Lyra loved having Arlo work with her. He always said he was no good with tech but with massively resilient simple smithing he knew his stuff, and this Walker needed tp be as simple and tough as they could make it. With shifting planes and radiation, it Dwarven plat and lots of it bashed into place and riveted. Any high-tech going out there would make. This was steam power and pumps, pneumatics pipes The tech for this thing had to be as simple as they could make it and robust. multiple backup systems.
Well, do we want to pick up this T'Chanat guy? Terexaltherin asks the others. We've got a few opportunities, but if we don't take them soon we'll probably lose them. On the other hand, if we go for it and he's associated with the Dark Traders they may figure out we're here if they don't know already.
Azzim whistled when he saw what Lyra and Arlo had been up to, "That's really quite something, I feel a little out of my depth with such marvells of technology. I'd love to see a demonstration of what it can do!"
He'd been away for the best part of a week, after quietly researching who ran the various farms and plantations. He made contact with some of the underdog groups, ones who seemed like honest hard working folk, offering mystical aid to improve crop yields by as much as a third for the following year, as well as offering the services of summoned elder earth elementals to churn and aerate soil and shift is about as suited the various farmers.
The former task was done courtesy of a ring of spell knowledge he'd bought from a Sigil pawn shop, into which he'd persuaded one of the Organization's druids to cast a Plant Growth spell. Using the ring Azzim was able to cast it himself, and over the week he'd cast the Enrichment variant dozens of times affecting may hectares of farmland. No doubt the harvest would be doozy this time around.
All this gave him an excuse to travel widely, and to meet and listen to lots of different folk. Along the way he kept his ears open for any interesting rumours, and he also checked the local environment for signs of the sickness. His idea being to try and map the damage, to see if that revealed any secrets.
He also thought about what would be involved in constructing an enchanted Geiger Counter, it seemed like that would be interesting.
We might be able to get some information out of T'Chanat about where these crystals are coming from, Terexaltherin adds to his previous thought. That or we could try to find some of the people who've been out there and ask them about it. Though with the whole sickness thing it'll be hard to get anything coherent. For that matter T'Chanat might not have anything useful in terms of information on the wastelands since he'd have the same sources... but I still think it'd be good to get him out of the picture in case he's a Dark Trader agent. Or even just if he's preying on the weak and desperate.
The time they've spent on the plane has given the little dragon some time to continue his investigations in his library... but with so much going on and so much to look up, it hasn't been a lot of time. Still, he's quite certain by now that his library is somehow responding to his needs, making it easier to find information that he's looking for whether in books or digitally. Somehow it always does it when he's not looking so he can't catch the exact mechanics, and if he's not looking for something in particular the shelves are just as he's organized them, but he's starting to get comfortable enough with the convenience that he's starting to rely on it.
He's also continued to practice with his magic when he can. With so much else going on Terexaltherin hasn't been able to give it the focus he wants, but he does feel he's making a bit of progress.
Riding her robot, Lyra and others are able to make prelimenary trip into the decimated zone. The architecture mixes soulless boxy buildings of mid-tech planes with the occasional whimsical fey-inspired construction. Using Azzim's Geiger Counter, you can determine that the magic-radiation is light enough that it wouldn't be dangerous for a day or two but even here, a week of exposure would start to debilitate someone.
Azzim is able to piece together T'Chanat's approach. He apparently finds desperate adventurers - in the back-alleys of the dock area or at Fly-spec Market (rotating area where petty thieves sell their wears). He gives them an iridescent statue of a starling that guides them quite a ways into the decimated zone. Once they return, with the crystals (and often dying), he will reappear suddenly in the night and trade the crystal for about 4-6000 gold pieces, enough to raise up a family to a high station and then vanish into one of the ancient tunnels of the city. The journey to find the crystals is said to take 1-2 weeks. Naturally many take the starlings but don't return. But if they stay in the city, it is said T'Chanat will find them and take a terrible vengeance.
Azzim explained T'Chanat's MO to the others based on what he'd heard. Afterwards he said, "I find T'Chanat's methods unsavory. Like Terex though he's praying on the desperate, getting them to do something he wouldn't himself. I think we need to have a little chat with him. Probably the easiest way is to wait for some poor soul to crawl back from the decimated zone and either act as middlemen buying it off them to resell or discreetly follow him into the tunnels after he's made a transaction."
With a shrug he added, "Or there's the hard way where we play the part of desperados and go get some crystals ourselves. This has the advantage of not drawing poor adventurers into a scheme that might inadvertently get them killed. It has the disadvantage of significant danger to ourselves. Regardless I'd like to find somebody who has signs of the sickness to see if magic can help - does a full on heal spell can restore some of the damage?"
Hmmmm... well, we could act like we're desperate to get a 'starling'... but myself, I'd say we should stake out a spot he frequents and ambush him. I don't want him continuing his 'business' any longer, Terexaltherin broadcasts to the group, quiet fury in his telepathic tone.
Terex, Azzim and the rest stake the fly-spec market. On iteration, it's held just before dawn in The Plaza of the Statues. Various petty thieves showcase their wares and their skills to various middlemen. It's 200' x 100' normally unused courtyard.
Towards the end, as you watch, a heavily cloaked figure approaches one of the less-successful sellers, a heavily tattooed, 30-ish human, and gestures to meet him around the corner. You follow to see bargaining happening, with three further figures watching the cloaked figure as he clearly attempting to persuade the unsuccessful seller of something...
Hmmmm... well, we could act like we're desperate to get a 'starling'... but myself, I'd say we should stake out a spot he frequents and ambush him. I don't want him continuing his 'business' any longer, Terexaltherin broadcasts to the group, quiet fury in his telepathic tone.
I'd be up for that, Arlo smirks behind his radiation helm.
Azzim nodded, "OK let's capture him. I think we should assume he's very capable until proven otherwise. I'm hoping we can use magic to initially capture him, perhaps hold monster or chains of light. The idea is to buy Arlo or Lyra enough time to tie him up. Then I think we should move within the aura of the anti-magic sphere for questioning..."
He looked to the others, "Am I overthinking things, or does this seem like the beginning of a plan?"
No, that sounds good to me, Terexaltherin responds to Azzim. If he's a Dark Trader he'll be very dangerous, so a lot of preparation makes sense. Let's see, what could I prepare for it...
Terex, Arlo and Azzim are on a wall overlooking the fly-spec market
Arlo attempts to get closer without being seen.
Arlo maneuvers to directly above the hooded figure you're guessing is T'Chanat.
Terexaltherin positions himself on a rooftop where he can see the whole area. When you're all ready, I'll try to stun T'Chanat, he 'says' to the others.
Over the telepathic link, Azzim murmured ::Ready::
Flying under cover of invisibility he approached silently from above and prepared to make a strange gesture that would tug on the strands of fate, meanwhile Laurana prepared to cast a spell that would give the party jolt of energy just in case things do not quite go to plan.
.
Terexaltherin positions himself on a rooftop where he can see the whole area. When you're all ready, I'll try to stun T'Chanat, he 'says' to the others.
Over the telepathic link, Azzim murmured ::Ready::
Flying under cover of invisibility he approached silently from above and prepared to make a strange gesture that would tug on the strands of fate, meanwhile Laurana prepared to cast a spell that would give the party jolt of energy just in case things do not quite go to plan.
.
Good thinking, lads Arlo sends into the hivemind. Ready!
The dwarf paladin jumps down to T'Chanat, bringing down the handle of The Arlosword on his head or shoulders, in case the other plans fail.
As soon as Arlo makes his move, Terexaltherin slams their target with all the mental force he can muster.
Arlo leaps down at the hooded figure but at the last minute catches his foot on the stone wall and goes spralling - but apparently, Terex' stun effect works as the figure is disoriented and unresponsive. However, the two figures watching immediately sprint away in different directions (one North, one South )
Arlo picks himself up before his faceplant and grunts. Looking down, the dwarf paladin picks up the unconscious hooded figure and looks up to the others. "Now what?"
We shouldn't risk these other guys getting away! I'll go for the south one! Terexaltherin telepathically 'shouts' to the team.
Flying along the edge of a roof, he follows the one running south and tries to paralyze him as well.
Azzim had previously cast overland flight and so was able to fly faster than most people could run as a result. He swooped down on the northern figure, and when he got close enough he whispered a spidery word over a short length of fine golden chain he'd bought from a jeweler's shop. Suddenly glowing golden chains snapped into existence threatening to ensnare the runner!
Meanwhile Laurana followed the figure that darted south, she was small, fast and hard to spot. They might think they were getting away, but they were wrong!
Arlo knocks the stunned figure unconscious and picks them up.
The body guard that went north winds up is caught in Azzim's chains of light while Terex stuns the figure that went into the market... even stunned, it's still a question how you will get them out of the market.
Okay, somebody go up to the one I stunned and pretend to be a friend who's going to take him somewhere to recover! Errr, maybe that will work... Terexaltherin 'says'.
Lyra looked up at the pincer arms, The Ant walker was doing well, just the last trip had been a hard one. They needed more shielding but it was at max carry now. She looked at the clock on the wall. And hope Arlo and the others where OK getting their mark. She would check on them later soon as she was done.
With a bit of improvisation, Terex, Arlo and Azzim are able to capture the three hooded figures. But as you them tie up and hustle them off, you get a sinking feeling - to go down this easily, these would have to be low level figures. And their interrogation bears this out. They are three down-and-out mercenaries who describe themselves being recruited by a mechanical raven who freely gave them gold for their services, with the three mercenaries alternating who claimed to be T'Chanat. You do have a "Starling map" now, however.
Well, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that the real mastermind doesn't risk going out on the streets, Terexaltherin notes disappointedly. We'll want to watch out for a retaliatory strike now. Anyway, I'll give this thing a look...
The little dragon takes the starling construct, gets out his tools, and starts examining it.
Well, I can give you the coordinates of where it's aimed at, and disable the return function, so if we want to take a look we can. But what are we going to do with these mercenaries?
Over the telepathic bond Azzim replied, ::I'm getting the feeling this T'Chanat, which surely must be a pseudonym is quite a big fish. Presumably they know somebody came knocking, so we'll need to be careful. As for the mercs, they're small fry. I'm tempted to take a lock of hair from each and cut em loose. That's so we can reliably scry on them occasionally on the off chance T'Chanat makes a mistake and contacts them again... In the meen time I think we should try a short excursion into the decimated area to check those coordinates out.::
So, the party sets out on the journey through the decimated area. The Starling map's destination is about 300-400 miles into the area.
Terexaltherin is very careful about exposing himself to the wilderness, making sure they scan things magically and technologically as they travel to keep watch for the kinds of 'radiation' they'd determined caused the strange sickness afflicting many who traveled into these blasted wastes. He's unhappy about how this means *not* flying around, instead sticking inside or close to their conveyance. While they travel, the little dragon tries to discern whatever he can about the ruins and what happened to them.
Azzim's natural inclination was to simply wind walk the entire way, that would likely have been faster but Lyra and Arlo had put a lot of effort into their contraption... Besides part of him thought it was kind of cool to travel this way.
As they went Azzim occasionally performed various magical scans of the area, assisting Terex and anyone else.
During the trip Azzim commented to the others, "If we discover a radioactive hot-spot, it might be worth using magic to scry the area - to see if we can spot anything unusual."
On your first day (of between eight and ten days you estimate the trip will take), wandering through the landscape of overgrown, ruined high rises, you are surprised to notice the less radiated areas are sparsely but regularly inhabited. You see the occasional humanoid figure scuttling about as well as evidence of miscellaneous materials gathered into heaps. You also notice signs of fairly large predators but see nothing moving. Both animals and humanoids seem to find in the large, moribund buildings you see on the path.
The Starlings' instructions seem to allow you to move through most areas of moderate radiation - if your Jerry-rigged instruments are to be believed. Also, studying the radiation more closely, you imagine that it could have effect similar to the aberration-producing energies you've experienced on other planes - especially the area of the Cucurai.
So, after day, you'll have to rest for a short time or longer since night possibly is when creatures seem most active.
Arlo starts the campfire. Then eats of his dwarven trail rations, and offers to take the first watch. Before bed, Lady Lyra double checks the dwarf's radiation suit for any leaks.
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Azzim sat down near the fire as he ate his food and said to Arlo, "I enjoy a good campfire as much as the next person, in fact I could probably try and conjure some marshmallows... But do you really want to spend the night out here?"
Azzim was fiddling with some focus items, a miniature ivory door, a piece of polished marble, and a silver spoon. He looked up at the others and said, "I could summon the mansion again."
Azzim first encountered marshmallows as street food in Sigil not far from one of the major portals to the elemental plane of fire. Unsurprisingly they were popular with the many travellers passing through that part of the city of doors.
Arlo furrows his brow at Azzim. "If it will work. Magic acts weird out here. Who knows how the radiation would affect it. Lyra? What do you think?"
That would probably be safest, but will our, uh, conveyance fit? Terexaltherin telepathically indicates Lyra's creation. We wouldn't want to leave it out unguarded, I think.
Oddly enough, Terexaltherin is terrible at survival tasks, but he does spend some more time in the evening taking readings, wondering if the magic or radiation levels fluctuate in a spot.
The sunset in the area is strange and wonderful - it begins orange, gold and brown like many dusty areas but as the sun descends deeper, you see strange multicolored lights and swirls that seems to be created merely by it's light.
Terex conducts his experiments and notices radiation levels fluctuating but only slowly in the area of the party's location and then you settle down to sleep and watches. The night is fairly quiet until approximate 2 am - then Terex and Lyra sense a general psionic probing of the area.
Terexaltherin bolts awake as he senses the psionic probing. We've got some kind of psionically awakened creature investigating us, he warns the rest of the group. Might be an awakened carnivorous animal of some kind, or something of the sort. I'll see if I can communicate, but it might not be reasaonable. I don't see it anywhere nearby, nor can I sense it with any of my other senses.
He cautiously reaches out with his mind, trying to connect with the psionic probe and open up communication, though he suspect the distance will keep him from accomplishing what he wants just yet.
Lady took a moment, on her hips where to large Pistols that shot large rounds. She pulled them.
"Well I am trying to work out how the radiation here affects things. It seems that evolution has taken a bit of a turn and this may be fore the dark."
So, it's a mild, moon-lit night and as Terex attempts contact, an enormous brown bear ambles into distant sight (250'). Moreover, given's party's preternatural senses, you notice a variety of subtle mutations - a proportionately larger head, paws that more capable of manipulating objects better and other physiological changes. The creature seems to communicate in images and emotion in it's psionics - it projects intense curiosity about the spider mech as it looks at you.
Arlo wakes up at the other's insistence, and immediately draws The Arlosword. "Go away, Bear", the dwarf whispers aloud. "No need to get attacked by getting too close."
It just seems to be curious so far, Terexaltherin 'says' to the rest of his group. It wants to know about the spider mech.
He sends a series of images back to the mutant bear. Lyra, hard at work building the mech. Lyra opening the mech's hatch to let the group in. The group inside the mech. The mech walking through the wilderness. He ends with an inquisitive sensation--is there more it wants to know?
The enormous bear approaches further, to about 100', not threateningly close and sends images of curiosity about each of the party members - it then, with a huge paw, reaches into what seems to be a hidden pouch and removes some items. With a modest flourish, it displays these; some canned, processed gourmet food, some old electronics (maybe communications devices), and a bit of archaic currency.
It seems like a pretty curious bear--he's asking about us, and... offering to trade? Terexaltherin informs the rest of the group.
He sends back some vague images of his group coming from vast other places to the city, and from there into these wastes. Focusing on himself, he sends images of flying in the forests of the world of his birth, followed by finding a city and eventually joining this group after traveling between worlds--he's very vague on the details, not even revealing that he's actually a dragon rather than a raven.
Then he projects curiosity about the bear itself. Has it always lived out here in the wilderness?