"That is my brother." Chaance returns to conversation at hand. "And that..." the android points at the female elven form, "is my goddess-given body. Before Maukui ripped me from it." She gives in, and studies it for its injuries. She only sees the damage wrought by the Zzvkith and Hyrsek.
Chaance addresses Rhoreen. "You're becoming more powerful with magics. What can you accomplish here? Can you bring back my brother? Can you..." she pauses, unsure about why she might additionally ask. "Can you return me to my elven form?"
Chaance welcomes the darkness for now. She marks the exact location of both elven bodies, promising that she will return to find a final resting ground for both. Her mind flashes across the elven woman's face, her face, and she struggles to calm the anxiety it induces.
The android waits by the northern passage, expecting the others to advance and pepper the portal.
AC = 19 Hasted
HP = 45/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Hasted, Roo
Fortitude Save v DC 19:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Chaance's eyes never leave Revion, as she awaits the evil aberration to show itself once she peels her brother's body from it. When her arrows find it, she prepares to pierce it over and over and over again, until it ceases to move. When the kyton tries to black out her sight, her nanites stimulate the receptors constantly, preventing the curse from taking hold.
The android continues to attack the intellect devourer with all her might.
AC = 18
HP = 45/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Hasted
Chaance feels Rhoreen's magical surge as her mind Delays her from any reasonable action. There is nothing reasonable about staring down the body doubles of your brother and your former self...
Hoping Haste was up to bump Chaance's AC to 19, with the jump on the elves to avoid being Flat-Footed...
Round 2
Analytics:
AC = 18
HP = 45/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Hasted
Only when the arrows arrive does the android-once-elf awaken to the grim reality before her. "Forgive me, Revion..." She speaks to someone she now knows is beyond the Veil, not the sneering meat puppet plucking at his bow.
She utters a low hoarse sigh as each arrow targets Revion. She fires while she tries to forget, the muted feelings running through her processors enough to provoke her nanites into action. They swirl about her unblinking eyes, producing enough condensation to initially clear the android's targeting. They overproduce, and manage to overflow the lids in their excitation.
Chaance looks past her companions, suddenly aware of what lies before her in the next chamber. Then she moves past her companions, straining to understand what stands before her. She doesn't stare at the kyton, directing her full attention at the male elf.
"Revion? Revion! Don't let your eyes deceive you! It's me!"
"Khalia." Chaance's voice fades off only within the space of uttering a name that should be anything but strange to her.
"My name is Khalia." Khalia turns to the others behind her, a dawning look of realization setting the features of her android face, then turns back to her brother.
"Revion, you must trust me here. I do not appear as my old self, I am housed in this body after Maukui, the strange evil brain-like creature? After he killed me. Somehow I survived, and now exist within this body. Do you remember? Traveling with Therace, hunting with him? I barely remember myself..." She struggles to remember more, and fails. "Please, Brothermine! Let us leave this place, and we can help each other remember!"
Chaance watches as Zzvkgrogk heals Hyrsek, and she almost says something to the ysoki. What about traveling with the tiefling makes me uncomfortable enough to want him cowed? Weakened by the fight, dependent on us to see his way through? Why has he failed to earn my trust even now?
She does not object to healing their traveling companion, moving across the room to set herself in position to watch both west and east.
"This whole place must know what we're accomplishing. Maukui could only promise cloaking in his personal space. We should be ready for whatever backlash this Hive builds for us."
"Your spirit is undiminished, Hyrsek. Admirable." Chaance approaches the structures in the room, studying the 'cradle'. She tucks Einior away for a moment, preferring to unsheathe Xillmacil, the adamantine blade, instead.
Moving to one of the many cylinders, she takes a decent swing, attempting to break it.
Apologies, GM. Overlooked the need for a Reflex Save.
Round 2
Analytics:
AC = 18
HP = 69/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Roo
Chaance studies the Neh-Thalggu, its exterior waving off two of her rapidly-fired arrows, so she slows her pace, and tries to bury another couple into its carapace. She hopes it breaks any attempt to produce magical effects again.
AC = 18
HP = 69/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Roo
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 30:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22 Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 19:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26 Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 17 Auto
Chaance lays eyes on the Neh-Thalggu, and her vision narrows, recognizing it as the greatest threat in the room beyond the sphincter. From her vantage, she sends several regards. She'll step closer, if only a little, if she needs to leverage her directionals.
Whatever Chaance thinks about this negotiation with Maukui, she shares none of it in the void dragon's presence. She fails to answer her murderer, simply annotates the useful bits of intelligence regarding other threats within the Hive.
She also marks the kyton for death, damn the consequences.
"It feels more important to disable the Dweller. Its omniscience is vexing."
Chaance's quiet following behind becomes something quietly defiant, as she hears the voice before seeing the dragon. She breaches the lair before truly understanding what Maukui currently wears as protective skin.
Finally. Here you hide. And here you will die.
The elfdroid speaks none of this aloud, thinks none of this to communicate with the intellect devourer, but it is plain on her stoic face that she is determined to engage the dragon sooner than later.
"Yes, Maukui. You are right that we at a loss regarding the Dweller and the Dominion here. We are still learning about you, and what we might gain for entering a detente with a creature like you. After all, you killed me, remember?"
AC = 18
HP = 69/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Roo
Chaance moves forward, finally, digging a heel into the dead intellect devourer, before setting her stance, and firing at the single kasatha-skinned devourer trying to get away. "It's unfair. The creature within is shielded from my awareness of its vulnerabilities. I'm not versed in kasatha anatomy." The elfdroid gives her own personal kasatha a quick glance.
AC = 18
HP = 69/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Roo
”Oh….there is our answer…”
Chaance considers further attacks against Yellow, but feels utterly compelled to strike at the devourer, newly exposed. ”If any of them speak familiarly about me, leave them for me.”
AC = 18
HP = 69/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Roo
Chaance reads the situation as best she can, but ultimately prefers the wisdom of her own kasatha to change her strategy, and produce blunt arrows to strike out at the mind-ridden foes. She tries to angle an arrow at the Yellow kasatha.
"It would seem that we need to be an agent of the Dominion in order to open this door by touch. Though… if I recall correctly from my studies we could fool it into thinking that we are agents off the Dominion with magical cold — like the siccatite dagger maybe — but the hot spicy pepper from Mad Paeytr will irritate it to where it will stay open longer. Such a waste of pepper though…”
"Very astute, Zzvkgrogk. I think the mad man would find it a very noble purpose, his pepper being put to such use. Still, the organic nature of the membranes... it's offputting."
Rhoreen wrote:
"Most of these statis tubes are borked. Someone didn't know how to open them, it's like they used Yambul's chainsaw to open them, not pushing the big 'press to open' button right here."
Something akin to a smile passes across Chaance's mouth, while she studies the devices herself. Then the spiders catch her attention...
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 17:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
She enjoys the marksmanship initially, but the rest becomes something of a blur of metal and mucus, as the two sides trade injuries until her side has once again emerged victorious, though the worse for the battle.
She remembers herself and her previous injuries, so seeks out the curatives among the party.
When the BEZ dispenser is aptly named, the elfdroid decides to try her hand at disabling it alongside the ysoki. Automatic Aid Another for +2 to the Disable Device check
"Well, that doesn't help." Chaance shakes her head, unable to lend further diplomatic efforts to moving the hunk of metal out of their way. "Yambul, feel free to make your introductions."
AC = 18
HP = 70/70
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = None
Chaance reads the room. She steps forward just enough to lay goggles on the annihilator, and looks back on Hyrsek. "You still have the rod, right?" She studies the tiefling, hopes to see understanding behind Hyrsek's eyes.
The elfdroid calls out to the monstrosity, her own skin beginning to glow for its singular time today. Nanite Surge incoming
Reprogram:1d20 + 11 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 14 = 40
"We are not enemies. You will remain non-aggressive, and we will remain non-aggressive." Her words echo the chamber in Common first, then repeat in Androffan, to make sure they are at least understood.
Chaance regards her group with increasing contentment, the further from the alien 'tomb' they travel. That their number hasn't dwindled is a relief. They'll need every strength to confront the Hive, including Hyrsek.
She waits patiently as the others secure their food products, and doesn't argue the direction the group decides upon.
Knowledge(Nature) v DC 15:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31 Survival(Tracking) v DC 24:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26
"That clumping of vines... I've never seen that before. I know my memory is not fully trustworthy, but from what I recall in both Numeria, and the wilds of Kyonin, that vegetation is alien."
She spends a little more time looking around the surrounds radiating out from the cliff. "Travel to and from the east. Several different kinds of tracks, some quite large, there, there, and there. Perhaps mechanical..." Chaance looks upwards, then back at the cliff face.
"What if we're not meant to climb it, rather move them to the side and find ourselves entering yet another cave?"
The elfdroid approaches the unfamiliar vines, and tries to move them.
"That. That was quite unpleasant. Seems the shipmind had degraded along with the ship, and mentally as well as physically. Well, we proved ourselves to it, and we have its prizes, so its past time to carve our way out."
"I couldn't agree more. I could use the rest, outside, far from here." Chaance gives one more look on the vat, placing it in one of her memory banks to chew on later.
"I feel as though we've seen the heart of this ship, and that is enough for me. If you want to explore the 'weird room', I won't begrudge your curiosity. I'll wait towards the entrance, and wait for sounds of distress to draw me back."
AC = 18
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = None
Chaance watches with a mixture of alarm and interest as the plasma bolt strikes out suddenly. "For a dying creature, that's certainly a potent display." She wonders what consequence follows when you shatter a shipmind's vat...
She hesitates when the cook ends up on the other side of the glass, so she concentrates her arrows on a different aspect of the tank that doesn't include as much Yambul behind it.
"But before that end comes, I shall see them suffer. I shall see them destroyed!"
Chaance does her best to understand the dying mind of the shipmind. She thinks to herself, not to the ooze. How on earth would you accomplish that? You're withering away in this wreckage, abandoned, left behind. Impotent.
When she abandons the thought, she asks what she can of such an alien being. "Was The-Stars-Whisper the only ship to visit Golarion? Did you have companion shipminds who traveled with you?" She almost feels sorry for the entity, its singular purpose to control a ship for the Dominion. She remembers herself, remembers something faintly on the memory swirls about these things, and decides that she can ask her questions within sight lines of the creature in the vat, and listen to its answers from the comfort of a wall blocking it from her own sight.
"Nice shooting back there. I didn't notice that the stench affected you that way right away. I wish I had a fresh nanite hypogun for you, Chaance. Unfortunately this one took up more than half the charges that were left after Rūha -- it's the way it works, and I can't recharge it. There's only a few charges left -- only good for a bit of healing."
"I appreciate your concern, Zzvkgrogk. I think I will regain myself fully only when we have abandoned this place."
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 23:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
No sooner are those words loosed from her lips does Chaance fail to find new ones to describe what she's seeing. Then she hears its voice.
Shipmind wrote:
"Who dares tread upon my tomb of flesh and decay? Why do you come into my presence like this?"
She lets her eyes take it all in. The connections, the fluids, and what the ooze means when it describes its own ship as a tomb.
It's dying.
It takes what little intestinal fortitude she still has to answer. "We are sorry. We are seekers of knowledge, and were eager to learn more of this ship's technology. We did not know that you were still alive. You are the shipmind? May we speak with you? You can feel the surrounds, may understand what has traveled this region of the Scar of the Spider. Would you share your knowledge with us?"
Chaance picks up her blade, and slowly makes her way to a vantage over the single doorway ahead. This time, she does not slice through herself, nocking an arrow instead, and catching her breath.
AC = 18
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Sickened, -3 Str, Rhor + Roo
Chaance feels some relief no longer receiving the attentions of the remaining neh-thalggu. "They've grown quiet. They sense their impending silence." She tires a bit, so slows her pace, her stomach still reeling from the stench. She targets the closer of the two crabs.
AC = 18
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Sickened, -3 Str, Roo
Will Save v DC 16:1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 4 = 16Mind-Affecting Re-Rhorll:1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 4 = 16Woof
Chaance manages, barely, to remain active in the confrontation. She feels something plying her mind, and can't help but feel anger towards... Maukui. Something alien like this, trying to overrule her senses, her life, and the elfdroid defends herself and the others.
"They speak of a void they serve, and the inevitability that our minds, our consciousness, will join some collective echo. A hivemind beyond the Veil..."
AC = 18
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Sickened, -3 Str, Roo, Sky(Saving that for a Saving Throw)
Fortitude Save v DC 14:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Chaance shrugs off the ray's brunt, though she's found new respect for the neh-thalggu. She fires back, then backs off a little, uninterested in drawing the attention of the other two crabs in the room.
Looking over her shoulder while firing, Chaance addresses Rhoreen. "Thank you for that. It feels promising, should the creature strike out magically again."
AC = 18
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = None
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 21:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
"They have secrets, and they're fool enough to admit them while preparing to protect them." Chaance drops her blade, the more suitable weapon for striking at flying foes already in hand.
Reflex Save v DC 16:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34
The elfdroid observes the electricity, and wants nothing to do with it. Her body contorts, and remains untouched. Evasion for the win
For her proximity to the next door in need of shredding, Chaance produces her adamantine blade, and strikes and strikes until their way is clear. It gives her something to focus on, rather than dwell on the new macabre finds.
When Zzvkgrogk describes the Mouthpiece, Chaance feels something akin to protectiveness, as she imagines allowing the snake down her throat. My throat? Or this android's. No, best to think it mine, for now.
"It is difficult to see this alien presence as anything other than revolting. But it used the word 'sacred'. I can't stop thinking about that. That they... revere..."
Chaance wrinkles her synthetic nose, as her companions weigh the lunarma flesh as something equivalent to crustacean. She waits for the procurement, then follows Yambul to the next meat curtain.
"It called us intruders. A sacred place to it. Does that mean that there is something still valuable to be learned here?" Chaance looks over to Hyrsek. "Do you think you'll find Therace or something left behind?"
AC = 19 (Hasted)
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Hasted, Roo
Chaance slinks to the side, a thrum under her skin indicating some relief that the corpus didn't suffer the electrical discharge experienced by the linear crew. She decides to reduce the cluster of images, at least, impressed at her colleagues' ability to pierce the illusion repeatedly.
Chaance will wisely allow all mirror images to be stripped away before she sends her regards... Can Delay until after Yambul fires
AC = 19 (Haste)
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Hasted, Roo
Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 20:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 22:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Chaance moves forward to set eyes on the lunarma. She listens to its threat, and wonders why it speaks on decay. When Rhoreen speaks on the strength of its threat here, and their inability to go about the ship with its awareness of them, the elfdroid fires a single shot in answer.
"Maybe we can better sit here by the lake and get to know better each other."
Chaance doesn't object, initially. "Lukwata are singular entities, I presume? It would be a shame if we were the only two here when its mate returns to find the other dead."
The elfdroid eventually stands at the water's edge, and eases into it, growling in digestive objection to the entire surrounds. She follows at a distance, allowing her eyes to adjust to the interior, and track her companions as she would any other entity capable of leaving tracks.
As Yambul prepares to hack another door clear, Chaance checks her belt for Xillmacil, the adamantine blade capable of lending damage against the walls of the ship.
AC = 18
HP = 64/64
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Roo
"Magical weapon or no, it can still be damaged if it can be pierced singularly, correct?" Chaance does her best to comply, firing several arrows at the gills.
AC = 17
HP =
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = None
"Well, I'm at a loss. Both Einior and Tuilindo are ineffective weapons here..." Chaance turns to the others. "Anyone have something I can throw at it? I failed to consider this scenario."
The elfdroid delays, and retreats from the water's edge for now.
The elfdroid nods as the kasatha speaks on Omed. "The self-destructive element is concerning."
Chaance turns to Zzvkgrogk. "Fortunately, mindless constructs aren't they only thing capable of reprogramming." Chaance nods to Yambul, glad to see the cook season his dish with words this time.
"There is no need for you to point out our great shame. In the end we will remedy that sacrilege."
"Do you recognize me for being the same as you? My skin glows, as my nanites excite, same as yours." Chaance demonstrates the illuminated veins which quiet down as she speaks.
"We are souled creatures, Harab. I was once an elf. My soul was lifted from the elven body, and transplanted into this android form. I am not ashamed, I am grateful. Whatever happened, it gave me a chaance to seek revenge against the alien creature that stole my original form."
You named yourself as you clawed your mind back, even if it was in a synthetic body. You were given a name, born of a noble house. It has not been forgotten. You simply choose not to hear it...
"You may think that technology is a great evil, and I'm inclined to agree with you." She lifts her bow, aligned against robotic constructions. "But we hunt a greater evil- those who would wield the technology to make slaves of us all. And you are not far from their Hive. If you rob us of this strength, we will fail in our cause." Chaance considers her next words.
"My companion, Yambul, speaks measured words, because he sees your worth, as he sees mine. He is quick to raise his weapon against evil, and he has judged you innocents. Would you rest more easily if we promised to return here and relinquish our technology once our retribution is done?"
Perception v DC 30:1d20 + 17 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 17 + 13 = 44Nanite Surge
Chaance begins to glow again. As her eyes illuminate, taking in the true nature of the androids inhabiting the cave, she lowers her bow, though she does not tuck it away.
"You're androids." She steps forward a little, allowing the glow of her body to shed light on the entrance of the cave.
Chaance shakes her head at Zzvkgrogk, either unwilling or unable to attempt to apply her skills at influencing sentient constructs so much like herself.
"We wish no conflict with other honest travelers, provided they possess no blasphemies. If you are clean, or submit to righteous cleansing, we will leave you unharmed."
"We haven't traveled into the Scar to be judged by you. If you wish to avoid conflict, then do not impose your righteousness on those who haven't asked." Chaance remains at the rear, bow at the ready. "Are you pilgrims, really? There aren't many willing to travel into the Scar, given all we've seen so far. Wouldn't it serve you to venture out of this cave, and seek a larger population? Someone more willing to listen to your message?"
"Please, take another round of veggies for your lunch today. You have brought joy and hope to this place, and for that, we are all grateful. Take with you the blessings of the grove, and may they protect you on your journey."
"You are very kind to share your bounty. I do feel enhanced for having consu... savored your harvest." Chaance accepts the additional food items, and wonders if Paetyr has some way of avoiding hostiles in the Scar, given his history.
Arriving at the next set of caves, the elfdroid can only relent to explore them, knowing one of these times, they'll strike upon the Hive.
If you do accept, he offers you each a single ripe apple, a carrot, a mushroom and a pepper for dinner.
Though Chaance needs no sustenance other than the ring she bears, she considers the hermit's gesture a symbolic one, consuming each of the four food items in turn, slowly to demonstrate the savoring, and nodding her thanks.
As they speak about the Dark Tapestry, Chaance marks the words, then hypothesizes about the Butchers, and what happens when they finally encounter them.
She enjoys the conversation, without joining it, for now.
"A crazy old man there explained me about the aliens, but it was hard to get clear directions from him..."
Ah, yes. An old man, addled by his time in the Scar. This should be a fruitful engagement.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Chaance, and these are my traveling companions. I believe you have already met Hyrsek here." She waits a moment to see if the peg leg remembers his first encounter with the tiefling. It may save them some time, if the old man has lost his senses.
Chaance looks west, then north. "Fine. We might regain some strength before happening upon our true destination, the Hive."
As the Zzvkith returns east, Chaance speaks with Hyrsek. "From what you of Therace, do you think he's still alive, given what we've encountered back in the cave? Is he the kind of man who abandons his allies when his life is threatened?"
"Is that humor, Roo? Yegrexi did end up dead, but a tunnel that ends is also considered 'dead', right?"
Zzvkgrogk wrote:
"Then again – I’ve never seen Chaance wield a rod.”
"Yes, I don't own a rod."
Chaance hears something playful in the exchange between Hyrsek and Rhoreen. Something resembling the beginning of a courtship? She takes note, and speculates about the level of engagement. As their time in the Scar grows, so might their flirtation...
When Yambul enters the next web-ridden cave, Chaance joins him. She listens carefully, and explores the cave for what might lie about.
