IC: Reclaiming the Void Options

[BishopMcQ]

D'Zan

Inside the box, you find a gilded hand mirror and three vials with strange smoky substances moving within them. One as you hold it near you sounds like an infant crying. You have seen vendors sell vials like this here at the market, generally for extremely complex workings. As a best guess, you would believe them to be distilled breath, beyond that you cannot tell.

The mirror glass ripples as you look into it, first reflecting your own visage, then changing to show a well appointed study with huge tomes lining the walls. A man sits at a desk, a heavy leather coat hung upon the chair behind him. As the mirror transitions to show him, he looks up, staring back at you. His skin is a mottled gray with shadows crawling under the flesh.

"Hound, hunter of the lost, prepare yourself." You feel his words, the names that he calls you, bind into your flesh like steel chains. To disobey your liege would be to end yourself. With mention of the lost, you can feel a pulling deep within your soul, back to the lands of mortal ken.

Taste of blood and stone, the beating heart.
Sound of wings and wind, the stolen feather.
Smell of parchment and ink, the word which cannot be unwritten.

The figure waves his hand toward the mirror dismissing the image and severing the connection. The hand mirror again shows your reflection and the market behind you.

[Redjack]

As Quetz settles back to rest and D'zan busies himself with the box and whatever, Papa looks to Argent, "I don't much need my first laugh anymore, though I'll keep the memories of my mother." Looking out at burgeoning market, he smiles and whispers, "Let's find out how deep the rabbit hole goes."

[Buddha72]

A look of fierce and blood thirsty glee washes over D'zan's face as the chains bite deep - his face promising service until the chance comes to usurp the his master and take what power he can. He commits himself to the role knowing this is his place......for now.

"OK gather round. I think these vials are rare regents for the working of enchantment or Shaping or whatever you all want to call it. Though I don't know if they are payment or things we'll need to finish the job. I do know what we seek is back in the Mundane world and I have a pretty good feeling that I'll be able to lead us to "it" - whatever or whoever "it" is. I'd like to find out more about that particular point. To that end I would like to visit a person I know here by the name of Dishwater Sal. She should be able to tell us more about the vials. I also need to pick up some gear while we're here."

Leo hovers near the group is body alert but his voice is relaxed as speaks.

"We should ask around for a diviner or seer as well. If we could find out what we're suppose to be doing I would feel a lot better about our chances. I also think after everyone has gotten the rest they need that we should travel together. No offense to you all but it's your first time in the Market and it can be dangerous for a seasoned buyer."

[Redjack]

Pausing in his conversation with Argent, Papa listens to the pixies. "To each their expertise. Mine seems to be sadly of little benefit here." Looking to the box and the contents within, he asks with the utmost sincerity, "Anything in there give me the sight? Or the ability to sling lightning bolts and the like?"

[BishopMcQ]

The Market

One of the nearby vendors, a creature whose lower half is a cohesive roiling mass of liquid, the torso of a man, and a head with a band of eyes facing in all directions, rolls closer to your group. Its lipless mouth spreads wide to show rows of sharp teeth and a narrow tongue whipping between the gaps to form a sibilant hiss.

"Yessss, we hazzz giftsss to create the SSSsight. Many giftssss, come....ssssee for yourself."

The vendor's leathery tentacles instead of arms gesture toward the booth where stones and gems glisten wetly. Next to the collection of stones, lightning crackles alive in a jar and shakes with rolling thunder.

[Buddha72]

D'zan smiles as the Market once again hears a need and responds.

"You all want to come with me to visit the crone or do some window shopping?"

Leo shoots him a murderous look at suggesting they wander the Market.

[JxJxA]

Uetz shakes his head with a smile. "I believe will be all right here for the moment."

[Redjack]

Flash, enticed by Bubbles, the all-seeing eyes. Looks towards the displays. Quickly realizing who is more likely to help, "How about something here D'zan. I think me having the sight would come in real handy.. What with us dimension hopping through magic lands and all..."

[Fenris]

The shifter looks excited and eager at Smurf's questions, along with D'zan's suggestions about wandering the market. He ponders for a moment, and then looks at the pair of pixies.

"Well, since you guys both know the Market, maybe D'zan can go find what he needs while we look around a little with Leo? I think he can keep us out of trouble for a little while?"

[JxJxA]

Uetz snaps his fingers as he gets an idea. Without a comlink he would not be able to stay in touch with the group. However, a huitzilcoatl could serve the same purpose as a comlink. He calls forth a tiny watcher and shrugs off the summoning toll.

"Brother Watcher, please follow these companions help me stay in touch with them." Uetz indicates the group following Leo. The huitzilcoatl nods and flutters over to them, hovering at eye level with the group.

[Buddha72]

"Sounds like a plan to me!"

With a wave D'zan weaves his way around the parade of ideas clothed in flesh that moves amongst the Market heading directly to Dishwater Sal's spot. As he approaches he calls out singing as he speaks.

"Dishwater Sal! Who's your pal?"

[Fenris]

He shrugs as D'zan turns, the customary grin already spreading on his muzzle, making him look more fox-like then perhaps intended.

"Alright, so, what do we not touch first?"

[BishopMcQ]

D'zan
Dishwater Sal is perched on her stool behind a broad collection of stones, carved with strange sigils and glyphs. Around her, a variety of creatures and parts of creatures float suspended in viscous fluids. Her eyes are unfocused as you float up before her. Your nose begins to burn as you approach and your sense of smell is gone.

The course goblin tongue she begins speaking in translates within your mind. "I've done nothing to call the wrath of the hu--" She breaks off as her eyes actually focus on your form.

"D'zan, what madness have you done?"

Argent, Papa, and Leo
The merchant beckons you closer to its table. Laid out before you are crystals and precious stones, which glisten with a strange fluid which smells of ocean breezes and high mountains. The jars of lightning and thunder are labeled with glyphs you have never seen before. As you look at them, your mind begins to be drawn into the letters. It takes an act of will to pull your sight off the maddening script.

"Ssshhhardssss, ssspirit memoriesss, living lightning drawn fressshhh from the Eternal Ssstorm. Come, whisssper to me what you ssseek and I can find the pricessss."

[Buddha72]

D'zan actually looks embarrassed as the old woman calls out his foolishness - the warmth spreads across his face like a flower opening to the new sun.

"What I had to or so I thought but we both know I was bound to end up like this somehow or maybe even worse but I'm not here to discuss my lack of judgement - I don't have any and you know it. I need to get my hands on a bow - something my size and steeped in mana and woven with spells. I am no longer going around with out some sort of weapon and I will not be grabbing guns like Mundane street trash. Can you help me?"

He looks everywhere but at her eyes - not trusting himself to her knowing gaze.

"Oh and I need to find some truth in rumors about my new employer - he has me hunting something but I was curious if you knew any seers or prophets we could see in the Market?"

[Redjack]

Papa stands stunned for a split second before a smile fills his face. He makes leaps of logic not quite supported by his original question. He looks over to Argent, "Wow. To be able to sling spells. Wouldn't that do wonders for our subscriptions?" Visions of lightning bolts and fireballs filled his mind.

He looks to the merchant. "I want to sling spells and have mage sight."

[BishopMcQ]

D'Zan

"Weapons of the Hunt, I cannot make. Mortal-borne cannot carry them, there is no good sale. Choose of these," her hand sweeps over one row of stones, "and I can sell you any."

As you look at the stones she gestured to, the runes shimmer in your mind. Each has purpose and intent woven into their very fabric. Pain. Joy. Malice. Love. Death. Rebirth. Betrayal. Kinship. Though you know that none of the runes mean that concept literally, each has the core conceit embedded in every aspect of the object.

"For knowledge, their are many seers and prophets in the Market. Only the Those-Who-Walk-In-Darkness is qualified to truly answer questions of your new liege."

Papa

The merchant nods and holds up a pulsating crystal. "Thisss...thisss can do what you ssseek. Itsss pricesss iszzz your twilight."

[Redjack]

Papa looks puzzled, obviously not properly understanding. "Sorry man. I don't have any drugs."

[JxJxA]

When the Huitzilcoatl transmits to Uetz the merchant's offer, he sends the Huitzilcoatl a message to tell Papa Smurf.

"Um...I think he is asking for the twilight aspect of your life," says the Huitzilcoatl to Papa Smurf, mimicking Uetz's voice.

[Buddha72]

D'zan looks over the runes and lets their meaning move through his mind - he feels the pangs of guilt over his choice. Not for the power but more the discomfort and pain it will cause Leo. He makes up his mind and points to the one bearing the essence of love.

Maybe this will tip things back the other way.....

[BishopMcQ]

Papa and Crew

The creature starts to shake its massive head at Papa's words and then nods at the spirit. Overall the gesture ends up being something offputting and alien.

"Not druggzzss, Twilight. Yesssss?"

D'zan

The talismonger looks at you from the side of her eyes for a second and lets out a deep sigh.

"It seems not all of your sense has vanished at least." She picks up the stone and begins humming off tune. "Traditional payment or were you going to sing me a song about this nuyen you like so much?"

[Fenris]

He blinks for a second and then steps back, a look of disgust crossing his features.

"It might bump the subscribers, but that's no good if you're dead. You don't have enough years to be tossing them around like that...who knows when it will come calling?"

[Buddha72]

"Before I start singing sweetly for thee - I have a few more things to pick up. I am looking for a foci. Something attuned to the senses and knowing the unknowable, at least Force 3 and then I need a formula for a spell to improve my aim to go with said trinket. Then let me know how much in traditional coin?"

He smiles while lazily flying circles around the shopkeep.

[JxJxA]

Listening to his companions mull over the merchant's offer to Papa, Uetz decides to add another suggestion.

"You could try asking if he is interested in nuyen or something less...morbid?" the Huitzilcoatl repeats to the others.

[Buddha72]

Leo's face clearly shows his conflict in everyone splitting up in the Market but he follows Papa to the merchant. He watches closely to make sure no deals are made by accident.

"What you're asking for will be expensive and if it isn't then you are being played by the seller. Breathing magic into a someone is something that costs a pretty penny especially if it's permanent. Which I might add no one has said this one is selling - if you insist on buying ask more questions."

[BishopMcQ]

D'Zan

Dishwater Sal nods offhandedly, "Yes, yes, the focus is quite simple for me to attain. The spell formula, I do not have, though others here will, or the oracle you seek will know of it." Her hands drop beneath the table and she lifts out a sharp looking iron tack. "If your skin can still abide the touch of iron, this will do the trick and be hard for your enemies to remove like the others. Else, I have a small belt with charms and a place for a quiver."

The talismonger slides a quill and pot of green foul-smelling ink out from beneath her table, and opens a ledger book nearly as tall as she is. "Now, to balance your account, would you write me a story. The true tale of the first thing you killed of your own will."