Chapter Three: The City of Stone and Splendor. [Interstice]

To Blef and Fayd


"Then you ssshould know, a number of missives have been seen coming and going from certain places that are being used for purposes outside their daily expectations in Greyfalls. Pieces of parchment or silk that just up and vanish by the time some are able to search those buildingsss. My guess is Tekana is looking for her sweet son. You already know it and I do wish you well, but you are being well and truly hunted now." Snake sighs and toasts Blef.
 
Yushoto Fayd


"A sad pass indeed..." Fayd raises a glass towards Blef, and downs half of it, and gazes contemplatively at Blef before cracking into another smile.


"So... let's say I help you here, eh?"
 
Yushoto Fayd


"I do a little digging, see if I can't get the lie of the land for you, beyond that - well, what happens, happens. Parry, dodge, riposte and all that. Seems to me you could do with an extra player on your side of the board."


He sips his wine and recrosses his legs, watching the Air Aspect.
 
Anju


Meh, hopefully if they were drunk, they’d pass out soon. Or she could stop and stare at the pagoda until it was likely they were passed out. Anju glanced down the straight away path to the caravans and back to the pagoda. If she waited until tomorrow, the light might be completely different. The people would live, right? Others went out for longer.


Anju shifted directions and headed towards the pagoda. It was glass right? This was the sort of material that could look like fire and remain solid at the same time! Limestone may be sturdy, but the glass was champion at playing with light. It couldn’t be an ‘eternal flame’ either, since once darkness fell completely the light would vanish. No, wait; what would Luna’s light do to it?


Now she would have to investigate the pagoda when night had completely fallen as well!
 
Amilar Blefuscu


Blef nods. "It's getting near time I stopped running." For the first time in a long time, Blef grins with relief and extends a hand to a fellow Lookshyan, however disgraced.


"Take what you can."
 
To Anju


The seven tiers of the pagoda tower over you (not as much as the Hall of Law, but close), glowing myriad colors. The rainbow seems to cover the whole block in shimmering light, like sitting in a grotto or next to a river. The Pagoda is still open, the doors swung open wide with a lovely heat coming out clashing with the chilly air outside. Inside you can see myriad monoliths and statuary, people walking around and standing in silent consideration of these monuments. The night grows darker, with only the slightest of silver sheens gracing the framework and glass of the western flank of the pagoda. Luna has risen.
 
Yushoto Fayd


"Give nothing back." Fayd replies, with a smile, and shakes on it.
 
Anju


Anju took a few steps towards the pagoda and repeated the motion slower. The way the light played with the folds of her skirt and the difference between the ribbons and rough woven cloth was riveting. How did the people who lived get to sleep each night? Did they go to visit the pagoda instead? It was amazing it was still open, so many that was why.


With Luna peering over the horizon, it wouldn’t be that long until he was the only light. She could go into the pagoda, look about, and come back out and see if silver overtook the other colors.


So after performing a spin or two, the way Katarina said a dancer should, just to see the shift in lights and shadows, Anju went in.
 
Kayadin Reeyeh


After a few more worried glances around the caravans, Kaya nodded at Adair. "I know I shouldn't worry so much, but it's a rather big city and it's Anju." She smiled ruefully. "I just would rather know she's safe." Her gazed flicked over towards the Dragon Blood. "Hopefully he's sober enough to help us look." She touched Adair's shoulder briefly, giving him a small smile before walking towards Kalek.


"So. I see the Gateway match is over. I hope Golgo didn't beat you too badly." Her smile was friendly enough. Scratching the bridge of her nose first, Kaya placed both hands by her hips and looked around. "We're missing Anju for the moment. Care to help us look around for her? I was thinking of maybe looking at some of the more popular spots that are still open. Something that might catch an inquisitive young girl's eye."
 
To Anju


A lovely warmth starts to seep into your clothing and flesh soon after walking in. Ah, much nicer in here than it is outside. Glowstones line the walls of this hall, shining with hard points of white and yellow light. The statues and monoliths are all inscripted with lines of poetry and all set to give vivid and stark imagery of battle and fallen heroes long since turned to ash.


There's a striking statue of white marble of a general of some sorts holding aloft what looks like a shattered daiklaive (still a large two-handed sword for a normal man), leading a charge of men toward some unseen enemy. Evocative, for sure. The inscription merely reads: Warlord Kerin, Greatest Son of Shale. Huh, a veteran of the Realm Wars, you've heard old lullabys about this man and others long ago.
 
To Fayd and Blef


The night ended in the trading of wine and a few stories. Plus, Fayd relayed his information clearly to the Snake, leaving his next contract free and clear for Mister Constantine.
 
To Kaya


Kalek looks up at you a bit unsure. "Well, unless she's a drunk or heavily into fine and rich foods, I doubt she's in half the places open now. I'm not entirely sure what in the world is open in this place, being no native, but..." He looks down the Avenue, "we can walk, talk, and look." He'll wave to Adair and set off down the road. "Come! We shall find the wayward girl. I doubt she'd be anywhere too deep into the city. Maybe a small park or some place along the Avenue here. That's all I can imagine, truly."
 
To Lyrik


The situation in the bar calms after the other mercenaries flee. You'll generally ignore the men with the silver chains as they take a booth and drinks. You'll mainly be focusing on the couple of girls who look quite enamored with your songs and other parts. Wide doe-eyes are always the best sign after a song. Comely and they do appear willing you bid them over.


With a bit of talk, a bit of wine, and another little song for them, you'll quickly be ushered out of the building toward a private dwelling somewhere in the eastern part of the city, through alleys, narrow roads and through a door onto a lofty bed with these wild women.


Ah, the good life. What a night.
 
Kayadin Reeyeh


"I truly doubt we would find Anju in a tavern." Kaya matched her strides to Kalek's. "You never did say, who won the game? I was trying to get Adair to bet, but I couldn't convince him to part with his money that way." She laughed, loud and unfettered, never one to inhibit her hearty laughter in any way. Glad that they were going back towards the larger monuments, she kept pace next to Kalek, looking around for signs of Anju.


Perception + Awareness


Results for 5 dice: 5 successes [ 8 9 8 0 6 ] (TN: 7)


 
To Kaya


"I rarely bet on anything I'm not sure of." Adair mumbles.


Kalek laughs, "Golgo beat me more soundly than any of my superiors did. The man is a master strategist, which is a bit worrisome." He shrugs as you all enter the plaza around the Auspicious Hall of Law again minutes later.


The pagoda is shining in light. It's gorgeous. Dozens of colors shining through the leaded glass tiers and around the silver plaques on each level. If she's wandering around, she surely had to have gone there. Easily. The girl is too curious by half.
 
Anju


Her eyes followed the fine lines of the statue, setting them to memory as the sculptor had to stone. The people here were very proud of their heritage, and the one who made the statue put in lots of energy. Still, a daiklaive? Even shattered it was huge. A warlord would certainly fit under hero and with a great fate, as the inscription stated. Solars were a recent thing though. Anju look at the statue’s face. Impressive.


Aside from lullabies and memorials was there any place to read actual history on Warlord Kerin or anyone else honored here? Anju passed from display to display.
 
Kayadin Reeyeh


Kaya rolled her eyes at Adair, softening the gesture by adding a smile at the end. "Yes, but there is much fun to be had in taking risks as well, Falcon. Sometimes you gain great things." She chuckled at the end of that.


"Oh, and Kalek, that Gateway game was quite exciting. You made some excellent moves. I just think old Golgo has a few years on you." She aimed a friendly wink at the Dragon Blood, thumping him soundly on his back for emphasis.


Kaya's long strides stopped completely when she saw how beautiful the pagoda was, all lit from the inside like a giant, multi-hued lantern. Her grin spread throughout her face and lit up her eyes. "Gentlemen, if anything can draw the little one's attention at a time like this, it will be that lovely glass building."
 
To Anju


There certainly is. There are numerous copies of old wanted posters with the man's face on them, old copies of his journals lying under wards for a tourist's perusal, and all other manner of things describing the life and times of Kerin. He was born shortly after Her Majesty's Fourth Imperial Legion invaded in RY 51, growing up during the seventeen years of guerilla warfare that wracked the River Province. It is said that the young man was part of several guerilla bands during that time as a simple sword carrier or fletcher, switching between the two until his time to shine came in RY 75 during the brutal Second Invasion. During his years aiding the glorious freedom fighters of the First Invasion, the young Kerin learned much and put it to work in his startling first victory at Gutto Ford in RY 76...


These books just go on and on and on!
 
To Kaya


As you and company roll into the Pagoda, you'll immediately start looking for Anju. It won't take long at all to find her amongst the throngs of locals and their own children, Anju's clothing stands out some. She's reading a book, it looks like. One of many in a row, and just flipping her way through pages.


Oh yes, she's quite fascinated.
 
Kayadin Reeyeh


She elbowed each of her companions in the side and jerked her chin towards Anju, busily reading a book. "I told you we'd find her here."


Kaya silently crept up behind Anju, peering over her shoulder before declaring in a rather loud voice (as close as she was standing to Anju, it seemed louder to her), "There you are! Jonas was looking for you. I figured you found something that caught your interest." She looked around at the hall and whistled in awe. "It's nice from the inside as well."
 
Anju


Sometimes peaceful minding-your-own-business moments equated to blissfully unsuspecting moments. Those moments never ended well.


In one swift motion, Anju twisted down and around and brought her book up between her and- Kaya. Anju frowned furiously. Maybe Kaya wasn’t as nice as she thought. This time she wasn’t even doing anything bad, the books were open to the public!


“I’ve already been scared today!†Anju declared, her eyes pointing daggers over the top of the book’s cover, “I don’t need it anymore.€
 
Kayadin Reeyeh


The smile of mischief on Kaya's face rapidly dissolved into a frown when she heard Anju say something about being frightened. "What do you mean you've already been scared today?" The normally cautious person in her looked over each person nearby. "Were any of these people bothering you?" she asked in a low voice. Kaya had a way of holding herself that made her look taller and more threatening. She did so now as her face clouded over, practically growling. "I knew I should have probably come looking for you sooner. Jonas kept saying that you were fine."
 
To Kaya


A number of folk around you look at you oddly, some backing away. Then again, some random armed woman in the middle of a crowded area looking menacing would do that.


"Kaya, calm down. We've drawn enough attention today." Adair says.
 
Anju


Lowering the book a tad, Anju gave Kaya a confused look and then shook her head, “No, no.â€


“I AM fine,†Anju spread her arms out and twirled, “See? Just fine. Is it really late? Is Luna high in the sky?â€


For a time it might have looked like she wouldn’t be fine, but she was all in one piece, and only a scare to show for it! Of course, as soon as they were elsewhere, Anju would fess up, but not in front of a large group of strangers, even if Kaya was menacing them with dangerous looks. Chances were, the blue-light-thing was not supposed to be public knowledge.
 
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