vs Touch AC
Lucky moves to see through the window, drawing a bead on...something. He'd never seen it before.
"Val! Hide!"
Then Lucky fired...
As Lucky scoots up and raises Vera, he sees a thing made of white metal whirring around and trying to break something through the window. As the gun releases it's report, the bullet flies true and smashes the "head" of it. With one last whirring click, the machine collapses in a pile. Moments later, Val, a young girl with blonde hair and tears in her eyes runs out. Spotting Lucky, she runs up and catches him around the waist, sobbing loudly.
"Lucky, I'm so sorry! It was my fault! I shouldn't have been in the room and and and... It started clicking and then it just started smashing the room and I ran and it was making weird noises and..." With that she lets out a sob and cries out. "Where's dad?!"
Lucky kneels down and throws his arms around the girl, stroking her hair.
"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. Dad's...well, I'm going to go find him with my new friends here, okay? I think he ran into a bit of trouble in the caves, but I'm sure he's fine. Probably just trying to figure out some puzzle or something. What is that thing though? Did he bring it into the shop?"
Sniffling, she nods. "When he came back for his tools, his friends helped drag it in. He said he didn't know what it was but wanted to look it over when he got back." Looking at the others, Val wipes her eyes and smiles. "Hello. I'm sorry, I'm too old to cry, I know. Listen, I know it's not much, but if you all need a place to rest or what ever, you're welcome here. That okay, Lucky?"
Lucky put on a smile for Val.
"Hey, no kid of Khonnir Baine is going to be a bad host, right? And trust me...you're never to old to cry. Remember a couple of weeks ago when that bard was in the bar? And after a couple of ales, he played The Lay of Lynleera Whisperwind? And I cried because it was too beautiful?"
He nodded over to the others.
"Well...welcome to my home, I guess! Let's take a look at this thing."
Taking Val's hand to reassure her, Lucky headed in to take a closer look at what he had shot.
At the terrified girl's cry, Van's features assume a visage of intense focus, as though preparing to draw forth unknown power.
With 'Lucky's' somewhat anticlimactic resolution to the conflict, Van takes a moment to once more center himself before approaching the young girl. "As your brother said, one is never too old to cry. Imagining otherwise is both foolish and unhealthy."
Nodding in acknowledgment of Siodhachan's words, Van purposefully steps forward to examine the remains. "Yes, we should."
Kneeling beside the fallen mechanism, his countenance smooths with composure as he contemplates the hidden intricacies contained within.
Trina breaks into a run on hearing the cry. Though her face remains impassive, her concern shows in her actions. After Lucky dispatches the thing, Trina takes a closer look at it.
She blinked and stood there slightly frowning. She had barely moved when Lucky used his loud tube to dispatch whatever it was. Some Samurai she was. She followed the pretty elven bard to look at the thing, her embaressment too great to speak with the young woman just yet.
As he and Van examined the thing, Lucky engaged the others in conversation.
"I'm glad there was only one of these things. Vera here packs a heck of a punch but she takes a while to reload. I would've been a sitting duck of it had had a friend."
She hadn't been there for the encounter but the girl makes her way over there and hearing the commotion she contemplates whether or not she should go into her vigilante form. She makes her way over to investigate the scene before shrugging. She had missed it completely.
"What happened? She asked curiously.
Val wipes her tears and nods. "Thanks..." As the party steps in, the thing lays in a head, the workroom it was in trashed and a busted table in it's hands.
As the group stares on, Val walks over to Hitomi and Trina. "Are you... Are you going to help find my dad? Lucky says you are friends who are going to try."
Lucky begins to look around the Foundry for anything new that Khonnir may have brought in.
At Alany's arrival, Van looks up. "Ho bone, ke vi ĉeestas. Kie vi estis?"
Directing her gaze to various points on the fallen mechanism, he continues. "Observi, vidi la damaĝon? Mi ne povas esti certa, sed similas probabla la jarcentoj de neuzado plumbo al fatala eraro en la interna logiko procezoj. Vi eble memoras ĉi estas vere malofta."
Straightening in response to Val's inquiry, Van replies. "Yes. Val, is it? Councilman Bain, your father has done a great deal for this community; for all of us, in fact. 'tis only just that we do what we can to aid him. With that in mind, do you recall anything your father mentioned about what they encountered within?"
"Observe, see the damage? I cannot be certain, but it seems probable the centuries of disuse lead to a fatal error in the internal logic processes. You may recall this is actually not uncommon."
Hai, your father was a good man, A friend of my fathers and one with honor. I will always do what I can to help a friend in need.
She offered the young woman with a very structured and formal bow. She offered one last curt smile before going up to the dead thing.
You have some knowledge of these things? can you tell us anything about it? She asked the strange man called Van.
Smiling faintly, Van nods at the smith's query. "A number of things, actually."
"I will start with the basics, please forgive me if I repeat what you already know."
Sweeping his hand broadly, as though to indicate the whole of the fallen mechanism, "Unlike Golems, which I have been given to understand are granted functionality & a kind of base will through arcane or divine power," he mutters in a brief aside,
"what you see before you is entirely the product of human artifice."
"Granted, that artifice is at least an order of magnitude beyond even the greatest of today's craftsfolk, as much so as our finest artisans are beyond the crude workings of...
of the ancestors of fabled Azlant."
Pausing a moment to collect his thoughts & determine the best way to continue. "What little we know of the 'Rain of Stars', that event which truly separates Numeria from the lands that surround it, is that every 'Star' was a collection, perhaps a vessel, perhaps simply some other structure," again he allows his musings to lead him astray momentarily.
"I surmise, that at the same time the Azlanti were pursuing Eldritch knowledge & power there was another, hidden civilization which focused upon so-called 'simple' craftsmanship. I further suspect that this 'Androffa' foresaw the destruction of Earthfall & preserved their culture by the only means available to them. They moved everything into the heavens themselves!" He concludes triumphantly, pointing skyward.
"Unfortunately, eventually time or perhaps some other foe ultimately got the better of the Androffan civilization, precipitating it's literally calamitous fall which we now know today as the 'Rain of Stars'."
"Getting back to the matter at hand," once more indicating the pile of metal, "these were called 'Robots', creatures of artifice, tools if you will. But tools somehow able to perform their own tasks without need of a craftsman to work them."
"From the cursory examination I have been able to perform, I suspect that this one's original purpose was in fact the repair & maintenance of other, similar, tools. The fact that Siodhachan,"
"was able to dispatch this one so readily leads me to suspect that either those woes which have befallen our predecessors are of a significantly greater danger, our predecessors were unaware of the kinds of dangers to found within. As Councilman Bain lead the last, I find no reason to believe the latter to be the case."
She blinked at him and immediately looked up into the sky above....
So they are a different type of golem powered by something other than magic and they fell from the sky?
She said her tone not holding any disbelief, more pure amazement.
It looks to be excelent craftmenship, their blacksmith's must have been truly skilled.
She added studying it for other more intrinsic purposes.
"Ro-bots?" Trina repeats the strange word to herself. "Speak more of these ro-bots. What do we know of them? You say that they are self-driven tools? Do they eat... sleep?"
Shaking his head, "The comparison to Golems is intentional. Robots are not alive as you would know it. They neither eat, nor sleep, nor procreate. They are not born & they only 'die' when they are destroyed, though I suppose it might be possible to... set them aside as it were."
"As a tool, if there is no task for one to fulfill, I suspect they have something resembling 'sleep' in such an occurrence." He shrugs bemusedly.
"Val? Did anything happen to make this robot thing start smashing stuff?"
Trina continues to stare at the robot, not fully comprehending the role of the thing in nature. Finally, she decides that they are not part of the natural order of things.
Taking out her journal, she begins making a few notes.
Oathday, 1st of Gozran. As we began our mission to rescue the man named Khonnir, we began with a visit to his home, where a young girl was threatened by a thing called a robot. A blast from the odd wand carried by one of my companions dispatched it readily enough, but it is a strange thing indeed...
Alany gets closer and looks at the device before looking to Van.
"Mi estis aĉeti aĵojn por la butiko . Ankaŭ la Ebon Pixie kontaktis min , ili diris ke ili volis min etikedi kune kun vi uloj," She responded to Van before she moved closer and inspected the thing that had been destroyed. She frowned some. If it was in full working order she'd be more into it but for now she could keep this device or let Van keep it. She picks it up.
"I'm going to keep this thing or you can keep it to do more research on it," she stated.
AS the party looks around the workroom, the place is a mess but there are some odd pieces here or there that are clearly not of local make. Little to glean from as you try to put two and two together though.
Val looks at Alany and smiles, knowing them from the odd conversation or two. "You know the Ebon Pixie? Hernon down near the wall was being held up by some folks and they stopped them. That is so cool you know them."
Looking up at the adults though, she looks at Van and Alany funnily as they speak in the strange language. "That sounds like the language dad uses when he reads some things. Anderfin or something. He says he'll teach me the language soon." Turning to Lucky, who she's been standing next to the whole time, she frowns. "I'm not sure. I was getting worried about dad and came in here. I was just looking at some things and I might have touched this..." She points to a strange metallic object, somewhat shaped like a box with rounded edges approximately 7 inches long and 3 inches wide and some odd markings on it, two being about two inches long and solid black in a rectangular shape, the rest looking like some strange lettering. "But I don't think I actually pressed a button or anything."
Trina continues making notes in her journal, accompanied by sketches of some of the stranger objects.
"Androffan," Van corrects Val a smidge pedantically. "It is the language of fallen Androffa. This," he points to the object Val indicated, "may have been what did it. It is a very specialized manner of sensory organ. Val's motion might have had an effect similar to crushing a lemon immediately under someone's nose while they were sleeping."
He shrugs, adding, "or it might not."
"In either case, I detected no further latency. I suspect your shot has rendered it completely inert barring extensive repair." Van nods toward Siodhachan.
"Repair which I feel is beyond our capabilities, perhaps fortunately." Turning back to Val, he reiterates, "was there anything else your father might have said about what they encountered below, or what they expected?"
@Tristina: most of the material in the workroom is scrap pieces of starmetal, the odd tiny device. The remains of the robot are really the only truly significant piece in the room.
Val thinks for a moment, the strain she's been under clearly starting to show. "Well... I don't know. He came back so suddenly with that and grabbing his tools. He kept mumbling in that funny language but when he left he did ask me to wash his old clothes he was wearing. Strangest thing was there was sand and weird green slime or something on his pants and shoes. I asked him about he just said not to worry. Sorry I can't help more...
"It is alright. Again, you may have helped more than you know. May we see this sand & slim that you found?"
"And was there anything you needed to tell me, Val?"
Alany stayed quiet as she watched the intereactions, not sure what to make of it or how to respond. She crinkled up her nose some at the thought of slime and sand being on his clothes but all in all she wasn't sure what to make of the entire thing.
"If we check out the slime and sand we might be able to figure out where he went."
"If the councilwoman spoke true, he went to the caves beneath the Black Hill, wherever that is."
"Yes and yes," Van replied to both comments, "more importantly we will have an idea of what is beneath the Black Hill." Van clarifies, pointing toward the great hill, the apex of which used to host the fire from which Torch took it's name.
Nodding, Val dashes off and collects the clothes. Returning, she sets them down on the last remaining chair in the workshop. "Here we go. Sorry, I was trying to see if I could sneak off to the town hall and see if there was anything I could do to help and never got around to cleaning them."
Val looks over to the group and snaps her fingers. "Dad did say that he was getting under Black Hill, that's the big hill this town is around Miss Elf, by going under the water at the weeping pond. That's the pond up by the big houses near the north end of town." Frowning some though, she looks at the group. "But it's so hard to get there. You'd probably need Joram Kyte to put Brigh's blessing on you to get into the tunnels..."
Looking up at Lucky she thinks for a moment. "Dad said not to worry. But Lucky, I am getting worried. It's been days now!"
Do you best to remain calm miss Val, worry will not help your father. We will find him and return him fear not.
She offered quietly yet sternly. Her voice held a certainty to it regardless. She looked at the robot and the sand and all the 'clues' so to speak and it was clear any meaning they might have was beyond her. So instead, so stood there patiently waiting for someone to either figure out what they meant, or to suggest they find miss Kyte and get on with the search in the tunnels.
Trina examines the clothing that Val brings. "Hmmm. The sand has a reddish-orange tint, not black like the the local dirt. This sand is not from this region. And the slime appears to be that of a slime mold, a type of ooze."
"So now we know more about what we may expect there." Turning to Val, he adds, "Thank you, you see. You were helpful."
Regarding the fallen robot once, more, Van muses. "I suppose if we are cautious we might be ready to begin now."
Val smiles and nods at Van. "Thank you sir." Turning towards Hitomi, she looks at the smith a tad curiously before she wipes at amother tear. "I'll try. Now, you all should get going. If there are more of those things..." She points nervously towards the now decapitated robot. "Then dad and his team might be in a lot of danger."
Hugging Lucky she looks up at him. "Be careful, bro. And if things get too tough, get back here, Lucky..."
Lucky gave Val his best devil may care grin before hugging her tight.
"Come on, now! Between me, Vera, and my new friends, I bet there's nothing we can't handle! We'll be back, soon. With dad."
Lucky stood, then looked at the others.
"I think a trip to Joram Kyte is in order, and then we'll be ready. Shall we?"
"Seems appropriate." Van nods in agreement before turning to Alany. "I would feel better if you were to stay here with Val. Îmi dau seama că acest lucru este în afara setul de calificare, dar ar fi benefic pentru amandoi."
Alany frowns though she doesn't argue, this would give her the chance she needed to get away.
"I will stay here, it will give me a chance to try and understand things a little more," She stated, though it was more like she was going to head off as soon as she had a chance. She looked at Val and grinned some.
"I'll talk with the Ebon Pixie and see if They'll visit you before she heads off with them to find your father, alright?" She asked.
Val smiles a little before agreeing to it.
After a short walk through town, the party (not including Alany/the Ebon Pixie) arrive before the town's sole temple. The main entrance is surrounded by small clockwork devices, bronze windchimes play in the wind. The smell of tanning leather, grease and other odd scents waft throughout.
As the party enters, a small side area is revealed holding small trinkets and other wares, but the main chamber ahead is where some commotion is going on.
"I have greater things to tend to than talk shop about the constructs Sanvil! Once Khonnir is back then we can talk." Ahead in the main worship hall an older human male in work leathers and a holy symbol to Brigh about his neck stands before a younger and rather handsome human dressed in fine clothes, a sword about his waist and a small clockwork bird in his hands.
The older man turns to the party and raises a hand. "My childs, unless you are from the Town Council, I'm a little busy at the moment."
The younger man turns and quickly walks past the party, pausing for a moment to look them over before turning back to the priest. "We'll talk soon, friend. And sorry for bothering you at this time."
Brow furrowed in bemusement, Van responds to the priest's admonishment. "As it happens, we are here from the Council."
"Aye. We're going into the tunnels to get my father back. We need Brigh's blessing, Father."
Sanvil Trett is a newcomer, generally viewed as an amenable if somewhat overly enthusiastic purveyor/collector of knick-knacks and Numerian technology.
Alany nods and then tells Val to stay behind, trying to figure out what emotion to show, though it was cold, she scrunched up her brows and headed out, waiting for a few moments she changed into the Ebon Pixie and made her way back to Val dressed up in the garb of the Ebon Pixie, The mask, the pancho, the cloak along with a decent outfit. She knocked on the door and waited for Val to answer. Once she did looked down at the little girl.
"I heard one of my fans was here?" She asked, her voice sounding distant, like no emotion was to it.
The priest walks over to the group and looks them over. "Indeed you are. Hopefully my prayers to the Clockwork Goddess are finally being answered." Touching his holy symbol he walks around the group and smiles.
"So, you all wish to go and save Torch and Baine then." Looking at Hiromi he gives the samurai a warm smile and lays his hand on her shoulder. A slight fuzzy sensation fills her. "Blessing of Brigh be upon you."
Turning towards Tristina he nods. "You're new here, I believe. I thank you for taking on this role where so many have come short. Blessing of Brigh be upon you." Lightly laying his hand on the Elf a similar sensation courses through her.
Arriving before Lucky he looks the man over. "Baine's son. I hope you the best on your mission. I would not like to see your sister become a complete orphan. Blessing of Brigh be upon you." Tapping the man's shoulder a sensation much like fizzy water fills him.
Approaching Van he looks at him in his eyes. "Van if I'm not mistaken. Well, my child, may Brigh's blessing be upon you." Laying his hand on the android the same feeling overwhelms him.
"I have blessed you with my hands, the hands of Brigh on Golarion. For the next few hours you have the ability to breathe water like a fish but also the air like any of the Gods chosen." Approaching his alter, which looked more like a workbench he kneels before it slowly, his age showing itself. "If you all need any assistance, I ask you come to me. I may be an old man, but I still have a fire in my soul to rival that of this town's namesake. Go, my children, Baine and Torch are in need of your skills."
Trina accepts the blessing quietly, nodding her thanks to the priest.
She gave the old man a bow from the waist in thanks for his blessing.
We shall do what we can and return with Master Baine as soon as we are able.
She offered waiting for the others to be ready. She shifted her grip on the haft of her naginata not in impatience to be going... but more in keen readiness to be going.