Nye laughs
"You've met Old Shacky? He's a rum one to go drinking with. Horrible gossip once he's in his cups. I've gotten some top-shelf chant from him over the years."
“Is that so? He seemed like a right grumpy cutter to me – not that I’d say so to his face. How does a drinking session with a Baatezu go?”
Nye shrugs
"You offer to buy, then bring lots of jink. Shacky likes the expensive booze"
Alyse laughs. “Sounds right. Anyway, where are we stopping first?”
Tsun enjoys the sights and sounds of the Cage as they make their way to the portal, and is absolutely ecstatic when they enter pastoral countryside. He breathes deeply through his nose and exhales with gusto. "Do you smell that? Nothing! No smog, no smoke, no garbage, no offal, and no mentally unstable homeless. I smell nothing, and it is glorious."
He walks with an easy pace. "Sarah, is this your first time in the Outlands? "
Sara looks a bit emberrased. "I've never been out of the Cage before. Its so... flat?"
Myriana, now safely out of reach of the dog, looked down and said, "Mrrwwoooooowhissss! How do you like that stupid dog, you can't get me now can you ya stupid mutt!?" She almost danced around a bit on her perch as she taunted the stupid creature.
"True, it is not the most interesting landscape... But after the bustle of the Cage, coming here is like drinking cool, clear water after a caustic Baatorian Ale. "
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Alyse laughs. “Sounds right. Anyway, where are we stopping first?”
Nye looks at her, then Swift
"Well, I am hoping you and Tollard could head off to the jarkman's place of business and try and find any witnesses to the incident. "
He hands her a slip of paper
The Slaad's Feather Bookshop, 13 Trolltoe Ln, Marble District , Hive Ward
"Just canvass the area, see if any of the local barmies feel like rattling their boneboxes. Oh, and here's a bit of jink to grease their tounges."
He hands Alyse a small pouch that clinks
"Now be out of the Hive by Before Antipeak. Get some rest after and meet me at the Dusty Wig tomorrow for breakfast and we'll compare notes"
"True, it is not the most interesting landscape... But after the bustle of the Cage, coming here is like drinking cool, clear water after a caustic Baatorian Ale. "
Sara doesnt know what Baatorian Ale tastes like, but she knows thirst. Clean water can be scarce in the Cage.
Looking around the landscape, Sara hunches her shoulders a bit and grips her Glaive a little tighter.
"It sure is pretty. I've never seen a sky so blue before. But there isnt anything... Its so empty."
Alyse laughs. “Sounds right. Anyway, where are we stopping first?”Nye looks at her, then Swift
"Well, I am hoping you and Tollard could head off to the jarkman's place of business and try and find any witnesses to the incident. "
He hands her a slip of paper
The Slaad's Feather Bookshop, 13 Trolltoe Ln, Marble District , Hive Ward
"Just canvass the area, see if any of the local barmies feel like rattling their boneboxes. Oh, and here's a bit of jink to grease their tounges."
He hands Alyse a small pouch that clinks
"Now be out of the Hive by Before Antipeak. Get some rest after and meet me at the Dusty Wig tomorrow for breakfast and we'll compare notes"
“Right.” Alyse looks at Tollard. “I’ve not spent much time around the Hive, but it sounds like you know it – you up for it me droog?”
Then, more generally to Tollard, Nye and Swift, she says, “Common chant on the Hive is that it’s all Xaositects, Dusties and assorted balmies; anything else we should know? Oh, and …” she starts checking through her notes, “did Rykos give us the name of his jarkman?”
"A slaad bookseller? That sounds even more unlikely than the library I help out at. Speaking of which, if I'll be occupied tomorrow as well, I may have to get word to Qurdar." Tollard awaits Nye's response regarding the names. He wants to have as much information as possible before chasing shadows in the Hive.
Day 2: 2BP-2AP. Festhall district-Shattered Temple District
Myriana, now safely out of reach of the dog, looked down and said, "Mrrwwoooooowhissss! How do you like that stupid dog, you can't get me now can you ya stupid mutt!?" She almost danced around a bit on her perch as she taunted the stupid creature.
The large dog in his spiked collar looks up and growls. A slender elven man comes running up to the pooch and clips a leash on him.
The man is tall, but very willowy. He is dressed in very fine silken dress, a toga with worked gems and gold filigree. He is done up in elaborate makeup which seems to be the fashion among a fair amount of the Sensates Myriana has seen in the neighborhood.
"Bad! Bad dog! Naughty!"
He looks up at Myriana.
"I am so terribly sorry! Did Snuggles hurt you?"
Day 2. 2BP-1BP. Court District, Dusty Wig
“Common chant on the Hive is that it’s all Xaositects, Dusties and assorted balmies; anything else we should know? Oh, and …” she starts checking through her notes, “did Rykos give us the name of his jarkman?”
Nye nods
"Penska Bookbinder. He's not a Slaad, just a Xaosman, or possibly an Anarchist in drag. As for the Hive, The Xaos boys call it their turf, as do the Bleakers. The Dusties are more in the Lower Ward, but some of their district bleeds over into the Hive. There's a little bit of every faction there, even the Hardheads, which is why were being retained by Ser Rykos. "
He looks serious for a change.
"Be careful. The Hive is not a place to take lightly. Stay on the main drags, don't go off into the alleyways. The whole ward is one big unmapped ever-changing tangle once you step off the main roads, an' the residents like it that way. There's a thousand gangs that fight and rob in those warrens. Keep yer peepers peeled."
Day 2-6 The Outlands
The caravan wends its way along the road, heading towards a spire of distant mountains. Tsun, Congruence and Sara soon get into the rhythm of things. They walk for most of the day, eating a small breakfast before heading out and a lunch while they walk. The wains travel slowly, so they are not tired, but the 12-hours of walking does take its toll. Sara's skin burns fairly badly the first day. No one told her about the effects of sunlight, even if it is an invisible sun. Merix finds a pot of aloe lotion for her and it helps the sting.
Congruence finds he is a bit discomfited by the chaos around him. Sigil was quite chaotic, but it was a chaos of manufactured things. Here everything was wild and unrestrained, from the birds in the sky to the trees on the side of the road.
Tsun thrives in the fresh air. He had forgotten how good wilderness air smelt. He soon becomes popular in the caravan with his handiness and willingness to help.
On the 4th day of their journey to Ironridge there is a sudden darkening in the sky. A swarm of winged orange goblins comes swooping out of hiding to beset the caravan. They are small, but agile, and carry spears.
The hair on the back of her neck and tail still poofed out Myriana watched in agitation as the Sensate Elf leashes the dog. She gave the dog a taunting look as she spoke and then stuck her tongue out at the animal saying, "Ha! Leashed again." Beginning to smooth her hair back down she looked down at the elven man and said, "He tried to bite me, but as all dogs do against cats he missed." She sat down on her ledge and crossed her legs as she let them hang over the edge and said, "He just scared me meow, that's all." Calming down one of her eyebrows rose as Myriana asked, "So who are you Mister?"
“We’ll stay peery,” confirms Alyse. “C’mon Tollard, let’s hike.”
Congruence grows more agitated as they traveled, disconcerted by the strange surroundings and the vast emptiness. None of these patterns match those they are familiar with. None of the plant and animal life nor the staggering inefficient use of space makes any sense at all.
By day, the modron jumps at any sight or sound out of the ordinary, half drawing their sword. By night, the modron is preoccupied with a crude drawing of something that might be humanoid. If asked about it, he says, "It is our best approximation of Jorin the bookmerchant. We have seen him every day of our existence. The pattern breaks if we do not see him." Then the modron folds up the crude, stick figure-like drawing, and shrugs, looking lost.
"The patterns break." Congruence opens their mouth as if they are supposed to say more, but finds even that pattern of speech has broken as well.
Congruence is fascinated and confused by the Outlands, and both hungrily gathers up all the new stimuli and misses the only home the modron has ever known in their short life.
The modron's agitation levels off after the first day, but doesn't really diminish. This unfortunately leads Congruence to become distracted, and by the 4th day, they no longer jump at every sound and instead only react after others do.
Tsun's mustache curves downward in disapproval. "Goblins. Orange goblins. Flying orange goblins. Lovely."
He looks for nearby weapons. Being a wrestler, he does not typically carry ranged weapons on his person.
[dice=Initiative]1d20+4
Tsun's mustache curves downward in disapproval. "Goblins. Orange goblins. Flying orange goblins. Lovely."
He looks for nearby weapons. Being a wrestler, he does not typically carry ranged weapons on his person.
There are a multitude of rocks about. Also, on the side of the wain are plain spears in a rack.
The hair on the back of her neck and tail still poofed out Myriana watched in agitation as the Sensate Elf leashes the dog. She gave the dog a taunting look as she spoke and then stuck her tongue out at the animal saying, "Ha! Leashed again." Beginning to smooth her hair back down she looked down at the elven man and said, "He tried to bite me, but as all dogs do against cats he missed." She sat down on her ledge and crossed her legs as she let them hang over the edge and said, "He just scared me meow, that's all." Calming down one of her eyebrows rose as Myriana asked, "So who are you Mister?"
The elf sighs
"Thank the pink belly of Hanali for that!"
He bows at the waist
"Corelian Musspelern Varna, at your service. But please, call me Corey."
Day 2. 1BP-1AP. Court District-Hive Ward, Marble District
“We’ll stay peery,” confirms Alyse. “C’mon Tollard, let’s hike.”
The two head off back through the Court District and into the Temple District, headed for the Hive.
The drizzle has let up, and the fog is actually quite thin as the brightest spot in Sigil's 'day' approaches. The temples gleam in the unaccustomed sourceless light, and dark cloaks are opened and hoods thrown off as the pedestrians revel in the rare moment of warmth and clarity. Various temple bells toll the hours as they walk along the cobbles, dodging the occasional street preacher or holy beggar.
The Lower Ward greets them in all its sooty glory. They head through Swordhold, that district famous for its mercenary companies. They pass the immense fantastical non-Euclidean mansion known as the Society of the Lumineferous Aether, a top-shelf wizard club that sits at the junction of Doomguard Walk and Smith Street.
Smith Street leads them to Alehouse Row, the Downward border of the Foundry District. The myriad smoke stacks of the Great Foundry rear into the yellow sky, belching sulfurous coal smoke. What little light had been shining is quenched here, the fog rolling back in, thick and acrid.
Although not completely quiet, Alehouse Row is about as tame as it ever gets at this time of peak. The previous night's drunks have been carried off to whatever kip they have and the trash has been swept up by the junkmen and the dabus.
They head up Gear Run, and marvel at several of the shop windows featuring shining clockwork automatons. They head out towards Ragmonger's Lane, the primary road into Ragpicker's Square, the Lower Ward's biggest market plaza.
Business is humming at this market, home of thousands of shops and stalls catering to anything cloth or paper related. The factions of the Lower Ward and the Hive are well-represented here. Dustmen, Godsmen, Doomguard, Xaositects, and Bleakers rub shoulders with Indeps and nervous squads of Harmonium. Ragpicker's Square is neutral territory, but that doesn't mean that skullduggery doesn't occur in the darker corners.
They pass through the book stalls and cloth shops and make their way into the Gray District, home of the Dustmen. The giant skull-spider edifice of the Mortuary rears over the skyline, seeming to watch them as they walk on.
The two watch as a Dustman directs a crew of six fantastically rune-carved and inked skeletons carrying large bales of cloth on their naked skulls. They disappear around a corner, headed who knows where with their goods.
Past the crowds of black-clad white-faced Dusties and their undead servants the buildings become a bit less tidy. There is no demarcation point, but suddenly one moment there are ragged folks and bright-dyed mohawked youth swarming about. They have entered the Hive.
They head along the charmingly-named Scab Way, the main thoroughfare of the Marble District. If the Hive was to be said to have a rich side, this would be it. The buildings are ill-kempt and crumbling, but their size and construction hints at a past grandeur. Most of them are constructed of white marble, now stained brown from centuries of acrid fog and rain. The road is lined with cheap bawdy houses, bordellos, taverns and gambling parlors.
As they cast about for Trolltoe lane, a rough voice greets them
"Oi! Is that the speevy git Tollard I spy? You have b0llocks showing your phiz in my neighborhood."
A large youth with a squashed nose swaggers towards them, piggish eyes aglow. He is dressed in soiled finery, and a large gaudy chain of some yellow metal swings at his neck. Tollard recognizes the voice as that of Gurron, a petty bully boy with whom he has had confrontations before in the past.
“Who’s this berk?” Alyse murmurs down to Tollard. “How do you want to handle him?” The youth reminds her – by action and even to some extent appearance – of Pate. She well remembers her run-in with Pate yester-peak and how she successfully stood up to him, but she doesn’t want to make life tough for Tollard should a similar approach fail here – or succeed for that matter.
Not familiar with a 'sun', and what a sunburn is, Sara has a bit of a panic the first day, with her skin red and painfull. Convinced she's caught a weird disease, it takes some convincing that this is just a by effect of this 'sun'.
Sara does her best to comfort Congruence as best as she can, pointing out familiar patterns.
When its not enough to cheer him up, she tries performing some music, hoping she can get him to focus on a new pattern.
After getting some serious muscle ache after carrying her glaive the first day, Sara wises up and places it in the rack with the rest of the spears.
"What in Baator's name are those?"
Congruence trods along, attempting to quietly hum the music Travel Friend Sara played.
"What in Baator's name are those?"
The modron looks up and assuming they are other travelers, that would fit the pattern of who they have encountered so far, starts to wave. Then seeing the reaction of the others, Congruence starts to clumsily draw their sword and mutter to themself, "We must protect all of our friends from harm."
Even beyond the distance he can see, Tollard finds the voice unmistakable. "Seems the Hive has done nothing about its vermin problem," he mutters to Alyse. Instinctively, he assesses his surroundings - likely allies, likely foes, escape routes, hiding places. He has to remind himself he is not a child anymore, although in truth it was not so long ago. The wise move would be to defuse the situation and move on, but Tollard is not feeling wise.
"Oh, this is your turf? I assure you I will not prostitute myself here if you have a monopoly on that practice." He decides this line is amusing, regardless of whether it goes over Gurron's head.
Alyse barely stifles a giggle.
The elf sighs
"Thank the pink belly of Hanali for that!"
He bows at the waist
"Corelian Musspelern Varna, at your service. But please, call me Corey."
Though she wasn't hopping down from her perch with that big dog still nearby Myriana nodded and gave a smile in greeting, "I'm Myriana, I'm not sure if it's nice to meet you yet or not." She looked at the big dog warily before asking, "So how did your dog get loose like that anyway?"
Even beyond the distance he can see, Tollard finds the voice unmistakable. "Seems the Hive has done nothing about its vermin problem," he mutters to Alyse. Instinctively, he assesses his surroundings - likely allies, likely foes, escape routes, hiding places. He has to remind himself he is not a child anymore, although in truth it was not so long ago. The wise move would be to defuse the situation and move on, but Tollard is not feeling wise.
"Oh, this is your turf? I assure you I will not prostitute myself here if you have a monopoly on that practice." He decides this line is amusing, regardless of whether it goes over Gurron's head.
Gurron grins
"That's real smart of you not to prostirtart on my turf. That's my monolpardy , right enough "
He jerks a thumb
"So scarper afore I rearrange yer bonebox "
The elf sighs
"Thank the pink belly of Hanali for that!"
He bows at the waist
"Corelian Musspelern Varna, at your service. But please, call me Corey."
Though she wasn't hopping down from her perch with that big dog still nearby Myriana nodded and gave a smile in greeting, "I'm Myriana, I'm not sure if it's nice to meet you yet or not." She looked at the big dog warily before asking, "So how did your dog get loose like that anyway?"
The elf looks abashed
"I was chatting with his groomer and I wasn't paying attention. I'm so terribly sorry. He's a Narillion hound, they're very excitable "
Caravan ambush rd 1
Tsun: 16 (pending)
Sara:12(pending)
Flying goblins: 10 (spear 1d6)
Congruence: 3 (pending)
A goblin soars down on each of them, stabbing with their spears
“What’s this berk’s deal?” Alyse asks Tollard, not trying to lower her voice. “Is he addle-coved? There’s two of us and one of him, he can’t tell you what to do. Let’s just continue.”
“What’s this berk’s deal?” Alyse asks Tollard, not trying to lower her voice. “Is he addle-coved? There’s two of us and one of him, he can’t tell you what to do. Let’s just continue.”
The thuggish youth scowls
"You think you lot can beat me? Go on and try it. After I beat you silly girl, I'll sell you to the Puppeteer. You'll be dazed and brainwiped twirling on a pole down at the Nymph's Garters afore next peak."
Gurron's hand falls to a billy club loosely hooked to his belt
“Is that so?” asks Alyse, her hand now firmly on the hilt of her still sheathed sword. “Maybe that’s how it will go down … or maybe Tollard here will use his magic to hold you still, unable to move, while I cut my initials into your flesh with this sword. What do you think of that, berk?”
Gurron pales noticeably. He takes an involuntary step back, then seems to collect himself. His face goes from pale to bright red
"I don't have time to deal with sods like you. I'm an important blood on this turf."
He whirls and stalks off ... not scurrying , no not in the least bit...
“Yeah, you’re a right trig blood you are,” Alyse mutters as Gurron stalks off. Then she turns to Tollard, grinning. “Did you see that? That berk was scared of us!” Suddenly her expression changes to one of concern. “Oh. I hope this won’t make things bad for you?”
The elf sighs
"Thank the pink belly of Hanali for that!"
He bows at the waist
"Corelian Musspelern Varna, at your service. But please, call me Corey."
Though she wasn't hopping down from her perch with that big dog still nearby Myriana nodded and gave a smile in greeting, "I'm Myriana, I'm not sure if it's nice to meet you yet or not." She looked at the big dog warily before asking, "So how did your dog get loose like that anyway?"
The elf looks abashed
"I was chatting with his groomer and I wasn't paying attention. I'm so terribly sorry. He's a Narillion hound, they're very excitable "
Myriana arched one eyebrow in amusement and said, "I can tell." She stretched then as she thought, arching her arms up and back and drawing her spine back into a bow and causing her chest to push out giving the elf a good view of her body before straightening again and smiling as she said, "I guess since there's no harm no foul." She smiled brightly as her mood finished turning around and said, "Just try to keep a better watch on him alright?" She looked around and said, "Say, did you see a lovely man about 6 foot tall with burnished gold hair and pale skin when you chased your dog down? I figured Zadkiel would have come running by now but he isn't here yet."
Seeing that the goblin things are less then friendly, Sara quickly grabs her bow and fires of a shot.
But her nervousness at suddenly being attacked causes the shot to go wide.
Tsun grabs a javelin from the weapons rack and flings it at one of the flying orange goblins.
Congruence tries to strike at one as it flies by.
Trying to better understand these creatures, Congruence will also focus on one of the goblins to try to comprehend why it would attack them for no reason.
"Bad for me?" Tollard repeats. "That was fantastic. I mean, it would be bad if I came back to live in the Hive, but that would be bad for all sorts of reasons." He watches Gurron scurry away with some amusement.
"Good! Now, let's be on our way before we attract more unwanted attention, or that berk comes back with his droogs." Alyse begins walking again.
"I guess since there's no harm no foul." She smiled brightly as her mood finished turning around and said, "Just try to keep a better watch on him alright?" She looked around and said, "Say, did you see a lovely man about 6 foot tall with burnished gold hair and pale skin when you chased your dog down? I figured Zadkiel would have come running by now but he isn't here yet."
The elf looks about
"I didn't see anyone. How strange."
Indeed as Myriana looks where Zadkiel was there is no sign of him
Caravan ambush rd 1
Tsun: 16 hit-kill Gob1-dead
Sara:12 miss Gob2-miss
Flying goblins: 10 (spear 1d6)
Congruence: 3 hit Gob3-miss
Tsun's cast skewers one of the goblins in mid-swoop. It crashes to the ground dead. Sara's goblin stabs at her, but misses as well. Congruence's misses, and his sword swing opens it up. It howls and flaps away, dripping blood. Congrunce can see the aura of evil around the creature, like a red nibus of hatred and rage
Day 2. 1AP. Hive Ward, Marble District
The two continue their search for Trolltoe Lane. They find it angling off Scab Way, a connecting street that arrows down towards the Madhouse District. The Slaad's Feather is a small hole-in-the-wall place with barred windows and a stout door.
Inside are lots of books, stacked on splintery bookshelves and piled in odd corners. A tall thin cutter comes around the corner. and gives them a nod. The berk is an odd-looking one, with odd antennae coming from his brainbox and skin that seems to change colors randomly. A pair of small butterfly wings can be seen on his back. He's dressed in basic Xaositect gear, with a battered scally cap perched between the antennae
"What can I do yeh for, cutters?" He inquires in a gravelly voice
Not seeing Zadkiel at a brief look around Myriana began to peer into the crowd more attentively to try and spot him.
Her mouth in a thin line, Sara takes aim again.
"HA!", she exclaims when her arrow finds its mark.
arrow count: 2
Not seeing Zadkiel at a brief look around Myriana began to peer into the crowd more attentively to try and spot him.
[dice=Perception]1d20+3
Myriana sees a palm-sized brooch in verdegrised bronze on the cobbles. It depicts a serene woman's face surrounded by knives
The elf calls to her
"I really would like to make it up to you. Do you enjoy parties? I'm having an artists soirée at my home this Antipeak. I'd love for you to come"
Myriana spotted the brooch as she heard the elf speak and said, "I might just do that. Where will it be at?" She hopped down from her perch and gestured him to follow her as she headed towards the broach, trusting him to have control of the dog. She kept her eyes on the location of the item she was looking for as her ears twitched, listening for signs of anyone trying to sneak up on her while she listened to the elf. When she reached the location of the broach she bent and picked it up, the elf getting a wonderful view of her posterior and swishing tail, before she turned to him and, looking at the broach asked, "Do you know what this symbol means?"