Reuniting the Band

Starker sketches out the rooms and the passages as best he can on a spare page in his notebook and ponders. 

Starker:”Comparing the state of the basement when we were last here and its current state, doesn’t it seem as though the whole complex has become more … organic. That thrumming is not unlike a heartbeat, and these tubes a circulatory system?  It is as though we are on some fantastic voyage through the anatomy of a titan or a titan killer. Could we actually be inside Xathuul?  Or perhaps in the vessel into which its reality eating spirit will manifest?  We must not destroy it but rather study from it, learn its secrets, harness its power! … <looks around at The Company’s faces> …. or we could just destroy it. 

“I fear, though, that our current modus operandi will lead to our being depleted of puissant spells and healing abilities by the time we get to the heart <titters> of the matter. Perhaps some stealthy scouting and conflict avoidance are called for?”

<starts to investigate the glowing pillar>

some maybe appropriate rolls:

investigation 20

arcana 29 (nat 20)

perception 9

Erbert turns and looks up at Starker, smiling at him.  “Just what I was thinking!  You know, great minds and all… although, I’m not too keen on letting this monstrosity survive.  I have a feeling that it is not here for our good and future success.  And I’m not so sure about our own abilities to harness it for our own purposes.  I tossed that shatter spell at it to try and weaken it, destroy it… but maybe we should study it further before tearing it all down.  Good to have a firm understanding of it before we pull the plug.  Let me see if I can help you study it..”

Erbert walks over to the device and starts to study the tubing coming into it and going out of it, the electricity, discerning the purpose of this large device.  A node?  A control hub?  Or the central location?

Investigation : 23

He turns and looks at his faithful hound, giving it instruction to go to the southern entrance into the room 30 feet away from him and alert him to the arrival of any unwanted lurking kaorti.  

Other actions?  Axis of Tyr?

Do we have a new map of the room?

The Axis is confering with Tyr, hold please for the answer!

Same map as the tower map was.

Under the Tower

Kragen moves to a defensive position north while our more puissant mages study the anomaly.

Trolkarl, Xymox and Chadwick?

Xymox moves as seen on the map.  He will use his slippers to climb up the nearby wall 15 to 20 feet, if possible.

Chadwick nods towards Kragen seeing him wisely taking a defensive position and does the same on the other side of the cavern (token moved). He moves down far enough so he's out of range of the arcing energy since it makes him nervous.

Trolkarl seems to be gathering his senses
Okay, Starker thinks we may be IN the titan, interesting. And two of the monsters were sent away by Xymox. They may be returning


Watches for activity down the path the kaorti fleed. 

The wizards move to the central column to begin their investigations.  Chadwick moves outside of the room with the column of fluid.  Kragen, Xymox and Trolkarl remain in the chamber.  All are watching down separate halls.

In their initial observations, the Arcane Duo determine that this column of fluid has mechanical and arcane aspects to it.   Fluid is being moved through this and into the many pipes and tubes that reach up to the ceiling.  More pipes and tubes come from the floor into to apparatus as well.  There is a biological component to all of this as well.  There are levers and handles set into the apparatus of the machine.  Areas that can be depressed (buttons?) and areas that softly illuminate as you bring your hands close also are found.

Shortly after they start their examinations, Kragen (11 damage) and Trolkarl (6 damage) are both struck by one of the lightning discharges arcing from the central column to the walls of the room.

(( This was one round of actions.  Results of Investigation, Arcana and Perception checks are in progress.... ))

Need next round actions from everyone.

Xymox, seeing Trolkarl get electro-zapped, heads down the nearest corridor.

"Ouch, dammit Wizards, stop making this contraption mad!" he yelps

Then quickly moves himself into the corridor, in a position that the curavture of the wall creates some barrier to the arcing lightning yet able to peer back into the room to ensure all is good. Kragen does this thoughtfully at first, ensuring his forward move does not expose himself to any new combatants to the west. Once he is happy with the distance, and clears his LOS forward, holds in defensive position.

Trolkarl moves past Xymox to the corridor and continues scanning for threats

“Ooh, buttons!  Fascinating!  Hey Starker, have a look!  I wonder what this one does…. Have you seen any manual around here?”  Erbert continues his investigation of the device, wondering what each oh so tempting button and lever does - 

Investigation : 24

Undeterred by those around them being struck by the arcing magical energies, Starker and Erbert persist in their investigations.  They are able to discern that many of the buttons, activation plates, levers and other moving parts are used to control functions of the column of fluid.  The architecture and design of these controls is alien in origin and does not follow what the wizards deem to be 'logical' rules.

Cyrus sits upon Starker's shoulder with a maniacal grin on his face, pointing and gesturing to the different seeming controls of the column.  The magical energy arcs all about them, but none of the coruscating beams strike either of them.

(( Actions again from everyone. ))

Xymox: 

Looking down the corridor at Starker and Erbert:

"Before either of you pull a lever, push a button, or 'just see what happens,' I would like everyone to remember that this place may be alive." "When one pokes a heart, it occasionally notices."  

The Bard looks back at Trolkarl, expecting the Kaorti to return from that direction fairly shortly. He then looks at the mages and yells to them.

"Can we determine whether the fluid is moving toward something or away from it? Blood tells you different stories depending on which direction it flows."

Xymox drops down next to Trolkarl. 

"I miss the days when evil wizards simply built towers."

Another glance at the pulsing apparatus.

"Now they appear to be growing them."