Someshot 3

Synopsis
== Summary ==
As the group begins working their way back toward the quarry, Elliard notes that one of the researchers has followed the group. Luna observes that the fighting seems unavoidable now, and that she wishes to join to find their boss. Luna and Rixy sneak forward in an attempt to scout out the situation ahead of them. The quarry has been flooded, effectively blocking a door that is now underwater. In the distance, Rixy spots a ziggurat-shaped building that seems to be the same material as the robots. After much debate, they decide to take a brief look around to find a way to drain the quarry in order to access the door. Drosera notes that there are weird ducts and a control panel by the door. Drosera wild shapes into a crocodile and goes into the water to press the button. The door opens and water pours in, half-draining the quarry. 
The party enters together, emergency lights glowing dimly in the corridor. Drosera notices a bootprint, likely belonging to Salassae due to the lack of boots worn by the robots. Through the door on the other side the find several of the robots holding a metal tube. The party engages the robots in combat, causing them to drop the tube. It opens, revealing a non-robotic bug-like creature. After killing the robots, they invite the creature, Zrask, to join them since the immediate escape is through a lot of water. They open a nearby door, and Mira throws a piece of the robots down the hallway, which is immediately slorped up by a robot in one of the rooms in the hallway. The robot that emerges introduces itself as the Wanderer, explaining that its task is to journey and meet other peoples. The party requests its help in parlaying with the others, but it isn't hopeful though is willing to help. They also learn that they are most likely tasking Salassae to implant a device that would result in painful mind control. They are hoping to gather intelligence regarding the agents of Memnark, the former insane dictator of their plane, whose agents in the facility were previously killed. The Wanderer can take the group directly to the ravager deck, where Salassae is being operated on, but if the conversation does not go well, the encounter can go very badly. Due to everybody's very spent resources, they opt to go straight there and hope for the best. 
The Wanderer leads them through the facility. They pass a blast furnace which might have created a blast of fire during combat. Other arcbound leave them alone, as the Wanderer says that it is doing its duty. They reach the far elevator, joined by two bruisers. As they enter the elevator, Mira attempts to break the outer control panel for the elevator, causing it to emit sparks. On the elevator, Zrask speaks with the bruisers, asking them about who does their repairs when they are damaged, to which one remarks Reclaimers, to which the other responds that they are not of their kind. Neither expands on this when questioned. Zrask then asks about the cruelty of Memnark, which sets them off. One pins Zrask to the ground, demanding of them what they know of cruelty. Zrask says that they don't like it wherever they find it. The situation calms down, though things are still tense. Elliard pulls Ward aside for an attempt at privacy. He observes that the machinery in the facility could be worth a lot of money if sold to the right people. In the event that things were to go badly and the party is forced to kill everyone in the facility, the shard could be labeled as category 4 to scare most people off, and the information could be sold to the highest bidder. 
The reach the reclaimers, and Ward attempts to speak with them. He tells them that they are no longer in a world where Memnark existed, that they are free from Memnark's control. He tells them that their best option is to attempt to attempt to coexist peacefully. The Reclaimer says that the facility is designed to create ravagers to set loose upon their enemies. Ward suggests that they repurpose the facility. The Reclaimer says there is a nugget to ponder, but nothing to convince them to do so. Stephen offers up a Zone of Truth to help convince them, to which the Reclaimer agrees. After some test questions to determine the veracity of the spell, including learning that the other Reclaimer follows for lack of better options. The Reclaimer assimilates the Wanderer to better facilitate the questioning. He asks various members of the party if they know of anyone who wishes them harm. While most outright say no, Ward no longer knows the answer to that and is mildly evasive about it. The Reclaimer decides this is stupid, and comments to another arcbound that this is stupid, and they should just kill them and extract the answers they want from their bones. Stephen and Rixy offer the information that the world has offered peace, but if the arcbound choose war, they will definitely lose. The Reclaimer offers a test, holding out a hand to Ward. Upon taking his hand, the bits of the Wanderer glow red, which the Reclaimer observes means that there are remnants of Memnark control within the arcbound. The Reclaimer offers to give the Ravager free will rather than connecting it to the arcbound's network. 
Elliard takes this moment to shoot the Reclaimer in the chest with a black lightning bolt and flee into the elevator. He wishes the party luck and attempts to shut the door. 
== NPCs ==
=== Introduced ===
* The Wanderer
=== Returning ===
* Elliard Methuss
=== Mentioned ===
* Salassae