This is a daily entry for #dungeon23. I am writing a room or detail everyday as I flesh out a steampunk-themed megadungeon.

Today’s entry was created by playing the solo immersive journaling game Artefact by Jack Harrison.

Clockwork Assassin Beetle

The Automaton

Rebellious - Sometimes, this beetle does not follow orders and will do what it likes.

Logical - This beetle can complete complicated tasks whispered kindly to it. It can crawl through and under tight spaces, open locked doors from within and hold small objects.

Naive - The beetle wishes only to be whispered to kindly and will work with whoever says nice things to it.

Description

This beetle has been designed to crawl through tight spaces and open doors from the other side. It is also capable of holding small objects such as scalpels and vials of liquid.

It is made of brass, featuring intricate mechanical components. It looks like one of the major components was an old pocketwatch. The beetle has a small clockwork motor that allows it to move. It needs to be hand-wound by its keeper and its orders whispered in a kind tone. There are a series of levers, gears, and other mechanisms that allow it to manipulate objects and turn door handles.

The beetle is very small in size, allowing it to fit in very tight spaces such as under doors and it can access areas that would otherwise be difficult for humans to reach. It has a number of features designed to help it navigate through these spaces, such as sensors, grips and special appendages.

The message “With Love” is etched into the underside of the beetle’s chassis.

Keepers

Cystenian Parry

This clockwork beetle was first forged in the workshop of Cystenian Parry, a royal court physician and hobbyist clockwork mender. Having been gifted a watch by his late wife, Cystenian. cherished the gift until it became worn and used. After it had seen the end of its use, the doctor.esolved to give the clockwork pieces a new life.

Parry’s intended use for the beetle was as an assistant. The beetle would bring the doctor medical equipment during surgeries and had the capacity to hold things heavier than its weight, including scalpels and other surgical instruments.

In his later years, Parry performed surgery on aristocratic court nobles. The doctor’s assistant caught the eye of one such noble, who marvelled at the beetle’s ability to assist its creator. Shortly after, the beetle was detained under a newly-writ legislation banning unauthorised automatons. The beetle became under tue tutelage of the royal court and was then trained to open doors and deliver toxins.

Elidyr Pryce

Elidyr Pryce is a name still feared by many living today. This professional murderer, intimidated, assassin and callous scoundrel was gifted Cystenian’s Beetle and he was charged with personally rooting out all political opposition within the court and across the nation.

Elidyr waged a war of terror against the court’s political foes. No door could keep Elidyr out, who would seemingly be able to open any lock and strike at any opponent where they lay. Elidyr was fashioned handsomely for his work. Over the nest decade, anyone who spoke ill of the Court would find themselves dead in their bed by The Ghost’s Hand.

Meanwhile, the rebellion noted the link between Elidyr’s movements and the mysterious Ghost’s Hand deaths. on. Elidyr’s final task was to end the life of Cystenian Parry, the beetle’s protector to prevent more being created. Upon entering the workshop, however, the beetle did not open the door for Elidyr. Elidyr, enraged, resolved to bash the door down and was stopped by other automatons present. Pinned by a steam-powered door stop and burned by an automatous tea-serving kettle, Elidyr was delayed enough for agents of the rebellion to appear and capture the Hand.

Cystenian’s Beetle was recovered by one rebel agent. Elidyr was strapped with one leg to his horse, which was then sent off to ride through the city. Elidyr’s body would decorate the streets of Caer Isel that morning.

Gerrallt Bryn

Having successfully captured Elidyr Pryce, the Ghost Hand of the Court, Gerrallt kept hold of the clockwork beetle he found. Gerrallt and his troupe of rebel renegades put the beetle to good use and sought to take care of court nobles in the same way Elidyr had terrorised the rebellion.

Gerrallt’s most daring feat was an attempt to free captured rebels from the court’s prison, including Talwaith Days. Freeing the captives would not be enough, however. Gerrallt brought enough explosives with him to destroy the prison as a symbol of tyranny after freeing his friends. Sadly, Gerrallt’s actions came to the attention of the court guard and he was summarily executed.

Gerrallt’s explosives would remain hidden, however and a few decades later a rogue flame set the barrels alight, destroying the prison.

Cynwrig Pritchett

A venomous and malicious court noble, Cynrwrig came into possession of Cystenian’s Clockwork Beetle after the execution of Gerrallt Bryn. Now aboard the GLS Anghymodlon, Cynwrig is hoping to use the beetle to quietly murder his political rivals in the court and gain their lands.