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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4510226" data-attributes="member: 3285">On the Red March: Part 3 – Check Your Bags at the GatesThey could finally see the walls of Nishanpur rising in the distance.  Around the outside of the walls sprawled what could practically be called a city in itself.  Inns lined the roads and the gates were crowded with people entering and leaving.  Tents and shanties sprang up in the areas between buildings like mushrooms. There were posting along the road in several languages.“Your hometown is creeping me out,” said Kham.  “What’s with all the not talking?”The closer they got to the city, the more the silence became noticeable.  Though the streets were busy and shops were full, the area was surprisingly quiet. “It has been many years since I’ve been here,” said Sebastian.  “The Nierites must have destroyed the Nerothian spirit.”Everyone was huddled together, whispering to each other.  Some glanced over at them, then turned back to their conversation to whisper some more.  The whispers all blended together to form an eerie hum that hung in the air.They joined a long line of whispering travelers seeking entry into the city proper.  They ended up waiting a long while on line, watching others get searched by a group of soldiers of the Swords of Nier.  Some crossed to a group of Sarishan priest standing opposite to have a spell cast upon them.  It left a glowing red mark on the recipient’s forehead.  So marked, the visitors then rejoined the line.  “What is that?” asked Vlad.“The Mark of Sarish.”  Sebastian frowned.  “I’ve only heard rumors.”Kham guffawed. “I’m not getting a mark on my head so they can track me.”Each of the priests had the same glowing red mark on their brow, though the soldiers did not. “Quite the contrary,” whispered Sebastian.  “It’s for your protection, not theirs.  If anyone attacks you, it summons the Vorlerath.”Vlad leaned in to join the conversation.  “The who?”“The Vorlerath,” said Sebastian.  “You don’t want to meet one.”“Any other little quirks about your hometown that we should know about?” asked Kham.As it became his turn, the Swords of Nier looked over each of them.  One of the soldiers wore a bearskin cloak over his armor.  He scanned Kham and gave him a business-like pat down.  Kham opened his overcoat to oblige the soldier.  Pistols dangled from two bandoliers strung across his chest.  The guard’s eyes widened. “You’d better be a…”Kham lowered his lenses to look the man in the eye.  His white, pupiless eyes clearly indicated that Kham was both a val and a psionically gifted one at that.“Move along.”Vlad came next.  The guard drew Grungronazharr and examined it closely.  “Nice craftsmanship.  Too bad it’s not made of Sarishan steel.”  He turned away. Vlad drew back one fist to punch the man in the face, but Sebastian’s hand on his shoulder gave him pause.“I’m sure we can work something out.” Sebastian held out a jingling purse. “You seemed to have missed this when patting me down.”The guard turned back.  “It’s a good thing I searched you thoroughly,” he said.  He snapped Vlad’s blade back in its sheath and handed it to him.  “Next time, remember: if it’s not Sarishan steel it’s not allowed in.  I’ll remember you, and next time I won’t be so nice.”Once they were through the gates, Sebastian took a deep breath.  “Well, that’s one new law that the Nierites instituted.” He looked pointedly at Vlad. “We’ll have to keep our steel concealed.”  Vlad nodded back.  “Oh don’t worry.  I’ll only draw my blade when I intend to kill someone.”Shaking his head, Sebastian headed for the Trade Quarter.</blockquote>

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