The Old City (Play Thread)

The din of the Wok faded away as Flipper descended into the Old City. The first room he entered was surprisingly well-lit. A handful of hooded figures hunched over steaming bowls of noodles, funerary masks and a compact zither on the ground nearby.

Niches carved into the walls held small plaques, votive candles, and any number of minor offerings--coins, flowers, food, poems--the largest niche housed a slowly turning bronze prayer wheel that chimed every time it completed a rotation.

Old Realm glyphs were carved into the lintels of the chamber's two doorways, as well as on a square stone slab set in the floor.

Before going down with one of the soldiers in tow, Flipper poked his head down to see what he'd be carrying his victim through. Those funerary masks and hoods gave him an idea, and as when he went back up to his room, he did a quick costume change, imitating the funerary masks and hoods, such that carrying an unconscious figure or an effigy wouldn't be too out of place. He wrapped the one that looked to be senior up in a blanket and set about navigating the Old City to rendezvous with Glass. He tried to act casual, though he also wasn't exactly going to stop to chat with anyone he didn't absolutely have to.

As he traversed the catacombs, Builder walked through a doorway at one end of one of the larger open chambers – and at the same time, Flipper came through one of the other doorways.

The look of recognition in Flipper’s eyes told Builder that he hadn’t been forgotten. “I’m going to investigate Bobo further, and see if I can learn more about her and her superiors. Would you mind giving me your full name so I can locate you and your circle more easily in the future?”

Flipper stopped, stepping into the room, letting Shadow enter behind him. He gave Mouse an odd look, wondering why exactly he needed the name, but then decided there could be a worse request - and besides, he could always use an alias if things went south. From what he understood, a lot of other Lunars used assumed names from their reputation anyway. His mentor hadn't given him one, largely because he didn't feel they had worked together long enough to pick out one that would catch on.

"Harmonious Flipper of the Thousand Hungry Wings, at your service," he replied. "Let us know what you find out. Do you need us to point her out to you? Either I or my associate can."

Builder hesitated a moment, then decided to repay the trust with trust. “In Yu-Shan they call me Builder,” he revealed. “I think I should be able to find her, if she’s as inept as you say.”

“I’ll contact you all again when I know more,” the Sidereal said. “Thank you.” Then, he made for the Wok.

Shadow following Flippers lead also disguised him self with a funerary mask and hood, which didn't take much work seeing as he was already wearing a dark cloak. Then proceeds to follow down to the catacombs.

Stepping into a doorway, Shadow sees the man from the cart. Something is telling him he should not trust this guy, and until he figures out why he is going to stay out of sight. So he hangs back blending into the shadows of the hallway.

((activating Shadow Cloak Technique))

((Dex + Stealth - 2 +2s -2m))

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((Per+Awa))

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Flipper let Builder pass by, then resumed his trek. He stopped when he made it to what he expected, judging by the distance, was the edge of town, and set his cargo down near the entrance. When Shadow showed himself again, he motioned for him to do the same. "I'm going to go up top and make sure Glass is in the right place. You mind staying here with them in the meantime?"

After Builder had walked by and Flipper headed off, Shadow stepped back into the light and continued following Flipper.

"Yeah I can wait down here, Suns to bright today anyway."

Flipper nodded and ascended the stairs, poking his head through the doorway to see where he'd come up, and if Glass was anywhere nearby.

Glass was standing in front of his wagon as his companions emerged from their adventure. He swiftly waved them over, saying absolutely nothing as he moved to rapidly open and close his wagon's door when they got close. He noticed they resembled a funeral procession... it seemed all too appropriate on Flipper's friend there, but that was no matter. If he could pretend to be taking them to a cemetery, they could probably get through this fairly quickly.

Flipper wasted no time in moving the unconscious soldiers into the wagon, then directing Glass to the very outskirts of town, where they went looking for an abandoned storage shed; several likely places into searching, Flipper opened a door and found a pale man sleeping; not what he usually expected to see, but he was glad the soldiers were still in the wagon.

When Flipper returned and informed Shadow that Glass was there, he helped transport the soldiers to the cart.

When they reached the outskirts of town he proceeded to check around for an empty shed to stash the soldiers in. Looking into the first shed he noticed a man sleeping in the corner who looked suspiciously like a Death-Knight. Freaking out that there might be another Death-knight in the area, and immediately assuming he was here for him. He quickly summoned his bow and ducked into the closest shadows.

Whispering to Flipper as he did, "We might have a problem here, get Glass."

His dreams had become weird since the black exaltation. He used to dream about making swords; then he would wake up and make swords. It was a happy life. Now Hider dreams about darkness and ice storms and specters whispering into his ears. Maybe that is what his life has become. Darkness hides him, storms protects him, and the specters are his only company. He liked to call her Ice.

Having successfully escaped the underworld into creation, Hider sneaked into a nearby town and hid himself in the under city. An abandoned storage shed seemed remote enough for him to catch up on sleep, but not even 18 hours into his nap he was rudely interrupted.

As the door opened he awoke but kept himself from moving. If they were foes they would take this opportunity to attack him. Luckily he kept Ice within arms length while he slept; and she thought cuddling was weird! If they were not then they would either go away, do nothing, or call out to him.

And after a moment passed it seemed that nothing was their choice. So he yawned loudly, rolled over and turned to them, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Huh? Who are you?" he asked sleepily.

Flipper paused with his hand on the handle of the partly-shut door, not having necessarily been ready with a reply. Shadow's whispering in his ear that this might be a group problem did nothing to help matters. His eyes followed the man's hand off into the shadows. He seemed to be holding a sword of some sort; he couldn't make out most of the superficial details, but he could make out a narrow blade and a basket hilt. Something about it wasn't normal, though, that much was obvious. Even sheathed, the sword's proportions didn't look normal; it was just a bit too big for a normal man his size, from what he understood about proper weapon sizing. In fact, it seemed have more in common with the daiklave his mentor had owned...

By Luna, it was like a shark-frenzy of Exalts here, assuming he wasn't just being paranoid. That would, of course, also mean that Shadow was being paranoid for no good reason, but for a man who spent as much time invisible as he did, paranoia was somewhat to be expected.

"Ah, we just took a wrong turn, didn't think there'd be anyone sleeping in here. Apologies, have a good day," he said, shutting the door quickly.

He turned to Shadow, lowering his voice to a whisper, "Is that what I think it is?"

From the brief glimpse Glass had of the pale man before the door was closed, he had little to go on to base suspicions, but it was still odd to find a man sleeping in a random shack. Dismounting the driver's seat of his wagon, he walked over to his new found companions and released a few words.

"I'm guessing it's occupied? Got another place we can stash these..." he decided to stop talking after that, to give an antecedent would allow eavesdroppers to hear and completely understand what they were doing, even though they obviously had corpses with them, kidnapping living people likely would be much much more suspicious after all. Grave-robbers were just grave-robbers, but kidnappers were more immediately dangerous to the living.

"Yeah I'm pretty sure that he is, and I don't like it"

"Glass, Yes and I think he is a Death-Knight"

"If I had to guess i would say the Mask sent him"

Hider quickly pulled his jade mask on and gave himself a little bit healthier face and eye color. He also pulled his gloves from his satchel to hide his pale hands.

Ice was itching. "What?" he whispered into the pommel.

Her voice spoke into his mind like the wind across a frozen meadow, "Trust no one."

"You think the Prince sent him?"  

"Maybe."  Hider didn't believe her, but didn't fail to believer her either. Poor Ice had spent most of her life avoiding people; she learned sound instincts.  

"If we don't know for certain, we shouldn't kill them."

"Use your eyes!" Hider activated his charms: Deception Piercing Stare and Through Dead Eyes. The world lit up in the colors of essence, sharpening and becoming clearer than should be comfortable. Ice glowed like a blizzard caught in a blue fire, her imagined eyes staring softly at him.

He kissed Ice's pommel, and walked to the door. With a shaking hand he opened the door and addressed the three men standing outside. "Um... would you perhaps... I mean... uh... You are not here to kill me, are you?" His long, nobly knees were visibly knocking; he must be the worst unholy abomination against the lord god ever exalted....

(Currently my character has the equivalents of Judges Ear and All Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight up. If you say anything relevant, please indicate if it is True, False or Half True. Spending 9 of 19 personal motes. )

"Why would I be here to kill you? Who do you serve and why are you here?"

"Um... I serve the sovereign of Sijan, may he or she live forever?" Hider answers. This did not go as expected, but that could be due to his lack of foresight. What was his plan again?

(wits + Socialize, Lore, or Bureaucracy to know who he is talking about)

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