Frank moves closer and takes a shot at the construct.
Without comment, Gauntlet swings his massive two-handed mindblade!
Zabeth makes a few gestures, and grasps a charm on her necklace, then points down the hall. A diaphanous warhammer appears next to and above the stone wolf. It swings down to strike.
VIorr steps up, looking for an opening to engage.
EE, rapier in hand, tries to get a small opening to contribute, though at the moment that seems something quite difficult to achieve.
B feels the magic of the creature wash over her impeding her movements.
Frank's bolt bounces off of the tough hide of the creature as does Zabeth's intangible hammer.
Dev, Kana, and Pink-Eye consider their options and hold in this enclosed space.
Gauntlet swings violently downwards but once more the stone hide of the construct protects it!
The Wolf strikes back but it too is unable to land a solid blow.
Bite Attack - Damage
Round 2 -
Balance of the Party.
Round 3 -
Meridian - GO!
Stone Wolf.
Balance of the Party.
"Uh, can we step back? I might be able to get something behind it!" Frank calls out as he slings his now unloaded crossbow over his back.
He leans against the wall for balance with his now-empty hands as he looks through Broulnindre's eyes.
Broulnindre frowns, but doesn't otherwise acknowledge Frank's request.
Still moving slowly (or perhaps more accurately, at a normal-looking pace), Broulnindre doesn't swing her claws quite as quickly as she would normally.
She decides to distract the unfeeling beast to help Gauntlet's blade bite it.
Gauntlet swings again...
...and then takes an awkward step back as he misses the stone creature completely!
"Be my guest friend Frank!"
"You come back too, B. Or I'll pull you out!" the presently blinded Frank calls out.
Pink eye will draw his axe and advance on the wolf using reach to strike the thing swift action to channel into the blade using the silver sheen magical axe.
Tenzo will aid the attack standing next to Pink Eye
With the success of her first attack, Meridian unleashes another blast of power at the wolf.
Pink-Eye pushes past the creature and Gauntlet to get a swing in but leaves his flank exposed in the process.
The stone wolf takes a hunk out of Pink-Eye's thigh but Pink-Eye gives better than he got!
Between his axe and Meridian's initial blast, the stone wolf falls to the group non-operational.
The way is now clear to be explored. It appears that the creature is made of adamantine. Likely why the Dire Wolves could not harm it.
As you peer down the hallway you see rows of kennels. Once the action stops wolves begin to howl in despair...
Excited, Guantlet releases his sword back into the ether whence it came.
"Well played my friend Pink-Eye! But you are wounded as I feared might happen. Do we have that special healing wine?"
He then turns to the Wolves who waited patiently.
"We have finished the work we promised and bled from it. Are we agreed on we have honored our part in this bargain?"
Excited, Guantlet releases his sword back into the ether whence it came.
"Well played my friend Pink-Eye! But you are wounded as I feared might happen. Do we have that special healing wine?"
He then turns to the Wolves who waited patiently.
"We have finished the work we promised and bled from it. Are we agreed on we have honored our part in this bargain?"
The Wolf that matters most nods, "My pack is locked up. I will need you two legs to let them out.
Our bargain is indeed met. Your prowess is impressive and I am gladdened that I spoke before I growled when you all entered".
EE inspects the stone wolf's remains.
<Adamantine, uh? Could be worth a small fortune...>
"Locked up, huh?" Frank asks, he starts to hurry after Broulnindre, but stops a moment after hearing the word 'adamantine'.
"Oh? Can I see?"
Frank takes a look at the construct's remains as well.
Gauntlet moves on past the scene of the dead construct, looking for the chests the wolves were taking about that might contain useful items for the group.
Pink eye will drink some of the healing wine (one dose heals 8 hp in 24 hr period)
As the group enters the room proper they see eleven steel cages line the walls of this kennel, and gray dire-wolves occupy seven of the locked cages. They howl as you all approach.
Along the east hall is another door. In the center of the room is a pile of junk that may contain some interesting items as it appears the stone wolf gathered up the items to sleep on as some type of bed despite its lack of need for sleep, it seems that it looked and acted like a wolf.
Soon, the retarding magic fades and Broulnindre's movements become frenetic again. After several failed attempts to calm down the wolves, she shrugs before moving to the other room.
The three foot tall Agathion quickly picks through the junk.
Frank pauses to cast a spell before addressing the dire wolves, his hands covering his ears.
"We'll let you all out momentarily if you all can agree not to pick any fights. We can take you to Rorse! Perhaps one at a time..."
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Zabeth gestures, and murmurs, then touches her lips. She then makes guttural and snarling sounds - a strange contrast to her soothing demeanor - seemingly speaking with the wolves.
"We will free you, and lead you to your pack. Do not attack us. Agreed?"
Zabeth speaks to the wolves as Rorsa comes trotting forward. Their howls become yips of joy. They assent to no attacks based on Zabeth's terms once Rorsa takes a seat mid-room.
B meanwhile picks through the junk pile which includes an orange keycharm, an essence node , a House Cannith signet ring, a key ring that likely opens all of these cages, and a small mithral-and-bloodstone brooch depicting a crescent moon.
Broulnindre returns from the pile with a keyring and an orange keycharm.
"No need for de peeks, Franky!"
After tossing the keycharm to Frank and jerking her thumb in the direction of the other loot, she attempts to unlock the cages of the wolves, in order of those that look most to least calm.
"Nice." Frank replies, catching the keycharm. He passes the charm to Gauntlet before going to collect the other goods, telepathically prodding Broulnindre to make sure he picks up everything else she found.
"Anyone looking for a... unique crescent moon brooch? Or a funny magic lump?" He calls over his shoulder while squatting next to the pile of (mostly) junk, examining and stowing each object in turn.
Gauntlet nods at all the activity in the room. His ears pick up at the description of the brooch from Frank.
"A Crescent Moon? Isn't that an Elven symbol? I vaguely remember seeing that on a few of their banners during the Last War."
He then looks over the funny 'lump-like' item he mentioned as well.
"Mind if I take a look at that, general? You all are good with swinging big pieces of metal around, but I'm partial to the small and pretty myself."
I am no scholar of magic, but a lump like thing? What in Belinor is that you are talking about? Pink Eye says as he takes out a canteen and takes a sip of water after the wine to knock it down a bit.
B unlocks the cages of the seven Dire Wolves crowding the small area very quickly. They communicate with yips and growls. Zabeth knows that they are grateful for being released and looking forward to again meeting with their companions in the other wing. Rorsa turns to you all, "I know not what others dangers lurk in this place. We have been caged in too long. When you are completed with whatever it is you plan to do here, we will accompany you back to whatever land you hail from. Together I think we can overcome the horrors of this land. Are these terms acceptable?"
---
Dev recognizes the brooch as elven in design but not elven in make as if someone was trying to emulate elven jewelry. It has some value but is nothing "special".
The lump item Gauntlet does recognize. It is an Essence Node, essentially and item that functions only with the anatomy of a Warforged. This one in particular he has heard of but never seen before.
Frank offers the essence node to Gauntlet mid-inspection. Frank, not able to make out an expression of realization on the warforged's face, is still able to figure out that the mindblade was staring too intently to not know something.
Still squatting, Frank looks up at Gauntlet expectantly.
Nodding quickly at the magic 'lump' he holds it up then shows it to EE.
"This is a good sign. Its an essence node for a Warforged. EE? Looks like this one can create a Blinding Flash when activated. Its not really my style of combat. Want it?"
Having remained quiet since the fight ended, Meridian lurks near the back of the group glancing often at the collection of dire wolves nearby.
Once she's done setting the wolves free, Broulnindre sidles up to Meridian. Looking down at her claws and then up at Meridican, Broulnindre asks "How do hyu throw magic vit you clahs?"
Once the brooch is stowed in his haversack and the essence node has been handed off, Frank approaches Zabeth and asks "Can you ask them how they ate while they were trapped? It wasn't the stone wolf feeding them, was it?"
Zabeth nods to Frank before turning back to the wolves.
"How did you survive in the cages... were you given food and water?"
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EE keeps thinking about the keycharms, building his own theory. <Computation indications: Searching, please wait. Suggested Theory: Each color rotates in a different direction. Message of the day: None, please go to Selection Screen>Settings>Messages.>
His thoughts are interrupted by Gauntlet. <Eh, sorry? This?> He takes the small chip in his metal hands. When told what the chip does, he agrees reluctantly. <My thanks. Will use it, though am concerned may blind you all if used careless. Hope not.> He inserts the chip in his neck slot.
EE is not sure about the survival of the wolves, he doesn't understand much about eating anyways. Could also be that they don't need food here; the place seems to have strange effects on living beings. In any case, he awaits the wolf's reply, since it could be quite revealing.
With a bunch of new Keycharms in hand, Gauntlet moves to the closed door in the hall, then tries to open it and see where it goes.
Meridian glances up at Broulnindre sharply, surprised at being addressed by her. She glances down at her own claws, turning her hands this way and that and trying to find words to explain, "I don't really understand it myself. I guess .. I think it is like I have a well, you know? Like the kind that pushes the water out on their own? Maybe. That is not exactly right. Close enough I guess. So there is this pressure inside and I just .. I dunno, stop holding it back and I can kinda choose how it looks when it comes out."
Meridian looks up to see if B is following her explanation at all.
The presently three foot tall Broulnindre nods along with Meridian's explanation.
"Hmmm. Magic vater. Like farmer vater maybe? Hmmm."
Broulnindre shakes her head slowly, frowning.
"Hy feel a pull sometahmes, laik ven Hy gets far from Franky, bot no magic vater to let go uf..."
we still must seek out what we are hear for Pink eye says not quite remembering what the doohickey is called.
Treasure! Wait, there was some sort of adamantine disc...
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The wolves seem a bit confused by Zabeth's question, it seems that the bowls were full. The wolves slept. When they woke, the bowls were full once more.
Meanwhile, Gauntlet checks the last door of the area which miraculously is unlocked. The room, lit by a single everburning lantern, is full of goods designed to take care of the wolves among other things. In addition, there are supplies to create another golem from what he can tell upon inspection. A tome lays upon one shelf next to several scrolls. Hanging on a key ring to the left of the door is a Yellow Keycharm.
EE seems very interested in the book found by Gauntlet.
Grabbing the Keycharm, Gauntlet slips the scrolls into his pack for closer perusal later and opens the book carefully.