Half the Man He Used to Be
Loannae and Ionjae are eating lunch together, at her insistence. Not surprisingly, the cafeteria food is only mediocre.
"I met a guy the other day."
"Oh? I thought you weren't having anything to do with men since you had that vision about the last one."
"No, I don't mean it like that. You have to go talk to him."
"Why? I have homework. Already."
"It's about Aberdal. Greedo doesn't know who he is, but he told me something that I think we need to check out. Go talk to him."
"The professors couldn't find anything. Is this for real?"
"My skills say yes."
"All right. Where do I find this Greedo?"
"He usually hangs out in a bar called the Sign of the Fallen Obelisk. It's in Sigil."
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Passing his hand over the table, Ionjae conjures forth a few small bottles which he uncorks and sprinkles over his food. Once he finishes, he stirs the powders a bit better into his food and passes them to Loannae. "Spices and herbs," prompts Ionjae as his sister gives him a quizzical look seconds before he takes a large bite from his fork.
Ruminating in the newfound flavors, Ionjae pauses, swallows and speaks. "Hrm... wait, what were you doing at a place called 'Sign of the Fallen Obelisk'? Furthermore, if you've already spoken with him, then why don't you tell me?"
Ionjae screws up his face at an uncovered chuck of 'something', pushes the plate away and shakes his head in defeat, "one day chef, one day."
"Just having a drink with Moll, nothing to worry about.
"He was talking to some people, rough looking explorer types, telling them about something weird he saw. I didn't ask for details, cause I don't like to draw attention to things, but what I gather is this: he was wandering around Mechanus, and he encountered a spirit. Now that's weird to start with, right, cause everything in Mechanus is, well, mechanical. So he starts talking to it, figuring it's some kind of wanderer like himself. Turns out, it doesn't have a clue what it is, where it is, or anything. He gave a description of it, and it was Aberdal, right down to that little scar on his nose from where he cut it that time he fell playing king of the mountain when we were kids. I did some quick divination, and he was telling the truth, and some more when I got home, and there's something going on."
"And what?"
"Well, you and your friends seem like more accomplished explorers of weird places, and survivors of dangerous situations, than I am. So I want you to go get the details, like where exactly, and how long ago, and go find out why Aberdal's spirit doesn't know anything, and why it's in Mechanus. Please?"
"Mechanus... really? Interesting, I haven't heard of anything like that myself. So he saw our cousin... as a mechanical being? Perhaps there are some dark magics at work to transfer his soul into golems... I wonder if there have been others like that."
At Loannae's disinterest in the spices, Ionjae waves and the bottles ripple back into the ether. "Listen, sis, do you think you can show me what this... Greedo looks like? If I can see him, I can reach him."
"I can show him to you," she spills some wine across the table and starts making arcane gestures, "but Aberdal wasn't mechanical. that's what was weird. He was a real spirit, and spirits have no place in Mechanus." An image of Greedo appears. "I don't think he's safe, even after he's dead. Help him Ionjae; you're his only hope."
"Hmm... well then, it would seem that my best chance would be to surprise this gentleman. I shall return, please make an attempt to keep an eye on me. I'd rather not get a knife in the back while I'm away."
Ionjae stands, winks at his sister and disappears at the gate on the outskirts of Hedgemere. Stepping through the portal, he arrives instantly at Sigil and makes his way as incognitos as possible to the Sign of the Fallen Okelisk.
Pausing for a second, Ionjae summons forth a fledgling phase spider and directs it to maintain a watchful eye on his person but to stay out of sight.
Surprise? What exactly are you trying, and why will surprise help?
Your spider minion is unobtrusively infiltrating the rafters.
Greedo's table is littered with empty bottles, mugs, and the remains of at least two different and unidentifyable beasts. It seems he's been here a while and had a bit of a party. He's awake, and even seems to be relativly sober. It's daylight outside, but that has no bearing on the actual time, so no one is concerned.
OOC: I'm just thinking in case he's already got some people watching him, I don't want to have my arrival announced. I also don't want to give him too much of a chance to slip away while I'm walking there from the school grounds portal.
IC: "Good Morning, Greedo," Ionjae approaches and takes a seat at the table facing the sedate man, purposefully placing his back to the door. Placing one hand on the table, Ionjae summons five gold pieces in a neat stack. "Word has it that you've seen some unusual things lately, specifically around Mechanus. Interested in sharing your story with someone who has the means to make your time worthwhile?"
"Worthwhile? I'm always interested in anything worthwhile. Of course, if you're asking, you've probably already heard the story, so what is it you want?"
"Just tell me what you saw, and where you saw it."
"And this will be worthwhile?"
"Another round!"
Noises are heard from the bar, followed by drinks, also from the bar.
"All right, that might be enough for a story.
"So I was walking along the cogs, looking for something, right, and I found it, sure, but first I saw the weird bit. I'd just left Anu's Way, and was over on Gear #222893, and I saw this spirit. Odd, right? So I went and talked to him. Confused bugger. Didn't know where he was, or who he was, or what he was. Thought he was some wizard at school or something. I said 'Look, you're a bit lost then, in't ya?' And he just drifted off, like. Mechanus being no place for a spirit, least one who doesn't know which way's up, I wondered if he'd make out all right, but I had a schedule to keep, so I buggered off.
"That satisfy your curiosity?"
"More than you'll ever realize friend. Thank you for that information."
Ionjae tosses five additional gold coins on the table, stands, and leaves the bar quickly (after paying for the round he purchased for Greedo.)
After leaving the tavern, Ionjae summons the spider and requests that it stay at this location. It is welcome to wander, but come evening it must make haste to return and listen to anything that it believes may interest me. In addition, I summon forth three spider eggs and request that it look after it's unborn brethren, and to report to me posthaste at the moment of their hatching.
I quickly jaunt back to the school, to Loannae specifically, and requests that she scry for me a knowledgeable necromancer/diviner if one is available. I have a hot lead on Aberdal and this might be my only chance to track his spirit.
Well, there's always Uzman, Varian's roommate.
The eggs will take a while. I'll also assume you brought them into Sigil with you, since nothing can be summoned from Sigil. Are you leaving them in the rafters of the Sign of the Fallen Obelisk?
A jaunt into Mechanus may take a bit of time. If you can think of a way to make it school related, you'd have excused absences.
OOC: Bah... all these requirements!
Revision of previous post: Ionjae calls the spider from the building once he leaves the tavern. "Spider-child, I assign this location, and it's surrounding buildings under your watchful eyes. I shall return tomorrow with eggsacks containing your brethren, make certain you maintain a hidden observation of this area. I don't see any harm in you doing a bit of hunting from time to time, but please if the desire for nourishment grows too strong consider contacting me instead of attacking a humanoid, as many of them in this world seem to have many hidden strengths, not to mention that your existence will be known and your brothers and sisters will surely perish in the exterminate."
IC: "Uzman! A perfect idea, dear sister! I must send word to the professors, however I wish not to tell them my considerable lead, as they would likely ban me from that journey," Ionjae pauses for a moment in thought. "Sister, see if you can track our cousin through your abilities, as always I must do some quick research at the library. I need to find a reasonable creature to bond with that resides at Mechanus, it's my only chance to get a pass from my classes. Please, contact me if you learn anything."
Ionjae nods to his sister and quickly darts from her room, colliding with Moll as she returns from the lavatory, apologizing he pulls himself from the floor and blinks into nothingness, appearing in a heartbeat, surrounded by the many large book stands that inhabit the main library.
OOC: I'm hunting for any mention of Formians, Modrons, or Inevitables. What drives them, and what I could offer them to make a sufficient bond.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modron
or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inevitable
ooc: I was just going to assume that you had thought to bring the egg sacks with you to start, but that's fine, you can bring them on your way out.
I'm liking the formians. I'll look into them more deeply and see what alterations I need to make to them. Right now I'm leaning towards a heavily Japanese samurai type thing. Suggestions?
OOC: My understanding was that they were very much a hive unit. I was thinking it would be sweet to be considered a "queen" in their caste system. However, if you want to make it like a Ancient Japanese Feudal society... that could work as well.
ooc: No, not full out feudal society; they seem to lack enough individuality for that. Here goes, and let me know if it rubs you the wrong way and I'll change it or throw it out.
What you come up with after about an hour in the library: Your best bet seems to be the formians. Any arrangement with them will be very different from the one with the Phase Spider Queen. An insectoid race, their basic unit is the hive, which is somewhat like a clan. Each hive is ruled by a Queen, and the other classes serve her whims. Of their caste system, most notable to you would be the warriors, humanoid, though with six limbs, of which the top two are exclusively for manipulation, the middle pair of mixed use, and the bottom pair exclusively for locomotion, covered with built in chitinous armor. There are also workers, smaller, and always walking on six legs, but with large jaws for manipulation, and a few others for specialized tasks. To cut a deal, you'll have to negotiate with a hive queen. The honor and prestige of her hive over the other hives will be her primary concern, and she'll value that far above the welfare of her offspring, as they are only produced to serve her needs anyway.
Of course, you only really need them as a cover story. Although a pact with them might be useful, for today's purpose, it would just be icing on the cake. It's not like your adviser will be all that surprised if you fail to make two successful pacts in such a short time. He's actually going to be surprised, although pleased, when you suggest a second one so soon.
OOC: Shazzam! It works for me!
IC: Pleased with the shortness of time it took to uncover such significant information, Ionjae allows himself a brief moment to recenter himself. Standing, he notes which books he was researching (in case he ever needs a bit more information) and heads off to visit Xillik'kea to tell him the good news regarding the Formians. After meeting with Xillik'kea, Ionjae will head off to meet his sister before dinner and see if she was able to gather any further information about our cousin before approaching Uzman.
Wham: "You really think you're ready for another pact already, boy?" Xillik'kea asks.
"Yes sir, I do."
"And why the formians?"
"Well, I think they'll have uses that my phase spiders won't. I ought to be versatile, right?"
"Yes, that's true. Interesting that you've chosen two insectoid species. Well, I suppose the phase spiders are arachnids, not insects, but you get it. Bugs. I guess once you've got a handle on bugs, might as well use that expertise. All right, I'll clear it with your classes. Just, try to be back in less than a week, or you'll be swamped with make up work."
"Thank you, sir.
Bam: "I can't find him. Even knowing exactly where Greedo saw him, I get nothing. I can find the spot, and I know Greedo was there, but... nothing."
"Do you think he's lying?"
"No, that's the thing. He's telling the truth. That's an easy thing to check with divination. He must have felt his ears buzzing like crazy, all the times I checked it, but he hasn't got anything up to protect himself, unless he's a lot better than me, and I don't think he does much magic at all. I've been going back and forth between Sigil and here since you told me what he said, checking and double checking. He's telling the truth, and it doesn't seem to be real."
"Huh."
Thank you, Ma'am: "So you were gonna talk to Uzman, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, he's on his way here from his room. I spied him for you."
"Thanks? I'd have found him. No need to spy one everyone, all the time."
"Whatever."
"Uzman! How's my favorite necromancer?"
"Does Varian owe you money?"
"No, I think we're square, why would you think that?"
"Oh, it's just the first time you've spoken to me since you needed me to leave a message for him."
ooc: And take it from there. How are you going to induce him to come along. The direct approach might work, but do you really want to explain what's going on? Also, is it just Uzman you want, or are you bringing any other support? Canas might be feeling a bit pent up, having not been off campus yet, except for brief visits to Sigil. [hint, hint, that would make it a lot easier to make this look like something of a party, rather than just a scattering of individuals]
"Heh, I suppose that's right. But no, we're square. He helped me out with an assignment a little while ago and I don't believe he'll be looking to borrow any coin for a little while," Ionjae smiles.
"Listen, it's getting a bit late, let's head down to dinner and I'll talk to you about the reason I'm looking for you."
Uzman nods, "I was actually just about to head down, I just had to drop by Loannae and Moll's room to return this," he hefts a large hand-hewn carving of Moll's newest creation, the metal homonculus, from the coliseum perched triumphantly over the fallen form of the scorched wood golem.
Waiting for Uzman, Ionjae invites his sister to join them and they all head down to the dinning hall.
"**Have you asked him?**" Loannae's ethereal-voice echoes within Ionjae's head, she maintains her steady walk down the hall the only hint that she is using her abilities is that her eyes are half-hooded. "**... n-no? No- not yet, get outta my head!**"
Arriving at the hall, the three sit at a partially empty table and talk for a short time of Uzman's unknown craft, the conversation is mostly pleasant until Uzman again asks Ionjae why they needed to speak.
"Ahh - Uzman - I'm in search of something... unusual, and I believe that your skills may be the most fortuitous. I plan, shortly, on traveling to Mechanus. And, while it's normally unusual for someone with their research based on the living, and... uh, unliving to be traveling to a place of metal and stone - I've recently uncovered an ancient tome that suggests that some living creatures may in fact reside there. I'd like to make a pact with their kind, but I would fancy your skill, in conjuncture with my sister's could unlock their hiding spot."
Ionjae takes a bite of his stew, the steam rising slowly around his head - weaving into his hair before finally dissolving above him.
Varian walks up to Ionjae and sits down next to him. “Oh, hey Uzman. How’s it going?” Varian turns to Ionjae immediately after. “Hey, got a second?” Varian does not wait for an answer. “This’ll just take a sec, but I’m looking for something. Oh, thanks for the helmet, worked like a charm, I dropped it off in your room. So, I’m trying to find a key to an old gate back home, but, as fate would have it, the gate is closed, and I have no idea what form the key comes in. I think I’m on to something, I’m backtracking the activations of the gate, trying to figure out who used it last, but there’s too much information to sift through. I figure, gating is classified as conjuration, right? Maybe with your help I could find the exact time that the gate was activated, and work from there.”
Shortly after Varian, Canas takes a seat at the table.
"I'm sorry to interrupt everyone," Canas turnd to Ionjae, "but I overheard you talking about going to Mechanus. I was wondering if you needed others to go with you, since due to a recent acquisition, I would like to go there and don't really have a reason to go off campus otherwise. So, any chance I could come with, your pact would come first, of course... Oh, uh... S-sorry for being so forward."
Canas looks more carefully around the table, realizing how many people he doesn't recognize. "Oh, eheh... seeing as I only know two of you, pleased to meet you all I'm Canas..."
Ionjae spills a bit of his soup at the unexpected appearance of Varian, "err, Varian?"
Glancing first at Uzman, then towards his sister, Ionjae again looks at Varian before speaking.
"Gating doesn't take much work to do, it's similar to opening a door... sometimes it just takes a bit longer to find the doorknob, however figuring out who may have activated it can take a bit more time. Some people like to just rush through and can leave a good deal of latent magical residue, but if someone doesn't want to be tracked it's possible to activate a gate and pass through it without leaving a trace. I'm just about to head out on another... safari, you're welcome to come along if you'd like though I'm not sure your skills will do much... we're heading to the plain of logic and gole -"
As Ionjae is about to continue, Canas sits and speaks as well.
"Good evening Canas, it would seem that for a researcher, I've become somewhat of a celebrity. Please allow me to introduce you to my twin sister, Loannae, you know Varian, and this is his roommate the master necromancer, Uzman," Ionjae points towards the different people at the table with his spoon.
"I'd be glad to assist you Canas, and you are welcome to come along. I've never been to Mechanus, and the more people there the better chance we have of uncovering some interesting tidbits. As I was saying to Uzman, there is an ancient tome in the library which speaks of an ancient, rare, and quizzical race of beings that could possibly reside within the logical cogs of our destination. I plan on making a pact with these creatures and perhaps others as well."
"Another pact? Have you even kept good on the one that you just made? Thanks anyways, but I just skipped a whole bunch of classes. As much as I'd like to mess with the biggest machine in the known world, I can't get out of any more. Anyways, I'll find someone else to help me sift through the information." Varian looks down at Ionjae's food. "You cannot seriously be eating this. You're richer than most kings, and you're eating this slop?"
Uzman's ears perk up at the mention of kings in combination with the words 'you're richer than most.'
"Sure. I'll go," he says lazily. "I'm not doing anything productive here. Oh, Varian, while I'm gone, do you think you could try to find my zombie mice? They got out again, and I think one of them may have run out of power. The room smells a little off."
ooc: if you've watched Avatar: the Last Airbender, think of Mai's voice for Uzman, but male. Same bored to death of life thing going on, only Uzman has taken it to its logical extension of also bored with un-life.
Or maybe that should be 'bored to undeath with life' for Uzman.
O.O.C. yeah, good show. Okay, I can imagine that.
I.C. "Oh, gods, is that what that smell is? I thought you had eaten one too many meals in the room. Okay, sure, that'd be easy."
"Thank you, though seeing the things you eat, I hardly see how you could object to this slop."
Loannae pipes up with "I could help you. Divination is my specialty. We can get together later and talk about the specifics, and compensation." At Varian's grimace she adds "Don't worry, I don't mean money. We'll figure out some sort of quid pro quo."
“Sure, when you come back we’ll work something out.”
"My main interest is in the Modrons, since the device I picked up was sold by one, and the materials seem to have come from Mechanus. By doing a little field research, I hope to figure out exactly what it does. Anyway, what're you trying to form your pact with?"
ooc: Josh, that'd be a question for you.
ic: Uzman echoes, "Yeah, just what are we dealing with here?"
ooc: uhh-huh. gotcha.
ic: "Well, that's the thing there isn't any definite name for these creatures. Whatever they are they are, ancient would be an understatement. However, from what I can gather, they are minuscule in size. I do not know what they could find a useful pact but perhaps just finding them would be good enough for me." Glancing upward at Leannae for a half-tick then towards Varian, "Listen... my pacts I take seriously."
"Hmm...if you say so then. When are you heading out?"
Varian listens to the response, then gets up and leaves, thoroughly bored with the conversation. "Enjoy the meal." Unless there are any classes coming up, Varian will go through his usuals: browse black market wares, see what Moll's been up to, and read through Uzman's notes.
"Perhaps in the morning, to be honest I'm just waiting to make sure that Professor Xillik'kea can clear my class schedule for the next few days. Once I've been able to verify with him, then I'll --- err, we'll need to get some provisions as my research suggests that there really isn't much to eat there. We just need to be careful, since it's a plain of pure logic - some of our actions may be considered illogical and may bring about the wrath of the Modrons, or worse yet, the Inevitables."
Ionjae seems to loose the little interest he has in the food before him. While the heat slowly dissipates from it, the liquid begins to congeal further convincing him that perhaps Varian was on to something.
Uzman: "I suppose I'll have some reason to get out of bed tomorrow. That's novel."
Prof X. finds Ionjae later, and lets him know it's all set. He also wishes him success, or at least survival.
Next up: Departure
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