"Here we go!" Horkas exclaims and charges at the demon, his rune-enhanced warhammer swinging and the shield guardian a step behind. "Should have let us by, big piggy!"
"Well done!" Khessa compliments everyone for the quick resolution of the conflict, patting on the shoulder whoever comes in range, Shield Guardian included "And now, let's see if it is possible to understand how this 'Maze Engine' works and how to use it to the detriment of the Demons... or, failing that, at least make it unusable for the Demons!"
The blonde arcane warrior approaches until she is unable to distinguish the details better. "Come along, Horkas..." she invites her mechanical magic expert friend "Surely you will be better than me at understanding something of this complex eldritch device..."
The tall adventurer, in the meantime, spellbook in hand, is already taking copious notes and producing sketches of the engine and the related runes...
OK, so the Engine is in a 'difficult' position... Khessa considers that climbing down should not be difficult for her, but there may be an even more comfortable solution... she summons Anator from his pocket dimension and has him approach with caution.
Once her brother is at a sufficient distance to distinguish the details, the blonde arcane warrior focuses and, from that moment on, at time sshe uses his senses to examine the Eldritch Device, and at times she returns to her own senses to take notes in the spellbook.
Khessa's Arcana check to understand how to turn it on (note: I'm not turning it on yet, though! I'm trying to understand how it works as much as possible, first): 19
The engine looks like a working model of the Great Wheel. It’s a 20-foot-diameter sphere built of 1-foot-wide bands of magically hardened and shaped bronze, engraved with arcane symbols. Gaps in the bands show various gears and articulation arms within the sphere, which rotate and shift to represent the relationships between the various known planes of existence.
Khessa should be able to start it up, though it does appear damaged but functional. It will likely take a little bit to get it going and working.
Having complete trust and confidence in their resident artificer, Lulu puts a hand on Horkas' shoulder, granting him Enhanced Abilities. As wings of moonlight unfurl from her back, she offers to fly him down to the machine to take a closer look, offering the same to any others nervous about climbing down.
((Lulu gives Horkasadvantage on all INT checks and uses her Steps of Night to fly him and anyone else down to the Maze Engine.))
'Thank you for your assistance, brother of mine!' Khessa telepathically thanks Anator, then sends him back to the safety of his pocket dimension and shares with her firends what she has discovered.
"We don't have to go down to turn it on..." the blonde arcane warrior adds "I can do it from here, by having my Faithful Butler touch switches or runes. Let's go down and examine it, all right... but before we turn it on I advise we come back up here, to safety..."
"You know," the tall adventurer reasons aloud "if something went wrong and we had to throw it into the lava to destroy it, we would be safer doing it from up here, leaving the task to Traydark's Elemental, rather than pushing ourselves while the Engine does who knows what all around us".
After such recommendations, Khessa is still clearly excited, ready to approach the legendary device carried by the wings of the sacred Firbolg!
Katryl watches as others start to investigate the strange object in the chasm below. "Not sure I'd be much help. I can keep an eye out from here unless you need me." She is content to stay put above and keep an eye out for any other signs of danger.
The noble drow scoffs as the supposedly quite powerful demon is so easily defeated. He is still quite suspicious over the machine and decides to stay in the relative safety of the adamantine tower while the experimenting is going on. It was still unclear to him what they hoped to achieve here but he tries to be patient. He would be happy to command the earth elemental servant to dispose of the thing once the experimenting was done, hopefully before the Horned King returned.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Horkas gladly accepts Lulu's offer of a ride down to the machine. He also instructs the shield guardian to stand at the top of the chasm, holding the end of a knotted rope that should make it to the building and serve as a back-up means of egress. The gnome artificer is practically squirming in anticipation of getting to examine such a powerful arcane machine!
Once inside, he examines the contraption, the gears, the markings and runes, and the rings. Do they rotate and spin easily on their axes? (the plural form of axis - not the weapon for chopping wood =) Can he decipher any of the writings/etchings? Can he determine how to use it?!!? More importantly, can the artificer determine what is damaged, how to repair it, and what would happen if the machine was started without the needed repairs?
(There is nothing new to learn beyond what Khessa's familiar already found. It can be turned on, but it does seem damaged. It is unable to be repaired.)
Khessa is initially perplexed by the fascinating but complex contraption. As she takes notes, comparing them with the numerous arcane annotations already taken in her spellbook, the similarity to a theoretical model she learned about some time ago strikes her...
"The Great Wheel!" the blonde arcane warrior gasps "The engine looks like a working model of the Great Wheel, that theoretical-magic-philosophical model that groups the Planes of Souls imagining them in a circle, with each plane having those that are most similar to it next to it..."
Collaborating with her gnome friend with greater experience and sharper intellect, the tall adventuress examines the device with him in detail, completing her notes with his keen observations; but in the end, all they can figure out is how to operate the Engine, without having the slightest idea what its effect will be. Yes, no idea, not even the slightest. Careful examination has failed to establish whether the Maze Engine can be used to unleash lightning storms, provide divinations, create constructs, control weather, play music, grow cabbages... Not even the slightest idea of its effects.
So, Khessa fixes her blue eyes on those of Horkas: "So, this thing is extremely powerful, malfunctioning, and we have no idea what its effect is. I guess the wisest thing to do is to simply destroy it, so that Baphomet cannot use it for his purposes. But you and I are not wise, we are thirsty for knowledge! So... what do you say? We go back up, and then I have my Faithful Butler set this wonderful Device in motion? Once we see what effect it has, if we find that we can't control it, or that we don't like it, we should have time to order the Elemental to push it into the lava... and once there, it should be destroyed, regardless of whether it's turned off or on. What do you say?" she winks "You haven't gotten wise all of a sudden, have you?"
Horkas explains to Lulu that he can't repair the device, and that it is indeed damaged. Back at the top of the cliff, he repeats his findings to the group, adding, "We should NOT turn this thing on...no telling what would happen! It may be more dangerous and calamitous than the demon incursion! Let's just break the damn thing to keep Baphoment, or anyone else, from using it."
With the decision to not use the broken machine, the noble drow is relieved as he drops the darkness and comes out from the adamantine tower to join the others with the miniaturized tower in his pocket. "I will let the earth elemental servant dispose of the thing then?" He asks calmly, looking around at the others for confirmation.
"So be it" Khessa sighs, disappointed. Such a woundrous Engine... Who created it? For what purpose? How it ended here? Why did it started malfunctioning? And, above all... could it have been of help, as Lulu's divination seemed to imply?
So many questions that will never find an answer, melted forever in burning lava... but the blonde arcane warrior seems to be the only one to care about... so she just turns, sparing to herself the sight of the destruction of that wonderous, charming and uninvestigated device.
Maybe it's another step to their victory, but this time the tall adventuress is quite less happy than usual.
The elemental takes a few minutes to excavate enough around the engine before it eventually sinks into the magma below, the incredible unusual machine lost now to the elements.
"We have all that Vizeran needed now except for Gromph Baenre's tomes. We should swiftly return to Vizeran's tower to prepare for the visit to my home." The noble drow says grimly, seeming to have mixed feeling about finally returning to the City of Spiders.
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"Here we go!" Horkas exclaims and charges at the demon, his rune-enhanced warhammer swinging and the shield guardian a step behind. "Should have let us by, big piggy!"
Horkas' Attack: 26 Magical bludgeoning damage: 13
Shield Guardian's Attack #1: 16 Bludgeoning damage: 11
Shield Guardian's Attack #2: 16 Bludgeoning damage: 15
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
The demon dies quickly with an ugly snort.
(Combat over.)
"Well done!" Khessa compliments everyone for the quick resolution of the conflict, patting on the shoulder whoever comes in range, Shield Guardian included "And now, let's see if it is possible to understand how this 'Maze Engine' works and how to use it to the detriment of the Demons... or, failing that, at least make it unusable for the Demons!"
The blonde arcane warrior approaches until she is unable to distinguish the details better. "Come along, Horkas..." she invites her mechanical magic expert friend "Surely you will be better than me at understanding something of this complex eldritch device..."
The tall adventurer, in the meantime, spellbook in hand, is already taking copious notes and producing sketches of the engine and the related runes...
The engine is still located down in the chasm, 40 ft down steep sides. How are you getting to it?
If you are climbing down, make an Athletics check.
Once there, to try and understand how to turn it on, make an Arcana check.
Alternatively, you can attempt to send it into the magma below.
OK, so the Engine is in a 'difficult' position... Khessa considers that climbing down should not be difficult for her, but there may be an even more comfortable solution... she summons Anator from his pocket dimension and has him approach with caution.
Once her brother is at a sufficient distance to distinguish the details, the blonde arcane warrior focuses and, from that moment on, at time sshe uses his senses to examine the Eldritch Device, and at times she returns to her own senses to take notes in the spellbook.
Khessa's Arcana check to understand how to turn it on (note: I'm not turning it on yet, though! I'm trying to understand how it works as much as possible, first): 19
The engine looks like a working model of the Great Wheel. It’s a 20-foot-diameter sphere built of 1-foot-wide bands of magically hardened and shaped bronze, engraved with arcane symbols. Gaps in the bands show various gears and articulation arms within the sphere, which rotate and shift to represent the relationships between the various known planes of existence.
Khessa should be able to start it up, though it does appear damaged but functional. It will likely take a little bit to get it going and working.
Having complete trust and confidence in their resident artificer, Lulu puts a hand on Horkas' shoulder, granting him Enhanced Abilities. As wings of moonlight unfurl from her back, she offers to fly him down to the machine to take a closer look, offering the same to any others nervous about climbing down.
((Lulu gives Horkas advantage on all INT checks and uses her Steps of Night to fly him and anyone else down to the Maze Engine.))
'Thank you for your assistance, brother of mine!' Khessa telepathically thanks Anator, then sends him back to the safety of his pocket dimension and shares with her firends what she has discovered.
"We don't have to go down to turn it on..." the blonde arcane warrior adds "I can do it from here, by having my Faithful Butler touch switches or runes. Let's go down and examine it, all right... but before we turn it on I advise we come back up here, to safety..."
"You know," the tall adventurer reasons aloud "if something went wrong and we had to throw it into the lava to destroy it, we would be safer doing it from up here, leaving the task to Traydark's Elemental, rather than pushing ourselves while the Engine does who knows what all around us".
After such recommendations, Khessa is still clearly excited, ready to approach the legendary device carried by the wings of the sacred Firbolg!
Katryl watches as others start to investigate the strange object in the chasm below. "Not sure I'd be much help. I can keep an eye out from here unless you need me." She is content to stay put above and keep an eye out for any other signs of danger.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
The noble drow scoffs as the supposedly quite powerful demon is so easily defeated. He is still quite suspicious over the machine and decides to stay in the relative safety of the adamantine tower while the experimenting is going on. It was still unclear to him what they hoped to achieve here but he tries to be patient. He would be happy to command the earth elemental servant to dispose of the thing once the experimenting was done, hopefully before the Horned King returned.
Horkas gladly accepts Lulu's offer of a ride down to the machine. He also instructs the shield guardian to stand at the top of the chasm, holding the end of a knotted rope that should make it to the building and serve as a back-up means of egress. The gnome artificer is practically squirming in anticipation of getting to examine such a powerful arcane machine!
Once inside, he examines the contraption, the gears, the markings and runes, and the rings. Do they rotate and spin easily on their axes? (the plural form of axis - not the weapon for chopping wood =) Can he decipher any of the writings/etchings? Can he determine how to use it?!!? More importantly, can the artificer determine what is damaged, how to repair it, and what would happen if the machine was started without the needed repairs?
(Arcana: 22)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
(There is nothing new to learn beyond what Khessa's familiar already found. It can be turned on, but it does seem damaged. It is unable to be repaired.)
Khessa is initially perplexed by the fascinating but complex contraption. As she takes notes, comparing them with the numerous arcane annotations already taken in her spellbook, the similarity to a theoretical model she learned about some time ago strikes her...
"The Great Wheel!" the blonde arcane warrior gasps "The engine looks like a working model of the Great Wheel, that theoretical-magic-philosophical model that groups the Planes of Souls imagining them in a circle, with each plane having those that are most similar to it next to it..."
Collaborating with her gnome friend with greater experience and sharper intellect, the tall adventuress examines the device with him in detail, completing her notes with his keen observations; but in the end, all they can figure out is how to operate the Engine, without having the slightest idea what its effect will be. Yes, no idea, not even the slightest. Careful examination has failed to establish whether the Maze Engine can be used to unleash lightning storms, provide divinations, create constructs, control weather, play music, grow cabbages... Not even the slightest idea of its effects.
So, Khessa fixes her blue eyes on those of Horkas: "So, this thing is extremely powerful, malfunctioning, and we have no idea what its effect is. I guess the wisest thing to do is to simply destroy it, so that Baphomet cannot use it for his purposes. But you and I are not wise, we are thirsty for knowledge! So... what do you say? We go back up, and then I have my Faithful Butler set this wonderful Device in motion? Once we see what effect it has, if we find that we can't control it, or that we don't like it, we should have time to order the Elemental to push it into the lava... and once there, it should be destroyed, regardless of whether it's turned off or on. What do you say?" she winks "You haven't gotten wise all of a sudden, have you?"
"Well, are we just going to destroy the thing?" Katryl calls down as she watches from above.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
Horkas explains to Lulu that he can't repair the device, and that it is indeed damaged. Back at the top of the cliff, he repeats his findings to the group, adding, "We should NOT turn this thing on...no telling what would happen! It may be more dangerous and calamitous than the demon incursion! Let's just break the damn thing to keep Baphoment, or anyone else, from using it."
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
With the decision to not use the broken machine, the noble drow is relieved as he drops the darkness and comes out from the adamantine tower to join the others with the miniaturized tower in his pocket. "I will let the earth elemental servant dispose of the thing then?" He asks calmly, looking around at the others for confirmation.
"So be it" Khessa sighs, disappointed. Such a woundrous Engine... Who created it? For what purpose? How it ended here? Why did it started malfunctioning? And, above all... could it have been of help, as Lulu's divination seemed to imply?
So many questions that will never find an answer, melted forever in burning lava... but the blonde arcane warrior seems to be the only one to care about... so she just turns, sparing to herself the sight of the destruction of that wonderous, charming and uninvestigated device.
Maybe it's another step to their victory, but this time the tall adventuress is quite less happy than usual.
The elemental takes a few minutes to excavate enough around the engine before it eventually sinks into the magma below, the incredible unusual machine lost now to the elements.
What do you want to do now?
"We have all that Vizeran needed now except for Gromph Baenre's tomes. We should swiftly return to Vizeran's tower to prepare for the visit to my home." The noble drow says grimly, seeming to have mixed feeling about finally returning to the City of Spiders.