Hi all,
You began to settle in on the isles of Handra and got used to the paperwork but were still amazed by the diversity of cultures, races and ideas here; all freely flowing across the isles.
First, you left the Smoke House and ventured to the Market of the Future, which Bradde Mukkh said was a good place to buy “unusual, rare” things and to obtain scryings of possible future events. The Baronet and Captain seemed keen to pursue this but perhaps for different reasons.
The Market was in a great park dominated by a lagoon/lake that held several island gardens. Odd business was being conducted everywhere- in the shallow waters, on the shores and islands, and even in the dense band of woods that surrounded the park. Bradde took you to one shoreline corner where a lot of impromptu stalls had been set up. A big, hairy, savage-looking man-mountain named Kalbu of the Unshackled Mind sat at a table there, and Bradde recommended you take a seat to see what palm-readings he might supply. Kalbu turned out to be a gentle giant with a soothing, far-off voice, and was from the Diviner's Guild as the silver cap hanging by a necklace showed. He seemed impressed by you as you came, and as he grabbed the Baronet's palms he inhaled deeply from a hookah.
Kalbu described visions of a “great winged one” (the pteranodon Star-thief Round-tip?? It had not been seen in some seasons now) watching over you and wondered why it kept its distance- fear? He saw dragons in sea and clouds, “black boats carrying black men with black beasts” and “Titans in lavender” (Luathans, you figured), before he exclaimed “amidst them, no, not them!” and hurled the Baronet's hands away, shaking as he stared at the Captain and eventually motioned him forwards with visible apprehension. One touch of the Captain's hands and he hurled them away too, running away to take cover in the back of the Market as he shouted that the Captain in particular, and all of you too, bore a terrible Vadeli curse that threatened even the city.
You decided it was time to leave, as too many faces looked at you with suspicion, but as you left Boamund spotted a familiar face in the crowd before it slipped away: the troublesome youth named Zeffedi, of the St Thosos street kids— your stowaway!?
But en route back to the Shadow, you crossed a bridge and were confronted by the Handran guards, who said you were wanted for questioning by the city Lictors. You complied and were taken back across the bridge to an imposing old, squat grey-brick building with elaborate statues of city figures around its grand arched entrance. You were led down echoing stone halls to a spacious hearing chamber where two dozen grey-robed people of the Lictors guild, the investigative/judicial arm of the city guilds, awaited you. Their Master Aliator asked you pointed questions as the Scrivener Aestulophius took notes and gave you simple counsel about the local rules.
Master Aliator asked the Captain about the Vadeli and their relationship with you, which you gave vague answers to but enough to satisfy him that you might not be their thralls, he asked the Baronet about why he sought the Elandra cult and associated with a member of the Outcasts Guild (“ropemakers”- criminals punished with making rope for the city), Bradde Mukkh. The Captain then noted under questioning about his meetings with Stormswallower that he was investigating a grim menace that had come to Handra, and the Lictors admitted that they knew something odd was up, but did not know more. By the end of the discussion, it became clear that you were people of interest to the city not just for your suspicious dealings and rumours/portents, but because you might be helpful too. You were released with cautions that you'd be watched more and you should not associate with people like Bradde Mukkh.
You went separate ways for the day- Boamund got some document copies from the Scriveners' Guild to learn about the city's history, Ciddar got drunk at the Blue Dock tavern and befriended a merchant-adventurer from the Lunar empire (!?) named Porriga the Fair, and the rest of you went to the Shadow and talked to Quirsket of the Maritimer's Guild. He knew Bradde was uncouth, but could not guide you around town; however he showed some interest in talk of trading in “black bricks” made by the Baronet's folk from volcanic rocks on Giraine (Handra is a town that loves bricks of different kinds, and does not have black bricks).
Quirsket also spoke of the Prophecy of the City, as inscribed on walls of the Cathedral of Saint Sanbal on nearby Cerowin Isle, that the hero Handra had been granted by angels, which led Handra to found the city here. Some of that prophecy had not yet come to pass- for example, there were 24 guilds but the prophecy spoke of 25– a guild was yet to come, and none knew what it might be! (the Priors of the city/Church were probably not it)
As night came, you settled in to uncomfortable sleep again, and the Baronet had a terrible nightmare about drowning, awakening as he coughed up seawater! Others you knew, such as the Shadow's crew, complained about similar evil dreams. A gloom seemed to be settling over the city…
The next day you met Bradde Mukkh and sent him away (although the Baronet had a quick whisper with him). You then returned to the Market, hoping that the situation would have relaxed enough for Kalbu to give you more prophecies (there did seem to be something to this chap's visions!). You were right, although he looked at you fearfully, and would not use the hookah's hashish to amplify his insights. He read Boamund's palms and warned that “One comes bearing the dark ring, which decorates suffering,” then that “I spy a dancing whirlwind that flenses the living; beware!”. He read Ciddar's palms, giving a more positive reading urging him too “Seek the one-eyed man, so Handra may find peace,” but then “So much wreckage… you will come to know many islands soon.” This satisfied you and the modest price paid seemed to be more than worth the tidbits.
You sought more information throughout the town, learning from the local sailors that no Wolf Pirates had been seen nearby for quite a while so perhaps they were not to blame for the gloom on Handra (although it was acknowledged that it was possible their magicians could work such magics).
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