Tamrielic Adventures: Vol. 2

[Aarah]

Eolwyn - Markarth

Eolwyn had mixed emotions in hearing Niralie's information. It was a relief that Grelok was yet unharmed, but...

She sneered. "That's all we bloody need. Blasted machines on top of everything else we've got."
She turned to Niralie and the other mages in the group. "Remember the advice we got? If the Council are there, hit them with a Dispell spell."

The Bosmer unsheathed her Elven Longsword; the enchanted gift bestowed upon her in Windhelm.
Her mind thought to the Daedric shoes. In such times it felt foolish not to put them on...but they were items born from foulness, such tainted things should not be touching her feet...surely.

[Unionhack]

Understone Keep

As the group entered the keep and proceeded to the door leading to the Dwemer Museum, they saw that the door was closed shut. The sounds of battle could be heard faintly from behind it, and the lock mechanism was evidently open despite the door being tightly closed. The door was flanked by several battle-ready guards and the jarl, who was pacing about as his men tried to pry the metallic doors open.

Dwemer Museum

The Dark Seducer gritted her teeth and hissed at Teldril. Though she was bound to his will, she didn't have to be happy about it. "Speak for yourself, mortal!" she snapped as she stepped forth in the melee.

With strong effort, the Mazken struck at the dwemer sphere and managed to sever the stalk that held its upper body up, and then proceeded to stomp on the spider in order to crush its soul gem casing. The two immediate threats had been disposed and both Grelok and Teldril were safe, but...

The earlier spewing of steam rang throughout the museum once more, and this time it was accompanied by thundering footsteps. Teldril was immediately filled with a knowing dread, and his fears came true when a Dwemer Centurion heaved itself into the lobby of the museum.

Teldril's summoned Mazken dropped her armaments and raised her hands to launch a magic spell at the approaching mechanical goliath, but her action was cut short when she herself was cleaved in twain by a swing of the centurion's bladed arm. The two halves of the Dark Seducer dissolved into magical dust and then ceased to exist, as did her equipment.

With its first target disposed of, the Centurion stood fast, turned to Grelok and Teldril, and released a deafening spray of steam at them.

[Alarra]

Niralie - Understone Keep

Niralie slowed to a stop as they approached the guards and jarl. "What's going on?" she asked, and then noticed their efforts to try to open the door. "Why can't you open it?"

[Unionhack]

Understone Keep

One of the guards not trying to pry the door open turned to Niralie, confused by the admission of the adventurers. "What's going on? By the nine, who are you?" he asked as he raised his sword.

Before anyone could act on this, one of the guards escorting the adventurers into the keep held up a hand. "Wait, wait, wait! They have an edict! From the emperor of all people! Don't be hasty."

The mention of the Emperor made the jarl turn his head. "We seem to have met the rest of our interesting guests. Within the span of an hour, I receive a visitor with a dwarven limb, the museum turns on us, and now it seems our visitor's friends are here on behalf of Emperor Uriel himself." he said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I don't claim to know what is happening, but I do know one thing; the door shut itself, perhaps operated from within, and try as we might we cannot open it. The other way to approach is through Nchaund-Zel, but that would take far too long."

[Hissien]

Teldril

I curse your ancestors for making my predecessor bring that damn thing here... Teldril cursed at Fenrald inwardly. Sensing what he believed to be genuine doom he considered his options. He could turn invisible and leave Grelok to his fate, thereby preventing his swift death.. But what of escape? His blood could be useful... If we survive. He thought to himself. He decided. With an almost audible sigh he awoke his true nature. His eyes turning almost glowing in the dark with his vampiric nature.

Using his natural speed and prowess he attempted to dodge the steam cloud by pushing Grelok and hopefully himself out of the way of danger.

Hidden:

[Alarra]

Niralie - Understone Keep

Niralie felt a chill run through her at the news. Was Grelok doomed to die in there, with them so close but unable to reach him? "Let me take a look," she urged. "If it's locked with magic, I might be able to open it."

[Baloth-Kul]

Dwemer Museum
Looking up at his inevitable doom, Grelok let out a mournful sigh and began to speak some blasphemy for good measure. "By Mara's sagging b--"

Swept along by supernatural speed, the thief and wizard darted behind the cover of a large bookcase. Both would feel a fraction of the intense heat as steam enveloped the area, but even so diminished, it felt like an uncomfortably overheated sauna. A display case, caught fully by the blast, was thrown forwards and shattered. Next to it, a bookcase rapidly warped under the steam, and crumpled to the stone floor.

The Orc looked up with widened eyes--shock at his rescue, then surprise as he learned the court wizard's true nature. However, his gaze quickly hardened to focus as he came back to reality. "Thanks. Still got work to do! I'll run distraction."

Grelok leapt from behind the bookcase, and sought cover closer to the entrance, keeping his eyes fixed on the Centurion all the while. "Come here, you rusty scrap heap!"

Understone Keep
Any attempt to detect magics cast upon the door would find nothing--the door was not magically sealed. A guttural voice--likely Grelok's--could be heard within, shouting something about a 'crap heap'.

[Aarah]

Eolwyn - Understone Keep

Eolwyn waited, alert, while Niralie checked the door for magic.
She heard Grelok from the other side.

"Do you have a battering ram?" She asked one of the guards impatiently.

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox

Pushing closer to the door and the guards, she already release Arellius by the wrist. Her face stern as one last obstacle seemed to bar her way.

"Niralie.. How confident are you that you could soften the metal with your flames.." Her voice and glare rivaled even that of the a mother bear

[Hissien]

Teldril

Nodding at Grelok and wasting little time the elf looked around at the centurion. The abomination of metal and engineering would have made him sweat were he yet still alive.


Teldril could only cast a few more powerful spells and even then be suspected his powers of magic would fail if he did not pace himself. Illusion was out, he could render he and Grelol invisible but he was not sure the creature could even see them at all. He could summon a creature but what was similar in power to a Centurion? Something big?

Teldril thought of his options, and opted for what he expected to be the best solution. Pooling his magical forces he cast a spell of destructive corrosion to damage the metal shell of the Centurion.

Hidden:

it's essentially a damage armor spell

[Alarra]

Niralie - Understone Keep

Niralie considered Nora's suggestion. "It might be possible, but it would take a lot of magicka - which we might need once we get the door open," she said. "I've still got potion left if I need it, but might not have enough time for that."

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox

She bit her lip in frustration, a small touch of red rolling down it's side. As much as she hated it, reality was much to grim. With only Niralie being the only capable mage at hand, it was far too much to risk her expending all that magicka if they needed to heal. It was a gamble she had no right to demand. She looked down at her own hands

'If only I was more capable myself.. If only...'

She approached the very door, hoping the Jarl's men would not bar her way

[Baloth-Kul]

Dwemer Museum
Teldril's spell cast a miasma over the Centurion, melting away bits of Dwarven metal here and there. The automaton was well-forged--no great structural damage was inflicted. But the magic eating away at its chest exposed a bright red glow from within the Centurion--the dynamo core. The court wizard knew the automaton housed three of such cores; one in its chest, and two more within its back. Though shielded by the metal shell, sufficient damage to the cores could cripple and eventually deactivate the construct. While not entirely exposed, the core in its chest was now at least partially vulnerable.

"Hey, that looks important." Grelok casually noted as the core was revealed.

Whether drawn in by his taunts or whatever ancient mechanism influences Dwemer constructs to choose targets, the Centurion charged at the Orc. With a yelp, Grelok began to run for more cover as the metal monster swatted aside displays that stood in its way.

Understone Keep
No guards barred Nora's access to the door.

Jarl Fenrald scratched his chin thoughtfully as the adventurers pondered their options. "Mere brute force may take too long as well. Hmm... We need not take down the entire door because of one lock. If you focus your flames upon the mechanism, weaken it enough to be broken, that should suffice."

[Alarra]

Niralie - Understone Keep

Niralie gave a nod. "I suppose we have no other options," she said grimly, and then handed Nora the magicka bottle she'd used and stuffed into a pocket of her pack. "Hold onto this in case I need it."

She stood in front of the mechanism and focused as powerful flames as she could sustain on it, using both hands for the spell.

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox

Taking the potion in hand, she desperately wanted to express her thanks, but kept herself silent. Hope and gratitude though, she could not hide.

Turning towards the Jarl, and more importantly, his men, she braced a hand against her crimson embroiled chest, a bottle still clasped inside "When she weakens it enough, help me pry it open" she sounded so much less as someone commanding others, even on behalf of the Emperor's writ, but as a kin asking upon her fellow guards on a more personal level

[Hissien]

Teldril

"Those lights are the dynamo cores, we have to damage them to bring it down!" Teldril said backpedaling to put space between himself and the centurion. He hoped Grelok would not be a crimson stain in a few moments, the orc had grown on Teldril. Like fungus.

Twisting his hands in gestures of conjuring, Teldril pulled at ancient forces of death and chaos and from the veil he pulled at a spirit of rage and destruction; a wraith. Mentally he directed the wraith to attack the Centurion from within, to pass through and destroy the cores.

[Rook]

Hidden:

My side will get a DM post when I get home. Typing long posts with my phone is difficult.

Dorian - Understone Keep

Dorian cast a critical eye upon the grey-haired Jarl, smirking at his frantic pacing. So far, he was thoroughly unimpressed with this city's ruler. If a lord did not rule over the entirety of his own castle, how could he ever hope to truly rule the breadth of his lands?

Unlike some of his companions, Dorian was not frantic with worry at the thought of Grelok's struggle. They hadn't known each other long, but Dorian was confident in the abilities of his green companion.

[Baloth-Kul]

Understone Keep

Niralie felt her magicka burning away as she heated the door--she was at about half of her total reserve. The lock was strong, but the metal was slowly beginning to soften. It would take more flames yet to get the job done.

Some of the guards hastened away to the Keep's armory, eventually returning with a portable battering ram. They would be ready to smash through the door, once it was weak enough.

Dwemer Museum

The entrance door's lock began to emit light, and soon, flames could be seen licking their way through its mechanism. Either the metal and stone keep had somehow come ablaze, or someone was attempting to breach the door.

Teldril felt his energy was depleting quickly--several summons and other spells meant he had about one third of his magicka remaining.

Hidden:

Sorry I wasn't on top of letting you know, but yeah. Lots of spells, adds up.

A sickly-green wraith appeared, not unlike the one the vampire had summoned to warn the Jarl, but with an aura of malevolent energy about it. The spirit passed through the Dwemer Centurion--lightning arced out from gaps in its shell, and moments later, the ghost came out the other side.

The automaton continued to chase after Grelok, but its pace had slowed somewhat. The wraith had done some damage, though did not come out uninjured itself. If Teldril bade it to attack in such a manner again, it would surely be destroyed--though it could potentially do more damage before its end.

A crossbow bolt slammed into the display of an incomplete suit of Dwarven armor, passing mere inches from Teldril's head. Rattling loose from the impact, the dusty Dwarven helmet at the top rolled onto the floor. The vampire smelled the blood of the intruder towards the back of the room, and saw their figure in the shade of a pile of scrap. Their position had a good amount of cover, but the would-be assassin had to stop to reload their crossbow.

Grelok continued to lead the Centurion on a less-than-merry chase. "Is the door...huff...on fire?! Hope it's...not more...of them!"

[Hissien]

Teldril - Dwemer Museum

Teldril jumped visibly at the crossbow bolt, it seemed obvious that his message to the Jarl had been recieved. He would need to relinquish his vampiric powers to appear mortal, but with a hunter, and an automaton he did not think that was truly an option. He looked at Grelok, the Wraith, and the shadow of the intruder, calling his wraith off of the slowed centurion and bading it attack the assassin mentally.

He rushed at the shadow with all the vampiric speed and agility he could muster, in spite of his precarious postion. Teldril hoped his undead speed and strength would be enough to overwhelm the intruder.

[Baloth-Kul]

Hidden:

DM is too excite. Have another post!

Understone Keep
Beads of sweat began to form on Niralie's forehead and trickle downwards, as she continued to scorch the door. The lock and surrounding metal were glowing red-hot, and sagging slightly. Unless she intended to cut through the door entirely on her own, now would be the time for the Jarl's men (and any who wished to aid them) to bash in the lock.

Dwemer Museum
Grelok continued to sprint frantically away from the murderous machine, although it soon became apparent that he was getting cornered. "I did not think this through! Ahhhhh!" More displays were shattered and splintered, and the corpses of tomes both recent and ancient littered the floor.

Doing as it was bid, the wraith rushed forwards, ahead of Teldril. It sapped the assassin of some strength, as the court wizard hurtled towards his opponent, though he was able to level his crossbow--plink. A bolt was loosed. It whistled through the spirit, which vanished as it was struck, and continued until it founds its rest in Teldril's heart.

The next thing Teldril knew was that he had seized the intruder by the throat, lifted him a foot or two off the floor, and there was an intense pain in his chest. Were he still mortal, it would have been a killing blow, but even so, it was still a significant wound. The man's eyes were wide as he looked upon Teldril and gasped for air. "Hrrrrghhh--! Finish...it...monster!" His words were brave, but the assassin smelled like fear. Fear, and blood.

Drink. Feed. Blood. Gush. Tear. Rip. Slurp. Teldril's instincts, every fiber of his being, was yearning to sink his fangs into the assassin's throat--but there was something more.

Oh, you have a mighty thirst. I know what it's like. Drink your fill, then drink some more! Spill him like a wine bottle. Let loose.

[Alarra]

Niralie - Understone Keep

Niralie's flames ceased and she stepped back. "It's ready," she said to the guards with the battering ram, gesturing toward the mechanism. "My potion, please," she then requested of Nora, holding out a hand for the Nord to return it to her.

[Aarah]

Eolwyn - Museum

Eolwyn stood by the door, blade in hand, waiting for the ram to be put into action.

"Anyone know the best way to deal with automatons?" She asked aloud.
She felt arrows and metal would be a hard slog against large metal opponents. It was in times like these that she wished magic was her forte.

[BetaB17]

Nora the Fox

"It be best to hit 'em where it hurts.. Their heart of power.. The mesh beneath the hide.. Where they bend and twist... "

She regarded Niralie with a sympathetic look, handing her the potion so that she could readily help the guards ram down the door

"They formidable as they are well crafted, but none are invincible. Magic or not, we can all fell these mighty machines"

[Aarah]

Eolwyn

Eolwyn smiled at Nora, impressed by her positivity.

"Aye. No machine can match the fighting spirit of flesh and blood. We'll make medallions out of em'!"
She twisted her wrist, making her sword swing a full revolution.

"Keep your eyes sharp for the Council too. Those contraptions didn't start up on their own."

She addressed the guards.
"We're expecting both men and machine behind these doors. Aim to kill all."

[Hissien]

Teldril Indalla - Dwemer Museum

Blood.. thirst... Hunger.. Desire.. Teldril while accustomed to fighting his undead nature could not resist the allure of both Sanguine and his hunger. The vampire, acting out of his instincts to survive and feed, lowered the assassin's neck to his lips, sinking his fangs into the cretin.

A part of him worried for Grelok, but that part of him was lost to the wine of immortals.

Hidden:

hopefully I didn't just put the last nail in this coffin. For Grelok and Teldril both. Gotta stay in character though