Mardrough opens his mouth to counter Esperon's declaration, but looking at the man's size and the odd looking girl's talons, he releases a heavy sigh.

"Fine," he says through clenched teeth, "but I don't want to be travelin' all that long with you any more than you want to be travelin' with me. Mardrough's his own man. Jus' tell me what you want to do so I can see it through and be on my way. Mardrough don't want to be no hostage or no slave."

Esperon smiles. "Then I'l put the question to you: if you had lost the numenera on your own, how would you explain that to your potential buyer? If you make yourself scarce--get out of town, heading an opposite direction from us--and tell the Cold Grasp a story that I'd believe if I heard it from you, then we can part ways. So, tell me a story." His smile fades and he re-folds his massive arms.

One side of Mardrough's mouth turns up in a half smile. He looks to the surrounding townsfolk, then leans in to Esperon so his words are out of earshot of the villagers. "Well, I've always found the best lie has to contain a bit of truth. I tell them that people started disappearing after I nabbed that piece and hid it, so they thought I was responsible so they locked me up. When they didn't have enough evidence to prove I had anything to do with it, they let me go. When I went back to get that piece, it was gone. As if someone found my hiding spot and took it while I was locked up. An' the beauty is is that none of those townsfolk even know about the piece, so if the Cold Grasp comes asking about it, they won't be playin' when they say they know nothin' about it."

Apparently pleased with himself, Mardrough breaks out in a grin.

"Sounds reasonable enough..." Hurley murmurs. "But if trouble comes our way, and it smells at all like you... We'll find you first and I'll let them," he motions to Arry and Esperon, "have their way with you."

Esperon grins. "WHICH won't happen because Mardrough likes to keep his skin intact. Right, Mardrough?"

He then walks closer to his companions and leans in, speaking in low tones to ensure nobody else hears. "So, the question is--where do we go next? I say we go somewhere to find someone to destroy this numenera so nobody else gets hurt."

Arry smiled at Mardrough, showing him her fangs for the first time.

"I agree. It needs to be destroyed and it's probably a good time for us to start getting away from settlements or towns."

"I can't find Samarry... Samarah if I don't visit places and talk to people, follow up on leads. Only staying in towns long enough to resupply won't give me enough time... I digress, destroying may not be the only option, secret hiding place, or someone capable of storing it safely, secretly. Destroying Numenera may have disasterous and unpredicted outcomes, I can study the device and give my best estimated for destruction methods, and outcomes, but it will take some time... and travel wont be conducive, so i can begin when we get back to town, away from prying eyes and ears."

The townsfolk are beginning to get antsy. The ones that accompanied Esperon back to the dome prod the party to get underway. The oldest and weakest of the formerly imprisoned are placed into the carts, saving them from having to walk the entire way back to Groshdou.

As the rescued villagers and the party arrive at the outskirts of the town, they see the rest of the villagers are waiting for their arrival. The villagers cheer when they see them approach, and they come running for the rescued townsfolks. Many of them embrace their friends and loved ones that had been missing, while others look for people they had hoped to see but did not make it back.

The entourage of townfolk, rescued and welcoming alike, along with the adventurers, walk to the village square where Mayor Shthila Voo  waits, standing before the city center's building, as she had when they brought Mardrough several days before.

"Welcome back, all of you who have been missing!" she says in a strong voice, with the barest hint of shakiness. "Your friends and family are quite relieved to have you joining them again, and we have these bold individuals to thank." She says indicating the adventurers. "I regret that they were not able to rescue all of those who went missing. We will honor their memories." She makes a gesture that indicates her "speech" was short and sweet and that they can carry on. The mayor makes her way down to the band of adventurers. "Listen, on behalf of the town we do appreciate what you've done, rescuing those you were able to. Please join us for a celebration, a great feast. I may even have some shins and some items of numenera I can gift you with, a gesture of gratitude. It's the least we can do."

Esperon is sure to pluck off the numenera from the top of the dome before leaving, preferably after Mardrough leaves.

At the offer from the mayor, a big smile breaks across his wide face. "Now, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Thanks, we'd be happy t'eat with you. Right, Hurley? Arry? Crazy man?"

Hurley nods and smiles right along with Esperon. "Shins are good...." he adds unnecessarily. He will eat and drink with wholehearted gusto, which perhaps makes him less self conscious as he slides onto a bench next to Arryanna.

"So, you're looking a little less feral than when we found you in that cell," he offers with a rough smile. "Never did meet the, 'Other' you. The monster part. You think maybe it stopped happening or something?"

Trophonius eats his fill, mostly avoiding merriment as he slips away to concentrate on more important matters, namely how to dispose of the Numenera in question, and whether the people still missing may still be alive, and where they may be.

Trophonius Delphi rolled 3 using 1d20.  Numenera (remaining victims)<Sp -2 steps><asset><effort> total of 4 steps easier.

Trophonius Delphi rolled 7 using 1d20.  Numenera (destroy)<Sp -2 steps><asset><effort> total of 4 steps easier.

Arry looked at Hurley, the flash of pain in her eyes there and gone save for an echo that never left. "I'm afraid not, Hurley. It happens every month and it's getting close. We need to get me away from civilisation very soon. I can't take knowing I've hurt more innocent people when it's in charge."

After plenty of food and drink has been consumed, the mayor approaches the group of adventurers.

"I hope you have enjoyed the food and celebration," she says, extending a sweeping hand to indicate the villagers, most in the throws of merriment, dining and dancing. "I do feel you need to be rewarded for how you helped recover our lost people... well, at least a good portion of them..." as she says that she glances at her husband, relief in her eyes.

She then indicates for the group to follow her into the building designated as the town hall. They enter into the structure of assembled cubes and she leads them into a descent sized room off the main guard's area. The mayor produces her small cube as she approaches one of the walls of the room and inserts it into one of the square slots. A portion of the wall fades, revealing a smaller room with many objects stored and tucked within the spaces the mishmash array of cubes forms.

"There may be some items that you might find useful. Some of these we acquired through the traders that come through town, others have been recovered during the hunts. Perhaps you could make use of them. In addition, I would also like to give you this:"

She rotates one of the cubes on the floor, revealing an opening into which she reaches. She removes a handful of shins and passes them to Hurley. "I believe there are 60 shins there. I'd also like to share these, though they're mere trinkets, I know, but it's the least I can do."

She hands each person these items in turn:

• To Hurley - Purple goo that sometimes shows a lit map of unknown constellations
• To Esperon - A fist-sized metal object filled with holes that gives anyone touching it a brief glimpse of an endless sea
• To Arryanna - Metallic device that creates one sheet of new paper each day
• To Trophonius - A wire sculpture of a flower that releases petals when you blow on it. The petals “grow” back eventually.

As you look through the items in the room you see the following items:

Armor Patch
Level: 2
Wearable: Sewn-on patch, self-stick fabric, metallic swatch
Effect: After being applied to armor of any kind, this patch activates when firmly slapped, sending tiny nanowires through the armor’s material to provide greater benefit.
01–50 Nanowires add a repellent layer to the material. Gain +1 to Armor against ranged, piercing, fire, or beam attacks for 28 hours.
51–75 Nanowires create greater flexibility in the material. Gain a +2 bonus to Speed defense rolls for 28 hours.
76–00 Nanowires create a tough outer coating to the material. Gain a +2 bonus to Might defense rolls for 28 hours.
Action to attach to armor. Activation can be combined with another action.

Mind Control Implant
Level: 5
Internal: Pill
Wearable: Disk that adheres to forehead, temporary tattoo
Usable: Injector
Effect: This cypher consists of two devices— an injection or pill, and a control disk or temporary tattoo. They are usually found together. For ten minutes, the disk or tattoo enables long-range mental communication with—and control of—anyone who took the injection or pill. The controller can bid the target creature to do anything it could do normally.

Beauty Mask
Level: 3
Usable: Paste
Effect: Once applied to the user’s face and left to dry for ten minutes, this paste removes blemishes and wrinkles. The user appears much younger and more attractive. This effect is permanent.

In hushed tones only loud enough for the group and mayor to hear, Trophonius spouts a lucid rant. "Your Ladyship, I appreciate the gift, however I have been contemplating those still missing, and may have stumbled onto a grim hunch... We only rescued approximately half of the missing... at the same location as the dome there were an equal number of sapling copper trees as there were those still missing. Person sized metal trees.

No idea how accurate my hunch is, or how to recover them if it holds true. Perhaps Salajhar might have some useful insight."

Esperon accepts his fist-sized numenera and smiles, thanking the mayor politely. He looks quite delighted by the sight of the sea. He tries the device a couple of times, just because he can.

He is looking at the other items and was going to start a discussion about them when Trophonius raises his idea. He stops and listens intently.

Hurley quirks an eye towards Trophonius. He still doesn't feel at ease with the crazy man.

However, the Numenera is another thing altogether. He accepts his own gift like a child gaining a new toy. He stretches the goo and holds it to the light at different angles. He tries to put it on Esperon's face, "Come on, man! It's a shortcut to enlightenment!"

Looking at the other gear, he quickly grabs onto the injector with the transparent tattoo patch. "This is too cool..." He will take it unless someone objects.

Arry stands to accept her gift and bows when it's handed to her. "I am humbled by your gift and accept with no bonds of obligation between us for the giving or accepting." She said quite formally.

When the other items were brought out she picks up the Beauty Mask and looks it over before looking at her companions to see if any of them want it.

Esperon, after looking at the shinies, turns back to Trophonius. "Now, what was that about the trees? And who is this Salajhar?"

"Yes, yes, during dinner the voices of ghosts.... or people... had said something about 27 missing people. We only recovered about half that, and if you remember, for every one still missing there was a person sized metal tree ... cocoon... pod... thing. Different voices whispered of Salajhar, an Aeon Priest, retainer to Terrhvyss of Rachar. He should know more about the Numenera than I, or at least different resources and perspectives on this intriguing conundrum.

Do you not year the ghosts? Or just not pay them any mind? "
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:50, Sat 25 Aug 2018.

Esperon blinked, chewing a bit of food, and then shrugged. Turning to Hurley, he said, "Rachar, huh? Hurley, you in the mood to travelt o Rachar? Arry, you want to get outta town here for a bit?" He grinned, betraying a bit of food between his teeth.

Arry points to her teeth in a subtle fashion before nodding to Esperon. "I would be delighted to get out of town for a few days," I say as I tick down the days I have left.

"Mayor could you, mayhaps send word and arrange us a meeting with Salajhar and Terrhvyss? The request may bear more meaning from another in a position of power."

The mayor nods solemnly. "Yes, of course. I don't know the Aeon Priest, but I have met with Terrhvyss a few times. If his Aeon Priest can provide answers as to possibly retrieving the rest of my people from these... trees?... then I would be more than happy to do so. I will pen an official letter with my seal and send it along with you. He and I are on good standing and it should hopefully merit enough to grant you an audience."

The mayor escorts the group out of the storage area and back into the "lobby" of the building. She then leads them up the awkward "stairs" to her office. Shthila goes to her desk and retrieves a pen and paper and proceeds to write a note, signs it, folds it, and places what appears to be a small marble on the overlapping edge. She grabs what looks like a thin tapered rod with a flat end that stands on the desk, presses the flat end against the marble and the stone melts, sealing the edge of the paper while embossing it with a signet.

She hands the sealed note to the party. "Get this to Terrhvyss somehow and hopefully it will get you an audience with him. Before you leave, is there anything we can provide you with for your travel?"

Esperon nods. "That sounds like a plan. Thank you!" He munched on a bit more food after this, looking unusually happy.



Esperon takes the note and shrugs. "Some rations to help get there would be good. We can take it from there. Thanks much! We'll promise to come back with any promising news if we find any."