The strip of green turns out to grow along the sides of a small, shallow, slow stream.

Hippodiles and jellyflies come and go... but they all now instinctively avoid coming within a few dozen feet of The Duke, so pose no problem.

The stream meanders slowly, very slowly, uphill... And so The Lady and The Duke move upstream...

After a few hours, though, they see a different kind of plantlife... a tree, its crown thick with foliage... and vaguely chartreuse fruits...

The Lady was intrigued, as she piloted the Walker through the verdant belt ... following the stream.
She'd never seen a 'stream meander slowly uphill', but anything was possible in this world of today.

When they come into sight of the heavily foliage ahead, she looked at the tree.
It was the first tree they'd seen in the verdant belt; everything else had been shrubs and grass and so on.

Drawing the Walker to a halt nearby, The Lady cautiously opened the Walkers hatch, and climbed out for a better look.

To the Duke all was new. He never had seen a stream so it flowing up made complete sense. All the green was weird but it was also nice to see. And when they reach the tree and the Lady decides to stop the Duke hops out and looks around most interested in the fruits he meanders over.

"Look more food. Who knew these green lands where having wild food all around"

The Lady smiled at her companion.   "It truly is a very different place than inside the Zigg, isn't it, Duke?"

But her eyes were scanning and exploring the nearby environment, looking for any signs of intelligent life.
            - rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,3.  Insightful.

The Lady sees no intelligent life around... But the tree itself keeps drawing her eye... there's something about it... But no, she can't quite put her finger on what...

The Lady knew that they were looking for intelligent plant life.
She looked the tree, specifically, for signs of sentience.

As the Lady looks at the tree the Duke makes his way over and goes for the fruits taking the first he can reach and smelling it. And if it does not give off a repulsive smell taking a giant bite out of it.

The fruit is delicious, like lemon, pear, durian, starfruit, plum, and with little hints of both kiwi and bacon.

But picking it seems to wake the tree up. "...Eh? ...Hello...?" it says. It stirs a bit, and turns to face The Duke and The Lady.

There are knotholes that might be eyes and a mouth, and leafless branches that might be arms...?

The Lady smiles, warmly, and bows slightly, "Greetings, friend", she said,  "We regret bothering you, but seek assistance ... and you seem the only sapient being bar ourselves available.

We are looking to find one named Juniper.   May I beg, would you know of such a person?"

When the tree turns out to be more then it seemed it was only the fact that the Duke was stuffing the fruit into his mouth with two hands that kept him from instantly smashing the thing to bits. Foers didn't flag it as a friend so as he quickly gobbles down the delicious fruit to get his hands free it is the Lady that stops him from attacking but its dead obvious he is waiting for the first opportunity to explode into violence.

"I... am Juniper..." says the tree.

Foers puts the tree on Do-Not-Attack status, at least for now...

The Lady gave a bow of her head in respect,  "Then it is you we seek, good sir".
She placed a gentle hand on her companion's arm, "We come to ask your wisdom on how to find a structure ... a colony ... of humans referred to as 'the Cloister'.  We were led to believe that you had information that could aid us, and might be willing to share".

She gently reached into her pocket, and pulled out the little bag of 'food' that the old witch had given she and The Duke, and offered it towards the treeman, "We offer this gift, in exchange for hospitality and guidance".

I made this roll yesterday, but forgot to add it to the last post I made ... so here it is:
- rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,3.  Charming.

"Oh... You do not mean me... You mean my sire... He no longer speaks as we are speaking now... But I could still communicate with him..." Juniper (junior) lets out a long sigh. "...You have been talking to the old witch..." Juniper then lapses into silence. "...Your offering is very... polite... but... Considering... what I want from you even more... it would be impolite for me... to... take... Hm... Well... Since you have dealt with the old witch... perhaps what I offer will not be surprising to you... I would trade favors... But what I ask will be easier for you... the swift... than it would be for one such... as myself..."

"Of course,", The Lady replied with a wiry smile, of course, "What might we do for you, friend, that might entreat you to aid us?"

"...I would like to show you... It is only an hour's walk away..."

Gesturing to you to follow, Juniper (jr.) shakes the dirt off his roots, and starts walking farther upstream...

(I presume you follow (in your walker)?)

The Duke follows on foot.l Who knows maybe some fruits fall off.

With The Duke, The Lady followed along behind Juni Jnr on foot.
They could return later for the vehicle: after all, she reckoned, here in the vacant apocyliptic wastelands at the End of History, she suspected Grand Theft Walker was not a common crime.

After about an hour, The Lady, the Duke, and Juniper (jr.) reach... a building.

The building seems to grow out of the middle of a very large hill... Or maybe the building was there first and dirt and earth slowly accumulated on top of the back of it.

There is only one visible doorway. The front door is missing, if there ever was one.

Water is gently flowing out of the front doorway. This is the source of the shallow stream you've been following.

"...This... is..." Juniper (jr.) starts to say, but then the face-like part of his body turns to the right.

A sort of hovercraft is approaching from the direction you've just come. There is a human man on it. Its movement is almost silent, except for a sort of shmmmmmmmmmm... noise.

It comes to a stop, and lowers to the ground right next to The Duke and The Lady and the tree-man.

(Orlean, you were worried when you found the walker and no one was on it, but then the skimmer you're riding kept going anyway, somehow knowing where to find The Duke and/or The Lady.)

The scholar looked from under the rim of the parasol shielding him from an imaginary sun. He noticed the three figures beside the skiff and corked his bottle, placing it back in a small alcove. He squinted, looking up as if the moon, scolded him into submission. Opening the bottle once again, the man shook his head and took one last sip of the concoction.

Pushing a few buttons on the skiff confirmed their identities. Rising off the plush chair he looked about to make sure all appeared to be in order before he even spoke. He took a book in his hand, opened it, checked the time, then went back to looking at the three figures and the strange river that appeared to flow out of a doorway. This had become a strange world, since the Dying.

"Hail travelers to Cloister," Orleon Templeton spoke with a stern and confident air, as if he were still in the ziggurat."The Council decided that this expedition would no doubt benefit my studies, so they sent me. And I do hope they backed this sled with supplies. You all look like you need them."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Tue 28 July 2020.

The Duke looks up at the incomming threat but Foers immediatly marks vehicle and passenger as Ziggurat property and he instead of smashing it just flexes his hands into fists a few times and looks at the Lady and their tree host. Maybe he could snag a fruit in the distraction after all. so with all eyes on the new one blabbering nonsense about them needing him he yanks a fruit free.

ooc: 10:25, Today: The Duke rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,1.  Hidey.

As the vehicle approached, The Lady said to Juni Jnr, "Please, give me a moment".
She placed a gentle hand on The Duke's forearm, as she'd become accustomed to doing in the last day or so, to reassure her companion.

Then she strode over to that place between the new arrival, and her companions ... ready to accept their visitor.


"Hail, yourself, traveller.
It certainly seems that the Ziggurat Council did send you; otherwise you stole one of their craft to do so, which is unlikely.
Are we to understand that you are here to join our expedition?
And how might we refer to you?" she asked ... and then remembering her manners, she gestured towards the immense man behind her, "This is The Duke, my companion on this quest"


Having not actually turned to look towards The Duke, she was unaware of the ... diplomatic incident ... about to happen there.

Juniper (jr.) seems a bit annoyed. "Now is not the time for consumption," he snaps. Well, it takes him like 15 seconds to say it, but for him that's snapping.

(The Duke gets 1 xp but takes -1 on his next roll)

Juniper (jr.) may be waiting to be introduced...?

"My name is Orleon Templeton, Rialto, researcher in the arcane and lost tech before the Dying," the man in robes
confessed from his vantage point upon the skiff. He worked to hide a flinch when the Duke flexed and was not entirely confident of his response. "My ever-expanding studies have pointed the way to the Cloister all of you seek. Thus the Council has approved my joining you. Additionally, I do bring some provisions that the council saw fit to re-supply you with."

Templeton looks about for a moment. "Though I must confess the environment is much more hospitable than has been in the books of yore.

"...So..." muses Juniper (jr.), "...a Rialto is a kind of researcher...?"

He shakes his head rapidly (for him-- it takes like 10 seconds), and follows up: "I am Juniper... son of Juniper... Your... colleagues... have agreed to help with a local problem... in exchange for... my asking... my father... what he remembers about the Cloister..." Juniper (jr.) gestures toward the building sticking out of the nearby hill...

The Lady seemed about to respond to the newly arrive scholar, when their floral fellow began to speak.
It seemed that he was not going to wait for The Lady to introduce him, nor explain their current circumstance ... and so she stood patiently and politely waiting for him wade through his own.

As the barkcovered man spoke, The Lady eyed The Duke: and she suppressed an amused smirk.
Poor Duke, he hadn't eaten in about ten minutes, and was probably starving to death.

When Juniper Jnr finished his speech, she smiled at the craggy face in the trunk, and returned her attention to the scholar,
"And so it is that you join us at an auspicious moment in this historic journey, Orleon Templeton.
Please, descend and be welcome".

Turning again to Juni Jnr, she asked, "Please what is the nature of this problem you perceive?"

As the decision is made to move on the Duke nods and even seems to try to look guilty which was hard with a mouth full of the weird fruit and then saunters after the tree.

"Your fruits are great. How can it not be a time for them?"

"...Inside this building, water flows forth, as you see. This gives life. But the water is slowly lessening. The answer can only be deeper within the building... But there is a door in a hallway that closes. The door opens again when one leaves the hallway. ...I and my people are too slow to move through the door before it closes. You could do so, easily. I ask that you enter and try to learn what is making the water decrease, and if it can be made to increase again."





"...This is the time for explaining and listening, not for consuming." Juniper (jr.) was getting more and more annoyed, but then his attitude changed, and now he speaks more like he's decided The Duke is a large child.

The Duke happily munches on the last bit of the fruit and then looks at the door and at Juniper.

"Want me to rip the door out? Then you have no problems at all."

He looks at the Lady after that though asuming she wants them to go inspect what is behind. ANd who knows what the new one wanted to do. The Duke was starting to think of knocking some fruits loose but the Lady wanted Juniper to give them important information.

"I... think... that... would be difficult... If you are able to... then come back and let me know... and we may discuss it... further...

When the lady does not say he cant and the tree man says yes he saunters over to the door and checks it out. If he would be getting those nice fruits he was more then willing to rip a door out of its hinges.  He gives the door a solid inspection and if he thinks he can deal with it in the Duke way activates his power fists and rips the door out.

(You're getting a little ahead of yourself. The door is (as mentioned earlier) inside the building at the end of a hallway.)

The Duke enters through the open doorway indicated.

As he does so, the ceiling quickly glows until the room is just a little brighter than being outside.

The room inside is perhaps 25 foot square.

A rather plain fountain trickles water.

Someone has poured glue or tar or something into the base of the fountain so that it won't drain. This means that the fountain is overflowing into the rest of the room. The water accumulates about an inch, then floods over the threshold, and down the hill...

There is a valve control on the right wall.

There is a new doorway on the opposite wall from the entrance, with about three steps upward  to it.

The Lady follows The Duke inside, allowing her companion right of way ... that any Madrid’s will encounter him first.

Seeing the room as it is, she can see that the fountain is the source of the water, and can gather that it’s rate of flow must be slowly ebbing as time goes by.

As it has been running over time, that valve control must be open ... but the source, as Juniper suggests, must be further inside the building.
Through yonder door.

Perhaps it is the entrance to said hallway of which Juniper speaks.
So The Lady casually glides over towards it, testing to see if it will open for her.

Orleon says he has to go look something up... he jumps on his vehicle and returns from whence he came, leaving behind most of the food and drink.




(??? Madrids? Is this Autocorrect for "monsters"?)




The doorway in question does in fact lead to a long hallway, about 40 yards or so. Its ceiling, too, lights up when one enters it.

At the far end is another doorway, open.

One problem that The Lady sees right away is that the ceiling is only 7 feet high-- cramped for their new tree-friend.

The second is that yes, a door starts closing at the far end right away-- and it's two feet thick, of a very, very sturdy metal.

If one runs, then even The Duke could fit through before it closed. The same is true for The Lady. She can see, though, how the same would not be true for Juniper (jr.)

The third problem is that the walls and door are extremely thick (the door itself is more than two feet thick) and extremely durable. Even The Duke can't harm them, nor stop them closing. The Lady, who has been around for quite a long time, suspects that the door closes using electromagnets, and thus would probably just crush anything placed in the space to hold it open.

The Lady had no intention of running down there now.

Turning back to her allies, and the scene before her, she scanned it for any further hints or information that might be useful to them before they did so.
          - rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,5.  Insightful: to find anything interesting.


"Those doors seem to close when these are opened.
Perhaps they open when these are closed?" she suggested to The Duke, "Perhaps you might step inside the Hallway, and tell me what happens when I close this door?"

"Well," The Lady said to The Duke, "Leave city, leave reality; enter forest, enter fantasy!”, quoting a philosophise and poet she had once enjoyed.

Then, with a quirky smile to her large companion, she said, "Race you!" and without giving him any chance to prepare, or respond, she was off ... full kilter down the corridor, to and through yonder door.

The Lady makes it easily.

(Presuming The Duke runs as well, he will make it just in time (a difference in phrasing owing to the fact that he is, er, wider than The Lady).

If he does not run, he will not make it, but he will be able to go back to the room with the fountain and try again...

I will wait and make sure The Duke comes too before I describe the next area...)

The Duke blinks at the lady and as she darts off he laughs like a kid and then bursts after her his massive bulk needing a little time to get to speed and it also means he has a hard time comming to a halt once though and he almost squishes the lady.

The last two areas were quick to light up once either of the two humanoids enter it, and this new area is no exception. It is a sort of stairway-- the stairs broad and easy to descend. It leads downward for about 150 feet, and then seems to turn left, although that may be to double back on itself.

There seems to be no way to open the door behind them again, so since there is nowhere else to go, The Duke and The Lady descend the stairs.

The stairs take them down oh... perhaps six, seven stories? At least it's easy-- downhill all the way... The lights overhead continue to light up as they travel...

Finally, the stairway opens onto... a large cavern. Half the ceiling and walls are metal flat stone. Half of it seems like natural rough bedrock.

Glowing, bioluminencent moss and mushrooms grow down here, lighting up areas where the ceiling overhead stops glowing.

There are many moths fluttering from fungus to fungus...

...The cavern floor slopes very gently downward. At the far end of the cavern is a very large tunnel that bends off to the right...

The Lady leapt sideways with a yelp, as The Duke almost squished her.
Then she giggled a little, and patted him amiably.

As the travelled down the stairs, she allowed her brute to take the lead, permitting him to protect her with his impressive bulk.
When the reached the Fungi Cavern, though, the scene intrigued her enough to draw her out into the open to better look at both the flora and the fauna.

"This place has developed its own ecosystem", she said, admiring that change from the ecosystem above them.
She even went so far as to pick some of the nearby mushrooms, and smell their fragrance as though they be flowers.
"I suppose we continue on?" she asked of The Duke, eventually, looking down the long cavernous corridor to the very large tunnel that bends off down there to the right.

She also wondered if this place continued any traps or such.

The Duke looks around just longe enough to determine stuff that glows might not be food and if the cause of their problem is there and then nods at the lady and blunders on.

The rocky parts of the ceiling are dripping just a tiny bit in places because of moisture levels, but otherwise there doesn't seem to be anything in this area that involves solving the water problem upstairs.

As for the fungal life forms, The Duke tries them. They don't seem poisonous, and indeed they do seem edible, but they definitely don't taste good.

So, The Lady and The Duke head on down the gentle slope to the only obvious remaining exit from the area...

...And they come upon... Well, the new area is quite a world of its own.

More large steps wind down to a HUGE cavern-- It's easily 150 feet from floor to ceiling, and might be more than half a mile from side to side and front to back.

There are little huts and things to the left, right, and straight ahead (each of the three groups of huts are separate from the other two groups, though)...

In the middle... There's some sort of fighting going on...?

                                 {in anticipation of your request, I am going to go ahead and make shit up}

The beings that were involved in this 'fighting' were small and insectoid.  Bugs, of three types it seemed, that had evolved into a bipedal form: their upper four arms articulate, and their small, 4' bodies carapace.

The Lady instantly assumed that the three sub-species were each camped in their own bivouac, and that perhaps each group represented a greater tribe/society somewhere deeper into the cavern system.
And that what they were witnessing now was some kind of ritual challenge ... a gathering of representatives from said cultures, in some kind of negotiation or conflict settlement.

She was thoroughly amused, and intrigued.
To her violent friend, she gently asked, "Please, don't kill them yet.  I hope to speak with them", figuring that Foers was probably labelling them as enemy for the moment.

Scrubbing his tongue with the back of his hand to get the foul taste out of his mouth the Duke gives one of the nearby mushrooms a solid kick that uproots it for tasting so foul as they abbandon the place.

Of coarse the lady was more then right Foers was painting them all red like enemies or threats that need to be eliminated and the Duke was already two steps ahead for a headlong charge when the Lady gives her request and he nods and then bursts off into the brawl to break it up so the lady can talk. slapping the things around a little if need be but mostly just being a big scary thing in their midst.

"You stop this fight or i will crush you bugs. Go talk to the lady good luck!!"

ooc: The Duke breaks up the fight. Unless its Agile everything else is 10+

07:54, Today: The Duke rolled 10 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,5.  Not sure what so no modifiers.

There are three types of combatants: human-sized frog-or-toad-people, human-sized (maybe a little larger) insectish/mantis-looking people, and a feline jaguar/leopard-looking people.

They are all completely shocked by the appearance of The Duke-- by his ability to toss hardened fighters this way and that-- and by the fierce intensity of his words. They stop fighting, and grow silent (save for one frog somewhere near the back who briefly shouts "Yes! Crush them! Crush all of the bugs!" but is quickly shushed).

"...You want us to talk? Talk to... that woman, there?" growls a jaguar-man. "That is what you want, mighty fighter? Then we shall talk, and listen... for now. What do you have to say, woman?" the jaguar warrior asks The Lady.

“YOU ARE IN LUCK”, The Lady replied, casually stepping o et to a nearby rock and seating herself elegantly.
In truth, when she’d said she’d like to speak to them, she’d meant ‘eventually’ ... after they’d finished their immediate business.
But thanks to The Duke, it seemed that immediately business was finished.

“Come, one at a time, and tell me who your leaders are ... and what is the nature of the ‘discussion’ we have interrupted”.
This was a test in itself.   Of aggression, and the willingness to negotiate.
She also suspected that the strongest among them would speak up first.

- rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,5.  Charm.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:02, Sun 30 Aug 2020.

Everyone looked at an insect, who stepped forward. "We are the Cutari," said the insect. "Our queen is Cli'Ni'Cla."

"My tribe is the Onsu," says a jaguar. "We do not worship a mortal leader. The wisest of us, however, is Shuak, High Priest of Shaa."

"My people are the Durka," says a shorter-than-the-others frog-toad person. "We are currently without a mortal guide-- our last having been killed by the Cutari! But we know our own will. We fight for the water." There are growls and clicks from the Onsu and the Cutari at this, but they glance at The Duke, and let the Durka continue. "To murder a long history: We Durka need the water for birthing the young. The Cutari need it for their crops. The Onsu desire it for... religious purposes... Which is why we Durka have the pure cause. The Onsu pray to their god for victory in battle. The Cutari queen needs to feed more soldiers. We Durka simply try not to become extinct."

"As if food is not vital to stave starvation, lying toad?!" shouts a Cutari...

"Silence," says the Onsu who spoke before. He says it quietly, but the way he says it clearly means I WILL KILL YOU SOON, and all qrow quiet. "Shaa may have sent you to us, strangers. Woman, your manbeast is clearly a great warrior. Together, you have stilled the loathsome din of battle. I inquire after your intentions. Do you have any awareness of Shaa sending you to aid our campaign of war?"

"If they did, would they not have said so in the first place?" said the previously-aforementioned Cutari...

Shit, sorry folks.   I've been busy and somehow this dropped off my list.
Possibly I thought I had posted ....
Again, sorry


The Lady smirked as she listened to the banter ... like a kindly mother letting the children query here, and argue among themselves.
When the silence fell, she smiled benevolently at them.
- rolled 3 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,1.  Charm.
pfft, I don't know why I try to play The Lady as charming:  The dice roller sees her otherwise

"You are all so cute ... and insignificantly stupid", she said to them gently, with mirth and condescension.
"Shaa is nothing but your primitive imagining.
And as for your water, I am here to ensure it flows again ... with neither care nor concern for how it affects your petty lives".

And with a 'winning smile', she asked, "So, who will take me to where it is being dammed?" ... inferring that whomever did would get some 'sweety' for their loyalty and effort.

Every mouth and mandible falls open.

For about four seconds.

Then, with
--a fast series of clicks like running a stick across the bristles of a comb,
--a deep, loud CRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAK, and
--an unheard murmuring of prayers to Shaa at this blasphemy,

they attack.

The Lady and The Duke, that is, not each other.

The damage would have been worse, even in just the first few moments, but The Duke got in their way... and then they started getting in each others' way, each faction wanting to be the ones to destroy The Lady.

(The Duke and The Lady each take one level of damage.

The Lady gets 1 new xp point.

Everyone is trying to kill both of you, especially The Lady.

However,

1. They are still afraid of The Duke, and

2. They've started fighting amongst themselves again for the victory of being the faction to destroy The Lady. So you've certainly got a chance.

Options:
--Insightful for a good place to run and hide for a little while
--Charming to try to correct this diplomatic disaster
--Forceful to fight
--Agile to just dodge and hope that they forget about you and revert to fighting each other again out of force of habit
--Something else I haven't thought of)
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:54, Sun 13 Sept 2020.

The Duke had been ready and when the things go for the Lady the Duke bursts into action. Foers was pointing at all the critter swarming around them The Lady marked in bright green in his field of vision as the only friend and all the others blinker red for dangerous and in need of neutralizing. And the Duke neutralizes them in a way that makes the stream flow red. The Duke was not just regular violent this was really atrocious.

ooc: Atrocity 10. Assuming these people are not strong we got bug pure.

10-12: Strong Atrocity: Charge any one strong opponent, or group of weak opponents, and destroy them. You don't even need to use any weapons (though you may). If your next move is an assault or atrocity, take +2 forward.

21:06, Today: The Duke rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,4.  Atrocity.

As The Duke played with the creatures, The Lady simply tried to stay out of harms way; dodging as best she could to avoid any harm coming her way.

- rolled 3 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,1.  Agile to Dodge.
      bloody hell, the Dice Roller hates me right now!

(The Lady takes one new level of health damage, but gets 1 new xp.)

The Lady is wounded further in the ensuing warfare...

...but The Duke reduces the likelihood of that happening further. All three groups of combatants suffer, and are decimated-- seriously, each group of combatants lose roughly 90% of their adherents, as Foers seems to regard this as a justifiable self-defense situation.

The surviving Onsu are too busy praying to fight further. Their quiet prayers to Shaa mostly seem to be prayers of thanks for getting to see such a miraculous fighter of The Duke in action.

The surviving Durka are simply horrified, fleeing.

The surviving Cutari are... impressed. "You are clearly in control of this situation," says one. "What do you two want from us, the living?"


(There was some talk of what The Lady wanted earlier, it's true, but the preceding Atrocity has driven it out of the heads of those present.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:11, Wed 23 Sept 2020.

The Duke looks around at the carnage and shows the one addressing him a bloody grin viscera dripping from his face as he does making it all just one unsettling situation.

"You took our water. It needs to flow again now."

The Duke cracks his neck making it clear he was planning to get that water either willingly or maybe even more preferably over their dead bodies.

The Lady was wounded, in body and pride.  And so she stood quietly now, as regally as she could, and allowed The Duke to take control of this situation ... for he was the one whom had earned their bloody respect.

That the statements evoke confusion is clear. "How... did... we... take your water? We are only aware of our three peoples' need for it..."

"And even then you find it hard to share and leave none for the others. Take us to the source. I will share the water for you. and if your populations are to big i can help with that."

He says activating his destructor gloves he hadn't even used in the slaughter yet and cracks his neck again.

"Follow this way, then," says the Cutari, and he leads you... straight ahead.

On the far side of the cavern, uphill a little, is a large pond. Water drips steadily from above into it. Irrigation sluices lead away to the left, presumably to Cutari territory.

There is evidence of ancient pipes that have mostly rusted away long ago.

There is also a large stone basin set into the ground at the edge of the pond. It is quite shallow, but has a large drain.

The (surviving) warriors who have followed The Duke and The Lady note the interest in the basin and the drain. "The drain makes sure that the pond doesn't overflow and flood us," says a Durka. "It used to be full all the time until someone's god started demanding more rituals. Now the drain is needed a lot less."

It's clear to The Lady that the drain very probably provides water for the fountain upstairs...

The Duke looks at the place puts a hand in the basin and looks up at where the water comes from poking the ceiling. Its clear he has no idea about the technical side of things.

"Maybe you should turn your faith to luck. The Lady can show you how you are lucky enough for enough water for all for sure."


As he diverts their attention to th Lady the Duke does an inspection to see what he needs to break to fix things.

ooc: 10:36, Today: The Duke rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,3.  insightful.

The Duke does notice that the water comes from a still-intact pipe near the top, where there's an automated valve. The valve appears to be completely open. Probably this is what the valve in the fountain room controls. The problem is not the water coming from this pipe, it's that the water below doesn't make it to the drain as much as it used to.

Someone could just build a sluice to send the water straight from the pipe to the drain, and therefore to the fountain, but these people might starve.

Of course, according to them, they used to use less water, but now use more (which is why the fountain volume decreased).

It seems this problem might be cultural in nature. Maybe a little more investigation into exactly how the water use increased in the first place...?

The Duke taps the pipe a few times and doesn't think ripping it open will help much at this moment so starts to follow the water to where it is used. Casually loitering along its flow to see where and how the creatures use it.

Before this gets very far, three of the jaguar-men, the Onsu, come running up to The Duke, although they stop before they get in his arms' reach. "Mighty warrior," they say. "We invite you and the female to come with us. There is one of your own kind we captured and have been keeping prisoner for a few sleeps. We would like to turn him over to you in tribute."

"If this is a ruse to keep the water from me it will be your last ruse ever."

He remarks matter of factly but he does stop his wandering to follow their lead.

The Duke (and presumably The Lady) are taken to the edge of the Onsu camp, where they are presented with the prisoner-- another human, like The Duke (in as much as The Duke is like any other human, anyway).

(Ajakstu Gul, you need to add your Description.

Link back to this game )

"We found him prowling around a sacred place. We think he was looking for things to steal," says an Onsu. "Shaa blesses those who can move silently, so we did not kill him. We have been praying for guidance about what we should do with him. Now that you are here, mighty warrior, those prayers have been answered. We turn him over to your custody."

The Duke ayes the hat and what comes with it and shrugs as he adresses the for now non enemy.

"You are Lucky. Go thank Lady Luck for that."

He thumbs back at the lady and looses interest in the man for the Duke was not one to do two things at once and he was looking for the water. Might as well start looking where the water was wasted in this place first. As he does more as an after thought he looks at Gul.

"You don't accidentially know where the water is going do you?"

Ajakstu's eyes shift from The Duke to the Lady and then come to rest in a glare at the Onsu.

"If I had water I would have thrown it on these feline miscreants who wrongly held me."

He then makes a great show of brushing himself off, still shooting the occasional glare at the Onsu.

"It is good fortune for us all that you happened by," he says to the Lady. "I was about to take my leave of my ill-mannered hosts and am happy to grace you with my many talents."

His smile seems totally genuine.

(As The Duke looks around, he sees an Onsu runner running with two large leather waterskins on a yoke. The Onsu male takes them into a large building on the edge of the cavern.)

The Duke already has forgotten about mr Gul and saunters off after the Onsu with the Yoke.

"Walk with me", The Lady bid the human.
"Tell me, what do we call you, stranger?  And ..."

She was following along behind The Duke, still a little sore from the wounds she'd taken, but otherwise curious to see how her giant killer-companion might handle this ... more cerebral ... matter.
She was coming to the belief that, in his own direct and brutal fashion, that he was getting to the heart of their investigation in a rather effectual way.
And, certainly, he'd seemed to have earned the respect of the animal-folk here.

"... from whence dost though come?  Not from the Cloister nor the Zigguarat, I suspect?"

(There are no known sources for human beings to be from, at this time, save for the Ziggurat and the Cloister.

My expectation is that Ajakstu Gul left the Ziggurat some time earlier in search of wonders and treasures.

However,
1. He may have whatever motivations for leaving that he wants (he could even have been thrown out, if you want)
2. He may have left a week ago, or a year, or more, or less, or whatever you want
3. He may also LIE to The Lady about where he's from, why he left, and how long he's been gone all he wants.

I'll get back to what The Duke is gonna see inside the building in a bit-- I wanna see how this conversation plays out first)

"My name, Ajakstu Gul, perhaps you have heard of me?" Ajakstu continues without pausing, as if he was certain she had heard of him or perhaps did not care.

"I left the Ziggurat some time ago on a heroic quest. My uncle, well umcle by marriage, once possessed a mystical switch. He claimed it granted bizarre and wondrous powers to whomever should use it. Alas, his brother betrayed him and stole it, leaving the Ziggurat for wilds unknown."

Ajakstu sighed mightily, and hung his head down. "As the most fit and noble of my siblings I recognized my duty to right this wrong and recover his item."

"That is mighty fine of you, friend Ajakstu ... and surely you are, for you seem fit and noble to my eyes.
Tell me, how goes the quest?   Have you any leads?  Mayhaps some that lead you to this strange place?"

With a show of great sadness Ajakstu cast his eyes down and shook his head.

"It would seem I was given false information. The world is full of the duplicitous and ill-meaning. I was told that this miscreant I sought was down here by a traveling purveyor of medicinal herbs. His medicine also proved false," Ajakstu added as an afterthought.

"What would bring such a well-spoken lady and her....bodyguard to this home to flea-bitten kittens?"

The Lady smiled upon the man, when he graced her with such a compliment.
"Today, we seek to understand why the flow of this water has dwindled," she said, and gazed upon the continued efforts of her companion, "but The Duke seems to have that in hand.

Otherwise, we are on endeavour to find a collective of humanity, similar to but seperate from those at The Ziggurat.
It has become known that one, known as The Cloister, exists ... and we intend to find it.
Perhaps your goal lies with us, for your quest-end might be found among such?", she suggested.
"If not, then travelling with us might cross your path with said purveyor of medicinal herbs again".

"That is a most gracious offer. In these times," he pauses to glare at the Onsu. "Miscreants abound, causing confusion and delay. I think I would enjoy your company. Perhaps I may be of assistance. Surely educated."

As the two humans (and The Lady) enter the new building, they see that it is decked out with representations of Shaa's holy symbol, mostly painted in what looks like blood.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic...OBEx9MA&usqp=CAU

Here and there, Onsu sit, mouths moving in chanting, but silently.

There is another doorway leading deeper inside, which also has the symbol painted above it and to either side.

A large Onsu, disturbed by the arrival of newcomers, comes up. "Why do you come to the temple of Shaa?" she whispers.

The Duke not picking up on something like a place of prayer replies to the woman in his normal loud tone.

"Your people and the others are stealing our water. I am looking to see if i can fix it without murdering you all."

He states it as a fact as he looks around and seems to be planing to look behind the door with the fancy symbol on it.

"I do not think he can kill all of you," Ajakstu stage whispers to the woman.

"Such a bloodbath would be glorious and add to you most certainly great reputation!" he mutters to the Duke.

Then he casually steps back and smiles vacantly.

"Your water?!" says the Onsu woman, although she says it at slightly less than normal volume. (For her, that's probably yelling.) "Are you with the Durka, or the Cutari?!"

The Duke laughs and shakes his head and flicks some imaginary remain of one of the mentioned tribes from his bloodies shoulder.

"I am my own person and i come from outside. You 3 are stealing my water and it has to stop for i need it to help my people."

"...We need this water for our rites to honor Shaa... Shaa demands it..." But by now the Onsu has noticed, even in the dim light, the blood and ichor on The Duke's clothing, and she is wary, beginning to grasp how dangerous this huge man might be...

Once realization comes to the womans eyes a dark broad grin comes to Dukes.

"Show us your rite. We will judge if it must continue or is a waste of water. And then you people can choose. Join Shaa or abandon the rite."

He speaks matter of factly as if full on genocide is nothing else then tying ones shoes.

Sensing impending carnage Ajakstu steps back and glances bout the place, evaluating the possible future value of any artifacts or accoutrements.

"I will of course remain faithful to Shaa. Come."

Ajakstu Gul saw nothing valuable in the first room, but the second room the humans (and Lady) are led to is... more interesting.

First of all, it's slightly better lit, by more working panels in the ceiling.

Another light source is the giant monitor on the far wall.

Two doorways, one to either side of the huge monitor, are also enticing, although each is also guarded by two larger-than-average Onsu with metal spears.

On the screen is the holy symbol of Shaa.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic...OBEx9MA&usqp=CAU

Seated at a swiveling chair that is set into the floor is an elderly Onsu. "That is Shuak," the guide says quietly, "High Priest of Shaa."

Shuak swivels around. "Who are these... visitors...?" Shuak asks.

"They have come to learn of Shaa," says the guide. "They do not believe, but they are Shaa-curious. They wish to witness the Rite of Purification. This may be the will of Shaa, since they will surely become believers."

Shuak ponders this. "I see from their silence that they are willing to believe... to watch and listen, as the holy must do. This may, indeed, be a good omen. Witness, then, visitors, the first of the signs."

Shuak swivels back and pushes a spot on the wall in front of him.

The symbol of Shaa disappears from the screen, and words appear: ...ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT...

"The holy glyphs," intones Shuak, who apparently can't read them.

A quiet noise begins...

TCZZSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH which then changes to SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...

"Shaaaaaaaaaaaaa..." moan all of the Onsu in the room.

Just seconds later, the words on screen change. ATTEMPTED CONNECTION: FAILURE

A voice speaks from all around the room, everywhere and nowhere. "The connection is not complete. There are two obstructions, in sectors 2 and 3. It is recommended that the cache be purged. All data impurities must be cleansed."

Shuak's lips pull back in a beatific feline grin. "Our connection with the divine is not complete. The Cutari and the Durka obstruct the cycle. They must be destroyed, or converted and made pure in the light of Shaa. They resist both destruction and conversion, for they are impure, but Shaa can wait forever. In the meantime, we seek to cleanse ourselves of all data impurities. Shaa understands that it is all we can do." He licks the back of his hand in a ritual gesture. All Onsu in the room copy the gesture, reverently.

The Duke eyes the ritual and nods seemingly in understanding as he copies the gesture.

"I see. A dilemma of great proportions. And so your nemesises live in sector 2 and 3 i assume. Tell me where does Shaa take my water.

And you might be in luck. I heard some people call the Lady blessed Shaa. She might help you with your purification rite."

Ajakstu sidles as close to Shuak as he can. His face is one of concern and concenteration. Or perhaps scheming greed. He staes intently at the monitor and mystic runes. His mind is balancing the thought that Shuak and the lot are full of nonsense and the thought that maybe they are misinterpreting what has been shown.


17:47, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,5.  Insightful.

The Lady also cast her eyes about the place, looking for any clues the environment might provide.

- rolled 5 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,1.  Insight.

"Eh?" says Shuak. "Your water? Ah, is it that you are taking over sectors 2 and 3? Well, the water we take is for the purification rituals..." Shuak gestures to the doorway on the left.




"Oh? And who is this Lady, then...? Are you an adept in the ways of the mystic, o Lady?" Shuak asks The Lady.




It's fairly clear to Ajakstu that the Onsu are misinterpreting what this computer wants... Its memory banks have become corrupted, somewhere. More than that, it's hard for him to say without going over to the wall where Shuak is and starting to try to touch places on it, or at least to talk to the computer. From what Ajakstu has seen so far, the computer will probably need someone to be sitting in Shuak's swivel-y chair in order to interact with the computer vocally... Which Shuak, Ajakstu guesses, will not want to let just anyone do...




Everywhere The Lady looks, all she can notice is faith... in Shaa, who may or may not even be a "real" deity. She is so forgotten, it hurts her. (The Lady takes 1 new level of damage... but gains 1 new xp...)

"AYE. The water bolongs to the strongest and that is me. You are free to challenge me but it will make you a smudge on shaas holy screen."

Assuming he has directed Shauk into the capable hands of the Lady the Duke heads to the door to see what is behind.

The guards on the doorway get ready to attempt to throw their lives away, but Shuak has them stand down. "Wait. This is a holy place. Let him see."

The Duke is allowed to pass through the doorway. (Of course, Foers would have stopped him from killing them, but none of the Onsu are aware of that.)

It leads to a long hallway-- dimly lit, but only because some of the lights built into the ceiling have burned out over the millenia.

The far end opens into a huge room...

There is no more rough stone nor worked stone-- this is white plastic and tile.

Many Onsu sit within, singing.

It's... rather beautiful, really.

(Roll Scary/Weird, please, The Duke...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:57, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

ooc: NO post as i assume more comes depending on the roll. Feel free to roll on my behalf in such a case.

23:40, Today: The Duke rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,3.  scary.

In the center, two Onsu take turns slowly using large bowls to pour water over a third. Drains in the center of the floor remove all excess water.

Something about the acoustics, the singing, the hauntingly dim lighting, is beautiful and calming. Foers has marked these people as Do Not Injure, but The Duke does not want to hurt these people anyway.

These jaguar-people seem holy... what they're doing, sacred.

But The Duke is in control of his mind... His will is still his own... for now.

(Anyone else who comes to this room will also need to roll Scary/Weird.)

There is another large doorway on the far side of the room. (One could, if one wanted, get to the other side and continue without disrupting the Onsu ceremonies, even if one was a very large man.)

The Duke sees the water go down  the drain and though this place fills him with a strange sense of calm and peace also unnerves him. It was a feeling unnatural to him. He was almost about to be swayed from his purpose wich was returning the water to the tree man to find the cloister for his people. After looking at the ceremony for a long (especially for the Duke) he carefully makes his way to the next door to see if he can find where the water drains too.

The Lady watches The Duke, casually and curiously.
She doesn't follow him into the next room immediately, but like a mother keeping an eye on her roving child, if The Duke looked to be moving on further (through or beyond that room), The Lady would follow.


- rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,6.
... if said 'following' takes her into the 'sacred' room

The Lady observes the ceremony... The singing is beautiful, and the aesthetics, but she's been around long enough not too be bowled over.

She sees The Duke heading through the door on the far side of the room...

---

The Duke comes to a room that's some sort of laboratory, with lab tables on the near side of the room, and more lab tables and equipment and sinks and bottles and microscopes on the far side. (There are no Onsu in this new room.)

The REASON for there being so much more stuff on the far side of the room is that there's a glowing green wall of light-- very thin-- in the middle of the room. All the stuff is on the far side of the wall of light.

One question that might be asked is:

--Is the wall of light a force field, keeping everyone out by whatever energetic means?

--Or is the wall of light JUST a wall of light, and the Onsu don't cross it because they think it's sacred or something...?

The Dukes first memories are about a place much like this. It made him feel safe and welcome and he trails around a little picking up some things and just zoning out for a few minutes before he goes and touches the wall to see if it was passable. He remembers a blue one from his youth that tingled when touched.

ooc: assuming its an insightful. Failing miserably and gaining an xp.

12:01, Today: The Duke rolled 4 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,2.  INsightful.

The Duke has a flashback-- he remembers something very traumatic from his past... (What is the memory?

Meanwhile, The Duke gets 1 new xp, but gets a -1 on his next roll...)

On the other hand, his hand does pass through the wall of light.

LIFEFORM DETECTED, a voice says quietly into the room. SPECIES: HUMAN. YOU MAY PASS.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:52, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

Ajakstu watches his new companions wander off in search of water. Water is nice, but rarely valuable.

Still, this leaves him alone with his former captors.

He turns to the seated Onsu. "I am not without skills with such things," he says, pointing lazily at the screen. "Perhaps if I sit and apply myself we can understand more of the message?"

The Lady, now in the 'sacred room', stood just near the doorway into the 'laboratory' ... as always, watching The Duke.

It was the blue lights and the electronic voice that triggered the memory ...
Suddenly, The Duke was floating.  It was a bit like being suspended in a wall-less zero-gravity chamber, if he'd ever known what that was.    The space about him glowed in that faint blue light, consistently and always.
There was always movement out there in the darkness, beyond the faint, glowing aura ... and faint electronic voices, buzzing and chittering to one another.   But The Duke could never quite make out the words, or the forms.

And, as though an invisible hand had gently spun him, he twirled and spiralled in the air ... unable to stabilise himself on any nearby object.
It made him dizzy, and sick, and scared.

Whatsmore, experiences came at him from various and unpredictable angles.
A burning beam of light from somewhere to the side, sliced into his arm.
A swarm of buzzing insects relentlessly stinging and biting ... until suddenly they no were simply no longer there.
And at times, there was simply no air to breath.
Screaming sounds and klaxons shattered against his ears, and the flashing lights were confusing.

He howled in pain and fear; and the cry was that of a baby in torment.

Everything, all this and so much more,  all taking turns to assault The Duke.
Not all the time.  Sometimes there was peace and quiet and harmony, as he revolved and slowly somersaulted in his un-space.
Sometimes, he was even able to sleep ... for short periods of time ... before some horrid and painful experience again descended upon him from any unknown source or quarter.


The memory, this vision of his babyhood?,  made him scared ... and the vision ended as he vomitted onto the laboratory floor before him.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:57, Mon 12 Oct 2020.

Shuat's response and tone make it clear that not only is this not allowed, he (Shuat) does not even take the idea very seriously. "No no," he says, as if addressing a toddler, "this seat is reserved for those who have proven themselves worthy through years of soul-searching and meditation. Even then, one does not choose to sit here-- the Onsu people as a whole choose the one who is worthy."

It would appear that if Ajakstu Gul is to tinker with the Onsu's computer, it won't be through this particular terminal... perhaps there is another somewhere else...?
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:01, Mon 12 Oct 2020.

"I am doing a little soul searching right now," Ajakstu mutters, none too quietly.

He goes to the door that the lady and large man went through and cocks his head to listen. Surely by now there must be screams and destruction??

The Duke was unhappy to say the least. Not only was his mind invaded by bad thoughts that made him feel scared a thing the Duke really did not like as it was something he had no defence against. It also was this place that scared him now. Once he is done vomiting and the fact he eats a lot means there now is a massive sour smelling smudge over the floor and along the side of a cabinet. He wipes his face and looks outside to the lady looking miserable.

"I do not like this place."

He says in such a sad tone it makes him really pityable. But then he seems to regain hemself a little as he turns his back to her to rummage around the 'enclosed' location to see what was there.

Ajakstu Gul hears nothing-- but, faintly, some beautiful singing...

---

(Roll Insightful again, buddy)

7 as i forgot the -1

20:31, Today: The Duke rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,6.  insightful.

The Duke finds some notes.

This facility was once a laboratory, long ago, for working on genetic experiments... but so far, that's all he can understand, based on the notes he finds... Honestly, the whole thing just continues to make him uncomfortable...

However, now that he knows he can cross the wall of light at will, he also finds that what he had previously expected would just be the door of a large vault (perhaps for keeping samples cold) is, instead, a doorway to another part of the facility-- and the thick door doesn't appear to be locked, either...

(The Duke learns a few things, but takes -1 forward due to his emotional discomfort. Now THIS is how one starts earning XP...!)

The Duke gives all the papers which are something he has no patience to read to the Lady.

"This is a bad place. See if you can find anything in here. I will go see if there is something behind that door. See if you can do something about  this water wastage. Let them return the waste water to the fountain maybe?"

With that he goes back to the room to see whats behind the door but he clearly lags at the door into the lab needing to gather courage to go back inside.

Ajakstu cycled through several twitchy movements.

"Bother!" he finally shouts.

The Onsu won't let him have his way. There appeared to be no easily obtainable treasure. His axquaintances or companions or human shields had wandered off. He glared at all the Onsu in turn.

"Harrumph!" he snorted as he stalked off in the direction of the singing.

Please, is the door (through which The Duke goes) on The Lady's side of the blue wall, or the other?

(Sorry not to make clear: it's on the far side of the wall of light.)

The Duke sees a sort of airlock.

If it's anything like an airlock, it's not functioning properly, because it allows him to open the door on the other side just fine while the first door is open.

The space on the other side is a hallway about twenty feet long, and then it turns off to the left...

---

(Ajakstu Gul, roll Scary/Weird, please...)

The Lady walked casually over to the blue force wall, and attempted to touch it ... to put a delicate finger through.

The Duke is more then happy to be out of the room with the scary light and simply loiters on once he is 'safe' Though he slowly starts to expect this is not where the water was going.

The Lady's finger does in fact go through the wall of light.

SOLID-ENERGY CONSTRUCT DETECTED, a voice says quietly into the room. ANALYSIS: NON-LETHAL. SUPPRESSION MODE NOT ENGAGED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACTIVATE SUPPRESSION MODE, ACTIVATE VOCAL COMMAND SHIBBOLETH ZETA ALPHA GAMMA.

Then the voice goes back to being silent.

So the lab's sensors noticed The Lady, and in spite of her making the lab's sensors just a little nervous (at first), apparently it classifies her as not an immediate danger, and so she, too, can pass through the wall of light like The Duke.

---

("Loiter" usually means "to stay in one place, lazily," but it does also have a seldom-used-these-days meaning of "moving on, lazily." Do I interpret correctly that you mean that The Duke slowly moves on...?)

Yeah i believe the correct term might be saunters instead.

The next room The Duke comes to is a large room filled with a series of large cages-- some with a grid of steel bars, some smaller ones that are just glassed-in in the front.

All are empty.

There is another door on the far side of this area. (What was it with ancient people that they made their facilities in tunnel-like warrens, anyway? Well, maybe it's just that most buildings on the surface that didn't do that are gone now...)

The Lady stepped through he glowing curtain of blue light, and continued to follow The Duke.
She was happy for him to be taking this initiative, and to follow in his wake.

The Duke ayes the cages and ponders what would have been in there. Probably it was a live food store of the people that lived and worked in the previous room. Seeing the Lady follow the Duke waits a moment for her to catch up.

"What a weird place. Foers has decided the creatures here are friends. Can you imagine? We need to teach them to return the water of that ritual back there. It might be like in the ziggurat. Water from t he shower room dissapears too.

Ajakstu wanders into a chamber resounding with caterwauling.

"Caterwauling!" he chuckles, congratulating himself on his cleverness.

Not seeing his two new acquaintances, he does a fantastic twirl and leap around the singers and heads onward.

18:28, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,3.  Scary/weird.

With the Lady lost in thought at the room of cages the Duke shrugs and advances into the next chamber. The Ziggurat had a room like this where they bred the small life stock. Its where he learned live chicken didn't taste as good as chicken roast and was banned for life after that.

Before Ajakstu Gul leaves the room, though, the singing seems to seep into him.

He becomes thoughtful... yet anxious. Is it apprehension? Or merely excitement? It's hard to say.

(The next time Ajakstu Gul makes a roll, he MUST ALSO roll Scary/Weird right afterward (even if the initial roll was also Scary/Weird... it will be as if he chose to use his Luck move. (If the next roll he makes IS for his Luck move, it will be as if he rolled it twice for the same thing (which could normally never happen...)))

---

In the next room, The Duke finds a computer terminal on a desk, and also there is a robot.

"PERSON NOT RECOGNIZED HALT STATE YOUR IDENTITY OR AUTHORIZATION"

The robot doesn't look so tough... Nor all that smart.

(One may roll Charming OR Insightful in order to attempt to communicate with the robot...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:49, Mon 26 Oct 2020.

The Duke looks at the machine talking to him and then ogles Foers to see a reaction from his best friend. As it fails to present itself he shrugs and says.

"I am the strongest so i am the boss. Obbey or i crush you like a can."

17:48, Today: The Duke rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,1.  insightful -1.

(The Duke gets 1 new xp, but takes -1 forward toward his next roll.)

Foers has not labeled the robot at all, which means it's okay with Foers for The Duke to destroy the robot if The Duke wants to do so.

"ERROR YOU ARE NOT IN A SUPERVISORY POSITION OVER ME IDENTITY CLAIM NOT ACCEPTED PLEASE LEAVE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY"

The robot seems slightly armored, and it looks like it can taser people if it touches them, but it's a little slow...

The Duke doesn't even hesitate and simply gives the thing a solid whack planning to rip it out of its place and toss it out of the room.

"Authorize this tin can!!"

an 8 on Forceful

Ajakstu whirled about, fingering his daggers. He sensed......treasure...or maybe a threat...?

He moved into the next room, pausing every other step to look over one shoulder or the other. And definitely upwards. No one ever looked up.

The Duke does violence to the robot. He gets zapped by a taser at one point. It hurts... but not as much as if he tried to disobey Foers.,,

(The Duke destroys the robot, but loses one health level.)

---

Ajakstu Gul enters the room with the wall of light...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:55, Tue 27 Oct 2020.

Disposing of the 'corpse' by shoving its remains into one of the cages the Duke annoyedly stomps back int othe room with the computer and looks around. He was here looking for where the water went maybe the TV screen had the info? He starts poking it with a finger hunting for  what he needs.

Ajakstu regards the wall of light. Either the other two passed through it, or perhaps were disintegrated. All of the items of interest are beyond the wall though.

Seeing no dust, blood, or other remnants he cannot but think that they passed through.

Gingerly testing the wall first with his left pinky, if nothing happens he steps through.

The Lady watched The Duke for a while, but when the big man began poking the computer, she felt the need to step in on the situation.   This was Tech that she'd not seen for some time, and arguable 'antique'.  It was the same as the tech outside where the 'wise'man sat.

Joining the Duke, she attempted to access, or communicate, with the machine.

The Duke hadn't really looked for new exits from this room before-- he'd only had time for a quick glance before he'd had to deal with the robot.

There is a very sturdy-looking metal door, closed...

When The Duke pokes at the computer terminal, it comes on, and seems ready to receive input...

(Use an Insightful roll to interact further with the computer terminal...)

---

LIFEFORM DETECTED, a voice says quietly into the room when Ajakstu Gul touches the wall of light. SPECIES: HUMAN. YOU MAY PASS.

Well, that was easy...

Ajakstu smiles and steps through the wall. Pondering the skill of the other two at finding....certain things, he spends ten minutes rummaging around for items of interest or potential chaos.

-  rolled 6 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,4.  Insight.

"Maybe ... try gently rubbing it?"
That worked for her.   Anyone gently rubbing and massaging The Lady usually got a good response.

Taking the ladies advice the dukes plumb fingers start to stroke the device to see if it got  a reaction.

07:53, Today: The Duke rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,3.  Insight.

(Ajakstu, roll Insightful.)

---

Absolutely nothing happens when The Lady touches the terminal. She feels vaguely embarrassed.

(The Lady gets 1 new XP, but takes -1 forward toward her next roll.)

The Duke carefully touches the device... and something happens. There's a tiny sort of click, and a voice says "VOCAL COMMAND MODE ENGAGED."

The Duke must have pushed a button or something-- Sounds like the computer will let you speak to it now at this terminal.

(Anyone may now speak to the computer (from this room). But for best results (and worst), you'll need to try rolling Insightful when you interact with it...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:25, Thu 29 Oct 2020.

The Duke looks at the direction of the voice and groans. This was to much effort. He rather just smashed things and be done with it. But they where looking for water so he yells at the device.

"Tell those cretins to give me back my water or i crush you!!"

ooc 15:49, Today: The Duke rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,4.  Insight.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Thu 29 Oct 2020.

15:25, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 12 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,6.  Scary/Weird.

15:24, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,4.  Insightful.


"Ha ha!" Ajakstu exclaimed with a clap for emphasis. "What do we have here?"

The Lady smiled calmingly at The Duke, and placed a hand on his arm.  This often seems to calm him, and she wished him calm now.

I haven't been awarded any 'Attention' recently, but if I have even one point, I'd like to give The Duke a little luck in this interaction.
Pay 1 Attention to increase The Duke's success to '10'.

"Speak nicely to the building, Duke", she councils her large companion, "Honey earns more flies than does vinegar, after all".

A new computerized voice responds to The Duke-- more feminine, more human-sounding, more neutral (yet definitely a bit warmer in tone than previously). "...I'm hearing that you're asking a question about water usage in the laboratory, or possibly plumbing issues...? Is that right?"

---

(Ajakstu Gul, your natural luck-- temporarily slapped with extra body english by hearing the song of the Onsu-- has led to you definitely making a lucky find.

What CATEGORY of thing might you like to have found?
--A melee weapon?
--A distance weapon?
--A special piece of clothing?
--A Kit (see Stuff thread)?
--A useful new pet?
--Or just a valuable Treasure of some sort that others would find valuable...?
(You may also pitch me a category other than the above...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:12, Mon 02 Nov 2020.

The Duke never had this honey the Lady speaks about Bees are extinct so long he doubted anyone ever had it. So he gives the lady a strange look but as the woman voice is nice to him and Foers doen't tell him she is a danger he talks nice.

"Yes i want to know why the water no longer goes to the fountain."

"...Diagnostics show that you're right-- the fountain in the entry hall on the surface level isn't getting the correct amount of water that it should, even though the proper valves are open fully. ...It must be that the reservoir isn't being filled properly. ...Have you checked for leaks on this level? I show no other problems elsewhere. Could someone in the Genetic Engineering department be draining the water manually?"

Ooooh, a pet of course!!

The Duke frowns at the difficult words that the machine is blurting out and he doesn't fully understand and the Lady can see he clenches his fist in an urge to let it use proper words but remembers the Ladies words.

"Speak normal. I do not have your diaglostic and i why would a user guide remove water? You speak no sense!!

The Oni and the other tribes seem to be stealing water from the basin. Can you see in the sewers where most is wasted? They have a cleansing room here where they waste a lot of water but they only listen to a screen it seems."

"...I'm sorry that there's difficulty in communicating. I'll try to speak more carefully."

When the computer speaks again, a few seconds later, the female voice's tone is different, as if she's speaking to a child.

"...I am trying to look at the problem... if you mean the operating theater, I see that a lot of water is going in the drain there, but I think that's only part of the problem you're talking about. I think the problem is more at the source... I think that the staff on this level need to reduce their water consumption-- you're very smart to report the problem to me. I'll do what I can to help. The operating theater, which is nearby, is able to recycle some water, but it's getting too much, and there's not much I can do about that. Have you already talked to the people bringing water into that room about how they're using more water than the room was designed to recycle?"

---

Ajakstu Gul makes an interesting find... behind a pile of papers, he finds an interesting-looking beetle. It's very large-- a good 8 inches-- and colorful.

(I'm picturing a weird alien Hercules, Stag, or Goliath-type beetle, but describe it, please.
--How many horns does it have?
--What colors?)

It's eating some other, smaller bug.

When Ajakstu Gul moves the papers and finds the beetle, it seems as interested in him as it is in him. Wings pop out from under its carapace, and it flies (wow, it can fly? Amazing! Its wings must be very strong!) up onto Ajakstu Gul's arm... where it sort of rubs up against him and makes a purring noise. It likes Ajakstu Gul! And it seems smart, too!

(What will you name your new pet?)

The Duke smiles when the woman in the machine talks normally to him and nods ahead when she goes though her points. Then he has a brillinat idea.

"The Oni seem unwilling to listen to me and Foers does not let me crush them. But there is a big screen with a holy symbol on it. Can you use that to tell the Oni they are no longer allowed to pour water in the drain? That all water used for the ritual needs to be returned to the fountain?"

The Lady smiled.  The Duke was not nearly as stupid as people thought: when given the chance to think instead of act, he was quite a capable fellow.

Ajakstu stifles an urge to jump. The bug seemed friendly. Valuable even!

"Well, hello, new friend!" he cackled. He raised his arm to get a better look at the beetle. More or less typical for its kind, except that it really wasn't. Size aside, there were the horns. One large one, centrally located on what could be called it's forehead. To Ajakstu, it almost looked like a turret. One very much smaller one was perched above each eye.

It was mostly red and gold, at least from what Ajakstu could see. However, it appeared as if someone had peppered it with purple and black. When he shifted his arm, its eyes seemed to glow with a piercing blue.


"I shall call you Rake!" he exclaimed. Much more cultured than Rogue, or Rascal, he thought.

Humming smugly to himself, Ajakstu headed after the others, attemting to transfer Rake onto his shoulder as he walked.

(The Duke, that's a big idea. You'll need to roll Charming to try to help the computer understand what you want it to do.)

---

Rake seems perfectly content to move to Ajakstu's shoulder, and rest there, as Ajakstu heads for the room with the cages...

(The Duke gets a new XP!)

"I'm very sorry, but I don't quite understand what you're asking me to do. Perhaps this request would best be communicated by using the terminal on the desk? Or maybe you can find someone in the Programming department to help you? If those ideas don't work, perhaps ask your supervisor?"

(It turns out that this concept is a little too complicated for the nice computer voice lady to understand... you'll have to try something else, which right now suggests either trying to use the computer terminal, or exploring elsewhere in the laboratory complex for an answer...)

The Duke groans and starts to press on the touch screen to see if this stupid device had pictures that would help conveying his quite simple message.

(Time for a new Insightful roll, fella)

Ajakstu looks at the cages and then at Rake. Chuckling, he shakes his head.

He spends five or tenminutes poking about. "Let me know if you see something you like to eat," he tells his pet.

Rake seems uninterested, as if he's hunted in this room already/recently.

(If you want to search the room, you could always try a new Insightful roll.)

---

The Duke doesn't find anything that solves his problem immediately... but he does find:

1. A command that, if he uses it, will open the big metal door in the wall, and

2. A reference to the "Programming Department." It's through the big metal door, and apparently off to the left... somewhere.

Ajakstu shrugs, sharing the lack of interest. He continues on, wondering where the other two have got to, listening for screams.

Ajakstu (and Rake) enter a room where a robot has been destroyed. He finds the slightly dissonant sight of The Duke and The Lady studying a computer terminal screen...

Ajakstu blinks, rubs his eyes, blinks again. He slowly backs out and then re-enters. Seeing the same scene he has no choice but to believe it is real.

"Ah, there you are!" he exclaims. "It appears you have things well in hand. Perhaps there is something salvageable in this wreckage," he muses as he gently kicks the robot.

Will make an Insight roll to check.

14:55, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,1.  Insightful check.

The Duke having learned that this place has doors he cant open thinks its interesting to open the door and pushes the command.

"There is a programming department. Maybe they make the programs there that are on the vid screen in the ziggurath."

The Lady leaned over, also, and asked the computer,  "Can you please provide us with a map or layout of this ... complex".

Charm?
- rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,5.

Say, there's a little exposed wiring... and the leads on either end of the wiring are gold... that might be valuable for trading one of these days...

(Ajakstu gains Gold Wiring Leads, weight 0, might be handy for trading one day)


The heavy metal door opens, revealing a hallway that runs left and right.


The computer makes a quiet humming noise, and a piece of paper slides out of a seam built into the desk.

However, it's blank.

...Nnnnno, wait, it's not... it's just printed so lightly, it's extremely hard to read.

The Lady can see the entry hall, and Shuak's room, and the "operating theater" where the singing is now, and the lab, and the cage room, and the room where she is currently, and the hallway behind the heavy metal door...

The Lady can also make out one more detail on the map... (In three words or less, name the extra detail, The Lady...)

The Lady let her gaze wander over the faintly printed map.
She strained to make out detail, but found that beyond this next big steel door was a corridor to places that included ...
    a 'Gr e  H us' ??

She couldn't make the rest out.
"Great Hustle?" she wondered to herself, slightly aloud.

The Duke shrughs sharing the wonder of what that might be and advances though the door and heads left into the corridor.

"Well i want to know if they make the programs here. I was really sad when they stopped with the angry mice show and will give those programmers my piece on that."

The Duke might be forgetting the whole water issue now the more important issue of his missing vid screen program might be solved.

The Duke heads off to the left... There is an intersection, though, where the hallway splits.

The Duke thinks that staying to the left might lead to the Programming offices faster... but there are a lot of cobwebs in the way that way.

The right hallway should avoid the cobwebs, but there's no guarantee of how quickly that might or might not lead to the Programming offices...

Which way will you try?

Ajakstu wanders over to The Lady. "Is there anything I can do to spped our departure from this place?" he asks.

The Duke mutters something about the lack of cleanlyness and swipes a hand though the cobwebs and makes his way through. Everyone knows those things appear where the cleaning robots no longer work but nobody knows what makes them.

"No," replied The Lady, to Ajakstu, "I cannot think of anything ... but you, knowing you better than I ... might know of something".
But as she spoke, she was already drifting after the trail-blazing Duke.

Ajakstu shrugs, happy to move on. He hums tunelessly as they set off after the Duke.

As the group proceeds, the cobwebs get thicker and thicker, not that The Duke has any difficulty moving forward at all.

And then, just when it seems that The Duke might have stomped his way through the worst of the cobwebs, and the far end of the corridor seems to be getting easier to see: an attack! Spiders!

Spiders of various sizes descend to attack. The smallest are smaller than Rake. The largest are roughly the size of an average housecat.

(Everyone roll to defend: Forceful if you concentrate on smashing the spiders, Agile if you focus on using agility and dexterity to just smack them away.

Ajakstu Gul, Rake is very excited by the spiders, and he starts attacking them and eating the smallest as quickly as he can. Whatever you roll, add an extra +1 to it.)

13:31, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 9 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 3,3.  Agile to defend plus Rake.

"Yes, kill them! Eat them!" Ajakstu yells encouragingly to Rake.

"Hey! Big Guy! My new friend is helping us, so don't smash him in your zeal to destroy!" he shouts to The Duke.

The Duke snarls at the pests crawling all over him and starts hitting ans stomping wildly around in an attempt to get them off and following Rakes example eating some of the beasts.

ooc: 20:01, Today: The Duke rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,3.  Duke SMASH!!

- rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,5.  Agile to swoosh them away.

The Lady was annoyed by these annoying ants.  She hadn't had to deal with paparazzi for ... how long now?

On one hand, none of the adventurers were able to avoid getting bitten entirely (each of you lose one health level), but on the other hand, thanks mostly to The Duke and Rake, when the battle is over, it's over.

Soon the human-shaped adventurers (and Rake) are through to the other side of the webs, and the arachnid-adventurer combat is over. (At least as long as no one ventures back in there...)

The Lady notes that while the corridor continues onward straight ahead for a while, that they are also currently standing right near a door labeled PROGRAMMING.

The door is open, revealing many rooms within, along with furniture of some sort.

As far as other details, it's dark in there, but it may be one of those situations where the room or rooms light up automatically as soon as one walks in.

The Duke came unhappy out of the battle. He was clearly wounded now and many of the bites and scratches on his body where oozing blood and one of the big spiders he tried to eat had bitten him in his tongue making it swollen and throb painfully. Actually the Duke had never been this hurt in his life and all thoughts of fixing water and talking to the programmers about his favorite tv program he instead slumps to the floor and starts crying like a small child about just how his tongue hurts and that he wants to go back home.

ooc: I think its time i ask how healing works here ;-)

Ajakstu stares at The Duke indignantly. "This is now time for weeping! While you may be discomfited by your showing against the spiders, I, too, have been bitten and harrassed! Truly, having barely gained my escape from those wretched felines, I would have thought we would be headed to an ale house for a celebration!"

The Lady ignored the rantings of the angry man, and sat gently down next to The Duke.
She patted him on the arm, and said, "There, there" for a while.
If he wanted to lean his massive head on her, she tried to stay upright ... and maybe even offer him something that resembled a hug.

The Duke tensed under the ladies gentle caress as the new man speaks harshly at the duke and she can see sparks come from the implants on his head as he wants to smash the puny man but Foers forbids him too. After a while he just sniffles and gives the lady a sad look.

I forgot our food outside. I am a bad guardian aint i? Come let us see if there is something inside here to eat."

And with an angry glare at the hat wearing a man the Duke saunters on.

(Feel free to do an Insightful roll to search for edible food, any of you)

Ajakstu looks ruefully at Rake. "Yet another on the list of those who would give us the stink eye as opposed to just DOING THEIR JOB!"

He ad;y follows the others.

10:54, Today: The Duke rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 2,6.  Munchies hunt.

"Lets try in there?" the Lady said, rising ... and trying not to display to her large, fragile friend the pain she feels from the stinging spider bites.
And, she turns to offer him a hand ... as though she might help him up.

When he has risen, she walks with him towards the darkened PROGRAMMING room.

The Programming Department (and the lights DO come on when people walk in, by the way-- not brightly, but bright enough so that one doesn't walk into a desk and hurt oneself) was apparently important enough that its workers had little barracks to live in, including not only beds but also a kitchen//break room.

The food, of course, has long since become inedible.

There is water, though... and, growing out of the sink, there are brightly-colored mushrooms that smell deliciously nutty.

Ajakstu Gul's new pet, Rake the beetle, flies to them and begins happily munching on them.

Could this be a positive sign that they are edible to human-like life forms, as well...?

The Duke was not one to wait around. He needed comfort food after all so tries to beat Rake into eating them. MAybe eating Rake was a nice side snack?

The mushrooms taste like cinnamon. Not like SUGAR and cinnamon, sadly, just cinnamon. Kind of dry. They seem perfectly edible, though, especially with a glass of water to help wash them down.

(The Duke takes -1 on his next Forceful roll (as will anyone who eats them), but otherwise, the mushrooms are nutritious and not poisonous//have no other side effects. A (kind of plain//boringly one-note) meal can indeed be made of them... and there are beds nearby for resting.)

The Duke used to bad food silently finds a place to chew away at the dry stuff taking his time and drinking lots. He enven takes a moment to relieve himself and lick his painful scratches.

ooc: Healing 2 healt damage.

The Programmers' barracks has functioning restroom facilities, so that's good.

Ajakstu takes a seat on one of the beds after thoroughly inspecting it for vermin. Wistfully chewing one of the mushrooms he finally asks, "Exactly WHY are you... we... here again? I mean, I heard you say water, but it seems quite plentiful down here."

"Tree outside has not enough. And it will halp us if we give it its water back."

He says munching away and coughing at the dryness in his mouth.

The lady nodded at The Duke's response, but then elaborated.
"We seek information from a being that resides in the world above this place.   The usual water levels it is accustomed to seeing come from this underground place has dwindled lately.  To purchase it's knowledge, we are required to find out why the water is diminishing ... and restore it, if possible".

When The Duke lay down to lick his wounds, The Lady drew a sheet and cover over him, and sat beside on the edge of that bed.
Then, she began to sing a soft lullaby, as she stroked his hair.
Her intent, evidently, was to lull him to sleep.

Because she sure as hell could do with some also.

The Duke takes little time to sink into a snoring sleep the last mumbled words slowly leaving his lips in a mighty yawn.

_{"So lucky to be send away from home with you."}

Ajakstu pokes about the room, looking for something of greater use or value.

OOC will roll Insightful

Ajakstu Gul finds several pencils, a pencil sharpener, a few computer terminals that won't power on, one that does power on, a note that reads: this week's password: GeneticOpera, a small safe, and a bottle of liquor in someone's desk.

Ajakstu takes a look at Rake. "Priorities," he says. It may have sounded like a question, or perhaps a reminder.

Taking the liquor he sets down by the safe. Perusing it first for any kind of trap mechanism, he then sets about trying to open it.

OOC, will make a roll, is it Insightful +1 or Agile +2 or a combination...?

The safe does not appear trapped, but the lock is not computerized-- it's a dial that one turns to the left and right, stopping at certain numbers... a series of numbers of which Ajakstu Gul is not aware.

(Ajakstu Gul may try an Insightful roll to carefully "feel out" the lock-opening with his fingertips... but with an extra -1 penalty...)

21:22, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 5,1.  crack that safe.

20:28, Yesterday: Ajakstu Gul rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,6.  open the safe, no bonus yet applied.


Ajakstu cursed, then sighed. Sitting back, he furrows his brow in thought. "Perhaps the sleeping giant can crack this...." he surmises. "I, however, can crack this!"

He opens the liquor, sniffs it, and then takes a small sip.

The Lady, having put The Duke to sleep, takes a nearby bed, and sleeps herself.

(The Lady and Ajakstu Gul, you may also use the Rest move.

No threats disturb your rest.)

Ajakstu checks if he can secure the room. If so, he will sleep too. If not he will grouchily keep watch.

It takes a good five minutes of frustration to achieve, but Ajakstu Gul uses his gold wiring to repair the door controls on the room he and his colleagues are in. It is now locked from the inside, and can successfully unlock and lock again, open and close again, whenever he wants.

(He can always open the door and reclaim his gold wiring when he leaves, if he remembers/has time...)

Ajakstu looks at Rake. "You are in charge. Do not lay eggs in anyone's apertures."

With that, he curls up on the bed farthest from the door and goes to sleep.

Nothing disturbs the adventurers during the night, unless one counts the eerie quiet of the corridors and the quiet but barely-audible hum of the electric lights...

That's not THAT different from The Ziggurat, though, so sleep isn't too hard to find...

About eight hours later, the group wakes up, in various degrees of "somewhat refreshed..."

Waking with a loud yawn and the sound of bones popping back into places the Duk awaes refreshed and hungry. Scrathing his massive belly he looks at the mushrooms and shakes his head.

"The Duke wants something else to eat. Shall we look for something else?"

The way he looks at Ajakstu's new friend makes it seem that it might be a suitable alternative.

Ajakstu half opens one eye. Seeing The Duke's gaze he hastily rolls to his feet. "Surely there is something to eat around here, else those quarreling factions where we met would be at eachother's throats! We can either press on or return to them and demand sustenance."

The Lady, while hungry, woke and rose with the grace of ... well, a Lady.

As she straightened her attire and hair in a nearby reflective surface, she waited to hear what the menfolk decided to do.

The duke groans and shakes his head.

"I dont want to touch the light more then i got to. It made me sad.

No food in this fridge?"

He asks looking at the still closed safe and gives it a solid tap with his mutilator glove to see if there was any food in the kinder surprise.

(To attempt to break the safe open, roll Forceful.)



(...What?)

ooc: 19:58, Today: The Duke rolled 13 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,6.  ?Safe cracking.

Kinder Surprise is a chocolate egg with a present inside. Illegal in the US cause kids might die from swallowing the egg with toy inside the toy.

(Ah, got ya. Even those of us who are aware of the sacred mysteries of jelly babies, dolly mixture, and humbugs trip over new references now and then (I grasped the context of "kinder," but didn't have sufficient context to guess "candy."))

The Duke idly tears the safe apart like it's made of cheap paper. Its contents are opened to all:

--printed-out papers involving very complex computer programming stuff
--a folder of other papers labeled "blackmail"
--paper money, now worthless (except to help light fires? to help light a fire? etc.?)
--some sort of ray gun
--something that looks like a wristwatch but isn't-- it has tiny speaker grills, so maybe noise is supposed to come from it?
--a bottle containing some sort of alcoholic beverage, mostly full
--a jeweled tie clip or other similar accessory
--a hairpin
--a bottlecap with a star on it
--a memory device that doubtless contains information accessed by plugging it into a computer

Ajakstu moves from one side of the large man to the other, trying to peer around him. The ray gun is of some interest, but the jeweled accessory for his wardrobe, noe that was something. The envelope marked "Blackmail" also had some interest, but would probably be obsolete.

With no food in the safe the Duke harumph's and just grabs the bottle and takes of the cork to down it as he saunters off towards the door and deeper into the complex in the hunt for food.

"No food at all. Bad place this is."

(1. I take it you look through the Blackmail folder?)



(2. Do you drink the bottle's contents immediately, or are you just about to do so...?

3. I take it you're going to explore the rest of the complex-- or are you just exploring the Programming Department more...?)

THe bottle ? What this empty one you mean? I'll toss that away ;-)

And just the next room really. The duke might have forghotten why they are here and his tummy rumbles.

The Duke has drained the bottle.

The effects are... strong.

(Until I inform you otherwise, The Duke takes +1 toward all his Charming or Confident rolls, but -1 toward all his Forceful, Agile, or Insightful rolls.)

Unfortunately, the next room does not have any food... It's a computer room, where a room of (very sturdy) terminals and (very sturdy) monitors wait, prepared to interact with the batteries of servers visible behind the reinforced glasteel far wall.

The Duke belches and tosses the bottle to the side with a loud crash. The room with the servers had little interest for the Duke and he starts to sing an off tone childrens song as he wobbles further into the complex in his hunt for food.

Ajakstu leafs through the Blackmail envelope, hoping for something useful, but with low expectations.

"Perhaps these computers can order food for us? Or tell us where food might be?" he suggests.

The Blackmail folder turns out to involve two types of content:

1. Someone didn't like their co-worker... there are print-outs (with memory chips) of photos taken from security cameras of two human staff members of this facility being... a bit more indiscreet than they should have been with one another with so many cameras around (or maybe extra hidden cameras were secretly added to certain rendezvous points?)

2. The other kind of blackmail material is more interesting, though... it contains printed-out lines of code-- that mean would mean nothing to Ajakstu Gul... without the blackmailer's helpful added notes in the margins.

It's interesting because it gives Ajakstu Gul his first hints of what this facility was supposed to be for. That it was a facility for genetic experimentation has seemed obvious since yesterday, but these notes offer details. Among other things, the point may have been to create new species capable of surviving on the surface of the planet "even in the state its advanced decay" ...and possibly making life forms to serve as servant-races for human beings?

"The mantis experiment" was apparently to create farmers...

"The frog experiment" may have been to create soldiers, though this seems less certain...

The purpose of "the jaguar experiment" is the least clear at all, though there are certain hints that they were supposed to be "naturally artistic" or "naturally creative"?

The blackmail part is that the blackmailed co-worker had, for a while, been trying to introduce lines to pre-program one or more of the species in development with extra traits that would make them controllable when the right smells or pheromones were introduced? Or if not controllable, to have some other effect on them that the original purpose behind the facility hadn't envisioned...?

Ajakstu tucked the folder away with his other possessions. "Something best thought on with a full stomach," he said to Rake. "I was also hoping that someone else would find a menu and order a meal," he added.

Ajakstu will attempt to fire up one of the terminals and see what he can do about finding food.

(Roll Insightful, Ajakstu...)

The Duke impatiently fidgets waiting for their strange new companion to ask the machine where to find the food.

14:34, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,5.  FOOD!!!

Ajakstu poked at various keys, spelling out FOOD, VIANDS, PASTRY, WINE and such.

"Hello-- you seem to be trying to find the cafeteria?" says the computer audibly. "From your current location, turn left out of the Programming Department, then go straight through the first intersection, take a left at the second intersection, and then the cafeteria will be the first door on your right."

"Thank you lady!"

The Duke exclaims and saunters off in the given direction. Cafetaries always had a nice rack with sweets the Duke loved and just thinking of it made his water mouth as he sways to the destination as much as he can remeber the simple directions in his intoxicated state.

Ajakstu suppresses a joyful dance as he rises. Smiling, he doffs his awesome hat to The Lady, and gently places Rake on his shoulder. Humming a happy tune he sets off after The Duke.

The Lady followed along, with the Duke

The allies turn left out of the Programming Department, then go straight through the first intersection... but at the second intersection, someone has piled metal office furniture, and then laser-welded it or something. If tearing through is possible, it'll be difficult...

One can always try going around, by going straight and trying to circle back around... Or going back to the first intersection and going left and trying to circle around that way...

(Using a Forceful roll to clear the way might be possible, but there's a -1 penalty (stacks with whatever penalty the PC rolling might already have)...)

The Duke not one to be delayed by some sheet metal activatews his power fist and rips into the barrier as food was behind it.

ooc: 12:13, Today: The Duke rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,1.  drink force.

The Duke's power fist makes short work of the barrier... his power fist does spark once, worryingly, but it keeps working just fine.

(From now on, if The Duke ever tries to use his power fist and rolls doubles in his roll, it will short out and be in need of repair afterward.)

With the way cleared, The Duke is first in line to hurry to the cafeteria!

There are automat-machines lining the walls-- and some of their waiting compartments have food!

Of course, to open the compartments, the machines are expecting some sort of payment... (Examine the machines to learn more...)

There's also a robot wearing a white chef's hat. "HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE CAFETERIA WOULD YOU LIKE SOME WAFFLES" it says from behind a waffle bar.

The Duke shakes the power fist with a frown on his face but then just barrels through. He never had any form of sophisticated equipment last long and like with all the other things that broke in the past he thinks little of it at as it does what it needs to do a moment later. The friendly robot asking if he wants waffles turns him into a little kid clapping with glee as he rushes over to get some.

"YES PLEASE!!!"

While the automat machines will require payment, the waffle bar is apparently complementary.

The robot happily (well, like, he seems pretty content, for a robot. He's certainly very willing and able) makes plenty of waffles, and soon The Duke and his colleagues are supplied with plenty of yummy waffles and four types of syrup (maple, blueberry, pecan, strawberry) and powdered sugar if they want it.

The butter tastes noticeably moleculary-replicated, but it's better than no butter at all...

The Duke happily claps his hands as the waffles keep comming and the brute devours so many of them there might be a risk of the poor robot overheating from overuse all the while while he tells the machine the drunken tale of their long way down here and the strange creatures they found in the base.

"THAT IS VERY INTERESTING," says the robot. "WOULD YOU LIKE ANY MORE WAFFLES?"

The answer is yes, and so more waffles are made and enjoyed.

Ajakstu eats until he is stuffed, trying to sift through The Duke's rambling to piece together who is companions are and why they are here. His confusio is lessened a bit, bit certainly not remedied.

As more waffles appear he endeavors to wrap a few in a napkin for later consumption. Then he wanders over to the other machines to see what is within and what payment would entail.

The Lady also eats heartily, and (following AJakstu's fine example) does what she can to store as many as possible away for future use.

Rake doesn't seem to like the syrup very much (too sticky?), nor the butter (too artificial?), but he seems fine with both the waffles and the powdered sugar.

Ajakstu stepped back from the automats. "The damn machines are inscrutable!"


20:50, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 4 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,2.  Insight into the automats.

(Ajakstu Gul gets 1 xp and takes -1 forward.)

The waffle cook starts cleaning up his station. "THE WAFFLE BAR IS NOW CLOSED" he announces. "COMPLEMENTARY WAFFLE BAR DAY WILL RETURN ON THIS DAY NEXT WEEK PLEASE USE THE AUTOMATS FOR YOUR CALORIC INTAKE NEEDS UNTIL THEN HAVE A NICE DAY"

Hm. No more free food here for a week...

The Duke has eaten enough to last him for that week (the next hour) for sure. He belches loudly and looks around the place for a long moment as he rubs his stuffed belly and smears syrup all over his torso. As Gul proclaims the machines indestructable the Duke laughs and wobbles over on unsteady legs and gives one of the machines a solid kick to prove him wrong.

"Nah you are just too weak puny man."

ooc: 20:05, Today: The Duke rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 2,6.  drunken force.

The Lady watched on with intrigue.

She was happily fed and satisfied for now.

Ajakstu is pleased by The Duke's destructive efforts. "Are you certain you can open the machine?" he asks innocently. "Mighty as you are, I will be convinced when I see you do it."

The machines all cry out. "WARNING ALERT ALERT UNAUTHORIZED ATTEMPT AT FORCED ENTRY EMPLOYING LOCKDOWN MEASURES"

Force fields appear around all the machines, protecting them...

...Except for the one that got kicked. It's broken... Its door will now open for free... although it's stopped rotating, so one can choose only from the six items currently facing the front...

--A slice of cake
--A large roll and some butter
--A can of beverage
--A couple of drumsticks from some vaguely chicken-sized animal
--A bowl of soup
--A bag of chips

Rake is excited for this potential feast, but he doesn't fly over and start eating. Perhaps he's concerned that the big man may start grabbing things near the food. (He's such a smart lifeform, and so pretty, yes he is yes he is!)

Picking up the drink and pocketing it he looks at Ajakstu and grins.

"See easy peasy. So lets go solve the water problem. The nice lady surely can help us with that."

And with that the Duke makes his way back towards the nice lady voice that directed them to the cafetaria and starts rubbing the screen seductively. (Imagine somehing that makes you uncomfortable and tripple it)

"Hello darling. Can you help me talk through the screen in the main room? I need to tell the people there to stop wasting water."

"Hello! It sounds like you're trying to program orders for a terminal in another part of the complex. Try using the COMPUTER CONTROL application. It's the icon on the screen with the green gear symbol on it."

There is, indeed, on the screen, a green gear icon that says COMPUTER CONTROL on it...

(Anyone may try to use this app with an Insightful roll, but it'll have a -1 penalty...

One can also choose to just try to talk the Computer Voice Lady into doing it for you without using the app, but that, too, will be Charm with a -1 penalty...

One can also use Insightful to search (no penalty) the Programming Department for anything that might help with this specific task...)

The Duke now gently stroking the machine like he has seen males do with females in night time movies to make her like hot wax in his big hands gives her a smile with his bad teeth and the booze cone she thankfully can not smell.

"Aw love. My fingers are way to big to push such a little button and i don't want to be rough with a fine thing like you. Surely you can help a guy out don't you? After all we are trying to not to kill everyone in here to get the water back to the trees outside."

ooc: 09:58, Today: The Duke rolled 10 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,6.  Charming the computer.

Ajakstu puts the soup and Rake on a table. He then sets about seeking a basket or box or at least a tray on which to carry all of the other available food. Overhearing The Duke, he concentrates his search as far from the terminal as possible while humming any and all childrens' songs that he knows.

Ajakstu finds a sturdy plastic crate that will hold all the food items.

(Note: I believe that The Duke has returned to the server area in the Programming Department...)

Rake seems to like the smell of the soup, but he finds the bowl (that's keeping it warm) daunting. He appears to be smart enough to realize that if he climbs onto the edge of the bowl to consume the soup, he'll tip it all over and make it spill... He patiently crawls around the bowl, assessing the situation, thinking, thinking...



"I think I understand. You are saying that your request has a high priority, because it is a safety issue, as well as an issue of environmental safety. Is that correct?" When The Duke confirms this in the affirmative, the magic computer voice (The Duke decides, in his head, to name her Magic Voice) seems impressed by the urgency of the situation. "All right, that does sound important. What exactly is it you wish to communicate? That water in the operating theater area must be conserved? Is that essentially correct? Are there any additional details that need to be conveyed?"

(No further roll needed yet-- if I need another one, I'll let you know)

The Duke ponders for a long moment and then tries to convey what he thinks needs to happen.

"The washing ritual needs to be done in a way that no water enters the drain but is returned to the basin. And they need to pray to the lady instead of to the screen. She is better to give the wisdom needed to end the war with the other races and return the water"

Seeing Rake's difficulties, after loading the food into the crate Ajakstu gently picks his pet up and holds him on the edge of the bowl so that he is supported and can reach the soup.

The computer beeps a few times. "...It seems likely that there may be follow-up questions. To what 'lady' are you referring?"

---

Rake happily enjoys the soup, sort of lapping up droplets with a curly tongue.

The Lady smiled.
It was a sweet gesture by The Duke, to drum her up a little Attention; it had been a long time since anyone had prayed to her.

The Duke blinks a few times confused and then gestures the lady over to stand beside him.

"This is The Lady miss. She guides people to their luck."

The Lady did a curtesy to the machine, although she was ageless and kinda remembered that such a gesture was worthless but for the entertainment factor.
“That I am”, she said, smiling at The Duke, “And that I do”.

"Computing... stand by..." says Magic Voice... "Stand by... Announcement commencing."

The screen shows Shuak, the Onsu High Priest of Shaa, sitting at his chair in front of his terminal. His eyes are closed-- he seems to be meditating. There must be a tiny and/or hidden camera in that room.

"ANNOUNCEMENT," says the screen, and Shuak's eyes snap open in surprise. "STAND BY FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT."

The screen splits-- it also shows the entry hall to Shuak's room, and also the "operating theater, although the sound is not on to hear the singing-- and it looks like the singing stops, too. All the Onsu in each room shown look very surprised.

"ANNOUNCEMENT BEGINS. DUE TO REASONS OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY, THE OPERATION THAT IS BEING RITUALLY DONE IN THE OPERATING THEATER MUST SAVE ALL WATER POSSIBLE. RETURN ANY EXCESS WATER TO THE BASIN IN USE. ADDITIONALLY, ALL QUESTIONS, APPEALS, PETITIONS, AND REQUESTS ARE TO BE DIRECTED, FROM THIS POINT ONWARD, TO DESIGNATE 'THE LADY.' 'THE LADY' APPEARS TO BE A HUMAN FEMALE, BUT WITH GLOWING GREEN EYES, CURRENTLY WEARING WHITE CLOTHING. FURTHER SENSOR SCANS SHOW THAT DESIGNATE 'THE LADY' IS, IN FACT, HOWEVER, AN ENERGY BEING IN THE SHAPE OF A HUMAN. AGAIN, ANY AND ALL REQUISITIONS AND/OR SOLICITATIONS ARE TO BE REFERRED TO 'THE LADY.' SHE IS AUTHORIZED TO EXPLAIN AND ADVISE REGARDING ENDING THE WAR WITH THE OTHER SPECIES, AND/OR PROPER WATER DISPOSAL. ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS."

The Onsu on the screens look shocked...

The Duke gives the lady a wide grin and looks at the screen with the shocked high priest.

"Well that settles the first group. Lets go to the next."

He salutes at the computer and gets ready to return to the main chamber.

"Thank you miss you where quite helpfull."

"Of course. Happy to be of service," says Magic Voice.

'Well, that worked unexpectedly well', thought The Lady.
But what she said to the computer was, "Thank you for that service.  May your efforts be blessed".

It occured to her that she hadn't used that phrase for ... a millennia?

Turning to The Duke, and to Ajakstu, she smiled, "Then let us continue.
We have this mess to sort out, and be upon our original quest, then".

But she was already thinking on .... something important.

The party returns to the "operating theater," but the singing that was formerly going on there has stopped. All the Onsu are quietly discussing recent developments with anxious confusion.

The Onsu stop talking when they see The Lady.

They wait to see if any of the interlopers (watching The Lady, in particular) will speak...

The Lady smiled graciously, as she entered the room ... followed by The Duke and Ajakstu.

She chose a place near the centre of the room, and spake unto those gathered,
"Come hear me, friends" as sweetly as she could.
"There is much that must be learned and developed, to bring you all into the new age of enlightenment" ... and without wanting to type entire sermons, The Lady is going to make it clear that:
- First and foremost:  a new system must be developed to ensure the flow of water that comes into this realm, leaves this realm.
- A new form of worship, in which she 'as the living avatar of the land' (and the computer) be loved and worshipped by all the races of this realm.





- rolled 6 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,3.  Charming ... just because.
Frag me, I just CANNOT get a break on 'Charm' rolls with this character

Ajakstu glances at Rake and adjusts his most awesome hat and perhaps sidles slighly away from The Lady and perhaps slightly towarss the exit.

The Duke seeing the awe that these strangers came and now had replaced their god laughs a loud rumbling laugh as he gathers the Onsu for their first seremon.

"Come friends the Lady wants to introduce herself and the blessings she can bring to your people. And who knows maybe a lasting peace to this small world."

ooc: A 4 to aid.

(The Lady rolled 6 using 2d6+2, namely 1,3 +2 = 6.

Substituting a 4 = 4 and 3 plus 2= 9.)

The Lady's words fall on stunned and angry ears.

Then The Duke speaks, and... the tension is broken. Now they're just shocked and stunned... but they're also not getting hostile. They're thinking about the possibilities. They're not welcoming The Lady with open arms... but they're not attacking, either.

"...Blessings...?" wonders one female Onsu...

As this character hasn't ever really received much in the way of 'Attention' (that resource that I need to perform my godly blessings, I don't actually have anything to offer them right now, but ...

"Follow me, my children.   I will teach the rites and ways to draw blessing and good providence unto your society.
Live in my footsteps, and ride my coat tails, and your people will prosper with luck and prosperity", The Lady said, aimlessly (words that she had spoken to endless civilisations since the dawn of time) as she wandered among them now, curiously looking them over.

Charm Roll:
- rolled 4 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,1.
Yup, like I say,   for a character with +2 Charm, I just cannot roll even a basic success with this character.

The Lady doing her thing the Duke nods along with her though her words felt a little flat. Was she running out of her luck now that people might actually need it? So the Duke tries to help which in his grand drunkenness Sounds majestic.

"Yeah the Lady is a real luck bringer. I lived in a dark lonely place but ever since i met her i have friends and been traveling with them and see she brought me to you. How lucky for you."

And lucky they are right. A giant saying things like that with the dried blood of many of their comrades all over his body. The Duke might need a bath soon.

ooc: The Duke helps with a 4 making it a soft hit.

The Onsu begin to leave, muttering, anxious, but at least they aren't violent anymore.

Most leave, in fact.

A few stay.

One, a young female (not a child nor a feline teen, just a very young adult female) steps up to The Lady. "...Teach me, teacher..." she says. "Teach me a rite for prosperity and blessing..."

The Duke gives the lady a massive grin and a huge thumbs up as he saunters after those that leave.

"So my friends tell me about this bathing ritual of yours. Why did you watse the water? It achi9eved some special goal?"

"Wasted?" says the young Onsu woman with just a hint of resentment. "It was not wasted. It was impure. It cleansed us of spiritual impurities."

The duke shakes his head.

"Water is life and even if it is used to clean your body you can not just pour its essence down the drain. It needs to return into the cycle of life. If you think it is unclean after use boil it do not throw it away."

As he walks on with the group leaving the temple where the lady is about to teach his tone of voice changes as he places a hand on the womans shoulder.

"Without water this world will seize to exist and it is up to you to retrieve it by venturing down the drain. Only then live will return and you will learn what impure water is."

And like that his demeanor changes again as he leaves to go to the central room to solve the troubles with the next tribe.

"Without chemicals life itself would be impossible," Ajakstu intones. It is hard to tell if he is sincere or not. Perhaps merely repeating some long lost rite.