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Cling, Clang, Clong. The creatures immediately move towards Seren and Varuna. They creatures crowd the entrance to the partitioned room creating a choke point. But luckily for Varuna and Seren, the violent creatures seem someone inept at being violent.
Varuna manages to use his rapier to strike wave away the clockworks arms and strikes right into one of it's important gears.
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Seren seems rather excited about the approach of the clockwork creatures. Their thrumming gears present a perfect beat for her to begin her toplike dancing. She stays in her position, wanting to leave room for Hangust to join the fray as he blades begin to clash with the limbs of their opponents.
As her face turns pale the magic of Lilianna's blessing touches her, guiding her swords to openings on the blue painted construct. "The cleansing machines as well!" The male voice quips back past Seren's lips.
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Kitajo takes the side road to corner the clockwork creature.
Lilianna plays her part once more, granting divine focus on to the group.
Seren once again takes arms through whimsical dancing, her first strike barely misses the mechanical creature but she learns her steps and regains her footwork strike clean and sharp into the creature the second time.
Red lights start flashing all around the museum, as if a siren, or alarm has activated. The mechanical beast seem somewhat distracted by this lights.
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Hangust cuts cleanly twice into the mechanical being. A few nuts and bolts come apart.
Torrel is able to provide a helping hand to Varuna as he strikes his rapier right into another gear of the clockwork pulling it out with him as he removes his weapon.
The creatures attempt the same method of retaliation, flailing their four arms wildly. This mostly has no effect. Hangust easily steps aside, and Varuna uses his rapier to lure the hands away. Varuna is however unable to take advantage as he did previously.
Kitajo looks oddly at the creatures form of attack and does not recognize this form of martial arts, it confuses him and in attempt to understand it he finds himself in the way of one of the arms. *BOINK*
Oddly enough, you start to notice that a few gears on the clockworks have started to reattach themselves together.
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Torrel finds himself in not a very ideal situation, and with a flick of his wrist attempts to strike the clockwork with his scarf. But the scarf falls on the creature doing nothing particularly useful.
Lilliana comes up towards Hangust and provides him some magical aid, just as she has been throughout the museum encounter.
Kitajo's counter strike is effective, and he punches a couple gears right out of the mechanical bodies of the clockwork.
Pathfinders from around the corner hear the battle cries and have come to provide some aid.
You may choose one of the following assistance per encounter. An Aid token may be received boosted, or be boosted by a table to create additional effects. Our Aid token is not boosted.
Allied Offensive: A Pathfinder agent strikes a creature at the same time as the PC, increasing the damage dealt by one attack by 1d8 points. In addition, after the attack, anyone attacking the target is considered to be flanking it until the beginning of the attacker’s next turn. To Boost: Succeed at an attack roll against an AC equal to an Average skill check. Boosted Effect: +1d8 points of damage.
Burst of Healing: A Pathfinder agent heals all of the PCs of 1d6 points of damage. To Boost: Expend one use of channel positive energy or cast one spell with the healing descriptor with a spell level greater than or equal to your APL/2, rounded up. A PC must cast this spell, not simply activate a wand or scroll. Boosted Effect: +2d6 points of damage healed.
Timely Inspiration: A Pathfinder agent provides the effects of a bard’s inspire courage bardic performance for 3 rounds. To Boost: Expend 3 rounds of bardic performance or similar ability. Boosted Effect: Increase the competence bonus by 1.
Provide Knowledge (must be boosted): Gain the benefits of a Knowledge skill check or Spellcraft skill check used to identify a magical item. To Boost: Succeed at a Knowledge check of your choice, the result of the check (Easy, Average or Hard) should be noted on the Aid Token.
Provide Spellcasting (must be boosted): Gain the benefits of a beneficial spell cast by an ally as listed on the Aid Token. To Boost: Cast one of the following spells and note your PC’s name and caster level on the Aid Token: lesser restoration, neutralize poison, remove curse, or remove disease. Only these spells may be granted. Expending resources that produce the effects of these spells, such as a paladin’s mercy class feature, may also grant these benefits.
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Torrel catches the odd coin in the air. Torn between trying to help Varuna and inspecting it, suddenly there is an odd burst of radiant, holy energy, and Torrel falls to a knee, somewhat depleted.
The coin is gone, somehow taken from his hand, off to some far off, (or not at all far off) place to aid another team in need.
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The flashing lights flash just as Hangust goes in for the strike. Just enough to distract the creature for Hangust to take a plunge into some critical nooks and crannies.
Seren follows suite, utilizing the notion of the lights, she fluidly moves in a trance like state waving around swinging her blades. Her first spin strikes the creature true, and Seren slices one of the larger gears that connects the whole creature together.
Varuna continues his swordplay poking out nuts, bolts, and springs from the clockwork being. The creature is a bit more closer to breaking down.
Varuna continues displaying some dazzling array of swordmanship as the creature retaliates and push out every single nut and bolt, causing a massive malfunction of the creature.
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Unlike the others who took down the rogue clockwork servants by means of finesse manoeuvres, Kitajo uses brute force to punch bits and pieces of the clockwork rendering it useless. It breaks down like the rest of them.
There are some other pathfinders around the complex in need, and Torrel decides to provide some services of potential healing through magically amplifying a magical aid coin.
There is an unnerving silence still as most of the 'defences' in the museum has been disabled by the Pathfinders. But still yet to be determine is why has everything gone haywire? The only place left to investigate is the locked study on the third floor where the intruders are said to be.
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Seren stops dancing as soon as the last clockwork falls and leans against the wall she's near to catch her breath. Her grace fades as quickly as it came, but she seems rather pleased with herself despite the unnatural fatigue overtaking her. "See, this is why they shoulda just hired me as a maid instead of getting cleaning bots. The worst thing I might do is steal some silverware from the break room if Wynn begs enough."
And speaking of theft, she spends a minute fiddling one of her swords back into the sheath with several misses, then tries to act casual as she wanders over to Kitajo. The medium has apparently seen something of interest, a wand poking out of his bags. There's no hesitating in plucking it out. She'll immediately start fiddling with it. "Hey what's this one do? huh?"
After a moment of toying with it she takes on a dramatic pose, points it at the monk, and shouts. "Bippity!" A wave of force rushes out and encases the unarmored man.
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Sensing a moment of calm, Lilianna corners Seren. "What exactly is going on when you start to fight? I thought maybe someone else had answered for you earlier, but I am now certain that the words came from your mouth," she says, eager to learn more about this mysterious vagabond and her unearthly ways.
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Seren is still busy waving around wands as Lilianna approaches, though it's now one of her own. She slams it against the side of one of the broken clockworks to after it only sputters out a few magical sparks, and then it finally springs to life. Lilianna gets the drop on her in the distraction, and the small woman yelps in surpise. The wand goes flying right at Varuna's face.
With a spin about to face the cleric and leans back at the waist. "Personal space! And why did you warn me she was back there!" She points accusingly at a mask on the wall before finally addressing Lilianna. "Oh, it's like I said at the lodge to Torrel. I have a bunch of ghosts following me around cause I think his goddess told me to find them and help them go home or something. And she's a moon dancer, so when I dance I can let them have control over my body."
"When I have to fight things I usually let Katsu take over. He's pretty protective, and he used to be a Samurai in Tien, so he demands it. Says it's not honorable to sit aside while a lady fights. Wynn makes fun of him for that."[/b] She begins to get distracted again, eyes darting about as she watches something that isn't there. Eventually she flinches and looks back at Lilianna. "He was talking to you. I have to be careful though, the more I dance the more control they have. They're all pretty nice, but they don't always want to do what I want to do."
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Hangust listens to Seren with a raised eyebrow.
"I lose control in battle sometimes too, but I think it's different. I don't here any voices, and no one speaks to me. It's just like I can't focus on anything but the battle and my body won't stop even if I tell it to. Is that similar?"
He sits on the floor while he talks, happy for a moments respite while the other Pathfinders took care of a few things. "Anyway, what do you suppose is going on here?"
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"I know a priest that has a similar problem. He is sometimes overcome by something he only refers to as "the Flame", though he seems rather mad. I've only seen it once, but he seems to sometimes go into a trance and become someone else for a short time."
Taking some time to inspect the area, he will first take a look at the small bits of broken mech-magicry, looking for anything out of the ordinary about their components or frame, though he is no expert and might not realize something was off even if he found it.
But, backtracking a bit, the dogs from earlier he might. Having left at least one alive, he will first try to examine it for anything out of the ordinary, both it's aura and it's gear. Next, physically, but overall holistically, trying to see if perhaps it was poisoned or drugged.
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Barring any information on that, since we are waiting a while, I'll go ahead and utilize Mending (probably a few times) to try to repair the damaged banners, and if so, return them to the room we had found them in.
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Seren gathers up her dropped wand and gives Hangust a broad grin. "I saw you getting as tired as I was after the fights." She drops down onto the floor near him to recover while Torrel pokes around. It's not hard to ignore the other sounds of fighting if you pretend really hard that they aren't there. "But I think it's different. I don't lose control, I sort of give it up and let whichever lost little soul wants to help do it. Unless they get on my bad side. It's just tiring holding them inside enough they can do things, yeah?"
Her expression turns on more nonplussed face, perhaps a tad insulted by Torrel's comparison, then she pulls a vaguely rude expression for him. "I ain't mad... it's not my fault no one else can see my ghosts." Her voice trails off at the end.
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Torrel's investigative nature leads him to believe that the chaos, although somewhat random, was of no simple coincidence.In all likelihood, a very complex and weird series of events has led to what the pathfinders are witnessing this very moment.
There is no sign of the paranormal on the clockwork, unlike that of the haunted objects on the first floor. However there is definitely signs of the arcane.
The dogs on the other hand seem extremely normal. No haunting, no magic, no poisons, or torture of any kind. They do seem startled. And it likely is because of the broken clockwork nearby. The signs of a ferocious fight between dog and machine is evident after piecing the clues together.
Following the sequence of events that likely happened, there is much to suggest that the perpetrators came in from the back of the museum where the defensive runes has gone out of control, and started working their way upward.
There is no evidence of the intruders leaving, or even anything stolen, only broken. This suggests they are still within the building, on the very top floor, which is the third floor.
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"You let spirits take control of your body?" Liliana asks with a look of concern on her face. "Is it safe for them to do that? I have spent a significant part of my training perfecting the art of purifying undead, perhaps some of my teachers may be able to help you. Should you wish it, of course." I don't know what to think about this, I've never even met a redeemable undead let alone one I'd let control my body for any amount of time.
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After a loud crack and a ripple of arcane energy, silence falls across the museum as the construct guards freeze in place and haunted relics drop to the ground. Nigel’s voice rings out, magically projected throughout the museum: “We’ve disabled the magical security measures. Since we haven’t found the thieves yet, they must be hiding in my third-story study. Please subdue them; they have much to answer for!”
Nigel Aldain’s announcement echoes through a museum littered with shattered clockwork and toppled exhibits. There’s no question that the Pathfinders have quelled the building’s defenses, and perhaps the peaceful silence will set whoever hides on the third floor at ease.
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The barriers on the door in front of you immediately break down granting you access into room.
The mahogany walls and domed, plaster ceiling both show signs of heavy damage. Most of the luxurious furniture and the crystal chandelier are intact. The contents of cabinets and bookcases lie strewn about the floor. A small wooden panel near the door hangs open, revealing an arcane sigil covered in scorch marks.
A Kellid woman dressed in furs with intricate scars all over her body steps forward. She holds a hand up and says, “Stay back. We are members of the Twinhorn following, and we have only come to retrieve what was stolen from us.”
A towering figure steps forward; his translucent red form is that of a man clad in heavy armor and wielding twin warhammers. “Medda, they must be in league with the thieves; they should die for crossing us.” The man’s voice sounds hollow and unnaturally loud, and as he speaks, the chandelier glows with a dull light.
The woman, Medda, puts a hand on the figure’s arm and says, “Maybe we should give them a chance to explain themselves, Anok.”
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Seren tilts her head at Lilianna's words, then shrugs. "Sure. Why, is that weird? I mean they gotta go somewhere, and are pretty useful." There's a moment where she considers the rather tempting offer, but in the end she only stands up, gathering all her belongs. "Maybe... I dunno. I think I'm suppose to help them with unfinished tasks, the weird dancing lady might get mad if I do it wrong."
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She's at the doors with the rest after Nigel's announcement and strides into the office like it's her own. There's a soft whistle from her both at the quality of the room and the damage these two have done to everything. "Wow, when you guys break in somewhere you really just go crazy, huh?"
The little woman waves her pair of blades around at the see-through man and takes a jumping step away. "Hey hey! Back off ghosty! I've got six of my own, and they're big... really tough too! You should be scared!" Perhaps not nearly as scared as she was acting towards the warrior. "I ain't taking on anymore to my crew right now."
Seren gives the Kellid a wary glance, still wound up and ready to spring about if the lights keep doing strange things. "Why do we gotta explain anything? Lady, you guys broke into a big museum that buys artifacts from people and displays them for all of us folks to look at and go... yep, that's history alright. You're stealing and breaking a bunch of things, we got called here to stop you scallywags and all the stuff you sent crazy, so back off with your dying nonsense!"
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"Silence, little on" as he tries to cut off Seren's provocations, perhaps a bit too harshly. "There is no need for bloodshed, here." Turning to address the newcomers. "We have not stole from you, and to be honest, we are not sure what exactly is going on here. We have been called in to help out, and we have no desire to fight you over what very well could be nothing. What was stolen from you, and how did you come to be here, friends? Perhaps, we could help each other out."
"My name is Torrel, and I am a simple priest. You are Anok and Medda, yes?" he asks as he approaches with empty hands held open to show no intention of attacking. "What is this Twinhorn Following?"
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"By not striking us down at first sight, you have proven yourselves redeemable. It speaks volumes of your character. We are agents of the Pathfinder Society and have been asked to remove intruders to this museum. However, nobody has said anything about stolen goods. What is your story? What brings you here?" Lilianna inquires, eager to keep blood from spilling among reasonable people. This could get tense, let's keep them talking!
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Surprisingly, the Khellid woman maintains a relatively calm demeanor as the group attempts to question her. She seems to ease up as Torrel and Liliana diffuses Seren's hostilities. The Phantom Amok howver maintains a distrusting stance.
Medda responds with forced calm to explain week the twinhorn-following are “We are from the northern lands—the Realm of the MammothLords to you southerners. Our following, or tribe, has been searching for our stolen heritage formonths.”
“These Blakros people stole our most precious heirloom.” Medda retrieves a bundle of bloody bandages, then unwraps it to reveal a dagger hilt with only the fragment of a blackblade. “It belonged to Ivvora, a champion of Vildeis who vanquished the great black evil from our land over 900 years ago. We kept it safe until the Blakros agents stole it three months ago. We only did what is necessary to retrieve our heirloom."