1/28/07

Our first night in the city of Hopeless

(due to work travel there were only 3 of us Susan Jane, James and Arnold)

 

The town is in a high gear preparing for the Kings Day Festival which is only 3 days away. Kissa and Ophir found themselves penniless with few options. They were so desperate they were actually considering taking work as message runners to earn a bit of coin. Suddenly an exhilarated young friend burst onto the scene panting about a treasure hunt and urging them to follow. Seeing as how they had nothing better to do and participation was free, they jumped at the chance and took off running. Seems a local shop, The Blue Statue Shop of Wonders, was holding a big promotional contest. The prizes even included a chance to kiss the owners beautiful daughter!

By the time they reached the plaza a crowd had already gathered. There was a group of local thugs lead by a particularly vicious neanderthal. Kissa and Ophir made a quick mental note to give him a wide berth. The Red Lightning was there, a well known local group of women who dedicated their various talents to the betterment of the community. Also present were the Stars, a premiere band of adventurers all clad in matching tabards emblazoned with their star logo. They were minor legends with a list of accomplishments a mile long. What were they doing here? Surely there were more lucrative opportunities for a group of their considerable talents than this little promotional stunt? It just didn't add up. Kissa vanished into the crowd and started observing and noting peoples reactions. Ophir made an ass of himself.

First he strode up to the Stars as if he was one of them "gentlemen, pleasure to see you here. Why with you in this contest the rest of us don't stand a chance. Still I wanted to take this opportunity..." He never got a chance to finish. One of the Stars grabbed him by the shoulders, spun him and shoved him away so forcefully it almost laid him flat out on the ground. Ophir recovered and shouted over his shoulder "Best of luck then, I'll talk to you later".

He moved on to the Red Lightning "Ladies, always a delight to see you, and I mean that truly" busily planning their strategy, they barely noticed him "Good Luck to you then" he replied cheerfully, "I trust I will have the opportunity to buy you a drink at the King's Day Festival"

A bell sounded and Basaraam, the proprietor stepped out of the store and began to read the rules. The treasure hunt will commence in fifteen minutes, at Noon, and last until midnight tonight. There is no limit to the number of teams or the size of each team. Each team must stay together and work as one to accomplish the objectives. Each team will be issued a basket with a flag that they must keep with them at all times. All teams will be searching for the same list of items. The team winning team would be selected based on how quickly they accomplished the objective and the quality of the items. In addition certain items carry secret bonus point value. It was never said, but generally understood that bribes would also play a large role in determining the victor.

First prize... One weeks water ration! (a collective gasp from the crowd)

Second prize a miniature blue statue

Third Prize a vial of Djinn dust (Kissa notices that all the Star's snap into focus at the mention of the Djinn dust)

Fourth Prize a kiss from my beautiful daughter (from behind the curtain emerges a seventeen year old vision of radiance, the embodiment of innocence and sensuality)

And now, the items you will be seeking:

#1 The latch off of a high caste gate (must have ownership heiroglyphs)

#2 A book with a red cover

#3 A white goose feather quill, used

#4 A dancer's slipper (must show wear)

#5 A good map of Hopeless

#6 A pickled collared lizard egg

#7 A Fairy Star

As each item was read off, the various groups busily chatted about strategies for obtaining it. When the final item was read off, virtually everyone in the crowd looked bewildered. The only people who didn't have a confused look about them were the Stars, clearly they had a plan. As the proprietor opened it up for questions, Kissa and Ophir found each other in the crowd and cobbled out a basic strategy. With Kissa's food service contacts, the pickled lizard egg would be a snap. Seeing as it was fragile and smelly, they'd save it for last. The dancer's slipper shouldn't be too tough. There were shops that would sell books and a quill could certainly be had there as well, provided they had something to barter. The latch and the map could prove tricky, but the real stumbling block was the Fairy Star. How do you look for something when you don't even know what it is? Simple, follow the Stars. They obviously have a plan, so Ophir decides to hangout unobtrusively (while dressed in purple embroidered with gold) and find out what it is.

Between the two of them Kissa and Ophir were so busy planning strategy that they let the questions drone on in the background without paying much attention. (It would have been useful to know, for instance, if the items would be returned... many of these things would be far easier to borrow than to acquire). Eventually the questions ran out and at Noon the bell was struck and teams ran off in every direction at breakneck speed. Except the Stars. When the plaza had cleared the leader of the Stars calmly strides up to the proprietor and produces a small blue enamel box. He holds it up and opens it so that the shop owner alone can see its contents. He solemnly shakes his head no. With that the box is clapped shut and the Stars take off running with Kissa keeping tabs on their direction.

Ophir tries to turn on the charm, he approaches the daughter and says "Forget the water ration, I'm in this for the kiss." Funny thing is she doesn't laugh at him "I look forward to seeing you later" Kissa jumps in and yanks Ophir away as Basaraam puts a protective arm around his daughters shoulder.

"Forgive my friends boldness" she says and drags Ophir away.

"What are you doing? I was about to ask her about the Fairy Star" protests Ophir.

"They're getting away," says Kissa and takes off in pursuit of the Stars.

As they leave the plaza, they both notice the thugs sitting on a bench near the shop. Clearly their strategy is to assault the other teams as they return. Simple strategy, but effective. Oh well, they'll deal with that later, the Stars have a headstart.

Hopeless is a city on a hill with the upper castes inhabiting the upper reaches of the city. The Stars were making a beeline for the top of the city with Kissa and Ophir trailing not far behind.

As I am running, I am scanning the streets for anything we might be able to use, said Ophir. You know looking around for a dropped scarf or anything we could use to trade our way to something else. (instructed to roll percentile dice, he rolls an 02) He is so busy turning his head this way and that that he fails to notice a man coming out of an alley and runs headlong into him. Suddenly Ophir is lying flat on the ground staring up at a man whose entire body is covered in scars. Oh crap, Fire Caste. Kissa hears the commotion and ducks into an alley to watches the proceedings from partial seclusion.

The man puts his foot down hard on Ophir's back and declares "You shouldn't be here"

So here is poor Ophir, in a part of town he has no business in, having just offended someone FAR more powerful than he is and standing a really good chance of getting arrested or worse. How does he react... Well did he drop anything when I ran into him? (another percentile roll, a 93 this time) Ophir notices the bag laying behind the man where the wall meets the street. Just out of reach... Time for some fast talking.

Ophir gets up dusting himself off "I'm sorry sir, I do apologize for running into you, I was just so excited, you see there is this contest, a treasure hunt, you know, for Kings Day, and the winner gets to kiss the owners daughter, boy is she ever beautiful, and we have to collect things like a dancers slipper and a used quill, did I mention the daughter?" All of this jumbled speech is accompanied by wild swinging hand gestures as Ophir slowly walks backwards down the hill with the man following. Try as he might to alert Kissa to the presence of the bag, Ophir cannot get her to notice. Ophir is attempting to talk so rapidly and disjointedly that he gives away no actual information. The man is not fooled. He grasps Ophir by the shoulders and demands to know why the contest is being held.

"I just figured it was for King's Day" Ophir babbles.

"A little early, don't you think? What are the prizes?"

"I don't know, my brain went blank when I saw the girl, did I tell you how beautiful she was, oh man..."

"THE PRIZES"

"Uhm uh a weeks water ration" Ophir stammered "and a blue statue and a potion, no a pouch, the girl was really beautiful"the mans grip tightened on his shoulders and Ophir crumbled "no it was a vial, that's it, a vial of dust... Djinn dust I think, yes a vial of Djinn dust, but I don't know why anyone would want dust when they could have the girl..."

The man continued his questions finding out the list of items, and reacting very curiously to the mention of the Fairy Star. It was almost as if he was surprised that someone of Ophir's limited capacity could even say the words. He also got the information about the Stars and the direction that they had been travelling. Ophir continued to babble and stammer in hopes that he could get the man to physically march him out of the neighborhood, all the while hoping Kissa would notice the pouch lying on the ground. She finally did, but it was too late.

As soon as the man had the information he wanted, he let go of Ophir and strode purposefully up the street. Ophir held his breath, but the man was so focused on following the Stars he never noticed the bag. Ophir immediately darted to retrieve it, while Kissa kept a close eye on the man. It wasn't that he disappeared around the corner, he disappeared BEFORE the corner. "Great," thought Kissa, a mage. "Now what has Ophir gotten himself into"

Ophir was overjoyed "See Kissa, seek and ye shall find! Stick with me! Opportunity has a way of coming up when you least expect it." having already hidden the pouch away, he looked furtively around "We need to find a quiet place and check out the contents of this bag"

"No problem, I used to work in this neighborhood. We'll just go visit some old friends"

A few minutes later the pair arrived at the estate of a family Kissa used to work for. Kissa was glad to see old friends and Ophir was whirled through a number of introductions as they moved through the house (Ophir taking mental notes of the layout... just for reference of course) to a place where they could be alone. Ophir's hands were trembling as he gently poured the contents out onto the table: 3 huge knuckle bones, a dried section of golden apple and a 4 1/2" tall gold statue of a man with a dogs head. Looking at the knuckle bones Ophir assumed they were for gambling.

"No way, those are spell components. He's a mage... and way more advanced than I am. Those are giant's knucklebones... and when was the last time you saw an apple that color? I don't even know what those are for, but they are spell components, of that much I am certain."

Greed flashed across Ophir's face "Do you know anywhere we could sell them? We need some cash to buy a red book."

"I have contacts, but they aren't the sort of folks who hang out a shingle, we'll have to track someone down" Kissa replied. They turned their attention to the statue.

"I can't touch this" said Ophir "it's out of my league. I have a friend who might know how to find a buyer for something like this."

They examined the statue. Gold. That alone made it rare. Neither was quite sure, but both seemed to recall something about the King's Guard be represented by men with animal heads. Was this item magic? Was it a symbol of membership, like a badge? Either way it spelled trouble.

"We need to get rid of this and fast. The sooner it is far away from me the happier I'll be. Where do we need to go to find your magic contact?" Ophir asked.

"I could probably find one in the marketplace off Fish Bone Square" Kissa replied.

"Good, that's a likely spot for me to find Snef as well. I say we get the heck out of here fast and get rid of this stuff before Scarface comes looking for us"

"While we are here, should we grab a door latch?"

"Good thinking"

So as Kissa made her rounds saying goodbye, Ophir stood patiently at the back servants gate with his hands behind his back. Slowly and clumsily he removed each of the screws and slipped the latch from the gate. Then he worked a change cantrip and "healed" the opening so that the hole was no longer there. It wasn't obvious, but it wouldn't take long for someone to do a doubletake and realize the gate had no latch.

"Are you going to say goodbye all afternoon?" Ophir shouted to Kissa who was talking to a servant on the veranda. Kissa excused herself, and they left.

One down, Six to go.

So, mere blocks from the bookshop, they left the upper caste section of town and headed back to the more familiar streets of their neighborhood, without ever thinking to stop in and find out if a red book was available, how much, or if there was anything the book seller was in need of.

Twenty minutes later they breathed a sigh of relief as they found themselves on friendly turf. In a stroke of luck they immediately spotted an upper caste mage strutting through the streets with an entourage of guards. Seems the urgency of King's Day being only 3 days away had forced this man to run his own errands.

"Doesn't take a genius to figure out where he's headed" said Kissa "I'll follow and see if I can find us a buyer."

Ophir took the basket and hid the latch under his vest. "I'll mosey around and see if I can spot Snef. I may pop into the Eye & Beetle" Kissa just rolled her eyes. They Eye & Beetle was a very small and very exclusive coffee shop with a select invitation only clientele. They remained open despite the fact that they had been raided by the Water Caste on several occasion, somehow the charges never managed to stick. They wouldn't even know his name let alone allow him inside, but Ophir never did know when to leave well enough alone. "Meet back here in 15 minutes"

Kissa slinked off after the mage. With her well honed skill of behaving as if she was unremarkable, she virtually vanished in the crowd, it was almost as if she willed people not to notice her. Within minutes the mage entered a cantrip shop. Through the open door Kissa watched as a few words were exchanged. Suddenly the proprietor vanished through a curtain and seconds later a man named Amir appeared. Although she had never dealt directly with him before, Kissa knew him to be a mage dealing illegally in higher level spells and magic items. Bingo! Kissa didn't linger to watch the rest of the transaction, she had what she wanted and headed back to the rendezvous.

Ophir meanwhile sauntered casually in to the Eye & Beetle. A quick look around confirmed Snef was nowhere to be found. The only person Ophir even recognized was a rattan weaver from the crafter caste. He didn't know her name, but she was universally liked and respected in this part of town. She hired a lot of help, always treated them fairly and paid them on time, that in and of it self was nothing short of miraculous. Ophir wasn't two steps in the door when the owner shot him a look. At that same moment Ophir caught a movement in the shadows, someone was trying very hard not to be seen. Ophir waved glibly at the owner, "Hi, no sorry I can't stay," he said a bit too loudly "just looking for a business associate, gotta run." He left before they had a chance to throw him out.

He walked across the street and waited, eyes on the door. Within seconds a man appeared and shot him a meaningful glance. Ophir recognized him, he seemed to recall him having a reputation for being someone who could change his caste mark. Ophir crossed the street and strode up beside him.

"What's the basket for?"

Ophir shrugged sheepishly, he had almost forgot he was carrying the silly basket with the flag waving of the top of it "The Blue Statue is having a treasure hunt.. it's a long story. You wouldn't happen to know what a Fairy Star is, would you?"

The mans eyebrows raised.

Ophir quickly changed the subject "I was looking for a business associate. A friend of a friend has found himself in a bit of a tight spot financially and has hired me to sell something for him"

"I might be interested, what is it" asked the mysterious man.

"Well that's the curious thing, you see, it's sort of, a, well, it's a," Ophir hemmed and hawed, "a 4and1/2" gold statue of a man with a dogs head" he blurted out in muttered tones.

"A dog or a jackal?" the man asked

"Is that significant?"

"One doesn't exist"

"It might have been a jackal, I only examined it briefly, but it had a long snout and pointy ears" he's interested thought Ophir, reel him in.

"I'm interested, if nothing else it is a curiosity."

"This is far more than a curiosity my friend, if you want to waste my time, perhaps I am better off seeking my associate"

"I'd like to see it" the man said, a bit to quickly.

Gotcha thought Ophir, "I'll have to go and get it, say fifteen minutes minutes from now? There's a bench at the northwest corner of Fish Bone square."

"I'll be there"

Ophir headed back to meet up with Kissa, "I may have found a buyer for the statue. I'm meeting him in fifteen minutes. We're going to need some backup. Let's take a walk and see if we can scare up some muscle." Ophir kept his eyes out for Snef. Oh how he wished he would find his friend. Things were moving too quickly and he was in over his head. At least with Snef he'd get fleeced fairly. How do you sell something when you don't know its value?

They took a long looping route back to the square but there was no sign of Snef anywhere. Kissa did run into an unseemly friend who made her living guarding dancers. Her name was Lizard, she had an aura of disreputablity about her and looked threatening enough. For the price of a hot meal, she agreed to sit with Kissa and "supervise" the transaction from a safe distance. The price was right. They split up and entered the square separately. Kissa and Lizard found a bench midway along the north side of the square (which is in fact more of a rectangle) and tucked the basket behind a date tree. Ophir tucked the statue inside his vest which he draped nonchalantly over his arm.

Once Kissa was in place he strode into the plaza from the east side. Seeing Changer sitting with the rattan weaver caught him of guard. He walked through the plaza making sure he was noticed, then looped around to the opposite side and took up a spot leaning against a wall roughly midway between the two benches. Changer got up immediately and walked over.

"You brought company" said Ophir.

"So did you," Changer replied nodding toward the date tree, then added "she's a mage."

"She's a friend," Ophir said dismissively. The tension hung in the air.

Ophir flinched first "Let's talk business, shall we" he said as he unfolded his vest "what is this worth to you?"

Changer impassively replied "two days water rations."

Ophir almost pee'd himself. Black market water! He'd made it a policy to stay away from the most dangerous of all commodities. He tried to act as if he did this every day, "we both know its worth more than that."

"That's all I have, unless I take water debt. Forgive me, but I'm not willing to do that"

"What to do you have to trade?"

"I have no items with me, but given some time I could get some. Could I interest you in gems?" The man reached down and produced a small pouch from a pocket which didn't exist. Ophir was beginning to get the sense that this man could simply crush him like a grape and take what he wanted, if the negotiations didn't go his way. He took comfort in the fact that he hadn't already. His association with the rattan weaver was also a testament to his character, still this was no one to trifle with or offend. Changer poured a small pile of sparkling gemstones into the palm of his hand.

"You're offer is interesting," Ophir was in free fall. He tried to calculate in his head the value of gems plus black market water and weigh them against the worth of the statue (which he had no idea). He needed time, but needed cash to pursue the treasure hunt. If the Stars wanted the Djinn dust then he wanted it more. Plus, he wanted to put distance between himself and the statue quickly, before Scarface noticed it was gone. Hanging on to the statue for an extra day or two was a risk that didn't seem worth taking. It was hard to concentrate with all those gems sparkling in the afternoon sun.

Changer produced yet another pouch from yet another invisible pocket. This seemingly innocuous action was proving to be very disconcerting. He poured still more gems onto the pile.

Greed overwhelmed all Ophir's other senses. "You're offer is fair, I think we can do business."

Changer calmly poured the gems into one bag and handed it to Ophir. Yet another invisible pocket produced the two strips of tile that marked a significant event for Ophir, he was dealing in black market water. Changer passed his hand over the statue and it sparkled with powerful magic, he tucked it into another of his invisible pockets. "Tell you're friend he's been very foolish," said Changer. He wasn't gloating, in fact there was almost a hint of pity in his voice.

Ophir took it in stride. "I think we both know you got the better of the deal. I was able to help a friend and besides, I think that statue has found a good home with you." Good riddance. Ophir headed across the square toward Kissa.

Kissa and Lizard watched the scene, but it wasn't much of a show. Kissa worked her subtle negotiating skills, chatting up Lizard about her relationship with the dancers, and finally working around to inquiring as to whether she was close enough that she could ask a favor of one. "we need a dance slipper, it could even be an old one that she's not using anymore."

"That shouldn't be too tough, my friend Kahfeem lives just around the corner."

Ophir walks up and looks at Kissa "That went smoother than I figured. Not as well as it could have, but it could have been much worse." Turning to Lizard he turned on the charm "I know we promised you a nice hot meal, but we are on a tight time frame this afternoon. There's two days before King's Day perhaps I could buy you dinner sometime soon, say tomorrow afternoon."

"I'd like that" Lizard replied.

'The things I won't do.' Ophir thought to himself.

"Lizard might be able to help us with the slipper as well" Kissa said "but we need to move quickly and get to our other appointment. We can't count on her to wait all day."

Lizard led them a few blocks away and down a small alley. After a short while of pounding on the door a disheveled and clearly hungover dancer opened the door slightly. Once she saw Lizard she opened the door farther. Her confusion only grew when Ophir asked for an old dance slipper. She shuffled down the hall and began rummaging through a trunk on the floor.

"Here is an old one with a hole in one toe, let's see, where is the other one..."

"One is all we need" hollered Ophir.

"Really?" her disbelief was complete. She tromped back up the hall and thrust it at Ophir "You can have it" she said with a tone that indicated she was slightly worried about anyone who really, truly wanted one worn out dance slipper.

Ophir in the mean time had fished out the tiniest of gemstones from his newfound horde. "Thank you" he said shaking her hand. When he let go she found the small jewel in her palm. "I firmly believe that no kindness, regardless of how small, should go unrewarded" The dancer stared at the gem in disbelief "My name is Ophir, if ever you should need anything, or have anything to sell, remember me."

As the door closed, the bewildered dancer was wondering whether or not she was truly awake.

Two down, Five to go.   It was just after 2:00.

"We need to hurry," said Kissa. The pair bid farewell to Lizard and headed back toward the cantrip shop...

 

On to the next adventure

 

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