Zad grinned and leaned in conspiratorially, "We'll be heading toward a place near the Civic Festhall, Sensate territory. A lot of the dandies who pretend to membership don't dare party with the low and outcast but they want the experience, hence the party last night."
"I don't know the dark of the planes, but I'm a peery basher who doesn't rattle his bonebox."
Calita nods and smiles at the woman when Alyse introduces them, but not knowing much about what Alyse and Shadow are talking about, and figuring that Tollard will be much more informative than she will, she listens intently to what is going on.
"Right. Are yeh all Clueless, or do you bring anything worthwhile to my train?"
"We bring an assortment of items to your train." Congruence removes his backpack and opens it, ready to present an inventory of what they are bringing.
Alyse looks wide-eyed at the ladies, then looks up at Shadow and grins. “You’re the best Shadow … and those Primes must be flush. Well, I’m certainly willing.”
She shares the Ladies out amongst her companions – three each. She holds onto the tenth coin – “Expenses,” she explains.
Tollard grins at Alyse. "Unless the blackest thorn is a euphemism for some demon's naughty bits, I don't think Qurdar's library would be of much use. I did see a library once though that had... Dark volumes..."
Tollard trails off, staring into the distance with a blank expression, as he wrestles with unwanted images floating through his clouded vision.
Alyse blushes. “Oh … it’s that sort of library. Well, yes, that’s probably not much help. So what about this other library you mention – sounds like it might have the dark on what we’re looking for?”
Myriana listened as she finished cleaning her plate and said, "Sounds good to me, let's go Meow!" She bounced up and ran her dishes to the window and then dashed off towards her bunk room to grab her things, not even realizing that Xadkiel was still eating yet.
Zadkiel watched after Myriana as she left to grab her gear and then looked at the food on his plate, Good thing I grabbed a light meal. He finished quickly and met Myri out front.
Myriana came outside just before Zadkiel did, she had her gear on again as before but she wore a grey skirt that reached to her knees instead of breeches this time. Her armor was snug fitting as normal and her few weapons were on her person. She was flouncing around humming to herself, much to the brother at the entrance's annoyance, and seemed to be saying something about kitty's as she occasionally added lyrics to her song. She saw Zadkiel and stopped what she was doing as she came over to him in a rush to give him a quick hug before asking, "So, where to meow?"
Alyse blushes. “Oh … it’s that sort of library. Well, yes, that’s probably not much help. So what about this other library you mention – sounds like it might have the dark on what we’re looking for?”Tollard grins at Alyse. "Unless the blackest thorn is a euphemism for some demon's naughty bits, I don't think Qurdar's library would be of much use. I did see a library once though that had... Dark volumes..."
Tollard trails off, staring into the distance with a blank expression, as he wrestles with unwanted images floating through his clouded vision.
Tollard hesitates before answering. "I should not have even brought it up. The danger is too great; some places threaten more than merely one's life." He has a haunted look about him as he goes on. "How important is this knowledge they seek?"
“Well, there’s jink in it for us,” says Alyse, sounding somewhat disappointed. She sips at her drink, then brightens. “Don’t worry Tollard, we’ve got lots more options to find out about this thing. The Lady’s Library is likely to have the dark, and I know a few bashers who might know a thing or two.”
Calita's eyes widen as Alyse slides the coins across the table towards her.
"I don't really know much about what we're after, but I'll help in any way that I can," she says thanking Alyse and Shadow for the work.
Day 1. 5BAP Alehouse Row
Tollard, Alyse, and Calita pocket their share and Shadow turns back to her marks
"You know where I'll be ducks"
Day 1, 5 AP. Planar Trading Consortium
Muammarak looks them over. He turns to Tsun
"You look like the most useful of the lot. You are now in charge of these two. You answer to me, and my lieutenant Zarasmanak. We're doing the Ironcrag Run first leg. After that, we'll be headed into Tir Na Nòg. We'll head off right at 6 Before Peak, right here. Until then you are released. Don't be late."
Muammarak turns and shouts at a group of drovers
Day 2, 3 BP. St. Cuthbert's-Festhall District
Zadkiel and Myriana gather their goods and head off towards the Festhall District. Heading past the Market Ward they enter the Guildhall Ward
The two were just passing the Great Gymnasium and the various health and exercise businesses when three men step in front of them. Zadkiel recognizes the odd features of Copper Man Wright. Copper got his knickname from the fact that the top of his skull is totally replaced with a shiny copper duplicate. And angry red scar shiny with pus marks the border between metal and man. He and two thick thuggish men block their advance
"Well well. My creditor from another time. I was starting to think you had skipped town."
Day 1. 5BAP Alehouse Row
Tollard, Alyse, and Calita pocket their share and Shadow turns back to her marks
"You know where I'll be ducks"
Let's go then!
Day 1, 5 AP. Planar Trading Consortium
Muammarak looks them over. He turns to Tsun
"You look like the most useful of the lot. You are now in charge of these two. You answer to me, and my lieutenant Zarasmanak. We're doing the Ironcrag Run first leg. After that, we'll be headed into Tir Na Nòg. We'll head off right at 6 Before Peak, right here. Until then you are released. Don't be late."
Muammarak turns and shouts at a group of drovers
"Aye." Tsun touches a knuckle to his forehead in salute. He turns to Sara and Congruence. "They're not congenial bashers, but they seem professional. I'm feeling... okay with them. Do you have anything that needs doing before tomorrow?"
Sara shrugs. "The Abbot released us from our chores. We cleaned up our rooms. So there is not a lot left to do at St. Cuthbert. But this might be the right time to inquire what exactly is expected of us, and if we need to bring something specific. I've heard of Tir Na Nóg, but I've got no idea about Ironcrag run. If, for example, its freezing cold there, I'm going to need a different set of clothes."
Congruence considers what they can recall about Ironcrag Run and Tir Na Nóg.
Congruence:
Let's go then!
Day 1. 5-3BAP Alehouse Row-Lady's Library
Without further delay the trio set off to check out the Lady's Library. They head out Alehouse Row, not in full swing as Antipeak nears.
The weather has dried to a mere drizzle, and Cage fog is thick in the air as they make their way to Swordhold and dodge the groups of carousing mercenaries
They approach the Lady's Ward,the cries of sacrificial animals fill the foggy air at Meat Market Square. The Temple District is thronged with night worshipers and random festivals. As they walk they pass hovels built of trash dedicated to unknown powers. Then the streets begin to feature rows of plain brick temples. Then the temples expand, diversify, grow soaring marble minarets. The temples names become recognizable: Thor, Zeus, Corellon Larethian with his temple's crescent moon motif.
They pass into The Court District. They pass by the Dusty Wig tavern, now lit brightly and seeming to have a bit of a party going on inside. The barristers that Sly Nye associates with are not the usual staid Guvners it seems.
AT the edge of the Court District is the enormous building that houses the Lady's Library. It has two bronze owl statues flanking the stairs up to its massive doors. The doors are shut, but an engraved plaque reads
Ring buzzer for Antipeak service
A small(ish) postern door is set within one of the large main doors.
A loud peal sounds out and there's a heavy tread behind the door. It opens to reveal a huge blue insectile Ice Devil. The creature is fully three meters tall, and a wave of chill emanates from it. It stares down at the trio with huge multi-faceted fly eyes and slurs out what can somewhat recognized as Planar Common
"Whasshur bussness, berksh?"
A wave of breath redolent of strong alcoholic spirits bathes the party.
Alyse has heard rumors an Ice Devil worked as evening security for the Lady's Library, but she cannot recall the name. Sherbert? Hactor?
Alyse’s friend Thorn had once mentioned the Library’s Ice Devil anti-Peak watchman, so Alyse had been somewhat prepared for it … somewhat. It’s hard to be truly prepared to confront an icy, three metre tall devil – especially a drunk one.
“Uh … research? We’re here for research. At the library … could we come in?”
"Ironcrag is a dwarven city at a mountain base. Tir Na Nòg should be rather pleasant we believe. Your clothing is likely adequate for our journey ahead."
Congruence then looks at both Travel Friends Tsun and Sara while indicating its own form, "However, do you have knowledge of
armor fitting us? If we encounter danger, is our natural protection adequate?"
The modron has a quick glance at Sara, and then Tsun, and then catches themself and looks to the ground, "We cannot protect others if we are excessively harmed."
Visions of cardboard boxes flit trough Sara's head for a moment when Congruence mentions armor. But she gets serious when Congruence looks sad.
"Ow. I dont know. You have an... unusual shape."
Sara pokes congruence side. "You are however very sturdy?"
Zadkiel's smile hardened when he saw Wright round the corner.
"Of all the reasons to skip town, your false debt does not rank high on the list." His voice was icy and his eyes moved to the larger of the thugs and placed a hand on the hilt of his blade, "Thought you picked better looking companions, Wright, finally scare off the last of the catamites?"
Visions of cardboard boxes flit trough Sara's head for a moment when Congruence mentions armor. But she gets serious when Congruence looks sad.
"Ow. I dont know. You have an... unusual shape."
Sara pokes congruence side. "You are however very sturdy?"
Congruence, let me know if this is crazy, but... could we just rivet metal plates onto you?
Alyse’s friend Thorn had once mentioned the Library’s Ice Devil anti-Peak watchman, so Alyse had been somewhat prepared for it … somewhat. It’s hard to be truly prepared to confront an icy, three metre tall devil – especially a drunk one.
“Uh … research? We’re here for research. At the library … could we come in?”
The devil makes a sound that could possibly be interpreted as a grunt of affirmation.
"Public areas only. No taking the books outshide their roomsh. NO TORCHESH!! "
The ice devil hiccups
"Bar that. No fires whatsoever. I'll freeze yeh, if yeh light one"
The ice devil stands aside
"Enter. Mind the walking box, he'll talk yer ears ourph "
Inside is a broad foyer with many reading desks lit by magic lamps. Corridors angle off into what presumably are other Library stacks. A broad staircase leads to a second floor, and others go even higher.
The party sees a square form waddling along the main desk area, a large pile of books carried in spindly arms. A strange contraption like a ball and chain on a jointed pole seems to be coming out of its top
Their trip had started out great, Zadkiel and Myriana were making their way to his next errand the lovely catgirl was enjoying the trip. Then it happened, something had to go wrong. She knew the day had started to well and then this happened. The creditor blocked their path and made his demands, and Myri found herself annoyed, he couldn't wait until she [i[wasn't[/i] with Zad, could he. She glared at the creditor as Zadkiel spoke and then added, "You just had to run into us now didn't you meow. Couldn't you have waited until I wasn't around? Really, it's like you were waiting to spoil my day. Why is it I can never seem to have a completely good day, not...just...one, meow!" She was rather aggravated, and it showed, but she was at least trying to be polite when she continued, "Can't you just go away meow and bother us later?"
The odd copper-pated man seems taken aback by Myriana's request
"Well, I don't want to upset such a pretty young cutter", He says graciously
"Tell you what. I'm going to let this slide for now. I haven't forgotten your debt though Zadkiel. Or should I say, Amadeon. We'll discuss this at a later time"
The trio meld into the passing throng
Zadkiel watched Wright go, his mouth tight, before leaning over to Myriana, "So, turns out not everyone is my friend." His smile returned quickly, "You think if I believe he doesn't exist hard enough he'll just blink out in a puff of smoke?"
Myriana didn't seem surprised at the suggestion Zadkiel wasn't universally liked and said, "No one is liked by everyone meow, it's not possible." She adopted awry smile as she stated her disagreement, "Sadly I don't think it works that way meow." Once copper was safely gone she asked, "So who is this Amadeon person he mentioned?"
“Gotcha. No fires,” says Alyse, moving warily inside the building past the formidable door-devil. Once inside, she soon spots the modron carrying a pile of books. “That must be one of the librarians,” she whispers to her companions. “Thorn’s mentioned a modron that won’t stop rattling its bone box, I wonder if that’s it?”
Still womewhat wary, she tiptoes over to the modron and clears her throat.
Calita follows Alyse and Tollard through the streets and up to the library. At the sight of the huge doorman, her eyes widen and she takes a step back, but after he allows them access, she warily steps through the doorway behind Alyse, never taking her eyes of the huge blue insect until she is well inside. Once inside, her eyes once more widen as she takes in the library.
More inured to the sights of Sigil, Tollard seems relatively unfazed by the guard's appearance. As they walk away, he mutters idly, "I wonder how he'd feel about Qurdar taking books into his bathtub..."
When they see the modron librarian, he nods at Alyse. "I've never made small talk with a modron. Do you talk about geometry with them or something? I suppose we shall find out."
Congruence, let me know if this is crazy, but... could we just rivet metal plates onto you?Visions of cardboard boxes flit trough Sara's head for a moment when Congruence mentions armor. But she gets serious when Congruence looks sad.
"Ow. I dont know. You have an... unusual shape."
Sara pokes congruence side. "You are however very sturdy?"
Congruence does their best to mimic a shrug for a being that has no shoulders, "We have never attempted a modification of our form. A lillendi artist once expressed interest in painting us. But we were unsure if it would be appropriate. However, we are willing to attempt riveted metal plates. We are sorry we know so little about ourself."
"Far as I can tell, this Amadeon is someone who looks like me. Apparently he owed the Copper Man a fair sum before disappearing, to my great consternation, right before I got to town." Zadkiel's eyes flickered, "Hey, Wright's not even the most dangerous person who doesn't like me, so that's a plus, I guess."
Day 2, 2 BP. Festhall District
Zadkiel and Myriana head out down Long Lane, angling towards the massive bulk of the Civic Festhall in the distance. Long Lane cuts through The Forest District, named not so much for trees, which are few and far between in this city, but for the inhabitants of the district, which are primarily sylvan in origin.
The streets are crowded with Sprites, centaurs, wood elves, Treants, and a myriad of less-recognizable cutters. Something resembling an animate rosebush brushes by, muttering darkly in Sylvan and broken Planar Common
"Lousy hroftingel pfarrsoosh scumsucking jaluzel"
They pass within the shadow of the Great Gymnasium, the sprawling complex devoted to the Trancendant Order and their philosophy of action without thought.
The Civic Festhall greets them as they enter the Festhall District. Fully 400 meters high, an amazingly tall building conical with heartbreakingly beautiful detail work all around it.
Zadkiel locates Veria's shop on a side street called, appropriately enough, Hell Street. The windows of Veria's Delights are filled with exotic-looking leather clothing, lingerie, knives and whips. The front door has a stylized lipstick kiss embossed on the glass. He opens the door and a bell chimes. He and Myriana walk in.
The interior of Veria's Delights is more of the same. There are silver cages suspended form the ceiling, masks of various make on the walls, and racks upon racks of costumes.
By the far wall is a counter where a being sits writing something. She is a pale-skinned, dark haired beauty of a fiend with an expanse of dark wings. She jingles as she turns to look at the two; her ebon-feathered wings are pierced in several places and strung with gold chains, which hold a collection of small golden bells. She is dressed in a tight wasp-waisted bustier with a short pleated skirt and high spike-heel boots. A very businesslike rapier dangles from her belt as does a large whip. She stands and stalks over to the two of them, smiling slyly
" Good Peak to you, my friends! What can I assist you with today?"
Day 1. 3BAP Lady's Library
“Gotcha. No fires,” says Alyse, moving warily inside the building past the formidable door-devil. Once inside, she soon spots the modron carrying a pile of books. “That must be one of the librarians,” she whispers to her companions. “Thorn’s mentioned a modron that won’t stop rattling its bone box, I wonder if that’s it?”
Still somewhat wary, she tiptoes over to the modron and clears her throat.
The modron squeaks and turns, putting the books down suddenly on the desk.A giant hammer is belted to his waist, and he wears a peculiar vestment with myriad pockets sewn into it. He looks at Alyse and smiles
"Greetings late-Antipeak patron of the Lady's Library! I am one of the Antipeak librarians, Oil-Lube-Initiallizer, but many sapients prefer to call me O.L.L.I. How may I be of assistance?"
His voice is strange. Not mechanical, but very smooth and calm and lacking gender specific tones, like a 10-year-old male.
Day 1, 5 AP. Planar Trading Consortium
Congruence does their best to mimic a shrug for a being that has no shoulders, "We have never attempted a modification of our form. A lillendi artist once expressed interest in painting us. But we were unsure if it would be appropriate. However, we are willing to attempt riveted metal plates. We are sorry we know so little about ourself."Congruence, let me know if this is crazy, but... could we just rivet metal plates onto you?Visions of cardboard boxes flit trough Sara's head for a moment when Congruence mentions armor. But she gets serious when Congruence looks sad.
"Ow. I dont know. You have an... unusual shape."
Sara pokes congruence side. "You are however very sturdy?"
The Great Bazaar has a decent collection of exotic armorers. Also, the Lower Ward is known across the planes for their metalwork. Some sort of contrivance could be found for the right amount of jink
Sara taps her chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm... Its not a bad idea actually. Just dont know if it would work. But with some sweet words some blood in the lower ward might give us a good deal just for the chance to try it out."
Yeah, sounds like Thorn’s friend.
“Greetings O.L.L.I.,” replies Alyse. “We’re doing some research – looking for the dark on a powerful fey artefact, the Shadow Crown. Could you point us in the right direction?”
"Certainly, late-Antipeak patron of the Lady's Library! This unit calculates with a 56% percent chance of certainty that any magical artifact with the qualifying designation 'Shadow', and originating from the First World environs of the Ethereal Plane would be found in the third floor stacks. check stacks 12-32."
"Thanks O.L.L.I. - and what's the best way for us to get to the third floor stacks?"
"Either a Bazaar or Lower Ward merchant would suffice. We have neither preference nor knowledge of cost required."
Congruence opens their backpack and examines the stacks of hand drawn maps and charts of Great Bazaar merchants that only a modron could appreciate to see which ones might be of use.
"Thanks O.L.L.I. - and what's the best way for us to get to the third floor stacks?"
"Straight up two flights of stairs, then orient left, take approximately 45.5 average paces, orient right, take 23 average paces and look for the numeral 'XII' engraved on the stacks"