In reply to Hoa Sen (msg # 363):

"Well, I can't build things and I'm sorry that your friend disappeared, but I do know a bit about the numenera and I have knowledge about the healing arts. That was my responsibility in the village I left behind. Perhaps I can be of use for this new settlement."

"You would be welcomed, I am sure. If even a drifter such as myself can find a home"

In reply to Artor (msg # 365):

"I guess getting home to my cabin is out of the question." Alyssa sighs. "It was a nice cabin though. I recently had the roof fixed." She shrugs. "Well, I hope someone else moves in there. A shame to let it go to waste."

Derrick watches Alyssa lament her loss and decides that the best move might be to distract their newest companion. He pulls out the strange ceramic sphere that he had found in the Malstrel. "You say that you know about numenera. Do you have any idea what this is?" He offers the object to her.

Alyssa takes the ceramic sphere gently from Derrick's hands and inspects it. "Hmm... I have seen something similar to this before." She turns it over. "It's a grenade although it's effects are benefical and not harmful. It mends flesh instead of rendering it."

OOC: It's stats are healing, detonation level 10.

Derrick's eyes dance as he carefully takes the sphere back from Alyssa. "Incredible! This will be very useful." As he tucks the sphere away however he frowns. "However, I have been warned many times against carrying too many Numenara at once. I think perhaps I should not take this." He pulls out a strange tube shaped device. "From what I was told it will fire a projectile that releases a gas to harm opponents. Please, take this in exchange for your help." He offers it to Alyssa.

In reply to Derrick (msg # 369):

"Thank you" Alyssa replies to Derrick. "I do hope I never have to use it though. I don't really like the thought of having to harm other beings, but if required I will fight for my life."

"So say we all", muttered Artor, a ritualistic response from the tone. But he smiled, and raised his head, "Onward, then, to the vehicle and then with it the site we have been suggested?"

The Aix follow along with the group after closing up the shelter again.  They are largely silent, although Hollow Spark asks about the sudden appearance of the stranger, and how that could have happened.  He seems more curious than suspicious, as Alyssa hasn't struck him as dangerous.

The ascent is slightly taxing, but unremarkable.  Soon, the party is beyond the cusp of the Great Bowl, and the vehicle and trailer are waiting for them, parked as far from the nearest sparking bits of black crystal as Alyssa and Artor could manage last night.

Spreading to the southeast is a vast range of ruddy sands and smaller rock formations in all the familiar shades of brown, studded intermittently with black crystalline formations, clean and glinting in the sun.  The black stones range in size from pebbles (and likely smaller), to man-sized protrusion in the distance.  The area by the cart, near the gap leading down into the bowl, is empty of any black crystal not small enough to be blown around by the wind.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 372):

As they reach the vehicle Alyssa takes a short breather and asks: "So where do we head now?"

Derrick, partially in answer to Alyssa's question, turns to the Aix. [Language unknown: "No tacapl ou iouwiltin evndmi e rour verencwit andavenot inec enchounot loetee sicom Nitaad Ivers te utitfi entmi mihat di aiwh ntckee fo Outoussti. Prect po heinme oson t ac i ri ted ai ho?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Sat 11 July 2020.

Spire Son says, [Language unknown: "T for icaareard ilront el Omesetsom Olet, antousati p an set o ndebleman ter ntiit.  And Ha thoousset mori e ard u ure dayughrom encpl tra, ouniv di ess."]  Pointing to the stone-walled building near the gap in the crater's lip, he continues.  [Language unknown: "U ilio  maolti n sessbe ll som fo arurnc, saus hasnd ulnobe in o te conoreartess ourallere le, llho e mi ateromlat ilca ai and thaforesttio.  Urto ofof ul k ss ni.  Onevdi Di ckma diio ekal saostasich."]

Jasper, meanwhile, is poking her head into the cart, trying to examine as much of the workings as she can.  [Language unknown: "Oun onad ha oner?  Neica fo any m nd?  Ouiou ma ecolof wemo fo olosri?"]

Derrick nods his understanding to Spire Son and explains the conversation to Alyssa. "This is where the Aix leave us. We will travel around the outside of the crater to the proposed settlement location."

He extends his hand to Spire Son. [Language unknown: "Ee pe m Dinoveear Unic. Ithanyhat m as iouencres ssver plwandsi la pantli outessthifor ie osechi ent eeckad powape T nt ma. O vorousort bepr tostan wilousich nose esteennde."]

Clambering aboard the conveyance, Artor shrugged at Jasper's questions [Language unknown: "Ure houous'anypro om ekla onsearpro, na Radwa, hi A ingnceres ughnotoul. O tool con ers, Enc ard"]

Spire Son shakes Derrick's hand a bit awkwardly, but genuinely (and that of anyone else who offers).  Then he and the other Aix back away from the explorers (intentional and accidental) and wait to watch the next step of their journey.

Lyrisa climbs onboard, but as she does so she asks. "Anyone know what those black minerals are? Wouldn't mind examing a small sample."

"Shock crystals", mused Artor, "That is what the Aix call them I believe. They build up a charge ... of electricity, or americanum, or some such. One of the old energies. And release it into the world"

In reply to Artor (msg # 380):

Oh, so it was they I encountered yesterday most likely."

"Given that you passed through fields of them to get to us, I believe it likely, yes." Hoa Sen observes, more than a bit drily. "We can take a sample if you believe you can do it safely. The Aix harvest them. The smaller ones, anyway."

"We shouldn't tarry too long, though. It may take hours to find a suitable campsite for ourselves near the river, never mind searching for settlement sites."

In reply to Hoa Sen (msg # 382):

"On second thought. Let's avoid them. It was a close call last time."

Derrick joins the others in the cart and takes a seat in the back where he can watch behind them. He waits for someone else to start the vehicle.

"You piloted this vehicle last night, yes?" Hoa Sen asks. "I expect we need you to do so again. Radwa was our pilot as well as the vehicle's creator."

In reply to Hoa Sen (msg # 385):

"Well, it wasn't really hard to drive the thing, but if you want me I'll drive the contraption again."

Leaping up to the back of the vehicle, Artor takes up the same vantage point he held before and kept a quiet watch. His voice rumbled beneath the mask, "Ready"

OOC: I think at this point, we'll transition to a new thread for the trek westward and related explorations.