Men of Bronze

t he knew of the surrounding lands.

”I grew up in these mountains among the Giltons and that name, Velagoth, got me thinking. Since its very similar to my tribes word for weapon: Veelagoth. ” said Jarvis. ”I first learned it when hearing stories of the Nalros great treasures and technology buried deep within the mountains. ”

”Why are you telling me this? ” I asked.

”Because its said they were mechanics like yourself. I don know how they did it but its said they could build great war machines with nothing but tin and stone. ”

”Thats impossible, they would need a fuel source or something of that kind. ”

”Well to them these machines are very real, I don know how they would work but I do know that my people had lost many men trying to uncover them. ”

I didn know what to think, Jarvis seemed like a reasonable guy but then again he wasn good for much besides piloting bronze-men and carrying supplies. Maybe he just misunderstood machinery? Whatever the case I decided then to get some rest and from the heat of the fire and the warmth of my leather cot I fell swiftly into sleep between the mountains.

Early the next morning we packed up camp and hit the road yet again, weaving through the ever narrowing path with less and less speed as we came upon cliffs and dead ends time and time again. The map was helpful, but many of its pathways had been blocked by rock slides and such over the years. The ruins we passed now became more and more frequent as the day went on, turning from piles to rubble to the remains of farms and small towns on the ridges above us. Yet despite all these ruins which passed like the hours we had yet to see any signs of people, let alone The Order of Gilton.

Just as we were on the final stretch of the journey, the path began to narrow until it came to a point which was too small for the steam-crawlers to pass through. Even using the bronze-men we could not clear a way large enough for them.

”We could head back and go anorther way. ” said Amelia.

”That could take days, ” said Jarvis. ”We should head the rest of the way on the bronze-men, we are only a few miles from the mine according to the map anyway. ”

”There is no point in turning back now, ” said Derek. ”Me and Jarvis will carry Cambry and Amelia with our bronze-men whilst Deckard carries some supplies. ”

We packed enough food and fuel for a day onto the back of my bronze-man with rope. I did not know how that would effect my ability to pilot or fight with the machine and I prayed to not find out.

The rest of the way was a slog in the bronze-men and we did not reach the outskirts of the mine until sundown. We dismounted and met together in the ruins of what was probably once a mining town before planning our approach for the coming day. Jarvis wanted to breach the mine right away as to deal with them quickly whist Derek did not agree.

”We should camp here for the night. In the morning Deckard will bring the women back to the crawlers in case we need a quick evacuation. For now let us rest for the coming battle. ”

And rest that night we did.