To Rule In Shadow

Adrian wandered the tables and stalls, dodging around some of the larger occupants of the room, all the while looking for something, anything of interest. Yet, it all paled in comparison to even the most worthless items that could be found in the Hall's vaults. He hadn't fully explored the shadow filled chambers which held the acc.u.mulated wealth of generations of rulers, but what little he had seen had given him something of a preconceived notion about the nature of items in the Underworld. One that was now being overturned.

[Perhaps the items of true value are being stored elsewhere. Keeping them out on display like this wouldn't make sense. If I'm interested in finding something useful, it should just be a matter of tracking down the right person with the right information.] He tried to convince himself, although he was beginning to fear that the so-called Bazaar really was as poor as it looked.

While he was examining a old bronze statue in the vague shape of a horse, someone bumped into him, nearly knocking him over. He caught himself on the edge of the table, and looked back at his attacker.

"Oh my. I'm deeply sorry about that. I wasn't looking where I was going."

The speaker was an older man with a disheveled appearance. He wore several layers of dirty clothing over a mildly corpulent body, and his grey hair and beard were tangled and greasy. Had Adrian seen him outside on the streets, he'd assume the man was a homeless person. However, he suspected that there was more to this man than meets the eye.

"That's quite alright." He answered with his best smile. "It happens."

The man nodded, and was about to turn and go, when Adrian had a thought. "Excuse me. Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"...Alright." He replied reluctantly.

"I'm actually looking for something a bit rarer than the merchandise they have around here. Would you perhaps know where I might find someone dealing in more unusual goods?"

The man's body posture stiffened, and a gleam could be seen in the one eye that was visible behind his curtain of hair. "I'm not sure what you are talking about, young man. Everything for sale is available in this room."

Adrian leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "I think we both know that most of the stuff here is junk. Surely the great Bazaar of the Esoteric Order must have something better. The kind of things that are worth paying for."

Although the man's nostrils flared at the word 'junk,' he nevertheless calmed down when payment entered into the equation. "Ahh, I didn't know you were looking for some of those vendors. Yeah, I think I can point you in the right direction. Follow me."

The homeless man led him through a series of twists and turns, eventually bringing him to a utility door marked 'JANITOR' in silver letters. Making a show of scanning the crowd for any observers, he quickly opened it and slipped inside. Feeling slightly amused, Adrian followed.

The closet, he found, lacked all of the usual features one would associate with janitors, and instead had a spiral staircase, seemingly carved out of the concrete floor, descending to some dark chamber below. While he was no expert, Adrian did take note of the fact that there were no apparent tool markings on the stairs, indicating that this was either an intentional modification when the building was constructed, or that it was made by some unusual means. He could hear the echoed and distorted voices of several excited men, interspersed with the sort of noise one would expect from a market or auction house, rising from the pit.

"This is where some of the Order's less well known business takes place. Nothing really dangerous, mind you, but they have to maintain appearances, you know?" Adrian's guide was commenting idly as he started descending the stairs. "However, if you are looking for something out of the ordinary, this is the place to go."

They soon entered a large room that resembled the previous chamber, save that large sections of it were given over to special purposes. Although he'd only been in a casino once, while accompanying his family on business, Adrian immediately recognized this as a place where vices were encouraged and profited from. Indeed, he even saw several tables that seemed to be devoted to some form of gambling that relied on floating balls of light. As he watched, two of the balls collided, leaving one of them to flicker and fade out of existence, although he thought he saw a tiny humanoid form in the glare, before it disappeared entirely. This brought about a simultaneous eruption of cheers and jeers from the audience.

"Are you interested in Sprite Fights? I never saw much point in them. I mean, you can hardly see anything until its already over, but some guys enjoy 'em." The homeless man was commenting while following Adrian's gaze.

"No, its just a novel sight for me. I don't much care for that kind of thing."

"Don't blame you. If I was in the mood for some blood sport, I'd want to actually be able to see the blood. Anyway, the people I was telling you about are over here."

Adrian followed in the man's wake, noting how the visitors of this Dark Bazaar, for lack of a better term, were swiftly getting out of his way. While there was nothing specific in their demeanor that warranted his attention, as it was a pretty standard way to handle someone of his appearance, something about the speed with which they cleared a path left him a bit suspicious.

He divided his attention between keeping an eye on his guide and surveying the sights around him. True to the man's word, the goods for sale down here were of a higher value, although this was more to do with their seemingly illicit nature than anything else. Then again, everything about this place screamed that it was a den of iniquity and sin that would overshadow anything he'd be able to see in the Upperworld.

Attractive and scantily clad men and women were drifting through the crowd, all but admitting to the nature of their services. Occasionally, they would find a customer, and lead them off through one of the several doors along the outside walls of the room, presumably to a more comfortable location where they could proceed with their transaction. To do so, they had to navigate through several cl.u.s.ters of inebriated or chemical altered patrons, who had partaken of the merchandise available along one entire wall, and came in a dizzying array of colors and varieties. In one dark corner, Adrian even saw what appeared to be cages housing all manner of strange and fantastic creatures, some of which spoke and walked on two legs.

Suffice it to say, this was the kind of thing he'd expected when he'd heard about the Bazaar in the first place. Only the fact that they maintained the veneer of civility on the floor above really surprised. Now he just needed to move on to the next part of his plan.

The homeless man led him to a series of stalls that seemed to be dedicated to a more eclectic selection of goods. Unlike the previous sections, these didn't look too illicit at first glance, but closer inspection revealed sinister and unpleasant indications of the items origins.

These products ranged from the expected to the inexplicable. Mingled among the mysterious animal parts held in glass jars, bizarre relics bearing the faded bloodstains of ancient sacrifices, and cryptic writings that seemed to squirm beneath a reader's eye, were seemingly common items that would have been available at any convenience store. What was most confusing about the situation, was how much attention these particular items seemed to be drawing from the non-human contingent.

Adrian was in the process of watching a tall, muscular figure with gray skin and pointed ears try to select between two different brands of toothpaste, when he guide stopped and turned to face him.

"Here we are. If anyone at this convention has what you are looking for, it has to be one of these guys." He paused as he noticed the transaction Adrian was watching. "Ah, pretty odd, right? Got me the first time I came here, too. These visitors from other realms don't have a chance to go out and shop in this world. At least, not without those Bureau folks breathing down their necks. So, the human vendors bring a few basic things to sell. You'd be surprised how much these weird bastards are willing to pay for a stick of deodorant."

The man trailed off into a round of laughter, before continuing. "Of course, its a bit of a gray area, since the importation of human manufactured goods is usually banned in most realms, but that doesn't stop them from trying."

"Makes sense." Adrian commented dryly.

"Alright, I got to be going. Have fun." The man replied cheerfully, before turning on his heels.

"Hold on a second. I have one last question for you, or rather a request."

The frowned back at him over his shoulder. "Yes?"

"I'd like for you to pass on a message to the person in charge around here. Tell him or her that I would like to make a deal."

His guide's posture changed slightly, became more defensive. Not in a way that a casual observer would have noticed, but Adrian had known to look out for it.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with that." The man commented dismissively while trying at a disarming smile.

"I think we both know that you are well acquainted with the Boss." Adrian replied with his own feral grin. "But if you can't help me, then perhaps I can find someone else. After all, I need to be careful who I let know about these s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e matters."

The homeless man's nostrils flared once more as his face twisted into a grimace. He shot a heated glare at the vendors to either side of him, who made a show of being unaware of the conversation, having been suddenly struck deaf. Finally, he turned and faced Adrian fully, jaw clenching and unclenching in an obviously emotional state. "Alright. Follow me."

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Conner glanced back at the disturbing man, and felt an instinctual dislike beginning to form. Something about the youth's confidence, despite being an obvious newcomer, set him on edge. Not to mention the fact that he'd somehow identified him through his disguise.

[Don't let a youthful visage fool you. Appearances are deceiving.] He mentally repeated the words of his old teacher.

[He could be an expert out of seclusion, travelling the Bazaar incognito. Or the scion of some powerful house, I suppose. Although he'd bodyguards if that was the case. Probably following secretly...] Conner nearly froze at the thought, but maintained his composure enough to give the crowd another scan. He didn't see anyone that stood out obviously, but that hardly matter in the case of Practitioners. There were a number of ways to avoid detection that would fool even his well developed senses.

[Whatever. I'll just treat him like an honored guest until I find out otherwise.]

He took the youth through a door leading to the boss's office, waving off the inquiries of the guards stationed there. In a short period of time, they were standing outside of an elaborate entry hall, this time flanked by a pair of the Eterascan Mercenaries that formed the core of the Boss's protection detail. The beastial humanoids, which always reminded Conner of the old Wolfman movies, were in a foul mood.

According to the whispered conversation he'd had with Henrietta, the boss's secretary, they'd gotten word of an intruder in the conclave who had gotten past the defense at the front door without triggering any of the alarms, somehow. The Order's security forces were subtly sweeping the whole event, but nothing had turned up yet.

"Anyway, you sure about this kid, Con? The Boss won't take kindly to you wasting her time." The secretary asked, her gaze straying over to the youth in question, who was currently inspecting the Eterascans with mild curiosity. Contrary to his expectations, the mercenaries weren't angered by this causal challenge. In fact they were behaving almost as if they were frightened of the man. Something that he'd never seen before.

"I have no idea, but I think this particular situation is beyond my pay grade. Can you keep an eye on him while I get changed? Should only take a moment."

"Sure thing, Con."

After thanking her, he headed around a corner, and once confirming that no one was watching, he released his disguise technique. His bloated form returned to his normal trim shape, while his hair regained its auburn l.u.s.ter and retreated until it was a few inches from his scalp. The scratchy beard disappeared entirely, leaving a squared chin in place. Within a few seconds, he'd transformed into his usual appearance, a rakish and wiry man who gave off a dangerous air. Or so Conner liked to think.

Stepping back around the corner, he gave Henrietta a wink that earned him a slight blush, and marched up to the youth. "Alright, are you ready to meet the boss?"

The dark-haired young man stared at him for a full second before cracking a small smile. "Of course. Why do you think I asked you to take me to him or her in the first place?"

"Ha! Fair enough. Let's get this show on the road."