Lost Homeland

[Dog Moon]

Turning from Ren's Place, Kiarra leads you through several streets where Ghosts tend to be minding their own business except for those few who glance at you carefully. "If you do come here without a Ghost guide or friend," Kiarra warns as you walk along, "Be careful. Although the Yisa-Khardomas and the soldiers of Manifest attempt to keep order around here, coming here without a Ghost ally is essentially asking for trouble. Because you're traveling with two at the moment, I doubt any of them will bother us."

Her words seem to be correct as she leads you through the Phantom Ward to a circular building with words you cannot read. "This is the Tower Theatre," Kiarra tells you. "Performances occur once per week, and they cost 1 copper for standing, 2 for sitting, and several gold for private suites separated from the rest of the crowd. They vary from comedies to tragedies to musical acts to strange interpretive performances that can make absolutely no sense. They cater to all groups, living and dead, and even occasionally of different races.

"Yanthis Havech is the owner of the Tower Theatre, and he is the original owner of the theatre. He was once living, an impressive Bard, and his death gave him a deep voice perfect for sinister parts and low songs."

 

[Aereas]

As we near the theater house I decide to ask a question thats been in my mind "With Ren's bar, does he gather any good rumors of information as well as the fights? or would it be better to seek the latest information at other bars as well?"

 

[Dog Moon]

"All taverns are filled with rumors," Kiarra says. "Ren's place is no different."

 

[Dog Moon]

OOC: Gonna go a little bit quicker now with everything. Not that I have any problems with the tour, but there's more to Manifest than what you see in the tour.

Kiarra turns around and leads you back through several streets you recognize until she turns down one unfamiliar to you. Directly on the main path is a long building of only a single story. The figures within the walls all have their eyes closed and no matter the condition they are in, all seem to be resting peacefully. On the walk near the door is a hyena-like bipedal creature lying on the ground with a small pack beneath it's head. The creature's eyes remain completely closed and a half-smile rests gently upon it's face.

"This is the 'Loneliest place in the world'," Kiarra tells you, "Though the actual name of this building is Heldon's Dreams. Heldon was once a trickster, a person who delighted in giving everything they wanted and then taking everything away. Truth was that he wasn't truly giving them anything, but his victims all thought he was giving them the world.

"It's said that he crossed someone, someone more skilled than him. He met his match and ended up losing everything. During this time, he apparently had an epiphany. He had previously gone against the law and taken what he wanted. Now, he uses his talents to give people what they want for a night and he charges people for it completely legitimately. When a person is newly dead, people miss their old homes. Homesickness is common among the newly dead. For a small, yet expensive price, a person can 'live' in their old world for a night.

"Though this place also caters to the living, the Ghosts are the ones who frequent Heldon's Dreams."

 

[Dog Moon]

Kiarra leads you down the main street a short ways before stopping at a wide, simple and yet elegant building. A wide porch made of wood and painted white surrounds the front of the building and passes around the sides. The stone has been painted brick red and is devoid of any carvings. The statuary surrounding the building consists mainly of small figures, such as birds or other tiny animals. Though this building does not show itself off and attract your eyes, as you gaze upon it, you have the feeling that someone important lives or deals business inside.

"This is the Guild House for the Piran Sedestadel," Kiarra tells you. "They are a Ghost Guild specializing in Wizards. If you aren't both a Wizard and a Ghost, there is essentially no point in coming here. It's membership is exclusive and it is said to be the most powerful Guild in both the living and the dead worlds.

"They have been around since the beginning of Manifest and many claim that Mrutvu himself grants his power to the Guild members. They would be incorrect, however, since they deal with Arcane Magic while Mrutvu deals with Divine Magic. Still, it is said that he backs them, granting them gold if they need it. The Piran Sedestadel deny this fact, but not strongly. It gives them an additional aspect of prestige if people believe they work with Mrutvu, whether they do or not.

"To the surprise of many, the Piran Sedestadel has managed to stay out of the political machinations so many people seem to be interested in. Their goal is not to rule, but simply to practice their trade. They tend to look inward instead of outward, which is probably a good thing considering that only Mrutvu himself would be able to stop them."

 

[Dog Moon]

As Kiarra finishes and you begin to turn away, eager for the next stop on the tour, you hear an explosion from inside the building that houses the Piran Sedestadel. Interest piqued, you return your gazes to the building just in time to see the front doors fly wide open to reveal a young man as he runs onto the porch and down the front steps.

This man, though he is young, no older than his early twenties, has grey-black hair cut at chin level. His eyes match his hair and even his clothing, albeit a darker black, almost seem to match as well. It almost appears as though his clothes were once black but now had faded, evidenced by the dull red trim along the edges of his leather tunic.

The young man is scrawny, though he must have some strength upon his frame if he can wield the long blade resting upon his back. The hilt, though simple, is made of pure gold. A book is held in his left hand as he pauses to glance about the crowd for a moment before dashing away.

Several robed figures leave the building, stopping on the porch. Angry, they scan the crowd, presumably looking for the young man. Though he apparently has escaped their notice, you see him on the edge of your vision.

Desperate, one of the robed figures yells, "One hundred gold to the person who can stop that thief!"


OOC: This isn't the best picture, but it's a little better to see than the normal Manifest map. The gray is the street and the red arrow is the path the young man is taking.

 

[Charberus]

"We will get him!" Alth says (in draconic, because i assume the guy is talking in draconic), as he gets on Skitter and then says (in Giant), "Flying Skitter Tackle him!"

Skitter then runs for abit, and sours over the crowd. He lands on top of the guy and puts on his intimidation stance. Alth says, "Give up now, and return the items."

OOC: I get on skitter and then we jump over the crowd and land on/near the guy.

 

[Dog Moon]

OOC: Actually, you hear him speaking in Gnome. However, you both notice that despite that, everyone else seems to understand what the man is saying as well.

 

[Aereas]

Not really wanting to get involved Freylin hesitates just a moment before the realization hits that this could possibly give a good measure of credibility to a powerful wizards guild. If not 100gp would certainly be helpful. After a couple quick gestures and choice arcane words she takes off after the wizard easily covering far more distance than she should be able to with her legs, as she pulls out a slender rapier all the while keeping an eye on the man for any tricks he might try to use.

OOC:
I cast expeditious retreat and move 60 feet closer to the thief. If its enough to catch up I stand ready to try and get in his way should he escape Alth and try fleeing again. I also look to see if he might have and wands or other potential magical (or nonmagical) items that look as if it may be able to help him escape.


By the description I am assuming a living human for his race?

 

[Dog Moon]

OOC: Blah. Thought I mentioned he was living. Yes, he is living, although the figures standing just outside the door of the Pedan Sedestadel building are not.

Freylin casts her spell and moves forward, though she is unable to move as far as she wants. Avoiding people and the constant bumping into people larger than her slows her down.

As she is attempting to close in on the thief, he ducks down as he moves further into the crowd and disappears from her vision as well as Alths.

Alth scrambles onto Skitter, but he slips slightly as he does so, failing to hop on smoothly. Finally sitting on top of his companion, Alth decides to hop back onto the ground. Skitter moves forward and jumps into the air, leaping over a number of the people, but as he is landing, he realizes too late that there isn't any good spot to land. Skitter slams into a person, knocking him backwards, and unfortunately stumbles, though Skitter manages to avoid falling. The person, however, manages to keep his feet surprisingly well as he looks at the creature in annoyance as he rubs the newly formed bruise on his left shoulder. Glancing around, Skitter does not see the thief.

Part of the crowd yells and the bodies, both living and dead, surge forward in the direction of the yells in the attempt to get the reward, which is to the south of your position [ahead of you] and slightly to your left. You estimate he is still about 50 feet in front of Freylin, 80 feet in front of Alth/Kiarra/Vita, and 30 feet in front of Skitter.

OOC: Freylin takes 3 subdual damage from being jostled into people. Skitter also takes 2 subdual.