Author: Follow Me, And Die!

SESSION 91: January 13, 2016

We found that the elevator would only ascend one floor, but we had access to the two lower levels.

Level 1 had something moving and the level appeared destroyed through the eyes of the monkey automaton used to scout.

The two lower levels were in decent shape and the water worked. One of them had a functioning cleaning automaton. The scouting monkey found many gems and identified a lot of gold. We then visited the two lower levels and found a lot of gold and a few other items to go with the gems.

Before leaving the lowest level, Thorfus directed the cleaning automaton to clean the rooms that had been locked with red lights.

We tried going up to one level and the security automatons were conflicted. When Thorfus told them to disregard the chief engineers orders, they resumed focus on defending the engineers and had pure anger towards us.

We pulled back and formed our plan to use the 7 monkey automatons as a wall. Chuq shadow stepped Thorfus and Axel behind the two security automatons, and Edan ran to the room on the left.

The monkeys took the brunt of one automaton from a frontal assault and all but one of the 5 assaulting it were dropped, the remaining is severely damaged (1hp). The other two automatons were unscathed as they were “behind” the other automaton that was focused on Axel, Thorfus and Chuq.

Thanks to magic missiles from Edan, he sped up our defeat of both security automatons. Thorfus was able to deal the killing blow to each.

Thorfus had the surviving monkeys gather up the remains of their comrades and put in a large sack for later repair. Thorfus also had them gather the control cubes from each of them.

We then searched that level and gathered up many more gems, some jewelry and more gold.

The top level eastern hallway had collapsed into the fist level eastern hallway. Thorfus had a monkey pass through the rubble and gather up the valuables from the rooms in the eastern hallway.

Thorfus then had a monkey go to the top level and scout and recover all the items from all but the last two rooms. Again, more gems, jewelry and gold.

The last two rooms near the elevator are guarded by a security automaton. Thorfus sensed watchfulness, endless patience, and pride from it in its duties. We surmise that the “surviving” engineers were dragged to these two rooms to be guarded. The monkey came up to it and it aimed its weapons at the monkey and spun them up, but did not fire. When the monkey left, it spun down its weapons.

We will address what to do with this remaining automaton and final two rooms before we do further exploring of this facility, and then leave.

Healing sounds like a good idea….

SESSION 83 – 17 Nov 2015

We press on into the ruins and encountered more monkeys, this time, two pushing a mine cart. We slew one and the other got away.

We checked out the other side of a door and found the first of three forge rooms, each with 5 monkeys and a gorilla bolted in place. The gorillas had huge hammers for arms. They were making and refurbishing, gears, springs, and metal plates.

Some monkeys fled. Of the ones we “killed” we stuffed in large sacks, and are up to 19 monkeys in 4 large sacks.

The monkeys ran away into the 2.5′ x 2.5 ‘ tunnels they have elsewhere in the city.

The tracks periodically have trap doors, that are more like hatches on a ship that drop down 5 feet into  more 2.5 x 2.5 tunnels.

Of the three rooms we cleared of monkeys, we plugged up the bolt holes and jammed the doors of two rooms.

We now have two mine carts and have pulled back to rest and let the spellcasters recover their spells, and heal up.

The carts are off the tracks with some metal plates to give us cover from the hallway to the north.

This is grim business, but at least it doesn’t seem to be full of damnable undead. 

How long until we find an overseer and can put a stop to these monkeys wreaking havoc?

Perhaps we can find a way to re-charge our batteries here?

We also think that the passages to the south might lead to the Hall of Pillars.

I hope mother is satisfied with my letter.

Session 77 – October 7, 2015

We continued our exploration of the ancient dwarven research center, this time to the East. We encountered several skeletons and dispatched them, easily, thanks to good tactics. Then we found a lot of platinum utensils and plates to add to our collection. In the ancient kitchen cold storage, we found a wight who doesn’t realize he is dead.

The good thing about that is that he didn’t try to attack us. The bad thing is that he realized we are not official ancient dwarves, so he thinks we are rebels. He has backed around a corner where we can’t get at him without coming near his deadly touch.

This wight, was once Alke, a researcher, who fled to the freezer and ate all the food before succuming to the cold of the storage room. He gave us new information about the research areas and that we need the platinum keys from the head of each research area to open up area X. [This gives comfort to know that if we can control more of these platinum amulets and get them away from here, perhaps it will prevent them letting Xena Tel loose.] We also learned from Alke that Xena Tel is a more formal name and giving distinction. I wonder if there is a dwarven cleric above who has not been corrupted and that we can trust?

We then found that the ancient dwarves have a plentiful supply of fresh water in their quarters, and found many nice items and some furniture. We encountered more undead, but barricaded them inside their rooms making it harder for them to reach us. There were some of a new type, but their newness did not appear to have any new abilities, at least not ones that would allow them to get at us.

Now that we have plenty of fresh water, we can greatly extend our stay down here.

At the end of the hallway with the rooms for the dwarves is an elevator with what appears to be two levels above us and two below us. We decided to search the rest of this level before attempting a new one. 

We continued to the large open recreation area and saw two bodies on the ground and the newest member of our group looked around tha corner and saw many more. Due to the openness of this room, we feared being surrounded and pulled back and used the same tactics against the skeletons, except we used fire. We encountered two new types of undead, that we plant-like and their skulls split open revealing a tentacle. Thankfully, we did not learn what would happen if it hit us.

We had completed another five or so hours in this place, when we decided to catch our breath and eat. I am interested in the platinum coins and gaming devices of cards and dice. More non-magical stuff we can sell to Marchmain and hang on to the magical stuff we have found.

I hope our success continues and that we can hold off on death and injury to our party.

Session 75 – September 23, 2015

After slaying the foul-smelling beast, and its two automatons, I claimed the platinum key from its neck. Belroar set to his usual skinning of slain creatures. His efforts yielded a battery with one charge that Axel took.

We moved our dead and tended to our wounded.

We then learned a lot from the desk used by that foul creature. My head is swimming with information. I hope I can remember it all.

We learned more about their devices and names for the destinations in the portal system.

This desk gave us a map of the complex and we figured out even more and targeted our searches.

We found a secret lab of the foul creature, and found some loot, and found some good items in the desk.

We found many batteries, and thankfully, one that was fully charged! I quickly put that to use in place of the one now depleted.

We found more spoils in the weapons locker. We found another suit of power armor, nicer than the first set we found in the tombs at Midmark. We left it in that room and locked that room, after retrieving everything else. We found more batteries, all depleted.

We fought two skeletons of ancient dwarves locked in cells. We took their helix robes.One skeleton hit me, and I just feel so weak.

We then went to the calculation chambers and were met with a number of shadowy undead, and we became locked in battle…..

Session 73 – September 9, 2015

The night before returning to the depths of the city, Chuq found that he could shadowstep with the mask, and further that he could shadowstep with the mask and carry Belroar in a fireman’s carry.

The next day was overcast and rainy, so Chuq could not use the mask to shadowstep, so Finklemur made him invisible and he walked in our midst. As we passed each gate, Thorfus left 2 g.p. so that the dwarves he had not yet bought drinks could get some when they were of duty.

Once in sight of the now mostly cleared temple of the Nagas, Chuq shadowstepped into the entrance, avoiding Marchmain and others he had gathered around to great us.

Marchmain made a big production out of encouraging us, emphatically calling us the Starchy Boyz, to get the Naga ASAP, for the greater good and in service to Xen Tellar. However, after he sent all the witnesses to his fancy speech away, he said that he would understand if we sought out magic items first.

Marchmain then mentioned that two young dwarves of the Ironhand Clan, here with the Militia, the most recent rotation from Xenilum Khel, asked to be my honor guard. 

Dorea Burstow, the commander of the Xenilum Khel militia introduced me to Hisham & Reinold Ironhand. They were proud of the things that had happened with my elevation to leader of Clan Ironhand. My mother was proud and even though I had not written her personally, my change of fortune has greatly softened the blow of learning of her brother’s death from strangers. Elders of the clan are being consulted by members of the council. In general the fortunes of the clan have greatly improved.

They ask to stand post at the manor house we are using, and Thorfus grants it. Thorfus advised them to keep their mouths shut and eyes and ears open in matters of Clan Ironhand business. Thorfus inquires if they need anything, or if they have heard anything he needs to know. They inform hims that probably because he has not formally been elevated that he is not expected to provide something for the militia muster.

After getting all the information he can from them, he obtains paper and pen and writes a just in case letter to his mother. Thorfus cautions them not to give up too soon, and send the letter until his companions give the word of his demise. [Letter in separate posting.]

Thorfus then hustles to catch up with Marchmain and Dorea, and offers some payment for the Ironhand Clan’s share of the obligation, and they echo what the young lads said. Of course, the Silverthrone Company name came up as helping out and covering things for now. Dorea will think about what Thorfus can do while away in the dpths of the city. Thorfus did confirm that his usurping predecessor did nothing for the muster, and did not help the honor of Clan Ironhand.

Thorfus then runs to catch up, and as he enters the entrance he says loud enough for the workmen to hear, “I don’t know why he waited until after the crowd dispersed to tell us that it was OK with him if we went looking for magic items and artifacts first. I will never understand merchants.”

We go down and make sure we are not followed. At the four-way, Fang detects mechanical monkeys to the south towards the residences, but we do not pursue. When we reach the courtyard near the Naga, we find the large automaton, the fountain, and some monkey automata smashed. We learn that the Naga ambushed them.

Chuq opened his mind to the Naga and let her know what he knows. The Naga communicates it to Derek. Derek responds, “Oh, My!” in modern common. He is learning, but not fluent.

Belroar discusses his plan with the Naga to get Marchmain down here so she can ambush him. The naga tells us that she is afraid to confront him, based on what she learned from Chuq.

We give Derek the clothes, armor and weapons we bought for him. We then convince him to join us on the other side of the portal to attempt rescue of more prisoners, etc. He agrees.

We head back to the portal. We view the area we know all too well first, and it looks to be as we left it. 

We then cycle through each of the other three rooms. The first is a botanical research area. there is a voice mentioned the need to wear biohazard suits or get decontaminated to enter the research area. The door to the west had signs that something had pushed or beaten against it.We identify the doors and loot a cabinet of two yellow dwarf six bio hazard suits, and some other items. We use the copper key to lock the pedestal to prevent anyone from coming from that direction who doesn’t have the right security key.

Second, we find a room with an hourglass shape and a door to the north and south. There is a female dwarven voice talking about 30 seconds to lethal countermeasure, but the copper key stops it. We find dead elves, gnomes, and ancient humans. We loot them of a variety of magic weapons, armor and other gear, and several mundane items. We loot all, and apportion it among our party. Derek says that the ancient leather armor was worn by the rebels under the dragon emperor. He did not know about the dark skinned elves and had no idea what a gnome is. We then used the copper key to lock that pedestal. NOTE: Either side of the pedestal had globes that sent out threat detection pulses like Axel’s armor. We suspect it will also blast anyone standing there.

The last room was a cross-shaped room with a door at the end of each hallway with a window in each door. Through the doors we can see another pedestal with a different configuration, and large chrome like globes that remind us of the previous room.  We can also see that in a short distance past each door, is another door at the end of a short hallway. Chuq does a scan with the helmet and detects something, perhaps not intelligent, or at least not understandable in every direction except East and West. We then use the copper key to lock the pedestal and a voice tells us that until the issue is fixed that the pedestal has been locked. In other words, had we come through and closed the portal, we would have been trapped. 

Secure in the idea that no one can come from the other direction without the right key, or solving a problem and having the right key, we control access to the throne room.We then prepare to enter the area with all the undead with the intent to rescue ancient prisoners and recruit them to our cause, and perhaps find a way to recharge our dwindling batteries.

Belroar gave Thorfus his last will and testament, in case anything happens to him.

This was a very interesting session. I am interested to see how much XP we get for all the loot we found!

Session 71 – August 26, 2015

We dragged the bodies of Holliver and his lieutenant out of the hideout and down into the city, along with loot. We saved Holliver’s head for later.

We put the boxes back in place.

We managed to find the naga and worked out a plan to visit Marchmain and report back to her in a week, after training.

We left out ancient rescuee with the naga.We also left the information cubes and power armor with her, just in case.

Upon our return to the surface, we found the former temple entrance where the three naga sisters did their judging much repaired and cleaned up. the head of the dwarven guard was none too happy at our return, hoping it was his missing dwarves in power armor.

We were taken to the same building where we met with Marchmain before. Part of our brilliant plan was to have Chug be invisible and use the mind reading skullcap/helmet.

On the way to the building, we passed some humans standing around a wagon, that Thorfus has scouted with the face mask, that he used to check things out before we surfaced. As we passed, some of them said to each other, “Are those the Starchy Boyz?” We did not engage them to learn more.

We bartered our way through the gems and other non-magical things we found and made an impressive haul. We also arranged for training for those that need it to begin the next day. For our payment we requested gems, to lighten the load, and until a load of gems is obtained from Xenilum Khel, we have a letter of credit from Marchmain. Marchmain gave the “appearance” of believing us that our charmed Raptor was really a plant from us and he just found the last opening that Holliver said we already knew about.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the party, something happened to Chug, adn as we prepared to leave, Axel stumbled on his unconscious body, and said, “We have a spy here.” that ended any chance we had to coe up with an excuse that might let us get out of their with Chuq.

We left perplexed and worried about our companion.

“Kottar” was unable to get a reading on Chuq, but told us that Marchmain was a much deeper emptiness than he sensed with Brice.

What happened to Chuq we may never learn in game, but were privy to it after the information exchange, and trade was completed. 

When Chuq tried to read Marchmain’s mind/motivations/feelings to learn if he was being honest about how much he would give us, Chuq felt vertigo and a sense of falling. He slammed into the grass, and was in the same place that Thorfus, Brice, and Kottar had encountered Brice’s deity before, on a grassy plain.

“Thorfus” appeared to Chuq and claimed to have been trapped their since he dreamed of this place when at the Sleeping Colossus. “Thorfus” knew a lot about this place and took Chuq by the hand and transported him to a library filled with information cubes. One he found had “Thorfus’s” uncle, who came out and moved, but was a mere automaton/apparition.

“Thorfus” knew someone was coming, and transported Chuq back to the grassy plain. This time “Brice” appeared and was obviously angry with Chuq. Chuq fought her and “won”, but is now “back” laying face down on the floor and unconscious.

Will Chuq be interrogated and give up our secrets, if he has not already? Can Chuq escape with his shadow shifting ability? Will the Starchy Boyz find a way to rescue their friend, or will they become trapped themselves, or worse dead?

Tune in for the next exciting episode of Fools Rush In….