Bethune's optical receptors were busy with taking in the sights and sounds of the celebration and never expected the chaotic turn of events that ensued. He does his best to stay close to his companions as the ground crumbles and splits apart beneath him. He catches the eyes of the great silver dragon, and sense the use of it's dying magic to save him. It seemed to Bethune that the dragon had a similar directive as himself.
The strong influence of magic made the landing bearably soft. His eyes were cast into darkness and for a moment he wondered if he had ceased to be operative.
He stirred to life as he heard the familiar identifications of his fellow androids over the communicator. Dusting himself off, he went through his supplies to make sure nothing was damaged, and re-securing any items loosened by the fall. Bethune had a very specific purpose; a purpose that required equally specific tools for him to operate at peak performance.
He responds to her inquiry first, before turning towards the sudden light and sudden connection to "Designation: Archie".
He nods to Sarasanna " Lucifer, help her keep an eye on the arachnid, I'll see about damage control." Bethune states, moving to the damaged elf." Please remain calm Aravashnial. You have received dire injuries and I'm afraid you will not see again without the help of substantial magic. I am sorry for your loss, but It's important that I treat your open wounds so that your condition doesn't worsen." As he employed his bedside manners, he analyzed the grievous wounds and began to take the necessary items from his healer's kit. " I'm going to apply some medicine, and then bandages, remain calm Aravashnial, you may feel a slight sting..."
[dice=Perception, watching the spider] 1d20 + 9
Lucifer looks around as the lights come up, slowly adjusting his optical receptors to the changing conditions. It seems that the android's transmissions systems are somewhat lacking; although understandable, they are definitely crackly.
He looks around and frowns at the wounded elf, though whether out of pity or simple recognition of severe wounds, it's hard to say. He nods at Bethune's suggestion. "I will help Sarasanna, yes." Hefting his shovel into a two-handed grip with the head before him, he steps up near the feminine android. "What's going on with it? Just a big spider?"
Bethune stalled. He recognized that the man's injuries were dire but he had no concept of his value in aiding the group. He kew that the supplies of his medicine kit were finite, and that once it was depleted his job would become a lot harder. Still, he tried to see the value in this damaged life and reminded himself of the difference between the demons who caused this, and the elf in front of him that was suffering.
His statement carries over the communicater as he gets to work.
"You're doing good Aravashnial, just a few moments..."
"The dead spider is a natural arachnid. However, there appears to be something consuming it from the inside and attempting to break out. It could be young, or a parasite. I advise we ignite the corpse as a precaution, unless we can determine what may be inside prior to its release."
Anevia pushes the last of the rocks off of her legs "What in the hells happened? Did anyone else survive that?"
Receiving no additional feedback from Archie, Akkramar reverted to his initial exploration of the surroundings - he heard the woman's voice, and headed towards her.
"Yes, it seems there are others here" - he responded - "Are you unhurt? Do you require assistance?" - even while addressing the woman, he stands halfway between her, Sarasanna and Lucifer, keeping an eye on Bethune - - he communicates.
- Akkramar adds to all listening -
Lucifer looks around as the lights come up, slowly adjusting his optical receptors to the changing conditions. It seems that the android's transmissions systems are somewhat lacking; although understandable, they are definitely crackly.
He looks around and frowns at the wounded elf, though whether out of pity or simple recognition of severe wounds, it's hard to say. He nods at Bethune's suggestion. "I will help Sarasanna, yes." Hefting his shovel into a two-handed grip with the head before him, he steps up near the feminine android. "What's going on with it? Just a big spider?"
[dice=Perception]1d20+8
.
Anevia pushes the last of the rocks off of her legs "What in the hells happened? Did anyone else survive that?"Receiving no additional feedback from Archie, Akkramar reverted to his initial exploration of the surroundings - he heard the woman's voice, and headed towards her.
[dice=Perception]d20+3
"Yes, it seems there are others here" - he responded - "Are you unhurt? Do you require assistance?" - even while addressing the woman, he stands halfway between her, Sarasanna and Lucifer, keeping an eye on Bethune
"Yes, would you mind helping me up? I think I might have twisted something." Her face is scrunched up; probability matrix most likely cause is: subject is in pain.
Walking over to Anevia, Archie looks the woman over.
"Yes, would you mind helping me up? I think I might have twisted something." Her face is scrunched up; probability matrix most likely cause is: subject is in pain.
"Of course" - Akkramar approaches, and offers support to the woman, assisting as possible to get her rid of the rubble.
With Archie right next to him, Akkramar does not use the comm, and speaks directly - "I will look for materials to improvise a tourniquet" - lays the woman down carefully - "One moment please" - then begins looking for materials that may be adequate.
"...Yes, there's something inside the spider. Fire might be good." Lucifer looks around, wondering if anyone can help with that.
Akkramar will perform the search for tourniquet materials, all the while focusing his attention on any reports coming from Lucifer or Sarasanna regarding the spider.
If none are forthcoming, he then proceeds to investigate the western wall, and the rubble around it.
Energy sources detect. Investigating.
With that said, Dakkar takes his time heading for the rubble and aura glows.
His eyes glow with a feint blue light as he looks about for threats as he approaches the rubble. His staff taps here and there as he tests the ground for stability and taps against the rubble scattered about.
Energy sources detect. Investigating.
With that said, Dakkar takes his time heading for the rubble and aura glows.
His eyes glow with a feint blue light as he looks about for threats as he approaches the rubble. His staff taps here and there as he tests the ground for stability and taps against the rubble scattered about.
Once the materials for the tourniquet are acquired, Archie puts everything together around the leg.
Seeing some of the rope fray, she looks in satchel for some rope of her own. Several items fly out of the pack and land hither and yon around her. With a quick apology to Anevia, "Sorry, milady. I can be a bit clumsy at times." Finding some spare rope, Archie tries again.
"There, that should do it. Let me put a healing on it as well; that should help the bones work back together."
Anevia stands up, gingerly at first. Her leg is not fully healed, but it will be good enough to take a slow walking pace. The smile on Anevia's face when she realizes this says it all.
"Perhaps I can construct a burning arrow out of materials I possess."
Sarasanna begins unbinding the flammable wrap of one her torches and to wrap it around the head of an arrow.
Anevia stands up, gingerly at first. Her leg is not fully healed, but it will be good enough to take a slow walking pace. The smile on Anevia's face when she realizes this says it all.
"Are you well?" - the android confirms, addressing Anevia - "I am Akkramar"
He then moves towards the western wall, and begins to search through the rubble as instructed.
Sarasanna creates a single torch arrow out of a single torch from her pack. She drops the stick on the ground, and gathers flint and tinder.
Sarasanna then pauses and glances back at the women, "I am Sarasanna. I suggest you keep some distance from the spider corpse."
First, lighting her torch arrow with flint and tender, Sarasanna then fires the burning arrow at the spider corpse.
Sarasanna creates a single torch arrow out of a single torch from her pack. She drops the stick on the ground, and gathers flint and tinder.
Sarasanna then pauses and glances back at the women, "I am Sarasanna. I suggest you keep some distance from the spider corpse."
First, lighting her torch arrow with flint and tender, Sarasanna then fires the burning arrow at the spider corpse.
[dice=Shooting arrow at spider] 1d20 + 5
You fire the arrow into the spider's corpse, and it does indeed start to catch on fire. You hear a high pitched mewling sound coming from inside the corpse. After a few seconds, you see a bulging and then a grub about the size of a forearm chews its way out of the abdomen. It too catches on fire right away; it wiggles on the ground, trying to get away, but it is unsuccessful. Within moments, the grub stops moving as well.
Sarasanna watches the spider corpse catch flame, and watches the grub burst from the abdomen and then burn as well. About a minute after the grub stops moving, Sarasanna gathers two things. First, she takes a ten foot pole tied to the side of her pack, and then she takes her halberd. Leaving her other weapons, flail and bow, with her gear, Sarasanna approaches the burning spider body.
"I shall check to be sure no threat remains." She reports to all within ear shot.
Sarasanna approaches the fire body with ten-foot pole in hand, and her halberd strapped to her back. She prods the grub and spider body with the pole, standing ten-feet away. If there is no reaction after two or three prods, she drops the pole, and draws halberd. She pierces the grub's body in the head and middle, and then repeatedly stabs the spider's abdomen in varying areas.
Looking around in growing frustration, Horgus walks up to the first person that he sees...
...and catches up to Akkramar as he gets to the piles of rubble...and...other things.
"Look, it's all well and good that your friends are off making sure that spiders don't get us. However, I do need to get back to the surface. I am a very important person, and I need to check on my interests in the city. That is, if there are any left. I need you to prioritize your plan to get me back up to the surface. I have the feeling that we are much lower than just someone's cellar, so I'll expect that you protect me from any dangers as well. In return, I will pay you and your 'friends' 1000 gold pieces each. Do we have a deal?"
Horgus then stops to look at something. He picks up something that is about the size of a thumbnail. He turns it over , and with a slightly disgusted look on his face, says aloud, "I wonder if this came from the dragon?"
Lucifer nods as the grub catches fire and dies. "Good shot."
Lucifer moves back--first to his mule's body to retrieve as many belongings as he can carry, and then to Anevia. "Here, let me help." He slings one of her arms around his shoulders and takes as much of her weight as he can, keeping his shovel in one hand as a walking stick. "We've likely some distance to go, I fear."
Lucifer nods as the grub catches fire and dies. "Good shot."
After dead-checking the grub and spider corpses and picking up her ten-foot pole, Sarasanna returns to where her pack rests and drops her ten-foot pole and sets the halberd on the ground next to the rest of her stuff.
"The spider should no longer be a threat," she remarks in pleasant feminine monotone.
She then takes out a water flask and soap, and pours a small amount of water on her hands to wash.
Hands clean, Sarasanna approaches the blinded elf.
"I am Sarasanna. I am here to help you as well." The android explains to the elf. Sarasanna then proceeds to aid Bethune however he needs in treating the elf's wounded eyes.
Akkramar stares at the man, trying to interpret his intentions - "I believe our most likely course will be trying to return to the surface" - he answers - "All those who need it, will have our protection. As such, you are included, and your monetary offer is accepted" - he nods.
His eyes never left the strange item in the man's hands however, short bursts firing through his circuit - others might call it a memory - the image of Terendelev looking at him - "May I analyze the item in your possession?" - he inquires.
With a perplexed look on your face, he hands over the piece to you. It is silver in color and about the size of your thumbnail. As soon as you touch it, you realize just what this is: it is a dragon scale from Terendelev. You also understand that this particular scale has a 'magical' property:
Staring at the scale, you miss that Mr. Gwerm said something. "Hello? Are you okay?"
Magic is nothing uncommon to Akkramar - in fact his base programming entails the development of Arcane control, once his evolution progresses. Nonetheless he was not expecting becoming aware of magical properties, on any item with such classification, merely by touch, and definitely not with such detail.
He stares at the small scale in his hand, momentarily considering it - the same image of the dying dragon fluttering through his processors, as they look for logic connections between the gathered facts -Inconclusive is the best he can come up with however.
"I am well sir" - he answers, turning back to the man - "Please follow me to the main group for security reasons - what is your identification?" - he adds, moving towards the others.
- he relays through the communicator.
Bethune relays the information about his capabilities over the comm while keeping his main focus on bandaging the exposed eye-sockets of the wounded elf.
The elf stands impatiently as you finish with wrapping up and protecting the eye sockets.
"This is very demeaning to me. Why are we just standing here? We should be heading back to the surface. Have you and your friends figured out how to get us out of here? I can't lead you back up if no one tells me what is going on. As much as I hate it, I can't exactly 'see' the situation myself, you know."
Mr. Gwerm overhears the elf speaking and points at him. "Elf, you couldn't lead a pack of mice out of a sack. And that was before your accident. I've already secured passage, thanks to these fine, um, let's call them 'expedition experts,' shall we? It would be rude to call them mercenaries without knowing their backgrounds. Be it as it may, these mercenaries are going to lead us back up to the surface. Then you can go and run off to your circle of conspiracy nuts."
Turning to the direction the sound came from, Aravashnial practically shouts, I showed the logic and evidence of my findings. I also apologized for my error and made restitution as we agreed. That does not make me a conspiracy theorist! Besides, have you ever been in a cavern before? Ever gone on an 'expedition?' Well, I have, and I have more than enough knowledge to offset my lack of eyes, and I can lead all of you up to the surface! I don't care if you trust me, Horgus, but I do know the general layout of these underground caverns beneath the city, far better than you."
Lucifer turns to Aravashnial, still supporting Anevia. "Elf, you know this region? Then you should be able to help us make our way back to the surface."
After her comm. message, Sarasanna speaks to Aravashnial.
"It is essential that all parties remain calm if we are to live. Elf, I am going to turn you toward the East and then ask you a question. I need you to cooperate, and then answer as best you can."
Sarasanna gently grasps the elf's shoulders and turns him to face the East, the direction of the passages. However, she does not force him. Should he allow Sarasanna to move him, then she follows up with her question.
"There are two passages about fifty feet in front of you. One on the left, and one on the right. According to your memory of these tunnels, which one leads most directly to the surface?"
Dakkar collects the scales he had noticed in the rubble and after determining their property, (assuming they are all the same) he passes them around. anyone find a way out of this area
- Akkramar vehiculates through the comm.
"It is essential that all parties remain calm if we are to live. Elf, I am going to turn you toward the East and then ask you a question. I need you to cooperate, and then answer as best you can."
"Agreed" - Akkramar approaches - "We will make sure all are safe during the necessary trek. And any additional offer for information will be useful. All please remain calm as we ascertain the security of the area"
He addresses both Horgus and Anevia then, since Sarasanna is speaking with Aravashnial - "Stay here for a moment please, we will scout the area ahead"
- he sounds through the comm again, adding -
- Scale #1 (Akkramar has seen this one already) - 3/day, align weapon, along with normal weapons, the scale can be touched to either a natural weapon or an 'unarmed strike; (i.e. a monk's fists), and the weapon can only be aligned to either lawful or good.
- Scale #2: same as Scale 1
- Scale #3: 3/day, can cast alter self; when disguised, the holder of the scale enjoys a +4 bonus on Bluff checks v. evil creatures.
- Scale #4: 3/day, can cast resist elements, but the spell only works against cold or electricity
- Scale #5: Same as Scale 4.
- Scale #6: 3/day, can cast levitate. The visual effect on this spell is a 5' column of cloud, centered on the object or creature, which rises and falls as needed. The cloud provides cover (20% concealment) during the effect.
Aravashnial starts to speak when asked which way to go, then stammers to a stop. He then tries again, but stops once more. With a sigh, he finally replies, "Look, perhaps I am being a bit overzealous here. It's not everyday that I lose my eyes to a demon's whip, after all." He looks around and realizes that he can't see any of you. Mumbling about 'forces of habit,' Aravashnial looks in the general direction of Sarasanna. "Yes, I have a general knowledge of the underground areas of Kenabres. However, without being able to see, I could not tell you which way will get us to the surface faster. I'm not even sure how far we're down from that point. just help guide me through these passages, and I might be able to help you, once I get some sense of my bearings. Fair enough?"
Looking at Aravashnial appraisingly, Horgus says, "Well, it's nice to see that we are all admitting to our weaknesses. Can we get going now? The sooner we get up top, the sooner I can eat! I'm starting to get hungry." Looking at the party, he says, "So, which one of you is going to help the blind elf up? It's certainly not going to be me!"
Anevia looks at Horgus and says, "Horgus, you are truly a man to behold!" You cannot tell if she is being sincere or sarcastic. In any event, Horgus simply looks at her and smiles.
Anevia starts looking around for her items. Between the tourniquet and the healing (nanites), she seems to be able to walk, albeit with a limp, though not a pronounced one. She looks around for a bit, then curses. You notice that she has found a bow and 4 arrows. Anevia looks around and sees that Archie is finishing her benedictions, and is looking to see if anyone else has arrows...
Noticing that the woman is gathering a bow and ammunition, Akkramar addresses her - "Unfortunately I do not possess arrows to offer as ammunition to the ranged weapon you have discovered" - he offers - "Are you proficient in its use?"
He then debates the matter with Dakkar, and informs the remainder of the group of the details regarding the scales, moving towards the passages to the east.