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If the official Market Guards are inclined to listen and aren't immediately hostile in their interactions, Xonti will answer Ashtab with, "Indeed it is concerning. I had been fortunate enough to witness the events that the Stranger had with this Puppeted youngling and can confirm that the youngling initiated a hostile act upon the Stranger which led to the youngling's detainment, may the Flow be ever-unfolding."Glancing back over in the direction of the old warehouse where Xonti saw the faint glowing inside, "I had also been fortunate enough to witness another odd occurrence prior to the encounter between the youngling and the Stranger; there were some mysterious glowing lights, faint, coming from inside an old warehouse not too far from here. It may be nothing of any consequence but given the presence of one Puppeteer in this marketplace, I felt it prudent to inform you of this development, Ah Kulel; I can show you where the warehouse is located at but I had not the chance to investigate it any further."
The investigator's eyes widen in response to Xonti's description of the warehouse.
"It is good, Citizen, that you have brought this information to the attention of the proper authorities. My attendant camalotz are currently preoccupied restraining the parasite's host, so I must await reinforcements to investigate. Do you have pressing business, Citizen, or can you tarry until a proper reconnaissance force can be assembled to potentially ferret out an invidious nest of these abominations?"
Nodding back to Ashtab, Xonti replies, "As is rational, I have no issues with tarrying about until the proper reconnaissance force is assembled to investigate the warehouse, Ah Kulel; if you deem it necessary, I can offer my own assistance in this concerning matter. I do possess some personal skills and abilities in the Psionic arts that may prove useful to this investigation."
Xonti will then loosen, and remove aside his cloak to drape it upon his arm wielding the resting ophid glaive so that his neck nape is openly bared, if it wasn't before. "I am known as Citizen Xonti Ensk, formerly of Lirasse, if you have need of my abilities."
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The investigator's eyes widen in response to Xonti's description of the warehouse.
"It is good, Citizen, that you have brought this information to the attention of the proper authorities. My attendant camalotz are currently preoccupied restraining the parasite's host, so I must await reinforcements to investigate. Do you have pressing business, Citizen, or can you tarry until a proper reconnaissance force can be assembled to potentially ferret out an invidious nest of these abominations?"
Nodding back to Ashtab, Xonti replies, "As is rational, I have no issues with tarrying about until the proper reconnaissance force is assembled to investigate the warehouse, Ah Kulel; if you deem it necessary, I can offer my own assistance in this concerning matter. I possess some personal skills and abilities in the Psionic arts that may prove useful to this investigation."
Xonti will then loosen, and remove aside his cloak to drape it upon his arm wielding the resting ophid glaive so that his neck nape is openly bared, if it wasn't before. "I am known as Citizen Xonti Ensk, formerly of Lirasse, if you have need of my abilities."
Ashtab's eyes once again widen at the mention of the preeminent northern city-state,
"Ah, a Citizen of our sister conurbation to the north, the Mother of Arbil -- Lirasse, the First Mistress of the forbidding Spearclaw Mountains. So, you have come a far distance upon the white road, the sakbe, which unites one city of the Protectorate with another -- and what, pray tell, has called you hither from the regency for Arbelle, Overseer of Lirasse, to the domain of Mosephi, my own Overseer."
Ashtab's eyes once again widen at the mention of the preeminent northern city-state,
"Ah, a Citizen of our sister conurbation to the north, the Mother of Arbil -- Lirasse, the First Mistress of the forbidding Spearclaw Mountains. So, you have come a far distance upon the white road, the sakbe, which unites one city of the Protectorate with another -- and what, pray tell, has called you hither from the regency for Arbelle, Overseer of Lirasse, to the domain of Mosephi, my own Overseer."
Giving a brief momentary pause before answering Ashtab, Xonti replies, "A further seeking of better opportunities- both personally and professionally, Ah Kulel.", with a respectful nod. "What I was unable to find during my service back in Lirasse, the patterns within the Flow have guided me here to Arbil, to your Overseer's domain, in search of those things."
Glancing over towards Tai Pao Leng's direction before looking back over to Ashtab, Xonti will add in thoughtfully with, "Far be it from me to give any unneeded advisory though, Ah Kulel, it has just occurred to me that if sufficient numbers would serve your purpose well, perhaps some solicitation upon others present or openly nearby to help render assistance to your reconnaissance force?"
Well, wasn't this a pretty sight, the problems and woe of the city condensed into a place and then persons? It was intriguing to see a hole in the city, going down, down, down below. How deep did it go? Was it just a prick in the worlds skin or did it dive down, into the voice, into the dark, to feed the things that lived below? Was the city one of there faces, a place to gather food and devour it? The thought sent a delicious tingle of fear down Transient's spine.
The duergar moved to the trapdoor where the people had fallen, and called down, "That seems awkward. Are you still alive?"
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"So there might be a nest of these things in the city?" Tai Leng asks, frowning.
"I'd be willing to help, sure. As long as the city is willing to put up some compensation for the danger, and make it official."
Well, wasn't this a pretty sight, the problems and woe of the city condensed into a place and then persons? It was intriguing to see a hole in the city, going down, down, down below. How deep did it go? Was it just a prick in the worlds skin or did it dive down, into the voice, into the dark, to feed the things that lived below? Was the city one of there faces, a place to gather food and devour it? The thought sent a delicious tingle of fear down Transient's spine.
The duergar moved to the trapdoor where the people had fallen, and called down, "That seems awkward. Are you still alive?"
Transient hears his voice echo down a very long chute...
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"So there might be a nest of these things in the city?" Tai Leng asks, frowning.
"I'd be willing to help, sure. As long as the city is willing to put up some compensation for the danger, and make it official."
Ashtab's reptilian nostrils flare wide as he issues a powerful snort of obvious disdain at the mercenary,
"And here I took you for a warrior, only to find a better street haggler!"
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Ashtab's eyes once again widen at the mention of the preeminent northern city-state,
"Ah, a Citizen of our sister conurbation to the north, the Mother of Arbil -- Lirasse, the First Mistress of the forbidding Spearclaw Mountains. So, you have come a far distance upon the white road, the sakbe, which unites one city of the Protectorate with another -- and what, pray tell, has called you hither from the regency for Arbelle, Overseer of Lirasse, to the domain of Mosephi, my own Overseer."
Giving a brief momentary pause before answering Ashtab, Xonti replies, "A further seeking of better opportunities- both personally and professionally, Ah Kulel.", with a respectful nod. "What I was unable to find during my service back in Lirasse, the patterns within the Flow have guided me here to Arbil, to your Overseer's domain, in search of those things."
Glancing over towards Tai Pao Leng's direction before looking back over to Ashtab, Xonti will add in thoughtfully with, "Far be it from me to give any unneeded advisory though, Ah Kulel, it has just occurred to me that if sufficient numbers would serve your purpose well, perhaps some solicitation upon others present or openly nearby to help render assistance to your reconnaissance force?"
Ashtab replies with considerably greater politeness to Xonti than Tai Pao Leng, a differentiation reflective of the former's species and psionic ability,
"That would prevent any delay which might be to the advantage of the suspected hive... yes Citizen, I do believe you have spoken rightly."
The investigator raises his palm in a sign of benediction. Xonti briefly glows with a warm aura, a visible sign of the administrator's blessing.
"You are hereby endowed Citizen Xonti Esk, in the discharge of this investigation. Gather what resources you think appropriate, and proceed with my own authority to uncover this nefarious enemy in our midst."
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"So there might be a nest of these things in the city?" Tai Leng asks, frowning.
"I'd be willing to help, sure. As long as the city is willing to put up some compensation for the danger, and make it official."
Ashtab's reptilian nostrils flare wide as he issues a powerful snort of obvious disdain at the mercenary,
"And here I took you for a warrior, only to find a better street haggler!"
Tai Leng shrugs.
"We all have to eat, and I need money for that. Somehow I doubt you work for free either."
Transient paused, listening to the wisdom of the echoes. They shimmered from other worlds, and you could catch a glimpse of what could be in how they changed. Everyone knew that. But they didn't say what was happening here.
The passage's echoes didn't speak. Perhaps it was a gullet, not a hole. Such things did not speak. Which was ironic. Stone spoke but gullets could not? Transient laughed at how silly that truth was.
Still giggling, Transient jumped down the whole. The hole? The maw into the earth. He allowed himself to be devoured.
Gigar and his companions find themselves in a large cavern which, based on the length of their transport through the chute, must be a story or more beneath the earth. On one side of the cavern, they can espy what appears to be some kind of viewing platform. A subdued light is emitted by the faint pulse of crystals set at regular intervals into the wall of the cavern. The floor is made of white sand stained with intermittent crimson helixes.
[dice=Reflex Save vs. DC 20]1d20 + 8
Krat fails to avoid the trap he has sprung and slides down the chute.
"Perhaps," Krat replies looking around. "Though I count discovering this space as worth something in the long run. I never would have guessed it was under the depot here, so learning this is most interesting."
When he hears Transient's giggling approaching down the chute Krat looks quickly to Eleven_Zee_Alpha and moves between her body and the opening where he expects someone to shortly appear.
Transient popped out of the shoot, chute, loot and into the new area with the thud of a heavily armoured warrior with a lot of mass hitting the end of a long chute. He looked around for a moment. "Well, this is much cosier than I thought it would be." The suzzling gullet of a world ending beast, that was the right place for a maw. This was very disappointing. "Are you all still fine? Yon friend seems to be a bit quiet." Transient nodded to Eleven_Zee_Alpha in moderate curiosity.
"Transient," Transient replied. Both his name and title, description and existence. "I saw you were in trouble. It looked like I could help." It looked like fun.
Glancing up the chute, he added, "And I don't think I can go back. I can try, if you like, but it seems silly now that I'm here." He paused, and added, "Control device?"
Ashtab replies with considerably greater politeness to Xonti than Tai Pao Leng, a differentiation reflective of the former's species and psionic ability,
"That would prevent any delay which might be to the advantage of the suspected hive... yes Citizen, I do believe you have spoken rightly."
The investigator raises his palm in a sign of benediction. Xonti briefly glows with a warm aura, a visible sign of the administrator's blessing.
"You are hereby endowed Citizen Xonti Esk, in the discharge of this...
Giving a polite nod of obeisance to Ashtab, Xonti replies to the Ophiduan Investigator Official with, "You are far too kind to this recent transplant from our Mother city to the north, Ah Kulel; I will strive to be worthy of your endowment and indulgence in this matter. May the patterns of the Flow reveal true to us all..."
Tai Leng shrugs.
"We all have to eat, and I need money for that. Somehow I doubt you work for free either."
Perhaps it was solidarity in a fellow human or something else, but Desi was motivated to be known after the exchange between the human and Ophiudan. She stepped up beside and just behind Tai Leng, hooking her thumbs in her belt to emphasize her calling.
"Effort has a better exchange value than a life. You get what you pay for."
It was not quite a challenge, but it was definitely a swagger in her step. She let the cocky smile stay as she tilted her head at the investigator. She could read the exchange, they were short on hands, and going to do what they had to, they would just make it easier for them to perhaps save face a little longer.
Giving a friendly nod to both Tai Leng and Desidera Tahn, Xonti adds, "Both of your contributions will be of import to this delicate matter; this I can sense from the patterns that are being made manifest as we speak."
Looking to the many among those gathered in the immediate vicinity, Xonti addresses aloud with, "Are there any among the Citizenry and Without gathered here who wishes to be our fourth amongst we three?", towards none in particular save for the already presently assembled. Will the Flow reveal yet another pattern to be unfolded?
"Transient," Transient replied. Both his name and title, description and existence. "I saw you were in trouble. It looked like I could help." It looked like fun.
Krat eyes the Duergar suspiciously, but when he claims to be here to help the "kobold" shrugs. "If you're here to help, then who am I to complain. We can get introductions out of the way later, but for now I'd like to figure out where we are, if it's safe and how to get out. Do you know anything about this place?"
"Underground," Transient replied with firm conviction. Pausing, he realized that this may not be as enlightening as the others might wish. "If it's worked by hands then there will be an exit. No one is mad enough to drop down a chute with no way to return." It had made perfect sense for Transient to do just that. "The platform yonder might shed some clues as well as some light." He eyed the crystals with interest.
Scanning the area, Transient began to move in that direction unless told not to.
"Underground," Transient replied with firm conviction. Pausing, he realized that this may not be as enlightening as the others might wish. "If it's worked by hands then there will be an exit. No one is mad enough to drop down a chute with no way to return." It had made perfect sense for Transient to do just that. "The platform yonder might shed some clues as well as some light." He eyed the crystals with interest.
Scanning the area, Transient began to move in that direction unless told not to.
[dice=Perception]1d20+10
"Perhaps," Krat replies looking around. "Though I count discovering this space as worth something in the long run. I never would have guessed it was under the depot here, so learning this is most interesting."
[dice=Perception to see if anyone else seems to be in the area with them]1d20 + 9
When he hears Transient's giggling approaching down the chute Krat looks quickly to Eleven_Zee_Alpha and moves between her body and the opening where he expects someone to shortly appear.
There doesn't appear to be anyone else in the cavern.
"I don't see anyone else here that we need to worry about immediately. I don't imagine that we were expected just now, so that's something at least."
Krat sees Transient's interest in the crystals, but his attention is more focused on the platform above them. Eyeing the height he crosses his arms and thinks out loud. "I don't suppose any of you happen to have any rope or other scaling tools with you right now?" Approaching the platform he examines it closely for anything that might allow the group access to it.
"Sadly not, but I'm quite good at climbing. Strong fingers." Clear chimed in Transient's mind, dumping what information the gem-like being had gathered into his mind.
"I don't see anyone else here that we need to worry about immediately. I don't imagine that we were expected just now, so that's something at least."
Krat sees Transient's interest in the crystals, but his attention is more focused on the platform above them. Eyeing the height he crosses his arms and thinks out loud. "I don't suppose any of you happen to have any rope or other scaling tools with you right now?" Approaching the platform he examines it closely for anything that might allow the group access to it.
"Sadly not, but I'm quite good at climbing. Strong fingers." Clear chimed in Transient's mind, dumping what information the gem-like being had gathered into his mind.
[dice=Knowledge (Local)]1d20+5
Sadly not, I’m a doctor, not a rock climber. he says, finally admitting that having the help of a dwarf when underground could have its uses, though he keeps a wary eye on him. He checks Eleven’s condition again, making sure the fall didn’t harm her at all. Then proceeds to look about.
[dice=perc]d20+9
Frowning at the lack of a clear way out of where they are, Krat will use Detect Psionics to see if he can sense anything that might be helpful. As he does so, concentrating on the walls of the cavern he drops psionic focus and his altered appearance drops, revealing his true form. Apparently a goblin with slightly bluish tinted skin he wears a exaggerated kobold mask over his face which is apparently vaguely what he bases his kobold appearance on.
If Krat detects any psionic fields he'll spend the time needed to investigate them using detect psionics. If he doesn't then he'll regain his psionic focus and put his altered appearance back up.
Transient watched the kobold become a goblin, and that was fine. Thing becoming other things was perfectly normal. A stone became a gem. Stone became a house. The living became the dead which became food for others. Why shouldn't a kobold become a goblin? It wasn't really worth commenting on. Surely the gobold of koblin knew what it was.
Frowning at the lack of a clear way out of where they are, Krat will use Detect Psionics to see if he can sense anything that might be helpful. As he does so, concentrating on the walls of the cavern he drops psionic focus and his altered appearance drops, revealing his true form. Apparently a goblin with slightly bluish tinted skin he wears a exaggerated kobold mask over his face which is apparently vaguely what he bases his kobold appearance on.
If Krat detects any psionic fields he'll spend the time needed to investigate them using detect psionics. If he doesn't then he'll regain his psionic focus and put his altered appearance back up.
No psionic fields.
Transient watched the kobold become a goblin, and that was fine. Thing becoming other things was perfectly normal. A stone became a gem. Stone became a house. The living became the dead which became food for others. Why shouldn't a kobold become a goblin? It wasn't really worth commenting on. Surely the gobold of koblin knew what it was.
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Ashtab's eyes once again widen at the mention of the preeminent northern city-state,
"Ah, a Citizen of our sister conurbation to the north, the Mother of Arbil -- Lirasse, the First Mistress of the forbidding Spearclaw Mountains. So, you have come a far distance upon the white road, the sakbe, which unites one city of the Protectorate with another -- and what, pray tell, has called you hither from the regency for Arbelle, Overseer of Lirasse, to the domain of Mosephi, my own Overseer."
Giving a brief momentary pause before answering Ashtab, Xonti replies, "A further seeking of better opportunities- both personally and professionally, Ah Kulel.", with a respectful nod. "What I was unable to find during my service back in Lirasse, the patterns within the Flow have guided me here to Arbil, to your Overseer's domain, in search of those things."
Glancing over towards Tai Pao Leng's direction before looking back over to Ashtab, Xonti will add in thoughtfully with, "Far be it from me to give any unneeded advisory though, Ah Kulel, it has just occurred to me that if sufficient numbers would serve your purpose well, perhaps some solicitation upon others present or openly nearby to help render assistance to your reconnaissance force?"
Frowning again after resuming his Kobold guise Krat shares what he's learned. "I'm not detecting any psionic fields here and I can't see any obvious way out of here. I guess it's time to make a more careful search to see if there's anything mundane that's hidden away."
Moving to the south of the cavern and working his way around the wall clockwise methodically Krat searches for any hidden doors or mechanisms that might provide a way out of cavern.
Frowning again after resuming his Kobold guise Krat shares what he's learned. "I'm not detecting any psionic fields here and I can't see any obvious way out of here. I guess it's time to make a more careful search to see if there's anything mundane that's hidden away."
Moving to the south of the cavern and working his way around the wall clockwise methodically Krat searches for any hidden doors or mechanisms that might provide a way out of cavern.
[dice=Perception to find Hidden Doors/mechanisms]1d20 + 9
Krat nods at Gigar then turns to Transient. "Care to put those strong fingers of yours to use and see if you can climb up there and lower the ladder for the rest of us?"
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Ashtab's eyes once again widen at the mention of the preeminent northern city-state,
"Ah, a Citizen of our sister conurbation to the north, the Mother of Arbil -- Lirasse, the First Mistress of the forbidding Spearclaw Mountains. So, you have come a far distance upon the white road, the sakbe, which unites one city of the Protectorate with another -- and what, pray tell, has called you hither from the regency for Arbelle, Overseer of Lirasse, to the domain of Mosephi, my own Overseer."
Giving a brief momentary pause before answering Ashtab, Xonti replies, "A further seeking of better opportunities- both personally and professionally, Ah Kulel.", with a respectful nod. "What I was unable to find during my service back in Lirasse, the patterns within the Flow have guided me here to Arbil, to your Overseer's domain, in search of those things."
Glancing over towards Tai Pao Leng's direction before looking back over to Ashtab, Xonti will add in thoughtfully with, "Far be it from me to give any unneeded advisory though, Ah Kulel, it has just occurred to me that if sufficient numbers would serve your purpose well, perhaps some solicitation upon others present or openly nearby to help render assistance to your reconnaissance force?"
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Ashtab's eyes once again widen at the mention of the preeminent northern city-state,
"Ah, a Citizen of our sister conurbation to the north, the Mother of Arbil -- Lirasse, the First Mistress of the forbidding Spearclaw Mountains. So, you have come a far distance upon the white road, the sakbe, which unites one city of the Protectorate with another -- and what, pray tell, has called you hither from the regency for Arbelle, Overseer of Lirasse, to the domain of Mosephi, my own Overseer."
Giving a brief momentary pause before answering Ashtab, Xonti replies, "A further seeking of better opportunities- both personally and professionally, Ah Kulel.", with a respectful nod. "What I was unable to find during my service back in Lirasse, the patterns within the Flow have guided me here to Arbil, to your Overseer's domain, in search of those things."
Glancing over towards Tai Pao Leng's direction before looking back over to Ashtab, Xonti will add in thoughtfully with, "Far be it from me to give any unneeded advisory though, Ah Kulel, it has just occurred to me that if sufficient numbers would serve your purpose well, perhaps some solicitation upon others present or openly nearby to help render assistance to your reconnaissance force?"
Transient looked up. "I can try. Feel free to laugh if I slip, it'll be hilarious." Cracking his knuckles, Transient's armour changed from the heavy breast plate and grieves to something akin to etched leather pants and a vest, his arms and feet bare, his monstrous axe and heavy shield on his back. Clear moved to the belt, and Transient padded up to the rock wall and began to find foot holds.
Transient looked up. "I can try. Feel free to laugh if I slip, it'll be hilarious." Cracking his knuckles, Transient's armour changed from the heavy breast plate and grieves to something akin to etched leather pants and a vest, his arms and feet bare, his monstrous axe and heavy shield on his back. Clear moved to the belt, and Transient padded up to the rock wall and began to find foot holds.
20 An uneven surface with some narrow handholds and footholds, such as a typical wall in a dungeon.
[dice=Climb]1d20+8
Transient is successful in scampering nimbly up the walls of the crystal-lit cavern. From this vantage, he should be able to reach the top of the observation platform and let down whatever means of ascent is available for his erstwhile companions below.
Would his new friends find the humour in it if Transient walked away, climbed away, leapt back to the cold ground beneath? It would be a great joke. But alas, he didn't know there humour, and humour was so subjective, was it not? Why, he'd laughed himself sick when he'd been stabbed once, although that might have been the fever.
Considering the intricacies of humour, Transient let down any way up he could find and then and looked around.