One-shot: Helix and the Herald Report
General Summary
One-Shot, Helix and the Herald.
Helix and Aiser, the Herald, have been traveling the Steppe for eight years. They have experienced many adventures, and uncovered wonderous items, magic from a bygone age lost to the mists beyond the oldest tales of the tribal storytellers. The two, on this evening, arrived at one of the many ruins scattered across the Korth Steppe. Helix slipped her magic ring on her finger and disappeared before approaching the ruins to see if anything might be hiding within. Peering into the space beyond the ruined wall, she saw a large thing made of green wood, but looking closer saw it was gems made to look like wood, rather than actual wood. In her mind, Helix heard "Hello small one, come closer, and you might as well bring your friend." Aiser also heard "Might as well come closer, I know you are there."
Both companions approached. "Ah, it seems we have a Goblin and a Bugbear. Is this little one your slave?" "She is my friend." "How strange, a goblin and bugbear as friends? An unusual combination; how very odd." "We like odd." "Well, welcome to what remains of the inscrutable keep. My master was killed by clockwork beings long ago, but they ignored me." "Are you also a clockwork being?" "I am a constructed being, sort of. My master transferred a portion of his soul to me, as he was being killed. It is very strange. I do not entirely understand it, but I have been here, awaiting the availability of a suitable host. Oh." The creature looked at Aiser, and said "It seems you will do." With that a beam of green energy flowed out of the being and into Aiser, locking the bugbear in place.
Helix, reacting quickly, pulled out her dragon-touched bow and fired an arrow into the creature, then moved further into the ruins where she discovered another clockwork entity that promptly attacked her. A long metallic tongue whipped out of the dog-like creature and knocked her over, then the creature jumped forward and bit into her savagely, nearly taking an arm. Something large and fast rushed past the wall behind Helix, suggesting more enemies nearby. A pair of humanoid clockwork creatures equipped with halberds rushed to either side of Aiser, but one did not immediately attack, while the other suddenly erupted into a high pitched whine as it made a flurry of swings. Aiser then heard "Submit, you cannot win", and felt his mind being consumed as the impact of another mentality stunned him. Aiser, desperate to break free, called upon his deepest reserves of strength and as the rage of the storm filled his soul the green energy blew away like smoke before storm winds. Aiser remembered then that he had recently killed a living whirlwind, and the ring that used to just protect him from falls now enabled him to do far more, including fly at will, even in the midst of a raging storm. A massive clockwork tiger rushed in right next to Helix. Helix quickly drank down a potion recently obtained and traded places with Aiser. Helix then ran to the south, drawing attacks from the clockwork creatures, one of which struck. Out of range of their enemies, Helix then fired another arrow at the massive creature, cracking a small portion of the creature's hardened exterior. One of the clockwork soldiers rushed after Helix, and made a flurry of attacks, striking twice. The clockwork dog then attacked Aiser, but missed. Aiser, filled with rage, flew up in the air and adjacent to the massive crystal being, drawing attacks from the two creatures, both of which bit him. Aiser attacked the crystal creature recklessly, striking twice and nearly chopping off its head, but shattering a chunk of crystal instead, then called upon the storm to protect himself and Helix, and also to tried to knock down the Tiger, but it resisted the storm winds. Helix fired another arrow, striking the crystal creature again, breaning off a significant chunk of crystal, then nimbly moved back away from the threat. The crystal creature released a massive blast of lightning in all directions. Helix dodged the effect, and Aiser laughed at his favorite sport as only a small portion of the energy impacted him. The clockwork soldiers were destroyed, melted to slag, and also impacted the mechanical tiger and hound. The clockwork hound charged at Helix, but could not strike her. Aiser again attacked recklessly, shattering the crystal creature, causing an explosive flare of green light. The tiger and hound were blasted to flinders as Helix and Aiser were both slammed by the burst of force. The hound also exploded, but Helix dodged that effect completely.
As silence came over the ruins, another clockwork humanoid, dressed in a servant's outfit, leaned around the corner and asked "Pardon me, will you be staying for dinner?" Aiser calmed and landed, responding "Yes, we will." The creature answered "Ah, excellent, we haven't had visitors for over 600 years, it is nice to have something to do". Following the servant into a basement area, the two ate their own rations, as the supplies in the basement were completely rotted away, and both enjoyed the attempts of the servant to make them comfortable. As they prepared to leave the next morning, the mechanical servant said "Pardon me sir, I have no further purpose here, could I follow along and serve as your manservant?" Aiser said "Certainly, you may." The creature rushed into another room and returned with a backpack stuffed with equipment saying "I have many skills, I can repair your armor, maintain your weapons, repair clothing. I promise you I will be more than worth the bother." With that, Aiser and Helix continued their adventures, now with a mechanical manservant to provide greater comfort to their journeys.
