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Chou sits down, cross-legged right in the middle of the whirling runes. She carefully and meticulously begins to rub, nick, and manipulate the runes with her tools, paying little attention to the fact that they are covering her arms and face.
Without saying a word, she finishes adjusting a few of the runes to read 'Stop' in Celestial, however she seems a little uncertain as to whether or not that was the right thing to do.
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Rather than attacking the swarm of runes directly, the group of Pathfinders swarm around the mass, seeking to disable it as quickly as possible. 575, with his vast experience in the play of languages, although he does not understand the runes, quickly grasps the pattern. Crushing certain key runes, the swarm starts falling apart. Zarnel attempts to follow along, but he as yet fails to pick up the underlying linguistic patterns. Draklor manages to decipher the arcane meaning of some of the runes, and thus similarly able to pick out key runes to damage which weakens the whole structure. Sangkip and Chou have little understanding of the meaning of the words, but instead, they recognise how the individual runes interconnect and where the nodes are. They delicately wrench those out of place, the causing the entire structure to shudder and start falling apart. Corona quickly moves up as well, attempting to decipher the spell that Nigel had used to pull together these runes but it is complex and she fails to decipher it for now.
Through the collective efforts of the Pathfinders, the swarm looks severely weakened, with many of the runes having dissipated or fallen lifelessly on the ground, and the glow of the remainder only faintly pulsing as compared to before. Some of the runes continue to regenerate from Sangkit's acid attack earlier, but that seems to do little to revive the vitality of the swarm overall.
Suddenly, yet another wave of flames burst forth over Draklor, Zarnel and 575, burning away their life force.
Chou elects to stay within the swarm to do her work, but that leaves her to the continued attack of the runes, which crawl over and hammer into her flesh.
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"Flames that don't actually burn??? What sort of sorcery is this?" Corona muses out loud, unsure of whether to be thankful or not. "Um, but anyway! Hold on New Friends, maybe I can figure something out..." she adds as she tries to study the swirling, crawling runes.
"...Biscuits! Why is this so hard???"
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Seemingly mesmerized by the swiftly moving runes, 575 fails to notice the trap yet again, and once more, it catches him totally by surprise. For the second time, he fails to dodge out of the way, and takes the blast of heat directly.
Heat of the desert
Draws strength and vitality
Until nothing left
He moves away from the others, hoping to provide a less tempting target, and continues trying to figure out which runes, in which order, might slow the thing down.
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Sangkip continues picking apart the key nodes of the swarm of runes, and it continues to fade in strength. Corona keeps up her effort to study the spell Nigel used but still unable to decipher it as yet. 575 misinterprets part of the sequence of the runes, erasing a particular one that had little effect on the overall structure. Draklor, however, spots the last few critical arcane runes that hold the entirety together. Ripping the those away, the entire swarm shudders violently before collapsing entirely onto the ground and fountain. That similarly leads to a similar vibrations through the magical ward and after it settles, it is visibly weakened!
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Zarnel tries to dodge the fire, but is instead caught by the full brunt of the blast. "It stings, but not like the fires of Hell, thankfully."
As he tries to focus back on the puzzle of the runes, he is distracted watching the deft and intuitive work of Draklor and Sangkip as they finish the job.
He instead reaches into his pack, draws out his wand, and uses it on himself to relieve the weariness.
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Chou smiles, then meticulously folds up her thieves' tools before standing up. She withdraws her pen from her cheek, then jots a few notes in her journal before replacing the tools and journal. Finally she puts the pen back in her cheek, then pulls out a small vial of rubbing alcohol. She takes a swig, swishes it around in her mouth, and spits it back out. "Aww cwean!"
She brushes off a few remaining foul words from her arms and face as Zarnel patches up her new friends. "I have one of those too! If anyone ewse needs heawing I can hewp."
She gives a few experimental thrusts with her blade, cracks her knuckles, then takes her position. "So umm... I would wike to see the cwockwowk dispway pwease."
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"Oh! Well, how about that?" Corona muses as the runes - and the wards that they'd powered - weaken and collapse. "I'm glad that wasn't any worse, New Friends! I don't know about anyone else but I was starting to feel really, really thirsty!"
She pulls out her healing wand, waving it about.
"Anyone need a tap before we go back inside? I'm with New Friend Chou; I'd like to see the clockworks!"
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Pleased with your part in disabling its magical defences, the Pathfinders re-enter the museum building, where sounds of raging battle is still ongoing as other teams of Pathfinders are still putting down the various more mundane defences. By Chou and Corona's requests, the team heads upstairs, where many of the smaller exhibits and relics are displayed.
When you arrive, however, you are greeted by the scene of gears, glass, and chunks of wax littering the polished wood floor under a sign that proclaims “Scars of the Lich.” The corpse of a Kellid warrior lies in a pool of blood, her furs soaked through. A constant ticking and whirring sound echoes in this area. Hordes of mechanical clockwork devices and statues run amok in this exhibit area. Those of you who have visited the museum before recognise them as security constructs that also double as waitstaff or art pieces. During operating hours the clockwork constructs clean, assist guests, and help patrons feel safe. Well, they don't feel safe now, as two of them spot you! Spotting four-arms and three legs that rise into a central body, these human-sized clockwork constructs lumber towards the team. However, you see that their movements aren't as limber as before, likely because with the disabling of the museum's magical wards, whatever magic is disrupting the normal functioning of these constructs is weakening.
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Seeing Zarnel and Sangkip confronting the closer of the two constructs, 575 moves to intercept the last. He doesn't go too far from his companions, instead stopping just past the angered aasimar. There, he stands ready, should the second automaton approach too closely!
Whirring gears and cogs
So expensive to replace.
Should get better locks.
, for damage.
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Draklor cautiously steps closer to the fray, not wanting to miss anything. "These things repair quickly. Golemworks make, from Kaer Maga," he notes, speaking incredibly fast. "Why, that happens t'be the location of my last assignment! Like this one, it was a tale rife with heroism and intrigue..."
The kitsune launches into a quickly-spoken epic in which several Pathfinders, himself included, braved an underground tunnel network to save some kidnapped people. While normally such a story would be dull (and worse, distracting), his charm and magic give it the exact opposite effects.
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In one of his visits to the museum, Draklor recalls seeing one of clockwork servants subduing an unruly guest by firing a net at him. The rather proud museum staff boasts that each can fire up to five of them, so guests have little need to worry about such incidences. Bolstered by his knowledge of their foes, Draklor burst forth into tale of heroics.
Zarnel winds himself up and charges straight at the nearest clockwork creature, slamming down hard with his sword, cleaving a terrible gash right down its centre. Sangkip follows closely after and despite his more delicate weapon, uses them most effectively. He strikes deep into the creature, destroying key structural components and the clockwork creature falls apart, collapsing onto the floor as a pile of gears and whatnot.
575 moves up serving himself up as a most tempting bait. The clockwork creature does indeed move towards 575, but instead of engaging him, a net launches from its shoulder at the nagaji. However, tts aim is terrible, as the net drops harmlessly onto the floor in front of it.
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Draklor continues his exciting tale, regaling his teammates about blah blah blah blah... while Corona calls upon divine blessing for the party. 575 circles rounds the remaining clockwork creature, and smashes out the opportunity, flanking the creature with 575. While it was distracted by the burly brawler, he jabs his dagger right into the creature's chest, severing its central support beam. It totters briefly, then falls apart in a shower of metal bits.
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With the destruction of the two clockwork servants, some peace descends on the upper floors. Other teams of Pathfinders are battling other clockwork creatures, but they appear to doing fine on their own. Rather, you hear the loud and vicious baying of dogs and calls of other animals from the ground floor and you decide to descend again to see what needs to be done there.
Reaching back on the main entrance, you cut across the main exhibit floor (where the two banners you battled earlier lie) towards the animal calls. Long shadows cast by ruined displays and broken furniture litter the floor. A humanoid-shaped figure made of shattered clockwork lies slumped over a bench. Above, an elaborately painted sign reads “Crusader’s Chronicles.” A number animals, both mundane and seemingly magical, glare at the Pathfinders that enter this room. Three dogs stand their ground but growl ferociously at you. In past visits, you have seen these guard dogs patrolling the museum grounds together with the security personnel, but clearly, they now see you as threats!
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Chou just marvels at the way the automatons work, and takes her notebook out sketching furiously as her allies make short work of the threat. Once done she removes a few key pieces to use as samples.
She wordlessly follows her compatriots back downstairs, nose twitching as she's clearly lost in thought. When I learn more maybe I can make things like that... Except things that don't go crazy and attack everything!
Seeing the dogs she panics. "Um guys... those awe as big as me and wood hungwy..."
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"Oh! Doggies!" Corona gasps in delight - rather than fear - when they venture back downstairs and come across the guard dogs. But then she frowns.
"New Friend Chou Wei is right, they look kinda...hangry, I guess? Oh! Maybe we can give them something to eat! That isn't us, I mean," she remarks as she pulls out the same wand as before.
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Zarnel hears words. Something about nets, and blah. Then the automatons fall, and the anger fades. He stands, panting and tired for a few moments.
Perhaps I should speak to Nigel about their exhibit's naming.
"I am hesitant to attack animals that are only doing their duty to prevent looting."
He focuses on the dog wearing the Orange collar, trying to see if they are evil or not.
"Friends, I do not sense Evil in them. I will not attack them unless they attack us."
In a contrite and slightly embarrassed tone, he continues, "No, I know that's not what I did last time. But you saw the blasphemy, too. It made me ... irrational. I will atone. Later."
As the Blessing of Corona washes over him, he readies himself in case the dogs attack.
"Corona, my Friend, I doubt they eat cornbread. More likely, they eat chickens."
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Draklor grins as the automatons fall, glad to take a short break for his voice. While he is content with his crossbow-drawing tactic, he elects to keep it out this time. You never know what lurks in the Blakros museum....
"I'm a bit leery about hurting these poor guys too," the kitsune agrees with the rest. He shakes away revived thoughts of chicken and continues.
"Should it come to a scrap, they will try to knock you down. Beyond that, it's just the basics, as far as I can tell."
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Unfortunately, 575's knowledge of canines is rather poor, but he remembers they had them here last time too, and wonders if it is the same dogs.
Again man's best friend
Do you think they remember?
Let me remind them
Not wanting to leave Chou Wei out there alone, he moves forward to stand beside the rat folks, ready to remind the aggressive dogs of their last meeting.
, for non-lethal damage.
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Chou draws his weapon and approaches the dogs, a move that clearly riles them up much more, with the snarling deepening and teeth exposed. 575's approach agitates them even more. Corona, fearing that this would descend into battle, again calls forth the blessing of the gods. Zarnel holds his ground, ready to defend himself and the more vulnerable members of his team. Draklor studies the specific species of this dog and knows that it has moderate defences , and is particularly dextrous . He also knows that they are particularly sharp senses .
He readies to start an inpiring oration, and sure enough, the three dogs, provoked by the approaching Pathfinders, dashes up towards Chou and 575 and attacks! One goes after Chou, but it is overly agitated and its bites down on air. The other two moves towards 575. 575 lashes out with a mighty kick at the nearer one, leaving it badly bruised. This throws off its attack and its bite misses. The further one closes in rapidly as well, but 575 easily ducks away from its clumsy attack.
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"No! Stuffing isn't for eating," Corona replies to Zarnel, sounding a bit indignant as she moves forward to help 575 and Chou Wei. "Bad doggies! We don't want to hurt you!" she adds, chiding the snarling, snapping canines and wagging her finger at them. As she does, the shadow cast by Yellow ripples briefly...and then stops moving altogether even as Yellow itself continues to move.
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"I, uh, but, I wasn't implying that she was for eating. I mean, I would never...., uh," Zarnel stammers as Corona stalks past him 'indignantly.'
"Chou Wei! Let me help you with that one," he calls out, trying to recover.
But as he gingerly passes her, he tries to make nice by commenting sotto voce, "Nice shadow spell, Corona. I've seen that cast by someone else equally talented and lovely as you, I believe."
Then reaching Yellow, he strikes.
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Corona moves up towards 575 and Chou, gesturing at one of the dogs, attempting to seize control of its shadow. The shadow wavers briefly, but very quickly, it snaps back to its natural state. 575, caught by surprised momentarily by the strangely moving shadow, misses his kick, but he manages to land a punch on the head of the dog on his left , knocking it out. Seeing this one taken down, Chou focuses on the one in front of her and slams the pommel of her rapier down on its shoulder. Meanwhile, Zarnel rushes forward to support the two of them, but in holding back his mighty attack, the dog manages to duck away from his greatsword just in time. Sangkip also moves up, waiting for a opening. Draklor sends his whip flying at the feet of one of the dogs, but the nimble animal hops up over it harmlessly.
The two dogs lunge for Zarnel and Chou. The first only manages to grab a mouthful of Zarnel's greaves. Chou flicks her rapier at the nose of the other to drive it back, but the dog ducks under her weapon. However, she still manages to step back in time away from the animal's sharp teeth.