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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1387371" data-attributes="member: 9744">Part 10 Reflections of a Shattered Mirrorchapter 1 Tavern Talk at Stonecutter's RowThe city began to grow dark and the light faded across an impossible city which did not have a true day or night. No sun or celestial body light up the Cage and no constellations were visible, except for the many flickering lights of the other side of the city. A tall earth genasi and dwarven scholar, led by a halfling light boy, made their way across the cobbled streets at the edge the Lady's ward to Stonecutters Row in the Lower Ward. They did not speak during the journey and the light boy left to find other customers.Serena had already returned from the City Barracks and was relaxing in the drawing room together with Malkir and Andrew. The former was in the midst of explaining to the latter how martial schools compete for dominance, when Littleby and Caleb entered the house."Ah, hello," Malkir greeted the new arrivals and his halfling maidservant took their coats."HELLO," replied Caleb who slowly lowered himself in to a large comfortable chair. "FANCY A DRINK?"    "Yes, actually," Malkir turned to look for his halfling house servant, but she had already departed for the kitchen. Annaleese came back shortly afterwards carefully balancing a large tray of drinks. Serena received a pot of herbal tea, for Caleb there was a dark liquid with a white foamy head that was almost thick enough to cut with a knife. For Malkir there was a crystal pitcher with a clear liquid inside that tasted like water, but packed a real punch. Andrew was served razorvine wine and Littleby simply had a glass of dwarven spirits.Malkir briefly explained his visit by the ancient Githzerai and his students. "Not only have I acquired students," commented the mystic as he sipped his drink. "But I have also acquired a teacher.""Well, that's always useful." Serena replied, glad that her friend's reputation was growing."Hopefully I will be able to learn a great deal from him." After taking another sip Malkir put his glass down for awhile and waited for his vision to clear.Now it was Serena's turn to inform the others of her meeting with Kendrick, about the vision of the modrons marching on Haven and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. She expanded on the layout of the city and about how the modrons might pass through the city."COME ON MAN, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER." Caleb got up from his seat and gave Malkir a resounding slap on the back. Strangely the mystic felt invigorated and the burning sensation in his hand disappeared entirely."RIMILIA, DO YOU KNOW THE HIVE AT ALL?" The earth genasi sat back down again and addressed the normally silent member of the group."Yes, I know the Hive fairly well." Andrew studied the earth genasi wondering where this question might be leading. He'd spent enough time in the Hive to know which districts to pass through quickly and which parts to avoid altogether."GOOD," stated Caleb smiling. "THEN YOU CAN GUIDE IN ME THERE. I HAVE SOME BUSINESS THERE.""What are you looking for?" Andrew's curiosity was piqued, although he was not very keen to enter the Hive any time soon. His infrequent visits had shown him the darker side of the city. With its cutthroats, beggars, harlots and knights of the post; it was not a place to tread lightly. There were of course places that you could walk in relative safety such as the Dead district. However, if you crossed the Dustmen then chances were you'd not make it out of the District unless it was in a Collector's cart. The Hive, the district ruled by the Xaosmen, was no place for any lawful berks to go and the infrequent Hardhead patrols through the ward avoided that place altogether.The Gatehouse was not a very pleasant place to even walk past, with it's lines of bedraggled hopefuls looking to commit themselves or their relatives to the dubious care of the Bleakers. Howls from the criminally insane wing could be heard throughout the night and made from a strange atmosphere to do business in the Gatehouse Night Market. A market where all things stolen could be bought and sold. Slave trade was not unheard of and there were rumours of even darker deeds taking place nightly. At the edge of the Hive and Lower wards was the Shattered Temple district inhabited by the Lost. This largely abandoned area of the city had few businesses and only the occasional traveller."So, what exactly is it you need to do in the Hive." Andrew asked."UM," Caleb's lack of subtlety in lying made his mephits cringe. "TO FIND AN OLD FRIEND.""You have a lot of friends in the Hive, do you?" Andrew asked pointedly."Caleb," interrupted Serena. "What is it that you are really trying to do?"The earth genasi pondered about how to deal with the issue of the trapped Stone Spirit and an idea was hatching on how to use the Spirit to help with the people of Haven. Perhaps it could slow or divert the modron march, but he knew very little about where to find the trapped Stone Spirit. He explained to the others that he'd asked Grumbar to reveal knowledge of where the Stone Spirit was, but the reply was confusing and indifferent."I did promise Kendrick that we would keep his children safe, even if we could not save Haven." Serena fingered her locket and tried to recall what Kendrick's children looked like from the vision."WE NEED TO WORK OUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE?" Caleb stated. "HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE THESE BOXY THINGS TO GET TO HAVEN?""Tomorrow or perhaps the day after," Serena said trying not to sound too anxious."WELL," replied Caleb after a lengthy pause. "I SUGGEST THAT WE POP OUT FOR A QUICK HOLIDAY AND THEN COME BACK TO SIGIL." His rumbling laughter shook the chair and it creaked in protest."I could ask the Githzerai Master if he knows anything." Malkir was still pondering the riddle of identity and wondering how the Gith fit in to all of this."IN TERMS OF THE TRIAL, WE HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED THE EVIDENCE  HAVEN'T WE?" Caleb said trying to bring the issue of Kendrick's arrest and trial to a close. "TORANNA THE GRAY IS BEING FLAYED... ERR, QUESTIONED AT THE MOMENT.""We don't have anything at the moment that affects all of us," Malkir looked over each of his companions in turn. "Although we each have our own quests.""WELL THERE IS ALSO THAT WEIRD THING WITH YOUR STEP-MOTHER." The earth genasi noted, throwing another mystery in to the mix."Yes," the petite seer sighed. "My step-mother is a bad person and she...""She wants to kill her," Malkir finished Serena's sentence."Yes, our relationship is mutually murderous." Serena had unconsciously clenched her fists."FROM WHAT YOU HAVE TOLD ME BEFORE," Caleb commented having caught up with the conversation again. "IT SOUNDS AS IF THERE IS A LOT MORE GOING ON THERE.""Well, she's been brokering for power in Tal'Chuan, my home city." Serena felt a moment of homesickness for the magnificent city where she'd spent most of her childhood. "As I understand it she had my father imprisoned.""HE'S NOW DEAD ISN'T HE?" asked Caleb trying to sound comforting."Yes," said Serena quietly. "He's dead." Having said it aloud to her friends, the realisation of only seeing her father again the Garden struck her hard."HOW DID HE DIE?" Caleb enquired."I don't know." Serena fought back the tears and sipped her cold tea."IS IT WORTH ASKING HIM?" Caleb continued his questioning, oblivious to the effect that it was having on the beautiful seer."Probably." She muttered. "Ummm." "MAYBE IT'S IMPORTANT HOW HE DIED." Caleb finally became aware of the bitter droplets flowing down Serena's beautiful face and he tried to change the direction of the conversation. "THERE IS THIS TIMLIN PERSON. AND THE DANSTERS AND ALL THAT?""I always though that..." The seer hiccuped, wiping her eyes. "One of the things that started us off...." She abruptly got up and left the room for a short while. The others sat in silence and Serena quickly returned."Where was I?" She asked as she sat back in her chair with a new hot pot of herbal tea."Danster disappearing," Malkir replied, looking at his friend with concern."DIDN'T THE HARMONIUM HAVE HIM, BRIEFLY?" Caleb looked over at Littleby who still had his nose buried in a small old book."That's where he was very briefly." Serena answered when it became clear the dwarven scholar had not heard the question. "Then he was taken out of their custody, or something. My point is that I originally though this was unrelated. Now I'm not so sure.""ALL ONE HUGE ROCK." Caleb said, his mind having slowed down again and the strands of the conversation drifting apart."Malkir," The seer sat up as an idea occurred to her. "Can I ask you a favour?""COSMOS TYPE THING." Not realising that Serena had moved on, the earth genasi tried to think of something deep and meaningful to say."Lift up your shirt and let me look at your back." Serena sat up in her chair and put her tea on a side table.The henshin mystic got up from his chair, turned around and lifted the hem of his simply white shirt. On his lower back were a series of small scars that appeared to crisscross each other in a random manner. There was something disturbing about their pattern and this made it difficult for the eye to remain focused on them. The infernal writing was cut in small and precise cuts.Caleb walked over to look at the writing and attempted to copy them down on a scroll. Whilst he was doing so, Serena went to stand next to Malkir and lifted up the hem of her blouse. On her pale lower back, just above the hips, were the exact same scars. Caleb paused to study them both. Andrew and Littleby joined him looking at the scars in detail."Dedicated in the name of Orcus." Malkir said with his back to the others. "That's what Nyon told us it meant."Littleby recognised some of the words and shook his head whilst trying to decipher their meaning. The phrase that Malkir had set fit the words as well as some other translations might. But he was even more confused about something else."Orcus is dead." The dwarven scholar recalled hearing about the history of Thanatos from another sage some time ago. "He was killed off by Kiaranselee, Drow goddess of Vengeance."</blockquote>

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