"Hmm, how about I go retrieve the journal, while my companions here make any final preparations. I'm fairly certain I know exactly where the book lies, so I shouldn't be overly long. Then I'll return here, and we can decide where our next destination shall be." The young man suggests.
Don't be long the drow mutters.
He seems slightly irritable, like he can't wait to pull away from the conversation. Presuming that Vulpiano is leaving for a short while, he turns away to let himself be distracted in something of a meditative focus. Any who look to see what he's up to notice that he's focusing on the orange prism stone orbiting his head. What his mind may be doing under cover of this distraction is unclear.
Gardolf does not appear startled or angry at having his identity described so comprehensively by the man who calls himself the Silver Fox. He mutters under his breath, possibly for Belladhriel's benefit, "My nose just grew that way."
While the others make their preparations, Gardolf watches and finishes smoking his pipe.
"You didn't answer my question, my friend," he says suddenly to Sifso. "Far be it from me to insist upon it, but I am curious if it made you uncomfortable. I will admit that I was startled by what our host offered me to get me to come here. He seems to know each of us surprisingly well. I wonder if having demonstrated his knowledge about each of us, if the Silver Fox can be persuaded to share his own identity with the group. Unless our host cares to enlighten us...?" He turns and quirks a bushy eyebrow at the raven.
"Far be it for me to disclose the identity of a fox-masked person with a powerful family who's been a student at the University of Lepidstadt," Brennus replies to Gardolf, sticking his beak in the air in what might be an attempt at looking innocent.
"As for your taking a look at this journal... I only set up for so many portals today, and since I don't think any of you can travel between planes on your own power, I'm going to need a place close enough to where you need to go that won't be stumbled across in spite of its camouflage until you get back." He looks at the 'Silver Fox'. "You wouldn't happen to have a spot in mind, would you?"
The 'Silver Fox' chuckles "Would my dorm room work? I have a rather large single room that I can describe to you in perfect detail. Should that not suffice, there's an alcove in the library proper that is fairly hidden, and hardly ever used. It is slightly more risky, due to being out in the open, but I tend to doubt anybody would stumble upon it, especially since it won't take me too long to grab the journal."
"True names have power, and I am not quite so comfortable nor trusting of a group of people I just met, to be giving you mine. Perhaps after we've tracked down Rahlmaat and discover the location of this 'Throne of the Gods' I will reveal my name and face to you all. Until then, I ask that you not press me on it any further, and that you don't seek to uncover my identity on your own."
I'm... not even sure of my own real name. Wherever that power resides, I know not. I suppose that means it's relatively safe enough for now.
"Your room would suffice," the raven says to Vulpiano.
The blue eye on his chest turns to Valas. "Just what makes a name real? I did not have a birth name, so do I not have one?"
"Now, maintaining all these portals is getting a bit expensive, so, if none of you are going to just back out now, I'll close them first."
Brennus pauses a moment, and assuming no one speaks up, the line of portals on the back wall closes. A bit of tension goes out of the raven as they do.
"Now, it will be easier..." He narrows all four of his eyes for a moment, then waves a wing. Small emerald runes glow briefly on his feathers, followed a moment later by larger runes on the wall, and a new portal swirls open.
"Do hurry up, 'Silver Fox', I'm burning powdered diamonds here."
Valas pays the closing portals no mind.
Always forward, never backwards. I have to stay one, two, three steps ahead of the fey...
Gardolf nods magnanimously to the raven. "By all means, Master Brennus, conserve your strength. I think you have intrigued us all. Certainly I will go on your quest for the sphinx, once we have an idea of where to begin our search." He returns to his pipe, his brow furrowed in thought.
Gardolf gets the distinct impression that working with Brennus will advance Gardolf's own goals. As for trust... trust him as you would any other powerful wizard.
"I'll have my father reimburse you, should this prove a successful venture." Vulp says, as he darts through the portal.
Arriving in his dorm room, he quickly exits, and makes his way to the library wing. As it's in an entirely separate building, it does take him a few minutes to make his way there. Thankfully, he was still wearing his silver fox mask, so he wasn't stopped by any fellow students or staff.
Once inside, he makes a bee line to where he's fairly certain the journal was shelved. Grabbing it, he heads over to a nearby book containing all of the various important information on the authors of the dozen shelves that make up this small section. Rapidly scanning the book, he commits the whole thing to memory in a couple of short minutes. He does the same with a large, highly detailed map of Tian Xia
He then returns to his companions, the whole trip taking less than a half hour. Dropping the journal on the table, he informs them "I'll be able to cross reference our author, where they encountered Rahlmaat, and a map of Tian Xia I memorized while at the library to hopefully triangulate a general location to begin our search."
"I hired you, not your family," Brennus remarks sardonically as the 'Silver Fox' departs.
The raven turns to the rest of the group. "I didn't plan on all of you sitting around waiting, so you'll have to find ways to entertain yourselves until he gets back."
With that he waves a wing, a book floats over to his perch, and he begins to read.
Myth waits patiently for all of fifteen seconds before she gets up and starts pacing around the room. This would be less interesting if she didn't keep switching around how many limbs she had as she paced.
"I haven't been to Tian Xia before! It's not all desert, is it? I didn't like the desert as much as the jungle," she comments during a time she has a head capable of speaking.
Brennus looks up at the portal just before the 'Silver Fox' returns through it. With another wave of his wing, a map of Tian Xia appears in the air next to the still-floating map of Osirion.
"It's easier for everyone else to see it this way," the raven remarks. "There are reasons I'm hiring more than just you."
When the silver fox returns, the drow is sitting cross-legged in the corner, still focusing on the prism orbiting his head. He barely notices, but turns to stand up, inspecting the floating maps.
Great, so we have a general destination? he asks, to the room generally. Shall we depart?
Sifso looks on with interest at the map of Tian Xia. "I have not yet been anywhere in Tian Xia myself.", and he listens attentively to anyone who explains a bit about the land.
"Alright then, let us be off."
"Agreed," says Gardolf, standing expectantly. "Lead on, O fox of silver hue!"
Looking at the relevant part of the journal, Vulpiano finds that the author met "a most unusual woman, who revealed herself to be a sphinx of great power by the name of Rahlmaat" while staying in Ordu-Aganhei. While he could not get much information from her about why she was in the area, she did tell him before departing that she was heading to the Wall of Heaven.
"It would appear that our explorer encountered Rahlmaat within Ordu-Aganhei before she traveled to the Wall of Heaven."
He pauses, considering their options. "It might be best to head to Ordu-Aganhei. That's at least a central location, as opposed to a massive, continent spanning mountain range."
I must admit... I have never been to any place in Tian Xia. You might let me know if I seem to be doing something against customs there... I will strive to blend in as quickly as possible. the drow muses, frowning.
"If that's where you want to start, I can open you a portal there," Brennus states.
He waves a wing, and a small silver token appears on the ground in front of each of the group. One side has a raven's head etched on it, on the other is the Draconic rune for raven.
"You can use these tokens to contact me, though I'll warn you they have limited charges," he explains. "Let me know when you have the information I hired you for."
Sifso nods. "You are the learned one, not I, Scholar Fox. If you say this is the way to go, I will follow. First though:"–the wiry warrior gives a stern look to all–"We must assume we're always in danger, yes? Stay near me; behind me, when you're able. Praise be to Shimye-Magalla, I don't go down easily...and I'm here to make sure you don't either. Agreed?"
Before stepping through the portal, Sifso silently mouths prayers to Shimye-Magalla while tracing three fingers over his shield, in the shape of a crashing wave.
"Don't worry," Myth says, suddenly standing as tall as the ceiling will allow. "I'm good at handling myself!"
Brennus focuses silently for a long moment, before again waving a wing at the wall and uttering a sharp croak. A larger portal appears, beyond which lies a vast, dry grassland, empty save for a hint of a wooden wall off in the distance. The long shadows of the tall grass indicate that it's nearly nightfall.
"This location should be unobserved at present, but I'll be closing the portal as soon as you're through," the sorcerous raven states. "That's Ordu-Aganhei off in the distance."
Pocketing the rune, Vulp steps through the portal, and immediately surveys their surroundings for any signs of danger or really anything unusual.
The vast steppes of Hongal spread around the portal, empty save for the tall grasses waving in the fitful gusts of wind. The uppermost third of the Sun is still visible on the western horizon, reddish as it sinks out of sight. The sky is all but cloudless. Far to the southwest a herd of animals grazes in the twilight, too distant to make out the details of. The walls of Ordu-Aganhei to the east are little more than a bulge on the horizon from this distance. A rook flies in the southeastern sky.
The drow steps through the portal after. His first thought is to setup a safe place for the evening, but he's also keen to scan their new surroundings for danger.
Surveying his surroundings, and refercining the map of Tian Xia he memorized, Vulp informs his companions. "Seems like the city is a couple miles away. We should make it there just after nightfall, should we lack a faster means of travel."
Aww. Nobody is up for some time under the stars? Okay. Indoors luxury it is. Valas remarks.
Agents looking for me tend to be looking in populated places. I suppose Tian Xia is pretty far off of the trail thought...
Sifso, who still hasn't touched ground in the time since they've met, says, "With Shimye-Magala's grace, the winds can carry me at great speed...and I could certainly carry another of you in my arms.
"If need be, I could ask The Sea of Stars to enhance the speed of another one or two of you, to some degree."
Myth flows into the form of a massive, six-legged, four-winged cat. "I can carry us all there!" she booms, then pauses. "Well... except the guards probably wouldn't like it."
She returns to her normal shape.
Gardolf frowns, his bristly eyebrows pointing at their distant destination like fans. "I have no desire to trudge several miles through the desert to reach the city, and no offense intended to my good friend Sifso, but I would rather not be carried! Give me a moment and I will solve this problem with my magic."
Gardolf grimaces. "Bah, there are such inconvenient limitations on the spells for transporting the body through space. Gather around close, and I will send one or two of you ahead, and the rest of us will join you a few moments later. Can any of us who cannot change their size become invisible to sight? They would be ideal candidates for our advance force."
Once their plan is in place, Gardolf teleports everyone in the party except for Valas (who has said that he can transport himself) to the gates of the city. Then he concentrates to alter the effects of his spell. "Who among us will speak on our behalf?" he asks gruffly. "I have a spell that accentuates that person's natural heroism via improving their morale. I would cast it upon the person to whom it would do the most good."
"I believe I'm best suited to that task, though I think it might be best to find a tavern or inn first. Hold off on your spell for now, my grumpy friend." Vulpiano replies, before striding confidently to the city gates, looking and walking every bit the nobleman that he is.
After the others pop out of existence, no doubt re-appearing near the city gates, Valas takes a moment to look around at his surroundings. He breaths deeply one last time before following his new team to the city...
Then, bracing himself for possible sickness and descending into the peace of his thoughts, he takes hold of concentration and continues his existence at the city gates, blinking away and reappearing by the others.
The guards watch warily as the party approaches. One man standing at the gate with a scroll looks up as them as they approach.
"Purpose of visit?" he asks once someone's in easy speaking distance.
Bowing politely, the young Chelixan answers "Greetings, I am Lord Vulpiano Arvanxi of Cheliax, and I am here on official House business. My companions and I seek rooms in your finest inn, and a hot, delicious meal. We have no desire to cause trouble, and should be moving on to our final destination tomorrow."
"A very long journey from Cheliax to here, your lordship," the bureaucrat comments as he writes on his scroll, then gives Vulpiano a bow. "In the midst of trade season it may be difficult to find an empty room at this time in the evening, for which I deeply apologize. Please, enter, and I wish you good fortune in your journey."
With a nod of his head, Vulp continues into the city. "Could you recommend me the best inn? If it's full, we'll look elsewhere, but I'm feeling lucky." He says with a chuckle.
"The most esteemed and honorable guests lodge in those inns nearest the Prince's palace," the functionary at the gate states, bowing again. He gestures towards the center of the city, where higher walls and towers must mark the palace.
Heading towards that structure the party passes a riot of color and scents, street vendors still shouting the virtues of their wares despite the late hour, even a few performers looking for some last coins before full dark. As they near the palace they do see some more upscale-looking inns, with appropriately decorative signs declaring their names: The Red Horse, The River Teahouse, The Sun and Stars, and The Taldane's Rest.
As they walk through the city and approach lavish inns, Valas leans in towards their noble friend.
So... do people here know you?
The young man flashes Valas a grin. "Doubtful. My family doesn't have dealings on this side of the continent. However, a noble bearing, a title, and a confident attitude usually translates the world over. It probably would help that I can speak their language as well, though that guard thankfully knew Common. My Tien is a little rusty." He says with a laugh.
Hmm. Indeed it does, but I wonder where it translate to trouble. I suppose we will see. the Drow remarks, only slightly dubiously.
But, as you do know the language, I'm sure I'll appreciate that translation very soon.
He looks about, wondering what Tian locals must think of one such as himself.
As they walk along others notice that his right arm is held straight out to the side, and he lets his hand glide and bob along in the air as if "feeling" something.
I wonder what the ley lines are like around here. I shall have to survey more closely once we are settled.
As they walk along, Sifso floates just behind the all-too-fragile-looking noble "fox", eyes alert for danger.
In a low voice, he asks, "So what is our next move? I am far from tired, though I'll understand if some among us need to replenish before seeking out this sphinx."
"While I'm also not at all tired, I would like a hot meal. I believe we'll try to find rooms at The Sun and Stars." He says in reply to Sifso, and makes his way over to the aforementioned inn.
Gardolf watches Vulpiano as they walk. "Your family, eh? You come from a well-regarded line of nobility, do you?" Perhaps that is why he wears a mask and uses a pseudonym, he thinks. Nobles who engage in adventuring activities often must keep their activities at least partially deniable. "I myself was given a noble title once, long ago, though I hardly remember it. I wonder if that place even exists any more?" He broods thoughtfully.
"A surprising number of Westerners here," he remarks. "That inn, the Taldane's rest? I suppose they often see travelers from Avistan? Why, is there some particular reason your countrymen come here often?"