The automaton still holds its bearing. Meanwhile, the one in the pit tries to work its way out.
But it still remains stuck.
"It is 20% complete, but the Master's programming is still resisting my efforts."
The red automaton reappears once more, already ready to duel with Nilfyr.
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros
Reclaimers (53 damage)
Artemus
Nilfyr (12 damage)
White automaton
Thunderstealer (6 damage, hovering over pit, ???)
Belcher (7 damage, ???)
Red automaton
Blue automaton (5 damage, in pit)
Steward (2 damage, reprogramming)
Belcher attacks the swarm while hovering over the pit
for
for
for
for
for
Belcher rips apart the Reclaimers!
However, when the other automatons are reassembled... more Reclaimers merge from the large pods!
Faeros sighs as he calls upon divine power to end machines as he now must expend his normal arrows.
Faeros strikes it twice, causing large holes but not felling the automaton.
The newly reformed Reclaimers move to the closest target - Nilfyr!
Nilfyr gets more cuts, but is still in battle-ready condition!
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros
Reclaimers
Artemus
Nilfyr (19 damage)
White automaton
Thunderstealer (6 damage, hovering over pit, ???)
Belcher (7 damage, ???)
Red automaton (43 damage)
Blue automaton (5 damage, in pit)
Steward (2 damage, reprogramming)
Nilfyr finishes off the red automaton, while Artemus aids Steward in reprogramming the Creche.
As Artemus deduces the success of simply stalling the automatons and sets up more pits to keep the robots at bay.
Steward then has all the time to time it needs to finish its work on the Creche.
"Got it!", the mechanical head declares before it goes inert, rolling off the console with no light in its eyes.
But Steward's voice can still be heard. "I am now one with the Creche. You can undo those pits now." And looking down, the various machines, even the Reclaimers, are now calm, just looking towards the party above them in a near reverent state. "I can now ensure that the Creche's abilities will be used for the good of those who are guests of the Master."
Behind the console and spire pillar, an elevator door opens, revealing a shaft that goes downward. "If your goal is to continue exploring this location, then you may do so there. And if you ever need to, please do come up for a spot of tea."
Double checked and the next level, The Pleasure Gardens (oh myyy) is also a level 9-11 module. So half-tracking everyone for this one. Floors 14-15 and both level 12 so at least half-track for Floor 14 and then full track from there unless going full credit for both.
Chronicles have been emailed out at least! Will have first post for the new floor tomorrow.
The elevator descends down a fair distance; Artemus can only guess at least 10 stories down. It finally comes to a rest on a dais in a small square room, the walls illuminating the area. To the east, a short flight of wide marble steps leads down to a grand hall. A bronze lever, currently in its "down" position, is on the wall near the stairs.
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Prep spells:
(cast yesterday: Spellstaff(Roaming Pit))
Communal Airwalk (All)
Barkskin (Thunderstealer, Belcher, Nilfyr)
Delay Poison (All)
Life Bubble (All)
Longstider (Thunderstealer, Belcher)
Heightened Awareness (Thunderstealer)
Greater Magic Fang (Thunderstealer, Belcher)
Freedom of Movement (Thunderstealer)
Certain Grip (Nilfyr)
If Thunderstealer and Belcher could both have Mage armor and Heroism, that would really be appreciated.
The party makes is preparations, and luckily nothing has come up to the party to interrupt their magical enhancing.
After applying their magical enhancements, the party makes their way down the hall.
This hall is finished in honey marble and features four red granite columns. At the east end, an ornamental arch surrounds large stone double doors. The door is emblazoned with a large symbol: a skull with a crown. To the left and right of the doorway stand two large iron statues. Each statue holds an ornamental axe and shield, and has short, stumpy legs, a round belly, and a wide mouth above its sculpted beard.
The skull-and-crown symbol is that of Nhur Athemon.
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Art casts Mage Armor on himself, Thunderstealer, and Belcher. He then casts Overland flight on himself and after uses an arcane point to switch out Overland flight for Dismissal with Quick Study. He then casts False Life on himself. Finally before entering the next level he uses Consume Spell to fill up his arcane pool, burning both a 3rd and 4th level slot.
And finally before stepping into the first room he casts an extended Mirror Image on himself and Extended Communal Resist Energy Fire on the group.
What is that symbol? Art wonders.
Artemus' memory fails him, a rarity for sure.
Nilfyr as usual takes the lead, looking over the door and the two statues. He barely raises his polearm up in time as both statues drop their ornaments and move to pounce upon the half-elf, now moving on all fours.
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros
Red construct
Thunderstealer/Belcher
Nilfyr
Blue construct
Artemus
These constructs are tophets. They have hollow insides and can swallow people whole if they succeed at biting someone. They can also trample foes underfoot.
Fire is pointless against tophets, worse so if someone is inside the mechanical beast. Adamantine is required to fully harm them.
Only one of Faeros' arrows manages to penetrate the iron shell.
It then turns to Thunderstealer and tries to smash the druid!
Thunderstealer is bashed repeatedly, his body bruised by the heavy slams. The pain is made worse as the creature sinks its teeth into the large muscular man, holding him tight.
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros (studied red)
Red construct (24 damage)
Thunderstealer (43 damage)
Belcher
Nilfyr
Blue construct
Artemus
As the construct's teeth sink into Thunderstealer, it clamps down, but oddly slips its grip on him!
Trying to make room for Thunderstealer, Nilfyr backs up and aims at the blue-hued construct, but the 2 pairs of metal legs make it too difficult to bring to the ground with such effort. His follow-up swing also fails to penetrate its armor.
Thunderstealer makes up for it with a powerful swing that bounces the construct into the wall and back onto the floor.
The damaged blue construct retaliates against Thunderstealer, stepping closer to reach the massive foe.
The construct's teeth pierce the ankylosaur's armored shell and manage to harm it enough to go through the diabolically infused skin, but its arms are no match for now.
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros (studied red)
Red construct (24 damage)
Thunderstealer (53 damage)
Nilfyr
Blue construct (41 damage)
Belcher
Artemus
Artemus overwhelms the constructs' sensors with a blast of shiny!
With a wag of his tale, Thunderstealer motions to Belcher to stay back.
Faeros uses the glittery distraction and continues to assault his target.
Two more arrows pierce its thick metallic hide.
The red construct flails around towards Thunderstealer!
The construct still strikes Thunderstealer twice, although the slam bounces harmlessly off of the druids demon scales. The flailing also shook off enough dust that it regained normal ocular abilities.
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros (studied red)
Red construct (78 damage)
Thunderstealer (61 damage)
Nilfyr
Blue construct (41 damage, blinded)
Belcher
Artemus
Nilfyr, seeing an opportunity, works his polearm between the feet of the construct and hooks hard, pulling it to the ground. However, his blade still cannot find a way to pierce its metallic hide.
Thunderstealer once against smashes the enemy, Nilfyr ducking from the shower of stone sprayed from the metallic foe being once again slammed hard into the wall.
It tries to flail wildly at Thunderstealer...
... and the dinosaur is barely wounded from the flurry of teeth and paws.
Unlike his red ally, the blue construct's flailing failed to remove Artemus' shiny dust.
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros (studied red)
Red construct (78 damage)
Thunderstealer (63 damage)
Nilfyr
Blue construct (84 damage, blinded, prone)
Belcher
Artemus
Faeros, invigorated by Artemus' magic, fires a more powerful volley at the construct!
The first two arrows take out the first target; he then switches to the blue one and finishes it off quickly, too.
The party has time to lick its wounds as Nilfyr reviews the door. First glance, he finds nothing to be concerned with.
Nilfyr opens the door revealing a ledge overlooking a huge and strikingly beautiful natural cavern. Steep steps descend from the ledge to the cavern floor. Covering the floor is a sprawling garden of weird blossoms, towering fungi, and alien-looking plants whose bulbs and pods sway in the still air.
A short distance away, the Emerald Spire pierces the center of the cavern. Paths lead east and west from the foot of the stairs through the foliage. The whole cavern is illuminated by a mysterious radiance that shines from the crystals embedded in the ceiling extremely high above. In the wall at the east end of the ledge stands a set of stone double doors decorated with reliefs of serene faces.
Faeros creeps up and sees much of what Artemus spies, lots of fluorescent fungi providing illumination along with the Spire's green glow and the natural light somehow coming from above.
Various patches of yellow are off in the distance , while the foliage farther to the east is incredibly dense. Artemus can figure out that the yellow flowers aren't normal flora given how it sways in the lack of wind, but he understands that he'd have to get uncomfortably close to better analyze it.
The party moves to the door first to make sure nothing sneaks behind while exploring the fungal floor below. Faeros stays back, keeping a keen eye on the surroundings while Nilfyr does his typical spot check on the stone door. He finds it is unlocked, and the party is readied as he opens it with the butt of his polearm.
This small theater is painstakingly hewn from the stubborn rock. Below the wide stage against the east wall, a rusty grate covers an orchestra pit, before which rotted chairs face the stage in crooked rows. To the north, a short flight of steps leads up to the stage, and to the south, another set of steps descends to the orchestra pit.
Nilfyr presses forward, inspecting the room. As he makes his way to the stage, a puff of smoke in the center of the stage prompts the arrival of an impeccably well dressed imp. He bows to Nilfyr, speaking in Azlanti, "Why I have guests! May I perform for you?"