Unfortunately for Gimble, none of the nearby modrons seem capable of helping, although one of the guests in line, a purple haired gnome man mentions Gimble should go to the Hall of Records for the proper paperwork. And take a snack. Apparently it takes many hours to work through all the paperwork.
The githzerai looks at the group for a minute before speaking. “I don’t see the harm in admitting you to the gate. Of course, I’ll have to convince the rest of the Council of Order of your intentions. If you take care of something that’s been vexing us, though, that gesture of good faith could make all the difference.
“There are discordant elements operating in Automata. One such individual is an outlaw named Beltha. She recently stole one of the logbooks for the Concordant Express. It contains timetables, passenger lists, manifests, and more. Recover the logbook, and I’ll see to it that you can use the gate as you require. And if you bring Beltha in, I’ll throw in a bonus.”
Rogferr jumps at the opportunity to not have to figure out this bureaucratic mess.
“I don't think I caught your name? Thank you for the offer, please call me Rogferr. I assume you know the general location of this individual? Also where should we bring her if we are able to catch this Beltha?”
Rogferr will take a second to look at the group.
“I for one am completely willing to take this fine gentleman up on his offer.”
"My name is Aristimus. I am the captain of the guard here and am on the Council of Order as well. Your assistance appreciated and will upon successful completion with weigh correspondingly in facilitating your requirements here. As for Beltha, her last known location was somewhere in the underground tunnels, known locally as The Inverse. Bring her to the Hall of Order. If she is alive, the reward includes 2,000 gold pieces. Half that if she is dead."
"Alright, Aristimus. Your offer sounds quite fair. Assuming all are in agreement, if you can just tell us how to get The Inverse we will start looking," Jesa says. "And perhaps tell how to recognize Beltha. What exactly are we looking for?"
Esta stands back from the group ever so slightly as the authoritative figure approaches and converses with them. Her eyes dart for exit strategies, her mind becoming a haze whilst she calculates the need... should the need arise... however it seems, like most, they want something. She focuses back onto the conversation with a keen sharpness when she realizes the party has agreed to help.
"Wait a moment, there are many questions here that elude me. Why would they steal this logbook? And how, is it not guarded if it is of importance? And do we know if they are working alone?"
Esta's mind races at speed trying to think of possible outcomes - however, with the fact that she CANNOT stand in a line for even a moment, never mind hours, she is already drawing conclusion that she will do this with the group. Nothing better to do, right?
Esta turns to the group to surmise - "We haven't had a chance to see how we work together in, difficult, situations. I hope you are prepared."
"How long is t-too long?" *Gimble asks, moving out of the line to join the others* "N-need t-to go in the... Hall of Records" *It almost seems painful for him to speak, he starts to hum under his breath and rub his right ear against the collar of his rob*
Aristimus smooths down his robes and folds his hands in front of him in a calm manner. "She is a githzerai, with a quite distinctive tattoo around her left eye that resembles a broken gear." He looks over at Esta, "As I mentioned, the book contains timetables, passenger lists, manifests, and more for the Concordant Express. It is used regularly and openly to ensure things are happening properly and on schedule. She's been an agitator for a while now and likely has accomplices, but I'm afraid I cannot tell you their exact number. The probability of it being more than ten is approximately 3.14 percent." He turns is attention back to Jessa, "The logbook should not be hard to identify, and getting to the Inverse is equally facile, just head into the ground: steam vents, drains, staircases, anything of that sort." He takes one last look at all of you, "We know she has met contacts at the Divine Machine tavern as well. Stay orderly." He then gives you all a slight nod and turns to walk off down a street, with the five limbed automaton following after him.
"Yes, of course. Stay orderly," Jesa repeats. She then looks at the rest of the group. "You heard them, we'd best get in a straight, neat line, and head for the nearest staircase." She then adds, "Or I suppose a vent or drain if you prefer to do it that way." She starts to glance about, trying to see if there might be any stairs headed down nearby. "I guess there's also the Divine Machine tavern if we can find that."
"Finding the Divine Machine tavern shouldn't be difficult, in a place that values order so much..." Eithen muses. "It should be easy to get be directions — there should be a procedure for obtaining them. However, once there, I don't think I can contribute much... I'm better at chasing people than talking to them. Maybe it's better to start exploring the Inverse."
'I can help you, Eithne!' one of the Voices in her head offers excitedly. 'I can help you either! I'm good at talking to people! I'll help you get the information you want...' 'Actually, you all seem very good at talking to me...' the lone survivor objects. 'Let me explore, I feel better doing something I know how to do myself.' 'You don't have to belittle us like that, Eithne!' 'We're always available to help!' ' "You're the one who, instead of accepting our help, is simply trying to silence us...' 'I'm not belittling you... I just prefer to try what I do best first, understand?'
And with that, the savage wanderer tries, together with Jesa, to identify a promising access to the Inverse.
As you begin to start looking around more, it isn't hard to find vents and drains set at regular intervals around the city streets, which look big enough for a medium sized creature to slide inside. Behind the large cogwheel that makes up the portal to Mechanus (away from the Spire, so on the opposite side you entered the town from) there is an entrance to the Concord Terminus, a large train station. About a block away from that entrance is a slightly more decorated building that stands out just a bit from the otherwise standardized appearance of the rest of the town.
Jesa looks a little taken aback when Eithne finds the first vent that a person might fit into and suggests sliding down. "Where do you suppose it goes? Wouldn't the Concord Terminus off over there," she makes a motion towards the direction of the train station, "be a better way to get there? That is where the ledger was taken from after all." (If others have already gone, then she will watch at the entrance until the others are properly through then would go along herself.)
Unfortunately for Gimble, none of the nearby modrons seem capable of helping, although one of the guests in line, a purple haired gnome man mentions Gimble should go to the Hall of Records for the proper paperwork. And take a snack. Apparently it takes many hours to work through all the paperwork.
The githzerai looks at the group for a minute before speaking. “I don’t see the harm in admitting you to the gate. Of course, I’ll have to convince the rest of the Council of Order of your intentions. If you take care of something that’s been vexing us, though, that gesture of good faith could make all the difference.
“There are discordant elements operating in Automata. One such individual is an outlaw named Beltha. She recently stole one of the logbooks for the Concordant Express. It contains timetables, passenger lists, manifests, and more. Recover the logbook, and I’ll see to it that you can use the gate as you require. And if you bring Beltha in, I’ll throw in a bonus.”
Rogferr jumps at the opportunity to not have to figure out this bureaucratic mess.
“I don't think I caught your name? Thank you for the offer, please call me Rogferr. I assume you know the general location of this individual? Also where should we bring her if we are able to catch this Beltha?”
Rogferr will take a second to look at the group.
“I for one am completely willing to take this fine gentleman up on his offer.”
Faith agrees, "Seems reasonable to me."
"My name is Aristimus. I am the captain of the guard here and am on the Council of Order as well. Your assistance appreciated and will upon successful completion with weigh correspondingly in facilitating your requirements here. As for Beltha, her last known location was somewhere in the underground tunnels, known locally as The Inverse. Bring her to the Hall of Order. If she is alive, the reward includes 2,000 gold pieces. Half that if she is dead."
"Alright, Aristimus. Your offer sounds quite fair. Assuming all are in agreement, if you can just tell us how to get The Inverse we will start looking," Jesa says. "And perhaps tell how to recognize Beltha. What exactly are we looking for?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric
Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
Esta stands back from the group ever so slightly as the authoritative figure approaches and converses with them. Her eyes dart for exit strategies, her mind becoming a haze whilst she calculates the need... should the need arise... however it seems, like most, they want something. She focuses back onto the conversation with a keen sharpness when she realizes the party has agreed to help.
"Wait a moment, there are many questions here that elude me. Why would they steal this logbook? And how, is it not guarded if it is of importance? And do we know if they are working alone?"
Esta's mind races at speed trying to think of possible outcomes - however, with the fact that she CANNOT stand in a line for even a moment, never mind hours, she is already drawing conclusion that she will do this with the group. Nothing better to do, right?
Esta turns to the group to surmise - "We haven't had a chance to see how we work together in, difficult, situations. I hope you are prepared."
"How long is t-too long?" *Gimble asks, moving out of the line to join the others* "N-need t-to go in the... Hall of Records" *It almost seems painful for him to speak, he starts to hum under his breath and rub his right ear against the collar of his rob*
Eithne feels maybe more empathy for Beltha than for the forces of order of this alien city... but she understands that there is no choice, for now.
No way the party can elude the gate sentinels.
And to get help, they must hunt this 'scourge of the logbooks'.
So, the lone survivor just nods: "Well, let's do it".
Aristimus smooths down his robes and folds his hands in front of him in a calm manner. "She is a githzerai, with a quite distinctive tattoo around her left eye that resembles a broken gear." He looks over at Esta, "As I mentioned, the book contains timetables, passenger lists, manifests, and more for the Concordant Express. It is used regularly and openly to ensure things are happening properly and on schedule. She's been an agitator for a while now and likely has accomplices, but I'm afraid I cannot tell you their exact number. The probability of it being more than ten is approximately 3.14 percent." He turns is attention back to Jessa, "The logbook should not be hard to identify, and getting to the Inverse is equally facile, just head into the ground: steam vents, drains, staircases, anything of that sort." He takes one last look at all of you, "We know she has met contacts at the Divine Machine tavern as well. Stay orderly." He then gives you all a slight nod and turns to walk off down a street, with the five limbed automaton following after him.
"Yes, of course. Stay orderly," Jesa repeats. She then looks at the rest of the group. "You heard them, we'd best get in a straight, neat line, and head for the nearest staircase." She then adds, "Or I suppose a vent or drain if you prefer to do it that way." She starts to glance about, trying to see if there might be any stairs headed down nearby. "I guess there's also the Divine Machine tavern if we can find that."
(Perception: 13)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric
Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
"Finding the Divine Machine tavern shouldn't be difficult, in a place that values order so much..." Eithen muses. "It should be easy to get be directions — there should be a procedure for obtaining them. However, once there, I don't think I can contribute much... I'm better at chasing people than talking to them. Maybe it's better to start exploring the Inverse."
'I can help you, Eithne!' one of the Voices in her head offers excitedly.
'I can help you either! I'm good at talking to people! I'll help you get the information you want...'
'Actually, you all seem very good at talking to me...' the lone survivor objects. 'Let me explore, I feel better doing something I know how to do myself.'
'You don't have to belittle us like that, Eithne!'
'We're always available to help!'
' "You're the one who, instead of accepting our help, is simply trying to silence us...'
'I'm not belittling you... I just prefer to try what I do best first, understand?'
And with that, the savage wanderer tries, together with Jesa, to identify a promising access to the Inverse.
Eithne's Percepèption: 16
Faith looks for either an entrance to the inverse or Divine Machine tavern,
Perception: 19 (rolled in game log)
As you begin to start looking around more, it isn't hard to find vents and drains set at regular intervals around the city streets, which look big enough for a medium sized creature to slide inside. Behind the large cogwheel that makes up the portal to Mechanus (away from the Spire, so on the opposite side you entered the town from) there is an entrance to the Concord Terminus, a large train station. About a block away from that entrance is a slightly more decorated building that stands out just a bit from the otherwise standardized appearance of the rest of the town.
"Shall we try this one?" Eithne suggests, reaching the nearest vent large enough for a medium-sized creature to slide inside.
If the party agrees, she descends that way... and once down, she begins searching for any signs of humanoids passing by.
Survival, if needed: 16
Gimble will follow along to the vent
Before going down herself, Faith calls down to make sure those who went before her made it down without problems. "Are you alright down there?"
Jesa looks a little taken aback when Eithne finds the first vent that a person might fit into and suggests sliding down. "Where do you suppose it goes? Wouldn't the Concord Terminus off over there," she makes a motion towards the direction of the train station, "be a better way to get there? That is where the ledger was taken from after all." (If others have already gone, then she will watch at the entrance until the others are properly through then would go along herself.)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric
Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
Gimble starts to hum a merry tune, enjoying the echo of the tunnel