Dwarf Fortress: Deeper Delve Part 2

Log Info

• Title: Dwarf Fortress: Deeper Delve Part 2

• GM: Subduction

• Characters: Carver,Rocky,Reithak,Harkashan

• Place: Dwarven ruins, archaeological site

• Summary: After a band of adventurers helped clear the squatters out of a recently discovered dwarven ruin some months ago, the archeological team have been having a field day studying what could be found in the upper levels. They have finally decyphered the runes warding the entrance to deeper parts of the ancient fortress, and once again seek assistance to search deeper within and face the dangers that might be found there.

A fresh band of adventurers have made their way into the depths of the ancient Dwarven Fortress- whos name as yet they have yet to discover. Upon descending the central staircase, finally unlocked by dilligent researchers after months of toil, they descended into the bowels of the earth. The central staircase spirals dizzyingly deeper and deeper, until they finally emerged ono a landing. The adventurers had little time to examine their surroundings before a strange being- a massive femenine face carved from a single piece of marble- spoke. Offering them access to the vault they guard, if they played a game with them. The adventurers succeeded, besting the graven face in The Oldest Game, and the large iron-barred vault door swung open.

Accompanying the opening of the vault was a rush of bone-dry and searing hot air, the smell of sulfur, and the noise of angry bubbling from further into the vault which- upon inspection- seems to be a natural cavern in the earth in which this central staircase and landing has been built and fortified.

Carver, hair much shorter, squints against the rush of heat that is exhaled from the bowels of earth. She slowly reaches back, bringing a leather hood up and over, drawing it down to protect her face from any other such warm sulfuric kisses, even as her eyes narrow to slits in the wild mask of her facepaint. "Hot."

They should have sent a poet, not a ranger. She slings her bow off, drawing an arrow from her quiver as she measures her fellows.

Rocky chuffs softly, peering thru the door. The jungle lizard is fine with heat, but this isn't the sort he's use to. "Guardian Gamer watches over those who enter. What of those who wish to exit again?"

"It is not so bad." Harkashan answers Carver as the sudden wave of heat hits them. Much like Rocky, he's quite used to this kind of temperature. He then unsheathes his blade and makes sure his buckler is locked in, and begins to progress a bit to get a better look at the area around him.

Those watching him closely - notably Rocky more than the others - might spot a shift in his scales. The strange way those lava-like patterns on his body shift in the light grows more lively. More like true lava seeping down along his body.

The source of the heat is abundantly evident when one peers through the doorway- the cavern wall has split, ad the blood of the earth seeps and bubbles from the fissure, occasionally belching gouts of noxious vapors and spitting embers as it roils and churns in the southwest corner of the room. The molten rock casts ample light, and dusty long-dried barrels, piles of copper, silver and even gold coins, small gemstones, trinkets, banded chests that have survived the ages can be seen.

The cavern extends out and around, seeming to at least partiall encircle the central chamber through which the staircase runs.

"Well! That went well, I'd say." The egalrin hums as she peers into the door and beyond. "Smells like a paper mill, or a paper mill smells like volcanic activity. Either that, or someone isn't owning up to the smell, but no, I think we're dealing with actual sulfur."

"Nice to see ya again Carver! Good you're here to help." Reithak greets. "It is pretty hot, for certain, so lets not waste too much time searching here. Heat exhaustion is pretty nasty."

"Righ'." Carver says as Harkashan's uniquely suited form adjusts to the heat, while her own breaks out into sweat almost immediately. "Good t'see ye again." The latter is for Reithak, recognizing him after a long consideration. "Good advice, innit? Let's try to follow it." She will follow Harkashan inside, her sweeping her drawn bow back and forth for a few cautious seconds before releasing the tension on the bowstring.

"What think ye of what migh' reside here? Has to be somethin' suited to the heat."

"Let us leave the treasure alone. That is for the researchers to deal with." Harkashan rumbles; "Especially at it could very well be cursed." The Sith-makar takes a while to look around, getting a better look in the area.

"There's some pools of lava here, so let us be careful about our footing. Move slowly." He warns the group. Then, looking back to Reithak and the others, he rumbles; "If you start to feel dizzy or overwhelmed due to the heat, let me know. I can help heal you."

He then moves to the east to further explore. "Looks like this may go around the stairwell. It looks like the main body of explorable area lies to the north." While pointing northwards.

"There could be Ifrit, lizards, fire elementals..." Harkashan offers. "If there's anything that is of the elemental type here, remember that they are impossible to flank." He warns - as Carver asks what might reside here.

Rocky chuffs again. "Traps, golems, demons, undead. Is not just heat, but locked in here for a very long time." The grey scale considers. "Or has a different entrance.

Rocky considers a moment longer, and shrugs, following after the others, watching the rear as much as the way foreward.

As Harkashan moves further towardws the east, he peers into the flickering shadows cast by the stout walls of the central staircase. To the north is a curious site- there are severql suits of armor, each of them flaked and tarnished as though by intense heat. One is slumped against the wall, and outlined by scorch marks. Another seems to be awkwardly seated on a throne of gold- but as Harkashan's eyes adjust to the dancing light cast by the molten rock, he sees it is no throne- but a mound of gold, silver and copper, long since melted and re-set into a mishapen lump of a thing. And the armor is less seated upon it than partially entombed within it. The final suit of armor lays face down and sprawled out, gauntleted hand extended towards the haft of an axe.

The suits of armor are all shaped and sized for Khazad stock- stout and heavy.

"Not sure what we might find here, so, on our guards, right?" The egalrin chuckles as she steps into the room with the others. "The door had an enchanted figure guarding it, and, well now, this place is well preserved, almost concerningly so." she notes with a low whistle. "The fact that all this treasure is still here and nothing has been taken from tunneling beasts by the looks of it. "Might be some further protections in place."

Carver's arm grows taut as she pulls the string back once more, arrow aimed at the visor-slit of one of the suits of armor. Her own visor, a wild mask of face paint beneath the low brim of her hood, narrows as dark eyes consider the unsightly statue with great suspicion. "Oi, no ancestor-buggers or grave robbers here? You alive, tin-head?" <khazdul>

Spotting the strange molten 'shape' of gold, silver and copper, he quickly steps off of the gold he was standing near. There's this sense of distrust and paranoia about what he is seeing. The Sith-makar squints his eyes, considering the various piles.

"Something doesn't feel right. If they controlled this region, why would they be entombed by their own materials?" He rumbles, trying to get a better look without approaching too closely.

"Be on guard. And be wary of the piles. There could be mimics, or some other kinds of creatures here." He rumbles.

He then looks to Carver, going; "Sorry, I do not understand that."

"Beardtalk," Carver explains. "My sisters, they done taught me. How to drink their beer and speak like 'em." She hasn't released her bow. "I thinkin' maybe statues be alive. In the past, maybe."

Rocky rumbles softly. "One moment." The warrior caste moves cautiously closer towards the armors, tracing a rune patterened into his thin vloak. After a moment, the sith's eyes glow with arcane light. "Checking for magic."

Rocky chuff a short warning. "Corpse magics!"

"Hard to say. That's why we're clearing this place out for the people who do know what they're doing, right?" The inquisitor shrugs. "Yeah, I'm not touching anything if I can help it, never been a huge fan of jewelry, too restrictive."

"She was asking the armor if there's any khazad spirits or things like that still in them. Worth a shot, I'd say."

"Met a few khazad who said only a khazad can truly understand the subtleties of their ale. I think they use that as an excuse to keep it all to themselves though, but that's close enough I'd say, Carver." The egalrin snickers.

Whether it is Carver's words, or Rocky's advance, something causes a change. The dull, faded embers within the helm begin to grow in intensity, growing brighter and brighter until fierce flames lick at the visor of the helm. The flame spreads, moving down the throat, the limbs. The armor itself flowly begins to glow, red hot, and then white. Slag flakes from its surface to be whipped away by the rising air around the suit of armor. The glow spreads to every inch of it, growing brighter and brighter until until the suit rages like a bonfire.

The molten precious metals it is encased in begin to run in rivulets, and its encased hand emerges from the molten gold clutching an axe. Its shield, on the ground besides it, is clutched and brought up as it steps out of the rich mound.

Deeper in the cave, the other suits- corpses- begin to stir, and searing embers rise from them as well, reaching for lost weapons and rising slowly, deliberately to their feet.

"Bloody undead!" Carver calls out, "Iffin ye have blunt, bash 'em!" Her shots go over Harkashan's shoulders, well-aimed enough to plant into the armored creatures though they hardly seem plussed by the arrows quivering upon impact. She spits off to the side in disgust. Poorly equipped for this it would seem.

Although later to awaken, the ones to the rear of the cavern are first to act. Their initial lumbering belies surprising speed once their armor is warmed up, and then stomp towards the pair of large Sith-Makar in the front row. The first of them lifts his axe and swings for Rocky- but the blow is deftly deflected by the greyscale's shield. Its own shield is held close to the body, ready to guard against counterattack.

THe next of them tramples over a pile of gold, coins turning to rivulets beneath it's spiked boots and as soon as it is near enough a smaller axe is lifted from its belt and then hurled towards Harkashan- it smashes against the rock face to the right of Harkashan's head and then clatters harmlessly to the ground.

As the transformation begins, Harkashan lets out a dangerous growl. Sensing the undead as a Deathsinger has him immediately on guard. Blade at the ready, he warns the rest of the team; "Be on your guard! And ready yourselves!" He warns,

He takes a step forward, buckler forward. "Be careful approaching these. They aren't just likely to shrug off any fire damage, they'll burn you if you get too close to you. Those flames are not for show!"

"I will start sending out spells to weaken our foes." He could use his ability as a Deathsinger. But he's here to guide these Adventurers. Noting that Carver's arrow hits but does a weak bit of damage, he considers; "We may also need magical weapons against our foes. Carver, get closer to me, and I'll see if I can't do something for your bow."

He then ducks his head down and raises his buckler, as the axe clatters against the shield, and clatters to the wall. He then speaks a rumbling deep draconic tone, that ripples outwards. Silver-red light cascading out to the enemies, and his allies, taking their fiery strength and granting it to his allies.

"Well, gotta get close to put em to rest, especially if anything sharp and pointy isn't going to do much good." The inquisitor shrugs, drawing their concerningly sharp and pointy rapier regardless. "The muses flames burn stronger and protect me." Reithak whistles, causing their garments and leather armor to glow for a brief moment as she strides forward to meet the first of the undead. <Auran>

THe remaining armor clad warrior stomps forwards, its heavy plate armor rattling and roiling as it advances to meet Reithak, adjacent to its companion- shielf lifted and axe readied as they form some semblance of a shield wall, drawing upon some deep instinct instilled long ago in another age, another life.

Its axe whips out, and cuts across Reithak's chest. The blade is sharp, despite being ancient, and cauterizes as it cuts. There is not much blood, but the flesh blisters and feathers shrivel and smoke where the blow lands.

Rocky leans back from the glowing heat as the armor advances upon him, but holds his ground. Setting his feet, the greyscale swings his cold iron blade, the weapon nearly too big for the confines of the passage. Nearly, but still serves, the blade clashing into a joint, causing minimal damage. A second blow lands, but fails to penitrate. The sith starts to pant in his own armor, the heat blistering.

"Might be time to consider expanding my equipment," Carver says, paint and sweat dripping down her cheeks. It does not interfere with her aim, and though their effective damage to the creatures is limited, she is proud of the accuracy of slipping arrows between her front line warriors - glad to also not be burning alive like they are.

The blazing armors bear into Reithak and Rocky, pressing into their space but rather than continuing their attack they slam the pointed bases of their massive shields into the rock beneath them, presenting an unassailable wall of glowing-hot steel.

"Ah, of course. These are skeletons." Harkashan rumbles as Carver chips away at the armor! " They are resistant to anything not bludgeoning, when it comes to physical attacks."

Which makes things rather difficult for the current team.

He steps back a little, pressing his hand to the ground. "Reithak, Rocky, step back towards me. I'm going to try and place a circle that will hold them back momentarily. That should allow us to attack from a distance, and better prepare ourselves for a moment!"

From his hand, a circle of light ripples out, slowly encompassing the ground. Ringing further and further towards the Undead that are setting up for cover, and then comes to a bright pale-red shine, seeking to block the path of the undead. Bolstering his allies.

The axe throwing skeleton from the back line marches onward to join its bretheren in the shielf wall, its own massive shield locked against theirs as the three of them. Now the three of them present a single, united front, each of them braces- knees bending, heels grinding into the stone beneath them, and their shields are held at the ready.

It is now Rocky's turn! Carver is next!

The large egalrin winces from the prior blow, leaving a burnt wound behind. "Oh, believe me, I'm not hitting those things after what they did to Rocky there, I prefer my goose not cooked." Reithak responds as she hops back and grabs the holy symbol that was dangling out of a burnt hole in their vest. "Guide us with your inspiration, so we may strike true!" The inquisitor whistles again, filling the party with a modicum of fervor behind their strikes. <Auran>

Rocky hesitates. The enemy is right before him... but well perpared. Trusting his teammate, the greyscale steps back, his own shield at the ready. Placeing his blade back in it's sheath, the sith grabs a simple club from his belt. Sometimes simple is best.

The sounds of battle are suddenly interrupted by a deep, rumbling gurgle and then a crash as the surface of the magma pool in the southwest of the chamber splits open, belching forth a thick cloud of noxious fumes and spattering the nearby walls and ceiling of the chamber with molten rock which begins to harden almost immediately into ugly lumps of poroous black stone.

"I've seen better beards between a elf's legs!" A voice shouts behind them, away from the melee. Carver's particular piercing warbling voice, pitched up even higher. Her arrows weren't effective before they shielded. So why not use her words and deeds. "I seens better armor used as dinner plate, and better shields. Useless shites about as good as wet towels I wouldne' even dry meself with. Wanna stand there, you lot of boney pricks? I'mma steal your loot and piss on your bleedin' ancesteral pits."

Carver will then go to help herself with the treasure chest next to her, making a grand show of throwing it open, complete with wide-eyed manic improvisational trickery. "Here's ME TAKIN' YOUR STUFF. OH, AND YOUR ALE? PISSWATER AND REGRET."

The sudden holy magic aura gives the skeletons pause- they flinch back, recoiling at the energies antithesis to their existance. But only for a moment, before they resume their grim advance. The first of them attempts to barrel through, shield as a battering ram, to pass the group and charge towards Carver- whether it understands her words, or is simply stimulated by the noise and motion, is hard to tell. But either way, Reithak presents a formidable bulwark, and the burning armor is unable to pass.

The next of them steps forwards, wildly swinging it's waraxe once, and then twice- the first blow falls wide, and the second clatters against Rocky's shield with a flash and a shower of sparks, like iron hammered against an anvil.

Harkashan slowly rises, watching the skeletons take up place ahead of them. Their shields forward - creating a proper shield wall. "Make sure to keep track of our left flank. We haven't explored that region." He's honestly impressed by the tactics these undead are using.

"I can move forward and take the brunt of their assault. Their flames won't harm me." He suggests, looking at the rest of the team. Rocky switching weapons gets a nod from Harkashan. "We need to break at least one in order to get through their shield wall."

The room then is quick to show that it is rather unstable. The sudden blast of the magma pool to the south-west has Harkashan concerned for his team. "It would appear we are on the clock. And these creatures wish to keep us contained so we burn by Lava. Very well then... let us speed things up." Harkashan growls.

As the creatures then move forward, Harkashan rumbles; "Ah, they are tired of waiting. Very well then! I suppose we do not have to worry of a summoning undead nearby." As he steps in, taking up Reithak's previous position and barring the undead's way. Followed by a wave of grey light that overcomes his team and the undead. An energy that seeks to push the undead back while bolstering his allies further.

Reithak is not expecting the skeletons to go charging through her, but the large egalrin is at least large, and able to stand their ground. "Oh no, you missed your chance when you went entrenching yourself." The inquisitor grunts as she shoves the armor back, not holding on longer than expected. The explosive magma however makes the egalrin jump, and they back away quickly under the cover of the activity. "Don't think I can take another slash like that, and whatever that's spewing." They consider, reaching again for the holy symbol, shoving it against the blackened and burnt wound, and providing a measure of relief.

Caught in the wave of positive energy emenating from Rocky, the skeletons recoil once more- their flaking armor crumbles in places and their flames dum. Black-charred bone beneath crumbles to dust, and is blasted away from them by the force of it. The first of them to rouse, the one pinned with Carver's arrows, is in worst shape. It's entire ribcage exposed, several of the ribs missing. Its helm split in half, revealing a portion of its jawless skull.

It pushes onwards, squeezing between the wall and Rocky- and receives a blow to the head which shatters the remainder of its helm and caves its skull halfway in- and still it attacks, swinging its blade at Rocky with prescient speed- too fast for the Sith-Makar to knock it aside this time, and positioned well to penetrate armor. Only, at the last moment, a shimmer of subtle light shows itself at the edge of the blade, and it scrapes harmlessly against the air, a hair's breadth away from scale.

Rocky is distressingly nimble for a big armored lizard. Well, distressing for foes. Whirling in place to bash the armor as it runs past, the greyscale weathers the strike before returning his own, the first strike glace off armor, but the second chrushing remains of skull.

The sith starts to whirl arnod to attack the pair on the other size, but the suddeb fiery explosion of the fallen armor throws off his aim more than a little.

"Yes!" Carver is happy that for once, she has a frontline. Is not being actively swallowed or fireballed. Thankful either. She's never hugged a lizard but she could hug these pair, and probably the bird as well. With the space to plant her feet, minus a brief concerned look at the expanding gas to her left, she continues her rapid pace of aim and release with a flurry of arrows.

The felled skeleton begins to collapse after its skull is smashed in. Its fire fades but for an instant, and then roils and rages within its chest with renewed vigor. Suddenly the flames burst outwards, shatering what remains of its ribcage and engulfing Rocky in flames, splintered shards of bone and steel punching their way into scale where they sizzle and blister the flesh beneath.

The others, heedless of their comrade's demize, press inwards, axes flashing against shields and armor- their blows are quick, but seem to slow or fall off target at the last instant, or hands are guided to deflect them by unseen provenance as the combined blessings of their comrades shield the pair of Sith-makar from harm.

Flames burst, and Harkashan winces. "They explode when they are slain? Well, that's not great." He rumbles as he watches one of his comrades be engulfed in flames.

"Are you alright, Kin?" He asks, touching to Rocky's shoulder for a moment, before he points his blade forward. There's a strange rumble in the air. A shimmer on the ground. Before a pale presence begins to rise.

Eyeless, practically faceless, a slender pale humanoid rises up. It slowly raises what looks like a Khopesh, cutting at the back of the Skeletonal armor. But its blade clatters against the armor, unable to pass through.

Rocky chuffs happily, the tide starting to turn in their favor. "This One still stands." Any HP greater than zero means ready to rock. His club crunches a bit of bone, but mostly clangs off armor, turned aside by searing metal. Ow.

Reithak is very happy they kept off to one side as the first of the skeletons explode. "Well, alright then, can't be helped, but you look like you're doing okay." The egalrin shrugs as she ducks off to the side, and strikes out at the armored skeleton that was in front of them. Unfortunately, the rapier pierces only air, and the inquisitor's fist reverberates the armor harmlessly as their blows fail to find any weaknesses. It seemed they weren't used to fighting like this very much.

"Go on now. Body with spirit, useless walkin' husks in a crumblin' tomb." Carver mutters, face shiny with sweat from the heat of the vault. She blinks away the moisture where it dews on her lashes before drawing her last three arrows out of her quiver. The spare is stuck in the chest next to her, the other two pinning the skeletons anew.

Carver's latest arrow finds its way into the eye-slot of one of the remaining skeletons, the tip of it coming out the back of the skeleton's helmet. It stands stock still for a moment, shield and axe clattering to the ground as it shudders and shakes. There is a whooshing noise as flames engulf its entire body, and then burst outwards washing ov3er Harkashan and Rocky. Rocky takes the brunt of it, but even Harkashan with his magma-hued scales does not escape unharmed, even they singe and blacken.

The last standing Skeleton makes one swing, and then another- broad overhead strikes first for Rocky, the blow glancing off a shield, and then for Reithak- catching the corner of the central chamber's wall, and chipping away the masonry.

Flames engulf Harkashan, while his scales seem to glisten. The light and colors warping over them. Some of the flames burning through the scales, but so much of it flooding off of his scales, his armor. The Deathsinger barely seeming to notice the assault of heat on his body on the surface. But Rocky could see the slight grimace in his expression.

"Finish this, Rocky." He growls at his ally, stepping back carefully and touching his Kin once more. Sending a wave of strength through his ally while the strange faceless creature he'd summoned tries to assault the skeleton from behind - still failing to make proper contact.

Reithak shakes off the heat, but it certainly wasn't helping matters as the egalrin elects to disregard their rapier, and instead smash the skeleton with their fist.

A blow which again, bounces harmlessly off of the armor. "I'm fairly certain I didn't get scammed by that merchant." The egalrin grumbles to themselves as they hop back out of the way as the skeleton's presence causes their skin to blister again.

Rocky nods to the lavascale as he steps in, club rising and falling with magical speed and force. Bone powders under the assault, and the greyscale turns away as the armor explodes, weathering the worst of the damage.

Peering around a moment to make sure of no further threats, the greyscale slumps, falling still for a moment. After a second, he opens his eyes again. "This One could use a nap."

A wave of healing energy ripples out from Harkashan as he notices the smell of crispy skysister, and the burnt scales of his Kin. "Let us finish exploring this chamber, and then go back up to report back." He remarks.

"I am... not looking forward to going up all of those steps. So I rather not chance leaving anything here undone that requires us to come back down here on the short term." He points out.

Another explosion rocks the chamber, this one scattering coinage as well as splinters of bone and armor. But as the wave of fire washes over Rocky, it comes with it a moment of respite. The magma pool still churns noisily in the corner of the chamber, but the echoing sounds of steel against steel come to a stop as the last of the skeletons is destroyed and its remains laid to eternal- if violent- rest.

Carver walks up, face a terrible warmask of perspiration and rivers of colors from her facepaint. "Not so bad, glad to not have to suffer their ire up close." She checks in with Rocky first, to make certain he's not about to collapse from heat exhaustion or wounds before turning to Reithak. "Wanna help Shinyscale's there search through everythin'?"

Harkashan huffs a bit, and begins to search for any dangers. Things that might trip up the investigation team coming later. He spends a notable amount of time around the lava pool, making sure there's no fire elementals that might spring on them.

He also gathers the armor left on the now exploded skeletons, searching for further bones. Eventually taking notes of some dates on some of the coins. He doesn't touch them, or move them. Instead, he creates a few small notes using cloth and ink, and puts them in the spots he finds them - so he can help them spot them later. Taking notes of the dates to bring back to the archeologists.

As the heat gets more sweltering, he begins to move around from person to person. Offering water and healing spells, to help them stay up without losing too much focus.

"Khazad-Ur," Carver says after spending some time picking around. She pulls back her hood, pouring some of her canteen onto her head, and then washing her face with a warm handful of water as well. Wiping with the back of an arm, she shakes like a dog to disperse the rest. She can feel the pressure building in the room. "My goose is cookin'... anyway, dark dwarves. Mad men. Oathbreakers. Exiled. Whatever. All makes sense. They love their scary ass rooms and traps wassits."

With nothing else rising up and trying to kill them, it seems safe enough to take time and look around the area, even if the heat was getting exhausting. The inquisitor stops a few times to conjure some water and wash off their face.

"Found something here, too. Old tablet, dont recognize the dialect of khazad." Reithak notes. "Still, might tell them more about the history of the place, I'll leave a mark for them here."

"Can't say I know much about and Khazad-ur." Reithak shrugs. "But I'm sure the folks up top will know something about them."

Rocky searches for dangers, anything the might attack, or traps that might go off. The treasure is certainly interesting, but left alone. Rocky is a warrior, takeing gold if for theives. But there, tucked into a little recess. A trap? Or just a switch?

• CLICK*

A rumble starts below, a deep metalic clanging, like a massive chain moving across a roller.

"...oops."

The pool of magma starts to drain away.

As the pool begins to drain, the whole room vibrates, and the sound of metal-on-metal reverberates through the stone walls, it shakes the bones with its intensity- but it is also distant. Deep below. The sticky molden rock falls away, revealing a sluice of dark iron, clumps of molten stone clinging to it. And deep below, past the sluice and a great span of distance, a slow flowing river of magma can be seen. As can the origin of the rumbling sound. A massive chain, each link easily as thick as an Oruch's chest, dragging buckets of the molten stone up, hauled by rollers of cast obsidian as large as a barn. The buckets are pulled away, and out of view from this little glimpse into the inner workings of this fortress.

One thing that becomes clear, though, to even the most lay observer. This is no border fort or minor fief. The scale of industry evident here shows that this is- or was- a metropolis. And its deeper depths hold yet more mysteries.

Harkashan practically has a heartattack when Rocky manages to find something and flips that switch. He's just about to head over to Reithak to help her out with a Comprehend Languages spell, when the heavy rattling goes off.

Running to where he last saw Rocky, he is ready to start calling for everyone to flee up those stairs. But instead... the magma drains. "What in the...?" He rumbles in surprise...

Followed by the ratcheting and movement of ancient mechanics further below. "Well... I think you just gave the Archeologist something to go crazy over, Kin." He remarks to Rocky, before looking towards the stairs.

"Alright, time to head back."

Up those stairs.