Sigil: City of Doors

She stood in the busy lobby of the Barracks, a motionless figure in a sea of activity. A bag slung over her shoulder, the eyes of a cat peering out from within it, and another bag set gingerly on the floor at her side. Her basic robes were crisp and well maintained and a light hood set loosely upon her head. A single silken cloth wrapped around her eyes. A small silver Harmonium amulet hung about her neck. It ranked her as a Namer from the Mage Academy of Ortho, Divination specialist.

Guards marched past, civilians argued with guards and each other, people called out looking for those who might have been arrested and all manner of noise echoed throughout the area. It was a typical busy day in the BarracksÂ… but it overwhelmed her. She simply stood motionless, holding herself up with her staff, the frost of its magic keeping her cool and calm, she found she was unable to move in fear of being bowled over.

“Excuse me” she peeped in the direction of the front desk, her small voice erased by the noise of the area. “Pardon me? Hello?” she tried once again to be heard. It was plainly obvious she was not accustomed to the natural noise and chaos of a busy public building and was getting nowhere fast.

The man behind the desk glances up and looks over. Looks to her, then to busy traffic in the lobby. He walks sets down his quill and walks over. He eyes her amulet and recognizes the Namer

"How can I help you solider?"

She startled at the voice as she wasnÂ’t as prepared for the sudden question as she, perhaps, should have been. Turning towards his voice she smiled meekly and held out her papers. They designated her as a Diviner of the 4th Tower of Ortho.

It was readily apparent that she was no soldier. Her frame was small and her stature the same. She was of an average (or below) physical build and it certainly looked like she rarely got out into the sun. Although she was only in her twenties, she could pass for much older. It appeared that her transfer to the city was hastily put together. It was not a place one would usually find someone of her physical limitations.

“Yes, thank you” She said as she handed the papers over. “My detail left me at the gate and made his return to Ortho. I am uncertain what I am supposed to do at this point. I’ve never had to relocate before.”

Her papers were hastily filed and didnÂ’t even contain mention of housing, personal care or commanding officer to report to

"Let me see this, please."

A huge half orc in burnt, blackened Harmonium armour approaches them, carrying an open helmet under his left arm, saluting with his right hand, the badge worn on his chest showing the rank of a Measure.

"Thank you.", he says to the man, smiles, then he looks through the documents he takes from the desk before he turns to the newcomer.

"Welcome to Sigil. I am Hograth Thorn, a pleasure to meet you, Namer."

Quickly he reads through the documents, borrows a quill to fill in a few things that were missing, then signs them.

"According to these documents you would be a fine addition to our arcane corps.

Your assignment will be to assist the Notaries on the streets with your magic and to help our forensic teams with divinations and advice. Can you do this?"

He is sizing her up subtly- he has dealt with his share of young recruits and so far found a fitting position for every single one. She might be too frail for patrol duty- but if the documents are true she would be wasted on the streets anyway.

She stood there nervously as the Man spoke to her. It was clear she was nervous while he went through his task. She had not returned the salute, nor had she noticed his insignia... she was wearing a blindfold and for all intents and purposes, was unable to see.

"Ar-arcane Corps? Yes. I would be able to do that but I would need my divination items set up properly."

She fidgeted with her bag a moment

"I apologise... sir?" said as if she were trying to ascertain his rank. This... this is out of the ordinary for myself and my peers. We don't usually leave our towers unless on special assignment. I mean, this isn't a special assignment. I'm not saying I was specially assigned here. I don't want you to think that I deserve special treatment. I mean... and just before she started to really ramble, she sighed heavily and dipped her head a bit. "It wasn't supposed to turn out like this. I don't know why I was sent here, actually... but I'll do my job as best I can. I do need a place to rest and maybe some help settling into the city. I don't even have a proper flat to sleep in yet."

She was most definitely not a street level guard. Born and bred in the seclusion and security of the towers. She was most certainly out of her element and it showed

"Do not worry, Namer. The Harmonium provides you with food and shelter. You can stay here in the Barracks as long as necessary, take your time to settle in.

You will find Sigil is very different to Ortho but see it as an opportunity to learn and always remember that you have many brothers and sisters here in town, ready to help you."

Seeing her blindfold he is careful, ready to help her but of course he also tests her abilities to navigate the Barracks on her own.

He tries to lead her deeper into the tunnels, then down some stairs, past some warding glyphs that are engraved into the groud , walls and ceilings- she might be able to feel them as basic wards against chaos.

"You will get no special treatment but it is the Harmonium way to assigning very trooper to a position where his or her talents are most useful. "

The Half orc's deep voice is reassuring, he does not push this new namer, trying to support her to find her own strenght.

"Measure Ghala is in charge of the 2nd Divination squad, she is an Ortho native as well. I will introduce you to her, leave it to her to give you your final assignment. You will be always welcome in my own unit, of course and should you need something please let me know."

((BTW- feel free to explore the arcane corps a bit- I will then swap from being a player with Hograth to being an EM with those NPCs of course. If this is OK with you ;) ))

She would move through the less crowded hallways with more ease than amongst the noisy situation he had first found her in. If he looked close enough he might see that her cat was intently watching the path they were taking from within the safety of her bag. One might be led to believe it was acting as her eyes, though at this point it was simply speculation. As the noise of the public areas began to vanish, and the quiet of the tunnels began to settle on them, she would visibly relax. The fingertips on her hand gently dragged along the wall as they walked; she seemed to be memorizing her path. In this atmosphere, she moved as easily as he did, stepping over the wards and avoiding people as they passed.

She spoke to him again, the nervousness and uncertainty still sounding in her voice, albeit more diminished than before.

“I thank you for your assistance and your words of encouragement, Sir. I will ensure they are heeded and understood. If there is any way I can assist you, it would be an honor and my duty.”

A slight, and highly unpracticed, Salute was given (appeared that she was not accustomed to being in such a formal situation). She then waited at the door to the Arcane Corps and then entered with the Measure.

(((Works for me :) )))

"Good. I am sure you will do well." The half orc opens the door to lead the woman inside the office.

"Measure Ghala." Hograth salutes. "I bring you a new recruit."

"Thank you Measure Thorn", the woman says- the sounds indicating she is probably saluting the man. Her office smels more like a library- paper and ink and polished wood and indeed it looks a lot like one as well- bookcases on two of the walls, a heavily warded door in the back of it.

Turning to go while the female Measure gets up to greet the namer the half orc adresses her a last time: "Good luck."

He then salutes both women (despite knowing the Namer does not see it- but rules are rules) and leaves.

There is the sound of the female Measure looking through the notes, then she adresses the namer, her voice firm: "Welcome to Sigil. I see you have been trained in arcane magic and you have focused in Divinations.

Any experience in the field yet? Introduce yourself in your own words, tell me something this.. papers cannot... I want to know who is joining my unit."

She would set one of her bags on the floor, allowing the one slung over he shoulder to rest more comfortably, tiny eyes still peering out of it. It would take her a moment before she spoke, apparently she was taking the opportunity to smell the air and absorb the surroundings. Felt like home. Once acclimated, she replied in a professional and practiced tone.

"Background and experience, of course. I am fully trained and experienced in all forms of Divination magic, all known Divination spells... readily available of course, in all nine tiers of power. I am a direct student of the school of Divination and am trained as a tower mage within the school itself ((Red Wizard)). I have the certified rankings of a High Mage of the Tower of Mythios and further hold documented certificates that I am ranked at the top of my class and considered, for all intents and purposes, an Archmage. I have singular focus in Divination of the highest attainable study ((Epic Spell focus)) and have little difficulty understanding new methods.

While my field experience is minimal, as a Tower Mage I have been involved in may cases as they have been assigned to me. I have never joined a field unit nor have I ever patrolled any of our holdings. My strength lies in the use of the Towers resources to find things no one else is able to. Until recently, I had not been interested in attaining a rank within the Harmonium as our Tower worked flawlessly with the chain of command we already had. Due to my new, and unexpected circumstances, that might change.

Do you require further information?"