The machine sputtered into life and with a loud groaning, a shifting of the earth around her, her choice items dissolved in a golden glimmering.
The room began to shake, dust and debris starting to fall. This wasn't safe. The machine groaned still, the glyphs and lines glowing gold and travelling to the centre pool. The ceiling began to crack and crumble, a large chunk shattered the desk with her father's notes upon them.
The tunnel she entered through started to rattle.
The machine continued, the pool now illuminated. Something was happening... but the cave was coming down. Risky.
It stirred in the water and started to lift, the head of a glorious hammer, not so unlike the one she had used to create it. Slowly, golden water running off the head as it lifted....
.... the cave more unstable now, walls starting to crack, the ceiling shifting. The machine started to buckle, a rivet here and there became projectiles, steam gushing out....
She looked from the hammer to the tunnel, ducking a little, and waited until the hammer was half out of the water before grabbing it and pulling it out, running out of the cave and back through the tunnel into the basement, keeping her head low.
Her hand hit the golden wet and a vision wafted through her mind at that time. The hammer was there, she pulled it from the pool and ran from the crumbling remains of the forge. It hissed and moaned and finally, she cleared the cave as it exploded, bringing the cave and tunnel down in an unceremonious heap.
The dust cleared and she picked herself up from the floor, covered in dirt and grit. But she had a new hammer... and the vision of her father smiling upon her with loving eyes.
The Mikael Hammer (Artifact). - Crafted from both her father's hammer and armor in the secret forge that is no longer. - Two handed melee weapon. - This hammer is incredibly heavy unless wielded by those of Mikael blood. - The user of this hammer is immune to sleep, hypnosis and any charm effect. - Once per day, the user can strike a surface and cause a shockwave through it equivalent to a lvl 3 earth magic spell. - This hammer does moderate bonus damage to slavers.
Margrett took a deep breath. She looked at the hammer in awe. Somehow bigger and lighter than the previous one, the head bore her family's crest, and a handguard covered the grip. She got a warm feeling while wearing it. The decision, the heartbreak of this trip...made it all worthwhile.
She ran one hand up and down its length and then put it on her back. She exited the basement and walked outside. It was dark now, and the stars twinkled overhead. Now, at least, she knew where to go.
And a Kobold king and his no longer enslaved people rejoiced in their shabby makeshift throne room. Williamsburg already had a people, already had a leader.... and he was loved by all.
