"Portals might explain how a clockwork golem managed to breach the defenses of the Technic League and would be in line with the presence of runes for 'passage' and 'power," the small Ysoki surmises. He fishes a small journal and inkpen from a pouch on his thick belt and makes note of the observation and the names of the missing mages.

Hessum considers what Emok said and nods.  "That sounds logical. I hope the explanation is not as simple as the two explorers stepping through a portal and frgetting that most of them are one way."

Ilara looked to each of the group and says well then since it seems none of you have any questions. Ill retire to my room. Ill see you off in the morning in case. Well met and enjoy your repast.

once three folks say they are going to bed. Ill advance to the morning.

Verdra looked at the rest of the group and asked, her tone unchanged from how it had remained so far:

"Is there anything that require discussions before the exploration can be initiated?"

If nobody had anything to suggest, the woman saluted everybody with a "Then we shall reconvene in the morning", before heading to find a place to sleep.

OOC: Consider that a vote for "going to sleep", but conditional on nobody wanting to talk strategy beforehand.

Hessum seconds that emotion

Disappointed to be calling it a day so early in the day, Emok nods in agreement with the others and says awkwardly and privately to the others, "Well, then, I guess I can busy myself for the rest of the day and we can play guessing games in the morning with the very helpful lady of the Goldenfire Order..."

The group gradually moved upstairs to their rooms and had a good night's sleep getting well rested and preparing for the next day. They were up before dawn, each exited about the property in front of them. From what they heard the spire was barely 16 miles away, an easy 4-5 hour walk and then they would meet their first adventure and challenge. What they'd face they were unsure of.

With the group breaking up for the night, Zail started inspection his gear to make sure that everything was in order before retiring for the night.

Heading downstairs for breakfast, the Swashbuckler greeted the others as they joined him at the table.  "Is everyone ready to go?" he asked.

Emok arrives at the inn again with freshly laundered clothes and his satchel packed for adventure. Having slept on the matter of Ilara not offering information unless specifically asked, the small Ysoki pulls out his notebook once everyone is gathered and runs through his scribbled questions rapidly, "What dangers are around the spire? Where is the entrance to the spire and how to we find it? Why do you believe there are portals in the spire? What can you tell us about the 'unexpected portals' you mentioned? What do you know about these portals? What do you know about the Hellknight attempts to explore the spire? Can you tell us anything about this rune? Oh--" he pauses to pull out the rune of power in question and sets it out on the table before continuing--"How can we recognize Jharun and Tiawask? What can you tell us about Thornkeep? What can you tell us about the Goldenfire Order?"

Hessum frowns as he sees what the Ysoki has written.  "It seems that you had the questions the rest of us couldn't think about at the time but as you say, Emok, these all make sense in retrospect.  I wish we'd thought of them earlier."

Ilara meets them at the table as before and smiles as the Ysoki begins rapidly throwing questions at her.

She breathes heavily...saying thank you. it reassures me that you have some valid questions. Let me make sure I don't miss any. 1. The Echo Woods is full of the normal dangers one might find in the river kingdoms. Bandits, predatory beasts, humanoid warbands, vermin both giant and normal sized. But with the Spire being less than 20 miles away, there's not a lot of opportunity to have creatures aplenty strike at you. 2. There's supposedly a few entrances, but the only one I know of is in the green crystal fort on the surface. Rumor has it Goblins have occupied it. 3. I believe there are portals within the tower because it seems likely in a place as highly magical as the Spire that the originators wouldn't want to trudge from the depths it's reputed to be at to the surface up staircases.

4. Unexpected portals...there have been various first hand accounts of greenish portals opening and creatures coming performing raids for supplies in the area. Far enough from defenders that nothing was there to stop the raid. Before you ask...mechanoids, clockwork monstrosities, undead, snake-men, troglodytes, elementals, other planars...all have been seen.

5. I wish I knew a lot about these portals. I don't they all glowed green. A veil was between the origination and location they appeared so nothing could be seen. Most stayed open for a short time then went shut when those who came out, went back in. A few times someone not keyed to the portal would try to go through and the portal would close. I wish there was more, but that's why The Order went to Investigate. I think it's obvious that this is a potentially devastating feature..

6. What do I know of the Hellknights exploration of the Spire. ....they had 3 full squads of Hellknights, or so I'm told. Plus leadership..20 strong including a Signifier. They made I believe 8 trips in each time they returned their numbers were less. I know the last time they never came back. The findings are sealed and only the upper leadership have access to the books. We were turned down when we requested to read them.
7. That's an an Azlanti rune for power. I haven't seen that before, can I borrow it to study? I'll return it after you return from your first foray.

She nods and waved her hand and images of the two wizards appear in the air so they know what they look like. 9...Thorn keep. Is home to a collection of nefarious ne'er do wells. A home to the unscrupulous and where law has little meaning. The leader of Thornkeep is the worst of the bunch. I'd stay away unless you want to be sized up for what they can take from you. The order gets away because they need us at times. That's why we banded together.

10. The Goldenfire Order is a collection of a few Arcane Casters who don't want to live under the thumb of an oppressor who will make us do things we don't want to. I wouldn't call us a force for good..
Nor for evil. More for self protection. A few of our members are altruistic, but most are in it for the knowledge and freedom to be their own people. With these portals we took a vote and determined we needed to dig into them for everyone's safety.

Anything else?

Verdra listened carefully to the explanation, nodding to herself occasionally as if making some notes in her head; however, when Emok offered the power runestone to Ilara for examination, the android gently but firmly placed a finger on it so it wouldn't be taken as she said, staring at the woman directly:

"As the stone is irreplaceable, it would be preferable for you to provide some proof that you would not simply abscond with it, where we to leave it in your temporary possession. I have observed, in my interaction with people, that such actions are extremely common."

The woman said it as if the fact that she'd grown in Thornkeep, who the mage had repeatedly referenced as a place where all of the inhabitants were impossible to trust and ready to take anything that struck their fancy from others if they could get away with it, was completely unrelated to her statement.

Hessen nodded in response as much to Verdra as to Ilara, "If we do decide to let you take the rune, I would be grateful if you could let me know your findings, one archaeologist to another."

The Wizard looked at The Android and nodded. fair enough. can't say I blame you for asking that....what would suffice as proof of my honest intent?

"Twenty Miles?" the small-legged ratfolk balks, having never really left Fort Inevitable himself. "I don't know why that surprises me, but that's the better part of a day to walk. We'll have to make camp before doing any proper mapping."

"I think we have enough strong big folk to handle a few goblins," the Ysoki reasons as he cranes his neck and lifts his snout to sniff at the big ones. The smell of goblin quickly draws his nose to Greb and reminds him of his present company and he adds meekly, "No offense."

"Maybe we'll be lucky and be able to turn these portals to our purposes. Save ourselves days walking back and forth ... get past Hellknight inspections..."

"That's an unusual array of beings to be using the same portals ... especially if they're coordinated. Have these unexpected portals always been an issue, or have they arisen recently?"

"I just can't imagine why the Hellknights refuse to share what they discovered, refuse to help us, but also don't stop us. It doesn't seem reasonable."

Emok watches debate regarding the rune, understanding everyone's reservations, but suggests himself, "We've kept it on the chance that it will be of use to us in the ruins. If you were to join us I'd see no issue. Otherwise you could study it the next time we return, or seek out Corwin Macdugal through Master Royst and study one of the others."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Mon 17 July 2023.

Greb smiles. "yeah, I've heard that goblins are nasty. Stick with me, you'll be fine. Or maybe not. Anyways, it ain't hard to understand the Hellknights motivations. They are heavy into control and regulation. Handing out information or access to portals gives others the means to avoid them or their patrols. They'd be dumb to hand out that info. So if we learn how, keep it secret."

I'm sorry. no my magics would not lend themselves well to exploration, and my duties lie elsewhere. I will be happy to talk to Sir Royst. He is known to the order. Also Mr. MacDugal . I've had discussions with him before. ....oh.yes concerning the portals. As far back as I can remember they would occasionally occur....however the frequency has greatly increased of late and there seems more purpose behind them now

The Ysoki looks the monkey goblin over for a moment and asks simply, in an aside, and absolutely not with any unlawful implications, "You seem like you'd be good at climbing fortress walls with valuable artifacts, wouldn't you?"

Emok nods as he listens to the Goldenfire Mage, jotting down a few notes in his journal, and as she finishes he looks around to the others, "I can't think of any other questions, can you? We should be off soon if we aim to be there before nightfall."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Mon 17 July 2023.

Greb shrugs. "Maybe. I wouldn't know. Never tried it before. Always willing to try something new." he says innocently.

Verdra seemed to consider Ilara's words while the conversation went on, eventually concluding, in a neutral tone:

"I would request something magically binding, if it were possible. However, that is not within my abilities at the moment. Unless somebody else can provide such, or you have a different solution to suggest, I am unable to provide a manner by which honesty can be ensured."

She glanced around at the rest of the team, as if to check whether any of them had the means to compel honesty magically. If none was forthcoming, she would then turn to Emok and say, with a nod to the ratfolk:

"I would otherwise agree that accelerating our departure would be the most appropriate course of action."

Zail pondered for a moment, "From what I hear Verdra,  you are concerned that the rune will not be returned to us." he asked.

"I am sure that something can be worked out between the two groups as we seem to have similar objectives. This is our first interaction with the Goldenfire Order and it is a feeling out for both of us. While we are out exploring the tower, they will be using the same time to investigate the stone. When we return, they will provide us with what they have found about the item and can help us research what additional tidbits we find in our explorations. Some people have a thirst for money and power, others for knowledge. From what I understand, Knowledge, with a capital "K", can help get you the former easier." he said.

"Now if we can set up a location outside of town, we might be able to get an idea as to what we can give to the Hellknights and what we might want to keep as our payment as part of the deal. Even an hour or two before hand might help preserve the knowledge before it disappears into their bureaucracy. Just a suggestion." he added.

16:46, Today: Zail Gailen rolled 26 using 1d20+9.  Diplomacy (Gold(en)fire Order).

Greb addresses the Wizard. "If we were to allow you to study the rune, I would posit one question. 'Could it be recharged, much like a magical staff'? ' As for assurances, perhaps something else as collateral could be loaned to the group, like a Traveller's Any-tool?"

Hessum says that his own thirst for knowledge has no capital K but he would definitely like to know any findings if we lend the rune.

"Well, since Miss Ilara will be able to study the other runes while we are away, unless there is anything else, maybe we should be on our way?" Emok suggests after everyone has finished their breakfasts and preparations, pointedly moving towards the door to lead the way out of town and to the spire.

Seeing that the group had decided to let Elora have the rune stone without guarantees, she took the time to say, in a neutral tone, "Failing to return that when we meet again, or failing to meet us again at all, would have unpleasant consequences", before following after Emok as he left, clearly just as eager to get the investigation underway.