Introduction
Everway - the magical, miraculous city. Everway - the gathering place of heroes. City of a million souls, repository of the Library of All Worlds, location of that most miraculous of artifacts - Great Gate - through which Sphere Walkers come and go each day carrying out trade with other spheres or seeking to make a name for themselves within the multiverse. The very name is synonymous with adventure. Everway.
Each of you has come to Everway from your home, whether that be one of the many lands that adjoins the City-State, or one of the many Spheres that connect to it. Whether you have come seeking adventure or attempting to flee your past, looking for riches or a long-lost relative, you have somehow arrived in Everway, and begun to explore its many wonders.
Within the great marketplace of Everway there is an area known as the Traveler’s Repose. Though there are food and drink venders throughout the marketplace, it is around the Traveler’s Repose that most of the food shops are set up. Here you can sample the delicacies of a dozen Spheres, catch up on the latest gossip, or simply relax in one of the great pavilions set up for the comfort of the patrons. Here also you may hear news of employment opportunities, quests, buried treasure, and newly discovered Spheres as yet unexplored. It was here that each of you heard of possible employment being offered by no less a prestigious organization than the Library of All Worlds itself!
Each of you petitioned the Library for employment, and it appears that
each of you has been accepted, for you have each been contacted by a library
official and asked to come to the Chamber of Elements, one of the Library’s
smaller meeting chambers, at midday. You are instructed to arrive prepared
to embark on an extended journey, and to bring only what you can carry
with you.
The Chamber of the Elements itself is modest, but well appointed. Sheer silk dyed a light blue hangs from the ceiling, billowing gently in the breeze from the open window, and a small set of golden wind chimes, set in motion by the same breeze, chimes softly and sweetly with clear tones. These tones mix well with the bubbling laughter of water spilling from a small fountain in one corner, carved to look like a miniature waterfall flowing over rough rock.. In the center of the room is a low, mahogany table with cushions placed around it. The table is stained so dark that it is almost black, and is lacquered to give it a shiny, wet look. In the center there is a low brazier of glowing coals. On a side table nearby sit earthenware bowls and cups and wooden utensils, along with trays containing meat, vegetables, sauces, and fruits. There are also small skewers for cooking these materials over the coals. A large pitcher there contains fresh water.
When the prospective members of the Chamber Platinum are, one by one, escorted there by a member of the Library staff they are told to make themselves comfortable, and to eat if they are hungry. A Librarian named Dancer will attend to them shortly.
The first to walk in is Flamefeather, daughter of Swiftfeet the hunter and Goldboon the dancer; her skin is rich mahogany, and her eyes are very dark. Although her head is covered by a brightly colored scarf, her hair is long enough to spill from it. She is wearing no-nonsense, close fitting jerkin decorated with a few multicolored feathers, a white shirt, deerskin breaches, low boots and thick leather gloves. Feather earrings dangle from her ears, but none of her jewelry clinks as she moves.
She glances around, walks to the window, and peeks outside, watching the busy streets of Everway. After a moment, she turns back to the table and examine the foods displayed there. She selects a few items, lines them up on a skewer and brings them to the brazier. After cooking them to her liking, she pours herself a glass of water, and settles down on the fountain ledge to eat and drink. She watches as other people arrive in the chamber.
After a time (just long enough for Flamefeather to get her food cooking) another woman walks into the room. Dressed in light (and somewhat worn) travel garb, with a bedroll slung over one shoulder and a large, floppy felt hat (decorated with a rather large feather) engulfing the top of her head, she steps into the room with the air of someone who has just stopped by unexpectedly to see a friend.
Seeing Flamefeather she beams as broadly as if she had just discovered a long-lost relative. "Hullo Traveler! Beautiful day for a journey, isn’t it. Then again, aren’t they all? Looks like we’ll be traveling together for a time. I’m Mercy." She stops for a moment to shove an escaped lock of raven hair back into her hat, then descends upon the food with gusto. As she prepares her first kebob she begins to sing softly to herself in a clear voice.
After Mercy stops singing, a tall, almost sickly thin man enters the room. He is wearing a blue, tailored, but very worn coat with tatty coattails. The skin of his face is pale, and he has long, black, messy hair. He wears a white mask much like the classical comedy/tragedy actor’s mask, but the expression would more likely be interpreted as either intense fear or ecstatic revelation. It is not on his face, but hangs around his neck. He looks at Mercy and Flamefeather and says, "The singing was beautiful." He looks down. "I was listening at the door, and I thought it might be the winds carrying the voice of my mother back to me, then I..."
He looks away, distracted, and then walks along the edge of the room, touching the silk to his face, running his hand through the water of the fountain, and mumbling to himself, "Where ever has she gone? Where ever has she gone... What ever way she goes, whichever way she comes, every way is Everway, and, so, Everway is she. If every one goes every way, then to Everway is she." He giggles to himself, and then looks up sharply. "Oh, hello. My name is Corvus."
The chimes stop tinkling; as all are drawn to the sudden absence of sound they notice a man sitting in one of the windowsills, his hand stilling the chimes hanging in the window. He is young, but his face is weathered and drawn and unshaven. Underneath a well used cloak he wears leather armour with metal rings sewn through for added strength. His sword leans next to him against the wall, its grip worn and discolored. There is also a small pack there.
He looks carefully at each of the Spherewalkers and then says, "As long as we are giving names, you may call me Waterspider." He releases the chimes and returns to gazing out the window. The only clue to his underlying tension is the silent drumming of his fingers against his leg.
Mercy grins wryly at Waterspider, then catches Corvus’ eye. "Spherewalker..." she stage-whispers, nodding in Waterspider’s direction , "...with an attitude." She winks cheerfully, then goes back to cooking her kebob.
The black woman hitches up a shoulder, shakes her head. "I don’t know any bland Spherewalker," she says. "My name is Flamefeather. Does anyone know what kind of services the Library will be requiring this time? Because if it’s more phosphorescent lichen and fungi, I’m out. I nearly got pneumonia last time. I hate damp caves!" She shivers eloquently.
Without turning around Waterspider says, "I think you’ll find the challenge
a bit larger." He suppresses a shudder.
Corvus brightens and goes to sit on the floor near the fire. "Yes, I hope we will be traveling to an interesting sphere. I have heard so many stories of strange lands." He picks up a fruit an puts it in his pocket. "My urchins told me of a land where peoples’ thoughts could be seen dancing above their heads like gypsies. They told me that there is a place where the clouds mirror the world and any knowledge can be gained through gazing at them, and another place where the king is chosen by lottery and the whole kingdom is ruled by chance." He puts a few pieces of meat in his pocket. "The children in Strangerside will be glad for these morsels." He lies down on his back and puts his feet in the air. "They have already taken all of my possessions to feed themselves." He turns his head to the others, "You all must have seen much of the spheres. Won’t you tell me something wondrous?"
"I have a wondrous piece of knowledge for you Corvus, " Mercy grins and wrinkles her nose. "Those pieces of meat that you just stuck in your pockets will go over much better in Strangerside if you cook them and wrap them in something other than pocket lint."
Mercy pulls a bandanna from her pocket (spilling several small rocks, some sea shells, and a marble in the process) and hands it to Corvus, then begins consuming her kebab.