Bolts of force fly from Yasmin's hands, maneuvering into the target in front of her!
Rallos nods in agreement with Gray's plan, then heads off to get in position.
Once in position, Rallos waves at Gray to charge as he smashes the beast with his mace.
Yasmin also takes a 5-foot step forward.
Unnoticed by the clockwork machines working within the room, Rallos sneaks in and - as Grayface and Ea charge in - crashes his mace down hard on the torso of the metallic machine...the percussive ring of metal upon metal fills the room as Grayface also smashes into his foe...
...and with a fizzing like fireworks, Yasmin lets fly with a flurry of Magic Missiles against the machine that Grayface charged... Smoke starts to pour from the damaged machine, , as it clanks and crashes into motion...
Turning to face their attackers, the Clockwork machines start ticking loudly...
Rallos swings his mace at the machine again
"Didn't like that, did ya? Keep your eyes and gears on me."
Gray felt a satisfaction at their simple plan of surprise and its flawless execution. It was a nice change of pace to get the upper hand for once. He took up a defensive posture this time, hoping to take the brunt of the oncoming attack.
"I don't like that ticking sound - watch out in case they explode!"
If the one by Grayface is still standing, Yasmin sends a few more missiles at it. Otherwise she targets the second automoton.
With a crash of metal, Grayface smashes his foe into three separate bits of junk – the inner clockwork mechanisms slowly tick to a halt as oil seeps into the floor from various severed pipes…
Symon’s attack with his mace is unfortunately wild and it is down to Yasmin to launch another salvo of arcane bolts into the machine… when the fireworks have finished, the device is still operational. Whirring and clanking, it steps backwards and starts to repair the damaged panels across it’s torso.
Grayface left his fallen foe and carefully stepped among the detritus piled in the room to join his friends in their melee.
Not happy about the dents these metal monsters left in his sword, he knew he could clean those up later; what mattered now was these killer cog creatures colluding our conquest! Gorloth's edge was brought to bear once again.
Rallos swings his mace again, seeking a weakness in the constructs defenses.
Imposing his will upon the denizens of this level and demonstrating his martial prowess, Grayface wades through piles of junk to get to the second clockwork. If anything, his attack upon this machine is more oowerful than the one that destroyed the other machine.
With a wail of metal scraping on metal, he cleaves the second clockwork in two. Cracking into an upper and lower section, it collapses and instantly stops ticking...
Examining the room, there is nothing here other than junk...and, in the eastern wall, a single black lever within a brass panel.
To the north, there is a single door.
I wonder if there is some meaning to the different colours for the levers. I will have to be more specific in my mapmaking. Perhaps we should go back and examine the first panel and see if there are more options or sequences?
Rallos unconsciously rubs his head where the axe hit him as he says the latter part.
"Sure, I guess we can go back and try another lever." Assuming that's the plan, it would be interesting to see the color of the other levers.
Grayface picked up a cog from each of his freshly fallen foes and strung them onto his cord bearing the cog from the first clockwork monster they slew in the Splinter's hideout. Seeing the three distinct cog wheels clink together, he held them up for a better view.
"I think I just started something. Behold! My talisman of clockwork conquests!"
The fighter felt a twinge of pity for Rallos as he scratched his head, subconsciously caressing the scalp that deflected the heavy-handed blow from the minotaur.
"It is a fine idea. Which lever shall we choose now?"
Grayface stands near whoever opts to tug a colored lever, ready to intercept the next "minotaur".
At least we'll have no trouble satisfying the Godbox for a while. Pertreeko, could you please use the healing wand on me?
Well, let's continue this way..we can always go back I reckon
Rallos inspects the panel and moves the lever when everyone is ready.
Slipping the lever into an 'Up' position, there is a rumbling of something moving to your north and back to the west... and then nothing...
It is likely a wall or door sliding open...at least that is my guess. We should investigate.
Rallos notes the position of the lever and heads to check out the noise
Listening carefully at the door to the north, Rallos confirms nothing is about to cave his head in and then gingerly opens it...
...revealing a corridor that heads north for a few feet before turning to the west and arriving at a double door to made of bronze plate. It is inscribed with runic lettering and the images of strange, partially formed creatures with blank faces and featureless bodies.
North of the double doors, the corridor leads to a curved wall of bronze. There’s a narrow seam between the bronze wall and the masonry, and - as before - the bronze wall seems to be vibrating very faintly.
Ea looks to the runic message
This is Aklo... give me a few minutes, I might be able to translate it..
Ea is fairly confident that the written script is Aklo (the language of the derro and of evil fey), indeed it is quite an old version of it, yet she cannot decipher it.
After a few minutes trying
No, sorry , I was too confident in my abilities. Next time we pass this room, I'll be sure to pray for a spell able to decipher this message.
Yasmin asks for the healing wand back from Pertreeko and gives it to Ea.
She detects magical signatures as usual.
Gray hovered near the curved bronze wall, focusing on the seam.
"This has got to be a door right?" Picturing the seam opening like a passage wasn't far-fetched, though other than experimenting with levers, the warrior had no idea how to open them.
Gray stood near the bronze wall, hoping to be aid Rallos in his search efforts.
-------
Rallos moves forward to examine the seam in the wall....carefully.
These levers giving me a headache...literally and figuratively Rallos says as he rubs his head again.
Examining the curved bronze wall, Rallos first of all confirms that there is no trap… and then, using his brute strength, Grayface tries to move the wall – there is the tiniest bit of movement (so tiny as to be almost imperceptible) as he attempts to slide it sideways… But it certainly seems that, unless the levers in the other rooms control it’s movement, the only way forwards from this corridor is through the bronze plated double doors to the west.
Yasmin – the same Transmutation aura that you have been observing on both lever panels (the first room and in the junkyard) is present on the curved bronze wall.
"I'm sure I felt it move. There's something to that wall, but we can't seem to open it from here. I'll bet it opens with a lever. For now though, we have these doors here --" He motions to the west.
Grayface will open these doors after the expected search from his friend the rogue.
"Ready when you are. Watch out for minotaurs with axes!"
Rallos moves the levers again, to a different combination then before
Putting aside the mystery of the Aklo writing and the bronze wall, Grayface takes decisive action – after Rallos has checked for traps, he pushes the, unsurprisingly heavy, bronzes double doors open… revealing a large – and occupied – chamber.
This chamber seems to be the origin of the ticking sounds heard elsewhere. A heavy brass housing in the middle of the room covers a clockwork arrangement of gears and cogs, that clank loudly as they slowly move. Revolving camshafts and rocker mechanisms extend from the housing to various points in the ceiling, driving unseen mechanisms. The room also seems to serve as a workshop; Nine alcoves contain automatons in various stages of assembly.
The only other exit from this room is a door in the far north western alcove leading to the north.
As the door opens, a figure at the far side of the room looks up from a large scroll and greets you imperiously, ”I have visitors it seems! Yet I do not recalling you to my domain! Explain yourselves!” The light shining from the flickering lamps that flank the alcoves reflects brightly from the gold-plating melded to the flesh of the tall, and quite gaunt, man. As he talks, two of the automata turn to face you…
Behind the gold-plated man, a familiar styled panel with both a red lever (in an 'Up' position) and a black lever is set in a curved wall at the west end of the room.
Rallos nods his head in the direction of the east end of the room.
Watch your step over that way...floor could be trapped. Can't tell from here. he says to his friends as discretely as he can.
Yasmin peers from behind Grayface, taking a good look at the gaunt man and the machines around him.
"Your domain? You must be Klarkosh then, creator of these clockwork creatures that have attacked us left and right. Tell me, did that minotaur of yours choose to fuse himself with metal of his own free will, or did you force such magics on him?" Given her history under the thrall of the genie, she was not a big fan of being locked under the will of others, even if she herself could now wield such magics. Yasmin warily readies herself for immediate combat.
The man directly addresses Yasmin, “Indeed, I am Klarkosh, Master of the Emerald Spire! My affairs here are none of your business! But, if you must know, I am in the process of devising the perfect mechanical servant. Absolutely loyal, absolutely fearless, every bit as capable as a living human with none of the fears or vices or ambitions a fallible human might harbour"
Realising that you have encountered the minotaur - and survived, "The impudence of you, can you not see that flesh is weak... you ignorant fools. Why should such genius as mine be shackled to a body that will one day die and decay, when sturdier materials are available? The beast was naught but a mindless animal that I blessed with a body of metal... soon too, I shall replace my entire being with a body of pure gold!"
Yasmin asks for the healing wand back from Pertreeko and gives it to Ea.
Ea retorts to Klarkosh
Heresy. And a stupid heresy too. You were born, not created like a tool. If you were born, you must die, sooner or later. Such is the Fate of everyone. Many have tried to cheat Pharasma of her due, few have managed to do it.
It's obvious she's ready for combat too...
The gold-plated man turns his attention to Ea, "And why should man be so limited in his ambition that he must cede dominion of immortaility to the gods? Had you seen the things that I have seen... had you experienced the wonders of Silver Mount... then you would not be so subservient - we can be the masters of our own destiny".
He nods at the automata in their alcoves - and, with a clanking of heavy metal striking the stone floor, one of the machines moves out into the room...
With an undertone of venom, he addresses the entire group, "It is I who asks the questions here... Now, once more, explain your presence here"
Tired of the crazy tinker's attitude, Grayface decided to reflect some of his own, going for the lowest common denominator.
"Your mother sent us. She said you've been a very bad boy and that you needed a spanking. We've been paid to provide the spanking," the fighter said with a straight face.
Grayface steps into the room.
"Now cut the attitude or you can die like every other piece of clanking garbage we've cut down since our arrival."
Yasmin takes a step into the spot vacated by Grayface.
Klarkosh rages at Grayface's impudence, "Foolish worm!!! It seems that you must be taught a lesson in humility"
The automatons start to slowly advance as Klarkosh, uttering an incantation that sounds unlike any language you have heard before, thrusts out a gold-encrusted hand...
The air thickens around the party clustered in the doorway...sticky strands of luminous webbing entangle limbs as Klarkosh's enemies find themselves trapped at the entrance to his lair...
.
"Eww, gross," says the sorceress, dodging the worst of the webs.