Red gets transported to Sigil...

A room coalesces, circular with grey stone walls, around you and you find
yourselves standing within a chalked circle on the floor.  A quirky half-elf
in leathers looks up at a dark robed human and says, "I wanted to talk to
some Baatezu.  What is this?"

"They should be Baatezu," the black robed mage hisses.  "Who are you?"

For any of you that try, you can't move past the circle.

FOLDIS,
       On appearing in the room Foldis groans "Oh no not again"
and starts prodding at the edge of the circle with the head of her
axe.

I talk to the black-robed gentleman, "Baatezu?  No, I'm afraid there's been
a mistake made here.  Either your aim or your timing was off just a bit.
The Baatezu weren't quite to shore yet.  But as long as we're here, what
seems to be troubling you?  Perhaps we can be of some assistance."<<Jeath>>

"No trouble," says the quirky half-elf with a chuckle.  "But you're not
what I wanted obviously."  He turns to the dark robed mage and asks,
"Can you send them back?  They might have been in the middle of something
important and I'd hate to delay them."

"Yes, but then it's going to cost extra for me to cast the summonning
again.  Can't believe you, Sensate?  Wanting to talk to some Baatezu."

"Tanar'ri, too.  Though not at the same time.  And I don't want to
speak to the ones that have come to Sigil.  I want the Blood Warriors,
the ones that have been in the trenches.  I want the full experience
of relating to them, and them relating to each other," the half-elf
replies.  He turns back to Jeath, who addresses them, and says, "Sorry
to have kept you.  We'll send you right back."  On his leathers is a patch
showing a symbol of a face over a cupped palm and an ear.

Christeel take in his new surroundings for a moment before, speaking, "Oh
hello, how do you do you do, We are from Baatezu, what sort of infomation
are you looking for?  Of course the infomation that we give is not free."
With a shit eaten grin Christeel states, "Ask your question?"

Both the robed wizard and the leather-clad half-elf snort at each other
and then look at the group trying not to laugh.  "From Baatezu," the
half-elf grins even wider.  "I'd guess more like from Toril from
your accents."

Stepping forward firmly, bows before the pair.  Speaking in perhaps the
most professional tone any have heard him use yet, he addresses the
half-elf.

        "Milord, your gods seem to have brought you to us in
         our time of need.  We were just about to be off that
         plane, and would reward you greatly for the transport."

After his lengthy soliloquy, Phearez will dig into his backpack and pull
out a coin pouch - his eyes all the while kindly observing the half-elf.

I address the human mage, "Look, let me be honest with you.  We'd just as
soon not go back, we were trying to get out of there in the first place.  As
for my friends here, the one with the money bag holds a mostly empty purse.
We all do, but your welcome to what we have if that's what you wish.  One of
us has a rich uncle, fat lot of good that does us.  The one who says we're
from Baatezu is a chronic liar.  Nice guy, good in a pinch, but you can't
trust a word he says.  You should ask him what he did with the twins
sometime.  Makes for a good tale, anyway."<<Jeath>>

"But look at it this way, Sensate here wants you to summon two more GROUPS
of demons yet today, and send back two more GROUPS of demons.  You're going
to be expending a lot of energy on this.  We're no threat to you, nor do we
wish to be.  Why not just cut us loose, make us happy and save your strength
for the real work ahead."<<Jeath>>

"It's gonna cost you extra either way," the robed wizard says.  "Time
and effort to rebuild the circle with proper protections, or the
release of the summoning spell an additional time."

"So... you were on Baator and you wished to be off of Baator and now
that you're here, you want us to let you out of the summoning circle,"
the half-elf says.  "Break the circle, Varick.  I wouldn't send primes
back to the Nine Layers of Baator for no reason."  The half-elf smiles
warmly and as Varick's toe smudges the chalked circle on the floor,
he adds, "And the name's Foster, not Sensate.  I am a Sensate.  Welcome
to Sigil."

Foldis, testing the edge of the drawn circle, watches as her axe slides
clean across the boundary.

Foster adds with a grin, "And keep your money, human.  I'm paid well
by my Factol to get this information I'm searching for."

Christeel is giddy as a looney bird, springing from the circle, "Wahoo..
many thank"  Christeel dances a little gig.

Speaking to the two that summoned us here, "If I may ask, where is Sigil?,
This is still the forgotten realm.?  How far is it to waterdeep?  I have a
two ladies waiting for me.  Oops one more, What is the date?"

"Ah... Torellians.  Sigil is the center of the multiverse, high above
the Spire in the center of the Outlands.  The Outlands are surrounded
on all sides by the outer planes.  You're far from your prime world of
Abier-Toril."

"Listen, I'll be glad to help you berks out," Foster says with a grin.
"Finding a portal to your home shouldn't be too hard.  Waterdeep you
say."

FOLDIS,
        On finding her Axe will leave the circle Foldis heaves a
sigh of relief and starts to scan the room the party is in on hearing
Foster say he may be able to help us get home though she stops what
she is doing and starts to listen intently to the conversation.

  I step forward out of the circle.  "Thank you for the offer Foster.  We
would be grateful for any help you could give us."<<Onyx>>

I turn to Foster, "See what I mean.  A legend in his own mind."  I shake my
head.  "Anyway, not to pry, but out of curiosity what are you trying to find
out that you need to be summoning all these creatures from The Plains for?
Obviously I can't help, I'm but a beginner in the arts, but I can't help but
wonder what you're up to."

"By the way, thanks for the help.  And the effusive one is correct about one
thing, there is a wedding, or was, that we would like to attend, or else
we're in trouble for missing.  What is the date?"

"A wedding... I like weddings.  I don't really know the date back on your
prime world though.  I'm sure someone would know that keeps track of things
like that, perhaps a merchant who does business there.  Of course, you'd
have to find a merchant that does business there.  And if you want to return
you have to find a portal," Foster says matter-of-factly.  "Not an easy thing
these days.  Especially to Toril.  The Lady's been concerned about berks coming
from there to help shore up Darkwood's ranks and the portals that I knew about
have been closed.  You might be stuck here for awhile."

"As for talking to the fiends, I'm trying to write a report on the Blood War
for historical reference.  Something about the day to day drudgery and so
forth."

"Could you tell us more about this Darkwood situation?  it sounds like it
will effect our efforts to get home, so perhaps we would have a better
chance of finding a portal if we knew what it was all about.  Also, who is
the Lady you speak of?  You make it sound like she wields a good deal of
power.  Do you think it would be possible for us to meet her?  Perhaps if we
could explain our situation to her she would be able to help us get home.
All I want to do is get home.  We don't want to cause anyone any trouble.<<Onyx>>

"Speak for yourself.  Me, I love causing trouble.  But I've gotten a little
better at choosing the time and place."<<Jeath>>

"The Lady runs Sigil and controls the portals.  However portals to Krynn have
almost become non-existent and portals to Toril are closing regularly now as
well.  Duke Darkwood is the Leader of the Fated.  A group who believes that
everyone should take what they want and not help anyone else.  Well, Darkwood's
got his eyes on taking over all the faction's in Sigil... and my friend that
works for him thinks he may even want to take over for the Lady as well.  I
personally think he doesn't stand a chance.  The Lady'll shove him in a maze
for the rest of his life if he ever attempts to go after her.  And no...
You should stay clear of the Lady, or you might wind up in the dead book."

Christeel looks to Jeath and states boldly and with out a quiver in his
voice, "I will be a legend and not just in my own mind.  People will know
of me before my final day has come."

"I'm sure they will Christeel.  Cripes, the way we've been getting around
lately everyone everywhere will know who we are in a couple weeks."<<Jeath>>

With a look at Onyx I add to Foster, "I assume The Lady will be too busy for
misplaced wanderers such as ourselves.  Would you know what Underling we
could get in touch with that could speed us on our way out of here."<<Jeath>>

"Also, if we can't get out of here, or if we're delayed for some reason,
would you be interested in hiring an assistant.  I'm very fond of books, a
good writer and fairly good at gathering information.  And I'm broke, so if
we're stuck here long I'll need to do something to earn my keep.  The only
other alternative would be hiring myself out as an entertainer, but not
knowing the area I know not what passes for entertaining here.  All in all,
I would prefer the books."<<Jeath>>

Christeel says to Foster, "How's this for historical reference, there is a
column of talking heads down there, that know lots of things, though it is
somewhat hard to get them to quiet down sometimes.  There is a nice old
witch that lives in a cave near the begining of the river of blood.  To
leave that layer that we were on you need to know a location of a portal
and the proper key to leave though it, where they lead to I do not know.
And we know of a way to get there from Toril, well we found out by
accident.  Oh I almost forgot there is some sort of yellow brick road the
bunches of fiends were marching on going to battle something like that."

Christeel stands silent for a brief moment and add, "Do you know what the
results might be if someone say actually drank some of the water from the
river of blood? also there is some big river there called Styx and someone
called Charion.  Also what is a berk you have refered to us as that, I
might find it to be insulting if I knew what the word meant.

The attending wizard snorts listening to the others.  "Don't know about
the River of Blood but sounds like you berks ran into The Pillar of Skulls
and the River Styx, eh?  But that's hardly gonna impress Foster's Factol."

As the conversation bounces back and forth, Erilyx stuffs his money pouch
away, and seemingly ignores most of what is said after Foster's 1st major
proclimation.  His dark eyes stare blankly at the ground, and he mutters
to himself (making sure he's OUT of the circle).

Walking slowly towards any obvious doorway from the room his mind grinds
over the possible implications of what he has just learned.

        "multi...verse. . . "

As Erilyx heads towards the one workroom door, Foster says, "I thank you for
your help, but it's pretty clear you don't know that much about Avernus.  And
if there is a witch there, she's probably pretty evil.  That's what usually
finds their way there is evil creatures with a code.  And there's always
armies massing on Avernus.  They march the great road to portals or to the
river Styx, which winds it's way through many different planes, all trips
taking less than a day, no matter where you're going.  As for Charon... hmm,
can't place the name.  He doesn't sound like one of the Dark Nine."

"Thank you for the information, it should prove useful.  I hate to be a
pest, but do you happen to have any idea how we could find a portal back to
our home?  basically, the sooner we can try to get home the sooner we will
be out of your hair."<<Onyx>>

I ask Foster, "What do you suggest we do.  Our main objective is to return
to Waterdeep, in the Realms.  Who should we talk to, visit, see, pester
besides you to get us there?"<<Jeath>>

"Well, you could spend three days at the Hall of Records filling out forms
and standing in lines," the wizard smirks.

Foster glares at him and says, "Let's not go through an ordeal like that.
You just need to find someone that knows a few portals around town.  Maybe
buy a portal map, if you can find one reliable and not some knight of the
post attempting a crosstrade.  I can take you to an Inn if you like?  And
if you find a portal I can tell you where it goes and what activates it."

Foldis,
    After listening intently to the conversations going on
Foldis finally makes a comment, "Foster? What do you mean by
a cross trade?"

Foster looks down at the dwarf maiden and says, "A bad trade, a dirty
deal, milady.  A knight of the post or a coneycatcher are men to be
avoided at all cost.  You must be very careful here in Sigil when
buying anything, whether arms or information."

"I think our best bet is to take you up on your offer to take us to an inn.
Do you happen to know anyone who would have a good chance of knowing what
portal we need, or would you at least be able to spot the people we need to
avoid?"<<Onyx>>

Christeel "Yes, show us this inn of which you speak, and many thanks for
getting us out of hell"  Christeel will say a small prayer of thanks to his
goddess Mysteria.

Foldis,
    "Is there any way we can recognise these Knights of the
Post?"

As Foster leaves the way from the room, telling the black robed wizard
that he'll return later, Foster replies, "Well... how would you know
who to trust and who not to trust on your world.  Perhaps the same
thing will work here.  Just be careful.  They don't wear uniforms or
such.  I'll take you to an Inn in the Great Bazaar, it's not too far
away."

Once out the door, Foster leads the way down some stairs and out into
the street.

A street with brick and mortar buildings towering overhead.  Green vines
with dark leaves climb the walls and in some places encroach out into
the streets and most of the buildings have gargoyles overlooking from
the roofs or jagged crenellations and edges to deter would be thieves.
None of the buildings seem to be built of the same stone, nor built
in any set pattern.  One building even seems to lean haphazardly over
the street as though someone was trying to build it to reach over the
street to the building across from it.  Not one of these buildings would
fit Waterdeep.

And with only the light cloud cover up above, it seems a mirror city has
been placed above your heads, tops of buildings pointed down.

Foster gives you a minute to adjust and then says, "That's Sigil, too..."
He grins and says, "And I don't think I got everyone's name.  I enjoy
meeting people, so don't feel you've upset my plans or anything.  I'm
Foster and I'm a Sensate.  If you spend any time here at all in Sigil
you're going to learn that a lot of people belong to a faction, a group
with a set of beliefs, though even some factions have splinter groups.
The Sensate's believe we can learn the darks of the multiverse by experiencing
new things.  The Civic Festhall where our headquarters is, is back the other
way from the Golden Acorn where I'm taking you."

The sidestreet is deserted at present, and Foster adds, "It's early morning
yet... five past anti-peak."

Christeel is busily checking out this grand new city, He looks up at the
city above and then trying to get a better look at that part of the city.
He does a handstand and then looks at the city above.

"My name is Onyx Strongarm.  Thank you for your help Foster.  We could use
a friend about now."

I will follow Foster and try not to look up.  An upside down city in the sky
is not something I like to see.

As I admire the city above, I tell Foster, "My name is Jeath.  I too have a
set of beliefs.  For instance, I believe a good meal, a sweet wine and a
good nap would be the closest thing to Utopia I could achieve right now."

"That won't be a problem after a short walk."  Foster turns to Erilyx and
Darrin and asks, "And what about you two fellows?  You both look a little
pale.  Are you okay?  Sometimes newcomers to Sigil feel a little lightheaded
and have trouble breathing the thinner air.  We're thousands of countless feet
above the Outlands.  In fact we sit atop an infinitely tall spire, well, we
float above it."

I will avoid looking up at the other city and if we come to a place where we
can look down at the spire I turn the opportunity down.<<Onyx>>

Slowly bringing his wide jaw to a close, Erilyx blinks at the wonders
around him; his feet constantly dragging against the brick.

Blinking several times after Foster makes refrence to him, Erilyx makes a
quick bow.  "Begging your pardon sir, the odd splendor of your home seems
to have relieved me of my manners."  The youth's tone is again
professional and he enunciates each word perfectly.  "I am called Amon
Sul, of the faction otherwise known as The Ignorant Humans.  Our
headquarters resides on the increasingly insignificant rock of Toril."

With a wry, friendly grin, Erilyx bows to Foster again.

Christeel ask Foster about the city "Is this city shaped like a giant
sphere, like could we walk to the city up above us or how would one get
there??"

Foster sighs and replies slowly, "Take a good yew bow and pretend that you
can not only bend it to string it, but bend it all the way back till one
end meets the other.  And then hold it level above the ground and pretend
that you are walking on the inside of the bow.  Yes, you could walk in a
straight line, curving around the inside of the city and eventually you
would end up right here again."

Foster then looks curiously at the still pale youth with vacant eyes that stands
just slightly behind Erilyx, uh, Amon Sul, and says, "Is this one alright?
He looks pretty bad, though having come from Avernus, I can understand that.
Did you see a lot of fiends?  He didn't touch the River Styx did he?"

Darrin doesn't even seem to realize that the friendly half-elf is talking
about him.

Christeel walks over to Darrin, "Lad do snap out of it, do we need to take
you to a temple or something."

Darrin's eyes trail to Christeel and he slowly shakes his head from side-
to-side.  He whispers, "I'll be okay, Christeel.  Things are much quieter
here."

"None of us touched the river Styx, but we were on its banks about to be
attacked by about 50 fiends when we appeared here.  We did have to cross the
river of blood a few times and the voices really got to him.  He hasn't
looked very good since we entered Avernus.  Hiopefully it is nothing that a
few days of good food and a lot of rest can't fix."<<Onyx>>

Christeel tells Foster "The river of blood runs into the river styx and
when we finally got close to the river Styx, Darrin here kinda acted like a
zombie and started walking toward the river, we had to restrain him. What
exactly does the river Styx do to you anyway?  Do we need to take Darrin to
a temple or something?  If we were to return to Waterdeep with him in this
condition I think the his father would be after our heads"

Foster steps closer to Darrin and the youth looks up at him startled as
if seeing him for the first time.  Foster puts a hand on Darrin's shoulder
and soothingly says, "It's okay, lad.  Your safe now from the dead's voices.
You just need to see life again."  Darrin's head ducks down and Foster
seems very saddened by Darrin's reaction.  "The River Styx runs through
several of the Lower Planes.  It's touch brings complete and total amnesia.
Some few lucky ones only seem to suffer this for a day, but most remember
nothing of their previous lives ever.  The River of Blood.  I'd have to
check with a few of my colleagues.  There are professors at the Festhall
that sometimes give lectures on Avernus.  Perhaps they can counsel me, if
you don't mind me helping him.  I'm curious about his reaction and would
like to find out how he does after a few days.  But then, that means you
get me for a guide and aide during your stay in Sigil."

Foster turns back to Darrin and putting an arm around his shoulders, he
says softly, "We'll get you feeling normal in no time, Darrin.  Sigil is
a varied and wondrous place.  Anything can happen in Sigil, we just have
to find out what will make you feel alive again."  Foster can be heard
to mutter, "And we have to keep you away from the dustmen, boy."

He leads the way out of the thin street and into a street teeming with
people.  Well, what you might call people.  Humans and half-elves make
up only a small percentage as winged box like creatures walk past and
red skinned leathery beings walks hand in hand with a seven foot red frog
with a ruby embedded in it's forehead.  And surely that's an angel flying
low, white feathery wings, and he even has the audacity to wave at your
group as he goes past.  Tails, snakeskin, blue and green hair, earrings
in noses, lips and brows, all make the common human, dwarf, and elf seem...
strange in comparison.

Foster enters the teeming masses and no one seems to take any notice
of you, as he leads the way down a cobblestone street past more of
the towering edifices.  Foster points out an alehouse, The Fat Candle,
as he turns right up the street at the corner where it's located and
then he leads you past a fenced in mansion that stands only a couple
of stories tall, two guards at the gated entry.  It looks quite private
in the midst of several other buildings.  Both guards smile and nod
in passing to Foster and all of you note the symbol on thier breast
matches the one on Foster's.

Foldis,
        After using the walk to the inn to take in, and come
to terms with, the strange situation the party has found
themselves in Foldis finally speaks.

        "Foster, excuse my rudeness in not introducing
myself earlier but all this <indicates with a sweep of the
arm the floating city and the strange residents> is rather
overwhelming, where we come from some of the residents here
would cause quite a stir, if not a riot.", she then extends
her hand and continues, "I am Foldis"

Foster bends low over the dwarf's hand, taking the hand in his own
slender yet firm grip, his lips touch the back of Foldis' hand and
he rises whispering, "And a pleasure it is to meet you, lovely lady.
I will say, you will not find many of your kindred here.  Most dwell
in the realm of Clangeddin in the Outlands.  They prefer the comforts
of a dingy mountain to the openness of the city as it were."

FOLDIS,
        Being unused to people kissing her hand, in fact
being fairly unused to anyone kissing her anywhere, Foldis
blushes at Fosters actions and inquires of him.
        "How far is it to this Clangeddin?"

Christeel flips himself back to his feet and walks over to Jeath and gives
him a nudge with his elbow, "I would have have my head slaped for something
like that and she let him get away with calling her a lovely lady.  I guess
its all in the delevery ehh.."

Christeel smiles and asks Foster (while being a considerable distance from
Foldis) "Yes our lovely lady here would like to know how far it is to
Clangeddin"

"Christeel, you truly have a death wish, don't you."  I turn to Foster.
"Our friend Darrin here was thoroughly doused in the River of Blood.  What
that's done to him I don't know, but if you know anyone who could help we'd
appreciate it.  If seeing life is all he needs, give him to Christeel and me
and show us where the taverns are.  Quick, before Foldis gets him."  I turn
to Onyx and Amon Sul, "My money's on Foldis, what do you think?"   <<Jeath>>

I will move up to walk with Foster so I can speak with him.  "Who are the
dustmen and why do we need to keep Darrin away from them?"

After hearing him greet Foldis:

"Clangeddin?"  I stopped walking, momentarily stunned.  "Are you talking
about who I think you are talking about?"   <<Onyx>>

"I was talking about Clangeddin... one of your Gods I believe," Foster says
with a grin.  "I personnally wouldn't visit him in his realm, being part-elf,
but any dwarf would surely be welcome there."

I will walk with the group to wherever it is we are going (I must confess I
don't recall exactly what we are doing).  I turn to Foldis: "Before we leave
this place and return home we must go visit Clangeddin.  I am not a devoutly
religious man, but I can't pass up an opportunity to actually visit the
mighty Clangeddin."<<onyx>>

Foster quickly adds on, "And the Dustmen believe that since everything dies
eventually, we may just as well get used to the fact and act like it
ahead of time.  I can just imagine them getting their hands on someone that's
feeling as badly as he must be feeling after such an experience.  Of course,
he could always go to the Festhall and make a record of the experience.  We
use recorder stones to record unique experiences, and then others can rent
them out and live the experience for themselves.  Quite a way to experience
life.  We might even find something he would like to experience in exchange.
The usual rate is ten gold pieces to try one and it's extremely realistic.
We just passed the Festhall, but it's only about a half a mile behind us."

"The worst thing about that is the number of people who would enjoy it.
Scary.  It's your call Darrin, but I'm philosophically opposed to living
other people's experiences, or them mine.  The whole point to life is to do
everything you can with it while you have the chance.<<Jeath>>

"That's where the Dustmen miss the point as well.  Yes, everyone is going to
die, but you don't try to get used to it, you try to enjoy everything you
can before it happens.<<Jeath>>

"Listen to me rattle.  What we really need is outahere.  Or a beer.  Better
yet, both."<<Jeath>>

Christeel says," I don't know about you guys and lady, but I could use a
drink and take the time to prop my feet up for a little while, and get some
grub." Christeel's stomach growls almost as if on cue. "See"

Christeel comments, "I'm Thirsty let's get a drink"

Foldis,
    "Christeel!! That's the first sensible thing you've said
since we met, lets drink."

Erilyx merely follows the general will of the group, still staring wide
eyed at his surroundings and listening to everything said (except by the
dwarves really...).  His eyes seem lighter than any have seen since
meeting him, and his facial expressions are almost bright in contrast to
his previous gloom.

"Well... the food's good at the Acorn," grins your guide.  Foster adds, "And
the recorder stones are for unique experiences that you may not get the chance
to experience.  There's only so much you can do in one lifetime, even for
an elf," he adds with a wink at Jeath.  "But with the stones, you can try a
few more things without having to go say, to the elemental plane of fire,
or if you can't manage a trip to Loki's realm, you could still enjoy one of
his fine parties.  Of course I've been to one... don't remember much of it
though.  So you might be right, get your young friend drunk and maybe he'll
forget his troubles... much better than drinking from the Styx."

Foster continues to lead the way up the street.  After about a mile he turns
down a back alley.  Ahead you can hear and see a jumbled mass of confusion.
In other words... a bazaar of tents and booths and sellers of everything
mundane to exotic... to never seen or heard of before.

Just before heading into the mass of persons, booths and tables, Foster steps
up to the corner of the building to your right.  Even as his hand grips the
handle of the door, your group can see a raised emblem of an acorn tree done in
Gold.  Foster opens the door and ushers you inside.  The name Golden Acorn Inn
boldly formed with thin strands of gold surround the main emblem.

Foster waves to the red bearded balding man behind the counter and then calls
out hello to the trim figure of a blond holding a mandolin and sitting on the far
end of the bar.  "Working on another song, Dai'Lyn?" the half-elf questions as
he takes a seat at a table near that end of the bar.  As you come closer you can
see her sharp green eyes glint with pleasure, a thin chain of silver stretched
from nosering to earring under her left eye.

She doesn't stop playing and murmering songs under her breath as she smiles
at the half-elf and nods in reply.

The table that Foster sits at already has one seat taken and Foster grins
and greets the black garbed figure with bright, fiery eyes.  His lean angular
head is covered under a black cap, but the impression of snaking coils of
writhing tongues from under the cap is that his hair color is red to match
the eyes.  "How's one of my favorite pupils doing?  Practice, Aredin, is much
harder while listening to this lovely young woman play the mandolin," Foster
grins, giving Dai'Lyn a wink.

"Ah,yes. But none has a better view,"Aredin says with a grin. Everyone
gets a very good look at his black skin and his waving red flame-like hair
when he looks up and his cowl falls back around his shoulders.

Another young woman comes up behind the black robed figure and sets an ale
down in front of him, reaching over his shoulder, her body clearly rubbing
against his back.  All note the hand has only two fingers and there are two
small horns protruding from her temples.  When she straightens up to take a
sip of her own ale, she's a touch over six feet as well... a solid looking
individual in her low cut leathers.  She winks at Foster and says, "Didn't
expect to see you here so early today."

"Light Touch... you're looking... well," the half-elf says with a wry grin.
Foster looks over at the people he just met and motions them to have a seat.
Amongst the small group are two young looking humans, two dwarfs, one male
and one female, both hardy and stout looking, and two elves... all seem ragged
looking and worn, though one youth, the look in his eyes speak of unspeakable
horror as he stands just gazing ahead, hardly seeming to see the insides of
the Inn.  "Here, Darrin," Foster calls to the young human.  This does get his
attention and Darrin sits next to the half-elf in the chair which Foster
indicates.

Foster turns to Aredin and Light Touch and remarks, "These berks just came
from Avernus... I was doing some work for my faction and actually summoned
these primes from there instead of a Baatezu or two.  A good mistake for
them though.  I guess they were looking for a way out of there."

As the half-elf speaks, a halfling with a tray comes padding over in his
barefeet and carefully sets down a couple of bowls of nuts and iced vegetables
and then says glumly, "Dak get you what?"  The amber eyes look up at each
of the individual's at the table.  When his eyes get to Foster he smiles
and says, "Foster get ale...usual?"

"No, Dak... red wine for me," Foster says with a grin.

Dak, the halfling grouches, "Fine... always change... everyday.  Make tough on
Dak."  The eyes turn to Aredin and he adds, "What Dak get for you?"

Foster grins at the half-witted halfling, and winks over at Aredin.

With a smirk and a small shake of his head, he says,"Fire wine, of course."
His hair ripples like a breeze through a flame.

Dak looks back at him before turning to the next person and seems to think
for a few seconds before saying, "Yeah... you order that a lot.  Dak know
that.  Dak never forget."  The halfling looks at the male dwarf and peering
at him closely says, "You have whiskey like always.  Dak not see you for
a couple of days, but Dak remember you."

FOLDIS,
        After Aredin has ordered Foldis looks at Dak and says

        "Dak, I'll have your strongest ale, and bring one for my friend
here <indicates Christeel>"

Dak looks from Dwarf to Elf and then smirks for some reason known only
to himself.  "Ale, uh-huh," Dak murmers under his breath.  "Two."

        Then to Christeel
        "You suggested having a drink so lets see if a big strong man like
yourself can keep up with a mere 'dwarven princess'."

        When the ales arrive Foldis downs hers in one and then says to
Christeel
        "Your round now I think"

"As a matter of fact," the woman leans over and purrs in Aredin's ear.  "Speaking
of jobs, I heard a couple of Indeps were looking for you.  Interested in a
job, Aredin?  You might need some help.  Foster's always willing to help," she
grins over at the friendly half-elf.  "I gave them your name and told them
where to find you," she adds to Aredin with a smile.  "It could mean quite
a lot to you, Aredin."

"Really. I must see these people. Are they on there way here?"

"I saw them earlier today," Light Touch replies.  "If they want to find you,
they know where now."

"Unfortunately, I'm still busy with that other project," Foster says.  "Faction
business first.  I'm just giving the necromancer I went to time to rest before
he casts the spell again.  On the way back, I was thinking of taking Darrin by
the Festhall and showing him a couple of recorder stones... maybe get him to open
up about his experience in the River of Blood.  Seems he took a good dunking in
the river and has been a little under the weather."  The young human next to him
twitches once at the mention, but then stays almost immobile, eyes focused on
the center of the table.

"What business is that,Foster? Or is that to personal?"Aredin says with a
smile.

"Research on the Blood War," Foster replies.  "Boring and not worth the
effort, but Erin wants to know how things stand first hand.  You know I'd
rather be out meeting people and showing berks like these around."

"I'll bring him back with me later and tomorrow when I get time, I'll try to
help you find a portal back to your world," Foster tells the rest of the group.
"But, I doubt he can get the help he needs there.  Here in Sigil we can
find someone who's more of an expert on the River and get Darrin better."

"Just got to help all the clueless berks you can find," Light Touch says to
Foster with a good natured laugh.  "You're too good Foster... Honestly don't
know how you can do it.  Live in this city all your life and still be so kind
and helpful.  You'll put all the cross-traders out of business," she adds.

"Where do you people come from, if I may ask?"Aredin asks looking very
curiously at the group of new comers.

I turn to Aredin, "Where are we from?  Weren't you listening?  We're from
Avernus.  And why Foster thinks it was a good thing for us he happened on us
when he did I don't understand.  We were perfectly happy being lost in
Avernus for a few days, with a boatload of demons headed our way.  Can't
understand why he thinks we wanted to leave."

Foster remarks quickly, "I offered to send you back.  You didn't have to
stay here."

"Really?" Aredin says with a smile."I knew you looked farmiliar.Pit Fiend,
Barbazu?"
    "No, no, no. I have it,"he says raising his hand to his mouth to stifle
a laugh,"Lemure! Definitely a lemure."

To Dak, "I think I'd like a sample of the red wine Foster ordered."  Short
pause.  "A big sample."

After observing Foldis comments to Christeel, "Hell hath no fury like a
'Dwarven Princess' scorned.  You brought this on yourself guy, don't look to
me for help."

And, finally, to Aredin again, "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself.  My
name is Jeath, and my talents lie mostly in the field of sarcasm.  And
yourself?"

"My name is Aredin Ember. And I specialize in fire. Spells to be specific."

"Whiskey would be fine, Dak.  However, I am in the mood for a taste of
home, so after one whiskey I will take a good Dwarven ale.  I would also
like a large piece of beef and some bread if you have any."  I will then
extend a hand to Aredin and Light Touch.  "I am Onyx Strongarm and these are
my friends: I point to each in turn, my fellow Dwarf is Foldis and her
drinking companion is Christeel, Jeath here is our Elven prankster or
smartass, however you like to look at it. (I smile as I say this)  This lad
here is Amun Sul or something like that, and our friend and employeer is
Darrin.  We are from the Realms and as you might suspect we are a little
lost.  We were after a murderer and we stumbled into some sort of magical
gateway and we found ourselves in Avernus.  It is a good thing Foster here
summoned us when he did, we were about to be attacked by a large number of
fiends and we probably would not have survived.  Anyway, it is nice to meet
you and no offense, I hope we are not here long enough to really get to know
each other.<<Onyx>>

Christeel smiles as he takes a drink from his mug, "Well said Onyx, good
for you"  With that said Christeel clinks his mug against Foldis "Til our
mug is empty"

"None taken. Maybe you should stay a while. Sigil isn't to bad of a place
once it grows on you," Aredin says.And then whispers,"like a fungus."
"Which realms are you speaking of? There are many in the Multiverse."

Foster, can you help answer that?  All I know is that we had just arrived at
Waterdeep when we had to try and chase down AJ, and then we wandered into
the magic room and ended up in Avernus.  I don't even know what a Multiverse
is."<<Onyx>>

"Dwarves, sheesh."  Short pause as I look around the table.  "Oh, sorry
Foldis.  MALE dwarves, sheesh."<<Jeath>>

        "That's all Dwarves Jeath, I don't have a clue what
a Multiverse is either".<<Foldis>>

"Like you have any idea which Realms we come from and what a Multiverse is.
If you are so smart, why don't you just explain it to us all."<<Onyx>>

Christeel taking another drink "Yea, tell us Garth, I mean Jearth"

Heavy sigh.  "Anytime you don't know what a word means, break it down into
it's component parts.  Multiverse.  Multi-more than one, many.  Verse-part
of a song.  Therefore a multiverse is a song with many parts."

"And if you believe that one..."<<Jeath>>

"That is a very interesting way of putting it. All of existence is a song
and the different planes are different chord in said song. Then again,
Maybe not."<<Aredin>>

Foster shakes his head at the foolishness and says, "The multiverse combines
all the infinite universes, from the prime to the astral, the ethereal and
the planes.  You are right now in Sigil, city of doors, and center of the
multiverse, gateway to the Inner and the Outer planes as well as the Prime
and the Outlands."

"Food," Dak repeats and then looking the dwarf up and down carefully he
says, "Dak get ale, too, but Dak don't think you can handle it."

Sitting erect at the table, Amon folds his pale and slender hands before
him, in a seeming attempt to not let his disheveled look betray him.  His
eyes immediately seek Aredin's from before the introductions until Onyx
mispronounces his name.  At this point he nods towards the dwarf and his
thin lips spread into a smile.

His eyes are red, not from his lineage, but from rather deep set
exhaustion.  He tries his best not to let it show as his eyes return to
their penetrating scrutiny of this dark man.

As Dak comes around to take orders, Amon pauses momentarily, and a razor
thin eyebrow cocks.

        "Before I set myself up for a round of dish washing, I would
         be curious, my friend, just what currency is accepted here...
         and at what rates?"

His eyes break off to Foster awaiting a response.

"Your coin is just fine here in Sigil.  All coin is accepted and don't
let anyone tell you different," Foster says with a smile.  "But we don't
get many cross-traders here in the Acorn.  Blayne doesn't allow coney-
catching in his place."

                *                       *                       *

Other than that, Amon will remain basically speechless and observant the
entire time, initially of Aredin, but as (if) time passes, he will begin
to take in the sights of the Acorn with a slightly more relaxed posture
and mindset.

The Acorn is set up with a bar along one side where the red bearded man is
taking care of customers.  As Dak repeats the orders to himself, he makes
for a door behind the bar, one hand reaching up to itch behind his ear.
There's several booths that line the walls and several tables in the center
of the room with a staircase leading up to second and third floor landings
that look like they lead back to rooms.

As you sit and wait several more patrons come in and are greeted by the
bartender.  They are a wide variety of beings the only thing the same is
the dark grey cloaks they wear... each of them shaking water from their
cloaks as soon as they come in the door.

Aredin looks out the window to see if it's raining. He has never heard of
rain in Sigil.

Dak makes his way back carefully with a tray fully loaded, and surprisingly
he starts setting food and glasses down in front of everyone... and getting
the orders right.

In front of Onyx, the halfling sets down a platter full of beef and then as he
sets down a shot of whiskey and an ale he says, "Dak don't think you like
elf whiskey, but you try this... Drow Spider Whiskey... tasty."  He sets
a glass of water down in front of Amon and wine and more ale exactly where
it's meant to go. In the center of the table he sets a tray with a large
loaf of bread and cheese and then makes his way to the next table.

Light Touch leans over and rests her hand on Aredin's shoulder.  "I have to
get going.  Perhaps we can meet later tonight for a snack... Say the Fat
Candle at Anti-Peak.  Bye Dai'Lyn," she adds to the singer as without waiting
for the flame-haired man to reply, she dashes to the front door and out.

I will drink about half of the whiskey and then dig in to my meal.
"I am inclined to believe Foster when he says we can probably find better
help for Darrin here than we can back home.  Foster, would it be possible to
locate a portal back to our home and then wait to use it until Darrin is
better?  Also, I would like to visit Clangeddin while I am here and the
opportuntiy presents itself, so staying here for a few days sounds like a
good idea to me."

I will return to eating with gusto after I have asked my questions.<<Onyx>>

"ah, Onyx is it? Finding portals isn't as eazy as it sounds. Most don't
have labels to tell you where they go. Usaully you just have to keep
searching until you find the right one,"Aredin says,"also I think
Clangeddin might be a bit busy to see just anyone.He's your god,right?"

"I think I misspoke myself.  Clangeddin is the head Dwarven god and I do
realize that he will probably not be able to see me.  Besides, I have no
idea what I would say to him if he did see me.  I just want to go where he
is while I have the chance.  After all, the next time I will get the
opportunity to see him, even from a distance, might be right after my
death."<<Onyx>>

Christeel, "No offense Onyx, but meeting one's own god make me a bit
quezzy, You do things to please and be noticed by your god, but just going
up to one and just saying Hi I'm Onyx, now that takes some gaul.  Now on
the other hand if your god seek you out for some reason then that's diffrent.

Aredin stifles a laugh at this comment.

Foster adds, "At least my pupil is somewhat correct.  You can go visit the
realm of Clangeddin, or anyone else, but you would need to then gain
audience with your chosen deity in some manner.  And you do need to find
a portal and the key to work it.  Dwarven Mountain, home to many of the
Dwarven deities is found on the Outland... which you are high above.  The
spire over which Sigil sits is in the center of the Outlands."  Foster sips
down the last of his wine and stands, leaving a couple of coppers on the
table.  "I'll return as soon as I can, and with your young friend.  Darrin,"
Foster says extending a hand to help the human youth to his feet.  "Good
day."

Christeel "Here we go again, Keys and portals, keys and protals, almost
sounds like a song, <Singing> "Portals and Keys, Portals and Keys, all you
need is a portal and a key, try a brick, try a skull, find the right portal
and you get to go free, now find your way back, that's another story" <End
Singing>  Christeel takes another slug from his mug.

Foster and Darrin depart, the youth following docilely behind the half-elf.

Just as it begins to darken into night outside, the pretty young singer
collects her mandolin and notes and heads quietly upstairs to the third
floor.

"I guess if it is that difficult to to and from Clangeddin's realm then I
might not go after all.  I would hate to get stranded there and not be able
to continue on home with my companions.  Besides, there is a certain
ex-carnival master that needs to feel the bite of my axe."

"If you want to, you can try to visit Clangeddin. But we must find out
what plane he's on if he's not in the Outlands like Foster said he might
be,"Aredin says. He also looks over at the people who came in out of the
rain. He's looking for any distinguishing marks on any of them.(I.E. Indep
symbol or tattoo.)

Out of the people that entered the Inn, one or two bore a patch with a
winged dragon swallowing itself.  Most wear no symbol, and a few wear
the symbol that Foster bore, that of the Sensates.

"Also I think that all of you should stay togeather and not go any where
without a guide of some sort.Like me for example,"Aredin says with a
grin,"So. Is there any place you want to go?"

I would very much like to visit Clangeddin's realm, even if I don't actually
get to see him.  As I said, I don't think I could be prepared to come face
to face with him.  However, if there is a chance that by going there I would
get separated from my companions and not be able to travel further with
them, then I do not wish to go.  We started this trip together and I intend
to stay together until we are all safely home.  Besides, Darrin may have
hired us to guard a caravan, but I think that with what we have been through
we owe it to him to see that he gets well and then get him home.  I do think
you are right about us not wandering around without a guide.  We know very
little about Sigil and I think that is probably obvious to almost everyone
here.  We probably look like easy marks to a lot of people.  I thank you for
your offer to be our guide.  If there is anything we can do for you in
return for your services please let us know."<<Onyx>>

"Perhaps. I'll let you know,"Aredin says with a smile.

"Long-winded isn't he.  Is there any where I want to go?  I have food, and I
have drink.  I'm content.  But if you'll tell me where I can find a bed in
about an hour I'd be obliged."<<Jeath>>

"Your in an inn. No place like the present."

Christeel looks right into the face of Aderin no more that a foot or two
and ask "What are you, that you have to hide yourself.  Do you drink?"

"But of course I drink. I hide nothing.But as for what I am, what do you
think I am?"<<Aredin>>

Christeel gives his most charming smile, "If I knew what you were I
wouldn't be asking ye now would I"  Christeel raises his eyebowls and
cocks his head.

Aredin just puts on his most innocent smile and stares back at Christeel.

Christeel, "So you don't know what you are, probably some sort of half
breed is my guess"

"Oh,I know,"Aredin says lookingsome what annoyed,"it's just none of your
business."

Chisteel, "My apoligies, I am one that is proud of his race for I am a Grey
Elf, and want all to know it, but others races are ashamed of there's for
one reason or another and wish to hide what they are, I do not claim to
understand why this is so, but I will ask you no further question about it.

"He's Aredin Ember," a young woman says coming up to the table.  "And if he
wants I have a job for him... and if you're his friends, you could help as
well.  The Free League would be grateful," she adds with a smile.  In
her mid-thirties, she's in good condition, her leathers fitting her body
in a comely manner.  Her blouse is cut low and her smile is bright, her
brown eyes gleaming under her wavy hair.  On her left cheek is a tattoo
of a gold dragon.  "Lethea and Lesander told me I could find you here and
that you might be able to give us a hand.  The hardheads are after a very
special piece of equipment and I'm looking for someone that can beat them
to it.  You and your friends look up to the task, Aredin," she says with
a smile.  "I know you're new to Sigil, but we've had our eye on you.  I'm
Bria... Bria Tomay."

Christeel smiles at the party, "You people waste no time in trying to get
people to sign up, what's the job and what's the pay"  Christeel then turns
his head around looking for someone, "Now where did that Darrin go?"

"Well,Bria,"Aredin stands and extends his hand to shake hers,"I can't
speak for the rest of us,since I just met these people but I'm interested
in this mission of yours. "

Turning back to the group, He says,"  Of course your all welcome to come
along, if you want to."

"Good evening my lady.  Please don't think we are rude, but we just escaped
from Avernus and we could use a little rest.  Please, tell us what this job
is and how we can help.  However, I for one don't think I will be able to
help until after I have had a good nights sleep.  We haven't slept very much
in the last couple of days and I don't think we would be up to our full
potential tonight."<<Onyx>>

I look at Christeel, shake my head, and turn to Aredin.  "Sorry, Christeel
has been a better pupil than I'd ever imagined.  Two weeks ago when we met
he was the most polite creature in the Multiverse.  I'm afraid he's taken my
lessons on how to be annoying to heart.<<Jeath>>

"I must say, though, I'm proud of how quickly he caught on."

I turn to Bria, "And what pray tell is this job you have for Aredin?  I ask
of curiosity, and perhaps a slight need of coin.  But I'm with Onyx, a good
nights sleep first would be wonderful.  Though I'd rather not sleep with
Onyx..."<<Jeath>>

"Good.  Being in Avernus for the past few days is not the reason I couldn't
get any sleep.  You snore loud enough to wake the dead.  With you in another
room I should get enough peace and quiet to get a good night's sleep.<<Onyx>>

As Bria begins to speak, you notice her eyes go towards the door to the
Inn and watch as four red-platemailed, stern-faced humans enter.  Their
platemail looks quite imposing with sharpened spikes at the shoulders.
All four look quite alike and once done looking them over, her eyes drop
lower to a halfling garbed in similar armor and she murmers, "Wildfang...
I should have known."

Dak sees the men immediately as they enter and he boldly goes to block
them from entering, standing toe-to-toe with the mailed halfling.  "Boss
say no trouble.  No trouble, no Hardheads," Dak says quite clearly.

"Just looking around.  Where is your boss... asleep?" Wildfang sneers.

The bartender behind the bar says quickly before Dak can reply, "You
been here enough, Wildfang, to know Lord Krystoff wakes at dusk.  And you
know he'll have a chat with you if you bring any of your trouble in here."

"Dak was gonna say that," the halfling frowns over at the bigger bartender.
"Dak smart enough to know that."

"Like I said, just looking around," the mailed figure says, his eyes going
around the Inn and stoping to lock with Bria's.  He looks at each of the
people at the table she's at, your group, and with a coarse laugh he pats
Dak on the arm and walks out with the troops marching smartly behind him.

"Hardheads," Bria says.  "I don't know how much time you'll have, but you
can be sure, they'll be watching you."

"They're looking for a sword.  Lightbringer.  It was owned by a man named
Timlin, who's been incarcerated in one of the Lady's Mazes.  We have a way
in and a way out.  Get the sword before they do.  The only other problem
is... where the Harmonium go, so go the Mercykillers and the Guvnors."  Her
eyes go over to the bartender behind the bar and she adds, "So be careful
what you say around him."  All can see some kind of tattoo on the bartender's
arm, his sleeves rolled up as he works at cleaning the mugs, but you're
too far away to make it out.

She continues, "Anyway, Timlin was the leader of a group known as the
expansionists.  The word on the sword is that it does all of his fighting.
He started to get so powerful, he started talking about taking over from
the Lady and then he disappeared.  No doubt the Lady put him in a maze.
He doesn't need the sword anymore and we've spent a lot of time and money
finding a way in and a way out.  You'll be well compensated.  When can you
leave?"

"Everyone's always in a hurry.  Cripes.  Dak, fill my wineskin for me will
you please.  Elven tea if you have any.  I need something to help keep me
awake.  Bria, please send word to Foster and Darrin where we've gone.  Tell
Darrin we'll catch up with him on our return.<<Jeath>>

Dak mutters, "Elven tea... Dak give you special Arborean Wood Tea.  Keep
the dead awake."

Aredin says to Dak, "Could you get me some of that tea also?  As well as
some roasted quill and bread, if you have any."

"That about covers it.  I'm ready to go--" pause while I pick up a chunk of
cheese and a chunk of bread, "--Now."<<Jeath>>

"First of all, who or what are the Harmonium, Mercykillers, and the Guvnors.
If I am going to help, and I am inclined to help if it will give me the
opportunity to get in the way of the platemail bully boys, I would like to
know more about what we are up against.  Also, I would like to know more
about this Lady and about our way into and out of this maze.  If she was
able to imprison the guy with the sword, won't she notice us if we get it
back?  Also, how long has this Tamlin been missing?  Is it possible that
members of the expansionists are still around and would they be a problem?
Finally, at the risk of sounding like my Elven friend (nod to Christeel),
when you say we will be well compensated what exactly do you mean?"<<Onyx>>

Aredin puts his hands on his face and shakes his head,muttering,"Now I
know why they call them clueless."

Foldis,
    "I have to agree with Onyx, we could all do with a good
nights rest, and Christeels going to need it when I have
finished with him. <Foldis drains her mug and calls to Dak
for another round for herself and Christeel> I also think we
should at least wait for Foster to return with Darrin to see
if he is any state to travel with us if we take the job."

    Foldis then sits back and waits for the other members of
the parties questions to be answered.

The Harmonium, Mercykillers and the Guvnors are the three parties that
think they control the law and justice here in Sigil and in all of the
Planes.  The Lady of Pain is the real power here in Sigil.  She makes
the portals work when she wills it and she keeps the Powers from coming
to Sigil.  Anyone that crosses her gets tossed in their own maze... and
there's no way out," Bria says with a smirk.  "But we've been working
on that and we paid plenty for this information about Timlin's maze.
You're not likely to ever catch sight of an expansionist... They
scattered like freed mice when their high-up man ran afoul of the Lady."

The woman grins at all of you and says, "Six of you for two days work
at the most.  Call it a thousand gold if you come out with the sword.
When you're ready, a friend of mine will be out front to give you the
portal key and the details of where to find the portal."

"Have your friend meet us here early tomorrow morning.  We should be ready
to go by then."

"I suggest that we all get a good night's rest then head to recover the
sword in the morning.  Remember everyone, we might have to fight Timlin for
the sword...  So think of that when you prepare," Aredin says.

"I think a thousand gold is acceptable for two days of dangerous work.  I
don't think we should take Darrin with us.  Foster is trying to help him get
better and I don't think a dangerous mission is something he is ready for.
We should just tell Foster where we are going and when we should be back.
As for me (I drain my mug) I am off to bed.  Shall we meet here at Dawn?<<Onyx>>

    "I agree that the pay is acceptable but if Darrin is
back, and fit, by morning he should decide whether to go
with us."

    Foldis then drains her mug and says to Onyx,

    "Surely you will stay and have another drink or two with
Christeel and myself" she then looks at Christeel and says,

    "Your round again I believe".

"If Darrin is better he can decide if he wants to go or not, after all he
is an adult.  I was just thinking that he would probably not be better so
soon.  I would like to stay and have another drink with you, but I want to
be my best for tomorrow so I think I will retire now.  ( I will go ask the
bartender for a room)<<Onyx>>

The bartender has plenty of rooms available at the reasonable rate of
a silver per person.  He gives you rooms on the second floor and adds,
"Don't worry if you have some vivid dreams.  Happens all the time to
our customers."

Foster returns later in the evening with Darrin in tow, the youth smiles
a little when he sees everyone and nods in greeting.  Foster agrees
that while you are gone on your money-making endeavor, he can probably
get Darrin more help and will also look into a portal to get you all home.

Not too long after Foster returns, Aredin gets up and says,"Excuse me
everyone,but I must be going.I will meet all of you in the morning."

With that,Aredin walks out of the inn into the night.

The ale flows freely for those that stay awake and for those that
sleep and for those that finally fall asleep thanks to the ale are
all subjected to dreams of a large, sinuous black panther, racing
throughout their dreams, though he doesn't seem to be attacking them,
but rather coming upon each of you and finding out about you.  The
panther sniffs and nuzzles and rubs against you, culminating in a lick
that awakens you to the morning's light.

Foster is up early and already at the Inn, though he didn't stay the
night and after saying hello to everyone, he wishes you luck and asks
Darrin if he would like to spend the day with him while his friends
are busy.  Darrin agrees and they leave you to your own devices.

Stepping out of the Acorn, a young man comes up to you, bearing the
same screaming Dragon symbol on a chain about his neck.  He smiles and
says,

   "Here's the dark of it.  We give you a gold-plated rose dipped in
honey.  You head down into the Hive, past the Gatehouse.  Turn left
at the Inn of the Roaring Balor, and make sure you don't rattle your
bone-boxes too loud about the fiends inside; they've got sharp ears.
In the alley past the Balor, there's a small door set into the inns'
wall.  Open the door and , whoever's holding the rose, step through first
to activate the portal to Timlin's Maze.  The rest of you, step through
right quick.
   "Once you're inside, search until you find Lightbringer, the sword,
then head for the courtyard in the Maze.  Getting out it the trick, so
remember:  Do exactly as I say even if it doesn't make sense now.
   "From the courtyard, exit on the Lady's right hand.  Go as far as
you can, staying along the wall to your right.  Once you hit a blind, no
matter how small, look for a secret door, and you're out.  'Course, you've
got to have the key - it's a dish.  They just appear out of nowhere
holding food for Timlin.  The dishes stay where they're left for one day,
whether he eats or not, then they vanish the same way they appeared.
Since he gets only three meals a day, always keep an eye peeled for a
dish while you're inside.
   "Now get going," he adds holding out a gold-plated rose dipped in honey.

Aredin steps forward and says,"I'll hang on to this if no one minds. I have
had the most experience with this sort of thing."Then to the young man,"Can
you show us at least part way to the portal,if you would?"

"Hire a tout if you ain't been to the Hive before, but then, no tout
is gonna beatfeet it into the Hive, berk.  Me, I got other business I
need to get paid fer today, so's I can buy me a bit of floor space tonight."
With that the young man turns and departs into the crowd.

"Well, let's get started.  The sooner we get going the sooner we can get
back and start figuring out how to get home."<<Onyx>>

Foldis,
    In a very quiet voice so only the party can hear, <I
know its unusual for Foldis to be quiet but it's needed some
times>.

    "I don't care who takes the rose but if the barman is
not to know what is going on I suggest you all keep your
voices down. Aredin! can you get a couple of days food &
drink? It would less suspicious if we met you away from the
Inn without buying provisions for a trip."

Let's just hit the road.  I don't think we need to worry about supplies too
much, Christeel can always help out if need be, and Dak did me right with
that tea.  I may be awake for the next three days.<<Jeath>>

I agree with Foldis, though.  Some disrection is probably in order.
Although the damage is probably already done, I'm sure we were overheard in
the bar last night when the lady proposed this job to us.  Still, the fewer
people who know about it the better.<<Jeath>>

I suggest we keep our eyes peeled, even before we reach this portal.  If no
one minds, I'll watch the rear, I have an eye for suspicious movements in
crowds, being somewhat skilled at that myself.<<Jeath>>

Heading out of the Inn, you find yourselves in the midst of tents and booths
and people selling anything and everything imaginable.  And the crowd... even
at dawn, the hustle and bustle of the Great Bazaar is nigh unbearable.

I will tuck my money pouch inside my clothes as we head out of the inn.  I
will keep my eyes open for anyone who seems to be paying too much attention
to us. (This might be kind of hard to do since in this crowd I can probably
just see a couple hundred knees, but I will give it a shot.)
"Well Aredin, it looks like you get to lead the way."<<Onyx>>

I do what I promised, bting up the rear and keep an eye out for suspicious
looking characters, besides Amon Sul...<<Jeath>>

I will take in all the sights of the crowd and the bazaar, but I'm mostly on
the lookout for pickpockets and other trouble making types.  I'm more
interested in the crowd than the booths...<<Jeath>>

Amon Sul keeps up with the group, especially keeping in front of Jeath.

"Alright.  Before we start off," Aredin replies, "I know where we need to
go to.  I know where the Hive is.  I know where it is because I was told
not to go there.  So we all want to be very, very careful when we go to
find this portal."

"You don't have to worry about food.  I have plenty of rations in my pack
here," Aredin says as he pulls his cloak hood over his head.

"Say Aredin, perhaps you could tell us a little about the Hive as we head
there.  For  instance, why were you told not to go there.  If you know of
anything specific we might want to watch out for it would be very helpful.
Do you know what dangers we are bound to encounter?"

"I don't know of anything specific about the Hive area, but some say that
there are pools of ooze that will reach out for you and drag you down into
a world of ooze where you'll never get out," Aredin says with a wink,"But
that's just rumor. I would how ever make yourself look as inconspicuous as
possible."

Leaving the Acorn, Aredin guides the rest of you through the clamoring
crowds, the hawkers and peddlers, urchins and beggars, and fiends of unnatural
looks and smells.  At one tent a bunch of tattered urchins run screaming
from one nasty looking fellow.  Barbed skin and fangs, sharp pointed ears
and long tail, the fiend tries to corral the children as they try to
flee in all directions.

    In a low voice Foldis says to Aredin, "Whats going on
over there?" <indicates with a slight nod towards the fiend
& children>

Aredin whispers back,"I have no idea."

He walks over and bends down to one of the children and whispers, "Play
along with me, okay?"

"Teffie!  Are you okay?  Did he hurt you?!" Aredin exclaims as he picks up
the kid.  He looks the child over then turns to the demon and says, "How
dare you hurt my child!"

:  I survey the area quickly, looking for the biggest person in the nearby
area that is NOT in our travelling group, and of course not the fanged one.
I will try to use my ventriloquist abilities to make it seem as though this
large person says to the fanged one (in response to Aredin's line), "Yeah,
why don't you pick on someone you're own size."

Meantime, I keep a real close eye on the kids.  I'm sure everyone else will
be watching the long-toothed individual, and that could be the plan.  These
kids are likely as not a group of individuals well-versed in my line of
work.  I don't know if they're truly being chased by the big guy or not, but
either way they're liable to pick our pockets during the distraction (that's
how I'd do it...)

I will step forward by Aredin, glare at the fiend, and put my hand on my
axe.  If the fiend tries to catch another child I will step between it and
the child and ask it what it is doing bullying children.  I will not draw my
axe unless it looks like the fiend is going to attack either me, the
children, or any of my companions.  Normally I would just try to kill it for
going after children, but considering the strange place we are at the fiend
may not be trying to kill them.  Who knows, maybe it owns a shop and they
stole from it.  I will hold my judgement until I have more information.<<Onyx>>

Another voice pops up nearby, belonging to a rather bulky looking half-giant,
"Yeah, Why don't you pick on someone your own size."  The half-giant's head
then lumbers around first over one shoulder and then over the other as though
looking for something.

The fanged and long tailed fiend begins to wail and cry and blubbers so much
that none of you can understand a word he says.

The child in Aredin's arms starts to kick and scream, crying out, "Freddie!
Freddie, help!"

As soon as the child starts struggling in Aredin's arms, He lets him go.

The other children seem to rally around the half-giant picking up small
rocks, stones, and whatever garbage litters the street, and begin to pelt
the half-giant with small missiles of trash.

The half-giant bellows out in a low thundering voice, "Who say that?  Who
say that?" as he begins to take a huge step towards the small urchins.

Aredin runs forward to get between the giant and the kids, getting as many
of them out of the way as he can.  He yells at the giant while waving his
hands,"Stop! Stop! You'll hurt the children!" Also his cloak falls around
his shoulders revealing his flaming hair and red glowing eyes.

Several of the small stones strike the back of Aredin as the children
continue to throw whatever objects they can find in the direction of
the half-giant.

I will basically stay right where I am at.  I will keep an eye on the fiend
in case his crying is an act of some sort and I will also watch the half
giant in case Aredin needs help.  I will try to position myself so that I
can see what is going on and so that I can get to Aredin quickly if the need
arises.<<Onyx>>

The barbed tailed fiend continues to cry and huddles back towards an open
tent flap in the center of the bazaar.

Oh, peddlers!  I wonder what's for sale.<<Amon Sul>>

As the fiasco begins, Amon Sul continues to, ahem, look inconspicuous, and
wander over to see just what is for sale.  He seemingly pays little
attention to the children, Aredin, the demon, and lastly Onyx's axe.

He'll try to stay fairly close as to not get lost, and look as if he fits
in to this motley crowd.  "Perhaps I will have time to get some shopping
done after all," he mutters to no one but himself.  All the while keeping
a white-nuckled grip on his coin purse.

All around you, you can see livestock pens with pigs, chickens, ferrets some
pigeons with green coloring and hounds.  You can see one man pointing out
a selection of wooden boards and calling out, "Arborean Pine half off this
month."  Another man is calling out, "Find good Help here."

Also nearby is a silk peddlar and several robed figures are huddled
around another booth, holding up crystals and checking for imperfections
against the morning's dull light.  There are other booths ranged all around
in a haphazard circular pattern, with a larger circle around a smaller one.

The half-giant takes a large step towards Aredin and the children and
bellows, "Out of my way, puny one!"

A voice in the crowd shrieks, "My child!"  The voice belongs to a long tailed
and horned, scaly-skinned woman who is making her way towards the children
from behind.  Her scream seems to have attracted the attention of everyone
else in that area of the bazaar.  All eyes seem to be turning towards the
attraction.

Aredin quickly begins casting a spell and a large wall of fire grows up in
front of the half giant and Aredin yells,"Back off!! I don't want to hurt
you but I will if you force me to!"
(OCC: The spell is phantasmal force which has no sound, smell, or
temperature, so keep that in mind.)

I will stand to the side of Aredin and draw my axe.  I do not want to get
into a fight with the half giant, but I think if he comes through or around
the wall of fire (even if he figures out that it is fake) he is going to be
pissed.  I am moving to the side so if he does come through he is not
immediately confronted with someone with a drawn weapon.  I will not attack
him unless I am convinced he is going to attack us.<<Onyx>>

I don't like this, there's way to many people paying way too much attention
to us.  So much for subtlety.  I ignore the centers of attention, I continue
my surveillance of the peripherals, scanning the crowd, the vendors and
whatever else.  Particularly if I see something or someone who looks like
they don't want to be noticed.

"Excuse me, guys, but I believe we have somewhere we're supposed to be
going, and I thought we were supposed to be in a hurry."<<Jeath>>

Jeath notices that Amon Sul has gone over towards the vendors and is
admiring the silks at one cart.

Aredin says back,"Tell that to the giant. And help me get these children to
safety."

Wandering off with barely a wayward glance over his shoulder Amon walks to
the slik ventor, with his eyes vaguely focused on the robed figures near
him.

He's never been able to afford something like silk, and it draws from him
an inner sense of some kind of greed... or perhaps lust.  An unnatural
desire to no longer live like the wretch he was.  People who wear slik
never live in the gutter.

Blinking off that bit of foolish reverie, Amon examines the slik peddler's
wares, speaking little and sending another glance towards the hooded folk,
if for nothing else, to see if they're selling anything.

The owner of the silks, lifts up the hems of several different styles
of ribboned and plain silks to see if something catches your eye.

The robed men seem to be purchasing crystals at the next cart over.  They
say very little and make hand signals between them and the owner of the
cart as though agreeing to pricing without the effort of speech.

The half-giant's eyes cross as he eyes the wall of fire, taking an
initial step back from the flames and then watching them curiously
and looking like he might reconsider the whole affair.

Quite a few of the yelling children run back towards the tent and
huddle around the fiend, only a couple of braver children still tossing
whatever they can find at the big fellow.

Christeel steps forward, "Alright, do you wish to fight, It doesn't seem
quite fare to be attacking children, I choose to be there champion.
Christeel Tavvic defender of the Realm of the helpless."  Christeel draws
no weapons and takes up a boxing stance putting up his two fists in a
fighting pose.

The half-giant bellows, "Children attack me first!"  He stomps towards
Christeel, eyes crossed in anger now, approaching the fake wall of fire
without any regard for whatever danger it might bear him.

As he comes close to the fire and doesn't feel it's heat, nor hear the
crackle of it's flames, he growls deep in his throat and steps right
into the illusion, anger glowing brighter than the fire in his eyes.

I approach the half-giant, "Calm down, they're just kids being kids.  They
don't mean any real harm.  The kids seem to think he threatened their
friend, and though we both know that's not the case, it might be best if you
go elsewhere for a short time."<<Jeath>>

With a wave of Aredin's hand, the flames go away.

The few sticks and stones still being thrown by those few children who
are not running back to the fiend's arms for either protection or to
soothe the fiends hurt feelings, soon cease all together as the half-
giant seems to take no notice of them any longer.  Then they turn and
run back to the fiend's tent as well.

Christeel holds his ground as the huge, hulking mass of flesh comes at
him, stomping his brick like feet, his hands nearly as big as Christeel's
head.  He bends down and one arm swings around towards Christeel's head,
but Christeel ducks the blow, dancing under the arm to barely strike the
massive thigh of the nearly sixteen foot tall being.

The crowds scatter.

"No! Stop! We mean you no harm. I was just trying to help the children,"
Aredin yells at the giant. Also Aredin starts looking around for any
Harmonium that might be in the area.

Christeel says to the half-giant with a grin, "You fight well, what be your
name?"

Christeel will quickly back up a bit to keep a little distance from the
half-giant.

If he survives the next attack, "I'm willing to stop this fight if you are."

Since the half giant has not drawn a weapon I will not attack it with my
axe.  So far we have a fist fight and I do not want to be the one to turn it
into a deadly conflict, so I put my axe up.  If it looks like the big fellow
does not intend to stop the fight as Christeel is willing to do, I will step
forward and yell "Hey, ugly.  Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

Aredin turns away, shaking his head and mumbling,"suicidal, they're all
suicidal."

The half-giant roars down at Christeel, readying to continue the altercation,
but then, the heavy booted feet of a Harmonium patrol clomp into the area,
and the halfling that had entered the Acorn so imperiously last night, steps
between the half-giant and Christeel and says loudly, "Enough.  All of you
come with me.  Shut this area down!"  The six men with him, move quickly
towards several of the booths to do as the halfling says.

The few lingerers left in the crowd scatter.  The fiend and his flock
quickly disappear into their tent, and within seconds, the Bazaar is
bereft of patrons for a good ten booth radius.

Wildfang, hand nowhere near his weapon, stares up at the half-giant and
adds, "To the Tower, Broc, now.  Don't make me angry."

Aredin quickly casts a spell(phantasmal force) to make him look like a old
woman while the guards and Wildfang are distracted and tries to scuttle off
with the crowd.

The half-giant wavers and then ducks his head and turns towards the other
end of the bazaar.  The halfling points one of his men to go with the
half-giant even as he turns to Christeel, Aredin, Jeath, Foldis and Onyx.
"Fall in and come with me... Knew you were trouble the second I saw you
last night."

Christeel turns to the halfling after the giant has left and offering his
hand in friendship, "Whew, I thank you for comming to my assistance, good
sir.  If that giant landed even one blow upon me I would hate to think what
might have happen.  You see he was trying to attack a bunch of little kids
when I volenteered to their champion.  At least I gave the children a
chance to get away from that big giant.  I beleive that they went into that
tent over there"  Christeel points in the direction of the tent that they
retreated into.

Technically we have done nothing wrong.  No one even took a swing at the
half giant and we can say we were just trying to protect the kids, so this
should only delay us for a little while.  I will fall in and follow the
little bastard.

If there's enough of a crowd gathered again, I throw my voice into it, "Hey
shortstuff, leave 'em alone, they were only having fun."

Otherwise, I go with the patrol.  I think I could make a break and get away,
but I know the rest of them couldn't, or wouldn't.<<Jeath>>

Oh...  Shooting a backward glance to the wall of fire and the beginning of
the brawl, Phearez watches the shopkeeper before him (the silk guy) with a
hawkish scrutiny.  If he wastes too much time staring at the fight, or
thinks about panicing, Phearez may very well end up with a new silk
garment... (at random pull).

        [Um yeah, basically theft, but only if the chances of success
         are seemingly phenomonial in his favor.  I'm hoping it isn't
         much of a problem with the size of the camor made, but unless
         the kid feels secure about it, he won't even try it.]

Otherwise, young Phearez will use this time to wander over to the
'crystal' vendor, and observe his wares with total silence.  If any of
the previous customers are still around, he will study their hand signals
and try to make some heads or tales out of the silent bartering system.

Young Phearez is about to judge the time is right, when the patrol interrupts
things even more nicely.  Unfortunately, the shopkeepers, at the first
sign of the patrol, begin putting away their wares, heads ducked, trying
hard not to be noticed by the patrol.

And among the last of the ducked heads to pop back up, is Phearez's, now
shrouded in his old cloak.  As things disperse, he is one of the
lingerers, and eventually heads off in the direction which (if he knows)
the Harmonium came from.

After a bit of distance from the Bazaar, Phearez, still hooded up, will
dissapear into any crowd/shadow/alleyway that he can find, and wait to see
his dunderheaded companions are dragged across his path.

        IF - they don't come past him, he'll head back to the Acorn for
                a celebration drink (j/k) and wait for Foster to show up.

        IF - indeed they do come down Phearez's chosen path, he will take
                up a slow pace following them, dropping his hood from his
                face as he begins to track, looking as inconspicuous as
                possible.

Don't worry, he's not planning any heroics... infact, if Foldis is
planning any, he may just well hide from her in his crowd/shadow/alley!

Even as Wildfang speaks, several things begin to happen amongst the
scattering crowd.  Aredin starts to slip away as a voice calls out
from behind the patrol, "Hey shortstuff, leave 'em alone, they were
only having fun."

Two of the patrol turn towards the voice, searching for where it came
from, while Wildfang and the three officers that are left, head purposefully
for Foldis, Christeel, Onyx and Jeath.  Wildfang calls out, "Find the
other one."  One of the plate-mailed figures begins to walk into the
departing crowds looking for Aredin.

The halfling looks up at the ones that are left and grinning wryly,
says, "Running will just make matters worse for your friend.  What's
his name and where does he live.  Your cooperation will make things
easier on him and on you."

Looking around, Amon Sul is not to be found.

"What will go easier on us sir?  All we did was try to prevent the half
giant from hurting the kids.  True, they were throwing things at him, but
the few small sticks that actually hit him could not have caused him any
harm.  All we did was try to protect the kids from his anger.  I can see no
crime in that.  As for the individual you are looking for we just met him
last night.  We have no idea where he lives or where he was going.  I am
afraid we can not help you find him.<<Onyx>>

Christeel rubs his chin, "To be honest mister halfling sir, I have to agree
with my friend we really don't have a clue where he went, We're new to your
lands and were only trying to help out some kids."

"Brawling in Public is an offense in Sigil.  Fall in, and don't try anything
or you will be charged with Resisting Arrest as well," Wildfang says softly.
The glint in his eye belies the gentleness of his words however as he
looks like he'd just like a few people more to try and give him and his
men the slip.  "To the Tower."

I address Wildfang, "Excuse me sir, don't misconstrue my remarks, if you
think we should accompany you somewhere I will do so willingly, though I
confess I'd rather accompany you to a tavern than a tower.  Before we go
though, I would like to point out two things.  First, most of us had nothing
to do with it other than talking, we were trying to calm the giant down to
avoid a confrontation.  Second, do you really think those two could brawl?
Look at the difference in size.  The elf could throw as many punches as he
wanted and the giant would wonder where all the mosquitoes came from.  The
giant lands one punch, it's over.  Not much of a brawl, know what I mean."<<Jeath>>

I will follow along quietly.  This pipsqueak is just waiting for us to give
him an excuse and I will not do that.  Hopefully when we get to the tower we
will talk to his superior and not get framed for something we did not do.<<Onyx>>

Christeel starts to say something more but decides to hold his tounge for
now, only looking at the halfling and then falling into line and doing as
the Halfling asks (well actually told us to do).

As soon as no one is looking, Aredin will go down an alley way and make
himself look like a Hardhead if no one is around.Then whenever he gets a
chance, he will cast another phantasmal force on the halfling preferably
but if he has to on a guard and make him look like Aredin, flaming hair and
everything.Maybe this will make enough of a distraction so everyone else
can get away.

Wildfang turns to Jeath, eyes narrowing as he says softly, "And just what
would we do in a tavern... are you attempting to bribe me, you sick and
twisted scrawny little elf.  I don't like guys, and as a member of the
Harmonium, I do not accept bribes.  The attempt will cost you dearly in
the tower.  Now move along!" he orders, his men flanking around Jeath,
their armor gleaming in the morning's sun.

Wildfang points towards the direction you had come from, back towards
the Acorn.

"He wasn't trying to bribe you pipsqueak, he was trying to be friendly
and save you the time and trouble of hauling us in only to find we hadn't
done anything.  Apparently a requirement for being a guard around here is
not having the brains the gods gave a mongrel.  If you have something to
prove try it on someone you have a chance of impressing.  As for us, we have
seen far worse than you, although I would have to admit you are the dumbest
person I have ever met. Now, if you have to take us to the tower will there
at least be a superior officer there we can talk to before you decide we are
guilty of anything, or do you get to throw people in jail all on your own."
I will say all of this while walking along like he has asked.  Basically I
am tired of this guy, but I am not going to give him an excuse to think I am
resisting arrest.<<Onyx>>

The guard in the back of the group says in a gruff voice,"Be quiet, you."

Another guard grabs Onyx by the beard, yanking his head up towards him
and scowls, "You will not talk to Mover Three Wildfang in that manner."

Wip signals his officers to relax, the guard shoving Onyx into Jeath.
"The Tower is under the control of the MercyKillers.  Their job is to
see that justice is done.  You will go before the Guvnors, whose job
it is to determine the laws and if you have broken any.  It is my job
to keep harmony in Sigil.  You will have your day in court, and you
best hope you can convince the Guvnors that you were not disrupting the
peace.  The sentence for that crime is ten years in The Prison... guests
of the MercyKillers."

As he speaks you are herded along by the Harmonium officers at your
side and back.  There is no sign of Aredin or of Amon Sul, yet.

"It is comforting to know that other people will listen to us and
realize that we are innocent."  I nod tot he guard that grabbed me "Keep
your hands off unless you want to pull back a stub.  I didn't realize it was
a crime to voice my opinion.  I guess it is the same everywhere, city guards
are nothing more than childish bullies that have been given a little power
and don't know how to handle it."

I keep walking while I talk, again not giving them any reason to think I am
resisting.

"No more out of you stubby." The guard in the back says.

I make every attempt to stand as far away from Onyx as I can.  "Uh, Onyx,
I'm not usually one to impinge on other people's right to say what's on
their mind, but at this point in time I do believe silence on your part
might be a good idea."

Christeel say nothing only trying to do as insturcted by the midget halfling.

Just past the Inn, Wip Wildfang leads the way into the side streets
surrounding the bazaar.  Just for a second, the brush of the crowds holds
up the guard contingent and rounding the corner is Aredin walking with
his back towards you.

The guard in back cries out, "There he is.  Get him."  The other two guards
go to pounce on Aredin.

You are all still armed.

I will watch the guards chase after Aredin and keep walking with the rest of
the group and the guards that are around us.<<Onyx>>

Christeel will take an intrest in the chase but will offer and resistance
and contine to walk along with the guards.  Christeel will as take the time
to note the location and general postering of the guards, incase the party
does attempt an break for it.  But he will not be the one to start anything.

As two of the three guards around the party rush forward, after Aredin,the
remaining guard in the back says,"Foldis, Jeath, Onyx,Christeel. Let's get
out of here." As you turn around to see what's going on,You see the
illusion of the last guard slowly fading around the form of Aredin. "Run.
Go that way,"he points in the opposite direction that you were
heading,"Meet me at the Civic Festhall. Ask anyone. They will know where it
is.Now go."

I was getting tired of the little pipsqueak anyway.  "Let's head for the
Festhall."  I take off running and hopefully everyone else comes with me.<<Onyx>>

Christeel shruggs and takes off running after Onyx. "I guess were outlaws now"

    Foldis takes off as fast as her little legs can carry
her in the general direction indicated by Aredin.

I'm more than happy to disappear.  First thing I do is lose Onyx, Christeel
and Foldis, keeping an eye on Aredin in the process.  Next thing I do is
tail Aredin, hopefully without his knowledge.  I also look around for Amon
Sul, but I won't go out of my way to find or approach him just now.<<Jeath>>

Jeath can not see Amon Sul, but Aredin... stays to watch the city guards go
after the supposed Aredin.

The image of Aredin (Wildfang) turns to meet the two guards charging at
him. As he turns,the image draws his weapon(dagger) and crouches down it a
defensive stance, about the same height as the halfling.

The two hardheads start to pummel, getting in a couple of blows.  The image
of Aredin flies a couple of feet landing with a thud, the figure appearing on
the ground however, is not Aredin, but the halfling, Wip Wildfang.  The guards
scowl down at their leader, but then quickly turn to find their prisoners
running down the street, a crowd of bazaar patrons thronging into their way.

They are only five feet from Aredin, but Onyx, Christeel and Foldis are a good
thirty feet from the Hardheads.

The real Aredin turns and runs as fast as he can.(Hopefully faster than
those heavily armored Hardheads.)

I do pretty much what I said before, hightail it outa there, then tail Aredin.

I will continue to keep an eye out for Amon Sul, but I'm not his babysitter,
if I don't see him I don't go looking for him.  I'm more interested in
keeping an eye on Aredin.<<Jeath>>

Jeath spots Amon Sul, his cloak done up tightly around his shoulders and
his hood pulled low, trying to sneak away... from everyone, including the
rest of your group.

Aredin quickly catches up to Christeel and the two dwarves, the harmonium
getting caught up in the crowds, crashing into people left and right.  Aredin
leads the way out of the marketplace, no pursuit in sight, but no sign of
Jeath or Amon Sul either.

Foldis breaks from the group, getting caught up in a different crowd.

    Foldis continues running until she thinks she has
escapes her pursuers Once she feels safe she will find a
busy tavern and spend an hour or so there before heading for
the agreed meeting point.

I will keep running with everyone else.  After a couple of blocks and
hopefully a turn or two: "We should slow to a walk now.  We have left the
Harmonium behind for now and running will only attract attention to us.  If
we walk no onw will pay muct attention to us and if they are asked about us
they might not remember anything."<<Onyx>>

Christeel slows down to a waking pace with Onyx as well, "Now would someone
explian to me why we ran.  We really didn't do anything wrong. I mean
nothing got broken and no one got killed.  What kind of bug crawled up that
halfling's butt anyway?"

"No, we didn't do anything wrong, but I don't think Pipsquesk cared.  He
saw us last night in the Inn and he did not like the company we were
keeping.  I think he was arresting us in order to keep us from going after
the sword.  He knows we didn't really do anything wrong, but that doesn't
mean he was not going to make something up.  As far as what is up his butt,
let's hope for a rot grub."<<Onyx>>

Aredin slows down with the rest of the party and he puts up his hood, just
in case." The fact that we were causing such a disturbance in the first
place would have got all of you thrown in jail for years. When you are
taken to the Hardhead's tower, usually you're never bleaken seen from
again. Guilty or not."

"The commotion we were causing?  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the
distraction that allowed us to escape from the guards, but the next time you
cause a wall of fire, real or not, to appear in the middle of a busy street,
you could at least stick around to help us with the consequesces.  What was
with saying we were suicidal and leaving us to deal with the half giant you
helped anger?  And I'll tell you another thing, the next time I see a fiend
chasing a bunch of kids us here I am going to let him catch them.<<Onyx>>

Aredin turns toward Onyx,eyes flaring under his hood,"I didn't leave until
the Hardheads showed up.And if you had any common sense, you would have
left too."

Aredin pauses for a second, takes in a large breath of air and
says,"Yes,we. As in all of us."

Christeel, "Oh, I didn't know that the law was so corrupt around here no
one bothered to tell us, In the land we come from, You can trust in the law
for that law is fare and only the guilty are punished"

"Where are you from,Mount Celestia?"Aredin says with a smile.

Christeel, "No we hail from, Waterdeep one of the largest cities on all of
Toril, and where actually chasing down a fugitive of the law and our
travels have brought us here"

As Onyx, Christeel and Aredin bicker they turn down a much less crowded
street and then make a left a couple of intersections up.  Aredin leads
the way past many inns, taverns and small shops, until finally arriving
at his destination.

====================
With the heaviest of sighs, young Phearez steps from his look out post, and
watches the scene unfold behind him.  If the guards and the halfling pursue
wherever his friends went, he will follow them - if however (somehow)
they've made a clean break, he will walk with a brisk pace off in their
direction.

I know it's problematic, but he won't run.  But he will try to see where
they go.  Some odd feeling inside of him spurns him along. . . as much as
he would like to be rid of them - he must admit to himself, that being
alone in a strange town, might not be very good.  That is an option that he
will chose not to think about until it happens, and he will focus at the
task at hand, walking unhooded, with the brisk pace - towards wherever they
ran off too.

        Making sure that the guards aren't following HIM.

You follow them, and finally after they feel they have shaken off
pursuit they slow to a more reasonable walk.  Foldis gets separated,
but eventually they all make it to the Civic Festhall.  A towering
structure of varied stone and mortar, intricately placed together and
by far the most beautiful place to be seen.  The group meets up with
Dai'Lyn, the singer from the Golden Acorn and with words from Aredin,
they head inside.  You still have not seen Jeath.

Amon Sul follows the others as he sees them make a break for it,
but he makes no effort to catch up to them.  Foldis gets split off
from the group, but finally catches up to everyone outside of a
towering building that can only be the Civic Festhall.  A beautiful,
intricate structure of stained glass windows and many different types
of stonework melded in a blissful manner.  Marble stairs lead up
to the entrance, where the others make their way after meeting up
with the singer from the Golden Acorn, Dai'Lyn.

Amon Sul has not entered behind them yet, nor made them aware of
his presense.

For the time being I will continue to watch him, and remain concealed.

=================
The three stand before a large building made of many different types of
stone, painted glass windows and fine marble steps leading up to the
massive front doors.  Standing on the steps is the young blonde woman
from last night performing a song with a slight elf accompanying her with
a flute.  There is easily a hundred people listening to her perform, all
standing in rapt attention.

Aredin recognizes Dai'Lyn from the Acorn.

A good half hour passes and finally Foldis arrives in the crowd.

I do exactly as I said before, except since Aredin is running with the
group, I tail Amon Sul instead.<<Jeath>>

"I don't like just standing around out here.  It would be too easy for some
of the guards to spot us.  I say we get Dai'Lyn to notice us and then we
head inside."<<Onyx>>

Christeel, "Sounds good by me, Lets go"

"Hold on. You can't interupt her while she's playing.Go inside and find
some place away from the front door, perferably by a side or back door.
I'll get Dai'Lyn's attention. She doesn't know any of you."

Aredin will either make his way through the crowd to stand in front of Dai
or around the outside of the crowd . Once in front of Dai, he will what for
her to see him, then ,using his eyes, he will indicate that he wants to
talk to her.

She wiggles her fingers in greeting, smiling a bit brighter.  She nods
once, but continues to sing her song.

"He walked down the street
a man with no vision
Lost in the shadows
of crumbling homes
It was near anti-peak
in time for a meeting
When he saw the berk
he was too far gone

You're stuck in the Cage
Hiding in your dark cold nook
That berk's waiting for his name
to be scrawled in the Deadbook

Come on now!
Sing like a bird
Yer stuck in the Cage
Never gonna' see
the light of true day
Never gonna live a long life
Nor gain freedom for your soul
You'll hang around here
until the Lady lets you go!

So don't run down the street
and get their attention
Blood on the dirty stones
dripping to far below
The berk was quite dead
a meeting gone wrong
But you're lively enough
to rattle out this song

You're stuck in the Cage
Hiding in your dark cold nook
That berk's waiting for his name
to be scrawled in the Deadbook

Scream out now!
Squawk like a crow
That's stuck in a Cage
Never gonna' see
a prime world again
Don't you wanna' wander
where fresh winds blow
To get away from here
when the Lady lets you go?

You're stuck in the Cage
Hiding in your dark cold nook
That berk's waiting for his name
to be scrawled in the Deadbook..."


At the end of her song, she bows to her audience.  Then she leans over to
whisper something to her companion before walking over to greet Aredin.
Her companion remains behind to collect the tips.

"Hi, Aredin.  Whatcha' doing, dude?  Where's the Clueless bunch you're
supposed to be babysitting," she asks while busily packing away her mandolin.

"Ah.. Greetings Dai. The Clueless are inside. We're on the run from some
Hardheads for trying to help some kids. Do you think that you could give us
some help?" Aredin says flashing his best smile at Dai.

She frowns and shakes her head.

"Well... I might be able to help hide you out for a while, but if they
remember your faces you'll be taking a chance every time you walk out onto
the streets.  Come on...  Let's go talk somewhere less out in the open.
You stick out like a sore thumb, dude," she says with a short laugh,
tugging Aredin by his arm towards the Festhall entrance.

Heading up the steps and entering the Civic Festhall, the group is hit
with a swarm of mass confusion.  Inside, stairs lead up to two levels
of clustered shops and pubs, everyone of them filled with various beings
of the multiverse.

Amidst the chaos, is an older half-goat, half human female with thick
glasses and a scathing glare, as she crisply instructs those entering
where they can go to find the pleasure they are seeking.  Quickly clattering
on the marble floor up to the new arrivees, she peers down at Christeel
and the two dwarves and crisply informs them, "Welcome to the Civic
Festhall.  The public sensoriums are offering a special half-price viewing
today, featuring the Great Modron March of 2012 or perhaps Swimming in Ooze,
a fantastic journey through the Plane of Ooze.  With the special today,
only 7 gold pieces for each."

Dai'Lyn and Aredin enter behind the bewildered first-time visitors to
the Festhall.

Christeel asks the half-goat, "What other kind of stuff is there traveling
through ooze doesn't sound very appeling, and what is a Madron anyway?"

I will look to Aredin and Dai to make a decision.  I have never been here
before and they should hopefully know a place here where we can go and talk.
Besides, I am with Christeel, swimming in Ooze doesn't sound very fun.<<Onyx>>

"Modron's are beings from Mechanus.  As to other experiences via the recorder
stones, young sir, here in the Society of Sensation's Civic Festhall,
you can experience anything from any plane.  We pride ourselves on the
cumulation of knowledge, and yet what being, even an elf as long lived
as you can experience everywhere and everything.  Thanks to recorder
stones you can experience anything you desire, from falling into a
lava pit to shaping chaos in Limbo.  Whatever you desire you can
experience here in the Civic Festhall.  All it takes is some time and
some jink," the she-goat replies.

"So Dai, Where would you recommend?"Aredin says with an open smile.

Once inside, Dai'Lyn says, "There are a couple taverns a level or two
up.  We can go talk there."  She motions towards some stairs.

I will head for the stairs behind Dai'Lyn.

========
Shaking his head, Phearez curses a long string of muttered words about the
foolishness of the band and how likely it will be when they wind up getting
him killed.  He only pauses momentarily to consider the thought of a
MULTI-verse of gods to curse, and as a thin eyebrow raises, he continues
walking after them.

Depending on the availability of seats at the festhall, Phearez will enter
the exit that he has seen ... them go into.  It all depends on the scene,
really.  If it's a bustling state-fair looking thing, with many people
milling about and standing around, he will take a sentinel position at the
door.  (holding his purse FAR away from peeking hands), and mainly facing
the wherever the group goes.  He realizes that he could care less what it
is that they're going to talk to Dai'Lyn about, no matter what advice
anyone gives them - he's already thought of - and they never seem to heed
it anyway.

If the festhall is empty(ish), Amon Sul will merely follow the group to
wherever they go and sit, silently near them.  Keeping his eyes alert, and
scritinizing of Dai'Lyn almost as much as he does the shape shifting, flame
haired Aredin, and trying his best to look awake ... and totally calm.

Walking up the marble steps, you enter through the double doors to see
Christeel accosted by a half-goat half human female with thick glass
lenses poised across her nose.  While he speaks with her, the others follow
Dai'Lyn to one of several sets of stairs leading up to two more floors
above the main area.  Shops and eateries can be seen on the higher floors.

The floors above seem to be somewhat less crowded than the main floor
and Dai'Lyn leads the way to a quiet little tavern with many booths
nestled far from the bar and far from the door, lit only by a few candles
at each of the tables and behind the bar.

Jeath watches as Amon Sul enters the building behind the others.  Walking up
the marble steps, you enter through the double doors just in time to see
Christeel accosted by a half-goat half human female with thick glass
lenses poised across her nose.  While he speaks with her, the others follow
Dai'Lyn to one of several sets of stairs leading up to two more floors
above the main area.  Shops and eateries can be seen on the higher floors.

As the group finds a table, Amon will move and take a seat with the group
following them into the tavern.  Almost on his heels, Jeath moves to the
table as well.

After everyone is seated, Dai'Lyn asks Aredin in a low voice, "Okay, now
what kind of trouble are you in?"

Ok. First off, We were going through the bazaar when we heard some
children screaming. Where I come from we follow the travelers' way so I
went to help.  We saw some spikey demon chasing the kids so we went to
help them. When we challenged the demon it started to cry. At the same
time some half-giant desided to come help, I guess. The children started
to throw debris at him and we tried to stop the giant from going after
the kids. I put up a illusionary wall of fire between the giant and the
kids which seem to discourage him. Then for some reason, Christeel here
challenges the giant to a fight. They just start getting into it when
the Hardheads arrive. Most of them," Aredin gestures around the table to
the party in general,"go with the little runt, Windfang, to the tower. I
followed near by as a guard to save them. I cast an illusion of myself
onto Wip and had the guards pummal him a little bit," Aredin smiles.
"Then we got away and came here. That about covers it unless some one
has something to add." Aredin sits back and waves to the bartender to
get a waiter.

Christeel smiles and adds, "I had that half-giant, right where I wanted him
and that little runt shows up, I should have drop kick him out of my way,
The next time I see him I'll do just that" Christeel looks around at the
other patrons of the bar. Seemingly disinterested in the current conversation.

Dai'Lyn frowns, then shakes her head.

"That demon was Freddy.  He runs a daycare - takes care of children.  I
help out there sometimes.  That's awful that you upset him like that.
He's so sensitive...  And you shouldn't be jumping to conclusions,
Aredin.  That'll get you killed quickly here.  As for the Hardheads, if
you got away from them, they'll keep hunting you.  And you, Aredin, are
easy to spot.  Get a disquise and wear it every time you're in Sigil.
Rest of you guys might consider a disquise as well.  Else when Windfang
catches glimpse of you fellow, you will all be heading to the Tower -
fer sure," she says with a distasteful look on her face.

"You got Wildfang beaten up?" she asks incredulously, then shakes her
head, "Hope he doesn't figure out exactly who it was.  I wouldn't want
to be you if he does.  Almost everyone's afraid of Wildfang...  For good
reasons...  One of his 'short' trips to the Tower means torture followed
by death."  She looks uncomfortable for a moment before adding with a
dark chuckle, "Once I had to go out on a date Wildfang just to get out
of a 'visit' there...  And I don't think any of you are his type."

"There's nothing I can do to help you, other than suggest disquises and
avoiding Harmonium patrols at all costs," she finishes, "Leaving town
might be a very good idea."

" I would need some sort of magical disquise,"Aredin says while he tosses
his head so his flame-like hair ripples." It's my eyes."

"Okay, it is abvious that we need to get out of town fast, but we need to
finish the job we are on and give Darrin some time to recover.  So I say we
take the quickest route to the Maze and get on with it.  Hopefully by the
time we are done with this little job Darrin will be ready to go and a
portal we can use will have been found.  Our only other option would be to
catch the little pipsquesk Wip alone and dispose of him and I don't see that
happening.  It would also probably not do us any good, but it sounds like we
would be doing the community a service.  So, lets have a quick drink, throw
our cloaks up around our heads, and get going to the Maze.<<Onyx>>

    On hearing Onyx mention a drink Foldis says,

        "I would suggest we miss the drink out", <Waits for
any comments about dwarves refusing a drink to finish then
continues>, "the longer we are here the more chance we have
of being found."

" I don't know about that. Sigil is a rather big place. It will take time
to spread the word about us and they have no idea of where we've gone.I do
think that the sooner we get moving, the better." Aredin looks over towards
Dai'lyn,"Know of any place we can get some good disguises?"

Sometime during the conversation, Dai'Lyn's face turned a livid pink.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on Wip, you little... pipsqueak!" she hisses
at Onyx, pointing at finger at him.  "He might be a Hardhead, but he's
not all that bad.  He keeps the worst of the creeps off the streets.
Sigil's safer with him around - despite what you might think...  First
you pick on Freddy...  Then you talk about wanting to kill Wip.  And I'm
supposed to help you?"

She turns to Aredin and whispers angrily, "You and your friends need to
learn to be more careful.  And more polite!  As for disquises, I don't
know of any magic shop.  Ask Foster if you see him.  He knows stuff like
that."

The blonde bard stands and pulls her cloak on.

"Excuse me.  I want to stop by Freddy's to make sure he's doing okay.
I'm sure you really shook him up," she mutters, then turns to leave.

"Dai'lyn. I'm sorry for what happened with Freddy and I'm sure the rest of
us are also. We were just trying to help those kids. As for what happened
with Wip, I think he way over reacted and got what he desired. Tell Freddy
when you see him that I sorry for upsetting him,"Aredin says to Dai's
turned back.

"Lady, you are deluded if you think this place is better off with Wip.  In
one breath you say that a trip to the tower usually means torture and death
and in the next you say Wip is a great guy.  The man abuses his power and
from what I can tell we weren't going to see the light of day for a long
time and we hadn't done anything but try to help some kids.  I don't
seriously propose that we take him out, not because he does a good job, but
because it would cause us too much trouble."<<Onyx>>

When she is gone I will continue.  "I don't think we are going to be able to
find convincing disguises quickly, so I say we just head for the Maze and
try to be as inconspicuous as possible."<<Onyx>>

    Foldis replies to Onyx's last comment with
        "Are we going to make a move or not?"

    If the party decide to get moving she goes along, if
they keep talking she heads to the bar to get an ale.

 "We should get going soon. The hive is bad enough in the daytime but you
don't ever want to be there during the night time"

Amon's eyes slide across to Jeath, and a razor thin eyebrow raises.  He
says nothing, and the look is quite ... inconspicuous.

"Onyx, do you always insult your hostess's friends?  Not that I'm overly
enamored of Wip myself, but at least when someone offers to help I have
enough sense to keep my mouth shut."  Shake off the head.  "And people say I
talk too much."

"Aredin, where the hell are we going, this quick job is taking way too long."

"I think that we should get going on this job, if everyone is up for it.
And once we're done, maybe the Free Leaguers will help us out of the city
or with disguises or something. But we should get moving now. Before the
Hardheads track us down." Aredin states, loking none too happy.

Christeel replies, "Yeh, fine whatever, let's just get moving, I like
having something to do.  But if you guys want to hang here for a while, I
saw a few things on the first floor that cought my eye."

    Foldis looks at Christeel and replies

        "Fine but be quick we really should get out of here
as quickly as possible"

"Why don't we all go togeather so we don't get split up like before?"

I will head out with everyone else.<<Onyx>>

Christeel, "I mearly trying to show my point of how this people can't seem
to be able to make up their mind.  If they want us to do this so damm
inportant mission for them, then what in all of the hells are we waiting
for.  We been to hell already but what do a bunch of hardhead know right.
I mean if they wouldn't have been dragging their feet on this, and just
given us the task the other day, we wouldn't have some sawed off runt look
for us.  Whom everyone seems to be worried about I might add.  Now give us
this so dam important task or I'm walking.  I'll find my friggen way back
to Waterdeep."  Christeel looks around at the other party members

"Hey Christeel, calm down buddy."  I pat him on the shoulder.  "We'll find
the sword and get back home in no time.  We'll just walk out of here and
head to the Maze.  No problem.  If will help cheer you up you could sing us
a little ditty on the way out of the bar.  Quietly of course since we don't
want to draw attention to ourselves."  I grin and nudge Christeel in the
ribs.<<Onyx>>

Aredin gets up and leaves with everyone else looking very puzzled about
what the hell Christeel is talking about and says," You seem very confused.
If we do this for the Indeps, they can help to get you back to Waterdeep."
As they head out the door.

"Uh, Christeel, not to be too personal, but how long has it been since you
spent the night with the twins?  That long?  I think you might need to do
something about that when we get back."  Turn to the rest of the group,
"Let's go.  I'm not getting any younger sitting here." (OOC:  see sig)

I get up and head for the exit, not bothering to see if anyone follows me
till I'm outside.

The second Jeath stands up to move, Amon Sul is on his feet, and on Jeath's
tail.

He hasn't said a word for quite a while.

Heading back outside, Aredin is able to lead the way towards the Hive.

The Hive.  No place in the realms ever seemed as destitute and crawling with
vermin as the narrow streets and decrepit buildings crowding around you now.
Everywhere you turn, are more towering buildings, with razorvine crawling from
the buildings into the streets, almost like a trap for the unwary and yet
just a plant.

"Watch out for those vines. They can be deadly," Aredin says from under his
hood not looking back at everyone else.

The morning sun ducks ominously behind some darkening clouds, and the air
grows just a bit chillier, forcing those folk around you to bundle up their
rags just a little tighter around them.  Several eyes gaze at you from
recessed doorways as you enter the Hive.

Aredin keeps walking trying to ignore the stares and minding his own business.

I will follow Aredin through the streets and I will keep an eye on the
plants so I don't touch them.

--------
If Amon has a solitary moment with Jeath he'll say the following in rushed,
yet concise, undertones.

"We don't need this 'mission', already those fools have their heads marked,
and almost ours!  We have no room to add on more alliances - we need to
complete what we have already begun!  This is lucany to continue.  If
getting back to our world is in your agenda - then make it a priority,
while our heads still have life enough in them to decide!"

"Well, if their heads are marked, mine is too, I didn't duck into the crowd.
And lunacy is what I look for in life.  I like it here, I may never go back
to Waterdeep.  As far as completing what we began, Zep is safe, through no
fault of ours, and AJ is long gone.  I don't think we'll ever be able to
extract our revenge on him.  I've no more committed to finding this sword
than you, but I've got nothing better to do at the moment."<<Jeath>>

Then in a hissing after thought as the others arive:

        "Forget not your previous oaths ..."

"What oaths?  I give no oaths, people have a habit of making you regret
them."<<Jeath>>

All the while, as young Amon Sul speaks, his body is bereft of language,
leaving the narrow scape of his hawkish eyes to convey the importance he
places behind his words.

"Relax, friend.  Aredin said the Indeps, or whatever, would help us return
to Waterdeep if we return the sword.  And I may still go back, I would love
to see Zep's wedding if we're not too late.  That should be one helluva
party, and I haven't had a good bash for sometime."

After a long walk, you come to a huge building with four long wings
jutting out from it towards the sides and back.  Out front, a long line
of beings stand along side the building leading towards a central gate
where they are questioned by two half-orcs before allowed to enter.

In front of the line are two trolls, with green skin and long warty noses
dressed in red and white striped stalkings and horrid plaid leather cloaks.
One plays a flute while the other belts out badly off key,

"Stormin' the castle walls
I fell to my doom.
Slippin' and Tumblin' down
No one to even care
As I scream my last breath into the eternal dark night."
Death #23

No one seems to mind, as the next couple comes to the gate and after saying
a few words to the half-orcs, they hand their two children over to them.
The parents walk away, not receiving anything in return and the children
are led inside as the next person comes forward.  Most everyone wears a
patch with a barren helm on it, devoid of any features inside of it.

Aredin turns to the rest of the party.

"We have to find the Inn of the Roaring Balor.  It should be down the
street a little bit past here.  Then we have to go into the alley and find
a door.  I'll go first.  The rest of you follow.  Everybody got that?"  He
says with a grin.

        Foldis looks at Aredin, nods in agreement and
   follows a short distance behind scanning the street as
   she goes.

I will follow along behind Aredin, keeping my eye out for anything or anyone
that might be paying too much attention to us.  As we head off I will speak
to Aredin.  "Aredin, do you know what is going on over there?  Is that some
sort of temple or something?"

(I have a sneaking suspicion that I will not like the answer.)<<Onyx>>

"I've heard that there is a hospital inside there. I've also heard that few
people come back out of there. I don't really know that much about the
place, just rumors people say in the bar. I've never been down here before
now. "

Muttering under his breath, just loud enough for everyone to piece together
the start and end of each word, Amon says:

        "If you ever wanted to know when I have a bad feeling about something.
         Know I have a bad feeling about this.  I think we should turn back
now."

The rest of the mutterings are intelligible, save for times when the last
sentence echoes from his mouth.
        "Turn back now."

His eyes are narrow, but through the slits they shine with nervous
anticipation.

Aredin looks at Amon, into his eyes and whispers, "Just be careful and mind
your own business and it should work out. You don't have to come with us."

I catch Amon Sul's eye.  When he jerks his head to say 'Let's get the
hell out of here' I give him the same look, only I jerk my head in the
opposite direction.<<Jeath>>

"The Inn of the Roaring Balor is easy to find," chuckles a gruff, gravely
voice from the shadows of a towering building.  "Just look for the fiends,"
it laughs again, just before you hear scampering sounds, moving away
from the group.

Sure enough, ahead of you are a group of small green winged fiends, much
like the one that a few of you had met before coming to Sigil.  Swaying
slightly, they make their way into a building up ahead.

Christeel glances around, looking for any more signs of trouble, He will
try to move around quietly, but will not bother the remain out of sight.
Christeel reaches for the hilt of his sword, upon hearing the noise, but as
the noise fades he releases his grip on the hilt.

"Come on, poeple, " Aredin says quietly, "There is nothing we can do out
here. We're sitting Lemures out here And this is drawing attention to us.
That's very bad with so many fiends around. Let's move."
Aredin's red eyes begin to glow brighter from under his hood as he speaks
to the group.

I speak up, "Agreed.  Let's go."  As I head after the group of fiends, not
bothering to see if anyone follows me, I add, "You know, after all those
fiends and their ilk have put me through, I do believe one of them owes me a
drink."

        Foldis looks at Aredin and Jeath and says
            "Are you going to stand around chatting all day
or are you going to get a move on"

        With that she steps forward and heads towards the
building the fiends entered.

Opening the front door, you are met with the sight of slaughter.

"Stupid Spinagons!" yells a black, pock marked, scaly skinned human
with shocking white hair and large pointed ears from near the side
of the door, sitting in a chair, turned round backwards.

He's not the only one watching the show, as a huge, venom dripping
fang-toothed red being with large wings from head to floor, shops down
the last of the small gargoyles with a glowing bright red longsword.

The last gargoyle drops and the red-skinned fiend looks at the
doorway... and at your party.  In your heads, you hear, "And which
side do you think will win the blood war?"

Every other ugly fiend in the bar begins to laugh unmercifully.
Amongst the patrons are what look like big hulking orangutauns
and skeletons covered with dark leather armor.  Up on the
ceiling are what look like mosquitos with human arms and bearded
faces and several dogs with four arms move forward, beginning
to chew on the slaughtered fiends.  At the bar sits a most beautiful
dark haired woman with upslanted eyebrows and small leathery wings.
She wears next to nothing, dark leather armor around her hips and
her breasts.  She glances over at the door over her shoulder, a
glint in her eyes and a smile on her lips.

Aredin stands up straight and replies," Your side, of course."As he says
that Aredin ushers the group past the doorway and into the alleyway next to
the bar that the portal is down in. Aredin never had the intention of going
into the bar.

I will follow Aredin to the alley.  he knows where he is going so
followinf him is the best idea I can think of.  I will keep any eye out
behind us (I will being up the rear) in case anything from the bar decides
to follow us.<<Onyx>>

Before entering the bar, Christeel will take a quick moment to cast a spell
before entering the inn, (Unseen Servant).  He will follow along with the
others in the party, allow Aredin to lead, seeing that he really has little
choice.

   Foldis is visibly shocked by what she sees in the bar,
however she lets Aredin lead her from the doorway and into
the alley.

Those that look behind them can see the black skinned human with pointed
ears step forth into the doorway, the woman from the bar standing with
him.  He speaks to her and nodding they both come walking quickly after
your group as you turn into the alley.

"Why do you run?" calls the man with a toothy grin.  "Stay and have a
drink with us.  Or at least promise to return that we might celebrate
the next victory of the Tanar'ri."

Aredin doesn't look back or answer. He continues on looking for that
doorway in the alley that he was told about. Once he reaches the door, he
stops and turns to make sure everyone is following then Aredin takes out
the gold plated rose and opens the door and says," Follow quickly." Without
waiting for a response, He steps though the portal.

        Foldis quickly follows Aredin through the portal.

Christeel will bring up the rear, and head through the portal as well, only
taking a quick glance backward to get a face to put with the voice before
steping through.

...It's a damn good thing too, because there's NO way that Amon is going to
be the last one through the portal.  After Foldis the youth grits his teeth
and jumps across the threshold as if he's about to fall to his death.  He
kind of mumbles something to himself over the way... discernable is:
"...damned puppet..."

As I'm backing away with the group, I say to the two very friendlies in the
doorway, "You don't want to party with them, they're a boring lot.  As for
me, I already have a boyfriend, you'll just have to find someone else, big guy."

I then turn and head with the group for, and through, the portal.  I don't
hesitate, so if anyone else does, I'll hop in right after Aredin.<<Jeath>>

As you all head into the alley, you can hear a woman's delicate laughter
and the man calls out, "Actually I was looking for a boyfriend for the
woman at my side.  She liked a few of you..." he trails off.

There are only a couple of doorways and only one that matches the
description given to you in your instructions.