Dellen and Finnegan sat at The Gear and Sprocket. It felt pleasantly cool after the warmth of the Anvil.

The pub was filled with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Dellen felt relaxed for the first time since he’d arrived in the city. The walls were adorned with artwork, from stained glass studded intricate gears to paintings. A group of musicians in the corner filled the room with lively folk tunes, with several patrons tapping their feet and clapping along.

A delicious aroma filled the air, a mix of roasted meats, vegetables, and the distinctive scent of fresh bread. Soft, warm light cast a golden glow over the wooden tables and booths throughout the pub, inviting patrons to linger over their food and drink.

The pair were seated in a relatively quiet spot towards the back of the pub, settling down at a small, round table illuminated by a flickering oil lamp. Finnegan shared his ideas for the trip down as they sipped their pints of dark, malty ale.

“We could construct a specialised exploration vehicle,” Finnegan began, “Equipped with powerful engines,” He continued and picked up steam. “We’d need a durable exterior to withstand whatever hazards we found.”

His eyes sparkled with excitement. “The vehicle would have a lighting system, and maybe sensors to help us find sources of Aether. We’d need a winch or pulley system to help navigate areas too narrow to land or unstable to hike. We’d bring along two to three weeks worth of provisions for safety.”

Two or three weeks. Dellen didn’t have two or three weeks, but he let it pass.

Finnegan paused for a moment and drew breath. “What are you looking for down there?”

“I don’t know what I’m hoping to find he said.”

“I know what you mean,” Finnegan said, excitement in his voice. “I can’t find any historical records of expeditions down, recent or otherwise. It’s like people just accept the chasm and move on with their lives, not sparing a moment for curiosity.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand how it isn’t what everyone thinks about, what everyone wonders about. Why did they build a city here, of all places? Was there something wrong with flat ground? How did they lay the foundations? Where did they forge bars strong enough to hold up the entire city? The more you look at our home, the more questions arise.”

Those questions were… intriguing. Dellen hadn’t taken any time to wonder about how Copperopolis was built, but now that it was pointed out to him, it was almost as though the designers had chosen the most challenging way possible to build the city.

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“You know, he’s asking some fascinating questions,” Gilgamesh said.

“I’ve wondered the same things,” Dellen said. “Mysteries upon mysteries.”

Finnegan nodded, looking almost relieved.

“Though, why start with a custom vehicle? Wouldn’t it make sense to take an old carriage, scout out the terrain, and see what we’re building for?” Dellen rubbed his fingers together. “Custom work is expensive.” And he was already commissioning a boxing frame.

Finnegan frowned. “I guess you’re right; it’s just that.” He trailed off.

“It lacks panache?” Dellen guessed.

Finnegan looked abashed. “Something like that, yes.”

“Do you have any source of funds?”

“Not as such, no, or I’d have gone before.”

Dellen nodded. He needed to spend some time pouring over House Northcote’s books to understand what he had access to. “I have some funds, but not so much that I want to spend blindly.”

A look of disappointment flashed over Finnegan’s face.

“Are there any winches in the Anvil?” Dellen asked.

“Sure, lots,” Finnegan said, confusion evident on his face.

“How large? How long? What if we just found a basement level, broke through the floor, and lowered ourselves down to scout?”

Finnegan coughed, screwed up his face, and spoke politely. “Well, that’s not a bad idea, but you’d still need to dig through the gear itself. There’s no telling how long that would take. On top of that, any cable you used would snap before you found the bottom of the chasm.”

“Right, yes. Sorry.” Dellen felt that he was revealing his ignorance. “Have you ever been in any buildings built beneath a gear?”

Finnegan stared at him for a spell. “No… Are you implying that you have?”

“Yes. Yes, I have.”

Finnegan leaned forward, “What was it like? How did it feel?”

Dellen thought of the roar of the crowd, the impact of fists. “Dangerous, precarious.” Exhilarating, he finished silently.

They sat in silence.

“What you’re saying sounds intriguing.” Said Finnegan, “But, even ignoring the issue of length, do you know of a place like that where we could safely set up a winch, lower a person, and be sure someone wouldn’t come along and cut them free?”

Dellen blanched. “Let’s get a small airship and go between a wide gap in the gears.”

Finnegan nodded. “That sounds safer, but where will we get an airship?”

“Couldn’t we just hire a carriage?”

“No, I’ve tried. I don’t know why, but not a single carriage driver that I’ve spoken to has ever agreed to that.”

“Fascinating.” Said Gilgamesh. “That almost sounds like a city-wide aversion. I wonder why the two of you are immune.”

Dellen did not think it was so strange, people avoided what they did not understand, and a near bottomless chasm below the city was something most would want to avoid. “What does a small airship cost?”

“Even a small one is a few thousand sovereigns.”

“Give me a week; I think I can put that together.”

Finnegan eyed Dellen’s clothes. “I can give you a week.”

Dellen put some sovereigns on the table. “In any case, I have to go. Can you see if you can find any inexpensive, relatively inexpensive airships that I can look at?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Excellent.” Dellen stood. “Oh, how do I find you? Do you keep regular hours at the Artificer’s Anvil?”

“I’m there every day.”

Dellen nodded and took his leave.

“Where to now?” Gilgamesh asked.

“Home. I need to see if I can get funds for Harlan.”

“I can scarcely believe you intend to enter a ring again,” Gilgamesh muttered.

“Thaddeus recommended combat as a way to improve my Aether control. I just need to make sure I’m not outmatched like I was last time.”