Lights And Shadows

[at]

It takes a moment for the party's eyes to adjust to the light as they vanish from the overcast Steadlands and appear standing on a ridge overlooking the city of Alamut.

The view is breathtaking to Vadania. Until now Clearwater was by far the largest settlement she had seen but this city dwarfed it, indeed the camp of merchants, tents, stables, and other buildings gathered outside what looks to be the main gate is at least as large as Burr Town.

The city had been built upon a plateau overlooking the desert, surrounded by stone walls that must be thirty feet at their lowest point, and a hundred or more at their height with a further walled citadel that can be seen within the city. There is sparse vegetation around the city and Vadania can see an expanse of farmworkings in the nearby foothills, particularly around the broad river that runs through the city, and a constant movement of people and animals to and from the city gates.


Brennen notices that Morianas attention is elsewhere however, a vast dark cloud that hangs over the distant desert.

[Jasmine]

"Okay! Let's go check it out!" says Tink.

[harknail]

Vadania looked at the town in shock. "How are we ever going to find Altar and Lynette among so many people?", she asked. She knew she was going to be out of her element out here, she just hadn't realized just how much out of her element she was going to be...

[at]

The group begin the walk to the city, and the scale of its size becomes ever more apparent as they approach the towering walls. "You might ask among the guides here, if your companions were of notable appearance they might be remembered, else you'll still need one too find your way around this place."

[harknail]

Remembering that her first impression of civilization was that it stank, Vadania wonders aloud as they approach, "I wonder how bad this place will smell with so many people gathered in one place."

[at]

Vadania can smell the place from here though much is masked by the mass of animals outside the gate, and Brennen, more familiar with cities, points towards covered carts being brought out of the gate and towards the foothills, "there are worse things than the smell in a place like this". The dead were normally carted out in the early hours, he hoped that this was just signs of a late start and not a plague or crack down.

Moriana, still distracted, states, "you would do well to look wealthy or powerful if you want to get that wolf through the gate. The coin for a small retinue is probably less than the bribes you'd need to pay if the guards are jumpy and something tells me they may be." She nods towards the distant darkness, "that is new here".

[harknail]

Vadania responds, "Since we've defeated demons, I suppose we are powerful, but I don't know if we look powerful. I haven't hung on to much money, though I do have a few dozen gold pieces."

[at]

"Well, you look strange enough that I doubt the guards will pry too deeply unless given reason but you can never be sure."

Bystanders are already beginning to eye the group as they approach. It's a chaotic mix of people of all types, and smells worse that Vadania had feared... though amongst the smells are countless odd foods, spices, and perfumes, and on the stalls many other things of craft and colour.

[harknail]

The pleasant smells mixed in with the stench of too many people in one place reminded Vadania that civilization wasn't ALL bad, it did produce some marvelous treats such as she had never had before. Although she is primarily watching for potential ambush situation among the crowd (she is paranoid about ambushes after all), she is also keeping her eyes (and noes) searching for any particularly delectable treats among the courts as they approached the gates.

OOC: I suppose we are quite the sight a wild elf in leather armor, a giant wolf in leather armor, a man with wings, and a tiny flying pixie...

[at]

The main road to the gate is busy but most make ample space for the party, and Vadania in turn steers Ylva well clear of nervous horses and other pack animals.

Still there was the matter of how to find the others. The priests had suggested she rely on the silver flame to guide her, it's power slowly returning since freed. Closing her eyes and trying to focus as she had before Vadania gains a brief glimpse of a building with a distinctive roof garden, near what looked to be fresh construction, and then the exhaustion brought on by the magic caused her to stumble and lose focus before she could take in more detail.

The building was definitely here though, the style of it unmistakable.

[harknail]

Once Vadania recovers enough to do so, she describes the vision she had to the others, so that they can help be on the lookout for that building.

OOC: Thanks, I had forgotten about that ability.

[at]

(does the party with to buy anything outside, or just head straight in and deal with whatever disagreements the guards might have about a giant wolf when it comes to it?)

[harknail]

Vadania will buy an edible treat on the way to the gate. If she's going to put up with the stink of civilization, she might as well enjoy it's pleasures as well. Also if there is a booth selling big hunks of meat (like turkey legs at a ren fair), Vadania will get one for Ylva.

But mostly just heading for the gate.

[at]

Vadania samples a few foods, looking for any that resemble those pastries from Clearwater. It is an experiment that starts out well enough but the lingering burning of some kind of spiced meat and overindulgence on something puffy and creamy has made Vadania feel a little unseasy.

Making their way to the gate the group is finally approached by the guards - not the gate guards but rather a group near stabled animals outside the gates, "hold! what are you doing there with that thing, you can't bring that into the city!"

Brennen notes that while other guards had been looking in their direction as they moved around the market few seemed inclined to interfere but rather to let someone else do it.

[harknail]

Vadania answers politely, "This is Ylva, my companion. She grew to this size when a divine power helped us to fight a demon. Why can't she enter the city?" Vadania was glad that Ka'lion wasn't here. Almost certainly he would have said something to antagonize the guards.

[at]

The guard moves to say something else but then catches himself clearly not sure of what he is dealing with, and looks around to see how many others have his back. So far only the two with him on patrol and so he continues with, "who are you?"

[harknail]

Vadania answered, introducing everyone, "I'm Vadania, a druid from the Steadlands. This is Ylva, my companion. This is Brennen and his companion Tink. And this is Moriana." She went on to explain, "We've come after a demon that escaped from the Steadlands and made is way to this land. We're trying to stop it from releasing more of it's kind. We've already had to recapture one released demon. I hope to stop the demon from being released in this land, because of how much death the last one caused when it was released. We're trying to find two others from the Steadlands that came here ahead of us, so that we can stop the Demon together." Finally she added in awe, "I've never seen a city anywhere near as large as this place. Just this market outside the walls is bigger than any place in the Steadlands."

[at]

The guard seems taken aback by the statement and turns to a friend, "call for the captain!" - the latter guard duly making his way quickly towards the gate. A second patrol of guards soon join the first and Vadania can overhear a few words - druid, demon... - though they seem to be waiting for someone with more authority to turn up.


(post to continue later when I have more time)

[harknail]

Vadania waits patiently for this captain, a title Ka'lion used to give to her. She understands that the job of these men is to protect the city, and that Ylva especially looks dangerous (and for that matter is dangerous when needed). She has no intentions of causing trouble in the city or letting Ylva cause trouble either, but these men don't know that. They aren't in that big of a hurry that they can't spend some time to answer questions and assure the guards that they have no intention of attacking anyone here.

Fun to see such a strong reaction to just answering their questions

[at]

It is not long before a new group arrive, more than a dozen guards with one clearly in the lead that sends the others to clear a space around the party and disperse the gawking crowd.

He is a grizzled and humorless looking man who leans in towards Vadania to talk in a low voice, "you say that the druids have sent you to fight a demon here?"