Bridgewater

by lawow74

Thrown into a world beyond her experience, a young woman struggles to survive the strange and fantastic things there in hopes of finding a way back. How will she do it? Well, being a Troll helps... Bridgewater is a solo RP log/story in my own vision of the D&D universe, adapted from sources along its product timeline.

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Seas of Silver

She was drifting far above the land, watching the green hills and woods roll by. Rivers strung upon the land like ribbons, with other light-colored bands and patches showing bare earth or different-colored vegetation. It was quite pleasant to look up, actually. But then the view began to slow, and she saw movement. People?

Here and there, it looked like groups of them, moving in a coordinated fashion. And ahead, another large group, moving like a stream of water flowing against the contours of the land. Soon they met, the large group swarming around the smaller groups.

The large group seemed to be wicking away at the smaller groups, reducing them. She realized she was seeing, from far above, a battle of some kind. The large group was losing some numbers too, but it didn't seem it was as fast. But then, from the sides, new groups arrived, drawing at the large group.

The large group began to split, trying to spread itself, as the smaller groups drew apart, separating the large group further. Then, as their individual groups began to break free of the swarming enemy, coming together themselves to reduce the numbers of the once-large group all the faster. Before long, the large group was all but gone.

A handful of them were streaming away, fleeing the battle, and the many smaller groups came together and milled about as one. Victory was theirs. It was then her view shifted, and she saw standing there a regal if stern-looking dark-haired woman, wearing bright red plate armor, hands resting on a sword tipped to the ground.

She said, "There is no foe too great that a sound strategy and proper execution cannot overcome."

Valerie awoke, feeling her body burning with the sensation of now-familiar growth spurts. Energy surged in her as she sat up, groaned. "You'd think these gods or whatever would-"

Thump, thump.

She stopped, feeling the sensation of movement, down inside her body, there in her stomach. She looked down, and saw the curve had grown since last night. For whatever reason, her growth seemed to have spurred her pregnancy forward. And-

Thump, thump, thump.

"Holy shit." she breathed, rubbing her hand tentatively against her stomach in wonder. That was...him. Or her. Her baby, moving inside her. She sat there, mind spinning to process that. Being told she was pregnant was one thing. Feeling that growth in her midsection another. But this...there was no more definitive proof of life she'd been given.

Thump, thump.

It was at once exhilarating and terrifying to consider, to feel and to know. She was going to be a mother. She sat there for several minutes. She had to find out more about this. How far along was she? Did she give birth like a human does? What do baby trolls need? Unless someone around here was an expert, she'd need to find one.

And to do that, she imagined she was going to need money. Rising from her bunk, she looked around, and frowned. But first she really needed to wash. Where was she gonna get some water? Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Come in." she said.

The door opened, and Paevo stuck his snout in, "Good day. I was hoping-" he stopped, and peered more closely at her. "Did you just get bigger again?"

Valerie nodded, and pointed to her midsection. "And bigger."

The kobold came in, peering up at her, and especially her stomach. "Well, so you did."

Valerie gave a smile, cradled it. "I felt it moving for the first time. My baby."

Paevo shuddered, "Ugh, you scaleless ones! How can you stand to feel your young squirming around like that? When you could lay nice neat eggs instead of having them come out of you covered in..." he made an expression of disgust, and a hissing spat. His behavior was so unexpectedly fussy, Valerie had to laugh.

"I guess when you put it that way, it is kinda messy and gross." she allowed. She didn't dare question how female kobolds' egg-laying went, instead said "Where can I get some hot water? I wanna wash up, it's been days..."

Paevo sniffed, "I noticed. I considered wiping you down with Prestidigitation before we got back, but..." he shrugged. "Anyway, you can get some from the mess, or I could just magic it away, my spell's still active from where I used it earlier."

Valerie said, "Would you? I'd appreciate that. But that's not why you came around."

Paevo gestured at her, and she felt it, that mystic force moving over her, stripping away the grime and grue that had built up during their excursion - adventure, she supposed - to rescue those Nomads. "No, I came to talk with you about shares of the bounty from our trip. I know Cedric and I didn't contribute to the fight directly, but we feel some sort of reward is in order."

Valerie nodded, sighing as she felt progressively cleaner. "Okay, what did you have in mind?"

Paevo said, "A full share split between us."

Valerie asked, "You mean, half of a half to each of you?" Paevo nodded. Valerie said, "So that'd mean I get three thousand, and you each get..."

"Fifteen hundred."

Valerie considered it. It had made it easy on her for them to scout out the giants and use their magic to drop her in on top of them. Just as she'd given Yena, or was going to give Yena, a half share for her own scouting work with the orc company. "Yeah, that sounds fair." she agreed.

Paevo gave a bright smile, "Good, I'll let him know. You still have the money?"

Valerie nodded, "Over there in that backpack." she pointed.

Paevo finished cleansing her, and said "Tell you what, I'll even throw in a cleansing of your gear, free of charge."

Valerie snorted, "Such a generous offer." she said dryly, but she was grateful for his magical aid in these mundane chores.

"I know. That's us kobolds, small of stature, but giant of heart." He opened the pack, counted out six of the trade bars, then worked his spell to cleanse her equipment as well. "Nice working with you, and congratulations on your baby's..." he made a face. "Yeah." and collected the bars before leaving her.

As she left herself to attend breakfast, it reminded her she needed to sort out what she could get for all the armor and weapons she and Yena had looted from the orcs. And probably not a bad idea to ask about the value of the Ogre axe she'd also taken a while back.

She figured she would keep the mail she'd taken, it was handy for times when her primal fury wasn't bolstering her toughness. That again reminded her of Comar's comments about her skin, and her not being an ordinary troll. "Ah, my schedule just keeps filling up." she joked to herself.

Once she'd queued up and gathered her meal, settled in to eat, Yena came around. She too tilted her head with curiosity in that doglike fashion as she asked, "Did you get bigger?" Valerie smiled, "Yes, and so has the little one. He - or she - is moving around."

Yena gave a delighted grin, "Oh, you feel your pup inside you! I remember first feeling that..." she mused, a bittersweet recollection. Several moments passed in reverie, then she said "I have the appraisal from the quartermaster. All that needs be done is us signing off on it."

Valerie nodded, "How much did it come to?"

"Well, after fees for their handling, identifying the magical items...thirty-two thousand gold."

Valerie nearly spit her porridge across the table. "Thirty-two...THOUSAND?!"

Yena nodded, "I told you it would be a nice payday."

Valerie choked down her mouthful, "Yeah, I'd say so! Shit...I thought getting three thousand for that rescue job was a lot!"

"Oh, did you? That's pretty good for contract pay. Usually it's more about shares of plunder."

Valerie nodded, "Yeah, I'm seeing that...so how much does that make your end?"

"Eight thousand."

"Which leaves...twenty-four for me." Valerie grinned, "Yeah, that's gonna help a lot."

Yena smiled, "You should think about investing some in equipment. It can make a big difference out there."

Valerie shrugged, "I've done pretty good so far without anything special. This has been handy..." she brushed at her armor, "but outside of some spears, I haven't needed much else."

"Well, you are a troll. And I'm guessing you haven't had to deal much with spellcasters."

"There was one among the giants. She was kind of annoying, but about all she did was slow me down some, toss some hail on top of me. The Winter Wolves were worse, breathing all that freezing mist shit."

"You'll have to tell me about that later. But there are all manner of foes out there who can be difficult to harm without enchanted weaponry, or weapons made from the right substances. Even aligned to proper forces."

Valerie considered that, "But the problem is I don't use much in the way of weapons. Throwing spears, that's all."

"There are items for enhancing your natural weapons. Ask Comar, I think he has one."

"Yeah, I will. Need to talk to him anyway." She said, "We'll go when I'm done, okay?"

Yena nodded and moved away, letting Valerie finish her meal. Once she was done, the pair made their way to the quartermaster, where the documents detailing the items and their values were shown. Valerie saw that all their armor and around half the axes they'd used were enchanted, which seemed to explain why it was so much.

Once she and Yena both signed the documents for the transaction, the quartermaster asked, "Who d'you want your writ with?"

Yena said, "Lenders."

Valerie said, "Writ?"

The quartermaster signed, and said in slightly tired and condescending fashion, "Writ of credit. I can issue one from the company itself, or from the Moneylenders' Guild in Sigil."

It took Valerie a moment to realize he was talking about what she knew of as a check. To her mind, that was what old people who didn't understand how to use technology(or were just being stubborn)used. They took forever to write, and she always got tired of waiting when she got caught behind some doddering granny lady at the store.

"I'm guessin' you don't have an account with the Moneylenders. I'll make it out from the company. You'll have to take it to the quartermaster's office at the Main Hall in Sigil." He wrote out the document, stamped it, rolled it and handed it to her, then filled in a much smaller note for Yena, stamped it. "Now don't eat it or lose it or anything." he told Valerie.

She frowned at being talked to like she was mentally defective, "Yeah, I'll have to strain myself, but I'll manage." she groused. He just fixed her with a decidedly unimpressed look and went away with the paperwork. Yena tucked her note away and gave Valerie a pat on the arm.

"Don't mind him, I think they hire people like that on purpose for this job." said the gnoll.

Valerie grunted, "My dad used to say 'When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.' " Yena's confused look made her fight not to laugh at how adorably doglike the gnoll seemed in that moment. "Yeah, that's about what I said the first time. He said when you deal with the same problem over and over and over, you start assuming everyone with that problem has the same cause."

Yena nodded slowly, "I see what you mean." She shrugged, "I have what I came for, that's good enough." She left, and Valerie followed.

"So I guess if I take this to Sigil they'll pay me in cash? Or coin, whatever?" Valerie asked.

Yena nodded, "Trade bars, probably. Though if you're gonna do business out on the planes with the Brotherhood, it's smart to get an account. Anyone can create one for savings, but you have to register as a citizen of Sigil if you want to be able to issue a writ to others."

Valerie nodded, "So the Moneylenders wouldn't give me coin without one?"

"They would, but without an account, they take a percentage for themselves."

Valerie made a face, "Okay, I see. Thanks."

Yena smiled, "Of course."

Valerie snapped her fingers, "Oh! I have an axe I wanna sell, too. Can I just do that here?"

"Sure, take it to the quartermaster, same as the rest of the stuff we brought."

Valerie nodded, and waved as Yena did likewise, going about her own business. Not wanting to deal with the officious creep of a quartermaster again so soon, she instead went looking for Comar. After asking a couple of brethren, she was pointed in the direction of the courtyard.

There under the cloudy morning sky she saw the troll, sparring with his sword against...another extremely strange being. If the Thri-Kreen were mantisfolk, this thing must've been some kind of beetle-creature, though its posture at times reminded her more of a gorilla. It was around eight feet tall, but was much wider in build, with massive forearms and powerful claws, as well as a huge pair of pincers to the sides of its mouth.

Its chitinous form was a bronze color, with a large rounded head and antennae rising from the sides. Strangely, it was wearing a blindfold over what she suspected were large compound eyes, as well as a loose pale yellow jacket that reminded her of something from a martial-arts movie. It moved about slowly, staying low and forward, but there was a calculated awareness about it.

Comar came in with his greatsword, and the buglike being dodged it nimbly, sweeping low with one arm, trying to trip him up. Comar dodged aside, came in, and the bug blocked the blow and thrust one massive hand forward. Not with its claws, but as a fist. It slammed into Comar's gut, and the troll grunted, nodding to his opponent. The two continued exchanging strikes for a minute or two before Comar noticed Valerie there.

"Hold up, Jak!" he said, slinging the blade onto his shoulder. The buglike being stopped, and Comar called, "Morning!" Valerie waved and approached. As she drew near, the buglike being turned towards her, looking right in her direction. Comar sized her up and said, "Still growing, huh?"

Valerie nodded, "Yeah. Almost as big as you, now."

Comar gave a snaggle-toothed grin. "In some ways. Bigger in others." He peered at her stomach, "That grew too?"

"Yeah, I don't get why."

Comar shrugged, "Never seen a female who was still growing and pregnant."

"So this is normal? Growing in spurts?"

Comar waved a hand, "Oh, sure. We trolls grow steady to a point, then it kinda jumps around until we're full-sized. You're prolly almost done." He then looked at the buglike being, "This is Valerie, by the way. New associate. She went on that giant-killing job we just had."

The buglike being regarded her, then spoke in a deep, rumbling, buzzing voice that reminded Valerie of someone using a microphone on a bass amp with too much feedback. "Greetings, Valerie. I am Blind Jak, one of The Claw and the Brotherhood."

Valerie nodded, surprised to hear it speak, "Yeah, nice to meet you."

Comar grinned, "Never met an Umber Hulk, huh? You usually don't see 'em around like this. But ole Jak's an odd one, same as the rest of us. He's not really blind, by the way. He just wears that cos it's easier on him and the rest of us."

Jak said, "Correct. Restraining my gaze for too long makes my head hurt. My other senses are keen enough. Still, I would like to see you. Do not be alarmed."

Valerie felt apprehensive at that warning, but she held fast as the Umber Hulk reached up to move his blindfold aside. She saw then the large, compound eyes, and something about them, the way they caught the light, like a thin slick of oil in the light, reflecting colors, it made her feel light-headed, woozy...

Then he replaced the blindfold, and the sensations vanished. She shook her head, "What was that?!"

Jak explained, "My kind project a magical effect from their eyes which causes great confusion in other beings. It can be very helpful in hunting prey, but it means our dealings with other races are often difficult. I have learned through much practice to restrain it, but even so, some effect is still felt." To Comar he said, "She reminds me of Varrok."

Comar nodded, "Yeah, I think she's one of his kind."

Valerie said, "Who's that, and what kind do you mean?"

"He's one of the founders of the Brotherhood. He used to be a regular old troll like me, but the Legion captured him, turned him into a War Troll, tried to use him against the others."

Valerie frowned, "What's the difference?"

"Stronger, tougher, smarter, more human-like."

Valerie nodded, "I thought it was cos I was female."

Comar shook his head, "Nah, all War Trolls look like you, pretty much. Dunno why. Guess it has to do with however that ritual works. It's like an Ironskin spell, I think. That's why some call 'em Ironskin trolls. Others call 'em Adamantine trolls, cos of their claws, teeth and skin."

Valerie nodded, "I see. Is that why I can bite through metal and carve stone like it was dirt?"

"Sure is. Adamantine's so sharp and hard it goes through most anything."

"Huh." she digested that, then said "Sorry to interrupt your sparring."

Comar waved a dismissive hand, "We were about done anyway."

"Yes," interjected Jak. "I was about to win."

Comar snorted by way of reply, "Did you need something?" he asked Valerie.

She nodded, "You already answered my first question, about myself. Yena said something to me about magic items that enhance my claws and teeth, and that you had one."

Comar nodded, "Yeah, one of these." He reached under his shirt, pulled out a necklace strung with bits of bone, and what looked like teeth and claws. "Called an Amulet of Natural Attacks. They can enchant 'em and it'll work with all your natural weapons."

Jak raised his head, showing that around his own neck there was one like it. "They are very useful to all kinds of unarmed fighters, not merely we savage folk." he added.

Comar nodded, "If you want a good one, make sure it has an Adaptation enchantment on it. That helps when you run up against something that's resistant not just to nonmagical weapons, but anything that's not silver, or cold iron, or aligned..."

Jak added, "Or adamantine."

Valerie nodded thoughtfully, "How much does that cost?"

Comar said, "All told, you'd be out...somewhere between eighteen and nineteen thousand gold."

Valerie balked, "That's like two-thirds of my money!"

Comar shrugged, "What good's money when you're dead cos you weren't prepared to fight what just jumped you?"

Valerie frowned, but had no good retort to that. "I've got other stuff I need to worry about first. I wanna find out more about being a mother troll, and I need to get going on finding a way home."

Comar said, "Well, I might be able to help some with the first. The other, you're gonna need to go to Sigil. Ask Anrenay to write you a travel pass." He walked over to a nearby water barrel, took up the dipper hanging on a nail to the side, had a drink.

Jak said, "I have digging to do. Good day, Comar. It was nice to meet you, Valerie." He lumbered away.

"Digging?" asked Valerie.

"Yeah, Umber Hulks spend most of their time underground. He can go through rock and soil like a whole gang of miners wish they could. Mighty handy when you wanna break in somewhere and the front, back and side ways are all too well-guarded." explained Comar. "But enough about that. What d'you wanna know about troll mothers?"

Valerie scratched at her head, feeling a little weird talking about it, but said "Well, how long does it take, usually? And, do we give birth like humans do? And, what do baby trolls need?"

"Around a year. Far's I know, it's like humans and other races what don't lay eggs. You just...push 'em out of you when it's time. I never stuck around to see. I like my parts where they're at." He considered his reply, then said "Baby trolls just need food and water, like all babies. At first they got no teeth, so they need your milk. But once they grow in they can eat whatever you toss their way."

The idea of giving milk was very odd, especially after going so long with no real breasts to speak of. "How long does it take for their teeth to grow in?"

"Couple weeks."

Valerie raised her brows, "That's it?"

Comar grinned, "Ain't you realized? There's three things trolls do really well. The first is heal. The second is kill. And the third is eat."

"How long until...we're full-grown?"

Comar shrugged, "Ten years or so."

"What's it like, you know? Growing up?"

Comar frowned, "Rough. All we do is hunt for food, kill our food, eat our food. And pretty much anything alive is food. Sometimes, we might play with our food. And sometimes, when we can't find food...we become food."

Valerie grimaced to hear that, shivering as she remembered that monster tormenting her, eating parts of her.

Comar looked at her strangely, but didn't ask. Instead he said, "It's just part of troll life. You eat or you're eaten. Once you're big enough to stop the others, you're grown up."

Valerie shook her head, "That's...so horrible."

Comar nodded, "It is. It's why I left when I found somethin' better. But like Varrok told me once, it's why we're so fearless in a fight. It's cos outside of gettin' burnt up, there's nothin' other folk can do to us we ain't already done to one another hundreds of times."

Valerie had only one reply to that. "Not for my baby."

Comar grunted noncommittally, and went around to a small armory, leaving the sword there. "I got work I should do. Worst thing about bein' in charge, everyone expects you to do all the work they don't wanna deal with." He sighed, and gave Valerie a wave. "See ya. Have a nice trip, if you're headed out to Sigil soon."

Valerie gave one in return, and after looking around the courtyard returned inside the halls, seeking out Anrenay. When she found his office, knocked, he called "Enter!" When she did, she saw he wasn't alone. There on his disk was a little winged lizard-being. A dragon of some kind?

It had rusty-red scales, dark curved horns, and what looked like a stinger on its tail. Yet unlike the Wyvern, it had forelimbs and separate batlike wings on its shoulders. It regarded her with a curious and thoughtful expression, then gazed at Anrenay once more. "Be with you in a minute, Valerie." the Ettercap said.

She nodded and waited as the two sat there in silence, looking at one another. She wondered what was going on, as she studied the little dragon. But after a short while, Anrenay looked at her and said, "Apologies. May I introduce Wallach? She's another member of The Claw. A Pseudodragon, if you're wondering."

"Oh? Hey. Yeah, you were helping us on that giant-killing gig, right?"

The little dragon cocked her head curiously, and after a moment Valerie heard a voice, but not in her ears. In her head.

What did fishing have to do with it?

Valerie was startled by that, and Anrenay made a chittering sound. "Not used to telepathy, hmm? It's how her kind communicates."

Valerie shook her head, and now realized why they'd just been sitting there in silence. "Uh, nothing. Just an expression from back home."

I see. Yes, I did help with some scrying.

Valerie nodded, and said, "Uhm...you didn't want a share of the bounty, did you? I gave Paevo and Cedric shares for their help."

You're kind to offer. But no, I didn't participate enough for that.

Wallach flapped her wings, raising up and flying over to land atop Valerie's shoulder, perching there lightly. She sniffed at the troll, her tail dropping down along Valerie's back. You're expecting a child? My congratulations. I have a clutch of wyrmlings myself. Adorable and wonderful and infuriating and tiresome, all at once.

Valerie gave a small, nervous laugh, "Yeah, thanks. It's...nothing I expected."

The dragon peered intently at her, then dropped off and glided back over to Anrenay's desk. Speaking of, I should look in on them, make sure they haven't driven my mate into a stinging fury. It was nice to meet you, Valerie. The dragon looked at the door, made a few gestures and growled something, and a glowing blue hand appeared to turn the knob.

"Uh, yeah. Nice meeting you." Valerie was a bit weirded out by the sight of the magical hand appearing, opening the door. Wallach lifted into the air and flew off, the door closing behind her moments later. Valerie rubbed at her scalp, "That's...new."

Anrenay gave another chittering laugh, "We are odd, even among the Brotherhood. But it's what helped make us so strong together. Have you met Blind Jak?"

Valerie nodded, "Yeah, not long ago."

Anrenay nodded, "He and Wallach traveled together for some time, much as Comar, Durlob and myself did. We met when both our groups were chasing a bounty one of the bandit lords had posted, and decided it was better to work together and share than face one another and the bounty and all lose out. It worked out very well, so we stuck together."

Valerie nodded, and then asked, "So is she how you can talk to Durlob?"

Anrenay said, "She's the most efficient way. Comar and I worked out a system of Yes/No movements with him well before then. His speech is...a bit strange, but he gets his point across. At one time, we tried fashioning a Helm of Telepathy for him, but after a while he returned it. Apparently trying to talk to so many people upset him, when they reacted poorly to his odd manner of speech."

Valerie nodded and remembered being in school, with a special ed kid who had a strong speech impediment, and how cruel others were in mocking it. She imagined it was a little like that, suddenly being able to talk to everyone and then seeing how they react. "Yeah, that's a shame."

Anrenay nodded, "At least he has us, his brothers-in-arms. Now..." the Ettercap leaned forward over his desk. "What can I help you with?"

Valerie straightened, "I need a travel pass, I wanna go to Sigil. Need to get paid, see if I can find out a way to get back home."

"Ah, of course. Just a moment." He found a document, took a blank piece of paper, and used the magic pen he'd used before to make a copy of it. Then he stuck the original away and filled out the second one. "Now, you're authorized to return here anytime you want, but it'll need to be a week from today before you can go anywhere else besides via Midway. Understood?"

Valerie nodded, "What's...Midway?"

Anrenay said, "It's a demiplane, controlled by the Brotherhood. Through it we maintain our network of portals, letting us move to the various worlds where we're established. It's where we store valuable equipment not immediately needed. Luckily too, it links into Sigil, which is a valuable commodity."

"Why's that?"

"Because unless you go through an existing portal, it's impossible to enter Sigil by any other means. Not physically, not magically. Not even the gods themselves can penetrate it. Generally speaking, their followers are allowed to receive divine magic still, but The Lady can shut that off any time she wants, the same as she controls the portals."

"Is she the ruler?"

"And much more. She is the one and only power where Sigil's concerned. If anyone tries to make themselves a threat to the city, she will act with swift and terrible justice. It's unlikely you'll see her, but if you do spy her, avoid calling attention to yourself. She's been known to cause some spectacular deaths to dissidents."

"What does she look like?"

"A woman in a near-featureless mask, wearing a long dress festooned with razor-sharp blades. Chances are if she does appear, everyone nearby who spots her will go silent immediately."

"Right, gotcha. Anything else I should know?"

"Hire a guide. It's easy to get lost there."

Valerie nodded, took the document and tucked it away. "Where do I go to take the portal?"

Anrenay gave her directions, and Valerie nodded. "Thanks again."

"Of course, safe journeys."

She left, returned to her bunk and gathered her things before she went to find the room where the portal was kept. Upon arriving, she saw the door was under guard. She approached, showed them her document. One produced a wand from his belt, said "Gotta mark you."

She nodded, and he waved it at her. She felt the magic tickle at her, and didn't try to stop it. There upon her shoulder, an arcane symbol appeared, then faded from view. They let her inside, where she could hear and see the portal floating there next to the wall. On either side of it stood two large metal statues. Or so she thought, until their heads turned towards her. She felt a tingle again as a faint haze of energy washed over her, the mark glowing.

Then, each statue returned to what she guessed was a rest position. Even big as she was, these things were several feet taller still, like tremendous suits of animated armor. Another pair of guards sat there at a table, engaged in what she guessed was a card game, though there were dice present as well. One got up, walked over to the gateway, marked by a series of runes on the wall. He produced another wand, waved it. The runes all began to glow, and then she saw the portal open up. "Keep your papers ready." he said, before returning to sit.

Valerie walked up, hesitated a moment, then stepped through. It felt much like the other portals she'd traveled through before, that dry diving-water sensation with the momentary blackness, before she was in another room, much like the one she'd just left, only it seemed to be made from cut pieces of masonry, instead of just smoothed-out natural rock. More guards awaited, along with another pair of those metal statues, that again scanned over her.

The guards looked at her papers, then directed her to the nearby door. "Going to Sigil." he called as she opened the door. Outside, another guard looked up at her, then stepped forward. "Follow me." he said, and set off down what to Valerie seemed like a single long hall, lit with those same blue torches they used everywhere. It looked to her like it just went on and on forever in both directions.

It didn't take long before she began passing other doors in this stone hallway. No other guards were visible, nor was there sign of anyone else traveling through here. It was like something out of a weird movie, and it made her feel kind of anxious. But she followed along, until at last the guard stopped, knocked at a door.

It opened, and inside she found more guards, more statues. Her escort left and these guards again asked to see her papers. It was starting to feel a little intrusive, but their bored, matter-of-fact handling of it helped keep her from feeling too put upon. Again, a gateway was present, and once more, one of the guards rose, using a wand to activate it. "Keep your papers ready." he advised.

She went through, and this time, though guards and statues were again present, she seemed to be in a building, judging by the wooden floor and walls. The guards checked her papers, and said "Welcome to Sigil." before settling down again. Valerie crossed to the door leading from the room, tucking her papers away.

Outside, a hallway stretched to either side, turning a corner to her right side, leading to a stairwell. The guard said "Down the stairs to leave." Valerie muttered thanks, and followed his instructions, passing a few landings on the squared-off pattern of descent, ducking to keep from hitting her head.

At the bottom, she found herself in a foyer area, where she spotted the banner of the company hung before a group of five granite statues. One of the largest, she saw, was a troll, much like her. Another was an ogre, a third a hobgoblin, a fourth a kobold, and a fifth was one of the gith. Githzerai, by her dress.

According to their plaques, these were the founding members of the company. Varrok, Bork Stonemaul, Garthak Spinebreaker, Drake Redscale and Lliness. Valerie looked them over for a minute, then turned to the double doors leading out of the building.

Into the yard, the first thing that hit her was the smell. More than just the smoke and manure odors around the stronghold, this reminded her of returning to the city once as a child after she'd spent nearly a week on a camping trip. How much more you noticed the scent of civilization. Only where that had been a slap, this was a full-on beatdown.

She coughed and gagged, looking at the grey sky of the city. And above it...more city? She stared to see that in the distance, the city didn't just extend. It curved, upwards, into a ring that went all the way overhead and back down. "What the Hell?" she muttered.

A passing orc stopped and grinned, tusks poking out. "First time here, eh? Takes some gettin' used to." he commented.

"Yeah, tell me about it..." Valerie returned, still looking up, then down at the soldier there.

"Where you in from?" the orc asked.

"Clawhold. I just joined up, week ago."

"Rawhide, huh? Welcome to the Brotherhood."

"Thanks. Where can I find the quartermaster? Need to get paid."

"Right around this way." The orc motioned for her to follow. As she did, Valerie saw the reinforced stone wall and gates surrounding the place, a series of buildings made from wood. He led her along a path and behind the hall where she'd come out, then pointed. "It's that one there."

"Thanks." said Valerie, and the orc nodded before going on his way. She made her way down there and inside, stooping to get through the doorway. At least the buildings seemed to have been built with giants in mind, though her head was in danger of hitting the ceiling.

Inside she saw there at a counter another orc and some tall humanoid she'd never seen before. Somewhere between seven and eight feet, he had skin that was a piebald combination between grey and white, a muscular build and a bald head. Here and there keratinous bumps adorned his skin.

The two were engaged in that cards-and-dice game she'd seen others playing before. The orc looked up and grunted, "Help you?" Valerie removed her writ of credit and laid it down, "Like to get paid." The orc set his cards down and looked it over. "How you want this?"

Valerie shrugged, "Trade bars, I guess?" The orc looked down under the counter, and grumbled. "Hoy! Get some more plat bars!" he said to the other figure, who sighed, set his hand down, and started into the back. "Lookit my cards an' I'll gut you." he promised. Once he was out of sight...the orc looked at his cards, gave Valerie a grin and a wink.

Valerie just smirked and shook her head. A minute or so later, the other being returned carrying a wooden crate. They broke it open, dug out more of the silver-white bars of platinum, and the orc counted out forty-eight in total. "Okay, there ya go. Sign here." She did so, and started piling the bars into her backpack.

When she'd finished, she drew the Ogre's axe from her back. "Could I get this...appraised, or whatever? Wanna sell it."

The orc, who'd just picked up his hand again, sighed. "Awright." He dug out a form, wrote down some information, had her produce her membership papers, and sign the form. "Should have it afore closin' time." he said with a bored tone, and gave Valerie a receipt for the item.

Valerie nodded, and pulled out a bar. "Can I get this broken down so I have some spendable money?"

The piebald figure snorted, "Whadda we look like, the bank?"

Valerie thought about that for a moment and said, "A couple guys who get five percent each?"

The pair exchanged a long look, then the orc got up and rustled around, "Okay, lessee here..." He counted out more trade bars, gold this time, until he'd piled up eight of them. He then counted out eight platinum coins and twenty gold coins. He slid four platinum and ten gold off to the side, and held out his hand for the trade bar.

Valerie handed it over, piled all her new bars into her pack and dumped the coins into her pouch. The orc pocketed two platinum and five gold, while the other one collected the remainder. "Nice doin' business witcha." commented the orc, and the other being nodded his thanks as well.

"Yeah, thanks. See you." replied Valerie, leaving the pair to their game. As she left and started away, she heard the piebald one say "You looked, dincha, you cheatin' orc bastard?" She chuckled and left them to their affairs, returning to the gates of the compound. A guard noticed her and pulled a lever, as a low 'CLUNK' was heard.

He waved at her, and she pushed at the gate, swinging it open to exit onto the street. Around her people of all types milled along. The majority seemed to be human, from first glance, but she also saw mixed into them a good number of beings with fiendish traits or other strange nonhuman colorations, alongside other races such as the elves and dwarves.

The architectural style of the city was...haphazard, to say the least. It reminded Valerie of someone slapping together pieces of every type of building they could find like a madman's jigsaw puzzle. All manner of stone and wood construction ran up against one another with little rhyme or reason.

Most of the people seemed to eye her briefly and go about their business. A few were giving her unpleasant looks, others stared at the unexpected appearance of a troll. But no one cried out in alarm or tried to attack her. It had the very impersonal feel to it all she'd seen in large cities. Just another face in the crowd.

"Hoy, there!" called a high, girlish voice. Valerie looked around and down to spy a young human woman before her, looking up, hands on her hips. She gave a pleased grin when she had Valerie's attention. Something about her features was a little...off. The long shape of her nose, her large ears, the way her front teeth seemed too big.

Not really ugly, just strange, like they were exaggerated caricatures. Otherwise she was fairly pretty, with a lithe, fit shape, maybe five and a half feet, fair-skinned with short dark hair and alert green eyes. She wore a long-sleeved blouse and trousers with boots, while a rapier and dagger hung at her hips.

"First time in The Cage? No worries, cutter, I'm just the thing for ya! Regina's the name, an' y' ask anyone, ya won't find a finer tout this side o' town!" She gestured with a showman's flair, pointing and fencing the air dramatically with her finger.

Valerie took the sight of her in, then said "Uh, that's a guide, right?"

"Aye, so 'tis, cutter! Show us ya jink an' we'll be off where ya wantin' t' be!"

Her odd turns of phrase took a moment to process, but Valerie got the jist and fished out a gold coin. "Okay. I need to go register for citizenship, then go make an account at the Moneylender's Guild."

The girl's eyes locked onto the coin like a cat on a canary. "You got it!" She held up her hands for it, and clutched it, eyed it, bit it, then smiled again and made it vanish from sight. "Right this way!" she turned and was off into the crowd. Valerie started after her hesitantly, not wanting to push people around.

Her new guide had no such qualms. She slipped past when she could, and bowled through when she couldn't. "One side, one side, important folk comin' through, move over or be run over!" Some glared harshly at her, but when they saw Valerie following, they tended to get out of the way.

Once they had some inertia in the crowd, things got much easier. But as they moved, Valerie kept getting distracted by the wavering whine of portals. Besides the people, and the buildings, she saw they were everywhere. Doorways, windowsills, arches leading into side-streets.

Anything that could conceivably be called an entrance to something was a candidate. It wasn't every single one, but they were in abundance. "No wonder they call it the City of Doors." she muttered.

"Whassat, cutter?" called Regina. "City o' Doors? Aye, that's The Cage, alright! Us locals call it that, y'see, cos doors what you can't open, might as well be a cage ya's in. Right?"

Valerie grunted by way of reply, and Regina kept leading her along. She saw very little in the way of street signs around, and many of the haphazard lanes looked gloomy and unpleasant to travel. "Is it always so dim here?" she asked. She saw no sign of any sun, just a dull glow in the air through the constant haze of smoke.

Regina laughed, "Ah, you Primers! Always goin' on with that suns-and-moons chant! Think this is dim? This here's the bright part o' the day!"

"Oh. Lovely." replied Valerie with a heavy dollop of sarcasm.

It took them some time, but they arrived at a large stone building whose name read 'Hall of Records'. After entering, Valerie found her way to registration for citizenship, where after a short wait she was put through a series of questions, had to sign a few documents, and swore an oath to obey the law of the city and its appointed officers.

Once that was done, she chose a personal sigil to use. A simple claw-and-tooth image, like a capital V with a overlaying it. Issued a seal, along with documents from the city as proof, she paid the fee of a hundred gold pieces and left to find Regina idling around nearby, finishing off what looked like a kebab of some kind.

Hunger made her stomach growl, and after being shown where the vendor who was selling them was at, purchased a few for herself. "Moneylender's?" she prompted her guide, starting in on the seasoned skewers of meat.

"Away we go!" replied Regina, and it wasn't long, just enough to finish her meal, before Valerie was led to the counting-house of the Moneylenders' Guild.

"Wait for me." she told her guide, who gave her a flamboyant salute and settled nearby. Inside she showed her documentation and handed over the wealth of trade bars to the officials, took care of her paperwork and was issued more documents, alongside a writbook, which reminded her more of a notepad than a checkbook. She hung onto her coins, and put away her papers securely.

When she left, she found Regina once more, and produced another gold coin for her. "I need to get to the Planar Cartographic Society."

The young woman nodded vigorously, "Just as ya say, cutter!" Again they were off through the winding maze of streets that was Sigil. While Valerie saw plenty of different beings about, she saw very few animal-drawn conveyances. Outside of some wagons hauling goods, most people seemed to get about in sedan chairs or rickshaws if they weren't on their own feet.

By now the gloom was starting to deepen into a hazy twilight, but they arrived at the purported offices of the group in question. Entering the premises, Valerie saw a great banner hanging there in the foyer, behind some kind of odd astrolabe device. It seemed to be depicting the general layout of the planes.

The center was the Prime Material Plane. Around it she saw the Astral Plane, Ethereal Plane and Plane of Shadow. Then came the Inner Planes: Earth, Air, Fire and Water, along with Positive and Negative Energy. Links between them were implied, Earth to Water, Water to Air, Air to Fire and Fire to Earth, with all four also linking to the Positive and Negative Planes.

Then all around them she saw the Outer Planes: Celestia, Bytopia, Elysium, Beastlands, Arborea, Ysgard, Limbo, Pandemonium, Abyss, Carceri, Hades, Gehenna, Baator, Acheron, Mechanus and Arcadia, with the Outlands lingering somewhere in the midst of them.

As she finished looking at all of them, she heard someone clear their throat. Turning, she saw a young human - or was he part elf? - man there wearing a loose grey robe. "Ah, can I help you?" he asked, putting on a pleasant expression, even if his eyes betrayed nervousness.

Valerie said, "I hope so. I come from a plane, or world, or something, called Earth. Not the Elemental one." She said it in English, "Earth." Back to the Common tongue she said, "I wanna find a way to get back there."

The young man frowned, "I've never heard of such a place. If we have record of it, it will be somewhere in our archives. You don't have any further information on its location?" Valerie shook her head.

The young man nodded, "Very well. Unfortunately, our head researcher has left for the day, and I fear he's the only one around immediately qualified for such a task. If you'd like to come back tomorrow, perhaps you can meet with him then?"

Valerie sighed, but said "Okay, fine. Tomorrow."

The young man clasped his hands together, "Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

Valerie shook her head, and he said "Have a good day, then." and left. She did likewise, frowning.

Regina said, "That was quick. All done?"

Valerie grumbled, "For now. No one's here today. Can you show me somewhere comfortable I can stay the night? Maybe has rooms and beds big enough for me?"

Regina smiled brightly, "Sure can, cutter! Fine kip, an' won't peel ya's, neither!"

As she followed along, Valerie asked, "Is this what you do every day?"

"Every one I can!"

"Do you have anyone you need to guide tomorrow?"

"Not yet. Ya need more help, I can be wherever first light!"

"Good. I'd like that."

"Me too, cutter! Me too!"

"Valerie. Call me Valerie."

"Right y'are, Miz Valerie!"

Valerie found the perky, easygoing acceptance of the girl a refreshing experience. She seemed eager to please, which made Valerie wonder if she was overpaying her. Well, there could be worse things done. She'd rather lose a little money than try and wander this place blind, and so far Regina had struck her as honest, at least as long as she was getting paid.

It wasn't long before they arrived at a fairly large building whose sign depicted two crowned figures seated facing each other, titled The Twin Kings Inn. "Thanks." said Valerie. "Be here in the morning?"

Regina gave her a graceful bow, "As ya wish, Miz Valerie!" With that, the young woman was off down the lane and around the corner.

Valerie had to duck to get through the door, though inside she was able to stand tall. The decor was quite nice, and the way the patrons gawped at her suggested they didn't expect to see her kind around. The innkeeper frowned at her until Valerie produced her coin and said, "I want a room with a bed big enough for me to sleep in."

The innkeeper coughed, "Well, the only type we have suitable for someone of your...stature is a suite. That'll be four gold a night, meals included."

"That include a hot bath?"

"Yes, that can be arranged, Master...?"

"Mistress. Valerie Bridgewater."

The innkeeper raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, merely collected the coins and directed a young woman to show her to her room. The young woman looked at Valerie fearfully, as if she was about to be gobbled up on sight.

Valerie couldn't resist. She quipped, "Don't worry, I'm sure the cooking tastes better than you do."

The girl nodded, eyes wide, and pointed, mouthing wordlessly as she went up the stairs.

Inside, the suite proved to be more like a one-room apartment, with private hearth, dining table, armoire and chest of drawers for clothing and a single huge canopy bed designed for multiple people to sleep on(or do other things on...)comfortably. It was lower to the floor than would have suited if it were properly her scale, but a quick test confirmed it would hold her weight. "I'd like a hot..."

Valerie looked around to realize she was talking to an open door. "...bath..." she sighed, and stripped off her equipment. At least it didn't stink of smoke and every unwashed person in the city in here. She lay back on the bed, and groaned pleasantly to stretch out and relax.

A knock at the door caused her to sit up and look to see an older woman there, arching brows in mild surprise, but not seeming afraid of her. "Waitin' on something, sir?"

"Well, I want a hot bath. And it's miss."

"As you say. Sorry to make you wait. Back in a nonce." the woman sketched a curtsey and closed the door.

Valerie lay back, almost starting to doze, before there was a fresh knock. "Come in."

It was the same woman, who informed her "Bath's ready, miss."

Valerie rose and followed her to another room, where a sunk-in tile bath, not quite as large as the Guardinals' but still big enough she could sit in it, awaited. Steam arose from the water, and she grinned. "Thank you."

"Do you need help washin', miss?"

Valerie shook her head, "I'm fine. Can you have dinner brought up when I'm done?"

"Of course, miss."

Valerie stripped out of her gear, and the woman prudently looked the other way. "Do you need your things cleaned, miss?"

"No, they're fine, thank you."

"As you say, enjoy miss."

Valerie climbed into the hot water and settled, sighing as the warmth crept into her body. She couldn't lay down fully, but she could slouch and stretch her legs while her shoulders and head remained out, or else raise her knees and submerge her head. She did both, luxuriating in the warmth, then setting about washing herself and her hair.

Paevo's little cleaning spell did the trick, but there was something much more relaxing and peaceful about this. Especially when she felt a thumping in her belly, her baby moving around again. She said softly, "That's right, mommy's having a nice hot bath for once."

That was still a scary thought, but she'd be lying if she said there wasn't some excitement to that idea, too. Mommy. Was it so wrong she wasn't a human mommy? With any luck, she'd find a way home before it became an issue, or at least while her baby was too young to remember not being human.

She lounged in the bath until the water grew tepid, then rose out, dried and dressed herself again. She had to look around a bit, but found her suite again, returning to find the dining table set with a sumptuous meal. Some sort of roasted bird with greens and gravy, roast potatoes, fresh bread and cheese, a bottle of wine and some sort of tarts to go with it.

She devoured it all with relish, even down to the bones of the fowl, then retired to her bed, rubbing her even fuller-than-usual stomach. "Worth every penny." she muttered to herself, soaking in the luxury of the stay. It wasn't long before she was out cold and resting soundly.

She rose the next morning to another welcome feast of some sort of fried bread akin to pancakes alongside eggs, sausages and fried ham. Well fortified, she geared up to face the day. Once downstairs she went ahead and paid for a second day's stay before leaving.

Outside it was still twilight, but there in the shadows, sure enough lurked Regina. She smiled to see Valerie and approached, "Was everythin' as ya hoped, Miz Valerie?" she asked, giving her another flamboyant bow.

"And more. Thank you, Regina." Valerie stretched once out in the street where she could raise her arms up properly, and said "To the cartographers' hall."

"Right y' are!" said Regina cheerily, and set out through the streets, Valerie in tow. The glow overhead from the lights of the city was like some bizarre field of stars, most unmoving but many in motion high above. She could hardly believe anyone could get used to this.

"How can you stand the smell of this place?" asked Valerie as they went along.

"Smell? This ain't so bad. Should see the Lower Ward, where all the forges an' tanners an' such is at! Or worse, The Hive an' what's below! This here's a flower-maiden's wares next to that!"

Valerie grunted, "Believe me, it smells worse than you think."

Regina gave a cheeky grin, "Beggin' yer pardon, Miz Valerie, but my nose ain't as dead's ya think!" She winked, tapped the side of it, then turned down another street. Valerie considered asking what she meant, but let it go and kept pace, until shortly they arrived at the Planar Cartographic Society again.

Valerie fished in her pouch, frowned, and pulled out a platinum coin. "Here, take this. That should cover you taking me wherever I want the next couple days."

Regina's eyes widened, and she took it with delight, "Oh, it does, it does!" Tucking it away she bowed again, "An' I swear, there'll be none t'speak ill o' trolls what don't hear o' how ya treated me, Miz Valerie!"

Valerie smiled at the gratitude shown, and bowed her head in reply, "It's much appreciated, Regina. I'll be back when I can."

"I'll be here!" came Regina's reply as Valerie ducked inside again.

Inside, Valerie was met by the same young man again, who said "This way, please." She was led through a cramped hallway past several rooms filled with books, scrolls, maps and glimpses of artifacts amidst the mess, back to a closed door which bore a small plaque: "G. GNEISSMINER, Master Sage of Planar Cartography".

The young man knocked politely at the door, and inside a voice called, "Go away!"

The young man coughed, "Master, I have an unusual request-"

"Oh, that's what you say about all of them, boy! I have important work to do, go...bother Cathrym!"

"Away to Candlekeep for archival."

"Bother Veenhelm, then!"

"Conducting an expedition in Svartalfheim."

"Blast! Turn them loose on that one boy, what's-his-name...Menzies!"

The young man coughed again, "...that's me, sir."

"Oh, Urdlen take me! How am I expected..." a chair scraped, "to get anything done..." and the door opened, "with all these interruptions?!"

It took Valerie a moment(and a step back)to see the source of all this ranting. Wearing a long leather apron festooned with pockets over a stained-looking robe was a small man, no more than three feet tall, with balding blond hair. Or perhaps it had simply migrated down to the huge handlebar moustache on his face and elongated goatee under it.

Wearing some sort of multi-lensed goggles, he looked around, up to Valerie, and jerked back. "Garl's grin, how'd you get that titanic troll in here?!"

The young man, Menzies, coughed and tapped the side of his head, "Sir? Your goggles..."

"My what?" The gnome reached up, patted at his face, "Oh. Yes." He slid them up, peered around myopically with his watery blue eyes, and removed a pair of spectacles from an apron pocket, put them on. "Gah, still uglier than the arse-end of a diarrhetic kobold. What does it want, boy?"

Valerie glowered down at the rude little fellow, "I want help finding my way back to my home plane. But I'll settle for squashing rude little creeps like you into a bloody paste."

That gave the gnome pause, before he jammed his fists into his sides and said, "Well, there's no need to be violent about it." He sighed heavily, "Very well, where is it you're trying to go?"

"Earth." Valerie said it in English.

The gnome peered at her, "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Earth. Not the Elemental Plane. Not Oerth. Earth." repeated Valerie in the Common tongue.

"Earth. Earth." the gnome repeated, scratching at his combed-over pate. He turned and wandered back into the office, climbing up into the custom-made high chair that let one of his stature use the human-sized desk therein. He sat there for several moments, then snapped his fingers. "You, boy! Fetch Roll of the Demiplanes, Volume U."

Valerie said, "It starts with an E."

The gnome gave her an annoyed glare, but he said, "And Volume E as well!"

The young man left, and the gnome peered at Valerie. "How does a troll speak nearly as well as you, anyhow?"

Valerie said, "I wasn't born a troll. I was born a human-"

"Not that much difference." muttered Gneissminer.

Valerie glared at him again, and continued, "-then I fell through some kind of portal. I guess it was the Plane of Shadow? It was a black void. Then I arrived in the Beastlands, changed."

The gnome sat there fiddling with one end of his moustache as she related that to him, seeming to draw into himself in thought. "Tell me more about your home plane. Was it similar to one of the Prime worlds?"

Valerie said, "I've only seen Oerth, but sort of, yeah. Day/night cycle, weather and seasons, sun and moon, though we only have the one moon."

"Any other things about it?"

"Well, there's no magic, at least none I ever saw. And the only intelligent race is humankind."

The boy Menzies returned carrying two heavy leatherbound tomes. Gneissminer began flipping through them, beginning with E. Valerie looked around for somewhere to sit, sighed and ended up half-leaning against the doorjamb.

After some time, Gneissminer sat it aside. "No. No record of any plane here called Earth."

Valerie groaned with frustration, "What's that mean? Could it be in some other book?"

Gneissminer motioned for Menzies to gather the books he'd brought and take them away. "Maybe so. But I have no time to delve into that, I have important work to finish!"

Valerie said, "What about money?"

Gneissminer peered at her, "What about it?"

"I could pay you to search for the answers I need."

"Yes, and I could go prostitute myself to lonely dwarven women on Siltslide Street! But I'm not likely to do that, either!"

It took Valerie a moment to keep herself from picturing such a horror. "Isn't there anything I can do to change your mind?"

The gnome scoffed, "Well, I suppose if you could help in my research somehow..."

"What would that take?"

He paused, considering that. "Well, I doubt...unless, perhaps...but even then..." He fixed her with a wary look, "Just how far are you willing to go for this?"

"Uh, depends how far I'd have to go."

"Oh, not terribly far. The Astral Plane. And then Hades."

"Why?"

"Well, I'm preparing a work for a symposium upon touchstones in a few months. Sadly, some of my research has been forced into being second-hand, given the danger involved in two of the sites in question. But if you were to assist me, secure those sites so I could conduct first-hand research and cut out the muddling mess of lesser minds to interpret..."

"So...go to these two places, take care of anything dangerous and keep you safe while you do your work?"

"Precisely."

"And after that, you'll do your best to find Earth for me?"

"It will be my number-one priority. Alongside finishing The Philosopher's Stones: Factional Inquest Of Planar Essentia And Its Role In Ideological Warfare, of course. I am the keynote, you see." The gnome spread his hands dramatically as he delivered the title, and fussed at his apron with self-importance.

"Right." Valerie considered the situation. Unless there was someone else capable of researching it, this rude, self-absorbed gnome was her best option. Until a better one presented itself, she supposed she had little choice. "Okay, I'll do it. When can we get started?"

"Soon. I must make arrangements to travel to the sites in question. The first shouldn't present any problems. The second may take more time. I should be ready..." he fussed with his goatee, "day after tomorrow. Be here first light."

Valerie nodded, "I'll see you then."

"Yes, yes, fine. Now I have important work to get back to, so if you'll excuse me...?"

Valerie left the room, closing the door behind her. "One step at a time." she reminded herself. She found her way back out through the hall and into the street, to come upon a sight she hadn't expected. Regina was there, surrounded by four cloaked individuals, three behind and one in front. All had their hoods up and hands at their weapons.

Regina didn't look so much scared as frustrated, hands held stiffly at her sides. The one in front of her was rolling a platinum coin back and forth over his knuckles. Valerie had a strong suspicion it was the one she'd given the girl earlier today. The figure was grinning with a filthy, uneven set of teeth in his mouth as he spoke.

"Fink yer better'n us cuz some leather'ead's too barmy t' know yez bein' paid a hunn'ert times more'n a lil squeak like yez is worth?"

Regina saw Valerie, "I ain't the one ya should be talkin' to, Niall. She's right over there."

The man turned, and stopped to see Valerie. "Wot, greenjobs 'ere?"

Valerie strode over, "Yeah, me. And I didn't pay you that coin. So unless you wanna find out how these feel in your gut..." she brandished her claws, "give it back to Regina."

The man sneered defiantly, glaring up at her. His features reminded her of a much uglier version of Regina. Overlarge front teeth, long nose, big ears. He touched briefly at the hilt of a sword that looked much too nice to be in the hands of someone as shabby-looking as him, but then gave a snarl and sent the coin flipping in the air.

"This ain't over." he promised Regina, and skulked away, the other three following after. Valerie caught the coin, handed it back to Regina.

"Friends of yours?" she asked the girl.

Regina tossed her head and turned her nose up, "I'd rather get boiled alive than call bubber-peeling trash like Niall Filthgrin a friend." She folded her arms and looked away, "He's from the ole neighborhood, that's all."

Valerie nodded, "Some place you don't want to be anymore?"

Regina sighed, "It's...complicated."

Valerie grinned, "Life usually is."

Regina gave a thin smile, and asked, "How'd it all go today?"

Valerie shrugged, "It'll take some work. I need to be back here day after tomorrow to go on an expedition."

"Where ya off to, if it ain't too much t'ask?"

"The Astral Plane."

"Oh, that's Yanki-land, that is! Know that chant, do ya?"

"Yankee?"

"Githyanki. Tall, yellow, fancy hair 'n armor?"

"Oh, yeah. And their plain-dressing cousins."

"The Zerees. Don't get 'em mixed, 'less ya favor a bash-up."

"So I've heard. Okay...I need to go back to the Brotherhood's hall."

"Right y'are!" Regina took a moment to gather herself, then brightened up and was off with her usual good cheer once more. When they arrived, Valerie left her to go back to the quartermaster's, where the same pair were there idling about. Valerie produced her receipt for the axe she'd dropped off.

The orc grunted, shuffled through a few documents, and handed one over. "Come back to nine hundred seventy, after appraisal and a lien of dues owed."

Valerie nodded, "A writ for the Moneylenders', please." The orc fixed it and handed it over after Valerie signed and sealed her document.

Leaving, she had Regina take her to the bank to make her deposit, and after asked "Where can I go to purchase some magical equipment?"

"What sorta things you after?"

"Uh, a weapon, I guess? Or maybe it's jewelry."

Regina thought about it, "Guess we can try Grimblade's Armory."

"Lead the way."

The pair set off, and before long the air grew heavier with the stink of industry, not only of forges doing metal and glasswork but leathermaking, dyemaking and treatment of all manner of cloth. So too with smells arising from portals that, from the glimpses Valerie took, didn't go to very pleasant places. "Where the Hell are we?" she asked her guide.

Regina said, "The Lower Ward. We ain't far off from The Hive. That's the bad part o' town."

"I can't imagine how it's worse."

"Be glad ya can't." Soon she led Valerie to a fairly large establishment whose sign bore crossed axes and a shield, reading 'GRIMBLADE'S ARMORY'. Inside, Valerie found displays of all manner of weapons and armor hung about. Behind a counter, a hobgoblin was working at polishing a series of daggers. "Help you?"

Valerie approached, "I'm looking for a magic weapon. At least, I think it's a weapon. It's an enchanted necklace, works on your natural weapons?"

He nodded, "Lemme get the owner." While he disappeared into the back area, Valerie looked at an assortment of crossbows on sale, including some sort of lever-actuated repeating model that made her smile as she imagined automatic weapons fire in her mind.

A woman's voice, somewhat hoarse, said "Well met. You're looking for an Amulet of Natural Attacks?"

Valerie turned to spy a female orc there, though she was much taller than most of the males she'd seen. Six and a half feet, with a quite muscular build, dark hair in braids shot with grey and white, a hard-lined face that she supposed might be pretty by orc standards, wearing a leather apron over a tunic and trousers.

"Hello, yes. That's what it's called. And I was told to get one with another enchantment on it. Alteration? I think?"

"Do you mean Adaptation?"

Valerie nodded, "That's it, yes."

The woman said, "I'll look, but I'm sure we don't have one. We have one with a very basic enchantment, if that will do."

Valerie frowned, "No, I was told the Adapting one was important."

"They're very useful if you fight a wide number of different foes, especially outsiders and their ilk." She went to a heavy book and studied it. "No, I do have one. But its primary enchantment is stronger than normal. It'd be fifty thousand, six hundred gold pieces."

Valerie winced, "Far too much for me."

The woman said, "I can get one like you want, but it'll take me about three days."

Again Valerie frowned, "Sorry, I need it within the next day or so."

The orc nodded, "Well, I wish I could do more for you. I'm sorry."

Valerie rubbed at her hair, "Any idea where I might get one?"

The orc looked at her for several moments, then said "If it was me, I'd try the Mercanes. They're usually good about finding what you need."

Valerie brightened, "Thank you."

The woman nodded, "You're welcome. If I can help you with some other kind of arms and armor sometime, I hope you'll bring me your business first."

Valerie said, "I will. You're Grimblade?"

"Greeshna Grimblade, aye."

Valerie held her hand out, "Valerie Bridgewater."

The orc clasped it, "Well met." She looked Valerie right in the eye, unafraid. Valerie had a feeling this woman had handled her share of weapons on the battlefield as well as off it.

Valerie nodded, "Likewise. Thanks for your time. Take care."

The orc gave a last nod before returning into the back, while Valerie left to find Regina. "Didn't have what I was looking for."

Regina said, "I'm sorry, Miz Valerie."

Valerie smiled, "It's not your fault. The owner was nice about it, told me to try the Mercanes, whoever they are."

Regina nodded, "Aye, we'll have t'go ta the Bazaar, but we'll try 'em if it's what ya want!"

Valerie rubbed at her stomach, regarding the midday 'glow' of the city. "I think what I really want now is lunch."

"Right y'are! Back t' the inn?"

Valerie nodded, and the pair were off again. All the back-and-forth had Valerie starting to get acclimated to the shape and structure of the city. She still didn't care for the smell, but she had to agree. Once they were free of the Lower Ward, the air was noticeably better.

Returning to the inn, she left Regina to her own affairs while she had her lunch. It was nice, lounging around in her suite with peace and quiet, able to stuff herself full of tasty food in private. Once she was done she went back out to find Regina idling around, flicking her dagger about between her hands.

"Ready to take me to the Bazaar?" Valerie asked.

Regina smiled brightly and tucked the dagger away, "Whenever you is, Miz Valerie!" she bowed, and was off through the streets.

It wasn't long before Valerie could hear a growing roar of people, a stronger mix of smells on the breeze. Like an approaching wave to the shore, it swelled until finally they drew close enough to see it. A bay of people whirling around islands of color, strung about in chains and mazes. Thousands of voices, scents and sights washing over her.

The Grand Bazaar of Sigil.

Valerie stood there straining to process it all, and Regina grinned to see the troll struck by the sight. "C'mon, let's find a Mercane. They're easy t' spot. Look for giant blue people."

Joining the milling throng, Valerie slowly navigated the avenues between the stalls, where vendors hawked their wares to all who passed by. Each tried to outshout the other, with competing neighbors practically making street theater from their insults of one another in grabs for attention.

It took a few twists and turns, but soon Valerie saw a likely candidate. It didn't look like a frost giant, the only giant blue people Valerie had ever seen, so her guess was this was a Mercane. Garbed in fine dark robes, the gaunt, sharp-featured being was around twelve feet tall, had catlike eyes, long pointed elf-like ears and hands which seemed larger than they should have been. The reason was soon apparent, for Valerie saw they had an extra joint in their fingers.

Standing close to it were a group of rough-looking armed beings, who locked their eyes on Valerie when she began to approach, moving to intercept. Valerie held her hands up and said, "I'm looking to buy a specific magical item." The tall being turned to regard her, and smiled. Clasping its hands together, it spoke in a surprisingly soft voice.

"Ah, an Ironskin troll. It's been a while since I saw one of your kind. I trust the item you're after is of a martial bent?"

Valerie nodded after a moment's consideration, "Yeah, it's an Amulet of Natural Attacks, with an Adaptation enchantment on it."

"Hmm, an excellent choice. How strong of a primary enchantment were you hoping for?"

"Uh, not very strong. I was told one suitable for me would be between eighteen and nineteen thousand gold?"

"Yes, the minimum levels of enchantment, with the Adaptation enhancement, would be eighteen thousand, six hundred gold. How soon do you need the item?"

"Sometime tomorrow?"

"That can be arranged. Will midday suffice?"

"Yeah. Uh, you take a writ?"

"We prefer trade goods, but a writ will do, if you agree to wait on proof of its veracity."

"Do what?"

The Mercane chuckled, a surprisingly girlish sound. "Unfamiliar customers such as yourself have no credit of trust. We must make sure you deal honestly with us."

"Okay, you wanna be sure you're getting paid before you hand it over. Yeah, I'm fine with that."

"Then I look forward to conducting our trade. Are there any other items you seek in the meantime?"

"No, that's all."

"Very well. Good day to you."

"You too." Valerie turned and left, looking at Regina. "Okay. Well...let's look around in here for a while. It's been forever since I saw any kind of shopping market."

Valerie whiled away a couple of hours just milling about, looking at all the things for sale and trade. Some were obviously poor deals, charms and potions the merchants made all manner of claims about. It put her in mind of that stupid 'ionic bracelet' her Aunt Marie had bought years ago she claimed was so good for her cos she saw it on TV...

All manner of vendors sold food, too. From typical market fare to cheap prepared snacks, tending to be served on wooden skewers or wrapped in a bit of some kind of bread. She saw too nearby children darting out from between stalls, snatching the discarded sticks up, finishing off whatever bits of food clung to them, and taking them off to be collected. She had a disturbing feeling those sticks were going to get some kind of washing before being resold to the vendors.

Passing by another locale she saw a well-dressed, heavyset man surrounded by beautiful females in skimpy outfits, lounging on pillows and mats, his wares of choice. All wore chained collars around their necks, and had a certain dull, distant look in their eyes when not trying to attract attention to his goods.

"Are they slaves?" asked Valerie of Regina.

Regina nodded, "Likely so."

"That's legal here?!"

"T' own, yes. Not t' trade, though ya hear stories."

"What a repulsive law!"

Regina shrugged, "Law never was much part o' where I lived. High-ups cared more we stayed where we was, an' let us do t' each other what we willed."

Valerie supposed that wasn't too different from the way a lot of inner-city ghettoes were back home. "Still doesn't make it right."

The pair wandered on until the afternoon light dimmed into the twilight gloom that the city seemed to be in at least half the time, at which point Valerie had Regina take her back to the inn. "See you again tomorrow?" she asked the girl.

"Count on it, Miz Valerie!" promised Regina.

Valerie retired to her suite, enjoyed another hot bath for the novelty of it, then stuffed herself with another fine meal. She thought of the children she'd seen at the bazaar, foraging people's castoff street food and looking uniformly filthy and ragged. A pang of guilt ate at her, but then her stomach thumped. She rubbed at it, "That won't be your life. I promise."

The next day she rose, breakfasted and left to find Regina waiting. "We've got some time to kill. What do people do here for entertainment?"

Regina said, "Besides drinkin', gamblin' an' all that? Wanderin' bards is always popular. But there's the Civic Festhall. They puts on shows an' such like. I hear they has wild parties, too. An' there's the Circus Tempus. They host fights an' other things in the arena."

That didn't sound like any circus Valerie ever heard of, but that was home, far away. "Either of them do anything during the day?"

Regina shook her head, "Nah, that's all evenin' trade."

Valerie frowned, "Anywhere else?"

Regina said, "Bath houses is always popular, but they got a bath at your kip, right?"

"Yeah. No kind of parks, or anything?"

Regina laughed, "Only thing grows here's razorvine." She pointed out the dark green, thorny creepers on the side of a nearby building.

Valerie rubbed at her hair, "I guess we'll just wander around and look at shops, then."

Regina began leading them around, and Valerie saw that innovations back home like the 'under one roof' style of sales had yet to come to this place. While some might keep a certain category, such as alchemical items, no one tried to be a one-stop sort of place to cover all needs.

They skirted the edges of a part of the city called The Lady's Ward, where the wealthy elite lived, but there were guards watching and they gave Regina some very unpleasant looks. Valerie got more mixed reactions, but the attitude was clear: you are not welcome here.

She'd heard stories back home about wealthy neighborhoods, private estates, gated communities. This was much the same, but the difference was much more stark to her eye. Or perhaps she just wasn't used to it. Regina treated it with practiced indifference. "That's high-ups for ya." she said summarily.

The day had brightened, so they returned to the Bazaar, navigating the maze of vendors and patrons to find the Mercane there awaiting them. Valerie approached, and produced her writbook. "Who do I make it out to?" she asked.

A man nearby stepped up, "To me, Bercann." Valerie did as instructed, handed it off. He tucked it away into a large wallet, then prodded at the ground nearby, kicking a broom up into his hand. Valerie grinned to see him mount it and simply fly away above the crowd, soon out of sight.

A short time later he returned, and gave a meaningful nod to the Mercane, who gestured with one hand as a small locked chest appeared in midair before him. It opened it up, and removed a necklace, strung with bones, teeth and claws like the one Comar had. "As promised." the towering blue being offered it to Valerie.

Taking it in hand, Valerie nodded, "Thanks." before she placed it on around her neck. When she did, she felt just a brief tingle through her body, what she presumed was the presence of its magic upon her. It passed, and after she stood there expectantly for several moments, she drug her hair out from under it.

"Use it in good health." bade the Mercane.

Their trade completed, Valerie left its company and told Regina, "Let's go have lunch."

Returning to the inn, Valerie kept fingering the unfamiliar bit of jewelry around her neck. It would take time to grow used to its presence. She'd never worn a lot back home, just earrings. Instead of leaving Regina outside, she said "Come in and join me."

Regina pointed at herself in shock, "Me? But I-I couldn't!"

"Why not? You're my guest. If it's about money, I'll settle it with them."

Regina hesitated, but then nodded, "Okay..."

She followed Valerie inside, looking around with curiosity, but also nervousness, like she was afraid she'd be bounced out any second. A few sets of eyes peered at the two of them, but no voices spoke up.

The older serving woman who'd been attending Valerie saw them together, and asked "Anything special for your lunch guest, miss?"

Valerie shook her head, escorting Regina to her suite, where the girl stared around. "This ain't a room, it's a house!"

Valerie laughed, "It's meant to be shared by several people. I think they're getting a deal with just me in it."

Regina touched the bed hesitantly, like she was afraid someone would scold her if they saw her. Valerie said, "Go on, get on it." Regina climbed up, and laughed with her own delight to feel it under her.

"It's like...sleepin' on air, it is!"

Valerie said, "It's nice, that's for sure."

A knock sounded, and the server arrived with others in tow to deliver the platters of food that was luncheon. Regina stared anew to see such a feast laid out, and she tilted her head up, almost seeming to scent the air.

That reminded Valerie of something, she couldn't quite say what. But she didn't question as she motioned for Regina to join her, and the two feasted heartily on the meal. Regina made sure to try everything offered there, making delighted sounds at every dish. Valerie held back on stuffing herself to be sure Regina got all she wanted.

When the girl was almost looking green from her indulgence, Valerie set to polishing off the remainder. Seeing Regina sprawl on the bed, groan and rub at her midsection with a mixture between pain and pleasure made Valerie smile.

"I can...die happy now...which might not be long...Gods, why'd I stuff m'self so?" said Regina.

Valerie chuckled, "I dunno. I hope there'll be room in you again come dinnertime."

Regina made a face, "Please, Miz Valerie...no more food talk now?"

"Alright, Regina." She took a seat on the bed as well, laying back across the foot of it. After reclining there for a few minutes she said, "I'd like to ask you something. Are you...entirely human?"

Regina lay there quietly for half a minute, then said "More like...human and then some more." She rolled onto her side and said, "I wondered if ya knew."

Valerie turned to face her, "Not really, but it's little things that made me wonder. What are you?"

Regina took a breath, then said "I'm a lycanthrope. A were-rat." She quickly raised a hand, "Don' worry, I ain't contagious! I was born this way, same's my Ma an' Da was."

Valerie knew things such as that were possible from talk she'd heard, but this was the first time she'd ever met someone like this. And it all made sense. The way her teeth and nose and ears were shaped, all very rodentine. "So, you can turn into a giant rat?"

Regina nodded, "Or a rat-person."

Valerie asked, "Do you change by the light of the moon?"

Regina shrugged, "Never seen a moon. But tha's what Ma an' Da tole me, sure."

Valerie thought then of the Beastlands, and the area of constant night. Would werecreatures be stuck shapeshifted there, she wondered? Always under the full moon? "Is silver the only thing that can kill you?"

Regina laughed, "I wish. Tha's just ole peasant tales. We can die same's anyone else. But weapons what ain't silver has a harder time hurtin' us."

Valerie nodded, "So those thugs the other day. Were they...like you?"

Regina nodded, frowning. "Niall took over my Da's gang years ago when my Da died. Still say it was him what killed my Da, but no one can prove it, 'cept he has my Da's sword. He keeps comin' after me, part t'scare me so I don't challenge him, part cos he thinks if he can get me to marry him..." she stopped, frowning at the idea.

Valerie scowled, "Disgusting. You ever think about doing it? Challenging him?"

Regina nodded, "Yeah, but...there's no way he'd fight fair. Plus...then they'd want me t'lead 'em. An' tha's not what I really want." She sighed heavily, rolling onto her back. "I dunno. Sometimes I think I'd be better off if I left. But I don' wanna leave my Ma an' kin behind. Toutin's not the best job - 'cept when I get someone generous like you - but it's better'n ever'thin else I'd do."

Valerie lay there for a time, and said "I guess the only other thing I need is to be shown back to the Cartographic Society in the morning."

Regina said, "I hope I can move again by then." and gave that cheeky smile of hers again. Now that she knew, Valerie could very much see the rodent in such an expression. It wasn't ugly, but it was a little different.

Valerie gave a snort of laughter, and said "So tell me about your family."

"What d'you wanna know?"

"Anything. Who they are, what they do."

"Okay." Regina lay there, naming her relations. Besides her mother, she had aunts and uncles on both sides along with a slew of cousins at varying ages. Some were tradespeople, like her mother, others varying degrees of criminal, ranging from petty theft and confidence scams to low-level enforcement in a gang or other organization.

She painted a picture of life in The Hive, nasty and often brutal, where those who had nothing better collected. Some had been wealthy and respected once, until bad decisions or just bad luck landed them down in the gutter with the rest of the have-nots. It was a picture like those from home, of people born into bad situations that never escape them.

The day wound on into the growing gloom of twilight, and soon it was dinnertime. Valerie rose to go and bathe once more. She invited Regina to join, but the young were-rat declined. "Should really be goin' on, Miz Valerie." But it didn't take much to convince her to hang on a little for another meal.

The two shared a fine dinner, Regina eating less this time, but taking some extra at Valerie's insistence to share with her mother and family that lived with them. When it was done, Valerie escorted her down and out, "See you tomorrow."

"Count on it! G'night, Miz Valerie!"

Returning to her room, Valerie lay there pondering Regina's life, and what might lie ahead for her. If she could find some way to help her out that wouldn't seem so much like charity, she'd do it. Her thoughts turned then to her own affairs, and what was in store for her on this excursion. Besides dealing with a prickly little gnome. Eventually she tucked in to have her rest.

She arose the next morning to another filling breakfast, gathered her equipment and made to leave. She was mildly annoyed to be paying five more gold and not getting another meal out of it, but the extra charge for Regina had been worth treating her guide like that.

Speaking of, she was there waiting when Valerie left, with her bright smile and flourishing bow of greeting. Valerie smiled in return, "Not still waddling about, I see."

Regina shook her head, "My kin was right pleased wif what I brung home, Miz Valerie. Like a holiday feast!"

Valerie was pleased to hear that, "I'm glad they enjoyed it." She then asked, "So is there some way I can get in touch with you, in case I need your help again?"

Regina thought about that, "Can ya leave a message wit' the guards an' such where the Brotherhood's at? I'll check every day, I swear! Make it to Regina Blacktail, aye?"

Valerie nodded, "I will." She took a deep breath, "To the cartographer's, then."

"Right y'are!" returned Regina, and they were off through the streets, soon arriving at the Society hall.

"I guess this is it for now." said Valerie.

Regina nodded, and said, "Stay safe, Miz Valerie!"

"You too, Regina." she gave the girl a gentle pat on the arm, and went inside.

There waiting was the young man, Menzies, seated atop a sturdy-looking trunk, one of three. He stood and sketched a bow, "Good morning."

Before Valerie could reply, Gneissminer called from further inside the building, "Boy! Has that blasted troll finally arrived?"

Menzies gave Valerie a helpless shrug and smile, called back "Just now, Master!"

"Well, it's about time! They're expecting us in Tu'narath, and while Gith may be ageless as all mortals on the Astral, their patience is not eternal, by Garl!" His voice got progressively louder and louder as he drew near during that proclamation. He stopped to peer up at Valerie through his spectacles, and fussed with his goatee.

"Good day." said Valerie with polite effort.

Gneissminer pointed, "Get those trunks up and move along, perhaps we might reach that assertion!"

Valerie frowned at being given the job of porter without her assent, but it was for sure the gnome wasn't going to move them. So she sighed, stacked two on top of each other, and got them under her arm. She grabbed the other up by a handle on the side, and Gneissminer said, "Careful, you brute! That's delicate equipment inside!"

Valerie sighed, and bent down, more carefully elevating it and sliding it up onto her arm and shoulder with a minimum of rattle and clatter from inside.

Gneissminer grumbled, "Knew I should have hired proper porters..." he shook his head with the air of one put upon by the weight of the world. "Very well! We're off, boy. Keep my messages organized while I'm away. Come along, troll!"

He was out the door and not even considering to keep it open for her. Menzies showed more thought, and as Valerie ducked out, he muttered "Better you than me." but softened it with a wink.

Valerie just rolled her eyes and looked around. Fortunately the street wasn't crowded, so she caught up quickly enough with Gneissminer, who moved along as if absolutely sure she wouldn't dare lose pace with him. Where people gathered in greater numbers, he ducked and weaved through the crowd with experience borne of years living underfoot from larger races. Valerie had to all but walk over folk.

At least the gnome could only go so fast on his short legs, which made it easy to keep up. It took some time, but they arrived at a square where a number of Githyanki were present, armed and armored, keeping careful watch over people approaching a nearby portal.

As they queued up to pass through, Valerie saw it led to some sort of grey, misty expanse. Gneissminer produced a document with the seal of the Cartographic Society on it, gestured to her and spoke in what she assumed was the Gith language. The guards allowed them to pass, and there was that diving-in sensation and blackness.

On the other side, she saw all around her a silvery void, but there in it, floating, was a city that appeared to have been built atop the remains of what she guessed was some kind of giant statue. It was broken, though anchoring chains had been linked between to keep them from floating too far apart.

"Well, don't stand there gawping all day! Move!" came Gneissminer's voice, from...above? She looked, to see him floating there in the air, several feet over her head, glaring at her.

Valerie moved away from the portal, but said "How are you doing that?"

His incredulous look turned to one of annoyed condescension, "You don't know anything about the Astral Plane, do you?" His voice conveyed twice the scorn of his eyes.

She glared, "I know if you keep talking to me like I'm a fucking mule you're in for a world of pain!" she said, releasing her pent-up frustration at his behavior.

He laughed and just...flew around in the air, a smug look on his face. "And however would you catch me, hmm?"

Valerie fumed, then let go of the trunks. They just floated there in the air. She looked at one...then got an evil smile on her face. "Well, for starters, I figure I'll rip open one of these trunks and demolish everything I can get my hands on..."

His look of shock and fear couldn't have been worse if she'd just threatened to peel the skin off his children before him. "You wouldn't dare! That's priceless equipment in there-" he flew down, grabbing the handle of one, then gave a squawk when Valerie's hand shot out and grabbed him, yanking him close. He squirmed, but to no avail as she brought him nose-to-nose with her.

"Now you listen, and you listen good. I am here to do the job I was hired to do: protect you. I am not your slave, I am not a pack animal, and I am damn sure not going to be talked to without the same amount of respect you'd expect someone to show you! I may not know much about the planes, but I know how to survive things that would've slaughtered you like a helpless kitten and left you to rot in the sun! And unless you wanna end up on my bad side, I expect you're going to tell me what I need to know about getting around here! You got that?"

Gneissminer nodded, eyes wide and fearful. She released him and he floated back, brushing at his apron and robes, fussing over his moustache. She just fixed him with an expectant look, and he finally cleared his throat to find his voice. "Very well. The Astral Plane is easily navigable by any self-aware being by exercising one's will in relation to the subject of gravity. If you wish to float, or to be attracted towards a given object, you have but to want it to be."

Valerie looked down at the ground. "That's impossible. The world doesn't work like that."

"Correction: Most Prime worlds and many other planes don't work like that. The Astral Plane does. Try this. Close your eyes and imagine yourself, floating. You've felt that before, floating in a body of water? Try to remember how that felt."

Valerie sighed, "Okay." She closed her eyes, still thinking it was stupid and wasn't going to work. She tried to remember the feeling of buoyancy in water, floating along. And moments later, the memory was real.

"Now look."

She did, and saw she was indeed floating in the air, now a foot or so off the ground! When she looked down, thought she shouldn't be doing so, she felt gravity take hold of her again and she was solidly on the ground once more.

"No, no, you can't let yourself fall into that trap! Keep focus on staying afloat, otherwise you'll fall, and I expect even a troll like yourself won't enjoy the end of that against part of the remains of Susurrus."

Valerie nodded, focused on that sensation again, and found herself lifting off. "Now what?"

"Either focus on remaining still, or focus on moving somewhere."

Valerie tried that, looking upwards. And just like that, she started to fly up. She gasped, then laughed with the sensation as she started soaring into the astral sky. She tried to alter her course, and after a few gross, jerky motions, found herself moving around as easily as she wanted.

Like most people, she'd dreamed of being able to fly like this. And now, it was real, it was happening. She looked down at the city spread below in wonder, and soared about further, trying to go as fast as she could. She found the faster she went, the harder it was to turn, but the exhilaration of speed was beyond compare for her.

With everything she'd been through since coming here, few things had been worth the rest to experience. This was one of them. But she didn't have much time to exult, for Gneissminer rushed up and said, "Very good, you can fly. Now I don't mean to be rude, but we really need to get to our ship."

"Ship? Why do we need a ship?"

"Because I don't fancy sleeping out there in the void without protection around me. Never know when a psychic storm or astral denizen might come along after you." He flew back down to where they'd arrived, Valerie following.

"And how do the ships fly?"

"They enchant the sails to catch certain ethereal currents in the motion of the Astral Sea, the same as ocean-going ships use the wind."

That made enough sense for her, and when they arrived, she took up the trunks again. "Do these just weigh nothing here?"

"No. Objects unattended by a willed being float where they're left. But their bulk is still very real. Hence no one can push a ship, for example, by flying. Now come on!"

He led the way, moving faster than she could, around the border of the city, until they came to an area that was a dock of some sort. There ships, or at least they looked shiplike, floated. With fanciful designs that no oceangoing vessel would use, most still held at least some resemblance to an actual watercraft.

One did not. It resembled, to Valerie's eye, a huge spider, complete with limbs arched off the 'body' and around it. "What's that? Why doesn't it have sails?"

Gneissminer said, "That's a spelljamming ship. They fly by means of an enchanted helm. They can even go into the void between worlds, beyond the skies to the sea of stars."

Valerie took a moment to process, and asked "So it's a space-ship?"

"That's another way to put it." He flew down, towards a smaller vessel, a sloop only around twenty feet long, tied to a walkway extending off a portion of the city-statue. Standing there nearby was one of the Gith. Over six feet tall, he was wearing a long overcoat with chainmail under it, an ornamented sword at his hip.

The side of his head was shaved, with a mohawk-like top grown down over the side in a series of braids, sporting jewels and silver bands. When he turned to look, she saw the other side of his head bore bad burn scars, the ear on that side a melted ruin, but most strikingly, instead of an eye, she saw what looked like a red gem in that side's socket

He gave a sharp-toothed sneer, but called to Gneissminer as he approached, "You the Society charter?"

"I am. You're Captain Burnteye?" replied the gnome.

The Gith spat, "I ain't Captain Handsome, by the Queen, so I guess that makes me Burnteye." He pointed a clawed fingertip Valerie's way, "Porter or passenger?"

Valerie said, "Passenger. I'm his protection."

The Gith pointed to the ship, "Get your cargo stowed and we'll be underway." He stepped up on the ship, started raising the sails. Valerie brought it aboard, found a small hold to stick the trunks down inside and did so. Gneissminer waited on the dock while they made ready.

Once the sails were set and the lines were cast, he came aboard. "Here are the coordinates as best as I can give them, Captain." He handed a rolled bit of parchment over. The Gith looked at them, grunted, and stuck them down in his pocket. He turned the tiller while the sails fluttered, the vessel starting to drift away from the dock.

As it did, Valerie saw there nearby a device like some sort of astrolabe, around a flat central platter with rings upon it. Upon the surface, small marks moved and gave readings she couldn't identify. "What's this?"

The Gith looked at her with raised brows, "Awful talkative for a troll, aincha?"

Valerie smirked, "Oh, yes. I forget, everyone thinks all we say is 'Me hungry!' and 'Me eat you!'." She did her best to sound dopey and mean in her mimicry.

That got a snort of laughter from the captain, and he said "It's an Astral compass. Shows where we are, based on the energies give off by Susurrus."

"That's what the statue is called?"

"God-corpse. And yeah."

Valerie stared back at the gigantic fractured form, "That's a dead god?!"

"Dead's they get, aye. Some say they're just sleepin'. I say ten thousand years is a powerful long nap."

Valerie just shook her head as the city started to vanish from sight once they were several hundred feet away. Before long, all around them was one great silvery void. The Gith settled down by the tiller, and Gneissminer sat on the side once he'd removed a pillow from his backpack. Valerie got as comfortable as she could on the deck.

After a time she asked, "So how long is it supposed to take, getting there?"

Captain Burnteye scratched at his chin, "Mmm, 'bout three days, as Primers reckon it."

Gneissminer pulled out a book from a pocket in his robe, gave Valerie a smug little smile as he waved it briefly, and settled down to read.

Valerie sat there for a time, looking out at the silver expanse. She had no real sense of speed, as they couldn't see anything beyond a few hundred feet. Finally an object, some bit of rock, appeared, and near as she could tell, they were going a little faster than she could jog.

She stood up then, and turned to step off the side of the ship, into the void. She floated there, then started flying after. She could just about match speed with the vessel, so with a little effort she caught up alongside, and started flying around it, practicing maneuvering.

After an hour or so, she returned to rest, feeling odd, like she'd been swimming for a while. And some time later, got off to fly once again. It was still exhilarating, but not as it was when she'd first taken off. When she returned again, she noticed she wasn't feeling hungry.

"Hey, why don't I feel hungry?" she asked.

The Captain looked at Gneissminer, who remained focused on his book. He then said, "The Astral's a place where hunger an' thirst don't exist, same's aging. That all starts again when you leave."

Valerie considered that. "So you could come here and stay and not worry about dying of old age?"

The Gith nodded, and Valerie simply said "Huh." She really started to wish she had a book or something.

Hours passed, and Gneissminer finally paused his reading to stand, stretch and walk about. The Captain said, "We'll need to take watches in order to stay on course. 'Tis fairly simple." He reached down under where the compass was housed, removed an hourglass. "Four turns of this. Then your watch is done. I take the second watch."

Gneissminer immediately said, "Third watch."

Valerie sighed, "Guess I have first."

The Captain had her take the tiller and use it to guide the ship. "Aye, now keep us on this headin' here." he tapped a particular point on the wheel. "Anythin' big comes after us, sing out."

Valerie nodded, and took his position there by the back of the ship. The Captain opened the hold, fetched out a pack that held a bundle of his own for sleeping. He made a space for himself near the front, while Gneissminer unpacked his own bedroll and settled in near the rear. Soon both were asleep, and Valerie was left there to watch the passing nothing, alongside the trickling sands.

One turn. Two turns. By turn three she was getting sleepy. By turn four, she'd started poking herself in the leg to stay awake. But she rose, went to shake the Captain. He was awake and alert in an instant, hand to his weapon. "Your watch." she said sleepily. He nodded, "Aye." and rose, stretching, yawning, then moving to the helm.

She lay down, and despite the stark difference between the deck of the ship and the luxurious bed she'd had the night before, she was out cold in short order. When she awoke, it was to the Captain prodding her leg with his foot. She was up and moving, grimacing with a stretch, looking around.

"Oh look, more endless silver void." she groused. The Captain merely returned to the helm while Gneissminer sat there on his pillow, reading his book. She took a quick hop over the side to fly around while she stretched, then keep apace with the ship for a while until she got bored and sat once more.

Things continued much like that throughout the day, though they did pass by a strange swirling vortex, whose center was an oval pool of emerald green. "What's that?" Valerie asked.

The Captain said, "A color pool. Portal to one of the other planes. Beastlands, looks like."

Valerie thought then of the months she'd spent wandering that particular plane, the daily struggle for survival and against the isolation she'd endured. Once they were past and away, she resumed her pattern of fly for a while, sit for a while. Eventually, the time came to take her watch again. She did as was needed, to no real concern but boredom, and took her rest.

The next continued on much the same as the previous. By now Valerie felt fairly proficient in getting airborne and flying about in the astral void, twisting and turning around nimbly as she willed herself to move. Save for bits of drifting rubble or the occasional passing color pool, the trip continued to just be watching the endless expanse.

Valerie wasn't sure how much more she could take, as their third day in the Astral ended and the fourth began. But after they'd been up and going for a few hours, at last, ahead, a large shape loomed. Like the grand god-statue of the city of Tu'narath, only much reduced in definition. It was more like a torso that was missing extremities.

They passed by all around it, looking for ways inside. One area appeared to have been hollowed out and was designed to be used as a mooring spot. Valerie asked, "What is this place?"

"A research outpost, once used by the Faction known as the Athar." replied Gneissminer.

"So why'd they abandon it?"

The Captain suddenly hissed, "Silence!" as he flattened himself against the deck.

From the corner of her eye, Valerie saw a huge shape rising out of the top of the floating rock. Pale pink in color, it reminded her of some nightmarish combination between an octopus and a spider. A round, bloated abdomen was supported by four tremendous, semi-rigid limbs covered in suckers like tentacles.

The head was more like a cephalopod, though it had no eyes she could see, only a large curved beak lurking in between another pair of semi-rigid tentacular limbs. It was as long as the ship in body, twice as wide and its limbs reached at least two or three times that length.

Gneissminer pointed, "That's why." and flattened himself on the deck.

Valerie got down as well, and hissed, "The fuck is that thing?!"

"Astral Kraken. They snare wanderers and devour them, or bind them in a cocoon for later." replied Gneissminer.

The Captain looked ready to skin the gnome alive, "You knew that thing was here?!"

Gneissminer rolled his eyes, "Relax. That's what the troll is for." He then looked at Valerie. "Well? We're waiting..."

She growled at the gnome, hissed "You owe me for this!"

His answering look of mock-dopey condescension made her want to peel his face off. Instead, she rose, and set out flying towards the hideous Kraken. She managed to catch it off-guard as she soared in, letting forth a yell. She unleashed the primal fury within her, feeling it surging stronger than ever before as swiped at the beast's hide, a snap in her swing as she tried to knock it stupid.

It worked, the creature reeling from her attack, letting her settle in to tear at it with her full fury, again trying to knock it stupid, keep it off-balance as long as she could. Her claws and teeth tore vile pink ichor from its ravaged flesh, causing it to emit a hideous squealing sound.

Now it reared up on its hindmost limbs, lashing the four tentacle-like appendages at her, striking her and wrapping it around her, drawing her in to chew on her with its large parrotlike beak. She growled in pain, trying to wrest free, clawing at it, unable to give it a proper rending with both hands thanks to its hold on her.

It maintained its hold, chewing away at her. Thankfully her thick hide blunted some of the force, her regeneration battling against the injuries. She couldn't shake its grip, and kept ripping at it as best she could while it tried to further damage her with its beak. This time she managed to squirm around, keep it from getting a telling bite.

Again she tried to get away, clawing it when that proved fruitless. This time, the creature instead began to spit forth a thick, resinous goo from its maw, coating her as it rolled her around, trying to bind her inside it. Valerie cried out in alarm and thrashed, breaking the restraint of it easily, but was still trapped in its hold.

It resumed gnawing on her, but by this point she had recovered from her injuries already sustained. She tore at it once more when she couldn't break free. The creature let go of her then and started to fly away, seeking to flee under the extent of its wounds.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Valerie roared, launching herself after it. She darted in, ducking under slightly to tear at its bloated abdomen. The creature let out a last squeal as its guts began to spill forth from the fatal wound, curling upon itself like a dead spider, twitching, and going still.

From the ship, the Captain gave some sort of cry in Gith, turning the vessel to fly in closer. Valerie slung the Kraken's ichor from her hands, spit out the bitter snotlike liquid in her mouth, and flew back. The Captain looked at her with a grim respect, nodding his approval. "Now that was a sight to see!"

Gneissminer feigned indifference, but sidelong glances from him told Valerie he recognized her capability now that he'd seen it firsthand. Perhaps she might get a little more respect from him now that he'd seen her in action. Regardless, the Captain brought his ship in near the mooring area and soon had it tethered there.

"Right! Time to get to work!" called Gneissminer, launching himself off the deck and to the door of the place. He removed the heavy goggles she'd seen him wearing before and replaced his spectacles for them, digging in his apron and producing tools with which to open the locks on the place.

Valerie opened the hold and removed the trunks in the meantime. Once the door was opened, Gneissminer pointed. "Alright, scout around, make sure no other danger's afoot." Valerie approached, and looked inside. Shadows pooled near the handful of still-flickering blue torches upon the walls.

Inside, she found a series of passages, doors unbarred, and chambers where some sort of laboratory had been, along with other rooms she presumed were for sleeping and recreation. Scattered documents and remnants of alchemical equipment, the remains of furniture, were the bulk of what she found.

Only in the center did she spy anything unusual. A hollowed-out chamber, open to the astral void above, where she saw several cocoons stuck to the walls, remains of the Kraken's previous meals, and an odd glowing spark floating there in the center of the room. It gave off a greasy, chilled miasma to the air around it, and Valerie left to report back.

"All clear. Ruins of the laboratory and living space, plus what I guess is the Kraken's nest and some...energy-ball thing." she told the gnome. Gneissminer immediately entered, wandering around. Valerie lingered near the entrance, while the Captain lounged there on the ship, idly polishing his ornate sword.

It wasn't long before he called, "My equipment! Bring it to the center!" Valerie gathered the trunks, hauling them through the passageways to where the Kraken had laired. Gneissminer was peering at the energy-ball and its miasma with fascination.

"That all?" she asked.

"Yes, yes, now leave me be!" he said with annoyance, shooing her with flaps of his hand, as if she were a pesky bug.

She left him gladly, returning to the ship to lounge around with the Captain. After a while, she asked, "So what are you getting out of this?"

He grunted, "Hundred gold a day. You?"

She sighed, "I need a research project done. I help him with this, he'll do what I want."

The Captain spat, "Sounds like a poor deal to me, but whatever polishes your blade."

Some time passed with no word from Gneissminer, so Valerie went to look in on him. He'd set up a series of portable laboratory tables and was busy conducting what to her looked like some kind of mad-scientist chemistry experiment. He didn't even notice her there, so she assumed he was fine, and left him absorbed in his work.

Bored, she flew around the rock a few times, then returned to the ship. "So I guess we're stuck here until he's done, then it'll take three more days to get back." she commented.

The Captain said, "Not that long. No more'n a day, if that."

Valerie looked at him, "That's not possible. It took us that long to get here."

The Captain sneered, "The Astral ain't like the Prime. Any destination you seek, you can be there in a week, at the most. No matter where it is. Better you know the place, the faster you can get there. It's a kind of...sense. There's other planes like that. So since I know Tu'narath like the back o' my hand, we'll be there in no time."

Valerie shook her head, "If you say so." She did her best to while away the hours while the Captain puttered around with his ship, looking over the sails and rigging, inspecting the hull and so on. Finally, Gneissminer came and called, "You, troll! Come help me!"

Valerie was bored enough by this point she welcomed the distraction, following along as the gnome beckoned. "I want to collect all their research data, everything they left behind. Gather the papers into stacks and bind them with this." He reached into a pocket and produced a roll of twine, handing it over.

It wasn't the most exciting task, but it beat sitting there staring at nothing all day. She set to gathering the scattered papers up, looking everywhere she could, then stacking them up. None of them were in a script she could read. Outside of the occasional diagram, it was just meaningless text.

She began to grow tired, and stopped to find Gneissminer. He was stretching and yawning himself, but when he saw her asked, "Are you done?"

"Almost. I'll finish tomorrow."

Gneissminer seemed mildly annoyed by that, but said only "We'll be here another day, I'm sure."

Valerie considered asking how his research went, but decided she didn't really care. Filing out, she joined the Captain on the ship, and the trio settled in to rest. They went undisturbed, and the next day she resumed gathering and binding the documents together, finishing after only a short time. She brought them to the gnome, who looked at them, then frowned.

"These are unsorted!" he complained, glaring at her.

"Well, excuse me for not reading Gobbledeygook or whatever the Hell that is!" she fired back.

Gneissminer gave a martyred sigh, muttered something in a language she didn't understand, which was probably good considering how offensive the gnome usually was. She left him again to conduct his research, returning to the Captain's side on the ship.

After a time, the Captain said, "Fancy a game o' Tossers?" as he produced a dagger from his belt. He flipped up the hatch to the hold, where on the inner surface she saw the sight of a target, familiar rings and a central dot like used in dart games back home, or on archery ranges.

The pair took turns throwing, Valerie being surprisingly good, she discovered, though she had to watch how hard she threw to avoid poking any larger holes than she had to in the wood. The Captain was surprised by her skill, and after several rounds said "Good thing we ain't playin' for coin."

Valerie chuckled, and asked, "So how'd you end up doing this for a living?"

The Captain pointed to his burned face, "This helped. I was Imperial navy, before the War broke out an' everything went flip-sides for our kind. Got burnt by dragonfire when the Queen was destroyed an' the Dragon-Pact was broke. One went rogue on us right there aside our ship. With me hurt an' the Empire gone all out of sorts, I chose to get out. They fixed me up with this here gem-eye, gave me enough I could buy this skiff. An' here I be."

Valerie nodded, "Is that why your city looks broken-up? The war you mentioned?"

He spat, "Aye. Made a right mess o' everythin'. Dunno if I believe all this talk that Gith's returned for true or not. Might be it's just a trick the renegades pulled. But it ain't worth me fightin' over, either way. I just wanna sail the Astral sea an' be left to my own. So instead o' freebootin', I do my little charters, nice an' legal-like."

Valerie supposed that was as good a way to live as any, if living here was what you wanted to do. The tedium continued to grate at her, until late in the day Gneissminer called for her again, to gather the repacked trunks. She didn't see the documents, so she assumed they had been placed inside.

Hauling them back and storing them away, she asked "Did you get what you were after?"

Gneissminer said, "Yes, my work came out satisfactory. I won't bother you with the details, I doubt you'd understand them."

Valerie didn't give him the satisfaction of agreement, even if that was likely true. Instead she settled down on the deck of the ship. The Captain said, "We'll keep harbor here again and leave on the morrow." Gneissminer didn't seem to care, so they once more settled in to rest.

Free of disturbance, they arose and set sail the next day, returning to the formless silver expanse of the Astral Plane. But true to his word, it was only a few hours past midday when the sight of Tu'narath came into view. Once they were safely berthed again, Gneissminer produced a writbook and made final payment to the Captain.

Hauling his trunks, Valerie followed the gnome back to the same portal they'd used before, passing through and into Sigil. The sudden pull of objective gravity was strange, like having been in a swimming pool for a long time and returning to land. But the sight of the city of Sigil was a welcome change from the endless silent silver seas.

Even if she could have done without the smell.

She followed Gneissminer back to the Society hall, where she dropped off the trunks. "Okay, if you get ready for the next expedition, leave a message for me with the Brotherhood. Until then, and I say this with all respect, good riddance."

Gneissminer scoffed, but said nothing in reply as she left the hall. She looked around for a brief time before she located a tout, a somewhat grubby human boy that was all too happy to show her back to the Twin Kings Inn for a gold coin. Once there she arranged for her same suite, handed her things over to be cleaned, had a hot bath, a hot meal and a good night's rest in a decent bed.