Fyrestryke
Explorer
The Sigil Adventures
Episode 1
“Seamstresses and Top Hats.”
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Timodoro Uol: A wealthy native of Sigil, budding master of the arcane arts
Corvus Vendilus: A half-celestial Paladin from the prime
Hiram Molior: A sculptor with a powerful mind trapped in sigil from the prime
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Episode 1
“Seamstresses and Top Hats.”
________________________________________________________________
Timodoro Uol: A wealthy native of Sigil, budding master of the arcane arts
Corvus Vendilus: A half-celestial Paladin from the prime
Hiram Molior: A sculptor with a powerful mind trapped in sigil from the prime
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Timodoro was headed to the Lower Ward to check on the status of a Thuvir Ceremonial pendant he had commissioned. He read that it was an adequate ward against stirges. Walking next to him was Hiram a local sculptor. Both of them were headed to the same smithy, Timodoro to check on his pendant and Hiram to pickup some new sculpting chisels. Corvus was working hard at the smithy in question, just trying to make a decent living as most of the well paying jobs went to cagers who’ve apprenticed longer than he.
The smithy was a ramshackle stone and wood beam building belching out smoke. Timodoro and Hiram had met briefly when Hiram was contracted to make a statue of Timodoro’s recently deceased dog. Timodoro remembered the statue not being very well crafted.
Timodoro said, “So, Hirem, still fleecing the berks with your dead animal sculptures?”
Hiram replied, “You should have requested the sculpture before your dog died. I did the best I could.”
Corvus noticed two blokes approaching the smithy. Master Inez shouted, “Corvus! Attend to those customers!”
Corvus greeted the two men, "Greetings, may I be of some help to you today?"
Hiram spoke first, “Greetings, Corvus. I came to pickup those chisels for my boss."
"Oh, right this way, Sir Hiram.” Corvus began to wrap up the chisels for Hiram.
Timodoro asked, “How's the Thuvir Pendant coming? Were you able to get the correct gauge copper?”
"I believe we are making progress on the project but we still have some work to do before it is ready."
Suddenly, they heard a shriek outside in the street.
Timodoro exclaimed, “What was that?” Timodoro moved cautiously to a window to peek outside.
Hiram shouted and headed for the door, "Let's check it out!"
Corvus grabbed up a sword and headed into the street.
They saw a woman, half naked, running through the street. She plowed through several onlookers then turned toward the Doomguard Walk. The trio couldn’t see anyone following her, but they set out after her to see what was wrong.
Before they could catch up, she dashed around a corner and they heard her scream again. Upon rounding the corner themselves, they noticed that the woman was huddled in the street. She appeared to have fallen before two heavily armed brutes. The two men appeared to be Doomguards. Corvus moved in between them and the woman.
They scowled at Corvus, "Move aside," they say.
Corvus said, "Just what do you think you are doing attacking unarmed women?"
"We haven't attacked anyone... yet," says one. "This 'ere wench comes runnin' outta nowhere and smacks right into us!" The other said, "She looks wretched. Done is done, says I."
Corvus was worried for the woman, "Timodoro, check to see what is wrong with the lady."
"I'll tell you what's wrong with 'er," says the first Doomguard. "She's spent!"
Corvus made sure to keep himself between the Doomguards and the woman.
Timodoro helped the woman up, “Here, woman. What are you doing causing trouble?”
The woman grabbed hold of Timodoro’s arm and asked, “"Is he gone?" she asked.
Timodoro questioned the woman, “Do you belong to someone?”
"Belong?" she said, pulling herself up.
“Your master! Is he the one that's gone?”
"I've no master. I'm a seamstress." She held up her finger so Timodoro could see the callous.
“You've no minders?”
"Ma and pa, of course." She pulled her tattered clothes around her, “I thought I was a deader.”
Timodoro asked, “What are you falling into these cutters for?”
She said, "I was trying to get away... from the--- the snowman!"
Hiram queried, "The snowman??"
Timodoro looked to the Doomguards, “Barmy she is!”
She responded to Hiram, "Well... he sort of looked like one..."
Corvus spoke to the Doomguards, "Why don't you be on your way sirs. We will see that she gets back to home safely."
The Doomguards were more interested in what Timodoro said, "Aye," said one, "Lemme finish 'er. Prolly some barmy bleaker. Good only for a madhouse."
"Look," she said. "I don't know what to do! He'll be back, I know it! He had this--- look in his eyes--- eyes as black as coal..."
Timodoro hushed the girl.
"You gonna do 'er in, guvnor?" asks a Doomguarder.
“Better than that!” Timodoro winked at the Doomguards. “I'll see she minds her station”
He laughed. "Right. Be gentle!" The Doomguards walked off.
The girl watched them go. "Thank you all," she says. She took them to a shop about two blocks away. There were several women inside working.
"I was just on my way in for second shift," she said. "That's when he came after me, right outside my door!"
They could hear the whir of many looms working in the building. Several women of differing ages were watching them. One matronly woman stood up and began walking towards them.
"Oy there!" shouted the matron. "Anora, you good for nothing! Late again!”
Timodoro gave here a stern look.
"What are you blokes doing 'ere? Clear off!"
Corvus spoke up, "She was attacked in the street"
Timodoro replied, “The girl had a close call with some Doomguards.”
The matronly woman yelled at Anora, "Get back to your machine! I'm docking you for fifteen minutes!" Then, she responded to the men, "Don't surprise me. She's for the Dustmen, if'n you ask me!"
Hiram asked, "Why do you say that?"
"I really should get back to work," said Anora.
"Cause she's a trouble maker!"
Corvus asked Anora, "Can you tell us about this snowman before you do?"
Timodoro spoke to the matron, “Give us another of her fifteen minutes and I'll place an order.”
"Snowman?" the matron cackled. "You're all twitter-pated. But, I'll take your order."
Timodoro responded to the matron, “In fifteen. Have you silks?”
He immediately switched to speaking to Anora, “What do you know of snow here in sigil, Anora?”
The matron responded, "Aye."
Timodoro responded, “In fifteen.”
"Snow?" said Anora. "Nothing."
“Then how would you know a snow-man?”
"Sometimes a door brings it..."
“Is it something you read? A door here?”
"Well, I've seen pictures. And sometimes a door will open and snow comes out. That happened once, when I was a kid. No, no door here, I think. Listen, I better get back to work. Maybe I should tell the Guvnors? I think I might need someone to take me back home after work, though..."
Corvus asked, "What time do you get off work. We will come and walk you home so you will be alright."
"In about 8 hours from now."
Hiram said, "I will come by and escort you as well, m'lady."
Anora thanked them and took her seat next to a loom and began her work.
"About that order, plucky?" said the matron.
“I'll place my order for a blood red braided silk scarf.”
"Done!"
“I have a new pendant that needs a place to be worn.”
Corvus said, "Speaking of work, we should get back to the smithy so I can take care of your business or I am going to be looking for a new job."
Hiram replied, "Aye, I need to get these chisels back to my boss."
Timodoro spoke, “Corvus, what more needs done for this pendant to be complete?”
"We are still trying to get the mold made. Once we have that it shouldn't be long at all."
Hiram said, “I can make a mold for you.” As they were walking, Hiram noticed someone with a white face (was it just a white face?) peering at them from a nearby corner. Then, the white face quickly disappeared. Hiram said, "I saw something behind that building over there. A white face was watching us."
Corvus asked, "Should we try and follow it."
Hiram chuckled, "As long as you don't get fired. Let's go."
Timodoro followed along, “If my pendant is to be done on time, I'm afraid I must stick close to you two.” With that, they set out to try and follow the white face.
They came to an alleyway. Timodoro could not detect any magic in the area and Corvus sensed no evil. The alley was a dead end. There was refuse everywhere. There was a large puddle of dirty water stretching across the alley. On the other side of the puddle was a top hat. Timodoro noticed that the hat glowed with a magical aura. Timodoro said, “There’s something there just past the puddle.” It began to rain.
Hiram asked, "What is it, Timodoro?"
“Well, this hat seems to have been touched by the arcane.”
Hiram and Corvus looked and it was an ordinary looking top hat. It appeared to be made of felt.
Corvus said, "Well whatever it was I don't think we are going to find it in this alley. I should probably get back to work."
Timodoro replied, “What are you on about Corvus? You don't see a magic hat everyday. Well, not one that you know of.”
"I just don't think standing around in an alley filled with trash is productive."
The alley was cobbled stone, but quite lumpy and full of treacherous footing.
"I think I am going to go back to work and we can meet back up to walk the lady we saved home.”
Hiram asked Timodoro, "Do you want the hat? I can get it for you."
Corvus sighed and extended his wings and flew over the puddle of water and retrieved the hat for Timodoro. The headband of the hat glistened with moisture. The hat seemed of normal hat weight and flexibility to Timodoro.
He decided to carry it with him, "I have some associates who may be able to find out more about this hat."
Corvus headed back to the smithy, "See you in eight hours."
Hiram said, "Aye. We'll meet at the seamstress shop."
Corvus and Hiram left Timodoro talking to his new hat in the alleyway. The rain turned to drizzle.
