The adventurers manage to grab a hold of the ledger that Estevan was missing. Beyond the narrow pass between two heaps of rubble that the goons were is, is a junction. To the west, a huge mound of fine gravel looms up, and something sees to be stuck in its top (). There's also a passage south, that leads to something of a plane of rubble, and a junk-gorge east, that turns around a corner.
"Do we investigate that mound my friends or do we stay the course and see if these passages south or east provides us a means to an escape portal?"
"We should investigate everything." He'll look at the fine gravel. with his stonecunning. "I'm not a climber, but I'll give someone tips on the route if they are."
"Or I can try using this." Cedric points to the grappling hook tool he has not tried yet.
The tools lets out an emphatic squeak as it feels some attention focused on it.
"See it seems excited to try. Do you think it would be safe to grapple whatever is stuck and pull it out?"
The thing sticking gout is on top of a large mountain of rubble, but from here, nothing looks particularly dangerous.
"Jes' don't be bringing it all down on our heads, now."
The item appears to be a blueish staff made of ornate metal. Blades radiate out along the head of the staff, giving is a headdress similar to that of the lady of pain. The staff end in a metal hand, clenching an orb of perfectly smooth blue stone.
From down where Cedric stands, the staff is out of magical detection range.
"It does look to fancy to pass up. I'll give it a go. Cedric focuses on the grapple tool and aims it at the staff.
Weeee! the grappling hook shoots out and with an moaning aaah latches itself to the staff. Pulling it free from the rubble is surprisingly straightforward - it clatters down the pile of rubble to land at Cedric's feet.
All along the shaft of the staff a message is scribbled "Bow to the right, bow to the left, the first key turns, the last door bends".
"Now that seems to be portal instructions. Cryptic, but I'm sure they would be helpful. Hmmm... I have an idea." With that he steps back to the petrified Balthazar. I'm going to look it over for details. Position, any belongings on him.
Cedric pats the living grappling hook. "Good boy." He tells it to keep it in a good mood. Cedric will then try and identify any magical properties the staff may have.
The crystal ball at the end of the staff seems to be filled with some kind of metallic liquid, like mercury. The liquid seems to have a mind of its own, pulling slightly on the staff, in a direction back to where the party first appeared. Cedric isn't able to determine a use for the staff.
I mean the gargoyle that was described as looking like the one on the card.
The gargoyle still stands motionless atop the heap of junk, it's crystal heart still a shining red beacon in this grey place.
"Do we think that the staff is giving us a way out from that mound or from another location..."
Perception
The adventurers search around in the junkyard, getting the lay of the areas they haven't visited so far:
At one end (), they see a pile of glistening metal - quite different from the stones grey elsewhere - and even a glint of movement. Down another path (), a large statue is holding a long spear, and is wearing something around its neck.
One the other of the junkyard, there seems to be a pile of pertrified dead bodies (), as well as a scrap heap of siege engine (), as well as a giant helmet.
There's no obvious connection to the inscription on the staff - maybe it refers to something else?
"Towards the statue my friend? Perhaps that is some sort of amulet around its neck, besides the other two paths look less inviting "
"Sure is funny looking." the Paladin grumbles, trying to figure out what the statue resembles. "Firs' key turns, last door bends. Don't see this feller bending any time soon." he says, rapping on the hard stone with his gauntlet. "Any ideas?"
"When you don't know what you need to do, then look for more clues." he says jovially. "Let's check out the statue."
"Agreed, the statue it is." Cedric will scan the statue for magic once they arrive.
No Levar quietly follows but watches the other path with the movement to make sure nothing comes up behind the group.
Moving closer to the statue, it loos to be a mechanical warrior of some sort, clad in bronze plating. As the party steps closer, it slowly whirrs to life...
The metal man slowly grind his internal wheels, slowly raising a spear toward the advancing group.
---
No
Lun Tsu
Krachxton
Bart
Cedric
---
Warrior
---
No Levar attempts to figure out what the mechanical thing is...
...but since he raised his weapon, No Levar takes a precaution by preparing a Shocking Grasp in his hand and swiftly moving up to the front of the group to intercept the warrior and deftly place his electrified hand on its chest.
Stepping forward as if he expected this, he whirls his chain to smash the thing with his chain.
Lun moves into position next to Krachxton flanking the statue.
Flurry of Blows
Attack 1 -Damage
Attack 2 -Damage
Elemental Damage Utilized - Electricity
"It's a shame to see such an interesting machine get smashed to pieces. Oh well some times these things can't be helped."
No quickly identifies the statue as a mechanical construct, once part of a mechanical army. He quickly uses this knowledge to deliver an shocking strike, and the electricity wreaks havoc with the delicate system. When Krachxton follows up with a powerful attack, and Lun adds more electricity damage, the onslaught proves too much for the construct, and it grinds to a halt.
The construct has a chain around its neck, that ends in an amulet that looks like a stylised gargoyles' head, its eye socket inset with a small red stone, shining as fiery as the heart of the gargoyle statue earlier.
"Matching symbols is a good start. Let's examine the metal pile next."
Lun will remove the necklace from the construct.
"Is this place some sort of deadly puzzle? Very well, the metal pile it is."
Bart raises his longsword, jaw dropping as the construct is beaten into scrap before he can bring the blade to bear. "Well, I'll be."
Cedric will examine the strange liquid at the head of the staff they found earlier to see if it is doing anything different. "Oh why didn't I think of this earlier" he says as he holds up the staff to the mirmir. "Know anything about this and what it does?"
No Levar smiles as the creature is taken down swiftly before it can hurt anyone. "These new magical abilities are exciting!" He flicks his wrist again to try and conjure the electricity in his fingers but his spellcasting ability is very limited and he doesn't have the magical capacity to cast another shocking grasp.
That liquid looks a lot like mercury, so it might below to something or someone who is attuned to that. There is no particular plane associated with mercury, unless you count some strange niches on the border of the earth and crystal elemental planes.
The liquid does not behave any different from when it did previously.
He notes that No is new to magic as he looks to make sure everybody is ready to head over to the metal pile. To Lun he remarks, "Yes, it could be a puzzle. Part of me suspects that this is a job interview for Balthazar. After all, if people cant find their way back from a portal, they aren't very useful to him."
Cedric offers the staff to Krachxton. "Closest one to this thing in the group I figure."
He'll nod and take the staff for now.
The metal pile looks to a scarfed of weapons: blades and bludgeons, spears and polearms of different type and size. Clearly lurking near it is a rust-brown creature, insectile, on four legs. It has a strange propeller-shaped protrusion at the end of its tail, and two long, feathery antennae.
"That's a big bug. Should we leave it be or squish it?" Cedric asks as he flexes the claws on this eidolon.
No walks up, hand on the hilt of his blade, as he inspects the creature.
He turns back to the group and shrugs.
Lun shrugs, "I have never seen its like. If we need to inspect that pile and the creature interferes with us, then strike it down we must".
Krachxton has a pretty good idea of what the insect-like creature is.
Yep. It's a rust monster. It'll turn anything metal straight into useless rusty scrap.
"Beware! It's a rust monster. A touch will destroy cause metal weapons or armor to be destroyed." He steps back and pulls out his sling.
That's enough to give Bart some pause, as he stares misty-eyed at his decades old longsword before sheathing it. "I say we leave sleeping beasts lie and hold out for any devils that might come our way..."