A meeting of B1s
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:00 am
The room was heavy with smoke from cigars. The top ranking Guvners sat in front of the fireplace waiting for Factol Hashkar to speak.
"Gentlemen, i'm sure you all know the reason for this meeting. Two of our own and one Harmonium have been killed. While there is no evidence, it is clear who is behind the deaths. Hildmor and his agents.
We had hoped that the prison sentence and exile would have taught d'Kridis that we were not to be messed with. However, the man is obviously insane, and if he were still in Sigil I would have handed him over to the Bleakers to deal with.
As it is, the Harmonium are taking steps already to target Hildmor's legacy. Hildmor's syndicate and cartel are to be crushed.
But we must do more. We must strike back. We must locate d'Kridis, kill him, and all those who associate with him."
Hashkar paused to gague the reactions of those around him, there were no dissenting voices or looks.
One of the B1s spoke up: "I presume you have a plan?"
Hashkar chuckled, "Indeed, and the real reason for the meeting is to share it with you. Follow me."
The other B1s eyed each other curiously and stood with Hashkar, who procceded to take an object out of his pocket and aim it at an archway near one wall.
A portal appeared and Hashkar stepped through. The others followed eager to see where this portal lead as none were aware of it. Each was eager to see what item was the key, but Hashkar had kept it concealed.
The landscape was gently rolling grassland looking one way, and behind...
"The spire!" gasped one of the B1s. "A portal so close to the spire!"
"Butterflies!" said another.
"Spire butterflies!" said another with a look of horror on his face.
The butterflies flew towards the assembled Guvners and danced and weaved about them.
Hashkar spoke: "You see now why i suggested you not carry with you enchanted items to this meeting? I hope you all followed my suggestion."
Several of the B1s looks rather annoyed or distraught, as butterflies alighted upon them, often on rings and amulets.
"Ah" said Hashkar "You didn't listen to me. Well, more fool you. I suggest you do not provoke them, they can react badly. Now to business....."
Hashkar turned, pulled a small flute from his belt, and played a single note upon it. The noise echoed across the landscape.
"Now, we wait, it won't be long"
After a short while they heard a rumbling in the distance and Hashkar pricked his ears.
"Ah, here they come now"
Across the landscape came riders. Not just riders. Some people ran, some flew. Others were riderless, not beasts of burden though, obviously intelligent beings. A wide array of beings of all kinds.
Some of the Guvners looked nervous, a couple even started to prepare defensive spells until they realized where they were and realized that no spells would work for them here.
"Relax" said Hashkar "They are all paid for. It may bleed our coffers a little, but here are some of the finest bounty hunters in the known planes that money can buy"
The horde came to a stop a few meters from the gathered Guvners.
"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present to you those who will rid the multiverse of Hildmor d'Kridis, for one and for all."
He points to a group of riders on the left. A wide array of humanoids seated mainly on horses, some on lizards, and some on even stranger beasts.
"The Riders of Thelaq. Originally a mercenary band from some backwater prime, but now dedicated bounty hunters with great experience of travelling the planes and tracking down those who have been targetted."
He next points to an angelic looking being, yet one whose body is covered in black flames.
"Uliviel Blackflame, once known as Irvaniel of Celestia, he rebelled and was cast into the Nine Hells. Now a deadly assassin and hunter of men, demons, and angels"
As he points to the next being, a human to all appearances, its face changes once, then twice.
"Ozak, the doppeganger. He can travel almost anywhere and infiltrate any organization if he needs to. He will be initially working in Sigil trying to trace links to d'Kridis and follow those leads out to the planes as necessary."
Haskkar continues for many minutes more, introducing various invididuals and groups, some unknown to most, many well known to the well-informed Guvners.
A Kyton and an Enriyes pair calling themselves Agony and Ecstasy, a Centaur called Vinne'yew'eh, a Planar Ranger from the Outlands called Marek, and even a Dwarf who described himself as a Gatecrasher who claimed he could trace people by following the "scent" they leave on portals. The list went on and on.
The gathered bounty hunters eyed each other with suspicion, but were held in place by the bag of gems that Hashkar pulled out and started passing out to those assembled. Rare and exotic gems were there distributed. He then held up several of the rarest gems in one hand and said:
"You have recieved downpayment. Let it be known that the one who finds Hildmor and brings him to us will recieve a very valuable bonus."
"Dead or alive?" asked one of the bounty hunters.
"We have no use for a living Hildmor d'Kridis. However, the man has been known to use clones, so we must have proof that his soul has been destroyed, or at the very least been sent to the lower planes as a petitioner, where it belongs. Deliver his soul to us in a Black Gem, and we will trade it to the Night Hags and may his soul rot for eternity."
More questions followed seeking information, a description, known associated within and outside Sigil.
Hashkar answered all questions and gave all the information he had.
When finished, the group were dismissed, riding, running, flying, back to the outer areas of the Outlands either for portals or gates that would take them where their assignments took them, some presumably would start seeking within Sigil, some elsewhere.
When they were gone, Hashkar opened the portal once again and stepped through, waiting for all to return before letting the portal close.
"And so," he announces "it begins".
"Gentlemen, i'm sure you all know the reason for this meeting. Two of our own and one Harmonium have been killed. While there is no evidence, it is clear who is behind the deaths. Hildmor and his agents.
We had hoped that the prison sentence and exile would have taught d'Kridis that we were not to be messed with. However, the man is obviously insane, and if he were still in Sigil I would have handed him over to the Bleakers to deal with.
As it is, the Harmonium are taking steps already to target Hildmor's legacy. Hildmor's syndicate and cartel are to be crushed.
But we must do more. We must strike back. We must locate d'Kridis, kill him, and all those who associate with him."
Hashkar paused to gague the reactions of those around him, there were no dissenting voices or looks.
One of the B1s spoke up: "I presume you have a plan?"
Hashkar chuckled, "Indeed, and the real reason for the meeting is to share it with you. Follow me."
The other B1s eyed each other curiously and stood with Hashkar, who procceded to take an object out of his pocket and aim it at an archway near one wall.
A portal appeared and Hashkar stepped through. The others followed eager to see where this portal lead as none were aware of it. Each was eager to see what item was the key, but Hashkar had kept it concealed.
The landscape was gently rolling grassland looking one way, and behind...
"The spire!" gasped one of the B1s. "A portal so close to the spire!"
"Butterflies!" said another.
"Spire butterflies!" said another with a look of horror on his face.
The butterflies flew towards the assembled Guvners and danced and weaved about them.
Hashkar spoke: "You see now why i suggested you not carry with you enchanted items to this meeting? I hope you all followed my suggestion."
Several of the B1s looks rather annoyed or distraught, as butterflies alighted upon them, often on rings and amulets.
"Ah" said Hashkar "You didn't listen to me. Well, more fool you. I suggest you do not provoke them, they can react badly. Now to business....."
Hashkar turned, pulled a small flute from his belt, and played a single note upon it. The noise echoed across the landscape.
"Now, we wait, it won't be long"
After a short while they heard a rumbling in the distance and Hashkar pricked his ears.
"Ah, here they come now"
Across the landscape came riders. Not just riders. Some people ran, some flew. Others were riderless, not beasts of burden though, obviously intelligent beings. A wide array of beings of all kinds.
Some of the Guvners looked nervous, a couple even started to prepare defensive spells until they realized where they were and realized that no spells would work for them here.
"Relax" said Hashkar "They are all paid for. It may bleed our coffers a little, but here are some of the finest bounty hunters in the known planes that money can buy"
The horde came to a stop a few meters from the gathered Guvners.
"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present to you those who will rid the multiverse of Hildmor d'Kridis, for one and for all."
He points to a group of riders on the left. A wide array of humanoids seated mainly on horses, some on lizards, and some on even stranger beasts.
"The Riders of Thelaq. Originally a mercenary band from some backwater prime, but now dedicated bounty hunters with great experience of travelling the planes and tracking down those who have been targetted."
He next points to an angelic looking being, yet one whose body is covered in black flames.
"Uliviel Blackflame, once known as Irvaniel of Celestia, he rebelled and was cast into the Nine Hells. Now a deadly assassin and hunter of men, demons, and angels"
As he points to the next being, a human to all appearances, its face changes once, then twice.
"Ozak, the doppeganger. He can travel almost anywhere and infiltrate any organization if he needs to. He will be initially working in Sigil trying to trace links to d'Kridis and follow those leads out to the planes as necessary."
Haskkar continues for many minutes more, introducing various invididuals and groups, some unknown to most, many well known to the well-informed Guvners.
A Kyton and an Enriyes pair calling themselves Agony and Ecstasy, a Centaur called Vinne'yew'eh, a Planar Ranger from the Outlands called Marek, and even a Dwarf who described himself as a Gatecrasher who claimed he could trace people by following the "scent" they leave on portals. The list went on and on.
The gathered bounty hunters eyed each other with suspicion, but were held in place by the bag of gems that Hashkar pulled out and started passing out to those assembled. Rare and exotic gems were there distributed. He then held up several of the rarest gems in one hand and said:
"You have recieved downpayment. Let it be known that the one who finds Hildmor and brings him to us will recieve a very valuable bonus."
"Dead or alive?" asked one of the bounty hunters.
"We have no use for a living Hildmor d'Kridis. However, the man has been known to use clones, so we must have proof that his soul has been destroyed, or at the very least been sent to the lower planes as a petitioner, where it belongs. Deliver his soul to us in a Black Gem, and we will trade it to the Night Hags and may his soul rot for eternity."
More questions followed seeking information, a description, known associated within and outside Sigil.
Hashkar answered all questions and gave all the information he had.
When finished, the group were dismissed, riding, running, flying, back to the outer areas of the Outlands either for portals or gates that would take them where their assignments took them, some presumably would start seeking within Sigil, some elsewhere.
When they were gone, Hashkar opened the portal once again and stepped through, waiting for all to return before letting the portal close.
"And so," he announces "it begins".