|
Post by Spwack on Jun 17, 2020 1:41:37 GMT
oddrickStanding amidst the ruin of the camp, you rub your head. What happened? Weren't there... other people here with you before? Fighting the strange metal face-hugger things? Something bad has happened, possibly something dreadful. For the moment, you are alone, there's nothing nearby except a few scraps of shattered spider. And far fewer scraps than you'd expected, considering how many of them you'd fought and destroyed. There are a few crates scattered about the narrow poky cave, lit by a fallen torch, guttering on the floor. You can see scratches on the rock and tracks in the dust, crates have been dragged out of here. Or maybe... people? There are still two large glass-and-metal tubes built into the walls, neither have been moved or touched apart from a few little scratch marks here and there. Behind you, the tunnel leading back to the kobold camp is the only obvious exit out of this place. What do you do? (( catalessi this might be a good spot for you to join, if you want ))
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 17, 2020 2:00:14 GMT
Alright!
Panyrus lingers there for a while trying to get a grasp of his surroundings. He will examine the dragging marks and where they lead.
So, first question: Where do the tracks lead?
Next, Panyrus will take a moment to switch weapons. His weapon of choice is usually a two-handed axe well suited for his size and strength, as well as for the fact that he has rarely, if ever, acted as torchbearer in the expeditions he's been a part of. But now he is alone, so a puny club in one hand and a torch in the other will have to do for the time being.
All set to move on, he will take just another moment to examine the two glass/metal tubes that are still intact. If they're similar enough to the ones that housed the clockwork spiders, he will smash them to pieces.
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 17, 2020 2:33:41 GMT
Some of the tracks lead to two tubes, and then stop. Some of the tracks lead back past you towards the kobold camp. The glass tubes aren't at all like the ones that the clockwork spiders were in. They are large enough that you could fit inside them, and you can see that they extend up, deep into the rock. Looking closer, you can see the handle that would allow you to swing a section of it open, and buttons on the floor inside the tube.
If you need, you can carry your axe half-holstered and throw aside the torch to fight?
What do you do?
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 17, 2020 7:06:41 GMT
Martha peeks from behind a crate "are those creatures all gone? did you kill them? did something weird happen?" she too goes to look at the tubes "almost looks like those are built to carry people around, or people-sized cargo. i wonder if they can bring us to safety..." se begins to turn the handle to open one and look inside
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 17, 2020 7:46:25 GMT
Inside, there's a certain sense of tension in the air, as if you are about to get sucked up into the ceiling. How very observant of you... you can easily press the three different buttons with your foot if you stand inside the cylinder, one looks heavily used, and one is read, the last the same grey of the floor.
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 17, 2020 9:21:07 GMT
Martha tries to use her echolocation to get a feeling of how long is the tube, and if she can perceive something about what there is on the other side then she will test the buttons, putting some scrap inside the tube each time
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 17, 2020 9:31:41 GMT
How would you describe the sound you make when you echolocate? The tube is long, it's really long. There are a matching set of buttons on the outside of the tube as well, on the opposite side to the latch. There's a whoosh and the scrap is sucked straight up in an eye-blink. It looks... safe?
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 17, 2020 14:56:21 GMT
just an horrendous screeching sucking sound. ill post my next action in a while
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 17, 2020 16:02:23 GMT
"You seem to have it figured out", grunts Panyrus. Despite the buzzing aftersound in his ears from the screeching, he is actually quite pleased that he doesn't have to do this on his own. "I don't remember you being with the party earlier. But then again, I'm not that good with faces. I'm Panyrus." He offers a handshake.
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 17, 2020 19:29:17 GMT
"well, i'm a scientist after all" she accepts the handshake "Martha Graeme. i dont really know much about the place, so you tell where we should move, if you have any idea"
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 17, 2020 20:55:08 GMT
"I'm really just interested in finding a farm-like settlement with a herd of some kind in it. If there's such a thing down here, it will possibly be managed by a community. Now, there's no way of knowing whether or not they will be hostile to foreigners like ourselves. What I do know is that back there ((Panyrus points towards the kobold camp)) we may have facilitated the escape of a rather deadly creature, and I would very much like to avoid certain death, at least for now. Therefore, I'm inclined to go with the tubes. Besides, some of our missing compatriots seem to have taken this route already. ((points to the tracks)) So there's a chance we will not be by ourselves when we get to the other side of whatever this is."
As he says this, Panyrus starts to climb up one of the tubes. To Martha: "What button do you think we should try first?"
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 17, 2020 21:26:13 GMT
(did i notice any difference in what the buttons do when pressed? we probably know which one starts the tubes, but what do the other ones do when pressed? i still use the same method as before if needed)
|
|
|
Far Above
Jun 18, 2020 0:42:57 GMT
via mobile
Post by Spwack on Jun 18, 2020 0:42:57 GMT
The whole device is quite rugged and seems to have relatively simple controls for such an advanced mechanism. The two grey buttons activate the machine, while the red one shuts it down. However, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two grey buttons, accept that one is more heavily used than the other. In addition, the other big tube only has one grey button and the same red shutdown button.
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 18, 2020 15:28:05 GMT
"the most used one is probably the safer choice. il take the same tube as soon as you go, we might get split otherwise"
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 18, 2020 16:37:34 GMT
That's done, then. Panyrus squeezes himself into the tube and presses the one that's seen more use. And off he goes.
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 18, 2020 18:29:59 GMT
after waiting a while for safety, martha follows
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 19, 2020 1:29:13 GMT
There's a loud whooshing sound, and Panyrus is sent rocketing up into the ceiling. It's a dark, confusing and uncomfortable ride, but you eventually pop out into another tube... upside down. There's a ding and you fall out of the tube into a small chamber, just barely big enough for you and the tube. It looks quite similar to the one you just left, but with only one grey button and one red. There's the whoosh of Martha's approach, and the two of you are reunited. Once your hearing and balance recovers, you can hear the sound of clanging metal and the thrum of movement coming from the pathway that has been hacked out of the rock, leading south-west.
What do you do?
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 19, 2020 3:19:18 GMT
As stealthily as a half-giant is able to, Panyrus moves toward the source of the noises. Doesn't bother to light a torch, which would defeat the purpose of sneaking.
What does he see?
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 19, 2020 3:23:12 GMT
dex roll
CHu4xO5g1d20+11d20+1
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 19, 2020 4:17:55 GMT
Taking a peak around the corner, you duck back quickly. There's a posse of six metal-spider-creatures tugging a trussed-up minotaur along, and you can see the motion of dozens more beyond the strange spotlights that have been set up. You also caught a glimpse of massive machines in the huge chamber beyond, as well as hundreds of different mechanical creatures scuttling about doing who-knows-what.
Phew! Good thing you didn't roll a natural 1 there.
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 19, 2020 4:31:19 GMT
I head back to Martha with a stiff and hurried demeanor: "Nope. Nope. I'm outta here."
If she asks, I do brief her on what I just witnessed.
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 19, 2020 5:12:30 GMT
Are you going to go back up the tube? It seems relatively safe and reliable, and if so, where are you go to go after that?
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 19, 2020 9:10:40 GMT
Martha is quite scared by Panyrus reaction and follows back in the tube once back, se will suggest to try again the tube, pressing the unused button instead
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 19, 2020 13:07:06 GMT
The same tube, but the second button?
Whoosh! Who...oosh. Whoosh... who-whoosh. W-w-w-ww-w. A fair way along the tube, you start to slow, dragging along the walls a little bit, before slowing to a complete stop. You can feel the wind sucking through a panel nearby, you could probably bash it open, or you can try crawling to the end of this pipe.
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 19, 2020 17:32:58 GMT
the tube isnt transprent here, right? i cannot see outside if not, i try to echolocate to see if the other end of the tube is near
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 19, 2020 19:14:51 GMT
Is this something that is only happening to Martha now? Panyrus followed her, so his transport tube would be jammed at that point as well, I assume.
|
|
|
Post by Spwack on Jun 20, 2020 1:29:42 GMT
Yes, Panyrus would be a little way behind Martha at this point. And there’s no moving tube part, you just get sucked along by rushing wind and some other unknown force. The whole tube thrums with the force of Martha’s echolocation, but it doesn’t seem like the other end is particularly close.
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 20, 2020 15:23:56 GMT
"hey, can you hear me, back there? there is a loose part of the tube nearby, i think we can force it open"
|
|
oddrick
Full Member
Posts: 166 Likes: 2
|
Post by oddrick on Jun 20, 2020 18:40:00 GMT
"yeah, I can hear you! Do it! Oh, and ((Panyrus hands Martha his club)) here, you should have this. As far as I can tell, you're carrying no weapons. Not recommended. Not recommended at all. This place will throw things at you, you should be able to at least knock 'em away."
|
|
|
Post by catalessi on Jun 20, 2020 19:38:56 GMT
"oh, many thanks. i'll be careful." (do we need to roll for this? if yes we can try togheter) s||Q1uGg1d20+11d20+1
|
|