Kaska recoils in shock when Val mentions Viv is an android so casually. She'd had no idea. Then Fireday reveals his face.
Suspicion, no doubt about that!
She doesn't say anything and moves on immediately to carefully looking over the downed robot as a way to play off her reaction. But the two of them will bear watching.
Kaksa is familiar with robots, but not androids. She's heard of them but imagined a human-shaped robot, not a being that mimics organic characteristics. Funny hair, odd tattoos, hey outlanders are weird folk.
To Val's question Kaska answers "Yes, we're going into the caves to look for him as soon as we can get ready. Thanks for the offer to stay here, we might take you up on it if we don't leave before evening. It would be a lot less cramped than my uncle's place."
Male Human Starsoul Sorcerer 7 38/38 HP | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | Fort +6 Ref +6 Will +8 | Initiative +1 | Perception +0
After some obvious quick mental arithmetic Coen follows up "Most underwater breathing spells last about half a day, even so I'd like to get that done very last thing. But unless I'm wrong, we're all stocked, so Temple of Brigh sounds good."
Val shakes her head. "Nobody strange or suspicious that I can remember. Everything was business as usual right up until the torch went out."
She wishes you luck as you leave for the temple of Brigh. Bronze wind chimes and clockwork statues decorate the domed portico of this compound dedicated to the goddess of invention. The oldest faith in Torch, Brigh's temple sees regular worship from many of the town's citizens, and also includes a meticulously organized workshop managed by the town's religious leader, Joram Kyte. His friendly demeanor, active interest in the metal trade, and innovative crafting skills helped land him a seat on the town council many years ago.
"Heading down into the caves?" the old priest asks. "I'd be happy to grant you a blessing of water breathing to let you navigate to the entrance."
Wit his metmagic rod of extend, the spell will last for almost 5 hours on each of you.
Fireday makes the sign of the sword and then bows to the fellow holy man.
"We thank you and the Whisper in the Bronze for your generosity, Father Kyte. Though our faiths are different, our paths are similar."
He'd always felt a soft spot for Brigh's faith, even as he served Iomedae's will. Iomedae taught him how to live as a man, but Brigh's explained his life as a machine. At the very least, Brigh worshipers had sheltered him from the League in the past, and he was truly grateful for that.
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
Kaska of Red Talons wrote:
Kaksa is familiar with robots, but not androids. She's heard of them but imagined a human-shaped robot, not a being that mimics organic characteristics. Funny hair, odd tattoos, hey outlanders are weird folk.
Then I'm not sure why Fireday's circuitry caused a sudden reaction, but Viv's did not.
Kaksa is familiar with robots, but not androids. She's heard of them but imagined a human-shaped robot, not a being that mimics organic characteristics. Funny hair, odd tattoos, hey outlanders are weird folk.
Then I'm not sure why Fireday's circuitry caused a sudden reaction, but Viv's did not.
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
Not that; I'm trying to understand your character, and can't figure out why she reacted a particular way to one android, but not to another. I didn't know if it was because I did something wrong or was unclear about the fact that Viv is clearly an android as well (in PF terms, she is not using Disguise to appear human, so she is, by the rules, obviously not).
If I understand correctly, Kaska didn't know what a typical android looks like and was expecting androids to be much more robotic-looking. She was surprised to learn Viv was an android, and since then she now knew what to look for, she noticed Fireday was an android right away. To everyone else, Viv is obviously an android, but it was new to Kaska. So you did nothing wrong, Viv. :)
Joram holds his holy symbol in one hand and a rune-engraved rod in another as he prays to Brigh. The rod glows briefly as the priest touches each of you in turn. You feel a tickling sensation in your chest, as if thousands of miniature hands were making minute adjustments to your lungs, then it fades. "Don't lose track of time down there. Make sure you give yourselves enough time to make it back through the pond before the enchantment expires. Gods be with you, friends. I hope you can find Khonnir and bring him home."
Feel free to retroactively roleplay at the temple if you'd like, but since there's not much else to do there, I'm moving things along.
With all of your preparations made, you head up Black Hill towards Weeping Pond. Along the way, you pass the strange-looking building known as Crowfeather Palace. The brainchild of Khonnir Baine and the priesthood of Brigh, a pipelike extension from the building utilizes a mixture of magical and scavenged technological elements to purify the tainted waters of Crowfeather Lake.
Weeping Pond lies further up the hill. This placid-looking pond is set off from the surrounding area by a crescent-shaped escarpment. No vegetation grows on the banks of this pond, and the waters carry a bitter stink of sulfur and other chemicals, enough to make the eyes water after spending too much time on the shore.
You gag a bit as you submerge, and though the water tastes foul, at least you can breathe it. You quickly find the entrance to the caves, a 45-foot-long waterway. The underground stream is fairly placid, and you can easily swim through the passage and into the cave beyond.
Dampness hangs in the air of this cave, condensing into heavy moisture on the slick, stone walls. The calm, dark waters wind around to the east up north, along a stony, soot-scarred beach. A five-foot-high ledge sporting several stalagmites rises to the easte, beyond which a low-ceilinged cave beckons.
The air in the cave is bitter and stinks of mold and vinegar. In addition to the light from Coen's coin, a red-orange glow emanates from several of the cracks and crevices nearby.
Everybody must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or be sickened for 1 minute after emerging from the water (–2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks). This is a poison effect
If I understand correctly, Kaska didn't know what a typical android looks like and was expecting androids to be much more robotic-looking. She was surprised to learn Viv was an android, and since then she now knew what to look for, she noticed Fireday was an android right away. To everyone else, Viv is obviously an android, but it was new to Kaska. So you did nothing wrong, Viv. :)
@Viv: I couldn't describe it better myself. Although I wasn't specifically aware that Viv had facial circuitry, it doesn't matter it terms of intent. My focus is on maneuvering a Kellid who has a class devoted to killing constructs, and with the Xenophobic drawback into reasonably cooperating in a party with androids. The best route seems to be her being unaware that they are androids until she has spent some time around them. But Val spilled the beans very quickly and I had to manage it. Kaska does not think Viv and Fireday are immediate threats, but will be watching them closely just in case. At the least her observations should make her more familiar with androids and therefore better able to kill them when needed. :)
Kaska makes sure to get out of the water first, so she can test the suspicious air. She quickly removes a torch from one of her waterproof bags, and tells the others "wait in the water while I light this. The air is foul, and might itself burn. She lights the torch and hopes for the best.
Male Human Starsoul Sorcerer 7 38/38 HP | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | Fort +6 Ref +6 Will +8 | Initiative +1 | Perception +0
Fortitude:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
You're worried the air might be flammable but you lit a torch anyway? That being said, I would think there would be reports if there was flammable gas, we're not the first ones this way. Though I do wonder where all the soot is from...
Coen takes this time to cast prestidigitation to clean and dry his gear and clothing. A sip of clean water from his skin is used to get the oily taste from his mouth.
At the temple, Gylwinth feels uneasy. There were the ancestors, the old gods, and the gods, but Brigh's cult felt different. The cult of Invention... It had its place, he thought, but wondered how to weigh Invention against Tradition.
For a moment, he thinks of refusing to receive the gift, but the thought of immersion quickly drains away his resentment and worries!
At the pond, he meticulously takes all his clothes off, putting them in a watertight bag. His old body is gnarled and muscled in a powerful way. He is a big man, not a lean one, built more like a bull than a tiger.
Before plunging, he asks his Ancestor to preserve him through the ordeal. He tries to move fast underwater, but lacks skill and efficiency. He moves his arms a lot, but it takes forever to get through the dark waters.
Finally out on the other side, he takes a big gulp of air, happy to be once more above the surface, but immediately regrets it, as he finds the air foul: "What kind of hell is this?!"
As if in response to Gylwinth exclamation, the lights in the crevices begin to get brighter as you hear the sound of feet scurrying on stone. A trio of beetles the size of housecats emerge, their dull brown carapaces brightened by two glowing red-orange spots that shine like torches. They click their mouthparts as they move towards you!
Kaska gives Coen a slightly peeved look. The bad air is making her feel ill and questions about the obvious aren't helping. "Yes, it had to be done since we would not know otherwise. That's why I asked the rest of you to wait in the water. A typical response would be 'thank you'."
Male Human Starsoul Sorcerer 7 38/38 HP | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | Fort +6 Ref +6 Will +8 | Initiative +1 | Perception +0
"Pick a fight with the sorcerer later, fight now." Coen says as he ignores Kaska in favor of the beetles. It is obvious that the short phrase from Kaska hit a nerve and he is intending to take out his frustrations on the beetles.
Coen makes a series of quick gestures and a column of small meteors rain down on the beetle just behind the leader.
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
Fort save:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Viv swims strongly through the pond and manages to come up the other side unaffected by the poisons... this time.
She takes a small lead ball from her pouch and holds it in her hand. It hovers in the air just over her palm for a few seconds, before it suddenly shoots off toward the foremost beetle.
Telekinetic blast, firing past cover, point blank:1d20 ⇒ 13 Telekinetic blast damage, point blank:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Kaska's bowstring is still in one of the waterproof bags so it will have to be hand weapons. She draws her falx and moves up to the closest of the insects.
"Hmpf, I'm not looking for a fight. I'm looking for some manners. Tell you what, next time we need to go into an new area we're not so sure about, you go ahead. Give the place a look around, deal with whatever dangers are there. I'll sit on my butt and wait for you to come back. If you do, I'll question your decisions. Sound fair?"
Once close enough, Kaska brings the falx down in a chopping blow atop the bug.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 2 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Sorry to be so hard on you Coen. Kaska is prickly until she knows you better. :)
Kaska gives Coen a slightly peeved look. The bad air is making her feel ill and questions about the obvious aren't helping. "Yes, it had to be done since we would not know otherwise. That's why I asked the rest of you to wait in the water. A typical response would be 'thank you'."
"Thank you, Kaska," Fireday replies as he emerges.
Fortitude Save:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
He suddenly doubles over and retches into the water.
"Fear not, I am all right," he says as he looks up and sees the emerging beetles.
"Battle is upon us."
He draws his sword and touches the pommel to his holy symbol.
"Through the tempest of steel and blood, Inheritor guide us," he says in a droning voice, closing his eyes and opening them suddenly as they flash a brilliant green glow. His sword takes on a similar glow, centered around the hilt.
Gylwinth blushes at Fireday's words, not from vanity, but from frustration, for the brash and young Kellid had opted to rush towards the fight instead of holding the line, like he had ordered.
But now was not the time to argue discipline, in particular with a Kellid warrior. Time, injuries, and possibly death, will teach the young warrior the value of wisdom.
"We keep moving? This place stinks, and more horrors might be lurking in the darkness. But first, I must get dressed!"
He puts his clothes on, smiling at their comfortable dryness and warmth, then nods, ready to proceed further.
"Young Kaska, perhaps you should lead the way?Your arm is strong, and your feet nimble... Unless someone wishes to act as a scout?"
Male Human Starsoul Sorcerer 7 38/38 HP | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | Fort +6 Ref +6 Will +8 | Initiative +1 | Perception +0
Coen turns to Kaska and sighs before replying in a tired voice.
"I can't believe I have to do this with you."
He turns to walk away, then turns back and with a warmer voice continues.
"I need to concentrate during fights to cast magic. That means I'm not going to answer you when you snipe at me mid-fight."
"If this is how you react when I ask a question, maybe because I had better or less dangerous ways of doing something, then this trip is going to be a real pain real fast."
He walks to the front.
"As far as the sitting on your hands comment. I don't know if that's some typical tribal cowardice talk, but if going first is what it takes for you to treat me with some respect..."
He then proceeds up the ledge to the east.
Edited after a short discussion with DM Brain where I realized that is NOT a tunnel. Womp womp.
As Gylwinth dresses and dons his armor again, Coen clambers up the ledge to the tunnel leading east. A collection of stalactites and stalagmites choke this low-ceilinged passage, making it difficult to squeeze between them. Matching stalactites close in from the five-foot-high ceiling, giving the impression of a maw of needle-like teeth bearing down on one another. A dead half-orc woman sprawls on the ground near the tunnel's eastern exit.
Over a minute has passed, so you are no longer sickened.
Sorry there Gylwinth, I misread your post about what you were planning to do.
Kaska checks the crevasse where the beetles had been hiding to see if they had tucked away any baubles inside. Maybe they were like packrats.
She busies herself with that, not responding while Coen complains about ill-treatment. When he states that he will go check ahead, Kaska shrugs. "As you wish."
Wasn't a serious suggestion but whatever she thinks.
She tells Gylwinth "He'll be doing it" jerking a thumb in the sorcerer's direction.
Gylwinth glares at Kaska: "Coen does not strike me as the most equipped to be scouting ahead. Do you have a death wish Kaska? Do you not understand that your fate, here in this alien hell, is entwined with his? In the plains, there is a time for challenges between members of the tribe. This is not it. This is a time where we must stick together, lest we all die. So I beg you to push everything aside but the survival of our group and go make peace with him, so that he takes his proper place. If he proves to be a pain, then I'll speak to him, but I will not die far from the sun because words were taken the wrong way!"
Just roleplaying the traditionalist as best I can and how I understand him. Let me know if you prefer I tone it down.
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
Viv hustles to catch up to Coen. "I presume it's not Baine?" she says as she approaches. "Or you would've said as much, I think." She draws another metal bead from her pouch, just in case.
Though Coen does not know who the half-orc is, Viv recognizes her as Parda Garr, a popular brawler in town. She was one of those who traveled with several thugs into the caverns as part of the second expedition. Almost everyone called her a friend, and many felt that her falling in with the thugs was going to be her end—turns out, they were right.
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
"Oh! Oh, it's Parda," says Viv mournfully. "She was a bright soul. How sad that she met her end here. And the others who came with her simply left her."
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
"Yes... she was a brawler, did some pit fighting for bets, that kind of thing. But she was always a pleasant enough person outside of the ring. Many people in Torch thought well of her, from what I've heard."
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
"Oh, I always suspect the Technic League," says Viv. "Normally they take a large cut of taxes from Torch for all the money made selling skymetal goods. Now that the Torch is out, how do they play that to their advantage? Why, foreclose on the town since it can't make payments, of course!" The android makes an exaggerated shrug that's almost human.
"But this... can't say. Obviously her fellows didn't care much for her, since they just left her here... maybe they got further in and they all died, too. We'll find out as we go further, I suppose."
"Anyway, if we go deeper and we don't survive, well... Torch probably won't survive, either, so it won't matter much to anyone. But if we get in and back out, we can bring her back with us to the Temple of Brigh for a funeral. Ah... assuming someone is strong enough to haul her along while swimming out."
Leaving Parda's body for now, you head east, out of the cramped tunnel. A dark cavern opens up here, its twenty-foot-high ceiling thick with stalactites. A rocky shore overlooks a placid pool and stream, fed by a trickle of water leaking from a narrow fissure to the north. A small garden of toadstools and dark mold grows along the bank.
A grotesque creature squats by the pool. The size of a short, stocky humanoid with webbed feet and claws, this frog-like creature has glowing white eyes. Its flank is branded, and a tattered leather hood hangs in strips from its head.
The creature hisses when it sees you and starts to rush towards you to attack!
Gylwinth slides to Kaska's left, his longspear ready to cut through the attacking batrachian.
Move left of Kaska, ready longspear for a charge. If I'm not mistaken, that means I get a brace attack and an AoO (from leaving a square I threaten with reach) if it charges, but only an AoO if it moves and attack.
I wrote to DM Brainiac two days or so ago to let him know I'll be leaving this game for RL reasons. It has been a blast, and I hope you make it to the end. Many thanks to DM Brainiac for this amazing game.
Best gaming,
DW
DM, if you don't mind, please remove me, when you get a chance, from the list of active player in the campaign tab.
Just to let you all know, my posting will slow down this week as I'm joining my family on a trip to Chicago! I'll post if I have a spare moment, but if things need to move along, please bot my character. Thank you! :)
Human male Cleric of Gorum 17 | Treasure | (Completed Iron Gods)
Hello! First of all thanks Brainiac for the opportunity!
As you are already well aware I will be taking Gylwinth place in the party. I do understand it will be difficult to fill her lost but I will try my best.
I am aware of the AP background and the first book basic plot as Holg played for some months last year on another Fires of Creation game. We did not pass the skulks cave, but I have also read your campaign and I understand we are now running after a blue haired woman named Meyanda in the ruins.
I have been playing in the boards for the last 4 years, and thus I hope to be around when we successfully complete this one. I do like interpreting characters and discovering the driving story of the adventure, as well as fair cooperative combat. Thus I hope I can fit well into the party and soon add into the fun of this campaign for everyone.
As for Holg, I re-skinned him into a cleric after being a fighter to better fit the party needs. I am still working on the details of rewriting his background, but rather than revealing my ideas here straight or in his profile, I think I prefer to let you know Holg organically in gameplay as we adventure :)
Any ideas on how to tie up Holg with your own characters, Torch or the campaign plots are well welcomed.
Heh, don't worry too much about connecting to Fireday. You hate the Technic League, he hates the Technic League! Your god likes swords, his goddess likes swords! You basically introduced yourself as someone he'd wanna be buddies with right away! :P
I don't have a strong opinion on it, though we do need to be fully healed up before we go back.
If we're staying everyone could come to Kaska's home since Holg knows Brok and so forth. But that would insert a RP piece to complete before picking up the action again.
Human male Cleric of Gorum 17 | Treasure | (Completed Iron Gods)
I am fully ready. If someone is damaged we can ask to the Brigh clerics for some help, then move on. The faster we do it the less time Torch enemies have to make up their plans!
I am looking after this interaction with Brok and Kaska! Perhaps once we come back knowing better what is going on? :D
Female Android Kineticist 13 | 120/120 HP (13 temp) | Resist Fire 10 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | Fort +13 Ref +15 Will +8 | Initiative +5 | Perception +21 | Nanite Revival 1/1 | Nanite Surge 1/1
I can go whenever, as I don't need to refresh spells and the clerics already healed me up. I think Fireday might be the one most tapped for resources right now. I'm fine with whatever the party wants.
If Holg & Kaska would like to have a scene establishing their family business that's not a problem. I may not have much to contribute but I have no problems with playing out such a scene first.
I don't have a strong opinion on it, though we do need to be fully healed up before we go back.
If we're staying everyone could come to Kaska's home since Holg knows Brok and so forth. But that would insert a RP piece to complete before picking up the action again.
It's up to Kaska. If she wants to RP more now, you can have more time. Otherwise, I'll move things back to the dungeon--you're all at full health, just down the spell slots.
I'm sorry for the posting delays everyone. My job occasionally requires me to appear in court. The prep for that, along with the time spent being there, adds up to a very big chunk of time. It's about the only time I have to take work home with me.
I had to go at the end of this week, and now I'm sick with a fever. Hopefully I'll be getting back to normal tomorrow, but today I'm just sleeping.
Male Human Starsoul Sorcerer 7 38/38 HP | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | Fort +6 Ref +6 Will +8 | Initiative +1 | Perception +0
I'm back, work murdered me, but I live again. My apologies for my absence and I am now wading through the backlog to catch up and presumably pulp an orc.
Human male Cleric of Gorum 17 | Treasure | (Completed Iron Gods)
It actually is a heavy hitter. It does not seem the woman we look though. I was willing to just close that door and leave it into its own business, but ultimately thought Holg would like to fight :$
Besides, I think you have not updated your HP when we last leveled to 3 Fireday.
Sigh. Mine too. I'm hitting the thing because I have so many static bonuses. But I can't do any real damage. My last three damage rolls have been 2,1,1.
