"It feels as if the power of the Numenera is going to burst ... there's just an extreme tension ..."
Callidus examines the material to see if the Monoblade could cut it .
Nasir looks at the surrounding area, lacking any other idea than to take advantage of the view.
"Well. Balon, Callidus: how do you feel near this thing?"
From your vantage point you see 5 people walking down the far hill towards the structure (3 men and 2 women). The group are all wearing robes of a pale yellow color. All five carry bags with them. They stop abruptly when they notice you gathered around (and on) the structure.
"It feels as if the power of the Numenera is going to burst ... there's just an extreme tension ..."
Callidus examines the material to see if the Monoblade could cut it . [dice=Understand Numenera Trained]1d20
You are almost positive that the Moonblade wouldn't even scratch the surface of the structure.
The tension in the Numenera does not seem to emanate from the structure, it feels like the source is found still further into the mountains to the west.
Intellect check to recognize the order that clothes their members in pale yellow?
In any case, Balon will wave to them in a friendly way.
Amadeus will move his shield onto his arm and put his hand to his sword, clearly suspicious.
do you know what this thing is?
Amadeus will move his shield onto his arm and put his hand to his sword, clearly suspicious.
do you know what this thing is?
The oldest person in the approaching group yells up at Nasir, "Get down from the Narthrex before you hurt yourself. In fact I need all of you to move away from the Nathrex. It doesn't belong to you and you shouldn't be here. You are going to interfere with our ceremony unless you move away from it." You can tell that this man is used to having his instructions obeyed.
They ignore Balon's friendly wave. Unfortunately, he is unfamiliar with any of the various orders that wear yellow robes.
Amadeus will move his shield onto his arm and put his hand to his sword, clearly suspicious.
do you know what this thing is?
"Boy, of course we know what this is...it is our home and you are trespassing. Please remove yourself from the vicinity of the structure. Our time is nearly up."
Callidus spreads his arms to either side showing he is not threatening or wielding weapons, and steps away from the ... Narthrex. He is however eager to see what these wags are up to.
Galahad also moves back from the Narthrex, observing with intent to learn what it is.
Ditto.
Amadeus bristles slightly at being referred to as "boy" but relaxes and moves closer to Balon and Callidus, whispering to both of them.
Can you tell if that's what's making the numenera go all crazy-like?
Nasir crosses his arms and remains on top of the structure.
"I'll move when I'm ready. Not our fault you didn't put signs up, Gramps. Tell me what this ceremony's about and I'll get off your precious box."
"And I BELIEVE my friend tried to wish you a good morning. Didn't your parenting unit teach you manners?"
Balon cocks an eyebrow at Nasir's spicy attitude, a grin tugging his lips. He remains quiet, but whispers back to Amadeus "I'm not sure...but now I'm curious."
"This is our home, we simply went to the village over the hill to buy food," the man says as he opens the bag to show you root vegetables and bread. "Why in the world would we need to put signs on our home? As far as ceremony, it is a purification ritual that we do to honor our god before entering our home. You can watch if you want we just want you to give us some space to do it."
"To prevent trespassing. Then we'd know not to climb on your house and try to learn something from the experience. That's all."
Nasir climbs down from the structure.
Climbing (specialized):
I am too. People living in a box with a name that nobody's heard of? Warrants a closer look.
Once Nasir clambers down from the top of the Narthex and moves to join the rest of his party, the 5 cultists in the yellow robes move to within a few feet of the structure and place their burdens on the ground. They all kneel and genuflect towards the structure 3 times before rising and bowing in unison. Then 4 of them form a semi-circle around the speaker of the group as he faces the wall of the Narthex. He pulls a device that looks like a small tree from an inner pocket of his robe and presses it against the structure. A previously hidden door slides open in the side of the building and the cultists quickly grab their bags and hurry inside just before the door closes again.
"Hmm. odd."
"Hmph. He said there's a village that way; why not ask there?"
" ... I'm kinda curious what happen's next. Does it just sit here, in which case why haven't we heard of these things? Does it fly away ... in which case why haven't we heard of these things? Or did it rise up from the drit itself?", Callidus rubs his hands over the structure where the door was, looking for seems.
To Balon, "I'm also thinking that they must have some nice treasures in there ..."
I think the first thing we need to sort out is how exactly this thing is affecting the surrounding environment. It seems to be a new arrival, and I wonder if this is what's causing the disturbance. If Callidus and Balon can't figure out how it works, maybe someone in the village can. If nothing else, they've more of a history with these people than we have.
"What I am feeling ... the tension in the Numenera does not seem to emanate from this structure, it feels like it's coming from further into the mountains to the west. Balon, you agree?"
" ... I'm kinda curious what happen's next. Does it just sit here, in which case why haven't we heard of these things? Does it fly away ... in which case why haven't we heard of these things? Or did it rise up from the drit itself?", Callidus rubs his hands over the structure where the door was, looking for seems.
To Balon, "I'm also thinking that they must have some nice treasures in there ..."
Even as you stand there and discuss the mysterious Narthrex it is engulfed in a shimmering light...then with a POP...disappears! All that is left behind is the impression in the ground where the building sat as well as a single bag that had been forgotten by one of the cultists in their hurry to get inside the building.
" .... well of course, just as I expected.", Callidus says sarcastically.
He walks over to the bag and looks inside.
Inside the burlap bag you find a pile of root vegetables and a small leather bag. Inside the leather bag you find a few small tools, a writing pen and a small notebook.
This notebook is filled with maps, and one near the end is a map of this general area, with this precise spot marked, and time and dates that conform to about three days ago and the precise moment the Narthex disappears. It then shows a map of a completely different unrecongnizable area of the world with some dates and times that shows the Narthex will be moving around in places unreachable by you for about ten days. The map that shows this area, however, also has a spot marked that is about four days’ journey away, on the other side of (and well beyond) a village named Jutte. The date and time for appearance is about ten days away, and the area is a hilly bit of wilderness miles from any settlement.
All the excitement of the last couple of days had caused Callidus to forget why he was on the Wandering in the first place. To get away. This thing, this Narthex, was the perfect escape. "Oh my God's ... guys, if we could gain control of the Narthex we could journey to parts of the world none of us have even heard of. It looks like ... ", he references the map, trying to understand, "... it looks like it will reappear not far from here in about ten days.", Callidus looks up, smiling, "I say when it leaves again, we're all in the thing."
That does sound intriguing but in the meantime I think we ought to focus on what's going on out here with the local wildlife and such. We did say we'd look into it.
"Do we even know how to get in? I'm not sure how they prayed or where we will get the little token thing."
"I do believe the arrogant bastard had a little token thing ... that's where I plan to get one. But yes, the Narthex will appear a few days travel from here in 10 days. That gives us just a few days to finish what we started ... let's get moving!"
Balon nods at Amadeus' suggestion and makes a dismissive gesture toward the yellow-robed tarts, ready to move on toward their original goal.
"I'm not so sure i want to just go 'anywhere' with no plan. What if there is no food or there are no cities?"
Moving west away from the mystery of the Narthrex the group resumes its original mission. By occasionally splitting apart by a few miles, Balon and Callidus are able to use the increasing pressure in the Numenera to triangulate their goal.
After a full a day of travel further into the mountains, you find what should be a simple town. The majority of the buildings in the center of town are made of stone and steel, with a dark green cement mixture between the blocks. On the outskirts, homes are mostly carved out of the mountain edges, often revealing the dark green interior of the landscape.
However, the town (Embered Peaks) seems to be in some kind of upheaval, nearly pushed to the brink of insanity. Signs of destruction and violence—broken windows, recent fires, people with bandages—are everywhere. The merchants, cavot farmers, and pilgrims are too scared to talk to the PCs or to one another. They look at the PCs (and at many of their fellow residents) with obvious mistrust. Groups of people gather in small clumps, whispering among themselves and preparing for the next outbreak of violence.
Heh, I remember hearing about this place. They called it Inbred Peaks. Distasteful humor, of course. Balon's grinning as he speaks to Callidus mentally.
His attempt at making himself ignore the grim surroundings doesn't hold up for long, though, and he looks around uneasily at the townsfolk. "Not exactly a friendly-looking bunch," he mutters to his comrades, under his breath.
As you walk into to the village, the villagers stop what they are doing and give you all cold stares.
Do the people here look to be augmented like Callidus or Balon?
Notice:
Balon takes out his small mirrored cube and begins idly playing with it as he looks around from unfriendly face to unfriendly face.
Do the people here look to be augmented like Callidus or Balon?
Notice: 1d20
They look frazzled and stressed and maybe slightly crazy but no obvious enhancements.
From somewhere a large glob of what you hope is mud bounces off of Amadeus' armor.
Everyone please make a Will test (use intelligence) as the oppressive spirit of the place begins to bear down on you all.
Will test:
"That's going to escalate to more than just mud. We either need to calm these people down or make a run for it."
Trained in resisting mind affecting effects.
You are assaulted by overwhelming feelings of fear and anger and helplessness. Callidus takes the brunt of the assault being literally driven to his knees by the horrible feelings. Luckily after a minute or two, the force of the emotions wanes a bit allowing you to recover your bearings. Even now though the feelings ply at your emotions.
The townspeople seem to have been affected by the exact same thing as evidenced by several of them laying unconscious around you. The others move sluggishly and are often bleeding from their ears and noses.
"Gah, Callidus, what's going on?"
(I think Callidus would be considered trained in this.)
I'm not hacking, guys, I swear. :)
[dice=Also trained in numenera]1d20
I'm not hacking, guys, I swear. :)
The pressure building in the Numenera that you have been feeling the last few days has now increased dramatically. You can tell that you are close to the source, almost on top of it as a matter of fact. You also realize that it feels related to the powers of the Beale that you had felt in the girl but in strength it is like the difference between a candle and the sun. If the dam holding that pressure back bursts you doubt that anyone within a hundred miles will be spared.
Balon's eyes widen in shock at the sudden realization of the power source. Trying to appear calm, he casts about himself, looking for a likely origin point. Mentally, he communicates what he learns with Callidus. You can even tell them you came up with it yourself, friend, the voice in his comrade's head says, in an attempt at humor. I won't tell.
I don't know if Perception falls under speed or intellect in Numenera, but for whatever it is, I'll expend Effort.