In the town of Yenth, no stranger to odd phenomenon itself, you have been summoned to the local clave of the Order of Truth by Prelate Estere Mez, the second-ranking Aeon Priest in all of Malevich and director of all clave operations in the kingdom.

The clave in Yenth is small by the standards of the Order, a squat two stories of mud brick and wooden beams.  The few small defensive installations that have been worked into hollows in the building's facade and the sign out front advertising the hours of operation for the healing machine mark the structure as something beyond the work of the local townfolk.

Inside, the greatroom is well lit and warmed by a crackling fire in the hearth.  It is a welcome refuge from the damp mist soaking into the town today.  From past experience, you're familiar with the layout, passages leading to a kitchen, library, workshop, and a parlor for public appointments on the ground floor, three bedrooms and an office upstairs.

Drips falling off the thatched synth roof dampen your head as you cross the threshold.  Prelate Mez is sitting by the fire, perusing a worn tome as she waits for all of you to arrive.

A man wearing a hooded cloak approaches the doorway, drips from the roof twisting as if to avoid him as they fall.  He pushes back the hood to the cloak revealing a youthful face, but one where the right side of his skull has been replaced with a bulky metallic sensor.  A blue light glows where the eye would be.  “All signs pointed to you wanting to speak with me.  Others also.  I would guess five?  No four.”

He wipes a few errant drops of water from his face with his right hand, the flesh one.  A purple chord twisted around a metallic bracer seems to writhe as he does so. “No need to entertain.  I brought my own reading material.”

He crosses the room to another seat while slipping his left hand, this one made of synth and steel into the bag strapped to his leg.  There is a slight hum as the bag shifts noticeably.  When he removes the hand it has been replaced with a clear synth screen displaying text..  He sits, crossing his legs, “Trillain’s Oratory on Augmetic Interface.  Fascinating.  I purchased a copy off of a jack in Stirthal.  i don’t think she knew what she had to tell truth.”  With that he settles into reading.

An ill-shaped woman stalks into the greatroom like a stick insect, the glisten of rain on her lumpy, rose-colored skin only serving to make her look like a side of exposed meat, her absurdly small bright green hat only sparing her face from the worst of the damp.  The rain seems to make her metallic hair lie plastered flat in some place, and frizz outrageously in others.  Her silky cloak, dangling from her shoulders as if it wants to escape, is the only thing that seems to be of fashionable status, as the clashing colors and patterns of everything else she's wearing is hard on the eyes to anyone with a sense of aesthetics.

Zalbane sweeps her hat off just inside the door, the lights from the fire glinting off the crystal pendent that dangles in the middle of her chest.  It glows like a small sun, chasing away shadows from every corner of the room, making them swirl as she finds an empty patch of floor and sits down.

"Prelate," she says with a respectful nod, her voice oddly sweet coming from her tiny mouth.  "What do you need of us?  Oo, another interface book?" she says, switching subjects rapidly as she sees what Listran is reading.  She leans over slightly to see.  "Olfactory interfaces?  That's one I haven't seen before."

While not nearly as flamboyant as her allies Nalla does catch a few eyes as she walks through the rain, mostly due to the water bouncing off of her outer layer of clothing, simply sliding away as if it hadn't happened at all.  As she steps into the room she sheds one last layer of water onto the welcome mat, and is almost completely dry there after, just a bit of residual dampness.

Taking another seat near the fire Nalla offers the prelate a nod but does not otherwise distract her from her tome, simply enjoying the fire as it dries her out the rest of the way at a fairly quick pace.

Kase steps through the dripping water, then the doorway. At the threshold, she kicks the mud off of her boots and scuffs them more or less dry, then removes her hat, holding it slightly out the door and shaking the worst of the water off of it before fully entering. The charcoal-colored cloak couldn't quite conceal the heavy crossbow on her back, or the fact that she had come in her armor. It couldn't even try to conceal the heavy polearm she casually leans on as if it was a walking staff. Partly, she expects to be sent immediately off on some dangerous assignment, and partly she's just trying to look ready for that. She was a true glaive, after all, not just some random thug playing at being the muscle.

She steps over to the fire, greeting the others with a warm smile. The weather hadn't affected her spirits like it did some people. If anything, it seemed to brighten her mood. "I'm not too late, am I?"

Prelate Mez closes her book and sets it aside.

"Thank you for arriving on time," she smiles briefly, an expression that does not reach her remaining biological eye.  "I had hoped there would be a couple more, but my staffing requisitions have been ... slow to be filled."

She stands and pulls a large, rolled scroll from the corner.  She spreads a map of western Malevich out onto the table, weighting the corners with small oddities that chime and chitter when touched.

"We've finally gotten reliable information on the location that those strangers have been coming from.  It's some sort of metallic fortress in the wall of a narrow canyon in the forest."  She points to a star marked several miles north of the tree line.  "Airk, one of the local delves, was able to verify the site, but little more.  As he was observing, he heard a strange humming above, but couldn't identify a source.  It was somewhere over the canopy.  It went quiet a few minutes after.  Half an hour later, another of those foreigners arrived.  He was quite disoriented.  Airk tried to convince him to return with him to safety, but of course ... the language barrier.  The man, he seemed terrified of Airk's seskii and ran to the west.  Airk followed, slowly so as not to frighten him further."

Prelate Mez shook her head, although it was hard to tell if it was pity or frustration.  "The rains became heavier and obscured the trail.  By the time Airk located him again, there was little left but bones and scraps of cloth."

Listran looks up and nods to the others as they enter with a wink and a wave of his right hand that momentarily loosens the purple chord.  Hearing her misreading of the book’s title he corrects her gently, tapping the implant on his head, “Augmetics...  though I assume one could create an olfactory augmetic.”

Upon seeing Kase enter he returns the book to his pouch and regains his mechanical hand with a hum and another shifting of the bag. He contemplates the Prelate’s presentation.  “One would assume you have called us here to investigate that structure, Prelate?  What is your final intent for this location?”

"A clave," she announced, straight to the point as usual. "Your assignment is to begin scouting, planning, and construction of the structures necessary to shelter a sustained investigation of the location and of the people coming out of it."

She backs away from the table so that everyone's view is unobstructed.  Prelate Mez then pulls a hexagonal plate of synth and strongglass from her pocket and begins tapping it in various ways.  "We've already hired three carpenters to help with the physical construction.  They will travel out with you.  Each will be minding a levitating sledge loaded with building supplies.  We have some small automatons to pull them for you."
This message was last updated by the player at 15:23, Sat 14 Sept 2019.

“I would appreciate an inventory of the the supplies.  It could help formulate our plan of attack.”  He steeples his hands his flesh eye loosing focus as he plans.  “A question that we will have to address is if that noise is a creature that destroyed the individual from the complex or if they are simply short lived.  It would help to speak with this Airk if possible.

He seems to simply put the questions in the air for the prelate toanswer, but doesn’t wait for them to speak.  Instead he addresses his companions, “Our first task will be to determine if that noise is a threat.  Second to make contact with an individual from the structure.  With that information we will be able to determine where, exactly to create our base of operations.”

"Sounds like the beginnings of a plan, then." Kase nodded to Listran. "Obviously, we can't be certain until we get there and see for ourselves what it looks like, but that's a sound core, I think."

Long since dried by the fire Nalla keeps her attention on the Prelate, absorbing the information about the mission as if it were more important than the warming heat of the fire, unhurried she lets the others address their concerns first before asking the remaining question.  ”Have we already prepared the required cyphers for communication with these people, or are there appropriate components to do so in the supply wagons?”

"There is one Comprehension Graft in the supplies, but you'll have time to construct more.  We aren't certain how often the humans arrive or if there's even a pattern to it, but it seems to be infrequent."  She taps her device several more times.  "Most of the supplies are building materials, lumber, canvas, parts and such.  There are bedrolls for you all and rations for a week.  I've also been able to commit one installation to your initial foray."  She pulls a small scrap of paper from some pocket within her robes and lays it on the table.  Looping script in metallic blue ink lists the following:

Everflowing Fountain
Farspeaking Pylon
Language Translator
Library Obelisk
Improved Luminous Dynamo
Pabulum Extruder (modified)
Sustenance Synthesizer (modified)
Mechanized Turret

"Pick what you think would be most helpful, and I'll send it with you.  If your work proves successful and the clave site is still safe in a few months, I'll work to arrange delivery of an additional support for you."

“Thank you for the equipment.  I don’t know about the rest of my cohort, but I believe the farspeaking pylon might be our most useful supply.  It would allow us to maintain contact with you, prelate, and, possibly, let us arrange delivery of specific necessary supplies. Although, in the short term the pablum extruder would eliminate the need for food.  He contemplates for a moment, “The extruder is, however, a relatively simple device and if we salvage some io I might be able to construct one without the plan.”

He looks to the others, “Would the rest of you have any preference?”

Nalla ponders the problem good and hard, for almost a full ten seconds.

”Each of the items provides a useful advantage on its own, but only the Language Translator is specifically
tailored to the focus of the mission, any other convenience can wait until we know what is going on.”

“While I have confidence that we will in time create conveniences, that does not change the fact that we have been offered the plan for one as well as the means to construct it.”

"All that is a bit over my head." Kase laughed and shook her head. "I trust you guys that know more about this kind of thing to work it out."

Zalbane had been pondering the peculiar puzzle that the mission represented.  "Unless we are lucky, we will spend much time trying to translate between us and these strangers.  We only have one comprehension graft, after all, and though we can make more, that will take us time.  Certainly we can try to learn these newcomers' languages, but I think the Language Translator might come into more immediate use.  After all, we might have to spend our time and resources crafting things we aren't even aware we might need," she says, tapping her small mouth with a too-large finger.  "And if we can learn what these strangers know, then everything will go faster."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Tue 17 Sept 2019.

Nalla turns back to Prelate Estere Mez after the quick deliberation with her allies.

”That settles it, we will take the Language Translator, and hopefully it will be more use to us closer to the rift than it could be here to you.  We will no doubt be checking back in at least by messenger at first, but do feel free to send the farspeaking pylon should you end up with a spare at any point.

On the topic of plans do you have any we could study on the trip?  That sort of thing makes passing the time much easier.”

Listran shrugs at the ‘settling’ of things, “I suppose the translator will serve a purpose though we will need to either construct it near the structure those individuals are coming from or bring one of them to our camp.  Our priority should be finding common ground...  Prelate, are we sure the graft is attuned to a language that these indivupiduals might speak?”

The Prelate looks at Listran in mild disbelief.  "Why is it men always overlook the obvious?  The graft allows the newcomers to speak the Truth.  How could we possibly create one for their tongue?  Honestly, we are not even sure they all speak the same language."

She lets out a sigh of frustration and begins pacing the floor.  To Nalla she says, "I will have to think on what is on hand and what we may be able to spare.  I can likely provide some reading material, although I cannot promise it will be useful right away.  As for the future, none may know."

The Wright raises an eyebrow, looking at the others in the room and noticing for the first time that he is possibly the only male in the room. “The graft being attuned for the Truth does present its own set of problems, Prelate.  None of which are created by my ‘maleness’   Still I am sure we can adapt.“

“More plans or not, Nalia, we will need to secure a source of Io to construct anything.  Perhaps the people from the structure will trade or, if not, perhaps we can find another source locally.  I am prepared for this journey, does anyone else have preparations to make?  When will the carpenters be ready to travel, Prelate?

"If they rush, they can probably be ready by noontide tomorrow, although that increases the risk of mistakes.  The following morning is likely easier to manage.  I know at least one of them has family business he is trying to settle before leaving."

"Aside from the place where the people are coming from, are there any known numenera areas, old-world installations or whatnot along the route or anywhere near our new settlement?  Perhaps we could do some exploration and collection of iotum along the way," Zalbane asks.  "We don't have to rush, Listran.  We only have one chance to make a good first impression, and we won't do that if something falls over or blows up in the first week."  She grins a tiny smile at Listran.

A tall, blue man strides into the room. His long, wild hair is soaked through, though he seems to have had the courtesy to drain it before entering. The rest of his body is perfectly dry, protected by a synth sheet tied to his neck, which he left at the door along with his staff-sword.

He stops before the group with a blank face, his eyes jumping from face to face. He overlooks the Prelate a couple of times but finally returns to her, nodding with a slight smile.
"The Prelate Estere Mez ?" he asks to make sure, but continues immedeatly. "The novice is Thar Nil Cypio. I've been forwarded by the High Prelate Visatto Barr" he shuffles through his hides, producing a sealed scroll, presenting it to the Prelate with a slight bow.
"I am well accustomed with numenera of all kinds and a budding expert in the mapping arts. Please accept and make use of my service in full. "

The Prelate grasps the scroll while continuing to assess Thar.

"I was not aware that the common parlance had now equated 'well accustomed with' and 'a repeated victim of'.  At minimum, you aren't easy to kill.  That and skill with mapping will be useful, I think."

She unseals the letter and reads it, a mild frown forming on the side of her face that still has full mobility.  In the end, she tosses the open page onto the table for anyone to read.  Features returned to calmness, she says to him, "Very well.  At least my requisition was not wholly ignored.  We're planning for departure."  She summarizes the conversation so far before asking him if he has any concerns he wants addressed.

Nods along with the Prelate's remarks, keeping his half smile.
"Hm" he takes a few seconds to think,cupping his chin.
"The novice has no personal concerns. But what exactly is our priority ? Should we just fortify a location and await further direction ? Should the fortress'es situation be clarified as soon as possible ? Should any effort be made to proselyte and integrate the strangers ? Or is our role purely observational and documentational in that regard ? "

"I want to know how the installation works.  I want to know if it is, in fact, voidgliders and who is piloting them.  I want to know all we can about the newcomers.  What they know, where they come from, why are they here.  I want the people figuring this out to be as safe and sustainable as possible."  She moves closer to Thar, only inches from his face now.  "In short, I want to know everything.  And if I thought I needed to be overseeing things at this point, I wouldn't need you."  She turned and walked toward the fire before turning to face the group again.  "Any of you."

The Prelate takes a deep breath while her organic eye closes for a few seconds.  The light in the mechanical optics dims briefly.  Her features stilled to calmness, she opens her "eyes" again and speaks.  "You have all worked effectively for the Order of Truth.  You are all capable, or you would not be here.  I trust that you will make the best possible decisions to ensure the founding of a successful clave."  She pauses and looks each of you in the eye.  "Is this trust misplaced in any of you?"

"I wouldn't be here if I couldn't handle it, Prelate." Kase dips her head slightly.

Listran watches the newcomer’s interaction with the prelate, his eye narrowing, “Your trust can be left with us, prelate.  By your leave we will retire to make any final plans.  If you could inform whomever is preparing the equipment that we will leave from here two mornings hence.  Also, if they require any assistance from us in their preparations we can be available.

He looks around the room at his new companions, “I am sure we can find somewhere nearby where we can get a few rooms for two nights.  It would serve us well to analyze out assets so there are no surprises.”

With her only question answered early Nalla waits out the other questions until they begin to become less interesting.

”I think we can afford to do this right rather than rush off without a plan, I will be interested to see what options we have for supplies and salvage once we get there but until then making any final preparations to travel sounds like the best use for tomorrow.”

"The Flute and Furrow will keep you.  I've already talked to the innkeeper.  The Order will pay your room and board there before you leave for the installation."  She walks and looks at the papers on the table again.  She speaks again with her eyes still unfocused above the documents.  "You may, of course, pay to stay elsewhere, if Nelis's hospitality is not to your liking."
This message was last updated by the player at 15:30, Wed 25 Sept 2019.

"I don't think that will be a problem." Kase looks around at the others for a moment, then shrugs and turns back to the door, regardless of whether or not they agree with her assessment. It was their money, after all, and their own choice to make.

"Of course we will do our best, Prelate.  We can do no less for the Order and to make the world better," Zalbane says cheerfully, rising with an unnatural order of joints.

“We will send word shortly of our success.  Iadace, Prelate.”Listran stands and walks to the door, glancing up at the rain, he seems to consider his options for a moment before walking out into the storm.  Again, a shimmering halo forms about him as the raindrops are sent in random directions mere inches from his body.  Still, the walk to the Flute and Furrow will be a wet one for Listran.

The Flute and Farrow is a three-story inn about four blocks from the ultradimensional gate the city is now known for.  It's close enough to facilitate trade and far enough away if something explodes.  The sign hanging over the street shows a barefoot woman in a dress, playing a golden flute as she dances in a plowed field.  The sign seems to glisten with light in the slackening rain.

Bearing a roof of thatched synth, like much of the town, the inn is fairly new, and the interior is decorated in the art motifs that arose after the gate was activated.  Ornate black and white images, or their equals burnt into pale, polished wood, decorate many of the walls and beams of the inn.  The images nearly mirror each other, although close inspection reveals odd details in the darker of the two images.  Strange shapes and creatures twin the humans, aneen, and other familiar forms of Malevich.

The innkeeper, bald and rotund, is chatting with some of his customers as he brings another round of drinks from behind the bar.

Thar keeps silent, offering only a nod to the Prelate.
Wrapping the synth sheet around his neck he heads back out into the rain. He meanders for a few seconds but decides to leave any conversation with his new colleagues for the inn, striding forward at a very active pace.

At the Flute and Farrow, Thar briefly scans the room as he dries and folds his synth cloak; his eyes are caught by the fancy pictures on the walls but he doesn't dwell too much on them.
Walking over to the bar, he waves to the bald man.  "Nelis ?"
"This is a novice of the Order. My colleagues and I will be taking advantage of your kind hospitality."
"This is a nice place " he says, grabbing a seat. "What is there to eat ?"

Arriving at the Flute and Farrow with the others Nalla takes a quick look around the main room, retrieves the key for the provided sleeping accommodations from the proprietor and addresses those who are not yet busy doing something else.  ”I am going to turn in early, and spend much of tomorrow going through the inventory for the trip, and helping ensure we have everything we need stored in an orderly manner, I suggest you all do what prepares you best for the trip rather than wasting much time on frivolous pursuits.”

"Early doesn't mean we can't have a nice time before we head out to the wilds where we'll have to suffer our own cooking!  Don't worry, we'll be up with the sun," Zalbane says to Nalla with a wink.  It's a bit of a joke of her part; Zalbane never misses a sunrise.

"Thar, they have a nice dossi cheese scramble here, with chunks of seasoned moorb root," Zalbane says, giving her opinion.  "Do you think these strangers we're going to find are from here but just getting waylaid?  Or maybe from some place beyond?"

Nelis nods at the mention of the Order.  "What the Prelate asked about?  Yes, of course.  The rooms are on the top floor.  Doors're labeled same as the keys."  He ducks behind the counter and returns with a handful of keys.  They each have rows of teeth going in multiple directions, 3 or 4 or 5, struck at irregular angles.  He tosses one to Thar and Listran, hands one gently to Nalla with a smile and nod, and holds another out to Zalbane.  "We do have a good scramble, we do." He smiles in pride.

"She reserved seven, she did.  Precaution maybe?  No bother.  They ain't openin' the gate for another month, I think, so we're not so packed right now."  He regards the remaining three keys before slipping them in his pocket.  "There is more of you, yeah?"

Kase wandered in a little behind the others. She'd stopped on the way to check a local shop, but didn't see anything to her liking and continued on her way without making a purchase. Entering the Flute and Farrow, she waved to the others with a smile and headed over to the bar. "What's this about food? Is there a special scramble I don't know about that I need to know about? If so, set me up. And the Prelate said our rooms were provided? I'd like to get up and out of this armor while the food is being cooked."

"Hm" Thar snatches the key out of the air and sits down.
"They're from the fortress, we can assume that much." he says, turning back to Zalbane "Don't think they've been around for a long time, otherwise this wouldn't be the first time we hear of them. Probably from beyond, maybe like the gate."
"I think this should be all of us ?" he turns back to the barkeep. "I'll try out that scramble."

Nelis tosses Kase one of the remaining keys.  "Third floor.  Marking on the door matches the key.  I'll tell the cook to start two scrambles.  Anyone else want one?  Or anything else on the menu?"  He cocks a finger at electronic sign with a brief assortment of meat-heavy foods listed beside the prices.  Every so often, the image fades to a dull gray before fading back in again a few moments later.  A trickle of green smoke oozes from a tiny hole in the front.  Nelis seems completely unperturbed by this.

Zalbane thinks for a minute then smiles at the Nelis, "Whatever sausage is on special.  And do you have some of that sweet beer?  I'll have that, or something like it," she says.  It was nice to know the Order had gotten them such fine rooms.  To Thar, she said, "Might be, but you never know.  This sounds very important to the Order, so they might try to gather as many as they can.  We'll probably be outnumbered out there, and if no one is too hostile, that's all well and good.  But they can't plan on that.  Besides, while the people might be peaceful, we don't know what else might be around there.  Best to be prepared for any eventuality."

Upstairs, Kase found her room and stripped out of her armor. She wondered for a moment if she could get a hot bath, but decided that even if she could, it would take longer than preparing the food she'd ordered. Instead, she simply scrubbed her face and hands, dried off the rain as well as she could, and dressed in light, casual clothing before heading back downstairs.

She headed back to the group and took a seat with a smile. "It's always best to expect trouble. If you don't find any, you're no worse off. But if you don't plan for it and do find it, then you have a problem."

Nelis supplies Zalbane with the requested sweet beer.  He returns to the table a few moments after Kase returns with the scrambles, sausage, and other meal orders for the group.  He happily marks up a scrip receipt before asking if anyone needs anything else.

Listran sits with the others, echoing Zalbanes order. “I’ll have what they are having.”

He steeples his hands in thought, “There are many facets to our mission.  First we must bring ourselves and the equipment to a location close enough to this facility to be useful, but far enough that it will be out of immediate danger.  Second, we must fortify that location at least enough that we can explore with a minimum of concern.  Next there is the humming which may or may not be related to the facility and it’s inhabitants.”  He pauses a moment, clearing his throat,“We also have the concerning matter of whatever it is that mangled the inhabitants of the structure.  Lastly we have the matter of approaching and communicating with the inhabitants...  Well, and the hope that we can create a dialogue with them and convince them that we be allowed to enter the facility and usurp it for the Order.”

He sighs, “Our most important asset will be knowledge.  Is anyone particularly adept at stealth or in possession of a device that would aid in stealth?  This is far from my area of expertise...”

Zalbane brightens at Listran's request.  "I am fair at stealth.  There are some times when I was alone when it was best not to be seen, and I grew skilled at that.  And this," she fingers the silvery cloak dangling off her back, "helps me be even better.  If there's aught that needs scouting, I'm well for that.  I see in any light, so night or day, makes no difference to me."

"Hiding isn't my best area, but I'm not completely useless at it." Kase nodded to Zal. "Better to rely on the expert if we can, but if it comes up, I won't be completely useless."

OOC: Ok, fast forwarding to the morning of your departure!  You've had a chance to peruse Yenth a bit for shopping or other purposes.  Prelate Mez has provided the wrights, jointly, with a basic automaton plan seed and designs for a sawmill, with a strong suggestion that they be combined for greatest efficacy.  She has also said that she plans to send you a small herd of dossi and two herders.  These will provide meat and a steady supply of scrips (pages) so you can record your findings.  The livestock are expected to arrive at the installation site in about 3-4 weeks, barring communication from you requesting a delay.

The building supplies are fairly ordinary.  Hand tools and lots of fasteners, nails, and screws.  Some wood and metal plates.  A dozen or so clear synth panels.  Four tents to use while the initial structure is being built.

On the morning of your departure, Prelate Mez has been called to the capital, so will no see you off.  She provides a drawing of what looks to be claw marks.  The delve who located the installation marked the path with these occasionally, hoping they would be inconspicuous enough not to lead the wrong people to the site.

Zalbane is up before the first whisper of light, as always.  She takes a look at the supplies to make certain all seems well-packed and distributed and that the wrights have everything they need.

"Everyone packed up?  No tools, clothes, keepsakes, canteens, food, or writing supplies left behind?  Everyone have all of their notes?" she'll ask.  If all seems well, then Zalbane will illuminate anything people want illuminated for the journey (which will save on lanterns, torches, and glowglobes).  That done, she is ready to go, and will take point unless anyone else has a great desire to lead the way.

OOC: Zalbane will take track-finding for her flex-skill so she can more easily find the trail blaze marks on the journey.

Having helped organize and pack the whole set of wagons over the last few days Nalla wakes an hour early to go through the final inventory check.  Each wagon contains boxes, barrels, sacks, or other appropriately shaped containers with a number on them.  These numbers begin at the front of the caravan at one, and count upwards without skipping or switching any numbers as you progress back along the set of wagons to the one at the end.  Each container also has an inventory list written on its outer side, and each of those containers was inspected before being put on the wagon.  The final check involves Nalla running through the list of numbers, and where the container can be opened without removing it from the wagon, the content of that container, from end to end on her own sub categorized master inventory list.

”Everything is where it should be, if you need to find anything let me know what you are looking for and I will tell you what box it is in.”

Listran smiles at Nallas statement, “I appreciate the work that you have done, Nalla though it is inefficient to have only one person who has access to the complete inventory.”  He holds up his synth hand which is in its reader configuration. “I have already made my own copy of your inventory.”

He looks around the others present, “Zalbane, If you take the lead then it would be wise for Nalla to travel in the middle of our convoy as she has the best sense of what equipment is where.  Kase you should travel in the front with Zalbane.  I will take the last position with Thar as I am a trained healer and Thar can provide us with protection to the rear.  With some luck we will make good time with no entanglements, but if we are attacked we should halt the first wagon and allow the others to catch up.  That will focus our strength without requiring us to do too much maneuvering.  If a wagon, animal, or one of us is hurt or a wagon has a mechanical problem just wait where you are and I will be able to find you.  There are more details, but we can cover those while we travel.” 

"Sure,sure, that sounds well enough." he nods to Listran " Though, we shouldn't have too much trouble with the journey itself..."
"In any case, Zalbane, if you have any trouble finding the way or if any of you spot something before I do, give me a shout and I'll take a look."
Assuming that's all the planning, Thar makes his way down the wagons, down to his post, stopping briefly to glance at the inventory of some of the wagons.
He ties his pack and weapons to the side of the last wagon and retrieves his book of maps, compass and some blank scroll. Already starting to roughly copy a map of the region from the book, he intends to sketch out the journey as it happens.

The carpenters-cum-wagon drivers arrive about a half hour or so after dawn, trudging from different parts of town, packs slung over their shoulders.  They are sleepy, and two are bearing fresh flowers and other tokens from their families.  The leader opens a locked door on the exterior of the Yenth clave, and each enters, returning quickly as they guide their "mules."  The door is locked again behind them.

It would hardly be fair to call them automatons, as they have no intelligence of will of their own.  But the mechanical insectoids seem to respond easily to the controls of the carpenters, remote devices attached to their wrists.  The straps are attached to your propulsion and the drivers take their seats on the hovering platforms that pass for wagons. At least you won't have to replace a wheel or an axle.

"Sounds good to me." Kase nodded in acknowledgement of the plan. Up front suited her just fine. She gave one last check over her gear, making sure she didn't leave anything behind, then took her place at the head of the line. Carrying her partisan on her shoulder, she whistled a jaunty tune as she set out, walking beside Zalbane with a bit of a bounce in her step. Whether that was from high spirits, or an artifact of spending so much time walking on rolling and tilting surfaces that might move unexpectedly underfoot at any moment might be debatable.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Tue 15 Oct 2019.

The drivers have been listening to your planning and set out as you describe.  The "mule" automatons move slower than you'd hoped, but consistently.  Their legs are not designed for speed, but you think it unlikely your pace will slacken in the trackless forest ahead.

Zalbane was thankful for Nalla's devotion to order - nothing would go astray or to waste with her in charge of operations!  She nodded to Listran's distribution of people and strode out with her crystal lighting the way for those behind her, ready to follow the road, the maps, and the blazes in the forest.  As the trees grew closer, she kept her eyes keen to spy the first hint of their trail, and whatever else might lurking to try to delay or harm them.  Woe to one who traveled in unexplored areas of the world without assuming that trouble might find them!

Having already made a perch for herself at the top of the first wagon, the one filled with the largest, but not heaviest, objects.  Climbing the rope ladder up to her perch where she can see the whole of the caravan, and is technically not at either the front or back she is satisfied that everything is well under way.

Unconcerned by a few trees Nalla continues to scan the horizon for unpredictable challenges, the bane of any well organized mission.

A mud road wends northward from town, across the rolling fields toward the forest.  It is most often used by farmers and herders coming to town to sell their goods, according to the drivers.

At the crest of one of the hills, you can glimpse the forest in the distance.  It will probably take you most of the day to reach it at this pace. There is no hint of rain currently, and a light breeze bows various wildflowers as you march northward.  Farmsteads dot the green hills around you.

"...hey! Hey wait! Stop! Wait up! Hey! Heeeeey!"

A disheveled blonde woman is doing her best to get the attention of the cart-bound travelers. Shouting and running do not go well together; she waves her arms above her head to make herself appear bigger.

"Wait! Waaaait!"

The cart drivers turn over their shoulders and nod toward the person chasing after your small caravan on the road northward out of Yenth.

"Should we stop a moment?"

Even as the question is asked, the person is gaining ground.  The "mules" just aren't that fast.

Thar turns back from his book and papers, studying the person.
"Eh ?"
"... Eh, keep going, I'd say." he goes to put his things on the back of the cart but ultimately decides to hang onto his book " Probably someone from Yenth. I'll go see what she wants. Should have no trouble catching up."

He turns and jogs back toward the woman at a brisk pace, making short work of distance.

He speaks just as he stops in front of her, without needing to catch his breath
"Hooold it. We're conducting important business in the name of Truth. What is it that you want with us ? We can maybe help you but ... Yenth is back that way."

Zalbane, in the front of the caravan, continues to search for the necessary blazes to find their trail.  She couldn't quite tell what was going on back there, but was certain her companions would give a shout if she was needed.

More than willing to let someone else deal with the sudden disruption in the plan Nalla keeps her attention focused on the front of the caravan, watching the path ahead for any other interruptions, perhaps some sort of ambush timed to fit with a distraction while everyone is looking the wrong way.

A stump by the road bears the pattern of scratches you are looking for.  So far, you're going in the right direction.

You have to wait in the road a bit as a farmer drives his herd of Yol across the road.  The animals' long, yellow wool surrounds them, shrouding their legs so that it nearly seems to be a flock of sun-colored clouds passing before you.  The farmer nods to you as he prods the stragglers and continues into the eastern pastures.

Zalbane nods at the farmer and asks if he would like a light that will not fade.  If so, she will imbue an object of his choosing with light for him.  "May your herds be prosperous and fluffy," she'll say to him.  She'll also note the location of the farm on a map.  While they probably won't be back this way very often, it would be nice to know where to find good wool for trading.  If the outpost goes as planned (and nothing blew up) there could be good trade along the road some day.

"How long will the light last?"  He scratches his patchy beard while keeping half an eye on the flock that's now fully across the road.

Zalbane smiles. "It will last until I touch it again, so it should serve you for several days at least," she says.  "I'm Zalbane. What may I call you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Wed 30 Oct 2019.

"I am called Hakkar."  He nods and offers his staff to be illuminated.  "Thank you for the gift of light.  It will save us some lamp oil for a time."

To Thar, the young woman explains that she was sent by her mentor to join this assignment. The merchant caravan that she'd hired for transportation had some of their wagons break on the road, which slowed her progress.  Luckily, she was able to contact the Prelate Mez as they crossed paths.  The prelate was heading to Stirthal and Celeste was coming from there.

"Huh, So you're supposed to join us, then ?" Thar scratched the back of his head. "Well, we already left as you can see, so you're pretty late..."

"In any case, that's all fine. Would like to see some proof, but that can wait. Let's catch up with them, first."
"Can you pace yourself or ... ?" he asks as he turns back toward the caravan.

She follows a few steps behind, more from exhaustion than lack of fitness.  Due to the stoppage of the caravan ahead, the pair shortly catches up.

Celeste asks for a few moments to recover her breath, and sits on the back of the last "wagon", slumping back and resting her head on the cargo.  She closes her eyes and focuses on her breathing.

"My pleasure.  My caravan is going a ways further, but I hope some day we might be able to trade with you, Hakkar. Best of fortune to you and your herds," she says.  When the last of the beasts across the road, she'll give him a gesture of farewell and start the caravan up again.

The drivers follow Zalbane's lead and soon the caravan is again heading north on the rough road.  The farther from Yenth they go, the less used the road becomes.  There are fewer and fewer farms to provide regular travelers.  About a mile from the forest proper, the road splits to the east and west, skirting the trees.

A nearby stump bears familiar scratches.  The path to the target of the group is nearly due north from here.

Zalbane smiles and signals to the wagon train that they'll be going north.  She scouts ahead a little to find the easiest path through the trees for their vehicles and wagons, knowing eventually they'll get a road back here to meet with the others.

The forest is old, with thick, tall trees in familiar varieties.  A number of small, woodland creatures can be seen, usually fleeing the caravan as it makes its way deeper.

About two miles along the trail of "claw" marks, the canopy opens up for about 30 feet.  A stretch of dense, new growth slows the group's progress.  A quick scan shows that the path of short vegetation stretches in a curving path in both directions, as far as the taller tree line will allow you to see.

"Hmm..." Zalbane looks in both directions.  "I'd rather not send us off on a wild laak chase.  Let me check down one path to see if there's more blazes, then if not we'll know it's the other side.  Inconvenient that they didn't mark which way to turn!"

Zalbane will walk down the left side "path", trying to spot more blazes or other marks of recent passage.

”That sounds like a good idea, I will make preparations here for when you discover the correct path.”  Getting down from the wagon Nalla collects some scrap wood from the forest and a short bit of rope to create a sing in the road that reads “New Settlement” and an arrow that points in a direction, but doesn't attach the arrow until Zalbane comes back with the information about what direction that will be.

Zalbane's excursions in either direction yield no clues.  Only after passing through the denser vegetation is she able to discern another marker, still following the same route they've been traveling.  While the route is clear, so many trees so close together leaves the path obstructed.

As she starts to make her way back through the younger trees, the thick underbrush catches her boots and she falls to the ground.  There, she notices that the ground beneath her is uneven.  Specifically, it seems perforated, almost patterned along a strip about three feet wide, just inside the border of the younger growth.  On the way back to the caravan, she notices a similar pattern by that border as well.

Some great machine passed through here, and the tracks of its treads are still visible in the soil.

"Well how about that."  Zalbane made a few marks of her own to be certain of her path and returned to the group.  "You will not believe what I found.  Yes, I found the blazes again, but more interestingly there are marks of some great machine with treads that passed through not far from here!  That would certainly be a sight to see, and maybe a treasure trove of knowledge as well!"

The carpenters, after consulting with Zalbane for directions, begin cutting a path through the dense line of vegetation.  It's just wide enough for the carts.  After about half an hour, the caravan is ready to continue.

Zalbane will make her own blazes for the way the machine treads went, for she'd like to go back and figure out what it was that passed here and where it had gone.  But for now there were quite a few other people who just wanted to get their conclave established, so side trips would have to wait.  She continued to follow the blazes towards their new home, occasionally peering off to where the big machine might have gone (though it was unlikely she'd see it; it was probably far away or hidden by the trees).

The guide marks continue to lead deeper into the forest.  The route is crossed, again, by another gap in the vegetation.  Here, the trees and brush seem even younger than before and no work is required to move on.  The same tread marks are visible here, too.

After about two more hours, the caravan finally reaches a mark much different than the rest.  The directional marking has a mirror twin, pointing right back at itself.  A quick scan of the area reveals the gorge that the the strangers are reported to have emerged from.

OOC: move to The Gorge thread, please.

Many months later ...

The large, azure flier lifts above the canopy far to the north of Yenth.  The three humans (?) on it's back seem comfortable with the means of travel, serpentine as the motion of the creature is at times.  The day is overcast, with low clouds that occasionally permit a few stray sunbeams.

The forest below makes a mottled quilt of greens, reds, purples, and yellows.  The criss-crossing of the strange curving tracks of newer growth is a bit clearer here, although no easier to understand.  They stretch out beyond visibility, often swallowed by the trees in their arcing lines.

Mhari rode in the center of the saddle two young women with him.. one before and one behind.. he was thankful for the rush of air from the swiftness of Z'Dakk's flight it kept the fragrance of the two women from driving his senses mad with distraction and nagging desire.  Mhari had always had a weakness to manipulation by a feminine pair of pretty eyes.. it had caused him ALL SORTS of grief in his past and youth.  He was trying to be a better man... but the desire and attraction were always there... and it had been some time since he'd been with anyone...

This was NOT a well-though tout situation he'd put himself in!

So... he FORCED his mind to focus on duty!  It was HIS duty to protect his two passengers so he drove his attention searching the skies and land far below for threats.. guarding his charges as the Glaive he was!

He directed Z'Dakk to maintain an altitude of near 1,000'ft.. varying the altitude with the terrain below hopefully with a goal to remaining well out of the normal range of any ground ranged weapons fire as he scanned the ground, skies and horizon for threats... or hazards.  He knew what to look for when the Iron Wind blew... the shimmering rainbow haze in the skies, even though he knew Z'Dakk had even more keen senses than him and was also keep watch.

He felt the buzzing approval of Z'Dakk's thoughts as the arousal Mhari felt for the two female presences' in his senses faded from his perception as he focused on being watchful for threats and hazards ~ taking in the grandeur of the aerial journey in detached constant vigilance...

07:53, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 11 using 1d20.  Mhari perception - Extra Effort/2lv {Cost 3 Int} [-2Lv Diff]. – 11
- Extra Effort '+2Lv' [Success - Challenging {15}]

Z'Dakk perception - As Lv5 {Innate} [Success - Challenging {15}]

-----

To his two female companions the flight is nothing short of spectacular.. the cold rush of wind as the mighty Z-Drake beat its wings followed by long stretches of soaring on the breeze... the feel of the beasts beating heart in its chest, the swiftness of the travel as the mosaic of colored landscape rushed past below with a swiftness that belied belief!  Z'Dakk soared on the thermals like a dream his speed was breath-taking the ride of a lifetime ~ surely Few have ever seen the world in such a panorama of clouds marching past and the multi-faceted world flowing by far below!

Mhari seemed to be unaffected by the wondrous view of the world below ~ he sat stiffly in his seat his gaze scanning the ground, skies and the approaching horizon ~ the cold air seemed not to affect/touch him at all but he was warm to the touch and a rock of solid muscled vigil as the leagues fell away passing swiftly far below...
This message was last edited by the player at 12:26, Sun 10 Dec 2023.

Rob smiled solidly throughout the marvelous, wondrous flight. Her daze wandered around, drinking it all in, all the while with an eye for anything worthy of investigation; anything promising the peotential of artifacts from the mysterious past..

Low hanging clouds wash out much of the contrast in the view, but occasional sunbeams break through, illuminating the forest below in vivid color.

Rob's curiosity and sharp eyes spot, far to the east, light that is unexpected: a bright flash.  Based on the sunbeams and duration of the intense point of light, she judges it to be a reflection of the sun.  Something very large and very shiny is visible through the canopy, at least at this height, it is.  The flash seems to be about 30 miles to the east, while Yenth is almost due south.

Rob leans toewards Mhari and shouts, "Look! What's that?" and points. "Can we go closer?"

In reply to Roberta Shadowprancer (msg # 88):

Mhari cocks his head to the side to hear Roberta over the rush of wind feeling her press closer to get his attention.  Turning his gaze to the flash of light in the terrain... he too could not make out what is was, impressed with Rob's keen sight to have spotted it.

He nods acknowledging he heard her, and focuses his mind to mentally address Z'Dakk.

Lightly touching with his bare fingers the azure-scaled muscular neck of his friend for a clearer rapport Mhari thought spoke {On the horizon to the east. Flash of li~ _{'remembering Z'Dakk has no eyes'} something ~ possibly metallic.  Do you sense any danger in getting closer for a more detailed... perception?}

He also lightly touched Urr-Dani's shoulder to direct her attention toward the flash of light as well.

Mhari did not direct Z'Dakk toward the flash... but left it to his keener senses to decide if moving closer was safe and of reasonable low risk.  Z'Dakk had a curious intellect, but Mhari trusted his judgement of aerial travel and threat over his own.

To his relief the Z-Drake subtly altered his angle of attack at the wind and glided a graceful aerial side-slip to take them toward the flashing terrain anomaly...

In response, Mhari unslung his Gravity Mass-Blaster wrapping the sling around his forearm to bring the stock to shoulder ~ ready to fire, should hostile contact ensue...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:36, Sun 24 Dec 2023.

It takes time to reach the location of the reflective surface, in part because the shifting clouds will sometimes blot out the light and it takes a bit of time to sight it again.  And also because it's fairly far away.

As the trio approaches, they are able to make out a large metallic structure, a building perhaps?  It has some odd, oblique planes in places and is quite old, judging by the small clusters of growth that has managed to gain a foothold in some of the sheltered areas on the upper surface.  The construct(ion?) is about 10 meters tall, 13 meters wide, and nearly 75 meters long.  A cleared path as wide as the building(?) leads in a widely curving line to the east and north from the far end of the thing.

Mhari asks Z'Dakk to circle the object soaring on the breezes as he visually studies the ... object from all angles as they soar.  Then something occurs to him in a flash...

Shouting above the rush of wind, "That looks like a crash scar... not a roadway.  Could that be a crashed airship... or even a fallen Nightcraft?  Ships that sail between the planets around the stars in the night skies..."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Tue 26 Dec 2023.

Rob nods, shouting back, "Closer?"

Mhari Nods in reply to Roberta, and will direct Z'Dakk, if HE feels its safe, to land in the long scar in the earth behind the crashed object... no closer than 50'ft from it.

ROb nods again, but indicates with a spiraling motion of her finger that perhaps they can fly around to see it from all sides.

Mhari will direct Z'Dakk to circle closer to the crashed object three more times before landing to get a closer look at it before setting down...

A few progressively closer approaches reveal more about the construction.

"Why would anyone build a fortress in the middle of nowhere?" asks Urr-dani.  Her question is valid, though not quite correct in its assumptions.

The thing is not a crashed flying vessel.  There is no impact point or scar of plowed earth.  In fact, the razed path at one end of the thing seems incredibly flat and even.  It's difficult to be certain, but it seems paved with ... soil?  Mulch?  Something that seems un-tiled, at least, and in the colors of the forest.

The metal is tarnished in places and in a few locations seems to have weathered some assault or other impact(s), but these do not appear to have penetrated (although it is hard to get a good look at the sides through the trees).

The thing is also not inert.  It is active, if not quickly so.  There are occasional sounds coming from within, whirring, whining, processing.  Even as you observe, a tree on the uncleared end shudders and begins to fall westward.

All of this is observable from no less than 200 feet (65 m) away.

Mhari will nod in reply at Ur-Dani's astute observation...

"So its ..perhaps some kind of mechanical ground vehicle... clearing wild-fauna and ... leveling a road in its wake? Fascinating!"

Mhari will land Z'Dakk about 100'ft if possible to the metal .. machines sides to observe it closer and see if it is indeed moving of some form of wheels or mechanical legs...

Still his Gravity Mass-Blaster is at his shoulder ready to return fire if they are attacked unprovoked...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:20, Sun 07 Jan.

The massive construct does not seem to respond to Z'dakk's flights or approach.  The cleared strip behind(?) the thing is soft, but otherwise unremarkable.  Certainly safe to land on.

It takes some time to make a way through the forests beside the behemoth to see what is/may be moving it.  Eventually, the party is able to make out massive treads along at least one side of the thing, though at the moment those seem inert.  The noises from inside the it are much louder down here and make verbal communication difficult.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 98):

Mhari will look at the structure to find some obvious entrance.

Do the loud noises comming from the machine indicate it might be collecting and milling wood from the trees its clearing?

There does not seem to be any obvious entrance.  The exterior shell almost seems all of a piece at a distance.  There is no evidence of drivers or operators inside.  It doesn't seem to have windows, either.  The moving parts easily visible are massive treads for locomotion, cutting and grinding "tools" in front that seem to "feed" the trees and other material inside, and a semi-rigid area in the back that flattens out the material that is slowly ejected at the rear.

The sounds could be interpreted as some sort of processing of the trees that the machine(?) is cutting down, but into what is unclear.

OOC: how close are you getting to the machine?

Mhari had Z'Dakk land 100'ft distant to the side of the machine.

He will direct Z'Dakk to keep his distance but make his way on ground toward the rear of the metal machine to get a better detail on the 'pavement' the machine seems to be leaving in its wake.  But they will Not step on the 'road' Mhari only wants a more detailed examination of what the nature of the "road" actually is...

The trail behind the machine seems to be made of finely ground organic matter, like sawdust, only damp and slightly adherent when it is emitted from the thing.  The depth of the "coating" is about 12 inches or so.  It is extremely level at the point it is first set down and for as far as Mhari can easily see eastward.  There do seem to be some places where rain has washed some gullies in at the limits of your perception (and based on previous overflights).

Mhari regards this ... Old World Wonder with some trepidation.  It doesn't seem a danger in whatever task from its old world instructions it is continuing to follow. It was rather imposing in its construction... showing evidence of previous assault upon it... to only cosmetic results blemishes.

Mhari asks his companions, "What do you think?  It seems powerful and potentially dangerous but its mostly innocuous...clearly some ancient construction mechanism from the Old World still fulfilling some inscrutable task unaware its masters are likely long gone as is the need of its task.  Though any settlement in its path would Certainly be in dire peril no doubt!  But I'm at a lost as to how to forestall or repurpose its monolithic singular task to something of practical use.  If only Alberic were with us... he might be able to access and interface with its mechanical mind ~ if such is even present, to learn more."

He pondered its progress, "...but it IS only progressing Very slowly... chances are it will still be here ... on our eventual return.  I could bring Alberic here then for a more practical examination of its purpose and task. Currently.. I see nothing We can do to stop or alter its purpose... nor do I know that we should?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Wed 31 Jan.

Rob yells back, "Maybe there's a library or sage or somesuch in Yenth that may know more of it. Or where we might find such."

Mhari nods, and replies back, "Do we want to move in for a closer examination and search for potential entrances?"

"Yes," Rob shouts back. "But only if it's without harm our flying mount."

In reply to Roberta Shadowprancer (msg # 106):

Mhari nods emphatically, "Oh.. Most certainly!"

And he dismounts hefting his Mass Blaster in hand as he touches Z'Dakk's bare scaly hide thinking ~ {You stay here my friend protect Ur'Dani}

Then speaks to Ur-Dani, "We're going to get a closer look on foot ~ You stay here... Z'Dakk will keep you safe..."