[AP] Iron Gods by GM Rutseg

Game Master Balacertar

CraftAlchemy: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (2) + 25 = 27

Wow. That is some acid reflux!...

"Anyone have any good theories?"

”Hrm. Well, Calliope – I bet this stomach acid is very useful as a rennet for making something akin to owlbear cheese – strong stuff… an acquired taste for sure... Perhaps this is a cheese factory.”

He carefully collects some in some spare extract vials.

Dex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"With a lab, I could extract the relevant components and chemically synthesize them... then all we’ll need is some owlbear milk." He sniffs at the slime.

"Yes, I'm sure of it! Shall we continue?"

Perception: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 18 + 2 = 40 He looks for traps or signs of intellect devourer infested dragons and their girlfriends.

"Yeah, so how do we open this one? Carve it up?"

If that seems the best way, Yambul will make it happen, trying to avoid the particularly acidic bits. If cold works, he'll step back and let others work.

”Hrm. Well, Calliope – I bet this stomach acid is very useful as a rennet for making something akin to owlbear cheese – strong stuff… an acquired taste for sure... Perhaps this is a cheese factory.”

Rhoreen bows her head, acceding to Zzvkgrogk superior wisdom and thought process.

"I...I had not considered that to be an option," she concedes and follows along...moving up and away if Yambul will be etching in acid, if it's food, then I suppose he is making a door ceviche.

Rhoreen thinks Rūha's theory would explain why this acid is found here.

Zzvkgrogk examines the area and finds a few interesting things. First of all, there are marks of hits here and there. It is almost like if big tentacles had been hitting this entrance area and dragging stuff inside. Also, he notes the doors pulse slightly, they are almost at the point of opening and he notes these doors would open very easily in comparison to the others in the Hive. A mere touch will make them open.

The ratfolk thinks he can mark the area that has been hit previously for the others to avoid it, and devise a protection against acid splash, and for extra safety force the door to open from far away.

Disable Device if you want to try (trap bonuses apply)

Rūha ponders and then suggests "If it's held together so weakly, perhaps we stay well away and throw something at it. Ideally from that side passage so if there's a torrent of digestive fluid we're not in the path. Perhaps Chaance can deliver an arrow?"

Can also disable device, but I suggest the party being all the way back in the south-facing passage.

”Oh my! Has insanity from the portal to the Dark Tapestry already passed through?” Zzvkgrogk points to some indentations on the door frame.

”Hang on – booby trap. Unless you wish to aid, why don’t you all wait over there? … No, no! Further over there!” When everyone is in safe or aiding position, Zzvkgrogk quaffs an extract (savory soup) and goes to work on part of the frame.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 24 + 4 = 32 Greater Animal Aspect, Raccoon; 1 min/lvl
Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 24 + 4 = 40 Greater Animal Aspect, Raccoon; 1 min/lvl
Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 24 + 4 = 32 Greater Animal Aspect, Raccoon; 1 min/lvl

Rhoreen retreats to the south-facing passage on advice of counsel.

”Lemme know when it’s okay to come out! I don’t want to miss someone covered in bile, but maybe I will this one time,” she says as she retreats.

Yambul, unable to aid, moves well back and waits...

There is a moment of tension as Zzvkgrogk first attempt goes wrong with him nearly touching the valve on a bad move. Fortunately, he notices on time and the digestion mechanism is not triggered. He then maneuvers, securing the area and opening the valve safely.

As the door peels open with a low, wet squelch, you are met with a nauseating wave of damp, chemical rot. The room before you is dimly lit by a sickly bioluminescent glow pulsing from the walls, which are slick with a thick, translucent orange slime. This viscous ooze drips in lazy rivulets down the uneven, fleshy walls, collecting in shallow pools that hiss faintly, as if the liquid is slowly eating away at the very floor. The air is thick, damp, and acrid, carrying an unnatural smell that borders on acidic.

The puddles of orange slime are scattered irregularly across the floor, each leaving behind faint scorch marks and trails where they have seeped further into the porous ground. Every so often, a droplet from the ceiling hits one of these puddles, creating a faint sizzle and puff of acrid smoke.

Yambul, not one to shirk his responsibilities, hesitates. ”That’s nasty.” he murmurs at the threshold.

Nevertheless, he loins his girds and marches into the room, doing his best to avoid the acidic bits.

He keeps guard while the others search - as usual.

Did the acid samples Zzvkgrogk tried to collect just eat through his glass vials, or did he manage to collect any?

Perception: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 18 + 2 = 36

"Ooh! What's that?!" Zzvkgrogk races in a blur toward the open door and stops just shy of entering the acid dripping room.

"A pretty light purple ioun stone!" He scopes out a path through the room, airwalking if he has to, to get retrieve the ioun stone without mussing his fur with drippy acid.

I wonder if I can syphon this off with a large acid proof eyedropper... and collect it in a large acid proof jar.

While he's there, or at the doorway's threshhold he looks around to deterimine if he can figure out what this room was, and what happened here.

KnowEng: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 19 + 2 - 1 = 28
KnowEng: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 19 + 2 - 1 = 36 Investigative Mind

Khalia slowly follows along, as the Zzvkith make their way back to the unopened passages. She ruminates over the ruminant-like acids, orange or not.

She pictures two separate images, overlapping and oscillating back and forth. The first is a furry cheesemaker, sampling the orange, sniffing it then swirling it in an appropriate container. The second is ysoki roadkill, defurminated in several patches, exposed bone and flesh where the orange has penetrated from the mere pull of gravity from the ceiling.

Rūha comes back to join Zzvkgrogk, and takes the opportunity while he's pondering the room's purpose to inspect for any hidden ducts or valves or arteries that might lead from here to somewhere beyond the "reactor vents" passage.

Perception: 1d20 + 21 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 21 + 10 = 39

"At least we didn't have a tidal wave of stomach acid..."

Rhoreen is slow to come up, unwilling to be doused in digestive fluids. She smiles as her friend Zzvkgrogk runs to pick up the stone, heedless of dangers.

She takes in the room from the outside.

1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 18 + 2 = 37 Perception

Zzvkgrogk, with eyes wide and glittering with curiosity, attempts to gather a sample of the slime in a vial, only to watch with mild disappointment as it just bubbles a bit without really harming the glass.

The ratfolk also can explain this is a disposal room. The neh-thalggu seem to toss in their waste. The acids and tentacles break everything down into fuel. The hive absorbs it right back into the walls and transfers it to where it is needed. Macabre but efficient.

As he finishes, Hyrsek scoffs, leaning his rapier on his shoulder with a smirk "Ah, a gourmet recycling bin. Lovely," he quips, barely suppressing a laugh "Good thing we disabled that trap, or we'd be on the menu next" He shrugs, glancing around.

"Well then, now that we've poked through the hive's 'digestive tract', where to next? The reactor vents? I'm dying to see what other charming bodily functions this place has up its... walls"

Zzvkgrogk chortles in delight when the acid does not eat through his vial.

I should deconstruct this, duplicate the relevant enzymes and try this with some ordinary goat milk.. He speaks as he collects a few viles of acid.

"Well, I think for us it is now into the relative safety of the outside – where we can freshen up and get some rest. Assuming Maukui and his girlfriend do not stand in our way. If we do bump into him, we should use this opportunity to delve into what it is he isn’t telling us about what else is beyond the portal near the Dark Tapestry mosaic. Afterall, we have to make sure we’re getting something fair out of the ‘deal’, ” he says winking, for he has no intention of handing the Compact AI Core to Maukui.

"Sounds sensible to me Zzvkgrogk. Now that we know there weren't any prisoners to save either, it doesn't have much leverage over me at least. If he doesn't block our way, I can't imagine he'll throw in with the Dominion again, considering his goals." Rūha nods.

She heads back toward the intersection that leads towards Maukui's hideout and listens for any signs he may be around.

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32

"We should be wary of any ambushes. He may be quite mad."

”Yeah, what Zzvkgrogk said - I think we were going to take a break so the spell chuckers can refresh, and the rest of us get cleaned up and rested.” Yambul sloughs off some of the goo from the last while as he exits the room.

"If we do bump into him, we should use this opportunity to delve into what it is he isn’t telling us about what else is beyond the portal near the Dark Tapestry mosaic. Afterall, we have to make sure we’re getting something fair out of the ‘deal’, ”

”Yeah, I don’t want to talk to that guy until we need to.” Yambul thinks they can leave the area without going back into his room.

”Let’s fall back, and rest a while, shall we?” He suggests maybe just outside the entrance where there’s at least a little fresh air.

Rhoreen is happy to find a place to encamp for the night, and will take her usual watch.

The group carefully traces back to the Hive entrance. There are tones of decomposing alien bodies and host carcasses as you go, but nothing large enough of a menace to be of danger for you.

You make it outside, the sun is still shining strong in the sky. You have the cliff where the Hive is lodged to your back and no signs of ambushes or other dangers to the front.

Outside the valley is calm, the cliffs loom over you and to the east you see the water bodies that make the valley damp.

Once outside in the fresher air, Yambul cleans up a bit with Prestidigitation and begins to assemble a meal out of the various bits they party carries in supplies. ”We might as well be comfortable,” he grins.

Cook: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 2 = 37 (heroism)

After lunch, if they are uninterrupted, he’ll take out his dog-eared book and do some reading while they rest.

Zzvkgrogk washes up and rolls out his bedroll. As usual, he rumages through the treasure.

”Oh, here,” Zzvkgrogk mutters as he reaches for something. ”Rūha, did you want to upgrade those veemod lenses in your goggles?” He holds up the blue veemod lenses.

He stops fussing with the treasure for now, and starts making antitoxins and antiplagues.
Craft Alchemy: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (13) + 25 = 38

He whistles through his incisors while he works.

Later, he takes his usual watch.

Assuming the ingredients on hand to Craft. I have non-procured.

Rhoreen takes the time to bath (if she can find clean water) and restore herself to her normal absolute brilliance.

She will deign to eat Yambul's feast, and maybe even compliment him on the results.

"Yeah, Ruha, what are you going to do with your goggles? Do you ever think it's weird that you have 4 arms and only 2 eyes?" Rhoreen queries.

Ruha sits down and compares the lenses Zzvk offers to her own "Hmm. I may stick with the ones I have. Considering the kinds of dangers that might lie in wait, having extra sharp vision can't hurt." (Green veemods for +10 to perception are hard to give up) She raises her eyebrows at Rhor's comment, responding "I can't say I have. Though I have pondered why I don't have four legs. You would think we'd all be much more stable that way." She shrugs "Then again, you all manage with two eyes and two arms, so clearly we learn to use what we have."

She's quiet for a while then adds "Back where I came from, most people spent at least some of their wealth on modifying their bodies. At least for datajacks, if nothing else. Or for beautification. But those who could afford it would even have grafts installed that let them experience a little of what other species had in their day-to-day." She stares off into the distance as she cradles a bowl of whatever Yambul put together. She murmurs "I swear some of my students much have had those skittermander heart grafts, with how they would bounce off the walls..." and then falls quiet.

Yambul pops his head up from slurping the noodles and asks Rüha, "What? You were a teacher? Cool. What did you teach?"

The group settles into a rare moment of peace as Yambul's expertly prepared meal spreads warm comfort through the group, lifting spirits.

Rhoreen finds the water of the lake not fully translucent but clean enough on its natural state.

Hyrsek, leaning back against a rock with a bemused expression, chimes in dryly "And here I thought you learned all those zen moves just to make the rest of us look bad. Turns out, you’re a proper sensei. Next thing you know, Yambul's going to reveal he's secretly running a five-star restaurant on the Starfall itself"

The afternoon passes quick as you work on your stuff, rest and talk. The sun starts to go down.

The night at the valley is full of dangerous sounds, but with a seasoned group like yours, no real danger closes up to face you.

Let's assume you have a full rest

Yambul pops his head up from slurping the noodles and asks Rüha, "What? You were a teacher? Cool. What did you teach?"

"Comparative Philosophy... I suppose you could all it a study of the universes' various beliefs, be they religions or otherwise. A fascinating subject, though not all of my students always thought so." She shrugs to Hysek "I'm afraid my little bit of self-defense had nothing to do with my work. Though it did come in handy after finding myself here in old Golarion."

Long rest it is. Rūha will take a watch.

"Comparative Philosophy... I suppose you could all it a study of the universes' various beliefs, be they religions or otherwise. A fascinating subject, though not all of my students always thought so."

Rhoreen looks over.

”I think I read a book about that once. Something about having one goblin tied to a guillotine, and then 5 more goblins attached to the same guillotine (but a different part, you only got to kill 1 or 5 goblins with any one action), and how quickly one should make sure the 5 goblins died every time,” she relates her story.

”If I recall correctly, the author was a dwarf.”

She ponders more.

”And then there was the Abadaran text, where it quantified every action as the sum total of money collected as the means to know if something was just or not. I mean, you could rob the orphanage if you need to, because orphans are notoriously bad fighters, and that would be okay, but not as okay as knocking over a pay stagecoach. That was an interesting read.”

Yambul nods to Rüha's response, grinning. He's a little more confused at Rhoreen though, "Shouldn't you wait for the five to kill the one, then kill the five? Rushing, you don't get them all."

Refreshed after a good rest, Yambul is ready to head back inside. He’ll ask the spell casters, ”So do we have options today to overcome the hot engine things? Or are we just going to head into the tapestry next?”

He's comfortable trying either option, though without being able to turn off the broiler, he's not sure about the engine room.

””I think I read a book about that once. Something about having one goblin tied to a guillotine, and then 5 more goblins attached to the same guillotine (but a different part, you only got to kill 1 or 5 goblins with any one action), and how quickly one should make sure the 5 goblins died every time,”

”Oh yeah, I read that too – The Glutton for Punishment’s Manifesto… I always found they overthink eveerything. Why not tie all five goblins together into a ball, then use a trebuchet to fling them all into a nearby wall? Far more efficient if the goal is to kill them all.”

Is anyone still diseased?

Zzvkgrogk goes about making extracts and his Mutagen which he will quaff before re-entering the hive.

"And let's not forget to cover ourselves with hive blinding goo."

He takes out a scent gland and covers himself with... scent.

The corners of Rūha's eyes crinkle at what she assumes are jokes from Rhor. She's certainly heard some outlandish belief systems since her studies began, ones that would boggle the mind here on Golarion. Those dilemmas on the other hand sounded awfully familiar. Perhaps some things never really changed.

The next day, she does her stretches and then returns to the party to discuss next steps. "Do we have a way of protecting against fire and electricity? If those engines turn on, they'll likely torch us with plasma while we're crossing." She looks between Zzzvkgrogk and Rhor for answers. "Otherwise, I'd prefer the hazard we understand - the vents - over the Tapestry-portal we don't."

”I do not possess those kinds of protective magics, Ruha,” Rhoreen answers. ”I can get myself through unscathed, and perhaps scout to see if there is a way to disable the dangers, or I can get myself and 3 others to bypass them, but that is my current limit. I wonder if we have other solutions,” Rhoreen ponders.

Anyone got Wall of Stone or Iron? Force?

”Also, thinking about Yambul’s cooking. It might be wise to take one of the bodies of the recently deceased, like one of those spider things, and toss them in and see if there is any effect,” Rhoreen suggests. ”At least then we might know what we’re going to face.”

After eating, cleaning up, Rhoreen will magic herself up (and others who wish it as well), and then lead others to get a body and toss it into the danger.

Khalia quietly positions herself at the entrance of the Hive, and watches intently, all evening. She finds the turns of conversation interesting, but only rouses when the Zzvkith is vocal about returning to the Hive, and completing the rout.

After a nice breakfast and some discussions, the group returns to the Hive. Navigating back to the plasma room is a bit of a hassle in such an alien place but eventually you reach that area.

Instructed by Rhoreen, you drag with you a dead body and toss it into the first pit just to see it raise at high speed until it hits the ceiling. The body remains there, crashed against the top, with the alien meat slowly roasting on the heat of the room.

No disease here!

Yambul watches the body splat! and then burn... The smell is atrocious compared to the delightful cooking from earlier.

He watches the flesh continue to roast.

"OK then, so shall we try the portal? I don't particularly want to crisp like a chicken in my own skin."

Sorry, should have said this earlier.

Just before everyone beds down for the evening
~~~

”I do not possess those kinds of protective magics, Ruha,”

”All I have is endure elements, but something that would work here is now on the top of my wishlist. But... does anyone want a Delay Disease?”

Near the engines.
~~~~

The body remains there, crashed against the top, with the alien meat slowly roasting on the heat of the room.

Zzvkgrogk shakes his head even as his stomach growls now that the scent of broiled crustacean fills the air. ”That’s what happens when you fail to stay in the air…”

Mutagen

"The reversed gravity seems quite severe. On the other hand, jets of plasma didn't shoot up immediately. That's a good sign. We might be able to manage this with some careful flying... or..." Rūha isn't all that eager to go through the portal to *wherever* without a way back.

Not sure if there's more we can study in the portal room to determine its target destination. Otherwise the other option I'm thinking is using the autograpnel to extend a line across. Then we tie ourselves to that and have some insurance in case the gravity does tricky things. Up to you all. 3rd choice would be drink fly potion and go across that way.

The body remains there, crashed against the top, with the alien meat slowly roasting on the heat of the room.

"Well, that's some good science right there. Now we know that some of us are going to go splat if and when we cross that," she nods proudly at her test working so well.

"I'm still happy to get some of across without too much danger," Rhoreen again offers, knowing she can take herself and 3 more across the dangerous spot.

She looks again at her friend, Zzvkgrogk.

"Are you sure you can disarm or bypass this, <*sound*>," Rhoreen makes a sound like an alien body crashing against a grill, with the alien meat slowly roasting on the heat.

She waits a moment for others before acting.

There is no control panel here and the pits seem a large complicated alien device and for sure not possible to disable without going down. Now the aliens are bypassing this in some way so maybe they are not that complicated to navigate.

With everyone else unsure in how to tackle things, Ruha decides to just give it a go. She levels her autograpnel and fires it across at the far wall. She aims for what looks like the most solid part, so it'll hold her weight in case of any mishaps. She sets the grapnel to start reeling and therefore stay taut as she leaps across the pits to the other side.

Acrobatics (long jump): 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 24 + 2 = 42
Acrobatics (long jump): 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 24 + 2 = 30

With the first leap she readies to be thrown up toward the ceiling and puts a little spin in her jump to land on her feet.

It wasn't officially stated, but she'll have prebuffed with barkskin, heroism, and mage armor today as usual.

"Hyrsek, you should wait here. We might be some time, especially if we need to refortify our spells, er, their spells, before returning by this pass."

With Rüha across (hopefully!), and Hyrsek remaining behind, the rest of us should be able to go with Rhoreen.

Before departing, Yambul requests his Barkskin (+4 AC, 100m) and Heroism (+2 morale, 220m) for the start of the adventuring day.

He fires up his chainsaw, and gets close to Rhoreen...

Rūha risks the jump helped by the autograpnel. As soon as she sets herself into the air, she feels the reverse gravity pulling her up. Fortunately, she was prepared for the trick, and corrects her fly with a masterful maneuver, hitting the ceiling with her feet and profiting the back to normal gravity to take further impulse for the second jump.

Out of balance, she gets out of the middle platform in a wrong position and for a moment it seems she is going to crash against the ceiling, but thanks to her expert training she backs to the ground once more, landing at the other side just by a few inches!

Hyrsek is quick to agree with Yambul "Ok, but remember, if you find Therace, he is mine."

Rhoreen then dimension doors the party to the other side, and in an instant you all have gone past the tricky area.

Just before you opens a wide cavern. The irregular floor of the cave is also covered with the scaly substance found on the walls, though it is the mottled color of a fresh bruise and frequently stirs in places with disturbing muscular motion.

Please sort out what magics are on effect before we move into the next room

New Dark Cavern map is available!

Rūha will drink an antitoxin and have her potion of fly at the ready in case she needs to drink it. Otherwise if the rest of you have some neat buffs to throw out, this seems like it might be a good time for them if the GM is offering the pause!

”"Are you sure you can disarm or bypass this, <*sound*>,"

”Hrm, well maybe – I just forgot because the elderflower is out of season. If you give me a minute, I might be able to mix something together that might work.”

If we haven’t taken magics yet, Zzvkgrogk will take a minute to whip up a Resist Energy. He’ll fly and go through with the resist energy and Hyrsek will dimension door with the others.

He winces at the stale tasting extract but washes it down with another flavored like dragon broth.

Fly: 1d20 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 5 = 19 Resist Energy, 20 points

Otherwise, he’ll dimension door with the others as played so spells don't run out that one minute.

Before flying forth, Rhoreen will look around this new area.

1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 2 = 25 Perception

If it looks clear, she will fly after the party.

Is there a check to identify the weird walls and floors?

Yambul is happy to leave Hyrsek behind, but if Zzvgrogk wants him along, he's happy to wait as well - especially as it won't be long.

Either way, once they're on the other side, he enters and looks around for hostiles while the others look more carefully.

Khalia readies herself for what feels like the final assault on the Hive. She petitions half her nanites to skin-level at all times 'Bark'skin, and the other half to reinforce her android body musculature Catdroid's Grace and Longstrider

"You have been honorable with us, Hyrsek. We continue to honor our agreement about Therace. I understand your trepidation, given our blatant abuse of 'agreement' with Maukui."

The android waits to see what lies on the other side of the thrusters.

Zzvgrogk prepares a flying concoction for himself so Hyrsek can travel with the rest of the party.

M13. Dark Cavern
Swarms of tiny glowing creatures crawl and slither along the scaled walls of this large, humid cavern, providing eerie illumination of the natural rock columns that support the ceiling twenty feet above. The irregular floor of the cave is also covered with the scaly substance found on the walls, though it is the mottled color of a fresh bruise and frequently stirs in places with disturbing muscular motion.

The floor of this cave, with its uneven and shifting, folded nature, is difficult to navigate (difficult terrain).

Rhoreen notices the walls themselves, are covered with rippling inscriptions written in Aklo that change as she watches. In her esoteric knowledge, she concludes, the walls, floor, and ceiling of this vast cavern are in fact a shifting alien library of information gathered by the Dominion of the Black.

As you enter its final domain, the ascended yah-thelgaad sitting here greets you telepathically Ah, nescient invaders, at last you enter my private sanctum. Unbeknownst to you, such is at my invitation. You did your best to destroy that which you did not understand along the way. Perhaps you disapprove of our work here? Your objections surely flow from your ignorance, and oh, that sweet ignorance is vaster than the expanse of the Gaceedill Nebula itself. Tell me this, insignificant motes, before I free your brains from their bony prisons: do you think you will still oppose the all-consuming will of the ineffable void once all that you are becomes one with the Dominion of the Black?

At least five Neh-Thalggus that you can see surround their leader protecting him.

Round 1: Zzvkgrogk, Hyrsek, Dweller, Khalia, Neh-Thalggus, Rhoreen, Rūha, Yambul

Rhoreen casts Comprehend Langauges as she recognizes the language, in hopes of making more sense of things.

Wow, that's a lot of jerks in that room.

Ugh, going last here is BAD. Spread out if you can.