Planescape: A Hopeless Beginning

[Goddess FallenAngel]

Vaerhia fluffs her hair, looking around for a mirror, and sighs.

"There are plots around every corner whether you are in Sigil or the Abyss itself," she says matter-of-factly. "The only difference is if you know it or not."

She shrugs. "At any rate, I may have a source of information not far from here, and we may be better served if I pursue that lead while others scout. Anyone wish to accompany me?" She smiles winningly, and proceeds to pick her way carefully down the alley.

 

[Scotley]

Wyk

Of course Wyk follows Vaerhia enjoying the view from behind as the scenery is otherwise so bland.

 

[JimAde]

Krikit clears his throat. "Well, while they check their sources, perhaps the rest of us can have a look around," he says wryly. "But first..." He mutters under his breath and passes his hands over his own chest. There is a brief flare of pale green which is quickly gone. "All right, I'm ready," he says briskly.

Casting Mage Armor on myself. AC now 17 in gnome form, 20 otherwise.

 

[tylermalan]

Eclaiyan

"Indeed, Krikit. Let's check around elsewhere." Eclaiyan begins to follow Vaerhia and Wyk as long as necessary to get to a point where the groups can split directions, and then begins to head off in the opposite (or as close to the opposite) direction as the couple.

 

[Eluvan]

OOC: That means Vaerhia and Wyk are forking right at the end of the street, to go towards the inn where Vaerhia has arranged to meet Dainan. Eclaiyan and Krikit are going left at the junction. So I just need to know which way Estariel and Minala will be going.

 

[doghead]

Minala, girl with tusks

Minala watches her new found companions stride across the open space in front of the building and off into the town. They seem confident of their ability to handle anything that comes their way. They seem knowledgable about the world at large. Minala is neither. Her great strength has served her well in the past. But it also brings attention, usually unwanted. Minala's companions seem unconcerned about the kind of attention they may receive while wandering the streets of the town. Minala is more wary. She has no wish to become the mark of one of the inhabitants of this place.

Minala has no wish to stay here in Hopeless. She has no interest in exploring it without some specific purpose. She finds herself a sunny spot by the door and settles down to wait. The stones at her back are warm. Minala is happy.

Soon enough she will be noticed. That tends to happen when you are 8 feet tall, strong enough to wrestle bears and possessing tusks. Probably by the street kids that are always to be found in places such as this, if this place is anything like the places Minala has lived. Then the word will get around, and if anyone really wants to find her, they can do so here. Sitting in the sun, the huge stones warming her back. The door to sanctuary close by. For Minala has come to think of this place as a sanctuary already.

"If there had been a place like this anywhere where I have lived, I think I would have liked to work for them," she says quietly to herself. But in truth, she can't really see them accepting her. "Yes, they would have you. You are beautiful and clever. But I am street trash," she whispers softly.

 

[Eluvan]

With Minala remaining sat by the entrance to the Ministry, the rest of the group splits into two groups and sets off, with Eclaiyan, Estariel and Krikit going one way down the road that intersects the one leading tp the ministry, and Wyk and Vaerhia going the other way down that same road.

The street is quite crowded, and the people who go by are, as a rule, dirty, poorly dressed and very thin. Clearly the standard of living here tends to be low. Many appear to be tieflings, and more than a few appear to be half fiends. There's even a fairly substantial representation of the lower orders, at least, of true fiends.

Turning right as they come on to the larger street, Wyk and Vaerhia find themselves on a long, cobbled street. Various shops line both sides as well as many private dwellings, and a little way down the street on the left is a sign proclaiming the Spat Tooth - apparently a tavern of some kind. Vaerhia of course recognises the name as the one of which Dainan told her. As they draw nearer they can both see where the name comes from; the building is shaped a little like a molar, chewing side up, and is made of some chalky white substance that looks like bone - or tooth enamel. A beetle-like creature stands upright on either side of the door, each one about the size of a man and clutching a wicked looking trident in one hand. Their bulbous eyes survey the passers-by with utter hatred and contempt, and they are accordingly given something of a wide berth.

Eclaiyan, Estariel, and Krikit, meanwhile, find themselves headed back in the rough direction of Emenukaris' castle, though there are many possible turnings they could take down side streets. The general air of the surroundings and the crowds seems to become slightly more pleasant towards the castle, though they're never really anything more or less than disgusting. Still, among unwashed and poorly nourished crowds there is, here, a slightly higher proportion of visibly wealthier pedestrians, dressed in finery and always with a number of well-muscled guards.

Goddess:
[sblock]You recognise the two guards outside the inn as Mezzoloths. Mezzoloths are the standard heavy infantry of a Yugoloth army, or any other army that's wealthy enough to buy their services from their superiors. They're not terribly bright, but they're fearsome foes in close combat and like all fiends possess some inherent magical ability too.

Also, not sure how au fait you are with the Planescape setting; if 'Yugoloth' doesn't mean much to you then let me know and I'll tell you what Vaerhia knows about them.[/sblock]

JimAde:
[sblock]As you walk along you suddenly realise that a small boy has just tried to pick pocket you. He was disappointed of course - you didn't have anything. He's already making to slip back into the crowd.

Not that you have to do anything about it, but if you want to you'd better do it quickly or he'll be gone.[/sblock]

 

[JimAde]

Krikit chuckles a little nervously. "Some kid just tried to pick my pocket," he explains. Then he shouts at the boy's retreating back, "Hey son, if you find anything let me know, won't you?" He looks around at the crowd a bit tensely. "All right, I get why they call this place Hopeless. It looks like the gods have chosen it as their dumping ground. Why don't we have a little surreptitious peek at the castle? See if they've moved the ship yet."

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

As they walk, Vaerhia lets her form slip back into her natural one. Knowledge of my heritage might dissuade some from thinking of violence, given my appearance and dress - and as for those that are powerful enough for my heritage to count against me – well, often they have means of seeing what one truly is regardless, and ‘tis better to deal with them upfront.

When the Spat Tooth comes into sight, she smiles with satisfaction. “That’s it,” she says to Wyk. A frown briefly passes over her face as she notes the guards on the door. “Mezzoloths,” she mutters in disgust to Wyk, but places a careless half-smile on her face and continues to approach regardless.

[sblock=Eluvan]I'm fairly familiar with Planescape - and quite familiar with the Blood War and fiends. Thanks though - and I'll keep the offer in mind should you bring out something I don't know![/sblock]

 

[tylermalan]

Eclaiyan

Eclaiyan peers back over his shoulder at the boy, trying to discern which one it was, though paying little mind if that's even possible. "Sounds fine to me, Krikit, though I wonder if they could have moved the ship in such a short time. Let's head there anyway." He turns down a street leading more-so in the direction of the castle.