Coen sighs deeply and whispers to himself.
"Not again."
Fireday takes point and calls out to the room.
"Who IS your master? We do not even know who you are," he declares.
Holg stops at the doorstep when some mysterious voice talks to them "Are you the wind called Sahasho?"
The Kellid decides to try explore more about these mysterious people "Yes, we know your Master Xoud was looking for information here with you. We are also interested to look for him. Where did you last saw him? How did you lost track of the Master?"
"Yes, I am Sahasho," the voice replies. You can feel a breeze moving about in the chamber. "I have lingered here for many years, compelled by conjuration, hoping in vain that the one who called me would return. All I desire is to return to my home on the Plane of Air. If you can promise to send me back where I belong, I will happily tell you all I know about the one called Furkas Xoud."
"Oh! Yes!" Holg taps on Coen's shoulders "Here you have one of the most powerful Numerian Sorcerers. He sure can dispel the magics that holds you in this plane of existence"
"How long have you been here trapped?" the Kellid rubs his nose "And whom is Furkas Xoud exactly and what was he looking for in here?"
Fireday folds his hands and makes a small bow.
"I am so sorry, good Sahasho, that you have been trapped alone for so long. You have my oath, we will do whatever we can to ensure you may return home."
Viv glances back and forth between Fireday and Coen and Holg, then just nods in agreement.
Kaska looks at Viv and shrugs. Things seem to be going alright but she doesn't really know what those things are.
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Coen smiles as Holg pats him on the shoulder and then surreptitiously looks at the non-insane members of the group in a way that implies that he is not at all confident about sending a bound elemental back to its' home plane.
Then he turns his head back towards the voice and Holg and smiles in a manner that seems to suggest that, yes indeed, he is one of the most powerful Numerian sorcerers and sending a bound elemental home would be a task worthy of his talents.
"Furkas Xoud was the wizard who summoned me. He was particularly interested in using magic to manipulate air and smoke and other gaseous materials--interests that at once intrigued and disturbed me, given my nature. I was ordered to serve as a guardian against any dangers he might encounter, but also to provide brute force when needed.
"Xoud used magic to overcome or bypass most of the dangers of this place, but when we came to this room, he was incredibly astounded and intrigued at the discovery of a slain android. It seemed apparent that the recovery of this body was in fact Xoud's entire purpose for investigating this wreck. I'm not sure why the body was so important, but I do recall Xoud's excitement upon discovering the body, and that he somehow knew the body belonged to a woman once named Casandalee. Xoud told me to remain here and guard the room while he returned to his home with the body via teleportation. The wizard had promised to return in a few days, but he never did. That was many years ago."
"It makes me sad. Such a powerful soldier spoiled like this, guarding an empty room, unable to fight and prove its value..." Holg genuinely gets emotional, his eyes bright " Where is this Xoud's home?"
"I am not certain. The wizard conjured me on the outskirts of the town above this ruin. He made no mention of his home's location."
"Did he ever mention what did he wanted Casandalee for?" and the pointing south "What is here you are guarding, and there in the southern chambers?"
"I do not know why he was so interested in her. And there is nothing here that I am guarding. He told me to wait here, and his conjuration magic has forced me to wait here with nothing to do for years on end," Sahasho says with irritation.
Holg looks at the others looking for guidance. The Kellid squeezes his brain trying to get the last drops of common sense "Ok... well... let's see... Did Xoud comment he was serving someone, be part of a group... or perhaps was he presenting some symbol somewhere on his clothing?"
With the last questions he can come up with, Holg turns to Coen and smiles hoping he will break the magic chains of the elemental or perhaps come up with more juicy questions.
"No, nothing like that," Sahasho says.
"So basically we don't know any more than when we came in," says Viv, tapping her foot.
"We have a name, and we can work from there. Odds are we'll need to confront Xoud...if he's still alive, anyway, to find Casandalee and the answers we seek," Fireday replies.
"Yes. We have something" Holg nods to Fireday "I think you are right Fireday. And we are seeking the android recording system... mmm... perhaps its still here around!"
The idea springs and the Kellid turns to Sahasho "Did you find a neurocam?" he also looks around trying to find the thing.
At some point Holg looks to Coen, hoping he really has something to free the elemental.
"I do not know what a neurocam is, but I don't believe Xoud found anything aside from the android's body," Sahasho says.
Looking around, Holg realizes the exposed plates and cables in the conrer of the room are an immense power conduit capable of accepting electrical charges, whether via a battery, a generator, or magic. Sufficient could restore power to the various laboratories and facilities in this compllex.
"Look!" Holg points to the lose cables "That seems like an energy loading point. Do you think we should restore power to the complex? Perhaps that will enable more robots to fight. That might be fun! I am for it, but what do you others think?"
Holg keeps looking at Coen with hope about releasing Sahasho.
"Shouldn't we hold up our end of the bargain and free Sahasho first? They've been patient with our questions and answered what they could," Fireday says, looking back and forth to the others with a concerned look in his eyes.
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Coen looks at Holg and slowly shakes his head.
He leans in closely and explains in a whisper.
"It's not impossible, but I've never learned to do it. We would at the very least need some scrolls to break the enchantment and then enabling the travel back is an entirely different thing that is beyond my experience."
Holg eyes Coen, then he turns to the elemental. The Kellid coughs a couple of times before starting to talk "Ok, Sahasho. Our powerful sorcerer says the strength of Xoud's magic has grown weak time ago and he was able, through his power and knowledge to break the last bits of magic." the man smiles wide at the elemental "And so, you are free now and you can leave" the man starts to walk back out of the room making signs to the others to retreat as well "We desire you a good depart. I hope we have the chance to meet again in the future and cross swords. Meanwhile we are to explore the rest of the complex to the south. Thanks!"
If Sahasho just stays in the room, attempts to leave or otherwise does nothing, and the rest of the party retreats with Holg, he just closes the door behind him and moves south to continue the exploration.
The air on front of Holg kicks up into a miniature tempest. "Do not lie to me!" Sahasho bellows, his voice inches from the cleric's face. "I know how the conjuration magic works. If it is broken, I will immediately return to my home plane. I answered your questions. Now fulfill your end of the bargain or you will suffer my wrath!"
"Holg, how could you?!" Fireday asks, aghast at what he's just witnessed. "I made an oath! By lying to Sahasho you've made a liar out of me!"
He bows.
"Please forgive us, noble Sahasho. I may have the ability to break the spell binding you, but I would need to pray to my goddess for it at dawn to have the necessary power. If you were willing to wait till then, I will cast the spell myself, and offer any other recompense you see fit for the dishonor we have committed to you."
The wind calms down to a slight breeze. "Very well. I have waited here for many years. I can wait one more day."
Coen steps slightly forward at the howling threat.
" Stop your threats. I will make the attempt."
Coen casts detect magic to attempt to discern the power and type of binding on the entity.
While doing this he also attempts to read what he can regarding the threats given by the voice. He is worried that he is in a situation where the threats are hollow and the binding is the only thing keeping the entity from killing everyone.
Kaska isn't in a position to add anything to the conversation with the air beast. She remains silent as things play out. It gives her plenty of time to reflect on her cycles of rising and falling degrees of anxiety as things swing from bad to good and back to bad then good as the talking goes on.
Coen doesn't detect any magic auras coming from the invisible elemental. Recalling what he knows about conjuration magic, the sorcerer figures the being must have been called to this plane via a planar ally spell. Completing the task it was summoned for would send it back to its home plane, but it would seem that would be impossible to do at this time. Spells like banishment or dismissal would work--Holg should be able to prepare it and cast it tomorrow.
Although both Sahasho and Fireday shout at him, Holg remains calm "Aye. I will be pleased to fight now and free you from your magic chains"
But when both Fireday and Coen readdress the situation he nods "I did not expect you will be understanding like that. But actually that is truth, if you cannot just leave, we need to wait a day to pray the gods to free you" the Kellid looks back at Fireday "I you don't trust me, trust at least my friend here"
Once the bond is made, Holg moves to the southern unexplored door, casts guidance on himself and opens to see whats there.
"You were going to KILL them to free them?!" Fireday says, following him. "Shame!"
This hallway has doors at the north and south ends. A bright orange hexagonal sigil adorns an immense metal door to the south. A porthole-like glass window is set into the door at head height. Looking through the window, you can see a large concentration of orange fog filling the chambers beyond.
Holg looks confused at Fireday, then smiles " Fireday, it is entombed in life. That's worser than death"
With his rudimentary Androffan, Holg is able to understand the sign "Cau-tion bi-o-ha-zard. Mmmm... I think it might be dangerous ahead. Perhaps radiation or gas. We still have some of those suites special for emergency. Whom is coming with me " the Kellid opens his backpack and starts to unroll one of the suites and dress it.
"I'll go!" says Viv enthusiastically. "I wonder what's in there! Probably more robots. After all if it's a biohazard there wouldn't be LIVING things in there."
"Yes, but that's not their fault and they have a chance to life the rest of their life NOT entombed if you just open the tomb instead of flooding it with violence and I think this metaphor is starting to get away from me..." Fireday replies, trailing off at the end. "How many of those do you have? Part of me wants to go in with you, but on the other hand, I don't want to leave the other half of our warband without healing magic without you."
"We only have one panic suite" he offers it to Fireday " Perhaps someone else shall do it"
"If no one else objects, I'll be happy to. I don't want to get in others' way."
Coen decides for honesty after assessing the situation.
"We will need to either fulfill the needs of the contract binding the spirit here or purchase a scroll to dismiss it to its' home plane."
"We can't just dispel the magic?" Fireday asks. "Why does it always seem like the magic we need to help people is beyond our own capacity?"
Holg hands Fireday the fist-sized plastic sphere. When the warpriest activates it, it unfolds and envelops him in a full-body protective suit. It hums slightly as the built-in filters work to ensure the air quality remains pure.
Orange fog seeps out from the door when Fireday opens it, but he quickly seals it behind him to keep the toxins from spreading. He makes his way through the eerie series of chambers, the gas swirling in the air around him. In all, there are eight large chambers that seem to have been designed to contain this substance, whatever it might be, but all of them are slowly leaking. It's possible that this gas is responsible for the contamination of the Badwater and the mutations that occur in those who drink from it. The chambers are empty save for the gas itself.
From outside Viv paces back and forth as she waits for Fireday to report back with his findings.
"I hope he's all right. What if there are more robots? What if his suit breaches? I seem to be overwhelmed with simulations of terrible possible outcomes."
Holg hands Fireday the fist-sized plastic sphere. When the warpriest activates it, it unfolds and envelops him in a full-body protective suit. It hums slightly as the built-in filters work to ensure the air quality remains pure.
Orange fog seeps out from the door when Fireday opens it, but he quickly seals it behind him to keep the toxins from spreading. He makes his way through the eerie series of chambers, the gas swirling in the air around him. In all, there are eight large chambers that seem to have been designed to contain this substance, whatever it might be, but all of them are slowly leaking. It's possible that this gas is responsible for the contamination of the Badwater and the mutations that occur in those who drink from it. The chambers are empty save for the gas itself.
Fireday takes a closer look and thinks if anything he's heard of or read about might match this stuff, and more importantly, if there's a way to filter out or seal up whatever this fog is to keep it from harming Iadenveigh and her people further.
Frieday doesn't see any physical way to filter out the gas here, but studying the technological devices in each canister, he realizes that it would be possible to neutralize its toxicity if power is restored to this complex. The consoles in the laboratory where Sahasho lingers could be used to minimize the gas seepage and remove the danger from Iadenveigh.
Making a mental note about the gas, Fireday checks for anything else in the room before returning to the others.
Fireday doesn't find anything else in these chambers.
Finishing up, Fireday motions for the others to let him out. Once he IS out and he's sure they've sealed the room behind him, he removes the panic suit.
"It looks like we might have a reason to give Iadenveigh if we want to re-power and restore this place. That mist leaking out there is likely the source of the contamination making mutants in the Badwater, and if we can get those consoles in Sahasho's room to work, they should activate something in that room that will neutralize the mist!" he explains. "Maybe the Council would have the means to provide the scroll we'd need to free Sahasho, so we could work in that room without him hovering...heh, hovering!...over us. We get the air cleared down here to explore further, Iadenveigh no longer has to worry about mutant animals or the Technic League's interest, and we can make a workshop out of the restored facility! Everybody's happy!"
"So long as restoring the power doesn't also turn on something worse," notes Viv.
"Well done Fireday! You are brave!" the Kellid pats Fireday while he brings out his holy symbol, a greatsword stabbed into the peak of a mountain "Ok, I will pray Gorum, let's see if he gives me this powers Coen says are able to dismiss our new friend and give him peace. Is that what you want Fireday? I will do it for you my friend. Then we can go into his room and activate the energy stuff there to cleanse this place!"
If everybody agrees to stop, Holg will pray to fill a level 4 spell slot with the required spell to dismiss the outsider. Then, he will follow the others into the room to cast it on Sahasho.