We stand inside this Sanctum Beta, surrounded by walls of smoothened concrete. Above each doorway, strange etchings seem to designate a term for every chamber. Massive metal doors stood before us. Milu Soma discerned the name forward - Arrivals. Gathering ourselves for the worst, Xael tugged the door open to reveal a surveyed chamber. Another Clockwork Watcher studied the chamber, and on its ground lays a circle of silvered metal. Ripley was successful in disabling the watcher, allowing us in.
Above the circle of metal, a symbol in a forgotten language rests. It names this place as BETA. ...Perhaps these names of sanctums are not designations, but points in space and time to be recalled. Who would be its creator to strip this place of meaning?
We have confirmed that this is our target: Sanctum BETA. (quest: Discover the Southwestern Sanctum ). ...In here, expect experiments and atrocities against all that live.
A doorway led further in. We pressed on to verify the depths of this place.
Beyond that door, we discovered a hallway. To the sound, another glowing alcove that could be used to alarm and ward the clockwork machinations. Through J'ack Rameur and Cleis Frostclaw's nimble flicks and blasts, we narrowly avoided detection. Woodsworth Moure called for the retreat. We made our way back through Arrivals, then through the Airlock that we had come in. Then, outside. We left most of the beings behind us, but on our way out, we captured a few wandering laborers.
We waited in the tunnels blessed by winter's gift, our last day of clean air. A few hours (2? 4?) in, our scouting party noted the Clockwork creations had a new army they pushed through the front doorway. They seemed to be repairing the destroyed creations. Our team regrouped, and we rested inside another Woodsworth's Sylvean Hideaway. We reported to the The Slowcart Foundation that an operation was commencing the following day. Ripley continued to speak to an interested Director keeping watch over her through clasp. With ourselves restored, the night passed without alarm.
Just before the operation, Woodsworth spoke with Maklus. It appears Finance is what governs Wodford, and that they are not aligned in vision. Woodsworth feels he must ask the idol to know if the Lady Bethany Eg would truly want be freed, and ensure no more sufferings happens in Egland.
Operations is now very interested in what is happened here in the southeast isles. We have succeeded in giving the Foundation hope, which has only revealed more of how they function.
In the morning at 8:12:40 (a lucky time), Chaos the 31st, the Caretaker would give the group their blessings. He would insist they have "an hour to conduct the operation", and that we should focus on "securing the location". Another casting of blessings would happen just before entering the waters outside the Sanctum Beta at 8:17:00.
| Character | Effects and timer |
| Stoneskin (80 pts, 70pts remain as of 8:20), Protection from Arrows (80 pts), Resist Energy (Electric: 20) | 9:32:40 | |
| Stoneskin (80 pts), Protection from Arrows (80 pts) | 9:32:40 Touch of the Sea | 8:25:00 | |
| Protection from Arrows (80 pts) | 9:32:40 Resist Energy (Fire: 20) | 8:52:40 Touch of the Sea | 8:25:00 | |
| Stoneskin (80 pts), Protection from Arrows (80 pts) | 9:32:40 Resist Energy (Fire: 20) | 8:52:40 | |
| Protection from Arrows (80 pts) | 9:32:40 Touch of the Sea | 8:25:00 | |
| Protection from Arrows (80 pts), Protection from Energy (Fire: 96pts) | 9:32:40 Touch of the Sea | 8:25:00 |
Our route back into Sanctum BETA would not be through the front way. With blessings of the idol, we held our breath and followed the water's flow - beyond a waterwheel, now fixed in its spin. We surfaced near the waterwheel, finding refuge in a larger room filled with springs and coiling things. A laborer stands by, and we learned its objective was to turn off the waterwheel at a point. ...Did these lose charge from how they restore and rekindle their forces?
We moved into a hallway that seemed to connect with our ventures the day afore. While disabling a Watcher, our group was spotted by one of the place's creations that can form walls. Cleis narrowly prevented it from activating the alarm, and we took care of the clumsy split forces with ease.
Now we sit here, minutes into our breaching of BETA. We must remain vigilant and ensure we do not get surrounded. We will rely on Fortune's Vanguard's flexibility to keep us forward.
...why would the ancient evil create a plague for a realm it wished to harvest?