This Place Smells. (GM)

[Xapham]

Xapham had finally made it to Territory 1... he would stop and stare at the border wondering if he really needed to bother doing this, I mean, those kids might find something, right? Sigh.

"Balls."

He would say with a shake of his head as he lit a smoke. Then he would proceed to the Market place!

[Lucifer]

The markets of territory 1 were crowded as always. Vendors hawked their wares to anyone who passed by. Slaves and slavers trudged through the street, those to be sold in chains, and those recently bought hanging their heads in despair. The market was alive and vibrant and nearly anything could be found among its stalls, if one knew where to look, and had the stomach to ignore where it may come from.

[Xapham]

Xapham knew better than to just start flashing around the Pearl. Instead he would ask if there were any individuals that sold Pearl's and if/when pointed to someone he would do his best to see if the Pearl's displayed matched the one in his possession.

[Lucifer]

He is directed to quite a few places, all with hawkers claiming their place of choice sells the most exquisite gems in the city. Does he check out the shops in slums near the front gates and shantytowns? Those in the mid-city? Or those near the palace?

[Xapham]

He been suggested a few places. But Xapahm assumed that whoever the assassin might've been, they probably would've gone to Midtown. That's the best place to find someone with enough money to pay you for a job, but also a place one could get better deals without getting knock-offs or ripped off at the lower markets. So, to the Midtown shops he would go!

[Lucifer]

While leaving the slums reduces the overall horror of the city, even here human flesh is being sold in the open. Sex, violence, and labor. The three uses of human bodies. Stalls had dubious meats hanging on display and trinkets and wonders of all types were on display. A few items that caught his eye included a halo in a glass case, an old ivory battle horn, and wool that had a golden sheen to it. All three items belonging to different stores and vendors. There was no shortage of stalls to choose from that sold jewels, and he could even find pearls among several of them.

Two of the jewelry stalls caught his eye. One of them because of the crowd around it, nearly fifty people, all dressed identically were gathered around one clamoring over something. The other one a few streets down had no one present but the lone vendor.

[Xapham]

Xapham would go to the uncrowded stall. Something about the fact it was empty called to him. He would go and investigate!

[Lucifer]

He'd find an old man with his eye sockets filled with lenses rather than eyes. The man brightened seeing Xapham approach, giving him a toothless smile.

"I wasn't expecting you yet. You're early."

[Xapham]

Xapham would look from side to side to make sure that he was the one being spoken to.

"Um, what?"

[Lucifer]

"I didn't stutter. I said you're early. By at least a year by my reckoning. And unlike you so-called angel folk, I'm sure about my reckoning."

[Xapham]

"Ah."

He would say as the mans words clicked.

"I stopped collecting souls for the church some time ago. You have no need to offer it to me this day."

He would assure the man.

"However, I am curious if you could help me with another matter."

He would remove the Pearl from his pocket.

"Do you happen to sell these, or know anyone that does?"

[Lucifer]

The man's lips curled into a wry smile as Xapham assured him that he had stopped collecting souls. But the man would not correct him.

The man held out his hand for the pearl.

[Xapham]

Xapham shares at the mans hand, and then at the man.

"What assurance do I have that you will not just run away with this as soon as I hand it to you?"

[Lucifer]

The man stared at Xapham with his many lenses, flicking up and down as they considered him.

"Faith. Just like you have to have faith I would tell you the truth about what you want to hear. Or did you forget that too?"

[Xapham]

Xapham's fist would close around the Pearl.

"Hmph. Faith is something I lost a long time ago."

He would look around at the mans wares.

"Let me hold onto something of yours as collateral."