Gate Chat

Tenebrae - Saturday, May 24, 2014, 9:03 AM

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-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A01: Western Gates *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The western gates of the city are also called the Phoenix Gates for the carved, marble phoenix whose wings stretch down to form a grand arch wide enough to accommodate several wagon teams at once. The phoenix has been carefully carved. Though age has obscured some of the details, it's clear that at one point it was possible to make out the vanes running down each individual feather. Its fiery eyes appear to follow onlookers and while it seems to welcome travelers inside, there's an implicit warning in its stern gaze to those who might wish the city harm. Overhead, the fiery flag of Alexandria, dubbed Phoenix Rising, flies proudly.

At the base of the gates there's a small lodge to house the members of the Watch who stand guard here, who watch people as they enter and exit and occasionally ask for identification papers.

Inside the gates the ancient facade suddenly looks more modern; a complicated series of pulleys, levers, mana-powered rune plates and the like are attached to huge gates which, rumor has it, can close faster than the gates of any other city thanks to the incorporation of artificer technology.

Azog rides out towards the western gates astride his heavy warhorse, a shaggy Dran stallion fitted with a stout Myrrish saddle. No lance or bow, Azog keeps a javelin in one hand, and his other hand free, steering with his knees, though the reins are looped around the saddle horn if they're needed. The horse is moving at a steady walk as Azog heads to the guardpost. He watches them. They watch him as well. Oddly, perhaps, no one asks him for papers.

Selia doesn't get asked for papers either. Not because the tiny halfer isn't a suspicious figure, but because the regular guards have long learned not to waste their time. The sneaky little Lucht is only seen if she happens to want to be, and has spun such a tale as to half one guard still convinced they're blood kin. But for now, Selia lounges in the shade of the guardhouse, perched upon a small crate, watching the passersby. One familiar figure rouses a cheerful wave. "Hi-ya Azog! Wha-cha up ta?"

Azog gives over hassling the guards and turns, peers at Selia, nods slowly. "Good morning," he says slowly in Dran-accented Tradespeak. "How are you this morning?" he inquires. The guards, free from his glare, go about their normal business. Whatever that may be.

Statue imitation. They're really quite good at it. The one can even manage to talk without moving his lips, if his wife is around.

"Me? Ain't bad. Been lookin fer some stuff I ain't found yet, but reckon would take a while, so no worries." Selia smiles, perking slightly to peer at a wagon as it rounds the corner, but settle back swift enough once her curiousity is sated.

Azog generally ignores passersby. Merchants, farmers, the occasional gentry out for a walk, though they may hold some interest for Selia. He shrugs at the guards imitating statues. They're not warriors, either, in his mind. "You are seeking something?" he wonders. "Or some things?" He considers this, but allows, "I am unlikely to find a thing if you haven't yet. But our paths go different places, so I may see it by chance. What are you looking for?"

Selia mmms, intrested in almost everyone, if only for a moment. A singual farmer might not be turely noticed, but a pattern of more farmers entering the city would registed on some level with the little rogue. "Wizard what ain't busy, mostly. Read 'bout a sorta necklace want made, nay the sorta gonna find in a jewlers place."

Azog gives this some consideration. "If I find a necklace made by a wizard and not a jeweler, I will let you know," he says. "I assume this is a magic necklace you are seeking?" He runs a thumb over the amulet that he wears, or at least at where the amulet lays under his armor. "I am not sure how effective such things are, compared to what the wizards charge, but I think the more powerful spells may be more helpful."

Selia nods. "Sorta I'ma looking for, makes air. or something, I ain't quite clear all the fiddly bits, I ain't no wizard. But ya can breathe when ain't no air. Under da water's most common, but other places too. Bad smoke and da like. Been a few pinches coulda just bit o' magic like dat."

Azog agrees, "I can see where that would be useful. I was part of the raid that went under the water to fight against the undead pirate that was fighting for the Azure Queen. Can't remember his name now, he was wired all into this underwater lair. Some kind of artifice setup, very disturbing. We had some devices supplied by the city to breathe from when we had to get out of their underwater boat, but a magic amulet that does that seems more useful."

Selia nods. "Teakettle. Was there meself, though with da second group." Selia frowns at the memory. Lucht have a bad enough reputation without people like canibal pirates running around.

Azog nods quickly, "That was his name. I knew it was something .... ordinary-seeming." He nods again at the frown, "We lost a few members of our group, too. It was a hard fight, though we brought everyone back in the end. And we won, which was also good, though the one got away. She could fly," he explains. "And I did not yet have a means to counter that. I do now."

Selia quirks a brow at that, and ponders a moment. "A good javelin? Been thinking 'bout getting one o' me juggeling balls with a spell on it, but reckon would throw and lose it."

Azog keeps a quiver of javelins (of the mundane sort) close at hand, for when game scampers off into the tall grass. "Alas, not everyone flies within a javelin cast. Nor can many enemies be brought down as easily as a deer." He pats the quiver. "But I have heard there is a spell for thrown weapons of value, that will bring it back to your hand after you've thrown it. Perhaps that would be of use?"

Selia nods. "Seen it. Nifty little knife, made of clear stuff, like ice, but weren't cold. Bloke threw it, would hit, then melt away. Sec later, freeze up back in his hand again."

Azog looks impressed. "I always wondered how such a thing would work. It would seem to be useful in war, to save on arrows, but the number of arrows you could buy for the cost of that enchantment is staggering. You would need a wagon train to carry them all."

Selia nods. "Thoughn gotta be magic first. Magic arrows be pricy on their own. Reckon don't all melt like that. Heard of ones what fly back to your hand. One bloke, artificer, had this funny sorta sheath. Would reach in, and pull out this dart made of light. Only last a few seconds before fade away, but long enough to throw. Once gone, just pull out another."

Azog thinks about this, nods slowly. "That definitely seems to be a useful thing. I have been denied my blade in fights, and had to fight with improvised and borrowed weapons. To be able to call it back to my hand would have shifted the balance strongly, I feel."

Selia nods. "Course, some stuff's smart. Ya met dat staff o' Cesran's? Can talk and stuff. Smart 'nuff ta know when ta come. Pretty handy, though reckon might get noisy iffen keeps talkin."

Azog looks alarmed at the mention of Cesran, and shakes his head. Seems he hasn't seen it. "Coming when called is one thing. Answering back is another thing entirely," he protests.

Selia nods in agreement, and shrugs. "Knowing went ta come when ain't called is something yet again. Got me own bond-kin, don't need no other. Though reckon be nice iffen could touch something now and 'gain."

Azog has to think about that for a moment. "Yes, there is something to that. But I think it may be the least of my worries. I generally know when I will want my sword at my side." Of course that's "always", so maybe that's not a huge help.

Selia nods, and grins. "Don't all solve quite so many trouble with a blade. But I reckon it works well for ya."

Azog considers, though, and qualifies his statement, "In the fight against Ardent and his group, I would have appreciated a way to call my blade from where they had it stored. They challenged one of us to fight him, and without my blade, I could do nothing. I was considering whether to demand my blade back, or to fight as I was, when Jibbom answered for the group, and took the challenge." He frowns. "He is useful, but overeager, sometimes. But. Coyote's ways." He can only shrug at that.

Selia winces slightly, and can only nod in agreement. "'Yote's fun, but ain't for me. Too reckless. Come too close to being dead forever as it is."

Azog looks puzzled. "Is there a dead that magic can't fix?" he asks. "I had not heard that was so. Only dead and missing, which requires a stronger spell. Or undead, I guess, but that .... I am told can be fixed by doing the spell twice?"

Selia shrugs. "Can cast the spell, but don't always work. Iffen yer soul ain't comming back. Maybe Grey Lady don't let it. Maybe you're happy dead. I da na. And don't always got someone left ta cast a spell for ya."

Azog can only listen silently. "I have not needed it, myself, though it's been a near thing a few times. As far as someone to cast for you, I had thought the Explorers would cast it, if you were on a mission for them and did not return? But perhaps.... perhaps I will leave some gold on retainer with them. There would be a way, I'm certain, to at least see if you still live."

Selia nods, and shrugs. "Iffen is a Guild mission, sure. But iffen they don't know you're dead, or just wandered off." She frowns a moment. "Or worse ta worse, ain't no Guild left."

Azog hrmphs at no Guild left. "If there is no Guild left here, then the world has been seriously marred, and perhaps then we are better off with what the future holds in our eventual destinations," he says after some thought. "Though you are right about the first - if they do not know you're missing. Perhaps there is a way to make a spell to alert people when you have died?"

Selia ponders a few moments and shrugs. "Could haunt somebody, maybe. Can't say I wanna try that. But might be some way ta do it."

Azog shakes his head slowly. "I do not think that is an honorable way to spend your afterlife."

Selia ponders a few moments, and shakes her head. "Maybe Haunt ain't the right word... honerable ancestors offerin guidance beyond the grave, and that sorta thing.

Azog gives the honorable ancestor plan some thought, but says, "I would need a descendant for that, and I have not yet done that." He frowns. "I have met few enough oruch women here, and most have ... absorbed the ways of the city too strongly."

Selia waves vaugely. "Don't think needs ta be proper kin just ta send word yer dead. Good friend oughta do. Or maybe a Mourner priest. Know they talk ta dead folks some times."

Azog shakes his head quickly, and explains, "If I am to be an ancestor, I would need someone to be an ancestor for. But yes, to alert the Mourners you are dead, that may work. I do not know what happens after, so I cannot say for sure."

Selia nods. "Reckon can ask, next time up ta vist. But sun's getting high, and I got places ta be. Reckon you do too. Be seein ya round. Best with no haunting involved."