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

To Anju


The guards at all th entrances don't seem to make any nevermind about random folk coming in...maybe you can go right on in? Seems rather lax, but maybe not. There has to be someone in there who can tell you something. Most folk here are afoot on business and stopping for little of anything.
 
Kalek


Kalek furrows his brow, his youthful frustration beginning to show through his somewhat hardened patience. He takes a piece from the second tier, moving it down to reinforce the first.


"Are you sure you have not been graced by the Dragons, Goglo? I can plainly see you are a savant at this game."


6, 2, 2, 2, 3, 6, 10, 8 Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 3 successes.
 
Amilar Blefuscu


Blef sips his drink, eyeing the other Dragon-Blood mistrustfully. Ever since he'd heard the man's name something had niggled him about it...
 
To Blef


The old man is good at his Gateway, showing your new brother in blood how things are done. Eh, bugger this shite. There must be something to do while Garda's off peddling those books he found in Nephra. This is a large city. Someone of interest should be here to speak with about how the wind blows around here. Glyphs or dens have to be inside this city somewhere. The guilds always rolled in these large Hundred Kingdom cities.


Only question is where? Unless the Veil has become extremely savvy outside the Satrapies and Lookshy, you're in clear sailing for now. The only question is where. As for the new guy...its almost on the tip of your tongue where you recall him from, but not his allegiances.


Intelligence + Lore to recall. As for finding maybe some of the other groups...Wits + Larceny if you leave the tavern.
 
To Kalek


"Oho, no, if I were Dragon Graced and looked like this, I'd be as old as the damned Empress. Nope! I just have a fine love of puzzles and games. Have since I was little. Terrible at cards, though."


He'll begin movements on the lowest plane.


Results for 7 dice: 3 successes [ 2 0 9 9 5 3 6 ] (TN: 7) (damage/extra)
 
To Marcus


He'll chuckle, Garda shrugs, driving the mule along the Forum, skirting the edges toward the road leading to the University. "I'm a...troubleshooter of sorts. I get things where they need to be, I...talk to people for interested parties and so on. But with uni-ver-suhtee, whatever you call it, types I imagine my jobs would be a bit more benign. Hopefully they pay just as well. I don't know."


Soon you'll be plying that western road, avoiding other carts and slowing for the great foot traffic. You're in a very lovely neighborhood. Very much a slice of the country inside the walls. Beyond the main road and down the narrow side streets you can see blocks of shops, high-tier restaurants, crafts stores, and just another block in, you're coming across gorgeous manors and wide acreage of grass, trees and hedges and neatly ordered and trim. The district of Shale's rich, clearly. But a proud and large sign will show the way to the College of Thaumaturgy, a massive four story manor peeking up from behind a tall iron fence and large hedges.
 
Anju


That was exciting! With a few glances at the guards, she strolled in with her best air of belonging. After a study of the internal architecture, Anju looked at the people inside. It would be best to find a single unoccupied person to bother, or a group of people to gravitate towards. Groups were harder to ask questions, but they were more likely to have found something interesting to do.
 
Marcus


Admiring the surroundings, Marcus will remain quiet after listening to Garda's explanation. He had more questions, but these were not the proper settings for open discussion. Their cart makes its way toward the overbearing manor, through its iron gates, attempting to find someone to speak with or a place to .. park?
 
To Marcus


Garda'll simply park the cart outside the gates of the building and waltz right in, the main gates are open, there are a number of what you assume to be students out on the green and sitting in a small circle park outside the doors of the manor, getting lessons from their elders in the measures of alchemy and a lesson upon demonology.


You'll get some odd looks from some of the thaumaturges-in-training but arrive inside the lobby unaccosted.


"How...may I help you, gentlemen?" A man in a very fine set of robes comes strolling out of a room near the door, looking to you both. "I'm sorry, we're not giving alms at the moment."
 
To Anju


This first floor is vast and airy, with a high ceiling and windows very high up letting hot air from all the people inside flush out. Stairs leading up the tower lie along the walls, going up and up, disappearing beyond the ceiling to another floor. Massive is the word to describe it. The floor is marble, inlaid with tiles of slate and limestone in a broad sigil you don't recognize.


You do recognize, however, the large circular desk staffed with numerous state officials, a handful aren't talking with anyone, doing a little bit of paperwork. And there are a few groups wandering about here and there, discussing current events and one group looks to be lead around by one of these officals. A tour maybe?
 
Anju


Of all the groups, tour groups were the best. It was easy to join them, as Anju immediately did, and the guides were more than happy to extol the virtues of wherever they were. If things got too boring, she could wander away just as easily, or play the game of ‘stump the tour guide’. Particularly enjoyable because her natural curiosity put her at a huge advantage over her unwitting opponents.
 
Kayadin Reeyeh


Kaya glanced over at the game that old Golgo seemed to be winning, then threw a dark look at Adair. She wanted to let it go, truly she did. But she was none too happy about her newfound knowledge that he actually approached Lyrik about writing a song! Her tone had enough ice in it to chill the ale she was drinking. "That is because Lyrik knows better. You, on the other hand - I see that I've been far too nice with you." She quelled the urge to laugh with him, all too easy sometimes around the lighthearted Eclipse, and gave him a sour look instead. "Laugh all you want at my expense, why don't you? Have your fun then. I care not." The mudball incident did bother her because he happened to see it. The fact that he laughed so hard about it made her crankier for far longer than it would have otherwise.


She turned away to watch the game, chin notching a bit higher. It was probably the most female expression anyone has ever seen on Kaya, muddled slightly by the fact that she was taking long swigs of her ale now.
 
To Anju


The guide is a nasally voiced young man with shaggy brown hair, wearing a fine tunic and leather belt with a side-cape thrown over his shoulder. "Centuries ago, the Hall of Law was built in hopes of drawing the League of Rivers headquarters here to Shale. Sadly, we lost out to Marita, which now holds the Council of the Concordat."


A few folk will begin ribbing on Marita, garnering a few laughs.


"The Hall took over a decade to build and set properly. Two setbacks kept pushing the completion further back. Though, it was considered for the Council, it lost out to Marita's grand complex for the Confederation's diplomats. You'll notice later on the tour when we glimpse the Senate Chambers, how this was to truly hold all the delegates of all the nations signed on the Treaty. Our senators like to yell to fill the space now."


More laughter.


You'll begin going up those wide stone steps soon enough, past the pillars reaching up to the main hall's ceiling. You get a supreme measure of how large this place is as you all begin to ascend and everyone down below seems to shrink a bit. The guide will catch your attention soon again: "Even though this place is only a few centuries old, it is still renowned as a modern marvel, easily as impressive as any of the old First Age ruins dotting our countryside and some may claim that it is even as awe-inspiring as Shiguwasa Dam in the Old Rock Track." He'll chuckle a bit, checking his way up the stairs so as to not trip. "Now, you may have noticed the white limestone and the capstone that make the tower truly shine in the twilight hours. It's called the Eternal Flame of Shale. It shall not go out as long as people live here in Shale."


Some oohs and aahs. Little patriotic, but who can slight them for that?


It's said when the tower was built, that old artifacts and a piece of the sacred earth the Granite Minds offered Shale is stored high up there and sealed away forever."
 
Kalek


Laughing, Kalek pulls back a bit of his more formal training to quash his youthful impatience. He'll stare longingly at the board for some sort of mistake in Golgo's arrangements, gently moving his piece as an attempt to force an advantage at this perceived opportunity


He whispers quietly to Golgo, "You know, I've just noticed we've gathered quite the crowd...", Speaking up a bit, he motions to some of the men taking bets on the game, "I don't suppose one of you kind gentlemen could get these two Gateway Players a drink? I fear if I got my own I'd lose my focus..."


5, 7, 7, 5, 6, 3, 8, 3 Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 3 successes
 
Anju


Patriotic folks, she didn’t mind, but the poetry! Her expression rippled between childish desire to believe in fables and the education distilled into her. Limestone could not go out because it was never lit. Rocks weren’t fire, flames or blazes no more than the Earth and the Fire Pillars were one, notable exception being the mercurial and defiant moods of the Wyld. Their natures were practically exclusive.


Anju happily let the mention of artifacts push that contradictory piece of posy out of her mind. Now she knew a great way to get in trouble with the city, though if she couldn’t pick pocket, what were the chances of raiding a sealed tower? Besides, there was no reason to deprive the people of a piece of their pride.


“Excuse me,†Anju raised her hand to gain a temporary addition in height, “Why did Granite Minds give Shale the holy earth?â€


At the looks she gave an appropriately sheepish smile and let the group realize what she was from her clothing.
 
Marcus


"Yes, I can see your school must be low on funding. Fortunately, we are not here to beg, we are here to give. My esteemed colleague has obtained some particularly rare literature and study regarding.. well, you would need to peruse the full catalog to appreciate its vastness."


Giving the man a half-grin, Marcus will turn on his heel and motion toward the front of the building.
 
To Kaya


Adair will simply sit back with a pleased grin on his face, finishing off his beer and declining more. His wrapped sword leans against his chair, his arms folded round it and his rucksack kept largely on it to hide the width of the blade. "You must admit," he'll say after a few minutes, "it is kind of funny, liking the Bard or not." He chuckles, shrugging.


"Regardless! I'm going to go for a stroll around town. Come with or simply hold your chin up in anger at me until later!" He'll bid all gathered adieu and have a last chuckle as he heads for the door.
 
To Marcus


Garda will be right behind, talking to the man. "We were running through old ruins to the South of here in the Demeter Hills." You'll see the man, clearly part of the faculty, perk up at the mention of the Demeter.


"That old cursed region? What possessed you men to go through there? Are you explorer-princes?"


"Mmm, not so much, my friends and I came across ruins there. An abandoned city called...Nephra? Nephra, I believe. During our time there, we came across this cache." You'll find yourselves out by the cart along with a number of students looking on from their sitting areas, trying to look out beyond the hedges by the gate.


Garda will take the covers off the books with a flourish.


The man stands impressed and a bit stunned. "My Gods..."
 
Marcus


Stepping up behind the speechless scholar, Marcus will speak in a low voice, "You know... it will take months, even years to catalog just the subjects and contents of these tomes, let alone the knowledge they contain. I will gladly begin the work for you while I'm here, as long as you permit me to make copies of anything I choose. You'll find I work quickly and efficiently."
 
To Kalek and Kaya


"That we are! I'd not mind some more firewater for my thirst. I'm going to have to eat a large meal after this regardless of the winner." He laughs a bit, nodding to Adair as he leaves. "It seems our little Dereth has something bothering her, otherwise she'd not have glared daggars at our noble Nexian. What has he done now?" Golgo chuckles, taking another of Kalek's pieces.


"I've nearly got this game, Kalek. You're the finest opponent I've seen in many years."


Results for 7 dice: 4 successes [ 2 2 8 4 7 8 0 ] (TN: 7) (damage/extra)
 
Kalek


"Have you had much military training? Hell, you're a better tactician than many of the men I've served under."


In a maneuver of obvious desperation, Kalek brazenly sacrifices one of his pieces in an attempt to reclaim the third tier- However, leaving one of his last bastions of control completely unguarded. The hesitance in his move is almost palpable, as his hand twitches the piece to its (hopeful) victory.


(Buying 2 dice for 2 motes, burning my personal pool. Likewise burning a dot of willpower in this last stand. 6, 4, 3, 9, 8, 7, 6, 3, 5, 4 Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 3 successes + 1 will for 4 successes)
 
Kayadin Reeyeh


Golgo was winning. She'd seen enough Gateway for the day. And despite the fact that Kaya was still mildly miffed that Adair was laughing at her, she wasn't about to miss the chance to see the city. Down went the rest of her ale. "He thinks he's funny, that's the problem," she hastily whispered in Golgo's ear. With a firm pat on the shoulder to both contestants and wishes of luck, she ran for the door stopping just long enough to grab her gear. She ran after her blue-haired companion. "Oh no you don't, Falcon," she called after him. "You are not seeing this city without me!" Her arms were busy strapping on her blades while she ran.
 
To Anju


The guide smiles, nodding to you, "Welcome, madam. Well, when Shale was first founded after the horrors of the Contagion, this plateau is where a great number of survivors gathered. It was high up, safe, and free of Fae. They found up here a number of gods and elementals. The Elementals were almost all of the Earth and part of a large court of elementals called the Granite Minds. That Holy Earth was their gift to us and a sign of respect. We aid one another in all things and we have all blossomed because of it. They are a rather kind group to the folk of Shale."
 
To Marcus


The old man scoffs, "And how exactly can you suppose in doing thus? We have a dedicated team of scribes for such a thing. And you're not far off on how long it'll take." He'll flip through a few of the books, looking through deep in the pile to make sure his school is not being swindled. "And besides, you'd have to talk to our headmaster for such privleges. I'm merely the first man who found you." He'll smile and smack the book closed.
 
Marcus


"Hm. Well, I assure you the request was merely for the sake of courtesy. That such a request should be denied as you stand with the bounty of my colleague's hard work and toil in your very arms is despicable, sir. Would you prefer I sort through the works on my own, first, and keep the ones I wish and leave you the scraps? This seems a much more... promising arrangement for my own studies, and allows me to keep a few original works."


Marcus levels a meaningful look at Garda, obviously asking for a little backup. Turning his attention back to the collegiate, he continues.


"Now... would you like to reconsider our donation? Perhaps you should escort us to your headmaster so we may present this cache to someone with the authority to make decisions."
 
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