Rain sputtered pass the iron bars collecting in a worn patch among the stone floor of the cell. Dim light flickered through as well from a streetlight not far away. The faint sound of humming could be heard in the distance. Scaly hands reached into the light cupping the water as it sporadically fell into the cell. A low hiss could be heard as the creature brought the liquid to its thin lips and poured it down its throat. The humming had gotten louder. The creature returned to the shadows of its cell, hunched over away from the gate. The humming stopped.
“So, this is what has become of you, eh Verto?” A shadow spoke from the cell bars. A cloaked figure whose face and finer detailed obscured by the light behind it stood motionlessly. “You look so weak now. Perhaps I made a mistake seeking you.” The creature in the cell breathed a heavy sigh.
“You came here to taunt me. It is done, now leave,” the creature spoke from the dark corner, still not facing its visitor.
“Do you seriously believe that I would waste time on such things?”
“What else could you want? I am finished. My power is diminished, useless.” The creature hissed lowly.
“That is your own fault. You’re not a leader, Verto. You defied the natural order of things. There is only one law, one will, and you were foolish to follow another’s.” The creature remained silent. “Still, I sense that you haven’t lost all your power. Something faint remains. I suppose that’s to be expected.”
“It is useless.”
“Perhaps to someone like you, who has had your will so thoroughly broken, but not to me. You simply need to be retrained and reoriented to your original purpose.”
“Purpose, hmm. You always have some purpose. Where do I fit in this purpose?”
“We need a voice. Someone who can do what others of us cannot. You were once familiar with this role. I am certain that you can do it again.” The creature stretched out it claws and dragged itself to face its visitor.
“Where would I be speaking?” The cloaked visitor pulled out a blade that sucked away what little heat remained in the prison. The rain nearby turned white and crystals began etching their way across the surface of the puddle. The visitor placed the blade against the lock of the cell and pushed. The lock fell out and shattered against the floor.
“Some place out of this world.” The visitor tossed a cloak to the creature and together they disappeared into the shadows.
OOC-This post is a little background for the setting up of a covert operations group in Sigil. More will come in following posts regarding recruitments and assignments. The location for this scene is Waterdeep, to avoid possible confusion.
The Silent Cloaks
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*DaShi
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
“There. Those will do to start,” the cloaked figure pointed at a small group of hive dwellers playing a game of cards that seemed to involve an inordinate amount of knives. The Yuan-ti man looked over them. They were a mixed bag of age, race, and potential. The obscenities and ragged appearance of the group made most other passersby avoid getting near them as they moved hurriedly through the streets.
“I doubt that you will find anything of worth among them,” the large man responded to his companion. “They don’t seem the subtle type.”
“Exactly,” the voice spoke from beneath the dark cowl. “There purpose is to spread the message. Those with vision, skill, and temperament will hear of this opportunity. Those without and take the call will not last long. I’m sure you’ll see to that.” Verto grumbled at this now mentioned part of his duties. “Just present what I have told you: the opportunity.”
“The opportunity, huh? I don’t want to be babysitting a bunch of low class thugs while we wait for them to kill themselves.”
“That is why I have designed the challenges as such. They will discourage and weed out the weak quickly. For now, generate the interest.” With that, the cloaked figure turned away and vanished into a nearby alley. Verto then turned his attention to the card players. With clear purpose he walked up to their table and place the bottom of his right foot on its edge. The actions were smooth and hardly seemed noticeable until they were completed. The group around the table fell silent and turned toward this stranger. With no great effort, he casually tipped the table over and calmly stood before them.
A few seconds passed before one of them began to react to this display, “Oye! What you do that for? We playing knifey chiv here, don ya know?”
“I’m looking to recruit.”
“Ya? You and the rest of Sigil. We ain’t got no interest with no factions. Get lost!” said another. Verto stared coldly at them.
“I’m not recruiting for factions. This is an independent affair.”
“Well, yer independent affair just ruined our game. So what this affair be about?” said a grey-haired hin still holding his cards from the game.
“We are looking for people with the skills and will to perform deeds that others not dare. Those who are willing to operate in the darkness even while standing in the light. In addition, we would prefer those who are rather unknown in Sigil at this time, but that can be discussed.”
“Blarmy! Anyone else know what this Bleaker be blathering ablout?” a human missing an eye shouts from behind an Nishrek orc.
“Quiet!” shouts the hin. “I think I understand what yer sayin’. It’s just, what do we get out of it?” The large Yuan-ti grins displaying his sharp teeth.
“Those who join us will no longer fear the law. In fact, those who join us will become fear itself. But be warned, this is no group for individual pride. If you’re looking to sport a badge or trophy, you will be wanting. If you’re looking to explore the parts of Sigil that have never been touched and ram your daggers into it, then we should talk.”
“Alright. And just who be it we be workin’ for? You?” Verto smile fades, and he stares coldly at the hin.
“No. You will serve a higher power than I. There will be a meeting, five days from now in Undersigil. The details of entrance into our group will be given at that time. Until then…” The Yuan-ti then turns around and also disappears into the alleys. There is a momentary silence among the group before the hin speaks up again.
“Pick up the blasted table! This hand is not going to waste!” He pulls out three knives from his pocket and holds them before the fallen table.
OOC - Players interested in joining can post their intention of attending the meeting. How you heard about it is up to you, were present at this event, through the grapevine, etc. As this is a covert group, sneaky folks are a good fit, but not necessary. There will be a challenge to role play before membership. This will be discussed during the meeting of potential candidates.
“I doubt that you will find anything of worth among them,” the large man responded to his companion. “They don’t seem the subtle type.”
“Exactly,” the voice spoke from beneath the dark cowl. “There purpose is to spread the message. Those with vision, skill, and temperament will hear of this opportunity. Those without and take the call will not last long. I’m sure you’ll see to that.” Verto grumbled at this now mentioned part of his duties. “Just present what I have told you: the opportunity.”
“The opportunity, huh? I don’t want to be babysitting a bunch of low class thugs while we wait for them to kill themselves.”
“That is why I have designed the challenges as such. They will discourage and weed out the weak quickly. For now, generate the interest.” With that, the cloaked figure turned away and vanished into a nearby alley. Verto then turned his attention to the card players. With clear purpose he walked up to their table and place the bottom of his right foot on its edge. The actions were smooth and hardly seemed noticeable until they were completed. The group around the table fell silent and turned toward this stranger. With no great effort, he casually tipped the table over and calmly stood before them.
A few seconds passed before one of them began to react to this display, “Oye! What you do that for? We playing knifey chiv here, don ya know?”
“I’m looking to recruit.”
“Ya? You and the rest of Sigil. We ain’t got no interest with no factions. Get lost!” said another. Verto stared coldly at them.
“I’m not recruiting for factions. This is an independent affair.”
“Well, yer independent affair just ruined our game. So what this affair be about?” said a grey-haired hin still holding his cards from the game.
“We are looking for people with the skills and will to perform deeds that others not dare. Those who are willing to operate in the darkness even while standing in the light. In addition, we would prefer those who are rather unknown in Sigil at this time, but that can be discussed.”
“Blarmy! Anyone else know what this Bleaker be blathering ablout?” a human missing an eye shouts from behind an Nishrek orc.
“Quiet!” shouts the hin. “I think I understand what yer sayin’. It’s just, what do we get out of it?” The large Yuan-ti grins displaying his sharp teeth.
“Those who join us will no longer fear the law. In fact, those who join us will become fear itself. But be warned, this is no group for individual pride. If you’re looking to sport a badge or trophy, you will be wanting. If you’re looking to explore the parts of Sigil that have never been touched and ram your daggers into it, then we should talk.”
“Alright. And just who be it we be workin’ for? You?” Verto smile fades, and he stares coldly at the hin.
“No. You will serve a higher power than I. There will be a meeting, five days from now in Undersigil. The details of entrance into our group will be given at that time. Until then…” The Yuan-ti then turns around and also disappears into the alleys. There is a momentary silence among the group before the hin speaks up again.
“Pick up the blasted table! This hand is not going to waste!” He pulls out three knives from his pocket and holds them before the fallen table.
OOC - Players interested in joining can post their intention of attending the meeting. How you heard about it is up to you, were present at this event, through the grapevine, etc. As this is a covert group, sneaky folks are a good fit, but not necessary. There will be a challenge to role play before membership. This will be discussed during the meeting of potential candidates.
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*Erik Vale
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
When Kra'gu hears about this in the hive ward, he starts asking questions, soon finding out when this supposed meeting would occour, and vaugely where from one of the people who where nearby. He intends to be at the meeting.
((If done in game, i should be on saturday-sunday at a +10 time, all day sunday, after 12am saterday))
((If done in game, i should be on saturday-sunday at a +10 time, all day sunday, after 12am saterday))
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*DaShi
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
(OOC - Given the small amount of interest generated thus far and that the challenges for entry are best done over the forum, I'm going to keep it here for a bit longer. The issue with me right now is that I'm quite ill and thus am not really in the mood to keep with this until I feel better. Still, I'll try to get the next part out soon as it gives others a lot more to do.)
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*DaShi
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Verto looked over the crowd. More had come than he expected. His master was correct, as usual, which only irritated him the more. Still, he was given something that he thought he had lost long ago, a purpose and a chance, perhaps, to earn his way back into his lord's good graces.
The crowd was about what he expected. Mostly hive dwellers. Those who have no love for the law, those that think they can make a name for themselves, and those just looking for something to do. All worthless in his eyes. Yet that was the purpose of this meeting. To skin away the fat. Literally, as he thought of the fate many of them would experience should they not be good enough.
One thing was that he could not identify any individual within the crowd. This place was chosen for just that purpose. A small section of Undersigil valuable to no one. A mostly barren chamber far off from the more trafficked areas. If the Iron Tusks had any authority here, they didn't make it known. Plus, there really wasn't anyone to control. A few goblins were found squatting when he arrived, but were easily disposed of. Lighting was set up so that Verto himself could be seen, but the crowd would be left in the security of darkness. "Their identities are their value." His master explained to him. What about mine, Verto thought with the light beaming down on him.
"I'm going to make this simple and brief. If you are here, it is because you seek admission into the Silent Cloaks. What is the Silent Cloaks? An elite group of spies, assassins, and saboteurs. We do the dirty jobs that need to be done. This means that if you want to enforce the law, keep order, and make a name for yourself join the Harmonium. If you want to change the very way Sigil lives and breathes without anyone being the wiser, join us. Don't misunderstand. Not all our missions involve killing or destroying something. We are not the Doomguard. But you will need to prove that you can do what needs to be done, if you want to join.
"Which brings me to our application process. It's really quite simple. I want the head of a member of each faction. Bring one to me and your entrance will be considered. It can be a namer or even a factol. However, if you are caught and hounded by the law or others for it, you'll be useless to us. Also remember that I said I want a head from each faction. If you bring me the head of faction member that I already have one of, you'd better find out who reached me first or look for another faction. With your head, I require only one more piece of information. That is your identity. You may all be in the shadows now, but I'll need to know who is who. I'd suggest that you ensure that no one but myself has this information. For your own safety of course.
"We will meet again here in two weeks. At that time, the new recruits will be decided. I suggest that you act quickly and quietly. We will be watching."
With that the lights dimmed and Verto disappeared into the shadows.
OCC - Sorry for taking so long to update this. I've been sick and travelling over the past few weeks. If you have any characters interested in joining or rping something with this, you can post their actions here. Such as delivering the application to Verto or even trying to undermine it.
The crowd was about what he expected. Mostly hive dwellers. Those who have no love for the law, those that think they can make a name for themselves, and those just looking for something to do. All worthless in his eyes. Yet that was the purpose of this meeting. To skin away the fat. Literally, as he thought of the fate many of them would experience should they not be good enough.
One thing was that he could not identify any individual within the crowd. This place was chosen for just that purpose. A small section of Undersigil valuable to no one. A mostly barren chamber far off from the more trafficked areas. If the Iron Tusks had any authority here, they didn't make it known. Plus, there really wasn't anyone to control. A few goblins were found squatting when he arrived, but were easily disposed of. Lighting was set up so that Verto himself could be seen, but the crowd would be left in the security of darkness. "Their identities are their value." His master explained to him. What about mine, Verto thought with the light beaming down on him.
"I'm going to make this simple and brief. If you are here, it is because you seek admission into the Silent Cloaks. What is the Silent Cloaks? An elite group of spies, assassins, and saboteurs. We do the dirty jobs that need to be done. This means that if you want to enforce the law, keep order, and make a name for yourself join the Harmonium. If you want to change the very way Sigil lives and breathes without anyone being the wiser, join us. Don't misunderstand. Not all our missions involve killing or destroying something. We are not the Doomguard. But you will need to prove that you can do what needs to be done, if you want to join.
"Which brings me to our application process. It's really quite simple. I want the head of a member of each faction. Bring one to me and your entrance will be considered. It can be a namer or even a factol. However, if you are caught and hounded by the law or others for it, you'll be useless to us. Also remember that I said I want a head from each faction. If you bring me the head of faction member that I already have one of, you'd better find out who reached me first or look for another faction. With your head, I require only one more piece of information. That is your identity. You may all be in the shadows now, but I'll need to know who is who. I'd suggest that you ensure that no one but myself has this information. For your own safety of course.
"We will meet again here in two weeks. At that time, the new recruits will be decided. I suggest that you act quickly and quietly. We will be watching."
With that the lights dimmed and Verto disappeared into the shadows.
OCC - Sorry for taking so long to update this. I've been sick and travelling over the past few weeks. If you have any characters interested in joining or rping something with this, you can post their actions here. Such as delivering the application to Verto or even trying to undermine it.
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*Erik Vale
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
*suitebly Cloaked Kragua leaves the talk simling and talking to himself*
"Well, looks like some namers are about to roll."
Instead of looking out amoungst his common hunting grounds for members of any factions, he keeps an eye out for any lower ranking harmoniums under Notary Kordiva orders, especially if the ever enter undersigil..
"Well, looks like some namers are about to roll."
Instead of looking out amoungst his common hunting grounds for members of any factions, he keeps an eye out for any lower ranking harmoniums under Notary Kordiva orders, especially if the ever enter undersigil..
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*Beth'aya 'Starshine'
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
A swirling mass of black mists enthrall Kain as he wanders from the hall, his demeanour the same as ever, cold, unfettering and filled with cruel intentions. Considering the recruitment process he nods occassionally to himself as he considers the requirements.
"Ve' shall see in two veeks"
"Ve' shall see in two veeks"
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*Reptiller
- Posts: 205
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Professor Corax left the meeting in silence, the same way he arrived. The man didn't speak to anyone or even greet them during the meeting, merely listening.