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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4479351" data-attributes="member: 3285">To Walk in Carcosa: Part 5 – The Northern QuarterThey continued to climb up the amphitheater. At the top was an amazing view.  The city was spread out beneath them, and over the roofs the lake itself was a great stain of shadow, except on its far, far shore.  There reflected the lights of the Palace.Although Carcosa contained many impressive structures, its Palace dominated the city.  It was extensive, boasting three huge, loosely defined wings, each with towers, parapets and spires supported at points with buttresses and joined to one another by soaring walkways.  The mostly separate wings were unified by jointly fronting three sides of a vast square.  The square itself became a balcony that depended out above the still waters of the lake that bordered its fourth side.  The whole building was a mixture of styles, but somehow a triumph of form.  The streets around them were small and twisted, rising and falling unexpectedly.  It seemed a more modest part of town, but the buildings still offered their own grandiosities—aerial walkways in iron, wooden carvings of fabulous beasts or nature, chimney pots that were cast simulacra of its owner’s trade: shoes and boots, muskets, silver fish.   Once, they followed a corridor that turned in and in, growing narrower and narrower, progressing with the formulaic perfection of a conch shell that somehow promised a fantastic conclusion before, frustratingly, became too tight to pursue.As they turned a corner, they came upon a small group of masked figures.  As the rest move off, the last turned to greet them.“And I am Noss,” he said, swaying drunkenly.  The masked man doffed a red and green bird mask. “Sorry, who?” asked Kham.“Noss.  I’m Noss.  Didn’t you ask just now?”“No,” said Ilmarė.  “We didn’t.”“Ah.  Well, you look like you’re not from here.  Were you born here?”“No,” said Kham.  “But you could say we’re regular visitors.”Noss nodded.  “I’m sure it looks quite different from last time. There is a great festival happening that has given rise to much excitement. A Stranger has come to the city who promises further upheaval—we wear masks in the Stranger’s honor, hoping that all will be to the good.”“Us too,” said Kham.“If you need help, I can act as your guide.”“Actually, we were wondering if you’ve seen some…” Ilmarė hesitated, “ugly-masked people.”Noss thought for a moment.  “I think I can help.  Follow me.”He led them through a tiny, roofed alleyway and into a hidden courtyard surrounded by tall houses.  A round bench had been built around an asphodel tree there.  “Sit here and wait.  Everyone comes by sooner or later.”Then he left them.An indeterminable amount of time passed, as it was impossible to keep track in Carcosa.  Then they heard Scarbelly’s voice. “Why be everyone keep complimentin’ us on our masks?”</blockquote>

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