The Planewalkers' Journies

[Idran1701]

Adrift

Emerging from the alleyway and walking down the street, the party watches the city around them. As they walk down, they pass the occasional individual making their own way through the city. More steam mephits, some humanoids, and even a bariaur heading back the way they came. The buildings on either side hold more patches of that bluish moss across their surfaces, in some places showing signs of it having been scraped off. They all look to be made of either clay or stone, mostly simple, utilitarian designs, but with a few concessions made to aesthetics. Mostly at waist level or lower, of course - it'd be silly to put them where no one could easily see them, after all - but they're there.

Eventually, the party reaches a point where the mist breaks. A broad town square seems entirely clear of cloud, as the large, glowing pole in the center seeming to hold it at bay. A number of benches dot the square, and the occasional busker stands about; a pair of humans playing some sort of shared wind instrument in one spot, a genasi juggling balls of water under the pole. Not far from the right edge, the party can make out a sign just peeking through the fog: "Obscurity - Rooms 1 gold."

[NebulaQueen]

Anne follows along, spring in her step, and a soft smile on her face as she looks at all the sights around her. The bunch she was traveling with seemed a bit strange, but considering her line of work...well, strange was relative, at best. Plus, the stuffy guy (Lax, wasn't it? No, Lox...ah, Lux!) seemed to be sensible, after all. While a little bit water (or a large bit, really) never hurt anyone (except for the occasional fire elemental, of course), a tavern did seem nice.

She spots the sign, and walks through the fog to get a better look. "This looks like the place," she said, hands on her hip.

[Jak Snide]

The water gensai nodded, gaze drifting about casually, waiting to follow the group inside.

[Idran1701]

Adrift

Leaving the square, the party enters the building, finding a quite interestingly-decorated business. No tables, instead this room holds nothing but private booths, with shadowed shapes visible through thin curtains drawn across their entrances. Mostly free of steam, a thin layer still hangs about the inner walls, giving the building a paradoxically vaster impression; on closer inspection, the mist seems to be clinging to the walls, some effect holding it close, while still allowing it to spiral and drift freely along the surface. The floor, however, remains clear, but for a thin, embroidered rug in the center; all greys, but showing signs of great artistic talent behind its design.

As for the servers, they're an interesting sort. The planewalkers can hardly make out more than their humanoid shapes as they mill about serving their customers, their outlines blurred and their details unrecognizable. Carrying orders into the booths, even the trays they hold can hardly be distinguished, the figures reminiscent of viewing a scene through a large piece of ice. The unfocused appearance extends even to the...person standing behind the short counter at the far end of the room, likely the host (or hostess) of this establishment. Soon after spotting him, they get a feeling of appraisal from the figure as a cheerful, masculine voice emerges from his indistinct form, a tone of melodrama and overacting to his words.

"Ah, new faces! Well, I must bid you welcome to Obscurity. What may we do for you?" Continuing his speech, the host steps out from the counter and approaches the six, things which they can only assume are arms held wide in a gesture of greeting. "A room, perhaps, or merely a midday repast? Ask, and we shall do our best to provide."

[Kai]

Seemed somehow inauspicious for a man of Joss' stature and obvious importance to patronize an establishment with the name "Obscurity." He mulled this over for several minutes, whether it were some sign of things to come. Troubling indeed, and certainly completely unacceptable. Of course, there was always the possibility that it was intended to be only a brief stay, followed by a symbolic and even prophetic Emergence from Obscurity.

As they entered Joss resolved to set his mind upon the latter explanation. The first was frankly absurd. Joss, obscure? Heavens no. Clearly this was intended to be a gesture to the universe, a signal to the powers that be that even an adolescent boy could not be kept in Obscurity for long. Joss inspected dubiously the people and objects around him, each obfuscated by some clearly-magical effect. He couldn't help but wonder how he and his friends seemed to the others, whether they were also to be hidden away like mincing celebrities or... or... cowards. Just didn't sit right. This place was unconscionable.

New faces, huh? he thought, somewhat petty in his annoyance. Only freakin' faces. But that's all right! If their faces aren't worth seeing I don't wanna bother with them ANYWAY. That includes you, buddy.

"Actually, I have a question. Stuff in here looks pretty... distinctive, I guess. Do we look all fuzzy to them?" He gestured broadly at the other patrons. "Or do we look like usual?"

[Jak Snide]

Zant remained quiet for the moment, taking in the surroundings (as best as he could) and noting that the establishment certainly earned it's namesake.

[Seethe]

Rosalyn found the name of the inn very appealing. "Obscurity." Hidden. Lost in the mists. And the atmosphere of the place, the way everything was hidden, made all seem so alien. Everything an explorer could hope for.

"Quite an auspicious find," Rosalyn found herself commenting aloud. Though she was only talking to herself, she decided that she should explain herself then. "A sign of good fortune for explorers, I would think, to find that which lies in obscurity."

She then strode up to address the host.

"I believe we will be wanting rooms for the night," she said. "We have business out of the city and our travels may be long. It is always best to take advantage of civilized lodgings whenever they are available."

[Idran1701]

Adrift

Shifting in such a way as to better face Rosalyn, the host says "Well, we indeed have plenty of space available, yes, as well as private meeting halls for rent should your business in Adrift require such."

Turning his attention to Joss, the spectre-like man continues, with chagrin in his voice, "Ah, I must admit that our appearance is merely an affectation, a way of adding to the distinctiveness of our choice of decoration. Thus, to each other, those that choose to utilize our establishment look entirely as one would expect."

Finally, he faces the group as a whole once more, returning to the counter as he does. "I thank you for your patronage with our inn, and can check you in immediately. And if you may happen to be interested in sitting down for a meal as well, we would be eager to serve you. I would personally recommend the baked javoose, a local delicacy which I hope you would all enjoy. Or, you may be interested in our soup of the day; spiced fish, cooked with fresh pike harvested from the Elemental Plane of Water."

[Justice Augustus]

"That sounds delicious! I'll definitely be sampling some of that, if you please," says Lux, smiling all around himself. "I like what you've done with the place. Tell me, for we are but travellers through this land, what spots of interest or note await for us in this fine city?"

[Shinigori V2]

Shawn hung back a bit, watching the events unfold.

Had they not just gotten up?

Was it not still morning?

Why did they look for lodgings when, if they moved quickly, they'd be unnessessary?

Why did everyone decide to take matters into their own hands?

Why do taverns, bars, and inns always attract people who are not currently in need of their services, anyway?

She poped another piece of candy into her mouth, looking slightly annoyed at the others.

[Idran1701]

Adrift

"Ah, I would be quite remiss if I did not recommend a visit to one of the many saunas; quite refreshing, especially after a long journey. However, our city certainly has much to offer travelers beyond steam. Adrift is quite blessed indeed in the arts, and our theater troupes are lauded across the Inner Planes; if you have any interest in excitement and drama, I would suggest a visit to the Fellon Theater. Show one of our room keys, and you're guaranteed a good seat at a reasonable price."

Pulling a sign-in tome from below the counter, he lays it out to the party, continuing, "If you wish to see the sights of Steam, perhaps you would wish to charter a steamship trip about the plane; the beauty of the mists cannot truly be appreciated without viewing them for yourself. And of course, no visit to Adrift would truly be complete without a glimpse of the Floating Statues at the center of town. A sight that must be seen to be believed, I guarantee it.

"If you do wish to rent a room, that shall be one gold apiece per night you plan on staying, with the first night's charge in advance. Meals are included, three a day; additional food can be prepared on request, for a slight additional fee. We also provide private washrooms for our guests, for no extra charge. Now, will you be signing in?"

[Shinigori V2]

"No." Shawn said rather sternly, looking about at the others. "We will not be renting any rooms yet. We don't even know how long this is going to take, and even if we did, we could walk the extra quarter-mile and go home instead of spending money to stay here. Furthermore, how are any of you even remotely winded; we just woke up and started moving?"

She turned, sighing and slouching a bit. "This is exactly why I'm the leader.."

[Jak Snide]

"That, and she ate our old one." Zant added as a none-too-quiet aside to the innkeep. "She needs living flesh every tenday to maintain her youth. I would keep an eye on your serving staff I were in your position."

[Kai]

It was certainly a relief that only outsiders experienced the shameful signature cloaking effect of Obscurity. Joss had little patience for such things, so it was good to know that he might be able to enjoy a normal meal here later. Such considerations were interrupted by Shawn's overstated disgust with her travelling companions.

Joss cast a brief, sharp glance toward Shawn. The whole point of this had been finding someplace to meet up in case they got separated. Finding a landmark. Joss had certainly not intended to curl up in front of a roaring fire and sleep the day away, and the implication was somewhat irksome. He was hoping to stop here on the way back and enjoy some different food, different surroundings, different people... in short... enjoying travelling!

All in all, she seemed a bit of a brat. But these things happened. She probably just wanted to prove to the grownups they couldn't drag her around, but being so needlessly contrary didn't make any sense when she didn't seem to be coerced into anything. Joss had known rude and condescending adults, and none of them were here.

Whatever. Girls can be so stupid sometimes.

Joss just crossed his arms and waited for the others to finish their little pissing contest.

[Seethe]

"I suppose we'll be pinching our pennies," Rosalyn commented, thinking that one gold wasn't really anything to get so worked up over.

Hanging back into the group now, she decided to just let the leader decide their course from there.

[Justice Augustus]

"Well then, oh pace-setter, what is our plan of action?" and there was the half-smirk again, Lux acting both amused and teasing at the same time.

[Shinigori V2]

The look on Shawn's face might've been taken as a very good joke; rolling with the punches and going with the flow. She even had the crazy look in her eye, very hard to do on demand. Some might've even thought the look of murder on a young girl's face to be, in a way, cute. Maybe she was just going with it, glaring at Zant...Or maybe there was something to it.

However, Lux snapped her out of it with his question. "..We..We'll be going to the tower according to plan. Depending on how THAT goes, maybe we can stay here the night instead of go home. Remember, we're on a job, not a pleasure trip."

[Jak Snide]

Zant smiled calmly, masking a slight unease as he wondered if he'd hit too close to the mark for his own liking. No, it couldn't be something that sinister.

"Of course, mistress. What were our employer's demands, though?"

[Shinigori V2]

"We don't have one." Shawn said, looking at Zant again. "But how would you feel if we missed our chance to be the first in that tower because you wanted to hang around some inn all morning?"

[Jak Snide]

"Well stated."

"We mean to investigate the Tower of Ice." he stated, now directing his words at the barkeep. "Are you at all familiar with it?"

[Idran1701]

Adrift

"The Tower of Ice, you say? Hmm...no, I'm afraid not. Though in my personal opinion, I would recommend a visit to the steamship docks. One among the crews there is bound to know of this location."

Returning the book to its place within the counter, he continues, a tone of regret soon turning to hope as he speaks.

"I must regret my utmost regret that you will not be gracing our establishment with your stay. But perhaps you would still be interested in a meal before your departure? Your travels may be long, and it may be your last chance for a true meal as opposed to rations in some time. We would be honored to see off your journey with an enjoyable refection, and allow you an excellent start to what I am certain would be an intriguing quest."

[Jak Snide]

Zant nodded, casting his glance about the inn. The largely concealed patrons didn't seem like the sort who'd be receptive to being questioned about oddities.

"Perhaps we shall. In either case, my thanks for your hospitality, sir."

[Seethe]

Not in as good of a humor as Zant, Rosalyn scowled at Shawn's comment about wanting to spend all morning in the inn. Could she have honestly thought that was anyone's intent? If she wanted to skip the process of booking the room, then fine. It wasn't really necessary anyway. Even if she was just trying to show who was in charge, it wouldn't have been such a bad thing. But insulting everyone's intelligence and dedication in the process was just uncalled for.

Rosalyn quickly forced a more neutral look onto her face, reminding herself that she was on this journey for her own benefit and for the sake of her religious calling above anything else. And if the tales Shawn had told the day before were true, then she wasn't without her redeeming factors. Rosalyn wasn't going to shrug the girl's attitude off as nothing, but she would put up with it as long as Shawn's leadership was good enough to keep the group alive and not in excessive peril.

"I see no reason why we shouldn't stop for at least a meal," Rosalyn put in, bringing her attention to the discussion at hand. "We'll have to at some point anyway."

[Justice Augustus]

Lux was tapping his foot and humming to himself, composing a fresh melody in his head.

"Maybe we should question the dockyard folk first, then we can return to this establishment to collect ourselves and plan ahead."

[Idran1701]

Adrift

With Lux set on visiting the docks, and Joss and Zant showing their agreement, the party receives directions and emerges from Obscurity. The trip through Adrift, thanks to the ever-present clouds, is fairly unnotable, with little but the occasional citizen on their own trip breaking the monotony of the mist. The wind seems to pick up as they travel, wisps blowing across their face as the light breeze strengthens into a warm rush of air.

However, after the 20 minutes of travel have passed, this is quick to change. They reach their destination, emerging from a wall of steam into a vast area kept clear by poles of light, spanning at least 200 feet across and appearing much like a person might expect the edge of the world to see. It's here in this clearing that the truth is revealed; the wind isn't one at all, but rather the city itself seems to be spinning, a massive stone disc whirling in place with naught but gravity holding its citizenry to its surface. Though not a frightening pace, perhaps half the speed of a horse's gallop, it's nevertheless a disconcerting sight at first glance.

The docks themselves have much of their own to distract the eye from the surroundings. Though a few more traditional-looking vessels can be found docked here, these ships are by for the minority. No, the lion's-share of vessels to be found here are all of a single type, and though many thoughts may come to mind from the term "steamship", this is not likely to be the first; an array of zeppelins covered in the ever-present furry blue moss of this realm lines the edge, most tethered in place to their ports. One ship emerges from its dock, shooting off on a jet of steam released from its balloon; another undergoes the process of inflation, with a half-dozen mephits gathered around its vent, blasting its interior with their magical exhalations.

Odder still, a small number, rather than massive leather sacks, instead seem to be using gigantic living creatures for their propulsion, creatures that for all the world look like spineless blowfish. Some calmly eat the food given to them by their ship's crew, while others simply wait peacefully, slowly breathing in and out as they gently rock the gondolas tethered beneath them.

The party's barely given a second glance as they walk along the boardwalk, the walkway leading them towards a well-kept stone building ahead with a sign proclaiming it the office of the harbormaster. People pass in and out of the moderately-sized structure - sailors, merchants, and travelers alike - and before long, the planewalkers manage to enter themselves, if suffering a slight bit of buffeting as they do. Much more utilitarian in design, this office is a far cry from Obscurity, with stark walls, undecorated floors, and unglassed openings in the wall looking out onto the docks. A number of clerks, all steam mephits, work to arrange arrivals, departures, schedulings, and other duties one would expect. At the moment, the lot of them are busy, but a number of chairs stand open for the party; unpadded, unfortunately, but no more than what one might expect in this climate.

[Justice Augustus]

"Wow." Lux's smile seems almost childlike in innocent pleasure as he gazes at the image before him, the spinning dock memerising the young man. "If you're heading inside, I'll wait out here unless you need me." Lux does not even face his companions as he speaks, gazing at the scene before him in amazement. "It's scenes like this that draw me to travel. No matter how descriptive the poet, or skilled the artist, no record can ever compare to the feeling of seeing such a sight with your own eyes." Lux lifts his hat off his head with his right hand, scratching the side of his temple with his left, before replacing it back on his head firmly and strolling toward the edge, peering forward to see over the lip.

[Seethe]

Going along with the group, Rosalyn mused to herself over the fact that the trip to the inn had at least provided the lead they were now following. It was as good a start as any to their investigation, then. At least it hadn't been a dead end so far. They might make it out of the city today after all, though it was still too early to make such a judgement.

The docks were an interesting place to Rosalyn. The discovery that the whole city was actually on a spinning platform was intriguing, though she did wonder what kind of implications that entailed. Was the disk even attached to any sort of ground, or was it suspended in the mist by its own power? If the latter was the case, which she somehow suspected, then she certainly hoped that whatever power kept the city afloat wasn't at risk of depleting.

Once the group entered the office building, Rosalyn made her way to one of the empty chairs.

"By the way things look, these steamships may be our only means of travel," Rosalyn observed. "If there is no ground below this city, I mean."

Rosalyn didn't seem at all displeased by this fact. She was, in fact, looking forward rather hopefully to the prospect of riding on one of the vessels.

"In any case, it would seem to be a faster means of travel than walking," she continued. "Perhaps while we are here, we should see what details would be involved in chartering one to take us to the tower."

[Jak Snide]

Zant had been following along, doing his best not to go slack jawed at the view from the docks. A strange and fascinating place indeed.

"That would indeed be the sensible course of action, though it appears we may have a wait on our hands. Shall we lounge here until a mephit is available, or perhaps try and consult one of the ship owners ourselves?"

[Kai]

Joss did a fairly good job of containing his enthusiasm at this novel and exotic mode of travel, which is to say that he didn't stand for an hour and gape in amazement as he might have wished. Of particular interest were the industrious mephits inflating one of the vessels, as well as the ships using some variety of native livestock to get around. Joss restrained the urge to run over and ask a crew if he could take a turn feeding them but there was his reputation to consider. A man had to keep some veneer of well-travelled stoicism, after all.

Lux, though... Lux seemed to understand. Joss nodded to himself in approval. He wasn't completely certain of the others, but there was something about the sincerity of Lux's appreciation of this spectacle that Joss found endearing. Whatever could be said of the others, here was a man who followed his heart and went wherever the wind took him. Certainly a fine way to live, and Joss hoped that Lux didn't lose interest in it. Quite possibly it was up to Joss to ensure that Lux's approach was reinforced. After all, everyone liked to feel appreciated, didn't they?

So it was that Joss left the others to handle things with a little wave and walked over to stand by Lux. Once again Lux had the right idea. Joss stepped up next to him and peered over the edge as well. "Do you think we'll get a better angle once we're out there? Of what's under the city, I mean."

[Seethe]

Rosalyn considered the question Zant had posed for a moment.

"Hard to say which would take longer," she reasoned. "Of course, dealing with a ship's owner directly might be easier since our destination probably isn't on any regular path. And an owner might know more about how his ship is run, too."

She shrugged, willing to go with either option.

[Idran1701]

Harbormaster's office

Zant and Rosalyn discuss their potential options from here, as the work around them continues, people filtering in and out. Papers are signed and arrangements made with the clerks, and for the large part little notice is given to the four of them. This, however, can't last long in a crowded place like this, and before long their bubble of relative solitude is punctured.

Through the doorway walks a woman, on the late side of 20 if she's truly the human she appears, with dark-brown hair down to her shoulder blades. Crossing over and sitting next to the group, they can tell she must stand at least 6 foot the way she towers over the planewalkers even seated. She possesses the muscular build and blade-scuffed leathers of either an experienced minder or well-traveled adventurer, though no weapon makes itself immediately apparent. Looking about impatiently, she soon makes eye contact with her neighbor, Anne, and smiles, giving a polite nod to her and her companions.

"Busy place, eh? Almost seems like it'd be easier t' just buy our own ship, not have to deal with the hassle, I'd say." Offering a hand to Anne and leaning forward slightly to catch the other three in her field of vision, she continues, "I'd be Dina. Dina Peonier. I'm thinking you're not in the jink-shifting business yourselves? Don't exactly look the type to me."

---

Dockside

The two take as best a look they can beneath the disk of the city, the mist whipping through and about their hair. And indeed, as far as they can see, they can make out no sign of support of any kind, merely empty fog. A strange sight, to be sure, something once thought so supportive now shown to be nothing but smoke, with not even a mirror to be seen. But, although it's likely to be discomforting to some, it certainly doesn't seem to phase Lux in the slightest; just the opposite, from how he waxed poetic at the mere sight of it all.

As Joss and Lux watch the underside of the city - which, despite the cliché, shows no signs of immature plant life - a slight buzzing picks up, annoying and persistent; a quick look back up reveals they've been joined yet again by those flat, roundish insects, flitting about like oddly-shaped dragonflies but with the sound of a dozen mosquitoes. Whatever quality they have that attracts them, they're far from the only "victims"; a handful of dockworkers and passers-by can be seen trying to wave them off, smack them down, and any number of other, similarly ineffective tactics. As best they can tell, aggression is utterly useless directed against these things, unless ones goal is pure insect slaughter.

Here's a reference for the insect in question. They're about 3-4 inches apiece, but seem harmless enough; like giant houseflies in terms of how threatening they look or act.

[Jak Snide]

"Indeed. We are explorers, for the time being at least, and ones looking to book passage to the Tower of Ice on this plane. What of yourself? The leathers you wear speak of hazardous pursuits."

[Justice Augustus]

"And here is a useful reminder that no matter where you go, or how fantastical a place you find yourself in, there is always a pest problem." Lux shakes his head with a smile on his face. "So we stand on earth that stands on smoke. If the astronomers of my home plane are correct and I used to stand on a ball of earth that hung in air, then what's to say this cannot be true too?" Lux stares out at the expanse of smoke, raising the brim of his hat slightly to get a clearer view. "Some of my fellow researchers at the library used to propose that there were greater forces than magic, forces as old as time itself that controlled everything through immutable laws of nature and being. They thought that if man could understand these laws that we could then control them and thus control everything. I look at spectacles like this one and I say that I do not want to know how it works! I just want to make sure that such beauty is forever preserved, and part of that beauty is the mystery of its existence."

[NebulaQueen]

Anne took the woman's hand, and shook it enthusiastically. "He's got the right of it," she says cheerfully. "We're not lookin' for loot to pawn or anythin', we just wanna get to where we need to be. And what a trip that'll be!" She released her hand, and let out a low whistle. "This is amazing, innit? Well maybe not for you, you look like you've done this one or two times so you'd be [i]used to it, but wow! I ain't never seen ships like this in...well, ever, come to think of it."

[Idran1701]

Harbormaster's office

She shrugs, smirking playfully at Anne's excitement. "I've been hopping the planes for a while, true. But I'm just as new to this spot as you all. We've never seen much of the Inner Planes, so my group's been wandering about for a few months, seein' what there is to see out here. This'd be our...fourth plane down here. Been an interesting expedition; doesn't seem like many folks poke around down here. Not compared to the Outer at least.

"And what'd this be about a Tower of Ice? Y'sure you've got the right place, with a name like that? Doesn't sound like the sort of thing you'd run into in Steam."

[Jak Snide]

"Our investigations showed that it was well known and well documented enough for it's existence to be highly probable. You are correct, though, it is not something that belongs on this plane. It is a work of craft, maintained by mephits from the plane of ice. What their agenda is I cannot say."

[NebulaQueen]

"And that just makes it more interestin', doesn't it?" Anne asked, with a twinkle in her eye. The smirk on the other woman's face was either ignored or unnoticed. "Something like that's gotta have some kinda story behind it."

She leaned back, stretching one arm over her head. "We just gotta get to it, first."

[Shinigori V2]

Shawn stood dockside, watching the insect genocide, the events thereof weighing on her mind some.

Why was it that these people felt the need to kill these creatures? Was it because they were different? That did seem to be a large portion of why fights broke out, from what she had seen. Why were people unable to deal with that which was different? That thought, in and of itself weighed on her most.

..Or maybe it was the desire for another piece of candy.

Popping one in her mouth, she continued her thoughs, then reached the logical conclusion.

They killed the bugs because they were annoying. Obviously.

She shook her head, turning back to head for the office.

[Seethe]

Rosalyn didn't say much at first, instead listening intently and letting the conversation between the other three play out for a while. She had been entertaining the thought of seeing if she could get any information about the ships out of the woman, but the announcement that the woman was no more experienced with them than anyone else present dashed that hope. Whatever disappointment Rosalyn might have felt, though, she shrugged off with a faint grin to herself. Would have made things too easy.

[Kai]

Joss reached back to wave one of the insects away, but stopped short of grabbing some variety of insect-slaying weapon. One judge of a man's character was his treatment of those smaller and weaker than he (even when they were extraordinarily annoying). Besides. Joss had always rather liked insects as a rule, and if Lux was right that there were great laws delineating everything in every reality... these insects must have a purpose, right? Nobody lived simply to annoy someone else.

"That sounds like a good way to look at it," Joss agreed. "Where you come from, did people learn just so they could control things? I mean, lots of learning can help you appreciate beauty more. I knew this painter who could look out at the forest and tell you just what made it perfectly lovely, or... so she said." He shrugged. "She was fun to talk to, and she didn't try to control everything. Just get it down with paint so she could enjoy it later." He looked over at his new scholar friend. "Maybe that's all some of them want."