A Secret in Merkabah pt 7

In a repair bay, somewhere in the guts of Merkabah....

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Merek A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Morgan Short pixy like half elf with fair skin Seldan Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Serene Glacier meets granite meets strawberries. Stegosaurus Giant quadrupedal lizard with dark hide and white plates. Stirling Powerfully built Arvek with enormous chrome gauntlets Stjepan Big, blonde jotun. Toha A woman shaped contrivance of leather and steel, with oruch weaponry. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Dire Wolf ripples and alters, gaining or retaining humanoid form, yet growing a muscular tail as her body smooths over in fine ebon scales.

Stirling nods "Right, no point sticking around here. he says thought the way he looks at the dead enemies gives the idea he might want to stick around if he could. "Unlikely there is anything there I don't already know." he says to try and convince himself.

The idea of adventurers becoming _those things_ is a chilling one, and a shudder ripples through Seldan. "As she says," he tells the others. "A force wall will only delay them so long, and I shall throw another behind us. Delay them for as long as I may, for we shall surely be overcome, do we stand and fight."

Merek does take a look to the place, while he nods a bit to people, "Either way, when we do all of that, we should be about our way to find it." He then checks the potions upon that belt while he places the equipment which he finds along into a pack.

Un'eth returns to a less-searing form as the last of the animated ones de-animate. The last in their immediate vicinity, that is. She looks to Brassbringer and snorts. "Destroying them all is not our goal." she admits, if reluctantly. "Let us do what we came to do..." She turns to look to the indicated tunnel and begins to stride that way. Deeper into the bowels of the monstrosity it is.

Morgan hmms as she gives the techo zombies a quick look "Lets move on, I hope thier is a powersource to these things we can depower."

The construct straightens on the revelation from Griva, readying Piriona as she utters a solemn, "Fieu of the Tears be merciful." There's a quick twist to regard Seldan and the others, and she nods. At least her frozen expression rather fits the scenario as she moves to follow the lead. <yrch-speak>

 Griva pauses. Looks at the two paladins. Clears her throat. 

"There are a lot of Khazadi stories of last stands. I admire you both, deeply." 

She pauses for dramatic effect, "but it won't be necessaryy. While you were fighting, I believe I found something. That way," she gestures again, swiftly. 

Griva, it would appear, has an idea.

Stirling shakes his head "I can toss up another force wall if needed to slow them down. Best all of us just to get moving. No last stands neccisary yet." he notes. "So whats this idea?"

Un'eth glances back to those considering a stand. "We should continue. A stand may be necessary, but not now, and not here in the open." Her eyes and snout swing back to Griva. "What is it, and why this tunnel?"

Morgan looks to the other tunnels "well we need to take one." she seems to want to move on hoping others things that want to attack them are not coming.

Baffled is not a good, or a customary, expression on Seldan, but here we are. He looks from face to face at the mention of last stands. "I said naught or sacrifice, merely delay as Griva has already done. Come, let us go." With that, he turns to start down the tunnel that Griva indicated.

Toha nods and scans the area again to see if anything is skittering from other angles.

GAME: Stirling casts Wall of Force. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21
GAME: Seldan casts Wall of Force. Caster Level: 16 DC: 22

With the invisiblity sphere active, and walls of force left in your wake, you're able to slip out a different entrance than the one tyou arrived in. Griva is not exactly taking point, but she is offering directions. 

"I sent scrying eyes down the tunnesl. I watched the movements of some of the reinforcements. There's a way around to where they're coming from, but I'm afraid it's going to be a squeeze for us." 

Twists and turns lead to a small hatch in a wall, Kulthian script enraved above it. 

"This access hatch *should* lead us around to where they were coming from .We can get behind them and to where they were coming from, I believe." 

She lets out a breath, cheeks puffijng out. 

"I haven't had this much fun since the War." 

Unfortunately, what she said is true: the hatch looks small. It's going to be a squeeze for some of you -- some more than others -- but you all should fit.

The Hatch's Engraving reads, "Maintenance Tunnel 34-A" <kulthian>

Un'eth considers the opening and then looks to the others. "If our aim is to move unseen, I can aid us do that and fit easily through the hatch. If you don't object to scurrying."

Merek touches anything that's not Kulthian magic with the engineer gloves which he wears, then he nods a bit. "Maintenance Tunnel 34-A," the man notes, then he begins to check in on it. "Alright, I'm going to try in," he notes, then he begins to enter the hatch.

Stirling looks back at the way they came before reading the lettering on the hatch. "Well, I hope this is the correct way. We should close it behind us if we can." he says taking a quick look at the door.

"Let us go. I would not have us pinned for our own indecision. There is but one way to find the truth." Seldan seems quite prepared to wiggle his way through, although his armor might make that just a touch tricky.

Toha nods, "Alright, let's get movin'." she says grimly, expecting there to be some shifting involved for the whole 'scurrying' remark, and returns Piriona to it's Greatsword configuration then returns it to the scabbard hanging from her back chains.

The hatch is easy enough to open and a careful examination reveals that it isn't trapped. A quick grasp of its handles leads to it being pulled open, revealing a narrow passage through which you will need to crawl. 

Yes, crawl. 

It's not going to be easy to be quiet as you are now.

Morgan looks at the small exit for them "its times like this I laugh at short people jokes... well not the ones I say to dwarves." she waits untill others go first.

GAME: Un'eth casts Animal Shapes. Caster Level: 18 DC: 24

Why crawl when one can skitter and scurry. Since inconspicuousness is more potent at the moment than raw might, size matters in the opposite means as what some consider the norm. "Ready yourselves," is the only warning she gives before calling upon Ea's blessing (in this most unnatural of places). In a more finite extension of her own gifts, the band of adventures shrink down into a pack of rats. No more clanking metal armors (or chassis, as the may be). No more difficulties in entering the hatch several abreast and only tiny paws to make any sounds. They might well be overlooked as mundane vermin even if they are spotted moving about. (Un'eth)

Un'eth ripples and shifts into the form of a tiny white-furred rat.

Merek looks about when he becomes a rat, then he nods a little bit while he squeaks along the way.

Alright.

She's a rat.

Tohasqueek looks around a bit in bewilderment, shaking her head as much from the shift to binocular depth perception as the massive change in relative scale. "Squeak-squeaksqueaksqueak!" scurry scurry scurry.

Morgan gives off a few swear words in mouseies and then uses a few others as if she is trying to learn how to speak mouse.

Stirling follows along as a rat, one with a metal leg, arm and glowing red artificial eye but a rat none the less. He doesn't appear pleased as rats go but it work for the current situation.

"I've never been a rodent before," says Griva. 

And then she's a rodent. 

Either way, this makes it much easier to traverse the tunnels, if a little slower due to your small size. It certainly helps to avoid detection, thouigh. 

On occasion, as you're scurrying through the access tunnel, you can hear clanking sounds. Movement. Uniform movement. Groups of technicians like the ones you've already fought, beings propped up by the metal grafted to them autonomously. Flickering red lights above you turn on and off with regularity, creating a frustrating lack of consistency.

Seldan has been transmuted before, thanks to having a husband who is a transmuter. Being a rat is a new experience, however, the perspective from something this small being very different.

White Rat has the benefit of the ability to speak intelligibly while a rat, which others likely will not. That does not mean they can't comprehend, however. She takes the lead to examine the path ahead of them, as probably the most experienced vermin present.

Toha follows the white rat, feeling half-blind for the pitiful receptors crammed into her skull, though that... it must be that 'smell' thing is kind of overpowering, and sorting the signals out is a little distracting.

It's perhaps one of the stranger experiences, but evenutually, Griva stops at an access hatch that you've passed, after perhaps fifteenn minmutes, and then turns a circle around on it, nose twitching. 

This is the spot, she seems to be saying.

White Rat checks that no one became lost, disoriented, nor distracted by morsels along the way. Once satisfied, she moves to the indicated hatch to nudge at it. She may not have as much body mass to push against it, and she isn't as strong as other forms, but she remains strong for a rat.

To one unused to a strong sense of smell, being a rat in thousand year old tunnels such as this is overwhelming. Seldan's nose twitches near-constantly, and he's going to have a headache later, but for right now? Stay with the group. No distractions.

Merek would walk along to that hatch while he nods a bit to the people.

Morgan looks to the latch as she points a paw "Squeeke Squeekeeeekkeee." nothing hapens she cant cast spells in mousy form.

Stirling nudges the hatch with his head and squeeks at the others, clearly ready to get back in hobogoblin form to get through this hatch.

RataToha continues running the maze with the others, figuring out about halfway that the squeakers made from the females have a different 'smell' than the males, which prompts the absent musing as to what Un'eth's spell made of her architecture.

She isn't much of an eater, so on the upside, along the race in rat form, she doesn't end up making a poopie.

That would be a commitment she wouldn't be ready for, anyway.

As it is, as one of the females, probably Griva (color differentiation works differently with the gelatanous orbs she's forced to work with) indicates the right hatch, she draws up to her haunches, whiskers a flailing and she nods her head vigorously.

...eventually, everyone is set. The hatch is opened and one by one you descend out of it, landing as quietly as possible. Giving away your presence is the last thing you want now that you know the fortress has once again come back to a sort of 'life'., 

GRiva points down the hallway silently and you head that way. It wasn't *terribly* far from where you were, which explains how Griva was able to locate it fast enough, but given the sounds in the distance, you definitely have evaded a rather large number of enemies. 

You move to a pair of doors, which are mostly sealed shut, hearing clanging and banging and ... 

... groaning?! Someone is in there -- in pain. Agony, from the sounds of their muffled voice.

Stirling looks to the others before approaching the door without making much sound, though his deathray is in hand ready to zap the first hostile thing he comes across. To avoid a trap he starts to examine the door a bit, for lettering or traps before doing anything too crazy.

Merek looks to the door, while he seems to think about it. There's a nod, "Well, I think we should open it, once we know that door will be safe."

Toha, once restored to her previous state, glances to Stirling as he gets ready in the wake of the distress and takes that as her cue. She pulls the small black cannister from the small of her back and gives it a twist, drawing it out to a thunderbelcherlike arrangement of telescoping rods and polished black rings that she brings up to her shoulder, "Got enough juice fer two more shots." That said, she draws up to lean against the wall, ready to move in once the door is opened.

White Rat steps towards the door, tail swaying as she awaits Stirling's assessment. "Ssa, we'll open it."

White Rat ripples and alters, gaining or retaining humanoid form, yet growing a muscular tail as her body smooths over in fine ebon scales.

Griva lets out a breath. 

"They're hurting *someone* in there, that's for sure. Perhaps we can stop them from ... whatever they're doing." 

She nods towards the others, but then, it comes time to open the door...

GAME: Merek casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 12 DC: 18
GAME: Un'eth casts Strong Jaw. Caster Level: 18 DC: 20
GAME: Merek casts Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 12 DC: 19

The door swings open, slowly. 

It's definitely what you'd call a manufactory. There's forges, for example, burning bright orange along the walls. 

Extended metal arms hang from the ceiling, moving in automated, precise fashion, pincers and retractablew claws. It looks somewhat jury-rigged, but they're definitely taking shaped, burning pieces and applying them to an injured halfling on a table. The smell of burnt flesh is almost immedaitely visible. Near him are several other tables, where *other* individuals are strapped, awaiting their turn at the tender mercies of the Kulthian manufactory. 

This is wher they make those ... things you fought earlier. At least, one place like it. It doesn't look like that's what these places were originally *for*. The tables are out of placed, jammed together, welded metal straps and mancles to them. 

Oh, hey. There's Stjepan in the mix, over there, a prisoner.

Stirling raises his deathray to sweep the rooms for threats, though if there aren't any apparant ones he begins to look for controls to shut this process down, possibly even something like a master release or the like.

Stjepan is a lot to tie-down, but he's there, bound in iron. He grunts, and then turns his head at the feel of some kind of new air movement. He croaks loudly, like he tried to speak but it was a while.

Toha moves in as the door opens, her own deathray at the ready and she sweeps the corners, taking in the manufactory's processes and her chin dips some, "She reaches for a patch hanging from her belt chains and withdraws a small rolled bundle that looks like a tanglefoot bag, except for the extra bits of copper fillaments curving out from the ends, "See a switch or should I try an bust those restraints?"

GAME: Stirling rolls craft/artifice+4: (4)+25+4: 33

Stirling looks to Toha "No controls, getting to unstrapping." he says putting his deathray away to begin tearing the restraints off.

Stjepan licks his lips and tries again. "Please be careful but hasty." He sounds... worried.

Toha sets her artifice to the side as she glances toward Stirling for his appraisal of the situation and nods. There is a soft ratchetting from within her, followed by a low, reverberating rumble, a subtle shift in her movements as she makes ready to help him break the Jotun's restraints, "Don't worry, we'll getcha all outta here!" With a concerted sound, as of myriad ropes twists to creaking in unison, the golem pits her augmented strength against his bonds.

GAME: Toha rolls strength+2: (19)+3+2: 24
GAME: Stirling rolls strength+4: (4)+7+4: 15

Good news! You're able to break the first set of manacles on Stjepan. There are others, of course, but you dobreak his manacles. 

The bad news is that more arms are descending from compartments in the ceiling. 

"INTERFERENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED." 

... the tips of those claws begin to glow. White. Hot. <kulthian>

Stjepan sits up with a grim smile. "Thank yo-- OH SHIT."

Whoopsie, for your amusement, kind reader.

[OrgChat] Toha says, "and now it's time for the Jotun to make a poopie" <OOC> Stirling says, "Hooray! Freedom." <OOC> Toha says, "and now it's time for the Jotun to make a poopie" <OOC> Stjepan grins. [OrgChat] Whirlpool says, "Best no context mav" [OrgChat] Toha takes a bow. [OrgChat] Stjepan grins.