Frontier: Vvardenfell

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Spoiler:

Wait, we're back at the fortifications already?

[Chaos the N'wah]

Spoiler:

???
No

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Spoiler:

Oh whoops, I thought you were talking to Duruza directly.

[OblivionDuruza]

Spoiler:

39+1 (I must be really lucky or something, but I bet when we have a higher required roll I'll pull something really low ) I count a single spider left after I dispatch these two? I'm guessing Night-Runner will finish it.

Thoryn charged at the next spider, dispatching it in a similar manner to the first, before fighting his way to Night-Runner, who had been cornered by the remaining two automatons. Hearing Veriax's cry, Thoryn swung at the nearest's gleaming red gem, destroying the mechanical beast as the gem shattered by his blade.

[Roadcone]

Spoiler:

29 :/ that felt low..

Night-Runner squared up to the first machine just as the second fell to Thoryn's sword. The small blade in his hand felt like little more than a butter knife against the plated metal that armoured the spider. He brought his foot down sharply upon the beast's top, pinning it to the ground. Its legs were sprawling awkwardly and it's pincer like arms were snapping wildly around his shins but Night-Runner wasn't slowed. He bent and worked his knife between the Gem and its socket. The spider began to jerk violently, snapping its claws and making a low hissing noise, as if it were releasing steam. With a quick flick of his wist Night-Runner propelled the gem into the air and all of the life went out of the creature as it thudded against the floor.

Night-Runner exhaled loudly and looked at his companions "Are you all right, are either of you hurt?" he asked, trying to catch his breath.

[Sloady]

"No time." He said. "No telling how many of them are out here. We best just get back to the camp and help fortify it for the night." He struggled to get to his feet, but eventually managed it. Leiden than began to limp back in the direction of camp - leaving behind a thin, but noticeable trace of blood.

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Llarays agreed and tried the healing trick again. It didn't work. "Hmm..." he wondered, as he observed his hands.

[Chaos the N'wah]

Qa'Mhirr snorted angrily, grabbing Leiden's greaves and put it under his arm, walking up to the slowly limping Dunmer.
"Khajiit isn't taking a no, sit your ass down and wrap that wound before you get some new illness to be named after your stupidity."
"Your lucky it wasn't one of those big centurions, would've broken your bones as well."

[OblivionDuruza]

"I am fine," Thoryn grunted, sheathing his hand and prodding one of the fallen Spiders with the end of his boot, "Dwemer," he muttered, "we best hope that the others return soon enough, we must find a safe and defensible position and seek safety in numbers in case we encounter more of these automatons."

[Sloady]

"I'm fine." He groaned. "We'll be back within minutes, and we can deal with it then. We try to do anything out here, and we'll probably get attacked again." He continued to limp on through the ruins - the clinking of automatons was dim now, and seemed to be moving away from them, not towards. It seemed as if they had triggered something - a trap. The Dwemer were defending something. The only question was - what?

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

"Why are they moving away?" Llarays said, obviously a bit confused. He tried the healing spell again, this time changing the movement of his hands.

[Sloady]

"There's a reason," He groaned. "That the Dwemer machines stay in their ruins. They're designed to guard, not attacked. We must have travelled too close to whatever they were guarding."

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Llarays's eyes gleamed. "It's something important, I think. Or it could be treasure. But I'm not saying we should go. You're injured." Llarays then, for the last time, tried the spell again.

Spoiler:

Say if it succeeds or not.

[Chaos the N'wah]

"But why are they in this fort? Most dwarven machines stay near their masters' homes, not migrate to another," Qa'Mhirr pondered aloud.
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Maybe we've found some wizard's workshop or safe vault, Khajiit has met many learners with the knowledge to control the small spiders, but not that many and never any of the larger machines like that sphere."

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

"Is some elf or human or beast possibly living in here?" Llarays questioned, unclear.

[Sloady]

The flesh on his leg began to knit up, like a spider web, covering over the wound, until nothing was left but a scar and a slight tingling sensation. "Thanks Llarays..." He sighed. "That would make sense," He said, walking quickly towards the fortification. "The Dwemer machines have no need for torches - someone, or something, must still be here." They arrived back at the camp, to see bodies of Dwemer strewn across the room. "Clearly you guys have been busy."

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

"No problem," Llarays replied, cracking his knuckles. When the group arrived at the camp, Llarays's eyebrows rose. "I don't think we're welcome here..."

[Chaos the N'wah]

Qa'Mhirr dropped the greaves piece on the ground and wrapped the spare tunic cloth around his right arm, approaching one of the prone dwemer spiders and flipping it upright with a grunt.
Its gem was fractured, but mostly intact, he pried it from the bracketing and inspected the crystal, silent with an intense look on his face; sitting on the floor as he turned the gem over in his hands.

[OblivionDuruza]

"Dwemer Automatons," Thoryn muttered again, "we managed to fend them off, but I expect there are more within." He turned to Leiden, "So, where to from here? Do we remain here and find a position which we might be able defend, or shall we leave and seek a more suitable place to rest?"

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

"It seems we misjudged the Dunmer Stronghold." Llarays said, showing glumness in his facial expressions. "Well, at least we know a weakness of theirs. The gem."

[Chaos the N'wah]

"A bigger weakness then you know," Qa'Mhirr interjected, "Dwarven machines usually feed off of the excess power created from their ruins, mostly from creating steam through volcanic piping, these ones look more like the machines in Nordic lands."
He continued, "These gems are said to be one of two power sources, one personal and another larger outside source," he looked up at some awkward stares, "Khajiit has been in A LOT of Dwarven ruins, Joiit teach the willing."
"But why here? This island is well known for volcanic 'goingson' and there are likely still plenty of Dwarf ruins here," Qa'Mhirr remained silent as he held the gem to the light of a torch, still confused.

[Sloady]

"They're soul gems, I think." Leiden said. "I remember them from my studies. Pretty dark things, I always thought. Imagine being trapped and contained in a little gem, only to be fed on? Pretty horrific." He turned to address the group. "We have a decision to make. We can hole up, and hope we're safe here... or we can take the fight to whatever has decided to make this place it's home. I won't lie to you - it'll be dangerous. We mightn't all make it out. But we can't keep moving, and we have no idea if anywhere in here will be safe. I won't force anybody to go, but I know I want revenge on these things. So how's about it?"

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

"Hmm..." Llarays analyzed (albeit not very deeply)the situation. "The safest choice is to get out of here. But, I guess you all want revenge on those. So, I guess the best choice is to go on. Let's see who can kill the most Dwemer thingies." Llarays's competitiveness sprung up.

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

"Nah, not that. We'll decide once we survive. But right now, we need to focus on living." Llarays responded.

[Sloady]

"A gambling man, eh?" Leiden laughed. "[&@%!] after my own heart." He turned to the Argonian. "You have a choice, my friend. If you want, you can leave. I won't hold it against you, or try to stop you. But if you come with us, we'll make it worth your while."