Iron Kingdoms: Tides of War

[Cynical Cat]

It's easy enough for Corey to find the building in question, a derelict machine shop of fire blackened wood and brick that has been boarded over and abandoned.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"The house is right there" the mage said, pointing at the relevant house. "And I like the plan, would you mind giving me a moment to prepare? If you have any protections against fire,lightning, or acid especially acid, I would use it now"

[B4UTRUST]

Engas took a slight step back from the gathered group. There was a logical explaination for this course of suggested action. They were suicidal. He had somehow fallen in with a suicide cult of the Dark Twin hellbent on destroying themselves in the quickest, bloodiest and probably most painful manner possible. And they were serious about it.

He sighed to himself. He had volunteered for this gig and had continued to stay on, even knowing what they were going against. But at that point he hadn't thought they were going to participate in what amounted to a direct frontal assault on the Iron Lich. Which was, again in his opinion, tantamount to suicide.
"I'd try to hurt him Mechanikally, but my last spell just washed off of him like dirt from a 'jack. I doubt anything I can throw at him is going to be of any real effect. I've got four rounds loaded and my sword. Not sure what I can do to assist in this assault."

[Charon]

Akina walked up to the grate that they'd removed before, stopping as she rested a hand on it's edge. The helmet turned to look back at Malkamar and Engas, ushering Malkamar to follow. "Den hyu should focus on breakin' vun of de soul cages vit' hyur magics. Harder to block sometin' if is focused to a point."

[Hotfoot]

"Now then, spells might bounce off 'im, but I bet I can scrap a few good bits off 'im if I get close enough. We definitely need to hit those cages though, and fast. Everyone with a gun should take aim and try to hit them as soon as possible. After that, Engas and I can try to disable any other power sources it has," Rogan checked his potion belt, considering what options he had available. Stealth was unlikely to be very effective, as his experience with the undead was that they always seemed to notice anything that breathed, with or without ears and eyes. Still, that didn't mean that misdirection couldn't help things along. He eyed the building, knowing the doors, even boarded, would be obvious points of entry, and most likely guarded, if not trapped. Windows, however, would probably be much easier to enter, so long as they were properly cleared first. The critical factor was time.

"We should make some noises like we're attempting to enter from one side, then burst in through the other, I think. I'd like to hit that Lich as soon as possible, of course, so where we enter should be closer to him. Thoughts?"

[LadyTevar]

"i thought that was why Akina and Malk were coming up from the bottom, Rogan," Teghe drawled. "Are you sure you want to split us further?"

[Charon]

Akina snorted. The sound itself being amplified by her armor to make a great deal of noise. "I vill be distractink enof. Especially down in de tunnels. Unt if dat is not enough I vill shoot my gun to get their attention."

[B4UTRUST]

Engas puzzled over Rogan's problem for a minute, sending his mechanikal-oriented mind into overdrive with possibilities.
"If you've still got that hodge-podged spring-loaded deathtrap from the train, I've got an idea on how to make it work. And it wouldn't involve us splitting up.

"Take two of the springs out from it, load the top of it with some things to throw into the side of the building to make noise. I can make us a simple timer that should buy us a minute or two to get into position once it's set.

"Use the removed springs from the shock system, hook them up to some interlaced cogs and a latch to keep it from firing. Make the timer pull the latch when it reaches the end. Shouldn't be too hard to piece together in a few minutes, assuming between us we've got enough parts.

"Rogan, if you can get me the shock absorber and those springs off of it, I've got some cogs and bolts to hold this together, and a piece of holed metal to thread them to. I'll need a number 3 nut or two and bit of stretched rubber and maybe if I..."

He trailed off as he knelt down and began to use his finger to trace out what appeared to be some sort of mechanikal schematic, though hastily drawn and crude as it was. All in all it should prove to be a viable solution and very possible in a short time frame. Of course they wouldn't have a proper test and evaluation period or production inspections like he would have prefered, but then again this wasn't a proper Mechanik's shop. The theory he laid out was sound and basic enough that it shouldn't prove overly difficult. This was, after all, a fairly small design and one that any low level Mechanikal apprentice should have been able to come up with.

Anyone who listened carefully to his tone of voice would have noted that all fear and uncertainty from before seemed removed at the moment. It was as if once he had a purpose he could do something with the other stuff was pushed from his mind. Of course, if he bothered to think about what the hurled objects were going to alert inside the building they were about to assault, he probably would have retained that unease. But once his mind got to work on a problem he could solve he seemed to go at it with a single-minded purpose.

[Hotfoot]

Rogan smirked at Engas, "Ah, good lad, I was wondering if you'd pick up on that. It won't be pretty, but it should work. Maybe I'll even make a right bodger from you yet," He removed the covered object from inside his greatcoat, wincing a bit as a few parts had fallen off during the excitement earlier. Still, it would make modification a little easier. "I can bang out some simple parts to fit right, I think it'll be better hitting the door directly, but we'll need to brace it on something so it does more than tap politely on the door, but..." The mechanikal mutterings continued in a hushed tone with Engas as the two worked on how to modify the device appropriately. With the blink of an eye, Rogan's tools were out and the tinkering had begun. The entire process would only take a few minutes at most, and with two mechanikally minded individuals working on a solution, maybe less.

[Charon]

Akina looked at Engas, listening as he concocted his scheme. Slowly she nodded at it. "How long do hyu tink it vill take to build? If dis ting is vorkink on another soul cage ve probably don't have too much time before is done."

[rhoenix]

Nodding his head as he listened to Akina, Rogan, and Engas giving voice to their thoughts, he smiled broadly once Akina gave her caution about time.

"Well, I think this plan is shaping up even better than before. Rogan, you can toss the mechanical distraction you and Engas are developing on the far side of the building - this should get their attention, and hopefully flush out the thralls. After it goes off, Akina and Malkamar can burst through the entrance from the tunnel, and the rest of us can go through the windows closest to the lich, with proper reconnaissance. Rogan, your task then is to as you suggested, which is doing damage to that iron lich's mechanical structure."

Looking thoughtful for a moment, Zedrin nodded. "Other than that, this is sounding even better than my initial plan. Rogan, Engas, how soon until that contraption is ready?"



(EDIT: I must've mis-read the above posts; I amended the last sentence to include references to both Rogan and Engas)

[B4UTRUST]

"Modify the length of the springs, it'll give them the needed force to hit harder."

Engas dug into one of his bags and started pulling out tools and parts, beginning to piece together the timing system. Using a pair of pliers he bent a length of metal at each end, making a crude ticker. Using the bolts he began to attach some of the cogs to the metal plate. Pulling one of the springs taunt and threading the bent metal onto it, he began to put it in the cog and spring system he was working on.
"Alright, this piece ticks up one notch every time the cog turns. This cog rotates at about one turn per minute and a half, give or take a few seconds. Once it finishes one rotation the ticker will come loose from the cogs and release this spring here and..."

Engas ceased his verbal walkthrough of the system and paused his work for a second to glance up Akina and Zedrin. Then he looked back down at the machine and continued adjusting parts. He answered them in that flat voice that meant he still wasn't thinking about what was about to happen, that his mind was focused on the project at his fingertips.

"A few minutes, maybe less. If this distraction works, the thralls will be momentarily distracted. That'll give our gunmages a chance to get a few shots off at the lich before the minions drop the hammer on us. After that we'll be dealing with the whole package. A majority of us will be dealing with the thralls at that point. Which means Akina and Malkamar will be primarily dealing with the lich. Hopefully, assuming our shooters can damage or destroy another of the soul cages, the lich will be damaged enough for Akin and Malkamar to handle it while Rogan and I try to take it out mechanikally."

He continued to work on the piece before him, adjusting and moving parts and pieces, attaching them and manuvering them in place.
"I think that about covers the plan, so far. Or did I miss a part?"

[rhoenix]

He continued to work on the piece before him, adjusting and moving parts and pieces, attaching them and manuvering them in place.
"I think that about covers the plan, so far. Or did I miss a part?"

A grin was Zedrin's first reply. "Excellent. Lady and gentlemen, last chance to look over your gear and prepare it, and any spells."

With that, he began giving a check of his rifle, carefully cleaning the barrel, and reloading its bullet.

[Charon]

Akina nodded as the plan came together in her head. "Ja, Malkamar unt I can keep de Lich busy vhile hyu," Akina pointed to the rest of the group with the exception of the Mechanik and Bodger "deal vit de Thralls ja? Jus' don' take too long. I jus' got fixed up by de church unt I don' vant to go right back."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Zedrin, if you have a spell that can open up one of the doors, lighting bolt or something, I can fireball the inside of the room and do some damage before the gunmages go in"

Before the other man even answered though the mage spoke several words and touched himself on the chest, rendering him resistant to acid (resist energy)

[rhoenix]

"Zedrin, if you have a spell that can open up one of the doors, lighting bolt or something, I can fireball the inside of the room and do some damage before the gunmages go in"

Zedrin looked pained. "I was hoping to save that for the lich's eye," he said, grumbling.

However, he slowly began to smile. "On the other hand, that fireball would be one hell of a diversion. Alright."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"a lighting bolt will as well, if you can angle it right, you may be able to take out some thralls as it blasts through the door"

Totenzahn hissed a few words at him, to which he responded in a few other hisses. Corey lined up a possible trajectory for the fireball and motioned along the line of the spell effect with his arms

"This line ought to work... you should be able to hit at least one thrall..."

[rhoenix]

"a lighting bolt will as well, if you can angle it right, you may be able to take out some thralls as it blasts through the door"

Totenzahn hissed a few words at him, to which he responded in a few other hisses. Corey lined up a possible trajectory for the fireball and motioned along the line of the spell effect with his arms

"This line ought to work... you should be able to hit at least one thrall..."

Nodding, Zedrin thought it over before answering with a smile. "Sounds good to me. Thank you both, Corey and Totenzahn."

[LadyTevar]

Teghe was carefully loading the magi-lock pistol, with the last three rune bullets he had on hand. He didn't have the time or concentration to make more at that point. As he loaded, he thought of what he might have left to offer spell-wise.

The list was slim, as the gunmage had used a lot of his power on the first fight. But he could still cast the spell of True Striking on himself, and that might make all the difference when it came to taking out the soul cages.

[Bloody Good]

Ardal gave the wires holding his new armor together an extra twist to keep them closed. Spitting into his hands and rubbing them together, he tightened his grip on his axe. The fire-blackened steel blade was the sort of heavy and intimidating that only Khador weapons can manage, and years spent honing it had given the weapon an edge that anyone could be scared of. He quickly checked the rest of his weapons. His scattergun was secure in its quick-sling, and the bayonet was angled away from him. His newly-acquired hammer was slung across his back. The knot holding it was a kind favored by warriors. A tug in the right direction would free it, but it wouldn't loosen from running or getting jostled around. His swords were at his belt, one over each hip, the cleaver on his left and the elegent-but-notched longsword was at his right. The emblem on the longsword's scabbard was mostly gone, gouged and filed until you could barely tell who it once belonged to. The Protectorate-white paint on the rest of the scabbard was a hell of a clue, though.

He spoke in low tones. "Gonna bust some zomb-chops. Dibs on the lich thing's head. It'd make a good lantern."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Alright, once Engas gets his contraption finished and in place, Akina and Our Paladin Friend will get in position. Once they are in place, Zedrin lightning bolts, and i fireball. Once the fireball, Akina and malk burst through the grate and then we raise even more hell, yes?"

[rhoenix]

With the click of his rifle readied, and a grin with narrowed eyes, Zedrin stood. "Indeed, Corey. It seems that we're about ready, barring any delays with Engas and Rogan's work. So, are we ready to take our places, and give this lich the worst evening of its unlife?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

Corey nodded and got into position next to Zedrin, placing his hands in position to weave a fireball spell. His left arm was half-stretched and his flat palm faced the ground. His right hand withdrew a piece of sulfur from a pouch and held it between his thumb and forefinger up near his face.

[Hotfoot]

Rogan hammered out a few final changes to the device, then looked to Engas. "Well, it's not pretty, but it should do the job. Let's get this act started, mates. Corey, which door is the one furthest from the Lich?" Once he had his answer, he'd set up the thumper and then join the rest of the group on the other side of the building.

[Cynical Cat]

The lich was at the back of the shop, not far from the back door. Which mean the opposite side was going in through the front. The clockwork timer ticked down and the front door of the shop was struck with a loud WHUMP.