"It...it's almost as if the oil itself is in pain somehow, but I don't detect either magic or anything from the other side in it. Maybe some sort of semi-sentient ooze?" Corynne says, frowning slightly as if concentrating in a very noisy room.
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The dwarf looks up and over to Corynne, not without skepticism. "The oil is in pain? Oy. That is new one on Az. If machine fluids start growing feelings, is not good for me. Or Miselle. Or entire bedrock of modern Risuri civilization." he comments; it's difficult to tell if he's serious or just really, really good at a deadpan delivery.
"I think this stuff isn't oil, or at least not oil from around here," Miselle suggested. "And a pinch there are some vegetable oils and the like you can use for machinery. Just a bit more work, but some allow a smoother action."
Alice coughs and wheezes as the smell enters her lungs, her smoke ha it shielding her from the brunt of the impact. "It's everywhere, I can't pinpoint its origin. Spooky, can you do your thing?"
"It might be time for me to try Gale's spell....see if there's some sort of extraplanar energy involved." Corynne says a bit more loudly than normal, as if trying to speak over a noisy room full of people.
"Worth a try." Ellena says.
"Is best idea that we have right now, I am thinking." Az concurs.
"Aye, it shouldn't hurt at least."
As the others stand watch, paying attention to the surrounding area, Corynne focuses her breathing, calming both herself and the spirits around her enough to quell the edge of their agitation.
Conjuring up the memories of the dark roiling shadow energy of the Bleak Gate she reaches out into the ether, reaching her senses out for tendrils of that dark energy, feeling for it’s presence in the area. For minutes she is completely still, the air dirt and ground around her increasingly disturbed as her spirits react to the powerful ritual at play.
As the ritual completes, Corynne's vision changes. A shadowy haze can be seen lingering in the air here. As she focuses on it, the haze coalesces into a barely-visible path. This path terminates at a gated munitions warehouse not far from Dawn Square. Two of its three entrance doors are blocked with barrels and crates, but the third (secured with a padlock) remains accessible.
Due to the warehouse's dangerous contents, it is normally under 24hr guard by retired veterans employed by the government. It's rather strange that there's nobody outside.
"How odd," Miselle noted mildly, wondering why the location would involve a government facility. "Best we not use lights or torches within, although I imagine there will be safety lamps somewhere."
She looked at the lock, and added, "Do we have time to go and find the carrier of the keys?"
"Explosives. And this place should be guarded. I have the feeling the carrier of the keys is currently in a pool of his own blood. Do you have bolt cutters?"
"No need, I hope." Miselle moved up to the lock, pulling out some small tools. She was good with her hands, after all, and so locks had always been something she could get around. Now she had the equipment to do so. It would be faster than breaking them...she hoped.
While Miselle worked Ellena drew Fabian, swishing him nervously through the air. "Explosives... no guns then, yeah?"
"That would probably be best." Corynne said distractedly after a bit. The ghostwhisperer seemed both present and not at the same time, her gaze locked on the shadowy trail, constantly aware of the spiritual disturbances it created.
"Is probably best for no guns...bah. Looks like Az will be using musket for club for the moment. If you need me near front to keep eye out, Az will do it. I am still only person who can see in dark, yes?"
"Erm, yes? Unless Alice picked up another trick, at least."
"I wonder if I can make something that will let you do that," Miselle murmured as she worked on the lock.
"No tricks, but I still have my light." Alice picks up the ioun torch and holds it in her left hand.
"It'll make us a nice target, though."
"Az will leave lights up to you three. Unless there are other dwarves or dark-sight magics here, they will be needing light, too." he whispers.
Miselle manages to get the door open, but Alice's enhanced senses hear something inside. It seems there was an alarm spell....
As expected, the warehouse is filled with barrels of munitions. However, the far side has been converted to a laboratory of some sort. A large rusted iron ring sits on the floor, and eight technicians are working on a massive metal golem. As the alarm goes off with your entry, they look up, startled, and some begin to throw lit matches onto their scattered documents and notes. The others activate the golem - which begins to lumber toward you.
Alice sprints forward at the speed of thought, legs devouring the ground and steel in her hand. "RHC! Surrender or die!"
Miselle ran to a position where she could get a clear shot if it became needed, and hoped it didn't. That Golem looked less than friendly.
As Alice takes off, Corynne follows as quickly as she can, her attention focused on the evidence that the workers clearly seek to destroy.
Holding Fabian out in front of her, Ellena just focuses on not falling behind or tripping as they close the distance.
"Gah, to the hells with it!" Az exclaims, making a mad dash for the nearest ladder he can reach.
Azaghal scrambles up the nearest ladder as the others rush toward the lab.
One of the techs steps into the ring on the floor and vanishes in a flash of white light. As the remaining people continue to work on destroying evidence, the golem animates and lumbers toward Alice!
Wincing at the sound of the meaty thunk from the rear of the warehouse, Miselle continued moving forward and raised her gun to target the Golem, hoping to blow something important off it and help Alice.
A rib cracks from the overwhelming hit, and Alice feels blood in her mouth as air escapes her lungs. Before drawing breath again, she feints and covers her steps with her blade, slipping past the lumbering monstrosity. She steps on the teleportation circle, trusting her gold toe ring to keep her grounded and prevent the technicians from slipping through, and as soon as she reaches the construct's flank, she pushes Kindness' tip against it.
"Miselle! How do you kill a thing like this?"
Wincing at the vicious blow she sees Alice take, Corynne focuses on saving the evidence, directing a few of her itinerant spirits to move the papers out of reach.
Az continues running as quickly as he can along the catwalk, trying to get to a position to catch the documents that Corynne is floating up to his level.
"Hey, ugly!" Ellena shouts, trying to draw the automaton's attention and give Alice a chance to catch her breath. "Over here!"
Spotting what she hopes is a hole in the things defenses, she leaps neatly through and around, dancing under its outstretched arms and almost collapsing bodily into one of the fleeing... technicians? Scientists? Wizards?
Enemies.
[roll=Attack]1d20+9[/roll]
The golem flashes with light, as another technician steps into the ring and vanishes. It appears confused as Alice nimbly tumbles around it, but as her blade (and Miselle's shot) strikes it, it flashes with crimson light, and an overwhelming wail of tortured spirits fills the air.
Safely out of danger, Corynne continues to float papers up to the catwalk.
Construct: 13pts damage, nauseated (1rd), -2 attacks
As the spirits emerge from the golem, a wave of memories flashes in front of Alice's eyes. All those who died in front of her during the war appear in her mind's eye, their faces as clear as day, and she lets out a short, anguished yelp.
Wincing and making a comment about how it sounded like a thousand mating cats, Miselle continued forward and fired again. Cranking a fresh round into place, the gun made a sharp hum akin to an angry bee as it powered up again.
Ellena cries out as the light explodes from the golem, almost dropping Fabian in her haste to cover her ears. She stumbles back, not able to mount anything close to an effective defense while she's getting her wits together.
Far more accustomed with the howling of agitated spirits than her companions, Corynne continues her work to save the evidence, her spiritual entourage nonetheless responding to the disturbance, her hair whipping around as if in a windstorm, while a disonnant hum of displeasure rises around her.
The dwarf keeps up his hustle, suddenly wishing very much that his legs were just a bit longer.
The wailing of spirits intensifies as Miselle shoots the golem again.
One of the techs who was out of range of the spirits' effects steps into the ring and vanishes. The others finish dismantling a large machine and continue to set their notes aflame. Meanwhile, Azaghal begins to gather the papers Corynne's managed to float out of danger.
Construct: 18pts damage
Miselle winced. She wasn't sure if this was helping or not. It certainly wasn't a fun noise..but it wasn't attacking either. "It seems to be stuck!" she called over to the others. "Save the papers, I'll try and keep it so." Chambering another slug or iron, the gun whirled again.
Stumbling, almost falling, Ellena can't even hear Miselle over the sounds of spirits screaming.
Now that he's finally in a position to start gathering the papers, Az begins doing so, collecting as many of the papers as he can reach.
With an expression of will, Corynne commands the spirits working to aid her, directing them to maintain the steady stream of papers up to Az.