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Indeed you do.
The detector has a series of bars, with red indicating the most severe, followed by yellow, green, and blue bars. When Ray activates it, the arrow rises into the blue portion, with a repeated soft clicking sound.
Seri can get the woman and her gear out.
The woman wears a chain shirt, a masterwork spiked gauntlet, and the unholy symbol. She also carries masterwork backpack containing a white version of the access cards you've found previously, 15 silverdisks, 93 gp, and two nanite canisters.
Upon seeing the radiation detector, he remembers that he has something called a "panic suit" and quickly activates it before dragging the woman out.
"Dang, I need to study more. A LOT more."
Yes, I'll use it and take a cursory look as I leave:
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On his way, Seri notices a damaged panel, covered in Androffan writing. Strange symbols mar the text, which repeatedly flickers on and off.
EMERꆂENᒪ됺 FALSAF鱊 A눮ટIVAT�IOኲ PROẢEDURň
Columns of similarly damaged text seem to provide instructions. It seems like an extensive procedure, especially having to decipher the text. Attempting to follow the procedure would take about ten minutes and a disable device check.
Because you can read the instructions, such as they are, the DC is lowered to 20.
Seri can work safely in there thanks to the suit, though it would be dangerous for anyone to join him.
If there are things you'd like to do first, that's also fine. The woman could be interrogated, and the gearsman on this level is still active.
"Take her. I'm going back in. I still worry that this might all explode in my face, but I've got to try. I THINK I can read something about an ergency fail safe..."
Seri starts working on it:
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The doors to the room seal automatically early on as Seri works, sealed in his suit, for the better part of half an hour, the rest of you only able to peer through a small porthole to watch him work.
Despite having to repeat several steps as he manipulates the damaged and poorly labeled controls, he eventually completes the procedure, turning a key-shaped protrusion.
There is a terribly ghastly silence. Everyone is plunged into darkness as overhead lights, control panels, and everything else in the structure extinguishes.
There is a terribly ghastly noise. The floor beneath you shakes, as grinding and clanking sounds can be heard from somewhere below.
There is a terribly ghastly silence.
"Fascinating. I remember something about this, although I am not sure why. This item is an inferno pistol."
**
As the lights go out, Ray blinks a few times and states the obvious.
"The lights have gone out. I do not believe all members of our party can adjust to this change in condition of lighting."
While Seri begins his work, Selkania search the woman and stripped her from anything she could use to get free or try to attack them.
Once done, she asks Vaughn to attach her and only then, try to revive her with Brigh help.
Once conscious, Selkania begins to ask
Are you responsible for the forge to stop ? Do you know how to restart it ? If you tell us the truth and help Torch, we may be able to help you too.
Surprised by the effect of Seri's work, Selkania stays quite a few seconds before casting light
May Brigh give the light to cast away darkness.
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"Stopped? It was never stopped. Just...diverted. No matter what you do here, Hellion will return to claim what is rightfully his." she turns toward Ray, spitting.
"And punish those who betray their own kind."
You have a captured purple-haired woman, a reactor (in a still-radioactive room) that just had something dramatic happen to it, and a gearsman stomping around in the next room. Doing anything with those down here, or do you want to resurface?
Fine, then. You shouldn't mind if we "un-divert" it back to where it belongs, roit??
(Assuming Seri is done.) "I'm not sure what I did, but I did something. Let's take this lass and get out of here. Back to town, or deeper in with a prisoner?"
Seri bows with a facetious touch, "I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Seri. You are?"
Vivilaas scratches her head as Seri asks the pertinent question. "I think we should take her up, for now. If the lights are out down here now for good than we can prepare and return tomorrow, but get her squared away in custody."
Pulling a hand away, she can faintly feel a few strands of her hair come with it. "Is anyone else feeling, not feeling so great?"
Who is Hellion ? Some sort of God ? Asks Selkania
What was your purpose here ? Calls for your god to come here ? How would you be able to do that ?
When the lights come back Selkania says Well done Seri ! I hope it was what must have been done.
We need to go back to the surface to see if the forge had get back.
"Agreed, back and with our friend. I'd like some more answers than the ones we've got."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"Give yourself over to Hellion and let him show you his vision, as he showed me! Your little pocketwatch goddess cannot compare to his beauteous perfection. Join him, or perish like all the others. He will not forget those who bested Meyanda, his favored one, but he shall forgive if you submit now."
----------------------
Resurfacing, it is impossible not to notice the sky. Everything looks like you're viewing it through violet-colored glasses.
A pillar of purple fire pours out of the Black Hill, soaring into the skies above, though even as you watch you can see its height gradually sinking. The entire population of Torch is out on the street, alternatively celebrating and gawking. Dolga waits near the pond, you exit from, calling out,
"Well...looks like you might have overdone it just a tad. Who's your friend?"
"Like all the others? Are you responsible for the path of death we've sloughed through? And.... I'm interested in this Hellion. Tell me more."
--------------------------------
"Well met Dolga. She's... someone we picked up from inside. She's extremely loyal to a "Hellion" but we're not yet sure who or what that is. Meanwhile, we've fixed your torch." The last is said with a wide smile.
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"Release me from my bonds and I can confer his blessings upon you." she says with a wide smile.
Ultimately, any line of questioning will end up leading to her proselytizing about Hellion.
-----------------
Dolga replies, "Hmph...well, we'll have to put a stop to that Hellion fellow, then. I'll tell the guard to lock her up at their HQ, and get all the others to join us there shortly."
---------------
Based on the way circuitry patterns flared on her skin during the fight, it's clear to you that this woman is an android. It seems she recognizes you as one as well.
Vivilaas listens to the woman's screeds curiously, but impassively eventually she can't help but comment, "His blessings didn't seem to help much in the end though, did they?"
-----
Emerging from the pool to see an unexpected crowd out and around, the samsaran tracks their gaze towards the now re-burning column. "Yes, I'm not fully sure of how, but we think this lady may have tampered with it, trying to steal whatever energy she could from it for this 'Helion'."
She puts a hand to her head and closes her eyes for a moment. "It would be good to meet and explain what we found. And after that, some rest. I am feeling...unwell."
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A short while later, most of the familiar faces you've encountered in Torch gather at the guard's house, with the woman secured in a cell down the hallway.
The meeting room is dominated by a large table, on which a large map of Numeria has been unrolled. Notes and annotations dot the parchment.
Jorram Kyte is the first to speak, "We can't thank you enough for what you've done here over this past week. The very existence of our town was cast into doubt, but you've ensured we will survive. I hope you'll stay with us for a little while, at least until I am able to purge the disease from Khonnir's system."
Dolga interjects "That said, we hope you'd be willing to continue helping us. It's still not completely clear as to why that woman attacked our town, but it sounds like the threat might not be over. This "Hellion" character might send someone else to finish the job. There's no way to know for sure what he's capable of. We'd like you to track him down and put an end to this once and for all."
"The good news is, Jorram adds, approaching the map. "based on what you found in the warehouse, we have at least some idea about where she might have come from. The device there was communicating with something in this area. The most interesting locations near there are Aldronard's Grave and Scrapwall. The Ghost Wolves tribe controls much of the countryside, but they're technophobes. I can't imagine they'd be responsible."
He gestures to the map, pointing to an area along the Sellen River.
"None of those locations are associated with the League, so it's possible they're completely uninvolved. I'd expect a League operation to be based in Starfall, unless the technology has limitations that prevented that, or a captain wanted to keep the operation hidden from his peers."
Jhestine says, "Aldronard's Grave is a Sarenite waystation, providing shelter and supplies for Mendev-bound crusaders. It is often left undefended, and there's rarely more than a skeleton crew, so it's possible that someone might have forced them out. Scrapwall is a technological junkyard ruled by a coalition of gangs and bandits. Though they're largely criminals, an attack like this would be unprecedented from them."
Bazlundi Otterbie traces two routes on the map. "The shortest journey to that area would be overland, though that carries the risk of Kellid bandits, League patrols, and more exotic threats. Traveling by river is a longer distance, but not too much longer in duration. It's generally safer, and would allow you to return to Hajoth Hakados for supplies and such, though there is still some risk of piracy or other dangers"
At that point, Jorram Kyte leans in towards Selkania, whispering. "Might we have a word in private?"
Jorram takes you down the hallway to a smaller, empty room, closing the door behind him before speaking.
"If you're heading to Scrapwall, I have a personal favor to ask. Some time ago, one of my former colleagues in Chesed, Dinvaya Lanalei, had to flee the Technic League. She took up residence in Scrapwall about twenty years ago. I've had no luck getting in contact with her since. She may very well be dead, but I'd like you to try and find her in any case."
He retrieves a sealed letter from his robes. "Please give her this for me. It asks her to provide you with shelter and support, and to come to Torch as soon as she is able. You can show her this as a sign that you speak for me."
He removes the holy symbol from around his neck, and (with permission), places it around yours. .
He will also give you a description of Dinvaya, though age or disguise may mean the details have changed. He describes her as an attractive blonde half-elven woman, incredibly creative and a fierce fighter.
Jorram will, once he returns with Selkania, take a moment to inspect Vivilaas.
"Hmm...radiation is quite the nasty curse. Mercifully, this is not the worst cast I've seen. I can try to stop the condition from growing worse, though that may mean delaying attempts to treat Khonnir. The harm you've already suffered is beyond my expertise, though. We've requested the services of a more powerful cleric from Hajoth Hakados. If one accepts they can treat that when they arrive. It may be faster to head there directly for treatment, though."
Almost as an afterthought, Dolga adds, "Did you see any sign of Sanvill Trett down below? I haven't seen him around today."
"No, I...I think I can mange on my own." Vivilaas says to Jorram as he examines here. "Khonnir's case is more important than a few bad coughs."
She frowns at the mention of Trett's absence. "We didn't spy him down there, no. You say you haven't seen him? How long?" This is...curious timing. I wonder if there is more going on with him and Garmen than I thought.
Meeting up with the rest of the group later (after assuring the council that she would be happy to investigate this further), the samsaran discusses her thoughts. "Well, that certainly was a bit of unexpected news, yes? Curious though. Which place do you think **COUGH** sorry, do you think might be a more prudent place to travel to first? I would think this Grave site: despite its morbid name it seems likely we could find someone there who might be able to assist further."
She pauses, then looks around. "Oh, I realize I'm being a bit assuming. Sorry. No one else needs to go if they don't want to. I realize you may have your own journeys that need taking."
Of course I want to know more about this Hellion. And how this woman know so much about what was under Torch all this time.
I agree that Aldronard's Grave is the best spot to go first.
She pauses, then looks around. "Oh, I realize I'm being a bit assuming. Sorry. No one else needs to go if they don't want to. I realize you may have your own journeys that need taking."
Vaughn looks bothered at Vivilaas' obvious physical distress. Giving her a big smile...You're not going anywhere alone in your condition. You need a big strong warrior to stand behind so you can do your magicky stuff, while he gets smacked around for you! *wink* Grave site it is!!
"I don't mind a side stop, and I think helping is the right thing to do. That being said, I'll defer on how we travel. If I had to pick, I'd prefer to travel via the Sellen, stopping at Aldronard's Grave before heading to Scrapwall."
Ray confirms his agreement that taking the path along the Sellen is the most prudent. He also adds that it would make sense to identify proper merchants interested in the technology that has been recovered, in an effort to convert it into items more useful to the present party.
After things have calmed down upon their return, he visits the female android that has also been recovered.
"Greetings, I have several questions regarding Hellion I would be interested in obtaining your answers on..."
"You have explained that Hellion is greater our pocketwatch goddess. By this, I imagine you are referring to Brigh, the Whisper in Bronze."
"Brigh, as a Golarion deity, specifically addresses creation and invention. What aspects does Hellion address? Are their pseudonyms by which Hellion is known?"
"Have you seen Hellion? Directly? In a vision?"
Ray holds a notebook at the ready.
"Based on the name, I'd guess more lawful than demonic," Vivilaas says. "But that could also be posturing on whoever it is's part: I've never heard of such a god."
"And I'll be fine Vaughn," she says, blushing a bit. "It's no worse than what Khonnir's going through I'm sure. If you're that worried we can see if there are any healers in Hajoth Hakados on our way north. Well, out-of-the-way to quicken our way north."
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The purple-haired android woman grins widely.
"Power! He brings the triumph of the created over the merely born. The human primitives worship Gorum, the Lord in Iron. Gorum's might pales compared to that of a God of Iron and Lord of Starmetal. Soon he shall seize Numeria by force. After that it is only a matter of time before his domain stretches across this planet, this system, and the entire multiverse."
"Free me from this place and we can go to Scrapwall together. When you look upon him you will have no choice but to accept his divine power. He could use a servant like you to enact his will. He rewards his favored servants most generously."
Ray's expression bears no sign of appreciation at the provided answer, nor does it bear no sign of frustration his questions were not answered.
"You have chosen to not directly answer the inquiries I posed."
"He is a God of Starmetal? What observations or interactions have you personally experienced that would confirm his divinity? How can we be certain Helion is not a malign presence from the neighboring Worldwound posing as a deity?"
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Eventually, a senior Shelynite cleric, persuaded to take a detour from his trip to Mendev, arrives in Torch to treat Viv and Khonnir. The town happily pitches in for the cost of Viv's restoration, and the cleric, a jovial young man by the name of Brother Martin Chuzzlewit, forces the disease out of Khonnir, causing a stream of metallic sludge to pour out his nose. With that, the Brother leaves you alone, though he does spend some time peddling beauty products in the town market.
Khonnir will be extremely grateful for your assistance in saving him and the town. He tells you the medical robots were fascinated with his magical ability and injected him with nanites to "study the condition". He encourages you to press on and track down this Hellion.
Ray's conversation with the captured woman seems to have bogged down. She'll demand her holy symbol be returned so she can bestow the miracles of Hellion upon you, and refuse to cooperate without that.
After bidding Torch farewell, it's a short trip downstream to Hajoth Hakados to replenish supplies and purchase some gear unavailable in Torch, before swinging up to the crusader fortress. The journey passes without incident, but as you approach, you notice a pillar of smoke rising from the direction of the fortress.
The structure is a less than impressive sight. One tower stands twenty-five feet high , slightly taller than the two flanking the gate . The walls themselves are fifteen feet high. One large building appears mostly intact , while another looks like it was destroyed long ago . The last corner of the structure is most concerning. Much of the ceiling appears to have collapsed, and thick smoke billows out. There is no sign of active flames, though.
Two men emerge from the gatehouse towers as you approach. One calls out,
"Turn back. Thish plashe ish closhed. Quarantined while we deal with a disheashe outbreak.!"
Both men are dressed in leather armor, and wear helmets, with blue and gold scarves covering all but their eyes. They do not raise weapons, and crenellations prevent you from seeing most of their bodies.
"We are passing through, and are a cadre of skilled adventurers. Tell us what has befallen this place and perhaps we can lend aid or provide succor."
Hello, I'm Selkania, cleric of Brigh. If I may be of help let me know.
Like my friend says, we are experimented adventurers and could help you in this time of crisis.
Says Selkania.
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"Verry vell. A cuh-lair-ic vould be nishe. I vill meet you below."
Both men enter the tower, and the portcullis begins to rise. The man who spoke steps out, left hand out in a welcoming gesture, the other tucked into his mud-spattered blue cloak.
Selkania enters, protecting her mouth and hands. What have these men could be contagious.
"How many people are infected?" Vivilaas asks with concern as she looks at their scarved faces.
Seri nods, "Agreed. That's not normal. We ought to avoid physical contact and hope it's not airborne. "
Not wanting to overload the conversation with the man, the elf goes silent after that, letting Viv take over.
Wait!!
Vaughn puts a hand out to stop his friends from entering.
He said they were under quarantine. Maybe we should respect that, and at least do a perimeter first? I mean, if they've shut down the fort...
he's clearly nervous and apprehensive about entering.
Ray nods to affirm Vaughn's assessment.
"Agreed. The probability of contacting some form of contagion based on empirical evidence at this stage exceeds ninety percent."
Ray moves to put his arm in front of his companions and move them back from the two guards that appear ready to lead them in.
He then turns his attention towards them.
"We require additional data to assess the risk of entry. Please, from a safe operating distance, we desire visual indication of whatever affliction has impaired your auditory function."
The hilt of Ray's sword briefly shimmers from its scabbard.
*You OK, buddy? That was, like - more, uhh.. robot of you than usual.*
Vaughn blinks a couple times. YEAH! Contagion...empirical...operating distance...auditory function! Like that!! He nods forcefully while pointing at Ray.
Selkania turns to Ray.
As a Cleric, it's my duty to tend the wounds of the sicken. I need to know what's going on.
She moves in.
Seri gets a little suspicious, "We are here to help, and were led to believe that we also could find succor here. Can we talk to the head cleric? Perhaps some fresh minds and hands can help."
Looking to get a hunch on this person's honesty.
The young warrior seems a bit distressed, but ceases his objections.
Seri is RP too. He's very curious about everyhting.
"If you need assistance," Vivlaas responds as she walks closely behind Selkania. "Let me know. I'm less trained in healing than you, but even an extra pair of hands could assist."
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Seri feels confident as he follows Selkania and Viv in, along with the others. As Dr. N and Vaughn are passing under the portcullis, the man raises his obscured arm.
Problematically, he lacks a hand, his arm instead ending in a brutal cleaver. Even more problematically, the portcullis falls as the axe-hand rises, plummeting towards Seri and Vaughn.