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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1531704" data-attributes="member: 8530">Game #9 - 5/02/04Chapter 55, “The London Shopkeeper”, December 20th, 1881:They shake Wes awake.  He grumbles and comments that he is hungry.  Louie offers him a rice ball, to which the bard replies, “Never show me anything that disgusting again this early in the day.  I need a bard’s breakfast.”  Morgana states, “He wants a beer.”  “Or at least a bottle of wine,” he replies.    They exit the train station and the gang asks Arcade if he knows exactly where the scry appeared to reach the surface.   He says, “I think the docklands, but could have come up at an angle, so it might be further away.”  “Let’s try to find the spot we saw,” Qualtaqa states.   Wes says, “Well, if we’re heading to that part of town we’d better get there now.  I wouldn’t want to be in that part of the city after dark.”   Hank says, “What are you worried about?  You’re with Arcade’s gang.”  Wes replies, “Well, don’t take offense at this, but I’ve actually gotten to know you guys a bit now.  Your group is more impressive as a concept.”   They head through the crowded city in the direction of the docks.   They pass many people selling their wares along the street.   Wes goes to a street vendor and purchases a meat-filled roll, which he then consumes.  Along the way Morgana notices a curio shop with several items in the window that hint of French design.  She says, “Hold on a minute.  I want to check out this store.”   Hank exclaims, “We don’t have time to go shopping.”  She replies, “If this shop is what I suspect it might be it going here could actually save us a lot of time.” They enter the building and Morgana approaches the proprietor, an elderly woman standing behind the main counter.   They exchange small talk for several minutes.   Morgana has been busy looking around the room and makes mention of her interest in viewing unusual tomes.   The woman says, “We don’t have much interest in books, but I might have a few.”    She leads her into a back room, moving a glass with a dead fly inside it off of a pile of dusty books, revealing some magical tomes beneath.   Morgana smiles and says to her in an archaic version of French, “Your ruse is impressive.  A non-wizard would not suspect you use these daily.”  The woman replies in the same version of French (and language that of her companions, only Wes can deduce the occasional word of) “Yes, you’ve passed the test.  I personally like the dead fly detail myself.  He’s actually just playing dead, being a personal friend of my familiar.”   Morgana says, “I’m glad you decided that you can trust us.”  The woman replies, “And can I trust your companions?”  Morgana replies, “Yes, I trust them all with my life.  They’re very easy to underestimate, but are all people of good character.”  “Then you will be trusting them with my life as well,” the woman replies.The older woman then changes to the English language and says, “I may be able to help you find that which you seek.”   Arcade says, “That would be appreciated.  I need to locate where my father is.”   The woman replies, “What can you tell me about where he has been?”  Morgana says, “It’s as though he were simultaneously here and on another world.”    Arcade describes the large room he saw his father inside and the tome that he was reading.  Morgana adds that “Even when he was home he was not really there.  We don’t know how to combat this,”  The woman replies, “Your suspicion that he is linked to the tome is probably correct.  You must separate him from it.”  Morgana says, “And I’m uncertain how it is that he appears to travel the fifty-mile distance in a very short time?”   The woman replies, “And you mean to tell me that you can’t?”   Morgana answers, “No.  I’m afraid that I’m still a novice at using magic.  But I do have other talents which I have made good use of.”    Arcade says, “We think that this location is near the docklands.”  The woman replies, “That is not what I sense, but the docks do have the most open space in the city, and I believe the place you seek is in a open space.”  The woman’s gaze then turns to Qualtaqa and she asks Morgana “Do you want me to fix him?”  Morgana replies, “No, we needed him in this form.”   She replies, “Why?  It is not his destiny.”  Louie interjects, “But it easier for him to ride on boat and train like this.”   Qualataqa asks the woman, “You can tell people’s destiny?”   She replies, “Yes.  I can read their auras.”   It is obvious that Qualtaqa wishes to asks something else, but hesitates.  Morgana says, “Go ahead.  You want to ask her.”   Much to her surprise however, rather than asking about himself he asks about what is in store for Morgana.   The woman replies “She is destined for greatness as well as happiness.”  Qualtaqa says, “And the Elvan people?”  “As you believe,” is her reply.Hank gestures to Sam and says, “And what can you say about his destiny.”   The woman smiles and tells the boy, “You may find some who will do if for free. You just need to know where to look.”    Arcade comments, “You appear to know much of us.”  The woman replies, “I should.  I have been expecting all of you.”    “Do you have anything else to tells us?” Morgana asks.   The woman says, “There are things you know and things you do and sometimes the things you know interfere with the things you do so you need to take that into perspective.”   Louie mutters to himself in his native tongue “And they say that Chinese philosophy speaks in riddles.” Louie asks about purchasing an item for his girlfriend and is shown a number of items selling for the British equivalent of $ 5.00 to $ 10.00.   Hank points out that even if he goes for the cheapest it will still be the most expensive gift that Mary Wong ever received.   Louie buys a cameo with gold plated edging.  Morgana thanks the woman for her assistance and asks if they can come back if necessary.    The woman tells her that she is always welcome to return.   “Even if it is decades from now?” Wes comments.    She replies, “Yes, the shop will remain here until the war.”  “War?” Arcade asks.  She replies, “Another third of a century from now.  Most of you will know of it.”  Gesturing to Sam she says, “The young one will play a key part of it.”    Arcade thanks her for her advice, while Sam just looks very confused.  As they leave she whispers something into Qualtaqa’s ear.    Morgana looks back and gives her a puzzled look.   The woman’s last comment to them is, “Zero is your friend.  Look low.”  The group exit the building and head in the direction of Tower Bridge.   This is not the best part of town and Wes acts uncomfortable.  Aracade asks him “What’s the problem?”  The bard replies, “This intrigue thing just isn’t my style. I feel exposed the way we are proceeding.  I prefer buying people drinks and then outsmarting them.”   Morgana comments, “Like you outwitted me.”  Wes replies, “You two set me up.” Arcade says, “No, you did that to yourself.  But don’t worry. We have you covered.  You’ve saved my butt often enough, let me return the favor.”   Wes glances back at Morgana, wanting to make a comment, but Sam laughs and stops him with “Don’t even try.  You’re not going to win with her.”   He appears to take that as a challenge, thinking up a smart comment to make to her, but stops when Louie says, “Give it up.  When even Sam laughs at you there no hope.”</blockquote>

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