Sherman seems up for helping the peaceful little guys out.
"It's the right thing to do. Us little guys gotta help each other out. Also", he adds with a grin, "if we're leading mercs back this way, we should clear out as many obstacles as possible to save us the work."
Eva fianlly humms into active status, a bit shocked her recharge took a bit longer than usual, Eva looks around sees the new critters and asks, "What did I miss"
Chiro will happily fill in Eva on the last 20 minutes or so.
".....vulture things or hoops, certainly not bats, nope not bats."
The small critter looks at Germain.
"we take you to Wise One to palaver if you can climb."
"Sure," Germain says glancing to the others, "lead the way."
The small critter walks to the elevator shaft and slings his staff. His entourage are hidden just inside, he twitters at them in a rapid patois of Anglish and some chirps and squeeks. He turns back
"All you come? Tough climb for smooth-hands. You fall, down to spidergoats in basement. Bad-bad."
He swarms up the large elevator shaft with his folk.
Germain will use the ladder and take her time going up (take 10) that gives her a straight 10 on the climb check, which, if I'm not mistaken, should be more then enough for a ladder.
"I can lower a rope after we get up the shaft if anyone wants it."
Sherman nimble follows the little guys up the elevator, his four arms giving him a good advantage.
Sherman nimble follows the little guys up the elevator, his four arms giving him a good advantage.
The group follows the little swarm of gecko-monkey things up the empty shaft. After a climb of about ten stories, The leader halts.
"Wise One live here, protect us from Elder machines. He give advice on K'rwaan."
He leaps out to the hallway as do the others.
The hallway is fairly well-kept, with murals all up and down the hallway in the style of the one's you'd seen earlier. Different appartments are open, and the critters seem to have made sleeping areas for themselves. There are even small 'farms' and a few large round mice-looking domestic animals.
The leader comes to a door at the end and knocks his staff against it. It irises open and a laboratory is revealed. Old computer decks are piled high with various mechanical junk. Glass vials and tubing occupy a corner. At the center of it all is a three-foot high rotund purple dinosaur. This improbable occupant turns and looks at the leader, speaking to him in a slightly comical goofy tone
"Strong Grip who do you bring to me? Are these the folk from downstairs?"
The leader (Strong Grip?) nods
"Aye-ah Wise One these be travellers. They wish to know of the K'raawn."
The purple dinosaur turns to the group. It looks like a synthbot, but it has suffered some damage and has a few crude mechanical additions around one eye and it's right arm.
"Welcome friends! I am called the Wise One, but you can call me Bartleby! Howdy Do!"
"Um, ah..., Bartleby." Roach is clearly a bit surprised at finding himself chatting with an ancient stuffed toy. "We're onboard with the idea of capping some Carrion Folk. Having said that, we need to make a plan, and for that, we need some info. What can you tell us about the K'rwaan - where thay live, how to best get there, if they have notable champions, that sort of thing."
Sherman whispers to Coca "And da brethan tell the I he looks weird?" he would raise an eyebrow if he had one.
"No doubt."
"Um, ah..., Bartleby." Roach is clearly a bit surprised at finding himself chatting with an ancient stuffed toy. "We're onboard with the idea of capping some Carrion Folk. Having said that, we need to make a plan, and for that, we need some info. What can you tell us about the K'rwaan - where thay live, how to best get there, if they have notable champions, that sort of thing."
The small purple dinosaur jumps up and down and claps his hands together
"Well that would be super-de-dooper! My friends the Neebo have suffered greatly from them. Why, they cannot even go out of the building during the day!
Bartleby pauses and fiddles with his weird messed up eye. A hologram of an ugly vulture-looking humanoid hovers in the air.
"The K'raawn came to this area recently. They seem to be descended from vulture stock, but it could be something else. Whatever they sprang from, they are now vicious and cruel predators."
The hologram zooms into the image's hands
"They have humaniform hands, and so they often use Elder technology. They are lazy though, and don't have the knack of creating arms, so all of their weaponry is scavenged or stolen."
The hologram zooms back out and refocuses on the creature's beak.
"Notice the serrated beak, a dangerous weapon in its own right. Beak wounds often become highly infected."
Bartleby snaps off the hologram
"They live ten blocks from here in the Tower of the Oliphaunt. It is a building with a stone clad lobby depicting an ancient animal, the elephant."
Another hologram snaps up of a cracked fresco in marble of a strange beast with tusks and a prehensile trunk and large ears.
"Can we sees dis oliphant skellie from da house?
Eva asks Masta blasta to guard the shaft, Eva climbs following the group, using the rope provided Getting her first glance at Bartleby Eva squeels in delight, "An honor to meet you sir, your additions are high in quality" Eva seems to be pleased a synthetic is running the show.
"Do these bad birds fly at night? I am thinking a nighttime assault would favor at least three of us if not."
Germain shrugs.
"Nighttime would be ok if you're not looking for any support from the others. I got H.U.D. night vision but it's no where as good as daytime sights."
"Perhaps we can approach the tower underground, through the sewers?"
"Are you forgetting the spider goats?" Germain asks, "there's lots of piping and overheads for them to lurk in. I'd rather not have to fight our way to a battle."
"Underground dere's much worse 'n spideyoats."
"Sure. I was just thinkin' 'twould be a bad plan to just walk up to that Elephant Tower. These bird dudes will have sharp eyes."
"Do these bad birds fly at night? I am thinking a nighttime assault would favor at least three of us if not."
Bartleby shakes his body in a big no gesture.
"Nope these bullys only like the daytime. They are bad people. I will warn you they do have a few robots that guard them."
Bartleby looks around, smiling a goofy smile
"I wish I could tell you about the sewer system, but I never got files on it. Most of my programs are about playing and singing. There is access in the basement, but the creepy spidergoats live there."
Bartleby starts to dance around
"Watch out for the spidergoats
When you go look for food!
They bite and scratch and tie you up
They are up to no good!
So never go out all alone
Be sure to take a friend!
'Cause if the spidergoats jump out
It's easier to defend!"
Bartleby stops dancing
"I teach the little Neebo pups that during school time. Isn't it super-de-dooper?"
"That's fan-f*!!ing-tastic Bartelby. Can Cocaman sees dere tower from hereabouts?"
"That's fan-f&%#ing-tastic Bartelby. Can Cocaman sees dere tower from hereabouts?"
Bartleby nods vigorously
"Oh yes, it's quite tall. I'd show you it for really reals, but it's still awful dark out. I can show you a holo I have."
A hologram twinkles into existance, showing a pearly white tower, maybe 70-80 stories high. It has odd spiky crenelations on the roof, and the shaky holo camera zooms in on a few details like a large lobby and the statuary of elephants all around the base of the tower. A large rusty robot like Master Blaster walks back and forth into the camera shot.
Sherman keeps his mouth shut, wondering how much of what he seeing is real and how much is induced by smoking Marley.
Sherman keeps his mouth shut, wondering how much of what he seeing is real and how much is induced by smoking Marley.
"You gots the time now and the time of sunrise purple dude?"
Bartleby, may I download all the files you have on these creatures and the Oliphant tower, I think I can make use of this information to plan our assult Eva approaches the leader in reverance, amazed at the inspiring song and dance he provided, and the obvious care he projects to his people, he is a true shepard of his flock!
Roach shakes his head as Bartleby dances around. "That's more schooling than I ever got. Good for the little guys, I say."
Bartleby, may I download all the files you have on these creatures and the Oliphant tower, I think I can make use of this information to plan our assult Eva approaches the leader in reverance, amazed at the inspiring song and dance he provided, and the obvious care he projects to his people, he is a true shepard of his flock!
"Sure thing miss ... Say I didn't get you nice folks names?"
Bartleby extends a mitten-like hand to E.V.A. A small port irises open with a data transfer spike
"I am EVA" she accepts Bartleby's hand
"Pleased to meet you Eva! Manners make good friends, I always say!"
1010101010101010101010 ....
The data spike begins a P2P transmission of data. A general layout and info on K'raawn and the Oliphaunt Tower shunts through. The intel is crude, but Bartleby obviously wasn't designed for intel collection.
Roach follows EVA's lead. "And I'm Roach." He points around the odd group. "This gun-happy fella here's Coca-Cola, this is Germain and Chiro, the crabby guy's Sherman aaaand... I think that's all."
"Da Marley is down below, but da I canno climb," Sherman announces before offering one of his big hands to the purple dinosaur for a hand shake. "It is grand ta meet ya bredda."
Chiro wiggles his ears and takes an echolocation scan, the better to recognize him later.
"Nice to meet you purple dinosaur guy."
Bartleby greets all of the party in turn.
"If you wish, you all can rest up here. There isn't much night left tonight, but you can always go tomorrow night. We don't have much to trade with, but the Neebo bring me shiny metals, which I know some folks hold dear."
Bartleby shuffles over to a small wooden box and brings it back. He opens it and the group sees a tangled mass of gold chains, rings and watches.
"You can keep it, if you wish."
Chiro checks the little furball's gear and thinks about how he could improve their situation. Hmmmm maybe crossbows?
... The intel is crude, but Bartleby obviously wasn't designed for intel collection.
Chiro checks the little furball's gear and thinks about how he could improve their situation. Hmmmm maybe crossbows?
"Nice." Roach gives the gold a quick look. "And with the vulturoids' stash, this is a very good haul indeed."