The Hermit Scientist

On the way to the ruin, they found an abandoned city and came to a burning body in a dumpster. While trying to investigate, they were ambushed by Wylders, screaming for the Gratus scum to die. The party dispatched them quickly and noticed a tunnel leading down. Strangely, it was already well lit and seemed to have had people in recently. They took the APC down as far as it will go, with Sakiran and Flea leading the way.

As they looked around, an unknown being with a huge eye, many disjointed limbs and metal bolted onto flesh examined all of the party. It took a special interest in Carl after disregarding Flea and Sakiran and did not seem to wish to be hostile, merely expressing a curiosity. It charmed Carl and picked him up, trying to obtain a "sample". Seeing Carl in a vulnerable state, Sakiran fell into a blind rage and swung at the being, taking a chunk off it. It expressed irritation.

Carl broke free from the charm effect and tried to ask if it is a friend. It said "friend" is a subjective term and will eliminate the Drow, but could consider being friendly with Carl. As it said this, Sakiran is grabbed by the creature as she jumps towards it. It examines her as she roars, unable to speak from the animalistic rage. He then produced a needle to take a sample from her. The being then tried to take a sample from Carl and he lets it happen, squirming in pain. It injected something into him then pulled his blood out. Sakiran tried to whip her tail around but the creature grabs it. It held her by it, examining her from all angles as fear took over from the rage. It then took from the base of the spine and she fell ten feet.

While she was on the floor, Flea called for a truce and wished to enquire about what this place is - subject, of course, to Sakiran being able to come out of her rage. The drop to the floor knocked her to her senses and she stood up, her heart thudding but unable to recall in detail why this was. Jaxon came out of his hiding place. The being expressed joy at a reasonable person, even if he was a half-breed.

The being introduced himself as Dr Ardelle, then took the samples and vials given to him and explained to Flea what it was - nanophage. The doctor tells Carl he has mental retardation due to pressure on brain stem caused by the wings being inside his body for his whole life, but seemed to be recovering due to pressure being lifted. Dr Ardelle offered to make his wings fold as they should, since they are permanently unfurled, and Flea put him to sleep for the operation.

Once the operation was done, Dr Ardelle showed the party the many amorphous beings along the windows in the room, growing over tubes and metal, disjointed eyes and organs floating in the vats. Ardelle was marvelling over its creations, stating it is the pinnacle of elvenkind, as the party reacted with quiet disgust. He says even he shared ancestry with both Sakiran and Flea as an Altarnie elf himself.

Then he told Sakiran that her DNA is more susceptible to nanophage and Drow were designed as underground beings, but her Drow have lived for many years above ground. He and Flea talk in ancient Elvish, which the rest of the party cannot understand. After their conversation, Dr Ardelle grew cold and turned to examine someone else.

He asked Jaxon for a sample and he refused, running away. When he tried to take it forcefully by hacking into Jaxon with saws and tools, Flea heated the metal on his being and killed him. Sakiran found metal boxes in some drawers and asks what they are. Flea did not know and Jaxon did not either. Flea keeps hold of most of them. Carl explained that they are ancient Altarnie storage devices, though did not know how he knows this. He complained of a headache and the party went back to the APC to rest and head to the Titan ruin.