She leans in close to Nik as they're leaving and whispers, "Yeah, Warpwood. I don't think it's anything related to what you did, but...and hey, what was with all the mumbling and stabbing? That's not cool in front of our hosts."
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About halfway to the walk to Warpwood Nansi scuttles into Rinika's backpack with whirring "Eep!"
"Change of directive for nonmodron units," you hear as a creature that resembles a starfish on thin legs teeters awkwardly toward you along the wide branch. "Help this unit return to native Mechanus immediately," it states. "That is all." Its large eyes look at you expectantly.
One of the Ratatosk jeers,
Nik stares up at the mechanical starfish alien for a few moments.
"Are you lost?" He scratches his cheek thoughtfully. "I wonder if you fell through some tear in the warped wood. Maybe we're headed the same way already?" Nik adds, hopeful of avoiding a fight during their rather poorly paying errand that definitely doesn't have a contract including extra payment for combat.
Conor watches the interaction with the starfish thing with some interest, then listens to Nik's response, hand straying toward the hilt of his greatsword.
Bored and more than a bit grumpy from the mind trip he had just been taken on, he was kinda hoping for a fight to get some stress out, even if he wasn't getting paid to kill anything yet.
"What's your designation, clockboy? How'd you get here? If we help you get back to Mechanus, can you repair my little buddy Nansi here?"
To the Ratatosk, she'll ask, "Do you see many of these guys around here?"
The modron clicks its eyes unevenly twisting two of its five faces at both Nik and Rinika. It addresses them simultaneously.
It says to Nik, "Affirmatory. This unit is required to return to Mechanus immediately."
It says to Rinika, "This unit is designated pentadrone b613c5540a9dcb7b06. This unit was ordered here by decaton unit 03. This unit must return to Mechanus immediately to report. This unit does not know designation of unit 'Nansi.'" Nansi continues to hide in Rinika's backpack, do you force it out?
Jek and Nik remember that the Great Modron March recently and unexpectedly occurred. It happens once every 289 years, but for some reason arrived about 100 years too early. No one is sure why the Modrons march but many graybeards speculate that its to spread law across the great ring and to gather information. When they march they visit each outer plane using the gate towns on the Outlands. This march started in Automata as usual and headed towards the upper planes first working its way around the great ring to the lower planes. The modrons would have been almost halfway through their journey when this one was lost.
"So, were you part of the march? How did you get lost?"
So why are we helping this Mechanus back? Like does it have information we need? It doesn't seem to be wanted by Mechanus or they themselves would have come back when they saw it was missing. And if it was ordered away by decaton 3 (like it said) that bodes even worse for us getting anything from returning this to Mechanus since it was purposely sent away.
"Huh. I thought it was just a clockwork toy. Like a time piece. Guess it's more than that, eh?"
Hoping to get this errand over with as soon as possible, Nik chimes in again.
"Guys, let's worry about that after we get to the warpwood. It might be where the metal starfish wants to go anyway. After that, we can see if the townsfolk are grateful enough to make it worth our time. We can probably think of some sob story or something to make 'em more generous, too-"
Then Nik pauses and scratches his cheek.
"Say, mister pentadrone, is there any reward for taking you home?"
Rinika frowns as Nansi burrows deeper, but she plays along and lets him stay hidden. We'll talk about this later.
"Alright clockboy, we really have no idea how to get you back to Mechanus right now, but if you want to follow us to Crux, I guess that's okay."
The modron points another face towards Jek and says, "Affirmatory. Current paradigm is unknown to this unit."
It points a face at Cr'gir and Nik and each face says in unison, "Non-modron units are ordered to help this unit back to native Mechanus. That is all."
It moves toward Rinika with a goofy half circle smile on one of its faces, "This non-modron unit carries a piece of native Mechanus with it. Query: Why?"
Rinika tries to play it off. "Why do you think that?"
It's too late to pretend Nansi isn't there now...
Nik interjects "that piece of Mechanus? We're trying to repair it-" Nik turns and starts moving away from the modron. "Zombington, stand at attention."
Then Nik retreats behind his shambler, wary of angering the possibly dangerous and definitely annoying pentadrone.
Standing near the zombie while the cat talks to the clockwork spider.
Wow, my life has taken a turn for the wierd.
Leaning close to Nik he mutters softly, "You want I should smash this thing?"
Looks toward Rinika It says you have something from its plane, so I'll help since it can seemingly assist you.
Toward the modron Hear that keep this one Points at Rinika happy or I'm done going along with this whole get you back to your plane thing.
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"Ordered?" Jek grins. "The only one giving orders around here is Nik... and the only one following them is Zombington.."
He sizes up the modron. "We've been to a couple planes. If you want to tag along you'll at least get somewhere else... maybe even a gate town..."
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”This unit senses vibrations on grandiocosmic strings emanating from non-modron unit 7 of group 139. These vibrations match a psychospectral profile unique to Mechanus. Hypothesis with probability of 86.576% of veracity: unit 7 of group 139 carries a piece of a gear native to Mechanus. Speculation: unit 7 of group 139 has visited Mechanus or knows of another non-modron unit who has. Reiterating request: help this unit return to native Mechanus immediately.”
After hearing this description Nik thinks that he could tune the focus of a plane shift spell using Nanci. Should he ever be capable of casting such a potent spell.
Conor notices a metallic warble in its voice that ends with a pop and hiss of gas. He can't be certain but whatever passes for frustration in modrons, this one has it.
"I haven't been to Mechanus. I have some gear from there, but I've never been. It's not anything that's gonna help you get back though, sorry. So like we've said a couple times, you're welcome to tag along with us, but we don't have any ability to send you back right now."
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Jek quietly takes out his list of nicknames, writes "Unit 7" under Rinika's column, and puts it away again.
One of the ratatosks says,
The ratatosk pelt the poor modron with more seeds, clearly not getting that they've made it "mad".
Hearing the clockwork thing's potentially violent exclamation, Conor slips and arm into his brand new wooden heavy shield and palms his Warhammer, ready for combat if it breaks out.
Nik sighs "how expected."
Tapping the shambler's shoulder with a whirling blob of black energy, he adds "Shoot the annoying spider-box, Zombington."
before this post
Supernatural Abilities
. 7/7 Power Over Undead (30' burst; DC 16 will)
. (1 at a time) Corpse Companion
Spell-like Abilities
. 6/7 Bolster (Undead) (+2 profane on attacks and saves; 1 temp hp/HD; +2 turn resistance; 2 round duration)
. 1/1 Pyrotechnics (DC 14)
Spells Prepared:
. 3rd (2+1/day) Animate Dead (S), Fireball (DC 17), Haste
. 2nd (3+1/day) Command Undead (DC 16) (S), Flaming Sphere (DC 17; +1 CL), Glitterdust (DC 16), Levitate
. 1st (4+1/day) Ray of Enfeeblement (DC 16) (S), Infernal Healing [x3]>[x2], Warp Sense (+1 CL)
. cantrips (at will) Acid Splash, Detect Magic (+1 CL), Message, Prestidigitation
Zombington III draws his bowstring back and fires before the modron can get too defensive and hurt someone.
Zombington's arrow bounces off one of the pentadron's arm-face's metal plate. In response you hear a loud "Pfffffffttttt" coming from the modron's center and it lifts off as the area is blanketed in foul smelling gas.
Eh oh well
Leaves the gassed area while drawing my throwing axe and equipping my shield
Rinika uses martial flexibility to grab Dodge and does a total defense.
+7 total to AC, leaving her at 24.
"Did that ***hole just fart at us?!"
"Did that ***hole just fart at us?!"
"Do modrons even have those?"
Jek sighs while swapping to his shield and chakram.
"It's ok if you want to follow us just outside of acorn range."
The modron twists in the air and blasts two of the ratatosks with it's gas emitter. One goes rigid and falls over, paralyzed. The modron is perhaps not used to the gravity of the World Ash and zooms off into the distance carried by it's propulsive gas.
The two ratatosks accompanying Glittereye start chittering with laughter but then Glittereye gives them a murderous look and they go silent.
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Rinika stays on high alert for danger for a few moments but eventually settles down, dumbfounded look on her face. "What in the halls just happened?"
Exasperated, Nik turns to the others "we couldn't have just let him tag along before the squirrels got too squirrely? We might've been able to get something actually scary to eat him instead of us. We could've sent him somewhere dangerous before poking our own toes in. C'mon, guys, Think!"
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Conor snickers as the robot thing farts itself off over the horizon, or whatever this place has and puts away his weapon and shield, chuckling as he does so.
"Well, that was a diversion anyway."
"Uh, Nik, I don't think anyone here would argue. We suggested he follow us several times. But now he's gone, and...well, the tree smells slightly worse."
She shrugs.
She asks Glittereye, "On to Warpwood?"
Jek raises an eyebrow as the modron flies awkwardly away.
"That's another option I guess."
"Perhaps there's something normal in the Warpwoods to round out our day."
As you travel Cr’gir notices that Glittereye creeps slowly, morosely, along the tree branches. His fellows try to mimic him but they appear to be having difficulty matching him. As you approach the Warpwood Glittereye seems to be on edge and ready to weep.
Finally, you arrive at a spot where Yggdrasil takes on a very different look. The wood in this area is rippled in a huge circular pattern, as if something large and heavy had been dropped on the branch and the bark had reacted like water, moving outward in tiny waves. You can’t tell if the bark’s now at rest or if it’s still rippling just beyond the range of your perceptions. But the most disturbing thing about this strange warping is the intense blackness that makes up its center.
Glitter eye speaks with great effort, ”This ap-peared. Is ma-king. Making Tree. Mother tree. Sick. What comes to the tree comes. To those in touch with her.” His speech slows and becomes more regular as a darkness comes to his eyes, ”Evil has come to the tree”
Glittereye lunges at Jek bearing teeth and claws. But the well armored Bariaur is more than a match for the puny creature.
Rinika casts Invisibility and moves, trying to get a better look at what's affecting the tree.
Also, I moved Rinika into the circles and now they're above her token and I can't move her on mobile. I was hoping to put her right next to the center. But now she is lost! Woe is me.
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A strange chill embraces Rinika and her dead patch twitches and flutters around her body when she approaches. She feels trapped.
"Well, I did only promise not to hurt them if they didn't pick a fight, but maybe we should try to wrestle the stupid out of 'em anyway? Zombington, knock 'em out."
Nik somewhat carelessly lobs a blob of acid over Cr'gir's head at the squirrel behind Glittereye.
Unable to charge in a straight line through Jek, Zombington shuffles past within reach of the closest ratatoskr, Glittereye.
Frowning at the sudden change of the squirrel things, but unsure if the group was going into full kill everything mode, the mercenary simply again draws his heavy shield and Warhammer and waits to see what the big guys do, they were blocking his path anyway.
Draws shield and Greataxe
The other ratatosk look on in surprise as Glittereye attacks, they look among themselves and turn reluctantly and follow their leader's example. They start to claw at the larger and clearly more dangerous opponents.
Jek's eight mirror armor starts to warm and glow but the Signer refuses to believe its true and his solipsism overwrites reality.
Rinika looks for anything at the epicenter that looks like it could be causing the weirdness.
Rinika sees a set of foot prints indented in the wood, they are vaguely cloven. She isn't sure how that's possible.
"Are we squashing these things yet?"
"Squash them gently so they unsquash later!"
Jek moves back, unclasps his lance, and stabs at Glittereye.
"I made some room for you Conor!"
Nik walks past Jek to Bolster Zombington the third. "And when I said knock 'em out, I meant start with Glittereye, and gently so he can wake up again."
before this post
Supernatural Abilities
. 7/7 Power Over Undead (30' burst; DC 16 will)
. (1 at a time) Corpse Companion
Spell-like Abilities
. 5/7 Bolster (Undead) (+2 profane on attacks and saves; 1 temp hp/HD; +2 turn resistance; 2 round duration)
. 1/1 Pyrotechnics (DC 14)
Spells Prepared:
. 3rd (2+1/day) Animate Dead (S), Fireball (DC 17), Haste
. 2nd (3+1/day) Command Undead (DC 16) (S), Flaming Sphere (DC 17; +1 CL), Glitterdust (DC 16), Levitate
. 1st (4+1/day) Ray of Enfeeblement (DC 16) (S), Infernal Healing [x3]>[x2], Warp Sense (+1 CL)
. cantrips (at will) Acid Splash, Detect Magic (+1 CL), Message, Prestidigitation