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Decided to do something about this, both Rūha and Yambul jump ensemble to the lower level and roll over to the gremlins. The four-armed female scares the flea-knight while Yambul crushes Jazvit with a mighty swing of his massive sword.
With the gremlin leader converted into jinkin pulp, the flea scares off to the corner, while the other gremlin alarmed tries to escape, Rhoreen and Rūha trying to prevent it!
While Rhoreen's magic does not take hold, Rūha hits the head of the tiny creature rendering it unconscious into the pile of rubble.
The gremlins have little treasure, it seems whatever they took from the skulks, it has been taken by someone else.
mwk shortsword (tiny)
magical wand
shortsword (tiny)
wand of summon monster I (CL 3, 9 charges)
At the end of the cave, a smooth wall of dark gray metal bisects the cavern. There is a door which proves to be closed and firmly locked in place, apparently from the other side.
You feel a powerful emanation with the flea, this was the repository of the witch gremlin's spells, and you know you can extract that knowledge using your wand.
The wall is made of an adamantine alloy called glaucite:
When the phrase “Numerian Steel” is used, the speaker is
usually, knowingly or not, referring to an iron/adamantine
alloy called glaucite. This dark gray metal is the material of
choice for hulls and starship superstructures, and is what
constitutes the walls, floors, and ceilings of the strange
ruins found throughout Numeria. Without more advanced
technology, glaucite is extremely difficult to work with.
Because the metal isn’t much better than steel for forging
weapons or armor, and the process of extracting the
adamantine from it is so expensive and time consuming
that the resulting adamantine isn’t worth the effort,
Numerian scavengers have, by and large, left the walls
and floors of the structures buried in the region untouched.
It’s simply easier to scavenge smaller objects or work with
normal iron or steel in the long run.
Glaucite has 30 hit points per inch of thickness (the
same as steel) and hardness 15. It is half again as heavy
as steel, and the difficulty of working with the material
triples the object’s total cost to create. As a result, glaucite
armor and weapons are generally commissioned only by
eccentrics and collectors and rarely see use in the field,
given that steel weapons and armor work just as well and
are less encumbering.
Bashing down this stuck door will likely take hours or even days.
The hardship of Black Hill Caves exploration has endured your muscles, trained your aim and given your new insights.
Zzvkgrogk pulls out the brown nanite hypogun and shoots it into his upper arm.
”Aaah!” he sighs in relief.
Zzvkgrogk carefully retrieves the scattered pieces of the green board, chips and wires, then climbs into the pit to retrieve the heavy metallic donut, and the other metal metallic piece.
Then he looks at the wall.
”Oh my Brigh! This wall is made of an adamantine alloy called glaucite. It is really strong, lighter than steel. It would make great armor, but it is very difficult to work with and cost triple to create anything out of it. It will take a long time to bash through, not just for me.”
For more details, Zzvkgrogk will explain all he knows .
”I’ve often wondered though, if this would make a good material for a ship that can coast among the stars… let me check something.”
Hits: 8/8
AC 16, touch 14 (+3 dex, +1 racial), flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +1 racial)
Laser Pistol Charges: 5/10
Brown nanite hypogun charges: 7/10
Later given the opportunity, he will try to identify and see if he can repair the technological items collected.
Yambul takes a moment to wipe his blade before eyeing the short sword. ”Anyone mind if I take this? I’ve a chain I can affix it to as a necklace for someone. Any of you interested?” He’ll take the tiny blade - all of 6” long, with pommel. But it’s finely made, and that counts for something.
But he doesn’t start working on it here. Not now anyway. He moves up to the door, if Zzvkgrogk fails, and tries brute force, as one does when that’s all one has. He’ll take 20 on trying to push open the door for a whopping 24 - a far cry from the 45 needed.
Breathing heavily from the few minutes of effort, and with nothing to show for it, he turns to the others, ”Any of you have any ideas?”
Spellcraft
"If no one minds, I'll take this wand," Rhor suggests after the melee is ended. She's still partially burnt, but is trying to be brave and might be too proud to ask for help.
Rhoreen, despite what she knows, shows no interest in keeping the flea alive, and would have the bloodsucker killed, rather than spared at this time.
"...glaucite!"
"Glaucite? Are you sure?" Rhor asks, again amazed at the breadth Zzvkgrogk's knowledge. She examines the wall as well, both to learn and to confirm.
Appraise
"OMG! Yes! Yes, you're right, <*sound*>" Rhoreen makes a sound like a baby bird being force-fed a watermelon. "Yes, that's glaucite! Exactly!" Rhor is excited by this discovery. "Yes, <*sound*>, you're exactly right again." She makes the baby bird sound again.
She touches her tender burnt areas as the party finishes up in this part of the caverns.
She will look down the unexplored area with her light.
Perception
Zzvkgrogk looks around at his companions for the first time, and notices that more than one of them look a little fried.
”Aawwg, everyone! I’m so sorry.” He pulls out a couple of vials and hands them out, then shoots the last two with the hypogun (should you all accept).
"They're peanut butter. Enjoy."
"This one tingles a little."
He looks around at his companions. ”Does anyone else have any healing? I’m out, and the hypogun has 5 charges left, but I think I can prepare more extracts tomorrow morning.”
Hits: 8/8
AC 16, touch 14 (+3 dex, +1 racial), flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +1 racial)
Laser Pistol Charges: 5/10
Brown nanite hypogun charges: 5/10
Zzvkgrogk opens a box next to the door and attempts to wire a few cables to one of his batteries, producing multiple sparks. The door seems to try to open, but fails. No way to open this door as it seems blocked from the other side. You will need to find an alternative way through or dig your way through the glaucite with hard work.
Yambul follows suite by taking some running start and hitting the door many times with his shoulder. But the door will not move, hitting the glaucite feels like striking a solid mountain.
Rhoreen explores the adjacent caverns with her light only finding broken tech and some bugs the gremlins seem to use as food. She gives a look at the western cave too, but careful to not make any of the wires spring the trap there.
She also finds the glaucite circular wall continues intersecting the cave walls to the south.
Before you exhaust your few healing resources Joram Kyte's words resound in your mind: Take care of one another. And do not take risks. If things are getting hard or you need healing, come back. Baine would not like you getting hurt for trying to find him. You can always take a second look tomorrow.
Yambul stands straight after his try with the door. "That door's not gonna open from this side I don't think." he mentions the obvious.
When Zzvkgrogk offers healing, he begs off. "Oh, I'm OK for now, thanks. We should get more charges for that thing though. I feel I'm going to need it in time, you know?" He smiles at his furry companion.
He suggests, "Let's check the rest of the cave just in case, but I think we're going to need a better solution for the door. Maybe we see if someone in town has something we can use to get by."
"Oh, maybe the robot knows how to open the door?! Or it's presence will open it like some sort of walking key?!" Yambul gets very excited at these fanciful ideas.
If the group agrees, at least to try the rest of the cave, he'll head to the southeast portion, falchion at the ready.
"Oh my Brigh! This wall is made of an adamantine alloy called glaucite. It is really strong, lighter than steel. It would make great armor, but it is very difficult to work with and cost triple to create anything out of it...”
Chaance follows the others at a leisurely pace, giving them the space to look upon baubles and shine their light upon what was it? glaucite. As the ratfolk speaks knowledgeably, the elf can't help but put a hand to it, and secure a little more experience in its new strangeness.
"'Glaucite'. That's a word you don't hear very often. 'Glaucous', also. But for the material to sit next to gold and silver, for its color, I can understand, having seen it now."
"If no one minds, I'll take this wand."
"I don't mind. You're versed in magic, and I don't think any of the rest of us are. Do you know what the wand does?"
When Zzvkgrogk approaches, Chaance cheecks herself, and finds no injury on her person, offering a shrug to the ratfolk. "I'm good, Zzvkgrogk, but you are very kind to offer healing."
"Should we inform the skulks of our success? They may prove helpful, now that they don't have to worry about the biters."
"Should we inform the skulks of our success? They may prove helpful, now that they don't have to worry about the biters."
"Oh definitely. They should be pleased, they have just doubled their territory," Rhoreen adds in agreement. And, in a change of heart, Rhoreen will examine the big flea a bit more closely as she realizes that it's only mostly awful, and the awfullest parts of it are now dead. "I believe," Rhor answers Chaance with a hint of proud smugness, "I believe it summons minor beasts to fight for us. I'm not sure they will last long, but the might serve as a distraction."
When she's done with that, she will follow Yambul to the southern section (moved on map, but following).
When you make it to the southern caverns, you are received by the skulks who are standing in your way deeper through the cave complex.
"Seems the gremlins did not give their lives easily" Sef says with a strange tone while looking at your wounds.
They look down at whatever proof of your victory you have brought with you "Yizz, yes that was Jazvit's monsters wand for sure." the skulk does not cheer you for your success but she seems pleased.
You feel Sef is fighting to contain the sadistic nature of his kin as she attends to you. It seems she is willing to honor her promise, but your alliance is clearly weak to your eyes. You should not press matters too much as things can go south very quickly soon.
Honoring her promise, Sef gives you the treasures she mentioned: a pouch containing 49 silverdisks and five strange cards made of a flexible, smooth material, each bearing a brown stripe "I recently looted them from the rubble just inside" she points to the east while confessing "I have no idea what they are, but the purple-haired lady asked us for any such cards when she first passed through. At the time, we had none, but the fact that she was looking for some makes me think they have value."
In fact, the five brown cards are access cards, and can be used to open some of the locked doors deeper in the ruins; higher colors can open lower colors. Brown is the most basic one.
Unless you decide to kill the skulks at this moment, Sef points to the ramshackle huts "You have been of much help and honored your alliance. Perhaps you can make better use of this than us" looking at one of the other skulks, she says "Yadriss, នាំយកឧបករណ៍ដែលយើងបានមកពីក្រុមទីពីរ"
The skulk returns with a stash of gear that consists of: three suits of studded leather armor, a masterwork buckler, a masterwork longbow with 11 arrows, a rapier, two short swords, a sap, two potions, a sunrod, two sets of masterwork thieves’ tools, two scrolls and 143 gp.
The first skulk you met, Luepel, turns to Zzvkgrogk to tell him "អ្នកបានប្រមូលផ្តុំក្រុមដ៏ខ្លាំងមួយ។ ខ្ញុំសប្បាយចិត្តដែលយើងមិនត្រូវប្រយុទ្ធនឹងអ្នក។ ខ្ញុំចូលចិត្តអ្នកច្រើនជាងអ្នកដទៃ។ សូមសំណាងល្អជាមួយនឹងការដឹកនាំរបស់អ្នកលើដំណើរផ្សងព្រេងរបស់អ្នកនៅខាងមុខ។"
Sef: "Yadriss, bring the gear we took from the second group"
Luepel: "You have assembled a mighty group. I am happy we have not had to fight you. I liked you more than the other ratfolks. Good luck with your leadership on your adventures ahead."
Both potions are cure moderate wounds.
shield scroll
identify scroll
Yambul sheathes his falchion when they rejoin the skulks. No need to kill everyone we meet down here.
"Yeah, well, we want to get out of your hair, so you can expand into your new chambers. We were very glad to help." He begins warmly. He thinks about adding something more, but nothing sort of occurs to him, so he just stands there a minute.
When they hand over the loot, he's appreciative and helps haul the heavier bits back to the pool - when we're done chatting of course.
Rūha waves off the hypogun, murmuring "Oh, it isn't anything serious, just a little bruise." and turns her attention to the glaucite wall and door. She has a fairly casual knowledge of materials, but even that's enough to know that the sharp angles and incredible hardness of the material suggests one of two things: either it was magically manufactured, or its origin wasn't Golarion.
When the door doesn't open despite Zzvkgrogk's best efforts, she mentions "Considering the state of the remaining debris, I would not be surprised if this door has remained closed for quite some time. However, we could ask the skulks earlier if they saw the other groups heading this way. I can't imagine other teams would have had better luck with the gremlins, but maybe they managed to bypass them somehow to get over here."
She doesn't comment of the dividing of "loot" off the slain gremlins. A utilitarian consideration, one could almost call it a requirement of troubled times. From what she'd seen of the trip up river, using worn, old, "storied" equipment was widespread. It seemed that gear held up longer before it needed to be recycled.
--------
The cards look familiar, but Rūha doesn't feel confident in ruling out that they might work differently. She remembers her earlier thought and asks Sef (through Zzvkgrogk if translation is needed) "We're glad that the alliance was to your satisfaction. Though we appreciate the reward, I would like to ask some questions as well..." She pauses to see if Sef is amenable then asks "The others that came before, did any of them go toward the domain of the gremlins and not return? Also, of those who came before us and went beyond the wall, do you know which route they took? And finally..." She's quiet for a moment as she gathers herself "...you mentioned you came across those that looked like me. Can you describe them? I- If there were other kasatha, I-" She cuts herself off, but the tense tone of her voice betrays her anxiousness better than her eyes do.
"The others that came before, did any of them go toward the domain of the gremlins and not return? Also, of those who came before us and went beyond the wall, do you know which route they took?"
When Rūha addresses the skulks, you see they all feel uncomfortable and almost tremble going into the defensive "The purple-haired woman made it through the gremlins' caves first. The gremlins were probably scared by their large numbers and hide. That was 13 days ago. They certainly never returned."
"The wizard's group opened this southern door after killing our leader 6 days ago. They made something there, then left. Another group of people, these ones with shiny armors full of symbols, made it through the next day, we let them do, we learned hard our lesson. They never returned." Sef tenses his fists in a gesture of fury and powerlessness "Two days later, that is three days ago, the wizard came back and we just let him in. Only one of them came back, running away for his life, but ended in the mold cave where we left him."
"And finally..." She's quiet for a moment as she gathers herself "...you mentioned you came across those that looked like me...."
"Si-similar to you, but not..." Sef swallows deeply and points again to the eastern door "We have seen them in our forays. They like you, but have empty eye sockets and they look very scary... they are only bones... rattling scary bones..."
A smooth wall of dark gray metal bisects the cavern here, its expanse pitted and scorched but quite solid looking. A strange, circular opening pierces the wall five feet off the ground, allowing access to some sort of hallway on the other side.
The door Sef is pointing to seems more of a hatch that has been recently breached. You can easily climb over to have a look at what is beyond.
The walls, floor and ceiling of this slightly curved hallway are made of smooth dark gray metal. Panels of lighter material run along the ceiling eight feet above. To the north and south the tunnel is blocked by walls of metal junk and rubble, while open doorways yawn to the east and west.
It is obvious the room has been heavily scavenged on search of the most valuable pieces, and what is left is either broken beyond repair or too cheap to bother with.
Rhoreen will take some time to identify the magics, trying to offer some utility to the group.
Spellcraft w/Detect Magic
Spellcraft w/Detect Magic
Spellcraft w/Detect Magic
Rhor will explain all that she knows about the items, happy to hold the potions of CMW for when someone needs it.
* * *
As others move up and through to B1, she will follow.
"Si-similar to you, but not... We have seen them in our forays. They like you, but have empty eye sockets and they look very scary... they are only bones... rattling scary bones..."
Chaance gives Rūha a once-over, imagining the kasatha without eyes. Oh, noooo, let's not picture that again...
Chaance regards the skulks as non-threatening, especially when the gift-giving begins. When Yambul sheathes his weapon, more so.
"Then we're left to decide. Do we return to Torch, and gather our strength, or do we see what lies beyond? If I remember correctly, Joram advised caution. I agree with Joram."
"A door ay?" Yambul is somewhat surprised, but pleased they have a way to continue.
He's sorely tempted to enter. After all, it's right there.
But he'll tamp down his enthusiasm. "I guess we should head back. Just feels like we didn't get very far, but I suppose we did." He looks unconvinced, but he'll drag the loot toward the exit if that's the parties decision.
Rhoreen looks in and looks out around B1.
”Are we sure we want to go back? Why not head more east? Through that way,” Rhoreen offers her light in case Yambul missed the opening. ”We can go further, right?”
Empty eye sockets and rattling bones...
Ruha stares at the wall, her tension far from dissipating with the details shared by the skulks. Their description of dead, or undead, four armed creatures was far from reassuring. Still, she wouldn't be able to settle unless she saw them with her own eyes.
"I'd also like to continue. It might be selfish of me, but I'd like to see these skeletal beings myself." She looks toward the shadowed opening to the east. "If any of you are not confident without some rest, I won't argue against returning. But..." From her stance she seems eager to go.
Deciding to give way to their curiosity, the group makes it past the doorway to the east. A corridor made of smooth dark gray metal, very much like the previous room, and with panels running along the ceiling, continues to the east very much past the limit of your light source.
In the middle of the corridor you find a TicToc like the one you confronted in the Foundry. The clockwork sits quiet in the ground, no movement, no lights.
Rhoreen moves up, bringing her light to where she can examine the TicToc from a distance (at least until others move up).
Know (Arcana/Engineering)
Perception
"Is it functioning? I can't tell," Rhor asks.
"Nor I." Rūha's attention is taken in equal parts by the fallen robot and the corridor it resides in. She walks on in and raises two hands to touch the walls. She spends a long while just looking up at the ceiling. "Now that... is uncanny." She takes another hand and pinches her cheek. "Well, I feel it. So, that means..."
What in all the Cycle does it mean? Panel lighting here? Is this another Salvation's End but on an insane scale? The coverage of that was hard to believe already.
"I recently looted them from the rubble just inside" she points to the east while confessing "I have no idea what they are, but the purple-haired lady asked us for any such cards when she first passed through. At the time, we had none, but the fact that she was looking for some makes me think they have value."
The purple haired lady… Zzvkgrogk takes a look at the cards. Oh shiny Technoboard! ”OOH, this must be –”
C’mon… Zzvkgrogk pronounces the ‘Grogk’ sound of his name. What are they? He stares intently at them as he takes the cards. ’Future’ cards… ‘cos we’ll find out what they are in the future...
"អ្នកបានប្រមូលផ្តុំក្រុមដ៏ខ្លាំងមួយ។ ខ្ញុំសប្បាយចិត្តដែលយើងមិនត្រូវប្រយុទ្ធនឹងអ្នក។ ខ្ញុំចូលចិត្តអ្នកច្រើនជាងអ្នកដទៃ។ សូមសំណាងល្អជាមួយនឹងការដឹកនាំរបស់អ្នកលើដំណើរផ្សងព្រេងរបស់អ្នកនៅខាងមុខ។"
”"អរគ ុណ។ អ្នក និងញាតិសន្តានរបស់អ្នកក៏សមរម្យដែរ ដោយវិនិច្ឆ័យពីអតីតសញ្ជ័យរបស់អ្នក។ យើងក៏ស្វាគមន៍សន្តិភាពជាមួយអ្នកដែរ"។”
~~~
Though he does not relish the thought of running into boney versions of Rūha, Zzvkgrogk finds himself with the others wandering further into the next area (B2).
” I knew it! I KNEW it!” he exclaims quietly. ”It is just how I imagined it! It must be a star cruising vessel we’re on!”
He inspects the TicToc. ”Should we see if this one has gone all wonky too?”
"Now that... is uncanny."
The RatFolk pauses to look up from his study. "What, what is it, Rūha?! Does this place seem familiar to you?"
Hits: 6/8
AC 16, touch 14 (+3 dex, +1 racial), flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +1 racial)
Laser Pistol Charges: 5/10
Brown nanite hypogun charges: 7/10
From far away, the clockwork device seems just disabled or broken. Zzvkgrogk and Rūha approach for a closer inspection, and as they start to touch stuff and look around, the device suddenly starts to beep.
Rhoreen is the first one to notice those are not good news, before the TicToc even does anything else than beep.
You already new a few things from your previous encounter (vulnerable to critical hits and electricity, immune to mind-affecting), but you also notice this clockwork has suddenly activated by itself.
It is almost as if it has been gathering energy somehow activating enough systems to sense its surroundings and answer defensively at your approach.
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Round 1, Init 19
”Oh! I think it’s activating!” Rhoreen warns the others as she raises the new wand. She focuses her will upon it and uses its energy to bring…a simple dog into being.
”Perro!”
HP: 14/14
AC: 12/12/10
Lay on Cats: 0/1 used
Rod of Regret: 0/3 used
Wand of SM1: 8/9 left
Open spell slots:
Left Hand: nothing
Right Hand: nothing
Sage Advice: (0/10 used)
: [ooc]Take +7 insight bonus to your attacks, saves, skills, ability checks for 1 round.
[ dice]1d20+2[/dice] ranged to hit;
[ dice]1d4-1[/dice] blunt damage
She casts a very simple spell at Arturo.
”I can do it myself!!”
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] CLW
Rhoreen starts to wave her new wand saying the activation words she has found.
The TicToc shakes and beeps standing up from the ground "*beep* ଜାହାଜ ଚିହ୍ନଟକୁ ନଷ୍ଟ କରିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା *peep* ଅପରାଧୀଙ୍କୁ ନିରପେକ୍ଷ କରନ୍ତୁ *bip*" an arm opens on a side and from a whole there a net flies over Rūha quickly unfolding in the air.
"*beep* Attempt to damage the ship detect. *peep* Neutralize offender. *bip*"
This net is made of polymer mesh, a strong nanomaterial and it is worth 50 gp by itself.
As Rhoreen finishes her wand swinging the dog Perro appears behind the TicToc with all the intention to flank it for you.
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AC = 15
HP = 16/16
Weapon Equipped = Longbow
Condition(s) = Water Breathing, Comprehend Languages
"It thinks we're the damagers, and it means to stop us, though it uses a word similar to 'neutralize', I worry that means 'eliminate'."
Chaance doesn't wait for others to discourage a well-placed arrow, remembering its red eye as a fragile part of its frame. She's not happy with the hallway congestion, of course. Too many shoulder blades between me and he. Why they're always rushing into the fray... She's at least happy that she's learned to steady her hand, and avoid the upper bodies of her fellow spelunkers.
Her path is clear- over Zzvkgrogk's head, and under Rūha's left upper arm...
Weapon Equipped = Falchion
Conditions = water breathing (2/5h), Prestidigitation (10/60m)
Falchion: Attack: 2 BAB +4 Str +1 Focus (-1 PA) Damage: +6 Str (+3 PA) Crit: 18-20x2
Dagger: Attack: 2 BAB +4 Str / +2 Dex Damage: +4 Crit: 19-20x2 Range: 10’
Studied: () (move/immediate; +1 att, dam, bluff, knowledge, perception, sense motive, survival)
Prestidigitation (0/1)
Yambul simply doesn’t know to wait for the appearing flank. He’s unfamiliar with such things. So he’ll charge down the hall on his turn. If the arrow that beats him there doesn’t do the job first, he’ll try his own attack against the technological device.
"Aaack!" Zzvkgrogk exclaims, both at the net and Chaance's shot.
"Chaance! You understand it! Act like a Boss! Tell it to stop acting defensively! Tell it that its primary function is to serve us, we are not the enemy!"
He tries to pull Rūha to safety away from the overreacting bot.
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Chaance puts an arrow exactly through the TicToc's red eye, the crash on the vital point leaving it stunned while a beep noise repeats in a loop.
With the clockwork momentarily halted, Yambul takes the opportunity to fully destroy the device crushing with a critical strike the full metallic shell, and sprawling a rain of broken boards and metals all over the corridor.
The nasty noise loop ceases.
Zzvkgrogk pulls Rūha from the net but does not manage to move her.
The dog Perro makes its appearance. Seeing no ill intended enemy to fight, the doggie resorts to move his tail and greet the nice fellows on the metal corridor with a few barks and going around their legs.
Chaance puts the second arrow back in her quiver, watching Yambul pull his falchion from the metal mass. "Well, everyone is uninjured, at least."
"Chaance! You understand it! Act like a Boss! Tell it to stop acting defensively! Tell it that its primary function is to serve us, we are not the enemy!"
Chaance wrinkles her nose as the ratfolk offers a different way. "Well, it's true I can translate what the TickTock says, but you're suggesting that we can speak to them, and ask that they don't follow their programmed commands? I'll have to give that some thought."
"I might be a little jumpy."
”Oh, that was a good shot, Chaance. Very nice,” Rhoreen pauses in her bid to actually help with a fight, the command to Perro to attack. The command never leaves her lips as Chaance ends the fight very quickly.
”Alright, doggo. Good boy,” Rhor moves up to scritch the magic dog before it returns to the aether.
She moves up to examine the husk to see if anything might be scavenged.
Yambul pulls up before striking a second blow.
"Chaance! You understand it! Act like a Boss! Tell it to stop acting defensively! Tell it that its primary function is to serve us, we are not the enemy!"
"Oh, yeah. You smart guys could've talked to it and stuff. Sorry."
Yambul looks downtrodden for a moment, seriously worried that the destruction of this thing was going to be a big deal at some point. They might need some of this technology. He'll have to be more careful in the future and wait for guidance before rushing in.
After they've checked it for loose change, Yambul will suggest, "Shall we see where this leads?" He points down the metal hall.
She moves up to examine the husk to see if anything might be scavenged.
Chaance was able to identify the net over Rūha as made of a very fancy and alien material, pricing it on 50 gp no less.
Yambul peeks forward.
The northern wall of this otherwise empty metal room is a tangle of what look to have once been strange cages of some sort. Tangled amid the metal ribs of these cages are ribs of a more organic nature—the ancient bones of some sort of alien creature.
Smaller mounds of rubble lie against the opposite wall.
All that remains in the cages are the bones of several six-legged creatures.
The bones are similar to what archaeological studies have found within prehistoric kasatha's settlements and which is believed to be food they hunted in their homeworld: pilos.
The bones are ancient and crumble to dust if touched.
Unlike the other doors in the immediate area, which have been forced open by someone before you, the one leading to the south remains closed and any attempt to open it finds it to be completely stuck.
Searching the rubble to the south near the southern door you uncover a few treasures the previous expeditions missed: a set of grippers , a black e-pick , and two fully loaded batteries.
The area is completely unlit and Yambul cannot see through the dark hole in the doors ahead, but he might feel the dread of darkness.
Chaance is more preoccupied with counting her quiver's contents to notice anything else in the rubble.
She waits, watching the others moving into the next room, where doors begin to present choices, different avenues. I wonder which one Khonnir chose...
"Never let it be said that I didn't speak my piece. If any of you feel the risk is too great, I will not object to a return to Torch to resupply. The gremlins already demonstrated our lack of preparedness, and I'm not proud to admit that we could restock, you know," Chaance points to Rhoreen, "more of those flasks of fire, or some cold iron, if more of those gremlins return to harry us to the rear..."
Rhoreen pets the dog until it goes, having a very brief time for scritches before it journeys back to the land of infinite squirrels. She tries to offer the dog a bone for its trip back home, and crestfalls when the bone turns to dust.
"This has been here for a *really* long time. Bones don't just turn to dust...it takes time," Rhor observes smugly.
Perception
Her gloating about her observation is cut short as she sees something. She makes a sound like a stewed turnip getting shoved up a goblin's nostril.
"Hey, <*sound*>," Rhoreen gestures excitedly to Zzvkgrogk. "Look at this! An e-card, and a set of grippers! Neat, huh? And two batteries!" She hands off the electronics to the person of ratlike descent with a smile.
She moves up her light so others can see better.
After disentangling herself from the polymer net, Rūha follows Yambul forwards. She kneels beside the ancient bones, silent for a while as she processes the new information. While she's pondering, Rhoreen's casual attempt to pick a bone up earns a sharp intake of breath from Rūha. The bone turning to dust ends up quite disappointing "They've certainly been here for an incredibly long time." She points at the bones "They're the bones of an animal that hasn't been seen outside of a history text in centuries, or maybe millenia. A pilo. I've seen reconstructions of them. They were quite cute. Long extinct though. Unless this place plans to have further surprises for us."
She looks over at the southern door. "I wonder what it would take to open that door up?" She looks it over for any seams that a crowbar might be able to pry open. While she does so, Rhoreen's exclamation attracts her eye.
"What you just called an epick might prove useful for getting some of this... old?... tech to work."
Chaance gladdens when Rhoreen and Rūha Roar and Roo... I like that come together to look over the half-elf's find. Keen eyes, that one. The more eyes down here the better.
When the elf sees the ePick, she has herself a look, as well.
Her lack of knowledge makes her more attentive to Rūha, and likely the ratfolk, as they describe the new technology.
As they move deeper past the double doors, Chaance speaks up, almost a casual tone in her voice. "So I know it when we hit it, when do you think will it be a good time to turn around, and resupply? Halfway ahead means halfway back, to keep ourselves whole."
She already senses that curiosity has gotten the better of the others, but sees no reason to stop raising concerns.
The group find some technological devices in the rubble and some interesting bones that crumble to dust under touch.
When Rhoreen approaches, her more powerful light permeates through the hole beyond the doors in front.
Two strange machines sit to the north and south against the walls here, their faces appear similar to coils of metal tubes with several nozzle-like protrusions pointing into the room itself.
Your knowledge on technological health treatments let's you understand this chamber once served as a sort of airlock between the rooms and the area beyond—the tubes might had been used to administer quick sterilization procedures to ensure no contaminants were introduced in the area beyond this door. These machines are not functional though, it would seem their source of power is disconnected.
If you restore power to this area you can use the sterilization to easily remove the russet mold or other infections.
On the next door, also forced open by someone before you, you spot what seems sand in the ground.
With the aid of Rhoreen's light, Ruha peers into the next chamber.
"Hmm. These seem a little more intact than the rusted bits and pieces behind us. Odd design though. Do any of you have an idea of what we're looking at?" She looks back over her shoulder at the door that appears stuck. "Although it seems most who came before us went this way, eastward, I wonder if there might be another route through the door over there."
”Well, it's true I can translate what the TickTock says, but you're suggesting that we can speak to them, and ask that they don't follow their programmed commands? I'll have to give that some thought."
Zzvkgrogk perks up his ears quizzically. What?! No… what?! He shakes his head and begins to speak –
”I might be a little jumpy."
Zzvkgrokg pauses, then nods. ”Do not presume to know how things are programmed.”
”Oh, yeah. You smart guys could've talked to it and stuff. Sorry."
Zzvkgrogk shrugs. ”Probably not – actually, but you never know until you try. But, I do not know the language yet. Perhaps Chaance, you can teach me?”
Zzvkgrogk pours over the remains of the TicToc, occasionally groaning ever so quietly.
"Look at this! An e-card, and a set of grippers! Neat, huh? And two batteries!" She hands off the electronics to the person of ratlike descent with a smile.
Puzzling over the remains of the TicToc, his ears perk up again as he eagerly accepts the items.
"What you just called an epick might prove useful for getting some of this... old?... tech to work."
Zzvkgrogk nods, taking Rūha’s wisdom as fact.
He nearly turns around and leaves when Chaance suggests they head back and rest.
. He hangs his head in shame.
"Yea, maybe we should go back, rest, regroup tomorrow."
Rūha finds out while the area is devoid of power, the southern door can only be forced by raw strength, but she is not sure how much effort will be needed, her few attempts are complete failures.
On the next door, also forced open by someone before you, you spot what seems sand in the ground.
Rhoreen shines her light into the room (B5).
"Is that sand on the ground?" she queries. "What is it doing there?"
Yambul suggests, ”Here, let me try that door.”
He’ll take 20 for a 24 trying to shift the southern door. If it doesn’t work, he says, ”Let’s go just a little further. At least until we learn something - these are all mostly empty rooms.”
If the group agrees, he’ll head to the eastern doors and head there next.
Zzvkgrogk, slightly dejected, trails behind the others.
I wonder what these batteries were for... how hard did that TicToc thing hit me?
He rubs his head through his hood lost in thought, waiting for a door to open.
"Is that sand on the ground? What is it doing there?"
... Sand?
Zzvkgrogk scurries over to take a look.
Rūha steps back from the sealed door "I suppose we'll need to find if power can be restored to it." Though when Yambul steps in to give it a try, she gladly lets him exercise his considerable strength. When the others start wandering eastward, she follows, listening for any potential dangers.
The door is burst open, beyond, you see a ground made of thin brown sand in between a wall of rocks, like a canyon.
Yambul tests the southern doors, but they just will not budge.
Determined to continue forward, the Kellid cook puts his feet on the sand.
A gray metal door sits in one wall of this short stone tunnel that curves north before opening into a vast sand-filled cavern.
Despite the darkness, the feeling of being on an open space suddenly surrounds Yambul.
There are two metallic cylinders attached to the top of the door, with a circular crystal at its bottom face and wires coming out of its top face.
These are a set of hologram projectors built into the door. They were probably used to project an illusion on this door. Perhaps to generate the illusion of a cul-de-sac cavern to conceal these doors from whomever was living in the dark area beyond.
The light of the glands on Yambul's sword sees the cavern opens into a larger space beyond, also covered by a mantle of sand, similar to that one depicted on pictures of Osirion.
Rhoreen examines the cylinders, but lacks a reference point for unlocking their meaning. She takes mental notes to try to figure them out later, in her head at least. She will listen intently if others explain what they think.
She moves up to allow others to see with her light.
Perception
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"Let’s go just a little further. At least until we learn something - these are all mostly empty rooms.”
"You mean 'more'. That you want to learn more. We've already learned plenty, for our first foray. You are guaranteed to return to Torch with intelligence, if you are able to return." Chaance breathes deeply.
That's very likely what the previous groups said to themselves. Just a little further. I'm sure it's right around this next corner. The little alien creature looks really friendly, look, it's smiling at me...
Chaance keeps up, nonetheless. She's reasonably sure there will be other voices which will join her, if they find themselves beyond their depths.
"Is that sand on the ground?..."
Chaance fights to desire to conclude their day's push, with the desire to know more about this sand, down here in a cave formation, beyond a metal door which should end all talk of sand.
"Why now? Why did the TickTock power up to thrwart us, when it should have been awakened by the previous teams? It doesn't make much sense, unless they deactivated it..." She keeps thinking on things, her thoughts returning to what must still be sunlight above ground.
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Yambul cannot budge the doors and shrugs, "That's two now that have beaten me. Perhaps I'm not as strong as I thought!" He chuckles at the absurdity of the thought.
"You mean 'more'. That you want to learn more. We've already learned plenty, for our first foray. You are guaranteed to return to Torch with intelligence, if you are able to return." Chaance breathes deeply.
"More then, for I don't feel as though I've learned much I must admit. Just a bunch of cool metal we can't use," he taps the wall, "though it is interesting what you lot are learning. There's certainly a lot of technology down here."
He'll wait while the technologically inclined examine the new device before proceeding down the sandy hallway - falchion out.
Some of you are entertained by the devices attached to the door, while Rhoreen advances herself to give light to the cavern.
Others would not notice, but Rhoreen's piercing elven eyes sees, put off by the smooth textures of the cavern rocks, an area of the sand has some sticky fluid tracing whirled patterns in the surroundings of a white, coral-like rock formation,
Before she can raise the alarm, purple tentacles emerge trying to grasp her.
The tentacles slash at her leaving a quagmire of sticky fluid that risks to kept her stuck in place!
This is a Ghelarn, a tentacled aberration that lives in deserts and segregate a fluid that sticks and rend their victims helpless. They sense when a pray has fallen in their trap thanks to their tremorsesnse, even when they are buried on the sand.
They often inhabit on rocklike shells they can use to hide and protect themselves with total cover. The shells can usually be sundered.
They are resistant to fire, but vulnerable to sonic attacks and have poor reflexes.