RP:Stopping a Clockwork Titan

Part of the Repairing the Irreparable Arc

Summary: Kang and a group of handy, competent people attempt to stop what would otherwise be a catastrophe. Magic is uncovered, sabotage is found, and a mystery begun

Somewhere in Sage

Kang paces carefully back and forth, his armor feeling heavier than usual due to the problem he'd recently learned of. His reptilian eyes dilate with the surge of adrenaline caused by his worry. "Damn them all and their Bokbok." He doesn't truly mean it, but people say things they don't mean when they're stressed. The preklek takes a deep breath to control his heart rate. The skill for battle-readiness finds a new use here. He continues pacing, the faint clink of anklet charms brushing in the grass is the only sound in the clearing. The birds had fled, no animals dare cross paths with the new predator. They have no comprehension of what had escaped. Then again, no one who hadn't been there at the conception of the project would understand what terror had been unleashed.

Desparrow came from the east, specifically Cenril, on foot even after a meeting with Xersom which had been interrupted by Diryon a rival spellcaster. A new determination burned in his eyes as he thought of what he needed to do in order to acquire Xersom's favor. Desparrow toted on his back the mana crystal that Linn had gave him, swelled in size to be proportionate to half of his arm, specifically from elbow to fingetip and it gave off a high magical signature much like a beacon to those sensitive to it. The warlock himself was not at full strength, but had discarded bandages and casts which used to cover his fractured arm and burned leg, as they had healed enough to function fully. At first he had planned to make a stop near Frostmaw to see if he could find Emilia, then head back towards Larket but he was halted when his path led him to Kang which he last saw in Kregus and in a far better mood than he appeared now. "Something wrong lizard man?"

Agoyoanye had been up the way at the Sage Forest Bell collecting things she would need in her next few experiments, but the winds had carried the scent of people to her nose as she picked the herbs needed. A low growl had rose in her throat as she thought it may be best for her to go ahead and take her leave, but standing up would prove to be the obstacle since her injuries was still nursing themselves together. A wince came across the cinnamon hues as she brought her voluptuous body to a full stand and a deep breath sounded like the air hissing from a balloon. Slowly she made her limping away down the path to where her eyes saw Kang and then Desparrow. "Well... I thought I smelt wet dog" she offered with a bit of family love tinting her voice. A nod would be sent in the direction of Kang as her eyes scanned the area.. Where was the animals, and why did she feel the fear of the plants pulsing in her brain "What's going on here" she pondered aloud with a raised brow.

Arcos too was currently in the Sage Forest collecting samples for his experiments, however unlike Agoyoanye, Arcos was collecting soil from around different areas of the sage. His plan was compile and catalog these samples ranging from the north most part of the Sage by Larket all the way down to the southern most part nearing Enchantment. If there were any abnormalities to be found in the forest this arcane scholar was sure he'd find them in the soil. With his satchel filled he made for Kelay Way, immediately noticing the group of his own clansmen before him. He approached silently, giving a nod to each one who noticed his arrival, assuming he would be filled in after Agoyoanye openly pounded the question that was on his mind. For now, he would put his experiments on hold to satisfy his current curiosity.

Muzo slithers out of the east, deep in a thoughtful reverie. His wide, glossy black eyes are fixed on the path ahead of him, and he scarcely notices his surroundings. Muttering a mile a minute, the antropomorphic naga winds and undulates his way out of the forest, arms cossed behind his back. "...to counteract the ectoetherial drift in parallel to the demateria momentum vectors..." As usual, he has his belt and bandolier of alchemical equipment, and Formulae, his trusty spellbook, floats listlessly along behind him, flapping its pages like an oversized butterfly. Whatever the researcher is doing, he's quite absorbed.

Odhranos picks his way slowly and carefully through the forest, moving slowly and silently. The mage has taken a venture into the Sage for therapeutic purposes, that which the cold windblown slopes of Xalious do not meet. Eyes closed, using magic sight, the mage catches a glimmer of a bright light, the sign of a magic signature. Two to be precise, and judging from the intensity, one was Desparrow. Odhranos knew his signature from when they had met previously. Striding with more purpose, the grey-garbed man steps from the treeline near the group, only registering the presence of the others when up close, as their magic signatures were being masked by the intensity of Des and the...odd crystal he was carrying. Odhranos opens his eyes and nods solemnly to Des. "Sir." He states simply, then casts flint-grey eyes over the others present. None of them known to him, never a good start for the crowd-fearing mage.

Kang sees the group forming, and exhales slowly so as not to panic anyone. Himself included. "Er, there has been an incident with my tinkers. They've struck upon a bit of tech that is deceptively simple, and used it to do something ingenius. Problem is, that ingenuity has exacerbated what should only be a minor inconvenience." He'd been absently wringing his hands, but stopped once he noticed the action. His eyes scan the air, the ground, the vegetation. Finally he sees what he'd hoped and dreaded. A steady ripple of movement. "Okay, folks. Don't be too alarmed, but Bokbok has escaped." By now the ground is shaking enough that everyone can feel it. Those sensitive to magic might sense waves of heat coming from the distance. Thud. Crash. Closer and closer it comes. "I'd prefer to contain it, but you all must do what is best for you."

Desparrow found the entrance of company to be rather pleasant as his eyes laid upon his cousin Ago, then Arcos and even Odhranos as he snuck upon them. "Well hello friends and family." Four magic users in an area, that just whispered danger to Des, knowing that he was being hunted and that finding him by magic radar was essentially the easiest manner and all this close proximity certainly wasn't going to help his cause. "It is actually nice all of you are here. I could certainly use all of your help." That was of course when he felt something in the distance and immediately his left eye burst into violet eldritch fire allowing him to see beyond the phsyical plane, but through many including one that pronounced magic. From the crystal two thin streams of ether did expel only to flow around Desparrow as a growing mass. Other spell caster's could draw on this energy as well, even though Des had intention of using it himself. "Bokbok?"

Agoyoanye had been looking at Desparrow and Kang when the others had entered, each of their blood scents hitting her nose before their bodies hit her sight. Arcos was greeted by the woman turning to him and a tender smile spreading over her speckled lips that also showed her fangs. The other Naga who seemed so intent to his studies and the Mage was both greeted by her shimmering eyes taking note of them. She was about to say something smart-arse to Desparrow but the Earth beneath her started to tremor, it made the woman wince as her body was jarred and jiggled at the quake. Her eyes went back to Kang "Your Bokbok escaped?!" she asked with a bit of panic in her voice, she knew what the naga was capable of creating. Her limp brought her a bit closer to Arcos and wedged herself between him and Desparrow, if anything she knew that her safety would be best at their hands since her injuries had drained her so.

Arcos took note of the arrival of two more magic users, Muzo and Odhranos respectively. His attention perhaps lingered on Muzo a bit longer, the avian not necessarily having much knowledge about naga made him a slight bit weary. He ignored those feelings for now, instead relying on his constant pragmatism to lead his actions. A gentle smile was given to Agoyoanye and he was even about to speak to her, however, the arcane scholar remained silent as Kang began to warn them about 'Bokbok'. He wasn't quite sure what that meant, but he wasn't about to be taken off guard. "Major Sanctae Visus." He said, the first words spoken this entire time by the avian being an incantation. His magical implant, the Drowic Eye of Clairvoyance, began to fill with arcane energies as the words passed his lips and soon he was able to see the waves of heat that were drawing closer. An audible sigh escaped his lips next as he positioned himself defensively next to Agoyoanye. Everyone else could fend for themselves but he would do what he could for his close companion, Doctor DeSange. "I will do what I can to contain this... Bokbok, but when dealing with an unknown quantity I don't make any promises."

Muzo nearly bumps into Desparrow, bit the researcher startles first, realizing the imminent collision and gasping aloud, quickly backpedaling upon his own tail. "Thousand pardons!" The Naga apologizes. "Was miles away. Meant no disrespect. Meant no, no, no..." Trailing off, the Naga looks around and realizes that he's stumbled onto a gathering of sorts. "Ah, oh my. Hope I haven't interrupted your, uhm, Bokbok meeting. Kang," he recognizes the master tinker and sends him a nod, "how do you do." Muzo coughs into his hand. "Ahem. Dear me. Feel a bit trembly out here?" Hid tail slaps at the ground. "Or just imagination?"

Kang nods at the replies and braces himself. Those who were staring off into the distance mystically to discern the source of arcane heat would see disjointed runes moving with Bokbok, as he grew nearer. If they were to connect the runes in an attempt to extrapolate the form of the threat, they wouldn't believe their conclusion. Those of us without magic must rely on our normal mortal eyes alone as trees topple, clearing the last obstructing between these errant wanderers and the threat mistakenly released by the goblins. A roar of metal on metal thunders across the area. Enormous claws tear into the ground. Razor-edged beak drives into the bark of a nearby tree in search of grain. Bokbok had arrived. The contraption had no intelligence, drawn hither and yon by breezes, weather, magnets, and who knew what else. Through the gaps in the gears, the engine is clear to all: a glass bird in a top hat repeatedly dips his head and then rocks back into place after getting a drink of water. "Damn chicken." Kang isn't refferring to the perpetual motion engine, but Bokbok itself, the twenty-foot tall clockwork chicken.

Desparrow was adept at magic, but not a connoisseur of runes so although he knew what they were did not understand their meaning. Muzo's words however snapped him away from the oncoming threat and he offered the fellow magic user a smile, "Its no problem truly. I can get in the way sometimes, don't fret over it." Then his gaze turned to the giant clockwork chicken and he almost laughed. This thing was the threat and it was although dangerous kind of laughable. Useful however if put in the right direction. "Does it move in a straight line? Or does it have some sort of base insinct that it follows when attacking?" In an instant as he prepared to fight he exerted his will, a psychic web that expanded outwards allowing him to grasp at the magic and cause it to form. Those that could see it would find two large almost invisible hands of kinetic energy form at Des' sides, each one looking like they were capable of grasping whole trees but their strength was as of yet unknown. People that knew the sorcerer however would know that the strength of his magic was in tune with his will. If he could envision it, and had the mental capacity to do so then he could replicate many magical effects on the physical plane. The chicken was approached slowly, cautiously without intent of provoking an attack but should one be incited then those hands would go to grasp and push back whatever appendage threatened the spellcaster.

Arcos raised his right hand up, his fore and middle fingers pointing at a spot on the ground in equal parts between them and the giant clockwork chicken. Arcos noticed that Desparrow was holding back laughter and the dark avian found himself smirking to himself. "I'm not sure how we are going to defeat such a fowl creature." He cleared his throat as Bokbok drew near, the scholar flexing as he strengthened his stance. "Limo terrae est!" he called, a twenty by twenty foot section of earth transmuting into a muddy, quicksand like substance as the words echoed throughout the forest. Hopefully, this pit he had created would serve the party in providing a trap to capture this construct. He wanted to see it subdued without much damage. As a person whom considered himself an expert on the subject, he wanted to study this combination of runology and engineering up close without fear of attack from it.

Muzo follows the others' attention and easily discovers the source of everyone's distress. The massive contraption crashes through the trees, and Muzo is left staring up in awe and stunned disbelief. "Sweet songs of science, what have they done." Bewilderment turns suddenly to guilty horror as he puts two and two together, and he hurries to slither past Desparrow to Kang. "Please tell me this isn't the work of your goblins," the Naga calls over the mounting din. Even as he speaks, Muzo is fumbling in his belt pouch, searching for something, anything that might improve their apparently dire situation.

Kang answers the helpful naga first. "Yes, they did do this. I like to encourage ambitious ideas. Never thought it'd be this. . .successful?" He idly watches Bokbok turn away from the quicksand to attack more trees. The preklek shouts to his two clanmates. "The tech is somewhat counter-intuitive. There's a counterweight that points him at the path of most resistance." Kang shakes his head. "It was intended for a boiler, so it could fuel itself. Feed itself coal to heat the steam and. . .locomotion." He taps a quick ditty onto his ever-present ivory staff and it begins shifting into a long, long rope ending in a loop? A lasso. "It's chicken wrasslin' time." He circles the giant metal chicken, avoiding pitfalls such as the sinking ground. Bokbok turns with the movements and lunges at Desparrow, then Kang, then a solid stone wall.

Desparrow ignored the actions of his clanmates and the unknown naga, instead finding challenge in the metal beast. As he continued the approach he wondered how he could better suit it to strike at him especially if it was indeed to go for the more difficult route. As it swiped for him those hands intercepted to first block which the chicken would only be striking at an invisible force which then proceeded to push back while attempting to topple it onto its side. The lift necessary to move such a beast was causing him a slight headache, the exertion of his will to proceed already proving to be a bit much but he would go on. If it went according to plan, he would topple the thing straight into Arcos' pit, where its struggle would ensnare it. Aside from that he did little, expecting his current allies to do their part.

Arcos watched from a safe distance as Kang and Desparrow tried to wrangle this giant automaton. Bright scarlet hued eyes drift to Muzo for the moment, curious to see how he would contribute to the effort. The avian paced at the edge of the battleground for a moment, looking for vines or something else he could use as an improvised rope. Finding nothing on this side, he turned back to Bokbok and concentrated on his spell again, trying to shape the sinking pit right underneath of the clockwork creation's feet. Hopefully, Desparrow and Kang could immobilize it long enough for Arcos to harden the earth around it.

Muzo glances hastilt between his fumbling fingers and the rampaging, juggernaut chick-o-tron. "Must... be something...," his scaly ophidian brow furrows as he rummages, "aha!" Eyes widen in delight as he procures a swirling green vial from his belongings. "Might be able, at least, to hinder its progress." Wasting not a second, Muzo begins shaking the vial violently, upsetting the volatile contents. He then plugs one ear, grits his teeth, and points the stopped glass tube at Bokbok. Little does Muzo realize it, but in his haste, he has pointed the stopper the wrong way. There is a loud boom, and a copious eruption of billowing green smoke envelops the researcher. When it clears, Muzo is nowhere to be seen.

Kang swings the lasso faster and faster as it lengthens to accomodate. The rope lands perfectly around the neck and tightens, sending tendrils into the gaps. Bokbok pulls against the resistance, only to feel more resistance from the invisible hands. Then he feels less resistance from underneath and tries to fly. Unfortunately, the automaton is not equipped for flight and the leap merely sends shockwaves through the area. Unable to perform it's primary function, the runes glow brighter and brighter until even the ungifted can perceive them. They continue to brighten until they are blinding. Flames roar across the device, attacking the ropes and energies like ants swarming out of their colony. Kang's rope roars imperiously and the flames shy away from that area. They redouble their efforts on Desparrow's invisible hands, somehow tunneling into the etheric barrier. Kang traces a sigil on the rope and it anchors itself in the ground. He begins cursing with all his might in Chthonic. Those sparks. He hadn't realized they'd been incubating.

Desparrow witnessed the scene unfold although his concentration remained entirely on his magic. As the chicken started to bore through one of the kinetic hands he clenched his left fist, receiving the same result in the other and with it swung outwards to give the construct a good knock in the head if it persisted. The shockwave however had weakened his concentration only for a moment, which caused the hands to phase for just a second out of the physical realm. The chicken was free while Des managed to get back on his feet and acquire some distance and when he had it his focus was once more on the now freefloating magic. His psychic presence expanded further to grasp it at greater distance to reform those hands with renewed strength and attempt to ensnare the beast again. At the same time did his body weaken, that headache having become the hooves of what felt like a chariot trampling the surface of his brain, the result being blood rapidly oozing from his nostrils on top of the immense migraine.

Arcos was momentarily brought to his knees by the shock wave the chicken caused, and when he got to his feet he was forced to shield his eyes from the blinding light. The heat the runes were putting off was incredible, so much that the avian hoped that the machine wouldn't melt before they could stop it. An idea struck the scholar at that moment and he squinted his eyes as he searched for Bokbok in the light. After discerning its location, Arcos dashed forward, his hands cupped at his side as he chanted the words "Conc de Frigido" over and over. Once he was about fifteen feet away he trusted his cupped hands forward, creating a cone-shaped burst of heat-sapping wind that encompassed much of the clockwork chicken as he could. The reaction was much more chaotic than he predicted; Fire melted ice, ice froze water, steam became tiny crystals, and all of this almost instantaneously. He hoped to counter the runes with this spell, but he knew it would take much more mana than this. The best he could hope to do was slow it down.

Kang is so busy cussing up a storm in a dead language that he almost misses the calamitous debacle. Almost. He sees Arcos use a spell and flinches. Knowing what he knows now, the result is half-expected. You can't fully predict chaos, but sometimes you can anticipate it's resurgence. The ice crystals freeze to the metal, and somehow are unaffected by the flames and vice versa. Then, without any source for energy, they thicken and form a shield around Bokbok. Not good. Kang whistles sharply, attempting to summon the figurative monkeywrench from the innards. It ignores him. He whispers something to the rope and it releases Bokbok. The newly freed Bokbok has no time to enjoy it's freedom, for the rope is coiling back into a solid form. . .and growing. Barely a second has passed when a giant howling grotesque figure roars out a string of syllables that immediately strip the leaves and bark from the trees, and douse the runes. Thousands of sparks sail away from the mechanical poultry, and the runes go dormant. The ice freezes the joints, and Bokbok falls. Kang quickly marches forward and examines the runes. He swipes his finger across them, searchign for something. "Just as I thought. We have a problem. I can't contain this." His staff as shrinking back into the default carry-size. "I don't even know where to start."

Desparrow had no idea what was going on at this point, mostly watching as Arcos takes over allowing him the chance to relinquish his control on his spell. In that same moment any magic in the area, including what was left of the spell he had cast was pulled in towards him only to be reabsorbed by the crystal on his back. All said and done he licked the blood from his lips and wiped away the rest onto his sleeveless arm. "What is all this now?" Spoken while walking up to the currently felled automoton.

Arcos let his hands fall to his sides, slightly short of breath from the sudden release of arcane magic. Brushing the hair from his eyes, he turned to Kang and sighed, approaching him slowly. "Well... The runes can be reactivated with enough work but this... construct. I don't know if it can be controlled the way it has been currently constructed... I mean, does this even have a rune that responds to command words? I'm not an expert on golem-making, but clockwork animals work on the same principles." Arcos could go on and on about runology and engineering if somebody didn't stop him, and the more he spoke the more jargon he would start to use. "Who was the overseer of this project? I'm impressed with the craftsmanship but someone didn't think this through when they decided to turn it on... Wait, did you say you've got goblins working on this? I didn't know they were even intelligent enough to do this."

Kang nods along with everything his clanmates had been saying. "Yes, goblins. I needed medical help for my charge. She was attacked by a vicious creature, and as you know, my kind don't merit sympathy around here. I turned to the tinkers, but they didn't have the know-how or the equipment to help. I made some manuals for how to care for a young avian. Then, I made manuals on how to construct more complex objects. Some of them are up to clockwork devices." He eyes the frozen, smoldering remains. "Bokbok was a collaboration between four of my top pupils. They had just conquered the perpetual motion engine." The preklek holds up the broken drinking bird that had powered the whole device. "Any other device, and this engine would have been a wonderful breakthrough. Instead it was wonderful at breaking through. I suppose, for goblins, they're one and the same." He shakes his head to erase the thoughts flooding his senses. "The runes however, those aren't goblin-work. Those are from an elemental that has been following me around. I don't think he means well." Kang locks eyes with Desparrow. "I believe I mentioned his breed when you asked about weapons. Very unfriendly, and they need special housing to survive childhood."

Agoyoanye had stepped into the shadows when the bird had came out to play. The vampire knew her state was in no help to the men that had fought the creature, but when she saw the creature be brought down a held breath was let go. Taking her limped sway back to the men, her eyes began to scan each of them. For Desparrow's blood she offered a rag with healing herbs, and Kang and Arcos something to drink.

Desparrow understood enough, at least when it came to Kang mentioning the weapons as they had talked when met last in Kregus. Arcos' words were understandable only as phrases, but the enchantment and rune aspects of the conversation were lost on him. "Interesting creature I must say. It is scientifically marvelous, and it could be effective if used properly, and set towards a single goal. However I find that I must be going along now. It was nice seeing you both again." with that he turned and started to walk away. He would find them both again when he needed to but for now time was short.

Arcos nodded his head attentively, Kang's story sufficiently filling in the blanks for the arcane scholar. He would half-way pay attention to Desparrow as he left, honestly knowing the less time they were seen with one another the better. He gave the man a wave of his hand before he turned to Agoyoanye to receive her drink. "Thank you," he would say before his attention finally returned to Kang. "Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed. I wish I had a dozen of these, I'd scatter them like jacks all over the place, but it needs a little work." He paused for a moment, tapping his chin in thought. "But that is an idea for another day. First, we should see what we can salvage from this one and go back to the laboratory. I have a little advise I want to give your pupils."

Kang said, "Well, I don't know how much of this was their work and how much was the enchantment." He waves to the departing clanmates, refusing the drink for now. Kang examines the construct for damage. A few dents here and there, but goblin work is sturdy if nothing else. "The only real damage is the engine, and that's only because it needed to be glass. I'll call a few tinkers and we can hammer the gears back into place. Maybe wrangle the counterweight to steer him back into the lab."

Arcos seemed pleased to hear that this could be reused without much work going into it. "Excellent," he said, kicking a fallen chunk of ice away from his feet, "Right, the elemental. Probably not a good idea to let something like that carve your runes either, but hey, who am I to tell you what to do. If you want somebody to etch some runes for you all you have to do is ask. I've been studying them for the better part of three decades now and I relish the thought of putting that knowledge to use."

Kang said to Arcos, "There aren't supposed to be any runes."

Kang somehow gathers a troupe of goblins who all begin smacking the crumpled remains of Bokbok. "Setbacks to be expected!" Kang nods and worries about the other problems caused by the explosions.

Arcos said to you, "Oh. Well, that explains why it went wrong. If you were going to use runes of this type you would want to place them in key areas, not just willy-nilly like this. I'm surprised the arcane energies just didn't explode and take half of the Sage with it..."

Kang leads the goblins back to the lair. "Thanks, sir. We gotta get things fixed."

Arcos nodded his head. "I have work to do as well. I almost forgot about the samples I took from the forest. I have to get these back to the lab." He turned to leave, waving back at Kang. "If you need any help at all, just let me know."