Quote from JehanO >>

Rogferr's Perception Roll: 20

 You see the huge cogwheel serving as the portal to Mechanus is both heavily guarded by several larger automatons like the five limbed one by your party now, and more patrolling the queue line, which spirals around with mathematical precision. There is space around the portal though, not a lot of it though, so the guards can filter people through slowly. There seems to be some sort of vetting process happening before people are let through the portal.

Quote from Gnomesftw >>

Rogferr make a Perception check through your familiar.

Gimable, as you approach a modron, which is carrying a small stack of papers at the moment, another, much larger metallic, robotic creature stilts your way, this one with five large tentacle like appendages around it's body, standing on five legs and feet. It whirs quietly as it approaches you, as numerous cogs and servos in its body work to make it move. In a clear but mildly feminine and authoritative voice, it speaks. "R2M45 is not designated for upholding rules. There are 313 rules currently in the city. I can relay all of them, unless you are inquiring a more specific designation."

 "First, r-rules about the p-p-p-Portal, followed by, rules about non-m-Mechachinal beings, then else." *Gimble forces the words out as if each one causes him physical discomfort. He pulls out paper, ink and quill, to begin writing down the instructions.

(I wish keen mind kept the 'good memory' aspect somehow, ah well)

The odd multilimbed creature whirs again briefly and then begins reciting in an unhurried fashion. "Rule 55,, Portal to Mechanus, Section 1, paragraph A: All creatures and entities corporeal or incorporeal must register their transportation request and have the appropriate clearance approved to be shown to the current gate guardian upon demand. Forms may be requested and submitted at the Hall of Order. Failure to produce the required documentation upon demand will result in immediate removal from the queue. Paragraph B:..."

The creature continues to drone on (pun intended) relating numerous laws and bylaws until you let it finish or tell it to stop. You gather though that they are quite particular and orderly about approaching and using the portal, the most egregious being attempting to enter the portal without proper authorization, resulting in at best, expulsion from Automata and barred entry for a set amount of time (by their reckoning), to "reconfiguration". There does not appear to be any major restriction on non-mechanical beings, and you can see as you wait around, there are plenty of other species and beings mixed in, even if the dominant kind here are in the modron family.

Eithne agrees with Esta's (Faith's) proposal: "You have a point. I think it's worth a try. Approach with the mimir, then. I'll be by your side, in case of trouble."

'What are you talking about, Eithne!' the Voices in her head scream en masse in her mind.
'Don't take the risk!'
'It's her idea, let her handle it alone!'
Since the Vocies are in agreement this time, their influence is almost painful for the Lone Survivor, who unconsciously raises a hand to her temple as she tries to regain control of her thoughts—or at least insert a thought of her own amidst the tide of Voices: 'To find help, I must first offer it! Leave it to me!'
'It's not just you who's at risk, Eithne!'
'We're all in here too!'
'Don't you understand that if you die...'
'Don't you understand that I'm trying not to die!?' in the end the owner of the mind manages to assert her rights as host: 'Trust me! I kept you and me alive, until now, have not I? Let me do the only useful thing I seem to be able to do for now: the bodyguard!'

Meanwhile, with the Voices partially calmed, the Savage Wanderer overhears Gimble getting information from the machines and is somewhat impressed. The gnome may not be very good at interacting with people, but he does very well with machines. She quickly loses the details of the vast rules, but the general feeling she gets is that the legislator has taken great care in regulating entry to the portal; simply approaching it doesn't seem as strictly regulated. This gives her further hope that Faith/Esta's idea might work.

Gimble will continue to write down rules until approached by the others. Listening for any rules about being found outside of the queue or about keeping order in the city through force

As the modron’s droning voice rattles on about bylaws and paragraphs, Esta exhales sharply, tugging her hood up over her head. The heavy green fabric of her cloak seems to swallow her into the crowd, shadows clinging to her form as if eager to hide her. Her mismatched eyes glint once before vanishing beneath the hood.
Item: [Tooltip Not Found]
Stealth: 28

“Enough of this,” she mutters under her breath, voice low and calm. “I didn’t survive Baldur’s Gate by waiting for permission.”

With the mimir tucked close, she slips sideways out of the queue, moving with the casual confidence of someone who belongs exactly where she is. Each step is measured, her cloak shifting just enough to blur her outline, her presence melting into the rhythm of the crowd. She uses the flow of bodies, the distraction of rules being recited, and the mechanical precision of the modrons themselves to mask her advance.

By the time anyone might notice, Esta is already weaving toward the front — a shadow among order, her bow at her back, her eyes fixed on the great cogwheel portal. She positions herself within reach of the gate, calm and composed, ready to let the mimir do its work before the modrons realize she was ever there.

Gimble, amid all the rules and regulations being recited, there is definitely mention of peacekeeping orders as the city thrives on order, not chaos and those causing chaos are dealt with swiftly. The rules here demand everyone who wishes to use the portal to follow the prescribed pattern and anyone who does  not will not be allowed entry through the portal.

Esta, zipping around the area at first seems to go pretty well, until you get closer to the portal. There, it is being guarded by four large automatons with ten appendages like scorpion tails and several eyes around its orbital body. There are also several of the five legged creatures that Gimble is listening to, around the portal as well. While you were able to sneak around most of the people standing in line, Esta, getting up close and personal to the portal is going to impossible, not without drawing their immediate attention.

Eithne is surprised by how easily Esta begins to blend in with the crowd—and within seconds, she loses sight of her completely: "Well, here's someone who, unlike me, doesn't seem to need magic to become invisible..." she murmurs.

The Savage Wanderer remains vigilant, however—just in case something unexpected interferes with her companion's plans and she becomes visible again or otherwise needs help.

Jesa also watches as Esta disappears off into the crowd. "Wow, she is good at that."  She waits to see how she fares. But for the moment doesn't give up their spot in the line. "If this line is really our way in, then based on Gimble's work there it sounds like we're going to need some paperwork. Maybe some of us could take care of that while someone else holds are place. Though we ought to be quick, since it sounds like they might be checking on paperwork while we're in line."  

Faith agrees, "I heard that part about checking  the paperwork while in line as well, though I didn't catch were we're supposed to get it from."

Faith heads over to the modron that Gimble is talking to to ask specifically, "Is it allowed to approach the portal to look at it, as long as we don't attempt to use it?"

Rogferr’s senses return to him and looking around he notices the absence of Esta.

“Dose she commonly get tired of waiting and disappear? The gate is definitely well defended. Hopefully they will be fine with us being in line without the correct paperwork finished.”

"Umm," Jesa glances off towards where Esta departed. "I'm not really sure. I've not seen her do it before. But I've only been really helped fight off the demons in the Iedcaru and then we made our rather pointless trip to Fortitude."  She seems a bit out of sorts when she mentions that part, but it passes quickly. "Anyhow, I presume she's done it before though." 

"Well... Even if she can't get anything else," Eithne observes "at the very least, with that trick of hers, Esta could gain a lot of positions in the queue - we should at least spare a lot of time".

Gimble has been hard at work filling out information that would be needed for the forms, knowing that the format will be off, but seeing if he can at least appease the attempt at being an orderly citizen