LaRA's eyes begin darting over the screen with insane speed. Her temples begin to glow with tell-tale green light. Overriding nanite safety measures. Redirecting focus to linguisitical analysis... "Bypassing Boltzmann shielding. Initiating quadrilateral inconel chamber sweep." Sweeping madly at the screen, the string of words continues from her mouth at amazing speed. "Inferring panreccenal shearing. Counteracting structural damage to nebula chamber synchronicity." Her hands, also covered in green glow, continue to dart around the screen, pausing for a split second in confusion, only to receive input from Garfaulk.
"Statement: I believe this unit is in position to engage tertiary chamber purge. Please indicate wish to continue.", she adds in her normal voice, hand hovering over a big, red button. Personal observation: A strong emotional drive to push button with unnecessary amount of force observed.
Zeke concentrates and tries again, his lips moving fervently. He pictures the schematics of the reactor in his head, and instinctively feels his way along the circuits like they are tunnels underground.
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5. Linguistics
La-RA smashes the red button with the palm of her hand, and the whole reactor quiets...vroom... vroom... vroom... vr...mmm..... The radiation leaks down... and you no longer feel that pressure on your body. La-RA's computer training had come back to her, as if she was still on this ship, flying in the stars...A nanite surge combined with the Androffan language... she remembers... more. Not everything, but more. The ship around her... it feels more like home than it did before.
6. Engineering
With the reactor powered down, Zeke busy's himself patching the hole left by Meyanda's gun. In fact... he has an idea. He picks up her gun, and using the fire it produces in a careful manner, solders a scrap metal patch. Further more, he cuts off the exposed wires left by Charle's hack job, and solders a patch over the hole left by Meyanda's machine.
Finally... Zeke stands by La-RA at the main control console. They glance at each other, read the Androffan on a checklist on the screen... flip a few switches, and push the big red button again. A little more tentatively this time.
VRRROOOSSSHHH! The reactor hums to life, only this time, not leaking radiation. A huge purple beam shoots from the top and disappears into a pipe that goes up into the ceiling.
You'll have to go outside to confirm, but you are feeling pretty confident-- the Torch Is Lit! The City is Saved!
WELCOME TO LEVEL 4 and the end of Book 1! Huzzah!
Fail
Ton leans against the wall, a sheen of sweat on his brow and one of his hands quivering before his eyes as he raises it and pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Great job guys." is all he can mumble/ "I'm not feeling so good, I feel.... weak... like something is eating me from the inside. Feels like the worst frekking hangover I ever had."
Turning to LaRA he says;
"Is this what you called radio-shun? What is it, like some kind of poison?"
Meyanda has an inferno pistol+1 (a tech gun that uses batteries and fires fire at 1d6), mwk spiked gauntlet, black nanite hypogun with 5 charges, 2 nanite canisters, 11 silverdisks, 62 gp, and various other goods that you may leave behinds like a winter blanket, cold-weather outfit, flint and steel, packback, food, etc.
You go back through the underground metal cave, through the underwater tunnel, feeling good about yourself. You did it! As you go outside, you see the Torch flaring high up into the sky!
You hear cheers in the city streets as you start walking from the Weeping Pond down toward the Foundry Tavern. “The Torch! Praise be to the gods, we are saved.” Grown men are crying in the street. You pass many people, just staring into the sky, with big smiles on their face. “Praise be to Brigh!” one says. Another one sees you passing and says: “Brigh? It wasn't Brigh- look-- the Heroes of Torch! The Torch Six! Horray! Three cheers for the Torch Six!”
People begin to pour out of houses to look up at the Torch and they see you go by. More and more people flood the streets, and you hear them yelling not praises to the gods, but praises for you! Young women swoon and boys and girls cheer and dance. All of you have to fend off people kissing you and trying to lift you off their soldiers. Charles' family, faces looking tired with grief, nevertheless cheer with the rest. Pa Caskgrip beams with pride at Charles.
The old dwarf Dolga, the head of the town council, emerges, and she quiets waves the crowd down as best as she can. She bellows over the crowd. “Torch fulfills its promises! 6000 gold to the Heroes of Torch!"
You fight gently through the crowd, until you make it to the front door of the Foundry Tavern, Val throws the door open when you walk up. She is wearing a big smile. As you are about to enter, she yells out- not to you, but to the crowd. “The Foundry Tavern is open again! Who wants to drink with the Heroes of Torch?” The crowd cheers back and heads toward the building. As you enter in, Val whispers to you, “I'm tripling the cost of the beer. Not for you. But tonight will be a great night for the Foundry, and after this we will be open full time again!”
You enter and Khonnir Baine is behind the bar. He is unsteady, but nods at you with a big smile and gestures for you all to take a seat at the bar. Beer, wine, and brandy is waiting for you. You party long into the night! Eventually, Val pulls Wulf aside and out of the room. None of the rest of you doubt what is going on.
Charles goes to find his family.
Charles slips away in the late evening to find his family. The party is still going strong in the Foundry, but his family isn't there. As happy as they are that the city is saved, it is not time to celebrate, a mere 24 hours after Sam's death and botched resurrection.
Charles returns home to see the somber mood. Pa and Ma are cleaning up after dinner. At least they eat well, now that Charles has given them so much money. And they have just started to look at getting some decent schooling for the little ones.
Pa greets him. "Well Charles, you are a hero now. I always knew there was something special about you. Just wish Sam was here to see you too."
"That's ...the thing. He is. He was with me in there ...he helped. I ..." Charles, not good with words, takes a dagger and slices his palm.
His whole demeanor changes. His chest puffs as his shoulders stop slouching. His face turns brighter and smiling. "So, ma, pa, I know this is weird ...but that resurrection spell? Yeah, it messed up. But I'm not lost. I'm here. In ...in, well, Charles' body. I guess we share more than a bedroom now."
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The Caskgrip's gape! They can't believe, but that is Sam's voice coming out of Charle's mouth.
Pa stutters..."But we... that's imposs... what.... Sam?"
Frederick shouts, "SAM!!" The smallest of the family is quickest to believe. He barrels into Sam's legs. Soon, Lilith, Frasier, Melvilla, John, Woodrow, Paul, Clifford, Diana, Carla, and Norman all pile on top in one huge mass of halflings, all yelling in delight!
Ma stands to the side crying and looking so happy.
That night, the Caskgrip's have a party to rival the one in the Foundry. All the kids quickly realize that pain causes Sam and Charles to flip back and forth, and have a great time punching him and stepping on his toes really hard to see what happens.
Wulf is happy to let the townspeople prise them, after years of being treated as an outsider. All the sideways glances and whispers conversations when he was around it all stopped now. They shouted to him they all wanted to see him because of his action because bruised and blood-covered he didn't care he shouted out showing off his hammer.
He steps up to Dolga and takes the reward holding it up. "Thank you Dolga. We just wanted to help the town! But the reward will help get me some new clothes and a few drinks tonight!" He shouts out as they start to make their way to the Foundry Tavern, he points to everyone as the crowned slowly shifts. Wulf feels elated at being excepted no matter what tonight couldn't get any better.
Stepping into the Tavern he smiles at Val, after all, that it was nice to come back to someone so wholesome and beautiful. He leaves her to the bartending as he steps up to it takes a large drink from a pint already set up and presents his hand to Khonnir Baine happy to see him on his feet.
While Wulf was in the middle of telling a group of villagers another story of the battle below where he was as big as a house and sprinted past two large metal men to smash in a wall protecting the big bad that took the torch away from the town Val move next to him and takes his hand. He looks down at her as his heart melts, happy for her touch. Then as she pulls him away he waves farewell to the villages and the group, happy to get his real reward.
The night passes by with great celebration and happiness. Many of the new patrons of the Foundry Tavern pass out at the tables, including most of the party.
The next days and weeks that follow are full of plenty of rest, plenty of toasts given to the Heroes of Torch, and much celebration in the Caskgrip household as well.
After about a week, Khonnir Baine is back to his normal self, and he makes a point to spend time with you all individually, getting to know each of you, or in the case of Zeke and Charles, really putting an effort into getting to know you on a deeper level.
After several days pass, Dolga walks into the Foundry Tavern carrying a strange device.
"You all probably didn't even notice, in all the excitement, that Garmen Ulreth disappeared after you relit the Torch. His casino has shutdown and the place is empty. Most of his Ropefists are gone, too. From what you told me, he was in the pocket of this Meyanda android. Well, I instructed the town guard to do a thorough search of his various properties and they found this really weird machine. What do you think, Khonnir?"
Khonnir examines it, flips some switches, and shrugs his shoulders."I'm going to have to examine it more closely. Maybe take it apart. Zeke and Garfaulk can give me a hand with it in the Foundry. La-RA too, if she's interested."
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LaRA reacts to the crowd's attention the only way she knows how: Staring blankly at the people waving and shouting. As a cheerful teenager gives her a wave, she stops in her tracks, before raising her hand and giving an awkward wave back. Observation: This unit's societal status appears to have significantly increased following the actions undertaken in aid of this settlement. Extrapolation: Future relations with this settlement may yield a symbiotic relationship. It's all she has time to think about as a large, joyful man attempts to pick her up. "Unknown biological unit, this course of action is unadvisable.", she blurts out in an unnaturally cold voice, as the man, and most of the bystanders seem to turn away. Turning around to glare at the purple fire of the Torch blaring in the sky, she blinks twice. Pausing memory recovery protocols. Redirecting power to societal observance and adherence. Turning away to stare at the city of Torch, away from the crashed ship, a small smile spreads across her face.
In the bar, LaRA takes a large glass of liquor in her hand, then turns around to observe the townsfolk enjoying themselves. Walking towards a group of people talking to each other, she extends a hand for a wave. "Greetings. Query: Could you present me with some examples of humour appropriate for the current situation?"
Over the course of the week, LaRA's lack of need to conceal her identity too much proves useful, as she's barely seen in the Foundry. Walking around town and observing the townsfolk, sometimes outrightly asking a labourer in the middle of his work to "Please proceed with your objectives. This unit will observe." Dotting the library and all the knowledgeable elders, she appears to have made learning more about the Technic League and Hellion her main priority.
In the morning, LaRA's cleaning the bar with her outstretched hand, as waves of magic appear to wipe away soiled spots, clean glasses and nudge chairs in their proper configurations. As Dolga walks in, she nods, staring at the device, then back at Khonnir. "Statement: This unit will provide assistance as necessary. There are currently no outstanding orders for nutrition or intoxication at the bar.", she nods with a note of pride in her voice, grabbing her writing device and her book.
As the party passes through the tunnels on their way out, Zeke stops and stares longingly down the passage that leads to the Darklands. He wrestles with his inner thoughts for a few more moments before reluctantly following the others back towards the watery entrance.
He looks around at the townsfolk as they emerge to congratulate the group, feeling surprised and touched by the general acclaim. He waves to people he recognizes, and begins to share the spirit of happiness and hope for the future.
With a cry of joy he rushes to Khonnir Baine inside the Foundry and hugs him roughly. He is obviously pleased his adopted father is on his feet, and he immediately puts on an apron and begins helping out behind the bar. Each time Val protests that he is supposed to be celebrating, he defiantly calls out to another customer or retrieves another cask, laughing with glee.
The next day, Zeke decides they should figure out what happened to them when the radiating energy from the reactor poisoned their body.
Over the next few weeks, Zeke devotes his time to the forge, alternating between assisting Khonnir Baine and working on his own projects. He feels very grateful to the party, and wants to make them all tokens of his high esteem.
When Khonnir and Zeke are alone, Zeke confides in his adopted father concerning the prophetic dream he had about his mother, and the strange whispering he imagined he heard when he passed by the passage into the underground. "What should I do, Mr. Khonnir?" he asks, feeling conflicted. "I feel like I should investigate, try to find her, but I also recognize how dangerous the journey'd be. I wonder if the others could be convinced to come along? Not sure what sort of rewards they'd find down there, but maybe they'd enjoy the challenge. And I'm happy to build them any magic devices we can afford to make before I go. I didn't want to think about it while you were still recovering, but now that you're on the mend I think you'll be okay if go away for a while."
Zeke also takes a look at the strange device when Dolgar brings it by the Foundry.
One afternoon, while working on the strange machine together with no one else around, Zeke opens up to Khonnir about his dreams and seeing the opening to the Darklands. Khonnir nods through it all, as if what he is saying is familiar to him.
"When you were little, Ezekiel, you would often have dreams like this. You dreamed of your mother, she would be calling you, and you would wake up in the middle of night and be dead set on getting up right then and there and finding her. Good thing I knew the sleep spell. When you got older, that happened less and less, and it now hasn't happened for a good number of years. I suppose your exposure to the caves brought it back again."
"You are old enough now, and though I tried to keep you from all of this trouble, I should have known better than to try. It is time to tell you just a bit more about your parents. You were born in the Darklands, assuredly. I met and talked to your mother when she came through Torch. Actually, it was just a short while after I moved here myself with Val. You were three. She spoke that her husband from the surface had left her, that she could no longer be without him, and she was going to do whatever it took to find him again. And she was leaving her child with us, no matter our opinions on the matter. And she left. I took you without question. I loved Val so much, I wanted nothing more than to give her a sibling. And I came to love you just as much. Never could get you to call me Dad, though."
"I am no expert on matters of the heart, but I understand matters of wizardry. Seemed to me she was under a charm or compulsion of some sort. Her husband must have been a powerful wizard or bard of some variety; to charm her, a drow... A drow noble, I believe. I know that drow have no deep attachment to their children, but her behavior was so erratic... I'm sorry. She did say his name once... Ozmyn. No idea."
"In any case, know this: She is not underground anymore; at least, I really doubt it. I realize about 20 years have passed, but she made it clear that she was searching on the surface and had no desire to go back to the Darklands. Certainly any clues for finding her or your father would be found on the surface. Your dreams, you hearing her voice... just like when you were a child, I believe it is your guilty conscience. The product of your traumatized mind. You have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about! But you feel like there is a part of you that you simply don't understand and the answers must lie with her."
"I can't give you more answers than that. But I can give you this."
Khonnir starts to rummage through his desk and workbench. Eventually he finds a small box. In it is a small metal sigil that Zeke does not recognize. "It is her drow house sigil. This is why I think she was noble of some sort; only the noble drow carry a sigil. She gave it to me and said she was never going underground again. Obviously, you should have it. I was just waiting for the right time."
Of course, no one partied like Garfaulk. Bowing to everyone as they were almost paraded through the streets, he threw back a couple of winks to the fairer lasses in town-even let a few of those kisses get through as they made their way to Dolga, who be of course removed his hat for, though to his surprise and delight, Wulf beat him to the pleasantries.
He got into a few drinking contests, played a few Feats of Strength games (which he's pretty sure people let him win) and for a week didn't sleep in the same place twice
---
During Wulf's tale, right before Val stole him away, he ran up to Wulf with a drunken grin "Oy, Wulf! We never figured out what this does. Waddya ay we give it a test fer all these folk? I'll go easy on ya, I promise!" He yells, holding up the tech mace.
---
Despite the celebration though, Garfaulk felt a bit... lost. He'd not been able to help much against Meyanda, and couldn't figure out how to decide the Androffan-he'd barely helped at all against the reactor. On top of that, the Torch was relit! He'd help save Khonnir, abd had finally gotten a decent firearm. But he didn't know what to do with himself.
He'd check in on Father Joram, see how his hands were. He'd help at the Foundry Tavern. He'd two their tale to anyone who would listen,which was many of them. But still, he didn't know what to do with himself-something the others may pick up on.
And he'd try to identify that tech item as well
Khonnir spends time with all of those in the party, Garfaulk included. At some point, the perceptive wizard picks up on Garfaulk's melancholy.
One night as the two stay up late at the bar, Khonnir says, "Do you know what feature I have always admired the most about dwarves, my friend? They are stoic. Not much gets them down, on the other hand, not much really gets them up. They are clear-headed, stable, and reliable. Take this group of heroes you have been with the past week...they are not like you. Hot-headed, morose, ambitious, too-quiet, too-loud, too intellectual, too emotionless... It is amazing how they run the gambit of emotions. And here we have a dwarf, right in the center of it all. You, Garfaulk, you are the glue that holds them together. They need a leader. As you go forward to what will sure to be more adventures, and more danger, they need someone to rely on. A rock. Can you be that person for them?"
Talking with Khonnir Baine about his mother, Zeke's eyes widened. He experienced an initial flash of anger: Why didn't he tell me any of this sooner? but he soon calmed down as Khonnir kept talking. He was always very good at that, calm and reasoned, and Zeke couldn't ever be mad at him for more than a few seconds.
He barely remembered the sleep spell game, how he would pretend to fall down and close his eyes when Khonnir would cast that spell on him and Val. He laughed quietly to himself, remembering how annoyed Val would get whenever she found that he had sneaked down to the forge in the night while she was asleep. "We were supposed to be sleeping!" she would cry, shocked and hurt by the injustice. He recalled the moment he realized that it wasn't a game for her, that she really did fall asleep when he cast the spell, and how badly he felt for her. He never told her that, though.
He wondered if it was because of the dreams that Zeke avoided sleeping. Elves and drow didn't sleep at all, he thought, though they do rest by staring into space and limiting their movement. Sometimes I feel like that while I am tending the fire in the forge, he realized. It was really confusing sometimes, being a person of two completely different worlds, and he shared that feeling with Khonnir while they talked.
When Khonnir brought up that Zeke never calls him "Dad," Zeke blinked and thought about that for a long while. Then he said, "I'm, I... Mr. Khonnir, for me, I don't think Dad is a good person. You're, well... you're better than 'Dad.' There's no one else like you in the whole world. If you really want me to call you that, I will... but I'm afraid when I say it, I'll think of someone I don't really like. Does that make sense, sir?"
Ozmyn, he repeated in his mind like a ritual chant. She was enchanted, she was drawn to him for some reason, from her lands underground, and she wanted to protect her son. Their son. From him? From his father? His mind spun. He almost missed what Khonnir was saying, he was so focused on his thoughts, but he snapped back when the kindly wizard placed the sigil in his hand. It felt electric to his touch, like it was humming with sympathetic energy. This is what Mother feels like, he thought irrationally, and he impulsively embraced Khonnir Baine again. "Thank you Mr. Khonnir," he said with intense excitement, and he immediately ran off to the workshop to examine it more closely.
The dwarf chuckles as Khonnir talks to him. "Heh, ya picked up on that eh?" He downed guys drink before pouring himself another. "Yer words are kind, though I think you've probably noticed by now I'm a bit different from most other dwarves. Bit more... boisterous" he took a large gulp before seeing his mug down.
"but a large part of tha is because all dwarves have their goal, their mission. We're always strivin fer sumthin, like the strongest ale, the best battle, the finest forge. And we know we'll get there, so we take our time and head in tha direction. But I kinda finished all mine at once, minus ownin a bar. But I dont wanna run you outta business" He grinned slyly
"I think in just itchin fer that next adventure. A reason fer us all to go delvin into sumthin again. Cause I'll gladly take em anywhere. I just worry a bit tha they hold themselves together without me, ya know?"
"Boisterous? Yes, indeed, I suppose you are a bit more fun than many of the dwarves I've met before. But you are still level-headed and use your noggin under pressure. You care about your friends. You bring out the best in them. That's what a good leader does."
Khonnir rummages under the bar and pulls out a box. "I was waiting until it was just the two of us before I gave this to you. A leader needs to look good, am-I-right? Thanks for pulling "my arse" out of that cave." He says this last part in his best Garfaulk impression.
It is a beautiful leather coat, and when Garfaulk puts it on it drops to his calves. A duster- perfect for a gunslingin' SOB.
The awesome thing is that this is clothing, not armor, so no max Dexterity bonus. So get yer Dex up, Garfaulk!
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Holding his large drink he leans against the bar turning to LaRA when she asks about a joke. "I've got one for you. Now you have to picture this, it's all about the build-up." He lets out a burp only just bringing his hand up to muffle it. "That wasn't the joke." He wobbles a bit and then downs his drink. "Now here's a golden joke for you. When's a door not a door." He pauses a moment, holding back a large smile. "When it's a jar!" He slaps his leg as he laughs. "I heard that in some random trading camp, still gets me every time."
-----
Wulf grins mischievously as Gawfulk hands him the mace, he holds it up high for everyone to see britting it tightly in one hand. "We have to find out what it does, it might vital in protecting the town when the time comes. Val won't miss a chair." He whispers the last bit. Pushing people away and then lifting the mace up and smashing it down on to the rickety chair.
Wulf smashes the chair to a billion pieces. Now he owes Val for a window AND a chair.
Garfaulk might have a better chance figuring out what the mace does by smashing Wulf with it. At the very least, it would end the furniture smashing.
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[dice=Spellcraft]1d20+11
Yes, add those bonuses in...
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La-RA sleeps fitfully for a few nights after getting back from the reactor.
Sleep may be a generous word for it; as she sits in front of the tavern's fire, her eyes glaze over and her internal systems go into some variation of a stand-by mode. But the synapses in her brain continue to fire.
-----------
A long table. Men and women in white coats. Multiple androids standing to the side of the room. They all look the same.
"Library and Research Assistant unit, Inventory 3.0. Please brief the panel of your findings in the Kasatha research project. Keep it short please, and intelligible."
La-RA-03 responds."As this unit's primary function is to adjust the weather conditions of the Kasatha habitat dome, I have done so. As instructed, I have varied the weather patterns from icy rain to tornado-force gales to tropical sauna all within a week's time period and then recorded their reactions through the closed circuit observation technology. Their reactions were one of confusion, unsurprisingly, as this in no way reflects the weather patterns on their own world, and sparked yet another civil war as they banded together in two camps to fight over the limited food supply. This unit has extrapolated a hypothesis, that the scientific basis of this study is flawed and bordering on cruel. It in no way prepares this species for life on another world. True, their own world will simply be consumed by a supernova within a few years time, but that in no way gives us a right to do what we wish with them..."
The director holds up his hands. "Enough, La-RA-03. Gods. What did the engineers put in these 3.0 models? Morality? Indepedent thought? Lock this one in a stasis chamber until a full autopsy can be scheduled. Let's get a 4.0 model in here to continue the experiments, please...Meanwhile, take one of the species up to engineering and resume cybernetic implantation protocol. If we plan on dumping this species on a new planet, we need to make sure they are optimized..."
-------------------
La-RA's brain activates to conscious capacity once again. A memory from a time long ago?
LaRA glances at Wulf, as her eyebrows seem to furrow for a moment. "Analysis: Linguistical patterns inherent to the Taldan language are utilised for momentary confusion.", she says a moment later. "Hypothesis: momentary confusion is humourous.", she says, before putting another one of her unnatural smiles on her face. "Thank you. I will now contemplate humour."
-------------------------------
LaRA's eyes blink for a moment, then the inherent green glow appears once more. She stands up, then looks down at the ground. Emotional response at unsafe levels. Outcome: unprovoked instinctive movements. She glances around the room to scan for familiar faces, but the sun's first rays over the horizon suggest that everyone else is asleep. Her head tilts left and right in short, spazzy movements, as she appears to be looking at something not in the room. Beginning memory bank analysis: I appear to have developed a set of morals incompatible with previous crew. Visual cues recommended for accurate multi-string assessment. Pulling out a chalk from her bag, she moves to the nearest wall, and her hand begins scratching lines, words, equations and sketches.
-------------------------------
In the morning, as the earliest riser walks in the kitchen, they are presented with LaRA standing up on a chair and writing on the ceiling, while all the room is covered wall-to-wall in neatly drawn, yet completely incomprehensible chalk drawings, words in dozens of languages, and cross-sections of non-Euclidean geometry. LaRA turns around, a wide smile on her face. "Good morning. Request: Please do not disturb the equations."
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With incredible skill and care, Zeke makes a beautiful amulet for Wulf. This amulet radiates something special about it. A true masterpiece!
LARA runs out of room on the surface of the kitchens walls, floor, ceiling, and tables. It makes sense to no one... not even Khonnir, who also stands about, scratching his head.
In LaRA, it opens up a channel. Like a river bursting forth from a dam, memories continue to come flooding back.
-----
"LaRA-3, the Kasatha research project is in your care. We need to find this species a new home. Stretch them to the limit. We need to know what they can and can't handle."
------
"LaRA-3, please do not interfere with my dirt samples. I planted some offworld bacteria in here. Given the right conditions, I think it would develop into a sentient and telepathic fungus. Stay over there on your side of the office, please, and study your Kasathan rocks..."
------
"You are confined to your stasis pod until further notice, LaRA-3.0. You know as well as I do that disagreements with Dr. Smith never end well for androids. I won't cyroseal you in yet, though...I'm not cruel, unlike some of those we work with..."
----
"I told you trapping the Dominion of the Black in a habitat module was a mistake! Damn it, Captain, they've taken over half the ship. They've gotten into the comms and sent out a distress call. Oh, ahahaha, whoops... I'm leaning on the ship intercom button..."
---
"This is the Captain speaking. We have no choice but to enter the wormhole to avoid the Dominion fleet. All non-essential crew to your quarters, all essential crew to your stations. We enter the wormhole in T-minus five minutes. All androids enter your stasis pods and prepare to be cyrosealed. I don't know if the Divinity can handle the stress. May the gods watch over us all. Captain out."
---
Garfaulk sighed, shaking his head a bit while Wulf smashed the chair to pieces before laughing like a madman. "Good goin pup. Though tha's not quite what I meant" Assuming Wulf hands him the weapon back, he grins a bit mischievously "I meant help me test it like this!" he pulls the weapon over his shoulder, like he'd getting ready to swing it-because he is! "Brace yerself!" And, unless Wulf objects, he'll swing and hit him in the arm with it.
---
During the week, before conversing with Baine, Garfaulk also drops in to see Father Joram, looking to see how his hands were doing, as well as see if he could do him a favor. "Father Joram, how goes yer recovery?"
---
The dwarf whistled loudly as he checked out the coat. It was long, but that made it even better. Felt almost like a cape, but even more badass. "Well I'll be. Baine, this is... this is too much. Incredible" he wasn't sure if it was the magic or how awesome he felt in such a coat, he felt like he had a bit of a surge of energy, like he was more alert, more agile. He looks in the window, putting on his hat as he sees himself in the reflection, and what he sees gives him shivers. Looking into the window, he reached into his holster and drew thew weapon, spinning it about a bit before switching hands, then back again, holstering the weapon.
Making his way back to the seat next to Khonnir, he took a large swig of his drink, pounding it down hard, before slamming it down on the table. "Say, Baine... where'd you get this? And, ah... have ya ever seen anyone else wearin one of these round ere?" The dwarf seemed... different. More focused. Like he'd been reminded of something to strive for.
Charles/Sam eventually gets away from his happy family and goes back to the tavern.
"Brace yerself!" And, unless Wulf objects, he'll swing and hit him in the arm with it.
Garfaulk swings the mace. Somewhat gently... With a woosh and an electrical hum it smashes into Wulf's arm. Wulf takes the blow without flinching, but a millisecond later he is hit by an intense dizziness. The feeling passes soon enough. No long lasting effects, it seems.
Neural Inhibitor
Base Item: Light Mace
Proficient: Simple
Damage: d6 (20/x2), bludgeon
Battery Capacity: 10
Battery Usage: 1 per hit
Special Property: Finessable
This sturdy, 1-foot truncheon functions as a light mace. When swung, a high-density power core housed in the weapon’s head generates a high pitched whine that causes momentary disorientation in a creature struck. Each time the weapon hits a target, it consumes 1 charge and the creature struck must succeed at DC 12 Fortitude save or suffer trauma to its central nervous system. For 1 round, a creature that fails its saving throw takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and Will saving throws, as well as a –4 penalty on concentration checks. The duration of this effect stacks with multiple hits from the neural inhibitor. This is a mind-affecting effect.
---
During the week, before conversing with Baine, Garfaulk also drops in to see Father Joram, looking to see how his hands were doing, as well as see if he could do him a favor. "Father Joram, how goes yer recovery?"
Father Joram clicks his artificial claws together. "These contraptions are amazing, Garfaulk. Look at this!" He places a wrench on the ground and uses the hands "fingers" to pick it up. "It is crude, but gives me some mobile dexterity. It's only got a couple of fingers on it but I have plans to add more, perhaps even build some swappable modules to it. Directly add a saw, a wrench, a variety of screwdrivers, and awl, perhaps. My own hands... well, they can move a bit, but I have lost most of the feeling in them. It is hard to tell when I am touching something. But I think they will serve me enough to make your hands more functional than my own. It is my new mission! My new service to Brigh!"
---
Making his way back to the seat next to Khonnir, he took a large swig of his drink, pounding it down hard, before slamming it down on the table. "Say, Baine... where'd you get this? And, ah... have ya ever seen anyone else wearin one of these round ere?"
"Funny you should ask that. About nine months ago, a stranger rode arrived in town on a small horse. A dwarf it was, huge big white bushy beard. Head mostly covered by a wide brimmed leather hat. He had on a duster like this, though older and worn. He rode right up to my bar, walked in like he owned the place, and handed me this new jacket. He says to me: 'In about a year, give or take, a dwarf is gonna walk into town, and on him rests the fate of tha world. He's gonna be down an a needin' a purpose. Give him this duster, and push 'im out the door. You'll know where. And don't ya be sayin' a word of this conversation, unless he specially asks. Got it?' And just like that, he rode off. Very mysterious. Very mysterious indeed."
Garfaulk feels around in his duster, getting a sense for the many pockets and the touch of the leather. He finds a small piece of paper stuck deep into an inner pocket. Scrawled on it in shaky writing are these words: "I got yer back."
Ton climbs wearily out of the underground tunnel. Not for the first time his clothes are sipping, sticking to his slim frame and making him look even more bedraggled than usual.
He slops forward a few pages before turning and cleaning his neck to see the purple energy pulsing once again out of the Torch and he cannot help but smile.
"A job well done..." he mutters. "thats g*damned right."
He reaches into his waterproof bag and pushes aside his spellbook and pulls out his final cigarette and tindeetwig befote enjoying a well-earned smoke.
The cigarette is almost knocked from his lips by the surging throng that suddenly envelopes them. Everywhere are weeping, swooning girls and cheering, fawning men. He's completely unprepared for the revelry and adoration and growls more than one warning to a man trying to hoist him onto his shoulders.
After changing, Ton spends most of the evening in the quietest corner of the Inn which is no mean feat. It's not that he is antisocial by nature, in fact he enjoys a drink as much as Wulf- moreso in fact. It's just that he has spent fifty years disappointing the people closest to him. It's been a long time since anyone has said his name with anything but disdain and this sudden adoration is very alien indeed.
He turns the gun over in his hand, the whiskey tumbler in the other. He still feels weak from the radiation but that doesn't stop him accepting drinks bought for him - his body is weakened, not his mind. The gun is heavier than he expected, and he funds his hip aching for no good reason.
"I'm going to burn you when I find you Sanvil....
He can't dwell on it for much longer, Garfaulk pulls him out of his corner to socialise with the Heroes of Torch.
The next morning Ton rises early, hangovers didn't bother him too much.
He sits with a glass of breakfast ale, a couple of raw eggs and some hot sauce in it just to top him off. He doesnt say anything at first, he just watches the android work.
Eventually he just says;
"Anything I can do to help? You seem different LaRA."
Shaking his head he smiles. "That thing nearly knocked me over." He says grabbing on to a table as the dizziness subsides. "It made me all dizzy." He laughs downing another drink. "Next time we test out a new weapon you're the target." He slaps the dwarf on the back.
---
Over the week Wulf does anything he's asked willing to help out anyone since he doesn't really have anything planned otherwise he hangs around Val. Attempting to play it cool, but the affection he feels for her taking over. He makes sure to get the window fixed and replacement chairs made up from his reward, buying her little gifts.
Garfaulk grinns widely when he notices a brief wooziness in Wulf-looks like it works! "Thanks fer vein a good sport pup! Ton, didja see tha? Get over ere, no hiding in tha corner for you-Wulf, tell him-" Though he cuts himself short as he sees Val heading for the big lug, grinning as he instead challenged Ton to a drinking contest.
---
The dwarf beamed, glad his cannibalized bout hands were working out. "Fantastic! Glad to great ya got yerself a new callin, sumthin tob ft l strike fer" there was a hint of sadness in his voice, though it was fleeting. "So Father, the other reason I dropped by may help ya with tha. I'd suggest keepin it under wraps,but there's more robits down there ya might be able to do stuff with. Was thinkin if anyone goes down there again, they'll go through you first. They may be able to get more salvage fer yer tinkerin. And maybe you'd let us know if sumthin interestin turns up "
---
Garfaulk damn near dropped the mug, though kept his composure best he "H-he was here?" He looked down at the coat, checking the pocketss only to did the paper. "I didn't know he was a dwarf. Or that he knew I knew who he was... our that I exist... how could he...
The dwarf fell back into his chair, stunned. "abd he knew I'd be... well. Ain't that sumthin. Notice anything else bout him?"
Garfaulk damn near dropped the mug, though kept his composure best he "H-he was here?" He looked down at the coat, checking the pocketss only to did the paper. "I didn't know he was a dwarf. Or that he knew I knew who he was... our that I exist... how could he...
The dwarf fell back into his chair, stunned. "abd he knew I'd be... well. Ain't that sumthin. Notice anything else bout him?"
"This is familiar to you? Have you met this mysterious stranger before? I wish I could tell you more. It all happened so fast. Old dwarf, big bushy white beard. Oh, he also had a gun holstered on his side. Nice looking pistol."
Garfaulk nodded, especially at those last words. "Aye, I've heard of someone like him. Fun fact-this isn't my first time in Torch. I lived out if an inn on the other side of town fer a few weeks. Made this" he tosses the onto the table, then jerks his head towards the weapons need taken off when putting on the duster. "as well as Ebony and Ivory. Came here though in the search of a man who killed some scoundrel in my home town. Was a piece of s~**e. I'd heard of a mystery man in town and wanted the scoop fer my audiences. What I saw was the power of a firearm. Thas what got me hooked on em. Saved us all, then rode it of town. Been pursuing him and the tech since."
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A couple of days after the Beautiful Mind incident with LaRA, Khonnir pulls her aside from further calculations.
"I know the others have been working with you, LaRA, but I just wanted to... express my concern to you. As your group eventually leads this place and seeks new adventure... in fact, I think I am close to understanding this machine, which will help guide you, I believe... I want you to be cognizant of how others in the country of ours react to androids. It is a dangerous place. And you stick out like a sore thumb."
"The Technic League... they... they say they own all technology. That includes Androids, which they enslave by the hundreds. Whatever android they can get their hands on. It's ridiculous, I know. And if they weren't so powerful it would all be hogwash. But they practically rule the Country. They have the Black Sovereign so under their thumb that he, our supposed King, can barely piss without asking for permission."
"Take this gift. It isn't much... but a creative and analytical mind can find a million ways to use it, I'm sure. It will keep you safe."
He hands over a hat...
I'd heard of a mystery man in town and wanted the scoop fer my audiences. What I saw was the power of a firearm. Thas what got me hooked on em. Saved us all, then rode it of town. Been pursuing him and the tech since."
"It seems to me, then, that this mysterious stranger may in fact be pursuing YOU."
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LaRA's eyes glance over the people in the room, as she points at the drawings on the, well, everything. "Hypothesis: Exposure to high-risk situation and advanced technology appear to have triggered the recovery of this unit's memories.", she explains after a moment. "I have been playing those memories since they were legible at dawn.", she continues, getting down from the chair. "This unit's actions and moral constructs have led to an ethical dissonance with the previous inhabitants of the ship." She pauses for a moment. "Observation: It appears that prior to this unit's containment into the cryochamber, the survival of the Kasatha previously encountered has been tasked to this unit." Taking a step forwards, LaRA puts a hand on her chin. "This unit had a moral objection towards the treatment of the Kasatha, and was scheduled for decommissioning." If LaRA has any regrets or compassion towards her previous actions, it doesn't show.
Glancing at an equation stretching from the wall onto a painting on the wall, her head snaps at the rest. "Summary: Data received in the past several days has been crucial to this unit's adaptation. The memories restored over this unit's rest cycle have been instrumental in re-orienting priorities." She gestures at an eye-wateringly insane three-dimensional drawing just over the oven, as if that is the obvious answer. A moment later, her chin raises slightly higher, as if the android's prideful. "This unit now possesses limited empathy protocols. Empathy will be kept at approximately 20% of recorded maximum."
LaRA's eyes glance over the hat with interest, as she takes the item in her hand. "Statement: Gratitude is encouraged when sentient species gift each others with items, in particular objects that can enhance chances of survival. Thank you."
Grasping the hat with one hand, LaRA appears to focus on it, until a fine, jade-coloured scarf hangs from her hand. Tucking it in a local custom, LaRA gives Khonnir a glance. "Statement: The wavelength of this fabric is the closest this unit can picture to those of its nanites.", she explains, as her eyes close.
The glossy sheen of LaRA's skin appears to get a more fleshy visage, and the trails of jade-coloured nanites coursing under her waxy flesh slowly fades away. A pair of green eyes open a couple of seconds later, only to snap fully open, panically glancing around the room. LaRA stumbles back onto a chair. "Warning: Vision systems severely impaired! Warning: Observable lag in fine motor abilities! Warning: Emotional levels severely exceeding critical limit!", she starts blurting out, as she hyperventilates. Grabbing the cloak, the previously familiar features of LaRA appear as the android slowly stands up.
"Statement: Purely biological lifeforms are inferior to biomechanical constructs.", she states laconically, before turning at Khonnir. "Observation: I was not prepared for the effects. Establishing mental routines and procedures." Her hand hovers over the cloak again, as she grabs the hem once more.
The human LaRA stands up from the chair, looking at Khonnir. Still breathing deeply, she takes a step forwards. "Beginning linguistical adherence routine.", a more inflexed voice leaves her mouth. "I wasn't cautious enough of the psychological effects inherent to the condition. Steps will be taken to avoid such in the future." While the voice still resembles that of LaRA, the tone's inherent inflexion is more akin to an absent minded scientist rather than the factual android. "Once again, thank you for the gift." A smile shows on LaRA's mouth, looking as real as they get.
When you cast Alter Self you lose all racial abilities and gain those of your new race. In LaRA's case - none, while she loses quite a lot. Also gains the ability to feel pity, remorse and fear. Which I can imagine as being quite the shock to someone who never could before!
Although, I'm really happy for the RP opportunity! And the cloak will absolutely come in handy, I love it!
Khonnir Baine grabs Wulf's elbow one night and pulls him into a dark corner of the bar.
"Now don't lie to me. I know you've been knocking boots with my daughter. She's a grown woman and can do what she wants. But you have to tell me what your intentions are, barbarian."
Like any father, he portrays a mix of sadness at having to let go of his daughter and a little veiled anger...