Metropolis - The Weight of the World (and Found Wanting)

[GlassEye]

Senor Draconis frowns, looking at Ymris with hardly an impressive gaze. "You come and literally throw yourself at my feet for any money I choose, after you show your strong side. I've been in this game a long time, and few people come to me under such conditions. You'd have to understand my willingness to doubt your motives."

"Perhaps I should have you guard a warehouse for a year or two for a few silvers, or escort a wagon of cabbages a week for a few months, both tasks would be suited to your abilities since both soldiers and magic are such useful tools."

"Or perhaps you would like to tell me why you're really here Ymris, for a woman like yourself with a pouchful of silver couldn't be after a position in my regular schedule."

"Senor Draconis, my life previous has been isolated from the realities of a vast portion of Metropolis. And yet, now, I find myself having to make my way, alone, in suburbs that are unknown to me and all the more dangerous because of that. How long would it be before I am caught unawares and killed, enslaved, or worse? You, sir, and the order that you impose around you so that you can do profitable business represent my best chance at survival. If you choose to have me guard warehouses or escort cabbage carts then I'll do it. If you feel my motives are still suspect then I shall continue on my way." She stops speaking and, intently watching Draconis, awaits his reply.

 

[Phoenix]

"Senor Draconis, my life previous has been isolated from the realities of a vast portion of Metropolis. And yet, now, I find myself having to make my way, alone, in suburbs that are unknown to me and all the more dangerous because of that. How long would it be before I am caught unawares and killed, enslaved, or worse? You, sir, and the order that you impose around you so that you can do profitable business represent my best chance at survival. If you choose to have me guard warehouses or escort cabbage carts then I'll do it. If you feel my motives are still suspect then I shall continue on my way." She stops speaking and, intently watching Draconis, awaits his reply.

Senor Draconis raises his hand and speaks quickly, "Don't be so hasty m'dear, you just have to understand my reluctance to hire somebody off the street so quickly, people in my position have enemies you know."

He beams a large wicked grin at Ymris, showing the sharp teeth that line his mouth. "I could always use someone like you, I just need a little reassurance that's all."

The lizard-like man walks across to the fireplace and climbs a small ladder so he can reach the mantlepiece. Atop it he lifts a steel scroll case and gingerly returns to the ground, presenting the item to Ymris.

"Usually I use another courier to transport items like this, but he met with an unfortunate accident some days ago. It is not a dangerous item, simply a map of little value to those that cannot recognize what it is. I need it taken to business partners of mine in the old District of Leagues, little more than a few hours from here. The path is safe, there are few hazards on the way, it should be easy."

His face loses all humour, "Should be easy, but I've lost one courier already with another copy of this map, see that this one isn't lost and you'll be compensated more than a few coppers, understood?"

 

[Phoenix]

Jen steps in, almost in awe, looking around. "Why would someone abandon something so big?" she asks aloud. "Do you know what they used to do here?"

[sblock=OOC] Spot and listen checks [/sblock]

[sblock]Spot and Listen checks (DC 1) +>1 - Success, well done!
...maybe my NPCs meed more ranks in subtlety or encounter avoidance...[/sblock]

The cathedral's enourmous worship hall could easily have once held hundreds of faithful, but now the hall is empty and each sound made echoes ominously within. Directly ahead of Jen and Jazick an ancient alter still has religious relics decorating it, tapers still burn in homage to the lost god, and a small chime lays in wait for somebody to use it once more.

A figure in pitch black robes with ivory trimmings bends over the alter, hands on each side of it and head down looking at the stoney surface, unaware of the intruders. His robes cover every inch of his body, and the chill wind causes his long hood to sway delicately from side to side.

Behind Jen and Jazick the noise of rattling boards alerts them, and a quick glance shows a pack of jackals attempting to cross the barrier using the same flimsy boards that the two had only just used. One was already halfway across and the rest were lining up to gain access to the cathedral behind it.

 

[Fenris]

Boar and Whale looked strangely at Alexis as he took cover behind his shield and drew out one of the many bottles of burgi that he had in his pack. Burgi wasn't the sweetest stuff he'd ever tasted, but the swarm of dragons seemed to have a taste for everything else on the ship.

The wax seal broke easily and Alexi raised it up high. Before him he could see Whale dashing across the deck at the nets, yelling something at Boar across the buzz of the swarm. Dragon ran next to Alexi yelling at him something that was lost in the chaos.

A dragon landed on the lip of the bottle and growled at Alexi, then bit off a piece of the glass and crunched it loudly. A second dragon flew across and tackled the first, knocking the bottle to the deck and spilling the precious liquor. In seconds six of the creatures bathed in the fluid and began wrestling and biting each other, flames licked dangerously form their mouths and suddenly the entire group of them were in flames screaming.

Alexi stomped on the flames partly to kill the dragons, but mostly to pus out the fire, though he knw the alcohol would burn out with out setting the wood ablaze. He turns to Dragon
shouting "What?" over the din of the dragons and the river.

 

[Phoenix]

Alexi stomped on the flames partly to kill the dragons, but mostly to pus out the fire, though he knw the alcohol would burn out with out setting the wood ablaze. He turns to Dragon
shouting "What?" over the din of the dragons and the river.

"They're attracted to the tar on the ship, we need more of your bugi that's not enough!"

Alexi looked at the swarm of dragons that were slowly tearing the ship apart, they seemed to relish more in chewing anything that had tar on it, or had touched tar, the sailors seemed only targets if they annoyed them. With hundreds of dragons to deal with the crew began to panic, and the four knights could only watch as the chaos reigned unchecked for the time being. There had to be something else they could do...

 

[Scotley]

Jazick

Scrambling quick Jazick reaches for the makeshift bridge and tries to pull it down to prevent more of these jackals from getting in. "Jen! I think maybe the bones have been keeping the jackals out."

 

[Bront]

Scrambling quick Jazick reaches for the makeshift bridge and tries to pull it down to prevent more of these jackals from getting in. "Jen! I think maybe the bones have been keeping the jackals out."

Jen immediately runs to help, adding what little strength she could to help Jazick pull in the bridge.

 

[Fenris]

"They're attracted to the tar on the ship, we need more of your bugi that's not enough!"

Alexi looked at the swarm of dragons that were slowly tearing the ship apart, they seemed to relish more in chewing anything that had tar on it, or had touched tar, the sailors seemed only targets if they annoyed them. With hundreds of dragons to deal with the crew began to panic, and the four knights could only watch as the chaos reigned unchecked for the time being. There had to be something else they could do...

Alexi looks around and grabs the nearest crewman. Grabbing him by the arm he hauls him back into the cabins to better hear him.
"Pitch! Do you have any barrels of pitch or tar aboard? We need any you can find! IF you value you life you will find some!" he shouts at the crewman.

 

[GlassEye]

Senor Draconis raises his hand and speaks quickly, "Don't be so hasty m'dear, you just have to understand my reluctance to hire somebody off the street so quickly, people in my position have enemies you know."

He beams a large wicked grin at Ymris, showing the sharp teeth that line his mouth. "I could always use someone like you, I just need a little reassurance that's all."

The lizard-like man walks across to the fireplace and climbs a small ladder so he can reach the mantlepiece. Atop it he lifts a steel scroll case and gingerly returns to the ground, presenting the item to Ymris.

"Usually I use another courier to transport items like this, but he met with an unfortunate accident some days ago. It is not a dangerous item, simply a map of little value to those that cannot recognize what it is. I need it taken to business partners of mine in the old District of Leagues, little more than a few hours from here. The path is safe, there are few hazards on the way, it should be easy."

His face loses all humour, "Should be easy, but I've lost one courier already with another copy of this map, see that this one isn't lost and you'll be compensated more than a few coppers, understood?"

Ymris accepts the steel scroll case from Draconis with a bow. "I understand. To whom do I make delivery and how do I find them?"

 

[Phoenix]

Jen immediately runs to help, adding what little strength she could to help Jazick pull in the bridge.

The planks were easy to dislodge, and as soon as Lazick and Jen had moved the first, the rest wavered and fell apart. The Jackal that was halfway across fell into the barrier of bones, impaling itself and screaming in pain. The creature was in the centre of the barrier, fully impaled on several jagged bones, but hardly close to dying, it's screams would echo through the cathedral for hours to come, maybe even days...