A Night in Sigil

Posts : 54 Join date : 2009-11-18 Age : 46 Location : NC

Sigil always was one of the filthiest places Deonorth had ever traveled. Dust from whatever material the place was made of, laced with the dust of a thousand different planes brought on the boots of its travelers caked everything from the buildings to the inhabitants. Filth and garbage littered the streets; smog and smoke lingered lazily in the air making breathing difficult in even the cleanest of places.

Side streets lay in shadow and the narrow alleys were even darker. Even Deonorth knew any berk stupid enough to find himself down a dark alley this time of night deserved the thrashing he'd get from any number of the cut throats and bashers that made their living preying on outsiders.

Night time was rough in Sigil, unless of course you happened to be in the Clerks Ward or the Lady's Ward. Otherwise, most people were smart enough to stay inside once the light waned. The shadows were for the fiends, the trouble makers. Even now, Deonorth heard the whispers of illicit deals and bargains being made. A scream of someone or some thing dying pierced the night air, fading unevenly over the ramshackle rooftops.

He'd have a word or two for Shadar when he saw him. Pulling him out on a night like this? What was he thinking? Problem was, Shadar rarely thought past his own neck.

Deonorth checked his pocket, feeling for the small package he carried with him. His fingers traced the edges of the box and the carvings etched into its wood. Somehow, it gave him comfort knowing it was still there. He'd be glad to be rid of it, troublesome thing that it was, but he had no intention of losing it to some basher on the streets. He pulled his hand from the pocket, hoping that was less conspicuous.

He rounded a corner and relief washed through him as he spotted the sign for the Knight's Prayer - a dingy, ill-begotten place if ever he'd seen one. Just as he was about to enter, the door swung open and two men came pouring out. One was swaying with his drink. The other had a rough hand on his collar and was tossing him out. "Pike it, bubber or you'll pay the music one way or another! I don't fancy berks with no jink. That's the last bit of free swill you'll get from me. Sod off, now."

Deonorth started to reconsider the wisdom in letting Shadar choose their meeting spot.