Legion (Episode 2)

Jocelynne takes a few steps closer to better see the darklight blade, but doesn't get too close. She looks over to the older man.


Sharing a look with the younger, the older man places the piece of metal he is working on down. Wiping his hands with a cloth looped through the apron at his waist, as he approaches, he speaks. "Choyle is my name. Choyle Blackmantle. I have created many a fine weapon and set of armor for the purposes of holding the binding of a demon in my day. But, I only work in metal, wood, and leather."

He points to the sword Radu is displaying. "This weapon has either been changed by its binding to a material other than its original creation or never was."

Radu smiles, impressed. "You certainly know your metal, Master Blackmantle. While it was certainly altered in the binding, but it was much this way when I came upon it. I always assume it was a sort of metal, or stone, but none of my own smiths could say. Have you never seen such a material before?"

The smith shakes his head and scratches his beard with an index finger. "Never. Some manner of manifested negativity I am guessing."

"Hmph," Radu says, picking up and re-sheathing the large sword, "It has never lost its edge, but I hope to never nick the blade if it is not something that can be worked. If ever, I may seek you out anyways, to see if you are up for the challenge. Have you serviced Champions before? I am curious if we are the first such group to enter the city in recent memory."

"The Blackmantle are descended of the blood of the Nihrain and servants of the Balance. It was the Blackmantle forged the invulnerable armor of the Warrior in Jet and Gold many millennia past and we now hold the honor as the celebrated weaponsmiths and armorers of the Lords of T'Lorn." Choyle says proudly. "Our line has served many a Champion in its day, but alas neither I nor my daughter have had the honor of attending to the needs of an active Champion. Though, we do count several former Champions among our patrons."

"It seems you may soon have that honor, and it will be my honor to have such a glorious lineage to work my arms and armor should need arise. Thank you Masters Blackmantle. Who would I see about less martial goods or magical items in this city, any recommendations?"

Madame Mysteri is the finest tailor in T'Lorn. If you are looking for new ensembles for yourself of your lovely companions. Old Marythel is as good an enchanter of items as the city has to offer. And, if you are looking for other things, you might want to pay a visit to the Lower South Market. There are several entrances into the area of the street vendors beyond the Great Eye." Choyle informs Radu.

"Again, I owe you my thanks," Radu says. "I will seek them out, as I desire greatly to learn what this city has to offer." After getting directions for the shops mentioned, he looks to his companions and turns to leave.

Once out of the blacksmith's shop, he looks to Ruby and Rosie. "Perhaps you two could use new outfits - something that fits the aesthetic and style of T'Lorn. Let us seek out this Madame Mysteri."

He leads them, making an effort to follow Blackmantle's direction to the tailor.

Scene 10: Dockside

Keltos hurriedly leaves the meeting when dismissed. Not out of anger or frustration, but of excitement. He was not expecting the silent alert in the midst of battle but non the less the alert was received.

Returning to the Veritas, Keltos removes his helm and a moment later a section of his artificial skull to reveal his living brain and an implanted mnemonic matrix. The tiny artifice, a fusion of magic the technology resembled a tiny iridescent jewel. A jewel that now slowly pulsed a vivid green indicating its algorithm had been fully trained and was ready to initiate.

"Initiate protocol BR549 Infinite Horizons, Authorization Keltos Gamma"

Tiny glass like threads blossomed from the jewel like a million legged spider before snaking deep into the grey matter of Keltos’ consciousness.

Oblivious to his surroundings Keltos shivered and seized, his mouth a froth while his mind soared. "Colors…..so many Colors…." Was all his mind could comprehend before the black….

Keltos’s fluttering eyes signaled his return, sitting upright and then standing Keltos stretched and moved through a series of exercises designed to test his manual dexterity. Satisfied he begins to visualize mathematical tables and probability matrices…His minds eye calculating and recalculating faster than ever before.

The upgrade a success Keltos mood is lifted. Time to have a little fun. Topside Keltos addresses the ship and crew "Veritas on my count, open waters full speed. All hands brace for ramming speed on 10…9…8…7.."

"Captain. Permission to speak." Marcus stands ready and requests.

At Keltos granting, he says. "The crew and me have some concerns about taking the Veritas out of dock. When we arrived here last night, if it truly was night, we didn't steer her in. We all suddenly appeared in this small lagoon and were signaled to this dock." He points out across the waters toward the mouth of the small lagoon and the impenetrable wall of darkness that surrounds the entire area. "Using the glass, it seems the waters at the edge drop off into the dark of the nothing."

"Veritas, hold position" Pausing Keltos turns to the burly Bosun and gives him his attention, "You are right of course, I let the moment take hold. A wall of black you say? We are here for the mysteries of the multiverse. Lets take a closer look shall we."

" Vertitas, take us to the border and hold."

Once at the border/dropoff Keltos begins to examines the enigma, visually at first and then experimentally with long poles, flaming arrows and such. Lastly Keltos takes out his crystal ball and uses it in an attempt to pierce the inky black veil.

As a cartographer he also tries mapping the edge as accurately as he can. Does it follow the contours of the landscape... or does it follow a regular curve....can he even detect a curve. If he can detect a curve, then through math (Sage, Probability & Statistics specialty ) he should be able to calculate how big of bubble he might be in.

His demon of travel, Veritas, obediently positions itself close to the edge of the small lagoon and holds there. Keltos, Marcus, and those members of the crew on deck, can see that the water gushes over a drop, like a massive waterfall. The darkness that surrounds everything begins not far beyond the edge. Curiously, there is no sound of the water crashing below.

Keltos quickly determines that T'Lorn is within a roughly oval-shaped demi-plane. A rather large one, but a demi-plane none-the-less. He also, by the fact that there are at least a half dozen other ships in the harbor, that somehow these vessels may have a way to get through the barrier, if they are making runs outside of TLorn for supplies.

Most interesting…says Keltos "It is as I suspected of course. This is a Demi-plane. My concern however is how do we leave. More time will be needed to understand the laws that govern this place. Until then we may well be prisoners here. From earlier conversations I get the impression that one cannot simply come and go as they please. We might need a Key."

"I suppose sailing is not in the cards tonight. Lets get the crew some of that shore time I mentioned earlier."

Returning to the docks Keltos and crew disembark. He instructs the Veritas to lock down, patrol the tiny inlet avoid contact with strangers until their return.

Keltos believes the common men are the best source of knowledge when it comes to their city. Not lords, or courtly attendants but commoners. Where lords and ladies are the all consuming mouthpiece, commoners are the life blood a beating heart.

"Evening to you, Captain Keltos." Marsh greets the cybermonk. "Your goods have been safely housed in the warehouse."

"I see that, nicely done and my thanks."

"My visit here this evening is a less about cargo and more about shore leave. You see my crew and I are new to T’lorn. Obviously. Yes, I could probably be sipping wine and swapping stories with the council but what I really want is to experience the city unfiltered. I want to see the real T’lorn and hear your stories."

"So what do you say Marsh, close shop for a little while and show me and the crew a good time? Drinks are on me."

"You've got yourself a deal, Captain. I've been look for an excuse to duck out this evening." Marsh responds.

"JACK! Up front! Mind the warehouse! Heading out for the evening!" He turns to his left and yells out.

Moments later, his arrival heralded by a racket of shuffled crates and bangs of objects being moved around, Jack appears through the door in the back of the office.


"Sure thing, Bro." He replies.

Outside, Keltos give the crew instructions for the night

"Have good time but don’t overdo. If any of you are late for shifts I’ve given Charlie creative license to make sure it doesn’t happen again."

"Let me introduce you to Marsh. He’s going be our host. Remember we are guests in his city be respectful and follow his lead. We don’t want trouble and I shouldn’t have to remind you what goes for fun and games in one port will get you hanged in the next."

"Lead on!"

Turning left from the front of the warehouse, Marsh takes another sharp left down a narrow street and then a third left beneath a colorful blue banner draped across the avenue overhead. Continuing a short distance, he turns right. To either side of an open doorway are wall murals depictiing two mermaids entwined.

Over the threshold of the open door is a weathered sign that reads The Mermaid's Dalliance.

Stepping inside, Keltos, marcus and crew find a tavern with a distinct nautical feel. Ahead is a bar with a lone blonde wiping down the counter.



Directly behind the bar is a large cylindrical aquarium that rises all the way to the ceiling. Two medium-sized sharks swim about in the tank.




"Syrena, love! Evening to Yah. Drinks for our newest arrivals. They're on Captain Keltos, here!"

"Evening, Marsh, you Bastard." Syrena replies to the warehouse man, then glances at Keltos, Marcus, and the rest of the crew of the Veritas just entering the doors. "What'll ya have, ladies and gents?"