Session 3 - Chapter 3: On Razor's Edge pt. III

Sergeant Jaxion surged forward with determined urgency, his battle-scarred features etched with the stern resolve of a seasoned warrior as he reached the motionless form of Gidget. Without hesitation, he channeled his healing magic, the energy pulsing warmly from his hands and washing over her burnt body, immediately soothing and repairing her wounds. Gidget’s eyes flickered open abruptly, her muscles momentarily rigid with the shock of revival. Quickly regaining her senses, she rolled deftly off the teleportation platform, finding temporary refuge behind the bulky machinery, out of the direct sightline of the vicious, mechanical hound still lurking menacingly nearby.   Around them, chaos reigned. The rest of the group scrambled desperately over rubble and fallen debris, struggling towards the doorway that promised escape. Yet, amid the turmoil, Jaxion, now standing defiantly in the machine’s direct line of fire, drew its immediate attention. The mechanical beast barked angrily, opening fire with twin blasts. But the shots merely glanced off the tiefling paladin’s advanced, meticulously crafted armor, leaving nothing more significant than minor scorch marks across its painted surface. Unaware of Echo’s protective sanctuary magic, Jaxion surged forward once more, the steam reaper held ready, determination blazing fiercely in his eyes.   From their positions scattered around the battleground, two precise shots rang out, piercing the din of combat—one from Gidget, quickly recovered and alert, and another from Agent Silas. Their coordinated attack struck true, disabling the machine's optical sensors and rendering it blind. Lux, seizing the opportunity, sprang into motion with her claws ignited by ashen flames. With ruthless precision, she tore into the creature, dismantling the mechanical hound with her bare hands. Sparks erupted as metal shrieked and twisted beneath her relentless fury, finally extinguishing its violent threat.   Yet, any relief was fleeting. Seconds after the machine collapsed in ruin, a shrill, bone-jarring chirp echoed sharply through the facility. The ground shuddered violently beneath their feet, dislodging dust and debris from walls and ceiling alike, cascading clouds of dirt and grime across the room. Danger, it seemed, had not yet fully relinquished its hold upon them.   Determined to explore and control the peril that lingered, Xhoya—still disguised convincingly as Gambit—tested her hypothesis regarding the mysterious Gh0st and its method of travel through smoke. Summoning another gust of wind, she pushed stubborn smoke clouds away, attempting to disrupt any hidden pathways. Meanwhile, Echo’s sharp sensors detected life signs beyond the immediate battleground, prompting Jaxion to race forward to investigate. Amid twisted debris, he found three men, battered yet alive, among them the familiar, battle-hardened visage of Major Sergeant Rufus Trout.   Working swiftly, Jaxion and Kiíellièn combined their healing efforts, stabilizing Rufus sufficiently for him to gather his wounded comrades. Despite his injuries, Rufus urgently conveyed a dire warning: the entity within the smoke had manifested abruptly within the facility and was working tirelessly towards an unknown, sinister purpose—an attempt to awaken something ancient and ominous lurking far beneath the base. Rufus could provide no further clarity, his knowledge as fragmented as their surroundings. Before departing, however, he revealed the existence of more than a dozen men still stranded somewhere deep inside the base and sternly ordered Jaxion to find and rescue them.   Lux, ever impetuous and driven by instinct, raced towards an adjacent hallway from which a deafening explosion had emanated. She tracked a disturbing trail of blood and distinctive three-toed metallic footprints, halting cautiously at the corridor’s bend. Peering around carefully, she observed an eerie white luminescence casting a foreboding shadow upon the wall ahead. Kiíellièn, attempting to follow closely behind, faltered as Lux wisely retreated, unwilling to confront this unknown menace alone. The two reunited swiftly with their comrades, the momentary safety shattered by yet another harsh chirp and seismic tremor, this time accompanied by a blinding flash of light from the same corridor Lux had recently abandoned.   Aware their brief respite was now utterly shattered, the group charged down the ominous corridor in unison, hearts pounding with both fear and valor. Yet their rush ended abruptly, the entire group halting sharply as a towering, two-legged mechanical monstrosity came into view. The weapon's enormous 120mm cannon barrel still glowed intensely from its last devastating discharge, wisps of smoke curling menacingly from its muzzle. Detecting their presence, it swiveled ominously towards them, charging yet another destructive blast.   Unwilling to become victims of the cannon’s wrath, Lux and Jaxion dashed swiftly along opposite sides of the machine. Gidget made a daring attempt to slide beneath it, her agility betrayed only by an unfortunate miscalculation that left her precariously trapped beneath the machine's massive feet. The cannon barrel swiftly narrowed, releasing a scorching beam of searing, white-hot energy. The laser-like attack pierced straight through Kiíellièn and Gambit, finally halted by Echo’s sturdy frame, immediately incapacitating both Gambit and Echo. A desperate fluttering card, thrown by Gambit at the last possible second, drifted to the floor, symbolizing a final, protective act to shield Kiíellièn from further harm.   With desperate urgency, the young Xhoya scrambled frantically for a stimpack in her pouch. Her trembling fingers finally grasped the life-saving device, injecting Gambit with adrenaline and restorative nanobots. Kiíellièn, fueled by determination and courage, dashed back to Echo’s fallen form, wielding her Blastcan and summoning a restorative song imbued with healing magic. The serene melody reached Echo’s failing systems, rejuvenating and reigniting the cyborg cowboy back to consciousness.   United once again, the group rallied with newfound vigor, intent on delivering swift justice to their mechanical adversary.   Agent Silas rounded the corner of the corridor, his pistol raised steadily and eyes narrowed with unwavering precision. He targeted the mechanical titan’s weakest joint, a pivotal hinge that maintained its balance, and pulled the trigger with practiced expertise. The bullet found its mark effortlessly, sending sparks showering outward as metal screeched in protest. The giant machine shuddered violently, losing a leg and momentarily destabilizing. Beneath its shadow, Gidget seized her vulnerable position to her advantage, aiming upward and firing a powerful round directly into the mechanical colossus’s torso. Lux, driven by fierce determination and primal fury, surged forward once more with claws ablaze, ripping the machine cleanly in half with a single decisive stroke, her flames searing and crippling every internal system it possessed.   With the threat neutralized at last, cautious relief spread among the group. But curiosity quickly replaced their fleeting peace. Jaxion, his attention caught by the peculiar glow of the smoldering wall opposite them, sprinted to investigate. The severely scorched door and damaged control panel suggested a hidden entry, though all mechanical means of opening it were now irreparably compromised. Adjacent to the ruined entrance hummed two colossal engines, incongruously placed, their mechanisms angrily drilling rods into the base’s foundations. Recognizing their design as matching the mysterious teleportation device's origins, Jaxion decisively ordered their destruction. Six powerful blasts from the salvaged 120mm cannon thundered through the room, obliterating the engines in fiery explosions and sealing the ominous doors shut, effectively preventing further infiltration of the noxious smoke.   Yet despite their victory, the group stood perplexed and uncertain, faced with no clear path forward. Gambit provided an unexpected solution, albeit at a considerable cost. Drawing a cursed Joker card from his deck, he unleashed its arcane power, shouting loudly enough to reach through solid walls and barriers, though robbing his companions of their hearing temporarily. His cries reached the ears of those they sought to rescue. Relief and hope surged as a voice replied, guiding them to an obscure hatch hidden within the "eye of the scorpion," a secret escape route buried within the base.   Swiftly ascending a rusty service ladder, Lux and Jaxion combined their considerable strength to wrench open the heated vault door above, allowing the voices of survivors to pour out like joyous music. Gidget, Echo, Kiíellièn, and Jaxion hurried down into the concealed chamber, discovering over a dozen weary soldiers, complex computing equipment, and an overheating HVAC system threatening imminent failure. Jaxion, mustering his final reserves of healing magic, quickly cauterized the wounds of the gravely injured, while Kiíellièn offered melodious spellsongs to hasten their recovery. Ever-resourceful Gidget skillfully employed her Blastcan to release a chilling frost wave, rapidly cooling the dangerously overheated machinery.   Above, Lux, Gambit, and Xhoya coordinated efforts to expel the remaining smoke, breaking open the second scorpion eye and using gusts of wind to clear the air until breathing inside became effortless. One by one, the soldiers ascended to freedom.   Echo, meticulously accessing the military computers, swiftly retrieved invaluable confidential data and surveillance footage, ensuring that no crucial detail remained undiscovered. Solemnly, the group carried out the bodies of five deceased soldiers, their remains respectfully covered and transported with Jaxion’s help. Returning to the corridor of the teleporter room, they discovered a soldier previously presumed dead who had cleverly feigned demise to avoid the mechanical predator’s wrath. Echo, intrigued by the fallen mechanical hound, discovered within its remains a distinctive lotus insignia and metals indigenous to the mountain, hinting at a local origin.   Taking a moment to carefully salvage valuable equipment, Gidget removed the twin-blasters from the beast, envisioning their seamless integration onto their numerous vehicles. Echo, with meticulous caution, extracted peculiar mana-filled glass beads from the teleporter’s base, securing them carefully for future study.   Finally reunited, the group reconvened outside the base, planning their descent and subsequent travel. It was decided the Cindercleft Xpress would offer the quickest route down the mountainside, though it could not navigate Ellisbeth’s crowded streets. With grim resolve and clarity of purpose, the rescuers and survivors climbed aboard Gidget’s formidable machine, setting course southeast toward their initial staging point, prepared for the uncertainty ahead.   Aboard the sturdy confines of Gidget’s Cindercleft Xpress, Major Sergeant Rufus Trout revealed grim insights about their attackers. The mysterious lotus insignia was identified as belonging to the Deremitru, a sect of religious zealots vehemently opposed to the new Aspects. Rufus explained with a heavy voice tinged by weariness that, although not all Deremitru were extremists, this particular group clearly was—fervently believing themselves to be direct representatives of the gods, akin in fervor and purpose to the infamous Vox Ultima. Rufus's theories, though speculative, hinted at a terrifying truth: these radicals were dwelling beneath Scorpion Pointe, pursuing far darker goals than mere destruction of a military outpost. He voiced the chilling suspicion that the Deremitru sought to exploit ancient technologies and possibly harness hidden mana vents deep beneath the earth, aiming to awaken a legendary titan known only as The Scorpion. According to ancient legends of the first iteration, this colossal creature, as vast as an entire state, had once been petrified and left dormant, its existence relegated to the annals of history. The Deremitru fanaticism, however, now posed a credible threat to awaken and command this mythic horror for their twisted crusade. The now-demolished engines, Rufus speculated, were potentially integral components of this sinister scheme, but definitive answers lay hidden within the abandoned mining town of Blackrust Canyon, located ominously to the mountain's northern side.   As the heavy vehicle lumbered steadily forward, Jaxion and Rufus devised a strategy for bringing the surviving men safely back into the embrace of civilization. Upon sighting Ellisbeth’s distant lights, the two seasoned soldiers departed swiftly in Jaxion’s rugged C.R.A.V., intent on summoning additional military vehicles necessary to transport the remaining troops. Meanwhile, Gidget spent hours alone in the stark, chilling cold, watching solemnly over the bodies of their fallen comrades, an experience deeply humbling and hauntingly reflective, leaving her to ponder the unpredictable twists of fate that had led her to this somber vigil.   At last, the arrival of the Beaumont Royal Navy vehicles shattered the eerie silence, the soldiers reverently retrieving the deceased and boarding the APCs destined for Ellisbeth. The exhausted but resolute rescue group, their task completed, journeyed to the safety of the BAC safehouse, seeking shelter, rest, and recovery.   Within the sanctuary of the BAC compound, the group pieced together the fragmented puzzle of the assault on Scorpion’s Eye. Through Major Sergeant Trout’s accounts and Echo’s recovered surveillance footage, a troubling narrative emerged. The base had been operating largely on automated systems, manned by minimal personnel when suddenly, without warning, the teleportation device had violently materialized in the heart of the mess hall, pulling all within its range into a void of chaos. Smoke and mechanical forces erupted mere moments later, indicating premeditation and precise timing on the part of the Deremitru. Their intimate knowledge of the base’s layout and schedule had evidently facilitated their ruthless assault.   The Gh0st, the mysterious smoke-traveling entity haunting their steps, repeatedly emerged from and returned to the teleportation pad, further emphasizing the device’s sinister central role in the attack. With this understanding secured, each member found solace in personal routines to ease the lingering shadows of battle. Gidget and Jaxion occupied themselves in the garage, meticulously integrating the salvaged pulsar blaster into Jaxion’s C.R.A.V. Meanwhile, Xhoya retreated swiftly into the privacy of her room, overwhelmed by the brutality and weight of combat she had so recently experienced.   Kiíellièn sought refuge in music and a comforting whiskey, finding solace and liberation within the BAC safehouse’s piano keys. Gambit, the enigmatic figure who claimed no formal musical training yet played with impeccable skill, joined her in a duet of haunting harmony. A familiar melody from Gambit’s fingertips unlocked hidden secrets within the piano, revealing augmented three-dimensional maps of Blackrust Canyon, highlighting suspiciously clear pathways amid the rubble—signs of deliberate travel rather than natural decay. Their exploration hinted at subterranean highways and reinforced Gambit’s suspicions of cult activity in the forbidding terrain.   Privately, Gambit revealed profound truths about himself to Kiíellièn, recounting a life that spanned centuries despite only 22 years as an Astral Post Officer. He explained the nature of "The Gambit" as not merely an identity but an amalgamation of experiences, each Gambit giving a part of themselves in exchange for their mantle. His sacrifice, a complete right arm replaced by augmentation, granted him his mystical abilities and his powerful deck of cards. Gambit’s words profoundly impacted Kiíellièn, encouraging her to embrace her true heritage and identity openly, assuring her protection and respect as an Asharian.   As night deepened, Gambit extended a rare invitation to Kiíellièn, offering her a glimpse of his true self, reflected in a mirror as a tall, pale figure with golden hair and compassionate brown eyes—a stark contrast to his outward appearance. He revealed the immortal nature of his people, the Okk'Shalar, who upon death became idealized reflections of their truest selves. Their shared revelations forged a bond of trust and mutual understanding.   Before sleep overtook them, Gambit gently reassured the young Xhoya in her chambers, casting constellations of starlight across her ceiling from his magical cards, promising to guard her dreams and banish any lingering shadows of fear, allowing her peaceful sleep for the first time since the chaos began.