Merkabah - The Abominable Factory, pt 1
Log Info
- Title: Merkabah: The Abominable Factory
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Braelnoir, Elleandra, Nels, Etan, Konstance, Shilde
- Place: RPOne, in the Caverns of Merkabah
- Time: Thursday, March 19, 2020, 10:02 PM
- Summary: Braelnoir meets up with Elleandra near the Merkabah base camp, and partakes of her food. Nels borrows the sorcererss' glowy fish, and manages to undo her transformation overnight. Several more individual arrive, and the chimera decides to make a new expedition, with the goal of destroying the airship. Despite their best efforts, they don't find out new information, but do raise interest. Returning to the cavern, nothing has changed. The party moves across and is considering ways to enter the rest of the vessel, and Nels climbs over to the cockpit. This activates something, and he is attacked by a flying brass ball. This is easily defeated, but followed by twenty more. They swarm Nels, breaking away from him once one attaches to his neck. Konstance and Shilde approach to assist, while the swarm of balls loops between them and the goblin. Shilde ends up with one on her neck, and discovers what happens if it stays too long. It drills out a piece of her brain, then flies away, back into the airship. Nels, dives and back belly-flops in the water to knock the balls off himself, and through some strangeness, Shilde ends up falling sideways. The party is prevailing, but it is chaotic and the fight is to be continued.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Braelnoir 5'11" 246 Lb Silvery Chimera Female A rough and tumble brunette wielding a scythe and a feral grin. Elleandra 5'4" 108 Lb Wild Elf Female Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori in green leather. Nels 3'7" 42 Lb Goblin Male Tall, for a goblin, and athletic. Close-cut black hair. Etan 5'11" 175 Lb Human Male A bearded blonde human with freckles. Konstance 6'2" 240 Lb Human Male A human with blonde hair and blue eyes Shilde 4'4" 160 Lb Khazad-Aul Female Tall for a dwarf, long blonde hair in a thick braid, big blue eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'7" 245 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Elleandra has been busy. While others raid Merkebah, she has set up a waystation for them. There are two large fires, several tents, plenty of food and a variety of other provisions. It seems most of what she has are the last second things that people might forget, like rope, sleds, tents, pick axes, blankets, bags, etc. It's not fancy, and most of it is courtesy of a merchant from the city who thought the cook had a sound way to profit and keep adventurers safe. The oddest thing at the camp is a bucket of water, filled with several glowing fish.
Namira stays with the bodies as they go back, but does not return with the rest. The reason being that she has to see to the burial of the remains, as it is part of her duty as a Mourner, and she trusts the rest to do the right thing in this instance....
Ezil stays to help Namira with the bodies, not being able to leave the Vardaman alone in this endeavor. Yes, this calls for two sets of hands. More really, but you make do.
Acedia, as well, heads back. Partly because she recongized one of the goblin girls inside the Corpse Armour. They weren't friends, but it was a friendly face, and her fate is a bit much. Instead of dragging everyone down with a dirge, she heads off to her own sort of mourning.
Nels will look around for someone who knows technical things about airships, and will spend most of the rest of the time sleeping, cause that was a hard trip, or else eating, because food.
GAME: Nels rolls profession/airman: (9)+9: 18
Etan had caught site of those glowing fish, his curious nature drawing him toward Elleandra with a raised brow. "Greetings, Ma'am. I can't but happen to notice them little fishes you gots." his tone betraying a bit of excitement. "They have a story?" he asks, looking about the station briefly and back to the woman proper. His necklace that looks like a set of weighing scales makes him as a Vardaman. He looks to have been helping with the preparations in the main expedition camp, but now finds himself idle.
Braelnoir is determined to stay and see the abomination destroyed, but, as the others leave to see the dead lain to rest, she identifies the first soul they put down as Brakka, but has no other names to offer. Namira is granted a salute, while Ace and Ezil are both embraced before they depart. That handled, the chimera spent the rest of the day preparing for another campaign between weapons maintenance, getting her own injuries tended, and suchforth, trusting Nels on finding the expert.
Konstance was bringing supplies to the base camp. He also lets theb vardaman do their duties. He looks to Braelnoir makes his way over to the woman with the scythe. "Cheery bunch." He says as he reloads his crossbow, pulling out the cylinder of the repeating crossbow and loads a bolt in it's hook before reloading it back into the crossbow itself. "We have a vardaman to bury the dead. Now we need a priest of eluna to rant and rave about the moon being seen." He says as he puts the crossbow along his back.
Elleandra keeps an orderly camp, and there is no shortage of food, nor anything else of the most practical nature. At the question from Etan, she smiles, "Indeed. These little ones are the only treasure of Merkebah that I'm aware of. It was dangerous, but I escaped without harm." She of course recognizes some of the party returning, "And I'm guessing they went to the same cave I entered." She reaches down, flicking the water with her fingers to ensure there is a bit more air in it. "You little ones are better than treasure, aren't you?"
Braelnoir's tail flicks in slight agitation, then she nods, "Cheery mornin." The chimera looks up from the scythe blade as she slides her whetstone along it's edge, "So, what's yer name, luv? Any good with'at thing?" She gives Elleandra a brief wave, then, her focus returns to the man with the fancy crossbow.
Nels returns to Elleandra's sort of base camp and ooohs at the fish. Considering Braelnoir's suggestion from earlier, she looks over to Elleandra, and says, "Hey! How's it going? Only, I know those sort of fish. I ... have a sort of problem they can help with, maybe, if you won't mind me soaking my feet in the tub?"
Konstance looks to the chimera. "Eh, not exactly the best but I know how to not shoot my friends while in combat." He says as he pulls a pipe out of his pocket and lights it, taking a draft from the pipe.
"Oh, they are a beautiful treasure indeed!" Etan's smile warm, but it doesn't seem to meet his eyes. He watches them for a moment, but the returnig party catches his eye. "They look to have had a rough time. This cave must be full of trouble." standing straight once more, and adjusting his grey cloak. "The fish are really so helpful?" he asks as Nels speaks. Oh, this is an interesting day.
Konstance looks to the chimera. "Eh, not exactly the best but I know how to not shoot my friends while in combat." He says as he pulls a pipe out of his pocket and lights it, taking a draft from the pipe. "Name's John Konstance. I happen to be an inquisitor for eluna. I could give you a sermon on why the moon is the greatest thing since sliced bread but I figure you need me for more then my pretty face."
Elleandra nods to Nels, "If they can help you, that would be most welcome. And I suspect, my friend, you will help them in turn." She pulls up a stool that is just about the right height. "Let me know if you need anything," she adds quietly, "There's much to do." And she does seem to have a way of staying busy. In a way, she's everywhere at once, offering food when a plate empties, or wine or ale for an empty cup. No shiver goes by without offer of blanket and the fire is kept going strong.
"Hail the fire!" calls a distinctly khazad voice from just beyond the immediate firelight, followed by the dwarf in question and a rather large, hairy dog. "I could smell your fire and was wondering if my friend and I might join you."
Nels will take the offered stool, and pay the coins for a blanket, too, that she wraps around her as if she were cold. She smiles to Etan and says, "The cave is absolutely full of trouble. My big fear is that there will be new trouble when we go back. But yes, the fish are awesome, as I will demonstrate." So, wrapped up from shoulders to knees, she takes off her boots and plunks bare feet into the fishbucket. The fish swarm around her feet, looking quite interested.
"Usually a promisin' start t'the career." Brae replies, "Know anything about artifice, then?" She continues sharpening her weapon, pausing to make a 'have a seat' style gesture. Her hands freeze, however, as she sees Nel's hijinx with a bucket of... No... s/he didn't....
"If there will be trouble, I can help." Etan says, looking at the group that seems to be forming. "Mourner Etan at your service. I have not seen battle in a long time, but I am prepared for any chop we find." smiling wider. "I came here to offer services, and so far all I have done is tend wounds, and sleep."
Elleandra smiles at the khazad and curtseys as he approaches, "My fires are for the good people who come here to test their luck or would aid those who venture into the strange places beyond. My name is Elly, and I would be honored to have the company of you and your hound." She grins as she rises, "We have a lot of ale. And food, for those who go on two or four legs."
Konstance moves to sit beside braelnoir. "So care to explain how you got so fuzzy and adorable?" He asks as he offers her a drag from his pipe. It is regular tobacco, tastes a little like cloves. "Fraid I dont know much about artifice other then that it destroyed a civilization and that fools want to recreate the numerous atrocities in the name of science and magic." He says as he shrugs. "Me I am more a wizarding type myself. Used to summon demons to do my bidding. Lost my daughter to a deal with a devil which went south. Trying to redeem myself eversince." He explains.
Nels actually falls asleep with her feet in the bucket. It's been a long day. And off in the corner, feet in a bucket, who pays much attention to a goblin. /He/ wakes up, feet above the bucket because he's onlt 3'7" tall, and really glad for the blanket now as he scuttles off back to his own tent, where his things all are. Mainly his normal clothes. And he will sleep the sleep of happy goblins.
"I brought an offering," Shilde the khazad says, holding up a limp rabbit... probably dead. Then she eyes the offered food and drink and adds, "Though it seems like't might be undeeded. 'Nother time maybe." She straps the rabbit to her belt, then gladly takes a seat and helps herself.. clearly not one to allow an offer of hospitality go to waste. The large dog flops down beside her and she feeds it occasionally from her own bowl. "Seems like you all're planning an expedition, thought I might tag along if ye've room."
Etan hrms as a hand rises to stroke at his stuble, eyeing those at the camp and falling silent as everyone seems to be heading to rest and prepare. He too decides to pitch his things near the others as he seems to have invited himself, not hearing a confirmation, but setting his mind anyways. Nels though, he's confused as to where she went. She was there a while ago, but looking back to see a male goblin leaving where the woman had been makes him both curious and now hesitant of those fish. Yes, he now stays a good ways away, and finds his bedroll to camp. "Strange place indeed."
The chimera shrugs a little, drawn back to the crossbowman, "Some mojo-tech got stolen an' the one who's got it's been experimentin' on folks. Lucky me. Friend o'mine got it mebbe worse, mebbe better, but it's been a few weeks, now." She considers he Khazad and, "W'do. Gonna be dealin' with some old spook-tech. Already fought th'dead an'.." she glances over at Nels soakin' her digits, then, "Can give ya a better rundown in the mornin'. Welcome t'the crew." That offers with a look between the gathered. She chit chats some more, a little closer to a normal mood now that's she's done better by the victims, but soon enough, after seeing to her lingering injuries, she turns in for a fitful sleep.
"My thanks," the dwarf says to Braelnoir... after eyeking her for a moment. "Alright, Rocky, looks like we've a warm place to sleep tonight," Shilde tells her dog after thanking Elleandra and the others. After the big dog settles his head into his paws, the dwarf lays back with her head against his flank and promptely begins to snore.
The evening is uneventful. It's cold, with a strongly western wind, and the stars are mostly blocked by grey clouds. The company however, is warm, and Elleandra's food is good, and the fire high and inviting. With full bellies and the exhaustion of the day, sleep comes easy, and is deep.
The return journey to the caverns of Merkabah, the rough spelunking through the crevice, is uneventful. It still is a long slog, but some of the wall scrapes are starting to become familiar. This brass streak, means another hour, that silvery outcrop, fifteen minutes more. Finally, the party arrives at the underground cavern.
It's a water filled expanse, longer on the north and south axis. Across the water is a crashed airship. The sunrod has burned out or been eaten by the fish, but it is well lit by its own lights. It is also loud, an audible hum even at the 100' distance. This cycles, an increasing pitch, a shuddering noise, then it restarts its whine at a quieter tone and repeats.
Crossing the rope bridge isn't too difficult. It's sturdy, it was built less than a day ago. Halfway across, there's a surprise. Below, where the water is deepest, is a smashed and sunken boat and four bodies. Four goblins. One stares up, blank eyes and open mouthed. That would have been a good thing to warn the newcomers about. Rescuing these casualties was forgotten, last visit.
It's fifty feet to the ramp leading into the crashed airship. The ramp that leads inwards, to its abominable factory.
GAME: Elleandra rolls athletics: (18)+0: 18 GAME: Etan rolls athletics: (16)+-3: 13 GAME: Konstance rolls athletics: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Braelnoir rolls athletics: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Nels rolls athletics: (2)+10: 12 GAME: Shilde rolls athletics: (4)+5: 9
Elleandra has been here before. But only for the first part. Along the way, she makes a point of going into the water, casting out some bits of food and taking a shot at getting more of her favorite kind of Merkebah treasure: glowing fish. As for catching sight of her knives as she crosses, she leaves them be, murmuring half to herself, "There are dear memories tied to those blades, but I am here to have more than memories. They are my offering to this strange place, and I will not disturb them."
Nels has a much easier time through the passage this time. As a goblin, he can almost walk through it normally. Almost. But certainly without the trouble that Braelnoir and Konstance and the other big ones have. On the rope bridge, he's using the waist-high (on a human) lines over his head, almost, but he makes it. "We ought to get them, too," he observes as we pass over the sunken group.
Braelnoir explains the battles with the undead and the airship responsible, some personal safety requests for her own sake, now, mostly, don't dispel magic on her, and the fact that the airship itself is drawing people in to turn into the abominations. As it comes time to cross the rope bridge she takes up the rear as she expects with her.... particular footing to be a little slower than the rest. As she makes her own way across the bridge, uncomfortably bearing her weight on her dew clws, she looks down at the water and almost facepalms. Oh yeah. She forgot about them....
Shilde is, as would probably be expected, not that bothered by being underground, though perhaps a little bit uneasy at having to rely on the others for guidance through the tunnels. This is what she signt on for, though. "Interesting views..." she offers a moment after seeing the goblins and boat. "Friends of yers?" she asks as she navigates along the rope bridge, going slowly and steady and cautiously. Her dog opts for the swimming option.
Etan crosses the rope bridge without issue, his eyes lingering at those goblin bodies that rest under the water with a heavy sigh. "What a terrible way to go? I'd hope they weren't" calling out his question and response to Shilde as he makes it to the ramp of the airship. He is taking mental notes, looking from the water to the strange airship he's now before, glancing to Braelnoir. "You did say trouble... I should of listened."
GAME: Etan rolls knowledge/History: (7)+5: 12
Nels is on the ship now, and can light a sunrod if needed. As to the goblins, he says, "I think we can fish them out. The goblin army knife has a good grapple, we can hook them and drag them ashore without getting wet," he suggests.
The fishies seem uninterested in Shilde's pup.
Nothing has changed at the ramp on the far side. It's a 10x10 plate, sloping up into an entrance to the airship. Some severed cables criss-cross it, one heading off. There are three headless bodies in the water, and several on pedestals on the ramp and into the interior. It's a straight shot, a 10' wide passage, into the vesel, with some dividers. There's a roll-up door, in the up position, and another roll door, in the down on the opposite side. There is clear evidence of battle, arrows, and bodies. Unchanged from what Braelnoir and Nels remembers. Inside this first chamber, there are various lights on the wall, and machine noises inside them.
The airship doesn't seem to be doing anything new. Unfortunately, it's still doing something.
Nels brings up, "I think I found the control room last time, I didn't have the chance to tell you all last time. I found it right before you all called us down for these guys. But if we climb up, we can get there."
"I am willing to go into the water for them," says Elleandra. "I would be honored to give them kinder attention than a hook." She has no fear of the water. "This looks.. terrifying," she adds softly. "I assume the headless are the efforts of your last time inside here?"
Etan laughs and shakes his head, pointing to Elleander "No, I will retrieve them when we are done. No need to defile them with a hook as the lady says, Friend. Well intentioned or not." he offers, looking then to Nels and shrugging. "Their spirits have waited this long, they can wait till the task is done. One more day is not ideal, but it is better than disturbing them and drawing the fish to feed. I will see them to the temple soon enough." speaking of Vardama, but then he shifts gears as he looks back to the airship. "Tell me... what should we expect?" taking out his shield, and khopesh.
The headless bodies, some of them, are slumped yet still standing. A few are violently knocked over. The neck-stumps, all have a brown plug, partially grown over, like the ring that surrounds a severed branch. It's minimal though. These bodies are all wearing very heavy armour.
The outside of the airship has climbing pitons hammered in. These were used earlier by Nels, but not placed. As a human, Nels was able to climb around to the front, this journey would likely be even easier as a goblin.
Nels scampers up the climbing pitons, and will show everyone where he found the thing that looks like a control room, with the two bodies inside.
"Good work, we should probably see if we can turn't off before we poke around too deep." Brae remarks, then looks to Elleandra, "It was easier to take the heads back fer burial then to drag all that armor. Woulda been at it fer days." She looks around then, "We'll give the dead their due once this slave engine's been neutralized fer keeps. It looks like this thing can make new slaves on it's own, so be careful, don't poke around alone."
GAME: Nels rolls stealth: (2)+8: 10
Elleandra nods to Etan, looking a bit sheepish, "I apologize, you are of course the right one to handle the departed. If there is any way I can assist in providing for their proper handling, please let me know. I have been through this water before, and I am untroubled by the thought of doing so again." She turns back to the situation at hand and nods at Braelnoir's explanation. "I can see the wisdom in that. And it is clear we have a noble bit of work to do."
Shilde watches Nels climb, then looks to her dog with a frown. "Not sure Rocky'll make it up that. Do we all have to climb up there?" she asks, not weighing in on the handling of the dead just yet.
Konstance follows the people and readies his crossbow when after he crossed the bridge. He looked around then looks at elleandra. "Would be handy if some artificer from the guild could volunteer their time to help us. By all means lets send laymen." He says sarcastically.
"Ma'am, just offering is a wonder. Do not apologize for offering help." Etan's smile flashed, but as always it never meets his eyes. They are dull, and show little of his thoughts as he looks up to Braelnoir as she speaks, nodding his head. "I will guard our rear. It is best I think." taking a deep breath after his words flashing a wink to Elleandra. "It is just water. There are worse things to trudge though... but I am used to this work. Wet corpses do not phase me. The smell.... it gets to some."
It's an easy climb. Nels the goblin moves across several lights on the hull. Nels the human made this trip with no problem, but something different happens this time.
At the front of the airship, a light-strip flickers on, turning white. There's the sound of straining metal, gearing and levers clunking as the crushed front ramp attempts to open. It's jammed, it doesn't. However it's buckled and twisted from the impact of the crash, partially open.
Inside the cockpit, Nels can see some new control panels light up. Something is happening in the first chambre of the ship. He can hear a buzzing.
A brass ball pops into view, flying out of the ship, hovering in the air. Blurs beside it, suggest tiny beating wings. It whrrrs towards the goblin.
How to explain the airship's purpose, "This thing slaves the dead, stuff's in that heavy armor and pugs that cable into them. The cable is target number -one- if we find more of these things. It heals them at a ridiculous rate, almost as fast as ya can hurt'm. They also breathe a brown dust'r gas that seems to slow you down an'... makes ya see wierd shit. Sever the cable an' we can take the thing down." Brae explains, idly indexing her scythe as she does. A sigh and she says, "Near as I can tell, victims know full well who they are, but -have- to fight fer this thing. Merctalk works t'communicate with'm. Some of'm at least, but they almost can't talk fer the armor.
It's 60' to Nels, since he's near the front of the Airship, and the ball is 70' away.
Konstance, shoot the ball GAME: Konstance rolls weapon1: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Konstance rolls 1d10: (2): 2
Konstance raises his crossbow and fires, a bolt flying through the air and hitting the ball as it flew. He cocks the crossbow and loads another bolt into position. "That ball doesnt look friendly." He says as he tries to aim for another shot, looking to the others.
Etan is startled by the flying orb, staggering a step as he brings up his shield and bending a leg to reduce his surface area. While the cleric said he had not fought in a long time, it's clear his instincts are still sharp, looking to the others. "I will focus on support. Take it out!" he calls, seeming to prefer a less active role.
Shilde wastes a couple of seconds just staring at the thing that Konstance fires at, then matter-of-factly pulls her shield off of her shoulder and straps it to her arm. Her club gets pulled out of a loop on her belt a moment later. "Rocky, guard." The large shaggy canine's lips curl up a little as he emits a very low toned growl, and his shoulders tense.. clearly ready to defend his two legged friend.
"Nothin this shitheap does's friendly!" Brae snaps over the noise, unhooking her heavy crossbow from where it is slung and loads a bolt, looking around, "Eyes open fer more!"
Nels is near the top of the airship by the cockpit, about 30' above the water.
GAME: Nels rolls athletics: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (10)+11: 21 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (10)+6: 16
Nels sees the thing coming, but can't fire his gun from where he is in the rigging. He scrambles up as best he can, unlimbering his thunderbelcher. He loads it, powder, shot, rammer, and by this time it's all but on top of him. But at this range, the explosion and the impact are almost instantaneous, the lead ball slamming into the flying thing, and scraps of metal flying apart in all directions.
GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (2)+4: 6
The pieces of the shattered ball fall in the water, with tiny distant splashes.
Nothing is moving.
There's a hum, from the front of the airship, audible only to the goblin.
There's nothing left to shoot at, and nothing that Elly can see. She raises her hands and readies her magic. That being said, whatever word she is saying at the moment is definitely not arcane in nature. She doesn't know the languages of the south, but she remembers every angry curse that was uttered against stubborn camels or sluggish laborers and employs them in times like this.
Etan moves up the ram slightly, peering quickly into the ship as he inspects the surroundings. "Nothing behind us. Was that it?" still skeptical of the encounter, but it's clear the artifice devices seem to freak the Mourner out. "What's the plan?" he calls to Braelnoir, and seeking the faces of the party present.
"Oi! Gobber! Y'see anything up there?" Shilde calls up after Nels since it seems like the need for stealth took the most recent airship ride out there. Shen with her shield hand placed on Rocky's shoulder, the urges the dog to move. "C'mon, boy." The pair of them squeze by some of the larger folk, to join Etan inside the airship. "Too exposed on that ramp." She keeps her club hefted and Rocky moves his head back and forth, watching.
The flying brass ball came out of the front ramp. There's nothing but an ominious hum. At the rear of the airship, several have gone inside into the storage room where the Corpse Armours were. The lights on the walls keep changing, suggesting something is in progress, but their purpose is not clear.
Braelnoir frowns a little and returns to Etan, "I'd like two volunteers t'go up an' help Nels, the rest of us'll try to snoop around down here, careful like. Any o'these rooms could house more of those undead an' a smaller group will get mauled." That said, she triggers the everburning torch on her belt and moves along to the next door, examining it to see if it's ajar or, even given any indication of what lay beyond.
Nels calls out, "This thing's humming like it wants to spit out more of those things," and so saying, he reloads hastily and tries to cover the orifice that spat out the first one, or as near as he can guess.
GAME: Konstance rolls athletics: (6)+4: 10
Konstance puts the safety on his crossbow and slings it over his shoulder. "I will go up and help the gobber. Dont laugh at my lack of climbing skills." He says as he begins to climb up there, grunting as he is clearly not meant to physical things but still in decent enough shape to carry himself and his stuff.
Elleandra senses, still, nothing she should blast. Yet she's still quite on edge. Seeing her friends going in two directions, she moves to cover them both as well as she can, taking a few steps, still at the ready. The tension is still on her mind. Whatever she's muttering now sounds particularly fiendish. If she weren't focused on getting ready to destroy something she'd be impressed by it, herself.
The hum increases. The light trace around the front ramp flickers. Another brass ball appears, then another, then a lot more. At least a dozen pour out. They wing as one towards Nels, flying towards him.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (9)+11: 20 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Elleandra casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3
Without a moment's hesitation Elleandra lashes out with magic, a sharp word and a gesture touched with more than a touch of anger sends a glowing dart of shimmering white to flying from her extended left index finger and at the target, which drops for a moment, and then leaps back to life. "Many more of them up top!!" she shouts.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15
One of the flying balls zips around Nels, and clamps onto the back of her neck. He feels the cold press of the metal, and an array of spikes dig in.
The rest immediately change direction, ten, easily more, it's hard to count, and fly towards Konstance.
There's the sound of a drill.
shoot thing on neck GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (1)+6: 7
Nels acks as the thing latches onto his neck. He can't see what it's doing, which makes the dread worse. He hastily reloads, he knows a good shot will take one of these down. But it's an awkward angle, holding the trigger with his thumb, the gun laying along his arm as he aims at the back of his neck. The roar is deafening, and he's not sure if he blew it up or not.
GAME: Konstance rolls athletics: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Etan casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14 Etan says, "+1 to attack and Saves
Etan hears that whirring, and looks to Braelnoir as he begins to whisper in the celestial tongue, darting from the battle into the airship. It's almost inaudible as he channels, his power having to take a short moment to build, but as the burst of divine energy is let loose, it covers everyone as he had ran toward the interior doors, making the most of his magic so that the entire party could feel his blessing. He's a bit winded after that, a heavy breath taken to steady himself. "I hate running."
GAME: Shilde rolls athletics: (16)+5: 21
Konstance continues climbing grunting as he slips but manages to catch himself. Hearing the balls fly for him, he growls as he tries to see how farther he has to go. "Someone better cover me!" He calls out to the sorcerer down below.
Hearing the noise outside, Shilde pushes back out onto the ramp, Rocky squeezing past her when she stops. "Protect her, boy," she tells the large dog, gripping the fur at his shoulder and gesturing at Elleandra with her club. A club which she promptly drops back into the loop on her belt as she turns and starts to climb up the way Nels and Constance did. Rocky pads over beside Elleandra, trying to growl at all of the flying orbs at once.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon9-4: (1)+7+-4: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
"Sh'fuckDAMNIT!" Brae yells as the airship once again proves that it is really determined that it doesn't want to die, "Everyone outside an' give'm some cover!" She rushes outside onto the ramp and brings her crossbow up, panning along the sides of the airship with intent to cover the climbers. She sights along at the tiny ball arcing toward Konstance, pulls the trigger and the 'string' snaps taut, splitting the bolt up the middle to her shock and dismay, "FAAAAAUUUUUUHCK!"
GAME: Elleandra casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2
Elleandra is able to tell which way the swarm is going. And she's starting to feel just a bit of a knot of fear in her throat. She never claimed to be a hero. Once again she strikes out, a dart of glimmering magic launches from a fingertip into the same orb she struck previously. With a most satisfying explosion the enemy is reduced to scrap. This time her inappropriate language drifts into the Sylvan tongue.
Something interesting happens. Something distressing. Something Beautiful.
The distressing part, is an increased hum, and more of these flying balls appearing at the front of the airship. The swarm is smaller this time, but still numerous.
The interesting part, is when the swarm heading towards Konstance reverses direction, and heads towards Nels again. The group from the nose of the airship, do as well. The two join up.
The beautiful part, the deadly beautiful component, is how they assemble into an evenly spaced matrix, a ball formed by smaller balls. With their tiny beating wings, it glitters in the available light, a shimmering sphere of dots.
Also, they attack Nels.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26
The glittering sphere dips towards Nels. They're everywhere. He feels another thunk at the back of his head, the tiny pincers gripping. The whrrr of a drill starting up.
The remainder redirect and the big sphere moves towards Konstance.
GAME: Elleandra rolls intelligence: (17)+2: 19
Sometimes Elleandra has a moment of great lucidity. Or perhaps her fear is just distracting the part of her mind that wouldn't really want to know just how much they are up against. "Sixteen of them!" she shouts out suddenly. For those keeping score at home. For her, that's roughly fifteen more than she was hoping on facing at this point.
Nels, Shoot it off my neck again GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (18)+12: 30 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (3)+6: 9
Nels is just starting to admire how pretty the flying formation of things is when he realizes it's coming to attack him. He briefly considers taking a dive over the edge, but then he recalls the height. If he's lucky, they'd be carrying him back to town for burial. He'd hate to be left out here. Feeling another one on the back of his neck, he goes with Plan A: Shoot It. It's been working all his life, he's never needed a Plan B. He'd kinda like to have one now, though, as he tries to shoot the thing from the back of his neck again. BLAM He's so going to go deaf this way, but the lead ball rips the thing from his neck before it can do whatever it was going to do.
GAME: Konstance rolls athletics: (7)+4: 11
Konstance looks out to the balls and he looks down at the ground. He takes a breath as his pipe falls out of his pocket and lands on the ramp. Hearing the crossbow line snap. "Again why did I give up magic? because summoning demons would be far too easy a temptation? bollocks!" He yells out as he tries to climb further up. "Okay just focus. one step at a time." He mutters more to himself then to anyone else. "Hold on Gobber, I am coming." He calls up to Nels
GAME: Shilde rolls athletics: (14)+5: 19
Etan follows the order from Braelnoir, making his way back towards the exit as he sheathes his weapon with a quick thrust at his belt, and begins to undo his shield's strap. "This place is... unique. I see why you wanted help!" he calls, his shield coming free as his attention mostly remains on his party as they deal with this threat, looking down at them from the top of the ramp.
Shilde slowly navigates her way up the side of the airship using the pitons much like Nels and Konstance. Speaking up, the dwarf woman pauses long enough to look up and call, "Hurry up, human! But be careful! Don't y'be fallin' on me!"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls ranged-6: (10)+7+-6: 11
The merc is incredulous that her crossbow has been having so much trouble around here. Brae grumbles something Jotun and unflattering between gnashed teeth and pulls a thunderstone from her bandolier. With a cry of, "Heads up!" she throws it up toward the cloud of balls swooping in. Alas, it passes neatly through the formation and detonates agaisnt the hull with a loud BANG!
GAME: Elleandra casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4
If there's one thing Elly hates, it's flying death balls that drill into the back of people's heads. Also her lover's father. But that's another story. She again delivers a shimmering lance of magical wrath and again one of those damned things is struck, falls, and then gets up. She's going to run out of foul language at this rate! "I hate these things!" she shouts.
The ball of brass balls keeps flying. The loud retort didn't seem to have much effect. The damaged one trails the rest, but otherwise seems unaffected. Instead of moving towards Nels, they move towards Konstance instead, swarming around him.
Attacks Konstance GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25 The swarm goes after Shilde next GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20
Buzzing, so much buzzing.
Konstance feels the cold, brass grip of this thing's clamp, then the others move one. A cloud of them descend on Shilde, and try as she might, she feels the impact and one grab her also. The swarm redirects back upwards over the airship, towards Nels again.
There's the whrrr of drills.
Nels, shoot a free one GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (5)+12: 17 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (7)+6: 13
Nels is, for the moment, clear of the flying things. They're swarming his team, but he can't do much without shooting /them/, or too close for comfort, and he plays it pretty close most of the time. But that's too close for him to do from thirty feet away. So he takes the safe option, and fires at one in the swarm that's sweeping around ... back toward him, actually. The gun thunders, and there's one less of the pesky things.
GAME: Konstance rolls weapon3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Konstance rolls athletics: (7)+4: 11
Etan takes his time, as the party seems fine his crossbow is taken out, and he loads it while taking note of these flying creatures while atop the ramp. He raises the bow, taking aim and waiting for a clear shot. Yes, the man seems to live at his own pace, but he is here for support, and not direct fighting, but it seems he might can do that too.
GAME: Shilde rolls athletics: (6)+5: 11
Shilde grunts as one of the flying orbs stabs into the back of her neck and she flattens to stabilize herself. Rather than reach back and try to rip it out, however, she keeps climbing. Meanwhile, down below, Rocky continues to maintain his very serious new position as guard dog for the elven sorceress.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon9+1: (5)+7+1: 13
With things continuing to slide, Brae murmurs more Jotun invective as in cases like this the sound of it makes her feel better, she lines up on another shot and pulls the trigger, coming close, but no reassuring boom of an orb dying. Back to her linguistics hobby....
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon9+1: (18)+7+1: 26 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 1d10+1: (4)+1: 5
With things continuing to slide, Brae murmurs more Jotun invective as in cases like this the sound of it makes her feel better, she lines up on another shot and pulls the trigger, getting a reassuring Boom of an orb meeting it's end.
GAME: Elleandra casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
Elleandra is a strange ball of growing irritation building back into waves of pure rage. Her fey blood pulses in her and with a violent gesture and a shriek of arcane power yet one more lance fires out of her extended finger. This time, the target is blasted clean off of Konstance's neck.
GAME: Needle Ball rolls 1d2: 1 GAME: Needle Ball damaged Shilde for 1 points. 18 HP remaining. GAME: Shilde rolls athletics: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16
Whrrrr!
The dwarf hears a drill start up behind her, then the sudden punch of it against her neck, and a grinding on her vertibrae. A small spurt of blood shoots out of the back of her neck and she feels dizzy. It's hard to focus.
As this thought it processing, she feels the brass ball release, and sees it fly up to the front of the airship and disappear inside.
The swarm meanwhile, was headed towards Nels, but when Konstance's ball was destroyed, turned on him. As the cloud circles he feels the cold grip on his neck, and the whrr of a drill.
Seemingly successfuly, the swarm flies to Nels. The goblin knows what to expect, or so he thinks. The balls fly at him relentless, he manages to bat a couple away, but they connect. One, two, three. Two have worked their way down his spine. The sound of drills is a little more ominous now.
GAME: Nels rolls acrobatics: (14)+4: 18 GAME: Nels rolls 2d6+1d6: (8)+(4): 12 GAME: Falling damaged Nels for 4 points. 41 HP remaining. GAME: Falling damaged Nels for 8 points of nonlethal. 8 total.
Nels runs around screaming as the horde attacks him, and not one this time, but three. "Waaauuuughhhhh!" he shouts, and dives off the airship and into the ... two foot of water. There is a solid sort of splash, and Nels rises up from it with a grimace, treading water, bleeding from a few places, but without the things on him.
GAME: Konstance rolls weapon3: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Konstance rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4
Konstance grunts as he puts his starknife against the ball and tries to stab it. He feels the blade sink into the metal ball but not enough to destroy it completely. When he sees nels jump he looks down and then looks back up at where he was.
GAME: Etan rolls weapon4: (17)+2: 19 GAME: Etan rolls 1d8: (5): 5
Taking his time seems to have payed off. Etan's careful and measured manner comes with a soft squeeze of the trigger that sends a bolt right into his target, disabling it with what looks like ease. It really wasn't, but the man laughs as he begins to reload. "Oh boy! I thought this would be harder." an eye kept on the party, and a curious glance goes to Nels after he sits up, but to him they all seem fine. "I like this group. Best one yet."
GAME: Shilde rolls acrobatics: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
A number of things happen. Shilde yells when the orb rips out of her, taking a piece of her brain or spine with it. Then, as she reaches for the next piton... a green object roughly the size and shape and temperment of a goblin goes plummetting past. A second is lost there, to disbelief. Then the dwarf slams her forhead into the side of the airship. That done, she calls up, "Oi, Human! Get back down, quick!" while she herself prepares to let go. But as she turns she slips, bounces off of her foothold, and then starts falling.... sideways?
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon9+1: (14)+7+1: 22 GAME: Braelnoir rolls 1d10+1: (4)+1: 5
Things just keep, wait, did Nels just...?? "Nels!" Brae cries as the goblin spinalflops into the water, but as he stands in the water, she tears her gaze upward to... the... hell...? Shilde is... different, but not in direct hazard, so she loads a bolt and brings the crossbow up toward the swarm and fires, taking one out.
GAME: Elleandra casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2
Elleandra, like all sorcerers, has her limits. They have been reached now. With her last arcane blast she shatters the ball that had fastened itself to Konstance. Seems like she's getting a lot of practice removing things from his neck today. It's going to be arrow work from here on out. God help them all.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13
There are a lot fewer buzzy brass balls. One of them is significantly damaged, and following the remaining swarm. This, it's behind the times when Konstance loses the one currently attached to his neck, and over near him, instead of Nels. With a zrrt-zrrt instead of the usual bzzzzzzz, it zips around to the back of his neck, but doesn't attach.
The swarm that Nels jumped away start moving in the party's direction, but as soon as the three attached to him are smashed by the water, they follow him down instead. The swarm of brass things is persistent and unwelcome. Perhaps the water helps, but they seem unable to find a purchase, except one. Nels feels the discomfort as once again, one of these things grabs onto his spine and gets ready to drill
Meanwhile, one of the apparently perfectly functional ones decides it has been successful, and returns to the front of the airship and vanishes inside.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (15)+12: 27 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+6: (9)+6: 15
Nels gets up from his abrupt landing in the water, wriggling his coat to shake off the three that had been attached to him, and damn, there's another one. No place to jump from now, he'll have to shoot this one, too. He's gonna go deaf from this. He holds his arm out, the gun resting right against the thing, and BLAM, the lead ball rips it from his neck, sending it sideways in a dozen pieces.
It seems the party is prevailing, only a few of the flying balls remain. The combat will continue...
Combat Info
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 6 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
23 Konstance 1
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19 Etan 1
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15 Shilde 1
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11 Braelnoir 1
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9 Elleandra 1
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6 Needle Ball 1
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>> 6 Nels 1 <<
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Cryosanthia says, "Okay. this is end of Round 6. 4 are left, 3 undamaged. All on Nels" Cryosanthia says, "Braelnoir has some damage, from last long that should have been healed. 1 HP and 1 INT on Shilde, 4 HP and 8 NL on Nels. GAME: Braelnoir used a Thunderstone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Name | CHP (T) | HP | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Braelnoir.....| 31 | 41 | | Elleandra.....| 11 | 11 | | Etan..........| 22 | 22 | | Konstance.....| 14 | 14 | | Nels..........| 41 | 45 | | Shilde........| 18 | 19 | | (C) Rocky.....| 22 | 22 | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~