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Nik frowns.
"Spy maybe?" he ventures.
"Eighttoes tossed me in too. Said something about getting rid of an identity..." Nik shrugs and pulls out a scroll of Passwall and a scroll of Protection from Elements.
Looking back and forth he tries to decide which looks more like vellum.
Dr. EE replies to Rinika, "I'm a doctor of biochemistry. Then I stepped through that blasted cellar door and got stuck in that damned City of Doors. And then I died, by all accounts until now. Anyway I'm not bitter, I swear."
Jek is able to pick out a few tracks that end at the archway. Arkynn does not detect any unusual auras in the area. Carefully looking at both the scrolls Nik determines that they both could have been made from the skin of some calf-like creature.
Nik holds up both scrolls with his hands out, pretending to weight them against each other.
"Hmmm. If the definitely-within-her-rights-according-to-some Imogen--" Nik looks disapprovingly at Vaascht and Rinika before continuing "'knew what to do' as mentioned in a letter that also mentioned the scrolls of Passwall, some of them are missing, and some guards were requested elsewhere; then I guess we should try the expensive scroll first."
He lifts up the scroll of Passwall as though it's lighter before putting away the other scroll.
"Here goes a thousand gold or so..." he says as he steps up to the archway, looks around for confirmation that everyone is ready, and begins reading from the scroll.
Despite everyone's lives being on the line, Nik manages to focus well enough to activate the powerful thaumaturgy on the scroll.
Casting the spell is unusually slippery. Nik tries to hold onto it but if drains away from him before he can concentrate on the intended target. Just when he thinks he's made some miscalculation in the arcane formulae the portal in the archway bursts open. There is a mad rush to get everyone through and thankfully you're deposited in a back alley in the smog filled air of the Lower Ward of Sigil.
The gnome thanks Jek and asks if she can borrow his humans for 'observations of behavior,' Dr. Ermengarde sighs and goes her own way unless stopped, the goblin sneaks away when she gets a chance, the guards and the catatonic half-elf are at the mercy of the party.
There's no place like home...
Happily Arkynn does not find his way home, but ends up in a much nicer place.
Akrynn looks around.
Gonna needs cleaner duds.
Rinika does call after the doctor before she walks off. "Hey, if you're really a bio-alchemist, have you ever heard of experiments to make a creature living and dead at the same time?"
"Cleaner duds? I've been naked since that black leather wearing half-elf put us to sleep. I think we owe him a visit."
She replies, "Yeah that awful Dr. West at Miskatonic U was doing experiments of that nature. Him and what's his face, I can't remember, no matter, the university banned their experiments." She give Nik and Vaascht a knowing look, "They started stealing supplies and continued their work. They thought they were being sneaky but the entire campus knew they were up to something. Lucky for you I have no idea how to get to them."
Vaascht follows the group through the portal with some not insignificant relief. Burning to a crisp while trapped on the plane of fire was hardly a heroic manner of death, rather pathetic actually. Luckily he was spared this fate.
Upon reaching the realitive, dubious at best, safety of the Lower Ward the Gith slaps Nik's back in a companionable manner and says, "Well done!" with an uncharacteristically genuine smile.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I need a drink. And that thrice damned Shadowknave needs a yard of steel in his guts, though that can wait for the time being."
Just starting to relax after escaping to the relative safety of the lower wards, Nik is completely surprised by Vaascht's friendly gesture and barely catches himself before falling over.
Recovering as Vaascht proposes pursuit of a beverage, Nik sighs and replies.
"Just one drink? After all that fire everywhere I could use at least three. Maybe an extra one on behalf of Skellington.
First of course, we'll need some more jink for booze.
Think our prisoners can help us sell what used to belong to our captors as penance for their rudeness? Namely: being employed by those who would murder us."
I know I haven't finished my preparation to become a proper lich yet...
Jek sighs...
"A drink does sound fantastic, but there's an entire organization about to find out we're not dead and their people are."
Jek looks over at the captured guards.
"Granted, we should sell their wares and report back what we've seen."
We should lay low for a bit. Those asshats think that we are dead. I say, let's keep it that way, while we gather more intel.
Vaascht chuckles and responds, " Ah, let them come. We are stronger now than ever, especially with Nik here and his shambler. But I hardly expect reprisals so soon with the blow we've dealt ... whoever that was. Did we ever figure out what the heck they were doing in the first place? Bah! No matter, we are free now. I say we tell these bums to scram, " with a thumb to the prisoners and guards, "find a tavern, relax and divide this loot. Then, maybe on the morrow discuss further business. That Shadowknave still needs to be run through, and there is the matter of those who stole my stuff, I'd like my spellbook back."
"Did we ever figure out what the heck they were doing in the first place?"
Nik hesitates somewhat about untying the prisoners while agreeing with Vaascht verbally.
"I guess it might be easier to just carry the loot ourselves and tell these guys to go away. I kind of feel sorry for the catatonic one. I wonder where we might drop him off..."
Seems almost dead, now that I think about it. Hmmmmm...
Nik and the others familiar with Sigil's factions know that the Bleak Cabal might take him in. But someone would have to wait in the line at the Gatehouse to ensure he gets dropped off.
Akrynn looks at the prisoners.
You're free! Go elsewhere! And take him with you.
He points at the catatonic male.
The youth smiles, clapping his hands together.
So, we pay a not-so-friendly visit to them Dustmen and get our s&&~ back?
Vaascht eyes the former prisoners and adds, "Beat it!"
So, we pay a not-so-friendly visit to them Dustmen and get our s~+% back?
Akrynn stops. He seems to he listening to something...
You there can get us in!
His blue eyes land on the Dustman freed prisoner.
The youth smiles, clapping his hands together.
So, we pay a not-so-friendly visit to them Dustmen and get our s%!@ back?
Nik fidgets.
"Hey, what makes you so sure the Dustmen are responsible? I already mentioned that I nearly got toasted too, right? I mean, I guess it's a good place to look for clues, but... who we really want to find is Eighttoes. After we find time for a boat load of ale and some scribing..."
"Oh we'll find Eighttoes alright." Rinika smiles grimly and reflexively extends and retracts her claws.
"You did get thrown in with us too though, true. Maybe you're just not very important?"
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The druid shrugs.
One by one, Jek unburdens the captured guards. He then addresses them in a stern tone.
"You all survived unhurt from a place you couldn't leave on your own. Your boss will be suspicious. He might torture you. You're free now. You need to lay low and find new work."
Jek sighs in relief. Getting everyone out safely had weighed on him more than all of the loot he was carrying.
"Anyone want to hit a few stores? I need to unload."
"Sure!" Rinika will go shopping with Jek, lending her incredible +5 appraisal skill to the efforts.
Mostly she will try to keep an eye out for any of their stuff being sold.
Akrynn ventures out with Jek and Rinika. The druid scouts out for a suspicious blokes looking at them too hard.
After releasing their prisoners the party ventures out after a quick stop at the Black Sail tavern to grab some bub. Nearby there are several forges belching pollution into the air that are always looking for good chivs. After unloading the majority of their somewhat dubiously gained loot, Jek sees the placard for a magic shop he’s only ever heard about, The Friendly Fiend. Through the window the party sees rows upon rows of bins that contain magical trinkets of all stripes, enchanted dice to protective charms. In the center are islands glass display cases with finely made weapons, armor, and other larger pieces. Behind the counter is a broad shouldered humanoid with a furry body, clawed hands, and the head of a fanged jackal. A wide black stripe of fur partially encircles his golden eyes like a bandit’s mask, starting at the outside corner of one eye, swooping down across his white snout and reaching the outside corner of the other. He wears a robe speckled with teal, gold, and black. The creature sees the party and grins widely displaying his prominent sharp fangs and then he waves, beckoning the party to enter.
Rinika knows that this is a magic shop run by a paradoxically friendly fiend. Nik in addition knows that the proprietor is an arcanoloth named Akin. Nik is not familiar with what exactly arcanoloth’s are capable of, but perhaps because he’s dealt with the other infamous arcanoloth in Sigil, Shemeshka the Marauder, he speculates that they are potent creatures. There are rumors that both Akin and Shemeshka are anything from lovers to bitter enemies, but they both vehemently deny such connections.
Akrynn enters the shop. The young druid can't resist the urge to peruse everything!
Oh look, I wonder if they have any sparkle-sticks.
Nik follows after Akrynn. Nik addresses the shopkeeper.
"Excuse me, could you point me towards the section for practitioners of the arcane arts?"
Jek smiles back at the owner as they enter and begins looking through the display cases.
Quite interested in the piles of magical apparatus, yet unable to purchase those that interested him, Vaascht nevertheless peruses the stock with interest.
As he does so he reflects that despite not being of The People, his group was entirely likeable, good companions. He hoped they would find reason to keep him on retainer as they were far more agreeable than the folks he had been working for or with in quite some time.
Get paid first. See what happens next.
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Akin says in a low raspy voice, "Come in! Come in. I won't bite. How was the Elemental Plane of Fire? Always wanted to visit but there's just so much preparation for it." He holds out his hand and a book floats to it, Akin hands it to Nik, "Just got this in this morning. Supposed to be the spellbook of some chosen one of Shelyn, whoever that is."
Arkynn finds a number of minor magical items in the bins, including but not limited to: a candle that doesn't burn down and emits an odor of tin when lit, a small vial labeled Deva's tear, a knot of twine that refuses to be undone.
Jek spies a large sized lance among other items, including a falchion that sheds so much light that even though it's sheathed it is hard to look at directly.
Rinika's eyes are drawn to a gold spider with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires set for the eyes.
Akin sees nothing catching Vaascht's eye and digs around behind the counter and pulls out a pewter ale stein with runes etched in the surface. Inside the stein the temperature is chilly but not too chilly. The fiend gives a friendly smile, "No charge for such a good customer!"
Akrynn looks at the vial labeled Deva's tear.
"Sir, I'm in the market for a large lance. What can you tell me about this one here?"
Rinika slowly walks up to the bejeweled spider, her wide eyes reflecting its sparkle. She carefully examines it for value and sparkliness.
"Huh, nice book. Standard charge to rent and copy? Half the price of the supplies?" Nik replies while examining the book.
He closes the book and stiffens.
Surprise apparent on his face, Nik adds "um- how did you know we just paid a visit to the plane of fire?"
Arkynn remembers something about a crying deva. A deva was captured during a Blood War skirmish that spilled into the upper planes. The fiends tormented the imprisoned celestial for eons before he at last escaped – this small bottle holds one of the twelve tears he shed in that time. It's said the tears are able to sooth the most savage anger.
The friendly fiend says to Jek, "Ah yes a wood giant recently sold me the piece. A gift from the elves for the time she helped fight off an invasion of driders and ettercaps in Arvandor. She fell on some hard times and needed the jink. It will not truly harm your enemies unless you wish it."
Rinika closely examines the spider, it's roughly the size of an adult human’s hand, and its legs are all picks, chisels, pliers, and other tools of fine manipulation. Its body contains reservoirs of powders and oils connected to its nozzle-spinnerets. A fine chain can be played out of a winch on the brass spider’s back, connecting it to a small disk with studs and levers.
Akin gives Nik a toothy grin and wink, "Surely you said you were going out-of-touch? I admit I guessed the Plane of Fire by your purchases. Something about some knights of the post who were trying the bob the Dustmen. I'm relieved that you made it back without injury."
Akrynn continues to look around as Jek sells their stuff. The druid appreciates the story that most magic items tell.
Nik's forehead creases with confusion "...my purchases?"
Wait, he said 'good customer', could it really be that I'm the only one being impersonated?
Nik turns around "Hey Jek, do you remember being here before? Mister 'good customer'?"
Rinika tries to judge her distance to the door, amount of available cover, and the level of attention Akin's paying her as he chats with the others.
The druid smiles at Rinika.
"She faced off against driders and ettercaps, and they gave her a lance for the faint hearted? That does sound like the elves..." Jek thinks for a bit and sighs. "I could have used that earlier. What's it worth to you?"
"Honestly, I was kinda hoping for something like this but as a lance." Jek holds out the frost longspear. "Do you do alterations?"
Nik elbows Jek and clears his throat. "You been here before?"
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"Oh, sorry Nik. This is my first time here. I wouldn't give him a hard time about it. It's really tough to tell small humanoids apart. I've lived here my whole life and I can barely do it sometimes. Please don't be offended."
Akin points a clawed finger to his mouth, "Surely you must be mistaken but not matter! I am but a simple shopkeep Jek but I can give you a heavy discount on the lance if you give me the frost spear. I know just the ogre who's looking for it. Say the spear and 400 gold for the lance. And yes Nik we can work out a rental agreement if you don't want to purchase the book outright."
Would you have enchanted lamellar leather?
He points to his magical armor.
Be willing to use this nice set as down payment.