Sara contemplates teaching Congruence about the high five. But it might still be too early to introduce him to that concept.
"Thank you brother Tilner. In the mean time, is there anything we can do with the leftover ice or the seaweed? I think you can eat it? Or maybe only some of it?"
Brother Tilner chuckles
"I'm not sure as to its edibility, but why don't you take it to the compost pit. We can recycle it into the gardens. Sadly, the ice will melt before we have any use for it. It would be influenced by the fish taste in any case"
Calita mutters something under her breath and then begins to slowly rise into the air.
Calita hears the squeaks of surprise from above as her actions spook their assailants. She gets a glimpse of small kobolds fleeing from their positions and scurrying along the packed rooftops, slings in hand. She is almost sure they are the same ones they had scared off the odd silver kobold
Alyse’s eyes widen in impressed surprise as Calita begins rising up into the air. Unfortunately the human girl doesn’t have a similar trick up her sleeve, and with her own knowledge of spellcraft, suspects that Calita’s magic will not be enough to bear both of them up – and at any rate, she hardly wants to end up dangling from the other girl’s legs.
Instead, she dashes towards the front façade of the building atop which the slingers are perched, hoping to put herself out of the line of fire due to the slight overhang of the roof compared to the ground floor, and any further protection provided by door lintels, window ledges and other features of architecture. At the very least, she thinks, the slingers would have to lean out over the roof edge to get at her, presenting better targets for Calita … and with a little luck they may even fall …
As she runs, and upon reaching shelter, the girl looks for and assesses any likely looking possibilities to climb up to the roof, paying particular attention to ledges, corners, and narrow spaces between buildings – she is aware of her own shortcomings when it comes to climbing ability, and isn’t even going to attempt a climb that doesn’t look easy. Even better than a place to climb might be an open doorway, perhaps providing internal access to the roof …
...
Alyse sees a set of external stairs winding up to roof level. They look rickety and made for smaller sized folk, but easy enough to use
She'll make for those, either as part of this action or next round, depending on at what point she sees them.
Reedalavan gives the woman another short bow before nodding to Frenjik. He tuck the letter away into a fold in his garmet, and it seems to disappear as he does so.
"Off to the Hive, then!" he says with enthusiasm.
Moving jauntily out of the Guild, he starts to make way towards the Hive Ward. As he does so, he begins to have a few misgivings. Reedalvan, you addle-cove, what have you gotten yourself into now? He doesn't let them slow him down.
As he gets to the Hive Ward, he begins to be a bit more on the alert. As he approaches that dangerous core, the Hive itself, he focuses as carefully on his surroundings as he can, alert for danger.
** spoiler omitted **
Reedalvan heads out into the busy boulevard of Copperman's Way, whistling in the foggy Before Peak air. The crowds are thinning a bit as cutters find their way to their work or their kips, but the road is never truly quiet.
The Market Ward falls behind him as the posh shops at the border of the Lady's Ward take shape. The crowd becomes suffused with servants in livery and Harmonium movers clanking to and fro. Reedalvan keeps a peery eye on the red-armored Hardheads, well aware of their 'arrest now, ask questions later' policy.
The Noble's District is a study in opulence. Reedalvan takes note of Throckmorton Place when he passes it. The mansions along that road are truly massive.
Passing into the Court District, Reedalvan passes Petioners Square and its many gallows. A dozen fresh bodies swing from the leafless trees, attended by flocks of Cager Crows, the large grey corvids that Cagers swear have a touch of fiendish blood in them.
The Temple District surrounds Reedalvan, their foggy air redolent with morning prayers and burnt offerings. He walks on, the temples shrinking and becoming meaner as he nears the Lower Ward.
The Lower Ward is choked with the effluent of many thousands of forges. Coal and wood smoke billow from its forest of chimneys, tainting the fog with a sulphuric yellow hue. Reedalvan travels up Alehouse Row into the Gear Run District, passing along the crowds of gnomes and constructs that call the place home.
Hellgate rears up around him, the fantastic fiendish buildings evoking an involuntary shudder as he passes. The infamous Tenth Circle Bar leers out at him, quiet for now, but scary even in somnolence.
Ragpicker's Square and the Mortuary greet him next, the spiked skull spire of the Dustman's faction headquarters dominating the skyline like a stone spider. Undead of every stripe walk about, often accompanied by Dustmen in their dark robes and pale-powdered faces.
Reedalvan reaches the Ditch, it's peculiar garbage-and-saltwater smell assaulting his nose. He traverses the Zaddfum Trestle, the long bridge with its decayed marine statuary leading into the Hive. Flocks of small children dangle from the edge of the bridge, fishing lines descending into the rancid waters far below in search of whatever foul fish fester there.
The Hive greets him in all its ramshackle glory on the other side. Tenements rear up five stories high, looking like ill-stacked card houses. He check the address on the letter and heads to the Marble District
If the Hive could be said to have a 'rich' section, the Marble District was it. Like its name proclaims, most of the buildings are faced with dingy, cracked marble stone, giving the district a dilapidated genteel feel. The main thoroughfare was thronged with taverns, pawn shops, bordellos, and strip clubs. It was one of the few places Harmonium would patrol, their only chapter house in the Hive on the street. The crowd is a mixture of Xaos boys, Bleakers, and cully bashers: The latter distinguished by a plethora of gaudy jewelry.
The letter is for a 'Brent Othmann' who resides at the Silver Octopus Inn, Phorphia Street, Marble District. Reedalvan finds the street, and soon finds himself standing at the doorway of the inn, a silver octopus gracing the sign above his head
Orla follows the brewmen inside. Taking not of the insides and listening to any dwarven gossip she may here as she follows the man inside.
[dice=Perception] 1d20+8
She turns her head looking over her shoulder at Tollard. "Don't worry he said you were only a little pretty." The mirth in her voice and the wink she gives him is hard to disguise.
[dice=Bluff] 1d20-5
Orla turns back to the brewmen.
** spoiler omitted **
The brew man laughs
Dwarven:
Congruence beams at the approval of Sara and Brother Tilner. The modron is finally beginning to feel a purpose with his adopted home. With a new task slated for this afternoon, Congruence begins making mental plans.
"Task giver Brother Tilner, what is Ser Estevan's location? Time is required for planning the optimal delivery path."
Pointing to Sara, Congruence smiles and continues, "We aspire to be the greatest task completion buddies."
"You can find him at the Planar Trade Consortium building at the edge of the Market Ward. I'll give you directions with the thank you note. Why don't you and Sara take care of composting the seaweed and putting the cart away and when you return I'll give you the letter"
"We haven't met before?" Tsun shrugs. "Sorry. There's always people shifting. Brother Meytal would like us to go to the lumber yard and help them load a wagon. You know, character-building."
Tsun walks to the door and opens it part-way. "This might take a few hours. Do you have anything you need to do beforehand?"
She'll make for those, either as part of this action or next round, depending on at what point she sees them.
Alyse sprints to the stairs, climbing them quickly. She peeks over the rooftop, to see several kobolds running away, headed towards the far side
TWO HOURS MEOW!?" Myriana's hair stood on end in shock, though she quickly smoothed it down. As she spoke again her tone was one of those that online felinoids can manage, that superior attitude that implied [i]Be grateful you will be allowed to bask in my radiant presence[i], "I've got nothing else to do I guess, I'll just grab my things and be right back." She sauntered off and, after a few minutes, returned with gear, granted this was likely just a simple task but it paid to be prepared. She had donned a set of leather armor that matched her furn in coloration, and had her shrotbow and arrows slung on her back. She looekd at Tsun and said, "I'm ready meow."
Calita rises to above the rooftop and sighs as she sees the young Kobolds scampering away. Not wanting to actually attack children, but still eager to put the fear of the Gods up them, she looses an arrow at the roof in their general direction, making sure to miss them, but still give them a scare.
Zadkiel's smile is disarming, "We may have met," he circles a finger by his ear, "not everything up here is as sharp as one would like. Myri and Annie had mentioned a job, perhaps we can combine the two?" He draws fingers through his hair, a playful gesture, but his eyes are hard to read.
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"You missed," Alyse calls across the rooftop to Calita, gently sardonic.
"Ok, thank you brother Tilner, we'll put it on the compost heap."
Sara helps Congruence pull the cart to the compost heap and unload the seaweed. Its messy and wet work, but over fairly quickly.
"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse, and those fish smell delicious."
Annie eventually makes her way over. her rather small stature would indicate that this may take even longer unless there is lumber and wagons more her size.
you really expect me to do this task? she asks kind of questioning Tsun's decision to include her.
besides we had another errand to run. she mentions looking for a way to get out of this job.
As Reedalvan makes his way through the Cage, he takes in the features and oddities of the place he calls home. Not being a top-drawer (and a jink-filled drawer at that) berk himself, he keeps a low profile through the Lady's Ward. He does silently tip a hat at the Cager Crows, though; he rather likes the thought that perhaps they have some fiendish blood in them. After all, having some fiendish blood in you doesn't make you a bad sort, does it? Look at him...
He relaxes a little as he moves into the Lower Ward, although as he looks at the place, he can't help but feel that just maybe the fiendish blood in him didn't really take, because you'd have to be addle-coved to want to live like this all the time. Still, the Cage is the Cage, and so on through he went.
As he crosses the Zaddfum Trestle, he catches the eyes of and winks at any children who are fishing who happen to look his way. He can't help but feel sorry for the berks if they're reduced to fishing here.
Finally, the Hive... the armpit of Sigil. Or, perhaps, another bodily reference.
Finding his way to the Inn, he thinks, well, isn't this rather a posh place for the Hive. Why, the food inside might even almost be edible.
He pushes open the door to the Inn and walks inside, looking around.
Unless he sees anything that gives him pause, he'll find a barkeep, or an attendant behind a desk, or somebody who looks like they know what's going on, and will ask after Brent Othmann.
Orla smiles genuinely at the crack at the monks expense.
Orla takes a moment to think and make a decision in her head.
Orla knows its a long shot and that she can't keep asking every person she meets, but maybe one of her spirelet made it's way to the district of drink telling drunken stories of their cold mountainous home.
As they step further into the brewery the smell of hops and fire treated barrels brings back memories of the small festivals her town would have.
"Ok, thank you brother Tilner, we'll put it on the compost heap."
Sara helps Congruence pull the cart to the compost heap and unload the seaweed. Its messy and wet work, but over fairly quickly.
"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse, and those fish smell delicious."
Congruence sniffs loudly.
"Chore assistant Sara, that smell is a delicious smell? Is this fish more delicious than eating a horse?" The modron sniffs the air again and nods in agreement.
"Depart and join the others for the 2nd meal. We are confident in the deliciousness of these fish. We will return the cart to the proper location."
"You missed," Alyse calls across the rooftop to Calita, gently sardonic.
The arrow and sling bullet send the miscreant homicidal reptiloids running for their kips. Obviously they weren't prepared for someone to chase them so quickly.
The rooftops stretch out all around them, with chimneys, tents, shacks, orreries , pigeon coops, dovecotes , and a myriad of other things spread out. A few kobolds can be seen tending this or that. They studiously ignore Calita and Alyse
As they ready to return to street level there is a quick flash of light nearby. A portal opens, and a Kobold dressed in desert gear, two swords, and goggles emerges. Behind him is a sere desert scene. The two just make out a fireball streaking through the red sky beyond the portal
DC25 K(Planes)
The Kobold looks at a dagger with a reddish blade, then sheathes it as the portal closes behind him. He then starts as he notices the two young non-kobolds. He scowls and backs away, hands near his two swords
Orla smiles genuinely at the crack at the monks expense.
** spoiler omitted **
Orla takes a moment to think and make a decision in her head.
** spoiler omitted **
Orla knows its a long shot and that she can't keep asking every person she meets, but maybe one of her spirelet made it's way to the district of drink telling drunken stories of their cold mountainous home.
As they step further into the brewery the smell of hops and fire treated barrels brings back memories of the small festivals her town would have.
Orla notes the brewery is mostly staffed by dwarves, but there are a lot of variations on the race. One trundles by that looks like a miniature fire giant, all flame-red hair and ebon skin. She notices one dwarf that is wearing clothing similar to what she considers normal
The brewmaster frowns as he rolls out the keg.
Dwarven:
[i]The stout Dwarf turns to Tollard
"Sorry to be leaving you out of the conversation, lad. Here's the cask. I have some twine here, we can make it fast."
He helps the two position the large barrel on the dolly and ties it
"It is no bother," Tollard reassures the dwarf reflexively, "We appreciate your assistance." He checks to make sure the cask is secure then looks to Orla to see if she is ready to depart.
“Peace cutter,” says Alyse in simple Draconic, holding her hands in front of her, palms up to show they are empty. “We’re not addle-coved enough to try to peel a blood who can survive Avernus. Profitable journey?”
The Kobold nods warily
"Aye. Well enough. What are you doing on the roof here?"
The Kobold nods warily
"Aye. Well enough. What are you doing on the roof here?"
Alyse strokes her chin with her thumb. “Not looking for portals. Some local hatchlings decided to make trouble for the two smoothskins,” she indicates herself and Calita. “We scared ‘em off – didn’t hurt them, just showed them we don’t bow to bullies. Is your portal two-way? Would you be willing to share the dark of the key?”
She smiles pleasantly, but also glances around to make sure she can easily step back onto the stair should this fellow prove hostile. She’ll also try to keep in mind the details of the red dagger the kobold was holding, assuming it may have been the portal key.
Congruence sniffs loudly."Chore assistant Sara, that smell is a delicious smell? Is this fish more delicious than eating a horse?" The modron sniffs the air again and nods in agreement.
"Depart and join the others for the 2nd meal. We are confident in the deliciousness of these fish. We will return the cart to the proper location."
Sara realises she might have used too colorfull a phrase for congruence.
"Well, smells get more delicious when you are hungry. At least, for me they do. And right now I am really hungry. Pulling that cart along was hard work. Also, horses dont really like the cage. If some prime takes the animal along, its not long before they die. Its cheap meat for sure, and usually old and stringy. So not that tasty. But 'so hungry I could eat a horse' is a type of saying. It is not meant literally, more meaning, I am so hungry I could eat a lot. Because you know. Horses are big."She's not sure she got the meaning across right. But she's hungry and it is distracting here.
"Yeah, lets put the cart back and join the others."
Quickly they put the cart back. Its still wet from the ice, but it will dry.
Going inside, the smell of frying fish is even stronger, and Sara feels her mouth water.
"Oh man this is going to be soooooooooooooo good!"
Calita rolls her eyes at Alyse as she watches the young Kobolds disappear. Getting ready to levitate back to the ground, she stops as the portal opens and the older Kobold steps out. Quickly drawing another arrow and nocking it, but keeping her bow pointed towards the ground so as not to appear too threatening, she waits patiently while Alyse converses with the newcomer in a language she doesn't understand.
Alyse is torn between telling Calita to put away the bow - if this kobold is nonchalant about a journey to the first layer of the Nine Hells then he probably really is a blood - and being glad at the other girl having her back. She settles on focusing her attention on the kobold (and possible routes of escape) and trusting that Calita will do whatever seems best for the situation.
The Kobold nods warily
"Aye. Well enough. What are you doing on the roof here?"
Alyse strokes her chin with her thumb. “Not looking for portals. Some local hatchlings decided to make trouble for the two smoothskins,” she indicates herself and Calita. “We scared ‘em off – didn’t hurt them, just showed them we don’t bow to bullies. Is your portal two-way? Would you be willing to share the dark of the key?”
She smiles pleasantly, but also glances around to make sure she can easily step back onto the stair should this fellow prove hostile. She’ll also try to keep in mind the details of the red dagger the kobold was holding, assuming it may have been the portal key.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 1
The Kobold frowns, then shrugs
"Yeh gots anything to trade? Portal darks are found dear"
Congruence sniffs loudly."Chore assistant Sara, that smell is a delicious smell? Is this fish more delicious than eating a horse?" The modron sniffs the air again and nods in agreement.
"Depart and join the others for the 2nd meal. We are confident in the deliciousness of these fish. We will return the cart to the proper location."
Sara realises she might have used too colorfull a phrase for congruence.
"Well, smells get more delicious when you are hungry. At least, for me they do. And right now I am really hungry. Pulling that cart along was hard work. Also, horses dont really like the cage. If some prime takes the animal along, its not long before they die. Its cheap meat for sure, and usually old and stringy. So not that tasty. But 'so hungry I could eat a horse' is a type of saying. It is not meant literally, more meaning, I am so hungry I could eat a lot. Because you know. Horses are big."She's not sure she got the meaning across right. But she's hungry and it is distracting here.
"Yeah, lets put the cart back and join the others."Quickly they put the cart back. Its still wet from the ice, but it will dry.
Going inside, the smell of frying fish is even stronger, and Sara feels her mouth water.
"Oh man this is going to be soooooooooooooo good!"
It's peak time, and lunch is on the table. Clams, crabs, and fish sit upon the dining tables
Brother Tilner smiles and hands them each a plate
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 1The Kobold frowns, then shrugs
"Yeh gots anything to trade? Portal darks are found dear"
Alyse tilts her head. "That's fair," she says. "Sadly I'm not exactly flush with jink. But I'm a resourceful cutter. Tell you what, maybe you need a little help with something some peak, messages passed, some back up, a bit of arcane assistance. That being the case, ask for Shade at the Crossroads Lighting Guild Lodge, if I can help you we'll talk price, including maybe this portal dark?"
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The Kobold grins a toothy smile
"You know the dark of the Cage Chant. That I'll grant you. "
He comes a bit closer and unsheathed his dagger again
"This is Hellforged Baatorium. You slash the air above this space"
He indicates a pattern of red tiles in the roof
"And open the portal. It goes both ways the same. Just get a good idea of where the Avernus endpoint is. It comes out near Tiamat's Realm"
He gives a stiff bow
"I am Sverithis. Your name is Shade? I shall consider this dark I give you paid if you will do me a favor of my choosing in the future. "
He grins wider
"One roughly equal in weight to this, I promise"
"I'm certain they will have big pieces of wood and small pieces of wood. You can be in charge of which one you like." He jerks his thumb out the door.
It's peak time, and lunch is on the table. Clams, crabs, and fish sit upon the dining tables
Brother Tilner smiles and hands them each a plate
"Thank you, Brother Tilner, for our first delicious meal. We have never been excited to eat here before! This must be better than our standard sustenance intake." Oblivious to any offense possibly caused, and infected with Sara's excitement, Congruence heartily eats.
Pausing briefly while chewing, the modron finds the range of consistency and flavor confusingly elaborate. However, Congruence still smiles and nods at others. Pointing at the food, the modron declares, "This is first delicious food we have ever eaten."
“Equality is relative,” Alyse shrugs, “But I’ll not shirk from a fair balancing of the scales. I’m sure I’ll see you again Sverithis. As I said, a message at the Lighting Guild will find me.” She half-bows in return, a little mockingly (or perhaps self-consciously), then nods at Calita and makes her way back down the stair to street level.
Calita tightens her grip on her bow as the Kobold pulls out the red knife, but seeing that Alyse is examining what the Kobold is doing, she figures he's alright and relaxes a little.
Seeing Alyse nod her way and start off, she waits a moment to watch the Kobold move off, then slowly sinks back to ground level and meets Alyse at the bottom of the stairs.
"Did you know him, or was that just some banter with the locals," she asks.
The pale girl shakes her head as she pulls out the collar of her shirt and coat to examine the bruise on her shoulder where the young kobold’s stone hit her. “No, I don’t know him and it wasn’t exactly banter. He knew a door to elsewhere, a portal out of here, and the key. The dark of something like that can be worth a lot in this place, I was bargaining with him to find out. See, you’ve heard me – and others I don’t doubt – call this city ‘The Cage’? Well, that’s ‘cause you can’t get out of here via conventional, or even most magical means. Sigil floats at the top of an endless spire, if you can wrap your head around that contradiction, and any berk addle-coved enough to try to climb, jump or fly out of here has never been seen again, written their own name in the dead-book, or so I’ve heard the chant. Someone or something – probably the Lady of Pain – has the place locked against teleportation magic, plane shifts, spells like that. The only way out is via a portal; there’s hundreds of those around, but where they are and how to open any given one – the key – now those things tend not to be common knowledge. So, I figure it pays to find out such things, given the opportunity.” She frowns, adjusts her collars back into place, then smiles slightly at Calita.
“So, would you say that counts as our second or third run-in with kobolds on our trip back? Things tend to happen in threes, so it’d be good to know whether we need to stay alert, or can start thinking about how we spend our jink.”
Sara sits and shoves food in her mouth. The seafood is delicious. While the food at St. Cuthbert isnt bad, it can get a bit... lean... if they run low on supplies.
The seafood is fatty and succulent. A real feast. And since they cant preserve most of it, almost everything is served up. So Sara eats untill she nearly bursts.
She listens to Congruence mimic her opinion. She's grown fond of the modron, but intorducing him to being able to have his own opinion might be a bit early still. She doesnt have experience with modrons, but it has been easy picking up the ques. Congruence mostly takes things very literal. It was frustrating and adorable at the same time.
With the food eaten, Sara stays seated for a moment, having eaten herself into a bit of a food coma.
Orla turns to Tollard curiously. "Do you know where this.... Gurincraag is?" She checks to see if there is a way for them both to transport the cask and if not how to evenly split the work.
"Right. Off to the lumberyard." Tsun cracks his knuckles and pops his back. "Remember to lift with your knees and always be aware of your surroundings. We don't need anyone getting a splinter in their eye because someone was swinging a beam around."
Calita nods her head at Alyse's explanation. "So the location and use of portals is a hot commodity in Sigil? That's good to know," she says thoughtfully.
"I'm hoping that that was out third. Having a little more gold in my pocket, and a possible means to get more, makes me less hesitant to splash out on some good food and an actual room to stay in somewhere that's not full of alchemical equipment and/or experiments." She smiles. "Do you know somewhere good to stay in the city?"
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[dice=Knowledge local untrained]1d20+1
Gurincraag is a district in the Lower Ward that is inhabited by dwarves. It has distinct neighborhoods where dwarves of a particular ethnicity cluster together, and even supposedly a Derro neighborhood under the streets
"Right. Off to the lumberyard." Tsun cracks his knuckles and pops his back. "Remember to lift with your knees and always be aware of your surroundings. We don't need anyone getting a splinter in their eye because someone was swinging a beam around."
Tsun leads his charges out into the foggy before peak streets of Sigil. The air is slowly brightening, but it still carries the quality of twilight that most hours of Sigil's day display.
The Great Bazaar is their first destination. The three thread their way through the throng of people and stalls, Tsun marching ahead resolutely, eyes fixed straight ahead
The large buildings that form a core of the Great Bazaar loom over their right shoulder as they walk on. The frescoed Merman Building, the cylindrical green Tivuum's Antiquities, the black-and-purple-striped ziggurat of Pavallo's Granary. They soon leave them behind.
Copperman's Way opens before them, the broad avenue choked with traffic as it normally is. Wains pulled by fiendish oxen compete for space with riders on slim dragon-like mounts. Swarms of pedestrians of every conceivable size and shape throng the dirty cobbles.
The Market Ward falls away and the Lady's Ward rears up in front of them as Copperman's Way ends in Plague Court. Harmonium clank past, eyes hard and searching.
They traverse the main road through the Noble's District, Razorvine-on-Hiddleton, and the crowd becomes much gaudier. Beings in silk and cloth-of-gold swagger along, often accompanied by a squad of hard-eyed fighting men in ornate armors.
They travel past the Court District, passing the Harmonium Barracks and the Mercykiller's Prison buildings. That scary district fades behind them and the chaotic jumble of the Temple District opens before them.
The Temple District is a wonder at any hour. Swarms of parishioners from hundreds of district religions pray, celebrate, or mourn publicly as their liturgical calendars dictate. One street holds a festival of Hobgoblins in bright flowing clothes whacking at each other with wooden swords and cheering. Another sees a procession of winged Elven-looking beings singing a dirge and each plucking their neighbors' feathers out ritualistically.
The Temple District becomes shabbier and dirtier as the three close in on the Lower Ward. The final shack-temples fall behind them as they enter Swordhold, the mercenary quarter. The Doomguard faction is in evidence here, their ritualistic scarring and plentiful piercings making for a scary crowd. The three travel on, coughing from the sulphuric fog of the Ward.
The Great Foundry complex dominates the skyline, its thicket of chimneys, towers, and crucibles belching smoke incessantly. The fog becomes even more acrid as they walk.
They find themselves on Alehouse Row, the infamous line of drinking establishments quiet in this hour, although never silent. A drunken ogre kneels in the gutter, being noisily sick.
After the boulevard of bub houses they find themselves in the Gear Run District. Annabelle remembers this is where Click Click wanted her to pick up his package. The streets are swarmed with gnomes, kobolds, constructs, and a healthy percentage of skinny humans bedecked in dirty leather aprons and goggles
Calita nods her head at Alyse's explanation. "So the location and use of portals is a hot commodity in Sigil? That's good to know," she says thoughtfully.
"I'm hoping that that was out third. Having a little more gold in my pocket, and a possible means to get more, makes me less hesitant to splash out on some good food and an actual room to stay in somewhere that's not full of alchemical equipment and/or experiments." She smiles. "Do you know somewhere good to stay in the city?"
"Hot?" Alyse screws up her face in confusion for a moment, then comprehension dawns. "Ah, yes. The hottest I would say."
She peers around the fog wreathed street. "There's plenty of places to call kip, but the good places cost. I stay here and there about the place," she waves vaguely. "There is one place I used to stay when I was trying to find my feet - St Cuthbert's Lodgings for Lost, over the other side of the Bazaar from the Lightning Guild. The priests or monks or whatever they are that run the place are alright I suppose - a bit uptight - but the beds don't have too many bugs, the roof doesn't leak too much, and they even supply food. They don't much like it if you have a job though - oh, they say they're thrilled for you, but they don't want you staying on."
Tsun was always amazed by the panoply of races, religions, and cultures of the city. Sometimes he wondered what life would have been like in the home of his ancestors, Ysgard. One way of life, one sense of direction. He would likely never know. "It's not too far now. Most stores of raw materials are near the Great Foundry. No sense in being away from the sight of manufacturing."
Zadkiel admires the foundry a moment as they near it, "Site of the Godsmen, isn't it? I rather like their thoughts on the potential of mortals."
"Gurincraag, sure I know it," Tollard says as they begin wheeling the cask back to the lodge. "In the Lower Wards. There's all sorts of dwarves there, some even beneath the streets. Pare your villagers all dwarves? The brewer might be right - perhaps they sought out their own." He seems to speculate idly as you head back into the streets.