Bardlebee
Senior Member
RY 768, 7th Ascending Wood, 12:00 PM Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro.
A city of fortune, nothing like that of Gem however, this was a fortune where a enterprising soul could sell their best aspects of themselves for trade of the finest jade in all of Creation. Whether their profession is a bounty hunter or a black smith there was no shortage of need in Chiaroscuro. It's towers once spanned hundreds of stories tall, scraping the skies and paying homage to the gods of yesteryear, sadly they are now reduced. Melted, shattered and altogether wrecked of their former beauty there are few who can afford to live in these now beaten down First Age wonders. Essence cooled air and cold running water are some of the finest luxuries only the most seasoned noble could afford a night to stay in. Gone are the essence powered elevators that scaled these multi-colored glass towers, replaced with crude pulleys and laboring men to pull them. However, with all these down turns the towers remain the pinnacle of what the city is about, a city made of glass that has first age infrastructure that still runs in its roots. While the lesser known, or perhaps simply just the less talked about Undermarket has taken place of the once bustling rail systems and the markets now run rampant on the beautiful red glass roads that used to cover travelers from sand storms, they are still wonders and still are looking to be awakened once again.
The year is 768, the empress has been missing for some time by now and rumors of Anathema popping up across Creation are more than simply fairy tale now. However most of those who once aligned themselves with demons and the fallen have been dealt with by the Princes of Earth, the Dragon-Blooded. This Wyld Hunt, as they call the destruction of all Anathema, has been waning with every passing day as in fighting on the Blessed Isle gets more heated yearly for those trying to gain political clout. This is the state of the union; this is where our adventure begins as disorderly as it could possibly be. In Chiaroscuro the situation is no better. The Tri-Khan is ill and not getting much better, the Prince has been missing for little over six months. The next Tri-Khan position is up for grabs, which leaves the external tribes far out in the south with an oppurtunity. With little governance coming out of the Tri-Khan's halls these days the three tribes squabble amongst each other for dominance. The Southern God of War and Cattle is having a field day with this some peasants say, giving a comedic phrase to the tumultuous times. Hopefully there will be someone or a group of people to make sense of this all. There are more than seems to meet the eye in this city. There are more problems than can be shown just out on the surface. The Plaza has secrets and people that are scheming. The Undermarket has sleeping giants waiting to be awoken and the very jeopardy of the South hangs in the balance. For if Chiaroscuro falls, so does the economic and political balance that seems to be held together with threads these days.
Layoro’s Mistaken Argument
Layoro has been requested directly from one of the higher administrators in house Mnemon to seek communication with Silver Phoenix’s end of family in Chiaroscuro. After his display in debate and frustration shown from both parties, Layoro was informed that he would finally get audience to the person requesting the marriage in the first place. This person’s name is was Mnemon Zaria, though Layoro knew him by a different name, Thousandth Slamming Flame. Zaria was well renowned as a zealot when it came to the Wyld Hunt, why they sent Layoro to him was confusing to say the least, though it was not outside the purvue of a Prince of The Earth to take on multiple stations. With the lax in the Wyld Hunt this year, it was possible he was stationed to oversee house politics. Layoro was told to present a sealed envelope given to him at the mouth of the Undermarket, though Layoro knew rumors of the illegal transactions that may or may not go on down there; it was still a legitimate location for business. Thousands of people purchase normal, fully legal items as well from this place as well as a few dower marriages. So it wasn’t altogether strange the meeting would be in the under tunnels, perhaps it was to keep things “hush hush”. There Layoro stood, note in hand looking at the mouth of the Undermarket, old First Age sign stood there and since he was well taught in finishing school he knew it was Old Realm. It stated in un-cracked blue and gold letters:
“Subsection B >> Destination Sun-Tower/Silver-Mountain-Spiral/Star-Hunt”
Layoro could only assume it was for use of the old transit system, clearly with the guard at the edge of the gate waiting looking bored it was used for the Undermarket now. Layoro knew only to request the help of the Captain Guard Miqual for directions in the note he had.
Run-Away Rowan
Rowan hustled as he dodged and weaved amongst the crowd. Moments ago a small child not over the age of 12 stole his pocket bag. Not only that but that little bastard took his knife as well! Rowan ran through the new city after this kid in and out of traffic from peddlers to small time merchants. It was difficult to keep up with the child as he looked back with his gapped buck-toothed face in a smile Rowan knew the kid had done this many a time.
*SLAM!*
The little thief slams into a passer-by that had tattoos all over his body. He was young but didn’t look eager to say “Hi” to anyone in his state. The tattooed man fell to the ground, but the kid hopped back to his feet in a flash! The child quickly climbed one of the impoverished buildings of the district; all of the buildings in the New City were impoverished after all. Rowan climbed after him, grabbing onto shards of unbreakable First Age glass and the stone they smelted to fuse it all together to make a cheap home. Many of the people paid no mind to it, as this was the New City. The phrase “Par of the Course” comes to mind. The child leaped from roof to roof, until finally he came to a rooftop that was too far to jump across. There they stood in the awkward and open air, the child turned around looking for an escape, then looking at Rowan in fear. The child was at the lip of this two story building and Rowan had finally caught the little bugger!
Tea with Takeno
*tick tock tick*
The air in the room was very quiet as the Tri-Khan looked at the First Age toy that was a board of war. A game small children played in the First Age was now a Second Age delicacy for a king, the Tri-Khan pondered his move, a bead of sweat visibly runs down his brow, he chuckles briefly and moves his piece. A small dragon screams across the board and removes what Takeno thought to be a well place counter essence cannon “Your giving me a run for my money, Takeno” The Tri-Khan says with a few coughs. Some helpers around him move toward him, the Tri-Khan holds up his hand for them to stand down. It was no rumor the Tri-Khan was sick, but he looked a lot healthier than the rumors had lead on. Takeno was there specifically to talk to the Tri-Khan about the heir to the throne and how that will affect the transition of the Blessed Isle, a delicate topic to be sure however he was also assisted by a Dragon-Blooded woman named Earth Shattering Gaze. She was a beautiful brunette woman that had tanned skin, common in the South, and wore beautifully enchanted green robes. The insignia of house Nellens was embroidered all across it. Her green eyes pierced Takeno briefly, implying to bring up the delicate subject. Gaze was there mostly for protection, not for talking. Takeno knew Gaze for years and were in fact great friends. Takeno has a small inkling that Gaze is fonder of him then just friends, however she is queued up to be wed with another Dragon-Blooded. They had only had small conversations that alluded to her confessing her feelings, but quickly retracting them due to her station.
“Takeno… it’s your move” The Tri-Khan eggs on Takeno with a jolly smile. His beautiful tribal clothing was showered in jewelry, his 5 foot stature wasn’t present in the room with how much gold and beautiful silk robes he wore. His smile was infectious and was renowned across the Realm to be a very, very nice man. Takeno saw a tattoo of a Desert Basilisc on the Tri-Khan, it was at this time that he also noticed all of his aids and workers also wore Desert Basilisc’s tattooed onto their neck as well. One aid in particular did not however, a dark skinned man with jet black hair that slicked back. His face always seemed to have a moody tone to it. His neck was tattooed with a Cactus Snake.
Earth Shattering Gaze
Noble In the MIST
Mist stood at the front of the mouth of the Undermarket entrance with a lump in his throat. He had heard stories of nobles torturing common folk below for fun. This was an underground market that Mist found to be worse than slavery as it was his very people they pulled in. Many times they pull in outside tribal Delzhan as to not fall suspect to in town Delzhan. This was only rumor however, but there was one very important clue. Mist had heard that his father had been kidnapped and sent into one of these cells to be tortured by the very people he used to be a part of. So it was there he stood, money in hand to purchase a “ticket” into this horrid place, the decision was his to follow this lead or let it be. His only other option was to take on a bodyguard position under one of the major nobles in the New City district. Was it worth the risk?
Asad’s Noble Act
Asad was standing there waiting for audience with the Tri-Khan, the king of kings was a busy man as Asad clearly understood, however he had information the great king would like to know. Asad had traded a large amount of cattle for rare information; it was a gamble however that also paid off in spades. He had gotten information to the whereabouts of Malik, the Tri-Khan’s son. He was to be wed with a tribal Cactus Snake woman. This was so secretive Asad didn’t even know about it, as he too was from that tribe. Asad was tattooed on his neck as a Cactus Snake so it was hard for him to gain audience with the Tri-Khan as there have been tension with their tribes, both inner city and tribal alike. Though it is a greater honor and a sign of respect to show the tattoo on their neck as it is usually covered up. In this case it is required to show what tribe he bore from and again in this case it has spurned his progress.
“The Tri-Khan is busy, you may either wait for an hour or so or come back later” The guard said with a smug face, a mixture of colors shined off his armor that was nearly clear as it was made out of brilliantly fused glass.
Asad however needed to get in, the resources that could bring his followers would be unimaginable.
Ajani’s Discovery
Ajani walked amongst the crowd in the New City, he was fairly new to the city so he was unsure where he could go to find shelter or work for food.
*SLAM!*
Suddenly Ajani is hit in the back as a small buck-toothed boy runs into him, the boy giggles and rolls like an expert back to his feet. Ajani is about to get up when he sees a man chasing after him, leaping over Ajani wildly and hitting the ground running. It was peculiar that no one around him tried to do anything, in fact most people just laid about in their homes or sitting on their crude made porches made of smelted stone and glass. There were small pieces of golden glass on the ground as well everywhere, though most places were cleaned out, they were still hot to the touch. Ajani got back up from the brilliantly, cracked red glass road that he stood. Any dust that seemed to drift from the streets was quickly swept off by an invisible hand. It was an interesting road indeed and was the only expensive thing in this district. Ajani watched as the man climbed a two story building after that kid “A strange place” he thought.
Out of the corner of his eye however he saw something strange near the same building they climbed up… something golden in the ground. Was it more glass? No, this was stuck in the ground completely. The closer he got, the more it glowed…
