Off the Chain, Part 2

The enormous chain golem paces outside the cave, pounding the ground in anger.  The team, gathered inside the remnants of Youric’s cave, nervously pace.  Understandably, they are not eager to face it in combat.  But the ground shakes with every thud of the golem’s fist, and silt and gravel falls from the damaged roof of the cave.  As the party plans their attack, Nyridius has a vision of Windsor.  He sees Windsor, high atop his throne at the ziggurat.  Around him, his horde of flame cultists are building an army of chain golems, just like the one that is outside Youric’s cave.  Nyridius says to the group, “We gotta get our asses out of this cave and stop Windsor!”

Fitzgerald steps out of the cave and into the view of the golem.  Fitzgerald drops his pants to his ankles and fires his boomstick wildly into the air.  The golem is not intimidated, and begins lumbering forward.  As Nyridius explores the back of the cave for exits, Hand Banana and Tao Ren drag the tied up, hollering yeti (who survived the previous battle) out of the cave.  Nyridius has become unnaturally attached to the yeti, and curses them for bringing him into the danger.  As the golem approaches, Little Rock picks up the yeti and hurls it at the golem.  The chain golem smashes his enormous fist into the yeti, reducing it to a red paste across the snow.  “NOOOO!!” cries out Nyridius.

The yeti serves its purpose, though; the distraction gives the team enough time to unleash their most powerful ranged attacks.  Dr. Drizzle teleports outside the cave and behind the golem to split its attention.  The whole team keeps their distance, and fires on the golem from afar.

Their plans are complicated when the golem shoots out chains that ensnare the party and drag them into melee range.  Its punches feel like being lashed with numerous chains.  Little Rock, Fitzgerald, and Drizzle each take heavy damage from even glancing blows. 

The team’s mutations prove to be the deciding factor in this slugfest.  Tao Ren, who mutated infrared vision, notices that there is a person inside the golem piloting it.  Drizzle uses her alien powers to open up a hole in the golem, revealing the cultist pilot.  Tao Ren quickly eliminates him with a critically powerful attack.

Left on autopilot, the golem mindlessly smashes and flails at the team.  Although it takes a long time, the team succeeds in defeating the construct.  The last blow is dealt by Nyridius, who harnesses his rage and mourning over his deceased yeti, and translates it into a glorious fist of justice.  The gigantic chain golem collapses into a heap of junk metal.  The party scavenges for useful supplies, then begins their final journey toward the ziggurat.