+15-17 depending.
Grammanar lifts the big hackbut off his back and tries to set it up, half-expecting a fight.
Yvell has an inkling that it might be connected to some kind of trap, or unholy thing, but isn't sure. Perdix on the other hand thinks it might be some kind of haunt.
Ghost smoke surrounds Perdix escaping from the doorway trying to suffocate the scholar.
cough cough
Val will attempt to channel to defuse the smoke.
Seeing the apparition go after Perdix Yvell roars out trying to brace his ally's inner fortitude. He will stand by him trying to draw.. whatever this corruption was.
"Huh. I wonder if anyone's ever designed a weapon enchantment that uses positive energy so that they can beat a haunt like this by beating it up."
Yvell raised a brow focusing his might into Perdix as he looks to Muga. " That would be convenient but unlikely... unless haunts killed their mother and violated their father... Or something. "
"Someone saw fit to combine an owl and a bear."
" There are not many times we agree Muga, but this one is infallibly true. I am not the knower of all. "
Valtyra's channeling pushes the smoke ghosts away, but they came back seconds later, swarming the room, searching for another creature to suffocate.
Yvell kept his song up just in case, " Valtyra blast it again! "
"Oooh, that's another fun idea. I wonder what happens if you blow up or disintegrate the place the haunt is bound to?"
"Let's find out," Grammanar replies. "I can spare a dozen or two rounds." And, loading his hackbut, he begins to aim careful shots at the machine, corpse, and any furniture in the room.
"Go to your rest spirits!" Val says angrily. Then says a quick prayer.
The smoke spirits dissipate as Valtyra's channeling and Grammanar's bullets enter the room, the latter destroying pipes and metal of the machine. More of them form from the machine and surge out of the room.
Smoke spirits begin to surround Grammanar, trying to suffocate him.
Smoke spirits continue to stream out of the room from the machine.
"Maybe we let them have this room?"
" We have to clear this place eventually, letting something of this type around is I'll advised. "
Yvell reaches out with a glowing hand to stop the flow of the haunt any further.
"Guys, I really think we should just let them have that room. Maybe come back for it last."
Yvell touches one of the spirits, causing it to shrink and disappear.
Valtyra channels once more, causing the haunts to disappear. Smoke continues to churn from the machine within the room.
"I stand corrected."
"That was very unpleasant. I just couldn't breathe. I believe there is a spell which does that. I must acquire it. "
"A spell which lets you breathe, or not?" Grammanar asks. "Anyway, let's get away from these ghosts."
"One which makes my foes unable to breathe. That could be very powerful in a fight. Of course since we seem to fight constructs all the time, it might be more limited in its utility. "
" Constructs and Undead in great quantity. I may fare well if need we deal with those aligned with the Technic League however. " Yvell stretch his left shoulder and rubbed his throat. " Regardless, that was a most dangerous haunt. Though such things tend to arise for a reason and we best investigate that. I swear to Ragathiel, if this place is not trapped in one way it is in another. "
Covering his mouth he moves into the room to look about.
" After this the decision will be to clear the top floors now or head down the staircase hidden in Furkas' room. Personally I would rather be sure nothing comes down on our heads if we find that which is below too much to handle. "
"But what if we go up and then whatever is hidden in Furkas' secret staircase comes up and hits us from below? The argument works the same in both directions. Honestly, none of the minions here have shown more tactical prowess than 'Ambush whoever enters my space'"
" Tactically speaking it is always better to have the high-ground than to fight uphill. It is also better to assume your enemy is competent than not. You however do bring up a valid point Muga. So far we have been somewhat fortuitous in that the opponents thus far have been either animals, mindless or unable to move past the barriers to certain rooms. However Furkas has tested our mettle twice so far and is surely still the 'Master' of this tower. He may even have been arrogant before, but I doubt him stupid. I expect worse may come. "
"If it's a hidden staircase," Grammanar points out, "Maybe it's hidden from the mindless minions of this tower, as well. Maybe that's where his ghost relaxes when it's not busy trying to kill me."
" Considering the first interaction we had with his ghost resulted in him retreating below the ground, that is not too far from a possibility. Though I believe he ascended this time. It would be folly to assume he would have no guardians however. Considering his ability to bind Elemental creatures much like Sahasho "
"It it would be imprudent to expect no more threats. The dead madman surely shows major signs of paranoia. I expect guardians galore. "
"I'm not expecting no more guardians. I'm just not expecting them to all form a hit squad and ambush us all at once. They've been super content to just wait for us."
" Likely those with intelligence and if not, I see Furkas utilizing his abilities in tandem. The fact he can move through walls is quite annoying. Not to mention our rest likely lead him to be refreshed once more somewhat. If we can I rather force him to into a position where he cannot run. I am hoping if we find the object he is attached to that becomes possible. "
There is strange corded machine attached to the skeleton corpse near the smoking machine.
Opening the other door in Furkas' bedroom, causes a few gallons of water to rush out. You can see a bathtub, sink, and toiletries, though they have not seen use in several years. There are three small vials of liquid in the bathroom.
-------------
As you head upstairs you can hear the sound of ringing hammers and fire.
This open space spans the diameter of the tower and, in the southern portion of the room, opens to a room above. The air is stifling due to the operation of three massive forges that burn and vent into the cluster of exposed pipes running through the center of the tower. A tangle of conduits from the southeast cuts through the room to join this cluster, forming a wall of pipes and thick wires.
Three squat brass-skinned humanoids with fiery hair are attending to the forges, while three riot suppressor robots guard the room. As soon as they see you, the robots suddenly attack commanding the dwarf-like creatures to assist.
1. Perdix and Muga
2. Enemies
3. Everyone
Haste it is.
Muga takes a position behind Yvell and readies an attack.