Hurley nods in agreement with Esperon's line of thinking. "These things aren't really proof of anything - except, that there might be something more dangerous than a one-eyed man happening. If the numenera is creating a danger or is connected to an even bigger threat, then we might need the man's help to identify it."

As he talks, Hurley runs a hand over the disk as well as the other two items. He is looking for any signs of purpose or activation.

17:56, Today: Hurley Kosson rolled 13 using 1d20.  numenera (Trained).
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Mon 16 Oct 2017.

As Hurley waves his hand over the disk he confirms its purpose is to provide power to a specific larger device. He cannot ascertain what that device is based on examination of the disk alone.

Along with the disk he learns the following information about the two cyphers:

Level 4 Phase Changer
Wearable: Belt, medallion, ring
Usable: Handheld device
Effect: Puts the user out of phase for one minute. During this time, the user can pass through solid objects as though she were entirely insubstantial, like a ghost.

Level 2 Catseye
Level: 1d6
Internal: Pill, ingestible liquid
Usable: Injector
Effect: Grants the ability to see in the dark for eight hours.

Esperon whistles. "So....that's it. Let's go talk with the mayor. I've got an idea."

He asks Hurley if he can hold the disc while the group heads to the mayor's.

Giving Esperon a chuckle Kaelnn shaks his head, "Seems Hurly is better suited for this, anyhow." Setting the other Numenera down, he looks to the obvious main source of their current 'quest', as it were. "A power source. The story inside my head currently wonders if this was holding something back, which is now assailing the town.?

When suggestion to leave now is offered, Kaelan balks, "Interrupting the mayor right now may only serve to turn her against us. I'm loathe to wait any longer than absolutely necessary, but I also don't want to

Esperon shrugs. "We need more time. If we don't get it from her, how do we do that? I mean, we could spring the guy from jail. I don't think these little boys could stop us. We could then return him later once we get the proof we need. He probably belongs behind bars, if not death, gauging from his character."

"I agree with Kaelan on this one - let's wait until first light. We can find a room for the night. It's not like we are going to set out in the dark anyway."

He looks at Drell like a stern parent, "And leave the mayor's mind alone - at least until there's no other choice, OK? If we get caught pulling a stunt like that, we could all hang right next to Mardrough."

Kaelan laughs, shaking his head as they go to leave. "Oh... that only works when I want people to TELL me something. I can't artificially make people make certain choices... yet. I haven't found the proper method for that yet. Yet." He looks to Esperon, then, "We should plan to be there at first light, to convince her."

Esperon nods solemnly. "Fine. We need to sleep somewhere for a few hours, and probably take shifts to make sure we all wake up in time." He walks back over to Yrgan. "You have someplace where we can sleep? We can pay for it."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:20, Thu 19 Oct 2017.

Yrgan scratches his chin and looks from one to the other of you. "Well, all's I got is a little room off the bar where I stay. Just a bed big enough for me. Tell y' what. I stay in my bed an' you find a place to curl up here in my bar an' I won't charge y' nothin', as temptin' as that is. It keeps y' out of the elements. But yer gone when sun's up, work on gettin' Mardrough free or a stay or what have ya."

He jerks his head at Hurley, indicating him to step aside to let him pass. "Jus' so y' know, my hospitality got limits. Y' want food or drink, it'll cost ya some shins."

Esperon grins. "I mentioned I have money, right? What can we eat?"

"I got some aneen jerky and some bread in that box over there." He indicates a box made of synth on a shelf on the wall behind the bar. "Y' can take a liter of mead an' enough food for dinner for each of ya. 3 shins. Leave it on the bar." He walks past you and exits through a door on the opposite side of the bar, closing it behind him.

After a brief moment he pops his head back out. "Don't wake me for nothin'. See yourself out in the mornin'." With that, he pops back in and closes the door.

Kaelan, for his own part, doesn't partake of the offered jerky and mead -- when he said he was short on shins, he wasn't kidding. Instead, he sticks to what's in his own pack, making do with that.  taking a seat against a wall, and shutting his eyes for a moment, Kaelan chuckles, "I'll claim first shuteye. Wake me in a few hours, and I'll take next watch." In truth, he's quite tired... the effort of his failure at convincing most anyone today frustrating him more than he tried to let show.

Hurley appears conflicted. He looks at the food with a twitch in his hand. He glances a couple of times hopefully towards Esperon before scowling and placing a shin on the counter.

He grabs some food and drink, leans his axe against the wall next to him and kicks his chair back to balance on two legs. With a mouthful of food he raises his mug, "Get some rest - I got this."

He will take the first shift before waking Kaelan.

Esperon picks up Hurley's shin and chucks it back at him. "Keep it, fancy-pants." He pulls out his own purse and drops and drops three shins on the counter.

He nods at Hurley's offer and props himself up against a nearby wall and consumes his portion of the food quickly. Once he finishes, he drops his pack on the ground, lies on it and falls fast asleep, snoring none too quietly.

Morning arrives without event. You awaken to the sound of Yrgan's snores, louder than Esperon's were, loud enough to be heard on the other side of the closed door. The three of you slip out quietly.

The morning sees several residents milling around, beginning their morning affairs. The shops closer to the town square are opening their doors. The scent of fresh baked goods wafts from a bakery in the vicinity.

The strange metal building appears no different than the night before. The "windows" and the entryway appear dark as they did previously, with no hint of light escaping any of the openings. You walk through the doorway as you had last night and once again find yourself in what would serve as the lobby. Two different guards are stationed there now, the two men that had arrested Mardrough at the bar yesterday, in fact. They are drinking hot morning beverages and visiting with each other when you approach and ask to see the mayor. He looks up at you disinterestedly and asks if you have an appointment. When you explain that she is expecting to see you this morning, he taps the face of a metal cube protruding on the wall. Shthila's face appears on the cube's plane.

"Three men say they are here to see you, say you asked to see them this morning?" He rotates the cube so her visage faces you.

She nods. "Yes, send them in, please." Her face disappears from the cube's surface. The guard rises from his post and leads you up a series of cubes that seem haphazardly fashioned to serve as steps, not in a logical way such as a staircase. He navigates them with the proprioception of one who has climbed them countless times, while you awkwardly figure out the best way to negotiate and balance each rise. Thankfully it is only a single story climb.

You ascend onto a landing roughly three meters square. A darkened opening stands before you and the guard gestures for you to pass through it. You enter the opening and find yourself before the mayor. She is seated at a series of cubes fashioned into a desk of sorts. Behind her you can see the entire village square through what appears to be an opening or a window, and you seem much higher up than the climb would have you believe you had ascended. She smiles warmly, a politician's well practiced and often disarming smile, shakes your hands in greeting, then gestures you to sit. There are a few metal cubes on the floor which she indicates, and as you place your hand on one you find it slides effortlessly to wherever you choose to place it.

Once the three of you sit she leans forward and clasps her hands on the desk. "So, how did your visit with our little 'friend go? Did he give you any information on what happened to our people?"

Hurley can feel his mind churning. He notices the practiced smile and he can feel himself unconsciously returning the gesture. That potion really has him tuned in to people this morning. Naturally, he begins. His own tone seems to subtly mirror the mayor's, and his vocabulary is enhanced ever so slightly. Rather than feeling in opposition to her, he speaks to the mayor as if they are on the same team. He acts like he sheriff giving her a briefing.

"No, the man hasn't yet divulged anything about the disappearing townsfolk. We have managed to collect some ques, though. He lead us to a cache of numenera he discovered just before all this ruckus began. We recovered an item that suggests trouble. It looks like nothing on it's own, but it suggests some greater threat." He motions to the device with an air of mystery and intrigue. It embodies the diabolical unknown.

"He also coughed up a location. We are planning to investigate this morning and ensure that we know the full depth of the threat. Perhaps he had accomplices, for example. It's a scary thought, but we can't dismiss it.

It is advisable to keep the man alive until our investigation is complete. We may need more answers from him. I recommend a 48-hour stay. It may be the only way to bring our people home." He has ever so subtly moved himself into position as an ally, a member of the town himself. Hurley does not beg nor plead nor bargain. He updates and advises. The final effect is quite dramatic and persuasive.


Trying to use the device as an asset to persuasion. Props help!

16:20, Today: Hurley Kosson rolled 19 using 1d20.  Persuasion T plus Asset (maybe?)

Shthila's eyes lock on the numenera Hurley displays. "May I?" she asks as she reaches a hand out for the device. Hurley complies and hands it to her.

She rises from her seat as she examines the disk. She turns it in her hands, studying the ancient symbols for quite awhile. She steps out from behind her desk and paces ever so slightly, gazing at the device as if she hopes to find some answers on it.

"You suspect the disappearances have something to do with this?" the mayor says as she holds out the device. Hurley nods as he gently takes it back from her.

She ponders for a bit longer, taking a few more paces. "He also mentioned some location?" Hurley nods again, careful not to speak so as not to risk disrupting the tenuous threads her thoughts may be connecting. "They could very well be at this location..."

After a few more moments she nods slowly. "I will grant Mardrough a stay of 48 hours. That will allow you time to investigate the location he gave you. Hopefully you will find our people there, or at the very least uncover more information on what has become of them..."

She then raises a finger, reasserting her position of authority in light of having capitulated to their recommendation. "However, I have to insist that Mardrough remains here under custody. I cannot authorize him accompanying you to this location. The residents are already going to be none too pleased with my decision, but I'll have to deal with that."

She gestures toward the opening to her office. "Make your way back down to the reception area. I'll let the guards know that you need to see Mardrough. Good luck gentlemen. We all hope you find answers. Please return here and let me know what you find out." She shakes their hands and once again seats herself at her desk, returning to her business at hand.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:32, Mon 23 Oct 2017.

When Esperon gets outside, Esperon quips to the others, "Remind me to recommend against this place to friends and family. Grife."



Esperon seems intrigued by the cubes. He taps the talking-cube a couple of times as they go to head upstairs, and stops periodically to examine the cubes on which they climb, rubbing the face of one here or there. He seems downright amused.



Esperon nods to emphasize Hurley's words. His arms are croseed but his face reflects a hope that the bottom can, in fact, be reached of this proverbial cesspool of death.



Esperon raises his hand. "A moment, mayor, if we could. Do you have extra guards to have watch Mardrough? With deep respect for their skills, my little group alone could have taken those two fellows watching Mardrough last night, if we had been inclined. You will need more of a show of force to keep him from being pulled out and lynched." HIs face reflects real concern for the man, who Esperon privately dislikes but suspects more and more has been set up somehow.

Shthila looks up from her business and considers Esperon's concern. "Your concern is a legitimate one. Normally I would tell you I have the utmost faith in my citizens respecting my dictates and decrees. These are generally very good law abiding citizens. However, this is a rather exceptional case."

She takes a moment to ponder the situation a bit further. "You know, there is even the possibility that the guards would collude with the townsfolk for his release. They may not need to be threatened to convince them to conspire in releasing him. They could potentially be just as disgruntled as the rest of them."

She stands very still for a few more moments as she contemplates the scenario and its potential outcomes. Though she certainly has not verbalized it, it is apparent she is taking the future of her mayoral position into consideration as well. Granting the stay of execution will already be widely unpopular and will threaten her seat, but at least a resolution would vindicate her in her decision. If blood is shed outside her control, her possibility of reelection could die along with Mardrough.

"We have a couple of options on how to deal with this potential situation. I can remand him to your custody. That would have him safely away from the town during your investigation. However, that would be more for just the three of you to have to finagle on top of whatever you'd be facing wherever you're going.

"There's also the possibility of you taking him back to your town and having him executed to appease your citizens. I don't think that is necessarily a more likely scenario but I can't rule it out. My constituents certainly won't. As much trust as I have been putting in your party I really don't know you too well.

"Our other option would be to put him into hiding here within this building. You see the strangeness of this place? How light can be kept from passing through openings in one direction or both? How there is an invisible barrier between you and Mardrough? There are secret chambers all throughout this building, some of which seem to warp space, some of which would be impossible to detect, only known by myself and the two mayors before me."

Shthila finally returns to her desk. "Those are the two options I'm willing to consider to keep our charge safe until the investigation is complete. I'm more in favor of hiding him. I am, however, willing to entertain your thoughts on this. I do appreciate you bringing up a very legitimate concern."

Esperon scratches his chin and looks at the others. "I think it would be smart to hide him here. We could even escort him with one of your men to prevent trouble. Kaelen, Hurley, what do you think?"

He unfolds his massive arms and re-folds them, leaning against one of the odd cubes for a moment before he realizes what he's doing. He then stands upright again, trying to look as if he planned the whole thing.

"Frankly," Kaelan pipes up, having been oddly quiet during the interaction up until now, "I think the third option is for the best. While I'm certain we could easily prevent his attempts to escape, he's shown such a predilection before. My only concern would be getting him to said hiding place, and not letting the populace, or those more than happy to speed his death, from doing so. If you think you can get him there, and kept there, safely, I think that would be best, rather than our attempting to corral the man while investigating."

"Actually, I was thinking you could escort him to the hidden cell rather than my guards. That way I don't risk them giving away his new location. I will instruct you on how to find it and provide you access. Once you have him in place, I'll conceal the area again. This will all be done out of sight of the guards." She looks between the three of you. "I'm more than confident you can handle him that much."

Esperon grins. "That makes four of us, yerhonnor. I think. Hurley, what you think?"

"I think you've made a smart decision there, Ms. Mayor. Let's make it happen." He claps his hands and rubs them together.

"Just say when."

"Very well," the mayor says as she rises from her "desk". She leads you out of her office and guides you down the cubed steps to the level below. The guards stand as she approaches their area, and she waves a hand indicating to them that they won't be needed. She leads you through the path of assorted right angles and cubes to Mardrough's cell. He sits crosslegged against the wall farthest from you with his hands in his head. When he hears you enter the area he leaps up and quickly walk toward you up to where the invisible barrier resides.

"You are indeed men of your word!" Mardrough exclaims! He then looks to Shthila. "Thank you madam! Thank you for agreeing to release me!"

The mayor holds up her hand. "Make no mistake, you are not being freed. You can thank these men for extending your life another 56 hours. They are going to look further into what is happening to my people. You'd better hope they find something that vindicates you, lest you do not see another reprieve."

"Be at the ready," Shthila says to you. You move closer to Mardrough just on the other side of the invisible barrier as she produces a small metallic purplish colored cube from inside her coat. She places the cube in an opening in the wall, a depression the same size as her cube, about 5 centimeters a side. A sheet of fog momentarily appears between you and the prisoner, then just as quickly disappears. You each grab ahold of Mardrough and make sure your grasp on him is firm.

After removing the small cube from the wall Shthila then leads you part way down the corridor and you follow her as she takes a sharp turn into what appeared to be a shadowed area. The obscured corridor you now walk down is much less broken by jutting cubes as was the main corridor, though there are still cube shaped protrusions and depressions. There are several more darkened openings along the walls of this corridor, and you can swear you hear the cries of a person or people. After what felt like a walk of several dozen meters she stops and faces the metal corridor wall.

"This is where you'll be staying for the next two days. Make yourself comfortable," she says to Mardrough. She again produces the purple cube and inserts it into another fitted opening. The metal wall suddenly vanishes to reveal a small lit chamber.

"Push him in. It's a one way barrier, much like the other cell." You push Mardrough into the space of the chamber. He tests the mayor's words by stepping forward to find himself met with resistance as he was in his former cell.