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Via comes around the corner hovering and rises into the air so that she can rain down her blasts from above.
Holg decapitates the android foolish enough to try to move past him. One of the other androids succumbs do Coen's spell. Viv kills another with a precise shot through the heart, then Holg and Kaska work together to slay the blinded enemy.
The last android swings on Kaska, scoring a critical hit as it bashes her sternum!
The door to the east suddenly slides open to reveal a female android whose face seems to have been split vertically down the middle and put back together imperfectly. Her limbs are unusually long and gangly, but she levels a rifle at Holg and fires icy blasts into his side!
Fireday rushes forward, moving past Kaska to attack the android who wounded her.
"I am an android like you, why do you attack us?!" he calls to the split-faced woman.
"Oh puny! Who are you now?!" Holg freezes by the cold shot's and delays a bit to see if Kaska, Fireday or Viv finish the remaining android.
Whatever the result, he goes into initiative before the androids and casts communal resist energy touching himself, Fireday, Kaska then Viv and Coen.
The blow from the morningstar knocks the wind out of Kaska for a moment. After a couple of gasps she fights back.
Kaska and Fireday team up to take down the hulking android, leaving just the gunslinging one standing! "You cannot fool me!" she shouts in response to Fireday. "You are alien intruders. Get off my ship!"
Coen's response is incredulous, he cannot reconcile the idea that this place entombed in stone could be a vehicle.
Your ship?! This is a ruin underneath the ground near a village and the source of monsters that have killed people, I find your fake righteousness hard to believe as you shoot at us."
As he talks he quietly makes his way toward the corner closest to the line of fire. There he chants a shorts spell before reaching out a hand to touch Kaska and somehow pushes her into the etherial plane, causing her to dip in and out of reality like a piece of wood on the surface of a lake.
Viv blasts the other android, causing her to grunt in pain. The android fires her cold gun at Kaska, hitting once, but Holg's spell negates the damage from the blast!
Kaska closes in on the android with the gun. She figures the best situation is one in which the pistol wielder is denied any range for shooting.
Holg quickly patches some of his wounds and advances forward closer to the fight "Good hit Kaska!"
Fireday steps in behind Kaska and readies one of his pili.
"What year is it?" he asks, as he throws it past Kaska's head at the assailant before her. "How long have these people...MY people...been down here?!" he thinks to himself.
Holg contemplates how Fireday resolves with his pilum "Ah! When have you been training that Fireday?! That was a good throw!"
And facing the enemy android "What is this place we are in?!"
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"Underground? No, you fool, we are in deep space!" the android shouts at Coen. "Can't you see the asteroid that has lodged in our hull?"
"Year? What does it matter?" she says to Fireday. "Stop trying to mess with my mind, Dominion lackeys!"
Viv blasts the android again, scoring a telling blow. Fireday hurls a pilum that lodges in her gut, then Kaska delivers a critical hit that nearly slices the android in two horizontally! As thin, watery blood pours from her injuries, she takes a step back. "No! You won't take my mind! The Dominion can't have my mind!"
She aims her pistol at her own head and pulls the trigger.
The energy flash freezes the android's head, her expression twisted into one of agony. Her body goes limp and she crumples to the floor.
Fireday gapes at the delusion their foe demonstrates, and if he wasn't convinced she was unreachable before, her subsequent suicide does.
He bows his head and makes the sign of the sword.
"I am sorry, poor stranger. May the Inheritor's sword defend you from the Dominion you fear as you travel through the dark."
Then he steps forward and removes the pilum from her body, straightening it out and cleaning it.
"I still think we should cremate the bodies if we have time. Whatever souls come to these bodies next should not have to suffer the pain and madness that was forced into their creation."
"Dominion? What mess was she talking about?" as the android suicides Holg approaches behind Fireday and while he makes the sign of the sword on the android, the Kellid kicks the zero pistol away from the body, then he raises his holly symbol and channels energy to heal everyone, including the android.
If the android does not wake up for interrogation, Holg examines around the room and body.
Kaska lowers her weapon, staring at the android woman in shock.
"She was saying the 'Dominion' wouldn't take her mind. Do you think she believed the Technic League wanted to control her, and that we were part of it? Has anyone heard that name used before?"
"I dunno, never heard of a 'Dominion' in relation to the Technic League. Maybe another mad computer that thinks it's a god?" says Viv.
Unfortunately, it's too late to heal the android. Her self-inflicted wound was a fatal one.
Workbenches and tools litter this large room, around an unusual-looking forge. A variety of bladed weapons hangs on the walls. A shelf on the north end of the room holds polished humanoid skulls, each one bearing deformities similar to the twisted androids you have encountered.
Holg is able to determine that thischamber was once a production laboratory capable of providing the necessary supplies for the creation of technological items, but today the laboratory’s gear is all timeworn and of no use.
He also determines that the components strewn about the place are intended to create a long-range communication device. Among the mostly ruined and useless supplies, however, can be found three timeworn commsets—all three timeworn commsets are fully charged.
Holg shrugs when he sees the android does not wake up "This should be a laboratory there are useful stuff around..." and then turning to Fireday "What's that thing about Dominion? You seemed to know something about it. Is it perhaps some memories from before you were born in your new life?"
While the group discusses and picks up the pistol, the commsets and other useful materials, Holg uses the healing wand to cure Kaska's wounds.
He then turns the wand towards his own injuries.
"There are a couple of rooms here, I guess we should check these ones next"
Fireday shakes his head.
"I don't know what this 'Dominion' is. I only mentioned it in my prayer since she genuinely seemed afraid of it, and Iomedae defends the souls of the fallen no matter what it is they fear."
He turns around and begins looking around the room and then checking out the technology they've found to see if he can get them more functional.
The communicator here is a lost cause--there's no way the random assortment of parts would even come close to working properly. However, Fireday realizes that there's enough functional equipment here to restore the lab to full functionality, given enough time. It may take a few weeks, but he could get it up and running again.
The next room may have once been used as a storeroom, but its metal shelves are now haphazardly arranged and draped with thick cloth or metal plating. The result is a claustrophobic warren of passages throughout the room. Searching through the room reveals evidence that some creatures might have made it their home, though it is currently empty.
The southern room has shelves that are relatively bare, with a few strange cylindrical objects with strange writing on the side lying in sparse piles on the shelves. They turn out to be goo tubes like the ones you found in the ruins beneath Torch--155 in all. The strange writing is in Androffan, and if translated the words claim the contents to be all manner of concentrated flavors—flavors that the tubes haven't preserved particularly well. The food here is still viable, it just tastes foul.
Heading west through the main passage, you can see that the southernmost of the large tube-like machines protruding from the wall of rubble has been significantly damaged, but some sort of jury-rigged cover has been affixed to the twisted end. Crusty strings of some sort of glistening residue hang from the edges of the tube’s cover.
Fireday strokes his chin.
"If we had more time, we should come back here. With the things here, we could actually build and fix some of the things we've found, as well as keeping them out of the League's hands! Provided the residents of Iadenveigh don't demand to destroy the machines here out of fear."
He regards the others cautiously. He imagined Viv and Holg wouldn't care too much about his proposition, but Kaska and Coen could possibly have objections.
Viv shrugs and says, ”Sure, I guess. Plus it would be a good thing to clean up this place so that it’s not inadvertently poisoning the landscape. Heck, I wonder if Khonnir knows anyone who could set up here and use it.”
Viv shrugs and says, ”Sure, I guess. Plus it would be a good thing to clean up this place so that it’s not inadvertently poisoning the landscape. Heck, I wonder if Khonnir knows anyone who could set up here and use it.”
"Well, could," Fireday replies. "I've been looking at the things we've found in our downtime, figuring out how they work and I think I've learned enough that I could try replicating them on my own. Turn the tools the League covets against them, you know?"
Holg nods to Fireday "Do you think we would be able to contact this 'Dominion' once you have it fixed?"
And once the group reaches the goo tube's room, the Kellid picks up one and opens it trying it a bit "Puag, more goo tubes. I am tired of them, but I am starting to feel quite hungry" still eating the tube he has picked up, Holg gets out and advances forward using the light on his sword to pierce the shadows attentively no any more ambush.
"You those coward ambushers there, we are here to fight you. Come out now and face us as real warriors!"
Viv shrugs and says, ”Sure, I guess. Plus it would be a good thing to clean up this place so that it’s not inadvertently poisoning the landscape. Heck, I wonder if Khonnir knows anyone who could set up here and use it.”"Well, could," Fireday replies. "I've been looking at the things we've found in our downtime, figuring out how they work and I think I've learned enough that I could try replicating them on my own. Turn the tools the League covets against them, you know?"
”Yeah, but do you plan to live here now?”
”Yeah, but do you plan to live here now?”Viv shrugs and says, ”Sure, I guess. Plus it would be a good thing to clean up this place so that it’s not inadvertently poisoning the landscape. Heck, I wonder if Khonnir knows anyone who could set up here and use it.”"Well, could," Fireday replies. "I've been looking at the things we've found in our downtime, figuring out how they work and I think I've learned enough that I could try replicating them on my own. Turn the tools the League covets against them, you know?"
"Not permanently, clearing this place will take several weeks, but if we're going to be in the Iadenveigh area for a while, we could make ourselves at home, not necessarily impose on the town's hospitality as long."
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Poking at the skulls and accumulated dross Coen frowns as he mutters to himself.
"Whenever I feel guilty about killing someone, it always puts me back at ease when I see that they collect and polish skulls."
Nobody responds to Holg's calls. As he continues down the passage, he sees the collapsed stone here splits the immense manufacturing hall in half. The jagged rock fall does not quite reach the south wall, leaving a space ten feet wide that allows access into another large chamber beyond. The floor is littered with bloody clumps of flesh and broken machinery shaped like arms and legs.
Fireday moves to catch up with Holg and makes a disgusted noise at the sight of the chamber they've entered.
"Inheritor in Heaven, I hate it when I'm right!"
"What a strange place... This is full of dead bodies people!" while Holg waits a bit for the others to approach and catch up with him, he kneels to pick up a stone from the littered terrain and casts light on it, then throwing it forward to have a better picture of what is ahead.
Viv gestures and the detritus slides to one side so that the party doesn’t have to pick its way over the bloody mess.
When Coen's blinking magic wears off, Kaska is left looking pale, confused, and a little panicky.
She walks over to Coen slowly and carefully, not completely trusting the effect is truly over. It can be difficult to move around if one doesn't know where they might be in another instant.
"Thank you." she tells him. "Don't ever do that to me again please."
"What a strange place... This is full of dead bodies people!" while Holg waits a bit for the others to approach and catch up with him, he kneels to pick up a stone from the littered terrain and casts light on it, then throwing it forward to have a better picture of what is ahead.
"Like I said, I think this is one of those...creche forges, a place where truly new androids are born. And from what we're seeing, it's obvious why the androids born here look like...the ones we fought."
Fireday sighs.
"We should find whatever machinery is still producing these androids and shut it down. I doubt even the Technic League would hold the knowledge to repair it, and it should not be allowed to keep making deformed androids, forced to live in unceasing physical and mental pain."
As Viv shifts the rubble around, a number of jagged metal fragments that had been balanced on the sloping mound of rubble above come crashing down! Fortunately, none of you are standing under them.
However, some of the pieces were counterweights attached to hidden cords. When the rubble falls, the cap on the tube behind you wrenches loose, and from within, two horrid oozes pour out! These quivering piles of tumorous flesh leave trails of slime behind as they slither towards you!
"What monstrosity is this now?!" seeing the monsters will open on Viv and Coen front, Holg makes an effort to double move a sent a defense line before the oozes can take the rear line of the party.
Seeing the crowded situation at the front, Coen pulls out a small mirror and begins an arcane chant while making hand gestures over the object.
"Holg, this might seem weird for a bit."
Holg is slowly enveloped by a dim radiance as he feels that he has become the pathway for a foreign energy.
Viv launches herself casually into the air over Holg and with a flick of the wrist sends a bolt of energy wrapped around a shard of metal down to one of the oozes.
She remains hovering in the air out of reach.
Viv's blast thuds into the nearest ooze, splattering rancid flesh everywhere. The thing shudders but still stands, the wounds slowly starting to regenerate. Both monsters attack Holg, heaving their bulks at him, but neither one manages to hit.
With full confidence in Coen's magics Holg let's his spell surge into him. The Kellid looks up impressed as Viv leaps to the ceiling and holds there slinging metal pieces at the monsters.
When his body starts to glow the Kellid gets convinced Coen's spell makes him more powerful "Hooooooo!!!! I am invencible now!!!" and swings his greatsword at the first one.
If the creature dies, he steps over the monster's corpse to leave space for Kaska and Fireday engage the other one.
Coen begins casting a spell. When he finishes a bolt of lightning shoots forth from the aura around Holg and courses through the remaining oozes before grounding into the nearby pipes.
Fireday prays for Iomedae's divine favor and joins Holg at the front line.
Fireday lashes out at the monster flanking Holg!
Remaining airborne, Viv lobs another blast of telekinetically-charged metal at one of the beasts!
Kaska draws her bow and fires an arrow that goes nowhere near her target. Fireday slashes the damaged ooze twice, and even as the flesh starts to grow back, Holg finishes it off with a mighty slice of his blade.
Coen fires a lightning bolt that springs forth from Holg's chest, electrocuting the remaining ooze. Viv hurls another blast at it, striking it and melting it into an inert puddle!
"Woooooo!!!!" Holg raises his greatsword in a sign of victory "Did you see that?! I sprung a lighthing bolt from my chest and left them as a puddle!" the Kellid moves near Coen and taps at him "That was impressive man! I want you to do this to me more often"
Emboldened by the powerful victory, Holg moves forward without paying attention to more. He explores the rubble where his lighted stone fell.
Fireday breathes a sigh of relief as the fight is over quickly.
"Good teamwork, everyone. The Inheritor smiles on our valor."
He follows after Holg and looks around.