Chapter 7: Unconscious Revelations

[Jeff]

Syrdan catches a glimpse of the towers of Shae Lias at the northeastern end of Upper City...

...And then your skycoach rises above the clouds of Skyway, and you get your first look at it.

Without a doubt, Skyway is the most impressive display of magic you've ever seen on this world...but you also know it's because, in part, it isn't on this world. Sharn is already overlapped, however slightly, into the plane of Syrania, and magic like this becomes much more plausible. Still, it's a sight: The towers here are built upon cloud given substance. You see streets and sidewalks, immaculately cared for cobblestones, but there's a gentle white mist drifting slowly low to the ground, owing to the particles of water suspended far above the earth, and yet held in an inexplicable stasis.

It looks like Skyway is divided into two districts, Azure and Brilliant, and it would appear that the skycoach landing is perched between them, thrust out on a paved street of cloud and girded by a thick steel railing. The two sides of Skyway, from here, are almost indistinguishable. Both are a large cluster of buildings, towers, monuments, halls, and mansions. Gardens, manicured lawns, and hedges garnish all of this, forming perimeters, borders, and private estates.

This isn't the sort of place where clusters of shops crowd together and just anybody goes on foot. Most of the people you see walking the streets clearly belong here, and none go without protection. Bodyguards, many of whom clearly belong to House Deneith's Defenders Guild, keep watch alongside their employers. Noblemen and noblewoman of various races go this way and that, and you even see a number of fantastic beasts. Griffons and hippogriffs seem to be the most common, but you also spy a brilliant blue eagle of very large proportions.

"Skyway, good masters," your coachman says with an upper class accent, bringing the vessel low enough for you to step down. The driver is getting on in years, but seems slim and energetic, though there are dark circles around his eyes. "Please watch your step. Is there anywhere I can direct you?"

[Darren]

"Azure Gardens, my good man," Kal says as he steps down from the skycoach and presses a sovereign into the man's palm.

As they move away from the man, Kal speaks in a quieter voice to his companions. "Adamant. Condign. Perhaps we may want to blend in some here. Would you two mind playing the role of bodyguard?"

[Jeff]

"Do you mean the Gateway, my lord?" the coachman says, glancing with barely concealed disappointment at the sovereign in his palm before vanishing it. "Azure Gateway? There are many gardens throughout the Azure district, but only one Gateway restaurant."

[Dave W.]

Jan 11, 2011 19:44:28 GMT -4 Darren said:

As they move away from the man, Kal speaks in a quieter voice to his companions. "Adamant. Condign. Perhaps we may want to blend in some here. Would you two mind playing the role of bodyguard?"

Adamant stands tall then bows to Kal. In a formal tone the warforged adds, "As you command, my Lord."

Adamant takes a place at the rear of the group.

[Brian]

Kal:

"Adamant. Condign. Perhaps we may want to blend in some here. Would you two mind playing the role of bodyguard?"

Condign looks bemused as he addresses Kalarian. "Bodyguards, my lord? So large and unique immediately means hired muscle? No, this time I have a better idea. As most of the bodyguards here are from House Deneith, I believe my lord Adamant and I will be the noblemen, and you will be our bodyguard." Condign turns to the warforged. "Come, my lord, we have an important person to meet."

The tiefling walks back to the coachman. "I am sorry, sir. Good help is hard to find these days. Of course he meant the Gateway Restaurant. If you could please point us in the right direction?" Almost as an afterthought, he turns to Kal and says, "Be a good sport and pay the man another sovereign."

"Okay," Condign calls out, "let us get going. We do not want to be late."

[Joe]

Streko chuckles at Condign's display. He steps up to his friend. "He has a point, or two perhaps, but, and forgive me for sounding elitist, but does he have any idea of what he is and, more importantly, where he is? If you don't mind, I think I shall stand apart, just a bit, from Lord Condign's group. Not that I don't feel you would be a more than adequate bodyguard."

He chuckles again.

"Oh," he adds softly, "I don't take what you said about Varna personally at all. Were she your blood and worked for the most powerful thieving family in one of the most amazing cities on Eberron, I'm not sure I'd trust her fully either, despite her pedigree. "

With that, Streko steps back away from the group. "Belarin," he calls out. "Perhaps you would entertain me with other interesting rhymes concerning our recent adventures. I suspect they may lighten my mood more than these clouds already have."

[Ken]

Belarin says, "Of course, Good Streko! I knew that you would appreciate the striking of the creative muse! Let me see.... ah yes..."

As they walk, Belarin picks a moment when he's confident that no one outside their group can hear, then he says,

"Deep below Sharn, our party lay sprawled,
Soon poop-stained then tongue-tied by a kobold.
Yet did Kalarian forswear
To bring a dragonmarked heir
Though his House by this news was appalled!"

[Mike]

"Okay," Condign calls out, "let us get going. We do not want to be late."

"As you wish, Lord Condign," Syrdan says with a wry grin. "Your word is my command."

The elf looks gravely at Kal. "Don't worry, my fellow servant. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon. "

He silently slides another sovereign into the driver's hand, and follows behind the tiefling and the warforged.

[Darren]

"Yes, well done with the blending," Kal says sarcastically as he shoulders his sharrash and moves in the direction indicated by the skycoach driver, sparing an undeserved scowl for the man.

[Jeff]

The directions given to you have you head straight down a central, prominent avenue that runs between both Azure (on your left) and Brilliant (on your right).

It's obvious that there is some discord among you, with Condign walking proudly like a lord—catching looks from every bodyguard as he passes—and Streko and Kal walking apart from him as a pair of dragonmarked heirs. Adamant, Syrdan, and Belarin feel appraised as they follow, but

"Keep that blade away, tiefling," one burly, chainmailed warrior remarks with some hostility to Condign as the tiefling walks past. "Or go back to the pit that spat you up." He looks like a bodyguard waiting for his employer to return from a house nearby.

The words draw the attention of a few more people on the street. Condign assesses the threat, but he feels it's mostly just curiosity. Yet he does see one person threading her way through the street toward him: a skinny, half-elven girl in decent clothing that's seen better days. She's got a book under her arm, and meets his eyes unafraid as she approaches.

[Brian]

"Keep that blade away, tiefling," one burly, chainmailed warrior remarks with some hostility to Condign as the tiefling walks past. "Or go back to the pit that spat you up."

Condign pauses to consider the man. After a few moments, he smiles. "Well said, my lord. I shall try to remember your words of caution."

As Condign continues toward to restaurant, he says to the others, "We certainly do not have time to waste on a useless fight."

[Jeff]

The half-elf, a young woman probably just two or three years younger than Condign (though as a half-elf, she might just be older than he), steps over to him. She doesn't try to intercept, she just falls into pace a few steps beside him. "Excuse me..." She glances at the others. "...sir? Would you have a moment to speak with me? I'm Scarla Kereva, with the Sharn Inquisitive, and I would greatly appreciate only a few words from you. It won't take but a moment. You're a...tiefling, aren't you?"

[Dave W.]

When Condign makes his suggestion, Adamant looks at him sideways. Then Adamant examines himself, the dented armor plates, the spots he never really could get clean, the crevacies where the grime of High Walls still hides. "Ummm, if you think it best I will try my part, but wouldn't a well-to-do warforged, if such a thing exists, be more, well, polished? In all senses of the word."

Still Adamant falls in besides Condign and for the first time in many years strides along without trying to appear smaller and less important.

Jan 12, 2011 17:32:56 GMT -4 Brian said:

[Condign defuses a situation with the bodygaurd and he says to the others, "We certainly do not have time to waste on a useless fight."

"Well handled. I agree this trip is not about fighting."

When the young half-elf makes her request, Adamant intjects, "Please, young miss. My friend and I have an important appointment to discuss... umm... Lordly... umm.. things. You'll have to make an appointment with one of our attendants," the warforged waves absently behind him. "Belarin!" Adamant barks. "Take this woman's information."

He leans a little closer to the tiefling and whispers, "I have to say, this could go to one's head."

[Joe]

"Belarin!" Adamant barks. "Take this woman's information."

Streko chuckles yet again. "Well, my friend? So it begins. The lust for power and prestige takes over yet another innocent, if slightly intimidating, soul. Better hurry. After all, it is a GIRL requiring your attention. Olladra forbid Kalarian get all the females in Sharn."

Streko frowns slightly. "Then again, let's not think about the last girl who caught your eye....and tarried off with you to the back of an establishment with, shall we say, a dream-like atmosphere."

He looks back up at Belarin and smiles. "Best be off, attendant to a demon spawn and his warforged...associate. Don't tally!!"

Belarin can hear the Halfling chuckling yet again.

[Darren]

Kalarian sniffs dismissively at the display. "Children playing in their parents' clothing."

[Brian]

Scarla Kereva:

"Excuse me..." She glances at the others. "...sir? Would you have a moment to speak with me? I'm Scarla Kereva, with the Sharn Inquisitive, and I would greatly appreciate only a few words from you. It won't take but a moment. You're a...tiefling, aren't you?"

Condign gazes down at the half-elf. He doesn't blink--he just stares. After a few moments, he answers her. "Yes, I am a tiefling, but I do not have time right now. And my past experiences with reporters have not been entirely . . . pleasant. Now, if you will excuse me?"

Condign continues his way to the restaurant, hoping the half-elf isn't trailing behind.

[Jeff]

Scarla doesn't follow Condign. But as he moves past her, leaving her behind, she calls out, "Why are so many of your people coming to Sharn suddenly? It seems strangely timed, doesn't it, sir? Will you not allay the fears of the people of Breland? They are becoming suspicious!"

[Brian]

Scarla Kereva:

"Why are so many of your people coming to Sharn suddenly? It seems strangely timed, doesn't it, sir? Will you not allay the fears of the people of Breland? They are becoming suspicious!"

The words stop Condign, and he turns to face the reporter. "What do you mean, 'so many of my people'? You have seen other tieflings in the city?"

[Jeff]

Scarla barely suppresses a smile. "I have, sir," and despite the triumph in her voice, Condign senses truth in it. "And every one I've approached has declined to comment. Will you be the one to step forward?"

Condign feels a few eyes on him from lingering passers-by.

[Brian]

Condign frowns. "I would not have any useful comment. This is the first I have heard of several of my kind being in Sharn. And please, do not make the mistake of assuming all tieflings know one another. Do you know all half-elves?" He pauses a moment, thinking. "Tell me, are they seen in any one particular area, or are they spread about town?"

[Jeff]

Condign:

"And please, do not make the mistake of assuming all tieflings know one another."

"My apologies, sir. With so few of your people here—relatively speaking—it's all too easy to assume. But that's just what the chronicles are for...getting the facts straight."

Condign:

"Tell me, are they seen in any one particular area, or are they spread about town?"

"I would be happy, good sir, to tell you what I know. In exchange for an interview. Perhaps some of it on record, some off? You are not the first tiefling I have seen in Sharn in the last few weeks, but you are the only one I've seen in Skyway."

From Scarla's clothing, Condign can tell she's middle class—at best. He doubts it's every day that she comes this high up into the city.

[Mike]

Syrdan glances over at the the interaction between Condign and Scarla. Upon hearing that she's with the Inquisitive, the elf merely shakes his head and moves on.

"Not worth the time," he mutters quietly, as he heads onward to the Gateway Restaurant.

[Ken]

Jan 12, 2011 21:37:14 GMT -4 Joe said:

He looks back up at Belarin and smiles. "Best be off, attendant to a demon spawn and his warforged...associate. Don't tally!!"

"Why would I ever tally? I love this!" says Belarin, smiling. "And dear Streko, when it comes to women, the day I need to worry about competition is the day I resort to magic with colored scarves."

He reaches into a pouch, places a pair of round, colored spectacles on his face -- "haven't worn these in a while," he mutters to Streko -- and strides over the half-elf, trying to get a word in edgewise as she intices Condign with some teasing tidbits and wordplay.* Oh yes, definitely a reporter.

"Ahem, excuse me, sir," he says to Condign deferentially, "you'll be late for your appointment. Leave this to me." Turning to the woman, he flashes his warmest smile and says, "Good morning! I was told I'd find impressive sights up here. My name, as my employer has said, is Belarin, Miss...Scarla, was it? I'd be pleased to set up a time to meet -- with him, as well, of course -- as he's eager to dispel some fallacies. But truly, this is not a good time."

___________________________
*Geez, lots of posts before my first cup of coffee!

[Brian]

"Yes," Condign says to Scarla. "As this man says, I truly do not have time now. If you will please give him the information where I can find you, I will try to get back with you. I promise."

[Jeff]

Scarla listens to Belarin, a dubious expression on her face. She doesn't seem to believe him. But when Condign reiterates the point, she nods, disappointed.

"Please," she says to Belarin. "Tell your friend to visit us in the University District at his earliest convenience. That's in Upper Menthis. You can ask for Haftak's Books and Binding. Haftak ir'Clarn runs the bookstore, but it's also the home of the Inquisitive. And where I work out of. If he comes and talks with me, I'll make it worth his while, and I'll share everything I know about his...well, about tieflings in Sharn." She gives Belarin a cheery smile. "We tend to know much more than we print."

[Ken]

Belarin says agreeably, "'Haftak's Books and Binding' -- excellent, he enjoys books, as do I. I'll see to it that he visits for an interview. He's quite amiable, actually, especially ever since he stopped using the hot poker." Belarin rubs an imaginary wound on his left arm. "Good day to you, Miss Scarla." And with that, he turns quickly and hurries to catch up to his "employer."

[Jeff]

The remainder of your walk down the avenue is uneventful. The first notable complex you pass is the Celestial Vista Restaurant, which resembles a miniature palace and has several high-rising towers that seem, more or less, like the top of the world. While elegant and no doubt steeply priced, the Vista seems to attract more tourists and travelers than where you're going.

The wide lane, and your trek, ends when it reaches the silvered gates of a city park likewise situated between the two halves of Skyway. The gates, naming this Cloudpool Park, hang open, and through it you glimpse a park like no other: lawns of green and white stretch out, and wisps of cloudstuff appear to have been sculpted into topiary, hedges, and full-scale trees. The cloudscape seems to comprise gentle hills and lawns. You can see people strolling among the winding paths, sitting on benches, having picnics.

But to your left, the Azure Gateway Restaurant looms, a terraced restaurant and inn that looks more like its own little multi-leveled village. It looks like there's as much seating outdoors than indoors. You doubt it ever truly rains up here.

The entrance is an arch of steel glazed in soft blue ice. A well-dressed dwarf stands as the doorman, accepting reservations. He immediately catches sight of you, but gives no reaction to your arms and armor.

A prominent tower clock nearby shows fifteen minutes before the 10th bell.

[Brian]

Once the group is gathered near the entrance of the restaurant, Condign stops and offers Kalarian a wide smile.

"Well, that was fun. And, hopefully, educational about the dangers of stereotypes. But now it is back to business. Tell me, what did you have planned for our meeting with 'Z'?" Then he looks at Belarin. "Oh, and I will need the information that reporter gave you, if you do not mind. What she said . . . it could be quite serious."

[Darren]

"Given what little we know of this 'Z', I'd guess he already knows we're here. So I suggest we get a table and wait for him to come to us." Kal grins. "We can at least keep some dignity in this meeting, no?"

[Dave W.]

Jan 13, 2011 21:57:00 GMT -4 Darren said:

"Given what little we know of this 'Z', I'd guess he already knows we're here. So I suggest we get a table and wait for him to come to us." Kal grins. "We can at least keep some dignity in this meeting, no?"

"I find that highly unlikely Kal."

"It was an interesting diversion, wasn't it?" Adamant asks Condign.

Turning to Belarin, he continues, "And I do apologize for being rude to you; it was all in the spirit of the game."

"I believe Kal is correct, I doubt our mysterious benefactor will be caught unprepared here at a location of his choosing. So, let us sit. Perhaps you might order drinks. That would seem best."