Loose threads: partially unexplored Dwarven Factory
Participants: Ariana Yaxiri, Ruun, Sukemoru Uzuto, Reiko Amiri
Locations: Mountain in Rydess' desert. Crucible 2, Desert of Rydess
Short summary:
Golems suck, the factory has lots of goodies, we only looted a third of it.
Full Report
Following up on a rumor she hear from Fawkes during Aseron's Wedding, as well as conversations with Vhel and her oracular visions of a similar facility, Reiko Amiri dragged Ruun, Sukemoru Uzuto, and Ariana Yaxiri to the middle of the desert to find an ancient dwarven factory. She had reason to believe a powerful artifact was stored there, which she wanted to seize for use in her ongoing craft work. Wandering around the mountainous valley, the group eventually spotted a discolored grate thanks to aerial spotting by the dragon. Once it was more closely examined, Reiko hypothesized it was an ancient ventilation shaft, but it had been filled with sand. With a small application of magic, Ari moved the ground aside to form a staircase through to the remaining metallic ductwork. After a long fall overcome once more with flight, the group busted through an entry way into the facility proper.
And a dwarven factory it was, indeed. Well preserved barring a few cave ins, carved well with strange devices and levers, it was exactly what Reiko needed. The group began a long, arduous expedition into the dungeon, soon finding ancient guardians still somehow powered. These guardians were of varying make and quality, and two of them were immune to magic which limited Reiko and Ari's ability to contribute, though Reiko was able to upgrade Ari's claws with a rune found in the temple. After this fight, the group decided to rest, spent from the effort of the day. The night was spent furtive and cautious, with smalltalk and light music after the heated battle.
The next day, Reiko took more control of the search. The guardians were more potent than expected and there simply was no guarantee that the party would get another chance to rest again. Reiko took command, pointing out doors essentially at random to Uzuto to kick down and explore. The party found a golem, non-hostile and sobbing on the floor, and decided that it was best left alone to its misery. A few minor guardians were found but ultimately the group found the factory floor proper. A side treasure chamber was opened containing an immensely valuable suit of armor, and while the treasure was good, Reiko seemed anxious to find their prize. She cast Locate and as able to triangulate where in the massive facility the artifact she was looking for was.
Deciding seeking out the prize of the facility first, while at full strength, was a prudent idea, the group headed straight there. Reiko was able to activate a massive elevator to raise the group up to a chamber arrayed with a hammer surrounded by lenses and controls. Reiko knew that was the artifact she sought, but defenses were activated and swarms of defenders of all types beset the group. Uzuto, Ruun, and Ari swiftly began to attack, with Ruun's frost beams helping to slow the clay golem that was the primary defender. Reiko reached for the artifact, but it powered up and its purpose became clear: Ruun was duplicated entirely, cloned seemingly perfect. The entire facility was centered around the ability to make copies of anything, items and people included. With Ruun doubled and both parties acting with the players, Reiko decided cloning everyone was the way to go, and moved down the list with Ari and then herself. Before she needed to clone Uzuto, the overwhelming numbers of the party, Ari's draconic breath, Uzuto's quick fists, and Ruun identifying the points of weaknesses of the defenders, overcame the defenses and they crumbled into dust.
After, Reiko quickly determined that allowing the clones to stay alive too long would likely cause divergences and risk infighting. She used the hammer to remerge everyone who had been cloned, including herself. Unfortunately in the battle Ariana and Reiko had been cursed by the golem, and were unable to fully heal. With neither wanting to return, and deciding it was worth exploring a little further to find better loot and equipment, the two stood in the back while Uzuto and Ruun took point exploring. One more tense fight with the facility's defenders was enough to shake the notion of further risk and the party soon recalled, the Hammer of Xial'tha in Reiko's possession....