Monday, Dec 2, 2069 - 4 PM
Brother Cadena skulks through the back alleys of Old London. Even if it weren't night, a thick fog covers the streets so he can only make out the muddy ground yards away from him, and the electrical streetlamps that he's seen look like will o' the wisps hanging in midair from a distance. Up close, this one is a standard lamp post, iron painted black to protect it from the elements, but the lamp itself is a large foot-diameter sphere of glass and bright sparks arc from the electrodes in the center to the outside.
At this time of the night, he sees no one else on the streets, but then he has been trying to avoid the wide-open main streets, with all sorts of unknown dangers. The mysterious factions that he has been warned against? Monsters and denizens of this world? An animate help interface like Renard, gone berserk and seeking to kill him for reasons of which he's not entirely sure?
Wait, there's a voice up ahead. He sees only one shadowy form, but whomever it is appears to be talking to someone else. "... like he doesn't want to be found. It's weird!"
It occurs to Brother Cadena that there's something stunted about his perception of the world, though he can't quite put his finger on it. The smells? The sounds? Something seems a bit off, as if things were a bit dimmer than he was accustomed to. However, he seems to have other sensations to concern himself with - for instance, the staff, which seems to be leading him, though he's not entirely just how. Toward that end, he tests the staff again. Not quite certain how this is supposed to work, he brings it close, and whispers, "I seek Treasa Truclaw," not quite certain if it can "hear" him or if it even needs to. Then, he carefully tests to see if it seems to be tugging or otherwise leading him in any way before he even thinks about entertaining his curiosity regards the shadowy form.
Away from Renard's manor, the staff's tuggings have grown much fainter and harder to read. Now that he has prompted it again, it seems to be reinvigorated with whatever mystic ability grants it the ability to locate something on his behalf. Presently it would seem to take him past this shadowy form... Not directly toward, as far as he can tell, but he would need to get past him, her, or it.
The voice continues, "Yeah, maybe they're just havin' us on. Wild goose chase."
Whether these folks are just on some random quest of their own, or minions of the homicidal fox, Cadena has no idea, but he reasons that if they're friendly, they'll forgive him for not coming right up and paying his respects.
"Yeah... Yeah. I guess I'll just look around a bit more," agrees the shadowy figure. As Cadena's eyes study the figure, it seems as if he's talking to something held in his hand.
Brother Cadena surveys the walls of the buildings, and then examines his hands - sans razor-sharp claws - and gauges the chances of taking a vertical route as "less than optimal." Pressing himself against the walls and trying to slide past unnoticed seems likewise chancy. He retreats further into the shadows, hoping that the city has something approximating a grid layout, with some sort of crossway he could use to find a parallel route. Tentatively, he whispers to the staff, "If you have any tricks regarding showing me a path that does not lead me past potentially hostile entities, or perhaps even a way of notifying Treasa Truclaw - and Treasa Truclaw alone - of my whereabouts, I would be most grateful."
The staff continues to point that way, past the shadowy figure.
Brother Cadena lets out a breath, seeing that, whatever cleverness the staff holds, it isn't about to give him an alternate route.
Making a slight change in plans, Brother Cadena tries to make his way along the street in the general direction hinted at by the staff, uncertain just how long this mystical "pointing" enchantment is likely to last, considering that it wasn't so long at all since he was dashing away from the fox. A jog down a side street might lead him just about anywhere, and he has yet to learn whether this place even follows a rational layout at all. At the risk of being made all the more conspicuous by trying to be inconspicuous, he opts to try to evade the notice of the still-shadowy stranger.
The figure puts whatever it is away, then takes out a different object. About a foot long, it looks unnervingly like a weapon of some kind. Fortunately for Cadena, he is looking in completely the wrong direction to spot him.
Cautiously, Cadena continues along, mindful of any sudden redirections from the staff. After all, his objective might be moving, and based upon his experience with the doorway in the fox's mansion and that cryptic hint, he can't even be sure that this realm is a truly contiguous space.
The figure waves a hand over the tool he's brandishing, held by one end as if it were a knife. He turns around, now facing where Cadena was standing moments ago.
The figure calls out, "Hello? Is someone out there?"
Brother Cadena, figuring that answering would negate any advantage whatsoever he might have in the avoidance of trouble on the way, opts not to reply.
The staff continues to guide Cadena down the street. The figure soon fades into the shadows. Ahead, a tall building comes into view, two towers side by side creating dark silhouettes against the sky.
Brother Cadena continues wordlessly along, genuinely curious about his surroundings, but also mindful that if he goes gawking and looking up, slack-jawed at the architecture, it would negate any ability of the cowl to hide his inhuman face from random passersby. He still doesn't know whether or not that could cause a scene (but best to be careful, until he learns the "rules," just the same).
As he gets closer, it becomes apparent that the staff is leading him toward the gates of a cathedral, judging from the chiseled lines of the building's sides. Streetlamps create a zone of light around the fancily carved doors, upon which twin lion-heads clench rings in their mouths. Knockers, presumably.
A momentary feeling of relief at seeing a place associated with sanctuary is immediately replaced by dread. I don't know the rules here. I'm not even sure who I am. All I know is my mission, and barely that. Brother Cadena checks his cowl again, and obediently continues along where he is led, clutching tightly to the only compass he has for an unfamiliar world ... but also varying his step, listening to hear if there might be an "echo" of a footstep that's slightly out of sync, hinting at someone following him and trying to match his pace to avoid detection.
Out of sight, in the fog, but not out of hearing, regular footsteps seem to be coming in Cadena's direction. If he were to attempt the front door, it might be best to do so quickly before whomever it is can see him in the light.
Brother Cadena has no particular desire to stay open and exposed any longer than is strictly necessary anyway. He hastens to the front door.
The tugging of the staff is strong here and definitely indicates whatever route he needs to follow should lie within the cathedral... But unfortunately for Brother Cadena, the doors are barred.
Brother Cadena raps on the door with the staff's tip, and listens to hear whether those footsteps change pace in response, or whether there's any activity within....
Someone stirs inside, and a few seconds later a slot in the door opens. A soft voice speaks. "What brings you to our abbey so late at night, friend?"
"I beg your pardon," Cadena says, trying to gather his thoughts into some semblance of order, "but I seek sanctuary, off of the streets for the night, if only for a few minutes to gather my breath and my bearings. I was looking for a friend, whom I believe should be in this part of the city, but I was interrupted by a ruffian who threatened me with a bared blade. It does not seem to be safe out at this hour. I apologize for assuming upon the church's hospitality."
"Of course, of course, the Church lives to serve," the kindly voice says. Cadena hears loud thumps and then a door swings open.
Cadena bows his head low and humbly. "I am most grateful." He heads in, careful not to bang the staff on anything on the way.
"I am Brother Thompson," the monk says as he holds the door open, then closes it after Cadena.. Noting his robe and staff, he adds, "Do you serve the Lord as well?"
The high vaulted space of the cathedral is dark, and the moonlight casts faint colored shadows through the stained glass windows. Brother Thompson appears to have been making his rounds to judge from the lamp being held in one hand.
"To the best of my ability," Brother Cadena says, adding sadly, "though I have been lacking direction as of late." He takes a deep breath, and adds, "By any chance, is there a young lady within your parish by the name of Treasa, who might live in the area? I have been sent to find her, but to be honest, I have been given scant direction other than that and a very general location."
"That name doesn't ring a bell," Brother Thompson says with a chuckle, looking skyward to where the bells would be hanging in their towers. "But I shall pray that you find her soon." He escorts Cadena deeper into the abbey, to a side room where he can sit and rest.
The staff continues to tug in Cadena's hands toward the back of the abbey. "May I bring you some refreshments?" asks Brother Thompson. "Something to drink, perhaps?"
Brother Cadena is mindful of the tug, following it as best he can. "That is quite all right, but not necessary," he says. "I need only a moment to gather my thoughts ... though perhaps you can tell me what street I am on, and the name of this cathedral? It might help me to get back on course."
"Are you so far astray then? This is St. George's, in Bloomsbury," Brother Thompson says sympathetically. He nods to the bench. "If you'll wait here, I'll put on a spot of tea."
Brother Cadena looks around, nodding at the name. "I am fairly certain I have not visited here before, at the least - and a spot of tea would be good about now." He tries to sort out his bearings, and how far off the mark he really is at this point.
This room looks like a typical visitor's waiting room. Wooden benches with ironwork ends line the walls, and the table in the center is hard, polished wood. Brother Thompson lights a candle and inserts it into a holder near the entrance. "I'll be back in a few moments, then," he says to Cadena, before he departs.
The staff's tugging seems perceptibly lesser to Cadena, though it still indicates that whatever he wants is in the back rooms. Likely a supply room... Though how would one of those get him closer to Treasa?
Brother Cadena bows, and waits a suitable time, watching for the departure of the light and footsteps down the hall. Only then does he reach for the candle's holder, to follow the staff's tugging toward the supply room or whatever he might find. If it leads to a simple dead end, with no clue of progress, then he shall have to hasten back and mull over things with a spot of tea and follow that childhood rule of "if you get lost, stay in one place" for a change. And if it leads somewhere else ... well, he'll just have to find a way to make up the trouble to Brother Thomas later on as the opportunity presents itself.
With candle in one hand and staff in the other, Cadena finds himself led shortly in a dusty storeroom. There are spare candles, jugs containing unknown liquids, robes and vestments, and other tools of the priestly trade. What there is not, however, is a door in the wall to which the staff has led him. Yet that is where it points, most definitely.
Brother Cadena finds a candle holder amongst the supplies and places the candle in it before setting it down, cautious to keep it well away from unidentified liquids, robes, and unknown combustibles, so that he might more carefully examine the wall. A secret passage, perhaps? He is also mindful of the strange fox's trick with the rapier. He taps at the wall to see if it might simply be hollow, then tries tracing an imaginary door frame along the wall with the tip of the staff, in hopes of replicating the fox's feat.
The fur prickles on the back of Cadena's neck. There's definitely potential here. And then as he sets the staff's tip to the wall... It sticks as if magnetized, and a glowing line follows where he draws!
"Lord, please guide me to Treasa Truclaw," Brother Cadena prays, as he continues the path, "and bless Brother Thomas for his hospitality."
The doorway takes form, and the light dies down from blinding to a simple glow. Now if it works, all Cadena has to do is to push it open... And step through.
... which is exactly what he attempts to do.
The door opens onto... A dusty old apartment, but a modern one. Where it's night in London, it's day here to judge from the light pouring in through the windows, and just outside there's a giant Faberge egg-like airship tied up to a pirate airship, distinctively black with a white skull and crossbones blazoned on its side.
Zoom! A gray aircraft of some kind zips through the air, unloading machine gun fire at the pirates.
Brother Cadena gives the garish pirate airship a "You've got to be kidding me!" look, and then snaps to the business of resolving his surroundings and whether or not there could be any alarmed occupants scrambling to point weapons in his direction.
Tiny scooters dart back from the airliner, as pirates retreat with their stolen valuables, firing blue rays of light from their bulbous guns. They start casting loose lines, making good their retreat.
Behind Cadena, the blue-glowing door still opens onto the dusty storeroom. Around him is the detritus of an apartment that hasn't been used in years... Wait. Are those pawprints in the dust? And footprints?
The staff continues to tug in Cadena's hand, this time toward the front door.
Taking his chances, Cadena closes the door behind him; it wouldn't do to let poor Brother Thomas wander into a dangerous place such as this, after all. He takes a passing glance at the pawprints and footprints, for whatever faint clue they might give on this world's inhabitants, but his primary concern is to stay on track, so he makes way for the front door as directed.
Once closed, the door's outlines fade away and in a few seconds it's as if it was never there; in its place is an ordinary closet door.
Brother Cadena fleetingly thinks back to a little girl's fear that there might be monsters hiding in the closet, but casts it aside, as he attends to the quest at hand.
The tracks seem, oddly enough to Cadena, to lead in the same direction as the staff's tugging. They go through the back halls of the abandoned apartments to an odd sort of patio: there are couches, a large sign reading 'Blackwoods Arms', and one side is a glassy window looking out onto New Metropolis... But there are two tubes running up along the side of the building, and over them a plaque '37-A'.
The trail leads toward one of them, the one that would be going up. There are ladder rungs along the side of the tunnel, and catch rings spaced every twenty feet should someone happen to fall off and need to grab at the side to catch themselves. It seems improbable that people normally climb up and down these things, however.
A feeling of dread fills Cadena, at the thought that if he can simply bid his staff to find the way to Treasa Truclaw, some untold number of others who know their way around better could have gotten there long before him. Not, that is, that he's entirely certain who they might be, or how they might even know to be looking for her in the first place. Whatever the case, he decides that it's best not to question the staff this far along, and so he moves it to his sling again and takes to the rungs.
Cadena climbs steadily, rung after rung. When he gets to the top, he finds an airship station, a platform extending out from the top of this building like a bridge to nowhere, its flags blowing wildly in the wind. A ticket seller robot gazes emotionlessly at him from behind the bulletproof glass of an aerodynamic booth, its lines Art Deco curves, and holographic displays show schedules and route information.
There - a blue glow behind the ticket booth!