"You bet boss," Karrin says, "Eliath, this is Renkar, Renkar, meet Eliath. We got him out without any trouble but he's worried that the drool squad will come looking for him. They don't know his real identity and I'm thinking that the dredge patrol will be the last to find out this illuminated business, but there's still a fear that someone is gonna come looking for him. We were sort of hoping that you could dispense some sage wisdom on the matter to put everyone at ease."
"Come worship Kos of the North! Bow before He Who Rules the Ice!"
As they go through the Temple Ward and Ekuur hears this, he scowls at the person barking this, saying, "Bow to the Sacred Flame, who will turn your 'Kos' to so much vapor!" He is tempted to confront the individual further, but decides that wouldn't be in the best interests of his companions, and continues on.
"You bet boss," Karrin says, "Eliath, this is Renkar, Renkar, meet Eliath. We got him out without any trouble but he's worried that the drool squad will come looking for him. They don't know his real identity and I'm thinking that the dredge patrol will be the last to find out this illuminated business, but there's still a fear that someone is gonna come looking for him. We were sort of hoping that you could dispense some sage wisdom on the matter to put everyone at ease."
Renkar bows to Eliath slightly
"Ser Eliath, a pleasure to meet you! I am Renkar Sha'Hagmid, Titular head of this investigative company. My confederates and I were hired by Gedramak Ironfist to locate you. He was distressed when he couldn't reach you with you business undone."
Eliath bows towards Renkar in turn
"I know I left Gedramak hanging, but hopefully I can make things up to him. I know where the info he wants is. I'll be happy to show yeh, as long as mayhap we can get square with the Doomguard. I really don't want to be looking over me shoulder."
Renkar nods
"I fully understand. I am sure I can arrange something through some ... intermediaries .. I have. Perhaps you fell under a Charm spell?"
Eliath nods and laughs sourly.
"It's as close to true as makes no difference in this barmy burg. Gods, what a berk!"
"Come worship Kos of the North! Bow before He Who Rules the Ice!"
As they go through the Temple Ward and Ekuur hears this, he scowls at the person barking this, saying, "Bow to the Sacred Flame, who will turn your 'Kos' to so much vapor!" He is tempted to confront the individual further, but decides that wouldn't be in the best interests of his companions, and continues on.
The fur-clad priest shrieks and faces Ekuur
"Fiend! Heretic! Ice shall conquer in the Final Days when the last spark of Fire shall gutter out forever! So it is written!"
The priest seems to be grandstanding for the crowd in front of his ramshackle temple. It seems to be working, as idle loungers turn from Jaleesa's portico and its bevy of bell-clad bellydancing acolytes to find out what the fuss is about
"Come worship Kos of the North! Bow before He Who Rules the Ice!"
As they go through the Temple Ward and Ekuur hears this, he scowls at the person barking this, saying, "Bow to the Sacred Flame, who will turn your 'Kos' to so much vapor!" He is tempted to confront the individual further, but decides that wouldn't be in the best interests of his companions, and continues on.
The fur-clad priest shrieks and faces Ekuur
"Fiend! Heretic! Ice shall conquer in the Final Days when the last spark of Fire shall gutter out forever! So it is written!"
The priest seems to be grandstanding for the crowd in front of his ramshackle temple. It seems to be working, as idle loungers turn from Jaleesa's portico and its bevy of bell-clad bellydancing acolytes to find out what the fuss is about
"Oh for the love of..... Ekurr just rain fire down on the false gods temple already." Merle snaps out clearly iritated. Her head hurt, she was soaking wet....."Achoo" and to top it all off she now had a cold. Last thing she needed was a preacher showboating.
The fur-clad priest shrieks and faces Ekuur"Fiend! Heretic! Ice shall conquer in the Final Days when the last spark of Fire shall gutter out forever! So it is written!"
The priest seems to be grandstanding for the crowd in front of his ramshackle temple. It seems to be working, as idle loungers turn from Jaleesa's portico and its bevy of bell-clad bellydancing acolytes to find out what the fuss is about
Ekuur was originally going to just go on, but now things were personal. He knew the area well enough to find his way back from here, so he stops and slowly turns to face the ice priest.
"Oh? And how will that happen? So long as there is iron and a flint to strike it, there shall be fire. So long as the stars burn in the sky, there shall be fire. As long as storms ply the skies of a million worlds, sending their lightning to the ground, THERE SHALL BE FIRE!
"And why would we worship the cold and ice? Cold is merely the absence of heat; ice merely the absence of flame. Thus, they are NOTHING. You ask us to bow down before nothing? The dead are cold, the void is cold. Life is warm, where there is heat life flourishes! Why should we worship that which takes our life away?"
Ekuur turns to the crowd that has gathered. "I say FIRE is the eternal one! He would ask you to worship that which saps your strength, and freezes your bones! Fire cleanses and heals! It provides warmth for your family! Cooks your food! And when ice and fire meet, it is fire that emerges triumphant!
"I have seen the Sacred Flame, and I have destroyed the temples of cold. I know of what I speak! Come, and join me to learn more of the Sacred Flame. Leave this man to his rotting furs and cold shivering. He can have it!"
"Yes fire would be very very welcome right about now" Merle says shivering and sneezing again.
"Yes fire would be very very welcome right about now" Merle says shivering and sneezing again.
Nari puts her cloak around Merle, and with her arm around her friend's shoulders tries to steer Merle after the rest of the group.
"We should get you to the Copper Cauldron as quickly as possible. You need a nice hot bath, and perhaps some warm milk."
Leave this man to his rotting furs and cold shivering. He can have it!"
The fur-clad priest turns an interesting shade of puce.
"BLASPHEMER! Fire is the mark of Evil! The Destroyer! It will sweep the multiverse in anger and pain before Kos and his holy angels bring forth the balm of ice to a ruined reality! YOU WORSHIP EVIL!"
The priest stomps up and down his temple's portico. A crowd of idlers has congregated around, some yelling encouragement to either the ice priest or Ekuur. The bellydancers in the adjacent temple, sensing the mood of the crowd changing, take a break from dancing and light up cigarillos.
"Why is it that all evil things live in fiery pits? Because fire is the AGENT OF EVIL AND DESTRUCTION! You worship that which destroys all it touches, leaving nothing but ash!"
The priest points his ceremonial-looking pick at Ekuur.
"REPENT YOUR BLASPHEMY DEMON-WORSHIPPER!"
Leave this man to his rotting furs and cold shivering. He can have it!"The fur-clad priest turns an interesting shade of puce.
"BLASPHEMER! Fire is the mark of Evil! The Destroyer! It will sweep the multiverse in anger and pain before Kos and his holy angels bring forth the balm of ice to a ruined reality! YOU WORSHIP EVIL!"
The priest stomps up and down his temple's portico. A crowd of idlers has congregated around, some yelling encouragement to either the ice priest or Ekuur. The bellydancers in the adjacent temple, sensing the mood of the crowd changing, take a break from dancing and light up cigarillos.
"Why is it that all evil things live in fiery pits? Because fire is the AGENT OF EVIL AND DESTRUCTION! You worship that which destroys all it touches, leaving nothing but ash!"
The priest points his ceremonial-looking pick at Ekuur.
"REPENT YOUR BLASPHEMY DEMON-WORSHIPPER!"
Ekuur remains somewhat calm, seeing how worked up the other priest has become, and thinking that he may win more points by not looking like a total loon.
"All evil things live in fiery pits? Have you forgotten the icy fields of Caina, with their resident ice devils? And what of the realm of Orcus, Thanatos in the Abyss? It is as deathly cold and chill as the dead who stalk its icy fields.
"Fire destroys that which is already dead or dying. When the brush fires start, it is the dead and dried plants that are swept away. In turn, their ash fertilizes the soil, to make way for new life! Fire burns the corpses of the plague-dead, ensuring their sickness does not transfer to the living. Cold can do none of these things."
At the priests threatening motions with the ice pick, Ekuur grasps his trikal in his hand. "Fire is not evil. It serves many purposes, most of which are good for life. Cold is the true enemy! It is anti-life, it serves no purpose! Ice must be melted by fire before it can be drunk, flesh must be cooked by fire before it can be consumed, and a body must be warmed by flame before it can sleep. YOU should repent, for your own heresy!"
"personally I think they're both loons," Karrin whispers under her breath, "worshiping forces? Yeesh! Everyone knows that true gods have a humanoid form."
Karrin does her best to ignore the religious rhetoric as she makes her way back to the silver rose. Most priests didn't welcome educated debate she'd quickly discovered.
Isaac leaves Ekuur and the ice priest to engage in spirited debate. Truth be told, it was a common enough sight in the Temple Ward. Before stepping off with the rest toward the Silver Rose, he claps the flame priest on the shoulder.
"Don't forget forging, cutter. Cold-forging iron's a headache compared to regular smithing."
"You bet boss," Karrin says, "Eliath, this is Renkar, Renkar, meet Eliath. We got him out without any trouble but he's worried that the drool squad will come looking for him. They don't know his real identity and I'm thinking that the dredge patrol will be the last to find out this illuminated business, but there's still a fear that someone is gonna come looking for him. We were sort of hoping that you could dispense some sage wisdom on the matter to put everyone at ease."
Renkar bows to Eliath slightly
"Ser Eliath, a pleasure to meet you! I am Renkar Sha'Hagmid, Titular head of this investigative company. My confederates and I were hired by Gedramak Ironfist to locate you. He was distressed when he couldn't reach you with you business undone."
Eliath bows towards Renkar in turn
"I know I left Gedramak hanging, but hopefully I can make things up to him. I know where the info he wants is. I'll be happy to show yeh, as long as mayhap we can get square with the Doomguard. I really don't want to be looking over me shoulder."
Renkar nods
"I fully understand. I am sure I can arrange something through some ... intermediaries .. I have. Perhaps you fell under a Charm spell?"
Eliath nods and laughs sourly.
"It's as close to true as makes no difference in this barmy burg. Gods, what a berk!"
"We all make mistakes, cutter, some of our own makin'. I can tell ye yer kip ain't been turned out or anything; we had a scan with, uh, Measure... Mirrebeau just a Peak past. Do we need to call on Ser Ironfist or would ye like a moment with the boss, Eliath?"
Linguistics (if applicable)
Isaac's going to try and puzzle out the Shadowknave's journal pages when he gets a spare moment.
Linguistics (if applicable) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
The half-burned pages all seem to be in some sort of code, not a true language script at all. Issac can suss out several Abyssal and Infernal glyphs in the mix. There is also an interesting table of numbers done in Common notation. He can't seem to figure out how they connect with the coded pages.
The priest, a bit long in the tooth, remains on his portico and eyes the massive form of Ekuur warily.
"BEGONE FROM MY SIGHT BLASHPHEMER! Kos has no use for those who worship evil!"
Sensing that a fight would go badly for him, the Kos priest retreats into his temple. The assembled crowd mutters gloomily and starts to wander back towards the belly-dancing priestesses.
"We all make mistakes, cutter, some of our own makin'. I can tell ye yer kip ain't been turned out or anything; we had a scan with, uh, Measure... Mirrebeau just a Peak past. Do we need to call on Ser Ironfist or would ye like a moment with the boss, Eliath?"
Eliath seems to relax once he hears his kip is safe.
"I had been wonderin' about that, but I really didn't want to go and show myself there. I know the book where the info is and what place it's at. I can tell yeh if yeh'd like."
Renkar nods
"Ok, well, it was last at a place called Brimstone's Books off Ragpicker's Square in the Lower Ward. 'Course that was like a month ago, though Brimstone probably would have kept it for me. The book's got a delayed action madness curse on it though, I suggest anyone handling it not read it unless they're prepared. It's called The Grey Realm by Talimzar. I really don't want to mess with it anymore."
"Want I should fetch the book for our client, boss? I got business in the Lower Ward anyhow."
"I found these pages at the Shadowknave's kip: Infernal/Abyssal code and some numbers. Can't get the Dark of it, but I reckon one of you cutters might be able to."
The priest, a bit long in the tooth, remains on his portico and eyes the massive form of Ekuur warily.
"BEGONE FROM MY SIGHT BLASHPHEMER! Kos has no use for those who worship evil!"
Sensing that a fight would go badly for him, the Kos priest retreats into his temple. The assembled crowd mutters gloomily and starts to wander back towards the belly-dancing priestesses.
Ekuur says, very loudly, "And yet again, as is the way of nature, the cold retreats before the might that is fire!" If anyone remains to listen, Ekuur will add, "I shall return in ! I have seen the Sacred Flame, and will tell of my journey!"
With that, he begins to walk back to the Silver Rose.
Ekuur says, very loudly, "And yet again, as is the way of nature, the cold retreats before the might that is fire!" If anyone remains to listen, Ekuur will add, "I shall return in ! I have seen the Sacred Flame, and will tell of my journey!"
With that, he begins to walk back to the Silver Rose.
The few idlers watching clap and whistle. A few call out Ekuur, assuring him they'll look for him and his first sermon.
Ekuur catches up easily with the rest of the party and continues to the Silver Rose
"Want I should fetch the book for our client, boss? I got business in the Lower Ward anyhow."
"I found these pages at the Shadowknave's kip: Infernal/Abyssal code and some numbers. Can't get the Dark of it, but I reckon one of you cutters might be able to."
Renkar looks at the burnt manuscript
"The numbers seem to be a cypher table, but without someone really gifted with numbers, trying to reconstruct it will be hard. They might unlock the rest of the documents."
Renkar looks up at Issac.
"If you could talk to this Brimstone, that would be excellent. I'll keep Eliath under wraps. Here ..."
Renkar gets up and rummages in his tunic for a leather pouch. He spills a flood of Hammers on a nearby table, the bright mithril coins winking bright silver in the firelight.
"Eliath, how much is owed on the book?"
Eliath thinks
"I believe it was 500."
Renkar scoots over 20 mithril coins.
"That's 1,000 there Issac. That should be enough to pry the book out of the shop. Be careful with it, it does have a curse on it."
"Archooo" From the back of the group Merle once again makes her presence felt and looking Ironically like something the cat dragged in.
"Wait," Karrin gasps, "there really is a cipher? I thought I was . . ."
She takes a calming breath.
"When the hard heads arrived and you guys were still upstairs I knew I had to stall them somehow. So I made up this bit about a cipher and stuff. I read it in a book once. So I figured it would sound all mysterious like and would keep the guy interested long enough to you guys slip out. I said there was a notebook and a cipher and I thought I was being real cleaver but this guy didn't act all surprised or too curious so maybe there's actually more to this then we thought. Anyways I figure this fellow could have been an illuminated cleaning up after his old boss the shadowknave or he could have been legit, if he was the former he would have been happy that I was misinformed, and if he was the later I think he could have been ill informed himself. But now I'm not sure. Maybe it's for the best we're not directly involved with this. Anyways I got this guys name and contact information. Might be useful to pass some information up to him, bank some favors and stuff, but I think his crew might be able to piece together that some of our crew were upstairs, and he might come asking for any information."
"Want I should fetch the book for our client, boss? I got business in the Lower Ward anyhow."
"I found these pages at the Shadowknave's kip: Infernal/Abyssal code and some numbers. Can't get the Dark of it, but I reckon one of you cutters might be able to."
Renkar looks at the burnt manuscript
"The numbers seem to be a cypher table, but without someone really gifted with numbers, trying to reconstruct it will be hard. They might unlock the rest of the documents."
Renkar looks up at Issac.
"If you could talk to this Brimstone, that would be excellent. I'll keep Eliath under wraps. Here ..."
Renkar gets up and rummages in his tunic for a leather pouch. He spills a flood of Hammers on a nearby table, the bright mithril coins winking bright silver in the firelight.
"Eliath, how much is owed on the book?"
Eliath thinks
"I believe it was 500."
Renkar scoots over 20 mithril coins.
"That's 1,000 there Issac. That should be enough to pry the book out of the shop. Be careful with it, it does have a curse on it."
Isaac whistles at the coinage and carefully scoops it all up into a small pouch, which he hangs around his neck to keep the cutpurses and cross-traders off his jink.
"Well Karrin, seems you're better lanned to their business than ye thought. Mayhap you should run yer own gang, eh?"
"Any o' you cutters keen for a jaunt to the Lower Ward? Gonna stop at the Foundry to rattle my bonebox, but ye don't have to cool yer heels fer that."
Ekuur says, very loudly, "And yet again, as is the way of nature, the cold retreats before the might that is fire!" If anyone remains to listen, Ekuur will add, "I shall return in ! I have seen the Sacred Flame, and will tell of my journey!"
With that, he begins to walk back to the Silver Rose.
The few idlers watching clap and whistle. A few call out Ekuur, assuring him they'll look for him and his first sermon.
Ekuur catches up easily with the rest of the party and continues to the Silver Rose
Ekuur smiles as he walks back. I may even have found my new temple ... he thinks.
Isaac whistles at the coinage and carefully scoops it all up into a small pouch, which he hangs around his neck to keep the cutpurses and cross-traders off his jink.
"Well Karrin, seems you're better lanned to their business than ye thought. Mayhap you should run yer own gang, eh?"
"Any o' you cutters keen for a jaunt to the Lower Ward? Gonna stop at the Foundry to rattle my bonebox, but ye don't have to cool yer heels fer that."
After pocketing the jink Renkar slid over, Issac and some of the party members head out to Ragpicker's Square, the large open-air cloth and paper bazaar.
Darkness has fallen completely while they talked with Renkar, and a deep fog has sprung up. It's around two hours into Before Antipeak and they have a long walk to go. .
Heading out into the dank and foggy night, the party walks down Copperman's Way headed towards the Lady's Ward. The wide boulevard is awash with physical flames and magical lights of all shapes and sizes, looking like a constellation of rainbow-hued will-o'-wisps bobbing in the breeze.
The group joins the throng of Cagers and Clueless off on their Antipeak adventures. Even though the throng is heavy, there is a silent covenant that everone should ignore everyone else. An Ice Devil shambles along the street, steaming gently with cold, and no one pays him a bit of mind. The same goes for the Asura strutting proudly down the road with his bird talons clacking the cobbles. They pass each other without so much as a flinch.
Copperman's Way burrows through the Lady's Ward, bringing merchants to their wealthy customers. The street's shops become more elaborate and ornate, with doormen and multiple stories. They pass Salt Street, when undoubtedly their former client Lucius Sar'Ormand was hard at work making Ladies selling salt to all and sundry.
They arrive at Plague Court where the large fountain where the Plague Victims' Monument sits sheathed in a mist from the arcing waters. The fountain is crowded with early revelers, from various groups of functionaries just off of their jobs in the Court District to Harmonium catching an ale at the local, the Square Bar.
Heading off Plague Court in Razorvine-on-Hiddleton, the road into the Court District. Issac usually steers clear of this place during Peaklight, but once darkness falls he likes to travel this way. The Guvners, Mercykillers and Harmonium all head to their kips for their tucker and the wide boulevards and large quiet buildings make for quick walking. There's a bunch of Hardheads still about on patrol, but most figure anyone moving down the road with a purpose isn't up to anything they need to worry about.
The Court District shades into the Temple District by the Park of the Infernal and the Divine. This wide grassy area was a magnet for prophets and ideologues of all stripes, from howling rag-wrapped desert ascetics that would look more at home in the Slags to crews of sable-and-samite wrapped prelates walking with a bevy of temple functionaries. A skinny bug-eyed man in a trenchcoat with a greying Xaos spiked-crest hairdo screeches at the crowd:
"The Revolutionary League is gonna free you from your slavery! You fools, bound to the shackles of faction dictators and jumped-up ghosts with shiny powers! Awake Berks! It's almost time for Change!"
The party walks a little quicker , as trouble comes to an Anarchist like flies to dung.
After the park, The temples become ornate and large, most belonging to a top-shelf power. One stands out, a monolith of black and red-stained silver: The Temple of the Abyss.
Soaring above the gilded rooftops of the Temple District, the Temple's tall tower casts its dark shadow over the quiet plaza it stands over. Its belltower is silent, as always, but moans can be heard from some being impaled on the many silver spikes studding its night-black skin. Odd greenish light issues from the two oval windows in the main chapel, like a crouching beast's eyes.
Passing the Temple of the Abyss quickly, the party comes upon one of the most famous pawn shops in the Cage: The Golden Bell. It's doorman, a minotaur named Crookshanks, sits leaning on his massive mace. The minotaur's horns and hooves are encased in Abyssal steel. An intricate Abyssal-steel hauberk sheathes his massive muscular form. His bovine nose and ears are pierced with many gem-encrusted rings. The large warehouse-like pawnshop has a massive collection of goods displayed in its windows. Many relate to divine interests, as befits the residents of the Temple district.
Walking through Bloodgem Park, the party takes Doomguard Walk to Swordhold. The mercenary distrcit is alive with tough-looking cutters attending to the various things mercenaries do when not fighting: Namely, wenching and drinking.
Alehouse Road staggers through Swordhold and on into the Foundry District. The Great Foundry sits on the skyline, giant smokestacks pouring sulfuric smoke into the fog, tinging it yellow. Issac stops the party.
He would be looking mostly for a general overview of the Cage for Clueless folk; something to help lann the Primes to the Cant. So "A Tout's Guide" would fit the bill.
Nari steers Merle towards the fire, quietly asking Ramona for some hot tea and a hot bath for Merle. Once she is sure that her wayward friend is being well cared for, she turns her attention back to the rest.
"May I see that?" she said quietly, as the others spoke about the cipher. "I.....ummm....maybe I could help......figure it out?"
She'll pass on the chance to go wandering the city any more. She's had as much as she can handle for now, instead choosing to stay and look after Merle, and possibly try to solve the code in Shadowknave's journal.
"Archooo" From the back of the group Merle once again makes her presence felt and looking Ironically like something the cat dragged in.
Bethany can barely stifle the giggle that is threatening to come out at the cat's discomfort. She keeps glancing over out of the corner of her eyes while she is trying to follow Renkar's conversation with Eliath.
As the conversation winds down, Bethany shakes her head as she watches Nari try to baby the big pussy cat. "Well Isaac," she says with a last look at the departing Nari and Merle, "if you can promise to show me to your seamstress so I can get myself a coat for this infernal city then I'll be happy to keep you company to the book store." She throws a wink at Drazek. "And I'm sure Drazek will be happy to tag along as well so he can get himself some company later on tonight."With a nod of her head at Renkar, Bethany follows Isaac through the streets towards Brimstone's Books.
She'll pass on the chance to go wandering the city any more. She's had as much as she can handle for now, instead choosing to stay and look after Merle, and possibly try to solve the code in Shadowknave's journal.
Ramona takes charge of the still-damp catfolk, who is looking quite bedraggled and strung out at this point .
Merle huddles by the common room's enormous roaring fire, a mug of steamed milk by her side. Darroth is sent off to boil some water for a bath.
Renkar shows Nari the burned manuscripts
"The cypher is only partially there. I'm afraid it will take a lot of arithmetic to reconstruct the missing number sequences. We need to find someone who can handle large mathematical computations."
"I think I'll stay here and hold the fort," Karrin says, "unless you think you'll need back up. I want to get something to eat and get some shut eye."
"Archooo" From the back of the group Merle once again makes her presence felt and looking Ironically like something the cat dragged in."Well Isaac," she says with a last look at the departing Nari and Merle, "if you can promise to show me to your seamstress so I can get myself a coat for this infernal city then I'll be happy to keep you company to the book store." She throws a wink at Drazek. "And I'm sure Drazek will be happy to tag along as well so he can get himself some company later on tonight."
With a nod of her head at Renkar, Bethany follows Isaac through the streets towards Brimstone's Books.
Drazek flashes Bethany a grin. "Hell, the way trouble follows Isaac around, s'bound to be interestin'. Besides, someone gotta watch that pretty l'il arse o' yours."
Isaac nods to Karrin, Nari and Merle on the way out, chuckling mirthlessly at Drazek's comment.
"Aye, trouble's my sodding shadow, cutter. You got no idea. I don't reckon the tailor's open at this hour, Bethany, but I can show ye where she is."
"Right, cutters. This is the Great Foundry, if ye didn't realize. Godsman headquarters; I'm gonna run in and have a bit o' the wig wag with my Factotum. Ye can come along if yer keen on it, or cool yer heels. Shouldn't be more'n a moment."
List of known faction infiltrators in hand, Isaac looks about for the voadkyn Ombidias. He stops a nearby night shift worker.
"Oi, mate, ye seen Ombidias about?"
She'll pass on the chance to go wandering the city any more. She's had as much as she can handle for now, instead choosing to stay and look after Merle, and possibly try to solve the code in Shadowknave's journal.
Ramona takes charge of the still-damp catfolk, who is looking quite bedraggled and strung out at this point .
Merle huddles by the common room's enormous roaring fire, a mug of steamed milk by her side. Darroth is sent off to boil some water for a bath.
Renkar shows Nari the burned manuscripts
"The cypher is only partially there. I'm afraid it will take a lot of arithmetic to reconstruct the missing number sequences. We need to find someone who can handle large mathematical computations."
"Well, in the meantime, I don't suppose it will hurt anything if I give it a try." Nari puzzles over the burned book, committing the numbers to memory and trying to figure out what they mean.
Alas, her nerves were so jangled that she couldn't even see the paper straight. :/
Seph takes a perch on Nari's shoulder and try to help with the Cypher. Unfortunately the entire thing seems beyond him
Merle herself goes for her warm bath
"Oi, mate, ye seen Ombidias about?"
The worker, a namer Issac knows as Per looks up and smiles a gap-toothed grin at the ranger.
"Yeh Issac I b'lieve he's at the polishin' line now."
He jerks a sooty thumb back at Issac's old place of labor
Issac has enough juice to get the rest of the party over to the polishing yards. The Foundry never slept, the clang of hammer on anvil ringing out as the armaments for a million battles was forged. Though the swarms of workers were drenched in sweat and sweating in the acrid air of the Foundry, they seem calm and happy. Many of them wave to Issac as he walks.
The giantkin Ombidias sits watching a group of namers polishing plate helms. He calmly wades through them, pointing to one and correcting him, then praising another. The party hears him talking before they arrive.
"Remember that all labor, all striving, no matter how trivial-feeling or routine, inches our soul ever closer to Ascendance. Imagine how many eons it has taken your soul to arrive here and now! "
He breaks off as the party approaches and straightens his tall slender form. He stands a good nine feet tall, but built like a sinewy willow. His dark-brown skin is seamed with scars, testament to his time as a prisoner in the dread city-plane of Dis. He has his trusy hammer looped at his belt and a set of brown-and-green robes that swirl around his slender form. A bright smile breaks out on his face.
"Issac! I see that your soul still lingers about our humble polishing yards. What can I help you with?"
Alas, her nerves were so jangled that she couldn't even see the paper straight. :/
The busy day and the drama with Merle's mugging and the strained walk back to the Silver Rose Nari just can't seem to get her mind calm enough to keep the numbers straight. She can't seem to grasp the pattern that must be there.
Seph perches on Nari's shoulder in cat form. The common room distracts him, with the laughter of dinner patrons mingling with the soft playing of a bard on the small raised corner dias that passes for a stage. Something catches his eye:
Seph:
Merle gets into the bath tub at the end of the hallway upstairs. The hot water is soothing, and there are several fragrant cakes of soap and towels placed to the side. After a decent soak she is feeling half-normal again. She shuffles to her bed and collapses into it, snoring.
"Aye, Ombidias; it seems my soul, like my addled brainbox, is best suited to simple tasks. These cutters are some o' my new comrades in the Silver Rose. We've found some darks I thought I would keep you apprised of personally, if you can spare a moment to talk."
In private, Isaac will tell him about their investigation into the Illuminated and their plot to infiltrate the factions, presenting the list of names they've already gathered and stressing that the barmies were tricked and forced into acting as spies.
"... if ye didn't already know about this, that's the dark of it. The Dead are already acting on it, I reckon and the Harmonium have already gone in to look at one o' the cross-traders' kips with a Taker. Do any o' these poor sods sound familiar?"
Peception
"... if ye didn't already know about this, that's the dark of it. The Dead are already acting on it, I reckon and the Harmonium have already gone in to look at one o' the cross-traders' kips with a Taker. Do any o' these poor sods sound familiar?"
After Issac's lanning him the chant, Ombidias looks over the names and nods
"I've seen one of these names before."
He looks grim
"It is a horrid thing to deceive barmies into becoming spies. Whoever planned this must be headed along the Left Hand Path*"
*
Ombidias looks down on Issac.
"I am very grateful yeh brought this chant to me Issac. I'll make sure that Ambar knows who it was what brought this in as well."
He claps a large hand on Issac's shuolder
"your path seems to be leading you in interesting directions."
Bethany nods at the strange looking giant and hangs back out of the way with Drazek while Isaac has his discussion.
She licks her lips and playfully runs her hand over Drazek's leather clad behind, covering the action with a motion of her wing.
"Do you think they'll be long?" she leans up and whispers in Drazek's ear. "I do want to visit this Bookstore, but I can't wait to get back to my room." She finishes her statement with a playful nibble on Drazek's ear and a smile.
Merle sleeps dreaming about doing things to Bethany involving using a grease spell and plucking machine.
Merle sleeps dreaming about doing things to Bethany involving using a grease spell and plucking machine.
Peception
1d20 + 3
Under the small dias is a large knothole. Seph sees a flash of white there. A small mouse's face appears at the hole. The mouse is unusual in that it is white, and it wears a small green archer's hat.
"... if ye didn't already know about this, that's the dark of it. The Dead are already acting on it, I reckon and the Harmonium have already gone in to look at one o' the cross-traders' kips with a Taker. Do any o' these poor sods sound familiar?"After Issac's lanning him the chant, Ombidias looks over the names and nods
"I've seen one of these names before."
He looks grim
"It is a horrid thing to deceive barmies into becoming spies. Whoever planned this must be headed along the Left Hand Path*"
*** spoiler omitted **
Ombidias looks down on Issac.
"I am very grateful yeh brought this chant to me Issac. I'll make sure that Ambar knows who it was what brought this in as well."
He claps a large hand on Issac's shuolder
"your path seems to be leading you in interesting directions."
Isaac smiles at the giant, trying not to betray a grimace at his iron grip.
"Aye, some stone-cold bloods to be sure. I hope you'n Ambar can get this squared; poor sod likely just thought they was gettin' a second chance and didn't think about the strings attached."
The half-elf nods to the giant, shakes his hand.
"I'm glad for my path, Factor, truth be told. Even when that path seems to be full of bladelings and barmy-snatchers and sodding rusty knives. Heh. 'A life of leisure is a snake swallowing itself: content to consume its potential, it leaves naught behind', right? Thanks for passing it along, Ombidias. I'll keep you lanned to any other important chant we find."
If the meeting is concluded, Isaac will collect everyone and bring them to Brimstone's.
Seph does a bit of a double take at what he sees. He jumps down from Nari's shoulder and trys to stealthy move in for a closer look.
Stealth
The crowded common room affords Seph some cover as he stalks the knothole. The mouse sit quietly, whiskers twitching. He is actually standing on two feet like a humanoid would, scanning the crowd as if looking for something. Seph can see that he is dressed in a hunter green suit with a silvery hauberk and a tiny bow.
Bethany nods at the strange looking giant and hangs back out of the way with Drazek while Isaac has his discussion.
She licks her lips and playfully runs her hand over Drazek's leather clad behind, covering the action with a motion of her wing.
"Do you think they'll be long?" she leans up and whispers in Drazek's ear. "I do want to visit this Bookstore, but I can't wait to get back to my room." She finishes her statement with a playful nibble on Drazek's ear and a smile.
Drazek lets out a low, lust filled growl, slipping his arm around Bethany's waist, his hand straying lower.
Seph for a minute ponders on the absurd fact that a clothes wearing human standing mouse wasn't the strangest thing he had seen this week before trying to get a little closer.
Stealth
If the meeting is concluded, Isaac will collect everyone and bring them to Brimstone's.
Issac and Ombidias conclude their palaver friendly enough. He steps out of the small room where the voyadkin had taken him for some privacy. The group heads out of the Great Foundry complex, leaving the Godsmen and their smoggy realm behind.
Heading out towards Ragpicker's Square, the party enters the Gear District. This haunt of alchemists, magewrights, tinker gnomes and arcane engineers is always an interesting place to walk. Constructs of all shapes and sizes (and sentience) clank and clatter down the road.
Gear Street fades into the Alley of Dangerous Angles at the borger of Hellgate. The party sees the stairwell leading down to the tavern they visited a few days back, Caritas. The tiefling Polodorus can be seen smoking a large cigar and chatting with a few patrons. His second snakehead waves lazily in the foggy air.
The party cuts across Hellgate, trying to avoid the neighborhood as much as possible. They emerge in Ragpicker's Square minutes later. The large plaza is alive with traders and merchants, mostly involved in clothing and book sales. Dozens of used clothes and book shops line the dingy cobbles of the plaza, and hundreds of small kiosks crowd the open smoggy area.
As Ragpicker's Square is the gateway to the Grey District, a large number of Dustmen can be seen everywhere. Many have zombie or skeleton sevitors, but Issac doesn't see any like the ones he saw earlier. Those berks gave him a chill.
A bit of searching and a Green or two in the right pockets leads the party to Brimstone's Books. The book store is off a small side alley, and looks to be open. Pushing in the door sets off a small bell. A thin, short, spiny, red-faced tiefling in scholar's robes enters from a back room.
"Welcome to Brimstone's Books, my friends! How may I help you?"
Seph for a minute ponders on the absurd fact that a clothes wearing human standing mouse wasn't the strangest thing he had seen this week before trying to get a little closer.
Stealth
1d20 + 11
Seph creeps ever closer. the small white mouse is within pouncing distance if he was so inclined. The knothole isn't big enough for Seph to get into, but his paw could ...