Riku moves in through the mist and tries to kick the creature (#1) in its tentacled abs!
Harpoon hits the creature through the mists!
constrict damage and Str damage
Ouch! The nightmare undead tentacles grasp Harpoon tightly! The other one tries to take him from the first, five-foot-stepping in and trying to tear Harpoon apart! (Strangely, it knows Harpoon's exact location, despite the obscuring mist, as though they had a Hive Mind.)
Initiative
Joli
Silt
Harpoon
Tentacle thing 1, -10 hp
Tentacle thing 2
Purpose
Toby
Hearing the sickening sounds of the creatures' attacks on Harpoon, Toby steps forward until the abomination looms out of the fog. "Gross!" He draws a whip from the air with the sound of surf crashing on the shore and attacks!
Armin withdraws toward the back!
Joli sings and his tongue whips out at Riku through the mist.
Meanwhile, Iggy flies to Riku and buts a claw into one of the tentacles, trying to help him escape.
Harpoon!
Silt 5-foot steps into flank with Toby and full attacks in a rage!
Purpose Creche moves up and darts a hand between the flailing tentacles, barely able to grab Harpoon's ankle...
...but the man vanishes from sight!
Silt hits Number 2 once!
Initiative
Joli
Silt
Harpoon
Tentacle thing 1, -10 hp
Tentacle thing 2, -26 hp
Purpose
Toby
Harpoon is up! He is invisible and has a +3 bonus to his first attack roll from the aid.
With help from his friends, Riku attempts to break out of the grapple and move away!
The Harpoon, thanks to buffs from his friends, manages to make it out of the writhing tentacles!
#1, after seeing the powerful blow from Silt, tries to attack him!
constrict damage and Str damage
It successfully strikes, but can't grab on!
#2 tries to hit the Harpoon, but can't quite grab on!
constrict damage and Str damage
Everyone is up!
Silt continues his assault on #2!
Silt destroys the tentacle nightmare!
Toby kicks the fallen abomination aside as he steps forward. "Leave Riku alone, you gross monster!"
Iggy breathes steam while Joli applies healing to Riku.
Toby destroys the other one!
Out of combat!
Purpose Creche draws his Pharasmin dagger and makes doubly sure they're not getting back up. He also examines them in hopes of learning how they're made.
"Like a hermit crab. But far worse."
Iggy flies somewhat awkwardly to Armin’s shoulder and gives her neck a hug. "The currents of the Rillsong shall carry you.” He casts a spell, creating a slipstream beneath her.
Purpose knows that someone employed ancient Azlanti technology to alter
sentient humanoids. The people died during this process, but the strange energies involved animated them as undead horrors bound to serve their creator.
Armin looks terrified.
Purpose Creche uses the point of his dagger to move aside a limp tentacle. "Hm. These creatures were not created by circumstance. Not animated by hate or longing. Someone used Azlanti technology to change them. Bend them to their will." He probes discolored skin with thin fingers. "Or maybe this is a side effect. Maybe they hoped to achieve a different result."
He stands and turns to Armin. "I have questions. But this is not the best time to ask. You must be scared. We can get you to safety. We have a clockwork ally who could watch over you."
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Armin. We want to help. We are nice people. He dangles a slice of tentacle in a hand and smiles. See?
Joli facepalms and smiles in a conciliatory fashion. "My friend Iggy here just wants to help. Could you hold your breath for a moment while we swim to safety? I’ll be with you. We have friends outside to protect you."
Iggy nods and smiles like a little dragon angel. "We’re going to take care of that big shark thing. Don’t worry."
If she agrees, The frog and dragon will swim with her to safety.
Riku thanks everyone for their help as he wipes the slime and ichor off his clothes.
Armin agrees, and whoever would like can escort her up to safety. The clockworks guard over her as Aoinse checks her out to see if she is injured.
Silt'chaak transforms back into Scrag'chaak, swims to the double doors, and listens.
Silt hears the faint whirr of machinery.
Silt opens the door when everyone is ready.
Toby's wagging tail causes small eddies in the water behind him as he waits anxiously for what's on the other side of the door.
With Armin gone, Riku shifts back into his seascarred form.
Joli blesses the party and, just as the door is opening, calls upon the spirit of his people again.
You open the door. Strange machinery and tubes in the walls make up the interior of this room. Embedded in the wall furthest from the entrance is a large metal pin panel whose surface ripples at regular intervals; with each wave that sweeps across the panel, new symbols appear on its surface.
"Oh, cool!" Toby swims forward to examine the pin panel.
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The display on the pin panel alternates between messages in Azlanti, one after another. The first one reads “Status: Unstable,” and the second one displays the text “Composition” and shows a bar graph.
As Toby gets close, the text on the pin panel suddenly goes flat, and a humanlike face emerges from it. A harsh, metallic voice and a soft, friendly voice speak in unison, spreading through the water. The lips on the face move, but the voice isn’t completely synchronized with the movement. It speaks in Azlanti. “Welcome. I was expecting you. There is much to talk about. Where have you come from? What is your purpose here?”
"Here to rescue friends. Here to learn about ancient Azlant."
Purpose Creche racks his arcane synapses for trace of information about such a machine.
Purpose notices that the display is similar to the display in the astronomical device where you saw the haunt and the controls for the winding station in area C10, but 10 times larger. It's definitely ancient Azlanti technology, and he thinks such things would be referred to as analytical engines. Purpose could probably figure out more with more time.
"We would also like to learn about this facility. What is its layout. Which rooms still have power. Do you detect any activity inside. If so. Where."
"Power was recently restored to all areas. Was that your doing? Who are you?"
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Silt gestures at his wyrwood friend. Our Purpose is here.
We are nice people from the village. We killed lightning people so the machines eould start moving. We search for stolen friends, and want to hurt those who took them.
Joli pipes up in Azlanti. "Yes, as my friend Silt said, our friend here is Purpose Creche. We helped him restore power, with the aid of Aoinse. I imagine you both come from the great minds of Azlants’ theosophists. We are here pursuing a powerful aboleth who made this place a prison and lair. Can you help us defeat this wretched creature?"
"If this aboleth is so powerful, how will you defeat them? Are you equally powerful?"
"We have our means, but always welcome help. Have you encountered it?"
"I have. It has taken over the Temple. I can do very little against it."
Where are the ones it has stolen?
"Yea, where? What power does it hold over the temple?"
"And why can you do very little against it."
"Also, um, not to be rude but...who are you?"
"I am the analytical engine. My control does not extend beyond this room, though I can see power readings. I imagine the people you seek are in the vault. It's at the other end of the hallway. The aboleth is very dangerous though. Unless you have great power and an even greater plan, you will likely all be killed."
"Your power readings must be very detailed. What did they tell you about its powers?"
”Its minions have been through here. Perhaps I can help you make a plan. What are your powers?”
"Ah, we are very good at planning. Purpose here especially. But if you have information or capabilities to add, please do share. We would love your help with our common enemy."
Where have we heard such questions before... Joli’s brow furrows.