Chapter 2: The Ring
Oh the joys of making it one-step further on the path to power and glory. Right. The only thing that made sigal any different than everywhere else in the planes is that the deities agreed that it was no man's land. Which makes for some very interesting pairings all over the ring-city.
One such we stumbled upon as we were going to find accommodations for the night. The shock of seeing a Tenarii and a Celestial walk together like brothers was almost enough, but add to that the celestial was tolerating a bad bar joke from the Tenarii and you know things have gotten seriously strange.
The place was just like any other large city. Full of those who were made of all that is light, those that were pure darkness, and those who hadn't quite made their minds up as to who or what they were subservient to. Full of all matter of gadgets to get from here to there or even now and then. But again I get slightly ahead of myself.
Our luck ran us to a tavern called the Scaleless dog. Not to be confused with the scaly dog in pandemonium. There had been a tension in the air even before our motley crew came through the door. It hiked up a notch or two after Fuji noticed that there was a demon with a human slave at a table near to us.
I was just having a good time using his flaming hair to make s'mores and play music. When he got up to go confront the girl's tormentor, I naturally stood and followed to keep up my fun.
He reached the table as I had a twisted idea. The music I created started to change and everyone turned to look at me.
"Milady," the creature hissed at me as Fuji moved out of the way, "I didn't realize that one of your stature was traveling with such rabble."
"These are but servants and retainers that I see fit to have along on my journey." I hissed back in the same dark tongue.
We continued on making a bit of small talk before I got down to business. "How much for the slave, she appears to be useful." This as she translated some of what I couldn't convey to him. She also added some warnings to his translations. Take insult to something, okay easy enough. "I can give you the location of someone powerful enough to gain you better standing among your peers." I offered.
Though nobody had asked me, there were some parts of my current life that had worked their way back into my consciousness. The major fact was that my mother had tried to kill me once. Not intentionally for certain, and I truly did not die, but another minute in another direction and I would have been here now. That and I had this thought that it would be longer than I had left for her to die, be murdered or step down.
He turned me down. We discussed things for a little longer and he kept hedging. It angered me. So I excused myself to go speak with everyone else. "You let your slaves have a say in what you do?" He asked incredously.
"No, but occasionally they do have an idea or two that works. I shot at him as I left. We all conferred for a moment. Then I sauntered back to the table." unfortunately that wasn't the case this time."" I growled at him. Things degenerated from there. I took offense to all of what he had to say and we ended up fighting.
To save on the cost of ink I'll leave it at two short and simple facts. 1. He lost. 2. I received a very interesting leash outfit.
Now here is where we take rest, at a different inn of course. I will write more on the morrow.
Well I suppose I lied. Not really it is just that so much has happened in the past two days that I've only gotten a chance to collect my thoughts now. As I sit here in a place that is both foreign and familiar I will go back and attempt to relate to you how it is that I have come home...
After I finished my last entry we all settled in for the night. In the morning I found that Fuji and Tarajae had already gone hunting for a way to find this rip that we were tasked to repair.
My new...companion…and I went looking for a spell book. Apparently she fancies herself somewhat of a mage. That took only one gem. The one that I found out from Fuji later could have bought and outfitted us an army that was bigger than any ever seen and still left us with some change.
Well everyone is entitled to a colossal blunder. The next minor issue we had was when our errant associates reappeared in the inn. I was on break from performing and let my curiosity get a hold of me.
When they appeared I noted the strange device they held. I went with them on a trip and then decided to try it out. They told me how to operate it and we were off to the only room that I could recall from my early childhood.
The place was immaculate, as was usual. I let my mischievous side take hold. I went over to the closet and began to yank things out of it, throwing everything haphazardly around the room.
The others were looking around the room at the trophies that hung there. Some were the stuffed heads of creature the occupant had killed. (Please keep in mind at this time I was still a bit fuzzy on everyone I'd known in this place, but I knew that I'd know him or her when I saw them.) Others were the scrolls that went with the awards on the dress uniform. The only thing that I had left hanging in the closet was that purple, black and silver suit. It was too lovely to mess up.
I went over to the bed from there. Here again was the impeccable neatness. Not a wrinkle or a speck of dust could be seen. Feeling that I could cause as much trouble as possible, I decided to make a mess of that as well.
There was some small debate as to if we should open the door or not. I do believe that Fuji did. Needless to say he shut it as quick. Then he called the door forth and we left.
I had to smile when I stepped through. Fuji and Tara were otherwise detained by one of the Raiders. I recognized them the second I stepped through. I vaguely remember telling them to release Fuji and Tara. That was not up to me though and my heart near skipped a beat when the man who sat so casually at the table with the others looked at me.
Kox! How long had it been since I had last seen him? There were so many things I wanted to say to him right then and there. But I held my tongue, as he began to speak.
He began by telling me who I was. I could feel myself beginning to smirk and quickly tramped it down. How little he still remembered himself. I now know who I am and was he might need a nudge in the right direction. That will come later though. I let him finish his little speech.
Not much longer after that, we were all back at… well home.
