The party leave the city and begin to head towards the coast area where the books Heather and Xiao had found mentioned the lost dungeon had been located.

"I bet there's all kinds of treasure in there," Mao said.

"Yeah," Xiao agreed "All sorts of stuff no one has seen," she said.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 18:42, Mon 12 June 2023.

Mao began to search for the entrance.

(OOC: Give me a Mental stat roll)

(OOC: Ins + Will = Mao Hitcher rolled 6,7 using d8,d10)

Mai is able to puzzle out a possible place for the dungeon, it was a bit down the coast near some rock out dropping including an arch.

Mao headed towards it.

The trip took most of the day but eventually the party reaches the site as the shadows begin to lengthen.

The sounds of waves crashing against the cliffs could be heard from below, and the cry of sea birds but from the cliff top there was no sign of an entrance.

"Still nothing?" Mao asked with a groan.

Xaio moved to the edge of the cliff and looked down, "Maybe its down the side of the cliff somewhere?" she suggested.

MAo moved closer to look.

Mai peered down the cliff and it looked like there might be something about halfway down the cliff face.

"Oh, wow, that looks dangerous," Mao said.

Ruvik nodded in agreement, "That's going to be a heck of a climb down..." he said "I hope we can find a better way out."

Heather peers at the cliff and hesitantly offers "I could fly down and have a look."

"You can fly?" Mao asked, surprised.

Heather removed the cloak and expanded her wings to full size "Yes," she said "Although its not as easy near cliffs, the winds being what they are."

Mao's eyes went wide.

"Just be careful."

Heather nodded and took a step off the cliff and extended her wings, and took flight she circled down towards the cave making the odd course correction to deal with wind eddies.

She vanished into the entranceway and then a short while later flew back up. "I think it was a tunnel of some kind," she said "there isn't a door or anything just an opening going into the cliff, but its at an angle you'd be hard pressed to see it from a ship."

"I guess we'll have to climb down with some rope," Mao said.

"If you tie the rope up here, I can tie it below as well, make sure its secure," Heather suggested.

Mao looked for something solid to tie the rope too.

There were a few large rocks near the cliff edge that looked as if a rope could be tied to.

Mao went over and began to tightly tie it around the rock.

It didn't take Mao too long to tie the rope and handed the other end to Heather who flew down and soon the rope was secured.

Mao decided to go first.

Mao descended the rope and found Heather waiting for her just inside the cave entrance. Behind her the passage way heads deeper into the cliff the odd glow stone still providing limited illumination.

"Not seen a ton of glow stones like this before," Mao said, looking around.

Ruvik nodded "They are usually cleared out already in most dungeons," he agreed.

"It might mean this one hasn't really been touched," Mao said.

Xiao grins "This is going to be awesome!" she said.

"Let's get started!" Mao said.

The party head down the passage way, they soon come to room who's walls seem to have coral growing from them, towards the ceiling fish like creatures seem to be swimming.

"Huh, that's new," Mao said.

The others were staring at the strange sight as well, "I've never heard of anything like this," Xiao said "But it is kind cool."

Did they look dangerous?

Mao studies the fish and they seem harmless nibbling at something in the coral near the ceiling.

"Let's keep going," Mao said.

The party move past the strange sight and move along another passage way, a short distance in as they rounded a bend Mao spotted the fronds of seaweed coming from the walls.

Mao reached out to touch it.

It felt like a plant, moving slightly as if in a strange current.

"Now this is weird," Mao said.

Ruvik nods "Yeah... I guess this is what a fish see," he said.

"Sure, but there's no water," Mao said.

Xiao nods, "But everything acts like it's under water.. Which I guess means fish monsters."

"I suppose, yeah," Mqao said. "But let's get looking for treasure."

(ooc: a Will + Ins roll please with +2)

(OOC: Wil + Ins roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 5,4 using d10,d8+2)

As the group moves Mao spots some movement ahead and jumps back as a mass of tentacles shoot out towards her.

(ooc: Init roll please with +2)

(OOC: Initiative roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 6,8 using d6,d10 +2 equals 16)

The tentacles seem to be coming from a fleshly lump on the side of the wall, they reach out towards the party threateningly. From among the kelp fonds 3 large fish with jaws full of fangs swim out.

(OOC: Go)

(OOC: Casting Lux on three of them - Mao Hitcher rolled 8,2 using d10,d8. Gonna spend a point to reroll the d8. Trying to show sister up. Mao Hitcher rolled 3 using 1d8.)

Mao fires off the beams of light and they smash into the fish knocking them back as their flesh sizzle under the beam.

One of the fish dodges back and fires a beam of ice at Ruvik, who doesn't move out of the way quickly enough and is caught in the blast the ice encasing his limbs (Ruvik is slowed).

Ruvik barges forward with his shield and brings down his hammer on the fish. Another of the fish lines up at Mao and fires a blast of ice but it misses as Mao easily dodges aside.

Heather fires a volley of light beams following Mao's example and strikes 2 of the fish and the Anemone, one of the fish drops to the floor, and the other is barely able to move, however, the Anemone seems hardly hurt.

The last fish lunges at Mao, but she is able to block the blow.

Xiao leaps at the hurt fish, but she isn't able to make one of her blows land properly as it skitters of an armoured plate.

The Anemone lashes out with its tentacles at Mao, but she is able to stay ahead of the questing limbs.

Mao attacked one of the fish with her tome.

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 4,1 using d10,d10)

The fish drifts to one side avoiding the blow, the fish retaliates with a blast of ice, but Mao easily avoids the shot.

Ruvik leaps forward and crushes the badly injured fish with his hammer. The other fish darts forward and digs its fangs into Heather's side.

She drops back and strikes out with her staff. catching it with a solid blow. The Anemone having little luck hitting Mao switches targets and attempts to hit Ruvik with its stinging tentacles but he blocks with his shield.

Xaio leaps on the last fish, and drives both daggers into the creature and it falls and stops moving.

(OOC: Go)

Mao moved up to try and hit the anemone.

(OOC: Attack roll -  Mao Hitcher rolled 4,1 using d10,d10)

Mao tries to bonk the anemone but can't get past the tentacles, it tries again to grab her in its tentacle embrace but fails.

The rest of the party leap on the creature and soon beat it into submission.

"That was kinda weird," Mao said.

Ruvik cleaned off his hammer as Xiao began to examine the monsters and harvest materials from them. "They are very interesting though," Xiao said "I wonder if this place was always like this, or if something has happened to change it."

"No idea. Maybe there's some signs deeper in," Mao said.

Xiao stood as she finished "Well these monsters are unusual, I think the guild will pay good money for the parts," she said.

"Ah, good thinking," Mao said.

"One of us has to have got the brains," Xiao said sticking her tongue out.

"Hey!" Mao said, sticking her tongue out back at Xiao.

Ruvik sighed "Maybe focus on the dungeon and save the squabble for after?" he suggested.

"But! ...fine...," Mao said.

Ruvik gave Mao a one armed hug as he scanned the area "Don't worry, you'll always be the smartest to me," he said as he kissed the top of her head.

"Thanks," Mao said. "So, let's keep going."

The party headed deeper into the dungeon, the tunnels often had aquatic plantlife, and seemingly harmless fish floating and swimming about most kept their distance from the party or fled as they neared, a few seemed interested in them and followed along.

Mao just kept her eyes out.

(OOC: Make a Wis + Ins roll please)

(OOC: Will + Ins - Mao Hitcher rolled 2,4 using d10,d8. I am apparently blind.)

The party moves into what seems to be a large cave, there isn't quite enough light to see all the way to the other side, or to the top of the cave. But ahead in the gloom, Mao can just make out a large Oyster or Clam.

"Look at that. I wonder if it has a pearl?" Mao osaid.

"Can you imagine how much a pearl that big would be worth," Xiao replied her tail swishing back in forth in excitment.

"We'd have to be careful though," Mao said.

Xiao cocked her head, "What of? This place seems empty apart from that," she said gesturing at the darkness.

"The thing might slam shut on your arm or something," Mao said.

"Oh..." Xaio said, "Still, think about what pearl that size would be worth."

"Yes, let's see if we can get it open," Mao said.

The group approach the short outcrop that the clam is sitting on, and they can see that the clam was open but had closed as they approached it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:16, Tue 15 Aug 2023.

Could the clam have a pearl?

Mao thought she'd seen a glimpse of a large pearl within the clam.

"Hmm. I wonder how we can get it open," Mao said, looking through her gear.

(ooc: I think we can saw that treasure hunters would pack the fantasy equivalent of a crowbar)

Mao took it out and inserted the crowbar into the clam's mouth.

(OOC: Make a might + Might roll with +2 please)

(OOC: Might + Might - Mao Hitcher rolled 4,10 using d8,d8+2)

Mao leans into the crossbar and then Ruvik helps and the clam is slowly forced open and inside is a huge pearl like she has never seen.

Mao grabbed it as quickly as she could.

Ruvik holds the clam open and Mao is able to reach in and pull out the massive pearl.

Xiao is looking at hungrily her tail wagging back and forth "Thing how much that is going to be worth," she said.

"Yeah, but let's keep going," Mao said.

Xiao nods "Right, mind on the job," she said as the party formed up Heather pointed to something nearby on the ground, it looked like one of the fish that were swimming about or at least half of one.

Half? That was odd, Mao looked around.

Mao peers into the darkness but can't see far into the darkness and couldn't see anything. On the far side of the cave, there seems to be another tunnel, larger than the ones you've moved through so far.

Mao continued on.

The larger tunnel opens up into what could be called a meadow, a large area of drifting seaweed a mixture of short wide founds and taller fonds that reach up towards the ceiling.

Unlike the other areas of the tunnels, there doesn't seem to be any fish here, or if they are they are hiding well.

Mao kept her guard up, something didn't feel right.

(OOC: Give me a Ins+Wis roll please)

(OOC: Ins + Wil - Mao Hitcher rolled 8,6 using d10,d8)

Mao spots something that at first seems to be a large rock protrusion, but her eyes pick out that it moves slightly, and the rock surface seems more organic.

"That rock over there is actually something alive," Mao said, pointing it out.

As Mao spoke and pointed it out to the others the rock began to move.

(OOC: Init with +3 please)

(OOC: Initiative - Mao Hitcher rolled 2,5 using d6,d10+3)

The shape resolved into a huge squid creature, it's many arms reaching towards the party.

(OOC: Go!)

Mao tried hitting it with her book.

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 8,5 using d10,d10. Total - 13, Damage - 14)

Mao strikes the creature with her book, but the blow doesn't do as much damage as she was expecting.

The creature retaliates by shooting out a large cloud of ink at the party. But everyone can dodge out of the way.

Ruvik moves up and brings his hammer down on a tentacle, but the hit seems to cause little damage.

It then hunches its body down and launches itself at Heather biting the bird woman.

Heather chants a spell and shoots a beam of light that sears the creatures body.

The squid shoots out a tentacle and wraps Mao in it squeezing her. "Leave my sister alone," Xiao yells and throws something of her belt that explodes in a crackle of electricity.

(OOC: Mao takes 12 damage and is slowed)

Mao cast Lux at the thing.

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 4,3 using d10,d8. Sad fox noises)

Mao's spell blasts out, but the creature was able to avoid at the last moment. The Squid lunges at Ruvik who avoids the blow, realising his weapon won't be effective he sets up to guard Mao.

The squid tries to grab Mao with another tentacle but Ruvik blocks the questing limb.

Heather chats a spell and launches a bolt of fire at the creature which writhes in pain.

Another tentacle launches out and grabs Xiao, as it does so some of her vitality seems to leave her and the creature seems to grow stronger.

Xiao tries to stab the limb, but can't seem to manage in her weakened state.

(OOC: Mao takes 14 dmg, squid is in crisis)

Mao was hurting and tried the spell again.

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 6,3 using d10,d8. Gonna reroll a die using the inferiority thing with sister. Mao Hitcher rolled 6 using 1d10. Total -12, damage - 15)

Mao casts her spell and it spears the creature again, burning into its flesh, It lashes out with another tentacle at Mao, but Ruvik steps in and stops most of the blow from connecting with her.

It then lashes out at Heather but the bird women skips aside and casts her own spell, but another tentacle interrupts her and the spell falls apart.

Xaio grabs another potion flask off her belt and throws it into the air, were it shatters and a cooling liquid lands on the party healing them.

(OOC: Mao takes another 10 dmg, then Xiao heals everyone for 30 hp each)

Mao tried to hit the thing with her book.

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 5,8 using d10,d10. Total - 13, Damage - 14)

Mao lands a sold blow with her book, but the squid barely seems to notice the blow, It grabs Heather in one of its tentacles and drains her some of its wounds seeming to heal.

Ruvik moves up and delivers a strong blow, but the squid moves out of the way of the blow, and reaches out and grabs him with a tentacle draining him as well, he smashes his hammer into the tentacle holding him and forces it to let him go.

Heather chants her spell and launches another bolt of fire at the creature that shrieks in pain as it collapses to the ground.

Was it dead?

Seems to be

"Does anyone need healing?" Mao asked.

Everyone shook their heads "We're good, Xiao said "What about you?"

"I was just checking first," Mao said as she healed herself.

Ruvik examined the creature "Well that was something," he said as toed the corpse. Xiao looked excited "We should carve it up, I bet it;s bits will be worth a lot!" she said her tail wagging.

"I suppose," Mao said. "This place is really weird."

Heather nodded "Perhaps its another research site, and this is all some side effect?" she suggested.

"I can't really say, but more Ancient nonsense makes sense," Mao said.

Xiao and Ruvik work on butchering the creature, while Heather begins to examine the room for any blues as to what had caused the strangeness.

Mao decided to search around as well.

(OOC: make a ins + ins roll please)

(OOC: Ins + Ins = Mao Hitcher rolled 9,4 using d10,d10.)

As Mao is looking around she notices an area where the seaweed fonds are moving in a different way to the rest, as if they are in a different current to everything else.

Moving closer to the site, Mao notices a Fond that seems to be growing through the wall.

"I think there might be an illusionary wall here," Mao said.

The others came over to look "It does seem to be," Heather agreed "Shall we investigate what's on the other side?"

"Yes, let's do that," Mao said.

The party stepsthrough the war and enters a corridor, it has smooth walls with lights embedded in every few meters, it looks similar in construction to the area that Heather was found in.

"Oh, wow," Mao said as she looked around.

The corridor runs for a short distance and then splits into two, the two corridors look similar but Mao can hear faint sounds coming from the right hand one.

Mao headed down the right one.

Mao leads the way passage, which opens into a large room that has several large machines in it that hummed, nestled to one side of the machines was an open space with several plinthss in it.

"Do you know what this is?" Mao asked.

Xaio and Ruvik shake their heads but Heather nods "It looks like a lavatory space, those plinths would be used to control the machines in here to do experiments and record results," she said.

"Is it of any use to us?" Mao asked.

"Perhaps," Heather said "I'll attempt to access the data and see what they were researching," she said as she walked up to a plinth and began to work on it.

"Mao could you access the next plinth?" Heather asked as she began to work through some menus "I'll explain what you need to do."

"Uh, sure," Mao said as she got into place.

Heather stated to call out instructions "Hit the top right button, that will open a menu control. Scroll down till you get to-" and the instructions continued as Heather also operated her own controls.

(OOC: Give me a Int + Wit roll please)

(OOC: Ins + Wis = Mao Hitcher rolled 1,4 using d10,d8)

Mao tries to follow the instructions, but Heather uses a lot of words that don't make that much sense and soon the pedestal is beeping angrily at Mao.

"I think I messed it up," Mao said.

Heather moves over to Mao "Sorry, I forgot that you weren't used to this sort of thing." she said. Then tapped a few buttons and brought up some data "Here, it seems that they were researching a way to magically change the environment," she explained.

"That makes sense given the dungeon we're in," Mao said.

"It didn't get beyond some trails though," Heather explained "Mostly because it took a lot of magical energy to do. It does mention that it did lead to them developing some new type of magical storage crystals.." she explained.

(OOC: Level up)

"That has to be worth a lot of money...," Mao said.

Heather nodded "It looks like they are on another level," she said "There is a lift we can take down."

"Sure, let's go," Mao said.

Heather summons the lift, and the party gets on it defending to another level of the facility, this one had tiled walls, and floor with light stones every dozen meters or so.

"Everyone, be ready just in case," Mao said.

The others nod and ready themselves, Ruvik moves to the front his shield ready in case anything appears.

As the party moves down the passageway, Mao can hear some heavy footsteps from around the corner, they seem to be heading further down the passageway.

"Should there be anyone here?" Mao asked.

Heather shook her head,. "It's been a long time, none of my people could be hear. But maybe the security automatons are still active?"

"Ah, some sort of clockwork thing?" Mao asked.

"Something like that," Heather said "We should be careful, they are probably programed to attack any unauthorised people."

Mao nodded, getting ready in case.

The footsteps seem to be moving away from the party further down the corridor.

Mao moved to see what it was.

Mao spots a group of 4 machines walking ahead of her, all 4 have 4 legs, 2 have squat cylindrical bodies topped with a sort of turret with a squat barrel, the other two have more rectangular bodies and have 4 arms each ending in blade.

"Wow, so strange," Mao said.

Heather shrugged "The humanoid ones are much more powerful and more dangerous," she warned.

"How are these ones?" Mao asked.

"I think we should be safe enough taking them on," Heather replied.

"Let's get them then," Mao said.

The party moves out toward the automatons and the automatons react as they sense the party approaching.

(OOC: Init roll with a +2 please)

(OOC: Init roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 6,3 using d6,d10+2)

(OOC: Go)

Mao targeted three of the things and cast a spell on them.

(OOC: Lux on three of them. Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 4,6 using d10,d8. Total - 10, Damage 21)

Mao spell spears out and strikes 3 of the Automatons, 2 of the blade armed ones and one of the gun armed one.

One of the Blade armed ones moves in close to the party it's blade arms held close as it seems to prepare some sort of special attack.

Ruvik moves up to attack it before it can launch the attack, but trips on some uneven ground, and lands awkwardly. (OOC: Ruvik gains weak).

The other close-combat model moves up to attack Ruvik with a rain of blade strikes but he's able to block them in time.

Heather chants a spell and shoots a ray of intense heat at the machine threatening Ruvik and it melts one of its weapon arms, where the arm has melted arcs of energy can be seen. (OOC: CLose Combat 2 is in Crisis)

The ranged unit that had been struck by Mao's spell lines up a shot at her and fires, there is a snap-hiss from the unit and a stubby bolt strikes Mao in the side. (OOC: 15 dmg to Mao).

Xaio moves up to engage one of the ranged units, but finds herself cut off from the rest of the party and outflanked. (OOC: another fumble and taking +4 for next attack against her).

The last ranged unit moves to fire at Ruvik but he blocks the shot.

Mao cast Cleanse on her fiance.

Mao's spell helps Ruvik recover himself, the close combat unit unleashes a series of slashing attacks against Mao and Xiao. Ruvik steps up and protects Mao, wincing as the blades bite but he strikes the machine back with a pair of blows crack it's body. But Xiao is stuck by the blow crying out in pain.


The other close combat unit tries to attack Mao but she avoids the blows.


Heather lashes out with her staff and drops the first close combat unit in a sparking heap.

One of the ranged units shots at Mao, and she is struck by another bolt, Xiao steps up to the remaining close combat unit and attacks it, missing with one blow but striking with the follow up. The last ranged unit also fires at Mao but misses.

(OOC: Mao takes 10 dmg)

Mao moved up to attack the other close combat one with her book.

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 7,6 using d10,d10. Damage - 13)

The close combat unit fell as Mao bonked it with her book.

One of the ranged units ran up to Heather and struck her with it's leg, Ruvik removes up and strikes the ranged unit.

The other unit moves to attack Xiao with it's spindly limb, but misses. Heather swipes at the machine with her staff smashing one of it's legs. Xiao leaps on it and brings it down with a series of stabs.

Mao attacked the remaining ranged unit with her book.

(OOC: Attack Roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 1,8 using d10,d10. Damage - 14)

Mao bops the machine with her book, but it doesn't seem to have much effect. The robot fires back but misses.

Ruvik deals it a solid blow, before Heather and Xiao bring it down.

"Does anyone need healing?" Mao asked.

"I got hurt a bit," Xiao said "You don't look so good yourself sis," she added.

"Just seeing who else needs it," Mao said as she healed herself.

Heather was busy examining the broken robots "I wonder how long these have been active," she said as she shifted through the detritus.

"Can you tell?" Mao asked.

"Not from these," Heather said "but if we find a maintenance station, I'd be able to tell."

"Ah, then let's keep looking," Mao said.

The party moved forward in the direction that the automatons had been moving, the corridor continued ahead, but there was a side passage on the right hand side.

Mao took a peak inside.

There was a short corridor that ended with a metal door.

Mao entered and went to open the door.

Mao opened the door and it swung slowly open, inside was a large machine with several arms ending in various tools flanking a small dias, nearby was a control pedestal.

"Now what is this?" Mao asked.

Mao examines the control pedestal.

(OOC: Int + Int roll please)

(OOC: Ins + Ins - Mao Hitcher rolled 3,7 using d10,d10)

Mao is able to work out it seems to be some sort of maintenance unit, with Heather's help she is able to find out that there were only a few Automata left in the facility.

The set that the party had just beaten, another similar set of units, and a unit marked as a Centurion.

"What's this Centurion thing?" Mao asked.

Heather looked worried, "The humanoid unit I mentioned," she explained "The are a lot smarter than the small ones, and much stronger."

"Smart? How much magic did they use?" Mao asked.

"I'm not really sure," Heather said "But they could lead and organize the smaller ones," she explained "I did see one being used for a demonstration once, it could throw it's spear the summon it back to its hand."

"Wow, your people were amazing," Mao said.

"Yes," Heather said "But it seems it didn't help us in the end."

"We don't know what happened," Mao said.

Heather smiled but it didn't reach her eyes, ""You're right of course," she replied.

Mao hugged her.

Heather returned the hug.

"We'll find out what happened," Mao said.

"Thank you," Heather said snifging away a few tears.

"Don't worry, we are friends after all," Mao said.

"Yes, thank you," Heather said and seemed to pull herself together "I'm ready to move on."

"Let's go," Mao said.

The party moves back out into the main corridor and follows it, they soon come to a room marked Secure Storage according to Heather.

"I bet there's some nice stuff in here," Mao said.

Xiao nods enthusiastically "I bet, maybe those crystal things."

"Let's take a look," Mao said, opening the door.

The door slid open, inside was a large rectangular room along the far wall there several crates and chests seated on long shelves built into the wall.

But what drew attention was a large humanoid figure stood silently in the middle of the room its head was bowed and in one hand it held a long spear.

"Oh dear. Is it active?" Mao asked.

Heather looked from the entrance "I'm not sure, it might have been ordered to guard this room so it won't activate till we enter," she said.

"Let's see," Mai said, moving forward.

As Mao stepped into the room the machine turned to face her lowering its spear at her.

"Well, that sure seems to be the case," Mao said.

(OOC: Init with +2)

(OOC: Initiative - Mao Hitcher rolled 8,5 using d10,d6+2)

(OOC: Sorry for delay, but go)

Mao cast Ghost Image at the thing.

(OOC: Magic Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 7,6 using d10,d8. 22 Dark Damage and Daze)

The dark magic crashes into the machine cracking a small section of it's armour.

The machine leaps into action so fast that Mao can barely keep track as it lunges at her with it's spear. Ruvik stes up next to Mao and slams his hammer into the things side.

The robot twists and slashes it's spear at Xaio but misses.

Heather chants a spell of her own and she fires a ray of light at the robot creating another crack in it's armour.

It turns and throws it's spear at Ruvik who deflects the weapon, the machine opens it's hand and the spear appears in it.

Xaio pulls a pouch off her belt and throws it at the machine as it impacts it seems to expand around it constricting it.

(OOC: you've hurt it, and inflicted dazed, shaken, slow and weak.)

Mao went to hit it with her book

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 7,4 using d10,d10. Damage - 13)

The book crashes into the things head rocking it back.

It tries to stab at heather but misses as the constricting mass reduces it's reach.

Ruvik steps up and lands a solid blow at it's knee joint, denting the armour.

It reacts quickly spinning it's spear round and catching Ruvik in the stomach.

Heather spins her staff and tries to hit the Guardian, but it blocks the blow.

The guardian lifts it's spear and throws it at Mao, it catches her leg pinning it to the floor.

"Sis!" Xiao screams and moves behind the machine driving both knives into it's back.


(OOC: Mao takes 18 dmg and is slowed, you can remove the spear by making a str check)

Mao began casting a spell again.

(OOC: Ghost Image again - Mao Hitcher rolled 10,1 using d10,d8. Damage - 25 if it hits)

Mao's spell strikes again the mechanical being rocking back from the spell's impact.

It summons a new spear and strikes at Ruvik who raises his shield and deflects the blow.

He moves up next to Mao and sets his shield to protect her. "I'll cover you," he said.

It seems frustrated for a moment and then turns to stab at Heather catching her in a wing.

Heather chants a spell and fires a beam of light that sears more of the thing's armour.

It twists and throws a spear at Ruvik who deflects it again, and then retlatites with a hammer swing.

Xiao manoeuvres behind it again and keeps stabbing as her, one of her knives fails to find purchase, but the other sinks in and the Guardian slumps forward.

"Is it dead?" Ruvik asks hesitantly.

"I hope so," Mao said, going to investigate.

As Mao stepped forward the machine stood up, sparks and electricity sparked from the rents in it's armour. It's eye that had been glowing green shifted to crimson hue.

(OOC: Phase 2 go)

Mao cursed and tried the same spell again.

(OOC: Magic Attack - Mao Hitcher rolled 3,8 using d10,d8. Total - 11, Damage - 23 dark and daze)

The spell strikes and deals more damage to the construct. It lashes out with a flurry of punches against Ruvik and Heather but misses.

Ruvik side steps and then hits the machine in the knee, buckling the leg but the Centurion remains upright.

It attacks Ruvik and Heather again this time striking both with a series of blows.

Heather strikes with her staff, dealing a solid blow to the machine.

It springs back from the blow and attacks both Mao and Ruvik with another combination of blows but misses.

Xiao moves up to attack but the Centurion blocks one of the blows, the other blade slips through a rent in the armour further damaging it.

Mao kept using the spell.

(OOC: Same thing - Mao Hitcher rolled 4,3 using d10,d8. Total - 7, Damage - 19)

Mao's spell missed as the construct turned on Heather and Xiao and tried to pummel them. Ruvik sets himself up to protect Mao, figuring her spells are the best chance to beat the machine.

The Centurion tries to punch Mao, but Ruvik blocks the blow with his shield and then strikes back with his hammer, Xaio easily skips aside from the blow aimed at her.

Heather chants a spell and launches a lance of fire that melts one of the construct's arms.

It retailates hammering both Heather and Xaio with powerful blows.

Xiao grabs a pouch off her belt and throws it up into the air, a healing mist decends on the party

(OOC:  everyone gets 30hp back, and its looking very rough)

Mao tried her spell again.

(OOC: Spell Attack - Mao Hitcher rolled 5,6. Total - 11, Damage - 21)

Mao's spell strikes the machine and it collapses to its knees then falls to the ground.

"Is it dead?" Mao asked.

Ruvik steeped up and pushed the machine over with his hammer "Looks like it this time," he said.

"Can I get some help taking this out then?" Mao asked.

Ruvik moved over to help Mao shift the fallen machine, it took some effort especially as Xiao was hovering and kept trying to poke at the fallen construct.

"How did your people make these things?" Mao asked, panting from the effort.

"I wasn't directly involved but it was a long process. Involving both magic and technology," Heather said "They were to be our shield against the dangers of the world."

"It is impressive," Mao said.

Heather looks at the construct for a moment "Perhaps, but it didn't help us in the end."  she said "But lets see what this one was  guarding."

Xiao was buys trying to pry off some of the armour to have a look inside "I'll be out here, this thing is neat!"

"Sure. Yell if something happens," Mao said, heading inside.

Mao heads back into the room, without the threat of the Guardian she is able to see that there are several chests and storage boxes stacked along the far side of the room.

"Very nice," Mao said.

"Shall we see what they have in here?" Ruvik asked Mao.

(OOC: Level up)

"Oh yes," Mao said.

Opening the boxes you find a set of 3 power crystals each nestled on a cushion, even after all this time they have an inner glow to them. The other containers contains various magictech parts and a large box with a lock on its cover.

"Hmm. I wonder what we're going to do with this?" Mao asked.

(OOC: roll Int + Int to examine to book. With a +2 from Heather helping)

"I'm not sure, maybe a journal or something?" Heather suggested "Should we try to open it?"

(OOC: Ins + Ins - Mao Hitcher rolled 5,11 using d10,d10+2)

With Heather's help Mao is able to open the book, it seems to laid out oddly with one page with text and pictures and the other is blank. It seems to be maybe an encyclopedia or the like but the text is the language of the ancients.

But when Maotouches both the text page and blank page simultaneously, the blank page begins to lay out the same text as the facing page.

(OOC: gain Ancient Encyclopedia. Stats are Accuracy [INS+INS], Damage is HR + 6. While using it you can gain a +2 bonus to knowledge type roll. The damage type can set to any element or physical but takes an action to change it (Default is Physical)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:18, Thu 01 Feb.

"Whoa, that was wild," Mao said.

Heather nodded "Yes, I never thought we'd see a Centurion active," she agreed "Still these crystals should be valuable I believe?"

"I hope so, I'm not even sure what most of this does," Mao said.

"The crystals can store power," Heather said "We used them to power our magitech, they could also be used by mages to restore their power."

"Ah, okay, we can certainly sell these then," Mao said.

Outside the room you hear some sudden cursing from Xaio.

Mao went to look.

"Everything okay, Xiao?"

Mao found Xiao sitting on her backside on the ground clutching some part of the automaton that she'd been trying to pry out "I'm fine," she said quickly "just didn't expect this to come free as quickly as it did."

"We found some stuff we should be able to sell," Mao said.

"Awesome, that means this guys innards are mine then right?" Xaio said pointing at the fallen Centurion "I bet I can make some good stuff from it."

"If you want," Mao said.

"Awesome," Xiao said as she pulled open her bag and began to shove components in it.

Mao went back to the other room.

Heather and Ruvik where busy loading crystals into their backpacks.

Mao went to help.

"Thanks," Ruvik grinned "This should set us up for a good long while."

"Very nice," Mao said excitedly.

Ruvik gives her a quick hug "It will be, should be able to afford that fancy wedding as well."

Mao grinned.

"I certainly don't need one. Marrying you is enough."

Ruvik grins sheepishly and then the moment is broken as Xiao calls out "If you two have finished flirting?"

"We're never done!" Mao said with a laugh.

Ruvik blushed a bit and grinned and stood up shouldering his pack and offered Mao his hand.

Mao took it.

Rucik helped her to her feet and grinned "Right, well I think that means we are pretty much done here. Should we head back?"

"Yeah, let's," Mao said.

The party begin to head back, the way back seems to be much quicker than the path down even with the packs loaded with loot. Soon the party have returned to the entrance to the dungeon, the rope is still there.

"Everyone up first, leaving the packs," Mao said. "I'll then attach the packs to be hauled up and then I'll go up after."

"Right," Xaio said and quickly scampered up the rope with Heather just behind. Ruvik paused long enough to give Mao a quick peck on the cheek. "See you in a few," he said before climbing up.

Mao waited until everyone was up and then began attaching the ropes to the bags.

The bags were tied and quickly lifted up, a short while later a rope was lowered for Mao to climb.

Mao began to climb it.

(OOC: Give me a Str + Str roll)

(OOC: A 5!)

Mao slowly climbs up the rope it takes her a bit, and towards the top she nearly slips but Ruvik reaches down and hauls her up. "Up you come," he says as he lifts her.

"Thanks," Mao said.

Ruvik grinned "Any time," he said bowing to kiss the back of her hand. "Shall we return to our lodgings my lady?"

"That sounds good to me," Mao said.