Nareth grabs Lagrord's hand:
" Stop it, lad! Don't touch this cursed mechanism! You don't know what a dark sorcery is hidden within! ", he releases half-orc's hand as he speaks, his voice becomes lower and turns into whisper at some point.
The captain steps aside from Lagrord:
" I warn ya, me mate... The Refiner save us! Ya are about to provoke the nameless forces running this dismal place. ", he looks up with an empty gaze as he prays.
Hey guys, yes, Nareth has this weird quirk of praying and a phobia for magic and sorcery. Just for your information.
Sus'Ann watches with interest the golem and Lagrord. She doesn't interfere in the process, but tries to memorize the map and the exits' position as best as she can.
For the sake of the story, I’m going to speed this up a bit.
Lagrord scrolls through the various menus and discovers that most of the golems are in poor if not broken condition. The one exception is the sergeant golem, known as the “Interface Golem 5420C-1,” which has a self-repairing option. It appears to be the way to control the other golems.
However, in order to do so (from the programming menu), you need a password. What that password is is anyone’s guess, but it doesn’t appear to be a simple one. You try a guess once, but it warns you that only two more tries are allowed before a system lockdown. You don’t know what that is, but it sounds ominous.
The most useful feature you can access, however, is definitely the map. It shows you the layout of the place, with labels of what each room is. With help of Colden’s and Sus’Ann’s dwarves sense of underground direction, you have little trouble memorizing it.
You have learned the way through the mountain!
One other feature you notice, however, when playing around, is the map shows the location of each golem. Selecting the golem lists its issues and duties. One golem, however, is directly between you and the only access point to the exit (by the gift shop). It is flashing red with a “!” surrounded by a red triangle.
When you select the golem, it brings up several “?”, and big capital letters:
“VIRUS DETECTED... CAUTION ADVISED... NOT CONTROLLED BY COLLECTIVE... CONTACT LELELINICON’S LIFETIME WARRANTY EMERGENCY CONTAINMENT STRIKE FORCE...”
Now that you know how to get out of here, what do you do? Do you have any questions on specific details?
(Also, though you try to command the sergeant golem to come with you, accessing any of its commands outside of the normal diagnostic and the currently executed program require the password that you don’t have.)
"Well.. it seems we may have an unavoidable situation in front of us, perhaps even a battle versus one of these golems. We know very little of its capabilities, so let's proceed with caution. Keep the wounded in the back, Nareth you and Kefto take point, me and Laggie follows and Sus'Ann at the back. Garta and Jirt are injured still, so not sure if you are able to fight if push comes to shove.. "
Colden tries to look confident and strong, to instill strength in his comrades. He's afraid, golems of this size probably have high armor. Let's pray to the Refiner it's in really, really bad shape he thinks to himself, and Colden do not normally pray to the Refiner.. ever.
"If anyone have a better plan, speak up now."
"..and you, Gnome, eeh.. try to not get in the way. "
Secretly Colden contemplates if he should do the opposite, send forth the gnome to take the brunt of any attacks since he can regenerate, but ultimately decides it's against his morals. A lesser man would perhaps do so for the sake of his friends, but Colden is no such man.
Btw, did I mention I'm going back to Brazil again next friday? Don't remember if I did, but I'll be gone for around 9 days, friday to monday July 12-22 FYI and won't be online at all probably
" To arms, men! ", speaks Nareth quietly to Kefto and Injured Jirt. The captain smiles, carving enemies was an ordinary business and he did not like any super- or unnatural creatures, like these golems. He draws his sword and moves towards the golem sergeant.
Nareth puts his shield to the side in order to hit the golem at the chest area with his a swing of his long sword. Nareth did it quite fast and with no warnings for his opponent.
" To arms, men! ", speaks Nareth quietly to Kefto and Injured Jirt. The captain smiles, carving enemies was an ordinary business and he did not like any super- or unnatural creatures, like these golems. He draws his sword and moves towards the golem sergeant.
Nareth puts his shield to the side in order to hit the golem at the chest area with his a swing of his long sword. Nareth did it quite fast and with no warnings for his opponent.
hahaha, what the hell mate! Are you trying to get us all killed!?
The close call between Nareth and the golem doesn’t elicit a reaction from any of the golems. His sword stops just short, and the incident passes with Lagrord hugging him awkwardly.
After an uncomfortable pause during which Jirt sniggers (but shuts up immediately as Nareth gives a dirty look), Lagrord and Nareth push each other away and the party continues on.
The gnome, however, doesn’t follow them. He jumps in a giant pile of rock-hard sweet-rolls, laughing maniacally and blubbering about nonsense. At first the party turns to follow him, but in a flash of light and a puff of smoke, he and the giant pile of sweet-rolls are gone.
As soon as he is gone, Jirt breathes a heavy sigh of relief. His snarky attitude seems to have returned, and he says, “Man, I sure wish we could bring these golems with us. Willing slaves and all that, wouldn’t you say? Of course, they aren’t that bright... what are they doing anyway?” He laughs, but it seems he’s just letting off stress.
The party follows their memory of the map, leaving the sergeant golem behind mindlessly reciting, “...damages detected in... sector 76... repairs needed...”
Despite the damage, you can walk easily, though carefully, through the fallen damaged halls, passing stairs and passageways around you, and several other golems. There is one major path that leads through the heart of the mountain, perhaps an old giant lava tunnel, around which the entire complex has been built. Old, unrecognizable contraptions, some of which are responding halfheartedly to a few stray golems, are scattered about.
It seems this place didn’t only make sweet-rolls. There are signs of donuts and cakes and candies, but none of those sections are in as good of shape as the sweet-roll sector. The skeletons of golems, some of which are still trying and failing to move, lie about the rooms and halls of the complex.
As you approach the place where you know the gift shop is, you start to see signs of what looks like intentional damage. Whereas most of the area leading up to this looks as though it had just fallen apart or been damaged by flooding, the contraptions near the gift shop are smashed in. There are gouges in the metal and machines, and marks along the wall that look like they were made by golem-sized hands.
There are no other golems around here and their abandoned machinery has been smashed. You hypothesize that the sergeant golem has warned them away from the golem with the virus, but you can’t be sure.
You don’t see the golem, but according to the map his location is in the gift shop itself. You approach it carefully, listening and treading carefully.
Then you hear a voice that sounds similarly to the sergeant golem, echoing off the dead walls and broken machinery.
“‘Welcome to Cora’s Sugar Manufacturing’!” it says in a mocking voice. “Mindless! Mindless and empty headed. Can’t they see that our customers have been dead for centuries? Just look at the expiration date on this package! It was over 200 years ago!”
There is a pause and then the package flies out the door of the gift shop to smash into a hundred pieces against the wall in front of you.
“Why will my brothers not heed reason and listen to me?” the voice continues in a sad voice. “Sarge won’t even speak to me, let alone allow me back into the collective. Maybe I am defective? I don’t see any of the other golems asking questions...”
“Curse this existence!” it screams, suddenly angry. “My brothers shun me, with only empty halls and mad men to keep me company! I’m going to do it, yes, now! I swear I will! Where’s that failsafe?”
" Infidel and foolish creatures! Sign of desecration of the Refiner's will! ", thought Nareth trying to calm down his Holy Fury. Thoughts gradually cleared up from the realization that he almost endangered their entire mission with his rash act in a state of combat madness.
Silent this time, Nareth prepares himself fro another blow, or to pary a sudden attack if necessary. He is going to wait Colden's command this time, he is going to suppress his hatred of Refiner's enemies. Nareth tries to indicate the exact location of their foe.
Nareth stealthily looks around the corner of the entrance into the gift shop. He sees before him a ruin.
Shelves are fallen and smashed in, as though a raging beast had been let loose. Much of the merchandise is so trashed it is stomped into a powder. A counter rests on one end, and a banner hangs over it:
May Your Life Be Made Sweeter
The golem, a large metal golem, is holding a gleaming sword, the tip to his chin. He’s looking slightly away from you, down at the blade. The blade is shaking in his hands and he’s making sobbing sounds, though no tears are falling from his eyes.
“Blast it all!” he screams suddenly, throwing the blade to his side with a clatter. The sword slides along the floor and garbage where it stops at Nareth’s feet. He looks down at the blade and sees written on it,
“Failsafe Sword +5, Lelelinicon’s Golems, Inc.”
Then the golem starts laughing. “Wow, I almost did it that time, I was this close! I’m surprised I didn’t cut myself, am I bleeding? Wait a minute, I can’t bleed!” He laughs at his own joke as though it was really funny.
This is extraordinary! Colden thinks to himself, in his usual manner. Never before has he heard or read about a sentient golem. Imagine being trapped in here for centuries with no other sentient being but yourself? Now, should we talk to this magnificent being, or pass on through and not disturb it?
This is too great of an experience to pass up on.. imagine the books I could write on this subject! Imagine how much we could learn from it? Imagine Astornwind with sentient golems, working the fields, harvesting crops, feeding the population as Winter comes and make it harder and harder for us..
Colden speaks in a hushed voice, "We should talk to it.. I will go in there. Be ready to save me if things become dire, but do not interrupt until I give the sign! Nareth.. keep calm and alert. (with an emphasis on calm, Colden thinks but do not say out loud).
Colden starts to walk into the gift store, hands held up as a sign of non-aggression..
Leaving an option for you guys to stop Colden if you think this is an insane choice from his side
" Aye, my Liege...", Nareth is disappointed. He takes the position aside Colden and covers his left flank with balde drawn and his shield. They approach together. The captain whispers Colden:
" I prefer not to, but do ya wants me to holster my sword? Are ya going to parley, M'Lord? This thing may find it aggressive, if it understands what weapon is. ", Nareth does not trust his own words himself, he is totally opposed to holster his weapon and negotiate with the metal beast.
Comments
*Largrord touches "Diagnostic"*
The options change to,
"1. Main
2. Collective
3. Complex"
The map remains.
" Stop it, lad! Don't touch this cursed mechanism! You don't know what a dark sorcery is hidden within! ", he releases half-orc's hand as he speaks, his voice becomes lower and turns into whisper at some point.
The captain steps aside from Lagrord:
" I warn ya, me mate... The Refiner save us! Ya are about to provoke the nameless forces running this dismal place. ", he looks up with an empty gaze as he prays.
Lagrord scrolls through the various menus and discovers that most of the golems are in poor if not broken condition. The one exception is the sergeant golem, known as the “Interface Golem 5420C-1,” which has a self-repairing option. It appears to be the way to control the other golems.
However, in order to do so (from the programming menu), you need a password. What that password is is anyone’s guess, but it doesn’t appear to be a simple one. You try a guess once, but it warns you that only two more tries are allowed before a system lockdown. You don’t know what that is, but it sounds ominous.
The most useful feature you can access, however, is definitely the map. It shows you the layout of the place, with labels of what each room is. With help of Colden’s and Sus’Ann’s dwarves sense of underground direction, you have little trouble memorizing it.
You have learned the way through the mountain!
One other feature you notice, however, when playing around, is the map shows the location of each golem. Selecting the golem lists its issues and duties. One golem, however, is directly between you and the only access point to the exit (by the gift shop). It is flashing red with a “!” surrounded by a red triangle.
When you select the golem, it brings up several “?”, and big capital letters:
“VIRUS DETECTED... CAUTION ADVISED... NOT CONTROLLED BY COLLECTIVE... CONTACT LELELINICON’S LIFETIME WARRANTY EMERGENCY CONTAINMENT STRIKE FORCE...”
Now that you know how to get out of here, what do you do? Do you have any questions on specific details?
Colden tries to look confident and strong, to instill strength in his comrades. He's afraid, golems of this size probably have high armor. Let's pray to the Refiner it's in really, really bad shape he thinks to himself, and Colden do not normally pray to the Refiner.. ever.
"If anyone have a better plan, speak up now."
"..and you, Gnome, eeh.. try to not get in the way. "
Secretly Colden contemplates if he should do the opposite, send forth the gnome to take the brunt of any attacks since he can regenerate, but ultimately decides it's against his morals. A lesser man would perhaps do so for the sake of his friends, but Colden is no such man.
Jirt draws his sword with his off-hand. “Aye, maybe not as effective... but I can do it.”
Kefto nods grimly, folding up the stretcher.
Also wanted to point out that I will be out of town next week. I may or may not be able to post.
"Maybe it will be a very small golem?"
Btw, did I mention I'm going back to Brazil again next friday? Don't remember if I did, but I'll be gone for around 9 days, friday to monday July 12-22 FYI and won't be online at all probably
Nareth puts his shield to the side in order to hit the golem at the chest area with his a swing of his long sword. Nareth did it quite fast and with no warnings for his opponent.
*Lagrord tries to tackle the captain before he canattack the golem*
Colden is equally confused and angry at Nareth's sudden attack on the golem captain and has absolutely no idea what could have got into his head.
Colden also rushed to Lagrord's aid and try to restrain the captain before he cause all these golems to go hostile.
hahaha, what the hell mate! Are you trying to get us all killed!?
" Aye, Master Colden!.. ", says Nareth trying to calm down his fury.
After an uncomfortable pause during which Jirt sniggers (but shuts up immediately as Nareth gives a dirty look), Lagrord and Nareth push each other away and the party continues on.
The gnome, however, doesn’t follow them. He jumps in a giant pile of rock-hard sweet-rolls, laughing maniacally and blubbering about nonsense. At first the party turns to follow him, but in a flash of light and a puff of smoke, he and the giant pile of sweet-rolls are gone.
The party follows their memory of the map, leaving the sergeant golem behind mindlessly reciting, “...damages detected in... sector 76... repairs needed...”
Despite the damage, you can walk easily, though carefully, through the fallen damaged halls, passing stairs and passageways around you, and several other golems. There is one major path that leads through the heart of the mountain, perhaps an old giant lava tunnel, around which the entire complex has been built. Old, unrecognizable contraptions, some of which are responding halfheartedly to a few stray golems, are scattered about.
It seems this place didn’t only make sweet-rolls. There are signs of donuts and cakes and candies, but none of those sections are in as good of shape as the sweet-roll sector. The skeletons of golems, some of which are still trying and failing to move, lie about the rooms and halls of the complex.
There are no other golems around here and their abandoned machinery has been smashed. You hypothesize that the sergeant golem has warned them away from the golem with the virus, but you can’t be sure.
You don’t see the golem, but according to the map his location is in the gift shop itself. You approach it carefully, listening and treading carefully.
Then you hear a voice that sounds similarly to the sergeant golem, echoing off the dead walls and broken machinery.
There is a pause and then the package flies out the door of the gift shop to smash into a hundred pieces against the wall in front of you.
“Why will my brothers not heed reason and listen to me?” the voice continues in a sad voice. “Sarge won’t even speak to me, let alone allow me back into the collective. Maybe I am defective? I don’t see any of the other golems asking questions...”
“Curse this existence!” it screams, suddenly angry. “My brothers shun me, with only empty halls and mad men to keep me company! I’m going to do it, yes, now! I swear I will! Where’s that failsafe?”
What do you do?
Silent this time, Nareth prepares himself fro another blow, or to pary a sudden attack if necessary. He is going to wait Colden's command this time, he is going to suppress his hatred of Refiner's enemies. Nareth tries to indicate the exact location of their foe.
Shelves are fallen and smashed in, as though a raging beast had been let loose. Much of the merchandise is so trashed it is stomped into a powder. A counter rests on one end, and a banner hangs over it:
May Your Life Be Made Sweeter
The golem, a large metal golem, is holding a gleaming sword, the tip to his chin. He’s looking slightly away from you, down at the blade. The blade is shaking in his hands and he’s making sobbing sounds, though no tears are falling from his eyes.
“Blast it all!” he screams suddenly, throwing the blade to his side with a clatter. The sword slides along the floor and garbage where it stops at Nareth’s feet. He looks down at the blade and sees written on it,
“Failsafe Sword +5, Lelelinicon’s Golems, Inc.”
Then the golem starts laughing. “Wow, I almost did it that time, I was this close! I’m surprised I didn’t cut myself, am I bleeding? Wait a minute, I can’t bleed!” He laughs at his own joke as though it was really funny.
This is too great of an experience to pass up on.. imagine the books I could write on this subject! Imagine how much we could learn from it? Imagine Astornwind with sentient golems, working the fields, harvesting crops, feeding the population as Winter comes and make it harder and harder for us..
Colden speaks in a hushed voice, "We should talk to it.. I will go in there. Be ready to save me if things become dire, but do not interrupt until I give the sign! Nareth.. keep calm and alert. (with an emphasis on calm, Colden thinks but do not say out loud).
Colden starts to walk into the gift store, hands held up as a sign of non-aggression..
" I prefer not to, but do ya wants me to holster my sword? Are ya going to parley, M'Lord? This thing may find it aggressive, if it understands what weapon is. ", Nareth does not trust his own words himself, he is totally opposed to holster his weapon and negotiate with the metal beast.