Lazur moves up next to Analise and is readies to fire at anything that he sees.
Confidence and calmness coming to him as he prepares to fire his musket, Lazur calls out We're here Val! Hold on!
"A three-legged machine running amok," Raven answers the question put to her, without looking who is doing the asking. She shouts through the window in a strange language:
She then starts running for the door.
Analise looks coldly at the robot, the moves about ten feet forward, right next to Val.
"I'm here, Val."
"நெறிமுறை தொண்ணூறு மூன்று: உங்கள் கட்டளையை மைய சேதமடைந்துள்ளன. பணிநிறுத்தம் தயார்."
"Protocol 93: Your command core is damaged. Prepare for shutdown."
Analise yells "Briakovir nazino!" The words of power carry a heavy weight to them, as if you had just had the wind knocked out of you. As the young mage yells the words that thrum with power, lines of crackling blue energy spiral out from her splayed fingers. Another line encircles them, and strange runes flow out of a mysterious gate in the palm of her hand.
The spiraling lines spread out from her hand, and highlight the robot and the area around it. And with a thundering boom, the area that the energy had highlighted is filled with white electricity.
After Analise's word spell blasts the robot, it stops tearing the wall apart.
"கு{Static}கீடு கண்டறியப்பட்டது ... அச்சுறுத்த{Static} அகற்ற ..."
It then swivels its upper body around and slams its self into Analise.
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Raven comes running into the building (hopefully), and shouts at the robot:
கீழே நிற்க! அது ஒரு கட்டளை!நீங்கள் சேதத்தை ஏற்படுத்துகின்றன, ரிப்பேர் செய்ய!
Lazur moves into position, to the north side of the door and readies to shoot the cause of the problem, when the opportunity presents itself. He calls out to Val letting her know people are here to save her.
Val is curled into a tight ball on the floor sobbing quietly.
Raven describes the robot and then dashes to get in the room as fast as she can. She then attempts to inform the robot that it is causing harm.
Jack heads on into the building and gets up to the robot.
Rywokit heads into the building to help protect Val, he quickly studies the robot and makes several astute observations.
Allen runs around to the window on the East side of the building and forces it open, and see's the robot and is shocked by the site.
Analise moves up next to Val, and attempting to calm the robot with words, decides to blast it with an electric arc attack, which appears to be very effective.
The robot swivels its body around, and makes an attack at Analise and hits her hard.
Locke moves up behind Raven drawing his sword, searching his memory for details about this robot.
Knowledge Engineering - This is a severely damaged Repair Drone, it effectively has the staggered condition due to damage. It looks to be particularly vulnerable to electricity and it appears to be missing its net launcher.
Craft(Construct) - It looks like with enough time, power, and materials the drone could be repaired
Linguistics - You are unable to determine what the drone is saying.
Knowledge Engineering - This is a severely damaged Repair Drone.
Analise yelps in pain as the robot's fist slams into her ribs, cracking quite a few. Growling, she yells "Briakovir astaro!" As before, you feel the wind knocked out of you, but the effect is entirely different. Analise's hands are enveloped in bands of energy with swirling runes inside, which promptly discharge themselves into her hands. The young mage's curled fists are now crackling with electricity, and she attempts to punch the bot.
"How do you like that, you pile of junk!"
4714.Arodus.19 9:21:13AM
Battle Map
With the robot no longer attempting to tear down the wall, the building stops shaking. However the robot is no repeating the same phrase as it begins to return the attack.
"கு{Static}கீடு கண்டறியப்பட்டது ... அச்சுறுத்த{Static} அகற்ற ... "
"கு{Static}கீடு கண்டறியப்பட்டது ... அச்சுறுத்த{Static} அகற்ற ... "
"கு{Static}கீடு கண்டறியப்பட்டது ... அச்சுறுத்த{Static} அகற்ற ... "
"கு{Static}கீடு கண்டறியப்பட்டது ... அச்சுறுத்த{Static} அகற்ற ... "
"Inter{static}ce detected... Elimi{static} threat..."
"Inter{static}ce detected... Elimi{static} threat..."
"Inter{static}ce detected... Elimi{static} threat..."
"Inter{static}ce detected... Elimi{static} threat..."
+Lazur
Val
+Raven
+Jack
Rywokit
Allen
Analise
unknown
Locke
If bold with a + begin round 3 actions, your placing has been updated on the map. As I get those actions, I will update again real soon.
"Get away from it, you fool!" Raven shouts at Annelise. "You are in no condition for close-quarters combat!"
Tsk-ing at the senseless waste, the tattooed girl brings up her crossbow and fires it at the rampaging robot. Hit or miss, as soon as the arrow has flown, Raven quickly slots her bayonet into its spot at the front of her crossbow.
Lazur steps into the doorway and fires at the robot, you hear a very loud boom followed by a string of profanity as the musket misfires. Lazur frantically clears his weapon.
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Val starts to uncurl with the voices calling her name, she glances about and sees her family and friends about her. "Laz... Ana... Rywy!..."
Lazur steps around and shoots, however his musket misfires. Swearing, he removes the jam.
Val looks about and sees rescue and starts to calm a bit, while stuttering the names of her friends.
Raven fires her crossbow, the bolt lodges into an area behind a broken panel, apparently hitting something vital.
The drone collapses into a heap on the floor. It crackles and pops and an acrid scent of melting plastics and ozone fills the room.
Analise makes sure the drone will never move again and zaps it so hard that parts of the outside casing melt into slag.
"What a waste," Raven sighs as Annelise destroys the drone completely. "Oh, well."
The Alchemist hangs her crossbow from its normal loop, detaches the bayonet and walks into the room, approaching Val. "Hello, little miss," she says as she bends down, offering the girl her hand to get back on her feet. "Are you injured anywhere?"
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Val uncurls herself, then immediately throws her arms around Rywokit. "Oh, Rywy! I was so frightened! What are you... Laz, Ana, and is that Jacky?"Looking around her, she notices all of her family and some new faces,"...and you brought friends?"
After a few moments, she calms enough to stop clinging to Rywokit and shakily gets to her feet. With a weak curtsy she says,"Thanks for saving me from that robot, I'm not hurt. I'm Val. Why is there a halfling looking in the window at us?"
"Presumably he is waiting for an appropriate cue to come in and join us," Raven says. "Which you have just provided. Well done! If it is not too traumatic a question: where did this robot come from...?"
"The robot came from under the hill, daddy brought it back a few days ago..."Giving one last half sob, Val visibly toughens up.
"There's so many of you, why don't we head over to the tavern, it's more comfortable over there. Jack looks like he could use an ale! Dad's perfected his Engine Grease™ brew. Oh! Sir halfling you are welcome to join us."
Val leads the group over to the taverns back door, removing a key from her apron pocket, opens the door and leads you into the tavern. She busies herself behind the bar for a moment while you all settle in. Attempting to appear flirtatious but it just feels awkward, she asks, "What'll you have?"
"Tea, please," Raven answers as she settles on a bar stool. "Preferably black, with a twist of lemon, plenty of milk and three sugars."
Jack nods at Val with a smile as the party comforts and questions her. While he listens to their conversation he sets his tower shield against the wall and begins to examine the remains of the robot.
Looking for clues as to what the thing is and why it malfunctioned; that's what Khonnir would have done.
After investigating, he will join the party at the tavern. "I'll try that Engine Grease Brew, Val.
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Allen moves over to Analise and tends to her wounds, "Desna, remove her pain and heal her body."
He then looks up at Val, "That would be great, thank you!"
Lazur reloads his musket and then takes a look at the robot with Jack.
He then says, "It's a nice specimen, or was. I don't know anything about it though.
He follows Val into the tavern and helps her with the drinks. Pouring some of the perfected brew for himself.
Once the drinks are served any everyone is seated he looks at Val and says, "Val, can you please tell us what is going on here? I come back for a visit and find out the torch is out and when I get to town I find out dad is missing and then you being attacked. By some strange coincidence I ran into Wicket, Jack and Analise while waiting for the boat. Looks like we were all heading back here at the same time. Strange."
Lazur then seems to collapse into his chair from all the stress and drinks his ale down.
Locke barely has time to get a quick visual scan when before The Star Warriors have completely demolished the malfunctioning tech. Locke's eyes note how quick and ruthless the humanoids are to the machine despite the human child's only proximal danger as the machine was clearly attacking the wall and nothing else. He ruminates on what this could mean if his own origin was discovered, and begins to play scenarios in his mind to better prepare himself if that moment should come. Analise had been exceedingly quick to deal out lethal magic displaying once again her hotheadedness. Ironically, the voice of reason to calm Analise down on the boat, Lazur, had been just as quick to rain down destruction. There must be a strong hatred for the alien technology plaguing the Numerian landscape within both of them. Which seemed at odds with their acceptance of Raven...unless they just didn't know about her yet. Perhaps Locke should study her further...perhaps she had unlocked the secret to what these humanoids called emotions...
Raven had seemed to desire not to destroy the robot at first, and her ability to speak the same language as the robot certainly added evidence to what he suspected of her...Yet that behavior was contradictory in that she had not attempted to restrain her comrades and was in fact the one who damaged it to inoperable status.
As for Rywokit, Locke is still at a loss. He can only assume the creature's outer wooden carapace must house another being controlling the construct, or it is in fact a construct powered by magical energies. Its ability to emote fascinates him, but the odd speech pattern Rywokit uses seems to indicate technological scripts and protocols as the foundation of its workings, yet no technological component is evident. There may be, in fact, a way to learn from this being as well, so that Locke may strengthen his ability to hide within the mass of humanoids dwelling in this land.
The others pay him no mind and after only cursory examinations of the robot's remains, leave him alone in the workshop. He begins to catalogue every component of the robot he can still find and hopefully recognize how the thing had operated and its purpose.
technological subjects. Other skills may have research
applications as well, subject to GM approval.
- Heal: Used to identify and understand pharmaceuticals.
- Knowledge (arcana): Although robots are constructs,
Knowledge (arcana) cannot be used to identify robots or
their abilities and weaknesses.
- Knowledge (engineering): This is the most important
skill with regard to technological subjects. Knowledge
(engineering) can be used to identify a robot’s abilities
and weaknesses. Knowledge (engineering) is also used to
identify and understand unknown technological objects
in a similar manner to how Spellcraft is used to identify
the properties of a magic item. The DC to correctly identify
and understand an unknown technological object is equal
to the object’s Craft DC. An object with a Craft DC of 15
or less can be automatically identified and understood by
someone trained in Knowledge (engineering) who also has
the Technologist feat.
- Knowledge (geography): Used for astronomy.
Rywokit hugs Val fiercely for as long as she does him.
After she lets go, he suddenly... starts... feeling... awkward... as she's... she's... so... tall...!
He stares at her for a bit.
As she walks to the bar, he dazedly follows her, seeking to understand what... you know... happened. She used to be his size! Now she's... as... tall... as... Konnir...
After they arrive in the bar, and people start ordering drinks, he blurts out, " Val!" shaking his head a little before, "You... you... grew up!"
The little creature is clearly stunned.
" You're huge!" he explains again, "Adult! Gorgeous!"
He can't quite grasp the fact that she's no longer his size, and that she looks, well, like an adult.
He stares, dumbfounded. He doesn't have a mouth... not a real one anyway (although he's got a vague facsimile built into the facial region), but if he did have one, you're pretty sure it would be hanging open.
He's also - to Val's way of thinking - talking really oddly.
After staring at her, he numbly sits at the bar.
" Lazur... is correct." he adds, after a moment. Then, "Engine Grease Brew. Please."
He's never gotten drunk before, and didn't know if he could be, but, hey, now's as good a time as any to try.
... it occurs to him only after the fact that he has no idea how to drink it.
Watches the wooden man carefully, head slightly tilted. By Desna, how is it going to drink that?
Still staring he asks to the room at large, "Uhm, what was that thing?"
" A robot. Malfunctioning apparently." says Rywokit, absently.
"By some strange coincidence I ran into Wicket, Jack and Analise while waiting for the boat. Looks like we were all heading back here at the same time. Strange."
"Ah, the old debate on the subject of predestination versus the vagaries of mathematically calculatable probability rears its ugly head," Raven says while sipping her tea. "The faculty could debate that one into the night, and it always ended in shouting and hurled tea-things. Take my advice and let it lie until you are at least sixty and teacups you throw are less likely to take an eye out."
The odd Kellid girl takes another drink of tea.The little creature is clearly stunned.
" You're huge!" he explains again, "Adult! Gorgeous!"
He can't quite grasp the fact that she's no longer his size, and that she looks, well, like an adult.
Raven looks at Rywokit, blinks, then looks to Val, blinks, and looks back.
"A young adult, certainly," she says, politely. "I must protest the appellation of 'huge', however. I myself am not overly tall, and we appear to be very close, height-wise. I am discounting the possibility that you referred to the little miss' waistline, which is entirely appropriate for her age."Still staring, he asks to the room at large, "Uhm, what was that thing?"
"Most people appear to be at least familiar with the concept of golems and similar constructs," Raven says, as she directs her attention to Allen. Dark eyes boring into his as she scrutinizes the Halfling, she continues: "Think of a construct, then, which was not created by magical means, but instead by purely அறிவியல்... by means of a process recognized by natural philosophy."
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He smiles at Raven broadly, "You know I don't understand most of what you say...but I sure like listening to you!"
"You are too kind," Raven says, nodding graciously. She seems to consider for a moment, then smiles a little and says: "Like a golem, only made by zapping a lightning bolt into a body that is made by a really gifted puzzle artist who liked working with metal. It is both extremely delicate on the inside, and brutally powerful on the outside. Does that help?"
Val is slightly overwhelmed by all the attention and questions, as she passes out the drinks. The normality of the task seems to calm her.
She blushes at Rywokit's comments, and mumbles something too quiet to make out. Looking like she is trying to avoid responding to the attention from Rywokit she addresses Raven, "Wow Miss. You talk like dad does." She then smiles at Allen,"I didn't get a lot of that either."
Finishing passing the drinks out, she joins you all at the table. "Where's the handsome bearded fellow that was with you?"
You both are able to determine that this is a repair bot, its function is to repair technological items. The melted carapace allows you to see that the "brain" of the robot has been damaged and probably not by Analise's electrical attack. Without more specific tools and robot programming language knowledge you wouldn't really be able to determine the why of the malfunction.
Locke is able to determine what a lot of the parts are supposed to do, especially the parts that function in the robot's locomotion. With a couple of hours work, you could salvage some usable robot parts, mostly servos and hydraulic actuators. A lot of the plastics though have been melted, as are the various circuit boards (robot brains).
As to the how it operated, you're sure that it used electricity that seemed to power a number of miniature motors that causes its various parts to move. You've also determined that too much electricity can have serious detrimental effects on robots.
Finishing with his examination, Locke leaves the pieces neatly lined up and ordered. He cleans his hands of the various grease and fluids that have soiled them. Exiting the workshop, he can hear The Star Warriors talking in the tavern. Knowing that back doors are for employees or family, Locke walks around to the front door of the tavern.
Locke will try to open it and enter nonchalantly. If the door is locked, he will knock.
Jack smiles as he takes a gulp of the new brew flavor. Sitting on the bar stool he scans the room and takes note of the group assembled within the tavern. Robots, Little Wood Man; Men and Women; a halfling. What a strange assortment of persons to come to Khonnir's aid. Star Warriors indeed. He listens to the chatter of the group, understanding the common words and trying to glean what he can from the foreign tongues being spoken.
His reverie is ended with an interrupting thought, Back to business. "Where in the hill is your dad, short-one?"He smiles at the name, meaning it as a good-natured jab at her youth. "Did he bring anything else back with him?
The door to the tavern opens smoothly and Locke enters.
Val turns to Locke as he enters the building, with a slight flush on her cheeks,"Oh there you are! I was wondering what happened to you. Thank you for coming to my rescue. Would you care to join us?"
Val brings over a mug of Khonnir's best ale, and hands it to Locke. She pauses a moment, trying to collect her thoughts, then begins, "The torch went about a week ago. Daddy went up the hill to check the pond where the water comes from to make sure nothing bad was happening to it again. He came back right away and was with the council for hours, then everyone was talking about the cave under the water..."
Suddenly looking worried, she says,"Lots of people went in to the caves, Dad did a few days ago and came back with the robot thing. He said several people had died in the caves, and that he had to fight off giant bugs and shadows...". A slight whimper escapes her lips before continuing,"He went back in and hasn't come back, and its been two days. I'm so scared." She then begins to cry.
"Beg pardon," Raven says, looking up from her tea. "With due sympathy for and deference to your emotional turmoil, you say your Daddy went up the hill to make sure nothing bad had happened to the pond again?"
Looking up at the start of her crying, Rywokit says, " H-hey! Don't cry!" As the little wooden figure hops down, it runs over the bar (now almost invisible to those on the other side) to hug her. "It's okay! If anyone is able to keep himself safe, it's Konnir." Wicket informs her, solidly. "I'm sure he's fine."
" But... what happened? To the water, I mean? Is that why the robot went crazy? What's going on with that stuff?"
"If the robot was removed from under the hill, possibly its anomalous actions can be explained by the fact that it reactivated in an environment which did not mesh with its expectations," Raven says, blinking. "It may not have been intelligent enough to understand that actions which were beneficial under the hill were harmful in its new environment."
"You may be right Raven, but the important thing is Val is safe. It looks like we may need to go talk to the council and head into the cave."
Lazur checks his powder horn and bullets and then says "I could also use an hour to make some more bullets and gunpowder before we head in there. I'm down to 9 shots.
"Perhaps I could assist you," Raven offers, head swivelling towards Lazur. "I am well-grounded in alchemy. Perhaps working together, we could increase your production of black powder."
"The water in the pond is bad to drink, but they fixed it with magic. Daddy wanted to make sure with the fires out that the water didn't get worse too."
Hearing Lazur mention heading into the cave, "You and your friends are going to find Dad? You can all stay here and use the tavern as sleeping place." She gestures to a stack of bed rolls and blankets in the corner,"I told the council that whoever they could get to save Daddy, could sleep and eat here free of charge."
Lazur looks at Val astonished, "Of course I'm going to go look for dad! How could you have any doubt after all this time?"
Realizing that sounded a little hard Lazur adds, "Kid, we've both lost family before. I don't intend for it to happen again to us."
He then stands and goes over to Val and gives her a hug.
Analise spent a little while panting in the barn. Damn... I keep on not remembering that using so much magic burns me out. She smiles wryly at everybody's antics with Val, then sits down to catch her breath while everybody headed to the tavern.
Locke murmurs an acknowledgement for what little role he may have played in the rescue of the adolescent female. He sips the brew and listens to everyone carefully.
Hmmm...this account seems to suggest my initial theory is flawed, Locke thinks. I will need to continue to gather data in order to determine the complicity of Khonnir Baine and The Star Warriors in this matter. However, the adolescent female Val's narrative could indicate a different cause for the events which have occurred.
Locke doffs his hat and addresses The Star Warriors. "Pardon me, do you all intend to enter the caves below Black Hill in search of your friend Khonnir Baine? If so, I would request the opportunity to accompany you. My purpose here in Torch is to determine the cause of the missing fire. The young woman's recounting certainly suggests the actions of Khonnir Baine may play an integral part in the solving of this mystery."
" Y-you... you don't know Khonnir?" Rywokit asks, surprised. "I thought you were following us because you knew Konnir! Why were you following us, then?" he pauses for a moment before, " Oh! Of course! Because you're with Allen! My apologies, I figured you knew someone else from Torch." Wicket tells him.
At Rywokit's assertion of his reason for being there, Locke looks at the halfling cleric, and then turns his head to peer in the direction of the Wyrwood's voice behind the bar.
"The words you speak are correct. I was 'with' Allen...but no more and no less than I was with you. I may have chosen to arrive here since I suspected I would learn a great deal about the situation in Torch in your company. I have been correct so far...now I wish to learn more. Evidence suggests that there would be some wisdom to keep myself close to this group of Star Warriors who seem to be rightly equipped to deal with the dangers that may be faced under the Black Hill." Locke attempts to smile pleasantly.
Analise tries to step quietly inside the inn, the promptly dive-tackles Val is a massive, fierce hug.
"OhgodsValI'm sooooooooo glad you're alright how are you anything important happen other than the Torch going out and your dad going down into the hill?!?!?!"
Allen watches the interplay interestedly,"I'm up for going into the caves, if we hurry we might be able to rescue him if he's in trouble, or help him if he's not!"
He looks at Locke and Rywokit, "No, I just met Locke...but he seems a decent enough fellow. Also, I'm not actually from Torch, but I've heard quite a bit about it."
Squeezing Analise back as tight as she can, and for a teenage barbarian girl this is very tight, Val says,"Oh Ana! Thank Desna you're back! I missed you! Are you going to save daddy too?"
"Important in Torch? Well recently one of the regulars started telling everyone that there are androids living in town, the whole bar spent the night arguing whether androids are dangerous and if we can trust them to be in town..." With a thoughtful look, "Dad told me about them, he said that they are just normal people that are a bit different on the inside, just like Wyry. I'd really like to meet an android someday..."