Latest revision as of 05:08, 9 September 2014

Participants

Date

9/9/477

Log

Rain sluices down the trail leading up the side of Firebough Mountain. It is muddy and wet and miserable, but that seems to suit the being huddled under the overhang off to the side of the road just fine. A heavyset badger wearing the dark coat of a spyguard stands waiting just outside of the mouth of a cave. Or, perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a fissure, since it seems to be a new addition to anyone familiar with the trail. "Bout time you lot got here," he grumbles.

Kalt huffs as she makes her way to the badger, the Vixen having forgon any sort of umbrella or rain prevention aperatus. Left drenched in her leather jacket, and chain shirt she merely huffs, before adjusting her grip on a thick ornate and reinforced staff. "Aw no don't go bein' like that. Ain't like sloggin' round findin' a fella like you when lookin' more than a corn's throw infront of you is damn near unsightly is easy or what not... But what's seemin' to be goin' on?"

Whistling a merry tune as she often does during her walks, Lucasiel trundles along the muddy path in her plate, a thick cloak and hood of tattered rags and fabric the only thing to protect her plate, which protects her, from the elements. "Hello, hello!" She calls out as she follows Kalt up to the other Spyguard.

Rokarion moves towards the badger, wearing their usual body covering heavy cloak to prevent the rain from causing any annoyance while still keeping the hood off to allow the train droplets to drench his petals. Rokarion ignores the badger's comment and simple stand their waiting for the others, wafting his jasmine scent to those around him. Rokarion wonders under his serene expresison what exactly is going to transpire around here.

Not too terribly put out by the rain, Lilly makes her way up the path as well. The shark is dressed for problem solving, with her scale hauberk and her large bone-bladed axe on her back, and the big woman gives the spyguard a quick nod as she reaches the camp.

Angus hums silently to himself as he walks up to the badger, his furred shoulder cloak mostly protected from the rain underneath Mister sitting on his shoulders as hi his wide brimmed hat protects the rest of him from the rain. He steps up to the group and smiles, a hand moving up to tip his hat to them in greeting. "Evening." The fox states before turning his gaze upon those around him to see who he would be working with.

Rainer trots up the trail utterly soaked much like the rest, but the big ol' smile on his face and the bit of a waggle his tail manages despite being weighed down in all the water it has absorbed stands as proof of how uncrushably high his spirits are. He finds a place to stand near Angus and Kalt, tucking thumbs into the waistband of his pants and surveying the opening of the fissure. "Neat, that's new! Found somethin' interestin' in there, eh?"

The badger nods at the fissure. "Somethin' big went down here in the mountain," he grumbles, "Hell if I know what. But it looks like old Firebough here has popped up a few new wrinkles." The badger snorts a hello to Lucasiel and returns to his explanation. "Nothin' new on the old bird," he grunts, "But this here hole has a few people a little worried." He waves to indicate its obvious proximity to the road. "And we've had reports of-"

Whatever the spyguard was about to say is cut off as a horrible shrieking wail blasts from the hole! It sounds like metal scraping against stone all mixed up with the shriek of an eagle the size of an ox cart!

"That," the badger says, hiking a thumb over his shoulder. "Your job is to go find out what it is," he says, "And take care of it if necessary. Questions?"

Kalt winces slightly at the shrieking, before she rubs her ears and pulls her metal gloves over her hands. "... Right. An'm sure you're gonna be sittin' waitin' for us all with baited breath an' all ain'tcha?" The vixen moving over slowly to peer down into the hole with a flick of her tail, trying to see if she'd have to either jump in, or if it was at an angle appropriate for sliding or simple walking!

Lucasiel swings her axe up to prop on her shoulder, flashing a grin under her helmet. "Nope!" After making sure her kite shield is secure, she takes a few steps towards the fissure and glances over the other. "Want me to take point? I've certainly got the equipment for it!" And that other reckless wolf wasn't here today, it seemed!

Rokarion looks at the new arrivals, and answers Angus with a ,"Good evening to you too." Before the shriek turns his attention back to the fissure. Rokarion takes a moment to think before saying, "So no idea what that thing might be? Of those reports that you mentioned, do any of them contain some information about the creature's capabilities or if it is hostile or not?"

Lilly turns a wary look towards the fissure as the sound reaches the group, her ears quivering. The shark's tail lashes once, and then she gives Lucasiel a nod. "Yea. You look better equipped for it. I'll cover your back, if something jumps you and you need to fall back." She looks over at the others, nodding. "Nice to meet the rest of you."

Angus leans back in surprise, taken aback as he puts his hand on his hat and glares outright at the fissure. "....Well, I can tell you one thing. It's not a dragon, undead or otherwise." The fox states to try and lighten the mood a bit as he draws a pistol from his hip and looks to Rainer. "What do you think, should we start a betting pool as to what it is?" He asks calmly as his right hand moves to scratch the metal surface of Mister.

Rainer's eyebrows shoot up as the rundown is interrupted by infernal noises, leaning away from the opening until well after it's passed. "Sounds friendly!" he declares, at last, "Maybe I could lure it out with my hunting jarl call." Tilting his towards Angus, he ponders a moment, then decides: "I'm gonna say it's two Small Clanners in a costume made of mud and leaves just having a laugh at everyone's expense."

The fissure is wide enough for one being at a time to pick their way through, and though there is a slight angle, it should nit be too difficult to navigate, provided someone has a dry torch. "Yup," the badger says, leaning against the cliff face and lighting up some sort of foul smelling cigarette, "I'll be right here with your pay when you get back." He blows a puff of smoke into the rain. "And I have no idea what it is," he says, "That's what you lot are for."

"Yep, all you goin' on in first then. I would, but m'not wearin armor, an' lackin' in a shield an' all. So, I'll go popin' in right after you!" Kalt grinning to Lucasiel as she moves to make room for the armored figure, waiting to slip behind them and follow in right after her when they enter.

Lucasiel leans over to look into the fissure and hums. "Righty-o, then! Let's see what awaits us in tonight's adventure!" She exclaims before taking a step and a little hop-to to make her way into the earth! "Just watch my back and all! Don't want any surprises we can avoid."

Rokarion shrugs, and moves towards the fissure, "So, anyone wants to go before me or should I follow after the two ladies?" Depending on the answer Rokarion then follows the group.

"Someone with a light would be nice," Lilly comments wryly as she follows after Luca. She twists a little as she slips into the fissure, grunting quietly. "I hope this doesn't suddenly narrow down. I'd hate to get stuck."

Angus eyes Rainer, shaking his head as he tries hard not to laugh. "If that's true, I'll pay you a thousand crown." He shakes his head a bit as he puts Mister down, the little golem moving foward alongside the ladies as Angus walks over to the fissure. "Right, lets get this started."

Rainer's grin gains just the hint of a triumphant tone, as if entertaining Angus was some particularly difficult feat. "I suppose I'll bring up the rear. Y'know, just in case this turns out to be some elaborate trap and our benefactor tries to jump us from behind." Expression suddenly turning grave, he points at his eyes with index and middle fingers, then twists his hand at the wrist, swinging those two fingers around to aim at the badger's eyes. A second later he's grinning again, aiming a playful swat at the mustelid's shoulder as he approaches the opening. "I'm foolin', lighten up!"

The fissure is not too hard to navigate, though once Lilly enters the tunnel there is no ambient light from outside to ease the path. A subtle glow eminating from Kalt is the only thing making this feat impossible. After only a few moments, however, the fissure tumbles into a wide tunnel. Rough, and probably natural, but much better than that crack in the rocks. The tunnel extends in both directions, sloping gently down to the left.

A low whistled tune begins to rise from the vixen as the group follows down, her eyes looking around before speaking for a moment. "Hi ho, hi ho... It's off to work we go~" Pattting her hands together as she grins. "M'sorry by the way, could go lightin' it up, but folks ain't gonna be seein' right then."

Lucasiel slips into the wider tunnel and takes the time to flip the hood down, exposing her helmet fully. "Mmmh... Which way shall we go, friends?" She asks, taking the moment to let her eyes adjust to the light. "And no chance any of you have any torches or something, do you? I didn't think to bring mine, and my fire magic is not up to snuff."

Rokarion looks around a little, before syaing in his usual calm nad polite tone, "Well I think I can help with that." With that Rokarion's body suddenly turns a pale white light. Something under his cloak moves upwards. A green vine tipped with a blossom rise from under his cloak to stand above and behind his bed. The glow around him seems to move towards the small blossom on the vine. When the glow gets focused their it starts getitng brighter until it gives off a shimmering light similar to that of a lantern, "Will this be enough for our needs?"

Lilly grins at Rokarion and quietly applauds, then nods her head towards the left hand path. "It's always at the bottom, right?" she asks the others, slipping her large, heavy axe from its loop. "Let's at least start that way. Oh! And we can leave a mark that this is the way back out, yea?" she asks, looking back at the group.

Angus blinks a bit, putting his hand up as the glow starts up. "Well, that's a new one." He states as his eyes adjust to the glow. Meanwhile, Mister stays on guard, his ears folded back as the little golem lets its head dart around quickly to try and find any possible threats as the group treks forward.

Rainer hangs back a bit when he first steps into the tunnel, letting the others get a fair lead on him before he gives his body a thorough shake, displacing the bulk of the water collected in his coat and clothing, though it also makes a fair bit of clattering as his sword scabbards rapidly bang against the walls of the narrow space. Scooting to catch up, he slips into the cavern in time to watch with interest as Rokarion lights up their lives. "Neat!" He proceeds to wander a ways along the tunnel to the right, until he's nearly beyond the range of the plant's illumination, and calls out, "HEY! SCREECHY THING! YOU THIS WAY?"

While the group discusses their path, that horrible shriek grinds through the cavern! It seems equally powerful from BOTH directions, and much bigger and louder here beneath the mountain. Rokarion's added illumination reveals the the tunnel curves off in the same direction on both the upper and lower paths. Maybe it doesn't matter which road the group takes?

"Whelp, I ain't one for splitin' folks up an' all.. But from the way stuff is soundin' an' all, an' to go keepin' things from gettin' a jump on us from another direction, we're havin'... Six folk. I ain't sayin I support or endorse it, but we're havin' the option of splittin' up if'n folks wanna." Kalt crossing her arms over her chest as she looks at the upper and lower path with concentration.

Lucasiel gestures to the left and nods. "I think we should stick together, yes. And as she said," giving a nod to Lilly, "Perhaps we should move downard, first! Thank you for the light, yes! Perhaps it'll do just fine! Now then! Shall we get moving?" She asks, starting down the slope, holding her axe at the ready.

Rokarion looks at the two paths, his vine moving back and forth like a pendulum. "I agree with Miss Lucasiel. We should stick together, especially we our limited source of illumination. I am agreeable with both paths." Rokarion then glances the group again, waiting for the majority to decide the pass.

Lilly quietly growls, giving her head a shake as she recovers from the ear-splitting shriek. "Right. Don't split up. Come on, guys." Sticking close to Luca, she follows the cat down the slope.

The tunnel becomes noticably hotter as the group turns the corner and a dull red glow suffuses the area. The main shaft must be just ahead. Unfortunately, that is not the only thing ahead! In the tunnel, backlit by the reddish light from the main shaft is a group of three machine servitors scuttling about, seemingly at random!

"... what?" Lilly asks, slowing as the servitors come into view. Her grip on her axe tightens, and she stares at the things. "Those do not belong here. Right?" she asks, looking to Lucasiel.

Angus cocks an eyebrow as he stops, pistol raised a bot as he looks down at Mister and beckons the golem closer. "I....don't think so no, and I don't think they are the only ones." He mutters softly as he holsters his pistol and reaches down to his belt. Working with the leather ties he removes a set of metal knuckle covers, fitting them on and clenching his hands into fists to make sure they are on right. "Lets make sure we don't get caught by surprise."

Lucasiel keeps her shield raised as she continues along in the front, adjusting her grip on the haft of her battle axe as she eyes the servitors over from behind her helm. "I am not sure why they are down here, no... This isn't a creator ruin, is it? Sure doesn't look like it, and I'm tired of seeing them all over the place! Let's try to walk by them if we can. No need for a fight."

Rainer gets up on his tiptoes when those ahead of him pause, tilting this way and that to see what all the fuss is about. "Hey, you never know, maybe this cave connects to some old, buried Creator place. We'll soon see, right?" He ducks and weaves around the others, moving out ahead with little concern for the servitors. "They're probably just scoutin' the place to see what all the ruckus is, same as us."

Kalt frowns and readies her staff, tapping it against her hands as she looks at the servitors. "... Rainer, don't go bein' foolish now, m'guessin' their a bit crazy an' all from how their movin', an' gettin' cut up ain't gonna help us none." The Vixen calling out as she tries to stick to Lucasiels side.

Erratic as the three machines are, they react with very clear purpose as the party draws near! All three scuttle forward, lightning arching between their metalic mandibles, striking out at Angus, Rainer and Kalt!

Lilly turns as the servitors head for her allies, holding back for a moment as they zip past, lining up her attack. She raises her axe and then silently surges in from behind the servitors, flanking them and swinging her weapon in a wide cleaving arc.

Angus stumbles back as one of them comes right for him, stepping out of the way of it's little claws as he goes into a fighting stance before he realizes Lilly is coming in for the kill. He keeps Mister back as well, letting Lilly handle it as he turns to find another assailant he might be able to assist with, a calm look in his eye as he surveys the fight.

Lucasiel does her best to be sneaky! But then those pesky servitors start going for her allies, and it'd be remiss of her to let that pass! So, she whirls around and brings her axe up, letting the momentum follow through as she tries to bring the metal mass down towards a servitor in a heavy chop.

"'Ey now!" You're a all-star. Get your game on, get... paid! Rainer limbos out of the way of a bolt of lightning. Don't question it. When he swings back upright he's got his swords drawn, and he aims the business end of one at the trio of bots, brows narrowed and a challenging half-smirk on his muzzle. "You wanna get busted down to scrap, you picked a fight with the right guys!" Only then does he take the time to cast a smile aside to Kalt, adding, "Hey, how was I supposed to know they were the feisty sort?"

Kalt doesn't wait or hesitate once they show aggitation, the Vixen dropping low as she quickly manages to pull off the splits as the lightning flies over her head! A slight scoff is an answer to rainer, before she curls and rolls forward, springing into a jump at the end of her roll as she goes to bring the metal tipped end of her staff down on the offending servitor!

Lilly's slicing axe crushes one of the three servitors into a sparking pile of scrap and Lucasiel follows up with more of the same and Kalt downs the third! It is obvious that they were not really made for combat! They certainly can't be sentries. Once again, the party is assaulted by the blast of that horrible screeching cry! Just ahead, the tunnel to the central shaft looms.

Lilly twists at that horrible sounding screech, tense and at the ready. Once it fades, she begins moving down the tunnel again, steps carefully placed for stealth.

Angus flicks his ears as he watchs the Servitors go down, before he flinches at the screech again, putting a finger in his ear and wiggling it. "When we find this thing, lets muzzle it." He murmurs as he stands back up and turns around again, hands on his pistols as he starts walking forward with Mister on his heels.

Lucasiel flashes a little grin as the servitors fall under their combined efforts. "Well, that takes care of tha-" She cuts off again, wincing at the sound of the screech. "Gah. What do you think that is? Some kind of... Awful machine?" She shakes it off and shoulders her axe as she starts off towards the shaft, taking the lead once more.

Rainer turns his head in the... vague direction of the noise, admittedly difficult to ascertain with it bouncing off every single wall. Aside from flattening his ears for the duration of the screech, it seems to be bothering him less and less. "Alright, admitting: the two Small Clanners in a leaf costume theory is sounding a -little- thin at the moment." Perking right up, he begins to strut onwards, full speed! "Still, nothing for it but to see with our own eyes, right?"

"It ain't probably nuttin' that's gonna be showin' nice for us an' all." The Vixen's tail flicking as she sighs, Kalt's gaze flicking amongst everyone there before Rainer just begins to move forward full speed again, the vixen groaning as she sets her staff on her back and dashes after him! "Oi! Don't go gettin' stuck up you git!"

The tunnel opens up to reveal a wide ledge jutting out over the main shaft of the volcano! The heat is almost unbearable this far down, nearly level with the flowing lava at the bottom. But just ahead, at the edge of the wide ledge are two very strange things. One is a large, black, blocky structure, broken and spilling bits and pieces of scrap and swarming with servitor golems. The other is a reptile the size of a house, scrabbling and scratching at the wrecked structure. As the group watches, the creature opens its jaws wide and lets loose with that shrieking roar that brought the party down here!

Lilly groans as the heat gets even worse, rubbing at her forehead with her hand before she shakes her head and resolves to tough it out. She moves along the tunnel, axe held loosely in her hand... then stops, and stares at the giant beast. "... what?" she says, echoing her earlier self. "Huh. I wonder what it's trying to eat there."

Angus stops in his tracks and lifts the brim of his hat an inch up to get a better look at the biggin. ".....Is it to late to get a bigger gun?" He asks as his left hand dips to pull a white pistol from his belt, cocking the hammer back as he looks over the rest of the group. "We want the white or the dark meat?"

Lucasiel stops in her tracks and stares for a moment. "... Huh. Now that'll be a thing to bring down that is worthy of praise! So... Ah. How do we reach it, exactly? I don't think I can hit it from here." She props the axe on her shoulder for a moment, tugging off the tattered cloth 'shawl' that had been covering her. It'd only get in the way and likely catch on fire.

Rainer doesn't get much further than the mouth of the tunnel before stopping in his tracks. "Woah." He's surprisingly perky, considering his clothes and fur have pretty much been steam-dried by this point, and by the time the others have caught up his tail is wagging something fierce. "Would you -look at that-!" He laughs, quite heartily, and gestures with spread arms at the sight before them. "Oh, I must have been a -very- good boy. Well, let's get to it!" And out come his weapons-of-choice again as the pup assumes combat stance.

Kalt blinks as she stands beside Rainer, the Vixen's tail flicking as she gets a wide grin while looking over the scene. "Well, only way to gettin' there... Is to go runnin' on up~" The Vixen sparing no time as she drops low before dashing forward, running as fast as she can to get foolishly ahead of the group as she calls back at Rainer. "BETTIN' I CAN GO KILLIN' IT FIRST BOYO!"

Rokarion arrives running from the tunnel, "My apologies for arriving late. Did I miss anything?" He then stops in his tracks at the end of the tunnel, as he comes in sight with the situation, and hearing the same shriek again. He takes out a musket from under his cloak, from the looks of it not the best example of one, and prepares for invetible combat, before syaing in his usual clam tone, "Well, I am assuming diplomacy is out of the question?"

The jagged surface of the large ledge is hardly enough to slow Kalt down as she goes bounding toward the distant edge where the great reptile is screeching ineffectively at the broken structure. It is similar to one of the volcanic efreeti, in the way that a training yard sword is like a fine rapier, or a loaf of bread is like a wedding cake. The great beast is long and sinewy, with a long, whipping tail and glittering black scales. It does not seem to see the party yet, much more occupied with this bizarre, buzzing thing that has invaded its territory. It screams another challenge as the party draws near, whipping a gargantuan tail toward the fallen structure.

Ever pragmatic, Lilly follows along behind Kalt, letting the fox take the first hit since she seems so eager for it. "Yea, out of the question," she confirms, drawing her long, thin dagger as well.

Angus blinks as both Rainer and Kalt go bolting past them, his other pistol sliding into his free hand as he starts to move forward as well. "Go for the throat and under the arms, that's probably the weakest points!" He shouts as he watches the creature attack Kalt as he growls!

Lucasiel blinks as Kalt goes charging off. "Hey!" She growls softly and breaks into a run of her own, trailing up behind Kalt with her axe at the ready. Well! She was looking for a fight, at least, so she could hardly argue with the vixen's enthusiasm.

"No fair!" Rainer blurts out, taking off after Kalt lickity-split, though not quite lickity-split enough to get into the path of that flailing tail, looking concerned right up to the moment she deftly dodges it, then laughing. "Maybe you lot should just hang back and leave this to the expert adventurer!" He keeps his eyes on that massive scaley tail, waiting for the next time it comes swinging to take a stab at leaping onto it. Fortunate he's got two big, sharp objects for the latching-on with. Even if alerting the creature to their presence this early is... not so wise.

The Vixen doesn't even seem concerned at that tail, the beastie telegraphing the move clearly enough that the vixen crouches low before vaulting over it! Twisting some in the air before landing on her feet, she continues dashing forward before reaching close to the building, a wide grin on her lips as she jumps up to grab a hand hold in one of the broken spots, before pushing herself up to run up the tilted side of the building... So close now, she could almost taste it!

Rokarion looks at the group, while his serene facial expression remain intact deep down he is just asking himself why is everyone rushing in without the hint of a plan. He glances the broken machine, most likely a Creator artifact hopefully it won't get damaged. Rokarion then looks again at the scene seeing Kalt as the closes one there, and also for some reason standing at the location where the creature is aiming for too. With the equations done in his head, and a circular motion of his forefinger, a layer of stone forms over Kalt covering her completely in another protective layer, that will hopefully remain intact for a while.

So far, the monstrous lizard has not paid much attention to the party, its horned, toothy head pointed at the golem covered wreck before it. The servitors themselves seem to be ignoring the reptile's attacks, aimlessly buzzing around the surface of the ruined structure. One of them comes skittering straight toward Kalt!

Meanwhile, the reptilian beast has reared back and is coming crashing down toward the ruined building with both massive foreclaws!

With the dra- the giant lizard distracted, Lilly darts forward. Remembering what Angus had said, she tries to move in along one of the beast's flanks, then lays into it with a fast flurry of strikes from her axe when she finds a good spot behind its arm.

As soon as Angus notices the thing reacting to them he holsters his pistols, giving Mister a command to stay back as the fox takes to the air with Air magic, but he didn't anticipate his landing right. The fox landing on the creatures back, but not close enough to the target as the fox turns around and draws his knife with his right hand. "Didn't think we would be facing an overgrown lizard!"

Lucasiel isn't one to stay her blade, once the others start the battle! She likewise seeks to take advantage of the weaker point on the lizard, bringing the axe up in an upward arc towards the fleshier underbits!

Rainer waits for it... waaaits for iiiiit... okay that tail isn't coming back. "Guh." New strategy! Seeing as the others are already beginning to swarm the thing, he makes a run on it too, going for the leg opposite Lilly. "Adventurer Rule NumberrrRRR ELEVEN! Go for their knees!" And that's exactly what he takes his swings at.

A short dodge of the rogue servitor, then the Vixen is quickly and deftly avoiding those crashing claws as she crouches low and launches herself up at the beasts face! Her left hand cocking back as a flurry of pure light collects around it, forgoing flames themselves as she calls upon some sort of inner power, before slamming her fist directly into the creature's nose mid air, a cocky, shit eating grin spread wide upon her face!

Rokarion moves to position himself at a good angle, before kneeling down, and taking aim at the beast with his musket, the weapon being not one of the best examples of craftsmanship, but hey it works. After a couple of seconds of concentration, Rokarion pulls the trigger and watches as the musket emits a banging noise and lets out the bullet.

The creature's downward strike is interrupted by the concerted efforts of the group. For the most part, the group's attacks are not enough to do much besides anger the beast, though they certainly do that! Rainer's strike manages to cut deep, drawing blood on the beast's back leg and Kalt's strike has the creature seeing stars briefly. Now is the time to strike!

Lilly continues to hack away at the lizard's leg, quite happy with her current strategy; let the flashier guys take all the heat while she'd keep working at crippling the lizard while it was distracted.

Angus stumbles as the thing starts to move, his dagger sinking into its flesh to eep him steady before he stands back up and moves towards his target as he swings his Blunderbuss around and takes a grip on it with his left. "Just die you damn beast!" He shouts as he steps up to where he things the back of its skull is before pointing the blunderbuss directly down, pressing it flush against the flesh before he pulls the trigger, the gun going off with a roar!

Lucasiel pulls her axe back for a moment and hoists it over her head before taking a short leap into the air, swinging the axe downward on her descent to use the combined momentum to try to slam the heavy weapon into the overgrown lizard's head. Wonder how thick that skull is...

Bleeding is good enough, Rainer reasons, even if the leg is still functional. He'd kiss his swords, if they weren't drenched in the blood of this behemoth. Popping 'round the leg, he goes running below the beast's underbelly, sizing up the cleave Lucasiel made on her way along before him. "Not bad... but I'll bet a week's pay I can do..." The canid comes skidding to a halt somewhere roundabouts he perceives to the mighty monstrosity's chest, angling both swords up towards it. "...BETTER!" And with that cry he thrusts both blades straight up--!

Kalt begins to slightly fall, realizing she'd have to do -all- that work to get back up, she makes a desperate gambit and grabs hold of the beasts head to keep her up there! Taking a deep breath as she closes her eyes a moment to focus, letting the heat and everything else flood her senses as she builds up to do the next step of her crazy plan!

Rokarion looks around the area. Deciding on a plan, Rokarion spots the damaged knees of the lizard, hmm might as well cripple it even further. With that Rokarion focuses on it, and with the equations done, sudden zephyrs of air move like scythes towards the damaged knees of the beast.

The party now has the reptile's full attention as it opens its mouth wide and screams a brain shaking challenge! It is all Kalt can do to hold on as she finds herself dangling from a catfish-like whisker on the lizard's snout! The steel on stone scream rattling her in her armor. Lucasiel's gravity assisted blow is also a success, chopping heavily into the foreleg opposite the one Rainer previously injured. The injured legs cause the creature to topple forward, adding its own weight to Rainer's vicious upward attack and opening a sizable gash on its hard, white underbelly. Meanwhile, Lilly has managed to draw the beast's ire with her consistent, painful chopping and the monster's rear leg lashes out at the shark. Up above, Angus's shot goes a little wide as the creature lurches beneath him, but he manages to keep his perch. Rockarion's wind scythes, while well planned and well aimed, simply lack the power to cause much damage to the gargantuan lizard. The creature flails about as it crashes down, unable to support itself on its injured front legs!

Lilly is rocked by the lizard's hit, stumbling a few steps to the side before she regains her balance. The fight is on, though, and the beast is down and wounded; she gathers herself and then quickly rushes forward, attempting to use a quick lunge to bury her viciously sharp knife under a scale along the lizard's neck, hoping to hit something vital.

Angus growls as his shot is goes wide, the Fox cursing the creator damned snake under his feet as his right handdraws his dagger once more. He sinks the blade into the creatures hide and draws the large pistol he had from his belt to point directly at the creature again. "Die you bastard!" He shouts as he fires again!

Lucasiel gives a little internal cheer as the giant lizard reacts to onslaught, but she doesn't let up there! "Don't let up!" As if she had to say it. The axe goes up again, but as it goes back down it flickers with her dark math, doing her best to enhance her attack even further!

Rainer brings his teeth to bare in a triumphant grin as, from his perspective, the beast seems to crumple from his blow. This gradually fades as the lizard does not -stop- descending. "I didn't quite think this all the way through, did I." He abandons his swords lodged to their hilts in the behemoth's body as he makes a break for it, but he started his escape too late, and down it comes upon him, pinning him belly down on the less-than-cozy and uneven surface of the rocky ledge, not a sound escaping him but the air rushing out of his body... and short of him gaining the ability to lift 3-400 times his own weight, this is probably where he'll be for a while.

Falling was bad, very, -very- bad! Kalt merely gritting her teeth as she grips the whisker tightly before throwing herself up, her left hand catching a hold ontop the beasts head as she manuvers to the safer position of right ontop of it! As soon as her right hand gets an equal and firm grip then, her left hand raises up once more with a flurry of white as she swings it down at the Beast's eye with force!

Rokarion not having anything else to do, well anything else that won't damage the team with, Rokarion concentrates on the stuck Wolf. He uses earth mathemagic and attempts to cover the wolf with a layer of stone, won't help much probably, but better than nothing.

The reptile crashes hard to the ground, bleeding from a bevy of wounds and flopping about heavily in pain and confusion. It makes a strangely sweet, but abundantly loud crooning sound before blade, bullet and magic bring it down for good.

Lilly draws her blade back out, flicking it clean and sliding her knife away. "Dang, that was a big one..." she comments. Then she frowns, and her tail flicks. She looks around at the rest of her group, and yes, Luca, two foxes, but... "where'd that wolf go?" she asks.

Angus lets out a roar of a cheer when the creature goes down, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he looks down at the others with a wicked grin. But then he pauses, his grin starting to disappear when he realizes. ".....Where's Rainer?" He asks as he sheaths both pistol and knife to climb down and try and look for the wolf. "...Please tell me we didn't lose him."

Lucasiel lets out a heavy sigh and draws her axe back in, propping it up on her shoulder. "Not bad, not bad," she mutters before looking around to see if she can help find the wolf. She'd rather not go losing people!

Rainer cringes, most certainly aware of the added weight when the reptile upon him goes limp. He strains, but can't even get his muzzle open, so pinned down is he. Breathing, come to think, is also proving difficult, and though he doesn't have much in way of a view from his position, he's pretty sure everything's starting to get blurry.

Kalt grins victoriously, the Vixen patting the dead beast on the head as she wipes eye gunk off her prosthetic hand, before she begins ripping as many of the bigger scales off as she can. "Come on then Rainer! M'figurin' I scored a bit above you an' all today! Ready to go admitin' I won~?" The Vixen's tail swishing, oblivious to where her friend could be.

Rokarion thought for a second, why didn't he mention it earlier? Rokarion then calls for the group, "Our mutual colleague, Mister Rainer is currently under the beast. I would suggest removing the beast off him, before discussing matters of who won." With that Rokarion opens the palm of one hands, and with an equation or two, attempts to offer support to however attempts on moving the beast with some air magic support.

Lilly can't help snickering about Rainer's situation, although she slides her axe away and then crouches digs her shoulder into the things side, ready to heave the beast over. "Alright. Fox, count us off and we'll all shove together?"

Angus blinks, eyes going wide as he realizes that Rainer is under the creature they just killed. He drops his pack, blunderbuss, shirt coming off to not get in the way as the Fox turned scaled and grows, the dragon moving over to Lilly's side to crouch and dig his shoulder in, taking hold. "We have to get him out of there!" He shouts, as he tries to keep his cool, grinding his teeth together as he starts to try and push and lift the thing all by himself.

Lucasiel blinks a little and slings her axe onto the little hook on her back and rushes over to try to help the others rescue the trapped wolf! She wasn't fond of leaving others behind! "We'll get him out, don't worry!"

"Oh you damn idiot! Goin' an' gettin' crushed an' shit, well that just goes to fuckin' mean I win!" The Vixen huffing as she jumps down and moves to Angus' side, dropping the scales to the ground as she tries to aid in lifting the beast. "Someone go gettin' ready to help pull him out!"

Rokarion raises a petal of an eyebrow at the fox turned dragon, most likely one of those divine families. Rokarion then moves closer towards the area of the fallen beast, while keeping his constant push of air on the beast, attempting to help the group.

With a mighty HEAVE, the combined might of the party is enough to roll the beast off of Rainer and over the ledge, its serpentine length twisting like a black ribbon before it lands with a fiery splash in the not too distant magma. A mildly flattened, very out of breath Rainer is revealed! Only a little worse for the wear!

Now that the great reptile is dealt with, the scuttling machine servitors go back to work in a flurry of activity. It seems that there is little that the mechanical servants can do, however. It looks like between time, whatever happened to land the thing here, and the lava beast, the ruined structure is completely unsalvageable. Even from the outside it is obvious that whatever artifacts might have been inside have been destroyed. The black outer casing might be good for the sake of the metal, but there is nothing easily pocketed. There is a set of Creator runes painted across the dented, scarred metal, but they don't seem to mean anything.

Suddenly, from below comes a strange, burbling sound, as if the mountain were humming to itself and the magma begins to surge and boil!

Lilly offers Rainer a hand up, grinning, and her fin-like ears twitch at the sound from below. "So, guys. Think that's the lizard's mom?" she asks, glancing back and forth. "You might want to switch back, or it'll adopt you, mister. That, or the volcano's telling us it's time to go."

Angus makes sure Rainer is breathing, sighing as he realizes the wolf is alive as he gathers his things, shoving what he can in his pack and hanging the rest around him as he calls to Mister with a whistle, the little golem coming back to his side as he reaches down to help Rainer up. "Lets get out of here before anything else happens."

Lucasiel glances over at the bubbling lava and hums. "Well! Uhh. Either its mother, or this place is getting angry! I agree with her! I believe it's time to make our leave! My armour can't repel -lava- I am pretty sure!" So without another hesitation, she starts making her way back the way they came!

Rainer can see a light! But it's not the other's lifting the overgrown salamander... through the rapidly-spreading haze in his mind, it seems like... embers are rising from the corners of his mouth? Suddenly, all that weight upon him is gone, and either from the realization he's been freed, or simply a reflex of the body he draws in one long, deep, gasping breath and slumps. It takes him a few moments to register Lilly offering her hand to him, and when he puts his in it there's... no grip, his strength not yet back. Well, I'm sure someone won't mind carrying him.

Kalt picks up the scales and dumps them into her bag, before running around and grabbing Rainer's free hand as she hauls him to his feet. "Fuck it! I got'm! Run before this place goes explodin', NOW!" The Vixen working to help carry her wounded commrade to safety!

Rokarion looks at the machine and the lizard with interest, "So known of you know anything about those two? I am assuming the Creator machine might have been keeping this volcano dormant?" But the sudden butbling sound of the volcano stops his line of thought, what a pity not enough time for close study. Rokarion quickly takes out his notebook and pen, and writes down the runes found on the machine. "Well I guess we will have to go now." He says, and follows the group, hand still on the notebook, sketching the machine and the lizard, might as well do it while the details are still fresh in his mind.

From where the group has fled, there is not much to see until an unconscionably large claw rises over the lip of the fiery abyss,scrabbling for purchase and dragging the comparatively tiny Creator ruin down into the magma. The claw does not rise again, but a strangely sad sound, the weeping of a titan in the depths of the volcano.

There is nothing to impede the party's progress back to the fissure through which they entered. When they emerge, they find the badger spyguard waiting for them. "That last one was different," he says, unconcerned by the party's bedraggled state, "Y'find out what it was?" Creators, he still has that awful cigarette between his teeth! He produces a jingling sack of meritorious reward tokens. "Here's yer pay," he says, "As promised."

Lilly snorts, relaxing in the relatively cool temperature outside the mountain; she pulls a waterskin from her belt and starts to drink, then frowns. "Ugh. So warm. Yea, we figured it out." She pauses, thinking about how she might explain it, then shrugs. "There were two midgets with some strange contraption made out of mud and sticks."

As soon as he is outside and able to breath the cool air once more Angus changes back, putting back on his shirt and his hat as he sighs. "It's a long story, one you wouldn't believe without a drink in you first." He states as he leans down to scratch at Mister's head, trailing his fingers down the golens back to check the enlayed runes, making sure they were all blue and he wasn't hurt.

Lucasiel eases herself down on the ground for a moment of respite, once they're outside. She reaches up to tug her helmet off, drawing in a deep breath and not minding the rain at all! "That was awful. I hate that kind of eat. Ugh. I need a long, cool dunk in the river, I think."

Rainer is still pretty out of it when they emerge back onto the mountain trail, but that first rush of cold air as they approach the exit, and then the rain beating down on his fur, makes him shiver violently. "...when'd'dit get so cold?" His eyelids move contrary to each other, one open while the other's closed, and he lifts his head for a look about the group. "...someone picktup my swurds, eh?" Er, oops. Well, I'm sure they were due to be replaced anyway.

"S'cold cause you're an' unlucky bastard, an' youre swords are uh, well they went an' fell in. Sorry 'bout it all Rainer." Kalt finding a nice spot to set her friend down before looking to the spyguard. "Giant. Fuckin'. Lizard."

Rokarion finishes up his sketches and closes his notebook, they are a bit rough but that is what you get when you are drawing while walking inside a cave and he can always properly redraw them later. Rokarion then slips the book and the pen under the cloak to be stored inside a hidden container most likely, he then gets out of the cave with the rest of the group, feeling the fresh water once again on his hair and face. Looking at the group, seems no one is willing to explain the matter properly for the spyguard, well who cares really. "Thank you for the reward. I am assuming we are done here?"

The badger does not even bat an eye at Lilly's description of what they found. "Hell of a setup," he says, "Must have been impressive." The spyguard shrugs, pulling another of his foul smelling smokes from a pocket. "Don't much care, so long as the problem is solved," he says, lighting up, "Happy to do business with you." And that is it. The badger just leans against the stone cliff face and smokes is nasty cigarette, staring out at the rain as if he had not been staring at it for the last few hours. Well, they got paid, and even managed a souvenir thanks to Kalt. What more could a bunch of heroes ask for?

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
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 =Log=
-<div></div><br> <br>The tunnel becomes noticably hotter as the group turns the corner and a dull red glow suffuses the area. The main shaft must be just ahead. Unfortunately, that is not the only thing ahead! In the tunnel, backlit by the reddish light from the main shaft is a group of three machine servitors scuttling about, seemingly at random!<br> <br>&quot;... what?&quot; Lilly asks, slowing as the servitors come into view. Her grip on her axe tightens, and she stares at the things. &quot;Those do not belong here. Right?&quot; she asks, looking to Lucasiel.<br> <br>Angus cocks an eyebrow as he stops, pistol raised a bot as he looks down at Mister and beckons the golem closer. &quot;I....don&#39;t think so no, and I don&#39;t think they are the only ones.&quot; He mutters softly as he holsters his pistol and reaches down to his belt. Working with the leather ties he removes a set of metal knuckle covers, fitting them on and clenching his hands into fists to make sure they are on right. &quot;Lets make sure we don&#39;t get caught by surprise.&quot;<br> <br>Lucasiel keeps her shield raised as she continues along in the front, adjusting her grip on the haft of her battle axe as she eyes the servitors over from behind her helm. &quot;I am not sure why they are down here, no... This isn&#39;t a creator ruin, is it? Sure doesn&#39;t look like it, and I&#39;m tired of seeing them all over the place! Let&#39;s try to walk by them if we can. No need for a fight.&quot;<br> <br>Rainer gets up on his tiptoes when those ahead of him pause, tilting this way and that to see what all the fuss is about. &quot;Hey, you never know, maybe this cave connects to some old, buried Creator place. We&#39;ll soon see, right?&quot; He ducks and weaves around the others, moving out ahead with little concern for the servitors. &quot;They&#39;re probably just scoutin&#39; the place to see what all the ruckus is, same as us.&quot;<br> <br>Kalt frowns and readies her staff, tapping it against her hands as she looks at the servitors. &quot;... Rainer, don&#39;t go bein&#39; foolish now, m&#39;guessin&#39; their a bit crazy an&#39; all from how their movin&#39;, an&#39; gettin&#39; cut up ain&#39;t gonna help us none.&quot; The Vixen calling out as she tries to stick to Lucasiels side.<br> <br>Erratic as the three machines are, they react with very clear purpose as the party draws near! All three scuttle forward, lightning arching between their metalic mandibles, striking out at Angus, Rainer and Kalt!<br> <br>Lilly turns as the servitors head for her allies, holding back for a moment as they zip past, lining up her attack. She raises her axe and then silently surges in from behind the servitors, flanking them and swinging her weapon in a wide cleaving arc.<br> <br>Angus stumbles back as one of them comes right for him, stepping out of the way of it&#39;s little claws as he goes into a fighting stance before he realizes Lilly is coming in for the kill. He keeps Mister back as well, letting Lilly handle it as he turns to find another assailant he might be able to assist with, a calm look in his eye as he surveys the fight.<br> <br>Lucasiel does her best to be sneaky! But then those pesky servitors start going for her allies, and it&#39;d be remiss of her to let that pass! So, she whirls around and brings her axe up, letting the momentum follow through as she tries to bring the metal mass down towards a servitor in a heavy chop.<br> <br>&quot;&#39;Ey now!&quot; You&#39;re a all-star. Get your game on, get... paid! Rainer limbos out of the way of a bolt of lightning. Don&#39;t question it. When he swings back upright he&#39;s got his swords drawn, and he aims the business end of one at the trio of bots, brows narrowed and a challenging half-smirk on his muzzle. &quot;You wanna get busted down to scrap, you picked a fight with the right guys!&quot; Only then does he take the time to cast a smile aside to Kalt, adding, &quot;Hey, how was I supposed to know they were the feisty sort?&quot;<br> <br>Kalt doesn&#39;t wait or hesitate once they show aggitation, the Vixen dropping low as she quickly manages to pull off the splits as the lightning flies over her head! A slight scoff is an answer to rainer, before she curls and rolls forward, springing into a jump at the end of her roll as she goes to bring the metal tipped end of her staff down on the offending servitor!<br> <br>Lilly&#39;s slicing axe crushes one of the three servitors into a sparking pile of scrap and Lucasiel follows up with more of the same and Kalt downs the third! It is obvious that they were not really made for combat! They certainly can&#39;t be sentries. Once again, the party is assaulted by the blast of that horrible screeching cry! Just ahead, the tunnel to the central shaft looms.<br> <br>Lilly twists at that horrible sounding screech, tense and at the ready. Once it fades, she begins moving down the tunnel again, steps carefully placed for stealth.<br> <br>Angus flicks his ears as he watchs the Servitors go down, before he flinches at the screech again, putting a finger in his ear and wiggling it. &quot;When we find this thing, lets muzzle it.&quot; He murmurs as he stands back up and turns around again, hands on his pistols as he starts walking forward with Mister on his heels.<br> <br>Lucasiel flashes a little grin as the servitors fall under their combined efforts. &quot;Well, that takes care of tha-&quot; She cuts off again, wincing at the sound of the screech. &quot;Gah. What do you think that is? Some kind of... Awful machine?&quot; She shakes it off and shoulders her axe as she starts off towards the shaft, taking the lead once more.<br> <br>Rainer turns his head in the... vague direction of the noise, admittedly difficult to ascertain with it bouncing off every single wall. Aside from flattening his ears for the duration of the screech, it seems to be bothering him less and less. &quot;Alright, admitting: the two Small Clanners in a leaf costume theory is sounding a -little- thin at the moment.&quot; Perking right up, he begins to strut onwards, full speed! &quot;Still, nothing for it but to see with our own eyes, right?&quot;<br> <br>&quot;It ain&#39;t probably nuttin&#39; that&#39;s gonna be showin&#39; nice for us an&#39; all.&quot; The Vixen&#39;s tail flicking as she sighs, Kalt&#39;s gaze flicking amongst everyone there before Rainer just begins to move forward full speed again, the vixen groaning as she sets her staff on her back and dashes after him! &quot;Oi! Don&#39;t go gettin&#39; stuck up you git!&quot;<br> <br>The tunnel opens up to reveal a wide ledge jutting out over the main shaft of the volcano! The heat is almost unbearable this far down, nearly level with the flowing lava at the bottom. But just ahead, at the edge of the wide ledge are two very strange things. One is a large, black, blocky structure, broken and spilling bits and pieces of scrap and swarming with servitor golems. The other is a reptile the size of a house, scrabbling and scratching at the wrecked structure. As the group watches, the creature opens its jaws wide and lets loose with that shrieking roar that brought the party down here!<br> <br>Lilly groans as the heat gets even worse, rubbing at her forehead with her hand before she shakes her head and resolves to tough it out. She moves along the tunnel, axe held loosely in her hand... then stops, and stares at the giant beast. &quot;... what?&quot; she says, echoing her earlier self. &quot;Huh. I wonder what it&#39;s trying to eat there.&quot;<br> <br>Angus stops in his tracks and lifts the brim of his hat an inch up to get a better look at the biggin. &quot;.....Is it to late to get a bigger gun?&quot; He asks as his left hand dips to pull a white pistol from his belt, cocking the hammer back as he looks over the rest of the group. &quot;We want the white or the dark meat?&quot;<br> <br>Lucasiel stops in her tracks and stares for a moment. &quot;... Huh. Now that&#39;ll be a thing to bring down that is worthy of praise! So... Ah. How do we reach it, exactly? I don&#39;t think I can hit it from here.&quot; She props the axe on her shoulder for a moment, tugging off the tattered cloth &#39;shawl&#39; that had been covering her. It&#39;d only get in the way and likely catch on fire.<br> <br>Rainer doesn&#39;t get much further than the mouth of the tunnel before stopping in his tracks. &quot;Woah.&quot; He&#39;s surprisingly perky, considering his clothes and fur have pretty much been steam-dried by this point, and by the time the others have caught up his tail is wagging something fierce. &quot;Would you -look at that-!&quot; He laughs, quite heartily, and gestures with spread arms at the sight before them. &quot;Oh, I must have been a -very- good boy. Well, let&#39;s get to it!&quot; And out come his weapons-of-choice again as the pup assumes combat stance.<br> <br>Kalt blinks as she stands beside Rainer, the Vixen&#39;s tail flicking as she gets a wide grin while looking over the scene. &quot;Well, only way to gettin&#39; there... Is to go runnin&#39; on up~&quot; The Vixen sparing no time as she drops low before dashing forward, running as fast as she can to get foolishly ahead of the group as she calls back at Rainer. &quot;BETTIN&#39; I CAN GO KILLIN&#39; IT FIRST BOYO!&quot;<br> <br>Rokarion arrives running from the tunnel, &quot;My apologies for arriving late. Did I miss anything?&quot; He then stops in his tracks at the end of the tunnel, as he comes in sight with the situation, and hearing the same shriek again. He takes out a musket from under his cloak, from the looks of it not the best example of one, and prepares for invetible combat, before syaing in his usual clam tone, &quot;Well, I am assuming diplomacy is out of the question?&quot;<br> <br>The jagged surface of the large ledge is hardly enough to slow Kalt down as she goes bounding toward the distant edge where the great reptile is screeching ineffectively at the broken structure. It is similar to one of the volcanic efreeti, in the way that a training yard sword is like a fine rapier, or a loaf of bread is like a wedding cake. The great beast is long and sinewy, with a long, whipping tail and glittering black scales. It does not seem to see the party yet, much more occupied with this bizarre, buzzing thing that has invaded its territory. It screams another challenge as the party draws near, whipping a gargantuan tail toward the fallen structure.<br> <br>Ever pragmatic, Lilly follows along behind Kalt, letting the fox take the first hit since she seems so eager for it. &quot;Yea, out of the question,&quot; she confirms, drawing her long, thin dagger as well.<br> <br>Angus blinks as both Rainer and Kalt go bolting past them, his other pistol sliding into his free hand as he starts to move forward as well. &quot;Go for the throat and under the arms, that&#39;s probably the weakest points!&quot; He shouts as he watches the creature attack Kalt as he growls!<br> <br>Lucasiel blinks as Kalt goes charging off. &quot;Hey!&quot; She growls softly and breaks into a run of her own, trailing up behind Kalt with her axe at the ready. Well! She was looking for a fight, at least, so she could hardly argue with the vixen&#39;s enthusiasm.<br> <br>&quot;No fair!&quot; Rainer blurts out, taking off after Kalt lickity-split, though not quite lickity-split enough to get into the path of that flailing tail, looking concerned right up to the moment she deftly dodges it, then laughing. &quot;Maybe you lot should just hang back and leave this to the expert adventurer!&quot; He keeps his eyes on that massive scaley tail, waiting for the next time it comes swinging to take a stab at leaping onto it. Fortunate he&#39;s got two big, sharp objects for the latching-on with. Even if alerting the creature to their presence this early is... not so wise.<br> <br>The Vixen doesn&#39;t even seem concerned at that tail, the beastie telegraphing the move clearly enough that the vixen crouches low before vaulting over it! Twisting some in the air before landing on her feet, she continues dashing forward before reaching close to the building, a wide grin on her lips as she jumps up to grab a hand hold in one of the broken spots, before pushing herself up to run up the tilted side of the building... So close now, she could almost taste it!<br> <br>Rokarion looks at the group, while his serene facial expression remain intact deep down he is just asking himself why is everyone rushing in without the hint of a plan. He glances the broken machine, most likely a Creator artifact hopefully it won&#39;t get damaged. Rokarion then looks again at the scene seeing Kalt as the closes one there, and also for some reason standing at the location where the creature is aiming for too. With the equations done in his head, and a circular motion of his forefinger, a layer of stone forms over Kalt covering her completely in another protective layer, that will hopefully remain intact for a while.<br> <br>So far, the monstrous lizard has not paid much attention to the party, its horned, toothy head pointed at the golem covered wreck before it. The servitors themselves seem to be ignoring the reptile&#39;s attacks, aimlessly buzzing around the surface of the ruined structure. One of them comes skittering straight toward Kalt!
+<div></div>Rain sluices down the trail leading up the side of Firebough Mountain. It is muddy and wet and miserable, but that seems to suit the being huddled under the overhang off to the side of the road just fine. A heavyset badger wearing the dark coat of a spyguard stands waiting just outside of the mouth of a cave. Or, perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a fissure, since it seems to be a new addition to anyone familiar with the trail. "Bout time you lot got here," he grumbles.<br> <br>Kalt huffs as she makes her way to the badger, the Vixen having forgon any sort of umbrella or rain prevention aperatus. Left drenched in her leather jacket, and chain shirt she merely huffs, before adjusting her grip on a thick ornate and reinforced staff. "Aw no don't go bein' like that. Ain't like sloggin' round findin' a fella like you when lookin' more than a corn's throw infront of you is damn near unsightly is easy or what not... But what's seemin' to be goin' on?"<br> <br>Whistling a merry tune as she often does during her walks, Lucasiel trundles along the muddy path in her plate, a thick cloak and hood of tattered rags and fabric the only thing to protect her plate, which protects her, from the elements. "Hello, hello!" She calls out as she follows Kalt up to the other Spyguard.<br> <br>Rokarion moves towards the badger, wearing their usual body covering heavy cloak to prevent the rain from causing any annoyance while still keeping the hood off to allow the train droplets to drench his petals. Rokarion ignores the badger's comment and simple stand their waiting for the others, wafting his jasmine scent to those around him. Rokarion wonders under his serene expresison what exactly is going to transpire around here.<br> <br>Not too terribly put out by the rain, Lilly makes her way up the path as well. The shark is dressed for problem solving, with her scale hauberk and her large bone-bladed axe on her back, and the big woman gives the spyguard a quick nod as she reaches the camp.<br> <br>Angus hums silently to himself as he walks up to the badger, his furred shoulder cloak mostly protected from the rain underneath Mister sitting on his shoulders as hi his wide brimmed hat protects the rest of him from the rain. He steps up to the group and smiles, a hand moving up to tip his hat to them in greeting. "Evening." The fox states before turning his gaze upon those around him to see who he would be working with.<br> <br>Rainer trots up the trail utterly soaked much like the rest, but the big ol' smile on his face and the bit of a waggle his tail manages despite being weighed down in all the water it has absorbed stands as proof of how uncrushably high his spirits are. He finds a place to stand near Angus and Kalt, tucking thumbs into the waistband of his pants and surveying the opening of the fissure. "Neat, that's new! Found somethin' interestin' in there, eh?"<br> <br>The badger nods at the fissure. "Somethin' big went down here in the mountain," he grumbles, "Hell if I know what. But it looks like old Firebough here has popped up a few new wrinkles." The badger snorts a hello to Lucasiel and returns to his explanation. "Nothin' new on the old bird," he grunts, "But this here hole has a few people a little worried." He waves to indicate its obvious proximity to the road. "And we've had reports of-" <br> <br> Whatever the spyguard was about to say is cut off as a horrible shrieking wail blasts from the hole! It sounds like metal scraping against stone all mixed up with the shriek of an eagle the size of an ox cart! <br> <br> "That," the badger says, hiking a thumb over his shoulder. "Your job is to go find out what it is," he says, "And take care of it if necessary. Questions?"<br> <br>Kalt winces slightly at the shrieking, before she rubs her ears and pulls her metal gloves over her hands. "... Right. An'm sure you're gonna be sittin' waitin' for us all with baited breath an' all ain'tcha?" The vixen moving over slowly to peer down into the hole with a flick of her tail, trying to see if she'd have to either jump in, or if it was at an angle appropriate for sliding or simple walking!<br> <br>Lucasiel swings her axe up to prop on her shoulder, flashing a grin under her helmet. "Nope!" After making sure her kite shield is secure, she takes a few steps towards the fissure and glances over the other. "Want me to take point? I've certainly got the equipment for it!" And that other reckless wolf wasn't here today, it seemed!<br> <br>Rokarion looks at the new arrivals, and answers Angus with a ,"Good evening to you too." Before the shriek turns his attention back to the fissure. Rokarion takes a moment to think before saying, "So no idea what that thing might be? Of those reports that you mentioned, do any of them contain some information about the creature's capabilities or if it is hostile or not?"<br> <br>Lilly turns a wary look towards the fissure as the sound reaches the group, her ears quivering. The shark's tail lashes once, and then she gives Lucasiel a nod. "Yea. You look better equipped for it. I'll cover your back, if something jumps you and you need to fall back." She looks over at the others, nodding. "Nice to meet the rest of you."<br> <br>Angus leans back in surprise, taken aback as he puts his hand on his hat and glares outright at the fissure. "....Well, I can tell you one thing. It's not a dragon, undead or otherwise." The fox states to try and lighten the mood a bit as he draws a pistol from his hip and looks to Rainer. "What do you think, should we start a betting pool as to what it is?" He asks calmly as his right hand moves to scratch the metal surface of Mister.<br> <br>Rainer's eyebrows shoot up as the rundown is interrupted by infernal noises, leaning away from the opening until well after it's passed. "Sounds friendly!" he declares, at last, "Maybe I could lure it out with my hunting jarl call." Tilting his towards Angus, he ponders a moment, then decides: "I'm gonna say it's two Small Clanners in a costume made of mud and leaves just having a laugh at everyone's expense."<br> <br>The fissure is wide enough for one being at a time to pick their way through, and though there is a slight angle, it should nit be too difficult to navigate, provided someone has a dry torch. "Yup," the badger says, leaning against the cliff face and lighting up some sort of foul smelling cigarette, "I'll be right here with your pay when you get back."  He blows a puff of smoke into the rain. "And I have no idea what it is," he says, "That's what you lot are for."<br> <br>"Yep, all you goin' on in first then. I would, but m'not wearin armor, an' lackin' in a shield an' all. So, I'll go popin' in right after you!" Kalt grinning to Lucasiel as she moves to make room for the armored figure, waiting to slip behind them and follow in right after her when they enter.<br> <br>Lucasiel leans over to look into the fissure and hums. "Righty-o, then! Let's see what awaits us in tonight's adventure!" She exclaims before taking a step and a little hop-to to make her way into the earth! "Just watch my back and all! Don't want any surprises we can avoid."<br> <br>Rokarion shrugs, and moves towards the fissure, "So, anyone wants to go before me or should I follow after the two ladies?" Depending on the answer Rokarion then follows the group.<br> <br>"Someone with a light would be nice," Lilly comments wryly as she follows after Luca. She twists a little as she slips into the fissure, grunting quietly. "I hope this doesn't suddenly narrow down. I'd hate to get stuck."<br> <br>Angus eyes Rainer, shaking his head as he tries hard not to laugh. "If that's true, I'll pay you a thousand crown." He shakes his head a bit as he puts Mister down, the little golem moving foward alongside the ladies as Angus walks over to the fissure. "Right, lets get this started."<br> <br>Rainer's grin gains just the hint of a triumphant tone, as if entertaining Angus was some particularly difficult feat. "I suppose I'll bring up the rear. Y'know, just in case this turns out to be some elaborate trap and our benefactor tries to jump us from behind." Expression suddenly turning grave, he points at his eyes with index and middle fingers, then twists his hand at the wrist, swinging those two fingers around to aim at the badger's eyes. A second later he's grinning again, aiming a playful swat at the mustelid's shoulder as he approaches the opening. "I'm foolin', lighten up!"<br> <br>The fissure is not too hard to navigate, though once Lilly enters the tunnel there is no ambient light from outside to ease the path. A subtle glow eminating from Kalt is the only thing making this feat impossible. After only a few moments, however, the fissure tumbles into a wide tunnel. Rough, and probably natural, but much better than that crack in the rocks. The tunnel extends in both directions, sloping gently down to the left.<br> <br>A low whistled tune begins to rise from the vixen as the group follows down, her eyes looking around before speaking for a moment. "Hi ho, hi ho... It's off to work we go~" Pattting her hands together as she grins. "M'sorry by the way, could go lightin' it up, but folks ain't gonna be seein' right then."<br> <br>Lucasiel slips into the wider tunnel and takes the time to flip the hood down, exposing her helmet fully. "Mmmh... Which way shall we go, friends?" She asks, taking the moment to let her eyes adjust to the light. "And no chance any of you have any torches or something, do you? I didn't think to bring mine, and my fire magic is not up to snuff."<br> <br>Rokarion looks around a little, before syaing in his usual calm nad polite tone, "Well I think I can help with that." With that Rokarion's body suddenly turns a pale white light. Something under his cloak moves upwards. A green vine tipped with a blossom rise from under his cloak to stand above and behind his bed. The glow around him seems to move towards the small blossom on the vine. When the glow gets focused their it starts getitng brighter until it gives off a shimmering light similar to that of a lantern, "Will this be enough for our needs?"<br> <br>Lilly grins at Rokarion and quietly applauds, then nods her head towards the left hand path. "It's always at the bottom, right?" she asks the others, slipping her large, heavy axe from its loop. "Let's at least start that way. Oh! And we can leave a mark that this is the way back out, yea?" she asks, looking back at the group.<br> <br>Angus blinks a bit, putting his hand up as the glow starts up. "Well, that's a new one." He states as his eyes adjust to the glow. Meanwhile, Mister stays on guard, his ears folded back as the little golem lets its head dart around quickly to try and find any possible threats as the group treks forward.<br> <br>Rainer hangs back a bit when he first steps into the tunnel, letting the others get a fair lead on him before he gives his body a thorough shake, displacing the bulk of the water collected in his coat and clothing, though it also makes a fair bit of clattering as his sword scabbards rapidly bang against the walls of the narrow space. Scooting to catch up, he slips into the cavern in time to watch with interest as Rokarion lights up their lives. "Neat!" He proceeds to wander a ways along the tunnel to the right, until he's nearly beyond the range of the plant's illumination, and calls out, "HEY! SCREECHY THING! YOU THIS WAY?"<br> <br>While the group discusses their path, that horrible shriek grinds through the cavern! It seems equally powerful from BOTH directions, and much bigger and louder here beneath the mountain. Rokarion's added illumination reveals the the tunnel curves off in the same direction on both the upper and lower paths. Maybe it doesn't matter which road the group takes?<br> <br>"Whelp, I ain't one for splitin' folks up an' all.. But from the way stuff is soundin' an' all, an' to go keepin' things from gettin' a jump on us from another direction, we're havin'... Six folk. I ain't sayin I support or endorse it, but we're havin' the option of splittin' up if'n folks wanna." Kalt crossing her arms over her chest as she looks at the upper and lower path with concentration.<br> <br>Lucasiel gestures to the left and nods. "I think we should stick together, yes. And as she said," giving a nod to Lilly, "Perhaps we should move downard, first! Thank you for the light, yes! Perhaps it'll do just fine! Now then! Shall we get moving?" She asks, starting down the slope, holding her axe at the ready.<br> <br>Rokarion looks at the two paths, his vine moving back and forth like a pendulum. "I agree with Miss Lucasiel. We should stick together, especially we our limited source of illumination. I am agreeable with both paths." Rokarion then glances the group again, waiting for the majority to decide the pass.<br> <br>Lilly quietly growls, giving her head a shake as she recovers from the ear-splitting shriek. "Right. Don't split up. Come on, guys." Sticking close to Luca, she follows the cat down the slope.<br> <br>The tunnel becomes noticably hotter as the group turns the corner and a dull red glow suffuses the area. The main shaft must be just ahead. Unfortunately, that is not the only thing ahead! In the tunnel, backlit by the reddish light from the main shaft is a group of three machine servitors scuttling about, seemingly at random!<br> <br>&quot;... what?&quot; Lilly asks, slowing as the servitors come into view. Her grip on her axe tightens, and she stares at the things. &quot;Those do not belong here. Right?&quot; she asks, looking to Lucasiel.<br> <br>Angus cocks an eyebrow as he stops, pistol raised a bot as he looks down at Mister and beckons the golem closer. &quot;I....don&#39;t think so no, and I don&#39;t think they are the only ones.&quot; He mutters softly as he holsters his pistol and reaches down to his belt. Working with the leather ties he removes a set of metal knuckle covers, fitting them on and clenching his hands into fists to make sure they are on right. &quot;Lets make sure we don&#39;t get caught by surprise.&quot;<br> <br>Lucasiel keeps her shield raised as she continues along in the front, adjusting her grip on the haft of her battle axe as she eyes the servitors over from behind her helm. &quot;I am not sure why they are down here, no... This isn&#39;t a creator ruin, is it? Sure doesn&#39;t look like it, and I&#39;m tired of seeing them all over the place! Let&#39;s try to walk by them if we can. No need for a fight.&quot;<br> <br>Rainer gets up on his tiptoes when those ahead of him pause, tilting this way and that to see what all the fuss is about. &quot;Hey, you never know, maybe this cave connects to some old, buried Creator place. We&#39;ll soon see, right?&quot; He ducks and weaves around the others, moving out ahead with little concern for the servitors. &quot;They&#39;re probably just scoutin&#39; the place to see what all the ruckus is, same as us.&quot;<br> <br>Kalt frowns and readies her staff, tapping it against her hands as she looks at the servitors. &quot;... Rainer, don&#39;t go bein&#39; foolish now, m&#39;guessin&#39; their a bit crazy an&#39; all from how their movin&#39;, an&#39; gettin&#39; cut up ain&#39;t gonna help us none.&quot; The Vixen calling out as she tries to stick to Lucasiels side.<br> <br>Erratic as the three machines are, they react with very clear purpose as the party draws near! All three scuttle forward, lightning arching between their metalic mandibles, striking out at Angus, Rainer and Kalt!<br> <br>Lilly turns as the servitors head for her allies, holding back for a moment as they zip past, lining up her attack. She raises her axe and then silently surges in from behind the servitors, flanking them and swinging her weapon in a wide cleaving arc.<br> <br>Angus stumbles back as one of them comes right for him, stepping out of the way of it&#39;s little claws as he goes into a fighting stance before he realizes Lilly is coming in for the kill. He keeps Mister back as well, letting Lilly handle it as he turns to find another assailant he might be able to assist with, a calm look in his eye as he surveys the fight.<br> <br>Lucasiel does her best to be sneaky! But then those pesky servitors start going for her allies, and it&#39;d be remiss of her to let that pass! So, she whirls around and brings her axe up, letting the momentum follow through as she tries to bring the metal mass down towards a servitor in a heavy chop.<br> <br>&quot;&#39;Ey now!&quot; You&#39;re a all-star. Get your game on, get... paid! Rainer limbos out of the way of a bolt of lightning. Don&#39;t question it. When he swings back upright he&#39;s got his swords drawn, and he aims the business end of one at the trio of bots, brows narrowed and a challenging half-smirk on his muzzle. &quot;You wanna get busted down to scrap, you picked a fight with the right guys!&quot; Only then does he take the time to cast a smile aside to Kalt, adding, &quot;Hey, how was I supposed to know they were the feisty sort?&quot;<br> <br>Kalt doesn&#39;t wait or hesitate once they show aggitation, the Vixen dropping low as she quickly manages to pull off the splits as the lightning flies over her head! A slight scoff is an answer to rainer, before she curls and rolls forward, springing into a jump at the end of her roll as she goes to bring the metal tipped end of her staff down on the offending servitor!<br> <br>Lilly&#39;s slicing axe crushes one of the three servitors into a sparking pile of scrap and Lucasiel follows up with more of the same and Kalt downs the third! It is obvious that they were not really made for combat! They certainly can&#39;t be sentries. Once again, the party is assaulted by the blast of that horrible screeching cry! Just ahead, the tunnel to the central shaft looms.<br> <br>Lilly twists at that horrible sounding screech, tense and at the ready. Once it fades, she begins moving down the tunnel again, steps carefully placed for stealth.<br> <br>Angus flicks his ears as he watchs the Servitors go down, before he flinches at the screech again, putting a finger in his ear and wiggling it. &quot;When we find this thing, lets muzzle it.&quot; He murmurs as he stands back up and turns around again, hands on his pistols as he starts walking forward with Mister on his heels.<br> <br>Lucasiel flashes a little grin as the servitors fall under their combined efforts. &quot;Well, that takes care of tha-&quot; She cuts off again, wincing at the sound of the screech. &quot;Gah. What do you think that is? Some kind of... Awful machine?&quot; She shakes it off and shoulders her axe as she starts off towards the shaft, taking the lead once more.<br> <br>Rainer turns his head in the... vague direction of the noise, admittedly difficult to ascertain with it bouncing off every single wall. Aside from flattening his ears for the duration of the screech, it seems to be bothering him less and less. &quot;Alright, admitting: the two Small Clanners in a leaf costume theory is sounding a -little- thin at the moment.&quot; Perking right up, he begins to strut onwards, full speed! &quot;Still, nothing for it but to see with our own eyes, right?&quot;<br> <br>&quot;It ain&#39;t probably nuttin&#39; that&#39;s gonna be showin&#39; nice for us an&#39; all.&quot; The Vixen&#39;s tail flicking as she sighs, Kalt&#39;s gaze flicking amongst everyone there before Rainer just begins to move forward full speed again, the vixen groaning as she sets her staff on her back and dashes after him! &quot;Oi! Don&#39;t go gettin&#39; stuck up you git!&quot;<br> <br>The tunnel opens up to reveal a wide ledge jutting out over the main shaft of the volcano! The heat is almost unbearable this far down, nearly level with the flowing lava at the bottom. But just ahead, at the edge of the wide ledge are two very strange things. One is a large, black, blocky structure, broken and spilling bits and pieces of scrap and swarming with servitor golems. The other is a reptile the size of a house, scrabbling and scratching at the wrecked structure. As the group watches, the creature opens its jaws wide and lets loose with that shrieking roar that brought the party down here!<br> <br>Lilly groans as the heat gets even worse, rubbing at her forehead with her hand before she shakes her head and resolves to tough it out. She moves along the tunnel, axe held loosely in her hand... then stops, and stares at the giant beast. &quot;... what?&quot; she says, echoing her earlier self. &quot;Huh. I wonder what it&#39;s trying to eat there.&quot;<br> <br>Angus stops in his tracks and lifts the brim of his hat an inch up to get a better look at the biggin. &quot;.....Is it to late to get a bigger gun?&quot; He asks as his left hand dips to pull a white pistol from his belt, cocking the hammer back as he looks over the rest of the group. &quot;We want the white or the dark meat?&quot;<br> <br>Lucasiel stops in her tracks and stares for a moment. &quot;... Huh. Now that&#39;ll be a thing to bring down that is worthy of praise! So... Ah. How do we reach it, exactly? I don&#39;t think I can hit it from here.&quot; She props the axe on her shoulder for a moment, tugging off the tattered cloth &#39;shawl&#39; that had been covering her. It&#39;d only get in the way and likely catch on fire.<br> <br>Rainer doesn&#39;t get much further than the mouth of the tunnel before stopping in his tracks. &quot;Woah.&quot; He&#39;s surprisingly perky, considering his clothes and fur have pretty much been steam-dried by this point, and by the time the others have caught up his tail is wagging something fierce. &quot;Would you -look at that-!&quot; He laughs, quite heartily, and gestures with spread arms at the sight before them. &quot;Oh, I must have been a -very- good boy. Well, let&#39;s get to it!&quot; And out come his weapons-of-choice again as the pup assumes combat stance.<br> <br>Kalt blinks as she stands beside Rainer, the Vixen&#39;s tail flicking as she gets a wide grin while looking over the scene. &quot;Well, only way to gettin&#39; there... Is to go runnin&#39; on up~&quot; The Vixen sparing no time as she drops low before dashing forward, running as fast as she can to get foolishly ahead of the group as she calls back at Rainer. &quot;BETTIN&#39; I CAN GO KILLIN&#39; IT FIRST BOYO!&quot;<br> <br>Rokarion arrives running from the tunnel, &quot;My apologies for arriving late. Did I miss anything?&quot; He then stops in his tracks at the end of the tunnel, as he comes in sight with the situation, and hearing the same shriek again. He takes out a musket from under his cloak, from the looks of it not the best example of one, and prepares for invetible combat, before syaing in his usual clam tone, &quot;Well, I am assuming diplomacy is out of the question?&quot;<br> <br>The jagged surface of the large ledge is hardly enough to slow Kalt down as she goes bounding toward the distant edge where the great reptile is screeching ineffectively at the broken structure. It is similar to one of the volcanic efreeti, in the way that a training yard sword is like a fine rapier, or a loaf of bread is like a wedding cake. The great beast is long and sinewy, with a long, whipping tail and glittering black scales. It does not seem to see the party yet, much more occupied with this bizarre, buzzing thing that has invaded its territory. It screams another challenge as the party draws near, whipping a gargantuan tail toward the fallen structure.<br> <br>Ever pragmatic, Lilly follows along behind Kalt, letting the fox take the first hit since she seems so eager for it. &quot;Yea, out of the question,&quot; she confirms, drawing her long, thin dagger as well.<br> <br>Angus blinks as both Rainer and Kalt go bolting past them, his other pistol sliding into his free hand as he starts to move forward as well. &quot;Go for the throat and under the arms, that&#39;s probably the weakest points!&quot; He shouts as he watches the creature attack Kalt as he growls!<br> <br>Lucasiel blinks as Kalt goes charging off. &quot;Hey!&quot; She growls softly and breaks into a run of her own, trailing up behind Kalt with her axe at the ready. Well! She was looking for a fight, at least, so she could hardly argue with the vixen&#39;s enthusiasm.<br> <br>&quot;No fair!&quot; Rainer blurts out, taking off after Kalt lickity-split, though not quite lickity-split enough to get into the path of that flailing tail, looking concerned right up to the moment she deftly dodges it, then laughing. &quot;Maybe you lot should just hang back and leave this to the expert adventurer!&quot; He keeps his eyes on that massive scaley tail, waiting for the next time it comes swinging to take a stab at leaping onto it. Fortunate he&#39;s got two big, sharp objects for the latching-on with. Even if alerting the creature to their presence this early is... not so wise.<br> <br>The Vixen doesn&#39;t even seem concerned at that tail, the beastie telegraphing the move clearly enough that the vixen crouches low before vaulting over it! Twisting some in the air before landing on her feet, she continues dashing forward before reaching close to the building, a wide grin on her lips as she jumps up to grab a hand hold in one of the broken spots, before pushing herself up to run up the tilted side of the building... So close now, she could almost taste it!<br> <br>Rokarion looks at the group, while his serene facial expression remain intact deep down he is just asking himself why is everyone rushing in without the hint of a plan. He glances the broken machine, most likely a Creator artifact hopefully it won&#39;t get damaged. Rokarion then looks again at the scene seeing Kalt as the closes one there, and also for some reason standing at the location where the creature is aiming for too. With the equations done in his head, and a circular motion of his forefinger, a layer of stone forms over Kalt covering her completely in another protective layer, that will hopefully remain intact for a while.<br> <br>So far, the monstrous lizard has not paid much attention to the party, its horned, toothy head pointed at the golem covered wreck before it. The servitors themselves seem to be ignoring the reptile&#39;s attacks, aimlessly buzzing around the surface of the ruined structure. One of them comes skittering straight toward Kalt!
 Meanwhile, the reptilian beast has reared back and is coming crashing down toward the ruined building with both massive foreclaws!<br> <br>With the dra- the giant lizard distracted, Lilly darts forward. Remembering what Angus had said, she tries to move in along one of the beast&#39;s flanks, then lays into it with a fast flurry of strikes from her axe when she finds a good spot behind its arm.<br> <br>As soon as Angus notices the thing reacting to them he holsters his pistols, giving Mister a command to stay back as the fox takes to the air with Air magic, but he didn&#39;t anticipate his landing right. The fox landing on the creatures back, but not close enough to the target as the fox turns around and draws his knife with his right hand. &quot;Didn&#39;t think we would be facing an overgrown lizard!&quot;<br> <br>Lucasiel isn&#39;t one to stay her blade, once the others start the battle! She likewise seeks to take advantage of the weaker point on the lizard, bringing the axe up in an upward arc towards the fleshier underbits!<br> <br>Rainer waits for it... waaaits for iiiiit... okay that tail isn&#39;t coming back. &quot;Guh.&quot; New strategy! Seeing as the others are already beginning to swarm the thing, he makes a run on it too, going for the leg opposite Lilly. &quot;Adventurer Rule NumberrrRRR ELEVEN! Go for their knees!&quot; And that&#39;s exactly what he takes his swings at.<br> <br>A short dodge of the rogue servitor, then the Vixen is quickly and deftly avoiding those crashing claws as she crouches low and launches herself up at the beasts face! Her left hand cocking back as a flurry of pure light collects around it, forgoing flames themselves as she calls upon some sort of inner power, before slamming her fist directly into the creature&#39;s nose mid air, a cocky, shit eating grin spread wide upon her face!<br> <br>Rokarion moves to position himself at a good angle, before kneeling down, and taking aim at the beast with his musket, the weapon being not one of the best examples of craftsmanship, but hey it works. After a couple of seconds of concentration, Rokarion pulls the trigger and watches as the musket emits a banging noise and lets out the bullet.<br> <br>The creature&#39;s downward strike is interrupted by the concerted efforts of the group. For the most part, the group&#39;s attacks are not enough to do much besides anger the beast, though they certainly do that! Rainer&#39;s strike manages to cut deep, drawing blood on the beast&#39;s back leg and Kalt&#39;s strike has the creature seeing stars briefly. Now is the time to strike!<br> <br>Lilly continues to hack away at the lizard&#39;s leg, quite happy with her current strategy; let the flashier guys take all the heat while she&#39;d keep working at crippling the lizard while it was distracted.<br> <br>Angus stumbles as the thing starts to move, his dagger sinking into its flesh to eep him steady before he stands back up and moves towards his target as he swings his Blunderbuss around and takes a grip on it with his left. &quot;Just die you damn beast!&quot; He shouts as he steps up to where he things the back of its skull is before pointing the blunderbuss directly down, pressing it flush against the flesh before he pulls the trigger, the gun going off with a roar!<br> <br>Lucasiel pulls her axe back for a moment and hoists it over her head before taking a short leap into the air, swinging the axe downward on her descent to use the combined momentum to try to slam the heavy weapon into the overgrown lizard&#39;s head. Wonder how thick that skull is...<br> <br>Bleeding is good enough, Rainer reasons, even if the leg is still functional. He&#39;d kiss his swords, if they weren&#39;t drenched in the blood of this behemoth. Popping &#39;round the leg, he goes running below the beast&#39;s underbelly, sizing up the cleave Lucasiel made on her way along before him. &quot;Not bad... but I&#39;ll bet a week&#39;s pay I can do...&quot; The canid comes skidding to a halt somewhere roundabouts he perceives to the mighty monstrosity&#39;s chest, angling both swords up towards it. &quot;...BETTER!&quot; And with that cry he thrusts both blades straight up--!<br> <br>Kalt begins to slightly fall, realizing she&#39;d have to do -all- that work to get back up, she makes a desperate gambit and grabs hold of the beasts head to keep her up there! Taking a deep breath as she closes her eyes a moment to focus, letting the heat and everything else flood her senses as she builds up to do the next step of her crazy plan!<br> <br>Rokarion looks around the area. Deciding on a plan, Rokarion spots the damaged knees of the lizard, hmm might as well cripple it even further. With that Rokarion focuses on it, and with the equations done, sudden zephyrs of air move like scythes towards the damaged knees of the beast.<br> <br>The party now has the reptile&#39;s full attention as it opens its mouth wide and screams a brain shaking challenge! It is all Kalt can do to hold on as she finds herself dangling from a catfish-like whisker on the lizard&#39;s snout! The steel on stone scream rattling her in her armor.
 Lucasiel&#39;s gravity assisted blow is also a success, chopping heavily into the foreleg opposite the one Rainer previously injured. The injured legs cause the creature to topple forward, adding its own weight to Rainer&#39;s vicious upward attack and opening a sizable gash on its hard, white underbelly.
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 Suddenly, from below comes a strange, burbling sound, as if the mountain were humming to itself and the magma begins to surge and boil!<br> <br>Lilly offers Rainer a hand up, grinning, and her fin-like ears twitch at the sound from below. &quot;So, guys. Think that&#39;s the lizard&#39;s mom?&quot; she asks, glancing back and forth. &quot;You might want to switch back, or it&#39;ll adopt you, mister. That, or the volcano&#39;s telling us it&#39;s time to go.&quot;<br> <br>Angus makes sure Rainer is breathing, sighing as he realizes the wolf is alive as he gathers his things, shoving what he can in his pack and hanging the rest around him as he calls to Mister with a whistle, the little golem coming back to his side as he reaches down to help Rainer up. &quot;Lets get out of here before anything else happens.&quot;<br> <br>Lucasiel glances over at the bubbling lava and hums. &quot;Well! Uhh. Either its mother, or this place is getting angry! I agree with her! I believe it&#39;s time to make our leave! My armour can&#39;t repel -lava- I am pretty sure!&quot; So without another hesitation, she starts making her way back the way they came!<br> <br>Rainer can see a light! But it&#39;s not the other&#39;s lifting the overgrown salamander... through the rapidly-spreading haze in his mind, it seems like... embers are rising from the corners of his mouth? Suddenly, all that weight upon him is gone, and either from the realization he&#39;s been freed, or simply a reflex of the body he draws in one long, deep, gasping breath and slumps. It takes him a few moments to register Lilly offering her hand to him, and when he puts his in it there&#39;s... no grip, his strength not yet back. Well, I&#39;m sure someone won&#39;t mind carrying him.<br> <br>Kalt picks up the scales and dumps them into her bag, before running around and grabbing Rainer&#39;s free hand as she hauls him to his feet. &quot;Fuck it! I got&#39;m! Run before this place goes explodin&#39;, NOW!&quot; The Vixen working to help carry her wounded commrade to safety!<br> <br>Rokarion looks at the machine and the lizard with interest, &quot;So known of you know anything about those two? I am assuming the Creator machine might have been keeping this volcano dormant?&quot; But the sudden butbling sound of the volcano stops his line of thought, what a pity not enough time for close study. Rokarion quickly takes out his notebook and pen, and writes down the runes found on the machine. &quot;Well I guess we will have to go now.&quot; He says, and follows the group, hand still on the notebook, sketching the machine and the lizard, might as well do it while the details are still fresh in his mind.<br> <br>From where the group has fled, there is not much to see until an unconscionably large claw rises over the lip of the fiery abyss,scrabbling for purchase and dragging the comparatively tiny Creator ruin down into the magma. The claw does not rise again, but a strangely sad sound, the weeping of a titan in the depths of the volcano.
-There is nothing to impede the party&#39;s progress back to the fissure through which they entered. When they emerge, they find the badger spyguard waiting for them. &quot;That last one was different,&quot; he says, unconcerned by the party&#39;s bedraggled state, &quot;Y&#39;find out what it was?&quot; Creators, he still has that awful cigarette between his teeth! He produces a jingling sack of meritorious reward tokens. &quot;Here&#39;s yer pay,&quot; he says, &quot;As promised.&quot;<br> <br>Lilly snorts, relaxing in the relatively cool temperature outside the mountain; she pulls a waterskin from her belt and starts to drink, then frowns. &quot;Ugh. So warm. Yea, we figured it out.&quot; She pauses, thinking about how she might explain it, then shrugs. &quot;There were two midgets with some strange contraption made out of mud and sticks.&quot;<br> <br>As soon as he is outside and able to breath the cool air once more Angus changes back, putting back on his shirt and his hat as he sighs. &quot;It&#39;s a long story, one you wouldn&#39;t believe without a drink in you first.&quot; He states as he leans down to scratch at Mister&#39;s head, trailing his fingers down the golens back to check the enlayed runes, making sure they were all blue and he wasn&#39;t hurt.<br> <br>Lucasiel eases herself down on the ground for a moment of respite, once they&#39;re outside. She reaches up to tug her helmet off, drawing in a deep breath and not minding the rain at all! &quot;That was awful. I hate that kind of eat. Ugh. I need a long, cool dunk in the river, I think.&quot;<br> <br>Rainer is still pretty out of it when they emerge back onto the mountain trail, but that first rush of cold air as they approach the exit, and then the rain beating down on his fur, makes him shiver violently. &quot;...when&#39;d&#39;dit get so cold?&quot; His eyelids move contrary to each other, one open while the other&#39;s closed, and he lifts his head for a look about the group. &quot;...someone picktup my swurds, eh?&quot; Er, oops. Well, I&#39;m sure they were due to be replaced anyway.<br> <br>&quot;S&#39;cold cause you&#39;re an&#39; unlucky bastard, an&#39; youre swords are uh, well they went an&#39; fell in. Sorry &#39;bout it all Rainer.&quot; Kalt finding a nice spot to set her friend down before looking to the spyguard. &quot;Giant. Fuckin&#39;. Lizard.&quot;<br> <br>Rokarion finishes up his sketches and closes his notebook, they are a bit rough but that is what you get when you are drawing while walking inside a cave and he can always properly redraw them later. Rokarion then slips the book and the pen under the cloak to be stored inside a hidden container most likely, he then gets out of the cave with the rest of the group, feeling the fresh water once again on his hair and face. Looking at the group, seems no one is willing to explain the matter properly for the spyguard, well who cares really. &quot;Thank you for the reward. I am assuming we are done here?&quot;<br> <br>The badger does not even bat an eye at Lilly&#39;s description of what they found. &quot;Hell of a setup,&quot; he says, &quot;Must have been impressive.&quot; The spyguard shrugs, pulling another of his foul smelling smokes from a pocket. &quot;Don&#39;t much care, so long as the problem is solved,&quot; he says, lighting up, &quot;Happy to do business with you.&quot; And that is it. The badger just leans against the stone cliff face and smokes is nasty cigarette, staring out at the rain as if he had not been staring at it for the last few hours. Well, they got paid, and even managed a souvenir thanks to Kalt. What more could a bunch of heroes ask for?
+There is nothing to impede the party&#39;s progress back to the fissure through which they entered. When they emerge, they find the badger spyguard waiting for them. &quot;That last one was different,&quot; he says, unconcerned by the party&#39;s bedraggled state, &quot;Y&#39;find out what it was?&quot; Creators, he still has that awful cigarette between his teeth! He produces a jingling sack of meritorious reward tokens. &quot;Here&#39;s yer pay,&quot; he says, &quot;As promised.&quot;<br> <br>Lilly snorts, relaxing in the relatively cool temperature outside the mountain; she pulls a waterskin from her belt and starts to drink, then frowns. &quot;Ugh. So warm. Yea, we figured it out.&quot; She pauses, thinking about how she might explain it, then shrugs. &quot;There were two midgets with some strange contraption made out of mud and sticks.&quot;<br> <br>As soon as he is outside and able to breath the cool air once more Angus changes back, putting back on his shirt and his hat as he sighs. &quot;It&#39;s a long story, one you wouldn&#39;t believe without a drink in you first.&quot; He states as he leans down to scratch at Mister&#39;s head, trailing his fingers down the golens back to check the enlayed runes, making sure they were all blue and he wasn&#39;t hurt.<br> <br>Lucasiel eases herself down on the ground for a moment of respite, once they&#39;re outside. She reaches up to tug her helmet off, drawing in a deep breath and not minding the rain at all! &quot;That was awful. I hate that kind of eat. Ugh. I need a long, cool dunk in the river, I think.&quot;<br> <br>Rainer is still pretty out of it when they emerge back onto the mountain trail, but that first rush of cold air as they approach the exit, and then the rain beating down on his fur, makes him shiver violently. &quot;...when&#39;d&#39;dit get so cold?&quot; His eyelids move contrary to each other, one open while the other&#39;s closed, and he lifts his head for a look about the group. &quot;...someone picktup my swurds, eh?&quot; Er, oops. Well, I&#39;m sure they were due to be replaced anyway.<br> <br>&quot;S&#39;cold cause you&#39;re an&#39; unlucky bastard, an&#39; youre swords are uh, well they went an&#39; fell in. Sorry &#39;bout it all Rainer.&quot; Kalt finding a nice spot to set her friend down before looking to the spyguard. &quot;Giant. Fuckin&#39;. Lizard.&quot;<br> <br>Rokarion finishes up his sketches and closes his notebook, they are a bit rough but that is what you get when you are drawing while walking inside a cave and he can always properly redraw them later. Rokarion then slips the book and the pen under the cloak to be stored inside a hidden container most likely, he then gets out of the cave with the rest of the group, feeling the fresh water once again on his hair and face. Looking at the group, seems no one is willing to explain the matter properly for the spyguard, well who cares really. &quot;Thank you for the reward. I am assuming we are done here?&quot;<br> <br>The badger does not even bat an eye at Lilly&#39;s description of what they found. &quot;Hell of a setup,&quot; he says, &quot;Must have been impressive.&quot; The spyguard shrugs, pulling another of his foul smelling smokes from a pocket. &quot;Don&#39;t much care, so long as the problem is solved,&quot; he says, lighting up, &quot;Happy to do business with you.&quot; And that is it. The badger just leans against the stone cliff face and smokes is nasty cigarette, staring out at the rain as if he had not been staring at it for the last few hours. Well, they got paid, and even managed a souvenir thanks to Kalt. What more could a bunch of heroes ask for?[[Category:RPLogs]]

Difference between revisions of "Cry of the Mountain - RPLOG"

Latest revision as of 05:08, 9 September 2014

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