(CSToA) Touch of the Abyss [IC]

As you are set to enter the city proper and find some lodging for the night (or track down a wayward dark-merchant friend), you find yourself forced to wait at the city gates.

The looming black basalt walls of Istivin cast long shadows over the tired ground. The sense of foreboding over the city is strange, given the fact that it was spared destruction and remains the vibrant trade cetner of these reclaimed lands. Someting about those dark walls, and the way the gate towers seem to frown down upon teh lien of travelers and merchants seeking to enter teh city seems chilling. The mood is not lightened by the center gate tower's menacing granite cornerstone in the shape of four massive wolves.

It takes four hours before your finally up to the gate. A tired guard named Emil Tandalas approaches the group.

"What are your names? What is your business in this city? Just visiting, or planning to stay a while?"

He waits for a response. Then he pulls up his clipboard and pencil, beginning the process of filling out the standard questions decreed by the Marchioness.

"How long have you traveled together?"

"What is your religion?"

"Where did you get that armor?" - directed at everyone, not just Slisik, though that may take a few more words than most.

"Have you ever been to Saltmarsh? Why not?"

"Are you carrying any unpreserved meat?"

"Have you been having nightmares lately?"

"What are they about?"

"Have you ever killed a dragon?" - as a side note, this question was not one I originally anticipated.

"Have you ever been killed?"

"Have you ever been hurt by the living dead?"

"How many torches are you carrying?"

"How about gold?"

"Where were those coins minted?"

"Why havn't you spent them yet?"

Slisik sees no reason not to be cooperative. As far as he can remember, he hasn't yet committed any crimes in human lands. Therefore, he should be able to answer the questions truthfully to get inside the city walls.

"My name is Slisik." he begins. He does not introduce Jabsis, who is curled up inside his backpack at the moment. "I've come to the city to conduct business, and to rest after a season of work. As for how long I'm staying, I haven't decided yet. I would guess more than a fortnight at least."

"I have worked with these humans for little less than half a year now."

"I give worship to Semuanya, patron Goddess of my ancestors."

Slisik looks down at his new banded mail, which he obviously looks uncomfortable wearing. "I had the armor crafted recently in the nearby forest." ...What does he care about my armor? "It looks good on me, yes?"

"I have been to the saltmarsh, but not for many seasons. I was visiting a relative, a priest of the forests. Sadly, he was slain by the denizens of his own forest. The foolish reptile angered a pack of shocker lizards, it was really quite tragic." There seems to be some truth to this story, but a person carefully watching Slisik might get the impression that he either exaggerated or completely fabricated the circumstances of his fellow dragonborn's death.

"Sadly no, I'm not carrying any raw meat. I haven't feasted on such delights for far too long."

"I seldom have nightmares, but when I do, they are always about the destruction of my village. Not that it is this human's business, but the dreams are about my people being cut down by goblins, crying to me to end their suffering."

"Unfortunately I have killed a dragon, quite recently." Slisik holds up the claw he hacked off as proof. He doesn't mention story behind his armor, figuring if the guard doesn't recognize its value already, then he doesn't need to advertise himself to robbers.

"I have not been killed, nor injured by foul undead."

"I do not carry torches, although I have the ability to conjure magical light."

"I carry coin worth about 90 platinum pieces. The dragon I mentioned was quite wealthy. Where were they minted? I do not know your terms. I thought money was money." Slisik says this honestly, not often dealing with human currency in his swamp homeland.

"I haven't seen anything I want yet. I intend to spend most of the coin in this city, so be grateful for my business and let me pass already."

Veris is not in the habit of standing in line by city-gates, especially not a line as long as this one. There was always the chance someone would see trough her disguise, besides, there were better ways for her to spend her time.
When the party approaches the line she slips away into a side alley where she turns invisible. She makes her way to the city walls by a less heavily travelled road and effortlessly climbs them like a spider. On the other side she once again slips inside a dark alley, turns visible and emerges out into the streets in her human magical disguise. Wandering the city for an hour or two she makes a note of the major land-marks and then heads back towards the gates. Taking a window-seat in a bar near the gate she has a few drinks and passes the time listening to the local gossip, keeping an eye out for her companions and the back-alley peddler.

Errol, frustrated and a little twitchy from so much time spent doing nothing, finally approaches the gates, only to be stopped by an officious guardsman.

My name? Errol. I am a wandering student of the Sublime Way.

I have no specific plans to stay in the city, although my study of the Way has taught me that life is best when one adjusts to any new information that arises.
Errol works to avoid showing his boredom and frustration with such pointless questions. If they weren't wanted in the city he'd be just fine moving on to find somewhere more hospitable, and if they were going to be let in, why not just get on with it?

As the dragonborn said, we've travelled together for almost six months.

I follow no specific religion, but I honor all gods in their time.

I purchased this armor just about a year ago from a minor wizard in the town of Oakhurst, far from here.

I have never been to the Saltmarsh. I have never been given reason to go there.

I carry no unpreserved meat. I find that such food inhibits my energy flow.

I never have nightmares. I learned to control my subconscious mind years ago.

We just killed a dragon a short time ago. It demanded that I sacrifice my companions and I refused.

I have avoided death so far in my existence.

I have been attacked by the walking dead, although I didn't suffer any serious consequences.

I carry no torches. I have a few dozen platinum and gold pieces. I know not where they were minted, as I didn't get them from a mint.

I haven't spent them because I haven't found the right object to purchase. If you happen to know of an exceptional weaponsmith in this city I may find such an object.

Slisik and Errol are ushered on, though the guard seems to have to scribble quite a bit first. Veris seems to already have a significant lead on them, however, and finds herself some strange company.

Nephtys said:

Veris is not in the habit of standing in line by city-gates, especially not a line as long as this one. There was always the chance someone would see trough her disguise, besides, there were better ways for her to spend her time.
When the party approaches the line she slips away into a side alley where she turns invisible. She makes her way to the city walls by a less heavily travelled road and effortlessly climbs them like a spider. On the other side she once again slips inside a dark alley, turns visible and emerges out into the streets in her human magical disguise. Wandering the city for an hour or two she makes a note of the major land-marks and then heads back towards the gates. Taking a window-seat in a bar near the gate she has a few drinks and passes the time listening to the local gossip, keeping an eye out for her companions and the back-alley peddler.

Click to expand...

Once you pass through the gate, you can see Gate Square ahead. Dozens of beggars huddle within, some of them maimed veterans of the recent wars. Veris feels a tug on the hem of her cloak and finds an elderly blind man addressing her, despite her rather hidden status to the rest of the masses.

"Can you part with a copper for an old blind man?"

Veris starts, surprised at having been discovered. Barely supressing a vexed hiss she rips her cloak out of the man's grasp before anyone suspects there's more to the old fools words than merely the ravings of a madman.

ooc: If all goes well:
ic: Annoyed, she continues trough the less packed portions of the square, cursing herself for not going over the walls and on deserted streets as she had intended.

When Slisik and Errol cross the gates, they find the same blind begger waiting on the other side. He hobbles towards everyone entering the gate, greeting each in turn in a similar manner.

"Please? A copper for a poor injurred veteran..."

Errol looks down on the beggar with a bit of sympathy. None who made their living by the blade should be forced to live in such a state. Here, old one, not that it will help in any significant way. Errol then flips him a silver piece, aiming for his cup or hand, whichever is outstretched for the requested coin.

The begger gets a piercing look in his eyes and quickly whispers, "Beware. It is always watching." He then begins to walk away.

Note: Check the OOC thread when you get the chance. I'll be posting something relevant there.

Slisik completely ignores the beggar, not so much as looking in his direction. He wasn't about to give up any of his hard-earned shinies, especially not to an old soft-skin.