With Styenbeck seemingly unaware of her espionage, he encouraged
her to go back to the other side. He asked if she had found anything while she
was exploring and agreed that the old woman was possibly the key holder. He did
mention that it was unusual for all eight aspects of the key holder to be on
one floor. When he heard of where they were found by Lily he seemed almost
sympathetic, and mumbled to himself about shadows. In the afternoon light the
crowds were slowly clearing giving way to a surge of Purple Order Monks who
came to examine the changing glass fronts of the shops. The pair was stopped by
the synthetic childlike voice of Valma, who still adorning the red and orange
hues, was now spinning behind to the side of them. Lily turned and noticed,
sitting outside a restaurant smoking a cigarette was Eryn, with Mephisto sitting opposite. Styenbeck
sighed and grumbled about laziness and ignorance. Eryn called Lily over,
offering Styenbeck an already lit cigarette. As they sat down Styenbeck noticed
that the metallic pyramid creature seemed to be more interested in talking to
him than anyone else. With a closer examination he was able to remember some
fragment of information he had in trade from Jyrek. There were sentient
creatures that were employed all over the Steadfast by dignitaries, royalty,
powerful people with great threats.
These creatures were a repository of their knowledge, however dim-witted their
personalities were. When it initially retains information it needs to actively
engage with the language it is learning to consolidate its information. To that
effect it would constantly ask to play, or learn new things, or try to garner
attention. Styenbeck had never seen such a creature and seemed more preoccupied
in it that the others at the table.
With his attention now distracted, Eryn now discussed why
they had sat in this restaurant. Of course the primary goal was food but the
second was perhaps a piece of orchestrated good luck. He had noticed that
Shroud was carefully scoping out the Tower, or so it appeared. He had been
sitting with Neave when Eryn had noticed her, however he seemed strained,
almost like he didn't even see Eryn sit down near him. This fact now came into
view as Eryn showed Lily where Shroud was sitting. She noticed him twinge a
little, a slight movement even the man himself probably didn't notice. From
inside came a crash of plates and shouting. A man inside was screaming about
murdering generations of people, permanently turning them back to what they
were, restoring the natural material of life. He shouted he could neon green
and started to foam at the mouth. The notice grew louder from inside, with
chairs and tables smashing, drinks spilling, women shrieking and children
crying.
There was now a small rush to leave, with some people still
interested in watching whatever mayhem was going on inside. Lily noticed
Shroud's face change, he did not move, nor did he even acknowledge what was
going on. She pointed this out to Eryn, who at that moment caught Shroud's eye.
Shroud immediately stood, and hurriedly brought Neave over with him. He rushed
their greeting and asking if they knew what was going on inside. Styenbeck
answered first wondering who this gentleman was. Shroud wasn't able to give a
reply because he was then interrupted with him explaining they should perhaps
leave; as Styenbeck had noticed the restaurant entrance was now turning into a mad
dash to leave. Shroud almost instantly agreed, not allowing anyone else at the
table to suggest or comment. He keenly gestured for all of them to stand up and
to leave, all but Mephisto did without much resistance. He was still waiting
for his meal and was insisting he'd wait for it. Eryn pointed out what was
going on inside and a few moments later, he decided that the food was probably
going to be spoiled by the violence and so agreed to leave.
As they walked,
Mephisto talked in depth with Styenbeck at the back of the group, while Lily
was at the front directing them to museum. They all seemed more taken with the
exhibit, than the fact of a woman who had been split into seven more copies but
when they all saw them eating together around a small table at the back of the
museum they all reacted the same as Lily. That was apart from Styenbeck
and Neave. It was in fact Neave who was
the first to approach the ladies and to put her hand inside the bag. She shook
the hand and withdrew a small ingot. Styenbeck repeated, along with Mephisto
and Shroud. Eryn too shook the hand and was quickly reminded of the stone wall
that pulled him through. He looked over at Lily for answers, but she quickly
evaded his gaze.
It was from this point Neave took over directions. She
explained as part of her previous services that she had been in charge of
visiting the bank for certain reasons for her employers. It was possible that
with entry to the bank she might be able to abuse those connections with the
staff and perhaps gain access to the Mirror Vault. Some of the lockboxes in
there are bound by mechanisms that she could unlock, if she was given enough
time. Her plan was to use the money to gain what she and Shroud needed to get
to the top of the city, since they had never expected to meet back with the
group. Eryn was a touch surprised and on some level a little hurt. Neave showed
the group an inconspicuous broad leafed plant but with each leaf having a singular
hole in the middle, its edges the splitting of the vein. She passed her ingot through the hole and
waited. Roots from under the platform stretched out in front of her, grasping
the rock gardens that lay in-between the outer ring and the doorway to the
spire, creating a river of vines and garden islands. She effortlessly glided
along to the door. Eryn attempted to step without passing his ingot through. The
vines reacted by pulling themselves
apart at the bottom while reaching out trying to pull his foot downwards to the
void below. He quickly retracted his foot and passed the ingot through the leaf
and preceded. The rest followed suit, apart from Mephisto, who protested about
the lack of railings and the high probability he would lose his balance and
fall. He out right refused, trying to mask his fear with the offer to stand
guard. He offered that since his brother was dead, he would have no fear of
heights and offered his ashes to Lily who, slightly confused, agreed.
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