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Korad brings his attention to Shecheren on ongoing topic of distribution of treasure. "I'm not sure how well that would well that would work out. The society we work for tends to prefer relic over coin and the group would need to agree to let you have it."
Korad gestures indirectly to the air after deciding not to pick out a specific person, "And some agree less than others."
"Still I would argue that you could have one of the pair of ... E-Picks for some share of treasure. Meleren knows as much about these relics as Omar and has been serving well to identify them. I repeat my offer of payment from my profits in place of any of they relics though."
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After typing in the the combination 9 2 7 4 6, the palm print lights up. Once the gauntlet is touched to the palm, the door opens up. A loud inrush of air creates a strong force pulling you towards the door, but after a few seconds it dissipates, revealing a small chamber with 2 buttons in it. A button with an arrow pointing downward is unlit, and a button with an arrow pointing upward is lit.
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Korad cautiously enters the room searching for traps through. Running his hands along the wall he pulls back after his hands feels the sensation of metal rather than the stone his body expects.
Eventually attention lands on the pair of buttons that he examines but does not dare touch them yet.
"I don't see anything else here. I will try one of these, does anyone else wish to be with me when I do so or remain out there?"
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Meleren looks over at Shecheren and then shrugs. "I'd say its safe to assume that those lights are buttons, and they seem labeled in such a way as to show direction. Anything other than that would be pure conjecture. There are hundreds of odd devices with similar descriptions, and some things just require experimentation. I've heard of such markings used to control large doors, lifts, temperature controls, liquid flow controls... the list goes on."
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With a lurch, this circular chamber begins to rise, but it jolts to a halt after a dozen seconds or so. A flashing red light appears next to the door-opening panel, accompanied by a faint buzzing sound.
Suddenly a voice fills the room with a message in a language that none of you understand. After a short pause it continues in common. "Negligible atmosphere detected. Do you wish to proceed? Push open button twice for yes."
Next to the door, the button with the up arrow is no longer illuminated and the button with the down arrow is now lit up. Additionally, a button that reads 'Open' is also lit up.
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The button changes to a light that says 'Confirm' after Zavubak presses it, then after a second changes back to 'Open.' When Kiddir reaches forward to press it, it blinks 'Confirm' a second time and holds for 1 second before going back to 'Open' yet again.
Omar looks around in the lift and can hear a very light hissing sound at the door, as though air is slowly leaking out, possibly confirming his suspicion about a possible lack of air on the other side. There doesn't appear to be any apparatus to help sustain ones self without air in here, nor have you seen any in the previous rooms. A display over the door reads 'Monitor Room' whereas before the lift moved it read 'Command Center.'
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Suffocation
A character who has no air to breathe can hold her breath for 2 rounds per point of Constitution. If a character takes a standard or full-round action, the remaining duration that the character can hold her breath is reduced by 1 round. After this period of time, the character must make a DC 10 Constitution check in order to continue holding her breath. The check must be repeated each round, with the DC increasing by +1 for each previous success.
When the character fails one of these Constitution checks, she begins to suffocate. In the first round, she falls unconscious (0 hit points). In the following round, she drops to –1 hit points and is dying. In the third round, she suffocates.
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"All I have in my mind are fanciful tales I heard in my childhood, of gates to far off realms with endless air. This seems less magical place for that. That crystal is better than I expected. When we get out of this, I'll have to purchase one. For now though, one person could use crystal and go into room, while others go back to the other room with air. Then come back down and wait for signal to open door again. Maybe can find something quickly searching room."
"However If we open door and something like the~ golem is there, then maybe we run away instead. Then regroup, change plan."
"Omar, Meleren. Do you think this room still will work after we open door?"
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Meleren ponders for a moment before speaking. "You would risk your life alone such that your friends could push forward... No. I know far more about these technological curiosities than any of you. If anyone should go forward into that room alone it's me. You have all risked life and limb to protect Shechera and I, and it's time I pull my weight. Give me the crystal and one of those pairs of ion gauntlets. I'll try not to use it... I can hold my breath reasonably, and if the controls for the air are anything like the controls for the doors I should have it back on before it becomes an issue. And if it does, the crystal should protect me for long enough to get back into the lift and rejoin you."
Shechera just scoffs at him. "It's not like these folk are getting out without us anyways... why not let the rock-head go in first..."
Meleren just gives her a rather unpleasant glare. "I've spent my life doing unto others as they have done unto me. Up until now, others have treated me poorly, perhaps this is a better way."
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Korad shrugs off Shechera's name while nodding to her suggestion.
"I do admit that was my plan to take this on." The confidence quickly falters as he seems to show some shame as her graveling voice lowers a bit, not as boisterous as he normally speaks. "But I admit that I would not know what to look for in there and might just stumble around finding nothing. I am grateful for you saying you can take this on and embarrassed that I don't know enough to say I can do it myself."
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Meleren nods, then hits the button with the down arrow on the lift. The lift returns to the command center, and the doors open. He takes the air crystal from Omar, gives a curt nod, then ushers the party out before the doors close again and the lift begins making sound again. After a dozen seconds or so the lift stops making noise, and a loud 'fwoosh' sound can be heard from below...
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Meleren holds up his hand until he catches his breath. "Well... it depends on your definition of safe. You guys destroyed that machine before. When the air turned on a couple cloud-like creatures about half my height with odd facial features came out of the ducts. They looked awfully angry, so I ran back into the lift."
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"I'll be alright, although I may take you up on that offer after these creatures are dealt with."
Meleren looks about, then readies his morningstar and says "As soon as we hit the bottom the doors will open automatically. Be ready."
As you all move back into the lift, everyone except Omar gets the urge to face the door and remain silent. Omar has the urge to hum some uplifting music.
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The elevator reaches the bottom, and as the door begins to open, you see a pair of cloud-like creatures with dark hollows reminiscent of eyes and a mouth, and a howling wind whips them into ominous shapes.
A series of glossy panels form a semicircular array along the southern walls of this circular room. Some of the panels are lit but blank, while others flicker with a jarring, black-and-white dotted pattern. Many are cracked or simply dark. A throne-like chair sits before a mechanical table in the center of the room. A skeleton slumps in the chair, one bony hand grasping a large lever. It's other hand, wearing a strange, silvery glove, rests upon a glowing plate.
One of the elementals charges forward and before anyone is able catch their bearings slams into Zavubak.
The charge halts early as it attempts to strike before the door is fully opened.
Purple (Charged, -2 AC)
Korad
Blue
Everyone else
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Omar will draw his polearm as he exits to the ready and starts a song of battle.
♪♫♪♫ More days to come
New places to go
We've got to leave
It's time for a show
Here we are, to rock you like a hurricane
Here we are, to rock you like a hurricane
♪♫
Inspired Rage (Su) At 1st level, affected allies gain a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, but also take a –1 penalty to AC. While under the effects of inspired rage, allies other than the skald cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration.
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"Your singing is a spectacle, Omar, but I believe I'm feeling angry enough as it is..." Zavubak concentrates. Sharp claws start to extend from his hands. Opening his eyes again, he sees red as he flies into a rage. He moves ahead and lashes at the purple creature with one of his claws. "Let's see if this one bleeds!"