Zaliey doesn’t know what to say.....he looks around the area that it all happened to see if there is a portal

"If you guys see something like that spontaneously combusting and melts back into the void as it dies, that would probably surprise the hair out of you too. I didn't even got a good look at the creature."

Fuzzyfeet scratches his back as he replies to Cinder's statement.

"Maybe Elroy has answers to our ever growing number of questions. Let's continue ahead to the ruins and find out."

"Maybe, but still that was cool. Maybe I can get one of these things? Drakes or wyverns, Oh! I know, give it to Izzy and see if we can mix it with something. I would love a flaming one to ride!" Looking at Cedrick, "Priest! Do you think we can make hellish lizards to ride?" 

Cedrick looks over his shoulder at Cinder and says "It is written: The beast of burden you cane today, may bite your hand at feeding tomorrow, woe to the one who does not heed this warning."

He then turns his attention back to the smoldering pile that was the beast and their companion. Silently he finishes his prayers to Helm for their deliverance and for the passing of their friend.

"What is done, is done." he intones to the remainder of the group. "Yes, Fuzzyfeet, let us continue on to the ruins."

Sylrea stares at the remains of her former companion. She had just mentioned earlier about how she didnt want to loose another companion, so her head is about to go crazy. Noticing this, She get herself in check before moving to follow the others. She tells herself to wait until this mission is over, then she can be depressed all she wants.

There is no portal to be seen. As you continue towards the ruins, the foliage seems to become more and more shriveled and unhealthy, eventually leaving nothing at all. You now stand at the edge of a barren valley, and the ruins can be seen in the deepest part of this valley. On top of one of the ancient buildings a campfire can be seen, alongside a tent. The entire valley gives off some serious bad vibes.

Cinder looks around the land, "Wow, such a change. I don't know what's happening but it is definitely not good." Looking at Cedrick, "Priest! Don't start hitting things. This place is bad and let's not make anything mad before we know what's happening." Going to Sylrea and taking her hand and holding it, "You okay Joan? You look really pale."

A few bizarre creatures can be seen flying towards you. They seem to be bizarre winged crab-fungus-insects, and their heads pulse with colors.

 "We just lost a companion." She said as she looked back and forth between Cinder and Cedrick. Sylrea tightened her hold on Cinder's hand. She gave a moment before she looked back at her. "Sorry. I just really dont like loosing companions" She slowly walked towards the armor that she had dropped earlier and picked it up. Sylrea watched with unease as the foliage began to shrivel up into nothing. As she stood there, she saw these bizarre creatures fly towards them. "Cant we just catch a break" She asked herself in a low tone.

Zaliey sends his familiar Hawk to take a closer look at the insects but not too close.  After looking at them, he sends the hawk to look at the tent.

perception 24

Looking at the incoming creatures, Cinder squeezes Sylrea's hand. "I am sorry. I am.... not very attracted to many people, many companions have betrayed or attempted to harm me. So I try to keep distance, even while acting close." Speaks louder, "Holy folks especially been troublesome, the nice ones are the worse." Goes to normal volume, "If you need to talk, we can later. I am not a Saint, but I am capable of being a good friend." 

Cedrick looks at the winged creatures and muses out loud... "It is a sign from Helm himself... and the winged beasts will come out to meet you as you approach the city of longing."

Then to Cinder he says, "See my friend, we are being welcomed!"

He then casts Resistance on Cinder... just in case.

The creatures come closer and land. One of them moves forward and speaks in strange buzzing tones to all of you, as a group:

Humanoids will drop weapons. Individual identity is "Qrzgt" Do not mean injury. Hive requires assistance. Humanoid known as "Elroy" is kidnapped by many-armed old ones. Require assistance. Hive is only us. Need more to fight for hive. Will give data. Many-armed old ones are powerful, skilled in hypergeometry, sciences. Only four of them. Human saying "divide and conquer" will apply. We will swarm one of them, separated from others. Many-armed old ones have mighty slaves, many eyes and mouths, no fixed shape. Identified as "shoggoth".

"Qzrgt, we still don't know if you're telling the truth or not. Let's just say we trust your word, why did those old ones kidnapped Elroy? Also look at us."

Fuzzyfeet opens his arms to show the entire group.

"Do we look we are equipped to fight something that you describe that has many arms, eyes, and mouth and has no fixed shape? For me that is both equally disturbing and terrifying . Also, look at our stuff."

He brings out both his shortswords.

"Beside a magical boat and a bloody talking sword, we don't anything useful for combat except for these normal steel weapons. We don't even know if it will have an effect on those kind of creatures."

Fuzzyfeet sheathes them back.

"You better have a foolproof plan on how we do this or we will not to stick our heads into something that dangerous, even if it means we have to leave Elroy behind."

Qzrgt buzzes:

Old ones took humanoid "Elroy" to obtain data. We have tools. Good for damaging cells not endemic to this world.

it hands you an object that looks like a metal potato with small metal wires jutting out

Tool projects electric force. Capable of disrupting circulatory activity in humanoids. Burns, causes damage on cellular scale. Primitive humanoids similar to you humanoids do not understand usage of tool. We will instruct.

Does my hawk relay information about the tent?

"I hope what you say is true and it doesn't send us to our imminent doom."

Fuzzyfeet looks at his metal potato thing with a doubtful look as he puts it on the side of his waist.

"Tell us more about the abilities of these creatures and the environment we might need to fight. Any information is helpful.

Also, we want to know what is this hive mind you're talking about."

Fuzzyfeet looks at Qzrgt as he bombards him with neverending questions.

As she watched the creatures and Fuzzyfeet talk, she sighed and put away her weapon. Leaving the talking to Fuzzyfeet, Sylrea turned back towards Cinder and showed her a warm smile. "Its alright, a good friend is always nice to have."  She quickly placed both her hands on Cinder's cheeks " And dont you be distant with me ok?" She chuckled and let go just as fast.  She then turned back towards the others and started to walk forward again. As she She slowly walked up behind Fuzzyfeet and looked around the area for any other creatures that might be coming their way.

Perception : 16

"As I said, Helm has directed us to this place at this time to help in this matter!" Cedrick positively glows with enthusiasm at the prospect of giving assistance where it is needed.

"Do you have any more of those potato looking things?" he adds.

I forgot about that tent. It is completely and utterly empty. It seems to be a decoy.

Qzgrt simply hands Fuzzyfeet an odd metal plate and two more of the metal potatoes. It has the anatomy of an odd, five-tentacled, winged creature etched onto it. It has organs that are completely alien to any earthly species.

Qzgrt buzzes:

Two more tools. Old ones physically powerful, capable of flight. Highly intelligent, have a five-lobed brain. Have thick, rugose epidermal layer. Experiment with animals, planar portals. Area ahead of you is ancient city of old ones. Children of The Sleeper attacked, killed many. Four old ones left. Desparate. Fearful. Took humanoid "Elroy" for experimentation.