CHAPTER 12a: The Fortress of the Plain

[shaidar]

Saiph looks around for hand holds, or anything that might let him take a closer look at the cylinders.

[shaidar]

Silvestri stops at the entrance to the corridor the others entered, turns and examines the lightning and the central column, trying to determine any patterns or hubs of electrical activity.

he's looking some something that might be susceptible to his magnetic powers

[doppelganger]

Urlando stops to answer Podo's whispered questions. Urlando Whitefur, the left head whispers back, and three. Then he motions for Podo to follow as Urlando quietly moves toward the next opening in the room, after Needle. The right head watches the metal-faced beings manipulate the flashing colorful pictures on the wall.

[GrapeApe]

Podo

Unsure of which head to look at when he answers, Podo tries to look at both of them but just succeeds in staring between them, "Well met Urlando, it seems like we are all in this together." He follows behind the rat-man and Needle toward the southern corridor.

[Norjax]

Fortress Interior 346D/81 (Evening)

Kurot moves to the edge of the corridor where the others have entered. He turns back to watch the masked and robed being walk into the first hallway and disappear. There isn’t any report from an interaction with the light barrier.

Anton begins to reason that the humanoids are differentiated into specialized duties; some monitoring areas of the central tower, some moving to other areas and others supervising the proceedings. He also watches the lone humanoid disappear into the light curtain corridor.

Podo looks for any signs of a light curtain and, upon finding no evidence, enters the room followed by Urlando and Needle. The saturating >HUMMMMM< stops when they cross the threshold of the room’s perimeter. The two cloaked humanoids appear to be monitoring three flashing displays curved and superimposed on the room’s walls. The displays are comparable to the ones next to the Alcoves of the Mutilated. They do not take notice or turn from the animated windows. One raises its left hand and flutters its five fingers in midair.



The 10-foot-high ceiling is, smooth, tan and featureless like the walls. Podo positions himself to glance down the narrow corridor and sees that it stops after 10 feet. Needle gets a better look at the end of the passage to spot a vertical oval-shaped portal constructed of a clear transparent material. Turbulent movement is visible beyond the five-foot portal set into the wall. Needle, Podo and Urlando gather near the narrow corridor and keep an eye on the two mandroids.

Saiph scrutinizes the alcove for hand holds or any other pockets to assist in climbing. He surmises that if tucked into one corner of the alcove, he might be able to push his hands into enough depressions and scale the wall.

OOC: Climbing this wall is a Difficulty of 10, checked every 10ft. Saiph is considered unskilled in climbing, so his base die is 1d10. This is an Agility based check, so he gains a +2 for that. I will judge another +2 bonus for having extra arms and +2 for being diminutive. His roll then is 1d10+6 to meet or beat the DC 10. He may choose to burn Luck before or after the roll.

Silvestri observes the lightning and energy whips of the central tower. There appears to be a correlation between the glowing blue cylinders on the black metal edifice and the golden colonnade that surrounds it. The lightning arcs from the illuminated tower posts to the gold pylons, but the timing appears random. He is unsure if the electricity originates from the blue studs or the gold spires.



Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Recovery - 348D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [13/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [4/15]
Max - 28/28 [14/15]
Anton – 43/43 [11/11]
Saiph – 25/25 [11/11]
Needle – 77/77 [11/11]
Podo – 53/63 [12/14]
Urlando – 75/75 [17/17]

[greyarea]

Denslow exits this corridor and moves to the next hallway counterclockwise. He peers in but does not enter yet.

[greyarea]

Max follows the automaton and tries to decipher what it is doing with the cylinder.

[Anton_E_Gregor]

Anton continues observing.

[doppelganger]

Urlando examines the oval-shaped portal with one head, while the other turns back to Podo. Good to meet you man, he whispers. Trying to be real quiet, you know? he adds, in a voice that is not all that quiet.

Is the portal the size of a doorway? Is the five-foot dimension its width or height? Are there any visible handles or buttons?

[GrapeApe]

Podo

"Yes quiet is good. Don't get too close, I don't think we have any idea what these things are. We might want to assess the entire area before we decide on a course of action."

Seeing nothing of interest and no apparent exits or threats, Podo exits the room to check on the status of his other companions. He begins to head down to the next corridor to the south.

[maceo_the_escher]

Needle

The turbulent movement worries Needle, who moves closer to investigate. Hoping his fears aren't confirmed. Are they holding more humans in there?

[shaidar]

Saiph ponders the alcove for a few seconds, then decides he does want to take a closer look at the cylinders and so starts to climb:

climbing: [1d10+6]=2+6=8

Falling flat on his face he decides maybe it wasn't such a good idea.

[shaidar]

Silvestri decides to follow Needle and the others into the circular room.

[Norjax]

Fortress Interior 346D/81 (Evening)

Denslow makes his way back out into the primary chamber and heads toward the next corridor. With his plantient locomotion, he scurries at a slower pace that the others.

Max follows the humanoid into the next alcove, intently observing its actions. It points the small cylinder at areas inside the recess.

Anton monitors the room and takes in all the activity.

Urlando continues to examine the portal. Its five feet high by three feet wide and could serve as a doorway if not blocked by the transparent barrier. The port is set into the wall without any seams, handles or buttons.

Podo leaves the room and returns to the large chamber with the intent to head south.

Needle passes Urlando and stands directly in front of the two foot thick oval window. There appears to be water on the other side flowing up. The clear fluid contains bubbles and streams of fast-moving froth.

Saiph begins to climb the alcove walls. Before reaching 10 feet above the floor, he loses his grip, drops off, and lands on his back. (DMG 2)

Silvestri makes his way to the smaller circular room, passing Podo to join Needle and Urlando.

---

Suddenly, a pulsing, continuous four-inch band of violet luminosity appears five feet above the floor on every wall in sight (not including the central tower and gold columns). Simultaneous to this glowing line, structures of purple light (Purple dots on map) begin to appear out of nothing and float around the rooms and hallways. The five-foot objects drift and accelerate towards each of you save Kurot, who appears spared from their advances!





Action Details:

Characters:

Fall = [1d10]=2 dmg.

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Recovery - 348D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [13/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [4/15]
Max - 28/28 [14/15]
Anton – 43/43 [11/11]
Saiph – 23/25 [11/11]
Needle – 77/77 [11/11]
Podo – 53/63 [12/14]
Urlando – 75/75 [17/17]

[GrapeApe]

Podo

Unsure of what to make of these floating, violet birds Podo looks more closely at the nearest object.
OOC: Does it have any implements or appendages that look harmful? Can I gauge it's intent? Does it appear to be emanating any visual magical energy besides the purple light?
This is getting a little too crowded, perhaps we can defend this room and bottleneck them in the corridor. Podo tries to shout to his companions who may not have noticed the floating creatures while they are occupied with other things. "Watch out! Something is happening, we should group back up." Unsure if he will be able to be heard over the loud thrumming, Podo takes a few meaningful strides to Denslow. If the need arises perhaps they can fight back to back... the rise of the plantients.

[Norjax]

OOC: Does it have any implements or appendages that look harmful? Can I gauge it's intent? Does it appear to be emanating any visual magical energy besides the purple light?

Each purple entity has ten pair of irregular-edged extremities bathed in light.

They appear to be attracted to most of you like moths to a flame.

Their structure appears to be different intensities of light, from transparent to barely translucent. Nothing that pulses or projects out from the matrix.

[shaidar]

Silvestri backs up against the wall of the circular room. He draws the blaster and if any of the blue blobs looks like it's going to get close enough to touch him with it's 'tentacles' he'll shoit at it.

[shaidar]

Saiph backs into the corner of the area he is in, trying to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. He prepares to use his Disruption power if one gets too close.

[maceo_the_escher]

Needle

Needle turns and sees these new floating entities and the lights on the walls.

What are these new horrors?

Why didn't we try to leave when we had the chance?!

I will NOT be captured alive!

He grips his battle axe and attempts to work his way out of the room along the wall-the same way as he entered and towards the main group. He will not allow the floating lights to touch him without fighting first.

[Anton_E_Gregor]

Bristiling with fear, Anton's ENHANCED AGILITY kicks in. He prepares to evade or fight! Hammer in hand he keeps the column at his back and tries to discern how to disable to floating menace!