Orla cracks a genuine smile which then fades into a smirk at the dry joke. "Well between you and me", she whispers conspiratorially, "I'm only the highest priestess of Vuldstead because I'm the only one. I'm not even a divine priestess. My alchemy is what I use to help those that are ill and to slay those that would harm my spirelet. Here look."
Orla pulls out a cup and fills it with water from a nearby puddle. The water is so opaque that one could not see past the top. Orla sets the cup down and pulls a vial out of her belt pouches. She starts to mumbles numbers and ingredient amounts as she pulls pinches of this and that from containers covertly hidden on her body.
After a few seconds she then pours the vial into the water. Immediately the water clears up and Orla smiles to herself.
"Whew. Glad that worked. Damn formulae can be tricky you miss up one decimal place and this stuff might explode. Wanna try?" Orla asks as she offers the cup to Tollard.
Tsun wipes the collected dew and grime from his face on his sleeve and scans the room. Indeps and their kaveh... He approaches the nearest table with what looks like namers and clears his throat. "Pardon me, cutters. I am looking for an Indep by the name of Hazmek Dogslicer. Have you seen him here?"
Sara takes a look at the shop. "While I agree that stopping with an empty cart makes the most sense, that is a clothes shop Congruence. What in the Ladies Name do you need clothes for? You dont *have* a naked thing to hide?!"
Sara has seen a lot in her young life. But a modron wanting to buy clothes must be one of the strangest.
"Your scarf and gloves make you different from others. We have no clothes and are different from others. Unlike most clothes, we are capable of wearing gloves. Then both you and us will be less different."
The modron smiles broadly at the obvious logical conclusion.
The stall is owned by a bariaur. The goat-centaur trots over when he sees the two stop
"Greetings cutters! What can I do for yeh?"
"We require a purchase of gloves for each hand," Congruence says while holding out both hands.
Tollard looks at the cup blankly. "There have been times in my life I would have drank from the puddle without any magic at all," he says somewhat wistfully. Still, he plays along and takes a sip. "Eiher that is the cleanest puddle in the Cage, or you've done a neat bit of alchemy." He grins at this.
"I admit I am puzzled, though. I thought all gods could grant spells. The one that grants me magic doesn't even have a name, and no sane being would worship it. And yet you worship yours and it gives you nothing." He looks somber for a moment. "I am sorry. I should not pry."
Tsun wipes the collected dew and grime from his face on his sleeve and scans the room. Indeps and their kaveh... He approaches the nearest table with what looks like namers and clears his throat. "Pardon me, cutters. I am looking for an Indep by the name of Hazmek Dogslicer. Have you seen him here?"
The table of young stall merchants look up at Tsun. One pipes up
"Yeh, he's over by the hearth. Goblin cutter, Short, green skin. He's wif' his bloods plannin' some sort of ruckus"
The young man jerks a thumb at the large hearth. A low table near the flames contains a motley crüe of humans, humanoids, and a large fox. A goblin with a ovoid head is talking and gesticulating wildly
"We require a purchase of gloves for each hand," Congruence says while holding out both hands.
The merchant beams
"Of course, Noble Modron! Here's a selection for you to try"
The bariaur lays out a half-dozen pairs in differing styles, from durable work gloves to soft kid gloves
“The box is from Peregrines,” replies Alyse, “and the halfling told us it contained suits.” She carefully lowers the box to the floor, glancing at the albino kobold, and unfurls the delivery scroll. “Someone will need to sign for receipt of delivery.”
The shop is small by human standards, the ceilings a bit over two meters tall. Cleevar leads them to a back room. Three other kobolds wait there. Two look fairly non-descript except for the fancy chain hauberks they wear. The other is very odd. A Kobold, but white as a fish's belly and dressed in black. Red eyes glimmer from under a dark hood"Is this the suits from Peregrine?" The albino Kobold inquires in a very cultured voice
The albino Kobold nods and gestures for the papers. He signs with a goose quill and dribbles wax on the signet spot, pressing a ring into the cooling wax. His two associates take the crate and gently unfasten the waxwood. Inside several full formal suits lay in folds of filmy paper
"Well, the suits look to be as promised. Thank you both"
The Kobold captain reaches into a purse and presses a gold Lady into each of their palms
"Good peak to you"
Event dice:
“Good peak to you too,” replies Alyse, “and thanks.” She hesitates for a moment, then adds, “If you’ve need of a messenger in future, I’m oft at the Crossroads Lightning Guild lodge. Ask for Shade.” She nods again, pockets the scroll and Lady, and, after a last glance around the room, makes ready to depart.
Calita stands to the side and lets Alyse do the talking, but nods politely when the Kobold hands her the coin. Smiling at the Kobolds when the young woman mentions further work, she gives a short bow, then turns and follows Alyse out into the street.
“Good peak to you too,” replies Alyse, “and thanks.” She hesitates for a moment, then adds, “If you’ve need of a messenger in future, I’m oft at the Crossroads Lightning Guild lodge. Ask for Shade.” She nods again, pockets the scroll and Lady, and, after a last glance around the room, makes ready to depart.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 1
The albino Kobold inclines his scaly head.
"I shall keep that in mind. Let me ask you an honest question , and no crosstalk. How are you with dangerous deliveries?"
Calita stands to the side and lets Alyse do the talking, but nods politely when the Kobold hands her the coin. Smiling at the Kobolds when the young woman mentions further work, she gives a short bow, then turns and follows Alyse out into the street.
[dice=Perception Check]1d20 + 4
Calita:
Myriana noticed the lizard man in the room and all the stuff he was tinkering with. It meant little to her but she had agreed to come with Annie so her she was. Myri was nothing if not a kitten of her word. While her friend spoke with Click click Myri looked around for lack of anything better to do. Her stomach rumbled distracting her as she was looking, really distracted her, and she groaned, "Soooo hungry meow."
Myriana notices a grate on the floor partially hidden under a crate. The grate has a large padlock anchoring it to the floor, but it looks very old and corroded
"Your scarf and gloves make you different from others. We have no clothes and are different from others. Unlike most clothes, we are capable of wearing gloves. Then both you and us will be less different."The modron smiles broadly at the obvious logical conclusion.
Sara is surprised. "Oh, congruence, that is actually kind of sweet. Let me help you find a nice pair."
Sara helps Congruence sort trough the gloves. There are all kinds of different pairs, but she singles out two pair of sturdy but flexible gloves.
"Well, I think these two would work best. They are sturdy without impeding your movement. This pair colors nicely with your frame. While this pair goes nicely with your sword. Function goes over form, but they offer the same kind of protection. So which one do you think is the pretties?"
“Good peak to you too,” replies Alyse, “and thanks.” She hesitates for a moment, then adds, “If you’ve need of a messenger in future, I’m oft at the Crossroads Lightning Guild lodge. Ask for Shade.” She nods again, pockets the scroll and Lady, and, after a last glance around the room, makes ready to depart.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 1
The albino Kobold inclines his scaly head.
"I shall keep that in mind. Let me ask you an honest question , and no crosstalk. How are you with dangerous deliveries?"
Alyse opens her mouth to speak, then pauses, rubs her chin and squints at the kobold. Rethinks her response.
“No crosstalk? Well then … I guess it depends how dangerous. I’m no trig blood,” she admits wryly, thinking of Frenjik’s words earlier in the peak, “and I don’t have a lot of experience with that sort of thing, but I’m not Clueless. I can use this,” she pats her sword scabbard, “and this,” she taps her brain box with one finger, “well enough. If odds are something’ll get me scragged or in the dead book, I’ll stay out. But if it were worth my while, and the odds looked in my favour, I’d be willing to play them.” She smiles very slightly at the kobold, glances at Calita and raises an eyebrow, then turns back to the kobold and sketches a brief bow. “That’s my work done for the day though – we have some jink to spend.”
She follows Calita out the door.
"The sword is of more importance than my frame. Conclusion, we will purchase those gloves selected by you."
Congruence is quite pleased that chore assistant Sara approves and helped narrow down the selection. They were unsure of how to pick.
"What amount of jink is required for their sale?"
The modron really hopes he used the local term properly, even if awkwardly, and removes their backpack to get the prope amount of money.
As they walk out the door, Calita leans closer to Alyse and says quietly, "how dangerous are you willing to go? I'm in if the odds are good enough for us to come away marginally unscathed..."
She squints a little as her eyes adjust back to the light outside, and then c0cks her head in one direction. "Do you hear that," she asks, not looking at Alyse. "I could swear I heard someone cry out in pain over there somewhere." She points off down the street.
Catching sight of the great Myriana was quickly distracted from her hunger. She bent down to look at the grate and lock in more detail asking herself, "What's this meow? A locked grate? I wonder what's beneath it?" She peered into the area below the grate as best she could before examining the lock.
"What's this meow?"
"Yes. Well just because I worship the Lady of my Graves does not mean I am worthy of her divine intervention."
"And like you said power given from beyond is not always a gift." Orla gets a determined look on her face as she looks down and speaks. Remembering the feeling of passing she felt as someone she knew made their journey to see the Lady.
After a second the look passes and Orla faces Tollard again "If no sane being would worship you're patron why do you? If you don't mind me asking?" Subtlely was never my strong suit. She thinks.
Catching sight of the great Myriana was quickly distracted from her hunger. She bent down to look at the grate and lock in more detail asking herself, "What's this meow? A locked grate? I wonder what's beneath it?" She peered into the area below the grate as best she could before examining the lock.
[dice=Perception see below the grate]1d20+5
[dice=Perception on the lock]1d20+6
The lock is old and corroded. It still holds firm, but it wouldn't take much to break it. Myriana peers down the cross hatched grill. She can see in the dim light a few rusted iron rungs leading down into darkness. A faint sound of flowing water and a faint smell of garbage reaches her
One whiff of the smell from below told Myriana all she wanted to know. She had no desire to go visit the sewers but made a mental note of where to find the grate for future reference. You never knew when you might need a back way out. She almost moved away from the grate but decided she should try and unlock it, just to see if she could. She slid her picks from her tool set and set to work on the lock, she didn't intend to go down there but she at least wanted to know how to open it...just in case.
Tollard suspects Orla is not being entirely honest with him, but does not press the issue.
"I don't worship it," Tollard explains. "I suspect it gives me power for its own reasons. At first, I was reluctant to use it. But I've come to understand it is a tool that can be used for good or ill. As long as I am using it, rather than the other way around."
"I had a choice: I could figure out a way to do some good with this power, even knowing that some inscrutable force is watching me as I do and has its own motives that I have never comprehended... Or not use it, knowing all the rest of that still applies."
One whiff of the smell from below told Myriana all she wanted to know. She had no desire to go visit the sewers but made a mental note of where to find the grate for future reference. You never knew when you might need a back way out. She almost moved away from the grate but decided she should try and unlock it, just to see if she could. She slid her picks from her tool set and set to work on the lock, she didn't intend to go down there but she at least wanted to know how to open it...just in case.
[dice=Disable Device]1d20+8
Myriana's tools make quick work of the simple padlock. It snaps open after a minute of fiddling
Imminently content with her success Myriana purred happily to herself as she relocked the grate, put her tools away, and rose. She looked to see what Annabelle was up to just as her stomach rumbled again.
As they walk out the door, Calita leans closer to Alyse and says quietly, "how dangerous are you willing to go? I'm in if the odds are good enough for us to come away marginally unscathed..."
"It's ... good to hear that," replies Alyse hesitantly. "I didn't want to speak for you ... but ... well, if I am going to do something risky, I want someone to watch my back. Oh, I'm not addle-coved, I'm not into risk for risk's sake, but yes, if it's worth it ..."
She squints a little as her eyes adjust back to the light outside, and then c0cks her head in one direction. "Do you hear that," she asks, not looking at Alyse. "I could swear I heard someone cry out in pain over there somewhere." She points off down the street.
Alyse glances about. "I didn't hear anything," she whispers, then looks at Calita's pointed ears, "but your hearing is probably better than mine. Hmmm, a cry from a dark alley, could be a trap? Someone trying to peel us?" She slowly draws her longsword from its scabbard, the steel glinting faintly in the low light of Sigil's streets. "How are you with that bow in close quarters? Do you want to scope it?"
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“Good peak to you too,” replies Alyse, “and thanks.” She hesitates for a moment, then adds, “If you’ve need of a messenger in future, I’m oft at the Crossroads Lightning Guild lodge. Ask for Shade.” She nods again, pockets the scroll and Lady, and, after a last glance around the room, makes ready to depart.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 1
The albino Kobold inclines his scaly head.
"I shall keep that in mind. Let me ask you an honest question , and no crosstalk. How are you with dangerous deliveries?"
Alyse opens her mouth to speak, then pauses, rubs her chin and squints at the kobold. Rethinks her response.
“No crosstalk? Well then … I guess it depends how dangerous. I’m no trig blood,” she admits wryly, thinking of Frenjik’s words earlier in the peak, “and I don’t have a lot of experience with that sort of thing, but I’m not Clueless. I can use this,” she pats her sword scabbard, “and this,” she taps her brain box with one finger, “well enough. If odds are something’ll get me scragged or in the dead book, I’ll stay out. But if it were worth my while, and the odds looked in my favour, I’d be willing to play them.” She smiles very slightly at the kobold, glances at Calita and raises an eyebrow, then turns back to the kobold and sketches a brief bow. “That’s my work done for the day though – we have some jink to spend.”
She follows Calita out the door.
The albino nods his scaly head
"Fair enough. I am always on the lookout for cutters willing to take on harder projects. I'll keep you in mind Alyse. My name is Wightscale."
Tsun approaches the wildly gesticulating goblin and watches attentively. He had some experience with goblins -- not enough to call himself canny, but enough that he knew they would babble like a barmy until they tired themselves. He just had to wait.
When the goblin stopped to take a breath, Tsun interjected. "Uh, pardon me. I hate to interrupt. You are Hazmek Dogslicer? I am Tsun, steward of the St. Cuthbert Lodge. Brother Meytal asked me to come and chat with you, when you have a moment."
Hazmek looks up at Tsun and grins, showing several rows of shark-like teeth
"I got a moment, tall boy. Wotcher need to palaver?"
Hazmek turns to a thin human-looking man with a upswept ginger pompadour haircut
"Donal! Fetch our tall guest a big mug of that Opalline Dark Roast!"
Calita eyes the direction the cry came from warily. "I'll make sure to be on my guard," she says as she starts to move in the direction she indicated. "I'm a decent shot," she says in reply to Alyse's question, a knowing smile on her face, "but I'm not as unarmed as you might think."
Myriana noticed the lizard man in the room and all the stuff he was tinkering with. It meant little to her but she had agreed to come with Annie so her she was. Myri was nothing if not a kitten of her word. While her friend spoke with Click click Myri looked around for lack of anything better to do. Her stomach rumbled distracting her as she was looking, really distracted her, and she groaned, "Soooo hungry meow."
[dice=Perception +1 if trapfinding]1d20+3
Calita eyes the direction the cry came from warily. "I'll make sure to be on my guard," she says as she starts to move in the direction she indicated. "I'm a decent shot," she says in reply to Alyse's question, a knowing smile on her face, "but I'm not as unarmed as you might think."
Alyse nods. Gripping the hilt of her sword tightly with one gloved hand, she follows Calita into the alley.
She tries to move quietly, and stay alert.
Alyse and Calita ghost down the cobbles, using the dank fog to hide.
The both hear another cry as they hurry closer, and some hissing Kobold laughter
The two hurry along without so much as a misplaced footfall. They come to a small back ally and peer in.
A circle of smallish kobolds surround another curled up on the ground. They unleash kicks at the curled up one's body and laugh at the squealing cries. A few words of Koboldish drift out of the circle
"Freak!"
"Mutant!"
"Addled egg!"
"Half-breed!"
The Before Peak bustle of the Lightning Guild common room was beginning to slow. The couriers had their first jobs of the day, the drinkers were all abed, as were the Knights of the post. Reedalvan lounges at a table he has to himself, relishing the quiet time. He had had a good night exploring the darkened city, and was idly thinking of his next adventure
A beautiful Aasimar woman enters the common room. She looks tense, and her posh clothes mark her as outside the usual patron's social class. She moves quickly and furtively to Frenjik's window and begins talking softly with the crippled birdman
Peering carefully around the corner with Alyse, Calita sees a tableau she knows all too well. Scowling, she whispers hurriedly to her companion. "I can't understand what they're saying, but I'm going to guess that they're kids and they're bullying that other kid." It kind of sounds like both a question and a statement, as if she's sure of what's occurring, but wants to make sure before she does anything about it.
Zadkiel sat at the breakfast table of St. Cuthbert's. Although unused to the feeling, he found he now had the urge to eat, even if the practice seemed strange to him. The brothers of St Cuthbert's seemed to regard him with respect and a dash of pity. They had welcomed him in, but had not pried into his history, just offered him lodging and a meal. He scooped up bacon and eggs and porridge among the children and young adults that dwelt in the lodge
He spots a small gnomish girl and a lithe cat girl hurrying into the breakfast room
Sara helps Congruence try the gloves on. It takes a few tries. Gloves, as clothing goes, have a fairly high learning curve. Especially if you've never worn clothes in your life.
Once Congruence has them on, Sara encourages him to try them out if they are to his liking.
"How do they fit? Not too snug? Not too loose?"
Sara helps Congruence try the gloves on. It takes a few tries. Gloves, as clothing goes, have a fairly high learning curve. Especially if you've never worn clothes in your life.
Once Congruence has them on, Sara encourages him to try them out if they are to his liking.
"How do they fit? Not too snug? Not too loose?"
"The ongoing sensation across my hands is rather unusual." Congruence wiggles the fingers, then opens and closes fists. "Digit extension, grip, and flexibility are within normal range. Thank you for your assistance, the gloves fit satisfactorily."
After paying the bariaur, Congruence prepares to depart without another word to the merchant. Unless spoken to, the modron considers this task complete and no further interaction is necessary. Congruence has much to learn about manners still.
Peering carefully around the corner with Alyse, Calita sees a tableau she knows all too well. Scowling, she whispers hurriedly to her companion. "I can't understand what they're saying, but I'm going to guess that they're kids and they're bullying that other kid." It kind of sounds like both a question and a statement, as if she's sure of what's occurring, but wants to make sure before she does anything about it.
Alyse nods in the half-light of the alley, pursing her lips. She can’t help thinking of her own torment at the hands of Piggy Pate and his friends growing up. ”I think so,” she whispers back. ”Can you try to look scary? Without hurting them?”
Keeping her sword bared but held low, Alyse steps forward, doing her best to look menacing as she steps from the fog, a sneer on her face. “Hey, pike it berks,” she calls, “’less you want to pay the music?”
Zadkiel talked to a child of indeterminate age sitting next to him at breakfast, "Do you understand how unusual food is? I mean, the act of needing to eat?" The child's growing look of confusion made Zadkiel realize the absurdity of his own line of thought. He returned to his eggs in contemplation.
Seeing the young gnome and cat ladies enter he made room at the breakfast table for them and gestured. "Join me?"
"You are a generous blood, Hazmek." Tsun takes the proffered drink and seats himself slowly. He had a habit of sitting gingerly in new chairs. "Brother Meytal asked me to come and talk with you. The Indeps are offering free labor and materials for construction, correct. That's very charitable of you. Thank you. What did you have in mind?"