Pinna asks for direction to Tripicus and heads that way.
Using your map, you easily find Tripicus's Study. Actually it's more of a lecture hall. You open the doors and find yourself standing at the back of a small auditorium. At the front of the hall is a desk, a number of small bookshelves and lots of papers all over the place. Sitting at the desk is ... a bear. Well, kind of. He at least seems to have a number of bear-like features. He was busy writing something down when you came in.
"Hello? Can I help ... well by the Blessed Fields of Elysium -- Primes! Before I hear any of your stories, please tell me -- would you be able to make it to my next lecture in a week? You'd make splendid visual aids."
Perception Rolls –
Vortic –
Lanwin –
Elysia –
E. –
Pinna –
Vassago –
That was awesome. It looks like EVERYONE is perceptive...
On the way to Tripicus's you all notice a character that seems to be everywhere you are. You noticed him outside the inn, as you left the map place, near the temples, and now again as you make your way to Tripicus's. He's fairly tall and lean. Wearing shiny silver armor (breastplate) and has rather yellowish skin.
<Whispering>
"Pinna, do you see that strange man?"
<Whispering>
"Pinna, do you see that strange man?"
<Whispers> "Yes, but we seem to be stuck with him. Or do you mean tall, lean yellowish man in breastplate?"
<Whispers> "Yes, but we seem to be stuck with him. Or do you mean tall, lean yellowish man in breastplate?"<Whispering>
"Pinna, do you see that strange man?"
"What do you think he wants? The yellow man, that is. Do you think I should find out?"
"Hey, Pinna, I found a vendor over there selling fried grasshoppers so I got some for you. Oh, are you guys talking about the guy in the shiny armor. It must take an awful long time to polish that every day. Or maybe he has some kind of spell that keeps it shiny. But he's been following us all day. I wonder if he's friendly, maybe he is or maybe he isn't. Maybe I should ask him," she concluded, changing course to go talk to the man in armor.
She walks right up to him and asks bluntly, "Are you friendly?"
She walks right up to him and asks bluntly, "Are you friendly?"
A little startled, he straightens right up...
"Why, I am very friendly. But I am concerned for your group's well being. Sigil streets are not safe for your group and your quest. There are forces conspiring against you. If you wish for a safe haven, you should come to our stronghold." You also can't help but notice that he is looking all over the place while he's talking to you. In fact he hardly ever looks at you. "Please consider my offer. It won't be given again." And he quickly leaves ... almost at a run.
Perception check...
Elysia –
"Okay, I'll tell the others. Thanks." and she skips off merrily as if she had been merely asking for directions. She stops and talks to at least three other random people on the way back to the group.
"He says he's friendly. And he gave me directions to a place we should probably go. If he's lying then we'll have a better idea who our enemies are and if he's not lying then we might find some new friends. Oh look, rat on a stick! Be right back!"
"Mmmm... good grasshoppers." <crunch crunch crunch>
"Might not have been the best idea there, Elysia. How did the yellow man know about our quest? If he knows what it is, we should ask him."
** spoiler omitted **
Well, that didn't work...
Lanwin whispers to the others, "We'll have to investigate that stranger later."
"Greetings, Tripicus. What, if I may ask, is your specialty?"
"Greetings, Tripicus. What, if I may ask, is your specialty?"
"Well," he smiles, "I like to think that I am an expert on various prime material planes. It is simply amazing to me just how many different prime worlds there are. Let's see... from your dress, it seems pretty easy to tell that you are from Toril. Lathander has always been a favorite of mine as well. I've heard so much about the place. It seems so big ... for something that isn't infinite. I so wish I could visit Waterdeep."
"Oh, Waterdeep is ever so much fun, but really this place is even more fun, I mean, Waterdeep only has almost everything and here you have mostly everything but I understand wanting to visit other places I love to see new places and meet new people and oh my goodness you're a talking bear is it hot under all that fur? well I guess you must be used to it by now so you wouldn't think it was even if it really was and I've never met a talking bear before although I did meet a talking squirrel once but he wasn't very interesting to talk to because all he ever talked about was his nuts I mean, sure you expect that squirrels like nuts but really there have to be other things that they pay attention to sometimes right? Oh my, you have so many books. I bet it's nice having so many books then you can read about all kinds of interesting places but I think it's better to go and visit interesting places because the people that write the books they always get parts wrong plus things change between when the book was written and now and maybe someday when I'm really old I'll write a book about all the fun places I've been..."
She offered him a skewer. "Rat on a stick?"
"Oh, Waterdeep is ever so much fun, but really this place is even more fun, I mean, Waterdeep only has almost everything and here you have mostly everything but I understand wanting to visit other places I love to see new places and meet new people and oh my goodness you're a talking bear is it hot under all that fur? well I guess you must be used to it by now so you wouldn't think it was even if it really was and I've never met a talking bear before although I did meet a talking squirrel once but he wasn't very interesting to talk to because all he ever talked about was his nuts I mean, sure you expect that squirrels like nuts but really there have to be other things that they pay attention to sometimes right? Oh my, you have so many books. I bet it's nice having so many books then you can read about all kinds of interesting places but I think it's better to go and visit interesting places because the people that write the books they always get parts wrong plus things change between when the book was written and now and maybe someday when I'm really old I'll write a book about all the fun places I've been..."
She offered him a skewer. "Rat on a stick?"
My dear. I am a Guardinal and I am from Elysium. Hopefully you will go there some day. Many of these books are ones that I have written. I am sure that I have gotten some information wrong. That's what I get when all I have to work with are the occasional visitor here. For I cannot simply go to prime worlds. So I look forward to hearing all about your home and the sights, sounds, and textures.
"Wow. I've never even heard of a Guardinal before it sounds important and I've never been to Elysium either but my dad read a book about it once and he thought it sounded like a really nice place and I guess that's why he decided to name me Elysia and it must be so sad not to be able to visit all the places you want to. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have cause I bet that will make you feel happier it always makes me feel happier when people answer my questions cause I have so very many of them...but I'm not sure which thing you want to hear about...home or Waterdeep or someplace else? I've been to lots of places, and sometimes I can't remember the names cause I don't stay very long but I still have a long way to go before I see the whole world and now there are even more worlds to explore and it looks like I'll never run out of new places to see."
Pinna finishes the grasshoppers and brushes chitinous bits from her beak and feathers.
"Elysia, where did yellow man say we should go? Maybe Guardinal Tripicus knows about it and can tell us who is so interested in our quest?"
"...Maybe Guardinal Tripicus knows about it and can tell us who is so interested in our quest?"
He was busily writing down notes from what Elysia was telling him when his ears perk up...
"Quest?"
Perception Rolls –
Vortic – 1d20 + 12
Lanwin – 1d20 + 6
Elysia – 1d20 + 0
E. – 1d20 + 11
Pinna – 1d20 + 15
Vassago – 1d20 + 3** spoiler omitted **
That was awesome. It looks like EVERYONE is perceptive...
On the way to Tripicus's you all notice a character that seems to be everywhere you are. You noticed him outside the inn, as you left the map place, near the temples, and now again as you make your way to Tripicus's. He's fairly tall and lean. Wearing shiny silver armor (breastplate) and has rather yellowish skin.
"...Maybe Guardinal Tripicus knows about it and can tell us who is so interested in our quest?"He was busily writing down notes from what Elysia was telling him when his ears perk up...
"Quest?"
"...um...so...you're on a quest? Hello?"
"We seek a thing... a device. Made on Mechanus. Not quest like paladin."
"We seek a thing... a device. Made on Mechanus. Not quest like paladin."
"Hmmm. There are lots of 'things' or 'devices' on Mechanus. What is this one supposed to do?"
Pinna lowers her voice "Well. Uh. Made on Mechanus, not on it anymore. It changes things somehow. Changes balance of order and chaos."
"We know we need to go to that plane to find more information on it, but we're not certain where on Mechanus we ought to go."
"Considering it's original use, the library of the Guvner's may not be a bad starting place." Vortic says.
Pinna lowers her voice "Well. Uh. Made on Mechanus, not on it anymore. It changes things somehow. Changes balance of order and chaos."
"Well, that sounds ... bad. I vaguely remember some rumors about something like that. The modrons were accused of making ... something ... but then, they are often accused of doing odd things."
"Considering it's original use, the library of the Guvner's may not be a bad starting place."
"Sounds like you have some idea on where to go next. Not sure that I can help you much more with this though. I wish you luck on your quest that's not a quest."
"Thank you, good sir." Lanwin heads out.
He mentions under his breath to his companions, "Yet another being we've been directed to who has almost no information for us. I hope the Guvners are more helpful."
"But how do we get to Mechanus and the Guvner's place? And what is Guvner? Who are they? And why would yellow men be interested in our not-quest?"
Vassago scowls. I have no trust for the yellow men. They strike me as suspicious and likely to have an agenda of their own that could throw us off the track of where we need to go. Besides, we're doing just fine performing that task ourselves.
He contemplates for a moment. I wonder if any of the factions may have a guide that might be a bit more familiar to assist us to lead us in the appropriate general direction. Here alone, we are but babes recently burst from a womb and naked to ideals to differentiate from what is beneficial and malevolent. If you ask me, I am not one to blindly place my hands on a hot stove time and time again with the promise that there's nothing to fear. To those that suggests otherwise, I have nothing but contempt for them. They should paid mind to not cross me when I'm crossed. Woe unto that mortal that does.
"Or a bar. Maybe hire a guide at a bar. All hero stories start at bars."
"Bars can be fun, but I don't know what good that's going to do us. Then again, I'm not clear on what we're doing either. Something about a device," she shrugged. "But we should probably come up with a strategy before Vassago comes completely unhinged. He's talking even crazier than me." ;P
"This 'Fortress of Disciplined Enlightenment' sounds dangerous, but might have the information we need. It seems promising."
"Sounds much like a monastery. Hope they don't make us wash rice bowls all day. Let's go!"
Vassago quickly considers the available options and despite some hesitation, he feels resigned to follow along.
I concede with the priest. To the fortress, we proceed.
...besides, if it instills some discipline into those haps' thought process, I'd consider it enlightenment achieved ... and a deity accounting for success to a prayer answered... he thought to himself with a small smile slipping past his stoic facade.
"Sounds much like a monastery. Hope they don't make us wash rice bowls all day. Let's go!"
You notice that it seems to be getting darker sooner than it's supposed to. You quickly make your way to the portal, activate it, and go through.
You exit the portal just outside a wall through a solid archway. (It's a solid wall with a decorative arch inscribed on it. You can see that you are standing on a giant ... well, cog like you might see in machinery or clocks. You look up and there is darkness above. You look out and you see many more cogs -- some of which have buildings and beings on them, many that don't. Some of the inhabited cogs are actually vertical in orientation -- at least from your point of view -- yet nothing seems to be falling off of them. Looking down, you see more cogs and eventually more darkness. There is no sun, moon, or stars. The cogs themselves seem to be fairly well lit but you can't really tell where the light is coming from.
After you get your bearings, you find the entrance to the Fortress. The strangest beings that you find -- pretty much all over the place are what appear to be little mechanical creatures. The majority of these (and there are a lot of them) look like this. There are also some that look like this and this and every so often you will see one of these. The vast majority of other creatures here, at least right here, are humans with an occasional dwarf or other minor being. The people here are generally helpful and honest -- almost to a fault. The city here is divided into 9 sections. One of these sections is devoted to the library.
Pinna -- you feel at home here. You can't explain it, but somehow all this stuff kind of makes sense. You are at +1 on all Wisdom checks, +1 on all Will saves, and +1 on all Wis, Cha, & Int skill checks.
E. & Elysia -- You really feel uncomfortable here. Nothing seems to make sense to you. How things are laid out. The whole place just kind of feels ... off. You are at -2 on all Will saves. You are at -2 on all Wisdom & Charisma checks. You are at -4 on all Wis, Int, & Cha skill checks.
Lanwin -- Things don't seem quite as right here as you feel they ought to be. You are at -1 on all Will saves. You are at -2 on all Wisdom checks. You are at -2 on all Wis, Int, & Cha skill checks.
Vortic & Vassago -- While you have slightly different issues with this place (Vassago has issues with how regimented the place and people are structured while Vortic has issues with what he sees is a lack of caring), the effect is still the same. You are at -1 on Wis, Int, & Cha skill checks.
These effects will stay in effect for as long as you are on this plane.
While making your way to the library, you can't help but notice that there seems to be a high amount of ... anxiety (?) ... in the air. And then you overhear something and look around to make sure -- the cogs have stopped.
At the entrance to the library you are stopped by a clerk (flanked by a couple of guards). She asks you what your business is in the Library at the Fortress of Disciplined Enlightenment...
Vassago takes the time to absorb what is surely an alien landscape to him. Gears upon gears interlaced with each other in regimented working fashion. Despite the discipline required to construct such monoliths to operate in clockwork fashion, he could not help but notice the lack of self-inspiration to deviate from what appears to be the norm. If I had a wrench, I could loosen things up around here... he surmised.
Then the cogs stopped. How queer. Melek, are you invading my thoughts? I'd like a flask of Quinlan's ale right about now. He hesitates. Guess not. Blast. He then decides it is not in his best interest to speak just yet. Stay reactionary. And watch each step. I'm not geared for this terrain.
"This place... it smells like a gnomish clockshop run by a blue dragon." Vortic says, "Not what I envisioned."
Elysia darts here and there around the group as is her wont, trying to see everything at once. But she stays a little closer than usual. It didn't feel very welcoming here.
"No," she said absently in response to Vortic's question, "Tick and Tock smells much better than this. Well, it's run by a half-blue dragon though, so maybe you're right. But it's definitely got a more interesting layout. This place has too much sameness. Every bit I explore is just exactly like the bit before. How dull," she sighed, disappointed. She perked up a bit when things stopped moving. It was at least something different...
Pinna looks around, pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the place is, then bows to the clerk. "Greetings, librarian. Need information on a device created on Mechanus. No longer here, we think, but built here somewhere. It is a big, twenty-sided thing that can change things about planes. Like alignment. Must find it, fast!"
Pinna looks around, pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the place is, then bows to the clerk. "Greetings, librarian. Need information on a device created on Mechanus. No longer here, we think, but built here somewhere. It is a big, twenty-sided thing that can change things about planes. Like alignment. Must find it, fast!"
Almost absentmindedly she replies...
"Very good. You do then have form 367-8B? The petition for research and learning of new devices?"
"I'm afraid we've only just arrived, and don't know the protocols. Our matter is very urgent. What must we do?" Lanwin asks. Lawfuls. This is why I have no patience for them, but you can't argue with them. It's like arguing with a fencepost.
"Err... you have one we can fill out? We, uh, missed the forms desk." She clacks her beak thoughtfully. "Wait. Is not new device. Is already built. Somebody already researched it. Can we look at the forms for already-done research?"
"I'm afraid we've only just arrived, and don't know the protocols. Our matter is very urgent. What must we do?" Lanwin asks, guessing that argument would be futile on a plane of absolute Law.
She sighs heavily and directs you to the office of licensing.
As you head off in that direction...
Vortic –
Lanwin –
Elysia –
E. –
Pinna –
Vassago –
Most of you notice (not E. or Elysia...) that you are being followed by a metallic box on legs. He/She/It is trying to make it look like it is taking care of things in the street or on buildings and so on.
"Err... you have one we can fill out? We, uh, missed the forms desk." She clacks her beak thoughtfully. "Wait. Is not new device. Is already built. Somebody already researched it. Can we look at the forms for already-done research?"
"Yes, that is the form. There is a separate form if you wish to build a new device. Is that what you wish to do? That would be form 398-42F."
"Yes, that is the form. There is a separate form if you wish to build a new device. Is that what you wish to do? That would be form 398-42F."
"No, no. Just want to see forms for devices already built." Pinna begins to wonder if perhaps too much law is not a good thing.
"Yes, that is the form. There is a separate form if you wish to build a new device. Is that what you wish to do? That would be form 398-42F.""No, no. Just want to see forms for devices already built." Pinna begins to wonder if perhaps too much law is not a good thing.
Form 367-8B. Good luck. Hope to see you back soon.
Pinna mutters to the others sotto voce "Is the blue-corner box following us?"
Pinna mutters to the others sotto voce "Is the blue-corner box following us?"
It actually doesn't appear to be trying to hide from you. Like it wants you to notice it but it doesn't want others to notice it wanting you to notice it. (Did that make any sense at all?)
Pinna mutters to the others sotto voce "Is the blue-corner box following us?"
1d20 + 12 + 1
It actually doesn't appear to be trying to hide from you. Like it wants you to notice it but it doesn't want others to notice it wanting you to notice it. (Did that make any sense at all?)
Vortic keeps his eyes peeled for anyone looking for the trash can, assuming he makes his sense motive.