The small town of Torch was always a relatively popular tourist attraction with its grand violet flame that rest on the top of Black Hill. Not only was it wonderous to look at, it was also the towns primary resource, a flame great enough to forge the skymetal, a valuable metal. The beautiful violet flame was one of the very few places one could smelt skymetal outside  the capital of Numeria, Starfall. This is beneficiary as its distance away from Starfall makes it so the Technic League can't maintain a permanent presence here, not without a large expenditure of time and resources. The town still has to pay them a large sum of money to keep them out of the towns business, resulting in heavy taxes for the people. Everyone in the town were always able to scrape by, that is, until the flame on Black Hill suddenly went out. Leaving only a bubbling liquid at the top of the hill emerging from where the flame once stood.<br/><br/>This prompted one of the councilors Khonnir Baine, to go investigate. Lo and behold, he did discover that at the banks of the weeping river, was a submerged cavern going under Black Hill. In his first venture, he had returned with a deactivated semi-humanoid automaton, something that seemed to spark much worry. The Councilor then went for a second expedition and has yet to return. From there, a reward has been issued for anyone who can find him. 4000 gold pieces, and a scroll of resurrection should he be found alive. Many many adventurers have signed up and went out of there way to do this, but so far none have succeeded. A seperate 4000 gp reward is also posted for anyone who can reignite the flame. While that is certainly important as the towns livelyhood revolves around the flame, the council is more focused on getting people to find Khonnir Baine.<br/><br/>The four of you had went to the council, only to find only one of them there, a dwarvish women by the name of Dolga Freddert. Two of the other council members, Bazlundi Otterbi and Joram Kyte are tending to the towns growing waste disposal problem, while Soceal Murgrave is tending to a powerful headache, the third headache that week actually, and of course, the 5th and final council member Khonnir Baine, was missing.<br/><br/>You learned that the flame on the hill went out 8 days ago, and since then, there were a total of 4 teams. A group of halfling adventurers, Khonnir and his party, a group of local thugs, and an adventurer group partly devoted to the worship of Brigh. The entrance to the cave is underwater, but, you were told that you may get a free cast of water breathing from Councilor Joram Kyte who can be found at the temple of Brigh.  Dolga offered a writ that offered a 20% discount for purchasing gear from local merchants. She also told you that Khonnir's adopted daughter, Val, had closed down her father's tavern, The Foundry, to the general public.  It is however, free to use for any adventuring party who wishes to go delving into the Black Hill Caves. To use as a headquarters and to rest.<br/><br/>Naturally, as it is a free place to stay, you four find yourself sitting in an empty tavern. Organizing your search. The Foundry Tavern was as the name sake suggested, right next to a foundry for metal working. Khonnir was a man of multiple interest as it would seem. Both the foundry and the tavern were right in front of his home, possibly a good place to investigate. The tavern itself was unlocked, although as of right now empty. The musky smell in the air was that of a place that hadn't been properly dusted or mopped for a few days.<br/><br/>The tavern was dark, no torches or candles were lit, only light embers from the fireplace and light came from the windows, and as it was around noon on a fall day, there wasn't much light creeping in. Inspection would show that the taps were still working, should someone find themselves craving a drink. On the bar there was some dry meat and assorted nuts, most likely still good. There was a  sign on one of the tables that read "Help yourselves- Val Blaine". There was an upstairs area with 3 bedrooms. What you do and where you go, is now up to you. So. Tell me brave adventurers, now that you have walked into this tavern, what will you do?<br/>