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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gideonpepys" data-source="post: 6255406" data-attributes="member: 79141">Session 100gUru and his gremlin friends disabled the mechanical defences on both sides of the main entrance, and caused the doors to grind open.  Korrigan and company swept within and once again overcame the demoralised guards.  Having dealt with them as swiftly as possible, they moved on, with Uru ranging ahead after Grappa had pointed the way. Off-duty engineers and support staff fled before them or surrendered.  There appeared to be no means of them alerting the rest of the base to their presence, so the unit paid them no heed.  Once or twice someone offered resistance, but they were dealt with quickly and quietly.  More security doors deeper into the base were ajar, and gave on to an enormous hangar large enough to build a ship.  It was empty now, but had clearly been filled with machinery at one stage. Chains still hung from the ceiling, and bolts were fixed to the floor in places.  At the very far end was a great platform that had been lowered some hundred feet to a place where water lapped up against it.  Parity Lake?  After a brief recce by Matunaaga confirmed that their way was clear, the group followed Alexander Grappa's directions through a set of huge double doors and into a hallway leading north to a set of matching doors which were closed.No sooner had they all  passed through these doors than they closed behind them. Leone Quital then addressed them through a magical conduit, in his nasal, easily recognisable voice: “I don’t  know whether to be impressed by you getting past my security, or disappointed in the men who were supposed to stop you.  But men, after  all, are weak. That’s why we build machines, why we have progress! All we’re good for is thinking. That, and enjoying the pleasures in life.” (They heard a soft sip, as if from a wine glass, then a contented sigh.)  “Best to leave the violence and physical labor to the steam and steel. Now I leave it to you to decide whether to go the easy way or the hard way. Throw down your weapons and have a drink with me, and I’ll explain what it is we’re doing here. Would you believe the engineers we had working on it thought this was a Risuri military project? They were fools and I’d like to hold out hope that you’re not fools.  So yes, throw down your weapons and we can think, and talk, and enjoy life. Or be foolish, and see which breaks first: your flesh, or my steel.”When they ignored his threats and pressed on, the far doors opened to reveal three metal golems - one much larger than the other two, all rudely moulded as if from clay and covered in runes.  They guarded a third, even more  impressive set of doors that were firmly sealed. The golems dutifully trundled out, bemoaning the fact that they had not been adequately equipped.  Leone aided them from a distance through his magical conduit, flinging the officers around bodily, disarming them and granting the golems bursts of speed and additional attacks. Their runes absorbed damage and reflected it back on the attacker. The largest golem - 'Colin'  - was more confident and keen to demonstrate his superiority over the others, but was subjected to withering fire from Uru, Matunaaga and Kvarti.  His last act was to fall like an avalanche on Korrigan and Matunaaga.  His fellows, Linus and Hunting, were not long behind him. Grappa had been typing furiously all the while, but by the time he finished his message - "LINUS... HUNTING... COLIN... IT'S POPPA... STOP FIGHTING"  - the golems lay inert. By now the canal force had fallen back in disarray.  It couldn't be long before at least some of the defenders returned and pursued the strike force into the facility. But they desperately needed to catch their breath and so rested here for a few minutes while Uru and Grappa struggled to find a way through the next set of doors. Much to their perplexity, none could be found. More than enough time to rest up ticked by and Leone could be heard chuckling to himself: he had the intruders trapped and soon the guards and shadow trolls would be upon them. Then a strange and squeaky voice was heard from within the walls.  It appeared to be talking to the doors! "Now listen here, you obstinate fellows.  You know that you're large and I don't trust you.  You are always watching me.  But now you must do as I say.  Open up! Let these people through!" Leone's voice was apoplectic as the doors ground open:  "Oddcog, you fool! What have you done?!?"*Elsewhere, Leon had taken a gamble:  Grappa had pointed the way.  While the geas prevented him from sharing information about the Ob, it did not appear to be powerful or broad enough to prevent the subject acting in a way that was inimical to the Obscurati's interests. So Leon had accepted Lavanya's offer to return his Obscurati ring and memories and - after a moment reeling under the weight of revelations - now accompanied her through plush residentials suites to a foyer occupied by black-clad Obscurati Slayers who were preparing themselves to defend the 'great project'.  Conquo stood quietly in the corner and fell into line behind Lavanya and Leon.  He tapped Leon on the shoulder, almost knocking him to the floor. "Hello again,"  he said. "Don't do anything silly, now, will you?" Lavanya gently admonished Conquo gently and urged him to be nice to Leon.Leone Quital arrived and swept angrily through the chamber and out the other side, signalling for the others to follow. "Oddcog has opened up the sealed chamber doors. I don't know what kind of game he's playing.  Or you for that matter," he said to Lavanya. "What's he doing here?" "He's with us now," said Lavanya, mildly.  "I returned his ring. He's going to help us protect Borne." They exited the lounge onto a huge metal bridge, from sophisticated intimacy to industrial grandeur in a single step.  Hundreds of feet below them, the intruders stood in the open doorway, gawping in unison, as Leon now gawped at the incredible sight that lay before them.</blockquote>

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