Reality Rebellion

#31

Interesting. The machine was capable of independent thought, or at least imitating it. However there seemed to be something... malleable about it. Perhaps the Artificer could bend the machine to it's will.

It left a mental note in it's data banks as it followed the left path.

#32

The left path took the adventurers on a twisting path, left then right until ending in a short hallway.

There was another puzzle door here!

This one had the symbols Red Cross, Blue Circle, and Green Plus. With the addition of another, and the return of two, it might be immediately puzzling as to which one to press. Luckily, if you didn't want to waste time on brain teasers, an additional path opened up behind you into the darkness.

[POSITIONING SYSTEM PROCESSING...]

#33

Standing in front of the new door, the Artificer faced the new path. It didn't look like it was going to be moving any time soon.

WE HAVE DISCOVERED ANOTHER DOOR, WITH A NEW ACTIVATION SWITCH. PRESSING ANY AT THIS TIME WOULD BE A FOOLS ERRAND, WE MUST FIND MORE DOORS AND DISCOVER THE CONNECTION FIRST

Jent · #34

"Arg, more confusing buttons. Back in my day, these used to a snitch for me," Devon griped. "If this is like any other terrain, there's got to be multiple routes to the exit. *cough* Darn, smoke."

Kneeling down to the goat, he gave it a furrowed stare. "Listen here.... Handles," the man flicks at the goat's horns. "If you are going to not cause any strife between us, then you better make a good decision. Choose. CHOOSE NOW!"

Frightened, the little guy knocked him to the floor, scampering off to the next bend nearby. Clearly, this summon has quite a personality. Getting back up, Devon chased after the scared Handles.

#35

A WISE DECISION.

The Artificer strode after the goat, keeping a look out for important clues along the way.

#36

Leaving the door, you follow the terrified goat into darkness...

... and dark is it ever.

You walk together for some time, having lost sight of the goat in mere minutes. This section of the maze isn't illuminated in the slightest, and if it wasn't for Artificer's green glow, you would likely not see anything at all. Continuing to walk, you keep going in a straight line, longer than any before it. You're almost wondering if this was the best decision, and if maybe you should turn back, when you spot something on the floor, illuminated in the glow.

It's a small pile of fine, grey ash.

You look ahead, and realize there is a streak of it leading further into the darkness, the scattered mess taking up most of the hall's width. You follow it, determined to explore this path until given another option, and you do so until something moves in the darkness ahead...

It's the goat, staring at you, as it ran into the wall. A dead end.

The ash continues until it reaches the corner, and seems to have fallen into a rather large lump after meeting the wall. It's not very unique in any way, except for one case where four streaks turn into one big smudge that runs down the wall into the pile.

[POSITI%NING SYSTEM PROCE_SING...]

Jent · #37

Devon faced the empty wall, perplexed at the scene. "Smears of white ash? Lord-Green-Screen, try to analyze the composition of the residue," he asked the Artificer. "There might be some indication for why it is here."

Twisting at the ends of his beard, he waited for potential results from the Artificer.

#38

The green fire in the Artificers eyes burned brighter for a moment.

I DO NOT TAKE ORDERS FROM A LOWLY MORTAL, AND CERTAINLY NOT MAGE SCUM. I WILL ADMIT, HOWEVER, THAT THIS IS A PRUDENT COURSE OF ACTION.

The Artificer crouched down, pinching some of the ash between it's fingers. Microscopic sensors in it's fingertips would hopefully provide some insight. At the same it activated it's night vision in the dark passageway, looking for a visual clue that may have been swallowed by the darkness.

#39

The coarse particles the Artificer studies give an interesting, but potentially unclear readout. Through the scans, the skeletal robot discovers the ash to be composed primarily of Calcium Phosphate and Carbonates. Trace amounts of metal are also detected, but insubstantial.

The only visual clues he might find are the four pronged streak on the wall, and the ash itself. The magical properties of the wall make looking around extremely difficult for the Artificer, but that's ultimately all you can find.

#40

THE ASH APPEARS TO CONTAIN SUBSTANCES FOUND IN THE SKELETAL STRUCTURE OF MANY LIFEFORMS IN THE GALAXY. I WOULD SUGGEST SOMETHING MAY HAVE BEEN INCINERATED HERE.

The Artificer struggled against the latent magical energies in the walls, but was able to inspect the streaks on the wall. They gave little in the way of clues.

I WOULD SUGGEST THE CAUSE OF THIS MAY BE A WEAPON, OR TRAP. PERHAPS THIS IS THE WORK OF THE HUNTER IN THE MAZE.

CaptainParrot · #41

Bulwark gave a non-committal clank and turned back.

Jent · #42

"Hmm, but we don't know for sure," Devon moved back, looking at the full picture. "Can't tell if the flames the scorched it were magical in nature or not, given your overt attitude to the arcane."

Turning around, he whistled for the goat to beckon to his side. Like last time, Handles obeyed the larger mech unquestionably as it bounded in front of it. "Gotta retrace our steps, Lord. Either we go for the door or the other corridor."

#43

The Artificer turned to follow the others.

THE OTHER CORRIDOR IT IS, FOR THE TIME BEING.

#44

You make the long trek back through the dark hall, thinking about the wasted time. Time that may have been used by whatever created the ash to move closer to you.

You stop at the door, having to make a decision as to where to go now. Those three buttons are still waiting for someone to just try one...

[POSITIONING SYSTEM PROCESSING...]

Jent · #45

THE OTHER CORRIDOR IT IS, FOR THE TIME BEING.

Agreeing with the Artificer's decision, Devon sneaked another chunk of rock from his pocket, copal this time. "You're right, Lord. We better examine this maze thoroughly. Might not be the best show for the dragons, but at least it reduces are chances of being killed-hey-! Stop it Handles!"

The goat went about an obsessed rant at the door. Drool flying around, Handles smacked its extra long tongue at the Blue Button.