"Oo!" Cassian swiftly interjects. "On second thought, perhaps allowing the Sentries to go first would make for a better plan. If there's something lurking down there I'd rather they squander their advantage on some mediocre device than one of us."
Cassian roles awkwardly on his side and cranes his neck to find the dutiful bot. "Steven, take your Sentries down the rabbit hole and have a look around. We'll be shortly behind."
"Would you be a dear, Bera, and hold the door?"
Miri pauses for a moment, glancing over her shoulder at Bera.
Sense motive
Tyrn
You rack your brain for an idea as to what race she could possibly be, your thoughts scrambling as the door begins to grate open. The hooked appendage that was not latched around the side of the door frame was slowly forcing it open. The fighting just outside the doorway continues and a new shape shadows the doorway, eliciting a loud angry hiss from your previous opponent.
In its broken draconic it draws it's sword again and spreads its arm's wide, facing the doorway and standing beteen the slowly opening door and its shaken sibling. "Come to Die Metal MAN!"
She slams her sword into her shield and looks ready to charge...
Despite the destractions something snaps in your mind, another memory. Although you thought infernalists were mere superstition and imaginations gone wild. Yet this gear bears a look that is both unnatural, unsettling and yet oddly captivating. Merely looking at her eleicits so many different impulses it's hard to control your train of thought. You find your hands wandering to the lid as if you were going to open it subconciously and in the end your not able to ascertain her origins. Only that nothing on Earth looks like her, not in the slightest. But from the bat wings and her skin tones it reminds you of something you read in a infernalist tome on how to deal with summoning fiends. Something you had dabbled into but never practiced. Having foundthe entire process of slaughtering goats and humans both immoral and terrible things to do.
It had been an interesting read though, allowing you some insight into the deranged minds of those who believed such summoning circles would call forth creatures of nightmare or deamonic might...
...
"My word! Such unearthliness...." despite the commotion, Tyrn found time to feel astounded by this strange being he had only read sick and twisted tomes about. "Such a strange organism. I still refuse to admit that this creature hails from another dimension of the multiverse, but is rather a denizen of another planet; and modes of summoning involve the use of spatial shortcuts, or wormholes, which recently have been proven, in my experience, to be an adequate explanation for such phenomena. Still... I dare not risk releasing her upon the machine. First-contact must be dealt with delicately..."
The dark arts always felt distasteful to Tyrn, regardless of his open-mindedness. 'It's a crime against biology!' he'd often argue in debates with colleagues. Still, it stimulated his curiosity and he would entertain himself with a tome or two. But time is short for such recollections. He had to focus on the current threat. Perhaps this powerful being has equally powerful equipment that can aid Tyrn and his reptilian allies-of-convenience.
Crosses
Somehow The Red Shields airship successfully pulled away from the Reaver vessel leaving it far behind as their warship moved full steam towards Cygnus. In the meantime Barnabus and the remaining officers gather below in the forward galley to discuss what was gained and lost in the boarding effort. You both take note that a few officers appear to be missing. However the priest from earlier was standing in attendance near Barnabus although the man was quiet.
Barnabus was surprisingly quiet, in fact he looked solemn as he went over the report. The facts spelled it out without a doubt that the Red Shields had taken a beating for what little they gained from the Reaver galley. A third of the Red Shields were lost in the attack including three officers. But the Intel that was gathered was worth something at least.
When Barnabus spoke it wasn't with his usually boisterous arrogance, he sounded tired. "What a blunder, when the bastards rolled and dumped a good amount of their crew I saw an opportunity to strike. Thats the first time i've tangled with a Reaver vessel and i'd always believe them to be bogeymen. An old wives tale and yet they exist..."
He looked to you two then, as your report was the only one he hadn't heard. "From what this fella said you saved their arses in the brig and mucked up the works before catching upto us. What else do you discover?"
Cassian, Miri, Ael
Despite her small frame Bera removes the grating with ease, wiggling her hips back and forth as she shifts her way backwards past Miri. She settled the grating against the duct wall while the servitor's moved forward and down into the room below. Several minutes pass and...
Nothing happens.
From Miri's POV
You watch the servitors move back and forth across the room in a swarm of glinting metal, pale lights and pulsing lights. The swarm of floating metal Servitor's, as the furless monkey called them, appear to be thoroughly searching the room. Pausing to inspect the many corpses you and Bera missed in your earlier observation. Then they discover a fallen beam that apparently splits the room with fallen metal and rubble.
The beam however wasn't what drew your attention, it was teh thing trapped beneath it. Another strange metal machine, similar to those that you have seem either smashed apart in the ruins of the High Ones or those unmoving sentinels that decimate anyone who trespass in the High One's ruin's. It appears to be akin to an arachnid, several spiderlike legs protrude from its base but from the waist up it looks like a high one who was crafterd from metal. Despite appearing feminine in construction you can't make out any skin or other organic parts for that matter. The strange construct holds a double pronged staff that is about eight feet tall.
The Servitor's inspect the fallen machine woman more closely, as one of the Sentries moves towards the staff it crackles to life. Lightning runs up and down the dual prongs and something set in the base of the prongs started to glow, humming for a few moments before becoming quiet once more. The only indication it was still functioning was the disruptions in the light as the internal gears spun and moved back and forth.
The three sealed scroll tubes appear to be message to the now possibly deceased Warwitch.
Warwitch, know this if you fail me I will flay you alive over the pits of hell. You will not know death for as long as I deem your corpse and essence to be amusing and as you know I do not tire of my playthings. Remember this or suffer!
The weapon you've been intrusted with is a Skyblade, created by the damnable elves that worshipped Cyriss long ago and then foolishly entrusted this weapon to Cygnian's. It is vital it remain in your possession until you reach the outpost in Eox where it can be appraised fully. DO NOT LOSE IT!
The outpost on Eox has come under heavy assault as of late, the Bone Sages apparently wish to recant on our agreement. See to it they pay for their betrayal. Annhilate the halls of the living upon arrival, send the Astrementious against them and relay my wishes to Captain Tanith.
We've recently captured and have been holding a priest of great importance, see to it he is not lost on your way to Eox. Once there Report to Iron Lich Serphine, she will instruct him on his new commitments and faith to Cryx.
It appears to be a spellbook, its binding is created from human flesh pulled tight and dried into a leather cover. Strengthened human hair was used to create the spine of the book and in all things it appears to be very durable. Each page is also crafted from human skin. Despite being wafer thin it is surprisingly tough and partially elastic which means it will never tear or wear down.
The spells within though are another story and require some time to discern their possible uses... (Spell Craft checks required.)
The last time you looked upon this incredibly light mechanical blade it was inert but now it appeared to be humming quietly. You hadn't noticed before because it had been located in an interdimensional space. A light glow appeared to be emanating from within the finely tuned ogs and gears that were now moving of their own accord.
Tyrn
As you examine the gear within, starting with the dual bladed weapon, you find yourself staring into a glowing eye that looks to be imbedded in the cross hilt of the blade. No matter how you move the eye follows with its malevolent stare. You feel a sting in your eyes as a bead of sweat runs off your forehead. Whatever this is it appears it is resisting your attempts to identify it. The tome is a spell book of sorts and many of the other item's appear to be radiating magic as well. There is a bag, a pouch and a backpack that all radiate a moderate conjuration magical aura.
Your investigation is interrupted by the slam of the gladiator as she is thrown bodily back into the room by what must have been a more powerful opponent. Turning you spot the first of these metal men stepping into the room. At first they appeared to be wearing a diving bell on their heads and the strange apparatus had several plates that ran down to the center of their chest. Where it appears to be riveted in place. It was taller then an average human and its muscle structure was way disproportioned as well, appearing to be swelled up with so much muscle that it lumbered with every step. These things wore no armor other then the apparatus covering their head and chest and steel clad boots as well. Instead of having a pair of hands it appeared that one hand had been replaced with a saw blade that was now spinning at a blurring pace.
As it stepped into the room it quickly surveyed it's surroundings before homing back in on the now rising reptilian gladiator...
Leon carefully removes the scrolls from their cases checking for any traps or poisons. He smirks upon reading the warnings the witch was giving about the sword and priest he hopes she was a reaver so she'd receive her punishment. Upon seeing the tome was indeed magical in nature he hands it off to Aurora knowing she'd know more about it than he would. "What do you make of this my love?"
He then notices the strange humming sound coming from the Skysword when he draws it he sees the glow coming from within the blade.
Aurora looks at Leon as he holds the book. When he hands her the book she can't help but hesitate for a moment before receiving it into her hands. With trembling fingers Aurora clutches the book, firm yet delicately. Upon inspection it begins to sink in that this book was really made of human parts. She carefully peels back the cover and the pages and winces at each crinkle. “Whoever made this had some skill and patience…” Suddenly a soft breeze created by one of the turning pages wafted a foul odor. With that the little bite she managed to eat earlier began to play peek-a-boo with the back of her tonsils. Before she knew it the old bread, dried fish and sip of wine she had managed to consume in a hurry earlier was all over the floor. For some reason the book’s smell did not set well with her. She had witnessed far worse while fighting, but the smell was too much. Pale and shaking she clutches her stomach with one hand and holds her hair aside with the other. After much retching she finally stands with her eyes tightly shut. “No, no not agai- blaaaarg!” Cold sweat trickled down her spine and her face became three shades paler. “Book…gah…get it away from me! Damn the maker of that book!” Like a bat blasted with sunshine she shrinks away from the book into a patch of shadow nearby. She mutters frustrated with herself “Between the air sickness and the book I am going to lose half my weight by the time I am done!” She pauses and gulps hard in hopes of keeping whatever contents left in her stomach down and a thought surfaced,“I was just starting to like my curves too.” She hands the book back to Leon.
With all the grace of a sulking cat in a rainstorm, she glares at the book in Leon’s hand. She clears her throat, “It appears to be a book of magic created by something a bit twisted my love.”
Leon rushes to his beloved's side and rubs her back as the book lays ignored on the ground. "Are you ok? What happened?" He asks concerned and a little horrified thinking there must have been some kind of magical trap on the book.
Leon rushes to his beloved's side and rubs her back as the book lays ignored on the ground. "Are you ok? What happened?" He asks concerned and a little horrified thinking there must have been some kind of magical trap on the book.
"I am fine-" she manages a smile "the book smelled horrible and I guess it got to me". She closed her eyes for a moment as the stink permeated her memory.
Leon whilst keeping a good bit of distance from Aurora slips the tome back into his pack along with the rest of the scrolls. "Are you going to be ok?" He asks as he wraps his arms around her and rests her head on his shoulder.
Leon whilst keeping a good bit of distance from Aurora slips the tome back into his pack along with the rest of the scrolls. "Are you going to be ok?" He asks as he wraps his arms around her and rests her head on his shoulder.
A small chuckle emerges from her full lips. "Yes, I may be a bit thinner by the time we get off of this blasted ship!" She rests her head into him and feels herself becoming more stable. She stops a moment and thinks of what she can do to get rid of that smell in her mind. Without a second thought she plunges her nose into Leon's side and takes in a deep whiff. "Ahhh! I knew that lavender-lemon soap I wash your clothes with would come in handy!".
"I was wondering why my clothes smelled less like blood and oil and more like a pie, and now I'm no longer confused." He says with one of his rare pure smiles that are reserved for Aurora alone.
"I was wondering why my clothes smelled less like blood and oil and more like a pie, and now I'm no longer confused." He says with one of his rare pure smiles that are reserved for Aurora alone.
Wait a minute mister! You don't even like pie, so should I take that as a compliment on my laundry skills or as an insult?" Aurora pokes him in the belly and gives him an intense stare hanging on for any form of response. One eye squinting and one brow lifted in a dramatic expression, trying her best to make the "quizzical brow" she once read about.
"Hey I liked that cheese cake with the chocolate crust! And I'd never insult your laundry skills." He said as he puts on his most innocent face which in his cryxian armor along with his facial scar is almost comical in its impossibility.
"Hey I liked that cheese cake with the chocolate crust! And I'd never insult your laundry skills." He said as he puts on his most innocent face which in his cryxian armor along with his facial scar is almost comical in its impossibility.
Aurora bursts out laughing to the point that she is gasping for air. She made sure to muffle it by placing her face into his side. "My love, I will never doubt you again!" she breathes in deeply in hopes of casting off the sudden fit of giggles. "I will keep making you that pie, I promise. When we get off this ship I will make you steak, mint tea, succulent roast pork and your favorite pie.
"You promise? I'm pretty tired of ship food especially since I still believe the cook is incompetent." He says with a frown as he continues to hold Aurora knowing Barnabus will eventually call for a meeting to see what happened but at the moment not caring.
"You promise? I'm pretty tired of ship food especially since I still believe the cook is incompetent." He says with a frown as he continues to hold Aurora knowing Barnabus will eventually call for a meeting to see what happened but at the moment not caring.
Aurora gets a distant look in her eyes and shakes her head in agreement recounting the oh so lovely dried fish that tasted of death laced with sulfur and a dash ammonia. Her mind wandered to the soup and she shivered pulling Leon closer. "Remember the "soup" the cook graced us with?". She makes a grossed out expression and looks up at Leon batting her lashes, "My love, be honest with me...was that rat we ate?"
"I'm still not sure if it was classifiable as 'meat' so I'm not really sure what it was." he says with a barely contained shutter.
"It was starting to grow on me until the greasy bit at the end." She gulps down hard, "The crunchy, greasy, hairy parts he said were "dumplings". I would hate to see noodles."
The lone Red Shield cook suddenly sneezes over the pot of rice and beef stew that he was making. He looked around just before he was overcome with a sneezing fit. After he had sneezed another four times it finally abated. Seeing he was still alone he wiped the hanging snot off with his apron and shrugged as he mumbled to himself. "Adds flavor." With that he continued stirring the overcooked rice and beef and hummed a light tune to himself...
"It was starting to grow on me until the greasy bit at the end." She gulps down hard, "The crunchy, greasy, hairy parts he said were "dumplings". I would hate to see noodles."
"Yes, dump being the operative word here I think." He says sarcastically.
"Yes, dump being the operative word here I think." He says sarcastically.
"Dump" she thought. "Oh infernal hoards" she could feel her stomach churning once more. "Remember when I said to not lie to me?" she looks Leon in the eyes, "Just lie to me and tell me you don't really think it could be dump". She plasters her face into his side again. "ok just breathe deep" she reminded herself.
"I just meant not good, I don't actually think he defecated in the food..." He says with a not entirely positive expression.
"I just meant not good, I don't actually think he defecated in the food..." He says with a not entirely positive expression.
Aurora released a low growl from under Leon's armpit. Frustrated with his honesty she blurts out a muffled protest, "NO PIE FOR YOU!". Unsure Leon could hear her she continued to mumble random thoughts of "dignity" and "self preservation" followed by colorful speech adorned with the word "dumplings". She lets out a sigh almost to admit her defeat to the cook. "Leon, I demand a plate of your pomegranate reduction on steak and a book burning for dessert!" Normally Aurora was a seasoned fighter ready to take on the world at Leon's side, but tonight thoughts of food tickled her mind. A while of eating horrendous food will do that to a lady.
"What no pie?! Look how about I poison the cook and I get pie still, will that work?" Leon says and it's fairly hard to tell if he is serious or not....Aurora has the feeling he is probably serious.
"What no pie?! Look how about I poison the cook and I get pie still, will that work?" Leon says and it's fairly hard to tell if he is serious or not....Aurora has the feeling he is probably serious.
"Gyaaah! Leon No!" She tightens her embrace. "Leon I don't think that would be wise, I will give you pie if you don't kill the cook alright?"
Leon puts his chin in his hand and thinks for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "All right, but if you ask me his cooking is already poison so it's really only fair."
Leon puts his chin in his hand and thinks for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "All right, but if you ask me his cooking is already poison so it's really only fair."
She giggles again and gives him a peck on the cheek. "Thank you my love, I will make sure to make two of them then"
Leon smiles. "Good I expect them as soon as we land in Cygnus and I'll b sure to start on the steaks." He says as he goes to kiss her neck.
Leon smiles. "Good I expect them as soon as we land in Cygnus and I'll b sure to start on the steaks." He says as he goes to kiss her neck.
"WAIT! What of the pomegranate reduction eh?"
"It's included in the steak my dear. I didn't forget."
Leon sighs knowing its time to start heading to the war room. He kneels down to pick up what he assumes is the Skyblade only to have it make the most awful whine he drops the blade in shock feeling as if the blade doesn't want him to touch it. "What in the nine hells was that about!?"
"It's included in the steak my dear. I didn't forget."
Leon sighs knowing its time to start heading to the war room. He kneels down to pick up what he assumes is the Skyblade only to have it make the most awful whine he drops the blade in shock feeling as if the blade doesn't want him to touch it. "What in the nine hells was that about!?"
Aurora peeks from behind and bends forward. She leans over and slowly moves her hands close to the blade. She gently lifts the blade and a soft hum begins to grow. The humming made a soft pulsing sensation travel down her arm. She compared it to the purr of a young kitten. Her lacquered nails traced the hilt gently.
Leon's eyes widen slightly at the blade's reaction to Aurora. "It...seems to like you more than me mi amor. Maybe you should hold on to it." He says as he wonders what this could mean.
Leon's eyes widen slightly at the blade's reaction to Aurora. "It...seems to like you more than me mi amor. Maybe you should hold on to it." He says as he wonders what this could mean.
She looks up at Leon with adoring eyes. "Are you sure my corazon? You do not want to take this blade as your own?"
"I'm sure my love." He says with a smile as he gently lays his forehead against hers.
Crosses
He looked to you two then, as your report was the only one he hadn't heard. "From what this fella said you saved their arses in the brig and mucked up the works before catching upto us. What else do you discover?"
The slow and repetitive soft whisper of stone and steel emanates from Leon. "Not much." Leon says as he pulls out the scrolls and lays them on the table. "It would seem by these missives that the reavers were headed towards Eox. They were bring the Skyblade which we are assuming is this sword, and Eox is apparently under attack and while I certainly don't mind Cryxian's being attacked I don't see how that does us much good at the moment. Now as for the last message I'm assuming that they are referring to you." He says nodding towards the priest. "What did they want you for?"
DI!
Your soldiers nod and separate leaving sixteen on deck It's not long before Smitty brings the battered airship into position near the gate. The four men are moving the first barrels into position by the time you reach the gate but the moment you started moving towards it Smitties airship started taking fire as the undead troops began rallying against the threat. The Raker continued its slow turn as it angled to make it's way towards you...
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
Miri silently creeps down the tunnel to where the others wait.
”There is a creature down there that looks like, half spider – half High One, made of metal. She holds a staff that began bears lightning on it, and began to hum when the servitors approached it.”
"High One?" Cassian asks, furrowing his brow.
Sounds like more elf-tech. Still... With Illithids and Cephalyx lurking about, it's difficult to know for sure.
"The sentries must have recognized it if they didn't make an outright attack on discovery. Suggest we descend with caution. Any objections?"
Crosses - Prior to the meeting
The moment Leon releases the blade the screaming inside his head stops, that echoing screech of denial apparently was only noticeable when in contact with the strange Skyblade. As Aurora runs her fingers over the blade it seems to return to a calm state humming along almost like a cat would when pleased. As she takes a hold of it a pleased smile spread across her face, total elation in fact and with a fierce kiss she follows Leon to the meeting room without another word.
Elation and overwhelming happiness. These feelings you understand and the instant you take hold of the blade you know its name and that it is incomplete. The Skyblade isn't a blade at all but an object created from the remains of a long dead dragon. As you struggle to process this information you quietly follow along with Leon to this meeting and at first aren't able to think enough to add anything more than an agreeing nod at your husbands words.
Then a short memory eclipsed your vision, a memory that was obviously not your own...
A blinding flash in the western night sky caused you to squint as you tried to discern the cause. It was as if the great light had risen in the west mere hours after it had set before. Taking up your great halberd you stood alone and watched over your sleeping charges. Forever bound to fulfill your promise.
CROSSES
The Lyonessian priest maintains his neutral facial expression as he shrugs at your direct question.
"I'm unsure as to what vile machinations they had planned for me but from what little i heard while receiving their lessons... I was made to believe that they were taking us somewhere off world... What ever that means anyway."
Barnabus shook his head, his eyebrows having been rising in confusion and surprise from the message you uncovered and the priests strange words. "Never bloody heard of Eox before and what's this off world madness? Now if Eox is a kingdom than I never heard of hit, perhaps it's some tiny little island floating in the ether here about a eh?" It's clear from his tone that he clearly disbelieves what he is hearing to be true.
I whisper still, "Let's take look: better to go forward now, I think."
"Other world...could that strange disturbance in the air be related? It certainly didn't look like the surrounding environment." Leon says wondering aloud.