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The party discusses the morality of releasing Harzogopas from his servitude and letting him roam free. Meanwhile, there is a locked iron door waiting for them.
The door itself doesn't appear to be trapped and the lock appears the be the same make as the lock in all the other dungeon doors. The only difference is that this one is a bit corroded. Sometimes that makes a lock harder to open but in this case it should be easier.
And on closer inspection there is another, much stronger magical aura in the room beyond the door that can also be identified.
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I thought we left Sir Falcon in charge of the key… Andwise glances around a shrugs at the others.
”If you would rather me be the first through, just say the words. I am sure Tanssi will protect me. They always have in the past.”
Despite the presence of magic, Andwise lacks any of the sophistication to actually understand or interpret the aura’s that he sees.
"Well, the imp was simply trapped in servitude. I simply released it from it's bonds.". She keeps arguing, trying to justify why she released the imp.
"But yes, magic ahead. Be careful Sir Falcon. Don't go running in head first."
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The key easily fits into the lock and opens the door.
Suizal notices that the floor seems to be slightly off. Quickly he realizes that the entire 10 foot by 10 foot room has a trick floor that can slide into the wall. It is likely on a timer, designed to go off when a certain weight is on it, or has some kind of magical trigger. Unfortunately, in order to disable it, someone will need to actually go into the room, as it is a rather large mechanism.
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Ilvaria and Andwise enter the room. As they do, a disembodied voice says “Please close the door before proceeding with the pass phrase.”
Andwise desperately searches for any kind of gap or flaw where the floor connects with the wall that he could use to wedge something in or access the mechanism below the floor but does not find anything. As he's doing this he feels the sensation of something mechanical moving beneath his feet.
Suizal sighs and follows. "Good Baron Sarvo wills it," she says out loud, hoping the imp didn't lie.
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Sir Falcon swings the door open. At the end of the dark room there is a human sized machine of some kind. It stands on three evenly spaced legs and two arm-like appendages hang down at its side. On its shoulder is a hollow brass tube about three long and four inches in diameter. The machine is not moving.
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Suizal recognizes the construct as a clockwork servant. Being an unliving thing, it is immune to many things that can kill or disable a living creature.
Constructs are immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless). Constructs are not subject to nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain. Constructs are not at risk of death from massive damage.
Due to the nature of their construction, clockwork creations are uniquely vulnerable to electrical attacks.
"Be careful Sir Falcon! Clockworks can be... well... unusual.". She examines the construct from afar. "Wonder what it's doing here. Another trapped servant?"
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As the floor begins to move, and then suddenly stops- a relieved look flashes across the halfling's face, though he remains silent.
At least the raven, imp, thing, didn't lie to us. I half expected those words to spring a trap on us as we moved about this forsaken place
A clockwork, huh? How did one of those end up here?
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Ilvaria lobs a glob of acid at the construct. The acid strikes it, burning a small scar into the surface of its metal armor.
As Ilvaria steps into the room, she also notices that there is another creature hiding in the shadows of the corner. It looks like a small demon, but with parts that are stitched together like some kind ragdoll. Its eyes glimmer with madness and it looks ready to pounce from its perch up above.
Round 1
Suizal
Ilvaria
Clockwork Servant -2
Sir Falcon
Melenthe
Small Construct, 10 feet high
Andwise
Tanssi
Suizal barely has time to notice the ragdoll, focusing her attention on the clockwork in front of her. "Boy, I'm feeling a bit rusty."
She dashes forward, pointing at it. An ice beam flows from her hand!
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"Very rusty!"
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Suizal's ray strikes the creature, causing a tiny amount of damage. As the creature steps forward, one of it's arms reaches up and welds the small hole created by Ilvaria shut. Then out of the tube it launches a bundled net at Suizal. The net strikes the sylph, leaving him tangled up.
Suizal recognizes that the construct is a humunculos, a servitor made with the blood of a spellcaster. Besides knowing that it is a construct, he can't remember any known strengths or weaknesses these creatures have.
Round 1
Suizal - entangled
Ilvaria
Clockwork Servant -1
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Small Construct, 10 feet high
Andwise
Tanssi
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Even knowing he is wounded, Sir Falcon knows he is an inspiration to the rest of the party.
He takes his sword and makes a valiant charging roar!
Falcon gleams brilliantly for a moment and allies within 30 feet gain an additional +2 trait bonus on attack and damage rolls when they make a charge attack before the beginning of Falcons turn.
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Melenthe sees the homunculus up on the wall as she enters the room. Keeping her other eye on Sir Falcon and the clockwork creature fighting him, she decides to take the clean shot at the creature up on the wall. Her weapon glows with arcane energy as she whispers a few words into the bow. Somehow her shot does not make its mark, and the arrow buries itself into the wall less than an inch from the creature.
The little creature flies across the room and lands on the entangled slyph, snapping at him with its small but very sharp looking teeth. The little monster manages to sink its fangs into his neck. Immediately, the ensnared mage begins to feel drowsy as some kind of venom begins to seep into his veins.
Round 1
Suizal - entangled, Fort Save needed, -2
Ilvaria
Clockwork Servant -12
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Small Construct, 10 feet high
Andwise
Tanssi
Round 2
Suizal - entangled, Fort Save needed, -2
Ilvaria
Clockwork Servant -12
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Small Construct, 10 feet high
Andwise
Tanssi
Suizal starts coughing as she gets entangled in some nets. "Why Gozreh! Why! What did I ever do to you?". She says dramatically, almost sarcastically.
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She reaches up to the small creature on top of her. "Get off of me, beast. Ugly unnatural creature."
She attempts to grab a hold of it with one hand.
But between the poison and the net, she's having severe difficulty.
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Suizal shakes off the poison. Luckily very little of it seemed to seep into his wound. He reaches out and tries to grab at the little beastie, but is clammy flesh is too slippery for him to get his fingers around.
Ilvaria steps back and tosses a blast of acid at the critter, but hits the wall instead.
Gladly, Andwise. It's been too long...
The shadowy creature creeps through the room, slipping around the creature and around behind it. It settles on its haunches and snaps out with its mouth-like appendage.
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Andwise blasts the construct with a burst of scintillating light, slightly disorienting the creature. Meanwhile, Tanssi rushes across the room and bites at one of the clockwork's three legs. His teeth are not quite strong or sharp enough to puncture the brass shell of the construct's limb, though.
"You dare defy the will of the Good Baron Sarvo! Traitors! Usurpers!" the clockwork cries out in its tinny voice. One arm begins to weld together the cut delivered by Sir Falcon, while the other arm swings out to strike at the eidolon who just entered combat. Tanssi leaps out of the way as its heavy metal arm slams into the ground.
Round 2
Suizal - entangled, Fort Save needed, -2
Ilvaria
Clockwork Servant -10
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Small Construct, 10 feet high
Andwise
Tanssi
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Sir Falcon steps sideways as he parries until he is on the opposite end of the construct as Tanssi before delivering a decisive blow to one of the creature's legs. His blade bites deep into the construct leg, nearly severing it from its body. Oil and clockwork mechanisms spill out of the leg's casing and onto the floor.
Melenthe draws her bow and quickly lines up another shot before releasing the string. Their is a loud twang and then an arrow sticking out of its swinging arm. Smoke is pouring out of the construct and its joints shriek as the automaton struggles to move despite all the damage it has suffered.
The homunculus continues to attack the Suizal, who is still tangled up in a net. Unable to properly defend himself, he is unable to avoid taking another bite to the arm.
Round 2
Suizal - entangled, -5, Fort save vs. Poison
Ilvaria
Clockwork Servant -28
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Homunculus, 5 feet high
Andwise
Tanssi
Round 3
Suizal - entangled, -5, Fort save vs. Poison
Ilvaria
Clockwork Servant -28
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Homunculus, 5 feet high
Andwise
Tanssi
Now opposite of Falcon, Tanssi presses its advantage against the clockwork creature. In a shadowy blurr, it strikes out with teeth and claw to draw the construct to the ground.
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Tanssi drags the clockwork servant to the ground and rips open its casing with its claws. Smoke pours out of the automaton as it convulses. Its tinny voice repeats, "Sarvo, Sarvo, Sarvo," over again as the ruined construct's mechanisms run down for the final time.
Meanwhile, Andwise manages to splash the construct attacking Suizal with a blast of acid.
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Round 3
Suizal - entangled, -5, Fort save vs. Poison
Ilvaria
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Homunculus, 5 feet high, -4
Andwise
Tanssi
Andwise gets the little construct with a direct hit to the chest, which burns away a large chunk the homunculus's flesh. Ilvaria also tosses a glob of acid, but hers strike the wall again. Despite it's injuries the creature's eyes glimmer with enraged madness and it is clear that the tiny construct wants to fight to the death.
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The clockwork servant lies on the ground, smashed into pieces by Melenthe, Sir Falcon and Tanssi. Meanwhile, Suizal is still caught up in the net fired by the clockwork creature and has a doll-sized flying monster repeatedly biting him. Will anyone come to the arcanist's rescue, or will he perhaps find a way to rescue himself?
Round 3
Suizal - entangled, -5, Fort save vs. Poison
Ilvaria
Sir Falcon -5, -2 Dex
Melenthe
Homunculus, 5 feet high, -4
Andwise
Tanssi
Suizal starts coughing.
She sighs. "Please help me. Oh Sir Falcon. I know you can do it."
The sylph attempts to touch the homunculus hovering around her, electricity flowing through her fingers.
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Suizal once again manages to stave off the homunculus's sleep venom. He attempts to retaliate, but the tiny creature makes for a difficult to strike target. Meanwhile, Sir Falcon rushes in to attack but also has trouble landing a decisive blow.
Melenthe moves into close range and fires an arrow at the creature. The arrow strikes the creature dead center and manages to pin it to the wall, where it begins to crumble apart into smaller pieces.