Game: The Painted Cage

Stitch's voice comes from the dragon-prop, "What?  Some bandit wants my treasure?  Why I bet t'is that skulky fellow in the robes.  Or is it the bloke with one eye?  Never liked that one, or the really hairy one niether.  Which one is it?  Speak up!"

"Advertize."  She replies, her tone slightly different, more serious and businesslike.  "Surely you've noticed the many fliers and posters pasted to the walls around Astoria Row.  I would give you an advance, in the form of credit at an art supply store.  Make something that will catch peoples' eyes, and I'll pay you more afterward depending on how successful you are.  I'm trying to advertize events at the Festhall, and nearby businesses.  Say you'll do it and I'll give you more details after you finish your painting."

[ ....... ]

"Who?  Err ... umm ... the leader, that's who.  The guy who goes around acting like he's in charge, and ordering the other bandits about.  Uhh ... there is a guy like that, right?  Oh.  Oh, good.  Yea, him then (whoever he is), and ... um ... his two closest officers.  Yea, that's the ticket."

"So the priest, he's trying to steal my treasure?  And I even kind of liked the guy!  Ooo, he's gonna get it now!"

Stitch once again opens the coffin in which the bloodied robes hang.

"And so it was, that our heroes turned the evil priest of Evil's most powerful ally against him.  So powerful, and so swiftly retributive, in fact, that the villain barely even heard his death aproaching.  Then all of a sudden ... whammo!"

Stitch pulls out another wand, black and crooked with a blue crystal in the tip.  He stands behind the dragon and speaks a command word.  A bolt of lightning strikes the coffin, knocking it over and setting it on fire.

"And thus concludes the tale, for now my friends ... " Stitch nods first to Darad, then has each of the players turn to face the crowd, then say in unison, "We're Leaving!"

---

The crowd applauds as the players take a bow.  Martin puts the finnishing touches on his portrait.  The figure in the painting shifts position ever so slightly, and takes on a more realistic look.  Martin is fairly skilled, and the changes are so subtle that it is highly unlikely anyone else would have notived, even if they were watching.  But as it is his painting, Martin notices, and so he knows that the magic has worked.  He looks around the crowd  It takes a few moments, but he catches sight of a female figure, rounding the corner of a side-alley like she'd been walking around Sigil for weeks.  The woman looks just like Martin's picture, down to the dress.  She stands quietly near a seller's booth, watching the end of Stitch's play.

---

"Brava!  Excellent!  Impromptu street-theater reaches it's apex in Sigil."  A youngish-looking tiefling steps forward.  She has red hair, and is dressed in fine-tailored red silks.  She has a very long tail and ash-grey wings.  "I am impressed with what you offered at the pinch, my friends.  You are indeed all canny masters of arts."  As she applauds, they see that one of her hands is in fact replaced with a prosthetic made of crystal.  On the other she wears something akin to a fore-arm armor.  "In fact, if it pleases you, I would like to hire those skills.  My friends call me 'Red'.  I'm a factor of the Sensates, and am currently looking for a way to advertize a particular upcoming venue.  Please, come on over here and meet my new rube ... er, friend ... Martin, who has already expressed interest."

Martin gets up, wanting to go talk to the woman of his picture, but Red intercepts him.  He tries to look around her, but she physically positions herself to demand his attention.  He can't help but feel a little annoyed, but there's nothing he can do but hope the woman doesn't wander off to far before Red is done.

"Hello Marty my friend.  Hey where you going?  Don't you want to make a bit of jink, I thought you said you did.  Here, I've scrounged up a few more artists.  Now that I've got you all, I might as well give you the pitch."

[*Note: any joiners in the near future can be assumed to have walked up at this point, interested in Red's offer as they passed by, and so join up.*]

"I need advertise a trio of venues put on by the Triad of the Self;  the Society of Sensation, the Sign of One, and The Fated.  They are, each in their own way, conventions for aspiring planar artists and craftsmen.  The Takers are putting on a kind of job faire, for people to get work and make jinx.  The Signers are putting on a philosophical debate and exchange of ideas and views, with a dual purpose of simply making contacts.  We Sensates are putting on more an art festival and musical concert.  All three will be held in the Festhall District, but I want someone to advertize here in Astoria Row.

"The Takers' job faire is going to be at The Glittering Palace, an old theatre on the corner of Gem Cutter Street and Sculptors' Street.  There will be businessmen from all over the city who need craftsmen or artists.  There are also likely to be many rich patrons looking for comissions.

"The Signers' debate is gong to take place at The Cobblestone Court.  Its a big tavern with a courtyard, on Feastive way near Crystal Dew Lane.  I expect it will be as much a wine-and-crackers mixer as an actual debate.

"The Sensates' concert will be at Studio Nine, a concert hall on Singers' Row just off of Artist Boulevard.  We have several neighbors participationg as well, and we expect to turn it into a street festival.

"Now, that's the order they'll go in; job faire, mixer, and concert festival.  Naturally, we Sensates want to have the biggest blowout.  I won't cry if you put more work into advertizing our concert, but I really do want attendance to be high at all three.  The first is going to start two days from now, so the sooner you start, the better.  Well, that's about it for the venues, I guess, feel ask me anything else.

"If you need supplies, like paper for posters, paint, clay, whatever, go to Asiri's Art Supplies, about halfway up Astoria Row here.  I'll leave an account, so you won't have to lay out too much of your own jink to start.  It aint bottomless, though, and if you spend too much don't expect a lot of bling on the back end.  I want to hear that a lot of folks heard about our venues though, and trucked on down to the Festhall District to check 'em out.  If you're real successful, and don't spend too much of my coin at Asiri's, I'll be generous.

"Oh and just in case it sounded too easy, let me say that while you are welcome to put up posters or sculptures whatever, you may find them quickly plasterd over or taken down if you don't watch 'em.  There's a bit of competioin for advertizing here.  Healthy competition I would say.  For what would life be without struggle?  Is not the reward fought for sweeter than the one easily obtained?  Is not the experience sought out always greater than just sitting on your arse and letting the multiverse slip by?  But I digress, and will save it for the Signers' debate.

{To Manahu} "Well, the sooner the better.  The first event is in three days.  Plenty of time, but soon enough to be fresh in the mind.  I think you guys can do it, tho.  Make splash.  Create a buzz.  Freak out the squares."

{To Martin} "Calm down, cutie, i'll let you go in a little span."  She even goes so far as to physically check him from walking away yet, though in a playful, and slightly sexy (if wings and tails do it for you) way.

{To Darad} "You won't find me, Mr. Sandman, at least not yet. I'll find you if I need to, but otherwise you  guys are on your own.  If I don't find you before the concert, Antipeak on the fifth day hence, ask for me there in Studio Nine.  Believe me, if I'm not there, then, it means the multiverse has had its way with me and we'll not ever see each other again.  Such is the nature of things, Sinker, as you know.  But I digress, and will save it for the Signers' debate."

{To Martin} "Not right now, sweetie, but if that's an offer, I might get back to ya."  She winks and gives the young prime a quick hip-check which makes him stumble a couple of steps.

{To Manahu} "Your principal foes are most likely to be destitute sods looking for a bit of paper for a fire, and rival advertisers looking to plaster over your posters or pictures with their own.  So, try not to be too stabby, eh?  If you've got some enforcers who'll work for you, that might be good, but I'd advise you tell 'em to just look tough, not actually rough anybody up.  I'd be really disapointed if anybody got shived over this."

"So, anything else?  No?  Well then, get to it.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you all can come up with."

If there are no more questions, Red walks away.

Martin, now freed by Red, looks around again.  He soon spots the woman from his picture.  She in turn is staring back at the group.  Her eyes are not on Martin, though, as much as on Stitch.  The two look like they could be brother and sister.

The woman speaks, but not to Martin.

"Jonny?!?"

Stitch is taken aback. He stares at the woman with a mixture of shock and suspicion.

"Jonny, it's me! Your sister. ... Ann. ... Don't tell me you don't remember me! Gods! I step through an archway to find myself in a strange city. Then, a few minutes later I find my long-lost brother, and he doesn't even remember me!"

Stitch stands stunned for a moment, then looks around as if expecting someone to jump him from behind. "Y ... you ... but ... I don't remember having a sister. In fact, I distinctly remember being an only child before I was orphaned. But ... well I suppose my father could have ... but then, we never met each other ... "

"Don't be silly! We grew up together, twins. Mum always said I got the the best looks of both, while you had the best of their brains. I used to tease you with that any time you or pa did something dumb."

She goes to hit Stitch on the shoulder, but he reflexively dodges the blow. The xaos jester spins around, and though the woman doesn't see it, some of the others notice that in doing so, he draws a stiletto blade and holds it along his wrist to conceal it.

The woman looks even more confused now than Stitch did hearing someone use his given name. Stitch puts his hands behind his back and strolls thoughtfully around 'Ann' looking her up and down.

Then he spies Martin's picture.

He looks at the picture, then at the woman, then back to the picture and cocks his head. He stares at it for long moments, creasing his brow as if thinking hard.

"Why ... Of course I remember you, Sis! That was odd, that I thought I was an only child. How could I forget? Why we were as thick as thieves. Thicker, since I was a thief!" Stitch still looks a little confused, as if his memories clash and he is trying to reconcile them. He tuns to Martin, "But, then ... how did you ... ?" His question is incomplete, as Ann rushes up and hugs her long lost twin brother.

[DM here. Tho this post is mostly devoted to DL, Red's offer is the actual direction of the story, so you are welcome to post what you are planning; or better yet role-play the discussion of what to do. Dun's character is still with you, too, and his powers can complement Darad's.]