GM Rednal's Iron Gods (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

As was ritual and common sense, Brass examined the room, paying special attention to the two strange machines. She didn't want to discover too late there intended purpose was as defence turrets...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Perem looked through the room as they curiously but cautiously walked towards the machines.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Profession Mechanist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

As you moved, the machines didn't react. They seemed to be dormant, or perhaps lacking power. Unless they could be activated, it might not be possible to determine what they did.

Looking over at Perem, Brass shrugged and headed for the double doors. It wasn't like this place had many choices...

Perem paused for a moment as she considered the quiet wondrously complex looking machines, before quickly following Brass to the next doors.

"It would be nice to see a clear sign of them...how long do you think this weird segmented path goes?" Perem said as she tried not to let her worries bubble up too much.

The answer to that was rather immediately apparent. The gray metal door you opened sits in one wall of a short stone tunnel that curves north before opening into a vast sand-filled cavern.

New map to get you caught up!

"Huh. That is new." Brass looked up at the ceiling to the place, trying to work out how deep down they were. She was starting to wonder how exactly this was likely to work. This place obviously went deep underground.

"Yeah...and answers one of my questions..." though raised a few dozen others. Perem looked around slightly baffled for a few moments before she looked to see if she could find any tracks or signs that anyone had passed this way...at the very least the safest way to pass through so much sand.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 18

You'd have to head out into the open to see how big this area really was, but looking up, you were starting to get the feeling that this chamber, in particular, was responsible for much of the "hill" in the area... and while you don't see any footprints in the sand (possibly it's been shuffled around too much), you do spot a white, coral-like formation just to the north of your current location.

Grunting, Brass moved towards the strange coral with caution. It seemed possible to likely that anything that prominent in a strange underground desert might be dangerous, after all.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Perem tried not to be to be too disheartened as she cautiously started to follow after Brass, hoping none of them would sink too far in this sand.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13

As you approached the coral, the ground under you suddenly started to turn liquid and sticky - right as a number of tentacles erupted out of the formation.

Fortitude Save, DC 14 (Brass): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Fortitude Save, DC 14 (Perem): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

As they did so, you felt the two of yourselves becoming entangled by the sticky ground, ten feet away from whatever this thing actually was.

Init (???): 1d20 ⇒ 3
Init (Brass): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Init (Perem): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

The good news? You were also faster off the mark than it was - barely, in Brass' case - so you could at least do something.

"Well, really," Brass muttered, raising her arm and aiming at the choral thing. "This is just impolite." Of course so was replying with a cone of boiling steam that could melt flesh from bones but, well, it was rude first. She angled it to hit the tentacles as she could, and the choral thingy, without catching Perem.

Mickero’s Scalding Steam (DC 14 Reflex to Half): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Perem sighed in frustration as she saw the sand become sticky fluids, and the tentacles, why did it have be..., "Tickings..." the clockwork oracle muttered as she grabbed her sword to cast haste on Mr Black. "Let's get out of this tock..." Perem said towards Brass as the oracle looked to tried to find the best route...

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Hmm... actually, Brass, I think I'm gonna ask you for a Concentration check to use your device properly while you're entangled. Limited movement and all that. Gearhead contraptions are sufficiently spell-like that things that normally impede casting should probably apply to them.... uuuuuunless you have a rule/ability saying otherwise?

I'm not sure. I can't find my copy of Pure Steam after my hard drive died a while back, or where I got it from, so I'll assume it does.

Concentration Check (DC 16): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Whoo! Turns out devices don't need Concentration checks. Instead, the downside is they can be broken and targeted, and have to be either held in the hand or worn in a Magic Item slot to be used.
So I can boil the thing.

Handy. XD

Brass's burst of steam impacted against the creature's shell and... well, there were a few marks, but you were pretty sure that hadn't exactly been enough to severely hurt the creature. It was possible the heat hadn't even penetrated the shell. Its tentacles whipped out at Brass a moment later-

Tentacle (Brass): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 for Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Tentacle (Brass): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Moments later, you felt a small prickling sensation by your legs... apparently, this mire was more than just hard to move in.
You both take 1 point of bleed damage.

Brass winced, mostly at the strike and also at the pricking. She didn't have the stamina for this. She tried to grab the edge and drag herself out.

Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 14

I think Brass gets a +4 on her strength check

Perem almost called out to Brass when she yelped at the prick. She struggled to get out of the bitey sticky ground to the safest place she could see...

Strength: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Whoops, Brass has 21 too. I forgot I'm playing a character with an actual strength Bonus who isn't Umbriak, ye ken?

Keep your HP up-to-date.

Your efforts to break free were quite successful - and the creature's tendrils thudded into the ground at your heels as you pulled yourselves to safety. A moment later, its entire body shivered, and it began to burrow into the ground.

"Observation: This creature is quite dangerous. Suggestion: Retreat for now, regroup in town, and return with a plan." Eir called out from where she was keeping your route of escape clear.

"Runaway!" Brass agreed, heading back for the metal corridors.

Perem followed Brass back to the metal corridors. "How can..how did they...ticks..." Perem started as she ran as her mind tried to put pieces together and found it frustrating not to have any hypothesis to test as it all seemed so tocking much.

The metal door slammed shut behind the three of you as you retreated, and Eir was looking at your wounds with a distinctly worried impression. After a few moments, she took the lead, probably intending to bring you all the way back to town unless you wanted to hole up somewhere else.

Since the water breathing was likely running low, Brass followed.

Perem followed after Brass and Eir, frustrated at not being able to come up with a better idea for dealing with the...whatever that sticky bitey creature had been or a way to find...maybe the local people would know but it was a risk a bit to far testing that they would help to the cavalier...

Moving fast was the best way to get through the 'village', it seemed, and head back through the caverns. Given your injuries, you might have wanted to look for one source or another of healing before you went to bed...

...But on the positive side, you've reached Level 2 overnight. 8D Per usual, updates in Discussion for approval first, and after you get that, update your character sheets.

Sorry, work has been a nightmare. I'll update the actual sheet as I get a moment.

Brass was happy enough to return to town, to rest and to get healed by Perem's own magical powers and time as well. But while her squishy and breakable body was fixing itself, she began work on an idea the droids had given her...

By the time morning rose a new mount had been added onto Brass' armour, and Brass intended to go buy a heavy Crossbow to mount in it, along with some bolts. Bow, was that strange shelly tentacle monster going to get some extra surprises today...

Crossbows are available in town. Anything else either of you want to grab? Most mundane stuff is available.

Perem has no plans for grabbing anything.

Perem was glad for the night's sleep though no new ideas for how the deal with the situation she had pledged with the others to do. After a short time performing menial tasks in the workshop, she went to go find Brass who the apprentice hoped had a few more ideas than her own zero...

Having bought a new weapon and the ammunition for it, Bass was ready to go shoot Shelly, the Murderous Shell-Thing.

Don't forget to update your profile, Brass. ^^

With a bit of new gear in tow - and safely wrapped - you once more made your way into the caves of Bleak Hill. The metal tunnel area was much as you'd left it - and, thankfully, the machine inside it hadn't started moving again. Pausing just outside the door to the large open area, you......?

Brass stopped to check her various bits of equipment. "We'll try hammering that thing from as far away as we safely can," she suggested to Perem and Eir. "Hopefully we can kill it before it can use those tentacles again."

Perem nodded slowly as she considered options as she put her hands on the door to very slowly open so that she and the others could peek out over the sandy hill...blasting from range and helping Brass to do so did seem the best option with that sticky horrid beast thing...

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Peeking through the door, you had an easy enough time spotting the place where the odd creature lived. Since you'd been gone for a long time, it appeared to have settled back into its original position, waiting for food to return. You could certainly attack it from a distance - it hadn't reacted to you yet.

Perem carefully opened the door wide, moved through it with cautious steps before motioning with her head for Brass to head through. Maybe if they could catch it by surprise and get it down quickly, they would fair better. The oracle propped the door open with one arm for a moment and held her sword with the other as her mind went to thoughts of casting...

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Brass moved into firing range, and popped the new Crossbow Turret into active mode, targeting the shelled creature. "Ready?" she asked the others, aiming Aeria Gloris.

*Glances at Perem* Ready? 8D

Perem nodded as she moved her hand from the door out toward Brass, her eyes scanned the room. Taking a few steps as the sounds of gears began clicking in her ears as she gripped her sword tightly, Perem cast to speed up their chances...

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Cast Haste on Brass

"Ohherewegoagain!" Brass pointed her weapon and fired, reload with terrible speed. At the same time the crossbow turret swiveled and focused on the strange shell with a whirl of clockwork.

To Hit 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
To Hit 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Brass' barrage of crossbow bolts shot towards the creature - and bounced right off of its hard shell. Its body trembled a bit... then it began to slowly move forward, crossing twenty feet or so before settling back into the ground. Going by what you'd seen before, it did have excellent reach, and would be in range to attack shortly.

"MaybealittletoojitteryohhellIllshootagain." Brass re-armed and tied again. Now it was close enough to hit it more easily, anyway.

To Hit (Touch) 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

To Hit (Touch) 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Perem sighed in a mix of worry and frustration as the first barrage of attacks bounced off of the creature. She maintained haste on Brass as she watched the beast get closer, preparing to switch to destructive blasts once it came into her own range if Brass's weapons continued to prove as ineffective...

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 18

This time, the first blast and Brass' crossbow managed to hit the creature, with the latter looking particularly like it had managed to find an unguarded point. Screeching, the creature's body quivered slightly... then the ground under you softened and began to suck at your feet. The tendrils withdrew into the creature's hard shell a moment later as it visibly took cover.

"Retreat!" Brass began to move backwards, away from the horrible slippy sand and the nasty beasty controlling it. She didn't let up shooting, however. This thing was really annoying. Perforating it seemed ideal, although it was hiding in its shell that might not be so easy...

To Hit (Touch): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Crossbow Turret: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 7

Perem nodded, unsurely, changing to cast destructive blast before she turned tail to run for the doorway...

Attack Destructive Blast: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

The turret looked... a little smoky, actually, as its bolt misfired wildly and curved up into the air. It might need a few parts looked at sometime... but the more damaging blasts that just had to touch the creature seemed to be sinking in, and its shell was visibly cracked by the time you were done. The whole thing shuddered, then began to burrow deeper in a clear attempt to defend itself.

Smelling what she hoped was not a major problem, Brass reached up and smacked the turret into what she hoped was functionality. It was going to be a pain to fix down here otherwise.

Still, this thing was mostly dead...and so she kept shooting. She didn't want to return this way, hungry, hurt and tired only to be ambushed again.

To Hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Crossbow Crit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Crit Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Perem followed Brass's example from near the door and fired another destructive blast...

Destructive Blast: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5