Month: April 2016

Session 104

3rd Jourilden

After the dramatic series of events that took place in the party resettles in the Engineering Facility, looking to finally sit down and rest. Derich’s body is stripped of useful materials, and the group returns to one of the lounges, now well settled after the long expeditions.

Whilst they rest, they discover that they still have access to the Special Area, as it was a standard key that was broken, not the Special Area key. He proposes taking care of the cure and the sphere, and negotiating with Kottar and the remaining Ancients. He also comes to the epiphany of simply moving the items to the Pathogen Facility and detonating the area, thus taking care of two birds with one stone, and circumventing the need for a password.

Edan is concerned about the self-destruct not doing the trick, and the idea of utilising the power cores within Engineering is brought up again.

Watches are set and the night passes without incident. Realising that as they’d turned off the power, this would mean that the de-synched Manticores would have been released onto the beleagured men in the Special Area. A monkey is almost sent through, but realising that the key they possess is the only means of entrance and exit, Thorfus belays the idea of risking it.

Edan is quite set on ensuring the contents of Pathogen never see the light of day, and would also like to at least destroy the administrator’s cube.

They eventually decide to have Thorfus stand at the portal pedestal in order to protect the key whilst he sends a monkey through to reconnoitre for Chuq, who stands on guard with the dwarf.

When the gate opens, the image of Kottar appears. He sits up and waves, indicating his backpack and weapons are to the side, and then mimes a request to come through. Chuq wants to make sure the man-turned-Devilfish is gagged. Thorfus tries to communicate via monkey sign language, with some difficulty.

Eventually, the monkey is sent through with a gag. It sees the Ancients stood to the side, with Prix’s body wrapped in cloaks. Kottar tells the monkey it would be hard to negotiate if he his gagged, and starts relaying his intentions through the monkey at Thorfus’ gesture.

Kottar and the Ancients agree with the destruction of the Special Area, but believe there is a traitor in the midst. The Ancients were told by Derich that he thought Chuq to be under the influence of XenoTel, and would rather Chuq stay well away from them for a time, very much convinced that the monk has been coerced. Kottar himself believes Chuq is mostly just suffering from stress, and Guarinus apologises for attacking Edan.

Either way, they merely want to leave the group, possibly through the Bioforge’s portal to the jungle. Kottar himself will either remain with the party if asked or chaperone the Ancients. They decide to allow Kottar to come through to talk more easily.

As soon as Kottar appears, the portal is closed. Thorfus and the hireling talk, unsure what to make about Chuq’s actions, but willing to believe that he is ok, despite his actions being a litle odd against the members of the Rebellion.

The rest of the negotiation goes smoothly, and Thorfus agrees to facilitate thier exit to the jungle. Chuq agrees as well, as long as it’s made sure they are escorted out without hidden surprises. They agree to leave them with the items they carry, except for the Lie Detection Box and all but one length of rope, and then portal is reopened in order to relay everything to the others.

All that is asked is if they can bring Prix’s body through for burial. Chuq voices an objection, though Thorfus seems willing. Kottar hands over the Box, and returns, Thorfus confirming the burial intentions and the identity of the body. The portal is switched to Bioforge, and under supervision, Kottar and the Ancients leave.

Once done, the Edan, Chuq and a monkey head through the portal. They retrieve the reliquary and head to the office for the other. After a bit of confusion as to the plan, in which Edan is leery as to opening the chamber holding the sphere due to the gas, though Chuq was sure they’d agreed to retrieve and destroy it via Pathogen. Another issue would be if the defences activate as they did when the dragon was removed from the north area.

They head south to see what option the Platinum-X key grants them. The area appears undisturbed, and Edan approaches a pedestal and swipes, revealing three commands:  ‘Load Antivirus Simulation’, ‘Vent Chlorine Gas’ and ‘Emergency Protocol’. They quickly vent the gas, revealing the Sphere more clearly.

Utilising an environmental suit, Chuq enters the room, as Edan doesn’t trust Kalgunn near the sphere. His ESP helm reads as much as it did previously, a large unfathomable presence. The supporting arms seem easy enough to move, so Chuq pulls one aside with his multi-tool. Once all are released, the sphere actually rises to hover several feet above the ground. The sphere itself is completely smooth and unblemished. Switching to his spears, Chuq begins guiding the object out of the room, which floats along without issue.

Under Edan’s watchful eye, Chuq guides it all the way out, heading north with it. Once it appears safe, Edan hits the simulation command. A hologram shows the sphere, which opens up to reveal internal components with accompanying coding, then closes again.

Edan is able to tap at components, which enlarges them for view, although he doesn’t understand much of it. All he can really tell is that there appears to be an empty space in the centre for something, surrounded by venting, and tapping this reveals a huge amount of coding. Unable to learn anything more, he follows Chuq after gathering the four cubes from the room and they return to Engineering.

As they leave, a message hologram appears above the portal; Ancient Dwarven reading ‘Good Luck’.

The portal is switched to Pathogen, and the Sphere is pushed through, alongside pretty much all the cubes from Area X, especially the ones the cure and Prix’s dreams. The Platinum-X is also tossed in. Once done, they close the portal and move over to the overload controls, and enter the command.

After a 5 second countdown, the party feels a small rumble. The power now reads zero, and the portal doesn’t open, so they assume that the facility is gone.

There is some discussion about what to do about the baby, but the party decides against it to avoid complications and the fact that the baby is as safe as it has been for the past millenia. Whilst Edan quickly sketches out the locations of other Ancient Dwarven settlements, Thorfus scrys the Upper City. It is quiet, and much as it is always is, with guards at the entrance. Dwarves still work on the fortification down the mountain. They prepare to leave, handing Chuq the ESP-blocking circlet. The monkeys are told to stay quiet and are bundled up in sacks and placed into the cart.

In the temple, there is a message written in Ancient Dwarven on parchment sitting on the throne. It reads:

(Insert message here)

The PS’s are written in modern Dwarven.

The Starchy Boyz walk out openly, only Chuq keeping to the shadows to avoid Marchmain’s attention. The fortification is almost finished, and several Silver Throne employees look up as they approach and greet them. They are ushered through to Hall of Pillars, told where Marchmain is and generally given the run of the place.

Chuq departs via the shadows, and Marchmain appears, rushing over to the party. He seems happy to see the group, though notes some instability in the area. Thorfus feeds him the story of a cave-in and the loss of Axel and tell him that the party plans to take a break. He leads the party to his new office, which appears to be laid out much as the one on the surface. The situation is fully explained to Marchmain. Letters are exchanged, and Marchmain expresses disappointment in the party taking a break, doing a lot to convince a return trip or even temporarily use the key we have to continue the expedition and retrieve the bodies of the fallen.

Thorfus changes the subject towards trading the gemstones, and once complete, the party leaves to the surface, making it non-commital of a time for our return. At the top, the guard leader, previously of the Xenilum’Khel militia is now bearing the Silver Throne insignia. He explains that he was nearing retirement and needed quieter work, intending to later move off to the new Khel on the Lonely Isle. Thorfus is of course asked about attending the Inn in the meantime.

Upon entering the Adventurer’s encampment, the area is instantly and noticeably busier than it had been previously, with the Xenilum’Khel militia all present and in temporary housing, but they reach the estate unfettered where Rienold is on guard and enjoying a meal. He reveals that the militia is due to leave the mountain within the week. Chuq had already arrived in the mean time, and grabbed a pair of longswords from the tunnel-stash enroute.

Deciding to wait until night to empty the stash, the party takes Axel’s old battleaxe and heads off to find his brother. Drexam is sat around with several other dwarves and a human drinking. When Thorfus approaches with Face-Cleaver, Drexam drops his drink in shock. The dwarf is pretty shaken with grief, and reveals that they family was going to ask Axel to return, thanks to the new fortune the family had come into with the Silver Throne’s business. He takes the axe to return it home.

The man with them introduces themself after noticing Thorfus’ Starchy Boyz badge as Canis Mallory. His contract to guide Drexam Rhom’khul to Xen’Khel was up, and he was free to travel elsewhere, desiring to expand his horizon’s in looking for his brother and missing wife. He joins them for a drink at the Sleeping Collossus where they toast to Axel’s memory and decide on the next course of action.

#103: Emergency Protocols: 6:34 PM 3D Jourelden

Journal Entry – 3d of Jourelden – late evening.

We’ve returned from the Special Research Area, normally we’d be in high spirits – but tonight is different.

Since my last brief entry about our failed attempts to wake Prix, The Dragon Consort, much has happened to our company – not all of it good.

It began after Derich attempted to remove Prix from the confines of her chair and prison. Almost immediately alarms sounded, and the platform on which she sat fell into the de synchronization field below – trapping both Derich and Prix.

Knowing that the facility’s defenses were deadly (see sketches 4 through 8, and my last few entries). Chuq and I quickly reasoned that our best option was to our combined talents to return to the administration office with Lord Thorfus’s administration key in order to de-activate the emergency protocols before the facility destroyed – or worse – itself.

As we began our mission, a flash of light quickly followed by an explosion rocked the facility reminded us of the severity of the situation. With a monkey-automaton in tow, we immediately “shadow-stepped” to a visible “canon” room in order to avoid the now activated silver-domed automaton (see sketch 4) – while the monkey scampered across the ceiling allowing Thorfus to “see” our progress. From there we were able to see into the Portal Room where we left Blaze and Pons to watch over it.

Sadly we saw Blaze sprawled on the floor and Pons cowering behind the portal trying to shield himself from the now active defense cannon on the other side of the portal room. I now can note that the canons seem to fire lightning at their targets with unnerving accuracy.

With little hesitation Chuq and I stepped once more, appearing in front of the automaton defending the room leading into the Administrator’s Office. Thankfully, we went unnoticed by the machine as we were cloaked by our magical garments.

Moments later, I successfully disabled the Emergency Protocols – saving Pons from electrocution.

With the facility no longer against us I decided to collect the remnants of the “micro-automat on” Kalgunn the Younger created and the discarded flying suit – even without a power source I may be able to learn more about it.

I returned to the portal room to find that Chuq had successfully reopened the portal to Engineering securing our escape route. As I approached I noticed that the Derich’s ancient compatriots had collected the ropes we used earlier upon our arrival to help pull up Prix and Derich from the trap below.

What happened next – changed everything.

Thorfus, Chuq and I huddled together against the howling winds in order to listen the Chuq’s plan to strand the Ancients and Prix here – seal the facility and destroy them and XenoTel – forever ridding Currabel of any further risks from a resurgent XenoTel.

I was stunned and instinctively placed my hand on the Portal Key. Prompting a look from Chuq I will not soon forget. Although I agreed with destroying the facility, I argued that Prix and Derich were heros, and that she was too valuable an asset, not just for my own research, but to all Currabel against the Emperor. Thorfus was of a similar mind set – yet Chuq was unrelenting in his argument.

He reminded Thorfus about a Dragon Control Orb – something I was not aware of- was still in the hands of unscrupulous forces and could be used on Prix – rendering her a threat. He then argued that Prix was the cure, that if we brought her out shed could be “made” to undo what she did – thus restoring XenoTel. I disagreed, stating that the cure was pieced together by the researchers here, that they probably only watched her memory of her orchestration of the fall in order to make a remedy – he countered – and I retorted for a while, but I felt myself wavering in my conviction.

While we argued, Prix and Derich were successfully pulled out of their trap – she was still unconscious and were making their way back to us in the portal room.

There’s no hiding the fact that Chuq disliked Derich and did not trust the other Ancients. I could see the Thorfus was not pleased with their independent actions and I assume even he was having second thoughts about them.

I was – am – tired… and I’m not proud of what happened next.

I contemplated murder. Planned it. I would wait till they began their crossing and cut the rope, having them fall to their doom. I was ready – sword already in hand.

But I hesitated – Prix lay before us and I walked away to the other side of the portal – my mind screaming.

Chuq, however, did not. He plunged his dagger in the base of the skull of the prone Prix – likely killing her instantly. Panic ensued.

I don’t remember much after that, Gorianus – one of the more convivial ancients, tried to tackle me after, as I was told later, smashing the stone portal disk.

In the confusion I managed to fling myself through the portal back to engineering before the portal closed – not everyone was so lucky. The ancients remained behind with their Dragon – except for Derich – he managed to get through. Enraged, he swung at Chuq who deftly dodged the blow and then proceeded to break Derich’s arm, then neck with a series of well placed blows. I doubt many would have survived such an attack.

After everything settled, we discussed destroying the facility – but found we could not due to a missing password.Though thankfully we’ll be able to destroy that fiendish Pathogen facility.

Our thoughts morbidly swung towards whether or not we should rescue the baby dwarf, and if so how to get him (or her) past Marchmain convincingly. I even consulted with Kalgunn regarding the rescue – though I’m too tired to listen to its attempts to convince me to return to that place.  

I plead for rest and Thorfus agreed – so as I sit and write this – Thorfus sits lost in thought, his silence deafening. Chuq seems unfazed and the rest are bunking down in silence.

I for one am conflicted – did we do the right thing? I feel that my time exploring these ruins are coming to an end – I have learned much and acquired items that will take me years to decipher and understand. Was it worth it? Were the Eders right? What’s next?

History, my kin and my ancestors will be my judge.