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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nordom" data-source="post: 9109481" data-attributes="member: 7038274">Kachilk'cha felt a sense of utter dread to temper her natural curiosity as she examined the plague's gruesome handiwork. The cloying stench of rot assaulted her senses.She noted how the bodies seemed almost fused with the cracked cobblestones, black ichor staining their rigid flesh like vile tattoos. Expressions of anguish were frozen on swollen faces, mouths gaping in silent screams of agony. It was clear these poor souls had endured immense suffering. This was no mundane plague - she sensed an almost sentient malevolence lurking within the ichor, an otherworldly essence that saturated both bodies and air. The mystical energy defied categorization, operating outside the normal bounds of either divine or arcane magic. According to her evaluation, it wasn't magic of the Weave nor the Shadoweave that had wrought this terrible transformation. And yet, there was an unmistakable aura of magic surrounding the plague, an otherworldly energy that seemed to infuse the very essence of the black ichor. It was as if the plague itself was imbued with a malevolent sentience, a dark force that defied easy categorization.It would be risky- both in attempt as well as in principle - but if she wanted, she could try saving some of the ichor in a vial or flask and returning it back to Sigil for further study.==== The ragged man listened as Orris spoke, his paranoid eyes darting between the genasi and the arrogant mage. He seemed torn, not trusting these strange newcomers but also swayed by the genasi's friendly words.When Orris gestured to his crumbling family manor, a glimmer of pride broke through the mania in the man's eyes. "Not mine, but the Arch-Lector's... I'm one of his Hounds" he declared, standing a bit taller. The man slowly lowered his makeshift weapon. His shoulders lost some of their tension as he mulled over the appraisal. After a moment, he met Orris' gaze and gave a single nod."Give me 1000 jink, and I'll guide you lot out the quickest way I know," he offered. "But I'll be watching, make sure you don't try anything clever." The man pointed a grimy finger at Orris. "My home and these streets are under my protection. You'll abide by my rules." Despite his stern words, the set of his shoulders and the look in his eyes suggested Orris had managed to gain a tentative trust. The man seemed bolstered by the genasi's show of respect, willing to be their guide if it meant retaining some control. There was still a gleam of instability in his expression, but for now he appeared pacified.Shortly thereafter, Jach let out an exaggerated sigh as the half-orc glanced his way as if her disdain were a trivial annoyance he could scarcely be bothered to acknowledge. "By all means, do continue staring in misguided awe."He then turned to the other human, the calculating one who had positioned himself as the voice of reason. "As for leaving this dreary locale, I fully agree. This place holds no appeal for me beyond mild academic curiosity." Jach gestured lazily at the corpses. "I've no desire to join the poor wretches in their fate."The voice of reason gave a slight nod as he considered Grim and Izek's words."A fair assessment of our predicament," he conceded. "Unfortunately, I know little more of this strange affliction than any of you."He gestured towards the Arch Lector's Palace "The portal you mentioned lies in that direction, so at the very least we know which way not to go." He trails off warily... "... assuming it didn't start shifting into the Abyss.."Jach let out an exaggerated yawn, waving a hand dismissively. "Yes yes, we're all woefully ignorant, lost children wandering the streets of this dreary town." Clasping his hands behind his back, Jach met the reasoning man's gaze. "So yes, lead us out posthaste. I'm sure between your sound logic and my vastly superior intellect, we'll sort the details." Jach smirked as he noted the others' doubtful expressions. "You needn't understand the intricacies of my magic to benefit from its protection. So let's be on our way, no sense lingering in this dismal alley."The arrogance in Jach's tone was palpable. But beneath it lay an undeniable brilliance - and a thinly veiled boredom with the entire situation. To him, this was merely an annoying diversion on the way to some greater purpose only he was aware of. He set off in the direction of the palace, not bothering to see if the others followed, or even to double check with the voice of reason whether there was any more specifics beyond approaching the Palace.As the blue-robed mage strode confidently away, the calculating man turned to the rest of the group, his expression earnest. "I implore you, do not abandon our town in its hour of need," he pleaded. "With so many lost, we will spiral into chaos without help restoring order... the portal to Sigil has been known to shift with the whims of the town, and I guarantee you that the town is shifting once more."He gestured around the bleak town, an impatient and more desperate undertone creeping into his otherwise calm demeanor. "This place may seem dreary now, but it was once a thriving community. Our people deserve a chance to rebuild, to reclaim what was lost. Just help with restoring a bit of order to the madness, so at least there will be better chance of the portal being where it's supposed to be." The man focused his gaze on each of them in turn. "That piker may promise escape, but I reckon he's bluffing. Forget him."The man's plea gave them pause, but as they considered his words, doubts emerged. This was Plague-Mort after all, a place where chaos and cruelty typically reigned. Its citizens tended towards selfishness, not altruism. The unstable ragged man fit the town's cruel reputation, as did his demand of jink. But the voice of reason seemed oddly out of place with his talk of restoring order and championing the people. His words rang with sincerity, yet the notion of this dreary town uniting together for the common good seemed unbelievable. Perhaps the man truly wished to make a change, but could such optimism survive in a place so mired in suffering and corruption?The man fell silent, awaiting their decision. The weight of his request was evident in his eyes. Around them, the flames continued to spread as Jach's form grew smaller in the distance. Three choices presented themselves- the pragmatic path offered by the arrogant mage who had already departed but promised protection through unknown magic; The voice of reason who oddly plead with them to stay and restore order; and the ragged opportunist, offering escape for a hefty fee - the same man who was threatening to kill them moments ago. Around them, the alleyway flames grew hotter, engulfing nearby buildings. Time was running short for a decision, and it did NOT seem like a good idea to split up.</blockquote>

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