The scene: Sigil, City of Doors. As usual, it is a foggy, cool evening. As dusk falls, a glamorous figure slips from the Civic Festhall and uses th Plane to go into the southeast corner of the Hive. It is Lady Aruella Maranth, and she enters the Flaming Corpse Bar, gets a glass of wine and goes to sit at a secluded table. She seems to be awaiting someone.

[ 05-12-2002, 10:00 AM: Message edited by: Galadria ]

Skye yawned, then stretched, looking about her blearily. The bar was going slowly tonite. Nothing much of interest. The chestnut haired half-elf glanced up when the woman entered, but then went back to sipping her elven mead.
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OOC- mind if i join? ^_^

OOC>>Welcome, Skye. The more, the merrier.

Pheneftin the Negatai stirred restlessly on his chair in one of the dark corners as he watched the lady enter the bar. He was a Genasi of the Negative Material, a creature spawned from that plane but with a human part, half-elemental so to speak. He had jet black skin, so black, in fact, that it seemed to absorb light. It was also cold to the touch. His short and perfectly black hair was unkempt to make him look less intelligent and civilized than he was, it was always good for an assasin to make his foes underestimate him.

He ignored the few suspicious glances that some of the patrons were giving him, confident in his ability to defend himself with his blade should any of them gather the courage to attack him. He focused his attention on the newly arrived patron again, the lady Aruella Maranth. His mark. He took a sip of his wine as he waited.

(OOC: Pheneftin is "in tune" with death. He's protected against undead and draining attacks yet his affinity for death leaves him slightly weak in resisting it from any natural source. From unnatural sources such as magic he's extra resistant, however. He also has a few other minor abilities.... And disadvantages, for example he only heals half as quickly as the average human.

Negatai or Negative Genasi such as himself are usually distrusted since they have a habit of being assasins or going on killing sprees.)

OOC>> Hi, Neb, welcome!

A figure rises from one of the tables in the back and crosses the room to where the newcommers have seated themselves

As he enters into the the more illuminated areas, his rough appearence becomes obvious. He's wearing a tattered and patched robe that clear has seen better days

"Evening 'Lady' - I heard that tou wanted to see me"

He sits down, while taking a draught from his cup.

OOC: Beorn is a hive thug that due to skill and luck have risen above the average. He has left his gang-life behind and now works mainly as a mercenary. He wears in loose fitting robe that conseals his weapons - punchdaggers which he uses on both hands ( one of them magical) - and his leather jerkin.

The robe does not hinder his fighting abilities - as a matter of fact it a magical robe that confers protection from normal missiles 1/day. Also, he has learned to use it to his advantage, by making attackers hit the robe instead of himself.

JETT MOULDER
(He comes in to the bar, looks cautiously about, spots the Lady at her table with her companions, and stands in front of her. He is human, but rumors of fiend blood follow him persistently. Defensive of this, he wears tight, hip-hugging pants that ostentatiously show his well-formed legs and lack of a tail. He also wears a strange, black breastplate that looks like it was made from an enormous insect.
He is armed with a slender black club that glistens with a strange substance that has dried upon it.) "Evening, milady. Word has come that you are seeking bravos to do a deed."

Khaz`Djir, a dark elven wizard entered the bar. he was in a black robe that was covered with runes and a shining dark red skullstaff. he had black skin, as all drow elves, long silver hair and green eyes. he could barely stand up because of many serious wounds that were on his body. he said:"please.. cast a heal spell on me..!"
he was bleeding badly but nobody knew why or how.

--------------------------

Khaz`Djir is a dark elven madman who left his home in Underdark when he was 11 yrs old to learn about races and cultues more. when he got to the surface, a band of humans spotted Khaz`Djin. they took him to a city and tortured him. this confused Khaz`Djin because he didnt know anything about the relationship between humans and dark elves. later, he escaped the city before the humans could kill him. since then, he had a personal hatred to humans, he tortured and killed them for ages. ask him if you wanna know how he got to Sigil [img]tongue.gif[/img] .
hi, galadria! ill pm the stats and stuff to you..

A patron who had previously hidden himself away in a darkened corner to read a mysterious tome looked up seeing the dark elf, such things would not normally have disturbed the Githzerai warrior-mage but there was something about this drow that begged for an answer. Rising to his feet the emaciated looking man walked towards the drow and applied a salve to the largest of the visible wounds.

I am Kaz'erthimon Von'shaernov Githzerai warrior, who did this to you and why?

OOC: hope you don't mind me joining

{edit to remove sig}

[ 05-10-2002, 11:25 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

ARUELLA(She smiles at all present, rather vaguely, looks meaningfully at Jett, and goes over to the Drow. She focusses on him and he is suddenly surrounded by a halo of light, his wounds mostly vanish)(She then turns to all who have gathered and says) "Yes I have need of some bashers and bloods. Someone broke into my home in Bytopia and stole my essence. I kept it in a jar in my father's vault, and now it is gone. Now, all life is gray, and I can take no pleasure in parties or similar foofaraws. I simply must get my essence back, and a priest that I consulted told me that the thief, whoever it might be, has fled to the Beastlands. There will be rich reward to any who accompany me on the quest, Is anyone here interested?"

Beorn

Well - I normally don't work outside of Sigil. So before we go any further I would like to know just how 'rich' your 'rich reward really is.

Pheneftin stands up, "I'd love to join your quest, noble lady, whatever the reward might be." What a perfect chance it was to get close to his mark and follow her till it was time to strike! "It shall be interesting to venture into the Beastlands, I've always wanted to see that place." Actually he couldn't think of any place that he'd rather avoid, not counting the lower planes of course, but showing a bit of false interest might buy him some trust....

Khaz`Djir went to sit on a chair. there was no smile on his face. then he waited for a few seconds and started talking:"Thanks for the assistance. i am called Khaz`Djir and i come from the Prime Material plane. before i got here, i was destroying a pathetic human castle. then, suddenly, a pack of human warriors ambushed me. i got wounded and tried to retreat. they had closed the gates. i went into the kings quarters as fast as i could, then disposed of the king to make an important step in winning the drow and human war before my death. i then found out that the king tried to escape by using a portal that leads here. i went through it, and so i teleported infront of this.. tavern. damn, i wished i`d get some place, where humans are toys for the true races! do not think im evil because humans disgust me. they have tortured me for more than ten years, what would they expect they`d get in return!? one day.. one day, ill go back there and finish what was started!" He starts evilly laughing "but that will happen after hundreds of years, when i get my own plane and my own demons.."
he stops laughing, looks around, goes to Aruella and says:"you, human!" *sniffs* " oh.. you arent fully human, what are you? that is the reason why ill let you live. i shall accept your deal, woman. i can provide you with powerful spells.."

ARUELLA "The reward will be rich enough." (She gestures and a prtal opens, dumping a sack on the table.) "I am Lady Aruella Maranth, ans my father is Duke Jagkan Maranth."
Note: Duke Jagkan Maranth of the City of Sparkling Gems, had just established his first mine when Aruella was born. In the first years of her childhood, Jagkan and his wife Ratha travelled the Great Ring to solve problems, make contacts and (rarely) battle against nasty rivals in the Lower Planes, with Aruella and her sister Shinita, who is two years Aruella's senior, accompanying them.

As Aruella grew, she was infused with the values of truth and trust, ideals her parent's held highly. In watching the experiences of her father, she learned that even Celestials and the gods of goodness didn't always do what she considered right, and so she developed an attitude of tolerance towards the many alignments present in the Great Ring, while remaining intolerant towards deceit and tyranny.

As time passed, her father's business grew and flourished, but due to the nature and demands of his chosen industry, he was forced to leave Bytopia for Sigil, the nexus of the planes. While he still owns the land in Bytopia from which his title of 'Duke' is bestowed, he currently resides in the Lady's Ward the majority of the time.

Once settled in Sigil, her father began attending an ever-increasing number of high-class social events, quite often taking his daughters with him. Aruella quickly became excited by the rich and powerful people that she rubbed shoulders with, and loved being around them. Not only were they very fascinating, but they all seemed to appreciate and observe a good measure of style - something Aruella considers extremely important.

With her gracious and tolerant attitude, Aruella's presence was requested at nearly every exclusive social event, even those for which her father remained uninvited. Slowly, social events became the center of her life, and she virtually dived into the high society of the Lady's Ward, indirectly furthering her father's position amidst their ranks. While she was content with the whirling parties of the socialites during her youth, she has become restless in the recent years, and now grows tired of the frivolous merrymaking and light-hearted conversations. To this end she has begun to search for something beyond all that, she has started looking for a purpose.

On the day of her twenty-first birthday, she crossed paths with the infamous tiefling planewalker Ashenbach, who introduced her to his magrag, The Lady's Sharper Eye. The next day, she wrote her first article, and with the addition of a number of notable pieces, she is now considered an official culler for the publication. And with this newfound popularity she has found herself a purpose.

"I shall join your quest, fair maiden, I'm sure my skills shall prove invaluable to you, and all I ask is first choice of any scrolls of magic, or histories of my people that we may encounter along the way. the tall Githzerai said, his pale and gaunt face reflecting the low candlelight of the tavern his clothes were merely functional, simple flowing garments that would neither protect nor hinder his spellcasting. the only other thing of note on the gith was a sword across his back, a katana made from baatezu green steel enchanted by
a swordsmith known throughout the planes as Masamune. the markings proclaimed the sword to be from no other maker, and any who would try and steal such a blade would normally find themselves greatly outmatched by the skill of the wielder.(rather like the distinction a heron-marked blade causes in Wheel of Time, only the best of the best have earned them)

{editted to remove sig}

[ 05-10-2002, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

Skye slowly sauntered over, an interested gleam sparkling in her peculiar amethyst-hazel coloured eyes. After sparing a fascinated glance towards Jett's pants and Pheneftin's hair, she spoke. "I'd be glad to join. I don't care much about the reward, even though I'm still interested in what it is. I'm mostly in it for the fun." She grinned at all the adventurers, then took a seat at Aruella's table.

The door opens, and a new figure walks into the bar. He's dressed in a pitch-black robe that seems to draw in the light, except for small, shining points of light that fly across it every so often. He wears his hood, shrouding his face in darkness, and his boots, what is seen of them, are made of black leather. He wears black leather gloves as well, and a black belt, to which are attached a number of pouches of varying sizes. He holds a staff in his right hand, made of some form of black wood with what seems like it might be writing set into it in a silvery-blue metal going from the top of the staff to the bottom in a thin line, and an orb sits at the staff's tip, held by claws fashioned of a dark metal and seeming to absorb light. The bottom of the staff is set with a cap made of dark metal, some form of writing seeming to have been engraved into it. He looks around himself at the others in the bar, his gaze coming to rest on Aruella. Walking toward her, he says, "I heard what you said of this business of yours. As I would be interested in partaking of this reward you are offering, have you still need of more to accompany you?" His voice seems cold, the words measured, precise, although a sound almost too quiet to hear follows his speaking, reminiscent of wind whistling through caverns or crypts. He stands, awaiting an answer.

OOC: [img]smile.gif[/img] Hope you don't mind more of us exploding cheerful people joining [img]smile.gif[/img] *cackle* Hmm... around what levels are you planning to set this up for?

*Ilakt appears*
Ilakt is..... a lich that is of 10th level. And during life he also picked up psionics up when he was more fleshy. His level for this is 9, and used a Plane Shift Spell to come here. I know this is uber, but Neb is some sort of shadow thing from a plane I have never heard of....... so can I keep Ilakt or is my char isnt up to the legal standards of your Lake Of Characters... galadria?

Tiamat... Neb's not uber. The Plane of Negative Energy... think of it as the Plane of Level Drainy-ness. Etc. Neb's a Genasi, meaning he's half-human, half elemental. he's half Negative Energy elemental (well, elemental isn't quite the right wqord, but close enough). That doesn't mean the character is uber... it's like humans, tieflings, elves, aasimar... it gives bonuses and penalites. But unless Neb decided to make the character uber in some other way (as in, making him extremely high level, etc), simply ebing of that race wouldn't do it. *shrug* Now, I shall commence running away from the mafia people who are chasing me. Cheery! [img]smile.gif[/img]

(OOC: Quite correct, Encard, my character has some nice advantages but healing spells only have half effect on him. He heals slowly, and he lacks endurance. Besides that there's also the fact that almost noone will trust him since a lot of the Negatai(Negative Material Genasi) that come to Sigil decide to "recreate the atmosphere of home"(Death) by killing everything living they come across.)

The new arrival, the one in the black clothes, made Pheneftin smile. This fellow reminded him of his home plane. "Hail, dark one, may I enquire as to your name? You remind me of the Negative Material. Cold and dark, sharp and precise. I feel not a taint of evil to you, but a taint of death."

(OOC: And Tiamat, your character is uber. Even so he probably wouldn't live for long. Sigil is patrolled by a few factions severely intent on upholding the law and liches aren't really creatures that are known for being nice and law-abiding. Expect to be slaughtered soon by Harmonium and Mercykiller guards as soon as you arrive in Sigil. If you're a lich.)

[ 05-10-2002, 01:50 AM: Message edited by: Neb ]

OOC>> Encard, happy to have you with us, if "happy" is the right word, [img]smile.gif[/img] , but no sigs on this thread, please. Tiamat, Neb is right. And, NOubering on my thread. I am the DM and have been known to inflict long, painful wasting illnesses on people who don't behave themselves. ;)

[ 05-10-2002, 08:37 AM: Message edited by: Galadria ]

JETT "Aye, milady, I shall accompany you. I would at any rate, for the chant about you is that you're a fair paymaster. But I am beholden to you about that other matter, and would come anyway."

(OOC: Just a quick question, how "free" is this RP? Will Galadria be the DM and decide every twist and turn of the story or may we occasionally come up with something ourselves? I've recently acquired a link to site with some.... Interesting, planar creatures and personas. They might be "fun" to encounter.... On a side note I also found Lady Aruella Maranth there. It's www.planewalker.com , tons of Planescape-y goodness :D )

OOC>> Of course you may impovise, Nebby. I just wanted to makeit clear that this will be a straight game and NO UBERING Yeah, she's a pre-made character. I read about her and tried to come up with an adventure for her, and this is it. But feel free. This is not gonna be one of those "You see three white sacks. Do you want to examine them?" RP's.

The figure turns to Pheneftin and makes a slight bow, acknowledging the greeting. "Greetings to you. I am Encard. The Negative Material... interesting... And who would you be, if I may so ask?"

OOC: Sorry about saying Negative ENergy instead of Negative Material in my earlier post to Tiamat, Neb. Hmm... Galadria, around what level are you thinking to base this? I wouldn't want to be casting Horrid Wilting if it's around level 7, or only Magic Missile if it's around level 15... *shrug* Or is it sort of just a general loose thing?

Khaz`Djir got angry. "No more small talk! let us proceed with whatever is to come! but first, answer this: What shall we encounter in our journeys?"

----------------

Btw, my chars alignment is Neutural Evil, if you allow evil characters. eh, galadria [img]smile.gif[/img] ?

"I am Pheneftin, a Negatai, a Genasi of the Negative Material. I am a mercenary, though I join this quest to help, not to be rewarded. What, if you do not mind me asking, is your profession? And what race are you? You look like a Nightauril....."

(OOC: Nightauril are the natives of the Plane of Shadow. They're average warriors and excellent mages. Usually neutral. They're also lizards though their heavy robes almost always hide their forms. Almost all of them are Fighter/Mages.)

OOC>> Encard, it's going to be about level 7 to start, but it won't be all that important.

Skye gave a bored yawn, and stretched uncomfortably in her chair. "Yes, what should we be prepared to undertake on this quest? I want to make sure I have everything put in order that I will need." Jumping up from her chair energetically, she strode over to the bar while explaining appologetically that she was hungry, having not eaten since yesterday.
OOC- um, when are we going to get started? I'm sure we can discuss characters while on the road. ^_^;;

There is a pause, then Encard responds, "I am a Necromancer. My race I would prefer to not say as of yet."

[ 05-11-2002, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: Encard ]

to Encard A necromancer? Kaz'erthimon spits, it is a rare example of your kind that do anything but cause trouble for the rest of the planes, and meddling with deadders isn't wise in any case.

[ 05-11-2002, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

Beorn

(to Kaz'erthimon) "You're right about that"

Pheneftin laughs, "Afraid of the boogeyman? Scared of the dead? Hah! I hail from where the undead roam as do the living in Sigil. Cowards." Then he shifts his attention back to Encard, "Hide your race if you must. I make no such attempt as it is plain to see that I am a Negatai." He grins at Kaz'erthimon and Beorn, "Do you shiver at the mention of us as well?" Then he laughs, "Come Encard, let me buy you a drink while we wait for these fools to finish shaking!"

Encard directs a cold laugh at Kaz'erthimon and Beorn, then his hood moves up and down slightly as he apparently nods to Pheneftin and says, "My thanks. That would be good."

[ 05-11-2002, 07:56 PM: Message edited by: Encard ]

Pheneftin heads to the bar and returns with two mugs of ale, "I assumed that you drink this." Then hands one of the mugs to Encard.

Fine. I will be a Yuanti Half Blood with no legs, a snakes head and black scales... and blood red eyes........ I am a sorceror, and my name is Y'Zak. I also have humanoid arms tho.

OOC>> Please, everyone, no sigs. IC:
ARUELLA "All right, there is a thousand copper commns worth of gold ineach of these bags that I now give you. Eqiup yourselves, rest, what you will. I am setting a portal, here. When you are ready, step through the portal, which will take us to the Beastlands. Be alert, for there is danger." (She steps through the portal.)

JETT (He sweeps his bag into a hidden pocket and steps through the portal)

Pheneftin finishes his ale, grabs the pouch of coins and leaps through the portal.

Y'Zak cackles and follows Phenbin (sp?)