The padding of paws and the scrape of leather soled shoes echoed throughout the abandoned corridors. Pipes hissed and groaned in constant work, never stoping, never resting. The parts if automatons were strewn about the rooms I encountered in varying states.

Whirring and clanking came from up ahead, and Vigilance gave a warning growl, silenced by my comforting hand on his back. Slipping around the corner I could see it, a working Sphere. Unfolded and roaming around like it had a purpose, but unsure what that purpose was.

I reached over my shoulder to pull my crossbow off my back, loading a bolt into it from the adjacent quiver. Vigilance stood guard beside me as I observed it, recording its movements in my brain. I watched the gears turn, the joints bend, the steam hiss, and gyros spin. Once I had observed enough for later documenting, I raised my crossbow and fired, hitting the automaton in the lower back joints. The mechanics failed and the structure crumpled, bringing it to the ground with a crash.

Vigilance went over and sniffed it, making sure it was destroyed before letting me over to it. Such a loyal dog, looking out for me all the time. I wouldn't be able to do this without him.

I sheathed my crossbow and jogged over to my fallen prize, prying the mechanics open and salvaging everything useful. Gears, cogs, gyros and scrap metals, discarding the broken pieces from where my bolt pierced it.

Now all I needed was a centurion dynamo core and I could head back to camp. One of the monstrosities was sure to be in the next room, so I had to be quiet and careful. Vigilance went over and observed the room before I approached. There was my prize, a centurion automaton, standing proud and at attention, just like its creators made it. It was terrifyingly beautiful. It had to be three times my height, and weigh more than ten of me, and in the centre of its chest, the core, glowing red with whatever components it healed.

I ginned at it, itching to have that component in my hands, while my dog padded excitedly next to me in anticipation although he wouldn't move towards it until I told him to. These things were dangerous ad packed one hell of a punch. We had to be careful.

Scouting out the room, I picked our vantage points, signalling Vigilance to move where I wanted him to. I moved into position too, careful that my movement and sounds wouldn't wake the machine until we were ready. Once in place I aimed and shot. The heavy bolt hardly dinted the metal, but it woke it up.

Its loud hissing steam erupted out of exhausts as it came to life, stumbling towards me with its massive feet. Vigilance jumped out and rammed it with his front paws, drawing its attention away from me while i reloaded. The war dog danced around it while I pulled on the heavy string and loaded another projectile, keeping out of the way of its hammered fists.

Once I was ready, I rose and shot it, hitting it in the neck and breaking the cogs. It turned and lumbered towards me while Vigilance hid momentarily to get his strength back, and I again reloaded. The broken head making it walk off centre and lop sided gained me precious seconds to aim and fire once more, tearing pieces f it apart and breaking it even more.

Now I ran to the other side of the room and hid while the dog tore into it again, driving its attention away from me. Steam was billowing out in measures, scalding my loyal beast while I set the crossbow up once more. My next bolt hit it in the hip joint and brought it down completely, never to rise again.

Victorious, I ran over to Vigilance to check him over. A few bumps and bruises and a cut or two and a bit of steam damage to his fur, but he was smiling up and me and jumping to lick my face. I laughed and cast a healing spell just to make sure he was alright, then walked over to claim the spoils.

Lifting the machine to get at the core was harder than bringing it down. Using my skills as an engineer I managed to jack it up high enough for me to slide under to pry it out. Finally, I had my prize, the glowing heart of a dwarvern centurion, the last thing I needed for my project.

"Alright boy, great work today. Now how about we get home before mama yells at us again."