Surviving the Simulation: The Grand Crusade

The air was heavy with a metallic tang as Xander led his team back down the narrow stairway, each step echoing softly in the confined space. The ancient stone walls were cold to the touch, their surfaces slick with condensation. As they descended further into the depths, the distant hum of unseen machinery grew louder, resonating through the walls like a heartbeat deep beneath the earth. At last, they reached the bottom, the stairs leveling out into a wide, imposing doorway that marked the entrance to the Vault of Forgotten Rails.

A design of intricately carved metalwork, with intertwined gears and pistons, both artistic and functional, framed the entrance. A faint scent of oil and rust lingering in the background. It was a smell that spoke of age, of long-forgotten industry, and of a place left to slumber.

"This looks like another one of those mechanical dungeons," Zoey said. "Doesn't this remind you of that place in your hometown? The one with the automations and the rat people."

Xander nodded, his gaze steady as he took in the details. "Yeah. This place has the same feel. But it's been a while…"

"Important safety tip for anyone who hasn't done one of these. It looks like this may be a mechanical dungeon. If that's the case, it's going to be full of different arcane automations. Some of which may be non-hostile. Do NOT kill the non-hostile ones. We only have one data point, but the last time we did, it was like flipping on a hard mode for the dungeon."

With a deep breath, Xander stepped through the doorway, and the rest of the team followed closely behind. The room beyond was large, almost cavernous, its walls lined with massive support beams that seemed to disappear into the darkness above. Dim light filtered through the space, emanating from the magical sconces along the walls. Only every third or fourth sconce was working, casting long, shifting shadows that made the room feel more like a dimly lit office building in the evening than a subterranean dungeon.

Congratulations! The Vault of Forgotten Rails is a marvel of arcane engineering, a sprawling subterranean labyrinth where the beauty of industrial design meets the mystique of ancient magic. Within its depths, the vault is home to a host of formidable denizens. Automations fused with magic, their bodies blending cold steel and enchanted energy. These guardians, remnants of a forgotten age, patrol the dungeon's corridors with unyielding purpose, their movements precise and unrelenting, ready to challenge any who dare to disturb the sanctity of the Vault.

There was a cold, sterile feeling to the place, as if it had been waiting for someone to enter for a very long time. Despite the sense of anticipation that hung in the air, the room itself was eerily silent, with no sound except for the faint hum of the magical lighting and the distant, rhythmic thrum of machinery somewhere deep within the vault.

"Called it," Zoey said, keeping her voice low to avoid attracting any unwanted attention until the team was ready.

The room was mostly empty, with bare walls and no furniture. It was the complete opposite to the entry room to the Library of Whisper Shadows. In the far corner, Xander's Cat's Sight ability exposed two shapes in the dim light. He signaled to the others, and they approached cautiously.

Lying on the cold stone floor were two bodies, similar to the adventurer they had found earlier. Rugged adventuring gear clothed both bodies, but they showed no signs of life. The gear was mundane, worn but functional, and like the previous body. It looked like they had been down here for days and had survived the start of the reboot. Xander knelt beside one corpse, his expression darkening as he inspected the scene.

"Same as before," he said. "These people were adventurers, just like the one we found above. It doesn't look like they've been here long."

Jo crouched beside the other body, her fingers carefully searching through the adventurer's pack. "More supplies, but nothing magical. It looks like they had medical gear, but most of it's been used up, just like the one outside. Probably tried to patch themselves up before…" she trailed off, her voice fading into the quiet of the room.

Ford frowned, his eyes narrowed as he examined the surroundings. "So they made it this far, then something got them. But there's no sign of a struggle here. Whatever happened, it must have been deeper inside. Not sure I like the implications of what we're going to find further in."

Xander stood, his gaze fixed on the single passageway that led further into the dungeon. Dim, flickering light bathed the hallway, obscuring its depths in shadow. The sense of foreboding was palpable, almost as if the dungeon itself was trying to warn them off as they prepared to move forward.

Zoey glanced at the bodies, then back at Xander. "This place was meant to be found," she said, her tone serious. "The locomotives, the supplies, and now a dungeon just waiting underneath it all. It's almost like a test, or a trap."

Xander nodded, his jaw clenched as he considered their next move. "Agreed. We need to find out what's going on here, but we can't afford to be reckless. There is also the unlikely reality that we just don't know the motivations of the AI yet and this could be something they did for no reason."

"Unlikely, while we don't know for sure, but if these are true sentient AI, then everything they do is going to have a reason. Let's just hope it's not a generic kill the players type reason," Jo said.

"Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is the train," Xander replied.

The team exchanged looks, the gravity of the situation settling in. This wasn't just another dungeon. It was part of something bigger, something that tied into the events that had led them here. But for now, they had to focus on the task at hand.

Xander hefted his spear. "Let's move out," he said, his voice calm but resolute. "We'll take it one step at a time."

The dim light of the magical sconces flickered along the walls as Xander's team moved deeper into the Vault of Forgotten Rails. The rhythmic hum of the unseen machinery provided a constant, unsettling backdrop to their journey, its cadence like a heartbeat echoing through the cold, industrial corridors. It was unclear if the hum was being generated by actual machinery or just some trick of the dungeon to create atmosphere.

Wyatt held the front line. He was a younger but seasoned fighter from Harvey's team, whose broad shoulders and confident stride offered a reassuring presence as they navigated the darkened passages.

Xander, his spear held at the ready, followed closely behind Wyatt, his eyes constantly scanning for any signs of movement. Jo walked to his right, her sword gleaming faintly in the low light, while Zoey, with her bow drawn and an arrow nocked, covered the rear. Ford walked in the center, his mace hanging at his side, ready to heal or defend as needed.

The first encounter came quickly, as the team rounded a corner and came face to face with a pair of patrolling automations. These were smaller constructs, humanoid in shape, with sleek metal bodies and glowing, crystalline eyes. Their limbs moved with a mechanical precision, and they emitted a faint whirring sound as they turned to face the intruders.

"Contact!" Wyatt barked, raising his sword to intercept the nearest automation.

Xander lunged forward, the tip piercing through the chest plate of the second construct. Sparks flew as the spear struck something vital, and the automation jerked back, its movements becoming erratic before it collapsed in a heap of metal and gears.

Jo was already on the first one, her sword flashing as she hacked through its joints. The construct staggered but retaliated, swinging a bladed arm toward her. She ducked under the strike and drove her sword into its side, cutting through the arcane energy core that powered it. The automation shuddered, then fell, its glowing eyes dimming as it slumped to the ground.

Zoey, monitoring the rear, moved to check the corridor behind them. "All clear," she reported.

"Good work," Xander said, pulling his spear free from the wreckage of the automation. "Let's keep moving."

They continued down the corridor, the light from the sconces growing sparser, leaving longer stretches of shadow between the pools of illumination. The sense of foreboding deepened as they progressed.

The next challenge came as a trap. As they approached a junction in the corridor, Wyatt abruptly halted, his hand raised in warning. "Hold up. Floor's different here."

Zoey knelt to inspect the floor ahead, noticing the subtle difference in texture. "Pressure plate," she said. "We'll need to disable it or find another way around."

Ford stepped forward, his cleric's mace replaced with a small, intricately carved tool. "I've got this," he said, crouching down to examine the trap carefully. After a few moments of delicate tinkering, there was a soft click, and Ford straightened, satisfied. "Should be safe now."

"How'd you do that?" Xander inquired.

"Well, rogue classes can do it better, but anyone can learn to disarm a trap. Just more chances of it blowing up in my face," Ford grinned.

"Ok, learn something new every day," Xander replied. "Good work."

They stepped over the now-disabled trap and continued down the corridor. The temperature was dropping as they ventured deeper into the dungeon. The next patrol they encountered was more formidable. A trio of automations, larger and more heavily armored than the previous ones, with thick, reinforced plates and bladed appendages.

Wyatt charged forward without hesitation, his sword meeting the lead automation's blade with a resounding clash. Xander flanked to the left, his spear darting in to strike at the joints and exposed cables, while Jo took the right. Zoey, standing further back, released arrow after arrow, each one finding a weak point in the constructs' armor and disrupting their movements.

One automation turned its attention to Ford, prioritizing the healer as a potential threat after Ford had cast a healing spell on Wyatt. It lunged toward him, but Ford was ready, raising his hands. A wave of divine energy surged forward, pushing back the automation and causing it to falter momentarily. Wyatt seized the opportunity, driving his sword into the automation's chest and tearing through its core.

The final automation fell soon after, its pieces clattering to the ground. The team took a moment to catch their breath, the quiet of the dungeon returning around them, broken only by the still constant hum of the machinery.

"Looks like we're getting closer to a boss chamber," Zoey remarked, as she retrieved one of her arrows from the wreckage.

Xander nodded, his eyes narrowing as he glanced down the corridor. "Stay sharp. If we're seeing heavier patrols, it means we're near something important, be it boss, puzzle, or treasure."

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They pressed on, the corridor eventually opening into a large, high-ceilinged chamber. A massive, rusted gear mechanism dominated the room embedded in the far wall, its size dwarfing anything they had seen so far. The dim light from the sconces revealed faint traces of old bloodstains on the floor. What was most surprising was the tunnel entering from left and right side of the room. Two pairs of rail tracks ran in one tunnel and out the other.

Standing in the doorway, Xander pointed with his spear. "Boss room for sure, and it looks like we found the rest of the adventuring party." Across the room were three more bodies. Xander couldn't tell much about them, other than it was clear they were wearing adventuring gear and were very dead.

Just off to the side of the tracks in the center of the room, standing motionless, was the first dungeon boss. It was a humanoid automation, floating and surrounded by interlocking rings of metal and arcane crystals. The rings' arcs of lightning leap, and its central core pulses with energy. Immense energy unleashed by the boss scorched the ground beneath it, as if punishing anyone who dared enter its domain.

[Analyze] The Conductor | Level: 12 Boss | Status: Hostile | Class: War Mage

"Boy, this doesn't look good," Wyatt said. "How about I grab the boss's attention? Xander and Jo try to get on its back side. Leave an opening for Zoey to rain down death."

"Sounds like a plan!" Xander said, "You're up Wyatt. Hit it!"

As soon as Wyatt stepped over the threshold of the room, the Conductor's head turned toward them, its face an impassive, dark void with only the faintest glow where its eyes should have been. The surrounding air crackled with energy, and then, with a hollow, mechanical voice, it spoke: "Ticket, please."

Without warning, the Conductor released a surge of energy. Lightning streaked through the air, arcing toward the adventurers. Xander barely had time to dive to the side, the bolt grazing his arm and leaving a searing pain in its wake. Ford raised his hand, quickly muttering a prayer, and a protective barrier shimmered into existence around Wyatt, absorbing some of the energy. The crackling power still forced its way through the rest of the group, leaving them momentarily stunned.

The Conductor tilted its head slightly, as if assessing their resistance, and then, in a voice dripping with icy contempt, it intoned, "These passengers have no tickets!"

A high-pitched whine filled the room as the Conductor's core flared with bright, blinding light. From behind the front line, Zoey shouted, "Incoming!" Her voice cutting through the static noise filling the room just as the Conductor finished powering up.

Lightning rained down from above, striking the surrounding ground with explosive force. Wyatt grunted as a took the brunt of the attack as a bolt clipped his shoulder, sending him stumbling back. The rest of the team dodged much of the attack, but every party member received some level of electrical shock.

Ford was already moving as the attack ended, rushing to Wyatt's side. "Hold still," he commanded, quickly casting a healing spell to knit the worst of the wounds. Wyatt nodded, his jaw clenched against the pain, but his focus never wavered from the Conductor.

Before they could regroup, the room trembled as new constructs emerged from the tunnels. Automatons that resembled humanoid workers, their bodies a mix of metal and gears, with large hammers for hands. Analyse reported them as being Section Hands. The Section Hands clattered onto the tracks, their eyes glowing with the same malevolent light as the Conductor's, and advanced on the adventurers.

"We have company! Here they come!" Jo shouted, her sword flashing as she intercepted the first of the Section Hands. Her blade struck, severing one of the construct's arms in a shower of sparks, but another automaton swung its hammer at her, forcing her to leap back.

Wyatt surged forward, his sword meeting the blow of another Section Hand with a loud clang. "Focus on the big one!" he called over his shoulder. "I'll keep these little ones busy!"

The Conductor watched impassively, its energy growing brighter as it prepared another attack. "Tickets, please," it said once more, its voice echoing eerily as it charged up its lightning attack again.

"Not this time," Xander growled, lunging forward with his spear. He thrust it toward the Conductor, aiming for the glowing core. The spear connected, sending a ripple of energy through the automaton, but it wasn't enough to stop the incoming surge.

The Conductor flared, and for the third time, its hollow voice rang out: "These passengers have no tickets!"

The energy surge ripped through the room, empowering the remaining Section Hands and sending them into a frenzy. The constructs moved faster, their attacks becoming more aggressive as they pushed the adventurers back. Ford swung his mace at an approaching Section Hand, the blow shattering its chest, but the next one was already upon him, forcing him to retreat.

From his flank, Xander caught a glimpse of Zoey atop a pile of debris, her bow drawn tight. The Conductor kept its attention on Wyatt, its core pulsing brighter as it charged with another attack. If Zoey saw an opening, now was the time.

"Let's see if you can handle this," Zoey called out, as she let an arrow fly.

The shot flew true, the arrow piercing through the churning energy and striking the Conductor's core. The automaton shuddered violently, the lightning surrounding it flickering wildly. It emitted a high-pitched screech as the arcane energy within it destabilized.

"Zoey, hit it again!" Xander yelled, realizing the opportunity.

The second arrow struck the same spot, driving deeper into the core. The Conductor convulsed, the light in its eyes dimming as the power sustaining it failed. With one final, desperate surge of energy, the Conductor let out a distorted cry, "These passengers…have…no…tickets!" before the core imploded, the surrounding rings collapsing inwards as the automaton crumpled to the ground in a heap of smoking metal.

Without the Conductor, the remaining Section Hands went down easily under the full attention of the party. As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, the team took a moment to catch their breath. The remains of The Conductor lay sprawled across the floor, its mechanical limbs now lifeless. The air still hummed with residual arcane energy, but the immediate danger had passed.

Wyatt, battered but still standing, glanced over at Zoey and grinned. "Nice shot."

Zoey lowered her bow, a small, satisfied smile on her lips. "Thanks. I'd say that's one conductor who's off duty for good. Oh wait, I have a better one. I'd say he got his own ticket punched! There we go, much better. Take two."

Trying not to laugh at Zoey's post battle stress joking, Xander stepped forward, tapping the remnants of the Conductor with the end of his spear, ensuring it was truly down. "Everyone alright?" he asked, glancing around the team.

"Eh, Wyatt got a little toasted, but most everyone else is ok," Ford replied, already beginning to heal the team's more serious injuries. "Nothing I can't handle."

Jo sheathed her sword, brushing ash from her tunic. "That was too close, but it's dead and we're not. What now?"

Xander looked at the fallen automaton, then at the dark tunnels that stretched out from the room. "Now, we keep going. I have a feeling it's going to be a long day if the first boss's difficultly was this level."

"Woah now, let's not get ahead of ourselves and head off yet. You forgot the most important part of any dungeon," Zoey beamed as she made her way to two nearby chests, "The loot!"

"You're right, sorry I got a head of myself. Plus, Ford, see if you can find any ID on those two guys over there," Xander said, pointing toward the remains of the other adventurers that had attempted the boss before them.

The bodies were like the others they had found throughout the dungeon. Adorned in mismatched leather armor that barely provided any protection. Ford's gaze softened as he studied their faces, the remnants of youthful enthusiasm and arrogance still etched into their lifeless features.

As he searched through their belongings, his hand brushed against something soft, crumpled inside the tattered remains of a backpack. It was a journal, worn and stained, but still intact. Ford flipped through the pages, quickly scanning the entries.

The words painted a vivid picture of a group of teenage boys, full of bravado and excitement. They had survived the initial chaos when the simulation rebooted, and, like characters in a storybook, they had reveled in the chance to live out their wildest fantasies. But what had started as a thrilling adventure quickly turned deadly. The dungeon was no playground, and the boys had realized too late that it wasn't a game they could win.

One entry caught Ford's eye: "This place is just like that dumb old museum upstairs Grandpa used to drag me to, with all those lame trains. Maybe we'll find some useful loot in this place if it isn't all stupid train stuff. Still, I'm pretty sure we can handle the dungeon?"

Ford sighed and closed the journal, slipping it into his pack. Among the adventurers' scattered gear, Ford salvaged a small but useful assortment of medical supplies. They weren't in the best condition, but they would do.

As Ford rejoined the Xander and Jo, he commented, "Just a bunch of kids who thought they were the main characters."

"That's unfortunate," Jo replied. "Find any names? Doubt we'll find their families, but just in case we do…"

"Yeah, one of them kept a journal. I have it here in my pocket," Ford replied, patting the pocket of his backpack.

Across the room, Zoey had just cracked open the first chest. Xander couldn't help but actually laugh this time, as she looked like a kid on Christmas morning pulling out various items. Inside, she found several skill books, all related to combat techniques. Skill books were always a sought-after commodity. Not only were they something useful to the team directly, but they also traded very well. Xander was of the opinion that the team should use them if they were remotely useful instead of being traded, but as with most things, it was always situation based on the book itself.

But it was the other items that caught the group's attention. The first was a sleek one-handed sword with pulsing blue runes running the length of the blade. It had a distinctly Victorian look to it that blended functionality with style. The second item was a gorgeous midnight blue cloak with a hood that was almost bordering on being black. As Zoey held it up for the rest of the group to see, the edges seemed to blur. The last item was a shiny brass pocket watch with an ornate chain.

At the bottom of the chest, beneath the items, lay a small pouch. Zoey opened it to find 250 gold coins.

"Not a bad haul," Zoey remarked.

"Don't forget, we have a deal with Harvey, so this is going to be split ten ways," Xander reminded her while taking a look at the stats of the three items they'd found starting with the sword.

Rail Breaker
Quality: Epic
Enchantments: Chain Lightning, Overcharge
Description: This one-handed longsword named Rail Breaker is a sleek, dark blade forged from the rails of ancient, forgotten tracks. The runes extend the length of the blade and pulse with a faint blue glow, reminiscent of a ghostly train cutting through fog. Polished brass forms its hilt, embedded with small gears that whir and click, giving it an ever-present sense of motion. The legendary conductor of a spectral train that haunted the railways once wielded this sword, slicing through anything that dared block its path. Once per day, the wielder may trigger Chain Lightning, causing the next enemy struck to become a conduit arcing lightning out to the near five foes. Each foe, along with the conduit, will take lightning damage and be stunned for five seconds. Three times per day, the wielder may choose to empower their next swing with Overcharge, causing a successful hit to deal twice normal damage. Missing with an Overcharge attack still uses the charge.

Xander didn't even have to look over at Jo to know that she would drool over the sword. Unfortunately, he was also sure that there would be quite the discussion when it came time to divide the loot. Between the two parties, there were at least three people that it would be useful for, maybe even a couple more.

Mantle of Steamsight
Quality: Rare
Enchantments: Pierce the Veil, Steam Aura
Description: A deep blue fabric, seemingly absorbing the surrounding light, weaves this hooded cloak, making its wearer appear a shadow in the gloom. Silver threads, shimmering like molten mercury, trace intricate patterns of swirling steam along the edges, giving the impression of a cloak constantly wreathed in mist. When pulling up the hood, the cloak allows the wearer to see through smoke, steam, and darkness as if it were daylight. With its hood up, the Steam Aura makes the wearer appear as a silhouette in the fog, adding +10 to stealth.

This was going to be another item that everyone was going to want, Xander thought. While no one in either party was a stealth build, the ability to see in the dark was exceptionally over powered. In most game Xander had played in the past, the ability to see in the dark really wasn't a big deal. Mainly because the game developers never really made darkness a major factor because of game play reasons. However, in the real world, darkness was a major factor. His Cat's Sight had proven extremely useful so far.

Moving on to the last item, it was a bit of an oddity. A pocket watch wasn't something that one would expect to find an adventurer carrying, but it fit with the conductor's atheistic, Xander mused.

Steamwinder Pocket Watch
Quality: Uncommon
Enchantments: Tactical Foresight
Description: The Steamwinder Pocket Watch is a timepiece made of bronze, with a face that resembles a battlefield map, complete with moving pieces. A military strategist used the watch to plan his battles to the second. Anyone keeping this pocket watch on their person and not stored in a pack will receive a +2 to dexterity during combat.

Not as useful as the other two pieces of loot, but stat boosts were never something dismiss out of hand. Not for the first Xander wondered why the Simulation felt the need to give a unique to magical effect on items. The pocket watch was a perfect example of what he was thinking about. Why call it Tactical Foresight when the actual bonus was a stat boost active during combat? Pondering for a moment, he concluded that he probably didn't want to the answer, as he was sure the answer would either make no sense or because it would cause even more questions about the Simulation that he didn't want to consider. Where the Simulation came from wasn't really important. It was here and Xander and his friend were part of it now and their thoughts on the matter weren't up for consideration.