These rumors date from May to November of 2003
Talk is cheap...listening is free [Fri May 10]
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Two Li Halan servants are overheard by a couple of guards who were over heard at a local bar...and it all spreads from there.
"Well, she was drivin' one them Scraver Rover's came driving upm ad as hell,"the older of the two servants states,"And you know when a woman is driving mad, cause dey is all over the place. Well he was ranting and raving, and she was as quiet as the clouds...nothing was said. I was scared, when a woman like that is quiet she is about to explode and I wasn't gonna be around when she did." then younger of the two servants is hanging on every word, when a Gaurd pipes in,"Yeah but he left soon after and all I heard was HIM yelling...and normally when they fight it is BOTH of them going at, but still she never said a word. One of the maintenance men was called up to fix his door. He said she wasn't there either..."
The two servants and the guard look at each other and cross themselves before the youngest one pipes in,"Well tha rover ain't here, and we ALL saw her kissing that Lord Gavalin in the court yard...."
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Two guards talking amongst themselves:
"Well, all I know is, that woman came up out of the shaft, a look of fear in her eyes, fear and dread. Then, she scribbled off some note to the Baroness and went off, muttering something about her hard suit and facing the fires of hell."
"All I know is, sometimes, that woman scares even me.
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"I was there I tell ya," a young girl is sitting on a crate by a stall in the Agora," you all was just sellin stuff but I was sittin' near da cafe." Nodding her head she begins to talk again,"And she came in right after him, I hear she is bonded to that Li holl'rin' that tall one, and she was baitin' Sedosaien. talkin' about how he don't care 'bout no one, and stuff. And he told her to leave but before she does, I heard her jibe at him again, man does she ever sound like a bit....Um mean woman.." the girl flushes when older brother glares at her from near by and then she continues. "Well anyway he stood up and I thought he was gonne kill her through a bag of coins at her he did and almost hit her too. Then she turned around and told him a few more things and was about to leave when he came running over to her I thought sure he was gonna hit her, but he didn't he picked up the nag talking about looking for some girl that is missing." The girl stops and loosk around and waves for everyone to come a little closer and she talks in a real loud whispers,"BUT that ain't all it... That woman kissed him RIGHT here in the middles of the Agora, and hugged him too I thought he was gonna faint he seemed so shocked and then he turned and walked away some silly grin on't 'is face." Hopping off her crate she shakes her head,"Damned if I understand people screaming one minute kissing the next."
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Overheard among the merchants of the Agora:
"Aye, I was just taking a walk around, like, and I noticed that girl at the Cafe. Ye know, the one that's been walkin' about all in disguise like, lately. Anyhow, I just happened to sit down and take a rest at a bench, right, and..." "Ah, Tanner, I know whatcha was up to. Watchin' that pretty waitress at the cafe, you were!" *SMACK!* "Shush, you! Anyhow, liken I said, they was sitting there, the catgirl and that real tall Knight as she 'works' for. And they was gettin' all cozy, holdin' hands and such, when that noblewoman, that Hazat, walks up with her bodyguard and their horses. She walks right over to the two, and they start talkin'. Well, after 'bout five minutes, the Knight has to leave. He takes off, and the noble sits down at the table. They talk for a bit, and that girl is actin' like the Empress of the Cafe, she is! Callin' Jenn the waitress over and flirtin' like she allays does, just like the woman with her is any other Vargen! It shocked me, ye know?
And then suddenly, the girl stands up, and starts to walk away. She said somethin', I couldn't catch what, but I betcha a hunerd- nay, a thousand, firebirds that it was about that crazy Vargen that's set the rebels all in tizzy. Anyhow, the noble goes all white and quiet-like, an starts whisperin' to herself it looked like, but then three aliens- yeah, Ukari I guess- come out of nowhere, and surround the girl! A bad day to be wi'out that crossbow, eh? And the girl- Yea, Harli- looks upset, but just throws her cloak back and grabs a gun, pointin' it at the Ukari! One of 'em pulls one of them weird blades and goes for her gunhand, right? She tries to dodge, but it hit her arm anyhow, and blood was just ever'where! So the crazy thing reaches a hand up and starts wavin' for the VCG! All that time runnin' from bein' arrested, and she gives herself over, all quiet-like! I'll never unnerstand that 'un!"
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An Amalthean nurse discusses her day with a friend over a stall in the Agora.
"Well there I was.. helpin' out at the 'Malthean hospital when we all saw that big black thing' o the Duchess' fly in from th'North. A minute later I gets sent up to the roof and you'll never guess what I saw there.."
"Aye.. what'd that be then?"
"I tell ye, they had the ramp unfurled and these men in black armour were leading this.. this thing down it! I tell ye, scared me out o' my skin. Like a plain ol' moggy it was, 'cept as big as a horse, and it were snarlin' an' growlin' and stuff something fierce!"
"Ye' don't say.. a giant kitty huh?.."
"Aye.. I heard one o' the Dragon men say it had gotten sicky and needed treatment, seems they got a lot o' them out there in the Duchess' own stable.. Breedin' them as ridin' beasts or summat'. I'm tellin' ye.. with beasties like that around I wouldn't go out there for 50 birds.."
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"...damned Engineer," mutters a Vargen merchant as he gathers up the inventory of his overturned stall in the Agora. "I thought he said it would be just a little shaking... nothing to worry about."
A fellow merchant, inspecting the cracked window of his shop, looks over and snorts. "Nothin' for the offworlders to worry about, that's for sure. Ya don't see many o' them among the wounded lined up at the hospice."
"Aye, well... I guess we should be thankful the hospice is there, though 'tis mostly bruises and broken bones they be treatin'..." The two merchants fix a level gaze on the teamster who makes this observation, then go back to their conversation.
"Anyway, I heard that several windows in the Cathedral were shattered, and a wall on the second floor of Keddick's collapsed..."
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" Didcha see tha' Hazrat woman commin' by?"
"Which one ya talkin' 'bout. They've got some wimmin in tha' compound...heh heh..."
*Whack* "Think proper thoughts or them priests with them fireguns gonna come knockin'. The one with tha' ugly temper, 'course.".
"Tha' di'n't make it any easier. Them's got lotsa temper most o'them."
*groan* "Tha' big tall one with th' long hair an' all them letters on th' back o'her uniform.".
"Most o'them are big'n tall but I think tha' tha' marshall thingy's got some letters on her uniform."
"Yeah, tha's her. Th'one with tha' bloody 'orrid accent. Kin hardly unnerstand a word. Talk proper's wha' I'm sayin'.".
"Heh...listen t'yerself man. Wha' about her."
"She got busted up pretty bad methinks. Tha' quake an' all. I saw her walk by...."
"If she kin walk s'not bad.".
*whack* "Whaddya know about thems sorta things? Her arm was bent all twisted an' stuff. I tell ya...s'not the way an arm is meant t'be sittin' on ya. Anyway...she came back the other way with a splint on i' a little later. Wonder wha' happened."
*shrugs* "Well, s'good t'see they bleed like proper folk anyway. They always seem so high an' mighty.". *groan* *whack* "Whaddya know anyway? She's th' one tha' helped them people up Enides way. She's okay."
"Oh...well...pity on her then...an' stop 'ittin' me!"
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A guard for the Li Halan Lord of Antol is seen walking through the Agora escorting some women servants to the stalls for food and them just chattering away,"Well she came in with some other man carrying her like she was a sack o' potatoes. And She seems more concerned with the house then the Lord although she did finally go over to him...prolly hopin' he was dead or sumtin'."
The lead woman shakes her head a few times a bit sadly,"Well she got hers I saw her comin' down the stairs when they collapsed and she got stuck like a pig, her high and mighty self. Pancreator and light shouldn't have saved her or the baby, by that Sainted man Pater Basideus came right away, I am sure it were for the Laird, he being more 'mpo'tant then some loose scraver."She tsks and shakes her head slowly.
The guard pipes in a little as he can't seem to contain it,"Yes the light was fantastic and the windows were shattered, his lordship was stunned as was his Bodyservant, both of them cryin' over the likes of her."
THe head servant pause and shakes her head a bit snickering,"T'wer'n't her they were crying about, was the babe, we all know'd his lordship needs an heir an what with his sainted wife being gone...."She falls silent as they finally reach the stalls.
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Pancreator! Them Deckydos sure do know how ta throws a party!
Did'ja see wot them nobles were wearin'!? Or what they -weren't- wearin'!?
First, there wuz them nekkid folks an' them others in those tights all feelin' on each other... should'a seen some o'tha guests.. looked like some'o 'em were gettin' mighty 'ready' if ya knows what I mean!?
Diner was actually jes' -diner-.. .reg'lar food an' drink... -den- them's fighters came out an' one o' em kilt the other one! Twas a show or sumpthin! Sure enough, though.. one o'em were dead when it finished...
*Whew!* An' then tha shootin' started!
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Two servants outside the walls of the Tower:
"I didn't think the shooting would never end!"
"Well, it did...and it was all strange, I tell you! First, half of them running outside, using swords and pistols against those....armored things. And everyone else, remaining inside, a bickering and a nattering about protecting things and what they should do. Almost as big a ruckus there in the Hall, it was.
The other nods, replying, "Ain't that the truth! Then, just when it looked like those things were gonna get past Her Ladyship and those with her, it was amazing. One took out the creature's eyes with his sword, a group of soldiers arrived to take out the other one. The Hawkwood Lord, he was trying; but he got injured on the face. But...those other two, they were....acting oddly.
The next servant places a hand on her chest and nods vigorously, "The one lord, he went a diving through the arch, diving into that there Duke; and that odd girl, the one dressed in that strange coat, she just got up, walked over to the thing through a hail of bullets, and cut out something inside the critter.
"Strange goings on, I tell you. And, I wonders, why were those things trying to get into the Grand Hall - what were they shooting at?"
"I don't know I ...quiet, people are coming. Let's go talk somewhere else" and she tugs the other girl on the arm and they walk off, huddled and still talking.
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" You should have been here this morning... it was a mess.. that assault lander took up nearly all our room at the port.. and those soldiers were making such a mess.."
"Soldiers? Assault Lander?? Who were they?" the
other man asked
" Hazat.. there had to be a hundred of them and you won't believe whos banner
they were flying.. They had the Filsan crest on their flags!"
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More or less a story, yet still it can be considered a rumour. It all starts with a pair of Brother Battle. Who knew that Brother Battle liked to gossip?
"Chubbs," calls one of them, a rather trim man though hardened from years int he service to the Pancreator. "Rumour's got it on good authority that Nathan came about."
A rather large Brother, one that is infamous to only a few on Vargo nods. His name of course is Chubbs. "Yeah mates, he did. He did. He came about just yesterday morning. He seemed all noble, except he didn't wear the silks or the satin, didn't seem like he wanted to present himself as high and mighty. Yet, he came about for get this..."
"Get what Chubbs?" The man seems to smirk. "Hurry along, we gotta get going, the new command around here's strict eh?"
Chubbs seems to wink, and you'd never figure he is their chief scout. "Morning prayer. Then spent the day discussin' theology. I tell ya, fer all the jokes about The Stiff One, he sure is a decent guy. He didn't wear his vibro rapier, or his insignia. He wore this really keen lookin' ring mate, as well as the scabbard we got him and just a broadsword. Nothing more."
"Clothes?" There's even a soft snicker.
"Course he wore clothes, though let me tell ya a time I caught him when he wasn' wearin' no..." Chubbs trails off into laughter as both go about their morning duties.
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" Did you see her enter the Compound with that child?"
"Indeedy I diddy. What's more is I saw her in the Shop buying some little outfits for her. That sure isn't little Bella. In fact, looks a little like that fork tongued woman's child."
"Anand says the Lady said she was going to help raise the child now. Imagine that. And she even had a bed delivered to the Compound that read: Cherijo."
"Say, wasn't it rumored to the the Duke's child? Maybe that is why she is doing it. For family."
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Hefting his gear bag over his shoulder, the pilot of the Freighter, Orion's Challenge, laughed, grinning over to his co-pilot, saying "Well, Cor, that sub-space communication came in while you were getting some rack time, the one about the Mocker's Delight. Light, I didn't think it was /that/ important."
Cor looks back at the pilot, eyes wide, "Look, Kenro, I know you're not into lantern shows and such; but that ship, well, carries one of the most renown troupes of Masquers around. Should be quite a visit, and if we could see them perform."
A few moments of silence ensue before Cor looks back to Kenro, "And, you said Kalesh V'Tiro and her partner were with them, getting a ride to Old Urth." His eyes getting wider, Cor continues, "You know, what that means, two of the Chorali, heading towards Urth don't you?"
As they walk off and begin to melt into the crowds, their voices fade away, only one or two words catching anyone's attention, "Venice" and "...concert before the wars."
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" I dunno, I don't like it all that much," says on Hazat man, dressed in what appears to be the formal colours of a military uniform, to another who is also dressed the same. A quiet conversation in the Agora which is sure to spread outwards after.
"Well, he is marrying the Marquessa. He is family," says the second man in defense of whomever they are speaking of.
"True, but he isn't Hazat. He gets a few lucky wins on a battlefield with Brother Battle for Pancrator's sake and all of a sudden he's allowed to see all of our--" he is cut off though by the second man.
"Come on now, you are being a little harsh. I have seen him with Don Alvaro, the Duke himself and they seem like they are good friends. At least from what I've seen and he seems to like the kids. And just the other day he was asking me for advice, me... just another guy that wanders the halls of Jericho."
"Advice?" says the first, being a little more lenient in his tongue lashing.
"Yes, advice. I think he was writing poetry," there is a cunning grin, as if it were a silent joke that is exchanged between the two about the man they speak of.
"Hopeless," says the first.
"Aye," says the second. "Love can do that to a man, but alas he is our commander and afterall he paid for this coffee."
They break into laughter, perhaps another silent joke between the Hazat before they get back to their walking and away from their gossiping. It only takes a moment before variations of the story spread throughout the city.
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A note found near a cemetary in Vargo that reads as follows:
What price is freedom?
A laughing child;
A loaf of bread, warm from the oven;
A dream of a better life.
The answers needed are here; and, they are in the past.
Two sides are opposed, mirroring one another.
A reflection of things that have been.
A reflection of things that will be.
To overcome, to achieve victory, sometimes one must work from within.
Passivity can do more than activity. The lessons of those who have gone before sometimes show us this.
The dreamer has awoken.
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Lord Peter must have been letting the guard on his tongue loose lately -- staff around the Hawkwood mansion have heard him talking about the services his House has rendered to the people of Vargo. Contributing money towards the reconstruction of the bridge, helping refugees from Menzel, spending enough money to buy most of a year's supply of grain, providing a haven for victims of the Fallen Templars, providing aid to the orphanage down the road, etc. etc. In particular, the phrase 'I'll listen to those terrorists the moment they help the people of Vargo as we have, rather than urging the sons and daughters of the world they /love/ to throw their lives away in violent and futile rebellion' seems to stick in minds.
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Now open at the intersection of Parade and Cliff, serving the very finest in traditional Aragonese cuisine: Restaurante La Plancha and Bar Tendido Cero. Grand Opening Celebration will be held March 12 5001. Come sample some of the best wine, apertifs, and prime gilled meats that Hazat culture has to offer, all compliments of the house for this one time only. This establishment requires no membership and is open to all patrons, however Management reserves the right to deny service to anyone impinging upon the enjoyment and comfort of other guests.
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Pools of crimson have recently been added to the decor of the ever so popular
street cafe of the Agora. A table, covered in blood, chairs around it spattered
with red, towels lying about, soaked through with blood, abandoned along
with hope...
Another Vargen dead. By his own hand, though as the news spreads, the blame
seems to settle squarely on the shoulders of the offworlders. Another dead
Vargen, and who to blame?...
The details vary, some voices whisper of an offworlder plot to crush a possible Vargen rebellion by killing its leaders, yet others mutter of even wilder things, of grand intricate plots by nobles plotting against each other or demons haunting the shadows....
One fact remains the same amongst most of the rumors, of how the freeman Sedosaien took his own life one fine day, spilling his own blood onto the paving stones of the Agora......
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The Mocker's Delight docked in the landing bay safely; its captain disembarking and going to speak with the powers that be on board the station.
Meanwhile the troupe began disembarking and after a quick, boisterous and nerve-wrecking visit to the Mall, boarded the Shuttle Effaxis: taking with them, several dozen suitcases, equipment and two Chorali: masked continually, dressed in white synthsilk jumpers and golden flowing capes.
Upon arrival in the Vargo terminal, and going through all appropriate and proper channels, the entire group descends upon the Hotel Helix, checking and paying for a month's occupation..
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"Well I ain't seen her in days and last I heard she was leaving vargo," says
Jenn the Cafe waitress.
An older lady pipes in,"Far as I am concerned good riddens to bad rubbish,
she was trouble that one was...why she is to blame for what poor Sedosaien
di to his self. Far as I am concerned, I am glad she is gone."
A younger Vargen man shakes his head,"Yeah but she was still one hot chick,
Sed was a lucky man to have at least had her for a little while....Still I
hear that she didn't leave Vargo, that she is still hear only she ain't all
in one piece..."
A couple of VCG pass by the stalls where the three talk and silence reigns again as the trio break up and go their own seperate ways...
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The refugees start to come from Antol with a strange story than the ones
that most of Vargo knows.
...There was no violence in leaving.
The lord...he is acting all strange...fired all the staff
I heard after issueing the two orders, he went up to his room, and heard violence...
I saw the lord in the main hall as I was leaving. He was staring blankly at the wall...
If he is staying there...and no one else is there...how is he going to take care of himself? Maybe a serf?
The businesses is still running, everything is still running, but no one is in charge.
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of the Page] "Yeah,
did ya see the stick-like almathaen with the forked tongue? Ran right
past the
gurads and right up to the manor." Teh seond
one nods slightly. "A couple of horus later, they both
came out, like he had been cleaned up, he was, and following meekly behind
her. He got the fallen soldier's salute form everyone that had gathered
there." The first
one just sighs. "Hopefully this will end soon." Netx is a
couple of vargens at the agora. "Yeah, that priestess brougth
that li-horrelin lord into the agora. She went ot set down, and then started
to berate him like he was a school-boy. He juts cried and took it. He did
everythign she siad. He stared crawling on his hands and knees, even got
humilated with a tomato on his head." The second
one pipes up. "Yep, came into it late. But he seems to
show a bit more backbone, but still refused to do anything about his bondmate,
saying she never loved him. Strange people, offworlders. The last the healer
said was that she is going to fight for him. I didn't think that Almathaens
fought at all?"
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of the Page] "Yeah,
just back form enide, and was coming along chegen, when I hit antol.
i was used
to seeing the troops guarding the border." The second
one nods. "Yeha,
that li-horrelin lord, the one that used to be with the scraver. Hear
he isn't anymore, she is just gone, or dead." The first
one nods. "Aye,
that one. Well, anyway, I was used to seeing the troops up there. But
today, not a man or woman in sight, except for
that road guard that seems to be awlays there." The second
looks at the first, "Truly? I haven't heard of a reacall
order."
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At first, a couple of soldiers speak.
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Two travlles are discussing their trips:
The first nos. "Yep, it seems that they are not sealing it anymore." The
two begins to have a drink.
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A servant and a guard watch as a messenger leave the compound before heading
back to Shomes.
"All I know is, they won't let that little one go out there to her. He's near frantic. She wouldn't be able to say anything anyway - unconscious she is, And even when she's awake - well she don't say much."
The guard nods, eyes serious for a moment. "Hard when duty and honor compete with what...." he shakes his head, tapping the servant on the nose, "Now, you're making me talk poetic...we can save that for another night." The servant smiles coyly, a little laugh before her eyes grow serious, "Well, yes, Diego.... but still. What was she doing out at that church? It's all in ruins. She's just strange anyway. Who'd prefer digging underground, stead of being outside anyway?" Diego's eyes shutter, flicker from side to side for a moment, "I don't know, 'Cheta. Place is spooky, St. C...well, people always wondered why it was left like that." Diego curls an arm around 'Cheta's shoulder and they walk off, heads dipped together, whispering.
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of the Page] "Who Marlene?" there
is concern evident in the voice of the woman that speaks to an Amalthean
bedside of an empty bed. The only remains
to show that anyone was there is a slightly ruffled set of sheets. "That man, Lord Nathan Justinian, at least he is a Lord now. He is
gone, he was here an hour ago and we discussed theology and I went to get
his medicines and now he is gone..." she seems rather worried. "Oh he just stubbornly left or something," though the headshake
from Merrik shows that perhaps that is not the case. "Though his weapons
are still here, rather just one... a shield of some sort." The worry
begins to set in. "We must inform the Hazat at once, at
least the Marquessa," they both nod to this and she goes on, "He
is missing, perhaps Darkness took hi--" though she is cut off. "Silence oh no, the Pancreator watches over good men like Nathan..." and
both mutter a prayer in latin.
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"
Darkness consume me, he's gone!" says one amalthean to another.
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4 men are sitting in the Soveriegn State talking over the gambling tables
and drinking whiskey like they was water,"Well I was there I saw it, she was
riding this big black beast of a horse and wouldn't come down, claiming she
was on the business of the Duke,"a snarl of derisiveness,"far as
I can tell that Duke is too busy with his new toy to care about doin' some
real business." The 3 other men all laugh and nod," well,"one
pipes up," a lady is as good as a courtesan but cheaper all ya gotta do
is compliment her and she spreads like honey."
A round of drinks arrives and all the men drink them down before continuing. "Well anyway, she was brought before Lord Shiraku and he started fire off question at her, and she was smooth as silk. I was even believin' the lies she was spewin'. She was real slick until that ring she was wearin' got seen, stupid move that..." he is given yet another drink as he continues to talk,"The Lord got suspicious then, started demanding she remove her hood and wanting to see her face and she kept refusin'...finally he told us to shoot her and she was on the horse and all and it started getting nervous, but she calmed it down and then finally removed the hood she was wearin'. Can you believe it was that scraver bitch we been searchin' high and low for, stupid idiot." One of the men gapes at the other,"Your lying, we all know'd she is dead..talk on the street says the Lord of Antol killed her and cut her up and your captain's have been scattering the remains all over Vargo."
The first man gets up and punches the one spewing rumors and starts to beat the hell out of him for nothing other then slander. The bouncers come along and break it up as the other patrons look on.
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As the two priests move about the Plaza of the Prophet, followed by a few
acolytes, they speak wonderingly; and, it is perhaps one of the few times
that their students pay rapt attention:
"It was as if there were choirs of angels here on Vargo, to hear her sing. And her songs, they seemed to touch, here..." the elder priest touching the area of his heart, "...as if she could see right inside you, tell you what you were feeling and thinking."
The younger priest nods his head in reply, "Yes, Father Ansalo, I quite agree; but at the same time, it was as if another stood in her place. Did I not hear her say that the words were not hers; but the words of Him?" eyes glancing up towards the sky.
The acolytes whisper amongst themselves softly, eyes remaining on the backs of the two priests, avidly waiting for another word or two.
"Of course, that is evidence of the Chorali belief - a true devotion to the Prophet - perhaps it is why He gifts them with blessings we cannot begin to comprehend, my dear Anton."
"But she is so unusual, so tall and those strange, strange eyes. Surely she must have some power to make even /him/.." glancing towards the Avestite temple, "...smile (truly a miracle!) and hum along. And she stayed and spoke to that engineer who seemed so ill for quite a while."
"Yes, Yes, she did. Perhaps before devoting herself to the Chorali, she was a member of the Amalthean sector - as caring as she seems to be. I am glad that I heard she would sing at that play they are talking about. /She/ has said that any church member is welcome to attend, that it would please her that it (the performance) is open to the entire public." He smiles, and they continue to move onward, melting into the crowds, "What was it she sang about the stars and time?"
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Three men are sitting in the Sovereign State talking over the gambling
tables and drinking whiskey like it was water:
"Hey, have you heard from old Gatlin lately?"
"Nope, not since that day he was talking about ladies here that day."
"Speaking of, I saw that Lady Lisabeta pass through earlier. Weren't we talking about her just yesterday?"
"Ayup. I hear she's been asking questions about that Scraver harlot. Ya know the one that they say is so loose she wouldn't know the father of her baby if she eva were ta get knocked up?"
"Ya. Heard she's been trying ta get an audience with tha man. Whadayacallhim? High Inkeysator?"
"Well I don't know. But she was also asking about Mazorca. Like she was figuring it all out but needed more. Oh by Saint Vargo. Hush, here she comes out of the Members Only Area."
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"
Your hear what happened in the Delbairn house?" - "No, but there
was a might uproar last night." - "Certainly was. Old Del found
his son in bed with his lover." - "Old Delb has a lover?" - "No,
the son has." - "Really? Woah, respect. I thought he was one
of them... I mean..." - "Yeah, that's what everybody thought.
And we were right. That lover was a man, one of them offworlders." - "He
was?" - "If I say so. In the service of the Mantis, too." - "Whoah.
With Old Delb's stance towards Mantis, that's..." - "Enough reason
to attack him." - "He attacked the Mantis soldier?" - "Well,
yes. Pretty much the whole family did, Delb and his other two sons." - "And?" *laughter* "You
know, the Delbairn now need a new door, new windows and definitely new
furrniture." - "They roughened him up?" - "Nope, not
a mark on his angel face after the fight, and he seemed to have enjoyed
it enormously. Then, he kissed the son and left, laughing." - "Weird."
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of the Page] The tale
breaks off as the man begins to plead for more of the tale, and finally
the waitress
is mollified. "Well, anyway, the two nobles
started talking, and something must have set Carnait off, because she started
muttering under her breath. And that just set the Hazat off, so off went
Lady Sofia on her horse, up to the woman. And what do you know? Pretty
as you please, she said in a voice as loud as anything, Lady Sofia was
shaming Duke Alvaro and all the Hazat with her ways towards the Vargens." The waitress
pauses a bit, for dramatic effect as her words sink into the startled
man, before
continuing. "But that's not all! Then, up
from out of nowhere, came those Ukari..they grabbed Carnait and held her
down and started hitting her.." She starts gesturing with her hands
and telling the story, though she's starting to get a bit confused. "And
then that Muster Chief came in..or no, it was that Brother Battle Commander,
first, and she started saying how Carnait belonged to her, and punishment
had to be from her. And then /Porter/ started saying how the VCG was in
charge, but he let Mendoza have her anyway.." Her hands move wilder
now, as she starts to tell the exciting part. "And then, Sister Mendoza
says that Carnait can't talk for two weeks, and she's going to get twenty
lashes in the square..and she calls for the whip, and strips Carnait down
to the waist right then and there!" She shivers at the thought, before
continuing, still excited. "Then she grabbed a rope from out of nowhere
and started beating her, as hard as she could, until her back was all broken
and bloody and.." The man interrupts her, and she frowns. "No,
I don't /like/ that kind of stuff! Hey, here I am telling you what happened,
and you start accusing me? What's wrong with you, anyway?" And the
conversation dissolves into yet another lover's quarrel, the sort that
the Agora is known for.
[Return to the top
of the Page] "I'm
tellin' ye.. I'm dead worried about th'Lady.. Ever since that last trip
into the city
she's been actin' very.. strange." "Strange?
Well nobles is always strange.. How d'ya mean?" "Well..
she spends a lot more time with her daughter, just sittin' with her,
watching her
in her cradle and I'm tellin' you.. I ain't seen
her smile once since that day." "I dinna'
think so.. The lady was never one to listen to rumours like that, not
'bout
him anyways.. Ye don't think?.." "..Ye
don't think what?" "Ye don't
think she may have found out they might be true, do ye?" There is a shrug from the assembled masses, and all move on to lighter
topics..
[Return to the top
of the Page] Hawkwood: "What
in the blazes what all that commotion a little while ago?" Li-halan:
The guard grins while the other just shakes his head. "The
Imperial knight came charging up to the manse on his horse, never left
it once. He came up through the courtyard, yelling about how he was on
imperial business, and then had his horse kicked down the door. Turns out
the knight was after a noble who had been seeing the Lord Shiraku." Hawkwood:
The guard sort of blinks. "Who?" Li-Halan: "He was once known as Sirac, Shiraku is apparently his
real name, and the other is a nickname, left over form his army days. He
has changed a lot since his wife and bondmate died, meaner than ever, even
injured one of the guards for running his mouth during a practice bout." Hawkwood:
The guard sort of blinks at that one. "Oh really? Then what happened?" Li-Halan: "Well,
the lady cassandra apparently knew the knight and the Lord Shiraku knew
them and the relatiohship, but I am getting ahead
of myself. He ordered us to surround the knight, saying he had no authority
there, and to use any means necessary to subdue him. Officer talk for if
he resists, kill him." Hawkwood: THe guard sort of blinks stunned at that and continues to listen. Li-Halan: "Well,
the knight was wanting to ride through us, but knew he might be endangering
both him and the lady, so he didn't. He then told
Shiraku that he was leaving since that is what the li-halan lord asked
him and that he would make reparations. The lord shiraku said that a private
apology was not good enough, and that it had to be public, to which the
knight sort of got a bit ruffled by that. Then the lord Shiraku let the
knight leave, but then he congratulated us on our fine job, and ordered
us to spread it aorund. Nobles, who can understand them." Hawkwood:
The guard nods his head. "Isn't that the truth, why I saw
a noble...." And they continue to discuss gossip.
[Return to the top
of the Page] "What
was that, brother?" "I know
not - a rider, clearly, but who and where bound, I could not say." As things often do, this tale becomes one of many around the city, but
some light is gained when it is added to two others - one, the oft-repeated
story of the Imperial Knight invading the Li Halan compound, and the other,
the mysterious absence of that same Sir Artur from his manor house. Clearly, he has gone, and with him he seems to have taken the Lady Cassandra,
who has disappeared once more into the night.
[Return to the top
of the Page] Until the screaming begins. "The
lord rises.. the lord rises in the south!" People gather
in a ring around the woman, who has collapsed, her shopping spilled beside
her, on the cobbled floor. Her eyes appear strange, vacant,
and she thrashes and contorts as she continues to yell cryptically. "The
lord calls his viziers to him. The lord devours his viziers. In the void
the Ebon Dragon rises and tears the hearts from the trees.. The gateway
lies shattered.." There are a few yells from passers by now calling
the woman to shut up before the Avestites arrive, and one or two youths
have started throwing stones, but the woman only seems to get worse, her
ranting becoming increasingly manic. "..The nightmares circle the
lord, infecting the living.. They seek the bowl, the bowl of dreams and..
Oh Pancreator! Dragons and nightmares! Dragons and nightmares! Dragons
and..." The taunting
of the crowd is broken as a cold wind suddenly blows through the Agora,
whistling
from the south. It seems to chill right to the bones
of the passers by, causing adults to shiver and children to clutch at the
legs of their parents. Of one accord the gathered masses turn to watch
the vast blanket of dark clouds that rolls slowly forward from the Deep
recesses of the Southern Ocean. "Look!" someone cries, and the
crowd strain to see the tiny flashes the seem to flicker across the now
black southern horizon, like bolts of sickly lightning.. A man drops to
his knees, another follows him, and towards the back of the crowd a woman
mouths gently. "Pancreator have mercy.." Within minutes, the cloud has cleared, but far into the distance, one
area still seems to retain a fraction of the darkness it took on, as if
the very colour has been drained from a small patch of the sky. For a moment,
a feeling passes through the entire planet, a feeling that something terrible
has happened..
[Return to the top
of the Page] "She
came stormin up ta that big, black ship without a word an' she was up
the ramp, followed
by her stormtroopers at the quick march... that
ship was up and off quicker than I could spit." "Which
way was she headed?" "Out
over tha sea." "Wot's
got the bloody bug queen all up in a tizzy?"
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Did
I see what I think I saw?" "Ah si,
looks like her ladyship spent the night downstairs again." "What,
in the winecellar?" "Si si,
la senora has it quite cozy down there with sofas and everything." "Believe
I saw a few others last night pass behind the curtain and slip down there
too.....couple
of Hawkwoods if I'm not blind, and some
frilly-dressed lord I didn' know. Wonder why she stayed all night? Beggin'
yer pardon Pedro, but she didn' look too good when she left few minutes
ago." "You
shut yer trap, none of yer business what la senora does at her own 'stablishment."
[Return to the top
of the Page] Now a few others, they came in and listened for a time. Some lady with bandages on her hands who later left with tears in her
eyes and a confused look on her face. Some lord who got all angry and upset by the Singer's choice of song (especially
when she started that duet with the other tall drink of water (guy who
plays that Baleeset thing of his). And then there was that VCG man who left all in a hurry (thought is name
was Crayfish or something like that). I tell you, the whole place was silent while she was singing, it was.
And no one knew if they should be a clapping or just watching quiet like.
Sure wish we get to hear her again. But if I don't, what I heard was great.
You know, she sat there for a long time, talking to that Baleeset man after
they done sang that loverly duet.
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Have
you heard?" "Heard what?" Replies
one younger wife. "'E's
back. I saw him come walking through the Plaza and up into the Cathedral.
I wonder
what it all means.?" "Shush
you, leave the Church's business to the Church."
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Holy..." The chaplain turns slowly, to see what disturbs the young man, and his
eyes fall upon the opposite wall to the cowering wretch, or more precisely,
the markings, drawn in the man's own blood and excrement, that cover the
stone. They display a winged stick-figure, arms outstretched, surrounded
by broken, disjoined looking stickmen, who seem to be writhing on the ground.
The rest of the wall surrounding the primitive picture is coated with crude
writing. The Avestite turns to the aide who spoke first.. "You,
boy.. Tell me what that writing says." The boy gulps, and with a shaky voice explains. "It's
just a load of random things, sir.. Talks about an 'Ebon Dragon' and
'Nightmares
that fly on the wind,' and some kind of bowl as well.." The Avestite shakes his head slowly, and after a while his voice comes
firm and strong. "Take this wretch out and give him fifteen lashes for his sin, and
you.." he turns to the other aide, "..clear this heretical filth
from the wall." However, as the two quickly scuttle away, a strange expression has come
over the Avestite's stern features. What does this mean? What evil could
have created this, and most of all, how does an illiterate man manage to
scrawl all over his cell wall? Shaking his head, the Chaplain turns to leave the cell.
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A waitress in the street cafe leans over a table on her break, talking
to her boyfriend about what she saw just a short while ago. "Oh yeah,
she was just standing around singing with Ravael and that new Masquer,
when Lady Sofia rode in..what? A rebel song? I don't know..I wasn't paying
attention, it was just singing...some kind of fighting song, you know I
never pay attention to those.." At a comment from the man, she shakes
her head and folds her arms over her chest. "I'm getting to that!
Anyway, that Decados baroness was sitting down here, and she'd been having
this thing with Carnait the whole time...no, contempt. Who's telling this
story, anyway?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The seneschal of Iriskaya is on leave, taking a brief trip into Vargo city
with a group of Freemen friends. They sit in the street cafe talking amongst
themselves.
" Well, maybe she got wind of the rumours 'bout the Duke and 'is cousin..
Heard they been.. fiddlin' around more 'n is healthy.."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Li-Halan guards are talking to a Hawkwook guard from across the street.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The brothers battle guarding the bridge are standing their silent vigil
when at a fast pace a dark horse bearing two dark figures passes the length
of the bridge, its riders engaged in quiet conversation. Like wraiths,
they are, and after the beast's passing the guards turn to each other in
some curiosity:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a pleasantly sunny mid-afternoon in the Agora, the merchants are hawking,
the beggars are crying for alms, and the normal serf and freemen folk of
Vargo go about their business of buying and selling, just as it has been
for hundreds of years in this city.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Military Field, Vargo City Spaceport, Late in the night.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restaurante La Plancha Aragonesa, early one morning; Pedro the barkeep,
having his brains picked by the cleaning crew:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, it was there the other night that the tall drink of water who was
a singing in the church the other day was seen. Acting as if she hadn't
a care in the world, she was, seeming to be happy only to let music and
song drift along.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overheard among the idle wives shopping in the Agora:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The heavy metal door of cell 15 of the Oubliette guild swings open with
a clank, sending a stream of light into the darkened cell within. The chaplain,
a robed Avestite with a stern expression and bushy eyebrows, makes his
way down the dripping stone steps, accompanied by two uniformed Vargen
boys recruited to help the guild handle it's patients. The Avestite's eyes
swing back and forth across the cell, eventually coming to it's occupant,
a bald man who sits rocking gently in the corner, clutching his hands to
his chest as if afraid of what they might do. Those bushy eyebrows curl
inwards in a kind of contemptuous frown.. Before the chaplain's analysis
is interrupted by an astonished noise from one of his aides.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A tall, dark-haired woman in a crimson jumpsuit with a gold embroidered
claw upon the breast makes her way to the nursery at the Hazat Compound.
When she finally locates the child she seeks, she kneels down to the ground,
smiling, holding out one hand in supplication. "Come," says the
noblelady softly. "We have found her. She is resting at the Hospice,
surely awaiting the sound of your voice."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ugly rumors around town - bad things are afoot.
"Two of them! Women, aye, their hearts cut out, left lying there in the street."
"Pancreator... What kind of monster...?"
"Some Gehenne-spawned madman - punishment for our sins..."
"Do the VCG know anything?"
"I haven't heard - I did see that detective, though - the one with the trenchcoat - Santa Vargo, he looked like an angel of vengeance, only with no place to go avenging..."
"I hope they find him... Have they found any more bodies?"
"I don't know, but I worry about my daughter... I mean, these were just ordinary girls!"
"Light... I'm locking my door tonight."
"Aye, me as well, and I pity the fool who doesn't and loses wife or child."
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One dockworker to another in the Vargo port:
" Yeah, Ol' Ned said he saw a buncha old barges from Filsan haulin' a whole
mess of them Hazrat soldiers over inta them Li Holleran lands right across
the river. All geared up with their guns and their armor an' everything.."
"Wunner where they're goin'"
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of the Page]
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Pancreator! I thought they might kill each other... that big Brotherhood
warrior and that black lady of death... they wuz ready ta strangle each
other, they were... that lady were not happy with that big man and didn't
seem to be intimidated... he kept callin her stubborn and that she was
making the situation worse an' it had to be, that she hadn't a proper clue
to what was going on... she said that he shoulda died for what he did,
that he betrayed her and tried ta start a war.. it were gettin ugly an'
then that other churchie came in all short'o breath and led the big one
off... An tha' Carnie woman.. By The Pancreator, does she have a wish to
die? It wasn't a week ago that she pissed off that Hazat lady right here
in the agora and she's got the nerve to start up with that Dekydos Spawn
of Gehenne?
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Didcha
hear the noise last night?" "Aye,
ye'd have t'be dead nae t'hear. E'en me ol'e deaf mum asked wha' the
blasted ruckus
was all about." "I saw
them huge bloody tanks...yeah, those...you know, those big Hazat ones....drivin'
through the countryside. They looked like they were
headed somewhere particular too. Not like a standard patrol or anything" "Heh...how'd ye know? Did it have "I'm headed t'location X" painted
on th'side? An' if i'did...when did ye learn how t'read ye brummy git!?" "No, I'm serious. Honest. Those huge monsters...". "An' so wha'? The Li Wossnames have bigger tanks than those Hashi-whatevers
anyway.". "Uh
uh...not like these. These are bigger. Bloody awful I tells ya! An' all
the little
ones were comming along too. An'...I could've sworn
the air around me was alive. Tha' was creepy." "Yer
a halfwit. Livin' air? An' tanks tha' big? Get real." "I'm
TELLIN' ya...I'm bein' honest here. Promise. On me grandmothers grave!" "Nottle,
yer grandmother was eaten by a tusk-beast out Seren's way. She doesn't
HAVE
a grave!" "Oh...erhm...well,
you know what I mean, buggo. Mark my words, somethin' big's gonna happen."
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Indeed,
my lord, I was there. A touching ceremony by Father Marten, joining those
two
lovebirds... Ah, I'd wish that when I find my lord, he's
just as handsome as that Quamar. Lady Sofia is so lucky. The vows were
heartwarming." The lord this
estimable young belle is talking to seems a little impatient. "Yes,
yes. Marriages are sweet, I suppose... But battle? I hear there was battle." He
seems almost eager to hear the story, and most regretful he wasn't there. The lady blushes. "Well, yes. But I will admit, I spent that particular
time under a chair, frightened out of my wits - Demons, the priests said!
Ten of them, the size of houses they must have been!" She's gesturing
wildly and probably exaggerating. The lord raises
an eyebrow. "Ten? The size of houses? Wouldn't that
swamp the boat?" She smiles. "Well,
perhaps two, and perhaps a little smaller. But they were most frightening,
I promise you that. And they destroyed poor
Lady Sofia's wedding..." Nodding, the
lord asks, "But
what -happened-?" "They
destroyed Lady Sofia's wedding! All the guests got up and started fighting
them,
the Lord of Antol with his swords and that prospector with
her knives defending Sofia, one of those Brothers Battle flailing about
with his staff- and that Questing Knight just slashing with some invisible
blade that clove one of those things in twain! Gunfire from soldiers, yells
from nobles, fire - it was all very exciting." The lord seems
frustrated by this remarkably imprecise account. Resignedly, "What
else happened?" The lady brightens. "Well,
then His Grace and another Hazat arrived... The Lady Sofia's father!
They weren't too pleased about the wedding, and
they started fighting - well, discussing heatedly - the matter with the
lady." The lord nods. "I
see." "That's
about when I left... I thought I'd be better off away from three Hazat
- and
three Hazat tempers. Still, the whole event was exciting..."
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Well--that's a strange name for a blade," he muses, and then
as an afterthought, "No...not strange...sad...." The lady replaces the sword to the scabbard and steps forward, apparently
to give it back to the gentleman. Pedro steps away from the door suddenly
and clears his throat, ashamed of himself. He does not catch any further
snatches of conversation, but watches as the two nobles speak a few minutes
longer. The lady offers her hand to the gentleman, which he takes in his
before leading her towards the door. Hastily Pedro scrambles behind the
bar, watching from the corner of his eye as the pair leaves the bar walking
down Cliff Road at a leisurely pace.
[Return to the top
of the Page] The thin
woman who sits besides the man shakes her head and clicks her tongue. "And
you, always looking for evil where there may be none. What makes you
think that ring's from the offworlder? Maybe she finally
saw the error of her ways, what with th' man fooling around with that Battle
and all. 'Guns' indeed..I'll bet I know what gun /she's/ thinking of. Maybe
she finally is settling down with some good honest Vargen." The man,
however, shakes his head darkly, tossing back the rest of his glass and
glaring
at the woman. "Do you tell me what I saw, woman?
I tell you she was shining, sparkling brighter than that diamond she wore.
And who's she been shining for lately but that Musterman, indeed now? You'll
never convince me she wears it for anyone but him." At that,
the woman shivers. "Imagine if it's true..what'll he do,
what'll she do, now? No one will trust her..no one /can/ trust her. He'll
see everyone she sees..he'll know everything she knows. And doesn't she
know.." At this point, she drops into low, worried Vargen, at which
the man nods in return. "They'll all die, all of them fool enough
to trust her." he intones solemnly. "Pancreator have mercy.."
[Return to the top
of the Page] The Eskatonic
Tertiary, a man in his early twenties, lead the auxiliary to a more quiet
spot
of the plaza, peers around a little innocently and
then asks "I have heard that things are happening out in your monastery?" The auxiliary
nods slowly "Yes.." he whispers "They have
locked the monastery, only letting Brothers and Eskatonics enter.. or so
I have heared. I think it has something to do with you Eskatonics.. they
have been running around there a lot lately, and they are always treated
like the most important of peoples" "The Eskatonics!" Tertiary Kevin says surprised "Your
Brothers runs in and out of the Auberge so often that I know many of them
by name. A lot of secret letters and books being carried here and there.
That huge stubborn Brother is there every other day.. he know the library
better then some of the Eskatonic monks!" Marcus hushes "Keep your voice down.." He quickly looks around,
but they are as always being ignored. He continues with a low voice "I
know about letters being sent to the Orthodox too.. and one of our monks
had an important meeting in the Cathederal with some priest and that Lady
Sofia of the Hazat" Kevin blinks
and tilt his head as he searches his memory "I was
right here when that meeting took place.. Brother Elexarpeh met that stubborn
Brother just down the road here" He points up north as he speaks "The
both quickly approached and entered the Cathederal, talking quietly to
each others... it looked like something both secret and important to me.." Kevin
has already started to see the conspiracy, perhaps a side effect of being
close to the Eskatonics all days long. Marcus hmms
silently while he carefully peers around, trying to see if someone is
spying on
them "Perhaps that is the reason why they are
up to something at Enide.. I know that we in the Brotherhood have a close
relation to Lady Sofia" The auxiliary enjoy finding oppurtunities
to say 'we in the Brotherhod' and smiles slightly "Brother Samiloth
was quite irritated when the Claw treated the Lady so bad after that wedding..
furious even.. um.. or so I have heard.." With a nod
Kevin agrees to what he hears "I have heard similar things
among the Eskatonics, it seems like the Lady are very well liked by the
church sects.. Perhaps they are doing some kind of Divine blessing for
her in Enide. I have heard that major theurgy rituals demands privacy and
many priests.. Perhaps they call for an Empyrean guardian or something
like that" Marcus frowns "Um..
I think it is more likely that they bless their weapons and armors. Perhaps
they fear for the Lady's safety.. I have myself
heard that she is truly faithful and that she would be a good example for
other nobles to follow, and you know how fanatic the Brothers are when
protecting such persons.." Kevin nods and peers around nervously, he clearly see how the conspiracy
grows. He takes a deep breath and continues...
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Thinks
he is tough? Whadderya mean thinks? He's got a big mout' an' big guns
to back
'em." "Shaddap. Anyways, he was talkin' to tha' Harli woman. Nice Vargen
ya know? She's all for tha' cause that ain't a cause no more. Anyways,
then he stands up on a chair, then the table 'o' this very cafe. It's dead
night, middle of tha' night an' only a few peoples is listenin'. Well we
all sure listened when we heard a shot fire. Right into the air. Says he
don't care who wants to kill 'im, just get tha' balls to do it. Then he
stands down, looks at tha' nice Vargen gal Harli--" he's cut off again. "Second time ya called 'er nice. Ya thinkin' o' somethin'?" He
grins. Then the man is slapped on the arm. "Shaddap.
So he looks at' her an' says he don't need no handouts. He ain't 'fraid
'o'
nobody." "Can't blame 'im. I hear he kills peoples, ya jus' don't know 'bout
it. He's worse'n a noble, cause he don't gloat 'bout it. Tha'--" it's
a who can cut of who contest. "Listen
Freddie. We all know 'bout 'im. I think she jus' has 'im all riled up.
Nobody
in their right minds'd try to kill a guy tha's like
a snake ya know?"
[Return to the top
of the Page] Really, like whut? Dunno xactly, but evryone seems to be involved in dhis stuff one way or
anodher. I heard dhem talkin bout sume Lt. followin orders for sume secret
mission. Secret mission, like whut? How should I know, its secret remember? Anyways, nothin goodl come o dhis
mind ya.
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[Return to the top
of the Page] One of the orderlies runs towards the new arrival, who is standing, looking
very annoyed at having his midday meal interrupted, at the door. "Physicker, thank the Pancreator.. They've been like this for nearly
an hour now.. We just can't calm them down. Even the stuff we bartered
out of the Scravers doesn't seem to be working on them." His face
is white, his lip trembling, he is too young for this kind of work. With an impressive
stride the medic makes his way down the hall, observing each of the patients
one by one. A bearded face looms towards him from
a restraining bed, his dribble has left yellowing marks on his Oubliette
gown. "They're coming.. Don't you see, doctor, they're coming to get
me! The dragons are traitors and the viziers carry knives behind their
backs.. Poison! Everywhere is poison!" With a distasteful
sniff the physick moves on, to the next bed where a woman thrashes wildly
against her restraints. "33.. 33.." she
shouts. "..33 souls at the gate, and a thousand faces break their
prison!" The physick
has heard enough, turning to an orderly he yells his instructions over
the madness. "Go to my private medical cupboard and remove the
three green jars you will find there, and bring some syringes." The
orderly watches open mouthed, "..But sir.. that stuff is illegal,
if the Church knew we'd used it.." The doctor doesn't wait to hear
the end, "Just bring it, now! I want order in this ward and I want
it NOW!" Turning away he subconsciously bites his lip, hoping to all the angels
of the Empyrean that the orderlies do not notice the hairs at the back
of his neck..
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Well.." the pit boss announces, "..That
one eyed Hazrat was in the Casino, right.. When the Madame comes down
an takes a seat at
a empty gamblin' table.. Before I knew she'd sent someone to call him over." "Aye..
Lookin' for some action was he? Ye know what them Hazreds are like.." "No ye'
daft taffer, she was lookin' for someone to play with.. Ye' know she's
always fiddlin'
with those wierd glowin' cards. They don't come
from no game I've ever seen. Well she had those and she dealt them out
and they played.." "Aye..
and what happened then?" "Well
they played fer a while, and talked, I didn't hear what t'was about,
and then the
Hazrat won! Beat the Madame fair and square! I'm telling
you, she looked like she was about to cry.. Then she pushed this big bag
o' money across the table.. must've been a fortune! Well over a thousand
'birds fer a single game." "Gee..
Perhaps I should visit yer' Casino more often.." "Aye..
but the wierdest thing was his face afterwards, that Hazrat looked like
he'd
just met the Pancreator himself, at least you'd think
it from his face." "Aye..
must be some game.."
[Return to the top
of the Page] "No,
did ya not hear? There was this big battle in the Agora like.. all nobles
and guilders
and such sluggin' away at one another.." "Battle
ye say? Now that sounds like news, what happened then?" "Well
this funny lookin' bloke turned up in the 'Gora and started talkin' this
freaky
shit 'bout darkness and the like.. And then the Baroness
bodyguard, ye know.. well he goes mental and starts tryin' to kill 'is
mistress.. Next thing ya know the funny guy is gone and all these nobles
and stuff are there tryin' to kill this one bodyguard.. I'm telling you..
the Duke was there with all his men, only they all mowed down some innocent
folks too so the Duke went in and took this guy on with his bare hands
in the end.. and that bard was there two.. shootin' with this wee little
gun which didn't do nothin at all, not to mention that other mantis.. the
one with the bleached hair who fancies himself big time.. and the fat girl
who heads up the Scravers too, with this wierd gun which fired bits of
wood around.. Twas like the pancreator himself had come down to Vargo to
and had a bad headache.." "No kiddin'..
sounds like quite a show.." "Aye',
but in the end twas that Musterman wot got him.. put a cap clean through
his
head.. It took them long enough, but they got that bodyguard
in the end."
[Return to the top
of the Page] "So what yer tellin' me," he takes a slight pause to nod to
Karl for another. "Is tha' Porter, the guy who quit drinkin', was
supposedly seen comin' from the Duke's compound, tha' Claw House, an' he
was stinkin' drunk?" "Aye, again, I have to tell yer. Yeah, he was stinkin' drunk. An'
tha' Duke's men loaded 'im into a truck an' sent 'im home. So the truck
brings him up tha' road." By this time, Karl hasn't heard this part
of the story and decided to become interested in what is happening. "An'
so Porter literally falls from the truck to the floor an' they drive off." There's
about to be an interuption, but he puts up a hand, to signal that his story
is almost done. "So then, they hasta carry 'im inta tha' house he
an' Carnait share." There's a tisking sound from the man's mouth. "An'
here's tha' kicker! He only had three glasses 'o' tequila." The bar
seems to just shake their head as a whirlwind of thoguhts emerge in the
form of faceless voices. "No good
troublemaker...."
[Return to the top
of the Page] Lords and Ladies Citizens of Vargo You are cordially invited To a Grand Aragonese Fiesta To celebrate the groundbreaking in construction of the first bullring on Vargo by House Hazat This grand revelry and merrymaking Will take place on 12 October 5001 At Restaurante La Plancha Aragonesa and Bar Tendido Cero Both provender and beverage plentiful shall be offered to all As well as live music and Aragonese folk dancing Courtesy of the proprietress
[Return to the top
of the Page] Man: He just
nods his head. "Heard that the two that actually rule
hav pretty much gone into seclusion. Man: The
man sort of grunts again. "Bah. Well, they are welcome
to stay up there. I doubt anyone will miss them much. I know I won't." Woman: The woman just sortof nods and the two continue with thier regular
duties.
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Yes,
that's right - Porter and Carnait, married in the center of the Agora,
with an Avesti
presiding and the Duke himself giving away the
bride." "What?" "I've
said it once. We all knew it would happen... Still, it was rather sudden.
I was
talking to a fellow who saw it... The whole thing
began when Carnait -tackled- Porter! And then the Duke arrived, and some
priests - an Avesti, an Orthodox, and that Brother Battle woman. Oh, and
his daughter." "I imagine
that'd raise a stir. Pura's not a quiet one, you know." "No,
she isn't... And it did. Still, Porter kept her quiet, well, until some
Mantis lord
pulled a gun. Then she and that detective and the
Brother Battle all pulled their guns... I swear, I thought it was going
to be a firefight. The Decados put his gun down, though, and left. Very
odd." "I'll
say. They -did- get married, though, didn't they?" "Aye,
aye... They did, and it was a beautiful thing. I saw a tear on the Duke's
face, even...
And Porter seemed happy." "That's
an odd enough thing on its own. Still, I suppose it's nice to have something
pleasant happen in the Agora, for once. A welcome break
from all the violence." "Aye."
[Return to the top
of the Page] "You offworlders are all the same," says a Vargen man wearing
a hood. "You skew ya facts, an' make it seem like we is ta' blame..." "Awww stuff it you lazy sons of bitches," says the Muster in
retort. "You jus' can't accept some sorta happiness can ya. You always
seem like ya hate for the sake of hating." "Tha' man has brain washed her!" shouts a Vargen woman from
the rear. "Yeah!" goes the cry of folk to support it. The hooded
man from the front seems to nod. "Now she isn' opposin' you so much,
like we don' have no freakin' leader. He's makin' sure we don'--" Again the
same reply, "Stuff it you morons!" There's an affirmative
nod from the muster that stand behind this roustabout. "You sure are
stupid aren't you. Don't you realize that when you take up arms over a
silly revolution, you get killed and possibly captured? See? Hatin' for
the sake of...." "Says you! We were free!" And before the people can shout out
more, the musterman makes another point. "Free and cold in the winters,
until the Wheel heated your homes in Eastbridge. Free an' homeless, until
the Vargo Civic Guard employed half of its enlistings with happy, working
Vargens. Free an' starvin', until Lord Hawkwood gave wheat an' cargo fro
his stores for nothing at all." The Vargens
stand by to listen, they really can't put up a fight against such easy
logic.
Though some seem to disperse from the crowd, other hardcore
pro-Vargens stay to fight the good fight (well it's a debate). "You
offworlders jus' enslave us wit' yer prices an' yer markets. With yer views
an' yer... yer..." He shakes his head. "We were simple, we didn'
need your goods!" "Yeah!" Goes the agreeing cry from the
back. "I bet Karl agrees wit' me!" "I bet Karl agrees wit' us." Afterall,
the muster as a whole are frequents to this wonderful bar. And all heads
seem to turn to the
smirking bartender who has seen more action than one of Militsa's girls
on a Full Eclipse. The bar is silent as the man addresses the crowd. Karl shrugs
his shoulders. "I seen Carnait do good things wit' her
work. I seen her carry you guys from nothin' to somethin'. You now have
a voice an' tha's most important." The Vargens smirk and agree as
they turn to the muster to show how 'right' they are. "However, I
seen Porter risk his job, his wages an' his life to make sure she's safe
to continue tha' work tha' gets people hurt sometimes." The muster
turn the sneer back to the Vargens. "He's happiest I have ever seen
'im in a long while. She's happiest 'n I have ever seen 'er in ... ever.
The only people not happy is you guys." The man shrugs his shoulders. "So
him an' her is offerin' drinks on 'im tonight." After a lot of silence,
both parties seem to agree that drinks are such an endearing way to settle
a fifty-fifty argument. The Gannock is suddenly a lively place with music
and cheer. They sing Vargen songs, they sing Offworlder songs and everyone
is happy.
[Return to the top
of the Page] Der's alotta that wan'er dead... Nah, nah! Someone jes' got'er big thug dead in the 'gora an' jes tha'
otha night an' she got shot up real bad... well der wuz some ruckus near
tha manor... So? So she comes out wid nearly nuthin' on an goes afta da troublemakers ridin'
one o' dem lyocel beasts! An'? An' she caught up ta one o' dem.. someone yelled sumpthin 'bout a Republic
an' der was a flash and an awful roar... flames shootin ever'where... Bloody... She came back lookin'a mess... she went back up ta tha manner at nearly
a stagger... those Dekydos troops looked mighty worried... ....
[Return to the top
of the Page] The words echo throughout the Gannock as someone comes in from outside,
running. "That
big knight is out in the Agora! He's taking his clothes off!" "What?
What do you mean?" "Come,
look!" The crowd heads out with speed; after all, this is a sight to see. Indeed,
the tale seems true - there's the Questing Knight Artur, standing on a
merchant's table, stripped against the fall morning chill- wearing nothing
but boots and breechclout. As the people filter into the square his voice
booms across the Agora, bass-baritone carrying across the plaza. "My name
is Artur! I am a Courtesan!" As the echo of the words fades, the tall knight's face suddenly gets red
with shame - and then, an instant later, red with anger. Gathering his
clothes in one hand and drawing his pistol in the other, he stalks passed
the crowds and out of the Agora, face set with terrible anger, enough to
send those who look too closely back a few steps in fright. Muttered under
his breath as he leaves, "That bastard will pay." It
may have been a low coment, but there's enough venom in the words to spread
throughout the crowd, quelling laughter and sparking a cascade of worried
looks throughout the spectators.
[Return to the top
of the Page] "You
mean Sir Stripsalot?" "That's
not the point... Word is from the Li Halan servants that the Lord Shiraku's
moving
back into the compound for a stretch..." "A good
thing, too. The place has been empty without him."
[Return to the top
of the Page] "What?" "Well,
that priest out at Penitence met his death he did, and by his own hand.." "Really
now?" "Aye..
I heard twas a demon, when the rest o' the church arrived to take him
away, the
demon spoke to him and made him kill 'imself." "Such
a pity.. I hear his sermons were something to be believed, folk used
to come out
so peaceful, 'twas as if all their cares had been
washed away.." "Strange
thing is, I hear the caves where he died is now haunted.." "Like,
haunted how?" "Well,
there's been rumors 'bout blood appearing on the walls, making funny
shapes..
Maggie went down there to leave flowers, now her legs healed
up.. and she says there was a mark on the wall.. a rose.. a bleeding rose."
[Return to the top
of the Page] The children, huddled on similar logs around the fire, evidently a little
afraid of the dark, nonetheless nod dumbly, their little eyes fixed on
the storyteller, who, with a rakish smile at one of the supervising peasant
mothers, now begins. "Well..
Ye probably wont believe me, since these offworlders ply the oceans and
visit islands
alla the time.. But once one o' the islands
way down South was strange.. it was a place o' nightmares.. but nightmares
which came -true.-" The children huddle closer, still listening, a few of them are going to
be having nightmares of their own tonight. "Well.." the bard continues, "..People
used to avoid that island.. twas haunted by great evils, evils which
would make yer worst
fears real if ever you went there. All the things you were really afraid
of.. like spiders mebe.. or the dark.. If ye went to that island ye'd find
them there waiting for you." A few of the children nod, wide eyed, and keep listening. "Well..
one day, a man who was braver than any o' the others went there, and
though all
his worst nightmares came out to meet him, he dinna'
even flinch.. and so he climbed down into the rocky heart o' that mountain,
where it was said the evil grew strongest and ye'll never guess what he
found there.." The children literally grab hold of one another, they are very young after
all. The storyteller
smiles and scratches his beard, "Well actually..
noone knows quite what he found. He never came back! But that was the day
the nightmares stopped, and people were free to live and work on that island..
Some say he trapped the demons in himself, throwin' away his own soul in
order to stop them.. Either way, theres still somethin' evil 'bout that
place.. somethin' which waits fer a time when it can pounce!" One of the younger children screetches and hurries over to clutch at the
storytellers leg, "Aye.. what is it lad." the
young man says, evidently a little annoyed at having his story interupted. "Please sir.." the little boy sobs, "..Twas
one o' the shadows.. I saw it move!" Before anyone can speak, the recent spell of storms which has rocked Vargo
renews its fury, cutting short this little meeting and ruining one perfectly
good lute in the process.
[Return to the top
of the Page] "There a reason you left me hanging back the-- Oooh." The
man's eyes widen as he looks at the large startship, just another one
of many
that land at the Starport here on Vargo. They both seem to stare at the
large ship and whatever files out. "How many you figure?" The first one says, wiping the sweat
off his brow with his hand, the back of it. "I say a hundred and fifty..." the
man seems to even count on his fingers. "Naw, tha's not that much. I'd say well over two hundred. They all
came like that? Wait there' sa dozen there, then about fifty there, holy
crap man..." he slaps his friend on the back. "Look at 'em all,
they look fresh out of the academies of Bannockburn!" The man seems
to actually widen his eyes, "What the hell's that man up to?" "I dunno man, I really don't, but look at all 'em Musters. I predict
bad times for someone tha's messin' wit' them. There's more than enough
to take out a small noble army, or even take over fieflands, if thye wanted
to. Hell there's more than enough to fight anyone the Muster wants to friggin'
fight... Gannock's gonna be busy tonight, we won't get a seat." Though
he looks down yonder at the Teamster trucks. "Wonder where they are
bein' transported to." "Who cares, if we don't get our work done, we don't get paid, help
me unload this one. Friggin' nobles an' their boxes. This side up?" He
rattles it for no good reason. "Take that..." and both men break
off chuckling and continuing their labours.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This running through the Agora of Vargo and every street from there on
out.
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The nobility of Vargo is abuzz with gossip after a day of fire, battle,
and most importantly wedding bells aboard the good ship Vixen:
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Pedro the barkeep eyes the nobleman as he passes through the bar and out
onto the terrace. Sill polishing the glass in his chubby hands he walks
out from behind the bar over to a window which is his favorite vantage
point. He observes as pleasantries are exchanged between the proprietress
and her guest (or perhaps not so pleasant, by the look on the lady's face).
After a few more words spoken on either side, the nobleman unbuckles the
scabbard and sword from his belt and offers it to the lady. She takes the
scabbard and draws the blade forth, holding it aloft while she says something.
Pedro moves quickly to the doorway and listens intently to catch what she
says.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Did ye see that rock Carnait's wearing now, nice as ye please?" one
Vargen hissed to another over a mug of ale in the Vortex. "Has she no shame,
then, to flaunt her wickedness so?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Eskatonic tertiary and a Brother Battle auxiliary meets as usual on the
Plaza of the Prophet, taking the opportunity of a slow saturday morning
to meet and chat about things. Simply put - to hear some gossip.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"
Right, real quick here Freddie, before we open the merchant stalls, but
this is the scoop. Speakin' 'o' tha' Musterman who thinks he is tough..." the
first merchant is cut off by the second one.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I heard a couple o dhem ngineers talkin dhe odher day. Sumethin bout dheir
Chancellor gettin involved in thangs he shouldnt be gettin involved wit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, there was the tall LI-halan lord in the Agora. YOu know...well, there
was anohter lord, a Mantis...what they call a Decaods. Well, anyway, this
little hazat servant went shopping for something, and these two came right
after her. THe hazat could fight, but barehanded, she was not a match against
these two. The woman....changed. SHe did things that no normal human is
supposed to be able to do, and the man...was shooting lightning out his
hands...or somehting. WEll, anyway the li-halan stps in fornt of the hazat
to protect her, and says they can't do this. They did it anyway, finally
getting past both the lords, and there was a priest there too. He was praying
over the body. But the Li-halan managed to kill the woman assassin. Last
i saw, the VCG was carting the bodies off for study...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Physik Meleth pushes open the swinging double doors that lead into ward
two, wondering what the disturbance must be this time. Around him, harassed
looking orderlies struggle to control patients who are fighting their bonds
and straps with every inch of their deluded lives. The sound of mumbling,
groaning and the occasional revelatory shout fills the close, windowless
room, creating an atmosphere of complete anarchy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An off duty pit boss from the Sovereign State enjoys a break at the Cafe
with his friend, an Engineer Jobtech from sublevel 15. Naturally conversation
concerns the events of the day:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" Madness.. abseloute madness I tell ya."
" What's ye on about now. It ain't more o' those odd shaped vegetables again
is it? Ye' know auntie Dorris damn near had a heart attack last time
you.."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"
Aye, 'e has a terrible voice, but 'e was singing," says one roustabout
to another. "Yer pro'lly gonna ask how I know this, but I heard it
from one 'o' his troops." The man seems to slump over a counter as
he continues with his story. He's smirking, though not the menacing kind,
the surprised and eager kind. Eager to get a story out.
" Well he hasn' drunk in a lon' while...."
" Remember he used ta hang here every day...."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted in the Agora, throughout Vargo City and surrounding fiefs:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two people are talking by a stable in the Agora.
Man: Hm...things seem to be quiet now...especially in the outlying fiefs.
Woman: Yes, no news from any of them. The Li-halan seem especially quiet.
Woman: The woman blinks at that. "Really?"
Man: The man nods. "Yeah, I even heard from on of the servants that the
Lord has preety much been asked why he is not going out. He just replied. "Becuase
there is nothing out there worth my attention, and there is not likely to be." He
affects a mocking air when he repeats it."
Woman: THe woman listens, then giggles. "You shouldn't do that."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" What?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It seems that the Gannock is full of patrons, though once again a small
debate arises from a certain table. No weapons are drawn but on one side
there are a bunch of Muster troops, people that hardly visit the Gannock
as often as the debate personel on the other side, which are Vargens. It
seems that a shouting match has occured and Karl has just tuned in. Afterall,
this is his bar. Wiping a mug without even properly washing it, he smirks
as he listens to what the representatives from each side have to say.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I tells ya! Someone want's 'er dead!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" What the hell??"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" I saw that Li Halan lord - the recluse at Antol - ride back into the city
with the big knight and some Hawkwood lady..."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" Ye hear?.."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"
Well, me little 'uns.." The bard says, tuning his lute as he sits
on one of the logs surrounding a large fire. "..Would ye like t'hear
one o' the oldest tales o' terror on Vargo?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"
Wow...." says one Muster roustabout working at the Starport to another.
He seems to stop working to look at his companion. When his companion is
hit by a crate, he rubs at his head and turns to look at his friend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A lay sister nurse at the Amalthean Hospice chatters excitedly with a fellow
nurse out in the Yard.
"I was doing my rounds and looked in that wretched Hazat lady they brought in yesterday--"
"What?" says the second nurse. "The one they were holding for ransom?"
The first Sister nods. "And Father Basideus came in and talked to her for a few mintues, and then began to pray, one prayer right after another...These rings of white light began to appear, hovering about the lady, linking themselves together...He kept on praying all urgent-like and then suddenly collapsed, and there was blood everywhere. And the rings, they came alive almost, wove themselves together and then engulfed the lady from head to toe like a great cocoon."
The second sister makes the sign of the Jumpcross, eyes wide. "Blessed be the Light. What happened to the Father, is he alright?"
"I don't know," says the first. "I bumped into his wife Sister Mendoza on my out, she was heading that way. I'm sure she took care of him."
The second sister shudders. "A cocoon you say? Pancreator protect me that I never the likes of it myself."
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Two Novices can be heard gossiping as they tidy up the Plaza of the Prophet.
"Hey Athis, did you hear what happened to Father Marten the other day?"
"Marten? That weird priest? They say that him and that Mantis lord..."
"Shhh. That's not what I'm talking about. I saw it with my own eyes Athis. They were talkin' nice as you like, and that Amalthean attacked him!"
Athis looks around and motions for his friend to keep his voice down. "Attacked him? Why?"
"I dunno. Brother Samiloth had to come in and arrest her. Father Marten was screaming somehting about demons and her being possessed."
"This weren't that one Mantis Amalthean were it? They say she's evil and talks to ghosts."
"I dunno about all that, but the good Father needs to take care. First the Claw, now the Mantis. There's not too many more powerful people for him to upset."
A Deacon passes by and sternly admonishes both boys with his staff for gossiping and sends them back to work.
[Return to the top
of the Page] "Don't be a ninny. Her brains was already scrambled." A
House guard chimes in. "That ain't what I heard." The rough customer interrupts, "They
say she's as sharp as they come and only pretends to be crazy so's people
don't suspect what she's really up to." "And what might that be?" The
barmaid smirks. The rough
customer shrugs and wipes beer foam from his mustache, "All
I knows is that she was gone and nobody knew where, and then she was back,
and nobody knows why." "I know where she went and I can guess why she came back." The
House guard grins. "Where was she, then?" The
barmaid asks, curious in spite of herself. "I ain't saying where she went, cause I don't want my tongue cut
out," The guard's solemn expression turns suddenly playful, "But
she came back for a certain Questing Knight." "You
mean that one who stripped...?" There is general laughter and the conversation moves on to other, more
important, topics.
[Return to the top
of the Page] 10.. "Hey!
Charlie! Is this ale gone off, or do ye see that too?" "What'r
ye blabberin about ye drunken foo.. By the holy pancreator an' all 'is
saints! What
in the name o' demons is that!" "I dinna
believe it!.. Look! Look.. tis like fire in the South!" The flashes on the horizon grow in intensity.. not natural lightning,
no.. there is something sickly, something baleful, something.. wrong here. 6.. "..Oh
merciful Pancreator.. May ye send us yer angels to guide us!" The celebration has slowed to a halt, all eyes transfixed by the unholy
storm raging in the south.. and which seems to be growing, changing.. 3.. "Oh Zebulon..
I know I been a sinner! I know I done dirty with Barry's wife an all!
But I ain't ready to die yet.." 1.. And something seems to change all of a sudden, like a violent awakening
or a malevolent fit of fury as a soul is released into the void.. A great
roll of thunder rocks the sky, and with it comes an answer.. a low whispering,
rising from the south, barely audible except to those so attuned. Nonetheless,
children hide behind their mothers.. For some reason, a the terrible feeling
rises amongst the revelers that something just passed overhead, something
evil yet unseen.. speeding on it's way to some unknown and hideous purpose. The storm fades, the clouds settle, and the moment is over.. yet something
is different now, something will always be different, and maybe the sun
doesn't shine so brightly...
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"I heard she was back in the Oubliette havin' her brains scrambled like
a brown egg." The barmaid sets down a tankard of ale before a rough-looking
customer.
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A group of well to do Vargans seem to have taken the liberty of hosting
a small street celebration to welcome the New Year.. As befits such an
event there is dancing, music and drink freely available. However, as the
precious seconds before midnight finally count down something strange seems
to occur.
9..
8..
7..
5..
4..
2..
0...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I tell ye, we're none o' us safe, nowheres!" insists a trembling Vargen
in the Agora. He glances over his shoulder down Prophet's Way, where the spires
of the Cathedral rise, and crosses himself.
"Light! Ye're as white as a sheet!" exclaims a merchant at her stand. "What happened to ye?"
"During the Horos service," the man answers shakily, "Darkness filled up the Orb when Father Danala started communion. When the black light touched a woman, she . . . she . . ."
"What?" presses the merchant, now white herself.
"The woman's flesh melted from her bones, and she started to laugh! She said no one was safe, anywhere, and that the darkness would come for us all!"
The small knot of listeners begin to cross themselves, looking around nervously as if daemons might rise up from Gehenne that very moment to claim their souls.
"That masked priest, he knocked the . . . the thing's head off with a staff, and the other priests a started prayin' and the Light was restored. But still . . . " He shakes his head, then stumbles off across the Agora.
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Overheard between two Vargens at the Grinning Gannock.
"Amazing how those nobles choose to throw their money around."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. When I came through the Agora just now I had to look twice. The monument-shrine-thing to that Amalthean was just covered up in flowers and there were a couple of noble-lookin' types kneeling on the ground, prayin' or somethin'. Looked like whoever it was musta bought out the florist."
"Wonder where they came from in the dead of winter."
"Dunno, just glad it's not -my- bill to pay. I mean I've never seen so many flowers in so many colors in all my life. Looked like somebody had cleared the snow away first to make room."
"Huh. Ya don't say....my wife's birthday is this week, I wonder..."
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"Oh you old fool. Ye surely must be full of tha special cider. Tha offwerlders have done that sort o thing time before. Tis nothing special. Maybe a frying pan to the head will help ye remember?"
"Oh yeah? Must have been a while back. My memory is kind of slipping."
"I wonder if it is some kind o offwerlder holiday or a custom ov theirs. You never know with dem offwerlders. Every day fresh flowers have been there for the past year. Wonder if this Leonie was sumthin special...."
"Well it is their martyr, not ours."
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Chills
in the Cathedral [Tue Nov 26]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A discussion, overheard between two of the flock.)
"Did you hear?"
"Clearly not, mate, because I'm standing here with a confused expression."
"Aye, well then - you need to. Darkness is come again to the city... Some shambling mound of ice invaded Vargo's own Cathedral! Attacked a priest in the nave, it did!"
"A priest?"
"A priest - twas that Marten fellow. He was talking to the big knight and his lady when this mound of snow come in, that's how I heard it. This demon snowman attacked him, it did, and there was a fight... The priest with his staff and some musterman - not seen the fellow about - with some crackling club."
"T'at would've been a sight to see. They won, did they?"
"Sure they did. Those two and that Phoenix knight wailed on the thing for a while until finally the big fella clove it in twain with his glowing sword. He and Father Marten looked awful dark afterwards, though... Seems they was worried about something."
"Of course they was worried - they'd just been attacked!"
"Aye, but it seemed something more... Least, that's what I figure."
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