Right. Don't get hit by the net.
Before the automaton has a chance to react, Gregory pounces forward!
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Gregory slams into the construct like a series of small hammers, bending and buckling the metal panels which form its exoskeleton.
The robot, for its part, remains unperturbed, and attempts to slam Gregory...
...delivering a solid blow which rocks him back on his heels.
Round 2: Gregory(-13), RD (-22)
Finally able to get to grips with a more familiar style of opponent, Gregory lets rip!
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Getting into a good rhythm, Gregory literally rips the robot apart, scattering coils of cabling, hydraulic fluid, and a total of five nets from a chassis-mounted launcher across the floor.
The room beyond is another short hallway, which opens out into another, larger room - The northern wall of this otherwise empty metal room is a tangle of what look to have once been strange cages of some sort.
Tangled amid the metal ribs of these cages are ribs of a more organic nature-the ancient bones of some sort of alien creature. Smaller mounds of rubble lie against the opposite wall.
A quick (take 10) search of the room reveals a few oddments:
An odd looking pair of pliers, two small silver disks which glow with a pale light, and a small device which appears to be designed to be held in the hand, with a series of small buttons that control some tiny, filament-like nodules at the 'business' end of the device.
[ooc]Knowledge(Engineering):
[ooc]Knowledge(Engineering):
[ooc]Knowledge(Engineering):
Gregory easily identifies the Grippers, but has no idea what the other two devices are.
"Perhaps someone back in town might know what they are? I am sure Baine would..."
He then continues on his way into the next room.
I wonder what they were for?
Casting a wary eye over the machines, Gregory quickly hurries through into the next room.
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A gray metal door sits in one wall of this short stone tunnel that
curves north before opening into a vast sand-filled cavern.
Of more immediate interest, however, is the large piece of porous, coral-like rock which sits right in the middle of the tunnel, almost blocking it, but which is clearly completely unlike any of the surrounding stone.
As Gregory approaches it, grasping purple tentacles burst forth, and attempt to envelop him.
However, the tentacle rasps against Gregory's metallic skin, without causing any harm.
Catching him off-guard, it then assaults Gregory with a flurry of tentacles!
Round 1: G, Gregory
Gregory frantically flails at the creature!
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Shaken by the sudden appearance of the tentacle-beast, Gregory only manages to land a single hit.
The beast, meanwhile, continues its assault upon Gregory...
...and this time its questing tentacle finds a gap in his armor, worming through to bite into the soft flesh beneath.
Round 2: G(-5), Gregory(-26)
+++Error: System Approaching Overload. Warning: Biofeedback Has Been Initiated To Prevent System-Wide Collapse+++
Groaning in pain, Gregory keeps swinging determinedly.
"Die you over-sized piece of calamari!"
Gregory breathes a sigh of relief when the creature dies.
"I think that is enough excitement for one day. Let's not tempt fate; that next chamber looks quite big..."
He then wisely beats a hasty retreat back to town, to rest and resupply.
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At the temple of Brigh, Councillor Kyte is happy to provide healing services...
...but upon being shown the tech items, shakes his head.
"I am afraid that such devices are a little beyond me. I would normally suggest Khonnir, but..." his voice trails off.
"Actually, now that I think about it, there is another option - you could try Sanvil Trett; he's a traveling tinker who spends a lot of time here in Torch, and frequently deals in goods like these. He is probably your best bet."
"Fair enough. Thanks for the advice!"
Gregory then heads off into town, ready to do some shopping!
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Gregory is easily able to find both of the wands that he is after, and shortly thereafter, finds his way to Sanvil's stall in the Market District.
Sanvil is a well-muscled Kellid male with long black hair, wound around into a top-knot. He looks up from his wares, and smiles.
"Ah! So the explorer has returned! You are becoming quite the talk of the town. Is there something I can help you with? Perhaps some strange objects that you have discovered that you wish identified, or sold? I charge 10gp per item to identify, and offer very reasonable rates when it comes to making purchases."
Gregory immediately starts using the first wand to restore is shield buffer.
+++System Operating At Peak Efficiency+++
When he finds Sanvil, he nods.
"I do indeed. I came across the following objects, and for the life of me, I have no idea what they are..."
So saying, he pulls forth the glowing silver discs, and the strange hand-held device.
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Picking up the discs, Sanvil nods.
"Ah, these are common enough; I have a few myself. These small discs store an electrical charge, and can be used to power some of the other wondrous devices that are found in Numerian ruins. However, the charge doesn't last forever; once its gone, its gone for good."
He then turns his attention to the hand-held device.
"Ah, right! This is a lock pick, of sorts. Some of the doors in Numerian ruins are locked with electricity, rather than conventional locks. This device enables you to unlock them, if you have some skill with locks in the first place. Be careful, though - it only has a limited charge. Fortunately, you can recharge it from an electrical disc."
Gregory smiles warmly.
"Thanks! I think I'll hang onto these devices, but I'll be sure to call back and see you if I find any more strange artefacts..."
He then gathers up his things, and heads back to The Foundry.
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Shortly after returning 'home' for the night, Gregory is disturbed by a knock on the front door.
Upon answering it, he finds a nervous-looking courier, who delivers a message
You are cordially invited to come visit Torch's "illustrious tavern
and card room," Silverdisk Hall. As part of this invitation, you have a complimentary 100gp worth of chips waiting for you, redeemable at any point in the next week. (signed) Garmen Ulreth
Gregory accepts the invitation, but its contents just doesn't register with him.
Gambling... is just not my thing. Perhaps when Baine is rescued, I might be tempted to waste the money; but until then, I have better things to do.
He then turns in for the night.
+++Stage III Integration Achieved. Dermal Plating Upgraded+++
In a now-familiar routine, Gregory heads back into the complex beneath the hill.
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At first glance, this cold cavern presents a strange and disconcerting vista-that of a desert valley under a starless, night sky. A stretch of sand covers the ground, a vista broken here and there by bits of strange, spiky shells or contorted, dead fronds that look like branches. A path in the sand moves off to the left, but the extent of the cavern is difficult to determine - it must be truly enormous.
Gregory whistles in appreciation.
"Well, *that* is something that you don't see every day; an unfamiliar night sky, in a cavern underneath a hill, no less!"
He then moves to follow the path.
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The path follows a meandering course, and the entrance to this chamber (if that is what it is) quickly disappears; for now, there is only the path through the sand, surrounded by impenetrable blackness and silence.
Suddenly, there is the soft sigh of sand cascading, and Gregory whirls around to see the skeleton of some strange, four-armed humanoid with an elongated skull rising from beneath the sand. As it does so, an unholy green light bursts into existence inside its eye sockets!
Round 1: G, KS
Barely missing a beat, Gregory pounces on the skeleton.
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Gregory smashes the skeleton to smithereens.
However, rather then dissipating, the green light retains its form and position for an instant, before moving with meteoric speed to a shape just on the edge of Gregory's darkvision, which turns out to be another skeleton!
Still, despite the element of surprise, its claws scrabble uselessly against Gregory's armor.
Nevertheless, whilst individually not much of a threat, it is clear that there are more of them out, as more four-armed shapes rush forward.
Round 2: G, KS
Gregory attempts to destroy the skeleton currently threatening him.
Gregory pounces on one of the remaining skeletons!
Gregory unleashes his full fury on the skeletons surrounding him!
A little intimidated by the sheer number (if not the effectiveness) of the attacks that just came his way, Gregory does his best to destroy the remaining skeletons, *quickly*.
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This time, one of Gregory's claws bats the ribcage of a skeleton away, causing the pelvis to stand their for a split second, before the rest of the body comes crashing down.
This time, the skeleton with the glowing eyes shifts into a flanking position with the remaining skeleton, and they both attack with renewed fury...
...however, once again, only one blow is successful.
Round 6: Gregory(-8), KS
"Well, it's been fun, but you guys need to go away, now."
"Seriously, this is getting rather tedious..."
Utterly fed up, Gregory focuses his wrath on one of the skeletons...
..managing to slightly injure it.
"Die, damn you! DIE!"
"That... was decidedly unpleasant."
Gregory then pulls out a wand to top-up his shielding...
...before continuing to amble along down the path.
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After what seems like an eternity (but was probably only a few minutes), the path terminates at another cave.
A crisp glow of light shines from the northern wall of this cavern, although no obvious source of the light is apparent.
"Curiouser and curiouser..."
Gregory walks forward and inspects the wall.
Heh.
Gregory steps through the 'wall' and opens the door beyond.