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This room buzzes and hums with the sound of machinery. A long track of moving leather- like material rotates along a metal framework in the middle of the room. The eastern end of this device is connected to a looming metal machine fitted with thrashing and twitching armatures and blinking lights. Panels on the wall flash with strange writing and images of metallic constructs.
To the west, a second track of leather, this one smeared with blood, churns through an opening in the wall to a room beyond. The entire place has an air of entropy to it—with missing parts, flashing sparks, and periodic discordant sounds of metal scraping against metal revealing how damaged the room’s machinery is.
The ratfolk with a musket stands in a doorway on the far side of the room, another door immediately to its back. The other exit from the room, near the bloody track, is open as well, with the metallic clang of metal pounding on metal echoing from within.
Seri, despite the voice in his head to hide, opts to bring the fight to the ratfolk. He dashes forward to the creature and tries to stab him:
for (I'm assuming no sneak attack.)
Ray, still reeling from his earlier injuries, hobbles into the room but chooses to not engage in the same swift assault as Serithial.
"The other door is ajar. I will monitor it for additional hostile enemies."
He gestures to Vaughn, certain his ally will quickly move to Seri's shoulder to engage musket-rat.
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An immense machine looms to the south in the room Ray sees, its upper portion obscured by tangles of hanging cables and cords. The device looks something like an enormous oven, its front open with a rotating belt of green leathery material connecting to a wide metal table. Metal desks with flashing lights sit to the east, while a second rotating belt of leather moves through an opening in the east wall Two dead orcs lie at the base of this second belt.
A large metal man, a head taller than most men, is striding towards the door, a glowing baton in one hand.
Ray, precious little time to shout to the others about what he sees, utters a few clear words.
"Beyond this door... a metal man holding a glowing implement."
"Great.... company... and I forgot to wash the tablecloth."
Seri tries to joke, but his focus is set on the ratman with the gun.
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Ray recognizes this as a Gearsman, the fearsome robots most famous for their role as Technic League shock troops, though there are rare sightings of the robots outside of League control.
Because they are designed for combat, only the most powerful blows can penetrate their armor. They also have extensive control over their own functions, possessing the ability to repair themselves and retool themselves for specific tasks.
Most League-controlled Gearsmen wield spears. The weapon this one carries isn't something you immediately recognize. Identification will need to wait until you can examine it more closely.
Vaughn rushes in to help deal with the Musk-Rat quickly, so they only have one foe to handle at a time.
<--threat!!
May be it's safer to go back and not fight this thing !
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Vaughn stabs and Dr. N shoots the cornered ratfolk, leaving him brutally wounded. The metal man walks out of the room. Its glowing eye skims over Ray before fixing itself on Dr. N. In a shrill metallic voice, it calls out in Androffan,
"Intrusion detected. Initiating purge protocol 11-321. Please stand down and submit, intruders. Purge protocol 11-321 demands compliance per core Divinity Directive.”
It swings its glowing baton, which crackles with energy but fails to connect with the Grippli.
The ratfolk raises its musket at Seri, preparing to shoot, but Seri's rapier flashes and knocks the ratfolk out before it can fire.
The party may act.
Ray reports his assessment.
"I have assessed this foe. His exterior will be quite difficult for us to breach."
Ray works up a spell, browning-green energy wrapping about his fingers.
for
After delivering his spell, Ray stumbles backward, still quite injured from today's adventure.
Vaughn breathes a sigh that the Musk-rat is down, so he can focus on Big, Metallic, and Ugly. He drops his daggers, releases ray's Bec de Corbin from the strap on his back as he closes, and takes a mighty swing...
Seri gives something of an exaggerated sigh as he makes a series of quick steps to get to the machine. Once there he stabs for what he thinks is something important:
for
Selkania moves in to see by herself the creature.
Once recognizing it, she immediately knows that her power will be useless against it
A retreat will be better ! I'm useless against this thing. All my power left will be used to fight this creature.
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Dr. N and Vaughn both fail to connect with the robot, while Seri and Ray's attacks both fail to harm the creature substantially.
The robot continues calling out,
""Intrusion detected. Initiating purge protocol 11-321. Please stand down and submit, intruders. Purge protocol 11-321 demands compliance per core Divinity Directive.”
The robot strikes Seri with the baton. Electric energy crackles over his skin.
The party may act Viv can take two rounds of actions.
If you want to retreat, you're welcome to do so, but it'll be a fighting retreat.
Vaughn shifts 5' south . As he swings he calls out what's the play, buys??
. Faaaaaak
Ray observes as the party's usual luck emerges when confronted with an adversary that is particularly hard to wound.
"Agreed. Let us fall back and hopefully avoid the purge protocol."
Ray's voice seems to indicate he has complete understanding of a purge protocol.
Selkania retreats in the corridor.
Vivilaas, seeing an injured Ray and Selkania retreat down the corridoor, reaies her spear and steps forward. Her eyes widen as she gets up just in time to see a hulking automaton smash into the elf even as the group's own strikes seem to deflect effortlessly.
Corr, not again.
The samsaran pitifully attempts to jab at the thing to block its swings as she calls out "Vaughn, Seri, I think this might require some better planning. Let's regroup. We don't wants another zombie incident!"
Vaughn moves to a bit behind Seri, and follows Viv's lead in fooling the automaton'S attacks. Seri! Get out! I'll cover you!
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Despite the best efforts of the party, the robot might hit Seri.
After its attack, you're able to flee into the hallway and seal the door behind you.
Taking a moment on your way out to explore one of the side tunnels (brown), you discover that it leads to a locked door. Unsealing it, you discover it is the previously inoperable door you found in the Black Hill Caves near the gremlins.
You're able to make it to the surface without further incident and recover overnight in Torch, feeling significantly more powerful.
HUZZAH!
Once free, "Thank you friends. I cannot express how much your camaraderie and courage means to me. I've got to look at my fighting style and see what I can do to be more helpful."
-Posted with Wayfinder
alphabetical. Red. :-)
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Back down you go!
The walls of this chamber are battered and dented, and flickering lights on the ceiling give the room a phantasmagoric cast. A mound of rubble sits heaped to the north, while numerous strange containers lie in haphazard piles throughout the chamber. A pair of desks with chairs are placed to the south.
A locker built into the wall shows signs of heavy battering, as well as chemical corrosion.
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A multitude of small boxes, discarded wrappers, and opened crates lie scattered throughout this room, along with several empty shelves.
Though everything you've seen down here is messy and chaotic, it seems someone or something has been rummaging through this area within the past 24 hours.
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Cushioned chairs and metal tables are situated throughout this small room. To the north are several doors, while a few broken machines lie against the walls. Broken panels cover the ceiling, and mounds of what look like shattered glass have been pushed under the tables.
Several small robed figures await you here, dark metallic daggers at the ready.
Two rush forward at Vaughn, slicing with daggers.
The other lingers behind, raising a hand to its temple. A burning sensation fills Vaughn's head, as the same claw-like image on the exploding robots etches itself in his mind.
Seri will make note of the rummaging before entering the room.
Moving through the broken and ransacked rooms, Vivilaas feels a bit more confident in their expedition. That feeling fades as they are ambushed by several figures as they enter one of the further chambers. Well, I suppose this should have been expected - we weren't exactly quiet yesterday.
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Vivilaas recognizes the two leaders as Dark Creepers, with the one in the corner being a Dark Empath, varieties of the Dark Folk. They are all trained in the use of poison, favoring the strength-sapping black smear, and excel at catching targets off guard. The Empath has additional abilities tied to emotions, but the details are unclear as they're rarely seen.
All Dark Folk have a tendency to explode in a destructive or debilitating manner on death.
When in the room with the numerous boxes. He guys ! Looks like someone or something has been rummaging through this area within the past 24 hours. Be careful, we are not alone...
Selkania calls for the heat of the forge to shoot at the creature fighting Vaughn .
"I can't help in the bottle neck!" Seri delays, hoping an opening presents itself.
--fail
--pass
Vaughn is only partially readied by Selkania's warning and has daggers out...but he's still surprised by the sneaky assault. He grunts as the poison takes hold, but is able to shake off some of the mental invasion. Glaring at the little beasties, he snarls ok, lets see how you do on MY turn!
Starting on Red
He then calls out over his shoulder back up so I can move in!!
Ray tries to take a step forward but realizes the hall grants little by way of advancing at this time.
He then lobs a spell at the one in the front.
As Vaugh continually screams out from the stares from the figure in the back, Vivilaas recognizes the figure's psychic casting. She prepares to give him something else to focus on if he tries again.
"Enough of this!"
Seri tumbles past his teammate and into the room he lines up a shot at the neck of the blinded foe and jabs with his rapier:
THREAT
As Vaugh continually screams out from the stares from the figure in the back...
Oh, come now!! These are BATTLE CRIES!!
Vaughn will need a save vs poison.
<--crap on a stick
Seeing that Seri is now in the thick of it, but against blinded foes, Vaughn tries to press the advantage.
Ray takes a breath and doubles down on his efforts to break down the minds of their foes.
Selkania stays behind and calls for Brigh guidance on Vaughn.
May Brigh's blessing help you fight the poison.