[Jean] Chapter 18: Hostilities

[pringerbeam]

     "Wait." Commanded Jean as he put a hand on Lili's shoulder. "More traps by the looks of it." He said pointing to the tripwires. "So many booby traps and heavy artillery. This civil war got really ugly really fast. What are the priests and their followers thinking? Even if they won the city would probably be nothing but a smoldering pile of bricks by the time they're finished. They might as well have just let the demons demolish the city themselves to save the effort... Karn, I don't suppose you can do something to get us past these mines too? Maybe a newer, less deadly staircase?"

[Throndir]

Kherngolarr - Broadcast Station
Day 10 (Jean), Day 12 (Rosalie) - Time: Mid-Afternoon

Karn nodded silently, placing his hands on the floor, he began to warp the worked stone into a makeshift set of stairs going up at a relatively steep angle. Soon enough, the original staircase was bypassed altogether, with a newly formed stone structure leading up to the next room. Karn, being the one who raised the stone was the first to look through, and it was at that moment he decided to raise up the stonework again another level.

"Fascinating. The technology they use here is fascinating. Akin to my own world, though heavily skewed to using materials made of brass and copper. Anyways. Looks like the stairs go up another level. Judging from how the building looked from the outside, I assume the top to be a few floors higher."

Lili nodded towards Karn, but then looked towards you.

"Ah didnae notice th' mines, thank you Jean..." Lili smiled, but moved forward to climb the stairs shortly.

Dalina followed closely behind you, keeping her eyes alert, with Gust on her shoulder. As for Viridio, the green phoenix, in her small form, sat on your shoulder.












The rest of the trip upwards didn't take too much work. It seemed that in the rush of things, the traps were only set at the stairs. With Karn's help, bypassing each floor was relatively simple. Either stone, brass, or iron was shaped through Karn's alchemy.

At the top of the building was indeed the broadcasting room. Compared to the floors below, this room had a high ceiling.

There were various tubes opened up at a large station. From the number of various tubes, and now-empty chairs, it looked like this particular place could have an entire team of dwarves man the stations.

"Each o' the tubes connect tae a section o' th' city." Lili explained. "But if you gimme a minute, I kin likely hook thaim all up to the same receiver."

[pringerbeam]

     "Of course my queen... Landmines... back in my old world such devices were typically deemed illegal in their use. They were a weapon of last resort that would continue to cause casualties long after the wars were ended."  He said in response to Lili.



     "Do it. I'll need to reach as many people as possible if this is going to work." He said before taking a seat at one of the consoles. He was getting tired, exhausted even. Even with the refreshment from before he knew he could not fight for much longer. He checked his status to confirm his increasingly depleted resources. He hoped that what he did next would at least stall for desperately needed time.

Will wait on confirmation that nothing of note transpires while waiting for Lili.

[Throndir]

Kherngolarr - Broadcast Station
Day 10 (Jean), Day 12 (Rosalie) - Time: Mid-Afternoon

Lili began working the various
controls of the station. She took a moment to examine everything, then began either flipping switches, or turning various dials. She seemed to punch in a specific sequence of buttons as well. As switches were flipped, lights turned on little by little. Eventually, she pushed over a cone-like tube, along with what looked to be a button with a trailing cable coming out of it, plugging itself into the station.

"Its done. Press and hold this button 'n' it shuid broadcast throo'oot th' city 'n' outposts." Lili explained.

[pringerbeam]

     Jean snapped back to the present, as he had begun to feel his fatigue setting in. Now though it was time to try and do what he could to save the city. He walked up to the speaking tube and stared at it. He knew that Ren and Telamon were counting on him what he did here could save them... or he might lose them. He looked within himself to that font of power. He has used it so much recently, every time he felt like he was losing control to something else, something that he was becoming more and more dependent on. He had no choice, but he knew that if there was any hope he could leave nothing to chance. He took in a deep breath and accessed that power before speaking with as much conviction as he could muster.
     "People of Kherngolarr this is Jean, hero, and future husband to princess Lili. I know my presence here has caused turmoil, chaos even, but I ask you lay down your arms. Your people should not be fighting down here. There are forces greater than you might imagine that seek to destroy you, yet you fight your own kin in a civil war that might end your people before you even see the true enemy. I beg you, put a stop to this war, if not for good, at least lay down your arms in a truce. I  know that now that blood has spilled that it might be too much to simply stop but please, consider an alternative. As I am the one who is the source of this conflict, I will offer myself as the end. You are a people of strength, honor, ingenuity, and tenacity but you have not seen the horrors arrayed against you. To know what you must face, what you must overcome in the future, I propose a challenge. Each clan opposed to my marriage and the priesthood may each elect a champion clad in their finest armor and equipped with their mightiest weapons to face me in single combat. In a week, we shall do battle and if your greatest fighters can best me in combat, I will renounce my engagement and leave the city, never to return. To further discuss terms, I request we meet upon the steps to the palace. I will not take any hostile actions unless first attacked and I request that any forces loyal to the current king do so as well. I look forward to our meeting"

Expending 2 Hero Points to guarantee a roll of 20 for the associated Diplomacy check for Jean's plea

     Jean stepped away from the speaking tube, not sure what to expect. He looked somewhat apprehensively at the others and pulled out Telamon's drone. "Telamon, can you hear me? Did you hear my announcement? Is the ceasefire happening?"
     

[Throndir]

Kherngolarr - Broadcast Station
Day 10 (Jean), Day 12 (Rosalie) - Time: Mid-Afternoon

A notification appeared in your vision, only to fade a few moments later.

Your wish is granted.

The companions around you seemed to pause a moment. When you had spoken, they each listened intently, though now that you had finished, they all resumed their normal positions, some glancing and looking around, while others yet looked towards you, listening to your conversation with Telamon.

"Master! I heard you loud and clear, everyone did. Fascinating. Did you just cast a city-wide spell?" Telamon asked through the drone, there was clear awe in her voice. "Most of the dwarves fighting us were quite fanatic, and now they're shouting for a ceasefire, rather than shouting for their revolution. Literally a second after you finished your speech. From vocal cues, they appear to be genuine. Actually, it's probably better to just show you."

A moment later, the drone you had pulled out began to project a scene in the open space in front of you and the others. It was like a projector, though instead of a flat image, it displayed a 3-dimensional view of what Telamon was seeing.



The scene beyond was at first gruesome. There were fires throughout the complex Telamon was in. Numerous burn marks from the various bombs and missiles that had been fired relentlessly. There were piles of dwarven corpses strewn around as well, both enemies and allies alike, most of them unrecognizable from the burning and mutilations the bodies had suffered. Most of the corpses were surrounding Telamon however, which verified the fact that the gynoid was in the thickest part of the battle.

"Stoap shooting at ilk ither! Ceasefire!" Dwarves on both sides called out. The dwarves who were locked in combat had begun to peek out of their fortifications, though neither side made a move as bold as stepping out, there were no more gunshots or explosions.



"Master Jean, you might want to check in on the strange species that is Ren though. If they were able to throw this much force towards the refineries, they probably had thrown much more against the palace. Looks like the two dwarven lords want to talk to me. Likely it's about the speech you had just given. We'll see you at the palace?" Telamon asked.

[pringerbeam]

     At the sight of the ceasefire taking effect Jean took a breath of relief. At least it sounded like most of the fighters were going to comply. "You're right Telamon, they probably committed most of their forces to storming the palace. We have no time to lose." Jean checked his status. "Hopefully I have enough MP to do this, everyone might want to stay back, I don't know if there is fighting going on if this thing will let stray bullets through... Portal!"

Using Portal to create a portal back to the palace.

Next part assumes the portal works

     The portal formed, Jean headed straight through, preparing himself for the worst.

     

[Throndir]

Kherngolarr - Palace
Day 10 (Jean), Day 12 (Rosalie) - Time: Mid-Afternoon

You created a portal back to the palace. You made it right at the throne room, judging that would likely be defensible enough considering only one entrance went into the chamber. You worried most about the glass dome that covered the throne room, but as you stepped through, you were surprised to see that a thick set of brass and copper covered the glass dome. With the metallic protections, it was more akin to a metal dome.

But more than that, you smelled the distinct aroma of burned flesh. Dwarven bodies dressed in the livery of royal guard, orichalcum, much like the few priests you had met before, were scattered about, blast marks on their armors, some with their heads blown off and missing. Around you as well, were many mechanized parts of the mechs that the enemy forces used. With your hero-enhanced passive perception, you immediately got a sense that both the remainder of the royal guards hiding behind a bulwark of stone behind the three thrones, and the enemy priests and separatists storming from the entrance all had a strange but dazed look in their eyes. There was no shooting or firing however, and at the very least, Lili, followed right after, concern evident on her features.

You caught sight of Ren immediately. Her entire form was a metallic silver hue, and you immediately noticed that a couple of her tentacles were missing. She was lying on the ground, not too far from the bulwark of stone the rest of the guards were. When you had popped in, it looked like two royal guards were in the middle of dragging her body to the safety of the stone bulwarks.

She didn't seem to be moving, but you noticed a blue-colored liquid ooze out between one of her cupped tentacles, one of only 3 remaining tentacles. It took you just a moment to recognize it as the slimeling, which promptly waved towards you.

"Faither? Where's faither?" Lili called out. A voice called out in response.

"Lili?" You recognized the king's voice. And soon enough, he limped forward from the stone bulwark, propped up by another dwarf you recognized; Dorgan, who worked as the king's record keeper. On the king's arm was a large weapon strapped to it. To your eyes familiar with technology from your own world, it looked like a machine gun. It was similar in design as the one's strapped to the priest's mechs, however, the one the king used looked bigger and grander. Mechanical supports that seemed to be integrated with the king's armor helped hold the weapon up. His armor too looked just as grand, though there was plenty of blood and ash staining his gear. He was heavily limped as well, and seemed to be in pain, but he had a huge grin on his face looking towards you and your group.

At that moment you heard a sound behind you.

"Don't ye think yer' mind-washing spell has any effect on me!" You turned around just in time to see the high priest of the dwarves, the one you thoroughly humiliated when you exited the Ramparts the first time around. He was equipped with a fascinating weapon. Though similar in design to the missile launchers you had seen earlier, this one seemed to be made out of both crystals, tech that looked similar to the Ramparts, and orichalcum components. Through your greater mana sensitivity, it seemed to be draining mana from everything and everyone around it as a ball of energy started to coalesce at its front.

"Ye' fool! Ye'll disintegrate everyone!"

Roll for initiative!

[pringerbeam]

     Seeing Ren so horribly injured caused rage well up within Jean and he focused his gaze upon the rogue priest. "Weight Control!" He screamed as he started towards the priest.

Weight Control (Immediate Action): expend 30 MP to increase priest's weight by 15 steps

Initiative

Rolled 1d20+16 : 5 + 16, total 21

[Throndir]

Kherngolarr - Palace
Day 10 (Jean), Day 12 (Rosalie) - Time: Mid-Afternoon

The high priest immediately crumpled on the sudden weight, his charging weapon dropped unceremoniously on the ground. The dwarf had made an attempt to keep it locked towards you, but the extreme weight on his body made it difficult to even aim it as he fell. The weapon was still in one of the dwarf's hands, but was pointed away from your group, targeting towards the dwarf's right, and your left.

The dwarven high priest was 30 ft. away from your position, with the king, the royal guards, and Ren 30 ft. behind you. The portal you had created was directly centered in the 60 ft. by 40 ft. throne room.

Jean to take turn.

Initiative: High Priest: -8, Dorgan: 5, Royal Guards: 13, Lili: 16, King: 20, Jean: 21

[pringerbeam]

     With the weapon now aiming away from Ren and the surrounding dwarves, Jean ran up to the priest and pounced on the disabled dwarf lying on the floor. He grabbed the dwarf by the throat and hissed into his face. "You rat bastard! I let you live and this is how you repay my generosity? I try to broker a peace and you still fight! Tell me why I shouldn't just strangle you to death right here!" He said as he threw the priest back down and took up the weapon, trying to figure out how to disarm it.

Move action: move to dwarf priest

Free action: knowledge (technology) to assess the weapon

Rolled 1d20+14 : 19 + 14, total 33

Will hold rest of turn for knowledge check results

[Throndir]

Knowledge (technology): 33
The weapon looks to be an amalgamation of dwarven technology, and technology similar to that of the Ramparts. It made heavy use of mana-absorbing crystals. From what you had read in The Ramparts' manual given to you by Telamon, that single glance of looking at the weapon, and your sensitivity to the flow of mana and magic coursing through the missile launcher-like weapon, you were able to figure some key things out.

Dwarven Disintegrator Cannon
Damage: 32d8 Energy
Burst Radius: 40 ft.
Range Increment: 80 ft.
Size: Large
Weight: 45 lb.
Rate of Fire: Single
Magazine: Special

Resembling a cannon, the dwarven disintegrator cannon fires a micro-singularity produced by both science and magic that obliterates the target's molecular structure on impact. Firing the weapon begins a charge sequence lasting a few seconds that gathers 170 MP from the user. The weapon does not drain a user's MP below 1, and the remainder of the MP is taken from the surrounding area within 30-feet of the weapon, starting from the closest source of mana. If the mana requirements are not met, the dwarven disintegrator does not fire. While the weapon is charging, a successful Spellcraft (DC 25) allows the user interrupt the weapon's flow of mana, and also specify a different source of mana within 30 feet. An unwilling target for mana may attempt a Spellcraft contested by the user's.

When the singularity fired from the cannon impacts a surface, all creatures in a 40-foot burst radius at the point of impact takes 32d8 damage. A successful Agility save (DC 25) halves the damage. Any creature reduced to -20 hit points by the weapon completely disintegrates. Objects and nonliving creatures (including robots) reduced to 0 hitpoints by the weapon are likewise disintegrated.

[pringerbeam]

     "You would kill everyone here and yourself for what?" Asked Jean as he attempted to disarm the weapon. "For your god? They care nothing for you! You dance to their tune as if they give a single shit whether you live or die!"

Spellcraft to disrupt the charge process and dissipate the charged mana

Rolled 1d20+29 : 1 + 29, total 30

[pringerbeam]

Requested d100

Rolled 1d100 : 24, total 24

[Throndir]

Kherngolarr - Palace
Day 10 (Jean), Day 12 (Rosalie) - Time: Mid-Afternoon

The high priest made a sound as if he was gathering spit or saliva, but with the extreme weight on his body, all that ended up was a long glob of drool sputtering from his mouth as the high priest glared as much as he could towards you.

Though this was probably one of your worst attempts at manipulating the mana, you were still skilled enough to interrupt the weapon's normal charging and discharging procedure. The excess energy still stored wasn't all dissipated however, and a blast of energy still shot forth from the weapon, though only affecting those close to the weapon, and the weapon firing only at a fraction of its disintegrating power.

Jean and High Priest to roll Agility