"Either a Bazaar or Lower Ward merchant would suffice. We have neither preference nor knowledge of cost required."
Congruence opens their backpack and examines the stacks of hand drawn maps and charts of Great Bazaar merchants that only a modron could appreciate to see which ones might be of use.
[dice=Lore (Great Bazaar merchants)]1d20 + 6
The merchant designated 'Barbuto's Exotic Bardings' is the likeliest merchant to be able to supply custom Modron armor. This location is on Warhammer Row, by the Clerk Ward side of the Grest Bazaar
Congruence points to some numbers and strange notations on one of the sheets of paper, "'Barbuto's Exotic Bardings' is a possibility in the Bazaar. Or should we try someone in the Lower Ward?"
Then the modron gets a curious expression on their face, "We have yet to experience any of Lower Ward. Our whole existence has been in the Great Bazaar."
"Oh, if you havent been to the Lower Ward, we should go there!" Sara exitedly exclaims. "It will be quite some time before we're back in Sigil. The lower ward isnt the prettiest thing to see, but it surely is something to experience!"
Myriana was kind of leary of this new place, the lingerie and leather clothing were enticing but she found the whips and knives...disturbing. Still, she entered the place and found herself fascinated by it. Much like the outside, the inside was both interesting and disturbing for many of the same reasons. It wasn't until she saw the proprietress that she was distracted from all the things. Her gaze stopped on the beautiful woman and a hushed, "Meow," escaped her lips as she stared. "You're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen meow." Her words were quiet and her gaze was riveted to the fiendish woman.
"Thanks O.L.L.I. - and what's the best way for us to get to the third floor stacks?""Straight up two flights of stairs, then orient left, take approximately 45.5 average paces, orient right, take 23 average paces and look for the numeral 'XII' engraved on the stacks"
"Right." Alyse takes a moment to make sure she understands the directions. "Thankyou Olli."
With her companions in tow, she heads for the stairs.
Myriana was kind of leary of this new place, the lingerie and leather clothing were enticing but she found the whips and knives...disturbing. Still, she entered the place and found herself fascinated by it. Much like the outside, the inside was both interesting and disturbing for many of the same reasons. It wasn't until she saw the proprietress that she was distracted from all the things. Her gaze stopped on the beautiful woman and a hushed, "Meow," escaped her lips as she stared. "You're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen meow." Her words were quiet and her gaze was riveted to the fiendish woman.
The winged woman smiles and walks towards Myriana. A scent of lavender and citrus envelops the young girl
"You are just a darling! And your fur is so lusterous! May I touch it?"
Zadkiel's eyes sparkled when Myriana took the lead. He adopted a nonchalant stance as the erinyes approached Myri while he looked at a costume that seemed made for a young woman to clean house in but seemed decidedly impractical for the task.
Myriana, despite finding the creature pretty, was a bit leery but she nodded her assent and said, "Yes meow, you may."
"Oh, if you havent been to the Lower Ward, we should go there!" Sara exitedly exclaims. "It will be quite some time before we're back in Sigil. The lower ward isnt the prettiest thing to see, but it surely is something to experience!"
Sara's excitement and the opportunity for a new experience makes Congruence's decision easy. "Travel Friend Sara, lead us to the Lower Ward!"
As they wander through the stacks, Tollard remarks, "O.L.L.I.'s directions were very specific, and yet just vague enough at the same time. I am wondering whether my paces are average..."
Day 2, 2 BP. Festhall District
Myriana, despite finding the creature pretty, was a bit leery but she nodded her assent and said, "Yes meow, you may."
Veria runs her immaculately-manicured hands across Myriana's fur. It is pleasant, and Myriana can't help but purr a bit.
"My my, you two lovelies have brightened up my Peak!"
Day 1, 5AP-5BAP. The Foundry District
"Oh, if you havent been to the Lower Ward, we should go there!" Sara exitedly exclaims. "It will be quite some time before we're back in Sigil. The lower ward isnt the prettiest thing to see, but it surely is something to experience!"Sara's excitement and the opportunity for a new experience makes Congruence's decision easy. "Travel Friend Sara, lead us to the Lower Ward!"
The three head out towards the Lower Ward and the Foundry District, home of the greatest collection of metal workers this side of the Dwarven Mountain.
They travel through The Great Bazaar, traversing the narrow paths between the stalls with a practiced step. They approach Copperman's Way at the opposite edge of the giant market
Copperman's Way is busy with the change of shifts that the transition between Afterpeak and Before Antipeak brings. The day worker are done for this peak. They trudge home, covered in dust, flour, and many other types of detritus. As they head out the Antipeak workers begin to emerge. The light has been fading away since mid-Afterpeak, and now those creatures that dislike sunshine are out in force. A trio of aristocratic vampires wearing Dustmen colors and siguls sweep by, surrounded by a coterie of warm-blooded sycophants. Pallid Kuo-toa, their gills wrapped in some sort of water-holding membrane slop by, leaving wet prints on the damp cobbles. Dozens of jinkskirts, gamblers, cullybashers, and knights of the post glide by the trio.
Copperman's Way end in Plague Court, the border of the Lady's Ward. Swarms of red-armored Hardheads clank to and fro, as the peak shift gives way to the antipeak shift. A few glance curiously at the trio, but Congruence seems to make them smile. It is known that the Harmonium are a most lawful bunch, and a Modron would be just the being they would prefer.
They walk in the gathering foggy gloom down Razorvine-on-Hiddleton, that glittering boulevard of rich cutter's shops. Even in the beginning hours of Antipeak there is quite a bit of shopping going on. Two slender female orcs, with green-and-black mottled skin and expensive looking makeup come out of one boutique carrying several bags. They are dressed in expensive samite and silks, and gold jewelry hangs all about their necks and ears. Several burly male orcs in plate escort the laughing duo to a waiting carraige pulled by large lizards.
Razorvine-on-Hiddleton ends in the Court District. This area is quiet at this time of peak. The Guvners and those employed by them are now safe at home in the nearby Greytowers District, and only the occasional Mercykiller or Harmonium patrols is on the street.
The Temple District appears before them, first the splendid temple palaces of the mighty deities of the multiverse, shading smaller and smaller as they walk through, until the temples are more shanties with pretensions. Out by Meatmarket Square most of the priests have no shelter and merely stand on a crate or a handy cobblestone, screeching their barmy creeds in the hopes of gaining a worshiper or two.
The Lady's Ward segues into the Lower Ward. Doomguard fill the streets, their hands on their hilts, eyes burning with a fierce fury. Thankfully, there are also a lot of mercenaries in the area, and the two groups seem to concentrate on giving the other the staredown, leaving anyone else to walk unmolested.
The trio notices the air is getting foggier and filled with a smell like burning sulfur. They turn onto Alehouse Row, that infamous boulevard of decadence. Hundreds of taverns, alehouses, breweries and bordellos stand cheek-and-jowl, catering to the swarms of Lower Ward workers looking to spend their pay.
Alehouse Row finally runs into the Foundry District. The Great Foundry rears up out of the fog, dozens of smokestacks pouring yellow smoke into the sky. Despite the late hour, there is no slowing of the apparent work being done here. Young boys cart wheelbarrows of scrap to waiting forges. Piles of ore get shoveled into waiting carts to be taken into the massive crucibles that glow with elemental flame from huge portals placed below them.
Surrounding the Great Foundry is a neighborhood of hundreds of metal workers. The din and clang of hammers striking anvils sounds out along the stone buildings. Not a single building has any wood involved in its creation.
As they wander through the stacks, Tollard remarks, "O.L.L.I.'s directions were very specific, and yet just vague enough at the same time. I am wondering whether my paces are average..."
“Oh yeah, that’s true.” Alyse pauses, glances back along the row of book shelves and taps her chin, picturing Olli’s waddling gait. “The modron is shorter than me – bigger than you Tollard, but with a different pace. Average pace for a human, an elf, a halfling or a modron I wonder? Well … we must be in the right general area anyway…”
Alyse begins looking about for books relating to ‘shadow’ or the First World – or the numeral ‘XII’.
Sara points out all the things of interests she knows about to Congruence, and a few things she'l only heard outlandish stories of.
When the Orc ladies pass, Sara stares for a moment.
"So pretty..."
Reaching the Great Foundry, Sara quietly winches. She had forgotten it was this noisy.
She looks around for a moment, to see if anyone is showing interest in Congruence. Asking such a person about where they could find armor, would be a good starting point.
A young lad with a soot-smudged face and wearing a Godsman brooch on his Cager cloak seems to be fascinated by Congruence. He's leaning against one of the buildings by an alleyway, smoking a clay pipe.
Day 1. 3BAP Lady's Library
Alyse, Tollard, and Calise find their way to the stacks O.L.L.I. had mentioned. The books march away into the dimness, titles in dozens of different alphabets
"Are we even in the right spot?" asks Alyse, looking around.
Sara aproaches the boy. "Hey cutter. I see you eyeballing my friend there. You interested in modrons? We're looking for a blood that can craft my boxy friend some armor."
"The catalogue is elaborate, but logical if you know where to look," Tollard says with some confidence.
1d20
"The catalogue is elaborate, but logical if you know where to look," Tollard says with some confidence.
Alyse sees one interesting book:
Tales of the Bahn Sidhe
It is written in what looks to be a dialect of Abyssal
Tollard, using his librarian senses, pulls a slim tome from the stacks
A Treatise on the crafting of the Shadow Fae, with Particular Interest in the magic discipline of Sciomancy
This one seems to be written in a mixture of Planar Common, Elvish, and Draconic
Sara aproaches the boy. "Hey cutter. I see you eyeballing my friend there. You interested in modrons? We're looking for a blood that can craft my boxy friend some armor."
The boy perks up
"'Cor, I thought he wuz a modron! I ain't never seed one in the flesh. He ain't like a construct at all."
The boy ambles closer, cheap pipe clamped in his mouth.
"I can find yez a right proper smith. In fact, I knows a cutter on the edge of the Gear Run wot dabbles in smithing and constructs. 'E's been working on making construct armor a blood could wear. I bet 'eed love to palaver with you lot"
the boy seems about 14 years or so, or a skinny 16 perhaps. He's humanish, but he has pointed elvenish ears and a subtle green mottling to the skin that hearkens back to some sort of admixture in his ancestry. His sandy-colored hair is wild and spiky, and although his cloak is a good one, his clothes underneath are well-worn and patched. He sticks out a sooty hand to Sara
"The names Sooty Tam. I'm a namer 'prenticed at the Great Foundry. "
“Ah, here’s one!” says Alyse, spying a likely looking tome. “P’rhaps we are in the right spot. Oh!” she exclaims, seeing what Tollard has found. “That looks even better. You’re a right blood when it comes to library catalogue systems Tollard.”
She looks again at the book she holds. Maldrin once warned her never to trust a strange book, so she casts a minor cantrip – detect magic to be sure there are no dangerous enchantments or abjurations on the tome.
“I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to read this one – if its even relevant – it looks like an odd dialect of Abyssal but with some fey terms and phrases. Let’s see, ‘Bahn’ … that’s lady, woman, queen? Something like that. And ‘Sidhe’ is a type of fey, or sometimes a term interchangeable with ‘fey’, or even ‘elf’ in some references …”
Sara gives Tam a firm handshake. "Nice ta meet ya Sooty Tam. I'm Sara, and my Modron friend is Congruence. The tall mustached one is Tsun. You'd be a real blood if ya showed us the way"
5-4 BAP. The Foundry District/Gear Run District
Sara gives Tam a firm handshake. "Nice ta meet ya Sooty Tam. I'm Sara, and my Modron friend is Congruence. The tall mustached one is Tsun. You'd be a real blood if ya showed us the way"
Sooty Tam shakes Sara's hand firmly
"Sure! I'm off shift until After Antipeak, and I love Stoney's shop. Follow me!"
He turns and lead them down a side street, headed towards the Gear Run District. The street is lit with forge glow, and the sound of ringing hammers and hissing water fills the air. Tam keeps up an easy banter, asking Congruence a lot of questions about his skin, interior workings, and his origin plane.
After a half hour or so, Tam brings them into the nebulous borders of The Gear Run District. A large building with the sign Stoney's Armory sits on a corner lot. The building is nicely kept up, field stone, and four storeys tall. There are obviously tenants in the upper reaches, several cookfires are in evidence.
Sooty Tam strolls into the foyer of the main floor. There are a lot of nice bits of arms and armor on display. A pretty dark-haired young woman smiles when she sees Tam.
"'Lo Tam, what's news?"
"I brought some friends to meet Stoney, Syll. Is he about?"
"Aye, he's in the shop."
Tam gestures and they head into the inner recesses of the building.
Inside is a well-apportioned workshop. Tools, chains, and armor stands crowd the area. A huge forge fire burns in the center of the room, throwing off large amounts of heat. A large man with lumy grey skin stands by a large anvil, hammering on a sheet of metal.
"'Lo Stoney!" Tam shouts
"I've brought customers!"
The man nods and shouts back "One moment I'm almost done."
He finishes his hammering, puts the large hammer down and walks over to the group. He's a large, bald, burly man, with a grey skin that looks like it was made from fieldstone like his building was. He puts out a huge paw
"Stoney Tark, at your service. What can I do for yeh?"
Calita follows the others up the stairs and to the stacks indicated by O.L.L.I. The three of them fan out and search different areas, hoping to speed up their endeavour. Not really used to being in a library, she doesn't seem to have a lot of luck.
“Ah, here’s one!” says Alyse, spying a likely looking tome. “P’rhaps we are in the right spot. Oh!” she exclaims, seeing what Tollard has found. “That looks even better. You’re a right blood when it comes to library catalogue systems Tollard.”
She looks again at the book she holds. Maldrin once warned her never to trust a strange book, so she casts a minor cantrip – detect magic to be sure there are no dangerous enchantments or abjurations on the tome.
“I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to read this one – if its even relevant – it looks like an odd dialect of Abyssal but with some fey terms and phrases. Let’s see, ‘Bahn’ … that’s lady, woman, queen? Something like that. And ‘Sidhe’ is a type of fey, or sometimes a term interchangeable with ‘fey’, or even ‘elf’ in some references …”
The book seems clear of enchantments.
The book seems clear of enchantments.“Ah, here’s one!” says Alyse, spying a likely looking tome. “P’rhaps we are in the right spot. Oh!” she exclaims, seeing what Tollard has found. “That looks even better. You’re a right blood when it comes to library catalogue systems Tollard.”
She looks again at the book she holds. Maldrin once warned her never to trust a strange book, so she casts a minor cantrip – detect magic to be sure there are no dangerous enchantments or abjurations on the tome.
“I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to read this one – if its even relevant – it looks like an odd dialect of Abyssal but with some fey terms and phrases. Let’s see, ‘Bahn’ … that’s lady, woman, queen? Something like that. And ‘Sidhe’ is a type of fey, or sometimes a term interchangeable with ‘fey’, or even ‘elf’ in some references …”
Alyse opens the book and scans the contents, trying to get a sense for if she can understand it AND if it will be at all useful in relation to the Shadow Crown. She rather suspects that the one Tollard found is more likely, but doesn't want to discard this one just yet.
Tollard looks appreciatively at Alyse's selection. "I'm afraid I never took up Abyssal. Frankly, I've always been a little surprised they came up with a written language at all. We may need a translator."
He looks at the volume he selected, "This one is in multiple languages. Common and elven, easily enough, and a runic script. Perhaps Draconic. If the common and elven material are the same, then we are just looking at translations, but if they are different we may be missing parts of the text until we can translate the runes. Unless... you speak draconic..." He arches an eyebrow at Alyse.
Calita eyes the books the others have found.
"Unfortunately I don't speak either Abyssal or Draconic. The Elven and Common I can do easily enough though, but I suspect you can probably do them as well Tollard."
"As it happens I do speak - and read - Draconic," Alyse smiles.
"As it happens I do speak - and read - Draconic," Alyse smiles.
A smile lights Calita's face. "I may get you to teach me if we get some free time if that's OK with you?"
"Well isn't this a delightfully well-educated band of urchins?" Tollard muses wryly. "Let's see what we have."
Veria runs her immaculately-manicured hands across Myriana's fur. It is pleasant, and Myriana can't help but purr a bit.
"My my, you two lovelies have brightened up my Peak!"
Myriana purred loudly and leaned into the winged woman's touch, the touch was very pleasing, and given the surroundings, a bit arousing. She sighed quietly and said, "You know just were and how to stroke meow, you're talented."
Zadkiel took the costume down and joined Veria and Myriana, "It is most lovely fur." He gave a lascivious look and flashed a smile to Myri, "Dear, I believe I found something that would complement you nicely. Would it be possible for her try this on?"
He finishes his hammering, puts the large hammer down and walks over to the group. He's a large, bald, burly man, with a grey skin that looks like it was made from fieldstone like his building was. He puts out a huge paw
"Stoney Tark, at your service. What can I do for yeh?"
Tsun nods respectfully and grasps his hand easily within his own. "Tsun, Master Tark. Journeyman carpenter and stonemason." Professional courtesy goes a long way. "This... is Congruence." He motions toward his mechanical companion. "He is a modron in search of armor. Due to his shape and composition, we were thinking that it may be possible to give him some more... permanent protection. If you have a few minutes to spare, we would like to see if we can hammer a rivet into his hide without hurting him."
Myriana purred loudly and leaned into the winged woman's touch, the touch was very pleasing, and given the surroundings, a bit arousing. She sighed quietly and said, "You know just were and how to stroke meow, you're talented."
Veria smirks
"Many years of practice, my young kitten. Many years of practice."
Zadkiel took the costume down and joined Veria and Myriana, "It is most lovely fur." He gave a lascivious look and flashed a smile to Myri, "Dear, I believe I found something that would complement you nicely. Would it be possible for her try this on?"
Veria beams
"Of course! I'd love to see her in it as well."
Tsun nods respectfully and grasps his hand easily within his own. "Tsun, Master Tark. Journeyman carpenter and stonemason." Professional courtesy goes a long way. "This... is Congruence." He motions toward his mechanical companion. "He is a modron in search of armor. Due to his shape and composition, we were thinking that it may be possible to give him some more... permanent protection. If you have a few minutes to spare, we would like to see if we can hammer a rivet into his hide without hurting him."He finishes his hammering, puts the large hammer down and walks over to the group. He's a large, bald, burly man, with a grey skin that looks like it was made from fieldstone like his building was. He puts out a huge paw
"Stoney Tark, at your service. What can I do for yeh?"
The man shakes Tsun hand and grunts appreciatively
"I can tell you are no stranger to honest labor!"
Stoney looks Congruence over, hmming
"Young modron. Do you feel pain? I am loath to drive a rivet into your hide if it will cause you pain."
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"Well isn't this a delightfully well-educated band of urchins?" Tollard muses wryly. "Let's see what we have."
[i]The three find a nook with a table and a small globe that seems to have a light spell enchanted onto it. They start perusing the books. Tollard's find seems to be the most positive, with a reference to a 'Shadow Crown'
... In the Shadowlands hard by the Dreamlands and the realms of the First World a Svartalfar by the name of Haruscrux gained fame as a Sciomancer and a magewright. His magnum opus was the Crown of Shadows, forged for the Bahn Sidhe King, then Niall IX. The artifact was handed down from generation to generation until the Moon Beast Wars. A company of Darakhul mercenaries were said to have taken back into their Underdark kingdom. There are also rumors that it ended up in the souks of far Leng the terrible. Still another rumor places it in the personal collection of the chief vizier to the Emir of the City of Brass. Whatever its final resting place, the Shadow Princes still look for it.
Curious to try the outfit on Myriana took it from Zadkiel and said, "Alright meow." She looked around and then turned to Veria again and asked, "Um, where can I change?" Once she was directed to a changing room Myriana quickly took of her regular clothes and got into the outfit that Zadkiel had chosen for her. It was an interesting outfit,leaving her sides bare and showing a great deal of her cleavage, the skirt was very short and it came with fishnet stockings and a pair of high heels. The color scheme was black and white it had a pair of white lace cuffs that went on her upper arms, a matching bonnet, and a white leather collar trimmed out in lace with a small metal ring in the middle of a black bow. She had no clue what the ring was for.
Now dressed in the new outfit Myriana slipped back out of the dressing room. Her walk were as slinky and gliding as it always was and she didn't seem self conscious at all in the rather revealing get up. When she knew she had both Zad and Veria's undivided attention she did a little twirl and then curtsied as she asked, "What do you think meow?"
"We have never felt pain so we are unsure. If we can better protect, the risk is acceptable."
While Myriana went to change into the revealing outfit, Zadkiel leaned over to Veria in conspiratorial fashion, "I hear tell you're in the information business, I was hoping we could make a trade." His smile was unwavering but did not reach his eyes. As Myri came out his eyes brightened, "Quite becoming on you my dear, what do you think madame?"
Tollard considers the text for a moment. "If you want me to go to Leng with you, I'm out," he says to Alyse dryly.
"Anyway, this tells us a bit about what they're looking for, but only rumors on how to find it. I'm not sure this is the sort of dark anyone would pay good jink for."
Tollard considers the text for a moment. "If you want me to go to Leng with you, I'm out," he says to Alyse dryly.
"Anyway, this tells us a bit about what they're looking for, but only rumors on how to find it. I'm not sure this is the sort of dark anyone would pay good jink for."
The title page gives a gobbledygook date of "published in the 10th year of the reign of Hamid III, Emir of Al-Avalon. ". Judging by wear and parchment aging clues, Tollard would guess at least 300 years
While Myriana went to change into the revealing outfit, Zadkiel leaned over to Veria in conspiratorial fashion, "I hear tell you're in the information business, I was hoping we could make a trade." His smile was unwavering but did not reach his eyes. As Myri came out his eyes brightened, "Quite becoming on you my dear, what do you think madame?"
Veria pauses, her smile widening a bit
"Really? Well, I do dabble in salacious gossip, my pretty. What did you have in mind?"
"We have never felt pain so we are unsure. If we can better protect, the risk is acceptable."
Stoney looks unsure, but he grabs a rivet and a hammer.
"Well, lets see how this goes."
He places the rivet against Congruence and gives it a good thwacking
The rivet punctures Congruence's metallic skin without any pain
Stoney looks back
"Well, I guess it could be done. You aren't feeling anything little guy?"
The young boy, Tam , looks on with wide eyes.
"Cor, that's a bit of a neat trick!"
Zadkiel tilted his head before speaking in the language of the Nine Hells.
He nodded to Myriana and indicated the dress before resuming in the twisted tongue.
Veria's smile slips a bit, but returns just as quick
Infernal:
Veria pauses, places a three-inch red nail to her lush lips
Infernal
Veria licks her lips with a pointed, forked tongue
Infernal
Veria walks over to a counter and returns with a clear gem. It is cut as if it were a large diamond, but doesn't quite have the sparkle. It is likely quartz or some type of heavy glass. Veria extends it towards Zadkiel.
Infernal
She turns to Myriana
"Oh my dear I feel terrible! You don't speak the Iron Tongue, do you? Your friend addressed me in it, so I assumed you did. How gauche of me!"
Sara also stares wide eyed. Carefully she runs a hand over Congruence's side. "You sure you are OK Congruence? That did not hurt at all?"
Tollard considers the text for a moment. "If you want me to go to Leng with you, I'm out," he says to Alyse dryly.
"Anyway, this tells us a bit about what they're looking for, but only rumors on how to find it. I'm not sure this is the sort of dark anyone would pay good jink for."
Alyse arches an eyebrow. "Leng? I thought that was a myth. Well, even if it does exist, we don't need to go there - Shadow's conies are only paying us for the chant on this thing. As for whether they'll pay jink for this, well, it depends just how clueless these Primes are; they seem pretty flush given our advance, and if they haven't heard these particular rumours, they may be willing to pay. Still, I'd like to know more, to satisfy my own curiosity if nothing more."