Merle and Seph decide to accompany Nari and Rhiannon.
On his way out the front door, Ekuur also takes the time to cast divine favor on himself. His acolytes follow behind.
To start, Isaac will try to grease some palms around this antipeak's case and try to discretely get an idea of what the Athar have been up to lately.
Diplomacy (gather information): 1d20+8
The attempt takes 1d4 hours.
Issac wends his way along the foggy streets with Rhiannon and Naridre until he hits Hellgate. He heads into the Shattered Temple district off the Alley of Dangerous Angles, leaving the others to continue on into the Hive.
The Shattered Temple District is dominated by the ruined hulk of Aoskar's Temple, its crumbling towers looming like a skeletal hand over the roofs of the tenements. The Athar keep kip there, grinding out their reams of anti-deific broadsheets that seem to paper every wall in the Lower and Hive Ward.
Off Brandy Lane, the route to the Athar's headquarters , a tavern by the name of the Soused Duck caters to the drinking Defiers. Issac ghosts his way inside without problem.
Inside is a large common room with a staircase leading to upper floors and another leading downwards. Several groups mutter amongst themselves, some rather loudly. The bar is lined with solitary drinkers, most wearing some symbol of the Athar on their person.
Issac: ** spoiler omitted **
Sleight of Hand:
Sleight of Hand:
Sleight of Hand:
Marconi stands up. There must be a step in from of his chair since he doesn't seem to be as short as he should be. He gestures at Justin, his glowing draconic cats-eye pupils narrowing to bare slits.
"Tell me, Mr. Case, why I should let you leave this room at all?"
Justin meets the kobold's narrow glance with his own.
'Note to self. Next time I decide to rattle a cage, bring more handlers!'
Justin chuckles. "Hm? Oh, I'm sorry, I thought that was a rhetorical question." He says with wide-eyed innocence.
Justin gently places the fingertips of one hand on his chest.
"The wisdom of my a$$ is well known. If I didn't mouth off to you after mouthing off to death priestesses, demons, dark elves, undead and fairie queens, well,... I wouldn't want you to feel unappreciated. And others might get the wrong idea about us."
Justin casually leans forward, slowly, placing both hands on the desk where Marconi (and everyone else) could see them. He took comfort in the feel of the weight of the lighting bolt wand up his sleeve.
"But, as usual, I feel that some of our conversation has gone over your head. I admit I'm not as refined as you, but all I did was ask you some questions. Which, intentionally or not, you answered. Thanks." Justin said, managing not to smirk. "I offered to pay YOU for the information. Since you were kind enough to answer my questions, my offer of payment still stands." Justin says, not too smugly.
"If, on the other hand, you want to throw down due to a simple misunderstanding,..." Justin spreads his hands in a helpless 'What can I do?' gesture.
Justin looks around the chamber. "Nice work by the way. Love what you've done with the place. Stone was a good choice. Gives it that 'stronghold' feel." The wizard meets the kobold's eyes evenly. Marconi was well aware of Justin's preference for fire spells, and the reason behind that choice. Almost everything would burn, If you got it hot enough.
"I really didn't come here to fight. You know I can do a great deal of damage in a short amount of time. And I know that you've got me hopelessly outnumbered in this room. So if we're going to continue this idiocy, there's only one real question,... Whose the designated sacrifice?"
Marconi tilted his head slightly. Justin smirked. "It's ok, you were kind enough to answer my question, the least I can do is take out the trash for you. Then we can get down to business if you want. So who is it? Who is the designated expendable in this scenario? The one who nobly sacrifices himself so the rest can protect you, or take out the threat?" Justin looked around at the hangers-ons, all suddenly giving swift, furtive glances at the others.
Justin holds up a finger, 'ooing' as if just realizing. "Ah, you haven't told them which is the expendable one!" Justin grinned at the sudden ripple of discomfort that ran through the employees, even as they nervously inched hands closer to weapons.
"Mr. Case. All of my employees provide a valuable service to me and my organization. There are no expendables." Marconi said flatly, calmly, coldly.
"Of course, of course,..." Justin agreed amiably. "So it's a volunteer system then." Justin nodded knowingly, grinning unnervingly at the group. He noticed that the gargoyle, Horace, was the only one not visibly unnerved by the turn of the conversation. He was watching Justin like a stone hawk. Waiting for the order from Marconi. One way or the other.
"I grow weary of your primate chattering. Do you never cease your mammalian monkey-noises? Even when faced with oblivion?"
"Nope. That's one of the advantages of being a smart-a$$ primate. Wisecracks are a renewable resource."
The wizard felt the length of wood that was his lighting bolt wand in his right sleeve, and silently began willing energy into his shield ring on his left hand. There could only be one result if this went south. Justin was confident, admittedly c0cky even, but he knew he could not take out the entire room in a fair fight. Horace was between him and the front door, and Justin could see only one other clear exit, and possibly the balcony.
Justin held out his arms from his side, "Look, It's up to you. I got my question answered, and you have my offer of repayment. Anything else is extra. But if we're not gonna dance, I've got a busy day planned, you said you were busy,... I'd hate to be rude and keep you any longer than we have to." Justin shrugged, and watched Marconi closely. If the kobold did give a signal, he wanted to be the first to see it.
Merle's presence helped Nari get past her nervousness towards Rhiannon and she began to explain, hesitantly at first and with corrections as needed from Isaac, what she'd learned so far about the city as they traveled through it.
Convincing the people she met at the gates when they got to the Gatehouse that she was who she claimed to be took a bit longer, but with the others there to back up her story it wasn't an especially difficult process.
Seeing Majeed looking so old and frail she felt sad. It was increasingly obvious that he wasn't long for mortal existence. Not for the first time she cursed the forgetting sickness that made it impossible for her to properly say goodbye to her mentor.
When she saw Hlar she brightened. She went over to speak with him.
"Hlar! It's good to see you again!" she said, smiling. "It's me, Nari. Well, I look a fair bit different, but it's still me."
Seph takes the oppertunity to go play with some of the other kids.
Seph takes the oppertunity to go play with some of the other kids.
Seph finds a gaggle of dirty bare-foot urchins playing Hardheads and Knights of the Post. He has a lot of fun traipsing up and down the stained cobblestone yard behind the Gatehouse. A few trees and some truck gardens interspersed among the cobbles are the only vegetation likely to be seen in the entire Hive Ward.
"Hlar! It's good to see you again!" she said, smiling. "It's me, Nari. Well, I look a fair bit different, but it's still me."
Hlar looks up, a frown of puzzlement flashing over his horned visage
"Nari? Majeed's companion? My word, something extraordinary must have happened to you!"
Justin held out his arms from his side, "Look, It's up to you. I got my question answered, and you have my offer of repayment. Anything else is extra. But if we're not gonna dance, I've got a busy day planned, you said you were busy,... I'd hate to be rude and keep you any longer than we have to." Justin shrugged, and watched Marconi closely. If the kobold did give a signal, he wanted to be the first to see it.
Marconi sighs and subtly relaxes. His minions also relax slightly, in tune with their leader's mood
"You are a very lucky sentient, Mr. Case. Another berk might have gotten his bloody bits thrown in half-a-dozen sewers for such insolence, but I have always had a strange liking for you, despite your obvious lack of decorum and breeding."
He snaps his fingers and gestures at the flame-haired gensai. At a whispered word, the skinny robed elementaloid hands him a parchement and quill. Marconi scribbles something down
"This is the name and address of a psionicist I know. Perhaps he will know something of your problem. If you get results from this, perhaps you will reconsider my request."
He flicks the paper over to Justin
"Now beat shoeleather before I come to my senses"
"Hlar! It's good to see you again!" she said, smiling. "It's me, Nari. Well, I look a fair bit different, but it's still me."
Hlar looks up, a frown of puzzlement flashing over his horned visage
"Nari? Majeed's companion? My word, something extraordinary must have happened to you!"
"Very extraordinary. It's kind of a long story. I was reincarnated after a fashion by Yggdrasil's child Lauralia. The other soul I shared a body with kept our original body and went back to our home world. I'll have to make my report soon. There are a lot of things I learned on this trip. But first I wanted to see Majeed." Her tone turned grave. "He's taken another turn for the worse, hasn't he?" she said sadly.
sneaksies
Issac:
There is no shortage of drunk and insensate Athar about. Issac easily picks up a badge off one face down in a vomit pool
Pulgh and his goons come outside. The diminutive man looks at Karrin and Ekuur and their backup
"What's your problem, berks?"
Pulgh and his goons come outside. The diminutive man looks at Karrin and Ekuur and their backup
"What's your problem, berks?"
"You dared blaspheme the Temple of the Sacred Flame some days back with your foul, filthy, and rank presence. You also dared demand money from me and my faithful, as you have done with many of the other temples in the district. This is unacceptable.
"I give you one chance to apologize and cease bothering any of the good folk of the Temple District from this day forward. Do this, and you may yet walk away in good health."
Intimidate
Thelnarin and the other acolytes stand behind their master, glowering intently.
aid another intimidate
aid another intimidate
Qurresia does her best to seem menacing ...
aid another intimidate
Marconi sighs and subtly relaxes. His minions also relax slightly, in tune with their leader's mood
"You are a very lucky sentient, Mr. Case. Another berk might have gotten his bloody bits thrown in half-a-dozen sewers for such insolence, but I have always had a strange liking for you, despite your obvious lack of decorum and breeding."
Sighing with relief on the inside, Justin shrugs his shoulders. "Yeah, Well, No accounting for taste I suppose." He says casually, tweaking an eyebrow as the kobold scribbles on the parchment.
"This is the name and address of a psionicist I know. Perhaps he will know something of your problem. If you get results from this, perhaps you will reconsider my request."He flicks the paper over to Justin
"Now beat shoeleather before I come to my senses"
"Oh, well, We wouldn't wouldn't want that would we?" Justin murmurs wryly as he idly, but swiftly, plucks the paper from the table. He holds it up.
"Thanks. I'll ask around. If I hear anything, I'll let you know." He nods slightly to the kobold crime lord, and turns to find the Genesai half blocking his way. Justin smiles.
"Sorry hot stuff. Maybe next time. May I?" Justin smiles large and insincerely. With a snort and a glare that promises there will be a next time, the genesai steps aside just enough for the mage to pass. He does so.
"No need to stand on ceremony big fella. I can let myself out." Justin says cheerfully to Horace as he nears the gargoyle on the way to the door. Horace's stony face doesn't flinch. But Justin feels a slight, deep, low rumble in the ground. It takes him a moment to realize that it's Horace, and he's growling.
"Wow. Hey, you ok there big guy? You sound a little,... gravelly."
---
The two elderly kobolds sitting outside in the courtyard look up from their game at the sound of an impact and a primate yelp. Justin stumbles into view, flailing his arms to keep his balance. He finally catches it and turns back to face the way he came. A very large, dusty print of a hobnailed boot decorates the back of his shiny new leather coat.
"Thanks Horace! Don't know what I'd do without you!" He calls cheerfully. He turns and heads for the entryway, limping slightly, and smiling at the two elderly lizards as he nears the doorway.
"Say what you like about Horace, he's always got your back!" He smiles, reaching back to rub the soon-to-be tender spot on his backside.
Justin's eyes drop to the board with the stones on it, and widen slightly in surprise. He had been expecting to see a basic game of 'Stickes and Stones', or what some Primes called 'Chai-knees Checkerds'. But while the figures were homemade and fairly crude, and the four sections of playing board were laid side-by-side, it was unmistakably a full set of Elvish Dragon Chess. On an optional multi-leveled playing board.
Justin pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows in appreciation as he swiftly studied the board. "Archmage's Injunction? Checkmate in eight moves?" He asked.
This drew a swift glare of disapproval from the eldest kobold. (Presumed to be so due to his completely grey, almost white hide.) But the other elder kobold twisted his face in what was probably supposed to be a grin. (It still looked unnerving. A little lizard shouldn't have THAT many teeth in his mouth!)
"Actually, is Sorcerer's Sacrifice. Mate in six." The kobold replied in a softly accented lilt, sounding almost oriental to Justin's ears. The eldest Kobold huffed and crossed his arms, reminding Justin of a wizened old gnome. Justin's eyebrows shot up, and, not being able to think of anything that wouldn't be an inappropriate wiseacre remark, bowed his head respectfully to the two elderly kobolds, and limped out of the courtyard with what was left of his dignity.
Justin waited until he was clear of the kobold neighborhood, Then took a brief opportunity to glance at the paper that Marconi had given him. After committing the name and address to memory, he stuffed the paper into his pocket as he stepped quickly down the street, his long legs moving him swiftly towards the hawker's market and the side street nicknamed 'Arcane Avenue'. He still had preparations he had promised to make before he met up with the others,...
Rhiannon looked on quietly as Nari explained her current form. She could only imagine how strange it must be finding herself in a new body, having to explain to everyone she had know that this was the face they would see now.
In a lot of ways she really has no idea how strong she is.
sneaksiesIssac:** spoiler omitted **
Be Vewy Vewy Quiet:
Pulgh looks a bit discomfited by Ekuur's menace, but he fires back
"Yeh're messing with summat yeh'd rather not. Now clear off, and hope I don't decide to make an example of yeh."
Justin waited until he was clear of the kobold neighborhood, Then took a brief opportunity to glance at the paper that Marconi had given him. After committing the name and address to memory, he stuffed the paper into his pocket as he stepped quickly down the street, his long legs moving him swiftly towards the hawker's market and the side street nicknamed 'Arcane Avenue'. He still had preparations he had promised to make before he met up with the others,...
The scrap of paper reads:
WIGHTSCALE. 12 Rusted Spanner Alley, Gear District. Behind the Hobbes, Frenich, and Locke building.
Ragpicker's Square is a chaotic and dirty cousin of the Great Bazaar. Justin knows where the cluster of arcane material shops in the area cluster. They aren't as well-stocked or pretty as the ones in the Great Bazaar, but there are often interesting oddments and bargains to be had.
Arcanos Alley is a small culdesac towards the Mortuary District side of the square. Many of the magic shops are in the basements of the aboveground buildings, which seem to be split between residences and tailoring shops featuring an arcane robish theme in their grimy windows. Several shops are indicated by street-level signs:
The Bit Bag, The Wizard's Neccessary, Fredo's Fantastic Finds, Eye of the Beholder
"Very extraordinary. It's kind of a long story. I was reincarnated after a fashion by Yggdrasil's child Lauralia. The other soul I shared a body with kept our original body and went back to our home world. I'll have to make my report soon. There are a lot of things I learned on this trip. But first I wanted to see Majeed." Her tone turned grave. "He's taken another turn for the worse, hasn't he?" she said sadly.
Hlar nods, and a look of sadness crosses his fiendish face
"He ages, and he becomes more and more confused. We try our best to administer to him, but he is beginning to slip away. There is not much save epic magic that could help him now."
Be Vewy Vewy Quiet: ** spoiler omitted **sneaksiesIssac:** spoiler omitted **
Issac heads back towards Hellgate and the Great Foundry. The day is getting rainier, and the cold drips find their way down Issac's collar despite his best efforts. Soon enough, the multiple stacks of the Great Foundry rear in front of him
Pulgh looks a bit discomfited by Ekuur's menace, but he fires back
"Yeh're messing with summat yeh'd rather not. Now clear off, and hope I don't decide to make an example of yeh."
"He says to the tiefling holding the giant glowing crystal axe . . ." Karrin says with a roll of her eyes, "Look spanky we're not country bumpkins that get scared off by a couple of hired goons: we're professional mercenaries. We kill people for a living. And while it's true beating people up for free isn't good for business, business has been very good as of late, and so Ekuur and myself are up for some pro bono work. Now that we got our rolls lined up, laid out our threats and that sort of thing, all we got ta do now is figure out the stakes. Are we gonna rough you up or am I going to be cleaning your brains out of the tinny nooks and crannies of Ferissirion here? The blood and gore usually freezes solid so all I need to do is pick it out with a tooth pick, but still, it's messy work and I hate the idea that I might have gotten tooth picks mixed up at some point. I must remember to buy a proper set of tools sometime . . .
"So what do you say chuckles? You and your boys want to draw steel? Or are we going to try to keep this, as we sometimes say in the game, bribe and fine free?"
Be Vewy Vewy Quiet: ** spoiler omitted **sneaksiesIssac:** spoiler omitted **
Issac heads back towards Hellgate and the Great Foundry. The day is getting rainier, and the cold drips find their way down Issac's collar despite his best efforts. Soon enough, the multiple stacks of the Great Foundry rear in front of him
Isaac heads into the Great Foundry and finds himself a quiet workshop area, grateful to be out of the rain and into the furnace. When he's sure of his privacy a bit more, he takes a neat cast of the Athar pin he had pilfered and uses it to make a mold- using the fire resistance granted by his gem of smithing to speed the process along a bit. With the mold completed, he counts on his fingers.
Karrin, Ekuur, Rhiannon... probably Nari... Merle probably won't need one... Justin... it couldn't hurt... though keepin' 'im invisible with his sodding bonebox snapped may be better. Five will do it, I reckon.And he sets to work pouring five copies of the pin.
Merle stands next to Nari looking unsure about the situation and trying to think of a way to maybe help.
Ekuur, along with his acolytes Thelnarin and Gurdough, wield their trikals in an almost eager way, anticipation on their faces. As the flames lick around the iron blades of his weapon, it is plane in his bronzed face that he hopes Pulgh chooses Karrin's first option ...
Qurresia, not as eager for bloodshed but just as fervent in her desire to protect her faith and fellow priests, moves slightly back and readies a standard action to cast sanctuary as soon as hostilities start.
Be Vewy Vewy Quiet: ** spoiler omitted **sneaksiesIssac:** spoiler omitted **
Issac heads back towards Hellgate and the Great Foundry. The day is getting rainier, and the cold drips find their way down Issac's collar despite his best efforts. Soon enough, the multiple stacks of the Great Foundry rear in front of him
Isaac heads into the Great Foundry and finds himself a quiet workshop area, grateful to be out of the rain and into the furnace. When he's sure of his privacy a bit more, he takes a neat cast of the Athar pin he had pilfered and uses it to make a mold- using the fire resistance granted by his gem of smithing to speed the process along a bit. With the mold completed, he counts on his fingers.
Karrin, Ekuur, Rhiannon... probably Nari... Merle probably won't need one... Justin... it couldn't hurt... though keepin' 'im invisible with his sodding bonebox snapped may be better. Five will do it, I reckon.
And he sets to work pouring five copies of the pin.
The work isn't all that hard, and there are sufficient tools to melt and cast the silver coins Issac uses as a stock into good approximations of the Athar sigil. Considering most of the regular badges are handmade, there shouldn't be any inquiry into them. Of course, factions take a predictably dim view of cutters who wear their colors without proper authorization. But that's assuming the Quasit's out of the bag.
"So what do you say chuckles? You and your boys want to draw steel? Or are we going to try to keep this, as we sometimes say in the game, bribe and fine free?"
Pulgh looks at Karrin and nervously licks his lips
"allright, yeh look like a hende lot of bloods. What did yeh have in mind for a palaver?"
"First there's the punishment for past misdeeds," Karrin says, "That's how these things work, then after we're through with you I recon we can talk with your priest in there to figure out how we can prevent this from happening in the future. I find penance and prayer can be quite effective at curbing negative behavior, it's not going to stop it completely, I mean before I found Rao I was a bloodthirsty murderer, but now I'm willing to talk before chopping folks into bite sized bits. I still enjoy the bloodshed, that's kind of why I'm in the line of work I'm in, but through the guidance of Rao I don't feel the need to kill everyone . . .
"But first there is the matter of your previous crimes," Karrin says with a wag of her finger, "Seeing as you targeted Ekuur's temple I'd say it's only fair that he gets to exact some holy justice, but here's what I'm going to do for you, me and your boys here will stand watch and make sure my friend doesn't go to far, no need to see you penned in the dead book if you're willing to repent, but I'm sure it'll be unpleasant. Then, if you want, we will stand witness in front of your priest that you're willing to repent your past crimes and looking to move forward . . . or whatever your people do. Then we can get liquored up together. Or we can fight and I get to chop you up into bite sized bits . . . It's really your call."
related checks:
Bluff:
Knowledge religion:
Karrin makes a mental note of the fib. She's never been a blood thirsty killer of course, but she's always found that because of her tiefling blood few people believe that, and in her adventures away from the temple she's often found it useful to take advantage of that fact. Lots of folks back down from a fight if they think they're dealing with a psychotic.
The tale Karrin spins for the hapless crime boss Pulgh makes a sheen of sweat pop out on his forhead. It's obvious he was not planning on starting his Afterpeak in a bloodbath with tough-looking mercenaries.
He licks his lips again and speaks. His minions hold their weapons at the ready, eyes shifting back and forth.
"Well, how's about we promise to leave this here ..um Ekuur's temple be, eh? Its obvious its well-protected, an' dosn't need the likes of us to chase off the hooligans for them."
"I'd advise you to leave all temples," Karrin says with a shrug, "But I'm not here in any capacity to reason or argue with you. All I know is that my church wants you punished for your crimes. If they send me out again in a couple of months I probably wouldn't be as interested in talking, but that's only speculation, and who knows, maybe by then someone else less reasonable will be after you.
"This might come as a shock ta ya Burt but some folks take religion very seriously. Maybe there's a safer group for you to threaten or whatever, I mean there's probably all sorts of gambling establishments that need protection and stuff, and I'm thinking bouncing dunks and deadbeats would be a heck of a lot safer then inviting holy wrath. But what do I know? I'm a mercenary, I'm not in the "safe" job market. I don't think I'd be happy in that market either."
Ekuur lowers his trikal ... a little ... but his face remains menacing. "I do not care how you make your money, little man. I can tell you that you will not get any from me. However, I will be here to back my friend and her holy mission. Should she be asked to come for you again, you will see me as well. So yes, I recommend you find another line of work.
"But that is not all - you have blasphemed my house of worship by deigning to extort money. That requires a penance, as my friend suggested." Ekuur smiles a wicked grin. "That penance can be paid by flame, or ... donation. You may decide which."
"Okay," Karrin says quickly glancing to Ekuur, "So Rao wasn't specific in how I was to see you punished, but seeing as I'm a mercenary I'm pretty sure they didn't mean 'collect tithes from him, I could be wrong but I think I'm supposed to beat the living tar out of him at the very least."
Rhiannon watched the sadness in Nari's face at the idea of her friend's decline. She had lost friends before, and the slow wasting ones were always the worst.
She reache out, placing a supportive hand on Nari's shoulder.
Arcanos Alley is a small culdesac towards the Mortuary District side of the square. Many of the magic shops are in the basements of the aboveground buildings, which seem to be split between residences and tailoring shops featuring an arcane robish theme in their grimy windows. Several shops are indicated by street-level signs:[/i]
The Bit Bag, The Wizard's Neccessary, Fredo's Fantastic Finds, Eye of the Beholder
Justin grinned, and rubbed his hands together in delight.
'The Bit Bag, probably not. Sometimes they pick up something interesting. First 'The Wizard's Necessary' for some scrolls. Then Fredo's for a wand, if they have one in stock, and the 'Eye' should have those components. Yes, that should do it.' Justin holds an inner dialogue as he steps eagerly forward,...
"Okay," Karrin says quickly glancing to Ekuur, "So Rao wasn't specific in how I was to see you punished, but seeing as I'm a mercenary I'm pretty sure they didn't mean 'collect tithes from him, I could be wrong but I think I'm supposed to beat the living tar out of him at the very least."
"And I will support you however you deem to serve your god. Whether it be blood or tithe. But he did not defile your temple; he did mine. And so he must make good to both our faiths. The Sacred Flame will also be satisfied with either method of reparation; this is why I gave him the choice."
"But I got my Mitt on," Karrin practically whines, giving the spiked gauntlet a menacing squeeze, "You know I don't wear that unless I'm looking to beat someone up. You could have told me that you'd accept a tithe before we got here, I mean if he goes back inside without at least a busted nose I'm going to look pretty stupid . . ."
Pulgh and his minions look a bit nervous. Pulgh looks to Ekuur.
"What sort of tithe are yeh talkin'?"
The toughs grip their weapons and look about. A fair-sized crowd has begun to form. A few hecklers start up
"Knock 'is brainbox in!"
"Six greens on the axe-weildin' bint for first kill!"
"Stop dancin' and get to it!"
shoppins ..
Justin descends a dank stairwell into the Wizard's Neccessary. A shop that specializes in scrolls, inks, components for written magic and the like, it has a smell somewhere between flashpowder and an old library. A large construct made of brass and stained glass tubes sits in a corner. An elderly human in a green shade sits behind a large counter, scratching on parchment with a feather that seems to fluresce theough the rainbow as he writes. He looks up and smiles
"Ah, greetings! What can I get for yeh this foine Peak?"
Rhiannon watched the sadness in Nari's face at the idea of her friend's decline. She had lost friends before, and the slow wasting ones were always the worst.
She reache out, placing a supportive hand on Nari's shoulder.
This Bleaker Madhouse is strange location indeed. The hallways are well-cleaned but everything looks worn. Howls of angony and barking mad leaughter can be heard down the hallway.
Nari's friend Hlar is the very picture of a demon. Six horns jut in a crown around his head. Queer goatish eyes look out from under knobbed and bony brow ridges. His skin is a dark shade of maroon with a light green dot pattern running throughout. Large fangs peek from under Hlar's lips. However, his voice is the very sound of calm peacefullness.
Pulgh and his minions look a bit nervous. Pulgh looks to Ekuur.
"What sort of tithe are yeh talkin'?"
The toughs grip their weapons and look about. A fair-sized crowd has begun to form. A few hecklers start up
"Knock 'is brainbox in!"
"Six greens on the axe-weildin' bint for first kill!"
"Stop dancin' and get to it!"
shoppins ..Justin descends a dank stairwell into the Wizard's Neccessary. A shop that specializes in scrolls, inks, components for written magic and the like, it has a smell somewhere between flashpowder and an old library. A large construct made of brass and stained glass tubes sits in a corner. An elderly human in a green shade sits behind a large counter, scratching on parchment with a feather that seems to fluresce theough the rainbow as he writes. He looks up and smiles
"Ah, greetings! What can I get for yeh this foine Peak?"
Justin smiles and waves at the man. He bypasses the shiny, ineffectual trinkets left at the front of the store to distract those who don't know any better, and examines a couple of stones that, might, actually be cracked and burnt out ion stones.
"Got any Ioun Torches? I think I lost my last one somewhere on the World Ash." He asks with a grin.
"Actually, I was hoping you might have a couple of scrolls in stock. Kind of short notice, so I don't have time to scribe them myself. You know how it is." Justin says amiably as he hands a scrap of paper to the man in the green shade.
"It's not an all-or-nothing kind of thing though. I'll take whatever you have in stock." He adds as the man glances at Justin's small, neat handwriting.
The old man hops off his stool and stars riffling through a honeycomb-style scroll shelf
"Let's see. Where did I put that scroll? Fly, message, polymorph other.."
