DCC - The Heavenly Staircase

sKeith

Templeton smashes the gem above the eastern door.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Thonrat decides to mix the spit into the stew and throw it at the energy field.

A little sparkle rushes over the mixture and on contact with the purple field, the latter retracts quickly letting the fluid through before closing again.

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

Templeton smashes the gem above the eastern door.

The energy field goes down. The guards within grit their teeth and go to rush Templeton, but stop on seeing the robots.

"Sorry yiz humies can pass"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

A little sparkle rushes over the mixture and on contact with the purple field, the latter retracts quickly letting the fluid through before closing again.

Thonrat pours another mixture over himself and gestures to Aelendril.

'What? That's disgusti...oh? Very well. But the cleaning is coming out of your pay!'

Aelendril allows Thonrat to pour a mixture over him and they tentatively try to walk through the barrier. Thonrat steps back briefly without Aelendril noticing, making the elf touch the barrier first.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Thonrat pours another mixture over himself and gestures to Aelendril.

'What? That's disgusti...oh? Very well. But the cleaning is coming out of your pay!'

Aelendril allows Thonrat to pour a mixture over him and they tentatively try to walk through the barrier. Thonrat steps back briefly without Aelendril noticing, making the elf touch the barrier first.

Luckily the barrier indeed retracts and both pass through.

Beyond is a set of stairs leading up.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Luckily the barrier indeed retracts and both pass through.

Beyond is a set of stairs leading up.

Thonrat double steps and catches pace with Aelindril. He checks the stairs for danger and the two proceed cautiously upwards.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Thonrat double steps and catches pace with Aelindril. He checks the stairs for danger and the two proceed cautiously upwards.

Up the stairs they arrive in a metallic room with a transluscent black energy field on its NorthWest wall covered with wards.

Through the wall they see what are known as Zhadar's bees, in fact a fully developed colony. Used in Madania to enhance magic users. They burrow under the skin and a colony develops. They increase the potency of many spells, but the user is slowly converted to a walking beehive. However they retain their will and independence and gain extended lifespans, so for some it is worth it. The room is covered with Banduin murals as is typical and a decayed honey leaking corpse lies in the middle of the room. The Banduin seem to have sealed it.

On the NorthEast wall is a simple arch leading out to a corridor running North-South.

sKeith

The Nerosian group pass thru the guard room.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Up the stairs they arrive in a metallic room with a transluscent black energy field on its NorthWest wall covered with wards.

Through the wall they see what are known as Zhadar's bees, in fact a fully developed colony. Used in Madania to enhance magic users. They burrow under the skin and a colony develops. They increase the potency of many spells, but the user is slowly converted to a walking beehive. However they retain their will and independence and gain extended lifespans, so for some it is worth it. The room is covered with Banduin murals as is typical and a decayed honey leaking corpse lies in the middle of the room. The Banduin seem to have sealed it.

On the NorthEast wall is a simple arch leading out to a corridor running North-South.

'Ugh - I hate bees! Thonrat, let's push on - I don't want anything to do with them!'

Thonrat grunts in approval and they head NorthEast to the arch, stopping to check for any traps in the arch.

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

The Nerosian group pass thru the guard room.

They arrive in the room with the choral stew and the Golud spit in crates and containers.

The purple energy field lies on the rooms East wall.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

'Ugh - I hate bees! Thonrat, let's push on - I don't want anything to do with them!'

Thonrat grunts in approval and they head NorthEast to the arch, stopping to check for any traps in the arch.

They step through no problem.

In the corridor they see that the passage to the South has three very small humanoids at its edge standing looking out over the landscape. The lighting is dim near them so it is hard to get a look.

The passage to the North curves Eastward before going out of view.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

They step through no problem.

In the corridor they see that the passage to the South has three very small humanoids at its edge standing looking out over the landscape. The lighting is dim near them so it is hard to get a look.

The passage to the North curves Eastward before going out of view.

Thonrat edges closer, hoping to get them in range of his infravision to determine size, and possible threats they may harbour.

Aelindril stands around and sniffs impatiently.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Thonrat edges closer, hoping to get them in range of his infravision to determine size, and possible threats they may harbour.

Aelindril stands around and sniffs impatiently.

His visions makes out the heat signatures accurate enough to notice details.

They are members of the Banduin technician class.

Only the height of a dwarf, the technicians have six arms that end in razor sharp talons. They are viciously fast when cornered and very aggressive. They are however incredibly intelligent and can be dissatisfied with the Banduin class structure, some have turned to the Alliance.

Banjo

"We're with them!" Farris calls to the guards, dragging Pip with him as they fall in behind the robots. He looks over their construction for ideas.

Assuming they make it to the Stew room, Ristan being a glutton will taste some.

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

"We're with them!" Farris calls to the guards, dragging Pip with him as they fall in behind the robots. He looks over their construction for ideas.

Assuming they make it to the Stew room, Ristan being a glutton will taste some.

It's hard to deny it's delicious stuff, tangy. With the spit it makes him feel a bit light headed, but nothing serious.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

His visions makes out the heat signatures accurate enough to notice details.

They are members of the Banduin technician class.

Only the height of a dwarf, the technicians have six arms that end in razor sharp talons. They are viciously fast when cornered and very aggressive. They are however incredibly intelligent and can be dissatisfied with the Banduin class structure, some have turned to the Alliance.

Thonrat approaches slowly, grunting a greeting.

Aelrindel follows, but keeps his distance for now.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Thonrat approaches slowly, grunting a greeting.

Aelrindel follows, but keeps his distance for now.

OOC: Rolz

sKeith

Templeton looks at the tracks on the ground of stew and sees some on the far side of the field, he then gets a robot to push the crate of stew beside the pink force field.
OOC: hopefully sparing some agony

Fourier

Thonrat is rushed by the Technicians, claws swinging. Two miss completely, but one slices straight across his throat. A lethal wound. However the ring glows and heals the wound enough to let him live.

He then stabs two of them in their foreheads, they drop instantly. The third he kicks out the opening into the night air, watching it fall and hit the ground below.

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

Templeton looks at the tracks on the ground of stew and sees some on the far side of the field, he then gets a robot to push the crate of stew beside the pink force field.
OOC: hopefully sparing some agony

The field separates open, keeping open as the crate is left in its way.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Thonrat is rushed by the Technicians, claws swinging. Two miss completely, but one slices straight across his throat. A lethal wound. However the ring glows and heals the wound enough to let him live.

He then stabs two of them in their foreheads, they drop instantly. The third he kicks out the opening into the night air, watching it fall and hit the ground below.

Thonrat pants a little and drinks his health potion.

Aelindrel reappears.

'Hmmph. Perhaps I should do the talking you buffoon. They seemed amenable to a scholar.'

Thonrat rolls his eyes and pushes onwards.

sKeith

The group pass through the now open field.

Banjo

Farris's group follow the Nerosians. Tana stares at the bees, transfixed, then grabs a few hands from Farris and starts pointing fingers at the black field. The others back away towards the NE arch.

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

The group pass through the now open field.

They quickly arrive in the room with the NorthWest exit to the corridor and the NorthEast entry to the room with the dead beehive wizard. A black energy field covers the latter.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Thonrat pants a little and drinks his health potion.

Aelindrel reappears.

'Hmmph. Perhaps I should do the talking you buffoon. They seemed amenable to a scholar.'

Thonrat rolls his eyes and pushes onwards.

The potion quickly heals all of Thonrat's wounds.

Going North they hit a passageway going East-West. A powerful humming comes from the East.

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

Farris's group follow the Nerosians. Tana stares at the bees, transfixed, then grabs a few hands from Farris and starts pointing fingers at the black field. The others back away towards the NE arch.

The field opens up once the fourth hand is pointed at it.

The bees emerge hovering and darting between those in the room.

One lands on Tana's hand, it nudges her skin, then looks at her. It seems to be asking will she be a host.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

The potion quickly heals all of Thonrat's wounds.

Going North they hit a passageway going East-West. A powerful humming comes from the East.

Thonrat listens to the humming and follows the passage towards it. Aelindrel follows close behind for the moment.

Banjo

"You can't think to-" Ristan begins, but she's already encouraging the bee along. "Oh that's just gross"
Farris laughs. "On a scale of one to petting a giant ant-spider while it was eating a casual aquaintence of yours, it's no more than an 8. Come on, leave the bees to their bird. Not sure I want the boy seeing this, might confuse him."
He heads on through the not-gross arch, Pip in tow.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Thonrat listens to the humming and follows the passage towards it. Aelindrel follows close behind for the moment.

A spherical fusion reactor lies in the middle of room. Power cables lead out to the rest of the tower. Elves long ago master fusion, using magic to sustain and control the reaction. The Banduin stole the technology from another race on the moon, the Sausians, who seem to have done it purely technologically, the reactor having no symbols or wards of any kind and no shaman present to regulate it. Corridors lead North and East.



The corridor to the East is a sharp change in decor. Beautiful wallpaper decorated with painted flowers.

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

"You can't think to-" Ristan begins, but she's already encouraging the bee along. "Oh that's just gross"
Farris laughs. "On a scale of one to petting a giant ant-spider while it was eating a casual aquaintence of yours, it's no more than an 8. Come on, leave the bees to their bird. Not sure I want the boy seeing this, might confuse him."
He heads on through the not-gross arch, Pip in tow.

The bee digs into Tana. Already she feels the magic slowly surging within her.

They enter the North-South corridor, seeing the evidence of Thonrat's fight, some deep red dwarf blood.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

A spherical fusion reactor lies in the middle of room. Power cables lead out to the rest of the tower. Elves long ago master fusion, using magic to sustain and control the reaction. The Banduin stole the technology from another race on the moon, the Sausians, who seem to have done it purely technologically, the reactor having no symbols or wards of any kind and no shaman present to regulate it. Corridors lead North and East.


The corridor to the East is a sharp change in decor. Beautiful wallpaper decorated with painted flowers.

Aelindrel forgets himself momentarily and marvels at the reactor. He moves closer to it and examines it, and looks to see where the cords run to.

Thonrat continues on East down the fancy corridor.

sKeith

The nerosian group tags along after pip.

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Aelindrel forgets himself momentarily and marvels at the reactor. He moves closer to it and examines it, and looks to see where the cords run to.

Thonrat continues on East down the fancy corridor.

The cords run into the roof and floor feeding the entire complex.

As Thonrat goes East the corridor ends in front of a beautiful wooden door.

Banjo

Heading west.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

The cords run into the roof and floor feeding the entire complex.

As Thonrat goes East the corridor ends in front of a beautiful wooden door.

Aelrindel considers trying to disconnect the cords, but deigns against it.

He follows Thonrat.

'Oh, now - THIS is more my kind of decór! Come on then, move along - I should take the lead here - no need for your kind sullying the carpet.'

Aelindrel steps towards the door and goes to open it.

'GrrrrrARGAGAH!!'

Thonrat grunts loudly.

'What? Shut up you buffoon. Oh, you mean the door could be trapped? Well... sometimes, elves just know best.'

He opens the door as Thonrat backs down the corridor a little.

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

Heading west.

To the West Pip and the others see six small beings looking out a hole in the monolith to the landscape below and checking wiring coming out of the walls.

Banjo

Fourier wrote: »

To the West Pip and the others see six small beings looking out a hole in the monolith to the landscape below and checking wiring coming out of the walls.

Farris looks them over for threatening signals
OOC : Are these the sharp-taloned caste from a couple of rooms ago that they haven't seen before?

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

'What? Shut up you buffoon. Oh, you mean the door could be trapped? Well... sometimes, elves just know best.'

He opens the door as Thonrat backs down the corridor a little.

The room is large and filled with fine wines and foods. An ornate bed lies in the middle with a Sausian princess lying across it wearing a fine golden necklace. The room has three alcoves.

On seeing Aelrindel she stands and walks to the window.



"Visitors then. The lonlieness has been excruciating. Finally my needs shall be met"

She walks past Aelrindel, her hands move along his shirt before she passes and sits down.



A Sausian prince appears from one of the room's alcoves (OOC: Sausians are all twins, males blue skinned) and sits on a cushion tracing his finger along a goblet.

"Is it me or my sister you want a taste of, you damned rogue?" he says with a wink.

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

Farris looks them over for threatening signals
OOC : Are these the sharp-taloned caste from a couple of rooms ago that they haven't seen before?

OOC: Who knows, i.e. yes

They seem very aggressive, taking swipes at each other as they work.

sKeith

Redford speaks to one of the robots, "robot, do you have plans to this monolith, and if so, can you plot us an efficient rote up to the top?"

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

Redford speaks to one of the robots, "robot, do you have plans to this monolith, and if so, can you plot us an efficient rote up to the top?"

"Go to Fusion reactor, North along this corridor. Then North, North again, then East.

We will then ascend to the penultimate floor. Beyond that I know little"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

The room is large and filled with fine wines and foods. An ornate bed lies in the middle with a Sausian princess lying across it wearing a fine golden necklace. The room has three alcoves.

On seeing Aelrindel she stands and walks to the window.


"Visitors then. The lonlieness has been excruciating. Finally my needs shall be met"

She walks past Aelrindel, her hands move along his shirt before she passes and sits down.


A Sausian prince appears from one of the room's alcoves (OOC: Sausians are all twins, males blue skinned) and sits on a cushion tracing his finger along a goblet.

"Is it me or my sister you want a taste of, you damned rogue?" he says with a wink.

Aelrindel smiles.

'See you dwarven idiot, things always work out for the best with me in charge. Praytell - I am in need of assistance in finding an artifact, which of you wishes to help me? Or would both of you be willing to accompany me. There is a place in my house for such a delight....'

He winks at the male twin.

'And as for the princess here, I am sure we can find you an elf more than willing to lavish you with gifts, jewellery and all the fineries a beauty such as you deserves.'

sKeith

Fourier wrote: »

"Go to Fusion reactor, North along this corridor. Then North, North again, then East.

We will then ascend to the penultimate floor. Beyond that I know little"

"Thank you robot, lead the way."

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Aelrindel smiles.

'See you dwarven idiot, things always work out for the best with me in charge. Praytell - I am in need of assistance in finding an artifact, which of you wishes to help me? Or would both of you be willing to accompany me. There is a place in my house for such a delight....'

He winks at the male twin.

'And as for the princess here, I am sure we can find you an elf more than willing to lavish you with gifts, jewellery and all the fineries a beauty such as you deserves.'

"We can send you there directly, the technology of this place is our. You need only lie with one of us"

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

"Thank you robot, lead the way."

They head past the fusion reactor, then North and enter a corridor that is long and filled with a sand covered floor. Strange sprials are traced in the sand. An exit leads North.

"This way master" the robot says flatly.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"We can send you there directly, the technology of this place is our. You need only lie with one of us"

Aelendril shrugs.

'Very well. I imagine that charming blue skin will look dashing next to my elegant frame. You should come with me, you know.'

He looks back to Thonrat and thinks.

'And princess... he may be of common blood, but I have heard tell this...dwarf has satisfied armies of ladies. He may not be much - but I promise you he would be worth it.'

Banjo

Fourier wrote: »

OOC: Who knows, i.e. yes

They seem very aggressive, taking swipes at each other as they work.

"Well, 6 of them, 13 of us, I reckon we.... wait where the hell is everyone else? Elf lady, any chance them bees will pitch in?"
She lifts a Warrior hand up and raises it's middle digit at the blacksmith.

OOC : If the corridor is narrow enough and they're close enough to the window, Ristan is stupid enough to try and rush them with his staff held horizontally to push them out the window.

sKeith

Fourier wrote: »

They head past the fusion reactor, then North and enter a corridor that is long and filled with a sand covered floor. Strange sprials are traced in the sand. An exit leads North.

"This way master" the robot says flatly.

"Okay, two of you lead and the 5 of you follow carrying us across this sand and you there, you can follow behind us. anything moves against us, blast it."

Fourier

Necro wrote: »

Aelendril shrugs.

'Very well. I imagine that charming blue skin will look dashing next to my elegant frame. You should come with me, you know.'

He looks back to Thonrat and thinks.

'And princess... he may be of common blood, but I have heard tell this...dwarf has satisfied armies of ladies. He may not be much - but I promise you he would be worth it.'

"Then let us begin..." he says with a arched eyebrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIzF3pdkwfE

A little while later both the Prince and Princess lie exhausted. Aelendril having been given a scroll that will unlock the gem vault.

"Never have I..." the princess whispers, but she can say no more.

The prince will not say anything, for speech would spoil the aesthetic of such a perfect moment.

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

"Well, 6 of them, 13 of us, I reckon we.... wait where the hell is everyone else? Elf lady, any chance them bees will pitch in?"
She lifts a Warrior hand up and raises it's middle digit at the blacksmith.

OOC : If the corridor is narrow enough and they're close enough to the window, Ristan is stupid enough to try and rush them with his staff held horizontally to push them out the window.

OOC: Rolz, pure init will decide