[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/C7nwoGY.png[/img] [b]2075[/b] 1,454 (+3) [b][color=ea590c]Edward Portsmith: Level 8 (20 cells) (1 level up stored)[/color] [/b][color=ea590c]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]////////// (72/80) [b]Location[/b] Frozen highlands - The Midnight Walk [/center] Edward somewhat disagreed with Sandalphon’s positioning suggestions, given that they would result in the window being either above the door or looking straight at his back, but he supposed if he was going to take one of those it’d be the latter. It at least meant that he could communicate more easily with those inside, given he could see and hear them, and the window could be placed just below head height rather than significantly above it had it been in the back, affording something of a view, even if it was less than a side on position would have given. He hoped it would alleviate the impending carriage sickness a bit. The launch ramps might have been remarkably smooth, supernaturally smooth even, in the arch of their launch, but it still moved empty stomachs in unpleasant ways to be launched into the air like them. The sheep and rabbit stew could not cook fast enough (then again, maybe it was for the best they hadn’t just filled up on grub). Sadly (for Edward anyway) it would likely not be wise to try and add seal to that mix, as the assorted sea creatures lounging on the beach had several among them that did not look mundane. Best to not chance finding out what they could do, in his opinion. Well, not now anyway. Perhaps if the others showed interest in capturing or acquiring samples they might be added to their growing library of such things. Either way, soon enough, they were out of the snowy sealscape and had moved into a less lively location. [color=ea590c]”Nice of the locals to let us know their disposition at least”[/color] Edward commented sardonically, when they caught sight of the dangling corpse. No one with good intent would simply leave a body hanging up like that. Still, it meant that if there was anything of value left in the mines, it was functionally theirs for the taking, which suited the Dreadnought just fine [hr] Light and warmth returned to the mines for the first time in an age, but it was an infernal flame, one that smelled of sulfur and sin, and the only warmth it would bring the cursed kin of the mines would be brief indeed. A little huddle of Tuques were the first group to learn this, after having proven themselves to be hostile when they’d attempted to swarm a drone that had peeked in on their hiding spot. Now a swarm came for them instead, as into the decrepit structure came pored three packs of inferno puppies. Pintsized and scampering, they nonetheless laid into the equally small Frostbitten foes with gusto, delivering infernal nips that scorched these icy foes far more than they would many others. The little creatures bit and batted back at the pups, but were swiftly overwhelmed. A few moments later, and the pack leaders, a pair of inferno steeds, entered, along with, at their rear, a squad of copper golems. The Chillanth also briefly craned its long neck into the room before swiftly growing disinterested and laying down outside as the harvesting team got to work. The golems proceed to gather the spirits, and then surveyed the room for anything more valuable, coming up with a few broken hardhats and other damaged protective gear. It seemed like the building was for workers coming in to work, rather than somewhere where the mining equipment or extracted ores would be stored. Back on the stagecoach, Edward resolved quite simply that he’d need to send the salvage squad deeper to find anything of value. Resistance, naturally, increased. [hr] A still somewhat humanoid Earmuff slammed its showshovel down onto an inferno puppy, annihilating it with the Stunning Cold blow, only to be torn apart by the burning bites of its fellows. They, in turn, had to flee as the frigid breath of a Triscarf washed towards them, the cold a deadly threat to these fiery beings. The scarf wrapped gangle of libs was in turn overwhelmed when one of the inferno steeds rushed in and unleashed its fire breath on it, melting frozen flesh and igniting its three name sake garments. A Scarf (singular) charged forwards with a stumbling peg-legged gait, the massive icicle in place of its head threatening to to skewer the inferno steed, only for the Chillanth to lunge in, grab its flesh-ish arm, and to drag it to the side. The teeth themselves did minimal damage, but the searing enchantment made up for it, thawing the flesh enough for the beast to rip the limb off, antifreeze hued blood splattering the snow. The Scarf stumbled and swayed, only to be set upon by an inferno puppy pack before it could recover, the tiny hellbeasts leaping onto it, digging burning fangs and claws into it. It slammed into the ground under their combined weight, and then expired moments later, causing the pups to fall into an ashy heap. Elsewhere in the battle, the copper golems were too slow to evade the Frigid Breaths of a Trapper Hat and a Balaclava, leaving two in their midst frozen solid like statues, trapping the others in place by extension as the squad was unable to break formation. Too lost in the madness to take advantage of this however, the pair both closed in on the golems, and received searing speartips as a reward. The Balaclava managed to ram a stunning cold icicle shiv into one, ending its existence, but they were held back long enough for the inferno puppies could flank them to devastating effect. With that, the last of the Frostbitten foes fell, and through the eyes of his troops, Edward got a better look at the treasure trove that he’d had them fight to secure, namely a tipped over minecart which had spilled glittering ores onto the ground. These, along with the spirits were eagerly salvaged and then stashed in the inferno steed’s saddle bags for transport. What was really important (to Edward) however was that the tracks the cart had been traveling on lead down into the entrance of a mineshaft, one which surely must have been in use when this load was abandoned. If so, then within might be other loaded carts, or even the tools used to mine them, which would likely be worth more, weight wise, than the unprocessed minerals. Thus, deeper the expedition force plunged, the Dreadnought pushing his luck in the hope of striking the motherload. He gambled… poorly. [hr] Pompom managed to catch the force off guard. Not because its approach was quiet, mind. Its many many boots thumping against the stone floor caused quite the racket as it approached the abandoned digsite that Edward had correctly predicted the existence of (and which the exploration force had been midway through looting when the cursed creature began its approach). No, it was the fact that its front dozens of limbs were wearing incredibly soft mittens that muffled their pounding steps, meaning that the head of the many meters long millipede like Pompom rounded the corner a full second before the source of the noise it was making did. That second was all it needed for it to unleash its Deep Cold before Edward could react. This was no breath, or strike. Instead the temperature within the entire chamber suddenly plummeted, smothering all in unstoppable, undogable. Unrelenting cold Every single inferno puppy was snuffed out in an instant, the inferno steeds took catastrophic damage, and all but one of the remaining bronze golems froze solid. Only the Chillanth remained standing, ice typing letting it endure the icy aura. It retaliated by launching itself in a leap at Pompom, claws reaching out to rend into its side. The gashes were light however, as the frozen flesh endured, and only the searing enchantment of its knife like digits did much harm. A dozen mitted gloves battered it in turn, low in individual harm but adding up together, before Pompom also unleashed its icy breath. This swept over the frost resistant impossible creature to little effect, but further damaged the two inferno steeds behind it. The Chillanth bit into the foe in turn, but again, did little to harm it with its physical strike. Even flames that ignited on Pompm’s body as a result of the strike did near chip damage despite their type advantage. The oversized creature seemed to have an abundance of vitality that would need to be chewed through to bring it down. At a distance, Edward saw that the writing was on the wall. Even if the Chillanth could win a long drawn out battle, his summoned troops would not be able to survive anywhere close to that long, which would leave him unable to command the impossible creature after its victory. Thus he had the final unfrozen golem strike the ground with the butt of its spear in a one, two, one rhythm, which he had instructed the creatures to see as the signal to retreat and return to him. Then he sent the two inferno steeds forwards to the Chillanth time to do so, despite them holding onto the loot he’d sought to retrieve. A moment later, the cold overwhelmed the area again, and he lost sight of the conflict as the last golem froze, and the inferno steeds too succumbed to the cold. He could only hope his creation made it back safely. As he wired, he reported the situation to any of the other seekers who’d gone on the prowl, both regarding the nature of the threat, and the piles of resources now gathered in the room where his force had fallen.