DM Stuff:
The crowd forming is muttering darkly amongst itself, but so far has not directly attacked the party via word or action.
The massive construct man Arnav that they had discovered in Tcian Sumere looks over the looming fight and scowls
“I need no new fight. I consider myself released from this party”
He lumbers through the growing crowd, the Dustmen giving his massive frame a wide berth. He disappears into the crowd of Ragpickers Square
Justin nods respectively to Arnav as he passes by, leaving the group both literally and figuratively.
"That's too bad." Justin murmurs to Nari and Merle.
He is a little vague as to whether he will miss the hulking behemoth because of his personality, or because he provided a wide, armored, person to hide behind.
"That body belongs to us and I'm not interested in a debate over it.
Rhiannon died, you know, threw off the trappings of life, and now we're here to have her cremated so you need to vacate. I very much doubt the Dustmen would be interested in you stealing another corpse so you can hang onto the vestiges of life but that's something you'll have to figure out on your own. Now get out of our friend's corpse or else well have to cremate her with you inside."
Knowing his cue when he hears it, Justin takes this moment to step forward in front of Nari and Merle, just far enough to have a clear view of their possessed friend, and conjures a ball of flame in his hand. He looks resigned, almost sad, but determined.
Then, noticing the crowd gathering around them, and the prevalence of skull motifs among them, he gives a friendly wave with his fire-free hand.
"Just a little property dispute. Nothing to worry about." Justin says with a smile.
"Yeah,..." Justin mutters as he turns back to face the situation at hand.
"I didn't believe me either,..."
A few snickers greet Justin’s sally to the crowd
“Sod off , yeh clueless berk!” A voice from the crowd calls. A clod of ... something ... comes out of the thickening mob. It’s ill-thrown and splats on the filthy wet cobbles near Justin’s boots
[dice="Initiative]1d20 + 5
[dice="Intimidate]1d20 + 15
[dice="Initiative]1d20 + 5
[dice="Intimidate]1d20 + 15
Ramuah looks around at the intensifying situation and tries to assist Justin with his evident goal, focusing on keeping her voice reasonable and pleasant as she speaks up. "Can we find an alternative, so everyone gets what they want? There appear to be parties on both sides with intelligence, knowledge, and power; if even my poor thoughts arrive at possible methods to move consciousness between vessels, you all must know a great deal more. Might there be some other body, dead or manufactured, that would work? Surely there is a way to avoid needless battle and yet allow everyone to meet their needs."
Mara looks thoughtful, her glammer wavering a bit as she prepares for battle. The pretty young woman she presents as starts to acquire the hue of a long-dead corpse, all bruised blue and greens
“I would rather not fight, especially after such a long journey. I also somewhat resent the circumstances “
Mara gives Hexnala some serious sideeye
“Can you trust me to return your friend’s corpus in three days time? I should be able to find a solution by then. “
Hexnala snarls
“I will not relinquish this body!”
Mara whirls on her, the glammer dropping entirely. The vertical mouth in Mara’s elongated neck growls in a basso voice, the crystal gem teeth clacking like abacus beads
“Quiet! You were not invited, and I am not your patron! If you wish to stand and fight on your own, you are free to. You will not retain custody of that body for three minutes, let alone three days without my assistance. Come with me, and we will find a suitable alternative at the Mausoleum. Those are your options”
Hexnala scowls and fingers Rhiannon’s sword
“It seems I have no choice “
Mara turns to the party.
“Does this compromise meet with your approval?”
Justin, as visibly unnerved as Hexnala at the sight of Mara's true visage growling through her vertical neck/mouth/thing with the disturbingly beautiful crystal teeth, shudders once, but recovers his wits first as well. Realizing that Mara, at least, is still willing to talk for a bit longer, Justin jumps at the chance.
"YES! I mean, yes. Absolutely." Justin blurts before anyone else can speak.
Justin places a gentle hand on Karrin's armored shoulder,
"If the compromise means we can avoid having to desecrate our friends corpse, and avoid most of our usual collateral damage, then yes, I can live with that." The wizard says to all involved, but mostly to Karrin.
Justin smiles pleasantly at Mara. "After all, you ARE a high ranking member of your Faction, AND we do have plenty of witnesses,..." Justin gestures to the crowd, his long pointing finger lingering on one man with a particularly large amount of decorative skulls embroidered on his robes, marking him as a person of possibly middling-high rank with the Dustmen.
",... and you have been a forthright and honest party member, sometimes disturbingly so. So yes, I trust you to do as you have said." Justin Says with a respectful bow of his head to Mara.
'Flattery never hurts. But getting blasted by unknown magics ALWAYS does!' Justin adds to himself silently.
"We've been through a lot," Karrin says with a nod and side glance at Justin that rivals the one Mara gave Hexnala, "I'd like to trust you, and it will take a few days to organize a proper funeral . . ."
Justin shudders again from karrin's glance,
"Exactly. Where I'm from it's an insult if you dont throw a wake for the deceased for at least 3 days anyway." He gives a wan half smile, afraid to hope that Karrin might actually lower the axe.
"Its OK, you can trust her to do this. And as Mara so politely pointed out, Miss Hexnala here doesn't stand a chance against us, alone, in a straight up fight. Personally I think 3 minutes is being a bit generous. Given our proclivity for collateral damage, I'd give her 60 seconds of the hourglass, tops, once we get rolling." He adds with his usual smirk.
Justin Really wished he had Nari's ability with thoughts right now. Better yet, he REALLY missed Isaac at the moment. That ranger had a way with words, and Karrin. Maybe it was the biceps.
Hamar grunts and relaxes his stance sheathing his scimitars, "I like you people, everything is a fight. It reminds me of home, even, sometimes especially, meals were a fight in the Shaar. Karrin Kind, let us go find a wishbone to battle over".
"I try not to eat the bones Hamar, crack them open to get the marrow out sure, but bones are kind of dangerous to swallow. We can tussle over some fresh buttered bread and some grog though."
"So were all good then?"
Ramuah relaxes her tense stance as things appear to calm down. A look of shock crosses her face momentarily at seeing Mara's appearance change, but then she regains control of her expression quickly. As everyone steps back from the brink of combat, Ramuah turns her head to watch the conversation between her new companions.
"I would be pleased to join you. It appears it would behoove me to learn more about this place before I make any foolish errors. If you would honor me with some explanations of this land and its people, I would yet again be in your debt."
Blayze is silent through the exchange, her penetrating gaze locked into the undead women, every instinct screaming at her to start shooting and not stop until neither was moving. Seeing the tensions among the group pull back from the brink, she takes a deep breath and holsters her weapon.
Hamar laughs heartily, "The wishbone is not to eat Karrin Kind, it's purpose is to promote challenge! Whoever has the larger part of the bone after the struggle to pull it apart chooses their wish and is the victor, the more important part of the struggle as well.
Ramuah, these people welcome those who prove worthy and you have done so, even if you've spoiled this latest fight".
Mara nods
“I will see to the corpus’ disposition at the Mausoleum. Arrive by Peak three days from now and bring whatever cleric you desire for the service or other accoutrements you deem necessary. I will reserve a viewing room”
She turns to Hexnala
“Come with me”
The two depart the alley, angling towards the distant spider-skull-shaped dome of the Mausoleum
Ramuah nods and sketches a quick bow to Hamar. "I am afraid I will be forced to depend on your advice to find a satisfactory eating establishment. I was wondering if Shelyn has a center of worship nearby. If so, I would beg your indulgence in directing me to it. I do feel a need to re-establish a connection with her."
The crowd disperses, grumbling since their sport was cut short. A few glare at the party, but none want to test such a doughty crew it seems. The alley empties out as the bystanders shuffle back to their ales and three-dragon ante games.
The alley opens out to Ragpicker's Square. A vast open air marketplace, the square is a clearinghouse of all things cloth and paper. Piles of books sit under dripping awnings, and bubbling vats of dye breathe their strong stench into the air. Huge laundry vats are stirred by enormous workers of various giantish/orgish races, the smell of lye adding to the various pungencies.
Along the edge of the square are hundreds of small shops, as well as taverns catering to the crowd. Justin sees a few of his favorite bookstores, and a yearning for the smell of old parchment crammed in bookshelves fills him. Used clothing stores and haute couture shops line the various alleyways branching of Ragpicker's Square as well, featuring a bewildering display of clothing.
The crowd is an amazing mixture of creatures. A huge snake-humanoid combo in a foppish silver tunic carries what looks to be a large cobra dressed in a pink sequined outfit. A lean-looking githyanki stalks by, its black leather outfit plain, except for the massive amount of jewelry it wears. A gaggle of kobolds dressed in Xaositect colors inspect a kebab cart run by a scowling hobgoblin with an eyepatch.
The weather is typical, a drizzly foggy miasma that concentrates the chemical odors of the dyers, laundry, and tanning works.
"I would like to simply sleep and bathe, I've done neither in what seems like weeks..."
"Welcome to the cage folks, try not to look up, that's the city somewhere above us, some folks get vertigo, some start panicking about what's underneath us, but so long as you don't think too much about it you'll be fine, it's what I do and I'm happily ignorant. Gonna take you to an Inn I know right close to our mercenary company, and if you play your cards right you might get a job as well. Any questions before we head out? Like who made this city, why Justin jumped so quickly at Mera's offer without at least pretending to think it over, or where we can score some hot roasted peanuts? I can only answer one of those questions mind you, but it never hurts to ask, and if you like hot roasted peanuts I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."
The crowd seems to be in a jocular mood, despite it being the Lower Ward Mortuary District. The normal crowds of undead creatures are thinned by the abnormal brightness in the sky, and the absence of fog makes everything look brighter. Even the black ravens, starlings and sparrows chirrup and call from tent poles
If she hadn't spent gods alone knew how long on a world entirely populated by the undead, the population of some of the ward's denizens might have made Blayze twitch. As it was, her hand hovers close to her gun as her eyes dart around, taking in everything around her.
If she hadn't spent gods alone knew how long on a world entirely populated by the undead, the population of some of the ward's denizens might have made Blayze twitch. As it was, her hand hovers close to her gun as her eyes dart around, taking in everything around her.
"Something troubles you. The unquiet dead, perhaps?"
"Yeah, very much so." Blayze replies a bit tersely. "Fighting the undead is what I do. It's what I've done for years now."
"Yeah, very much so." Blayze replies a bit tersely. "Fighting the undead is what I do. It's what I've done for years now."
"Do not worry. One does become used to it after the first century or two."
The Party makes its way out into Ragpicker’s Square, following Gear Street into the Gear Run District. The secondhand book and clothing shops are replaced by toy makers, construct smiths, and clockmakers. The crowd becomes less grim and more metallic. A small metallic brass gnome-shaped construct speeds by, brushing Karrin by accident
“My pardon M’lady” He(?) squeaks in a flute-like voice
The forbidding smokestacks of the Foundry loom up ahead of them. Despite the clear day they had been experiencing, the air fogs with a sulphuric smog , yellow tinged and acrid. Dirty-faced sentients of everyvsize, shape, age, and gender run to and fro, looking busy. A wagon of coal emerges from a large portal, the fiendish oxen pulling it shaking their barbed ebon horns. Smiths and metal works of every description line the busy street.
They enter the wide boulevard of Alehouse Row, the main thoroughfare leading out of the Foundry district into the Swordhold District. Every type of taproom an bub house can be found here, catering to any taste.
Swordhold enfolds them, the infamous mercenary quarter thick with dangerous-looking cutters. The Doomguard are thick here, their eyes feverishly scanning the crowd, hands never far from their sword hilts.
The Lower Ward shades into the beginning of the Lady’s Ward with the Temple District. The party walks through Meatmarket Square , the pens of animals destined for sacrifice bleating , hissing, and mooing. The Square of the Prophets is next, where the poorest priests vy for a congregation with their wild-eyed neighbors. The jaded crowd passes through, most unmoved by the exhortations of the threadbare prelates in front of their scrapwood sacristies.
The party advances and the temples improve, going from scrap wood, to lumber, to brick, to gold-veined marble. Ramuah sees an impressive Temple of Shelyn , her bird symbol picked out in a fresco on the side in semi-precious Stones.
Ekuur, who has been quiet, speaks to the group.
“My friends, after everything we have been through, I feel an irresistible urge to visit my temple and fast and cleanse. Please tender my apologies to Renkar. I will rejoin you sometime later”
Ekuur angles off towards his modest shrine.
The Temple District ends in the Plaza of Powers. These are the major gods, the ones who hold dominion over worlds uncounted Zeus’ basilica rears up, shining white marble with a roof of hammered gold, Odin with an immense feat hall stories tall, all runecarved post and beam and red porphyry. A Valkyrie Squad holds vigil at the halls’ massive golden doors, astride their winged steeds. Ao, great god of dragons, has his temple nearby, the immensely tall tower surrounded with landing platforms of massive side life stone mushrooms sprouting from an ancient fossil tree.
The party wanders on into the Court District. Here the mammoth edifices of Sigil’s bureaucratic factions rear their dark grey heads. They pass the Pridon , the Courts, the Barracks in rapid succession. They pass the Lady’s Library, and Karrin spares a thought for her modron friend O.L.L.I.
Just past the library is the Noble District. The main thoroughfare, Razorvine-on-Hiddleton is flanked by boutiques selling the most impressive array of accoutrements for the wealthy. Down side streets the massive mansions of Sigil’s merchant plutocrats are just barely visible behind tall spikes walls. Fancy carriages clatter down the clean cobbled streets, their draft animals a bewildering collection defying categorization.
Plague Court and the Harmonium’s favorite tavern the Square Bar Greer them. Justin spares a thought for his favorite Hardhead Murphy, wondering if she’s enjoying a pint of Pennyroyal Farm’s Bitter inside.
At the other end of Plauge Court copperman’s Way begins. Sigil’s widest boulevard is packed, as usual; drivers trying to get goods to the Market Ward and the Lady’s Ward in equal measure. The crowd is diverse, and the party constantly dodge other pedestrians on the raised sidewalks.
Finally Copper Court comes into view. The few Copper smiths nearby are starting to wind down, as Peak is starting to fade to Antipeak. The clear day is over, and the darker hours promise a rainier time. The Copper Cauldron stand with door open, a warm light spilling from the open portal
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Hamar looks like a berk staring open mouthed and wide eyed at these sights the group passes by, "In a thousand thousand dreams I never imagined a place such as this could exist. This place is all the universe in one city. I could stare and never tire of such wonders... There may be more living beings here than the Shaar has blades of grass".
As the group arrives at the Copper Cauldron Hamar motions to the front door and draws his planar and keen scimitars, "Karrin Kind shall I take point? Yon doorway is open your home perhaps invaded!"
Alessia scans the scene slowly and calmly, her porcelain mask impassive as always.
"Yes. This is an urban area. Likely larger than the Free City of Greyhawk. Its size could be described as 'not small.'"
She turns to Justin and Karrin (who she assumes constitute the party leadership), one hand resting atop the pommel of her sword.
"Now that we have established that we are in a dense concentration of buildings, what is our mission? I have gone far too long without the destruction of a sentient individual, non-sentient being, or inanimate object."
Justin smiles at Mara and tosses her a jaunty two-finger salute,
"We'll see you in three days." He agrees amicably. Although he still stares after the corpse of their friend as it shuffles off with Mara, obviously against it's desires, but unwilling to press it's luck. For now.
"Hm? What?" Justin says cleverly, hearing Karrin speak his name.
"I thought it over!" Justin declares, sounding a little hurt. He nods pleasantly to one of the grumbling groups still glaring at them,
"I just think very fast when the situation requires." Justin sniffs. He deliberately refrains from explaining exactly what he was thinking. Which in itself is unusual for the vocal mage.
"Well Hamar, whether you want to sleep, bathe, eat or all of the above, THAT we can at least help you with!" Justin tells the barbarian. Not skipping a beat, he turns to Karrin.
"Lead on Boss!" Justin smiles.
Justin walks with the others, the now-familiar sites of the city no less a wonder to him than to their newer compatriots. He smirks a small smile a the reactions of Hamar, Alessia and Blayze, a small happy thought at the realization that he is no longer the 'new kid' of the group. And so they travel along, saving the conversation and explanations for someplace less,... crowded.
When they arrive at the Copper Cauldron, Hamar and Alessia both comment, and Justin's smile fades slightly. Back to work then.
Justin holds up empty hands, gesturing vaguely towards both Hamar and Alessia.
"Easy there. 'Yon doorway' is open because it is a particularly nice day for the Cage. And as it is also a public business where travelers can get food, drink and rest, they are merely inviting customers in." Jusin says to Hamar.
"As for our current mission,... After the recent long, enforced, and thoroughly unpleasant travels we have all just endured, I'M going to eat, bathe and sleep. IN that order. Specifically." Justin says to Alessia. he then frowns thoughtfully,
"Um,... Yeah. If you can bear with us, and forgo destroying anything for just a bit longer, I think YOUR mission might be to get you all caught up on exactly where you are and how things work around here. And to explain all of THAT, I'm going to have to add 'DRINK' to that list of things I'm going to do." Justin says wryly.
SO speaking, Justin tromps up to the doorway, then pauses. Obviously wanting nothing more than to enter immediately, but sighs and takes a moment to cast a simple charm. He then proceeds to wave his hands about his person, removing the worst of their recent forced marches and battles from his person. With a grand gesture he indicates the others should precede him, and offers each of the group the same use of his prestidigitation spell to clean them up before entering.
"I never bring in dirt into the Copper Cauldron if I can avoid it. They treat us way too good." He offers by way of explanation.
"Something tells me that removal of dirt will do little to improve my presentation and aspect."
"Well most people try to make sure your face and hands are clean," Karrin says on the subject of hygiene, "I was at a bathhouse once, and it was okay, but most people don't see those other bits so cleaning them probably isn't quite as important."
"Are you familiar with Inns Hamar?" Karrin asks, "Justin explained it well enough. Usually they're for the traveler but I don't think anyone in the cage calls this place home. In a way we're all travelers here. Anyways this is the Copper Cauldron our home away from home. Come on in and lets get something to eat."
"Something tells me that removal of dirt will do little to improve my presentation and aspect."
Justin shrugs noncommittally.
"I'm no expert on 'Undead Presentation', and you'll find no shortage of the usual living who tend to mistrust, at best, any undead they see. But here in Sigil you'll also find an unbelievable ability for the general populace to treat you at least as well as they do everyone else. And as you noticed earlier, a fair portion who prefer the undead as company, and some even go so far as to look forward to trying it one day." Justin explains casually.
"It's all apart of being in Sigil. Which We'll be happy to explain to you all. But I'd LOVE to do it over a meal and a drink. Or Five." Justin adds with a wry smirk, gesturing for Alessia to precede him through the door.
Justin's tired curiosity gets the better of him, and he can't resist asking,...
"Um, DO you still drink? Because if so, they have a dark ale here that you should really try. Even if you can't get drunk, the flavor is still worth it."
Blayze tries to suppress a twitch at the mention of undeath in reference to Alessia.
Hamar allows himself to be cleaned up by Justin's spell grinning all the while, "ah, an Inn, I visited a few with my old allies, I understand now".
He sheathed his swords.
Merle proceedes to use her own prestidigation spell to clean herself and Seph up before heading in. "Well were back." She announces as she steps inside
Nari relaxes as they finally approach home. She almost seems to shrink into herself, appearing less confident. It would be easy for someone who didn’t know her to look at her and assume that she was an inexperienced child with the way she looked at everything with wide eyed curiosity, but always sticking close to her friends. She sees Blayze wince when the conversation turns to undead and lightly touches the gunslinger’s elbow, offering a reassuring smile before heading in to the copper cauldron with the others.
"Ramona! We're back!" Karrin shouts as she steps inside the inn, "And we got guests! Get about eight plates of today's special and see what these folks want. Also Grog!"
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Ramona and her mother Bess cry in delight as the party comes in. Ramona’s smile slips a bit when she sees Alessia, but in typical Cager fashion she doesn’t hesitate
“Come in! We’ll get your table set”
The table by the hearth that Renkar reserves for the Silver Rose is already occupied by Renkar, who seems to be having dinner. He is flanked by his assistant Hanali and they are chatting with a leather-bedecked woman with almond eyes and dark straight hair
Newcomers:
Renkar smiles and rises from his chair
“Welcome home! It is so good to see you cutters back!”
He looks inquiringly at the new faces
“I see we have some new acquaintances”
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"Ah, Renkar, I'd like you to meet Blayze, Hamar, Ramuah, and Alessia." Karrin says as she gestures to each of the new members, "Folks this is Renkar our employer, and this is Hanali his assistant. These folks we picked up in our recent job, and they might be interested in work if that interests you. Also, Renkar I got some bad news, we lost Rhiannon, we'll need to arrange a proper funeral, and we'll collect her body in a couple of days. Also I think Ekuur might be unavailable for the next few jobs, he said something about religious stuff, so we're down one cleric. Oh, and just before we deployed we lost Isaac, he got some other business or something, so we're down 3 but we potentially have 4 new, so net gain? I'll give you full details of our adventures after we eat. I'm famished."
Ramona and Bess , knowing Karrin’s Prodigious hunger, have already begun bringing over heaping platters of roast beef, bowls of Elven steakberry stew, pigeon pie, and sides of pickled spicy onion and cabbage known as Shang Salad. A trencher of potatoes baked in the coals of the huge hearth follow
“Well met my friends” Renkar says smoothly. “I was just chatting with a possible new member of the team myself”
He guestures to the young woman seated next to Hanali
“This is Sophisticata. She brings a wide variety of skills to the table. Why don’t we get acquainted, and you can tell me what transpired on Yggdrasil.”
Karrin snags a potato on her way to the table and pops the whole thing in her mouth as she sits down. Fire resistance /5 means not burning your mouth. She does turn to look at the new person curiously as she begins piling food on her plate.
Sophistacia stops talking with Renkar as the party approaches the table. She briefly eyes each of them in turn, and nods her head, her face remaining as blank and neutral as possible. Those paying close attention however, will notice her eyes continue to flick between each of them, assessing, calculating...
As Karrin moves up and looks Sophie up and down, a tiny black horned head pokes itself over her shoulder, and it's only then that they notice the black winged drake perched on her back. With her black clothes and the drake's colouring, not to mention the fact he was behind her, he was almost impossible to spot.
Hamar grunts at Renkar, "Well met. I'd thought I was dead for sure on that world until the Silver Rose assisted me in getting out. I've a mind to return to my home but I think I've a debt to repay first and as much as my old allies may need me, this place... is something I need to experience more of before I simply return home so yes, I am interested in this "job" you speak of".
Hamar then turns to Justin, "Wizard, what or where is Greyhawk of which Alessia spoke?"
As they cross the crowded streets of Sigil, Justin sees Nari shrink back into herself, and offers his own gentle touch on an elbow and a swift smile.
Justin follows the ladies inside, and waves his own greetings, not bothering to try and be heard over the raucous welcome. It felt good, though. He actually caught himself thinking that it felt good to be 'home'.
Tired or not, he does not miss the slight slip of Ramona's smile when seeing Alessia, old habits he supposes. he certainly understood. If he NEVER had to cross Ranais again, ever, it would be too d@#&d soon.
Hamar then turns to Justin, "Wizard, what or where is Greyhawk of which Alessia spoke?"
"Greyhawk is a city, or a country, I think. Maybe the name of both the country and the capitol city. You'd have to ask Alessia to be sure. It's on another Prime world. I think Karrin might be from there too? I've heard her mention it. Apparently it is as difficult to get back to as my own world."
Justin says wryly as they begin the usual chaotic dance of finding a seat with a bunch of people who don't really know each other.
Justin gives Sophistacia an appraising look as she swiftly studies each of the group in turn. Justin is pretty good at noticing things, but he gets the feeling that this woman just gathered more information on the entire party than the entire party has yet to gather on her. Oh she's good.
When the small, black horned head peeks over Sophitacia's shoulder, Justin can't suppress a small grin.
"I'm case, Justin Case. Pleasure to meet you Sophistacia." Justin says pleasantly, holding out his hand, palm up, as if greeting a fine dressed lady in formal circumstances.
"And, who is your friend?" Justin adds, nodding at the black drake peeking over her shoulder.
As Justin introduces himself to the new woman Hamar realizes he did not give his name, "I am Hamar of the Hyena Tribe, Pride of the Shaar both east and west". He does not offer to shake a hand just a nod of the head.