
So maybe I can use this moment to look in the market for something useful for the mission ahead, as long as i can afford it with just a couple of shins. Any recomendations?"

Emmett turns to leave and locks step with Turana, who appears to be headed the same direction.

"The right thing to bring is whatever you're best with. Your guess is as good as mine if that'll be enough, no telling what we're headed into. The way we all showed up at the fountain without being called makes me feel like this'll be more than just lugging rocks around.

I'm bringing a couple good, sharp weapons and a lot of frustration to work off. Honestly, I don't own much more than that, in any case.

By the way, thanks for the help figuring out what that thing the other day was. I wasn't sure I should trust any numenera I won while playing Cups, but it seems to have paid off. I grafted it into my azure with Y'breq's help the other day, so it's ready to go if we need it."

He thinks over Turana's last question for a minute before adding, "They'll be sealing us in to keep the damned secret and I feel like we're not going to be home in time for dinner. Mind picking me up a bedroll at the market? Chelni Sask had one last time I was there. You remember her, the woman with the three kids, always underfoot? The little one's got the bum foot? I'd appreciate it."

He gives Turana the 2 shins she'll need to buy a bedroll.

Y'breq's place is among the last row of houses on the outskirts of the settlement. It's a one story affair, but with a wide open concept, the entire house sharing a single large room except for the bathroom. The building is a mix of natural and synthetic. The core structure is synthsteel and rock, while the interior work is a mix of wood, synth, cloth, bone, and clay. Built along every wall from floor to ceiling are shelves. Some have books, others have junk, a few have cyphers, oddities, trinkets, and general knickknacks. In one corner is her workstation, a large table of azure steel that used to be a door to a ship of some kind propped up by an anti-grav generator. On the table were scattered her tools and gear, along with two plans she had recently acquired but hadn't yet salvaged enough materials to begin construction. She sighed and hoped she could possibly find some during this trip to...somewhere. She grabbed her pack from the corner and began loading it with her tools and supplies.

As she was leaving, her eye caught an electrostatic photo, as it always did. That's why she pinned it to the column in the middle of her house. The tri-color photo showed her and her best mate, Severigo Malma, five years ago before Severigo had...taken up a new pursuit in life. Despite some of the rumors that he had become an outlaw for some heinous crimes, others heralded him as a savior instead. Y'breq didn't know which was true, although she knew which one she wanted to be true. Maybe some day she would find out.

She shook her head, adjusted her pack, and headed back toward the mine.

"Yeah i remeber her.....so by the way...The bedroll is a really good idea! I will get one for myself as well, i have a lot of things that can help us in a cave but not a bedroll, i mean one of my cyphers can do something similar but it can be used only one i guess., Okay wait a couple of minutes" ................

Turana comes back and gives Emmet his bedroll, she acquired one for herself plus a dagger, she had 4 shins , now just only one left

Emmett heads back to his small apartment and retrieves his weapon, the long bent leg of some strange metallic creature. The upper joint is sharpened with a blob of metal attached to the lower end for balance.

On the way out, he grabs a new-looking bow and small quiver of arrows, almost as an afterthought.

He re-joins the others at the fountain, extending his thanks to Turana for picking up a bedroll for him.