The noise and bustle of busy people intrudes upon your sleep well before dawn on the day of your departure.  Much of it is unnecessary, as the Regent's guards have been effective in preventing further sabotage and the generous efforts of the populace have exceeded your expectations in terms of useful labor.  You were not even called on to defend Canthus from the abhuman raiding party spotted along the eastern ridge.

The trailer to the transport cart is packed.  The cart itself is in full working order.  Your supplies are stowed and what scant extras they could supply to fulfill your written requests are waiting, with best wishes and apologies for not being more.

Most of the noise and low tumult is just curiosity and well-wishes.  People are want to see you off.  They are proud of you.  They are excited for what you might find.  They are terrified of what you might find.

Cheers and applause and hope and fear and dust fill the air as the cart pulls out of the scouts camp, bearing northward up the sloping landscape toward the Shimmering Veil.

OOC: As you set out, the following is true-

You have a rough map of the geography north of you.  There appears to a steep cliff overlooking the base of the veil directly north.  The people of Cantus are uncertain if there is a path suitable for the transport cart.  You can head east or west toward known (as much as possible) passable geography.  The west route will add about 4 hours until you reach the veil, the east route 5 hours.  The direct route will take 6 hours, plus decent of the cliff, if possible.

All materials listed at your meeting with the regent are in the trailer, with the exception of the shelter and one straw (as discussed).  You were provided with six tent poles, 100 feet of rope, and 3 large tarps to replace the shelter.

If you would like to converse with anyone in Canthus before your departure, you can post that in the Prelude - Planning thread.  Otherwise I'll close that one soon.  All other posts in the Scouts camp the morning of departure or in the cart should go here.

Derrik awakes in the morning to the sounds of the excitement outside. He isn't quite sure how to deal with the gathered people and so he spends a good deal of time preparing his gear. As the group studies the map and considers the options, he voices his own opinion. "All of these options effectively make for a day's travel. Though the east and west routes make for a longer day, I think all options will require us to camp at the base of the veil before proceeding. I vote for the western route. Slightly shorter than the eastern route, but better terrain than the cliff."

The only reason Radwa isn't consulting the map is because they're the one driving the cart. They're focused on the path ahead, occasionally checking the instrument panel to make sure everything is running fine (which it is). They waved goodbye to everyone who'd gathered to see them all off, but now there was driving to be done.

The cart itself is mostly white and silver to reflect heat, with kind of a half-metal, half-synth design - a base with wheels, engine and so on, and the entire top half from around passenger height to the roof is just a clear bubble that you can all see through, with some spot controls to filter out excessive light. The tyres are thick and large, able to safely traverse over a wide variety of terrain. The controls themselves appear to hover a little bit over one section of the bubble, just in reach of Radwa's seat.

"West sounds reasonable to me - will I need to change direction yet?" they ask as they drive.

Hoa Sen has at least a brief response for all the well-wishers and curious folk who come to see the caravan off. It seems like she spends the whole trip out of the aldeia speaking. So much hope on our shoulders. The kasunda touches her sash and the bit of broken numenera tucked inside it—reminders of what she fights for and what has already been lost.

"I have no reason to doubt any route that doesn't count on Radwa's design to roll down a cliff. West should be fine."

The terrain remains largely monotonous as your path bends westward.  Scrubby plants dot the hard pan as the terrain continues its gentle rise toward the north.  The occasional dust devil coalesces and scours a sinuous path along the surface before dispersing.  A few flying scavengers can be seen circling in the distant sky to the south, but there is otherwise little activity in the daytime heat.  The dark peaks of the Black Riage are hazy in the distance.

As your route grows closer the cliff, the ridge finally frees a view of the Shimmering Veil.  Still miles away to the north, it is now easily visible.  A muted shade of purple that seems nearly opaque at this distance, the eddies of cloud-forms and swirls can be seen, restrained within the gently waving bounds of the colossal wall.  The upper reaches seem to be a little less dense, but it's difficult to tell at this distance.

As the view of your next "destination" draws your attention and Radwa tries to balance her focus between driving forward and staring to her right, a small, intermittant whining sound begins to emanate from under the front passenger seat.

OOC: who is in what seat?  What side of the front is Radwa driving on?  I imagine the available seating as:

__   __
|1|  |2|
__ __ __
|3|4 |5|
__ __ __

Derrick takes the seat nearest to the exit so that he can be ready to jump out first if they run into any threats. The transparent canopy of the cart makes him nervous and he does not want the vehicle to take damage if he can prevent it. From his position, he surveys their surroundings for signs of danger, letting others handle the navigation. When the whining sound starts, he turns to look at the place. "That doesn't sound good."

The driver's controls are on the right front seat, so Radwa scowls to their left when the sound starts. "Urgh, no, not this early - I just finished building this!" they complain as the slow the cart to a stop, get out of the cart and go around to the side to try and see what's making the noise.

The sound continues even after the vehicle stops and turns off.  Radwa's cursory inspection notes nothing out of place along the undercarriage or by the wheels.  The sound seems to be emenating from the space beneath the front left seat (space 1), within the vehicle.

The older man had quietly kept a lookout beside Radwa, ready to use his gifts to help interact with or defend from those they might encounter.  His expression had been thoughtful since they had left the cheering people behind.  His thoughts were his own, though Derrick no doubt could sense that some portion of the passing time was spent in silent prayer.

As they stopped to seek the source of the noise, he examined the space under his seat, stretching out his extraordinary senses...

OOC: If the source isn't obvious and easily accessible, he will Scan for it...

Taking the middle set behind Radwa, Artor stowed his Glaive on the floor by his feet and examined the synth bow the council had provided him - familiarising himself with its flex and heft. As before he took it upon himself to be their eyes and kept his eyes roving their environs

Flex skill - Perception; on phone so will fix character sheet with cyphers and new equipment when I’m on a laptop

His ears twitched at the whining sound, uncomfortable with the distraction from their surrounds, and when they pulled to a stop he shivered beneath the robe, “What can you sense, priest?”

Beneath his seat, Agatho discovers a squarish basket, tightly woven, with the lid tied on with a piece of string.  When he moves the basket, which seems rather heavy for its size, the whining intensifies a bit and a mild scratching sound can be heard.  A note is tied with the binding.

So that none of you must take the first risk at the Veil.  Good luck.   ~Gavia

“It’s a canarium!”, offered Artor, peering over their shoulders, “They used to send them with children ... minors ... into peril!”

Derrick raised an eye brow at Artor, "Why would they send children into peril? Regardless, that will be useful to have." The big man looks relieved by the appearance of the object. He taps on the transparent shell to get Radwa's attention and then motions for them to return.

"I wonder where they even had such a thing?" Hoa Sen asks. "It is, at the very least, a token of Gavia's empathy and listening skills. I suspect it may be rather more. Do you think it's safe to open the box?"

Radwa returns to the drivers' side of the cart in time to see the canarium pulled out from under the seat.

"Aww, that's considerate! Maybe it'd be best to open it when we get to the Veil, in case it flies off in the wrong direction," they suggest before starting the cart up again.

The older man regards the basket thoughtfully, stretching his empathic senses toward the basket, and looking to see if it is possible to touch the creature through the tight weave of the basket.

If so, then he does so, seeking a Mental Link with the creature...

There is no way to make physical contact through the basket.  The weave is too tight.  It sounds as though the creature wants to get out, although does not seem to be in pain or afraid.

Unsuccessful at his attempts to touch the creature, the older man sighs, and continues to cradle the basket as he takes his seat once again.

As they set off, he sings softly to the creature to soothe it as best as he is able.  Derrick recognizes the song from when they were approaching the town, now sung again as they depart it...

Derrick hums along as they continue towards the Veil.

Settling into the rumble of their conveyance, Artor resumed his watch. Over one shoulder, a whorl of fabric and brackish green-light drifted

The remainder of the drive is largely monotonous.  The "canarium" quiets down and has potentially gone to sleep.  Scrub in various familiar shapes spreads out beyond you.  Some larger moving shapes can be seen to the south, but they're impossible to discern from this distance.  Perhaps it's only rocky outcrops shimmering in the heat.

The land makes its wavy, uneven way down to a wide valley between the Black Riage and the rise to Canthus.  You've slowly made your way closer the Veil and it now looms above you like a threatening wave, held back from crashing.  It is only two miles or so to the north, a span striated with dunes of blue or green sand crawling over terra cotta hardpan.  Soon the sun's light will be obscured through whatever filter the Veil creates.

Hoa Sen remains perched lightly in her seat. "It is quite impressive, isn't it. A frighteningly large thing on which to hang one's hopes. We let the canarium lead the way...and follow it in here? Are there concerns about our conveyance that you would not have were we on foot, Master Radwa?"

Radwa thinks for a moment, looking up towards the entrance of the Veil. They shake their head. "Besides perhaps physically fitting the cart through any opening it might have, none. It's certainly gotten us there faster than if we had on foot, and I'm sure we can work out resources on the other side - there's always something."

They only just manage to stifle a massive yawn. "We should rest - it's been a long drive."

Once they appeared agreed to stop and rest, Derrick clambers out of the cart and does a quick circuit to check the intended camp area. "I agree. We can attempt to pass through tomorrow morning. It would be best to rest now." He begins to set up camp.

The area is largely open, hardpan with occasional scrub.  The tarps, poles, and lines are simple enough to set up and there is at least a "roof" over your head for sleeping.

As the sun falls below the top of the veil, it becomes diffused and dimmed, but not obscured.  You are still able to track its position in the sky.  The moon is already rising in the east, a smaller slice of white in a darkening sky.

With their tent set up, Artor returns the to top of the conveyance: in the dimming light, a half-smile rises as the moon does and he seems ... content. Lazy swirls of black-light ruffle the edges of his silhouette, but otherwise he appears as perhaps he once was, a man in a cloak

Once the camp is set up, Derrick also relaxes. "We should keep watch for trouble.My preference is to wake early and watch the sun rise."

The clear, pin-pricked darkness of a desert night continues to grow as the shadow of the Veil grows to encompass all the desert you can see.  Cold seeps in as the heat seems to evaporate with the light.

Artor nodded to Derrick's request, "Night is my friend; I will sit whatever watches are needful, but I can wake you afore dawn"

As the gloom deepens and the last remnants of direct sunlight dissolve from the Veil, you are all able to notice that there is light within the towering wall of ... fog(?) before you.  Thousands upon thousands of tiny flashes in every color imaginable are spread throughout it, creating a scintillating backdrop.  Slow waves move along the surface, pushing the Veil toward you and then away again, gently and with no particular rhythm.

"I will take the first watch..."

He watches the scintillating Veil as night falls, and observes the ebb and flow to get a feel for how quickly it can change and how much ground is covered.

Then he moves within Scanning range to examine it more closely, ready to retreat with haste if needed...

The waves of the Veil seem to be restricted to within a range of about 50 yards.  You can see fairly clearly on the ground where the strange stones start to appear, their density in the soil increasing as the open ground is closer to the line where there is always Veil.

Agatho stands close to the outer edges of the outermost waves, a distance he adjudges as safe.  As the next slow wave approaches, his senses extend with the Scan.  The massive wave moves slowly and there is plenty of time to glean what information he can.

Before turning over and committing to trying to get as much sleep as possible before his watch, Derrick eyes Agatho with some concern. Ultimately, he decides not to say anything and goes to sleep in anticipation of an early morning awakening.

Radwa doesn't say much - they're surprised at how tired they feel from driving the transport cart so far. At least the Veil was right there, and tomorrow should prove interesting to see.

They curl up quietly, safe and secure in the knowledge that the others are keeping watch, and let themselves drift off to sleep.

The chill night passes quietly.  The Shimmering Veil produces no sounds, but continues to blink, akin to a distant field of fireflies in a vast spectrum of colors.

The desert night carries little activity in this area, a few small creatures and insects slither or buzz by, but nothing that couldn't fit in the "canarium" basket.

If the growing light of morning doesn't wake you, the whining and clawing of the creature in the basket certainly would.

OOC: feel free to describe any additional minor nighttime activity with your morning post.

After the older man completes his scan, he contemplates thoughtfully, and then retrieves the basket.

"Sovereign One, please protect and preserve us as we face the Veil, I pray..."

He sings softly to soothe the creature within, waiting for the ebb and flow of the Veil to recede.

Then he gently places the basket on the ground where the stones are more colorful, and retreats.

And so he keeps his watch, both observing his surroundings, and observing the basket as the Veil continues to ebb and flow...

The waves of the Veil wash over the basket intermittently.  You can judge the obscuring factor of the Veil, and guess that within it, you would have a visible radius of about 15 feet or so.

As for the basket and its contents, nothing happens.  At least, nothing you can currently see.  The creature goes through periods of quiet and other periods of restlessness and whining.  Some parts of the basket are looking worn and weakened, when viewed in the light of dawn.

The older man awakens, and finishes his silent praying before dawn.  Then he goes to greet Derrick.

"Peace to you.  How was the watch?  And how fares our friend in the basket?"

As he listens to the answer, he looks at the current state of the ebb and flow of the Veil, ready to retrieve the basket and the occupant therein at an opportune moment...

“We will pass through”, offered Artor with certainty when he woke, emerging in the bundled cloak and patchwork rags that covered every part of him

“Let it wash over us and through us, but we will remain”

Nodding a morning greeting to the others he picks his way to the basket with the canarium, paying little heed to the Veil itself
This message was last edited by the player at 09:34, Sat 21 Sept 2019.

Artor walks through the trailing end of a wave to pick up the basket.  The physical sense of the Veil is nearly imperceptible, barely a current of air.

The basket itself is a bit damaged, but from the inside.  The creature has been trying to dig its way out after at least a day trapped inside.  There doesn't appear to be any other changes to the basket, but given its condition, this minor alterations would be difficult to notice.

Derrick has kept and eye on the basket throughout his watch, but his attention has largely been focused on the land to the south. He is more concerned about something following them. When the others begin to stir, he keeps his watch until the most of the party is awake and preparing for the day ahead.

When Agatho approaches, Derrick bows his head. "Peace to you. There was nothing of consequence. Just the creatures of the land and of those, none that were a threat to us. I imagine whatever is in the basket is upset about still being in the basket, but it has continued to move and make noise. Whatever threats lie in the Veil, they must lie deeper inside than in this border region."

Derrick watches carefully as Artor is touched by the Veil, but when he seems no more affected than the basket, he nods to himself.

Hoa Sen sleeps lightly and, when she wakes, moves automatically through her morning stretches and katas (though she abbreviates them). She takes an unusually light breakfast. Only after does she offer more than casual greetings to the others.

"We'll try the Veil, then. As soon as we're ready, I think? There's no reason to delay. Every day that passes is another that Canthus must struggle for survival."

Artor nodded with Hoa Sen's words, "Come then, my friends. Follow me"

With that he carefully opened the canarium's basket, hand ready to grasp at the creature within, and - cradling it in the crook of one arm with his glaive held in the other - walked into the Veil

Opening the basket, Artor is assaulted by the smell of og-whirric dung, as well as the offending producer.  The creature scrambles out and tries to flee, but is easily caught by Artor as the damaged container falls to the ground, breaking further.  Its confinement and efforts to escape have weakened it.

The og-whirric is scarcely larger than the Jack's fist and it's scales are still soft, supple, and dark at such a young age.  Calming slightly in Artor's gentle grip, it looks around, blinking, as it is engulfed in the purplish fog.  Up close, glints of light are still visible in the substance of the Veil.

[OOC: Radwa and Hoa would be familiar with og-whirric, but the rest of you really haven't encountered them before now.]

Retaining his gentle grip, Artor lets a tendril of darkness caress the creature's flank as they step onwards

Radwa gathers a few things from the cart and joins the others, refreshed and ready.

"All right - a short explore to make sure it's clear, and then we can come back for the cart and explore some more. That sound like a good plan?" they ask as they follow Arotr and the others through.

Derrick watches the others enter the Veil. He glances back at the cart with a nervous expression and then at Agatho. "I worry that leaving the cart is a mistake. If we are unable to return at first, then we will be without all the supplies." That said, strategy is not the large man's forte so he looks to his companion for advice.

Those stepping into the Veil notice a few things very quickly.  First, it really doesn't feel like much of anything.  While there is obviously ... something surrounding you, it has a mass no more perceptible than that of fog, and likely even less.  It does not seem to be accumulating on your clothing or your skin.  It does not seem to be affecting your breathing.

Second, within the substance of the Shimmering Veil, visibility is very quickly diminished.  You can see clearly only about 10 feet ahead (3 meters), and poorly to a distance of about 20 feet.  This is due to both the Veil obstructing your view and the amount of light that filters through it.  Once you are more than 30 feet or so from the outer border, the amount of light is similar to that of twilight after the sun has dropped below the horizon.  The prismatic blinking continues and is more visible within the Veil, likely due to the lack of brighter lights to compare it to.  If you look back toward the sun, you see the same dimming and scattering effect you witnessed last night during sunset.

The terrain you are on is very similar to what you've been driving on.  Largely flat or gently rolling hardpan studded with rocks of various sizes.  You don't immediately notice any plant or animal life.

The older man nods in agreement with Derrick, and calls to the others as they enter.

"Please stay within visual range, or we may lose each other, our wagon, and our way.  We must stay together, or risk failing in our mission before we've begun."

He positions himself so that he can still see the wagon as well as his companions.

Stretching out his Scanning senses, he then tries to assess what effect(s), if any, the Veil is having upon them...

In or out of the Veil, Agatho doesn't sense anything different than the night before.  The Veil and his companions are the same as they were.

“We need to press on”, called Artor from out front, “Bring the wagon?”

Hoa calls out "Do we dare begin laying the azure cable and reality spikes? We do Canthus no good if we find only our own way through."

Glacing at the cart nervously, Derrick shouts back. "I wouldn't not trust myself to drive the cart. I will fetch the cable and spikes, but I think Radwa should drive the cart." He returns to the cart and begins to pull out the cable and the reality spikes.

When he returns, Derrick looks at Agatho and asks: "The first spike should be placed outside the perimeter of the Veil should it not? We should find a suitable place to drive it in." He begins to look around for a place where the ground will be firm enough to hold the spike.

Radwa finds a spot with a direct line of sight to the entry to the Veil, firm enough to hold one of the spikes. "This should do - we can always retrace our steps and pull up a spike if we need to go back and change our route," they say as they get the cart ready to drive. "The cart will give us a measure of protection while we drive through, though we're not going to be going very fast thanks to the visibility. I hope it's not like that all the way through."

Whilst the others laid the breadcrumbs behind them, Artor watched the mists billow. His thoughts turned to their nature, idly considering their motion of that of the dark fog beneath his own skin. With one finger of the hand that held the canarium, he idly scratched beneath its chin

The group walk and drives forward, cable slowly unspooling behind them.  The substance of the Veil remains as visually impenetrable, and the going is very slow.  Distance becomes harder to measure to those not deliberately counting their steps.

Approximately fifteen minutes of walking elapse when the explorer's path is blocked.  A large, irregular wall of rock grows out of the sandy soil.  Close inspection shows that it is studded with many of the same unusual stones that the ground holds.  The wall seems to be a natural formation, topping out at about fifteen feet tall.  It runs a jagged path nearly parallel to the Veil in this area.

Derrick eyes the top of the strange rock wall. "I think it would be easy enough to climb over this. I can do so. Just to get a view of the other side."

At the appearance of the wall, Artor stopped and waited for the others to catch up; when Derrick volunteered to scale it, he simply nodded, "Climb, and I will pass you the canarium"

"Take some of the spool with you - if you get in trouble we can reel you back with it," Radwa suggests as they get out of the cart, unreeling some more of the spool and offering a couple of loops to Derrick.

"The walker won't be able to climb it, in any case," Hoa Sen says, stating the obvious. The arkus looks up at the wall, then along it, peering as though she can get through the Veil's rainbow haze simply by staring harder. "We'll need to find a way around or through. Hopefully a fresh perspective gives us the necessary insight."

Derrick does as suggested, wrapping a length or two of the cable over his arm before beginning the ascent. He plans as much of the climb as he can by looking for easy hand holds and then begins to pull himself up. When he reaches the top he cautiously stands if there is room to do so comfortably and looks around at what he sees beyond.

The obstacle is easy enough to climb.  The rough, uneven stone provides plenty of handholds and footholds, and the slope is not imposing.  About 15 feet up, Derrick arrives at a flat ledge suitable for a rest.  On a clean surface of the rock, he can make out the chiseled words, "Lophodytes was here."  There is no indication of how old the marks are, although the growth of lichens in a few spots suggests they are not recent.

The climb continues upward another ten feet or so before reaching a peak.  Before him Derrick sees the same dense "fog" of the Veil as he's been traveling through.  There is no brightness nor dimming.  The rock seems to recede to the north in a jagged uneven slope, at least as far as Derrick can see, but that isn't saying much.

Derrick pauses briefly on the ledge and calls down to report his findings. "If anyone knows a Lophodytes, apparently they also climbed this rock and felt compelled to carve their name here. I'm going to continue up a bit further to what appears to be the top."

He then climbs the remaining ten feet. "Nothing much more to see from here. The slope continues. I think we should try to find our way around in order to stay with the cart. Hold on, I'm coming down."

He then begins to carefully descend until he rejoins his companions. "I don't think we should split up, but we shouldn't waste the cable or spikes either. We need to determine whether the best route is East or West to get around the rock."

After Derrick reaches the ground and reports his findings and thoughts, a voice familiar to him speaks from above, seemingly from the ledge he recently left.  "You have lost the Planned One, explorers.  I did not expect that.  How might you plan your choice now of east or west?"  The masculine voice is unfamiliar to Radwa, Hoa, and Agatho, but Artor, too, has heard it before.

The older man sends forth his empathic and scanning senses toward the voice.

"'Peace to you.'  Please, do you know a safe way through the Veil?"

"For me, any path is safe."

"Can you lead us through the Veil via a path that would be safe for us?"

Hoa Sen shakes her head. "And even that, Master Agatho, might be insufficient. We need a path that is safe for those who would follow us." She tips her head again, pointing her voice up toward the stranger. "Have you come only to observe? While we would not press for your generosity, understanding something of your purpose may help us all find ways to better our situation."

It only takes a moment for Derrick to remember where he has heard the voice and only a moment longer to remember that it referred to Mayhew as 'Planned One'. He still isn't quite sure what that means. The words that the voice spoke at the grove have been at the back of Derrick's mind since that night, but he has not been able to make any more sense of them. In all the excitement, he forgot to share the experience with Agatho.

For now he addresses the voice. "You said that you would return. I suppose that in a sense you have. I still don't know what you meant last time. You spoke of different paths and of something called the Aix. What is that?"

"The Aix are a people you are likely to encounter."

There is a silence that stretches into awkwardness before the voice speaks again.

"Are you likely to find more value in electricity or biology?"  The question seems genuine, not mocking or for the purposes of trivia.

"Biology, I suppose," Hoa Sen ventures. "For without the means to live, we can hardly put electricity to use." The arkus looks to the others for confirmation or rebuttals. The Order, after all, could do miraculous things with properly applied energy.

Derrick isn't sure what the question means and he certainly doesn't have much of an understanding of either of the things that the voiced mentioned.

"The most direct route to life from here is to the east, once you pass through the Veil.  Not all of the biology is amenable to your purposes, but certain much of it is.  Or indifferent, at least."

The older man notes with interest Derrick's references to a previous interaction with this voice.

"We seek a safe path to a place of refuge for a people currently in danger.  Which way would be best for such people to resettle safely?  Would the Aix likely be a friend or foe to such people?"

"The Ninth World is dangerous nearly everywhere, Healer.  Friendship is earned."

Derrick has given up casting about in an attempt to pinpoint the source of the voice. Instead, he starts trying to parse what it is saying. "We are friends to peaceful peoples. Are the Aix peaceful?"

"As a people, the Aix have few quarrels.  They have few to quarrel with."  The voice is quiet for a bit.  There is a soft sound of licking, as of a furred beast grooming itself.  Then, "I bid you safe travels.  I shall visit again.  Your journey is most interesting to me."

Then there is silence.  Further questions bounce from the rock and are swallowed in the haze of the Veil.

Deliberate in his quiet at the taunting voice, Artor now speaks, "Whether to trust, or not. That is our choice. Personally, I would not trust, other than that the words we heard are truthful .... and incomplete. Let us seek out these Aix"

The older man regards his companions with thoughtful curiosity, with a slightly lingering glance at Derrick.

"What is known of that voice?  Have any of you encountered it before?"

“When we pursued the aneen “, admitted Artor, his tone considerate, “It remained out of sight and ... much as you heard it just now”

“I had not thought to encounter it again”

Derrick nods in agreement with Artor. "It was just as cryptic then. I'm still not sure I understood anything it was saying." He looks around at their obscured surroundings. "I think our first priority still has to be finding a path around the rock for the cart. Do we split up and check both directions or pick one and stay together?"

"I do not believe we should split up. The...being...suggested that what if we seek biology we should bear east once we are clear of the Veil. Perhaps we should seek a way around this barrier in that direction. It is as good a choice as any, unless there is more to see from the wall's top?" Hoa Sen added.

Radwa starts up the vehicle and turns so it is running parallel to the rock face, heading eastward.

Derrick climbs back into the vehicle in silent agreement with this plan.

“Biology”, nodded Artor in affirmation

"Both threatening and, if not helpful, at least indifferent. I wish I had studied more of such things," Hoa Sen says. "The world is an impossibly deep catalog of strangenesses, and I've never been able to hold more than a page or two of it in my mind."

Once everyone has returned to the vehicle, Radwa begins the slow drive, keeping the rock formation about 5 feet or so to the left.  It begins to curve slightly northward, and the largely flat hardpan continues to provide a suitable surface for driving.

After nearly a mile of slow progress northward in which the wall slowly becomes lower, the Veil brightens a bit.  Soon, the cart has pierced the far side.  After nearly an hour of obscured, diffuse light, the bright sun forces the explorers to squint a bit as their eyes adjust.

Before them lies the fading remains of the ridge they've been following, narrowing down to the surface a few hundred yards further on.  To the east northeast, grasslands are visible a few miles away.  To the north, the land is level for a many miles before slowly rising to what might be a plateau.  The air inside the Veil is a bit heavier, more humid than the desert you've come from.

The Shimmering Veil itself stretches east and west, eventually bending northward on each side.  Beyond the rise to the north, more of the Veil can be seen through the humidity, but just barely above the top of the rise.  It's likely a hundred miles or more to the northern border, and more than that west to east.

OOC: Everyone please make a Might defense check, DC 3(9).  You can't apply effort because you don't know anything might be happening.  Just PM the results in your next post.

The older man prays quietly as they emerge from the Veil, and smiles.

"Thank you, Sovereign One."

He looks around, and considers.

"We have been told of the Aix, a people having few quarrels, with few to quarrel with.  And we have been told that friendship is earned."

"I suspect it would be best if we seek them out directly, openly and peacefully, and share our purpose here honestly, and seek their counsel.  Newcomers will not thrive here without their benevolence."

"If there is a suitable place where they would peacefully allow newcomers to settle, our search could be over quickly.  If not, then we will know that we must seek a place far enough removed from them, and can begin such a search all the sooner."

"What do you all think?"

Nodding, Artor had but a few words to add as he rested his weight upon the shaft of his glaive, "Let us seek them out, for sure, but let us veer towards the plateau if we have any choice in the matter. It seems defensible, which access to the grasslands should they prove fertile"

As the vehicle emerges from the Veil, Derrick turns to look back at it. "We should place the spikes, right? This is the way through, we should mark it before we move on."

Surveying the land ahead of them, he nods in agreement with Artor. "At the very least, we will be able to see much of the surrounding land from the top."

As Derrick passes out of the Veil, his eyes begin itching and become watery for a few minutes.  After blinking away the tears, his vision remains as acute as it had been and there is no lingering pain or discomfort.

The other members of the party would notice that Derrick's irises have become pure white.  His pupils are now the only "color" left in his eyes.

"You have been marked, friend", offered the void-touched and swaddled leper, "By the Veil. Your eyes-" and he gestured unnecessarily "- have lost their light"

As he finishes rubbing his eyes, Derrick raises an eyebrow at Artor. "I assumed there was just something in the air. I can see as clearly as ever. What exactly do you mean?"

The older man regards him gently.

"Friend Derrick, other than your black pupils, your eyes are now completely white."

"We can but hope that is the least troubling of our transformations," Hoa Sen says. "We should lay the spikes, I think. Canthus has no time for us to dally looking for more efficient routes."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:06, Tue 05 Nov 2019.

Derrick doesn't seem too upset by the news. His expression would best be described as nonplussed. After a moment of thinking it over he shrugs. "What is it you always say Agatho? May I be granted the grace to accept the things I cannot change."

He climbs out of the vehicle and takes one of the spikes with him. He carefully watches the ebs and flows of the Veil on this side and places the spike ten yards past the furthest border reached by the strange shimmering wall. He then takes the cable from the back of the cart and ties it around the spike. "There, now the refugees will have a way through at least."

Derrick finds the cable completely unspooled in the back, although still anchored to the wagon.  It has been dragging behind the cart for some time, it seems.  The metal is light enough that Derrick can drag it to his target site with difficult, but manageable effort.

OOC: The cable is only a mile long and you had to traverse more than that eastward around the rock formation.  You'll need another trip through the Veil to secure it on the other side.

"You have been caught by the Veil already, Derrick", observed Artor, "Let me take it back and site the anchor"

Derrick nods and, after tying the near end of the cable to a spike, holds the slack out Artor. "I do not think going alone is a good idea, but I think we should leave a trail behind us. Perhaps try going due south? I will hold this end of the cable, and we will come looking if you pull it or drop it." The large man seems uncomfortable with his own proposal.

"It is a good plan", nodded Artor, seemingly unconcerned, "I will wrap it around my arm so you can pull me back if something untoward happens"

Moving in a path roughly perpendicular to the line of the Veil, Artor is able to pass through it fairly cleanly.  The terrain at this point has no obstructions.  Hefting the line along, it takes about 20 minutes to make it all the way through.  Out into the bright light of day once again, Artor finds himself a few hundred yards north of a cliff face.  To the west, he can make out the low point that Radwa's vehicle came through.

Blinking in the sunlight, Artor activated the cypher that was the Reality Spike

The spike becomes fixed where Artor placed it, hovering about 2 feet off the ground, 50 feet from the apparent limits of the Veil.  The azure steel cable is securely attached and trails back into the sparkling, violet gloom.

Satisfied, Artor retraced the cable to where the others waited

Perhaps 45 minutes after he disappeared into the Veil, Artor re-emerges, following the footsteps he made earlier.  Coiling up the remaining cable, it would appear that the Veil is roughly half a mile thick, at least in this area.  If the cable can be cut after another reality spike is deployed, you would have approximately 0.4 miles of cable left to use as you see fit.

"Well done, Artor!" Hoa Sen looked around at the others. "Do we have means to cut the cable here? And perhaps to leave a message? Clearing the Veil is only the first step, but if we can grant some idea of where we are bound to those who follow, they are more likely to arrive intact."

Derrick offers his opinion on Hoa's thoughts. "We could use slack from the cable and the third reality spike to point the way we intend to go, but without knowing what we will find there, we cannot say that we want to point those who follow after us."

“Let us anchor it and trim it and keep it unused for now”, suggested Artor, “We might need it for the plateau but that remains unknown”

Among Radwa's tools, they have a small torch capable of cutting the azure steel.  After the second Reality Spike is secured like the outer one, and the cable is attached to it as tightly as possible, they are able to sever the excess, which is stored back on the trailer.

OOC: until Radwa reappears, I'm just going to run them like an NPC.

Also, I imagine Derrick's eyes go a bit wide when he sees the spike floating in the air.

Derrick is briefly very interested in the spike, he had thought that they were meant to be driven into the ground. He tries several times to move the object after it is set with no success. He doesn't distract himself for too long, before climbing back into the cart. "I suppose we should head for the plateau."

Artor nodded, "If no other reason than we might see the lie of the land ... and what possibilities exist to support the community"

"Let's be about it"

Once the cart is reloaded and everyone has taken their seats, Radwa continues the northward journey.  The land is largely flat, although it seems to slope upward toward the plateau.  This area seems to be a desert, similar to the land around Canthus, however the air seems more humid.  A sparse smattering of plant life is evident, although many of the varieties are unfamiliar.

OOC: Any particular actions on your path northward?

As the group travels, Derrick focuses on keeping an eye out for danger.

The Veil itself walls off visibility in every direction, eventually.  Within it's bounds, you see to the west, in the distance, odd landforms and shapes.  Sometimes they seem to be moving or flashing, but it could just be distortion from the heat.  To the east, there seems to be more desert, sometimes broken by low buttes.  Beyond that, there is greenery in the distance and more humidity.  There also seem to be some large creatures in that direction.  A herd of slowly moving ... somethings is visible, but impossible to identify at this distance.  Occasional glimpses of flying creatures in the distance offer more proof of life.

The winds blow from the northwest, slow and irregular.  White puffs of cloud dot the sky, thickening to the west.  You can occasionally observe one drift through the Veil, seemingly unimpeded.

The drive itself is largely uneventful.  There are some minor crevices and weathered rock formations to navigate, but nothing that a few minutes of exploration can't find a way around.  One or two small lizards scurry from your presence into the protective shade of fallen cacti and rocky overhangs.  As you approach the plateau, the incline becomes steeper.  Perhaps a half mile from the top, Radwa picks a more level portion and parks.  "It's too steep past here, not safe to drive."

Derrick nods his understanding and clambers out of the cart. He stretches to loosen up from the drive. "Then we will hike from here." He looks over at Agatho as though considering saying some word of caution, but instead addresses the group generally. "We will have to move slowly to be safe."

"We should err on the side of safety over speed, I agree." From the ledge, Hoa Sen looks around. "Do any of you find it strange that there does not seem to be an 'other' side to the Veil? Is it perhaps circular? We have passed through, but..." she gestures to the horizon blurring northward into hazy light. "it seems intent on surrounding us once again, no matter how loose the fence. There is life here, but I wonder whether it came from inside or outside, and whether it is allowed to pass through as the clouds seem to."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Fri 13 Mar 2020.

Disembarking the vehicles, Artor peered upslope and the returned his gaze to the others, "Safety? I favour speed ... why safety?"

The slope itself isn't a particularly technical climb.  There are numerous handholds and footholds, wide ledges to rest on, when needed.  The ascent takes less than half an hour, even for the least physically fit among you.

When you reach the top you have a wide view of the lands to the south, geography largely familiar to you.

You also have a commanding view of the massive crater opening up to the north.

Nearly sixty miles across, the great bowl slopes downward in a wide arc to a "floor" approximately 300 feet feet below the rim.  The land below is studded with clusters of constructed spires and ridges.  Each of the dozen or so groupings seems to be slightly tilted in a different direction, and none reach more than 150 feet above the ground. There seem to be trees and grasses and other life around each of these clusters.

In the center of the bowl is a wide, shallow lake with additional,smaller structures in it.  A waving canal seems to enter the lake from the southwest.  As your gaze follows the river, you see its path from a far point along the rim toward the lake.    Numerous tiers of concentric canals and swaths of lush greenery stretch out from the river in both directions, some reaching nearly twenty miles from the source.  More plants seem to be evident on the other side of the rim, there, as well.

And beyond the far edge of the rim and even further, the Veil persists.  It forms a rippling wall concealing this realm from the rest of the 9th World.

During the climb, Derrick focuses on helping others make the ascent regardless of the need to do so. At the top, he spends several silent moments taking in this view of the crater. "This would make a fine place to settle, but if we have found the Aix, or even some other group, they might not like to share such a land."

"We cannot know without speaking to them", observed Artor, "We should descend"

From the rim, the way down is quite steep to begin with, eventually sloping to become flat about two miles inward from the edge.  At your current position, you would likely need to climb down the first 75 feet or so, requiring ropes, skill, and/or luck.  From there onward, you could walk, but you'd need to take a number of switchbacks to keep the slope manageable until you reach some of the more gentle grades farther in.

Derrick eyes the terrain directly below the group with a dubious expression. Perhaps if we travel around the rim then we can find an easier place to descend?"

Glancing at the descent, Artor nodded once, "We might. Or not... I believe my rope will get us part of the way down... perhaps if we have another, then we might descend swiftly enough?"

"I believe we can manage the climb," Hoa Sen says. "I suspect we have enough rope between us to manage the worst of it." She looks out over the basin. "It may be possible, too, that there are more exotic dangers than hostile sapients below. We need no reminders to remain cautious, I am sure, but let us not assume these Aix are even the primary threat."

Artor nodded, “We must choose whether to leave the ropes in place, or not, with such in mind. If we can, a certain exit might be wise”

Much later, and far away ...

Alyssa was sitting outside her small cottage, examining the crystal trinket that she'd been given for her kind work earlier today.  There were still a few hours before sunset, and she wanted to enjoy the breezes off the sea as the sun sank into it.  Ghaan was lovely this time of year.

As she watched, there seemed to be a glow beginning to emanate from inside the crystal.  It quickly became bright and then blinding.  Soon there was a flash that surrounded Alyssa and enveloped not only her sight but all of her senses.

- - -

As she regained her awareness, Alyssa's sense of uncertainty grew.  There was sand and rock beneath her feet, not grass.  The air was dry and still and she smelled no hit of salt.  As her vision returned, two discrepancies struck her as very worrying.  The first was that it was much later in the day than a few moments ago.  The sun was nearly set behind the ... and that was the other worrying thing.

All around Alyssa, towering in the distance in every direction was a massive wall of some shimmering purple fog.  She had never seen nor heard of anything like it.

Alyssa's heartbeat quickened. Where was she? Was this the afterlife? It was not at all like the stories she had heard in her home village. She thought back at the events of the day. She had gotten the crystal as payment for helping a herder's child. It had just been a bruise really, nothing that really needed any treatment, but as her village resident healer it was to Alyssa they came when anyone was hurt or sick.

"No, I'm not dead. Can't be." she said to no one in particular. She pinched herself. Hard. "Yeah, you're definitely alive Alyssa, but where are you?" Alyssa lived alone in her cottage and she had the habit of speaking to herself aloud.

"HELLO? ANYONE THERE?" she shouted. "I guess I'll walk this way" Alyssa stated and started walking towards what she believed was east.

Taking further stock of her situation, Alyssa can see the following:

The purple fog is nowhere near her, but still surrounds her.  It's several miles away to the south and stretches into the sky at least a mile.  She's never seen anything so tall.  It seems to form a ring. She can see it, even above the slope, in the far distance in any direction.

Around her is desert, primarily.  She is on a south-facing slope that wouldn't be too difficult to climb for a better view.  The gentle grade leads south.

As Alyssa turns to head east, she trips ... over the wheel of a trailer.  The trailer is attached to a vehicle of some sort, one that seems to have been used recently.  A few tire tracks are discernible to the south, but farther down, they've been obliterated by the wind.

Two things regarding the cart stand out to Alyssa.  First is that there is a book in one of the front seats, with a tool in place to hold it open to a specific page.  On that page are designs for a device, including a part that looks identical to the crystal Alyssa had gotten this morning (one she can no longer find).

The second thing that stands out is footprints.  In the dirt leading northward, up slope, are the footprints of at least two different people sheltered from the wind by the cart and the rocks.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 129):

Alyssa is tempted to stay and study the book and the vehicle further, but decides that it's probably better to find people instead. They might offer shelter and maybe some food. So she decides to follow the footprints north.

Moving up the slope, Alyssa is guessing that there will be a plateau or something from which to get a better view.  When she finally reaches the top, it's not a plateau that she finds, but the view is amazing.

Alyssa is along the rim of a giant crater, easily 50 miles across.  In the fading light, she can see towers and spires at various points, the closest nearly 10 miles away to the north northwest.  There seem to be trees or buildings around the bases of the spire, but it's difficult to tell in the twilight.

Directly below her is a steep, jagged cliff face that drops down to the crater floor, the slope easing eventually.  The climb down would be dangerous with proper equipment during the day.  At night, alone, it would likely be suicide.

As the darkness deepens, Alyssa does spot a light.  Two, in fact.  Perhaps a mile or more away on the floor of the crater, is a small group of people.  They're carrying glowglobes, or some other type of illumination.  They seem to be walking westward, in a line that will take them to the edge of the crater.  Tracing the path of their progress forward, Alyssa can see a ... deformity?  Crack?  Path?  in the rim of this Great Bowl.  It's about four or five miles along the rim, clockwise from her current position.

Alyssa decides that her only way of survival is to try to catch up with the people in the crater. She decides to follow the edge of the crater in the hope that she can get to the destination of the group in the crater before they do or perhaps find an easier descent down into the crater.

The rim of the crater, where Alyssa can get a regular view of the people below, is not a safe route to travel, especially in the dark.  She'll need to move back down the slope to the level the vehicle was at to find ground even enough to avoid breaking an ankle.  If she stays at the top, she might also fall in, which might be fatal.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 133):

As the footing was precarious and the light so dim, Alyssa gave up her attempt after several instances where she almost twisted one of her ankles. Without any light source of her own she had to get to the other group fast. She returned to the vehicle which she assumed belonged to the group down in the crater.

"I hope you forgive me for borrowing it, but i don't have a choice" she for herself. She started examining it hoping to find a mechanism that made it start. Perhaps it had a light source as well?

The 4-wheeled vehicle seems to be laid out in a fairly straight-forward way.  The book, as Alyssa examines it more closely, is not instructions related to the vehicle, but rather information about other numenera devices.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 135):

Alyssa rather quickly gets a grip of how the strange vehicle probably works.

Alyssa finds the vehicle's operation straightforward and not difficult.  It even has headlights, which are much appreciated in the darkness.  The slope of the crater is a fairly simple trail to follow, and as long as she steers around the occasional rock slide or patch of heavy vegetation, her progress is fairly steady, chasing after the sunset that was scattered by the strange purplish cloud.

As she makes her way along, slowly and safely, Alyssa notices two competing sets of illumination visible to her.  The first is the giant wall of fog itself, which seems to shimmer with it's own internal luminescence.  She's too far away to discern more.  Closer at hand, Alyssa sees sparks bursting along the ground.  Slightly bluish, seemingly random in size, frequency, and distribution, the area affected seems to be right in her path.

Alyssa stops the vehicle. She's bothered by the blue lights. Could they endanger the workings of the vehicle? Perhaps they are electrical in nature?

From this distance, the flashing seems to be electrical discharges, but Alyssa isn't close enough to understand more.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 139):

Alyssa sighed. She couldn't figure out exactly what the sparks were and if they could be a danger to her and the vehicle. She decided to press on regardless in hope that she could avoid the sparks. She could not see any other option at the moment. She had to catch up with the strangers in the bowl, her survival was dependent on that.

Alyssa hears a rich baritone voice behind her.  "You've gotten yourself into an unenviable situation, newcomer.  Your presence is unexpected.  The danger you are is not."

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 141):

Alyssa stops the vehicle and turns around to get a look at the stranger.

There is no human (or humanoid or automaton) behind her, at least that she can see.  The only light now comes from the pale glow of the giant purplish fog and the occasional flashes in the field in front of her.  Alyssa sees, maybe?, a bit of fur low on one of the back seats.

"Don't stop.  Those ithsyn are quite hungry.  They've associated your scent with the scent of this vehicle.  They were gaining on you even before your moment of indecision."

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 143):

"So then I guess I'll just have to run through these electrical discharges then?" Alyssa asks the disembodied voice and then starts to accelerate the vehicle without waiting for the mysterious voice's reply.

"Yes, but avoiding the strong discharges will keep you alive longer and this contraption rolling farther.  It is a difficult predicament."  The voice pauses a moment.  "Would you like some advice or do you prefer to improvise?"

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 145):

Alyssa started to feel silly. She brought the vehicle to a halt again. "Sorry. I had have a stressful day. I've been teleported to no one knows where and now a disembodied voice is trying to give me advice. We haven't even been properly introduced. You also tell me that I'm hunted by some beasts. So what do you propose that I do?"

"I am far from disembodied.  'Tis pity your eyes can't tell the difference.  And don't be offended by a lack of introduction.  I offered none to the explorers you're seeking, either."  There is a pause, followed by a licking sound.  Outside the glass(?) dome of the vehicle, Alyssa can hear both the crackling of electricity and a more distant screeching.

"As for a recommended course of action, the most potent discharges have a series of three small sparks before they erupt.  That should give you enough notice to avoid them, and perhaps even lead the ithsyn into one.  You should really hurry if you want to avoid being eaten.  They can see you now."

Less than two hundred yards back, three sets of trifurcated maws ringed with razor teeth were illuminated in a bright flash.

"Thank you" Alyssa says as she moves the vehicle forward trying to see that pattern the voice speaks of.

I guess I'll have to roll for something? Speed perhaps?

In reply to Alyssa Yulo (msg # 148):

Alyssa tries to figure out the pattern of the sparks and she hopes that she can use that to her advantage.

22:12, Today: Alyssa Yulo rolled 15 using 1d20.  Intellect roll.

22:12, Today: Alyssa Yulo rolled 2 using 1d20.  Speed roll (with one level of effort).

Well, trying to trick an ithsyn into the sparks. I assume that the speed roll is probably failed.

Alyssa's sharp eyes are able to spot the pattern indicative of the worst discharges and she's able to steer the cart out of the way, even at full speed.  More than once, she is nearly blinded by strong bolts striking the ground or arching into the air beside her.

The ithsyn behind her are either lucky or wise.  Following the vehicle, they miss getting shocked, too.

Regardless, while pursuing her, they seem to be slowly losing ground.

"Well done, Child of Vigor.  You are well on your way to the hut at the top of the sloping path.  We shall likely speak again."  With that, the back seat falls silent.  All Alyssa hears is the hum of the motor, the shrieks of her pursuers, and the crackling of electricity all around her.

Alyssa accelerates hoping that the ithsyn shouldn't be able to keep her speed.

Alyssa's acceleration and swerving leads one of the ithsyn directly into a violent discharge and kills the creature immediately.  Seeing their packmate felled and being already spent from their long pursuit of the speedy, tireless cart, the other two screech in rage as they halt amidst the sparks and the smell of burnt flesh and feathers.  As Alyssa takes stock of the horrifying sounds and their meaning, her driving skills fail and a smaller bolt strikes the outside of the car, cracking the glass bubble and blackening the metal body.  At least it drives well enough.

Safe from predation (at least for the moment), Alyssa is able to continue her drive with slightly less recklessness.

Perhaps twenty minutes later, skirting the edge of the crater as closely as she can, Alyssa notes that the density of the crystals is much reduced.  In the light, dimmer but steadier, she spots a squat, square structure along a gap in the ridge to her right.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 152):

Alyssa stops the cart and tries to spot the group of people she saw in the bowl earlier. Are they still moving? Or have they stopped perhaps?

The hut is dark and there are no signs of life.  Alyssa can see a trail beside it that seems to lead down into the bowl.  A bit of smoke rises from somewhere not too far distant.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 154):

Alyssa drives down the trail into the bowl hoping that the smoke she can see might be from the group she saw earlier.

The trail quickly narrows and turns.  There is no way the vehicle will be able to navigate the switchbacks on a trail clearly made for two legs and not four wheels.  Alyssa must either abandon her only protection or find another way to make contact.

"Well, I suppose this is the end of the road." Alyssa brings the vehicle to a halt and steps out. She hurriedly starts walking along the trail hoping that it will lead her to the smoke which she hope is a campfire. She shortly considers bringing along the book of the numenera she found in the vehicle, but decides to let it lie.

Discovering that it indeed had become to dark for her to actually see clearly her surroundings, Alyssa decided to return to the vehicle. She now noticed the trailer who was hitched to the vehicle. Perhaps she could find something in there she could use as a light source? Or perhaps she could just use it for shelter for the night?

There is enough light (and Alyssa's tactile explorations) to see that the trailer is secure, but not locked.  After fiddling with the latch, Alyssa opens it to find a well-lit compartment filled with various materials, including a major glow globe.  The new brightness hurts her eyes for a moment, but they quickly adjust.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 159):

Alyssa picks up the glow globe and starts walking thankful for the light source, but also troubled by the possibility that the light will attract more of the ithsyn she outran earlier. She decides that she hasn't really any choice in the matter.

Returning to the gap in the rim of the crater, Alyssa finds the path to be fairly clean and level side to side as it slopes down.  There is nearly always a lip along the outer edge of the trail and many places show evidence of stonework to make the route more easily navigable.  Along the switchback turns toward the northwest, Alyssa notices the smoke is stronger and after some descent, she's able to make out what seems to be another hut against the cliff face below her.

Reaching the bottom of the trail, Alyssa finds a small, square building built into the rock.  Dim light can be seen from the two small windows, and the door is closed.