Shazu - Dordrecht (35)

6-1-2014 21:49:00

1. Early afternoon, 3rd Day of Prazh, 9941 Z.C.
Igris turned his back towards the crowd, pretending to walk towards one of the shady colonnades surrounding the square. Almost six foot tall and scars all over his face and back, he didn't want to raise any suspicion with the guards. Before you could know it, you could end up on the wrong side of a halberd, or end up in an Orzhov or Azorius prison. Thoughts raged through his head like a cartwheel in a chariot race. "Why am I assigned to do this? Who ‘in my tavern' wants me to snatch a few lousy scrolls from Teysa Karlov, one of the most powerful women in this whole city?" He remembered that he would be dead if he couldn't steal a few pieces of paper from a limp woman for his client. Dead, just plain dead. Then he reminded himself that he the sum of money he was promised could mean he would never have to work again. He felt the tips of his three trusty daggers surrounding his biceps. "Maybe it's time for these guys. If he told me about ten or twenty guards surrounding that witch, and not by letter the next morning." he mumbled. Witch.. He didn't even realize she could have some serious witchlike powers. There has to be a reason why Teysa Karlov is the spokesperson for the powerful Obzedat, ruling council of ghosts for an entire guild: the mighty and wealthy Orzhov. Friends with anyone who desperately needs their money. Maybe she's even more powerful then the Obzedat. Igris never heard from anyone powerful that the rumors about that council are true. "There's a lot of things not true about that damned church in the first place." But to Igris' regret he said that way too loud to himself.

He felt a sharp point of iron on his cloaked back, almost strong enough to end his life. "Get out of the way, beggar! Miss Karlov doesn't want to be held up in traffic. If you want to look at celebrities, go visit the mutants in Novijen, or some Slaughterhouse Spectacle, scum." He looked around and saw three pikemen, trying to pass through the colonnade he just hided in. Behind them he could see the sleek dark hair and whitish face of Teysa, not only powerful, but beautiful if you managed to get close enough. He hastily walked a few columns ahead, but he could see in the guard's visage that it was exactly the way they were travelling. How could he take those scrolls without having to be chased down by a horde of soldiers, possibly mages and knights? He looked up to see if there was air patrol before allowing the caravan to pass. No roc to be seen, but they could well hide behind numerous spires surrounding this street. One shout of alarm and the birds would come and eat him for lunch. If he had to do this, he had to be very quick, very silent and very lucky. He stepped back of the road opposite a smaller street, which would be his getaway. The thundering march of multiple pikemen was in front of him. The caravan was about to pass and she, Teysa Karlov, was almost double arm's reach behind a royally dressed and weaponized pikeman. He had to do it now.

2. Late evening, 1st Day of Prazh, 9941 Z.C.
After a whole day of spying on a cheating spouse, delivering the information to his employer, killing the spouse and finally returning with his head, Igris was done for this day. He went to the local tavern "The Shady Ground", longing for a drink and maybe some company. He greeted the ghostly patron: "Oi, Orzhov scum. Got any cheap drinks for this man who isn't drowning in money?" The patron responded: "Join a guild first, beggar, or you going to have to work for that refreshment." "Aw, come on, I'm not working all day, all year, my whole life and thereafter like you. What'd you need do?" "I was making jokes. Religious people make jokes too you know, even if they've been dead for 15 years!" He floated closer with a full brew in his hand of who-knows-what juices. "Actually, I do have something you could do for me. It would be a simple task, and you'll be rewarded handsomely. Interested, my friend?" Igris tried to look him in his eyes: "I'm not sure, have been working all day already. First a few drinks, then we can talk business. I'm guessing dirty business." "Well then, " responded the ghost, "If that's the case, the first one's on the house." "That doesn't sound like you at all, patron. Business going all right?" "Yeah, it's all fine. Asking about the business before my personal health I see." Igris quickly joked: "No man, I know the Orzhov almost as good as you, business comes first, right?" "Yeah, you're right Igris. I got to handle some orders out back. Step in over an hour, when you've had enough free drinks." Igris seemed confused. He never saw a ghost trying to wink, let alone the usually grumpy shade-patron of "The Shady Ground". He put his armguards and other armor on the table and started playing with his daggers.

Time passed quickly as he was wondering what the shade meant and had what kind of deal he had to propose. After the third brew he rose up from his stool, grabbed his gear and walked to the back of the tavern. As soon as he entered the room, he noticed he wasn't alone out here with the patron. A cloaked figure sat at a table on a wealthy chair. Igris guessed it was human, there was no way to tell. The backroom didn't look like the rest of the shabby tavern at all. Hidden behind an equally shabby door there was something which could only be described as a private church. Beautiful stained glass windows, decorated with Orzhov symbols, let a lot of light in, more than the average house on Windshack Lane. There was an altar at the end of the room, there were pillars to keep the roof up and a huge ornate table was in the center, covered with coins. "Patron, no wonder you're still working your ass off in the tavern. If you keep spending it on this pricey crap." The ghost didn't respond and Igris guessed he was back to his daily grumpiness. The cloaked figure did draw his attention more as the initial surprise of entering the room dripped away. He gazed around for many minutes in this sanctum, yet the cloaked figure didn't speak or move. Was he dead? How fierce do these Orzhov negotiate? It didn't smell bad, so if he was dead, he couldn't have been dead for long. Finally the patron spoke: "Have you seen it all. It's not why we're here for. This man is, let's say a regular of my tavern. He needs something to be done, and someone to do it for him. When he asked, I thought of you. You could always use some money, right Idris?" "So he is alive?" "Yeah of course he is. You think I have a dead man in my chapel? Do you know how much work it is to clean up a floor. Yeah of course you know, you're an assassin. Anyways, introduce yourself to my guest. I have to attend the bar. Missing a fortune out there!" As he spoke those words he drifted towards the exit and somehow slammed the door behind him. Igris felt uncomfortable, now alone with this cloaked person who still hadn't said a word. He sat on one of the other chairs of the table. They were a lot better than the stools out front. They were covered with all kinds of soft fabrics, and decorated with gold and ivory or teeth. Probably some Utvaran beast had to die to make this beautiful chair and Igris was allowed to sit on it. That felt nice. But quickly he felt a gush of chilling wind and mustered the courage to introduce himself to the still figure. He seriously thought for a while it was a joke, that there was no one there, but when he looked straight under the hood he could see some lights gleaming in the dark. There was someone under there. Or something.

3. Midnight, 2nd Day of Prazh, 9941 Z.C.
"I am Igris of Windshack Street. Blade for hire, spy and thief, the best one in this part of the world because I killed the rest." Igris tried his best to make him look as tough as possible, so the man would not want another candidate. "I know" said an hollow voice. "I know who you are Igris Cithermi, you have no secrets for us." The tough blade for hire almost fell out of the ornate chair he enjoyed so much. "Us?" he replied when he finally got himself together. "Yes, I don't work alone. Besides, I hardly work, that's where you come in. You are my new recruit." "Don't you need to know more about me? My price, my skills, earlier work that I have done?" This was all very confusing for Igris, as if his whole life was laid open, on the streets. He must be some sort of master spy. He started thinking. The mantle was embroidered with dark blue symbols, but was largely made of black wool. It was a very clean mantle, especially for someone who perhaps is a well known face or figure in the Undercity. Could this be according to the stories? That guild was supposed to be a long dead, virtually non-existent. Could he really be talking to a spylord of House Dimir? "Are you .." he stuttered "Are you a member from House Dimir?" He heard a grin coming from underneath the cloak. "No, they have been dead for millennia. We are just some people who seeks men like you for some dirty work. Though it is intriguing you know their story. Not many Ravnicans ALIVE this day who are aware they existed." The emphasis on the word alive scared Igris. At this moment he just really wanted to get out of this room. Back to that stupid ghost who left him here, with this .. thing.

The obscured man continued: "But to answer your question, we do know of your skill set. We have hired you earlier, but without you knowing. You never know who your work for Igris. That patron here is a really helpful spirit." "Are your Orzhov then? Maybe someone from the Obzedat?" Igris blurted out. "SILENCE!" the hidden one screamed with a higher tone then with what he spoke so far. Some of the guests in "The Shady Ground" must have heard that. Igris' ears were ringing and he felt dizzy. "I am not one of those Obzedat weaklings your patron here is worshipping. I have a very easy task, and I want you to complete it. No more questions, no more talking back. You can turn down this assignment, but that will be at your own risk. Besides, the reward will be very handsomely. You will never have to work again, you can buy yourself a nice spire room in the best district of the world and leave the dangers of your job behind you. Just nod if you accept the job or try to walk away, from all that money." "Can I ask what the job is exactly?" he was almost too afraid to ask a question. "Fine. I need you to steal a few scrolls from a travelling woman, the third of Prazh. You will get the full briefing by letter tomorrow when you wake up." "Seems like I can do that. And that gives me enough money for me to retire to a spire?" "I promise you that." The cloaked man said while raising one of his arms. A very bleak hand came out of the sleeve, with his ring finger missing. "All you need to do is touch my hand and the contract stands." "What if I can't steal the scroll?" "Then you'll do the next job we offer you." he whizzed. Igris stood up, walked a few steps towards the extended hand. It was kind of frightening, the paleness of this limb. He reached for it and touched the palms. Next thing he remembers is a devastating pain travelling across his back and waking up in one of the rooms above the tavern with a letter neatly folded on the nightstand next to his bed.

4. Morning, 2nd Day of Prazh,9941 Z.C.
"What did you do to me?!" Igris stormed down the stairs, in hopes of finding his friend, the patron. He was at first not to be seen, but Igris immediately stormed through to his chapel out back. There did the ghost sit, seemingly contemplating his decision playing with coins in his ghastly hands. He raised his head to see Igris approaching him and he immediately spoke to him, trying to calm him down. "Easy Igris, you have to believe that I had no choice. And he promised me some money as well if you would do it. You've done that before right? Robbing some women, of their belongings, maybe more?" "This isn't just any woman who happens to have a few scrolls lying around, patron!" The patron immediately looked betrayed: "He told me it would be an easy task! I took his word for it." "Where do you know this guy from, Laszlo?!" "Hey, don't you call me by my mortal name. I might owe some people money!" The conversation heated up. Igris grabbed some of the coins and threw it upwards to the stained glasses. "You, you undead bastard! You hired me out to some, I don't know, LICHLORD, who wants me to rob, not any woman, no. He wants me to rob Teysa Karlov! That guild leader of you." "She's not the guild leader Igris, I'm telling you. The Obzedat are still in control." "Yeah, you and your ghost stories. Everybody sane knows the Obzedat are just a gimmick for the Church of Orzhova to convince poor people they have a possible afterlife with wealth. Meanwhile that rogue Teysa tells you all you want to hear about that council and get's rich from the money you pay. You pay her to hallucinate on some strong Gruul herbs man!" "You do not call Teysa Karlov a rogue! She's has one of the most ancient of bloodlines on the whole of Ravnica! She is the aristocrat between aristocrats, first among the best." Igris calmed down slightly: "But now I have to rob her. Or else, I don't know exactly what your other friend will do if I fail, or won't even try, but it isn't good. He knows everything about me apparently. My family name, things I accomplished. I probably get killed, by him, Teysa or arresters of the Azorius." "But can't you disappear then?" the spirit tried to help. "I know a friend who runs a bar in Rakdos territory. He could give you a helping hand, work with him for a while down at the Pits. You'd make a fine gladiator." "Well, I did sign a contract with your friend, Laszlo!" Igris ripped off his shirt at his shoulder revealing a huge blackened scar running all over his back. It glowed with dark blue and a little bit of ooze was dripping out of it. Laszlo gasped: "Oh man, let's fix you up. Then we talk" "Talk?! Have you seen the letter?"

5. Morning, 2nd Day of Prazh, 9941 Z.C.
"Welcome recruit, glad you were willing to business with us. You met one of our agents last night. He will act as your reporting overseer. How do you contact him? You don't. If need be, he contacts you, and he will know where to find you. Remember we made a contractual agreement, but you probably will remember that scar very well. Complete the assignment and you can buy yourself out of service and the scar will disappear. You won't ever remember having it or anything associated with it. Now on to your assignment.
Tomorrow, the 3rd Day of Prazh, around noon, Teysa Karlov, spokeswoman of the Obzedat, heir to the Karlov dynasty, will pass the square between the Griffin Colonnades in the Church District. This woman will be travelling with five scrolls we need. Other agents will make sure she is carrying the scrolls visibly. We can't guarantee she will be travelling without guards. Violence is allowed but don't harm Teysa. If you complete the robbery, start travelling around town. Soon somebody with a missing ring finger will ask you about the scrolls. Hand them over and you will be rewarded. If you would get caught you are on your own. You don't know who gave you this contract, except your good friend Laszlo Damagon. Speaking of that ghost: you probably ran downstairs to confront him. You are only allowed to talk about your assignment with him. Speaking of it with anyone else will result in immediate punishment for the both of you. Better do this together. We will get a shapeshifter to run the tavern. This brings us to punishment and pay.
Standard contract rules apply: Complete the assignment and you will be rewarded with five thousand zinos each and any expense you had to make for sleeping arrangements and travel.
Fail the assignment and you will be punished, be it laws or us. Also, no guild affiliation is demanded for the assignment. We aren't looking for war. And we aren't kind to snitches.

Don't fail us Igris Cithermi, we will be watching."

"You see," the ghost said "This man, well, not really a man, visits more often and he always requests someone for some minor jobs. I thought I would do you a favor by offering it to you. Apparently I'm royally screwed as well." "Well, you should be, you're in it with me now." Igris responded, still quite angry. "We fail, we both get killed, Laszlo, so you're coming with me. Besides, you know the Church District well thanks to that stupid guild of you. And if by touching me they can create huge scars, we'll be damned if we fail and they find us before Boros or Azorius soldiers and arresters are in our necks. One way or the other, we can't expect human mercy." "Yeah, I can't say no now, can I. They didn't mention it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they can remove ghosts as well as humans." The human of the newfound duo stretched his back. The scar didn't really hurt. "Come on, let's pack some supplies and let's plan a route. I want to explore the area and be there tonight, so I'm more comfortable tomorrow." "I know a friend who can take us there before nightfall. It ain't the cleanest and easiest route, and you must be willing to ride a specter. Or still having nightmares about that time you had to chase someone through the Undercity before he could report to his ringleader?" Laszlo tried to joke. But Igris wasn't in the mood for jokes. "Yeah, fine, I can handle them, but I want the least slippery of the two."

6. Sundawn, 2nd Day of Prazh, 9941 Z.C.
When stepping off he realized why he never rode another specter for the last few months. At least he didn't have to dodge falling arches and flaming arrows, but still the ride wasn't enjoyable. "The noise these creatures make is unbearable, patron. How do you do this every few days?" "Well, it's not like I enjoy those screeches, but you get used to it. I guess that's what a couple of decades along an Undercity highway do to you. I, on the other hand, can't stand the clicking of cartwheels, something you probably don't even notice mister Daylight." "I don't see it as an offense to call someone bad names for living in the better part of the world, the top layer. You could get your feet dirty here by opening the door!" Laszlo looked grumpy: "Only when those bloody Golgari have travelled around with their meatcaravans, which were always late. Well, I like it in the twilight part of the city these days. Not everything a bridge, not everything covered in dirt and fungus. Stay here and let me arrange a deal with the flightmasters. Go look around the square. Maybe someone has a map to be sold here. And look for some who has coins without a guild mark on it. I need to trade these Orzhov ones!" Laszlo's voice was already fading away as Igris walked around the dim lit square. Overhead were flocks of specters transporting all kinds of shady characters around the Undercity. They were not far from a Rakdos arena, and judging from a piece of parchment that flew around there was a show tonight.

Everywhere merchant were offering dubious wares around him when he walked around the market stalls. They were selling all kinds of meat, some recognizable and disgusting, and some unrecognizable and even more disgusting. He looked around if he saw someone pay extra attention to him, but everywhere he looked he saw Devkarin and other elves offer their wares. "Yuch, Golgari territory. Disgusting scavengers. I wonder how poor you must be to actually accept that meat." He got a vile look from one of the merchants and another one threw a tiny scarab towards him upon hearing his complaint. "Keep quiet Igris, we may need their information and wares!" Laszlo had catched up. "Did you find someone who who would take a few Orzhov zinos? I could change most of them at the flightmaster." "Zinos? You could buy this whole market for a zino." "Don't be so rude, Igris. They actually do a very good job here, providing food for the poorest of poor. People you use every day in your activities." "Yeah, but I actually give them something of worth." "You are overpaying them, I keep saying it. For a blade for hire you don't have a very good business model." "It gives me the information I need, patron, and that's what matters in my line of work. Let's get to street level. I want to check this square out and maybe go to the games. Just saw an ad, they seem to be fun this time. Interesting violence, and not the plain old gore they usually are up to." They walked to an abandoned tower stretching all the way up to the ceiling. "There are some spiral stairs in there. Be prepared, we need to go up a couple of floors. I would almost envy your legs Igris, but not today."