Sigil: City of Doors

Origin

Jack Brasky grew up on a homestead within market range of New Phlan, on the Moonshae, Toril. He preferred hunting to his farm work. And hated going to market at the city of New Phlan. He began hiring onto ships as an archer during the summer to avoid participating in the family occupation. He became an excellent archer and but enjoyed his winter hunting better than summers at sea.

Jack was aboard ship when a fast moving storm took them before they could get to a safe harbor. Heading below decks is the last thing he remembers of the Prime Material Plane.

Caged: Day One

Jack awoke in the cage, laying in the ditch. The sounds of the bazaar and the smell of the ditch were the first things to welcome him to his new life. He walked the streets disoriented, thinking he must be dead and in torment. As he adjusted to the city he heard about work that he could do, if only he had his bow.

Master Finn was holding court in the open workshop and Jack saw how the dark enchanter did business. Jack bought a bow off of Finn that the Master called 'cheap' but was greater than any weapon Jack had used. Jack could only cover a portion of the price and Master Finn told him (with good humor) that his leg-breakers would visit him if he did not return with the rest in the allotted time.

Emmy, one of Finn's other patrons, chatted with Jack while he sat observing the other patrons and all the activity that the Master's presence caused. Jack thought that Emmy must be a halfling due to her incredibility petite stature. Emmy noted that Jack had no armor. Jack admitted that he needed some, though he was currently in debit. A passing dwarf offered to give Jack some armor, in exchange for Jacks soul when he died. Having seen a devil, among other fantastic citizens in Sigil, Jack was not interested in that sort of deal. Emmy offered a suit of leather that she said was old. Jack asked how much he would owe her and she said to just come back from his expeditions. Jack had not encountered that level of generosity or experienced such quick familiarity before.

A she-demon and a Nymph engaged Jack and Emmy in conversation and Jack found that he was barricaded in by women and his politeness. Jack was very mindful of manners, fearing what the wrong word or phrase would provoke from the devil or the nymph. The nymph, who called herself Pat was the greatest beauty he had ever seen. The devil, the most intimidating. This dichotomy of beauty and fear helped to convince Jack that he may be dead and in some mad afterlife. Jack eventually used his need to address his debt as an excuse to extract himself from the confusingly scary and enchanting situation. Jack nearly forgot to thank Emmy for the armor.

Jack girded himself in the leather armor. With quivers slung on his back and hip, the bow in hand, he entered under Sigil to find the rumored black market and retrieve a herb they sold. Jack had little trouble traveling the infested place. He kept a sharp look out and was swift with his bow.


--- Day One continues in the next post---

Under Sigil: Day One

Jack came upon a sort of cross roads in the sewer and Found it occupied by the soul dealing dwarf Zherastil and his traveling companion the rarely spoken Zara. The dwarf invited Jack to join them and Jack consented, on the condition he get a share of their findings. Zherastil called on his god to bless them and they continued. Jack was soon glad for the companions because they were ambushed by a band of goblins, orcs, and gnolls. Zara tumbled through the midst of the enemy sneaking her weapon into vulnerable areas. Zherastil stood and faced a group, blocking with his shield and bringing his weapon to bear on them. Jack was swift with his arrows, picking targets and dropping them.

Later, deeper, they found the clandestine business man. They completed their business with him and began heading back. Not far from there they came upon a lone halfling woman wielding two small blades. They warned her that there were murderous thralls about. She said she would be fine, just needed to get something from the merchant. She ran on and they prepared to continue. Very shortly they heard the sounds of battle and the halfling came running back, wounded, with a thrall in pursuit. Zherast and Zara dealt with the thrall. Jack saw to bandaging the halfling's wounds. She thanked him and agreed to travel with them. She said her name was Rachel. They explored around more before they left the under-structure. Rachel proved to be fearless with her blades, charging down foes in her purple-pink robes. Hardly any situation was dangerous now with her, Zara, Zherastil, and Jacks bow.

Back in the bazaar Jack picked up more arrows, collected his pay, and then waited with Rachel for a second expedition. Rachel made some deals with Master Finn and was very impressed. She did not talk often and had an exotic quality to her voice. Her limited vocabulary suggested that Common was not her first language. She did say that Master Finn was amazing though. Jack had to agree, his bow was excellent, he had been able to earn if free of debt.

The four set out again, Jack felt it must have been past time to sleep, but his companions were ready for more and the novelty of this place kept him alert. Either way they would be back underground. With silvered weapons, Jacks company entered the domain of wererats. Again battles were quick and one-sided with Zara's sneaky attacks, the storm of blades Rachel gave each opponent, and the sturdy front that Zherastil turned to each challenge. Jack was an efficient machine in battle, loosing arrow after arrow, putting the hurt were it would do the most good. He found himself felling foes closer to Rachel more often than ones near Zara or Zherastil. When Rachel was bitten by a were, Jack healed her with the healing knowledge he acquired from years in the field using natural means to deal with bites.

When they left the were rats, dead and defeated, Zherastil left the group. Jack figured that someone like him must have secret dealings that he needed to keep private. Rachel, Zara, and Jack made their way back to the surface without him.

---Day One concluded in next post---

Through Doors: Day One

Once again in the Bazaar, Jack figured it could be 18-24 hours since he woke up in the ditch. But he was ready to go when Zara wanted him and Rachel to accompany her through a portal. They ended up traversing two portals before the day was considered done.

In a plane of clockwork creatures and constructs they defeated an iron golem before entering a building and meeting the challenges it posed. Zara had commented earlier that Rachel never seemed to open chests or loot the bodies of fallen foes. Zara tried to encourage Rachel to take her fair share, but Rachel seemed to be uninterested, or puzzled by the suggestion. Zara established a chest rotation to make sure everyone got a fair share (and to try to get Rachel to actually take some loot). But Rachel seemed to not understand the concept and Zara was completely bewildered. The puzzled look on Rachel's face caused Jack to realize the word loot was foreign to Rachel. Not necessarily in concept but in literal language. He told her to take the 'stuff' from the chest and she complied. Rachel was still timid or uninterested in looting foes and Zara was forced to stay busy collecting everything after engagements.

On the plane of earth the dynamic continued. Zara seemed insulted that Rachel was uninterested in what was the driving force of Zara's life: Treasure. They returned to the berkers heart of operation, the Bazaar. There Zara fenced the takings and gave Jack and Rachel their shares. Jack had looted some and also gave Rachel part of his findings. She asked "what for?" when Zara and Jack passed her what she had earned. Its your share, Jack and Zara told her.

Tired, feeling mentally exhausted from all the strangeness of Sigil Jack took a room at the Inn, thinking it could be as long as 48 hours since he had been unconscious. This city seemed dangerous, more than any other he had been too. But Jack felt secure. Some people were fair dealers, some may be trusted. Possibly. Jack slept, and nightmares visited him. He dreamed that a nymph and a she demon were playing tug of war and he was the rope.

-End Day One-

I think I have been here for a week.

The beginning of Jack's journal, written with decent penmanship.

I hate cities. This is the worst I have known. Its all wrong here. The sky is not proper sky. Nightmares unimagined walk the streets. Untold beauties prowl undressed. The city's tyrant is called the Lady of Pain even. I have had profitable partnerships with a few travelers, but I must admit to feeling more comfortable aboard ship with coarse, uncouth sailors. There are four people I think I can trust, two only because I think I understand what motivates them, and can find the right path because of that.

The break in the rain is that paths to other realms are everywhere. There seems to be no end of persons knowledgeable and powerful in magic. If I can survive and explore long enough, I may find a way home. Or find someone that can get me there.

Tired, a long day, the ale probly part of it.

*Jacks second entry, a little messy*

Nearly died in the field today, might need to take some time and make better arrows. She was fearless. So demure at the pub. I don't think its just the language challenge. *a large ink spot where Jack left quill to parchment too long* Will this sensation on my cheek be there in the morning?