"Right you are!" Alberic grins. "Those Snake fellows seemed very interested in D'Bee, so I wouldn't be too surprised if they had something to do with the machinery in there that seemed to bring him here. Or at least an interest in it..."

Assuming no interruption by screams or such from the ravine, Buojrez surveys the caravan people for the intersection of height, broad shoulders, and looks to find a companion for the night.

The ravine, for those that have not seen it, begins to open up a couple hundred feet east of the eastern gate of the clave.  It is a great and widening crevice in the earth, quickly descending to a depth of 80 feet or more, and widening to perhaps 30 feet across.  The right side (southern) rises a bit.

On the left (northern) side, there is a ledge wide enough to walk on, or at least safely climb along.  If it was purpose built, all signs of construction are long gone, although there is a chain along it, anchored by spikes.  This appears a quite recent addition, to make traversing the ledge safer.  This walkway drops along the wall of the ravine to a level perhaps 15 or 20 feet below the top.

The ravine bends away gently to the right, obscuring a further survey from this vantage point.  In the twilight, the floor is obscured from view.  The space of the ravine is often intruded upon by cliff-dwelling birds(?) chirping as they flutter out for a night's feeding.

For those who have been at the clave a while, the ravine looks unchanged from your last visit.

***

Buojrez, familiar with the types of people that frequent such caravans, is able to pick out a likely partner easily enough.

Mhari, true to his word, will STRONGLY deny any notions of travel any further down the ravine ledge than 60'ft from the Clave entrance, and outright forbids descending into the ravine depths.  Taking his "Mass-Blaster Slugspitter" longarm to shoulder he constantly covers the ravine depths and ledge for anything hostile.

Alberic carefully tips his hat back, exposing the twisted left side of his face, and studies the area through the blue orb of his left eye.

OOC: Sense "Magic" - are the Numenera active in this area at this time?

Just out of interest, did we add the chain and spikes along this, or was it already there when we visited previously? I can't remember now!

Janik moved carefully to the edge of the ravine and pulled his goggles over his eyes and took a look into the gloom.
through the strange bulbous glasses the ravine opened up to him like  he was looking at it on a cloudless day

To Janik's enhanced vision, the ravine looks largely unremarkable, at least from this angle.  He can see some footprints along the bottom and places where the soil was disturbed, although not in last day or so.  The chain follows the ledge around the curve and out of view.

In reply to Mhari 'Stormbolt' (msg # 41):

"Very well," Raelle responds. Her eyes flash slightly green in the shadow, like a cat's, before continuing, "Though I am no stranger to exploring dark places. Or climbing in them."

Taking out her binoculars, she looks through them and searches as much as she can without moving from where she is.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:15, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

In reply to Raelle Pellegrino (msg # 51):

Mhari paused and looks deeply into the Raelle's eyes his expression changing to one of surprised but growing admiration, "Oh. I did not realize you were gifted with adapted vision to dimly lit locales Miss Pellegrino!  Fascinating!"

"I'm sure your skills with be in much need with any future explorations, I'm just concerned with your safety ~ tomorrow around noon at the meeting we'll bring you up to speed on the threats and mysteries we have uncovered here.  I wouldn't want you getting hurt due to lack of intel on potential threats you could have avoided had you been informed.  I think you can help us much more if your fully briefed on the local situation."

He smiles, capable, independent women being his type... but he mentally slaps himself 'Whoa, down boy... you just met her ~ let's keep things professional.  Independent, capable women is what ALWAYS gets you in trouble...!'

Raelle's observations don't yield anything more than the obvious (with the possible exception of additional detail on where the small flying creatures are nesting in the cliffs of the southern side of the ravine.)

As darkness falls, a slowly rising chorus of insects and amphibians rises to entertain the assembled humans, punctuated by the occasional calls (screams?) of some or other hunter of the night.

OOC: Time to find your bunks for the night (which you've already set up).  Any last minute preparations or plans for over night?

Darkness falls and the caravan folk fall into their normal rhythms of chatter and singing and carousing around the small campfires that dot the two rows of carts and tents.  A few glow globes are hung by the food and the musicians and story tellers.  Another illuminates a rowdy game of dice.  The clave folk, new and old, are welcomed where they choose to be.  The children of the clave are mostly enchanted and energized by the new people, although one or two seem more shy.  Getting them to bed proves difficult, but eventually successful.  There are no major fights or arguments, no attacks as the sentries patrol the outskirts and the chatters lessens and fires fall to coals.

Hours later, while all but the night watch sleeps (and perhaps even some of those), a wind rises to the east, north of the gorge.  The sound thrashes and wails, though the trees move only a little.  The small flying creatures of the forest flee through the branches in chittering terror.

Shouts of alarm rise from the guards, fearful of what new threat this wind may augur.

Raelle comes alert, having just gotten to sleep not long ago, and looks around.  It takes her a moment to realize where she was, but she remembers quickly.  She quickly gets her gear on, including her armor and climbing harness.  Her huntri squawks and looks at her curiously.  She can feel its curiosity mingle with her own.  Motioning, she opens the tent and lets it out, though indicating it should stay close.  Before she leaves her tent, she grabs her bow and quiver.

OOC: Is there a lookout tower or something tall like that?

There are raised platforms by the east and south gates, inside the clave proper.  They provide a bit of perspective.

On return to the Clave Mhari felt the day's work settle a weariness upon him, realizing it had been perhaps almost a week since he'd enjoyed a proper sleep in his own bed/cot and yawned more than once at his own desire for well-deserved rest as he ate his light evening meal eager for little more then restful sleep.  He decided to turn in to bed early than seek any 'companionship' this night more desirous of rest than recreation no matter how comely the choice of potential partners this night.

At the sound of the alarms he came too at his set tent next to the side of the oldest structure in the Clave a makeshift trading post.  He got dressed, armored, and armed... focusing his mind to send his usual mental calls to his electrovore companion, Z'Dakk, hoping he was near enough to sense his call.  He left his tent and strode purposefully toward the Mechanical Gun tower on it's track set near the center of town, settling his 'Blaster' rifle on its sling at his shoulder...

He noted Miss Pellegrino looking toward the platforms at the East and South and catching her eye nodded to her in greeting from his position at the centrally located tracked Mechanical gun tower.  A shadow passed over him and in a flurry of darkened leathery wings and wind-raised dust his large 'Z-Drake' landed beside him.  He smiled and touched Z'Dakk.. as the spark of writhing electricity cascaded between the two briefly illuminating the night with light flashes of incandescence as the two 'electro-communed' in greeting with each other.

Mhari noted the arrival of the duty scheduled patrolman at the gun tower to man it, as per procedure when the alarm was raised, and his nervousness being so close to the large Z-Drake.  Mhari briefly reassured the guardsman Z'Dakk's only being there to await his call should battle be joined at the wall defenses of the Clave.

Striding over, "Well met Miss Pellegrino... shall we check first the main east gate platform together and get some explanation for the alert...before checking the south gate platfom?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Mon 21 Feb 2022.

Alberic emerges from his hut, rubbing blearily at his good eye.

"What's all the racket for?" He shouts. He scrambles after Mahri and Raelle towards the East Gate platform, and peers out into the darkness towards the source of the wind to see if he spots anything unusual.

11:45, Today: Alberic rolled 19 using 1d20.  Perception. 1 Level of Effort (3 Intellect - 3 Edge = 0 cost).
This message was last edited by the player at 11:46, Mon 21 Feb 2022.

After a moment staring out into the darkness, Alberic turns and calls back to the others: "This is was the weather we had when that D'Bee fellow arrived from the machinery down in the Gorge. Could be another arrival... Perhaps we should go for a look."

He pauses, then adds: "Of course, those snakey chaps turned up here looking for him not long after. Are they out there doing the same thing?"

In reply to Mhari 'Stormbolt' (msg # 57):

Raelle nods and lets her huntri fly off to the East Platform, hoping it can sense or see things she might not.  He still doesn't listen to her all the time and needs more training, but he is mostly reliable.  When she gets to the platform, she quickly climbs up as high as she can.

Taking out her binoculars, she looks around.

15:36, Today: Raelle Pellegrino rolled 17 using 1d20.  Perception. 2 Levels of Effort [1 normal, 1 free from Curious] (3 Intellect - 2 Edge = 1). Binoculars ease this?

Mhari follows Raelle as she reaches the Eastgate Guard Platform and ascends it to the top.  Following, he readies his 'Blaster' Rifle, and he addresses the guards he meets along the way to the Guard platform or ascending it ~ requesting they pass the word along to all on the walls or guard platforms for each guardsman to ignite a personal glowglobe.  When he reaches the top with Raelle he will stand next to her igniting his own glowglobe and ask the nearest guardsman what has caused an alarm to be raised.. besides inclement winds?

To Alberic, he replies, "Perhaps, but the wee-hours of the night is Not the time to go stumbling around in a treacherous gorge with potentially hostile dee-bees stalking it. Any investigation should wait until daylight, we'd all be just more added victims rather than any rescue party even if there was someone in need!"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

In reply to Mhari 'Stormbolt' (msg # 61):

Grimacing slightly at the sudden brightness, Raelle looks at Mhari and says, ”Please put that out, unless you want to become a target for whatever is out there.  Does no one else have the means to see in the dark without something so obvious?”

Looking at his blaster, “You have something like that I can use? A bow is good for hunting, but I have a feeling it might not be effective against what’s out there.”

Mhari shakes his head, "Sorry, that would not help us.  For the record we have discovered no evidence to even hint that there are hostiles with slug-thrower weapons capable of such targeting... and good luck getting any bow or even crossbow to hit accurately in these high winds.  We Must be able to see if creatures assail the defensive walls of the Clave ~ a necessary evil is we must then also have light to see by.  Most cannot see in the dark as you do."

Mhari hefts the 'Mass-Blaster' Slug-spitter, "This is not a weapon by construction.  It is an artifact I discovered in the ruins.. I fashioned the wooden shoulder stock and pistol-grip.  The 'artifact'  is a tube-like device that almost soundlessly accelerates any object down the length of the tube at high velocity.. its original purpose we have no idea.  But any object capable of fitting down the tube rapidly increases in mass the further away from the end of the tube it is propelled.  So a pea pod seedling hits with the impact of a stone boulder!  I'm assuming its some form of gravitic-based effect.  This here is how its activated and I've made that into a triggering assembly.  Currently, due to my lightning gifts I'm feeding it power so as to lessen the chance of it depleting.. but it is a unique 'curiosity'.. we have no other artifacts like it or actual manufactured rifle arms here."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:39, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

As the winds continue, the clave members are able to glean the source of the caravan guards' fear.  The travelers have in their possession an artifact that predicts the weather.  While it is only effective in a small area and for two days into the future, they have never known it to be wrong And yet tonight, even now, it indicates calm air, no winds.  But the winds continue to rush from the forest, sometimes laden with sounds of whining or grinding or hissing.  Leaves fly.  Dead branches break from trees and crash to the understory.  Every traveler capable of fighting is now alert and armed, marking a perimeter around the traders.  The more vulnerable are sealed, as much as they can be, inside the tents, wagons, or huddled within the walls of the clave.

The shepherds have closed their doors, covered the windows.  None of their children are out.

Raelle, your eyes perceive ... a forest wracked with strong winds.  You see no creatures, no strange light or energies or distortions, no machines or constructs.  Were it not for the anxiety of the guards, you would mark this only as odd weather and pay it no more heed.

After a little while longer, the wind subsides to stillness and the forest grows silent.  In time, the small creatures of the night begin their calls and chirps and clicks.

Alberic watches the weather prediction device with some interest. "Winds from another dimension, perhaps? I recall D'Bee could touch nothing for a while after he arrived, and would fall through walls if he pushed against them... perhaps it is the same here... Perhaps the phasing effect lasts as long as the machinery is active?"

He sighs. "The question is, did something else come through? But you are right, Mhari - my excitement is getting ahead of me. Darkness is a dangerous time to take a trip into the Gorge. Still, I worry that if something came through we may miss it completely... especially if the snake-fellows are after it."

In reply to Mhari 'Stormbolt' (msg # 63):

"That's fair," Raelle nods.  "I should probably leave the shooting things to you."

As the winds die down, she grumbles, "Well that was anticlimatic."

Looking up, she sees if she can sense antyhing - other than the normal unpredictable - from her huntri, (OOC: now and forever named Bob).

10:47, Today: Raelle Pellegrino rolled 4 using 1d20.  Sense Danger.  Eased by Bob. No Effort. (OOC: glad I didn't spend anything on that.)

Mhari watches intently at the stirring trees and foliage of the night-time forest barely visible in the distance from the sparsely illuminated defensive walls of the Clave... his brow knit in frustration.

When the winds die down and the night calm returns with the normal animal sounds his frown deepens.  He lets his 'Blaster' Rifle hang on its sling relaxing but still scowling at the forest a sour expression on his features, "...That's Damned peculiar!  We have no idea only conjecture what it imports Craftsman Alberic!  All we think we know, is that by our randomly encountered forester ~ who is STILL Missing after running off into the forest in the early dawn some days ago, are His claims that some weird creatures, utterly silent, live in the forest and at night feed on the dreams of Anyone sleeping in the forest at night with potentially Very lethal effects!  It could be pure coincidence that the same meteorological effect took place on our previous meeting with Mr. Dan Cooper and his serpentine assailants."

Shrugging in similar exasperation of the situation as Raelle, "Not a bad thing.. I'm sure your keen night-vision may yet save our lives Miss Raelle!  But if you have a desire to learn to fire high-velocity projectile shooting weaponry.. I have no issue training you to use the 'Blaster' Rifle.. the more who can use it well the better.  It may not always be convenient for me to be shooting it... shame for it to not be used if someone's life can be spared by someone else being proficient with firing the 'Blaster' Rifle, especially if they can clearly see targets/threats in the dark!!!"

"Anti-climatic..maybe.. but I'm just glad no one was hurt or lost... I'll call that a win."

Replying to Alberic again, "We just don't have enough evidence to truly know either way!  But for now.. no one was harmed or lost.  So I will suggest that tomorrow morning No One leaves the camp for the first two hours so we can do a detailed search of the surroundings to see if there have been any significant changes before Anyone goes bumbling around in the area.  It may be our only chance to find some clue as to what is going on!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Sun 27 Feb 2022.

In reply to Mhari 'Stormbolt' (msg # 67):

"That's true, I was not complaining about the lack of action.  I have lived through enough of that."

Looking at the blaster, she says, "I may have to take you up on that.  Though if we found one that was suitable for me, that would be better.  I am always curious to learn new skills."

(Edit:)"Is this the most advanced weapon here? Are there any other armaments other than the walls?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Thu 03 Mar 2022.