Arrotel in Shadow

[Wired*Nun]

Arrotel gazes out at the waves, tossed by the brisk following wind onto the rails of the Marlin. The brig out of Begma had been happy to take his gold, no questions asked, and Royawis, the Captain, had been eager to have one of the Blood to shift shadow for the ship. Always hungry for the knowledge of another sea, another trade route, the chance to find some commodity unknown in the Golden Circle. And, with this crew, maybe a bit of freebooting as well. I suppose if they weren't a bit...unconventional...they wouldn't have taken such a commission.

"Bear to port past the whirlpool, Captain, if you please. I believe we are almost at our destination." The captain nods and bellows orders. A bigger ship, and the lieutenant or the first mate would be doing it, but a brig only boasted eighty men aboard, which made one watch less than thirty. Two watches were turned out now, what with the brisk sailing of the last day. Besides, this wasn't a warship, and disciplne wasn't up to military standards.

Around the vortex, giving it a wide berth, and past the headlands, the ship comes into sight of a fortress on a peninsula, guarding the harbor mouth. Behind the fortress lies a city,and within the city, somewhere...his destination.

There are enough ships making weigh in and out of the harbor for the pilot to discern the channels and bouys. Sailing is smooth, on in to the mouth. The looming fortress looks quiescent; the muzzles of cannons and the squat shapes of mortars can be seen on the battlements. "Gunpowder," remarks Royawis. "I suppose I should get the grease off the carronades and give the crew some gun practice while we're here, if our powder works. Otherwise, I'll pick up some of the local stuff...just in case."

The brig anchors in the harbor, and a pinnace made ready to put Arrotel off. "Will there be anything else, milord?"

[Icebird]

"No, thank you. That will be all." Arrotel steps off the ship and onto the pier. He'll make his way towards the fortress, keeping an ear out for the local language.
Every warlord or king or emperor needs another soldier. Let's hope that I still remember those lessons with guns that father gave me. We're probably still close enough to Amber that I won't need to learn another language. Hope not- I hate languages.

[Wired*Nun]

Arrotel steps off the ship and onto the pier.
[That's one hell of a long step, considering the ship is anchored in the harbor. He will eventually step off the pinnace, when it docks. - GM]

The language he hears is Thari, or close enough. Different accents, different dialect. The usual seaport smells and venues assault his senses.

[The fortress overlooks the entrance to the harbor, on its own peninsula, and is not connected with the city. Is this really where he wants to go? Or would he be looking for the local political or military headquarters?]

[Icebird]

OOC: Oops, didn't read carefully enough about the docking procedure- I guess he has seven league boots (grin)

Arrotel smells the salty air that always accompanies the ocean, and searches for the marketplace, if such a thing is to be found. If not, then a tavern.
Always a good place to pick up the gossip and ask around without getting too much attention.

[Wired*Nun]

Markets abound. The first one he encounters is the Fisherman's Market. Fish and seafood vie with other nautical gear, and business is brisk. He soon learns there is a textile market, a livestock market, a farmer's market, and many, many shops and taverns.

He learns nothing of any significance to his quest for a broken pattern. The kingdom is at peace; there are no evil sorcerers threatening at the moment; the Church of the Holy Pegasus maintains the religious orthodoxy and ensures evil spirits and demons gain little sway over the people.

[Icebird]

Assuming that this place is not too close to Amber, there might just be a chance that he has enough coins in his pocket to buy lunch. And assuming that there is a chance, then it is probably true. If he does indeed have said coins, he'll get some lunch that can be eaten while walking, and ask the salesperson where he might find the "Church of the Holy Pegasus." If nothing is amiss, Arrotel will head in that direction.

[Wired*Nun]

He just happens to have the right change, and enjoys a nice durum pitta lunch. Following the directions, he heads up the hill to a large church, topped by a statue of a white, winged horse . Entering the church, he is stopped by a lay brother, and asked to finish his lunch before he enters. Sitting on the church steps, he sees people of all types, coming and going into the church. It looks like it is not a holy-day, because of the markets.

Going back in, he sees a large altar, a stained glass winged pegasus above it. People are going in to pray before it, and there are booths of some kind along the sides, confessionals perhaps.

[Icebird]

Arrotel will ask the lay brother if there is a holy book he can see, and if so, search quickly for any references to a pattern or similar object. If there isn't, he'll engage the brother in conversation and try to learn the same things from him.

[Wired*Nun]

The man doesn't know anything about what Arrotel might be asking. It occurs to Arrotel that, though there is a Church of the Unicorn and, he has heard, Priests of the Serpent, there is no form of Pattern-worship or Logrus-worship that he knows about. Perhaps the division in the minds of the people is that between divinity and magic.

[Icebird]

Assuming that somewhere in the conversation Arrotel remembered to ask the man's name, he will say "Thank you for your time, (insert name here). I see that what I am seeking can not be found here. We must meet again and speak more fully of these interesting matters. By the way, who rules here, and where I might speak with them?" If not, he'll find out the name, then say that.

Not likely that I'll ever see him again, but better to have friends than acquaintances.

He will now seek the place where the ruler might be found, if he gains such information.

[Wired*Nun]

The city is called Topaz, and the King's name is Elenbik Aquetor. The city is probably about 200,000 people, pretty large by the standards of the technology. Brother Taud tells him the easiest way is simply to go west until he hits the Avenue Grande, then go uphill, it runs right into the palace.

[Icebird]

I might have guessed. I don't think I'll ever get used to this reflections stuff. The same, but not the same. It'll probably be in the dungeon too.
"Thank you once again."

Arrotel will follow the directions, and not be suprised if the pallace looks much like the one in Amber.

[Wired*Nun]

Well, there are some resemblances, but not that much, really. He arrives at the palace gates. There are guards with muskets, and they are checking the business of everyone entering the gates. Beyond, you see wagons being routed around the sides, carriages going up to the front entrance, and others, perhaps workmen, messengers, musicians, being directed to other doors.

[Icebird]

Arrotel will question a passing person about whether the castle has dungeons, and also about the legal system of Topaz.
Assuming that that castle does have any sort of subterranian part to it(probably a safe assumption) walk up to the guards with the guns importantly, and state

"You will either take me to or bring to me someone who can help me see my friend who is being detained in your dungeons as we speak. Immediatly."
This is said more as a statement of how the future will be than a request.

When in doubt, bluff. If that fails, then run away and figure out something else.

[Wired*Nun]

"Of course it has dungeons, where else would we keep our prisoners?" The man walks off muterring something about "clueless foreigners."

The guards look at Arrotel with the usual cop look. The senior of them says, "Lessee your authorization, sir."

[Icebird]

"I don't have authorization, and that's the problem! You are holding him without any cause, and I want to see him to get instructions. He was arrested at a very delicate time, you know! Is there anyone else I could talk to? It really is urgent."

[Wired*Nun]

The guard jerks his thumb at his buddy, saying, "Get the lootenant. You can talk to the lootenant."

A few moments later and the lieutenant walks up and says, "Good morning sir. My man here says you don't have authorization and you want to see a prisoner? Come on over here to my office, you can tell me all about it." He leads you into his office, shuts the door, and says, "I know authorizations are hard to come by. I might know where to get one, but you know, ink and paper are pretty expensive these days. If you could...reimburse me for the materials, I am sure I could steer you towards someone who would happily dig one up."

[Icebird]

"I don't have any money on me, but I do have quite a bit that I am authorized to spend on his behalf. How much do you think that paper costs these days? I can get it in short order."

Interesting, that he jumps so soon to bribery. I guess such things extend much further than just the royal family here. Or did I just get lucky and get the one corrupt man?

[Wired*Nun]

"Oh, I think a hundred crowns would do it. Go see the blind man begging on Turner's Row, tell him Grandy sent you. He will send you to someone, and you can explain what you need there." He opens the door to his office, shows Arrotel out and back out the gate, saying, "Sorry I couldn't help you, sir, I suggest you go through channels and try to get that authorization."

[Icebird]

Arrotel will try to get directions to Turner's Row before he leaves.
"Yes, it is a pitty. Still, thanks for the paper. I'll pay you back as soon as I've talked to that ink merchant, to make sure that it is of such quality as we dicused."

Assuing it is not too hard to find, Arrotel will search it out and look for the blind begger.

[Wired*Nun]

The lieutenant looks at Arrotel with fury in his eyes, and clenches his teeth. "You owe me nothing, sir, as I am only doing my duty. Now go, and don't come back unless you have proper papers."

Arrotel finds the blind man, who leads him to a small shop on a back street, ostensibly selling beaten copperware. After telling the proprietor that Grandy sent him, the man flips some kind of coin into the beggar's bowl and leads Arrotel into the back. "All right, what is it you're looking for."

[Wired*Nun]

[Feel free to continue when you are ready]

[Icebird]

Commoners think I'm deranged, guards think I'm slighty unbalanced, but you can always count on the criminals to give you an honest answer.

"I need an authorization to visit a friend of mine in the dungeons, and possibly someone who can answer questions that might seem foolish, stupid, or outright dangerous without flinching. What can you provide me with, and how much can I expect it to cost?"

[Wired*Nun]

The man, scruffy and bearded, thin with the bulging eyes of a forger, looks at Arrotel speculatively. "Well, I am sure I can work up a routine authorization to visit your 'brother' in the dungeon, just give me his name. I won't guarantee anything if he's some kind of special prisoner, but it should work. That will cost you an hundred crowns. I'll throw in answers for free, while I work, if they don't put me at risk." He vanishes behind a curtain, but he seems near on the other side. "We can talk while I work. What is this guy's name?"

[Icebird]

"And the first of those possibly strange questions is, do you know anyone in the dungoens that I could visit? Oh, and fair warning; I don't acually have the money on me at this moment. I can get it fairly quickly though."

[Wired*Nun]

"Hmm...well...I know Three-Finger Pete got nabbed yesterday for trying to burgle Count Denual's mansion. I imagine he'll be Two-Finger Pete soon enough...hmm...Peter Hanemen, I think his name is. Near enough so they won't care, just make sure you know he goes by Three-Finger Pete and the guards will know who it is. As for the money," - pops his head out - "no money, no papers. Why don't you go get the money, and I'll have these mostly done when you get back? Then just a signature or two and you're on your way."

[Icebird]

"That sounds good. I'll just go get it, and return soon. By the way, what's the usual fee for someone referring me to you? Grandy said 100 crowns, but I thought I'd ask you, for a second opinion."

[Wired*Nun]

"You're new at this, eh? The hundred crowns go to me, boy, I'll handle his fee. I'm sure he doesn't want you showing up with bribe money. Now hustle on out there and get the money, or I may get tired, miss my tea, and make a mistake."

[Icebird]

"Ah- I had suspected something of the sort, and I am indeed new at this sort of thing. I shall do so immidiately."

Oops, shouldn't have said that. Now he'll be sure to gouge me. Of sourse, that's why I'm here- to get practice, so it doesn't happen when it really matters.

Just before he walks out, Arrotel turns again. "I don't suppose I could have one of your pots, do you? Consider it another one of my odd questions. And would solid gold, more of it of course, be acceptable instead of crowns?"

[Wired*Nun]

"As long as the weight of gold is the same, you can pay me in any coin you like. And, if you can pay for the papers, you can pay for a pot too. Pick one out you like, the prices are marked."

The prices for the copper pots range from what looks to be .4 for very small ones, to seven or eight crowns for huge pots suitable for cooking lost anthropologists.

[Icebird]

Arrotel will select one of the small pots, easy to carry and not too suspicsous. He will walk outide, and begin shifting shadow away from this place, to a location where gold is relativly worthless and common, but copper is the lifeblood of the economy, if he thinks one such place can be found in a few hours.

[Wired*Nun]

Easy enough, actually. A half hour of shifting brings him to a market in a seaport city where the ships are bottomed with gold-nickel alloy, and his pot draws curious stares. A jewelry shop, with elaborate designs made of copper, bring an easy exchange. The two pounds of copper bring about twenty pounds of raw gold, in ingots suitable for pounding into utensils, inside a leather bag with handles. Returning after a couple of hours, he finds himself back near the shop.

[Icebird]

Arrotel will send Telloth to scout out the castle by the sea, and just get the lay of the land in general. He will find an out of the way location nearby where he can seperate out an appropriate amount of gold without being seen, the estimated weight of the required money plus a little extra and put the rest back into the purse/bag. The payment will go into the other small sack that it is safe to assume he has around.

No point in making myself an ideal target here, emptying a bag of gold onto the counter to count out ingots.

He will enter the shop, and if the "beggar" is there, toss the payment to him.
"That do?" he'll say, with a smile.

[Wired*Nun]

No beggars in the shop. The shopkeeper is there, though. He snags it out of the air with a practiced hand, takes out the ingots, "hmmphs" and goes in the back. A few moments later he brings out the packet of papers. "Here you go, there's your authorization, you should have no trouble. At least, not unless you bring it upon yourself, the paper is pefect. Pleasure doing business with you."

[Icebird]

"Excelent. I'll either be seeing you around or not, and either way, have a good day." Assuming it is not too close to sunset, Arrotel will head back towards the gatehouse, and once again demand to see the 'lootenant.'

[Wired*Nun]

The guards look at him curiously. "Why do you need to see the loot, he's kinda busy right now?"

[Icebird]

"Last time I asked for someone who could help me, you brought him to me. I assuemd the same would be true this time. However, I din't really need him in specific. I ahve here," Arrotel will get out the authorization, hopeing they don't question him too closley on his firend, "an authorization to see my friend, courently held in your dungeons."

[Wired*Nun]

The sergeant looks at the papers for a moment, then says, "Who'd you bribe to get it so fast?"






















"Just kidding. Go on in, that door there - " and he points - " and head on down the stairs."

[Icebird]

"Excelent."

Now the only question is, was he serious? Do the guards recive a cut? I'd guess yes. Just another one of those mysteries that I'll never know the answer to.

Arrotel does that.

[Wired*Nun]

Heading down the stairs inside the door, he passes people going up and down, clutching papers, dishes, and other nonlethal items. He also passes one fellow who looks like he is being let out after a couple of hard years, and older woman helping him.

At the bottom is the guardroom. It's pretty big, around 50 feet square, and has three corridors leading off the far wall, corner, middle, corner. These are probably the cell corridors, as various nasty noises are coming from them. A door on the left wall could lead anywhere. The door on the right wall is open and looks like it leads to some other official place, at least, guards are going in and out from time to time. Maybe it's the toilets.

He walks in to join a fairly short line in front of a high desk. After ten minutes or so, he is called forward to present his pass. Looking at the paper, the clerk says, "Is this a visit only, do you have anything to bring the prisoner, or do you intend to pay for his crime?" This is spoken in one long breath, some kind of pat speech.

[Icebird]

"I want to visit first, talk with him, maybe give him something, then possibly pay for his crime. In that order." If he gets a chance, Arrotel will try to look down the passages, and remember which direction the pattern would be in, if he were in Amber.

[Wired*Nun]

This locale bears no relation to the Pattern location. The Pattern, after all, is hundreds of feet down, whereas he is only about three stories underground right now. He has no idea, in other words.

"Please present any items you intend or may intend to pass to the prisoner."

[Icebird]

Arrotel tries to discreetly separate a small piece ingot of gold without revealing the bag, and shows it to the clerk.

"I'm supposed to pay him for his inconvenience- our employer hired him, and this is compensation for the fact that he got arrested. If he finished, then I'm supposed to get him out too."

If this turns sour, how do I get out? And if the broken pattern isn't in this area, how do I explore the castle without getting caught?

He will also take a good look at the guard’s uniforms, and see if he could possibly impersonate the accents of this shadow.

[Wired*Nun]

[Please spellcheck your posts. Feel free to edit later.]

Impersonating these people would be difficult.

"Prisoners are not allowed valuables, I can sign for it and hold it for him. You know," and he scratches his chin, "that is about enough to buy his sentence. Why don't you just pay his debt? Then everyone is happy."

[Icebird]

"Ah. No valuables? I'll sign, and you just do that. My employer gave very specific instructions, and I'll follow them. I still need to see him, though."

He will sign the papers as simply Arrotel, no last name given. Assuming he is taken to see three-fingered Pete (how does he play an instrument, with only three fingers?), he will try to have only one guard with him in the cell, along with Pete, and the door closed.

[Wired*Nun]

There are about ten guys in the open-barred cell, and they don't let him in. The guard stands back behind a bit.

Pete comes forward as his name is called, and looks craftily at Arrotel after the guard backs away. He whispers something to Arrotel in an unknown language.

[Icebird]

Arrotel will speak quickly, also in a whisper.
"I wasn't sent by anyone you know, only myself. I need an unhindered look around the castle, especially if you know the location of a large glowing pattern embedded in the ground. If I free you, will you help me?"

He will stop whispering, and at a normal volume, say "My employer sent me to tell you that if you finished the job before you were arrested, I'm to pay your bail. Did you?"

While speaking, Arrotel will examine the area, seeming if there is any place he could run, out of the sight of the guards. He won't act on this information yet.

[Wired*Nun]

"Umm....of course I did, of course I did." Under his breath he whispers urgently, "I'll help you if you get me out of here!"

There is no place to run. Thousand of prisoners have undoubtedly thought the very same thoughts...

[Icebird]

Arrotel will go ahead and pay the release. As soon as he has three fingered Pete, he'll start walking. Whispering "Don't panic- the scenery is about to change," he'll shift to a nearby shadow that has the castle mostly intact, but unoccupied, taking the Pete with him.

[Wired*Nun]

The corridors gain dust, mildew, dripping water. Going up the stairs, the people become fewer, and as they leave the building, almost none at all. Soon, the two are standing in a deserted courtyard. Window glass is broken in places, some of the shutters are hanging, and the doors are boarded over and sealed. Some kind of animal scurries into a basement window, and ravens quote from above with raucus shrieks. The day is clouded over, and cold.

[Icebird]

"Ah. First question- do you happen to know of a big glowing pattern inscribed on the ground anywhere? Second question- who is the courent ruler of Topaz, and does he have any children?" Arrotel starts walking back into the castle.

[Wired*Nun]

Pete looks confused. By everything. The courtyard, the whole situation. He looks at Arrotel with fear in his eyes, and rubs nervously at his three-fingered hand. "What have you done? You are no Adept! Where are we?"

[Icebird]

Arrotel stops, and mentally berates himself, then tries to comfort the frightened shadow dweller.

Stupid. Not everyone is so accustomed to this as we are. Should have warned him first.

"I assure you, the real Topaz is perfectly safe. We have simply stepped out of it for a while. This is the same castle, but a different possibility. I have moved us to a place where perhaps in ancient history you lost a war, or the plague has come, or something that could have done this. Here, I can find the room I'm looking for, then I'll take us back to your city. And don't worry- nothing here can hurt you while I'm with you."

At least I hope that's the case.

[Wired*Nun]

"Okayy....the King's name is Elenbik Aquetor, and he has three sons, Aronbik, Delentor, and Bikendel. I guess there is some kind of thing like you said in the gardens, for the children to play on, I heard."

[Icebird]

Arrotel smiles slightly, and says "Thank you. I'm sorry to put you through this, but I needed a guide, and figured that you might be slightly more familiar," he quirks an eyebrow at this, "with the castle area than the average citizen. Lead the way, please!"

While he follows Pete (assuming he does lead), Arrotel will try to contact Telloth and ask if he will try to see this broken pattern in the garden.

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, you know, the castle's not really someplace I am familiar with, if you be getting my meaning. I mean, I don't really know anyone who might be going there on a, a regular basis, don't you see...except for a couple of the guards, I guess. I mean, I usually be more familiar with some o' the, shall we say, poorer ends of the city, don't ya see..." He hesitantly heads off round the back, eyes darting here and there as if he expects guards or monsters to leap out from behind every bush.

Telloth flies high above, and through his eyes Arrotel can see the remains of a hedge maze in the back gardens, overgrown and untended.

[Wired*Nun]

Arrotel receives a Trump call.

[Icebird]

Arrotel interupts Pete. "If it looks like I'm being mentally attacked in a moment, please shake me or something."

He takes the call.

[Wired*Nun]

It's Benedict.

"Son, things have happened. Say goodbyes and come through here to Amber, I'll explain when you get here."

Assuming he comes through sometime soon, Benedict relates a summarized version of all that has happened with the assassination and afterward, as well as the situation that happened at the Keep and what they know of Siodmak. This takes over an hour, even just hitting the high points.

"I want you to go link up with Landon. You don't know him, but he's Flora's, Random vouches for him, and that's good enough for me. Get acquainted, give him your support. For now, he's leading your team, unless he becomes incapacitated or unfit."

Benedict gives a good rundown on what Random said in the family meeting, and finishes up with, "It's time to put behind you the carefree shadow-junketing, and pick up these responsibilities. I know you can do it. Now go meet your cousins."

[Go to the new thread with Arrotel in it]

[Icebird]

Before he comes through, Arrotel hands a piece of gold to Pete, and starts walking. "Thank you for your aid, but it is no longer needed. I suggest you don't tell anyone about this. I'll take you back now." He shifts quickly back to Topaz, then speaks again to Benedict. "Ok- ready now. Bring me through."

[Wired*Nun]

roger.