Derrick also seems unsure, but he nods to the strangers. "Very well." He then looks around at his companions clearly unsure if their business is at and end.

In reply to Derrick (msg # 528):

"Are we done then? Do we need to write something? Some sort of signed agreement?" Alyssa asks confused.

"The shrouded one's offer acceptable with affirmations of the hairless one.  Agreed the collective is.  Device for sigil application present."  They clear a space on one end of the table and the being on the left pulls a few tools (?) from with their robes.

Derrick blinks in surprise at being called 'hairless one' then looks around at his companions. "So... who should... sign?"

"They are asking for your cypher, Protector, to apply their tracking mechanism to.  It amuses me that they are confident that the settlement will succeed, but cannot foresee where," offers Edgewood Dirk from his perch.

"The interloper will interference from refrain," says the subenvoy, in a tone that can only be described as a bark.  They quickly resume their smile and face the humans again.

Laughing at the subenvoy's tone towards Edgewood Dirk, Artor rumbled agreeably, "Let them mark the shelter, for their tracking"

Derrick blinks as understanding dawns. "Oh... just a moment." He turns to rummage through the cart to find the instant shelter and pull it out. He holds the instant shelter out in both hands to the subenvoy.

The subenvoy smiles at the presentation of the item, but does not touch it, merely waves to table.  Once it is set there and Derrick steps back, the humanoid on the left will pull from their robes an odd assortment of what seem to be tools (however unfamiliar) that are then used to create golden-metallic sigils on the cypher.  After several quiet moments punctuated by the occasional spark or whiff of acrid smoke, the humanoid nods, stows the tools, and steps back.  "Prepared.  Activation enables locality."

The image is largely of various sets of parallel lines within a circle, although one side seems to read izigim, although the letters are so stylized, it's unclear if it is actually intended to be text.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 535):

Alyssa thinks a while and then points at the cypher and then asks: "Are we supposed to sign there?" She points at the peculiar word on the cypher.

OOC: Taking a stab at guessing that word could be translated to "sign", "signature" or maybe even "track".

"Audible the bargain is struck."  Pointing to the cypher.  "Just bear the weight of until activation.  Find you shall be simple.  Trade follows."

Having mostly followed this exchange, Derrick nods in understanding. "Thank you subenvoy. Best of luck in your endeavors." With the matter apparently settled, Derrick wonders what these strangers will do since they are blocking the groups immediate path forward.

"'And ye shall know them by the sign of their passing'" intones Artor, solemnly, though there is mischief there too, "'And thus did Gates beget Jobs, who beget Zuckerberg, who beget Audible'"

"And the knowing of all things and all names flowed to those who craved them, but it availed them nothing in what followed"

In reply to Artor (msg # 539):

Alyssa looks at Artor perplexed. She reminds herself that she needs to learn more about Artor's strange faith at a later date.

OOC: Gates beget Jobs... lol

The humanoids bow at Artor's recitation (invocation)?  "Complete negotiations.  Device apprehension if please the collective."  They indicate the now-marked cypher on the table.

Derrick also eyes Artor. His expression is one of curiosity. There have been, up to this point, only glimpses of Artor's faith, but Derrick is always curious about the beliefs of others. "You will have to explain that to me the next time we stop to rest Artor."

"If none of the humans want the cypher, Subenvoy, I'll be happy to take it off your hands.  I could always use another box to lounge in."  There is a playful glint in Edgewood Dirk's voice.

Derrick picks the cypher up quickly after Dirk speaks. "No no, we'll take it. Thank you."

As Derrick steps back with the marked cypher, the blue humanoids bow briefly.  "Conclusion negotiate.  Appointment pending."  They bowed again and faded from view over a few seconds, first transparent, then gone.  Oddly enough, the table remained as it was, obstructing the path of the cart.

"Thank you for the insight, explorers.  I will see you again," spoke Edgewood Dirk, unseen on the rock above.  "Thoughtful of them to leave you a parting gift."

Only silence followed, punctuated by a gust of dust-lofting heat.

Derrick eyes the table with a confused expression. "I suppose we should move that?" He returns to the cart with the marked cypher and places it in the storage area before returning and trying to decide how best to move the table out of the way. "I might need a second set of hands for this."

With a chuckle and an evasive smile, Artor moves to the other end of the table, "If we can, we should leave it there-" and his eyes skip to the outcropping where Edgewood Dirk had lain hidden "-for him to push things off of"

In reply to Artor (msg # 547):

"Well that looks heavy. Perhaps we can just drive around it?" Alyssa suggests.

The table is heavy, ornate, and blocking about 80% of the gap through the large boulders on either side of it.

Derrick eyes Artor confusedly, unsure if he is making a joke or being serious, then looks at Alyssa. "I suppose there's no reason that we have to go this way, but we'd have to back the cart up until we can turn around and then go looking for another path."

In reply to Derrick (msg # 550):

Hmm. Can we in anyway move this obstacle? Would it quicker to do that than backtrack?"

Actions speak louder than words sometimes, and Artor lends his strength to tip the table back and out of the cart’s path

Effort if needed. Do I need to roll?