Sigil: City of Doors

New beginnings.

A whisper here. A rumour there.

Of a Coven that gathers and forms.

There are many sects within sects within factions in Sigil.

This is just one more.

Nothing new. Nothing outstanding. Nothing unusual.

Save the name that is used.

The few who hear of it, whisper it in hushed tones.


The Coven of the Serpent

One particularly intrigued individual seems to perk ears to the rumors, questioning the ones telling the name, passing coin or few, discreetly asking the source. The individual appears quite much like any scum of the worlds, eyes that have seen too much in the world, skin which has seen too much violence, and quick hands which has seen too many pocket thieves to become struct easily by one again, always grasping a dagger handle while passing through public and alleys.

If questioned for reason, this individual explains to only be a messenger, for a anonymous source that wishes to expand their understanding and in return offer greater understanding of things. Everything else is only explained in a rolled letter, sealed with a wax...

In a dark and dank room, in an unknown part of the city, somebody is screaming.

A shadowy figure stands over a bound male dressed in blood drenched robes. He robe bears the badge of a librarian from the city archives. There is a stand with hot coals burning in an iron basket handing from it, with various metallic instruments lying on top, heated white hot. Magical energies must be present making the coals burn so hot as there is no fire there.

The shadowy figure speaks, a female voice, quite in volume but conveyed with the heat of passion run wild "Tell me what you know and i shall grant you release. Just a small bit of information, and the pain will end."

"I know nothing, I tell you, please, mercy" said the blood covered librarian, his voice weak.

"You are the keeper of lore who knows about such things, i know this to be true, you must share. I can make the pain last longer, a lot longer. And if that does not give you incentive, i know where you live, i know where to find your family.

"I cannot tell, please, spare my family." the librarian voice shaky at first steadies and he says "The risk to the multiverse is too great, your kind must never learn what I know!" and with those words he rolls himself kicking out at the stand holding the coals and instruments.

The stand topples onto the man spilling hot sharp instruments and burning coals onto him and he screams and screams. One particularly wicked looking knife somersaults off the stand and it is knocked and drops point down, piercing the man in the chest.

For a moment the man stops screaming, look of triumph appears briefly on his face, and then he breaths no more.

"Foolish man. A lesson must be taught."

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Two events come to the public's attention later that day.

The first is the discovery of the badly burned body of the librarian. Sometime during the night his body had been placed by the wall of the Hall of Information. The chest had been washed clean and then inscribed with the word "Fool". Underneath that was a rough drawing of a serpent.

The second, which was actually discovered first, but only later connected, was the family of the aforementioned librarian found dead in their home. A wife and two small children, who looked as though they had been killed in their sleep by a sharp blade, their throats cleanly cut, their deaths swift and relatively painless. The house itself had been ransacked although no clues emerged as to what the intruder had been looking for or whether they found what they were looking for. However, the intruder seemed to have paid most attention to any and all pieces of paper and parchment, suggesting they were looking for information rather than gold or jewellery.

The SIGIS reporter covering the incident almost was beaten to death after publishing a joke in bad taste about how Hive Ward residents are these days willing to kill children to get a good education.

A sealed parchment was taken by courier - the competent hands of a small kobold - and left together with a blood red ruby atop the throne high upon one mountain deep in the abyssal landscape.

The kobold had instruction to return again to the same mountain and location within two days for expectation of a response and that he should bring it directly to her.

At both times, he was warned not to open the messages. The arcanic wardings upon the communiques would tell the sender or receiver that they had been tampered with.

*assuming the letter mentioned is the one brought by messenger, contents are revealed to all whom read it. ((for now, I'll send PM to you with the letters contents))*

wrote:Salutations

Salutations dear members of the Coven of the Serpent,

First allow me to introduce myself, I am .......

~~~

The reply received told of curiosity of things hidden and secret, resources and knowledge on offer to the new beginnings and made proposition for mutual convenience.

The lady gave to the messenger who delivered the letter a new sealed parchment.

Monsieur,

We will meet at time of convenience to talk of this mutual proposition. It is possible one can aid the other if the knowledge you suggest to own is of value.

The Coven has the parts to assist your own search without doubt.

Seek you la belle dame with the gold chain in the bazaar bar and make yourself known.

Salutations cordiales,

The Coven of the Serpent

The letter was sealed with wax bearing the symbol of the Serpent.

Once more a letter is bought rather than person at Khazeets bar.

Salutations Coven of the Serpents representer,

At the current time I am unable to visit outside my current location. I would be delighted to meet with you, but it is not possible. If it is absolutely necessary, then I shall send my representer to handle it.

Any questions you have, will be answered even through letters. I can assure you that my knowledge includes many rare magical aspects, historical legends and many hidden arts.

I also have a large quantity of gold, gems and magical trinkets at my disposal if funding is required to your matters.

Isaak Dram Trelu


*sealed with wax once more*

The whispers speak of a Coven meeting.

All parts and their servants expected to attend.

((ooc, time/location - will organise via usual channels))

Decisions were taken at the meeting, interesting decisions, but this didn't really affect what she had planned anyway, although it was nice to have a potential positive outcome from her actions.

When she returned back to the cellar which she was temporary using, the owner, currently indisposed, rather than trying to get any more information, she simply slit his throat in one quick movement, before the bound librarian even realized his death was imminent.

"Well, that's just about every keeper with access to the secret archives that I could lay my hands on. These older men are just too easy to seduce".

She dragged the body out of the cellar, and left it somewhere where it could be found.

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A day or two later.

At the Hall of Records, the librarians are in a state of chaos. Nobody wants the responsibility for taking care of the secret texts. The number of grisly deaths of those with access to the archives was certainly a worry, and a number had simply disappeared. Those remaining were making excuses, claiming long overdue vacations and leaving Sigil for realms unknown. The library was becoming like a ghost town!

The librarians had alerted the authorities, but so far, nobody had traced the killer. What was needed was a strong individual, well steeped in lore with a love of books, who would step forward and take care of the most sensitive books. It would have to be someone trusted though, a pillar of the community...

The librarians scratched their collective heads. Where would they find such a person, who would be willing to put themselves in such a dangerous position.

A message was left with Khazeet for one Isaak Dram Trelu.

Monsieur,

After meeting of our members, it has been agreed to provide help to your quest for the historical artifact that were advertised in your notice in S.I.G.I.S. in return for reward and information that your own letter suggests you have access to.

The Coven the Serpent is reclusive organisation, intent on research into the Ancient, historical texts and magical aspecte, often of the darker persuasion governing the Cage, portals and planes to which they lead. Due to this reclusiveness, this darker aspecte that non all have appreciation of, you will understand too, our desire to handle things with a certaine secrecy and circumspecte. Resources be it fonds or knowledge, if genuinely offered to extend this research, to aid the Coven's own formation and alliances, will be welcomed, no doubt for mutual return of favour.

In order for us to commence dealings for this mutual aid, the Coven wishes an act of good faith en avance so that trust in your ability and truth of knowledge can be determined. To this end, with your own request for our aid, send detail of your knowledge of the following:

~why the Coven of the Serpent attracted your attention for mutual aid in the first place
~any portal access to the Cage, one not controlled by the Lady of Pain
~any facts known of successful escapings from mazings

As for your point about non meeting in persone, if the god cannot come to the Cage, perhaps the Cagers can go to the god. Take this Thought or Memory with you in your reply.


Salutations cordiales,

The Coven of the Serpent

The letter was sealed with wax bearing the symbol of the Serpent.