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Working together, the party easily bypasses the computer’s security systems. Everything on the computer is in the dwarven language.
As the home screen boots up, Gogglez sees the following available functions: “Forge Initiation Sequence”, “Experiment Logs”, “Entrance Ward”, “Flare Prevention”, and “Alarm”. None require additional checks to access.
“Forge Initiation Sequence”
“Experiment Logs”
“Entrance Ward”
“Flare Prevention”
“Alarm”
Additionally, you also detect a bit of stray code that lets you uncover an encrypted file.
Encrypted file
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Gogglez pours over the information while he downloads it onto his starfinder insignia datapad. "Let's see, looks like there are two giant mechanical arms that move some kind of dynamo into the lava stuff here. Here, just watch the video feed of it."
"Looks like the dynamo thing might be called a Solorian Stone, whatever that is, but even the dwarves here don't sound to sure about it, yo." Gogglez says before moving on to the Flare Prevention folder. "Oh snap, see that fire extinguisher thing? We better use their system to launch it into the lava stuff. It says here that doing so "prevents flares" and I bet it hasn't been done in a long time. There also looks like there is some kind of alarm system; I'm going to turn it off since we are exploring this place."
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You approach the center of the room. Shimmering hexagonal plates cover a large sphere that hangs over a deep pit. From the north and south, a gangway leads to the interior, which houses a large forge-shaped dynamo and network of conduits. A heat-singed hammer rests at the edge of the dynamo near a small ceremonial anvil. Inscribed over the sphere’s entrances are images of a stone arch containing a flame. You recognize the symbol as Droskar's unholy symbol. The sphere's east and west openings lead to clamps; the western clamp holding a crucible whose contents have long since hardened, while the eastern clamp holds nothing.
device’s mystical augments are Droskari in nature and specifically
override and control the fading enchantments tied to the vanished
dwarven patron deity Torag, suggesting the device likely was stolen from dwarves before or during the Gap. You also realize that the Droskari ritual to activate the device would be difficult to stop once started. You are certain that performing it would be exhausting.
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Bones, being a little knowledged merc', has no idea about the physical aspect of things, but does have a look at some things--
--
"We could use magic to get this going again, with the ritual we saw in the hologram. But it reeks of Evil. The whole place is a mix of duergar and old dwarven engineering. My bet is the duergar stole a dwarven machine..."
Bones tries to think back to the information on the computer and such: was that written by dwarves, or duergar? Was this place built by the duergar using dwarven items... or built by dwarves then taken over by the duergar?
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Vecro listens to what Bones is telling with interest. The telepresence orb circle kasatha head and takes a look at the device.
Hearing that it can be pre Gap device he comments:
"We should preserve it. There are so little pre-Gap artifacts and so much knowledge is lost. I am certain that the dwarfs could learn a lot from it. I know for sure that my House would gladly buy this and join this artifact to its collection."
"Raven, can you tell me something about the device?"
Raven says:
"I have troubles seeing anything, there is some interference happening. Sorry, I can't help you now."
Vecro nods to that and walks closer to the device, extending his hand towards it. His Solarian armors movement intensify and the mote of black matter extends from his hand towards the device.
Vecro speaks quietly
"I can feel it's power."
The motes movement grows more, and Vecros eyes begin to shed light
"It feels like channeling the power of a star ... The force is overwhelming ..."
Vecro steps away from the device breathing loudly, he turns quite contemplating that experience.
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Gogglez saw the fire extinguisher canister launched into the molten rock crater itself, seemingly a few hundred feet below. As far as you can tell, there aren't any canisters here.
If you're sharing information, everyone has access to all of the spoilered knowledge info. How would you like to proceed?
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For Bones, it seems like the Solarian Stone was originally built by dwarves and then altered by duergar, based on the language you found in the first non-blank computer files and that the unholy symbol of Droskar appears to have been added to the device after the fact rather than integral to its construction. The duergar have definitely altered the device's functioning, but in a way that produces outcomes more similar to changing some of its capabilities than anything inherently nefarious (the means by which the alterations were achieved notwithstanding).
Regarding this place inside the asteroid, it's really hard to tell who the original builders were. Based on the testing logs the area was occupied by at duergar for at least forty years, but the initial logs themselves seem confused. They are written as though the authors themselves are not sure when or why they originally came to the asteroid, and if they found the Solarian Stone intact or brought (stole?) it themselves.
Regarding restarting the Solarian stone, you've determined three ways of restarting it.
1) Performing the Droskari ritual would restart the device.
2) You've determined a purely technological way to restart the device.
3) A solarian could attempt to use their photon and graviton abilities to restart the device.
One import issue with all three methods is that they require two crucibles (containers) filled with molten rock. While you determine it would be easy enough to lower the left (west) container down to the molten rock to refill it, the right (east) container isn't attached to the Solarian Stone anymore. You would need to either find it and reattach it, or invent and manufacture a suitable replacement. The latter option seems like it would be exceptionally hard to do in three days.
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With your knowledge of physical science, it occurs to you due to the lack of atmosphere on or in the asteroid, the molten rock a few hundred feet below you is transferring much less heat than you might expect compared to being that close to lava in normal atmosphere. With the lack of atmosphere combined with the micro-gravity, it would probably be possible to descend into the crater to investigate the molten rock surface, if you felt so inclined. The actual lava would still be dangerously hot, but you might be able to navigate around the edges or find cool spots.
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______________________
"So, t'was built by Dwarves, before the Gap, and then Dwarves continued to operate it, but could not remember who built it or why as their memories were wiped out by the Gap...
And then came the Duergar.
Anyhow, I will fight any Droskari ritual. Not even sure we need to get this going again. Could be best to simply retrieve as much as we can and take it back.
Should we not go down and explore more?"
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Savoy glances at Vecro
"If you want to risk life and limb to proof yourself we'll support you"
"..but I'm fine with trying a pure technological approach to this one"
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"Wait..you guys are telling we can walk around on _that_?!"
Savoy indicates to molten lava below after he's bene informed that it's likely less hot then you'd expect.
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Currently, your apparent courses of actions are as follows:
1) Investigate the molten crater below.
2) Continue to the large door at the northern end of the room.
A third option, restart the Solarian Stone, is currently on hold because there isn't a second crucible on the eastern side which would be required for the device to function.
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Vecro listens to Savoy and considers his idea (despite the irony heard in his tone).
"The power of the stone calls me, yet it would be foolish of me to try to restart an unknown artifact that we know was tempered with by mad deity. Eloritu smiles upon the ones striving to uncover secrets of the past, yet at the same time some believe that he was involved in the Gap in the first place."
After looking at the stone he adds:
"No. I will not try to restart it on my own. My ancestors taught me to be cautious dealing with unknown magic and I will follow their teachings. "
After listening to their options kasatha suggest investigating the large door at the northern end of the room:
"We can investigate the molten core afterward if the need is still there. But maybe we will learn a bit more about the purpose of this device."
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This door of dark, dull metal seals the way deeper into the asteroid complex. Thousands of convoluted geometric protrusions rise from the door’s surface, between which wind various runic inscriptions to create a labyrinthine trail of prose. A faintly shimmering hologram of a burning flame (Droskar's unholy symbol) within a stone archway hovers a few feet from the door. After a moment of initial examination, the door appears sealed shut.
The coiling script is written in dwarven. You begin to take a closer look, but before Bones can read much he hears what sounds like earth is being displaced by something large. The sound comes at first from behind, and then underneath, the door. All of a sudden, a creature bursts from the asteroid's floor in front of you!
Natives of the Pact Worlds would recognize this as a Trox, a massive, sturdy creature native to the Liavaran moon of Nchak. Unlike normal trox, however, this one's eyes glow with unlife as it comes out of the ground and through the wall of the asteroid, wielding a large hammer and with parts of its body replaced by cybernetics. It looks on you with hatred and, wordlessly, moves to attack.
Gogglez
Z Data Z
Bones
Savoy
Vecro
Baddies
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While this Trox erupts out of the ground right in front of Bones, is Bones able to react and slash at it as it moves up within his reach?
Seeing this Trox seem to be an undead abomination, Bones simply swing his disk at it, once--
--then twice--
--trying to smash it to bits.
"You do not belong among the Living, Beast!"
Bones tries to know what exactly this undead cyber Trox is--
--aiming to understand what special attacks and abilities it has.
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Vecro notices the Trox and quickly turns towards him. As he is holding his pike he reaches for a starknife. Vecros eyes begin to glow faintly and his movements leave a streak of light behind.
He spots a moment when Bones connect with his attack and quickly makes a stab at the opponent.
I am delaying my attack to happen after Savoy action, to benefit from get'em if it will take place.
Hole Puncher unloads a full salvo of blasts into the creature! "BLAM BLAM BLAM, FIRE AWAY."
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The undead trox is met with a hail of laser fire, hammer blows, and a stabbing. As it falls it explodes, causing everyone but Gogglez and Hole Puncher to try to dodge the blast.
As soon as you finish dispatching the first undead trox another undead trox bursts out of the ground in the same area. A moment later, a second new undead trox (the third overall) bursts out of the ground in the middle of the party!
The first new undead trox swings a large hammer it's carrying at Bones!
The second new undead trox seems like it's not ready to attack just yet, maybe because it had to move farther. Even with these two new trox, you still hear a faint burrowing sound underground nearby.
Back to the heroes for round 2!
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Bones calls out: "These Trox are cybernetic zombies. Evil creatures to be destroyed! They sometimes go into a frenzied attack, and are harmed more by electricity."
As the second Trox pops out of the ground, Bones lashes out at it in a reaction--
--before being hit by the big hammer.
"Ouch!"
Thus Bones reacts by swinging his disk back and forth at it--
Bones managed to duck and avoid some of the explosion, but was bashed by the hammer.
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Bones dispatches of the second trox with three swift strikes almost as soon as it appears, causing another explosion!
The blast also hits the other undead trox, which manages to avoid the worst of the damage.
Gogglez, Z Data Z, Vecro, and Savoy have one trox remaining, with AoOs pending from Z Data Z and Vecro!
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Vecro seeing the first enemy is going to explode dodge the biggest part of the electric force.
Kasatha is not surprised when he notices additional enemies to show up so he takes a stab at one of them completely not seeing that additional foe was taken down.
He takes the full blow of the second explosion.
He quickly stabs the last opponent.
Vecro stabs hits the armor of a trox and he is not sure if it caused any harm. Solarian quickly fakes an attack with a starknife and repeats with a powerful thrust using a pike.
That thrust goes deep in the opponent's belly, and Vecro needs a second to pull it out.
Hole Puncher activates his special move! "Lightning Attack Sequence Eradication Routine! L.A.S.E.R!" it says in a robotic voice while it opens fire some more.