Derrick defers at once to Agatho's seniority on the decision to return to the aldea. He also volunteers to carry the somewhat large water generator and does his best to help the other negotiate the climb back up the shaft to the sideways part of the structure.

Back in New Canthus, though he accepts what the people offer, he makes a point of the fact that a feast cannot be held every time the group returns from an expedition. He also makes a point of his own eagerness to investigate the next nearby oddity. During the feast, he asks whether anything of interest happened while the group was gone.

Less selfless than Derrick, Artor is swift to eat from the feast. Leaving the sermonizing for others, he however points to them as the finders of such treasures as they have recovered - the point they are making is one that needs reinforcement, after all, but not by him. With his hood overshadowing his porcelain mask, he listens hard to where they might be sent next

In reply to Artor (msg # 469):

Alyssa is thankful for the attention and the kindness of the new settlers. In her old village she never felt that she was a full member of the community. Here she feels like she belongs. Alyssa checks if there's anyone who has become ill or hurt while the party was gone.

Back among the people of Canthus, Hoa Sen is much more in her element. Numenera and automatons she could deal with, but such dealings rarely required her particular communication and organizational skills.

The arkus' skills manifest in a dozen dozen small ways as she works the crowd, encouraging those who hunted and gathered, thanking the farmers for their efforts to master cultivation in a new place, commending the watchers and the elders...and deflecting praise to the others in her team. Hoa Sen highlights Derrick's valor, Artor's cleverness, Breogh's insight, and the invaluable insights of the two nanos into understanding what they had all found.

Seeing that most of the group prefered to return with the assets and it also made sense to him he went along with them as the group came back, once they were welcomed in the town he decided to enjoy the situation and to respond, although in a little shy manner to the shows of gratitude and joy of the locals, after all he was a newcomer in comparison to the others.

So he started to slowly enjoy the food and beverages in the table as he attempted to pay attention to the ones around him to get to know them better, growing up as a Nomad he was used to know new people on a regular basis but usually only to a supercifial level.. he attempted not to overthink.. but it was stronger than him and he needed to whisper his thoughts to his fellow explorers.

"Psst, I think we should tell them at some point about that unknown being in the dark.. What do you think? they have the right to know and evaluate the risk of either ignoring or engaging it.. also that instant tower.. i know is far fetched.. but whenever they activate it could be good to do it carefully in case something else comes out of that tower as well"

Artor nodded to Breogh's whispered observation, though he begun his response with a shrug, "It is less of the Dweller in the Deep and more the untrammelled depths and whatever else they may hold. I am sore tempted to return... But the tower, I have little concern"

Derrick voices his agreement with Breogh. "Doesn't hurt to be careful though. It is instant after all."

The celebratory feasting carries on for a day or more, with small revels and performances interspersed throughout.  There is a sense that New Canthus is gaining a stable foothold in this new land and the people would like to acknowledge that success.  Even Derrick's crystalline appearance draws less attention than it might have.  Many in the community experienced some mutations as they moved through the veil.  Odd colored hair, skin, and eyes are frequent sights.  Even the occasional mutated limb or prehensile tail can be spotted.  And that is just among the humanoids, to say nothing of the livestock.  Some people have painted patterns on their exposed skin, part fun, part solidarity.

The party's finds are welcomed.  The fountain is installed in a planned park area off the town square.  Plans are started for an irrigation network for other lots nearby.  The instant tower is not so easily sited.  In addition to concerns raised by the party about what might be in the tower, the council correctly notes that once erected, many stories of the tower will be visible from inside the Great Bowl.  While the Aix have been seen at a distance, they have not come close enough to interact with.  The residents of the new aldea have been focused on building homes, farms, and other necessities, and so have not made any efforts for diplomatic outreach yet.  It is unknown how the Aix might react to such a sudden change in the situation.

Regarding areas to explore other than the ruins the party just returned from (which do bear further investigation), the council is also concerned about some wreckage discovered in the jungle on the near side of the Upsidedown River.  A great metal construct is there, heavily draped with vines and other plant life.  The townsfolk have not be able to explore it much due to both time and ithsyn that were sighted in that area.  Two teenagers were injured when they tried to delve further.

The council is also curious to learn more about the river itself and its banks.  Thus far, the people of New Canthus have not gone more than a couple miles from the settlement, and none have crossed the river.  Is there a bridge or some other way to safely cross outside of the Great Bowl?  Is the far bank more dangerous (or even safer)?  Are there communities there already which might be partners in trade or rivals?  Where does the river lead?

There is much to do, but little sense of which is the greatest priority.

“Let us tackle the jungle construct”, Suggests Arto to his companions when the councils fears are raised to them, “For now the river is a barrier and that is safety if a sort”

Derrick agrees with Artor. I think that's a good plan. Look into the wreckage and then maybe a quick visit to the Aix. Someone should formally introduce them to the villagers."

In reply to Derrick (msg # 477):

"I would prefer to explore the river, but I have no strong reason to why I would choose one area before the other. If you believe the wreckage is more suitable to explore first, I will follow along" Alyssa says, although secretly she has had enough adventures for a while and would prefer to settle in.

"Suitability is a curious word", offered Artor, savouring it like some strange taste; beneath his mask, there was a flicker of black and green as he continued, "Curious and ... pregnant with woe. We have no metre stick to measure with, or even a way of knowing whether it should be measured in metres or sonnets or fathoms. Perhaps we should consider such things as we explore, whichever we pick"

"Investigating the construct is a worthy priority. After we have done what we can to eliminate or at least...diagnose...the more immediate potential threats to the aldeia, we can begin the long slow work of weaving the people into their new environs." Hoa Sen says. "Whether with sonnets or with more material forms of exchange."

Derrick looks puzzled at Artor. "How do you measure something in sonnets?"

In reply to Derrick (msg # 481):

Alyssa follows: "Sonnets? Is that a measure of weight or length? I've never heard about it?"

Artor looked puzzled, "Isn't this something everyone does? Emotional entanglement with a thing... in sonnets. At least, that is how it was done in the depths in Srithal"

Derrick just blinks confusedly at Artor, clearly not understanding. Still, he is used to traveling to strange lands and sometimes words have different meanings.  Since Alyssa also seems confused, he asks a question to clarify. "Where I come from a sonnet is a kind of poem. Does it mean something else in Sirthal?"

Nodding, Artor seems to be confused by the confusion of his companions. His mask depicts a thoughtful countenance for a moment, then he recites, "'In me thou seest the glowing of such fire that on the ashes of his youth doth lie, as the deathbed whereon it must expire, consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by'"

He smiles, looking askance at them, "From these folks description, we might assume the construct is seventy-three, and approach it with appropriate care in case it is not, or in case our assumptions lead us into false measures"

"Oh." says Derrick in the tone of someone who clearly still does not understand. "Maybe we'll just let you handle that part?"

Artor nodded, seemingly satisfied, “Are we settled on the construct then?”

Breogh paid attention the conversation as the word sonnet as a way to measure things also ringed a bell to him but he was unable to remember exactly, he must have superficially heard it once or twice from other nomads he crossed paths with.. So after hearing Artor he decided to add his opinion "I find the construct also as the most useful or interesting to do at the moment, specially if some people got hurt"

Derrick simply nods his assent.

In reply to Derrick (msg # 489):

"The construct it is then? When do we leave?" Alyssa says.

"We need to make sure we have traveling supplies and anything that might help us understand the construct." Hoa Sen says. "We've established that I'm not going to be much use with the numenera, but we must also be prepared to deal with the isthyn. Do any of you have means to slow them down? They won't scare easily."

Derrick pulls out a new mace, recently purchased from New Canthus' smith, and hefts it experimentally. "Other than fighting them? Not really. Maybe we could trade out some of our cyphers for something like that? I have these glasses. I could ask around and see if someone wants to trade."