Radwa picks up the cloudy yellow one and examines it, balancing it on the back of their hand and watching it glitter and sparkle at them.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
08:29, Today: Radwa rolled 11 using 1d20. Understanding Numenera on the stones, just in case there's anything in particular they might notice.

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Artor's visible... alteration was startling, but then Radwa looks down at their own non-original legs and doesn't say anything. "The cart will also offer us protection, so we can go directly into the Veil with it. It's solid and should withstand anything that might be waiting to ambush us on the other side."

Apart from being pretty and unusual, the rocks don't seem to have any particular value or emotional resonance.  They don't carry memories or electrical energy or any other force you can perceive.  They are just odd and interesting.  In a place they were less common, they might even be considered shins.

"Your supplies will be lawded into the trailer by first light.  I'll see what I can do about the requests you've submitted, but I will make naw promises.  Canthus has only saw much it can invest in your endeavors without endangering those who wait for your safe return."  He looks at your assembled group, discussing the best path forward.  "I trust that you will find a way.  If you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.  I will see you off tomorraw morning."  He bows politely and exits into the building.  Gavia enters the garden shortly after, to attend to any needs that arise.

The older man inclines his head respectfully as the Regent departs, and regards his companions.

"You do have a point, friend Artor, but that same logic also makes you a less suitable volunteer."

"We must determine whether it is safe for the rest of our party to enter the Shimmering Vale, and ultimately for the townspeople as well.  The rest of us do not share your previous experience of transformational contact.  Therefore, if you went first, your survival wouldn't necessarily imply that the rest of us would fare as well as you."

"We could agree upon some type of signaling tugs upon the steel cable, and attach me to it.  Then, even if you lose contact, you can query via tugs, and if need be pull me back, unless the cable itself is severed."

"It seems a needless danger to risk us all, when one can make an initial test just as easily."

"If I perish, the townspeople will need you all to assist them in their journey to the Clock of Kala."

"I am old.  If I perish, I know what awaits.  The Sovereign One has me in His hands.  If it is my time to depart this world, He will take me home."

Artor shrugged his agreement to the priests words; he had made his offer, but he was not eager to endanger himself

Derrick looks uncomfortable at Agatho's apparent willingness to sacrifice himself. He chimes in with his own thoughts. "The people of Canthus are as likely to need you as anyone else if our mission fails. I'm sure there will be more we can do to see how to best enter the Veil once we reach it."

"It is perhaps best to cross together. Assuming there are threats beyond the Veil, we will face them best with united strength. If the Veil itself is the threat, then the endeavour is useless. The Regent has provided devices that should give us secure passage at least through the, ah, disturbance." Hoa Sen said. "Alas, I do not doubt that we will all be faced with opportunities and perhaps necessities for sacrifice on the far side."

As Gavia begins to clean up after the feast, passing some dishes to friends in the street so the food would not go to waste, she occasionally makes rounds among the group, refilling cups as needed.  As the evening darkens, she reminds those that have not done so to turn in a list, if they have any needs before their departure.

Radwa looks vaguely uncomfortable at the discussion of sacrifice. "This is why we have the cart - we can just drive into the Vale with the cart. Attackers will have a difficult time getting to us in the cart, so we have some protection there and we won't need to send anyone in first as a sacrifice," they say as they pass their finished plate to Gavia.

"More importantly, how are we going to send word back to Canthus once we find something? I wouldn't necessarily assume that we are at a distance that makes driving back feasible, and splitting the group feels sub-optimal. I'd hate for us to find somewhere only for it to be too long to get back in time before people leave for the Clock of Kala."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:26, Wed 14 Aug 2019.

With the amount of things that the group had been given, Derrik was increasingly becoming grateful that they would have the cart to carry it all. Having already given his list to Gavia, Derrik waits patiently until Agatho is ready to leave.

The older man considers, and sighs.

"If the Shimmering Vale does to flesh what it did to these stones, I believe it would be better to know it before risking all of our lives, perhaps unnecessarily."

"However, it is true that there may be other dangers within where the safety of the cart or the safety of numbers would be best."

"Perhaps I should try taking some few steps into the Vale, waiting a few moments, and walking back out?  Then, if I do not suffer any immediate ill effects, we can proceed together?"

The night darkens.  A few lanterns are lit.  In the distance, beyond the walls of garden, the sounds of Canthus rise and drift on the desert winds.  Social chatter and laughter roll over the clanging of armed guards walking by.  Music from the market square is punctuated by calls from the sentries atop the palisade.  Angry shouting can be heard occasionally from different directions.

Soon, the anger, pure profane hate, is drawing closer.  Then it sounds like it is in the Regent's home.  Gavia makes a startled cry in the great room you passed through to reach the garden.  Turning, you have a clear view of the four people who have started her.  An older woman, perhaps in her 70s, and finely dressed is standing beside a struggling pair.  The armored lattimor that had run into the Scouts Camp is restraining another man who appears to be beaten and bound.  He is the source of the cursing.  The fourth person is Aldrege, striding toward your group quite intently.

"My apolawgies for my absence, but there was- "  He stops and sighs.  "Come here.  You need to hear this."  The Regent heads back to where the trio has stopped in the middle of the room.  Gavia comes into the garden trying to compose herself and begins clearing your cups.

The older man follows their host to meet the new arrivals.

As he does so, he stretches forth his empathic senses toward the captive...

Derrik follows the regent and, once he sees the struggling latimore, goes to help him restrain the other man.

At the hint of potential conflict, limited though it is, there's a subtle but noticeable shift in Hoa Sen's bearing. Her hands come a little farther from her sides, her knees bend a little more, her chin tilts. "Regent?"

"This is Alaya Moorial and Alvet-Kinterra of the council," he indicates the woman and lattimor respectively.  Scowling down at the bound man, Aldrege says, "And this is Tabber Rawz, formerly of the council.  Tell them what you did to earn a dishonor not meted out in living memory, Rawz."

Tabber spits, but it barely makes it past his swollen lips.  A mixture of blood and saliva dribbles down his beard.  To your group, he growls, "You are all fools.  Your pathetic attempts at exploration will get you all killed."  Turning to Aldrege, he continues, much louder, "If there was anything beyond the Veil worth seeing, we would have had proof of it long before now.  The Clock is our awnly option now.  I intend to make sure as many of our people survive the journey as possible.  Humans and lattimors."  He sneers up at his captor.

"That cypher was one I had donated personally, you pathetic wretch!"  Alvet-Kinterra pushes Tabber to the tiles with his boot and drags him right back up onto his knees.

Tabber laughs.  "That shelter will do far more good as a storehouse for food and water than it ever would resting with the corpses of these ... 'explorers'.  My orders will ensure that our people are fed as they move eastward toward their new lives.  You, Wilmark, awnly delay the inevitable, while more of us fall to those scaly beasts from the j-"

Alaya slaps him into silence.

The older man looks on grimly, his empathic senses ringing with the charged emotions present, and takes a deep breath.

"Pardon me, Regent, but I still do not understand exactly what this man has done..."

Radwa tenses up as soon as they realise that conflict is happening, and is still tense and wide-eyed when they bring the former councillor in.

"It sounds like he was trying to sabotage the exploration," they say flatly, not breaking eye contact with Tabber, their expression blank.

Alaya is the one who answers.  "The instant shelter intended for your expedition is now activated and situated three days' travel east of Canthus.  One of the filtration straws is missing alsaw."

"I know nothing ab-" Tabber starts to explain before Amaya slaps him again.  She finds a clean spot on his shirt and wipes the blood off her hand.

"We do not have the time to replace these items before you leave," explains the Regent.  "The best we can do is provide canvases to make tents."



"I am sick of looking at him," rumbles Alvet-Kinterra.  "I will take him to Ricka-Aythya's home.  His Seskii pen should prove an adequate cell until the expedition to the Shimmering Veil is safely under way."  He stares down brutally at the back of Tabber's head.  "There will be no more thievery."  He turns and walks off, dragging Tabber, who is barely able to stay on his feet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:54, Thu 15 Aug 2019.

Uncomfortable with the other two council member's brutality, Derrik pulls back and shifts from foot to foot as the argument plays out. Once he understands what has happens, he nods to teh Regent. "We will make do without the instant shelter. I have spent many days on the road without even a tent." He watches the prisoner be dragged away with an uncomfortable expression on his face.

Artor nodded, “Perhaps we should leave tonight, removing further temptation. Perhaps this follow might accompany us”

"The earliest we could have everything ready is first light.  There is too much to do, and much of the aldea will be sleeping soon.  And that is to say nothing of the vehicle that Master Radwa is finishing."  Aldrege's face is grave and shows the stress of the night.

“Of course”, demurred the cowled man, “You would not be offended if we set a watch?”

"Please do.  And I will have extra guards monitoring the storehouse and the northern boundary of Canthus.  Tabber did not have many who agreed with his extreme vision, but I'll take naw chances now."

Derrik nods, agreeing with the idea of setting a watch. "If we're going to leave tomorrow, we had best rest while we can."

Nodding beneath the cowl, Artor followed his gesture with words as he knew the robe concealed more than he thought, "If none object, I will take the wolf's watch... mid-watch, it is sometimes called. And so I will retire to snatch some sleep afore it is upon us..."

With that, he bowed to their hosts