Iarn smiles at Eir and stretches out her hand ...
<FADE TO BLACK>
"What's with all these people dressed black?" Karrin asks.
"Perhaps they all belong to the same church?"
-GREep-
After a refreshing and relaxing evening at her temple, Eir emerges around Antipeak to the darkened streets of the Temple District. Callistria's Temple is still welcoming patrons, but many fewer than earlier. Burly temple guards are turning away the obvious bubbers who are looking to get a free gawk at the temple's priestesses. They nod respectfully as Eir saunters by.
Back to the shop.
"It might be best if you two stand between me and the door so that at least I will obscure the wishbone-breaking ceremony from any observer. You can break the bone and throw the sack through at some moment when we are sure nobody is looking."
"Do we have some paper and ink? Could we leave a message tacked to the door to some imaginary friend so that anybody watching might think that we had agreed to meet here, but given up waiting?"
"Do we have some paper and ink? Could we leave a message tacked to the door to some imaginary friend so that anybody watching might think that we had agreed to meet here, but given up waiting?"
Hands Ffeth paper and pen from his bag. Offers own back for Ffeth to write on.
Back to the shop.
Eir walks back towards the Silver Rose , a saucy spring in her step. Nothing like clearing out the brain with a little old-time religion!
The Temple District has taken on a much murkier evil tone now that Antipeak is upon it. Temples dedicated to evil subterranian gods are in their prime, and braziers lit with fires of various odd hues burn at the entrance of many dark forbidding churches.
Eir sidesteps as a procession of Kuo Toa parade by, croaking rhythmically and anointing their damp skins with aspergilliums as they head for a temple that looks like a pile of barnacle-encrusted rocks.
Demons, devils and daemons of all shapes and sizes hop, scamper and flap through the foggy gloom. One large red-skinned cambion with impressive horns and cloven hooves gives Eir the once over and whistles.
Eir makes her way to the Court District past the many shuttered temples of greater gods that line the blurry division between the two areas. The faction headquarters of the Hardheads is about the only building with activity, red-armored Harmonium namers setting out on night patrols all around the Cage. Eir walks on to the Noble District.
The Noble District looks like most of the soirees have concluded, but there are a few drunken rakes guffawing and staggering about under the magical lamps that line the streets here. Many make a step towards Eir, but her demeanor and the two serrated swords at her hip dissuade any of the drunken bravos from approaching. Eir enters the high-end shops that mark the beginning of the Market Ward and the Great Bazaar.
The Great Bazaar hums with activity, much as it has for every second of every day since the first beings set foot upon the unexplainable paradox that is the Cage. The only difference is the vendors, shoppers and merchandise for sale. Eir sees many things that would get a body burned at the stake on any Prime world you could name.
A necromancer hawks his undead minions at one stall, some of them disturbingly beautiful women almost lifelike save for their flat doll-like eyes.
A blue-skinned Hag hawks larvae, the squirming evil maggoty souls a hot seller among the many Lower Planes shoppers.
A grinning devil offers an entire stall of magical arms and armor, all of the fabled green Baatorian steel. A bold banner proclaims;
Generous payment plans! No reasonable offer refused! No money, no problem!
Eir walks on. Copperman Way leads her to Copper Court soon enough, the familiar road looking quiet and friendly despite the hour.
"It might be best if you two stand between me and the door so that at least I will obscure the wishbone-breaking ceremony from any observer. You can break the bone and throw the sack through at some moment when we are sure nobody is looking."
"Do we have some paper and ink? Could we leave a message tacked to the door to some imaginary friend so that anybody watching might think that we had agreed to meet here, but given up waiting?"
"This portal is a secret?" Karrin asks.
"I hope so" Swift replies, curling up in a confortable chair "It's interesting enough work, I just wish it was all in aod of something more captivating than salt. I'm having to cut back on time watching Emelia, and with you, and with.. S.. other people, all in aid of a condiment" She complains before giving Mystery a small thankful smile, saying nothing else to the familiar, knowing she'll be too distracted by the fun living playthings.
"This portal is a secret?" Karrin asks.
Ffethpaar turns to Karrin.
"In the absence of any other knowledge, we should assume that it is. Besides, having seen what goes in on this place, if it were well known, we would probably be having to wait in a long queue of people waiting to throw suspicious bags like ours through the portal."
He write a note on the paper Greep handed him:
Got fed up waiting. See you back at the bar later
and hands the paper and pen back to Greep.
Karrin picks up a loose piece of cobble from the alleyway, "Let me know when you need that distraction," she says.
Zigel makes his way though the crowed streets of Sigel this pre-peek. Kratos walks at his side taking in the morning feel of the city.He made his way to the Skull and Scepter, A blood didn't have many friends he could depend on really. Life had taut the tifling that. Him and Nightwind went back a ways and be nice to see him again besides it seemed he needed a friend right now.
"This portal is a secret?" Karrin asks.
Ffethpaar turns to Karrin.
"In the absence of any other knowledge, we should assume that it is. Besides, having seen what goes in on this place, if it were well known, we would probably be having to wait in a long queue of people waiting to throw suspicious bags like ours through the portal."
He write a note on the paper Greep handed him:
Got fed up waiting. See you back at the bar later
and hands the paper and pen back to Greep.
"I hope so" Swift replies, curling up in a confortable chair "It's interesting enough work, I just wish it was all in aod of something more captivating than salt. I'm having to cut back on time watching Emelia, and with you, and with.. S.. other people, all in aid of a condiment" She complains before giving Mystery a small thankful smile, saying nothing else to the familiar, knowing she'll be too distracted by the fun living playthings.
Edwin settles into his comforatable chair. Mystery circles the cowering mice happily purring .
"Ah but salt is so important Swift. Why it is almost as valuable as gold! How else would we preserve meat in this damp climate? Keeping the salt supply safe seems a noble task to me."
Edwin smiles at Swift.
"Besides you have your little spy here to watch this young girl for you." Mystery looks up from her mice and sneers at Edwin
"I'm sure we can keep things safe for you here until your job is done."
Hanali's palanquin deposits Zigel and her in front of a large mansion's gates in the Noble District. Kratos had been trotting alongside with Hanali's man-at-arms Noresh. Hanali tosses a few golden coins at the palaquin bearer's leader and turns to Zigel, smoothing out her ballgown.
"Well Ser Zigel, this is where we part company. Good Antipeak to you and pleasant journeys."
Hanali walks off in a swirl of silken skirts, Noresh following close.
Zigel walks on through the Noble District, taking in all the well-dressed berks heading to one ball or another. He enters the Court District, keeping clear of the City Barracks out of habit.
Entering the Temple District he blends into the swirl of worshippers attending Before Antipeak services at various churches. The crowd here is almost as varied as the Great Bazaar, every power keeping kip on the Great Wheel trying to attract the attention of the jaded Cagers.
Walking though the thousand temples large and small, Zigel comes to the Lower Ward. The temples get meaner and smaller, devolving into wood soapboxes and old toothless priests screeching at the crowd. One old gaffer who smells like he and water are distant acquaintences at best approaches Zigel spouting some barmy nonsense.
"Issek of the Jug is the only true god! Seven times they tried to break him and seven times he broke his bonds! Renounce your false .."
A warning growl from Kratos sends the old berk scurrying.
The Swordhold District of the Lower Ward is just beyond the Temple District. The name of the district comes from the many mercenaries that keep kip here, and the armor smithies that grind out the gear they need. Life is cheap and gold king in these quarters. Zigel walks warily until he comes to a tavern with a sign of a skull and jeweled rod. The Skull and Scepter.
Zigel enters and sees a typical taproom. Dark wood stained with generations of pipeweed wraps around a group of tables occupied by various tough-looking cutters from every spoke of the Great Wheel. Off in a corner are three cutters deep in conversation. One rises up when Zigel enters and walks over grinning. It's Nightwind, but he has changed quite a bit since Zigel saw him last.
Nightwind is a fallen Astral Deva, stripped of his powers by the Celestia high-ups for an unspecified crime. When Zigel had met him in the Outlands he was still a noble-looking cutter, all of 7 feet high, blonde curly shoulder-length hair, rosy skin and shining white wings. He had still worn his white kilt and carried a blessed mace. The Nightwind that approached Zigel is much changed.
The disgraced Deva has shorn off all his hair, leaving blonde-grey stubble on his head. His skin is pallid and greyish now, looking almost corpselike in the tavern's dim lighting. He is dressed in all grey as well, a severe uniform with several bejeweled gaudy medals pinned on his pocket and red stripes along the pants' seam. His shirt's collar sports two small silver skulls over a pair of crossed swords. Even his wings look kind of grey, and it looks like some of the pinfeathers are missing now, leathery skin peeking through the rents.
Nightwind claps Zigel in a hug.
"Zigel! You old hornhead you! Good to see you!"
He reaches down to pet Kratos.
"Still hanging out with the crazy man eh Krate?"
Nightwind gestures back to the table where an odd berk and what looks to be Veria herself sit.
"Got your old gilly girl here as well." He winks at Zigel
"I was just finishing up some business, but come on over and I'll get you a drink. What are you drinking these days?"
Karrin will wait till they're ready to activate the portal then she'll run about 22 feet down the alley and cast darkness on the loose piece of cobble. With a radius of 20ft most of the alley is instantly darkened leaving 2 feet for Greep and Ffethpaar to work with.
Is it dark already? if so Karrin's dark spell will should not be too obvious but will hide the actions of Ffethpaar and Greep as they pull the wishbone and shove the body through.
They will, of course make sure to look in all directions, including up before committing themselves to any action. Then tack the message to the door and wander off looking disconsolate as if they are annoyed with their missing friend.
Ffethpaar feels that this is a good plan and spends so much time considering its merits that he forgets to actually LOOK. But then he looked before and there was nothing then so there probably won't be anything now...
Karrin casts her spell and the shop front is draped in darkness. Ffethpaar and Greep break the wishbone and the portal opens up in the alcove of Argusson's shop. The alcove ripples and disappears into a crackling blue opening. Through the portal an orangey sun is breaking the horizon, casting weak light over the standing stones that Ffethpaar had seen last night. Ffethpaar and Greep ready the bag with Nurkrak in it for tossing and then hear a voice screech from within the portal itself.
"OY! Lemme in! You blex-eating son of an warg!"
Ffethpaar can see the small form of Rab Norgins racing up to the portal, a sword in hand.
MEANWHILE ...
Karrin keeps an eye on Crystal Dew Lane as the Darkness spell shrouds the leather shop's front. Trying her best to look innocent she suddenly becomes aware of a small red-armored forn swaggering down the street. It looks like a Hardhead patroller, only shrunk to half size. He is approaching her position, giving the black-clad berks on the street the hard eye.
Karrin, bold as day, walks over to the patroller.
"Excuse me cutter, don't mean to keep ya from your rounds, but you know why all these black shirts are around? I haven't seen em do anything suspicious but I can't say I like the look of em'"
"Throw Nurkrak at him." Ffethpaar says to Greep.
"Should slow him down a bit. Hopefully enough to close the portal on him."
Ffethpaar isn't actually too concerned if he gets through, he is sure thay can manage him and they don't really need him out of the way anymore. He is just not too enamoured of having an angry Rab raising a fuss. But if he does get through and people do take note, they can always say he was attacking them.
The diminutive Hardhead looks up at Karrin. He frowns, then smiles a bit. He isn't shrunk, he is actually a halfling (and a short one at that). He spits to the side.
"Heh. Never seen these lot in yer travels bint eh? These here are 'artiste' types. They're all headed over to caterwaul and carouse there."
The small Hardhead jerks his thumb towards the large multi-colored structure the group saw earlier. The strains of odd music sound even louder now.
"Place is called the Lazz School of Vivid Unpleasantness. It's true to its name too, bint. Buncha worthless Bleakers, Indeps and Xaos heads smoking clove cigrarillos, drinking absinthe and making random screeches and calling it art. Always up to no good, getting into fights, causing mischeif."
Having vented his spleen, the small Harmonium patroller looks at Karrin again.
"Ain't seen yeh before on me beat bint, what's yer name?"
"Karrin Kind!" she says with a smile and extending her hand, "pleased ta meet you! I work for one of the new mercenary companies here in the cage . . . the Silver Rose company, maybe you've heard of them?"
BTW I'm not expecting Greep to lug the goblin at him by himself. I'm assuming we are both holding the bag ready to throw it, so it would be a joint effort.
Helps Ffeth toss goblin wanker. Seriously desires to learn 'silence' as soon as possible. Hopes two 'old friends' enjoy life together on back-side of gate to ass-end of prime world.
The bag containing Nurkrak sails through the portal, smacking the running Norgins full square in the midsection. Norgins screeches and the last thing that the two see is Norgins' screeching form tumbling backwards as the portal winks out.
MEANWHILE ...
The small patroller shakes Karrin's hand in a brusque manner.
"Mover One Wip Wildfang. I patrol the Clerk's Ward for the moment, until I get me promotion. Silver Rose, eh? Think I got a briefing on you a few Peaks ago. Aren't you out of the Guildhall Ward?"
"Mover One Wip Wildfang. I patrol the Clerk's Ward for the moment, until I get me promotion. Silver Rose, eh? Think I got a briefing on you a few Peaks ago. Aren't you out of the Guildhall Ward?"
"Yep, that's the part I call home, but we're escorting someone and I'm on recon . . . only I got lost, but I recognize this spot so now I'm staying put and waiting for them to catch up with me. I wasn't sure about all those black shirts though. Thanks for the info Wip. If you're ever by the Copper Cauldron Inn, stop in and I'll buy ya a drink. I might be new to Sigil but I've been at the old axe for higher game for a while. I know that staying on the friendly side of the local constabulary is always best for business. 'Cides you got a tough job, and I know some of these hired sword types can make that even harder, what with all the stab first and ask questions later types running around. Our boss made it very clear that The Silver Rose isn't that kind of company. Personally I'm glad. That's one thing that's terrible about my line of work, and you can never be too sure about these new operations, and seeing as I'm new, and got no rep of my own, I don't have too much wiggle room when it comes to choosing my employers. Think I might have got lucky though . . .
"Geez, sorry Wip," Karrin says, as if suddenly realizing that she's been wasting the guard's time, "I seemed to have talked your ear off, I'll get back to my waiting and let you get back to your patrol. Probably all sorts out tonight. You be careful officer. Good anti-peak to you."
"Well that was instructive. Note for next time - people can wait by a portal to see if it opens again. I wonder where he got the sword from?"
"Almost as important and nowhere near as shiny" Swift responds with a small smile as she shifts down to the floor and gives Mystery a little, soft scratch behind the ears "Could you maybe send me a messgae if you hear anything about Emelia or Sage? ...or if you hear that a catfolk by the name of Skrint is back in town? I've not seen him in a while.." she asks, a small pout coming to her lips.
... "I seemed to have talked your ear off, I'll get back to my waiting and let you get back to your patrol. Probably all sorts out tonight. You be careful officer. Good anti-peak to you."
Wip smiles at Karrin.
"No problem at all Miss Kind. I always appreciate folks what understands a Harmonium Mover's duties an' all. I don't usually trig to the merc types but yeh seem like a canny basher. Perhaps one day I'll stop in to this Copper Cauldron place an' take yeh up on yer offer. Yeh best be getting off the streets, this lot's going to get rowdier as Antipeak approaches."
Wip tips his tiny helm slightly and walks on, staring at a gaggle of black-clad youths conregating in a nearby alley across Crystal Dew Lane. He seems not to have noticed the magical Darkness.
Mystery meeps at the name of Skrint
Feline:
"Thanks boss, I'm only waiting around for another ten and then I'm scooting back home, I'd rather not half ta cut some clueless bert who thinks I'm easy pickings cuz I'm a girl. That's bad for business on two levels, one it give you guys fits, and two I don't get payed for popping the sucker."
Karrin waves to the officer as he leaves then jumps down the darkened alley to check on her fiends
"We doing alright down here?" Karrin whispers.
"Everythings peachy," hisses Greep. "How's everything out there?"
-greep-
Karrin dismisses the darkness.
The darkness fades to regular Cage Fog gloom and the three are left standing in Crystal Dew Lane. It is relatively early in the Before Antipeak hours and the crowd of odd-dressed berks is steadily getting thicker.
"Well that was instructive. Note for next time - people can wait by a portal to see if it opens again. I wonder where he got the sword from?"
"We're gonna walk off your hangover."
At the appointed time, Eir will cover his head with her cape and slip his sword back into his belt. I think she can buy a new cape later.
Eir didn't want him to be helpless.
The bag containing Nurkrak sails through the portal, smacking the running Norgins full square in the midsection. Norgins screeches and the last thing that the two see is Norgins' screeching form tumbling backwards as the portal winks out.
"I have no need for any special errand before returning to headquarters." -greep- "Do you two need to make any stops?"
-grEep-
"Ffethpaar, have you discovered any neighborhoods for 'scaly folk'?" -greep- "It might be worth checking into any rumours of enslaving goblins there. If we can narrow down where the slaves are being taken, we may be able to reach the gobbos' second gate without using their first one."
-GreeP-
"Hhm, something to ponder."
"Let's wait till morning though," Karrin says, "it's getting dark now and the guard I was talking to says that these black shirts are going to get rowdy as night wares on. Besides I'm starting to get hungry."
Karrin reaches into her belt pouch and discovers the sausage she was going to give to her cat. Not willing to see good food to go to waste Karrin quickly finds the lone sausage a new home . . . in her belly.
The trio makes their way back to the Silver Rose. Skirting the Antipeak party riot of the Festhall District the three walk on down Hull Road. Revelers line the streets here, but not as thick as the streets closest to the Civic Festhall. The three can see many bubbers and Addlecoves in the corners, drinking themselves into a stupor. Karrin gets goosebumps as they walk past Hell Alley, where Veria's shop is situated.
Walking onward, Hull Road empties into Farrier's Court. The buildings get a little alien in appearance, and a number of pedestrians are the angular humanoid race known as Githzerai. Odd, asymmetrical architecture lines the streets. No one bothers them as they travel on.
The party enters the Market Ward, passing by the large weapon shop called the Severed Head. Karrin is again fascinated by the many exotic arms and armor on display in the large glass windows. A seven-foot-tall metallic-looking creature stands silently at the entrance of the closed shop, totally rigid. A large maul sits within its massive hands.
The Great Bazaar is alive with the business of Antipeak. Karrin gawks at the many obvious devils and demons walking along as if they were in Hell rather than a market, acting almost civilized. She makes a sign of Rao with her hand involuntarily as one large spiny demon crosses their path suddenly screeching:
"Outta my way you Clueless berks!"
After traversing the bizarre carnival of the Antipeak Great Bazaar, the three arrive at the Silver Rose. Renakr awaits them at the front desk, Mercutio snoring gently on the desktop. It is late and the three are tired. Renkar looks up at their entrance.
"I trust all went well with our little friend Nurkrak?"
"I trust all went well with our little friend Nurkrak?"
"He is with his friend Rab."
"I am tired. I didn't really get enough sleep this morning to I will turn in now if I may. I wonder if there might be kippers for breakfast?"
"I trust all went well with our little friend Nurkrak?"
"He is with his friend Rab."
"I am tired. I didn't really get enough sleep this morning to I will turn in now if I may. I wonder if there might be kippers for breakfast?"
"Ya," Karrin says nodding along wih Ffethpaar, "Oh! Also I met a patrol man, a halfling named Wip something . . . wildtang? Wildslang? Anyways I wasn't sure if we were doing anything illegal so I kept him busy while the others were dropping off the 'package', anyways I told him a fib about us escorting someone someplace and me getting lost on recon . . . point is he might stop in for a drink sometime at copper cauldron (I figure we could use a friend or two on the force) and if it comes up that's what we were doing. Kay?
Oh, but point being I'd like some kippers for breakfast as well. I like Kippers. They're one of my favorite kinds of fish."
...
-grEep-"Ffethpaar, have you discovered any neighborhoods for 'scaly folk'?" -greep- "It might be worth checking into any rumours of enslaving goblins there. If we can narrow down where the slaves are being taken, we may be able to reach the gobbos' second gate without using their first one." ...
"Well I'm off to get something to eat and then I'm taking another nap, I'm still a bit tired from today. Can anyone else think of anything we need to do?"
There is a 'scalyfolk' neighborhood in the Lower Ward, Central District (near where the Dungeon Crawl Tavern was located). It is known as SSS'lith'marr (where the apostrophes are tongue click noises), or to most Cagers, Sliss or Lizzieville. Many reptilian races congregate there, mostly because there is a massive subterranian pool in the area that works well as a marsh substitute for breeding.
Sounds like someplace to visit in the morning. Greep will spend some time with Renkar (if he wishes) going over streetmaps (If we have them) to familiarize himself with the area. It would be good to know a way into Sliss that doesn't include going near the Dungeon Crawl. After breakfast, he'll check to see who's up for a trip to Lizzieville. Then, perhaps, we can plan our next move against the salt smugglers.