Chapter 3.18: The Plane In Between

(Perception 11)
As they enter the training grounds, they can see a small brown beholder floating. It has only four eyestalks instead of ten like Oanoa. They close in on it and it becomes clear this is not a regular beholder. Steam is coming out of its back and bolts stick out of its body. Its eyestalks are actually tubes with each a different kind of crystal on each end. Its central eye is one big translucent crystal with a red glow inside of it.
“This is my first attempt of creating a clockwork spectator. I think it looks rather dashing, don’t you agree?”
Bruq walks up beside Oanoa and turns to him.
“What’s clockwork?”
The confusion on the satyr’s face makes him laugh.
“Yes, that might require a bit of explanation. When you build something out of metal, you can power it with steam, rotating cogwheels and electricity. This automaton - that’s a different word for a clockwork creature - is powered by all of those things and some spare magic crystals I had laying around somewhere. Those are supposed to power its defense mechanisms, similar to the eye rays of real beholderkin. Maybe it all sounds a bit strange, but it’s just an artificial lifeform, just like how Mero uses his body.”
Oslando chuckles.
“Just an artificial lifeform”, he repeats. “You say it like it’s nothing! It looks as impressive as it is terrifying.”
A deep and humming sound emanates from its back as dark smoke blows out of two metal pipes. Its teeth move rhythmically but slowly, making bite gestures. The light bounces off the metal and makes it shine.
“We are going to fight that? But what if we break it?” Lyssa sounds genuinely worried. “Won’t that be a waste of your time? You have to rebuild it and everything.”
Oanoa shrugs his shoulders.
“I have a lot of time to kill, my dear. Don’t be worried about me. Just keep your eyes open and sharp.” He rubs his hands together. “This is going to be so much fun!”

(14 versus AC)
“You get to go first”, the Beholder shouts. “It only attacks if it’s attacked.” Oanoa floats above the training grounds, giving him a better view on the coming spectacle.
They all slowly draw their weapons while keeping their eye on the floating construct. The crystals at the end of the eyestalks quickly point from one of them to the other. It seems like they are scanning their opponents.
“I’ll take the first shot”, the siren says and she aims her blunderbuss at the spectator.
“Wait”, Oslando says quickly and she lowers the gun again. “Let us get closer first. We can jump on it when you have taken your shot.”
She waits and her companions walk up to the patient creature. They can feel a subtle heat coming off the enemy, accompanied by an annoying humming.
“Please”, Bruq says with a nervous smile on his face, “take your shot and don’t miss.”
She laughs with confidence and aims her gun again. With one eye open she looks through the metal sight of her weapon. She has a full and clear vision on her enemy, everything should work out perfectly. She pulls the trigger and a loud bang echoes throughout the entire pocket plane. The bullet crashes into its metal surface and small scraps of metal fly off of it. A small plume of smoke rises from the entry hole.
The automaton turns the four gems on his eyestalks towards himself, observing the wound. They turn around quickly and, somehow, they seem to look threateningly in Lyssa’s direction. The central crystal glow rhythmically with a bright red light, like it’s striking alarm.
“Well, well”, Oanoa whispers to himself, “time for things to get interesting. Show me what you got, children.”