Scene 4, closed but not yet revised: Looking for a buyer
In which Varien goes into Sigil to sell things taken from orcs. If anyone else happens to go into Sigil in the same timeframe, that will also go here.
Varien checked his appearance in his mirror. The disguise was minor, but effective. A darker complexion, darker hair, and a shorter stature did wonders to prevent him form being recognized. Magic is so common in Sigil, he reflected, that no one is likely to wonder at it.
He pulled up his hood as he left his room; no reason to be seen in the wrong place with this look.
The trip to Sigil was a short one. The school had a special gate that led directly to the city. No one knew who had created the portal or when it had been made, but it had been there a long time and seen a great deal of use. It was never closed. He stepped through the iron gate, about eight feet wide on the school side, and once again wondered about the mechanics of the transfer. How did a gate that was eight feet wide and open on one side, as well as scrubbed clean, manage to be only three feet wide on the other, and closed and rusted? Also, how did things too wide for the Sigil side make it through? As always, he shrugged it off and kept walking.
If you see your money lenders first, turn to page 87.
If you look for a buyer first, turn to page 45.
If you do anything else, turn to page pi^i.
15 comments:
Varien walks throughthe streets of Sigil, buidlings crowding around him, looming at mind-boggling angles, seemingly threatening to collapse at any moment. People of every concievable race throng in the streets. An illithid leads a pair of chained half-elves, his tentacles writhing in pleasure as he pops mice into them like candy.
Varien walks through the streets, ignoring the cries of the strret vendors. He turns down an alley and slips into a dark shop.
Brutus is leaning his wooden chair against a wall as he carves a piece of wood with a large knife. He carves badly, so there's no telling what it's intended to be.
From the back, Varien hears yelling, and crying. The yelling is Fergus, a less than well-respected money lender. The crying is no one Varien recognizes by voice.
Brutus looks up as Varien enters and yells to the back. "Boss, Varien's here to see you. You want me to come back and watch the welch?"
"Yeah, you do that." Fergus wipes blood from his knuckles as he steps through the crutain hung in the door to the back room. Brutus leaves them to their business.
"Welcome back," Fergus says, reaching out to shake Varien's hand, which he squeezes painfully.
"What did you mean, scaring my roomate? And what did you mean about me oweing you money? I don't owe you anything right now."
"Yes you do. You owe me a debt. You remember that business with the half-dwarf, just before you vanished? You said he couldn't lose. I paid you to make sure he couldn't lose."
"You paid me to make sure his opponent saw him a little to the left of where he actually stood, and I did. I told you he'd have a much better chance."
"No, you said 'couldn't lose.' I was out a lot of money when he died, both what I paid for him, and what I paid you. He has a new mouth now, six inches below the one he was born with, and I have a mind to let you know just what that's like."
"Listen, how was I supposed to know that his opponent had been paid to take a dive? The fight wasn't supposed to be fatal anyway. Belive me, he was more upset about that than you. The Lady's men found his head the next morning in the canal. I did what I was paid to do."
"You cost me money, and made me look bad. You'd better make good, or I'm gonna make you pay with your worthless hide. How do you intend to make this up to me?"
Ionjae and Loannae both witness this, so their reactions would also be welcome.
"Hrm, it seems one of the academy's star pupils isn't exactly what he seems to be," smiled a coy Ionjae. Information was gold, and this was a lot of information. "Loannae, how long can you maintain this viewing portal?"
"I was thinking something more like payment in kind. You lost me a fight, now you fix one for me. Find someone, make him seem like a sure loser, and make sure he wins. If you screw this up, you'll be fighting in the next match.
"But, oh, this wardrobe might look nice in mother's bedroom. And I have always wanted an exotic sword. Bring one by and we'll see if I like it. This doesn't get you off the hook, but it may do something to ease the pain I felt when you stabbed me in the back."
Loannae says "I can keep this open as long as we need it, so long as no one casts a ward. It also might get a little risky if anyone checks to see if anyone's watching. I'm good, but there's only so much I can do if someone is activly looking for me. So, what good is this to us? And wasn't he supposed to sell that stuff for you? Now it looks like he's just going to give it away."
Smirking, Ionjae glanced over at his sister. "A little presumptuous, dear sister. However, had he decided to give away our items, he would have lost an equal amount from the final collection."
Moving about the room, Ionjae paces slowly watching the events unfold in Sigil. "I think that this would be an even nicer mantle piece for my room," he said as he hefted the helm about. "It seems a little big, but I wonder if it would fit me," and with that Ionjae placed the trophy of his first assignment upon his crown.
(If nothing happens, he will keep watching the happenings within the city. He has decided upon summoning an incredibly powerful gale of wind to offer Varien protection if something bad begins.)
"Oh? You mean this isn't a gesture of your appreciation for my incredible understanding and forgiveness? You little prick, I'm not paying you for anything until you make this right. You have three days to find someone. Bring him here and I'll set up the fight. And be sure to spread the word that this guy's a sure loser. Now get out of my sight."
Varien's search for a buyer starts in a normal antique shop. He doesn't know anything about antiques, so he just picks one at random and asks for a recomendation from the shop keeper for someone who would deal in items of artistic value. He's told to go talk to Old Harvy, over near the Grand Bazzar. Harvy isn't sure he can unload the stuff, but he suggests Varien talk to Eppinata, an art collector who specializes in cultural artifacts. Her place is down on Obsidian way.
As to finding someone to fight for you, I would suggest buying a slave. The legal staus of cross-breeds is generally not a high priority. Humans can and do reproduce with most anything humanoid, but the offspring are almost always sterile, and frequently enslaved.
To ready an effect to be activated later requires enchantment. That's how potions and scrolls are made. The only difference between those and a magical item, like a sword, is that one has a one time effect and the other a permenant effect. If you had enchantment, then you could nest illusions. Without it then you have to cast them yourself as you need them.
Eppinata says she can take the stuff, but she'll want to look at it before she gives you an estimate. She's more interested in the furniture than the swords, and has moderate interest in the embossed shields.
A slave market is located in a slightly less prestigious corner of the Grand Bazzar. Lots of unplesant characters hang around there, and you'd be wise to watch your purse and your back. What exactly are you looking for?
You're not going to find anything for 200 gold. 1 gold is approximatly equal to $1, and can you imagine finding a slave for $200? For $300 you can get a half-elf who will look like a very convincing loser, scrawny and a little sickly. A strong looking half-orc or -dwarf will cost you around 1000, and a half-ogre would run in the 1500 range. Trained slaves would be even more, though they can't openly advertise that they've trained a slave to fight. Not in Sigil, anyway.
"Only 50 bits to fight? I assume this is a dangerous fight, not something involving pillows, right? How rigged? If this isn't good, I'm gone, manumission or not."
"I've always wanted to be free. You're sure this will work? I'll do it, but I don't know where I'll go afterwards."
"My name is William, but my owner usually called me 'Boy.' Do you have any other business today, sir? What will you be doing with me until the fight?"
I'm not sure I made the social views on slavery known. In Sigil it's accepted. There is no significant public outcry against it. In Sigil slavery is limited to steril half-breeds, which aren't commonly seen as people. Various prime material worlds have different customs, ranging from slavery is unknown, to slavery is illegal but exists, to slavery is common and anyone can be enslaved if they're unlucky enough. Since Varien's background made specific reference to a non-Sigilish situation on slavery, I am assuming that he's from some slightly more distant prime material world. He can have whatever attitudes seem appropriate for his background, but they don't seem to match those common to Sigil.
Also, there's no 'slaver's guild,' just a number of independant dealers and breeders. I'll fix that reference when I revise.
Tsk, tsk, Dan.
Tsk tsk? What?
And William will go with you. I wouldn't suggest illusionary gold, unless you're willing to run. Street vendors in a highly magical society are very concious of that danger. What do you do at Fergus'? Also, why disguise William?
its really too bad I don't want to tip my hat... I could conjure up some tasty morsels for you and your man-slave.
Post a Comment