Olimpia responds with This one has been corrupted with all that Hellion rubbish. Take her down.
Dilana nods at Olimpia's direction, steps back and again tries to lower the androids competence with weapons. Her eyes flash green as she fixes her gaze on her.
Roga continued to attack the android with his axe, "Stop already with this Hellion thing. Lay down your weapon!"
---------
HP 29/33
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13
Conditions: n/a
Melee (MW battleaxe or warhammer): +6 = +1 MW +3 (base) +2 (STR)
Melee Damage (MW battleaxe or warhammer): 1d8+3, x3
-1 to hit, +2 damage for power attack
if 2H then 1d8+3 damage and -1 to hit, +3 damage for power attack
Ranged (MW pistol): +7 = +1 MW +3 (base) +3 (DEX)
Ranged damage (MW pistol): 1d8, x4, 20' (touch AC in 1st range)
-1 to hit, +2 damage for deadly aim
-2 to hit if full round both warhammer and pistol
Rage adds +4 STR and +4 DEX
4/8 rage
Figgy uses an extract and casts Adhesive spittle
Meyanda Tries to cast defensively.
Olimpia & Roga being in melee with Meyanda get to take AOO's on her.
The android's screaming and ranting about Hellion suggests that she too has been corrupted by the cult the group had found evidence of earlier. Seeing the danger she presents Raktar moves swiftly around the strange furniture of the room, steps between Roga and Olimpia, and brings his hammer down.
Whatever the Android had to say was lost as her attempt the cast a spell failed under the barrage of blows rained down on her by the party.
Olimpia, Roga & Raktar all stike in quick succession to finish her. She collapses to the ground unconscious and dying.
Stabilizing.
Silence falls and the party slowly straightens as no other danger appears.
Loot carried on her.
Black nanite hypogun (5 charges);
Chain shirt,
MW spiked gauntlet,
+1 inferno pistol,
Nanite canisters (2),
White access card.
Silver unholy symbol of Hellion.
Roga checked himself for a second time and smiled as he was no more hurt after the battle than he was at the beginning.
He noted the android was still alive and proceeded to remove the weapons from her.
"I think she owes us some explanation. She may know something about the Torch. I'll restrain her and we can question her."
----------
He looked at the guns and at JJ, "You know if those are any good?"
Looking over the loot found Olimpia notes Hey a white access card. Our ticket forward, right? She picks up the pistol and mentions I think I could use this for when I have to fight at range. Anyone else want to carry it?
Figgy watches as the machine lady goes down under the blows of Olimpia and Roga.
"Think I could fix her up? Make you a friend Springy?" Figgy looks over the dead android and the items she had on her.
"We should restrain her and bring her with us I would think. The townfolks can deal out whatever punishment they deem fit."
Looking over the positions of the fallen woman Dilana picks up the Silver unholy symbol of Hellion. "Ugly thing this is, anyone mind if I keep it?"
With their latest foe defeated, JJ holstered his pistol and for the time being and brought out a rope to restrain the fallen android. Whoever she was, she had answers to their questions and she was going to answer them.
He looked at the guns and at JJ, "You know if those are any good?"
While JJ couldn't make heads or tails of the guns because they were technological, they were still guns so he was interested. "Look at it this way, Roga. If she had them on her, more than likely she would've planned to use them against us somehow. No point of carrying a weapon if you're no good at using it, so it's definitely good to someone.
She picks up the pistol and mentions I think I could use this for when I have to fight at range. Anyone else want to carry it?
"I can take it once I'm done trussing this woman up." He said as he tied up the unconscious android. "I am good with blackpowder pistols. Techno ones shouldn't be too different.
"Think I could fix her up? Make you a friend Springy?" Figgy looks over the dead android and the items she had on her.
"If my experiences with Olimp have told me and Tybs anything, it's that Androids need doctors, not a tinkerer." He quipped.
"We should restrain her and bring her with us I would think. The townfolks can deal out whatever punishment they deem fit."
"Doing that now. Roga, help me out. You look like you can tie a tight knot."
"Ugly thing this is, anyone mind if I keep it?"
"Take it. It's only worth the metal it's made of anyway.
"I could be a doctor, do you know if I am not?" Figgy pushes Springy over as the bot shakes his head "no" to Figgy's comment.
After the group rounds things up and the android is tied up, Figgy holds the white card high in the air,
"I have the key to move on, shall we?"
"Don't think any of this stuff is any use to me," Raktar says, looking over the unconscious android's belongings. "We should leave her here for now, then maybe we can ask her some questions when she wakes up. I can't afford to waste any magic on her, I can feel my powers ebbing."
If that's the case, any though about taking a rest in here? Likely a bad idea on general principle I know.
Roga worked along JJ to bind the android woman. He stuffed a rag into her mouth to prevent her from casting.
He then looked at the gnome, "If you have a way to open the doors, I think we need to go to the door east of where that statue tried to claw me to death."
The barbarian made sure his gun was loaded and led the way...
----------------
Dilana nods "I agree with the big guy. In my old business I always found it better not to put things off."
"No objections here." JJ replied, agreeing with the barbarian's plan.
The rogue stands beside the door and after checking it for traps, indicates she is ready.
Figgy will pick Springy up and move towards the locked door, swiping the card to open the doors.
The door is untrapped and opens easily to the White card. You are immediately struck by what is almost a wall of sound and violet light as the large room is revealed to you.
D9.
Panels of blinking lights and machinery line the walls of this chamber, but the true spectacle here is the massive machine of metal that looms against the far wall on a ten-foot- high platform.
Two immense cylinders of pulsing violet light throb at the machine's core, while above a thinner cylinder extends through the ceiling. Ladders to the north and south provide access to the machine's platform, while at the center, a smaller machine with several metal spikes protruding from its heart extends from the larger one.
The entire room vibrates with a roaring thunder, and the air feels strangely alive, almost as if it were vibrating as well.
This chamber is the source of Torch's claim to fame an immense and partially malfunctioning fusion reactor.
The machine is currently operating beyond its safety protocols so that Meyanda can harvest its excess power.
The reactor has a built-in power transmitter (this is the smaller
machine with spikes), but the range of this transmitter is significantly reduced by the ship's hull and the surrounding rock, forcing Meyanda to place the power relay in a nearby warehouse in Torch so she can transmit power somewhere to the North east.
The methods for returning the reactor to standby mode and thus reactivating its fail-safe are, fortunately for Torch, relatively simple.
The reactor can be returned to normal operation by resetting the reactor's fail-safe and putting it back into dormancy.
The simplest way to engage the fail-safe is to deactivate the power transmitter built into the side of the reactor.
Destroying the power transmitter works (hardness 15, hp 60), but each time the device takes damage, it blasts a 5-foot radius around it with electricity-all creatures in this area must succeed at a DC 15 Reflex save or take 2d6 points of electricity damage).
A safer method is to deactivate it with a successful DC 30 Disable Device check. This check takes 10 minutes to attempt and, assuming there are no distractions, a character can take 10 or take 20 on the check, but may be impossible for a character to successfully accomplish this task without the Technologist feat.
Fortunately, partial instructions to disarm the transmitter and engage the fail-safe appear on the device's damaged monitors. If these messages, which are written in Androffan, are translated, they grant a +10 circumstance bonus on Disable Device checks and allow checks to deactivate it to be attempted untrained.
Olympia looks in athlete massive machine. Its a reactor. she explains. The source of Torch's power. We need to reset it. I think I can do that if given enough time. She looks about for threats in the room before entering.
With hairs on end, the barbarian explored the strange room just humming with energy.
he was glad the android apparently knew what to do; he yelled above the roaring thunder,"How can I help you? I don't think we want to be here longer than necessary. This doesn't feel right"
Cautiously, and looking for danger Olympia enters the room and if no danger presents itself she gets out her tools and sets to work.
Despite the nearly overwhelming environment Olimpia has no problems resetting the Reactor. The noise drops to an almost quiet pulsing, background hum and the two violet columns flash even brighter, enough to make you cover your eyes. Then they pulse upwards.
"Bloody hells," Raktar mutters as they enter the reactor room, overawed by the intensity and complexity of the machines within.
Knowing he is outclassed by Olimpia and Figgy, he stands guard while the android spends a few fraught minutes resetting the machinery, culminating in a bright violet flash.
"Is that it? Is the torch back on?"
"I... I think it is." Jeremiah commented as he observed the violet flashes pulse upwards behind his hand before chuckling and smiling. "We actually pulled it off. Not bad for a bunch of amateur adventurers, huh?"
Looking pleased and a little surprised at the success Olympia also looks a little less timid and more confident. Yes. we did do it. And that is a strike against the League. I feel good about that. Thank you all for this chance. She looks a little hesitant but then asks If you really think we made a good team, what do you think about me staying on? I've never been part of a team before and this feels right.
Dilana lets out a low whistle, it is possible she is just understanding what has gone on around her.
"This.... this is just amazing. So a machine can turn on and off the life of the town. Should we try and make sure it cannot happen again?"
She walks around the room away form the group a little. If someone looked close they would see that she looks like she might cry.
"So... I guess I go back to making shoes now?"
She is quiet until Olimpia speaks.
She looks a little hesitant but then asks If you really think we made a good team, what do you think about me staying on? I've never been part of a team before and this feels right.
"A team? That doesn't sound bad. My shop just sounds so dull now."
Figgy looks a bit upset that Olimpia got to do the final button pushing to reset the reactor.
"Do you think I can keep this? Maybe I can start to make new weapons and armor. I would be the envy of all the Gnomes across the world with a blast furnace like this, the Dwarves too. I could show them up in Alkenstar I bet too." Figgy drifts off into magical dreams of his new forge.
Roga was happy and eager to get out of there, "A team? For what? We were asked to rescue the wizard and then restablish the Torch, both things which we have apparently done."
He looked at the others, "Don't get me wrong, it's been a pleasure and I do owe some of you for the healing provided but why are we forming a team?"
"I don't know. Team stuff? Maybe someone else needs help with something?"
With insperation she holds up the unholy symbol she stashed in her bag.
"Maybe something to do with this ugly thing?"
She shrugs thinking Clearly he wasn't a cobbler before this.
"I could use a team to help me salvage part's to make springy better, you could be like my new family... only much taller than me." Figgy brushes his blue hair back.
Roga was happy and eager to get out of there, "A team? For what? We were asked to rescue the wizard and then restablish the Torch, both things which we have apparently done."
He looked at the others, "Don't get me wrong, it's been a pleasure and I do owe some of you for the healing provided but why are we forming a team?"
"You want a reason, buddy?" JJ asked, looking to his friend. "Well, the reason is currently unconscious in the other room. That... power relay or whatever Figgy called it was sending power somewhere. She set it up, knows where that power was going, and why someone wanted it. Now, it may just be me, but this whole thing just screams 'Technic League bullsh*t'. Even if it's not them, I doubt whoever wanted this to happen would just stop trying because of one setback. They'll send more people and try this stunt again."
He then looked out the display, watching the torch in action, using his hand to cover his eyes to keep from going blind. "In the end, if we just sit here and wait, we'll just end up doing the same song and dance over and over until we wind up run out of town, dead, or worse. I don't think any of us like those outcomes. So... I say we put a stop to it. I know I want to find the moron in charge of these fanatics and give his brains a bit more breathing room." He added at the end, patting his pistol a bit.
Once they are back on the surface, Figgy will head to the temple of Brigh, returning the holy symbols and telling the priest(es) about where they found the dead Gnomes and what happened to them as far as they know. Figgy will ask to keep one of the holy symbols attaching it to his armor for all to see.
He will then visit Khonnir and Val, making sure they are ok.
Figgy would also like to copy some fomulae at the proper cost of course.
"You want a reason, buddy?" JJ asked, looking to his friend. "Well, the reason is currently unconscious in the other room. That... power relay or whatever Figgy called it was sending power somewhere. She set it up, knows where that power was going, and why someone wanted it. Now, it may just be me, but this whole thing just screams 'Technic League bullsh*t'. Even if it's not them, I doubt whoever wanted this to happen would just stop trying because of one setback. They'll send more people and try this stunt again."
He then looked out the display, watching the torch in action, using his hand to cover his eyes to keep from going blind. "In the end, if we just sit here and wait, we'll just end up doing the same song and dance over and over until we wind up run out of town, dead, or worse. I don't think any of us like those outcomes. So... I say we put a stop to it. I know I want to find the moron in charge of these fanatics and give his brains a bit more breathing room." He added at the end, patting his pistol a bit.
While JJ goes on Dilana smiles broadly. As she speaks she moves over to stand beside him because frankly she has no idea what else to do.
"See there is a good reason. I had no idea about the power trans-splatter or whatever it is but it makes sense. If it was sending power someplace but we should go there. I mean we cant get the power back but the guys with this symbol were probably form there and they are no good. No good at all."
I really do not want to go back to making shoes, unless I can put some of my magic into that. I should work that out.
"Dilana's right. Someone must be behind shutting off the torch, there must have been some reason from moving all that power out of those metal caves. Something bigger is happening here than just the loss of the town's income," Raktar states, certainty and conviction in his voice.
"And like JJ says, we're probably in the best position to look further into it. Starting with the android and her Hellion cult."
Roga nodded; he was easily convinced since he really had nothing else to do but study the sky metals.
"I'm OK with sticking together. I am curious about this Hellion guy."
He started gathering things up in his broad back, "Let's take what we think will be useful and get back above. I miss me some fresh air."
I am in if you will have me. I have spent too much of my short life hiding from the League. Its time to do something about them.
Emerging from the stinking waters once again you can almost see the shadows dancing as a large column of purple flame blazes atop Black hill. It will take almost a day until the reborn fire recedes to it's normal bonfire levels. Throughout the town you can hear happy cries and celebrations taking place as the town reacts to it's lifeblood being restored.
The Council is delighted with you, as are the townsfolk, at least for the next few weeks you find paying for drinks, or a bed (Occupied or unoccupied) is unnecessary. For now at least you are the heroes of Torch.
While you were under Black hill Khonnir Baine studied the captured Power relay, working out that it was set to transmit the stolen power to a point 105 miles NE of Torch. The only settlement of any size in that area is Scrapwall.
Like you the council believes that the threat is not ended, someone or something in Scrapwall wanted a lot of power, for what reason is unknown, at least until your prisoner can be questioned.
Khonnir Baine & Joram Kyte are going to be examining and questioning the captured Android woman, do any of you wish to assist or be there while this is taking place?
Figgy will like to be there when the talking with the captured android, just for curiosities sake.
"So how are you going to question the android?"
JJ will partake in assisting the interrogation.
"So how are you going to question the android?"
"The way I see it, we either got to scare it out of her, trick her into revealing her secrets, or win her over to our side. I'd rather avoid painful methods if possible. It's not that I don't have the stomach for it, but she'd probably say anything to make the pain stop."
Raktar listens intently to Khonnir's findings, and agrees that the power transfer needs to be investigated. He attends the questioning of the android woman, keen to learn more about Hellion and the cult she seemed to lead under the hill.
"She seems quite fanatical, I'm not sure how easily she'll give up her knowledge. And I agree with JJ, I don't know how effective torturing her would be. Can androids even be tortured?" he asks, knowing little of how they work or function.
We can be tortured, but I'd also rather not go that route if we do not have to. I'd sooner go to this Scrapwall without further knowledge than that. I should be there when she is questioned, if for no other reason than to remind her that she has choices and does not have to follow her current path.
"There is a spell that could help but I have not learned it yet. Maybe there is a scroll of Zone Of Truth in town."
[u] If no scroll [/u]
Dilana will join the interrogation and glare at the prisoner, occasionally laughing a bit. Lancelot occasional skitters over and pokes at the prisoner as well.
"I agree no torture but my skills might be able to help with the questioning. I don't want to get to involved but I can make it harder for her to resist I think."
Neither Khonnir nor Joram have any plans to use torture on the captured Android. The spend the first few days just talking to her and listening to her responses.
Meyanda, for that is her name spends most of that time ranting at her captors, stating how her God Hellion will destroy you, and all who are made of the weak flesh.
Khonnir confides to you outside the room she's held prisoner in. "This is a real concern!" He states, looking very worried. "She is a Cleric of this Hellion, and has actually been granted spells?"
As they continue to simply talk and listen a picture slowly emerges from scraps of information dropped by Meyanda. Only recently born, she survived the destruction of her foundry by chance. The scavengers who had discovered the ruin, and the stasis pods containing the Androids managed to trigger a self-destruct at the same time, killing themselves and all her fellow Androids.
From their she made her way to the nearest community, if the sprawling mass of wreckage overrun by scavengers and gangs of thugs called Scrapwall can be considered a community?
There she was soon contacted by Hellion. Finding his logical nature much more to her liking than that of the violent and illogical living things she had to exist with.
She has no problems letting you know that Hellion is what she calls an AI, a living, thinking machine, one she considers far superior to the scourge of flesh.
Olimpia wants to recount to Meyanda he mistreatment at the hands of the Technic League and point out that other communities are different than Scrapwall and that people should not be judged solely by what she has seen there. I do now know what Hellion wills you do do, but if it is not evil then I think you will find some acceptance here of his worship and you might even find followers in these people should you choose to be logical and peaceful in your approach.
Raktar is confused by Meyanda's revelations. "I'm no religious scholar like Father Joram, but I'm disturbed by the idea of the sudden appearance of a god that is also a machine. How can an entity like this grant magic, and gather followers?" he muses, less concerned with the android herself than the implications of what she says.
"We need to know more about Hellion. How powerful is it? What are it's goals, and who is it gathering to enact them? It feels like this machine god presents a huge threat."
With the team concept already gelling in his mind, the barbarian had no interest in questioning, much less torturing the android girl.
He instead prepared himself for what seemed to be a trip to Scarwall or Scrapwall or something like that, a place rumored to be running rampart with unsavory types.
With his new armor and ring, he looked at the small magical hammer and somehow wished it the proper size.
----------
What does the town have for law enforcement / punishment. I would assume they will do something, maybe even kill her.