Merkabah - The Abominable Factory, pt 2
Log Info
- Title: The Abominable Factory, part 2
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Braelnoir, Etan, Lanier, Nels, Shilde, Elleandra, Konstance
- Place: The Caverns of Merkabah
- Time: Sunday, March 29, 2020, 2:13 PM
- Summary: The battle continues. There are a lot fewer of the flying brass balls, but they are persistent, focusing on Nels. Konstance and Elleandra are knocked unconscious by them, and Lanier joins the fray, having returned to the cavern on his own for further investigation. The small balls are all destroyed or return to the ship, when a roll-up door inside opens and flying helmets emerge and fly by. Three helmets go for Shilde, Konstance and Elleandra. Another wave come out, and commence scanning Etan, Braelnoir, and Lanier. Shile continues to have difficulty, floating around in the air and throws a rope to herself. She summons an eagle and the party battles the helmets. Konstance and Elly are dragged inside, with the party managing to destroy Elly's before she vanishes. Konstance is not so lucky. Outside Nels and Shilde battle theirs, finally destroying them. Lanier and Braelnoir's helmets manage to latch on, and they discover they are blinded and being fed hallucinogens by them. They resort to hitting themselves in the head, to bash them off, injuring themselves in the process. Etan heals the group, and that rouses Elleandra, so the party heads deeper inside to find another rolling door blocking their way. This one, seems stuck, and they struggle to open it while Shilde floats through the interior of the airship. Elly attempts to hold her back, and the two are pulled to the door, which opens. Beyond, is an assembly line, glueing pieces of armour onto Konstance, who has been fed into it. Lanier leaps in as Nels warns that it is a dangerous place because of all the moving parts. Lanier rescues Constance, then leaps around the interior and pulls a master switch, just after Nels destroys some other control panels. The interior, is dead. The party explore, finding a power-plant and a strange proto-golem-brain, which is salvaged, along with engine parts and some magic mechanisms from inside the factory. Elleandra and Shilde retrieve the bodies of the goblin party that were under water. The party is unable to understand the power plant, not the right skill mix, but set it to overload in a few hours after a lot of experimentation, and escape the cavern.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A rough and tumble brunette wielding a scythe and a feral grin. Etan 5'11" 175 Lb Human Male A bearded blonde human with freckles. Lanier 6'0" 245 Lb Human Male Young, lean and strong Acanian wearing hide clothing. Nels 3'7" 42 Lb Goblin Male Tall, for a goblin, and athletic. Close-cut black hair. Shilde 4'4" 160 Lb Khazad-Aul Female Tall for a dwarf, long blonde hair in a thick braid, big blue eyes. Elleandra 5'4" 108 Lb Wild Elf Female Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori Konstance 6'2" 240 Lb Human Male A human with blonde hair and blue eyes -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 245 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Things are chaotic. Nels is in the water, Shilde hoped to get in the water, but is hovering in the middle of the cavern, 40' above it. The rest of the party. Etan had finished casting a bless on everyone present, Elleandra and Braelnoir are on the ramp. Most of the flying Needle Balls have vanished, but several still dog Nels, while a couple curiously returned to the airship.
One, unexpectedly, crawls onto Konstance's neck, unnoticed in the chaos. It latches on, its drill whirring as it burrows into the man. A small spray of blood and bone-bits come out the back of it, and Konstance falls from the side of the airship, unconscious before he hits the water. Hitting, didn't help.
Fortunately, everyone notices this, even as the battle continues.
With an interest in seeing what had been going on with that hidden airship since he last saw it, Lanier made the long trek (sans Spud) through the cavern and to the rope bridge. He picks his way across the rope bridge, step by step, pausing to narrow his eyes and listen. His eyes widen as he hears the telltale sounds of battle happening from the direction of the airship, and which point he makes a concerted effort to cross faster, even going hand over hand to cross the bridge quicker.
As the ranger closes in, his eyes widen as a member of the team fighting goes overboard. He takes a deep breath, his wild eyes scanning the water before he simply lets go and falls down into the water. As soon as he hits, he begins swimming towards the fallen adventurer with a practiced hand-over-hand motion.
There are three of the needle balls trying to latch onto Nels, and the fourth is damaged. It's flight path is a lot more meandering.
GAME: Etan rolls weapon4: (14)+2: 16 GAME: Etan rolls damage4: aliased to 1D8+0: (5)+0: 5
Etan lines up another shot, his crossbow held with shaky hands as he takes a deep breath to try and steady himself. "It's always like this." talking to himself, squeezing the trigger and downing his damaged target with a spark and clash of bolt against metal. "Two.... that's two less." keeping count as he exhales with a heavy breath. The new addition to the party is noticed, a mental note taken as he tries to keep up his position in the back of the current group, reloading a bolt.
Shilde is still floating, though she's not going anywhere. Her movement has stopped, at least, it seemed to stop. Now she is swinging in a short arc that seems like it will bring her to the mouth of the airship. With it's crunched up, entrance door.
<OOC> Shilde says, "Can I fish out my rope and try to throw an end towards someone? It is 50' long." GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Shilde rolls athletics: (12)+5: 17
Nels is at the front of the Airship, in the water. Braelnoir is at the back, on the ramp. The distance between them is 60'
Shilde curses a properly dwarvish curse as she not only doesn't fall the way she is supposed to, but starts falling sideways towards the airship's front. After flailing her arms and legs like a drowning swimmer proves to get her nowhere, she scrambles for the rope in her pack. Once in hand she throws it. Now.. the direction of her gaze might seem to indicate she was tossing one end to Etan. But clearly that was only a feint as the end of the rope goes in a completely different direction, wrapping around one of the rods in the air and looping back to her. Her look of shock and surprise notwithstanding, she manages to grab the other end and then climb her way to the rod.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon9: (17)+8: 25 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 1d10: (6): 6
As the wierd doubles down, and more people are taking the plunge, Brae's inner monologue is mostly intricately woven invective interspersed with mercenary jargon. Externally, she cries, "Kon! Damnit!" and manages a half stride before she notices another splash and the sight of Lanier swimming into to intercept her fallen teammate. A quick glance up to Shilde reveals that she has her... interesting situation in hand, and so she pulls a crossbow bolt, loads and swings the heavy weapon around to fire at one of the balls still harassing Nels. With a heavy TWANG, she shatters the forsaken contrivance.
A needle ball slips up beside Elleandra. It came from Inside the Ship! It latches on, there's a whrrrr noise, and the druid slumps, taken by surprise.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Nels, 2 on you" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
Two of the need balls alight on Nels at the same time. As their drills start up, the second one drills into the first, destroying it. Flakes of brass fly everywhere. It hovers, seeming to have accomplished its task.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (3)+12: 15 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (8)+6: 14
Nels gives Braelnoir a thumbs up as she picks off one of the annoying things plaguing him. He's frantically reloading, waist-deep in the water as he tips powder and shot into his thunderbelcher while trying to evade the little pests. When they get crossed up, that's his chance! He takes aim, pulls the trigger, and there's a pause. "Crap!" He almost lowers the weapon to begin clearing it for a misfire, but it wasn't a misfire, just a hang fire, and the thunderbelcher belches thunder, better late then never, and the lead ball smashes into the little device, shattering it.
There is a banging. Those close to the front of the airship can hear it clearly. Something large impacted that twisted front door. There is a squeal of metal, the door attempting to open again, but it fails. It's ominious, but whatever made it doesn't sound very large, more bowling ball than boulder.
The balls that were attached to Konstance and Elleandra, zip and dodge and vanish back into the airship. They're up to something.
Nels is surrounded glittering scraps of metal, sparkling under water.
There's a moment's respite. Only a moment.
GAME: Lanier rolls Strength: (11)+4: 15
A moment's respite is all the Lanier needs to complete his swim through the terrifying water to the splashed down Konstance. He reaches out, grabs the adventurer by the most convenient handhold, and begins swimming towards the ramp.
As the first loud thump is heard, Lanier simultaniously puts his firsst foot down on the edge of the ramp, dragging Konstance along behind him as his narrowed eyes glare along the ship towards the source of the bang. He grits his teeth, his upper lip rising as he growls, "And just what in the Abyss is that?"
GAME: Etan casts Bull's Strength. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
Etan mutters in the celestial tongue, his necklace clasped as he holds his crossbow loaded in his free hand. Whatever magic he is using soon is felt by Braelnoir, her muscles surging, and her body feeling the blessings of Vardama empower her. "Something comes!" he is not one to guess, but all that noise, and the flappy things? Yes, this feels bad, and will guess.
Shilde is further north in the Cavern than any of the party has been. She's a good distance from the back of the airship, but the front is still close. She can still feel the odd tug of the sideways gravity, if she lets go she will move again. The rod she's discovered, sticks in the air. It is an absolutely fixed point. There is a button on one end of it. Below, 40' below, is the water, and a small school of the glowing fish. At first one might think they were drawn to the rod, perhaps that's true, but she can see a form lit by their glow. It looks like one of the Corpse Armours, but different.
There's also a breeze, a light one, coming in from above near her position.
Shilde is in the middle of the air. Not the ideal place for a dwarf, in her opinion... still, it's better than whatever is down in the water underneath her. "Somethin' nasty in the waters, here!" She shouts out while she maintains her hold on the rod. "Can't see what it is... looks armoured, maybe?" She starts speaking in another language, then, gathering up the energies for some nature spelling.
Braelnoir doesn't think it's over that- yep, there it is. She gives a grin to Lanier as he drags Kon up onto the ramp, "Glad yer back, luv!" She blinks and shivers at the sudden rush of vigor she feels, but drops her crossbow to snatch up her scythe, "Form ranks! Range, cover Shil!" And she steps a little closer and gets set to greet whatever comes through that door.
GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+2+3+2: (20)+2+3+2: 27 GAME: Shilde casts Shillelagh. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
The pounding from the front of the airship stops. There's a pounding on the inner roll-up door, which grows louder. With a rattle, the door shoots into the ceiling.
Hovering in the air at head height are several spheres. Directly front on, they look like cannon-balls in flight. It's only when they move past that their shape fully resolves. They're helmets. Exactly like the ones that were on the Corpse Armours. Anyone who carried one back would never forget. Except these are empty, for now. Three immediately fly past, ignoring Etan, Lanier and Braelnoir. One arcs into the cavern towards Shilde, and at the speed it's going will reach her next round. The others, already find their prey, roll up in front of Konstance and Ellandra, flash lights and unfold to surround their heads. There is clanking deep inside, and a loud bang that suggests more of these are rattling around.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+3: (19)+10+3: 32 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+8: (5)+8: 13 GAME: Lanier rolls Melee-2: (20)+9+-2: 27 (THREAT) GAME: Lanier rolls Melee-2: (18)+9+-2: 25 GAME: Lanier rolls 1d3+6: (2)+6: 8 Cryosanthia says, "that. smack it with the crossbow, -4. yes" GAME: Etan rolls weapon4-2: (10)+2+-2: 10
Seeing the helmets reorient in flight, Brae shouts, "Destroy them fast!" even as she brings her scythe across the helmet trying to encapsulte Konstance's brain bucket. The strike is firm and ringing, but not quite enough to seal the deal....
Etan lashes out at the helmets passing by, but misses with his swing of the butt of his crossbow. "What are these things?!"
Nels is 30' from the one in the air going for Shilde. Hecan't see what's going on at the back of the ramp, which is 60' away.
Nels says, "I will shoot it, then, with Deadly Aim" GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (19)+12: 31 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (6)+6: 12
Nels hears Braelnoir's shout and drops the rope he was about to toss to Shilde, reloading his weapon and shouldering it again. There's a sharp report as he fires, and the lead ball clangs loudly off the helmet, which causes lights to flash, but it keeps moving. "I didn't even know what ranks we're suppposed to form," he complains. Not a military goblin, then.
GAME: Lanier casts Lead Blades. Caster Level: 5 DC: 12
As the helmet impacts off Brae's scythe, it flies towards the unarmed Lanier, whose eyes widen. Almost out of instinct, he reaches down then pulls his entire body into a massive backhand that impacts off the helmet and sends it flying into the drink with a splash. He reaches up, grasping the hilt of his greatsword. With a tug, it breaks out of the scabbard and the ranger pulls it around head of him. Moving forward, he begins to look left and right to gauge enemy distance and location, right up until he comes alongside Braelnoir. He looks at her for a moment, reaches out and takes her shoulder, "Gilead, bring forth your blessings on this unfortunate soul with equally unfortunate decisions to bring agricultural tools to a sword fight."
There are several flying horror helmets behind the roll up door, 5' behind it. There are two rows, the first has three, the second had four.
GAME: Etan rolls weapon4: (18)+2: 20 GAME: Etan rolls damage4: aliased to 1D8+0: (8)+0: 8
Etan does not like what he sees when he looks back into the airship, and those helmets are seen floating so menacingly. "This isn't trouble, this is unnatural!" his crossbow brought up as he pulls the trigger at the first one he can get his sights on. It's number 6, though to his mind it's now number 1! The bolt hits home, and hits hard, but unlike the smaller devices, it doesn't go down.
GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12 GAME: Shilde rolls 1d4: (2): 2
Shilde finishes her druidic chant... and then points at the helmet flying at her. She doesn't know exactly what that helmet intends to do, but all things considered she has a pretty good idea. "Sic 'em!" she shouts, and an eagle, appearing with a brief gust of wind and the smell of the forest screeches and attacks the helmet with claw and beak.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+1: (16)+10+1: 27 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d6+14: (8)+14: 22
A warning buzzer goes off, WURRRRRRRT. Followed by a clunk, then a bee-borp-squeal. Several more of these helmets fly out, seven to be exactly. They move in formation, each one actively taking evasive measures to avoid those standing and flying around the corners and edges of the corridor out of the airship. Individually they approach each person, and actively make erratic motions while a light beam traces and plays over the person's features.
At the same time this happens, the lights on the helmet on Elleandra flash yellow, then white, and she lifts off the ground and flies into the airship, passing through the helmets coming out.
The one going for Shilde reaches her, and attacks.
The chimera recovers from her swing, the 'agricultural tool' absorbing the impact with aplomb, though the 'blessing draws a smug grin, "You ain't been near a farm recent enough, huntsman!" The question from Etan warrants a, "Slave helmets, don't leave'm connected long!" She takes a step to get a better angle and bunches her shoulder to try and shear the artifice from Elleandra's helmet without taking her head off. The impact is wrong to her ears, to her hands and, while nearly destroying the helmet, she sees blood seep from the breach and she recoils. No, no no, not again!
The helmets moved up on the party, doing a total defense this round, and flashing lights on everyone's heads. Elly is being dragged inside. Shilde attacked. The ones are coming up, so the trailing ones have a chance to pass by out of reach. With a stretch, they could be attacked, but Elleandra's unconscious form is in trouble.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+1: (18)+8+1: 27 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 1d4+10: (3)+10: 13
The scythe is heavy, and a hand, the steelshod one is coming away from the haft as the helmet tries to steal Elly's body and, within an instant, instinct rips away shock and, with the woman's almost feral roar, that fist closes taut and lashes out in a spiked backhand that shatters the ruined helmet!
Cryosanthia says, "attack on Shilde" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
Of all of the Flying Helmets, only the one approaching Shilde went directly to attack, skipping whatever scanning function the other ones seemed to perform. It does seem to have suffered some damage however. On it's first attempt to engulf her head, the attack sequence is out of order. It moves to surround, bounces off her helmet, then flashes its lights and opens up. Braelnoir's scythe and Nels shot had an effect!
Taking a step back with one foot to drop into a stange as Elly lifts off the ground and begins flying towards the interior of the ship. As the scythe impacts the helmet, and then the fist a moment later. When the helmet shatters and the sorcerer begins to fall, Lanier langes forward, letting the greatsword follow behind him to clear the way to slow and break the fall of the unconscious sorcerer with his left arm. At the impact, Lanier gives a grunt of effort to settle things out as quickly as possible in order to turn and start looking for another target.
GAME: Etan rolls weapon4-4: (1)+2+-4: -1 (EPIC FAIL)
Etan is confused by these swarming helmets. One likes him too much, one tried to abduct their friend... this is not good! He swipes his weapon quickly as his sights latch on to one that zips past like an overgrown skeeter, and for it he loses balance, and almost falls sideways of the ramp!
The helmet flying towards Nels hasn't reached him yet. It will, it's only 20 feet away. It's behaviour when it arrives will be unknown, it may attack like Shilde's or perform the light ballet. The strange dance they do is occurring only inside the airship, beyond the goblin's direct sight.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (6)+6: 12
Nels takes what a military expert would call a tactical risk, and rather than firing at the one that's going to close with him next round, he takes a shot at the one threatening Shilde. Having frantically reloaded again, he takes aim, lets out a breath, and fires. The explosion is smoky and loud, as per usual, and his shot takes the helmet dead center, cracking it into three pieces and a double handful of associated shrapnel, which all fall.
On of the helmets is 'sniffing' around Lanier, inches away.
Lanier says, "Going to endeavor to knock it out the park." GAME: Lanier rolls Melee+MW+PA+Bless: aliased to Melee++1-2++1: (2)+9++1+-2++1: 11
Lanier gets Elly settled and then turns back towards the helmet that is getting into his personal space, shining lights on him, and bobbing and weaving to evade his greatsword. He takes a step back with his right leg, setting his base to bring the greatsword up over his head and then crashing down upon the helmet. It's just a little too far to the right and sails past until it impacts the deck of the airship.
GAME: Etan rolls 2d6: (7): 7 GAME: GM damaged Shilde for -7 points. 19 HP remaining. GAME: GM damaged Shilde's companion for -7 points. 22 HP remaining. GAME: GM damaged Lanier for -7 points. 45 HP remaining. GAME: GM damaged Lanier's companion for -7 points. 32 HP remaining. GAME: GM damaged Nels for -7 points. 45 HP remaining. GAME: GM damaged Etan for -7 points. 22 HP remaining. GAME: GM damaged Braelnoir for -7 points. 47 HP remaining.
Etan does not like the proximity of that device, nervous of it as he calls upon his goddess with a glance to the others. Elly is injured, Braelnoir took a hit. At least he can help with that. "This thing is looking at me funny!" he calls, a swell of power eminating from him, touching the divine source, and letting the healing powers loose for the others to benefit. It's then he moves away from his helmet, amlost pressing up against Braelnoir's space. "They're tougher."
There is a splash beneath Shilde. The helmet Nels destroyed fell into the water. That's expected. A 'blorp' and a shifting in the light surrounding... whatever is down there. Unexpected.
Shilde says, "Cryo, is it too late to throw the end of the rope to my animal companion?" Cryosanthia says, "close to you or far? remember, there is a monster below you." Shilde says, "Far please." GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20 Cryosanthia says, "gets there. Your AC catches it." Shilde says, "That's the eagle attacking" GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (14)+3: 17 GAME: Shilde rolls 1d4: (3): 3
Shilde waves frantically at the eagle, "Hey!" then she points at another helmet, one zipping towards Nels. The eagle dives, clawing at the animated head piece. Shilde pays no more attention to it, though, instead gathering her rope up again. This time she swings the end a few times, shouting, "Rocky! Here, boy! Catch!" The end of the rope goes sailing, and this time flies true. The large, shaggy dog hops up on his hind legs to snatch the end ot he rope with his teeth.
Braelnoir says, "5 foot if possible to get as many of them as possible in reach. power attack. WHIRLWIND ATTACK" GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+1: (14)+10+1: 25 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d6+14: (7)+14: 21 GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+1: (6)+10+1: 17 GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+1: (11)+10+1: 22 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d6+14: (8)+14: 22 GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+1: (14)+10+1: 25 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d6+14: (7)+14: 21
The swordsman's swing might have warranted a snide comment after the agricultural remark, but, the jokes are over after what she almost allowed to happen to Elly, what she ended up having to do -to- Elly. As Etan draws up near her, Braelnoir growls, "Don'move." She takes a wide, circular step and goes into what almost looks like a monk's staff flourish, the red lights coming from the helmets catching the blade of the polearm leaving almost ruby petal light after images arrayed around her with a series of three resounding clangs, but the errant path of Lanier's companion takes it just out of reach in the nick of time.
The Helmet flying towards Nels rushes up to him, then executes what must be Attack Protocol #2. It starts moving in an evasive, erratic manner, flashing lights and scanning his head as it moves around him.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Attack on Etan" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "misses. Attack on Braelnoir" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Flying Helmet damaged Braelnoir for 11 points. 36 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4: (1): 1 (CON damage) GAME: Braelnoir rolls fort: (17)+7: 24 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Flying Helmet damaged Lanier for 9 points. 36 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4: (1): 1 (CON damage) GAME: Lanier rolls Fort: (16)+7: 23
The orbiting helmets unfold and expand, then move in to engulf. Etan sees the uncomfortably padded interior rushing towards him, but manages to dodge his head out of the way in time.
Braelnoir and Lanier are not so lucky. The helmets clack, expand, surround them, and contract. It stinks of rotten moldly leather, fungus, and something acidic. Goggles drop in place, covering their eyes, blacked out. A mask clunks over the nose and mouth and airflow is restricted. Tiny pricks are felt in the neck.
These things reconfigured themselves to fit, reshaping to accomodate Brealnoir's horns and Lanier's headgear.
It's going to be impossible to fight with these helmets on, their victims will be entirely blind. Fortunately, it's not hard to hit onself in the head. That should go as easily as it usually would.
The two that were hovering around without partners flash some lights, move down and surround Konstance and Elly. They also reshape, by folding out panels, sliding, to surround the damaged versions of them already on the pair. Double Helmets. After this, they rise up, lifting the limp bodies with them.
Nels says, "I will shoot at the one on me" GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (8)+12: 20 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (3)+6: 9
Nels shouts at the helmet, "You won't fit!" in hopes of dissuading it from attacking. But he's not taking chances, he's reloading as fast as goblinly possible. Once that's done, he'll bring up his weapon, trying to track the evasive action by aiming from the hip, and he fires, flame and smoke erupting from the thunderbelcher. His shot spangs off the side of the helmet in a hard ricochet, but at least it doesn't come back at him!
GAME: Lanier rolls Melee+MW+PA+Bless+Nonlethal: aliased to Melee+1-2+1-4: (17)+9+1+-2+1+-4: 22 GAME: Lanier rolls 2d6+Str+2+Str+2: (7)+Str+2+Str+2: 11 GAME: Lanier damaged Lanier for 2 points. 34 HP remaining.
Lanier tries to dodge away from the helmet hovering near him as it aims to land on his head, only the Ranger is a touch to slow and he's latched on to. With a grunt, he reaches up and tries to pull the helmet away and, failing that, turns the greatsword over sideways. He swings the sword around and then slams the broadside of the blade right into the helmet stuck to his head. Lanier grunts as he almost seems about to loose his balance as he rings his own bell.
Etan has one hovering around his head, there is another on Braelnoir, sparking a lot, and Lanier has successfully smacked himself and the one he's wearing, so that's damaged as well.
Etan is going to shoot the one on Braelnoir's face with his crossbow.... save the conscious folk first. >.> GAME: Etan rolls weapon4: (1)+2: 3 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Braelnoir get shot in the boob <OOC> Braelnoir says, "i'm fine, it makes more sense if he's lining up on me anyway" <OOC> Etan says, "So... like... roll damage? Or what? What a terrible move. XD" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "No, you don't hurt her, you simply add to the abuses she is suffering"
Etan had been doing so good. His aim true, his heart set on doing what he can. He had readied that crossbow and was determined to to fire a shot... but as his finger pulls the trigger, those being carried away bump into him, jostling his aim! The bolt is far off the mark, digging into Braelnoir's chest as the cleric goes wide-eyed and looks to the crossbow in horror. "I knew I didn't like you!" his words for the weapon as if it's alive. He did mention earlier he wasn't that good with one. Why? It's apparent now.
Shilde says, "I would like him to pull me back towards the ramp. I'm hoping that gravity might return to normal." <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, roll a strength for the AC, needs to beat a DC10" GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+1: (6)+1: 7 <OOC> Shilde says, "The eagle will stay on the one on Nels." GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
The eagle keeps trying to claw the helmet, going for another pass, but its talons barely scrape the metal this time. Meanwhile, Rocky does his best to tug at the rope and bring is druid back down to the ground, but it's slow going. She probably has to let up a bit on the snacks.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+1: (19)+8+1: 28 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 1d4+14: (4)+14: 18 GAME: Braelnoir damaged Braelnoir for 4 points. 32 HP remaining.
She'd never used that maneuver in live combat, before, and her final stroke leaves her a little overextened, too much to properly evade as the helmet clamped onto her. Mouth and nose restricted by the mask, Brae's hateful denial is stifled as the helmet pins her jaw closed. And amidst the darkness as she steels herself for-THUNK! Something just stuck her! There is a stifled chuff of pain before, newly fueled by pain and indignation, she balls up her fist and SLAMS it into the helmet, shattering it in the process, though jarring some of it's invasive bits and the points of her knuckles spikes sending some of her facial scales flying off, flickering like hyperactive fireflies as they tumble away. Then, almost petulantly, as she takes her next full breath, she yanks the bolt out of her breastplate.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "attack on Nels" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (5)+6: 11 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "attack on Etan" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (7)+6: 13 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "brael is free" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "attack on Lanier" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+6: (1)+6: 7 GAME: Flying Helmet damaged Lanier for 7 points. 27 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4: (1): 1 (CON damage) GAME: Lanier rolls Fort: (6)+7: 13
Something is moving in the water. Underneath Shilde. It seems to be following her as her dog kites her around
The helmets attacking Nels and Etan bob and weave but can't seem to line up their orifices. The helmet on Braelnoir is crushed around her mighty fist. The two helmets that latched onto Konstance and Elleandra now lift their limp bodies, and line up and fly inside the airship along the same line. They zoom past the others in their struggles, tempting targets, especially with their oversized heads.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+1: (2)+10+1: 13 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d6+14: (7)+14: 21
Braelnoir is still primed for the fight, thankfully the helmet didn't get to pumping her with mojo gas, and as the other decides try to steal her fallen companion's bodies, she brings the scythe up and across the one nearest, cutting deeply into Konstance's new conveyance.
Etan will smack Elly's or try. GAME: Etan rolls weapon4-4: (16)+2+-4: 14 GAME: Etan rolls 1d3+2: (1)+2: 3
Etan lashes out with his crossbow, striking with it's butt, not his. His is soft, the crossbow is hard. This at least doing what he wants, smashing and disabling Elleandra's device, and watching her fall to the deck as the artifice sparks and sputters. "Unnatural!"
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (2)+6: 8
Nels has to dodge the attack helmet while trying to reload, and he winds up spilling half the powder into the water as he splashes left and right. He manages to fire a half-charged round into the helmet, and a few more cracks appear, though not fast enough for him. He can't even pay much attention to his companions as he scrambles around.
GAME: Lanier rolls Melee+MW+PA+Nonlethal: aliased to Melee+1-2-4: (15)+9+1+-2+-4: 19 GAME: Lanier rolls 2d6+12: (8)+12: 20 GAME: Lanier damaged Lanier for 5 points. 22 HP remaining.
Continuing to resist the attacks of the helmet stuck to his head, Lanier gives a quick jump as the needle slips into his neck and injects him with the poison. The Ranger's arm drops, his greatsword impacting against the deck of the ship with a clunk. The ranger's wild demeanor, with his teeth-bared animalistically against the threat, becomes a strange sort of smile that looks foreign on his face. The foreign expression then turns to laughter, "Hey guys, I think we screwed up. I don't think these are defensive measures. I think we just tried to break in on the recreation deck." He then takes a long step to his side with one leg, his legs akimbo as he squares up on his greatsword, "Watch this!"
He takes the greatsword in a two-handed grip, pulling the broadside towards him as he leans forward into it to violently bounce his head off the broad of the blade. With a snap, the helmet breaks clean in two and falls away.
Lanier turns to look towards Braelnoir, pointing to his head, "Braelnoir, I have a splitting headache. Get it? Splitting?" With a rocous laugh and a hoist of his greatsword, Lanier joyfully looks around for something else to kill.
GAME: Etan casts Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 Cryosanthia says, "casting provokes AOO, right?" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Etan rolls concentration: (18)+concentration: 18 GAME: Etan rolls 2d8+3: (8)+3: 11 GAME: Etan damaged Lanier for -11 points. 33 HP remaining.
Etan is not liking how fast the battle is changing. His allies are wounded, these helmets keep trying to take off with the unconscious. "Death is not in the cards for any of you today!" Lanier pointed at as the cleric channels a bigger burst of his divine power from the source, unleashing a healing wave that hits the man. "I...." and that helmet snaps around his head, the words muffled as he's now sent to panic!
Cryosanthia says, "roll str for rocky and athletics for you, DC 15 both." GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+1: (11)+1: 12 GAME: Shilde rolls athletics: (6)+5: 11
Shilde flings her rope down to Rocky, "Pull boy!" Her faithful companion manages to move her closer to the rear of the Airship.
Cryosanthia says, "yes, engulfs Etan" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Flying Helmet damaged Etan for 9 points. 13 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4: (1): 1 (CON damage)
The helmet hovering around Etan engulfs his head. The goggles snap in place, a mask covers his nose and mouth and he feels needles sliding into his neck. The outside world becomes muffled, and his inner world more interesting.
Braelnoir says, "PA" GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon12+1: (16)+10+1: 27 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d6+14: (11)+14: 25 GAME: Braelnoir damaged Etan for 6 points. 7 HP remaining.
The Chimera is somewhat bewildered by the ramblings of the huntsman, enough that it takes her a second to realize that Etan's head has been engulfed in a helmet and Konstance has floated inside, "DAMNIT!" With that roar she tow hands her scythe and again takes it across Etan's slave-taker. She doesn't stop to survey the damage she may have done, she's got too much going on, instead, "Get after Kon!" and she starts to run toward Shilde to bring her in.
Cryosanthia says, "Nels, yours attacks" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10
The helmet flies Konstance's limp form deeper inside the airship. It responds. There are strange noises. Rattling, gurgles. Loud clanks. The sound of a roll door going up, then slamming back down. The odd beeps, boops, squeaks, and chirps continue, as well as the flashing lights, even though most of them pulse in sequence red.
Outside, the remaining sparking helmet flaps open its cheek plates and tries to give Nels a kiss. It lurches and spins, heavily damaged and unable to track properly. It misses.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (14)+12: 26 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (3)+6: 9
Nels continues to elude the flying helmet, dodging and weaving like a crazy goblin, which is good because he sort of is right now. He's reloading his thunderbelcher as he dodges, trying to get more powder down the barrel than last time, though his efforts are thwarted. Still, it's enough to sistain combustion, and so there's the usual explosion and fire and smoke as he shoots from the hip at the close-in target. This time, either he's hit it enough times, or he's had better luck, this time, the helmet shatters.
GAME: Etan rolls 2d6: (8): 8 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Lanier, you get inside, you're past the second roll door, there is a third one, It's down." GAME: Etan damaged Shilde for -8 points. 19 HP remaining. GAME: Etan damaged Shilde's companion for -8 points. 22 HP remaining. GAME: Etan damaged Lanier for -8 points. 41 HP remaining. GAME: Etan damaged Lanier's companion for -8 points. 32 HP remaining. GAME: Etan damaged Nels for -8 points. 45 HP remaining. GAME: Ean damaged Etan for -8 points. 15 HP remaining. GAME: Etan damaged Braelnoir for -8 points. 40 HP remaining.
Etan is free of that helmet in secods, looking to Braelnoir with blood running down his brow. The device hand broken and fallen off from that dreadful impact, feeling a bit of it's bite and left shaken. "Thank you." he says, a hand soon on the scale necklace he wears, closing his eyes to channel another burst of divie energy into those near him, meaning most of the party. Divine and briliat energy is sent out in a wave, hopefully healing some of the wounds with a flare of aura.
Lanier looks towards Braelnoir and nods his head quickly, "Right!" He turns a full 360 degrees, his head bobbing to some unseen music as he watches Kon fly deeper into the airship. He turns the greatsword to hold it across his body, air-luting on it with his free hand while he starts marching after the runaway adventurer. His head continues to bob as he sings merrily but in a completely unintelligible manner, "...bad booooy...crazy...donkey..." Then he pauses briefly for a solo as the music in his head hits a crecendo, "...KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICKED!" He's a good ranger, but not a good bard by any stretch of the imagination.
He pauses for a moment, looking towards the roll-up door that is currently down, "Hey! I think they're this way!"
Screaming. Or high-pitched steam releasing. Something is going on behind the door. It's not good.
The storm-dwarfs feet touch on the ramp, she bounces a few inches in the air. Her motion, deeper inside the airship, seems to continue.
GAME: Shilde casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Shilde rolls 1d8+2: (1)+2: 3 GAME: Shilde damaged Etan for -3 points. 18 HP remaining.
Somehow Shilde finally makes it to the ground, though between her mediocre climbing efforts and Rocky's more enthusiastic than effective pulling left the possibility in doubt. Yet when she gets to the ground she discovers the wonky gravity effect on her is still... off kilter. "Oh fer the love of.." She looks around for anyone, anything... Seeing Etan, and seeing him somewhat battered, she chants a quick prayer of healing, then clamps on to him.
The hostiles are all gone. Konstance has been dragged inside, and bad sounds can be heard from the Abominable Factory.
Cryosanthia says, "it's 'portculis, iron, stuck DC 25'" GAME: Braelnoir rolls strength+2: (18)+3+2: 23 GAME: Lanier rolls Strength: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Braelnoir rolls knowledge/engineering: (6)+6: 12
Elleandra wakes up, lying partially inside the airship, seeing familiar metal walls. Shilde drifted by, floating a few inches above the ground. There is a strange helmet lying beside her. Last she recalls, she was outside this ship.
Braelnoir rushing into the bay at a noisey gallop, Brae's hooves screech some to as she skids to a stop on the deck plating and, dropping her scythe, drops to her haunches and hooks her fingers under the door and tries to force it upward. The woman's voice is coming tight through her gnashed teeth in a wierd counterpoint to the stubborn machinery, but it is just too much for her and she staggers back as the door slips her grasp, despite Lanier's aid. She looks around quickly then, "Lan, these doors ain't thick, we can probably bust'm down, but it'll cost us a minute. Ev'ryone else, be ready to shoot past us if we get it open an' there's hostiles ont he other side!"
Shilde says, "Grapple check if that is still an option." GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
Shilde unfortunately fails to find purchase on Etan.. though she manages to heal him, her fingers fail to cling to him and she goes 'falling' inside the airship.
Nels, having finally shot down his helmet, now has to wade back to rejoin his allies. "I'm coming, I'm coming," he calls out as he wades through the waist-deep water. It's slow going, though he hurries as much as he can.
If there were such a thing as a concussion protocol in this world, Elleandra would likely need it. She feels like she ought to sit up. But then again she feels like she ought to be standing. Was standing. She gets up. That sounds good. And she goes. Where is everyone? Inside? "I'm.. coming too?" she says uncertainly. "Is this a bad time to ask what happened?"
Braelnoir looks back at the sound of Elly's voice, her tail making a sudden nervous whip-crack and she gives her a slightly awkward look before turning her attention back to the door, "Machine's got Konstance, we gotta bust'm out before it converts him!" Lanier looks back at the sound of Elly's voice as well, looking back towards Braelnoir, and then possibly needing concussion protocols as well, looks back to Elly with a wide grin, "I am not the machine!"
Nels calls out, "Glad you're awake. Stuff happened, and ... /wait/ it got someone?" He's been stuck outside and he missed Konstance being grabbed also.
"I don't even know myself!" feeling Shilde's healing touch, but then realizing she's floating into that mess where two of the others just fled. "It's a mess!" Etan shouts.
It sounds like most of the party is further inside the airship. Nels can be heard splashing his way towards the rear ramp. All around, the airship seems active, and doing... things.
GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (13)+13: 26
The storm dwarf seems like she's hanging from her neck, on an invisible noose. The way her body flops around thta point, her legs swing out more than her arms, and her head swings the same way the arms and legs do. She's conscious, looking around as the ship glides by.
Not sure what to do to help, for now Elleandra races after Shilde, and seeing her moving as strangely as she is, reaches out to help. Not one to shy away from danger, and not really seeming to care much about her own lack of offensive power, she moves quickly to take hold of Shilde by any limb she can reach.
GAME: Elleandra rolls grapple: (19)+grapple: 19
Spurred by a bit of luck, Elly is able to take hold of Shilde's hand. Which doesn't really help as much as she wanted. She slows the progress down, but is unable to stop her moving entirely. And now she's coming along for the ride.
Lanier lines up on the door, calling out in a sing-songy voice, "Everyone, help out with lifting this dooOOOoor!" He leans over, working his fingers underneath the roll-up door to begin pulling at the same time as everyone else.
Etan moves to help the others with the gate, his eyes cast to Shilde and Elly as they are slowly dragged this way as the rest of the party struggles with the obsticle. "This is not good..." still confused as to what's going on. "Is the source beyond this?" The door stubbornly refuses to roll up. This one is properly in its tracks, and whatever mechanisms are keeping it down appear to be fully functional. The light above is red. As Shilde rounds the corner, riding along by her neck on an invisible rail, the border of the door flashes yellow, then white. There's a buzzer, and it rolls up just in time for Shilde to fly through at speed.
A slower speed, due to the anchoring effects provided by Elleandra, whose feet are sliding on the slick metal panels beneath them.
Shilde is facing away, Nels is still coming in from outside and sees the door sliding, but can't see beyond from the distance. Everyone at the door, can.
Inside, it's an assembly line, divisions marked on the floor, colours indicating their stage in the process. It's dim, machines don't need light to see, but they provide some as they move and indicate their status. Strobes and point-lights flash.
Konstance, is on the line. He's attached to an armature like the one the Corpse Armours were on. His feet are in thick boots, attached to a pedestal. The helmet still covers his face. He lurches forward to a new station, a chest plate comes out of nowhere, held by one of the manipulator arms. There's a hiss as something sticky and acidic is sprayed over his chest, then the chest plate is pressed over his existing armour. High pitched drill-drivers sound. He's struggling, weakly, but the Machines have him.
GAME: Nels rolls perception: (20)+8: 28 GAME: Braelnoir rolls perception: (7)+0: 7 GAME: Braelnoir rolls knowledge/engineering: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Lanier rolls Spellcraft: (11)+10: 21 GAME: Etan rolls perception: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Lanier rolls Perception: (8)+9: 17 GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (7)+13: 20
Inside, there are several things, a modified wall of iron spell going off, things over on the walls that look like setting levers. It looks really delicate in here, and easy to be hit by a moving object if careless. It's the inside of an assembler that is not expecting people who aren't on the track.'
GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13 GAME: Shilde rolls 1d20+2: (1)+2: 3 (EPIC FAIL)
Rocky may be confused by what's happening to his druid, and he doesn't like it. He bounds after Elleandra and clamps his jaws on the dwarf's pack. Shilde tries to grab on to something, anything, muttering, "Never gonna live this one down..." She manages to snag the edge of a door jam, but then her fingers slip and she wrenches her back, swearing profusely once more, her face contorting in pain. But at least between the combined efforts of elf, dog and dwarf, she isn't moving.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls ranged: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4: (4): 4
Braelnoir is surprised by the door opening and the shadow of Shilde floating over her, she makes a snap decision in the moment, pulling her last tanglefoot bag and sending it up into the corner of the door track, hoping to gum up the works. "I see controls, try'n get Kon outta that thing!" she snaps as she moves toward the levers.
Nels shouts out, "Be careful in there! Everything's on a track, the machines are geared to account for that. If you're out of place, you're in danger. But things there look fragile, too, if you can knock stuff off track or damage it!" As he says this, he manages to finally wade through all the water and drags himself up to the door, panting hard, dripping wet.
GAME: Elleandra rolls knowledge/nature: (4)+10: 14
Elleandra continues pulling hard and keeping Shilde from moving. Hopefully grinding to a halt will start having its toll on the machine. She looks about, and catches a scent, "Mushrooms," she mutters to herself. What's that about?
The goblin's warning is vital and should be heeded, as Braelnoir demonstrates. She is out of place, a moving block on a wheel clocks her on the head like she wasn't there. The silvery chimera collapses to the ground. The machines keep working.
The inquisitor finds himself becoming conscious, on some sort of strange rack. He feels encased, in heavy, heavy armour. Lights are flashing, ahead of him, he sees Elleandra and the rest of the adventurers.
Konstance went to sleep in the base camp and he wakes up as he looks over the situation. "Alright who the bloody hell decided to turn me into a golem?!" He calls out as he tries to break freeb from the frame, grunting as he tries to wriggle his feet free. He then looks about at the adventurers. "Could use a little help here." He calls out.
His voice is muffled but the other adventurers here. He's wearing the Corpse Armour, but he isn't one, yet.
GAME: Lanier rolls Reflex: (11)+8: 19 <pre>GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+Melee+MW+Bless+PA: aliased to 1d20+Melee+1+1-2: (16)+9+1+1+-2: 25 GAME: Lanier rolls 2d6+12: (7)+12: 19
Taking a moment to eyeball all the moving parts, the sharp-eyed Ranger calls behind him, "Careful near the consoles. There's wall of iron spells cast near them. They could be traps. Step only where I step and only at the same point in the machinery's pattern." It could be the unorthodox training he received from the Elves, or his natural physical abilities, but Lanier makes his way into the room, almost seeming to track individual portions of the machine all at the same time. He then leans forward into a run, jump, and a roll that carries him all the way to a point on the assembly line that will intercept Konstance while being somewhat safe for him.
As Konstance arrives at Lanier's location, the strobes flash a pattern on his back. A piece of armor tailored to fit exactly over the gear he wears appears behind Lanier, approaching Konstance as glue is sprayed on his back to adhere to the armor. The Ranger times it, lifts his sword, and cleanly severs the armature with a growl. He turns towards Konstance and says, "We're trying to get you free, but be careful where you are. There are traps everywhere!"
GAME: Etan rolls perception: (8)+3: 11
Etan tries to figure out how this machine works, Nels' words sitting in his mind as he tries to think! It doesn't do too well, the flashing lights and noise make it hard for him to figure out what's going on. "Uhh.... uhh." locked in indecision.
The machines iterate and move Konstance forward. He has reached the end of the line. The lights around the door flash and he glides by on his disc. He passes under the door, through the party, and once on the other side slows down. Rolling inertially.
The machine keeps trying to pull Shilde in, she can feel the tug on her neck.
The chimera is safely tucked out of the way, but not waking up.
Shilde, sore and knowing she's going to be living with that pain for at least a few days, finally manages to grab the door frame now that Elleandra and Rocky have halted her fall. Once she's secure, she grunts at Elleandra, then adds, "My thanks, elf, but best you get helpin' the others, now." Rocky whines at her, but Shilde does a half hearted kick at the dog. Not meant to hurt, just to push. "Git, Rocky. Slobberin' all over me pack. Make yerself useful and go with the elf."
GAME: Nels rolls intelligence: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (14)+12: 26 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (5): 5 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (4)+6: 10
Nels will stagger up to the door, wheezing, and he takes a look inside. No way he's taking his chances in that, he'll scan around inside, looking for some way to generally disable things. He fires at something with blinking lights, though everything's got the blinking lights. Flame, smoke, and boom issue from his thunderbelcher, and his target sparks and explodes in a satisfying way. Lights go out in one section.
Cryosanthia says, "Lanier, DC 15 to get halfway to the ladder to the control panels, DC20 to get all the way there. Reflex save." GAME: Lanier rolls Reflex: (20)+8: 28 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Lanier rolls Knowledge/Dungeoneering: (19)+7: 26
As Konstance moves along, Lanier takes another long look around and then laughs, "This is funny! Whoever made this place was a Teirien bard, criminally insane, or both!" He takes another long look around, takes a deep breath, and then runs forward towards the ladder leading up to the control panel. He ducks low under an armature, standing up to leap over a low moving track, then stops abruptly. Another piece is moving towards him. Sticking his greatsword out behind him, Lanier bridges backwards, using the sword as a balance point until the next piece of machinery passes over his head. He straightens himself and then leaps forward the last few feet, making it to the ladder and then up it.
With a chuckle, he takes a look at the control panel in front of his. His eyebrows knit and he reaches out, pressing a series of buttons that kills the light and machinery everywhere.
It is now dark. There are quiet pings of metal, and the hiss of cooling machinery and pressurized lines discharging.
In the darkness, a voice can be heard saying forlornly, "Now I can't get down."
Around, the airship still has a hum, but the Abominable Factory has been shut down.
Nels is quite satisfied at the delayed reaction to his gunshot. Sometimes it takes a bit of time for a complete shutdown. But now that things are off, he will scuttle in and help free people.
And once again, the Sylvanori is enguled in darkness. "I didn't pass out again, right? Did we win?" asks Elleandra. "Just checking."
And as things shut down, there is a yell, a crunch, and some more dwarvish cursing. Shilde follows the cursing with some groaning, then pushes herself stiffly to her feet.
"Now that we have managed to shut this blasted abomination down can someone maybe give me a hand to get down?!" He calls out, sounding annoyed as he struggles again. "LAst time I am sleeping in that camp." Konstance says once he is freed. Taking off his blue robe which is now covered in armor plates and he grabs his crossbow. "ANyone injured?" He calls out, using a sunrod to light up the darkness.
After some further destruction and exploration, a few more stages in the airship are discovered. Ahead of the assembly line is a section full of the flying helmets, and in front of that is the area the flying needle balls came from. Very little of either the helmets or the balls remain, but what does seems inert while the central area is shut down.
This is the factory part of the airship, the powersource and flight controls still seem active. It seems like it would be possible to get to the flight control. Access to the power suppply or the turrents doesn't seem possible, however.
In the dark, Elleandra gropes around, trying to find someone. She eventually does, and says, "Oh my god something's here!" With the sudden blaze of the sunrod the light comes and Elly is face to face with Rocky, whom she is holding by the ears. "Oh... right. Hi there."
Nels ehs as he takes a look at Konstance, and he mutters, "Not worse than you. We'd better take you back to a temple pretty quick, I think." But once we're all more or less up and mobile, he's forced to agree, "Not much of this tech looks ... usable by anyone for anything useful. I'd still like to take bits of the engines, though..."
GAME: Nels rolls profession/airman: (17)+9: 26 GAME: Konstance rolls perception: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (3)+13: 16
To an experienced airman, this is a boat and not a ship. It's probably carried by something bigger, and isn't intended to be used for long voyages. Likely, its carted out to a battlefied and flies around. There are some bits that can't be accessed from inside it, it's expecting to be serviced in a bay. Likely there is a way into the cockpit. The power supply is probably an outside thing
"We need an artificer to properly take this apart, otherwise some asshole will rebuild what we destroy." Konstance says as he looks around and walks over to elleandra and hands her the sun rod. "Pass this around love." He says as he lights another one. Nels pages: We found some outside possibly engine bits last time, I will grab bits of those. It's fine.
Nels is climbing up the outside and seems to have a destination in mind, taking some parts from one of the upright device-looking features he'd spotted last time.
Rocky gives Elleandra a big doggy grin, then 'attacks' her face with a big ole doggy slurp. Apparently his concern over his druid is a distant second to making friends.
Up on the platform, there's a momentary mumble and then a light burning like a torch appears. It's floating above Lanier's head. He looks around for a moment and then begins heading down, the ladder, "I didn't hear many responses. Is everyone alright?"
Elleandra laughs and hugs Rocky. She does of course have to wipe her face with her forearm, but not while the dog is looking. Getting up and smiling a bit sheepishly, Elleandra takes the sunrod presented to her. "Certainly." She offers it to Shilde. "Need a light?" she asks. She will take a careful look around herself. Maybe there's something here she can use? Or barring that, something shiny.
GAME: Shilde rolls craft/carpentry: (10)+8: 18
"Dont ask me to figure out this artifice crap. Not an artificer. Even before my midlife crisis I was a wizard, not a mad scientist." He says as he tries to get the armor off. He grunts and begins to take off his actual armor, the scalemail coming off of Konstance. "Atleast there is no beasties guarding this place." He says as he is now in regular clothes before them.
Shilde has managed to make it over to her dog, by now, and thus by Elleandra. She scowls at the dog, then sighs and relents, patting him on the head. "Nay, lass, but thanks," the dwarf says, waving the offer of the sunrod aside. "I can see. Maybe I can help get folks back together." She calls up to Lanier's voice. "We be alright down here!"
Elleandra will keep poking around, anyway. And occasionally hit things with her staff to ensure they aren't 'alive' anymore. She's not the quietest of searchers, that's for sure.
The silvery chimera wakes with a curse and a snarl. Seeing the light, things shut down, she stars in on the purpose that drove her to return her. Destroy every piece of th' Infernal thing. Systemattically, she starts smashing whatever she can find on the assembly line.
Listening to the drawf's response, Lanier nods his head slowly, "That's good. I'm glad to hear that." He leans his head forward, his head resting in his hands, "You know, my head isn't completely clear, but I wouldn't show this to any actual artificer. They're more likely going to try to replicate it and use it for themselves." He takes a moment to look around, but then sits down on one of the tracks.
Elleandra finds the smashing of Braelnoir quite soothing. She lifts the sunrod and points, "Missed a *SMASH* spot.. nevermind." In any case, she's going to keep hunting, and she wants to verify the machine is dead.
Shilde knocks on the wall a few times as she helps with the.. destruction? Search? a bit of both? One hand is kept in the scruff at Rocky's neck, making sure to keep him close. "I ain't no engineer.. but something's gotta have been running this, right? Something thing this massive seems a bit much for automation."
GAME: Konstance casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13 GAME: Elleandra casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14
Seeing the entire area light up is a bit daunting. Still, there are priorities. The first is near Schilde. "I'm going to check on magical sources," Elleandra explains, sounding a bit distracted as she navigates.
Elleandra puzzles over some damage inside the airship, and then recalls the immovable rod hanging in space outside. She ponders over the size and shape of the damage, trying to muddle out its story. "Hmm, it's possible the airship /hit/ the immovable rod outside," she muses to herself. Shaking her head, she goes on, "But a more likely story seems to be that someone was being pulled in and tried to save themselves with it. Perhaps it caused the crash." She sighs sadly, "I hope against hope they escaped."
Seeming to get his bearings back about him, Lanier stands back up and drops his hands to his side. He returns his greatsword back to the sheath on his back, then moves along the factory area, directing the light of the ioun torch to various spots. He then looks over towards Elleandra, "It's by and large artifice magic, but it's Nature magic and not necromancy like I originally thought it would be. It's still abominable, but if we find out a little more, we might be able to find the lynchpin to pull and completely disable this factory going forward."
"Eh? What's this now?" Shilde, having tagged along with Elleandra.. probably by virtue of being half dragged by the dog she is holding.. peers closer at something. "'Ey, elf.. er, Elleandra, was it? Take a closer look at this." She pulls something out of an odd looking compartment, complete with attached wiring.
The silvery chimera has finished smashing everything she can find with her Scythe, then stomping the bits with her hooves. "Ye should destroy that, prolly the brains of this Kor blasted thing. Anyone we sell it to, will just remake this somehow."
Shilde's presentation of the.. the thing creeps Elleandra out. "With all those things coming out of it.." She considers the various creatures she has seen and what she knows of critter anatomy from her professional experience, and ventures a guess, "It's like.. a brain."
Nels has scaled his way up to the exposed engine bits, the parts he imagined are fight engines. He manages to successfully disassemble and remove some of the pieces for transport back to the Guild.
Shilde grimaces at the artificial brain in her hands, but she doesn't flinch at it. "Well.. we could destroy it, like the.." The dwarf eyes Braelnoir, not even sure how to refer to her. "The lass over there says we should... or we could disconnect it and take it with us. Might be something to be learned from it."
Lanier tilts his head, looking to Shilde for a moment before he frowns, "I don't recommend killing it until we ascertain its function here. It could be an innocent in all of this." He looks away, seemingly bothered by something before he then adds, "I'll take it. I'll take responsibility for it."
Elleandra looks it over thoughtfully, tapping her lip. "I'm not fit to make this decision. It could have been a prisoner here. Jumping to conclusions could compound a wrong with another. Perhaps someone in the city can determine it's true nature. If it was guilty of controlling this monstrosity, then it shall taste justice." Seeing Lanier take responsibility, she is relieved. And sets herself to the task of grabbing various bits of magic and throwing them out where the glowing fish might feast on them for years to come.
Shilde nods once.. then she reaches behind the 'brain' and pulls the wires loose. After this she hands the thing to Lanier. "Yer responsibility. Best be knowing full what that means, lad. Fer the good, or the bad."
Nels heys, "Let's not forget to fish out the other guys that died here. We need to take them back to give them a funeral. And there was something in the water over there," he points.
The fish are easily trapped with a little magical bait.
"I suggest taking it to an artificer, someone who specialize this sort of thing. Lots of magic here." Konstance says as he pulls out a pipe from his pocket and lights it with some magic, taking a drag before exhaling smoke. "Mind if I have a few of these magic eating fish?" He asks as he looks to elleandra.
Elleandra looks to Konstance, "I can catch some for you. They are wonderful little creatures. Just promise me you mean to tend them, rather than break them down in some kind of experiment. That I cannot help with." She's already heading into the water, reaching into her pack to draw out a water proof skin.
GAME: Lanier rolls Athletics: (16)+10: 26
"Aye.. we'll get those unfortunate gobbers," Shilde reassures Nels. With Rocky on her heels, the dwarf starts headed back out... perhaps a bit hurried when talk of blowing it up starts happening. "I recommend stayin' away from that bit of water I was floating over. Looked like one of them armour animated things."
GAME: Lanier rolls Perception: (4)+9: 13 GAME: Nels rolls perception: (13)+8: 21
Nels acks, "Hold up, hold up!" he calls. "It's got a magical trap on it," he points out. "You see those bits there and there. Dead givaway."
"I am curious as to their reaction with magic. I promise I wont try and hurt them in anyway." He says with a drag from his pipe. He then looks to the others and tries to gather his armor, frowning at the golem armor stuck to it. "This is going to cost a fortune to take off." He mutters more to himself then anything. He then approaches after elleandra.
Lanier looks towards Elleandra, "I'm going to work on rendering this airship useless to future generations of malcontents. Do a quick count of your party, gather them, and work on getting them off this ship as quickly as possible, okay?" He takes some time to move around the ship until he finds the engineering section. Just before he removes it, Nels stops him from doing so. He looks towards Nels and asks, "Can you disable the trap?" He then calls out loud enough to be heard by the rest, "Can anyone still on board disable traps?"
GAME: Nels rolls disable device: Trained Use Only: 0 GAME: Lanier rolls Knowledge/Dungeoneering: (4)+7: 11
Shilde shakes her head when Lanier calls for someone to disable traps. "Best listen to him... anyone who can't help out to get as far from this place as possible. And mind the water... that automaton I saw in their might still be active. Might be the one who used that rod." She and her dog start down the ramp back towards the tunnels.
Elleandra busies herself with two matters. First, fish. She's not an expert, but she knows what these little beauties like, and she can get their attention. They swim right into the skin with the right bribe. Next, she very carefully uses a rope to attach to the deceased adventures currently floating in the water. It's not the most pleasant of tasks, to be sure, but calling upon the help of Shilde and Rocky, she manages it. Thinking of the sad families waiting at home, she goes to the sunken boat and gathers what she may from it. Her knives she leaves behind, as an offering of gratitude to be leaving with her life and as a matter of curiousity should any ever come this way again.
GAME: Lanier rolls Reflex: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4: (5): 5 GAME: Lanier rolls Spellcraft: (11)+10: 21
Shilde assists Elleandra by staying at shore, handling that end of the rope and pulling the bodies up on to dry ground. Definitely not a pleasant task. "I've me own blanket that'll wrap one of 'em up, and can strap him to Rocky. Figure we can scrounge coverings for the rest."
Elleandra nods to Shilde, "The sunken boat isn't worth much. I had hoped we might make something to drag them back, but at worst we can go a short ways, and then I can go to the basecamp to get us a sled." She holds up what the lost had scrounged together, "It isn't much consolation, but I feel we should restore this to their families, if they have any we can find."
"If'n that's what you'd like, lass, I feel it's fair," Shilde agrees with Elleandra as she straps one of the dead gobbers, wrapped in her blanket, to Rocky's back. He whines a bit but doesn't fight it. "Boats probably too heavy t'use as that sled... guess the bigger folk'll just have to do some lifting."
"It's not enough," says Elleandra sadly, "But it is a start. Destroying this place will go farther in setting things right."
Nels, having grabbed such engine parts as he could, will reconvert his goblin army knife back into it's normal shape and return it to his pack. He will help as best he can with the bodies, though it's not his area of expertise.
The group working on the engines come up with a series of settings that, when coupled with a lack of fuel going to the artifice engine, will cause a chain reaction that will overload the engine and cause quite an explosion. In a controlled manner.
Lanier helps implement the plan then goes to work on destroying as many other things as he can before it's time to make his way across the rope bridge and into the crevice so they can start heading back out to the city.
GAME: Konstance rolls spellcraft: (11)+7: 18 GAME: Konstance rolls knowledge/arcana: (3)+7: 10
Konstance gives a prayer for the dead. Granted he is the wrong person to do this, he isnt a vardaman, he is with Eluna after all but baring one of the mortician's priests from being here, he does the prayers anyway and begins to follow after the others, leaving his blue glued on robe behind. Surely he can get another one...no one notice one of the priest's robe going missing during the daily wash
It takes time to determine the settings that will safely explode the airship. Safely Explode, a nice oxymoron, to describe hoping that some misfortune in the crawl out doesn't prevent everyone achieving the unspecified minimum safe distance. The biggest should go last, or leave first. The silvery chimera wants to be last, she wants to hear it go up, to know for sure it is done. The rest of the party works at their tasks while Lanier experiments.
A couple times, the strange, glowing power supply whines quickly to a high frequence and red lights come on. Clearly, too much. Eventually, it sits there, slowly increasing its power levels, with all the power taps removed. Anything that might be a safety cutoff, is also disconnected. The last thing someone wants to do is come back here, after this should have blown. It would be like crawling down the barrel of a canon for hours.
When Lanier calls 'Set', everyone prepped to evacuate does. Starting the long, slow crawl through the crack in the rock. The familiar scrape marks pass. Fifteen minutes from the cavern, now a half hour, now an hour. Hour and a half and there seems to a distant, quiet whine.
No flash is visible at this twisted distance. There is sound, from the shockwave through the rock. It has blown. The rest of the evacuation is uneventful.
Silence and Darkness returns to the cavern under Merkabah. True Silence. True Darkness. It's good that Elleandra rescued the fish, the explosion would not be survivable, not that close, not at their size. Whatever lurked in the lake is likely blown away too. Even in its destruction, the Corpse Wagon brings death.
The party has prevailed. It will claim no more.
