The party heads back the way they came, but at the top of the metal stairs to the south, the door opens to a chamber different from the one you came through before. This one is slightly smaller, but with roughly the same format. Numerous alcoves are set along the walls of this round chamber, but only a few are occupied by seemingly inactive guardians. A wide archway to the south stands open.
In the center of the room, a lone mechanical figure whirs to life. Initiative!
Initiative
Round I
Lyklor: CURRENT
Archimedicus: on deck
Shechera:
Baddies:
Meleren:
Torsk:
Zosimos:
Polo:
Payj:
Lyklor is the first to react! Go!
Lyklor runs up and clangs his blade off the construct's armor, but Archimedicus manages to deal a small blow.
The creature's "eyes" light up a deep, glowing red and everyone in sight is struck frozen in fear!
Will Saves
Polo, Eclipse, Lyklor, Torsk, Payj, and Shechera freeze in place -- as though fascinated by the robot's terrible gaze!
Arch, Zos, and Meleren manage to shake it off -- and Meleren acts quickly by physically shaking Payj from her stupor.
Round I
Lyklor: miss
Arch: hit
Shechera: readies a weapon
Baddies: activates gaze attack
Meleren: shakes Payj back into action
Torsk: fascinated
Zosimos: CURRENT
Polo: fascinated
Payj: on deck
6
The eagle gets in a few good hits and tears off a few sizable gears, but both it and Archimedicus -- as well as Payj -- freeze in fear!
The machine steps toward the unfazed Zos and punches into the investigator.
MISS
Meleren averts his gaze and kicks Torsk in the butt, shaking him from his stupor!
Zosimos and Torsk are up!
19
Torsk misses; Archimedicus regains his senses! Go, Arch!
...and the brawler whiffs because he's not keeping his eyes on the prize.
The machine swings for the brawler.
HIT and
HIT and
The brawler is struck with an intense fear, and must flee if possible!
Meleren shakes awake Polo and Eclipse!
Everybody but Payj and Lyklor can go.
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"The fire in this one's eyes is formidable! I shall rip its head off and wear it as a trophy!"
Polo swiftly issues his challenge to the enemy.
He stabs blindly with his lance.
"Use your snout, old friend; not your eyes!"
Polo urges Eclipse to attack his mark. The beast lunges, snarling, SE five feet to close the gap.
-Posted with Wayfinder
MISS
HIT
Eclipse stops and shakes with fear before making his attack. Polo's lance, however, connects with significant force, and the machine looks well damaged.
Arch takes off at a run. The machine does not swing after the fleeing brawler.
Instead it turns to Torsk.
MISS
HIT 5 damage and fear. The magus looks like he's gonna bolt too.
Meleren shakes Shechera awake, and shouts at her to shake Lyklor awake (which she does). Everybody but Payj and Arch, go!
You immediately recognize the room ahead; you were here before you entered this new part of the complex. That was the supposed "end of the puzzle" with the prize and note from Ambrus Valsin. The chest contains nothing useful.
29
Lyklor's blade crunches into the machine with deadly force. It shudders under the blow and looks like a light push would knock it over.
So close! Torsk, Polo, Zos,, go!
41
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Polo takes another blind stab at the contraption.
"Don't you let me claim this whole fight for myself, Wolf! " Polo tries to empower his beast.
Eclipse slinks just south of Lyklor and tries to chomp down.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The half-orc's swing goes wide, but the halfling's lance strikes true, piercing the machine right through. When the lance is removed, the machine collapses, its red eyes fading to nothingness and Arch awakens from his flight.
The party licks their wounds and return to the Grand Lodge. You are eventually ushered into the office of Ambrus Valsin to give a report. Looking up from his desk, the Venture Captain offers, "Well?"
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Polo holds up the head of the construct to Meleran and Shechera.
"There: we have proven to you just how strong the power of trust can be. The contraption's that fell your old group have in turn fallen easily to us; and it is not because any one of us is so mighty. It is because we worked together and had each other's backs. And no, we are not long known friends who understand each other perfectly; before this mission I hadn't but heard of Torsk, Lyklor, Zosimos, Archimedicus or Payj. It is because the Pathfinder Society is an organization where you can trust every member! "
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"Krawk! Indeed they even trust this old nut cracking feather brained bird. And look how strange I am." Lyklor says with a grin. "In truth, I think you would find life much more enjoyable when you are working with a team for the benefit of many others. As, Janira Gavix always use to always remind me, the Pathfinder's three tenets are to explore, report, and most importantly, cooperate! I do want to thank you for doing just that, because I don't think we would be standing here, if you hadn't woken me up to swing my blade against that nasty contraption. Thank you!"
The former bandits nod slowly at these words, and seem to be considering a change in lifestyle.
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Aye.
"This was far more than a mere training exercise. The tomb is of a culture far different than ours. I've heard tell of the guns of Alkenstar and the ruins of the Shori, but this is unlike anything I've ever read about. I'm not sure why we labelled such a deadly location as "training." There was some kind of dwarven lift system that connected different layers and more Magic Mouth spells than I've ever encountered. I'm wondering if we should use a similar approach to our own libraries. There were a fair amount of insidious traps and golem-like creatures. You may want to encourage others to pack some electricity type spells and alchemical goods. I know I'll be doing so after this report. We also managed to lead by example to encourage two new recruits. I ask that they be given an opportunity to adapt to the lifestyle of the Pathfinder."
Zosimos also gives them his address in Absalom in case they ever want to share their experiences.
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145085-3
"We may have been up to the challenge, but not every group was. The location was unsecured and another party of non-pathfinders unfortunately met there ends. The place is strange indeed. Maybe it should be further analyzed by higher ranked members? Of course, I'm always willing to head back in, should the need arise. " Polo finishes with a grin.
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"Whoa whoa whoa, what do you mean 'golem-like creatures?' Did you venture off-course? You were instructed not to do that." The VC's look is stern.
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"We stayed clear of the marking you warned us of. If the path was changed at all, it was do to outside interference. That, or perhaps the fortress itself shifted doors! We found rooms that could move, where we ended up. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
"And you didn't report to me immediately, once things seemed out of place?" After a moment, the VC grunts. "Very well, I suppose you are Pathfinders after all. Complete a full report and chronology straight away and we'll send another team to investigate within the hour. Surely there will be some research opportunities..."
Chronicles are HERE! Great playing with everyone, hope to see you again soon!