Rhiannon sighs upon reading the scroll. "The work never ends does it?"
Justin groans wearily, fitfully batting at the fire elemental burning his eyes. It refused to stop glowing. Stupid elemental.
Vaguely Justin realized that he didn't recall summoning a fire elemental. Warily he opened an eye. The shaft of light mercilessly seared his retina, and possibly a few brain cells. Snapping his eye shut he cursed lights in general and the unshuttered spell-lantern by his bed specifically.
Light. Bed. That meant that Skyy had already gotten up, and left the lantern that Justin had enchanted with a long lasting light spell unshuttered when she left. She did that for him, knowing that Justin needed the light to help him wake up, and that it annoyed him when she did so.
A host of memories flooded back at that point, including his brief but intense 'discussion' with Skyy regarding his choice of 'potential clients'. After that they had stayed up long talking. Justin had told Skyy about his recent misadventures, leaving out certain delicate details, and asking Skyy about recent word on the street in Sigil as well as her opinions and fashion expertise for a few enchanted items he was considering. One thing Skyy never had a shortage on, it was opinions. He was lucky that she was a sharp as she was pretty.
Justin opened both eyes with a start.
The light was shining in his narrow basement window, (As much as it ever shined in Sigil), That meant he was late. Again. Frack.
Justin tried to leap out of bed and throw off the covers at the same time. He succeeded at the first one, but not so much the second. He sat up and jumped from his bed well enough, but the blanket wound itself around his legs like a serpent, and he found himself testing the solidity of his floor for the second time in recent history.
Considering whether it would be cheaper to get wall to wall padded rugs, or simply enchant the entire floor into something softer, like pudding, Justin quickly washed with the basin of cold water and changed into clean clothes. HE took one slow, deliberate look at his shoddy repair job on the rat-holes to make certain they were still sealed. Then he re-packed his backpack and coat pockets with his essential wizarding gear, went out, and locked the door behind him.
On his way back to Rose offices, Justin realized that he still felt tired, yet invigorated. His previous weariness was gone, and his soreness from the recent adventures was fading into the background of memories and the aches of a job well done. Justin checked his surroundings as he walked, and he realized that he had to remind himself to do so. Was he getting so used to this strange place that he actually felt,... comfortable, here?
It was far more likely that he was still just brain-dead tired. But Justin filed that thought away for later consideration, because he wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. Yet. He WAS pretty sure that breakfast would really hit the spot right now. And Justin got an inkling that he might, for just a moment, know how Karrin felt ALL the time.
Justin was in quite the positive mood by the time he hit the doorway of the Cauldron. He was whistling a jaunty tune he had learned from some sailors, (He had also learned the words, but was not about to launch into THAT in a public place!), He held open the door for a woman just leaving the Cauldron, and Justin idly noted that she was still carrying a journal or sketchbook of some kind instead of packing it in her bag. Then he entered the Cauldron himself where he was greeted by the wonderful smells of good food and the sight of his companions at their usual large table. Justin waved at their hosts, and sat down next to where Isaac was just resettling back into his own chair.
"Hey guys and gals! What's up? Besides us, obviously?" Justin cheerfully asks the weary group as he grabbed a fresh mug of kahveh and took the first long drink without bothering to add honey to it first.
Noting Rhiannon's look, and the scroll, Justin raised an eyebrow.
"Is it too much to hope it's good news?" He asks, still refusing to give up his recently relocated cheerfulness until forced to.
"Well, it's good news in the sense that we have really good job security," she said with an apologetic smile. "Maybe not so much if we were ever hoping to actually sleep."
Justin groaned, and held out a hand for teh scroll. Then he changed his mind, and his hand retrieved the remnants of the sausage platter instead.
"Never read bad news on an empty stomach." He said sagely as he dumped the remaining sausages onto his plate. He shoved the first one into his mouth whole in a valiant attempt to copy Karrin, choked, and washed it down with kahveh. Then he picked up a second and ate it at a more leisurely pace as he read the missive.
"Hm. Job security indeed." He said, tossing the letter back onto the table.
"And I have yet more good news. At first I thought this might be personal, but it's beginning to sound bigger than just a local thieves guild or personal collector." Justin said as he refilled his mug with kahveh from a freshly steaming pot brought to the table by their hostess.
"I had a, visitor, when I got home. THIS one was by far the most polite so far. A young lady offered me information regarding the 'artifact' that we picked up. Seems that there's a group of persons who have noticed it's reappearance and want it. Badly. Supposedly they think it's the key to an artifact-level mechanized construct of some sort. She said that letting them have it would be a really bad idea."
"I believe her. Because she said the followers of this cult aren't,... persons,... anymore. They scared her. And as she shared that her folks are members of that ancient sect that keep offering sacrifices to the 'Great One' to prevent it from waking up,... Well I figured they must be pretty bad to give the shivers to someone who used to pray to outsiders."
I may not get all that much rest but I'll be damned if I miss out on the hot bath" Rhiannon says standing up. "I'l meet you all in a bit and get caught up." she says making her way upstairs.
"... why are we holdin' onto this thing, then cutter? You study it enough yet? Might be time teh break it once and for all, deny whatever they are their toy. We already got one dangerous power source in hand, why take another?", Isaac says to Justin.
"Another thing,", he adds in a low voice to the table,"we got some interest from the press. One Serafina of the Sharper Eye wanted the Dark of our run-in between the Dead and the Chaosmen a couple weeks ago. If she asks, we were workin' fer the Bleakers to keep the other two Hiver factions from each others' throats. I reckoned that's a more flattering story than the truth about a splinter faction o' Dustmen operatin' outta the Mortuary. She comes 'round again, stick teh that story best ye can. That way, ye know, the Dusties can't get too cross with us and trash our rep."
"Oi, Really?" Justin kvetches with exaggerated weariness.
"I thought that little episode was dead and buried." He says with a straight face. He looks around the table.
"Hello? Dead? Buried?,... Mortuary?,... Really? Nothing? Wow. Tough crowd." He says innocently as he takes another bite of sausage.
"And no. I haven't hardly had time to do more than a cursory examination on the thing. Detail work on something like this requires time and quiet. Something we haven't really had much of, what with us traipsing from one end of the World Tree to the other." Justin points out wryly.
"I can't help but wonder if the two items aren't connected somehow? I mean, we no sooner acquire one artifact than we end up with a warning of impending doom and the means to help avoid it? Remember, I do NOT believe in coincidence."
Justin realizes that he is touching his coat where the Rod is safely tucked. He deliberately moves his hand away and back to his plate.
"The more cryptic clues we get about this contraption, the less confident I feel about our ability to destroy it. Don't get me wrong, I'll put us up against any dragon or beastie when it comes to collateral damage. But now we know it's just a magic power source for an even bigger artifact? I don't think we're going to be able to just smash it with a rock. And yes, I think trying would be an extraordinarily BAD idea." He adds hastily.
"We need information. And said information's lack of cooperation is beginning to annoy me. I'll pick up a couple of scrolls, something I can use to dig for info while we're camped for the night maybe. And maybe make another deal with OLLI when we pick up his research. From the way Karrin talks about him, if anyone can find out what this thing is, it's him. Her? It? You know what I mean."
The light waxes out the door, and the rain begins to taper to a drizzly fog. As the group discusses things, Renkar enters the common room, looking more put together and rested than earlier
"I see you are all getting a good breakfast," he says, grabbing a loaf of bread and some jam.
"Time to await Mr. Swire. I'll be glad to be shut of the situation"
He looks at the scroll.
"Something interesting?"
Finishing off his sausage, Justin tosses the parchment towards Renkar with his un-greasy hand.
"Never a dull moment around here. That's us. Team Excitement." Justin says sagely, stifling a yawn behind another drink of his klaveh.
Karrin finally pops the last piece of questionable frozen matter out of Ferissirion and suddenly notices everyone gathered around her.
"Renkar, Isaac, Justin, Nari, Merle . . . when did you all get here?"
"Somewhere between sausage twelve and fifteen, love. Well, let's get this business with our old friend concluded- I don't think a little detour back to the World Ash would hurt given our increased profile, if ye tumble."
"Yeah. I tumble constantly. Fortunately I tend to land on my feet. Enchanted boots. Never leave home without them." Justin smirks.
Wiping his hands, Justin tells Renkar about his friendly, if cryptic, warning from his early peak visitor.
"So, I'm glad I haven't had time to turn this thing in to the club yet. I have a feeling it probably wouldn't be in a cabinet there long. As much as I hate to admit it, I think Isaac might have the right idea. But I don't think that just breaking it in half will work. Or be safe."
"Of course, that's never really slowed us down before,..." He admits ruefully.
"We going to swing by the library and see what OLLI dug up before we leave?"
After leaving the library, Ekuur takes the walk back to the temple district until the familiar sight of his own small building comes into view. He takes the time to ensure he doesn't disturb his acolytes at the late hour, but is up before them to greet them all as they rise. Ekuur leads the trio in their early morning prayers and the service for the small congregation, to celebrate what would be the sun's rise on most prime worlds.
After the services, he makes his way back to the offices, arriving in time to grab a few sausages and bread while the others discuss the group's next move. He remains his characteristically silent self as he eats, listening to the others talk.
The bath is exactly what she needs, the water hot just short of stinging against her skin, soothing her aching muscles while the scents of eucalyptus and peppermint take her mind away. One of the few aspects of noble life that she could never quite give up was a long hot bath, especially after a battle.
As her body decompresses, Rhiannon closes her eyes, allowing her mind to play over the insane series of events of the last few days.
After reading the scroll Renkar looks about
"I guess the first thing would be to find this Vlrc being and see what can be done. Why don't you all rest a little, I will meet with Swire, and then you can set out to find this shop."
"Works for me." Merle heading for a bath whilst Seph sticks around the common room.
"I also would agree with Justin; we should likely see what the strange metal ... I mean, 'OLLI' has discovered regarding this Sol power."
"Right. We can do that after a nap. And some scribing." Justin grins at Ekuur.
The group collapses into their beds, weary from their long night sojourn. Justin heads to his small cellar apartment, waving at his elderly landlady as he descends
They all awake refreshed after a few hours sleep in the early Antipeak. The light outside is dim and the windows show a thick Cager fog winding among the rusty metal rooftop crenellations
A smell of fresh-baked pastry and meat cooking bring them down to the common room. Justin sees Skyy off to her job in a carriage and heads to the Copper Cauldron
Renkar sits at their customary table. A sour-looking gentleman they know well sits with him.
"Ah, the noble heroes arrive"
"Guilty as charged." Justin says with a smirk. He pulls out a chair with his booted foot and collapses into it as only a scarecrow can.
"Nice to see you again." He adds for politeness sake as he pours a cup of Kaffee and makes it palatable with copious amounts of honey and cream.
Renkar clears his throat
"I was just finishing up debriefing Mr. Swire on the events of the past peak."
Swire snorts
"It sounds like you lot: go to snoop and end up getting the place leveled."
he glowers at the group
"You have cleared up the faction tiff, I'll give you that. Neither one will go near it now that the Dabus have leveled it to the ground."
He hands over a bag to Renkar
"the balance from Ser Jad'Hammet"
"Well to be fair we didn't incite anything," Karrin says, "That squabble was brewing long before we got involved. Getting between those two groups wasn't really in the cards either way."
Swire sneers
"You lots idea of infiltration is to blast everything flat and sift the rubble for clues. If it was my call, I'd not pay. However, Ser Jad'Hammet is satisfied and it's his do."
Swire stands up and adjusts his silken tunic. He looks to Renkar
"Best of luck running this lot, Ser Sha'Hagmid. "
He turns to the group
"If you lot ever need to rustle up a spot of jink, my pawn shop is in Darkwell Court. I have reasonable rates. Look for the sign of the silver serpent."
Swire grabs his sable-fur cloak off a wall peg and affixes it with a large silver Taker faction symbol. He stumps out to the Copper Cauldron's door and disappears into the thick fog outside
"He's not listening." Justin says to Karrin, nodding at Swire's retreating back.
"Infiltration is quiet and sneaky, and comes first. THEN we blast everything flat and sift the rubble for clues." He says smugly.
"Because anything that can survive us is obviously a clue to SOMEthing." He smirks. Justin then looks at Renkar and clears his throat.
"Well, Mr Swire has all the cuddly warmth of a JuJu Zombie. But at least Ser Jad'Hammet was 'satisfied'. At least enough to pay the piper." Justin smiles, nodding at the bag in front of Renkar.
Nari scoots her seat a little bit forward out of those shadows as Mr. Swire leaves. Even when he'd been part of the team, she'd felt nervous around him. She quietly poured herself another cup of tea while Karrin and Justin bantered.
Renkar sighs as Swire departs
"Well, best completed, and all that."
He turns to the group
"So, are you all willing to help this Mov cutter?"
"Well, Mr Swire has all the cuddly warmth of a JuJu Zombie. But at least Ser Jad'Hammet was 'satisfied'. At least enough to pay the piper." Justin smiles, nodding at the bag in front of Renkar.
"He's probably still sore about that time I called him Mr Swill in character. Or, more likely, he rather liked being the middle man as it's easy risk free work, and now that we've concluded our business, Swire will need to find other ways to make himself useful."
"So, are you all willing to help this Mov cutter?"
Karrin turns to Renkar
"Well we do know some of the players already and while I wouldn't mind taking a break to see where some of these balls we're juggling land, keeping them in the air is probably easier then starting over. I suppose work doesn't always come to you. What do you guys think?"
Justin nods in agreement with Karrin. (He doesn't stop to ponder the ramifications of that. It's safer that way.)
"Agreed. The research into some of those other things can continue quite well without us leaning over shoulders. And we can continue with some of our own investigations even while traveling. I would guess that repeat business is a good sign? At least good for advertising?" He asks cheerfully.
"I don't suppose Mov specified what the trouble WAS? I would love to go into the situation prepared. You know, just for a change of pace."
"I'm willing." Merle turning back from giving swire the stinky eye as he left.
"Well it seems to be relatively in tune with what's becoming our norm. I'm in." Rhiannon says calmly.
Nari nodded. "I think we should. Help, I mean."
a scroll of parchment is revealed once the seal is broken. Upon it a message is written in a precise hand
"To the Silver Rose Company. I know you have helped us before with the evil that has vexed this town, I am hopeful you can help us again. We fear there are still evil beings lurking among us. If you are willing to help us again I am prepared to pay you handsomely. I hope that perhaps you can help us be rid of this curse once and for all. If you are wiling to help there is a small portal that leads to Yggdrasil. In the Plaza of Time off Plague Court in the Lady's Ward, seek the Tower of Penates. It's mistress, Vlrc, will show you if you let her read this missive. "
The letter is signed in a neat flourish
Veridis Mov
Re-reading the scroll, Justin looks momentarily befuddled. Possibly a glimpse of his older-future, wizardly self.
"Do I know this Veridis Mov?" He asks aloud, possibly to himself.
"Uh town that had that posseing wraith problem I think?"
Isaac frowns, a sour taste in his mouth after any dealings with Swire.
"Eh. Leave it to a Taker to hire another sod fer his dirty work and then squall 'bout how it gets done."
"I'm all for payin' Crux a visit, gov. The World Ash is always a welcome sight fer me."
Ekuur simply nods in agreement, seemingly lost in thought at the prospect of going back to the unimaginably huge tree.
Justin shakes his head, clearing it.
"Oh yeah! If it's a related problem I'd better prep a few Protection spells." He says, already cringing at the thought of trying to scrape up enough coins for the scribing supplies.
Renkar smiles
"Well, Ser Jad'Hammet was true to his word, and there is a bit of jink for you all."
He opens up the small bag Swire left and begins passing out mithral coins. Each of them get forty .
"That should allow you to get whatever supplies you need. I suggest you head to this 'Vlrc' cutter's shop and try to see what is what."
Justin's eyes glitter almost as brightly as the gold coins. He looks unabashed at the others.
"What? Gold may not make me happy. But it certainly allows me to choose my own form of misery." He sniffs with an almost hidden grin.
The group gets put together and sets out into the Afterpeak fog. There is no rain, rather the weather is what's known to Cagers as a Sootwraith fog. The scant Afterpeak light is almost lost in a thick dark Grey soup. The gleam of myriad lanterns light Copperman's Way like a procession of rainbow-colored lightning bugs.
Heading towards the Lady's Ward, the mercantiles and stalls begin to brighten, becoming bigger and more ornate. The customers become more ornate as well. Well-jinked Clueless gawp openmouthed as their guides steer them to the fanciest clip joints. Young members of the Cager merchant prince families lounge at Kahveh tavernas, casually bohemian in silken adventuring garb and Xaositect haircuts. The myriad employees of the mammoth Noble District houses scurry about, purchasing supplies for elegant balls.
Plague Court is named for an immense memorial statue in its central fountain rather than disease. It is the terminus for Copperman's Way, and the large well-kept square teems with huge mercantiles and tony shops. A dozen smaller boulevards radiate off further to the Noble District, the Court District, and Greytowers. The Square Bar, the de facto off-hour headquarters for a large percentage of street-level Harmonium faction members occupies a large five-story building of bright-red brick studded with countless black-iron barbs on its roof and higher floors.
A quick ask about gets them to the Tower of Penates. Off a minor cul-de-sac, the round building sits center of a small plaza, where many shops dealing with timepieces are located. A large wooden door stands closed at its base, but a sign on the door says OPEN.
Karrin hides most of her money under her mattress, needing to send some cash home and needing some of the cash to send the cash (a vicious cycle), and there's also the church here in the cage that she needed to tithe to . . .
Having money already spent before you got it did take some of the fun out of shopping but Karrin tags along with 300 in cash, looking for a new trinket or toy that might help her out with her mercenary work.
Ekuur walks along in silence, but when he sees a small shop selling magical scrolls and books of all kinds, he decides to step inside. Not having had the time to scribe his own, Ekuur decides to stock up on a few utilitarian spells that could come in handy.
Karrin will lead the way. Stepping up and knocking on the door.
A rich female voice with an odd accent answers
"Please enter friends. The door is unlocked. I have it closed against the fog."
The towers insides are a mass of shelving, lined with clocks and timepieces of all shapes and sizes. A small clockwork gnome hovers in midair, seemingly without wings, dusting several of the higher pieces. A stairway winds along the inside, vanishing past the wooden roof of the room, presumably into another level. A large counter brackets one side of the tower, containing smaller pieces and various parts. A strange creature stands behind it.
About seven feet at highest point, the being looks to be a centauric ant
Knowledge DC15 [any relating to monsters/animals/planes]
The being has a sleek black carapace, with red and gold patterns highlighting it along the back and belly. A narrow face surmounted with an intricate multi-monocle headpiece looks at them. Delicate hands place a small clock down on the glass counter
"greetings! How can I assist you?" It (she?) says
"Hello Vlrc?" Karrin says, "My name is Karrin Kind and I'm a member of the Silver Rose Company. This is the rest of the crew," Karrin says waving to her companions, "And we were told that you have a portal to show us?"