Anauroch - The Great Desert

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

"You came from the Deep Dark?  Why have you brought these outsiders with you?  You will not be salvaging me for spare parts..."  

The hand flips back in and the Dragon's head fist rotates into place, it's adamantine jaws snapping in emphasis.

[Sohala]

The taller three of the group seem to take a step back at the threat, while the dwarf, still engrossed in his map appears oblivious to it. "The portal wasn't all that deep, was a ways north though," He glanced up and noticed the snapping fist, "Now keep you wits there, spare parts won’t do anyways. They don't hold magic all that well when reforged."

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

The machine stands down but still seems wary, perhaps apprehensive of this new situation and unfamiliar people.  It's body seems o creak and groan and anyone observing closely wil see that dents in the armor are poping themselves back into alignment and the bullet holes and axe wounds from the Maug are sealing themselves up as if they were never there...

"You, the verbose one.  Who is your commander and what is your mission?"   It says to the halfling.

[Omen of Peace]

"I believe the 'commander' of this expedition would be the priest Devanar - he did not accompany us underground."
Mael has begun to cross over to the dwarf as he speaks, in a broad circle to avoid dangerous proximity with the erratic construct.

If allowed he'll take a look at the map, ponder things briefly, then trace with his finger the (very) approximate trail they followed.

[Sohala]

"I'll be damned; the gnome was actually telling the truth..." Said the dwarf with surprise. He raised his hammer a bit, and then with his left hand doing a few gestures, he mumbled a few phrases. A faint glow shined in the hammer before fading into nothingness. Before the halfling's eye lines started drawing themselves next to the indicated oasis.

Dwarven rune for "passage".

Spellcraft DC 15

Arcane Mark

Turning enough to face canine humanoids, [in Celestial] "You two think you can map out what we have traveled since passing through the portal?"

One of them replied, [in Celestial] "We can probably only get you a rough diagram, seeing as we did not measure each room."

The dwarf gave a nod at this, reached into his bag again, pulling out another large roll of parchment, and some inkwells this time. He handed them all over to the canines and then turned back to the others gathered there, "Now then, where were we?"

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

The behemoth leans over the dwarf, well...dwarfing him.  With loud whirring, clacking and hissing the dragon's head retracts and it's hand reemmerges from the forearm cowling.

"You were explaining your mission."

[Sohala]

When did biggen move over to Mr. dwarf? Eh, never mind, I can use it.

"Ah, raw materials, that’s right. I need them so I can craft a few baubles to aid in a coup against the ruling body of his city," he pointed towards his dark skinned companion.

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

When did biggen move over to Mr. dwarf? Eh, never mind, I can use it.

The Marc continues to stomp around taking stock of the citadel and the state of utter abandonment.

When the dwarf mentions the portal he stomps over.

"Ah the portal..."

BP, would the Marc remember something about the portal from the days when this place was still bustling?

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

When did biggen move over to Mr. dwarf? Eh, never mind, I can use it.

"Ah, raw materials, that’s right. I need them so I can craft a few baubles to aid in a coup against the ruling body of his city," he pointed towards his dark skinned companion.

"Coup?  You and what army?" 

[Brainpiercing]

On the surface

Devanar was miserable. Miserable to the point where he would have chopped off his right hand for a bottle of Jim Log's White Label. His only consolation was being out of the sun, everything else was... just horrible. He was aching everywhere. The chafing of his armour had grown into a constant burning pain. He was exhausted, and no matter how much water he drank from the little pool of the oasis, he never felt refreshed at all. After hearing nothing for a good while, he finally decided that a bit of relaxation was in order. He undid the straps on his breastplate, and let the heavy piece of steel clatter to the clay floor of the little hut. In only his (much dirtied) robe he stretched and wriggled until he felt his muscles loosen up a bit. Then he sat down with his back to the hut in the shade of a palm tree and closed his eyes...

...he awoke from the uncomfortable pressure of a serrated steel cutting edge lifting up his chin. His head jerked upright and an ineffectual surge of motion went through his body, when a voice out of the silhuetto looming over him said gruffly, 'Don't even think about it.'
Some more pressure from the scimitar - and some more looming shapes - reinforced the sentimend. A large booted foot sat conveniently on his morning star.

The silhuetto leaned forward until it finally blotted out all the sun - to reveal the grizzled, furry face, toothy snarling mouth (and bad breath) of an old Bugbear.
'Now tell me, old man, where are your companions? And what do you want?'

[Sohala]

"I wouldn't call it an army, but we have a small group of rogue drow still debating their involvement. They await our return with the trinkets or at the very least the raw goods before they commit to the plan."

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

"And what is your interest in this coup?  Warlord? Spoils?"

[Sohala]

“My interest is stopping the present ruling council’s experiments and breeding of abominations,” Stated the dwarf, while the dark skinned humanoid nodded. “I was tasked with investigating the sudden appearances and transformations of abominations on the surface, and I was lead to their city.”

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

"Directive 214: Seek and Destroy Aberrant Creations.  This is a worthy mission."

"Well, the creators have long since been defeated and the invaders are no more.  If you like you may search this Keep for any treasure that may yet still be present.  My mission here is over.  Perhaps there will be something to help us on our quest."

[Brainpiercing]

"Directive 214: Seek and Destroy Aberrant Creations.  This is a worthy mission."

Ugh, in D&D context that is a genocide mission... which reminds me that genocide isn't inherently evil by D&D logic. Damn.

BUT there are non-evil aberrations, so be careful.

[Sohala]

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I like your gumption, but from what happened in me home town…some of them are innocent folk who have been twisted by vile corruption." The dwarf seemed to say the last part with a heavy heart, but returned to it normal tone, "If this drow city is indeed the source of these transformation, there may be a way to reverse it. We should attempt to avoid conflict with the masses of abominations, but I fear those at the city may be lost to us already."

The dwarf let the information sink in before it continued, “Now, if we are agreed on that lets see if we can find some supplies…You wouldn’t happen to know where some might be stashed would you?”

[Brainpiercing]

[MARC]

While your memory of the events leading to your deactivation are sketchy, you do know the layout of the old fortress and underground city. The temple and the library was right in the center, underneath the collapsed fortress. The old inhabitants did not amass riches, but if there is anything of value it might be there. Of course, within are also the most sacred artifacts and texts of the draconic species that lived here, so...

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

I was thinking that Aberration = Aboleth's and Beholders. It makes sense that the Marc's would have databases of orders and such intilled by the Makers.

The construct waves an adamantine arm.

"Beneath the rubble.  There was the temple and the inner sanctum."

[Sohala]

The dwarf nodded, “Sounds like a good of place as any to start looking. Lead the way, tall one.”

While the dwarf and giant are talking, one of the canines moved up next to the halfling, “You said you came from the surface, from another set of passages than the ones we traveled, do you think you could recall them in detail?”

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

The metal man turns, first just his upper torso rotating, then followed by it's "hips" and legs a moment later.  As it stomps over to the pile of rubble, it again expands, plates shifting and limbs lengthening.  It's forearm cylinders snap open once more and in place of hands, a giant shovel and clamp slide into place.  Without further comment, the construct begins excavating the site of the old Keep.