Sigil: The City of Doors

Deep enough in the green one can forget for a moment there's still within the city as long as they don't set their sight too far on the horizon, by a tranquil pond where a couple ducks haughtily ignore the ruckus of bigger animals, someone has put on a refined suit of armor:



They're currently performing gymnastic exercises, to the amusement or annoyance of passersby. Not a word is heard on their sight, just echoes of deep breathing.

From time to time, especially as they push around the limits about how flexible the clothes of metal can be, some small static discharges spark at the joints. Usually, this is followed by an opening of a small compartment by the forearm or the thigh, several thin sheets of copper being removed, rearranged, returned. Sometimes, before they're put back, the intricate arcanic symbols covering them are altered with a thick graphite pen, black on gold on orange.

~~~

Location reference: https://rilmani.org/timaresh/Bloodgem_Park
Art source: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/nEJXPX

Gabriel looked pensieve as he glanced at the metallic suit doing gymnastics.

As someone who wore heavy armor in combat in the past, his interest seemed quite professional. "Remarkable." He stated simply, while Rufus,his two headed dog, was eyeing the ducks with suspicion.

"With a lot of room left for improvement. Statements that can coexist at the same time with no contradiction between them," a feminine, almost excessively, voice answered from within the armor, as her owner kept tinkering with it.

"You are, mister?" she then asked, still focused first and foremost on her mechanical adjustments.

Dare Shah wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:20 am

"With a lot of room left for improvement. Statements that can coexist at the same time with no contradiction between them," a feminine, almost excessively, voice answered from within the armor, as her owner kept tinkering with it.

"You are, mister?" she then asked, still focused first and foremost on her mechanical adjustments.

Gabriel "mhmm"-ed in response. "Well, you are not making any cartwheels, Mistress Mithril." He offered as a jest. "Gabriel Morningstar, Knight of the Nine Hells and Justice of the Mercykillers."

Meanwhile Rufus went closer and started sniffing the armor.

"No mithril to be seen there actually. While its thaumadynamic properties are indeed incredible, it offered no additional value for that experience, so I went for a cheaper alternative. Burning money needlessly is coarse.

Ah, there it is."

A last bit of tinkering, and the armor folds into itself from all sides at once, withdrawing within the span of a few instants into the purse of a human woman dressed like a posh horse rider save for the missing helmet.

Even in lack of an actual skirt, she goes for the curtsey:

"Lady Dare Shah. Here's my card:"



"Pleased to meet you Ser Morningstar."

"Greetings Lady Shah." Gabriel smiled at the card with a quirk of his lips. "Ah, from the Customs Office? So very good to meet you!" A fellow employee of the government!

Meanwhile Rufus wsa idly sniffing at the purse with one nose, while the other head was tracking the movements of the hoomanoid.

"Only through the hard work of its many servants can a city of so many souls achieve any semblance of order.

Your dog is tiring itself for nothing by the way, I don't have any illegal substance on me. I would know, I have to check this list on the morning of every job day in case of unannounced updates. The like of which there are many. When you're connected to the multiverse, it's an uphill battle to reference all dangerous items that could circulate in these walls."

Dare Shah wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 21, 2023 11:01 pm

"Only through the hard work of its many servants can a city of so many souls achieve any semblance of order.

Your dog is tiring itself for nothing by the way, I don't have any illegal substance on me. I would know, I have to check this list on the morning of every job day in case of unannounced updates. The like of which there are many. When you're connected to the multiverse, it's an uphill battle to reference all dangerous items that could circulate in these walls."

Gabriel. "Exactly! Order and hierarchy are an ardous but required feature of any civilization!" His answer was quite enthusiastixlc. "Oh, don't be bothered by Rufus, he is eternally curious." He ran his hand through the fur of his dog. "I am quite sure the list is an ever expanding one, with a new one added every day. I must confess, just reading through the sins of the convicted can make my eyes water."

"I feel like you're baiting me for a hellish joke Ser. I fear I am too used to interacting with demons to rise to it however.

Even though I must admit the devils I have to dance with usually aren't that literal."

"You know what they say ny lady, better the devil you know." He gave an exaggarated wink at that. "And I do respect your office. The devil is in the details, as you know."

Rufus, in a display of supreme intelligence, whined at that phrase.

"May I ask what was the purpose of such exercise?"