Game: We're Still not Quite Dead Yet

Berk:

I'll say for the sake of simplicity that the cost of the balistas ofsets the cost of the carpenter and such. I don't particularly care to buy a copy of stronghold builder's guide just to tell you how much furnishing the interior of the ship costs.

You do get a sending from Yebena in reply--probably more powerful in that she uses more than 25 words. You suspect you can do the sime in reply if you choose:"While it does you credit that you realize that goods and coins are of no interest to me, mortal, your offer is not particularly appealing. I deal in information, not commodities. Perhaps we can meet to discus this further. You can buy more time if you wish, but I'm sure we can reach an equitable arrangement. Where shall I meet you?"  

Canzonzabar:

Your alibis are as secure as they'll ever be.

 The war is only a few days old, and is still a series of minor skirmishes by Baatezu standards (albiet very numerous and frequent skirmishes) A great many are taking place on Dis, and large areas are rather innacessable due to fighting. Similarly, many troops from staging areas in Dis are fighting in Minauros. Belzebul is moving his armies to the edge of Maldomini, evidently gearing up for a major attack on cania, but that has not yet come.

 Tylara informs you that she is fully aware of your role in the assasinations--presumably having played a part in ordering it. She informs you you are at no risk, from devils from allied layers, but if your enemies find out your role, you will be a VERY major target. Likewize, if your side loses the war, you'd best consider as many very good options for hiding as possible. On the other hand, your major role in a (hopeful) victory may result in annother promotion, possibly skipping several steps on the ladder.

 In any case, you are to return to your normal duties in Sigil (ie soul stealing) and to keep tabs on any developments in the conflict in Sigil. You are given the discretion to use whatever means you see fit to do so, but results are expected.

 Gerthonum is tied up at the time being, fighting in one of the many skirmishes breaking out across Dis. If you really want to meet with him during a battle, you probably could if you really wanted.

OOC: I'll assume Sidhartha can use the planar sextant for navigation.

Dunamin:

Specifically, you have been alerted that Zraekos (probably in disguise), will be at the Fortune's Wheel a day from now meeting with several of his immediate subordinates and possibly a few peers (all disguised) This adds a complication to your task in that you have to find out who the real group is and a way to spy on them without being discovered. Very probably they also have a private room. (Tylara is also makes it clear that you aren't to ask Shemeska specifically to spy on them or inform her about the situation in any way. You are urged to avoid talking to her at all, but if you positively need something from her and can get it discreetly you may try to make a deal.

Bruce:

 Yebena finds you at the Crossed Daggers tavern and glances idly at the blueprints you are drawing as she sits.

"Greetings, mortal. Have you given any thought to a counter-offer or shall I make suggestions?"

Trias:

This probably violates the Grandma Rule, and I don't see the benifit of narrating for mooks in this case--you're better able to develop your character if you do it. If you can do it with good taste and without breaking board rules, you are free to narrate as you choose. (implied unspeakable evil is fine as always) If not, give some thought to chaos that doesn't cause emotional damage to all the old ladies and small children browsing the board :/ .

Sidhartha:

"Very well. What have you been doing in Sigil of late?"

Bruce:

"There are many things you could offer in exchange for the archon. Your soul, for example, would be a possibility" You can tell Yebena is being facetious despite her nearly constant deadpan. "Actually, your soul is not of equal value to a live and undamaged sword archon, but there are other possibilities as well. My offer is this, mortal. I will immediately release the archon--she is not currently damaged--for a single equivilant favor of my choosing and at time of my choosing. This favor will not involve any extreme risks to your person. If you wish, you can retriever her immediately. I will keep my word." She doesn't sound at all reasuring.

Canzon:

 OOC: Canzon knows that the Wheel's staff dedicated to watching the tables are plants dressed as regular patrons or invisible. The only staff identifiable as such are waiting tables, dealing at games tables, or working the bar, etc. You can still find one--especially a dealer or a bartender to speak with, but you won't have very much secrecy if you're dealing with sensitive information like who is meeting where. If it is secrecy you're after, there are a few tables that don't have anything going on at the moment. At the moment, they're still staffed. (Basically, clarify your intent a bit as far as who you're planning to speak with)

 As far as signatures are concerned, those you would be familiar with don't seem forged. In many cases you recognize a name, but have never seen the signature in question. There are also plenty of people who you aren't familiar with. This is probably the list of interest to you if Zreakos and his associates--or their assumed personas--signed the guestbook at all. You don't see any familiar infernal aliases in the book, but there are no shortage of people with ties to the Nine Hells, many you know reasonably well.  

 You cannot see the Marauder in the next room, but you recognize a gaggle of her junior bodyguards and atendants around a prominent table in the center of the room. Colock and several of her more senior staff are also missing. You would sincerely hope that the Marauder is not meeting with Zraekos. If it is the case, though you could at least ask what the people who went with the Marauder looked like. If you don't know the names of the people in question, the worst is probably true. If it comes down to it, you might be able to bargain for the information, though it can't possibly be cheap.

Bruce:

You reach Yebena's rather bleak and uninspiring house. You are greeted (in a manner of speaking at least) by one of Yebena's skeletons, which leads you through one of the doors in the main entryway. The door opens into a sparse and unfurnished hallway. Judging by the room's size the door is a created portal to annother part of the house, rather than a direct path. Stepping inside, you find that the grey stone corridor has a number of pitted and worn doors. After several puzzling seconds, Yebena appears with the snap of a teleport spell.

"The archon is behind that door," says Yebena, pointing a clawed finger. "It has been unlocked."

The door Yebena indicates opens into a coompletely blank grey room. You can feel a Hadean aura of despair here, and the place seems distinctly evil. In the center of the room, you see the archon curled into a pale ball with her wings providing her only modesty. She does not seem to register your presence at all, and continues silently rocking back and forth.

OOC: You are speaking with your sister about what you are doing in Sigil. It's a tiny part of one of the above posts--easy to miss.

 OOC: Apologies for any recent incoherance or strange writing--I've been pretty sick of late--still am actually.

 Canzon:

"Certainly, madam, it would be my pleasure," says the dealer you sat next to. "Our establishment serves many interesting and prestegious people the planes over. That you are here is a sign of good taste. How long have you been Sigil?"

 As far as you can tell, you have the dealer's ear--and his eye.

Bruce:

The cloak was made for somone without wings, and it was made for someone a foot shorter than the archon, but it's the thought that counts. The archon looks blankly at you, but she at least seems to register someone is talking to her now, and she follows your lead.

"It would be uneeming," says Yebena, "For a missing archon to be seen walking out of my door. Where shall I send the two of you?"

Yebena's voice does draw a slight reaction from the archon, you think it's anger, but it was so fleeting you couldn't tell.

Sidhartha:

"Indeed? I wouldn't have guessed you would take to a lifestyle of adventuring. I have been unable to learn about your assasins since we have last spoken, but what of this ship you have mentioned?."

OOC: You can tell your sister is somewhat irritated by your vaugeness, and is probbably responding in kind as a result. Her tone sugests that she may know something, but isn't telling you. You can't be entirely certain. 

Canzon:

 The dealer passes you a pile of chips (and, you think a few more than you paid for) You may want to be careful, as the invisible staff will probably take issue if it seems you have an unfair hold on a dealer's mind.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself--how rude. I'm Hamlin Locke. We serve patrons of all sorts, fiends included." In a whisper, he adds: "I'd take care not to offend the Queen of the Crosstrade if I were you," he says. "She's in a meeting with three other berks right now, though, so you should be fine. Fiends too by the sound of them, so I suppouse I can't pity them that much. In any case, you'd know Shemeska if you saw her--arcanaloth, green dress, surrounded by bodygaurds, and a lot of jewlery. Really quite obvious." He continues in a normal voice; "Apart from that, I'd stay away from the big wheel. The odds are worse than a snowball's chance in phegelthos, and it seems the high-ups who play make a game of who can afford to lose the most jink. I'd stick to the tables or littler wheels." Hamlin sees other people coming, and somewhat reluctantly cuts his converstion short--probaly to ensure the new players aren't  suspicious of the table. "My shift ends in just over an hour," he says. "If it suits you, I would be happy to you around the city." The other patrons who buy into the game, all look reasonably well to do (though not so much so that you recognize them).

Assuming Hamlin is correct, and the group is in fact Zraekos', You probably can't sneak into the meeting room (you could try, but ther is great risk involved--that is, horrible death)--but your inteligence sugests that Zreakos has brought spies (ie falxugons or erineyes, not bodyguards.) you might be able to get something by stealing papers from one of them or simply capturing them (before zraekos could act--a truly tricky proposition) (you'd have to call on help--which you are authorized to do--for that, probably, and it'd have to wait until they left the fortune's wheel). On the other hand, your inteligence also sugested that this was a meeting between zraekos and his spies, not the marauder, so you can't be sure how reliable the inteligence is. You could also give them cause to break up the meeting somehow--baatezu are of course keen on keeping written records, and Zraekos is positively obsessive even by baatezu standards (befitting a servant of Ballzebul).

 Bruce:

 The archon seems far more alert when you get a chance to observe her again. She probably recovered sometime along the way and kept up the act--alarmingly tricky for an archon. The is staring intently at you, now, and you think the recognizes you, at least vaugely.

 "Who are you and what do you want with me?" You can hear some anger and distrust in her voice, but she is certainly more energetic than before. She isn't obviously violent, remains seated, though she does not accept the food or the blanket. .

Sidhartha:

You don't see any magical auras that would sugest scrying sensors of some sort, furthermore, you don't sense any illusiion auras either. You are reasonably confident that you have shaken whoever or whatever is following you, but if they saw you change shapes (you can't tell), then they will still be able to follow you, or at least make a sound guess as to who you are. (OOC: Where do you intend to go from here?)

Bruce:

From her expression, you get the feeling that wasn't the answer Lema was looking for, but so far, she's been quite dificult to read for a celestial. Lema looks down at the cloak she is wearing "I suppouse it would be best that I find something else to wear." Lema,'s mouth moves again, as though she intended to say something else, but again, she bites her tounge. Instead, she changes tack entirely, which was perhaps her original intent: "Where should I go?"