|
Zurnzal and Shohiraj combine to hastily finish off the last guard. Falth's arrows seem to bounce off its hardened edges, but several of the rest of you gang up on the crystal and bash it to pieces.
The mage will have a potion of cure serious wounds, ring of counterspells, scroll of whispering wind, dagger, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, 49 gp
Searching the room rather efficiently after such a bloodbath, you find several unknown creatures kept preserved in fluid as well as several logbooks that describe sundry bizarre fauna, pieces of creatures, chemicals, and other supplies brought into the facility.
These records go into little detail but suggest the lab has been in operation for at least 5 years. Throughout the notes and in the header and titles of some of them is an obscure notation that seems to indicate this facility's name: Slumbersun.
|
|
Shojiraj eagerly takes a look at the journals, curious to what's going on down here. [b]"Five years this place has been kept under the rug, under some keen noses. I can see why people were pretty upset. Lets see what else is down here."[/dice]
Afterwards she grabs up a potion of cure mod and an everburning torch from the bodies.
Thestil doesn't have anything additional to add after glancing at the notes.
Zurnzal grabs a flask of oil of magic weapon and a potion of cmw. "I don't think I need this yet, but just in case. That is unless you need it now, Thestil. Somebody bring those journals with us. I imagine there is a lot of useful information in them even if we can't figure it out.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Eramay sternly considers Zurnzal's aloof reaction to being healed.
"When even one gear in a pocket watch becomes worn, the entire piece is affected."
She pulls out a scroll of Cure Light Wounds.
Cure Moderate Wounds: 1
Cure Light Wounds:
Remove Paralysis: 1
Bull's Strength: 1
Owl's Wisdom: 1
Breath of Life: 1
Remove Fear: 1
Divine Power: 1
Spider Climb: 1
Faerie Fire: 1
Falth thinks about the place and the name, and just idly kicks at the guards equipment.
"That ring'd be handy " he admits.
|
|
It becomes readily apparent as you progress further into Slumbersun that an alert of some sort has been raised. Reinforced blast doors of indeterminate design block your way on several occasions and lead you to an door, where the tangy smell of strange flora lingers, even in the still air. A metal inscription etched above it reads "Bretheda Dome 3".
When you open the door, your eyes adjust to the blue-hued light that emanates from the domed ceiling at the center of this two-story, artificial environment. The air is thick and misty, and breathing seems difficult but manageable, although every breath leaves an acrid aftertaste.
The plants are similar to Golarion species but subtle differences abound. Multi-hued leaves in unfamiliar colors, coniferous needles on deciduous jungle plants, vines that sound like they’re squealing in pain as internal gases escape through the cuts.
Broad metal grates make a perimeter about the room about ten feet above the lush habitat below. Paths cross between strange shrubs and low trees, and vines cling to the walls and dangle in clumps across parts of the ceiling. At the center of the room stands a small metal pavilion that seems to contain a small elevator that has been hastily disabled. The ceiling rises 20 feet above the catwalk and 30 feet above the alien habitat.
Behind the thick glass in the southern corners of the room lie small laboratories filled with bookshelves, dissection tables, and workbenches. The doors are wide open and papers lie scattered on the ground in front of them. A red light flashes silently in each room.
"That is where we need to go.." gestures Falth, who slips silently forward towards the books.
Thestil also frowns at the alarm. "We are taking too long...we must hurry!" she whispers as she follows Falth.
"That is where we need to go.." gestures Falth, who slips silently forward towards the books.
"I concur. We must protect and secure as much knowledge as possible."
|
|
The elevator appears to just reach another floor directly below. There are signs of fresh saliva and fleshy bits and gnawed bones near the opening.
The group proceeds cautiously through the alien greenhouse to the research labs at the far end. When you reach them, in each are a trio of what appear to be researchers, as they are not armed or armored. They are scurrying about on the floor on all fours, hastily piling papers and books up next to a shallow pan of steaming acid that lies on the floor between desks and tables. The pulpy remnants of other journals and tomes slowly melt in the verdant liquid as the strange red light pulsates in the room. Several of the researchers gasp audibly when you enter the rooms.
"Don't kill us!"
Thestil looks at them menacingly. "You burn one more paper and I'll kill you all myself!" she says.
Still in her borrowed form, she says "What are you doing, and who told you to burn all this?"
Falth draws his bow.
"All of you... do a handstand."
If they look bemused he'll drop an arrow into the floor near the one who doesn't look like he wants to be cooperative.
"Really, you should practice more.[/.b]"
"[b]Now, how about you tell us all what is going on. Everything. There are a lot of you, and I only need one, and they only need to be able to talk, not move."
Zurnzal cracks his knuckles loudly with an evil grin on his face. "Just give me a reason," he says.
nope
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
|
|
Eramay and Falth succeed in frightening their respective labs into submission as the researchers drop the papers and stand up gingerly, hands in air. They obviously see they have been outclassed.
"We only work here, please don't kill us. We've suffered enough! We can help you, opening doors and such. We know all the nooks and crannies down here."
" Kar Zaweeb made us do this. He said we can't let the experiments we've doing here reach the outside world."
"Kar Zaweeb? He runs Slumbersun, powerful wizard he is! I've only seen him once. But I've heard he doesn't put up with insubordination. We're the second set of researchers here, the first met the same fate... as these papers."
"He runs Slumbersun alright, but there is another. The Professor. She's the real mastermind. She's in another facility though, she never visits here. That's where all of our notes eventually go."
--------------------------------------------------------------
You quickly discover that the only way forward is through hidden doors behind the labs. From there you enter a maze of assorted laboratories, hallways, storage lockers, and containment cells.
1. Find Allies
2. Find Evidence - Roll a Knowledge(arcana, dungeoneering, nature, planes, or religion) or Linguistics or Perception check
3. Find Treasure - Roll a Perception or Spellcraft check
Falth spends most of his time looking for evidence. Some of that will be in the researcers, some in their papers.
"I want to know more about what you experiments are trying to discover"
|
|
First off she's going to try to deactivate the alarms, first by asking the researchers then trying to figure it out herself.
Shohiraj also searches through the papers for signs of evidence, as well as of course trying to glean some info from Falth's inevitable interrogations. She keeps a stoic face through his perhaps unsavory means. She then spends her efforts in searching for useful information for their mission.
Rataji helps Falth search for evidence, pouring through documents.
Seeing the others engaged in other activities, Thestil tries to locate some allies that might assist them.
"Hmm, I wonder if I can find anything that will help me," Zurzal thinks as he begins searching for treasure.
|
|
Most of the group fans out, and with the help of the researchers, find several pieces of key evidence. In fact, you feel like you have likely found all the evidence at these locations. The remainder of your time might be better spent in finding allies and treasure. Zurnzal is disappointed as he finds nothing of value yet.
As Thestil looks about, she passes a vacuum-sealed tank labeled “Aballon Initiative.” She suddenly feels an overwhelming sense of friendship, then a feeling of sudden urgency. Looking into the tank, she spots only a strange looking flatworm floating in the tank.
The feelings are replaced in rapid succession by that of speed, closeness, and power.
Falth throws around some papers.
"Look.. rubbish... all about experiments."
He reads odd excepts out loud.
"Experiment #316: The neh-thalggu is reported understandably upset at
initial attempts to extract the brains stored in its body, and its attempts to resist experimentation resulted in more secure confinement. These brains appear to be from a variety of humanoid creatures, but attempts to extract the organs’ stored secrets have been fruitless. The aberration is scheduled for further extractions in one month’s time.
Experiment #322: A report notes that this elf is of particular value due to her inherent connection to cosmic forces, which allowed researchers to begin experimentation immediately. Professor Kramolag took a special interest in the subject and ordered her moved from Slumbersun to the Wingless Rock facility for further training. Initial tests to assess whether the subject’s power is derived from a conventional deity such as Desna or a more esoteric force are inconclusive.
Liavara Project Update: An update notes that the test subjects in this procedure are experiencing increasingly powerful nightmares and that the alchemical preservation techniques allow the nightmares to manifest in the flesh with increasing stability. The adjacent Arkanen Lab is now complete, allowing the creation of even larger creatures.
Formal Reprimand: Lead researcher Kar Zaweeb wrote an official reprimand to his subordinates, insisting that the halfling Joliryn is not authorized to torment test subjects; those involved in Project Liavara have manifested her as their greatest source of fear, much to Zaweeb’s displeasure. He instructs all staff to be firmer with the halfling and report any further incidents of her trying to cut employees.
Falth starts hunting around for treasure.
"There has to be something here that would be useful," Zurnzal thinks to himself as he tries to contain his frustration. His attention turns to Falth when he mentions 322 and another facility. "The consortium won't be pleased to hear there are more facilities. I wonder who this Professor Kramolag is and where we can find him." He then goes back to searching for treasure.
"I think we've found all the evidence we need to burn this place to the ground. Let's look and see if we can find any of these 'experiments'."
Thestil shares her find of the strange flatworm floating in the tank with the others.
"I'm not sure what to make of it," she says as she continues looking for allies.
Rataji seeing that the information is secure looks around for allies. "I wonder who would be able to help us?"
|
|
After comparing notes about the flatworm, the group spreads out once again to search for more.
Falth finds a curious statuette of a tentacle-headed, quadruped (cast in sickly green metal) sitting upon a desk.
Shohiraj sees a glint of metal in a locker. As she opens the door further she can see a necklace hanging on the hooks inside.
Zurnzal walks into the room just a second too late to make the same discovery.
Thestil looks through desk after desk and ultimately finds a magic rod in one of them.
Rataji discovers a magical scabbard upon a fallen guard (who succumbed to grievous bite and claw attacks).
As Eramay passes a large tank, the strange crab-like creature within scrambles menacingly to the glass wall. It presses and rubs against the glass (with swollen pustules nearly popping on its back) and enters Eramay's mind with a hissing voice.
"What do you think this ugly thing does?" says Falth after finding his statue.
"It's intelligent... I think it can read minds..."
Eramay is at first unsettled by the creature's surprise appearance, but calms her nerves and makes eye contact with it.
Something like that. We're looking for the master of this place. "Kar Zaweeb"? We have a painful surprise in store for him.
Eramay then turns to face Falth, and realizes he wasn't talking about the creature in the tank.
Falth gestures to the small statue he found.
"Read minds? I don't think so. Any of you able to tell what it actually does?"
Unsure what the rod does that she had found, Thestil hands it to the spellcasters for examination.
"Any ideas?"
Eramay turns to the party.
"It wishes to be freed, and desires vengeance against its 'torturers'. It could be a potential ally, but we operate as group. What say you all?"
"We don't need it." sneers Falth.
"And could it even follow us? Does it not need the liquid in that tank to live?"
Eramay considers the glass prison for a moment.
"Has anyone seen a creature such as this before? I am curious why they are experimenting on it."