Riddleport is a wild and dangerous place. It is hard to explain why this place still stands strong, but it does. A strange shadow in the sky only brings more mystery. Maybe knowledge about the shadow in the sky can be gleaned through examination, study, and a good ear.
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The local cypermage and stargazer noticed the Blot before it was visible to the naked eye. He called it the “atmospheric shadow” and it was subsequently named for him as it became more visible.
Blakey flew up to investigate the eerie dark Blot a week after it appeared, and reported that the interior was strangely cold… but that the Blot itself seemed no different than a regular cloud
Blakely’s been out of town recently, on a long journey to Maginmar and thence to Korvosa to research the Blot in the libraries there. In his absence, the Order of Cyphers has been leading investigations on the Blot.
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Although the gambling hall known as the Gold Goblin stands in a much neglected neighborhood and the building itself has long stood dormant and empty, it make a comeback as the big day comes. Crowds of participants and spectators mill about on the street or file together through the main doors to sign up for the tournament. Overseeing this gathering is a larger than life size statue of a goblin. Apparently cast in glittering gold, that stands atop the entry stairs with a smirking expression on its face, as if personally enjoying the crowds that shuffle past it into the doorway beneath the gambling hall’s gilded dome.
Tanna moves about the crowd with a haughty air. She makes some mental notes about the shadow, the situation with the city, and the locals.
"Hmm, most interesting." "Lyon....blast! Where did that swordsman go? He is always running off. Probably in the Goblin drinking again. He likes the taste of that swill more than he should."
Lyon, used to being able to pick people out by scent, has a very hard time picking out Tanna from the rest of the crowd. If only I didn't stop to smell the market's goods. How am I supposed to find her in this crowd, there are too many smells! Using his superior height Lyon stands on the tips of his toes to try and find Tanna. As he looks around he sees a familiar set of pointy ears and long, amber hair. "TANNA! Wait! I'll be right there!" Lyon shouts as he begins pushing his way towards her. "Excuse me, pardon me. Get out of my way...thank you." Lyon continues until he reaches the Elf, it doesn't take much effort or time though as people tend to recoil from Lyon when he gets pushy. "Does it seem a bit darker to you, or is it just me?" Lyon asks, obviously oblivious to the Blot in the sky.
The archery competition had been enjoyable, it always was fun to show those humans for whom their bows were designed. There only had been real competitor but the boy was a Half Elf so he at least had part of the racial aptitude with the weapon. Still, he had proved no competition at the longer distances.
He did prove to be enjoyable company though, despite his sometimes human-like mannerisms. They had spoken only in Elven, no need to include the humans in their conversation, "You still have a lot to learn Seph. I mean, your skill with the bow is decent enough but you are still years from calling yourself a master. I mean, even I am still years from killing myself a master."
Nel normally didn't mind crowds. That being said, most crowds didn't involve towering teiflings forcing a path through, whether space permitted or not. "Uita-te unde te duci, corn-fata!" Nel shouted out after the retreating figure, earning several smirks from a few scatter Varisians in the crowd. Thanks to the unexpected movement, her dinner now laid, squished beyond all recognition, on the street.
"And here I thought that my luck was changing." She muttered to no one in particular as the crowd shuffled into the gambling den. She may have just paid off her, but she was sure that Desna was going to smile upon her tonight. Tonight was the night that she was going to earn enough gold to finish paying off her book and finally make a respectable name for herself.
Giving one last parting glance to the sky above, before she moved under the awning of the gambling hall, Nel frowned heavily at the blot. When it had first shown up, she thought that the cyphermages were going to be all over the place. However as the weeks passed and nothing happened, it was back to the same humdrum life that she had grow accustom to since moving to Riddleport.
As she passed the statue of the gold goblin, Nel reached out to touch it, part as a habit, part as superstition for good luck, before offering a quick prayer to Desna to provide her some good fortune. Allowing her eyes to adjust to the dingy, smoke filled gambling hall, the tall half-elf trudged her way through the maze of pulled out chairs, moved benches, and other obstacles until she found a mostly free table.
"Oh I'm sure I do have more to learn and skills to hone, but still targets are one thing in a competition. It's a whole other scenario when the targets are movie and fighting back, and I've managed to do well in surviving those so far." he replies to Yuelthea.
Seph couldn't help but be engrossed by her persona. At the archery competition, Yuelthea had stood out above the rest. She not only had skill, but seemed focused on a goal or accomplishment other than winning.
"Although I will say that you do have an unfair advantage being that you were born to wield a bow with grace and precision." Seph jokingly remarks.
Lyon glimpses the Gold Goblin and feels a familiar feeling. Tanna, I could go for a drink" Lyon says, And some gambling.... "We should head over to the Goblin." Lyon says as he starts walking towards the gambling hall. Tanna, familiar with this behavior, knows that he is going there for gambling and alcohol and that he tends to make poor decisions when intoxicated.
Background Music in the Gold Goblin
Just inside the main doors, two sultry beauties scantily clad and wearing faux bat wings, devil horns, and tails play the part of alluring succubi. Both are employees of the Gold Goblin, and they cheerfully register contestants for the tournament and process entry fees. Armed guards stand nearby to either side of an immense treasure chest into which each patron’s entry fee is added. The guards are on hand to not only protect the money, but to prevent any overzealous admirers from trying to dare the infamous touch of a succubus. Beyond the registration table is the hall’s game floor. Dozens of gamblers, waitresses dressed as succubi, and bouncers mill about the room, wandering amid tables offering various games while dealers shuffle cards, roll dice, and spin wheels. Moving through this throng are a dozen more of the barely clad, batwinged vixens serving drinks and batting coal-black eyelashes flirtatiously for tips. In the center of the chamber is a short podium atop which sits a massive gold chest affixed to the floor by similarly gaudy chains. On either side of it stands a barechested bouncer in the exotic garb of some foreign sultan’s court. Each stands with muscled arms crossed over his chest and with a naked scimitar of prodigious size tucked through his waistband.
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High above them, from the hall’s cloth-draped ceiling, hangs a brass birdcage within which crouches a small, bat-winged, pointy-tailed devilish creature that sulks as it gazes over the room and occasionally rattles the bars threateningly.
Nel barely bats an eye at the ostentatious display of gold, skin, and silent threat of bodily harm. Handing over her entry fee to one of the fake-u-bi, Nel quickly made her way out of the registration area onto the floor. She kept a firm grasp on her coin purse, well aware of the Sczarni thugs and other cut purses that enjoyed the easy pickings from the gambling hall.
As she passed the small podium, Alraniel's eyes scanned the potential prize, impressed by the gaudy display. Vancaskerkin had certainly gone all out with his attempt to make this gambling tournament a success, that was for sure. Slouching to make herself stand out less, the half elf carefully made her way towards one of the less busy dealers, hoping to make back some of her entry fee, but not counting on it.
'Why only the succubi? Are incubi too taboo for these sailors? Ah well. Probably for the best.' Allowing her eyes to linger on one of the guards for a moment longer than necessary, Nel takes a spot at an open table.
Tamina makes her way silently through the crowd, holding her possessions close. She has little experience with the world of thieves and gamblers, but she thought she saw a familiar face enter here. Seeing Nel sitting alone, she takes it a small comfort to know she wasn't wrong.
She sits down beside her and nods. After an awkward moment trying to find something to say, she asks, "What do you think of this unnatural Blot?" She says gesturing to the hypothetical sky above them, "It looks to follow the tide. Isn't that odd?" When at a loss for words, Tamina always turns to science.
Regarding the darker haired half elf, Nel shrugged. "It's probably a stellar body. Maybe Somal is going to get a friend to orbit with it? I'm not too worried." Alikia's kept her voice down, not wanting to attract attention from anyone else. "Besides, the Cyphermages are on it. Cromarcky wouldn't allow them to stay here if they couldn't handle a little blot."
Stretching, Alikia pauses as she notices a cage hanging from the ceiling. "Speaking of things in the sky," nudging Tamina Alikia gestures to the small caged creature, "what is that?"
Tanna looks knowingly at Lyon.
"You know, if we didn't already have business there I would say no. You may have a drink, but just one. You know how you are. I'll be watching."
"Trying to lure in patrons with the so-called exotic creature I see. Oh well." Tanna sighs at the sight. Moving to an empty table she sits down and waits for the serving person to come over.
Yuelthea smiles at the Half Elf's flattery, "You are right, though I wouldn't call it unfair."
After some hesitation Yuelthea turns to face her companion, "Would you accompany me to the Golden Goblin? A friend of mine is waiting there for me."
"Elysium knows," Tamina replies.
Lyon looks around, first focusing on the (fake) Succubi and then moving on. His eyes linger on the creature in the cage. That creature appears to be some sort of fiend but what kind I cannot tell. How shameful, I do not even know the creature but I can feel it's pain. This one shouldn't be locked up like this. He deposits the entry fee into the chest and proceeds into the room. Lyon meets the eyes of the creature and then proceeds to ask it a question in both of the fiendish languages he knows, first Abyssal then Infernal, pausing for a moment in between.
"My name is Apollyon Adramelech, what may I call you and what are you doing here?"
Lyon pays close attention to the creature to see which language it responds to.
"Of course. After you." Seph gestures his arm towards the the entrance.
Inside the Golden Goblin, he takes in the sights of the gold, tables, and staff. He cant help but laugh a little at the sight of it all, especially the interesting decor. "Looks like the owner is putting out more than their staff. This ought to be an interesting night."
Looking around through the busy crowds, Seph turns to Yeulthea. "Think you will be able to find your friend in this group?"