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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1484049" data-attributes="member: 9744">chapter 4 Modron Madness“WELL LET'S GET BACK TO SIGIL THEN,” Caleb stated having heard the first good suggestion all afternoon.“What are we going to do with our modron friend here?” The dwarven scholar enquired. There was still a small leak of black oily fluid from one of its wounds and no sounds of gears, levers or ratchet could be heard from within.“WELL I THINK THAT WE SHOULD INTERROGATE HIM AND MAKE HIM TALK,” Caleb said without a trace of a smile.“I think that he has given us all that he is capable off,” Andrew commented. He'd watched the start of the repairs on the modron but had turned away after awhile. Perhaps it was the sight of the modron innards or something else that had caused him to walk away.“WHAT IF WE SLAPPED HIM AROUND A BIT?” Caleb asked, trying to figure out what Andrew's motivation was.“Then he would be a bit slapped around,” Andrew replied and gave nothing away about his feelings or his thoughts.“I don't really fancy explaining to the modrons where we found him.” The dwarven scholar coughed and tried to phrase his suggestion carefully so as not to offend anyone. “So perhaps we could just arrange for him to be found?”“Leave him in the path of the modron march?” Andrew asked incredulously. He'd seen the destruction that the modrons were capable of and had a brief mental image of the modrons either uncaringly trampling it in to the ground or deliberately destroying the damaged creature that appeared to have become a rogue.“Yes,” Littleby confirmed. He saw that Andrew was not overly keen on the idea and tried a different approach. “So anyone feel up to explaining this to the modrons?”“No,” Andrew responded conceding the point that the dwarven scholar was trying to make. All that he wanted to do was get back to Sigil, but he did not want to see the modron needlessly destroyed.“SURELY THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND,” the earth genasi ventured. He'd spent quite a bit of time and effort patching up the strange creature and felt that it was a waste if they were not able to return it to the great modron march.“It would take a very long time to get there,” Littleby stated referring to the fact that any conversation with a modron is a long and tedious exercise. Having to explain to the creatures of regimented law about the Tacharim, the Rendering works and why the adventurers had rescued the captive modrons was more that Littleby's patience was capable off.“MAYBE WE COULD TAKE HIM WITH US. LOOK I HAVE FIXED HIM UP ALMOST AS GOOD AS NEW.” Caleb was reluctant to leave the behind or to place it in the path of the marching modrons. He gave it an angry kick with his large metal boot as he was frustrated by the fact that it had shut down again.Amazingly the creature came to life and sat up straight. Caleb stared at in surprise and Andrew took a step back. It's eyes popped open and gears, springs and levers could be heard moving inside it boxy body. The modron flexed each of its ten fingers, ten toes and two wings. It rolled its eyes and moved it mouth in a series of incomprehensible expressions. This bizarre display was accompanied by whirring, clicking and droning sounds that emanated from within the creature.“Instructions. Require instructions.” The modron stated in Common as it looked around and examined the companions, the cart, a fly nearby and everything else in minute detail. Its monocle descended to cover its large right eye and it made a high pitched whirring sound as the lens rotated in place.“I AM YOUR MASTER,” Caleb said as he loomed over the seated modron.“No, no” Andrew said very quietly under his breath.“What is this *I* you speak off?” The modron's question held just a  tiny hint of curiosity, but that was far more than any of the questions that other modrons had asked the companions.“BUGGER,” the earth genasi muttered. Andrew sighed in relief, glad that Caleb had not gone through with trying to make the modron his personal servant.“Bugger. Designation Bugger. *I*. I am. I am Bugger. Need more information.” The creature pointed at itself as it said the word *I*, clearly identifying itself as an individual. Then the modron looked up at Caleb and blinked several times. It tried to mimic the earth genasi's facial expressions and instead looked like a child's caricature.“Well done Caleb, you gave it a name.” Serena laughed at the creature's attempts to mimic Caleb.“Require more information. Require instructions.” The modron turned towards the heart seer of Tomeri and silently tried to imitate the gentle laughter that it had heard. It still looked very strange, but not quite as alien as it had before.“Carry on Caleb,” the dwarven scholar said encouragingly. “You're doing great.” He was bemused by the fact that he and Caleb had somehow managed to make the modron go rogue and was busy scribbling down all of the days events in minute detail. He wrote in great length about the operation to save the modron's life and where Caleb kicked it later on.“NOW LOOK HERE YOUNG MAN, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER.” The mephits burst out laughing and jeered at the modron, but their Master pushed them aside.“Young Man. All parts are together. All parts are not in the correct position that they should be.” Suddenly the newly affixed arm shifted upwards so that it was level with the other arm. Then the modron flexed its broken wings again and this time they appeared to be more functional and intact. A strange chirping sound came from within the modron as it shuffled from one foot to the other and twirled around.“Engaging internal repairs.” The companions were astonished to see that it was genuinely smiling and not mimicking one of them.“THAT'S GOOD,” Caleb said, not really being certain of what the modron meant. “INTERNAL AFFAIRS IS GOOD.”Once the boxy creature had finished its shuffling dance-like moves that were accompanied by clicking fingers, whirring monocles and snapping wings it turned to stare admiringly at Caleb.“Caleb the Great. Instructing Bugger. *I*. I Bugger. Require purpose.”“He's fantastic, he'll have to come with us.” Littleby stated with a big grin. He stroked his beard as he admired what he'd just witnessed.“YOUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE US,” Caleb began but he was interrupted by Bugger.“Serve. *I*. Serve and I conflict.” The modron repeated the exact same silent laughter that it had done before.“AND HELP US TO RETRIEVE A LARGE ROD WITH A SKULL ON THE END OF IT,” Caleb finished his sentence and look rather worriedly at the boxy creature's continued bizarre behaviour. First a talking magical hammer and now a dancing modron. The earth genasi remembered the Rule of Three and wondered what other unusual occurrence would befall him.“Skull unknown. Rod unknown. Serve and I unknown.” for a brief moment it ceased all movement and just as abruptly carried on again. ”I Bugger chose to follow Caleb the Great. Require additional information.”“Fantastic, it made a choice of its own!” The dwarven scholar exclaimed delighted at having witnessed a modron make an independent decision that was not influenced by a command from a modron of superior rank. He quickly began scribbling more notes and thought about presenting a paper to the Guvners when he got back to Sigil.“Master,” the ooze mephit whined as it pawed at Caleb's large metal boots. “Master, you've got another follower.”“Three mephits and Bugger the modron,” Andrew stated and everyone laughed. Except for the modron whose mouth opened in a rictus grin and froze in place. Its wings bobbed as if its shoulders were shaking slightly, but no one was sure of exactly what the creature was trying to do.“OH NO,” Caleb said as he slapped his fore-head.</blockquote>

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