Silas puts his ear to the western door...
Elduin will move to the door as well and listens carefully together with Silas.
No sound.
Silas gives the door a quick check for traps and then, if it isn't locked, opens it up.
Silas finds no traps and opens the door to reveal a compact antechamber with an similar door on the west wall. Moving carefully, he checks both chamber and door for traps and finds none.
Once everyone are ready, he opens the next door. Beyond, you can see a square chamber (about 35x35 ft) covered on all sides by strange canisters, chains and metal tubes. Dusty statues and the shells of slumped-over constructs are lined up against the walls next to the strange apparatuses.
Before doing anything else, Silas scans the room for magical auras.
Grumbles maintains his characteristic silence.
Silas detects no magic. The room definitely appears to have been some kind of arcane workshop, but any trace of whatever magic that may have been cast here has faded long ago.
"I wonder if there is anything left over in the room. If the previous wizard or whomever forgot something we might be able to use it."
Stochelo sheathes his rapier and examines the room for any forgotten lore or useful items.
Not really sure how any of it worked, he knew enough to know it was magic of some sort, not that that helped much.
On guard, the brawler cautiously moved around looking for anything that stuck out.
"Are we sure these automations don't just wake up, even if there is no magic to be detected?" Elduin carefully watches the slumped-over constructs.
Nope. That is why we investigate to determine if there is a threat here.
Barely have Elduin and Silas uttered their words before a loud creaking reveals their prophetic nature. Awakened by the sight and sound of unknown intruders entering the workshop for the first time in over a millennia, one of the automatons stirs and steps out of the containment capusle that has been holding it in stasis.
The construct appears to be made entirely of wood, giving it a slightly comical look of an overgrown stick figure. However, there is nothing amusing about the fists it swings testing through the stale air.
Ready for trouble, the heroes react swiftly to the threat.
Heroes: 19
Monster: 13
This particular golem looks weathered and worn. It is likely that it's long inactive period has affected it in some way.
Careful now! These types of constructs are usually quite resistant to physical abuse and immune to most types of magical assault! This being a wood variety, it is vulnerable to fire, mundane or magical in nature. This one looks like it has suffered from age. Perhaps it is not as robust as it once was!
"Great! Of course my only attack spell today is electricity! Anyone got any alchemist fire? That mephit still around?"
Fresh out of fire!, Grumbles says stepping back 5 feet and trying to put two arrows into it... hoping to splinter up its joints...
Ranger’s Focus (Ex) For +2 to hit and dmg, plus PBS. Due to rapid shot, losing the plus to hit.
Longbow
Longbow
He is over eager and uncharacteristically his shots are wild...
Ooc: what crappy rolls... joy.
"I'm out of fire, too" Elduin studies the target and releases an arrow.
Grumbles misses twice, but Elduin's arrow slams into the chest of the construct, splintering the wood with a dry crunch. It's clear that at least some of the golem's enhanced resistance to injury has withered over the centuries.
Seeing Elduin's arrow having some success against the construct, Silas unslings his crossbow and loads a bolt.
Moving with speed, the brawler looks to catch it before it's constructed body is able to protect itself.
Moving with speed, the brawler looks to catch it before it's constructed body is able to protect itself.
[dice=Move, Sneak Attack Flat-Footed]1d20+8
[dice=Damage]1d6+3+2d6
Clayton delivers a swift one-two punch combo, the first blow glancing off the robust construct but the other smashing a hole in it's torso with a loud crack.
Clearly agitated by the attack from all sides, the golem staggers forwards and slams its chest with both fists. A hail of sharp splinters fills the room, striking everyone except Grumbles and Dax
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The golem then swings back at Clayton with its own two-punch attack, landing a solid blow which snaps the brawler's head back, causing him to reel from the pain of a broken jaw.
Frightened by the burst of splinters, Dax covers in the doorway, seemingly unwilling to join the fight.
Heroes: 19
Monster: 13
Reeling from the blow, the Brawler swiftly wipes the blood from his face and aims for a defensive attack.
Not putting his full force, the brawler feels the impacts thud.
Silas grimaces as he is peppered by splinters before sending his bolt at the construct, taking care not to hit his comrades...
...before loading another bolt.
Dax? We could really use some help in the form of your fiery breath! You can really hurt it!
"Yes, Dax. This thing is mostly wood. You could easily set it on fire." Elduin reloads and releases two more arrows.
Just kill it already
Having recovered from the immediate confusion, the golem is more alert and actively evades most of the attacks. Only Elduin's precise shots connect, again doing significant damage.
Dax looks troubled, but the calls of encouragement seem to rally her to join the fight.
"All right...I can't use my breath weapon, or I'll hit you...but maybe this will work..." The fire mephit gestures and utters a few words in her native tongue. A bright ray shoots from her outstretched hand towards the wooden construct.
The fire spell lands a direct hit, causing much of the golem to instantly combust in a fiery blaze. After a few intense seconds, the ancient construct collapses to the stone floor, it's body left smoldering and scorched.
"Wooheee...direct hit!" Dax eclaims with pride.
"That's a good one. Well done, Daxy"
"Indeed! My rapier was never going to get through that thick wood. Good work, both of you."
Stochelo examines himself for further damage from the exploding golem, sheathing his weapon before he scans the room.
"Jeez, just imagine how nasty that thing would have been at its creation."
Nicely done Dax. That surely saved us a lot of pain and anguish, Silas commends as he unloads his crossbow and re-slings it.
We should give the room a quick once over and then get on before we attract more unwanted attention.
He then draws a wand and speaks the trigger word before tapping himself with it. Anyone else in need of a little pick me up?
"I don't like the weird feeling of your healing spell, but it does close the wounds." Elduin clearly needs at least one charge.
Your examination of the room reveals that all the other arcane equipment, golems and animated statues have long since lost their magical energy due to the passage of time and the strange magical energy distortions you have already experienced in your exploration of the other rooms. It may be possible to restore the workshop to a functional state, but it would require a significant investment.
Silas smiles mischievously while tapping Elduin with the wand. Anyone else?
"Yeah, that would be great. Thanks."
Silas obliges Stochelo.
Suspicious of the dark magic, Clayton realizes the necessity.
"Give me some if you can. I can't believe I'm accepting this but desperate times."
Looking Clayton over, Silas responds, You look like you might need another in a minute... before tapping him with the wand.
"Luckily the only hitni took was that thing exploding in splinters. And I managed to dodge the worst of it, I think. I might need to learn this spell, by the way. It makes adventuring without a divine Caster a lot more palatable."
Looking Clayton over, Silas responds, You look like you might need another in a minute... before tapping him with the wand.
Silas gives Grumbles a tap as well.
Clayton feels the unnatural energy stick to him, pulling his damaged sinew back together. "This is not pleasant." He wasn't sure what the tiefling had given him but he knew he needed a bath when this was all done; and even then he knew it wouldn't be enough.
"Luckily we didn't get so banged up we can't continue. Too bad this place is so trashed we can't get anything useful.outnofnir just now. Oh well, shall we carry on?"
If no one needs any more, Silas replies while waving the wand back and forth, I'm ready, before slipping it back into his wrist sheathe.
Ditto