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Message: <blockquote data-quote="spyscribe" data-source="post: 1075924" data-attributes="member: 5808">Part the Very EighteenthIn which: Justice gets a new look.(as recorded by Fajitas)    Anvil obtains directions to the Aegosian Temple of Justice and the group makes their way there.  The wealthy Aegosians that pass them on the street universally give them disdainful looks, doing little to improve the party’s overall impression of the place.    The Temple itself is constructed of white marble, brilliant and elaborate.  It is a far cry from the stern and austere building in Dar Pykos.     “Who is it we are meeting here?” Reyu asks.    “I have been given a letter of introduction to Immobile the Just, the head of the Universal Law Caucus here in Dar Aego.  No doubt he will put their resources at our disposal,” Anvil replies.    Anvil flags down a temple acolyte and asks to be led to Immobile.  The acolyte takes the party to an office.  “Come in,” says a voice from inside, and they do.  The man behind the desk is young and clean-shaven.  His robes, though similar in design to Anvil’s, are of a much finer fabric and a cut more adapted to the style of Dar Aego.  They also indicate that he is merely a Third Order Justicar.  “Yes?” the man asks.    Anvil steps forward, slightly confused.  “I am here to see Immobile the Just,” he says.    “That’s me,” the man responds.    “You head the Universal Law Caucus here in Dar Aego?” Anvil asks, surprised.    Immobile immediately jumps out of his seat and hurries to close the door.  “I do,” he says.  “Who are you, and how do you know that?”    Anvil introduces himself and the others, and presents Immobile with the letter of introduction.  Immobile reads it twice before he relaxes.  “Forgive my paranoia,” he says.  “The Caucus is not exactly popular here in Dar Aego.  We operate more or less underground.”    “I did not mean to alarm you.  I was merely surprised to find a Third Order as head of the Caucus,” Anvil replies.    “As I said, the Caucus isn’t very popular here.  It’s not as though we’re arguing that Aegosian law should become the universal standard.  Now,” he says, indicating the letter, “clearly your mission here is a very important one. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot I can offer you.  Our resources are few.”    “Do you have someone who knows their way around?” Hue asks.  “I keep having to ask people, and they all stare at me funny when I do.”    “They stare at you funny when you don’t,” Thatch mutters under his breath.    “A guide?  Yes, that I think I can spare,” Immobile says.  He opens the door and snaps for an acolyte.  “Have Essela come see me,” he commands.  The acolyte runs off.  “Now,” Immobile continues, “as to people staring at you... that’s a harder issue.  You, all of you, do rather stick out.  People here tend to look down on… um…”    “Outsiders?” Anvil offers.    “The poor,” Immobile finishes.  “Or at least people less well off than themselves.  You see it everywhere here, in the houses, the carriages, the clothes.  Appearances mean a lot in Dar Aego, and yours say you don’t belong here.”    “Is that all?  We could look like we fit in easy,” Hue says, and begins to cast.  A small fog appears around him and coalesces into the image of an Aegosian robe, complete with a gold headdress covered in dangling bells.  Or, rather, it coalesces into cheap imitation thereof.  The robes appear to have been stitched by someone who doesn’t know how to sew, and the headdress seems to have been dragged behind a carriage for some distance.  “See,” Hue says, inordinately proud.    “Um. Don’t bells usually make noise?” Thatch asks.    “Perhaps,” Reyu interrupts, “it would be easier if we were simply to purchase Aegosian robes.  If it will ease our dealings with people here, it seems worth the expense.”    “It will certainly ease your dealings here,” Immobile says.  “I can provide Justicar robes for Anvil.  I can send an acolyte to purchase clothing for the rest of you, though I warn you they are not likely to be cheap.”    “We only require 750 gold to buy back all the slaves,” Anvil says.  “The Caucus has provided us with 1000.”    “990, after what you slipped the gate guards,” Cyrus points out.    “Nonetheless, this seems a reasonable expense.”    The others agree, and Immobile sends his acolyte.  In the end, the plainest of Aegosian robes costs the party 20 gold each.  “910,” Cyrus says.    Another acolyte soon returns with the party’s guide, Essela.  She is a member of the Order of Law, an order of monks attached to the Justicars who serve as part clerks, part bailiffs.  Essela works for Immobile, and is also a member of the Caucus.     “Where to first?” she asks dryly.    The party pauses to consider this question, and Anvil produces the list the party has been given of wrongly enslaved Pykosian citizens:         “Colin and Andrew are both outside of the city,” Reyu notes.  “It would be more… convenient… to deal with those here first, then leave to retrieve the others.”    “The quarry is several hours north of the city,” Essela pipes up. “The plantation is several hours west.  The city makes as good a place as any to stop between them.”    “Still, it seems to me we should deal with those nearer sooner,” Reyu responds.    “Um, wasn’t al-Assal a little concerned about the girl?” Thatch asks.  “Maybe we should get her first, then go to whoever’s closest.”    All agree that this seems like the best plan.  And so, Essela leads them through the city to the Morjene estate.</blockquote>

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