Smol Engines and Big Mysteries
The sound of clockwork, steam, and glowing gems fill the space of the Artificer's guild. Those here by now are getting to know Thoth. The golden-and-black War Golem has started assisting throughout the entire operation. It's not uncommon to see the small thing go from A to B bring new tools, or work on materials for another artificer.
Trying to capture some semblance of its memories again. Chasing after its former function as an assistant to one of Kulthian's War Golem inventors. But all of that work takes a toll, and eventually the small thing is seated on a chair within the main hall, right next to a desk. Working on itself and maintaining its body. This time, making small adjustments to its small digits.
GAME: Thoth casts Reduce Person. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
This isn't her usual stomping grounds. Things clicking and whirring feels claustrophic, and when you're made of feathers, that tends to make for several easily broken safety regulations of loose things around open machinery.
So a gobber slips into the guild hall. Pale green, floppy ears tied back around a shaved head, sky blue eyes accented with engine grease, matching with the coveralls she's wearing She's whistling to herself, curisoty pique from all the hubub, yet- the gobber blinks in the main hall.
Points at Thoth. "Smol...!" she grins, bopping forth. "You are so very tiny, little Thoth!"
A new clanking sound is heard, blending in at first, but getting louder as it nears. It goes silent for a brief period, and then occurs again. Moving directly towards the en-smallened Thoth.
The Goblin, perhaps seen only briefly before she 'vanishes' under the level of the desk, skids to a stop at Thoth's desk. Her trident is still viewable, and it is leaned against the desk. A grunting sound is heard as Irshya pulls herself up, leaning her elbows on the top of the desk.
"Whew. Hello Thoth!", she says cheerfully to the Golem, before blinking at the other Gobbo. "Oh, and hello... erm, you're not exactly a giant compared to Thoth, though hmmm?"
"Uhh, anyway, Thoth! How is your hunt for your memories going?"
Thoth, under the effects of a Reduce Person spell still, tilts its head up. It chirps at Slixvah in answer at first, then clicks its beak. "This one was asked to climb inside of a larger machine to do work." It answers Slixvah. "So this one did."
It then tilts its head towards the Goblin when a trident 'sneaks' behind a desk. There's a clicking set of 'ticks' in its neck as it turns its head in confusion. Then suddenly, Irshya manages to pull herself onto the desk itself, and leans her elbows onto it.
"This one greets the Other." Thoth remarks.
Irshya will note that right now, Thoth is actually /smaller than her/ right now.
"This one was not aware its hunt for its memories was known publically." It then admits.
GAME: Slixvah rolls disguise+10-2: (13)+11+10+-2: 32
The bald goblin grins at Irshya. "I am when I'm this tall!" she enthuses, padding around to climb into a chair. "Missing memories? Hmm. Those are never fun. I do possess a little magic on viewing them, but it doesn't help if you can't remember yourself."
Their brows raise. "Ah, I see, that makes sense. Helps a lot to get into those tiny places for certain!" She finds a suitable goblin sized chair nearby, dragging it over with a grunt before plopping herself down next to Irshya.
GAME: Crik rolls disguise: (14)+11: 25
"Oh, well, I didn't know you were missing any until... I was part of a group that found one.", the Goblin said, her grin toothy. "And I figured if you're missing one, you are probably missing others. I've not told anyone about it, came right over here. I was on a guild job when we found it, a bright, golden orb."
Irshya eyes Gobvah for a moment, and giggles. "I mean, you're bigger, but not so big that you can really make fun of them being smol." She does nod in agreement with the other Goblin, however. "Yes, that is a very good way to get into things. I suppose the reverse of enlarge, is it? Very effective."
"Anyways, the memory was in a large, glowing orb. It was being used as a power source for a curse, but as soon as we started touching it, the curse fell away, annnnd well, yeah, we snatched up the orb. I am not sure who has it now, I did not wish to carry it, kinda worried about dropping it. I think Ulthan was holding it last, we can track him down and get it."
Clink, clank, clatter. A weird... vague looking shape was stomping its way closer. Smoothed metal, pipes, and a large cloak hung around this menacing seeming, tall looking golem. It looked quite mighty - but for some reason a lot of those bits and pieces were quite wobbly.
Broken golem, perhaps?
"Yes, guild mission." A hollow voice says, coming from a round tuba-like shape around its face. "Has construct Thoth experienced sensations of magic, elation, or recurring nightmares?" The other construct asks, above the two gnomes' heads. "What about an urge to go to places? Like villages?"
Thoth tilts its head. "This one cannot miss what it doesn't remember to be missing." It admits to the bald goblin and Irshya. "But this one is in search of more of its Memory Orbs. This one seeks to help itself and its friend."
It then looks up in surprise as the other Goblin speaks of finding a missing memory. "The Other possesses one of This One's memories?" It then asks, looking surprised at Irshya. The mention of the large glowing orb is familiar.
"This one declares, Memory Orbs should not be used for such things." Its wings twitch a bit, broken as they are. And for a rare moment, it actually seems like Thoth may be a bit angry about hearing what its memories had been used for!
"This one's master did not create them for such purpose!" It declares, assured of itself.
Crik joins in. Only to spot what looks like a broken golem?
Thoth rises. "Does the Other require aid in repairs?" It is quick to offer. Then, a tilt of its head. At the mention of nightmares, it quiets. "This one... rather not speak of what it sees when it is dormant." It answers, before tucking its beak against its wings and preening for a good few seconds, before looking forward again.
Schara has arrived.
"That's what you think," Gobvah winks at Irshya, smirking as she lays down on the two chairs she's collected. But she shuts up, listening to the story with a vested interested. Bit of a frown at the mention of a curse.
And Thoth gets agitated! This stranger is very interested now. "Yeah! That's just rude!" She turns a bit to spy the broken golem. "... you good?" she asks to not-Crik before looking a bit sad at Thoth.
GAME: Crik rolls sleight of hand: (2)+10: 12 GAME: Irshya rolls perception: (4)+13: 17
"Oh we figured that out, Thoth. But whomever created the curse and used your memory orb obviously did not care, the orb served a different purpose.", Irshya says, gesturing with a hand. "We wouldn't dream of using it for anything but its intended purpose. Memory storage. How many get rammed into those things, anyways? Just the one? Does it depend on how er, detailed the memory is?" The pool-shark disappears behind the desk momentarily, before she climbs up onto one of Gobvah's claimed chairs. Where the blue Gobbo peers at the other at length.
"Anyway, Thoth.", she says, looking back over the desk at the smol Birb-golem. "We..." Irsh pauses to start at Crik. "What the actual heck? Did you have an accident at band practice this morning?", she wonders of Crik. "And you wonder why people don't let you carry stuff." She squeezes at her nose a moment. "Thoth, we found an orb, and can confirm there's a memory of yours inside. So uh, we'll find Ulthan and get him to bring it to you."
"Um." The voice booms. "No." The hobbled-looking construct says. It seems to pause for a minute, except for some odd vibration. Then a pair of... ordinary pliers, offers up a notebook and a tiny pen. "No need to speak. Draw a diagram." Pause. Pause. The 'golem' looks down, then quickly back up. Resist the urge, resist the urge. "Especially if they include lobster men."
Meanwhile, the 'construct' looks at the others. Then resists the urge of making sounds, except to vibrate lightly in place. "I do not understand what you mean, Other. I do not play bands." Hold up the tuba more against face. "... maybe she is confusing me with someone else."
GAME: Irshya rolls will: (20)+9: 29 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
It was never that surprising to find Schara present around the artificer's hall. An elf wanders out of a back room, their hair a bit of a mess and a small, half eaten loaf of bread dangling out of their mouth for lack of hands to carry it with.
Such wanderings took them to where at least a few familiar faces were present. Schara bows their head slightly to them all. "Oh, goo' afernoon, Thoth, Ershyah, golem an gobberh I don' know." She mumvles in greeting, stopping long enough to tear off some more bread and swallow. "You are looking very small today."
Thoth's beak clacks a few times in irritation to echo Gobvah's intonation. It then inquires, rather than answering Irshya's question, "How did three come to understand it was of this one's?"
Only for it to make a confused 'croo?' sound at Crikbot.
At Schara's entry, Thoth simply repeats its previous explaination; "This one was asked to aid with manipulating the internals of something larger. So this one shrunk itself to aid."
GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (3)+15+2: 20
Gobvah sits back upright, tilting her head from side to side as her boots kick idly in the air while she listens to the recounting. Irshya joins her in the other chair, and she stares back. Smiles toothily. And scoots a bit closer.
She regards the walking band-golem. And snorts at the pliers coming out. "You're a funky golem, aren't you! I dig it." Information about this orb continues to draw her interest until Schara comes out. Govah smiles brightly up at Schara. "Hello! And you're looking very tall today!" she snickers.
Irshya hops down from the chair, and moves to Crikbot, where she begins to climb the variety of metallic objects. She pauses there to glance Thoth's way. "Well, the orb is a relic of Kulthis. The Archmage said it was a memory of yours, and having experienced the memory myself, I can honestly say it is yours. I saw you, as uh a fledgling. Your first flight."
She scoots a little bit higher on the Crikbot, waves to Schara, and then grins toothily at Slixvah. Tilting her headback, the Gobbo INHALES a lungful of air, and then blows into the mouthpiece of the tuba.
It's a very loud, low note.
GAME: Crik rolls fortitude: (14)+1: 15
"Diagram. Of the nightmare. Or the important specifications, such as the duration, location and the dimensional space one finds itself in." Crik-golem suggests, slowly settling the notebook and pen onto the nearby chair with his pliers.
Suddenly, Schara appears and the cloak and brass'd figure turns around. "Sc-Other. I am not feeling particularly small." Which leaves the Gobbo plenty of time to clamber up the suddenly very surprised golem's front.
"-BRRRRR" The 'golem' replies as it starts to step backwards, backwards - and then falls back down onto its backside with a very loud clatter, few of those pipes snapping.
"... did someone say something?" Golem-not-Crik asks quietly.
"Oh, I see. That would make sense, a lot of gobbers and gnomes learn artifice, and some of what they make can be really difficult to manipulate. Thankfully it is not usually an issue, as gobber tolerances usually err on the looser side."
The elf takes the now empty chair and slowly sits down in it, chewing on the remainder of their bread. "I am not particularly tall today? My hair has more volume likely due to sleeping on it in a less than ideal way, but I would still consider myself shorter than usual as the armor adds several inches. What is this about a memory in a device?" She asks, only to wince from the noise. The side of her head is shoved against one side of the chair, but her other ear is left uncovered. "That was very loud. Useful to have something like that available to use though I understand, but perhaps it would be best to make it only useable by yourself? I believe it is a figure of speech but it would probably be better to be the only one blowing into your own horn."
As Irshya explains it, Thoth clicks its beak a few times.
"This one still remembers its first flight." It then answers, as its wings strain to try and shift - like a bird wanting to take off. But they're just too torn apart to be useful anymore. But it tries. Instinctively. Just for a moment. Then winces and lowers its shoulders.
The loud honk goes without being reacted to. Unlike softskins, this one just registers it as 'a really high spike'. Not quite painful.
"This one's Master and this one itself would create Memory Orbs alongside Friend Ilenzi. Store memories in orb when held in a particular way." It explains. "Only when used by the original person, do the balls go inert."
Gobvah's brows shoot up at the mention of a Kulthian relic, which quickly becomes a look of concern as she remembers something about it. "Mmm... last time I saw Kulthian relics..." she shudders.
But such contemplations of nightmares is set aside as she watches Irshya curiously-- floppy ears get pulled down and pressed against the side of her head as she winces. But soon after breaks into guffawing laughter, rolling on the chair. "Bwahahaha! Ahh, Irshya-- that was great-- SCHARA! AHAHahahaha!"
It's going to take her a moment to recover And it seems like she is, but then triples over from Thoth.
The pool-shark abandons the crashing Not-a-Crik-but-a-Golem, settling back in the previously occupied chair. Another toothy grin flashed to the other Goblin before she glances at the bottomed out Crik. "Such a caw-cophany." Only then doers Irshya giggle madly for a time, settling down after with a long sigh.
She shrugs at Thoth then, "Well, the orb needed to be turned a certain way, and then it shoved the memory into our heads. It was you, I am as sure of that as I am my own name. Erm. Was your master, or Ilenzi, possessing pale skin and elf-like ears? That is what I recall of the man holding you."
She snorts at Gobvah, and pats at her shoulder, and offers Schara a wink. "Hah, tooting someone else's horn..."
The mass of pieces of brass and pipes slowly clambers back onto his feet. "Whaat?" He asks from Schara with a loud, hollow voice. Then he turns his head towards Slixvah. "Whaaaat?" If it weren't for the not-tuba, it could sound a bit like a bird crying 'caw'.
Apparently the ringing of the ears had faded somewhat, as the golem corrects Irshya, "White hair." The notebook is flipped open to a previous page. "... the first flight was very touching." He says with a low voice into the tuba. "I hope construct Thoth will fly again."
Schara sighs, and turns to rub her forehead against the chair for a moment before relaxing again. "I was saying yes, to make it so you could toot your own horn exclusively, like Irshya said. Oh, hello Slixvah, it it took some time to recognize you this time." Schara greets finally. "Yes, it was quite loud. Why have I never heard of these orbs before? Where these not widespread in Kulthos?"
Thoth looks, a bit confused for a moment. A twitching of its beak. "Master held me..." It answers, but there's uncertainty there. "Master was Eldanar." It then notes. Ilenzi was there when it was not yet a proper humanoid bodied being?
It goes quiet.
One cannot remember the things that one does not remember. And one does not miss the things one doesn't know to miss. But Thoth remembers its master creating it.
Jumping over the idea of hoping to fly again, it instead remarks that; "This one remembers its first flight. It is... important to this one."
Then, to Schara; "This one does not know."
Gobvah manages to pull herself together, her panting and wincing in pain. "Awh gawds my sides...!" she wheezes, her reaching up to take the hand on her shoulder.
Seeing as her cover is blown, she gives a toothy grin to Schara. "Got me!"
But then she turns to the topic at large, still holding onto the hand and tilting her head from side to side. "... hrm. Maybe ya need mo' of them orbs. 'cause this sounds confusin'. From what I've experienced of Kulthian stuff, things can get altered. Whoeva this Ilenzi person is, were they always there? Dunno, need mo' data. I'm always sus of th' tech." A pause. "No offense," she says to Schara and Thoth.
Irshya dabs at her eyes a moment. "I am not surprised that the memory orbs are not mentioned or at best, glossed over. It could be that they get mistaken for other things, as I said, this particular orb was powering a curse. It was a really strange job. And you have to manipulate them a specific way to get the memory. I suspect that the manipulation could take the form of whatever sort of movement the creator wished. It would be hard to accidentally do the correct movement, for most of them, I suspect." Irshya shrugs. "And who goes around rubbing random orbs on a pedestal in a castle out in the middle of nowhere?" A pause. "Archmages, that's who! People who ought to know better!"
Her facial expression softens. "Aww, Thoth, I am happy we've found this one. I will definitely inform you if I find any others, or hear rumours of such things being discovered. Perhaps you might take up Guild jobs, ancient ruins might contain more of these memories of yours."
She peers at Crik then. "Crik, you know you're not fooling anyone, right? Especially not me, with you being able to give details that I miss for a job that you and I were both on, and not a single Golem was a part of?"
"..." The golem pauses. "..." There's a distinct lack of sound. Processing data.
"... I knew something was missing." Crik finally admits defeat, lowering the brass tuba from his face in defeated manner. "If not for that one thing." Sad headbow. It lasts about one second, before the black beak appears and he looks at Thoth. "First flight is very special. Remember always."
Once again, the notebook and pencil are pushed forward. "Can you sketch it out for us?"
"No... when Master invented it, I worked on it. This one does not believe it can be changed." Thoth remarks, yet there's still that tone of uncertainty. "This one remembers Ilenzi working with master." Thanks to an orb granted by the strange but beautiful individual.
"This one intends to take on more guild jobs. It is awaiting for Ilenzi to tell this one where to find more of them. They say they know the position of some of them." It remarks.
Then, a notebook and pencil.
"This one is uncertain now. Please return in two-and-one days."
"I was fairly well fooled." Schara admits with a small shake of her head. "That being said, I am not thinking as well as I normally do. That is a fascinating piece of technology, though! If you want to see those memories, then it is a good idea to consult about such things. Just be aware they may be used in similar ways? If they were, a curse, was that? I am a bit concerned about any potentially lingering effects from other applications."
Gob-Slixvah, now outed, listens with more head tilts and ears flopping. "If ya say so, Thoth," she resigns. Whatever experiences she's had with old Kulthian technology has her on the suspicious side. "For real, don' ponder random orbs. Or touch 'em!"
Speaking of suspicions. "... Crik?" Gob-Slix blinks down at the not-golem. "Damn. Ya got me!" she giggles. "Firs' flights are very important. Totes agree."
She kicks her feet idly as she leans against Irshya's shoulder. "Jus' keep a lil' suspicion in ya sub-routines, yuh?"
"Not just that, Crik. I recognize your cape.", the pool-shark says with a snort. Irshya eyes the pliers and notebook dubiously, before looking to Thoth. "Good, good, I am sure they will appreciate your assistance, and I wish you luck. If you ever want my help in this, please come and find me at the TarRaCe, I'd be happy to assist." Gob-Slix is patted on the shoulder and nudged as the pool-shark stands up. "Yeah, I know enough to be wary.", she replies to Slixvah. She hops down from the chair, and grins. "Also, this other Goblin works there too, which you know."
She offers a wave to everyone, before picking up her trident from where it leans against Thoth's desk. "I've got to head back to the TarRaCe, biiiiig dinner rush planned. A whole new team at the Colosseum, and they're a hungry bunch. See you!"
The clatter picks up again, as the Gobbo appears to be wearing armor under her robes, and she makes heavy use of the trident as a leaning stick.
Crik tilts his head, which is stopped by one of those brass pipes he has managed to finangle in his clothes. "Then I will return in two and one days." Whatever that means. He is sure to figure it out. He lifts his arm and a larger, but thin notebook falls out, held by a small metal chain. Pen taken, he makes a note into his scheduler. "Have you looked at the wings yet?" He asks from Schara then.
Besides himself, Schara and the other gobbo gets a nod from him. "Thank you. I am sure this will not get me into trouble next time." The goblin though, gets a longer glance. "... we met?"
"... but this one's capes are utterly unrecognizable. I choose them carefully!" He protests at the pool-shark. "Unremarkable!"
"But if you are wearing the same cape as normal, then that is still recognizeable in it's own way, I suppose? Maybe you need to not wear a cape, or wear a really remarkable and colorful one instead?" Schara suggests, taking the suggestion as a breather to finish off their bread that got somewhat squished prior.
"Being careful may be the best course. I have taken a look at Thoth's wings, and they are remarkable, but I don't think I could repair them without major parts replacement, and I don't know exactly what parts are even needed given I haven't taken them apart to look."
"This one has already touched an orb. It is what permitted this one to remember Ilenzi. Dancing beneath the moon with this one." Amongst other things. It slowly blinks a few times. Watching the chaots going on between Crik and the others.
"This one does not have the Stranger Danger protocol." It notes. "This one lacks 'suspicion' at this time." It used to trust its Master without doubt. It would follow commands it was given. It never truly 'lived within society'.
It then hops off of its seat, right at the same time its Reduce Person spell cancels, and lands on its two legs at full height. Still short, but it's still its full height! "This one must return back to work. It will seek out this 'Ulthan' for the orb soon." It turns to look towards Schara.
"This one will not permit this one's wings to be taken apart." It then decides, remembering a lesson someone taught it. And with that, steps deeper into the place.
"Have we?" not-Slix sticks her tongue out playfully at Crik as she pulls an eyelid down. There's a shake of the head before looking over to Irshya. "I was talkin' ta Thoth, but ya too."
She gains a look at the mention of Stranger Danger protocol. "Tha' sounds li' somethin' GramGram would say," she giggles. "But it'd do ya some good ta harbor some suspicion. Ya in a different age. People can be rude and take advantage of ya."
Gob-Slix's brows furrow. "Awh, shoot, dinner rush," she huffs, hopping off the chair with Irshya. "Schara, come wit'! Crik too! Catcha ya later!" She plods after Irshya with a grin.
Crik tilts his head. "Shame." The corvid suffices to say - but then once again urges the construct to take the notepad and pencil. Notes, that's all he ever wanted. That's before he is dragged off by the gobbos, letting out a caw. "O-oh- but the curse still remains a mystery-!" He protests, backing away with the others.
"And I definitely do not wear the same cape all the time!" In fact, he was wearing dozen of them at the same time all the time. Pipes are dropped and pieces of metal abandoned onto the floor and nearby benches.
"Oh, that's interesting, you remember some memories held in one of these orbs, but not others." Schara notes, nodding once to the actual golem as she stands up. "I understand, I hope you can fix them yourself if you do not want people touching them. And before I forget to say anythung, sure, I'll join you at the Tarrace after I collect my limbs. Please do not walk or run too quickly out the door and I will catch up."
Schara waves, and quickly disappears back into one of the side rooms.
-End Scene-