Episode 106

## Summary

As the Arsonists slowly approach their destination, they meet their toughest adversaries yet... Lab equipment and robots. Lucius is curious who their creator might be and what they're doing, but receives skepticism from Vahlka and Barkley who want to stay on task. Eventually they do, although the source isn't quite the one expected.

## Recap

* The session starts out with the party in the middle of a demon swarm. Godfrey and Vahlka are small. Lucius, driving the flying carpet, weaves around the trees to avoid any detection. Progress is extremely slow, but eventually they come to a perfectly round clearing of some kind.
* Vahlka tries to see if she can find anything remarkable in the clearing as they move past it, but can't make much out from her position (and size).
* Lucius wants to check things out but Barkley wants to avoid it, citing the area set up like a trap. Eventually they see a bull-like demon move through the clearing, moving its arms as if pushing away trees. They think it might be an illusion of some kind, but Lucius confirms that it isn't. Still, no one has any idea what's truly going on.
* Godfrey investigates the clearing. As he moves through he sees some odd paths etched in the grass, but nothing of note until he comes across a tripod-like structure. The device placed on top of it is an extremely complicated orb with runes and numbers carved into it, which moves. The second Godfrey comes closer prevents him from getting closer or touching the tripod.
* Godfrey returns and explains what he saw. Lucius is very intrigued but once again, no one knows what it is. Together the party travels into the clearing to investigate and Lucius gets the feeling he's seen something similar before, but can't quite place where. Lucius also notes that the laid out stones around the clearing are also part of the spell circle, allowing it to extend further. The spells involved are similar to Wall of Force, Phantasmal Force, and Hallucinatory Terrain. It only works on demons.
* Godfrey teleports into the force-field and steals what looks like research equipment. Barkley is back on the carpet looking very disapproving of their endeavors.
* They continue on but come across an identical clearing with an identical device within it. Lucius investigates but instead of a globe on top of the tripod, it's a cube. The next clearing has a tripod with a triangular object.
* Barkley spots a rustle in the grass but whatever is, is obscured by the long grass. Everyone argues about what to do, because it could be a demon. Spoiler alert: it isn't a demon. In fact, it's an orb, which rolls around before sprouting four pairs of legs. It lifts off the ground, looks around with a light, and lifts itself onto the tripod device before leaving.
* Olivia grabs the orb successfully, trying to figure out what it is. It's apparently a tiny robot powered by arcane energy. As Lucius investigates the orb, the eye on the robot turns orange and extends forward. Lucius finally drops the orb and lets it roll away. The Arsonists eventually move on.
* Several hours later, the party see the flicker of a fire and the voices of very large demons. Barkley, who's driving, fails to stealth around them and catches Lucius' horns in a tree. The demons hear pretty much immediately and a fight breaks out.
* The nalfeshnee are slow, but strong. It takes a long time to get them down between two of the party being small, the casters trying to keep their distance, and Vahlka still having a penalty from being resurrected. The last nalfeshnee tries to escape, but Godfrey cuts it down before it gets back into the swarm. They raid the camp for anything, but find very little in terms of useful equipment except a smashed robot.
* With it quickly becoming dark, Barkley finds a ravine. Lucius casts Tiny Hut and for once, everyone can rest relatively comfortably. During watch, Godfrey spots something tracing the outline of the ravine. It's one of the robots, but only this time they're moving all in the same direction and have scored a path in the underbrush.
* In the morning, no one is small any longer!
* Barkley is adamant that they don't need any more distractions, but Lucius says that they should check it out since it's on the way. They move towards an oddly even-cut mountain range. As Barkley and Lucius scout together, Lucius tries to make the argument that they could check whatever is going on quickly without a problem if they wanted. Meanwhile, Godfrey (who's driving the carpet) takes the robot path.
* The robot path suddenly stops, causing Lucius to get suspicious and investigate. Lucius finds an illusion where the robots headed off to and just as he's about to suggest gathering everyone else, Godfrey shows up with the remaining party. Vahlka says they should carry on, but Lucius posits that if there's a way that the robots/tripods can conceal themselves from demon detection then maybe there's a way they can as well into the Court of Stars. Deacon dispells the illusion.
* Able to see the path clearly, the party finds something that looks like a fallen tower and is clearly where the robots are going. Lucius is able to find a hidden door and the party follows after him, although Barkley clearly isn't impressed with the idea. The interior is very strange and disorienting, covered in metal, ivy, and magic runes.
* As they move further on, the party is eventually cornered by threatening contraptions held in place along the walls. A pair of goggled eyes approaches them from behind, suspended on what appears to be metallic spider legs. It is a gnome, demanding to know if they're the ones messing around with her lab equipment.

## Recording

LINK.

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