The Coyote swordsman remained paused at the junction where the party had encountered Gotou, the Tomb Guardian, as Alaerin and the Constructs ventured into the dimly lit orange hued tunnel. Gotou became erratically chatty, as if both trying to satisfy some idle curiosity as well as detracting from the ominous noises beginning to echo down the hallway ahead of the explorers.
"Oh?" AnoYi split his attention between the Tomb Guardian and the hallway, his ears flicking between the two sound sources. "My blade? It's a Ryken Corsair's Cutlass. A fine steel blade, strong and yet flexible. I guess it was developed after the fall of your people? What blades did they use, if I may ask?"
The din and noise sharply increased from due the hallway as Alaerin and von Mackenstein encountered the tentacled monstrosity before them. The sharp crack of the fusiliers' weapons and the electric flashes of Alaerin's lightning echoed in the tomb. " Let's wait on going to the door until we can be sure our compatriots can handle whatever is at the end of the corridor.". They had handled the golems quite handily together so AnoYi had no illusions that they were competent combatants. Yet still, he did not feel right leaving them without backup or rescue, should they need assistance.

Tomb Octopus

The Tomb octopus like creature brought up two of it’s arms rapidly to block the incoming spinning metal shuriken’s, one of them pierced it’s arm, but the other one went flying and struck it’s right eye, causing a strange golden liquid to spray out the edges at the impact site. The golden blood caused the water to fizz where it made contact.

The beast flared around and produced another pain wave, before trying to violently swing a sizable arm at Alaerin and it’s arm smashed against his barrier, cracking it even as it let out a pained sound of aggression, the barrier shattered, but the arm came back afterward instead of following through.

[The creature is partially blind and suffers effectiveness penalties)

The octopus then swung an [elastic] arm which extended out long and wide, enough to potentially hit all of them at Von Mackstein and the line Fusiliers ( x1 E Grade Attack)

However, as the Line Fusiliers opened fire, their explosive rounds flew through the tomb space, striking the Octopus in the head flesh, resulting in an audible flare and explosion, following a very loud screeching sound. Before the Octopus suddenly fell back into the water with a loud splash…

Silence did not follow its body falling into the water, no a very loud fizzing sound began to build up, before incredibly muddy water in massive amounts began to shoot up like an intense geyser, a sizable wave’s worth of muddy water rapidly came shooting down the hallway toward Von Mackstein, the Fusiliers and Alaerin at that point, the hallway becoming incredibly loud with the sound of rushing out of control water.

X1 Incoming water wave hazard on Von Mackstein, Fusiliers

Surrounding them were some pillars in disarray, and some ornate tiles which jut out slightly on the walls, otherwise the hallway was largely flat as were the walls.
====

Tombkeeper Gutou

“Ryke…I vaguely remember that place they had a king..I believe..could you tell me some more about it? And Fall? Who has fallen? I am still here!” Gutou announced defiantly to the idea that the people had ‘fallen’

“But I Will humor you, many of them used swords known as Jians, and a sword which had a rounded point..narrow thick cross, and short handle..those were common enough..Some in the desert liked to use Schimtars too however..”

However as Gutou rattled on, by the time the Octopus had fallen down the hall it wasn’t long before AnoYi was hearing the sound of water rapidly coming down the hall, much like flood water sounded like, as it became louder and louder, he could tell that it was heading in his and Gutou’s direction.

“Hmmm. I think I’m going to head this way now, you can go and see how they are doing.” Gutou suddenly spoke aloud, casually walking toward the hall that was toward the door, as the water got closer..

(X1 water Hazard incoming on AnoYi)

Alaerin watched the shuriken fly true.. one blocked but the other hitting home... hindering the beasts defenses and attacks for as he expected the barrage of Von Mackstein and the Gunmech Fulisade gunfire ended its threat!

The sudden roaring of the rising water was.. inexplicable as to why... this being a Desert, but on hearing the rumble of the onrushing water he re-sheathed his greatsword over his back. Rushing to the corridor wall.. he gestured... and a storm of shuriken flew from his black Coat's many pockets to imbed the metal blades into the wall aimed at the seams in the mortar or existing cracks... to form a make-shift wall of crude hand holds to climb the wall hopefully long enough to allow the rising water to rush by...

Yelling to Von Mackstein and the Fullisade of Gunmen, "...Climb the wall using the hand holds on the blades! Hold on Tight!!"

Actions:
1 Action - Use [Psychokinetic Forcemastery] - [Telekinesis] F, Gear[Shuriken] F
- Form handholds in Corridor Walls to provide hand-hold to climb hopefully high enough to avoid submersion in the water wave as it passes by
2 & 3 Action Sheath Greatsword and climb corridor wall.

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

As soon as the machine's audio sensors picked up of running water, or at least some running liquid, its attention was immediately drawn to the pit and its muddy torrent shooting towards them. As much as his algorithm tried to search what course of action to take in such a situation, it kept drawing blanks. "Scheiße..." The sound, barely above a whisper, leave its voice modulator.

However, when it picked up on Alaerin's voice and the plan he had come up with, Von Mackstein didn't waste a single second. A bunch of high-speed beeps, coming from it, directed its Line Fusiliers to rush towards the wall and climb on the makeshift handholds. [Von Mackstein - Action 1]

And the commander itself would soon follow, dashing towards the wall and grasping the shurikens, attempting to climb it. [Von Mackstein - Action 2/3]

Von Mackstein's actions:
1 - Orders the Line Fusiliers rush to the wall and try to climb the shurikens
2 - Rush to the wall itself
3 - Start to climb on the shurikens stuck to the wall

Line Fusiliers #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 actions:
1 - Move to the wall
2 - Try to climb on the shurikens stuck to the wall

The crashing, gunfire and electrical flicker coming from the depths of the corridor gave AnoYi a small grasp of the conflict going on down the hallway. A thought formed about how to respond to Gotou's assertion that his people weren't exactly around anymore...at least not in a way that the undead tomb guardian would recognize. He opened his mouth to say something but the sudden woosh of air that tickled the whiskers on his snout shut the thought out of his mind in a flash. He turned, squinting towards the corridor where Alaerin and von Mackenstein had explored. The wet, burbling noises surging down the corridor along with the sudden sharp breeze sent a primal alarm into the Coyote's mind. Gutou's absurdly sudden interest in the commotion down the hall was concerning. AnoYi wasn't sure how sturdy the four-armed tomb guardian was but he wasn't going to trust the doddering mummy's fate to a hunch. Plus, they might need the old crypt guardian to get at the Flute.
AnoYi snatched Gutou up and made for the highest section of the fallen columns that remained. Having grown up in the desert, even before coming to this world, he knew how dangerous flash floods could be. "Up you go. You're coming with me, Gutou." the Coyote announced as he scampered his way to the top of a sandstone column.

Actions:
1) Grab Gatou
2) Scamper to climb to safety (Fast F)(Jump F)
3) brace for impact (Str D)

Alaerin demonstrated his psychokinetic ability to move the shurikens against the wall, the metallic throwing stars carried through the air swiftly with some force. He managed to stick them between the gaps in the walls to create a semi wall climbing platform. Thankfully with his quick thinking he was able to get quite a few of them into the wall quickly. He himself had enough time to get high enough onto the wall that he’d really only feel his feet get wet from the strange now fizzing muddy water, but thankfully it didn’t really seem to do anything to him, except make his feet probably feel less comfy than before, the force of it did pull his body a bit to the left but he managed to hold on.

The shurikens created an opportunity for Von Mackenstein to run over and grab onto the wall as well, they found themselves in a similar situation as well as the water came rushing through, their legs getting moved to the side a bit as well but they managed.

Line Fusiliers #1-#4 also managed to get just high enough, #3 and #4 however had a bit of trouble holding on and found their bodies moving more violently, but they managed to keep a hold on.

Line Fusiliser #5 while grabbing a grip on time, in one hand, found themselves violently flailing about when the water came and toward the end of the flow they found themselves flung forward hitting the side of the hallway violently. Thankfully for Von Mackenstein Fusiliser #5 still seemed functional if just a bit banged up and briefly disorientated, the unit managing to right itself back up.

—-

AnoYi compared to the others ability wise put him in an advantage to avoid the water.

Tomb Keeper Gutou

Gutou who had started to try to walk down the path began to flail around when AnoYi grabbed him. “Hey! What are you doing?! Do you all see me as little more than a doll?! You all seem incapable of not picking me up!” Gutou exclaimed in an exacerbated fashion.

But it wasn’t long after he said this that AnoYi had jumped up a good distance with him, high enough with his jumping skill to land on top of one of the fallen pieces, which was high enough for the water to rush under. Some of the muddy water splashed up and got onto AnoYi and Gutou, prompting the skeleton to make raspy ‘sputtering sounds’.

“Why I never! How rude.” The water continued to rush through the various areas of the hallway until eventually it dispersed.

"Well if your friends are done triggering tomb traps, perhaps we can all get a move on. There was a REASON I advised they head down the path I did."

For now the tomb was quiet beyond those who were left remaining… As far as the group could tell any immediate hostiles had been dealt with, what they did next was up to them.

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

With the muddy water being a thing of the past, Von Mackstein climbed down from the impromptu hand holds made out of shurikens, boots hitting the floor with a wet splash. "Great thinking on your feet, Herr Storm. That water didn't seem like it would mix well with my machinery." The construct said, bleeps ordering the Line Fusiliers down from their holds as well.

One of them wasn't so lucky, however.

Approaching the battered unit, the crimson lenses of the war-relic began analyzing it, appraising the damage it took. "Still functional, but you will need a trip to the Stahlseele-Instandsetzungsbrigade as soon as this is over." It talked to the Line Fusilier #5, helping it get up on its feet.

"Considering the that octopus-esque subversive activities were brought to an end, it is time to advance and see what else is hidden in the shadows of this place."

Alaerin is, of course, 'pleased' his ploy worked preserving the party members as he climbed back down to the muddy floor... but was at least mentally chiding himself for not being better prepared. He gestured employing his Psychokinetic Forcemastery to recover his shuriken... and grimaced at some of the mangled and dulled ranged weapons... he should have packed iron climbing pitons, spikes, and rope... much better for such measures if he would have thought with more insight and preparation.

He would have to replace or at least resharpen many of throwing his blades. Also, he realized he would need to upgrade his Journal book protection... a cork-lined hard book cover waterproofed for future explorations to keep the pages and charcoal rubbings protected from water destruction.

He immediately pulled out his journal and began with chalk sketching a quick picture of the Beastly Octopus... absolutely perplexed the HOW and WHY such a deep sea creature capable of surviving ocean depths was 'living' and laired in what was little more then a surface lake ~ to a human that would be like living near the peak of Mount Evererst for countless years... the Octopus could not have been in the best of health ~ Could It?!? The impossibility of it boggled his mind... also science demanded to know what quality of if 'blood' to cause the waters to rise and rush so violently... answers his fantasy adventurer's min told him he'd like NEVER get... in this new Fantastic reality he found himself 'trapped' in.

He nodded to Von Mackstein as he wanders briefly about the chamber sketching a picture of the octopus beast and the surrounding chamber looking for any other exits from the chamber careful at the edge of the vast once water-filled pit trying to see if there were other cave or chamber passages at the bottom or in the walls of the depths... again wondering WHERE all the water went? Water almost always 'flowed to the lowest point'... not rushed up without titanic pressure or forces involved... but nothing seemed evident.. and his mind was reeling at the notion.. but dutifully focused on trying to faithfully record a sketch of the locale as accurately as possible.

He tried to find if there were any more of the Anamalistic hieroglyphs on any of the now revealed damp surfaces or pillars...

He comments, "This whole series of events defies logical saneness.... does anyone see any other passages leading past or in any alternate ways than this chamber?"

Lastly Alaerin looked to see if there are any artifacts valuable or otherwise to be recovered in the depths of the now miraculously empty previously watery pit... any past victims remains or possessions down below? Again his mind reeled thinking ~ 'What did this HUGE creature eat all this time?!?'

If he notices anything loot-worthy in the pit below he will use his Psychokinetic Forcemastery - [Telekinesis] F, to recover anything spotted for closer examination...

Replying to the prissy and effete-like Gutou, "Hold on, keep your cartilage connected 'Skull-3PO'.. we're here to explore AND retrieve the Flute. 'Nothing worth doing is done in haste'...!"

"Rushing waters are definitely not the shirt if trap I'd have expected in a desert tomb." AnoYi mused to Gutou, honestly impressed. " Apologies for the rough ride. I just didn't want you getting swept away in the flash flood, m'man." No sense in losing their undead tour guide, after all.
" Everyone okay down there?" the swordsman called to his compatriots down the hallway. Once the murky waters had subsided, AnoYi made his way from the ruined column back to the floor. Grit ground underneath his boots as he walked over the damp sandstone.

Von Mackstein was able to climb down successfully as was Alaerin. Alaerin was able to recover the shurikens which he had placed from the wall.

Line Fusilier #5 was able to get up and rejoin it’s group. It’s torch had gone out however making the light in the space dimmer.

Alaerin successfully sketched the beast, The lighting situation was a bit rough in the pit, but Alaerin could make out what looked like a sandstone floor to the pit, the drop was fairly severe without the water being there. He could also make out the edge of what looked like could be a large stone door to a tunnel which was cropped open, the ornamentation was light just a couple green gemstones gleaming in the darkness below, emitting a soft green glow which helped him see what he had in the space. He could also see a few support pillars in the space below.

He could gather that there very well might be another floor of tomb below them that would be difficult to access.

He would see more hieroglyphs in part particularly toward the top of the closest pillar that looked sort of like the same animal figures riding on what looked like a raft atop streams of what could be water, or perhaps it was a boat of some kind, the primitive art was a bit difficult to tell what was what without the appropriate appraising skills.

In the green illumination he’d also see what looked like a few primitive looking swords, some scrap armor pieces strung about the pit floor as well as bones. There was also..an odd round metallic orb, with engravings on it pinned to one of the tops of a now exposed pillar below, that was in range of AnoYi’s ability, that object, if deemed worth grabbing would be by Alaerin with his telekinetic power.

Beyond the sizable pit and it’s drop the group could see that there was possibly another room beyond it further down the hallway they were in, but a large amount of rock, pillar and debris had collapsed making accessing it rather difficult even if they wanted too, between having to clear the pit and somehow having to clear a path through the ancient tomb debris.

Tombkeeper Gutou

Gutou called back “Well I suppose it matters not if you continue to risk your lives to explore! I just hope that you make it in enough pieces to take on the trials!”

Gutou then looked to AnoYi

“Well I guess that’s good and all! It would have been very bothersome if I got washed away in pieces.” The skeleton responded,

while it wasn’t exactly a thank you it was an acknowledgement that AnoYi had helped him at least.

“Hm, well he did like to keep some creatures below, magic can certainly do wonders for diversity is what I’ve learned!” Gutou announced.

Gutou also got down to the floor level. Thankfully the area that Gutou and AnoYi were in was still illuminated dimly, and hadn’t been brought into pitch darkness.

“What say you AnoYi? Are you going to go crawl around in the dark with your allies or are you going to take on the trials? I can tell you one thing, looking around where they are isn’t going to get them closer to why you said you all came here.”

Alaerin will use his Psychokinetic Force Mastery to recover the bits of armor and primative weapons from the deep sandstone pit. He will also retrieve the oddly round metallic orb.

He will sketch the most intact of the primative weapons and claim that as a trophy... stowing the others in the loot bag. The scraps of armor he is curious as to the type of armor... especially if it is metal plate or scale armor ~ likely the ONLY type of armor to survive mostly intact if a bit rusted being underwater for any length of time... as leather would rot away.

Of course, he will sketch the most intact piece and annotate an extrapolation in notes upon what the rest of a complete set of the recovered armor might have been to the best of his artistic ability.

If any piece of the metallic armor ... specifically bracers {forearms}, vambrace {upper arms}, rarebreace {thieghs}, or greaves {shin-gurads} can be utilized still he will don the servicible pieces. He does not expect any breastplate or cuirass {chestpiece} to be wearable by a non-beastman it was likely forged to fit.

He will examine the oddly shaped orb... but will stow it in the loot bag... though he will allow ANY party member to examine or appraise the artifacts he retrieved.

Turning to the party, "The depths below seem to contain another level of the ruins... but it would be foolish to search that leaving unexplored regions on this level and we might not have enough rope to make the descent safely. The passage on the other side of the pit is caved in an impractical to excavate as we are equipped... you are correct AnoYi... we are NOT an archaeology expedition."

He smiled in jest but continued,"Let's got through the wall opening and see if these 'trials' Gutou keep harping over are more then just another series of traps...!"

AnoYi

"As ill advised as delving further into the tomb may be, I'll stick with my compatriots...as will you." AnoYi answered the dessicated tomb guardian. "'All for One and One for All' and whatnot...[color=ed1c24][/color]" The Coyote mischievously winked at Gutou as he drew his cutlass, pointing it into the damp corridor where Alaerin and von Mackenstein recovered themselves.

Dragging Gutou, figuratively if possible and literally if required, AnoYi joined his companions above the formerly submerged pit. "For a Tomb Guardian, you are woefully uninformed on what exactly lurks around here..."

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

Von Mackstein stood still for a moment, while Alaerin gave a report of what he had found. The machine would bring its metallic hand to its chin, brushing it as if deep in thought. "There might be quite a few surprises about. We will do well to keep our eyes open. I will have this place marked for a proper flush-out, just to be sure that every single deviant hidden in here is properly dealt with."

Then nodding, it pointed a hand forward, towards the opening on the wall. "Onward, without delay!" And it was already off, marching towards the small space.

Alaerin was able to get the armor and primitive weapons, he’d find that the metallic orb was actually quite light, and hollow a good deal in the center, in how it felt weighted. The weapons were also fairly light, the armor probably beng among the heaviest. What was interesting though was that he’d find a combination of almost chinese inspired scale looking armor pieces as well as some more european style plate armor.

Some of the pieces were in good enough shape to wear, greaves, bracers, and vambrace, but he was right there did not appear to be any complete chest pieces that were not heavily damaged, the other pieces that were wearable stained and dinged up in various used conditions, but still usable.

He was able to successfully sketch everything that he tried too, and was able to logic out some of what missing pieces might look like.

Gutou the Tombkeeper

“Traps Hah! If I wanted you all dead I would have done so already! You’ve just been lucky, this is far more entertaining then me just milling around in the dark afterall.” The raspy skeleton cackled some. Moving his four arms about.

Gutou huffed however when AnoYi basically rough handled him into coming along with them as the group all headed down the revealed passage way that Gutou claimed would lead them to the trials.

“I am not woefully uninformed! I can tell you that there are traps coming up! And that you best look out for them when we get to the next trial area!”

Gutou announced like it was fact.

After some more travel time through the long very dim hallway, illuminated perhaps by Alaerin’s energy and another torch if the group desired to light another one, after what probably felt like half an hour of walking through hallways with hieroglyphs and pillars, wall ornamentation and carvings. The group reached another sizable chamber with sandstone tiles, and pillars on the walls supporting the ceiling.

At the center of the chamber was a very sizable set of stone doors with lots of hieroglyphs carved all over them, depicting what looked like beast people carrying royalty, and large parade processions, as well as an emperor type figure giving an important speech, and leading soldiers into battle against what looked like enemy soldiers and monsters strewn across the doors, perhaps depicting important events from someone’s reign.

On either side of the door were pretty sizable stone statues that looked like winged lions, and one that looked like a large jade serpent, over hanging the door, and between the statue’s mouths there were three round slots total, that looked roughly like the same size of the metal orb that Alaerin had retrieved earlier..

To the far left side of the chamber, was a pretty well lit area with glowing green crystals inlay into the wall, illuminating what looked like a pitfall into darkness, with a series of round stone pillars, almost like an obstacle course, to the discerning eyes there were a series of erratically placed small square stone contraptions on the wall with small tubes sticking out of them, ideal for shooting some kind of projectile out.

At the very end of the pit pillared pit was what looked like a similar metallic orb to the one that Alaerin found below, sitting atop a stouter pillar, with a faint radiant glow around the orb.

To the far right side of the chamber, a diverging hallway appeared which while illuminated looked very similar to the hallways that they had transverse so far.


“I believe that you all know what you must do at this point! Retrieve the orbs and put them where they belong While I watch with anticipation Doing so will prove that you are worthy as my emperor ruled long ago." Gutou announced once more.

Alaerin takes the time to add the greaves, bracers, and vambraces to his current armor. Hefting one of the best preserved Bronze Khopeshi curved weapons and he slings it from his waist in a makeshift hanger or with a scabbard retrieved from the corpse remains in the pit...



Following along to the revealed hallway... Alaerin is silent... taking in all he sees. At the Hall of Trails... he will immediately retrieve his journal and begin furiously sketching... the vista... then starts some smaller sketches of the more individual hieroglyphs and the Emperor procession scenes separate from the sketch of the hall...

Eventually, still furiously working on his sketches he comments, "...Y'know we CAN 'Cheat' possibly? I could just pluck the Orbs from their pedestals to retrieve them with my Psychokinetic Forcemastery... BUT I'd rather NOT attempt that. I'm more of a 'In-the-Spirit' of a successfully completing a trail then looking for a cheap win. I can't perceive magic... but I KNOW its real... cheating might trigger a 'magical' trap."

"But I'm not going to make any of you PAY for my stubbornness... give me a few moments... and I'll try to retrieve the orbs the way the Trails are supposed to be completed..."

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

While Alaerin was drawing the sketches of the hieroglyphs and symbols, Von Mackstein began walking towards the very mouth of the pit on the left side. The crimson lenses of its gas mask gleamed against the darkness, as the machine attently observed the metal orb at the very end of the path, the prize if they managed to clear it. "So, three of those are needed to proceed into the main chamber, and we already have one of them..." The construct crossed its arms momentarily, as if thinking about something.

Its optical sensors caught the small tubes jutting out of the walls. "Guerrilla tactics... so primitive." With the synthetic voice dripping with contempt, one finger pointed towards one tube in specific, before sliding across each of them. Then a series of beeps and boops left its voice modulator: an order had been given.

All the five Line Fusiliers began marching towards the same mouth of the pit, rifles being raised, aimed right on those small tubes. "DOWN." They said in unison, before squeezing the triggers of the carbines, exploding rounds being shot along the extension of the wall.

Line Fusiliers #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 actions:
1 - Move to the mouth of the pit
2 - Aim at the tubes
3 - Explosive Cartridge - Fighting Style E + Range E (30ft) + Area (15ft radius) - Precision B (5) + Carbine C (4) = Precision B (5) + Carbine C (4) + Ability E (2) = 11 Base Effectiveness each x 5
Cooldown E 0/1

AnoYi

He didn't like essentially being Gutou's guard or handler but the practicality of it made it a necessary evil...the worst kind of evil. "We don't really have to haul everything out of here, Alaerin. It's a tomb. Most of this stuff should probably stay here unless you wanna start your own British Museum or something. Plus, lugging all that around is bound to slow us down. We're here for the flute.
He couldn't stop Alaerin from treasure hunting or souvenir collecting but he didn't see the point in disturbing the tomb any more than necessary.

"Yeah, I don't think just 'magicking' the orb over to us is the ideal thing to do either... I agree, doing that might set off a trap." he looked down his muzzle at Gutou as if seeking some kind of answer to the question. "Well, I'm guessing those turrets there explain why the armor we found was battered up so badly." he indicated the murder slot boxes along the obstacle course. " You've got a forcefield, Alaerin. You could run the course and von Mack and his, er, robot army could shoot the projectile ports and give you covering fire."

Alaerin was able to successfully equip the armor, it felt heavier then not wearing it for..obvious reasons but it would provide some additional protection potentially. Also adding the Bronze Khopeshi to his arsenal successfully. He also found himself able to make more sketches during the relatively long journey down the halls.

Tombkeeper Gutou

Gutou looked to Von Mackstein, “Hmm I suppose you could say conquering that beast..was part of the trial, at the very least the door should still open if you slot it in..probably…”
Gutou sounded unsure about the way he spoke in that moment like he was in thought.

Gutou looked even more confused and looked to AnoYi “What is this “British” you speak of? I have never heard that term or word before..even I, the all knowing Gutou, is it gibberish?”

When AnoYi looked down to Gutou, he let out a chuckle after Alaerin brought up using magic, “Oh By all Means PLEASE try to take the orb using magic, it’ll make my day, why not give it a try? You can get your flute and get out of here quicker.”
It was pretty obvious that the skeleton was very entertained by the idea for reasons unknown yet.

“Not a bad idea to have the force field one run through but..”

Gutou paused, seeing Von Mackstein open fire on the ‘murder boxes’ explosive rounds blowing parts of the wall into pieces as debris and dust went flying across the hallway, making multiple loud sounds in the hallway.

Multiple tubes now destroyed.

However from the dusty clouds in the hall, some clicking sounds that echoed could be heard as well as what sort of sounded like energy charging up, before several amber bolts of what appeared to be arcane energy came flying down the hallway at the ground, three looking a bit larger and brighter and stronger, five smaller trailing ones came soon after.

“I’d suggest getting out of the way of those.” Gutou announced calmly.

(X1 E Grade Magic Bolt targeting Von Mackstein, X1 E Grade Magic Bolt targeting AnoYi, X1 E Grade magic bolt targeting Alaerin. X5 F Grade magic bolts targeting all Line Fusiliers)

As some of the dust cleared away a couple more advanced looking turrets looked like they had come down from the pit hallway, small multi colored gemstones floating atop small stone pillars in the ceiling, which had produced the bolts, each with their own small individual force fields, at least three could be seen partially in the clearing, spread out and positioned a triangular shape one to the far left of the ceiling one to the far right of the ceiling, and another in the center.

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

"So THAT is what they were hiding behind those silly tubes. I told we were going to fight some dart-blowing natives for a moment." What sounded quite close to a snort came out from Von Mackstein's voice modulator, unafraid despite the rising seriousness of the situation (and the flying projectiles against the group).

"Counter-fire! Show just how Deutsche Ingenieurskunst blows whatever they try to throw at us out of the water!" Having ordered its troops [Von Mackstein - Action 1], the commanding unit raised its rifle, aiming at the incoming projectile itself. And, with a squeeze of the trigger, fired against it. [Von Mackstein - Action 2 and 3]

All the five Line Fusiliers quickly shifted their iron sights towards the incoming projectiles. "DOWN." They said in unison, before squeezing the triggers of the carbines, exploding rounds being used in a counter-fire initiative, before squeezing the trigger once more, this time firing slightly weaker, but still explosive ammunition.

Line Fusiliers #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 actions (Counter-fire):
1 - Aim at the incoming projectiles
2 - Explosive Cartridge - Fighting Style D + Range E (30ft) + Area E (15ft radius) - Precision B (5) + Carbine C (4) = Precision B (5) + Carbine C (4) + Ability D (3) = 12 Base Effectiveness each x 5
3 - Explosive Cartridge - Fighting Style F + Range F (10ft) + Area F (5ft radius) - +1 combo
Total 13 Base Effectiveness

Cooldown E 1/1 D 0/2

Now clad in partial metal armor... Alaerin had more 'options'.

He nodded to AnoYi and moved to attempt the 'obstacle' course... "Thanks for the covering fire Von Mackstein... but I think those Gemstones are not going to fire physical projectiles ... but energy beams!"

Alaerin moved... normally he'd need to have his sword in hand to manifest his Lightning Ward... metal in hand... but now he as partially clad in metal.. he had no need for a sword in hand... pulling on his lightning powers he emitted his Lightning Ward as a surrounding 'Aura' of arcing lightning from the metal plate armor on his limbs as he dashed into the fray... skipping through the obstacle course... and employing bursts of his Psychokinetic Forcemastery to pick up bits of the destroyed turrets to intercept some of the energy beams along with his arcing force field as he made his way to the left Orb first!
If possible he will get within 30'ft of the orb then use his Telekinesis to draw the orb to his hand like a football...

Actions -
1. [Lightning Ward] - [Fighting Style-'Greatsword'] F, [Lightning Blight] F, Barrier F
- Emitted from partial plate armor, leaving hands free to grab orb. Hwe will make use of the Bracers, boulstered by his Barrier to actively parry and deflect incoming beam attacks
2. [Psychokinetic Forcemastery] - [Telekinesis] F, Gear[Shuriken] F
- Use to pick up rubble to help intercept incoming beam attacks and or in the end snatch the orb into his grasp
3. Moving through obstacle course... running as fast as safely possible with his Speed F and Precision F