Inside a Colossus

 

27th of Planting, Low Summer

The Fellowship continue the battle with the insectoids in the Crystal tunnels infested with strange glowing bulbous carapace covered with fungus.

Obaz casts Erupting Earth on the area where the scorpion like insectoid is lumbering forward. The massive creature looking back at the automaton, walks right into the full effect of the blasting ground of crystals. Shrugging it off, it continues to move forward slowly through the rough terrain. The druid's fire elemental continues to engulf the other scorpi-pede that is in battle with the automaton. The fire seems to have full effect on the insectoids.

Graxusas flies a circuitous route to then cast Destructive Wave on all the insectoids, killing the swarmers, doing great damage to all the other creatures. 

Fortunately for the Fellowship, the two powerful spells work fine. (DM: magic seems to not be quite as effective in all respects in these crystal tunnels).

The two flying insectoids spray a burning acid that hampers movement, slowing Obaz and Doc for a little. After doing an attack on one of the flying insectoids, Kantif moves back to hide and goes near one of the glowing bulbous fungoid carapaces that are along the wall. As the rogue/monk moves by, it the carapace shudders and bursts with a group of swarmers attacking the 1/2 elf. The party comes to the rescues finishing off the two fliers as well as the swarmers.

The large automaton clanks forward. Standing over 9 feet in height, it steps right up to Gothi and starts to speak in the same language Gothi had yelled earlier.

"Founder."

Gothi looks surprised at first and realizes after some discussion that this creature - called Khore-1 - is a caretaker of the colossus the adventurers are now inside. Khore-1 advises Gothi that once his brethren
numbered over 100. As far as he is aware, he is the final caretaker of "HER". Gothi explains this is one of the Foreclaimer titans. A god-like creature. Her name is quite long probably over a page, and takes a few minutes to pronounce, but in short: "FERA". The insectoids invaded Her / FERA. They have been attacking her for over a century. The battle has raged inside the body of the colossus. The insectoids started at the feet and have been slowly gaining ground, now at the chest/neck. It seems the black 'blaster' gun the hybrids use is actually Foreclaimer 'Tech" - a word from a bygone age, referring to various types of devices and or capabilities used long ago - some would consider magic now. As Khore-1 speaks, Gothi translates and after a while, Khore-1 is learning the common tongue. Asking about the source of power and where the mind of Fera is, the party decide to explore further. It seems that the crystallin passages are inside the bone structure of Fera. The party having entered through the "thumb" of Fera. They will have to travel into the hand, then down the arm and then up past the elbow (on a humanoid

body is the humerus) to the main body then over to the neck and into the
"head" of Fera. The travel along the thumb is over 50 feet, so the party come to realize the vast distance and SIZE of this colossal Foreclaimer titan.. probably over a 1000 or 2000 feet tall... Khore-1 offers to transport Gothi - "Founder" to the heart of Fera as they discuss options. Reaching out a massive hand, the ranger takes it and with a phasing blue glow disappear from the Fellowship. Gothi and Khore-1 reappear on a wide gallery overlooking a massive open chamber  100s of feet wide. A glowing blue sphere about 50 feet across us suspended in the air, lightning arcing off it every few moments. Khore-1 raises a massive hand to point at a gallery below on the opposite side. A massive number of swarmer insectoids pour out and continue to drop onto the sphere. Each time they hit it, a spark and plume of smoke as the swarmer is engulfed in bluelight and disappears. But Khore-1 advises Gothi that Fera's power is diminishing as the insectoids continue to advance upwards and take control of the colossus. It seems the two's entry into the area did not go unnoticed as 2 groups of insectoids - swarmers and hybrids - race along the gallery towards the ranger and automaton. 

Gothi asks Khore-1 to take her back and they reappear at the party once again.

The party moves along the "thumb" and then down into the right hand, seeing a large chamber and four other tunnels - the fingers - and then down into the wrist. As they move along, the party destroy with fire the infestations - Obaz' elemental and Graxxuzazz and Gothi's flaming arrows. Slippery crystalline passages but the party are able with rope, wildshape, polymorph spell and Khore-1 offers to carry Gothi.

Moving downwards, the party makes it to the 'elbow' where the party decide to rest. The next tunnel heads upwards at a steep angle, the humerus. All are exhausted and with Doc on guard the party rest. A
few hours into the 1st watch, Doc is dozing a little arm resting on his musket. as his eyelids droop he hears the familiar - now - chittering of insectoids as they drop all around the party from above. A large number seem to gravitate to Khore-1. The insectoids seem to want to destroy the caretaker. All battle desperately as they had had time yet to regain spells and power. The insectoids are defeated but it looks as if Khore-1 is quite damaged and advises that only time and being close to the KHORE - the large sphere at the centre of Fera - will heal it, where it and Gothi transported to. Khore-1 offers to 'hide the party behind a forcefield, a useful ability it advises that allowed the caretakers to battle the insectoids. This will use much of its power for a full rest - 8 hours -

but the party are tired and supplies and spells depleted so agree. Moving close to a wall, the party look on as Khore-1 looks to shutdown while a glowing blue shield spreads out from it to the walls and all around the Fellowship. A few hours in, the party are awakened to a horrible sight, a vast multitude of swarmers, fifty, hundred, two hundred pass by even clambering over the forcefield Khore-1 created
coming from the passage way ahead towards the hand and thumb - "exit" to the upper world. A strange creature seems to be controlling them, part animal and alien like.. insectoid. It seems to hold a long silver rod that allows it to control the swarmers. The multitude move out of sight up the 'arm' and the Fellowship are able to complete their rest. Khore-1 has minimal power now, but definitely still able to travel with the party. It advises in somewhat broken common, that it can make it to Fera = the head - but will not be able to assist too much due to the massive power expenditure to 'cloak' the party. Using similar ways to travel up the 'arm' - although the inhibiting magical affect stops Obaz's wildshape and polymorph spell. Each time a spiking pain shoots through the druid's head. In the end they able to use a potion of flying to move on!

Travelling up the 'humerus' the party come to the 'shoulder after about a 1/2 hour of flight. A large chamber, a hundred feet wide and another hundred long and at least fifty feet high is seen where in the center is a round tower or large column of silver crystal that is nearly covered in fungus and insectoid carapaces. A number of swarmers can be seen scuttling over and around it.

Khore-1 advises this is one of the main Power Module junctures. It seems the insectoids are trying to convert it to a nest for their clutches of young/infected.. or other nefarious reasons perhaps..

Stealth and avoid or Attack and destroy.. next time, the Fellowship will have to decide.