OOM: Arkngthand, 8 First Seed, 3E 428

[moonandstar]

They emerge from the bar onto an ancient bridge, made of a metal that Ibani won't be able to identify - but clearly the work of an advanced and accomplished civilization. It bridges the foyada, high and deep on each side.

They won't have time to admire it, however. Because there's a bald Imperial in an iron cuirass standing at the other side of the bridge. He conjures a skeleton warrior, who charges toward them as its master launches bolts of lightning at them.

Comments

[last_kallig]

"Hopefully not a plague, that would be inconvenient for us."

Ibani grins wickedly. "Shall we sneak up on them my love?" No reason to be sloppy, and Force Cloak is so very useful!

[moonandstar]

Garyn nods, and treads carefully down the catwalk as the cloak falls over them. As they draw closer, their words grow clearer.

"...already lost Cristus to one of those damned metal beasts. Whatever the Boss finds here better be worth it."

"It will be. Hell, even one horde of their old coins'll be worth more than that fat bastard ever was."

[last_kallig]

Ibani holds up a hand for a pause. No need to kill these two yet when they might offer up more information unknowingly.

Even so, she moves them into a good position to strike, either to kill or to capture.

[moonandstar]

"Well, I won't be going any deeper than I have, no matter what Boss Crito says. He can do it himself if it comes down to it."

"We'll see if you've got the guts to say no to him when it comes to it. Right now he's rooting around upstairs. Said he'd found a box."

Garyn looks knowingly at Ibani.

[last_kallig]

She tilts her head in a questioning sort of way. Kill them now, or come back for them later?

[moonandstar]

Garyn nods at her silently.

"Deal with them how you will, love."

[last_kallig]

Ibani decides not to leave enemies at their back. The first bandit is possibly the luckiest, they don't have time to feel the lightsaber blow before they're dead.

The other may have time to see death coming, depending on what Garyn does.

[moonandstar]

He won't be conscious for the end. Garyn clubs him over the head with the base of Sholagmer's hilt before running him through.

"They said 'upstairs.' Let's hope that means 'up that ramp.'"

He points to an open floor that hangs above the floor of the open cavern like a platform.

[last_kallig]

"Would be logical," Ibani agrees. She cloaks them again. They have to move slower, but this is a much safer way to explore the ruins.

[moonandstar]

The platform itself is clear of any more looters. But the door to the next room is closed. And it's likely to open noisily.

Garyn keeps his blade drawn as he swings open the heavy metal door.

[last_kallig]

Ibani is quite prepared to murder whatever might be on the other side with lightning as soon as she gets a clear shot, unless the room is large enough that she's not in range.

It's much nicer stalking through ruins at Garyn's side than it is going it alone, she finds.

[moonandstar]

She's in luck - this room isn't very big at all, and the person in it is currently on his knees, rummaging through some crates.

"I told you not to disturb me!"

[last_kallig]

"Oh, we took care of them ever disturbing you again," Ibani snarks as she tosses some lightning at him. Not enough to kill him outright. He might have information, and it's so HARD to get that out of a corpse.

[moonandstar]

The boss yelps and howls as the electricity lances his body, and he whimpers as he lies back, his skin still smoking.

Garyn strides across the room and pins him to the floor with his foot, holding his sword against him.

"We're looking to acquire some valuables. Not everything, understand, merely two things. We'd be happy to let you live if you didn't bother us."

[last_kallig]

"It would definitely be in your best interest not to bother us," Ibani adds, tone jarringly cheerful. She's found that tone tends to unnerve people.

[moonandstar]

Boss Crito is trembling at the end of Garyn's sword. It looks like he could burst out crying at any moment.

"Oh...g-gods, please don't kill me...the cube is on the shelf!"

"And you won't bother us while we search for the other thing we're looking for? Centurion scrap?"

"O-of course! Of course! We've been havin' trouble with those things anyway!"

Garyn smiles. "Glad we could come to a sensible arrangement. This potion should deal with your burns."

He hands a vial of healing potion to the tearful looter.

[last_kallig]

"You might want to reconsider your life choices. I think you've just used up all your luck for quite some time."

Who knows, maybe he'll turn over a new leaf and become a model citizen. Not likely, but still.

[moonandstar]

"Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, darling."

Garyn encourages the bandit leader to his feet. The cube is quite near to where Ibani is, and she should spot it easily now.

"Now, do go and inform the rest of your men of our presence. We'll also kindly accept an escort to the area where Dwarven automata can be found."

[last_kallig]

Ibani is quite pleased at him calling her darling in 'public', even if the public in question IS a bandit.

"Sometimes," she admits. "Better to be both, of course."

[moonandstar]

"Of course."

Garyn gathers the puzzle cube, examining it briefly. The symbols, and the Dwemer writing, are beyond him, of course. But it seems quite an intricate and valuable antique.

He gestures at Boss Crito with his sword.

"Lead on."

[last_kallig]

Ibani flexes her hands, just in case Boss Crito is going to try something EXCEPTIONALLY stupid.

"Should be interesting to take one of these, what did you call them, apart?"

[moonandstar]

"I don't think I know what they called these automata. I believe others call them centurions."

Boss Crito simply shrugs.

[last_kallig]

"Eh, it works. Names are all made up anyway."

Her senses are open for trouble, alert for tell tale warnings in the Force.

[moonandstar]

The boss leads them through the mazelike ancient settlement. It's a mysterious, alien place. Some chambers seem to have been lived in, others have a purpose that none alive may even guess. There are machines, still churning, turning, and burning four thousand years after they were first set in motion. Some doors are flanked by two piles of ash with orichalcum spears resting atop them, as though they had simply dissolved in place.

None of the other bandits bother Crito, save to greet him. They figure anyone who's with him must be here on business.

He points down a staircase toward a dark hall lit by red light.

"The worst of the metal beasts are down there. Best of luck to you."

He barely conceals a sneer as he walks back, but thankfully, does nothing foolish.

[last_kallig]

"Red light, interesting. A warning, or something else?"

She concentrates for a moment, then grunts in annoyance. "Nothing biological down there that I can sense," she offers.