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<blockquote data-quote="drnuncheon" data-source="post: 796907" data-attributes="member: 96">Session Twenty-Four, Part One: Highgate&quot;Ach, those b*st*rds,&quot; the captain muttered as the harbor-pilot began steering his ship towards the dock.&quot;What's that?&quot;&nbsp; It was one of the castaways he'd picked up, the elf.&nbsp; They'd been floating along in some horrible patchwork attempt at a ship, and had filled his own craft with strange tales of an island populated by monstrous beasts.&nbsp; I'd not have believed them if it weren't for the teeth she kept as souveniers...&quot;That barge, Fahil's.&quot;&nbsp; The captain pointed out the gilded monstrosity.&nbsp; &quot;My men land next t'that with coin in their pockets, and I'll be missing half or more by the time we're ready to ship out.&nbsp; I wonder how much he bribes the Pilot's Guild.&quot;The elf nodded studying the sheer cliffs and the city that floated beneath thm. &quot;Tell me.&nbsp; How would we reach the Temple of Knowledge?&quot;&quot;That's 'top the cliff.&nbsp; You'll have to cross Sordadon and take the ferry...&quot;<img src="http://www.io.com/~jeffj/b2sep.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> The ferry-barge floated with majestic, agonizing slowness into the mouth of the cavern.&nbsp; Lanterns hung about illuminated the place with a soft glow, as workmen loaded and unloaded the flat-bottomed boats for their trips to the harbor city.&quot;Now where?&quot; Dru said.&nbsp; &quot;We're supposed to find a lift, whatever that is.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Didn't you ask?&quot;&quot;I didn't want to look like a tourist.&quot;From the back of the cavern, steel rattled.&nbsp; Slowly, a section of the floor began to rise, lifted up into the air by the metal chains attached to its circumference.&nbsp; The platform was laden down with crates and people.&quot;There!&quot; Dru said, dashing forward through a crowd of surprised people.&nbsp; Di'Fier gaped a minute, then followed her, leaping onto the wood amid angered cries.&nbsp; A moment later Benares and Shesara joined them.&quot;Do you two constantly live on the edge?&quot; the bard asked, as Dru leaned over to shout to the stragglers, &quot;We'll meet at the inn!&quot;.&quot;Sometimes we live over it,&quot; Di'Fier responded.<img src="http://www.io.com/~jeffj/b2sep.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Blinking in the sunlight, the foursome slipped out of the marketplace, surrounded by the unfamiliar sights and smells of Highgate.&quot;I never knew horses smelled so bad,&quot; Di'Fier muttered.&quot;They do when you get this many of them.&nbsp; If the Captain was right, we need to go to the Temple District.&quot;&quot;Which way is that?&quot;&quot;Not a clue.&quot;Benares cleared his throat.&nbsp; &quot;Permit me,&quot; he said with a smile. &quot;I do have some small connection with the Temple.&quot;&quot;Lead on, then.&quot;The foursome wound their way through the streets of Highgate.&nbsp; Looking ahead, Dru scowled. &quot;Benares, that's the city gate.&quot;&quot;The New City gate, actually.&nbsp; Each of the districts has its own wall, although they're starting to grow together.&quot;&nbsp; The scholar gestured at the shantytown clustered in the shadow of the wall as they passed by.&nbsp; &quot;It's almost like separate cities now, but given another century of growth that will all change.&quot;&nbsp; He gestured to their right, across a canyon.&quot;Those ruins are the reason the city was originally founded, before they discovered the adamant ore.&nbsp; They're older even than the Valossan civilization.&quot;The dusty road curved around the ruins on its way to the Temple district, and they were forced to move aside as a coach rattled past, heraldic arms painted on its doors.&nbsp; Finally, they passed through Godsgate into the chaos of the Temple District, crossing it on their way to the Great Library.&quot;Finally,&quot; Dru said.&nbsp; &quot;I don't like this city, they have too many gods.&quot;&nbsp; She shoved open the great doors and stepped inside, and her face lit up to the sound of a terrified squeal and a man diving under his desk for protection.&quot;Norton!&quot; she cried happily.Compiler's Plug: This session - as well as the city of Highgate and the town of Kirkwood - brought to you by the kindness of Hal Greenberg and the folks at Thunderhead/Mystic Eye Games, who provided me with a copy of Bluffside: City on the Edge (and who I also owe some reviews to.)&nbsp; Bluffside is a fascinating product and deserves every bit of praise it has received on these boards.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="drnuncheon, post: 796907, member: 96"] [b]Session Twenty-Four, Part One: Highgate[/b] "Ach, those b*st*rds," the captain muttered as the harbor-pilot began steering his ship towards the dock. "What's that?" It was one of the castaways he'd picked up, the elf. They'd been floating along in some horrible patchwork attempt at a ship, and had filled his own craft with strange tales of an island populated by monstrous beasts. [i]I'd not have believed them if it weren't for the teeth she kept as souveniers...[/i] "That barge, Fahil's." The captain pointed out the gilded monstrosity. "My men land next t'that with coin in their pockets, and I'll be missing half or more by the time we're ready to ship out. I wonder how much he bribes the Pilot's Guild." The elf nodded studying the sheer cliffs and the city that floated beneath thm. "Tell me. How would we reach the Temple of Knowledge?" "That's 'top the cliff. You'll have to cross Sordadon and take the ferry..." [img]http://www.io.com/~jeffj/b2sep.gif[/img] The ferry-barge floated with majestic, agonizing slowness into the mouth of the cavern. Lanterns hung about illuminated the place with a soft glow, as workmen loaded and unloaded the flat-bottomed boats for their trips to the harbor city. "Now where?" Dru said. "We're supposed to find a lift, whatever that is." "Didn't you ask?" "I didn't want to look like a tourist." From the back of the cavern, steel rattled. Slowly, a section of the floor began to rise, lifted up into the air by the metal chains attached to its circumference. The platform was laden down with crates and people. "There!" Dru said, dashing forward through a crowd of surprised people. Di'Fier gaped a minute, then followed her, leaping onto the wood amid angered cries. A moment later Benares and Shesara joined them. "Do you two constantly live on the edge?" the bard asked, as Dru leaned over to shout to the stragglers, "We'll meet at the inn!". "Sometimes we live over it," Di'Fier responded. [img]http://www.io.com/~jeffj/b2sep.gif[/img] Blinking in the sunlight, the foursome slipped out of the marketplace, surrounded by the unfamiliar sights and smells of Highgate. "I never knew horses smelled so bad," Di'Fier muttered. "They do when you get this many of them. If the Captain was right, we need to go to the Temple District." "Which way is that?" "Not a clue." Benares cleared his throat. "Permit me," he said with a smile. "I [i]do[/i] have some small connection with the Temple." "Lead on, then." The foursome wound their way through the streets of Highgate. Looking ahead, Dru scowled. "Benares, that's the city gate." "The New City gate, actually. Each of the districts has its own wall, although they're starting to grow together." The scholar gestured at the shantytown clustered in the shadow of the wall as they passed by. "It's almost like separate cities now, but given another century of growth that will all change." He gestured to their right, across a canyon. "Those ruins are the reason the city was originally founded, before they discovered the adamant ore. They're older even than the Valossan civilization." The dusty road curved around the ruins on its way to the Temple district, and they were forced to move aside as a coach rattled past, heraldic arms painted on its doors. Finally, they passed through Godsgate into the chaos of the Temple District, crossing it on their way to the Great Library. "Finally," Dru said. "I don't like this city, they have too many gods." She shoved open the great doors and stepped inside, and her face lit up to the sound of a terrified squeal and a man diving under his desk for protection. "Norton!" she cried happily. [i][b]Compiler's Plug:[/b] This session - as well as the city of Highgate and the town of Kirkwood - brought to you by the kindness of Hal Greenberg and the folks at Thunderhead/Mystic Eye Games, who provided me with a copy of Bluffside: City on the Edge (and who I also owe some reviews to.) Bluffside is a fascinating product and deserves every bit of praise it has received on these boards.[/i] [/QUOTE]

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