#baronyofthesilverwolf

Flames continue to bathe the lid of the crucible, but now more than just the lid is changing. Sounds emit, first slowly like the first few kernels of popcorn in the bag, and then more, crackling, fizzing, whistling - smoke and steam hiss out of rusted cracks and the edges of the crucible lid, gaining in frequency and volume, even as the entire steel vessel starts to glow.

Thistle dives for cover.

Madern KEEPS going back.. helping Art along if he isn't already ahead him

ANd Gwen hears things popping and, carrying Briar, moves in a run to cover as well for both of them

Art was waiting to drag Thistle back into cover if she didn't, but is grateful that she DOES, and dives after her, hoping that the Flamethrower has a safety catch on!

She flashes a manic grin at the sidhe, and plants her hands over her ears.

Mad Ernie can be heard muttering "Hail Mary, full of ..."

....Incoming....!

^&#$^@&^#&^@$ BOOM! #($&#)($& !!*

An ear shattering explosion that will be making Lizbet wince from a couple miles away, and a flash of light bright enough to blind anyone watching - luckily, no one was watching.

The BOOM is half fireworks, half shattering steel, and half (yes, 150%!) a screeching ROAR that is cut off!

Heat bathes the backs of the Adventurers and bits of ash and small debris drop from above, spattering their backs. Whistles and streaks and pops continue for a few moments longer, then die down to a low, crackling sound, like a campfire - only larger.

Madern and Artie find that they are feeling lightheaded and woozy, queasy and hard to catch their breath.

As for the others? Well, they can turn and look...

You HAVE to look!

Gladiola drops Briar before she loses a finger, then turns to do that. She can't help it

Mad Ernie coughs

The crucible is, to Thistle's credit, largely intact! Her seal HELD... it's just that the lid and body itself were so riddled with rust that it cracked in several places which let some of the explosive pressure escape. The walls and ceilings are blackened, and there are bits of shattered slag steel and fireworks debris everywhere, much of it still on fire. Under and immediately around the crucible slowly forms a pool of inky black sludge that burbles and plops as it drips (gravity, not intentional movement) from the cracks. It looks vile.

Gwen looks at it, then gets an idea "Briar... it's true Redcaps can eat ANYTHING right?"

Briar is shoving at Gladiola. "AWWwww you made me MISS it!"

"Aw, sweet! That went better than expected!"

The redcap plods over to peer at the gunk. "It looks WICKED." Impressed!

She checks her pockets for a sample vial. "Foul as furk!"

"Would.. you eating the gloop be safe for you? If so, it might mean it never comes back. I mean..."

"Let me get a sample? For, y'know, science."

Briar dips a finger into the goop and swoops into into her mouth. "ACK! ACK!" She sputters.

"I didn't mean..."

Gwen groans "I didn't mean touch" She kens the little cap

"IT'S FUCKIN HOT!"

She is waving her finger like she scorched it on a cookie straight from the pan.

"Of course it's hot! You want cold toxic sludge?"

And for that matter, kens the goop

The air in the forge is smoky and thick... but it smells like fire, forge, and the smell of fireworks, not so much of the fetid smog of before.

Ernie coughs some more "Love..." Cough" the smell of fireworks in the morning"

"That's the saltpeter!"

Briar is checking her pockets, and finds a spoon. One of Marigold's nice silver ones, the serving ones with the filigree handles, in fact. She crouches and is starting to go to town on the goop.

"Well, I think we can say the threat has been neutralized" Dubious, but she's too wound up to ken properly

Lips smacking. "Tastes like the time Madern tried to make Marigold's... whatsit, the booly-base thingo."

"Bouillabaisse" Ernie coughs "I think e need to get out of here. Art, you okay?"

A wheezy, gasping sound from Art, who hasn't quite risen to his feet.

Gwen turns at that, and moves to Art and picks him up "Yup. Fresh air for you. Sorry, Squire"

"...Art?"

He holds up a hand, "I'm... fine..." wheeze.

GLADIOLA kens, and doesn't get a clear picture. There is nocker glamour and cantrips all over, but the goop that Briar is tucking into is clearly chimerical and nasty.
What else she can tell, is that the goop is likely noxious and poisonous, but Briar seems unaffected. However, Art seems to be showing some signs that lead not towards issues with the current air quality, but of poisoning. Something about his color, the way his pupils have dilated. Madern too, but to a lesser extent.

THISTLE can pick through the glamour easily. After all, it's mostly hers! That sludge is nasty, but intriguing. Definitely worth a sample, which she gets. However, there is more glamour within the crucible still remaining. It feels... different! A glowing light, warm and pure against the smoke and sludge, starts to trickle through the cracks. A stirring within the Crucible, whatever it is cannot get free through the cracks.

"No no you are not, Art. You look.. poisoned"

"I got a... lungful of the... bad air. Lost.. mask."

Madern also feels woozy, he's not sure he can walk straight.

"We're gonna get you taken care of Art! Bu first..." Squinty face.

The flamethrower fires up - from solder to cut!

Briar growls, "WATCH IT!" She has pulled some bread from a pocket and is mopping up the dregs of the toxic ooze. a Belch which produces a small smog cloud from her gullet.

Gwen pulls Art outside to fresh air "Come on , you two, Ernie. You both got a dose and the rest of us still have masks. Briar and Thistle got this"

She uses the torchflame to make a hole in the side of the damaged crucible.

The air fills with sparks and crackles as Thistle works, deftly drawing a circle on the side of the crucible in glowing molten steel. Within, shifting, and CREAKING as it presses against the weakened metal!

Gladiola may remain, or exit with the boys!

Briar is watching with interest, licking her fingers.

Gwen shoves the boys out, sets them on grass and hurries back in .. in case of explosion

Ernie lays out there on the grass with Art "Man...girls are pushy around these parts"