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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8081021" data-attributes="member: 6971069">Refinancing – 9/3/2020 So, I was very different five years ago.  At the time I was having fun and was avoiding paying off the Gatehouse.  Or I think I was.  I can’t remember a lot of those nights. Five years ago, Sigil, Clerks’ Ward.I awoke and yawned.  I didn’t even bother to open my eyes and instead stretched out on the bed and rolled over to my right expecting to find Markel’s warm body to snuggle against.  Instead my hand patted the empty cold mattress.  Confused, I propped myself up on an arm and looked around.Markel had rented a nice apartment in the clerks’ ward, above an advocates’ shop.   The room was of course a mess, scattered clothes were everywhere, as were empty bottles and plates of left-over food from last nights’ party.  The lingering smell of incense, sweat, and bub drifted in the air.It wasn’t even a good party, as many of the guest left complaining how boring it was compared to others.  I honestly barely remembered it.  I remembered drinking the last bottle of razorwine that we had, and I was feeling it now with my pounding headache.  Sitting up, and clutching a blanket to my chest, I saw that there was another couple still here from the party, still asleep and embraced in each other’s arms as they snored  in a large overstuffed chair near an opening to the balcony.I wrapped the blanket around me, and padded my way to the pantry, looking for food, and perhaps a beer or ale to dull the pain.  But I saw that Markel hadn’t restocked it, finding a single wedge of sour cheese, and a crusty loaf of bread.  But nothing to dull the pain I felt.  I grabbed the cheese and bit into it and returned to the bedroom to find my clothes.  As I returned, I saw the couple had started to wake up, and they turned to look at me as I entered.“Ow my head…. what time is it?” the male half-elf said looking around.“I think it is getting near peak,” I said.   “But I don’t really know…um…I’m sorry…we did meet last night, right?”“Yeah we did,” the tiefling girl said.  “I’m Trina and this,” and she pinched the nose to the male’s annoyance, “Is Drenae.  Is Markel around?”“Um…no” I said a little mystified.  “I guess he went to…get stuff.”“Well, thanks for the little party…it was…kinda fun.  He’s thrown better ones,” Trina said sounding a little unimpressed.“Have…have we met before?  I mean before last night?” I asked still hazy on the prior night and wracking my brains on why she seemed familar.“Myree, you say that every time we meet…although I think this is the first time we crashed here,” the tiefling said with a note of disapproval.“I need to get going, or the foreman is going to sent me to chase the Lady,” Drenae said, slapping Trina on the bottom and getting her to stand up on her own hooves.  Both then started pulling on their scattered clothes, while I went into the main room, looking for where my own were.The main room was even more of a disaster; two chairs were broken, glasses, mugs and broken bottles were scattered around along with a couple of small open barrels.  I looked at some of the intact bottles to see if there were any left-over drinks, but I didn’t find anything to scavenge.  I did however, finally found my tunic and donned it, while I continued to search for my pants.  As I was doing so, Drenae and Trina, were stumbling a bit off balance, and giggling a bit, heading to the door out.“Say thanks to Markel for us,” Trina said waving to me as I was pulling on my leathers.  “And tell him, that he lied; you are an awesome kisser.”I blushed and smiled awkwardly, wishing I could remember what happened last night, “Ah…yeah…sure.”  They then opened the door and Drenae said “Whoa.”I looked towards the door, and there on the front door was a piece of paper, hung there with a crude set of nails.Trina squinted at it a moment and whistled.  “Oh my.  Looks like Markee might be in a bit of trouble here.”“What?” I said finishing pulling up my pants and walking to the door.“Seems Markel is a jinkster…and someone wants him to pay up,” Trina said pointing at the note.I grabbed the paper and tore it down from the door, “What are they…talking...what the?"The lettering was fine and precise, and written in both common and Infernal, saying the same thing, unsigned.“Markel,“You are now 300 days in arears in payment on the loan.  If you value your friends, you better show up today in the Tenth Pit to pay up on your contract.“The Jinxsmith.”I looked at the note confused.  Loan? The Tenth Pit? Value your friends?The pair looked at me and started to move in haste, “We…um…gotta go.”  They suddenly looked nervous and they began to back away.“What?  What’s wrong?” I said concerned.“Honey, the Jinksmiths are fiends that give out loans to cony’s and expect huge pay backs.,” Trina said nervously.  “If he owes one of those fiend’s money…they take it out on the marks’ friends.”“Wait, why?”“Because if you hurt the mark to much, they may not pay it back.  So, they hurt…we really got to go!” and the pair scrambled down the hallway to the stairs that led outside.My hands holding the paper, shook as I looked at the note.“Markee…what have you done?”[HR][/HR]I walked down Iron Avenue trying to steel myself.  I was afraid, but I wanted to help Markel.  I was willing to do anything at that point to help him.I turned down towards the alleyway, and I could see it.  The Tenth Pit entrance was next to a Baatezu iron mongers’ shop.  I heard they sold some of the best greensteel blades, and I also heard they did a brisk business with the patrons of the Pit before they partook in their chosen…diversions.   The entrance itself was a blackened archway, with an iron gate and a very bored barbazu outside.  This wasn’t the alley for random touts and sightseers, and anyone who lived in the ward knew what the place was.The barbazu’s eyes narrowed as I approached.  I was very much out of my element, but I was trying to look nonchalant, or brave, or at least not afraid.  I doubt it cared about my fear, but I certainly did pique its interest.”‘A lily coming to the Pit?  Do the wonders of the Lady never cease?  Come in and make yourself…at home,” it smiled with a hiss, and bowed floridly sweeping his hand towards the archway.’I swallowed and glared at it.  I would have thrown a retort out but, I’m not sure I could have said anything coherently.  Then I stepped into the archway and headed downward, beneath Sigil.  The wide staircase spiraled downwards deep underground, and then opened into a large domed room.I expected darkness, but the bar was decently lit.  Lit by fiery braziers suspended from the ceilings, large ones on the floor.  It was, colorful as well.  Reds, Greens, Blues, Orange and yellows burned brightly casting few shadows, and the braziers rotated color of the flames.   The result as a regular shifting of the tone and feel of bar overall.    It was divided into quarters, with a central hub serving drinks.   Three of the quarters handled Baatezu, and Tanar’ri with a section for Yugoloth separating them, just like the great wheel.  The last quarter seemed to be common ground, with a what looked to be inn keeper’s desks flanking another archway leading down.  Above the quarters were platforms; some attached to the pillars, others suspended from chains, where winged patrons looked down from their eyries above.And it was packed.  I had never seen so many friends, so close to each other.  With fiends, usually there is a bit of bickering, posturing, dand not a small bit of violence.   Just like the Smoldering Corpse, when I crossed to the prime; all because an argument about the Blood War.  Here, it was…calm, even casual.  If you ignored the slitted eyes, the scales, the bat wings, and hooves you would think you were just at a busy anti-peak at the Golden Briaur.But even I could feel tension here, it wasn’t really safe for the fiends.It was even less so for me.I could tell when I stepped out of the shadows and into the room properly.  I could feel eyes turn to look at me.  Looked at me with disgust, with bloodlust, with hunger.  The bar seemed to quiet down, and the whispers and murmuring started.That’s when I heard the screams.  Faint, and coming from the fourth quarter, where the staircase descended, just beyond the array of desks.   Swallowing, I made my way towards them, trying to ignore the stares.  Sitting at one was a malebranche.  He was bored, squinting at papers in front of him.  Without looking up, he spoke in the Infernal tongue;‘Hold your nightmares, I’ll get to you in a moment,”“Nak’ta kuntz caacht Markel?” I demanded in Infernal.The malebranche winced a second and slowly looked up from the desk, “Very close intonation.  Not nearly harsh enough.   And your vowels are far…too…sweet.”  The Malebranche regarded me with an expression that was between bored and amused.“’A lily walks into a fiend’s bar.’  Sounds like either an interesting story, or a bad joke.  And since you are asking about Markel, I’m guessing you’re taking a story angle…Myrai.”I was taken aback by this, “I was…expected?”“Oh yes.  Your…friend,” he said with a sneer, “had written a note for you to be delivered soon.  I should thank you for saving me the effort of contracting a mephit to find you.  Dealing with mephits is…tiresome.”“Soon?  He’s still here then?”The Malebranche cocked his head and looked at the ceiling and listened, “Yes…for the moment.  And you?   What brings you here, little lily?”“He has a contract with you doesn’t he.   What is it?”“Indeed…nothing in the contract proscribes me from talking about it generally.  He wanted something specific…something we as a…policy we normally don’t do.   He was very…very insistent.”“For a soul?  Seems a bit cheap,” I remembered spitting out in disgust.The Malebranche smiled “Please. You are…new…here.   The Blood War may be ever in need of resources.   But Shemeshka…she doesn’t permit the establishment to engage in  that type of deal.  Best not to attract the Lady’s ire.   But we do other types of deals and so, he made one with the Pit, not the hierarchies of the War itself.“What deal?”“He asked for his debt to the Jinksmiths to be paid off, and for three small things; an absolution, a death, and a letter delivered upon it.”“He could have done all of that without the Pit’s help.  Why here, why you?”Shrugging the malebranche leaned back putting on a casual air, “Oh that has a lot to do with the loan he made and terms of non-payment.  It seems that in recent dialog they started threatening…what’s the cant for it…’adams’ of his.”I stiffened at the implication.  “And you just, pay the jink off just like that?   His life meant that little, that he has to beg to die?”“No…a contract, cannot be done under duress like that.   The Pact Primeval itself prevents that for souls, but here, Inevitables from the planes of law stand in for it here.   We, who make deals are all subject to a contract signed with the constructs, and we will not break them. Still, a contract with a being’s own death is generally frowned upon by the establishment.   But an exception was made in your adams’ case.”“Why,” I was angry and almost in tears listening to the contempt in the fiend’s voice for Markel’s life.“It’s for a simple reason.   Certain…tears taste sweeter.   It’s like a delicacy.   We aren’t stripping his soul apart; We’re helping him ‘pay’ for crimes he believes needs settling.  The Pit is a place for tasting and sampling such rarities.  We’ll make more off of him, than the pittance that we paid.   And he’s perfectly free to seek his absolution…but as we pointed out, it’s not up to us to find it for him.”“He…doesn’t …know …what …he’s doing.  How can this contract be broken?”“I disagree.  He knows exactly what he has done and is doing.  He’s not under any duress from us.  But as for the contract, breaking it, is bad for business in general, and my health in particular.  The Inevitables enforce them to the letter, so a breach is…a serious matter.   But we can play, ‘let’s pretend.’  What do you have to offer in exchange for breaking a contract?”I remember standing there with a knot in my throat and closing my eyes, breathing deeply.  “What if I took his place?”The Malebranche didn’t react.   It’s slitted eyes regarded me for a long moment.   “A lily ready to take her turn at the end of a scourge? A noble sacrifice?,” it sneered.  “An interesting thought.  And why should I do that?”“Well, you do get to charge for admission again don’t you?  That would be twice what you get normally.  That should be more enough to cover Markel’s time.”  I said trying not to sound desperate, trying not to beg.And failing on all counts.But the malebranche smiled “You have me there I suppose.   So, you serve his agreed time and what did you want in exchange?”“You don’t kill him.   I’m sure he can find absolution elsewhere.”The Malebranche continued its smile, “Probably…we never guaranteed anything there.  As for the letter…you could have that after matters were settled,” I nodded eagerly in response.“I suppose…a loophole…might…be found,” the Malebranche drummed his taloned fingers on the desk and then gave me a wicked smile.  “I think I know…no I know a way to resolve this.  Very well then, let me get something drafted.”  The malebranche reached into the desk, and pulled out some papers, and started to flip through them.“Most of these are standard as far as limitations are concerned.   I assume you can read Infernal better than you speak it.   As a…courtesy, I’ll make sure that they…slow down…so we can conclude negotiations,” and he continued that smug smile and started working on a document in front of him.   He waved his clawed hand, and an imp materialized, gave me a wicked grin, and flew off down the stairs.I wanted to speed this up and finish this   But, I had never entered a contract before, and I didn’t want to make a mistake that would cost me more than I could pay.   I didn’t trust this malebranche, let alone any other fiend.  I was on edge and it didn’t help that as I glanced around, that other fiends were pointing our way and they were whispering and looking in our direction.   Sometimes paranoia was warranted.“Here we are…read it and add any…limitations on the section at the end here.   Take your time,” and the Malebranche, leaned back in his seat and watched me.I regarded the contract…it was longer than I expected.  Far longer than it should have been, based on the time that had passed.  As I read, my discomfort increased.  I felt in my stomach that tightening feeling of dread.    I admit that I wasn’t sure what to make of the limits though.  it seemed that this part of the contract was typical; nothing permanent mark wise.  It mentioned that I would keep all my limbs at the end, which I found chillingly explicit.   It was lengthy as well, with sections that were gender specific.  No children, no intimate relations at all in fact.  All the while I was reading this orderly contract, I got the feeling that I was missing something.   It read that there would be pain, Markel’s pain would end, and they wouldn’t kill him, and I would get the note after the completion of mine.It smelled wrong, but Baatezu contracts were very specific.  I would walk away, with my soul still my own.  The contracts base language was written for Sensates.  Lots of Sensates came here, and they all walked away.Then I realized what was wrong. It was not because it was a standard contract, but instead it was because  Markel’s and my name were already dry throughout the contract.  Like the malebranche had already written the contract ahead of my arrival.  Like I was…expected.I now really didn’t want to sign.[HR][/HR]“So why did you?” Daneath asked.  “You seemed to sense a trap.  I can hear you obviously saying it’s a trap, and somehow this is a boring story if you didn’t sign it.”Myrai looked at Daneath and sighed.  “Well, they say that you do stupid things when you are in love.  Turns out, you do.  I signed it because of that, because I thought I could save him, and I thought I was smart enough to make a deal with a fiend and come out a head…or maybe just break even.”[HR][/HR]The Malebranches smile never broke as I signed it, and he counter signed it.   “Well, then shall we?   I am sure that Markel will be…pleased…to see you again.  Follow me then.”I followed the Baatezu to the stairs.   The flickering lights from the braziers giving me a headache.   But as we descended, I swore I heard the nearby fiends chuckling, and it only grew louder as I descended deeper into The PitBelow the main bar, the stairs turned into twisting passages.   It looked like your typical dungeon; dark, dank, and doors.   Lots of iron doors.   I had no idea if this was just some perverse aesthetic or there were that many cells and rooms.   After some time, we turned a corner and the malebranche with an exaggerated gesture, motioned me into an open doorway.Stepping inside, my eyes adjusted to the bright orange and I saw him, Markel.   He was hanging from a set of chains set into the ceiling.   His body was a mess; signs of whips and sources, cuts, and a wealth of sores and wounds all weeping blood.   I rushed forward to him, when I heard moving chains.The chains quickly wrapped themselves around my arms, wrists, waist and legs, pulling me away from Markel.  I pulled and struggled, but I didn’t have the strength to escaped from their grasp, and I found myself pulled upwards into the air.  Turning my head, my fears became realized.   A figure stepped out of the shadows; it was humanoid in shape.  But the figure was draped in nothing but chains.  Some small and fine, and others heavy; a Kyton.[HR][/HR]“Wait what’s a Kyton?” Daneath asked.“Kytons are the jailers and torturers from the city of Jangling Hiter in Baator." Myrai said.   "A ‘devil’ draped in chains, like a shroud, concealing their bodies.  And they are masters of their craft, since before there were tieflings. They are experts in…pain, simply put.  Let me continue.”[HR][/HR]This one just had that presence and command of the room and the chains that hung from the ceiling and lay on the floor were his tools.   And in short order I found myself suspended in the air by those chains, that moved like metal snakes.  All the while the Kyton regarded me with disinterest, instead focusing its eyes on the delicate teacup in its hand, slowly stirring a spoon within.The malebranche smile again never broke, “Ah how quickly our replacement guest has assumed her position here.   You can release the other one.”  and I saw Markel’s body hit the ground with a wet thump.   His eyes opened briefly and saw me.   He had a puzzled look on his face at first and then a look of pain and sorrow.   I struggled pointlessly, trying to reach him.   But as I looked at him I could clearly him looking at me, tears streaming down his cheek whispering:“For…give…me,”His head slumped down on the flagstone, and he lay there with labored breathing.  And I saw forming below him, a pool of blood, oozing and spreading slowly across the floor.  I looked at the malebranche, “Well!?! You said you weren’t going to kill him.”“Ah yes…our agreement was that wasn’t it?” the malebranche looked at his talons a moment, before glancing my direction.   “And so, we will not.   However, I also said that his contract wasn’t breakable either.   And his stated that his death was required, not that we kill him.   And so, we have a compromise.   He will not kill him…but we cannot be compelled to prevent him from bleeding his life away on the floor.   It seems likely that he will die from that…and so his contract will be fulfilled,” the malebranche said with a toothy grin.At this point as the horror was unfolding, I realized what I had missed.  I never saw his contract.   Mine was dependent on his and I never thought to ask to read Markel’s.   I had been peeled figuratively speaking.   And now, I was looking at the prospect literally.“I will say Myrai, that it has indeed been a pleasure to making a deal with you.  Ever since your friend mentioned you, I had wondered if this gamble would pay off.  After all, a pittance it was to pay off his debts, and his tears are of course valuable on their own right.   But it was a slim margin.  But you…a foundling; as close to the source as one can get as a mortal…”I was shaking at this point; the chains were tight around me, but you could still hear the shivering in the links.  I felt contempt for my foolishness, rage at the malebranche who expertly peeled me and anger at Markel for the entire thing.  I tried despite what I had signed, tried to shake my limbs free from my bonds.   But as I pulled against the chains, my feelings changed from anger, and started to settle into fear.  The coney  had gone farther that I thought was possible.The malebranche strode next to me, and placed a single claw against my cheek, and I felt pain as he drew it down my jawline to my chin.  “So, while, his contact called for as many signed up for within an hour, only six did so.   A poor showing for his agreed time even with the extra fees for the one who drew the last straw, “he removed his claw and I could see my blood dripping from its edge.“But you…well, granted I was not certain if you would come, and so I took a risk on advertising something I wasn’t quite certain I could deliver.  But many others have been looking forward to it.”  And then proceeded to taste my blood, never breaking his gaze into my eyes.Gulping, and taking in air like it was the last I would ever taste, I asked, “And how many signed up for mine?”“It has only just started; only once our signatures were on the page.  But…word has spread.   I will have to check on things and we must wait for its conclusion before…being entertaining the others. So, you can…think on it, on your friend, or…whatever you like.   Nastanal will prepare you in the meantime.  And the malebranche walked out of the room, twirling its tail and humming to itself.The Kyton, walked around me sipping from its teacup, evaluating me, but otherwise staying silent as I hung there in the air.   As for myself I was in sodding shock, but my attention turned to Markel.  The pool of blood had been growing, but now I had a moment to see how bad his injuries were.   His limbs were intact, but most of his skin was flayed exposing muscles on in back.   Needles, hooks, and what looked like glass were embedded between layers of muscles, or below them.   Most of the blood came from the areas where the glass cut deeply into him.“Acheron Glass,” the Kyton intoned.  “Sharp enough that most don’t feel it when they cut.   But, when in contact with blood, it prevents clotting and converts blood into a very painful acid.   A favorite of his patron from the prior engagement.   The human will die shortly.”Markel lay still only occasionally quivering less and less often.   His death was upon him, and I doubted that I would speak to him again.   My mind was an absolute panic, “The prior? so you aren’t partaking in this?”I could hear from behind me the clinking of the spoon against the teacup.  “No.   I am master of the rooms.   Your…keeper as it were.  I will keep you here.  I will keep you from dying as that is my charge.  I will keep to the contract and call those to heal if needed and nothing more.”“And for him?”“A Collector has been called for, to take him to the Dustman.   He made no request otherwise.”“Let me down a moment…let me hold him!   Let me help him!” I thrashed and screeched."I cannot.  You will want to alter the outcome of his contract.  That will not be permitted.”  It intoned and I swore I heard sorrow in the deep baritone voice.I heard and then felt chains moving across me.   Slowly the Kyton, with great care and a gentleness I would not have expected, began to remove my boots and belt.“Did he say anything?” I choked on my tears as I hung there helpless, unable to touch his warmth one last time.  Desperate for anything.The Kyton walked slowly around in front of me.  The chains around it were in constant motion; each chain moved on its own accord in a clinking ballet.  Some removed my outfit, and others drifting around the Kyton, like attendants. They shifted around the Baatezu, as if affected by a light breeze.   It’s head and face were framed in layers upon layers of chains, which only allowed me to see its almost human eyes.“The human said many things.  Most were pleas.  A name combined with begging.  There was only one thing the Human did not say which is usually common.”  The chains on and around me shifted constantly, and more clothing was removed.   I noticed with some surprise; they were being organized neatly on a bench on the side of the room.  The chains moved me as needed and were in constant motion to remove themselves from being an impediment.  And I could do nothing to resist as I was slowly being stripped.  It seemed to drawn out longer than needed, before I was wearing only my smallclothes, and yet I had barely moved..  And finally, even those were removed.I hung there and cried.  My sense failure grew as did the pool of blood; he would die, alone, with not even a warm caress, a kiss or any comfort.  Eventually he made a final wheezing sound; a death rattle, and Markel was lost to me, forever.I hung there, clothed only in my tears.  I don’t know how long it was, my head bowed in defeat.  After a long while, I heard the happy humming of the malebranche as it returned to smugly taunt me.“You mustn’t cry now; you should save that for later for the patrons.  But I suppose you are…eager to move things along.   The final count has been tallied, and I am indeed impressed.  My promises of who might arrive was one thing, but you striding in, with those noble intentions, cinched the deal for the doubters.   My gamble has paid off far beyond what I expected.   It appears that 133 patrons will have their allotted time of an hour with you.   You should be…proud.” The grin and a chuckle barely registered with me.“Over a hundred hours?   Five days?”  I was growing cold, and shivering.  I was staring at the Malebranche with, what I assumed was horror or shock.“Well, a little longer than that.  Sleeping and healing does take some time, so it’s more than a week.  We cannot afford an accident here, or it is my life on the line in Baator.  And I am not willing to let that happen.”  The malebranche knelt next to bloodied corpse of Markel and gently manipulated his head and arms.   “Yes…quite dead.  And, so his contract is nearly fulfilled.”   He strode over to my things and laid a scroll upon them.   “There, now it is done.   You can read it…afterwards.   And so, I will see you at the end.   Nastanal will take good care of you I assume.”I remember futilely trying to free myself.   I was angry; at the malbranche, at Markel, but mostly at myself.   I thought I could get the better deal.  I thought I could save a man that needed it.  I thought that fate and universe and maybe luck would help me.I was wrong.I hung there, naked, sweating, and emotionally exhausted.  Barely comprehending what was going to happen next.   But for some reason, I needed a single question answered.  Something that the Kyton said that was turning over and over in my head.“Nastanal, you said Mar—he said many things, but you said he didn’t say something.  What was it?”The Kyton’s chains in front of its face parted, allowing it to take a sip from the teacup.  And it said a single word.   A word that didn’t make any sense yet.“Stop.”Session notes:So, we were on a small break when I wrote a draft of this specific story about two years ago as a writing experiment.  Part of the reason I wrote it, was I was fleshing out Myrai’s backstory, when I had reread in one of the original sourcebooks, how Erin Montgomery was trying to change the perception of the Society from just a bunch of hedonists.Considering Myrai was still in the hive, I realized she was, like way too many girls, someone with low self-esteem.  I could see her going overboard, without a thought of the consequences, and how she would change into a much more grounded person later.</blockquote>

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