CHAPTER 12a: The Fortress of the Plain

[Norjax]

Great introductory exchange!

[Zhym]

Expecting hostile robots to emerge from the fortress, Kurot's first instinct is to ready his rifle. When the figures turn out to be—well, not robots (except maybe the one with the shiny headgear)—and do not attack, he lowers his weapon and joins in the greetings.

His suspicions that the figure in the full-body suit is an android is strengthened when it responds to Silvestri in surprisingly literal fashion. Poor thing must have an extremely primitive natural language processing circuit. Kurot transmits some recognition protocols. SYN...timeout. EHLO: nothing. Query CNAME? SSL_Handshake? Nope, nope. Kurot cycles through every code he knows and gets no response to any of them. He decides that Anton is either not a robotic lifeform or it's exceptionally rudimentary.

"My name is Kurot," he finally says, resorting to the frustratingly slow mode of communicating through sound waves that most biological lifeforms seem to prefer. "We were not expecting...well, not to be attacked. What's in there, and how did you come to be there?"

[Anton_E_Gregor]

Anton considers Denslow.

"Where are your caretakers? How are you possible?"

Leaning back he turns his helmet straight towards the sky and points upward at a spot hundreds of miles directly above Kurot's head.

"Mission Control made us fall. It made us heavy. We have come to ask Mission Control to send us back. We do not wish to be heavy. It is inefficient."

The moldy skull floats happily inside the glass dome of the helmet. Surely it's not ... smiling? More hourglass sand sounds continue from within the suit.

[shaidar]

Saiph

The short humanoid finishes his apparent appraisal of the group, and looks into the sky where Anton is pointing and shakes his head. His focus returns to the group and he smiles

"Greetings! I am Saiph, a businessman and entrepreneur. I was searching the outskirts of Motter's realm for ancient artefacts when I was blinded by a strange purple-blue light, and the next thing I knew I was in this desert land. The metal men captured me, spooking my mount which ran off somewhere. I don't suppose you've seen it, a large lizard?"

[shaidar]

Silvestri looks up and whistles.

"That's a long way to fall, Anton, how did you manage to survive?"

[Anton_E_Gregor]

Anton addresses Silvestri. The hollow eye sockets of the floating skull stare vacantly as the thousands of tiny voices speak in unison.

"The voice of Mission Control told us that Manual Override was responsible for our journey. We left the high place in something called E.R.V. but it was destroyed when we reached a place called Landing Zone. The Sentivocs were waiting there instead of Mission Control. We remember trying to resist them but being heavy was new to us and we were overwhelmed. Then there was darkness until a few moments ago. If we are to return to our home above we must find Mission Control or Manual Override and ask for their help. Until then we are in your debt for creating escape from the masked ones."

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"That sounds like quite the trip. Maybe we can help you find these people you are looking for while we search Motter's realm."

The psion turns to the short, squat, humanoid.

"Greetings to you as well, Saiph. We too were moved to a new location by the purple light. You could travel with us as we try to find our way."

He looks at his friends and the newcomers "We can help each other. There is safety in numbers and Motter's metal minions do seem to travel in large numbers."

[GrapeApe]

Podo

Stepping out from the velvety darkness that he has been so accustomed to living in since his birth, Podo is filled with a sense of reluctance and dread, but can't help but also feeling excitement and anticipation. His tribe made periodic visits to the surface before, but this time was different. This time he is on his own.

A sizeable stump steps out from the darkness into the light, quickly followed by a hefty mushroom-like stalk that has a thick, leather-like exterior and small spikes sporadically poking out from everywhere like thorns. The plant-like creature has massive muscles bulging from thick, meaty appendages and it's entire body is crimson in color. Lastly a bulbous head appears and when the creature stands to it's full height it is at least 10' tall.

Podo blinks his dull, yellow eyes as the light filters down upon him

"Hello? I heard voices. Can anyone tell me where I am?"

[GrapeApe]

Podo

What time is it and what can I see in my immediate surroundings?

[shaidar]

Silvestri double-takes as the huge walking fungus steps out from the hole

"Wow, with this guy around it must have been a tight fit in there... not mush-room! Sorry, I just couldn't resist. Hello, I'm Silvestri, unfortunately none of us know where we are, apart from in the realm of the creature known as Motter. "

[maceo_the_escher]

Needle

A feeling of hope swells in Needle as he exits the darkness. He squints and shields his eyes from the light with his left hand and tries to make out the forms that produced the friendly voices he heard from inside. With his right hand open he waves and makes a loud clicking noise with his tongue, "Ta! I am unarmed! Are you the ones responsible for my escape?"

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Hello there. Well, it was Bruce that released you all from your incarceration really, but with him gone we're here to help"

[Norjax]

Podo

What time is it and what can I see in my immediate surroundings?

It is dark out. You exit a smooth stone wall 90ft wide extending up into the darkness. Ten heaps of burning debris are scattered about. Several people stand in front of the wall; Humans, plantients and a couple of “artificial” beings.

[maceo_the_escher]

Silvestri

"Hello there. Well, it was Bruce that released you all from your incarceration really, but with him gone we're here to help"

Needle, USH

I'll have to tell this Bruce, "Thank You" when I see them. My name's Needle and help would be appreciated. I'm not even sure where I am right now. Are we safe here?

[shaidar]

SIlvestri smiles wanly "Bruce died saving us from the sentivocs. Safe? Probably not. Do you have any weapons or equipment we need to search the building for?"

[GrapeApe]

retcon- Podo does not blink his eyes from the light filtering down since it is nighttime, instead his eyes glow with a dim yellow phosphorescence

SIlvestri smiles wanly "Bruce died saving us from the sentivocs. Safe? Probably not. Do you have any weapons or equipment we need to search the building for?"

Podo

I had equipment when I set out on my journey, but I don't know where any of it is. I'm Podo. Are the burning piles of debris the sentivocs? Perhaps if we are unsafe like you said we should seek shelter to gather our bearings. Who are your companions?

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Actually, I think these bodies are herdivocs, I'm still working out the different types of machine Motter uses. My tree-friend here is Denslow, the artificial man is Kurot and the man with the furry headgear is Max. We entered the edge of Motter's realm looking for artifacts when we were transported to a spot near here by a purple flash."

[shaidar]

Saiph

The short humanoid clears his throat "Well, yes, we are very grateful for your help, I am sure. But what about the masked minders? The herdivocs passed us over to these masked humanoids, but I was dazed at the time and can't remember much about them."

[Anton_E_Gregor]

Anton emits a short burt of uncomfortable confusing sounds. The noise quickly becomes intelligible.

HERDIVOCS!! HERDIVOCS were unkind to us! Masks! Yes! The Masks as well! We are remembering!

His gloved hands form fists and he kicks one of the destroyed robot husks roughly.

The floating skull gnashes its teeth.

[maceo_the_escher]

SIlvestri smiles wanly "Bruce died saving us from the sentivocs. Safe? Probably not. Do you have any weapons or equipment we need to search the building for?"

Needle

Needle pauses for a second before replying, I'm sorry to hear that. I imagine I had some kind of equipment but I'm having a hard time remembering anything from right before my capture. Needle waves to include the other recently freed creatures If we ALL came from that room it might be wise to take a few minutes to see if anything of ours is left inside. I'm good with most weapons if anyone has one to spare for the moment.