You press the on button, and the machine hums to life. The platform you're on detaches from the entryway to the rest of the ruin, and slide upwards a good ten feet. The basin where the central, glowing device sits cracks apart, and begins to slowly turn. The central portion meanwhile stays static, as the rest begins to spin faster and faster.

As the glow in the central portion of the device starts to intensify, you assume the worst. This is some ancient Rhynian weapon designed just before the fall of the empire, far too powerful to ever actually merit use. You've surely doomed yourself and the rest of the people in the ruin to a painful death when this thing malfunctions and kills you all. Instead though... it's actually rather underwhelming. A narrow beam of light shoots between the central platform and the... chandelier that hangs above it. Then another. Then a series of rapid beams. Then a long, drawn out beam. Then more rapid beams... it's almost like some sort of code.

After that the machine grinds to a slow halt, and the platform you stand on as well as the portions of the device itself slide back into their original positions. Well damn, that was underwhelming... maybe it malfunctioned, or the settings were wrong? Of course, there might be an instruction manual or something deeper in the ruin.
(1/2)

File: 1393877519385.jpg-(155 KB, 1400x788, Strange Chamber.jpg)

155 KB JPG

Chryssa stares at the control panel for a moment. “I have a bad feeling about this.” Profectus waves her off. “Oh nonsense! It probably just malfunctioned or something. Busted old piece of junk. Not a proper Rhynian machine I'll tell you that! We built our stuff to last!”

>Maybe try a different configuration. More power? Less pressure? A different channel?
>Leave it for now, it's not going anywhere. Lets check out this generator.
>Write-in

>>30611984
Lets check out the generator.

>>30611984
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE POWERRRRRRRRR

>>30611984
>>Maybe try a different configuration.
different channel

>>30611984
>>Maybe try a different configuration. More power? Less pressure? A different channel?
try it agian but press the up button a hole lot first.

>>30611984
>>Leave it for now, it's not going anywhere. Lets check out this generator.
one of those options are probably true but we dont know which one would help and which one would blow everything so lets check things out.

>>30611984
>Leave it
Lets explore first, maybe we'll find an office or something describing the machine.

>>30611984
>>Maybe try a different configuration. More power? Less pressure? A different channel?
But I forget what the buttons are

>>30611984
Give it more power

>>30612046
>>30612146
>>30612174
>Leave

>>30612177
>>30612118
>>30612113
>>30612112
>>30612193
>Fuck with it some more

Alright, lets hold a vote to see what exactly we do.
Quoting Profectus from last thread as to what these buttons do:
>"I think this one is... pressure? This one is frequency, this one is... channel? I'm... not sure what this one is. This one is definitely energy usage though. I don't know, seems like it might be supposed to receive a signal, maybe?"

>Crank up the power
>Lower the pressure
>Change the channel
>Try to figure out what the mystery button controls.

>>30612239
>>Lower the pressure

>>30612239
>Crank up the power
>Change the channel

>>30612239
Crank up the power, and change the channel a bunch.

Why not all three?

>Crank up Power
>Change the Channel
Writin'

File: 1393879105311.jpg-(314 KB, 1000x500, Strange Device-Channel 2.jpg)

314 KB JPG

You press the arrow that Profectus indicated to change the 'channel' whatever that means. Previously, the cables on the right side of the room seemed to be the ones supplying power to the device. Only their bands were glowing with those strange symbols and only they hummed with power. After you change the channel once though, power suddenly cuts off on the right side and switches to the left. Pressing the button repeatedly only makes it switch back and forth, so you leave it on channel two and move on.

After that, you hold down the up arrow that Profectus told you controlled energy usage. The humming intensifies until it seems to fill the room, and you hear startled shouting from behind you, closer to the generator. You think you hear someone shout that the field is growing.

After that, you hit the power button. At first it seems identical to the previous configuration. The platform you're on detaches and slides up a few feet, panels crack apart and extend around the central pillar. Instead of spinning though, they start to glow. The room is bathed in gentle blue light. The central platform lets out a stream of tight beams, dispersed around the room, but instead of alternating beams they display images.

(1/2)

Granted, the images don't seem to mean anything. Circles surrounding spheres which rotate around other, larger spheres. One of them has an arrow pointing to it, it's the fourth sphere in a series of twelve rotating around the central sphere. It's an impressive sight, certainly, but you're not sure what it's trying to communicate.

Profectus seems likewise confused. He isn't awe struck, like Chryssa who's busy staring open-mouthed at the sight before her. Instead it looks like he's counting the spheres out as quickly as he can, and mumbling to himself. Maybe he knows something you don't?

After perhaps a half hour the lights cut out, and the room returns to the soft yellow glow it was filled with previously. The panels slide back into place and the platform lowers to its original position. The control panel has gone from a bright, friendly blue to a dark red. You're not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

>Lets go check out that generator.
>Ask Profectus what the hell that was.
>Write-in.

>>30612481
>Ask Profectus what the hell that was.

>>30612557
>>Ask Profectus what the hell that was.

>>30612557
>>Ask Profectus what the hell that was.

>>30612557
>>Lets go check out that generator.
>>Ask Profectus what the hell that was.
Looks like the Generator is running on empty.

>>30612557
>Lets go check out that generator.

>Ask what the fuck just happened.
>Go check out the generator.
Since they're not mutually exclusive, after all.

>>30612557
>>Ask Profectus what the hell that was.

>>30612598
yeah, looks like it.

I wonder what the mystery button does.

You back away from the controls. “Lets... go see that generator. Profectus, what in Surya's dominion was that?” As the three of you cautiously head back into the ruin proper Profectus looks between you and Chryssa confused. “What do you mean, wasn't it obvious?” The two of you shake your heads. He continues. “Well, it was a map of the solari complexio. You do know that this planet rotates the sun, yes?”

You and Chryssa both look to one another, and shake your heads. She speaks first. “I had never really given it any thought.” She admits. You nod your head. “My people believe that Surya has been tethered to the Great Sea by Pani.”

Profectus scowls and mumbles under his breath. “Of course, of course. Gone for a millennia, what should I expect? Gods I hope I don't have to spend all my time explaining the way the world works to a bunch of provincials.” He clears his throat, and gathers his thoughts. “Well, you're people are wrong then. The sun sits at the center of a network of planets like ours. In my day and age it was thought there were seven planets in all, but there were twelve in that hologram. They must have discovered other planets further out after I was put in that vile pod.” He waves his hand dismissively. “That was probably an observatory of some nature. Usually they sit atop mountains, but maybe somebody discovered a way to set them anywhere without complications.”
>(1/2)

About the time he finishes his explanation, you arrive at the entrance to the generator room. You have to shoulder your way through a crowd to get close enough to actually see the thing, earning a few glares and rude words as a result. When you get close enough a burly man probably in his fifties puts a hand on your chest to stop you.

“I wouldn't get any closer if I were you-” He says in heavily accented Rhynian. “Generator just went haywire, destroyed the rope bridge we were building and killed two unlucky bastards. Just wait here until it settles down.”

>Explain what happened, you turned up the power draw for that weird device.
>Wait patiently until someone decides it's safe to get closer.
>Write-in.

>>30612943
>you're people are wrong then
Fuck. Typos. Meant your.

>>30612953
>>Write-in.
Toss a small object at it.

>>30612953
>>Write-in.
Toss a small object at it.

>>30613003
>>30612984
Are these both me?

>>30612953
>>Wait patiently until someone decides it's safe to get closer.
because if we tell them we manipulated the thing they will get angry because it killed those guys.
Can we go back, turn the power up to 11 and grill all our competition?

>>30613017
No. I like your idea

>>30613003
>>30612984
Seconding
>>30613017
can't be. duplicate post thingy.

>>30613026
Ok, but that kinda freaked me out for a second.

>>30613019
No, we aren't evil.

>Toss something at it.
Writin'

File: 1393881853355.jpg-(149 KB, 680x889, Functional Rhynian Reactor.jpg)

149 KB JPG

You gently push his hand off your chest. “I think it should be safe by now, let me try something.” The man looks wary, but doesn't stop you as you walk past him and pick up a rock that somebody must have tracked in with them from the mine. You'd estimate you're about a hundred feet away from the generator at the moment, at the very edge of the room.

As that nervous armored young man you spoke with the day before said, much of the floor has collapsed. The generator sits on a raised dais with controls glowing softly at its base. The generator itself is a large sphere, probably about ten feet in diameter. Its framed by ornate pillars and at the top of the reactor a metal statue of a man sits, posed proudly with a spear at attention. Below him a smaller sphere sits slowly rotating, it has symbols carved into its surface that glow softly, much like those bands that bind the power cords together.

The energy seems to originate where the large sphere meets the control dais, and excess energy is roiling its way upwards towards the vaulted ceiling. Cords dangle from below the platform the generator sits on, disappearing into the walls and the floors, likely to bring the power from the generator to the rest of the facility.

When you chuck your small stone, it bounces against the metal platform you're standing on at about the forty foot mark, and then finally gets caught by the generator's field at the foot of the stairs leading up to the raised dais. That's probably only twenty five feet from the generator itself. The burly man who'd stopped you previously scratches his head, confused. “Well hot damn, not a moment ago that thing was grabbing everything within eighty feet...”

>Get closer.
>Suggest someone else get closer.
>Toss something else to make sure.
>Write-in.

>>30613260
>>Toss something else to make sure.
Something bigger please.

>>30613260
>>Get closer.

>>30613260
Oh holy shit, guess the character limit isn't 1500 after all. Well I feel silly now.

>>30613276
its like 18k

>>30613260
>>Get closer.

>>30613276
2000

>>30613276
I think it's like 2k

>>30613296
>>30613276
1800

>>30613260
Ask Profectus what he makes of this thing and how we can get past. Seriously, we have a guy that knows this technology, let's squeeze that for all it's worth.

In the meanwhile:
>Toss something else to make sure.

>>30613260
>>Toss something else to make sure.
Throw the guy. If he lives, we know it's safe, if he dies then one less person taking out loot.

>Toss something larger
>Ask Profectus.
Writin'

>>30613341
That's retarded. There's a crowd of treasure hunters behind us.

So i say lets wait till the fuckers here leave.

>>30613369
Throw them in too.

>>30613341
>>30613369
That 's why we go back to the controls first...

>>30613382
I'm with you, i don't see why we should show this group of people thats its safe to go in now.

You look around for something a little larger that you could throw. There isn't much, really. You're on a metal platform covered in a thin layer of dirt and mud, surrounded by treasure hunters of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Everything of value was plundered a long time ago from this part of the ruin. In the end you just put out the call. “Does anyone have anything we could throw at the reactor to make sure it won't turn us all into a fine paste?”

One human male calls out. “I've got a sack of flower that's kind of heavy!” Which is of course followed by the question. “Why do you have a sack of flower?” from somewhere else in the crowd. He responds defensively. “Hey! You never know when a sack of flower will come in handy. Especially in these ruins! Good for activating traps!”

Huh, that actually makes sense. “Alright, pass it up!” He does so, and eventually you take the sack off the hands of a near-by woman. You weight it in your hands, estimating that it probably weighs about twenty pounds. It's a pretty big bag. In fact, you doubt you'll be able to throw it all the way to the generator from here, so you get a little closer and heave the sack into the air.

It seems to explode when it hits the metal platform, about thirty feet from the generator. This actually proves useful, because as the tiny particles diffuse through the room they reveal exactly where the field lies. It seems that twenty five feet from the generator the flower starts getting sucked into the generator and converted to energy, but the field is slowly growing larger.

(1/2)

You look to Profectus, and he answers your question before you even ask. “I wasn't a technician, I was a soldier. I've got barely a clue how this things works. All I know is the technicians wore some kind of special armor that clamped them to the floor with magic to get close enough to work the controls.”

>Get Closer
>Give up for now, come back later after everyone else has left.
>Suggest someone else get closer.
>Try channeling magic towards it.
>Throw more stuff.
>Write-in

>>30613582
>>Write-in
Go back to the control room and give the machine more power. Hopefully that sucks the treasure hunters in or force them to flee.

>>30613582
>>>Give up for now, come back later after everyone else has left.

>>30613600
I support this (as I did before)

>>30613582
>>Give up for now, come back later after everyone else has left.

Let's wait to see what the other people will do. May want to stay here and meditate so we don't get left behind if they figure it out.

>>30613600
second, it makes them flee, and helps use up the generators power.

>>30613628
lets meditate some water, we could scare some of them away.

Rolled 10, 5, 10 = 25

>>30613582
>>Write-in
We should leave for now and tinker with our armor for a bit, we might be able to do something similar. Also Profectus seems to be remember more and more, he knew our armor on sight even if he doesnt know exactly how it works he might know rumors or stories.

>>30613690
he admitted to being a soldier.

>>30613613
>>30613628
>>30613690
>Leave for Now

>>30613600
>>30613623
>>30613632
I'd remind you that the controls for the machine you were messing with earlier are inactive, they're no longer powered. Besides, you set the power as high as it would go already.

>>30613731
Can we still stick around, but meditate our water powers?

>>30613756
There wouldn't really be any advantage to meditating here, but yes you can if you want.

>>30613779
not just staying here in case they figure something out, plus it saves time.

>>30613779
We could have Chryssa look out in case they figure it out.

>>30613731
Read a book and chill out

>>30613833
I rather meditate.

>>30613582
>Try channeling magic towards it.
We could at lest try this for any results

If only we found a manipulate Metamagic scroll, since it could help us now.

Well, this seems like a useless endeavor, and besides, if you did find out about a way to bypass the generator you wouldn't want your competition to know about it. You scratch the back of your head and sigh. “I haven't got a clue how to get past this thing.” You admit out loud. Someone from the crowd speaks up in response. “That's fine, none of us do either. Idiots love company and all that.”

That gets some laughs, though Profectus is scowling again. You get the feeling he thinks himself above associating with the common, uneducated masses. In fact, he's been doing that a lot lately. Then again, he did just wake up from a rather long nap to the unpleasant realization his civilization has collapsed. He was entitled to be a little grumpy.

You extricate yourself from the crowd and retreat towards the entrance of the ruin. You find a nice quiet spot and sit down, crossing your legs and assuming a meditation pose. Once you've situated yourself, you look to your companions “Wake me up if they figure anything out. I'm going to meditate.”. Chryssa looks at you confused. “Didn't you just meditate a few minutes ago?” Profectus chimes in as well. “Its all well and good you feel like sitting on the floor for hours on end, but I'd rather find a warm bed... Sleeping for a thousand years actually takes a lot out of a man.”

>Tell them they're free to go back to the inn, you're staying here.
>Suggest they take shifts. One goes back to the inn to rest, the other stays here.
>Just go back to the inn, they probably won't figure anything out while you're gone.
>Write-in.

>>30613978
>>Tell them they're free to go back to the inn, you're staying here.

>>30613978
>Tell them they're free to go back to the inn, you're staying here.
We can't do some water meditation?

>>30614016
Nah, you can. I'll toss the options for how you meditate up after this vote.

>>30613978
>>Suggest they take shifts. One goes back to the inn to rest, the other stays here.

>Tell them they're free to go back to the inn.
Writin'

Rolled 5, 4, 8 = 17

>>30614016
>>30614038

why do you want to meditate so much. we literally just did this. We need to be working on a way past the generator

>>30613978
>Suggest they take shifts. One goes back to the inn to rest, the other stays here.
These adventurers are good people, but I wouldn't trust them not to nab something valuable off us when nobody was looking.

>>30614099
we have 9/14 vys, and we should be working on mastering Water.

>>30613978
>Suggest they take shifts. One goes back to the inn to rest, the other stays here.
I want to do this, but it seems pretty self-centered and asshole-ish. Promise them both a part of our cut of the loot? Just promise them both something nice on our expense when we go back to the city?

>>30614162
We are self centered assholes.
Personality
Positive:
*Intelligent
*Adaptable
Negative:
*Speaks before thinking
*Kind of an asshole

Reputation: Scum

>>30614162
>but it seems pretty self-centered and asshole-ish.
Then it's in character for Mikhael.

>>30614016
changing this to this.
>>30614107
Brings up a good point.

>>30614162
>>30614178
we might be an asshole, but only to other people. Those two are our compagnions

>>30614251
>but only to other people
Uhh. No, not really.

You shrug your shoulders. “That's fine, you two can go back to the inn while I stay here and meditate. I don't want to risk them figuring out the generator while I'm not here.” You dig two gold coins out of your coin purse and pass one to each of them. “That ought to get you a room and a hot meal. You know how to get there, yeah?”

Profectus stuffs his coin into a pocket you didn't realize he had in his shirt and nods. “No, but I'm sure...” He looks to Chryssa. “Chryssa, was your name?” She nods, Profectus turns to face you once more. “She should be able to get me back to he inn safely.” With that, he turns on his heels and makes for the narrow crack in the wall that makes up the entrance to this ruin.

Chryssa hesitates a moment. “You know, they've probably been working on it for days now. We've gotten closer than they have in a fraction of the time. Do not work yourself too hard over nothing.” She leaves after that, jogging to catch up with Profectus.

How will you meditate on water? Because you lack any sort of body of water except for your waterskin, your choices are limited.

>Easy, merely think on what we've learned of water magic. No bonus.
>Moderate, try to pull the water out of our waterskin and control it in mid-air. +2 bonus
>Extreme, cut our forearms open and heal them while we meditate. +6 bonus.

>>30614367
>>Moderate, try to pull the water out of our waterskin and control it in mid-air. +2 bonus
Don't want to be cutting ourtselves in front of everyone and make a scene.

>>30614367
>Moderate, try to pull the water out of our waterskin and control it in mid-air. +2 bonus

It's good enough.

>>30614367
>>Moderate, try to pull the water out of our waterskin and control it in mid-air. +2 bonus

>>30614367
>Extreme, cut our forearms open and heal them while we meditate. +6 bonus.
Lets freak so people out

>>30614367
>>Extreme, cut our forearms open and heal them while we meditate. +6 bonus.
scare em.

>>30614367
>Extreme, cut our forearms open and heal them while we meditate. +6 bonus.
the DC is 30, also what about the other methods we learned like making the water go through the puzzle?

>>30614410
>>30614412
>Let's expose ourselves as magic users just for a prank
Stop being dumb. We're better off slicing our arms open in a more safe and controlled environment anyways.

>>30614460
>lets move water in the air in front of people.
If you don't want to expose our selves then pick easy.

>>30614431
You'd need to be able to carve a maze into the metal floor to use that method, and the other method you learned about was sitting in a bathhouse trying to control the flow of water around you. You also know that encasing yourself in ice is a possibility, as is carving an ice sculpture with nothing but magic, but both of those require large bodies of water as well.

>>30614367
Hard

>>30614367
>>Moderate, try to pull the water out of our waterskin and control it in mid-air. +2 bonus

>>30614460
i agree that the guys you quoted are retarded but holding the water mid air will also expose us. We should have just gone to the inn. There is no one here to wake us if they get past us why we are meditating anyway.

>>30614367
Go to the platform, then extreme

>>30614431
>>30614412
>>30614410
>Extreme

>>30614390
>>30614397
>>30614408
>>30614496
>Moderate

Writin' for moderate.

>>30614521
Actually, you know what? Go ahead and roll 3d10+2 now. That way I can wrap it up in one post.

>>30614493
>>30614521
?

>>30614504
>There is no one here to wake us if they get past us why we are meditating anyway.

no one here to wake us if they get past the generator while we are meditating.

not sure how I fucked that up so badly

Rolled 4, 3, 1 + 2 = 10

>>30614548

Rolled 2, 4, 4 + 2 = 12

>>30614521

Rolled 6, 10, 6 + 2 = 24

>>30614548

>>30614549
Hard isn't an option at this juncture. The 'Hard' methods of meditation you know of all require large bodies of water.

Rolled 6, 10, 4 + 2 = 22

>>30614548

>>30614575
my mistake then, I figured they were one and the same.

>>30614563
>>30614572
>>30614573
>10,12,24 vs DC 30
You fail to get any sort of insight, fortunately for you this is a binary pass/fail rather than a scaled roll.

You also don't have enough Vys to make it a success by expending it.

On the bright side, all future rolls for water meditation will get an additional +2 bonus until you earn your next insight.

You settle yourself in, deciding not to scare everyone else in the ruin by slicing your arms open out of nowhere. That would probably be the last thing people want to see after you were missing in a monster-inhabited half of the ruin for most of the day.

Instead, once you've slipped into your meditative trance and filled your Vys Pool from the surroundings, you draw forth the water in your waterskin and keep it levitating about a foot off the ground. You go through the motions your master taught you, starting off simply with basic shapes. Then you get more complex, forming intricate geometric designs and even arcane sigils without much difficulty. You have difficulty focusing on the meditation itself though. You're just going through the motions, it's almost a chore.

Still, as you're gently guiding the water back into your waterskin you feel like you've realized a flaw in the way you're meditating. You need to be more natural. You shouldn't just go through the motions when you guide water like this. You should flow freely from one shape to the next however feels natural.
>Vys Pool: 14/14
>Failed to gain any insight. Meditation on water will get a +2 bonus cumulative with any other bonuses until your next insight.

You crack your eyes open, and note that the ruin is much quieter than it was before. The humming of power through the thick bands of cords is louder than ever, but other than that it's dead silent. None of the other adventurers are chatting or working, it seems you're the last one left in this part of the ruin.

(1/2)

Fearing the worst, you get up and make for the generator room. Fortunately, the generator is still on and you can still see the faint glimmer of the field that blocks your path. Much closer than it was before though, it's only twenty feet away now, where as before it was a good seventy five feet away.
>Go and activate the strange device again, hoping to draw power away from the generator.
>Get closer.
>Go back to the inn and get your companions.
>Write-in.

>>30614847
>>Go and activate the strange device again, hoping to draw power away from the generator.

>>30614847
>Go back to the inn and get your companions

>>30614847
>>Go and activate the strange device again, hoping to draw power away from the generator.

>>30614847
>Go back to the inn and get your companions.
get a two sacks of flower as well.

>>30614847
>Go back to the inn and get your companions.

The Elf said he was a soldier, we should ask him exactly what he's capable of since he wasn't much help clearing the monsters earlier.

>>30614847
>Go and activate the strange device again, hoping to draw power away from the generator.

>>30614909
my guess is that he is either magic, or something that uses his arm,.

>>30614847
>Go back to the inn and get your companions.
Seriously, no reason to be hasty. We'll need Chryssa anyways to haul loot if we deactivate it.

>>30614847
>Go and activate the strange device again, hoping to draw power away from the generator.

>>30614847
>>Go and activate the strange device again, hoping to draw power away from the generator.
I don't want to come back and find a group who was also waiting for everyone to leave. Best do it now.

>>30614852
>>30614877
It didnt work last time and Soma told us we had it on the highest level. We should be trying other things. Like possibly cutting the power to it all together.

>>30614881
>get a two sacks of flower as well.
why?

Since this seems particularly contentious, I'll host a number only vote.

Vote
1
To turn the device on.

Vote
2
To go get your companions first.

>>30615000
>1

>>30615000
2

>>30613559
>“Why do you have a sack of flower?” from somewhere else in the crowd.
>He responds defensively. “Hey! You never know when a sack of flower will come in handy. Especially in these ruins! Good for activating traps!”
>It seems to explode when it hits the metal platform, about thirty feet from the generator. This actually proves useful, because as the tiny particles diffuse through the room they reveal exactly where the field lies.
>>30614969
is why

>>30615002
Quote the post and select the number only. Greentext voids the vote.

>>30615000
2

>>30615000
2

>>30615000
1

>>30615000
2

>>30615000
1

>>30615046
we should get them first, because else we lose time when the field goes down

Calling it. Seems pretty clear for 2. Writing.

lolsamefags

You decide to go back and get your companions before anything else. It will save you having to go back and get them later. Plus, you have a few questions for Profectus. He seems to be regaining his memories slowly but surely and for a soldier he certainly wasn't much help clearing out those monsters after you pulled him from that pod.

You make your way out of the ruin, through the mine, and up to the service. Night has long since fallen, it looks to be about an hour until midnight judging by the position of the moon. The guard that was at the entrance is now sleeping in his padded chair looking rather content. Your guar is grazing near-by. They really are rather docile creatures, must be well trained.

You mount Al Gasreed and ride back to Licae. It's not a long journey, only a few minutes through the hills and along the old roads before you're sitting outside the inn. It's just as active as it was the night before. Come to think of it, these adventurers really have weird sleep schedules. They stay at the ruin until nightfall, then go back to the inn and drink until morning. Where do they get their money?

You dismount quickly and head inside. Profectus is easy enough to find, he's sitting at the bar with a drink in his hand. He looks... a little wobbly, but not too bad. When you clap him on the shoulder he starts. “Who- Oh! Mikhael! You know, I was starting to think we'd missed one of those monsters and it crept out to get you while you were sleeping!”

He's not slurring his speech, so hopefully he can be of use still. “Come on, where's Chryssa?” You lower your voice to a whisper. “Lets head back to the mine while everyone is here drinking, get a head start. Think I have an idea to get past.” He nods his head. “Chryssa's upstairs, y'know she's really cold. Didn't say a word to me on the way back. Is she always like that?”
(1/2)

You shrug. “Yeah, kinda. At least seems that way to me.” He laughs. “Well, they say it's the quiet ones that you need to look out for. Go all murder spree on you.” He raises his mug to his lips again after that tidbit of wisdom, you're not sure what to make of it. Regardless you drag him away from the bar and up the stairs.

It isn't hard to find Chryssa's room, since all the doors are tagged. You knock politely and after a moment she cracks the door open and peeks through. When she sees it's you and Profectus she opens it enough that she can slip out. “Are we going back to the ruin?” She ask quietly, and you nod. “Good, now's probably the best time to explore anyway, without all those noisy adventurers stomping around everywhere.”

The three of you quickly and quietly make your way out of the inn. After all, the competition might not take kindly to you trying to sneak off and explore the place behind their backs. Chryssa mounts up on her guar, and Profectus moves to follow suit. She bops him gently (well, gently for her. Probably hurt though) on the head and points to Al Gasreed. “Ride with Mikhael, it's more appropriate.”

He grumbles something you don't quite catch before climbing onto Al Gasreed behind you. Then the three of you set off for the ruins once more.

(2/3, I lied)

>>30615369
if he stays, then he should get a ride/

The guard is still snoozing in front of the mine entrance when you arrive. You know, for a guard he doesn't seem to do much besides extort those adventurers. Ah well, at least you get a pass. The three of you dismount and slip past him into the mine, following the well worn and well lit path to the ruins. They're just as you left them not an hour ago, silent except for the hum of energy through the cords and from the generator ahead.

>Activate the strange device
>Try to channel vys towards the generator.
>Try to get close to the field and inspect it close-up.
>Write-in.

>>30615426
>>Try to channel vys towards the generator.

>>30615426
>>Try to channel vys towards the generator.
>>Try to get close to the field and inspect it close-up.

>>30615426
>>Try to channel vys towards the generator.

>Channel vys towards the generator.

>>30615560
Forgot to say, writin'

You head to the generator room, and stop a few feet outside the field. This close, you can feel the energy humming in front of you, the pull against your limbs. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, even if it's not strong enough to suck you in. Chryssa and Profectus stop a few feet further back just to be safe, close enough to grab you and pull you back if you start floating through the air but not so close as to be at risk themselves.

You raise your arms and focus, visualizing a thin tendril of vys extending from your chest towards the small sphere that rest above the generator proper. You feel the power drain out of you, and carefully control it to make sure you don't waist more vys than necessary. At first, you don't think anything has changed, but then something strange happens. It's almost like you can feel the entire facility stretched out before you. As if your sense of touch has expanded to encompass everywhere were those cords tread.

You can feel your two companions behind you, standing on the floor. You can feel a man wandering through the left wing of the ruins, where you killed those horrible monstrosities. You can sense rooms and facilities on the other side of the generator, untouched for a thousand years.

However, none of that lowers the field. When you try to detach yourself from the generator, you find that you can't. In fact, it's only then that you realize the generator is actively draining you of vys. Panicked, you release a surge of vys through the connection and it proves enough to let you cut off contact.
>Vys Pool: 12/14

Well... that was interesting, and very dangerous, but ultimately didn't seem to help you. You do note that your forearm guard is glowing though. The panel has slid away and it looks like the option that Profectus told you represents the Hazmat function is highlighted.

>Activate the Hazmat function.
>Go and activate that strange device.
>Try something else, write-in.

>>30615755
>>Activate the Hazmat function.

>>30615755
>Activate the Hazmat function.
>Go and activate that strange device.

>>30615755
>Activate the Hazmat function.

>>30615755
>>Activate the Hazmat function.
we should warn our friends too

>>30615755
>>Activate the Hazmat function.
>>Go and activate that strange device.

>>30615839
>we should warn our friends too
acquaintances

>>30615908
Companions. Don't be cold, dude.

You press the highlighted symbol, and immediately a visor slides down from the top of your helmet to cover your eyes. For a moment you're blind, but it isn't long before the black visor fades into translucence. You note a few small blue symbols in the top right of your vision, which are all blue at the moment, except for one which is yellow. After that something extends from the armor's chest piece and clamps over your mouth and nose. It's difficult to breath at first, but you get used to it quickly enough.
>Vys Pool(11/14)

You try to lift up your foot, but find it hard. You have to really jerk your leg up to unseal it from the metal floor, and when you set it down again it attaches to the floor with a loud, metallic clang. This must be what Profectus was talking about early, the technician armor that would bind the technicians to the floor with magic. If what he said is true, it should be safe for you to walk up to the generator and turn it off at the main control panel, but he is an amnesiac that was sitting in a pod for a thousand years. Do you really trust his memory?
>Try to approach the controls.
>Have someone go activate that strange device first.
>Deactivate the Hazmat function, this is too risky.
>Write-in.

>>30615952
Acquaintances. We know nothing about them and they know nothing about us. Not friends.
>>30615980
>>Have someone go activate that strange device first.

>>30615980
>Try to approach the controls.
Why not? We probably won't die.

>>30615980
>Try to approach the controls.

>>30615980
>>Try to approach the controls.

>>30615980
>>Try to approach the controls.


and ill just be a dick and point out I said we should see if our suit could do this here >>30613690

>Approach the controls.
Writin'

>>30615998
You don't travel around with acquaintances, and we actually know quite a bit about Chryssa. I can't tell where you draw the line in friendly relationships or why they need to be so rigid.

Well, it seems clear what you should do. Even if it is risky. You jerk your foot free of the metal platform and set it down inside the field. You feel the tug start to pull you towards the generator for a moment, but the armor clamps your foot to the metal before it can pull you away. You repeat the motion with the other foot, putting you firmly inside the field. Now that you're in the field it's much easier to move. The pull from the generator makes it easier for you to lift your feet.

You note that it's rather hard to hear with the suit like this. You think it must clamp down over your ears to prevent damage or something. You can't hear the humming at all as you get closer and closer to the generator. You note that the tug gets stronger the deeper you go into the field, in fact you have to lean your torso back to prevent falling forward. It almost feels like you're falling, except not quite.
>Vys Pool:(10/14)

Eventually you get to the controls and carefully lean forward, grabbing firm hold of the handles on either side of the generator and looking at the panel in front of you. It's not dissimilar to the panel that controlled that strange device. Numerous arrows that seem to control output to various devices. You note that output to one device is astronomical compared to everything else, and you can only assume that represents the strange device you saw earlier. There is only one other similarly astronomical chart, except it seems to be even higher than the one representing the strange device. You're forced to assume that this is input. Then again, you may be wrong.

Unfortunately, there is no on/off button. If only it were that easy.
>Try to lower the input as far as possible.
>Lower all the outputs as far as possible.
>Raise the outputs, try to overload the generator.
>Write-in.

>>30615980
>>Try to approach the controls.
>>Have someone go activate that strange device first.

>>30616283
>Try to lower the input as far as possible.

>>30616283
>>Lower all the outputs as far as possible.

>>30616283
>>Lower all the outputs as far as possible.

>>30616283
>>Try to lower the input as far as possible.
Lowering the outputs might break an important machine

You start pressing and holding the down arrows for everything that you don't think is the input. You start with what you think is the strange device, and eventually that reaches what you think is the zero point. Then you go through the rest of the controls. First, the lights cut out. The only thing illuminating this cavernous space now is the blue glow of energy boiling off the generator. Then a breeze you didn't even notice was there stops. You think that must have been ventilation. After that, there isn't really much else drawing from the generator. You shut everything down though.

Input lowers accordingly, but it still doesn't quite reach zero. You feel that the pull has lessened significantly but it's still there, barely. You try to lower the input, but it won't drop any further. Still, you're only a handful of feet away from the generator in your current position. Maybe the platform is wide enough that skirting around the edge will allow people to get by safely? Or maybe the pull is too weak to lift a man off the ground now? If all else fails, you could escort your allies across.
>Vys Pool: (9/14)

>Tell your companions to get over here, it should be safe.
>Try to find a way to turn it off entirely. Surely there's an off switch somewhere!
>Write-in

>>30616503
>>Tell your companions to get over here, it should be safe.

>>30616503

>Turn the Lights and Ventilation back on.

>>30616503
>Tell your companions to get over here, it should be safe.

Turn lights and ventilation on when they get across a safe distance. That shit's important

>Tell companions to get over here
Writin'

>>30616503
>>Tell your companions to get over here, it should be safe.

We should keep a hold on them with the hazmat function on though.

You turn around to look at Chryssa and Profectus, they're still waiting where you left them, they look rather concerned, you note. You try to call out to them, but it's too muffled by the mask over your mouth and nose to be intelligible. Instead, you wave them over with one arm.

The raised dais you're on is probably about twenty feet across, so hopefully the field doesn't extend far enough to endanger them. Still, you struggle over to the edge of the platform and guide them across the dais to the other side quickly. It seems like the pull is too weak to pull them into the generator as long as they stick close to the edge, but it's better safe than sorry.

Chryssa moves her mouth like she's talking, but you can't hear anything. You just point to your ears and shake your head to get the message across.

On the other side of the platform is a small stairwell leading to a thick metal door. Profectus runs up to it and jerks it open, motioning Chryssa inside. He looks up to you and waits expectantly for you to follow, but instead you motion for him to go on before heading back to the controls. He does so, slipping inside and shutting the door behind him. You quickly flip the lighting and ventilation back on, at lower power, and the input jumps up noticeably. The pull also grows stronger, strong enough you have to grab hold of the handles to prevent yourself leaning into the generator.

With that done you struggle around the platform and down the stairs, it's much easier than it was before because the pull makes it easier to move. At the bottom you have to press all your weight against the thick iron door to force it open against the pull, and after you stumble inside it slams itself shut forcefully. The hazmat function suddenly cuts out as you escape the generator's field, and you almost fall over as a result.
>Vys Pool: (8/14)

(1/2)

You find yourself in a narrow hallway, lined with pipes and thick bands of cords. The lights that line the floor cast it in soft yellow light. It seems like some sort of maintenance shaft. The visor and mask slide away and your boots once more allow normal movement as the drain on your vys cuts out. Chryssa and Profectus stare at you in silence until Profectus ask. “Can you hear again?”

You nod your head. “Yeah, just fine. It's going to be a real hassle getting out though.” Chryssa takes that as license to punch you in the arm, hard enough that it hurts through the armor. “Warn us before you go stomping off like a lunatic towards a device that's killed a dozen people. I figured that would be common courtesy.” She pauses. “Good job figuring out the controls though.” Profectus nods in agreement.

>Onwards, follow the hallway. No sense turning back now, after all.
>Turn back, you can explore the ruin fully tomorrow night, hopefully without wasting so much Vys.
>Write-in.

>>30617018
>>Onwards, follow the hallway. No sense turning back now, after all.

>>30617018
>>Onwards, follow the hallway. No sense turning back now, after all.

>>30617018
>>Onwards, follow the hallway. No sense turning back now, after all.

I'm going to go forage for nuts and berries to dine on, since society has collapsed under the weight of a winter snow storm in the South. ETA 20-30 minutes.

>>30617018
>>>Onwards, follow the hallway. No sense turning back now, after

Can't stay up any longer. Thanks for running. Night. Don't get killed/kidnapped/robbed.

>>30617070
Good luck, don't starve.

>>30617070
Try hunting some wolves.

>>30617070
>forage for nuts and berries

AH SHIT! OP IS BEAR!

>>30617018
>>Onwards, follow the hallway. No sense turning back now, after
we may as well deal with our shit now. before anyone else gets to the ruins.
so by morning we can stock up and ALL the gear up in this bitch. and carry it all back with out anyone knowing what we did.

Back. Some poor squirrel gave its life so I may continue writing with a full stomach.
>Onwards!

>>30617783
>not eating the squirrel
You cruel motherfucker.

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>>30617783
Pic-Related is what OP looks like when he hunts for squirrels in the deep oceans of the South.

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You look between your companions, who seem to be waiting for you to decide the course of action. Man, it's kinda nice being the boss, even if it's sort of loose and unofficial. “Well, lets get on with it then. No use hanging around by the door.” They nod, and the three of you walk on through the maintenance shaft.

It isn't long before you come to an intersection. Unfortunately it isn't really much of an intersection. One path is blocked by wreckage, it looks like something shot through the ceiling and continued on through the floor, but that seems impossible. You peek over the edge to look down the hole, and don't see a clear bottom. It just fades into darkness, giving the illusion that it goes on forever. Looking up, you can distantly see the night sky. You're pretty deep underground by this point though.

In the center of the room is a strange device encased in glass. It hums softly with energy, and gives off a faint glow. It connects to both the floor and the ceiling, giving it the appearance of some sort of squat pillar. You can't imagine its any good for structural support though. Oddly enough, you think you sense water rushing through it. Maybe as some kind of cooling mechanism?

There is a small panel you could open to access the machinery inside the glass, but if it's giving off so much heat that it needs water constantly cascading through it that might not be wise. Personally, you're curious as to how exactly it's still powered after you turned everything off except for what you thought were the lights and the ventilation.

>Open the panel, try to figure out what it is.
>Ignore it for now, not like you could sell it for anything.
>Write-in.

>>30618017
>>>Open the panel, try to figure out what it is.

>>30618017
>Open the panel, try to figure out what it is.

>>30618017
>Ignore it for now, not like you could sell it for anything.
This is the kind of stuff archaeologists are paid for, not us.

>Open the panel
Writin'

>>30618024
>>30618120
he told us this is not a good idea.

can we channel water into our gauntlet and get and idea of the power running in this place?

>>30618017
>>Open the panel, try to figure out what it is.
We can sell anything.
We can sell radioactive materials to a village and say it cures cancer!

>>30618266
Inb4 we turn into a filthy mutant that needs a good purging

If we can manage to sneak out of here with the loot so that nobody knows we've gotten past the generator, do you think we can get money from the Academy in exchange for telling them how we managed to get in? This is all pretty valuable stuff to scholars, right?

You approach the glass, gently pulling the panel open. Immediately, waves of heat pour out of the narrow window you've opened. How this glass was not only insulating this thing from the rest of the room, but managing to do so without melting was a mystery.

With the panel open, a screen lights up in the mess of tiny wires, blocks of metal, and what you can best describe is thin, brittle wafers of some strange... wood, you'd like to say. It's hard to describe it though, there doesn't seem to be a proper word for it you know of. The screen displays a number of charts that mean nothing to you. Profectus crouches down next to you to take a look.

“Well, that one at the top right means temperature. Looks like it's about two hundred thirty degrees in there. There's also a power usage indicator, surprisingly it doesn't take up much of the grid. Must be efficient. The rest of these don't really mean anything to me. I mean, they're abbreviations from what I can tell, but I don't know what they represent.” He nods, and stands up. You slide the panel closed, since there isn't an obvious way to detach anything from it and it's not like you could reach in there without burning your hand.

As you stand up and prepare to embark along the only available hallway, you think you hear a distant voice. It sounds feminine, and distressed. Like they were screaming at the end of the hallway. With the way things have gone for you lately in these unexplored portions of the ruin, you don't really trust it...

>Rush in, someone might be in trouble!
>Proceed cautiously, something must be causing them trouble.
>It's probably a trick, be ready to stab anything that moves in there.
>Write-in.

>>30618369
Well, getting in would require they have armor like yours, or technicians armor. If you brought either of those back with you though they'd pay handsomely.

>>30618408
>>Proceed cautiously, something must be causing them trouble.

>>30618408
>>Proceed cautiously, something must be causing them trouble.

>>30618441
I figured an organization with the resources that they have would already armour of the sort if it interacts so well with surrounding ruins.

>>30618408
>Proceed cautiously, something must be causing them trouble.

>>30618369
We still have the deal with our merchant friend.

>>30618408
>>Rush in, someone might be in trouble!

>>30618408
>Proceed cautiously, something must be causing them trouble.
Also tell Chryssa to prepare to shoot an arrow but only at out say

>>30618492
What did he want from here?

>>30618492
I think the deal was just to sell him whatever we find. Why would he care about a supercomputer he can't use or move?

>>30618408
>Proceed cautiously, something must be causing them trouble.

>>30618492
What were the specifics of that deal anyway?

>>30618558
>>30618546
first dibs on what ever we find.
>>30618547
he had a lot of random shit.

>>30618558
To quote exactly:
>He clears his throat. "Well... you see, friend, without people to dive ruins for me I run out of wares, but I might have heard about a particularly juicy find just a few days north of Licae. Something about a working generator, the first one found outside of Aleamond in generations... if someone were to explore those ruins they would surely find many great treasures, and if some of those found their way to me... well, fair compensation would of course be awarded.”

Writing for
>Proceed Cautiously

>>30618583
So we find some random ass vase check if it has any techno magic in it
If the answer is no give it to him.
That about right?

Although he probably knows a lot about the ruin considering he knows the "Tollman" so I think we'd have to give him something moderately valuable like the camera/recorder sphere

You proceed cautiously into the hallway, spear held out in front of you and crouched low in a fighting stance. You've learned your lesson about these ruins, but maybe it really is someone in need of help. You can't be completely sure after all. Chryssa has nocked an arrow and is similarly crouched low like you are, trying to minimize her profile and step silently along the metal floor.

You hear something crack, and then a loud grounding noise. Looking to your right you see that Profectus' arm has split apart. It glows with an angry red light, almost like beneath the shell of rock that covers his arm the entire thing is just liquid fire. It also looks like he's in intense pain, because he's biting his lip so hard you think you see blood. He doesn't cry out or say anything though.

Well, you suppose there is a purpose for his weird mutant arm after all. It'll be interesting to see what he can do with it in a fight, if it comes to that. As the three of you proceed down the hallway the surroundings become progressively nicer. The wires and pipes that make up the walls are now hidden by smooth metal plates. The floor is made up of what you think is marble tile. Eventually you come to a rather ornate metal door. It's painted white, and has the symbol of the Rhynian Empire on both sides of the door in purple and gold.

There is, unfortunately, no obvious way to open it. There is a panel to the side with a glass screen on it and a pad of buttons marked with numbers. You've no idea what that would do though. Profectus speaks up, through gritted teeth you note. “Research area. Off limits. Gonna need to break in or figure out the code somehow.”

>See if your armor can interface with the keypad somehow.
>Channel Vys into the keypad, that might help.
>Ask Chryssa to try and pry the doors open, she's ridiculously strong after all.

>>30618902
>>See if your armor can interface with the keypad somehow.
>>Channel Vys into the keypad, that might help.
if that fails then

>Ask Chryssa to try and pry the doors open, she's ridiculously strong after all.

>>30618902
>>See if your armor can interface with the keypad somehow.

it worked with the generator

>>30618902
can we use our ring on it?

>>30618902
>Ask Chryssa to try and pry the doors open, she's ridiculously strong after all.
We've used a lot of Vys already, enough fucking around with this ruin.

>>30618970
nice idea.

>>See if your armor can interface with the keypad somehow.

>>30618902
all in the order you said them in.

>See if our armor can interface with it.
Writin'

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You approach the keypad, and try to figure out how you're supposed to go about connecting it to your armor. You try pressing your gauntleted hand against the glass screen and that gets some reaction. It comes to life and a thin green line runs up and down your hand. The doors don't open though, it just flashes red. You try pressing random buttons, and that gets you nowhere. Maybe it's just because of the three days you've gone without sleep and the fact you haven't eaten today, but for some reason you thought rubbing the gauntlet part of your armor against the side of the keypad for a few minutes would make it work. It did not.

Next you try channeling vys into it. That, actually, gets an immediate reaction. The screen lights up and acts like it's scanning your hand, but it doesn't ever stop scanning. As you push a little more vys into the keypad the screen cracks, and the doors slam themselves open. Then they slam themselves shut again. Then they lodge themselves in the halfway open position and seem to come off whatever guiding tracks controlled them.
>Vys Pool: (7/14) You're starting to feel a little drained.

The three of you slip through the doors without much trouble after that, and on the other side is a rather large, sterile room. A woman is standing in the middle, holding her sides and crying. She's dressed after the Rhynian fashion you recognize from murals and paintings. Unfortunately you can't see her face, with her back turned to you as it is. She doesn't seem to have noticed you yet.

>Approach, ask what's wrong.
>Stay where you are, ask what's wrong.
>This is some kind of monster, probably. Have Chryssa shoot it with an arrow.
>Write-in.

>>30619349
>>Stay where you are, ask what's wrong
maybe have Profectus speak first. He will sound more familiar to her

>>30619349
>Stay where you are, ask what's wrong.

>>30619349
>>>Stay where you are, ask what's wrong.
A robot?

>>30619349
>Stay where you are, ask what's wrong.

Also
>Maybe it's just because of the three days you've gone without sleep and the fact you haven't eaten today
I feel really stupid for forgetting that.

>>30619431
sleep is meaningless to us, but we do need food.

>>30619431
We can get away without sleep because of water magic, not sure about hunger.

>>30619349
>Stay where you are, ask what's wrong.
>Ask if either of our companions brought a snack.

>>30619463
why do you think our mages are prone to go crazy anon.

>>30619463
>>30619481
You can go without sleep a lot longer than most people, but eventually it catches up to you. You'd say a week is about the limit before you start seeing minor hallucinations. Food you do need though.

>Stay where you are
Writin'

>>30619349

>Stay where you are, ask what's wrong.

> Holding her sides
> Crying
> Back turned to you

This seems familiar.

>>30619545
Witches?

>>30619528
Good so we still have 4 days left before we have to sleep.

>>30619577
Thats what I was thinking but I really hope its a red herring.

>>30619528
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Gardner_(record_holder)
Here is hoping that you don't go to far.

>>30619599
Which is kinda bad because as soon as we go all Blood Raven on every inch of this dwemer rui- uhh I mean Rhynian ruin we really shouldn't head back to the town.
Them adventures are gonna be pretty pissed off and I have a feeling some might try to hunt us down we're going to need to be in tip top shape to survive the oncoming Benny hill shenanigans

>>30619689
how is it bad, all it does is make us bitchier, and more forgetful.

>>30619714
And start seeing hallucinations which could lead to paranoia etc etc


As I see it if we don't catch some grub and z'sss were going to have a bad time

You clear your throat, and try to adopt an accent similar to Profectus' own. “Excuse me, are you okay?” You ask in a quiet tone. Your voice seems to carry through the hall you're in. Come to think of it, this sort of looks like a cafeteria of some sort. The ceiling is high, there are a bunch of long tables lined with chairs, and one side of the room is taken up by a metal gate you'd bet could be pulled up to reveal a kitchen.

The woman stops crying, and seems to flicker out of existence for a moment. She reappears on the opposite of the room, facing you. You're taken aback, for two reasons. First off, you don't know of any magic that moves you instantaneously from one end of the room to the other. Secondly, she's still transparent, almost like she's not entirely there. Slowly, she fades into reality. Her form acquires substance. In a way, she's very attractive. Of course, the pale skin and blunted ears are kind of gross but she looks almost like the idealized form of a human.

She speaks rapidly in Proper Rhynian. You have trouble picking out what she's saying. You think you get the gist of it, she's asking who the three of you are. Profectus responds before you get the chance, firing back just as rapidly as she did. You don't catch a word of what he's saying. The woman speaks again, but this time it's much slower and easier to decipher. “Who are you to invade the sanctity of a Rhynian facility? I will be required to inform the commanding officer of your intrusion.”

>Tell her to feel free. There isn't a commanding officer to begin with.
>Explain that you're adventurers, looking to explore an ancient ruin.
>Explain that you're a rescue team, sent from the provinces to extract the people trapped in this facility.
>Claim that you are the new commanding officer of this facility, and you have the armor to prove it.
>Write-in.

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>>30619762
It makes us paranoid more, and see minor hallucinations, but its not at the level you are thinking at, but i do think we should go to sleep before 10 days are up.

>>30619762
The hallucinations are things like. "The wall is breathing." "I think I just heard someone call my name." "Oh god, there are eyes in the dark looking at me."
Pretty minor stuff, basically. They could be a real hassle in a dangerous environment though.

>>30619793
>Claim that you are the new commanding officer of this facility, and you have the armor to prove it.

>>30619793
>Claim that you are the new commanding officer of this facility, and you have the armor to prove it.
Diplomacy go! The ring helps too, right?

>>30619848
The ring is stamped with the seal of the Hiacian Empire, not the Rhynian Empire.

>>30619793
>>Claim that you are the new commanding officer of this facility, and you have the armor to prove it.

Let's put that silver tongue to use.

>>30619836
>>30619848
aww yeah we gonna fight a ghost

>>30619868
Well we better take it off then.

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>>30619831
Good to know that you are sticking to minor stuff.

Rolled 10 + 2

>Claim to be the new commander.
Thanks to your new bonus, Slanderer's Tongue, you get a +2 bonus to this roll. The armor provides another +2 bonus to the roll. There will probably be a series of rolls to convince the woman that you are in fact the new commander, you'll need to pass each in turn.

Roll dice+1d10+4

>>30619793
>>Claim that you are the new commanding officer of this facility, and you have the armor to prove it.

>>30619793
>>Explain that you're adventurers, looking to explore an ancient ruin.
Didn't our friend here just explain what we are, i doubt she is gonna believe us guys.

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Rolled 2, 2, 7 + 2 = 13

>>30619959
Fuck me, I meant 3d10. My bad.

Rolled 4 + 4

>>30619959

Rolled 6 + 4

>>30619959

Rolled 2, 3, 2 + 4 = 11

>>30619988

Rolled 8, 8, 5 + 4 = 25

>>30619959
Rollan

Rolled 3, 1, 2 + 4 = 10

>>30619988
>>30619959
Well this is no gonna end well.

>>30620015
>>30620029
>>30620044
>11,25,10 vs 13
...Ouch.
You could spend 2 vys to make it a regular success. I would strongly discourage spending more than that.

Rolled 8, 5, 1 + 4 = 18

>>30620076
sure

>>30619988
Series of rolls you said? Mmmm we got really lucky bartering before, let's go for it.

Use Vys!

>>30620076

Shouldn't the ring help as well?

>>30620192
See
>>30619868

>Use Vys
Writin

Rolled 10, 3, 2 + 4 = 19

>>30620192
the opposite.

>>30620213
So will the ring help us with rolls for convincing current leaders of shit? Or does it just not give us a bonus because the Rhynian AI recognizes it as Hician?.

>>30620248
It would help convince anyone of anything related to Hiacia. So if you claimed to be a representative of the restored empire, it would provide a bonus towards people that don't know anything about your homeland.

>>30620318
How much of a bonus would it get us?

Rolled 5, 1, 9 + 4 = 19

>>30620343
it says it on there.

>>30620343
+2. Most items only provide a +2 bonus because they stack with everything.

Rolled 6, 10, 7 + 2 = 25

You draw yourself up to your full height, and try to look a little regal. “I'm the new commander of this facility. Isn't it obvious?” The woman responds promptly. “No. The current commanding officer on record is Dux Valentinus. He's been in command for the last one thousand, one hundred, thirty seven years and I see no reason for that to change at this juncture.”

Well that isn't what you were hoping would happen, you channel a little vys throughout yourself and try to speak a little more commandingly. “Are you trying to tell me my orders, slave?” That's a bit of a wild guess, but it seems reasonable. “I've been sent here from the fatherland to relieve Dux Valentinus, he tendered his retirement months ago and I've only just managed to make it here.” You actually think you're doing a pretty good job of imitating Proper Rhynian. “Now, if you'll stop harrying me with useless questions I'd appreciate it if you escorted me to my new quarters.”

The woman seems confused, she stares at you for a moment. “If that were true, why did no one inform me of this? Should I not have been the one to send in the letter? Where is your symbol of office? Why do you wear the ring of our enemies to the south?”

>Well, any answers for the woman's questions? Good write-in options will provide a significant bonus.
>Roll 3d10+4 regardless.

Rolled 6, 9, 2 + 4 = 21

>>30620482

Rolled 7, 6, 5 + 4 = 22

>>30620482

>>30620482
Forgot to mention.
>Vys Pool: (5/14) You're definitely feeling drained. A nap sounds lovely right about now.

>>30620482
It's been over a thousand years, there have been innumerable policy changes. Honestly, no one knew you even still exists. I was told you had broken down centuries ago.

Rolled 9, 10, 7 + 4 = 30

>>30620482

Rolled 9, 8, 4 + 4 = 25

>>30620482
You just had to roll that high, didn't you?

Rolled 5, 3, 4 + 4 = 16

>>30620547
>even still existed
also I messed up my roll
go me

>>30620547
Seconding.

>>30620482
>“If that were true, why did no one inform me of this?
Why should we inform a mere slave of matters that are above her status.
>Should I not have been the one to send in the letter?
The father land had deemed that Dux Valentinus has served for far to long and should be promoted.
>Where is your symbol of office?
Isn't my armour more than enough of a symbol of my status Slave.
>Why do you wear the ring of our enemies to the south?”
An old war trophy, from one of the nobles from the south.

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18 KB PNG

>>30620514
>>30620516
>>30620554

>>30620482
How long have you been in this hole, the Empires united Centuries ago we will have to get you up to date on the current state of things as soon as I am settled.

Seconding this
>>30620547
Over this
>>30620645

>>30620554
>>30620516
>>30620514
>21,22,30 vs DC 25

>>30620547
>>30620645
>>30620665
I'll say write-ins provide a +4 bonus. Enough that all rolls succeed. Which is good, because you might not have enough vys to successfully deactivate the generator long enough for your companions to escape as-is.

>>30620482
>If that were true, why did no one inform me of this?
>Should I not have been the one to send in the letter?
This facility is poorly maintained, I'm not surprised you admit to your incompetence. Notice has been sent, it's not my responsibility if it arrives.

>Where is your symbol of office?
Do you know anyone but an Officer to wear armour like this? Who are you to interogate me?

>Why do you wear the ring of our enemies to the south?
I carry this expensive ring as a trophy, to prove my conquest over those pigs. Do you put my loyalty in question you useless servant?

File: 1393904165529.gif-(1.99 MB, 379x284, 1393446625073[1].gif)

1.99 MB GIF

>>30620482
Sweet

>>30620724
Are you saying this facility isn't safe? Why couldn't we sleep in the Commander's Quarters?

>>30620482
The ring is from the one of their Emptor's hands that I personally killed

>>30620770
No if things went south, the security system would had gone off.

You adopt a haughty tone, the kind you've heard nobles use when they spit on beggars. The kind your master use when he held conversations with his pet goat. “It's been a thousand years, policies change. Nobody honestly knew whether this facility would still be functional after all this time. From what I've seen so far it's clear the state of disrepair has reached untenable levels. You're hardly at fault for your own incompetence after so long in this hole.”

You wave your hand in a dismissive gesture. “As for my symbol of office? Look at me. Do any but the mightiest of officers wear this armor? Of course not. The ring and the bag are old war trophies from the Hiacian campaigns. You need not concern yourself with them.”

That seems to be enough that the woman falls in line. She bows low in apology. “Of course. What should I call you, Dux?”
>Think up a Roman name!
>Congratulations on taking over the facility! Lets see if you can bring it completely under booted heel!

While names are tossed around, I'll keep writing.

>>30620901

Maximus Decimus Meridius.

>>30620901
Bigus Dickus.