[Lords of the Edge] Sasserlin
Sept 14, 2024 7:01:35 GMT
Andy D, Marto Copperkettle, and 2 more like this
Post by andycd on Sept 14, 2024 7:01:35 GMT
The clouds rolled below, a glittering beautiful sea beyond them. Legs dangling off the edge of the city, an old dwarf sat and watched the world beneath with the wide grin and enthusiasm of a child. Gnarled and scarred hands gripped the metal railings tightly. This was one of Sasserlin’s favourite spots in Gadenthor, if not the favourite now that they were too frail to handle riding the city’s Nadir. The surface of Toril was a constant wonder to behold, and one too many of the city’s residents had long forgotten.
Sasserlin had been down, of course, visiting all manner of other kingdoms and terrain. They were however, a sky dwarf at heart, born in the air and that claimed them. Toril was fine to visit, but much more enjoyable to watch from afar. At a distance, it’s easier to pretend it’s less broken, less filled with sadness and tragedy
“Edgelord,” a polite, quiet voice sounded in their mind. “A new haul has come in and your assistance in appraising is requested. Edgelord Nicholas hopes to receive them tonight for shipping.
The old wizard sighed, standing up creakily. Their fur-lined black cape immediately wrapped around their shoulders unbidden. Sasserlin signalled their acknowledgement and took one last look at the shining waves below, before pushing away and back into the city streets.
Flecks of blue glittered amongst the black metal of their cane as they strode amiably down the street, their gentle smile out of place in the city of sharp looks, suspicious glances and always a touch of avarice. Sasserlin greeted each pair of narrowed eyes with a beam that turned faces away in disinterest and disgust in equal measure. As one of the leading criminals in the city, they were just fine with that
Making sure they weren’t being too closely observed, Sasserlin twisted a small loop of silver at the top of their cane and stepped into a small alleyway, their cane suddenly rapping soundlessly as it hit the cobblestones. Still smiling to themself, Edgelord Sasserlin walked swiftly through a wall between two barrels and silently entered their domain.
After the customary security check (a short but intricate tap dance routine) and the password (‘I have candyfloss in my hat’), the guards were assured of Sasserlin’s identity. Striding forward the dwarven mage, now standing straighter and with a more focused expression, tapped their cane on a door frame, setting it aglow before stepping through and vanishing. Re-emerging elsewhere in the Edge, Sasserlin strode down the new corridor, tapped another door frame, and was suddenly elsewhere again. After a few minutes of portalling, the Edgelord had crossed the length of the city twice - even stopping to take a few Sending spells - finally emerging in the complex that housed their offices.
“Right, Tessa, what do we have?” Sasserlin asked, clapping their hands together as they stepped into the workshop and eyeing the new stack of crates in the corner.
“It looks like quite a large haul from Acquisitions today, Edgelord.” Even in person, the tiefling’s voice was always soft, always polite. She picked up a clipboard and waved a quill over it to reveal the true writing hidden beneath a seemingly benign catalogue of textiles. “I didn’t want to delve too deeply without your presence, however - yes, it appears that Three Fist herself was involved in this operation. They got into the Boneyard, you see.”
Sasserlin whistled. “So they managed it then? This should be quite the haul indeed! All right…,” they looked over the boxes for a moment, eyes flashing from their normal grey to vibrant and prismatic. “Fetch me the grimoires of Nalantha and Borizthun,” they called back over their shoulder. “We’ll also want Haldur’s Encyclopedia Ossuanica, a number 3 hand-in-glove and about… thirty pounds of salt, all right?”
“Yes, Edgelord,” Tessa replied promptly and set off directing people towards the library and storerooms.
Meanwhile, Sasserlin gestured at a box, and it agreeably glided onto a nearby table and disassembled itself at the dwarf’s direction, wooden sides unfolding and tidying themselves away. Sasserlin began sifting through the sawdust inside to gently remove the contents.
The Boneyard was the foremost institution for crafting magical implements out of, you’d never guess, bones, and their work was truly something to behold. Sasserlin chuckled as they laid out wand next to necklace next to harp.
“Those poor sods didn’t think to lock their doors properly, it seems. And now this is the result - years of research and dedicated manipulation of the thing we’re all made of for their own creepy purposes, laid out on old Sasserlin’s table to be sold at market for a canny copper to whoever can pay. Doesn’t seem fair, Tessa, does it?”
“No, Edgelord,” Tessa replied dryly, with the tone of someone who has been asked this question many times before, and given the same answer. “It doesn’t seem fair at all.”
“Good. Fuck ‘em,” the old mage replied with glee. As the tomes and materials piled up next to them they got to work. Anyone could Identify a magical item, it was a simple spell every wizard learned. Sasserlin was a specialist however, and a decent haggler, and could give you the entire history of an object with little study, along with what it should fetch for coin. Curses never snuck past them either. Those went in their own box - still for sale, obviously, but with the details spelled out for Nicholas to either give or hide from the prospective buyer as was more appropriate. Or funny.
They kept up a fairly regular commentary as they worked.
“Identifies bones, but only of fish? Rubbish, but novelty sells.”
“What the — ? This — piece of — rod censors people? That’s not what a Censer of Purity is supposed to — do! Oooh someone at least had a sense of — humour it seems.”
“Beshaba’s breath, that’s a nasty one, put that in the lead box, Tessa.”
Eventually, Sasserlin stood up, stretching and cracking the bones in their back. “Well that’s that done. Some interesting pieces for sure. Now what - oh hold on.” The dwarf cocked their head to the side, listening. Tessa raised an eyebrow and Sasserlin just waved a hand. It’s Pae, they mouthed, referring to the Head of Security for the Lords of the Edge and their network.
Sasserlin turned and walked a little distance away, listening to the Sending intently, and then whistled in surprise, replying aloud. “Traitors, Pae? That seems a little ridiculous. To what end? And – “ They stopped. The crackling hum just behind their head suggested very clearly that stopping would be the wise course of action.
The old mage turned to face Tessa, levelling a long, bony finger at the dwarf’s head. It was the same bony finger - a powerful wand - Sasserlin had bade her put in the lead box. “Ah Tess,” they said sadly, looking up at their long-serving assistant. “The Oblivion Digit is a fine way to go, but is this really what you want?”
“I’m sorry, Sasserlin. But you just couldn’t retire quick enough for our ambitions,” she replied smoothly - more confidently too, Sasserlin noticed, her voice less soft. “The Lords of the Edge are a laughing stock of crime, and it’s time for new management.”
“Well, if that–,” Sasserlin didn’t get to finish their sentence, as a green beam pierced straight through them. They vanished in a flash of light as did a chunk of the wall behind them.
“----!” Tessa exclaimed, immediately recognising the difference between disintegration and an illusion vanishing. Then she hesitated, looking down at the bone wand in her hand. “What the —?”
“Oh, Tess,” came the voice from behind her. There was Sasserlin, hale and holding a bone wand of their own. Their expression was still pained. “Pae called me an hour ago.”
The Oblivion Digit, a bone wand specifically designed to augment particular spells, annihilated Sasserlin’s treacherous assistant in a gleam of necromantic energy. As they watched as the remains of her corpse stumbled to its feet, an undead ready for orders, Sasserlin dabbed at the corners of their eyes with a handkerchief, drying a few tears, before waving a hand to commence a Sending.
“Well Pae, you were right. Called us a laughing stock! Even worse, I owe Nicholas thanks for letting me pick some tricks from his spellbook.”
Putting both bone wands back in their respective containers, Sasserlin grabbed their cane as their cape wrapped around their shoulders once again. Tessa wasn’t the end of it. It was time to clean house
Sasserlin had been down, of course, visiting all manner of other kingdoms and terrain. They were however, a sky dwarf at heart, born in the air and that claimed them. Toril was fine to visit, but much more enjoyable to watch from afar. At a distance, it’s easier to pretend it’s less broken, less filled with sadness and tragedy
“Edgelord,” a polite, quiet voice sounded in their mind. “A new haul has come in and your assistance in appraising is requested. Edgelord Nicholas hopes to receive them tonight for shipping.
The old wizard sighed, standing up creakily. Their fur-lined black cape immediately wrapped around their shoulders unbidden. Sasserlin signalled their acknowledgement and took one last look at the shining waves below, before pushing away and back into the city streets.
Flecks of blue glittered amongst the black metal of their cane as they strode amiably down the street, their gentle smile out of place in the city of sharp looks, suspicious glances and always a touch of avarice. Sasserlin greeted each pair of narrowed eyes with a beam that turned faces away in disinterest and disgust in equal measure. As one of the leading criminals in the city, they were just fine with that
Making sure they weren’t being too closely observed, Sasserlin twisted a small loop of silver at the top of their cane and stepped into a small alleyway, their cane suddenly rapping soundlessly as it hit the cobblestones. Still smiling to themself, Edgelord Sasserlin walked swiftly through a wall between two barrels and silently entered their domain.
After the customary security check (a short but intricate tap dance routine) and the password (‘I have candyfloss in my hat’), the guards were assured of Sasserlin’s identity. Striding forward the dwarven mage, now standing straighter and with a more focused expression, tapped their cane on a door frame, setting it aglow before stepping through and vanishing. Re-emerging elsewhere in the Edge, Sasserlin strode down the new corridor, tapped another door frame, and was suddenly elsewhere again. After a few minutes of portalling, the Edgelord had crossed the length of the city twice - even stopping to take a few Sending spells - finally emerging in the complex that housed their offices.
“Right, Tessa, what do we have?” Sasserlin asked, clapping their hands together as they stepped into the workshop and eyeing the new stack of crates in the corner.
“It looks like quite a large haul from Acquisitions today, Edgelord.” Even in person, the tiefling’s voice was always soft, always polite. She picked up a clipboard and waved a quill over it to reveal the true writing hidden beneath a seemingly benign catalogue of textiles. “I didn’t want to delve too deeply without your presence, however - yes, it appears that Three Fist herself was involved in this operation. They got into the Boneyard, you see.”
Sasserlin whistled. “So they managed it then? This should be quite the haul indeed! All right…,” they looked over the boxes for a moment, eyes flashing from their normal grey to vibrant and prismatic. “Fetch me the grimoires of Nalantha and Borizthun,” they called back over their shoulder. “We’ll also want Haldur’s Encyclopedia Ossuanica, a number 3 hand-in-glove and about… thirty pounds of salt, all right?”
“Yes, Edgelord,” Tessa replied promptly and set off directing people towards the library and storerooms.
Meanwhile, Sasserlin gestured at a box, and it agreeably glided onto a nearby table and disassembled itself at the dwarf’s direction, wooden sides unfolding and tidying themselves away. Sasserlin began sifting through the sawdust inside to gently remove the contents.
The Boneyard was the foremost institution for crafting magical implements out of, you’d never guess, bones, and their work was truly something to behold. Sasserlin chuckled as they laid out wand next to necklace next to harp.
“Those poor sods didn’t think to lock their doors properly, it seems. And now this is the result - years of research and dedicated manipulation of the thing we’re all made of for their own creepy purposes, laid out on old Sasserlin’s table to be sold at market for a canny copper to whoever can pay. Doesn’t seem fair, Tessa, does it?”
“No, Edgelord,” Tessa replied dryly, with the tone of someone who has been asked this question many times before, and given the same answer. “It doesn’t seem fair at all.”
“Good. Fuck ‘em,” the old mage replied with glee. As the tomes and materials piled up next to them they got to work. Anyone could Identify a magical item, it was a simple spell every wizard learned. Sasserlin was a specialist however, and a decent haggler, and could give you the entire history of an object with little study, along with what it should fetch for coin. Curses never snuck past them either. Those went in their own box - still for sale, obviously, but with the details spelled out for Nicholas to either give or hide from the prospective buyer as was more appropriate. Or funny.
They kept up a fairly regular commentary as they worked.
“Identifies bones, but only of fish? Rubbish, but novelty sells.”
“What the — ? This — piece of — rod censors people? That’s not what a Censer of Purity is supposed to — do! Oooh someone at least had a sense of — humour it seems.”
“Beshaba’s breath, that’s a nasty one, put that in the lead box, Tessa.”
Eventually, Sasserlin stood up, stretching and cracking the bones in their back. “Well that’s that done. Some interesting pieces for sure. Now what - oh hold on.” The dwarf cocked their head to the side, listening. Tessa raised an eyebrow and Sasserlin just waved a hand. It’s Pae, they mouthed, referring to the Head of Security for the Lords of the Edge and their network.
Sasserlin turned and walked a little distance away, listening to the Sending intently, and then whistled in surprise, replying aloud. “Traitors, Pae? That seems a little ridiculous. To what end? And – “ They stopped. The crackling hum just behind their head suggested very clearly that stopping would be the wise course of action.
The old mage turned to face Tessa, levelling a long, bony finger at the dwarf’s head. It was the same bony finger - a powerful wand - Sasserlin had bade her put in the lead box. “Ah Tess,” they said sadly, looking up at their long-serving assistant. “The Oblivion Digit is a fine way to go, but is this really what you want?”
“I’m sorry, Sasserlin. But you just couldn’t retire quick enough for our ambitions,” she replied smoothly - more confidently too, Sasserlin noticed, her voice less soft. “The Lords of the Edge are a laughing stock of crime, and it’s time for new management.”
“Well, if that–,” Sasserlin didn’t get to finish their sentence, as a green beam pierced straight through them. They vanished in a flash of light as did a chunk of the wall behind them.
“----!” Tessa exclaimed, immediately recognising the difference between disintegration and an illusion vanishing. Then she hesitated, looking down at the bone wand in her hand. “What the —?”
“Oh, Tess,” came the voice from behind her. There was Sasserlin, hale and holding a bone wand of their own. Their expression was still pained. “Pae called me an hour ago.”
The Oblivion Digit, a bone wand specifically designed to augment particular spells, annihilated Sasserlin’s treacherous assistant in a gleam of necromantic energy. As they watched as the remains of her corpse stumbled to its feet, an undead ready for orders, Sasserlin dabbed at the corners of their eyes with a handkerchief, drying a few tears, before waving a hand to commence a Sending.
“Well Pae, you were right. Called us a laughing stock! Even worse, I owe Nicholas thanks for letting me pick some tricks from his spellbook.”
Putting both bone wands back in their respective containers, Sasserlin grabbed their cane as their cape wrapped around their shoulders once again. Tessa wasn’t the end of it. It was time to clean house