This thread will be for excursions and events into the broader forest area.

The forest north of Yenth is old and often quite dense.  It can be hilly in places and there are several streams and small rivers that cut through it, mostly running (eventually) to the north, where the greater river holds back the march of the trees.  As will all forests in the 9th world, this one is not without its dangers and its wonders.

Joat took a last look around his cabin and walked out the arch that served as the doorway. "Rusky come on, Mom and Dad have been gone for years now, there is nothing for us here." He walked into the small clearing that served as his front lawn as the reddish-yellow crystal scaled dog like creature known as a Seskii came bounding out after him.

"Are you ready Mourne? Its time to go." Here in the middle of the clearing stood a tall green Aneen, a large bipedal reptile often domesticated and used as mounts, leaning over on its tiny front hands as it ate the tall blue grass. It slowly raised its head and walked over to Joat. Joat tied his bags on the beast, checked his knife to make sure it was on his left hip where it should be and fixed his bow to the beasts right saddle bag. "The lumberjacks said there are people to the south, that's where we'll head and see how this goes okay boys? He looked his companions in there eyes to reassure them everything would be fine, then with a smile he climbed atop the Aneen and started heading roughly south through the trees.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Thu 16 Jan 2020.

The seskii and the aneen, both accustomed to Joat's voice and commands, prepare for travel.  The forest already surrounds them, so the path southward is more of the same.  Joat's familiarity with the woods allows him to plot an easy path around the murden hive and other known dangers.

The going is slow, but not taxing.  The hills seem to create a path leading roughly southwest.  Having no particular destination in mind, Joat finds it easier to follow.  By late afternoon, the trio has found themselves in part of the forest they've seldom explored before, if ever.  Not long afterward, they emerge from the tree line into an odd scar across the forest.  A wide space in nearly a straight line crosses their path at a bit of an angle.  It cuts across northwest to southeast.  Only new growth is seen in this strange zone.

Joat pats Mourne on the neck, "Whoa, slow down boy." He slows and slips down to the ground on the edge of the clearing. He squints and looks up and down the odd line of new growth. He reaches out and rubs his fingers on the plant growth ahead. He plucks a small leaf and raises it to his eye to give it closer inspection. "Now what do we make of this boys? he asks his companions and looks over to them as if he expected an answer.

The plants in this odd section of the woods seem to be young, one or two years of growth for the most part.  The soil itself seems rich and loaded with organic material.

Joat nods to himself. "Seems safe enough, this is an odd scar but pretty sure the growth is at least a couple years old. How do you boys feel about taking an easier route? He smiles at Rusky and Mourne, both sitting just a few yards behind him. He walks over and climbs back onto Mourne.

With that they start out into the clearing heading southeast. "Stay close to the treeline, we may need to pop back in for safety, and keep a lookout Rusky, hard to tell what may be in this part of the forest."

Joat's beast companions alter course as he directs, although the path isn't exactly easier.  Densely packed growth up past Rusky's shoulder's keeps him at the edges of the "trail".  The scar of younger growth continues, perhaps bending a bit more to the south as they travel.  After a few miles, Rusky seems to be walking slower.  The seskii is stopping to sniff more often and occasionally whine.

Joat stops and listens to his seskii, "Boy, what do you hear? He stops and gets down. He looks around the ground for tracks or any other signs of what may be causing Rusky to act this way. "Mourne keep your ears open, and Rusky, show me what you see," and Joat looks at Rusky, watching his every move.

Joat can make out the tracks of abhumans in the brush.  Some deliberate effort was made to obscure them, but a few escaped notice.  There are some limbs deliberately cut in some of the trees to the west and north and the area looks ripe for an ambush.  The safest path of escape is nearly directly southeast.  No trace of the predators is visible there, and Joat and his companions do not seem to have triggered any notice just yet.

Joat whispers to his companions, "Boys this seems to be dangerous area, follow me carefully and be quiet." He raises his finger to his mouth and shushes his animals. He carefully leads them to the southeast as quickly and quietly as he can.

The woods to the southeast seem free of immediate dangers.  The land begins to slope and glide in low hills, with streams cutting the occasional path.  The ground is clearer here, as the larger trees shade out more of the light.  Both of Joat's companions seem quite happy with the change in direction.

Joat smiles as they continue to move along the easier trail. "Boys, things seem better do they, I'm glad. Now let's see if we can find what we are looking for." As they continue Joat starts looking for signs of humans, either tracks, or a trail, or even just evidence that they have been in the area.

After several miles of peaceable travel, Joat comes across the remains of a small settlement.  Buildings, seemingly long abandoned, loom as low shadows on the forest floor.

Joat is curious about the long abandoned settlement, he climbs down off Mourne and starts looking through the old buildings seeing if he can find anything of interest. <Dark green>"Keep an eye out for trouble boys but we can't overlook the opportunity to learn about other humans like me."</dark green>

The buildings seem to be part of a homestead, similar to Joat's own, although larger and long-abandoned.  Judging by the moss and plant growth, the site's four buildings have not been inhabited for a decade or more.  In rummaging through the ruins, Joat finds a small crystal oddity, but little else of value.  There are no clues, either, as to why the previous residents are gone.  Any number of creatures, storms, and other destructive forces have reduced to interiors to little more than piles of decaying wood and rust.

Perhaps the site could be salvaged for building materials, like stones, if one had the time and inclination.

Mourne grazes in the low growth by the buildings while the seskii sniff around beside the curious explorer.

Many days later ...

The forest is noisy in its quiet way, and still in its busy way.  Small animals scurry among the dead leaves on the ground.  Birds chirp as they flit from branch to branch.  Each breeze brings a susurration in the canopy, a rumor passing by.

Nearby, the small community is active, people and animals coming and going, doing their daily chores.  And someone is observing them, out of sight behind the massive tree trunks.

Joat settles into his little camp now that he has a small fire going. Rusky the Seskii is sitting tied to a stick drove into the ground a few feet away, small enough that he could pull it out with ease but just there to make sure he behaves not running off to the other Seskii's Joat saw as he scouted the community, still you can see his ears move and perk up every time he hears something in the distance Joat does not. Joat sits down leaning on Mourn the large Aneen as it sleeps tired from the journey. "Okay boys, we'll wait here and see if anybody comes to see us, if not we'll walk up to the gates tomorrow." He pulls out a small piece of dried meat he had in his pocket, breaking it in half he throws half to Rusky while he starts to gnaw on the other, mostly for something to occupy his mind.

Mhari rode upon Z'Dakk's back in quiet telepathic conversation with the Z-Drake... trying to explain to him the concept of possessions amused with the Z-Drake's views that nothing is actually 'owned' other than oneself.

Then he spots the small campfire below on the way to the Forest... mentally urging Z'Dakk the asure quadra-winged drake swooped in to land a good 100'ft from the camp... obvious so as not to spook the tethered beasts.

Mhari dismounted and patting Z'Dakk on his shoulder the Z-Drake took flight to soar high and away... circling on the breeze high above the campsite so.. Mhari's companions can see where he is - having told them should they see Z-Dakk circling high above some location Mhari had dismounted and was below him having discovered something.

Walking forward Mhari address the man at the campsite, "Hail traveler!  I am Mhari, mind if I share your camp a bit for some travel news to share?"

Joat watches the great flying creature land with his passenger. Watching curiously as the beast flies back up into the air and begins to circle. He stands before the man gets to the campfire, and pulls a small log over to the far side of the campfire.

Mourn snores and opens his right eye, seeing the visitor he slowly stands up and shakes. Rusky's tail starts to wag having seen few people up close other than Joat in a long time. Joat walks over and pets the Seskii.

"Hail and well met. I am Joat, this is Rusky and this is Mourn. Joat pets Rusky as he speaks his name and points to the Aneen when he names Mourn. "Honestly I have little news, but would love the company. Please share my fire." Joat points towards the stump for Mhari to take a seat as he sits cross-legged across the fire from the stump.

It is at this point that Alberic and Zalbane hove into view. Alberic gives a cheery wave of his hand as they approach, and removes his pipes from his mouth. "Ahoy, Mahri! I see you've found company! May we join you?"

Mhari smiles, "Thank you for your kindness!"

He takes a seat on the stump unslinging his scabbarded crystal yatagan to set it down next to him for comfort.

"I'm a Glaive part of the defense for a newly establishing Clave. My companions and I are scouting the surrounding terrain in hopes to tame its less obvious threats."

"Currently, we were looking for signs of some large lumbering creature whose tracks are frightening the newly arrived farmer families.  You would not have happened across any large strange tracks in your travel hereabouts?"

At the hail from Alberic, Mhari waves, and addresses Joat, "..my companions.  Wrights by profession."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Wed 27 Jan 2021.

Joat smiles at Mhari's kindness but as Alberic approaches he starts to squirm uncomfortably. "I apologize that we have no more seats to offer you, please sit by the fire." He gestures to the bare ground all around. He removes the tie from Rusky but the Seskii stays by his side, wagging his tail but otherwise sitting completely still.

Joat takes a deep breath, "How many of you are there, we am unused to crowds? He wipes a bit of sweat from his brow, "Actually we have been following your newcomers for the past few days, we were so focused on them not seeing us we never paid much mind to signs of another beast. Truth is we have been alone for some time and did not wish to approach such a group. Maybe we can help you out though, I am decent tracker and good with animals if that is what your creature be. Rusky may even be able to help if he can get the smell of the creature."

Zalbane nods warmly at Joat, knowing her rather hideous appearance can cause consternation.  "Well met, Joat.  I'm Zalbane, and that's Alberic.  There's a clave of us nearby, small enough for now, but we hope to expand as we become more familiar with the area.  We're out exploring around here.  One of our herders said there was something to the west that was causing some trouble with our herd, so we came to check that out before we went to explore some ruins I saw a bit of a distance away.  We also wanted to figure out, well...  I saw some evidence of creatures being in the ruins recently, but also some of the odd swaths of newer greenery?  I think something made those, and we're trying to map where those areas are and which ones have the newest plants, to see if we can figure out what's going on," she explains.  She doesn't give their exact numbers or location away quite yet; while Joat seems like one of those lone hunter or hermit types, he could just as easily be a scout for a bandit troop or worse.  Hopefully that wasn't the case here, but a dash of caution was needed when encountering strangers in the woods.

Alberic gives a cheerful wave as Zalbane introduces him, and accepts Joat's offer, crouching by the fire.

Joat crinkles his brow at Zalbane, Joat had seen many creatures but he appearance did give him a start, still he strived to be polite. "Lady, would you like to sit by our fire or Mourne could give you a seat. I wish I had more to offer you, let me think on this." He stood up and walked over to take Mourns reigns leading the beast to Zalbane, he offers her the reigns.

Rusky walks over to Mhari and tries to smell his hands, wagging his tail.

A few moments later Joat speaks again, “We do know of the strange greenery, We even followed some on our way here but we haven’t seen any cause for it that we recognize.”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Sun 31 Jan 2021.

"Was the greenery you followed native to the forest?" Alberic asks, grimacing as he blows out a cloud of gray and unpleasantly cinder-scented smoke. "I mean, is it is just younger growth of plants you might expect to find here? Or are they plants that must have come from elesewhere?"

He fiddles with his pipe, and adds apologetically: "I, er, don't know a lot about plants."

Mhari smiles at Rusky, careful to show no teeth, and slowly offers his hand for the creature to get his scent.

Replying to Joat, "There are several families in our growing community... going to need more storehouses soon with all that fieldwork the farms are going to be bringing in!"

He chuckles, "Hahaha.. My 'creature' is named Z'DAKK, he's no 'creature' but highly intelligent... though he does not completely understand our 'bi-ped, wingless' ways... mostly not understanding why we cover our bodies with 'artificial skins' or our insistence on 'possessions', and his strange interest in our... aheh, mating/courtship rituals!  He is a 'Zap-Drake', what they call themselves cannot be expressed in words.. they usually spend their existence flying high in sky following stormclouds as they are Electrovores... mostly they 'eat' electrical current.  I meet him in the past when I was a crewman on an airship... Z-Drakes can bond with other sentients.  He's no pet.. he's my travel companion.  I've been told by the Order of Light, that his species is a variant of the more common Xi-Drakes... though they are universally white skinned, unlike his azure blue and slightly bigger.  But similar to the Xi-Drakes, Zap-Drakes are also touch-telepaths.  Though he does perfectly understand spoken common tongue.  He's quite intelligent... if sometimes cryptic."

Joat looked to the seskii and squinted in thought, “Rusky we saw only the same plants right? One or two years of growth.” Rusky tilts his head looking back at Joat.

He nodded his head and turned back to Alberic, “Yeah, all local plants far as I saw. Like a huge scar in the ground was ripped up and is filling itself back in.”

Zalbane will pet Mourne and then move towards the fire to sit and relax for a bit.  "We were wondering if something cut the plants down or dug them up or some other sort of thing, and wanted to find the 'youngest' plants so we could follow them to the source of... whatever is going on.  And then take a look around at the ruins over yonder to see if there's anything useful for the clave in there."

Based on observations by Joat and Zalbane (and anyone else thinking hard about the tracks they observed), following any particular path of new growth could easily be a day's journey unto itself, assuming nothing was encountered to delay pursuit.  Also, the growth in any given area was uniform enough that it is not clear which direction (if any) the cause may have traveled.  It is possible that some pattern may be discerned from traveling along a swath, though.

"I could send the Eyebug ahead to scout, but it only runs for an hour. That'll bearly scratch the surface of the new growth." Alberic sighs. "I guess we will have to head in ourselves."

Joat smiled, "We don't mind travelling along ahead a bit and see what we can see, we've travelled this far alone, we would feel much safer with others with us. Only an hour in a single direction will not be enough to tell, we traveled farther then that though it isn't what we looked for. We didn't see any blow downs full of dead plant life that we remember so probably this isn't natural. Too uniform too." He walks over and climbs up on Mourn and rides him back to his original spot. Rusky runs behind him and wags his tail ready to go. "If you wish to go just let us know the direction.

Alberic shrugs, and scratches his head thoughtfully under his hat. "Direction? The most direct from here towards the centre of it, I suppose? If we know which way that is, of course..."

"Go to see where the growth starts to look bigger or smaller, and then follow the smaller or newer path, I suppose.  Thank you for your help, Joat, it's nice to have company on a new journey," Zalbane will say.  If people are ready, she's prepared to head out now.

Mhari ponders the proposed course, "I can try to see if there is a noticeable path in the growth from the sky... but I'm thinking the trail is a little too subtly for me to follow from above. Z'DAKK is not fond of trees, 'they get in the way of the wind' {snort}... is what he is always telling me. So he'll not be joining us in roaming around in the woods."

"Fair enough." Alberic nods. "Let's go."

A couple of hours worth of scouring the forests closest to the clave reveal three paths of younger growth.  The newest is at least a year, maybe two.  The oldest growth is perhaps ten years, judging by the girth of the saplings.  None of the trails provides an easy answer to which direction the ... culprit? moved in.

The closest path is about 3/4 of a mile northwest of the clave, running (roughly) ssw to nne.  This track has growth between the ages of the other two paths.  The places where the paths cross help to confirm the relative ages.

"Might as well start with the nearest." Alberic suggests.

Mhari nods, "Fine with me.. I'll take point."

The Glaive draws 'Stormheart' and readies his Transparent Ballistic Plastic Shield... leading the way.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:52, Tue 02 Mar 2021.

The way through the trees to the line of newer growth is warm and humid, but largely unremarkable.

Once at the growth, a survey of the visible greenery does not hint at a direction of progress.  Even climbing a tree beside the shorter vegetation does not provide insight.  The path curves gently eastward in each direction, obscuring possible tell-tale markers.

The group does note that some of the older trees bordering the saplings have had their lower branches shorn off and even tree trunks bear signs of being planed through the bark and deep into the woody core.  That old line of destruction runs straight up from the edge of the new growth to a height of about 40 feet.

"Hmm... I wonder if is it not something that runs along the ground, but from above or below, thrusting up?  Curious.  It may be a few weeks' task to map this place properly."  Zalbane marks the map with the routes they've found so far, along with the ages and the marks on the trees.  "Mhari, you and Z'DAKK might be our best bets for that."  She looks about the curious sections of planed wood.  "Hmm, once we've mapped it, some of this might be good for pre-planed things at the clave.  Ah, but I'm wandering.  Well, now we know it's about on a ten-year cycle or so.  And we have some more paths to check later.  But we did come out here to check the ruins, so let's make our way towards there before the day gets much darker.  I don't want to set up camp before we've had a chance to check out the place for anything that might want to nibble on us."

Zalbane makes a gesture with an open hand, inviting others to make their own opinions.

"Is it just clearance, or replanting?" Alberic muses, pushing his hat back on his head. "I mean, is someone managing and harvesting this woodland in some way? Or does something just destroy a chunk of trees every so often and the forest just fills in the cleared space itself?"


He examines the planed sections for any signs of what caused the damage - scorch marks, perhaps, or tears and scratches from mechanical damage if any are left. At last, he tears himself away from his musing. "Anyway, yes - on to the ruins!"

OOC: I'm assuming that the "new growth" is just a younger version of the rest of the forest, rather than clearly alien species!

Mhari has lived most of his life at a sea port Metropolis.. so forestry is not really in his knowledge base so he lets the experts do this investigation.  Watching closely yes, but more focusing on watching out for threats as the party glaive and protector.

He nods, "Yes.. let's proceed onto the ruins."

Zalbane will take the lead to the ruins, making markings upon their map as they go. It may take days or weeks or longer to fully map out the peculiar regrowth, but that doesn't mean she can't get an early start.  She watches carefully for any predators or people; just because she didn't encounter anything hostile on her first trip out here doesn't mean that will hold.  The Ninth World is a harsh place, and this area is mostly unknown.  And the ruins had shown signs of use before, which she could not discount.  She describes the scant signs she had seen to the others as she travels, because forewarned was forearmed!

The trio spend what's left of the morning and well into the afternoon hiking to the ruins.  The day grows overcast and a bit more humid, but is otherwise fair.  For a while, there is sound of distant thunder, and Z'dakk relays a message of being satiated to Mhari sometime later.  The group passes only one other stretch of new growth along their current path, something (roughly) in between the older two paths they noted before.

Alberic's sense of the sheered trees and branches is that the act was mechanical, certainly, and not fire or a similar energy device.  He's not entirely certain, but some areas seem to indicate a saw or some other moving/spinning/rotating device, as compared to a single, clean excision.

No predators are encountered, at least none close enough and interested enough to be a bother.  For a while, a flock of large, ornate, and squawking birds takes an interest in the group.  They hop along from branch to branch, chattering and occasionally mimicking the sound of branches breaking under the feet of the explorers.  After more than an hour, even these grow bored of the slow travel and flap off to the northwest, on an errand of their own.

Their morning investigations devoured more of the day than originally planned, and there is only about an hour of sunlight left by the time the group is within about a quarter mile of the ruins.  Close enough to reach it if they choose, but far enough to avoid it until daybreak if they prefer.

"Shall we strike camp, then?" Alberic suggests. "We might as well reach the ruins in daylight, for what little we'll lose by staying here.."

Mhari ponders the situation....

"It seems to me perhaps waiting until daylight ... might be prudent, but there are two potential camps of thought here. One camping here might keep us out of risk of meeting night predators of the ruins or expose us to night predators of the forest."

"Personally, I'd prefer to have daylight to search the ruins... I can call down Z'Dakk to camp with us and rely somewhat on his keen senses to guard us in the night. He's BIG and indeed a predator, his scent might keep night-predators of the forest away from the camp."

"In either case I think we should keep a cold dark camp tonight using light only when needed.. to avoid drawing the attention of intelligent threats.  Like unknown residents of the ruins if they could be hostile.  We should set watches regardless."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

Setting up camp is a fairly simple matter, if a bit time consuming.  Soon, there is a sheltered place to sleep for each and enough hardtack to keep the hunger at bay.

OOC: What's the plan for overnight?

"Best post watches, I guess." Alberic muses. "Three shifts? It seems a little unfair to ask Joat to take on that responsibility when he is our guest..."

Mhari chuckles at Alberic's statement, "..I'll take second watch, Z'Dakk operates even better at night... not sure why."

"Fair enough." Alberic nods. "I'll post first watch."

"Dawn is fine for me.  I can see in any light," she says, and will dim her lighted crystal once the group had bedded down for the evening.  If naught happens that night, she will start a pot of tea before the others wake up so they can start the day with a nice beverage.

The night is calm, if not quiet.  Small flying creatures of the night, bats, bugs, birds, chatter and click and whir.  Occasional rustles in the leaf litter or the branches high above may be startling, but don't resolve into anything visible or tangible for hours that may feel like days.

Alberic settles himself down, and duly begins scanning the horizon. As time passes and nothing happens, he begins to fear that he will nod off, and to keep awake, amuses himself by thinking through the design and implementation of the proposed rails for the gun turret back at the clave. It isn't long before he is completely lost in his thoughts, paying no attention at all to his surroundings...

OOC:  10:08, Today: Alberic rolled 1 using 1d20 ((1))
Whoops. Sorry, folks!

Alberic dreams of a near friction-less system for moving the turret ... until dreams are his only thoughts.  Tired from the day's trek, he is unable to maintain his watch.

OOC: Each of you please make an intellect defense roll, difficulty 5:15.

Mhari dozes his usually cat napping ways when in the field, in untamed lands...

23:43, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 7 using 1d20.  Int roll with Effort [3 Int -2 edge; Int cost 1], Lv5 to Lv4 {TN12}. – 7

ooc: Nope, no good! 'shrug' Tried.

{Z'Dakk is likely off scavenging or just enjoying the nights winds... he's not found of the ground rather be flying, and its not our shift to be on guard.}

Alberic begins to snore, blissfully unaware of any danger...

20:43, Today: Alberic rolled 7 using 1d20.  Intellect Defence. 1 Level of Effort - lowers TN to 12.

That's a Nope from me as well!

Zalbane's dreams are careless expressions of art and light, her sleeping mind drifting through color and beauty, not considering any danger at all...

OOC: 03:39, Today: Zalbane rolled 5 using 1d20.  Intellect Defense (1 Effort). Nope!

The dreams of Mhari, Alberic, and Zalbane seem to evaporate into nothing as soon as they wake.  All three seem weary, despite the sleep.  This is more alarming due to the fact that they are all awoken by Joat's shouting.  The three party members rise in time to see him tearing off into the darkness of the night-veiled forest on his aneen, seskii barking and trotting behind.  Joat is shouting something about "things with tentacles" in the forest.  It's unclear if he is chasing them or fleeing from them, although a quick scan around the campsite reveals no creatures, tentacled or otherwise.  None of you have sustained any physical damage, and nothing seems to be missing (except what was still with Joat's aneen).

OOC: You each take 5 points of Intellect damage and your first recovery roll after tonight will count as if you rolled a natural 1 on that roll.  Also, none of you will dream for the next three nights.

"Ugh... What was that?" Alberic groans, as he watches Joat disappear. "What was he talking about...?" He shakes his head groggily. "Sorry, I must have... fallen asleep..."

Mhari springs awake, realizing something is wrong... and he was not awoken for his watch casts an angry scowl Alberic's way but says nothing. Already armored and armed as he was waiting for his watch he hears Joat's shouting... Mhari is on his feet, and suddenly gone ...leaving only a trail of lightning as he chases after Joat his talent of Fleet of Foot signified by a rush of air and a wake of lightning in his passing!

Mhari moves after Joat drawing his sword as he move just in case he is in need of assistance but not attacking with it...

Invoke - Fleet of Foot {cost 1 spd, -2 edge; Total: 0}, Move long distance
This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

Joat is still much deeper in the forest, in the darkness.  It's entirely possible that whatever "tentacled" thing was present kept Mhari asleep for longer than he realized.  Joat can still be heard shouting, and the crashing footsteps of his aneen are still audible, but it's harder to track as the sound disperses among the trees.  For the moment, Mhari is alone in the night, and barely in view of his campsite, where Alberic and Zalbane remain.

Mhari stops.  He is not sure what is ACTUALLY going on here.  Why did Joat run off, why did he not wake them if he noticed a threat or warn them if he knew about the forest stalkers in the first place?  His suspicions are risen... and Mhari blamed himself as the fool here for trusting a non-warrior 'wright' with the first watch he figured it would be the easiest to handle.. but apparently not.  He must shoulder the burden alone... well not entirely so if he would have had Z'Dakk take the first watch he sure this would not have happened.  But now was no time to cry over spoiled milk.. at least everyone of if HIS charages were alive ..that counts for something!

Mhari turned and made his way back to the camp.. THEY were his duty to protect... not some stranger who may have been deceiving them all along!

He sent out the silent mental call for Z'dakk to come to him... hoping his telepathic friend was nearby...

As he made his way back he tried to see if he could spot any trail of theses supposed 'tentacle forest stalkers'...

11:38, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 11 using 1d20.  Perception roll 'looking for tracks'. – 11
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

Alberic looks around rather groggily. He is aware that there is the faint smell of overheating solder - as if the circuitry in his left side had been working overtime doing, whatever it was that it did.

He lifts his left sleeve, and activates one of the bright patches of LED in his ihuman arm, carefully scanning the area for signs of prints other than Joat's - though he holds little hope that "tentacled things" are likely to walk...


08:33, Today: Alberic rolled 1 using 1d20.  Perception. 1 Level of Effort. Hedge magic light as an asset.

Not again! *facepalm*

I think Alberic had better stop doing anything that requires dice rolls for the time being! xD

Cost: 3 Intellect for the Effort + 1 Intellect for Hedge Magic to make light = 4 - 3 due to Edge.

I'm assuming I can't claim the Edge to make the Hedge Magic free and then claim it again for the Perception Roll.

Alberic's light appears, but centered right between his eyes.  The glare makes it very difficult to see much of anything else and he can't seem to gather the focus to move the illumination while he's blinking away the strain.

Even with the addition of Alberic's light, Mhari finds no tracks on the ground, at least nothing recent.  Z'dakk eventually swoops in and seems to take interest in sniffing the tree branches above the campsite, although the flying creature doesn't seem lured at all by the odor.

"Oh, for crying out-!" Alberic gasps as he is dazzled by his own light. He shakes his head and blinks, trying to clear the spots from his eyes. "Sorry. Sorry. Just give me a minute..."

Mhari, gently touches Z'Dakk's when he arrives grateful to see his dear companion.

Turning to the rest, "..I could not follow Joat... I have no idea why he just up and ran off if the creatures he warned about are gone?  I think they may use the trees to travel about as I could not find any tracks or they do in fact float about not needing the ground to move.. Z'Dakk scented something in the trees but the creatures are now clearly not there ~ whatever they were.  In any case bumbling around in the dark is not a good idea either so might as well wait until morning the damage to our minds and bodies is already done!"

"I and Z'Dakk will take the final watches... get some rest."

Mhari will turn to Z'Dakk and touch his forehead to the 'Zap'-Drake's crested head for direct clear communication and explain what has occurred and all about the 'dream-thief' creatures that stalk the tree-tops.  Mhari will tell his friend he plans to take the next watch and would ask Z'Dakk to take the last watch, but would seek his wisdom as to how to deal with the 'dream-thief' creatures, if Z'Dakk should have a better idea?

"Perhaps he dreamed them." Alberic sighs, still blinking his eyes uncomfortably. "Perhaps it isn't tentacled creatures but something else we should be worried about - I doubt we would all have strange dreams by coincidence. Anyway, I can share a shift - I managed to sleep through all of mine, so it's only fair."

He is completely oblivious to whether Mhari wants his company, or whether - having missed his shift - he is actually trusted to do another. Instead, Alberic duly props himself up, peering  into the darkness with frequent squints and blinking that suggest he is not actually seeing that well.

Mhari's mount's wisdom amounts to something akin to "don't sleep near things that steal your dreams", communicated via images of a peacefully sleeping Z'Dakk in a number of remote and desolate roosts, unbothered by any creatures or weather or noise. The z-drake himself puts little stock into dreams, so their loss seems of little consequence regardless.  But it seems important to Mhari, so he at least makes an effort.

The rest of the night passes without further danger.  The songs of the night creatures rise and fall with the hours.  The shadows of the trees in the pale moonlight move a tangled mosaic of light across the forest floor.  A few small creatures are heard, but not seen.  The light of dawn soon brings better visibility to their surroundings.

Mhari laughs full belly at Z'dakk's ultra-pragmatic advice... he can't stop the tears of mirth!

He hugs his 'volt-wise' friend affectionately for the wonderful advice!
This message was last edited by the player at 02:51, Wed 21 Apr 2021.

Alberic seems to have recovered his cheerful demeanour on waking. He begins to prepare breakfast, exhaling clouds of cinnamon-scented smoke from his pipe as he hums to himself. "Strike camp and then onwards to the ruins, I guess?" He muses. "Or should we look for Joat? I heard no screams, so I assume he outran his tentacle monsters..."

Mhari shrugs, "Honestly, I don't know why he up and ran off on his own... there were not monsters visible on our wakings...so THEY were not here threatening.  He more likely ran into something WORSE running off blind in the dark at night with potentially other night predators, but heck, his problem now."

Mhari prepares his weapons and drinks some morning coffee only nibbling at breakfast... stowing it for later snacking during the day.

"Yeah, we head to look at these ruins. I don't mind looking for Joat along the way but what he did was stupid ~ and we got the lives of a new clave weighing on us to find the potential threats hereabouts.. THAT must take precedence!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:08, Sun 25 Apr 2021.

Alberic nods, thoughtfully. "Perhaps he had a nightmare, and the 'tentacle monsters' were just a figment of his imagination. Still, something happened. I've blown at least a couple of transistors, and that never happens when I sleep. Anyway - I'm with you, Mhari: we head for the ruins, and if we see Joat along the way, then perhaps we can find out more. If not, well - he seems like a fellow who can look after himself round here."

Zalbane shakes her head, trying to brush off the odd feeling and headache from waking amidst yelling and running.  She levers herself up and stretches slowly as she talks.  "I am concerned about Joat, and certainly I don't care to have my dreams eaten, if that was what happened!  But if there are no tracks...  Either Joat is a being who leaves no tracks, he was taken by something and did not touch the ground... or Joat was nothing more than a figment of our imaginations.  Let me take a look," she says, moving over to where Joat had run off.

OOC: 01:58, Today: Zalbane rolled 10 using 1d20.  Perception (1E for free).

Some of Joat's tracks (and those of his creature companions) are easily visible in the campsite, and start off in a trail the direction Mhari indicated.  Mhari's tracks are visible as well.  Farther away, there are more large stones and sturdy roots protruding from the ground, a thicker layer of leaf litter mortaring the gaps between.  It becomes far more difficult to find their path, but at least they were not illusory.

"Back at the Clave, one of the kids said something was spooking the Seskiis. Maybe this is the same thing - though they mentioned the smell of smoke." Alberic muses. "Whatever it was, it certainly spooked Joat."

After a few moments' though, Alberic shrugs. "I guess Joat can look after himself out here. He seemed in his element." He removes his hat, and scratches at the left side of his hairline, where the hair is patchy and odd strands of silvery wire run under the skin like veins. "Onwards then, to the Ruins?"

He replaces his hat, takes a lengthy draw on his pipe, and duly begins to break camp, strawberry-scented smoke wafting around him.

Mhari nods and takes point heading for the ruins. Z'Dakk again.. bored with 'ground things' takes flight but remains in the area lest Mhari need him.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 12:05, Wed 12 May 2021.

Zalbane is sure of the path, and the trip to the area of interest doesn't take particularly long.

OOC: What, if anything, is anyone doing as you approach the ruins?

As soon as Mhari note the hint of the ruins approaching, he calls for a pause.

"Ok, we do not know if the ruins are occupied, best to be careful.  Let's approach by stealth as if it were occupied by a hostile force... just to be safe. Use the forest as cover stealthily approaching staying out of sight, keep an eye out at the tree cover above looking for sentries or guards. Go Slowly... look for trip lines and deadfalls... in case someone has trapped the approach!"

With that Mhari proceeds slowly toward the ruins moving from shadow to shadow under the foliage and tree to tree, pausing frequently to check the tree cover above to look for guard post or sentry blinds.  He draws his long bladed yatagan to test the ground before him when he must move away from the tree trunks to brief stretches of open ground to look for deadfall traps or tripwires.

It is slow going but Mhari does not want the party ambushed or observed approaching if there are hostiles guarding the ruins.

Once the ruins come into view Mhari will pause again finding as best he can a concealed place of cover to observe the ruins without entering to plan their approach and observe the ruins for a bit out of direct line of sight.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:25, Sun 16 May 2021.

Alberic does his best to approach stealthily, as requested. Despite his lopsided gait and the amount of metal he is packing in the left side of his body, he is remarkaly nimble when he must be.

As the ruins come into view, he pulls the eyebug from his pocket. "This will let us scope out the ruins, before we go on in. It'll follow a simple instruction and I can see whatever it sees through this." He pulls out the eyepiece. But let's just give it a few minutes to check that there aren't any obvious threats..."

And with that, he settles down with the others to watch the ruins for signs of danger.

"Go ahead, Alberic," Zalbane says, and waits for the report of his device.  She had moved with surprising stealth, having tugged the silky folds of her cloak around her, which seemed to imitate the colors and patterns around her, and even guide her limbs to greater quiet.

OOC: 04:57, Today: Zalbane rolled 14 using 1d20.  Hide and sneak T, cloak eases two steps.
04:57, Today: Zalbane rolled 92 using 1d100.  Depletion roll.

The ruins are constructed, certainly, or once were.  Eons of wear and neglect have let trees and other vegetation grow on all but the most vertical surfaces (and even some of those).  There is a wall, of sorts, of irregular height that stretches out roughly east and northwest from the point the explorers have reached.  It's not entirely clear if the remains are of a single vast building or a series of interconnected, smaller constructions.  The outer "wall" of the area is anywhere from 8 to 22 feet high, depending on damage, decay, and tree growth.

The largest opening in the outer perimeter permits access to the more deeply shadowed interior.  It seems like a well-traveled area, with the ground pounded clear of plant life by innumerable footsteps, although no movement betrays what may be lurking within (or soon returning).

"Well, we only get one shot at this." Alberic places the eyepiece over his human eye and activates the Eyebug. "Make a full circuit of the inside of the perimeter wall."

Then he releases the Eyebug, and hopes his instruction was clear enough...

The bug of the eyebug hops off of Alberic's hand in the direction he has set it, toward the "entrance" to the ruins.  Soon, the image in the view readjusts from daylight to an artificially enhanced view of the tunnels/paths within.

From such a low angel, it's impossible to see clear details of the ground, so there is no way to examine any footprints inside.  The bug begins a strange, circuitous journey, broadcast to Alberic.  There seem to be several buildings or constructions built in from the outer "wall".  In some places, what may be doorways can be seen.  They are often partially collapsed or obstructed.  There are other solid shapes that seem to have no clear access to their interiors.  At times, the bug seems to be almost backtracking as it returns from a "blind alley".  Sometimes, there are paths that extend past the next junction, but the bug turns back toward the perimeter again, as instructed.

After an hour of slow progress (the bug isn't terribly large and the ground was often uneven), Alberic gets the sense that he's seen more than half of the interior perimeter, but not all of it.  The bug's journey was intercut with occasional glimpses of sun, small scurrying creatures, and deep openings that feed into subsurface darkness.  There were a few places that seemed like possible other exits, although they seemed to be of smaller diameter than the one in front of the explorers.

"Quite a warren in there." Alberic muses, as the signal from the Eyebug goes dead. He removes the eyepiece, and tucks it into a pocket, as if he might use it in some other device in future. "Still, there are other ways in... perhaps less well used. Maybe they are a safer approach?"

Mhari watches the displayed video record as the scouting bug moves about with anxious and somewhat annoyed interest {that cipher just got majorly nerfed ~ we learned nothing we don't already know}.

In reply, "...what disturbs me is that not once did we see any of the inhabitants ~ guards, civilians or otherwise!  Makes me think there were all hiding, and somehow expecting us and our cipher scout!  We certainly should avoid the main entrance, that screams walking into an ambush!  We should use one of the less used entrances.  There is Obviously Some community there why they are all hiding should be a warning that their intentions upon visitors is not kindness!"

"Or they are nocturnal..." Alberic muses. "Or too few in number for us to spot in such a large area." He sighs. "Still - as you say, the front entrance feels like we will be walking into trouble."

"Well, then - shall we make our way round to one of the side entrances?" Alberic asks, readying his pack and staff. "I guess we need to move quietly if our hosts may be home..."

Mhari nods, "Very well..."

He will lead the way as stealthily as possible around away from the obvious main entrance... again using his two-handed crystalline yatagan to test the ground before him for deadfalls and tripwires looking for alarms or traps.  He will go slow.. mindful to check up in the trees for sentries, and watchman blinds up in the trees to observe anyone trying to approach the settlement unobserved.

The Glaive is looking for a side entrance to the settlement...

"Or whoever has been here is now gone..." Zalbane offers in a quiet voice as she follows Mhari and Alberic, eyes watchful for another way in, even something like a crack that could be widened with work.

Passing around the ruins in the same direction the eyebug went, the trio is able to find a hole, slightly oval and about three feet in diameter, that allows access (and some light) into the ruins.  The tiny tracks of the little survey bot are still visible in the dirt of the floor.

Apart from the crinkling of leaves beneath their feet and the calls of the various smaller denizens of the forest, they see nothing of note as they travel, nor any signs they have been seen.

Zalbane nods and then folds herself down to her hands and knees.  "All right, I'm going to go in.  I'll give a little whistle if everything is clear, and likely a scream if it's not," she says, and hunches down to crawl into the crack, then unfold herself and look and listen for anything dangerous.  If all seems clear, she'll whistle for the others and see if she can spot any tracks other than those of the survey bot.

Mhari nods at Zalbane's volunteering, muttering, "...just be careful.. take no unnecessary risks."

He switches weapons, sheathing the crystal Yatagan back across his back and readying his Transparent Plastic Shield and drawing his azure steel rapier, Stormheart.. in hand.

In the back of his mind he heard the faint telepathic whispers of Z'Dakk, {Not going in ground thing hole. Will glide high above... good winds today.}
This message was last edited by the player at 14:14, Thu 03 June 2021.

Alberic also nods, grimly, and readies his clock hand.

Zalbane's foray doesn't run into immediate danger.  The ruins seem quiet within.  She is able to notice a couple things that the bug could not.

First, there are some footprints here besides the bug's.  They seem quasi-humanoid, but it's difficult to discern if they are of the same species, as there is a fair bit of variety.  They seem to approach the hall with the rupture to the outside (Zalbane's entrance) and then retreat.  Perhaps a patrol that doesn't want to reveal it's presence?

Second, the light pouring from the ceiling farther down the hall, at least at this intersection, is not direct sunlight, as it first appeared.  It seems designed to mimic the color and angle of the light, but it is cast from a fixture in the ceiling.  This ruin (facility?  vehicle?  city?) still has some means of powering aspects of itself.

Mhari will enter after a few moments.  When Zalbane does not trigger a trap or cry out from any sudden attack Mhari enters cautiously moving to her side to stand at her shoulder.

He gestures for Alberic to join them at the quasi-humanoid tracks.

"Ok.  It's clear at least to me that this is no ruins but a perhaps 'sparcely' populated/settlement community of some sort.  Those are clearly some form of powered illumination.. working powered technology tends to need to be maintained.  So this place is not abandoned at the very least.  If our goal is the start a New Clave... trespassing in areas claimed by our nearby neighbors is NOT the best way to have peaceful relations.  We have spotted no guards or sentries, run afoul of no traps, and seen no evidence of violent or hostile nature in this community 'grizzly corpses put on display or mutilated remains discarded about'... I believe we should change our approach..."

With that Mhari re-sheaths Stormheart, and restores his plastic shield to carrying it on his back.

"Let's try to encourage them to meet us openly.  I don't know exactly what is powering those lights... but if its electricity.. I 'may' with my gifts of the 'Holy Lightning' be able to trace the flow of energy to the power source which may in turn lead us to whoever is maintaining this settlement ~ I can only try!"

With that Mhari walks out into a main thoroughfare of the settlement speaking out loud & clearly, "Hello?!? Is anyone here?  We are not of hostile intent.. we just wish to meet with you.  I'm sorry we were so ..rude before we had no idea if this was a Community or of your intentions. We are sorry.. we are from a nearby community.. perhaps we can open some trade and mutual cooperation?"

He raises his hands toward one of the lighting plates above and stretches out his sense of the lighting, he has never tried something like this before  and attempts to 'feel' the electricity IF that is what is powering the lighting plate to see if he can partially 'attune' himself with the flow of the electricity.. like he sort of does when he 'Rides the Lighting'... to see if he can follow the flow to the source within the ruins.

10:43, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 13 using 1d20.  Positive and Pleasant Social Interaction - Trained [Effort/1,  Edge 2, Total cost 0 Int]. – 13

10:45, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 18 using 1d20.  Perception - Sense and follow 'electrical' power [if present] 'Ride the Lighting' {trained?}. – 18
This message was last edited by the player at 14:52, Sun 06 June 2021.

Mhari's sense of the light fixture is that there is some type of electrical power involved, but that power seems very self-contained.  There are no lines or conduits coming or going.  Each light seems to contain it's own tiny, durable power source.  That the lights are somehow coordinated with the sun seems to be a trick lost to the ancient onces.

There is no vocal response to Mhari's call, unless you count a few roused bats that squeak and squeal at the interruption of their sleep.  But below the explorers, some movement or shuffling can be heard, sounds emanating from a wide hole in the floor with a ramp of rubble leading deeper, perhaps far away?

OOC: You three make an Intellect roll to get a better sense of what is going on around you, please.  You may apply whatever skill you feel is most appropriate.

Alberic cautiously glances towards the hole, and pauses for a moment, listening carefully. He touches a couple of buttons on his left arm, pushes his hat back and carefully squints through his artificial eye.

08:04, Today: Alberic rolled 12 using 1d20.  Perception to work out what is happening. 1 Level of Effort (free from 3 Edge). No skills or assets.

Also, Alberic will use Sense "Magic", to see if any Numenera are active in the area. Costs 1 Int - I assume I can claim this for free using Edge as a separate action from the perception check?

Mhari regards the sink-hole like depths of the entrance listening for the the sounds of movement or settling stone...

07:10, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 20 using 1d20.  Mhari Perception  check. – 20
~ That's  a Nat 20!

"Well, it could also be that those who pass this place by use it as a waystation of sorts.  There was evidence of someone having used this place but some days back when I first saw it.  That makes it less of a colony and more of a communal camping site.  Which isn't necessarily bad, particularly if it has power. It could be a guest quarters, or an embassy..." Zalbane muses.


OOC: 04:04, Today: Zalbane rolled 9 using 1d20.  Perception (2E) S.

Zalbane catches bits of murmuring from the hole below, but could be any number of things like a subterranean river, a nest of bats, or some strange trick of the wind, even if it might sound a bit like voices.

Mhari notes clearly that there are voices below, not close and still hushed.  The language seems almost understandable, just on the edge of comprehension, and from voices that can at least mimic something like human speech.  Perhaps a local dialect of Truth?  Either way, the speakers don't seem to be moving toward the hole.  In the distance, on his own level and from the area not explored by Alberic's eye bug, he hears a faint clicking sound, one that very easily might be moving closer to the hole that Mhari is standing beside.

"I think there might be voices or maybe water over there.  If it's water, that would be very useful!" Zalbane says, pointing to the hole.  She goes over to it to carefully look down inside.

Mhari hears the voices... but then hears also something approaching...

He hisses urgently, "Zalbane! Alberic... Get back! Get to cover... something large approaches!"

Mhari hops back from the edge of the hole... placing his hand upon the hilt of Stormheart... ready to draw his blade, but clearly he's staying out in the open to face whatever he heard approaching from the hole.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:27, Fri 18 June 2021.

Alberic steps back from the hole as instructed, retreating back towards any cover he can find, Still, he grasps his Clock Hand staff firmly, ready to defend himself, and the others.

OOC: I need an initiative roll from each of you, please.  You have an asset from Mhari's warning.  You are not in combat yet and have not sighted the threat(?), but I want to give you the chance to prepare your reactions, if pertinent.

OOC:  08:51, Today: Alberic rolled 10 using 1d20.  Initiative. 1 asset (Mhari's warning).
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Mon 21 June 2021.

06:12, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 4 using 1d20.  Mhari Initiative Roll. – 4
- 'sigh' for all the damn good it was.

03:20, Today: Zalbane rolled 17 using 1d20.  Initiative (1A).

As Alberic is taking cover behind Mhari, who is standing as an obvious target, Zalbane and Mhari spot a large, spider-like creature moving in their direction.  It has a some-what humanoid face, although the expression is unreadable at this distance.  It is moving at a steady pace, but doesn't seem to be rushing, per se.

OOC: Zalbane, you can act before the creature.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Thu 24 June 2021.

Zalbane has no idea if the creature is hostile or not, but it would foolish to assume otherwise!  She spreads her hands and creates a glowing barrier about two feet wide and six feet long with handles on the back of it.  She lifts it holds it sideways so that the barrier covers her torso and those next to her, but would allow people to attack over it with ranged weapons if they needed to.

"Hello?  Who are you?" she calls out, wanting to see how the creature will respond.

OOC: Using my sculpt light ability to make a sort of sideways tower shield. I just want to give to something else to think about and provide little cover to the group. Costs 4 Intellect, but I have an Edge of 4.

The creature slows and narrows its eyes at the brightness of Zalbane's barrier.  It holds up one humanoid hand to shade its vision.  But it does not retreat.  It seems to take a moment to assess the interlopers.

"Travelers, we are travelers, and we do not mean you harm," Zalbane says slowly, saying the phrase in Truth, as well as the dialect of her childhood home and the Yenth aldeia.  She wasn't sure if the creature could understand her at all, but she might as well make an effort to try.  But if it decided to be hostile, she was ready to dazzle it with light!

"Tell me of the bipeds below," it says in clear Truth, accented with a slight hissing, something that seems to derive from the multiple clawed ... appendages (?) around it's mouth.

Unhelpfully, Alberic chooses this moment to peer out from behind Mhari, his interest clealy piqued. "Bipeds? Below? As in below these ruins? We've not been below these ruins, so I don't think we can be much help. Unless you can describe them to us?"

Mhari relaxes just slightly, "Talk is good.. dialogue means hostilities potentially can be avoided. My companions speak true... we do not mean to trespass ~ we are not bandits or looters.  We seek dialogue with any who reside here... but we have met no one thus far in our exploration.  We are Explorers seeking any who would open dialogue with us in PEACE.  Are these structures.. YOUR Abode?"

The creature cocks their head a bit, assessing you all behind Zalbane's glowing shield.  "Sought refuge here, we did, after the metal mountain ground our nests to dust.  Many died trying to stop its progress.  Nothing here we took.  Nothing we asked.  0n the forest level we stayed."  They breathe in an awkward way, wheezing a bit, but without any visible expansion or contraction of their torso or abdomen.

"The blood-thirsties struck at night.  Ravenous.  Skinless.  Violent.  Killed our foragers in the trees.  Tried to root out our nests in these solid halls.  Battle there was.  Many killed of us and them."  There is a brief pause before the creature lowers their hands, eyes now adjusted to the light.  They lean forward just a bit.  "Fear me, they do.  With cause."  Their face, fangs, palps, so many eyes ... it is enough to drive most villagers to flee in terror.

Zalbane is no stranger to appearing hideous.  More than once villager or traveler had run from her, or shuddered at the sight of her.  A few times she'd even been attacked on sight, someone thinking she was an abhuman, a demon, or some kind of monster.  Ugliness did not shock her, though she could see why the creature was being cautious.

"I am sorry for your troubles, and your loss.  It must have been a terrible time," Zalbane said sincerely.  "We are new to this place.  These blood-thirsty creatures, when did they attack?  Did you flee here for protection?"

"They caught my people in the forest, hunted us down.  They tried to destroy us in these walls, but we fought better in the narrow halls, but not well enough.  We had fled here, seeking safety.  Only after the eggs were fixed and past the time of moving did we realize the dangers in this ruin.  I cannot leave the brood.  I will die soaked in blood first."  There is no doubt in your mind that the creature is deadly serious.

"Dangers in the ruins?" Alberic muses, he begins rooting carelessly around in his pockets for his pipe. "From these Bloodthirsties - the bipeds?" Finally finding the pipe he pushes it between his teeth. "They sound like dangerous fellows." At last, his pipe begins to emit a cloud of green, mint-scented smoke, and he puffs contentedly away, oblivious as to whether this is appropriate in the situation.

The creature takes a step back from a wisp of smoke, but does not retreat.  It has no nose to wrinkle.  It merely hisses.  "Yes, dangerous."

"What dangers in the ruin itself?  We could help you protect your brood; we are happy to make friends.  Is there some creature in the ruins, or something else that threatens you?" Zalbane asks.

The creature cocks its head.  "The bloodthirsty ones are the danger in the ruins below.  We did not delve.  There was no time, and then no safety, and then no one to go."

Alberic puffs thoughtfully on his pipe, his mind clearly abuzz with questions and curiosity, which he cheerfully voices. "How many of you are there left? And how many of these Bloodthirsties do you know of? You came to the ruins in search of safety, is that right? And they came in pursuit of you? Or were they trying to clear you out? There must be something down there of interest..."

Mhari listens to the creature and he is motivated by the story... anger building for any sentient seeking peace faced with naked aggression.

"Indeed, We are willing to help if it is within our power to aid your people against the violence of these bloodthirsty ones... as if they menace your people..it will not be too long before they may threaten our community also.  We seek peaceful coexistence with other sentients!"

The creature turns toward Alberic.  "Our numbers shall not be revealed.  I will not aid in the reconnoitering of others that may be used against us."

Turning to Mhari, the creature says, "Peaceful coexistence is desired.  If the bloodthirsty ones are eliminated by you, it is likely terms can be agreed upon with you and yours."

Addressing Alberic again, they say, "The motives of those below are unknown to us.  Only their violence is known, and that is enough."

With the creatures comment, Mhari removes his hand from the hilt of his weapon.

"Very well, Can you show us where these 'Blood-thirsty Ones' come from.. or at least give us directions to the area in the caves below they come from?  We cannot guarantee anything but we can investigate to find out if possible their numbers and maybe assess what we can do to end their threat."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:08, Sat 24 July 2021.

Alberic nods, gravely. "Though it would be good to know more about their threat before we enter their lair... You say they are biped? Are they like us, then?" He glances down at himself, then across at Zalbane. "Well, like any of us? Are they the same size? How many have you seen? You need not be exact - do they travel in ones and twos, or tens, or hundreds? Do they have claws and fangs? Do they use other weapons?"

"Your size, roughly.  They were in small groups, less than ten, armed with simple weapons.  But there was much chaos.  Not all the attacks had witness borne.  Their total population is unknown, but less than it was."  The creature's face contorts into some carapace-hindered cross between a snarl and smile.

"Possibly abhumans," Zalbane murmured.  That was a common enough threat, and one of the more common ones that came in small groups and worked in numbers to slaughter with simple weapons.  One did not want to assume, as the world was strange, but it helped to be prepared for the most obvious.  "Like Alberic said, we will investigate, and see what we can do to help.  If we run across more of your people, is there a word, symbol, gesture, or token we can use to show we are not enemies?  I don't want to frighten them any more than they already have."

The creature blinked several of its many eyes as it considered Zalbane's question.  It was silent far longer than seemed comfortable.  Eventually, it said, "Speak that you come with Stillissa's blessing."  It explained no further.

After a moment, it nodded ever so slightly.  "As your words are true, shall you now withdraw.  Seek as you have stated.  Return only with news of victory.  Wait here and call for the Last Watcher."  The creature makes a hand gesture toward themself and then backs up a few steps, pausing then to wait and observe.

Alberic frowns, slightly, then repeats Mhari's earlier question. "Before we go - where did you last see these Bloodthirsties? It would speed our search to know in which direction we should look."

The creature points to the hole in the floor and the darkness it contains.  "The threat is below, at least while there is light."

Mhari, regards the hole and then gestures to his two companion, "Discussion, In-private."  And he purposefully walks well away from the Mismatched legged spider-creature.  Still within sight but well out of earshot.

Then whispering in a low voice he turns his back to the creature to face Alberic and Zalbane, "Ok, I'm all for helping these people... if they are truly the ones being attacked and killed, But...that said, we have only this one... "being's" word on it, so let's not be jumping to any conclusions here!  We still have not met any of the creatures 'it' claims are living here, we have no evidence from our searches of any actual battle that may or may not have taken place here.  For all we know this creature has been attacking the residents and they are hiding from it!  So let's go into this understanding we are not taking any side until we have some more solid evidence?  We will not attack first, we try dialogue and communication ~ FIRST!  I'm not going to be responsible for consigning the future residents of our new Clave to an endless war with local inhabitants due to some snap-decision and over eagerness on our part!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Tue 17 Aug 2021.

Alberic nods. "The same thought had occurred to me. Ask questions first, shoot later, eh?"

"Agreed. No need to jump into violence if it's not warranted.  Now, let's see if we can get a rope in place for us to climb down there," Zalbane says with a nod.  She'll take her rope from her pack and try to find someplace to tie it off so they have a line down the hole they can descend.

As the party looks for a place to anchor a rope, they notice that the multi-limbed creature was no longer in sight.  Their retreat had been as good as silent.

Zalbane is able to find a suitable fissure where one wall meets the floor where a climbing rope can be reliably secured with a spike.

Rope secured, and their erstwhile host gone, Zalbane, with her glowing crystal around her neck, will climb down the rope and hopefully secure the tunnel for the others.  She takes a carefully look around, listening closely as she descends, wanting to know if anything was going to leap (or ooze) out and bite at her...

Alberic watches as Zalbane descends, peering down into the hole after her. He douses his pipe and places it in his pocket - a sure sign that he is concentrating on the moment, and ready to react should there be any of sign of trouble...

OOC: Alberic has no missile weapons, so his plan is to use his Trigger Iotum Ray ability if something suddenly attacks. Hopefully it won't come to that!

Mhari starts but Zalbane is down the rope before he can intercede... so he shrugs and reaches to grip the rope.

Then his eyes flash with lightning... and with unnatural speed and grace he slides down the rope to lightly bounce a foot off the top of Zlabane's head and land in a combat stance 5 paces ahead of her ready to intercept any revealed hostiles STORMHEART drawn and in hand, transparent-plastic shield on his off-hand arm... leaving a trail of lightning in his wake.

Obstacle Running (Cost: 1 '3' Spd, Spd~Edge -2)

The decent into the first of the underground levels, however careful or bold, is uneventful.  A tunnel stretches to the east, or perhaps it was a hallway in some bygone age.  Regardless, the walls seem even and well constructed, as does the ceiling.  The floor is dusty and rubble-strewn.  There are no lights, though.  In the flickering lights sparking from Stormhart, the remnants of what may be humanoid footprints can just barely be made out, although their age is impossible to tell.

Zalbane's eyes are not impeded by any level of darkness or light, and besides, she has her glowing crystal around her neck to illuminate the space.  She points at the footprints and mimes following them.  If Mhari wishes to take point, she will let him, though with the uncertain light levels, she is willing to go first so that they are less likely to be ambushed.  Though not a trained fighter as Mhari was, Zalbane was still very tough.

Alberic cheerfully puffs out a ring of orange smoke from his pipe and gestures Mhari to go down ahead of him. "After you!"

Mhari's acrobatic leap is quite flashy (literally and figuratively).  The tunnels (former hallways?) here are dark and narrow.  There are occasion impressions of what might have once been doors.  Some look long-ago pried open.  Others seem fused to their surroundings by age, if they are actually doors.  They could be some sort of architectural detail or even an unfamiliar device, now forgotten and (hopefully?) defunct.

The only sounds are of the trio's steps and voices.

Mhari nods without question and takes point in the search of the many underground rooms and hallways.. STORMHEART and shield at the ready...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:44, Sun 19 Sept 2021.

As the trio spent the rest of the day exploring and trying to map out the first sub-surface level of the structure, they noted a number of things.  First was the glass, which was found in a number of of the outer walls.  Great roots grew along it at various points on the other side and occasionally small tunnels were seen.  Clearly, it was of durable make, and if it could be safely salvaged, could likely be put to good use or traded.

There were many rooms and hallways down here, not all of which seemed to lead anywhere.  Perhaps this was once dwellings of some sort, but shattered bits of material were difficult to make heads or tails of.  The searching did yield a few bits of Azure Steel (3 units) from a smaller room crammed with metal casings that seemed to have been pilfered long ago.  The steel was in a cabinet built into the wall, partially concealed.  In another part of the building, set in what appeared to be a decorative pose, the party found a long device with a narrow metal tube.  Other pieces, small, many in number, were found in nearby boxes marked with a depiction of the device.  Alberic was certain it was one of the numenera, but it did not immediately make its purpose known.

OOC: Roll 1d6+2 for the artifact level, and then Understanding Numenera at that difficulty to identify it.

What the group did not find at all was any inhabitation.  Apart from some insects and other small critters, this level of the ruins seemed to be deserted.  However, there were several places where paths to the further depths were found.  Sometimes, these seemed intentional to the original construction, stairs or plummeting shafts behind heavy doors.  Two others seemed to be more recent, broken through the floor with makeshift ladders or rocky ramps built to allow access.  Nowhere on this level was there a path to the surface, except the point the party entered and another broken access in the southwest corner, well-covered by webbing.

Retreating to safety for the night, the group is able to find a sheltered grove with a soft bed of needles on the ground.  It is fairly safe and defensible, and there is no disturbance over the dark hours.

As they are preparing in the morning, Alberic gets an odd sensation, shortly followed by a greenish, transparent hologram of Buojrez in his vision.  The hologram speaks, and he hears words in her voice, although no one else seems to be able to hear it.  “It is Buojrez. This message is to warn you of dangerous spores on your route back to the clave. They will be active for another five, perhaps six days. You cannot return that way unless you have a means to neutralize them. Approach from another direction is recommended.Other than that all is well. I saved the children, killed a monster, and found treasures. Be safe.”

Alberic studied the long device with great interest. Then with even greater interest, using a light from his left arm to study it, holding it up to his left - artificial - eye. Finally, he studied it with frustration, puffing furiously on his pipe and launching clouds of flavoured smoke into the air, which mingled with the smell of warm solder that was beginning to come off him.

Finally, he lowered the object sheepishly and offered it to Mhari or Zhalbane. "No idea what it does. Or how you work it, I'm afraid."

08:26, Today: Alberic rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Artefact Level.
08:28, Today: Alberic rolled 3 using 1d20.  Understanding Numenera (No Skill or Assets, 3 Levels of Effort) - costs 7 Intellect - 3 Edge = 4 Intellect. Lowers TN to 6, I think?

And even with those odds, Alberic still fails! xD

Mhari shrugged and walked over to look at the odd tubular device.  Picking it up he handled it looking to see if the tube was hollow or seemed to have some hand-held purpose ~ other than a fancy club. On a whim he positioned himself so both ends of the tube were not pointing at anyone or anything that the group would not want damaged and he called upon the Lightning within, to send a charge of electricity through it to see if the artifact was simply lacking power?

21:20, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 18 using 1d20.  Understanding Numenera? – 18
This message was last edited by the player at 01:22, Wed 06 Oct 2021.

"Well, it seems either this conflicting group is deeper in the complex, or behind the webbing.  Probably deeper, or perhaps... Perhaps not able to be seen by us?" Zalbane says slowly, not liking the implications of that last thought.

Of the piece of numenera they had found, Zalbane will give it a look over with her lit crystal as Mhari examines it as well.  "Perhaps we just need to look at the different angle?"

OOC: 03:48, Today: Zalbane rolled 14 using 1d20.  Understanding Numenera (T, 1E).

Of the message Buojrez had sent, Zalbane looks concerned.  "I'm glad the clave is safe, but it looks like we may need to consider some anti-spore measures if these things are common about here!"

"Now, shall we try a lower level?  I am game if you are."

The idea of it's purpose tickles along the edge of Zalbane's thoughts without settling, a mild frustration, but not surprising.  Although Mhari's shock does little but add decorative scoring to the tube of the device, his familiarity with a variety of weapons helps him to ferret out the device's true nature.

Slugspitter, Mass Increasing: With a quiet sound like a puff of air, this device fires a tiny slug of metal with a range of 200 ft.  Since the slug increases its mass as it travels, it inflicts damage equal to the artifact level +4.  (Level 5, so 9 damage; medium ranged weapon)

This device is a rapid-fire weapon, and thus can be used with the Spray or Arc Spray abilities that some glaives and jacks have, but each "round of ammo" used or each additional target selected requires an additional depletion roll.

Depletion 1d20

With practice and perhaps a bit of tinkering from Nalla or Alberic, he may be able to alter the device's ammunition to accept electrical charges as the base destructive force, although the mass-increasing effect seems an immutable aspect of the technology.


A dry, if cloudy day dawns near the ruins.  There is more to explore.

OOC: Do you intend to fully map out/salvage a floor before descending?  Or are there triggers which might alter your course to a quicker route downward?  How many days do you intend to stay away from the clave?  This is the start of your third day away.

Also, there were 24 units of parts found in the salvage, too.  I forgot that earlier.

Mhari beams with utter delight at figuring out the artifact's function and obtaining the powerful weapon.  He will indeed work with Alberic in experimenting with the artifact to add purely for decoration and convenience a wooden carved stock and grip to hold the weapon like a bowless crossbow 'long-arm' for aiming. Also, so a sling can be attached to holes in the attached wooden stock and not the artifact potentially damaging it.  He will clean his carbon scoring off the artifact and spend time cleaning and shining the artifact.



At length he will ask Alberic if it might be possible to craft a detachable, by screw clamps, an extended and rifled barrel to the artifact to add more accuracy and potentially range to the projectiles the Slugspitter fires?  Understanding that such a barrel addition would need to be short and not too long least the weapons mass increasing power deform the barrel addition.

He also tests firing single shots to see if he can come up with a standard shaped slug most agreeable to the weapon's use.  Then perhaps a pattern for Wrights to follow so more similar ammo can be crafted.

Needless to say.. discovering all the capabilities of the Mass Blaster Slugspitter is a fascinating puzzle for the Glaive while the Wright's do their work cataloguing the ruins.


As an after-thought, Mhari thinks it best we carefully and thoroughly map out/salvage the entire floor before descending to a lower level... something about the spider-creature's story seems suspicious and he feels the party should act cautiously.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:19, Sat 09 Oct 2021.

If this lower floor is the same size as the first subterranean level, it would likely take about a day to fully explore it.  The darkness was more complete, the echoes in the hallways more eerie.  The silence, when they stopped to listen, seemed more complete, but also ... artificially overwhelming.  They should have heard SOMETHING from another floor from time to time, right?

OOC: What are you looking for, specifically, and what skills, Effort, etc. might apply to those activities?

The silence has Mhari supicious... there are NO Signs of ANY habitation, fled refugees or even recent battle...whatever the 'spider-like robot told them is clearly not even the half-truth.

But he will search the walls of the underground complex tapping them with Stormheart's blade to test for hollow sounds of hidden or conceal chambers.  He will also visually search for tracks that might give some clue if other creatures have moved in these empty hallways or the presence of sliding walls or hidden doors from floor or ceiling scratches.

Ooc: This game does not give you an easy way to get a list skills to use.  So General Tracking and Perception rolls I'd guess.

Mhari seeks to find any tracks or sings of passage or even habitation looking for either refuse that might have been discarded or footprints in the dust to follow.  Tracking if there any signs that might lead to some clues as to what is actually going on here...

00:25, Today: Mhari 'Stormbolt' rolled 15 using 1d20.  Tracking w/Effort-1 [cost 3pt Int, -2E; total 1pt INT]. – 15 {Diff: lv 6 - Intimidating}


~ I hate double posting but wanted to get this show rolling.

Mhari's investigation does, in fact, bear fruit.  Most of the halls here seem abandoned and dusty, with an odd pattern of wide ripples in the detritus covering the floor.  However, near one of the remote holes, a passage downward, there is a clear impression of multiple footprints leading into and out of the hole.  The track of the footprints just ... ends.  It is cut off mid-print, vanishing into the "undisturbed" dust and grit.  And beside the footprints, what might be a set of small wheel tracks.  These, too, cut off at the same line, and end near the hole.

Mhari picks up the tracks  looking at them perplexed, THEN it finally hits him, "Dan Cooper!"

Standing he will turn to his companions, "Remember him, Dan Cooper?  How when he arrived he reported vanishing from his time/world in a flash of light to appear in a room with some strange table with crystals, which when he touched it dropped him with another flash of light into a cave-like room?  Remember the Serpent creatures we fought on your arrival how they were trying to capture Dan Cooper ~ how they vanished into a-a ... hole in the air?  THAT is what these tracks I'll bet represent.  I think these creatures the Spider-like construct refereed to, the 'Relentless attackers' were these same Serpent Creatures!  Those creatures must possess some tech artifacts {whatever it is} to open these 'holes in the air' and it is being used in similar fashion here. Which is why the tracks so suddenly vanish.  I'm conjecturing that there is some extra-dimensional space or abode here, that coexists but may not be cotermious or visible within our reality only able to interact with our dimension when those 'holes in the air' are opened allowing access.  Remember how Dan had somehow developed an ability to ~ was it phase through things or shift between places, likely from exposure to whatever he interacted with on his arrival.. how the Serpent Creatures were so desperate to capture him? We Know those lizard creatures were not beasts but possible alien  maybe even extra-dimensional entities as they were clearly using language to communicate even though we could not understand their hisses and growls."

He ponders aloud hand on chin, "...I wonder if Dan Cooper could 'see' these portal where the 'holes in air' open?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:30, Mon 01 Nov 2021.

"By the Iron Wind! You're right!" Alberic nearly lets his pipe drop from his mouth as he listens in fascination, narrowly clamping it back between his teeth in the nick of time. "Dan's phasing ability only seemed to happen when he first arrived, though. It seemed to wear off after a while."

He glances around. "Still, if we think  that our friendly serpents are coming from this direction... at least that gives us an indication of where we should be watchful."