Iron gods

Game Master Vagabonds.

Fist crosses his arms and looks up at the woman speaking.

"And just why are you stuck here?"

"Don't worry about what the others are doing Caimor, focus on what this weird metal wall is doing in a cave under the town." Taz says to the elf.

"My name is Sef, the current chief. The old chief decided to come up here, he was killed by some of your folks, and now we're all stuck here, since, you know, we can't get down without falling to our death. Either way, there's some stuff in the caves ahead I'd like dead, since they cut down our even lower number, but I'd rather not risk the remainder of our tribe."
She simply spends a few moment staring at the Halfling.
"Okay?..."

Sarona folds her hands in front of her. "May I ask what it is that has been attacking your tribe, Chief Sef?" She asks as politely as she can.

"Well, for one things, folks like you, and some gremlins up ahead. If you guys can somehow manage to get rid of them, I'll offer you some strange devices in exchange. I'll also throw some more small things for you guys to not attack any of my party, how does that sound?"

Fists face is split from ear to ear in a wide grin.

" HAH DONE! I'll kill your gremlins for you. That's a fair trade."

Fist grins at Sarona.

"The council woman is also Gona have to get me a fancy new hat."

"Considering how much information there is to be gathered, and how much how they do influences our overall mission, I would be a fool not to be worried."

Caimor shakes his head. "In any case, this seems to be an entrance. Likely to be where the robots originated and where Khonnir is. Anything else is conjecture."

Folks like us? Well thats good, i guess. We are looking for some people who went missing. By any chance do you have anything left of them? Stumper might be able to track them by scent if you have something he can smell. If we find them, we will make sure they dont hurt you guys later.

Then after a moment, Joseph has a quizical look
Falling down? We had to swim to get here. What do you mean falling down?
Oh! We might also be able to help you guys escape later! I gots an idea >:)

"An entrance to what Caimor?" Taz asks.

"We're in a cave under the city, why would somebody build a metal wall down here?"[b] Taz continues, scratching his head.

[b]"For that matter, who would have built it?"

Taz doesn't have the technologist feat yet, so there's not much point in him making skill checks to figure out what we're looking at.

"As I said, I can only guess. The chalk drawings found earlier is at most a century old and already depicts the three-legged robots we've seen, therefore meaning this place is at least that old. I need to gather more data before I can give you anything else. Data the skulks could have provided depending on how long they've been here, and if they were the ones who made those drawings. They could explain the depictions of four-armed humanoids and spiny plants that we haven't encountered as well as their knowledge of the area and of what is inside this entrance, if they've explored it."

Caimor frowns intensifies. "And I doubt the halflings would think of asking for any of that information and it would be a headache to have them relay it in the first place. Sarona, at least, I ascertain to be skilled in negotiation and would be intelligent enough to remember to ask, but I do not believe her shrewd enough to take advantage of the skulks' current weakness."

"Regardless, all we can do is stand here and look at the entrance."

And look at it Caimor does.

Perception: 20 + 7 = 27

Take 20 on perception.

"It appears my companions have no problems with your offer. I accept as well." Sarona nods. "One more thing before we go--may I ask how much opposition we can expect to face?" She tilts her head inquisitively.

"To be frank, I have no idea. We usually don't see more than two of them at a time, so who knows, maybe there's twenty, maybe just two. My guess, personally, is six." she said to the obviously sane Sarona.
She looks at Fist for a moment, before shifting her gaze to Joseph.
"Well, they went deeper into the cavern. And the folks who came earlier and tried to end us? Dead. Their corpses are scattered around the cavern. And, yes down. Didn't you see the hole we came through?"

You're looking and staring at the passageway reveals that the room ahead's floors, walls, and cielings of the slightly curved hallway are made of smooth, dark gray metals (Glaucite). There's light flowing from above, into the room in front of you, but no further than that.
However, you catch brief glimses at something ahead...
Until it slowly walks forward.
You watch a fully functional version of the machine from Khorns house slowly walk through the hallway, into the first room, where it begins to do something to the wall.

Caimor continues to watch, trying to get a good angle from outside.

"Is there any way to tell what that critter is up to?" Taz asks, looking to Caimor and Kerin.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Fist nudges Sarona.

"Sarona, you knew the old wizard we were looking for personally did you not? describe him to them would you please. We are looking for someone down here."

Fist sais cautiously knowing that if they killed him along with the others we have already found down here things are going to get very ugly very fast.

"Yeah. I can tell you all right. No good. It's a repair thingy. It's making repairs to the traps, obviously."

"Do you think we should kill it before it causes us trouble?" Taz asks the dwarf in reply.

"I'd like to have the halflings and the priest on hand when we fight. I say we wait untill they come back from the meeting."

His brow furrowed.

"Ifn't they come back at all. I don't trust those grey guys. Sneaky bastards, the lot o' them."

What does Khonnir look like, GM?

Images of Khonnir Baine

(Asuming she told them) "Oh no, didn't kill any like him. Sounds like he killed the ol chief, so he's kinda the source of our problem. Still, the ol bastards dead, he was an a$+%$!%."

One of the lights ahead come back online, and it begins to move ahead...
Then the light in the first part of the hallway went offline.

Hey! We halflings are sane, we just see the world differently then yoou longleggs do... Its in our job description ^^
Nope. We came through an underwater passage and not a hole. Might be a different way to get out. Can you see sunlight from the hole or does it go down deeper into the earth?
Then, for the other topic
Thats ok. Back in my hometown we dont begrudge the wolf hunting the sheep for food. You were defending yourselfs, no wrong in that.
Hey, sounds like Konnie might still be alive! Thats good, right Sarona?
Then Josephs expression darkens, the reasoning two-fold. Still, sorry about your chief, even if you didnt like him. A loss is still a loss...
Josephs thoughts turned inwards now, and on a more darker tone
While we do not fault the wolf hunting the sheep, we still DO defend our flock. To death if we have to... And im not too keen on killing another group of guys just because someone else told me to... Maybe we can talk to them?.

Stumper lets out an indignant Grunt.. Grunt! feeling like he was being ignored and unallowd to forage for scraps of food. So joseph took out a piece of cheese and broke it into little bits and scattered them a bit for him.

Joseph: Hey, thats right! I got some exotic foods to trade with you guys if you like! Some food i imagine you have never tasted before in your life! Interested?
Deplomacy: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 + 1 = 12

"Don't be hasty to make assumptions, even when expecting the worst," Caimor says. "Hmm. They're doing something with the lights? Or are the lights reacting to them? Still can't see what they're doing with the wall and we've seen no evidence of traps yet. A possibility that they could be benign when functional if Khonnir and his party left them alone as well."

"They seemed real benign when they tried to tear down Khonnir's house yesterday." Taz responds.

"I'm betting it just doesn't know were here yet."

"Just in case it does cause trouble, I'd like to be better prepared."

A haze seems to come over his eyes as he chants a few arcane words and makes a gesture with his hand ending in a clenched fist.

cast Mage Armor, duration 1 hour, raising his AC to 18

Sef paused at the halfling.
"Uh... Okay? How much do you think I could get with a vial of liquid ice? I don't know. And, still, he was an a+@~+@@."

The robot went back and seemed to be attempting to repair the old wire. It doesn't appear to be doing anything but attempting to repair the lights.

Sarona nods. "We have our goal. We'll see about clearing out the gremlins plaguing your tribe."

She turns to the other halflings. "We should inform the others." She says, beginning to walk back to them.

Aww, OK. Lets go find out what trouble the others have gotten into. I look forward to seeing you later chief!
Joseph then mounts up on his boar and heads out of the tent with Sarona.
now which way did they go? I imagine towards the wall?

Taz looks at Kerin and says "I swear, if they don't get back soon I'm shooting that robot."

Fist follows along with the other two and nudges Sarona.

"how much you wana bet the town isnt going to want those guys down here once they know about them."

"Perhaps we can convince them to move on once we've accomplished their task." Sarona shrugs. "For now, it is of secondary importance."

When she sees the others crowded together, she approaches and speaks up. "Hello again. We have spoken with the skulk leader."

You don't get long to talk before you get a rather nasty surprise:
Four Goblins appear between you all, stabbing you all where they could, before beginning their attempt to run like hell. This provokes AoO against... Everyone who's still up and walking, really.

To Sarona: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
To Fist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
To Stumper: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
To Kerin: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
To Tazwell: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Caimor is about to reply when the goblins rush in.

They didn't attempt to stab Caimor? Wise decision.

between Taz not having a melee weapon ready and that acrobatics roll, I think the goblin doesn't get an AoO from me

"Where'd they come from!?!" Taz shouts.

He draws an arrow, sets it to string, and looses it at a fleeing goblin!

longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"Missed 'em!!!" Taz exclaims as his arrow bounces off the ceiling of the cavern.

Fist lets out a yell as he tries to punch the goblin that stabbed at him.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOUR GOING?"

unarmed stirke: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

wow! Im impressed. Not only did you hit stumper, you managed ho hurt him pretty good ^^ thats +1 scar!
Stumper squeals in anger and pain, lashing out in retaliation at the goblin.
AoO: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6
Buut missing horribly...
Meanwhile, Joseph tumbles off of Stumpers back as the boar bucks wildly, hitting the ground and springing into action with surprising speed, a dagger flashing out from under his clothing somewhere with equal bluring speed.
Taz, you are aiming the wrong way! Stumper. CHARGE!! he yells as he, himself pounces on a goblin.

Kerin startles from the blow, but sets off after the culprits;

"Sodding goblins, come and get what's coming to yeh!"

Catching up to one of them, he smashes his axe at the wretched thing.

Kerin flies into a variant rage. I'll denote the benefits in his statbar. Also, no smelling them in advance? :D. Anyway, he should be able to catch up with 40move.
to hit, PA: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7
Damage: 1d12 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Will you look at that. I'll take a hero point in exchange for a Very Bad Thing, please.

I'll just take my 1, I'd rather not shoot any of my friends in the face.

Kerin apparently doesn't mind hacking his friends in the face. I'm not sure if I get an AoO since I don't know if they came close enough to me, but here you go![/ooc]

Caimor stabs his rapier forward as the goblins run way.

Rapier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Sarona doesn't sidestep the clumsy swing, watching in confusion as the goblin plows its spear into the dirt next to her. She swings her hammer in retaliation...

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

(Psh. Stabbin your friends, HAH! I'll tell you what, that's not what I usually mean when I say 'Have a Very Bad Thing' Happen to you.
Kerin jumps on the Gremlin, fully intending to impale him, but just bearly missing, drilling your sword deep into the sand... Where it's swollen by some unseen force.
You would hear in a strange language something sounding like gibberish.

Enjoy some very bad things!

Shield AC (10 rounds): 20/14/16

Caimor had just adjusted his plans to account for the goblins when the mechanical creatures appear from the ground.

"What the—" Caimor quickly steps back when they prove hostile and tries to account for the new variables.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 + (4) + 1 = 19

As his mind recalls the information, his body is still in motion, retrieving a flask from his bandolier and bringing it to his mouth.

5-foot step north, standard action to drink Shield (CL 1st, 1 min. duration).

Read that his axe hit the ground and was grabbed, thought little of it then read the first spoiler... A feeling of dread washed over me for a moment... Good job!!
Joseph turns around when he hears something behind him.
Oh... Oh dung...
Watch out guys! We have flying bugs incoming!!!

I hope you don't mind if I use that roll for two, but since you passed with flying colors the first one, Jinkin Gremlins (To explain their Dimension Door)

You identify the ROBOTS as Collector Robots.

"This just keeps getting better!" Taz shouts. He takes a step back from the suddenly appearing robots, draws an arrow from his quiver, sets it to string, and lets fly at the newly appeared robots.

longbow at robot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

did the gremlins flee? or are they circling around for another pass?

Not a problem at all! In fact, I thank you for doing it for me. :P Also, "only have a hardness of 5".

"Jinkin Gremlins! Cold iron hurts them! Don't follow, trap!" Caimor yells, placing the empty flask back in his bandolier. He catches his breath before continuing, "Collector robots! Hard covering, ranged stunning weapon. Current range ten feet. Focus attack on one!"

Only in certain fighting anime is talking an actually free action where you compress several paragraphs and conversations in a few seconds!

Collector Bot 1 pulls out his Greataxe, and throws it over at Tazwell to deal Nonlethal damage.
1d20 + 3 + 2 - 4 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 2 - 4 - 4 - 1 = 12
1d12 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
The other two robots hone onto Caimor, flying up to him, and firing their stun guns, provoking from Fist.
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
1d8 ⇒ 1
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
1d8 ⇒ 1

Of course they're fleeing! They only get Dimension Door once per day, and ROBOTS CLIMBED OUT OF THE DIRT. You don't stay around when stuff like that happens.

Fist will swing around and slam his arm into the new threat that provoked an attack from him.

Unarmed attack of opportunity: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Unarmed damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

ahh damn missed :P i think ill just take the miss as this situation is already bad enough.

Taz is feeling pretty smug about having cast that Mage Armor spell to raise his AC to 18

Caimor avoids the shots of the robots, stepping to the side of one and turning just so to catch the other with the translucent shield of force hovering in front of him.

He takes another step back and sheathes his rapier with one hand, drawing his longspear with the other.

5-foot-step, sheathe rapier, draw longspear.

Thats 4 critical misses in one combat XD
quick note: im aware that they are robots, but joseph has never seen such things before. They fly, have shiny carpaces, and came out of the dirt. Therefor, they must be bugs! Im getting a lot of enjoyment out of my unlearned drawback :)

ok. New plan. Stumper. Shove it. as joseph points to the nearest "flying bug"
Stumper snorts in approval, steping up to the nearest robot and giving it a hefty headbut.
bull rush: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 + 1 = 15 sending it reeling back a few feet, but not before provoking an AoO.
Good job! Joseph pats him on the back as he sidesteps towards the gremling inbetween him and Kerin and promptly putting a shank in it.
attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15
damage: 1d3 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 + 1 = 1

Ok, bit of explaining. Stumper moves diagonally down and right, then bull rushes the drone horizontally. Joseph 5-ft steps right and attacks the gremlin that is still near the hut.