Ravboom grins. "Anyone else have any mayo jars left? Could toss one with torch in pit." He levels the gun at the klaven he's been shooting, and pulls the trigger.
"That's it guys, show them who's boss!" Relas cheers as he continues his dance with the klaven in front of him.
Digging Knick Knack out from her jacket, "Quit being a coward and help."
Making sure to knock Vael in the face with the rubble that makes up its body before carefully floating over to Ravboom and touching the golbins ear while grumbling to himself, "Thinks she can tell me what to do. Do better."
Ravboom's gun goes off... and then Relas jumps at the klaven, his teeth rending the creature's throat open and hurling it to the ground in a bloody mess. From behind her companion, Palomia magicks a slick substance into being... and shapes it around Blekk's foe. Tumbling to the floor, the klaven is subject to another horrendous biting attack from the goblin...
"Good job, finish off down and blind ones Relas and Blekk, going to deal with Lomrick."
Rav races past the downed Klaven and to the edge of the pit. He fishes in his pack when he gets there and digs out another mayo jar.
"What call Klaven and Lomrick in pit?" He asks the creature before lighting the wick in the top of the shrapnel laden may jar. "Puree!" He then tosses the jar in to the pit.
Finally manages to down his foe, Relas takes a decisive step forward and attempts to lay into the klaven that now lies flat on his back!
______
Brushing Blekk aside, Relas tears the prone klaven's throat wide open... leaving two blinded klaven scrabbling around looking for people to fight - whilst at the far end of the room, Ravboom runs forwards to see Lomrick scrabbling upwards. Two klaven at the bottom of the pit are clattered into by the falling jagladine as Ravboom's jar drops downwards - and, with a horrific white flash smeared with crimson, all that remains is the jagladine.
Rushing forward to stay even with Ravboom.
"Very well... I will deal with you myself", Lomrick clambers - with the natural agility of an arachnid - from the pit. At the far side of the void, which is still filled with the smoking aftermath of the bomb, the jagladine unholsters a pottery vessel of some kind... and flings it towards Ravboom...
Maybe with his target slightly obscured by the smoke wafting from the pit... Lomrick's bomb bounces from the wall and drops into the hole where it detonates harmlessly.
Rav leaves the rapier swinging from his wrist, and begins pulling bullets out of his belt and putting them into the BoomGar. When done, he snaps the BoomGar closed, and then Runs toward the wall and uses it to leap over the pit!
He lands near Lomrick, and flips the rapier back into his hand. He grins, showing off rows of shark like teeth. "Time to dance, dum dum!"
Trusting Rav and the others to take care of Lomrick, Relas continues focusing his attention on the remaining klaven that scramble around in the dark. He steps slightly to the side to make room for people to shoot and begins working on his new target!
Raising her hand with the palm out and pointed at Lomrick. Please avoid Ravboom. Trying to catch Lomrick in the edge of the gout of fire that erupts from her palm
claptrap cackles maniacally, and has been for a bit. Actually, its only after a short while that you realize it is, in fact, a recording of Palo cackling, puncuated with bits of ...eatfloorsuckers... and back to cackling.
It also sounds slightly distorted. Enhanced. And the end result sounds undeniably evil...
Suddenly springing into action, Claptrap zipps around the hole in the ground, and pausing only briefly to pick up a dismembered claw from one of the klaven, then continuing all the way around to come up to the far side of Lomrick, and tries to stab him with it. But mostly he just tries to distract him and stay safe.
I KNOW MY ALEGIANCE NOW! Lomrick. I know you no more.
Claptrap lunges (ok, more of a weak, half-hearted stab) at Lomrick from the other side with his Klaw of Kalvinisim.
With only one combatant worth targeting (the blinded klaven seeming to be crawling away from the fight rather than to it), the majority of the group focus their attention upon the jagladine, abductor, vivisectionist and the cause of all the group's woes... Palomia's bolt, in a departure from the norm, finds it target before Vael, using near-exhausted magicks, fashions a gout of flame that fills the far end of the room.
As the fire subsides, and Lomrick screeches abuse in an alien tongue towards the group, Ravboom jumps across the pit - and safely lands, face to face with his nemesis, on the scorched floor. The goblin, focussing on regaining his footing as he lands, has to duck to avoid being struck by an extending, and wildly slashing, mechanical claw from Cl4P-TP - in the end, the hybrid machine strikes neither of his 'creators'...
Clambering away from Ravboom, the jagladine - burnt and badly injured - slashes at the goblin with a surgical-looking dagger.
"Bad vermine, stop running from fate." Rav points the Boomgar up and fires at Lomrick!
Although Lomrick is able to move away from Ravboom before the goblin has time to react, the insectile creature is still well within the range of Ravboom's firearm. There is an echoing crack and a whiff of sulphur as the Boomgar flashes brightly.... and then the dying form of Lomrick falls from the ceiling and, bouncing with a terrible 'crack' from the edge of the pit, dies...
"Is anyone injured?"
Claptrap rushes over to the fallen Jagdaline EX-MASTER!!! and examines him.
Having determined that he is, in fact, dead, Claptrap begins searching him and determining what he has, starting with that surgical knife.
OOH! Tools! And a sharp one at that! That will probably work better then a dead claw would....
So Claptrap pockets the knife (and the claw too, hes keeping that one >_>)
Rav takes a deep breath, and then reloads the BoomGar, flipping bullets into the cylinders. "Told Lomrick was going to kill him. Didn't know was just being exterminator killing bugs. Would have asked for more pay, killing bugs a pain."
"Aw, just doing my job," Relas responds though he does rumble a bit at Palo's praise, much like an overgrown cat. "Oh but don't forget, we still need to go back and free that lady stuck behind the glass! At least now we should have plenty of time to figure out how to get her cage open."
Nodding, "Of course." Moving closer to Relas but away from the downed klaven, "If any of the rest of you need it come closer."
"Key if not on Vermin corpse, then in next room." Rav kicks the door open that Lomrick came out of, looking for the key to the cage, and also ready to shoot anything that moves in a vermin way.
Pushing through the door to the south, the group find Lomrick’s hidden offices - the small chamber contains a heavily-stained table against the east wall, covered with beakers, burners, and numerous vials and containers of chemicals and strange, alien substances. A smaller, wooden desk and chair stand near the south wall.
A chemical stained formulae book sits upon the wooden desk… well used and extensively annotated, it contains formulae for many alchemical extracts - additionally, placed in a corner are several items that Lomrick seemingly had no use for but has confiscated from some of his past victims and enemies, including a mithral breastplate, a silver longsword, and a living steel heavy shield - the desk, forcing it open, contains a coffer with 1,200 gp and assorted coins of lesser denomination.
Despite Relstanna having wordlessly directed the group to the south from her prison, there is nothing within the room that seems to be a key… and so, retracing their steps back to the broken corpse of the jagladine, the group sift through his equipment – finding a particularly cruel looking dagger, and a loop of keys. Hurrying, for this place feels increasingly oppressive, Palomia leads the group back to Relstanna’s cell… and, sorting through the keys, finds the one that fits the recess in the floor… she turns it and, with a hissing of escaping gas as the pneumatic seals release, the glass cell opens…
Relstanna, quite weak from her captivity, limps out into the main chamber… and placing a hand upon Palomia’s shoulder whispers ”Thank you my friend… and Lomrick? Is he gone?”
"Well, his guts is over there..." He points to the floor. "And his head is over there..." He points a few feet away. "And his carapace is there, there, and there..." He points to three or four places. "So, Rav think him dead for now. Never know, but should stay dead. Killed blind klaven too, before let you out." Rav digs in his pack and hands the woman a flask of water. "Drink, then eat some, not much." He pulls a half a loaf of bread out, rips a few bits of mold off the end, and hands the rest of the mostly ok loaf to her. "Not too much, if not eat much, stomach not used to it."
He turns to the group. "Rav think we need go back to town, but think we can live here going forward. Defensible place, lots of research stuff, and still need turn Biggunlaven back into Biggun."
Upon entering Lomricks personal hidden office, Claptrap lets out a squeal of glee SQUEEEEE!!! TOOOLS!!! BOOKS!!! POINTY THINGS!!! and rushes over to inspect each and every thing he can get his graspers on. Once again, he is in robot heaven with all the knowledge and technology at his graspertips.
While I am sure we will be coming back here, and maybe even setting up base, I just cannot risk some of these wonderful things going missing.
andImusthoardalltheknowledgeIcanforthatonedaywhereIrulethisplanet...
Huh? What? I said nothing!
So Claptrap goes over to the table and starts to load a handful of beakers and vials of numerous strange substances and deposits them into his chassis. He then picks up the stained and tattered formula book and begins studying it.
Interesting. I think I can use a bit of this!
After that, he offers to identify any of the items that the group presents to him, such as the breastplate or sword.
Then he is engrossed in reading it while
As Claptrap and the group make their way back towards Lomrick, and then to Relstanna, Claptrap is engrossed in reading the Formula book.
Once in the room with Relstanna, and once she is released, Claptrap zips up to her and extends a grasper while doing a short bow. Evening Ma'am. I believe Kay-Tricks would be mighty pleased once we have assured your return to her. She was most worried in your absence. To that end, shall we depart?
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"Gives it that 'lived in' look. Makes it much better, in my opinion. Nobody else have house with hole blown in wall."
"That makes it odd and not lived in Ravboom."
"Not true, every house Rav ever lived in had holes blown in side. And all were lived in." The goblin's logic is, of course, unassailable, just alien.
"Lomrick is dead?", the elali, even though she is quite frail, is momentarily excitable..."That is a blow that the Scions will feel - you have brought us some time, a moment to breath, with your actions today". Taking Palomia's hand, and then leaning on her for support, Relstanna suggests leaving the manse before any of Lomrick's affiliates happen upon the scene here...
Back out in the fresh air, and in a cool evening breeze, Relstanna finally has answers, "I'm not sure that I will be able to tell you much that you weren't able to squeeze from that insect... Lomrick kidnapped me with a view to aiding him with the repairs to the gate that he was using - but, from all of the informations - drawings, records and aura measurement - that he collected, I was unable to assist him. Even had I the knowledge to do so, of course I was never going to help him..."
"Forgive me, I am somewhat exhausted from the constant questioning and mental assaults from Lomrick's cronies... could we return to Zel-Argose and, once I have recuperated, we can talk further", she turns to the group, "I would be keen to know what grudge you hold against the Jagladine?"
The trek back to Zel-Argose passes without event, there is a moment where it seems that a group of auttaine driving a wagon of covered cargo northwards seem to pay Relstanna more attention than is polite... but it amounts to nothing. And so, finally within the city proper, Vael leads the friends through the network of alleyways that ends up at Kaetrix' safehouse... clambering up the ladder into the loft, the friends are finally safe. Lomrick has been defeated and a bloody revenge for the jagladine's crimes has been dealt.
A low light burns in the loft where Kaetrix is waiting - Jumping to her feet, with the typical elegance of a catfolk, Kaetrix embraces Relstanna... and then, one by one, each of the friends who rescued the elali, "You have the gratitude of the Accord, may Alrenjae forever bless your path... and Lomrick is gone as well? Few shall mourn his passing..."
Her voice soft, Kaetrix suggests getting some sleep, "For now, you should rest... tomorrow, maybe Relstanna can offer help"
**************
The next morning, with both of Argosa's suns burning majestically in the sky and over a breakfast of coffee and local fruits, Relstanna asks to hear the friends' story...
Fascinating... fascinating...", Relstanna listens to the stories told by the group with great interest. When they are done, she sits quietly for a short while - swirling the crimson juices in her glass as she considers all she has been told...
...and after the stories are told, she sighs, "Lomrick was indeed, as all jagladine are, part of the Ultari Hegemony... the order with which I, and others of the Bellianic Accord, are fighting against as they try to exert dominion across the Weave. Lomrick, from his ravings whilst I was his captive, was part of a particularly vicious religious order within the Hegemony - they call themselves the Scions of the Celestial Helix and have assigned themselves the mission of scouring the multiverse for fragments of the ancient cultures that preceded ours. They hope to find undiscovered secrets, new weapons, long-lost technologies or magicks... anything to turn the tide of the war in their favour".
"I fear, from what you have told me, that they may have found such a secret... the fact that Lomrick was studying your genetics - and was so desperate to return to Garsilt to continue his research suggests that it is not Golarion that has caught the Hegemony's eye... it is their peoples".
There is a sadness in Relstanna's voice as she mulls over the friend's predicament, "I wish that I were able to offer you a way home... to send you back to a more innocent time... but I, myself, could not hope to repair the damaged gate at Garsilt. But there is hope, there are people I could speak to off-world, people who will look kindly upon you... and may be able to determine a way to get you home once more".
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"Blow them up, then find Palo and Relas way home." Rav agrees, digging in his stuff. As he talks, he reaches out and snatches Knick Knack, and shoves a crystal into the small creature's body before releasing it.
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Before the intrepid group heads back to Zel-Argose, Claptrap finally looks up, previously his Eyestalk was firmly planted in the Formula book.
Hey guys! I figured something out! Check this out! Relas, come here, I need you for a moment...
Ready? Claptrap scoops up a loose rock on the ground,
Relas. FETCH!!! Claptrap chucks the rock across the room,
Doing great! Now RETURN!!
Nice! Now DROP the ball, boy!
Good boy! Whos a good puppy? You are!! Now LAY DOWN!
Nice boy! Good boy! Roll over boy! ROLL OVER!
Well done boy!! You have really earned yourself a treat! HERE YOU GO! Claptrap reaches into his chassis and pulls out a vial of liquid and gives it to Relas. Its a vial of Gibbering Horror drool... It really is :p
Relas then takes the vial of Gibbering Horror drool and Drinks it...
Annnd with that, I am out of here!!! See you back at base!!!
Claptrap then takes off like a rocket set to explode, running right out of the house and speedily retreating from any potential retaliation or retribution, cackling manically all the way back.
Relas can take a DC 16 Will save to negate any of these, if he wishes.
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Relas looks mighty confused as he finds himself oddly compelled to chase after the rock and then return with it in his mouth like a dog. "Um...CTeefh, whafs going od?" he manages before spitting the rock out. "Blechhh! Why would you-HEY!" the eidolon exclaims, ignoring CT's order to lay down but suddenly flopping to the ground anyway and rolling around with legs flailing like a turtle on its back.
"Paloooooo!" he shrieks as CT tries to pass him a vial of some sort of disgusting gloop before turning and beating feet down the road back to Zel-Argose. "CT's trying to give me drugs! He's tempting me to a life of crime, make him stooooop!"
Twisting and spinning around while flying higher than Ravboom can reach again. The rocks that makes up Knick Knacks body spiral in the air before quickly zipping over to Ravboom and draping across his shoulders, "Thank you very much Ravboom."
Staring at Palo, "You have the chance to go home. You cannot let your fear of the unknown keep you from that."
Rav shrugs. "Was lopsided, needed another glowy stone to not be lopsided."
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And so, as Argosa's twin suns set over the city, Ravboom, Palomia, Vael and CL4P-TP start to consider their future... certainly, it is not the future they may have expected, marooned as they are on a strange planet with only the promises of the enigmatic elali to suggest that they could ever leave this place. But it is a future nonetheless - with Lomrick defeated, the threat of any future abduction must surely be minimal... and now, with their contacts in the coteries and other associations, with their skills and sharing a certain amount of companionship, maybe Zel-Argose - after all - could be home?
And what of Biggun? Taken by Lomrick and subjected to the klaven process, he will never quite be the same again - but large as he ever was, strangely compliant and with the drooling finally under control, it's kind of reassuring to have him around.