Sorry, no idea why Azariah didn't have that - it's pretty much standard these days.
Grunting as she sipe-stepped, Azariah was unpleasantly aware of how badly wounded the earlier fall had wounded her. Since it was on top of them, however, she had few choices but to fight.
Sorry everyone, but for some reason this game has stopped telling me that there are new posts. I’m looking in to what I’ve done to messed it up
Round 1…
John fires a round at the advancing machine as it bears down on Azariah. The *BANG* of the gun reverberates off the smooth walls and echoes round and round.
The bullet strikes the machine between an external protective plate and the exposed glowing red eye, tears throught he interior and explodes out the other side of the thing carrying bits of wire and fragments of materials unknown.
Azariah’s weapon smashes into the machine gouging and creasing in the light exterior armor
The machine staggers a bit, but turns toward the new threat, advancing toward John.
Technically the end of round 1, but Kleora hasn’t acted, however, she, and all the others can now act, and then the machine, if it is still standing will take an action in round2
female human psychic 4 | HP 18/18 | AC 12, T 12, FF 10 | F +2, R +4, W +5 | CMB +1, CMD 12 | Init +2 | Lowl-light Vision; Perception +7 | Phrenic Pool (Su) 4/4 per day | Spells : 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/4 | (SP) detect thoughts (dc 15) 1/1
With the onslaught of the creature Kleora did the only thing she could, with a focused though and push of emotion she once more sent out a glob of acid at the machine.
Kleora and Stella continue to try and damage the machine by hurling magical acid attacks at it, but their aim is off, probably because of the distortion in space that the peculiar walls and shadowy lighting above create here in this strange world.
While John measure the damage his attack has already done, wondering if another shot is needed, or if something more direct in brute force will do the trick, Azariah stumbles back away from the machine's attacks and speaks a quiet spell which courses energy through her body, healing her minor injuries.
The congestion of the area seems impossible, as Azariah maneuvers out of harms way, the machine advances toward John, Kleora and Stella move back against the walls readying another volley of acid if needed. In the to and fro of the brief encounter, John reloads and fires again.
The bullet tears through the central part of the machine's body, and it becomes instantly still.
With the threat now neutralized, the remaining adventurers
John, Azariah, Kleora, and Stella, can see the area where the machine came from. it is a narrow corridor running about thirty feet away from the room you entered from the cavern floor. The area is in a soft shadowy grey sort of illumination. The light seems to come from squares in the ceiling, and it resembles the light on an overcast day.
At the far end of the passageway there is another door, similar to the one Azariah opened already, only this one is all the way closed.
Stella:
You spot a panel on the wall near this closed door at the far end of the passageway, and you cannot help but notice a rectangular shape, outlined in the center of the panel, about the same size as the cards you found. There is a brown stripe below the outlined rectangle. You look back at the wall next to the door that Azariah opened, and brush away ages of encrusted dirt and grime from the wall where you imagine a similar panel might be, and you find it. The one at the far end of the passage is not covered with dirt, so it was easy to see. If only you had found the one by the first door earlier. You wonder, to yourself, if the cards are somehow connected to these panels, and have a gut feeling that they are.
Stella blinks and walks to the wall near the door and starts scrubbing away ages of encrusted dirt and grime revealing a panel. In it there is a rectangle shape and she would pull out the cards.
"There is another one within.... I think that these cards may do something with the doors and are connected to these panels."
Moving carefully past the construct she would look in the room before carefully making her way toward the other panel.
The passageway is eerily silent, nothing stirs, and the seemingly lifeless now construct stands perfectly still as Stella moves passed it.
In the dim grey light from the panels in the ceiling, Stella comes close to the end, where a closed door stands, and she examines the panel on the wall next to it. Holding out one of the brown cards she collected she holds the card up close, but not too close to the rectangular image above the brown stripe on the panel. The shape and size of the card is identical to the image on the panel, as if the card itself could be placed onto the image.
Azariah looked between the two. "I guess placing the card will do something?" She assumed it would open the door, but this place wasn't exactly what she had expected.
When Stella places the small card against the square on the wall the door in front of her begins to open, slowly moving upward. There is a rush of air, from this room into the room beyond.
When the door is fully opened it reveals a large room beyond. There are cages against the wall to the left, while on the right it looks as if part of the ceiling has collapsed, and there is ruble all among the wall on the right. Through the ruble, twisted pipes, and hanging wires you can just make out a small door. Straight ahead of you there is another door like the one you just opened and on the wall to the right of the door another panel with another small square.
female human psychic 4 | HP 18/18 | AC 12, T 12, FF 10 | F +2, R +4, W +5 | CMB +1, CMD 12 | Init +2 | Lowl-light Vision; Perception +7 | Phrenic Pool (Su) 4/4 per day | Spells : 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/4 | (SP) detect thoughts (dc 15) 1/1
Watching carefully as Stella used the card on the door Kleora was pleased to see that it had worked. She walked up behind the aasimar and leaned in to wrap her arms gently around Stella's waste as she said softly in her ear, "Well done luv, well done indeed." Releasing Stella she moved to look down the hallway and said, "So, which way do we go?"
Inside the satchel Azariah discovers two Silver Disks (the sort of disks used often as currency in Torch) as well as a strange sort of devices that looks like a fatter version of one of Stella’s brown cards. This device has a few buttons on it. What its function is is clearly impossible to determine.
Kleora:
If Azariah shares the strange device with the group, you recognize it. The technology is strange, and appears old, but it is similar to the sorts of electronic lock defeating devices you know of
Below the satchel among the pile of pipes Azariah also discovers two odd tools. They resemble long tongs, like the kind one might find in a foundry, or smithy, only these tools have a complex locking mechanism. It might take a bit of experimentation to get the hang of using these tools, but it might be worth the effort. The tools are about twenty inches long and weigh about five pounds each.
female human psychic 4 | HP 18/18 | AC 12, T 12, FF 10 | F +2, R +4, W +5 | CMB +1, CMD 12 | Init +2 | Lowl-light Vision; Perception +7 | Phrenic Pool (Su) 4/4 per day | Spells : 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/4 | (SP) detect thoughts (dc 15) 1/1
Kleora's eyes lit on one of the items Azariah showed them with curiosity. She reached out to take it and began examining it with interest. After a minute or two she finally said, "I think I've seen something like this before at Khonnir's place." She moved it in her hand a bit to see it from a different angle, "I'm not entirely certain though." She looked at her companions, "Mind if I hold on to it? I'll keep examining it and maybe I can determine what it is for."
Azariah shook her head. "No, feel free. I haven't a clue. But maybe..." After a moment thought, she pulled out the goggles Ritmush had given her. "These were supposed to be helpful, so let's see what they can do." Slipping the goggles on, she examined the items again.
Azariah lowers the goggles over her eyes and stares at the object in Kleora's hand. The first thing she notices is that her view of things in this area, in the dim light of the room, seems to be replaced by crisp images and it is obvious to her that the goggles give her better vision in the dark. Floating near the edges of her peripheral vision are strange symbols, words in a language she does not understand, and other images that seem to float like ghosts. Wherever she looks, these strange symbols seem to stay in the same location on the inside field of view of the goggles.
Nothing else happens, and she begins to wonder exactly what it was that Ritmush used these goggles for.
As Stella steps closer to the wreckage on her left, she recalls what she knows of the strange undead machines she has encountered before, and the peculiar sort of undead creatures that were known to be kept secret by the wealthy people of Rhandilinskenburg, the strangely provocative and sometimes hideous nechromechadon’s, but nothing in the ruble here seems to have a connection to those creatures. All she sees are strange, old bones. When she is satisfied, she moves toward the next door, noticing the same square pattern on the panel next to the door, and the oddly different black colored stripe, instead of the familiar brown.
Azariah considered, comparing the symbols to Androffan, but apparently, the device used another language. Given how many there were it wasn't too surprising, but it did suggest they weren't local.
"Are we ready?" she asked the others, gathering up what was left and slipping it into her pack.
Stella would try one of the cards wondering if the colors were associated but for now she didn't have enough proof. This place reminded her slightly of the Nechromechadons but....something was slightly off.
female human psychic 4 | HP 18/18 | AC 12, T 12, FF 10 | F +2, R +4, W +5 | CMB +1, CMD 12 | Init +2 | Lowl-light Vision; Perception +7 | Phrenic Pool (Su) 4/4 per day | Spells : 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/4 | (SP) detect thoughts (dc 15) 1/1
Kleora considered the problem before them, and Azariah's lack of information, and made a suggestion of, "Didn't your friend talk to those strange glasses? I could have sworn I heard him do so once."
"Ritmush? Yes," Azariah murmured, tapping the goggles with a frown, "And I swear they spoke back. But so far nothing. Perhaps I don't know how to use them, or maybe he was simply...touched by his Gods."
A small, quiet voice is heard above Azariah’s right ear.
Azariah:
Voice pattern identified, Hello Azariah, my name is Diana and I am the operating system for this device, technically not goggles, but that’s all right. This device is calibrated for a language interaction that is not familiar to this world. Recalibration at this time is not supported, however, I can respond to verbal commands. Unfortunately I cannot display information in a format familiar to you. Scanning objects now. These are Key cards, unfamiliar to this system, but they do contain a radio frequency chip similar in file configuration to devices I am familiar with. Also, object scanned recently is an electronic lock disabling device, sold by Qual-Form Industries, available on the market forty five years ago. It is very unusual to find such a device here, now. This lock disabling device should not be here. There is..
Azariah hears a small crackle sound, and then
Azariah:
System power at fourteen percent, I am unable to contact data link. My internal files are complete, libraries near full capacity, but until the link is reestablished, some data may be unavailable. Recommend exposure of these analyzers to sunlight to fully recharge.
Azariah jumped as he voice spoke to her, pausing to listen as she did. "It says...it's device, named Diana. It can't use some of it's abilities at the moment, due to a combination of factors. It says these are key cards, and use something called radio frequency chips." She pointed to the other device. "Apparently, that's a electronic lockpick, I'm guessing designed to bypass these kinds of locks if need be."
Considering, she added, "Diana also says that - I'm sorry, would you prefer to be called she, he or another identifier, Diana? - that Diana will need charging in the sunlight soon. How much time before we need to return to town because our water breathing has run out?"
She added after a moment, "I don't suppose Androffan, Elven or Draconic happens to be a launguage you can currently use, is it Diana?"
On the plus side, I'm used to being told what to do by a voice called Diana. It usually belongs to my wife, though.
I currently do have Elven and Draconic downloaded in this device, and you should always speak to me as Diana, that way I know you are talking to me. In order to reformat the display to report in one of these preferred languages I will need to first be charged to at least eighty percent capacity. Either a sufficient power source should be connected to my system, or if possible three hours of exposure to this worlds sun shine should be sufficient.
Azariah nodded. "Thank you, Diana." Looking to the other she, added, "I can get more of Diana's functions operation by charging and changing the system to either Elven or Draconic. It'll take three hours of sunlight, so I'll do that when we return." She looked at the others. "Do we want to do that now, or shall we continue?"
female human psychic 4 | HP 18/18 | AC 12, T 12, FF 10 | F +2, R +4, W +5 | CMB +1, CMD 12 | Init +2 | Lowl-light Vision; Perception +7 | Phrenic Pool (Su) 4/4 per day | Spells : 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/4 | (SP) detect thoughts (dc 15) 1/1
"I think that since we're here we'd best continue. I don't know that we could get back to the surface easily if we tried." She considered and asked, "Weren't we looking for some creatures that were causing the people we found down here trouble?"
Shuffling the brown colored cards around Stella and Azariah try to see if any of them will activate the door and cause it to open, but none of them seem to have any effect.
Finally, Kleora steps up and asks to try the strange black box.
She hides her activity from Stella, Azariah, and RJohn as best as she can, but the others crowd around and look over her shoulder as she places the box against the panel, manipulates it a few times while poking it with her fingers, and suddenly a low groan can be heard coming from the door as it slowly lifts upwards into the ceiling.
The open door reveals a small, twenty by twenty foot room, which is featureless, but free of any debris on the floor as can be seen in previous rooms.
At the far wall of this room there is another door, with a similar black colored panel.
Kleora works her skills on the door as well and soon it is open.
What lies beyond this second door is most peculiar indeed.
You are standing in what appears to be the opening to an underground habitat, something that you would not expect to find underground at all. There is some artificial light here, coming from the ceiling of this cavernous area, high above you. Looking up it appears that this area is dome shaped, you can see a gradual rising curve of the ceiling upward from this open door to a maximum height of about one hundred feet and then it begins to curve back down toward the far wall of this cavern some hundreds of feet away.
The domed ceiling is painted to resemble a blue-green sky and there are glowing orange panels in the ceiling giving off faint light.
Ahead of you it is difficult to see what the nature of this caver is completely, as there are artificial walls of red sandstone on the left and right creating a sort of entry like tunnel without a ceiling. You can see that these walls are not real stone because they are broken and chipped in places where you can see a woven metal support structure below the face plaster painted to look like stone.
The floor is made up of course yellow and brown sand. Ahead of you some thirty feet on the floor, in the center of this tunnel is a large pale yellow rock which seems to have a pitted surface. The rock is about ten feet across and four feet high. There is about five feet of space on either side of this rock that you could walk around it, going down through this tunnel toward the center of this cavern, if you wanted to see what lies further in.
Perception Skill Check, DC 16+:
Close to the rock in the center of the tunnel ahead of you the sand all around it has a peculiar shiny appearance, unlike the sand further away from the rock and just inside the door
