Alaerin regarded the speaking multi-armed skeleton... with some unease... but curiosity.

Shifting the great sword to his left hand reversed grip... a 'carrying hold.. not an immediate threating posture he calmly walked over carefully avoiding any of the indicated 'crimson' potential trigger plates in the floor but keep a respectful 10'ft distance.

He spoke to Von Mackstein I, "Ease down Commander, we may simply have a misunderstanding here. Though this locale may seem a ruin and unclaimed to us.. it could be this ... being's abode. It might just have been defending what it viewed as its home and WE as invaders."

Turning his attention back to the quadra-armed skeletal being... he addressed the skeleton...
"Ahem. Excuse our ... inadvertent destruction of your ... guard Constructs. We were not informed this ruin was occupied by ANY living residents... though living might be a stretch in your case. I am Alaerin Storm, and these are my fellow exploring companions... to whom or what are we speaking?"

"Perhaps we can come to some agreement or negotiation that does not require further violence? We are not here to destroy or kill anyone who does not offer violence to use first."

Character: AnoYi
Status: cautious

Glad to see the phantom hands retreat but less glad to see their owner appearing at the end of the hallway, the Coyote swordsman whistled a low tone as the four-armed skeleton made its appearance. "You don't see that every day... You doin' okay, Silus?" he asked the apothecary as he kept an eye on the exchange between Alaeric, von Mackenstein and the four-armed skeleton.
He was ready to provide backup to the two should things go poorly with the current 'negotiations' but kept a wary eye out for any other tricks the skeleton might try to pull.

Silus looks wearily at the skeleton for a moment before heading over to AnoYi pulling out the medical supplies we were given for the mission as he starts checking AnoYi's wounds "this one is... doing as well as i can for the situation, and you?"

Short Four Armed Skeleton

The four armed skeleton looked alarmed as Von Mackenstein approached, “STAY BACK!” It called out putting it’s 4 arms out to protect itself but it wasn’t long before it had grabbed the skeleton by the ‘neck’ and was ringing it around as the construct asked questions rapidly.

The line fusiliers all looking ready to fire at a moment’s notice, focusing in on the four armed skeleton.
“Planning a rebellion, does your ally have some bolts loose l?! Or maybe you all are for coming here! There is no rebellion here and I do not know who or what you speak of!” The skeleton called out back, waving it’s four arms around frantically as it continued to be lifted up off the ground

“Especially that one!” He pointed a boney hand to the chef who had taken a bite out of him, sounding almost more worried about him then the construct that was currently grappling him.

“The tomb is leading my numbers! I am one with it! Dwelling here to always protect it as a tomb keeper!” The skeleton called back, partially answering Mackstein and Alaerin about there being others there.

“I can assure you I have been given the gift of undeath ..I do not know but likely many lives worth of all of yours ago!” It exclaimed looking to Alaerin.

“You are speaking to Gutou! Keeper of the tomb!” It continued. However it tilted it’s head almost confused when Alaerin mentioned peace.

“I wasn’t aware that bandits of this era believed in such negotiations, But I Am unsure what you could possibly offer in return if you are exploring here, you would be much safer leaving now while you can!”

Silus checks AnoYi’s wounds and sees that he is able to see some areas that he can try to treat to reduce the lingering pain on AnoYi’s body some using the kit rudimentarily if he wants to try.

Notable to the party was that the holes in the wall of the hallway made by the golems who had smashed through it, didn’t appear to just lead to nowhere,

no there was another pathway revealed, a more claustrophobic hall, which had been hidden away behind the walls of their current hallway. It had more hieroglyphic imagery of old beast people playing instruments along it, as well as what looked like rudimentary art of peasant hut dwellings, forts, rice,as well as farmers and soldiers, all of which glowed a faint orangey glow, which helped to illuminate the otherwise very dark space with a dim light.

However the newly revealed pathway which went forward about 80 ft soon turned around a corner which nobody could see beyond without venturing further through the hole in the wall to take a look at what might be there. At the very least it’s floor did not appear to have any more red stone or lapis lazure tiles which were trapped, instead they were much more plain looking carved sandstone tiles .

The skeleton turned it’s head to AnoYi, “You, are you from the Northern Kingdom or..possibly the west?” It asked him, before looking to Silus, “and what about you, are you from the Northern Kingdom?”

“And for the record the golems belonged to..emperor…or was it king..who built this..tomb..or was it a temple?..Temple tomb..” The skeleton looked lost in thought, “I’m..it’s just.. been awhile.” It spoke still raspily but now looked a bit bashful despite it’s predicament.

" I'm from a bit further away than either of those places, um, Gutou is it??" the Coyote returned the skeleton's query. " Regardless of our origins, we're all here for something in particular. A flute. You, as Tomb Keeper, no doubt know of it?"
AnoYi gambled on revealing their goal but figured the Keeper was brought enough, even in undeath, to guess at what this motley crew was here for. They couldn't be the first to quest after it but hopefully they'd make off with the treasure and be the last.
As he spoke, he stood beside Silus and nodded to acquiesce to having the Apothecary treat what wounds he could. "I sincerely appreciate any remedy that you can render, Silus."

Silus nods to AnoYi "this one did say he was here to keep people together just didn't think I'd need to do something this soon" he jokes mildly, seeming to ignore the skeleton as he finishes checking on AnoYi's wounds and starts putting away and organizing the medical supplies

Titles: [Construct], [Order-Keeper] - #bc8dbf

"BANDITS?!" The machine repeated one of the words that the four-armed skeleton had just uttered, the intonation of its mechanical lowering, indignation palpable in it. "I will have you... I will have you..." If its chest could heave, it probably would be raising and falling, rapidly, at that moment.

However, Alaerin words did have some effect on the mechanical commander, its grip on the skeleton's neck relaxing, despite the slight that had been committed against both it, its men and the uniform they wore. And retracting its arms from Gutou, the crimson optical orbs on its face twirled, soft zooming noises echoing from it.

"A tomb of a king or an emperor, these separatists are getting craftier by the minute..." Whispering, it snapped one gloved finger. "... fine, if you aren't one of the rebels, then tell us where the flute is, like any law-abiding citizen would." It finally declared, voice not as biting as before.

Character: Francis Fouquenot
Status: Elbow deep in prep work.

Francis was still in the process of identifying the taste of the strange disembodied hands when their source revealed itself. A skeletal creature with multiple limbs. His beady eyes would lock on the creature but he would say nothing to it, opting to let his allies do the talking. From what he had gathered this creature was a sort of crypt guard and as such would likely know the location of what they sought, or at least what the others sought. In francis case he had found what it was he sought. Magic. He was a tad ashamed that the answer to his question of culinary excellence was staring him so blatantly in the face. Magic. It had an energized undertone, with earthy notes that may well have been the creatures own ‘seasoning.’ Nonetheless his cold eyes never left the creature even as a smile began to spread.

His allies were in the process of negotiating with the creature, and francis heard an awful lot of carrot with very little stick, besides that which came from Von Mackstien. So he figured he would help in that regard. Fiddling around in his bag he would produce a pot, add to said pot some water from his canteen and then move about with his water filled receptacle until he found some still smoking debris. A bit of tinder added around the coals, some rocks moved about to form a base and viola, he had the beginnings of a boil. “Be sure you negotiate in good faith.” He would say to the creature as he took a seat beside his pot. Giving the skeleton an unblinking stare, even as he fished through his back for something yet to be seen.

Gutou The Tomb Keeper

“Of course I know about the Jade Flute of Ascension! It was one of the..emperor’s..favorite instruments! Yes! He had it made because of how beautiful it was and the music sounded tantalizing! If I remember correctly..” Gutou despite being held sounded like they were unsure about that last bit but at the very least they seemed to recognize the flute that the group was speaking of.

“But why would the emperor say that you lot can have it?! Is it perhaps because you’ve come here to prove yourselves worthy?!”

“Unfortunately I do not know much of the world beyond those places so you must come from strange lands then, very strange lands it is odd that he would let you all attempt for the flute..but he did like to be entertained from time to time..”

“And I suppose the other beast must be deaf then! He comes from strange lands too then!” Gutou proclaimed like it was factual pointing a bony finger at Silus.

“It’s no matter you can use the deaf as cannon fodder we learned that long ago!” Gutou cackled raspily before refocusing.

Silus using the medical kit helped AnoYi feel less pain. Thankfully there were enough supplies left for at least a couple more uses if need be. He then successfully organized the remaining supplies.

Gutou did however look more alarmed when the construct relaxed it’s grip. “Well I’ve never seen anything quite like you lot! I wasn’t sure what to call you, normally I ONLY get bandits in this tomb and the last ones I saw hadn’t been here for years and years, It’s good if you aren’t bandits, because if you aren’t bandits then I don’t need to fight any of you.”

Gutou concluded.

When Gutou was asked where the flute was…the skeleton paused like they were in thought before continuing,

“Do you have any Evidence That you were sent here to take on this challenge to obtain this flute? I’m not sure if the emperor would want just anyone who accidentally found this place to take on his challenge. “

Gutou then looked to the chef. “The eater of Undeath! What are you preparing now?!” Gutou asked alarmed backing up a bit.

“Negoitate in good faith..Of course! I’m not some uncivilized brute! I only tired to kill you all as trespassers twice before I realized we might not have to fight! I think that’s pretty reasonable given my job as a tomb keeper!”

Francis successfully got a boil going and using his skills was able to set up right then and there a cooking station of sorts.

Alaerin listened to the flow of the conversation and pondered the situation.... his Earth-Based views of 'dead' beings owning or guarding anything from the living was a non-issue in a modern Earth view... but this was not Earth. Alaerin did not like lies.. and did not like the direction of the inquiry... his brain racking for a way to avoid just plain "murder-hobo" tactics that so many "adventurers" favored.

Alaerin was from a mostly civilized Earth... and 'Good' people did not brake into other sentient beings abodes... regardless of their nature ~ kill their guards and just take what they wanted...

But... something occurred to him... a way to avoid lying and maybe avoid violence toward Gutou...?

Addressing Gutou, "But isn't THAT the point of a Challenge? To determine the worthiness of a supplicant? Let us take this challenge and prove our worthiness to gain possession of the Jade Flute of Ascension, perhaps this will entertain YOUR Emperor and You may gain his continued Favor?"

Negotiating, if it could indeed be called that, with the undead guardian of the tomb made AnoYi feel a bit better about raiding the tomb. "You, Gutou, do seem a bit lonesome... After all this time, wouldn't having a group of adventurers challenging the temple for its treasures break up all those silent years of boredom guarding this tomb?" He shrugged nonchalantly, " I'd like to hear more about this tomb, your Emperor, and your people. I can't say that I've heard anything about any of that in the sunlit world. Seems a shame to let all that go unknown...". Gutou seemed like a reasonable creature instead of a slavering monster AnoYi had expected.

Titles: [Construct], [Order-Keeper] - #bc8dbf

"Your emperor? Hah!" The disdain in Von Mackstein's artificial tone was palatable. The very idea of caring about the approval of any liege that wasn't the Kaiser himself was so preposterous that his algorithms could barely produce the computations for it. Which left the group with two options: either this 'emperor' themselves were some petty pretender or Gutou was hallucinating from the likely radiation exposure, considering the creature was pure bones.

The construct would approach Francis, covering its own mouth with a gloved hand, as it began whispering to the chef. "This creature is clearly suffering from radiation poisoning, and it has corroded his mind. I suppose we will have to play the part..." With that said, the mechanical commander turned to Gutou once more.

"Herr Storm here has a good point. By beating this... 'challenge' you speak of, wouldn't our group prove that they were the ones selected for it?" The Order-Keeper asked the creature, one finger tapping against Francis' cooking pot.

Gutou The Tomb Keeper
“Maybe…The Emperor might find this an entertainment, maybe I could finally get promoted to District Tomb Keeper…it’s at least been a few thousand years..yes I don’t dislike the idea of that..sometimes he likes spontaneousness..” Gutou said thoughtfully to Alaerin.

They then looked to AnoYi, “Lonesome? Well I can’t say i do much socializing anymore! You lot are the first one down here in..I’m not certain how many years, I was alerted of sands shifting above long ago..but nobody came down after that..only now do you all come..for my entertainment, It’s tempting, but that is secondary only to the Emperor’s wishes.”

“This tomb has stood here for many many years! It contains some of the most important riches of the Emperor, The emperor was a great one! Master military Strategist, Expert overseer and manager, There were many beasts in his empire as well as men! They lived together in harmony, had many divine concerts for the celestial beings using their instruments..” Why he was so great in fact..that his name..the name…” Gutou paused looking like the skeleton was in thought again.

“Truthfully I don’t remember his name but it was one that was remembered throughout the ages I can tell you that much!”

Gutou titled it’s head a bit confused when Von Mackstein reacted that way. It didn’t seem to acknowledge Von Mackstein’s comment about playing the part. “What is this rad-id-at-ion?”
=
Regardless Gutou looked like they were in thought again, “I HAVE COME TO A DECISION!” It announced loudly,

“Go down that path..” It’d point with one of it’s arms, the corridor in the wall that had been opened up by the golems coming through.

“There you’ll meet a door and if you prove that you are worthy it’s through that door the flute will be yours for the taking, the emperor made it clear that if someone worthy were to make it through their tomb then they would be willing to share their riches..after all what good do riches have for the dead..I vaguely remember him saying."

The faint orangey glow became a bit brighter in the corridor, creating lighting conditions which were a bit brighter. From what , the group could tell so far from what they saw, the floor had not been trapped, at least not obviously in the low lighting, the almost beastial symbols lighting up a faint orangey hue once again.

“This path..I do not believe will take you where you want to go.”

The skeleton then said pointing with his other arm toward the door that was most forward down the main hall that they had been traveling. Soon aftera strange sound of something heavy falling into what sounded like could be water echoed from the path which the tombkeeper suggested against them taking.

What the group did next would be up to them.

While Gutou was busy ... pontificating... Alaerin pulled out his Journal Book and got to work... first sketching the Golem Guardians, the scene of the Tomb Ruin halls as well as sketch of the intricate floor patterns in the floor tiled mosaic and finally a sketch of Gutou in his book pages. Then he moved to the pillars with the strange Animal Hieroglyphic picture/symbols and tearing a few sheets from the back of his Journal book pulled out a piece of charcoal and began making some discrete charcoal rubbings of the strange hieroglyphic symbols... diligent to get as many varying examples of the lost language as he could!

When completed.. he carefully placed the loose pages between empty pages in the back of his Journal to preserve the details.. and closed the Journal buckling the bookcover leather strap securely before returning the journal to his shoulder bag of travel gear.

Seemingly he heard everything Gutou said as he responded, "Thank you for the opportunity to prove our worth we will NOT disappoint... but part of being worthy means not being able to be mislead by distractions. We will go through the hole in the wall to seek the Flute AFTER we have finished searching and securing the rest of the Tomb's corridors from any threats... like whatever is moving down the hall into water we just heard... can't leave some hostile creature behind us to trap us in the Tomb can we now? Plus... I want to catalogue more of the Tombs vistas for prosperity... many of the sights within here need to be shared with civilization to remind us of the Greatness that was for once.. and might be again if we stay true to our convictions."

Gesturing to the party, "... This way... I'll take point as usual.. same approach protocol Von Mackstein... cover me."

With that Alaein drew his Greatsword again from his back-sheath and flourished it into a reverse grip in his left hand and strode forward ...again the Greatsword lit up with his Thunder Blade of arcing lightning to illuminate his path...

AnoYi let Silus tend his wounds as best the equipment available let him as the Coyote listened to Gutou ramble. It seemed that cultural knowledge disappeared from the skeletal creature's memory under the weight of aeons as readily as it did from the Temple's sand-eroded facade. That seemed all the more sad, really. This lone sentinel of an age long past; one that doesn't even truly remember the Emperor it was cursed to eternally serve...

" We're here to get the Flute, not mount an archeological expedition." the Swordsman argued. "But I can't argue with the logic of not leaving any unknowns or surprises behind to catch us on the way out... We must be wary of dwindling our resources unnecessarily tho."
He wasn't sure exactly what kind of supplies the Automatons might need, if any beyond what he assumed was a limited ammo supply, but the flesh and blood amongst the expedition would certainly need food, water and, importantly, light. Alaerin could make his own but the rest of them couldn't. AnoYi had grown up in the desert, albeit on a vastly different world, and knew the environment could be just as deadly as a monster.

Titles: [Construct], [Order-Keeper] - #bc8dbf

"Reduced to circus attractions... I will find whichever governor is responsible to this colony and I shall have a talk with them after we are done." - Von Mackstein muttered under its breath, the skills of both it and the units under its command being put into conquering a challenge was nothing shorter than absurd. However, to engage and more direct interrogations of the aberrant creature, it seems the group would have to go through that.

"Well noted, Herr Storm. We don't quite know what every nook and cranny of this place hides. I wouldn't be surprise if it were more separatists eager to ambush us the moment we turn our back to them." A beat. "And splitting our forces to avoid charges from the rear seems ill-advised." The mechanical head turned, the crimson optical sensors scanning its surroundings.

And, with a series of beeps and boops that came from its speaker, the Line Fusiliers were already moving, taking position in pairs behind Alaerin, Mackstein joining with its carbine in hand. "Right behind you, go forth with confidence."

Von Mackstein and Line Fusiliers - Getting in position to support Alaerin's search.

Silus secures the medical supplies in his satchel and stands waiting by AnoYi, as he waits he looks around curiously,
Keeping an eye on the guardian, but more out of curiosity than hostility as he comments to AnoYi "we have enough rations for a few days from what this one thinks, Even then this one and the chef should have enough skills in finding and identifying things to eat to extend it further, depending on what we could find" he says as his eyes wander over curiously to Francis

Gutou The Tomb Keeper

Alaerin was able to successfully take notes as well as make sketches. He was also successful in his effort to take charcoal rubbings. Thankfully Gutou did not seem to notice or at the very least wasn’t bothered by it if he did notice.

However at hearing Alaerin’s decision Gutou shook his head slowly, “I believe I uh gave instructions for you “not to” go that way but if you insist..” Gutou responded softly looking like it was in thought again, before nodding,

“Right Very well then, I doubt the emperor would mind if you scribed some, the old archives..are..well very old, and frankly I’m not sure of their condition after all these years, it’s been awhile since I tried to go there above ground.”

Alarein’s thunder blade lit up and illuminated the surrounding space in a bluish glow once more, the energy radiating passively, while it might not have been as efficient as a torch, it still helped him and others close to him not be blind.

Alaerin took position and headed down the hall toward the sound of the water splash.

AnoYi was successfully treated and seemed to stay where he was for the time being not making a move to follow Alaerin or Von Mackstein whose units moved in synchronization to give Alaerin support in his decision to check out what had been making the sounds.

Gutou looked to AnoYi then back to Alaerin and Von Mackstein “Your canine sword wielding friend may have a point..” Before Gutou went quiet, as it stated standing once more being relatively quiet.

In Silus securing the medical supplies successfully, the remaining torches and rations were left in the rest of the bag on the hallway floor near Francis.

“So, are you three going to head toward the door I speak of?” Gutou asked Silus, AnoYi, and Francis, gesturing toward the corridor. “I do not mind walking there with you.” It continued.

"It seems that you know the way of medicine, but it is medicine I Have not seen before..It is very strange to me" Gutou spoke to Silus before looking to AnoYi and saying,

"I have not seen a blade like yours what kind is it? Where is it from?"

Gutou seemed relatively unbothered by the sounds coming down the hallway now from where the others had headed.

Meanwhile regardless of what they were choosing to do:
=====

As Alaerin and Mackstein plus units headed into the darkness suddenly an odd golden orangey glow lit up the area after a good while of relative silence, the hallway floor abruptly ended into a sizable pitfall below where the glow came from, and suddenly a very black and golden large arm tendril came up that had a bright golden glow hat looked a lot like an octopus’ arm, the creature it belonged too was presumably at least [Large].

A painful invisible wave soon hit Alaerin F as it felt like his head was throbbing and an unpleasant pain signal came down from the arm holding his sword down his lower back. It was unpleasant to say the least. Mackstein didn’t feel anything, however both heard a series of loud snapping sounds from below, as a second large octopus arm latched onto the edge of the hallway...part of the floor began to crumble and fall into the floor below, revealing the creature below which had been generating the strange invisible wave that triggered pain:

???

Alaerin rubbed his temple with his empty hand but focused his mind and pushed through to peer over the edge taking a stap back to regard the glowing aquatic menace...

"It's emitting Some kind of projected mental pain aura...!"

Then gritting his teeth, "...So you like to inflict pain eh? Let me show you some real pain not a fake mental phantom...!"

Focusing his mind, Alearin touched his brow in concentration and his dark longcoat seemed flutter to a 'breeze' unfelt by anyone else... suddenly two flashes of glinting metal launched form the folds of his dark longcoat and two iron shuriken spinning so fast they buzzed in the air like angry metal hornets flashed forth directed by his invoked Psychokinetic Forcemastery to viciously dart forth to pierce the Large beasts eyes striking like a buzzsaw with the force of hydraulic hole-punch!!!

Bringing his Greatsword into both hands to bear in a defensive stance he prepares to block/parry with his Lightning Ward any attempt by the multi-limbed beast to slam or grab him with is tentacles...

"Von Mackstein... Exterminate THAT THING!"

Actions:
1 & 2. Psychokinetic Forcemastery - Mentally direct spinning iron shuriken to strike at Large Beast's Eyes ~ Twice!!
- [Psychokinetic Forcemastery] - [Telekinesis] F, Gear[Shuriken] F
- Note: Hopefully an attempt to blind the beast will make it easier for Von Mackstein's fullisaders to precision aim for something vital... like IT'S HEAD and it will not be able to 'effectively' avoid or attack unable to see?
3. Lightning Ward - with Empowered Greatsword to add some small remaining protection from falling Sandstone Trap {[Fighting Style-'Greatsword'] F, [Lightning Blight] F, Barrier F - character generates a lightning field to block or weaken incoming attacks. - F}

Titles: [Construct], [Order-Keeper] - #bc8dbf

Von Mackstein's sensors flared with all types of danger warning as one elongated, meaty tendril shot from the pit towards the two and landed on the floor. "Pain?" The machine uttered, until the snapping was caught by its sound receptors. The crimson opticals zeroed on the octopus-like creature, one authoritative gloved hand, pointing at its bulbous head. "Explosive rounds, kill this subversive!" [Von Mackstein - Action 1]

The Line Fusiliers were quickly to comply. Four, with carbines in their hands, brought in front of them, aim-sights zeroing on the creature's head. "DOWN." They said in unison, before triggers were squeezed and explosive rounds were shot against the creature. [Line Fusiliers - Action 1/2]

Following that, the commanding construct would repeat the very same motion as its subordinates, carbine aiming at one of the eyes of the creature, before firing a bullet towards it. [Von Mackstein - Action 2/3]

Von Mackstein's actions:
1 - Orders the Line Fusiliers to attack the creature
2 - Aim at the creature
3 - Basic attack against the creature - Precision B (5) + Carbine C (4) = 9 Base Effectiveness

Line Fusiliers #1, #2, #3, #4 actions:
1 - Aim at the creature
2 - Explosive Cartridge - Fighting Style E + Range E (30ft) + Area (15ft radius) - Precision B (5) + Carbine C (4) + Ability E (2) = 11 Base Effectiveness each, total 15 Base Effectiveness if team-up is considered