<storyteller> The General looks you over Remy and says
<storyteller> "Pleased to meet you. What is this about the Hall of Records?"
<Remy> "Yes, we be lookin for the hall of records."
<storyteller> "I see you have friends," he motions to the rest of the group.
<Remy> "These are de members of the 82nd cohort."
<storyteller> Patton nods to each of you.
* Remy introduces the others
* Brianna nods
* Simon waves a little
* Erik extends his hand in greeting
* Gerard waves relunctantly.
<storyteller> "The Hall of Records is by the Great Library."
* Nachabe nods
<storyteller> Patton shakes Erik's hand
<storyteller> "Well what the hell do you want with the records?"
<Remy> "We need to find out about dis wraith named Markova."
<Remy> "Where might de great library be?"
<storyteller> "Get in the jeep I'll show you where it is."
* Remy looks at the jeep...
<Remy> "All of us?"
<storyteller> "Yes all of you."
<storyteller> you look the jeep over and see that it can indeed fit you all
* Nachabe gets in the Jeep
* Brianna follows everyone into the Jeep
* Gerard gets into the jeep
* Simon jumps on in.
* Remy gets in
* Erik gets into the jeep
<storyteller> The driver gets in and and starts the jeep
<Simon> "Something to tell the grandkids about... if I hadn't died before having any."
* Brianna smiles sadly at Simon's words
<storyteller> "You are looking for a 'Markova'?" says Patton
* Nachabe watches in silence
<Remy> "Yeah. He was a general for de Romans."
<storyteller> "Hmmm, my Roman history isn't that great. I don't know him."
<storyteller> The jeep rumbles off and heads down the street.
<storyteller> The jeep passes several buildings that look to be made from different periods of time <storyteller> "So what did this bastard do to you to bring you all the way to this shitty city."
<Simon> "Apparently he (or rather his ship) tore a hole in New York City."
<Simon> "That's the current theory."
<Remy> "He's been causing trouble in New York."
<storyteller> The jeep stops, and the driver turns to you,
<storyteller> "We are here, sir."
<Remy> "Merci."
<storyteller> "Ah, I see, well catch this fucker and teach him a lesson."
<Erik> "Well, we'll certainly try..."
<Remy> "Will do, sir."
<storyteller> The driver opens your door, and the General gets out.
* Erik gets out
* Simon follows
* Remy gets out
<storyteller> "Let me see you in," he says as he helps Bri out of the jeep
* Gerard gets out of the jeep
* Brianna smiles and steps out of the jeep with the general's help
<storyteller> The Hall is a large tower and it seems to raise into the skyline forever, there
are lights within and the torches look to be made of soulstuff as well yet they look well crafted.
<storyteller> Patton walks up the stairs and the guards immediately move out of his way
<storyteller> "Ummm let me open the door for you sir."
<storyteller> the guard says.
* Remy follows behind Patton
<storyteller> The guard opens the door and you can see inside and the view is beautiful
<storyteller> Books line the walls and they seem to rise as far as the tower does
* Gerard is in the building, grabbing books i an ecstatic frenzy and reading them with fervor.
<storyteller> A wraith walks over to you and looks each of you up and down snobbishly
* Erik looks around in awe
* Brianna stands looking at the vast library
<Gerard> "Lets see, oh this should be interesting. Devils and Angels... and this is about..."
<storyteller> "Good afternoon General is there something I can do for you?"
<storyteller> "Yes, you can help my friends here with their research."
<storyteller> "Well general, any friends of yours..."
<storyteller> "Quit sucking up, just help them."
* Remy glances at the snobbish man
<storyteller> "Well, I hope you find what you are looking for." the general says as he leaves
<Remy> "Thank you very much, General Patton."
* Remy salutes him
<storyteller> Patton salutes back and a rare smile shows itself
* Gerard waves dismissivly as he pours over the dozen or so bboks in front of him.
<storyteller> "Well then, what are you looking for," says the snobbish man
* Erik mutters "Probably thinks he's sending eager green recruits to their death..."
<Erik> "We seek information on the Roman general Markova."
<Remy> "We are looking for de files on a man named Markova."
<storyteller> "Markova....Markova.....Markova," he says tapping his chin.
<Remy> "Do you need help wit' alphabetical order?"
<storyteller> "I don't think you'll find him in our records, but...."
<storyteller> "I think he may be in here." he says as he walks down the aisle
<storyteller> he hands Remy a book
<Remy> "Merci. Sorry to trouble you so," Remy says, in a tone that is almost sarcastic
* Remy begins to flip through it
<storyteller> The spine reads "Spectora Spectorum" .
* Gerard looks up from his reading. "Anyone seen Spectora Spectorum here?"
<storyteller> "Shhh!" you hear from all around
<Erik> "Right here!"
* Gerard gets up and quickly grabs the book out of Remy's hands. "I need that."
* Gerard reads the book in almost a maniacal manner.
* Remy looks hard at Gerard. "No, no, no problem at all. You're welcome."
* Bri looks at all the books
* Gerard mutters "Thanks."
* Erik just wanders the library, looking at the vast stores of information
<Gerard> "Hmmm, interesting."
<Erik> "What did you find?"
* Gerard motions Remy over. "I think I found something interesting. Chapter 5."
* Erik peers over Gerard's shoulder
<Gerard> "Malfeans." I whisper.
<Erik> "Malfeans?"
<Remy> "What does it mean?"
<Gerard> "Problem," as I show them the line about Markova being a quite powerful Malfean.
<Erik> "I see..."
<Remy> "An' a malfean is....? Sounds evil, but you can never be sure."
<Gerard> "We are dealing with a Malfean, the most powerful of Spectres."
* Erik pales visibly
* Gerard continues to read silently, although he looks noticably paler.
* Gerard shows Remy and Erik all about Markova and his evils.
<Erik> "Sounds like a fun guy to have around at parties..."
<Gerard> "He has been stealing the fares of ferrymen, and the last time he was seen,
he ate the corpus of a ferryman..."
<Remy> "Sounds like my ex-wife."
<Remy> "We always deal wit' the most pleasant characters."
* Remy sighs
<storyteller> After Markova crossed the shroud, he became a Spectere. He was seen all across the tempest and for awhile was ambushing ferrymen for their newly found fares
<storyteller> He was last seen as a spectere in the year 212 ad while attacking a ferrymen
he was heard to have eaten the ferrymen's corpus before he could obliviate
<storyteller> Once this incident happened there were sightings from all over telling of Markova
eating the corpus of wraiths and that with each feast he grew more powerfull
<Remy> "Wait a sec. He didn' eat de wraith we found outside..."
<storyteller> It is rumored that in the year 1003 ad Markova became a Malfean and immediately
found himself to be worshipped by many specteres as a god
<Erik> "You don't mean..."
<storyteller> The last sighting of Markova was in 1742 in the Americas. It was here that he driven into slumber by some Heirarchy troops, many did not return.
<Erik> "Guess who the Heirarchy troops are that get to put him down this time?"
<storyteller> It is not known whether Markova is still in existance, but there is also no proof the
he is gone either.
<storyteller> -Antonius Chronicler of the Doomslayers 1890 ad
<Remy> "Well..we know his past, but dat still don' tell us about what he's doing now."
<storyteller> The librarian walks up to you and looks over Gerard's shoulder.
<Gerard> "It does tell us he is a powerful force to deal with."
<storyteller> "I see you found what you are looking for."
<Gerard> "Do you mind, please leave."
<storyteller> "That is a very good book on the subject."
<storyteller> "Hummmph. Some people."
<Remy> "I'm not thinkin' dat be something we wanted to be knowin'."
<Remy> "Wait a sec."
<Erik> "Remy, no information is useless."
<storyteller> "Yes?" he says as he gives Gerard a dirty look.
<Remy> "You know anythin' bout dis subject?"
<Gerard> "Pathetic little man," I mutter.
<storyteller> "I may know someone who does." he sniffs in indignantly
<Remy> "Can you lead us to him? We would be very thankful. I'm sure Patton would be, too." <storyteller> "Humph, name tosser. Well I could tell you where he lives."
<Remy> "Good enough."
<storyteller> "But my memory, isn't very good." he says his hand out
* Remy pulls out an oboli
<Erik> "Discussions like this shouldn't be carried out in the open, my friend."
<storyteller> "Oh well, I remember now. Have you been to pardoner alley? The alley with all the red lanterns?"
<Remy> "I'm sure that will be enough." Remy says
<Remy> "Wait...yes, I think we have."
<Erik> "Yes we have."
<storyteller> "He lives there. His name is on the door."
<Erik> "What's the name?"
<storyteller> The man looks at you and points out the entry on markova, he points to the writer,
"Him."
* Gerard looks around for Nachabe.
* Nachabe is reading.
* Remy nods
<Remy> "Thanks. You are too kind."
* Remy bows gracefully
<storyteller> "He is such a beautiful wraith. you will like him."
<storyteller> The librarian smiles and puts the book back.
<storyteller> "If you want a copy of that book he could sell you one."
<Remy> "Okay, merci."
<Gerard> "Wait a sec guys...look at the book."
* Erik looks at the book
* Remy looks at it
* Gerard looks at his hand, notices the blood, and applies a tourniquet.
<storyteller> there is writing on the page
<storyteller> basically about recruitment
<storyteller> The man looks at you and walks away
<Erik> Anyways, I'm gonna bugger off, just seein' who's on and stuff...
<Remy> "So....What about it?"
<storyteller> Gerard is acting funny
* Remy uses soulsight on him
* Remy looks at the book
<storyteller> The librarian comes back and hands Erik a note
* Remy wonders why Gerard is bleeding
<storyteller> The book looks fine
* Erik reads it
* Remy wonders why Erik is getting notes from the librarian
* Remy wonders why there is a recruitment page in a book in a heirarchy library
<storyteller> "This is a note to Antonius."
<Erik> "Thank you, sir."
<storyteller> "He's there now I assume. You better go because he is planning a trip soon."
<Erik> "Well, let's go."
* Remy nods
* Bri nods "Let's go."
<Remy> "To de pardoners district."
<Simon> "Wait, me and Nachabe are going to stay here and find out more about this Markova."
* Gerard looks around, then walks out of the building. "I need some air."
<storyteller> As you leave the Hall of Records you see many wraiths on the streets of Stygia <storyteller> They are hustling and bustling to their jobs, markets and unlife continues
<storyteller> You enter the streets and head towards the red lantern street
<storyteller> Passing the semi-empty park, you can see the dim red lights a ways away
* Remy looks at Gerard
* Remy takes out a small pair of scales, and holds them up to gerard
<storyteller> You finally reach the street, all along the doors are red lanterns
<Gerard> "Weighing my chances?"
<storyteller> As you walk by each door you come to one with out a lantern
<storyteller> There is a name on the door Antonius
* Erik knocks on the door
<storyteller> "Who is it?" you hear a voice from inside say
<Erik> "Erik, of the 82nd Cohort."
<Remy> "We were sent by de librarian at de great hall."
<storyteller> "Ah I see, come."
<storyteller> "Brianna of the 82nd."
* Remy steps in
* Erik enters the building
<storyteller> The building is a small hut and as you enter it appears to be even smaller
<Remy> "Cozy."
<storyteller> There is a small table in the center of the room and a small bed in the corner
<storyteller> a man sits at the table
<storyteller> "You are here for a reason?"
<Erik> "Greetings, Antonius."
<Erik> "We seek knowledge on the Malfean Markova."
* Remy nods
<storyteller> "Ah Markova. Nasty one that. Tell me why do you seek Markova?"
<storyteller> he says as he closes the door.
<Remy> "Rumour is dat he is resurfacing in NYC."
<Remy> "We were assinged to handle de case, and need to find out more."
<storyteller> "What has occured to make you believe this?"
<Erik> "A giant nihil opened up in a legion hall."
<Remy> "A dying wraith which uttered 'Markova'."
<storyteller> "Sit we will talk." he says as he motions you to sit.
<storyteller> He leans in closer
* Erik sits
<storyteller> "For the longest time there were rumors, but I wasn't sure they were true."
* Remy sits down
<storyteller> "There were whispers that Markova was being worshipped by not only specteres but by wraiths as well."
<Erik> "Ye gods..."
<storyteller> "The Hierarchy sent some into infiltrate the cult and find out as much as they could, but they would never return."
* Remy narrows his eyes
<storyteller> "What happened to them I don't know, maybe they were found out, maybe they were converted."
<Remy> "What sort of activities did des cult worshopers do? Increased violence?"
<Erik> "If the Hierarchy already knew about Markova...then we could have been sent to our deaths by our superiors..."
<storyteller> "They really didn't have a discerneable pattern."
<storyteller> "Wraiths would just go missing. I don't mean alot of numbers either. The missing was explainable."
<storyteller> "You know shadows, specteres, awol, small numbers."
<Remy> "Heh. I always hated politics. That's what interested me so much about it."
<storyteller> "I just have one question, how far are you willing to go?"
<Remy> "To do what? Bring markova down?"
<Erik> "I believe we'll pursue this to its bitter end."
<Erik> "Whether we wish to or not."
<storyteller> "Good, then I shall tell you more."
<Remy> "We came to stygia from New York..."
<storyteller> Brianna shudders at the thought of the bitter end
<storyteller> "You will have to go farther than that."
* Remy puts a steadying hand on bri's shoulder
<Erik> "Wherever my path takes me, I go, however reluctantly."
<storyteller> "The cult may have political memembers,"
<storyteller> "Their membership includes heretics, renegades and even Hierarchy."
<storyteller> "Anyone you know maybe a member."
<storyteller> "Anyone."
<Erik> "Why am I not that surprised..."
<storyteller> "There are a few wraiths you can trust."
<Erik> "Of course."
<Remy> "Then how do we know you aren't?"
<Erik> "There always is."
<storyteller> He leans closer, "Because I know I'm not. And I know you aren't either."
<Erik> "Sometimes, Remy, you gotta trust people whether you want to or not."
<storyteller> "The cult is all over."
<storyteller> "That's all I can tell you."
<storyteller> "I have probably told you too much."
<Erik> "You think they're listening to us?"
<Remy> "Well, thank you for your time. But how can we find out about them?"
<storyteller> "You will have to learn slowly."
* Brianna whirls around
<Brianna> "Billy?"
<Brianna> "Did anyone see where he went??"
* Brianna looks around, trying to spot the small boy
<storyteller> "You had no boy when you entered."
<Brianna> "Yes, yes I did. He was just here.."
<storyteller> "No, you did not."
* Remy looks at Bri
<Remy> "You sure?"
* Brianna frowns
<Brianna> "I thought he was just here..."
<storyteller> "No, I did not see a boy."
* Brianna frowns again
* Brianna closes her eyes, concentrating
* Remy curses in french
<Remy> "Where could have that boy gone to!"
<Brianna> "Shit!"
<Brianna> "Billy's been kidnapped, they're on the docks!"
* Remy blinks
* Brianna dashes out the door and is running before she can finish telling you what she saw
<Remy> "Really?"
* Remy runs out after bri
* Erik follows Bri as fast as he can
<Remy> "We'll be back. Mabye!"
<storyteller> you pass Nachabe, Simon, and Gerard as they are heading out of the library
<storyteller> they run after you as well.
* Remy runs as fast as he can, hoping that he isn't in some way responsible for billy's kidnapping
* Brianna continues running towards the docks, eyes straining to see ahead of her
* Brianna suddenly stops, tears of frustration running down her cheeks
<storyteller> "What the hell are we running for," asks Simon.
<Remy> "Billy."
<Brianna> "He's gone," she says. "I saw the ship. It's missing it's headpiece. The name of the
ship is the Gradiun. Does anyone recognize the name?"
<Erik> "Billy's been kidnapped."
<storyteller> "Ummm nope." says Gerard
* Remy shakes his head
<Brianna> "They took him on the ship," she clarifies
* Remy fears it may be Markova's ship, or the dockmaster who I attacked
<Remy> "Lets ask down at the docks!"
<Erik> "Well, we need to hire out the services of a ship and crew anyways, if we're to catch him." <Remy> "Fuck!"
<Remy> "We'd better hurry!"
* Remy keeps running down to the docks
* Erik takes off towards the docks
<Brianna> "I should never have let him out of my sight!"
<storyteller> The docks are pretty quiet now and your running attracts the attention to the dockmaster. <Remy> "It isn't your fault, bri. I'm supposed to be watching out for you guys."
* Brianna wipes her eyes and runs towards the docks, though she knows they're too late to stop
anything
<storyteller> "Hey woah! What are you in such a hurry for?"
<Erik> "We need a ship fast enough to catch the Gradiun."
<storyteller> "Ok, let me see your papers." he asks dubiosly
* Remy puts on his mask
<Erik> "We don't have time for such idiocy."
<Remy> "This good enough for you? Or do I need to mention General Pattons name?"
<storyteller> "Right, well there are two ships leaving now."
<Erik> "Get out of our way!"
<Erik> "Where are they?"
<storyteller> "The Odessa is over there, and the Yorker is right here."
<Remy> "Will either follow the Gradiun?"
<Erik> "Which is the fastest?"
* Brianna stands anxiously, clenching her fists
<storyteller> "The Yorker is."
* Erik runs to the Yorker
<storyteller> The captain of the Yorker watches you. He is very tall and very handsome.
* Remy does too
<Erik> "We need the services of your ship and crew."
<Remy> "We need you to follow a ship. I can pay you"
<Erik> "Immediately."
<Brianna> "They went east," Brianna offers
<storyteller> "Let me see the colour of your coin."
<Erik> "Discuss price while we're moving, you two!"
<storyteller> "Ok get up here."
* Remy climbs up
* Erik rests his hand on his gladius
* Erik jumps onto the ship, then helps Bri up
* Nachabe climbs aboard
* Simon walks up the gangplank
* Gerard mumbles about not being in the library as he heads into the ship.
<storyteller> "Bring up anchor! Tie the sail! Let's move let's move!" he yells to the crew
* Brianna takes Erik's hand and gets onto the ship
<Remy> "How much do you want?"
<storyteller> "Follow that ship," he says as he points east.
<Erik> "Follow the Gradiun."
<storyteller> "Well now let me consider the facts. Why are we following that ship?"
<Remy> "A young boy was kidnapped."
<Erik> "There are kidnappers on board."
<Erik> "They kidnapped a member of our Cohort."
<storyteller> "Slavers..." he says. "They give us sailors a bad name," he says as he takes
Bri's hand and kisses it.
<Brianna> "Hurry..." Brianna says helplessly, eyes staring intently towards the east
<storyteller> The ship lurches out of the harbor and imediately you feel it speed up
<Erik> "I'm sure the captain is running the ship as fast as he can, Bri..."
* Brianna looks at the captain, eyes filled with worry. "Thank you for your help," she says
<storyteller> "This is the fastest ship in the Tempest. We'll get her."

to be continued