Linpul seems startled at the image on the screen, only to start pulling out her thieving tools. She looks coldly at the screen when whatever it is insults the group.
"Hey, it's one of those things, I wonder if I can take it apart. Also, go shove a wrench up what I assume is a donkey's arse on your face. I don't like being called a monkey."
Before Linpul can get to the machine, the image of the fiend laughs and a dark miasma forms along the image's hands. Suddenly, a wave of dark energy strikes everyone.
The image disappears with echoing laughter. On the black screen is static.
Will save:
[b]"Okay, and the black smoke hurts a little, Tetsuda are you okay? Well you are tough, the face is gone so I don't think I have to dismantle this screen."[/dice]
I take 14 damage and am nauseated for 2 rounds.
"We appear to have rattled his cage, this counterfeit God. Let it be known that the gods of the brave will rise up and destroy such blasphies. Let The followers of Brigh know we move against the evil inside. Solaria continues, hoping that news of their first victory will travel quickly to their friends.
Eugh, who was that demon brute? Hellion?
"I say you disable the screen anyway Linpul," Sarainy remarks. "Who knows whether he can do that again?"
Turning to the group she asks, "Was that Hellion? What do we know about him?"
Solaria feels the full force of the evil gods will, she steadies herself and let's Desna's power centre on her and radiate out to her allies.
I'd also not like to find out if he can do that again.
Taking her time with the uninstallation of the wall fixture, Linpul talks a bit.
"Like I said, he was something with a donkey's arse for a face, anything we do to wreck that pretty smile might actually be an improvement. In the meantime, when and if we get back to Torch I think we are all deserving of some bodyart, or ink, whichever one you prefer. I'm paying, who's up for it? If you don't know what bodyart is, well it's the little spinny gear thing on my hand, see. I know Uran you seemed interested in it."
Linpul takes apart the video screen, pulling out screws and nails and other bits until the thing is just scrap.
Sarainy laughs at the repeated mention of the demon having a donkey's arse for a face.
Body art huh?
"Sounds interesting, I would be happy to. In Varisia tattoos and the like are incredibly commonplace, especially among spellcasters in order to improve their magical abilities. Although those are typically written runes of Thassilonian, rather than spinning gears..."
Dr Lendaro steels himself against the pain, then nods to Solaria, "Thank you again."
He watches Linpul break the vidscreen down to bits of scrap, inspects one of the components, then tosses it back into the heap - realizing he's not feeling terribly interested in the workings of this technology at this point.
"If this Hellion wishes to pass himself off as a god, he should try to avoid such pettiness in his grumblings."
"I think that is definitely something you should bring up with him Doctor when we meet him face to face," Sarainy grins.
"Perhaps that should wait until tomorrow? These Lords are going nowhere, and we expended quite a lot of resources on this Helskarg. Unless of course this is some sort of gauntlet?"
"We could take a quick look at what we are to face, before we leave for the day. It will keep the Lords wondering." says Solaria to Sarainy, as she winks at the bard. "I'm sure Linpul wants to see more, so let's be quick, in and out, then I can have some time to make more scrolls."
She sees if any of the group has anything to lodge the door open, to save them from being trapped inside.
Probably a silly suggestion, but...
"I can make a solid musical note of magic, to bar the door - but it's going to last less than a minute. Guess you want more time than that though!"
"Well we do not want to miss anything that might help us against this Hellion creature!"
Uran begins to search the base...starting in the larger "common" areas, and then moving to any separate "bedrooms"
Solaria catches the gnome and his guns before he enters the compound, "wait Uran, we must secure the door open before we go in, there is no good finding interesting stuff, if we get trapped inside. We need to get some iron spikes or something to keep the door open. And we aren't going to go through the whole of their base today, not only is the false god waiting we still have 5 or 6 of the Lords to dispose of. Its not going to be easy, we can't just wander around without being careful, didn't you hear what that evil thing said?" Solaria looks at the rest of the group, "You understand that, we don't have the resources yet to take them all out. We can make an exploratory expedition to see what we might face, and maybe even find a safe place in their own back yard, but we mustn't overextend ourselves, or death might be the outcome and I have so much more to explore and discover, my journey with Desna is not near completion yet."
She waits for some sign of comprehension and agreement.
After dismantling the screen Linpul stands her hammer up and rests on it. It's been a rough and tumble couple of days.
"Cant we just chuck a couple of these apparent gas grenades down there and smoke any enemies out? Just hold the door shut or let them open it and smash them when they wander out away from the smoke?"
Uran is stopped before he can explore alone.
Uran nods his head in understanding.
"Maybe if a few of us stand guard the others could make a quick sweep of just the surrounding rooms?
Dr Lendaro nods to Uran. He slips a finger under his armor and taps a tattoo on his chest. His coloration changes - mimicking the terrain around him.
"I am willing to scout ahead... if deemed prudent."
"Very well, I can help stand guard here. Perhaps my solid note could help hold the door in place should it start to close on us... My sneaking is not really up to scratch I'm afraid," Sarainy says.
"Perhaps you two and one other should scout ahead?
Looking around, Linpul peers into the doorway. She wondered about going in or resting and coming back.
"Well, maybe we can have a couple of people scout ahead, myself and the Dr. can sneak along fairly well. I can leave Tetsuda here to guard someone, as long as you take care of him. Once we find a room we can rest in we'll head back and bring everybody down. That or we all go in together, what I wouldn't give for a spell of that ropey trick thing. That or we leave, come back tomorrow and maybe scale the walls with like a grappling hook, or have Tetsuda here fly us over the wall. Yes he is strong enough to do that."
Sarainy grins, "I know Uran very much enjoyed riding Tetsuda back before we fought the Smilers for the first time!"
Uran smiles at the memory of being on the back of the giant beetle.
"I would love to watch over Tetsuda, if you are willing to trust me"
Looking at the entrance, Linpul looks around for possibly footprints or markings that something large had gone through.
Linpul doesn't see any tracks that are larger than a troll's. Most of the footprints are humanoid, or slightly larger.
Dr Lendaro strokes the faint tattoo at his temple... his eyes twinkle for a moment. "This seems to be as good a time as any to cull a few more vermin." He looks over to Tetsuda with a slight smirk. "No offense to you, good fellow."
The scouting party heads down the stairs and into the base. Heading through a hallway and through several doors, the scouts realize that the place has been recently abandoned by the many footprints on the ground. After a few minutes, they reach a large room.
This large room is lit by tracks of glowing panels of light set in the ceiling, ten feet above. To the west, the room ends in a ragged wall of rubble, rock, and twisted metal, while to the East, a ten foot-diameter circular platform sits on the ground before a pair of large doors. Rectangular panels of glass adorn the large doors between crude paintings of a mechanical talon.
The scouting party hears several footsteps coming from the east past a closed set of doors.
Solaria follows behind the scouting party, she waits half way down the stairs, waiting for the scouts to call her forward.
Fidgeting with concern, Sarainy absentmindedly strokes Tetsuda as if he were a dog.
"I do hope we aren't underestimating these Lords of Rust..." she says to those remaining behind.
Dr Lendaro rushes to the only cover in sight... around the corner of the wall beyond the door to the north stair - loaded pistol in hand.
He whispers to Linpul... "Get behind a door", then sends a telepathic message to Thera "Come... several on the way. Keep our ranged at doorways."
"I hope that too. I guess we need to wait until the others come back"
Before I left
"Uran, I'm leaving you in charge of Tetsuda, he knows how to defend, and how to flank. Tell him what to do, and he'll do it, maybe. Tetsuda, you listen to Uran okay? I'll be okay, I'll be back."
Scratching under his carapace Linpul heads down into the fort.
Current time
Linpul tries to duck behind the door, using her small size to her advantage. Blinking her eyes she views the world temporarily from Tetsuda's point of view, and returning to her current situation.
"I received a message from the scouting party" Thera whispers to those who stayed behind. "They want us at their side, with anyone who prefers ranged combat sticking to the doors"
Uran pats Tetsuda on the back and says, "Come on..errr boy? Time to go and find your mistress!"
He makes sure all three barrels are loaded, as well as the granade launcher. He heads out with the others.
"Uran you seem to have a good relationship with Tetsuda. It's pleasing to see."
Hearing Thera's words Sarainy thinks, That was quick. I wonder why we move to fight, rather than retreat?
As instructed, she moves forwards - keeping close to the doors.
"What's up" asks Solaria as the others come down after the scouting party. Solaria follows on, trying to keep back, so that her light doesn't enter the room the scouts occupy. She waits for the sounds of battle, before she continues on, to aid her friends.
Eight half orcs enter the room. They are wielding spiked gauntlets and seem of the religious sort.
The leaderstands in the center. A monitor lights up and you see and hear Hellion. "Nalakai, there are unbelievers that approach you. Deal with them for your Iron God."
"Yes, my Lord Hellion."
The half orcs arrange themselves in the room, ready to assault anything that might enter the door that separates you all.