The group heals up with the wand charges remaining before it resets. They take turns watching out the exit but see no-one passing by or hearing anyone investigate the entrance.
The next morning the group ready and rearing the marionette points out the entrance which is a large panel in the ground, masked by the floor as it is the same design. It takes a few minutes of pulling bits of what is a large cover to open it up but since they befriended the marionette it helps point out what the group needs to do.
As you enter below, pale blue lights wink into view in the floor, walls, and ceiling. Halfway into the room you see a raised 5-foot-wide catwalk of metallic plates and mesh braced several feet off the floor, supported on a series of drums and wheels and with the catwalk seemingly wrapped underneath them as well.
The catwalk passes through a low opening in the far wall only a few feet high, covered by a screen of metallic mesh. A rhythmic hum can be heard beyond the opening. Several crystalline panels are set into the far wall, which is solid metal up to shoulder height and opaque crystal above.
Before heading down the proverbial rabbit hole Elise heads over to check out the well one more time, just to see that there were no Moretti climbing out of it. While it *seemed* like the right thing to do in the heat of the moment, it gnawed on her that she hadn't seen the graveknight explode in front of her eyes. They had already 'destroyed' him once but that hadn't helped much ... Blasted thing. I wonder if we see him again? Elise stood alone with thoughts and mulled them over for a while, before their quest once more floated into her mind prompted by Amelia.
"Hmh. We should." Elise nodded, but didn't do much to get moving. Instead she glanced at the marionette, anticipating its answer to Amelia. Name? Hmm. I suppose it should have one, I guess? There were few constructs in the Land of the Linnorm Kings and the intricacies of their existance wasn't something she had thought much about. But it was perhaps time to change that? I have heard that the lands to the east are plagued by artificial men and their overlords, but that was always so far away from my life...
_____________
"Err.." Elise commented as she looked around in the *very* unfamiliar surroundings. With a sigh she pointed to the meshed-covered opening, looking to the marionette and then Al for an answer. "How are anyone supposed to fit well into that opening - was this place made for halflings?"
In lieu of an good explanation for that, Elise looks around to see if she can't spot the source of the strange light. "This place must be old, so I guess the illumination must be magical? Maybe we could bring some, light is always handy ..."
Well, many of the creatures we have encountered recently were small. Perhaps this is their domain."
"I've never seen anything like it." Alþórel comments, the mildness of his tone belying the depth of his surprise - and he sits silent for a few moments.
"It is a good idea, Elise, I'm sure Nethan and I can provide light if necessary. Dreyyn, I agree with your premise, but I can't help wondering how our target got through. Does anyone see any drips of blood she went through?" he hesitates a second "We should be able to get through with a bit of a wriggle, but it would leave whoever goes through momentarily vulnerable if there is a trap beyond."
"Cleaner!" The marionette replies to Amelia.
The light is magical in nature, similar to an everburning torch. Though they are all linked to somewhere, Elise can trace it but it goes beyond this room.
Alþórel can't tell what exactly this is, but he figures by the spacing it is some form of warehouse. The catwalk coming out of the wall appears like it could move.
Elise looks around and can see a small panel to the bottom left of the room. In her curiosity, she accidently presses a button and the wall rolls open revealing a nearby large room.
A walkway of metallic grates with pole-like railings mostly encircles a huge sunken workroom. A strange light wells up from strange moving machinery below, while untold numbers of cables, conduits, hoists, hooks, and pulleys hang from a vast network of girders above. A large open metal stairwell spirals down to the floor below, and just across it a hulking half-metallic humanoid stands armed with bow and blade. At each corner of the room stands a bank of strange devices tended by a vaguely human mechanical creature. Other mechanical creatures are moving below.
Before Elise can investigate further a small dagger plants itself next to the panel. It doesn't look aimed for Elise, the group turns around to see an Eldred in green standing in the staircase.
"Forgive my intrusion on your expedition." The Eldred says sternly. "I thought I might follow you until I could get what I was after but you are about to find what happened to the rest of my compatriots that came here with me and I'd rather not wish that you go in there unprepared." The Eldred is ignoring any preamble or even introductions, you don't know if it's just because this Eldred is socially dense or is after something.
Spook is looking at the Eldred rather suspiciously.
Well, that was not a very exciting name... Elise notes to herself as the tiny thing replied. But her internal philosophical debate as to wherever that made 'Cleaner' more like a real person or a tool had to wait, other more pressing mysteries assailed her mind. And if *Al* hasn't seen it, this can't be something that exists back home ... she thinks.
"Oh. Well, now you know how the rest of us feel!" Elise chuckled, but couldn't quite make it light-hearted, the strange surroundings had her on the edge. All right, blood. Should be drops somewhere?
Elise looked around a bit, but quickly found something else. "Hrm. I think I got something ..." she muttered, accidentally touching the switch. When the wall opened up she quickly spun around and hefted her weapon - a gesture that quickly grew into striking with her weapon as the dagger sailed past. But when the Eldred addressed them she halted herself for now.
"I think we saw a pair of them. Pieces at least ..." Elise muttered. She remembered the heads Moretti carried - but it was hard to tell if they had been 'green' eldred from that!
"Nice to meet you." Al says pleasantly, doing his best to cover any surprise. "You can call me" - a tiny hesitation as he considers who might recognise his name "Greatuncle."
Dreyyn remains silent on the affair, waiting to see how it plays out.
"Elise? It might be worth trying to close that door."
Elise takes a step back and one hand off her weapon, instead placing it on the switch.
"Already?" she replied to Al without taking her eyes off the eldred.
The Eldred folds his arms and purses his lips "Tch" He raises his head and says "If it'll make our conversation easier, fine! My name is Rin Hayashi, Gashira of the 3rd scouts.. or rather was. I doubt any of them are left. I started following you after I saw large gouts of flame appear between some of these alien buildings." You notice his common has an accent far closer to a common golarian slant than Spook's which likely makes him older.
Amelia notices as a fellow specialist in throwing weapons his guard isn't actually down despite his arms being folded. His hands are both loosely held down so that he can drop them to pick up daggers at his belt if required. He hasn't made any movements to get them however.
"Pleasure to meet you Greatuncle" Despite the somewhat ridiculous introduction, Rin doesn't seem to pay the name much heed.
"Hmm, if you have fought some of them then you already know of the dead machines I take it?" Rin replies to Elise, trying to parse her words.
"Do you mean those who were once alive, but now are dead, and still move? Or do you refer to machines that are no longer usable?"
"Dead men walking, screaming and cursing, more like it." Elise mutters, still not dropping the curtain on the eldred. "You were going to sprout some dire warnings just now?" she prompts. While she wasn't sure where the eldreds loyalty or intentions laid, his advice couldn't hurt - they could after all choose to disregard it if they wanted!
Rin shakes his head "I don't think it is similar to the creature you fought outside" Rin seems somewhat unsure about his statement.
"My fellow scouts were taken away when we found this place, small spidery creatures with webbing that we couldn't break grabbed some of my men. I ordered a retreat though few heeded my call, I don't think it was stubbornness on their part. They didn't even flinch at my orders, I fear either my voice was muted or something was preventing the sounds I was making reaching their ears. He presses his glasses up to his face before continuing "I came back to look for them after a small time when none of them showed at the rendezvous point, I came back to see their corpses being moved around by machinery attached to their back. I can't say they were dead and still moving.. such as your assailer. It was more that their corpses were being moved. My troop numbered 9 other than myself, I would not hope to take them on my own."
Rin drops his head, glancing at the ground. "Tch, I am loathe to admit that, I am but one man. Against 9..creatures.. I would not stand a chance." Rin regains his composure. "Anyway, I surveyed the area to try and figure out what these things were doing, they disappeared every so often. I figured they must be hiding somewhere, seems that I was right."
Rin gives a curt bow before continuing the next part. "While surveying yesterday I saw your battle, I decided to see if you could be lead to this place and if you could figure out how to get down here. So forgive me for using you in this way, I feel obligated to give you this warning about my men before you continue onwards."
While Rin is speaking, Nethan checks that Zilatan Stone to see where it is pointing now
Nethan looks up, "Either those spiders are controlled by the next bloodstone which would explain why they have not attacked us? Or the Necromancers have decided to watch us instead of attack us with them? Let me think while this compass seeks the next Bloodstone direction."
The Zilatan stone is pointing below them.
Rin's face hardens. "No, I can not save my men, they are dead. I won't waste my time with something I can not solve. However.."
Rin fiddles with his glasses once more. "I want to stop the world breaking apart. You've seen it no doubt. We came here to discover how to stop it. This isn't the only place that has whole structures appear out of nowhere, something big is coming but we don't know what. Information is key, it is how wars are won, sadly we have little. Other than that; there are large amounts of energy moving away at a rapidly increasing rate. Eldred disappearing, not a trace of their being, then strange places appear."
"Creatures we haven't seen before, skeletons roaming the surface of our world. Skeletons of creatures thought myth or not even existing. In hordes. It almost seems like an invasion, but they aren't attacking the cities. They are amassing for what? They could attack now, why are they waiting. Knowledge that we don't have, we don't know." Rin finishes exasperated.
The group knew bits and pieces of this, Sarangeral scouts picked up similar stories though there is a little more info in what he's saying. New things have come to light while exploring here as well. What is happening to this place?
There seems to be some disparity between what the group has seen about the creatures and the tale that Rin has told you. He says they were attacked by many whereas you've seen the odd one here and there.
This likely means they attack as a pack and never individually, probably when they believe they have the upper hand or surprise. Considering the group has spotted the creatures it might have been a deterrent to them.
With the little you saw of them and what you know of the area now they are probably part construct, part undead. Since they have not been spotted with detect magic their webbing is likely a natural substance with sticky properties able to ensnare something humanoid size.
The closest creature Nethan can think about that is related to these creatures is the altered spider they first fought when entering the Well of Sorrows, except smaller.
Nethan report the above to the group.
Nethan looks at Rin, "This is technically not a world but a pocket world but since you feel it is your world, we will make the attempt to keep it from falling apart. The creatures you see, are made from powerful Dark Magic. The men and women who manipulate this dark magic are called Necromancers who use the dead as their intelligent and mindless constructs who they can command without question from the now undead. If the Necromancers did this to your men and women at arms, we will dispatch them into permanent rest and hope to dispatch the necromancers in the process. Unfortunately, Necromancers do not like dying and have undead contingencies to keep their souls and evil plans to be so easily smited. As for the reason they are not attacking, true war and aggression is like chess or game of strategy. First get ready, move your pieces into position, then strike."
Al looked around
"If it is information that you are after, then it seems we are not at odds. We have no argument with you, or yours."
"You make a lot claims there." Rin says sceptically of Nethan, though the group know all that Nethan says to be true. "Though I have at least seen the work of these Necromancers, so that I can not deny. It is rather sickening." He spits.
Spook whispers in reply to Amelia. "I don't think it will be up to us if he tags along or not. Their house tends to work on their own, I doubt he'll get in the way." Spook quickly glances at him, then back to Amelia. "He is at least quite a high rank, I was taken aback when he arrived as I recognize his armour, you have to prove yourself a lot to get it. It might be the only reason he's alive and his friends aren't."
The warning whether heeded or not is up to the group. Rin himself doesn't seem to be moving much though is not impeding you. Rin appears to be waiting to see what you will do. After all, he has seen you go further than he has in finding out what his ex-compatriots were doing.
Nethan shrugs at Rin, "Regardless if you believe my words are claims or truth, both my friend Alþórel ..." Nethan points his open hand at Alþórel, "... know it is not a claim but the truth and all necromancers who prey on the innocent must be destroyed." Nethan avoids making the statement of destroying the Art of Necromancy because he knows his father would vehemently disagree. He address the others, "Shall continue my friends and kill the necromancers, then find what we are looking for?"
Al coughs "That is not a name I would utter in this place." he explains to Rin. "I have old enemies that might react... precipitously. Instead, let me just be Greatuncle - in a sense the term is apt."
"By all means let us continue. It is refreshing to have a new ally rather than more enemies. Do not be too hasty to destroy humanoid necromancers though, as we wish to question at least one person."
Nethan looks at Al with an open mouth of confusion, he must have been having a teen moment of not paying attention when Alþórel warn everyone not to use his name in Tar-Baphon's pocket planes, "My apologies Great Uncle, I will remember to use that name from now on. I have other thoughts but I will withhold them since I already placed my foot in my mouth today. Yes, let us continue so I don't get us into any more trouble running my mouth and I at least promise to spare one or the leader of each group of necromancers to question?"
"How many people of our race did you see before your world started falling apart?" Elise asked quizzically and speculated. "We got in simply because there is now a way in - cracks in the wall if you will. And the Necromancers are trying to get out. If we put them out of their misery maybe your world will mend eventually?"
Rin shrugs "I don't remember the exact number of people that I saw. There was at least one group in the capital. Looked similar to you lot, no points on their ears. All dressed in black and red however. They looked rather shady but as far as we could tell did no wrong before leaving the capital." He says as he replies to Elise.
Rin nods somberly at Nethan, he has no reason to doubt Nethan but he probably does not like the idea that what he says is true. You doubt anyone would have liked learning about necromancers the first time.
The group then enters the next room.
This moving metallic walkway drops at an angle down to the floor 30 feet below, where it circles around a massive machine sitting astride a golden-glowing pit. Completing its circuit, the walkway circles back around underneath its slanting upper course, passing out through a narrow aperture in the lower south.
"It.. Hmm. That strange path is clearly circling the pit? It must serve some purpose; like how you slow-roast a good steak or something ..." Elise muses and stares at the golden thingy. Then she carefully advances a bit closer to see if she can't spot some clue as to where the hell they are. And more importantly; what the hell they are in!
Dreyyn will also look around, looking for other entrances/exits/windows to side chambers/blood splatters/etc.
Al murmurs a few words, then carefully peers out over the catwalk, looking down at the machine below. "Fascinating" he murmurs "A totally new application of... something."
Following Al's gaze Elise points to the machine thing and asks "But wouldn't this place be ancient? If Tar-Baphon had things this ahead of everyone it might explain how he could put up such a fight ... Do you recall seeing anything as out-of-place as this?"
Nethan also keeps a sharp eye out for dangers but could be distracted by something on his mind ...
"I suppose, Elise. I have nothing similar to compare it to. I wonder if our two natives have seen anything like it?" Al turns to Rin and Spook, an eyebrow raised questioningly.
Nethan peers over the rail to look at the contraption to analyze from afar to see what he can discern by looking at the machine ... ... "Hmm ... I have I seen something like it before?"
The group moves forward cautiously, while Nethan and Alþórel discuss what the machine could be. The construction as far as Nethan surmises it is built with a central core made from something magical. The core is inside the golden exterior within a room, the floor of the room looks to fold up into possibly a set of appendages. Likely this is to be used for whatever is constructed within. The motion is probably similar to how a spider might thread some web.
Rin and Spook look at each other briefly. Rin shakes his head. Spook shrugs unsure what to make of it.
There are no traps that Amelia can see but she suddenly hears the clank of something from the shadows down below. She holds up her hand and the group gets ready for anything.
From around the golden contraption, lumbering hulks grasp their way onto the conveyor belt. Eldred stripped of their flesh and machine parts attached to them crawl out of the shadows. Their movements synchronised with the whirring sound of machinery from their torsos. They continue their ascent without a word, weapons drawn to take on the intruders.
A large scorpion creature clambers from an opening that Dreyyn spots at the end of the conveyor belt. It is made of tens of skulls, an amalgamation of the skeleton headed spider creatures the group has seen before.
Several more spider creatures come from the room the group was just in. Rin shouts "We'll deal with the ones closing in on us, I have some pent up anger to vent on them!" Spook joins his fellow Eldred-folk in keeping the back clear.
Alþórel's eyes glow for a moment as he chants. Time slows to a crawl, the lumbering constructs slowing down, their whirring of their gears deepening in pitch and moving from a general whine to distinct beats.
Nethan begins to bend reality to cast a protective spell on himself, "FETHOS!" After manifesting shield, Nethan asks the group, "If anyone has engineering and is not doing something, can you check to see if the walkway is stable for heavy fighting and heavy spell casting?"