Gregory picks up the journal, but after flipping through it, realises that it is a mess of gibberish, and tosses it aside in disgust.
He then goes back out into the central chamber, and tries the door to the South East.
With a shrug, Gregory tries the southern door.
Hmmm... Let's finish clearing this level, first.
He then tries the door to the north.
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The north wall of this room is a tangle of ruins and debris, whilst in the centre of the room stand four tall pillars with glowing bands of pale purple light pulsing along their sides.
Double doors exit the room to the west and east.
Gregory whistles when he recognises the pillars for what they are.
Wow! What a find; pity they aren't portable...
With a sigh of regret, he tries the double doors to the east.
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A bitter stink of chemicals with an underling reek of decaying flesh dills the air of this cavern. A platform of gray metal, worn smooth and free of dust, extends over a ten foot deep pit filled with rubble - strangely polished rubble.
Recognising the ooze for what it is, and not seeing anything of value in the room, Gregory beats a hasty retreat.
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A flight of metal stairs descends along the outer edge of a partially buried metal structure here. A door allows access into hte structure from a landing below, while brilliant lights cast illumination out to the south, into a large, damp cave. Far below, a pool of foul green fluid bubbles and smokes.
As Gregory descends the stairs, two more monitors crackle to life, once again revealing the same angry demonic visage.
"Turn back or die."
The monitors then flicker off, and all of the lights in the area suddenly go out.
Gregory shrugs.
"Testy fellow, isn't he?"
He then continues on down the stairs, and through the door.
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Beyond the door, the corridor continues on for 15', before turning right.
Just inside the door, an open doorway to the east reveals a distressingly empty room, whilst another to the west is most definitely locked - and appears to be reinforced, to boot. Another door exists at the end of the corridor, but is closed at this time.
After giving the 'empty room' a cursory glance, Gregory tries to open the reinforced door.
Gregory sighs.
"Alright. I guess that I will have to deal with you, later..."
So saying, he heads for the door at the end of the corridor.
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The air of this large room is warm and stuffy, and buzzes with energy. Countless blinking lights, wriggling shapes, and unusual strings of writing scroll and wriggle across glass panels mounted on the walls, amid a dizzying array of buttons, switches, dials, wheels, levers, and other controls, the function of which one can only guess at. Six immense pillars lined with glowing panels support the ceiling even feet above, and a circular platform to the east sits under a slowly rotating, semi-transparent image of a curious contraption with long arms, one of which ends in what appears to be an immense, slowly spinning disk. Beyond this, two windows look out over a metal platform, which in turn looks out over an immense, damp cavern lit by brilliant beams of light emanating from unseen sources below and above.
Rubble clutters the room's floor here and there, as if pieces of furniture were once affixed to the ground, but had long since been torn free, while to the northeast, the room's walls have buckled downward into a crumbled mass of devastation.
Of more immediate concern, however, is that the room is filled with a seething see of rag-clad figures, wielding an assortment of daggers, kukris, and short swords, which drip a foul black venom.
As soon as Gregory steps into the room, every single monitor flickers, and then shows the same image of a snarling demonic face.
"There is the intruder; the blasphemer against Hellion! Destroy him, in my name!"
Round 1: Gregory, D, DSt, K, DSl, DC
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Gregory eviscerates one of the dark folk, which explodes in a blinding flash of light!
The other dark folk cry out in pain and fear!
He then badly injures a second dark folk, biting down hard on the creature's shoulder.
The room lurches slightly as a massive, two-headed giant pulls itself up onto the platform, and bursts one of the windows with a spiked chain.
A red ray emanates from one of the monitors, enveloping the giant, which starts frothing at the mouth, and roars in rage, both sets of eyes focusing on Gregory!
The various dark folk rub furiously at their eyes, staggering around the room.
Suddenly, a loud metallic roar emanates from beyond a door to the north!
The dark folk cheer!
"Kulgara will carve him up!"
Round 1: Gregory, D, DSt, K, DSl, DC
Squinting slightly, Gregory continues to chew his way through the dark folk...
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Gregory destroys the injured dark creeper, and then tears apart a second one.
Both explode in blinding flashes of light.
The Ettin squeezes through into the room, and starts whirling its chains.
The dark folk continue to be utterly useless.
A door to the north is kicked open, and a tall, well-muscled half-orc wielding a massive, two-handed circular saw, the blade of which is moving at a thoroughly terrifying rate, strides forward, roaring a challenge.
Round 3: Gregory, D, DSt, K, DSl, DC
Once again retaining his sight, Gregory continues to tear apart and rag-cloaked forms.
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Gregory blows up yet another dark folk.
The ettin steps forward, and takes several powerful swings at Gregory...
...but, sadly, does not manage to land a single blow.
The half-orc then charges forward, roaring in fury!
However, the weapon simply carves a path across the edge of Gregory's shielding.
Meanwhile, the remaining dark folk continue to panic.
Round 4: Gregory, D, DSt, K, DSl, DC
Gregory continues to attempt to harvest dark folk.
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Unsurprisingly, Gregory manages to explode yet another dark creeper.
The ettin continues to swing...
...but again, its attacks simply bounce off Gregory's armor.
The half-orc, meanwhile, likewise ignores the explosion, and continues to try to carve Gregory apart...
...sending up sparks as she takes a huge chunk out of Gregory's shielding.
Round 5: Gregory(-22), D, DSt, K, DSl
Eyes wide with shock, Gregory does his best to finish-off the remaining dark folk.
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Gregory rips into one of the remaining dark folk, but it does not drop.
The ettin continues to rain down blows on Gregory...
...and actually manages to score two solid hits!
The Dark Folk reground, and move into flanking positions...
...but none manage to score a hit.
Finally, the half-orc brings her mighty chainsaw into action once again...
...but this time, only manages to carve up a section of the floor.
Round 6: Gregory(-49), D, DSt, K, DSl
+++Error: System Approaching Overload. Warning: Biofeedback Will Be Initiated To Prevent System-Wide Collapse+++
Gregory tries to thin the herd...
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Once again, Gregory drops a dark folk.
However, when this one falls, it explodes in a burst of sound!
This leaves one of the dark folk shaking its head, as if it has a ringing in its ears that it just can't get rid of.
The Ettin then continues its assault...
...landing a single, solid blow.
The dark folk then try their luck...
...but remain bereft.
Then, the half orc brings her terrifying weapon to bear.
Fortunately, it continues to miss, being diverted by Gregory's flickering shielding.
Round 7: Gregory(-65), D, DSt(-14, -2), K(-2), DSl(-2)
+++Error: Overload Threshold Reached. System Protection Protocols Engaged To Prevent Catastrophic Collapse. Biofeedback Initiated+++
Increasingly desperate, Gregory continues to flail at dark folk.
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Gregory succeeds in causing another dark folk to explode in sonic boom...
...before ripping into a second one, which likewise explodes!
The ettin continues to flail away...
...but is unable to score a blow.
The remaining dark folk, wielding twin shortswords, attacks from a flanking position with the half-orc...
...but like the ettin, just can't penetrate Gregory's defenses.
Then, the half-orc happens.
Incredibly, somehow, it continues to miss!
Round 8: Gregory(-77), D, K(-14), DSl(-14)
Gregory tries to tear apart the remaining dark folk.
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Imbued with desperation, Gregory tears apart the final dark folk, which combusts in a flash of white-hot flame, which envelops the entire room!
Somehow, both the half-orc, and the ettin, avoid the worst of the flames.
The ettin continues to flail away...
...but does not score a single hit, its chains ringing off Gregory's armored hide.
However, the half-orc has better luck, carving into Gregory's flank with sadistic glee.
Round 9: Gregory(-103), D(-5), K(-19)
Gregory expertly dodges the flames, and then steps back, casting a spell now that he has breathing room.
Emboldened, Gregory goes after the Ettin.
+++Error: Biological System Approaching Termination Threshold. Recommend Initiation Of Emergency Evacuation Protocol+++
"Well, it's been lovely, you two, but I am afraid that we will have to acknowledge that we need a 'Round 2', as it were..."
With a respectful nod to the half-orc, he then steps inside the Ettin's reach, and casts a spell.
Gregory starts to frantically restore his shielding, as well as restoring his personal elan vital.
Once he is restored to full functionality, he steels himself, and heads back inside.
Well, it looks like surprise is not an option, then...
With a resigned sigh, Gregory heads back down to the level where he encountered the chainsaw-wielding half-orc.
Gregory steps forward, and hews into the ettin!
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Unluckily for Gregory, the ettin manages to knock his claws out of the way with its chains, but he does manage a shallow bite.
The half-orc steps forward and enters a frothing fury...
..but clearly needs to warm up again.
Similarly, the ettin continues to be thoroughly ineffective.
Round 2: D(-28), Gregory, K(-19)
Gregory does his best to continue tearing into the ettin.
Taken aback by the half-orc's savagery, Gregory frantically tries to drop the ettin!
Redoubling his efforts, Gregory tries to drop the ettin.
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In a flurry of claws and bites, Gregory hews into the surprised ettin, which falls to the ground, dead.
This does not move the half-orc, who continues to assault Gregory with her chainsaw!
Luckily, her weapon is turned aside at the last moment by Gregory's bark-like augmentations.
Round 5: Gregory(-46), K(-19)
Luke_Parry