His stomach finally satisfied, and any delusions of keeping up with Karrin's eating long since past, Justin stretches his lanky form with a happy groan. There are a couple of popping sounds as he stretches.
“Renkar dropped off new Cager Cloaks for the lot of you. He said you were looking a bit threadbare” Ramona says, indicating the row of pegs by the door as she refills Gahveh cups and picks up platters.
Justin blinks, staring at the now-obvious row of cloaks by the doorway. He hadn't even noticed them earlier. His paranoia survival skills were taking a real beating lately. He needed to work on that. But for now,...
"Wow. Thank you Ramona." Justin says, giving her warm smile.
After examining the new cloaks, and pointing out the all-but-hidden pockets inside, Justin swings his new cloak on over his long coat. He looks at himself, holding the cloak out as he moves.
"I'm gonna have to re-think my look." He says wryly.
"I really hate to lose the coat, but these are NICE.
After the group is done admiring the new wardrobe additions, Justin huddles together with Sophie and Merle, carefully and magically examining the items they have been carrying that they hadn't had time to properly identify yet.
;)
Hamar dons the Vager Cloak though he does not like the way it hangs, "Too long for effective movement but when no danger lurks about I suppose it will do".
"Trust me Hamar. You're gonna love it. In Sigil at least. There's a reason I wear a coat with a hood. Seems like it rains day & night half the time. The other half, it's a REAL downpour!" Justin smirks.
"I already have a cloak," states Alessia, her voice completely flat.
Sophie eyes the colour of the cloak and nods. The hood especially will be useful while out and about in certain areas of the city, and the hidden pockets will also come in handy.
Karrin grabs a heel of bread, hollows it out, and tucks two sausages inside. Walking and talking can work up an appetite and having something for later, well, that was just good planning, and that was the key to success. Besides, seeing Justin examining the secret pockets of his new cloak reminded Karrin that wizards weren't the only ones who could use all that hidden space.
"Thanks for the cloaks Renkar," Karrin says as she tucks her snack into one of the inner pockets, "I'm sure they'll be useful for showing our affiliation while we're in the cage, maybe not so useful in the field and stuff, but nice to have when we're doing official work for the Rose."
Definitely approving of the black and silver motif, Blayze don's the cloak with a nod of thanks, adjusting it to leave her gun hand free to move. Falling in with her new companions, she takes in the wonders of the cage while listening to the conversation.
After spending some time with Justin and Merle identifying the items, Sophie pulls the cloak on as well. Blayze's keen eye notes that she does not leave her gun free for drawing, instead letting the cloak hug her body. Pulling the hood up so that her face is in shadow, she prepares to leave with the others for the day's tasks, eager to have them done so that she can be away from the city.
Walking up alongside Sophistacia, Blayze decides to ask the question that seems clear to her. "Care to share who you're worried about finding you?"
Walking up alongside Sophistacia, Blayze decides to ask the question that seems clear to her. "Care to share who you're worried about finding you?"
Sophie's lips purse, but finally she sighs. "I owe some money to some former associates who don't have any problems in taking the money back in alternate forms. I don't regret taking the money, but if I can just make some money and pay them back, I'm hoping to avoid any unnecessary repercussions"
"Hmmm.....something tells me that these aren't the most patient of people. Well, you aren't on your own now, and I get the feeling money isn't gonna be high on the list of concerns running with this group. If you need someone to watch your back, let's me know." Blayze says with an encouraging smile.
Sophie's eyes narrow, wondering what Blayze's angle might be in trying to maneuver herself into Sophie's good graces. She slowly nods her thanks, mind ticking over myriad scenarios.
After a hearty breakfast that even blunts Karrin’s formidable hunger temporarily, the party steps into the downpour of early Before Peak Sigil.
The group tasked with finding out what they can about portals to Erelhei-Cinlu, heads towards the Great Bazaar. They emerge off Copper Court into the wide thoroughfare of Copperman’s Way. The main thoroughfare leading through the Market Ward to the Lady’s Ward is thronged despite the hour or the weather. Cagers rarely are bothered by rain, and the city never sleeps. The party threads through the pedestrian traffic, which is thick, but in that magical way city dwellers have no one touches or makes eye contact. The walk is broken up by the occasional beggar or random street tout looking for a sympathetic Clueless
“Help a Veteran! I lost me leg in the Blood War!”
“Hey, do you want a free sense crystal?”
“Maps of the Powers’ Kips! See where the gods kick it! Meet a proxy!”
“Larmu’s Circus of Peculiarities! Find us in the Marble District! Take a flyer!”
The party slogs along, their new cloaks doing yeoman’s work keeping the water off their brainboxes. Copperman’s Way debouches into the Great Bazaar, the brightly-canopied stalls trying their best to project gaiety amongst the grey downpour.
In the distance the small island of tall buildings at the heart of the Bazaar looms, the multi-story shops wrapped in foggy cloud. The party walks along the stalls, headed for the bazaar within the Bazaar.
The stall merchants hawk their wares as the crowds snake through the zigzagging pathways
“Manticore kebabs!”
“Fine silverware from the Dwarven Mountain foundries!”
“Pets! Dogs! Cats! Giant Rats! Pseudodragons!”
The party makes it to the central collection of actual buildings known as the Bazaar’s Heart. There is the fantastically-frescoed Merman’s Fish market, renowned for several dozen permanent gates to water-based locals. The Sigillian Arms, the tallest inn (and the swankiest) of Sigil shoots into the clouds, it’s glassy Blue obsidian hexagonal shape thronged with merchants from around the Wheel booking rooms. The Indep Bourse squats long and massive, seemingly carved of a solid chunk of purplish flecked granite. Indep traders are flocking in, ready to buy and sell any commodity one could think of.
The 30-meter plus cylindrical green building with ‘Tivvun’s Antiquities’ carved into its side in a huge wraparound scroll rears in front of them. A much more humble sign hangs by the massive double doors
Portal Key Emporium
Below this name in cursive script reads
Alluvius Ruskin, prop.
Merle accepts a cloack and spends a few minutes disceetly examining herself in a mirror with it apparently satisfied with it she follows the others out trying to not roll her eyes to much at Blayze and Sophi's exchange.
For the walk itself she does her best to avoid all the beggers/merchents after what happend last time.
The group tasked with going to the Lady's Library heads the opposite direction down Copperman’s Way, heading towards the Lady’s Ward
As they head out in the downpour, they notice the crowd around them is mostly drovers with carts and wagons of tapped goods headed into the Lady’s Ward. At this hour the merchants of Sigil begin shipments of all the necessities the manors and palaces of the Nible District desire. They pass a large boxy wagon that radiates a cold so deep that icicles have formed all over its sides from the rain. A pair of miserable-looking ice mephits run along the top of the wagon with hammers, breaking the ice off as it forms.
Copperman’s Way ends at Plague Court, a busy plaza marking the end of the Market Ward and the Beginning of the Lady’s Ward. A panoply of Fine shops line the plaza. The large pub known as the Square Bar sits prominently at the corner of Court Street, a group of Harmonium faction members lounging on the wide veranda, shielded from the pouring rain.
The party travels onto the Lady’s Library. The columned entrance looms up, Grey in the Begore Peak gloom. Inside a crowd of scholars browse the stacks, a wildly diverse crowd of sentients.
A Mind Flayer leafs through a huge tome chained to a lectern. A tiefling with a fearsome collection of horns sits with a glowing crystal in a padded seat. A six-armed cyclops simianoid glances between a book in each hand.
The party sees Shactal sulking at the library’s main desk. The Ice Devil looks hungover. O.L.L.I can be seen walking the nearer stacks, pushing a cart stacked with books
Hamar squints, "Are we here?"
"Are we here?"
Sophie points at the sign. "That's what the sign says."
She walks forward and pushes the doors open, striding into the Portal Key Emporium with confidence.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Ah, I love the smell of books," Karrin says as they enter library, "I practically grew up in one you know. I mostly did chores, looked after the animals, fetched water, that sort of thing, but there really wasn't much to do at the monastery except pray and read, and you might find this hard to believe, but I had a lot of trouble sitting in one spot for too long as a kid, I mean I'm way more composed now, but back then I wasn't too good at it and it was only through reading that I could relax. Guess when I was left to my own devices I had trouble keeping them focused but when I was reading other people's stories I could let my mind run wild. Sadly most of the books were religious texts, which were pretty dull, I mean there's all sorts of terrible things in them, rape, murder, torture, bestiality, etc, but they were always written in a really boring way so it was hard to feel compelled or griped by the narrative, also, spoilers, when there's a heaven it's hard to feel that any of the people in the tales are at risk because the good guys always end up in heaven, which really sounds like a baller place, and I hope to get in there when I die, but from a strictly narrative based perspective, it kind of makes the tale kind of dull as you remove the risk and stuff."
Karrin pauses as she spots the ice devil, Karrin knew him, but she still wasn't a fan of devils and Shactal, from their limited interactions, wasn't the sort that was going to sell her on any potential redeeming qualities. Karrin does give him the finger guns. No reason to be completely antisocial.
"Ollie!" Karrin shouts as she spots the blocky modron, she than catches herself, quickly covering her mouth, and whispers, "Sorry."
The boxy Modron looks up, the aspergillium attached to his top swinging in the air
“Friend Karrin! It has been many dinurial periods since this unit has occupied the same spacial coordinates as you”
"Yeah we've been away on a mission, I'll tell you everything some time, but for now we need to go over that stuff we left you to research."
"Are we here?"Sophie points at the sign. "That's what the sign says."
She walks forward and pushes the doors open, striding into the Portal Key Emporium with confidence.
Hamar shrugs, "If you say so". He enters last after the rest of his companions.
JUstin looks up at the sign, Portal Key Emporium, safe as he's ever been from the pernicious rain under the hood of his nice new cloak.
"Well, we're here." He says to no one in particular.
He gives his companions what is supposed to be a smile of confidence, (mostly at least) and pushes thee door open to enter,...
Ramuah is mostly silent, taking in her new surroundings and trying to understand the rules of this strange place. At the site of the ice devil, her fingers twitch toward her scimitar momentarily, before she consciously stops their motion. "If it violates what normal convention by not engaging us in the pleasantries I have come to expect from such creatures, it may be the conventions are different here." she murmurs to herself softly. She tilts her head. "I am struck by the notion that at least ice is much less likely to damage mundane books and scrolls than those that utilize fire to engage in argument." At Karrin's strange double handed pointing motion, Ramuah considers asking her about what she knew of the creature, but then Karrin engaged in conversation with a strange mechanical contraption, and she stays back to listen. Questions could be answered later.
"Oh, Ollie, I want you to meet Ramuah, she joined up with us on one of our adventures, she's still pretty clueless, but she ain't no bert*, and if a leatherhead like me can pick up the chant there's hope for anyone."
*Karrin still thinks people are saying bert instead of berk. She's got bad hearing.
"Ramuah, this is Ollie, the oldest friend I have in the planes, he's a Modron, but a really cool free thinking one."
"Oh, Ollie, I want you to meet Ramuah, she joined up with us on one of our adventures, she's still pretty clueless, but she ain't no bert*, and if a leatherhead like me can pick up the chant there's hope for anyone."
*Karrin still thinks people are saying bert instead of berk. She's got bad hearing.
"Ramuah, this is Ollie, the oldest friend I have in the planes, he's a Modron, but a really cool free thinking one."
O.L.L.I. does a very awkward backward knee bend towards Ramuah
"This unit is pleased to recognize a friend of the one designated Karrin."
He turns his big eyes over to Karrin
"This unit has completed the research asked for. If you will follow to a private room?"
As O.L.L.I. walks past the main desk he calls out to the half-asleep Ice Devil
"Infernal servitor known as Shactal. This unit needs to conduct business with the mercenary group known as the Silver Rose. If you have a need of this unit, it will be in the Bigby Collection room"
The Ice Devil groans through gritted mandibles
"I don't bloody care, yeh poxy suitcase. Sod off and leave me teh suffer in peace"
O.L.L.I. leads them to a nicely-appointed room. Once they are inside he closes the door and locks it. There is a small collection of large books attached to chains, as well as a few shelves of books set into the walls. Portraits of several wizardry-looking fellows line the walls. There is a meter-tall statue of a human male in wizards robes with a wand casting a spectral hand in the center of the room.
Perception DC 15
O.L.L.I. clanks over to a table and riffles through a large stack of loose leaf parchments. He withdraws a fairly thick wedge of them and takes them to Karrin.
"These are the notes this unit has uncovered. This unit would be happy to summarize the findings if you wish."
JUstin looks up at the sign, Portal Key Emporium, safe as he's ever been from the pernicious rain under the hood of his nice new cloak.
"Well, we're here." He says to no one in particular.
He gives his companions what is supposed to be a smile of confidence, (mostly at least) and pushes thee door open to enter,...
The party enters through the immense main doors and a busy scene greets them. This main level is a maze of bins and shelves piled high with small items: Red marbles, black cubes, crystal keys, flowers encased in resin. Shoppers carry wicker baskets and rummage about, picking up various items. Sales beings, mostly young humanoids, assist them, and also man a few cash boxes at the side, making transactions and annotating sales in massive ledgers. Nearby are several obvious guards, large armored types, including one who is obviously a Harmonium on detail. Another is a magic user of some sort, dressed in an odd tunic and a turban.
There is a large spiral staircase in the center of the large room, and near it a large halfmoon marble counter. Behind it sits and old tiefling woman with odd blue round glasses, leafing through a ledger that seems the same as the ones the sales beings are recording their transactions on. A tall aasimar-looking woman in armor stands close to her , chatting quietly
Justin takes a look around the business, realizing he has never actually been in THIS shop before, although he's passed it many times. He notes the wide variety of objects on the shelves, all portal keys presumably, and nods in appreciation of the security measures in place. The guards he can see, so Justin presumes that the owner has spent an equal amount on magical theft prevention.
If the sight of the Older Tiefling woman speaking with the armored Aasimar woman surprises him, he doesn't show it. (After all, Justin has seen SO much stranger things in Sigil.) The wizard makes his way through the shop, noting a couple of objects that he may be interested in picking up to try out their portals. Later.
Justin smiles as he approaches the two women.
"Good Anti-Peak Ladies. Sorry to interrupt. Would one of you happen to be Alluvius Ruskin, the proprietor?"
Justin is pretty sure that the wizened Tiefling looking through the ledger is the proprietor. BUT as he has been mistaken on first impressions in Sigil before, (SO many times that he's lost count), The wizard decides to err on the side of caution. At least this time.
"Wait!" Karrin say pointing at one of the paintings in the private room, "We met him, or at least his ghost, on our last adventure. That's Prince Brightflame!"
Letting Justin do the talking since he seemed to be the one who knows what he's doing, Blayze simply follows along, trying not to gawk to openly at the sensory overload that is the shop.
Justin smiles as he approaches the two women.
"Good Anti-Peak Ladies. Sorry to interrupt. Would one of you happen to be Alluvius Ruskin, the proprietor?".
The wizened tiefling looks up. A wicker cage filled with crickets chirrups by her elbow
“That’d be me , cutter. What do yeh need?”
O.L.L.I looks over at the painting Karrin is pointing to
“You are correct, friend and adventurer Karrin. Prince Brightflame was a contemporary of Bigby on the prime world of Oerth. He is also known under his adventuring nom de plume Melf”
O.L.L.I turns back to the papers
“This unit has written a synopsis on abberational vermin in Sigil, and included a citation page. Further reading can be accessed by the texts listed. Enchanting arcane items was a much broader field of study. This unit limited itself to a bibliography of the most useful texts within the Library, as rated by the research synopses of several well-known artificers”
“This unit also investigated the belief system that you had specified. There was little information available, but this unit was able to find some additional facts at the Temple of Ogham in the Temple District “
Knowledge (local) 10:
“Nol the sun god, Queen Charaysis of the moon , and Badir, Lord of the Mists , all are part of a pantheon that was specific to one Prime world. This was roughly 100,000 cycles ago , and there was some sort of religious upheaval between Badir and his father Nol that extinguished Badir’s Worshippers, and killed Badir. A few scattered mentions of Badir after in travelers accounts and Githyanki reports indicate that his corporeal remnants became a god island in the Astral Plane”
The square Modron pauses
“That is about all that this unit could discover”
While justin and co talk Merle idely begins having a rumage through the shops wares.
While justin and co talk Merle idely begins having a rumage through the shops wares.
This level seems to be concerned with common items. Bins of brass buttons, silver needles, and oddly-knotted twine line the shelves. Merle can see people coming down the spiral stairway with larger and more complex items
"Oh, Melf, he did an acid arrow spell. I've heard of him."
"Hmm, so the Nol's son does have a name. We were struggling with that, good work Olli, it also kind of clears up those vissions we had in the temple. We saw his body in the astral plane, we were also told some of his worshipers still live here, in the cage, but after 10 000 years? Could a temple for a dead god exist that long? Maybe we should see if there's any still in operation? However this was a great help Olli, things are making a lot more sense now, and some of the things we've discovered are falling into place."
Karrin takes a moment to tent her fingers, mostly to show she's deep in thought, but the wheels upstairs are clearly turning.
"I suppose I should tell you about our latest adventures now though, it's been, well it seems like four years, but we've only been gone a week, and a lot has happened since then."
While justin and co talk Merle idely begins having a rumage through the shops wares.This level seems to be concerned with common items. Bins of brass buttons, silver needles, and oddly-knotted twine line the shelves. Merle can see people coming down the spiral stairway with larger and more complex items
Merle decides to have a look at whatever they have upstairs.
we were also told some of his worshipers still live here, in the cage, but after 10 000 years? Could a temple for a dead god exist that long? Maybe we should see if there's any still in operation? “
.
O.L.L.I wiggles back and forth in his interpretation of a head shake
“This unit attempted to discern if there were any worshippers of this pantheon left. There has not been a recorded congregation since any record still left extant”
”I suppose I should tell you about our latest adventures now though, it's been, well it seems like four years, but we've only been gone a week, and a lot has happened since then."
The boxy librarian looks excited
“This unit would be most interested in your travels”
Justin smiles as he approaches the two women.
"Good Anti-Peak Ladies. Sorry to interrupt. Would one of you happen to be Alluvius Ruskin, the proprietor?".
The wizened tiefling looks up. A wicker cage filled with crickets chirrups by her elbow
“That’d be me , cutter. What do yeh need?”
Justin's smile broadens, and he gives a small bow.
"Pleasure to meet you. My name is Justin, member of the Silver Rose Company. I believe that you know Renkar? He said that you were the best person to go to regarding 'out-of-the-way' planar portals. I'm here to negotiate passageway for a group of travelers. Including return trip, of course." Justin smiles again at his common planar-traveler joke.
Justin looks at the armored Aasimar standing next to Alluvius, and gives her another polite bow of his head before turning back to the tiefling.
"In truth, our mission is highly confidential. Client privilege you know. Would it be possible for us to discuss the travel details privately?" Justin asks, waving a hand at the shop's main room in general, to indicate he meant no offense to the Aasimar.
Merle decides to have a look at whatever they have upstairs.While justin and co talk Merle idely begins having a rumage through the shops wares.This level seems to be concerned with common items. Bins of brass buttons, silver needles, and oddly-knotted twine line the shelves. Merle can see people coming down the spiral stairway with larger and more complex items
Merle ascends the spiral staircase. The next level seems to be more of the same, so she heads to the third level. This level has more guards, and more salesbeings. There are counters with groupings of items set up like jewlery displays. In fact, many of them are crafted jewelry pieces. There are also collections of gold-plated skulls, carved ivory fetishes, and various other interesting pieces of expensive-looking geegaws.
Merele notes that a lot of people are just window shopping, but a few well-heeled cutters are sliding large bags of coins over for certain items that are kept in the glass cabinets
..."In truth, our mission is highly confidential. Client privilege you know. Would it be possible for us to discuss the travel details privately?" Justin asks, waving a hand at the shop's main room in general, to indicate he meant no offense to the Aasimar.
The Aasimar in plate shrugs and nods to Alluvius
"We're just about finished. I'll have those items to yeh within a cycle or two, Lu"
The old tiefling nods pleasantly and smiles. She opens the wicker cage and pops a cricket in her mouth. The carapace makes a loud crunching sound as she chews
"You got it Sheev! See you when you get back!"
The Aasimar moves off, and Alluvius stares up at Justin
"My you're a tall drink of water! What can I do gor yeh?"
Sophie takes in the shop and it's wares, noting the stairs and any other possible exits on her way through the various wares and shoppers.
Seeing that Justin appears to have found who they are looking for, she follows him over and stands quietly behind him as he talks with Alluvius, continuing to keep watch for anything amiss or out of the ordinary.
Merle decides to have a look at whatever they have upstairs.While justin and co talk Merle idely begins having a rumage through the shops wares.This level seems to be concerned with common items. Bins of brass buttons, silver needles, and oddly-knotted twine line the shelves. Merle can see people coming down the spiral stairway with larger and more complex itemsMerle ascends the spiral staircase. The next level seems to be more of the same, so she heads to the third level. This level has more guards, and more salesbeings. There are counters with groupings of items set up like jewlery displays. In fact, many of them are crafted jewelry pieces. There are also collections of gold-plated skulls, carved ivory fetishes, and various other interesting pieces of expensive-looking geegaws.
Merele notes that a lot of people are just window shopping, but a few well-heeled cutters are sliding large bags of coins over for certain items that are kept in the glass cabinets
Merle will continue browsing her way up the building.
Justin Nods politely again to the Aasimar as she leaves,
"So sorry for the interruption, didn't realize it was business. My apologies lady."
Justin's mouth twitches as the Tiefling, Alluvius, pops a cricket into her mouth. He has a momentary flashback to his early days at the academy, eating certain bugs to cast simple spells. And sometimes on a dare.
"My you're a tall drink of water! What can I do gor yeh?"
Justin waves a hand with a smile. "Aw shucks. I'll bet You say that to ALL the tall, dark and handsome wizards!" Justin grins.
He gets the impression that Alluvius is a shrewd negotiator. He idly wonders if it's too late to have Karrin open negotiations instead. Talking to Karrin for extended periods of time was as good or better than any confundus charm he'd ever seen used.
Hamar stalks through the room looking every bit the proverbial bull in the crystal shop but as his new companions know, the heir to the Hyena tribe moves like a cat and nary a glass or crystal shakes on its shelf as he passes by.
Not interested in gawking at the pretty glass wares he stick close to the Wizard. Having only known Justin for a short period of time, the Barbarian senses he has a knack for getting into trouble and should have someone close at hand, after all, the blasted wizard wanted to ring that gong in the netherworld which would have summoned who knows what!
Hamar grunts as Justin replies to the tall drink of water comment, "Wizard, I am quite sure she meant me..."
Hamar grunts as Justin replies to the tall drink of water comment, "Wizard, I am quite sure she meant me..."
Sophie half-suppresses a small snort of amusement.
Alessia mutters under her breath .
"Why must they all chatter so?"
A low grinding sound begins to emanate from behind her expressionless mask. It sounds like it could be teeth.
Blayze shakes her head, partly in amusement.