"Did you see that?" Yoromishtali asks the others. "Some sort of reverse pumping action?" the vesk looks at Sevens. He steps closer to the spire and turns his head, aiming an ear at the moisture collector to hear any motor or mechanical pump working.
|
As Yoro settles in near the moisture collector, he notices that the tub nearest him is full of water. As he turns toward Goraya to ask her to sing, he notices the nearest tub emptying itself! The water seems to pour itself into one of the other tubs.
Thak watches the water flow with fascination. It’s like that kid’s show on the vids when I was little… while the performer talked, water kept jumping from one pitcher to the next behind her back. We all got excited and yelled and pointed at the screen like the performer could hear us. She did figure out how that worked… neither did we. Huh.
Moving closer to Neap, Thak gestures toward the tubs. “What do you think? Magic? A creature at work? Maybe one of those elemental things? I think there's one for water.”
Goraya begins her song, at first she only hums, but then breaks into her strange language.
Sure enough, the water moves about in time with the music.
When the music reaches its crescendo, a stream of water is spewed from one of the tubs, drenching Yoro.
Duncan scowls as he watches the water shift and then the geyser-like spurt. He knows a bit about the moisture collector because one of his tasks before the Azlanti attack was to give it a tune-up. It is a simple machine to keep the electric charge in the air from disabling it. It functions more by chemistry than circuitry.
"That cannae be the machine. Somethin's posessed the water. Some kind o' mystic or technomancer spell perhaps."
When the water drenches Yoromishtali, he reflexively bares his teeth and growls. He wipes the water from his face and doshko, looking around the area for someone hiding. "A mystic prankster maybe," Yoromishtali says to Duncan. He takes a deep breath then sighs, shaking his head.
"That probably looked funny," he says with a brief chuckle. "Well, I don't know enough about magic to be of any help here. Other than being the target," he adds with another chuckle.
Chiaiese can't stifle a small laugh at Yoro's predicament.
"Whatever it is, I think it likes you, Yoro."
She reaches out telepathically to see if there is an intelligence behind the activity. She does this by repeating some of the phrases sung by Goroya to see if she gets a response.
|
Distracted by the odd effects of the water and silently agreeing with Yoromishtali that perhaps it was some unusual pump malfunction, Sevens is distracted and doesn't notice the water reacting in time with Goraya's singing until poor Yoro is suddenly drenched.
"Oh. Well, I do not think it is the pumps." They offer, a little unhelpfully. It doesn't stop them from attempting a diagnostic.
Years of living under the warlike vesk taught Duncan to stifle the laughter he feels seeing the warrior covered in water. He instead focuses on the water collector and the strange reaction to Goraya's singing. He notices Chiaese concentrating and remembers her kind can speak telepathically.
"If there is some water beastie in there, ya can maybe negotiate with it, 'tween yer tele-talk and water-speak."
The vague form within the water tubs begins to swirl around impatiently. At one point a spray of water fires out from the nearest tub, getting Yoro even wetter, and even dampening Thak, Neap, and Goraya.
Chiaiese senses a frustration from whatever it is that is manipulating the water. Again she attempts to use Goroya's song phrases to communicate with whatever it is telepathically.
"Yeah, a prankster," Yoromishtali groans after getting more wet. He wipes the water from his face again and exhales forcibly. He enters a defensive stance, legs bent low, ready to move to either side. "Okay, then! Try it again!" He laughs then sighs, turning on his camera.
This creature has decided it has had enough of playtime. It emerges from the tub nearest Yoro and lashes out at him violently with a watery appendage.
[ooc]Miss!
1. Enemy blue
2. Sevens
3. Chiaiese
4. Yoro
5. Neap
6. Duncan
7. Thak
Chiaiese is startled by the emergence of the water elemental, hoping that whatever the creature was would be friendly. Clearly she misjudged its intentions.
Directing her finger toward it, she unleashes three magic missiles, hoping that straightforward force damage will hurt it until she gets a better idea of its capabilities.
The creature lets out an alarmed gurgle when it is struck by the magic missiles, which seem to damage it.
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Drench (Ex) A water elemental’s touch douses nonmagical flames that fill an area of no more than 10 feet by 10 feet. The outsider can dispel magical fire it touches as per dispel magic (caster level = the elemental’s CR).
Water Mastery (Ex) Waterborne creatures take a −1 penalty to attack and damage rolls against water elementals.
Immunities elemental immunities
No vulnerabilities.
"Careful not ta damage the hardware!" Duncan warns as he draws his pulsecaster pistol and moves to a spot where he has a clear shot around Yoro. A moment later several of the gadgets on Duncan flash in various colors. Then a jag of electricity lances at the water creature.
[DC = 20 + target's CR]
Success = (if the attack hits) + target is flat-footed against the attack (-2 to AC).
(range 30 ft.)
"I'll do my best, Duncan," Yoromishtali says as he steps to the side, giving the others a better shot to use any ranged weapons without his body in the way as well as maybe becoming too enticing a target if another of these foes appears. "There might be more than one so be careful of the other tubs."
He swings his doshko in a quick right to left slash.
|
|
Thak's eyes grow wide as the water elemental emerges from the tub and takes a brutal swipe toward Yoro. Even Cubber looks slack-jawed.
A standard pistol probably won’t work on this… so let’s try baffling it with some unexpected dance moves.
The Brenneri begins an energetic version of the malessor mash, the latest dance craze to hit Absalom Station.
Oh well, at least I caught its attention…
A hail of magic missiles, a pulsecaster trick attack, and a brutal hit with a doshko are all it takes to cause this water elemental to expire.
Thak just looks sort of silly.
Neap will never know if his water dart would have affected the creature.
Goraya approaches the water tubs carefully. She sees no evidence of any shenanigans. She turns to you and speaks, "I don't know where that thing came from. I think we have to assume that the Azlanti may have brought it with them. It never bothered anyone when one of them was around."
Duncan will give the collector a diagnostic check.
"Someone may need ta check the water fer purity. I dinnae ken what a dead water elemental does ta freshwater when it dies."
Yoromishtali keeps himself in a guarded stance next to Goraya as they look to see if another enemy lurks in the other water tubs. "Is there a way to prevent the Azlanti from putting another water elemental here again? I mean, we do something to this machine to keep water elementals out."
As the group discusses their next step, the vesk checks his doshko's teeth.
Extracting her engineering tool kit, Chiaiese first performs a diagnostic on the liberated water treatment system, then runs a cleaning cycle. She ponders Yoro's suggestion and then tries something.
"There. I created a minor short that will discharge into the supply tanks. It won't be enough to electrocute anyone, but if another water elemental tries to slip into the works it will feel like its skin is crawling, or whatever is the appropriate comparison. It won't want to be there."
Goraya replies to Yoro. "I think the best way to keep the Azlanti out of our water supply is to kill all of them. Meanwhile, we colonists at least have free reign on this collector. That should immediately help with morale around here."
Chiaiese surmises that the countermeasures she added to the evaporator and tubs should make life difficult or impossible for another troublesome water elemental.
"That's clever Chiaiese. Well, since we are in high spirits and uninjured, let's get to that hobgar task!" Yoromishtali says while slapping his tail once against the machine for emphasis.
|
|
”Well, since we are in high spirits and uninjured, let's get to that hobgar task!”
Thak nods enthusiastically. “The faster we move, the less warning the Azlanti will have about our work.”
As the group prepares to leave, Thak seems to be practicing the malessor mash, perhaps trying to discern what went wrong with his performance for the water elemental.
... it’s left arm up then right arm to the side… or, wait… left arm up then right LEG to the side… nod twice, half-turn right…
Duncan shares what he knows about the Hobgar trap. The trap is an electrified cage that attracts the beasties an' traps 'em. Colonists normally lower the cage ta a trike and haul 'em awa' into the brush, keepin' their distance. If ya've met the chancers, they send out lecky bolts. We won't hae that option, I'm feart. One o' us will hae ta climb the pole and open the cage. The latch can be set ta open oan a timer ta give a delay of aboot a minute. It'll be dangerous. They'll be ragin' an spitin' their lecky bolts at onybody that gets close. Ay'll do it if ya want me ta.
Yoromishtali turns off his camera. "We ran into some of them after our arrival. One stole my comm. Annoying and dangerous. Is it a matter of honor for your volunteering to do this? If so, how can I aid you? Otherwise, why don't I do it? I think I'm the most hardy of us. Though if it's a latch, can you use magic to open the cage Chiaiese?"
"So long as the bolt is not stuck, yes. However you prefer to proceed "
"How are ya wi' computers? It isnae a simple latch, otherwise the mingers would let themselves oot. The controls are pretty intuitive. But ya got the chancers shockin' ya. The shocks arenae dangerous if ya just get clyped by a few o' them."
"I'm competent in using computers," Yoromishtali says then pauses. "Though, I don't really know any of the workings beyond the user interface. If it's a matter of a passcode or a few menu choices, I can do that. If something else needs to be done, I'll climb the pole too and provide those hobgars with a distraction."
"We got this. Let's go check it out."
A sturdy metal pole rises 30 feet above the settlement, its top nearly obscured by fog. A wide metal cage with an angled opening no wider than a human fist sits on top of the pole. The wire mesh of the cage crackles with electricity. A small control box rests right underneath a metal plate at the bottom of the cage. Several tiny, furry creatures leap about inside the cage, rattling the electrified mesh and hooting in distress.
Duncan tells Chiaiese the steps to setting the cage to open after a one minute delay. "I suggest we take cover an' be ready to provide cover. The hobgars'll scatter. Best we drive 'em toward the garrison."
Duncan draws his semi-auto pistol, fearing his pulsecaster may hurt the hobgars.
"Towards the garrison!" Yoromishtali says while swinging his arms to the sides and above his head. "Good thinking." He puts a hand on the pole and looks up.
"Alright, If I can't do it, you'll have my support," Yoromishtali says to Chiaiese. He puts his doshko at the base of the pole, laying it down three feet away so he can pick it up quickly. He then begins to climb.
The hobgars up in the trap squeal angrily at all of you. Some of them fire electrical bolts your direction, but all of you are safely out of range down on the ground.
Yoro scrambles up the pole.
Two of the hobgars unleash their electrical bolts at Yoro as he ascends.
Yoromishtali grunts as the electrical bolts hit him. He keeps his eyes on the control panel as he grips the pole with his hands and legs, climbing towards his goal.
"Great work, Yoro!" Chiaiese cheers.
Yoro makes it to the top of the hobgar trap, and releases the locking mechanism that will let the animals out after a one minute delay.
The hobgars scream angrily at Yoro. One lets loose with another bolt of electricity.
"Thanks! Okay, one minute mark, get in position," Yoromishtali calls to his companions.
The vesk attempts to grab the small piece of technology before climbing down. Once on the ground he gives the piece of tech to Chiaiese saying "Found it up there. Something for you and Duncan to investigate." He picks up his doshko and moves fifteen feet onto the grass. He keeps his doshko in a horizontal defensive grip and paces back and forth looking up into the cage.
"I'll try to prevent any from getting past me as you use your weapons to encourage them to head towards the garrison. Sound okay?"
Duncan reconsiders his use of the semi-auto pistol, thinking it too loud and likely to draw out Azlanti investigating gunfire. He holsters his pistol and draws a thin blade from the cane that has been tied to his backpack, positioning himself next to Thak.