Balon notes the rising hostility that Theybis is inadvertently causing, and decides to make an effort to defuse the situation. Striding forward, he adopts a conciliatory, friendly demeanor.
"Theybis, I understand your desire to expand your knowledge of the numenera. I feel the same academic urge. Our group is rightfully mistrustful of those who know more than they let on, but I'm willing to learn more. Tell us of this religious order, the Hozai - but the hasty version of their tenets and goals, please, we're on a schedule here. And...no more hiding the truth..." he smiles warmly, but with the hint of a threat in his tone. "we'll know."
[dice=Trained in social interaction, effort]1d20
Theybis visibly calms down as he listens to Balon's soothing voice. Almost as if under a spell he nods and repeats "no more hiding the truth, no more hiding the truth..." He smiles at Balon as he continues "The Hozai believe that power comes to those that take it, that the strongest are the best to rule and that Nerr is the source of our truth."
Balon narrows his eyes. "Nerr's some...sort of prophet, then? Your leader?"
Balon narrows his eyes. "Nerr's some...sort of prophet, then? Your leader?"
"He's our leader as he should be as he is the wisest among us. Nerr's father led before him and his father before him."
"Right, I see," Balon comments, keeping his expression carefully neutral. This guy's bonkers, and these Hozai sound dangerous as hell. I'll send him away with a false promise, then we'll figure out what to do after we check out the pit. he sends mentally to Callidus.
When he turns back to Theybis, he's smiling a broad, false smile. "Well, you make a compelling argument, my friend," he says, clapping the psycho on the shoulder. "We'll be sure to consider sharing our Numeneric findings with you and the rest of the Hozai. Wish us luck in the pit!"
Galahad stands idly nearby, glad he wasnt shaking hands with some guy's spit.
"Maybe you'd like to come see for yourself ..." smirks Callidus, then to Balon, "He may make an excellent canary."
"Maybe you'd like to come see for yourself ..." smirks Callidus, then to Balon, "He may make an excellent canary."
"Oh no, no, no....no thanks!" Theybis says as he backs away from Callidus.
Leaving Theybis behind, the group slowly descends into the Pit. There is a smell of ozone in the air as you descend. Whatever is at the bottom of the pit is almost completely hidden by orange mists. The mists twist and turn about on themselves almost as if it is a living creature. You hear a buzzing, popping sound as you get closer to the bottom. Suddenly, as if a gust of wind had taken them, the mists spiral up and away from the bottom of the pit. With the mists out of the way you can see a visible section of an ancient structure. It is curved and appears to be made of various metals and synth, joined with knobs, smooth seams, and elements that resemble hinges. Most of it feels smooth, and some parts appear more malleable (yet too strong to break or tear easily). Other sections—most of which are circles about 6 inches (15 cm) wide—seem to be made of tightly woven mesh. The material vibrates with a slight, constant shudder and is warm to the touch.
The visible section of the structure is about 500 feet (152 m) long and at least 200 feet (61 m) wide.
This aboveground section seems to be just a portion of the structure. The recent earth movements appear to have opened the structure in a number of places. Most of these openings are small—a few inches to less than a foot in width—but one seems almost large enough for you to fit through.
Nasir looks over the drit for signs of passage and the technodrome for potential threats.
Tracking (trained):
Perception (trained):
Nasir again demonstrates his amazing tracking skills. He crawls around on the drit, looks at impressions and eats a bit of the drit. After doing so he feels confident in the following:
Two days ago a group of 6 entered the structure. Later that same day the 6 came out. Even later the same day a single adult female entered the structure but she has not come back out. Earlier today the same 6 as before entered the structure. They have not come out. None of the people who left prints at Yokam's house have left prints in the pit. All of the tracks enter and leave the structure at a common point (the largest rent in the side).
Nasir also takes a look at the largest hole and believes that it can be further widened but will slowly return to its current size.
"Six and the woman. More of the Hozai, I'd bet. Let's get going then."
Nasir makes for the opening in the side of the dome.
Allow me.
Amadeus leaps down to the entrance and scurries inside, prying it open for the others to get through.
Galahad follows Amadeus.
While Nasir eats his drit, Callidus inspects the strange materials ...
Allow me.
Amadeus leaps down to the entrance and scurries inside, prying it open for the others to get through.
Please roll a strength skill check...
While Nasir eats his drit, Callidus inspects the strange materials ...
[Dice=Understand Function of Numenera, Trained]1d20
You stumble back from the structure as you feel a powerful sense of otherworldliness emanating from the structure. It almost certainly is far, far older than the 9th world.
"Woah ... it's old ... I mean very old ... maybe not even from this world."
[dice=Might]1d20
You strain against the opening but are unable to widen it enough to allow you entry into the structure.
Nasir spits out a mouthful of gravel.
"Want help with that?"
Galahad will attempt to assist, hoping to provide leverage despite lacking the big muscles of Amadeus.
Nasir spits out a mouthful of gravel.
"Want help with that?"
Galahad will attempt to assist, hoping to provide leverage despite lacking the big muscles of Amadeus.
1d20
Unfortunately for Galahad, he picks the worst spot for a handhold and manages to gash his hand.
[Dice=Assist]1d20
Callidus shoulders his way past the bleeding Galahad and finding a better handhold manages to pull the rent in the side of the structure open a few more inches. One more good pull should pry it open enough to allow entry.
Nasir tugs the opening.
Might!:
Nasir tugs the opening.
Might!: 1d20
With a mighty pull, Nasir rips open the rent in the structure allowing plenty of room for everyone to be able to enter. In addition, he notices a small money bag that seems to have snagged on the frame of the structure (contains 50 Shin).
The Beyonder bounces the money bag off of his palm, a smile on his face.
"The spirits smile on us today, I think. After you, Mighty Knight."
Of course. He does it.
You know I loosened it for you, right?
Completely lacking any more self-respect, Amadeus enters the structure.
Of course. He does it.
You know I loosened it for you, right?
Completely lacking any more self-respect, Amadeus enters the structure.
As Amadeus enter the structure the first thing he notices is the smell. The smell that rises from the widened hole is one of chemicals and rot, an underlying odor that is there and then gone. The hole appears to lead into a corridor about 6 feet (1.8 m) wide. The walls and ceiling are made of overlaid strips of synth, and the floor consists of a translucent material that bows lightly as you step on it. The area below the floor is a shadowy expanse, broken occasionally by blinks and streams of glowing colors.
The corridor disappears into a gloom about a 100 feet from the opening.
"How's it look in there?" Balon calls.
Assuming Amadeus doesn't see any threats inside, I'll follow him.
Onwaarrrrd!
Can't see much, but it's positively rank. The hound may want to sit this one out, I think his canine nose will be his undoing.
"No stench can keep me from my target, especially when fortune has already smiled upon our hunt. Besides, who will open the door for you on the way out if not I?"
As you move forward the light from the opening fades rapidly.
As you continue down the tunnel occasional sections of the floor sink deeply when stepped on or are torn open. About 100 feet along, the tunnel stops abruptly and opens into a larger room that seems to be a mezzanine. Built of the same material as the tunnel, this room has a low ceiling with large squares of fabric hanging down from it. At the farthest end of the room, the wall is made of crisscrossed strips of metal that form squares about 6 inches by 6 inches (15 cm by 15 cm). On the other side of this wide grating or grid, the structure opens farther in all directions; it’s impossible to see anything but blackness and occasional moving lights.
Nasir takes a look at the floor and the walls, trying to find signs of passage.
Tracking, trained:
Perception, trained:
Balon approaches the grid blocking our progress thoughtfully, arms crossed over his chest. When he gets near enough, he'll Scan it to see if any invisible numenera is at work here.
Nasir takes a look at the floor and the walls, trying to find signs of passage.
Tracking, trained: 1d20
Perception, trained: 1d20
Unfortunately the odd material that the floor is constructed of make it impossible to tell if your quarry has come this way.
However, you are able to tell that something has happened in this room fairly recently. You find widely spaced blood spatters as well as a broken sword. Some of the blood seems to actually lead up the fabric hanging from the ceiling.
Balon approaches the grid blocking our progress thoughtfully, arms crossed over his chest. When he gets near enough, he'll Scan it to see if any invisible numenera is at work here.
Your sight is almost blinded by the sheer density of the Numenera that's at work. It swirls in angry blue arcs around the grid but also pools in radiant ruby clusters at various spots along the other walls and finally drips in a sickish yellow from the hanging fabrics.
Nasir strings his bow.
"Not every day blood flows upward."
Balon takes a hasty step back as the results of his Scan startle him. "Oh my..." he murmurs, raising his hand to shield his eyes slightly, before glancing about him. "Good lord..."
"Maybe that blood was flowing down when it happened ... maybe this room is unstable, or moves?"
"Numenera is at work here, friends," Balon states loudly. "Be on your guard."
[dice=Trained]1d20
Balon takes a hasty step back as the results of his Scan startle him. "Oh my..." he murmurs, raising his hand to shield his eyes slightly, before glancing about him. "Good lord..."
You notice that you can see multiple sources of the sickly yellow moving around on top of the hanging fabrics. Their numbers are hard to count because the yellow blobs are moving quickly and sometimes seem to meld together and sometime split apart.