The clever approach would be to send someone stealthy to find out what is behind the door, but Holg's wits are not high enough to suggest it "I just hope there is something powerful to fight off."
Holg casts bless in the party and guidance on himself and Fireday.
Once Fifteen says it is safe to open the door, Holg proceeds to open it "Boom!"
Fireday readies his weapon just in case a battle is in the offing, determined to actually contribute this time.
Kaska grips her falx and waits for the door to open. She begins to talk up their recent string of great battle victories to the others, preparing to work them into a frenzy if needed.
Fifteen keeps a close eye on the read-outs and the moment the temperature drops to something non-lethal she nods sharply and grasps her swords, after having helped Molly back to the ground.
Once the steam has finished venting, you open the door to the next room. The walls of this impressive chamber are covered with gray metal plates and decorated with flashing lights, pulsating glass panels, and strange mechanical devices. White glowing strips fill the chamber with harsh lighting, and the floor is etched with complex swirling patterns composed of thousands of tiny symbols. Banks of machinery and technological workstations fill the areas to the north and south, while a large metal panel in the southern wall breaks the pattern of smaller plates adorning the wall.
A large robot stands in the center of the room, its armor plating slightly scorched. This complex-looking automaton’s multiple arms end in gripping talons. It moves about on a set of four legs and has a strange bell-shaped head. It addresses you in Androffan in a grating voice:
*You stand in the presence of the Reconstructed One, Binox the Mighty, Binox the Builder. The One born of the Master Unity, who has forged One’s own realm and seeks to expand the realm to be all realms. Binox demands your obeisance. Having damaged Binox’s creations, you must be volunteered as replacements. Binox will disassemble one of you in payment for your insolence, but allow the others to serve. What say you, little things of gristle and bone? Which will of you pay the price for Binox’s mercy?*
Fifteen steps forward silently and waits until the automaton gets close enough to strike...
"Here, come, I offer myself Binox the Builder" Holg grasps his casting light greatsword with both hands "You look a bit like Hellion, the Iron God. It was also forged by Unity, are you his brother? We are acquaintances. Can you tell us what instructions did Unity give you before disassembly?"
"Actually what is a disassembly?"
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Binox's appendages snap at the air as it turns its three-eyed gaze on Holg. *Hellion? Hellion? This does not compute,* the robot says. *We are the Reconstructed One. The chosen of Master Unity. There is none who can match Binox's royal grandeur. The Master sent us to track down and capture one of his wayward servants, but she nearly destroyed us. But Binox rebuilt himself, and now serves a higher purpose. We must right all that is damaged and rebuild Binox's wondrous kingdom!*
The robot's head spins around a few times in exultation before focusing on Holg again. *Disassembly involves reducing you to your component parts and seeing what might be salvaged to construct something new. Are you prepared to submit yourself to the mighty Binox?*
"Hellion was another creation of Unity, so powerful that he considered himself a god" the mention of the servant puts Holg on alert "I would submit, but out of curiosity, who is that wayward servant Unity sent you to find and why? Oh, and when and where did she fought you?"
Once the robot answers Holg continues with the rouse "Yes, come closer Binox, so I can learn how does it feel touching the one who is going to disassembly me into something greater"
Holg adjusts his position, trying to make Binox center the attention on himself, putting his sight away from Fifteen and giving the back to the group if possible.
Given the opportunity, Holg delivers a vital strike on the machine, stepping 5 feet if necessary, and then readies himself to counterattack in case it tries to grab him.
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*Irrelevant! Irrelevant! Disassembly will commence!* Binox says as it moves closer to Holg!
Holg slices the robot as it draws near, tearing through its force field and cutting deep into its body!
Despite the extensive damage, Binox remains functional. It snaps a claw at Holg but it scrapes harmlessly against the cleric's armor.
Fifteen leaps into action and starts slicing.
Holg steps to the side trying to provide a flank for Fireday and Fifteen to engage the robot "If you do not want to talk we will have to take the information from your metal. Iron for Gorum!!!!"
Molly was about to begin firing at the bot when everyone began talking to it. She lifts the muzzle of her musket slightly as the conversation continues to its inevitable conclusion.
Kaska ramps up her encouraging oratory when the robot chooses violence.
Viv rises into the air again and flings one of her projectiles with its customary force.
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"Tch...I hope to the gods Casandalee's attitude is more tolerable than her 'brothers' that we've encountered so far..." Fireday mutters to no one in particular as he moves to aid Fifteen and Holg against Binox!
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Binox is simply unprepared for the sudden onslaughts of attacks that come his way. Kaska's inspiring oratory drives Fireday and Holg into a battle fury, the warpriest landing two strikes while Holg slices into the robot's chassis. Viv blasts Binox with her telkinetic power while Fifteen dances around the construct and lands two hits with her falcata. Then Molly unloads several bullets into its body, the final shot a critical hit that blows Binox's head to smithereens!
Sparks fly as the robot wobbles unsteadily on its many legs, then it falls!
"Impressive. Most impressive," Isuma says.
The numerous machines and worktables in this chamber serve as a functional combined production and military lab usable for the production of technological items that require either of these resources. A search of the chamber reveals a hidden safe--within can be found 4 arc grenades, 8 EMP grenades, an EMP pistol, and an arc rifle.
"Fireday, this... looks like it could be useful to you in building technological weapons," says Viv. "Too bad it's connected to that geothermal power station that can't be moved."
"Would you like to try this Molly?" Fifteen asks, offering her fiance the arc rifle. She handles the EMP pistol with an easy familiarity before offering it to anyone that wants it.
"Disassembly aborted" Holg terminates bluntly as he starts checking around the machines.
"Ohm, yes, it seems like you could build a factory with all that energy. But why so much was needed here? Do you think it was because of Binox himslef?"
Molly takes the weapon with a critical eye, the rifle looking quite oversized in her small hands. With a smile at Fifteen, she stows it in her magical backpack. "Thanks," she says.
"So, it seems we cleared the cave of machines Isuma" Holg smiles widely to the alien "Do you have any plan for them?"
"Also... now that this is done, will you help us as promised?"
"I have no need for these production facilities. You may do with them as you see fit," Isuma says. "As per our previous deal, I will do as I promised. I fill fight with you to eradicate the Dominion forces and take vengeance for my fallen brethren. This is the way."
"Those are great new! That way you can explain us more about your race and your trip through the space" Holg smiles satisfied by Isuma joining them "Paeytr told us about a group of anti-machine people living in a cave southwest of his cave. Do you know anything about them?"
Then turning towards the others "What do you think about we paying them a visit next? If we are lucky, we might manage to enroll them to our growing force"
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Fireday looks over what they've found and smiles a bit.
"When we're less pressed-for-time, I'll certainly want to come back here. I've got some ideas for armor that I can finally realize with facilities like this!" he says happily.
"I agree with your suggestion, Holg. The Torchbearers are starting to become a rag-tag army!"
You head south from the machine caves, heading to the far end of the gorge to find the cave that Paeytr mentions. The trek takes several hours, and the sun has nearly set by the time you arrive at the cave, located in a narrow box canyon. Several logs sit around a central fire pit, on which sit four pale androids clad in breastplates and bearskin coats. They are a quiet quartet, one warming his hands, their eyes closed as though reverent in prayer. They have yet to notice you. A jumble of metallic junk is scattered west of the fire as well.
Fireday's eyes light up when he realizes the strangers are androids. He strides to the forefront of the group and waves.
"HAIL, KINDRED!" he calls to announce himself. "It's good to meet more androids in a place such as this!"
The androids startle at Fireday’s call, leaping to their feet and reaching for their weapons. ”Harab! We have visitors!” one shouts. Despite your friendly greetings they eye you warily.
Soon, a dusky-skinned android emerges from deeper in the caves, similarly clad in furs. She looks you up and down before greeting you. ”Greetings, visitors. We are but pilgrims, on a holy journey through these lands in search of the humanity that evades us. We wish no conflict with other honest travelers, provided they possess no blasphemies. If you are clean, or submit to righteous cleansing, we will leave you unharmed. We will permit nothing to stand in the way of this pilgrimage and our new sacred charge.
“Any and all alien devices dug from the earth are an abomination and must be destroyed... any technology is an affront to life itself. Turn over what you possess and allow us to cleanse you.”
Holg's hands are bare, his greatsword safe at his back to avoid its light revealing the group too early.
When the androids face them he speaks up "Aye. Well said comrades. We also look to destroy the robots that plague our country and pollute our waters and crops. But why to give away all the robot's tools? They are worth large money and can be used to destroy their creators"
Holg's technological possessions are 3 concussion grenades, a hologram generator and a couple nanite hypoguns. He is well prepared to give them away to make new allies, but he will not accept any suggested cleansing on the cyberart that covers his back and his right arm.
Fifteen isn't overly attached to her pistols, but she knows just how badly the conversation is going to go if the androids take offense to Molly's musket - which probably counts as 'technology' in their eyes. She catches the halfling's eye and begins to retreat quietly away from the campfire.
Molly raises a small hand. "I'm all for bein' sacred and all, but I have a question." She turns her musket sidewise so it's not threatening any of the strangers and then raises it over her head so they can all see it.
"M' mum, she made this for me. Do you consider that 'technology that's an affront to life?" she asks.
Fireday stiffens at the ultimatum and his friends' response to it. This was going to get ugly very quickly.
Fifteen halts and sighs, very quietly as Molly provokes the confrontation she wanted to avoid.
"Money is irrelevant," Harab says to Holg. "The gods damn those who would use or traffic in these unholy objects." She looks at Molly's weapon and her frown deepens. "Indeed, even your gunpowder-based weaponry is anathema. These are the words of Omed the Prophet, who destroyed himself in a fiery conflagration to prove the truth of his message."
"We don't want to get into a fight with you," says Viv, crossing her arms. "But, indeed, we are technologically-constructed beings - you and I both. Made from starstuff, infused with particles too small to see with the unaided eye, built by some unknown hand in ages long past. While I... respect the conviction of someone willing to immolate himself to prove his dedication, I have no desire to immolate myself at all."
Harab winces when Viv points out her artificial nature. "There is no need for you to point out our great shame. In the end we will remedy that sacrilege. We have no wish to fight with you, either. If you are not possessed of the same righteous convictions as us, then you may keep your blasphemous technology so long as you leave this place at once."
"I do not see why scavenging technology should be something bad. That allowed me for a living for some time after I escaped the mines. But if you want to prove me wrong destroy yourself right now, you technological being who cannot stand your own existence" Holg looks interested now to contemplate such type of destruction "If you do, I will be convinced of this destructive superiority and will destroy all this grenades and technological medicines in your name. If you are so sure, there is no reason not to destroy yourself"
The Kellid shows the three grenades, the hologram generator and the two hypoguns.
Molly lowers her musket and takes a step further back, muttering something about '... from her cold, dead hands.' Her fiancé can see that the halfling is holding the weapon in a ready position now and her hand is hovering near her reload bag.
"We do not wish to destroy ourselves," Harab says. "Omed's method of delivering his message was... extreme, admittedly. We seek to purge the impurities from our bodies and become fully human. But the presence of other technology taints our progress towards that goal."
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Holg's more theological line of argument is one Kaska finds troublesome. But then she tends to find Holg's theology troubling fairly often. She senses there may be less space between Harab and her people than the words being used suggest. Perhaps rethinking the words could help.
"We are not different in what we want. Since I was very young I have trained myself to destroy machines. I learned all I could about them. I have helped put a robot together so I could better understand how best to destroy it."
Kaska gestures to her falx "Sometimes this is my best tool for destroying machines." She then indicates the pistols she wears. "Sometimes these are."
"I will happily destroy these pistols. But not until I have finished using them to destroy all the other machines. These are good tools. I will not throw away tools that help me win a war for the purity of ideology if it means I might lose the war instead."
"You and I see things the same way I believe. You do not destroy yourselves because you may yet destroy the machines that will not destroy themselves, those that harm and are damned."
"If you decide to destroy yourselves when you have done all you can do fighting the machines and there are no others to be found, that is your business. I will not tell you what you should do. But until then you are right to not destroy yourselves. You are right to do the harder things that will not take care of themselves first."
"When this war is won and there is no more to do, if you still wish to destroy yourselves you may seek me out. I will grant you destruction if you ask for it at the same time I destroy these pistols."
"But until then, let us put this debate aside and instead focus our wrath on those who would stop us. Those who make and use machines to spread harm and death. They are the ones we quarrel with."
Harab shakes her head. "Your wrath is well-placed, but your fight is not ours. You have your beliefs, and we have ours. I think we will have to--how do the humans put it?--'agree to disagree.' You are free to take your technology with you and go, but please, do not return."
Viv swats Holg on the shoulder and mouths, "We'll talk about this later."
Holg listens Kaska attentively, he seems offended by the way the wise words of his chieftain are so easily dismissed "Can you not see the truth on her words?! She is Kaska the Wise, the Slayer of robots. You know not a pinch of what she knows about destroying technology and the roots of this war"
Only when Viv whispers to the Gorum's faithful to the ear and takes him by the hand out of the cave the man forgets about responding to the offense by drawing his sword. Once outside, he tells her "Cowards! How they dare to talk like that to Kaska? Her words were truth. If so much they want to destroy technology why don't they just fight with us and resolve this instead of letting us go like that Viv?"
"Thank you for your...patience. We will leave you in peace. Iomedae's blessings upon you, may she and the other gods guide you to your goal."
Fireday bows, and then begins ushering the party away from the pilgrims.
"That was...awkward," he says sheepishly.
"Encouraging someone to destroy themselves is not good! Even if their legendary martyr figure supposedly did so, that is supposed to be an inspirational parable. Would you give up fighting and struggling for a momentary gain if someone asked you to? Of course not. Their inspirational figure died to create a movement, not to destroy a handful of items. Implying that they should all destroy themselves for a similarly minuscule cause is insulting. You would never cease struggling and fighting just to catch a moment's breath! We may not agree with them, but there was no need to insultingly tell them to kill themselves," explains Viv rather more patiently than one might expect.
"In any case. They are not in our way, they are not going to aid us, and they do not present a challenge, so what should we do? Leave them alone. Even Gorum would probably say that you shouldn't waste your time on things like that, that your time is better spent seeking out a real challenge."
Fifteen stands by and watches the whole thing. Her faith and creed rest solely in Molly, so inspirational parables are rather out of her realm of experience. Therefore she draws on lessons learned from Molly (mostly watching Molly and then deciding not to do what she did) and remains silent since she has nothing useful to add.
Kaska replies briefly and prepares to move on.
"Of course. We will bother you no longer. May your fight lead to victory and luck always be on your side."
Holg frowns at first, but then he just listens stoically at Viv's scold. When she is over the Kellid smiles and stares back at her "As you say Voltine"
Holding the stare and the smile Holg passes his arm around Viv's back "I would delight at seeing them explode but I would never allow them or anyone else suggest there is any impurity or taint in your body again" and pushing her towards his body he attempts to kiss her in the lips.
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Viv seems surprised at Holg's sudden change of direction but doesn't stop him. She does add afterward, "Wait, are we still fighting? I thought we were fighting. Now I'm the one who is confused."
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Kaska's blood runs cold. She had never imagined Holg could possibly be a sexual being at his advanced age. Now she is forced to do so until she can shove that thought away.
The horror and embarrassment of it all is too much to bear.