"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!