The flying place lies close to the massive pile of the Civic Festhall, which dominates the skyline with it's massive bulk soaring 1,000 feet into the grey sky. Sensates brave the rain, some run naked laughing through it. Taverns, bordellos, gambling halls, massage parlors surround the area, as do meditation gardens, martial arts academies, philosopher's coffehouses and every form of experience a cutter could want.
The actual building is easy to spot, as it sports a mural with an arabian therme with turbaned jinn and a flying carpet portrayed. The price listed is 50 GP for a cross-Sigil trip. The door is shut on the building, but there are lights on inside
Assuming there aren't any hours listed to say the place is definitely close, Isaac knocks on the door.
A swarthy man in a slightly-askew turban and desert-style clothing answers the door.
"Ah! late-night thrill seekers! Do you wish to partake in Amberion's Awesome Aerial Adventures?"
His spiel sounds so canned he should be a tomato
Isaac's eyes light up and a boyish smile spreads across his face.
"Yes, sir, we do!", he responds enthusiastically,"Now, is this a round trip beginning and ending here or will you drop us off in another ward?"
Isaac's eyes light up and a boyish smile spreads across his face.
"Yes, sir, we do!", he responds enthusiastically,"Now, is this a round trip beginning and ending here or will you drop us off in another ward?"
"I'll be happy to bring yeh wherever yeh wants cutter, long as the jink's solid. If this ain't a Clueless gig, I'd like to dress a bit more appropriate fer the weather."
His pseudo-dervish accent drops when he sees the group clearly, and he speaks pure Cager Cant
Justin pulls his hood down further over his head, trying to keep the persistent dirty water from getting any more into his face.
"I prefer fire over water,... IF you can even call this water." He complains miserably. "It's too thick to drink, and too thin to plow!" He grumbles fiercely as he wipes a particularly persistent trickle from the end of his nose.
He muses over the handbill as Isaac suggests they check it out. He raises an eyebrow when the salesman's accent vanishes quicker than stingers to a jinkskirt.
"Nice." He nods to Isaac as the salesman ducks back inside for his change of clothes.
"Were you thinking of us riding to the bookstore? Or just thinking it's a quick way to the Rose?" He asks, refusing to look up at the seemingly endlessly depressing sky.
"Either way I'm in. I always wanted to fly. I just never thought I would associate it with swimming!" HE smirks, raising a soggy eyebrow.
"I was thinkin' the Rose. Riding it into the Hive might save one trip, but there would still be the matter of getting out again. A berk would have to be pretty addled to relish that walk, unless they already lived there. Or they'd have to be a Xaosman."
Bethany looks over the advertisment and snorts.
"And why wouldn't you mu... land dwellers want to experience the exhileration of the open air. It is an experience that you will not wish to give up once you have tried it."
She follows the others to Amberion's and ponders the flight back to the Rose and more importantly how fast their conveyence will travel.
Merle just gives a polite nod as she stands up with the others and heads out waiting till they are outside she turns to the other two
"What now do we head back or try and keep an eye on him?"
Nari breathes a sigh of relief as they step outside and seems to sort of fold in on herself, once more retreating into the frightened mouse she normally is. She waits for Karrin to answer Merle's question.
"We know what he's up too and where to find him, and I suspect he's none the wiser. We need to deal with this killer though, if we go back with what we know Renkar might just want to move onto another job, as long as we don't report back we can keep digging. Besides we haven't checked out on all out leads yet. If anyone asks we can just say we were being thorough."
Karrin looks to her companions for any objections.
Bethany looks over the advertisment and snorts.
"And why wouldn't you mu... land dwellers want to experience the exhileration of the open air. It is an experience that you will not wish to give up once you have tried it."
She follows the others to Amberion's and ponders the flight back to the Rose and more importantly how fast their conveyence will travel.
"Aye, I imagine it's just so."
Isaac looks wistfully into the night "sky".
"Perhaps if I do well in this life, I'll come back as an avariel or an eladrin and take to the skies. Or maybe if I do poorly I'll be a crow or a swallow, never to appreciate the poetry of my flight. Regardless, this sparrow is ready to fly."
"We know what he's up too and where to find him, and I suspect he's none the wiser. We need to deal with this killer though, if we go back with what we know Renkar might just want to move onto another job, as long as we don't report back we can keep digging. Besides we haven't checked out on all out leads yet. If anyone asks we can just say we were being thorough."
Karrin looks to her companions for any objections.
Nari nods her agreement. "What if the other ones aren't dead either?" she whispers.
"We know what he's up too and where to find him, and I suspect he's none the wiser. We need to deal with this killer though, if we go back with what we know Renkar might just want to move onto another job, as long as we don't report back we can keep digging. Besides we haven't checked out on all out leads yet. If anyone asks we can just say we were being thorough."
Karrin looks to her companions for any objections.
Merle shrugs "Sure why not so what other lead should we check out?"
Amberion the Aerial adventurer reappears, dressed in a long leather coat with big brass buttons fastened up its front. He wears a leather cap and a pair of glass goggles. In one hand is a fancy hooded lantern. .
He looks at the group.
"Come in, come in, it's a good night for bullywugs and aught else."
He leads you all up to the roof of his building where there is a large tent pitched. He waves you all back and mutters a few inaudible words and gestures slightly. He then opens up the tent flap. Inside is a large floor rug with some sort of wood frame underneath it. Several rope loops are tied to the framework and lie on the rug's surface.
"There she is cutters: Rashida, Queen of the Skies."
Amberion looks over at Bethany
"I take it luv you'll be going under your own power?"
Isaac counts out the jink and hands it over.
"Pay me back when you get a chance, cutters; I ain't made of jink."
Amberion pockets the golden coins Isaac gives him and smiles
"Allright, everone climb on, grab a rope and tie it 'round yerselves. Rashida's fairly stable, but if I have to dodge summat yeh'll want to have that rope tight! If yeh have eye protection I sugggest puttin' it on, as the rain will pelt us something fierce until we get above the clouds. Where do yeh want to go?"
The lanky leather-clad man seats himself in front of the carpet and ties a rope around himself
Amberion looks over at Bethany
"I take it luv you'll be going under your own power?"
Bethany looks at Rashida with a look of distaste.
"Yes, you should take it that you are correct..."
Isaac takes a place on the carpet and ties himself securely.
"Well first thing I'd suggest is tracking down this guy that Eliath was arguing with, maybe pock around the spot they were fighting over, and then I'd like to have a look at this latest victim. There's also the Xaosmen. I hesitate to talk to them right now because I really don't want a fight."
Isaac takes a place on the carpet and ties himself securely.
Once everyone is settled, Amberion mutters a word:
Alaayzee!
The large rug begins to hover off the roof and slowly backs out of the tent into the rainy gloom. Waving his arms like a barmy street maestro, Amberion flies the carpet up into the cloud deck. One good thing is that the Cage rarely sees any atmospheric disturbances like lightning, unless the Lady is real mad.
Those dressed lihtly start to shiver as the solid rain pours down as their speed increases. Amberion keeps the pace to match Bethany's wing flight.
They climb higher into the cottony clouds. They burst out of the top and see the opposite side of the cage layed out before them like a wide grey band. They travel higher, and the air gets a little thin, but never difficult to breathe.
Several floating buildings are hovering over the clouds. The group can see a fair amount of winged traffic as well. Amberion stays well away from it all as he guides Rashida down into the clouds wrapping the Market Ward.
After they descend back into the cold rain the bedraggled tents and buildings of the Great Bazaar spread out below them. Amberion steers them along Copperman's Way, settling down by the fountain that is the central feature of Copper Court.
"Anytime you need a lift you just call Amberion," The skinny cutter says with a wink. He rises up into the air and streaks off.
Justin Nods at the aerial ace, and briefly casts a small spell, and using the powers of the cantrip causes a field capable of repelling wind and rain to come into being around him. He concentrates, and extends the benefits of his spell to the Isaac and Drazek as well.
He then takes the fliers' advice and wraps the rope around his waist tightly.
When they arrive, he steps off of the rickety flying device with an unsteady step. He waves briefly to the aereonaught as he flies off, then grins as he regains his land legs.
"That,... was fun!" He declares happily.
Isaac's looking a little green around the gills.
"Fun is... one... word..."
He staggers down an alley and loses his lunch.
"OOooohh, maybe I'm not ready to be an avariel or a sparrow, not even... [hic!]... in my next... life."
Isaac wipes his face with a handkerchief and heads inside.
"No sense sitting out in the rain like a navel-gazing Bleaker."
Bethany lands lightly beside the trio, watching the rug fly away.
She laughs as Isaac's last meal escapes his stomach and calls out to him, "why you would want to be an Avariel is beyond me. You want to be a good flyer, a Harpy. You would make a good Avian I think."
She smiles, "if you can learn to keep your dinner down that is."
Bethany lands lightly beside the trio, watching the rug fly away.
She laughs as Isaac's last meal escapes his stomach and calls out to him, "why you would want to be an Avariel is beyond me. You want to be a good flyer, a Harpy. You would make a good Avian I think."
She smiles, "if you can learn to keep your dinner down that is."
"Oh, ho! Look who's suddenly a comedienne! That's good, that's really good, I'm sure they'd love that down at Caritas, next time you're in the neighborhood."
Isaac smiles ruefully to show there's no heat to his remarks.
"I'll fly like a dove, next time, just you wait."
Justin tries, not too hard, to hide a smirk as Isaac loses his lunch.
"I've always been fascinated with flying. This just cinched it for me!" Justin declares with a grin. I don't think I want to wait to return as a sparrow, or even a harpy though."
He smiles and continues talking with the others, but he is obviously distracted. Probably figuring out how to apply the forces of magic to create flight.
"Oh, ho! Look who's suddenly a comedienne! That's good, that's really good, I'm sure they'd love that down at Caritas, next time you're in the neighborhood."
Isaac smiles ruefully to show there's no heat to his remarks.
Bethany's face looks like it is put out for a second, before she realizes Isaac is only ribbing her and she relaxes a little.
"I would like to return there again, just this time I think I will refrain from drinking any strange liquor.""Doves are poor flyers compared to the majesty of a Harpy."
She catches Justin's remark and turns on him. "And just what is wrong with being a Harpy may I ask?" She says it sweetly, but you can tell that your answer better be the one she wants to hear or there'll be Hells to pay!
The sodden flying group bicker and josh each other goodnaturedly as they head for the warmly-glowing windows of the Copper Cauldron.
The door opens and a wave of beef-scented warm air issues out. Their damp clothes start to steam, and the muted roar of late supperers and drinkers hits their ears. Ramona clucks when she sees their state and guides them to a table by the cavernous hearth. A haunch of beef is on the large rotiserrie, and Ramona's smallest brother Robyn is doing spitjack duties, ladling drippings from a pan onto the meat while turning it. Several pies and loaves bake in the recessed ovens lining the side of the hearth, adding a lovely pastry smell to the beefy atmosphere.
"You cutters look like you could use some mulled ciderwine." Ramona says, pointing to a large pewter bucket tucked by the hearth's roaring flames.
Isaac helps himself to the hot cider and sits himself down.
"Much obliged, Ramona. You got anything in the kitchen that isn't full of beef or pork or... well, anything without meat?"
Isaac helps himself to the hot cider and sits himself down.
"Much obliged, Ramona. You got anything in the kitchen that isn't full of beef or pork or... well, anything without meat?"
She smiles
"We have some lovely green beans, potatoes and Fregash root. I can make yeh up a stir fry if yeh wish."
Isaac helps himself to the hot cider and sits himself down.
"Much obliged, Ramona. You got anything in the kitchen that isn't full of beef or pork or... well, anything without meat?"She smiles
"We have some lovely green beans, potatoes and Fregash root. I can make yeh up a stir fry if yeh wish."
"Ah, has there ever been a finer hearth-mistress than yerself, Ramona? That just happens to be my favorite. Or, at least, my new favorite. I would love some."
"Well first thing I'd suggest is tracking down this guy that Eliath was arguing with, maybe pock around the spot they were fighting over, and then I'd like to have a look at this latest victim. There's also the Xaosmen. I hesitate to talk to them right now because I really don't want a fight."
"Lets try the spot where they were fighting over first."
Bethany spreads her wings in front of the roaring fire, being careful not to get too close. She sighs as she starts to warm up and dry off.
"I am definately going to have to get myself something casual to wear while not out and about. Not to mention a coat for this abominable weather."
She lifts up the front of her slip and waves it in front of the fire. "Isaac, you said something about getting clothes cleaned? They need to take extra care with this slip though, it has special properties I don't want messed with." she inadvertantly turns away from the fire and gives the three of them a sight they won't soon forget as she shows them the slip. Without even noticing, she turns back around to keep warming herself.
Isaac sits stunned for a second. He glances from Justin to Drazek and finally to the iron ring on his finger.
"You can't feel guilty for looking," he thinks," Allie's probably met someone else, this doesn't even count, think unsexy thoughts, a question was asked and you should probably answer, think unsexy thoughts..."
"Ah, yeah, Bethany, there's a top-shelf laundress around the corner. Took a load in yesterday and she's pretty fast; even mends things. She also spread the chant that one of her relations is a seamstress if you want to get some more clothes made; probably a good idea before you drop your slip off. You know, to be cleaned. The hardheads are a bit old-fashioned about public nudity and the wonders of the harpy anatomy. Can't understand it, myself, but there you go."
Isaac winks at Robyn.
"How's that meat coming, Robyn?"
Drazek's face is one of open astonishment that soon becomes open appreciation. If ther was any doubt about his opinion of Bethany's charms, it has gone flying out the window.
"How's that meat coming, Robyn?"
Strangely, the haunch has stopped rotating. A small boy stares at Bethany with large round eyes. A few tables of drinkers are also more focused on the party's location.
"Lets try the spot where they were fighting over first."
She catches Justin's remark and turns on him. "And just what is wrong with being a Harpy may I ask?" She says it sweetly, but you can tell that your answer better be the one she wants to hear or there'll be Hells to pay!
"NOthing's wrong with being a Harpy my dear lady!" Justin replies swiftly and smoothly to Bethany's pointed question.
"But after that little trip, I don't think I have the patience to wait for my next trip around the wheel to enjoy flying again. I'm not a really patient man." He says with a grin.
"Besides, with my track record, the only flying thing I'm likely to come back as would be a fly,... In a forest of flytraps,..." He adds wryly as they duck into the inviting warmth of the taproom,...
-----------------------
Justin eagerly tucks into the slices of beef, and pastry, and anything else that happens to land on his plate. At Isaac's request for vegetables he only murmurs, "More for me!" With a grin before moving back to the fire to refill his plate and wine cup. He is therefore in a most enviable position when LAdy Bethany turns to show her disheveled slip, and nearly everything else, to Isaac and the others.
Justin sniffs, and says "Yes, Considering how much we seem to be running around, something a little more,... durable, might be wise."
He states this calmly and matter-of-factly, despite the fact that his eyebrows have yet to reappear from where they flew up under his bangs. He also seems to have momentarily forgotten his cup and plate,...
"Lets try the spot where they were fighting over first."
"Lets try the spot where they were fighting over first."
"Alright," Karrin says, "then we should check out the morgue."
[Justin sniffs, and says "Yes, Considering how much we seem to be running around, something a little more,... durable, might be wise."
C o c k i n g her head over her shoulder, she informs Justin, "oh I have no worries that it will stand up to anything you wish to throw against it. I've enchanted it to protect me. But one needn't wear it all day every day... and I have already been wearing it for a couple of days now. Some casual clothing to wear while relaxing is in order. Not to mention a coat to protect me from this abominable rain. I am not used to it at all. It very rarely rain in my home."
Content that she is dry enough, Bethany moves to the table to join the others in tearing into the meat set before her like a lion tearing into it's kill. She washes it down with some of the mead, savouring it's taste.
Isaac sips his warm cider and digs into his food when it arrives. In between bites, he makes a quick suggestion.
"If these barmies are turning up in factions after bein' penned in the deadbook, I've got the notion that I ought to rattle my bonebox at the Foundry and see if the Godsmen have picked up any too-trig cutters lately. We can see if Toranna and whatever bashers and knights she has with her are playin' all the angles or just a few. "
Shaking his head briefly, he refills his plate and cup and returns to the table, still wearing a far-too-happy grin. He raises one eyebrow again at seeing how the Lady Bethany enjoys her meat. He washes down a large bite with mulled cider and forces his gaze away from Bethany, nodding to Isaac.
"Yes. That's an excellent idea. It now seems obvious that these 'barmies' are turning up alive and well, and seem to be joining factions under new names. One has to wonder, were they all actually 'barmy' when they 'died'? Or are they willing participants in this little,... whatever it is?"
"And what is the ultimate goal? There has to be an easier way to infiltrate an organization than pretending to be killed. Because somewhere, you may be recognized by someone who knew you before you changed names. Like our red-headed friend. No, there has to be more to this than simple infiltration of spies."
Justin muses for a moment, then shakes his head in exasperation and tears back into his food.
Drazek tucks into the food along with the others. "Question is whether its a faction messin' with others by infiltratin', or a few factions recruitin' in some weird way."
"The way I see it is this: the Hive's full of barmies and spivs, more than the Bleakers can handle or keep track of. A particularly cold-blooded berk looks at 'em and sees an opportunity: a spell here and there, some "convincing" and you've got an army of spies that may or may not even know they're spies. A blood that can fake a berk's death could likely figure a way to get at what's in their brainboxes, either with divination or some other method."
"But for the plan to work, our cold-blooded berk has to be in a position to get those "corpses" without anyone lookin' over their shoulder. Which points us to the Dusties and Toranna: she logs in all the bodies brought in by the Collectors, who are none the wiser. Don't even have to get her hands dirty in the streets if another berk casts the spell. The angle only works when used on barmies and other sods in the Hive without anyone to claim 'em after they're penned in the deadbook."
"Now, I have my doubts that this is something involving the Dustmen entire: my faction and theirs don't get along, but they're usually fine poking the Godsmen through the Hall of Speakers and other methods keeping with their jurisdiction. Most of the time, though, they just don't care for something like this. If every cutter in Sigil is coming through your door to be penned in the deadbook sooner or later, why hurry it along? Their philosophy doesn't keep with that sort of activity. These aren't maniac necromancers from the Prime, they're the oldest faction in Sigil. They're secure in their position 'cause there ain't any other berks looking for the job. And besides, spies aren't unusual. Hells, the Anarchists are practically all spies. So why go to all the trouble.... unless the faction isn't sanctioning it."
"So: I think the barmies started that way and that Toranna is working without her faction's knowledge or permission. Why or how is the dark of it, as is what happened to Eliath to drive him into the Hive to begin with. We've got Brimstone Books and Ragpicker Square to follow-up on, if I can get a word with my factotum about new namers we can see if it's just the Fated or more factions they're bobbing. It's also a good idea to hit up our red-haired man on his own; we can pick his brainbox on what's going on and if we can convince him to go to the Mortuary as proof of life, we may be able to confront Toranna."
He scratches his head and frowns.
"How that fulfills our contract... that's a bit of a dark, though."
"Alright," Karrin says, "then we should check out the morgue.""Lets try the spot where they were fighting over first."
The group sets out into the dark rainy Antipeak after saying their goodbyes to their new 'friend' Eliath. The Great Foundy looms out of the drizzle, Looking like a gargantuan monster belching fire on the Cage's buildings.
Zipping up the Gear Run District, the group begins to encounter fiendish arcane artificers and bizzare constructs scuttling about on unknown errands. Gear Street segues into The Alley of Dangerous Angles and the Hellgate District. They pass Caritas, a group of Godsmen hang outside chatting with some tiefling waitresses on break.
Hellgate is a very busy district in the Antipeak hours. Swarms of lower planar folk argue, hawk merchandise and do whatever they need to survive. Karrin can swear she spots an immense spider hiding along one dark alley, but the shadowy form disappears into the rainy murk.
Hellgate fades out and Gramercy Street looms into view, packed with warehouses, cheap Ditchmen taverns and two-Green stores. The ancient gargoyle-studded expanse of the Zaddfum Trestle looms up once again, still stocked with young cutters fishing off it's sides. The Ditch roils below, barges, longboats and skiffs all flitting along its turgid green swells. The splash of sewer pipes rise from the sides as the rain washes the local sewers out.
Crossing the Zaddfum, the party finds itself back in the Madhouse District. The Hive is lively despite the rain, bubbing's a full-time job, rain or shine. The flophouses, cut-jink bordellos and cheap bub houses are a rollicking with the early Antipeak crowd.
Traveling downward from the Gatehouse, the party skirts Goatwood, an unsavory district where the dregs of sylvan society keep kip. A satyr with a bottle of cheap rum and a peg leg leers at the women and offers a Green for their favors. He curses them as they continue on.
They come upon the Gatehouse Night Market, in full swing. The tents and kiosks are aswarm with hivers doing business with each other. They pass onto Lot's Lane, passing the Bottle & Jug tavern.
Passing spinwards off Lot's Lane to Two Lamp Lane, the group approaches the Butcher's Block. Karrin, and to a lesser extent Naridre, are familliar with the area from their time at Allesha's Pantry, which is a few more blocks down spinwards.
The Butcher's Block swims out of the gloomy rain, it's dark stone facade covered in razorvine. A sign with a block and hatchet on it sits above the doorway. A few barmies and bubbers camp out along its alleyways. The next lot is a ruined building, and that seems to be squatted by several berks as well. The sound of loud carousing and the smash of crockery come from the tavern's partly-open door.
Karrin nibbles on her never ending rations as they walk, occasionally buying street food from the vendors along the way, but Karrin is focused on their mission.
"Let's have a look around back then," Karrin says, "but we might not be able to see anything. These gates are sometimes invisible and all but inaccessible without the proper key."
"And what would be the proper key then" Merle asks as they head round to the back
"And what would be the proper key then" Merle asks as they head round to the back
"Given that Eliath ended up moving on to another idea, I'm guessing this isn't the right gate for what he was looking for anyway," Nari whispered, looking around nervously.