[001] The Obelisk

[EdOWar]

Tas glances about the chamber, looking for any other threats or dangers.

[tombowings]

Iszak scours the bodies for the cause of death. Upon the decaying flesh there are no puncture wounds or broken bones. What remaining lip tissue there is conforms to a visage of agony. On of the bodies grasps its neck, indicating that it may be the source of the pain. [d6 roll] The exact cause of the distress, however, remains unknown to Iszak.

[cadriel]

Enmerkar grimaces as Iszak goes about his gruesome task.

"The dead are dead, and I've no wish to share their fate. We should be careful - does anyone have a good way to see what is down this tunnel? Perhaps Iszak can shine his lantern if he is done this - examination - unless he thinks it unwise to do so."

[tombowings]

Having finished inspecting the bodies, taking samples of the decaying flesh should he be so enchained, Iszak descends the ladder and is shortly followed by the Penultimate Ecstasy (to keep an eye on him). Nodu, Emerald Blade of All Challenges, Tas, and Enmerkar follow likewise.

The decent is slow and slippery, but the gleam of the Nodu's torch Iszak's lanter and shine brightly as it reflect off the metallic surfaces of the shaft and down into the hollow passage below. The dried blood, Iszak notices only stains the first dozen or so rungs, after which the rest are merely dusty.

[d6 roll]

Far below the earth--after long and uneventful climb--shaft opens up into a small, barren chamber no more than 10 feet long in either direction. There are plated hatch doors to either side each. Clearly labeled up the left door--just above the wheel and spoke--in an ancient script recognized only by Enmerkar, the Penultimate Ecstasy, and Nodu. In the language of the Ancients, is written "CAUTION: QUARANTINE."

[Deleted]

Nodu makes a sucking sound with her teeth as she contemplates the alien glyphs, holding her torch up to illuminates each symbol in turn.

"Grim warnings. This place is taboo -- those devils upstairs brought some curse upon themselves, and these writings warn us against it."

Turning to face her companions, she continues:

"I have no great love of life, and would brave this tomb for the promise of silver and the chance to learn more of these demons. But any who fear whatever doom befell the wretches at the hatch opening should think twice before venturing through this portal."

[cadriel]

Enmerkar grimaces at the left door, not going near it.

"I am no coward but I would prefer not to venture into that one without more information."

He puts an ear to the right door, listening to see if he can hear anything that may lie beyond it.

[tombowings]

Aug 17, 2010 13:40:53 GMT -6 cadriel said:

Enmerkar grimaces at the left door, not going near it.

"I am no coward but I would prefer not to venture into that one without more information."

He puts an ear to the right door, listening to see if he can hear anything that may lie beyond it.

Putting his ear on the door [1d6] and listening quiet for several minutes, Enmerkar hears silents. Wait. There's something, a faint and constant clanging, as if a hammer were banging on an anvil. And then. Nothing. Several more minutes pass. The sounds comes again. A dissonant clanging, but fading into the distance. Gone.

[cadriel]

Enmerkar informs the others about what he has heard.

"I believe whatever it was, is now gone. We should take a look before it chances returning, but take care that none of us can be seen once the door is open."

[murquhart72]

Emerald Blade: "I'd rather follow a noise than enter a place of known death. As long as there is light, I shall carry my blade ready."
I wonder exactly what fate befell the tortured beings above and why the hatch was as twisted as their bodies...

[waysoftheearth]

Iszak is still standing at the base of the ladder, tilting his head as if listening for echoes in the tall shaft above.

[Iszak had intended to secure the outer-door behind us before descending...]

"I amt in agreement," states Iszak, "We shouldt heed theze warning and look elsewhere," he waits for the others to open the hatch.

[crusssdaddy]

P. Ectasy: "I shall open the door with the clanging sound. Ready yourselves."

PE grips the door and waits for everyone to get ready before opening it.

[Deleted]

Nodu stands to the side of the hatch, torch held forward with her left hand, cudgel at the ready in her right...

[EdOWar]

Tas readies his flail and shield. "Lets go."

[tombowings]

P. Ectasy grippes the wheel with his well muscles figures and gives it a good, solid tug. [d6 roll] With a slight grunt, P. Ectasy manages to turn the wheel. The hatch, as it opens, expels a gulf of sterile air. Air so clean and free of contamination--as if no living soul had set foot beyond the doorway.

Nudo, holding a torch steps through the metallic portal and breathes deeply, free from the stench of decaying flesh. The hatch opens up into a rounded hallway of riveted, windowless plates. To the left, after some distance, it looks at though the hallways opens up into a chamber. How large or what contents it may contain remain shadowed from the light of your torch. To the left, the passage stretches longer than the light can carry--it must be at least 50 feet long.

The rest of the group clammers through the hatch and Iszak shuts the door behind the adventurers.

[d6 roll=6]

It is then that a clambering sounds from the right passage. A screeching, metallic reverberation and the sound of metal on metal sounds from within the depths of the passage. [d6 roll=2] Before you can react a large metal man with wheels for legs and box like appendages and head rolls into view. Follows by a four-legged, spider-like machine of similar construction.

What are your intentions adventurers?

[crusssdaddy]

P. Ecstasy: "Bonething... step forward and demonstrate your mastery of the Ancient Tongue - converse with these constructs and offer them parley."

[waysoftheearth]

At the back of the party Iszak puts his heavy, surgeon's bag down at his feet and then takes the half empty oil flask from the strap that suspends it over his shoulder.

Should this pure air turn sour oversoon, he will fire the oil flask from his lantern and pitch the burning flask over his fellow explorers, at the arachnid construction behind.

[murquhart72]

Emerald Blade holds his two-handed sword, ready to react to an attack, but curious about the metal creatures before him and what their intent might be.

[Deleted]

Nodu steps forward, torch held high, and hails the metallic constructs in the tongue of the Great Race:

"Klaatu Verata Nikto, servitors of the Old Ones. Do not attack, as we do not come to make war."

Her right hand, meanwhile, keeps an anxious grip on her cudgel held down by her side, her fingers shifting and rubbing the surface of the metal as though fingering a religious talisman.

She follows her initial greeting with a direct command, delivered in a tone as imperious as she can muster given her halting familiarity with the alien dialect:

"Take me to your leader."

[EdOWar]

Tas raises his shield and readies his flail, should the metal things prove hostile and attack.

[tombowings]

The two artifices continue to move towards our daring adventures. Nodu steps forward with a word of greeting, using the ancient tongue of the Great Ones,. "Klaatu Verata Nikto," she says.

[2d6]

The spider-like creation tips its body towards the bone woman. A telescoping rod shoots out of its body as it approaches her. A gear buzzes and the mechanism beeps twice, as the artifice moves the telescoping rod around the air near Nodu's face and hands.

Suddenly, the spider-like creation staggers away from her and a flashing red light protrudes out of the top of its body. A piece of broken speech screeches from the mechanicsm. "agat 't Jamin rema." A loose translation from the tongue of the Ancient Space Aliences: Intruder Alert. "Halakringon desrit." Contamination Detected.

Releasing the situation at hand, "This is no place of living men," Nodu yells to her comrades.

Having Readied their arms, Tas [1d6=3] and the Emerald Blade [1d6=1] charge at the spider-like artifice [1d6=6]. Hoping to keep the construct from alerting more of its kin to their presence. Iszak [1d6=3] takes the flask of burning oil out of his lantern with the intent to drench the man-shaped machine [1d6=2] in sticky, slow burning oil.

Tas and the Emerald Blade meet the spider head on, neither Tas's Flail nor even Emerald Blade's two-handed sword is long enough to outreach the legs of the spider-like artifice. Faster than a skilled marksman's bow, the razor sharp leg jets towards Tas [1d20=11], but is deflected by his well positioned shied. Tas retailiated with a blow form his flail [1d20=17], which wraps around the metal leg and the bow connects where the appended meets the body [1d10=2; 1d4=2] for 2 points of damage. Emerald Blade grabs his two-handed sword, making his way through the grappling arms and aiming for the body of the spider-like artifice [1d20=4], but his sword merely bounces off the metal exterior.

Iszak throws what is left of the flask of oil from his lantern at the man-like machine. [1d20=15] the oil splatters upon hits metal torso and [1d6=4] manages to stay ignited. The flame begins to heat the machine's exoskeleton high enough to disrupt its internal workings [1d10=10!; 1d12=8], dealing 4 points of damage, and is still burning strong. The man-like artifice begins slowly rolling towards Iszak on its huge, metal treads. The man-like hand retracts and is replaced by a long, thick tube, out of which a tennis ball size object is expelled with a bang [1d20=5], but fires well over Iszak's head. The metallic sphere explores as it hits the floor, covering a section of the hallway with a green, sticky slime.

Daring adventures, your intentions, please.

[murquhart72]

Emerald Blade will attempt to pierce the metal hide of the spider-thing or at least take off a few of it's legs!

[Deleted]

Nodu swings her mace overhead at the spider-construct, hoping to smash the flashing light atop its head.

[crusssdaddy]

P. Ecstasy flings a hand axe at the spiderbot.

[waysoftheearth]

Iszak will attempt to avoid the tank-man-contrivance, hoping that the flames will finish their work before it reaches him. As he backs off he draws his long, deadly poniard from it's holster upon his butcher's belt. If the thing gets too close, Iszak will thrust the blade into its neck region.

[cadriel]

Enmerkar, grasping his morning star in hand, charges the man-shaped thing.

[EdOWar]

Tas will strike at the metal abomination.

[tombowings]

Emerald Blade [1d6=3] stands his ground against the spider-like artifice [1d6=4] as Tas [1d6=6] runs past it to engage the man-shaped mechanism. Nodu [1d6=2] and Iszak [1d6=5] rush to Emerald Blade's aid, hoping to take out the abomination before it can alert any of its ilk to the intrusive presence of the adventurers. Readying his axe, the P. Ecstasy [1d6=1] looks for a clean shot.

It is Emerald Blade that manages to get the first strike off [1d20=7], but the attack is blocked by the spider's steely legs. Seeing his comrade in need, Iszak's poniard thrusts the spiders now unprotected body [1d20=11], but is deflected to the side by the constructs metal plating. Noticing that the P. Ecstasy reading his axe, the spider-like artifice bends it tendrilly legs and springs forward towards him with the grace of the sumo-wrestler on the high dive [1d20=19]. One of the appendages lands right in the P. Ecstasy's left foot [1d10=1; 1d4=1], but the wound appears to be less than life threatening. Nodu makes her way through both Iszak and and Emerald Blade, charging at the mechanical spider with her mace [1d20=16]. The blow manages to connect [1d10=2; 1d4=4] and dents the artifice's metal plating. Now in close quarts with the metal beast, the P. Ecstasy slices at the spider with the force of a bullet train [1d20=16; 1d10=1; 1d4=3], and manages to take out one of the mechanical legs.

Enmerkar [1d6=6] and Tas [1d6=3] move towards the oil-covered and flaming man of metal [1d6=5]. Enmerkar, morning star in hand [1d20=10], fails to connect with the huge, mechanical treads. [1d10=6; 1d8=8] It now appears that the machine is glowing red hot and begins twitching as its systems give way to the heat. The construct's hand, once again retracts and is replaced by a short steely blade. Swiping at Tas [1d20=13], the blade glances off Tas' plate mail armor. Taking advantage of the moment, Tas strikes at the counterfeit man [1d20=20!; 1d10=7; 1d10=5] and wraps his flail round the neck joint. With a mighty tug, Tas removes the metal head and the pulls the artifice to the ground.



The Mechanical Spider has taken 7 point of damage and only three of its four legs remain.
The Man-like artifice is lying immobile in a heap on the ground

P. Ecstasy [1d10=1;1d4=4] has 3 hit points remaining.

Your intentions, travelers.

[cadriel]

Enmerkar hefts his morning star and aims at the remaining leg on the Mechanical Spider on the same side as the one that is already missing - if he can cut that connection the monstrosity should not be able to move.

[crusssdaddy]

P. Ecstasy limps out of range of the spiderbot - if a relatively safe opportunity presents itself, he will throw his hand axe at the machine.

[murquhart72]

Emerald Blade will attempt to get in at a safe angle to lop off one of the spider-bot's legs.