Gameplay thread for GM Wulfson's Iron Gods: Deus Ex Machina play by post game.
The town of Torch has long enjoyed a singular claim to prosperity-a violet flame that burns atop Black Hill in the heart of the town. This flame burns incredibly hot, and while it's usually the size of a bonfire, several times a year the fires spew up into the heavens in a brilliant beam of purple violence. These eruptions are presaged by about an hour of soft rumbling, giving nearby smiths a chance to retreat before the fires can consume them. At all other times, the violet energies allow for the smelting of all manner of skymetal. Torch is one of the only locations where skymetal can be worked with relative ease outside of Starfall, and its entire economy has risen around these purple flames, with traveling smiths coming from across Avistan to pay for the opportunity to work with them. Of course, Torch needs all the visiting trade and coin it can gather, for while the town's distance from Starfall makes it inconvenient for the Technic League to maintain a permanent presence here, the taxes and tariffs it charges the Numerian town on a monthly basis are significant. The town prospers, but the bulk of its income does not belong to it.
Which is why, when the fires atop the hill suddenly go out, the town is in trouble. Eight days ago the violet flame that has burned atop Black Hill for over a century has mysteriously gone out, leaving a strangely seeping pit of rubble and bubbling fluids where the town’s livelihood once glowed day and night.
Councilor Khonnir Baine, one of Torch’s more powerful wizards and a well-liked individual, discovered the signs of unusual traffic on the banks of Weeping Pond, and shortly thereafter, the submerged tunnel that provides access to several heretofore unknown tunnels under Black Hill. His emergence from the caves with a deactivated semi-humanoid automaton sparked worries that something strange might be going on in the caverns below. When, on his second expedition under Black Hill, Khonnir Baine went missing those worries turned to outright fear.
With their hands full handling the growing refuse and waste problems in town now that their primary disposal method is gone, the town council is eager to find out what happened to Khonnir and rescue him, if possible. Several other adventuring parties have gone missing in the caves, and Torch finds itself running short on new volunteers. They’ve made public a reward of 4,000 gp to any group that can recover Khonnir’s body and, if he can be returned alive, they’ve promised to throw in the scroll of resurrection they’ve been holding on to in case they needed to revive him.
Additional Rumors:
; ; ; ;
All these weird headaches folks have been having lately? I bet they’re being caused by someone tampering with Crowfeather Palace. I’ve been drinking only rainwater and I’ve not had a headache yet!
You didn’t hear it from me, but Garmen Ulreth’s Ropefists have something to do with these problems. How do I know? Well... Ulreth’s got his fingers in pretty much everything bad in town already, so why not our latest troubles?
The Technic League’s not pleased with the situation, and I hear the Black Sovereign himself is heading to town in a few weeks to find out what’s been going on down here!
The mechanical creature Councilman Baine found under the hill wasn’t the only one. Others have been crawling out of the ground around town and attacking people!
Ratfolk bandits have been becoming more and more of a problem on the roads to the east. Someone’s gotta do something about them!
Rovaan wandered aimlessly through the streets of Torch, his troubled expression clear to see. Not only had they lost the magnificent flame which gave the town it's name, but now Councilor Khonnir had gone missing. The fact that he had heard rumors of more strange mechanical creatures crawling up from beneath the down to harass the locals made matters even worse. It had been 8 days since he'd had any decent work, and if things kept going the way they were he would soon be out of a home too. The reward the council were offering was starting to look very attractive to the young blacksmith, if only he could find some companions to join him.
"I'll ask Molly! She's always up for some excitement. I remember that night we snuck off to follow Old Man Bhirig the Baker because we thought he was a vampire! We were so frightened, but following him out into the woods was such a thrill! At least it was until we discovered he was no deadly creature of the night, but a simple baker having an affair with his wife's sister. Still, what an adventure!" he thought to himself as he strolled, heading toward Molly's home.
"That's a lot of gold," Molly responded as Rovaan suggested taking up the council's offer.
She looked around at the cramped room that had been her home for the last few months.
"That would be enough for a much nicer place," she thought to herself. "There's no way we could do this ourselves, though."
"Frankie," she said. "We need to talk to Frankie."
In a plain room of the boarding house located on the eastern edge of Torch, Frances Landry tosses a copper piece to the young girl who had finished helping her get into her armor.
"Don't spend that all in one place," Frankie advised with a lopsided smirk. The girl rolled her eyes and thanked Frankie before scurrying off.
Frankie had sold off the family hovel not long after her father passed, knowing the longer she held onto it the less likely she was to eventually leave Torch. At least, that's what she told herself at the time; two years down the line and she was still in town, so maybe all she'd accomplished was removing a stable roof from over her head for the foreseeable future.
Not that she particularly minded bumming between flophouses and homes of occasional paramours: she was the type to become attached to people rather than things. But she wasn't getting any younger, and one day she'd need a place to settle down and spend a few years dying in.
She hefted her warhammer over her shoulder and carefully dropped it into the weapon thong on her back, then hefted her backpack onto her right -and only- arm. It had the frustrating tendency to slip off from her left shoulder, and she'd developed a habit of carrying it more like a satchel.
With little hesitation, she was out the door and headed towards the town hall. To say Torch was in crisis would be an understatement: with the flame on Black Hill out, the town's economy functionally no longer existed. Frankie had been busy with other hired work when the disaster occurred, and the arrival of a handful of adventuring troupes was initially enough to convince her that the problem was in capable hands. But her previous job was over and not a one of those adventuring parties had returned.
So it was her turn to step up. The growing roster of likely dead adventurers didn't give her much confidence she'd save the day or anything (much less Khonnir Baine seemingly suffering the same fate), but she could hardly do nothing. While she could take or leave Torch the place, the people here were on the verge of what little they had in the world collapsing in on them. She'd already survived the worst day of her life, and Frankie was determined to do her best to make sure some other poor folks didn't have to face theirs.
Seven.
The thought ran through the android's mind for one moment as she watched the bubbling pot before her, keeping an eye on the contents. The scorch marks on the table around it revealed why, this time, she chose to keep a good five foot distance between her and the pot.
Six.
The seconds ticked by as the woman continued to watch, waiting for a full minute to pass so she knew the mixture was stable.
Five.
So close. Only a few more seconds and...
And there goes the last of my ingredients.
The mixture came bubbling out of the pot, spilling down around it and onto the floor. She leaned down to sniff it, before shaking her head in disappointment; she was certain she could sell this recipe wasn't going to explode any time soon.
This made the ninth soap she had made in the past three days, leaving the woman to conclude that maybe orc saliva isn't the right ingredient for her purposes.
The android emerged from the lab sometime later, after cleaning up the mess, and frowned as she examined her very light coin pouch. She needed money if she was going to continue her experiments. A bit of aimless walking as she pondered the problem and soon Serinda found herself before the town hall noticeboard, eying the reward money; four thousand gold would go a long way toward funding her experiments more. But the risk...
She tapped her fingers against her thigh, uncertain. This was not something she had done before. She might need help. That would cut into her profits. And she couldn't know if things would work out well. There was that last time she did something on impulse to consider.
For a moment, she didn't notice Frankie standing there, the android absorbed in her own calculations as she tried to make a decision.
Eska had been happy at first. The unnatural purple flame had sputtered out, and she let out a sigh of relief. The sight of it had always unnerved her. Torch was cursed, just as she was. Tainted by the refuse of the Rain of Stars. But as the days wore on she grew hungrier and hungrier. There was poor pickings in the Junkyard, and she'd need to find an alternate means to earn coin soon. ...If the purple flame didn't come back.
When would the purple flame come back?
And then she saw it. The robot. The abomination. It was broken now, but it would kill someone soon enough. She knew it. Felt it in her soul. Who knew how many other mechanical beasts were waiting down there... There could be dozens. Enough to destroy Torch. Her adopted... home.
She couldn't do it alone. She was tainted. The nanites had infected her long ago, and she wasn't sure she could be trusted. Not with things like... that. The nanites might force her to falter.
But Frankie. She had killed robots before.
---
After stuffing her gear into her backpack, Eska hangs her grandfather's mace onto her belt and heads out to find Frankie. It takes a while, but she finds her in time. She stomps up to her and growls.
"We need to destroy them. The robots. There might be more down there."
Arriving at the town hall, Frankie barely had time to register the strange person pondering the notice board -one of those odd folk that were said to have sprung up from bizarre remnants of the Rain of Stars- before she found herself beset. She recognized the Kellid woman demanding her attention -one of the laborers that worked hauling scrap and such up and down Black Hill for the smiths and curious scholars that were drawn to the strange flame- but hardly knew her. She was famously... prickly to just about anyone, and socially extroverted Frankie still knew when to leave well enough alone.
What was her name again? Jetta? Breksa? Something short and ruff.
She gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "You'll have to be more specific. There's robots under lots of things around these parts."
Eska narrows her eyes. "Under TORCH. Do you want in or not?"
Fate finds you outside the town hall, reading the posts, as the others arrive. The town hall, one of Torch's grander buildings and it's secondary garrison, stands watch over the eastern road. Torch is governed by a council of five of it's most prominent citizens. Dolga Freddert, owner of Dolga's Foundry and Torch's oldest councilor, she was present at Torch's founding nearly a century ago. Joram Kyte, priest and leader of the temple of Brigh, a friendly man and an innovative and skilled craftsman in his own right. Bazlundi Otterbie, granddaughter of Orm Otterbie, an ex-crusader from Mendev who settled in Torch. Bazlundi is the leader of a consortium of merchants in town, a position she inherited from her grandfather when he passed away several years ago. Soceal Murgrave, proprietor of the Evercandle Inn, so named for the strange alchemical candles which light it's rooms. The light from these candles never diminish and the candles themselves never melt down. And finally Khonnir Baine, Torch's resident Wizard and owner of the Foundry Tavern. "The Foundry" as it is often called is one of Torch's most popular hangouts and Khonnir himself often shows off new inventions, either mechanical or magical, here. The Foundry boasts it's own forge, which Khonnir often rents out for visiting smiths to use.
Entering the building you see Dolga Freddert sitting alone behind a desk piled high with paperwork. Incongruously, an admantine warhammer leans against the desk as well. The elder dwarven woman raises an eyebrow as you come in before waving you to take a seat on one of the benches in the hall "Please excuse the mess." she says "Joram and Bazlundi are currently on the Hill, trying to find a solution to our waste disposal problem now that the Flame has gone out. Soceal is home sick with a splitting headache for the third time this week. I've urged her to go see Father Kyte, so hopefully she'll be better soon. And with Khonnir missing, I find myself doing the work of five." She sighs before asking "So what can I help you with?"
Molly seemed to be relieved to see Frankie at the town hall already.
"Hey Frankie!" she called out in excitement as she approached the armed woman. Her excitement quickly gave way to hesitation as she noticed Frankie already engaged in conversation with the scowling Kellid.
"Sorry," she says timidly, her eyes darting nervously to Eske.
"I didn't mean to interrupt, but Rovann and I were talking about the council's reward for finding Khonnir."
The diminutive woman takes a deep breath.
"We were wondering if you wanted to join us?" she asks, her voice heavy with the expectation of rejection.
***While Still Outside***
Frankie raises her hands in a mock defensive posture at the gaggle of folks that seemed to have all had the same idea about her.
"Good to see you Molly. This is..." Frankie made an exaggerated introductory gesture in an effort to purchase another fraction of a second to remember the Kellid woman's name. Eska!
"...Eska. And I think we've all had the same idea today. Perhaps we'd best go see the council?"
As the collection of would-be adventurers amble into the Town Hall, Frankie takes up the rear. Hesitating, she looks back at the strange woman contemplating the notice board.
"I get the feeling we've reached 'now or never', friend," she addresses her with a faint smile before entering the Town Hall herself.
*Also while still outside*
Rovaan smiles as Molly explains their situation to Frankie, and his grin widens at the news that there are others ready and willing to venture into the caves in search of Khonnir.
"Our ancestors smile upon us today! I think that's a sound idea Frankie, we should head inside." he exclaims proudly before boldly striding through the door.
Eska turns to see the others. After eyeing Molly with disinterest she gives a slight nod to Rovaan.
"Fine." she remarks gruffly. She turns and stalks into the Town Hall without waiting for the others.
---
Eska stands with her arms crossed across her chest. Once everyone's inside and Dolga's done talking Eska brusquely replies, "We're going to the caves. Where's the entrance?"
"We want to help find Khonnir," Molly added as a clarification.
Eska looks back at Molly with a dissatisfaction. Clearly Khonnir was not Eska's purpose. She returns her attention to Dolga, saying nothing to confirm or contradict Molly's claim.
Frankie coughs.
"Erm, that is to say, we'd like to sign on to investigate the caves under the town. We won't hesitate to recover Khonnir, if able, of course. But the flame is still out, and I'm sure you don't need me to tell you Torch's days are numbered as long as that's the case. I can't imagine there's more I could do than Khonnir, but someone has to do something."
She gestures to the rest of the motley assemblage: "And at least it looks like I won't have to go alone. I don't know if I'd call us Torch's best, but we're here."
Serinda nodded to the human speaking to her, and turned to enter the town hall. It was, indeed, now or never. And she needed the money.
She frowned a moment as she saw how many entered with her. It looked like the money may be split five ways... she was not looking forward to that, but it was still good pay.
She waits a moment as they speak, considering what best to say and looking over the group more. One armed human, couple more humans, halfling... Locals, maybe? She was certain she had at least seen one of them before, but at the moment her attention was drawn to the matter at hand as the one spoke about not going alone.
"And it may serve to allow us some measure of knowledge to prevent the flame from going out in the future," she said. "If you are willing to risk the town on us."
Five way split of four thousand gold? Maybe I should bargain for more?
"Is there an additional reward if we can reignite the flame?"
Eska glances back to see who else followed them into the meeting--only to discover some kind of robot human hybrid. She freezes in shock, eyes widened slightly in surprise.
That's not a robot... It's... Is that...? Is that what I'll become when the taint has overcome me? A cursed... freak?! No! It can't be! I'd rather die.
Eska's surprise slowly turns into wariness and then to anger. She glares at the android and clenches her fists.
Damned thing's probably in league with the robots.
The tension in the room is blindingly obvious as Eska eyes off Serinda. Rovaan steps forward, placing himself casually between the two just in case they decide to erupt inside the chamber.
Serinda tilted her head at the stare she got from the Kellid. She held up a hand and gave an uncertain wave to the one staring, before another stepped between them. The android blinked in surprise, then turned her attention away from the two. She was not here to cause trouble... well, more trouble than she was already causing, anyway.
Well, at least she's not leaking from her eyes. They don't seem to appreciate offers to patch the leak. Humans are so weird.
She tilted her head as she considered.
Maybe she needs sustenance? Could be it. Humans get irritable when they're hungry.
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Dolga wrinkled face becomes evem more wrinkled as she starts to smile "Praise, Brigh. I thought you were here because of more trouble." she says after Frankie explains your presence "I wouldn't worry about "being Torch's best", after Khonnir's team vanished and three teams before him, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth." She turns her head to look at Serinda as she speaks "I'm afraid that 5,000 is about as much as the town can afford. As your friend put it, with the Flame extinguished Torch's days are numbered. What I can do instead is have Bazlundi produce a writ that will allow you to purchase any gear you need for a 20% discount. I wish it could be more, but that's the best we can do. Furthermore, since the entrance to these caves is underwater, Joram is willing to cast a spell that will allow you to breather underwater whenever you are ready to go. Finally, Val, Khonnir's adopted daughter, has closed The foundry in his absence but will allow anyone searching for her father to stay there free of charge. Please don't eat, or drink, her out of house and home" She looks over the group once more "Is there anything else?"
"That's all I'll need. Great to hear about Joram's assistance, I'm not much of a swimmer," Frankie replies with a smirk, patting her left shoulder with her right hand.
She looks to the rest of the group. "Anyone else?"
Eska wracks her brain, trying to determine who this Joram is, and whether he was tainted--like she and the robot woman--or was some kind of natural spellcaster. Unfortunately, Eska's antisocial nature proves her undoing. She has no idea who this Joram is.
Khonnir's daughter, though, her she knows--sort of. Staying near the daughter would allow her to get close to the robot--and hopefully destroy it.
"Fine," she growls, not entirely certain of all that she's agreed to, but impatient to get moving.
Molly swallowed visibly when Dolga clarified how many people have undertaken this challenge and have apparently failed.
"Three other teams?" she echoed faintly.
The unsure halfling looked around at the confidence displayed by the big people gathered around her. Seeing how they didn't seem to be bothered by the prior failures, she squared her shoulders and steeled herself.
"I'm good," she said in a voice that she hoped sounded confident. "Just need to get the rest of my gear and I'll meet you at The Foundry."
"So that's it? We've got the job?" Rovaan says with a hint of confusion. All this talk of writs and discounts muddled his mind as he tried to keep up with the conversation, but he was sure this meant that the motley group's offer to help had been accepted.
"We've got the job! I need to collect some things, but I'll head to The Foundry afterwards and meet up with you all."
As the group dispersed, Molly walked close to Rovaan for a short ways.
"Are we sure we're the ones to do this?" she asked him quietly. "I'm sure those other folk knew more about this sort of stuff than we do, and look what happened to them."
Rovaan stopped and took a knee facing Molly, placing both of his large hands on her shoulders.
"Molly, we know nothing about the groups who went before us. Were they scholars? Guardsmen? Poor townsfolk lured into danger by the promise of such a grand reward? Who knows? All I know is that this feels like destiny calling! Maybe the flame sputtering to a stop was our call to action, to rise up and accept the fates themselves challenging us! I know there is more to life than spending it hammering at an anvil, and there's no one else I'd rather have beside me in the face of such an adventure than Molly Fairlocks!" he spoke grandly, hoping to inspire his ever-meek friend.
Serinda frowned as soon as she heard three other teams had vanished. That was not the news she was looking for, and was making her question her decision to come along with this. If four teams had already failed...
But, at least there had been some additional concessions. She was satisfied enough with the pay.
Swimming is going to be a problem. But I'll blow up that bridge and hide the bodies when I come to it. She tilted her head as she pondered that thought. Did I get that saying right?
Her attention shifted back to the companions and she considered what to say a moment.
"I do not trust to destiny, but I do trust to reason. We are forewarned of the danger and can exercise proper caution. That alone gives us a far greater chance of success than those who went before." She turned toward the door, considering what to say. "We will succeed. There is no point in pondering a failure that will not be."
Hopefully that is correct. It would be embarrassing to die to a faulty prediction.
Eska grunts in distaste.
"Don't be long," she tells the others.
Then she turns and leaves, stalking off through Torch to the Foundry.
20 minutes later you all re-group at the Foundry Tavern. The foundry consists of three separate buildings, the tavern itself, just east of that is the foundry where Khonnir conducts his experiments, and behind those two buildings is Khonnir and Val's private residence.
Approaching the tavern you can hear the sounds of crashing and breaking, followed by a high pitched scream coming from the house in the back.
Initiative:
At the sound of screams, Eska hurries forward as quick as she can.
"I told you!" Eska growls--clearly expecting that cursed robot of Khonnir's to be tearing someone limb from limb.
Rovaan stopped and took a knee facing Molly, placing both of his large hands on her shoulders.
"Molly, we know nothing about the groups who went before us. Were they scholars? Guardsmen? Poor townsfolk lured into danger by the promise of such a grand reward? Who knows? All I know is that this feels like destiny calling! Maybe the flame sputtering to a stop was our call to action, to rise up and accept the fates themselves challenging us! I know there is more to life than spending it hammering at an anvil, and there's no one else I'd rather have beside me in the face of such an adventure than Molly Fairlocks!" he spoke grandly, hoping to inspire his ever-meek friend.
The young woman smiled as her friend sought to encourage her.
"Mama always said, 'When there are things needin' to be done, the first thing to do is get over yourself'," she said with a snort, rolling her eyes, "Is that what you're saying?"
Molly shrugged and then nodded.
"Ok, I'm in. I'll meet you at The Foundry."
Hearing the scream, for just a moment, Molly hesitated. Then with determination, she pulled from her bag her musket and horn dropped the rest and began moving toward the house.
As the screams pierce the air, Rovaan's demeanor changes drastically. His head cocks to the side as he listens intently, sniffing the air to discern where the threat lies.
With a guttural growl, he stalks forward towards the house, drawing his massive blade.
Serinda frowned as soon as she heard the screams, having just arrived at the Foundry to meed the others. She tapped her fingers on her thigh, uncertain what to do; this was not a situation she had encountered before. But before she could make a decision, she saw the others move to engage. The android decided to follow Eska, keeping behind the human woman to effectively use her as a shield against attacks. At the same time, she pulled one of her bomb vials out, mentally preparing for the possibility she may have to make an emphatic demand that whoever is causing trouble stands down.
"I'll call out my target. Don't get close to them unless you want to get singed," she said, trying to keep just loud enough only those with her heard the warning.
Okay, I can do this. It's just like mixing a potion in the lab, only I'm choosing where and when something blows up.
Quick on her feet, Frankie hustles towards the house. "Be ready for anything, but don't get carried away! We don't know what's happening in there." she calls to the others.
As you approach the courtyard the sounds of destruction grow louder until, finally, the door to the building explodes outward as a metallic creature stumbles forth. "This must be the robot Khonnir found" you think to yourselves as the creature stands, somewhat unsteadily, on three spiderlike legs. A pair of arms, each ending in a four fingered "hand", extend from it's torso and a head, with a single red "eye" swivels around as if looking for something. Several dents and gouges mark the gray white torso as well as a couple of missing panels show the robots interior. Several grinding gears as well as flashes of electricity can be seen from within.
As you watch, the creature turns around to face the building as it's hands begin to rip the door's threshold apart.
As the metal monstrosity burst through the door, Molly stopped and her eyes went wide. As the others began to take action, she realized that just standing was not helping the situation.
With a deep breath she stepped forward while bringing up her musket.
Follow the steps, Molly, just like target shooting. Half-cock; Horn cover off; Too slow!
Frizzen open; Fill the pan; Close the Frizzen; Faster! Gotta be faster!
Muzzle up; Powder in; Don't spill the powder!
Ball in; Rod out; Stupid rod is crooked!
Ram it down; Rod out; Rod stored; Too slow! Too slow!
Molly raised the musket to her shoulder.
Full-cock; Not fast enough!
Rovaan runs up to the robot, his sword drawn.
Serinda's eyes widen as she sees the robot exit the structure. She frowned, mentally telling herself that this is just like the bomb throwing practice she had in the lab. And then she hesitated a moment, noticing others were rushing to engage the robot.
This is nothing like the lab.
Instead of mixing and throwing the bomb, she dropped the vial and drew her sword. She was not going to risk blowing up her teammates just yet.
But that didn't mean she couldn't still try something.
If it comes from the tunnels, does it understand the rune language of the ruins?
That's right. Taunt the insane broken killing machine.
Frankie weaves around Rovaan as he makes his approach. It had been a while since she worked with a team -she tended to take small jobs that didn't require much more than one swordarm- and she appreciated having someone to share the front line with.
Stepping towards the flailing contraption, she lifted her warhammer from the weapon thong on her back. Well, I'm sure Eska will feel vindicated. And if I'm going to be honest with myself, it'll be nice to work out some personal trauma.
Frankie then wheels her arm around, bringing her warhammer to bear on the mechanical menace with an under-hand swing towards it's head.
The robot ignores Serinda's taunt as it continues to tear the front entry apart, frantically trying to put the pieces together to make them fit.
Rovaan rushes the monster his greatsword drawn while Frankie steps up with her warhammer and with a loud clang, smashes it's head.
Sparks fly as the robot's head swivels all the way around to see what had attacked it. Dropping the wooden fragments it was holding,it swings a metallic arm at Frankie but she manages to duck under it's clumsy, drunken swing.
Okay, everyone else can go.
I KNEW it! Eska thinks grimly. Khonnir's a fool!
Eska focuses on the nanites infecting her body, feeling them surging through her.
Disgusting.
She mutters a few harsh words under her breath, forcing the nanites to bend to her will.
There's a slight shuddering in the air as the microscopic nanites seep from Eska's skin to form a protective shield around Eska. The shield flickers for a moment, glowing lines and squares appear outlined in the air, and then the lights disappear, turning invisible.
Eska moves towards the battle, careful to stay out of the robots reach until the last moment.
Molly spans and loads her musket and brings it to bear on the robot, carefully taking aim to avoid hitting her friends and allies.
With others in harms way Serinda puts away her bomb making materials and draws a dagger. Speaking a strange language she tries to engage the enraged robot.
Eska draws upon the magic in her blood as a briefly visible shield of force interposes itself between herself and the robot before she moves in to attack.
Rovaan barks savagely as he closes with the robot, his eyes narrowed and lips drawn back into a snarl. Stepping forward to flank the enemy, he swings his heavy blade downward in an attempt to cleave the robot in half.
Sparks fly as Rovaan buries his blade deep in the robot's head. The light in the creatures eye burns out as it's three metallic legs splay out from underneath it as it sinks, motionlessly, to the ground.
Eska cocks her head at the beast. She draws a very fine mace and prods at the creature.
"That's it?" she grunts.
After a moment of disappointment she swings her mace at the disabled robot, smashing it again and again--just to make sure.
As Eska vent her frustration and rage on the ruined robot you a hear timid, high pitched voice coming from inside he building ask "Is it...dead?"
Following the path of destruction you enter what appears to be a small workshop and storage room. The doors to the workshop and storage room have been torn off their hinges and several item of furniture in the workshop have been destroyed.
As you enter the workshop, a young Kellid girl, no more than 8 or 9 years old crawls out from underneath a nearby table. "Is it dead?" she asks again.