Cynara smiles enigmatically. Of course there is. "And what is this thing you lost, and where is this hall you speak of?"
Padrym waits silently.
A fools errand then, they don't want a war with the stalkers or gnolls. At best we can keep them from attacking while we clear the first two.
Khepri waits to hear the answer to Cynara's question as he is also wondering what this creature has lost. Khepri ponders a way to get this other were-rat out of his situation, Hmmm maybe we will need a guide
Thinking Hall of walking metal... Golems. Explains the clanking. Must have been here since forever. Boss man will not be happy when we break them.
The big one smirks with evident malicious thought "I lost the last one who challenged me within my nest. It fled into the hall of walking metal... and died. Bring me it's corpse."
"As to the hall..." cupping an ear towards where you emerged from the secret tunnel "...follow your ears manlings, it is not hard to find."
"Well, I guess we know what's in front of us. To earn their respect, I guess we are going hunting some metal creatures," Dolgrym adds, stroking his chin.
"I don't suppose you have ever fought one of the metal men before? Are there any weaknesses we can exploit," he asks the leader of the rats.
Grinning it replies "If I knew how to kill... why would I need you?"
While hearing any response to Dolgrym's question, Khepri ponders the were-rat's request then says "Very well, we shall return with this corpse. Then we talk business."
"Yeah, times wasting. Let's see what's out there."
"Let us see to this hall then."
The big one smiles "If you survive... then come back." before giving the mangy one a kick "Show them back out of nest... dangerous for them if they took a wrong turn"
The mangy one submissively nods and picks himself off the floor, leading you back along the same way that you came through the nest and back to where you entered this part of the mine. You guide is silent and head-bowed, not saying a word to you and communicating only in hisses and gestures. The ringing sound of metal on stone grows louder as you approach the section that has not yet been o'errun by the nesting were-rats.
Are the metal creatures new to this area or have they been here for a long time? Has anyone from your tribe ever defeated one?
"Feigr, Padrym--do either of you have any idea what that sound might be?"
Mangy responds with bowed head "Metal always here. Some try to stop, but none come back who go in."
The sound has a slight hollow tinge to it, but is most definitely metal hitting rock. It has a regularity to it as well.
Feigr searches his memory for anything that meets the description of the sound he hears.
Feigr cannot remember any tales of Zolurket that involved golems, animated weaponry or the like. However given that the area you are currently in was the armory of old there would surely be enough metal lying around. Perhaps the passing of the mine into shadow somehow corrupted or awakened spirits to animate the weapons and armor stored within?
"No tales I recall Cynara. Best I can hazard a guess, something has happened in the armory since the fall of Tar-Urkatha. We may need both your ability and mine to put some spirits to rest...or it may be something else entirely." Feigr turns to regard the rat-man, "Anything else you can tell us about it? No one has ever returned? Not even gotten a look at what's there?"
The mangy one shakes his head "No-one stupid enough to risk death... almost no-one." looking at you briefly "Halls have been black area since rat-speak left nest."
"Well at least the noise will cover any sound we make....not that spirits need sound to find us"
If the others are finished Love leads the way towards the clanging. For once unconcerned with stealth but very alert for traps.
Trying to keep it light, Khepri says, "Bet you never thought there would be a day where I wasn't the loud one clanking around Love"
"Are none of us as good at sneaking Khepri, but I have a suspicion that whatever is down there will require more than stealth to defeat, else those ratmen would've considered it nothing of consequence."
"Aye and it sounds like we've got all the advance knowledge we're going to get. I guess we'll see what we're up against soon enough." Feigr gets his hammer ready and trails behind Love, happy for once not to be concerned with the need for quiet.
"I've got a feeling it's going to hurt," the Mage shakes his head, knowing that metal striking with enough force to echo throughout the chamber was indeed going to be a problem.
"My training is for quicker and lighter sword strokes, I may be less effective fighting hunks of metal."
The mangy rat-man does not accompany you as you move beyond the edge of the nested area and into the cleaner tunnels. He hangs back, fearful and furtive... but making no move to stop you or words to aid you.
The ringing echoes through the chambers, but you gauge the rough direction that you believe it to be coming from and stalk that way. The halls consist of tighter tunnels where two can stand abreast and the ways wend in and out of silo like chambers. Many of the chambers lie open - the interior bare but showing that they were once home to weapons, armor and in some cases stores of material.
It does not take long, maybe ten minutes of cautious tread, before the blows of metal grow loud enough to feel the reverberation at your feet. A solid lump of steel striking on stone... surely just around the next corner. There is a choice of two ways to approach it:
Left would seem to get you viewing it from a slight distance, whereas right will bring you right to the spot as you round the corner.
"I vote left. Let us see what this is before it's on us."
Don't suppose you know?
Female: No.
Cynara nods. "Left would seem to be the wiser choice, though you will have to tell me what you see."
"Why choose? We shall meet at Philippi."
Love waves the group left while he slips into the shadows cloaking the right hand passage.
Feigr nods at Love's suggestion and joins the others slipping to the left.
The left group makes their way slowly around to where sight could be made unto the source of the noise as Love takes it upon himself to slip to the right.
Stealth . So the armor is just pounding on the closed door? Any sign of damage to the door other than the dent? Hinges starting to buckle etc.
Padrym will motion the others to stay wary and move down the hall as quietly as he's able.
Khepri nods and follows Padrym as best he can, sword and shield at the ready
Left
Feigr casts shield of faith on himself and makes his way with the others, trying to remain as stealthy as possible.
The door is dented, but otherwise unbowed and unbroken.
As you start forward the repeated clang of steel on metal halts... and before you can think too much on the reason why a figure rounds the corner ahead. It is a disembodied suit of ornate plate mail. It wields a large two handed hammer in it's gauntlets and begins to pace steadily and slowly towards you...
Not sure if this is a full turn or what but:
Khepri will do a targeted Detect Evil on the suit of Plate Mail and prepare for a fight
Khepri detects that the spirit haunting the suit of metal is evil... and powerful.
Not sure if this has to wait until we are in initiative, but I will Smite as a swift action, activate my nimbus of light as my standard and move to to where I can see me maybe 15' to 20' or so away (depending on how far it is now)
"Fight me, creature of darkness."
bless, nimbus of light (30ft radius)[/ooc]
The light gives +1 morale bonus to hit, damage, AC and saves vs fear as long as you are in the light)
With Khepri's shout Padrym quickly casts a spell of armor on himself and prepares for the assault.
Love looks about the room. Are there other exits? Anything other than the suit and the door?
Round 1
Love will delay until either it attacks or has been attacked by a party member at that point the dwarf leaves the shadows, takes flank, and tries to slide a dagger into something vital.
Edit: Thanks Khepri!
Feigr moves in behind Khepri and readies an action to case spiritual weapon if the armor attacks.
Cynara closes in behind the paladin and casts an enhancement on his scimitar.