Danica's sword bite deep into the creature, leaving large gashes into it. Tolvan's acid continu to burn, but the second glob on acid miss the mark. Sonny's spiritual ally slashes at the Mi-Go and inflict a small wound, but the crossbow bolt fly to high above the target. The Mi-Go maneuvers itself to to avoid being surrounded and attack Anna again. Most of is attacks miss except for one that get a good grab on the rogue. For the second time, the creature manages to get a good grab on Anna.
This time Tolvan is ready for such an event and cast Liberating Command on Anna as an immediate action.
Anna feels Tolvan's magic guiding her way out of the creature's clutches.
She then tumbles around the creature to get into flanking with Danica.
Then she stabs at the creature now that she's in the right spot to hit it where it hurts.
Anna finishes off the second insect looking plant creature with a well placed dagger stab. Andjela strikes again on the remaining foe with her blade, the she just can't get the blade to cut deep enough to inflict any wounds. The shambler noticing that he is the last one left and now facing the group by itself, take a step back and shift to another plane to escape.
With the enemy now out of the way, you are able to study the room freely. The first thing that attract your attention is western wall section of smooth rocks. Closer inspection reveal that some one must have use magic to block off a section of the caves. What lies on the other could be a hidden room or tunnel or tons of water from the bay.
In the center of the room stand a weird metallic machine. On one side is a wide aperture at one end and a bloody, befouled opening of smaller size at the other. Under the small opening is a disgusting mount of reddish goo that small a lot like blood and flesh. On the side of the wide aperture, there is a small pile of corpses. Seven corpses total a lying next to the machine. Three are bodies of Skums, and the other fours are human. All have a certain point in common. Their brains have been removed. The human bodies consist of one woman and three men. The woman is similar to the one you found in the caves under the manor house. Pale skin, whiteish hair and rags for clothes. The men however looks more like people from the village. Two are oblivious fishermen with their tan skin and calloused hands. The last one is one you know. It is the young stable boy that that you meet on the day you left for the mansion.
Finally, the last thing of interest is the door at the other end of the room. It is similar to the one that you used to get in these tunnels.
Tolvan watches the creature fade from this world. I doubt it will be back. he says. Did those plant creatures have anything useful? He moves forward to examine the large machine. It seems to dismember bodies. I don't understand the value of that though. he says.
Sonny studies the remains and the goo and then the machine trying to figure out what is going on here.
Anna kicks at the bodies of the weird plant creatures. "I dunno. They were grabby, that's for sure." She looks around at the corpses with their brains removed, and shudders at the thought of not being able to have gotten free from their clutches.
"Aww," she exclaims when she sees the body of the stable boy they had met a few days earlier. "That's-- Oh, dammit." She feels a surge of anger and gives the dead creatures an extra stab.
Sonny's inspection of the machine tells him that the wide opening is where one would feed it a body. It would then come out as a mixture of shredded flesh, grind bones, and blood. The reason remains unclear for now.
Tolvan moves over to the bodies of the plant creatures to examine them more closely and to see if they had any possessions.
Aside from the clothes they are wearing, the bodies seem to have been stripped of all possessions (and brain) already.
Danica moves closer to the western wall and takes her time to inspect it.
"Tolvan, Sonny.... what do you guys make of this wall? It is a form of some magical barrier. Maybe you guys can fill in some of the gaps."
"This place is so gross! Let's go. There were some passages that branched off earlier. I don't know if I'm ready to try going through another one of these bubble doors. What do you think?"
Danica inspect the smooth wall, and notice that it is really a magically conjured wall. Though no matter how close she inspect it, she can't find any clues of what would be on the other side.
The last time we passed through something like this we went from water to dry space. This could lead back into the water. The last time we were also immediately attacked so we should be as ready as we can be for an attack.
Sonny goes to make sure it goes back out into the water. If he sees movement or anything he stops and backs away slowly.
"Tolvan, is there a way to dismantle the machine so that it wont work? Say, throwing a tool into it and breaking the machine. I would feel a whole lot better if this machine is never turned on ever again."
Danica looks over at Sonny as he mentions passing through the magical barrier. "You will not go in alone. I will stand by your side." Danica unsheathes her temple sword and prepares to pass into the magical barrier.
Anna laces her fingers together and cracks her knuckles. "Lemme take a look. Shouldn't be a problem."
Tolvan watches Anna dismantle the strange machine. He shrugs. Danica, we have seen many horrors here. But at least to me this machine is just for waste disposal. I am certainly not fond of it, but it does not rise to the level of many other horrors.
Sonny approaches the door just enough to notice that it is just a regular room free of water on the other side. While he does so, Anna takes a look at the machine. There are so many small moving parts that disabling it is rather easy... Putting it back together might be way harder.
Sonny comes back and says, "It's another room beyond the door. Maybe we should start there?"
Danica nods in agreement with Tolvan but then responds "I agree that it is a low level horror but it is a horror either way. We are here and the task was simple for Anna. This is a win for the side of light, on many levels, no matter how small. In the long run we will measure our deeds on how we foiled the dark and we are an irritating thorn at the side of the Whispering Way." Danica nods to Anna in appreciation for dismantling the machine.
Danica nods in Sonny's direction, she draws her temple sword. "I'm ready to enter."
Anna dusts her hands off as she stands up after the work of dismantling the machine.
"Okay, now what? You're really going through that bubble?" she asks Danica, looking unsure. "Well, if you find anything, be sure to yell-- oh, wait." Anna gives her a bitter smirk.
Danica walks up to the bubble door. Up close you are able to see on the other side. The view of this strange metal dome is mindnumbing. All manner of incomprehensible equipment has been set up around the chamber, including a pair of bloodstained metal operating tables surrounded by racks of instruments for vivisection sitting in the center of the chamber. The walls at the base of the dome are transparent, giving a clear view of the dark waters of the lake bottom, but forty feet above, the dome displays an image of a mysterious dark gray planet orbiting a burning orange star never seen in Golarion’s skies, which gives the entire chamber its lurid glow.
On one of the table is a man bare chested and strapped to it. Three Mi-Go are currently operating on him while a forth one is verifying different dials and levers. From where you are, it is hard to see if the man is still alive and what exactly they are doing to him.
Once it's clear that the group is going through but before we do Tolvan will cast an Extended Haste. Lets try to save that man. he says quietly.
Anna looks shocked. We can see what's going on in there? I thought it would just be full of water!"
She gets her crossbow ready and prepares to go through the door. "Let's go," she says.
A swift death might be the most merciful fate... Andjela, hefting her long slender curved-blade awaits entry.
Danica sternly nods her head in agreement, temple sword in hand.
"I will lead the charge, attacking the closest one. The rest of you should occupy the rest. Don't let anyone leave." Danica goes through the barrier and charges the first.
Anna is through immediately on Danica's heels, hoping to snap off a shot before the creatures are able to react.
Danica walks through the magical door first, quickly followed by Anna and Andjela. Before anyone else can get into the room, the Mi-Go notice your intrusion and turn their attention to you, except the one by the wall. That seems to be speeding up whatever it was doing there.
Anna snaps off a shot with her heavy crossbow, then lets it drop as she moves into the room, drawing her dagger as she goes.
Danica feels the extra boost in speed as she runs up to the closest Mi-Go.
Tolvan will use his turn to push through the wall.
Tolvan steps through, assesses the situation, and casts Fire Snake, creating a snake of fire that weaves through to strike at each Mi-Go.
Anna misses with her crossbow and closes in with her dagger. Danica gets next to one and slashes with her sword. Just as she position herself for the counter strike of the Mi-Go, a ligne of flames travels around the room an engulf the four creatures. Three of the Mi-Go fight back, attacking a different target each. The one in the worst situation is Tolvan since he ends up being grappled by the plant creature. The fourth one turns more dials and activate a few more switches before turning to face the group. The man on the table start convulsing violently.
Anna steps next to Danica, but keeps up her attacks on the green one. If any of her attacks drops her target, she switches to the red one.
Andjela steps into the room, angling to flank with Tolvan and attacks the creature grappling with her Wizard.
Let's not get all touchy-feely, folks...
Sonny moves into the room and sees Tolvan in the grapple. He then points at the Mi-GO and says "Flee"
Danica continues to attack (the red one).
Tolvan swiftly shifts through the dimensional ether to be back at the entrance of the room and, using his bonded item, unleashes a second fire snake which quickly weaves through the room striking all the enemies.