For the Love of Tomeri...(23June2004)

- This story hour contains a log of importants events in the planescape campaign called: "For the Love of Tomeri".

- SPOILER WARNING: This campaign makes use of the two Planescape adventures: "The Great Modron March" and "Dead Gods". It will also include other Planescape adventures. Please do not discuss the specifics of these adventures, unless it is to comment: "but I though that the DoD were dealing the Great Modron March"

- Note: We Interrupt this Adventure: are written by Crater who plays Littleby Cakebeard
- Note: We Interrupt this Adventure: are written (or inspired) by Randomlig who plays Serena Allman
- Note: We Interrupt this Adventure: are the equivalent of GM hand-outs to players
- Note: the dialogues in the story hour are transcripts of conversations in-game. It is a word by word, blow by blow account of one party's attempts to solve the riddle of the Great Modron March and Dead Gods.
- Warning: This story hour contains mephits and rogue modrons

- The current characters in this story are:
Malkir male, human, monk/henshin mystic; played by Tallarn
Serena Allman female, human, psion, Chosen of Tomeri; played by Randomling
Littleby Cakebeard male, dwarf, negation wizard, Harmonium; played by Crater
Caleb Hewer male, earth genasi, cleric/elemental archon; played by Neil
Andrew Rimilia male, human, rogue, Indep; played by Jonathan
Cade Highdale male. halfling bard/minbender, Fated; played by Tallarn

Supporting Cast:
Zakar male hound archon in the service of Tomeri
Sir Osbourne de Maddox male half-celestial cohort of Cade
Ooze, earth & mineral mephits fawning, sycophantic followers of Caleb

Former characters:
Denton male, human, monk, killed by githyanki woman called Jezrene Quickeye

- Updates:
12 Feb 2004 - Part 1 Returning from City Barracks and Visiting the Friendly Fiend
13 Feb 2004 - Part 2 Resting, Eating and Performances at Stonecutter's Row
14 Feb 2004 - Part 3 Stepping from the Foundry to the Outlands
14 Feb 2004 - Part 4 A Brief Sojourn in Curst
15 Feb 2004 - Part 5 Whose Body is it Anyway?
17 Feb 2004 - correct Andrew Rimilia's name, correct chapter 3 Allies of Circumstance.
18 Feb 2004 - Part 6 Tombs and Lands of the Dead
19 Feb 2004 - Part 7 Questing for Answers and Sparring with Fate (7.1, 7.2)
19 Feb 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Vartus Timlin (Expansionist) has escaped The Lady's Maze
19 Feb 2004 - Part 7 Questing for Answers and Sparring with Fate (7.3, 7.4)
20 Feb 2004 - Part 8 Some Earth Genasi Like It Hot (8.1, 8.2, 8.3)
23 Feb 2004 - Part 9 Heart to Heart, Henshin to Henshin (9.1, 9.2, 9.3)
24 Feb 2004 - Part 10 Reflections of a Shattered Mirror (10.1, 10.2)
25 Feb 2004 - Part 11 The Modrons Are Back in Town (11.1, 11.2)
28 Feb 2004 - Part 12 If the Modrons Want to March You'd Better Let Them (12.1 to 12.3)
02 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Serena's dreams: Adrift in a Sea of Visions
02 Mar 2004 - Part 13 Haven's River, Wider Than a Mile (13.1-13.4)
03 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Chapter 1 - Great Dwarven Wizards
04 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: for more of Serena's visions
04 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Chapter 2 - The Elements According to Grumbar
05 Mar 2004 - Part 14 Voyage of the Princess Profiteer (14.1)
06 Mar 2004 - Part 14 Voyage of the Princess Profiteer (14.2 - 14.6)
08 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Serena's vision: Fading Stars, Departing Friends
09 Mar 2004 - Part 15 Fate Takes a Hand (15.1, 15.2)
10 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Serena's dreams: The Centre Cannot Hold/The Mystic Diverges
10 Mar 2004 - Part 15 Fate Takes a Hand (15.3, 15.4)
12 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Serena's visions: Rays of Hope
15 Mar 2004 - Part 16 Revelling in Ecstasy (16.1, 16.2, 16.3)
16 Mar 2004 - Part 17 Anakharim, Ride! (17.1, 17.2, 17.3)
18 Mar 2004 - Part 18 The Modrons Dilemma (18.1, 18.2)
18 Mar 2004 - Part 19 Leaving Ecstasy (19.1, 19.2, 19.3)
19 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Baron Bwimb Claims Great Find
19 Mar 2004 - Part 20 What Lies Beneath (20.1, 20.2, 20.3)
22 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Side note - Making Sense of it All
22 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Chapter 3 - Stonecutting
22 Mar 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Chapter 4 - Darkvision
23 Mar 2004 - Part 21 Now Would be a Good Time (21.1, 21.2)
24 Mar 2004 - Part 21 Now Would be a Good Time (21.3, 21.4)
26 Mar 2004 - Part 21 Now Would be a Good Time (21.5, 21.6)
30 Mar 2004 - Part 21 Now Would be a Good Time (21.7)
31 Mar 2004 - Part 21 Now Would be a Good Time (21.8, 21.9, 21.10)
01 Apr 2004 - Part 22 Show me the treasure (22.1, 22.2)
01 Apr 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Peace-loving Organisation Forced to Change Name
02 Apr 2004 - Twenty Questions: Malkir (Background)
02 Apr 2004 - Twenty Questions: Serena Allman (Background)
03 Apr 2004 - Twenty Questions: Littleby Cakebeard (Background)
03 Apr 2004 - Twenty Questions: Andrew Rimilia (Background)
07 Apr 2004 - Twenty Questions: Cade Highdale (Background)
08 Apr 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Chapter 5 - Love as Death
14 Apr 2004 - Part 23 Worthy Opponents (23.1, 23.2, 23.3)
15 Apr 2004 - Part 23 Worthy Opponents (23.4, 23.5, 23.6)
17 Apr 2004 - Part 24 She's got to have it
18 Apr 2004 - Part 25 Something is revealed, first half
19 Apr 2004 - Part 26 Reading the Past
20 Apr 2004 - Part 27 Something is revealed, second (very important) half
22 Apr 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Convergence/Divergence is dangerous to your health
26 Apr 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Regrowth of the Expansionist Sect
07 May 2004 - We Interrupt this Adventure: Bwimb is Dead!
14 May 2004 - Part 28 Plotting an Infinite Path
19 May 2004 - Part 29 Souled Down the River
19 May 2004 - Part 30 A potentially Short Trip / Dying Minds
20 May 2004 - Part 31 How the Mighty Have Fallen
22 May 2004 - Part 32 Footsteps of the gods
22 Jun 2004 - GM's noteGM's note
23 Jun 2004 - Cade Highdale tells it how it was

Part 1: Returning from City Barracks and Visiting the Friendly Fiend

chapter 1: Back to Stonecutters Row

“You'd be amazed who I had in the back of my cab the other day”, the pony cab driver began his usual banter despite the late hour. It was uncommon for the Hardheads to request a cab from the City Barracks at three past anti-peak and the driver mused on this as he told his tale of transporting some xill to the Clerks ward. Then again, he thought the three passengers he was taking to the Lower ward were also a fairly strange bunch too.

The stocky dwarf wore long leather coat and he was burdened by many scrolls and books poking out of satchels and the numerous coat pockets. The gemstone that he had set in to the front of his skullcap gave the impression to the driver that the dwarf might be a spell slinger of some kind. But perhaps it was simply some form of decoration.

Next to him sat a small and attractive human woman in a long white dress with elegant swan feathers decorating the sleeves. She had quite a few items of jewelry on her person and the driver pegged her as one of those rich folk from the Lady's Ward. What her business might be in the Lower Ward at this hour was none of his business, but never the less the driver kept himself amused for some time by thinking up fantastical tales of late night clandestine meetings.

Perhaps the sponsor for the journey was the third person in the cab. Sitting opposite the woman and the dwarf was a tall man with long hair and a small amount of facial hair that was slowly on its way to becoming a beard. The driver recognised him as a new comer to the city as he was practically glowing with health. The serene aura that the man exuded gave the driver a reassuring feeling that nothing would go amiss on the journey.

By the end of the trip the driver had learned from their discussions of his passengers that the dwarf was called Littleby, the noblewoman was called Serena and the calm chap who seemed to be meditating through most of the ride was Malkir. When they arrived in Stonecutter's row at the end of the trip the driver was tempted to over-charge them, but a swift glance from the calm chap convinced him to ask for the normal rate of taking a journey in pony cab through the city at very early hour of the morning.

chapter 2 The Friendliest Shopkeep in the Cage

“I need to get something from A'kin”, Littleby stated after the pony cab had set off down the road.

Malkir was quite keen to get some rest after a long night at the City Barracks, but after a bit of cajoling from Serena he eventually gave in and decided to accompany his friends to the shop called the Friendly Fiend.

Despite the early hour of the morning the Friendly Fiend was open for business and a bell jangled as Littleby pushed open the door. Behind the counter of the little magical trinket shop stood a tall, broad shouldered humanoid figure with a furry body, clawed hands and the head of a fanged jackal. He wore his usual black and gold robe, as well as some colourful bracelets around each wrist.

“Hello there”, the shopkeeper greeted his first customers of the day with a warm smile. “Welcome to my shop. How nice to see you again good Sirs and Madam. I trust that you are in good health?”

“Very well”, replied Littleby. “In fact I would feel a whole lot better if you could provide with a scroll of 'Zone of Respite'.”

“But of course,” grinned the tall Arcanoloth. “What does that spell do exactly?”

“It prevents dimensional travel within a certain area.” The dwarvern scholar explained. He was about to launch in to a more in-depth explanation of the workings of the spell when the shopkeeper politely interrupted him.

“Ah yes,” A'kin replied quickly. “I do believe that I have one of those scrolls. I usually deal only in trinkets and small curios. But since you have started to frequent my shop, I have begun to collect the odd scroll.”

The shopkeeper moved over to one of the many bins in his small shop and began to rummage inside it. As he dug through the bin full of magical trinkets he turned to the other customers who had come in with the dwarven scholar.

“Lady Serena, my dear, is there anything that I can get for you?” A'kin asked as he stared at her white dress intently.

“Um...” Caught off guard whilst looking at a beautiful silver pair of earing in a glass case, Serena was unsure of what to reply.

“I trust that the torc is still functioning well?” A'kin asked casually as he continued with his search through the next bin stuffed to the brim with scrolls.

“Oh yes, very well.” Serena looked over briefly at Malkir, whose face was blank and gave nothing away.

“No sharp pains, jolly good.” A'kin said conversationally. “It's nice to hear it's working OK. Some people don't attune well to such items. You are wearing a rather powerful psionic catalyst at the moment.”

“This?” Serena was somewhat taken aback by the shopkeeper's casual remarks and unconsciously her hand reached towards the torc that she was wearing.

“Yes. Quite a potent bit of jewelry,” he replied as his search reached the bottom of the barrel.

“Aha! I have it”, A'kin cried out suddenly as he pulled out a thin metal scroll case. Malkir who had been standing close to the front door and observing the conversation between the shopkeeper and his friends thought for a moment that he saw the arcanoloth pull the scroll case from his sleeve, but dismissed the thought immediately when he saw that there was no way for the sleeves to hide such an item.

“You're an absolute saviour,” said the dwarven scholar as he manoeuvred his way between the many bins. The shopkeeper had already made his way back to the counter and was busy wrapping up the scroll case in some colourful paper.

“The wizards who brought me this was traveling in a muddy landscape and therefore the scroll is somewhat smudged.” A'kin said with genuine guilt in his voice. “My apologies for the poor condition, but I believe that this is the scroll that you are looking for. Are you planning on traveling outside the city soon?”

“It's always a possibility.” Littleby answered guardedly.

“You are, of course, aware that you can only enter the city via portals.” He paused briefly as if struck by a sudden thought. “Then again, the Harmonium have planar man catchers and special manacles to prevent fugitives from using short dimension jumps o escape.” A'kin said with a knowing grin on his jackal-headed face. “Perhaps you should look in to the Harmonium furnishing you with some.”

“It appears that we've had a couple of conversations that I don't recall having.” Littleby replied in a confused and suspicious voice. He was busy pulling his coin purse out of one of his pockets and missed seeing the mischievous smile on the shopkeeper's face.

“Rumours do fly,” said A'kin as if that explained everything. “A seller of small trinkets sometimes passes his time with gossip and idle amusements.”

“How much do you want for it?” Littleby asked trying to get the conversation back to the scroll he'd come in search of.

“I'm not really good at putting prices on scrolls, how much do you think it's worth?” Akin asked.

Littleby paused briefly to perform some mental calculations. “Five hundred gold?”

“ Five hundred sounds reasonable.” A'kin said smiling. “If you'd like to sell me some of your scrolls, then I'd be more than happy to take them off your hands.”

chapter 3 Memories for Sale

Malkir bought a crystal mimir and the three companions were just about to exit the shop when A'kin rushed over to the door to bid them farewell.

“Always glad to be of service,” he said as he held open the door. “Lady Serena, I wish you well on your travels and am sad that I cannot help you further in your quest with the mere trinkets in my shop.”

“I wonder,” Serena paused before she stepped out of the shop. “You sold Malkir an interesting amulet and I was wondering if you had any others?”

“Alas, such an item is very rare.” A'kin replied looking crest-fallen. “But if I come across anything like it, I'll be sure to hold it for you.” He paused briefly and seemed to be struck by another sudden thought. “I do have this one item that functions similar to a recorder stone that the Sensates have in the Civic Festhall. It's wonderful inside the Sensate head-quarters as there is a huge variety of entertainment, but a humble shop-keeper like myself can rarely afford to go. This item is similar in that it can store memories.”

“The pendant is a rather ugly shape, but if you were looking for something and wanted to record an emotion. This would a very convenient way of doing so.” The shopkeeper pulled the pendant from around his neck and handed it to Serena.

“Would you be prepared to part with it?” she asked.

“But of course, my dear I am a shop-keeper and providing things to people who need them is my calling.” The arcanoloth's smile split his face from ear to ear and his white teeth stood out in contrast to the circles of black fur around his eyes.

“So it's not a prized possession?” Serena asked as she played with the black pendant in her pale hands. The black lump attached to a silver chain looked like a small toad-like creature that had become petrified inside a lump of coal.

“No,” replied the shopkeeper. “I have experimented with it and touched on the memories inside. But I prefer not to use such an item.”

“Hmm, interesting” said Serena looking intrigued. “How much would you charge for this?”

“It's quite a rare item and the Sensates would pay handsomely for it, but since you're a valued customer and friend of Littleby Cakebeard – I'll part with it for three hundred gold. As long as you recommend my little shop to your friends.” A'kin wrapped the pendant in a white piece of paper that he found lying on a bin nearby and exchanged the package for the coins that Serena held out.

After the companions had each bought something in the shop, they returned to Malkir's house in 34b Stonecutter's row.

Part 2: Resting, Eating and Performances at Stonecutter's Row

chapter 1 A Royal Welcome

“Welcome Master”. The halfling head of the house-hold bowed by prostrating herself in the entrance hall as Malkir and his companions stepped across the threshold in to the house. She stood up, straightened her long dress and walked over to the newcomers in her usual small shuffling step.

“The kobolds are downstairs training, Master.” Annaleese said. “They only seemed to respond to my commands when I held a cleaver in my hand. Perhaps it is a cultural thing, Master.”

“I shall ponder this mystery,” Malkir said filing away the information in the back of his mind.

“Very good Master, I shall leave it in your capable hands.” Annaleese glanced up the stairs briefly and paused before phrasing her next statement. “The girls are somewhat restless. The priestess Ejelka has been instructing them and they are currently about in the Lower Ward.”

“This can only be for the best,” Malkir replied.

“Is there anything that you require of them?” Annaleese asked, hoping that the Master would provide them with some sense of direction.

“As I've said before,” Malkir responded with a sigh, “this place is a refuge. A sanctuary and they must strive to find their own path. If such a path leads to the gates of Tomeri then so be it.”

“They feel somewhat lost,” said Annaleese striving to make her point as clear as possible. “Is Ejelka the first challenge?”

“Yes,” replied Malkir with a trace of a smile. “That is the first lesson. Being given the freedom to chose one's own path is a very powerful thing. It takes a special kind of courage to accept that.”

Annaleese bowed again by kneeling on the ground and prostrating herself. She did not see Malkir's slight frown. After standing back up again she announced that hot food and drinks would be prepared within the hour. Annaleese walked slowly out of the room, bowed slightly and disappeared in to the kitchen.

chapter 2 What Memories May Come

Littleby went upstairs and found himself an empty bedroom where he could advance himself in the Arts. After pouring over his books for some time he began to chant softly and draw forth magical energy slowly but surely so that it would bond to his flesh permanently. For a moment his eyes felt as if they were on fire and that the world was filled with a searing light.

When his eyesight returned he tested his new powers by looking around the room carefully for the items that he had prepared earlier. Sure enough he was able to see the scrolls with magical writing right away, as well as the invisible stones that he'd placed around the bedroom.

Serena also went upstairs to look for an empty bedroom and drew the memory stone that she'd bought at the Friendly Fiend from her bag. After making herself comfortable Serena began to run her slender fingers over the ugly black pendant to explore its contours. The statue was formed to look like a frog- or newt-like creature trying to escape from becoming petrified in a lump of black rock.

Serena closed her eyes and in the mental mindscape reached in to the stone to draw forth the memories held within. The images that rushed out of the stone almost made her cry out as she suddenly found herself partially submerged in a swamp in a barren and ugly landscape. At the edge of the swamp stood two men in city guard uniforms who were leaning on their pole arms and passing a bottle of wine between them. The face of one of the men was clearly visible, but the other had his back turned to the swamp.

For a moment Serena wanted to call out, but then she realised that these men were responsible for her current predicament. One of the guards laughed and threw the bottle in to the fetid water of the swamp grumbling about the quality of the cheap alcohol. The other guard slapped him on the back and turned to enjoy the spectacle of their former companion slowly sinking in to the dark and slimy water within the swamp.

The smell of rotting vegetation and stench of a dead fhorge nearby made Serena want to reach up to a nearby dead tree. However, her torso quickly slipped lower down and she took a gulp of air as her shoulders and neck sank beneath the water line. The speed with which she was sinking deeper in to the swamp made Serena think that perhaps there was something tugging at her legs, but she did not have longer to ponder on it as the water soon reached her chin and then her nose.

The last thing that she saw as the fetid water rushed up her nose and over eyes was the two guards laughing and the turning their backs before walking back towards the city. The thought of many scented flowers bloomed in her mind, before the world finally became a cold and dark memory.

Serena's subconscious pulled her back from the memory within the stone before it managed to drag her in any further. When she finally opened her eyes she found that she was taking in breaths in great big gulps. She slowly climbed off the bed and made her way downstairs to join the others for a meal. As she walked down the stairs she was forced to hold on to the banister as her legs were still shaking from the experience.

chapter 3 Kobold Monk Manoeuvres

“The meal is ready, Master.” Annaleese had laid out the table with a variety of different dishes and the halfling woman stood at the end of the table beckoning the companions to sit down and enjoy the meal. She returned to the kitchen several times to bring wine, beer, steaming vegetables, succulent meats and Arborean honey cakes for dessert.

Towards the end of the meal as the companions sat chatting amongst themselves when a group of twelve kobolds came in to the room in an orderly fashion. The kobolds bowed by kneeling and prostrating themselves and then moved to form a line in front of the diners at the table. Annaleese stood just within the doorway of the room and kept a close eye on the kobolds.

One of the kobolds broke away from the others and stood facing them with his hands held high. The other kobolds moved to the other end of the room and formed a V-shape. A couple began to argue about who should stand at the front of the V and the companions could hear the two kobolds whispering loudly “Mine” as they jostled for position. Annaleese cleared her throat and brought a frying pan in to view from behind her back, which made the kobolds quiet down immediately and stand in position.

After Annaleese nodded to the lead kobold, the creatures jumped in to action and launched themselves one after the other at the lone kobold facing them in the middle of the room. The kobold facing the oncoming rush of his companions deflected punches, side-stepped kicks and leap over those who sought to trip him up. It was like watching a kobold fighting his way upstream through a torrent of attacks.

After a minute of this going on, the kobolds paused and the lone kobold had managed to keep his position in the centre of the room. He bowed by kneeling on the floor and touching his forehead to the ground. As he stood up, he said: “Mine” in an affirmative manner and joined the back of the V formation. Another kobold took his place and after a nod from Annaleese another minute of fighting took place.

This process was repeated for all of the kobolds and by the end of it they all looked quite exhausted. Some of the kobolds fared better than others and one unfortunate kobold was forced to retreat by his attackers until his back was against the wall. When it came to the end of his turn he said: “Yip” in a despondent tone of voice and several of the other kobolds laughed quietly.

The small dog-like creatures covered in yellow scales lined up to bow towards the companions seated at the table who had watched the spectacle in silence. Littleby cleared his throat and asked the kobolds in draconic if they could understand him. He spoke slowly and carefully pronounced each word to make sure that they could hear it. After a few quiet mutters from the kobolds one of them replied in a barking voice that it could speak draconic far better than he and they bowed deeply once again before filing out of the room.

Part 3: Stepping from the Foundry to the Outlands

chapter 1 Godsman, There's No Need to Feel Sad

After the companions has enjoyed their meal they each chose a bedroom to rest in for awhile before getting up several hours after peak and preparing to leave Sigil. Malkir, Serena and Littleby packed their gear and walked through the busy streets of the Lower Ward in the direction of the Foundry.

The large smoke stacks of the Foundry were easy to see towering above the other buildings in the Lower ward, even past the gray haze in the streets and bladed rooftops shrouded in smog. The group passed all manner of people as they walked through the dirty streets and alleys of the ward. Artisans discussing their trade in whispered conversation in small cafe's, labourers hauling goods between storehouses and workshops. Children playing in the streets, their faces pale and yellow from living in a ward with the worst air in Sigil. Harlots plying their trade from alleyways in the side-streets and beggars crying out for alms.

Once in awhile a doorway or window would flare and crackle with blue energy as one or more people stepped through. Amongst the hustle and bustle a path cleared for a tightly packed groups of red armoured warriors who strode through the ward in order to keep the peace. In some places the conversations stopped as the Harmonium patrols passed, but in other places no one paid them any attention.

After walking for some time, they finally arrived at the towering metal gates of the Foundry and managed to get the attention of one of the guards. Littleby explained that they had a letter for Steid Die Bee which requested passage through on of the portals inside the Foundry. The guards sent off a runner and continued their patrols in their impressive custom made suits of armour. Every so often the members of the patrol would break out in to a sprint, finish by swinging their pole arms in perfect formation and then continue marching.

After waiting some time in the busy and noisy streets outside the Foundry, the companions were led inside past several workshops to a smaller one outside the main building. The guard bid them enter and then withdrew to return to the main gate. Inside the workshop a line of men, stripped to their waists, were busy hammering out large metal plates in to trays and pots. The heat of a nearby forge made the room hot and uncomfortable, as well as filling it with the strong odour sweat and metal.

Walking up and down the line was a tall humanoid figure with blue skin and glowing white eyes whose knees were bent the other way compared to humans. He walked with a flowing gait and paused in front of some of the men to shake his head. In a quiet voice that somehow managed to carry over the din of hammering he corrected them about their technique, except for the man at the front of the line who was wearing full metal armour and swinging his hammer with perfect precision. Piled next to his work bench were twice as many pots and the other men occasionally threw him glances of admiration before turning back to their work.

The group recognised the man working at the end of the line as Caleb Hewer, an earth genasi who had helped them in the past and spent his time hammering and drinking with some members of the Godsmen. He was wearing a bronze coloured breastplate that he never seemed to take off, as well as thick metal plates on his arms and legs.

When the companions entered the workshop Steid Die Bee came over to greet them. He read the letter from Arianna Redstrike that Littleby presented him with and then led them together with Caleb, and two mephits trailing behind him, to a doorway at the back of the workshop. Malkir took out a twig of razorvine from his pocket and stepped up to the doorway. Blue lightning crackled and crawled along the arch and a barren plain could be seen through the doorway. Malkir and his friends quickly rushed through the doorway leaving Sigil behind and arriving on the Outlands.

chapter 2 Entering Curst

After Caleb stepped out of the doorway in to the ruins of a tower he glanced around and could hear the flapping of wings as two mephits began to circle above him.

“BUGGER,” he said in his slow and monotone voice. “YOU SAID WE WERE GOING TO THE PUB.”

“Hub,” Littleby replied. “I said hub.”

The two mephits began to argue amongst themselves as to who got to fly ahead and scout, but the rest of the group ignored them and began walking away from the Spire towards the city on the horizon. The journey across the barren plain was uneventful and the landscape was only broken in places by clumps of boulders and dead vegetation that lay strewn across the ground as if scattered by a mighty hand.

Malkir took out his crystal mimir and held it up in order to describe the ruined tower that held the doorway back to Sigil. As he spoke the mimir floated above his outstretched hand and pulsed softly with an inner light. The other mimir that he had in his pack was metal and a silver colour, but that one was broken. It held information recorded by a variety of people, including the noted sage Arianna Arakis, but unfortunately the silver mimir could not record any new information.

After walking for the better part of a day they had reached the tall, razorvine covered, walls of the city of Curst - the gate-town to Carceri. When they got close to the walls they saw a caravan master arguing with the guards before being led off inside and the guards turned to stare at the newcomers. Serena covered her mouth after she made a sharp intake of breath when she recognised one of the guards from the memory in the stone. One of the other guards stepped forward the to address the newcomers.

“What business do you have here? You”, said the guard pointing at Caleb. “What brings you here?”

“THEY DID,” he replied in his usual slow-spoken voice.

The guard chortled and turned to address the others. “Is he a slave?”

“He's our companion.” Serena informed the guard.

“What brings you here?” the guard asked Malkir.

“I've come to see the sights.” he replied in a calm voice. Caleb had begun to glower at the guard after it finally dawned on him that he might just have been insulted.

“Does anyone else have any pressing business here?” the guard asked.

“I've come to see a friend of mine.” Serena informed the guard. She made a point of not looking at the other guards and surreptitiously hid the memory stone beneath her cloak.

The guard seemed to suddenly change his mind and rewarded the group with an oily smile. “You are all welcome to enter,” he said and gave the other guards a pointed look.

“What about leaving?” Malkir asked.

“You're by the gate,” the guard said nonchalantly. “If you want to leave then do so.”

“Excuse me, can you recommend a good inn?” Serena asked as they were about to enter the gate.

“They're all good inns,” the guard replied with a dry laugh. “There's no bad establishments in the city.”

Caleb managed to step on the foot of the guard as they filed in beneath the large gate and the companions were called back to pay a ten gold entrance fee. Not wishing to cause any further disturbance they made their way along the outer street in the city and ducked in to a tavern called the Lecherous Leper next to the Quartered Man.

Part 4: A brief sojourn in Curst

chapter 1 Undercover Woes

The Lecherous Leper was a run down tavern owned by a bitter tiefling who named his establishment after his wife who betrayed him. He frequently explained to new comers that he was still on speaking terms with his wife and that they were more than welcome to visit her, as she had been locked up in the attic of the tavern for the past ten years.

Seated at various tables around common room was a small cluster of dwarves, a treachery of tieflings and an assortment of other people who had withdrawn in to darkened corners. The innkeeper charged Serena and her friends for rooms and drinks before they had said more than ten words and not wishing to argue they paid the money and found a quiet table far from the bar.

After they'd sat down and stared at the cloudy liquid swirling inside the mugs brought by the sullen barmaid; the topic of conversation turned towards how best to disguise themselves. Littleby quietly wove a small enchantment that altered his appearance to look like an incredible ugly specimen of a dwarf. Serena decided upon pulling her cloak over her head and making use of the age old 'hacking cough routine'. Since the Luminous Ones had never met Malkir, he decided against disguising himself.

After staring at the cloudy liquid in their mugs for awhile longer, they quietly got up and left the Lecherous Leper to go to the tavern next door. Stepping in to the Quartered Man was not a vast improvement over the tavern that they had just come from and this place seemed to be filled with even more angry and bitter-looking patrons who huddled together at various tables whispering conspiracies and plotting schemes of revenge.

Almost all of the tables were full up, except for a table close to the bar which only had one man sitting next to it. As they walked through the tavern they began to understand why this table was almost empty and how the owner of the tavern, Abascis the Sweaty, got his name. The barkeep refused to serve Malkir muttering aloud: “We don't serve your kind.” Which drew confused looks from the others as there were a number of humans in the bar. However, they quickly purchased drinks that looked almost palatable and sat down at the table closest to the bar.

After looking around at the other tables in the bar, Serena spotted the table with the agents of the Luminous Ones and carefully pointed it out to the others. Seated at that table was a tall, striking human woman with long dark robes and wearing a symbol of a black sunburst around her neck. Next to her sat a handsome half-elf dressed in tight-fitting black clothing. He amused himself by making a gold coin jump between the knuckles of his hands and flashing the barmaids a dazzlingly wicked smile every time that they came past.

Next to the half-elf was a moody looking human woman wearing expensive scale mail armour and a blood stained curved blade on her lap. Her helmet, shaped like a leering face, lay on the table in front of her and she was busy talking to it, listing all the woes and troubles in her life. Finally next to her sat a dwarf wearing armour covered entirely in short spikes, who was sharpening his axe with slow, deliberate strokes. As he did so he gave each of the others a long hate-filled stare, which twisted his face in to hideous savagery.

Caleb was still looking around at different tables, not having picked up on the fact that everyone else was busy staring at just one table.

“We have some Luminous Ones nearby,” said Serena quietly from the depth of her hooded cloak.
“WHERE?” asked a confused Caleb who was still looking around at different tables.