Chapter 5: Subterrane of the Cyborgs

[wolfpack]

LL looks at maskelyn

That's insane in the membrane, insane in brain.

I think it best we just move on.

[OGRE MAGE]

Chaka douses his torch once the slime has been dealt with, hoping he might be able to relight it again if need be.

"Beneficial slime? Like what?"

"Back home Chaka knows of many big black pools filled with stinking sludgy slime."

The monkey-boy avoids the eggs and checks out the door at the back of that room next to see if it opens like the others.

If not, he uses his skills to search it and attempt to open the portal.

"Chaka still not feeling too good in here."

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

To Chaka, Is there something I can do to help? I am not a healer, but know a little about trail first aid.

To everyone,Let's not mess with those eggs anymore, and find out if there is a way out of here.

[Pulpatoon]

"Beneficial slime? Like what?"

Garamond attempts a robotic shrug. "I was idly speculating. I can't shake the feeling that this sort of structure has a beneficial function. The word that keeps coming to mind... Steamy."

[Inferno]

Beneath the Dead Wizard's Skyscraper
Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Three. Midday, March 27th, 912 CY





Curious young Chaka moves north and the massive soundproof door disappears into the adjacent wall before he can reach it... revealing many strange figures in the chamber beyond!



Eerie, hybrid creatures! Perhaps a dozen! Each similar yet different. But all of them: half man, half machine!

Around them lies shattered pieces of furniture, and in the corner is a small pile of what appears to be human bones.

As one, they glare at Chaka with inhuman, crystalline eyes.



Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.





PC Status:

• Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 3/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 20/20
  Garamond Antiqua: Cyborg 2: Move: 12", AC: 8, HP: 20/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 2/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 7/8, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 7/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/24

PC Magic:

• None currently

Player Resources:

• End of the World (game description)
  Strange New World (maps and realms)
  Memory Tapes (the story so far)
  Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[ChubbyPixie]

“This is it. This is it. I knew we were going to die. Shut the door, Chaka...” says Fiefo quietly under his breath, eyes locked on the new threat, as if afraid any noise will trigger the menacing machine men to action. He edges a few steps closer to the eastern door, determined to flee if they suddenly attack.

[Pulpatoon]

Garamond attempts to make its way to the open door to get a better look. "Oh! Ask them for their make and model! Are there any Biblio-bots, back there?"

[Urson]

Maskelyn

Maskelyn crouches, making himself as small as he can. He prepares to cast his remaining spell for the day- but doesn't, yet.

Too many! Negotiate! he hisses.

[OGRE MAGE]

Chaka's eyes bulge when he spots the mechanized men.

"Chaka not like this room either!"

He springs backwards into the main room again, hoping the sliding door will simply close again once he isn't standing there anymore.

Once he sees Garamond heading in, he whispers to it.

"These seem like your kind. Maybe you could speak with them?"

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

More angry looking metal creatures! Garamond, I'm not sure they are friendly. Good luck. I think we need to get out of here, before we join the pile of bones. Get back and see if the door closes again.

She is going to look into the other open door (to the east) for a way out of this room. Neither green slime nor strange monsters "float her boat."

[ravenn4544]

Ko-nan sees a tribe of unnatural wizard creatures and can think of but one course of action"Smash those things before they come to life!!"

He will do just that when there is room to get by the rest of the party. He will crush the skulls of the beasts in a efficient manner born of years of digging and fighting in the wizards' mine.

[wolfpack]

perhaps we can use the slime. put it on something and throw it at them.

[Inferno]

Beneath the Dead Wizard's Skyscraper
Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Three. Midday, March 27th, 912 CY






At the sight of the strange beings of flesh and iron, most of the adventurers step back! Two of the warriors, Fiefo and Tullia, retreat to the eastern door and peer into its darkened corridor for an escape route.

Chaka leaps back and before the northern door can close, the creatures advance through it, heralded by the unmistakable stench of death!

Badly damaged by age and neglect, their mechanical areas are rusted and jury-rigged, and their flesh and bone parts are rotten and decaying. Gaps in their skin and armor reveal colorful arteries and limbs of iron or bone beneath. Their damaged, rusty helmets have been patched with cracked human skulls.

Ignoring Garamond's query, their inhuman eyes glare at the adventurers with something like hunger or greed as they rasp, "...fresh parts..."

Only Garamond and Ko-Nan the barbarian move up to meet them.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.





PC Status:

• Chaka: Ape-Boy Thief 3: Move: 12"(6"), AC: 6, HP: 3/17
  Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 20/20
  Garamond Antiqua: Cyborg 2: Move: 12", AC: 8, HP: 20/20
  Jeojand: Cat-Man Magic-User 2: Move: 6", AC: 7, HP: 2/10, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 2: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/32
  L.L. Adrock: Half-Elf Cleric/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 7/8, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl
  Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 2: Move: 9", AC: 8, HP: 7/10, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Tullia Galena: Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 16/24

PC Magic:

• None currently

Player Resources:

• End of the World (game description)
  Strange New World (maps and realms)
  Memory Tapes (the story so far)
  Viewscreen (the story so far in images)

[Pulpatoon]

Garamond feels a strange sensation deep within its body—a certain invigorating tumesence, an expansive swelling, an urge to thrust... could this be the sort of passionate, animal instinct the Hellequin Romances described in such poetic detail?

The Biblio-bot's pincer-grips rotate and fold into forearm casings, making room for long drill bits to emerge. The drills emit a high-pitched whine as they spin up to full speed. Garamond's dome peers around in nervous agitation. "Uh, guys? This, um, this has never happened to me before."

Garamond will try to hold the choke-point of the door, hopefully with Ko-Nan's assistance, to give the rest of the party either an opportunity to escape or attack over their shoulder. It won't venture further in, but will attack any cyborg that tries to come through.
Drill Attack (THAC0 18): [1d20] = 9 Dmg: [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3
It will, however, do a lousy job of it.

[wolfpack]

Standing back LL Grabs his holy symbol from around his neck and holds it before him and tries to turn them.

In the name of Tee-Eme-Zee

Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far
better
Run run run run run run run awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay


[1d20] = 12

[OGRE MAGE]

Chaka moves a little further away from the action, certain that one simple errant swing will be the end of him.

He keeps an eye on the others looking up the next passage, hoping they can use it as an escape route if necessary.

"Chaka not want to be used for.......parts."

[Urson]

Maskelyn

The gnome, crouched in the danger zone, casts his Audible Glamer to create a sudden explosive sound. Sonitus fragor! he shouts, centering the spell in the middle of these horrors.

He darts away, hoping to hide among the eggs.


Yes, I know he's vulnerable to a free attack this way.

[Starbeard]

Jeojand

Taking the ten-foot pole he had left leaning against an egg when he went exploring its innards, Jeojand attempts to prod one end into a holy font, covering it in the insidious gloop, so that he can prod that end into the cyborgs from the second rank.

Jeojand attack (ThAC0 20): [1d20] = 9

[SpinwardMarch]

Tullia

Chaka, I understand. Let's look down this hallway a bit, Fiefo. She looks into the corridor, and tries to see where it goes.

[ChubbyPixie]

I'm confused about the auto-sliding door being held shut? I'll post assuming it's still open, but can change my post if needed.

Fiefo is inclined to run. He heeds Tulia and looks down the hallway, then back at the fighting. What if their new friend with the ancient literature dies here? The only thing that's ever pierced Fiefo's gloomy heart and given him a momentary glimpse of beauty will be gone forever...

"%@#%!!" he yells, and launches himself into the space Maskelyn just vacated, shield up and lunging with his scimitar.
Attack with Scimitar (THAC0 19): To Hit: [1d20] = 19 Damage, s/M/L: [1d8] = 4 The first decent roll I've had in months!