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Message: <blockquote data-quote="drunkadelic" data-source="post: 1674657" data-attributes="member: 4020">In the Outlands, atop the great spire as we all know is the city of Sigil. Some people call it the hub of the universe, and those people might be right. In any case, most people who know of Sigil know that it is a place where everything is sold. Information, property, even lives. It is not suprising then, that the largest and most reputable of all the trader race known as the Mercanes has the entrance to his multidimensional warehouse of magical artifacts and goods located in the city. Right past the Happy Orc bakery, between Chester the Yuan-ti’s tattoo parlour and the Grinning Balor Bar and Grill lies the entrance to Arthuss’ Arcane. Offering 24 hour a day, every day service, Arthuss has built the reputation of being the best not only because of his gigantic inventory set in a paradimensional demiplane – but because of the mystery surrounding one being’s almost supernatural ability to have just the right thing at just the right time, at just the right price, for each and every one of his millions of customers. Great salesmen aren’t trained… they are born. In the crystal office suspended at the top of the spherical demiplane, A litorian, a tiefling, and a Halfling all sit in giant overstuffed chairs, eyeing one another with suspicion, while a simple man in grey clothing stands attendant next to a table with coffee, various juices, and a very tempting platter of scones. Minutes pass in tense silence. Jambus, the attendant sighs. Finally the Halfling breaks the silence. “Greetings ladies, Brumbleton Humbleberry at your service.” Silence. “My, these scones are quite delicious.” Silence. “Say, does anyone know what time it is?” Silence. “Well bugger this. All I know is that one minute I’m attending to some urgent business, then the next thing I know some blue-headed freak is telling me he can solve all my financial problems. He asks me to step through a glowing doorway, and the next thing I know I’m in glass room with three mutes, some delicious scones, and a very tall desk. When I wake up, this will be a hell of a thing to tell Marlowe.” “You’re very much awake, twit.” Mocks the tiefling, her voice like poisoned honey. “Oh. Well then, would anyone like some rum?” Jambus the attendant looks saddened and turns to the door at the back of the office. He looks at the waterclock on the desk and sighs. “So why are you here…and what’s the deal with your eyes?” Brumbleton asks the snide Tiefling. “Same as you. I was in a tight jam, and the Merc offered me a solution. As for my eyes, well – if you don’t know, Berk – I’m a tiefling. Demon born, ya see. With all the powers of the Abyss at my command. Quake and tremble mortal, blah blah blah.” “Do you have a name, oh fierce demon goddess?” “Alanis, but don’t say it often, you might get it dirty, being that close to the ground.” “And what about you, oh feline princess? Hah, cat got your tongue?” The litorian growls a little bit and mutters. “Call me Kali – I also was offered assistance by the blue skinned man.” Other than the failed attempts of Brumble to get rum from his empty flask, silence resumes until the unfamiliar popping noise of an extraplanar gate opening nearby breaks it. Out from the back door, comes in the familiar form of the blue skinned gentleman. “Greetings friends!” he exclaims in a tone as smooth as cream. “I expect you all were in stellar care here with Jambus. He might not say much, due to the drow cutting his tongue out, but you’ll find he is a very capable and caring individual and he makes a hell of a scone. Now then, down to business. For those of you who do not know, my name is Arthuss. I am a mercane, and if you do not know of my race, let me briefly explain it to you in the non boring way. My race are natural merchants – we travel the planes hawking wares wherever they are needed. Personally, I’ve traveled the planes for over two thousand years, and I’ve grown tired of much of the unpredictability of environment, and have decided to open the store in which you presently sit. Much to my amazement, my profits have grown and grown from this location and many consider me the largest merchant of things magical in all of the universe. I don’t know how I feel about that, but nevertheless. Let’s get down to real business. Each of you are here because you are in a financial bind. I am here because I have a financial surplus, yet am in a services bind. Basically, as a merchant of the fantastic, I need people to retrieve merchandise for me to sell. I am far too busy with my own administration of this place to go out and adventure like I used to. So, I employ several groups of people, I call them my field teams to go out on carefully researched missions and carry out my business. Basically, I am offering you a contract. You each have a debt of about 50,000 gold pieces. I am willing to purchase that debt immediately, to prevent the unfortunate happenstances of your various financial quandaries – to ensure your service to me until said debt is paid off through means of employment to me.” Boggled, Brumbleton asks, “In common please?” “Hah. Fine. I will pay each of your debts personally immediately if you will agree to work off your debt with me at your own pace by retrieving magical items, selling them to me for a reduced price for me to sell to my customers.” The three consider this. After some logistical questions and an assurance by Kali that she will do nothing to pervert nature – the three sign their contracts. They are then escorted by Jambus back out into the streets of Sigil and are shown into the apartments above the oak door that serves as the portal to Arthuss’ Arcane. In a small envelope is a letter from Arthuss thanking them for their pledge to service, with instructions that a quick mission is lining itself up soon, and that soon there might be one or two more members joining their team. Also enclosed are iron keys with the instructions that they are to be used to access Arthuss’ portals for business use.  The three look at one another and shrug, preparing themselves for a night of sleep in their new abode. (next session: to the action!)</blockquote>

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