Goblin Lands 2 Heroic Event 20: The Invasion of the Tomb Factory Part 1


#1

There was once a series of electrical pulses, a possibility that corresponded to a specific thought pattern that seemed to traverse most species across the many dimensions of the distant shores. It started before reality as we know it began, in a time when the Nightmare Lords acted as hosts and caregivers over the Ancient Evils.
There was a balanced cycle of actions of the Ancient Evils and their Nightmare Lords, who cared for their needs in exchange for feeding off the darkest thoughts of their passengers.
The Nightmare Lords became powerful, and some became haughty. One of these was Dako’tha, whose passenger was the Lesser evil who first codified and began to feed off this specific series of electrical pulses. It realized that as the Nightmare Lords of different Ancient Evils fought over territory, energy and mater, it could introduce chaotic elements that would drive the different orders into war.
Now called Warmonger this lesser evil drew thousands of Nightmare Lords to its worship. Its darkest thoughts were particularly potent, and the fears it could emanate were like seductive drugs to the Nightmare Lords who joined in this evil service. Through their worship first it became a Greater fiend and finally an equal in power to the four Ancient Evils, who were greater than all lesser evils and fiends.
But these were in the days before our dimension spread from the first possibility, and once our dimension was underway, and our timeline secure in its reality, the Nightmare Lords were all hunted down in various wars. Thought most Nightmare Lords still loved the Ancient Evils, only Dako’tha survived. His name was spelled different ways by different groups, and his true name may have even been lost to time. But his ship had been destroyed above the planet Der’al, known as Refuge to the Children of the Falosini and the Earthers.
His ship had been scattered across the planet, and later its largest wreak would draw the Children of the Falosini to build their Falling Star Homeforge. Smaller sections of the Nightmare Lord vessel, massive in its size, were scattered across the planet’s surface as it broke up.

One of these pierced the sea south of Vima, carving an island out of a penninsula. This site would become the laboratory of the Vulite Production Facilities on Refuge during the K’ias Wars. Holys of the line of Vul was placed in charge of the production facility, and he faithfully served. The multitudes of Warmonger’s Dead and K’ias Warwalkers produced at this facility were some of the finest quality in the war.

When the Shattered Horn Wartribe destroyed the nearby City of the Sea Kings, Holys’ factory became a tomb factory. Down in its depths, where the darkest of warmonger’s influence remained he was trapped. Pierced and held down. In constant agony. Awaiting his freedom, awaiting his vengeance.

Is it any surprise that such a font of negative energies would draw an old soul from across the Galaxy?

The being was known as The Usurper. Little more than demonic energy patterns, this single entity had caused the entire K’ias Wars by bringing about the possession of Emperor Mar’un’ga by the Warmonger.
In the Quall Civil War of 2219, the Twins Ardana and Andara HiveQueen were set upon each other by the Usurper.

And here he sat inbetween these two events, on Refuge, watching the Coherent Light Displays as they showed the approaching forces. Stealth meant little to the lifeform scanners developed by the K’ias as part of their defensive structures. If it was living and approaching, no amount of stealth would keep it safe.

So much had been of the systems functionality had been restored. At first when the strange Dead Captain Castiel had come offering a true Sylvan command crystal and saboteurs, the Usurper thought him a bad liar. Then the Lur Union Fightercraft, the UtR Destroyer and the Rhug’na’ru biplanes had killed off the Usurper’s Anti Aircraft enhanced Dead, leaving him to rely on only magi cannons which were being deflected by the enemy shields. He gave in and in desperation, let Captain Castiel attach the command crystal.

Now instead the Usurper was ready for a full airborne assault. The coherent light displays were so intiuitive. On his next trip to the past he would have to thank the Sylvan for their wonderous technology. It really did make waging war more efficient.

His sensor console was going wild, it seemed the tidal waves striking the south side of the island was weakening the walls there. War always had so many interesting variables, and as each of his enemies unleashed their variables on him, he would counter. The shields erected across the advancing armada would prevent his own Dead soldier’s magi cannons from piercing the vessels. And the sylvan command crystal allowed him to activate a beautiful solution. The Usurper suspected he needed to offer Unit 7756 and their Captain a job.

His fingers tapped across symbols of ancient long lost language. Finally it settled on the activation key. The Usurper took a moment to relish the thought of the long dormant weapon he would be unleashing on his enemies. Praise be to Warmonger, he said with glee.

Deep in the depths of the factory, walls shifted, and moved to allow the large weapons assembly to slide into place. Ancient sacrophagi held prepared corpses of Falosini, Sylvan, Aegelis, and Llanderu, each mounted to strong bindings, and pierced from behind by a brain leech nightmare.

The weapon assembly, extended from the Tomb Factory like a tower, opening like an umbrella with a different animated dead planar knight on its spokes.

In one was a Falosini, his head and shoulders covered by a skull-like crude iron mask of seemingly poured iron, held in an eterenal scream. Its blue glowing eyes suddenly flickered on, and it began to scream the scream of the dead.


#2

Altered memories flooded the undead Falosini, who tried to raised its bound hands while a beam fired from its chest. As the beam struck airships, a sound of horror echoed across the crews. They found their controls unresponsive and their vessels plunging towards the deadly inlet below.

One ship of Baribur design fired off a salvo of eight magi cannon shots before it fell. The beams sheared through the Falosini’s coffin cannon. The Usurper’s hands flew across the display, altering the memory programming in the moments before that barrel was destroyed. The Undead Falosini fell from its binding, burned and in confusion. Its last commands were clear, it flew back towards the Tomb Factory, entering through a hangar bay that had been destroyed in a fight with an Olgog Vampire the day before the battle. The vampire had escaped, but the damaged hanger made an effective landing site for the Dead Falosini. The Usurper was sure his keystrokes had been right, the Advanced Model Warmonger’s Dead would return to defend him and the factory floor.

The Usurper switched barrels and brought up a coffin holding a Dead Sylvan, its horns buffed down to nubs, and its fur had fallen off of most of its body. The brain leech nightmare piercing its head began undulating as new instructions flooded through it and into the Dead Sylvan. Its eyes opened revealing empty pits. From its body shook a waveform that extended out towards the carrier craft and the stone and crystal began to crack. The Usurper once again laughed gleefully.

The Olgog Fleet was now in a full battle with them. Deadwings against Lur Union Fighters and Rhug’na’ru biplanes. The Usurper smiled as he saw another faction coming towards them. The gunpods and sleek technological vehicles were rushing in, firing a hail of missiles. The Dead Sylvan Coffin Cannon fired again, this time the metals that made up the missiles reversed direction from the sylvan. The weapons were torn apart in mid-air, their wreakage hurled backwards into the EEF squadron. Starfighters were torn from the sky. A single AAV and a pair of bombers escaped unharmed

Moments later one of the bombers was crushed by the Dead Sylvan, its metal piercing inward and killing the pilot and crew. As it fell from the sky, the bombs inside detonanted and the pressure wave caused the AAV to spiral down towards the Tomb Factory, crashing into its side.

The sensors flashed, and a visual display showed a strange Nightmare mutant and a group of badly wounded EEF Exorcists. The Usurper picked up a commcrystal and whispered, “Unit 111 deploy to collect a squad of guests. Show them excesssive force and offer to lead them here. If they come, remove their weapons. If they don’t come peacefully, kill them all.”

Another alarm went off and an image of the lower level filling with water was shown by the sensors. The Usurper got up and cursed a stream of unexpected combinations of bodyparts and actions. The entire lower level had been opened up to the flooding ocean waters. A large hobtor armored strider was smashing apart the lower levels and letting in the sea.

The Usurper watched as his entire access to Deadwing and Dead Warmachine protocols and parts shut down on the console. Saltwater had flooded the equipment, and it had shut itself off to protect sensitive parts. They were safely covered in sheathes of nightmare flesh that would not wear away in the salt water. But if they moved and were exposed to it, the equipment would quickly wear away.
The Usurper growled and stood up, pacing for a bit. Then he raised a commcrystal, “Captain Castiel, join with Unit 111 and secure the airships now floating in the inlet. More Olgogs will be sinking soon.”

The Usurper turned his attention towards an unknown ship that was seperate from the bomber, the Zepplins and biplanes that were the only other vessels to stay aloft after the last two attacks. The Usurper suddenly recognized the artifact that lay across its prow like a protective amulet.
A beam of coherent Light Leyas blasted from the artifact and sheared through the Coffin Cannon. It bought enough time for the last remaining bomber to deploy its payload over the weapons tower containing the coffin cannon.

The Usurper raged, twenty two weaponized planar knights destroyed by the combination of attacks. The Coffin Cannon was gone, but the majority of the attacking fleet was too.

Deadwings and Biplanes were still dancing the dance of death in the skies above. The Rhug’na’ru Zepplins were peppering the Usurper’s anti-aircraft positions with rocket fire, keeping their magi cannons from cutting the big balloons from the sky.

A sudden alert showed a cloaked aircraft depositing a trio of church of one soldiers on the damaged docking slip. The Usurper would have to get that section fixed sooner, rather than later. The spirit scopes mounted to the crystalline matrices transferred back information that piqued the Usurper’s interest.

He raised another commcrystal, saying, “Under-Captain Addak, approach the Inquisitor with a large force, and bring them to me. I have a proposition for our new guests.”

“Sir Please send Under-Captain Aggog, we are currently under fire by hostile dead,” said the voice through the commcrystal, “The experimental labs have been taken. I count nearly fifty dead already holding positions. They bear the auras of The Disciples of Krodnok.”

The Usurper said, “Let them take it, but cut them off from any of the production equipment. I will deal with them once the invasion is ended.”

“Yes Sir,” issued the reply from Under-Captain Addak followed by the sound of sustained magi cannon fire.

Suddenly explosions rocked through the entire Tomb Factory.


#3

Alerts sprung up across the coherent light displays. Explosions from magi cannon overloads throughout the factory had erupted. The superstructure and substructure began to weaken. The Usurper felt the entire command room tilt as sections of the roof fell in around him.

When the shaking finally stopped, the entire layout of the Tomb Factory had been altered. Entire floors had been crushed, others now opened up to the sea and flooded further. What had once been an orderly factory was now in ruins. It was still connected, now by cracked tunnels and catwalks hanging over nightmare filled pools of seawater.

His fortress for a perfect intergalactic war was now revealed to be far too unreliable. He was grateful in a way he had discovered these weaknesses before he faced a full Children of the Falosini attack.

The door to the now damaged command chamber opened and in walked Under-Captain Khemra with an honor guard of Dead Warmachines and Dead Planar Knights.

“Sir the entire factory is in turmoil. It seems the vampire that raided yesterday did not steal the cannons as Under-Captain Aggog reported. They were secreted around the factory,” said Under-Captain Khemra, “And they just detonated.”

“Pull our forces back around from throughout the factory. Leave the lower levels to the nightmares. The seawater will prevent the machines from being activated. Keep the Disciples of Krodnok pinned down to laboratory levels. Keep them away from the command center. If any of them want to act as a diplomat, disarm them and bring them here peacefully. I am sure we can come to some decisions.”

“What about the airships on the rocks outside and those in the water?” asked Khemra.

“Keep the Dead Planar Knights alert to any shields the Olgog crews create, rip them apart and leave them bare to our magi cannon fire,” said the Usurper, “They must understand they will be cut down if they resist.”

“And then?” asked the befuddled dead soldier.

“Then offer them a diplomatic solution. A deal, where they get to withdraw with their forces and the bodies of their dead unmolested,” said the Usurper with a gleam in his eyes.

“Why not just gun them down?” asked the Under-Captain.

“We kill them here we don’t make an example of them,” said the Usurper, “We make them martyrs, and their tribes will continue to attack us forever just to avenge them. We get them to withdraw with their playthings and make a deal to end this…unnecessary violence.”

“Mercy, but…we have them,” said the Under-Captain, “We can cut them down right now!”

“Who said anything about mercy?” asked the Usurper, “I simply said we let them withdraw, to take their wounded pride with them. If I wipe them out today, the warfare ends until the next generation. We let them leave with their warmachines so that warfare may continue and our master may feed.
They apparently hid some water elementals under the waves. That big rock carrier should have sunk like a stone, but some Ice is keeping it up. Keep and eye for any summoned pests.”

“Yes Sir,” said the Under-Captain, “But if they resist we can still shoot the Olgogs right?”

“Of course Khemra, of course,” said the Usurper, “And contact the other under-captains and have the other representatives brought to us.”

“A veriftable feast?” asked Khemra angrily, “Shall we set out the fineraries and raid the wine casks?”

The Usurper turned on him snarling, “Question me again Under-Captain and I will grant you a retirement in the boxes.”

Under-Captain Khemra bowed and walked out, sealing the door with the Warmachines to guard the Usurper.

The Usurper keyed in another command and watched as the remaining Dead Wings pulled back.
The Olgog Zepplins moored themselves to the damaged tower and Olgog immutables slid down ropes.
One hefted a machinegun and began firing at nearby dead. To the Olgog’s confusion the rounds didn’t even slow down the Dead who counter attacked with ferocity.

At this range their rockets couldn’t be fired without killing their own troops.

The Usurper raised another commcrystal, “Under-Captain Thotis offer the Immutables to parlay. If they disagree shoot them down.”

The Usurper sat down once again at the console. The number of dead were limited. He would need a new source of bodies. He looked whistfully at the screen, he could always just slaughter them all out there. But no he had promised revenge to another.

A beautiful looking Uthvelor maiden walked from the shadows. Her skin-tight armor was heavily plated with falsewyrm scales, but covered by flowing silks that were scented with perfume.

“Beautiful Miala Nial, I missed your cruel eyes,” said the Usurper.

“I have found the two Hiveminds that you could pry apart and in so doing set fire to the Quall Hives,” said the Uthvelor Maiden.

“Yes, yes Andara and Ardana Hivequeens,” said the Usurper, “I have contacted them, and have built my place in both their lives, but you have not yet given me the memory that will be the prybar.”

“I have it now,” said Miala Nial, “But I want something from you.”

“What is that?” asked the Usurper.

“I want the Orbs, the ones that contain the essence of Warmonger,” sai Miala Nial, “I want to unleash their power on these lands and torment the people who killed my sister Dyrisha.”

“I cannot give them to you,” said the Usurper, “But I can give you a map to collect them.”

“I will take it,” said the Uthvelor as she leaned over and began whispering into the Usurper’s ear.
His smile grew from ear to ear.


#4

Losses
(Directly caused by Unit 7756 giving the Usurper the original Command Crystal of the Sylvan Warship with all its advanced combat interfaces, allowing a full activation of the Tomb Factory’s defenses. No One knows that Unit 7756 gave the Usurper the crystal that won the battle, and no one knows who the Usurper physically is in the form of.)
All Airships that use Air Artificings (Levitate, Fly etc) involved in this battle have had the artificing ripped away by the Leyas lvl 6 ability Destroy Ward cast at 8 successes. This includes the Baribur Explorer Airship. It will take two weeks in-game to repair the damage and restore the artificings (as long as all the tribes there work together and don’t simply teleport away to escape).

Any Sylvan tech craft will also be damaged for two weeks and also cannot be deployed for two weeks while the repairs are being accomplished (and damaged crystal structures regrown).

The Tomb Factory’s defenses are now fully operational, it cannot be conquered with the vehicles and weapons available to the Olgog Tribals at this time.
Unit 111 gains 4 Dead Falosini, 4 Dead Sylvan, 4 Dead Llandreu, and 4 Dead Aegelis who each have an element at lvl 6 and gain 8 success on using that element.

Successes (Caused by Unit 817’s attack)
Large portions of the underground Tomb factory have been flooded or collapsed. Portions have been sealed off and closed off by artificed cannons. The sections devoted to Dead Warmachine and Deadwing production are now completely submerged and cannot be accessed or activated without weeks of repair work. A large section of the Experimentation Labs survived the attack and is held by Krodnok’s dead, but only one corridor connects it to the Command Hub which is still under control of the Usurper, Unit 7756 and Unit 111.
Unit 111 and Unit 7756 can still mass produce Warmongers Dead Olgogs BUT NOT Warmachines, Warwalkers, Deadwings, Special Types of Warmonger’s Dead, or other bio-organic weapons.

Krodnok’s Dead can now begin experimentation on creating new Special Types of Dead soldiers using the Experimentation equipment still working on the sections they have taken.

Rewards

Krodnok gains access to sections of the Experimentation Labs of Holys. Its parts kit includes 5 Fiendish Greatswords, 5 Nightmare Driven Scalpel Arrays, 5 Bomb Juggler (each of these weapons are produced by crystals and necrotech parts that must be attached to a specific dead and requires the entire section of body be removed to transfer to another dead). See warmonger Dead Warmachine upgrades page 65 Goblin lands. These upgrades are alone and do not include the other Dead Warmachine upgrades. They may be combined on the same dead unit if desired due to their experimental mounts.

Kul Gul Rapi gains Kulal, Running Gog. Kulal now gains a Run 16 that he can sustain for one full day without exhaustion if needed. This allows him to catch up with escaping ground vehicles. He may also leap at a leap 16 to catch air vehicles.

Unit 817 gains parts from 10 damaged Dead Wings (including weapons) and 10 damaged Warwalkers (without weapons). These cannot be rebuilt seperately and need to be combined to make 10 vehicles. It can either be 10 of the same vehicles (or variants) or two different types of vehicles and variants or a set of unique vehicle prototypes. They also gain, Sealed Away the route to Holys under tons of rubble, hidden under flooded caverns.

Lord Mada gains Penguins Learn to Swim. The penguins gain the Aquatic nightmare upgrade allowing them full functionality under the water inside and outside their power armor. They have a swim 15 speed when outside of power armor and a swim 10 in power armor. During part 3 Lord Mada also gains Penguin Surprise Attack!! The Penguins can make one completely unexpected attack on the Unit 111 troops or Unit 111 vehicles during Mission Invasion of the Tomb Factory Part 3.

Rhugnaru learns Warmonger’s Dead don’t give a damn about guns. Only by beheading them can an Olgog take it down with a firearm. They also gain, Only Eyes in the Sky for Invasion of the Tomb Factory 3.

Uriel, Lord Grimaldus (Red Bishop Declaire, Inquisitor Beauregard, and Inquisitor Leon Patrotcha), Kolgol, Lord Mada, Rhug’na’ru, Lalder, Unit 7756, Unit 817, Derlur the Nomad, Krodnok, Ka Gor Tribe, Yagogi’al may select from their characters present who will represent them in Invasion into the Tomb Factory 2 Diplomatic Mission. They also gain 1 box worth of powdered undead bones (can be used to forge Gravedust ammunition, does chill dmg, can make up to 1,000 small rounds, or 500 .50 cal machinegun or 50 cannon rounds.
Requires ammosmith skill or equivalent (like an alchemist)

Lalder gains Id was captured trying to infiltrate the Carrier with bombs. Many Olgogs killed but rezzed after bombing that coincided with Id’s capture.
Proof of Unit 7756 disloyalty.
Lalder also gains the Artifact of Light recovered by Lurtor from the Tomb of Mag Buskt saves the Destroyer. The Destroyer is still functional and currently providing backup to the Rhug’na’ru Zepplins.
It gains One Free Shot during Invasion of the Tomb Factory part 3.

Lord Grimaldus’ Red Bishop Declaire, Inquisitor Beauregard, and Inquisitor Leon Patrotcha learn that Warmonger’s Dead already have their spirit’s reaped by Warmonger and cannot make Soul Contracts.
They also are being kept with the Olgog tribals as if they are equal enemies of the Unit 111.

Unit 7756 gains one vehicle or one weapon created by Unit 111 for them (pick 4 Elemental Leyas abilities at 8 successes for this single epic item of Evil)

Agent Candy gains Riding +1 Skill. Falsewyrm Ballgag gains +4 Move rate.